the-smallest-star

[the-smallest-star]

He’s cleaned up most of the front lawn and sent his spies and workers out to find who basically in the grand scheme of things egged the front of his house , he’s a bit grumpy and has torture on the mind when he comes into check on Patch, horns out and fire crown burning — “they ruined by plants by the front door— oh Patch… are you ok? Did you get hurt?”

He can fix the prosthetics if needed .

Patch was still wet from being washed of the toxic chemicals the air had been filled with. His head turned to face Lucifer, but it was obvious he couldn't actually see.

"Lucifer? Yeah, I'm a little roughed up, but I should be okay. Medics say my sight should recover in the next couple of weeks." Vine had already slotted a new pair of legs on for him, though his thighs hurt from the chemical burns.

[the-smallest-star]

"This conversation again... really?" Alastor rolled his eyes, ear giving a small flick. Of course they were still fixated on it. "And here I thought we could swap fashion tips and favourite recipes."

Of course, the brainwashed alternate is the one with his height. Feels like the universe is against him at this point.

"It's too bad. I could see myself wanting to talk to you if you hadn't caved into Vox's ideals." Maybe he doesn't like how similar this makes them.

[the-smallest-star]

Alastor spoke sense. And Gritt hated it. He squirmed, trying to get out of their grip. He didn't want to make sense, he wanted to be angry, he wanted to smash their stupid smug faces in, he didn't want to feel like this was his fault.

The terror that had coiled in his chest when he saw the news. The possibility of loosing Patch because he was stubborn, when he could of avoided it.

He was so relieved to hear their voice......

A sob broke out. And when it started, it wouldn't stop, even as he bit his bottom lip. He didn't want to feel like that, he didn't want to look weak or pathetic.

Alastor's other hand comes to rest on Gritt's other shoulder. While he's usually very conscious of touching Gritt when he's in such a state, this... is something of an emergency.

He needs Gritt to hear him. He needs Gritt to feel in the moment.

"It's a trap." He explains, his voice... uncomfortably quiet. He turned off his filter.

"They don't need you dead, Gritt. They need you to run straight into their trap. If you're their prisoner, they can make demands of Shi, of Opal, of Patch, of me."

He squeezes both of Gritt's shoulders.

"And if someone comes charging in to help you, and they're captured as well, they will torture their new captor in front of you until you comply."

His filter flicks back on. It's uncomfortable to keep it off for long.

"I will go with you. Once you stop seeing red."

[the-smallest-star]

"No!" Gritt spun around, thankfully not brandishing anything. He was angry, but he knew the first rule of firearms.

Don't point it at someone unless you intend to kill them.

"I WARNED them! I fucking told them not to touch me or my family, and they DID!" he yelled, "They can't fucking kill me, not until I've signed that shitty piece of paper, so I'll fucking kill them first! And if they do shoot me? Well then they get fuck all because I already have a will, so they get nothing and they'll leave everyone alone! Its what imps do right? We kill each other to get the better of each other cos it doesn't matter!"

His hands shook, temper raging as the lump in his throat made his eyes prickle. Gritt was so angry, he was so hurt.

And he felt hopelessly guilty.

Alastor has said on numerous occasions that Gritt is an adult. As such, Alastor has never felt the need to tell him what to do-- or to get between him and something he wanted to do. This, though, was different.

Yes, Gritt is an adult. He's a very angry adult who isn't thinking clearly.

Alastor places his hand on his son's shoulder, knowing full well that metallic thing in that bag will likely be turned on him.

... That might be what Gritt needs.

"Gritt."

[the-smallest-star]

Gritt's tail twitched, jaw clenching a little. He did not put the bag down. There was a glint of something metallic inside.

Patch knew his twin well, to know he might go against what he ordered. It wasn't out of disobedience, it was out of emotion.

the-smallest-star asked: Second time using this skull thingy, but it was important. "Hello? Alastor? Its Patch, uh. Listen, could you check in on Gritt? I'm worried he's going to do something impulsive and get himself hurt. Those eel guys made a move, but I was the target. I'm okay, but Gritt was really upset. If he goes to Greed to handle it, I don't think it'd go well."

"Roger,"

That's it. That's all he says. That's all he gives himself time to say before he drops into his shadow and appears beside Gritt-- who is currently packing a bag.

A chill runs through his spine, his static crackling uncomfortably.

"-- Put that down, son."

[the-smallest-star]

Catch out Gritt, lots of tall buildings out there. Never know who's hiding in them or what they have pointed at you.

"I know, I lived in Greed before."

[the-smallest-star]

Gritt is packing a bag, Opal was the one who agreed. Not him.

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Patch could hear her cackle, his tail idly curling behind him as she began to slot the legs on to him. He winced, the ends were still very sore from the gas.

Speaking of Gritt, he was worried. Shi wasn't 100% yet and back on duty, Opal was pregnant and not able to move as quick.

While he did tell Gritt not to go to Greed, he didn't always listen. His feelings sometimes got the better of him. "Hey, um, could you get a small little skull from my room? I need it. And could you press Delphine's number on my phone?" He asked a lingering staff member. He could just about make out their shape. The staff member nodded, pushing the number before they hurried off to find this little skull he mentioned.

Even when injured, he was on the go.

.....Gillian.

Vine started laughing.

It was small hoots at first, but soon she had to stop as her head was thrown back and a full throated screech of delight cackled from her throat, body shaking.

How could the little bitch give her just the right provacation?

"Aha! Haa.... forgive me." She smiles brightly, picking up the prosthetics to apply them to his legs. "I was remembering something your brother told me."

God she was going to have fun. Really, terribly, horrific fun.

