Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

-3 weeks since Vox woke up-

Vox had quickly found a new routine in the weeks following his return. During the day, it was business as usual. He was working with smaller operation, but he ran Voxtek all the same. He ran them hard. He made sure they followed his orders to a T. He made sure they got scoops before the competition, and he did all of this while still remaining in relative obscurity himself.

People knew he was out there. His news channel ran every day, 24/7. Vox himself even participated on segments to keep up regular appearances. Whatever time they couldn't fill was mixed together with reruns to keep audience retention.

The overlord kept out of sight in public, though. Afraid of the looming threat of other overlords coming to finish the job Alastor started. So Vox remained isolated. Kept the location of Voxtek's new HQ a closely guarded secret. The only places he came and went were there…and the Carmine home.

At night and in the mornings, he mingled amongst the family Vox had found himself anchored to. Usually it was small things. Idle conversation over breakfast and dinner. Gossip he'd share from his daily news( that only Clara was receptive to). Updates or disputes over Carmilla's ongoing weapons manufacturing, which now included the aid of his own employees. He feigned vague interest in the discussions about new inventions or advancements Carmilla & Odette would bring him.

He was cordial enough with the family, but living in the same building was another matter altogether. Vox was used to living on his own. Even most of his adult life as a human, he rarely(if ever) had a partner or roommate to share space with. Going from the comfort of living alone in his luxury apartment to being crammed together in a small space with three women?

It brought on more than it's share of frustrations.

Vox could grin and bear most of it. Sleeping on the worm out couch. Fighting over what to watch on the TV, and eventually losing by way of being outnumbered. Being the last one that got to shower before heading out for work.

But the one thing that he absolutely loathed was the food. Carmilla ran a tight budget for necessities - saving the vast majority of her income for a new home, new equipment, etc. He had agreed to do the same and pooled whatever meager earnings Voxtek was making with her own. That meant not much went into splurging for groceries. Cereal, sandwiches, fruits and veggies. very spartan choices, and most of it - BLEH! Health conscious in its variety.

Not today though! Vox had sucked it up and spent some of his own personal funds on some real food. He wanted something filling, greasy and delicious. Even if he had to cook it with his own bare hands. The TV overlord was gonna need all the energy and comfort he could get for the long day ahead of him.

"Vox?" He could hear Carmilla tiredly call out to him from behind. "What are you burning in here?"

"Breakfast." He answered as if it was obvious. "And if you want any, you'll be nice to me."

"You know how to cook?" She asked incredulously.

He turned away from his work to look at the weapons dealer. She had just woken up. Her hair was down, still a bit messy, and she was dressed in a long black robe with white trim. Carmilla's eyes inspected the food he was preparing with suspicion, her arms crossed over her chest and a look of apprehension on her face.

"Yes." He answered with a bit of pride entering his voice. "Is that so hard to believe?" Vox returned to his work, making sure none of his precious bacon burned. "I'm no 5 star chef, but I know my way around a kitchen."

"If you say so…" She let out a long yawn. "Just please don't ruin mine." Carmilla left him to his work, still half-asleep. He could hear stumbling footsteps leading up to the bathroom door. The sound of the shower started up not long after.

Vox knew this was probably the best time to cook without any arguments or interruptions from his host. She usually took a while to fully wake up and he'd be done by the time she was cognizant.

About 20 minutes later and he'd finally finished up. Just in time for the rest of the household to come to life and see what he was up to.

"You made breakfast?" Odette asked curiously.

"No way." Clara rejected the idea. "We don't have any of this stuff. He probably just had one of his goons deliver it to him."

Vox groaned at the accusation. Admittedly, he had thought of that. It would involve trusting one of his employees with information that he was having breakfast at the Carmine building though. Which would fuel more fire onto the stil lingering rumors about his relationship with the weapons dealer. He didn't need that attention right now.

"For your information, I bought all this with my own money the other day." Vox stated proudly. Eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, toast. Truly a breakfast of champions!

"And is it really so unbelievable I wanted to do something nice and cook breakfast for once?" He asked.

"'Yes."" The daughters answered simultaneously. Carmilla seemed to want to say something, but was struggling to hide a laugh at his expense.

The TV overlord frowned at them. He took his plate of food and headed to the couch to eat in peace while the the three remained by the kitchen counter.

'Ungrateful brats. See if I ever do anything nice for them again…'

"Girls." The Carmine matriarch chastised them. "Vox went through the effort of making this for us. The least you can do is thank him and try it."

Jesus, she was acting like he was gonna poison them.

He could hear the daughters give a halfhearted thanks from behind him. Vox simply hummed in response, digging into the food in front of him and enjoying the fruits of his labor. He'd had better, but it was still WAY more fulfilling than what he'd been eating these last few weeks.

"Not that I don't appreciate the gesture," Carmilla brought her own plate to sit down next to him on the couch. "But what brought this on?" She asked.

The TV overlord motioned for her try some before he would answer. She rolled her eyes at him but acquiesced all the same.

"Hmm." She tested some, chewing it cautiously. "Not bad." She began eating in earnest now, bringing a smirk to Vox's screen.

"Its Judgement Day. I figure if I'm gonna have to sit through a slew of sinners trying to sell themselves, I might as well do it on a full stomache." He explained. "It was just easier to cook for everyone than just myself." Buying in bulk was cheaper and he'd be damned he'd if he was gonna waste money just for a single meal. Might as well treat everyone while he was at it, maybe earn some good will in the process.

Carmilla groaned at the mention of the event. "Nooooooo… I forgot your idiotic talent show was today!" Wherever good mood she had was quickly broken.

Vox nodded in confirmation, taking a sip of coffee to wake himself up. He'd made the announcement weeks ago and he'd finally gotten arrangements together to hold auditions. The news was doing okay, but he needed a new lineup. One that didn't hurt his wallet.

Desperate sinners looking for a job were more likely to bring their own equipment. Performers especially. Musicians, comedians, dancers, or any freak show with a vague talent he could market & sell to his audience.

"Yep! And you're coming with me, remember?" Vox asked as he continued eating with renewed vigor.

"Remind me. Why, exactly, do you need me there again?" She sounded frustrated but resigned to her fate all the same. "I wouldn't be able to tell you if one person is better than another, aside from my own personal bias. I really don't know anything the entertainment industry."

"Then you probably shouldn't have haggled for co-ownership of one…" Vox whispered under his breath as he took another bite of eggs.

She gave him a pointed look at the comment. Vox just grinned at her in turn.

"There's someone coming there I want you to meet. You remember Husk?" He asked.

"The casino owner? The Overlord you have gave one of my energy containers to as a bribe and still haven't paid me back for." Carmilla reminded him of his debt to her.

"Hey, I'm good for it! Just… not right now." Vox avoided looking at the weapons dealer.

"Anyways." Vox continued. "I asked Husker to come there so he could negotiate a new deal. He wants regular orders and I figured you'd want to meet him in person to hash things out."

"And he can't come here, because?" Carmilla asked in exhasperation.

"It's… complicated." Vox tried to keep things vague about the situation. He was afraid if Carmilla knew the reason they couldn't make direct contact, shed be scared off from the deal at the get-go. "He'll explain when he gets there."

"I still don't see why I need to be there the whole time. Just call me when he arrives and I'll be there as soon as I can." Why was she being so difficult about this?

To be honest, Vox had no idea when Husk would show up. Apparently the other overlord only had a short window today that he could make it. If even that.

'Damn Cat better show his face! For all the effort I put convincing her to come, he at least owes me that.'

"C'moooon." Vox whined to her. "Just help me out. I don't want to be there myself all day. I'm helping you get a client,"

"I can get my OWN clients, Vox." She interrupted him.

The TV overlord promptly ignored her.

"-The least you can do is keep me company for a while." Anything to keep his brain from rotting as he sorted through the mediocrity of performances awaiting him. "Besides, didn't I already agree to sweeten the deal?" He reminded her, rubbing his fingers together and creating static between them.

Carmilla stopped chewing, her eyes suddenly flashing with realization. She grumbled silently for a moment, her eyes narrowing in annoyance, before finishing off the food still in her mouth.

"I'll come, but you better make good on your end!" She sent him a challenging look, pointing at Vox with her fork.

Vox had offered an exchange of service. She comes with him to help judge the talent & meet Husk, and he'd call in sick to stay hooked up to the machine for 24 hours. While the weapon manufacturing side of her business had been doing well with the added help, the energy sales had been hurt. They were only putting out roughly half the amount of product. Vox was steadily growing back his power in increments, but he was still only being drained at night - just like they'd agreed.

This would help them make up the numbers for her supply.

It also served as an experimental test run. Potentially leaving the Voxtek workforce to handle things by themselves without Vox looking over their shoulder. Just for a day. If they did ok, he would consider start taking days off to provide more energy. At least for the weekend.

He didn't necessarily NEED Carmilla there with him the whole time, but having a second opinion never hurt. If he had anyone else by him, they'd just be too afraid to argue against his word.

'"Don't worry. I'm good for it." He assured her. "And anyway, you're the one who said you wanted to be more involved with my work." Vox argued.

"Yes." She huffed at Vox. "With business decisions. This is-"

"Business." He clarified. "These are temporary contractors and potentially new employees I'm hiring. Just think of it like an interview process." But with less desks & paperwork and more singing & dancing.

"Fine… I suppose I've already cleared my schedule for the day." Carmilla sighed as she finished off the rest of her food.

With the Voxtek employees helping out in the lab, the Carmine family had actually found themselves with quite a bit more free time. Not enough to rest easy, but they could take days off without it potentially bankrupting their operation.

Carmilla still stayed busy, usually working on advancements on the energy draining tech in her downtime. Clara and Odette even got more time to themselves. Although it seemed like only one of the daughters ever felt the need to take advantage of it.

"Well, I'm off!" Clara announced to the appartmnet as she put her dish in the sink. "Thanks for breakfast, Vox. It was better than expected."

'See? Was that so hard?'

"Alright, mija. Be safe." Carmilla wished her well, giving her a quick hug before she left."You have the number to reach me if anything happens, right?"

"Mhm. Yeah, I'll be fine." The curly haired girl replied. "You don't have to worry. I'm just hanging out with some friends."

She waved goodbye to the group as the elevator doors closed. Vox even gave her a lazy salute before she descended downward.

"Kinda surprised youre okay with that." The TV overlord brought up. She'd been pretty paranoid when they initially met. And even early on, he remembered Carmilla insisting on the daughters leaving with either her or Vox in tow - even just for running some errands.

"She'll be alright." The Carmine matriarch assured him. "I've met her friends. Some imps that do odd jobs for us now and then. They're nice enough people."

'Hey, works for me. As long as I don't have to be glued to her everytime she leaves the house.'

He was actually quite happy Carmilla seemed to be more lax with her protective nature. She'd even let the girls work directly with his employees now. It probably helped she'd scared them half to death over the course of their time there. From what the weapons dealer had told him, they were always on their best behavior in the lab now.

"How 'bout you kid?" Vox addressed Odette. Despite the weeks he'd spent here, he hadn't really interacted much with the spectacled girl. Usually just for technical advice or in the same breath as her sister or mother. She likewise kept to herself though, so he didn't feel too bad.

"You got any plans today?" He asked curiously. "Or are you holding down the fort while we're gone?"

"I'll just stay home." Odette answered him, picking at her food and stabbing a burnt piece of sausage with her fork. "I have some projects I want to work on and it'll be nice to have the place to myself for a few hours." She tested the burnt meat, finding it acceptable with a shrug of her shoulders.

"That's fine." Carmilla spoke up, smiling in pride her daughter's work ethic. "Just make sure you lock up. We shouldn't have any pickups or workers coming in, so it'll just be you here until Clara returns."

'Lucky.'

Vox would give anything for some time to himself. Even if he forwent bringing Carmilla with him to the show, he'd still be surrounded by sniveling sinners trying to suck up to him. For now, he'd just have to settle for not having to micromanage his employees for the next few hours.

