"-would fit in rather well, though we'd have to soundproof everything," Charlie said as she and Vaggie entered back into the hotel after a long day of meetings.
"Yeah. I wouldn't mind some pinball but I don't need the machines disturbing my peace."
Charlie quickly nodded. "We'd have to be careful with tickets… it feels like gambling but I suppose so long as we monitor people it would be fine. And it would be a nice place for kids to come. I know there aren't a lot of demon children but there are Imps and the like with families in Pentagram."
Vaggie, not wanting to think about children considering one of them had led to… well, her being in hell, focused on the other part of Charlie's statement. "Open the hotel up to imps and the like?"
"Of course!" Charlie exclaimed. "You know ever since Aria showed up I realized that I've been very rude not thinking of the other citizens of hell. Sure, they can't get to Heaven but they still might want to be better. Or at least have a safe place." She sighed shaking her head. "I haven't been a very good Princess of Hell, forgetting that there are other subjects in my realm than just Sinners. I've been horribly unfair to all of them-"
"Hey, hey." Vaggie reached up and stroked her cheek. "Its okay. The Sinners? They have been the ones in the most danger so that's why you focused on them. No one can blame you for that." She paused. "Okay the Imps and Sucubi and the like might blame you but…" Charlie let out a whimper at that and Vaggie winced. "The point… the point is you can correct it now! Give them the same opportunities."
"…yeah," Charlie said as Vaggie cradled her head in her hands. "Thank you. You're so sweet." She kissed Vaggie's nose.
"And?" the woman asked.
"Kind."
"And?"
Charlie sniffed. "Yummy."
"…okay, that is a new one."
But the Princess of Hell shook her head and broke away from Vaggie. "No, don't you smell that?" She sniffed, a smile blossoming on her lips. "Mmmmm… something smells yummy. No, super yummy. No… ultra yummy!"
Vaggie lifted her nose and inhaled. "Huh… something does smell yummy…"
"Hurry it up, Nif!" Husk called out from the large formal dining room. "Think he's about ready to bring everything out!"
"Ya get the wine, Husk?" Angel Dust asked.
"Did I get the… who the fuck do ya think I am? Course I got the wine!"
"I haven't had a meal this good in ages!" Sir Pentious declared. "And we haven't even started yet!"
"Yeah boss!" one Egg Boi declared. "We saved you a seat!"
Charlie and Vaggie shared a look before hurrying into the dining room. Part of their rush was because of the wonderful smells that were coming from the place but just as much was their worry about what everyone was up to; Vaggie in particular had learned that no good came from leaving everyone alone without adult supervision.
Throwing up the doors the two found that the large dining room table had been removed and in its place were several smaller round tables, each covered in red and white checkerboard table clothes. Bottles of wine, as well as pop (Vaggie and Charlie had learned NEVER to call it soda around Edwin as it aggravated him to no end) were chilling in metal ice buckets. The staff of the hotel, along with Sir Pentious, Angel Dust, and the Egg Bois, were already sitting at different tables, chatting amongst themselves. Off in a corner a phonograph was playing classical Italian music.
"Hey Charlie!" Angel Dust called out, waving her over. "We were wonderin' if you were gonna be late!"
"What is all this?" Charlie said, looking around the dining room with eyes sparkling. Vaggie was a bit more cautious, taking in everything and making sure there were no traps or dangers that were going to leap out to get them. It was Hell, after all, so one could never be too careful. Even the most innocent of things could destroy you instantly.
While she hated Adam so very, very much… she would never forget the training he had given her. He had warned her how dangerous demons could be and even while disguised as one of their numbers that worry would never fade away. The only real difference between then and now was that Vaggie was watchful so she could protect her friends.
"Edwin decided ta make us some grub!" Angel declared. "And hey, free food is free food but this stuff smells real good."
"That's because it is!" Aria declared as she came out of the kitchen in her human disguise. It was rather startling, seeing as Vaggie had to adjust her gaze downward after getting used to looking up at the towering hellhound. The now human looking woman glowered at her when she realized what Vaggie was thinking. "I'd get stuck in the doorway."
"And it makes sense for you to have something less noticeable for when you go back up top," Edwin called out from the kitchen.
"Not going back!"
"Never say never!"
Aria huffed at that. "He complained about… shedding." She stomped her foot which lost some of its dramatic effect with how small and cute she was. "I do not shed!" Under her breath she added, "much."
