Cassie Garnett ran.
The Lore Mistress for Industrial Illusions sprinted out of the lobby as fast as she could, thankful beyond believe that she had decided to go down for an early lunch. If she had been up in her office she'd have been dead, blown up like the rest of her department. Alarms were going off and people were panicking but Cassie didn't pay them any mind. Instead she raced for the door, the roof bulging downward and forcing her to finally just skid through the doorway JUST as the roof collapsed, cutting off the only way out of KaibaCorp. Behind her she briefly heard the screams of denial from the rest of the KaibaCorp staff… only to be silenced when the building began to implode, sending several floors slamming down on them.
Cassie turned and stared at her workplace in shock.
"I'm… I'm alive," she said with wide eyes. "I'm alive!"
Moments like this made one take stock of their lives. Made them consider all they had been through. Cassie had just lived through a disaster that most likely had killed everyone she worked with. Be it dumb luck or the hand of some higher power she had managed to escape death without a scratch.
It was… humbling.
"FUCK YOU GOD!" Cassie laughed, sticking her middle fingers up as she flipped off the heavens. She began to dance in place, cackling as she did so. "NEXT TIME BRING YOU'RE A GAME!"
And that's when the statue of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon in front of KaibaCorp fell over and crushed her.
~MC~MC~MC~
Octavia shifted nervously as she came to her father's study. She had just seen off the last of the guests who had come for her birthday party and now it was time to find out what he father wanted.
When the time had come for her to unwrap her gifts her father had given her several items… except for the Millennium Eye she had asked for. She had tried to hide her disappointment at that but something must have shown on her face because her father had placed a hand on her shoulder and told her he had one final gift for her but he wanted to do it privately.
She was trying not to get her hopes up. Desperately trying not to. After all, why not just give her the Millennium Eye? Most of the young women at her party had theirs and she had been telling them that she would most definitely be getting her Millennium Eye at the party. So why wait? Yet on the other hand she couldn't think of what her father would want to give her in private. She had gotten everything else she had asked for and unless there was some deep secret about the family, something that would change how she viewed everything and-
"Stop it," she said softly to herself before, with a sigh, she pushed open the door.
Her father's study had always been warm and inviting and that night was no exception. Her mother had hated that she was allowed in there, feeling that her father was 'disgracing his noble station' byallowing a child to 'run about freely such a sacred place'. Which Octavia didn't get because… it wasn't mother's position. Wasn't her sacred place. She only had her power because she had married father. She acted like it was her own lineage when in reality she was little more than a guest in the house.
"Octavia?" Stolas asked when she paused in the doorway. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah… sorry dad," she said with a blush. "Just… thinking."
As if he had read her thoughts Stolas said, "My father… he would never allow me into his study. Or his true home. He lived here my entire life with the servants and he only appeared when he wished to speak to me and left soon after. I… I promised myself very early on that I would never do that to my child." He nervously wrung his hands together. "If I have-"
"no!" Octavia exclaimed. "No… you… you have great." And he had been. Especially recently, trying to make up for his mistakes. But the thing was… he really hadn't made mistakes with her. And that thought suddenly had her blurting out, "I'm sorry about the stars."
"I… what?"
"When I got upset with you because you forgot about the stars… we hadn't talked about it in years and I expected you to remember. You had no idea I still cared about it. I… I should have let you know because you would have made time-"
"I would have," he assured her. "In a heartbeat." He gestured for her to come fully into the room. "I think… we need to learn how to talk to each other. Not just as parent and child but as adults. You will soon be grown and I must remember that. Show you the same respect I would show others."
Octavia smiled at that. "I… don't mind if you baby me… just a little." She quickly added. "But not when anyone is around and if I tell you I'm not in the mood…" She trailed off at that and he chuckled.
"Of course." And with that he let out a sigh. "And in accordance with that… your gift. I know-" But then he stopped himself. "I went to the demon that makes the Millennium Eyes. Edwin Cerberus. We had a long and very fruitful meeting. And he did agree to make you one."
Octavia felt a bit of relief… but also dread. Because she sensed a 'but' coming.
"And he still will, if you so desire. But I was talking about you and he suggested something else and… oh, I thought it was perfect."
