1-2
Several hours prior…
Over the dark red skies of Pentagram City, Corset screamed as he plummeted to the ground, landing smackdab in the middle of a park. With its trees and grass as dead as can be thanks to negligence and deliberate poisoning. Half of the point of a park in Hell was ruining it for others.
The tall blue skinned Incubi rose from the crater, groaning as he stretched and popped some bones back into place, his mangled joints and shattered limbs returning to their natural state.
"Agh… that's gonna leave a mark…" He uttered, before his ringed eyes widened. He looked around, his eyes snapping open wide."Where's that damn brat?!"
He looked left and right as he crawled out of the hole he made, but no sign. And he looked around him. "Ugh… I'm in Pentagram City? But this is Southside, the ghetto! I'm supposed to be in West Central! Guh… I must be getting rusty with my portalmancy."
He brushed the dirt off of his suit, and what few people are around the park the blue skinned demon can see. Plenty of Hellborn went about their business, but they all deferred to the real masters of Pentagram City, the largest Circle City in Pride: Sinners. For while Hellborn could accumulate power in many ways, via money, connections, and fame, just like any Sinner, it was the Sinner's Souls that lent them their great power. Their Souls were eternal and nigh-indestructible, meaning that, barring angelic weaponry, Sinners were immortal. It was also from their Souls that Sinners could absorb and concentrate vast wells of demonic essence, either through duels or deals with other demons. Your average Sinner was little better than your average Hellborn, but every Sinner had the potential to become an Overlord, a demon powerful enough to skirt the border between rabble and royalty.
For Hellborn of Corset's high-status, even an Overlord was just another prattling demon, for his family had the ear of King Asmodeus himself. Given leave to operate on Earth, Incubi and Succibi such as he harvested lustful energies for their King and fostered Sin in his name. Every Soul corrupted by lust empowered their King upon damnation, the stored energies within wrung out and consumed as the Soul was cast into Pride to be Lucifer's plaything. That's how it was done, usually, but then Corset came on the scene all those eons ago.
When a Soul went to Hell, the sins it had accumulated were siphoned off as energy for their corresponding Manifestation of Sin, sustaining their terrible power. However, through a proprietary method, Corset had discovered how to ensnare Souls on Earth as Ghosts. These trapped Souls would go mad, festering in their own regrets and grudges, their sins percolating within them like fermenting wine. No matter how these Ghosts were eventually exorcized, be it through holy rituals, self-actualization, Divine Weaponry, GhostBusters or whatever, the Soul, ripe to bursting with sin and frustration, would unleash a powerful surge of aged, moldering sin upon entering Hell. This 'Ghost energy' was deemed exquisitely nourishing to the Seven Deadly Sins, and for his efforts Corset was set to rise up above even the Goetia in power and prestige!
…But only if he accomplished this one last mission. The Big One. The One that would Mindbreak Creation.
He reached into his pocket, his phone damaged as the flip-screen crumbled in his claws. The furious demon growled and threw it to a nearby trashbin, walking towards the sidewalk. "I will have to acquire a new phone, and find the Hells Monkey-"
He froze. Yes, the Hells Monkey. The all great Key that unlocks Hell to the Living World, the key that was inside Briefers Rock's dick. He had him in his
hands! Finally, after so many close calls and abject failures, his salvation was there, wriggling in his grasp! And then that damn brat punched him in the eye, kicked him in the balls, and pushed him away as they plummeted through the veil, the two of them bouncing off the sides of the portal like pinballs!
The small comfort of the situation was that meant he's here in Hell, too! But where? If he could just find him, drag him by his unholy cock and toss him at Asmodeus' kinky-booted feet, he would be redeemed. Rewarded, even! At the very least, he
might not be executed for his failure… or
worse.
"...Worse…" Corset pondered exactly what the
King of Lust would do in the throes of blue balls, what depths of savage violation he could inflict. Corset felt something quite alien to him: a surge of horror and disgust. "I failed my mission… I promised my King the Celestial Maidenhead, and if he's denied that… he'll inflict his pleasures on
me!"
Corset was suddenly gripped with paranoia, looking around as Imps and Leviathans went about their business, deftly avoiding Sinners. Pentagram City was the Sinner's main hotspot after all. They could care less of Imp City and Houndsville and the other Circle Cities in Pride. Perhaps there was a chance his descent went unnoticed?
He skulked into an alleyway, and did his best to steady his breathing, his claws scratching at the tight, itchy bindings crushing his sides. Everything that was built on Earth. The Ghosts. The Demon Sisters. His vast business empire in Daten City and Oten City. All of it was built thanks to the connections made by his patron, Lord Asmodeus of the Seven Deadly Sins, King of the Lust Ring and a Manifestation of Sin. Corset was his most effective and loyal manager of operations, entrusted with finding and cultivating the last generation of the Rock Family in Daten City so that the Hells Monkey could be used for Asmodeus' ultimate goal. To say this had been an investment on his leige's part was an understatement.
Corset even went to Oten City himself to see the job through. Oten and Daten being the two cities on Earth that are closest to both Heaven AND Hell, the perfect places to stage his operation. And he was so close! Using that blonde bitch Angel's pieces to lure in that brat, using his most powerful Ghosts to capture him for good, and he even had the help of that Fallen Angel Stocking as well!
But no, he had to come along with that green mutt, that lewd priest… and those
damn traitors!
"Shit…" Corset hissed. "So much time and energy went into making those floozies, too… for them to have gone rogue, no one would have seen that coming."
Losing the Demon Sisters was a great loss, what with their combat ability being able to match the Angels. No, Asmodeous would be fine with that. The money and time of a King of Hell might as well be limitless. Well, not
fine, but so long as the gains outweighed the costs, he couldn't care less.
No, it was the loss of the Hells Monkey that would truly damn him. He had him in his arms, and the damn brat fought him off, but not before falling through.
"He's in Hell, certainly." Corset began to nibble on his nails, pacing back and forth in the alleyway, clinging to that one small comfort. On one hand, he knew where the boy was: he MUST be here in Pride. That narrows it down rather than being
maybe in Daten and Oten, on Earth and in his element.
On the other hand… He was in
Pride, the seat of Lucifer's throne, an arcane and impossibly vast city with
Sinners, the worst humanity has to offer, populating it. Sadists, rapists, murderers, cannibals; you name it, Pride has it, and in the
billions. If Rock dies here…
Corset gulped. That was something Asmodeus would not forgive. Not after
centuries of cultivating the Key for his ultimate goal. If Rock perished in Hell without siring an heir on Earth, it would be lost, perhaps even destroyed! And if the Key was destroyed…
He steadied his breathing, leaning against the wall, heaving into a filthy paper bag to calm himself down. No, no, he'd be fine. Just fine. Rock has always been tough for a human, going by the reports the Sisters had given, and confirmed by his own eye… and throbbing groin. Sure, the traitors did most of the heavy fighting in Oten City, but it was often he who laid down the coup d'grace with those primitive gadgets of his, to say nothing of his clever strategies. His traitorous girls were powerful, sure, but their often overwrought scheming could not have delivered the terrible defeats he had suffered. The boy would survive, at least long enough to be found. No one who'd caused one so great and vile as
Corset so much trouble would fall prey to Hell!
"I have not lost yet. I only have to find him and bring him to Lord Asmodeus… But
I have to do it. If anyone else finds him and brings him in, or
kills him, I'll be slaughtered as a failure or… (gulp!) …
worse! No, if I am to redeem myself, I must personally deliver the Key to My Lord. I will need to get my affairs in order, all while avoiding Lord Asmodeus' eye…"
Corset scratched at his bindings, found the strap and pulled.
The tightness, the pressure… Ghnnngh…
With a snap, his corset snapped back in, digging into his skin with rapturous pain. The Incubi grinned, the cruel hooks pulling at the corners of his mouth revealing all his straight white teeth in a manic rictus. He hasn't lost yet! He has his immense fortune to fall back on after all.
"I'll have to find someone to hire, then. Some bounty hunters…" He mused, and he walked out of the alleyway, proud and calm as can be with his hands behind his back as he walked amongst the rabble. He would have been an easy mark back on Earth with his appearance and abilities, but here? He can just blend with the crowd. With any luck, no one had noticed his return to Hell and informed his King. Still, he would have to keep his head down, not draw attention to himself.
Yes, Rock had that advantage at a glance on Earth. Now the tables have turned.
'
I will find you Briefers Rock. Mark my words, and soon your dick will be in my Lord's hands!'
-X-
The smell of bacon tickled Brief's nose as he stirred in his sleep, his eyes fluttering as he sat up. He looked around. Where was he? This wasn't his lab. Or his own bed at Rock Manor. Or some random hotel in Oten City.
He shuffled out of the bed. He assumed he was in some kind of guest room, with a desk at one end of the room, a closet, and a doorway. He walked towards the door, seeing it lead into a small bathroom, complete with a shower, toiletries and sink. He looked down, seeing himself still in his green jumpsuit as he went to the window sill, opening it up.
A deep red sky, with some spots darker than others. Zeppelins hovered over the skyline in the distance, honest to God ZEPPELINS of all things, showcasing advertisements with the people on display looking inhuman. Monstrous.
"That wasn't a dream then." He muttered, shuddering as he rubbed his arm. He took a deep breath, looking down at the floor, away from the window. He really
was in Hell…
A knock at the door made him jump as he turned around. "Hellooo? Brief?" Said the voice of a woman, low and deep, but definitely female. "You awake, sweetie?"
Sweetie?
"Umm, yes? I am," he replied as the door swung open. And there, in the doorway, was a dark, inhuman figure. Red eyes glowed in the shadows, brightening up when they found him. A tall – no, seriously, she had to be
over seven feet! – wolf woman strode in. Her fur was dark, black or close enough, a coiffed mane of platinum hair sprouting from between her point ears. She was… plump. Okay, not to put too fine a point on it, this werewolf-looking woman was
stacked. Her worn blue jeans hugged her wide, shapely thighs as they went up and made a complete ass of themselves, one easily twice the width of his entire body! Her simple t-shirt and apron hugged the contours of her incredibly large bosom. Despite his hobbies and social circle, Brief had never developed an eye for bust size on what they might be on a girl but… Gs at least. H-cup, maybe. Bigger than his head, definitely. The wolf-woman grinned upon seeing him, revealing a small arsenal of shiny white fangs, her canines about as long as his thumb.
"Good morning Brief! I was just checking in on you! Come on, I made some breakfast." She gestured, as Brief had his hands at his side as he marched forward, slowly but surely.
'No sudden movements,' the terrified boy thought to himself.
"Ummm…" He remembered yesterday. Falling into Hell, fighting off Corset, landing in that dumpster and was about to be set upon by those two… monsters. Then he was saved by that dark furred hound with the scarred eye.
During his time in the trunk, he had done some searching on that phone of his. Vortex, was his name. So many things he didn't know about… until a 'Nebula' began calling over and over and he just set it down and closed his eyes inside that car. "T-Thanks… Nebula?"
"Oh! You know my name! And no problem sweetie, ohhhh~" She cooed, walking up as Brief gulped, flinching before he was wrapped up in a big hug, what felt like his entire upper body vanishing into her soft apron-covered bosom. She smelled like warm hay and fresh laundry, with only a hint of sulfur. It was kinda nice, actually. "You sound even cuter awake! Oh, thank the Sins on high Tex was around to save your skin. Literally!"
She waited for his response, looking down when he gave none, seeing only a sprout of orange hair poking out from between her buxom assets. She chuckled, embarrassed, and released him. Brief let out a deep exhale.
"Whoops! Sorry, sweetie!"
What a way to die! "That's okay, Ms. Nebula!"