"We should also get you a Sinner Disguise!" Edwin called out.
"A… what?" Husk said, tilting his head in confusion.
"A sinner disguise!" Edwin shouted and Charlie heard something clatter in there. After a moment the man in question emerged, bringing out two pizzas, clearly homemade and smelling heavenly (Not quite literally… usually Heaven ended up smelling like body lotions and walnut brownies but Vaggie was pretty sure that was just Adam's musk). He set one down before Angel and another at the table where Husk was seated with Nifty before telling the Egg Bois he'd be back with theirs.
"A sinner disguise?" Charlie repeated.
"Might not be a bad idea," Angel Dust stated. "Hell Hounds and the like get treated like crap in Hell." Vaggie saw Charlie wince at that, not that Angel noticed, and she patted her leg before moving to grab a slice of pizza. "Work on somethin' ta make ya look a bit more Sinner-y and ya wouldn't have ta deal with stares."
"The only stares I get now are because of my height," Aria stated. "Edwin has mostly scared off people from trying to mess with me."
"Yeah, but you can't just… stick around Edwin 24/7," Vaggie said only for the hellhound to tilt her head in confusion. "Aria," she said slowly, "you can't stick around Edwin 24/7."
"He's pack," she replied like that was the answer.
"That doesn't-"
But Charlie jumped in. "Of course he is." Vaggie frowned, glancing at Charlie but she swiftly shook her head and in the end Vaggie decided that this was another Hell thing she didn't understand and it would be better for her to just drop it.
Instead she focused on her pizza which, to her delight, was as good as it had smelled. Loaded with sauce, crust that was the right mix of crispy but chewy, plenty of toppings, and even the crust itself was good. After he brought out the rest of the pizzas he had brought out baskets of garlic drizzled breadsticks and set them out for everyone before, finally, joining them himself.
"So what brought this on?" Vaggie asked, ignoring the kick Charlie gave her.
"I was in the mood for pizza and wasn't in the mood to worry about the fuck the restaurants were putting in the food. The last few weeks, what with me being out and about, has shown me that a lot of places in Hell really don't know food safety standards. Raw ingredients you are safe with but the already made stuff? You never know when they might use blood instead of tomatoes." He shrugged and bit into his pizza, chewing it thoughtfully. "So I was in the mood for pizza and I decided it would be rude to let you guys all smell this but not get any."
"Well, its appreciated. Very much." Charlie looked at the others and they quickly realized they needed to say 'thank you'. Much of it was muffled but it was there and Charlie beamed at the win. "Is anyone else showing up?" she asked, looking about.
"If you're wondering about Alastor," Husk said, "he ain't. Said he had some work to do… was gonna drag me into it but when he found out Edwin was cooking…"
"Wants Husk to spy on me, most likely," Edwin said pleasantly.
"Oh, Alastor wouldn't do…" Charlie trailed off, brow furrowing. "Wait… no. He would do that. He 100% would do that." Her shoulders slumped. "He's been bothering you, hasn't he Edwin?"
"Me and him are playing a little game of feeling each other out," Edwin stated casually, grabbing a breadstick. "We know we're playing the game and know that the other knows. But we don't speak of it."
"That doesn't sound like a fun game at all!" Niffty complained.
"It has its moments," Edwin stated. "But right now Alastor wants Husk to spy on me but he knows I know that so the spying as to be very secretive… or Alastor is hiding in a vent watching me at this moment."
Vaggie found herself slowly looking towards the vent, half expecting to see Alastor's glowing eyes gazing right back at her.
"I'll talk to him about it" Charlie said.
"Please don't," Edwin said with a smile. "Better the devil you know… or rather the Devil's actions you know."
"…I don't follow," Charlie said, confused.
Edwin chuckled and began to explain the earth phrase. That allowed Vaggie to puzzle over his little 'game' with Alastor.
'Why would he be interested in Edwin?' She thought. 'Well, other than the normal reason which is he's fucking Alastor and he wants everyone to be bound to him with a deal.' It made her wonder also how Edwin could be so calm about the entire thing. 'Either he has no idea what Alastor can do or he stupidly believes that he is the one demon that can avoid him.' After all, even Charlie was leery of the Radio Demon.
