[ That was how it was for him. It was unfortunate, too, because it had at one time been a common name and perfectly moderately priced brand. It was also one that hadn't stood the passage of time, but few ever did. But the mention of stealing his desired brand earned a chuckle, because he hadn't missed the fact that Vox always kept his favored type on him, and here and there he would bum a cigarette off the other.
He tore the seal of the pack before popping it open and removing one. He used Vox as his makeshift lighter next, just as he had done a hundred times before. He carried a lighter on him, but it was one of those small shows of courtesy and affection between the two of them.
He took a drag from his cigarette and felt instant relief. The still-open carton was held up next, tilted in Vox's direction so he could take one if desired. ]
I took my first look at my gilded cage. I must say, Heaven is far too bright for my liking. There's too much gold, too. It's tacky.
You should see their giant meeting room; sunglasses are required if you don’t want it burned into your retina. Velvette has been complaining about all the gauche bullshit since we took over. She has “big plans”; I haven’t asked her what but I trust her, as long as she remains within budget for the fiscal year.
[That was a small admission, trusting a person, something he didn’t admit very easily about anyone. But her vision had never led them astray; it was her arrogance that was dangerous. That wasn’t for this discussion, though; the last thing he wanted was for Alastor to go on complaining about how Vox couldn’t do anything on his own.
His fingers grabbed the offered cigarette, leaned forward, and touched the end to Alastor’s. Breathing it in, the embers flared to red life, before he pulled back and blew out the smoke. This was the calmest they had ever been with each other in decades, and it felt just as familiar as it did confusing. The reminder that he couldn’t trust him was scratching at the back of his brain, at the ports, and the electrical beating of his heart.
There were no friends in Hell, right?]
At least we got the cameras up.
[That had been the first order of business, to no one’s surprise. He took another drag from the cigarette, eyes still on Alastor. How long until he fucked it up and broke their fragile, momentary truce? Ten minutes? Twenty?]
If you can behave for a week, I’ll let you go Exorcist hunting. [See? It’s not reaaaaally a cage.] Maybe we can go together.
[ It felt like the calm before the storm, but there was no point to being antagonistic right now. Alastor was in a position where all he had were words. His were as sharp as any knife, but if there was nothing to be gained from it, and it was all bark and no bite, then what was the point? Until he could come up with his next plan, it was to his benefit to play nice.
He watched as the end of Vox's cigarette began to glow, briefly mesmerized by the sight. When was the last time he'd smoked with another person...? He couldn't remember. He shared a drink with Husk every now and then, but that was a soul he owned, and even then it was only so often. Alastor preferred to take everything in private these days.
Hhe leaned forward as Vox continued, and he reached out to take the ashtray off of the nightstand before setting it on his thigh. He tapped the cigarette against the edge of it. The mention of cameras caused his nose to wrinkle, but it came as no surprise. It was precisely what he would expect Vox to prioritize. The same could be said of Velvette with the interior design. Heaven was a perfectly nice place, and Hell's residents would ruin it. ]
That won't be happening.
[ It was quite direct, but there was no malice to it. They both knew it was true. Alastor wasn't one to follow the direction and orders of others, but one who would start to bite the moment he felt cornered, and he'd try to chew through any leash and collar that was put on it. He tilted his head back before adding, ]
I'm surprised that there's any left.
[ Vox said they'd killed thousands, but millions was more likely. And they did so with a zealous fervor that even the cruelest demon couldn't hope to match. The denizens of Hell had every reason to slaughter them without even a shred of mercy. ]
[No date. No going out on a great angelic hunt. It wasn’t how Vox usually did a murder, but it might have been fun. He shrugged, allowing the moment to pass and letting it go. Of course Alastor wouldn’t play fair. Of course he was a brat.
Of course all of this was a game. What else would it ever be?
Brick by brick, the walls were going up.]
They’re like cockroaches, skittering away. [His free hand made running motions with his fingers.] I doubt we got all of them, but we sure took a damn good chunk out of their army. They certainly don’t have enough to stand against us now.
[Now. The future may be different.
But the lowered numbers made the execution of them too easy. It was fine, far more efficient in the grand scheme of things, which allowed him to get back to the important stuff at hand. He took another drag, felt the smoke in his wires, his chest, then tapped the ashes off into the ashtray. His other hand slid into the folds of his bowtie and tugged, unraveling it until it hung loosely and open around his neck.]
So, how many murder attempts do I have to watch out for tonight? An average person would wait until I’m asleep, but I know you want the fight.
[ That was true. In cases like this, there would always be stragglers. It was no different than how the hotel's residents had slipped through Vox's fingers, though he would no doubt have preferred to take care of them quickly. That thought did bother him a little. He didn't much care about most of them, but Husk and Niffty were bound to him. To lose them would be akin to having a piece of him torn out, and he did briefly wonder if it would make things better or worse to tell Vox to leave them.
He took a pull on his cigarette, mesmerized by the clouds of smoke that they created with each exhale.
Maybe he would stick to mentioning how wasteful it was just to murder those angels. It wouldn't hurt him any to induge Alastor's unique tastes, and for someone who indulged in the taste of flesh, angel was the finest delicacy.
