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His tardiness had been an expectation known to all in attendance similarly upon arrival it had been a known fact quick to spread amongst the myriad of social groups. Opportune overlords and high-born sinners alike tracing his traversal through the expansive ballroom as they stalk just outside of view awaiting their time to approach. They look for an opening in his verbal exchanges and an excuse to speak one on one, the few bold enough are gently rebuffed, given the usual stonewall of his commercialized persona of exchanged pleasantries before swiftly they are ignored. Networking was never the goal in meeting him, the television demon was well informed of all in attendance rather it was the power the target of their aim possessed.
The overlord had made it known his intent in starting an alliance to further his reach and conquest across platforms beyond television. The many who saw themselves fit for the role had been harshly humbled by the powerful demon. There was only one other who, years prior, had been accepted as an equal, while a newer sinner to arrive her upheaval into the status of overlord had been a feat few had the ability to pull off. Velvette ruled over all with her growing influence of social media, alongside the overlord of all things tech related it had been a match made in heaven. It had been made known the duo were in search for a third member to complete their trifecta.
If they were to find another partner it would be here during the Annual Overlord Anniversary held once a year a day before extermination the ceremony people only those of higher stature and power within hell society. Yet so far Vox had yet to find anyone of suitability, it had becomes somewhat discouraging attending yearly only to becomes disappointed as the following year of overlords were replaced with the youthful inexperienced or those who withheld their stature had grown comfortable and staginate in their power. How dull even Velvette hadn’t seen a point in attendance, choosing not to help in the search for their third member as Vox quote ‘had a higher tolerance for bullshit’, looking into his second glass of alcohol he couldn't help but agree.
Downing the drink whole he decides to recluse himself to the open bar, this was a party technically it was best he find someone to use for fun before his return to the office for more work. The bar had been a wrap around, fancy in its presentation this years miniscule decore had been lavender and yellow, pretty in its complementary details. The wide variety of alcoholic beverages ranging from the demonic to those imported from heaven if he were to be honest it was one of the reasons he’d always found himself attending this stuffy room of snobs and narcissists yearly. Heavenly imports were few and far between even when he ordered it but for whatever reason this place could always acquire it.
Leaning against the counter he stares sightlessly thinking of the day he’d have enough power and influence to command goods as easily from heaven. Without the myriad of barriers to entry and piles of paperwork associated, gaining the attention of the bartender he request a glass of the holiest caliber and accepts it heartily once poured. Glancing about he evaluates his options, many don’t fit his usual descriptive preference and others he's quick to dismiss, a tap aside his glass pulls his attention to a bold busty sinner. He could only assume her nepotism being what had gotten her in there seeing that while her body was something to call home back her demonic face hadn’t been the most elegant. The multitude of eyes being an instant turn-off, with the wave of a hand he dismisses her later verbalizing his distaste when she persisted. Shocked she flicks him off with a cursed insult before walking away, he eyes her unfortunate form in her waltz across the room until another catches his eye.
The only word he could describe when looking upon the other was beautiful. Feminine features nestled within the cotton of fluff encompassing their neck, wide shoulders and thinned waist, there was little he could fully evaluate from the others seated position. Whether they were man or woman he cared very little only that he wanted to feel those lengthy claws across his skin and in return feel the others pastel purple skin. With the colored decor framing the scene the stranger looked almost to be a painted muse amongst a muted canvas.
Vox knew everyone here, if not by face then by name and business they must be one of the faceless. Lifting from his seat, drink in hand, he's quick to close the distance before and sit aside. This close up he could more easily label the other as a man and he had a second pair of hands folded across the silken dress “You ordered the usual, heavenly drinks not to your liking?” The other is seemingly locked in sight across the room to another, it irritates but he doesn’t allow it to show.
“I prefer a real drink.” Vox smiles, heavens alcoholic content had the potential to be just a harshly potent as the stuff in hell but demons had a way of mincing substances into their brew to add a level of dimensionality to the experience. “Not much of a casual drinker, business?” The sharp smile stretched across those elegant feature draws his eye to the shine of a golden tooth. “I drink for pleasure.” Its only in that statement does the other finally look his way revealing the vibrant fuchsia of a pupil-less gaze, it hadn’t been off putting in the least rather another mystery to the perfect stranger, gaining his attention had been enough to rile.
Sipping the spice of his heavenly delight Vox’s lean into the other space isn’t easily reciprocated. “Always?” It hadn’t been a ploy, understanding the others vices would hint at the sinner identity, shedding layers though inquiry made the quarry all the more exciting. “Only.” The others attention had once again shifted towards another, that same man from before; the overlord of sex. A man whose reputation greatly preceded his worth, weak to his own product it was an unspoken agreement amongst overlords that he had stumbled into most of his contracts. Had it not been hell and the sinners employed not as simple-minded as himself the sex-addict would have fallen in status and value in the blink of an eye. Perhaps this was unknown and the attractive demon fingering the rim of an emptied glass wanted nothing more than the publicity and fame which accommodated the contract with such a fiend.
“First?” Vox eyes melting ice and the slow rotations performed. “Last”, the bartenders attempt to fill his own drink had been accepted where as the stranger hadn’t allowed for another pour. Still he stared away and an spark of dissatisfaction coursed across his wiring, “someone of interest?” a moment of thought until the shake of the head “never interest mainly business”. So he was an overlord, a quick overview of every unfaced overlord does shorten the list considerably but for one so powerful to want to contract or ally themselves with the current runner up of sex and violence was laughable, mixing business and pleasure was a good way to trip at the starting line.
“Do you often confuse the two?” Again that smile stretches held a secret and the eye which links with is own is one of deep amusement below hands fidget and upon closer inspection he knows it to be a gun, “I prefer them shaken not stirred”. Well that explained the business, a sadist did this guy have a deathwish? Shooting another so publically and with little name nor acknowledgements to his name, the target of his intent sat across the room dunken and with little mind for decency he openly gropes his contracted props. What was to be gained in killing the guy beyond the brief satisfaction before the guy put himself back together and becoming a thorn in your side for the next few years. Perhaps it was a grudge which guided his actions, looking up at the other he certainly had a type and honestly the bold display was becoming a turn on.
“A target like him isn't worth the publicity, he’ll come back with an irritating vengeance.”
“Then it's a good thing he won’t be back.”
Questioning the statement he watches the overlord stand to full height easily towering himself and those surrounding, an arm outstretched and aim cast he only has a second to breath in the whole of pieces he’d put together. The shot is expectedly loud, easily reverberating and silencing everyone a scream seconds later is only what drags his attention away for the split second after, towards the demons slowly disintegrating form. A holy bullet! I’d been so long since he had seen such an assassination in action, forgot the excruciating screams and scrambling helplessness, watching the dred of nonexistence and only the never ending pain to company their pull towards that inevitable demise.
The girls who once held the dead man's company scramble away while a few take immediate pleasure in his demise, the chains binding the women by contract coming into fruition before too crumbling into nonexistence. Vox thinks of the many others whos covenanted shackles were disappearing as well and he smirks from the thought of those same girls defenselessness come morning when the extermination happens. Who next will they rush to contract with for protection.
Quick to return his gave to aim of his endless fascination he watches as the other pack the gun into a purse while announcing his new status as overlord of sex, a happy new year to all who have made it thus far, and his name.
“Valentino.”