"So… what do you have planned for your daaaaaaate?"

I glanced over at Cassie, who was currently curled up on one of the red love seats, phone out and scrolling through Sinnergram and Sinner. I had at least gotten her to wear a blanket once I realized that she was walking around completely naked and I knew I needed to get her to a tailor stat. She needed clothing she was comfy in. As if sensing what I was thinking she purposely lifted up the blanket to show off her bare leg; thank God I knew she was Ace as shit. As such I just rolled my eyes. "Must you say it like that?"

"yeeeeeeeeess," she teased. "Because you haaaaaaaaaaaaaate it."

Cassie had come over to the Hotel to hang out, needing a break from the rest of the KaibaCrew. Which I understood as dealing with everyone for as long as she had, enclosed in a small space, would make anyone a bit stir crazy. Even with all we had done to make the warehouse a bit more homey over the last few days it still was a big warehouse. And no one was allowed to leave until I had enough Millennium eyes made so I could keep an eye on them. With Cassie's soul now mine I was able to trust her walking around and she was allowed out… though so far she'd only gone to Hazbin and, one morning, to go get bubble tea. I had thought the bubbles would be eyes or something sick like that but no… just bubble tea.

I frowned as a thought bounced in my brain and led to another one. "So… you've been cooped up a bit with the others, right?" Cassie flashed me a look, it clear I had said something stupid. I didn't care. "I'm just wondering… the Baby Dragons. They are connected to you, right? Extensions of yourself just… more ego that id?"

"It's the other way around."

"…you sure?"

"Positive."

"Huh." I shrugged. "Point is, the Baby Dragons are just you, with more Id. No impulse control. Do you think the reason why they are… the way they are… is because you were going stir crazy and now they might calm down?"

"Let's find out." And before I could stop her Cassie shifted and a baby dragon popped out from under the blanket and giggled. "Go do whatever you want. Don't get in trouble."

"…yay!" The baby leapt down and scurried off as quickly as she could.

"What happens next is your fault," she commented before going back to her phone. "So. Daaaaaaaaaate?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I am going on a date. With Velvette. Why is everyone making this such a big deal?"

I knew why it was a big deal.

I was the youngest Overlord in Hell, if one took in account how quickly I had reached the rank. Technically Alastor held the record but considering he'd never actually tried to claim it I was willing to bet that he knew it wasn't his. Velvette was the youngest Overlord in terms of age when she had died, which also means something in Hell. Sinners don't age but they seem to tend to keep the maturity they had when they died. I had run into plenty of teenage sociopaths. The delusional school shooters. The cultists who thought Hell would be a party. The runaways who killed and then were killed because the millstone is always grinding grinding grinding. I had enslaved plenty of them and those that bragged about the people they had killed had either found themselves strangled with Gleipnir or stabbed with one of my Angelic Steel Daggers.

And that was if I was kind.

On Earth I had decided, in order to protect certain things that I NEVER wanted in any hands but my own, to create a lockbox only I could get into. Take a safe and sink it into the ocean. Open it from my apartment and I could grab what I wanted, no danger. In Hell I had modified things. Build a steel box with no door, bury it deep. Have a single door built inside of it, connected to the ceiling and floor but nothing else. Useless to the prisoner if they ever got free… but allowed me to enter and have my fun. I had about 20 demons currently buried alive, waiting for me to play with them. I had learned that so long as I kept it just close enough to the surface that some air could get into it they wouldn't die and resurrect. They would pass out only to awaken, over and over. It was like they were being strangled only for their killer to release them at the last second.

That… was just enough torture. Normally.

But sometimes I needed to… work off some stress.

The point was though that most Sinners who died young always acted young. Remained young. Young and stupid. And that didn't let one rise to the rank of Overlord.

"To be an Overlord…" I whispered softly.

"Huh?" Cassie said and I realized I'd spoken aloud. But I also realized I wanted her to hear this.