[the-smallest-star]

Pff, give them a call. If she ever went back she'd be running solo.

Watching them leave, she looked down at the envelope in her hands. Now she could give this to Gritt, but she'd rather know what was in it first. Just in case.

So she opened it.

“ She wouldn’t find anything that would alarm her I think. “

He’d turn his back on her.

“ If you ever want the street life back give us a call. We could use the extra hands.”

And he was gone.

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"Mmm... if I was her, why would I do it? Besides, what if I get curious and look inside? What would be in there? This lady with a reputation would be someone you couldn't trust right?"

Those amber eyes glanced in the direction of the scope. "Must be serious if your buddy has a gun pointed at me."

“ Well if you ain’t her you’d pass as her. Could you do a job for me? Got a letter to deliver to a friend of yours.”

He’d offer the envelope, sealed with a smooth scaled bit of wax. There was a stack of cash piled on top of it.

“ Think you could hand that to G force or whatever for me?”

[the-smallest-star]

The medicine hurt... a lot. Mostly because of how tender his skin was right now, and from how his tail curled it felt like agony.

But he didn't complain once. Patch had been used to pain at one point in his life.

The comment about his height made him chuckle, coughing shortly after, "That'll annoy Gritt. He's older by five minutes and still smaller." It was said in good fun, Gritt wouldn't really mind as long as Patch was happy.

".... it was our mom and her husband, Crimson. They were the same eels that attacked Gritt. They're trying to apply pressure to him, so he'll sign some will and they get everything he works for when he dies." Patch frowned, wincing a bit as she bound his burns in bandages, "which you can imagine would be shortly after he signs it."

Vine however, frowned heavily, before waving away the medical crew. "Alright you simpletons. Let an actual expert get to work."

There was hesitation; the imp was a Duke after all. But Vine gave them all a very stern look before they stepped aside. Six hands worked in tandem, applying the witch-grade medicine to his skin while allowing the oxygen mask to keep him breathing.

"I've brought some respiratory medicine. Makes you sleepy, but it'll help clear the breathing up." She said, tying his bandages after applying the cream to his skin neatly. "And new prosthetics. I hope you don't mind if I gave you just a few more inches of height."

[the-smallest-star]

“Clem right?” Aasp said, wearing a his suit and fedora for now. Amon had his scope on her. “You have a nasty rep.”

Clementine paused, tail giving an idle flick as the eel addressed her.

While she didn't look like much, her eyes were taking in a lot of information at once. Bruised knuckles from a recent fight, the smell of something like horseradish coming off of him, kind of chemically. The confidence that a killer carries.

"Does she? Doesn't sound like a nice girl." Clem wasn't sure admitting who she was was a good idea just yet.

[the-smallest-star]

Once he was set on the bed, he straightened his jacket a little, "No no, I can handle that." Alastor said dismissively. Though honestly he had no plans to sleep, he was just going to get up and get back to what he was doing.

He didn't want to sleep, knowing what would happen.

THE MOTH CHUCKLES AS HE WATCHED ALASTOR REACT to his reaction, and chuckled at his half protest at being carried. "Mmm hmm, I suppose I'll believe you this time~" He purrs, carrying the deer across the penthouse to the bedroom. One hand briefly stopped lifting him to open the door before he carried him inside. Walking inside, he gently deposited the deer down onto the bed. "Need me to tuck you in?"

[the-smallest-star]

They went after Patch. Given the level of security, even though he tried, Gritt hadn't been allowed in. He was about ready to knock some heads, but Opal carefully moved him away while he was swearing up a storm.

Opal had been able to reach Patch on the phone, and Gritt had grilled him on what happened, if he was okay, who did this.

Hearing the culprits made an uncomfortable lump form in Gritt's chest. A bubbling anger forming from the cold chill he had.

Gritt had warned her, warned both of them to fuck off. To leave him and his alone. But they let the same hired gun go after Patch, to apply pressure.

"Gritt?" The silence on the phone had been noticed by Patch, "Look, I know you're mad. I know you're probably thinking you've had enough. But you can't go. Thats what they'll want. We'll sort it, but it can't be you who goes."

The elder twin's claws flexed, jaw tight as he didn't answer.

"... Opal? Make sure Gritt doesn't go. I'm ordering it, as his brother and as a Duke." Patch said, the siren pausing for a moment as he spoke. "I will do my best. And I will look into means to handle this." Opal reassured both brothers.

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Alastor didn't expect this either. He was fortunate this was in the residential area, and not far from the penthouse, or someone might of seen this.

"Oh-... don't rub this in. I'm allowing it because you'll put up a fuss if I try and get down." He said while rolling his eyes. It was comfortable though.

"RATHER ME CARRY YOU LIKE A PRINCESS?" He purrs, and using both pairs of arms as leverage wasted no time in readjusting the hold to do just as he had teased, one arm supporting under the radio demon's knees and another supporting his back. "Didn't think you'd like this soft treatment~"

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Wait Clem hold up. You said you didn't know Alastor real well so you couldn't like him. Why are you puppy eyes over him saying nice things to Vaggie?

"I'm not puppy eyes, a girl is allowed to think saying 'Because I've lived underneath this red sky for decades, and when I look at you, I see something I haven't seen in over ninety years' is real sweet. It's cute, and I wish them luck."

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@hclluvahctel

Val catched the yawn, and quietly wanders over and looped an arm around his middle and lifted him up, lazily carrying him under his arm to the deer's bedroom

Wait what? Alastor let out a surprised sound. Almost like a bleat. It was Valentino, not to be worried about, but still! He squirmed and wiggled, "Valentino! Its not dignified carrying me like a sack of potatoes!"