"Come on, let's get you fed, honey." She took his hand, and Brief was escorted out of the bedroom and down the hall. "And please, call me 'Yula'."
"You… know my name." Brief added. "It's Briefers Rock, but you can call me Brief."
"Briefers Rock, what a name!" She chuckled. He can see picture frames along the wall, with several framed photos of younger wolf-people like Vortex and Nebula in their matching attire. But much slimmer and not as muscular/chubby respectively. Must be old family photos.
He was led down stairs as he saw the living room, and the windows leading out to the backyard. A familiar sight was there too, Vortex bending down and lifting a big truck tire and flipping it on one end. "Tex is just finishing his morning workout. Always keeps that rock-hard bod in shape." She shrugged.
Brief saw the size of it, it looked like it came off a monster truck! Yeah, he couldn't budge that even if he put his back into it. He'd need a new spine!
They got to the dining room within the kitchen, and he gasped at the spread. Pancakes, bacon, eggs over-easy, and buttered sourdough toast. Brief blinked in dumb shock and felt himself salivating a bit.
"Ohhhh, I can see the look on your face~" Nebula giggled. "Well go on, sweetie, have a seat and dig in." She pulled out a chair for him as the boy took his seat. She didn't sound old, at least not much older than himself. But then, he would hardly consider himself an expert on the subject of giant sexy demonic dog-ladies!
Eighteen, and still a sophomore in High school thanks to his long journey in Oten City with Chuck, the Sisters and Garter-
He shivered, pushing away those thoughts. For now, he needed to eat, he was famished! Nebula dutifully set a plate in front of him and just stacked the thing. Six slices of bacon, three eggs, two slices of toast, and a five-high stack of pancakes. Part of him wondered if he should be, well, losing his mind because he was in Hell! But then his stomach would growl and those thoughts perished. He was hungry, there was food, it was simple math. He began to pour some syrup on the flapjacks, looking up to see Nebula poke her head out to the backyard to call to Vortex. Her tail was wagging atop a large, curvy rump the size of a prize-winning pumpkin.
Never mind that, the food was delicious!
He began to cut up and dig in as Nebula turned around, making way as Vortex sauntered in, wearing nothing but work out shorts. If Yula was an exemplar of Venusian ideals, Vortex was that of the Greeks. Fur or no, the dude was cut. Brief glanced at him, and saw the black furred hound smirk.
"Morning, Brief," he said, his one eye turning to Nebula. "Seems he likes your cooking."
"Obviously." Nebula rolled her eyes as she kissed him on the cheek. "Finish your morning workout then?"
"Yep, don't worry, I'll help set up for the party tonight." Vortex said as he walked past the boy as he walked to the fridge and got a canister of what Brief assumed to be some manner of protein shake and chugged it down.
"So, sleep well?" He asked as Brief swallowed some egg and toast.
"Y-Yeah, I did. Thank you so much for the food, too, Mrs. Nebula–I mean, Yula," he said, smiling at her as the hound girl smiled in return.
"Oh, it's nothing Brief. This is a walk in the park for what I usually do." She waved with a hand. "You should see me down in Gluttony! Although you may not fit into that green jumpsuit for long."
Brief blinked as he dabbed his mouth with a napkin, looking at Vortex. "Gluttony? Is that where we are? I mean, where we aren't? Shoot, I mean… we were in Lust for a bit, right?"
"That's right," said Vortex, gesturing at his home. "Right now we're in Pride, the uppermost ring."
Brief's mind recounted his knowledge of the Occult, and how Demons and Hell works, at least from his perspective. "So like… Hell has levels or rings to it, right?"
"That's right," Vortex said, finishing up as he placed the empty jug in the sink, sighing. "Normally, I'd go and shower but… I think we all need to talk." He took a seat opposite of Brief, Nebula sitting beside the muscular black furred hound. Brief sat back in his seat as he took a deep breath. "You have questions, I bet. Well, so do we."
"I…" He set his utensils down, with some food in his belly he can think more clearly. "I do, yeah." Brief looked through his bangs to the duo. "So… what are you two exactly? Demons in Hell? Former people in life?"
"Kind of, we're Hellborn demons. Hellhounds to be precise." Vortex replied. "And, as I said, we live in the Ring of Pride. The topmost level in Hell."
Nebula perked up. "Oh, lemme draw something up for ya. Give you an idea."
Nebula gestured for him to 'wait' and got up, walking past the two to grab some paper and a pen, Vortex smirking at her as she walked past, clearly ogling.
"So… you and Mrs. Nebula been together long?" He asked, and Vortex perked up.
"Oh, it's Miss actually." Vortex coughed a bit. "We're a couple, just not married yet."
"We will be soon, though!" Nebula called out from the other room as Vortex chuckled.
"I see, so… Hellborn Demons. That means you were born in Hell? Then, where do, well, bad people go?" Brief asked. "They come here too, right?"
"They do. They are what we call Sinners." Vortex nodded as he ate some bacon. "See, everyone who comes down here is a Demon. In fact, remember those two mooks that were about to rip ya a new one last night? Those were Sinners, former humans who were condemned here for their actions in life."
Brief gulped, remembering the frightening demons who wanted to do… things to him. "And here I thought I've faced down terrible monsters before. Guess there's more to Hell than the comics showed."
Vortex quirked an eyebrow.
"I imagine humans know of it, but you seem… knowledgeable? At least, you're sure as shit taking all this in stride!"
"Oh nonono this is just, not what I expected. I expected fire and brimstone and pitchforks everywhere! Chains and hooks and bondage leather. Not… this!" Brief gestured to the pleasant homestead around him. "From what I remember of last night, that place you found me in last night kinda reminds me of Daten City's Rengoku District a bit. Or, well… Memphis?"
Vortex snorted, and chuckled. "Comparing Imp City to Memphis? That's hilarious," He said. "Then again, better than Pentagram City for you. Which is strange. And why I wanna get to the meat of the matter."
Nebula walked on in, pen and a note pad in hand as she began to draw the moment she sat down. Vortex stared intently at Brief, and he felt intimidated under the Hound's one-eyed gaze.
"What are you doing in Hell?" Vortex asked, bluntly, and Brief winced. "A real, breathing, and very
alive human Down Here? That doesn't just happen."
"Why am I here…" Brief said, looking at the table as he remembered… The days after Oten City and saving Panty, leading up to him going up to that place…
"Well… to tell you the truth, I was fighting off a demon." Vortex quirked an eyebrow. "A demon named Corset. I guess you can say he and I are enemies."
It wasn't a lie. Most of it…
"A demon's doing business on Earth?" Vortex asked as Nebula was still sketching. "Sounds like you crossed some powerful people."
"Corset was powerful. Heck, he's responsible for almost causing the world to collapse. Twice, I might add!" Brief exclaimed. "If it hadn't been for, well… everyone, I don't think Earth would be standing, and I… well, I'd be here normally, you could say."
"Whoa, whoa, slow down! Corset almost caused the world to collapse? What does this dude even look like?" He asked. "He look like us? Like you? What kinda demon was he?"
"Uh, humanoid? Nose, mouth, eyes, teeth, all normal, but with blue skin and pointy ears. Oh, he was a huuuuge bondage fetishist. Had all these straps on his body and hooks in his mouth," Brief added. "Used to be, like, just a head, too, after we stopped him the first time."
"Humanoid? Weird skin? Bondage?" Vortex muttered. "Sounds familiar."
"Strange. Where is this Daten City, anyway, babe?" Nebula asked, still drawing as Brief asked.
"I don't think I'm allowed to say."
Nebula tilted her head at the answer.
"It's part of my contract. Earth travel, you know how it is. It's in the USA, I know that much. Verosika does shows there from time to time," Vortex said. "Some Sinners Down Here hail from there." He rolled his neck, creaking bones audible. "But what did he do to almost cause the world to collapse anyway?"
Brief gulped. "He tried to open a portal into Hell from Earth. Twice."
…
Vortex took a deep breath, and Nebula stopped drawing as they looked to Brief, then back to each other as the orange haired boy winced.
"Right… I'm tempted to call bullshit, but from the sound of things, this Corset sounds like an Incubus." Vortex said, crossing his broad arms. "Male counterpart to Succubus, natives of the Ring of Lust. They can travel to Earth, but it's limited, and even then it's regulated. For this Corset to do what you've said… he'd have to have ties to some major players."
"How major we talking?" Brief asked, dreading the answer.
"Oh just 'former Fallen Angel who had a throne next to God Himself, part of the Infernal Host' major." Vortex said, dryly. "The only way Demons, mainly Hellborn, are able to enter the Human World is through one of three ways." He lifted up his hand, and one finger. "One, Goetia Magic. The Goetia are Royal Demons belonging to the Ars Goetia bloodline. Been around since the inception of Hell itself, or when that Solomon guy invoked them, I dunno. But they keep their spells in their books. Grimoires they call 'em. Through these grimoires, they can make portals to the Mortal Realm, to do business with Humans and fulfill contracts. That's high level shit."
Brief nodded. "So the Ars Goetia… Like Barbatos, Amon, and Stolas exist?"
Vortex nodded. "Yes, they do. There are more, but only 72 are bound to Solomon. They're the most popular and the most powerful."
Brief cupped his chin. The forums back home would go crazy when learning of that… but did that mean that he was here because of the Goetia? Demon Royalty?! If what Vortex was getting at was true, then he was dealing with Corset's
boss!
He's already dealing with enough stuff as it is!
"Getting back on topic, the second way is to be invoked. Summoned from Hell to the Living World to perform a deed or service, usually to form a contract with a human but this has died down in recent centuries. This in no way applies to you since you're human and it doesn't work in reverse. Which leads into number three." Vortex reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone and moving a compartment on the protective case, and from it, a shining rouge-violet gemstone encrusted in a Ring. "Asmodean Crystals. They allow succubi and incubi specifically to travel to the Mortal Realm with the blessing of King Asmodeus himself. I've never
heard of them being able to bring a human back to Hell, so I dunno…"
"Asmo… As in the Demon Asmodeus?" Brief asked, gulping as Nebula perked up.
"You know him?"
"I've read of him. He's one of the great Demons in the Occult, to say nothing of him being a Fallen Angel, and the Lord of Lust and other bad stuff," Brief said as he saw the Hounds looking at him oddly. "Oh, well, I'm kind of a fan of the Occult. I frequent forums and do research on them, for, well, fun. Back then at least." He murmured to the side. "So, Asmodeus is real? A-and Lucifer?"
"They both are, unfortunately." Vortex replied and Brief felt really cold. "Asmodeus rules down in the Ring of Lust. But here? The Ring of Pride is Lucifer's throne."
"The Morningstar… Hellel ben Shalim…" Brief uttered, hand over his mouth. This wasn't dealing with some Ghosts, or Stocking when she turned. Even Corset, the worst of the lot, was toenail trimmings compared to this!
This was the realm of THE Lucifer! The literal DEVIL HIMSELF.
"The one and only." Vortex nodded. "Hey, Kid." Brief looked up, his face downtrodden as Vortex took a deep breath. "Listen to me, we'll get through this. Somehow."
"Here." Nebula pushed the notepad as Brief saw it, seeing the sketch. It reminded him of a tube with lines and layers within, with one layer larger than the rest at the top. With a singular line in the middle that had the words HELLEVATOR in the middle.
RING OF PRIDE – RULED BY LUCIFER. WHERE WE LIVE. ONLY HUMANS WHO DIE COME HERE.
Within that layer, several rings with names were listed within.
IMP CITY. HOUNDSVILLE (WHERE WE LIVE!). CANNIBAL COLONY. LEVIATOWN. PENTAGRAM CITY. MORNINGSTAR PALACE. BAPHOMETROPOLIS. BUSINGTON. SOUTH DETROIT. HECK.