 After taking some detours to avoid being traced back to the lab, Vox and Carmilla had reached their destination. An old, run down performance theater. It looked abandoned, but the long line of sinners anxiously waiting outside told a different story.

"If you're still trying to stay under the radar, how did you even arrange this?" Carmilla asked him curiously.

He'd have to advertise this location. People knew Vox was going to be here. She half expected to be surrounded by overlords the second they made themselves known.

Vox threw off his hood, seeming not to care if anyone saw him now.

"Like any other show, of course. As for our security concerns? I got it covered." He grinned at her and pointed to a nearby building.

Carmilla followed the direction, spotting someone leaning against the wall and reading a newspaper. A pale man dressed in a dapper suit. He seemed to notice her attention and lowered the paper. Black eyes and sharp fangs revealed themselves.

'A cannibal?'

Her eyes scanned the area. Now that was actively looking for them, she could spot several loitering about. Some talking amongst themselves, or simply walking by. A small group was even waiting in the line of potential Voxtek candidates.

They usually kept to themselves in Cannibal Town, but it wasn't unusual to see the smiling sinners out and about the pentagram. This many though? It was highly suspect without any nearby food to feast upon.

"Do I want to know why they're here?" She asked the overlord cautiously.

She already knew the answer, of course. Their mutual acquaintance - Rosie.

Against her better judgement, she remained professional with the cannibal matriarch after the incident with Vox. Or at least, to the extent she was comfortable with. The woman requested more than once to join her for tea or to sit down and talk in a more casual atmosphere. Carmilla politely declined each offer. She was more than happy to keep the cannibal at arms length, and she hoped Vox would do the same.

Apparently not.

"No worries." Vox assured her with a smile. "Rosie offered her services. The only thing she asked of me in return was to let some of her people have a spot in the lineup. A more than generous exchange, wouldn't you agree?"

Well… that didn't sound too bad

And, she supposed, it was ultimately Vox's decision who would join his show. Even through a bribe.

Rosie was well respected in the Overlord community. If her people served as the matriarch's eyes & ears, it was unlikely anyone would try something. They would be safe here. Or at least as safe as one could be surrounded by cannibals.

"I just hope you know what you're doing, Vox." Carmilla told him.

"Of course I do!" The TV overlord proclaimed proudly. "I've dealt with overlords way longer than you have. This isn't anything new. I'm just a little… limited on my available contacts nowadays, Hehe!" He let out a nervous laugh, his grin dropping a bit and becoming more forced.

She'd have to take his word there. From her viewpoint, he seemed to have fairly bad luck in this department. His fight with Alastor and that petty deal he made with Rosie.

Hopefully they'd be done with this farce quickly. The sooner she was out of the view of the cannibal matriarch's agents, the better.

The duo found their way to a table situated in front of a large stage. They had been escorted by one the handful of Voxtek employees picked to help manage things. Carmilla was thankful to not find any cannibals inside. They seemed to have been instructed to just guard by the entrance and scare off any onlookers.

The weapons dealer looked through the various papers left on the table. Dozens of names were listed. Each act outlined with their various specialties and talents. Quite a few of them were musical performers. That's wasn't too surprising though. If there was one thing that the people of hell could agree on, it was an appreciation of music.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Vox announced to no one in particular.

He leaned his chair back so it was just barely standing on the hind legs. His hands became intertwined behind his boxy TV head and he crossed legs to rest his feet atop the table.

The Overlord looked far too pleased with himself. She'd need to fix that.

Carmilla hummed in agreement with his proclamation, but subtlety moved her foot to push one of Vox's precarious chair legs. It was just enough to throw him off balance, his body beginning to fall back.

"Wha-hey!" He quickly righted himself. "What's the big idea?!" He glared at her, his posture now more rigid and annoyed.

"Sit straight." Carmilla told him plainly "If I'm going to be here, you can at least do me the courtesy of acting professional." She didn't even turn her head to adress the irate Overlord.

Vox groaned, but didn't argue. She could him him mumbling underneath his breath in annoyance.

If it seemed like she was being petty, Carmilla had her reasons. After that little mishap when she'd been introduced to the Voxtek employees, the weapons dealer had made it a habit to start putting Vox in his place. If he became too full of himself, she noticed he had a tendency to become complacent or ignore others around him.

Carmilla would still give his fair due if he genuinely did well and impressed her. She was fair. Though she'd also add hints of criticisms here or there. Give him just enough to strive for while still appeasing his ego.

"Shall we begin?" She asked Vox, smiling at his irritated expression.

He sighed "Fine. Whatever." The overlord nodded and motioned to start bringing in candidates.

There seemed to be some hushed arguing from the side of the stage. They were hidden by the large drapes, but their voices couldn't be mistaken. "Go! Get out there! Vamanos!"

The confrontation ended abruptly though when a sinner was pushed out. He stumbled onto the main floor. His eyes widened in panick, like a deer in the headlights.

It was a bird sinner that resembled a rooster. Red feathers adorned his body, just barely distinguishable from the similarly colored clothing. She took notice of the gun holsters around his waist(empty. Mostly likely removed by security) and the spurs on the back of his clawed feet. A large sombrero rested on the sinner's head and he gripped a wooden guitar between his trembling hands.

"Uh…" The Rooster awkwardly approached the microphone placed center of the stage.

A beat passed.

He didn't play or ask them anything. Just stood there, his eyes shifting to the side of the stage and back in rapid succession.

Carmilla waited on him to get his bearings. Vox didn't have any such patience though.

"C'mon already!" He demanded.

"Ah…Podría esperar un momento a los miembros de mi banda? Vienen con retraso." The Sinner finally spoke up. Only speaking in Spanish.

"What?" Vox asked, confusion riddling his face. He clearly didn't catch any of that. "Don't you know any English?"

"Qué?" The sinner seemed likewise unable to understand. A clear language barrier was between them.

This didnt bode well. Their first contestant and they'd already run into a complication. Carmilla turned to see Vox's response, curious how he'd handle the situation.

"English, Motherfucker! Do you speak it?!" He slammed a fist into the table in anger.

And of course, he managed to disappoint her.

"If not, leave! So we can move on to someone I can understand." Vox demanded.

"Don't you have a translator on hand?" Carmilla offered a solution. Surely, someone like him with a such large audience would have some kind of language expert on hand. He couldn't be that careless.

"NO!" Vox answered back angrily. As if the very notion upset him. "Why the hell would I waste money on that? If they want to work with me, they should learn some English like everyone else in the pride ring."

"That's not-!" Carmilla started to argue, but stopped herself.

She took a deep breath to calm her temperament. She probably shouldn't have been surprised at the blatant xenophobia.

More than once she caught the overlord rolling his eyes or making displeased expressions whenever her or her daughters talked in their native language. Vox never verbally protested against it, but she could tell it upset him.

Given what she'd gleamed of Vox - his mannerism, his interests, even the way he talked to people - Carmilla could tell he was mostly likely a wealthy man from America. Died sometime around the 50's. And despite his pitch black skin, he was probably pale as a ghost when he was alive.

It was likely that the man rarely, if ever, interacted with people outside his own race unless he needed something from them. Never mind trying to gleam a whole other language.

'Ignorant asshole! I should've known this would come up sooner or later.'

Maybe this moment would provide an opportunity.

Something she could actually do to help these sinners and simultaneously encourage Vox to be more open minded. It couldn't hurt at least to try, and it would make presence here feel at least slightly more warranted.

"What if I Translate for you?" The weapons dealer crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the overlord. "Would you hear him out then?" She asked.

He scoffed at the idea. "Pft! You gonna sing for him too? I need to understand him if he's gonna work for me."

"He's a musician." She gestured to the guitar in his hands as the sinner looked between the duo arguing in confusion. "Why does he need to know English to play? You're being unreasonable."

"It's MY show!" Vox argued. "How am I the one being unreasonable?" She could spot electric sparks forming between his antennae as his anger flared.

"If you only accept English acts, you cut yourself off from millions of talented individuals. You don't think that's unreasonable?" Carmilla asked him. "Not just acts. A wider audience as well. You don't think other people feel the same as you from the other side? Why watch a channel with no programming in a language they don't care for or can't understand? You have the chance to add some variety to your programming. Isn't that a good thing?"

If Vox understood one thing, it was growing an audience . If he saw the opportunity to widen his fan base, he'd take it. Especially in it's weakened state. He couldn't be so stubborn as to ignore such obvious demographics, could he? It could only help him at this point.

The TV overlord folded his hands in front him, narrowing his eyes at the rooster on the stage. A low growl emerged from throat. Carmilla rolled her eyes at the gesture. He was considering it, she could tell. Though, that wouldn't stop him from fighting himself about the decision.

"…What did he say?" Vox asked reluctantly.

'Finally.'

"He wants us to wait for his other band members." Carmilla told him calmly. "Apparently, they're running late."

"Screw that!" More sparks erupted from Vox's antennae. Unsatisfied by the answer, he glared at the Rooster in anger. "Tell him to start playing or get the fuck out! If they're not here, that's tough shit!"

The weapons dealer nodded in agreement. They couldn't wait for people that weren't here.

She wouldn't phrase it as harshly as Vox did though. "Tienes que empezar a jugar sin ellos. De lo contrario, tendré que pedirte que te vayas de inmediato."

"Ah… sí, Seńora." The Rooster was disappointed with the answer, but he resigned himself to staying. He cleared his throat and readied his hands to begin playing a song.

He started strumming his guitar.

It was a fairly pleasant melody that followed. One that started increasing in pace as the song went on. As she expected, the sinner sung in Spanish lyrics. It wasn't a piece she was familiar with. Likely something original his band had written together. It wasn't bad, though she couldn't say it was particularly inspiring either.

Vox seemed to have a different opinion though. Despite his earlier protests, he seemed enamored with the music. Closing his eyes and nodding his head along to the rythm. His claws moved along the desk as if he himself were strumming out the notes.

Carmilla smirked at his obvious enjoyment. She hadn't seen him listen to much outside of his usual choices. Jazz, classical, rock. For all she knew, this was his first time ever listening to a song like this. Maybe she'd share a a few of her own records some time. See if she could get him to expand his tastes a bit.

Her thoughts were interrupted by more instruments being added to the song. Two new sinners had suddenly joined the rooster on the stage. He seemed happy to have their help, so they must have been his missing band members. A green parrot wearing a straw boater hat, dressed in a yellow suit and a white duck in a navy sailor uniform.

'"Birds of a feather, flock together", as they say.'

They song picked up with renewed vigor. The parrot and rooster harmonized as the song came to it's crescendo. They sounded much better together. Although, she found it curious the duck sinner stayed silent. He seemed to want to join in, but was content with just strumming away on his own instrument beside them.

They finished not soon after, all three giving a bow to their audience of two.

Carmilla gave a polite clap of appreciation. Vox likewise gave his own applause, though less enthusiastic and with a more nuetral expression on his screen.

"Very good." She congratulated them with a smile. "And I'm glad your friends could finally join us." She teased the trio.

The green parrot stepped forward, taking off his hat and holding it to his chest nervously.

"I apologize for the inconvenience. Traffic was a nightmare! We got here as soon as we could." He spoke English, but she could hear traces of a Brazilian accent mixed in.

"Oh, good." Vox perked up. "Someone I can actually talk to."

The parrot sinner seemed to realize his companion wouldn't be able to communicate without him. He shot a quick look to the two standing behind him. "Oh! Yes, of course. Forgive my friends. They don't speak very much English."

The duck sinner became angry at that comment. He made a motion to protest, but the rooster quickly snapped his beak closed and made a shushing gesture.

"I am Jose," the parrot gestured to himself proudly. "You've already met our friend Panchito," the red rooster bowed at his introduction. "And last, but not least our trusty friend Donald. And together, we are-!"

"Yeah, I got it all right here." Vox interrupted their introduction, pointing to his candidate form in disinterest. "I can't say it inspires confidence that you were late. Your buddy here couldn't even tell me what was up." He tapped his claws together and gave the trio an intense stare.

