#outsource receptionist

[virtualreceptionistpro]

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[drcatalyst320]

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[zaebeecee]

To Sever a Loveless Bond

••RadioDust Soulmate AU••

Part 9/?

First chapter | Previous chapter | Next chapter

Read on AO3

•••

Look, when I say slow burn, I mean SLOW BURN, but I try to make the payoffs worth the wait.

Also, this whole fic takes place before the Full Moon Episode and exists in a different continuity.

Not that I’m bringing that up for any reason or anything.

•••

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you right. You did… what?”

“I outsourced your little stalking job,” Velvette repeated, sending off an email to the design department and flipping over to Voxstagram to post the series of selfies she had taken at the previous night’s fashion show. “Or I’m in the process of outsourcing it, at least.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Velvette saw Vox clasp his hands in front of his face like he would have done to pinch the bridge of his nose in life, his eyes closing. He was still sitting, which was a good thing; whenever Vox started pacing in the meeting room, that was when she knew there was a problem.

“And… why, precisely, did you do that?” Vox asked after a long pause, lowering his hands and opening his eyes halfway to stare blithely at her with a smile that twitched at one corner.

Velvette stopped halfway through typing a caption to let her hand drop to the side, her head rolling to give him a full-on look. “Because the photography department, which I contacted first by your request, doesn’t have anyone expendable.”

“Why is that?”

“Because some moody bitch killed their low earners.” Velvette snapped her head to look at the other side of the table, her neck clicking audibly. Valentino didn’t sit up from his dramatic lounge, he simply glared at her through his sunglasses. “Which means their entire department is tied up right now, mostly because Verosika Mayday’s tour has come back to Pride and you assigned them to cover that for two weeks. The department was already stretched thin as it was and now there are only four people in it.”

Vox looked like he was trying very, very hard to maintain his veneer of calm. His smile dropped into a frown and he folded his hands on the table, looking at Valentino instead. “You killed half the photography department?”

“They were placed inconveniently. I merely moved them.”

“And moved their internal organs onto the walls,” Velvette complained. “Now I’m having to run damage control with the janitorial staff because he slaughtered them in a room with pearl white carpet, and if they refuse to clean it, killing them won’t get it cleaned faster and will mean more blood that won’t get mopped up.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Vox said, closing his eyes. “What do you mean, you’re outsourcing it?”

Velvette went back to her phone, finishing up the caption. “Since we don’t have anyone expendable in house, I found a service who’ll do it at a reasonable enough rate and who aren’t tied to us, so if they die or get caught, who cares? I haven’t hired them yet, obviously, it’s your call. They’re supposed to come by sometime this morning to get the details and sign a contract if you approve. And if they end up agreeing, I suppose, I only told their boss that we want them to shadow some people.”

“Am I capable of an aneurysm? I feel like I’m going to have an aneurysm,” Vox muttered to himself. “Okay. Fine. This isn’t ideal, but fine. You’re sure we can trust them not to publicly tie this back to us?”

“Pretty sure they’ll do anything for the right price,” Velvette said.

Seemingly satisfied for the moment, Vox agreed, then redirected their board meeting to things that Velvette considered to be actually worth discussing. Valentino was still moody and quiet, only speaking when directly addressed, and even then usually just when it was Vox talking to him. It was… weird, and Velvette didn’t like feeling stuck in a room with him when he was like this.

Nearly an hour later, the intercom on the table buzzed, and a receptionist spoke in a tentative voice. “Miss Velvette?”

She reached out and pressed the button. “Talk to me.”

“There, ah… there’s an incredibly rude imp in the lobby who’s insisting he has an appointment with you? He and his party won’t leave. Or, he won’t, and he won’t let them, either.”

Judging by their brief phone conversation, that was them. “Send them up to the board room.”

“What— um. Yes. Of course.”

The line went dead, and Velvette sat back in her chair. Both of the men were staring at her. “An imp?” Vox asked dryly, raising an eyebrow.

“Told you. Nobody whose death would matter.”

Ten minutes later, the elevator in the hallway dinged, and the door to the conference room opened. The receptionist, probably the one from the intercom, came in enough to hold the door open and let in the ones she was leading. Velvette was pretty sure she knew what to expect, and it was only slightly different than her visual. There were three imps, one male who was remarkably tall (for an imp), well-dressed, and covered in burn scars; one shorter male with white hair and a nervous sort of posture; and one female with a gap in her teeth who was staring at everything in the room like a wide-eyed hayseed. The only part Velvette didn’t anticipate was the hellhound that followed, a young woman with her eyes on her phone who hadn’t been in the commercial.

“You know something?” the tallest imp said, turning to walk backwards as he looked at the employee whose name Velvette couldn’t be bothered to remember. “You are a terrible receptionist. I’m astonished you still have a job.”

“Sir, you can’t just say that!” the shorter male snapped. “We have a receptionist that answers the phone with ‘what the fuck do you want?’ and how is that better?!”

“He didn’t mean that, you’re doin’ a great job,” the female imp said in a thick accent common among Wrath-raised imps, waving her hands at the receptionist. “He’s just an asshole. I am so sorry.”

With a roll of her eyes, the VoxTek employee shook her head and stepped out again, shutting the door. The four approached the table, stopping a short distance away from it.

“Ohh,” Vox said softly, blinking twice before he pointed between them. “I recognize the three of you, at least. You run commercial campaigns with us. You’re the Immediate Murder Professionals.”

“And you’re the Vees,” the tall imp said with a smirk that suggested he was not, in the slightest, nervous about being a member of the lowest class of Hell society in a room with three sinner overlords. “I’m Blitz. The O is silent. This is Millie, Moxxie, my trusted and my tolerated employees, and Loona, my daughter.”

“Hi, I love yer fish tank,” Millie said, one hand behind her back and the other half raised to give them a wave. “Big fan of So You Think You Can Garrote, too, season three was a blast.”

Moxxie was staring at the three of them unblinkingly, and Velvette couldn’t tell if he was frozen with terror or debating pulling a gun on them. “…hello.”

Loona didn’t so much as glance up from her phone, but she did move the hand crossed over her chest enough to extend two fingers in acknowledgment.

Vox glanced at Velvette. “This is what you call outsourcing?”

“I thought they only did up top murder,” Valentino suddenly added, his eyes on the Hellborn. “They don’t look like private investigators.”

“Because we’re not,” Moxxie said, his voice harsh. “Sir, I’m sorry, but what the fuck did you tell them we do?”

“Moxxie, when I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you,” Blitzø said, then addressed the table again. “It’s not our usual bag, no, but Velvette was incredibly persuasive on the phone. Financially speaking, anyway.”

Vox shrugged. “I can appreciate a little rapaciousness. Fine,” he said, ignoring Valentino’s very clear ‘what the fuck does that mean’ squint and motioning them over. “Come, sit down. Just not next to Valentino if you like your arms where they are.”

Moxxie cast Valentino an alarmed look as Millie hooked their elbows together and pulled him to the other side of the table. Blitzø navigated Loona to a chair and she sat without paying much attention, and then he took up the space next to her. “Mind if we ask what this is all about?” Blitzø asked.

Vox tapped the table with his fingertips. “What were you told?”

“Not much. Just that you had a possible job that wasn’t in our… usual wheelhouse, per se, and involved shadowing a couple of people and not getting caught.” Blitzø shrugged. “And I told her yeah, fuck it, we don’t really have any regular work goin’ on right now.”

Vox leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs, gesturing at Blitzø with a limp-wristed, palm-up hand that he absolutely was not aware of. “Alright, here’s the deal. If you take the job, you’ll be following two people whenever they’re out together, and reporting everything back to me. This will include photographs, and we’ll tell you how to take them.” Millie and Moxxie looked at each other, but Vox was still looking at their boss. “You don’t need to know why we want this information, and you won’t ask. In return, if you get into any kind of trouble with them and can escape alive, we’ll shelter you here and ensure they don’t get to you. You also won’t be officially associated with us to your benefit. And you will be compensated for the risk.”

“Huh.” Blitzø folded his hands in his lap and leaned back in his chair, licking his teeth with a forked tongue. Velvette watched intently, and then wondered when the fuck she started finding an imp hot.

I don’t want to fuck him. Do I want to fuck him?

Blitzø then shrugged, and she was jarred out of the fairly disturbing thought. “I don’t really care why you want them followed or what the fuck ever. I take it you don’t want them shot.”

Velvette snorted, glad for something to hold on to that wasn’t… whatever that was because imps were not attractive. “More like you don’t want to shoot them.”

“Sinners?” Blitzø asked. Vox nodded affirmatively, and the imp groaned, tipping his head back. “Throat fuck me with a cactus— okay. Fine. No shooting anyone.”

“Sir,” Moxxie hissed across the table, leaning forward on the wooden surface. “You are not seriously going to make us stalk sinners, are you?”

