#c: alive vox

[space-writes]

heyyyyy i'm here for random interesting notes/facts about claws pls + ty

(ask me about the contents of my wip folder)

i am always down to throw out random claws facts~

fun fact number one! the names of all the demons and where i stole them from:

- spider → Arachnis (adapted from arachnid) - moth → Mohden (adapted from the Old English Northumbrian mohde) - centipede → Hunterada (adapted from the proto-Germanic hundarada, hypothesised to be an early word for hundred (hunda (hundred) rada(count)) - worms → Vermeste (adapted from the name of an obsolete taxon used by carolus linnaeus and jean-baptiste lamarck for all non-arthropod invertebrates) - wasp → Guespen (adapted from Old French guespe, which became current French guêpe (wasp)) wasp took forever because all the old words for wasp that i could find initially were just. wasp. but spelt slightly different. wasps were always wasps, apparently

fun fact number two! for draft 2 i'm reworking Alice to be more Pacted (the way i kinda initially wanted her, but she didn't come out exactly right), and her new Pact stuff is very fun:

Pacted to Hunterada. Sacrificed [redacted] and gifted her [TBD] in exchange for fortune. Hunterada drops manifestations out of her, that are constantly growing inside her new organ, to be able to manipulate reality in small ways around her so she can always get what she wants (like making people passing want to come into her club, not the next one down the road; to click on her video, not ignore it; for people who buy her sludge to always avoid getting caught.)

so she's gonna be way more Pacted-looking, with weird little demonic sludgey centipedes crawling out of her skin! v excited for the extra layer of body horror it will add to the book

[bella-goths-wife]

So if Alastor made a deal with Vs pet before going missing for 7 years how would she be at the hotel?

What would have happened if alastor made a deal with Vs pet before leaving

Warnings: obsession, bad foreshadowing, violence?

In all honestly, if alastor had ran into you again before disappearing he would have made a deal with you

You intrigued him in a way that he hadn’t felt in years, the familiarity he felt towards you almost made him nostalgic

But let’s say he did offer you a deal on the day you met

It would be something similar to your deal with vox, your soul in exchange for food, water, shelter and protection

He’d give you a small cottage away from the city and close to the cannibal colonies, somewhere where you could live without the worry of being hurt or killed

Your fridge would always be stocked with food every week and you had all the things you could need in the cottage with you

Now you expected there to be a huge workload after you found out what a prominent demon alastor was, but all you had to really do was be his assistant and help him with his broadcasts

You were his assistant for a few weeks before he disappeared and suddenly you were alone again

You were still taken care of in the essential ways, your always had food and water in your little cottage and Rosie checked up on the cottage once a week to make sure you were still alive and safe

But you were lonely, so you started to help out Rosie in the cannibal colony every now and again

And you continued like that for seven years, until alastor finally returned

Rosie had let you know about his return and warned you that he would call on you soon and not to ask him to many questions

It was whiplash for you, one minute you were making some tea in the kitchen and the next you were standing in the hotel lobby with a look of shock

Alastor introduced you to everyone and informed you that you’d be staying at the hotel with him to help Charlie with her vision

You were mainly there to help alastor and be his entertainment, but you did help nifty with chores and even cooked meals for everyone

Charlie was ecstatic to have a younger soul with them and claimed that you’d be perfect for redemption

Her girlfriend, vaggie, on the other hand was extremely cautious around you since you were associated with alastor

Husk knew of you from whispers from some of the other souls alastor owned

At first he pitied you since he knew what it was like to be leashed by alastor, and then he saw how much alastor favoured you and treated you much nicer than he treated any of his other souls

Husk couldn’t help but feel bitter of the fact that he was in a much worse situation than you, but he eventually grew to like you since he understood you were practically a kid compared to him and he wouldn’t wish his fate on anyone

You and angel wouldn’t be as close as you were if you were the Vs pet, but you’d both still be friends

Alastor wouldn’t be fond of sharing you with the rest of the hotel since you were there to be his entertainment, but when he made comments about it and gave you an unnecessary workload he got a very harsh scolding from Rosie

I believe that alastor would become like a mentor to you, almost fatherly but not too much

It’s canon that alastor would be a terrible father but a great mentor so I could see him teaching you how to use your power to its full extent and he’d like combining your powers together

I like to imagine that when you and alastor combine your abilities then it would start off as a 1920s jazz music sound and would contain techno beats when you join in

Your relationship with alastor would be almost parallel to yours and vox if you were the Vs pet

It would be less cruel and you’d be much happier, but there would still be a hint of obsession in the relationship

Alastor would definitely be somewhat possessive of you in a certain way, the same way a male deer is protective of its children

He’d like getting to know you and finding out what the connection was between you to

The Vs would absolutely despise you since you were associated with alastor and the first time they met you was through one of Vox and alastors fights

So overall I think you’d be much happier and safer with alastor but that doesn’t exclude you from still feeling like a pet

But at least with this path, you’d have a chance at redemption for you

That’s if alastor didn’t drag you back from the pearly gates by a leash

��——————————————————————

“And this little dear is my darling assistant” is the first thing you hear as your pulled from the shadows, you could recognise that voice anywhere.

One minute you were stood in your lovely kitchen and now your stood trying to take in what seems to be a hotel.

You try and hide your surprise as you turn to find your owners crazed grin staring down at you.

“What am I doing here alastor?” You question with a confused tone. You know you shouldn’t question him, Rosie had warned you against it, but you couldn’t help your curiosity “where have you been?”

Alastors eye twitches in what seems to be irritation as he stares down at you, you could see a cat demon behind alastor wince in what looked like fear before alastor wrapped his arm around your shoulder.

“Nevermind that, my little doe” alastor says with an over exaggerated laugh “I’ve brought you here because Charlie here has an idea to redeem demons, truly laughable I know but I’ve taken it upon myself to help her achieve this pipe dream”

Alastor laughed with radio static as a background before turning you to look at him once again.

“And I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it without my dearest little fawn” alastor said with a grin as his claws pinched your cheek in what could be seen as threatening or playful, you gave up guessing a long time ago “so from now on you’ll be staying here and helping me with this hotel, okay dear?”

You simply nodded at his question, knowing you had no grounds to refuse your owner. You had to play the loyal pet once again.

“Perfect” alastor said with pep in his tone as he let go of you and face you in the direction of the bar “now run along and get to know the others while I talk with Charlie about your rooming arrangements, I’ll call you back when I need you”

You nodded as you begin walking to the bar and you take a seat next to an extremely tall spider man who eyes you with curiosity. You’re in front of the cat demon from earlier who also regards you with intrigue.

“Hi” you say almost shyly as your ears remain pinned against your head, you hadn’t talked to someone other than Rosie or alastor since you made your deal and this entire experience was outside your comfort zone.

“Heya toots” the spider demon spoke unsurely as he looked down at you “where’s smiles been keepin’ you then?”

“Hm?” You make a questioning sound as your head tilts in a confused manner

“He means he’s not seen you around, no one has” the cat demon clarifies with a gruff tone “it’s weird for alastor not to cash in on a favour from his souls, angel here wants to know where alastors been keepin’ you”

“Oh” you say with a confused look “I don’t think he’s kept me hidden exactly”

“Well I only heard about you through whispers, but I assumed it was just rumours” husk responds gruffly “no one knew alastor had an assistant until a few days ago when he mentioned bringing you here”

“Didn’t think smiles had it in him” the spider, angel, comments before looking you up and down “your a bit young for him though, don’t ya think husk”

Husk nods cautiously as he takes in your appearance, you couldn’t have been been more than eighteen.

“It’s not like that” you assure with a mildly disturbed face at the thought of the insinuation

“Than what are you to smiles toots?” Angel asked curiously “because he certainly seemed fond of you”

You think for a moment on how to explain your connection with alastor before speaking cautiously

“Well, I’m his-“ you were about to answer but alastors call interrupted you.

“My dear” alastor called for you “don’t you think it’s time you and I set up for a broadcast”

You nod as you abandon the two demons to walk beside alastor on his way to his radio station, like a loyal mutt being called back into the house.

“I think it’s time I show that pesky TV that radio still lives” alastor comments as he puts his hand on your shoulder and guides you “and with my perfect little assistant, I’m sure my broadcast will be as great as ever”

[washeduphazbin]

Vox NSFW Headcannons

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

One would think he wouldn't know what aftercare was, considering he'd lived with Valentino for so long. However, sleeping with Vox was pleasantly surprising. He is very attentive after sex, and you wondered if it was something he carried over from his time alive. Water is always by the bedside, and it gets you snacks if needed or even a hot or cold compress. Sometimes, his screen can get really bright, and he has a custom-made sleeping mask just for you if you get overstimulated after sex.

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Vox: He likes his claws; he can be delicate with them, but they can get the work done when necessary.

You: Vox loves your skin; he likes how fragile you feel beneath his fingers.

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Unlike many others in Hell, I think Vox is one of the rare men who doesn’t have a raging breeding kink. As long as you both get off, he doesn’t really care where he cums, inside or out. Although…on your face always paints a pretty picture.

His cum is thick and sticky and has a blue bioluminescence feature to it. Like you're (literally) turning on a computer. He cums a lot and has a shorter refractory period than most.

D = Dirty secret (pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

He wants to tie you up in the cables in his ‘lair’. His wires snug around your body accentuating the right parts. Vox would have full control of you, your body, and your movement. The millions of cameras in his lair would be pointed on you and set to record so he never misses a moment of you being ravaged. The way your fucked out face would appear on the millions of screens in front of you both would leave him with enough material to jack off alone for an entire year.

He also absolutely has stolen several pairs of your underwear.

E = Experience (how experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

Vox absolutely knows what he’s doing, he’s been with Valentino of all people. As fucked up as Val’s kinks are he has taught Vox a significant amount of his skills.

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Cowgirl.

It’s no secret that this man gets turned on my power. Usually specifically his own, he likes being in control. **BUT** when you take control and top him he’s GONE. Insanely turned on at how you ride him into the ground.

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Vox is absolutely not goofy in bed. He’s more serious, he can be a bit snarky with you both quipping back and forth but he takes it seriously. Especially after being with Valentino where sex meant so little, now he treats it like love making.

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

So. He has a TV for a head. So, carpets will never match the drapes. I think he wouldn’t have a lot (or any) hair.

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

He’s learned to be more romantic as the two of you progressed your relationship. Again going from Valentino to you was whiplash. At first he assumed you’d like the same stuff his ex liked but that was not the case, especially for your first time sleeping with one another.

Now he’s very romantic. He leaves you flowers every time he enters your room in the tower. When he has to leave for work he always sets up a little breakfast for you. In bed he’s much more attentive than he was at the beginning.

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Oh boy, does he. He usually does it when you're not available for an extended period. If you were there, he'd much rather bury himself in your dripping pussy.

That being said, Vox absolutely has a shrine of things he’s stolen from you, mainly your panties. He uses them to jerk off, either fisting his dick with your underwear wrapped around his hand or pressing the crotch to his screen, taking in the scent of you. Other things in the shrine include your perfume, your rings, and a picture of you covered in a blue substance. The only other time he masturbates is if you make him do it in front of you, and god was that hot.

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks) Has a mommy kink and a praise kink. Tell him he's doing an excellent job while your pussy's dripping on his face, and it's a surefire way to crash his systems. Yet, at the same time, he loves to be degraded or have anything that has to do with you being in control of him. He's also into electric stimulation, obviously. Likes when you make him bluescreen. Some errors include. _ERROR_(Y/n)'s_Pussy_too_Good.exe _ERROR_Mommy's_Punishing_Me.exe

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

Anywhere, anytime. If you're both horny, he'll drag you off somewhere to blow off steam. He gets a rush from fucking in public where the press could catch them, but in reality, that would be his worst nightmare.

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

You glaring at him, cussing him out, being a stubborn hothead... etc. Any one of those will have him sporting a hard-on desperately needing your attention. Also, kissing his neck right where his circuits meet human flesh. That has him begging.

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn-offs)

He's done a lot of shit with Val, but some things absolutely cross that line. Piss, Shit, or any other bodily fluid that isn't cum is one of his big ones.

He also has to say no to shower sex, not willingly; he cannot get his head wet without risking a major power blowout.

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

With Vox's long tongue, he's good at oral, can reach the deepest places, and uses his claws to keep your hips in place. You wake up covered in bruises from gripping him too tight. He has to pull your legs apart and hold them because you can't close your legs around his TV head. He loves receiving it, too, especially with you under his desk while he watches the cameras around Pride and is hooked up to the wires. If you work well enough, you can cause a city-wide blackout with just your mouth.

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Depends on how he's feeling at the moment. He's had too many fast rough, and nonintimate fucks with Val. He appreciates smooth and sensual lovemaking. But also loves spontaneous sex; if you turn him on, he won't care where he'd find a place to fuck you.

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.) He *LOVES* quickies. King of quickies, to be honest. Before work fuck, lunch fuck, afternoon fuck, before dinner fuck, after dinner fuck.

Most of the time, you don't know how you walk around the following days like nothing happened. If he did manage to fuck you stupid from a quickie, he would provide aftercare but still would leave to do his work at the end of the day.

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? Do they take risks? etc.)

He'll try anything once. If you say you like something, he'll give it a try; he wants to do electrical play and shibari more than anything.

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? How long do they last?)

All day, every day, several times. It's almost like because he's a computer, it's nearly like he has total control of his refractory period and when he cums. He could have you cumming five times before he finishes.

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He has toys, plenty of them. When you live with Valentino, you know for sure every Christmas or birthday, he's getting you sex toys. You and Vox don't think he's capable of getting any of you an actual gift. Although both of you make good use of all of them

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease) Oh, he likes to tease. Insanely so, but then again, so do you whenever he gives you the chance. When he tops this man will delay your orgasm as much as possible while calling you 'baby girl' and complaining about how you're pathetic and needy for him.

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

This man likes to hear himself talk, so of *course* he's loud. Especially when you're sucking him off, lots of curses and mocking laughter as his claws pull and dig into your hair. When he's fucking into you, he growls and grunts saying how tight you are and how you're his perfect fuck toy.

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

He likes to film you on his screen and saves it away for later use in a file with your name on it. Val once asked if he could have access to it to sell it because it would make the Vee's an insane amount of money. Vox almost killed him for insinuating that he'd ever expose you like that; you were for his eyes only.

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes) He's long and slender; it glows a soft blue when it's dimly lit. There are thick veins on the underside of the shaft. The color is a deep navy blue, and the tip is light blue.

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

As discussed before, he has an incredibly high sex drive. If you don't want it one day, he'll accept it, but he will be whining about it all day. It's like you killed him or broke up with him; that's what withholding sex is like for him. He would never force himself upon you.

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterward)

First, he gives you aftercare or vice versa, and then he immediately passes out. Even if you get up and shower, he's sprawled out on the bed, snoring away. You always have to maneuver your way back into the bed, moving his sprawled-out limbs. Once you're back in bed, he clings to you like a koala does to a tree branch. Then you're stuck until morning.

[stolasdearest]

heya!! i have an idea brewing and i rly enjoy your blog so I thought I’d come request from you c:

vox x fem!s/o who was a hollywood actress when she was alive? he initially takes interest in knowing her from a career perspective but it turns into something more 🤭

thank you if you take my rq! 🙏☺️

Vox x Reader˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

I actually love this idea!! Sorry for the lack of fics today I wanted to get some done but I had a horrible day I'm really sorry :((

Reader is Female!

Depending on the time frames he might've even seen some of the movies you were in! Since he died in the 1950s and his view on you was always positive; you were an amazing actress, you seemed sweet and cooperative. So he was shocked when you ended up in Hell and then also agreed to work with him!

He takes very good care of you when you worked with him, brought you to expensive restaurants saying it's "for business talk" buying you flowers and things you generally liked because "he saw it on the way over" so you never went an interaction without him giving you something, it eventually evolved into more personal gifts; necklaces, dresses, shoes, makeup. You name it he buys it to the point you finally decide to ask him on a date to which he pouts before happily agreeing, he was upset at himself for not asking you first; be a gentleman and ask you out proper. He didn't disappoint for a first date either, fanciest places; done up to the nines, holding up doors, pulling out chairs hell! He'd even ruin his suit to put it over a puddle for you so you don't ruin your new good shoes. His hand always on the small of your back as you held onto his arm; talking about whatever you both wanted at that time.