"To be an Overlord… you have to be smart. You can't act rash. That's why the likes of Cherri Bomb or Sir Pentious will never be Overlords. They act too quickly, without a plan. You have to be able to plot. To scheme. To gather your power and understand that power breeds power, just like money breeds money. Its like playing the stock market. You make your power work for you."

"Ooookay," Cassie said slowly.

"I just… I get why this is a big deal," I stated. "This is two Overlords going on a date and if things go well, it's the chance for us to merge our power together. The Vees were powerful but there were other Demons that had greater strength than them in the beginning. It was only when Valentino and Vox began to work together that they were able to make themselves truly power players. And Velvette added to the mix only made them even stronger. And now… well… if me and her hit it off? That could change so many things. What if I join with the Vees? What if I pull Velvette away from them and make me and her a duo? What would that mean?"

I didn't mention that I still controlled all the souls that Valentino had claimed. While he was now Alastor's our deal had allowed me to keep everything that was his, not that he realized it quite yet. Meaning that I was already part of the trinity and my involvement with Velvette would-

"Huh," Cassie said, tilting her phone. "You know, she kinda looks like a girl I went to high school with. Marissa Velveteen."

"…great chatting with you Cassie," I muttered.

"Oh fuck off, you were rambling!" she complained. "Now, good on you for realizing that this date is important. Been a while since you've been on one, right?"

'Depends on how you measure it,' I thought to myself. 'I mean, if you go by my actual age and the Chaos Contract mess its been… fucking millennia.' Out loud I said, "Mai and I did a double date with Yugi and Tea before Battle City."

"So a few months. And that was you two basically being chaperones. No… you haven't had a proper date in a while so I guess…" she sat up with a groan, "…we all need to help you out."

"Uh… when is the last time YOU dated."

"I have read a LOT of fanfics."

"…that isn't instilling a lot of hope in me," I said.

"Come on, you were taking me to get new outfits, we can get you a good suit. You can't go on a date wearing that thing!" She gestured at my outfit, which was a mix of my original Battle City outfit and custom jewelry pieces I had made to make it look a bit nicer. "You need something new… come on!"

I sighed and rolled my shoulders; I knew she was right but that didn't mean I was going to enjoy any of this.

Cassie and I were just to the door before there was a scream… and Angel rushed in, Cassie's baby dragon wearing a little cowboy outfit, digging her spurs into his sides as she cackled in delight.

I watched on, ignoring the feeling of Cassie's burning glare.

~MC~MC~MC~

Tea watched as Adam munched on his plate of ribs and did all she could not to gag at the sight of it.

No… that wasn't her actual first reaction. What she REALLY wanted to do was smite him. To blast him with magic until there was nothing left and then blast his chair so she could rid herself of whatever stains he might have gotten on it. To swell her body to her titan form and grind him into a fine powder under her heel; despite all of Selene's talk they had basically remained mortal size for much of her time as a goddess, only going giant size when dealing with a few gods and titan on her birthday when Selene had-

Tea bit her lip as she tried not to blush over that. She had been straight as could be when she had been a human but apparently sharing in Selene's power had also made her share in her sister goddess' bisexuality, leading Tea and her to get into things… and positions… she'd never considered before.

Case in point: Lute.

The angel was cold and harsh. She was a knife left out in the snow. She would cut and it would burn in the worst possible way. But Selene and Tea, both on their own, had seen how her outfit clung to her body and despite the lack of curves both had wanted to know what was underneath her armor. What she was like in bed. She was a warrior… strong, flexible. She had to be able to do so many interesting things.

But Tea and Selene had agreed that Lute wouldn't just jump into bed with them. No… she would sense it was a trap. Which it was, but not in the way she would think it would be. Lute would assume it was about harming Heaven when in reality it was all about getting a taste of Angel and, if they liked it, never let her go. Tame her like ancient man had tamed wolves and make her their loyal little pet…

'Need to get my head clear,' she thought to herself, trying not to squirm in her seat. She needed to focus on the discussions they were having, not on what might happen afterwards. After all, the angels were going to be staying with them for a while, as Selene had invited them to visit for a week. Plenty of time for negotiations concerning the afterlifes they managed and to treat them as honored guests.