He tucked those ideas for later. For now, he just shook his head. ]
As much as I would love to, killing you isn't an option for me.
[ He tapped the ashes off his cigarettes. ]
Though if you'd like, I can take a bite out of you.
[ Some people were into that... Well, the "biting" part anyway. Most wouldn't be interested in missing a chunk of flesh after. ]
[It wasn’t. He might have been able to but they both knew he wouldn’t, not when they were back here on his bed, not without some egregious betrayal. But Vox liked to lie to himself, liked to spin a narrative that he could kill him and sleep in his blood and find some happiness in it.
Ugh. Life would be easier if it was true.
There was a raised eyebrow. An odd thought drifted past his mind - Do I taste any different after taking over this place? - before shoving it away. If he did, Alastor might not stop at one bite.]
I’m not a buffet. [Dick.] But you - [wouldn’t be the first person to bite me Nope, don’t say that, not after what happened last time.] - ah, uh, sure, fuck it, you can bite me.
[Absolutely flawless save.
He puffed on the cigarette, before leaning in close and blowing the smoke against Alastor’s mouth.] As long as I get to shock you. It’s only fair, right, since we're in the negotiating phase?
[ Vox could, but he couldn't. He still needed Alastor, and as long as that was the case, killing him wouldn't be an option. They both knew that, and so the empty threat didn't bother him so much as the clumsy save, but the latter was allowed as much as the former. Alastor was quite easily placated by these concessions.
Fortunately for Vox, he had a fair bit more self-control than other cannibals. He had been cursed with the appearance of prey, but he had stronger prey instincts than most demons, and he had the sharp teeth and claws to match it. But he was quite capable of being mild, and so if he promised to keep it to a bite or two, he could still control how much pressure he applied.
His ears tilted back at the mention of electroshock, but it a brief and subtle motion. He was uncertain. Vox had been shocking him for seventy years. It was a truly troublesome ability, because combined with his perception, it left him the only person able to rip Alastor out of the shadows as he did. It was hardly a pleasant experience. ]
Hmm... [ He parted his mouth, inhaling deeply as Vox exhaled, catching the smoke that he blew out. He breathed it out with a soft sigh. He reached over to toy with the front of Vox's attire. ] ... You get too excited.
[ He hasn't forgotten the last time Vox did. It was nothing for an Overlord, but not exactly desirable. ]
[They both knew he could, he had shown it in a million ways from the cigarette to the more recent entanglements. He could fucking control it. The whole thing was just an extension of him and all this challenge did was make him want to prove himself even more.
They were pushing past the lines of cigarettes and talking, teetering on the ledge of why they had actually come together tonight. He leaned closer, close enough that the light of his screen softly bathed Alastor’s face. His tongue flicked out, the barest of sparks dancing on the end, before he pulled it back into his mouth.]
What, you think I can’t control it?
[His voice was slowly dropping lower, turning syrupy with the growing, turning feeling of it. Maybe he did want to know how those teeth would feel. Maybe he did want to show Alastor what he could do. He stubbed out the cigarette into the ashtray, letting the slow tail of smoke drift into the air.]
Don’t you trust me?
[Vox’s smile full of eager teeth showed how stupid that question was.]
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no subject
He tore the seal of the pack before popping it open and removing one. He used Vox as his makeshift lighter next, just as he had done a hundred times before. He carried a lighter on him, but it was one of those small shows of courtesy and affection between the two of them.
He took a drag from his cigarette and felt instant relief. The still-open carton was held up next, tilted in Vox's direction so he could take one if desired. ]
I took my first look at my gilded cage. I must say, Heaven is far too bright for my liking. There's too much gold, too. It's tacky.
no subject
[That was a small admission, trusting a person, something he didn’t admit very easily about anyone. But her vision had never led them astray; it was her arrogance that was dangerous. That wasn’t for this discussion, though; the last thing he wanted was for Alastor to go on complaining about how Vox couldn’t do anything on his own.
His fingers grabbed the offered cigarette, leaned forward, and touched the end to Alastor’s. Breathing it in, the embers flared to red life, before he pulled back and blew out the smoke. This was the calmest they had ever been with each other in decades, and it felt just as familiar as it did confusing. The reminder that he couldn’t trust him was scratching at the back of his brain, at the ports, and the electrical beating of his heart.
There were no friends in Hell, right?]
At least we got the cameras up.
[That had been the first order of business, to no one’s surprise. He took another drag from the cigarette, eyes still on Alastor. How long until he fucked it up and broke their fragile, momentary truce? Ten minutes? Twenty?]
If you can behave for a week, I’ll let you go Exorcist hunting. [See? It’s not reaaaaally a cage.] Maybe we can go together.
[Not like a date!
Okay, maybe a little like a date.]
no subject
He watched as the end of Vox's cigarette began to glow, briefly mesmerized by the sight. When was the last time he'd smoked with another person...? He couldn't remember. He shared a drink with Husk every now and then, but that was a soul he owned, and even then it was only so often. Alastor preferred to take everything in private these days.