His voice was gentle, compassionate and warm; his gaze on you soft and at ease; his worries and the stresses of his day gone with your sweet melodic voice swirling around him, your sweet laughs and the small snorts you quickly apologize for as he waves his hand; a cheeky cheesy smile on his screen as he tells you how adorable you are, his clawed hand holding your cheek looking at you smiling up at him. After a few dates he politely asks you back to his place if you agree he's quietly jumping around, kicking his feet and giggling like a highschool girl in love, he opens the door for you and invites you up; he never brought in alcohol into the dates, wanting fully sober you as he got to know you; he sat you down on the couch and got everything ready, asking you to pick your favorite movie or show; his arms wrapping around your body as if you were a glass doll like any amount of pressure would shatter your delicate body into pieces; half the time he wasnt focusing on the movie or show instead looking you, his sweet girl in his arms giggling and ranting on about the thing playing.

You both would eventually fall asleep in an uncomfortable position on the couch, your body laying between his legs; resting your head on his chest, Vox's hands wrapped around you; tightly holding you against him as if he let go you'd fade away from him. The next morning he didn't want to get up, just look at you and ramble about weird, insignificant things as you laughed And joked, your laughs vibrating against his chest while you laid still on top of his chest, he time seemed to stop when he was with you, his little star; his movie girl.

Author's note : I? AAAAAA I hope this is up to par- I'm going through a rough patch of hating everything I make😭😭

[gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan]

The Light of Truth

Author's note: More of the Primaris Boys in Husbandry. Thank you to @sleepyfan-blog for letting me borrow Pallius, Cedric & Olivar. Thank you to @c-u-c-koo-4-40k for letting me borrow Khopesh. Thank you to @kit-williams for letting me borrow Ghosk.

Warning: Character death. Characters fighting. Bloodshed. Uh. Let me know if I need to add anything.

Summary: Cedric gets a message. A brother is nearly rescued, another is nearly lost. Petras reveals his true colors to more than just Primaris Marines.

Tagged: @barn-anon, @bleedingichorhearts, @c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @egrets-not-regrets, @kit-williams

Tagged: @sleepyfan-blog, @ms--lobotomy , @thevoidscreams, @i-am-a-dragon34, @gra93fruit-blog

Tagged: @felinisnoctis

Cedric's wrist mounted vox gets a communication ping.

[I am uncertain how much time I have left before I return to the embrace of the Omnissiah.] Castiel sends in his message through agonizing, and coughs blood from his lungs raggedly. There are some spots of blood, mucus and the mechanical fluids used to keep him alive that spatter on his vox. Ugh, despite how much the Mechanicum has enhanced him, he’s still so wretchedly fleshed.

After a few wet ragged coughs Castiel painfully continues, his voice more staticy [but I don't want to die without letting someone know the truth. Embedded in this message is a holo recording of a meeting between Chaplain Mephestil Petras of the Black Templars and a Chaos Marine… as well as his reactions to my queries on the subject. He murdered me. I hope this gets to you. The God Emperor Protects and provides for us all.]

Castiel had also sent the holo recording of Petras going too far in his punishment. When Petras finds and attacks him on Ancient Terra he's able to record some of it, as well as his agonizing cries as he tries to escape, but dies to Petras again. Castiel had managed to have his eyes- which were cybernetic to record Petras’s words and actions- and the recording cuts off after he finishes dying.

He had the message on a delayed sending, hoping that Petras wouldn't notice the vox message. Tied to send when twelve minutes after he flatlined, and he sent coordinates of where he lay dead, or so he hoped. Castiel had wanted to send it to one of his fellow Black Templars primaris Marines.

His last thoughts are Prayers to the Omnissiah that his message will get through to one of them. That Castiel’s death won’t be a waste, that at least someone will have this proof. 

Castiel knew in his hearts that it likely wouldn’t do anything much. Petras has killed Primaris Marines before with only a slap on the wrist. But at least it is something and the First borns will be interested in consorting with Chaos. Even though his life is worthless to them.

~

Cedric reads the written message, his mouth going dry, as a slow-burning fury ignites his hearts once again. He mutes the video, before playing it, as he is currently sitting down in the clinic’s staff cafeteria, and he has little doubt that the sounds of pain and misery will immediately attract the attention of everyone who could hear it.

Two. That’s two, in less than twenty-four hours. While Mattias wasn’t dead, he had been placed in a medically induced coma, to reduce the amount of movement that the young Astartes was capable of doing, as the injury to his spinal column could be operated on and treated, but was very delicate and any movements could potentially permanently render his legs unusable without spinal prosthetics or other augments that would be incredibly difficult to acquire on Ancient and Holy Terra. 

He knows that Anrir and the other Night Lords are incredibly dangerous. Its just for some reason they have decided to drag him protectively under their bat wings, rather than tear him to shreds with their talons. For now at least.

Claude and Khopesh are away from where Ghosk and the others are setting the stage for the ‘fight’ between ‘raven guard’ Anrir (or whatever name he’ll be using) and the Claw will ‘attack’ him.

Claude and Khopesh watch through binoculars as the staged fight happens- and Captain Kasz Kalleran takes the bait and falls for the trap, hook, line and sinker. His Captain did enjoy it when he could be painted as the hero of the stories he tells, regardless of the truth of the matter.

The Claw gets ‘chased off’ by the flock of Ravens who surround the wounded ‘bird’ and help patch him up. Claude closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath. Anrir is far older than he is, and knows what he’s doing. Had chosen to do this- had planned for contingencies and decided on this course of action.

Claude is distracted by a vox text message he gets from Cedric and reads it with a concerned frown on his face.  [You wanted to talk? I’m on lunch break right now. Get Ramiel. This is urgent.]

He sent a message to Claude via vox. [You wanted to talk? I’m on lunch break right now. Get Ramiel. This is urgent.]

[On my way.] Claude responds. [Where do you want to meet?]

Claude frowns, concern churning in his gut as he sends a message to Ramiel about Cedric’s request. Ramiel responds immediately to his message and sends one to Cedric as well.

“I have to go- Cedric needs my help with something,” Claude informs Khopesh.

“Have fun with that,” Khopesh says, “I’ll check on the others, see how they are doing after the ‘fight’ with the Raven Guards.”

Claude nods, “sounds good.”

[The park nearest to The Clinic. We should be able to talk freely there.] Cedric texted both Ramiel and Claude. 

While he waited for them to respond, he walked over to where Olivar was currently sitting, scowling into the bowl of food in front of him. “You know it’s not going to leap out at you and try to murder you. What’s on your mind?”

“You told me that He is on Ancient Terra, too, right? Why the fuck were we sent here, back into his reach? Unless He is from before He started…” Olivar swallowed hard, a low, wordless growl leaving him. “Should we be keeping what The Bastard has done to us a secret? Your mentor did not tolerate his grox-shite, at least when it came to you, no matter what The Shithead said you did, or didn’t do. Surely there’s got to be at least one Firstborn marine you can talk to about all of this shit.”

“... There are a couple I’ve told some of what’s happened to. In M42. They kind of bullied me into telling them, but given what they’re like, I really should have realized that they were going to do so, sooner or later. Do you remember what I told you about Bruders Roland and Arnault?” Cedric asked, rocking back on his heels a little. 

“... Yeah… One’s a battle brother,” Olivar says, “The other’s an Emperor’s Champion… something about Bonding? Bonded?”

“... Trust me, the Bonding and Bonded conversation is for when you are better healed and we aren’t doing emergency scrambling. But I think… If you, Ramiel  and Pallius agree… I think I might ask both of them to help me lodge a formal complaint against Petras, to get some kind of official record as to the grox-shite and cruelty he is capable of being known publicly.”

“That sounds vaguely ominous Ced,” Olivar says, his scowl shifting a little. He scoffs a little, “didn’t we try that before and were told ‘stop being whiny little bitch and take the ‘character building’ lumps and suck it up?’ Why would that change since we’re here?”

“Bonds are wonderful things, I promise! From what I’ve seen, they are good. Also, that was by other firstborn brothers in M42. I told them that Petras killed a dozen primaris marines in M42 and that both of them immediately swore to kill him. I entirely believe that they meant that, too.”

“I mean… you are lovable Ced,” Olivar says slightly teasingly, “And Apothecaries are hard to come by. Of course they want to protect you.”

Cedric huffed a little and shook his head “I don’t think it’s just because I’m an Apothecary. They were furious at the thought of younger brothers being killed for existing. Not that I’m advocating for Chaplain Petras to die, just to… To be brought before a tribunal and made to answer for his crimes.” 

By the god-emperor, does the wounded fury and sorrow howling in his hearts want Petras dead. Not just dead, but killed slowly, painfully. To have the fucker be made to beg and plead for mercy, for an ounce of compassion and be shown exactly as much as he gave Cedric’s Brothers. 

None. 

But that path led towards falling to Khorne, or perhaps Slaanesh, depending on the way he went about it. So formal sanctioning it was. For his own safety, and the safety of others.

“I wonder how Justice and punishment are delivered on Ancient Terra? I think that’s something we should find out, before we do anything or say anything.” Olivar scratches his cheek, “hm… let me think on it. Unless the Bastard does something… Bad here.”

“He’s killed a Primaris Tech marine. I just received Castiel’s dying vox-messages and video-footage of his murder.” Cedric answered, shaking his head a little. “Mattias - another Primaris Marine, is currently under anesthesia and in surgery because of the complications from Petras beating the fuck out of him yesterday.”

“Fucking bastard, you have convinced me, I’ll talk to who ever it is about his discipline and punishment methods.” Olivar hisses, “I remember Cassie- quiet, dutiful and always helped with weapons and armor maintenance. He was so happy to be chosen as a Tech Marine. He loved to talk about a certain kind of cog wheel.”

Cedric nodded, saying “I’m going to check in with Pallius first, then Ramiel. To see how they both feel about going forwards with what we know of petras’ crimes. I will be taking point on this. As the Apothecary of the group… And the one who survived longest in M42 before being sent to Ancient Terra, this is my duty and my burden.” With that he nodded, standing up and heading over to where Pallius was sitting and eating lunch.

~

“Pallius, I’ve run this by Olivar, and I have his vote. I won’t reveal it to you as I don’t want to influence your decision either way. But I… I am asking if you want me to come forward to certain firstborn marines - Brothers Roland and Arnault of the Black Templars, and Captain Ash’val for certain about what Chaplain Petras has done to us. He’s killed at least one Primaris Marine on Ancient Terra. He’s badly wounded Mattias, who is currently in surgery.” Cedric explained, his voice low and quick he gave the other a brief summary of what Castiel had sent to him.

“... If our words and scars can help keep others safe,” Pallius says quietly, “then… then I shall speak of the shameful things.”

“It’s not your shame, what he had done to you, Pallius. It is his. Please, you must remember this.” Cedric urged his brother, his hearts caught in the back of his throat. 

Pallius ducks his head a little at the others words as his eyes become wet and he rubs the grit from his eyes. “I… I’ll try to.”

“Thank you, Pallius. You have Dorn’s own courage.” Cedric murmured, gently pressing his forehead to Pallius’, as an affectionate gesture.

“Keep safe Ced,” Pallius says, closing his eyes and leaning into  Cedric a little, returning the gesture as much as he can. “... You have Dorn’s own courage as well Brother.”

Cedric nodded, walking out of the cafeteria as he read up on what had been sent to his wrist-mounted vox, mind whirling. 

[I got the message from Claude. I’ll be at the park in seven minutes. Do I need to get Catius or Oleandros? Or have them run a Distraction?] Ramiel sends Cedric a text vox message, adding another statement. [Eta five minutes, told Chaplain Bo’shan I was taking my lunch break. He seemed happy about that.]

[I will be there in five minutes.] Claude says a thought occurs to him and he asks [Do you want me to get Jophi?]

[... I  don’t want to involve all of the others just as of yet. Any more of this, and I request that we please speak in person. Neither of you are in trouble.] Cedric vox-texted back, making sure to send the last sentence, so as to not worry them too much. He hoped.

[Wilco.] Ramiel replies. He is worried- just what is going on? He wonders what Cedric has found out or wants to discuss. 

He had to go by Reclusiarch Feldarim’s office to get to where he was going- the other watched him go with a casual glance. But as he didn’t seem too upset, the other let him pass without harassing him. Which gives him a sense of relief, as Chaplain Bo’shan had lightly pressed him for details, and he’d said that he was meeting up with Cedric and Claude for lunch.

He’s able to excuse himself and grabs something to eat. And then ensures to grab enough for Claude and Cedric. Both of them are terrible at remembering to eat. He also grabs some of the homemade ice cream as a sweet treat, just in case the conversation needs such a thing.

Claude replies [Understood- I also have some… interesting information on Justice and Punishment that The Night Lords talked about for Ancient Terra and the Alliance.]

[Good, I have questions about that, which will help in deciding in which way things will go. Whether we go the official route, or take care of trash on our own.] Cedric texted back.

~

He must have one hell of a scowl on his face, because the baseline humans who he passes by all scramble to get the hell out of his way. While normally this would make him feel guilty, especially as the baselines who live on the base are either bonded to one of the marines who lives on base… Or they have nowhere else to live and they work jobs on base in order to pay in kind for housing and food. 

Zariel had heard the whispers and more loud complaints and worried about Fierce Angry Scowling Astarte in black and white scrubs. So he had sent a message to Ash’val, Feldarim, and after a moment’s hesitation, to Hura. Just in case.

“Cedric,” Zariel calls out carefully, “... You know I am here for you, if you need or want to talk about something that’s bothering you. If you want to talk.”

“... I acknowledge this. However, I need to speak with a couple of others. We will decide a few things and then figure out who to reach out to. You are, I will say, on the short list for the… Issue that needs handling.” Cedric responded, falling back on formal wording in order to hopefully get the teal Ultramarine to back off a little. He didn’t have the time to try and shake off a Teal tail. 

“Very well,” Zariel says with a nod, watching the younger Astarte move. “I am honored to have such trust.”

He decides that it would be best not to press him too much. After all- he didn’t want to rile the other and send him into hiding again. The fact that young Claude had managed to teach a Black Templar how to be stealthy and good at it had been… more than a little distressing… As impressed as he’d been after his hearts had stopped feeling like they were going to burst from stress.

Cedric nods brusquely before marching the rest of the way out of the base, still scowling and not in the least bit attempting to hide his expression in the least. 

Zariel also rolls a thought or two in his head. Whatever it was that Cedric had told Roland and Arnault had made the two older Black Templars exceedingly angry.  So he was going to wait before sending a message to the older ones about this… Newest thing.

~

Cedric spotted Ramiel and Claude in one of their favorite spots in the nearby park. The brief stretch of his legs, and outside did help him calm down slightly, though his nerves - and his fury - were still jangling just beneath the surface of his skin. He waved over at the two of them, attempting to smile “Hey… Claude, Ramiel.”

Claude had helped Ramiel set up the basket of food, a blend of baseline human and Astarte food and drinks. They had set it up on one of the wooden benches that was rated for Astartes to sit on safely with the table neatly set out, with a picnic cover neatly tucked around to keep things a bit cleaner.

“Hey Cedric,” Ramiel says, “I thought since it was about lunch time, and you had a Conversation to speak with us, a picnic would help the Look of things. Regardless of what is spoken about.”

“Nice to see you Ced,” Claude says with a grin.

Claude heads to the area specified by Cedric and helps Ramiel set up the picnic that the other had decided to grab. It was a good cover- and they’d get to eat something while they talk about the Urgent matter.

At least on the outset it would look like the three of them were enjoying lunch and a picnic, which would have curious eyes not think anything Suspicious is going on. Not that he thinks that Cedric is doing anything particularly troubling. But it helps throw off any potential watchers, just in case.

 Claude wonders if the Claw is encouraging his paranoia and suspicious tendencies before shaking his head a little and greeting Cedric. He sees the thunderous scowl on the other’s face and suspects that whatever he’s going to say is not going to be great.