"It's a Greek thing," Selene had simply said when Adam had asked her about it. And then Tea had looked at Lute and wanted to offer her all sorts of new and wonderful guest rights…

'Stop it. Think of something else. Anything else. Something to keep you from being aroused.'

"So then I told Eve, "Hey, lets call it the titmouse!" Get it?"

Tea looked at Adam and let out a sigh of relief. Arousal… gone.

"Delightful," Selene said, stabbing a strawberry with her nail and nibbling on it.

"So…" Tea said, turning to Odion. "Angel?"

"Yes," he said. "It felt right. Goddess?"

"My brother died."

"I am aware. I am sorry."

Tea nodded in thanks at that. "And… I'm sorry you died."

"Thankfully life is not everything there is to existence," he had replied to her. "Though I admit… I had been expecting something else."

"Oh?"

"I am Egyptian. I follow the Egyptian Gods. I was ready to face the judgement of Anubis. To have him pull out my heart and weight it against a feather, to see if I had remained light enough, unburdened by darkness, in order to enter into the Field of Reeds." He looked over at Adam who was still talking with Selene. "To arrive in what is most likely a Christian Heaven is… odd."

That… made Tea frown. "Have you noticed if there are any other people who feel the same way? That they aren't in the right afterlife?"

Odion considered that. "I have mostly spent time with Master Adam but… yes, there have been a few that expressed shock in where they ended up."

That made Tea's mind whirl. 'What if that is why we haven't been able to find Edwin, despite the bounties Selene has put out? We know he didn't end up in the afterlife of my world but we assumed that just meant that he had been stolen by one of the other Death Gods.' They had tried to find Brom and discuss with him the matter but the ancient Death God had disappeared, unable to be found. Tea had been hoping he might have a clue on with Dead Gatherer had claimed Edwin's soul. 'But… if something is forcing people to go to a particular afterlife…'

She looked at Selene as she continued to talk with Adam. Suddenly the negotiations had become FAR more important.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Alright, so remember you need to brush your teeth," Vox said as he went through the checklist. He was pacing up and down the large common area of the Vees' tower home, a pad of paper in hand as he went through each item he'd written down. "Cerberus said he wants this to be a real date so that means he's going to want a lot of kisses and nothing would be worse than you tasting like you gargled with rotten bananas." He tapped his chin. "Do you have a tongue scrapper? As the night goes on you two might begin Frenching and you want to make sure your tongue is ready-"

"For fuck's sake Val, I know how ta go on a bloody date!" Velvette complained from where she was lounging on the chaise seat; it was funny because… well… yeah.

"Do you though?" Vox said and his tone wasn't teasing at all. "Do you?"

"Fuck off ya flat screen fuck!"

Vox though frowned and walked over to her. "Flat screen fuck? That is a rather tame insult for you." He motioned for her to swing her legs over and Velvete… refused. But she did lift her legs up and let him sit down, the demoness lowering her legs back down on his lap in a show of dominance. "You really are nervous about this date, aren't you?"

"…no," Velvette said, trying to project her words in a confident and powerful way. She could tell from the way Vox was looking at her that she had failed on that mark. "Just want ta win this bet, ya know? Give'em a date he's never gonna forget and have him pleading for more sex which I can give… or not! I can also not give it!"

Vox though smiled ruefully. "Its okay to want it to be something more, you know?"

"You're just fuckin' sayin' that because ya want him ta join us."

"Well, yeah, I mean of course I fucking do! Did you see how he was out there? And how quickly he rose up? I mean sure, its not mass media but we can work on that. Val wasn't into making movies before I came along and said "Hey, those two chicks working together to polish that demon's rod? You know what would make it even better? If you filmed it and claimed they had to do it in order to pay off their college loans!" And the rest is history. We get him to host some arts show or something, I don't know just spitballing here. And even if he isn't interested he is still a powerful Overlord that joined with us. I mean trinities are good but a foursome would be fucking amazing and make all of the other Overlords stop looking down at us!"