"Ah, we assure you Mr. Vox! It won't happen again." Jose pleaded with him. "And I am multilingual, so there should be no more miscommunication issues as long as I'm around! You have my word."

"Mmmmm, I dunno." Vox feigned discontent. "You already let me down once…" the overlord turned his head to Carmilla. "What do you think?" He asked her.

'I think you just want to make them sweat.'

Carmilla knew he'd already made up his mind. Vox clearly enjoyed their performance. He just wanted them to see he wouldn't tolerate their tardiness a second time.

"I think they show a lot of promise." She played along. It was a common practice in interviews. Vox was using her as a bouncing board so he could look intimidating while still giving praise. "And I'm sure they won't be late without calling ahead the next time. Correct?"

The three nodded their heads rapidly.

Vox took another moment to let them stew on the stage. He turned his head to and fro as if he was making a difficult decision. Always the showman, even for small things like this.

"Okay." He finally answered them. "You got the spot!"

The three visibly relaxed. Their apprehensive stares becoming happy smiles.

"Be grateful to your friend." Vox pointed to the rooster, "He's the one that held your place and gave me a proper performance. Otherwise I would've kicked you three to for the curb for showing up late!" He threatened them with a show of sparks flying off his claw tips.

The group was too busy celebrating to care though.

And that's when she heard it…

Possibly the WORST sound she'd ever experienced in her time in hell.

"WE DID IT! WE DID IT! We're going to the big leagues now, boys!!!"

The duck sinner, Donald, made happy proclamations. Or what she could only assume were. He was barely intelligible despite speaking plain English. His voice sounded like someone strangling a squeaky toy. It's no wonder he didn't sing! He shouldn't even talk!

The weapons dealer held her large hands over her ears to block out the horrendous noise.

"Agh!!! What the fuck is that?!" Vox likewise covered the sides of his head. "Jesus Christ! Will someone SHUT HIM UP?!"

Jose and Panchito rushed to snap his beak shut. They held him down, making sure he couldn't open his mouth again.

'Oh, thank god!'

"We're so sorry about him, sir!" Jose hurriedly apologized. "You know how sinner's bodies can be a crapshoot. We think he was a foul mouthed sailer in life. A fitting punishment, wouldn't you say?" He joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"And you can understand him?" She asked, annoyed but still curious.

"Eh… every third word."

"WHO CARES!?!" Vox angrily yelled, lowering his hands from his head and slamming them into the table.

"I'll tell you what?! You get him out of my sight, never have him open his mouth in front of either of us, and I'll let you still perform. But if I EVER, hear that voice again - I'm ripping out ALL of your throats!!! Got it?!"

The three nodded in unison. They rose from the floor, but nevertheless kept their hands around Donald's beak in fear. Even his hands were now clasping it shut after Vox's threat.

"Good. Now get out of here!" The overlord ordered and pointed to the exit. "You've wasted enough of my time as it is!"

They quickly ran away. Though Carmilla could spot nervous smiles as they left to leave.

"Well, that's one down." She made a check mark by the name. "And aside from that… unfortunate mishap, aren't you glad you gave him a chance now?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don't get your hopes up." Vox wrote up a note and motioned to one of his people standing by to take it. "You're just lucky they could actually play some decent music."

Exactly how she the lucky one in this scenario, Carmilla wasn't sure. Vox had a way of creating competition were none existed. she was sure he saw it as some kind of game - to judge a Spanish speaking act in inferior somehow and prove a point to her.

It was childish.

That didn't mean she had any intent of losing though.

"So does that mean you'll be accepting more acts like that, or was this a one time thing?" Carmilla asked him.

"Hey, if you're still offering your services." Vox shrugged his shoulders, but she could see a challenging look in his eye.

So that's how it was. If she didn't translate for him, he'd just deny them outright like he originally intended.

"I might as well. I'm already here." she reluctantly agreed. "You really should hire an ACTUAL translator though."

"Mhm, I'll get right on that." The overlord casually dismissed the suggestion. He made a mark on his own form. His large eyes squinted as he tried to read the name.

"Let's see here. The three...how the hell do you even say this?" Vox asked her, pointing to the band's title in confusion.

"Caballeros."

"Cabbage arrows?"

"Caballeros."

"Couple of gyros?"

"KAH - BAH - YEH - ROHS!"

"…Well, that's a stupid fucking name."

Carmilla sighed in frustration. This was going to be a long day.

She wouldbe liked to have said the following performances were more straightforward, but that would be a lie. Even forgoing the majority of the acts were able to speak perfect English and didn't need her assistance, save one or two exceptions, they were the furthest thing from what she expected.

Sure, there there were still traditional acts. Bands, comedians, dancers and the like. But there were just as many unsavory, or quite frankly, disgusting and distasteful displays of "talent".

Case in point:

Simon - the blind juggler

"I feel like this is false advertising." Vox commented as he watched the sinner on stage juggle numerous round objects in his hands.

"I suppose he is tenchincally blind." Carmilla argued in half interest. "Or at least unable to see what he's doing."

"I guess." Vox agreed. "Hehe! Hey, you think he gets dizzy doing this?" He asked with a chuckle.

Carmilla gave a light laugh in return. "I don't even want think about it." She felt her stomache lurch as she kept watching him perform. "Ugh! I'm getting sick just watching him…"

The Sinner was talented, but she couldn't get over the specific gimmick he employed. Instead of using plastic, metal,or even glass balls - Simon made use of his unique anatomy that lent him various eyes. 7 in all.

He had removed each, one by one. Adding an eye every few seconds over the course of his performance until only empty sockets remained on his face. The now displaced eyes were being jostled and juggled within his palms like a trained professional.

She could swear they were looking at her too. The pupils all zeroing in on her as the were thrown and rotated in a circular motion within Simon's talented hands.

Apparently Carmilla wasn't the only that noticed the unwarranted attention she was getting from the contestant.

Simon's eyes flashed a familiar color - The telltale red swirl of Vox's hypnosis taking him over. Just for a second.

"Ah, damnit!" The orbs fell to the floor as his concentration was interrupted.

"Whoops! Looks like you really dropped the ball there, huh bud?" Despite the joking tone, Vox didnt look the least bit jovial. His smile tight and one of his eyes twitching in annoyance.

"So sorry, sir!" The sinner apologized as he started picking up the eyes, cleaning them off and placing them back into his sockets. At least he was being hygienic? "That never happens, I swear! I guess I'm just a little nervous. Can I start again?"

"Sure." Vox shrugged nonchalantly. "But maybe you should make sure you keep you're eye on the ball this time?" His pun was accompanied with a threatening tone and a subtle glare. "Just a suggestion." He hissed through clenched teeth.

"Yes, sir…" Simon hastily agreed and began preperations to start his routine anew.

Carmilla silently scoffed at Vox's remark. 'So immature. If he really wanted to be the center of attention, he should've just come alone.'

Still. Better than having some creep staring at her like that. Hopefully the other contestants would take the hint going forward.

Jeremiah - the sword swallower

"Ugh…Gluh!" The sinner made guttural sounds as the large scimiatar blade was slowly inserted down his throat. His hands wrapped carefully around the handle of the sword as to not let it drop down carelessly and cut him.

"That poor sword." Vox looked on in amusement as he watched Jeremiah struggle. "Must tear you up seeing a weapon treated so carelessly." He teased her.

"Not in particular." She shrugged in disinterest. "It's not mine afterall. How someone treats their own property is their business, not mine."

"Hurgh!" The sinner suddenly chocked, startling the two judges from their casual conversation. He pushed on through the pain though and began recklessly shoving it down his throat in a panic. Slamming the pommel downward to try and get it down securely.

Carmilla looked on in disgust and slight worry for the desperate sinner. "That being said, I can't say I don't have any objections. Ugh!"

"Yeah, even I'm feeling bad for that thing at this point. Yikes…" Vox agreed, his screen turning a shade of green as watched on.

(Gulp!)

"Ah! Finally!!!" The sinner gasped a breath of air as he fully swallowed the blade successfully.

Handle and all.

"Did he just-?" Vox's jaw hung open as he watched on in shock.

"Mhm. That can't be good." Carmilla nodded in worry. "For him OR the sword."

The stomache acid alone would surely ruin it. Although, the blade didnt look like it was in the best condition in the first place.

"Hey, guy!" The TV overlord called out to Jeremiah. "You know you're not supposed to swallow the whole thing, right?!"

"What? Of course you are!" The sinner argued, as if it was plainly obvious. "That's TRUE sword swallowing! None of that pussy, half-measure bullshit."

Carmilla hummed curiously. That was certainly one way to look at it. His method did raise a prominent question to her mind though. "And you have to use another sword each time? That seems prohibitively expensive."

"Wait, Yeah!" Vox's eyes widened as he realized the financial burden the act would place on him. "Look, I don't care what you want to choke yourself with, but you better have a stockpile of those things. Because I know I'M not paying for them!"

"Oh, No worries there." The sinner casually dismissed their objections. "I always make sure to recycle my prop. I've used that same sword for years now! It'll just take a few hours to retrieve it." He patted his stomache proudly.

The weapons dealer raised a brow in confusion of his answer. "But you just swallowed it. How are you-"

"Carmilla…" Vox warned her, his screen turning even greener and his expression more uneasy. "I uh, wouldn't think about it too hard."

…

"EW! Eso es asqueroso!" She exclaimed as the horrific realization finally came to her. "OUT! Get out of here right this instant!"

"But I-"

"NOW!" Carmilla insisted, slamming her large hands onto the table and giving the sinner a furious glare. "Before I use that sword in your stomache to SLICE you open from the inside-out!"

The sinner froze up, his cocky expression turning terrified. "How would you even-"

"Oh, I'll find a way." She narrowed her eyes at him in anger. "Trust me…"

Jeremiah promptly ran off stage in a panic. Running as fast he could despite the blade inside him distorting his body.

Vox whistled in appreciation as he leaned back in his chair and gave Carmilla an appraising look. "Damn. Remind me never to piss you off." He told her with a grin.

"I have." She reminded him sternly. "Many times. But the fact that I'm sitting here enduring this tells me it does little to hammer that message home." Carmilla sighed and rubbed her temples, trying to block out the horrendous mental image that had been conjured up just a minute ago.

Vox just gave a hardly laugh at her expense.

"Hahaha! H-hey, wait! Let's ha!-lets call him back." The overlord offered, still yucking it up like a fool.

"What!?" She looked up at him in shock and confusion.

"That thing you said? It gave me a great idea! W-what if we get volunteers and turn it into audience participation? Huh? Haha!"

"Vox…" A new image came to mind, this one of eager sinners lining up to make her fictional threat come to life. They would gleefully rip out the blade from Jeremiah's stomache with a happy smile. "That's a terrible idea."

It didn't matter that the thought of that gross sinner in pain brought her some small amount joy. It didn't!

"No, no! Shut up! It's perfect! All we have to do is get everybody to sight some wavers and we'd be golden. Hell, I'd even throw the guy some extra money if we did more than one show a day."

Carmilla tried to hide the small smile that came to her as she listened to him explain his idea. It was cruel, violent, unprofessional. 'I think the worst part is that I can't even tell if he's joking or not.'

But she'd be lying if she said it didn't pique her own morbid curiosity. Even just thinking abiut it was oddly cathartic. Suddenly she got inking of understanding of why so many sinners indulged in trashy entertainment.

Orgynized Chaos

Carmilla really thought it was a typo when she was glancing over the various names on the form.

'I should've known better…'

"You're not even gonna watch? I didn't take you as a prude." Vox admonished her as Carmilla burried her head between her arms on the table.

She ignored his comment. "How does this even count as entertainment?" She mumbled helplessly, trying to pretend she was anywhere else at the moment.

As soon as the group pulled out a portable mattress and started taking off their clothes, Carmilla gave up any pretense of being a partial judge. Just waiting for it to be over so they could move on to the next disaster.

