SHOWTIME!

♫ ♪ — “Is it truly an insult if what I say is true, you minuscule thing?” Goodness, was this really an alternative of himself? He was so…tiny! He felt like kicking him…! But instead, he bonks the tinier alternative on the head with the cane, amusement increasing the more he spoke.

♫ ♪ — “There’s many things you don’t know, little one!” He’s really focusing on this height thing here isn’t he– “Which is why you’ve let yourself be captured, isn’t it? I’m sure curiosity is rooted deep in that rotten soul of yours! After all, this situation right here is illogical to begin with!”

That first question, rude as it was, is disregarded entirely! He’s beginning to get the impression that this particular demon doesn’t really deserve the courtesy of an answer to a question like that. Goodness, had this version of himself forgotten what manners were at some point? But no matter—other than the slight ache atop his head from being bonked by the cane. 

He laughs it off with an airy chuckle in spite of the sense of concern that’s beginning to creep its way into the back of his thoughts. Ah, worry—what a pesky emotion it is. But surely he has nothing to truly worry about!

Molly stares at Alastor with wide eyes, blinking naively at him as he spoke up. Flitting to the bloodied hand being offered to her. If she were ever more ravenous she’d be inclined to lick his hand clean – but that also would’ve been rather intimately awkward. Thought is gone as soon as it came, lest it drive her even more flustered. Instead, she merely complies and makes her way over toward him.

An exchange of glances between the kill and his own eyes. Mouth opening and closing, seeming to be choked back on her words as she had an inner debate within herself. It feels rather … unbecoming. She shouldn’t! But, it’s tempting. Her instincts overpower the logical conscious in her head.

A hand reaches, then falls back. Hesitance. “I…” Fingers uncurl, beginning to move forward before she looks over toward Alastor again rather meekly. “I don’t know if I should…”

“Sweetheart....” His voice is practically a purr, soft and gentle despite the freshly-spilled blood staining his clothes and skin. He almost wants to chuckle! Her hesitation is as adorable as it is understandable, but adorable or not, he plans to continue encouraging her. 

“...Let me pose a question to you. Tell me, what about any of this is holding you back? I know that look I saw in your eyes; I’ve personally felt that same hunger! I certainly won’t blame you for wanting to indulge and sating it!” Again his hand beckons her closer, much like he would for any deal—but this is no deal. It’s a temptation. It’s painfully obvious to him that she’s torn over what to do, but if he can sway her choice, then he most certainly will!

He gives him the spotlight, idly watching him prattle on with all of his dramatic mannerisms as he gives him his due response to his earlier – hmm ?  challenge perhaps ?  Threat  ?   To be fully frank, he had meant absolutely nothing by it.

❝   Don’t flatter yourself, you little egg of a man, we are by no means mirrors of each other !  Hah !  That would be terribly dull of us !   And I am insurmountably and irrefutably better than you in every way, shape, or form imaginable and known to man, and then even some more.   ❞    Leeeeans in, static dotting his giggling as he removes a fraction of their distance.    ❝   That aside, I do suppose we have found each other at an impasse, a deadlock, a lethal standoff !  To that I kindly say ‘shoo with you’, you markdown parasite.  ❞

It’s his turn to listen to that silly drivel, the utterly lofty puffery about his ‘other self’ that it is. It’s enough to make him wonder if he really sounds so awful at times! It’s exhausting just to hear it all! But he bears the burden of a dutiful audience and endures it to the last syllable—at which point he yawns for his own touch of dramatics to that performance.

“Hm... You know, you’ve made a sound argument and forced my hand! I’ll have to agree with you—it would be dreadfully dull if I were really your mirror self! How do you stay awake? Go on, tell me your secret. I promise not to share it with anyone!” Canned laugher flows along with his own, and he doesn’t flinch away from the closer presence. 

@pxppinmolly​ said: ❛ You spoil me… mon amour. ❜ - her picking up french off him? yes.

“Now, now, cher... I spoil you because you deserve it! Frankly, I can’t imagine who wouldn’t want to spoil a woman like yourself!” He beamed, waving his hand with a flourish, and an elegant bouquet of flowers appeared within his grasp, each bloom a different shade of pink.

The bouquet was held out, not a single string attached to the offer of the flowers. It was a kindness, a sweet gesture from the Radio Demon himself. True, he had his reputation, but who ever said he couldn’t play favorites? Molly was so brave, so darling, and always trying to smile! She deserved the affection; the recognition! Any fool would have to be utterly blind not to see that, but as could be expected, Hell was nearly full to the brim with such foolishness. 

Drip.