"Wait, there's another Detroit?" Brief asked skeptically. And why was there a Canadian flag next to 'Heck' anyway?
"Lucifer has a 'funny' sense of humor." Vortex shrugged as Brief read on.
RING OF GREED – RULED BY MAMMON. ANARCHOCAPITALISM GONE WILD, FILLED WITH MAFIOSOS, CHEAPSKATES, AND STOCKBROKERS.
RING OF GLUTTONY – RULED BY BEELZEBUB. WHERE I WORK
. LOTS OF FOOD PRODUCTION PLANTS AND RESTAURANTS. HALF THE PEOPLE USE MOBILITY SCOOTERS. THE OTHER HALF ARE PREDATORY CANNIBALS.
RING OF LUST – RULED BY ASMODEUS. VORTEX'S BOSS LIVES THERE. STRIP CLUBS GALORE AND XXX MOVIE STUDIOS. NICE RESORTS AND HOTELS. DON'T DROP THE SOAP.
RING OF WRATH – RULED BY SATAN. WASTELANDS. PRAIRIES. HELL'S BREADBASKET WITH LOADS OF FARMS. TONS OF SOULSTORMS, DANGEROUS WILDLIFE, AND COWBOYS THOUGH. RECOMMEND THE PRAIRIE OYSTERS.
RING OF ENVY – RULED BY LEVIATHAN. FASHION SALONS EVERYWHERE. GOT STABBED ONCE DOWN THERE THOUGH. MAKEUP AND LINEN SWEATSHOPS GALORE.
RING OF SLOTH – RULED BY BELPHEGOR. GREAT HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CARE, TAKES FORFUCKINGEVER TO GET AN APPOINTMENT. OTHERWISE NICE PLACE. CUSTOMER SERVICE IS CRAP THOUGH.
Brief looked back up to the two. "This… isn't what I was expecting." He said. "And why do dead humans only stay in the Pride Ring?"
"No one knows except for King Lucifer." Nebula replied. "But the Pride Ring is the biggest of the Seven Rings of Hell, and that's due to the Sinners overpopulating it. Pentagram City, Heck, Cannibal Colony? Nasty places," she said, shaking her head. "We just make due with what we got out here in Houndsville."
"Yeah, you guys are Hellhounds, but are there other Hellborn too? I noticed names like 'Imp City' and 'Baphometropolis' in here and you mentioned Succubi too. Are they other Hellborn demons too?"
"You catch on quick kid." Vortex nodded. "But yeah, Hellborn demons include those. So, now you know about Hell. And Asmodean Crystals, as you can see from that chart, can only be handed out by one person. Someone who has ties to this Corset, who sounds like an old bird of an Incubus."
Brief took a deep breath, seeing Vortex tap on the layer of Lust, on a specific name: Asmodeus.
He had a hand go to his lap instinctively covering his privates and clenching his legs together. "So what's the deal with those crystals then?"
"Various kinds of crystals are given out by the Seven Deadly sins, or Demon Kings of Hell, the Cardinal Seven. They go by many titles." Vortex added. "They imbue them with a piece of their essence and the user's to make the crystal, giving them the ability to traverse from Hell to the Mortal World." Brief nodded. "Naturally, only the user can use the crystal, and can't be used by anyone else. Moreover, every time you use it, the Demon King who made it will know where, when, for how long, whole nine."
So much for borrowing his Crystal then…
"I see… I was always curious how Corset was able to take Soul Energy from those who died to make Ghosts… I should have learned more in those Ghost Factories me and the Sisters wrecked," he murmured to himself.
"Ghost Factories?" Nebula asked. "Kid, sounds to me like you've been on a road yourself."
"You could say that…"
"Look, kid…" Vortex said, sighing. "My gut tells me that this Corset of yours in ears-deep in bad ju-ju. I don't know why you're here, or who brought you here, but I can guess, and all the answers tell me 'get this kid the fuck out of here'. So that's what we're gonna do, ASAP. 'Till then, you stay outta sight, you stay quiet, and we'll get you back home."
"You'd really do that for me?" Brief asked, amazed. "But you barely know me!"
"That's right, Brief." Nebula said, and Brief looked up, and the hound girl smiled warmly. "I want to protect Tex as much as he does me… but you're not supposed to be here, honey. You seem like a good, sweet kid. The humans down here… aren't. It ain't fair." She turned to Vortex, who smiled back. "We will help you get back to Earth."
"Yep." Vortex nodded. "And then, maybe, we can get on with our lives."
Lucky them. "Thank you both so much… I'm sorry I've made life so difficult for you."
"Enough of that. We're happy to help. That said, sweet-pea…" Nebula ate some sausage and cut up some pancakes. "…You did come at a rough time. We're scheduling a house party today that we had planned for weeks and… we need to set up a bit, finalize the finishing touches."
"You did?" Brief asked, feeling even more of a burden on these nice dog-people. "Oh jeez, sorry…"
"Oh nonono not at all! Don't you apologize, honey." Nebula pouted, reaching over and ruffling his hair.
Brief could see… the
depth of her cleavage through her apron. Yeah, she makes Stocking and Scanty combined look flat by comparison.
"We can make this work. Just…" She winced a bit, smiling awkwardly. "When we host the party, would you mind staying in the Guest Room? No one goes in there and we will be sure to keep everyone out of that part of the house."
"Yeah sure." Brief nodded. "I can do that. Ummm, do you need any help with setting up the party?"
Nebula pouted, sniffling. "Awww, sweetie you wanna help~"
"I appreciate it, Brief," Vortex said, putting a hand on the silver haired hound's shoulder. "But, we're hosting a party of mostly Hellhounds and we…" He tapped his nose. "Have sharp noses. Even several hours later people might catch a whiff of you. Given my work, I can explain away what's already come off of you, but anything too fresh will give you away."
"Oh, I see. Sorry. Just, you made this great breakfast for me and I wanna repay you, is all…"
"If you wanna pay back the favor, just keep to yourself. Oh, and get cleaned up too." Vortex added. "I grabbed some clothes that maaay fit you and will help block your scent. They're on the counter in your room. Might be a touch too big, though." The towering Hellhound said as he got up. "You go shower up first, I need to tend to the backyard to get it set up… just so I'll get dirty again."
"Well, okay." Brief nodded, taking a deep breath. "Mr. Vortex, Miss Nebula. Thank you."
"Just call me Tex, kid." The one eyed hound said. "And no prob."
"And you can call me Yula, remember?" Nebula smiled, ruffling his hair again. "Ohhh you are just sooo ka-yute!"
Vortex stopped at the doorway, giving the plump hound girl a sideways glance as though to warn 'don't get too attached, babe.'
"Okay, well, time to get cleaned up and dressed, haha," Brief said, getting off his chair and walking past the two to the upstairs and his guest room. He found the spare clothes Vortex laid out on a nightstand, mainly a way too baggy T-shirt with a mean looking dog on it hoisting dumbbells, and baggy basketball shorts with a few rips and tears in them.
He went into the side bathroom, stripped off his clothes and got under the showerhead, feeling the water come on down.
He's stuck in Hell for now. With the only people who could help get him back to Earth being tied to the Ars Goetia demons of King Solomon, or the Fallen Angels who became Demon Lords of their respective domains in Hell, all loyal to Lucifer of all things.
He took a deep sigh, hugging himself as the water warmed up.
How, and why does this keep happening to him?
(X)
It was evening by the time Loona pulled up to the address, departing the cab after paying the fee.
"Try not to get roofied, toots." The owl Sinner leered from the cab. "Happens most of tha time, mwuahehe~!"
The silver haired hound glared at the cab driver as he departed down the street as she took a deep breath. Thankfully the house wasn't hard to miss due to the lines of cars parked along the side near other houses. She felt her phone vibrate and looked down.
'Gon b out l8, eat what u want in the frij. Love you <3' Blitzo.
She rolled her eyes as she pocketed her phone. Of course he had left for some 'errands' when they got back to their apartment and she just KNEW from the way he gazed at their two co-workers and the cursing spat he had with the Hellevator App in the living room that he was going to stalk Moxxie and Millie on their anniversary date in Lust.
Poor, lonely creep of an adoptive father she had.
Besides, she can tend to herself. She's a strong girl as she saw her reflection in a silver car. Her form fitting red dress with spider-web motifs, showing off plenty of leg and a smidgen of cleavage as she smiled and posed a bit.
"Looking good…" She murmured as she turned about and walked towards the house, seeing plenty of hounds interacting outside of it as she took a deep breath to steady herself. Loona's not one for big time gatherings. Not because she doesn't like them, oh no, just.. inexperienced. Blitzo made sure she didn't go to any big time parties, so whenever IMP hosts a Kill Party for a job well done when they take out a target is when she can enjoy some aspects of that atmosphere.
Then again, going off of what that Sinner alluded to, Blitzo may have a point. But dammit she wanted to meet new people! Only time she ever went to a party of this magnitude was at work, trying to infiltrate some frat or sorority house on Earth to take out a target. Usually some bullies or hazers she'd have to lure into the ideal kill zones for the Imps to take out.
She saw some people give her a sideways glance while they resumed chatting and talking. The smell of booze, smokes and food thick in the air as she entered. The silver furred hound felt herself bump against someone.
"Oh, hey! Uhhhh," Loona's ears fell as she saw who she bumped into. Two large and towering hounds with scars all over, and were both fat AND muscular, reminding her of those Strongman humans as the Hounds glared down at her.
"Heheheh, sorry. Door, didn't see ya," she said, awkwardly.
"Hmmm."
They glanced at one another, shrugging.
"Don't worry about it, pup."
'
Pup…?' Loona thought, disappointed. '
Maybe I should have worn the fishnets instead…'
The two hounds went back to talking. Upon closer inspection, Loona couldn't really tell… what gender they were. Shrugging, she went deeper into the party and felt joy and relief fill her.
Finally, a party without Blitzo being an overprotective moron about it. A chance to meet new people and new friends, and-
"Yoooo Loona!"
Him.
Loona saw him approach, dressed in great fitting jeans and a collared shirt as Vortex sauntered over and offered his hand. "So glad you could make it!"
He sounded happy, joyous even, as she blushed up at the taller dark furred hound.
"Hhehehe, glad to make it!" She replied before taking a deep breath to steady herself, kicking herself mentally for acting like some lovestruck awkward schoolgirl as she shook his big strong hand.
Which she is, she'd never admit.
"So uhhh, how's it going?" She asked, grabbing her long mane of silver hair and stroking it, a nervous tic on her part.
"Going great. Setting this up took a bit, but it's going great." He gestured to the kitchen and the backyard, filled with loads of other Hellhounds, and the few Imps and other Hellborn soliciting and having fun. Must be couples. They're all laughing, telling stories, jokes. In the living room she can see other Hounds watching a Wrathball game.
Hooting and laughing occurred when a Wrathshark leapt out of the moat surrounding the field to elbow slam a poor ball carrier as she sniggered. Got to keep an eye on that to see if that comes back again… Get a photo of that and send it to Moxxie, hehe.
"Got drinks in the fridge, so help yourself. Oh, and we got street tacos out back." Loona sniffed the air, picking up on the food and smiling. It smelled
so good…
She went over to the fridge, opening it and finding it full of beer bottles and cans. Taking one, she drank it down.
"So, how's it going?" Vortex asked, and Loona almost gagged on her alcohol as she composed herself.
"Oh me? Well uhhhh…" Fuck, what does she talk about it! All she does in her life, well, work and home! Work being sitting at a desk, taking stupid calls, setting up appointments, and MAYBE sometimes going out to kill a target. And being on her phone browsing dating sites, memes, and Sinstigram. And home being, well, the same. Only with Blitzo being around and him laughing his ass off or swearing at the neighbors to shut the hell up. "Oh you knooooow…. Woooooork?"
