Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

*A book: 'The Tale of Sinsmas' is opened, revealing a series of colourful images ... which then turn to scenery*

———

Millie: Once upon a time ... Hell was very different, to what it is now ...

The hellish sky stretches on forever, above a wilderness of a wasteland ... tinged with the red shades of the Pride Ring.

Millie: The Rings were just wastelands ... populated by every type of critter and creature you could imagine ...

Running around in the wastelands ... were various critters and creatures of different sizes ... which vaguely resemble imps, hellhounds, drakes etc.

Millie: For them, life was simple ... and repetitive.

The demonic critters growled, played, hunted, and sparred over and over again ... in their hellish homeland.

Millie: But that all changed, one morning ...

A little hellhound critter barks fiercely at a tinier drake, defending a bone ... which the drake kept trying to grab.

Millie: One morning ... when the critters of Pride saw a great star fall from the heavens above ...

The two creatures suddenly get distracted by a bright light above, and look up to see a huge golden star plummeting towards them.

Millie: None of them had ever seen such a sight before ...

The critters stare up in awe and some fear, as the star flashes and flares ... multiple wings flapping within.

Millie: The star smote the ground with an almighty crash, causing all nearby to flee in terror ...

As the star hits, all of the creatures screech in panic and run ... some knocked off their feet by a shockwave of light and power ...

Millie: When the dust settled, some creatures decided to return to the scene ...

A couple of minutes later, several critters creep cautiously towards the impact zone ... including the hellhound and drake.

Millie: What they found ... baffled their imagination!

The creatures all gasp in wonder ... their eyes widening as they see two figures getting to their feet in the middle of a small crater.

Millie: A literal angel, the like of which they'd seen flying in the heavens above, stood before them ...

One of the figures (looking slightly shaken) was a relatively short man with a hat, and six huge, beautiful wings.

Millie: At the angel's side, holding hands with him, was a woman whose poise and beauty struck them all speechless ...

The other figure was a drop-dead gorgeous woman (with long hair and a mesmerising aura), who was standing next to the man.

Millie: At first, the duo seemed dangerous to the critters ...

The angel's eyes narrow warily at the approaching creatures, his hands starting to glow with power ... causing them to cower.

Millie: But the creatures soon learned that these unexpected arrivals were not a threat to them at all ...

The woman suddenly puts a restraining hand on the man's shoulders ... and then bends down to smile and beckon warmly to the critters.

Millie: In fact, they turned out to be their saviours!

The hellhound critter cautiously approaches the woman, and then begins to nuzzle her hand ... causing the man to smile too.

Millie: The Golden Angel empowered six individuals to be guardians of their respective Rings ...

Lucifer concentrates on a large sphere of blazing, golden light in his hands, while standing in front of six floating critters.

(The hellhound and drake from before are among these critters)

Millie: The Deadly Sins ... with the Golden Angel as their seventh member.

Lucifer then crushes the sphere with both hands, causing the glow to break into six streams of golden-red magic that go into the critters.

——

The critters all screech and shudder as the power hits them; their bodies morphing and twisting into the familiar Deadly Sins of Hell.

Millie: Following this, the Morning Star and his bride rose to become the king and queen of all Hell ... and have ruled us wisely ever since ...

The scene then switches to the crowned Lucifer and Lilith (in full demon form) ... standing on the the top of a series of tiers ... with the Deadly Sins directly below.

Millie: And every Sinsmas ... we celebrate, retell the legend, and remember that one day ...

———

*The scene then changes back to the pictures in the 'The Tale of Sinsmas' book, as it's closed by a set of imp hands*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the sitting room, Moxxie and Millie's apartment, Pride Ring, on Sinsmas Eve ...

"And that's ... how Sinsmas came to be ..." Millie finished the tale, while smiling and putting the book down on a nearby table.

Moxxie, who was sitting in front of her on the floor ... with an adorably-childlike smile ... sighed happily.

The two imps were sitting together in their sitting room, which had lots of Sinsmas decorations hung everywhere, and a small, bedazzled, flaming tree in the far left corner.

"Perfect ... I always love it when you tell that tale, honey", Moxxie said, getting up and giving his wife a big hug. "You always tell it so well."