The young Ars Goetia promised herself to be polite. To not get upset. Her father would give her something ugly and childish and she would accept it but still ask for the Millennium Eye. It would be embarrassing that she didn't get it for her birthday but-
Her father took out a box and opened it, Octavia's thoughts screeching to a halt.
There, nestled on a pillow of velvet, was a pendant in the shape of a golden star. The center though was a smaller shooting star, this one made of silver so pure it was nearly white.
"I am to blame… I asked to see his process because I was curious how he made them and he showed me how he used his fires. But… oh, they weren't fires, Via. Not truly. He didn't even realize it. He doesn't wield flames… he wields the power of the stars." She could see the happy glimmer of galaxies in her father's eyes as he began to gush over the jewelry. Not in the way he'd discuss Blitzo but instead like… well, like Octavia knew she sometimes got when talking about a very interesting taxidermy project she'd found online. "A blue dwarf star. Very hot but… also so beautiful. I sensed it at once the moment he called upon the flames. I know about such things, after all, and was quick to tell him. He had no idea… I think I said that though. Thought it was just fire. But stars… he has the fire of stars running through his veins. It is shocking and beautiful and terrible and elegant. We have an appointment next week… he has never had tea, can you believe that? I am going to try and find one he will love. But that isn't the point. That got us talking about stars and then about you again and… well… he said he wanted to make me something special."
Stolas swallowed, clearly knowing he was rambling but unable to stop.
"He made two pendants." And with that he carefully reached around his neck and pulled out another shooting star pendant, only this one was silver with a heart of gold. "Made at the same time and then their centers swapped. So that one would protect the heart of the other. You… you don't realize how much you mean to me, my dear owlet. I would have given into despair ages ago if not for you… you protected my heart. And I hope I have protected yours. Edwin said that with these would would get a sense if the other was in danger… considering some of the scraps I've gotten into I suppose that is a good thing…
"I mean it though, if you do not like it you don't have to wear it. And he is willing to make you a Millennium Eye he just thought that you would like this better. I know you had your heart set on one and I don't want to disappoint you and this might seem-"
Octavia couldn't let him continue on.
She rushed forward, half leaping over the desk in order to wrap her father up in a hug.
After a moment Stolas returned the embrace and the two remained like that for a very long time.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Oh my god!" Yugi exclaimed as he stared at the burning KaibaCorp building.
"Yes?" Neph said only to catch herself. "I mean… yes. This is terribly shocking and I also call out to the deities that might be watching to hear my surprise!"
Yugi didn't have time to pay attention to his new friend. Instead he hurried towards the police barricade, trying to get through.
"Sir, please stand back," the officer said.
"But I know people in there!" Yugi begged.
"Son, please trust us, we are doing all we can. Just have faith."
"Hey Jim!" the radio the officer was wearing crackled. "We're gonna need more spatulas and vacuums!"
"…we're serving the survivors pancakes as we dust them off," the officer said.
"Man, you would not believe how crushed these bodies are! I swear no one survived-"
The officer hurriedly turned off his phone.
"I am sorry, Yugi," Nephthys said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Death is a part of life and sadly you are witnessing that."
"T-thanks."
"Wait, Yugi Muto?" another officer said. "Shit, you can go through!" He motioned for Yugi to hurry around the barrier.
"R-really?" Yugi stammered.
"You're a famous duelist! Of course you can visit the scene of a horrific disaster!" The other officers grinned and Yugi slowly made his way around the barrier. "I'm sorry ma'am but you can't-"
"Do not touch me again, mortal, or I will snap off your foot and insert it into your nose."
"That's… oddly specific but I'm afraid-"
Yugi continued on, even as he heard a SNAP! And some screaming behind him.
'Pharaoh… do you think anyone managed to survive this?'
'I wish I could say that there was hope, Yugi… but I fear we must begin facing the cold fact that everyone within the building has died.'
"Oh god how is she getting it in there?!"
'Well, we know Pegasus wasn't there,' Yugi said; Pegasus had admitted that after Edwin's death he needed some time away from Industrial Illusions and as such had returned to his castle on Duelist Kingdom in order to work through his grief. 'But Kaiba…'
'Yes. It is a great loss.' Yugi came to a stop before the toppled statue of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, tilting his head at something sticking out of it only to grimace when he realized it was a pair of feet. 'Yugi… perhaps we should go…'
"No," Yugi said aloud. "I… I can't go, Pharaoh." He shut his eyes. "Poor Mokuba…"
"Mokuba?" one of the officers said. "What's wrong with Mokuba Kaiba?"