FUCK THAT DELIVERY WAS AWFUL.
"Oh, yeah, trust me, I know about the grind. That boss of yours workin' ya hard?" Vortex asked as he reached in and pulled out a cold one, using his claw to puncture it and drink from it. She had to use the peeler herself.
So hot~
"Yeaaah, like, we got so many clients. Like, so many Sinners want so many people dead you have, haha, no idea." She forced a laugh, sounding more like a bark. God why was she so bad at this!?
"Business boomin' then?" He asked with a smirk.
"Yep! T-Totally." Okay one brew down, all of them to go. She reached inside, getting a bottle and using the bottle opening to do it. "Just, buried up to my neck in requests. Thank Satan for tax write offs on ammo right? Right?"
"Oh, I hear ya." Vortex was chilling, drinking away as Loona drank from her bottle like a man dying of thirst. "Got myself a new gig coming up soon too. Verosika's gonna be doing a thing for the Vees."
Loona paused in her drinking, looking back at him.
"Wait, the
Vees? The strongest coalition of Overlords in Hell? Those guys?!" Loona asked, suddenly looking at the TV in a bit of paranoia. Rumor had it that Overlord Vox was able to look through any electrified gizmo. More hysterical rumors had it he could manifest through them, too…
"Yep. Mind keepin' a secret?" He asked, and Loona nodded dumbly. "Yeah, they want Verosika for some kind of porn music video they're doing." He whispered. "Not sure if she's gonna be taking part IN the porno or singing it, but hey, need to know basis ya know?"
"Y-Yeah," Loona felt a bit of pride swell within her. He trusted her with a secret! That has to mean their friends. Deep friends. Best friends!
Maybe… even-
"Teeeex~!" A rich, syrupy voice that cut through Loona's reverie as she turned, and two great melons wobbled in her face as her eyes widened. "Come on, baby, we're about to start up a pong-table and–ohhhh who's this lil lady?"
The silver haired hound grinned, and Loona looked at her. Stacked, curvy and plump and dressed in daisy dukes that hugged her hips and soft midsection along with a low lying top that showed cleavage galore as if she were a southern-fed Belle.
"Hey babe," he embraced her, and their lips met as Loona's mouth hung open.
That's right. Vortex had a girlfriend. So many memories on that Spring Break day of fun kills and meeting him for the first time, along with Moxxie getting hammered and being an, admittedly, adorable souse. There was even a giant monster. All in all, 7/10 party. It was easy to forget – repress – certain details of that crazy day. And now that bit that she had 'forgotten' until now was sloppily kissing right in front of her.
"This is Loona, that hound I toldja about." He smiled, gesturing to Loona, suddenly very nervous and self-conscious as she took 'stock of the situation': THIS was Vortex's partner?! A hound as gorgeous and laid back as Vortex could have his pick of the litter, and he settled on… what were those? G-cups? H? Two watermelons perched atop a prize-winning pumpkin muffintop! Thunder thighs as well!? She glanced down at her own, svelte, lithe, slender, boney frame. A stringbean like her wouldn't even get stuck in Vortex's teeth…
"Ohhh, that's right! You're the adopted daughter of his boss' ex aren't you?" The bright and beaming hound girl said as she shook Loona's hand. "I'm Nebula, by the way."
"L-Loona." The young woman replied, dumbly as she shook back.
"You hungry at all, girl? We got plenty of food here besides the street tacos, big line out there too, lemme tell ya." Nebula mock whispered as she gestured to the stacks of food. Pizza boxes stacked and opened. And containers and bowls of chips, cookies, and some celeries and greens. Malt beer. Red meat off the bone.
"N-Not at the moment. Maybe later." Loona forced a grin, which looked to be more a rictus than a smile; every furtive fantasy she'd allowed herself for the night had just been crushed under Nebula's huge, luscious booty. "So uhhh, howdidja meet and… you two, together?"
FUCK THAT CAME OUT WRONG.
Loona wanted to hide and bang her head against the wall. Does she have NO filter right now like Blitzo now? Fuck!
"Oh, you wanna know how we met?" Nebula asked, giggling. "Just at a grocery store, bumping into each other and I was like, 'mm-mm this lean cut of meat shoppin' for veggies and supplements' and I just complimented his shirt." She blushed, looking over at the muscular hound with lust in her eyes. "I may have had
other things on my mind, but so did he~"
"You can say that again, baby. But yeah, that's the short of it, we bumped into each other by chance in the produce aisle, and complimented the packaging while thinking of the contents, you could say." Vortex smirked, his hand around behind Nebula… she cooed, clearly being groped back there while Loona's eyebrow twitched. "And I offered to take her out for lunch one day, then things kind of spiraled from there, in the best way."
"You just never know when you'll meet the love of your life, ya know?" Nebula said, resting her head against his bulging pecs. Loona felt the sick swell of envy rise in her gut.
"Well, I mean, considering Vortex and his… his… line of work," Loona uttered, trying to pierce it together. "Are you, like-"
"Verosika pays well, even if I'm not the biggest fan of her music, or of
her in particular..." Nebula shrugged. "And yeah, I know he has had to, well, suck a few dicks in his line of work, hard not to considering Verosika keeps an entourage of absolute horn dogs." She leaned in and whispered, "but hey, it pays well and I'm able to fulfill my dream of becoming a baker, and the best ones are down in Gluttony. It's expensive, but so worth it for the experience."
"And I have loads of mouthwash too, to get the taste of cop dick out. Not fun at all lemme tell you." Vortex added, huffing into his palm and sniffing it, putting on an exaggerated grimace. "But it's a living."
"Is that so…" Loona asked, her eyes going back to Nebula's larger figure. "You make the commute there? Down to Gluttony?"
"If I lived there, I'd be either eaten up or in a mobility scooter or somethin'" She laughed. "You know ole saying." She said patting her potbelly. "Work in Gluttony, put on a hundy. Work in Lust, you get a bust. Work in Envy, you gon get stabby."
"And you put on a hundred plus in all the right places." Vortex growled, licking his chops as Loona was grinding her teeth as she felt the sinking feeling in her gut grow.
How stupid she was to even contemplate getting with him, or even entertain the idea of possibly getting into an affair. She never had a chance.
"Easy Tex, you'll get all this cushion later~" Nebula giggled and scratched his chin, the black furred hound growled in lust and want, his fervently wagging tail putting a lead-like weight in Loona's gut. She wanted to dig a hole in the yard and jump in it.
"For now, we gotta be good hosts! Loona, honey, come on and join us," she said, taking Loona's hand, her broad face alight with a bright, shining, achingly genuine smile. "We can teach ya the rules."
"I-I'll be right after you. Gonna, uh, get something to eat." She said, drinking the rest of her bottle down hard. "And drink."
"Alrighty, you know where to find us!" Nebula turned around, walking and dancing to the music as she swayed her hips and Vortex lingered his gaze.
"Haaa, what a woman." He said to himself as Loona looked back at him, feeling the buzz as she gulped her bottle down in record time. "So yeah, help yourself to whatever you like Loona. Mi casa su casa." He said, gesturing to the food and the fridge.
"Y-yeah, will join ya." She replied as Vortex ruffled her head a bit as he heard a loud collection of 'oooohs' from the room over.
"Ohhh yeah! That's a touchdown for sure!" Vortex exclaimed, excited. "Aaaand there's the Murdercrows going after the Ref, ha. brilliant," he said, smiling without a care as he went on to manage the party as Loona looked outside the window, her eyes meeting Nebulas as the woman was chatting up a storm and she waved back at her.
She wanted to convince Vortex to cheat. On a nice, kind, loving jolly lady like HER.
…
She turned to the fridge, feelings of envy, self loathing, regret and anger swell within her as she found the hardest beer bottles, three of them, in her hands as she uncorked one and began to drink, going out to join them.
God what was she becoming, Blitzo or something? Least from what she has heard Prince Stolas' wife sounded like a real smarmy bitch. Nebula looked like anything but!
She began to chug faster as she went outside, going over to the pong table to ignore the conflicting storm of feelings inside her.
She's already here. May as well make the most of it…
The party continued, and Loona found herself being flung around like how a moth would in the middle of a twister. Seeing so many things, and all of it coming and going in a blur as she saw Vortex and Nebula mingle about being good hosts. Nebula would chat and laugh it up with friends over cocktails while Vortex played the role of overseer and settling things down when they got too crazy. But whenever the couple passed each other by, the silver haired hound girl can see it in their eyes.
They absolutely LOVED each other. And not in the overly stupid sappy way Moxxie goes on about Millie and vice versa. It was a quiet confidence. A gaze of longing and recognition, to go along with them eying each other up, coping a light feel, before going back to being the hosts they were.
And there Loona stood by, hand holding a bottle or a glass, draining its contents and then grabbing another. And on. And on. And on.
Just to deal with it, this shitshow of a night. Getting that sloshing buzz to turn into a numbing fog to deal with the swell of hopelessness building within her as she glanced around the party for other Hounds.
Too short, or fat, too tall and lanky, yellow, rotting teeth (who doesn't in Hell, but Loona wanted a clean mouth to kiss someday!). The ones that were attractive, or looked engaging, fun and kind? All taken, their partner or spouse by their side and warding her wandering eyes off with quiet glares.
…
The thought of revising her image crossed her mind. Take a few notes from Nebula's robust cookbook to lure Tex away. Maybe just let go and put on a hundred-or-so pounds…?
She punted the notion to the curb.
The mere thought of Moxxie Uno-reversing her weight loss ads and throwing them in her face with that smug look on his ratty little face… no, that would be
Hell beyond imagining. Not to mention she wouldn't be able to fight and take part in assassinations if she blew up in size. Blitzo would probably nag and be more annoying if she did so, or worse,
support her and lavish her with snacks, or – Satan forbid – HOUND BISCUITS. Besides doing it for someone else just… Just felt wrong even thinking about it.
Besides, not all figures are the same. Nebula won the fucking lottery, since usually packing on a hundred pounds means looking like some chunky potato, with lumpy curves in all the wrong places. She looked like a fucking fertility goddess!
Loona could see the corners of her vision going hazy as she stumbled back into the house, ignoring the calls to take part in some beer pong game. In this state she'd be lucky if she could hit the table, much less sink any. Stupid game for dumb fratboys, anyway. The Wrathball game was in overtime, the increasingly drunk and
loud laughing and cheering was grating on her ears.
Just then, Loona remembered why she didn't come to these kinds of parties unless it was for work:
she fucking hated them.
She had gone into this night hoping to have fun, but all she found was cruel confirmation of what she always knew: she wasn't like these Hellhounds. They all acted too well adjusted. Well raised. They had families. Loved ones. Siblings. Fathers. Mothers.
A
pack.
What did she have? Where did she come from? A Kennel where it was every Hound for themselves where the managers were indifferent at best and sadistic at worst. She'd been a cast-away before Blitzo came into her life and gave her… some semblance of normalcy. Even a job too.
'Blitzo gave me a sense of normalcy?' She thought to herself, incredulous.
'Belphegor's ballsack, I really am
hopeless!'
Blitzo did his best to be loving and supportive, even if he was about as subtle and grating as a swarm of sandpaper gnats. It just wasn't the same. It never had been. She didn't know what she wanted, what she craved, but as a Hellhound she knew it just wasn't enough. She was an outcast, an outsider. Alone among her people. Alone in all of Hell.