“Yeah, Blitzø, I mean… I’m all fer a lil’ sneakin’ around and gettin’ our ninja on, but…” Millie was clearly struggling with her next words, but settled on, “We’re gonna die. Ya know that, right?”

“I haven’t died once in my entire life,” Blitzø said dismissively, focusing on Vox again. “I take it there’s a reason you haven’t told us who, yet, and I don’t think you’d be that interested in the daily happenings of Johnny Fuckoff, so…”

Vox smiled. “The first one is Angel Dust. You’re familiar?”

“Porn star?” Blitzø’s eyes widened. “Fuck yeah, we’ll stalk a porn star for you!” Moxxie put his face in his hands and made a sound that reminded Velvette of someone screaming into a pillow in frustration.

“Shouldn’t you find out who the second person is before you get all gross and weird about this job?” Loona asked in a voice that, as Velvette anticipated, was bog standard moody young woman.

Blitzø rolled his eyes. “I mean, I’m kinda sold at this point, but sure. Who’s the second?”

“The Radio Demon,” Vox said, and the next three sentences came in such quick succession that they were right on top of each other.

“…the Radio Demon,” Blitzø repeated, his voice flat.

“The Radio Demon?!” Moxxie asked in a bald display of pure, unadulterated horror as he lowered his hands.

“The Radio Demon??” Millie squealed with sudden, genuine excitement, bouncing up and down in her chair.

Loona actually lowered her phone to look at Vox, blinking wide canine eyes slowly.

“Huh.” Blitzø was quiet for a moment. “…well, I don’t know what I was expecting.”

“No! No, no, no no, absolutely not.” Moxxie got to his feet and slammed his hands on the table, glaring at his boss. “We are not stalking the Radio Demon!”

“Look, Moxxie, unless you are prepared to start selling a lot of feet pics in Lust, we are going to have to make money somehow, as that is currently an issue!” Blitzø stood as well and leaned forward into Moxxie’s face, pressing his finger into the other imp’s forehead. “So unless you have a better idea of how we can actually afford rent that doesn’t involve bitching like a little piss baby bitch, sit down and let your wife make your decisions!”

Millie reached up and pulled Moxxie back into his seat. “Come on, sweetie, we won’t even be gettin’ near ‘em! And come on, I wanna see the Radio Demon…!” she wheedled.

“But… aw, honey, don’t give me that look…!”

“It’s settled. We’ll do it,” Blitzø said. “I mean, I know it’s none of my business why the Radio Demon is apparently going on dates with a porn star—”

“They are not going on dates!!” Valentino slammed his hands into the table as he stood up, towering over them. “You are going to find out what the fuck is going on, and you are going to tell me, and then I am going to beat that fucking deer man with his own goddamn spine!!”

“Satan’s left nut, you are a tall motherfucker,” Blitzø said, holding his hands up in front of his face but not cowering. “Calm down, Mothman, we’ll get you your info, okay? Goddamn, get some Valium or something.”

Velvette stared at him, and she knew the other Vees—and probably his own people—were doing the same. Valentino, however, looked absolutely apoplectic. “You should mind your tongue when you’re talking to your betters! Do you even know who you’re fucking talking to, malparido?!”

Blitzø didn’t budge. In fact, he was grinning. “Uh… the Pride ring’s most confoundingly accomplished pornography hack?”

In an instant, Valentino’s gun was in his hand and he had Blitzø by the lapels in another, hauling him off the ground and shoving the barrel of his weapon under the imp’s jaw. “I’ll fucking blow your goddamn head off—!!”

“VAL!”

Immediately, Valentino twisted his head around to look at Vox, who was on his feet with his hands on the table and his left eye wide and pulsating. Valentino twitched, his teeth gritted with some kind of effort, before he released Blitzø. The imp fell back into his chair with an inelegant noise, then immediately slipped out of it and vanished underneath the table. “Ow, shit—!”

Vox kept his eyes on Valentino. His left eye was no longer pulsing, but he didn’t straighten. “You are not going to shoot our contract employees. You are going to sit down. You are going to fucking behave yourself. Alternatively, you are going to leave. Those are your choices. Pick one.”

Valentino’s lip curled and he looked like he wanted to put a fist straight through Vox’s screen. If it had been anyone else, he would have. Instead, he just threw his chair back so hard it crashed to the ground and slid several feet, storming out of the room.

“I’ll deal with him,” Vox said to Velvette, holding out a placating hand. “I apologize about Valentino. He hasn’t… been himself, lately,” he added to IMP as he sat back down.

Blitzø grabbed the edge of the table and hauled himself off the floor, muttering under his breath. “Fuckin’ sensitive ass Hallmark greeting card kaiju-lookin ass.” He sat down, releasing a breath and holding his hands out. “We’re good. I’m fine.”

“Sir can you please not antagonize the overlords,” Moxxie hissed. Velvette thought all three of them were showing a remarkable lack of concern for their boss’s wellbeing, which told her that he did this kind of thing a lot.

“You aren’t scared of much, are you, Blitzø?” Vox asked, a spark of interest in his voice that hadn’t been there earlier.

Blitzø shrugged, looking completely unbothered. “I’ve had fights with a Goetian prince, been yelled at by Asmodeus, gotten into a drinking contest with Beelzebub, and pointed a gun at a pissed off Mammon. No offense, but sinners aren’t exactly my biggest concern.”

Vox raised an eyebrow at Velvette, then looked at Blitzø again. “Well, you might be full of shit and lying right to our faces. You also might be telling the truth. Either way, that’s exactly the kind of grit I appreciate in someone. If you want the job, it’s yours. We’ll get you genned up.”

“Fuck yes,” Blitzø said with a grin, rubbing his hands together. Moxxie groaned and let his head fall to the table with a heavy thud, and Millie patted his back. “Let’s do this shit.”

•••

“Has anybody seen Alastor?”

Angel looked up from his spot on the lobby’s lounge floor, laid out on his stomach with his legs bent and ankles crossed. “Uh… no, not today,” he said, lowering the colored paper in his hands. “Why?”

Charlie frowned a little, her hands on her hips, and tapped her foot on the floor. “I can’t find him. He wanted to meet with me to talk about something, but that was over an hour ago.”

“He left last night!” Niffty chirped. She, too, was lying on the floor; Vaggie was sitting kitty-corner to both of them, her legs crossed, and Fat Nuggets was wandering between the three of them with no particular destination in his cute little head. A pile of colored paper was only barely stacked between them, as well as a variety of origami animals in various states of ‘good’. “He seemed weeeiiird. I didn’t ask what it was, though, because he was ‘don’t talk to me’ weird, so I just watched him leave the hotel.”

Husk turned his head just a little from his spot lounging on the nearby couch, his eyes still on the book he was reading whenever Niffty wasn’t flicking tiny paper cranes at him for him to ‘babysit’. “He does that sometimes. I wouldn’t sweat it, and I definitely wouldn’t go looking for him. If he’s in a mood, you don’t want to find him, and he’ll come back whenever he feels like it.”

“Weird for him to be late to somethin’, tho,” Angel said with a frown, looking from Husk to Niffty. “No idea what was buggin’ him?”

“Noooo,” Niffty said, her eye going wide and her voice going intense. “But he had his scary eyes and scary smile on and his antlers were a little bigger than normal~” She closed her eye and bared her teeth, giggling.

“Are you sure someone shouldn’t go find him, Husk?” Vaggie asked, looking over her shoulder at the bartender.

“Positive.”

“Charlie, Charlie, come make origami with us,” Niffty said. “You can wait for Alastor and I’ll teach you!”

“Huh? Uh, okay, sure,” Charlie said, plopping down to turn their triangle into a circle.

Angel didn’t really listen to Niffty’s repeated instructions, focusing on folding his own piece of paper into a frog as his mind wandered to Alastor. What could have happened? And what did he leave to go do? Angel knew that there was zero reason for him to worry—Alastor was a powerful overlord, after all, and more than capable of handling himself—but he couldn’t help wondering where he was. And that was senseless. Alastor wasn’t his problem! He didn’t need to keep an eye on him or make sure he wasn’t getting into trouble or…

…fuck, I hope he isn’t getting into trouble.

It wasn’t long after Charlie joined them that the front door opened, and the princess turned to look. “Oh, Alastor, you— holy shit what happened?!”

Angel snapped his head up and saw Alastor striding into the hotel, spinning his microphone staff with his usual easy grace. And, since he was wearing all red, it took Angel a moment to register that he was absolutely covered in blood. “Oh, Charlie, my dear, it is absolutely nothing you need worry about!” the Radio Demon said brightly, his voice more heavily layered with static than usual. “I simply went for a little walk and happened to find some, shall we say, disagreeable folk?”

