#so yes pls don't feel obligated to reply <3 i know that ship has sailed

[doublejango]

"Ain't asking for much, are you?" Blitz asked with a dry laugh, closing his eyes and pressing a hand against his forehead. "Fuck. Something that scares the Goetia?" Even asking it felt wrong somehow, like he was somehow betraying Stolas--but Stolas wouldn't want this. Stolas wouldn't want powerful Goetia to go against relatively helpless Goetia, would he? He was better than that. Stolas was kinder than that, more compassionate--

And then there was Vepar, Blitz realized. He stood up straight, adjusting his hold on the phone. "Actually, I know someone who can help... and I think I got somethin' that might do you some fucking good. It's this," he dropped his voice, glancing around to be sure there wasn't anybody listening, but the street Blitz was on was very, very quiet in comparison to what it sounded like was happening in the background of Striker's call, "this amulet. It protects the wearer against any kind of demonic attack. I just figured out that a demon can put it on--but here's the fucking catch. While it'll protect you, and you can put it on? Once it's on, you can't take it off. someone else has to.

"I know a Goetia, one who's--well, no, he is a complete psycho, but he's still in good with the rest of them, and he doesn't have a problem with us. Let me talk to him, see if he can take it to you. Whatever shit is going on, he should be able to get through it, through any wards or whatever, to find you.

"As long as you're goddamn alive to be found." His hand tightened around the phone again, making it creak. "So tell me, Striker, that you'll be alive. I don't want to lose another friend. Not today. Not when I just got you back."

Striker’s voice was cold and bitter.

“Lucifer? Lovin’ us? Blitz, I highly doubt that. The way he’s been runnin’ things, treatin’ the Hellborn like we’re nothin’ more than dirt, don’t exactly scream love to me. But I’ll tell ya this—things would be better if Princess Charlotte took his place. She’s got more sense and heart than he’s ever shown.”

He paused, his voice thickening with the weight of old scars.

“This ain’t the first time a Goetia took away someone I loved. I was married once, had a kid. My boy, Jackson, was only seven. A Goetia bastard wanted our land to build some fancy country house, and I wouldn’t give it to him. So he set fire to our home. Made sure I was there to watch them burn… my wife, my son. Gone, all ‘cause I stood in his way.”

There was a heavy silence before Striker’s tone sharpened again.

“If you really wanna help, Blitz, I need leverage. Find somethin’ those bastards care about, somethin’ so important they’d do anythin’ to get it back. Or someone they’re scared of. Paimon, Lucifer—don’t matter which. Somethin’ to turn this whole damn game upside down.”