He’s proven right as he listens, upset at what Cedric has learned. He goes over the details of what he remembers of the conversation with Khopesh about Justice and Punishments. Ramiel and Cedric agree to speak with Khopesh in public and he sends another message and Khopesh arrives swiftly.

“... A picnic does sound good.” Cedric relented, plopping down next to his Brother, leaning into his familiar warmth. He looked at the spread of food and drinks, deliberately focusing on what he could smell and see before him, in a desperate attempt to calm down, at least a little. 

Ramiel hums one of the prayer hymns that he knows helps Cedric calm down, Claude slowly reaching out and holding one of the Apothecary Apprentic’s hands and lightly squeezing it. Claude joins in on the song, humming the chorus and harmonizing with them, the words whispered in High Gothic.

He hummed along to the hymn, allowing the calming focus to come over him. Anger had it’s place on the battlefield, but too much of it was dangerous. Not only to oneself, but to everyone around the one lost to fury. He squeezed Claude’s hand back gently, managing a rueful smile “I have bad news, worse news, questions, and a proposal, contingent upon the answer to those questions. What do you want to hear first?”

“What’s the worst news?” Claude and Ramiel ask at the same time, bracing themselves.

Claude looks around them glancing at his brothers as he takes some of the bread and spreads jame and nut butter on bread- as well as sprinkling some Astarte nutri-paste and cutting it into thirds for the three of them to eat. 

Claude cast his senses, Warp-related and not to ensure that they weren’t being listened to. Glad that no one was, either through technology or warpy senses he lets go of his crackling humming power and focuses on Cedric’s words. He takes a bite of food to keep the spots of darkness out of his vision.

“Tech-Marine Castiel of the Black Templars was killed earlier today, at the hands of Chaplain Captain Petras. When Tech Marine Castiel became aware that he was going to die, as there was no one to intercede on his behalf, he sent me all of the information he had on the chaplain in question, sending it on a delay to hopefully not arouse suspicion from his murderer.” Cedric revealed, doing his best to keep his voice a low, emotionless monotone. He failed spectacularly, as his voice cracked. He paused, taking a sip from one of the glasses of lemonade before continuing “Brother Mattias of the Black Templars is currently in surgery due to the complications from the beating he received, allegedly from Chaplain Petras, according to the Hydra who brought him into the clinic late last night.”  

“God Emperor curse him,” Ramiel swears softly, before flinching as he realizes the words that had come out of his mouth. “He’s… Perhaps not escalating, but he’s continuing to do what he did back in M42.”

“... He knows he died for Challenging the High Marshal,” Claude says with a frown, his eyes flashing teal as he thinks “... For killing and purging Primaris… and he’s…doing it here when Astartes number far fewer. He’s … not likely to change his ways.”

“Ramiel, I have asked Pallius and Olivar, but I will with-hold their votes until you tell me what you want to do. Should we come forward to certain firstborn marines, and tell them about what Petras has done, both in M42, and on Ancient Terra, or would you rather we handle this ourselves?” Cedric asked, his voice shaking a little, but stubborn ferocity beat in his chest. He would deal with this fucker, one way or the other.

Ramiel reaches over- carefully telegraphing his movements as he gives his brother a side hug. Claude is on Cedric’s other side and does the same thing. The three of them gently hugged each other for a moment. Ramiel gathers his thoughts, which is hard because they keep scattering in a thousand-thousand different directions as he thinks over the other’s words. 

“I think,” Ramiel says, his voice cracking a little, he coughs and then takes a sip of the lemonade laced with hydration rations, “I think, we should go to the First borns, see what they do… if it’s … unsatisfactory …. We can… handle him after the fact.”

Cedric side-hugs Ramiel back, trembling a little with the force of the emotions running rampant within him. He focuses on Claude “You mentioned that the Night Lords spoke of how Astartes dealt Justice in this time period? Please explain to the best of your abilities. Your answers will help me decide whether or not I will come forward with the information to whoever I’m supposed to in an official capacity… Or if I just ask Arnault and Roland if he would please help me murder a bastard. They are both already aware of Petras’ crimes in M42 and swore to kill him.” Their vehement and immediate declarations of Murder had been… Cedric swallowed a little. They had been more gratifying than the young Apothecary had wanted to admit.

“So Khopesh and the Claw of Night Lords knows about why certain… First Born Brothers in M42 don’t like us… And they find that reasoning stupid, foolish and wasteful. Claude nods, “That- actually is one method of Justice that the rest of the chapter’s can’t mess with. Justice for crimes done, unless it’s inter-chapter stuff, or there is a request to intercede on the behalf of the victims, is done in-chapter. Unless their crimes are bad enough that an Example needs to be made.”

Claude gathers his thoughts and pulls out the data slate and reads the notes he’d taken, the conversation that he had with Khopesh. He hands the data slate over so they can read about Hunting- and how the worst of the Astarte criminals, like serial killers, are handed over to the Night Lords, which is one of the worst punishments that can happen to a person. How the Hunt is declared- what happens during it, and after.

“There is a precedent,” Claude says, licking his lips a little, “where if an Astarte is killing other Astarte- that their Chapter, at first are the ones to handle them, but if for whatever reason they can’t or won’t… They tend to be handed over to the Night Lords. I… uh… asked some Questions- and Khopesh seemed… excited about the idea of a Hunt. I think… no, I know he reported the conversation we had about Justice and Punishment to the Claw Leader- Anrir, who’s an Apothecary- who’s older than Hura.”

“... Petras wasn’t the only one killing Primaris Marines in M42. Nor was he the only Firstborn Black Templar to be doing so.” Cedric murmured, his voice low and quiet. “As much as I want… As much as I want to raise bolter and blade against the fucker myself, alongside whoever else wants to kill him. I don’t… I don’t think that simply killing Petras will ensure long-term protection of our fellow Primaris Marines. I will ask Arnault and Roland their opinions on this… But…”

“There are other punishments,” Claude says, “They talked about.. Flaying… among other things. Some. Very graphic descriptions that I won’t go into detail about right now, as well as having the people who were hurt by the person, to either participate in the person’s punishment actively, or have a hand in deciding how they are punished. There is, unfortunately, a need to gather evidence and proof of crimes more than verbal witness evidence.”

“Would the recorded audio-visual recordings of a now-murdered marine be enough evidence?” Cedric asked bluntly. 

“... Will you allow me to ask Khopesh that?” Claude says, “I think so- but I’d need his opinion, he’s been here longer, and knows more about Justice and the legal framework that the Astartes have developed here.”

Cedric nodded “Go for it. You’re the one with contact with him.”

Claude sends Khopesh a vox text [Please don't run to Anrir or the others about this quite yet. But hypothetically, if Ced- er someone had Audio/visual proof about Cas- er I mean, someone else, HYPOTHETICALLY being murdered by Pet- er a third someone else, that is currently,  hypothetically on Ancient Terra right now, and has a history of murdering primaris marines, what would happen? And this person that hypothetically nearly murdered Mat- I mean someone else as well.]

Khopesh hears a pinging noise and looks down at his vox, he can’t stop the grin that grows on his face and thinks to himself, ‘Bingo!’

“You seem pleased, something good?” Ghosk notes, lightly pressing the younger member of the Claw for more information if the other wanted to share.

“... Not yet- but soon. Hopefully.” Khopesh says. He’s not going to tell Anrir or the other members of the Claw yet. Per Claude’s request, for now. But finally. He’s glad that Claude is finally trusting them, or at least him more. 

“Alright,” Ghosk replies with a nod. “Keep in mind we can only back you up if we know what’s going on.”

“Yes Ghosk,” Khopesh says with a nod. He does send a message back to Claude. [A Primaris Killer- or an Astarte killer, like the one you texted me about would be setting himself up for execution. Especially if he has a heinous list of crimes and it’s clear that he’s not stopping.]

Claude responds swiftly to the message [Thank you for the information.]

Khopesh sends another message to Claude that [you all can argue for the Primaris killer being an ongoing and unremorseful threat. So they can Hopefully get the maximum punishment of execution by Night Lords. Or depending on the Chapter preferred executioners.]

[Thank you for that- so far as we know, he’s only gone after Black Templars.] Claude responds. [Knowing him… he might escalate to other Primaris if he comes across them. He’s got a nasty temper.]

[But even without that. The chapter the murderer is a part of would be Heavily pressured to either remove their own bad actor, or turn him over so he can be removed.]  Khopesh sends the message to Claude, and he is getting excited.

Khopesh is excited that Claude trusts them more, And that he'll soon be able to talk to Anrir and the others about getting a proper Hunt going. Ghosk waved at the younger Night Lord as he watched the younger one leave, wondering what was going on.

But patience...Patience! Like Anrir always says. He feels like he's vibrating- and is glad that he moved out of where the rest of the Claw are- because they would see the expression on his face and demand to see his communicator to know what’s going on.

A thought suddenly strikes Khopesh and the excitement dims a little and he sends another message- a very Anrir thought as he remembers watching the older Night Lord work and talk to others and sends another message, [I won't tell Anrir without your permission....But I also don't want you and your brothers to be in active danger. I have enough on my rotted conscience, so if things get bad. Please don't make me live with staying quiet. For however terrifying he might be. Anrir wants to help you, Claude. We all do. But we can't Do that unless you Tell us what we need to know. Information Is Warfare isn't it?]

Khopesh hopes he isn’t pushing Claude too much, but this is need to know information, and the fact that the youngest member of his Claw was talking about things in more specific detail was Important. Especially with that fucking bastard of a Raven Captain- that they are helping him handle as well.

[Could you send me a copy of the evidence that you and your brother-cousins have?] Khopesh sends, [The evidence that can be submitted to the Alliance, it will help clinch the Hunt to being declared.]

Khopesh has an excited blood thirsty expression on his face- and he is moving around pacing back and forth. He’s so tempted to try and find out where Claude is to rush over and talk, and see if he can get more answers out of him and the other Primaris Marines.

His excitement cools down and he shakes his head as he rereads one of the messages, [wait- no, if the message gets intercepted, they’d need a backup of it to show the Alliance.]

[Cedric and Ramiel say they want to talk with you in person.] Claude sends, [we are at the park nearby the Loyalist base on Cherry lane and main street. Could you come by and speak with us? Things… might be escalating.]

[I’ll be there as soon as I can] Khopesh responds and tries not to run to where Claude and the others are. He’s. really excited. The Primaris Marines are trusting them with this! And they- hopefully will help get the Primaris Marines to have Justice prevail and have a Hunt. It has been so long since they have been able to Hunt.

Khopesh tries to calm down and sees the way that Claude, Cedric, and Ramiel are sitting around a table, there is a quaint looking picnic- clever, make a serious meeting look like something more innocent, clever, clever boys. After the explanation they give, the video is shown and he watches it in full.

"You have footage of one of your battle brothers murders? Fantastic!” Khopesh says.

Cedric stills for a moment. The sheer visceral excitement radiating off of the Night Lord is off-putting to say the least. He briefly glances at Claude. What the fuck? He thinks particularly loudly at his witch-adjacent Brother-cousin. “... I find the joy you show in the death of another marine to be… Unsettling.”

Ramiel’s jaw clenches and blue eyes spark with rage and his hands clenched into fists and Claude jumps in before either of his cousins could smack the crap out of Khopesh, “ the translation "I'm excited we'll soon get to avenge your fallen and deliver Justice!" Not I’m happy your brother is dead.”

Claude very much understands what the former sounds like, and it had been shocking to hear such things, but he had learned how to understand Night Lords and the way they speak. He especially knows Khopesh better, having interacted with him a lot more than his brother-cousins, to keep them from getting too mad at the First Born Night Lord.

Khopesh calms down a little, realizing how callous that sounded, especially since this person is a threat- likely to them personally, as well as to others and apologies, “Sorry- that came out wrong. It really sucks that your brother is dead. I’m excited to be able to help you with this mess. That video- it’s Key Evidence in getting your tormentor put down, or whatever punishment you think is best.”

Cedric pauses for a moment before sending a copy of Castiel's dying video to the Night Lord. “Here is what he sent me. He timed it so hopefully his murderer wouldn't realize he was being recorded. Given the fact that Petras beat another Primaris marine to the point Mattias is currently in surgery now… The Chaplain must be nearby.”

Khopesh is a mixture of emotions, and his trembling a little as he tucks his hands behind his back as his hands clenched into fists. He’s a mixture of Excitement and Rage. How dare that bastard, Petras, go after the Primaris. 

Claude asks him, “What do you think of it?”

"I'm thinking I'd start with flaying Just the fingers! Then I'd yank the phalanges out one by one, on the right hand.” Khopesh starts, “For the left I'd Act like I was going to do the same, then snap the arm and force him to Bite Off his own fingers so the hands would Match-"

Part of Cedric was mildly Disgusted by Khopesh starting to explain what he would do to The bastard. The rest of him wanted to let the deranged Night Lord continue.

"About this Video as Evidence! Khopesh! How is the quality of the evidence!?" Ramiel interrupts.

"Oh right! Sorry...like I said it's fantastic as evidence. It clearly shows the perpetrator, goes decently in depth about his crimes, includes the bastards own fucking vileness on display and though it may sound tactless. Your deceased brother's testimony is something the Alliance will not be able to ignore. It may seem... disingenuous, but the pain and outrage you feel should be Used. It will show the tribunal that these crimes Must be Answered for, Your brother's lives not spent in Vain!" Khopesh says his eyes blazing with emotion and passion. "You never should have had to seek out this justice. Your elder brothers should have taken you beneath their wings, Like Anrir did for us!"

Cedric shifted a little, feeling the need to defend the firstborn Templar brothers who actually gave a damn about him and his Brothers. “A couple of our older Brothers have taken us in. Arnault and Roland have done their best to care for and protect us. As soon as they became peripherally aware of a threat to us that we hadn't told them about they would try and press for explanations. When… I told them earlier this week about Petras when Mattias was first brought in for treatment. They intended to kill the Chaplain, and said as much.” 

Khopesh paces around the table, prowling as he continues his rant, this explains why Claude and the others could be so stars- damned jumpy. Why Claude was so slow to trust- slow to allow himself Anrir and the other’s protections. 

Afraid of what being put under the protection of an older brother means accepting they have some power over you- and seeing and hearing that his cousins were murdered by shit head- and Claude and others getting beaten… yeah no. He’d be reluctant to give up any freedoms, even if it would help in some ways.

"But that's not the path this...Petras bastard chose. He Chose and by the looks of it continues to Choose to harm his own Battle Brothers, and worst! Those He should be responsible for." Khopesh says. "He is the worst type of Predatory, Vile, Rotten Bastard! And he Deserves to answer for his crimes. Your brothers, your fallen, deserve to have him Answer for his crimes."

"Let Us help you present this evidence Claude. Let the Claw help you and your brothers..." Khopesh doesn't use Your Claw as he feels it might push too hard and cause Claude to retreat. 

Instead Khopesh uses The Claw, still implying that Claude is a part of it, but leaving it up to interpretation. Avoiding Our Claw or My Claw as those could distinctly put Claude outside it, which is not true, and he doesn’t want to have Claude feel alienated, fuck the poor kid has had that done to him back in M42, him and his brothers.

Cedric, Ramiel, and Claude get an urgent text vox message from Jophiel it reads  [I’ve got a wounded Black Templar Primaris Marine. Near the stone outcropping two hours in the forest west of Gannet point. I’m stalling Petras- the fucker is Insane. Please help. Or send help. He’s threatening to kill me and Sariel. He knows about the Alliance rules, he just doesn’t fucking care.]

Cedric stood up, and swore under his breath, looking at Khopesh. “While you’re not the firstborn Brother who I’d choose to ask for help, you’re already here and I don’t know how long we have before the situation gets worse. We just received a call for help from Jophiel, a Primaris marine. He’s trying to keep another Primaris Marine alive and is facing Petras without help. We need Petras restrained now. If you mean your words, come and help us.” With that, Cedric took off at his top speed towards where Jophiel had pinged his location, texting back [I am coming! Delay him as long as you can!]

[I will do my best.] Jophiel responds.

He then messaged Arnault and Roland at the same time [Petras is attacking someone at this location. If you are able and willing, please help me keep him from murdering more Primaris marines.]