She was becoming familiar with the trash bin and the fridge, going back and forth, guzzling down bottles as she sat on an open spot of the couch, watching the morass of colors that was the Wrathball game and post game. Or skulking in a corner and watching the party world go by as she gave a smile and wave to some hounds who waved back… sheesh, they have multi-eyed hounds now? Parent some tentacle monster or something? Some of the hounds seemed to be blurring, leaving after-images like some shitty fighting anime.
More booze. That'll fix her eyes.
She chugged it down. Cerberus Lager, 16%. Really hard good shit. Push away the loathing. Let it be drowned.
Soon the music began to pick up, and her ears flattened as she groaned, looking outside. Vortex was up on a pole now, wearing nothing but a glittery red banana-hammock – which looked to be holding a six-foot, seven-foot, eight-foot BUNCH – Nebula was hooting and hollering, throwing $oul bills as everyone laughed and clapped.
Good for her to have such an absolute HUNK. A loving supportive one that seemed to be the ideal hound. Hellhounds as built and gorgeous as Tex invariably tended to be the tiresome 'alphamale fuccboi' type. But not Tex.
'
Izze even a Hellhound?' Loona mused, even her thoughts were starting to slur. '
Fuckin' unicorn izwat 'e is…'
She pulled out her phone feeling a text notification, shuddering as she loosed some belching hiccups before drinking some more.
'In lust w8ng for my d8, keepn u posted luv u' Blitzo.
She rolled her eyes, setting her phone down on the counter as she groaned and began to walk off, hand brushing against something that fell and died a glassy death on the tile floor. She popped open the fridge and grabbed another bottle, wasting no time capping it and guzzling it down.
"Uhhh, lady?" Loona's eyes lolled over, seeing some… Leviathan woman, her head bobbing about on a long, boneless neck, going in nauseating circles. "That's, like, the thirtieth bottle you've drank. You okay? Should slow down."
Loona hiccuped again, belching. "I'll go ferforty if I wanna, fug you."
Loona brushed past the demon as she marched her way past. God just, got to get out of this loud crowd. She heard a muttered "Bitch" and she replied with a middle finger thrown back behind her head as she headed for the stairs.
She almost fell forward, the intoxicated hound crawling up the steps, letting out an acid, throat-burning burp, bitter bile making her mouth water in the worst way. '
Gnnngh… gotta find bathroom. Fuck.'
She went to one, with a sign displaying a fire hydrant hanging high on it. She jostled the knob, finding it to be locked. She could hear raunchy sounds inside; growls and yelps and moans and other, non-verbal sounds.
"Oh, go fuck somewhere else!" she yelled, slurring as she leaned against the wall. She heard cries of surprise and crashing down with made her snort with laughter. "Gnhnhnhnhaha-haaaarp… oh fucknuggets."
Double fuck she's starting to curse like
Blitzo.
She set her hands on the wall, practically crawling along as she stumbled down the hall, towards another door. She opened it, seeing nothing but an empty dark bedroom. She closed the door, groaning as she stumbled to the next, finding a yet another sign.
"Donut Enfer… Store Rage Oom?" She read, the letters seemed to be swimming about on the placard like fish in a tank. Worst case scenario, it had bin for her to defile, or a window. She could explain the mess later.
She heard a cry of shock and surprise as she stumbled on in, ignoring it as she looked around kicking the door closed behind her. It looked like a bedroom, a big one. She saw a door to her right as she stumbled over to it, then leaned against the wall to prevent herself from falling over.
'Please don't be a closet, what I got ain't stayin' put much longer!' She turned her head and sniffed.
'Bleagh… smells like work?'
Wait.
She raised her head, and on the bed with his head hiding in a book was some… beige skinned freak dressed in a t-shirt and shorts that looked about a billion sizes too big! She sniffed the air again.
"Jesus, fuck, you REEK of the living world! Sid you just die or somthin', freak?" She uttered, the book lowering as… she saw three heads. With no eyes, and grimacing wide teeth.
"Fuck… why d'you got three heads?" She muttered, pointing lazily at the Sinner. "One wasn't ugly enough furya?"
"Uhhh…" He droned as Loona hiccuped, and she kept her mouth closed. Three Head noticed and pointed at the door.
"Bathroom's in there," he said, and she noticed how soft his voice was.
Must have been some fucking creeper or molester. Had to be.
Now wasn't the time, though, as she bolted for the bathroom, finding a toilet and going onto her knees as it all came hurtling out in a surge. She coughed, gagging and groaning before she expelled more contents from her stomach as she gripped the toilet bowl. Even in that state, she could sense the Faller enter. His shadow cover her.
"E-Easy, just let it out." The Sinner said as she looked back, teeth bared, and snarled as her hair stood on end.
"I know how to barf, on my-" She paused, then turned back in and gagged some more before puking some more. "Fuck…"
She felt him get closer, slowly, quietly. If she'd been about ten beers lighter, she would have punted the ugly fuck clean across the room. Instead, she just puked some more. The Faller was close now, reaching out. If the creepy child-fondling fruit so much as laid a hand on her, she would–
Loona blinked in surprise as a pair of hands gently gathered up her long, flowing hair and held it back, clear of the mess she was making. A hand set down on her back, patting lightly.
"It'll be okay…" he said in that inexplicably soft voice, his sympathy radiating off him in impossibly genuine waves. "Just let it out. You'll be okay."
The rubs felt nice… but he still probably a creeper! Who
definitely watches!
"Oh F-fuck off, pussy!"
He moved to step back, only for her to reach out and grab his ankle, something bubbling within her that wasn't her guts.
"Ugh… wait…" She groaned, looking out of the corner of her eye in seeing the red haired Sinner looking back at her. "I didn't… say stop. I may need a-hic-hand…"
She panted, her hands gripping the bowl's sides. The Sinner returned, his three heads working in remarkable succession as she sighed and breathed. "Just breathe. In and out. It'll come out."
"No shit Sherlo-" Loona's retort was cut off by the burst off bile as she writhed on the bathroom floor, the girl letting out a cry. "Fuck that hurts…"
"Well, I'm guessing you drank a lot, so…"
"Oh, don't fucking j-Hurp-judge me… You're Down Here too, and you're… fucking fresh as hell for a Sinner." Three Head said nothing, his mouth vanishing from her blurry sight. "Still smell human too…"
"Well, you're not
completely wrong..." he replied, the tone indicating cringe. Haaaa got'em.
"Damn fuckin' right…" Loona mumbled, feeling her insides burn as she took deep breaths and smacked her lips. "Fuck, this sucks… kay, I think m'done"
"There's such a thing as too much fun, huh?" The Three-Headed, Mop-Haired Demon said, laughing nervously as he flushed the toilet.
"Fuckin' fun…" Loona grumbled into the bowl, seeing it all swirl away as she looked at her swirling hazy reflection. "Bullshit. I haven't had any fun since I got here. W-why'd I even come?" She stammered, feeling well up in her eyes as she breathed raggedly. "I fuckin' hate parties and people and-and-and…"
"Wanna talk about it?" The Sinner asked, again his sincerity was so achingly genuine she could almost smell it.
After a long pause she said, blinking: "Wha?"
"Y-you seem really down," said Three-Head. "I-I mean, people go to parties to have fun, right? I-I mean, most people do. H-ha! I never would have been able to work up the nerve to come to a party like this! You're braver than me that's for sure." She can see some beige looking sausage fingered claw go up to rub the back of his heads. "Sorry, I'm rambling. You just seem like you need someone to talk to."
Loona wiped off her mouth and eyed up the Sinner, a hot swell of… something blossoming in her chest. "Y'wanna talk? Really?"
"Sure!" He chirped, smiling, three heads swimming about in the air over his shoulders as her eyes failed spectacularly to focus. "I'd love to help any way I can!"
Loona rose unsteadily to her feet, the short, scrawny Sinner's neck craning up and up, his smile fading. His head was about level with her chest, so he was a short Faller. She looked down at him, eyes glowing red as she reached down and grabbed him by the scruff, effortlessly pulling him off his feet, bringing him eye to eye as he let out a "MEEP!"
"Y'wanna talk?" She slurred, the Sinner wincing at the distillery fumes that was her breath. "Kay."
She tossed him across the room, the Sinner yelping as he bounced on the bed. He looked up to see the tall Hellhound stumble out of the lit bathroom, her eyes glowing scarlet in the dark of the bedroom.
"Wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh-wuh…" He babbled as she closed in. "Wh-what're you doing?!"
Loona loomed over him, her eyes glassy, glazed, her muzzle curled into what was neither a smile or a grimace. "You said y'wanted t'talk, Ginj. Les' talk."
The Sinner wailed as she toppled forwards.
(X)
Vortex sighed as he picked up the last few scraps of the party. It was some horrid hour in the morning and almost all of the guests had since staggered home or called a cab, leaving him and Yula to pick up the pieces. In some places literally, as a great number of beer bottles and glasses had since gone to that great recycling heap in the sky. Or the great recycling pit in the abyss. Either way, broken glass abounded.
Such as it was with Hound Parties.
It was worth it, though. Touching bases with the neighbors, saying 'hi' to old friends, and even meeting some new ones. The food had gone over well. Real well. 'We planned to feed twice as many Hounds than we invited and still barely have crumbs left' well. There were still a few leftovers, of course, but they're unlikely to survive breakfast tomorrow. Yula was off somewhere, cleaning this, mopping that, shooing out stragglers, though the last of those were long gone. Still though, something was eating at him.
Loona…
He was glad she'd shown up, really he was, but after a while he just sort of… lost track of her.
He knew she was shy. Awkward. She probably had no idea how to actually act around other hounds. He'd known this and invited her anyway, hoping to crack her out of that shell of hers. In retrospect, that had been optimistic. In retrospect, he should have stuck with her, introduced her to other hounds, anything. But then, he had a party to attend to, people to chat up, all that good host stuff.
Now, he was wondering of he should have started small. A small get together with some of his friends. A night at the pool bar. Bowling. Anything but a huge party. Now, he feared, the poor girl simply gave up on the situation and bounced, miserable and alone.
Part of him hoped she'd shacked up with someone and left that way, but he wasn't counting on it. He knew her type.
Maybe he should give her a call. He walked into the kitchen, dumping the last of the trash into the wide-mouthed bin. He pulled out his phone and dialed her up, hoping she'd pick up. A pealing rock lick cut through the air underscored by a thrumming buzz. He turned to see a hellphone on the counter, bouncing about as it rang.
"Shit," he grunted, dropping the call. "I guess she forgot it."
He walked over and picked it up, smiling at the picture on the screen; Loona, smiling reluctantly as her adoptive imp father grinning ear to ear hanging off of her for a selfie. He knew where she worked, he'd just have to return it tomorrow, maybe en route to that studio too.
"Alright hon," Yula called out as she descended the stairs, a huge bin in her arms. "That's all of it. We'll do some polishing tomorrow when we're not both beat!"
"Sounds good to me, babe," he said, pocketing his phone.
Yula put down the bin and tied up the bag. "What's that you got?"
"Loona's phone," he replied, showing her the picture. "She must've left it here by accident."
"Yeah, girl just up and vanished at some point," said Yula, sighing sadly. "She looked pretty down last time I saw her. Poor girl. Not everyone's a party-hound, I guess."
"She's just shy," said Vortex, frowning. "I shoulda invited her to a smaller get together. Ease her into things."
"Yeah, maybe…" Yula said, nodding and smiling. "Ah well. Next time, then!"
"Down for inviting her to bowling next week?" He asked with a light grin with his one good eye.
"If she wants to come, sure."
A low, heavy 'thud' sounded through the house, causing them both to jump.
"Everyone gone, babe?" Vortex said, slowly, his brow furrowing.
"Yes," she said, eyes widening. "I checked every room but–"
Another thud, followed by a muted exclamation. And he felt his blood turn to ice, and he saw Nebula's expression mirror his own.
