First Interaction With @doublejango :

first interaction with @doublejango :

Striker was his enemy, had been his enemy for so long now that it felt strange to think of him as anything else, felt strange to care, but all the same? Blitz did. His stomach tightened as he listened. The idea of Striker being killed by the Goetia was nauseating in a way Blitz never would have expected it to be. His hand tightened around the phone as he took everything in, as the story hit him--hit him, and made so much about the man make sense.

"Striker," he said, his voice warm, loving, "I don't hate you. And what you just told me... I didn't know. I'm sorry. You deserved better. So did she. And if this is what you have to do--I believe in you. I do. And I'll help, if I can. Hell, I just fought Lucifer not all that long ago, because I wanted the Hellborn to be treated better. He loves us. All of us. And he cares... and maybe Paimon doesn't have the right to do these things, but he has the power." Closing his eyes, Blitz rubbed a hand against his forehead. "I don't want you to die.

"What do you need from me? Tell me how to help you." A dangerous question, maybe him signing his own death warrant, but so be it. Blitz had been ready to die for the Hellborn once before. Now that they were rising on their own? He would be a fucking hypocrite if he wasn't willing to risk it all to help them again--especially a man he had once trusted, once cared about... a man who deserved a second chance. Who deserved better.

"Paimon took away someone from me. Someone I love."

Striker let out a low, bitter chuckle.

“I know it’s a risk, Blitzø. Hell, I ain’t blind to the fact this could get me killed. But it’s for somethin’. For her. For a chance at somethin’ better than what we got now. I ain’t dyin’ just to rage against the royals. I’m fightin’ for a future where the ones we love don’t get torn away just ‘cause some stuck-up bastard says so. 'Cause he thinks we're too inferior."

He took a breath, his voice tightening with conviction.

"This ain’t just about rebellion, it’s about freedom. And yeah, maybe I’ll die. But I’d rather die fightin’ for her, for us, than live a life where we’re both chained. I won’t throw it away, Blitzø. I’ll make sure every damn second counts.”

He then licked his lips, watching the people chanting together in the streets.

"I know you hate me. I...I did awful things to you and your friends. But I changed, Blitz. Or at least I'm doin' my best to.

I can't describe ya the pain I felt when I found out my love was forced to marry another man...

And that he was forced as well, his adoptive family kept as hostages so he could be compliant. Who's gonna be next? Paimon doesn't have the right to do these things."

Hey Blitzø, have you ever seen what an owl looks like without its feathers? Would you like to?

Blitz snorted. "How bad can it--holy fuck, does no one feed them?!" He clutched the stranger's phone so hard the screen cracked, eyes wide in horror. "That---are they like, are they okay? LIke, not this dead fucker, but owls in general? How many mice do I need to feed Stolas a day to make sure he doesn't like fucking waste away?"

"I'll pick you up," Blitz agreed, unable to help but be so deeply charmed by Chaz that it almost hurt. "Give me your address?" And once he had it saved in his phone, Blitz leaned over the counter and kissed the shark on the cheek before whispering into his ear, "Don't worry so much, Chaz. I got you. Nothing's going to happen to you."

And nothing would. As long as they were together, Blitz would have his friend's back--even if it meant he had to defend him against Moxxie and Millie. But Blitz was an optimist, and he believed in his friends. Even if M&M showed up, even if they crashed the hangout, Blitz had faith that they would hear Chaz out, that they would give him the chance to atone. Everyone deserved that much, and those two were some of the best people the assassin knew. Those would would hear Chaz out.

Probably.

Demetri tugged on Blitz's sleeve and smiled apologetically to Chaz. Blitz gave the shark a sheepish 'what can you do?' smile and let the incubus lead him away.

-

Once they were alone in his place, Blitz shoved Demetri up against the wall, kissed him with all the passion he knew this man had wanted from him once upon a time, and almost wept when he felt the way Demetri melted. Demetrl whimpered in relief, in need, and wrapped his arms around Blitz, and Blitz did everything he could, everything he could, to make it up to him, to try and heal that old wound...

But when it was over, when they were curled up in bed together and Blitz was tracing his claws feather-lightly over a much more recent wound (Demetri kept it wrapped in bandages, but Blitz knew what was under there), it was Chaz that they both immediately spoke of.

"He's a good man," Demetri said, his lips brushing against Blitz's shoulder.

"Chaz?"

"Mmhmm. Give him a chance. A fair chance. I see him all the time at Ozzie's, and I promise, Blitz. He's a good man. I can tell sometimes, feel it, when people--have scars, wounds they carry in their hearts or souls. When maybe they haven't had the chances others have had, to be happy. He has that now, with Ozzie. But when you knew him before? Just... be good to him. Promise me?"

Blitz closed his eyes and pressed his face under Demetri's chin. "I promise," he whispered.

-

And so the next day, when Blitz showed up to pick their beloved shark up, he was on time. He was dressed nicely. He came bearing gifts--a bottle of non-acidic water Blitz had gone out and smuggled in from Earth that morning since he knew what a rarity it was in Hell, and a bag of tasty takeout.

He grinned when he saw Chaz, opened the door for him--

And there, on the passenger seat, next to the water and the food, was the jacket. Cleaned. Pristine.