“Alastor, you can’t get into fights in the street!” Vaggie said as she got to her feet and gestured at him as menacingly as she could with a squat little origami cat in her hand. “It’s bad for our reputation!”

“Now, now, there is nothing to lose your head over,” Alastor said with a full side roll of his head and a loose gesture of his hand. “It was no one of particular note, and it wasn’t in the street!”

“I don’t see how that’s any—”

“It was in a shop.”

“There! See! That’s not better!” Vaggie said, gesticulating wildly with both hands.

“Alastor…” Niffty said slowly, turning her head enough to squint at the other demon.

“Hmm? Yes, Niffty, what is it?”

“Is that blood wet?” she continued, her voice dropping dangerously.

Alastor laughed and bent at the waist, patting her on the head. “It’s entirely dry, I promise you.”

“Oh! That’s okay, then,” Niffty grinned, her voice bright once more. “Did you have fun?”

“Oodles.”

“Charlie,” Vaggie said insistently, looking at her girlfriend and thrusting her hands out at Alastor.

Charlie looked conflicted as she cast her eyes between the two of them, then cast Alastor her most winning nervous smile. “W-well, it’s good to see you back, Alastor! But, um, I do think it would be helpful if we tried to keep random and wanton bloodshed to a minimum?”

“Of course!” Alastor straightened at an alarming speed, his spine cracking loudly. “Never fear, Miss Charlie, last night was a fluke, a mere blip, nothing but a little skip on the record, as it were! I have no doubt the circumstances shall never arise again.”

Angel blinked slowly. That… is a very weird statement. “You sure you’re okay, Smiles?”

“Ah…!” Alastor actually started, and he focused on Angel with slightly wide eyes, like he had only just noticed the spider’s presence. He recovered quickly—if that was what Angel should call it—and walked around Charlie to stand next to Angel instead. “Of course! Never better, tip top shape and all that what the hell are the four of you doing on the floor?”

“Origami,” Niffty said enthusiastically, holding out two handfuls of tiny paper stars.

Alastor actually crouched down beside Angel, one elbow on his knee and his other hand on his staff for balance. “Ah, yes, your paper folding art. Of course!”

“I made a frog,” Angel said, pointing to the little yellow paper amphibian on the floor in front of him. He pressed down on its back near its butt, and when his finger flicked along the edge of the fold, the little frog hopped a little.

Alastor let out a surprised laugh. “How delightful! I’m quite proud of you, sha. Couldn’t get Husker to participate, I see.”

“I’m in the same room,” Husk grumbled, lowering his book and glaring over at Alastor. But there was something odd in his glare, something heavier and more reserved than usual.

Alastor either didn’t notice or was refusing to acknowledge it. “Progress is progress, I suppose. Miss Charlie, I’m terribly sorry about missing our appointment. If you have time, we can meet as soon as I have freshened up, as it were.”

“Uh, sure, Alastor. That’s fine.”

Alastor looked at Angel, then hesitated, enough that Angel lowered his hands and turned his own head to look back at Alastor. “Yeah, Al? What’s up?”

“Oh, simply wondering if you would like to help me with dinner again tonight.”

Angel was vaguely aware that the entire room went still, but his focus was entirely caught by Alastor. “Uh, sure, sounds fun. Whaddya wanna make?”

“I was actually thinking that, perhaps, you might teach me a bit about making pasta.”

Angel smiled immediately. “You wanna learn? Sure, but I ain’t gonna go easy on you.”

Alastor’s smile widened. “I should think not.” He hesitated again, then he reached up, touching the side of Angel’s face. He felt the tiniest scrape of Alastor’s claw, as well as a small tickle, and then Alastor pulled his hand back to hold up a little sliver of colored paper that must have gotten stuck to his face while they were cutting the squares.

“Oh. Uh. Thanks,” Angel said, wondering why his face felt warm.

Alastor’s smile was different. Softer, almost. “I’ll see you this evening, then, sha.” He straightened up and began walking away towards his room, waving one hand and calling back. “Won’t be more than ten minutes, Miss Charlie!”

Angel turned his head and watched him go, then went back to his half done origami frog. He finished a couple of more folds before he realized just how quiet it was, and he raised his head to find everyone else staring at him.

“…what?”

•••

“There he is get the fuck down!”

Blitzø placed his hands on Moxxie and Millie’s heads, shoving them down behind one of the large bushes around the property of the Hazbin Hotel before he followed them into a crouch.

“Ow, fuck, sir…!”

“Blitzø!”

“Shh!”

It hadn’t taken long for someone of interest to show up, so this stakeout was a good fucking idea, if he said so himself. And, with Loona temporarily back at the office to try and look up some useful intel, that meant he didn’t have to worry about her safety (and had time to figure out how he was going to tell her that she absolutely was not doing espionage with them). Blitzø carefully peered through the leaves of the bush and heard Moxxie and Millie do the same; the sound of jaunty whistling grew louder, backed with what sounded like old timey radio music, and then they saw a man coming up the path. He was a little more than average height (for a sinner), with a tattered red coat, bright red and black hair, what looked like a staff with a microphone on the end, and one of the most unnerving smiles Blitzø had ever seen. Oh, and the blood.

That must be the Radio Demon.

“Holy shit, it’s him…!” Millie whispered excitedly.

“He doesn’t look so scary,” Moxxie grumbled crossly, and Blitzø didn’t need to look at him to know he was lying.

The Radio Demon—Alastor, Vox had called him—didn’t even appear to notice them as he made his way into the hotel. Once he heard the doors shut, Blitzø retreated from the bush and the other two followed suit. He turned, crouched, and wrapped his arms around their necks, pulling them in close to his sides. “Okay, so, first off, this place is a lot fucking bigger than I thought it would be.”

“Yeah, no kiddin’,” Millie said, entirely unbothered by Blitzø’s manhandling. “I figured it’d be… y’know… appropriately sized for its most likely number’a guests?”

“Tiny,” Blitzø said.

“Yeah.”

“Mills, I need to know. The fuck is your deal with him?”

“Oh, I love his program!” Millie said enthusiastically. “I don’t never miss it! Nobody knows more about torture than the Radio Demon!”

“Huh. Weird,” Blitzø said. “Hey, you know me, I don’t kink shame— okay, I do, but this one is really normal, considering.”

Moxxie sighed heavily, slumping into Blitzø’s hold with no small amount of resignation and resolutely ignoring the implications of the word ‘considering’. He was learning, apparently. “So how, exactly, are we supposed to do this? There’s no way we can break into that place and go unnoticed. It’s big, yeah, and it’s barely got anyone in it, but everyone who is there is a sinner… or Lucifer’s daughter. And in case you forgot, they slaughtered angels here during the last sinner extermination.”

“Then we’ll have to find the most efficient way to stake the place out,” Blitzø said. He looked at Millie. “I guess I can’t talk you into letting me make Moxxie just stay here 24/7 until something happens.”

“Hey!”

“Nope,” Millie said with a bright smile.

“Damn. Okay, then, different plan. We’ll set up electronic surveillance as unobtrusively as we can. Something that will alert us whenever anyone comes or goes from the building. We can park the van nearby and take turns keeping an eye on things, and then whoever’s on duty can alert the others and start shadowing them right away.”

“This is going to be so boring,” Moxxie groaned, hanging his head.

Blitzø smacked him on the back and gave him a grin that even felt crazed to Blitzø himself. “Cheer up! We have no choice! Stolas is still in the hospital and he’s got his grimoire right now so we are literally locked in Hell, which means we take what we can get!”

It won’t be long. He won’t be stuck in the hospital forever. He can’t be. Can he? Fuck. I have a headache.

Millie and Moxxie were looking at each other in a way Blitzø really didn’t like—suspicious and concerned, neither of which he needed right now—so he shook both of them violently enough to make them squeak. “Back to the office, then. We need to get our shit together and make sure Loonie hasn’t set the place on fire without us.”

“Blitzø…”

“Less talking more doing the thing I said, Millie!”

•••

Alastor was a fast learner. Angel had only had to give him verbal instructions—as well as a brief demonstration, when it came to making the pasta dough itself—and he was suddenly a regular pastaio. Lasagna seemed a good start, since it was a fairly simple dish and it was very easy to make enough for a group, and eventually though being alone in the kitchen with Alastor brought up memories of that night…

…it was fun.

He thought Alastor had fun, too.

And now, Alastor was acting normal enough and everybody else was acting weird. Ever since the end of their origami lesson, people had been just kinda looking at him, those significant types of looks that said they were probably saying stuff behind his back. Normally, Angel didn’t care; he was used to being the topic of gossip, and like he always said, if people were talking about him then at least they had a good topic. But this was different. He was afraid it was speculative.

Speculation usually came with ‘getting a talking-to’, and whether that meant Husk or Charlie, Angel wanted absolutely none of it.