Yugi sucked back his own tears. "He's… lost so much this month. Edwin… Seto…"
"Mr. Kaiba wasn't in the building," the officer said.
"What?" Yugi exclaimed, eyes snapping open.
"Mr. Kaiba had to apparently deal with some issue at his amusement park. He wasn't here when the building exploded." With that the officer walked away and Yugi, startled by the news, found himself wandering aimlessly towards a side aisle that had been spared by the building's destruction.
"Mokuba and Kaiba… they're alive?"
"They what?"
Yugi blinked, turning to find himself staring at an odd little… thing… with a red face (save for a white patch over his right eye and cheek) and black horns on his head. He was wearing an old time suit, as was a white haired creature of the same species who was holding a bazooka. Next to them was a female wearing ripped black clothing.
"Satan's taint, Moxie, how the fuck did you screw this up!"
"Excuse me, sir, but I told you that we needed to wait and confirm if the Kaiba Brothers were in there. You told ME that I needed to stop being, and I quote, 'a shriveled little clit afraid of some action' and then fired the bazooka."
"…well you should have worked harder to stop me, Moxie. You know I have impulse issues."
"He does," the female pointed out.
"See, Millie agrees with me! Christ on a popsicle stick, now we have to hunt those two bastards down and try again!"
"We going, Blitzo?" a goth woman asked, walking up to the three. Yugi found it a touch odd none of them had noticed him but couldn't find it within him to call out and draw their attention.
"And where have you been?" Moxie asked.
"I told you I was visiting my friend. Her boss is dead and in Hell and I wanted to let her know about it. After the building blew up she decided to leave and head back to Hell."
"Fuck, are we going to let her sleep on the couch?" Blitzo asked. "I mean its fine if you wanna have a sleepover, Looney. We can paint each others nails and talk about boys but only in a platonic way because you are still my baby-"
"Fucking gag me and not how you do your Ars Goetia boyfriend," Loona said, taking out an old book and summoning a portal to… somewhere that didn't look nice. "And no, Aria said she was going to go find Edwin." She paused. "Also, there is some kid staring at you."
The three small beings all turned and looked right at Yugi.
"…you're hair is stupid," Blitzo said before flipping him off and diving into the portal, the others following.
"Ph… Pharaoh! Did you hear that?"
'Yes Yugi… our hair isn't stupid at all.'
Yugi narrowed his eyes at that. "I MEANT Edwin… and Hell."
'Ah. Right. Of course.'
The Pharaoh paused.
'It isn't stupid-'
"PHARAOH!"
~MC~MC~MC~
Lute glowered as the Seraphim walked beside her. She HATED it when the higher ups came by to check in on the Exterminators. It was an insult, made to make them feel as if they had no idea how to do their jobs. That they needed to be constantly guided or they'd mess up. But they knew how to do their jobs… had done them so well that almost no one in Heaven knew about it and Hell just accepted that their arrival was something they couldn't stop. As the humans would say it was like the sun rising in east; inevitable. But the Seraphim being here… it was a sign that they didn't trust her or Adam to do their job.
Even if… the dead Exterminator down in the deepest part of their headquarters, so deep that sometimes it felt like it wasn't even in heaven… spoke of how they had failed.
But… not again. A one time mistake. One that would be corrected!
There was only one thing worse than having the Seraphim come back to examine the troops.
"Its so amazing how they train!" Emily gushed as she watched several of the Exterminators practice with their spears. "But…isn't it kind of mean to have the training dummies have those faces on them?" She pointed at one of the dummies that Adam himself had painted up, the head area done in pale white makeup with red circles on the cheeks and its mouth open with a tongue sticking out. The words 'I suck banana dicks' written next to the mouth. "I mean, I know you protect us from the evils of the world but we don't have to be cruel."
Having the youngest and most naïve of the Seraphim there.
"Sometimes its nice to let the Exterminators have a bit of fun," Sera said gently. "After all, they work very hard for Heaven… we can look the other way when they get creative." She glanced over Emily's head at Lute, eyes narrowed with flames reflected in her pupils and Lute felt her spine straighten just a touch at that… and the bitterness settle in her heart. She just KNEW that she would be hearing about the dummies later on in some memo and then have to deal with the Exterminators when she explained they had to stop decorating them like that.