"All yours, man. Are you--you sure you still wanna come? Cause if you just wanna take the jacket and lunch and go about your day, you can. I just, you know. I'd like to spend more time with you. But only if you're actually, if you're-- you know. Comfortable with it."

Chaz awkwardly scratched his neck, feeling very embarrassed and shameful about it all "Yeah guess I didn't leave you much choice, aaaannd about that... I kinda fucked one mob guy well enough so he made a fake jaw cause he has a friend who knows how to smith, bought me enough time to get out of there thank Leviathan. He's probably noticed it's a fake by now but now Im with Ozz, who's aware of that whole shtick so I'm... mostly safe now." Chaz shrugs awkwardly before honestly blushing at hearing Blitz say he's glad he's not dead or maimed, like that's something so strange. "G-Geez Blitz your gonna make me blush, thanks..." He said, watching the exchange between the two with just a hint of sadness on his face, before blushing even deeper at the proposition from Demetri, blinking in surprise, chuckling before leaning in closer to Incubus.

"Heheh so now you wanna pick all this up when I seem like a package deal with Dickzy Blitzy, should I be offended or impressed you have such high wants for what you want to bring back to your bed~ CauseI can least say Blitz is a stud under all that~" Chaz teased with a grin, winking at Blitz as he wiggled his hips and swayed his tail, even now he enjoyed bantering with Demetri, even if the proposition did sound nice.

He looked over at Blitz as he spoke, not even seeming dissappointed as Blitz asked for a raincheck, smiling a bit when he asked him to text when the shark could manage, and even wider at the question "U-Uh Yeah I can be free! Not a great shot myself but sounds fun, which... uh ring is it in? Unless you want to pick me up, which I can tell you my adress, just... Don't tell Moxxie or Millie, I'm afraid they'd break down our door..." Chaz admitted awkwardly at the end, honestly fearful of his ex girlfriend in particular still. but shrugging it off, looking to Blitz with a smile still, clearly happy to be asked out for an outing with the Imp.

for @voxuli thank you for being down to try a thing! and for giving Vepar a shot!

-

Although they had never yet spoken, Vepar enjoyed Vox. At least, in theory. The Overlord was charming, yes, and he was thorough. Vox seemed to not simply analyze trends as they arose, but to nearly predict them, from the Goetia's understanding. He admired that, and admired the work ethic; not everyone in Hell cared enough about anything to commit to it.

And, of course, he was curious about Vox, about his ambitions, his aspirations. A dedicated man, a man willing to work hard, who could charm others with a smile, no need of his hypnotic powers? A man like that was truly dangerous, and truly intriguing. While Vepar didn't often bother to pay attention to what the various overlords were doing, there were two that caught his attention. One, Visage, ran the district one of his businesses was located in. But the other? The other was this charming little television man. And so when he heard that Vox had a fondness for sharks? Vepar could not have been more pleased.

The grand opening of his next exhibit wasn't until the next day, and he hadn't really planned anything for it, not until he heard that. Not until he learned that there might be something he could offer Vox, something to entertain him for an evening--a fair exchange, as Vepar would very much enjoy the company. So, he had sent the Overlord an invitation: Come to a private viewing of the new shark exhibit, as up close and personal as you wish.

Now that the staff had all been sent home, Vepar waited. Most of the lights throughout the massive aquarium were turned down low, to give the creatures some semblance of a natural rhythm. There were even false stars and a moon overhead--the lights convincingly accurate, and what a painstaking but thoroughly satisfying bit of magic that had taken. But, to light their way throughout the aquarium, he had also laid hundreds of little candles. There was nothing to catch fire here, it was quite safe, but the effect was a lovely one, he thought, keeping the lighting soft and somber...

At least until they got to the shark exhibit. That, that Vepar was truly proud of, and eager to show the Overlord--

If he showed.

Although the Goetia could certainly get away with simply summoning Vox here, he had no reason to be so rude, not when he wanted something from him. So, patient--and perhaps worrying a little, fretting just a bit--he stood outside of the aquarium, watching, waiting, hoping. If there was just one soul in all of Hell who might love the grace of these creatures as much as he himself did? Then all of this would be well worth it.

okay but is Blitzo in love with Moxxie?

"Are you like, are you not?" Blitz asked, maybe more than a little incredulous. He'd been cleaning a rifle, but he set the pieces down now, folded his arms, and looked at the Sinner. "And hey, don't run. I'm not mad. I'm just disappointed.

"Have you seen Moxxie? Cause that fuckin' guy is the most handsome imp I've ever seen. No offense to Fizz, but Moxxie's got that certain somethin' that just, you know. Moxxie's hot as fuck and he's got a heart of gold to back it up. Plus, if he wants to, he can take you out from like, way more than ten yards," counting the big numbers wasn't really Blitz's strong suit, "and you'll never even know you were targeted til it's way too late. So. You tell me, bucko:

"What's not to love about a handsome guy who survived with his heart intact, against all odds, will always have someone's back, respects himself, and knows how to make actual like, good choices? Moxxie's a babe and a half, and you gotta be stickin' your head in the sand if you don't see it."

[re: @moxxietude, of course]