Errant Error on Errands

[songbird_slayer]

Well, that was a strangely... nice brunch. Still, she was left with a whole lot of answers to find, a lot of information to gather, and all the time in the world to do so.

But since when was she idle?

To those who knew her, she was still rather recognizable, complexion, scale placement, hair and eyes (the gold sclera was interesting- she couldn't stop looking at them in the mirror and making them glow!) ever the same. But the lovely little wings aside, she'd been gifted with a bit of height. A few inches, indeed, but she may as well have been made nine feet tall.

...Or not, she realized, as she watched her first hellborn walk on past, taller than life. Damn it all.

But with a sigh and a shrug, she unfolded the paper in her hands. She'd taken it upon herself to make a to-do list, things she wanted to try and accomplish within the first week... could she accomplish them?

That'd be nice.

Comments

Lust Ring, Ozzie's

[songbird_slayer]

"...Well, I guess having directions was pointless."

She lowered the list and ogled the very glitzy building with the name in lights and everything. But when her eyes trailed to the very, very...

...very, very...

...VERY long line, she realized that perhaps she should have saved this errand for last. But the King had insisted that a being under this Sin's jurisdiction should introduce herself. It was 'only polite to [his] pal! He's a kitten, don't worry about first impressions.'

She sighed, blew hair away from her face. Then, she marched awkwardly (eesh, the hooves!) to the back of that line.

She could be patient.

[grointothebust]

Lucifer gave him the heads up. A very special someone was sent his way. So special, in fact, that she's officially the fourth outsider to make her way into Hell! And this one was a spicy purple succubus. Ozzie would love her, he insisted. Considering how much fun the others were? The Sin made the necessary preparations to greet her personally.

He was to be told the instant she was spotted. If possible, he'd break away from his tasks to say hi. Lots of things are possible when you're a Deadly Sin.

By her spot in line, wisps of purple flames suddenly appeared, growing and taking a shape familiar to everyone else waiting to enter the club. Tall, well dressed, an impressive coat of fluff and feathers. One hand held his cane, the other pinched the edge of his hat, tipped up once he fully manifested. Excitement over the king's presence rung out as glowing green eyes met Madhuri.

"Ms. Qalli..." Asmodeus spoke her name with elation. With a swooping arm gesture, the man bowed politely and invited her to walk with him. "Welcome to Ozzie's. We've been expecting you."

[songbird_slayer]

Lucifer was a dick in many different ways, but sending strangers without a warning wasn't one of them... well, not to his dearest friends, anyway. Ozzie could always use fresh talent, so why not send the pretty little thing down his way?

Madhuri startled with the flames manifesting and shaping, wondering if she'd encountered a mage somehow, but when the fire became a person, she instead found herself with eyes wide as saucers.

Big.

Big boy.

Big beautiful boy.

Sweetie, we're staring.

"Oh, er- truly? Who could have sent word-"

Pause. As she walked with King Asmodeus, she canted her head curiously, gaze distant.

"Right. Your kingly friend in white. Oh, but I never had time to curtsy! ...And I think I was standing in a rain puddle..."

[grointothebust]

"All the more reason to walk you in. It won't do, leaving a lovely lady out in the rain. Especially a VIP."

There were a few cheers from people in the line. Some for Ozzie, some for Madhuri, some a little jealous that she was getting special treatment. Happens all the time, and Leviathan ought to thank him for the donation.

The restaurant interior is lavish, with gorgeous velvet curtains by the stage and adjustable lights currently on cozy dim hues. Several dancers were on stage or in the cages up top, strutting their stuff and looking so proud and confident. Demons of all kinds from succubi to baphomets to imps. All genders and orientations represented.

"We're celebrating Pride month well after Pride month ended." The rooster elaborated. "We respect preferences all year round, but thought to extend the celebrations by a week or two. I can tell you all about that and then some. You got a lot of questions, right? And I got us a private booth where we won't be interrupted."

Once they arrived at said booth, the Sin invited Madhuri to take her seat before he did.

During the bow, he reached for her hand. "King Asmodeus, at your service. Call me Ozzie." A light, respectful kiss to her hand before letting go.

[songbird_slayer]

She moved along and kept her head high. The cheers were nice, but she'd also known well the sting of what others were capable of if they weren't happy with the treatment of certain others.

Besides, the interior of Ozzie's was a wonder and she could focus on that! Look at all these people, thriving, entertaining, prepping for another performance set. The stage called to her, but no... no, she must... resist...

"I do have a lot of questions. I suppose His Highness went over my... out-of-town-ness? Usually I try to keep something of a low profile when I visit a world, but this world is so..."

She swung her arms out. "BOOM! It's all out there, in that it makes little old me feel like I shouldn't be real quiet about much. Within reason, anyway."

The succubus took a seat and crossed one leg over the other. But her hand was kissed and she couldn't stop the blush, or her other hand touching to her cheek.

"...King Ozzie. Forgive me; formalities are a habit smushed firmly in my head by my family. But King Lucifer apparently spilled every last bean in the jar, it seems, left me at a disadvantage! Regardless, I am Madhuri, or... Maddie."