"You know, I've always wondered about that," Emily said, voice filled with confusion. "Why do we call you 'Exterminators' anyway? The Winners always ask about that… down on Earth you are called Guardian Angels. Why not that?"
"Something perhaps for you to look up tonight," Sera said and Emily nodded after a moment. Lute, for her part, let out a sigh of relief that perhaps the baby Seraphim would drop the entire-
"it's just not a very nice name, you know?"
-thing.
"You deserve a nice name!" Emily said.
Lute bit back her retort, that she 'wasn't nice', as she knew that Sera wouldn't like that.
"Why don't you go thank some of the… angels… for their hard work in protecting Heaven?" Sera suggested.
"Of course!" Emily declared happily and she hurried off to greet a few of the Exterminators; Lute prayed they were smart enough to keep their fucking mouths shut.
"Well… thanks to your little arts and crafts display I will be spending the evening deflecting some questions."
"Just tell her the truth," Lute said darkly. "if she can't handle it-"
Sera placed a hand on her shoulder… and Lute tried not to scream as she felt the holy flames burn her flesh. "You do not tell me how to raise my child," she warned her. "It is not your place, Exterminator, to question me." She released Lute and she looked at her shoulder; not a single mark. Not even a bit of soot. She wasn't for sure if that was a good thing or bad. Part of her longed for there to be a mark, some sign of the pain she had went through. Something to stare at and motivate her to not make the same mistake again… and become strong enough that she didn't need to fear receiving another such wound.
"Of course," Lute said, bowing her head.
"Emily will be informed of things when I deem her ready. As for why she is here-" Because, Lute thought, of coursed Sera had sensed her annoyance at the unexpected and unwanted intruder, "-it is important for her to understand how all within Heaven work to serve it. We are meeting with the Elder Angels later… I imagine they will be far more respectful than you have been. Or Adam."
Lute grimaced at that. Adam should have been the one taking Sera and Emily on the tour. Not just because he was lead Exterminator but he always managed to be able to tap dance right up to the Seraphim's invisible line without crossing it. Being the first Human and, because he had only unwittingly bit into the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, he had been offered great kindness by God. He had offered to allow Adam a seat amongst the Elder Angels but Adam had requested to be leader of the Exterminators.
The singers claimed it was because he wished to protect Heaven, so that his descendants would be able to arrive there and know peace.
The detractors quietly whispered that Adam didn't want to be the weakest of the Elder Angels, weaker than even a Seraphim, and thus went to the Exterminators because amongst them he would be a king amongst sheep.
Lute knew the truth: only with the Exterminators would he be able to go to Hell and possibly have a chance at revenge against Lucifer while also destroying those that came from him who sided with Morningstar.
Whatever the case Adam had always been able to talk back to the Seraphim and make demands and deals. Been able to sweet talk them and get them to grant him a ton of slack. Sera herself had secretly approved the Exterminators, funneling heavenly supplies to them so they might be able to better carry out their mission. Adam knew how to talk to Sera… and also could take the brunt of her anger.
"Where is Adam?" Sera asked.
Lute scowled.
~MC~MC~MC~
"What do you think?" Adam said as he held up his new robes. "I asked them to cut them to help show off my build. I mean, yeah, that stupid apple made me realize I was naked but it was Eve who demanded we cover up. I wasn't ashamed in the slightest! I bet we could have stayed in the garden if she hadn't been a massive fucking prude." His voice became a bit more shrill. "Oh Adam!" he whined. "Everyone will be able to see my ribbos."
Adam paused, glancing at Odion.
"We were calling titties ribbos back then. It was a first draft. Kinda like how we called chickens 'Penises'. I know people judge but hey, we got it right more often than not so you have to give us that."
"Yes, Master Adam," Odion replied.
"So, what do you think?" Adam asked again, holding out his robes as the Winner Tailor happily took some more measurements. "Strikes the right balance between powerful and saintly? Real important that I look like the kind light of Heaven as I blast those little bitches down in Hell." The door to the tailor shop slammed open and Adam turned, smiling as he saw Lute storm in. "Heeeeeeey bitch!" he said happily. "What do you think? These robes flatter my ass or what?"
"Where were you?" Lute demanded.