Velvette shot him a dry look at that. "Like I said-"

"But," he continued on, "if you actually want to date this guy and have some fun? I want that for you too. I worry about you, VeVe. Sometimes you seem so… pent up. Frustrated. You need someone you can actually talk to. Be honest with. Like me with Val!"

~Meanwhile~

"He… he must have sold my soul," Valentino whispered to himself as he sat in the back office of one of his lesser clubs. No one knew he was there and that's exactly how he wanted it. He didn't need ANYONE to realize he was there, trying to work out the latest shit twist of his life. "he sold my soul and that's why he didn't summon me." He reached up and dabbed some red drool from his lips. "But… but he summoned all the souls I collected. He summoned every last one of them. Someone… someone is going to find out! And then everyone will find out!"

And when they did… it was all over.

~MC~MC~MC~

"And I think… I think you want that to, don't you?"

"What?" Velvette complained. "No I fucking don't! Or… I mean… sure, that might… might be nice. I mean, I don't want to end up with someone I have to lie to for the rest of my fucking existence. But I don't need anyone at all!" She sniffed. "I am a strong, independent woman who doesn't need no man."

"That's a double negative," Vox pointed out.

Velvette did the math… and growled. "FUCK!"

"Or sweet, sweet love making with dear Edwin," Vox teased lightly before he patted her calf. "Its alright! It is! No judging from me! Hell, have you seen me judge you once during all of this?"

"I mean… you have been busy with things so maybe you have when I wasn't around?" She winced at how pathetic that sounded.

"I haven't judged," Vox repeated. "I get wanting this date to go well. You want it to be something special and wonderful not just because you hope it because something more but because you deserve to have at least one date where its special."

"…this isn't doin' anything to help me settle down," Velvette complained.

"Which is why we have the list!" Vox declared happily. "Alright, what's next? Right… deodorant. Make sure you have some, maybe pack a bit extra in your purse in case you two do get hot and heavy. Might not hurt to have some spray for you pussy to make it smell-"

"Satan's taint, Vox!" Velvette screamed.

"Huh," he said as he tapped her shoe. "Foot powder also-"

Velvette tried to kick in in the face.

~MC~MC~MC~

Edwin slowly walked into his room, at once feeling the spirits of Kul Elna burst from his body, Jackie leaping from his shoulders and moving to stand in front of him.

It was date night.

Such a simple term for something everyone was treating as a massive deal. Which Edwin knew was a massive deal. It felt like it should have a grander term but… well… it was just 'date night'.

Meanwhile, at the Vees' Tower, Velvette stood in front of her eager workers and assistants, each one knowing that if they fucked this up they would be lucky if they were fired so brutally that turning tricks on street corners would be seen as coming out ahead.

Edwin took a deep breath.

Velvette shut her eyes.

Qeb movedto put on some music.

"Alright…" the two said from different parts of Hell, "let's do this."

If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits?
Puttin' on the Ritz

The thieves swirled around Edwin ,stripping his naked and setting to work grooming him. His beard was trimmed, nails clipped. Lotions applied to rough spots on his hands and every crevice checked to ensure that it was dry and clean. His mouth gently forced open so they could floss and brush his teeth, scrapping his tongue while others ran their fingers through his hair, ensuring that there was no need to shower again.

Different types who wear a day coat
Pants with stripes and cutaway coat, perfect fits
Puttin' on the Ritz

Velvette lounged in a spa chair, completely nude as her assistants got to work. A face cream was slathered over her cheeks and forehead, a pair of cucumbers placed over her eyes. Her bare feet placed in tubs filled with tiny little fish that ate away at the dead skin cells, making them baby smooth. Arms were lifted up and the finest of razors used to removed every speck of hair before creams were put on to ensure she didn't feel an ounce of discomfort.

