"Anything. It's On My Dime, Not Coming Out Of Your Pay, So Order From Someplace Nice, Get Yourself A

"Anything. It's on my dime, not coming out of your pay, so order from someplace nice, get yourself a few courses." Vox held his phone out, then floated it over to Angel on a little spark of energy. "I'm going to step outside. Don't feel rushed. When you're done ordering, you can slide my phone under the door." Brushing his hands over himself, Vox smoothed his clothes a bit, then put on a smile--which quite literally made his screen brighten.

"And hey, if you'd ever like to join me, feel free. My suite is--no offense, but a nicer place to have dinner than this. I don't even have to be there, you're welcome to use the table, the kitchen. Eat off real plates rather than out of the delivery dishes. You're better than that." He put a hand on the doorknob, about to step out, but stopped himself and looked over his shoulder.

"You know, Angel, when you raise your chin and let your eyes blaze? I don't think there's a soul in Hell who looks more beautiful or defiant. Even if it feels like he's snuffing the light and life out of you, it's in there. Burning."

Vox stepped out and shut the door behind himself, then just waited outside, content to stand there until Angel gave him back his phone. The man had given him a lot to think about--specifically After Care. That wasn't something Vox understood. The reference felt important though, and so as he stood there, he began accessing the internet archives through his wifi, thoughts turned inward, learning...

It didn't take long before he learned too much. Frowning, he folded his arms and leaned against the wall, looking up vaguely at the ceiling.

He had a lot to learn, if he was going to be there for Angel. A lot. And ideas, ideas were brewing...

Angel listened intently to everything that Vox was saying, though he was still struggling to recognize if he believed it or not. Trust was something that had been completely destroyed by Valentino, and he was so terrified that he would fall for someone's lies all over again. Better to only be there for himself, to fight his own battles, to tackle his own demons. That's what prevented hurt.

But fuck, if Angel wasn't such a people person. It was why he had always been driven to the limelight in the first place. Why he had found his place as Hell's hottest celebrity. He liked the attention, the validation, the flattery. Val knew it, too. Val had used that so damn easily against him. Vox wasn't offering any of that, wasn't offering anything bad. Just some conversation, a place for Angel to be heard for once.

Though he had so many questions, he didn't know if he was prepared to ask them. Or if Vox would even give answers. But the thing that had pushed him to be able to trust Vox, even a little at this moment, was that admittance of jealousy. It took putting aside one's pride and ego to be able to say such a thing, and if there was something he did know about Vox, it was that the Overlord valued his pride and ego.

Hand clenching more at his robe, Angel let out a small laugh. Dry, not full of the normal vigor and energy that was completely Angel Dust, but still there. "Can't be part a' th' Vees if mah' name ain't start wit' V. Ah' ain't Vangel Dust." He teased, eyes flickering towards the other. He knew what Vox meant. He had lived in the tower so long, up until Charlie had given him that saving grace of an outlet. He'd been there almost as long as Val had been, honestly. The first star of the pimp's new studio.

He's staring for another few moments, deciding to sigh and move over to the plush couch in the middle of the room, flopping onto it as if even standing took energy at this point. "Ah' ain't neva' had after care from anyone. Don't really expect it, yeh' know?" He's rubbing at his wrists now, not even acknowledging that he's doing it, noting where the bondage ropes from earlier were just a little too tight.

"Don't think ah' wanna talk about it." He's shrugging, bringing his knees up to his chest, arms curling around them as his chin rested atop them, glancing to the television demon. "But ah' ain't ate all night." And if Vox knew, Valentino had worked him an almost 24 hour shift at that point, as punishment for Charlie showing up. "So ah'd be a fuckin' idiot t' say no tah' some free food." A soft smile. "...can ah' order anythin' ah' want? Stromboli is sort of a...comfort food. Or pasta fagioli."

[introduces Blitz to miniature horses]

"What the fuck? Who-- are you--what are you, like, jelly bean horses?" he asked the first miniature horse to approach him. When the animal looked alarmed and bolted away, Blitz stood up straight and put his hands on his hips.

"Hey! I was talking to you! How come none of you are talking? How come... wait..." Eyes widening, he turned to look around the pasture. It was true. Not a single one of these horses had anything to say. They were just...

They were...

Animals?

"No," he whispered. "No, no. No, no..." Horses weren't animals! They were people! Every soap he watched made that obvious! Horses were people, they were--they were--fuck! Horrified, Blitz leapt over the fence--and fell facefirst off the other side of it, landing in a pile of manure. He pushed himself upright, spitting and gagging. "Ugh, shit, fuck. What the fuck, what kind of fucked up dimension is this? This--"

Something snorted near him. Warm, moist breath blew across his neck.

Blitz went very, very still. For a long moment, he didn't look up, but the fascination proved to be too much. Slowly, he turned his head up--oh, yeah. Fuck. Exactly what he thought it might be. A bull.

The bull snorted and pawed the ground.

Smiling, Blitz got to his feet. "Heyyyy, uh. Nice doggie. Listen, can you understand me? Because those tiny fucking horses ca--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN'T!" His scream continued as he flew across the farmyard, finally crashing through the roof of a barn.

When he landed amidst a group of hens, Blitz rubbed the crystal for all he was worth and dove through.

Fuck. Since when were horses animals??