Millie blushed and gave her husband a loving nudge in the ribs, as she walked over to the nearest coat rack.

"Flatterer", the female assassin quipped, rolling her eyes affectionately. She began to sort through the various coats, before choosing two relatively thin ones.

"Anyway, we'd better get going", she added. "It's nearly 11 o'clock, and you know how Blitzo is about timing!"

There was a brief second of silence, and then a sudden, panicking shriek from Moxxie rang out!

"Oh cripes, the party at the office! I almost forgot!" screeched the shorter imp, as he ran pell-mell past Millie, and into the kitchen.

"If the boss finds out, he'll hang me out of a fifth-storey window ... again!"

Millie sighed, and began to pick up some wrapped presents that lay by the door.

"I've got the presents, don't worry!" she said, as she picked up the last one. "Do you have all of the ingredients for the hellhog-in-blanket?"

"Yep!" Moxxie answered promptly from the kitchen.

"Brandy snaps!"

"Yep!"

"Crackling?"

"Yep!"

"Fire-Vodka?"

"Yep!"

"Egg-Nog stuff?"

Silence ...

And then ...

"Ahhhhh! No, no, no, no!"

The female assassin's smile turned to a look of concern, as she heard Moxxie scream AGAIN ... and the sound of smashing plates.

"Mox, what is it?" she asked anxiously, walking towards the kitchen.

Before Millie could get there, Moxxie burst through the door ... with an overflowing suitcase in one hand.

The suitcase was crammed full of food, and had three belts around it to hold it shut!

The male assassin looked frantic, and was clawing at his hair with the other hand.

"I forgot the eggs, I forgot the eggs ... Blitzo is gonna kill me! He's gonna kill me! He's—"

"Calm down, Moxxie!" Millie interrupted calmly, gently taking hold of her husband's shoulders and getting his attention. "It's going to be okay."

She gave Moxxie a warm, reassuring smile ... to which he responded with a weak, attempted one.

"Don't worry, we'll pick some up on the way to the office!" Millie said assuredly, her arm around Moxxie's shoulders.

"Now come on, it's Sinsmas! It's supposed to be fun!"

The two imps then left the sitting room, both full of energy and anticipation for the oncoming celebration ahead!

Chapter Text

Millie practically dances down the staircase of their building, and out onto the street ... a broad grin on her face.

Moxxie, in comparison ... heaves the big suitcase of food along, a tired but warm smile on his face ... as he sees his wife smile happily.

——

Millie: Houses decked with lights,
Glowing bright on fiery nights,

Millie continues to dance; along the street ... looking at the red and gold light decorations that covered each house ...

Millie: With a star on every door!

She dances past an imp family outside their house, fixing a handmade wooden pentagram onto their front door.

Millie: Screams drifting through the air, ringing laughter that we share,

Millie saw a bunch of cackling, dressed-up demons chasing a smaller group with guns ... and tried to slow down!

Millie: With our closest friends once more!

Moxxie catches up to his wife, and yanks her away from the melee ... only for them to end up in a 'lover's embrace' pose.

——

Millie: And that's why I sing about Sinsmas,

Millie laughs, pinches Moxxie's cheek, and then whirls him around in a joint dance ... ignoring the fight around them.

Millie: Hard to believe that it's almost here!

Moxxie smiles dreamily back at Millie, almost forgetting about the heavy suitcase he was holding.

Millie: That's why I sing about Sinsmas,

Moxxie then twirled Millie to a stop, while drawing out their pistols and firing at various demons who tried to ambush them.

Millie: Have a scorching one this year!

The couple then happily dance off on their way with smoking guns, leaving the fight scene far behind.

———

Millie: Cinders in a swirl,
Every boy and every girl,

Moxxie and Millie passed an excited group of young imp children rushing past them, with their tired parents in hot pursuit.

Moxxie: Bundled up in red and gold!

Moxxie tosses them a sweet treat ... which promptly causes a scuffle, and free-for-all among the kids.

Millie: Pranks and laughter meant to tease, Every demon at their ease,

The kids' parents turn and glare hotly at the awkwardly-smiling Moxxie and Millie, who sidle away quickly!

Moxxie: To celebrate a tale long told!

The couple hurriedly dance off down a side street, sighing in relief ... with their excited grins returning to their faces.