Dressed up like a million-dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come, let's mix where Rockefellers
Walk with sticks or umbrellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz

The thieves flew about the room, grabbing the clothing that Edwin had gotten specially made for the date. He had HATED spending so much money on clothes, as it was something in both life and death he had always been frugal on, but the Thieves, Cassie, and the rest of the Hotel Staff had pressured him to go all out. A brand new suit, cut to exact measurements, designed to perfectly move with him. Shoes that had been hand cobbled around the size and shape of his feet and were buffed to a mirror shine. Cuff links he himself had forged, designed to resemble the Millennium Symbol. A coat that hung down to his ankles. Everything to show the world just how serious he was about the date.

Have you seen the well-to-do
Up and down Park Avenue?
On that famous thoroughfare
With their noses in the air
High hats and Arrow collars
White spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime for a wonderful time

Velvette was silent as she used her powers to change the different outfits she was wearing. A gray dress? Ugly and clashed with her skin. A pantsuit? She wasn't staging a hostile take over in the fucking eighties. A white frilly baby doll dress? Clearly a first draft that needed to be forever forgotten. A long fur coat and a off the shoulder number? Better but not quite right. A sleek black dress with a heart cut out of the center to show off her cleavage and boots that turned into straps that wrapped and hugged her calves?

Perfect.

If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits?
Puttin' on the Ritz

Edwin's head was forced first to the right and then the left as dabs of cologne were put on his neck, just enough to hint, not enough to overpower. He merely rolled his eyes but Layla smacked his shoulder with the lint brush she was using and he quickly stopped being 'overly dramatic'.

Different types who wear a day coat
Pants with stripes and cutaway coat, perfect fits
Puttin' on the Ritz

Velvette fought the urge to snap at the assistants as they worked on her hair, straightening it and carefully working gels into it so that it would get in the perfect shape. Meanwhile others used tweezers to sculpt her eyebrows, removing any loose hairs that would make her look like a bushy mess. They shifted to her makeup, carefully applying the eyeliner and lipstick that made her features pop all the more.

Dressed up like a million-dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come, let's mix where Rockefellers
Walk with sticks or umbrellas in their mitts
Puttin' on the Ritz

Edwin frowned as the thieves clicked their heels together… and were suddenly wearing tap shoes. To the sound of the song they began to tap dance around him, clearly getting into it as they grabbed the last few things he would need. His wallet. His phone. Gleipnir, which twisted and converted so the head now resembled Jackie's leering face. They threw out their hands as Edwin walked out of the room, the demon doing all he could not to pay attention to the staff that clearly was watching him but didn't want him to know they were watching or had been eavesdropping.

Dressed up like a million-dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to
Why don't you go where fashion sits?

The assistants all stood at attention as Velvette got into the limo, smiling and bowing their heads as she drove off, Vox crying loudly and dramatically.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Edwin walked down the stairs, Jackie moving to settle on his shoulders.

Puttin' on the Ritz

The limo pulled up the Hazbin Hotel, the driver hurrying out so he could open to the door for Velvette, who looked at the building for a moment before stepping out.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Edwin took a deep breath as he settled himself in the center of the lobby.

Puttin' on the Ritz

Velvette opened the door.

~MC~MC~MC~

'Well… this place ain't a complete dump,' Velvette thought to herself as she entered into the hotel. When she had heard that the Princess of Hell had bought the run down joint she, along with pretty much everyone in Hell, had snicked and laughed. Oh, they hadn't done so fully and openly. While some like Katie Killjoy had no problems insulting Charlie Morningstar enough demons remembered her daddy was the King of Hell and he REALLY didn't like it when people messed with his baby girl. Alastor joining forces with her had silenced even more people; they were dismissive, yes, and thought her dream was a joke, but they were a lot more careful how they talked about it.

And then Edwin had announced that he was entering into a partnership with Charlie…

Well… Hell had seen what Edwin would do to protect his friends. His business? That would be a different story.