"BRIEF!!" They cried in unison.
(X)
"Are you okay?" Brief cried.
"Owww…" The drunk Hellhound girl groaned, slumped up against the bedside table, rubbing the back of her head. "Fuck."
The girl, Loona, had gotten up to 'make piddles', only for her paw to catch on a loose sheet and send her tumbling off the bed. She'd managed to get back on her feet, only for her eyes to go cross-eyed, stumbling backwards and hitting her head on the tableside. Brief was quietly impressed that she was
still this drunk! It'd been hours since she'd come stumbling in, barfing her guts out into his toilet. The time since then was more or less an unending deluge of gripes, insecurities, fears, and band recommendations. Each subject punctuated with long spells of ugly-crying. From what he could make out, her name was Loona, she was a 22-year old Hellhound, and she worked as a secretary and 'horndog bait' for her dad's 'assinatin' peeps on erf'(?) business. She grew up in a kennel after her parents 'fucked off' and 'no one wannid a mean bitch what bites 'cept [her] dad Blitz 'cause he's a dumb annoying asshole but [she] loved him so much'.
It was a lot to take in all at once to be honest.
"Th'room's spinnin'," mumbled Loona, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Here, let me help you," said Brief, hopping off the bed and reaching down to the tall Hellhound. "You hit your head pretty good, you should probably lay down. C'mon, up you get."
She reached out and grabbed his hands. The smaller human grunted as he hoisted the Hellbeast to her feet. She wasn't
huge like Mr. Vortex or Ms. Nebula, but she was still much bigger than him. Almost seven feet tall, not thin but lithe, like a jaguar, with long, muscular legs. He wouldn't be surprised if she weighed over 200lbs! With some wide hips to boot!
"Kay. Kay kay kay! I'm good, Firecrotch, paws off," she grumbled, shoving his hands away. Loona tottered on her feet again for a moment, blinking out of sequence, frowning in irritation. "Oops. Never-hic-mind. Timber~"
Without warning she toppled forwards, onto Brief. The slender boy yelped, crumpling under her weight as they both fell back onto the bed.
Definitely more than 200lbs.
Ouch.
Something soft, plush, and warm enveloped his, well, entire head. Brief grunted, wiggling and turning his head until he could breath from the mass encasing him. What was that? The dull, thudding beat of her heart drumming in his ear left few alternatives. His face was right in her… A furious blush burned in his cheeks, his pale skin turning scarlet red as he wriggled about under her. After some blind struggling, he finally managed to lift her limp weight off of him… his hands sinking deep into her soft, warm, and surprisingly robust bosom, cupping them.
'
Compared to the rest of her they're not 'I could get lost in there and die'
like with Ms. Nebula,' thought Brief, a thin trail of blood dripping from his nose, his face bright red.
'But they'd be Ds on a human woman."
She was
for sure bigger than Panty, and even Stocking too(at a glance). That's for sure.
"Mmmyeah…" Loona mumbled, semi conscious, her eyes glazed as a luminescent blush formed in his cheeks. "Hnhnhhhn~ Harder~ Fuck 'em up, Tex…"
"Uhhhh!" Brief realized what he was doing and pulled his hands away as though they'd become red-hot. "OH SHIT! I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!!"
"Get 'em back there. Squeeze 'em~" She slurred, her eyes still unfocused, as she grabbed his hands and put them back on her breasts, pressing them in, her thighs on his lap and clenching around his waist as she straddled him. "Yer s'fuckin' sexy Texxx~. Just… push me down and-hyrp-fug me already~"
"I'm not–" Brief began to say when the door burst open, Nebula and Vortex rushing in, the two of them panting and wide eyed and alert.
"Brief! Are you okay?! We heard a… noise…?" Vortex cried, his eye locking onto them, his expression shifting from worry to absolute shock. "
Oh."
Nebula said nothing, her mouth dropping open, her eyes wide.
Brief blinked and took stock of his situation: he presently had a hammered Hellhound girl in a skimpy dress straddling his hips, her tail wagging like a metronome, holding his hands on her bosom.
A wolfish yet awkward smile spread across Vortex's features. "We can come back in, what, five, ten minutes?"
"Mwha?" Loona grunted, looking over her shoulder. "Tex? Ohhh, yu khan teleeeeeerp-port, now?"
The act of turning her head obliterated what little balance she had, causing the soused hound to topple over onto her side, bouncing on the bed as her legs let go of the orange haired boy. "Woooooooboy… Lemme off th'ride, I dun like the spinnies…"
"What was going on here?!" Nebula exclaimed, gasping, her eyes wide as she turned on the red haired boy. "Briefers Rock, were you taking advantage of that girl?!"
"No!" Brief cried, shaking his head furiously, hands to himself. "I-I-I-I was just–she was really dizzy and fell and–"
"Babe, seriously?" Vortex said, bemused as he walked forth, hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. "He's a scrawny kid. She could tear him limb from limb if she wanted."
"She could?!" Brief squawked.
"I could," mumbled Loona, hand raised and pointing to the skies. "Dunnit b'fore 'll do it 'gain… Shoulda… seen me rip those fuckin human suits…hurp.. Ta ribbons…" She panted as the plump hound walked into the room.
"Brief…!" Nebula gasped in shock, her hands to her mouth. "Was she…
forcing herself on you, baby?"
Brief could only stammer useless noises, blushing like a lantern as Nebula bared her teeth, eyes glowing red and growling throatily as she marched over to Loona, who was busy making raspberries in her exhales. "How
dare you sully this sweet little
angel, you motherfu–"
"Whoa whoa whoa whoaaaa there, babe," said Vortex, grabbing her arm and pulling her back, chuckling. "The kid's pants're on. I think he's still got his V-card."
"Vortex!" Nebula exclaimed, affronted.
"I
don't, actually…" Brief grumbled, crossing his arms as he sighed.
"Ugggh… fuck…. Where…" Loona muttered, groaning. "Where am I, again?"
"Still at my place, Loona." Vortex made his way over to her, smiling warmly. "How're you feeling?"
"Tex? When did you… ugh…" Loona groaned and sat up, rubbing the back of her head. "Feels like little imps are trying to smash their way out of my head with hammers…"
She noticed Brief, blinking slowly, focusing for the first time in hours.
"Oh, hey, it's you. Where'd your other he-hici-heads go?" She asked, pointing his way as her pointed finger waved before she stifled a belch.
"Uhhh…" Brief droned, struggling to find the right words.
"Whatever…" Loona grumbled, kicking her feet over the bedside. "Fuck, shit's still all spinny… it's like a fucking… cara-sell? Fuck it, whatever it's called. With the horses and shit… Blitz's obsessed with those rides, I swear to God…"
"Hey, Loona, honey," said Nebula, walking over, calmed down. "We have some leftover tacos and you're welcome to them."
She placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a warm motherly air.
"That sounds-hic-
amazing, I'm starbing" she slurred, attempting to get to her feet, Nebula steadying her. "Hey, Firecrotch. 'M goin' for some tacos, you down?"
"N-not very hungry. Th-thank you, Ms. L-Loona!" Brief managed to say, still coming down from the rollercoaster he'd just been on. Not the first time he was called Firecrotch, but the way she said it didn't sound like an insult like he would usually hear back in Daten City High. Or from…
them.
"Kay," she said as Nebula helped her out of the room, before turning back, pointing at him. "You better still be here when I get back! I got more stuff to tell you…so uhhhh… you like to cuddle, Ginj?"
She winked at him, eyes half lidded as Brief puckered in his lips and gulped, blushing.
C-cuddling?
"I–"
"I'm gonna cuddle the
shit outta you, you formerly three-headed dork!" She growled, but giggling and smiling. "Nice guys like you make we wanna wrap my legs 'round your head an'–"
"Oooookay. It's taco Tuesday for you, honey…" Nebula grumbled, pulling her out of the room.
As they walked down the hall, he could hear them say: "How come he only has one head now? He put the others away? He like, a fucking King Ghidorah-Turtle guy, now?"
"Sure, honey," Nebula replied as they walked down the hall. "Whatever you say."
"Sinners're weird like that," muttered Loona. "Say… d'you think he's got three–"
"Let's get you biiiig glass of water too, while we're at it!"
"One! Two! Three! Three dicks! Ah~ ah~ ah~ hahahaha…" Loona cackled drunkenly before sighing. "Just
Imagine…"
Vortex stood silently, waiting for them to be truly gone before turning to Brief, smiling wryly. "Trouble seems to find you, kid."
'
Tell me about it,' he said, mentally, before sighing heavily.. "I'm sorry… She just kinda barged in here and, uh, used the toilet. After that, I couldn't get her to leave. That must have been two hours ago…"
Vortex quirked an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? If what we walked in on was two hours in the making, I'm sorry."
"Nothing like that!!" Brief cried, hands raised in defense. "She's drunk!
Incredibly drunk! Like…
medically impossibly drunk! I would never! How is she even still alive!?"
"Things're different down here. And I know you weren't…" he said, sitting next to him. "I'm just joshin' ya. You're a good kid, Brief. I could sense that in you before, and so could she just now. So, what
did you do?"
Brief breathed a sigh of relief; Hell or no, it wouldn't do to be known as the guy who feels up drunk chicks. "We just… talked. Kinda."
"Kinda?"
"Well, her blood alcohol level could be measured in octane, so what she was saying wasn't really clear but…" Brief sighed, shaking his head. "She's really lonely. And sad. And actually pretty nice too. I feel bad for her."
Vortex sighed and nodded, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I know. I should have invited her to something less… intense. A party like this one might have been a bit much." He patted the human on the shoulder. "Thanks for looking after her, Brief. You're a good kid."
"I try…" He muttered, looking at the ground. "I really do. Do you think she'll… remember any of this? Meeting me? A human?"
"Bit of kismet, actually," said Vortex, tapping his chin in contemplation. "Getting you back to Earth isn't gonna be easy and she can get us access to one of the ways. See, her dad's, uh, 'renting' a Goetia Grimoire. If all else fails, that's our best shot at getting you home. So, just as well you met her now, it might make things go over easier later."
"Wow! Really?" Brief exclaimed, smiling. "Talk about lucky! The one girl who'll talk to me for more than five minutes will wind up saving my Soul! So cool, like something out of a manga!" He said, feeling hope swell within him. He can get back home! To Chuck and-
The
others too.
He stopped cheering.
"It's one of the options…" said Vortex, frowning, not noticing the dip in the boy's energy. "Let's narrow down that list, first. The Grimoire they're using belongs to Prince Stolas Goetia, you know him, and shit's really unstable around him right now. Add on top of that, her freaky adoptive dad, well… let's just do our best to avoid demon royalty, aight?"
"Yeah… this Blitz guy sounds… eccentric." And he reminded him of the Angels. In all the bad ways. But he had a decent heart in wanting to do right by Loona, at least.
"…That's the nicest thing I've heard anyone say about him!" Vortex mused before he heard a growing stomach and Brief looked at his midsection. "Hungry?"
"I could go for a pizza slice, if there's any left…"
"We got some." Vortex ruffled his head and stood up. "Glad to see ya read those books. They've been collecting dust…" He eyed the books by the night stand. "Don't think
I've even read all of 'em…"
"Yeah! Reading literature from Hell is so… interesting and unique! Lots of swears though in some of the few I've read…"
"Eh, you get used to it. Oh…" Vortex took a deep breath. "So, since Loona is gonna crash on the couch – Yula'll make
sure of that – and I'll take her back to her place tomorrow morning. I can handle her old man fine before I go to work," the black furred hound elaborated. "After that, I'll see if Loona'll be open to us using that Grimoire of hers. It may…" he waved his hand in a 'so so' kind of way, grimacing. "…Have to involve going to her workplace in Imp City. Can't imagine her lugging that thing around. We might have to meet her dad. That cool?"