———

Millie & Moxxie: And that's why I sing about Sinsmas,

Millie and Moxxie then happen upon a market, which is thronged with demons ... and has stalls covered with Sinsmas lights.

Millie & Moxxie: Hard to believe that it's almost here!

Smiling with delight, the couple split up ... and go to separate stalls. Millie goes to a gingerbread stall, which has a long queue ... much to her dismay.

Millie & Moxxie: That's why I sing about Sinsmas,

Moxxie goes to a stall laden with food, looks hopefully at the stall keeper, and points to a sign that says "EGGS".

Millie & Moxxie: Have a very fiery one this year!

The stall keeper demon shakes his head, causing Moxxie to look glum. The former then offered some egg-shaped plants to Moxxie ... whose face lit up in hope!

———

Over in Pentagram City, in the newly-built Hazbin Hotel ... Charlie Morningstar leans on a high-up balcony, smiling.

———

Charlie: In the pentagram sky, golden lights we'll espy,

The Princess of Hell's eyes sparkle as she looks up into Hell's sky ... with the familiar sight of Heaven in the far distance.

Charlie: With the start of the holiday!

Sighing happily, Charlie whirls around and dances her way back indoors ... into a whirlwind of Sinsmas preparations!

Charlie: Presents and prizes,
Wrapped gifts and surprises,
Will very soon come our way!

Charlie dances past Husk and Cherri Bomb ... who were busy moving a huge flaming tree into the centre of the hotel lobby.

Charlie: A thousand bells ringing,
Every demon here singing,

Razzle and Dazzle were flying around the tree, hanging decorations on it wherever they could ... which was rather distracting for Husk and Cherri!

(In this, Dazzle is still alive! Personally, I think that it was bad writing to take him out so early in the series! So much potential ...)

Charlie: We're joining in far and wide!

Alastor, meanwhile, was relaxing in a nearby armchair, watching the preparations with amusement.

Charlie: The happiest faces,
The warmest embraces,

Alastor suddenly hears jingling above, and looks up to see that Angel Dust has garlanded his antlers with Sinsmas baubles!

Charlie: The feeling of joy inside!

Angel Dust blows a kiss at his handiwork, and saunters off ... unaware of Alastor's eyes changing to radio dials behind him!

———

Charlie: That's why I sing about Sinsmas,

Charlie dances on past Niffty, who's busy making bugs into Sinsmas decorations with an art-and-crafts kit.

Charlie: Can you believe that it's almost here?

KeeKee brushes past Charlie's legs, purring loudly ... while carrying a six-winged, silver angel ornament in her mouth.

Charlie: That's why I sing about Sinsmas,

The demonic cat then flew up to the tree, and placed the angel ornament on the very top of it ... with a meow of satisfaction.

Charlie: Have a burning one this year!

Charlie gives KeeKee a thumb's up, while Husk and Cherri finally set the tree down and step back with sighs of relief.

———

Moxxie: Sparklers fizzling in the dark,
Candles burning in the parks,

Millie and Moxxie dance through a park decorated with burning candles, and thronged with excited demons with sparklers.

Charlie: Easy smiles and great good cheer!

Charlie dances over to a sofa in the lobby, where a humming Vaggie is busy making paper angel chain decorations.

Charlie: Memories all aglow,
Friends we met so long ago,

Charlie stops by Vaggie to hug her best friend, the latter smiling as she puts down the decorations and hugs Charlie back.

Millie: That we still hold near and dear!

Mille buys some sparklers from a nearby imp selling for them, and hands two to Moxxie ... the couple exchanging warm smiles.

———

Millie & Moxxie & Charlie: That's why we sing about Sinsmas every year!

Charlie sings as she twirls around happily in front of the now decorated tree, beaming with arms flung out in celebration.

Moxxie and Millie sing as they whirl around together, hands clasped... their sparklers creating a glowing circle.

Chapter Text

In the lobby, I.M.P Headquarters, 10 mins later ...

Usually ... the headquarters of the I.M.P organisation was a slightly disorderly but reasonably tidy place, despite its occupants.

Today, however ... the office was a chaotic mess of furious activity and consistent ranting!

Mostly courtesy of Blitzo ... who was literally chewing on his own claws in stress ... as he dashed around the office.

