qt-579

[qt-579]

"Agree to disagree." A wolf is TOTALLY a dog. A very cool, big, feral dog.

QT jumped a little at the magic, although this time they actually did somewhat expect it. How else would they be disguised? Had to be magic. Still, they were impressed by how believable it was. Thought Alastor could only do clothes/costume, not a full on illusion like this. QT took their phone out to look at themself in selfie mode. YOOOO werewolf time wtf.

Tail may have started wagging a bit. Cool.

Ears were big, but like. Fine. WOLF. AHEM anyways. They put their phone away and crossed their arms, trying to seem a little less impressed. Gave a thumbs up. Yes, disguise is disguising. Your turn!!

Alright, the swat was fair. They took their hand away, contented that everyone is now keeping their hands to themselves!

Had a new appreciation for Alastor's ears tho. Probably best not to declare them cute aloud.

Alastor also going as a hellhound had QT humming, a little less worried now. We'll do the hellhound thing TOGETHER, nice. Makes it a bit easier if QT can follow Alastor's lead.

On type, they looked away, downplaying instantly. Not enthused by this decision or nothin.

"A wolf would be a classic choice, probably."

They didn't own a 3 wolf moon shirt as a teen, never!

[qt-579]

Alright, the swat was fair. They took their hand away, contented that everyone is now keeping their hands to themselves!

Had a new appreciation for Alastor's ears tho. Probably best not to declare them cute aloud.

Alastor also going as a hellhound had QT humming, a little less worried now. We'll do the hellhound thing TOGETHER, nice. Makes it a bit easier if QT can follow Alastor's lead.

On type, they looked away, downplaying instantly. Not enthused by this decision or nothin.

"A wolf would be a classic choice, probably."

They didn't own a 3 wolf moon shirt as a teen, never!

The touch to his own ears earned a small smack to the back of their hand. As if to stay 'stop that'. Could have been worse - but he needed to keep them feeling relatively safe if he were going to rely on them to guide him to where Niffty was.

"I was planning on being the very same," he said, rolling his eyes and not thrilled at the prospect. But he was far too recognizable, even outside of pride. Imps that ventured back and forth would have heard of him - sent warnings to avoid him. Though he was never very keen on stirring up trouble with hellborn, so long as they gave him a wide berth.

"Select a breed and we'll get on with this."

He could at least give them that.

[qt-579]

"Dogs exist too." Barely defensive on that. Who knows, he may have wanted QT to get on all fours and bark.

"Hellhounds are fine, I guess."

They totally didn't have a werewolf phase as a teen. Definitely not actually secretly a bit into living out their teenage dreams of being a bipedal wolf.

Ears being prodded was just, EXCUSe. Those are SENSITIVE. QT reached up on impulse and patted one of Alastor's ears. Oh- fluffy.

"You'd be as good a hellhound as me." Got them fluffy upright ears. Probably pass for canine slightly better than QT's even without tweaks.

"Or are you a secret fourth thing?" Keeping a secret option to yourself perhaps?

"Yes. A hellhound. I was hoping that would have been obvious."

Reaching out, he poked and prodded at their ears; at their nose with no regard for whether or not it was uncomfortable for them.

"You don't now, but you could. It's either that or be relegated to an imp or succubi. I'm not sure which you might prefer. None are exceptional choices."

[qt-579]

"...A dog."

QT blinked slowly, and looked at themself. Well. Fucking. Sure, they're fuzzy, but they're a FELINE.

"You mean like a hellhound? I don't think I really have the muzzle for it."

"Good. We will need disguises."

No, Alastor was not about to give them much of an option. So it was likely just easier to go right along without protest, otherwise the radio demon might have simply dragged them off into another ring without regard for whether or not they would be bounced back by some invisible ward.

"How do you feel about looking like a dog?"

[qt-579]

"Well, that sounds incredibly dangerous, illegal, and impossible." Not that they'd fully believed Alastor when he said that. QT heard about the parties sinners were invited to in the other rings, so if the laws could be broken sometimes, had to be able to hack it.

"Buuuut I'm more than happy to help in exchange for a clean hotel." This didn't feel like the best moment to try and leverage other deals, pluuuus they had a feeling Alastor wasn't actually giving options here. May as well just let it happen, and satisfy some curiosity while they were at it. Who else got to experience other rings? Pretty neat. Or horrible. They'll find out.

Why yes, he had forgotten. There were too many things to keep track of in a typical day, let alone having to recall every single conversation he's had that could have possibly been overheard.

He was not concerned - QT knew better than to go blabbing unnecessarily. And this seemed a rare occasion when giant ears (which were not actually all that giant) came in handy.

"Of course," Alastor muttered, though there was some relief in his tone. But focus soon turned over to the other, his grin forming into something wider; off-kilter.

"How would you feel about visiting Wrath with me?"

