Nothing has gone wrong.

Lark's panic was distinctly reminding Alastor of Charlie's propensity for exaggeration and hyperventilation. He could not keep himself from rolling his eyes at the dramatics, venturing through the lobby to no avail and then diverting up to the second floor via the stairs, expecting Lark to follow.

"Your hysterics solve nothing, I hope you realize," the radio demon stated plainly, unafraid of agitating or otherwise hurting the other's feelings as he trotted along the balcony that overlooked the lobby, then began to trail towards the halls properly.

"There are only so many places he can be."

And, he realized after a few moments, that his ears were picking up on a signal that had gone from being stagnant and silent to suddenly present.

One of his radios that were littered across the hotel: a means of his own style of monitoring without necessarily needing to be present. Not many fiddled with the things, as most were put off by even the prospect of Alastor's presence or drawing his attention to them. Only a curious stranger would think to purposefully catch his ear.

"I think I have an idea of where he might be hiding."

Or... standing in plain sight, perhaps.

"I am MEDICALLY INCAPABLE OF CALMING DOWN!" Lark snapped, speeding up and overtaking Alastor. He'd look around every corner to check for Raven, before checking back at Alastor to stay generally in his radius. His heart was racing, and you know what? You know fucking what? He didn't care. He didn't care if Alastor didn't like him acting like this. He was going to find his fucking son, and the panicking wouldn't fucking help, but he couldn't not panic so it didn't fucking matter.

Lark didn't immediately hear Alastor. He'd shapeshifted into housecat form to look under some furniture, and he was trying, TRYING to catch his son's scent. Lark wasn't as good at this as his kids were. If Goose were here, she'd find her brother in a minute flat.

Lark was still following Alastor somewhat. He was the anchor point by which Lark was circling each area, keeping him scanning forward.

Raven felt like there was something off about this thing.

He glanced around, and when he saw no one watching him, he reached up both hands to grip the radio, sliding it towards the edge of the table. His grip wasn't very good. His balance wasn't very good. He was feeling bold.

Raven nearly overbalanced the moment the thing was properly in his paws, but he recovered, uneasily.

He knew what a sickly glowing green meant.

Envy.

"So I've been assigned black and orange. Halloween colors?" He asked with a small snort. "I think I could be okay with that. At some point after Willow's feeling better, maybe I'll take her out for a fly, even. Really embrace the bird."

Patiently, he waited for Lark to investigate the plants further. The scents were difficult to distinguish unless one was truly in tune with the differentiation between them. Or, like Charlie, it was the only real way to figure out what was what. He too was still learning, however, and he would have to stick his nose in quite a few more plants and herbs before he felt truly like an expert.

"Tall grasses..." The hybrid hummed in thought, turning to venture further down along the roof's rows of planters.

"Yer hair and yer scales! Didja already forget?" He reached out to ruffle said hair, and then immediately neaten it up again with gentle claws through it. "I guess I could be thinkin' green though, fer yer eyes. That would widen th'pool of cool birds."

He grinned at EMBRACING THE BIRD. "I'm jealous! M'whole family are flightless birds." He'd more than once imagined the life his kids could have had if they were half angel instead of half demon. Ah, well. They'd find their wings in metaphor, he supposed.

Lark huffed, and immediately retorted, "Next you'll be offerin' me catnip, asshole!"

Fucking CAT GRASS. You piece of shit. You....eat it all right away? You absolute garbage man. "...maybe a little for Goose, but I'm gonna punch yah right in th'spleen when you ain't lookin' fer that one."

"And y'will be long after yer not!" Hopeful addition.

They HAD been talking about how well Worth knew Lark. Or didn't know him, even. And then ice cream and then... and now Lark was giving him a look that Worth couldn't help but catch and try to hold onto, even when it dipped down to his neck.

Especially when it dipped down to his neck.

"That's absolutely not sanitary, it's dirty as hell actually. Only 1 outta 10 doctors recommend."

He brought his hands up to frame Lark's face; answering that tightly clenched fist with something more gentle as he leaned down a little closer.

The more sober comment was so soothing to Lark's soul, even though some part of him longed to prove he wasn't a wilting flower, and he could...do whatever! He could be anything and everything Worth might ever want or need! Lark loved that Worth had other people too who might fit other niches, BUT LARK COULD BE THOSE ALSO!!!

He softened, and let his hands sit on Worth's hips instead. "Too late, I'm already crazy."

Crazy about you!

god I wanna write so bad but my brain keeps getting stuck in waiting mode

I feel like I'm at a potluck but I can't start eating until OTHER people start making their plates first. SOMEBODY BREAK THE SEAL

Terrance blinked and then snickered, covering his mouth in amusement and giggling at the feline, shaking his head in amusement.

"Uh-" He's funny, huh? Lark was embarrassed, but tried to take it in stride. "Well- thanks, I try." Hands on hips, with a nod. Yes. He is funny and it's because he tries to be.

Lark looked around with a touch of concern, checking for fences he perhaps crossed with Do Not Enter signs or whatever. Was he not supposed to be here? "I uh- I was lookin' fer cool rocks."

Sounds fake! He quickly pulled a few pieces of quartz and shiny rocks out of his pockets to prove it. "See? I use 'em for magic."

He blinked, then looked at Terrance. "...What are YOU doin' out here?"

But René could deal with some mild bullying in return. Especially since he could guess exactly who Lark was sending that picture to.

René would just poke his tongue out at him through his fangs.

"Ah, yes, I think you might have mentioned that once before... your deal with Envy for a new body. Here's hoping that sort of thing doesn't become necessary again." René would press a kiss again to Lark's paw, squeezing and rubbing it after, intertwining their fingers.

His whole life doesn't have to be about THEM.

But René was kissing and rubbing his paw, and Lark simmered down. This is part of why he loves René, anyway. He's always charging right into saying anything and everything. "I'm sure there's a therapist out there who secretly loves that shit." Lark would have to carefully put borders in his brain to prevent himself from having nightmares about it, but somebody else would slurp it up like true crime.

“...no...”

He loosened up, pointing at his belly. “There’s n’argument t’be made that actually THIS one did it. And you can’t be mad at a baby!”