STOLAS

He craned his neck in Moxxie’s direction. “How did you not know? I hung a banner from the palace windows. It was the talk of the ring. Katie Killjoy had a field day.” Something dark slithered in his eyes, but was gone an instant later.

Giving Blitz one last kiss, he swept his hands to open a portal. “I’ll meet you at your place shortly.” He told the imp with smile. Then he followed his daughter through the portal.

The thespian imp scratched his head with his small hand. “Oh right! I totally forgot that actually happened. I thought I imagined it…well, congrats on you two breaking the social norm! Good luck with all the attention that will bring…”

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

The demon wilted as he was rejected, letting his hand drop. Of course Blitz wouldn’t trust him yet. It’d take longer than a day…but it still stung. “I… sorry. I’m not sure what an ice cap is. But once I find out I’ll make you one. A nightcap is simply a drink shared between two people before heading to bed. Some say it makes sleep easier.” He gave Blitz a small, sad smile.

Reaching out, he placed his hand on the door, feeling all the spells keyed into it. “This is my work room. It is well protected by several spells, so I advise not even touching the door. We wouldn’t want to risk harming you.” Taking his hand off the door, he motioned for the imp to walk beside him. “Perhaps on day I’ll show you the room. We shall see where things lead.”

Blitz was really confused by the owl, why was he so upset with no hand holding? They had only just met for a day, was it really so important to hold his hand? Did he always want this attention from everyone or was the imp somehow special to him? He could never see why, no one cared for imps. 

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

Stolas nearly tripped over Blitz, not expecting him to be just outside his workroom. He backpeddled quickly. “Blitz! I-I’m sorry, is it late? It must be, for you to have sought me out.” It didn’t even cross his mind that Blitz might have another reason for being there. “Forgive me. I was working and lost track of time.” A yawn escaped him. “Oh dear, I seem to have worn myself out. Here.”

He held out his hand. “Let’s head back to the kitchen for a nightcap, and then we can both get some well deserved rest.” He wouldn’t tell him about the fire returning, not yet. It would only scare the poor dear.

Blitz nearly had a heart attack when Stolas came out of the room, also backing away quickly. “Fuck! It’s fine, I didn’t even know you were in there...I was just exploring the place.” That was a good excuse, he kind of was doing exactly that. He just left the part out about looking for the book.

All four eyes widened. “Darling… are you…… jealous?” The owl hooted, smiling, and reached down to scoop Blitz into his arms. Not caring one bit about the others watching, he peppered Blitz’s face in kisses. “Why would I want some human when I already have the perfect imp?” He cooed. Twirling around a few times, he set Blitz on his feet. “You have no need to be jealous, Blitzy. It was simply a passing moment. Now. I’m gonna get Via settled in for the night, and then I’ll be back. Let’s watch a movie, how does that sound?”

The imp flustered as he was scooped up and loved on, embarrassed that it was in front of his co-workers. “Son of a - “ He mumbled as he heard Millie gasp and clap her hands. “A movie sounds nice.” 

Moxxie grinned at them. “So, when were you going to tell us that you two were a thing now~?”

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

Red eyes glowed brightly, focused on something unseen. Red and blue swirled around his hands, and around the grimoire floating in the air next to him. A chasm opened above him, giving him a view of the night sky. He continued to look up into it for a long time. Hours? He wasn’t sure. Finally the chasm closed, and his magical aura faded. The book came to rest in his hands. 

The fire would come again, as hot and fierce as before. And his choices would either allow or prevent the death of an important person. Who, he wasn’t sure. His powers lay in prophesies. Future telling was like trying to hold water. That he’d gotten any details was amazing in itself. 

Exhausted, he slumped into a chair. His choices. Choices on what? He didn’t know. Dazed, and sick at the thought of seeing those fires once again, he sat for several long minutes, simply focusing on breathing. Only when he felt fully back did he rise. He locked away the grimoire and left the room, making sure to rekey all the spells that protected it. It wouldn’t do if someone unsuspecting stumbled into his workroom. It wasn’t safe for anyone other than himself.

The imp got lost in the castle, there were so many rooms. How many rooms did one guy need? Did the butlers have their own rooms in the castle? That would be one nice act from a rich guy. There were a lot of shiny things too, sometimes Blitz got caught staring at things for awhile. 

Some rooms were locked, he couldn’t get inside of them at all. And he tried, a lot. He grumbled as he tapped his chin in thought, he was in front of one specific room now. It looked extremely suspicious...it had to be the one.

Stolas was riding a high. He had his daughter back and they’d watched fireworks together. Sure it wasn’t the exact show he’d promised her, bus she seemed to really enjoy it. And he’d gotten to spend the entire day with Blitz. 

He glanced over at the imp. Today had been… fun. They weren’t hidden behind closed doors, they weren’t having sex, and he’d thoroughly enjoyed their time together. Yes he’d confessed to the imp, but it was nice to know they could have a good time out together. Even if it was just trying to find his daughter. 

He nearly missed the question, caught up as he was in his thoughts. “O-oh I, don’t know. I need to get Via back home. It is getting rather late for her.” He half-smiled at Octavia’s exasperated “Daaaaad.” 