He could not conjure enough magic to disguise any other Sinner that had been there longer - more established. But with QT being relatively new... There was a chance that he might be able to pull it off. And he needed them. He would not be able to find Niffty on his own should she move about.

[qt-579]

Have you forgotten that QT gets Alastor's voice pumped into their head every moment they're in range? Which, while in the hotel, is most of the time. They'd caught part of the Falcata conflict, though had decided to keep firmly out of it. Not their problem.

But still. If they heard Niffty, they weren't going to keep it a secret. Maybe they could score points with the radio demon.

QT raised a finger, semi-hesitantly grinning. "You know, I should probably play the lottery today, because yes. At the start of the phonecall the guy said he was in a saloon in Los Satanio."

Hm. What he could attribute to maliciousness on QT's part was just as easily chalked up to ignorance. He had not exactly shared that Niffty had gone missing, after all. Just that she was skittering around somewhere, always, apparently, out of sight. Hoping that he could pinpoint her somehow before too long.

That QT was bringing it up now seemed genuinely accidental.

"Are you able to tell where in Wrath this phone call was?"

[qt-579]

Oop, they're being gripped! That's not frightening at all! Made them a bit afraid to be proven wrong, so they weren't going to give 100% certainty here.

"...Maybe? I mean, it sure sounded like her for a minute, in the background of somebody's phonecall. It could be a coincidence, but I've heard her say stab stab stab enough times to be suspicious, at least."

Whether she was stabbing bugs down there or something more pressing was obviously a bit of a concern. But considering she was in the background of a decently casual phonecall, QT didn't find this to be the most concerning situation to hear her in, otherwise they'd have spoken to Alastor with a bit more urgency.

"And you are informing me of this be-"

Oh. He did not need to be an exceptional genius to understand what was being implied. QT would soon have a looming radio demon extending hands to grip at their shoulders.

"You can hear her?"

[qt-579]

Hummed, pursed lips. "...uh-huh. So, interesting news, if I put my ear against the ground in the right places, I can hear things in Wrath."

Beating the WHOLE way around the bush. "Has Niffty turned up yet?"

@qt-579 ⧐ "Quick question; what happens if a sinner is found in the wrong ring?" UNPROMPTED ASKS.

"Not possible," he answers simply.

"There are barriers; wards. Things of that nature that keep Sinners firmly in pride. To circumvent them would take royal power that Sinners simply do not have."

Aside from he himself. And perhaps there may be more. But if there are, he certainly is not aware of them.

It is a well kept secret, in any case, for anyone who is able to traverse the rings.

[qt-579]

"And the souls thing...that's from deals...?" Puzzling this out. Felt forbidden to even ask. Day one, asking how to get souls. A little gross, but it's the way of this world, should know eventually, right?

"When you own somebody's soul, that just means...they have to do what you want? I mean, they're already dead. What's a soul worth other than your time?" Probably a bit too much rambling and speculation for a question. Had to cut themself off sheepishly before they got too ahead.

QT would maintain that they are smart, but as long as they were in agreement on the terms, Alastor can think whatever he wants.

At the magic wardrobe change, QT jumped, looking down at themself. "...Okay, it's not a bad look, but WARN a guy next time." They'd complain more, but this is fine. They might've picked lighter colors, but taste is subjective. "Is that a you thing, or can all sinners do that?"

[qt-579]

QT would maintain that they are smart, but as long as they were in agreement on the terms, Alastor can think whatever he wants.

At the magic wardrobe change, QT jumped, looking down at themself. "...Okay, it's not a bad look, but WARN a guy next time." They'd complain more, but this is fine. They might've picked lighter colors, but taste is subjective. "Is that a you thing, or can all sinners do that?"

The continued sass earned a roll of Alastor's eyes, but otherwise, he contained his griping. Maybe there was something about cat-like Sinners that made them ornery and annoying to work with.

As far as a dress-code went, Alastor nodded.

"You'll need to dress the part of a hotel staff member," he lied. No one else in the building seemed to. But if he could convince QT to dress themselves more in alignment with his own tastes, then that was just as well.

With a snap of fingers, QT's outfit would change. To something just a touch more formal, though not excessively so.

Capped with, yes, a little bow-tie to match the vibe.

"There we go. Not a permanent change, but I'm sure we can make some adjustments as needed."

[qt-579]

"I don't have personal property outside my clothing." Which was the most interestingly personal thing they had. Casual clothes. The company wasn't completely cruel.

QT shrugged and went back to eating. No sense in dwelling on it, they saw no way around it. Especially no sense in dwelling on it when they had the best meal of their life in front of them. "This is the best. Subjectively speaking. I can't make value judgements on the quality of one brand's food over another."

"Ah...." His smile would be forcefully tight and polite as he withered on the inside. As QT continued, though, he would begin to wither on the outside, slowly stopping his eating as he flushed in embarrassment.