Vaggie ignored the little voice in her head whispering that maybe… just maybe… Edwin wasn't worried because he COULD face Alastor head on.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Dad?" Octavia said in confusion, looking in on the rather empty dining room. It was time for them to have supper but instead of having the candles lit and the servants moving to bring out the food all she found were shadows within the room. Even if he had been suddenly called away the servants would have been instructed to still get her something to eat. "Dad?" she said, now growing more nervous…
"Oh, Octavia!" Stolas said… from down the hall. "I was just coming to get you! You are here a few minutes early… never mind, it is perfectly fine! Come, come! You'll like this." Octavia frowned at how her father was acting but quickly hurried down the hall, turning the corning only to blink in confusion as he held up his Grimoire. "Now then, its easier if you feel me do this the first time… that way you can then work out how to do it yourself." He lifted a hand in the air, holding it steady for a moment before suddenly plunging it down. Octavia found herself shutting her eyes even though there was no bright flash or the like that actually required her to do so. "Oh, very lovely!" Stolas said and Octavia opened her eyes only to gasp as she saw her reflection in the mirror her father had summoned.
She looked like a human.
Her father brought his own hand down and suddenly he looked like a human as well, which was freaky as could be but… well… not off putting. It wasn't making her gag or recoil in horror. Just… different. She rather got the sense it was similar to how her mother had reacted when she'd first begun dressing as she did now, tossing away her frilly dresses and going with comfortable dark clothing. Or, rather, it was how she wished her mother HAD reacted…
"Dad… what are we…"
"Oh, I'll explain when we get there… we don't want to be late!" He grabbed her hand and waved his hand, causing a portal to appear. Octavia found herself yanked through and she nearly stumbled out, her father wrapping an arm around her to steady her. "Yes, human feet can be awkward, I have found."
Octavia was more focused on what she was seeing. They were in some sort of forest, though the area they were standing in was on the very edge of it. Just beyond them was a flat grassy area next to a downward-plunging cliff and set up was a picnic table where several imps were setting out large white boxes and-
"Dad… is that pizza?" Octavia asked.
"Yes… well, yes it is. I hope you don't mind… I haven't had any myself in ages and I thought it might be nice to have some."
"When… when did you last have pizza?" Octavia asked, trying to think of when her father might have tried it. She imagined it must have been some fancy thing, something that looked more like an art project than an actual dish that people ate for pleasure and delight.
"Oh, many years ago," Stolas stated as he moved towards the picnic table. "Your mother was complaining about a restaurant that was serving it, feeling that it wasn't a proper dish for any to have."
"So you naturally had some," Octavia said with a slight smile. She knew that many children would have been grieved to realize their parents didn't love each other but thanks to her mother's actions as of late, coming on at once as disinterested and too strong, she found herself not really minding at all. In fact it made her feel better for not caring all that much about seeing her mother. The fuss she had thrown when she'd all but made her second birthday party all about her only to then not bothering to show up to it because of… reasons Octavia still didn't understand but her uncle had claimed her very good ones… still left her bitter.
"Quite right. This isn't quite authentic in terms of how most humans eat it but it seemed like a good mix of refined and utterly unneeded." He opened a box and Octavia forced herself not to squee at the sight of the pizza. She rarely got to indulge herself, only managing a few times to sneak away from her minders in order to try a slice because 'an Ars Goetia doesn't shove such things down their gullets' so a chance to eat up her fill… and with her dad?
Well, Octavia was practically vibrating.
"I thought it would make a good meal for the show."
"The show?" Octavia asked as she grabbed a slice and put it on the paper plate, snagging a napkin as well. A servant brought over a paper cup filled with pop, one that looked similar to the cups they had a Loo-Loo Land which Octavia supposed made sense.
"Yes. While not as impressive as Azathoth's Tears there is supposed to be a meteor shower tonight and I thought we might enjoy it."
"You… you mean it?" Octavia asked, not caring if she sounded stupid because of course her father meant it, they were THERE.
"I am sorry we missed Azathoth's Tears, my dear, and I want to try and make it up to you. I know that-"
Octavia merely smiled.
"Well," Stolas said, grabbing his own piece of pizza. He was about to begin cutting into it when she shook her head. "What?"
"You don't eat it like that, dad!" she teased, making sure to smile so he knew she wasn't upset with him. "You eat it like this." She lifted up the slice and took a bite.
"I… oh. I suppose that makes… some sense." He carefully lifted up his own slice, it clear he was afraid of dropping it, and leaned in to take a nibble. "My goodness!" he exclaimed. "It is at once spicy but also quite delicious, isn't it?"