Hhe leaned forward as Vox continued, and he reached out to take the ashtray off of the nightstand before setting it on his thigh. He tapped the cigarette against the edge of it. The mention of cameras caused his nose to wrinkle, but it came as no surprise. It was precisely what he would expect Vox to prioritize. The same could be said of Velvette with the interior design. Heaven was a perfectly nice place, and Hell's residents would ruin it. ]
That won't be happening.
[ It was quite direct, but there was no malice to it. They both knew it was true. Alastor wasn't one to follow the direction and orders of others, but one who would start to bite the moment he felt cornered, and he'd try to chew through any leash and collar that was put on it. He tilted his head back before adding, ]
I'm surprised that there's any left.
[ Vox said they'd killed thousands, but millions was more likely. And they did so with a zealous fervor that even the cruelest demon couldn't hope to match. The denizens of Hell had every reason to slaughter them without even a shred of mercy. ]
no subject
[No date. No going out on a great angelic hunt. It wasn’t how Vox usually did a murder, but it might have been fun. He shrugged, allowing the moment to pass and letting it go. Of course Alastor wouldn’t play fair. Of course he was a brat.
Of course all of this was a game. What else would it ever be?
Brick by brick, the walls were going up.]
They’re like cockroaches, skittering away. [His free hand made running motions with his fingers.] I doubt we got all of them, but we sure took a damn good chunk out of their army. They certainly don’t have enough to stand against us now.
[Now. The future may be different.
But the lowered numbers made the execution of them too easy. It was fine, far more efficient in the grand scheme of things, which allowed him to get back to the important stuff at hand. He took another drag, felt the smoke in his wires, his chest, then tapped the ashes off into the ashtray. His other hand slid into the folds of his bowtie and tugged, unraveling it until it hung loosely and open around his neck.]
So, how many murder attempts do I have to watch out for tonight? An average person would wait until I’m asleep, but I know you want the fight.
[The intimacy of it all.]
no subject
He took a pull on his cigarette, mesmerized by the clouds of smoke that they created with each exhale.
Maybe he would stick to mentioning how wasteful it was just to murder those angels. It wouldn't hurt him any to induge Alastor's unique tastes, and for someone who indulged in the taste of flesh, angel was the finest delicacy.
He tucked those ideas for later. For now, he just shook his head. ]
As much as I would love to, killing you isn't an option for me.
[ He tapped the ashes off his cigarettes. ]
Though if you'd like, I can take a bite out of you.
[ Some people were into that... Well, the "biting" part anyway. Most wouldn't be interested in missing a chunk of flesh after. ]
no subject
[It wasn’t. He might have been able to but they both knew he wouldn’t, not when they were back here on his bed, not without some egregious betrayal. But Vox liked to lie to himself, liked to spin a narrative that he could kill him and sleep in his blood and find some happiness in it.
Ugh. Life would be easier if it was true.
There was a raised eyebrow. An odd thought drifted past his mind - Do I taste any different after taking over this place? - before shoving it away. If he did, Alastor might not stop at one bite.]
I’m not a buffet. [Dick.] But you - [wouldn’t be the first person to bite me Nope, don’t say that, not after what happened last time.] - ah, uh, sure, fuck it, you can bite me.
[Absolutely flawless save.
He puffed on the cigarette, before leaning in close and blowing the smoke against Alastor’s mouth.] As long as I get to shock you. It’s only fair, right, since we're in the negotiating phase?
no subject
Fortunately for Vox, he had a fair bit more self-control than other cannibals. He had been cursed with the appearance of prey, but he had stronger prey instincts than most demons, and he had the sharp teeth and claws to match it. But he was quite capable of being mild, and so if he promised to keep it to a bite or two, he could still control how much pressure he applied.
His ears tilted back at the mention of electroshock, but it a brief and subtle motion. He was uncertain. Vox had been shocking him for seventy years. It was a truly troublesome ability, because combined with his perception, it left him the only person able to rip Alastor out of the shadows as he did. It was hardly a pleasant experience. ]
Hmm... [ He parted his mouth, inhaling deeply as Vox exhaled, catching the smoke that he blew out. He breathed it out with a soft sigh. He reached over to toy with the front of Vox's attire. ] ... You get too excited.
[ He hasn't forgotten the last time Vox did. It was nothing for an Overlord, but not exactly desirable. ]
no subject
[They both knew he could, he had shown it in a million ways from the cigarette to the more recent entanglements. He could fucking control it. The whole thing was just an extension of him and all this challenge did was make him want to prove himself even more.
They were pushing past the lines of cigarettes and talking, teetering on the ledge of why they had actually come together tonight. He leaned closer, close enough that the light of his screen softly bathed Alastor’s face. His tongue flicked out, the barest of sparks dancing on the end, before he pulled it back into his mouth.]
What, you think I can’t control it?
[His voice was slowly dropping lower, turning syrupy with the growing, turning feeling of it. Maybe he did want to know how those teeth would feel. Maybe he did want to show Alastor what he could do. He stubbed out the cigarette into the ashtray, letting the slow tail of smoke drift into the air.]
Don’t you trust me?
[Vox’s smile full of eager teeth showed how stupid that question was.]