Merry Hellmas!

[helluvaboss]

Hellmas Eve and Hellmas Day...

Where do you intend to stay?

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Stolas Ars Goetia's Palace

[helluvaboss]

It's been no secret that Blitzø was behind finally getting the massive portraits of Stella taken down. Get the giant fuckin' things stacked up for Stolas and Octavia to burn for fun, or to store away in the attic or whatever - up to them.

But if this is gonna be his new home, then his home needs to be as it always was - covered in photos of the people he loves.

Buuuut he's been keeping THAT plan under wraps - waiting until the middle of the night when everyone was completely passed out to join the helpful staff in affixing everything to the walls. Was it all perfect? No way, his shitty phone camera could only scale up so much and some of those original portraits were taller than anything had any right to be!! But it's all up before dawn and holy fuck, he's so fucking proud of himself.

After high-fiving the six staffers that helped him get it all set up and giving them a huge xmas bonus (Stolas surely wouldn't mind, right?), he told them to fuck off and go see their families and then went through the palace rooms.

"GOOD MOOOOOOOORNING! C'mon, sleepyhead, the sun's up!! Come see all the cool shit!"

[mansbestend]

The bedsheets were a tangle, and Denji was the most beautiful, messy-headed starfish that ever starfished in bed on Xmas morn.

Demon-Dad must have perfected the volume that would wake this boy, who could sleep deeper than the dead, who scrunched his face first before he gave a yawn.

"...wha time'sit..."

[helluvaboss]

"Who gives a shit! It's fucking HELLMAS! I'm gonna make a HUGE fucking breakfast once everyone's at the table! There's a shit ton of presents too - Moxx and Mills got ya something too!"

[mansbestend]

He sat up. "Hellm..."

...

"I get presents!?"

This was new to him.

[helluvaboss]

"That's right!! Merry Hellmas, Denji, dad loves yoooouuu," Blitzø cooed, pulling Denji into a hug and smooching his fluffy cheek.

I.M.P. on Hellmas Eve

[ohcrumbs]

The office didn't typically get decorated for holidays - the budget most years was painfully tight, after all - but this year there was just that much more thrill in the air since Blitzø had raided the old hellmas decor out of the Palace and stuffed a shiny white tree with brassy ornaments. It really was so tasteful, for once!! And not just the lemon tree with hellmas lights on it.

Moxxie was thrilled. This was going to be the best Hellmas in Pride yet! And afterwards, he and Millie were going to go spend the last days of the year with the in-laws - he was looking forward to it, for once.

The presents for now have been stacked in a pretty little display in the middle of the meeting table. Loona, from the front desk, blinked slowly at Moxxie before scoffing. "You know all that effort is going to get completely fucking ruined the second you give one away, right?"

"I'm aware! But for now it's perfect. Whaddya think, Millie?"

[ninefunerals]

It was so exciting! It really put her in the spirit! That poor lemon tree could rest now, far from the whores. Millie had offered her clap and her excitement at seeing that shiny tree put up, as it really just put something so NICE into the air. It was almost like dreamotion in a way...!

And Mama and Daddy were excited to see them, too! After the Harvest Moon Festival, and after the good news, it seemed that finally, finally Moxxie had some family to look forward to seeing. Fffffffffuck you, Crimson. She'll eat your fuckin' heart if you try comin' around.

"Oh, we can put a centerpiece on the table or somethin' after! I think it's cute, baby." She reached over and took his head, kissed him.

"...Deep breaths, now- B's gonna freak, you know."

[ohcrumbs]

"Don't worry, my plan is flawless. Revealing it to him and enduring him will be just fine because he can't not deliver the rest of the presents for everyone at the palace," Moxxie boasted.

...He was still dreading it but this was something that had to get the bandaid ripped off of eventually. Might as well go with the FLAWLESS plan.

"Feeling alright, sweetie? Feeling confident?"

[ninefunerals]

It really was a flawless plan! That's her brainy guy right there. They knew how to handle the Boss-Man.

But Millie took a breath, let it out... then gave a thumbs up.

"Locked and loaded!" She hadn't felt sick in a whole week. That had to be a sign... and thank Satan, she was tired of eyeing for trash cans or bathroom doors wherever they went to make for the sneaky-sick.

And, with things out in the open, she could wear some cute stuff and not need to hide the tummy all that much.

[ohcrumbs]

Okay. Okay wow, here we go. Loona's glance and subsequent eye-roll wasn't encouraging but it at least wasn't derisive. They've got this. They've got this!!

Moxxie still knocked on the office door before opening. "Sir?"

"Y'ello?" Blitzø twirled around in his chair, clearly texting. "Didn't break any of the ornaments already, right, Moxx?"

"Wha-- no, nothing like that, sir!" Moxxie gawped indignantly.

[lonelysmiles]

Alastor had gifts to deliver, but he wasn't quite sure he wanted to deal with keeping up appearances in a party setting just yet. He was still quite tired after all.

Melting out of a shadow, he glanced about, looking for the perfect place to leave three packages marked for Moxxie, Millie, and "Baby M(?)"

[ohcrumbs]

"Alastor, sir!" Moxxie's voice chimed up from behind him. Alastor had no luck with his attempt to sneak in - Moxxie was on water cooler duty, filling up a nice tall thermos full again for Millie. "Merry Xmas, sir. It's good to see you," he greeted. The barbeque a while ago had been nice, but Alastor had seemed so distant and sad.

[lonelysmiles]

"Really, Moxxie, how many times must I tell you that you don't need to address me as 'sir'?" Alastor asked, ears twitching with mirth. His smile was more relaxed than the last time but containing a hint of nervousness at being at the party. "Though it's good to see you as well. How are you and the missus doing?"