"It is," Octavia said as she took another bite. "Its perfect though."
"Yes… yes it is," Stolas said, taking a sip of his drink. "You know… perhaps we can make this a regular thing. Slip away to Earth every month or so. Wouldn't have to be the stars we watched either… there are plenty of things we could enjoy here." He paused. "I'm… not entirely sure what, but I'd find out!" He grinned at that, large and broad and so unlike him that it made Octavia beam right back. "Yes… I do believe we are going to do just that!"
Octavia smiled, not needing to say another word.
~MC~MC~MC~
The penthouse was empty as Valentino slouched in, not even bothering to flick on the lights.
He was glad for that. He didn't feel like trying to explain to Vox and Velvette his current state. His coat was a rumpled mess, there were bag under his eyes, his hat was missing its feather… but most damning was how he moved. None of the swagger from a day well spent, confident and bold that he had managed to bring money, power, and influence to the Vees. Nor was there the self-satisfied oozing that came from a day of fucking hard and fast so that his body was screaming for electrolytes.
No… Valentino was tired.
So very… very tired.
"I… used to run this place," he muttered to himself as he moved towards the kitchen. "I used to be the one that made everything rise and fall. The true power behind the Vees." He knew that Vox and Velvette both did a lot but Valentino… well, he was a man of the people. He interacted with them every day. Vox just had his minions and his reporters who heard what he said and moved on; it was why a lot of his plans tended to crash and burn and need to be covered up. Half the time Valentino and Velvette just did it naturally, without a second thought… or a need to tell him. After all, why upset him and reveal that his off the cuff remark to a reporter had caused a social media frenzy or panic in the streets and Velvette and Val were forced to drop everything and clean it up?
And Velvette? Oh, he loved the girl but she was trouble with a capital T when it came to dealing with the powerful. She believed that followers meant power but they didn't… she'd forgotten that half of those retweets and likes were from the very bots the three had created to boost her popularity. So she tended to walk about thinking that at any moment an army of followers would leap to her aid and save her after she 'spoke truth to power'. Vox had spent three hours meeting with Carmilla, convincing her NOT to demand Velvette's head for her insults at the Overlord meeting. There was a reason why Val and Vox had never taken her to meet an Ars Goetia or worst still a Sin; she would say the wrong thing and end up tortured at best.
But Valentino? He worked with people. Was a people person. He managed his clubs, talked with his workers, did his deals in person on the street and not set up in advanced so that every little detail was already ironed out. He understood demons!
"I understand them," he grumbled as he opened the fridge and saw a pizza box. Within were a few slices, at least two days old, and a few sad little dried out bread sticks with a cup barely containing any sauce. All of these he grabbed, not even bothering with things like plates or heating up the food. No… he just sat down at the dining room table, box plopped down beside him, and began to slowly munch on a slice. "I understand people. That's what makes me so good at what I do. I know when to push and I know when to give a light touch. How to draw them in with charm and scare the jizz out of them when I need them to do what I want."
He shook his head in annoyance.
"I… understand… people."
He did.
He… just didn't understand how he'd found himself in this position.
"Edwin…" he hissed, staring at the bracelet. "You're watching me right now, aren't you? Probably getting a good laugh? Well… enjoy it. Because I don't mind you knowing… I'm going to free myself from you. Not sure how but I'm going to free myself from you. But don't worry… I don't want revenge. That's a petty little thing. No… I'll free myself and then that will be that. You and I will be done. Even make a deal that we won't bother each other ever again."
He meant every word. He was now using intermediates, ones whose souls he didn't own, in order for him to purchase the rights to souls. Not claiming them… as that would just make them go instantly to Edwin. He could feel it, every time he made a deal with some pretty young thing that was desperate for fame and fortune: he'd make the deal but the glow would change to Edwin's blue and gold and the contract would shift to him. He was lucky no one other than Angel knew the truth but eventually it would come out, he just knew it. He didn't know why Edwin was prolonging it… most likely out so some sick pleasure… but he was.
So he was gathering the rights to souls. Both for himself and Edwin. The MOMENT he felt like he had more than enough he'd strike the deal, agreeing to give Edwin all those souls if he would just release him. It rarely happened but there were a few cases of Overlords making such deals… usually another Overlord spoke in favor of a soul and convinced the first to surrender their hold. But Val was sure he could do it and he would include in the deal the promise that he wouldn't personally go after Edwin for revenge.
