#VOX | 001. | I CAN CORRUPT MANIPULATE CONTROL WHAT YOU SEE ﹆ ic.

[hclluvahctel-a]

@diistortion:

               ✦ ｢ vox ｣ ⸻ Alastor scowled, prying himself up at least into a sitting position on the sofa, vision swimming and eyes wincing at the obtrusive, garish lighting. His senses were just reacting viscerally to everything around him, including the smells; he wasn’t certain if it was due to the environment itself or simply because he’d been drained and unconscious for who knew exactly how long. He rubbed at his temples and then at his eyes, groaning in irritation.

“I should hope not,” he clipped back, his voice weary and more static-heavy than usual. “Mn....where am I? Where did you find me?”

Frankly he was too woozy to be too terribly pissed about being in Vox’s presence. For now.

VOX SAT BACK IN HIS CHAIR, flexing his hand and watching as sparks flew between his fingers absentmindedly. "You're in hell, chuckle head." A brief pause. "Specifically, in my offices. Can't have The Radio Demon dying in the streets, can we?" His voice drips with sarcasm, evidently mocking that he'd managed to find Alastor in such a state.

"Does it matter where I found you? You're here now. I'm still waiting on the THANK YOU for saving you, whenever you're ready."

[hclluvahctel-a]

"YOU'D THINK THEY'D START TO LEARN. Maybe it's best NOT to challenge the man with the gun and holy bullets."

[hclluvahctel-a]

"voxy," valentino purrs, fingers curling on the other demon's hip and waist, top set of hands catching each of vox's wrists, yanking him close. at first, his voice is a smooth purr. "you and my angel seem to be spending a lot of time together. what is it?" he sneers the question, squeezing tighter, digging his claws into him. "you don't want me anymore? i'm not enough?"

VOX THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT when Valentino initially approached, assuming the moth was simply there for some attention more than anything else. The tight grip against his wrists, however, inclined him that maybe he was not pleased. His body stiffened when he mentioned Angel, and he grimaced as the moth loomed over him.

"It isn't anything like that, babe." He replies steadily, attempting to flex his wrists and see if there was any give. "Just playing around a little, you know? I get why he;s your favourite play thing."

[hclluvahctel-a]

"IF YOU'RE DUMB ENOUGH to drink that shit you deserve what happens to you."

[hclluvahctel-a]

VOX WAS HARDLY SURPRISED BY ALASTOR'S LACK OF FEAR, if anything it'd fuel him to press further until he managed to crawl under the radio demon's skin. It was always good to have a goal in mind, after all. The snapping teeth merely makes his digitised grin widen, and were he able to he would not hesitate to bite him.

"Your EXISTENCE upsets me." Comes the blunt reply, not breaking his eye contact with Alastor. The knife presses closer, threatening to tear through the skin. "What will you do, hmm?"

@hclluvahctel sent: warning - vox to alastor warning - sender presses a knife against receiver's neck as a warning.

instead of being cowed, alastor's grin sharpens. if anything, they lean into the knife. feeling cheeky, he even snaps his teeth in vox's face, static rising as a chorus of stolen voices scream around them.

"what's wrong? have i upset you?" they croon, clawed fingers tapping the bottom edge of the television demon's screen. "go on," they chuckle, scraping their claws along the edge, "try it."

[hclluvahctel-a]

"GLAD TO SEE THAT HE'S STILL GOOD at his job."

[hclluvahctel-a]

“Yeah, I know you’re right, but I started arguing about the wrong thing. And I didn’t want to admit that I’m wrong!” @ Vox

"WHAT A FUCKIN' SHOCK." The television drawled, though there's a small hint of amusement in his tone. "Was waiting to see how long you'd keep the act up. You are a shit liar."

[hclluvahctel-a]

“I’m tired of being careful.” @ Vox

"SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU EVER cared about being careful?" The Television demon mused, tilting his head slightly to watch as Angel strutted around him. "You got plans today, then? Gonna celebrate your apparent new 'freedom'?"

[hclluvahctel-a]

Vox tags

[hclluvahctel-a]

VOX HAD STARTED HIS DAY AS USUAL, wake up, scroll through the socials for any urgent problems through his networks, and then taking his time with his morning routine and dressing in one of his usual suits. He had meetings planned for the afternoon, but for once his morning was actually cleared for once.

Without anything planned, he resigned himself to watch over some of the security cameras he had scattered across the rings. He scrolled through the feeds, though the moment he spotted that familiar red figure walking across the street his attention was quickly drawn to him.

Each nearby camera shifted to watch Alastor as he moved, though unfortunately he hadn't set any up in the alleyway so once the radio demon took the turn Vox was unable to follow. Though his keen eyes didn't miss the figure who followed along after him. Initially assuming there was nothing interesting to that, Vox turned his head to look across other screens in the meantime.

The SCREAM that echoed through the room's speakers was not one Vox was familiar with, yet something about it felt strangely familiar. Head snapping back to the cameras he'd been following Alastor with- he just barely catches the figure he'd spotted earlier scrambling away while holding something that seemed SUSPICIOUS at least.