"Then I'll… go home?" Brief asked.
Vortex nodded.
"I'll be the guy's
therapist if it means I can go home!" Brief cried.
"Damn right! Now, I'll get you some leftover pizza slices I saved for ya. Be right back, and you can hit the sack, too. We have had a looong day."
"Alright. Thanks Mr. Vortex."
One step closer to going home… and it involved that hound girl who spilled out her life story and failures in a massive drunken rant for two hours. While being in Hell.
One more day, and he can leave this place…
(X)
The next morning…
Vortex waited out by the truck, looking down at his phone as he looked at his text to Yula. '
Brief is gonna help me clean up. Such a sweetie <3'
He chuckled and pocketed the device. For a kid who didn't enjoy much of the party last night, he sure was willing to help, or find something to distract himself.
He always had this far away look in his eye, that is when he was calm. Not sure if it meant much but the dark furred hound can see there was a lot on his mind.
To be fair, a living human going to Hell would do that to a person.
He heard the door open, and he saw Loona walk out of the front door.
"Thanks for the breakfast Yula!" She called out, waving a bit as she walked down the porch and to the truck. She looked miserable, a water bottle in hand and looking like she was run over by a dump truck.
He opened the side door for her, and she got on in as he closed the door.
"Nice truck." She commented as she took a big drink. "Thanks for the lift, too."
"No prob," Vortex replied as he got in and started it up. "So… sorry about last night." Vortex uttered. "Must have been, well, rough for ya, I imagine."
"No kidding…" Loona grumbled as she leaned back in the chair. "Bleagh, what even happened last night anyway… I, like, blacked out or something…"
"That's putting it mildly…" Vortex added as he drove through the neighborhood. "We put ya on the couch though. And got some food in ya. You… also met our roommate, too."
Loona turned, quirking an eyebrow.
"You have a roommate?" She asked.
"Yeah. Sinner, actually. Fresh in hell."
"Sheesh, explains the smell then…" Loona mused as Vortex felt a little relief. Showing her a little truth can help. "What's a Sinner doing out in Houndsville anyway? They all keep to the Pentagram and suburbs around it."
"Fell in, needed a place, was willing to pay." Vortex shrugged, keeping it cool. Little lies with the truth here and there hurt no one.
"Yeah… but, for some reason I… remember a little good, from last night." Loona murmured. "Don't remember what though…" She clicked her tongue. "Ah, fuck, I forgot to record the Wrathball game of that shark!" She groaned. "Was gonna take a pic and, like, forgot…"
"The way you were pounding away, girl? I'd be lucky to remember my own name," Vortex said. "So, mind sending me your address?"
"Yeah, I got you." She texted him her address as Vortex put it into his own phone at a stoplight, and then got onto main road. He kept his eye on the road, seeing Loona look out the window as the world went by as she rubbed her forehead. "Ugh… I'm gonna need a big pick-me-up…"
"Got targets to kill today?"
"A few…" Loona muttered as she looked at phone. "And Blitz didn't send anything back after his errand, too. Knowing him, he'll likely be back asleep snoring like a chainsaw."
"Heavy sleeper?"
"You bet." Vortex nodded as he drove along and Loona remained silent. "So… your roommate… He had, what, three heads, right?"
"Yeah." He said, like a liar. "Sometimes."
"Fuck me… did he do anything to me?" Loona asked, looking peeved.
"Not at all. Yula made sure of that." Loona remained silent, before sighing.
"Okay," she said, looking out the window again. "I believe you. Just… I get mixed signals when I think about what I can remember."
"How so?"
"Like, he's a Sinner, so they're all fucked up and shit. But when I think of that mop-head hair on that three headed dipshit… I feel… nice. For some reason. But again, Sinners. Trust them as far as you can throw 'em."
"No, no, I totally understand. He has good money and paid several months upfront and he keeps to himself. He's cool." Vortex added while Loona had a soft scoff.
"Probably keeping to himself gooning over Verosika or some shit like that," she mused, looking down at her phone, face torn.
"So, you felt good around him? Spent a li'l time with him last I recall."
"At the party?"
"Yeah. You were drunk as a skunk. He made sure you didn't fall all over the place." Vortex added as Loona blanched, mortified.
"Egh, okay. Well, if he didn't do anything to me I'll take your word for it." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Fuck this headache sucks ass."
"Need me to stop by a place and get ya a quick pick-me-up?" He asked as he got onto the freeway, heading towards Imp City.
"No it's fine. I'll live. I got some back at home. Blitz always keeps extra on hand for the both of us."
"Nice." Vortex nodded as they drove along.
"So… what's his name? I barely remember a thing but… was his name like, Brock or something?" Loona asked, looking his way as Vortex pondered.
"Rock, actually." Lil truth in there, but Loona was getting closer to the bullseye. "Likely his Hell name, or something."
"Rock…" Loona murmured, speaking the name again as Vortex had an eye drift over to her, no longer on her phone but she was looking out as the red tinted sky passed by over the vast Pentagram many miles away. He spotted the sign leading to Imp City and took the turn onto here. Within several minutes they made it to the apartment complex and he pulled up.
"Here ya go. See ya around?" Vortex asked. "Next time I can invite ya to something low key. Like bowling or something," he said as Loona got out of the truck.
"That'd be great, thanks." She said, bearing a grateful smile. "Sorry for causing trouble earlier, I… get antsy. Sometimes."
"Not a problem, no harm no foul." Vortex shook his head, smiling. "Oh, by way." He saw Loona's ears perk up. "Ummm, later on I may need to ask you for a favor. That okay?"
"A favor? I-Uh sure." She laughed. "Sure thing. What do you, umm, need?"
"I'll call ya when I do. It's nothing major. We may need to drop by your work though just in case." Vortex replied as Loona tilted her head in confusion. "Sound good to you?"
"Gladly!" Loona nodded, her tail wagging a bit as Vortex chuckled.
"Alright, I'll keep in touch. Thanks Loona, I owe ya." The silver haired girl stroked her hair a bit, looking nervous and adorable as always. He saw his phone ring, and he saw the call sign.
Verosika.
"Sorry, I'll talk to ya later," he said, rolling up the window as Loona waved, mouthing 'See ya!' before she went safely into her apartment complex. Blitzo may be worried she's coming back at around six in the morning, but she's a big girl. She can handle herself. He turned to his phone, getting back on the road as he put it on speaker.
"Yes ma'am," he said.
"Tex, me and the gang are gonna meet you at the studios. Got a call from Valentino, wants to try and get a jump on this sooner than later." Verosika spoke and Vortex took a deep breath. Valentino may be one of the worst of the Vees, who were collectively among the worst of Hell's Overlords… but they have the protection of Asmodeus. He wouldn't be foolish to try and earn the ire of one of the Seven Sins.
Right?
"You on the way? I know you had the day off yesterday and shit but I need you pronto. Ugh, my hair is a mess," Verosika muttered. "Will meet ya at Studio 69 in the Salamis District."
"Understood ma'am. On the way there. Passing through Imp City now."
"Imp City? What for?"
"Accident on the road leading to Pentagram. Had to take a detour."
"Fine, we'll meet you there Tex." She hung up and Vortex took a deep breath. From the thrills and chill good times of the party last night, now he was about to enter one of the most depraved places in the Hellscape. And that wasn't idle speculation or hyperbole, mind, it was a proudly advertised feature of Studio 69. That Ozzie himself didn't send a Cease and Desist for false advertising lent credence to the claim, to say nothing of the studio's robust catalog. He pondered if he should burn his clothes at the end of the day. Probably. The real question was should he burn them at home or as soon as he got off the lot? The latter, since he didn't want to contaminate his car seats.
He pulled into the lot, carding in and parking next to Verosika's caddy. His security team was already assembled, sitting on their various vehicles, smoking and shooting the shit. They saw him step out and got to their feet, standing at attention. They were an even mix of Sinners and Hellhounds, the latter of whom he knew from previous jobs. A huge, mean-looking mastiff-hound appropriately named Titan and a sleek, elegant husky-hound by the name of Io. Both could be relied upon to spot and end trouble before it started. The Sinners, a tall cyborg humanoid and an incredibly muscular 'so stout I'm a barrel on legs ' hippo-demon, sent a respectful nod his way. Vortex honestly couldn't tell if they actually respected him or were so piss-terrified of Ozzie that they'd become sterling actors.
Both?
He didn't care one way or the other, he only cared that they did their jobs.
"You all know what we're up to here?" Vortex said, holding up a quartet of folders, handing them out. "These would have been emailed to you."
"They were," said Titan. "Our job is to scope out the studio, get to know the layout, vet the staff, and guard the asset from Valentino's pervs."
"I've already mapped out egress and exits and scoped out muster points in case of an emergency," said Io, tapping on his phone before sending a text to Vortex; several edited pictures, a floor-by-floor layout of the studio, with red lines leading from the work areas to exits in each. "Give that a once-over and let me know what you think."
Vortex nodded, forwarding the pictures to everyone present. "I trust you. Good work."
"Phwoo~" The Cyborg Sinner whistled. "You guys are
good. Work with Valentino before?"
"Don't have to," said Io. "His rep is enough."
"I have," said the Hippo-Demon, grimacing. "He's earned it."
"Really?"
"Yeah…" the Hippo-Demon grumbled bashfully. "As 'talent'. My screen name was 'Chode'. Ever see 'Fat Ugly Bastards 6'?"
"Oh, that was you?" Titan said, floppy ears perking up. "You look different with your pants on."
"I get that a lot."
Vortex clicked his tongue, getting their attention. "What can we expect?"
"Well, Verosika isn't performing, yeah? Just, uh…" He checked over the docket again. "Composing a soundtrack? Right, so that means a lot of boothwork and conferences, a lot of moving parts, a lot of people milling about. Not a lot of opportunity for Val's less restrained employees to exploit. Good news is, despite what you may think, Val keeps the actual degens out of higher positions. Anyone who might go for a bite will be low-level. Sound technicians, lighting specialists, key grips, janitors, that sort of thing. Keep a hound on her six and one of us nearby, that'll scare 'em off."
"Good advice. We'll do that." He turned to the Cyborg Sinner. "What about you? Got any experience bodyguarding or tuning fuckers like a radio?"
"Bodyguarding? No," said the Cyborg, shaking his head. "But fuckin' people up? Well…"
He raised his mechanical arm, the three-pronged jaws-of-life claw there opened up, revealing a glowing aperture. A second later a lightning-bright lance of energy cracked the air, obliterating a dumpster on the other side of the lot, sending a dozen imps scattering, screaming, wreathed in flames.
"Cool, huh?"
Vortex sighed, nodding, punting away a screaming flaming imp as he ran at him. "If and when we need to blast our way out, you're our guy. 'Till then, keep the laser cannon under your hat. I take it you can fight?"
"They don't call me the 'Can Opener' for nothin'!" He said, snapping his mechanical talons.
Vortex nodded, impressed. He was half-expecting Ozzie to fuck him over in some way, but this team was pretty decent, all told. Two professionals, an inside man, and some heavy artillery. All in all, not bad. "Alright. Here's what's gonna happen: no fewer than two of us with Verosika at all times. I'll be scoping each area before we set up shop. Two of you with her, I'll be there as well when I'm not scoping new locations. The other two conduct patrols and guard entrances. Everyone memorize the locations of exits. Teams will switch every two hours. Now, pair up. Chode, you go with Titan. Io, you and Can Opener stick close. Io, you keep a nose on things, Can Opener, keep an eye on him. If he gets a sniff of trouble, you get your cannon ready. Remember, even if we have to fight our way out one day, that don't mean the contract's off. We're here until the soundtrack is done. Understand?"