'Of course… that doesn't mean I won't get it…' he thought even as he chewed on the cold pizza in the dark.
~MC~MC~MC~
"If one were to speak hypothetically," Nephthys said slowly, "it could be argued that a god would feel that pizza was one of the few creations of the mortals that outdid all the immortals had ever made."
Joey just chuckled at that. "Man, ya say the strangest things, ya know that?"
Neph, Joey, and Tristan were all gathered at Yugi's place, Yugi's grandpa having bought pizza for all of them as they went over the information that Yugi had learned after the destruction of the KaibaCorp offices.
"There was literally no one who survived?" Tristan asked. While it had been a few days since the building had exploded the hope had been that some workers might have made it out of the blast.
"Well, Rich Boy and Mokuba did," Joey said only for his friends to shoot him a look. "What? I'm glad their alive!" Joey nodded his head firmly but Yugi and the rest of his friends just stared at him.
"…even I don't believe him," Neph stated, "and I still don't understand human, I mean Japanese, emotions."
Joey deflated. "Why are ya pickin' on Joey?" he whined.
Yugi finally turned to Tristan, letting Joey off the hook. "There are only two people that apparently survived, beyond Seto and Mokuba…
~The morning of the bombing~
Tom smiled as he hurried out of the subway station and walked as quickly as he could along the sidewalk. The Duelist had just been hired by Industrial Illusions to run the merchandising department. He had so many great ideas to help making Duel Monsters more than just a game. Plushes. Shirts and hats. Posters with original artwork. Statues and action figures. Duel Monsters was a gold mine and it just needed the right-
He turned the corner and stared at the building that was supposed to be his office… currently burning into rubble.
"…when that old gypsy woman said that some demons would blow up my office I thought she was being metaphorical," he muttered.
Another woman walked up to him and stared.
"…nope," Sally, head of the KaibaCorp Daycare, declared before spinning on her heels and marching right into the bar next door.
Tom, after a minute, joined her.
~MC~MC~MC~
"You are sure what you heard, Yugi?" Tristan asked. "Edwin is in Hell?"
"That's what the little red creatures said," Yugi stated.
'They also insulted our hair!' the Pharaoh complained as he appeared before Yugi. 'You must not forget that!'
"Pharaoh, I think Edwin being in Hell is more important than our hair."
'Edwin would have cared about that insult.' The Pharaoh said, reaching for some pizza only to remember he wasn't actually physically in the room.
"Edwin would care about being tortured!"
Joey and Tristan watched as, to them, Yugi argued with thin air. "Man I hate it when Yug fights with his imaginary girlfriend."
"Especially because his real one is right here," Neph stated.
"…what?" Joey said, looking at the Egyptian woman.
"I am his girlfriend. He has offered me a place at his table and food. That makes us a couple. If he gives my father a proper sacrifice then we will be married and upon his maturity I will give him many strong sons and daughters."
Tristan pouted. "How is it that Yugi gets two girlfriends and I can't get none."
"I was under the assumption you and Loud Blond One were dating," Neph stated.
"Heheh, she thinks you're datin' a loud blond, Tristan!" Joey said, flicking some of his blond locks out his eyes.
Yugi finally turned back to the gang. "Those strange creatures stated that Edwin was in Hell. They mentioned him by name!"
"Describe them," Neph stated and Yugi quickly did so. "Imps. They were imps and they are from Hell." She frowned. "But… why would Edwin be in a Hell that has Imps?"
"What do ya mean?" Joey asked, confused.
"While there are thousands of afterlifes most of them have also their own worlds they are tied to. For our world it is the traditional Hell as well as underworlds such as the Field of Reeds. I have… never heard of Imps in a Hell connected to this world." She frowned at that. "No wonder we couldn't find him…"
Yugi sighed. "So Edwin is in Hell and we have to find a way to help him. He doesn't deserve to be tortured! He must be suffering!"
~MC~MC~MC~
"I'm not sure the hokey pokey is a traditional dance to perform after eating pizza!" Edwin called out as Charlie led the whole group in the dance. "Meh, I'll go with it. Wheeeeeeeeee!"
~MC~MC~MC~
"So what, Yugi?" Tristan asked. "You want us to storm the gates of Hell?"
"Course we're gonna do that!" Joey declared, puffing out his chest. "Dem demons won't be able ta stop us!"
"Joey," Tristan said slowly. "Its HELL."
