Chapter Text
"...it's high society, y'know?" His best friend said with more enthusiasm than normal, always the one to act so bored and mono. Motioning with a single hand, the other remained on the steering wheel.
Dark lines against the red. Hell's sun, which doppeled as its moon, was high above the horizon, reflecting light onto the ocean. The suspended bridge they'd been on for the past half hour headed to a part of hell that Alastor never thought he'd be welcome to. He'd been cordially invited by the king himself. That sure was something; to be sent an invitation by Lucifer, and in personal words. It was odd... and perhaps, he'd be killed just like any other pest that Lucifer wanted to be rid of. Princes, overlords, demons, imps, whoever touched his nerves even slightly... if they annoyed the king, they'd be gone within the hour. There was no escaping that judgement, and this thought genuinely frightened the Radio Demon. However, he didn't think this was likely. If Lucifer wanted him dead, they wouldn't have invited him to the summit of overlords and granted him the main headline of the news the following morning.
"High society." Alastor repeated, rubbing his chin. "I rather like the sound of it."
"Of course you do." Husk glanced momentarily. "This is what you've been waiting for. You've struck big, and you always felt like the kind to blend in with... well, the upper class."
Being an overlord wasn't as simple as killing everyone in your way. There had to be some kind of civility to it, grotesque and barbaric as it could be. In saying that, killing should not be devalued when it comes to being a lord. Perhaps it was more accurate to say killing was half of the idea. Understanding society, in which a structure did exist in hell, surprisingly, was the other part. Violence, but with cause. Torture, but reserved. Death, but with due dignity. It was a strange set of parallels that only those with warped morals could understand, and Alastor felt that he did understand. To be an overlord was his very dream upon falling; he'd made the rounds, apparently, and was finally getting noticed.
"You seem happy for me." The lord-to-be commented, laying his cheek on his hand and shifting his eyes away from the scenery and to the driver.
Husk scoffed, a smile revealing itself a little more. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just wouldn't want you to feel..." Alastor paused. "obligated. You've done plenty for me. No need to be so... eccedentesiast."
"Whatever that means, I think you're questioning the legitimacy of my feelings." The cat's ears twitched. "I'm not pretending, Al.' We've done a lot together, and it reminds me of the old days. Back when we were young, and still human."
As Husk glanced again, looking for longer than a second this time, he recognized Alastor's sarcastic smirk. The deer looked as if he was about to laugh, and so Husk rolled his eyes.
Alastor felt playful. "Feeling nostalgic?"
"Something like that..." Husk went back to a comfortable scowl.
Alastor looked back towards the horizon once more. The air was so tight, excitement-laced. He could take such full, restless breaths as if he was back with the aroma of those garden roses mother loved to plant so much. He hadn't felt this roused in a long, long time. Only then did he realize, lost in the ocean's reflections, that he was feeling nostalgic too. A silly feeling, and one that he'd pretend to let go of entirely. Only one demon could ever see that part of him, and they were sitting right next to him. His most loyal friend, both in life and death.
"I really am thankful." Alastor said in an almost-whisper, but without the shadow magic. It was always off when he knew it was just the two of them."Things... would be a lot worse without your diligent assistance."
"Hey. I told you to quit it with that 'thank you' shit." Husk gave Alastor's shoulder a pat. "You've done a lot for me, and I don't ever forget that. Must've been we really were brothers... even in lifetimes before the one we know now."
The Radio Demon chuckled. "I don't believe God would've granted us more than a single life. But here we are."
"Here we are." Husk repeated, smile returning.
That feeling didn't last long. Alastor's anxiety returned once they neared the end of the bridge. It had been an empty lane; one long, straight flooring without any risk considering the path was to a secluded island with no other cars. If you were on this road and weren't invited, you were either foolish or suicidal. The king's mansion was the sole establishment on it. It was rather intimidating, and Alastor knew Husk felt the same too, the cat's eyes centered straight ahead. He hoped they hadn't arrived last, despite being on time. One negative impression was all it'd take to end this dream. They didn't know much about this king. Only the overlords could tell about Lucifer's true personality, or what the king let on, at least; Lucifer wouldn't be found roaming the common populace, nor did they communicate with the public much at all. That was more or less relegated to the other royalty and lords. The title of king wasn't exactly defined the same as on the surface... but it still commanded the same, if not more, respect.
"Are you going to go for it then?" Husk asked, their conversation nearing a close as a guard emerged from a small toll on the side.
The mansion was all white and gold. This much was known, images of the palace sometimes appearing in the circulating media and news. Seeing it in person was something else. If you looked past the sky that bled and the blood-like, trimmed hedges, you'd think you'd been taken right back up into the kingdom above all. In the very center of it all, a statue of a winged man laid on his side, only their concentrated, malicious eyes visible as they stared off into another direction, the most prominent feature that guaranteed this was not a place of prayer.
"Go for what?" Alastor sounded childish for a second, his fear evident.
"The plan, Al'. The one you always go on, and on, and on about."
A knock on their window shook Alastor out of his stupor despite seeing them approach before. Husk wasn't caught off guard and rolled down the window, the knocking man's outfit indicating they were a chauffeur of sorts. They smiled, but not overly so; a courtesy one. The chauffeur didn't say a word, and just stared into the cat's eyes for a moment. Then, to the one in the back.
The guard's smile widened, and they turned jubilant. "Alastor, the Radio Demon. The king's been expecting you. If you please."