He gets an immediate response from both Arnault and Roland. Roland answered first. [On my way.]

Arnault answered [Will be there soon. Stay safe and be smart.]

His hearts drop to his stomach when he sees Jophiel on the ground, wings broken, and Petras standing over him. A Crusade of Black Templars and a dead Primaris Black Templar.

"You bastard!" Claude hears Cedric hiss as he chases after his charging Black Templar Brother cousins.

The closer they get to Petras and his Crusade, Cedric suddenly drops to Jophie's side- realizing the other is alive. "Why did you drug him? Break his wings?"

"He went mad," Petras says, "And he killed the Primaris Black Templar."

"LIAR!" Claude hears Cedric bellow. "Jophie is many things a brother killer, he is not."

"His blade is bloodied, and killed the Black Templar," Petras counteracts, telling the truth.

Khopesh has approached Jophiel and is messing with the younger Space Marine's helmet and lets out a dark chuckle and says, "You fool- Jophiel was recording the conversation he had with you."

"... what?" Petras says, sounding caught off guard.

Khopesh gives him a cruel smile and flips the helmet and projects the truth of the matter- Jophiel confronting Petras- who reveals his true cruelty.

How Jophiel tried to escape Petras at first- and only fought him after he'd broken his wings and made it so that escape wasn't likely. How Petras was the one to kill the Primaris Marine- using Jophiel's own weapon.

The looks of shock and horror and disappointment and disgust on the faces of Petras's Crusade have them circling around Petras- rather than trying to defend him.

Petras scowls, realizing that the jig is up and he taunts, "So- you know I have killed two of your disgusting Abominations."

"We are not abominations," Ramiel says tremulously, shaking, terrified, but wanting to stand against the bastard that murdered him in M42. "You are- you m-murdered me and a dozen of our brothers in M42- and have killed at least two of us here!"

Cedric moves closer to Ramiel, standing so that he is half in front of his terrified Brother, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he glowers at Petras. 

"Ah, so you have only found two of my victims," Petras taunts. "The souls of my other victims will never know peace because the location of their bodies will die with me."

"Who says that we will kill you here and now?" Khopesh says slyly, "After all- death is what you will get, but oh- how you should suffer before you die!"

[shiyorin]

Do Dreadnoughts dream of taking a bath?

#Inspired by PowerWash x Warhammer 40K and Roco.

#I love Dreadnought.

"Do Dreadnoughts dream?"

That is a question with no certain answer. On one hand, a Dreadnought is more machine than man, neural implants fuse mind to machine in ways bizarre to comprehend. Their armored carapace shelters only remnants of flesh, sustained through bionic might alone. By all rights, their cerebral cortex should have decayed long ago.

By such logic, one could argue conscious thought ends where flesh yields to steel. Sleep and its dreamscapes are biological realities, are they not? With only trace humanity remaining, why expect mental functions of slumber? But integrated into their armored shells are enough enhanced organs and neural implants to sustain bioniorganic functions far beyond mere biological viability. Isn't the nature of dream itself stems from biological instincts overwritten.

The pain was a dull ache, easily ignored after centuries entombed. But a new irritation assailed him now, crawling itches across flesh long denied sensation. Confusion, this body felt change, though it had lain inert as worlds turned. Deeper still came the oppression, lungs seizing as if drowning once more in bloody. 

What trickery was this? Diagnostics reported stasis, all systems firing true. Yet the discomforts grew, phlegmy coughs racking the half-machine beast. Panic swelled, animal instincts long dormant rising within the eternal tomb. Then light, piercing the darkness behind closing lids. Sweet air rushed into ruined lungs, this labor easing at last. 

His eyes snapped open to an unfamiliar realm. No armored bulk rose before him but limbs scoured by shrapnel and burned by virus-bombs. His original form, given once more against all reason, a gift or curse, he knew not. Unfettered he stood, wounds healed to bare scars across taut flesh. This was a dream, or something. 

An uncertainty gripped him. What madness was this? To be returned to old flesh but feel no urge to battle, no call to crusade? A different impulse arose, foreign but ingrained, cleansing ritual performed eons past in youth. He walked uncertain, waters calling him to rites unseen by any in aeons untold. 

Ribs still bore flecks of ceramite and plasteel patched within living shell. He paused before the waters, studying form that had known only warfare. Scars told their own tales, each etched upon memories kept alive through aeons in stasis. With care he entered in that, waters lapping old wounds as if in benediction. 

There he lingered, letting cares and pains wash freely away. Muscles long locked in adamantium relaxed, tension fleeing in steam rising. For the first time in memory untold, no demands of duty or flesh assailed him. A feeling swelled within him, emotion locked beyond reach of mortal sensation. Peace, serenity swept over ancient minds as waters sloughed away cares of ages...

Pain pulsed through his battered form as consciousness returned. The fleeting peace of dreams melted away, centuries of enforced half-life onboard the Dreadnought crashing back upon ancient shoulders. Systems booted sluggishly, sensors recalibrating after solaris of monotony disturbed. 

A hum escaped grille as servos whirred back to their duties securing crumpled flesh deeper than mortal sight could pierce. Outside clangs and grinding announced the diligent ministrations of tech-priests ensuring their perpetual charge clung yet to shadow of function. One voice carried clearly through armored carapace:

"Vitals stabilize in sector C-12 Magos. Neural links firing within tolerances." The Tech-priest's voice rang through microphones.

"Understood. Continue maintenance protocols and monitor for anomalies. This relic has served faithfully many centuries. Pray for the Omnissiah." The Magos's bionics buzzed in compliance. They ensured history marched on, whatever hulls preserved that march.

With effort, aged vox-grille creaked open. "Brother, I was dreaming." Static laced speech imparted by cobbled augmetics mere palliates for ravaged throat too ruined for basic sounds. The Techmarine's etheric sensors detected words nonetheless.

A static pause preceded Techmarine's reply. "Dreaming? Impossible, your neural engrams show only baseline activity."

Mirthless chuckle issued from loudspeakers. "Impossible, yes, But I dream... I'm taking a bath." 

Silence answered as Techmarine puzzled over the incomprehensible scene. "The priests scrub your plating clean as monthly rite. Perhaps some synapse misfired."

Silence reigned for moments uncounted as ritual continued outside. Then, a final whisper from within. "Indeed. A... nice dream." 

With that, consciousness fell back into lowest-level rest as painkillers suffused systems. The Techmarine watched monitors return to quiescent patterns, then signaled to close the Dreadnought once more. Its machine spirit's notions were beyond his. The armored tomb closed, and darkness reigned once more.

[phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess]

CONCEPT

Show us Alastor and Mimzy making up by getting into deeply drunken and destructive shenannigans that result in at least two major explosions, a fire, several levelled blocks and more dead sinners than you can imagine

Neither of them could legally drive when alive, and never bothered to learn when they arrived in hell, so that's also extremely dangerous

Husk is initially sent to try and stop them, but he's bribed with The Good Drinks and ends up whooping in the backseat of a car whose windscreen is more blood and viscera than it is glass now

Show us Angel talking Vaggie down from going to deal with them, because Charlie is horrified at the carnage as Voxtech has cottoned on to the situation and is pretending this is some sort of rampage

Vox is trying to use the right angles, but its obvious the overlord involved is just having a good time

Still, they're heading a tad too close to the territories of the few overlords they have good standing with (Zestial, Carmilla, hells, they knocked over Susan's mailbox in Cannibal Town and only hers so Rosie is Not Pleased because the woman is ComplainingTM to her about her Red Haired Pet)

Angel asks the Short King, aka Royal Daddy to drop him and Cherri close to the chaotic trio, because he's also the only one who might be able to safely stop the car without being splatted. Because he can see that the trajectory was heading right at Vee Tower, and given how that could piss off Val, Angel wasn't gonna risk it.

Also, he's been that shitfaced before and knows you just don't make great choices like that and Vox seems to be countin' on it. You don't work in Angel's profession without being able to clock a creeper... might not be able to do nothin' if they pay the right price, but you could just Tell.

Drones frizzle as a lensflare, the kind of which hasn't been seen since the recent Star Trek Movies, sears their optical wires. Losing signals and providing barely there distorted imagery.

"Not being a very good parental figure, here, bellhop..." Lucifer grins, hand on the front of the vehicle as the wheels spin a few seconds longer. It strains and sputters before he presses a tad more firmly on the metal, and the whole thing dies with an angry 'kra-bang'.

"Why... your shhhhhortness, to what do we..." a truly devastating insult trails off mid-sentence, as the Overlord notices his shadow is making faces at the king, which is far funnier and easier to focus on. "Hmmm? Oh yes... decided to work on Hell's transportation concerns... personally...? Or is it angel-ally? Devilally? What do you fall under, hmmm?"

"He c-can fall undah me any-hic-time..." Mimzy mumbled, crawling over Alastor to get out of the vehicle and rolling onto the pavement, giggling. "Whoo!"

"Ah, looks like we're at Defcon Whoo..." Angel mutters to Cherri, who howls with laughter. She manages to calm down enough to grab hold of the shorter sinner, pulling her upright without much preamble. This ain't her fourth rodeo and all that.

Angel peers in the backseat to find a jovial Husk tryinng to catch his own tail as it wiggles past his eyes. He's flat on his back, swiping at it, and Angel's heart just about pounds out of his chest because fuck that's cute... he tries to get a covert video with his fourth hand.

"Hey Whiskers, you wanna come outta the car for a minute? We got some stuff you might like at the hotel..." he coos, catching Husk's attention.

The Stuff is water, painkillers for the inevitable headache and a soft couch to sleep on with The Bucket next to it. In fact, all three of them are likely to get the royal treatment if they can just contain them before any pissed off overlords came alooking for who was causing the distruction.

But Husk didn't need to know that, let his blissed out kitty self assume there was more booze. Angel and Cherri were the downright experts at motivating blissed out friends to safety. Noone left behind and all that.

The cat-like mrrrph? the grugff bartender makes nearly takes Angel out, he has to clutch at his chest for a second. He wants this old ass cat so damn bad, sunsets and heart eyes and all that shit... fuck, he thought that was just stuff romantasy authors made up for sales. But now he wanted to get this idiot home, and safe, and maybe see if he'd make that noise again when sober.

Did he purr? Angel needs to know So Bad.

"You uh you good there, Cocaine?"

"Coca-... oh, it's Angel Dust, Short King. Close but no pinata that time, hah!" he wavves the angel's worried tone away. "Just got struck by how cute Husk here is when he's super blitzed... did you hear that noise? Like Keekee when she's lookin' for pets!"

The King's attention fell on Husk, as Cherri is heard physically being hurled around in the background by a flapper who decided it was Dance Time!

"He did? When was that?"

Husk, confused by the attention and not really using his BrainTM at the moment, repeats the noise instead of what the sinner clearly thought was a query with actual words.

Lucifer's eyes go roundn and shiny, and yeah, now Angel can see exactly where Charlie got it. "HE DOES!"

"You should... hear the other sounds... he can make... if you get one of the red dots..." Alastor helpfully advised, climbing out of the car to drape over the open door. He summons the item with a flourish and it smacks the king in the forehead.

"Oh you fucke-..."

"Hey, hang on ya highness, I don't actually think he was being a dick..." Angel says, holding out a free hand as he watched Alastor's confused expression fall into a frown at his empty hand. "Just couldn't aim like this... how the heck they managed to do this much damage while this outta it, I'm not sure."

Gunfire blasted from a sidestreet. "There's the slut!"

Mimzy and Angel both snapped back a sharp, "Hey!"

The ragtag group pauses, a mix of saurian sinners and a handful of what must be owned imps, as they glance between them. /Several flush and look elsewhere as they realise that's The Angel Dust.

"Er, the short whore, not you, sir..." says a rifle-wielding imp in a smart suit, appearing torn between fury at Mimzy and mild awe at Angel. "We came to get her for the boss... she ain't getting away with her shit again. Lost too many of our guys to her nonsense."

"Well, thank you but, I can't letcha do that. She's a.... friend of a friend. And that friend might eatcha in the least sexy way possible, unless you're into vore." Angel says, subtly warding them off.

But it's too late, Mimzy's noticed the interlopers. So has the Radio Demon.

"Al... c'n you help lil ol' me? I mighta... devoured a guy... or six... but he had it comin'!"

"Ah Mimzy my dear... you really know... how to pick them." Said the swaying eldritch horror as it unfolded from the everyday portable form, tendrils wildly lashing out and taking out both thugs, nearby cars and several buildings. "Do stand still..."

They were. Fear held them fast.

"Oh for fuck's sake..." Lucifer groaned, clearly over this whole situation. He might like Hunk and sure technically Missy was under the Get Them Home Safe Plan from Charlie, but dealing with a drunken overlord like this was... ridiculous. Why was this his afterlife? Had Father sent the bellhop specifically to remind Lucifer he was meant to be suffering?

He snaps his fingers and sends the few assailants not being dragged into shaows by chittering poppet things with big teeth, to the distant corners of Pentagram City. Separated like naughty kids on time out (thank you Belphagor for teaching Lilly and Lucifer about that one or Charlie would have turned out MUCH worse).

Angry red eyes waver over Lucifer and a few tendrils try to swat him, or at least, possibly the several Lucifers he's seeing.

"Okay big guy, look at the pretty shiny angel... over here... we're going to calm down because if you don't it would be a Shame if I had to beat your smug ass into next week to make sure you didn't go do anything else stupid." Lucifer sing-songed, really hoping that the sinner would choose Violence. Please let him choose Violence. Char would forgive him.

"Oi, you can't goad him into a drunken fist fight, that's cheatin' and I'm telling Charlie!" Angel calls up to him, and Lucifer's expression falls into a furious little pout.

"Well.... fine. What do you suggest, oh wrangler of the drunken?"

Angel tries so hard not to laugh openly at the childish frustration on the King's face. Yeah, Charlie was like 90% her dad, from what Angel could see.

"Well, you got his attention... see if he'll like, shrink down or whatever that's called, if not you might have to just portal us back to the hotel supersized!" angel yells up at the former angel.

Lucifer was annoyed. He could have been finishing off the replacement helper for Charlie, now that Dazzle was... well, Razzle was so lonely. It wasn't a Replacement of course, but the little creature might help fill the void left.

Shaking his head he decided to try, for Charlie. "Alright, let's try this..."

He levitates one of the shadow-mauled corpses up to them. "Hey Al... if I let you have a snack, would you calm down enough to shrink for us? All the sinners who came for, er, Misty, are gone. I poofed them away. No need to be all... big."

He notes that the cannnibal's eyes followed after the corpse, and he moves it slightly just to confirm. "You promise to settle down if I let you have a snack? We gotta get back to the hotel, bud... Charlie's not big on..." Something explodes a street over from the direction the trio had come from. "...hijinks like this."

Something like a rumble rippled between them, and Lucifer took that as capitulation. He tossed the semi-corpse and turned away, avoiding seeing whatever level of chewing involved those wet pops and snaps.

He felt the moment Alastor let go of the larger form, it was like a shift in the electromagnetic and magical fields, something he was unfortunately sensitive to based on the fact he'd had a hand in crafting those (along with a LOT of other things in the universe).

Angel was there immediately, slinging an arm around Alastor's shoulders in an effort to both steer the other and ensure he didn't sneakily resize himself just to spite the king. It was a testament to their growing companionship that Alastor didn't rip that arm right off... however, the true icing on the cake was the fact that the unexpected contact startled a soft, confused bleat out of the Overlord.

Dual waves of 'aw that's super cute' and 'I am holding this over his head for the rest of eternity' struck the King. Finally, he had something on the red motherfucker!

Angel looked slightly stunned, and squeezed Al tightly for a second, just to hear the repeated but slightly angrier sound. He turns to Lucifer with wide eyes. "Didja know he could do that? Holy fuck, these two are gonna be the second death of me..."

Cherri has a giggling Mimzy under one arm and is carefully hurling cherry bombs at the few sputtering drones still valiantly attempting to spy on them despite the damage angelic light had caused.

"They're pretty fuckin' cute, I'll give you that!" She calls out. "So what's the plan? If I let this sheila go, she'll be flat out like a lizard drinking... but getting this lot back to the Hotel will be a hard yakka if we try by foot."