"Ed would do it for us," Joey pointed out and that caused Tristan to wince.
"He would," Neph said, to the surprise of all. "I have only heard of him but Edwin Chaos was a great man. One who fought because he cared so much for life… his own and those around him. One that any person, mortal or god, would be proud to stand with. I fear Earth is just a bit darker without him on it, and the Field of Reeds weeps that he is not amongst its many numbers." But then she paused and a smile formed on her lips. "But I also know that whatever Hell he has found himself in… he is making every demon within plead for mercy."
~Meanwhile…~
"No more!" Charlie pleaded. "I think I'm going to burst!"
"But we have home made ice cream and brownies!" Edwin declared, which caused all of the demons in the dining room to groan… even as they made sure there was plenty of room for the dessert he was bringing out.
~MC~MC~MC~
"That might be but it don't mean we ain't gonna go rushin' in there ta help Ed out!" Joey said, smacking his hand against the table. "We get swords and guns and all dat and we storm whatever gate or doorway or portal or whatever whatsit that is in our way and we get Ed back!"
"Without a body," Tristan pointed out.
"Bodies are quite overrated," Neph said as she sipped her pop.
"I don't think we need to go that far," Yugi said.
"What are you thinking, Yugi?" Tristan asked. "Of course we can't just go on with our lives if Edwin truly is in danger but we need to be smart about this."
"I think… we need to try and contact Tea and Selene. They might be able to help Edwin out. Or at least do it far better than we could."
They all sat quietly at that.
"Not it!" Joey exclaimed, touching the side of his nose, Tristan and, shockingly, Nephthys doing the same thing, leaving Yugi blinking in surprise.
"I was taught this by Isis… who is my sister named after a goddess and not a goddess myself."
"Such strange things," Joey muttered.
~MC~MC~MC~
"Alright, let it never be said I don't do things for any of ya!" Blitzo said as he slid several pizza boxes across the table.
"Aw, Blitzo!" Millie gushed, beaming at her boss. "That is so sweet of you!"
"What's the catch?" Moxie asked, far less pleased than his wife.
"For once I find myself agreeing with Fattie here," Loona said. "And it should tell you that this is a dangerous situation if he isn't instantly shoving all of this down his gullet."
"I am not fat!"
"Of course not, Mox," Blitzo stated, "you just got plenty of cushion for the pushin'. Which hey, if Mills wants to feel like she's getting pounding by a bag of lumpy mash potatoes then good on her. I will never kink shame anyone."
He paused.
"Unless its fucking kids. Even I have standards, as low as they might be." He, and the rest of I.M.P. all turned and stared at the same 4th wall of their office. "I don't care if ya get off on werewolves or Godzilla or tall muscular women like some fanfic writers do… that's fine. But kids are fucking off limits."
And then the assassins all turned their attention back to the pizza, Millie moving to the breakroom area to snag some plates and napkins. They had been plotting out their next attempt of the Kaiba Brothers and the food had come at the perfect moment as they'd all gotten so hungry that Millie had begun discussing killing them at a Subway.
"Now then, Moxie, what is this about you taking my generous good nature and throwing it in my face much like how you throw cupcakes into yours?"
"Sir, I know you," Moxie said, ignoring the comment about his weight. "You never give anything away for free."
"That is simply not true."
"I saw you once demand a hobo pay you for a candy bar wrapper you dropped in front of them!"
Blitzo waved him off. "Come on, Mox, that is just common sense. You know the old story: if you give a mouse a cookie then you aren't getting anything for dinner, that was all we had to give you ya ungrateful little bastard! Now get out there and perform with Fizz!"
Millie, Loona, and Moxie just stared at Blitzo.
"What? You never got that bedtime story."
"My father just told me be quiet or he'd use me as a set of nipple clamps for the next 'cum dump I stick my dick into to make a proper heir'," Moxie said darkly, Millie rubbing his back.
Blitzo reached out and placed his hand on Moxie's shoulder. "Listen, we get it. Your dad was a piece of shit and that's coming from someone who isn't 100% certain his old man wasn't literally a piece of shit disguising themselves as an imp. And its clear that his actions caused you to develop trust issues… much like how they caused you to develop your eating disorder." Moxie opened his mouth to protest that he was NOT fat but Blitzo merely pressed a finger to his lips. "Shhh shhh shhh. Listen, cuddle bunny… I know it is hard to let others in. You've been hurt and its easier to just shield your heart so you never feel the pain again. But we are all here for you and I promise if you just trust us a little bit… oh, the joy that will fill your life!" Blitzo pressed his face against Moxie's, stars in his eyes.