[ohcrumbs]

"Sorry si-- Alastor," Moxxie replied almost reflexively. Old, old habit. "We've never been better! Millie's finally over the hurdle of the nausea and she said she's feeling great! Saving up has been going well, and we finally let out the secret. I'm so excited!"

[herewardbound]

Maybe he didn't work for IMP anymore in an official capacity, but that didn't mean he didn't still harbor a great deal of fondness for them -setting aside the personal relationships.

So here he was, on the Hellmas Eve afternoon, carrying a small collection of suspiciously-shaped packages, and in a surprisingly good mood, all things considered.

"This place looks... more festive than I expected. Happy Holidays."

[ohcrumbs]

"Akechi! Welcome back!" Moxxie greeted - he was GLOWING with excitement in general, which only added to the festive atmosphere. "How've you been settling in?"

[herewardbound]

"Well enough, I suppose. It's been chaotic- you know how everyone is. But... good. It's nice to see you both."

A moment later, he added, "And you, Loona, even though I saw you this morning."

Visiting Bee - Slightly Before Hellmas

[lonelysmiles]

Was he feeling all that great? No. He still looked like he'd been through all seven Rings repetitively. He was still so tired and drained. However, he had enough power to get down to Gluttony.

He needed to show Bee he was all right. She'd been ready to go to war for him, and he didn't want her to make herself ill.

He held a large squishy package in his arms. He really didn't know if she'd like this, but...well, he wasn't sure what else to get her. Or, in this case, make her.

He knocked, seven knocks in the "Shave and a haircut, two bits!" pattern.

[makethathoney]

There's a silence from the inside of the little retreat of a home. A stillness, even, as if the home itself was holding its breath after that knock. It's broken only by the loud buzzing before the door flings open.

Bee's a wreck, though not physically at least. Her fur was tousled, she was wearing an oversized pair of pajamas that practically hung off of her, and her makeup clearly had streaked down her face and stained her white cheeks with black smudges.

There's not a word or a moment's hesitation before she grabs him in a hug with all four arms.

[lonelysmiles]

Alastor stiffened for a moment as he was pulled into that hug. Then he slowly shifted his parcel between them as he reached up and patted her back.

"Oh, Sugar...Are you all right?"

She looked like even more of a wreck than him. Had something happened since they'd last met?

[makethathoney]

The pat on the back was something she hadn't realized she'd needed from him so, so bad after practically mourning him this whole time.

On a dime, almost, her anger flared - she kept it under control, she was tired, but her hues were a little more orange than blue. "Are you okay? Are you safe? Did those Nautilus bastards fuck off and die? Do I have a bunch of shady motherfuckers to eat? Because I will. I'll eat every last one of them."

Hellmas Eve

[herewardbound]

He'd actually slept, the past few weeks. According to Igor, Renée had been 'resting', and so there'd been nothing for him to do, in the Velvet Room. His sleep had been uninterrupted.

It wasn't perfect. Things weren't okay. But they... probably would be, with time.

For now, though... for fuck's sake, he wanted a holiday season that wasn't tainted by some awful fucking thing that'd happened around it.

It'd actually been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Remembering that, traditionally, Christmas Eve had always been an event for couples.

And he was now technically part of a 'couple'.

And that was how, not long after sundown, he found himself standing in the front yard of Fire Ruby's mansion, in the snow, *very* seriously considering whether to knock on the front door- or sneak in through a window.

... Probably the latter wouldn't be well-received, right now. Doorbell it was to be, then.

[hadal_predator]

The last few nights was, mercifully, one of hours of sleep that tiptoed toward 'normal'. It had done wonders for the dark clouds in his mind, enough that he shooed Ruby to the Box to enjoy the Hellmas Eve party with the rest of the staff, her very first one.

But he was still too tired for it. He usually was beginning to set up his sniper's nest, put up webbing and traps, get things tested to see if they'd be reliable when the Exorcists came. But now he was... idle. He didn't miss the prep he needed to do, and yet it had been something unconsciously scheduled in his mind and body, left him touchy, taut.

He jumped when the door buzzed. Nobody was expected at the manor tonight...

Just in case, Nephew went to peek through a window, taking a mental inventory of where he kept his weapons-

"Fuck." ...Or it's just a skinny bird paying a visit. ...Wait.

He looked down at himself. He was dressed beyond casual, turtleneck and jeans. Very 'not working today'. He wasn't entirely dressed up for company, but-

He hurried to the door, worked away the locks, opened it a crack.

"Is there a situation?" First question, right from the jump.

Because why else would he be here? There wasn't anything in the group text...

[herewardbound]

Goro blinked.

"No, I... ah." Just say it. Don't overcomplicate things. "I wanted to see you. That's all. If you'd rather not, that's fine- I completely understand needing some time to yourself, it's just that I wanted to... spend time. With you."

A beat. This wasn't helping. Try to defuse the tension.

"Probably for the best I didn't go with my first idea. I can see, based on how you're doing, that sneaking in through a window wouldn't have gone well."

[hadal_predator]

...He wanted to sneak in through a window?

...

"Sweet, but a good call in the end."

Leaving him standing in the cold wasn't his style, and he didn't even deserve that anyway. He backed off and held the door open for him, a wordless invitation.

But that door was shut real quick behind him. It was fucking cold out. No thanks.

"Your Dad didn't tail you, did he? He may have given me a pillow fight for catching me, but with the assholes out there hunting for a place to rob around this time of year... well, let me just say it took very little convincing to leave the manor to me tonight."

He idly ruffled his own hair, straightened up, and moved on back toward the den, the fireplace, and the book he'd been making a dent in. He already had a record going.

"Are you a brandy fan? I've been saving a little number for the holidays, a treat just for me... but I can share, I suppose. You've earned it."