That was the main reason he had retreated to his room immediately after cleaning up from dinner. It was the safest place to avoid whatever serious conversation was doubtless brewing downstairs, and it also meant they weren’t just giving him those fucking concerned glances that they thought he couldn’t see.

“I’m so fuckin’ bored,” Angel told his ceiling as he lay back on his bed, legs dangling over the edge. It was too early for him to be in his room, but he didn’t feel like going out and partying, and hanging out downstairs was out of the question. His third option was to go to Alastor’s room and bug him, but they had just spent the evening cooking together, and the Radio Demon had even helped him clean up. Sure, they were supposed to hang out and shit, but there was probably a point that was definitely too much for Alastor.

Not for the first time, Angel thought about going to Cannibal Town to talk to Rosie without Alastor there. He didn’t know how this was supposed to work, but his mark wasn’t changing at all. He wasn’t sure how to broach the subject with Alastor, so he wasn’t positive, but he was pretty sure it was the same on his side. How long was it supposed to take? Didn’t Rosie just say they needed to stop being stubborn? Wasn’t this enough initiative?

Angel raised his leg straight over his head and frowned at the mark on his knee. “What the fuck do you want me to do, huh?” It didn’t answer, and Angel groaned at himself, letting his leg fall again.

“My goodness, it is quite pink in here.”

“Holy fuck!!”

The sudden voice behind Angel startled him so badly that he rolled straight off of his bed, landing on the carpeted side of his room with an audible flump. Scrambling back up his comforter, Angel dragged himself up until he could fold his arms on his bed and stare at Alastor, who was just… standing there, looking around his room like he had been invited in.

“What. The fuck.”

“Hello!” Alastor said brightly, turning his head to focus on Angel. His eyes were glowing ever so slightly in the low bedroom light.

“Now who’s comin’ into places without permission?”

“Would you believe me if I said Fat Nuggets let me in?”

Angel looked over at Nugg’s little ottoman next to his bed, where the hellpig was perched and fixing Alastor with a cheerfully vacant stare. He, too, looked at Alastor. “No.”

“Worth a shot, I suppose!”

Angel got to his feet and straightened his clothes. “Dangerous to just enter my bedroom like that, Smiles. I’m a filthy degenerate, you ain’t got no idea what I might be doin’ at any given moment.”

Bizarrely, Alastor seemed… almost flustered, from what Angel was learning of his tells and moods. “I wanted to speak with you,” Alastor deflected, his voice a little louder than usual. “It didn’t seem terribly appropriate in the kitchen, and you vanished so quickly, you gave me little choice but to come find you.”

“…okay,” Angel said slowly. He looked around his room, which was very low on seating, and eventually pointed to the bench of his vanity. “Y’can sit there. Sorry, I ain’t got much in the way of places for other people to sit in here.”

“Quite alright. I imagine you didn’t design this room for entertaining.” Alastor flicked his wrist and the bench moved itself a little closer to the bed. Angel sat on top of his bedspread and folded his legs, watching the Radio Demon perch himself on the bench with his hands folded on his crossed knee.

A few months ago, Angel would have called his demeanor ‘prim’. Now that he had actually observed Alastor in all different states of relaxation, he could tell he was just feeling awkward.

“Okay, you got my attention,” Angel said, clasping two of his hands on his ankles and straightening his back. “What’s up, Doc?”

Alastor blinked at him. “…reference after my time?”

“Forties.”

“Yes. Well.” Alastor tapped his knee with his claws a couple of times. “…this will sound… unusual, I suppose, coming from me.” He paused, and Angel bit back a sarcastic remark about how everything had been unusual since this began. “I need to… come clean to you about something.”

Angel raised one eyebrow sharply. “…since when do you do that?”

Alastor laughed, just a little. “I don’t, that’s why it’s unusual.”

“…okay. So… what’d you do?”

“I…” Alastor hesitated. He thought. He didn’t make eye contact. “I followed you last night. When you went to work. I watched some of your filming session.”

“You—?” Angel frowned. “…no you didn’t, I would have seen…” He trailed off, memories of the earliest part of the evening returning to him. “…you broke that light. And that camera.”

“Not intentionally, I assure you,” Alastor said.

Angel didn’t know if he should be angry or not. His initial reaction was yes, he should be, because he didn’t need to be followed like a child, but… Alastor was being honest with him. The least he could do was hear him out. He drew a breath to calm himself, taking note of the way Alastor’s ears flicked backwards briefly. “Okay. You’re gonna tell me why you did that.”

Alastor actually nodded once, like he agreed it was a reasonable request. “At first, I wasn’t certain myself. After our conversation the other night—when you spoke about how you got into your work—I found myself contemplating what you said about the Vees promising to… handle… our issue, if you didn’t do so yourself. I suppose I was concerned what Valentino might do when you returned to work, and I wanted to ensure he didn’t overstep, shall we say.”

Angel blinked a couple of times, his eyes widening. “…you were worried about me?”

“Valentino is untrustworthy.” Alastor still wasn’t meeting his eyes. “And when I saw that Vox had taken his place for the evening, it seemed even more unwise to leave you alone. I had no intention of intruding on your privacy or your work.”

Angel shook his head. “…Vox would blow a literal fuse if he had any idea you were in his studio and he didn’t notice.”

Alastor barked out a sharp laugh at that. “Oh, I was so very tempted to give him a bit of the old runaround. Perhaps make him believe he was losing his mind!”

The image of Alastor using his shadow to gaslight Vox caused Angel to make a sound somewhere between a giggle and a snort, which made Alastor laugh again. “He woulda been fuckin’ furious.”

“Good!” Alastor said, his cheer returning. “It’s what he gets for being Vox.”

Angel smiled at him. “So… you were lookin’ out for me, huh? My very own guardian Radio Demon.”

Alastor actually cleared his throat. “Yes. Well. As the hotelier, looking after things is one of my myriad responsibilities, and you are our premier resident. I would be quite remiss to allow anything to happen to you.”

It would have been so very easy to keep up that same line of conversation, just to see how awkward and uncomfortable (embarrassed?) he could make Alastor. And he would have… months ago, anyway. Instead, he decided to let him off the hook. “Well, I’m honored to hear you suffered for my sake. Can’t imagine how boring watching a porno gettin’ filmed musta been.”

Alastor, for some reason, looked distinctly uncomfortable again. “I was actually rather enthused for the opportunity to see you at your craft. You’re quite the actor, sha, even when your scripts…”

“Suck?” Angel provided. He knew. And he never should have yelled at Husk over it, because he’d always known.

“Oh, most of them are awful,” Alastor said, limply flicking his wrist and rolling his eyes. “No fault of yours or your coworkers, of course. And as much as I would hate to compliment Vox, it seems he at least knows more about writing a script than Valentino does. Good to know we’ve finally found another use for him.”

Angel giggled. “Look, I’ll be the first to admit that the Vees, for all their many faults, are creative. It’s just that Val ain’t got none with words unless he’s threatenin’ someone.”

“You don’t say,” Alastor said, his expression as dry as his tone.

“…what other use?”

“Hm?”

“You said another use for Vox,” Angel said. “What’s the other use?”

Alastor shrugged. “Paperweight? Doorstop? Whatever that cube he calls a head could be used for.” When Angel laughed, Alastor seemed to fully relax. “But, truly, I appreciated the opportunity to watch you work. You even cut your hand open. Authenticity?”

“Oh… yeah, I guess,” Angel said as he raised his bandaged hand and glanced at it. “Mostly it just looks better than the little blood packs, and I heal quick.”

“Commitment that VoxTek does not deserve,” Alastor said, shaking his head. “Well, with that in mind, I thought it would be only fair to return the favor.”

Angel tilted his head. “…whaddya mean?”

Alastor didn’t answer. Instead, he got to his feet and went to stand in front of Angel, offering his hand out. “Come with me.” It was phrased like an order, but the way Alastor said it… it was a request.

“Um…” Angel reached up, placing his hand in the Radio Demon’s. “Okay.”

Angel stood, but that was as far as he got before they were wrapped in darkness. It was much easier than it had been the first time, and while it was no less terrifying, Angel didn’t collapse or feel like he was going to throw up when all of his senses returned. He did stagger, however, and it took him a moment to register that Alastor’s hands were now on his arm and his back.

“Are you alright, sha?”

“Y…yeah. I’m good,” Angel said, slowly opening his eyes and looking around.

They were standing in the middle of a room that Angel didn’t recognize, not at first. There were no lights on, all of the illumination coming from a wide bank of windows that looked out over the city and casting everything in shades of red and blue and purple. The floor was made of wood, the ceiling a fair distance above them and the walls curved upwards, forming a partial dome with a flat top around them. And beneath the windows, a wooden table covered in papers, a mug, and…

…radio equipment.

He was in Alastor’s radio tower.

“Whoa…” Angel breathed, his eyes widening as he looked around. “Holy shit, this is high…!”