Alastor nodded as he followed the motion given, stepping out. Husk kept his eyes on the guard with the same level of intensity he'd been greeted with. The deer observed this. Clearly they were on the same page about this all being some sort of setup... or they were just that nerve-wracked.
"But I'm afraid it was only Alastor who was invited." The chauffeur added.
"Husk." Alastor said sternly, his ears coming to a point, anticipating his friend's objection. "Just wait for me. Leave, if you have to."
Husk and the guard stared at each other a while longer, but the cat would listen as Alastor leaned to look through the car window, giving a reassuring nod.
The Radio Demon was allowed through the gates by other guards, and he hadn't a chance to look back to Husk. These guards were all in white too, and to make the intention behind this imagery even more obvious, they had feathered wings of white. Alastor questioned if they were real... but what was definitely real were the markings on those weapons they kept closely on their waists. The swords glinted with a fine sparkle that did not look to be from the light of the sun, and the guns, similarly, were marked with flowing, yellow borders that gleamed in the same way.
The walk was significant, a courtyard and some to traverse through. It was empty, but shadows from within the home moved, and there was faint chatter coming from the inside. More security, who the deer initially mistook for statues, stood by with the same faces. X's and O's for eyes... were they masks? Every single step felt like it was being observed with the closest stipulation. Like one step would erase him on the spot.
Catching the corner of his eye, his mind wanting to distract from all the potential disasters that could spell his doom in the next few minutes, he saw a figure in one of the upper floor's windows. A lady, as he saw her trim form in that ornate red and black ball gown. Beautiful blonde locks, similar to the vain gold displayed in the estate, but not so condescending. Red dots adorned her despondent frown. Suddenly, it had come to him just who it was, or who he thought he was, and as they looked down to him, her eyes indifferent, he gasped. It was soul-binding.
So breathtaking that he'd nearly walked face first into the front door, not realizing they'd broken eyecontact seconds ago as he was now looking at a whole lot of Greek pillar. The doorman, dressed similarly to the chauffeur, noticed this and voiced concerned.
"Alastor, the Radio Demon. Is everything alright?" The doorman asked politely, volume calm, and tempo lento.
"I... yes, I'm fine." Alastor chuckled awkwardly, grinning.
The doorman gave a nod, and opening the door, motioned with a hand. As Alastor entered, stepping through the door, he should've been impressed by the elegantly designed rooms. The outside matched the inside, no expenses spared, and nothing to criticize. Every step felt like he'd pay for it, and a number of demons roamed the hallways, some familiar. He should've been caught up in all of it, but he couldn't shake that one image out of his head... over and over, he repeated the walk up to the house. Those few seconds were...
"Radio Demon!" The voice was a spine tingler.
Looking up to where the voice called, Alastor knew who it was from its unfamiliarity. The figure who the voice came from, was initially with someone else. Said 'else' was given a pat on their shoulder. That demon, pretending not to notice the deer's addressal, Alastor knew. That had been Sir Pentious, who'd 'oddly' been avoidant since their first meeting. In fact, more or less all of the lords were trying to stay away, clearly, as the once bustling hall was now empty, eyes from the surrounding rooms and upper levels staring. Alastor was looking upwards to who he presumed to be the king, the lobby quiet as if witnessing a spectacle. Silence had taken hold of the house, lord and king just staring at each other.
The upper figure raised his arms. "Well? Are you just going to stand there?"
"I don't wish to make a blasphemous assumption." Alastor began, his play taking form. "But I believe you to be the... owner of this establishment."
"You'd be right in your assumption." Lucifer's voice echoed through the halls that weren't at all empty.
"My king."
Lucifer looked around at the audience, and the audience peered back with worry, unsure how to interpret. Then, the king laughed, so all of them joined.
" Your king? Lilith would like a word with you!" Lucifer scoffed. "We don't do that here. The last nithing to speak in such nonsense, I tore the heart off of!"
"I-" Alastor began.
Just as soon as the sound left his mouth, Lucifer was an inch away from him. Alastor was petrified for a moment despite continuing to grin, though seeing Lucifer's smile fade into what seemed to be genuine curiosity, he blinked. The king, who's aura presented itself like no other's, suffocating the room, had now devolved into what felt like innocence. As hands carefully patted him, from back, to shoulders, to his ears, Alastor was unsure what to make of it, just standing still.
"Hmm. I see." Lucifer commented, fondling those ears for a second, then taking a step back.
"...I-" Alastor tried to begin again.
"The Radio Demon!" Lucifer interrupted again, accentuating, rubbing his chin. "Then that means... you can control radios!"
Alastor nodded slowly.
"Then, how about that shadow magic-- ahem." The king finally took a second to look around, as if he hadn't known everyone was watching. "Well, don't mind us! I didn't have this feast prepared for all of you to gawk at me! Stuff your faces! If a single morsel is wasted, I'll have all your heads!"
Though the last words seemed to be light as Lucifer's tone was steeped in mirth, no one was willing to test it. As the king commanded, they followed, moving back to just the way they were before the Radio Demon had arrived. Lucifer's irritation was palpable, looking at the drones of demons come back into motion. Then, looking back to Alastor, he settled back into a smile. A gentle, and motherly smile. The innocence and kindness radiated off of him like an angel. In this observation, it all made so much more sense.
"I think we're going to get along swimmingly, Alastor!"
Somehow, though not affirming such with words, Alastor felt the same way.