“But I wouldn’t mind doing something after. What did you have in mind?”

“I…” He didn’t want to stop seeing Stolas, he had fun with him today. Just being themselves, it was nice….he wanted more of that. He didn’t know how to express himself though, he was bad at romance. 

“Uhh…you want to do something after? I’m not sure what….but….something?” He removed the fake wig as he spoke, just realizing it was still there as he went to run a hand between his horns. 

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

Stolas’s eyes caught the nervous action. “I’m sorry, darling. I meant to let you rest today, and here I am asking you questions that are making you uncomfortable. Forgive me.” The owl sighed and stood. “I have some royal duties that must be attended to. Perhaps if you are still up tonight, I might show you the observatory. I use it to look at the mortal skies. You would enjoy the view, I think. Until then, feel free to explore. Just, uh… not any room that is warded. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

The fire would come again, as hot and fierce as before. And his choices would either allow or prevent the death of an important person. Who, he wasn’t sure. His powers lay in prophesies. Future telling was like trying to hold water. That he’d gotten any details was amazing in itself. 

Well, they were all together again. They were about to go into a portal after watching the fireworks together, which was a pretty nice time…not that he would admit it.

Now that things were calming down and Octavia was found and they were back in his office building - Blitz had time to take in everything that happened. He had that talk with Loona. He lived through one of his worst fears of being on stage again…that was something.

But mostly Stolas and he had a lot of moments together today that made him feel weird. For one, he had never thought he would be into a human or even a human disguise before. The bird had proved him wrong with that form he was wearing earlier…why did he look good in everything?

Anyway, even though they had reconciled and confessed not too long ago, things still felt weird between them. How was he going to fix that? Go on a better date? He didn’t even know where to start…

He glanced over at the imp. Today had been... fun. They weren’t hidden behind closed doors, they weren’t having sex, and he’d thoroughly enjoyed their time together. Yes he’d confessed to the imp, but it was nice to know they could have a good time out together. Even if it was just trying to find his daughter. 

He nearly missed the question, caught up as he was in his thoughts. “O-oh I, don’t know. I need to get Via back home. It is getting rather late for her.” He half-smiled at Octavia’s exasperated “Daaaaad.” 

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

He didn’t really know what to say to that; he was learning all sorts of new things about his brother in law. He sipped his tea as he thought. “If your friend is treated so well, shouldn’t he have complained that you weren’t? Doesn’t really sound like a friend to me.”

Not that he knew much about having friends. Those he had known were Stella’s friends, not his. And they’d loved to mock him. So maybe it really was something friends did.

“I...I mean, everyone in hell is out for themselves. I don’t think there is anything as a good friend, you just take what you can get.” He had learned a long time ago to just accept what he was given in terms of loved ones. And that they would all hurt him. 

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

“There was another survivor?” Stolas started to tally in his head what the second imp would cost him, but was halted at Blitz’s next words. “What? Seriously? Asmodeus is the king of lust. He doesn’t do relationships.” Then again, he hadn’t known about either imp. The lust king was really good at keeping secrets, it seemed. “And how does he treat your… friend?” For some reason, Blitz’s tone made him wonder if they actually were friends.

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

Stolas snorted at Blitz’s accurate description of Asmodeus. He was the king of lust; of course he was a giant cock. “Why didn’t you run away, my dear? From where I sit, you are more than the average imp. I feel fairly certain you could have scratched out a living for yourself. So why didn’t you?” Curiosity was getting the better of him. He wanted to hear more from this entertaining male, who was nothing like an imp he’d met before.

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

Stolas watched the food disappear, a crease between his brows. “You don’t have to eat so fast; it’s not going anywhere.” Once again he worried at Asmodeus’s care of the imp. “Were you not given enough to eat before you came here?” He inquired.

This poor imp. He’d been through so much already, survived a fire that took all else, and now he might not have been fed properly? It was enough to make the prince see red. He’d never understood the treatment they received.

“I was given enough to survive, that’s all we needed. According to like everyone.” Blitz rolled his eyes after swallowing down a huge mouthful of food and chugging down whatever the liquid in front of him was. 

"Why am I here again?" The prince asked cooly. "I have more important things to do that visit your night club, and you know it."

Asmodeus grinned, all three faces facing Stolas. "You've been cooped up too much since we lost Stella. You need to enjoy yourself more. And I have a special treat for you tonight. A delectable morsel I've been cultivating."

Stolas’s eyes lit up. “Yes, very much so. Part of it is because of my job. But I also just really love how beautiful it is, how the stars and planets dance around one another. And it’s so weightless and quiet, perfect for getting away.” He colored. “Ah. Forgive me. I tend to forget, and could talk about space for hours.”

He nodded to Rolland as the imp returned with a plate piled high with eggs and bacon. “Thank you, Rolland. I’ll call once we’re done, or if we need anything else.”

The imp raised his eyebrows as Stolas rambled on about space, it was pretty amusing. “Yeah, I guess space is cool...and it can be pretty.” He admitted with a shrug, not having too much to contribute to that conversation.