"Oh Satan, I hate this bloody holiday!" the boss imp growled, clumsily hanging sparkly strings of pentagram charms along the walls.

"The ungodly price of drinks, endless whining for presents, sugary garbage advertising shoved in our faces, ne'er-do-wells on the doorstep, claiming they're family ... and to cap it all off ... The BILLS!"

Blitzo's voice rose to an exasperated yell, as he punched the wall hard!

This, unfortunately ... had the effect of making all of the pentagram decorations immediately fall to the ground.

The boss imp's face screwed up as he swore under his breath ... VERY badly!!

(Sorry, I can't put down exactly what he said ... it'd be literally unprintable!)

"Bills, bills, and guess what ... MORE bills!" Blitzo then said, with a long sigh.

"One seems to be born just to run up bills ... and then push up daisies soon afterwards!"

The boss imp started hanging up the pentagrams-on-strings again; his expression a grimace of frustration.

"You know what, Loonie?" the boss imp abruptly asked, turning slightly to look at said hellhound.

"I feel like one of those galumphing Earth birds with baggy beaks sometimes. What are they called again? Pelicans."

The aforementioned, adopted daughter was leaning against a nearby wall; her deadpan gaze and attention completely on her phone.

"Whichever way I turn ... I always seem to have an enormous BILL in front of me!"

Loona ... didn't even look up from her phone; rolling her eyes in familiar annoyance at her dad's antics.

The aforementioned boss imp quickly finished the hanging up ... and then went over to a door in the nearest wall.

Blitzo opened it up to reveal a large cupboard, went inside ... and started to pull a big-packaged object out of it.

Loona glanced up from her phone, sighed heavily, and then walked over to help her dad.

Together, the hellhound and imp pulled the enormous object into the centre of the room ... and then stepped back, brushing the dust off their claws.

"Do you think Via will like her present?" Loona asked aloud, smiling hopefully at the package.

This seemingly-innocent question ... unfortunately set Blitzo's antsy mood off again ... as the boss imp's right eye started twitching.

"She'd BETTER!" Blitzo suddenly snapped, his brow furrowing in annoyance and anxiety. "Do you know how much I had to fork out for the bloody thing?

"How much moolah I had to grease the claws of that rot-blooded, greasy, greedy old vulture jerk!"

The boss imp spat in disgust at the memory; turning his back on Loona ... as he started to go into one of his infamously-long rants.

"Him and his 'so-called-fair' prices! Why—"

Loona rolled her eyes again, and huffs in exasperation as she automatically tuned her dad out.

Honestly ... sometimes the hellhound thought that her adopted dad needed a 'mute' button.

In fact ... lately Blitzo had actually been proving Loona's point a lot!

To get away from the incessant claptrap, the hellhound turned and walked away to the other side of the lobby ... where their flaming Sinsmas tree stood ... next to the box of tree baubles and other decorations.

Stopping by the tree, Loona bent down and opened the box ... which had the scrawl 'Sinsmas Stuff' on it ... in Blitzo's usual, untidy handwriting.

She began to sort through the box's contents ... a worried frown on the hellhound's face as she thought about the incoming party.

Also ... her dad's current, frenzied, panicking state.

It turned out that Loona had been the one who'd suggested to Blitzo that Stolas and Octavia come around to celebrate Sinsmas this year with them.

It seemed like a good idea at the time; a way for both families to connect properly, after their bad start in the past!

Now though ... the hellhound was not sure that it had been a good one!

Good, in practice ... but given Blitzo's manic determination to make everything perfect for their visitors?!

Loona sighed again, as she straightened up ... and began to hang the baubles on the tree.

The hellhound abruptly stopped, and tensed as her ears and tail pricked up! Someone was at the door ... and was unlocking it!

Predictably, Blitzo ... by now, completely lost in 'Rant-land' ... hadn't even noticed!

The door opened, and a nervous Moxxie and Millie crept inside quietly ... shooting confused looks at the stressed, overly-ranting Blitzo.

Loona huffed, and then ... as the couple looked at her next ... began to mouth silently at them.

(Don't worry, Dad's just ranting again!)

The hellhound then gestured towards the kitchen door, with a flick of her head ... to which she got nods from Moxxie and Millie in return.