“Isn’t it? Quite the view, I must say,” Alastor said fondly as he took a few steps in. “And very inspiring when I’m doing my programs. Feel free to look around, I have no doubt the equipment will be quite safe around you.”

That was all the encouragement Angel needed. He began walking around the room, taking in all the photographs of jazz musicians and singers from the 1910s up through the early 30s, records no longer viable for playing on one of Alastor’s record players (“Oh, sorry, gramophone, my bad.” “Phonograph, my dear, Gramophone is a trademark no matter what the British claim.”) hanging on the walls, and the neat little stacks of truly ancient broadcasting equipment that was so well-cared for that they looked as though they had been manufactured less than a month ago.

“It’s beautiful up here,” Angel said after a long stretch of quiet. He felt Alastor watching him, but he didn’t return the look, instead looking out over the city. “…I’ve started listenin’ to your radio program whenever you’re on and I’m not workin’.”

“Have you?” Angel nodded, and he could hear Alastor shift behind him. He wasn’t sure what he expected the Radio Demon to ask, but it certainly wasn’t, “…do you enjoy it?”

A rare display of uncertainty from the always comically self-confident sinner actually made Angel’s smile return in full. He turned and rested against the solid wooden table, bracing two hands either side of his hips and crossing his ankles. “I do. I especially like it when you read from those creepy horror books. You got a good storytellin’ voice.”

Alastor almost looked surprised. “…well. Thank you, sha.”

Angel nodded, looking around again without standing up. “…hey, Al. Why’d you get into radio?”

“Hm? Oh…” Alastor drew a thoughtful breath. “I imagine it really started when I was quite young. As a child, at age… six, I suppose, I had a job at a drug store, sweeping the front walk every morning and every afternoon. The druggist had a phonograph that he kept on his counter, and I was fascinated by the music he would play. I am certain I drove my maman up the pole, talking her ear off about it every time he had something new he was playing. I still don’t know how she did it, but for my eighth birthday, she managed to procure a phonograph for me. It was worse than second-hand, with a dent in the horn and a bend in the tone-arm that made the sounds less than perfect, but I adored that phonograph. Listened to it until she threatened to beat me with it.

“Then, when I was… twenty, I believe, I found out about the creation of the first commercial radio station that was coming out of Pittsburgh. The technology fascinated me, and I became obsessed with the idea of creating a profession out of it. I was more than determined, I was driven.” Alastor shrugged, looking out the window. “It was one of many things that I set my mind on, and with each one, I never rested until I had accomplished my goal.”

Angel smiled, tilting his head as he watched Alastor. “And you say you’re not stubborn.”

“Hah. Be silent,” Alastor said without heat. He looked at Angel. “…I was wondering something, sha.”

“What’s that?”

“If you would ever like to… perform for me. On my radio program.”

Angel’s eyes widened so much he thought they might actually fall out of his face. “Y…you want me to…” He couldn’t finish the sentence, it sounded too impossible.

Alastor’s smile was oddly gentle, for all its angles and sharp teeth. “You have a lovely singing voice. I think my listeners would quite enjoy hearing you.”

Angel smiled, but it felt odd. Nervous. “…you don’t let nobody else on your program.”

“I am well aware, as it is my program and I am involved in every broadcast.”

“No— I mean, yeah, I know, I just…” Angel bit his lip as his smile widened, and he found himself looking down and away. “…I’d love to, Al. If you really want me to.”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it otherwise.” Alastor began to walk closer. “But… what is this? Have I managed to embarrass the unshakeable Angel Dust?”

Angel giggled, ducking his head further. “What no I don’t get embarrassed fuck you.”

“I don’t know. I believe I see more pink under that fine white fur of yours.”

Angel turned his head towards Alastor— then, he froze when he realized the other sinner was standing right in front of him. “…you cheat,” he said.

“I don’t see how,” Alastor said, his voice soft.

“I’m real pale. You got an unfair advantage.” Angel had absolutely no idea why, but he suddenly felt… he didn’t know how he felt. “…what’re you doin’, Smiles?”

Alastor hesitated before he answered. Angel could see that his smile was different at the corners. Unstable, almost, like the usually sharp and straight lines were somehow… distorted in a way that was kind of cute. “Would you believe me if I told you that I have no idea?”

“Uh… y…yeah. I would.”

They looked at each other in silence for what felt like an eternity, but really couldn’t have been more than ten seconds. Finally, Alastor spoke again. “You know that I have many curiosities.” Angel nodded. “And you know that I dislike not knowing anything about that which intrigues me.”

“Where are you goin’ with this…?”

“Humor me. …please,” Alastor said, his voice softening as he made that request. Angel bit his lip again and nodded, and he noted the way Alastor’s eyes flicked down towards his mouth and then back up. “…I need to know something,” he said. “I don’t know what it… how I will react,” he amended. “But I need to know. If I promise that, no matter what, I will not harm you… will you permit me to find out?”

Angel didn’t know what to make of that. It was a completely pointless question, because without knowing what Alastor was talking about, he didn’t know how he could say either yes or no honestly. But Alastor seemed so focused, and asking… even Angel could feel how difficult it was for him. “…okay, Alastor.”

The Radio Demon nodded once, so slight it must have been to himself and probably not even an intentional movement. Angel saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and he glanced over to see Alastor still his hand close to his cheek. Angel looked to Alastor’s face again, and when he saw Angel wasn’t resisting, he gently cupped his cheek and jaw with a hand both soft and rough, cold and sharp and scarred. Angel’s breath shuddered, and he saw a flicker of confusion across Alastor’s face.

“You’ve never been afraid of me,” Alastor whispered.

“No,” Angel answered, matching his tone.

“Are you afraid of me right now?”

Angel swallowed. “…no.”

“You should be.”

“I know.”

Alastor opened his mouth like he was going to speak again, but no words came out. Instead, he closed his eyes, almost like he was in some kind of pain, before he closed the distance between them and pressed their lips together.

No matter how much Alastor had telegraphed his actions, Angel couldn’t have anticipated this, because never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Alastor would actually kiss him, of his own volition, as his own idea. It was clumsy and shy and completely inexperienced, simply the press of closed lips against his own, something he hadn’t felt since he was twelve years old, but it was…

Perfect.

Somehow, it was perfect.

Angel made no move to deepen the contact, no matter how much his body was suddenly screaming at him to do just that. He raised one hand to gently cup the back of Alastor’s hand, holding it to his face, and closed his eyes to lean into the astonishing and alien feeling. Alastor’s lips were scarred, and they were chapped from the abuse of his teeth and constant smiling and whatever happened to him when his larger demon form took over. When Angel relaxed, stroking the back of Alastor’s hand, he heard the other sinner make a small sound somewhere in the back of his throat that was reminiscent of a whimper.

“He hates being touched.”

But everybody needs at least a little contact, Al. Don’t they?

How long has it been since anyone even hugged you?

Calling the kiss ‘chaste’ would have done it a disservice, but Angel still felt out of breath when they parted. He opened his eyes and heard Alastor’s own breathing coming heavy and a little fast; when Alastor’s eyes opened, his irises flickered into radio dials for a second, then back, then they returned again.

“Shh, Alastor,” Angel whispered, stroking the back of Alastor’s hand as it rested against his face. “It’s okay, Smiles. Just keep breathin’. It’s okay.”

The flickering died down after a few seconds, and Alastor’s eyes fell shut once more, his forehead pressing against Angel’s. They stayed like that, even after Alastor’s breathing had calmed down, Angel stroking his hand and Alastor just resting against him as much as he would allow himself.

“…I’ve never done that before,” Alastor whispered, a quiet and slightly panicked laugh escaping him the next second. “I never wanted to.”

“No?” Angel asked. Alastor shook his head in tiny, jerking movements, like he was unwilling to back away just yet. “Did you like it?”

“Yes,” Alastor answered immediately. “No,” he said the next moment. “I… I don’t know.” He made a frustrated noise, his fingers twitching. “I don’t understand this. I don’t understand you.”

Angel didn’t know what to say to that, so he didn’t say anything.

Another stretch of silence passed. “It’s the mark. It has to be,” Alastor whispered, but despite the confidence of his phrasing, he sounded uncertain and almost frightened. “Nothing else… nothing else makes sense.”

“I don’t know,” Angel murmured honestly. “This kinda thing… it’s new for me, too, Al.”

“Is it?” Alastor chuckled weakly, more of an exhale than anything else. “I suppose it’s too odd to be normal for anyone.”

“That’s true.”

Alastor wasn’t moving his hand, so Angel didn’t let go of him. The quiet felt comfortable, in a way, as the nervousness slowly bled from the Radio Demon and his thumb moved enough to stroke along the curve of Angel’s cheek bone.

“…what do you want, Alastor?” Angel whispered. “Right now.”