"Tha's rough... Uh, do you have, like, a phone or anythin' like that?" He was already way too invested and in Ready To Help However He Could mode.

[qt-579]

"They haven't, actually." QT's tail papped against the bench seat and they leaned back, arms crossed. "I must bring it out for you, specifically." And they're not sorry. They don't want to fuck up their whole afterlife in their first week in hell.

Alastor's agreement had them relaxing. "Cool." Bagged a job without selling their soul! Although the job is just getting them a radio and not money. Hrm. But also free housing and food at the hotel, so...works out?

Then they paused and looked Alastor up and down. "...Is there a dress code?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you are obnoxious?"

Just a comment; just a question. Just an absent wondering. But the offered terms of this pseudo-Deal are not exactly anything he can be particularly pressed about. With the radio in QT's possession, his influence is guaranteed, regardless of how long they keep it.

Hm. He sees no real losing side here.

"Fine. I think that's acceptable enough."

[qt-579]

"You didn't say for how long." GOT YOU. TRYING TO PULL ONE OVER ON QT?? Well it WON'T WORK.

They tapped a claw on the side of their glass for a few moments, then, "How about this; if I get tired of the work before you're satisfied, I'll give the radio back. Take the loss."

Ear flicked. Not gonna acknowledge it this time. You fucking nerd.

"Maintenance. Cleaning. Housekeeping. Inventory. Whatever need be done at the hotel, really that does not include you acting as pseudo security. I'd rather trust you with the mundane first before giving you any license to inflict suffering with those big ears of yours."

It is a running joke now. He's not giving it up any time soon.

[qt-579]

Their strained smile returned. They really don't want to be a buzzkill, they really really don't. But. "You understand that I don't get paid, right?"

Not to mention. "Q-Series robots do not require time off and can work approximately 16 hours per day, 7 days a week without any detriment to their performance." QT took a bite of burger, washed it down with milkshake. "I don't have any assigned tasks at this time, but I am always functioning within my assigned parameters."

Which is to say, they don't have "time off". Not really.

"That sounds lovely though. I'll make sure to let others know when they ask for local food recommendations."

"Oh." They do not love that. Dirty hands. But okay, that's how this is, fine. QT took a few tries to figure out which way to hold the burger and which way to wrap their mouth around it, but finally got it.

Started nodding. Yes. This is what food should taste like. This has to be the best food the world has to offer. The only thing that'd make it better is if it weren't getting on their hands.

Of course, their mouth is full, so they said none of this. Just nodded and chewed. Yeah. Yeah it doesn't need anything else. Fuck dandilions, burgers are their new king.

[qt-579]

"Oh." They do not love that. Dirty hands. But okay, that's how this is, fine. QT took a few tries to figure out which way to hold the burger and which way to wrap their mouth around it, but finally got it.

Started nodding. Yes. This is what food should taste like. This has to be the best food the world has to offer. The only thing that'd make it better is if it weren't getting on their hands.

Of course, their mouth is full, so they said none of this. Just nodded and chewed. Yeah. Yeah it doesn't need anything else. Fuck dandilions, burgers are their new king.

"I mean... Tha's jus' how it is with burgers, whether ya dip 'em in anythin' or not." Or at least juicy burgers. Or burgers with too many toppings or sauces on them... "Ya don't gotta. They're probably fine as is--" He would test that theory by taking a bite, muffled pleased hum as he chewed and nodded Definitely fine as is.

[qt-579]

"What kind of manual labor? And for how long?" FINE PRINT, PLEASE. You BETTER bide your time, cuz QT is READY. No monkeys paws today, no sir!

"Not every business transaction need require a full soul to engage."

He'd not coerced thousands of individuals in his name by being reckless about when he chose to implement soul-related deals. Alastor was an apt salesman - and very much enjoyed biding his time.

"If you'd like, you're welcome to pay it off by returning with me to the hotel for a bit of manual labor, if you are not so flimsy as to be able to accomplish it."

[qt-579]

"How do you eat it without getting it on your hands?" Their immediate question when trying to lift the burger, and things were just...sliding around. Juices. Sauces. Boi. "I don't really want to get this in the milkshake. Maybe it's better not to dip."

"I'm synthetic-organic. Everything in me was created in a lab to mimic life as best as possible without too many of the disadvantages of organic life." Their outsides were basically all synthetic organic. Eyes did have that robotic glow, though. "I suppose not. It might just be an unfortunate downside to being based on organic life."

QT frowned at the shake and the fry, and tentatively did a dip. Fine. Contamination risk deemed low. Popped it in their mouth and thought about that. "Oh, the warm fry fixes the cold issue. This is a good strategy. Do you dip the rest of the food too? Looks like it'd be a tight fit."