"True... unless you wanna conjure a limo or somethin', ya Majesty?"

"Huh? Oh, no. No I'm just going to portal us all back to the hotel." Lucifer said, blinking back into the moment.

A blast of radio warble made them cringe from proximity. "No-...nonsense... let's take my shadows... thy're so... reliabl-... reliab-... we'll get there somewhat intact!" Alastor grins, grabbing hold of Angel and sending shadow tendrils out towards Cherri, Mimzy and Lucifer.

"Wait, no! No drunk driving in my kingdom!" Lucifer shouts, as he's pulled into a soupy black nothingness and left to tumble aimlessly in all directions. Well, not quite. There's a tether there, linking him back to the other screaming voices and giggling flapper he knows are there but can't quite see.

Lucifer rolls back into reality dazed and bruised as he falls from the ceiling of the lobby. Cherri and Mimzy fall sideways from a wall, and then Angel lands face-first on the nearby couch next to a startled Charlie.

Husk is not so lucky, the cat reappears at the bar, shooting upwards from out of the void in the floor as if thrown. He lands on all fours with claws out and tail fluffed, seconds from hissing, next to a wildly confused Vaggie.

"Wait, shit, we've lost Al..." Angel says, looking around.

"Hang on, now I've gotten a feel for the shadowy bullshit I think I can grab him. He's probably not able to remanifest a physical form while that drunk..." Lucifer sighs, hauling himself upright and heading to one of the wiggling shadow portals on the wall.

He jams himself in to about mid-torso and holds out a ball of light in his hand, searching for-... yeah, that'd be the idiot. There's a pair of hazy red eyes above a taut stitched smile... nothing else though.

"Alright, come over here, bellhop and touch my hand. I can pull you back into your physical body, if you want... unless this is easier... but then yo umight get lost in here if you're drunk soooooo..."

His rambling made the patch of sentient darkness drift close enough for Lucifer to snag and pull back through. He forgot about the reality of having another person land on you, and that they might be an angular motherfucker whose bony self could puncture holes in a bouncy castle if he landed wrong.

The wind left him all at once as they hit the floor. Still, the fact it seemed to startle another deer sound out of the other felt like payment enough. This was too good not to bring up in their next verbal spat...

Charlie looked intrigued but not surprised at the noise. "Oooh, thanks for that, Dad! And ohmygosh, is that a TAIL?!"

The end of that sentence went near hypersonic, and the glassware around them rattled ominously.

Vaggie looked perturbed. "What the fuck was that?"

"Oh, oh, oh! It's this little bleat, he made it when Rosie gave him a hug the other day in Cannibal Town, you'd think he weighed nothing the way she picked him up!"

"Oh, is that so...?" Angel said, filing that one away for later. "By the way, guess who makes cute little kitty noises when he's super drunk?" He gestures like a magician's assistant to Husk.

Charlie's eyes are going to roll out of her head if they get any rounder. "He does?!" A glass shatters behind them.

Lucifer shoves Alastor off him and rolls upright far too fluidly for someone with a proper bonestructure. He notices the other's form spilling into shadow at the edges, and hastily grabbed Alastor's wrist again to pulse his power aroud the sinner. Wouldn't want him to accidentally discorporate a leg or something and bleed to death on the nice new carpets.

He barely even thinks about it before deciding to just run with the first idea that comes to mind... snapping up a band that definitely didn't look like something a kid at summer camp would make as a friendship bracelet for another, and imbuing it with with a charm to hold the other physically present. If the bellhop hated it, they could fight when he was sober.

Cherri has deposited a snoring Mimzy facedown on a nearby armchair, and Niffty was studiously poking her with a featherduster and giggling at the mumbled swearing.

"Well, they're riproaring drunk, but we gottem back here. What's the plan now?" the spunky powerhouse asks.

"Er... well... they're not destroying the city so we just make them comfortable and change the bucket if anyone pukes?" Lucifer shrugged. How did sinners deal with alcohol? He couldn't get drunk and it never really did anything more than make him tingly for a few hours, and Lillith never felt the need to try to push her limits that far.

From what he understood from seeing several Goetia post-ball, it could feel like a rather persistent headache and sometimes you felt like throwing up. Or you did. He really should have checked in on that... what if Charlie was susceptible? He should have had that talk.

The other Talk was taken by Ozzie, thankfully, because the Sin was bombproof when it came to questions of that nature, and Belphagor covered biology in every possible way. Actually, he should ask Beezelbub, she would have an idea what this would look like...

The King whips out his phone and shoots off a text. Then panics internally about it it was weird that this was his first text in half a year to her. She blew up his messages seconds later, and suggested he just let them stay drunk... alongside several helpful suggestions about greasy food and hydration and some pills she would go bother Belphy to portal over. He sent back it was for several sinners, not him, and she replied that of course it was and she'd tell Belph to drop the dosage.

She then asked who it was for, and he decided to just tell her the whole shituation from the moment Charlie called to the very moment he was watching Angel Dust and Charlie deposit the gangly overlord atop a loveseat with minimal resistance.

She sent back a nnumber of emojis he couldn't identify, and a 'lol love to meet them, sound like a riot!'

A pause. 'Wait did you say he dropped a piano on you?'

'Yeah, he's an ass like that. But I think I won the dad-off. Still, I've got sooooo much blackmail material, the guy has a big fluffy deer tail and he makes these super cute bleats when he's drunk or startled... totally the opposite of the big bad scary overlord he's trying to project. Finally have something on him, to rival his jibes at my duck-making.'

That dinged something in his brain, and he swirled a finger, sending off a very belated gift to Bee and her new boyfriend (Hex? Tex Mex? Checks?).

'OMFG U DID NOT MAKE A DUCK FOR ME AND TEX!!!!!' she shoots back, and he panic declines her incoming call. Texting was a lot for the king at this time. 'THANK U!!! LUV U LUCI BABES!!!'

'Anytime.'

There's a swirl of magic, purple and smelling faintly of candlewax, as a paper bag appeared with a list of instructions on the side. That'd be the pills from Belphagor.

"Good news, we have something to make sure they live through their hangingover or whatever you sinners get, so that's taken care of." He announces, noting Niffty has already procured additional buckets for the other two. "Do we need to... do anything else for them?"

"I mean, normally I'd want to put them in their own rooms and make sure they weren't so... on display... but I also kind of feel like we need them to be in line of sight so we can help if they need it." Charlie says, looking sheepish. Husk is almost as secreticce as Alastor, she doesn't like intruding on their privacy but... well, necessary evils and all that.

"It's easier to make sure no one chokes on their own vomit or ends up stumbling out to start a fight with another overlord if we have eyes on." Vaggie says, practical to the core of her being. "Besides, two of them are staff and we need to make sure they don't die for... I don't know, team work reasons or something?"

"Just admit ya love us Vagatha!" Angel croons, ducking the bar coaster she hurled his way at the exaggerated kiss blown towards the exorcist.

"Ugh, come on man, it's bad enough we can't make the radio deer stop calling me that and now YOU?!" she groans, covering her face in her hands.

"I can go back to pronouncing your name how the First Guy did, if you want Va-..."

"It would be the last thing you do." She snaps back, shoulders unclenching. He may taunt, but since learning that little tidbit, Angel hadn't actually used the name. "Still, this is going to be a setback for the hotel... I mean, we got good enough press after the battle, but this? This is going to piss off a lot of people."

"Nah, Overlords get a weird sort of pass, you know? They do strange crap all the time, and get away with it, because who's gonna stop em?" Angel waves her worries off. "Like, Val does... what Val does all over Pride and do you see anyone up in arms about it? Velvette punched models off the runway the other week and no one said shit. And when that big gal, Zeezi I think? Flattened a district during an argument with the skull guy, not an actual fight apparently just a disagreement with a lotta property damage, no one did fuck all."

"Okay... but they were in their own territories, this was... all over. And he's one of the front-runners for the hotel... it was bad enough when his weird trouble magnet friend came around the first time. But we could call that a one-off. This was... blatant." She counters.

Husk grumbles, pulling his face off the bar. "M...zy has a pass... Al'n'Rsie like her." He managed.

"And that would be enough of an excuse to protect us from fallout?"

"Vox's gunna always be... problem... b'sessed... but... Mim getsa pass. Cause they was 'live t'gether..."

"Ooookay, so, we'll just deal with this when everyone is sober and I can talk about better choices in the future. After all, we're all about second chances here!" Charlie said, smile strained and tone bordering on upset. The hotel hadn't boomed since the battle, but... a few of the more interested applicants had dribbled away in the last few days. It had been disheartening.

"We could get a marching band here in less than 45 minutes, if you need to make a point, duckling?" Lucifer suggests, his grin rather demonic. He backtracks at the mild disappointment on her face. "Kidding! Daddy's kidding! I just meant that sometimes consequences are important... they help you learn lessons that are sometimes painful, but necessary. Like say, not getting wasted and ruining reputations across the entire Pride ring while a tv televises it."

"Ooooh shiiiiit, I forgot about the drones... ugh, how bad is it?" She aims that at Angel, Cherri and Vaggie who are scrolling their phones and wincing. "That's not encouraging."

"Well, I mean he ain't managed to get a shot of the strawberry pimp, not a good one, he's more blur than body in most of 'em... but it's clear he's involved. Husk and the short broad are pretty distinct." Angel replies.

"Hah, how the bloody hell did they get the car on top of the Embassy? Fuckin' legends!" Cherri whoops, showing a truly perplexing picture, which was circling Sinstagram and Veddit for varying reasons.

"Yeah, so we got attention... just not the kind we were after." Vaggie ends, succinctly. "That's a whole problem unto itself. But we'll have to deal with it, cause it's done already. Selfish fucker..."

"Yhooo'd be... more lenient... if'n the one..." Husk paused, almost asleep and staring at a point on the ceiling with intense concentration. He purrs when Angel reaches over to pet his head, an apparently unconscious action, despite the soft gasp the spider lets out. Angel appears to be having a religious experience of his own.

"Can you tell us what you mean, Whiskers?" Angels whispers.

"...las' time... said no... t'Mim she got... got. Couldn' hide from... conse-... cons-... what she did. Died. Bad." Husk explained, leaning into Angel's hand, and starting to drift off in his warm cocoon of inebriation. "S'why he puts... up wi'her shit... more'n mine... not s'muchas Niff... s'the favourite."

"Okay, that was some interesting backstory, but still... this can't keep happening. The last place got physically damaged by her nonsense, and now it's the reputation on the line. At some point, the debt gets repaid, and enough is enough." Lucifer intones, he's aware that today's events could easily lead sinners chasing the little Millie sinner to come here and put Charlie or her dream in danger again.

Of course, he's also the worst at putting up boundaries, so that's a bit hypocritical. The Sins had all been on his shitlist over the millenia, but wormed their way off it... except Mammon, that guy had better never ever EVER suggest a robo version of Charlie again, or Lucifer was going to turn the guy into a public portapotty at the next multiday musical festival on earth.

And yeah, he'd shut them out for a while there too, but those were barriers not boundaries.

Briefly, everyone muses on how they'd handle the requests from a friend they'd known in life... a friend who brought trouble to them, constantly, and the one time they asserted a boundary... that friend paid the ultimate price for their actions. Yeah, that'd be complicated to unravel and it wouldn't be hard to imagine they'd probably go out of their individual ways to help above and beyond.

Ooof, that's some guilt to consider.

"I'm sure we can find a comfortable compromise with Mimzy, through some talk therapy..." Charlie suggests, the optimism fading out halfway. "Yeah, no, I don't know how we could stop her from being... herself. Husk mentioned this was her pattern, when she was here last... and even when Alastor asserted a boundary to make her leave, she still managed to erode it today. Or yesterday, because I think they'd been drinking for a while now..."

"We don't have to fix it, though. What if you just... make it a rule she can't come here, and that if she's having trouble she has to submit a help request in writing to the hotel for you AND Alastor to review?" Vaggie suggests. "That way you can both make a decision on how to respond in the best interests of the hotel?"

Charlie grabs her girlfriend and kisses her, then peppers her beautiful face with kisses. "Ooooh, I love you and your amazing brain!"

Niffty, giggling, appears with a pair of blankets that seem to be stitched together from scraps of everyone's clothing, which she places over the slumbering Husk and Alastor respectively. They didn't really react, but the couches were plush and the sinners seemed to have been awake for longer than would normally be safe, so perhaps that was fine.

Niffty seemed disinclined to provide anything for Mimzy.

"Niff, can you grab one a the blankets for our uest?" Angel prompts, gesturing at the flapper.

Her eye narrows, anger gleaming in the pupil the likes of which not even angels had managed to ignite. "No, she's a Nasty Bad Girl and I don't like how she is always wanting things from Sir. She is a bug he won't let me exterminate."

"Okay, of course, valid!" Angel says, raising his hands up in surrender. "We let the uh, the pesty bitch go cold, yeah?"

"YES!"

Lucifer watches Niffty disappear into the wall through a vent he didn't recall adding. "Have you... gotten that angelic dagger off of her, yet?"

Charlie went wide eyed and so pale you could just about see through her. "Uh oh..."

A maniacal giggle echoed through the wall, and fell into silence too swiftly for anyone to feel safe.

Lucifer's magic pulsed, a miniscule flex really, like being aware that there were muscles involved you weren't consciously moving when you smiled or frowned or yawned. The bracelet was holding the Overlord's physical form together as intended, but it was concerning that it seemed to be happening in the man's sleep. Was this normal for him?

Actually, maybe it was. Sinners were odd like that. Came in all forms and defied every law of physics you can imagine.

Either way, he's glad he thought ahead to binding the idiot into his body; having to restore someone from incoporeal atoms spread about an undefined area like, say, a shadowy void, would be a tedious task. He'd done something similar maybe twice in his long life, and it took ages... he's not willing to lose a decade of Charlie's life to that boring little project. Even if she likes the deer.

Actually, what the fuck is that?

Like a radar pinging an object in sonar range, something is bouncing back and tickling at his brain. That's an unpleasant sensation. Like a itch you can't quite scratch without removing parts of your flesh... which always stressed out beings used to being tied perpetually in these coporeal prisons. Er, bodies.

He moves to the couch with the deer on it and waves aside the blanket. The King startles as he finds Angel's hand grabbing his wrist rather pointedly as Lucifer starts undoing buttons.

"Hold up, Short King... we need to talk consent? Cause I sure as fuck don't mind lecturing an angel on the topic." As the poster child for being manhandled against his will, Angel would naturally be the one to step in, even in this instance. Hells, he'd put himself on the line to keep Charlie safe when she fucked up at his work.

That pulls Lucifer up short. Ah, well, from the outside this would look... not great...

"Whoa, okay, I can explain. Just got caught up in the mystery... er, my bad." He cringes at the tangled explanation. His words don't get easier from there, and Angel doesn't let go of him. "I-I mean, uh, the tether I put on him, it's kind of holding him in his body right now? Cause if he falls into shadows when he's not paying attention bits might get... lost... forever. Or your pet overlord mifght not be able to reform... had a weirdly similar experience when I got depressed enough I dropped the physical body for a bit and then got too distracted and had to pull bits of me back from distant Rings... but I didn't slip into an alternate pocket dimension like the deer can. So he could take ages to put right and-..."

"Dad, breathe!" Charlie interjects, looking flustered. Angel switches his grip to allow him to shake the king slightly.

"I'm breathing, it's fine! I just wanted to make sure he kept all his arms and legs and fleshy bits in the same part of existence. And just a second ago he started to turn to shadows, so the bracelet used a bit of my magic to contain him... but it pinged."

"Pinged what?" Vaggie frowned, suspicious.

"Not sure... felt... too similar to be a conincidence, and I just went to find out what it was without thinking about it. Felt... corrupted."

"Okay, look it sounds logical but ya gotta remember you can't just go about takin' clothes off people, specially when they're not able to stop you!" Angel admonishes, and the King of Hell shrinks back a little. "Look, is it worrying enough you can't wait 'til he's awake or d'you think that it can be left alone until tomorrow? He's uh, he's pretty specific about touch. Not sure why Smiles didn't fucking incinerate me for that hug earlier, even if he and the others were obliterated."

