"What's better than a devil you don't know?"

The incubus blinked up at Benny a few times, his brow furrowed. He knew the hellhound meant well, and he was a good guy, but .....what the hell?

"You wanna get me fired or worse? Hurled through hell? No. No. You're not getting a drink from me. At least, not one that strong. I'll make you a mixed drink with vodka, but I'm not stupid kid. I saw what happened to Buster."

Benny sighed, wondering if one of the other bartenders would give him a drink before he listened to the advice. He stared at Landon a moment before he frowned deeply. It felt like it a little bit of a slap in the face. "I...I can hold my own. I'm a hell hound for hell's sake. It's like everyone seems to forget that." He muttered, yet even that thought made him feel like shit. He was nothing more than a pup when it came to his kind .

He pushed away from the bar as he stood up to leave. He could get his own substances to take off the edge of the night. "See you around Landon." He muttered, refraining from thanking him for nothing.

"Fine, you wanna be an ass just because I'm giving you sound advice, go for it," he muttered. He was a lot more like Dante than most people realized. Benny had a lot of pride. Just in all the wrong ways, much like his father.

"He did deserve it though. He was screwing with you, and he was fucking with other people too. He was a dick. You can't just ignore that because he gave you what you wanted."

Mare looked to Chase.

Had he really been spending that little time woth his brother?

He wouldn't be surprised. Phantom used the body ao much these days that it barely left Mare time for Dante and his boys…but Chasd deserved his time too. Probably more than anyone else.

He and Nate would have to work harder on being in the front more often.

"No…no, I'm not mad at you for anything, Sunshine. I'm sorry. Things have just…I'm sorry. I shoulda realized we haven't spent much time together."

"Yeah I figured it wasn't really your fault. It's okay," he promised, offering a gentle smile as he took note of how tired Mare looked. He knew he didn't necessarily need sleep, but rest, maybe.

His wings wrapped around his brother, a protective gesture as he tugged him to come sit with him.

"You look exhausted. How often is he keeping you out?" He asked, knowing Mare would understand he meant Phantom. He knew without a doubt the older demon wouldn't surface in his presence like this.

"Well, I don't know a place that would have all three, but I think perhaps I could make some. We should invite your parents for dinner," he offered, his arm around her.

"I could make a whole spread. Things I know we all like. I'm sure Bruno would enjoy some fresh Veal Parmesan." Dante enjoyed making her happy. Inviting her family to things. She liked the time with her fathers, and he and Shay were getting along better now at least. For the most part.

Once they were back at the penthouse, Kinsley changed into something more comfortable and then called Bruno as she walked back out into the living room, a hand on her stomach again. Her feet and back hurt, but she knew this was all part of being pregnant.

Shay had his head in Bruno's lap, eyes closed as he was thinking over a few songs he wanted to mess around with later. Hearing his husband's phone, he hummed, "Kinsley?" He asked, recognizing the ringtone.

When Bruno heard the ringtone, he nodded to his husband, lacing his fingers with Shay as he used his free hand to answer.

"Mia bella," he hummed, his tone warm.

"How are you sweet one?" He questioned, wondering if all was well with her and the baby. He wouldn't ask just yet though, giving her a chance to tell him first of something was wrong.

It was a losing battle.

"Father, lovely day isn't it?" He asked, cane clicking ever so gently against the sidewalk as he straightened out his tie casually.

"Would you mind if I join you?"

Killian set the book, A Grief Observed, against his crossed legs as he took a drink of the cold tea next to his sandwich before he heard the cane and the voice. Glancing up, a friendly smile pulled at his lips toward the stranger,"Yes, God is surely spoiling all of us with it. And please, friend. Here let me move this." He closed his book and then moved his sandwich so there was more room.

"Decided lunch out here was better than in my office at the parish." He hummed as he looked over the man. "Is there something I may do for you?" He offered, knowing most people came up to him for that reason when he was wearing his cleric suit.

"It's nice to meet you Dante, and please, please, call me Killian." He smiled at him, his Irish accent thick in his words. "It's no bother at all, I enjoy meeting new people and getting to know them, especially here in the States. People are different from what I imagined them to be here, honestly....A lot friendlier."

"Your prayers are most certainly appreciated, even if I'm not so sure they'll do me any good. I've been in this business a very long time, father....uh... Or, Killian, rather. I know well the tax that ushering the dead takes on your mind and on your soul," he muttered.