“I want…” Alastor hesitated. “…just… stay with me, sha.”

Angel smiled and pressed his forehead against Alastor’s just a little more firmly.

“Okay, Al. I’ll stay.”

•••

[miyuhpapayuh]

six.

“Welcome to Mimosa Grill, did you have a reservation?” The receptionist asks Leon, his sister and mother.

“Yes, it's under Hunt.”

“Oh, the table full of beauties, yes! And they're adding three more!” She claps, making them laugh as she leads them towards the middle of the restaurant.

Zora stands once they make it to the table, smiling softly as the introductions start.

“Hello, ladies.” Leon greets with a smile that sends them all swooning.

“Hey, Leon,” they sing in unison, making Zora playfully roll her eyes as he laughs.

“This is my sister Eryn and my mama Tara.” He introduces, as they wave.

“And these are my sisters Neoma and Lovita, and my mama Pam,” Zora introduces, turning her attention to his mom, “I'm Zora, it's so nice to meet you.”

Pulling away from their mom's side to shake her sisters’ hands, she and Zora do the same. A warm handshake and smile eases Zora's nerves.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Zora. You are breathtaking. You all are!”

“Thank you!” Pam proudly says, standing to shake her hand, as well as Leon’s.

“A firm hand! I like you, already.” Pam says, earning another smile from him.

“The pressure's on,” he says. “A pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Likewise, dear. I've heard great things! And you,” she turns to Eryn, “aren't you just adorable!”

“Been getting that my whole life,” her twang makes Zora giggle, “thank you! It's nice to meet such beautiful people!”

Once they're all acquainted, they sit and fall into conversation.

“So, tell me Leon. What do you do for a living?” Pam asks.

“I work at a warehouse in Midland. We outsource from many retail outlets, it's pretty much like Amazon but a little wider in range.”

“Oh, okay! Keeps you busy?”

“Yes ma'am,” he chuckles. “It can be trying and tiring like any job, but I get my work done.”

“And Zora, what about you dear?” Tara asks.

“I work at a restaurant in Matthews. It's a quaint, family owned business. Delicious food, terrible customers… the usual.” She laughs, making them do the same.

“Working in food service can definitely be trying. I worked as a line cook for about five years, so I understand.” She says.

“Really? Oof, they put me back there for a day and I'm ready to burn the place down.” Zora shakes her head.

“That was the first thought on my brain for five years, honey.” She agrees, making Zora laugh again.

Leon smiles at the sight.

“She's also got a friend like the one that used to hang around you, ma.” He speaks.

“Oh— oh, you got a lil weasel followin’ you around?” She asks, making her mama look over at her as well.

“Zora, that boy's still bothering you?���

“I told you to let me kick his ass,” Lovita adds.

“Yeah, he still thinks he's being charming,” she snorts, “but man is he a pain in my side. And put your guns down, sis. Leon gave him the glare of a lifetime, so he's been keeping his distance as of late. Not sure how long it'll last but..”

“A non-verbal threat is new for you.” Eryn laughs, patting her brother's shoulder.

“Turning over new leaves, Eryn.” He responds. “Plus, as long as he keeps his distance, we have no issue. I wouldn't jeopardize Zora's job, either.”

“See? Blazing guns aren't always the answer.” Zora looks at her sisters, who just wave her off.

“Leon might be turning over a new leaf, but you're my littlest sister. I carry and he better relax.”

“She's a spitfire, too! I love it!” Tara smiles. “And, it's commendable that you've taken this off this pretty girl's hands, cause she shouldn't have to worry about some fool tryna push up on her at work.”

“Leon's a sweetheart. Plus he wouldn't let it go until I said he could choke him if need be.” Zora giggles, making both of their mothers shake their heads.

“Kids, am I right?” Pam looks at Tara, who nods wholeheartedly.

“This is why I'm graying, now.”

Good food and even better conversation continued, as the two got to share stories of childhood, family and everything in between.

Zora learned that Leon played baseball for a brief period in high school, until he started getting into fights and eventually got kicked off the team.

Leon had learned that Zora's artwork used to be posted on the walls and in the library of her elementary, middle and high school. She was somewhat of a celebrity.

“So, where did writing start for you?” Zora asks Leon.

“Well, I had gotten thrown out of most social clubs, due to my smart mouth and my mama suggested that I find other ways to get my feelings out, cause she was tired of getting calls from the school.” He looks over at her, catching her stare and choking.

“Gray, baby. Gray.”

“Anyway,” he shakes his head and turns back to Zora. “Eryn bought me a journal with her allowance because she wanted me to do better. I stalled for a while, because what was I supposed to write about? My angry teenager self wasn't with it, at all. But, I eventually came back to it with an open mind, and it's been like a dear friend to me ever since.”

Zora, as well as her sisters and mama, were chin-in-palm, listening to his every word.

“Wow…Tell me you paid Eryn back.” Neoma speaks, making Eryn giggle.

“He sure did! He's not the only ass kicker around here.” She innocently smiles.

✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

The next week and a half was filled with more sharing from Zora and more earnest listening from Leon, a few more dates and a sorta surprise visit to her job.

They'd started sharing their work schedules, due to Leon falling in love with the food like Zora told him he would, as well as Zora feeling herself become safe in his presence.

Like he said he would be, he came strolling through the restaurant’s doors with an extra dip in his walk, making Zora’s mouth twist up, fighting off her smirk.

The flowers in his hand definitely made her jaw drop, her hand not being fast enough to catch it.

Leon being the teaser he is, he decides to poke a little fun once he makes his way to her.

“I thought you said brown girls don't blush! You look a lil red, baby.”

“Shut up,” she laughs, her eyes dropping to the orange poppies in his hand. The slight pout that forms on her glossed lips letting him know he'd chosen right between those and yellow lillies.

“For you,” he holds them out for her, leaning on the counter so she wouldn't have to look up at him too much. Plus he was crowding her space like she secretly wanted him to.

“They're beautiful!” She all but squeals, welcoming the flowers and kiss he placed on her lips. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure. That was cute, you were tryna hide your face.” He laughs, sneaking another kiss.

“Stop it,” she playfully mushes him away. “I was shocked to see you with flowers. I'm so used to us picking them out together when we hit the shoppe, I wasn't expecting this.”

“Expecting the unexpected is something you're gonna get used to. Don't worry.” He assures her with a wink, making her turn away from him as her face continues to burn.

“Go away,” she drags out her words, earning a deep chuckle in return. His hand latches onto her free one, linking their fingers.

“I like your hair, like always.” He compliments the high, wild ponytail she was sporting today, pulling her gaze back to his.

“Thank you. It took me way too long to get it up like this, it better be cute.” She huffs, sitting the flowers on the counter behind her.

“Put your guns down, it's cute.” He jokes, earning an eye-roll.

“You're a little early. I've got about five minutes left.”

“I know. They let us out a bit earlier than usual, so I thought I'd come on this way to see you, since this was the plan anyway.”

“Makes sense. Was today any better?” She asks, referring to him and his coworker.

“A little. We spoke briefly, which is a start.” He shrugs, leaning up from the counter. “I'm gonna head to the bathroom right quick.”

“Okay,” she gives a soft smile, which he returns before walking down and around the corner.

Zora's expression quickly sours as Cory slides into Leon's place, leaning on the counter at the same time she moves away from it.

“Come on. Why we gotta be like this?” He asks, eyeing the flowers behind her.

“It's like you think I'm joking or something. Staying away from me didn't last long, like it knew it wouldn't.” She says, shaking her head.

“Who bought you those beauties?” He asks, ignoring her.

“Someone that's actually worth my time, Cory. No more questions.” She firms, shooing him away but of course his persistence keeps him planted.

“Damn, I'm not worth your time?”

“What did I just say??” She throws her hands up.

“For real, Zora?”

“Dude! I've spent the better part of my time here, warding you off like you're a demon. You're unbelievable.” She laughs.

“You know you can't resist this, baby.”

“See? It's like there's a blockage in your brain.”

“Ain't nothing wrong with me, girl.”

“I'm not your girl.” She snaps.

“You could be, though.” He says without missing a beat.

“No thanks,” she says with a shake of her head, just as Leon reappears, catching Cory way too close to where he shouldn't be.

“Look who we got here,” he says, causing Cory to break his neck to look in his direction, his cockiness about to turn on him.

“Oh, the one with the staring problem. Wassup flower boy.” He points, glancing back at Zora, whose stare could turn him to stone, had this been Percy Jackson and friends.

“You got two seconds to remove yourself.” Leon calmly says, watching the smug smile grow on Cory's face as he looks back at him.

“Ain't nobo—” the rest of his sentence got jerked up, right along with his collar, as Leon stares him dead in the eyes, definitely putting fear in his heart.

“I'm bein’ real nice. You don't want that ass whoopin’, I promise you.” He warns, keeping his collar in his tight grip.