"Er, well... one sec..." Lucifer pulses the magic once more and frowns at the resistence. "Okay, so I think we Need to See it, unfortunately. He can't actually hurt me, you know... yeah he's powerful but... it'd take all the Sins teaming up with the right weapons to take me on with a chance of winning."

Wait, they weren't worried about Alastor hurting Lucifer. That was a given. He hastily added, "And I won't touch him more than necessary. Promise."

Did Alastor know he was defended like this? That these odd sinners liked the fucker enough to admonish the king of hell for him?

Angel slowly released his grip. They both knew Lucifer could have freed himself, but... it was the principle.

Using his powers instead, Lucifer gently opened the coat and undershirt, pushing aside the odd black straps that seemed to provide compression as well as hold the outfit in place.

He winces. "Ah, fuck, that's... well, it's healing, but I think what caught the attention of my powers was the residual angelic grace. It was muffled by whatever enchantment's on his coat, or I'd have noticed it sooner, given how close we've been for the last few weeks, and the whole... landing on me earlier thing."

"Do we-... how do we fix it?" Charlie asks, looking determined. "We have a first aid kit, and I know Rosie from Cannibal Town is apparently super good with magical afflictions and they're friends so she might help for a Favour..."

He cracks his fingers. "No, I got this... it's not hard to remove normally, but this has festered for a bit. Gonna assume an angel got him with one of their spears at some point... surprised it hasn't healed though. Enough power and you can live with a bit of angelic grace under the skin until it dissipates..."

Vaggie has a thousand yard stare going. "And what if it... came from someone a bit more powerful than an exorcist, Sir?"

"Like who? the only one there with even the vaguest hint of Heavenly endowment was Adam, and most of it was in his stupid guitax or whatever he called it. Must have been forged by one of the other archangels, he definitely didn't have the imagination or power to make it himself." Lucifer laughed, mind whirling through different ideas on who must have helped the first man with his little toy. Maybe Uriel, who was full of compassion but never made sturdy weapons, he just lacked interest. Might be why it broke so easily.

"...and if a sinner took on the first man and was hit by it? How bad would that be?" Vaggie prodded again, looking at the wound. It had been stitched, but all the movement of the last few hours had frayed patches, snapped other areas and generally bruised the already upset skin to either side. Not to mention the length of it was concerning.

Lucifer sucks air through his teeth. "Then this will suck... mostly for me, because it's going to taste awful... from a magical perspective. Not sure if Sinners can get the flavour of other magics, or scent? Or... look, it's a sense that I tried to let humans have but Heaven said No so it's hard to explain. Imagine trying to tell an alien race that didn't develop sight how that works and what it's like?"

"Okay, so... we need anything for this?" Angel asks, practically.

"Just help to unlatch his jaw if he wakes up mad for me touching him?" Lucifer half-jokes, but he really hopes it doesn't come to that. He flexes his fingers before touching the area, and yep, that's adam's borrowed Grace alright... it's like running your tongue through a garbage bin with a faint hint of the First Man's original clean, oceanic 'scent'. Or soul taste?

Ugh, humans and sinners and winners... they really needed to expand their vocabulary so it wasn't so hard to explain fundamentals!

It's not hard to coax out, but boy does it make the King want to throw up something fierce. If Alastor had just said something to start with, it'd be a breeze... literally, it would have tasted of gentle ozone and maybe a bit of gore, or whatever Alastor's soul-taste was, but nothing this bad...

This was why you didn't let angelic injuries fester. not only could they kill you but it was absolutely the Worst to heal them. He pulls back, finally, and reaches for one of the handy dandy buckets which is quickly provided to him by someone helpful who he was going to give a medal to in future.

When he finished throwing up, and had felt able to sip some of the cool fruit juice provided, Lucifer blinked back to the present. Charlie was hovering, and the Bucket had been removed by someone.

Angel had covered Alastor up again, at least with the blanket over the healing injury the Overlord wouldn't feel so exposed. With the angelic grace removed, there should be no issues for the wound to just... close up on its own. Soon, if there was enough energy left not currently stopping the overlord from dying of alcohol poisoning.

Charlie moved Lucifer to a seat and helped him rest.

"Are you okay, Dad? You kind of... threw up for a while there. Can I get you something gentle, like toast or... or crackers?" She offers.

"Yeah, maybe some toast would help." He agrees, feeling exhausted. He hadn't thrown up in centuries, it was a wildly unwelcome return of such an old experience.

"No one in the hotel is allowed to get hurt with angelic weaponry for the next century... I'm going to make it a law." Lucifer groans, finally feeling his own innate healing ability settle his stomach. "Especially if any of you try to hide it like that... it's like chugging the sludge at the bottom of a dumpster. Never again. He is going to owe me so much for this..."

He felt Charlie freeze slightly, trying to decide if this was a jest or not.

Lucifer cracks open an eye. "I mean metaphorically, duckling, I don't do Deals with anyone and I'm not going to tally it up. But if I can get him to like... help sort through that fucking mess that used to be my office in the Palace at some point, that'd be great. Not that he has to, but I;ve seen how he collated your paperwork and now I want to borrow him."

He saw a few shoulders release unconscious tension.

Was everyone really so scared of obligations? Of tit for tat? Or was it because everyone here was owned, or had been owned at some point, excepting Charlie? Vaggie had been in a Heavenly form of servitude to Adam after all.

He shrugs, "Well you can't ask for what's not there either... hah, you can't share a soul unless the contract is excruciatingly specifically worded. Oof, yeah, I've seen those go down... but no, Bambi is safe from indentured servitude from me. Wouldn't kill him to be nicer, though." Lucifer pauses. "Actually, I'm starting to suspect that if he tries to compliment me he might just start bleeding from the eyes out of sheer spite."

"Wait so how're the Vees sharing souls then?" Cherri cuts in, scrolling her phone and half-aware of the conversation from where she's laying on the floor, legs against Husk's couch.

Lucifer had been wondering actually.

"Far as I can figure, they either each have individually held contracts but an overarching three-way deal between them that allows a small percentage of ownership across all deals with the Vees... or they have subclauses in their deals to allow multiple owners."

"Gotta be the first one, I recall my contract and it wasn't well written or full of subclauses... I've seen the ones Vox makes up. Surprised that any of his employees can pee without needing to ask permission, his are thorough to the point of no loopholes, whereas Val's are more to the point. He puts down what ya gonna do for him and when, where, how, what the kickback is and then you sign it. Not sure about Velvette, never seen one'a her contracts." Angel shrugs.

"Interesting. Well, like I said, you can't jointly own a soul without everyone agreeing to it... although, it has to be said that it doesn't matter if it was signed willing or under duress. Seen that happen too. Some of the older overlords used that tactic a lot, it was infuriating but the Laws prevent me getting involved between sinner to sinner deals." Lucifer says, then adds. "Of course, you catch a sinner and goetia making a deal, it comes before me for review. Or, you know, Lillith... because of the inherent power imbalance. And with a Sin? Royalty has to be a third party for that one, it's mandatory."

"That's... a lot to handle. You never told me about all the paperwork you and mum had to do, Dad. Is there some way I can help you?"

Not for the first time, did Lucifer wonder how he'd made something so wonderfully caring and earnest as Charlie.

"No, it's fine... happens so rarely these days that it's only a blip in the ocean of things we need to pay attention to. You have your hotel as well, and I'd hate to distract you... plus, I can always ask Alberta here if he'll give me a hand. Just subtly mention the whole healing business... you know Overlords, they hate to be in debt."

"Mmm, maybe try asking as a friend first so it's not weighted against him?" Charlie coaxes. And he holds back an eyeroll, she really is something so optimistic it almost hurts sometimes.

"Sure, Char-Char. I'll ask the deer if he's willing to help." Lucifer can't help but stare at the Overlord a minute longer, his own words echoing in his head. Lilli always took care of the big deals... so why, then, had her own deal with this sinner before him not triggered magic to drop it on his desk? There were safeguards to avoid this very situation.

Royalty couldn't make soul deals with Sinners, well... they could, they just shouldn't. It was just slavery with extra steps at that point. Sure, sinners could own other sinners, and there were FUCKED terms for some contracts but... most had a way out. Your deal holder could die or be overthrown, you could have the contract terminated or finish when the task / time limit ceased, there were dozens of ways to end one. But not if the person holding your leash was an immortal all powerful being.

Goetia rarely died except by political assassinations. The Sins weren't going anywhere. And the Royal Family? Forget about it.

That was why it was never fully balanced.

Now he desperately wanted to know what it was that Lillith had offered, what she had provided. Was it power? Was it protection? Was the deal offered honestly out of care, or... sought under duress? Before she left there had been a lot of rage in his Queen, some of it aimed at him for his failings and poor mental presence... and a lot of it directed at Heaven for their stipulations around Charlie.

He could withstand that anger, he was almost invulnerable. But a Sin? A Goetia? Maybe. A Sinner? They were breakable... but then, that was the best thing about Sinners, they could regenerate as many times as you wanted with only the mental trauma to contend with. Bodies healed as minds broke.

"Dad? You went quiet and kept staring at Al... is everything okay? Like, did you get all the poison out?"

"What? Oh, yeah... just... wondering what your mother could have offered... that's all. She didn't like doing Deals all that much but..."

"...what?" the smallness of the query made him snap back to reality and his eyes locked on Charlotte's face. She seemed to be coming around to a conclusion, and for he first time Lucifer recognised that perhaps this was also something being concealed by the red fucker, like his injury.

It was just... the others at the hotel were so open about their status, wasn't the bellhop?

"Uh... well, first things first I'm going to need you to find all the angelic steel around the place and hide it at the Palace. It can't kill me, but it does hurt and I don't want him getting his hands on it when they all wake up tomorrow." He says, trying to distract and diffuse. "Then, we're all going to pretend I said nothing because I don't think he wanted to share that and I'm still talking, why am I talking? I need to stop doing that..."

He yelps as Angel picks him up and brings him over to the couch Husk is sleeping on, putting the King close enough to both feel and hear the rumbling purr. Oh... oh that was nice. Soothing.

"And now we're gonna breathe in for four... and then out for four, yeah? Good, c'mon now, Short King." Angel coaxed, clearly experienced in managing these situations. That was disheartening.

When he finally had control of himself again, Lucifer buried his face in his hands. "I'm getting tired of being tired and stressed out. That hasn't happened in a long time, either... it was getting better."

"Look, it's true you fucked up a bit and shared something that y'weren't aware was a secret. But we've all done that before, like the time I mentioned to P-... to a friend who ain't around anymore that Cherri would love to take both'a his cute little cocks for a spin, if he'd just ask her to her face for a date. She made me eat one of her bombs, and then bang him myself to give a review..."

That caught Lucifer's attention. "Well...?"

"Huh? Oh, 4.5 stars, he's pretty good at using everything he's got. Just needs a bit more confidence in asking for things, that's all." Angel grins, winking at Vaggie who looked furious that Angel had been banging other guests. "Oh unclench babes, it was outside the hotel."

"...as riveting as this conversation is, could we perhaps hold it elsewhere?" Interjects a decidely startling voice, as the Overlord sits up to glare at them all. Ah, well, fuck... seems the drainage process has siphoned off some other things too. There's a nearly sober, angry overlord glaring at the King.

"Whoa, Smiles you might wanna stay horizontal, you guys went at it hard and I dunno if it's all through your systems yet." Angel cautions, moving to hover. "Just saying, you either feel a bit shitty right now or you're about to."

"I assure you I am perfectly fine, and will remain so for as long as it takes to retire to my own rooms." Alastor replies, there's no heat in the tone. Merely acceptance of the situation. His eyes automatically identify that Mimzy and Husker are alive and cared for, before returning to the miniature monrach. "And now, you are going to explain yourself and why you never learned to keep a secret in your many millenia of existence."

"Ex-cuuuuuse ME?!" Lucifer shoots back. "I didn't know it was a hush hush secret topic, asshole! And I'm sorry, but don't get your damn tail in a twist over it!"

A record scratch filled the air, as red fluffy ears fought not to pin back. Ah, perhaps the tail was also meant to be a little secret?

Shit. Good Job Lucifer.

"Look it ain't a big deal, or it won't be because it's just us here, Smiles... we've all been trapped at some point or other. Heck, you've got Husk and Niffty right now on ya own leash... they're okay enough about it. You think I'd judge you? Me? I'm stuck with someone who treats me like a pre-warmed fleshlite most'a the time, I'm not casting stones in this glass hotel." Angel says, trying to validate the other.

"I... appreciate your candor here, Angel. When there is time, I'm certain I will find space in my schedule to manage the outrageous nonsense those Vees are up to." A well-worded promise without an actual promise. Alastor wanted the trio gone, and if that meant Angel was freed... so be it. "However, you are at liberty to talk about your contract... without reprisal. The fact that not only is someone aware but it happens to involve both royals, breaches two separate clauses. It will be unlikely to go under the radar."

"You know where she is?" Charlie asked, confused, furious and lost in in one big ball.

"Yes. She went... up."

"U-...? OH. Why would she...?"

"I could not say why she made that choice. Just that it was. You were never intended to know this."

"Are you here because of the Deal?" Lucifer asked.

"...perhaps."

"To help or hinder?"

"Both."

"To keep Charlie safe?"

"Yes."

"To keep the hotel safe?"

"Not quite."

"To... sabotage the hotel?"

"...also, not quite."

"To stop anyone from being redeemed?"

Instead of an answer there was a dinging, like someone getting a jackpot on a slot machine.

"How?"

"Unclear, nothing concrete was advised. I merely have to... be here."

"Okay... anything else?"

"Nothing I can discuss."

"What do you get out of it? Seems like a lot of work."

"...nothing. A service was already rendered."

That caught Lucifer off-guard. "What?"

"I can't tell you."

"Okay, okay, uh... did you get power?"

A whump-whump noise played.

"Protection?"

A sad slide whistle.

"Money? Fame?"

An audience booing.

"Hey you try playing 400 questions with no help from the other team, jerk! I'm thinking..."

"Don't strain yourself too hard, we need you alive."

"Oh you fucker..." Lucifer burst into laughter. "Alright, so she did something for you... and now you are stuck o babysitting duty?"

"I-... suppose you could put it that way."

"Did she kill someone for you?"

"No."

"Did you sleep with one another?"

There was a tyre screech sound as Alastor wrinkled his nose at the repugnance of such a question. "Wherever do you get such vile thoughts from, Majesty? No, we have never even been close to intimate."

Okay, ouch. That was His Wife there pal. Maybe ease up on the judgement, huh? Lucifer thought she was fucking gorgeous.

"Did she provide you or someone important to you with something material?"

"No."

"What about... I don't know, it's hard to think of this stuff on the fly. What about..." Lucifer glances at Alastor's chest. "Healing? Did she heal you for some reason?"

"...in a manner of speaking?"

"Oh? Okay, did she heal you after a fight with another Overlord?"

"Technically yes, but it was not the main reason."

"An angelic wound?"

"Also technically yes."

"Did she help with a poison, pysical or magical?"

"You might call it that, but it was also only tangentially involved."

"You are NOT making this easy. So, you fought an Overlord and that did something but wasn't the main reason you needed her help. You were also injured with angelic steel but that wasn't the main reason either. And somehow there was a poison or poisoning essence involved?"

"All true, to some degree."

Lucifer could feel his stomach churning, like his mind had made a conclusion that he didn't want to imagine.

"Was... was Lillith the cause of any of the potential injuries that required healing?"

There was a weighted silence. "Yes."

"Did you start a fight with her?"

"No."

"Did you have a pre-existing relationship?"

"Also no. I had never seen her in person prior to her seeking me out."

"Can you tell me who you were fighting before she arrived?"

"Of course."

Lucifer waited, then rolled his eyes. "Finish the sentence, jackass."

Alastor seemed smug. "Be more specific in your asking. Yes, I can tell you I had been fighting with Vox, but he had decided to include both his new compatriots without any warning that they were there. Three on one can be managed if you know the odds in advance and strategise. An ambush, however, puts you on the backfoot from the beginning of the encounter."

"Was there angelic steel involved in this fight?"

"No."

"The poison?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. I consider it poison, but the wielder does not."