Staring at the screen for anymore sign of anything, he punched in an order for one of his lackies to use the camera system to follow after the guy. It didn't take long for Alastor to reappear- LITERALLY- on one of his screens. He was on the ground- and that sure as hell wasn't right. The pool of blood that was spreading beneath the demon wasn't a good sign either.

Without a word, Vox stood from his chair and immediately made his way to his car waiting outside. Giving his driver the command to get to the street ASAP. Without traffic laws, the businessman was confident that he'd get there within a few minutes.

Once the car came to a skidding stop, Vox stepped out and approached Alastor wordlessly. Kneeling down beside him, he tsked in disappointment before reaching out to shake his shoulder. "Hey. You awake?"

@hclluvahctel​ | plotted starter with alastor & vox

Alastor’s day had started out normally enough, beginning with his usual routine: wake up, make the bed, shower, brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed, then head downstairs and join whoever else might be awake at the same hour. Most of the time that cast consisted of Charlie and Niffty, as well as an occasional appearance by Vaggie and Angel Dust, which gave the Radio Demon plenty of opportunity to entertain himself as he made and enjoyed his own coffee and breakfast.

Then, he had gone on with his day: washing his own dishes, bidding the hotel staff farewell, and leaving so he could go get some personal errands done. Truth be told, Alastor was excited about today in particular; a musical guest of considerable popularity was planned to appear for an interview, conducted by yours truly! It put a little extra pep in the demon’s step as he kept walking, barely even taking notice of the figure tailing him from a distance.

It’s only when he turns a corner in one of the darker, more abandoned parts of town, situated between himself and his current destination, that they make themselves better known - and by then, it’s far too late.

As soon as the Radio Demon turns to face the foreboding presence he’d sensed approaching from behind, a sharp, blessed blade pierces his body - sinking deep into his abdomen, but not enough to emerge on the other side. Normally, pain is no big deal, but considering the fact that this is an angelic weapon, it hurts far more due to the holy power embedded in its metal. As a result, the wound sizzles and steams, and Alastor proceeds to do something he never imagined he’d do out in the open.

He screams. It’s loud and ear-splitting and filled with screeching static. There’s no way that could have gone unheard by anyone nearby.

Whoever they are, they don’t stick around for long, yanking the blade free and turning to hightail it out of there before Alastor can recover enough to bite back.

Blood, nearly black in color, flows freely from the gaping wound, staining his red shirt with a much darker shade and covering his right hand as he instinctively clutches at it to prevent any more from escaping. Another downside to being injured by blessed weaponry: they don’t heal nearly as fast. This means that Alastor could potentially bleed out and into a second, more permanent death unless he managed to either patch himself up or find help. 

He manages to use what energy he has left to teleport himself, trying to picture the hotel in his mind’s eye as his new destination. Instead, he misses by a long shot and only winds up teleporting a few feet away, putting his bleeding body out onto the street for anyone to come across. Unable to even get onto his knees, the Radio Demon collapses, face first, onto the asphalt.

Maybe someone heard him scream and would help him…but the chances are incredibly low.

Still…he can hope.

[hclluvahctel-a]

VOX WAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYING the situation he and Alastor were currently in. Having information over his rival was always reason for him to gloat- and seeing Alastor get ANNOYED by that fact. "Well, next time you need rescuing I'll be sure to light everything with candles." He replies.

He had taken note of how Alastor sounded, certainly not normal by any means. Not that that caused him to feel concerned by any means. "You're still in Pentagram City. Private Office in my HQ. Is that enough WHERE for you, huh?"

               ✦ ⸻ Alastor was, decidedly, annoyed by the situation. Weakness was not something that he could afford to show to one that by all rights was The Enemy. Vulnerability was a curse.

Still, manners were important, especially when one was on quite literal wobbly legs.

"Would explain the garish lighting," he grumbled, rubbing at his eyes again; even his throat ached, evident through the odd whirrs and overly heavy modulation. It will pass, he told himself with feigned optimism. "Thank you. The where is still a bit important, however."

Alastor was having difficulty recalling the moments up to his blackout, even parts of the evening before. What time was it?

"I was looking for something important."

[hclluvahctel-a]

THE OVERLORD COULD FEEL THE GRIP TIGHTEN, and the smile on his screen faltered somewhat in response. He didn't like when Val was in a mood like this- and Vox didn't exactly have an EXCUSE for why he and Angel had been spending more time together recently. None that Valentino would accept, at the very least.

"Well- YEAH- it wouldn't be fun if it wasn't convincing, right?" He replies, his tone giving away his unease. "It isn't anything, babe. Nothing to worry about."

@hclluvahctel cont.

"really?" hands tighten around vox's wrists when he moves, promising that he's not going to be wiggling his way out of this. there's a difference between angel and vox, in his mind, to vox's luck. with angel, he wouldn't -- won't -- hesitate to harm, won't ask what he was thinking when he was with vox. but vox is less of a trophy and more of an effort. which just pisses him off more. maybe he's been too nice.

"sounded real sincere for playing around."