They all nodded, pairing up.
"One more thing," said Vortex. "We're here to be bodyguards. We don't
start trouble, we
end it. So, everyone, play nice. There'll probably be all kinds of fuckers in there, so don't get riled. Stay frosty, be nice, until it's time to
not be nice. Got it?"
"Gottit boss Tex!" was the unanimous reply.
'
Boss Tex?' He thought, smirking. '
I could get used to that…'
The day passed reasonably well. Initially the odd lurker would try to sneak a grope, but Io and Can Opener made short work of that, quite literally tying the rattish demon into knots. A few more attempts persisted until about 10am, when Titan power-bombed a slobbering key-grip into the concrete and Chode, in a shocking display of agility, leapt high into the air, his head brushing the 30ft ceiling, and performed a flawless 450º splash. The handsy key-grip vanished beneath the 8ft tall Hippo-Sinner's one-ton bulk in a splatter of blood, offal, and other unmentionables. The Vees, to their credit, simply cackled and called up the janitor.
After that, things went smoothly.
Verosika discussed the script with the writing staff while they explained the overall mood the scene was going for, so she could convey that with her music. She called them a bunch of 'limpdick virgins' for refusing to reframe the first 'hatefuck' session as a semi non-con scene.
"So, she's caught her sexy-asshole boss with his secretary, he's all trussed up in BDSM gear, and you're telling me she
doesn't leave him tied up and grab the horsecock strap-on?!"
"W-we think that if he's free, the hateful sexual tension between them will–"
"Amateurs!" She exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "The hatefucking comes
after! This is what turns the 'tension' into
sexual tension. He's already worked up! She's getting revenge!
This is the trigger! Don't tell me my business, Faller, I've been tugging pricks since before you were a twinkle in a farmhand's eye!"
They ultimately deferred to her acumen.
Next was the studio rendition, where she observed rough mock-ups of the scenes described. Full penetration, of course. She seemed pleased with the choice of positions and accessories, as well as the order of events.
"Maybe you dipshits know what you're doing…"
After that, it was time to record. She set up her 'orchestra' and handed out 'feelers' for them to work with. The jam session seemed to be going well, with each of her musician friends adding and suggesting and building on the provided material, all the while discussing the tone they wanted to set for each scene.
Vortex honestly didn't know why they wanted them on-site for
this bullshit. A doom-call would do. He looked up and noticed the security camera dutifully sweeping the room.
Ah.
The Vees wanted CCTV footage of Verosika prowling around their studio to leak ahead of time for free publicity. While he, himself, was under no direct orders to prevent such a thing, he knew that the media frenzy that would ensue would be a headache for Verosika, which would make it a double-headache for him while she ranted at length about it with her usual vitriol.
Better head that bullshit off at the pass.
He headed for the door. "I'm going to scope out the next floor."
"Huh?" Verosika cocked her head. "So soon? But we just got here."
"Just taking precautions," he said, turning back to her. "Won't be more than… half an hour. You'll be here when I get back?"
"Please!" The succubus popstar scoffed and waved him off, jabbing a thumb at her fellow musicians. "If these chumps don't start bringing their A-game, we'll be here all night!"
A baphomet guitarist scoff, strumming a few notes. "If I gave you my A-game, I'd hear it on your next album, Sikky!"
"Eat shit, Kole! You couldn't hit your girlfriend's g-spot, much less a g-chord!"
Vortex took his leave, walking down the hall. He sniffed the air, picking up the ever-so-faint smell of static, the hot dry air of computers, screens, and recording equipment. He keyed into a small, unassuming door. In the room was a wall of screens, each one occupied with… well, what one might imagine would go on in a Hell-infamous porn studio. Sitting in front of the screens was a pale, wrinkled lump of a sinner, his eyes heavily bagged. The dude was built like a fiddler crab, with one preposterously over-muscled arm. Vortex suspected this wasn't just because he was a Sinner.
"Uh," the security guard croaked.
"Fuck off," growled Vortex.
"Yuh!" He squeaked, scurrying out.
Vortex sighed and leaned over the control console, sweeping off the lotion and box of tissues there. He reluctantly touched the keyboard, punching up the security files, locating the timestamped recordings of where Verosika had been and deleting them. He looked at his hands and grimaced, desperately wanting a bottle of hand sanitizer. He'd have to grab some on the way home. Maybe he'd grab some eats for Yula and Brief? Even with the kid's help, Vortex didn't think she'd be in much of a mind to cook after than clean-up. He moved to turn away when he saw it. Off in the corner, on one little screen, were three very familiar silhouettes.
Overlords Vox, Velvette, and Valentino.
They were talking to someone on a screen. A zoom call. Who would zoom-call the Vees? You either show up in person, show them that respect, or you fuck off.
His curiosity piqued, he went back to the keyboard, selecting the feed and putting it on the main screen. Vortex smirked; of course Valentino would have a mic on every security camera. People who walked into this studio tended to say and do things that would make for excellent blackmail later.
He unmuted the feed.
"–pheld my side of the bargain," said a
horribly familiar voice. "Now, what do you have for me?"
Overlord Vox stepped forward. "I had my people go over all the footage in the area the portal was sighted. Judging from the location, we narrowed down the search pattern."
"And?"
"We got a positive ID on Corset. He landed in a park on the Southside and ducked into an alleyway. After that, we lost track of him until he turned up in South Central PC, walking into a penthouse. Velvette?"
Overlord Velvette, an admittedly attractive but utterly unhinged doll-demon, stepped forward. "I had some of my more tech-savvy simps put together a facial recognition backdoor in all of our electronics. Combined with Voxxy's surveillance network, we've found out he's currently hunkered down in the Caim District. Communications suggest he's putting out feelers for… talent."
"Talent?" The voice said, a hopeful lilt in his voice. "What kind of talent?"
"PIs, bounty hunters, that sort of talent," said Vox, smirking. "He's looking for someone while trying real hard not to be seen. So we reviewed the initial footage of his entry into Hell."
"I see~" The voice crooned, almost gleeful. "Oh, as much as I enjoy edging," he took a breath before a growling snarl came, "
get the fuck on with it!"
"Sheeesh calm down! Bringing it up now…" The TV screen-faced demon muttered.
Vox's screen face flickered, projecting an image into the air. Vortex couldn't quite make it out besides it being a skyline of the Infernal City. "Zoom and enhance."
The hologram shifted, becoming a blob of pixels showing a glowing blob. The resolution improved, displaying a portal and two distinct blobs, shapes, exuding from it. Vortex felt his heart drop into his stomach with an icy splash. The resolution sharpened, clearly showing two distinct humanoid forms plummeting from the portal.
"This one here, that's Corset," said Valentino, pointing to the larger blue-grey figure, who appeared to be clutching his crotch. He pointed to the other, smaller, very distinctly green and orange figure cartwheeling through the air. "This one, though. We don't got a clue."
"Two…" The voice said, his tone hushed and wondrous. "
Two came through the portal…"
"I'd bet dollar-hooers to donutpunchers that greenie here is the guy what Corset's hiring gumshoes and hackshaws for," said Valentino, his voice taking on that characteristic oily tone he got when he knew he had something bloody and fresh. "For a little extra, why, we could get some guys on the case ourselves."
"Quite unnecessary," said the voice, his tone flat and dismissive. "I've debased myself quite enough by associating with you
peons already. Verosika will complete your soundtrack and that will be all. Understood?"
"Sure thing, Ozzie." Valentino shrugged, not sounding the least bit surprised. "Pleasure doing business with you."
Ozzie. Asmodeus. So it was him who… and if this 'Corset' guy was looking for Brief,
"In the interests of doing further business, we'll give you this one for free," said Vox, switching off the hologram and adjusting his bow tie, giving a shark toothed grin. "While we weren't able to dig up any further info on John Doe, we can tell you where we calculate he landed…"
Oh no…
"…Imp City. East side."
Ozzie gave a hair-raising chuckle, his eyes glowing on the screen. "Much obliged, Vox. Who knows? If this venture of yours pays off, maybe I could get Sikky to compose your next soundtrack? Until then…"
The screen went black as the call was terminated. The Vees turned away from the computer, grumbling and chatting amongst themselves.
"Think we should follow up on this?" Val asked, sneering at the dark screen. "If Ozzie's interested, it's gotta be juicy. Getting a lil
leverage on a Deadly Sin? Such an opportunity doesn't come often…"
"Learn to quit while you're ahead, Val," said Vox, shaking his head. "We got what we wanted, let's leave it at that. And he's one of THE original Fallen Angels. If he was just some normal Overlord fine, but let's not poke the proverbial gigacock there."
"Scared Voxxy?" Valentino oiled.
"I got enough on my plate with the Radio Demon and his
bullshit," Vox snarled. "going to war with a Demon Prince is a totally different ballgame."
"Isn't he confined to Lust though? Can't get to us." Velvette chittered as she got her phone and made some pouty face and took a selfie.
"Doesn't mean he can't hire literal armies to come down on us." Vox got up, pacing off. "He's lending us the top pop star in Hell. So don't go digging." He hissed and Valentino chuckled darkly.
"Well if you're so insistent
partner," the tall Moth Sinner replied.
"Shame," said Velvette, huffing in disappointment. "This l'il mystery is gonna drive me nuts!"
Vortex didn't hear a word. His heart was thundering in his ears like a deth metal drumbeat. Asmodeus knew Brief was in Hell, knew where he landed, and he would come looking for him, or hire countless thugs or enforcers to hunt for him. The kid was important to the King of Lust. For what reason Vortex couldn't begin to guess, but quickly decided that the 'hows' and 'whys' didn't matter a flea's dick. He had to get him out of Hell, and fast, before they all found themselves on the wrong side of a Deadly Sin.
Vortex picked up his phone and called the only person he could think of: Loona.
So yeah, as you can see. This story takes place in two points in time:
Hazbin Hotel: Post Pilot-Pre TV show.
Helluva Boss: After Season 1-Episode 7 OZZIEs.
Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt: After the 'what could have been' Season 2 that... has been confirmed? Or hasn't it? Not sure. But this is after that Season 2 based on that one image that GAINAX released a while back.
As in a while I mean like over a decade ago. So Panty has been revived, Stocking has been defeated with the help of Brief, Garterbelt, Chuck and the Demon Sisters Scanty and Kneesocks.
But yeah, the original plan was to wait until we got to 1-5 or so before we publish en masse, but Vivzie released a tweet saying that Season 1 Episode 8 maybe coming out sooner than expected. And this was written with, well, no Episode 8 in mind. So I wanted to:
1. Get Vortex' Girlfriend characterized while she was still in Carte Blanche territory.
2. Get the Hound Party they had planned to(Vortex' GF as said by Vortex tends to throw some crazy ones, and he's willing to go along with them for fun)
3. Get in on that carte blanche territory we have before "Seeing Stars" S2E2 releases.
on top of naturally, any other released information of Panty and Stocking S2 drops too.
This has been niggling at the back of my mind ever since I rewatched P&S several years ago and watched Helluva Boss/Hazbin Hotel side by side too. And this has been developing too.
There will also be 3 arcs. Purgatorio, Inferno, and then Paradiso for the end of the story. We have that all mapped out.
And this will be more romanced focused than my other stories too(for a reason naturally). And this story may tackle some subject matter I haven't delved in writing wise, but that I have felt through my own life experiences too. So it will be a little... therapeutic in a sense. WA has the same feeling.
So yeah, what happened with Brief and his allies on Earth? Panty? Garterbelt? Everyone? You'll see in time...
I can't wait to see where this goes, and I hope you all enjoy it too.