"Are you serious?" Vox asked her incredulously. "Pornography is one of the biggest industries down here. 73% of the highest grossing films and television programs are built on the foundation of sinners getting down and dirty. They've turned it into an art form! The demographics for this market are insane compared to back when I was alive and putting stuff out as a producer. It's so prolific, I had to actually change my format and start taking scripts for new shows that had at least 2 sex scenes per episodes."

He babbled on like that for a while. Seemingly ignoring the act as they began their "routine".

Eventually Carmilla lifted her head from her arms and began to listen in earnest to Vox's recounting of how pornography influenced his channel's content. It was at least more interesting than whatever was happening on the stage. Soon his voice was the only thing she could focus on, blocking out the sounds of squelching bodies & moans of pleasure happening just a few feet away.

Carmilla wasn't even sure if she was following what he was saying, but the passion in his voice was somehow enticing all the same.

The band that Rosie had sponsored, the Organ Grinders, had finished up their set. She had thought them quite talented. Even without the cannibal matriarch's interference, they would've been a shoe-in for the lineup.

Though, Carmilla admitted with a hint of shame, her attention was more focused on the finely tuned instruments that seemed to be carved from human bones. She would have to ask them what artisan made such wonderful tools. It gave her a plethora of ideas for personal projects.

Not using human remains, obviously. But mimicking the shape by molding angelic steel into such organic forms could provide an interesting challenge.

"What?!" Her thoughts were interrupted by Vox arguing with one of his employees that had nervously approached their table. The two were whispering about something off to the side. "You gotta be kidding me! And you only waited until NOW to tell me?! AGH!" He groaned loudly and put his screen into his palms in aggravation.

"Something wrong?" Carmilla asked curiously.

"It's, uh-It's nothing!" He told her nervously. "I sent one of my guys on an errand earlier and I guess they fucked it up. I just need to hop out for a second and deal with it myself." Vox explained.

"You okay here judging on your own for like… 10 or 20 minutes?" He already began standing up before giving her the chance to respond.

"What?! No!" She shot him down immediately. "Vox, this is your talent show. I'm not doing your job for you! Just ask the contestants to wait till you come back and-"

"Can't do that." The TV overlord shrugged his shoulders. He was already backing away towards the exit. "I got a schedule to keep and we gotta keep the line moving'! You'll be fine." He assured her with a smug grin.

"Goddamnit Vox!" She called after him, but to no avail. "Get back here!"

"Good luck, and remember! You're representing Voxtek out there! Bye!" He slammed the door shut and left her alone at the judging table.

She would've ran after him, but the bright light eminating from underneath the door told her he has already zapped off in a bolt of lightning.

Carmilla inhaled to yell into the air in agrivation, but it only came out as a long and weary sigh.

'That bastard! …I should just leave, right?' That would be the smart thing to do.

'But then he'll just call me out for breaking our deal.' It was barely past noon and they were supposed to bea here for the better part of the day. She really needed that extra energy from him to make her order numbers.

'Damnnit… I suppose this is for the best. If we fall behind, I know he'll somehow recruit me to do this again tommorow so we can cover everyone and fulfill our trade properly.' It still didn't mean she wasn't angry at the TV overlord for ditching her so suddenly. She'd have to get him back for that another time.

"Next contestant!" She called out to the awaiting talent behind the curtains.

A short, portly blonde woman in a 1920's flapper dress swaggered out onto the stage. Her nose pointed into the air and an air of undeserved confidence bleeding into the air around her. She wasn't even looking at where she was going, just blindly going in a straight line until she reached the microphone at the center of the stage.

"Hey, Voxxy! Long time no-" she finally adressed the judging table, her bravado fading away as she noticed only Carmilla there. "Eh… You're not Vox." she pointed out with a nervous and unsure smile.

"Vox had to step out for a minute." She told her with a bored tone. "My name is Carmilla and I'll be handling things until he returns."

The woman gave a light chuckle, eying Carmilla with scrutiny. "No offense sweety, but I'm here to talk to Vox, not his assistant. We're old friends, So how about you-"

"I'm Vox's business partner, actually." Carmilla clarified, her eyes narrowing in annoyance. "NOT one of his employees, and especially not his assistant. And I've never heard Vox mention you, Ms?"

"Oh! I didn't know Vox hooked up with someone to keep things afloat. Jeez, I guess times really are tuff, huh? The name's Mimzy, sweetheart." The woman introduced herself proudly with a bow and waited for some kind of response.

Carmilla's only answer was to lean back in her seat and cross her arms over her chest.

"Nothing?" Mimzy's expression deflated at the lack of a reaction, though she still kept her tight grin in place." Really?"

"No. Never heard of you." Carmilla just shrugged her shoulders. "And I'm not sure why a friend of Vox's would go through the trouble of waiting through an audition line. If you really did know him, you would've just come to him directly or at his place of work."

Something definitely felt off about this Mimzy woman. A scam artist maybe? No, that was too simple. She seemed to know who Vox was, but Carmilla had no idea if that feeling was mutual. Vox didnt really talk about his acquaintances, aside from Rosie or Alastor(that usually devolved into hateful rants).

"Okay, so maybe we're not "friends" per say," Mimzy quickly tried to cover her story with a nervous smile. "But we did used to work together! I was one of his dancers a while ago and I thought he could use my help again considering everything his company has gone through." She explained smoothly, regaining some of her confidence.

'Hmm. A disgruntled employee then? But she should've shown up by now. Just like all of Vox's other people. Unless… she wasn't under contract like they were.' This was getting more and more suspicious.

"I'm sure Vox could use all the help he could get, but this isn't an interview - it's a talent show." Carmilla turned their conversation back to the matter at hand. "If you really do want to be part of Voxtek again, you'll need to be judged like every other contestant here. At least as long as I'm here in his stead."

"Well, like I said. Vox is already pretty familiar with my many talents, so how about we just-"

"Well, I'm not." Carmilla refuted her yet again. "So you'll need to show me what you can do or leave so another willing contestant can compete."

She was trying to stay polite and professional, but this woman was really grating on her nerves. Why was she so insistent on not just performing? She worked for Vox, so he must have seen some talent in her. Right?

Unless he hired her for some other reason.

"Look, lady!" Mimzy huffed in annoyance, placing her hands on her hips and sneering at Carmilla distastefully. "I'm better than any of the dancers youre gonna see today in that trainwreck of a lineup I've been waiting in. Hell, I'm probably the best dancer in this building!" She touted proudly with a smug grin. "You're not gonna find anyone better than me, so how about you just go and fetch Vox so we can make this kosher, huh?" She ordered with an underserved sense of authority.

"Trust me, youre not gonna want to see what happens if you turn me away." Mimzy made a vague threat, her smile turning viscous. "I have some friends in high places that wouldn't be happy. I know even Vox wouldn't want to pick a fight with them." She chuckled darkly. "Especially Vox."

Carmilla folded her hands in front of her and tried to consider her next words carefully. Whatever "friends in high places" the woman could've had on hand didnt seem like a valid threat considering she was dragging herself to come to Vox instead of them. It still had her hesistating though, just in case her words had some truth to them. Carmilla didnt want to get mixed up with any more unsavory characters than she was already involved with.

She should just have someone escort this woman out.

Yes. That would be the most logical move on her part. Make her leave, move on and let Vox sort this out later. It wasn't any of her business.

'I'm probably the best dancer in this building!'

However, what was most on the weapons dealer's mind was that pompous deceleration Mimzy made. Such blatant disrespect and foolishness, and without even the gall to prove her own worth on the stage she stood upon.

It wasn't just the blind arrogance that Mimzy displayed, thinking herself a better dancer than any of the other contestant that came to make their mark here. Carmilla, admittedly, felt a tinge of her own pride as a dancer on the line as well.

"Show me."

Against her better judgement, Carmilla made her choice. She was getting tired of sitting in one place for so long anyway. This would be a good excuse to stretch her legs for a moment.

"Excuse me?" Mimzy questioned unhappily. "Didn't you just hear what I said? I'm not her to perform like this other losers. Just let me talk to Vox and I'm sure he'll give me the thumbs up to be in youre little show."

"And I told you, Vox is unavailable at the moment." Carmilla stood and walked over to the Voxtek employee manning the music station nearby. After a short search through his collection, she picked out an appropriate record for the occasion and handed it to him. "Please play this one? If you wouldn't mind."

"Right away, Ms. Carmine." The barracuda sinner bowed and followed her instruction promptly.

"Thank you." She nodded to him and stepped up to the stage.

"I'll make you a deal." Carmilla offered Mimzy as she approached the woman. "I happen to quite adept at dancing, myself. If you're as good as you claim to be, you'll have no trouble keeping pace with me. Last until the end of the song, follow my lead, and manage to keep up with me and I'll personally vouch for you to Vox."

"Heh! That's it?" Mimzy laughed at the proposal. "Easy peezy. You don't look like you've been down here much longer than Voxxy And I've been kicking my heels for decades before he even came around. But, ah" she gave Carmilla scrutinizing look. "How do I know Vox would even listen to you?"

A fair question. For all Mimzy knew, Vox and her were bitter rivals. Not friendly co-workers. Carmilla wasn't even sure where they fit in that spectrum at the moment(not that it mattered). "I have a standing deal with Vox for my participation in this little charade. I stay and help him judge and he does me a favor." Carmilla explained. "If you win our wager, I'll give up my boon to you. He'll have no choice in the matter. Sound fair?"

Carmillla held out her hand as an offering.

Normally she was averse to casual deals like this. These "gentleman's wagers" were fairly common occurrences in the pride ring. Just minor bets that ensured either party made good on the other's proposition. She wasn't a fan of the idea. Even if you weren't betting a soul, playing around with hell's contract system so casually just seemed like you were asking for trouble. If you underestimated your opponent, it could end disastrously.

Carmilla didnt see that happening here though. The weapons dealer was positive she could beat this Mimzy woman with ease, especially in a duel based on footwork and coordination.

Mimzy reached out her own hand, smiling all the while. But she stopped just short. "And if you win?" The woman asked. "What do you get out of this deal?"

"You will never show your face to me or Vox again." Carmilla told the woman with a cold voice. "You won't seek us out. You won't bother us. If you see me or him walking down the street, you'll turn the other way. And you won't speak to your "friends" about what happened here today either." Best to cut that possibility off, just in case she wasn't lying. Better safe than sorry.

"Hmph! Rude!" Mimzy snubbed her nose at Carmilla and huffed indignantly. "Buuuuuut, I guess that that's fair enough. Can't expect everyone to have good taste and enjoy the pleasure of my company, hehe!" She let out a smug chuckle. "You gotta' deal!"

They clasped hands.

It was nothing like her deal with Vox. A small flash of white and gold clashing beneath their palms. Barely any noticeable energy coming off her. It was expected, but somehow disappointing all the same.

The two separated as the music began flowing through the theatre. Carmilla gave a respectful bow to her opponent. Mimzy rolled her eyes, but still replied with a reluctant curtsy of her own. They began circling each other on the stage, their steps matching the rythm of the song as it picked up it's pace.

Carmilla started a simple enough routine. Showing Mimzy the moves she'd wanted her to follow. As she began to get accoustomed to the instruction, Carmilla quickly picked up the intensity and pace.

"Told you this would be easy." Mimzy told her mockingly. "Dancing is second nature to me, sweetheart. Anything you can do, I can do better."

"If you say so." Carmilla replied calmly, her focus undeterred. She began adding twirls and kicks to her dance. Her long leg effortlessness gliding through the air as she balanced the other on the tip of her shoe. Even adding a few pirouettes for good measure. Mimzy followed the action the best she could, despite her smaller stature and shorter legs . She was a bit clumsy, but managed to match her movements all the same.

Carmilla subtly moved closer to the portly woman as she continued her dance. Mimzy was so focused on keeping up, she didn't even notice how close the taller woman had gotten until it was too late.

(Whoosh!)

A disruption of air alerted Mimzy to a sudden movement just above her head. Carmilla's elegant kick just barely avoiding taking her head off. "Hey! Watch it!"