Zora's eyes widen at the sight, and she's able to get her hand over her mouth to catch the laugh that threatens to kill their intense stare down.

“Leave Zora alone or it's gonna be way worse than this.” Leon's unwavering stare definitely did damage to Cory's self esteem, but he kept up the facade.

“Aight.” He holds hands up in surrender, that usual smug smile being replaced with a mean mug, little did he know it made him look just as pathetic.

“Apologize.”

Cory turns his head toward Zora, offering an equally pathetic apology, to which she nods in response.

Releasing his collar just as roughly as he yanked it up, Leon pushes him back towards the other side of the bar, away from them altogether.

“Go do your job.” He points, watching him disappear around the corner before he looks over at a very amused Zora.

“That boy relentless ain't he?” He laughs, back to leaning on the counter.

“Yeah! You bout pulled that boy out his shoes!” She lets her giggles run free.

“He was where he shouldn't have been. Had to come do damage control and save you from that fool.” He chuckles.

“My hero,” she hums, punching her number in the computer, finally clocking out for the day.

“Told you I got you.”

“You did. So whose place tonight?”

“Mine?” He suggests, and she agrees.

She lifts the counter’s side flap up, grabs her flowers and heads into the side room, grabs her bag off the hanger, and moves back in front of him.

“Alright, we can go now.”

✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿ ... ✿°•∘ɷ∘•°✿

“When's the last time someone bought you flowers?” Leon asks, sitting his takeout container on his coffee table.

“Are we counting the ones Cory has bought me?” She asks.

“No.” He answers quickly, making her laugh.

“It's been a couple years, then.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, besides the few dates I'd been on after I left my ex. And the last date I'd been on til you came along was… about two years ago, yeah.” She laughs, again.

“Wow. That makes no sense.”

“Well, in my defense, I am always walking around with my own flowers.” She jokes.

“You got me there,” he laughs, “but someone can always add to those, right?”

“You're right. It's a really sweet gesture.” She smiles, reaching for a fortune cookie.

“I'm glad you liked them. I wasn't sure what to get, but they jumped out at me. Plus, orange looks really good on you.”

“Thank you, and you did good. Orange's my favorite color.”

The amused expression spreads across his handsome face, making her laugh for the umpteenth time.

“I won't pat myself on the back, but..” he jokes, sliding a little closer to her, “you can't say I don't pay attention.”

“You're right, again. And now I kinda feel bad, cause I don't think I've got your favorite color right in my head… did that make sense?”

“It did,” he nods, “what do you think it is?”

“Green.”

“Correct.” He smiles.

“Really?” She asks.

“Yeah, I'm a hunter green kinda guy.”

“I knew it!” She smiles, pulling the plastic away from the cookie to crack it open. “Green looks really good on you.”

“Thank you, beautiful.”

She nods, looking down at the small piece of paper, softly shaking her head at what it says, folding it up.

“The love of your life will appear in front of you unexpectedly!”

Yeah, I sure hope so.

“What does it say?” He asks.

“You're not supposed to share what it says,” she says, popping half of the cookie into her mouth.

“There's rules?”

She nods, covering her mouth as she chews. “You're also supposed to burn it so it can come true.”

“Wow, you learn something new every day.” He chuckles.

“You're welcome!” She cheerily says, earning another laugh out of him as they settle back against the couch to watch another movie.

A couple chick-flicks later, Leon was reluctantly standing up to walk a sleepy Zora out to her car.

“If I didn't have to work in the morning, I'd crash on your couch,” she snorts, fumbling inside her bag for her keys.

“Hey, you still can. I could take you to work before I go in, you can come back and get your car after work. You get off at the same time tomorrow?” He asks.

“Yeah, I do. But I don't have any extra clothes.”

“You can borrow something of mine. What you need, a t-shirt? Shorts? I got you.”

“You really want me to stay, huh?”

“Hell yeah,” he answers enthusiastically, making her giggle. “I love your company.”

“Yeah, you're growing on me too.” She smirks, following him right back inside his apartment.

Ch 7

@blackerthings @sheabuttahwrites @soufcakmistress @twistedcharismaaa @unfriendlyblkhotti3 @awerkofart @abeautifulmindexposed @blowmymbackout @ghostfacekill-monger @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @thegifstories

[swampreligion]

you won’t believe how many snarky receptionists just judged me for asking about dog abortions. this is why i hate outsourcing to vets in the city. my rural vet will do it up til right before birth but she’s booked too far out 😔

[undressrehearsal]

yeah this is just gonna be me venting lmao

I graduated college 3 fucking years ago

3 years

I have a whole ass Bachelor's degree that I went into debt for

And I have literally 4 years of experience working internships and freelance shit

But yk what that doesn't fucking matter. Cause I'm working as a fucking receptionist at a car repair place where I feel overwhelmed and tired and get yelled at and feel like my brain is rotting

I'm a good writer. I know I am. I'm good at what I do. But the market is so fucking oversaturated with AI and freelance and outsourcing that talent doesn't really matter anymore. So I'm just stuck. And I've been doing all that I can to get somewhere but I'm so fucking tired and so stretched thin I feel like I'm gonna snap. And people can tell me all day long that I'm a good writer and most ppl my age are in a similar situation and it's not my fault and the job market sucks and all that shit but at the end of the day it still hurts and I'm still exhausted

I am so fucking exhausted

[thedeliverygod]

just as a more thorough update before I go to bed for anyone worried about me

so like, I'm employed by a company that outsources me to a "partner" company. So I was laid off by the "partner" and I'm technically still employed, for now.

Currently I'm still doing work for the partner I'm being laid off from and was told there's "no rush to leave". Probably because it's going to be fucking impossible to do the job with the amount of people left when we actually do leave, but ya know...

Downside: The only other positions with other "partners" right now are all very customer service and/or sales heavy. My mental health was shit ~before~ I got news about this lay off and I swore off customer service after I went through literal hell at Banfield and then was forced to return to being a vet receptionist again in 2020 even though I didn't want to but my temp job ended and I needed something ASAP. And then of course covid-19 became a thing and people became shittier than ever before.

Before I even knew I was officially laid off I was given an offer to apply to one of these phone heavy customer service positions and today I told my program manager that I have to decline for my mental health. She had said in the group chat on slack that a new partner would be posting positions soon so I asked if there was one that was only email/chat and she said she believed there would be. While it's still not my preference, I believe I can at least manage chat and email a lot more than I can handle being on the phone and/or on video chats. So I am waiting to hear on that alongside applying to jobs on indeed in the meantime.

Upside(?): I so far am able to keep clocking in and get paid and continue to have health insurance. Not to mention use my EAP which I literally just signed up for on Monday before all this shit went down to get 3 free sessions of therapy... so my first appointment for that is on Sunday afternoon. How long this will last before needing to find a new position within the company I'm not sure.

I'm high key hoping they just come to their senses and realize their company is going to fucking fail with such a small workforce and a large amount of incoming business. But I'm also not holding my breath.

Also unfortunately my stomach is heavily intertwined with my emotional state so I haven't been able to eat well a lot of days in the past 2 weeks because of all the fuckery going on and I just really want to feel (somewhat) normal again. Ironically I had a really big and good meal right before I found out they were going to be laying off about 50% of the team so at least timing worked out in my favor for that.

[virtualreceptionistinaustralia]

Australia's Best Inbound Call Centre Service

An inbound call centre service is a specialized customer service operation where trained representatives handle incoming calls from customers, clients, or prospects on behalf of a business. These calls can range from customer inquiries, technical support, and service requests to order processing and inbound sales. Unlike outbound call centers, which focus on making calls to potential customers, inbound call centers are dedicated to receiving and managing incoming communication.

For Australian businesses, outsourcing inbound call handling to a professional service provider like Turnkey Receptionist can lead to significant improvements in customer experience while freeing up internal resources to focus on core business activities.

[vmedxeasy]

Elevate your business with our Virtual Receptionist services. Our professional receptionists handle calls, manage appointments, and provide exceptional customer service, all remotely. By outsourcing your front-desk tasks, you streamline operations and ensure that every client interaction is handled with care and efficiency. Enjoy the benefits of a dedicated reception team without the overhead costs of an in-house staff. Discover how our Virtual Receptionist services can enhance your business operations today!

Call us at: +615 866 1649

[officealternatives32]

How a Virtual Receptionist Company Can Elevate Your Business

In an era where customer experience is paramount, businesses are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve their front-line services. One emerging solution that has proven to be both innovative and effective is partnering with a virtual receptionist company. These companies offer a range of remote reception services that can transform how businesses interact with their clients. In this blog, we'll delve into the myriad benefits of using a virtual receptionist company and how it can elevate your business to new heights.