Looking around Hazbin she had to admit that it had been improved. The lobby looked nice and…

Velvette blinked. Was… was that an arcade? And a restaurant. Not opened yet but…

"Velvette," Edwin said as he walked up to her and she quickly switched her focus back onto him. He was dressed… well, he was dressed perfectly. Fancy enough to show he was treating this as a respectable date but not so much that it was clear he was trying to impress her. No top hat and white gloves as some might had done. "I figured that flowers are cheap and a pain to deal with so…" he trailed off as he pulled a box out of his pocket.

Velvette did her best not to snatch it up. It was a present. A present in a jewelry box. A present in a jewelry box given by Hell's best jeweler.

Opening it up with all the giddiness of a girl on Sinmas she beamed as she lifted up the bracelet. It was made of a fine gold, thin but very clearly well crafted. The light seemed to dance upon it and she could twisted it one way and then the other before looking at Edwin and smirking.

"Well, you know how to make an impression," she said. Velvette moved to put it on but Edwin was one step ahead, gently taking her wrist before he undid the clasp and put the piece on her. She could feel the heat from his fingertips as they brushed her skin; the news was claiming he had some sort of fire powers but Velvette didn't think that. No… this heat reminded her of something else. Something different…

It suddenly struck her. A memory.

Her outside sitting on a bench, the sun warm and bright on her skin, making her feel lazy and content.

The sun. It had been a while since she'd felt the sun… and Edwin was radiating its warmth.

"So… want a tour?" Edwin asked her.

"Wha-?" Velvette asked, shaking herself out of her thoughts. Just being near him… she hadn't noticed before the warmth. And it was making it so whatever scent he was wearing was becoming a Good Smell Incense Burner. She gave herself a mental slap. 'Get ahold of yourself… you are here ta seduce him, not the other way around!' Deciding to take back control she flashed a sharp smile and took his arm. "That would be lovely."

"its not much yet," Edwin said as he began to guide her out of the lobby and to where the storefronts were. "My place is the only one set up at the moment. But we have a restaurant being put in by an up and coming chef… she's going to take the pride ring by storm."

"Oh, now you are being cruel," Velvette teased. "Its not open so we can't enjoy it."

But Edwin merely smirked. "Oh, I've rented a private room across town and she is going to be cooking for us. Like the Chef's table, best seat in the house."

Velvette raised an eyebrow at that. "Impressive," she admitted.

"After that I've arranged for us to take a tour of the Glass Gardens of Moria McGown," Edwin stated.

That caused Velvette to stare at him, even more surprised. The Glass Gardens were prized by McGown; it was said that she had been the wife of an Overlord and when he had died in an Extermination she had turned the gardens into a place of retreat. Rare was it that anyone was let inside. Velvette had done an entire video about her just TRYING to get it, as about 2 years ago that had been the popular thing to do. Show how creative you could get in trying to sneak in… and how creative they could get kicking you out. McGown had a fierce temper and a vile tongue and could curse up a storm. And very creatively, as suiting someone from Scotland originally. When she had kicked Velvette out she had made so many insults about her that were so unique that they had left her so startled and stunned she hadn't ever signed off properly, just ending the stream. And Velvette had never been able to muster the energy to take revenge against the woman, because she didn't want another tongue lashing.

McGown wasn't a shut in. She liked to travel and be seen about. She had friends. And she would occasional hold dinner parties in her gardens, which were always the talk of Hell. The glass, it was said, was custom made so that all of the Pride Ring could see inside… but you couldn't see Hell from within. It was a taunting treat you couldn't touch while those inside never noticed those gawkers dreaming openly of getting a chance to look inside.

And Edwin… had gotten an invite.

"How did you manage that?"

"People go about it all wrong," Edwin stated with a shrug. "They try to bribe her. Cozy up to her. Play as a fake friend."

"And you?"

"I found a way," he stated.

Velvette frowned at that, the two of them stopping at what was going to be, according to the sign on the window of the half finished shop, a card shop. "What?"

"Oh, if you want to know… you'll have to ask again later."

And the bastard smiled.