"Something wrong?" Carmilla asked innocently, a small smile coming to her lips as she observed woman's reaction. "Having trouble keeping up?"

"Of course not, but!" Mimzy took a step back, but Carmilla was quick to close the distance between them. Another close kick swept through the air, this time coming far too close for comfort. Mimzy's eyes widened in panick as she watched some loose locks of her hair be sliced off.

"-You're not really helping standing so damn close! Those sharp as fuck loafers of yours almost chopped my head off!" Mimzy barely caught up to avoid being kicked once again.

"Hmph! You should have no trouble with this distance if your as good as you say you are." Carmilla admonished her. "This is how I learned to dance afterall…"

"Like THIS?!" Mimzy jumped over the kick that swept by her feet. "Are you kidding me?!"

"No, unfortunately. I was made to dance at a young age for powerful people." Carmilla's kicks let up. They were still intense but not as fast. "Dangerous people." She refused to back away from Mimzy and lose the distance she had gained though.

"Me and my peers were forced to entertain them with the expectation that we'd be put in danger." She explained. "An attack from rebel forces wishing to overtake them could've come at any moment. And yet, we were told to keep dancing as if nothing had changed. Gunfire, explosions, screams of agony. It didn't matter… If we missed a step or let our fear get the better of us, we would be executed on the spot and replaced without a second thought."

Carmilla lifted one of her long legs high into the air, folding it almost parallel to her body. The gleam of the angelic steel slipper shined as the stage lights hit it.

Mimzy paused her movement to look up in fear and trepidation at the lifted appendage. The sharp edge looming over her might as well have been a guillotine coming down to cut her down. She closed her eyes, scared of being sliced down by a more direct kick this time.

"Even in practice," but Carmilla's cold and calm voice shook Mimzy from her frozen state. "We were forced to dance close to each other and wear slippers with sharpened edges. One wrong move would not only mean danger for us, but for our fellow performers." The weapons dealer let her foot fall. The sound of her slipper colliding with the floor created an echo that rang through the theatre, even over the music.

"Do you understand now?" Carmills resumed her dance movements once more.

Mimzy went by her lead again, if only to avoid being kicked once more. At least if she followed the rythm, she could predict when the next strike would come. "Understand what? That you're CRAZY?!"

Another swift movement nearly decapited Mimzy. "What dancing means to me." Carmilla clarified. "Saying your the best like it's a flight of fancy or a casual merit. This isn't something to be taken lightly!"

'No mistakes! No wrong steps! No hesitation!'

The next kick sliced through the edge of the woman's skirt.

"Plenty of people work just as hard to home their talents. Treating it like life or death. And yet you think you can walk in here like it's nothing? Just expecting to be handed something someone else might be worthy of because you know people? It's disgraceful!"

The pace of the song picked up, Carmilla following its crescendo in tandem. Her kicks and movements becoming even more deadly. Mimzy just barely caught on. Her clothes still getting sliced here or there, but avoiding any actual cuts that would leave her a bloody mess.

"Jesus, lady! It's just dancing." Mimzy yelled out as she ducked and weaved to the rythm of the song. "And it's not like youre any different! I doubt you'd be were you are if you weren't buddies with Vox, am I right?!" She asked with a self-satisfied grin.

Carmilla's calm demeanor broke. Her passive expression turning viscous as the anger she had accumulated for the woman came out in one decisive motion.

She'd been holding back for this little game of theirs. Never meaning to make any actual contact or cause bodily harm. Her only intent was to scare Mimzy away.

But Carmilla lost control. Her kick making aim for a fatale attack insted.

'Damn it! No!' She pulled back at just the last second.

"AH!" Mimzy screamed out and fell back as Carmilla's foot finally made contact.

Her hands came up to cradle her bleeding cheek. Blood poured down the small wound as Mimzy processed what just happened. "You… you cut me! You fucking BITCH!"

'Be glad that's all I did…' Carmilla sighed in relief as she saw the small cut across the Woman's cheek was the only damage that had been done. "I apologize. I wasn't aiming to hurt you. Are you Altight?" She tried to reach her hand out to help her up.

"Fuck off!" Mimzy slapped her hand away and shakily stood up on her own. "And fuck this stupid game too. I'm outta' here!" She stormed off, holding up a middle finger as she marched away.

"And tell Vox he's a piece of shit! Guy has crappy taste in partners. No wonder Alastor kicked him to the curb. I mean, What the fuck was that?! I just don't understand what he sees in-"

Mimzy angrily ranted on as she went on her way. Her voice eventually fading into obscurity. Carmilla couldn't help the smile that came to her face as she watched the woman finally leave. 'Not exactly how I planned this to end, but at least she's finally out of my hair.

The music cut off, leaving Carmilla alone with her thoughts in the silence. She stared off in the distance where Mimzy walked off.

'Perhaps I pushed things too far? God, I hope Vox isn't rubbing off on me. Wait… did she say something about Alastor?'

"Woo! Yeah!!!"

The sound of applause and cheers from the judging table broke up her musings.

"Encore! Encore! Bravissimo!" She turned around to find Vox, returned to his seat and cheering & clapping his hands excitedly. His dumb grin back in full force and laughing gleefully in between shouts of admiration.

He must've come back without her noticing.

And he wasn't alone.

Next to him, sitting at what was her seat just a few minutes ago, was a Cat sinner. He wore a pinstripe tux with orange cuffs and a bow tie. His hair was slicked back and he had long, red eyebrows & large fluffy eaters atop his head. The more notable features were the large wings folded behind him that bore colorful patterns and the long tail with a fanned end that swayed to and fro as he observed Carmilla with interest.

"Damn, man. Where the hell did you find her?" The stranger's deep voice reverberated as he nudged Vox's shoulder playfully - acting like they were old pals.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Vox taunted him, his grin growing even larger. "Told you she could get rid of our little problem."

"Yeah, but I thought she was just gonna kick her out. Not whatever that was." The cat sinner motioned to the stage in amazement. "AND you never have to see Mimzy's stupid mug again?" He crossed his arms and turned hus head away from Vox despondently. "Shit. Can't believe I'm saying this - but I'm actually jealous of you, box head."

"As you should be." Vox told him proudly. "But enough about our little distraction. How about we get down to business, huh?" He asked.

"Uh… maybe you should talk to her first?" The cat sinner nervously pointed upward.

"Hm?"

Vox was so caught up in his conversation, he didn't notice Carmilla had jumped from the stage to the top of the judges table without making a single sound. The weapons dealer stared him down from her standing position above him, boring holes into the TV overlord with her domineering stare and piercing eyes.

"Would either of you care to fill me in on this rousing conversation of yours?" She lifted one of her sharp slippers, placing the tip just under Vox's chin and forcing him to look up at her at an uncomfortable angle. "Well? Vox?" She hissed his name.

"Look, ah-this is just a misunderstanding! I swear!" Vox put his hands up in surrender and swallowed nervously. "H-how about we take a quick lunch break and I'll can fill you in, huh? I'll buy! My treat?"

Vox's employees delivered their food quickly enough. Burgers and fries wouldn't be her first choice, but it filled her empty stomache all the same. They also brought with them a spare chair for their guest so the three could sit and eat together while they discussed matters.

"You could've just told me." Carmilla complained to her partner, exhaustion and annoyance lacing her voice. "I wouldn't have made such a scene if I knew you didn't want her here either."

Apparently Vox did, in fact, know Mimzy. She was another associate of Alastor. A rather annoying one given how Vox described the woman. During their time together, Alastor had often passed off Mimzy to Vox to work for him as a dancer. But more often than not, he served as a guardian for the woman - protecting her from the frequent loan sharks she would get involved with after falling into gambling debts. Vox was content with serving that function when he was still allies with Alastor and in a higher position of authority, but obviously things had changed.

Mimzy didn't seem to have gotten that memo. Probably thinking she could leverage her relationship with Alastor to keep their arrangement going. That's where Carmilla came into the picture.

"Look, I really didn't expect her to show here up all of a sudden." Vox tried to defend his decision. "I had to think fast and since you didn't know who she was, there was less chances of you getting cold feet and caving into her demands."

"So you just left me there and hoped for the best?" She asked him rhetorically.

"Well, I figured you would get tired of her attitude and things would escalate from there. At best, you'd just kick her out and think she was lying about Alastor." Vox's apprehensive expression turned to a teasing grin. "I really didn't think you'd make a DEAL with her just to make her leave though. She must've really gotten to you, huh?"

Carmilla turned her nose up at him and huffed indignantly. "Hmph! Such an arrogant woman! I can't believe a person like her is friends with the Radio Demon of all people."

She turned back to Vox as he began messily eating his food, making obnoxious sounds and enjoying the greasy burger much more than the overlord had any right to.

"Then again, maybe that's just his type…" The weapons dealer rested her cheek in her palm and observed his messy eating with an amused smirk.

"Wht's that sppos'd mean?" Vox replied with a raised brow and a mouth full of food.

"Haha! She's got you there, man!" Husk's deep laugh rang through the air as he chuckled at the TV headed overlord.

That brought her to the next mystery on her plate. Their new guest. He was the Casino owner and fellow overlord they were supposed to meet to iron out a new deal - Husk.

She liked Husk.

If , for any other reason, than because he seemed to have no trouble taking down Vox a peg if given the opportunity.

"Ah, and I'm sorry about involving you with a Mimzy by the way." The Cat Overlord apologies with a more somber and genuine tone. "Had to ask Vox to get rid of her. I've already had trouble shaking Alastor at my place and I didn't want to run in to his old pal while I was here too. I didn't know he was gonna pull that stunt, though - Honest."

This was the "complication" Vox had mentioned. Husk had created a cover story for Vox involving his casino, but that had put him right on the radio demon's radar. He'd had a tough time evading detection from the man.

Alastor still wasn't done with Vox.

He was looking for him. For what reason, she couldn't say. But she knew it couldn't lead to anything good.

"I suppose if it helped you avoid further suspicion from our common enemy, it's fine." She relented with a sigh.

Carmilla wasn't happy with being involved in Vox's little scheme, but at least it ended up doing some good. And she wouldn't have to see Mimzy ever again. That was certainly the best outcome for the the two of them meeting like they had.

She was definitely going to ask Vox for that favor she'd had in mind later though. He owed her more than enough after hoisting Mimzy on Carmilla like he did.

"See? It all worked out in the end." Vox tried to assure her. "Now, enough yapping about Mimzy. I brought Husk here to work out a deal. So let's get that done so we can get back to MY show and finish this thing before the day's over. Hm?"

"Right." The weapons dealer nodded in agreement.

Carmilla tried to iron out as many details as possible in quick order. Usually, she had a more extensive process for getting to know clients, but they were on a short timetable. Not only so they could finish what they came here to do(or rather, what Vox had roped her into), but also so Husk could return to his own domain before Alastor started looking for him again.

The biggest problem was working out a delivery system that could avoid the Radio Demon's attention. But Husk assured her he had reliable smugglers Carmilla could contact for future deliveries. She would simply have to send the energy containers to them as a middle man. Simple enough.

"And here you are." After Husk handed over the necessary funds, Vox presented the container they'd brought with them, hidden in a ratty backpack the TV overlord had carried to the theatre. "Just as promised. May your energy be sufficient and your scams plentiful, my good man."

"Nice." Husk took the offered item within his paws and observed it with glee. But his expression turned sour as he realized the implication Vox was making. "Hey! I don't scam people! My Casino turns out people's pocket fair & square, Jackass!"

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, kitty cat." Vox taunted him again, his head ducking out of the way of a swipe from Husk that lacked any real malice.

Carmilla chuckled to herself as she watched them bicker back and forth. Apparently the two of them were frequent poker buddies, along with Alastor. Husk shared no affection for the radio demon, but from what Vox had told her - he also couldn't resist the challenge of playing hands with a man that never stopped smiling. Vox, similarly, was a frequent opponent he enjoyed playing against. Though, for completely opposing reasons.