"Uh… here? Come on Lute, I know you are sometimes slow on the uptake, too focused on dreaming about all the dirty, dirty sex you should be having with Vaggie but-"
"We had a meeting with the Seraphim. They were inspecting the troops."
"And?" Adam asked as he continued to look at his reflection. "It was the standard troop inspection. Done it a thousand times. Sera knows what we need to do and you've been at my side the entire time." He suddenly paused. "…this was a test, Lute! To see if you were ready to take over!"
"Take… over?"
"Don't worry about it, a small project I am working on with Odion. Isn't that right Odion?"
"Yes, Master Adam."
"God, I'm going to ruin these robes if you keep doing that." He glanced at the tailor. "You do dry cleaning?"
Lute though stormed forward. "She brought the Baby Seraphim with her."
"Em-Em?" Adam asked. "Shit, maybe I should have shown up. Good to get to 'em young, get them to see you as mature and worldly, that way when they get to age of consent-"
"Emily was asking questions. Bad questions. The kind that could get our entire operation shut down."
"Oh come on, its not that bad…" Adam said. "So what if she was asking about-"
Lute gestured at the tailor.
"Oh. Right. Go pop a squat in back, buddy. Grandpa Adam needs to talk." The tailor nodded and quickly hurried off. "Good catch. Maybe you are ready to take over-"
"Adam," Lute said firmly, "need I remind you that none of the Winners know what we are doing?"
"And? They'll probably worship us more for doing it!"
"We aren't worshiped, Adam!" Lute snapped. "We are servants of the Ph… of God." She shook her head; that was the second time she'd made such a slip up. "And we have a duty. And the Exterminations are NOT part of our duties. Emily was asking about our duties and why we aren't doing them. Why we are training for something else."
Adam laughed. "Aw… is someone nervous?" He reached out and pinched her cheek. "So cute. Don't you worry your pretty little head. I have it all taken care of. This next extermination will get rid of all those demons and then things will finally be right. And all the Winners will be throwing themselves on the ground giving praise to me."
"We are not-"
"Hey, Lute?" Adam said, narrowing his eyes, good mood falling. "If you are here being a massive cunt then who is watching the troops?" he made a 'shoo shoo' motion with his hands and after a moment Lute stormed out. "Geez, makes me ALMOST wish we'd brought Vaggie back with us. Lute needs to get her chimney lubed." He went back to staring at the mirror. "I think this robe is missing something…"
"What if it was purple, Master Adam?"
"Fuck that is brilliant!"
~MC~MC~MC~
"Dust. Dust. Dust. Dust."
Vaggie frowned as she walked over to Edwin. "I think we're going to kill Niffty."
They were standing in the lobby of Hazbin Hotel, watching as the construction crew that Edwin had hired continued the work on his gallery. They had taken down a wall to create a far more open face for the gallery, though he had already set up a security gate that was rated to withstand a punch from Satan. Edwin wasn't 100% sure how strong that was but he'd been assured by multiple demons that it was a legit measurement and a good one. The crew was now working to get the conference room properly converted into the open gallery while also building stairs to the basement workshop he'd set up for himself.
The result was a lot of dust… which was sending Niffty flittering about the lobby constantly cleaning.
"From overwork or her orgasming over being allowed to do such work?"
"…unfortunately you have a point," Vaggie admitted, watching as Niffty let out a squeal and rushed towards one of the high shelves, feather duster a blur. "They are working real good. Getting it done rather quick."
"Highly motivated," Edwin said. "Paying well does that."
He wasn't paying them.
The owner/foreman was sleeping with his brother's wife, who just so happened to have gotten one of the Millennium Eyes from her husband in an attempt to heal their broken marriage. The act of sleeping with her wasn't the problem… what was happened to be that the woman's son wasn't actually her husband's AND he had a nice job working for a powerful Sinner Demon. Not an overlord but possibly a future one… and the mother didn't want to risk all that by having it come out he was a bastard. Much to Edwin's amusement even in Hell that was a thing for certain demons.
As such she had used all her charms to get her lover to trade his soul to Edwin so long as he agreed to keep their secret. He had agreed… and promptly taken control of the foreman's contracts, claiming all the souls he held. It wasn't the entire crew but enough that Edwin was able to bully them into working hard… and for free.
It was either that or he would killed them with some of the new Angelic Weapons he now had.