"Welcome though, to the states. I grew up in Italy, so....I do know how difficult it can be to settle in. If you're to need anything at all, please, don't hesitate to reach out. I've been told I can do the impossible."

"Wait - you're bleeding."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Okay, I have you, I have you -"

"Don't you dare pass out on me."

"You good? You look a little pale."

"Your shirt... is that blood?"

"Oh, my god, are you serious? I think it's broken!"

"Why would you hide this from us?!"

"Okay - okay, breathe. We're going to help you."

"You idiot! You could have died!"

"I'm - I'm calling an ambulance -"

"Why are you breathing so shallowly?"

"You can barely stand."

"Sit down. Right now."

"I'm going to fix you up, but you have to sit still."

"I've had worse."

"It's not that bad, really..."

"I'm just a little... light headed...."

"It's barely bleeding at all."

"Aw, man, I liked this shirt."

"Oh, yeah that's... huh. That's a lot of blood."

"I'm just gonna sit right here... for a minute..."

"My chest really... hurts..."

"I can't really breathe -"

"Ow. It's fine. Ow."

"I can handle it myself."

"Oh, that? Yeah it's just... it's just a little blood..."

"Barely touched me."

"Why are there two of you?"

show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams and i'll show you a happy man.

there's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and a wise man understands which is called for.

i went to the woods because i wanted to live deliberately. i wanted to live deep and such out all the marrow of life.

we don't read and write poetry because it's cute.

the human race is filled with passion.

what will your verse be?

no matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.

you must strive to find your own voice.

the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.

o captain! my captain!

sit down! do you hear me? sit down! this is your final warning!

sit down! i want you seated!

close your eyes. describe what you see.

forget them!

don't you forget this.

for the first time in my whole life, i know what i wanna do.

they're not that different from you, are they?

the world is their oyster.

they believe they're destined for great things, just like many of you.

if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you.

carpe diem. seize the day. make your life extraordinary.

what's going on?

is today your birthday? happy birthday!

what'd you get?

my parents gave me this.

they gave me the same thing as last year.

maybe they thought you needed another one.

you can feel it.

why do i stand up here? anybody?

we must constantly look at things in a different way.

sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone.

now we all have a great need for acceptance, but you must trust that your beliefs are unique, your own, even though others may think them odd or unpopular.

what are the four pillars?

we're not laughing at you. we're laughing near you.

i was good. i was really good.

i just talked to my father.

i can't talk to him this way.

you have to show him who you are, what your heart is!

he'll tell me that acting's a whim and i should forget it.

they're counting on me.

isn't there an easier way?

i'm trapped.

i always thought the idea of education was to learn to think for yourself.

if i don't ask him, at least i won't be disobeying him.

i'll try anything once.

we're just trying very hard to understand why it is that you insist on defying us.

stop it! don't be so dramatic!

i've got to tell you what i feel!

we've been so worried about you!

time to inherit the earth.

it's a tragedy. a girl this beautiful in love with such a jerk.

all the good ones go for jerks. you know that.

i've only met her once, and already she's thinking about me.

tell me why they swoon!

you can't be in here. if they catch you, we're both gonna be in big trouble.

come with me.

they made everybody sign it.

"Look man, I just got here. I don't even know where here is. I was...." He'd just been in a fight with one of his brothers, and then the next thing he knew, he was here.

"The last time I had this happen, I was stuck in a wasteland for a year. Can you at least tell me where I can go that's safe?"

Not again..... Please not again.

That look Paultin gave entertained Simon. It had been so long since had the companionship of another human and the first one that landed on this planet had a sense of humor. The thunder also drew Simon's gaze and he gave a soft exhale.

"Technically it's called Planet 4546b. I call it Water World because well, it's almost entirely composed of water. This island here, there's another one that you can't see due to the approaching storm, this is the only land that I've been able to find."

"I'm from Earth. Uh....2026 is the current year, but.... I know that can get fucked up sometimes too with this kind of thing. Do you know what year it is here?" It wasn't technically a lie. He was born in Barovia, but he'd been raised on the main plane of Earth since he was four. That had to count for something, right?"

Following closely, he bit his lip, feeling the first drops of rain beginning to fall.

"I'm Paultin, by the way. Uh....you are?"