Understanding the Virtual Receptionist Company Model

A virtual receptionist company specializes in providing remote reception services to businesses of all sizes. These services include answering phone calls, managing schedules, handling customer inquiries, and performing various administrative tasks. The key advantage is that these tasks are managed by highly trained professionals who operate remotely, utilizing cutting-edge technology to ensure seamless and efficient service delivery.

Key Advantages of Partnering with a Virtual Receptionist Company

Cost Efficiency

One of the most compelling reasons businesses choose a virtual receptionist company is the significant cost savings. Employing an in-house receptionist can be expensive when considering salaries, benefits, and overhead costs. In contrast, virtual receptionist services are typically more affordable, allowing businesses to reduce operational costs without compromising on service quality.

Professionalism and Expertise

A virtual receptionist company employs trained professionals who are skilled in customer service and administrative tasks. These receptionists are equipped to handle high volumes of calls and can provide a consistent level of professionalism that enhances the customer experience. By outsourcing to experts, businesses can ensure that their clients receive top-notch service at all times.

Improved Customer Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is critical for business success. A virtual receptionist company ensures that all customer interactions are handled promptly and professionally. With dedicated receptionists available to manage inquiries and provide support, businesses can improve their response times and overall customer satisfaction.

Increased Availability

Many virtual receptionist companies offer 24/7 services, ensuring that businesses never miss a call or inquiry, even outside of regular business hours. This constant availability can be a game-changer, particularly for businesses that operate globally or have customers in different time zones. It ensures that clients always have access to assistance, regardless of the time of day.

Enhanced Focus on Core Activities

Outsourcing receptionist duties to a virtual receptionist company allows businesses to focus on their core activities. Employees can dedicate more time and energy to strategic tasks, such as product development, marketing, and customer engagement, rather than being bogged down by administrative responsibilities.

How to Choose the Right Virtual Receptionist Company

With the growing popularity of virtual receptionist services, there are numerous companies to choose from. Here are some tips to help you select the right virtual receptionist company for your business:

Evaluate Their Experience and Expertise

Look for a virtual receptionist company with a proven track record of success. Check their experience in your industry and read reviews from other clients to gauge their expertise and reliability.

Assess Their Technology and Tools

A reputable virtual receptionist company should leverage advanced technology to provide seamless service. Ensure that they use high-quality communication tools, scheduling software, and other technologies that enhance their service delivery.

Consider Their Customization Options

Every business has unique needs. Choose a virtual receptionist company that offers customizable services to meet your specific requirements. Whether you need after-hours support, bilingual receptionists, or specialized call handling, the company should be able to tailor their services accordingly.

Check Their Pricing Structure

Understand the pricing structure of the virtual receptionist company and ensure that it aligns with your budget. Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and compare the costs with the value of services provided.

Test Their Customer Service

Before committing to a virtual receptionist company, test their customer service by contacting them with inquiries. This will give you an idea of their responsiveness, professionalism, and overall service quality.

Conclusion

In today's competitive business landscape, providing exceptional customer service is essential. A virtual receptionist company can help businesses achieve this goal by offering professional, cost-effective, and flexible reception services. By partnering with a virtual receptionist company, businesses can enhance their customer interactions, improve operational efficiency, and focus on their core activities. If you're looking to elevate your business and provide an outstanding customer experience, consider the benefits of working with a virtual receptionist company. The positive impact on your business could be transformative.

[callinio]

Efficiency Elevated: Transform Your Communication with Callin.Io's Call Answering Service

In today's fast-paced business landscape, effective communication is essential for success. That's where Callin.Io comes in, offering a comprehensive call answering service designed to streamline your operations and enhance customer satisfaction.

With Callin.Io's call answering service, you can say goodbye to missed calls and frustrated customers. Our team of professional virtual receptionists is available 24/7 to answer calls on your behalf, ensuring that every inquiry is handled promptly and professionally. Whether you're a small business owner or a large corporation, our tailored solutions are designed to meet your unique needs and exceed your expectations.

One of the key benefits of partnering with Callin.Io is the flexibility and scalability of our services. Whether you need assistance during peak hours, after hours, or on weekends and holidays, our team is always here to support you. Plus, as your business grows, our call answering service can easily scale to accommodate your changing needs, ensuring that you always have the support you need, when you need it.

In addition to improving customer service, Callin.Io's call answering service can also help you save time and resources. By outsourcing your call answering needs to us, you can free up valuable time to focus on core business activities, while also reducing overhead costs associated with hiring and training in-house staff.

But perhaps the greatest benefit of all is the peace of mind that comes with knowing your calls are being handled by trained professionals who prioritize customer satisfaction above all else. With Callin.Io's call answering service, you can rest easy knowing that your customers are in good hands.

Don't let missed calls and inefficient communication hold your business back. Elevate your efficiency and enhance your customer service with Callin.Io's call answering service. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed.

[callcentercompany]

Enhancing Business Efficiency with Call Answering Services

Effective communication is crucial for success in today's rapidly-evolving business landscape. However, as businesses grow, managing incoming calls can become increasingly challenging. Missed calls, unanswered inquiries, and inadequate customer support can all contribute to a negative impact on business reputation and bottom line. This is where call answering services step in to fill the gap, offering a solution that enhances efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Call answering services, also known as virtual receptionist services, provide businesses with a professional team to handle incoming calls on their behalf. These services offer a wide range of benefits that can significantly improve business operations and customer experience.

First and foremost, call answering services ensure that every call is promptly answered by a live agent. This eliminates the frustration of customers having to navigate through automated menus or being directed to voicemail. By providing a personalized touch and human interaction, businesses can build stronger connections with their customers, leading to increased loyalty and satisfaction.

Moreover, call answering services operate 24/7, ensuring that businesses never miss an important call, regardless of the time of day or night. This round-the-clock availability is particularly beneficial for businesses that operate in different time zones or rely on emergency services. Customers appreciate the convenience of being able to reach a live representative whenever they need assistance, enhancing their overall experience with the brand.

In addition to handling incoming calls, call answering services can also assist with appointment scheduling, order processing, and basic customer inquiries. This frees up valuable time for businesses to focus on core operations and strategic initiatives, rather than being tied up with administrative tasks. Outsourcing these functions to a dedicated team of professionals ensures efficiency and accuracy, leading to improved productivity and profitability.

Furthermore, call answering services offer scalability, allowing businesses to easily adjust their call handling capacity based on fluctuating demand. Whether experiencing a sudden surge in call volume or needing to scale back during slower periods, businesses can rely on call answering services to adapt accordingly. This flexibility ensures that resources are allocated optimally, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

Another significant advantage of call answering services is cost-effectiveness. Instead of hiring and training in-house receptionists, businesses can leverage the expertise of a specialized call answering provider at a fraction of the cost. This eliminates the need for payroll expenses, benefits, and overhead associated with maintaining an in-house team. Additionally, outsourcing call handling allows businesses to pay only for the services they use, avoiding unnecessary expenses during periods of low call volume.

Moreover, call answering services offer advanced features and technologies that enhance efficiency and streamline communication processes. These may include call forwarding, message transcription, call screening, and CRM integration, among others. By leveraging these tools, businesses can manage their calls more effectively, prioritize tasks, and deliver a seamless experience to their customers.

In conclusion, call answering services play a crucial role in enhancing business efficiency and customer satisfaction. By outsourcing call handling to a dedicated team of professionals, businesses can ensure that every call is answered promptly and professionally, regardless of the time of day. With round-the-clock availability, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and advanced features, call answering services offer a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to streamline their communication processes and focus on growth. Embracing call answering services is not just about managing calls���it's about delivering exceptional service and building lasting relationships with customers.

[turnkeyreceptionistptyltdbl-blog]

Why A Phone Answering Service is Necessary for A Business?

In today's fast-paced business world, a phone answering service is essential for any business aiming to provide excellent customer service and maintain a competitive edge. One of the main reasons a phone answering service is necessary is because it ensures that all customer calls are answered promptly and professionally. When customers call a business and are met with a busy tone or voicemail, they are likely to become frustrated and take their business elsewhere. By having a phone answering service in place, businesses can ensure that every call is answered by a live person, creating a positive first impression and increasing customer satisfaction.

Additionally, a phone answering service can help businesses in Sydney to streamline their operations and improve efficiency. By outsourcing the task of answering calls to a professional service, businesses can free up their employees to focus on other important tasks. This can help to increase productivity and ultimately lead to improved business performance. Furthermore, a phone answering service can provide businesses with a cost-effective way to handle a high volume of calls without the need to hire additional staff. This can be particularly beneficial for small businesses or startups that may not have the resources to hire a full-time receptionist.

Another important reason why a phone answering service is necessary for a Sydney business is that it can help enhance the overall customer experience. A professional phone answering service can provide businesses with access to features such as call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and call screening, which can help to improve communication and ensure that customers receive the assistance they need in a timely manner.