Angel is frowning, "Wait... are you talking about Val's weird spit stuff?"

"The very same. He's quite clever at applying it in person and also to bladed weaponry, when the mood strikes."

Angel cringes. "Yeah, I can see why you consider that poison... specially when it takes your control away. Fuckin' nasty stuff if ya not prepared for it."

"Why, what does it...?" Lucifer asks, and his eyes widen in disgust as Angel bends to whisper in his ear. Cherri looks ready to kill. "I didn't realise anyone could do that up here or I would have ended him some time ago."

"It's on my To Do list as well." Alastor hums.

"Okay, alright, so facts on the table... fightingg someone, one becomes three and one of them has a venom type ability that can do all sorts of whacky shit... somehow you either get free or Lilli turned up to help?"

"My shadow made the decision that we would leave the encounter. They can act according to their own will as needed. Very useful."

"Okay, so you went somewhere... and my wife found you?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"My radio tower. The old one I had affixed to the hotel before the battle. There are wards all through it that prevent Vox from following."

"And Lilli just... turned up?"

"Yes. I don't know how she knew or why."

"The angelic injury, did it happen before you left the battle or... after?"

"After. Deliberately."

Lucifer swallowed. He'd guessed, but... now it was confirmed he felt sick again. "And the healing happened after that?"

"Technically yes."

"Was it offered freely?"

"Technically yes. I was free to take up the opportunity or she could-..." Alastor's voice clicked off. Clearly a forbidden topic. "There was no other option."

"She forced you into a Deal then?"

"Hmmm... perhaps."

"And the like 7 ish years you were gone?"

"Making a point abotu disobedience."

"You, being difficult to work with? How unusual!" Lucifer enacted a shocked gasp.

"Are you satisfied with the information provided or would you like something else deeply personal presented in a group setting before I retire, your Shortness? I can always strip for you, since you seem to want to know All..."

"YES!" Angel and Cherri called excitedly, clashing with the rapid-fire "NO!" from Charlie and Vaggie.

Lucifer relents. "No, no that's fine I just... was trying to find a loophole. So you don't get anything from all of this?"

"Correct."

"Any stipulations we can know about? See if we can make it easier for you to weather this?"

Alastor tests a few thoughts and nothing seems to stop him so he proceeds. "I was not supposed to raise arms against HEaven... she was insistent on that. And I did not."

"You... faced the First Man UNARMED are you INSANE?!" Lucifer just about shrieked. "Okay, forget it, I've decided you're too mad to stay around my daughter."

"Hardly, I'm at least 40% sane."

"Beg to differ. Okay, what else?"

"Redemption must not be possible, if it is it must be stopped. Charlotte is not to be harmed where possible, unless it is in conflict with the previous requirement."

"She wanted you to potentially hurt Charlie?"

"As a last resort... but yes. The hotel's defence is mine, but seeking conflict outside of this is not permitted unless in self-defence."

"And...? I feel like there's something you missed out on."

"And... where possible, Lucifer Morningstar is to be kept away from Charlotte, even if it means breaking him psychologically to the point where he is no longer fit to rule. She was insistent on that latter point and suggested where best to press to make you flinch."

"Oh, that explains the Dad-Off..."

"Somewhat. You were also an arrogant bastard who thought himself better than everyone here and needed to be taken down a peg or three."

"I was NOT-..."

"Afraid so, good chap. However, now you're here, I can't technically do anything about it."

"Alright, can she summon you from the hotel?"

"Yes."

"Bugger, I'll put up more wards."

"No. If she realises you know she may enact whatever plan it is that keeps her in Heaven. She has something going on she refuses to speak about."

"Okay. Well my little bracelet there should bounce back any summoning attempts, and I command you to wear it."

"...okay. And what will you do now you know of this matter?"

"...same as I intende to do for everyone here, Bambi... break it, legally."

"You would go against Lillith for such a thing?"

"Yes. This... is against what we agreed on, no soul deals for the royal family and here I find out she's trapping Overlords in deals through force and violence. You may not be the only one. Just the one I know of."

"That is a concerning thought."

"Isn't it just?"

-------

More ideas but its 330am

>Angel asks how he can lose a soul but retain his chains. Lillith was specific in her Deal.

>Mimzy wakes up hungover and angry.

?Cherri was using her phone without the hotel warding on it, so Vox heard everything

>Big confrontation with everyone.

>Lillith has a Plan.

Etc.

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Toilet Learning Stages: What No One Tells You About Potty Training (But Every Parent Should Know)

This post may contain affiliate links.

🧻 Toilet learning isn’t a single milestone—it’s a journey with messy detours, big feelings, and lots of moving parts.

In Montessori, we don’t “potty train”—we observe readiness, prepare the environment, and support your child’s natural desire for independence and bodily control.

But no one tells you what happens after that first proud pee in the potty. What about poop? Naps? Public restrooms? What if Grandma insists on pull-ups, but you’ve ditched diapers at home?

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you’re not failing—you’re just living through all the real stages of toilet learning. Let’s break them down with insight, empathy, and tools that actually help.

🚼 Stage 1: Awareness

“I notice when I’m wet or soiled, even if I can’t do anything about it yet.”

🔍 Montessori Insight

This is the earliest stage—your child is becoming aware of what’s happening after they go. In Montessori, this is supported through real words, bathroom routines, and letting the child observe without pressure.

You may notice:

Saying “poop!” after the fact

Tugging at diapers or wanting to be changed

Hiding while pooping

Noticing wet or soiled clothes

🛠 What Helps:

Change diapers in the bathroom to build the association

Use consistent language: “You’re wet. That means you peed.”

Offer the potty at regular moments (wake-up, before bath)

Let your child observe you or siblings using the toilet

🧩 Stage 2: Association

“I’m starting to connect how my body feels with what happens next.”

🔍 Montessori Insight

This is the “connecting the dots” stage. Your child may begin to squat, pause, or tell you when they need to poop. They may not make it to the potty yet—but the connection is forming.

You might see:

Hiding to poop

Starting to tell you they need to go

Watching others use the bathroom

Taking interest in flushing or wiping

🛠 What Helps:

Offer the potty before transitions: waking, leaving the house, before meals

Let them flush and wipe (even if they didn’t go)

Give them underwear or cotton training pants so they feel wetness

Avoid asking “Do you need to go?”—instead say, “It’s time to sit on the potty.”

💩 Let’s Talk About Poop (Yes, It’s a Whole Thing)

Pooping in the potty often comes later. Some children ask for a diaper just for poop. Others hold it until bedtime.

Tempting as it is to say yes to the “just for poop” diaper… toddlers are smart. If they know a diaper comes when they hold it long enough, they’ll wait for it every time.

That can lead to withholding, constipation, and power struggles.

🪴 Try this instead:

Create a private, low-stimulation place for poop

Use clear language: “Poop goes in the potty. It’s okay to feel unsure.”

Offer support: “I’ll stay with you.” or “I’m nearby if you need me.”

Celebrate progress, not output

🔁 Consistency is everything. If poop goes in the potty every time, it becomes normal.

👀 Stage 3: Timing and Cues

“I can feel it coming and show signals—but I still need help acting on them.”

🔍 Montessori Insight

This is when things “click”—your child starts to recognize their internal cues. But they may still rely on you to act on them. Observation is key.

Watch for:

Suddenly going still

Hiding, squatting, or clenching

Saying “No!” or resisting help when the urge hits

🛠 What Helps:

Narrate their cues: “You’re holding your bottom. Let’s try the potty.”

Create predictable potty routines (before going outside, before nap)

Respond to body language, not just words

Let them help clean up accidents to build ownership (not shame)

💦 The Pee Pause: When Play Is Too Fun to Stop

One of the hardest parts of this stage is timing—especially when your toddler is outside or deeply engaged in play. They don’t want to stop, even if they need to go.

📣 Try saying: “Your body is telling you something. We always listen to our body.” “Let’s go potty, then we’ll come right back.”

✅ Keep a potty close by outdoors ✅ Offer consistent reminders and follow through gently

🧻 Stage 4: Consistency and Control

“I’m getting it! But I still need reminders and support.”

🔍 Montessori Insight

Your child now has more regular success with toileting. Accidents may still happen during stress, transitions, or when routines shift.

In Montessori settings, we:

Create accessible bathrooms

Stay neutral during accidents

Encourage independence in cleaning and dressing

🛠 What Helps:

Use easy-on/off clothes (no buttons, zippers, or overalls)

Let them choose their underwear

Keep a consistent rhythm—same language, same routine, every day

Don’t reward, punish, or over-celebrate. Normalize it.

🧼 Real-Life Tips:

Invite them to change wet clothes, put dirty items in the hamper, and wipe up small puddles with your help

Say: “Let’s clean up together. Next time we’ll try again.”

🧠 That’s real independence—not just “going potty,” but taking care of their body and space with confidence.

😴 Stage 5: Sleep and Long-Term Habits

“Staying dry at sleep takes time—and that’s okay.”

🔍 Montessori Insight

Daytime and nap dryness often come before night. But nighttime control is neurological. It depends on hormones and bladder development—not motivation.

Look for:

Waking up dry after naps

Asking to pee before sleep

Feeling uncomfortable in wet pull-ups

🛠 What Helps:

Offer potty before and after sleep

Use light bedding and waterproof covers

Stay calm about accidents

Say: “You’re wet. Let’s clean up and get cozy again.”

🧡 No rewards, no shame. Just consistency and care.

✈️ Toileting in Public and On the Go

Even if things are going great at home, public bathrooms can throw your toddler off. Unfamiliar sounds, big toilets, or even just excitement can cause regressions or resistance.

🎒 Pack:

Foldable toilet seat or small travel potty

Wet bag, spare clothes, and wipes

A script: “This toilet looks different, but your body works the same.”

Keep calm. Keep your language consistent. And have a sense of humor—it helps.

🏫 Toileting at School or Childcare

Your child may be independent at home, but school adds new challenges: new routines, unfamiliar bathrooms, and other children.

🎯 Set your child up for success by:

Communicating with teachers: underwear only or pull-ups?

Packing labeled backups: clothes, socks, shoes, wet bags

Asking what language is used at school

🧩 Montessori programs typically support this stage well—but every school is different. Ask how they handle accidents, transitions, and communication.

👵 Getting All Adults on the Same Page

Grandparents may ask for pull-ups. Some caregivers may default to diapers “just in case.” And schools might have arbitrary rules about being “fully trained.”

These mixed signals confuse toddlers.

🎙 Try saying: “We’re working on body awareness. Pull-ups feel like diapers and slow the process.” “If there’s an accident, just change them calmly. We want them to feel capable.”

Provide wet bags, extra outfits, and reassurance to adults who feel nervous.

🔁 It’s Not Linear—and That’s Okay

Toilet learning is never a straight line. Regression is common during:

Illness

Travel

New siblings

School transitions

Big emotions

This doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong—it means your child is adjusting. Stay consistent. Stay calm. You’re both still learning.

🧡 Final Thoughts: This Is Big Work

Toilet learning isn’t just about where pee and poop go. It’s about independence, confidence, body awareness, and trusting yourself—and your child—through one of the most personal developmental stages.

In Montessori, we follow the child. We don’t rush. We observe, we prepare, and we support.

And when you trust the process (and pack extra underwear), you’ll make it through.

🧻 Montessori Toilet Learning Tools: At Home, At School, and On the Go

Toilet learning is smoother when every environment supports your child’s growing independence. These are the real tools I use and recommend to keep things consistent, calm, and practical across home, school, and outings.

This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Montessori Tiny Hands!

🏡 At Home: Confidence Through Consistency

Create a toddler-ready toileting space that builds trust and independence:

BabyBjörn Potty Chair with High Back Support – Supportive, stable, and perfect for helping your toddler feel secure

Toilet Seat with Built-In Steps – Lets your child use the real toilet safely and works great for travel too

Training Underwear (Feels Wet Without Big Messes) – Just absorbent enough, but still lets your toddler feel when they’re wet

Step Stool for Potty or Sink – Non-slip and sturdy, perfect for encouraging independence at the sink or toilet

🏫 At School or Childcare: Support Success Away From Home

Give your child the tools they need to stay confident at school—even when you’re not there:

Training Underwear for School – A great option for feeling wet without flooding the floor

Waterproof Slip-On Shoes (like Natives) – Easy to rinse off and toddler-manageable

Waterproof Wet Bags – 2 Pack – One for backups, one for soiled clothes

Clothing Name Stamp – Fast and washable

Personalized Sticker Labels – Great for lunch gear, shoes, and wet bags

Write-On Clothing Labels – Simple and flexible for backups

Elastic Waist Shorts – No buttons or snaps to slow them down

Easy Pull-On Pants – Perfect for colder days or nap transitions

✈️ On the Go: Travel Without Losing Progress

You don’t have to pause toilet learning every time you leave the house. These tools help maintain your routine no matter where you are:

Compact Travel Potty – Easy to stash in your trunk or stroller

Frida Folding Toilet Seat – Folds small, wipes clean, and fits standard public toilets

Disposable Potty Liners – For clean, mess-free potty use on the go

Toilet Seat with Steps – Doubles as a home and travel solution

Antibacterial Hand Wipes (Travel Pack) – Essential for public restroom stops

Disposable Toilet Seat Covers – Handy for public spaces when your toddler needs to sit

🔗 Related Posts for Support

👉 Montessori Toilet Learning Guide 👉 From Home to School: A Toileting Transition Guide for Parents 👉 Back-to-School Checklist for Montessori Toddlers 👉 Back-to-School Montessori Essentials for Toddlers

Source: Toilet Learning Stages: What No One Tells You About Potty Training (But Every Parent Should Know)

[gabrielsbubblegumbitch]

Velvette bribed a succubus to get her DVDs of an anime she liked when she was alive, but died before she got to watch the finale of.

100% canon CANON SHE TOTALLY DID!

Vox bribed them to get recordings of his TV shows from 50s from some archives (that was actually fucking expensive but he's sentimental and obsessed about his former looks)

Val just wants nice clothes :c

[glitterrosesnzz]

Vox snz hcs pretty plleeaaase with cherries on top, your hcs are so good 🙏

i still CANNOT believe that a TV won in a hottest character contest against L/UCIFER M/ORNINGSTAR. the fact that both of them were in the top OVER C/ARMILLA C/ARMINE. LIKE. ARE Y'ALL BLIND??

ahem anyways-

V/ox hcs yes okay, silly pathetic TV man lemme think,

uhh tbh i think he'd have a pretty loud sneeze, lil sparks probably come off of him when he sneezes too. he WANTS to be able to stifle, but can't.

his screen will do that rainbow static thing that tvs will do when an error occurs-

gets fevers pretty often just from overheating yknow, will ALWAYS get a very bad fever if like. infected with some kind of computer virus.

he's definitely like. a very whiny/clingy type when sick tbh. won't deny that he's ill, would mostly just wanna stay in bed and have everyone else do stuff for him 24/7.

...can a TV have allergies??? not really but like certain Signals and stuff or like. dust/dirt in his fans/vents or WHATEVER HE HAS could be enough to set him off... when he was alive he probably had some allergy or another and even though it doesn't ACTUALLY effect him anymore the thought of "this thing makes me sneeze" is so ingrained into him he'll still sneeze because of it hsdlfkjsldk

...actually upon saying that last bit. making V/ox a sympathy sneezer (aka, very VERY suggestible to the point that hearing someone else sneeze could be enough to set him off) would be RIDICULOUSLY funny so that's canon to him now-

[space-writes]

you can tell im on some obsessed with this wip shit because i woke up and figured out like 20 things for claws before i even made breakfast

anyway, the way the timeline shook out means that Alice was a) working at a club whilst underage and b) that's where Rainier fuckin met her so he was crushing on/making passes at her when she was 15 and he was 19. he's always been a creep that wretched MAN. though in his defence he assumed she was 18 because she was. you know. working at a club serving drinks.

also i know now that Alice is aroace and that's very fun. she doesn't give a shit about dating or romance or sex beyond finding it fun for her job. flirts with people purely as an extension of 'things she can do to fuck with people'. i need to give her way more scenes in this book now she's becoming an Icon. to Me.

