Chapter Text
It's winter in the Devildom.
Which basically makes the days even colder, because there's no sun during the day to warm up the world. Whoever said hell was hot? They're wrong. You know the saying that you won't do something before hell freezes over? Just wait for winter.
Everyone has gathered in the common room for breakfast. The taxidermied dragon rests above the mantle of the cozy fire that’s been lit. Jolee is still not used to the sight of that thing. Was it once a pet of one of the brothers? She could see Leviathan having a pet dragon... Do they actually think dead animals are a good option to decorate the house with? There's dead taxidermied crows placed around as well. And the gargoyles in the entrance hall look suspiciously life-like...
But anyway, that's not the point. It's winter in the Devildom and freezing cold in the mornings. So breakfast is held in the common room, because in the rest of the House of Lamentation your breath practically turns into snow as soon as it leaves you. Lucifer is so cruel to forbid his brothers to leave a few heaters on in the house at night. That sadist.
“Brrr... So cold.” Mammon pulls his human next to him on the couch. “What's up with the weather, anyway? It's too cold!” Jolee has told Mammon countless times not to treat her body as if it’s an extension of his own, but he never seems to learn. But this morning she decides not to say anything about it though, appreciating the extra warmth of his body next to hers.
“Yeah.” Leviathan shivers. “After being up all night gaming, it's rough trying to endure this cold.”
Nobody really understands what he's trying to say with that, but basically it means he is cold too? Beelzebub is holding his food practically in the fire, before eating it, saying he only wants to eat something warm. It takes him longer to empty the table this way, leaving everyone else with a better chance to grab enough to eat as well.
Asmodeus complains as he smooths some cream on his hands. “I love winter for the change in fashion options, but when it’s this cold everything dries out! My precious hair, my delicate skin... It's awful!” He earns himself some eye rolls from his brothers, but nobody disagrees.
“It's especially chilly this morning.” Satan agrees with an understatement. Or maybe he just isn’t feeling so cold? Being the Avatar of Wrath must have him fueled non-stop.
Lucifer is annoyed by all the complaining. He isn't really a morning demon, after all. “Winter is cold. That's the way it is. Deal with it.” Maybe he should consider leaving a few heaters on, but that would be hurting his own Pride, wouldn’t it?
“We are! That's why we're complainin'! What's wrong with that, huh?” Mammon dares to argue with Lucifer this early as he pulls Jolee even closer. Any closer and she might as well be on his lap. The others are already starting to frown at the situation before their eyes.
“Jolee, you haven't said anything. Are you okay?” Leviathan asks worriedly, looking over Jolee who’s still shivering despite being plastered to Mammon’s side.
“What do you think of this cold?” Asmodeus wants to know as well.
“I'm not a fan of it.” Jolee responds, trying not to chatter her teeth as she tries to find extra warmth from the hot cup of tea in her hands.
Beelzebub nods, taking a bite from something that has literally caught fire. “Well, I'm not surprised. They say that humans don't handle it well when their environment changes.”
She wants to bite back, saying that she adjusted pretty well to her life down here, but decides that it's not worth it. Beelzebub is not the demon that needs to be put in his place all the time, after all. She can spend her energy better trying to get warm.
“Yeah, they were nearly wiped out by an ice age, right?” Mammon adds. And now it is much harder for her to not react. Come on, Mammon!
But Satan comes to her rescue. Sort of? “Not humans. Dinosaurs. That is the theory, at least.” Jolee is about to set them all straight when Lucifer interjects, probably sensing the oncoming argument.
“Anyway, where is Belphie?” Lucifer looks around the room, not seeing his youngest brother anywhere. “Why must he always be late.”
“I woke him up earlier...” Beelzebub chomps his heated food away. “...but he went right back to sleep.”
Everyone nods, not surprised by that. Belphegor is the Avatar of Sloth after all and in this chill it’s no surprise if he refused to emerge at all.
“He's never been a morning demon.” Satan sighs.
Then, as if he was summoned, Belphegor walks in the room. It looks like he's still sleeping though, and is still in his pajamas. He mumbles a greeting and walks straight to the fire, like a moth to a flame. For a moment, Jolee is worried that he wants to crawl in it, but he just flops down on the rug and curls himself up like a cat.
“Speak of the devil.” Mammon grins. “Looks like he's up! Sorta.”
“Good morning, Belphie!” Jolee cheerily says. “You've forgotten to put on your uniform.”
“Mm...?” He opens an eye and sits up. “Oh, I guess I have.” He shrugs. “You sure are full of energy this early in the morning, Jolee.” He offers her a small smirk.
Before she can answer him, Lucifer's voice cuts her off. “Belphie. What time do you think it is?”
“... Morning...” Belphegor curls himself up in front of the fire again with a dramatic yawn.
“Pff... Ahahaha!” Mammon and Asmodeus burst out laughing.
“It's not funny.” Lucifer pins them both with a glare before returning his attention back to the Avatar of Sloth.
“Yes, Lucifeeer...” They answer, but keep giggling behind their hands. Jolee rolls her eyes at their immaturity. It’s no wonder there’s never a peaceful moment around here to be had, she thinks to herself.
“Belphie, you're guaranteed to be late for class at this rate.” Lucifer ignores his imbecile brothers as he begins to lecture Belphegor.
“I can't help it. It's so cold” Belphegor argues back, not even making the effort to even open his eyes as he does so. “I just can’t get out of bed.”
“Well, he does have a point. The cold makes it more difficult than usual.” Jolee stands up for him. “I would have liked to stay in bed this morning as well...”
“Yeah.” Satan agrees. “I can understand how he'd find it really hard to get out of bed, when it's this cold.”
“The cold doesn't cause one to be late.” Lucifer isn't having it. After all, if he who hates mornings, can manage to get up and be dressed and presentable at the appropriate hour, then so can everyone else. He can’t understand why they must make constant excuses for their behavior.
“Here comes Lucifer telling us how things are, as usual...” Leviathan sinks in his chair, awaiting the following lecture.
“You are going to come up with a plan of action, so that starting tomorrow you'll wake up early. Regardless of how warm or cold it might be.” Lucifer instructs Belphegor, ignoring everyone’s complaints and feeble excuses.
“Hmmm...” Nobody registers Belphegor's mischievous smile as he answers. He’s already come up with a plan that he’s sure no one in the house will approve of. “I'll see what I can do.”
Later that same day, during classes, Jolee receives a text from Belphegor.
Belphegor <> Jolee
< Belphegor: I can't fall asleep when it's so cold.
> Jolee: Really? What's wrong?
< Belphegor: I know what you're thinking. 'Belphie? Unable to sleep? Impossible!'
> Jolee: Well...
< Belphegor: It's because it's so cold and my body pillow is at the cleaners.
< Belphegor: It's so huggable. I've been falling asleep with it every night, lately.
> Jolee: You should buy a spare. And put a heating pad in it.
< Belphegor: Hm...
< Belphegor: Oh, I know! I could fall asleep hugging you instead!
> Jolee: Wait... What?
< Belphegor: I'll be sleeping in your room tonight.
> Jolee: Belphie!
< Belphegor: When you get home, please warm up your bed for me, so that I can get a good night's rest.
> Jolee: Hey! I didn't say yes!