Now ... Loona wasn't much of a praying person, not usually ... being a hellhound and all.

On this occasion though, Loona hoped and prayed ... to whoever might have been listening ... that this Sinsmas party didn't end in the usual shambles!

After the imp couple crept as inconspicuously as possible into the kitchen ... Loona returned her attention back to her phone.

She smiled as she tapped on a familiar profile on Sinstagram, opened up a chat box ... and started typing a message.

HEY VIA. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Chapter Text

In the streets of Imp City, Pride Ring, half an hour later ...

Octavia smiles down at the message notification on her phone, as she walks at a steady pace along the street ... alongside Stolas.

The young owl's eyes sparkle as she texts Loona back. The answer came quickly and eagerly, much to her delight.

HI! IM GOOD. DAD AND ME ON THE WAY. SEE YOU SOON, BESTIE?

YEAH! SEE YA FEATHERS!

Octavia hums happily, as she snaps her phone shut and stows it away in a pocket.

The owlet then turns and glances up at her dad, whose brow was furrowed ... obviously deep in thought.

The aforementioned duo had snuck quietly out of their home earlier that night ... trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

For once ... Stolas and Octavia were not going to the Goetias' formal Sinsmas gathering.

Usually they did, but ... given the recent events ... and the alternative party invitations ... the two had respectively declined this time.

The official reason was wanting a quiet Sinsmas at home ... which was ridiculed by certain parties; who preferred the social pomp and glamour of the gathering instead.

Not that Stolas and Octavia hated the gathering itself!

It was actually quite beautiful, with the glowing, carved obsidian floors, decorations made out of living fire, and orchestras of salamanders!

What Octavia really disliked about it ... was the other young Goetia coming up to her and trying to 'canoodle' in a creepy way.

It pretty much caused the owlet to stick to her father's side for the whole party.

As for Stolas ... being there meant being catcalled and insulted by Stella and her friends; who would probably have even more 'ammunition' because of the upcoming divorce.

Those factors combined were a major excuse to ignore the gathering, and go to something a lot more fun.

As luck would have it, Loona's invitation to the party at the I.M.P headquarters ... sent a few days before Sinsmas ... was the answer to their prayers!

Octavia was excited and happy to celebrate the holiday with her first real friend!

That being said, Octavia DID have some ... private reservations about the party she and her dad were attending that night.

After all ... it was the headquarters of the chap her dad cheated on her mum with!

It was also certainly no secret that the young owl disliked Blitzo for causing the parental breakup and family!

Octavia was VERY displeased to learn that he would be hosting the aforementioned party, but Stolas had been very quick to comfort his daughter!

The prince reassured Octavia ... with clear, coherent words ... that Blitzo was not going to 'steal the show' in tonight's celebrations.

Stolas also told his daughter that tonight he was going to tell her everything ... and clear things up about the Blitzo matter once and for all!

The younger owl had looked piercingly into Stolas's eyes as he spoke ... and listened to the tone of his voice.

To Octavia's surprise, her dad's eyes had been saddened and sincere ... as well as a raw tone to his voice.

This was certainly new to the young owl; leading her to hope that maybe Stolas was finally going to resolve things ... and the family would move past this whole upsetting drama?

High hopes, Octavia knew that ... but maybe this time they wouldn't be dashed?

A niggling, slightly depressing thought then popped up in the owlet's mind ... questioning whether or not Stolas's reveal would be good or bad?

Octavia winced, but tried to keep a positive perspective on it ... that's what Loona always said.

And as for Stolas ... he was happy that Octavia was happy ... truly happy and playful for the first time in many years.

Also, the owl prince saw an opportunity to talk to Blitzo ... not to flirt, or make out with ... just talk.

Stolas had been trying for several months to drum up the nerve to talk to Blitzo again, but had always chickened out at the last second.

He knew that there was a high chance that the imp didn't want to speak to him again ... but Stolas had something specific that he wanted to say.

Whether Blitzo still wanted to interact with the prince afterwards or not, well ... only time would tell.

The aforementioned owl abruptly blinked and looked down at the sound of a slight cough ... to see Octavia giving him a questioning look.

Stolas smiled and patted his daughter on the shoulders in response.

