Chapter Text
Keep
It doesn't look promising at all.
Velvette of the Vees is typing on her phone, paying no attention to anyone else. Valentino is flirting with the assistant who brought the drinks and is supposed to be taking notes, trying to convince her to come to his studio for an ‘audition’. As for Vox, he keeps looking at the monitors on the other side of the room.
The fact that Keep herself is deeply hungover doesn’t help at all.
« Remind me again why you're here? » asks the CEO of Vox Industries, without bothering to look at her.
Keep barely suppresses a wince of pain. Everything here assaults her: the garish colors, the bright neon lights, Vox's voice... even the sound of Velvette’s manicured nails typing on her phone.
In retrospect, she probably shouldn't have had so much beelzejuice last night. Or better yet, not gone to the party at all. But, come on, it was The hot event in Pride to celebrate the launch of Verosika's new album. And how many opportunities does a mere Sinner have to see Hell's most (in)famous popstar and the Deadly Sin of Gluttony at the same time, eh?
She takes a sip of water and smiles, even though nobody is looking at her.
« Actually, I came here to pitch you a new show. Something that has never been done before! »
« Miss… » declares Vox of the Vees with a perfunctory smile that doesn't reach his eyes, still fixed on the monitors.
« Poughkeepsie », Keep helpfully clarifies. « But everyone calls me… »
« … you have to know that dozens of people try to pitch me stuff every day », he continues, as if she hadn't said anything. « And every one of them is convinced they've come up with the revolutionary idea that's going to change the game. »
« They usually make me want to claw my eyes out. Or, you know, someone else’s », Velvette adds, without looking up from her phone.
So the female Overlord is paying attention, after all. Keep doesn't know if it's good news or bad.
These Vees Overlords are a bit scary, to be honest. And she lived in the Cannibal District for years before moving to the outskirts of Imp City.
« Okay, but I'm here, so you could at least listen to me », she says, which is probably tempting fate, but it's too late to back out now.
Vox and Velvette look at her. They don't seem at all convinced.
« You have two minutes », says the squared-faced Overlord.
« The show would be about a bunch of imps who decide to go against the established order by founding their own company and traveling to Earth to kill humans in the name of the Sinners. »
The idea came to her a few weeks ago, when she was in a bar with her girlfriend. One of the patrons, drunk of his ass, was talking about how he wouldn't have been executed in the chair if someone had murdered the Girl Scout who had testified against him at his trial. He said he was willing to pay good money to see her dead even now.
« I’ll give it to you that it's different from what everyone has presented to me », says Vox, and that doesn't sound like a compliment.
« It's just as pathetic and lame as the others », adds Velvette, confirming that she's not convinced, in case her bored expression wasn’t conveying the message clearly enough. « Who wants to watch a show about a bunch of imps, anyway? »
Despite the fact that her head is pounding, Keep had expected this argument and prepared a response. So she gives the Overlord influencer the same answer she practiced with her girlfriend yesterday morning in bed:
« Actually... I think a lot of Sinners would. You know, they're always complaining that working conditions in Hell are insane, that they should go on strike, and blah blah blah? Imagine if there was a show that said, ‘See? These imps played the game and found a way out. They didn't succeed, far from it, but they did manage to make something of their lives. And they’re just imps. Imagine what you could do if you put your mind to it.’ »
« Uh... maybe », says Vox after a few seconds, giving her a thoughtful look. « What would happen to these imps? »
That’s the part Keep knows by heart. She repeated her idea over, and over again, so she got this to the T.
« Well... the boss... the show would be called Helluva Boss and would center on him, by the way... he's that lambda imp, okay? He's not particularly attractive, he's got large burn scars on his face and hands, no hair, pretty eyes, but that's about it…’
« Uh... looks like you've got someone special in mind », Velvette comments, raising an eyebrow.
« As a matter of fact, yeah, I do. I saw this imp in a community theater the other day. He was pretty good. And he had that kind of infectious energy, I think he'd be perfect for the part… »
« Didn't ask for the details. Go on! » Velvette says, with a twirl of her hand.
« Anyway, that imp boss, he’s got game, so he managed to screw some rich, sexy guy and steal some kind of magical artifact that allows him and his crew to go to Earth and kill humans. And the best part is, instead of killing him for the theft, the rich, sexy guy asks for more. »
Vox and Velvette exchange a look.
« Sorry to break it to you, sister, but nobody's going to believe some hideous imp managed to bang a rich hottie », says the female Overlord with a wry smile.
« They will if the actor playing the rich hottie is convincing enough. Plus, it would reinforce the message. It would be like saying to viewers, 'Hey, if that guy can bang that bombshell, you've totally got a chance with him.' You’d be selling them the dream. That's a rare commodity in Hell. »
« Um... Maybe I could talk to Stolas about it », Vox says thoughtfully. « I heard he just got out of rehab and his agent is looking for something discreet to keep him out of Hellywood until he finishes the program, or something. And you know Stolas, he could sell a luxury ticket for a cruise in Envy to a Sinner! »
Keep opens her eyes wide. Not only is Stolas Goetia a total hottie (even she finds him attractive and she's as gay as can be), he's also the Sinners' number one darling. His action movies aren't always top quality, but they make a lot of money, because his fans are willing to watch any movie he's in. With him, the series would be a total success.
« Stolas? Who cares about that fucking OWL BITCH? » suddenly screams Valentino as he throws his coffee cup at the wall, where it explodes into a ton of tiny splinters.
« Good job. Looks like you've managed to break your boy toy again… » says Velvette, with a cutting smile at Vox.
The square-faced Overlord sighs heavily. Putting a smile on his face, he stands up and walks over to his partner, who has crossed his arms and looks furious. It would seem that the rumors about the messy situation between Vox and Valentino after the former’s brief affair with Stolas Goetia weren't rumors after all…
« Val, Val, Val », Vox says coaxingly, taking the other Overlord's head in his hands. « You know I don't care about that guy. It was just a one-night stand. But you have to admit, he's extremely bankable. Imagine all the money we could make in advertising! Not to mention the extra influence it would give us. »
« I don't care », grumbles the moth Overlord, looking away with a sulky expression on his face.
« Besides... in case you didn't hear, he'd be forced to play the lovesick fool for some ugly imp nobody. »
A reluctant smile appears on Valentino's lips.
« Fine », he says. « But if you invite him to dinner, I'm out of here! »
« I won't. I promise I won't. So... anything else to say about your show? »
Keep takes a few seconds to realize he's talking to her again. She wracks her brain, almost dead from alcohol poisoning, and gives him the first idea that comes to mind:
« Well... we want to make it as immersive as possible, not only for the viewer, but also for the actors. So we're going to use their real names and incorporate real-life details into the show. »
As the words leave her mouth, she realizes how stupid this is. Velvette grimaces and even Vox gives her a nonplussed look.
Valentino, on the other hand, seems delighted.
« Which means Mister Look-at-me-Im-so-pretty Goetia would play himself courting an imp. Oh, I love that! »
« Well... I'll call his agent tomorrow to see if he's available for a tryout. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you, but who knows ? » declares Vox with a shrug. « I’ll give you two weeks to come back with a test episode. We'll make our final decision on that basis. Do you think you're capable of pulling that off? »
Keep knows a trap when she sees one. And at the same time, this may be her only chance to succeed in the business. So she gives Vox of the Vees her most professional smile and declares:
« Absolutely! »