[hazbinhazbinhazbinreblog]

This convo idea came to me. Not seen or stated in convo but, they are in Radio Guard Al's radio tower while he fiddles with his equipment for a broadcast. (Warning from maybe semi graphic description of murder?)

HS!Alastor: So uh asking a totally hypothetical question, one TOOOTALLY not based on any forms of personal experience or what hahahah BUT! Like, if you did, which you know, who knows, maybe you did, maybe you didn't but..uh..umm, again hypothetical, did you ever kill a parent? Preferably, your dad? Again all hypothetical because pfff, who would-

Radio Guard!Al: Oh yeah I did. Not as a child though. It happened after my mother lost her battle against tuberculosis. Nasty thing, attacked the poor things lungs until all that came out of her was a wheeze.

HS!Alastor: Did you not live with him as a child? If you uh, don't mind me asking of course. You can just ignore if this gets too personal hahaha.

Radio Guard!Al:....I did. He walked out on me and my ma when I was...15 or 16? Surprise he didn't do it sooner, the fuc- //clears thorat

Radio Guard!Al: He was...a horrible man. A power hunger monster who seemed the thrive when people were scare of him. A glutton and a hag. He would yell to get his point across and if not that he resorted to threats. You name it, he probably threaten it. All to keep us under his thumb. He find any reason to punish. Any. //deep breath

Radio Guard!Al: But like I said, he walked out when I was old enough I guess. Heard years later he became a born against Christian, HAH. Just more ways to make people fear him I guess, instead of threats with his fist, it was threats of God. Not like his precious Lord did much for him, not after I found him. Fucker didn't even recognize me! I think every higher power I got all of my mother's looks and only the bastard's hair color when I was alive. He didn't even recognize me, not at first, but when he did it was already too late as he was already grasping for air in the baptism water. Didn't kill him at first or maybe it did, but I was so blinded by pent of rage from the years of tyranny I experienced all I could see was red. Took the nearest object...think it was..the chalice you drink wine from and just whaled on him. Didn't stop until the smell of copper hit my nose and I look down and his head was completely caved in. //coughs

Radio Guard!Al: Apologizes, apologizes. I didn't mean to get into too much detail on myself and my fatherly kill. You asked a simple, if not, curious, question and I went a bit too detail. Will add to wrap this up by saying I was lucky enough to be allowed to kill him more than once as you can guess he was sent to hell. So I am one of the few who can brag and say I killed him twice ahah! I do hope that answer you question.

HS!Al: Y-yeah it does, but I have one more, if that is alright...

Radio Guard!Al: Of course! Fire away my little me.

HS!Al: Do...do you regret it? Killing him?

Radio Guard!Al: Regret implies I felt anything towards that monster. The only thing I regret is drawing out his death more, so it may be as torturous and as slow as he deserved.

HS!Al: O-oh,,,

Radio Guard!Al: I believe I hear your Vox calling for you. I do very much apologize if I spook you, but if I may, can I leave you with a bit of advice?

HS!Al: Uh,,,sure! As you said, fire away

Radio Guard!Al: Do not feel like you need to shed tears for that monster nor feel pity towards the what ifs on what he could have been. Men like him, even if given the right tools to change, never will, not unless they know it will benefit them. They are selfish to their cores, and the world is better off without them. You can pity them, you can be anger at them, it's only human. But remember the pain they infected onto you so your heart never tricks you into believing you regret it, because that will only hurt you more in the long run.

Radio Guard!Al: And remember, you have a better head on your shoulders than the most of us. You are nothing like him nor like us, you will go far, child. You will burn brighter than the stars themself. Now run along, don't need your Voxxy worrying into an early hellish grave over ya!

HS!Al: Y-yeah,, yeah! Um thank-you, bye-bye //runs off

Radio Guard!Al, watching him run off: Maybe I have grown soft, or maybe I have just grown fond of the local youth as my time as a stand-in father, but I'm rooting for you. And please...do not end up like any of us,,,

well, this ended angsty oop -⚔️ anon

That was extremely painful but also probably something HS!Alastor needed to hear, harsh but comforting at the same time in its own way

[putting-vox-in-places]

MADE THIS BLOG ON IMPULSE LET'S GO!!!!

Blog inspired by @putting-alastor-in-places n such.

Inbox is open.

First actual post: https://www.tumblr.com/putting-vox-in-places/742552437597011968/put-the-funny-tv-man-in-deltarune?source=share

Please include source material for the places you wanna send him, it'd help me a lot. Including pictures also makes it easier but you don't have to do that.

I have the right to not do requests so if it's anything I'm uncomfy with then I will not do it (Like don't request Harry Potter stuff or whatev)

Anyway uhhh yea! Have at the!

TRUST US.

Other blogs like this since everyone else is doing it

@putting-adams-corpse-in-places my partner <3 also best character when that guy was alive

@putting-niffty-in-places 2nd best character

@putting-alastor-in-places That fucking radio that I hate (joke)

@putting-husk-in-places C at

@putting-angel-dust-in-places That guy that Val works with

@putting-lucifer-in-places The king of Hell or whatever

@putting-lute-in-places Bitch that watched her little misogynist die or something like that (Light hearted)

@putting-valentino-in-places The fucking. Guy.

@putting-velvette-in-places #1 fashion expert (so cool...)

@precious-pentious-travels Wow it's. The snake.

@putting-vaggie-in-places Vagathaaaaaa

@putting-fizzaroli-in-places Is that Betelgeuse

Also notify me of more Hazbin putting in blogs I'll add em here

[keikakudom]

A song I associate with RR!AU Vox + some thoughts on how it relates to RR!AU Vox's backstory

Writing on the Wall - Will Stetson

Not verbatim, cause RR!AU Vox definitely does stuff for fame and money. And substitute architecture for power/business -- "boxes and lines" with "numbers and lines/profit". I think Vox, AU or not, takes a lot of pride in the brand and empire he's built, rather than himself. He really likes to be showy and have artifacts as proof of his power. Which is funny, because, y'know, being "digital" and all, is a double-edged sword. I'm NOT going to get into that because that's going to go into something much longer, but you get the idea.

I also like the parts where the song's like "you have to be good, you have to be diligent" / "the right way takes a toll" but interpreted in the sense that Vox doesn't like having to fake the good guy persona all the time. I like to think that it leads him down a path of thinking he used to have while alive, then abandoned the second he woke up in Hell.

I've mentioned a little bit how RR!AU Vox's backstory HC is that he used to be a televangelist/cult leader, and he was 110% passionate about it. Probably did bad things with the best of intentions b/c of indoctrination. So it would probably feel like a sucker punch and betrayal to do all that in life and still find out he woke up in Hell(cough cough #NihilistVoxAgenda). It's also why he can feel so detached/removed from the idea of "redemption" and can treat it so easily as a product. What's Heaven, what's Hell? Just locations -- the hellborn treat them casually enough, so he does too. Except that he was a human, and likely led to believe during his entire childhood and life, in the expectations of the afterlife/"God is good" or whatever, so the huge disappointment of the afterlife/"Hell"/"Heaven" being the same has never truly left him.

Anyway, that kind of got into a ramble and I may have revealed a little too much, but I've already mapped out like 95% of RR!AU Vox's exterior anatomy. I'm dissecting every part of him, mental or physical, whatever, I stg. I may have to be sedated when I start cracking open the interior anatomy HAH...

[redladydeath]

Vox loves Ondine, but the fact that she couldn’t hurt a fly makes him extremely anxious. Ever since she and her brother landed in Hell, he’s had Val in his ear telling him how she’ll be eaten alive if he ever dies, and as much as Vox hates to admit it, he has a point. Neither of his kids have ever had to survive on their own, but he’s confident in Fineas’ ability to figure out a way to make it in Hell; Ondine’s best hope would be to find someone else to act as her protector.

Eventually, Vox decides he needs to do something to toughen her up. He ties a random employee to a chair, gives Ondine a gun, and tells her to shoot them. She immediately gets emotional and tries to convince him not to make her do it. Vox is exasperated— they’re not even angelic bullets! The employee will be fine in a few days! But that argument doesn’t sway her and he can’t even hypnotize her into doing it because she’s naturally resistant to his hypnosis for Some Reason (and he doesn’t want to do that to her). Eventually, the gun accidentally goes off and hits the employee in the leg. Vox just gives up and decides that counts for now as Ondine frantically apologizes to the employee.

Plan B is to have her intern with Velvette. It’s a good transitional phase; Vel is cruel and cutthroat, but she doesn’t kill at the drop of a hat like Val does. Maybe it’ll teach Ondine how Hell’s workplaces actually function. Velvette is NOT happy about this arrangement since she can’t stand Ondine, but Vox either steamrolls over her or bribes her into accepting it. Definitely goes better than Plan A, although Vox isn’t convinced Ondine’s learning anything other than how to stand quietly off to the side while Velvette chews out her employees (and she was already very familiar with how to do that).

Plan C is just “Live forever.” Sure, Vox can do that. He’s made it seventy years, what’s ∞ more? Val’s full of shit anyway; Vox is perfectly capable of making sure his kids stay safe forever.

[gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan]

Only In Death Does Duty End

Author’s note: Zadakael’s debut! He’s going to show up in a couple of different AUs.

Warnings: Fighting, bloodshed, Blood Angel In Black Rage, tracking and hunting of animals, Let me know if I need to add more.

Summary: Zadakael falls in battle on Holy Terra, and awakes on a planet he doesn’t recognize, not realizing he’s on Ancient Terra. Yet. After nearly dying, and waking up he’s starving and thirsting and goes hunting.

Tagged: @barn-anon, @bleedingichorhearts, @c-u-c-koo-4-40k, @egrets-not-regrets, @kit-williams, @sleepyfan-blog

Tagged Again: @kit-williams, @sleepyfan-blog, @whorety-k

Zadakael had been fighting at the Siege of Terra, fighting the Traitor Legions, when he had felt his beloved Primarch Fall. Had felt the pain, the rage, the heartbreak, the beginning of what would become The Curse of the Blood Angels and their successor chapters, they'd always had the Red Thirst, but the Black Rage started as a parting... gift? Curse? Of their Gene-father to his sons. Zadakael, like many of his brothers who fought alongside their Primarch on Holy Terra it's self-had either buckled to their knees and howled out their grief and rage momentarily before rising to their feet as the First of the Black Rage turned them all into a Frenzy they saw Horus in all enemies that were in front of them.

Their blows becoming stronger, as the please and words of the Arch Traitor are but words on the wind and they'd not heed his treacherous words. Zadakael bellowed out his rage and sorrow as he continued to strike down the Bastard and howled is rage and fury as the tears that flowed down his face blurred his vision momentarily. He cared not for the wounds he received, for his blade will strike with mighty fury that will deal blows that slay more than what he received will ensure that those that caused his beloved Primarch's death will die and have the same amount of mercy extended to his beloved Primarch.

He doesn't really feel it when a lucky blow from an enemy sink through his broken Ceramite armor and pierces his armor. He glares at them with hate filled red eyes, even as his final breaths he tries to do just a bit more damage to the Arch Traitor.

"Die!" He spits out at the Arch traitor as his vision fades to darkness and he welcomes the void of death, and to rejoin his beloved father in the afterlife.

He wakes up with a gasp, and lets out the softest of pained whimpers as tears fall down his face. Somehow, he was alive, even though he'd thought he was dying at the blade of an enemy. A small part of him had been glad of it, that he'd be able to rejoin with his beloved Primarch. But he'd heard a loving murmur from his father who'd said that his Duty had not quite yet ended, and that he'd be needed as one of many in a new duty, a new station, a new planet. He'd wanted to say something as he clung to his most holy father, who'd glowed most beautifully in the light of the afterlife.

With those tears he'd allowed to fall he'd bowed his father and obeyed his Decree and he is still alive. He's not on Terra- these trees that he sees are not ones he recognizes. He continues to stay where he lies as his body knits back together with his enhanced Healing. Focusing on his hearts first, and as his lungs knitted together as well his breathing became easier the healing energy focuses on his worse injuries first. By the Throne he is so very thirsty. He'll need to find something to drink, especially with how much energy he's used in order to heal, and in order to heal fully he'd need more blood.

He grimaces a little, as he slowly gets up, careful of his injuries as he tests how his body is reacting and flexes his fingers and toes, slowly, gingerly moving his arms and legs, noting what sings with pain, and the lack of it. His Ceramite armor is completely fucked, and his Vox is busted, but it's still useable enough to wear as he pulls off his helmet and closes his eyes and takes in a couple of deep breaths, trying to see if he can smell any animals nearby. Opening his eyes as he starts to look around, his keen red eyes alighting on a quadrupedal foot track, and as he carefully tracked the prints, hoof prints, likely some sort of herbivore as he follows the tracks and finds scat and tufts of fur.

He continues to track the herd of quadrupedal herbivores, they have bone protrusions from their heads, antlers of some form. He tracks them, a patient hunter as he scares them, into running and carefully chases after them, the slowest of them he’s going to feast upon. Biding his time until one of the creatures’ collapses, tries to get up and collapses again. He carefully angles his approach and pounces on the creature. He ignores is bleating cries as he drinks from the creature, salty-iron flavor of a carbon-based life form.

He’s so thirsty as he drinks, and drinks and drinks, making sure not to spill a drop of the thirst-quenching life’s blood, easily able to hold the creature that slowly stops thrashing in his arms as he drains it dry of blood. After he’s not entirely filled his belly, but has had enough blood that the Red Thirst is no longer something that is a Need, but a Want that he can ignore he takes one of his long knives and thanks the creature for it’s life’s blood as he starts to prepare the animal, carving the hide carefully from it’s flesh.

He’s not going to waste the flesh, bones, sinew, and hide of the beast that he drank from, as that would be wasteful and the meat, he can cure with a pouch of spices that he’d always carried with him, just in case he needed them. Starting a fire was easy with the wood and brush around him as he cooks the meat and starts to cure the hide with what limited resources he’s got to him. He uses all pieces of the carcass that he can, calculating how long he can use what he can, for his own purposes, and his head snaps up as he hears rustling in the bushes, growls softly but stops as he sees a couple of Scout-aged cousins come stumbling out of the bush and stare at him wide eyed and startled.

“Sit, eat, then talk,” He orders the young ones, one of them isn’t wearing armor for some reason and is wearing strange black and white heraldry that he doesn’t recognize, while the other is clearly wounded from the way he’s limping.

“Th-there are Chaos Marines, nearby sir,” One of them says with a stutter.

“Chaos Marines?” He asks with a frown as he shoves food into their hands.

“Traitors,” The one in Black and white clarifies with a twitchy, low growl in his voice.

“You two, stay here, tend to the fire, eat,” He scowls at that, “I’ll deal with them.”

“Uh- when did you arrive Here?” The one in Black and white asks.

“Several hours ago,” He replies, “Do you know where we are.”

The two scouts look at each other and at him, the other Scout, who’s armored seems very Confused. While the one in Black and White Fidgets, “Can you comm anyone on your Vox, sir?”

“It needs to be repaired first,” He says with a shake of his head.

“Uhm… some of the other older brothers- and cousins of the Loyalist chapters say that there is an alliance between Traitors and Loyalist.” The one in black and white reports, while his expression shows his concern and disbelief.

“… That sounds. Not right.” He says with a frown. “Stay here. I’ll handle the Traitors.”

He heads off in the direction the Scouts came from, starting to hear voices, that are twisted as he readies his weapons. “I Shall bring you death Traitors!”

He snarls at them, sending the mixed group of traitors scattering and swearing at him as he hisses and growls at them, chasing after them with his bolter and blade. The cowards flee before him, not in the direction of the confused young Scouts.

[hazbinsponsoredbyvee]

Mhm well it was fun while it lasted

Note to self I need to keep my mouth shut next time, you c#nts aren't as dense I hoped

I'll be busy for the next month or so, you won't see much of me, try not to miss me too much ;3

I'll make sure to up the suffering next time, all I can do is learn from my mistakes from this experience so thank you all for pointing out the flaws in my scheme, I'll be sure to patch those up

Till next time my lovelies~

- Sædist anon

"Stay away from Vox! Or else I will burn you alive from the inside out."

"And I will feast on your charred remains."