The shadows drop off a gift for Blitz. What looks to be a pristine western revolver, as if it were ripped straight from the old west.

Blitz's eyes widened. He had frozen at first, unsure whether or not he was about to have to fight a shadow--which, how the fuck did one even do that?--but when the gift appeared, he blinked and raised his hands to take it.

"What is... why is... is this from Eclipse?" he asked, hands closing around the weapon. It felt sturdy, heavy, and it looked like it might somehow have come from Earth, at least ten years ago... So how did someone get their hands on it now? Immediately loving it, the imp closed his claws around the weapon and hugged it to his chest.

"Tell him thank you. Please. I don't know what--I haven't done anything to deserve it? But--thank you."

Fuck. Why was he always so nervous about this guy? Blitz's resentment faded away as this man erased any worries that this was just about class. Eclipse was nice. Genuinely nice. There was a reason people liked him. Shit, Blitz knew a sweet incubus named Yves who was head over heels for the guy, despite having never actually spoken to him... Which, the imp thought with sudden delight, was maybe a situation he could help with.

"You know, maybe in exchange for spelling lessons, I could give you something pretty valuable... like the phone number of a guy who thinks you're the prettiest thing he's ever seen, but he's shy as shit. He's been through rough times recently--I can't say what happened to him, not my story to tell--but apparently he saw you and was like, magical Disney moment, sparkling hearts in the air, absolutely entranced. We talked about you for like an hour at a club recently. I tried getting him to man up and go find you, but he's like, you know. Like I said. Shy as shit. I mean, I'll ask him first, make sure he's cool with it, but like... you've got a secret admirer out there, and he's fuckin' cute.

"How you been, anyway?" He rubbed his face against Eclipse's hand, loving that this guy understood that petting was always a good idea, and felt himself relaxing, his blood pressure just easing off down to a calm, contented place it rarely was.

Beak was curled into a very knowing smirk. Eclipse knew he looked good, and he could see that moment of his tease getting to Blitz. He might be quick to hide it, but he saw right through that mask.

"Oh Blitz, you know you can just call me sexy." Though he did enjoy being called handsome. Resisting the urge to caress the imp's cheek as part of this little play. "Oh yes, that. I've seen how poorly you write. And your texts...from what I know, you grew up in the circus? So it makes sense for you to not have been properly educated."

A wing wrapped around Blitz as he was leaned on, not exactly cuddling, more a sign of comfort. Frowning a bit as he stepped away. "The offer was genuine. That kind of thing isn't a secret, so it's not like I'd be breaking the rules of my house by teaching you. And I have plenty of free time since my shadows do most of my work for me."

He reached out to rest his touch against their chin, smiling down at him. "I'm your friend, and I want to help. Just because I'm a Goetia, doesn't mean I think worse of you because of your upbringing." This coming from a Goetia who's looked down on by the others because of his upbringing.

"If you do well, I'll reward you with that whole...you holding something other than a pen, thing."

for @mouthymercx0x0 because it's time for these red menaces to hang out!

-

After passing a few notes here and there, Blitz felt entirely confident that Deadpool was his friend. There was absolutely no reason not to go and hang out with him. Besides, after a day like today? Blitz needed the company, and he wasn't quite up to going back to Hell. Sure, it would be a short trip, but there would be so many questions about why he was beaten to a pulp. Deadpool? Deadpool might laugh, but Blitz felt an easy sort of resonance in their energy together, and trusted the man would understand.

So, after picking up a bag of bagels, he headed off in search of his almost friend. When the second attempt at portaling spat him out right next to the guy, Blitz tripped on his way out of the portal. Swearing, he pushed himself up, brushed himself off, then put on a bright smile and held out the bag of bready goodness.

"Hey, fucker! I brought lunch. What are you up to, and can I hang out?"

The imp looked like trash. Deep bruises that were starting to swell, cuts and abrasions everywhere, his clothes all torn up from making friends with the concrete, but he was still smiling and bright-eyed.

"Before you ask," he said with a little snort, and gestured towards himself, "I made the mistake of trying to take out a mark near some asshole named Daredevil. Name like that, I thought he'd be on my side, but noooooo. No, no. Apparently, killing is," Blitz made air quotes, "wrong.

"So. Hey, how you been?" Maybe it was ridiculous to talk to a guy he didn't really know like this, but Blitz didn't care. Deadpool's existence made him happy, and he didn't want to pretend that happiness away. He liked the guy.

❝ We should go on a date! Where would you like to go, Blitzy~? We can do anything your heart desires! ❞

"Wait, anything?" Blitz asked, immediately turning and looking up at Stolas, his attention completely shifting. He'd been waiting in line for Loona--literally for her, she had commandeered him and instructed him to hold a spot in line for some concert for her--and had somehow conned Stolas into joining him. Until now, Blitz had been enjoying commenting on the outfits of all the people around them, but now it was like the world fell away.

Immediately shifting gears, he took Stolas by both hands and tugged him close, leaning his whole body against Stolas's legs, his chin on his hip, looking up with (mischievous) adoration. "Big words, pretty-bird. You sure you want me to hold you to 'em? Cause I think..." Blitz shoved the top of his nose against Stolas's belly, huffed, then planted his chin right back on him, "that you and me should play laser-tag. Not against each other though. Team shit. You and me against the world? I bet we'd be amazing together."