Molly could smell it - the sweet metallic that was the crimson that dripped off his fingers. Coming from the red carcass before them. There was a long suppressed animalistic urge in Molly - whenever she shed blood or reveled over a fresh kill there were … Needs. Cravings. Ones she tried to heavily ignore – though, sometimes, she would indulge in a taste of the blood time to time. Afraid, though, that it’d develop into a bad addiction.

But, ah, every time. Every time those cravings just get deeper and deeper. She didn’t realize the look in her eyes when she was staring at the body – or maybe Alastor was just that good. After all, he’d know best.

Her eyes flutter from her trance as he spoke up, turning to finally look at Alastor, taking a moment to process his words. Silent. Watching him for a moment longer. Waiting until he was finally finished would his last quesiton snap her entirely back.

“Huh – Oh! I meant, uh, pointin’ out some.. Obvious stuff is what I meant– Uh–” Why did she feel so flustered? Caught red handed. “I can wait …! Whateva’ you prefa’ and think is best!”

Oh, he knew that look well—the hunger, the need, the sheer desperation. It was a look that spoke of a looming desire that beckoned just a little too dangerously. He knew that look personally because he’d worn it time after time, always giving in to the need for more blood; more flesh to devour. Once the cravings had started, he’d never fought them for long.

And poor, sweet Molly was caught in the same predicament. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be the one to tell her to fight it. That just wasn’t his style! Why, he would be pleased to watch her indulge, guiding a dear friend in what he believed to be the right direction.

— There’s a bark of laughter that flows out of the demon’s lips, amusement blooming all over his features.

♫ ♪ — “Of course it’s not genuine, silly zygote!” He exclaims like it wasn’t already obvious, cane tapping the cheek of his bound victim, tentacles giving him a little squeeze, warning him to not play around. “You see prey walking around casually, unaware--and you just get the urge to ruin their day! Surely you know what that’s like, deary.” A mocking tone.

♫ ♪ — “Besides, who said you paid for anything? Surely you have power. But–but! What does that matter? I’m not here to punish you, no, no! I’m here for fun!”

“Resorting to petty name-calling for insults, are we? My, you must be starved for inspiration!” Though his laughter closely mirrors that of the other demon’s, he has half a mind to bite at that cane out of spite, just to see what would happen under the circumstances. But he doesn’t—not yet, anyway.

There’s another curious tilt of his head, but he otherwise stays still within the confines of the tentacles. No point in resisting when, as far as he’s aware, he can free himself at any moment he pleases. 

@aureolle​ said: ‘How can you go through life pretending that you’re happy?’

The question prompted him to pause, and almost immediately, there came a high-pitched screech of audio feedback and a blip of static. 

Were this coming from anyone other than Noah, he would dismiss the question entirely, pretend he didn’t hear it, or simply change the subject—anything to avoid addressing it. But Noah has known him since before his death and seen him at plenty of his lowest moments. Not only did the idea of lying to his beloved leave an unpleasantly bitter taste in his mouth, but if he tried regardless, it wouldn’t surprise him if Noah caught him in the act. 

But even so, the thought of speaking what he already knew and has known for quite a long time still filled him with a heavy sense of apprehension. He almost wanted to lie down and curl up on himself instead. Napping in his deer form was suddenly particularly appealing, but...running away wouldn’t do either of them any favors. 

@eldsmile​ said: ‘ I’m sorry, but your own actions have caused this. ’

“That apology doesn’t sound very genuine, you know! If you expect me to believe you in the future, you may want to brush up a tad on your ability to be tactful!” 

He’s anything but worried, in spite of his current predicament. At the mercy of one of his...other selves or not, he’ll keep on smiling. He almost wants to laugh, in fact. The bravado, the threat; it’s all very standard, nothing new to him. But he’ll indulge this version of himself for the time being. Perhaps he’s in for a surprise! Now that would be refreshing!

@deervour​ said: ‘ Get used to me. I’m not going anywhere. ’

“Are you entirely sure about that? I think you’re far too quick to assume for a mirror of mine!”

He’s ever so chipper, smile wide and playful. With an air of nonchalance, he examines his fingers for a moment, twirling his microphone about in his other hand. “But since we both seem so fond of bold statements—”

@pxppinmolly​ said: ‘ It’s not the first time some psychopath called me out. ’

He opened his mouth...and soon closed it, head tilting in puzzlement. This wasn’t the first he’d heard of that particular phrase in recent years, but he had yet to receive an explanation for it! With all the newfangled phrases that seemed to change every few months anymore, it was difficult to keep up!

“I...beg your pardon?” There was a little blip of radio static, and his ear twitched. “Call you out? Dear, you’ll have to explain yourself a bit better than that if you expect me to carry on the conversation! I merely thought you might be hungry from the way you’re staring! I know that look all too well.”