Carmila Carmine's daughters had visited him, desperate for Millennium Eyes. While he would have cut them a good deal anyway, as it would allow him to spy on an Overlord, the girls had offered up several Carmine-Crafted weapons as payment.
While Gleipnir would always remain his weapon of choice, due to it being bonded with his soul, he wanted to keep that as an ace in the hole. He was still mad he had revealed the whip to Valentino and was carefully monitoring him to make sure he never leaked that knowledge to anyone. He doubted there was a force in Hell that could take the weapon from him but it was still a mistake to let slip so easily that he had such a powerful item. As such if he needed to threaten anyone or deal with a pest the Carmine-Crafted weapons would work very well to make clear to anyone that pushed him that he could back up his threats.
Qeb was more than happy to teach him how to wield his new Angelic Steel Dagger, while all the thieves were pleased with how simple it was. While they all had an eye for the elegant, such weapons were meant for selling; the weapons you KEPT should be basic but capable things. It was also something easy to hide, sheathed on his right leg, same as his Carmine-Crafted Flock 22. That was a bit more ornate, with the grip carved to resemble a pair of angel wings, but otherwise was the perfect gun to keep tucked in his jacket. He needed someone to give him some lessons on that but he'd have to wait until he was a bit more established. And then there were his gloves, which looked rather basic and simple but in fact had angelic steel sewn into the knuckles, meaning that a punch would do far more damage to a demon than a normal strike.
The girls had offered to get him more weapons but he'd waved them off; he didn't want them to alert their mother that they were pillaging her supplies. He'd keep his eye out for more, taken off those that he made deals with, and worst case he'd buy them from Camilla the legit way, perhaps through some of the demons he now controlled.
Because Edwin wanted to get as much angelic steel as he could.
"So, given any thoughts to any other businesses you are going to let set up shop here?"
"Not yet," Vaggie stated. "Charlie isn't comfortable with this yet."
"And never will be!" the Princess of Hell called out as she joined them.
"Charlie…" Vaggie said with a sigh.
"I'm sorry but I don't like it," Charlie said with a firm shake of her head. "This hotel was made to help Sinners redeem themselves… not for people to buy baubles!" She glanced at Edwin. "No offense."
"None taken. By the way how are they supposed to redeem themselves with no jobs?"
"Huh?"
"You do get most jobs in Hell are corrupt, right?" he asked. "I mean I haven't been in Hell that long and even I can tell that. Bribes, threats, attacks to try and force employees to work for little pay and no benefits, bosses forcing their workers to sin for them… take your pick. So the Sinners come here to do your workshops and then leave here and have to abandon everything they just learned to survive."
"That's… that's not-"
Edwin looked over the top of his glasses at Charlie. "Ange.l Dust."
Charlie flinched at that before rallying. "Well, they can just stay here!"
"Really? Just spend 24/7 at the hotel, working to redeem themselves? Even you don't do that, Charlie." He shook his head. "This gives demons a chance to make an honest living, in a controlled environment. I'm not going to be sinning here."
That was a fucking lie.
"I am going to be selling jewelry. You set up… a restaurant or a book store, so on, that you set rules for… and the people working there can lead lives that may lead to eventual redemption. And the people staying here don't have to leave. Someone might get bored constantly attending your lessons but let them go to an arcade on site where they can play pinball?"
"He's right, Charlie," Vaggie stated. "This is a way to help more of Hell, get attention for the Hotel, and also let us get more money to hire more staff, make improvements-"
"Okay!" Charlie exclaimed. "Okay… I…" She let out a sigh. "I concede your point." She wiggled her finger at the two of them. "But I am going to make sure the rules are air tight. Not going to allow a sex shop or a drug den to pop up."
"That's all we ask," Vaggie said. She found herself very grateful that Edwin had decided to stay at the hotel, as he was proving to be a valuable ally. Yes, they might have had a rocky start but-
The doors to the hotel slammed open and the three turned to find themselves staring at a young woman.
A seemingly completely human woman.
"…Aria?" Edwin said in shock.
"Edwin," the woman gasped out… before sprinting forward, leaping at him. Vaggie tensed, preparing to help him defend himself… only for Edwin to hug the woman tight, pressing his head against her hair and murmuring with his eyes shut.
"Well," Alastor said from the corner of the room, "this is unexpected."