If Alastor was difficult to read because you could never tell when he was lying, Vox was a challenge in the sense that you could never tell which lie he was actually hedging his bets on.

That sounded about right for him.

"Mmmm…" Husk grumbled to himself, edging his chair away from Vox and clutching the container to his person. "Thanks, Carmilla." He adressed her despite his glower being directed at the smug, grinning overlord sitting across from him. "Appreciate you meeting me here to give me the Juice."

She blinked in confusion.

"Juice?" Carmilla inquired on the strange term.

"You didn't know?" Husk asked her curiously. "That's what everyone calls it. At least the people I know that use the stuff."

"What a dumb name!" Vox offered his opinion with a grimace. "I mean, why would they call it something like that and not-" He stopped mid sentence, his eyes widening as if something just occurred to him. It looked like his brain was short circuiting. Sparks of electricity flowing between his antennae and his screen frozen in thought.

"Wait…" the sparks stopped as Vox fully sat up from his slouched and relaxed position to turn to Carmilla. "What the hell DO you call this stuff?"

He was only asking this now? They'd been woking together for almost a month and this had never come up before.

"I don't call them anything." She answered him as if it was the obvious. "They're energy containers. I don't need a silly name. The product speaks for itself."

"Are you kidding me?!" Vox raised his hands into the air and starred at her in shock & horror. "How the hell have you stayed in business this long without a name? That's marketing 101!!!"

Carmilla rolled her eyes at his frantic reaction. "I think I'm doing just fine, Vox. Demand is NOT my current issue." She sent him a not so subtle glare. The TV overlord looked away uncomfortably at the implication she was making.

"Besides. I'm not exactly trying to advertise my business to the masses. I'm a black market dealer." Guns weren't illegal in the pride ring, but angelic weapons were very taboo considering they could harm higher ranking demons. "And It's not as if though I have any competition in this field either. There's nothing to worry about." Carmilla tried at appease her partner's worries.

"No competion, NOW." Vox argued. "But the more popular this product gets, the sooner someone's gonna try and muscle in on our turf."

'Our?'

"I'm sure some dumbass will eventually start cranking out cheaper options, which will no doubt attract other buyers." The TV overlord continued on. "A catchy and memorable name for your product ensures they remember YOU over anyone else. Get it?"

"What ensures they remember me is the quality I provide." Carmilla insisted.

She understood what he was getting at, but it felt like Vox was undermining her own work. Did a fancy name really mean that much in the grand scheme of things? Surely people would choose the original, more reliable, product over any copycat.

"Eh. I hate to say it," Husk spoke up with his opinion on the matter. "But Box head has a point. People care more about price and name recognition more than anything. Especially if there's a bunch of different people popping up offering the same thing. You might wanna consider at least something."

Carmilla scoffed at the suggestion and crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance. This was idiotic.

"If it bothers you so much - you can pick a name, Vox." She relented the argument, not wanting to drag it out. "I really don't care. As long it's not something vulgar or misleading, call it what you want. You're the marketing expert afterall."

"Really? You want me to pick something?" The TV overlord pointed to himself in suprise.

Carmilla just shrugged her shoulders in reply. As good an answer as any.

"Ha! Yes!" He pumped his fist excitedly. Vox quickly grabbed some napkins and started furiously scribbling notes down like a madman.

The weapons dealer let out a quiet chuckle as she watched him brainstorm. He probably wouldn't even aknowledge them as he was now. It was one thing she could always count on if she wanted him out of her hair for a bit. Even when they were having a heated argument about some dispute, he would suddenly get an idea for something and drop everything to write it down.

Carmilla sent a look over to Husk. The cat overlord had a similar amused expression on his face as he shook his head at Vox's manic scribbling. "Well, I think our host for this meeting will be otherwise preoccupied for a while. If everything is to your satisfaction, I'll escort you out so you can back to your own work."

"Appreciate it." He stood up from his seat and sent a lazy wave goodbye to Vox. "See ya, Box head."

"Mhm, yeah. Sure." Vox quickly replied with a nod of his head.

She walked him to the exit.

"It was nice meeting you Husk. And I'm sorry for any trouble we have may caused you. It can't be easy trying to dodge Alastor like you have been."

"Eh, it was no problem. I already deal with that asshole on the regular as it is." Husk assured her. "Are YOU sure you're okay with this, though?"

"Okay with what?" She asked him curiously.

"I mean…" he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "You're the one who seems to have gotten buddy-buddy with Al's ex. If he finds Vox, I don't think you're gonna get out of that reunion unscathed."

"I admit, it's not an ideal circumstance." Carmilla let out a despondent sigh. "But I've already put too much into this operation to simply pack up and leave. Vox has connections & resources I need for my work. I think the reward is worth the risk in the long run."

'At least, I hope so…'

"Besides," the weapons dealer's expression became resolute, her hands cllinching into fists by her side as she steeled her nerves. "The radio demon is just another overlord. Same as the dozens of clients I've dealt with. I can handle him if the need arises."

Carmilla hoped she could keep that same confidence if she ever came upon the man in the wild. The stories she heard about surely couldn't have been as bad as they made him out to be…

"Hahaha!" Husk let out a boisterous laugh, catching his sides with his hands. "Ah. Y'know, I thought it was wierd someone like you was hitching their wagon to Vox. But… now I think I'm starting to see it."

She crossed her arms and sent him an annoyed look. "And what is that supposed to mean, exactly?"

Husk grinned at her. "Just that you both seem to have eyes bigger than your mouth. I've been around here long enough to know that the thing that gets most people killed isn't overlords, hellborn, or even other sinners. It's their own unchecked ambition."

She quirked an eyebrow at his advice. "You sound like youre speaking from experience."

"Well, I DO own a casino. Gambling happens to be my specialty!" He adjusting his bow tie, the cat overlord's grin turning smug. "I've seen people tear themselves up trying to get an easy paday. Greed preys on weak. The strong are the people that know when to walk away from a bad hand while they still have something to take home with them." There was an ominous edge to his voice.

"Only if you don't know how to play the hand you've been dealt." Carmilla argued back.

She had worked too hard to get the where she was right now. Things were finally starting to turnaround for her business. Even if she had hit a bump in the road with Vox's drop off in energy - he was still a valuable asset in her plans.

If she had to ward off Alastor at some point in the future, then so be it. Carmilla wasn't looking for a battle like Vox was, but she'd still fight tooth and nail to keep him in her corner.

As annoying as he could be, as awful a person she found the TV overlord, Carmilla needed the energy he could provide. Whatever it took to keep her family safe in the long run.

"Hmm." Husk hummed in thought as he observed Carmilla with a devious smile. "Vox told me you were one to play things safe. Said you might not even show up here if you knew I had smiley on my heels this whole time. Guess he doesn't know you as well as he thought."

Carmilla scoffed at the insinuation and turned away from Husk. "Vox doesn't know anything about me. His opinion is limited by his own narrow mindset and arrogance. He's a terrible judge of character."

"Not sure I'd agree with that." Husk told her. "I mean, he did trust you to get rid of Mimzy. He told me you wouldn't take any of her crap lying down - even if she threatened to sick her guard dog on you."

'Vox said that?'

"Personally, I thought he was full of crap. That he was just trying to weasel out of our meet up or something." Husk grumbled. "Imagine my suprise when I see you putting that bitch in her place. Box head was right on the money there. You gotta give him that, at least." He sent her a teasing smile, trying to lighten the mood.

"Maybe…" She relented, her shoulders relaxing as she reconsidered her opinion. "But that still doesn't excuse tricking me to do his dirty work!" Carmilla vented with a snarl.

"Hey, no arguments there." Husk quickly agreed, putting his arms up in surrender. "But, that's just how he works. Or at least as long as I've known him."

"…He is a handful, isn't he?" Carmilla proposed, a reluctant smirk edging at her lips.

Despite only just meeting Husk, it was nice to have someone she could vent to about Vox's deceptive tendencies.

"Tell me about it." Husk mumbled under his breath with a scowl overcoming his features. "Guy's a real piece of work. But I'd still take him any day of the week over his old play pal."

'Alastor.'

A contemplative look came over Carmilla's face. "If you don't mind me asking?" She hesitantly brought up her question. "Why do you think he's looking for Vox?"

"Can't say." Husk shrugged his shoulders. "They were pretty close for a while. Maybe Alastor isn't done with his favorite toy just yet? He's got a nasty mean streak if he happens to find someone that peaks his interest. Likes to play with his food."

Such a despicable man. It wasn't bad enough beating him half to death like he'd done? And that was months ago too. Did Alastor just want the last word on their relationship?

Carmilla feared the worst for her partner. She wasn't his biggest fan(not by a long shot), but even he didn't deserve to be a toy for someone else's amusement. Better a fate to just kill him and get it over with quick than whatever nefarious scheme the radio demon had planned.

"Thank you, Husk." She told him somberly. "For helping to cover for Vox's disappearance."

"No problem." He held out his paw for her to take for a handshake. She quickly returned the gesture, but as she tried to pull her hand back - she found resistance. The cat overlord kept a firm, but gentle grip on her larger hand.

"Say, you wouldn't happen to know what really happened to Box head for all that time he was gone." Husk stared her in the eye, scanning her for any hint of fear or deceit. "…Would you?"

"No." She lied to him effortlessly. Her face a mask of neutrality. "I'm afraid I only met Vox only very recently. Within the last month, in fact."

That part was the truth. To some extent, anyway.

"He came to me looking for an investment opportunity. Said he had an interest in my technology. Wanted to open an R & D department for Voxtek and thought I'd be a good fit." Carmilla recited the backstory Vox had come up with. She'd read it so many times, it was burned into her memory by now. "I was just lucky enough to find him down on his luck and willing to bargain for an equal partnership. I have no idea what happened to him before we met. He's never brought it up, and I thought it inappropriate to ask."

There was a tense atmosphere between them as they kept their hands connected and stared one another down.

Eventually though, Husk cracked a smile and relented his grip. "Fair enough. Just curious. That's all."

"You should be careful." Carmilla quickly retrieved her arm and took a step back from him cautiously. "You know what they say about curious cats?"

"Hey, what do I care? I'm already dead afterall." He turned to head towards the doorway. "If things don't work out with Vox, gimme a call. Maybe we can work on something together."

"Thank you, but I'm not really-"

"Or even if you just want to talk." He cut off her objections. "Like you said, Vox can be a pain in the ass at the best of times. If you ever need to an ear to listen to, I'm usually available at that number."

"Hm?" She suddenly noticed something in her hand.

It was a business card for a casino. Presumably Husk's. She flipped the parchment around curiously, finding a hand written number scribbled out in neat writing.

'When did he-'

The sound of the door closing alerted her to Husk's exit.

Carmilla smiled at the spot where the Cat overlord previously stood. 'Well, that was certainly interesting.'

The weapons dealer wasn't quite sure she would take him up on his offer, but the option was still welcome all the same.

It took a bit of convincing to get Vox to take a brake from his new pet project (he still asked for her input inbetween acts), but she managed to get him to focus on the more important task ahead of them for the day.

The next hours flew by without any other incidents. Vox and Carmilla were able to judge the contestants at a much quicker speed. They had managed to fill up quite a few spots in time, and that allowed them to easily dismiss similar acts that were obviously of lesser quality.

It also seemed the worst offenders had gotten here earlier in the day, so there weren't as many offputting acts as earlier. Vox seemed disappointed in the lack of variety, but she was glad for the return to normalcy.

One oddity Carmilla found peculiar about the various contestants they went through was that, while they were still quite few in number compared to everyone else, there seemed to be a a decent amount of Spanish speaking acts. But no other languages. Some multilingual sinners that had clear accents or inflections resembling differening languages, but none that had the same complication they'd ran into at the start of their judging session.

'Maybe it's just the area we're in?'

It probably wasn't important. At least she got to help those sinners so they could have a proper chance like everyone else. And she was proud to say most of them gave Vox a good showing. She was sure to hold that over his head if she ever heard him whinging about non-English speakers again.