"Cheer up, Via! You won't regret going to this party!" the prince assured her, assuming that she might be having second thoughts about it.

"It'll be fun, I promise!" Octavia raised an eyebrow at this ... a slight smirk at the edges of her smile, as she decided to tease her dad a little.

"Like Loo Loo Land?" she quipped, sassily.

"Yes, like ... no, no, no!" Stolas started to agree, only to babble frantically when he registered the whole question!

"No, it won't be like that at all, Via! It'll be better!" the owl prince insisted, relief in his voice as he saw Octavia wink slyly at him.

"After all, your hellwolf friend Loona invited us to this party!" he continued. "I hardly think that she'd invite you to something that wasn't fun, Via."

The young owl nodded in agreement, thinking about all of the other parties, extreme raves, and rock concerts that she and Loona had planned to go to.

Not that their respective parents knew anything, of course.

"Plus ... Loona said that her dad's headquarters has got some of the best scenic views in the whole of Imp City! Stolas stated happily, his eyes glazing over slightly in wonder as he picked up the pace.

"We'll get a much better view of the 'special' fireworks from up there, than at home!"

"You remember them, don't you, Via?" the owl prince quipped, turning to glance back at the girl.

Octavia's eyes instantly sparkled with delight, and she willingly speeded up too!

"Oh yes!!" the young owl chirped in excitement, memories of staying up on past Sinsmases ... surfacing in her mind.

Chapter Text

As every Hell-dweller knew, one of the best things about Sinsmas was the fireworks on Sinsmas Eve Night! But they weren't ordinary fireworks: oh no, no, no!

These were SPECIAL fireworks ... magical golden-red fireworks that would mysteriously appear in the skies of Hell on Sinsmas Eve!

No one knew where they came from, or who might be behind it ... but the inhabitants of Hell didn't care to wonder.

What came after the fireworks was wonder enough! You see ... after said firecrackers exploded in the skies; the sparkles from them would fall down to the Rings below.

The glowing sparkles would whizz through said Realms; granting a gift to every soul they pass.

The gifts themselves were always unique, and were whatever that person wanted most at the time?

———

Seconds later ...

Octavia smiled, momentarily lost in happy thoughts ... and then suddenly frowned.

"Wait ... will the fireworks' gifts still come to us, Dad?" the owlet asked, anxiously. "Even though we're not at home?"

Stolas smiled and nodded reassuringly to put his daughter at ease, before turning back.

"Of course, they will, sweetie! Don't worry about it!" the owl prince replied, his mind quickly moving to other things.

"And don't worry about the party!" Stolas added, thinking about a familiar, bolshy boss imp.

"Blitzo assured me earlier that everything will be sorted out and prepared when we get there!"

Octavia grimaced a bit at the mention of Blitzo.

"Is he reliable?" the owl girl asked dryly, raising an eyebrow at her dad.

Stolas ... took an ominously long time to answer the question.

"Yes, of course, Blitzo is reliable ..." the prince replied, with a weak smile. Octavia raised the other eyebrow.

"... ish".

———

In the lobby, I.M.P Headquarters, seconds later ...

"BLURGGGGGGGHHH!"

The sounds of gagging and spitting abruptly emanating from the kitchen instantly made Loona's ears prick up!

She narrowed her eyes as she turned to look at the kitchen door ... where the gagging was slowly turning to angry growling.

"MOXXIEEEEE!! WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO?!!!"

"I'm so sorry, sir! I thought that it would still work! I—ackkk!"

Moxxie's frantic pleas were suddenly reduced to choking and gargling, as if he was being strangled.

"WHAT. DID. YOU. DO ..." Blitzo snarled dangerously.

"I-I ... I may have been unable to obtain eggs for the egg nog, and found a possible alternative at the market", Mozzie wheezed, coughing a couple of times.

"You know ... a 'substitute'?"

"SUBSTITUTE??!!"

The kitchen door was suddenly kicked open with a loud BANG, and a shrieking Moxxie hurled through it at top speed!

Loona quickly sidesteps to the right, as the aforementioned imp smashes into the wall; where she'd just been standing!

A bowl of 'substitute' egg nog was then hurled viciously through the open kitchen door ... before the latter was slammed shut!