Moxie considered what his boss had just told him.
"…you stole these pizzas, didn't you?"
"HEY!" someone screamed outside the office, pounding on the door. "I saw you break into my car, fucker! Give those pizzas back!"
"I deny the accusation and on a totally unrelated note feel free to waste the motherfucker trying to come in!" Blitzo grabbed a few slices and ran for his office. "This counts as your lunch break!"
~MC~MC~MC~
"A… tournament?" Greta asked.
Cecelia nodded as she dabbed her mouth with her napkin; they were trying pizza from a new restaurant that had opened up near their apartment and while it was very good it wasn't the cleanest thing to eat. Even trying to cut it with a knife and fork (something Greta kept teasing her about) still left her covered in sauce.
"Yes… I think that is the best way to truly push Duel Monsters to the forefront of Hell society. A tournament to get everyone talking. Those that play the game will do all they can to be a part of it and spend more money to get their decks ready. And those that don't will be interested because others are talking about it and be drawn into the game."
"Getting us more clients," Greta said with a grin.
"And more money!" Cecelia said with a cackle, rubbing her hands together. Her roommate looked at her and she shrugged. "What? I love money. And I have been without it so long… I feel like a whore on a dry spell and I'm ready for all those 20s, 50s, and 100s to run a train on me."
"This is disturbing," Greta said. "Yet… arousing." She grabbed another slice of pizza. "Got a name for it yet?"
"Stanton suggested 'Duelist Kingdom' but that's not a good name at all," Cecelia stated. "I'm thinking… The Hellfire Gala."
"oooo, I love it!"
~Meanwhile, on Earth…~
The head of Disney suddenly looked up.
"Marge," he said, touching his intercom, "call the lawyers."
~MC~MC~MC~
On the outskirts of Pentagram City sat The Fallen Slums. This was where the newest arrivals to Hell, along with those Sinner Demons who had found themselves on hard times, ended up finding themselves. At best it would be a temporary stop for the new arrivals, where they would gather themselves after finding themselves damned before making their way into the city to make their fortune. At worst… they would never leave the Slums.
It was a place of desperation. The wails and screams of those that were in denial over their fate constantly filled the air. Degenerate Sinner Demons who couldn't handle the (laughable) order of Pentagram City came to The Fallen Slums in order to blow off steam. Others went to the Slums hunting for "fresh meat". Valentino would send low level employees to see if there were new gals and guys for his clubs. Other businessmen came promising freedom but instead quickly gained new slaves. The entire place was situated on sulfur vents that burst with the disgusting gas nearly as much as they did flames.
Those that had near death experiences witnessed The Slums and thus that shaped entirely their view of Hell. Thus why many who ended up in the Slums reacted so poorly. It was only when they learned of the larger scope of Hell that they began to settle into their new existence… assuming they were able to move beyond their grief.
Thus it was a VERY confused pizza delivery boy who found himself stopping before the outskirts of The Slums, several pizzas loaded in his car.
"Uh… hello?" he called out, barely cracking his window. "Order for…" He looked at the receipt. "Six… small baby rocks dragons? The fuck?"
"Here!"
The delivery boy slowly opened his door and looked down… and down… staring at, quite shockingly, five small little bipedal rock dragons that did look a bit like babies. Well, if babies were 6 inches tall. The fivesome had white marble-like skin and glowing blue eyes and while it was clear they were dragons thanks to their wings and such there was also enough, for lack of a better word, 'human' traits in their face to make the driver realize they were more than mere beasts. They smiled and waved at him, causing him to tilt his head.
"….aw," he said softly, leaning out further from of his car. "Wait… didn't it say six?"
And that's when he felt the knife pressed to his throat.
"Tada!" a sixth rock dragon declared, the others giggling as they stole the pizzas.
"Come on, man! At least be badasses who rob me!" the delivery boy yelled, the dragons quickly running away from him, cackling the entire time. "I am getting so in trouble for this…" he muttered.
The little rock dragons hurried into an abandoned building, coming to a stop before a larger rock dragon, this one the size of a grown woman.
"Good work!" she said cheerfully, taking the pizzas… before smashing the six with a mallet, scooping up the crumbled remains and swallowing them. "Very good work…"
With that she quietly walked further inside.