"AH! Finally!" Vox let out a relieved sigh as they exited the theatre together. "Glad to have that outta the way." He linked his hands together and stretched his arms high over his head. Bones cracked and audibly loosened as he extended his lanky frame.

Carmilla hummed in agreement, exhaustion wearing on her. She did some exercises to get the feeling back in her legs. She wasn't used to sitting down for so long. Even when she was busy at the lab, she tended to stand and move quite a bit so she could shift from project to project. "At least it's over now. And I hope you remember what that means?" She gave him a pointed look out of the corner of her eye.

The weapons dealer caught the slightest glimpse of him watching her flex her long legs, before he quickly turned away. The TV overlord coughed into his hand, acting like hadn't just been caught staring at her.

"Uh, y-yeah. I remember! 24 hours, just like we agreed." He nervously replied with a forced grin, trying to regain some composure. "Not tommorow though. I still gotta sort through our "winners". Ugh…" Vox put heavy emphasis on the word. He clearly wasn't satisfied with the selections they'd made.

Carmilla scoffed in annoyance at the excuse. "Fine, but I expect you to fulfill your part sooner than later. I need those extra orders filled, Vox." She insisted to him with a stern edge to her voice.

"I got it, I got it." Vox halfhartedly assured her with a wave of his hand. He began stepping away from the entrance and down the steps.

Carmilla stayed behind for a minute. Her eyes scanned the area for any signs of the cannibals that were here earlier. Or for other threats that might've been lurking in the darkness, waiting for their departure.

Most everyone had left the area though. It was late. Much later than she anticipated them leaving. Only a few stragglers were walking about this time of night.

The well dressed cannibal leaning against the wall was in his same spot, but now he was watching them intently. All pretense of looking casual gone. He was probably waiting for them to finally leave so he could be relieved of duty.

The weapons dealer took one last look at the theatre entrance, glad to not have to come back here again. 'hopefully I can convince Vox to give me extra energy some other way next time. I'm never doing this with him again, that's for certain.'

Carmilla's eye spotted something on the poster promoting the talent show.

'What's this?' She approached it to get a better look.

There was a post-it note attached to the corner of the poster. Half-hazard writing highlighting some sort of addendum. It was in Vox's handwriting, as far as she could tell.

ENGLISH ACTS ONLY!!!

Spanish translator available upon request*

Carmilla rolled her eyes at the added message. She vaguely recalled him handing a note to one of his assistants during their conversation about that first band. She hadn't even agreed to be a translator for him before he sent that out. 'Jackass…'

And of course he'd try and help like this in the most obtuse way possible. Not only sending a contradictory statement, but also not even realizing the people he was advertising to wouldn't be able to read it. It looked like someone was kind enough to scribble in a translation underneath though.

She shook her head in disapproval of his negligence, but couldn't keep the smile off her face. 'I suppose it's the thought that counts? But, I doubt Vox was thinking of little else but how he could earn more money.' Carmilla was partly to blame in that regard, she supposed. She was the one that put the thought in his head.

"Hey! You coming or what?" Vox called out to her from the street. He was tapping his foot impatiently and his hood drawn back up over his head. "I thought you wanted to get out of here already?"

"Yes, Vox." She sighed as she made her way towards him. "It's late and I'm more than ready to go back home." She looked up towards the deep night sky. "I hope the girls are okay. I didn't think we'd be gone so long."

"I'm sure they're fine." The TV overlord tried to assure her with a smile. Not the usual smug grin he wore to tease her. It was smaller, more calm and relaxed. A rare sight for him. "They're tough. They can handle themselves for one night."

"I know, but it doesn't mean I don't worry about them." She argued, brushing past him and walking quickly down the path.

He quickly caught up to her. "If your that worried, maybe you wanna…" Vox held out one of his claws, electric sparks running off it. "Take a quicker route?"

Carmilla's brows raised in suprise. He couldn't possibly be talking about-

"You can do that?" The question left her lips before she could stop herself. "Take people with you?"

Vox's ability to teleport though electric bolts was one of his more interesting abilities. It was partially what drove her to seek him out in the first place. He wasn't just powered by electricity. He could turn his whole body into it. Something she hadn't witnessed with any electric powered sinner she had managed to track down.

"Oh, yeah. Can't take big groups though." Vox clarified with a proud grin, looking more like his usual self. "But one or two people is fine."

"And it… doesn't hurt?" Carmilla asked cautiously. Turning his own body into electricity would be second nature. But doing the same to someone else? That had to come with some drawbacks.

"Nope!" The TV overlord answered her casually, lighting one of his clawed fingers up to show off his powers. Small sparks emitting from the end, lighting up the darkness around them. "Might tingle a bit. At least from what I've been told. Y'know, I convinced Al do it once and he fucking HATED it, Haha!" Vox laughed at the memory.

An image of Alastor with frazzled hair conjured itself in her mind. He had an annoyed glare and arms crossed across his chest that made him seem much less intimidating than what she usually associated with the fearsome radio demon.

She chuckled to herself. Her aprehenesion fading away in the moment.

"So?" Vox stuck his claw out again in offering. "Want to take a shortcut. See what it's like?" His grin was more excited now, like he was anticipating her to agree.

Carmilla hesitantly reached out her own hand. 'Maybe… just this once? For research! Yes! Seeing it from my own perspective could provide valuable data.'

…

Her hand stopped just short of touching his own.

It was tempting, but she also remembered a conversation she wanted to have with him. A request, really. This would be a good opportunity to talk to him more directly, without unwarranted interference or distractions.

"Actually…" The weapons dealer refuted the offer. Returning her hand by her side, Carmilla began walking ahead of him. "I have something I needed to talk to you about. The walk home should give us the chance to discuss it thoroughly."

Vox made a noise of annoyance, his screen shortly becoming fuzzy with static. "Oh… goody." He grumbled to himself sarcastically. "Just how I wanted to spend my evening."

Just like that, Vox's attitude did a 180. His grin now a sneer, his eyes looking away from her uncomfortably, and his formerly outstretched hand shoved into his jacket pocket along with it's twin.

He followed after her reluctantly, his feet slightly dragging on the ground and his posture slouched over in resignation.

Carmilla rolled her eyes at his behavior. 'Never likes to be told NO, does he?'

"So…" Vox started awkwardly, rubbing the back of his boxy head. "What did you want to talk about?"

She smiled at the TV overlord. "I'm glad you asked." Carmilla looped her arm with his own so she could bring him closer while they walked onward. She wanted his full, undivided attention.

"So?" Carmilla looked at him expectantly. "What do you think?"

Vox looked off to the side, trying to avoid her gaze. "…I think it's a really bad idea."

"Oh, come on!" The weapons dealer argued. "You're not even considering the option."

"Because it's a bad idea!" He re-iterated his point, flexing his claw for emphasis. "I know you have hang-ups about this, but having workers without contracts is just asking for trouble! What the hell is wrong with using my guys?!"

Carmilla scoffed at the suggestion. "Your men aren't trained for what I need them for. I admit, they've been helpful up until now, but their experience is limited. It would be far more preferable to have workers that are in the same field as me."

Vox's workers had been… adequate. She could assign them simple tasks & busy work and they'd do the job without much complaint. But they couldn't be trusted with the more complex creations she worked on. Only 2 or 3 of them seem to grasp any of the more sophisticated mechanics she implemented in her works. That wasn't going do well in the long run.

She wanted employees of her own. People that fit her expectations rather than trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Weapons specialist, engineers, technicians. That's who she needed.

Carmilla had stuck to avoiding hiring on people to work in her lab. Too paranoid(rightfully so, in her humble opinion) of an eventual betrayal. Especially as she refused the notion of soul contrasts as a means of securing trustful employees. That had worked out just fine for the most part. But Vox's partnership opened up a unique opportunity for her.

"My company is technically under yours now," Only on paper. She would never acknowledge her business as lesser than Vox's own. "And that means any employees I hire would be subject to your care. They would expect the same treatment from you that your own employees are exposed to." She explained to him.

"I saw it today. Even with your weakened power and reputation, sinners are still scared of you. I can leverage that as a means of control without the need of a soul contract."

"Or you could just let them be contracted by ME…" Vox suggested with a low, eager growl.

"NO!" Carmilla warned him, tightening her grip on his arm to a painful degree. 'Bad Vox!'

"Ow!" Vox winced in anguish at the sudden pressure. "Okay, okay! No contracts! I get it!" He relented.

"Honestly…" The weapons dealer shook her head in disproval as her grip loosened up. "All I need you to do is put the fear of god into them and I'll handle the rest."

"I still don't think it's a good idea." He grumbled under his breath. "Can't I at least hypnotize them?"

"If worse comes to worse, then yes." It wasn't ideal, but at least it wasn't enslavement. "And besides, you OWE me after that little debacle with Mimzy." Her eyes narrowed in annoyance as she glared at the TV overlord next to her.

"Yeah, I figured you'd want to collect on that." Vox sighed in resignation, a small smile on his screen. "Just not so soon."

"Trust me. I would have saved that favor for another day, IF I wasn't so sure I'd be collecting another in the future." She eyed him warily. "Really, you have only yourself to blame."

Vox chuckled at the accusation. No doubt well aware he would be racking up debt with her due to his duplicitous nature. Probably saw it as some form of currency - a way to keep her in his good graces while still going through up with his schemes. It wasn't a good idea to enable his behavior like this, but it was working out for her at the moment. Carmilla could easily get him to give in to her demands as long as she kept track of his tricks & lies.

"Alright, I suppose… I can see what I can do." Vox agreed to the idea, but he didn't sound happy about the arrangement. "As long as you set up the applications and interviews, I'll do my very best to be my very worst in front of them." The TV overlord grinned proudly, his sharp teeth on full display.

"Perfect." Carmilla sighed in relief, glad to not have to argue on this matter more than she expected to. "A little fear should have them falling in line with no issue."

The Weapons dealer had no issue using intimidation as a weapon. It was how she whipped Vox's men into shape. But that was on a one-on-one basis. Vox was able to instill that level of fear just by his presence and reputation alone. It was a valuable tool regarding the status of an Overlord, and she had no problem leveraging it for her needs.

"Speaking of that little dance-off you had with Mimzy," Vox brought up, giving her a curious glance out of the corner of his eye. "There's been something I've been wondering about."

"Hm? And what is that?" She hadn't really thought much about that encounter. The sooner she could forget about that woman, the better.

"That story you told her? About how you learned to dance. There any truth to that?" He asked her.

Ah, so he was fishing for information on her.

In hell, it was usually a smart decision to keep your life before you died secret. Sinners had many ways to use it against you, one way or another. Even small details could backfire spectacularly.

It wasn't the first time he'd tried to gleam something of her past. It was just her mistake to provide a foothold he could grasp onto.

She very much doubted he could use this against her, though.

"Yes and no." Carmilla told him with a smirk.

He gave her a confused look at the conflicting answer.

"Yes, there's some truth to it. But it's not MY story." She explained. "It was something my grandmother told me. Said it was how she learned to dance so well. She would tell these grandoise tales about entertaining people while hellfire was raining down around her. Watching people be shot or attacked while still maintaining poise and professionalism in the face of danger."

"Jesus." Vox's eyes widened in horror. "That's some bedtime story…"

"She had a morbid sense of humor, I admit." Carmilla chuckled at the gruesome nature of the stories. Looking back, it probably wasn't the best things to tell a child. "But she meant well. Wanted to encourage me to do my best when I fell down or missed a step in practice."

"Seems a little extreme, don't you think?" He gave her a skeptical look.

"Perhaps." The weapons dealer shrugged her shoulders. "But it did help me. Eventually I started imagining myself in her shoes. Visualizing any mistake as if it would lead to my death or execution. I began gaining confidence in my skills and improved much faster than my contemporaries."

"So, she was really some private dancer for a bunch of tyrants?" Vox asked, suddenly more invested in the tale.