Fire King Asmodeus, you can call her anything.

...Settle, now.

"What questions are off the table, I wonder...? My questions are all over the place, I'm afraid."

Pride Ring, the Hazbin Hotel

[songbird_slayer]

She'd seen the flyers. This was the epicenter of a project to turn the fallen Sinners and grant them passage to Heaven.

She had to remind herself that this world had just one Hell and one Heaven. She supposed that was simpler than seven of each- goodness, how much thinner would the books in Ishgard be?! Can you imagine?

It's worth a peek. The King had insisted that his daughter's work be admired. So... okay, then! Admiring it is.

Did- did people live here that weren't guests looking to redeem? She had to wonder.

Re: Pride Ring, the Hazbin Hotel

[ambassador_emily]

Fourth time! Fourth time would absolutely be the charm.

This time, Emily didn't even wait for the person approaching the hotel to reach the door. She was out the door.

"WELCOME TO THE HAZBIN HOTEL!"

The announcement came with full orchestral fanfare. Violins and cellos this time, soon accompanied by a cymbal roll and marching band percussion. All in the young Seraphim's quest to perfect the greeting.

Emily swooped upwards, waving an arm as she created dazzling explosions of light...

WHACK!

...before hitting her head on the bottom of the marquis and crashing down to the cobblestones. She sat up rubbing her head and picking her halo back up from the ground.

"Ow."

Sitting on the cobblestones beneath the marquis, the angel held up a crimson deer plushie. "Here's your complimentary Alistor."

[songbird_slayer]

She couldn't help jumping a bit at the sudden... Emily-ness. But the fanfare, the percussion, literal bells and whistles were enough to disarm before- with a cacophonous whack, she was smack-dab into the marquis.

Madhuri winced, and moved to join her on the cobble.

"A ten for effort, dear, but I don't think that's worth the concussion...!" She hunkered down and- oops, hesitated briefly-

"Are you alright?? That-"

But she was caught by the plush deer. She stared at it for a good, long moment without a word. Without so much as a breath.

"...Where... did you...?"

[ambassador_emily]

Emily rubbed her head again as Madhuri stared at the plushie. "Yeah, I need to keep this an inside thing. Ceilings are higher." Than outdoors.

"Please tell me you're here to be a guest?"

She stared up.

"Wow. You are very pretty."

[songbird_slayer]

A brief flutter of a blink.

Then, she laughed, all warmth. "Thank you, sweetheart! You're very pretty, too. I love what you've done with your hair. I hope you didn't give yourself a goose egg."

She offered both hands up. "I know a few healing arts, if you have need of it. It should at least soothe the discomfort."

MY GOD MY HEART BEATS FASTER

[herewardbound]

Something had felt off all morning.

A strangeness, really, that had started with Denji, with something feeling off about that connection- and yet, everything was fine. Denji was his usual self, and he trusted his brother not to bullshit him about something that would have been bothering him so severely, so what...

It had itched, in the back of his mind, all day.

And then he stepped into the lobby and laid eyes on a woman he'd thought was dead and buried.

"... Madhuri?"

[songbird_slayer]

She was folding that piece of paper bearing the address and stuffing it in her pocket when she heard her name.

She lifted her head, and the look she gave this very tall, very leggy bird demon was rather blank. It looked a bit through him.

"Aye? That's me, can I-" Then her eyebrows creased in the middle.

That voice. She raised a finger for pause.

"Hold it. We've met. But where?"

[herewardbound]

His face fell, slightly.

She wouldn't remember. You forget everything on leaving.

But...

Please.

"Do you remember Reverein?"

[songbird_slayer]

"...I..."

She frowned in thought.

"I recall someone that sounded a lot like you. Nay- Exactly like you. And this, combined with that red deer doll that girl gave me..."

She reached up and massaged her temples, eyes closed. Sighed.

"I'd been sent to find... others, that had come from another place. Was this with that man meant...?"

[lonelysmiles]

Arguably the sense closest tied to memory was smell, and the scents of shrimp etouffee and gumbo might just activate Madhuri's almonds.

Despite the closed doors to the kitchen, the delightful smells eeled out through the cracks, tempting mouths to water.

Meanwhile inside the kitchen, Alastor was trying to focus solely on his cooking, but it was near impossible when every time he glanced at the stove itself, he saw soulless modern style. It operated via touching sensors and was probably the bee's knees to someone whose primary skills with cooking revolved around opening the accursed microwave to heat up some overly-processed slop masquerading as food.

Alastor actually wished his recipes didn't take so long to prepare. He despised setting foot in this manufacturing plant.

[songbird_slayer]

It was a fact she knew well, experienced many a time. To smell the etouffee made her heart ache.

She wouldn't normally be lured by such a thing, particularly when it would be a stranger's kitchen, but her hooves drove her forward. There surely had to be something she needed to see for herself. Perhaps it'd... activate her Echo? Maybe, but she felt driven.

