☰ GOING SUPERNOVA ☰

Alastor was here to insist that it wasn’t the case at all. In fact, in a manner of speaking it was only just beginning.

He quit grinding his own smile, and briefly unlatched the claws at Vox’s thigh, bringing them up between their faces. His fingers were damp with whatever it was that had seeped out of the media demon. The heavy scent of blood hanging in the air making him more than a little frantic. He hadn’t had much time to indulge in his preferred hobbies recently, diplomatic responsibilities like this visit to Vee Tower taking priority.

In short, he was hungry… Alastor offered himself a kitten lick to the digits between them, sampling the iron-rich dampness right in front of Vox’s pained watery stare.

He had half a mind to steal them away to his quarters all the way back at the hotel, but no. He was still of sound enough mind to know that if he abandoned Charlie at Vee Tower (though he was certain she’s be fine on her own this time around), then her badgering paramour would never let him hear the end of it.

Instead, Alastor allowed his shadows to transfer them to the bathroom he had allegedly not known the way to, pushing Vox’s body against the door in a makeshift barricade from meddling passersby. Next, his shadows made quick work of the binds of Vox’s pants, never stooping to touch them himself.

Way to rub it in, Alastor. But, deep down, Vox knows this was the sort of thing he was asking for, wasn't it? For someone to see him. Punish him. Finally decide that keeping him around is no longer worth it and put him down like a diseased animal.

He finds no resistance as he pulls the garment down. Of course Alastor would remember the clasp above his tail, after how much he complained about making that modification in the past -- before he had custom tailors and Velvette around.

The tail stays wedged between his thighs, giving him something to squeeze his nerves into as the marred skin is exposed -- some lines are clean and steady, and much more were made in a rush. Slashes intended to cause as much harm before he could come to regret it.

Not that he ever did. His body, however..

『 ..It's.. 』 His gills flutter under layers of fabric, struggling to intake the oxygen his systems demand. Decency remains hidden behind plain black boxers -- albeit much looser than they once were -- but it does little to help. He still feels exposed.

『 ..Not going to be as good of a cut as it once was. Haven't been eating enough for that.. 』

Humor isn't helping, either. That's fine. After all, this was what he was asking for.

『 ..Das schaffe ich nicht einmal richtig. 』

bad night?

I know I should wait until I've completed his post-S2 look to accompany this, but I'm impatient and might not be able to draw again for a bit, so!!

Here's his Hotel verse appearance!

The colors were intentionally made dull to reflect his change in attitude due to his approval ratings (and subsequently, his energy levels) plummeting underground. But the gold hammerhead pin reflects that tiny bit of hope he has for something better -- the right environment / people just need to nurture it.

Y'all want some "official" renders?

You all wish you could see my reference doc for this blog.

He's squinting at the flag now. How the fuck does any of this represent gender? It's being turned over in his hand a couple times as Charlie rambles on.

『 So.. Like how Val can dress however he wants and not give a shit what other people think he is? 』 God, he's too old for this. 『 None of these words were around when I was alive. You were either hated by everyone or pretended to be normal. 』

Maybe Vinzenz did have a point. "Okay...."

Standing up, he walked over to the couch. Getting comfortable on it before he would dive into his past trauma. He didn't want to look weak in front of the other, but..... maybe this would be good.

The arms he wrapped around Vincent tighten a little at those words. Fuck, did it have to sound so similar to many of his own sleepless nights?

『 Ah, yeah.. 』 His head tilts back against the couch, screen aimed directly at the ceiling. 『 I know how that one feels. It's one of those things that drags me to my office in the middle of the night and work until my body gives out on me. It fucking sucks to think about. 』

『 I hunted one of those people down once I got access to angelic steel. It felt nice in the moment, but I don't think it did much in the long run. Even if it's relieving to know he can't do shit to me anymore, I still feel like it wasn't enough. 』

『 A while back I heard something about your body not forgetting, and I think whoever came up with that was onto something. 』

"It's objectively real and true, though." Long sip of tea.

"But I'm willing to share the spotlight, I guess. Might be fun--wait."

Staring.

"Why do you get a shark tail and not me."

『 Obviously because I'm cool like that. 』

Heh. Gets them every time.

『 The dorsal fins even have little venomous spines. Not that they do much of anything, but it's still a fun surprise for anyone dumb enough to try and take a bite out of me. 』

That earned a loud, exasperated groan as Vincent put his screen down against the surface. Only then to abruptly prop his screen up on his curled in hands.

"Can't we cuddle instead?"

『 I mean, we can do that too-- 』 Except this feels like.. a lot? Vinzenz might not have as much experience with shitty producers in the living world, but from what he did see..

It wasn't the most pleasant thing in the world.

『 Sometimes it's good to get that shit out of your system? I can't re-murder a few people from my own life, but it still.. Weißt du? The need to bitch about it didn't go away after getting rid of them. 』

"..."

『 Keep telling yourself that, bud. 』

Here's Vox's reference image!! There's a few little details I want to point out:

⤿ The line on his neck is, in fact, his death mark! Much like Alastor's X on his forehead. Vox's mark is a physical reminder of hanging himself. This mark is why he's always seen with such high collars.

⤿ The prominent scar on his dorsal fin is from having chopped it off so many times. It's the most bothersome of his shark traits, as it's sudden appearance can destroy his suits.

⤿ The scar on his wrist is self-inflicted and from a failed upgrade.

⤿ Yes, the tail wags when he's excited.