"Hehe! That's what she would tell people." Carmilla gave a small laugh. "No one but me believed her tall tales though. Everyone in my hometown just humored her, and even I only pretended to believe in her stories as I got older." She looked off in the distance, upwards towards the night sky. "I indulged her up until the very last day she drew breath…"

Vox follower her line of sight, his eyes immediately focusing on the bright shining light of heaven hanging overhead. It's light a constant reminder of a fate denied to the inhabitants of the pride ring.

"I couldn't say if there was any truth to her stories. Not definitively." Her voice became somber. "I just know that… I loved her. And that her stories gave me inspiration when I needed it most. Even if they were lies."

They stopped walking. Carmilla stepping away and taking a second to calm herself. Tears had already started forming in the corners of her eyes.

"Sorry. I, uh… I didn't mean to bring up bad memories." Vox apologized. His voice small and nervous. The overlord's gaze focused on the opposite wall as he tried to avoid looking at her.

"It's okay." Carmilla choked back a sob, trying to get her emotions under control. She didn't want to look weak in front of Vox. 'I guess I overestimated myself… I haven't thought about her in so long now. I can't remember the last time I even talked about this to someone besides the girls.'

"I was just wondering if that's why you wear those slippers all the time. That's all." He shrugged his shoulders. "I remember you said something about practicing with shoes like that."

'That's all he cares about? …what am I talking about? Of course it is.'

Carmilla gave him an amused smile. "Yes. That's part of it, I suppose." She cleared her voice and wiped her face clean. "I made something similiar when I was young and impressionable. Just some regular dance shoes with light modifications. Nothing crazy." She remembered attaching all kinds of sharp object to her practice slippers. Sometimes even taking apart and crafting whole new ones. Testing and creating multiple iterations until she found an option that felt the most comfortable while still fufilling it's purpose.

"When my family ended up here though, I thought they would make a good weapon I could utilize. A tool that would make use of my dancing skills so I wouldn't have to waste ammo. Obviously, they're much better made then when I was that young girl tinkering away and recreating a fantasy. They've come in handy,"

She delivered a swift kick to a nearby trashcan on the street corner.

At first, it looked as if she missed her intended target. But the slow sound of sliding metal quickly made it clear that wasn't the case. The top half fell off, revealing a perfect cut on the edges.

"Wouldn't you agree?" She grinned at the TV overlord, awaiting a response.

Vox observed the damage with a raised brow and a small smile. "Yeah. Kinda hard to argue with the results." Vox lifted up one his hands, taking a close look at his clawed fingertips. His eyes shifted from the remains of the destroyed can to his claws and back again.

"Say, you wouldn't mind making me some-"

"Absolutely Not." She snubbed her nose up at him and resumed her trek onward. They were almost home now.

"Oh, come on!" Vox caught back up to her, showing off his claws to her in desperation. "How amazing would that be?! Youre already plenty deadly with just some shoes. Imagine how much stronger I could be with some new claws. Carmilla, please?" He pleaded with her.

"I don't think so." She shook her head at him, a small smirk on her lips. "I've seen how you tear things up when your frustrated, Vox." Like a feral cat that needed a starching post. "I know I'd just be asking for trouble if I gave you something like that."

"Aw… You're no fun!" And there he went, crossing his arms and pouting like a child.

Carmilla sighed at his antics. She had definitely spent too much time with him by this point. At least this day was almost over.

The duo had finally made it back to the Carmine building. Vox immediately headed for the elevator. He held it for a second, patiently waiting for her to join him, but she waved him on with a silent nod of her head. He shrugged and took the initiative, letting the doors close and leaving Carmilla to her own devices for the moment. The weapons dealer had some things she wanted to check up on in her abscense. Mostly any missed calls.

First things first though.

"Odette? Are you there?" She called through an intercom leading to the roof. Her daughter said she would be working on that project of hers for the day. There was a good chance she was still up there, especially at this time of night.

"Hm?" A startled sound came over the other end. "Oh?! Yes! I'm here, Máma."

Just as she expected. "Vox and I just got home. I was just checking in to make sure you were alright."

"I'm fine. I've just been working up here… wait. Did you say you JUST got home? Is it really that late?"

"Yes. It's late." Carmilla chuckled in reply. "You should turn in and get some sleep. I'm sure Clara already warned you about staying up and working through the night like this. It's bad for you." She chastised her with a playful edge to her voice.

"Actually, I haven't heard from Clara since this morning."

What?

That was strange. Did she go straight to bed? She should've at least checked up on her sister.

"Is she asleep in your room?" Carmilla asked curiously.

"I don't think so? I went down to the apartment about an hour ago to use the bathroom and she wasn't there. I thought maybe she was in the lab."

The Carmine matriarch stepped away from the intercom to go check the Lab entrance. A quick look showed it as empty though. Lights turned off and no one in sight.

"No. She's not here." The weapons dealer told her daughter, a hint of worry lacing her voice.

"Maybe she's still out with her friends?" Odette offered up a plausible solution.

"Maybe…" for the whole day though? "I'm gonna call them. Why don't you go to bed? I don't want to be worrying about both of you tonight."

Odette sighed over the intercom. "Yes, Máma…I'll be right there."

Carmilla smirked at her daughter's response. She was no doubt pouting at the idea of having to put up her tools earlier than expected. "Good girl."

That was one daughter down. Now to see what was going on with her resident trouble maker. A quick phone call should sort this out.

"Hello?"

"Damian? This is Carmilla. Clara's mother. Is she still there?"

"Oh! Hi, Ms. Carmine!" The imp's voice took on a more excited tone. She was well aware of his attraction to her. Something she was sure drove her daughter up a wall.

"Uh, Clara left a while ago. She's not there?"

"No." She should have back then. "When did she leave?" Carmilla asked, her voice more urgent now.

"A couple hours ago, I think?" The imp answered, sounding unsure. "She said she was tired. Didn't say where she was going afterwards, but I just assumed she went home."

That wasn't good…

Where could she have gone? Did something happen to her on her way back!?

"Is something wrong? Maybe I can ask around? See if anyone saw which way she went?"

"…That would be appreciated, Damian. Thank you." She shouldn't panick just yet. It was only a few hours. She could trace her steps back in that time. "Anything you can tell me that-"

"Mom?"

'Oh, thank god!'

Her missing daughter had just come through the front door. She was staring at Carmilla, seemingly confused at her presence here.

"Never mind. She just got back now." Carmilla gave a sigh of relief over the phone. She could hear the imp on the other line mimick the action, releived to hear his friend wasn't in danger.

She hung up the phone without saying goodbye. A bit rude, but the Carmine matriarch had more pressing matters on her mind at the moment.

"what are you doing here?" Clara asked, nervously approaching her mother with cautious steps. "I thought we didn't have any work today."

"We don't." Carmilla replied with a stern edge to her voice. she crossed her arms across her chest and eyed her daughter with suspicion. "I just got home now… as did you apparently."

Was Clara trying to sneak in without her noticing? That wasn't like her.

"Where were you coming from just now?"

"You know where I was." Clara answered back innocently. "I was at my friend's place. We were-"

"I just called Damian's house." Carmilla interrupted her. "He said you left hours ago…" her eyes narrowed in anger. "So, I'm going to ask you again. Where WERE you, Clara!?"

The girl had the gall to roll her eyes at her. Like she was overreacting to her daughter going missing all of a sudden.

"Jesus! I was at the movies." She said, as it was obvious.

"The movies?" She asked, skepticical of the simplistic answer.

"Yeah. There was this new flick I've been wanting to see and I figured, hey! I've got the day off anyway."

"And you didn't bring your friends with you?" If Clara was planning on going there today, why not take them? or at least tell her friends about it? Or HER OWN MOTHER for that matter!?

Her daughter scoffed at the inquiry. "They would've just make me pay for them. They're such cheapskates! Besides," she shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "It wasn't exactly their type of flick…" she pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to her.

It was a ticket for a showing from earlier today.

"Building a Hell together"

She remembered seeing ads for that film. Some kind of retelling of Lucifer and Lilith's first years in the pride ring, after they fell from heaven. It was a very common subject for media in hell, but this movie promoted a heavy emphasis on the romantic relationship between the two rulers.

Effectively, it was a cheesy rom-com with the loose pretense of being a historical recreation. She immediately understood why Clara's friend group wouldn't be over the moon to see it. Most of them were young boys with no interest in such things.

She sighed in relief and handed the ticket back to her. "You still should've told them where you were going. Or me?" She gestured to herself helplessly, trying to emphasize how important this was to her. "I came home and nobody knew where you were, Mija. I was so worried!"

"I'm sorry..." Clara looked away in shame, folding her arms across herself. "I wasn't even sure if I was gonna go or not. It just- it didn't seem like a big deal, and I didn't want to bother you with it!" She rambled on, weakly defending her actions. Tears started forming in her eyes as she got worked up.

"It's okay." She brought Clara into an embrace, hugging her tightly. A sigh of relief escaped her breath when she felt her daughter return the affection, if only hesitantly. "But do me a favor and call next time? Let me know if where you are. Please?"

"I will!" Clara frantically nodded against her, the girl's grip on her tightening in desperation. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Máma! It won't happen again. I swear…"

Carmilla pushed her away, but still held her daughter by the shoulders in a gentle grip. "It's alright." She moved her hands up to cup Clara's face, wiping her tears away with a smile. "I'm just glad you're safe & sound. That's all I care about."

Clara nodded her head in understanding, still trying to chock back tears and sobs. "Thank you." she looked away from her mother, avoiding eye contact. "Um, Can I… go back to my room now? I'm kinda tired."

Carmilla sighed in response. "Yes. But we're not done talking about this!" She is emphasized her point with a wag of her finger. "We'll have a discussion about proper communication tomorrow, but for right now I just want you to head straight to bed. I already told Odette to do the same. Okay?"

"Mhm." The curly haired girl weakly nodded in confirmation before stepping away to head to the elevator.

It came quickly enough.

Carmilla turned back to the reception desk so she could check on some last minute business that needed tending to before she, herself, turned in for the night.

Just before the elevator closed and swept her daughter off to dreamland, she heard the telltale squeaking of the doors being held open.

She turned to find Clara locking eyes with her, an unreadable expression on her face.

"Mom…" she spoke up, her voice weak and timid. Sounding unsure of herself. "You know I would never do anything to willingly hurt you? Right?"

'Where is this coming from? Did I upset her somehow?'

"Of course I do, Mija." Carmilla did her best to assuage her daughter's fears, delivering a confident & loving smile to her. "I love you. You know that."

"Yeah…" Clara let a small smile come to her face and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I love you too. Goodnight" she finally let the doors go, her face slowly disappearing behind the moving metal plates.

"Goodnight, Clara." She bid her farewell just before the elevator finally made its ascent.

…

"Ugh!" Once she was finally alone again, Carmilla collapsed into the nearby chair. Her exhaustion from the day suddenly catching up with her.

'That really wasn't how I was expecting my night to go. Then again, since that obnoxious TV entered my life, nothing has gone as planned.'

It was hard to blame him for this particular incident though. She could only put the fault on herself for holding such a tight hold on her daughters, and then expecting them not to run wild the first time they got a taste of freedom from her watchful gaze.

'I shouldn't have blown up at her like that… But what else could I be expected to do?' It was second nature to fret over her family.

'Theyre tough. They can handle themselves for one night.'

Her mind flashed back to her partner's casual statement from earlier.

She knew he meant that. He wasn't just treating them as some problem that could be ignored, to be put off until later. He had confidence in them that Carmilla just… couldn't bring herself to feel given the same circumstances. 'I'm not sure I ever will.'

It's not that she didn't think her daughters as competenat or trustworthy. They were talented fighters in their own right and had been trained vigorously by Carmilla. That didn't make her feel any better though.

She would always worry about them.

Clara & Odette were her family. Her WHOLE WORLD! The last good thing she managed to hold onto since arriving here.

'But that doesn't mean I have to hold on so tight.'

Carmilla let a long sigh escape her breath, the tension leaving her body as she relaxed against the chair.

That's right.

Clara's an adult. She can make her own decisions.

'She'll be fine.'