Driven, and hungry. Perhaps if she asked nicely, she could have a little taste? If smell didn't work, then taste would surely help her recollect what was nagging in her mind.

Her hands lay against the frame of the door as she cautiously peeked around, and saw a very tall black and red frame.

It brought her pause, eyes widening. That silhouette, it...

[lonelysmiles]

Alastor hummed some jazz, trying to distract himself from how wrong the kitchen felt. He could do this...he could do this just fine...

His ear swiveled around at the sound of someone peeking in the kitchen.

"Lunch is almost ready, my dear! I'll send my shadow to set the...table."

He'd turned to see whom he was addressing, assuming it was Charlie making sure he wasn't overexerting himself. The purple succubus was entirely unexpected, causing his smile to freeze on his face. Particularly when she looked so much like...

"...Apologies for staring, my dear! You just so happen to look like a friend of mine!" He gave an awkward laugh. "It's...it's been a long time since I last saw her."

Pentagram City

[songbird_slayer]

Madhuri hurried along, a basket hung from an arm. The list had been long abandoned for she had cleared it, and now she had a sizely grocery list to consider:

Apples? Right. Pomegranates? The juice? Flour? She'd eaten a number of the foods here, and she was relieved that- despite the silly names, and dirty ones sometimes- the food seemed to follow general conventions here.

That made her cooking itch MUCH easier to scratch. But she'd also worked with worse... and that's not something she wanted to relive. Ever.

Dark times, indeed.

"Should probably grab some meat, too..." She wrinkled her nose, stood tall and looked around. Butchers were a thing, certainly.

She just... wasn't entirely on board with nibbling on the flesh of another demon, is all. She'd already made the mistake of bumping into Cannibal Town. Nice bunch, but rather unnerving. She'd been looked at like a piece of meat before, but never literally.

[helluvaboss]

Suuure, yeah, there were staff at the palace to do shopping. Sure, he could ask Loona to grab stuff. But he wants out of the house anyway and he's got a gun, he'll be fine to pick up some snacks before going back to the office to do more paperwork--

He's still on crutches, but stops briefly, spotting the succubus.

Like. Yeah, she's attractive, but also............. she looks kind of like...

"Hey," Blitzø barks at her, "What's your name?"

[songbird_slayer]

"Wait, what am I thinking? What do I need a butcher for? I have--"

Her tail waving paused with the bark. Oh. That was familiar.

"Who's asking?" When she looked over her shoulder, she paused. Her eyes widened.

Her nose filled with the phantom scent of smoke, an ironic memory of fire.

The pomegranate in her hand dropped.

[helluvaboss]

"The name's Blitzø!" he replied, leaning on a crutch and flashing a grin. If it wasn't her, then oh well, he could rizz up a cutie. But if it was...

[my_menagerie]

The ghostly portal opened and Azrael stepped through, getting his first real look at where Lucifer had made his home. He tugged the lapels of his angelic-steel-encrusted jacket. He'd dressed up a little for the man. Still death-metal, but formal death-metal.

Well, this will be a first. Haven't had a first for a while.

The place was large, especially for a realm with limited space. And empty. Not of decor and furnishings, but of life. Like a mausoleum. Azz could appreciate the vibe. His own sanctuary was even moreso. But he didn't live there.

Now to find the clown.

It didn't take long.

"Anybody tell you recently that you suck?"

[youknowwhothisis]

He still had business in the palace, even if it was a cold, empty shell after Charlie moved out and Lilith left.

Hell still required a King, after all. He still had his occasional meetings, occasional obligations where some Goetia families would bicker at him until he'd pick a side, and then everyone left with some modicum of 'accomplishment'. Really, if he had to play relationship counselor to another bunch of dodos ONE MORE TIME he was just going to ask them to fight each other and pick whoever beat the snot out of each other harder.

But he was wrapping this obligation up. The Goetia had left, and he was getting off of his throne to make sure record of the interaction went into the archives... an unbiased account, in case they decided to re-bicker about some niggling detail or tried to claim some other outcome.

The voice had him freeze. He looked up, and... squinted. But inside, his stomach felt like it was in a vice. What the fuck was an angel doing here??

"...Which one are you, again?"

[my_menagerie]

"Azz!" Azrael said, spreading his arms. "Yes, I know it's been a while. The last time we saw each other, I was pointing a spear at you. That sort of thing usually leaves more of an impression. Way to get over it."

Hey, he was open to being surprised.

Big, bright, fake smile. "So what trouble have you been up to?"

[youknowwhothisis]

He inwardly sighed. The funny thing about having the worst day of your life- one of a few of them, at least- is that your brain enjoys blurring some things like faces.

Lucifer took a breath and shrugged, open-armed. "Ohh, you know, housing the damned, waiting for the next sacrifice that's worthy of my time to pop up top and sing a little song about being a naughty little godless heathen."

He would keep his cool. Perhaps then he could figure out what the whole purpose of this visit was, other than trying to just kick sand in his face like it's Kindergarten.