Moxxie scarcely had time to react before he was plastered in the faux egg nog from horns to tail.

Groaning in pain, the small, nog-covered imp slid slowly down the wall to the floor ... leaving a definite, hard imprint behind.

After waiting a while ... and checking that there weren't going to be more flying objects through the door anytime soon ... Loona started to walk over to Moxxie.

"Start talking", the hellhound asked bluntly, standing close ... but not too close to the messy imp.

Moxxie groaned again, as he raised his head weakly to look up at Loona.

"Errr ... I used a substitute for the egg nog, and Blitzo didn't like it", he muttered, with a sheepish grin.

The hellhound huffed, stepping back from the puddles of egg nog distastefully.

"Huh. That's an understatement", Loona said dryly, while taking a quick photo of Moxxie.

The door to the kitchen suddenly opened, grabbing the duo's attention as they turn to look ... and see Millie hastily darting through it.

The imp woman then shut the door and rushed over to her husband, looking very concerned.

"Freaking out?" Loona asked in a deadpan voice, her hands on her hips.

Millie glanced at the hellhound and nodded, grimacing as she lifted her dazed husband's head up.

"Yeah, big time!" the female imp replied, for a rare moment ... dead serious.

"You know, I think that all this stress is starting to send Blitzo a bit doollaly."

Loona frowned a little at Millie's tone, cocking her head in confusion.

"More than usual?" she questioned.

"Yeah. He's trying to pull his horns off now!" Loona groaned in annoyance, facepalming hard.

Satan, why was her dad such a mess? Why couldn't he be more normal ... especially with Via visiting! Oh well ...

"Okay", the hellhound said, trying to keep calm. "Mills, you take Mox to the bathroom for a quick wash and change of clothes before the royals arrive."

Millie nodded, as Loona then inclined her head at the shut kitchen door.

"I'll sort out the big toddler in the kitchen", the latter added, sourly.

"Thanks, Loona!" the female imp said gratefully. "I'll clean this up as well! Come on, Mox ... we can sort this out in a jiffy!"

Moxxie nodded in a dazed way, as his wife led him towards said bathroom. Loona just sighed, rolling her eyes, as she turned and walked reluctantly towards the kitchen.

"Why do I bother sometimes ..." the hellhound growled, as she kicked the door open and entered.

———

In the kitchen, I.M.P Headquarters, seconds later ...

"Blitzo!" Loona yelled, walking into the kitchen ... and looking around.

The place was covered in faux egg nog stains, fallen pots and pans, and scuff marks on the floor.

The only resemblance of normalcy was a tray of baked gingerbread horses cooling on a nearby rack.

What was more surprising though ... was the fact that Blitzo was nowhere in sight, and that he hadn't touched the biscuits! Not one!

The hellhound frowned, looking slightly concerned as she scanned the room carefully.

"Blitzo?" Loona called quietly, her ears pricking right up.

An almost-inaudible sniffle from the fridge instantly caught the hellhound's attention; causing her to facepalm again.

"Ugh ... Blitzo ..." Loona growled in exasperation, scowling as she turned to walk over to the fridge.

Reaching it, the hellhound yanks the fridge door open ... revealing Blitzo inside, as she expected.

"Blitzo, this is just ridi—"

The words that Loona was going to say ... quickly died in her mouth, as the hellhound's eyes widened in shock.

The boss imp was partially curled up in the fetal position; pulling at a horn with one hand, and chewing on the claws of the other.

Blitzo's eyes were wide and stressed, staring blankly past Loona like she wasn't there.

"Blitzo?" the hellhound spoke gently, her tone softening a little.

The boss imp didn't say anything, didn't blink, still no reaction at all.

"Dad? Hey ... Dad, what's wrong?" Loona asked, leaning forward to put a comforting arm around Blitzo's shoulders.

Chapter Text

The boss imp's face twitched at that, and tears began to trickle down his cheeks.

"This is gonna be a disaster ... total hogwash ..." Blitzo muttered, despondently.

Loona blinked in confusion, not understanding her dad's sudden downer mood.

"Huh?"

"It's just ... just ... I haven't seen Stolas in months", the boss imp's explained, in a shaky voice. "Not since that Hate Blitzo party, remember?"

The hellhound's eyes narrowed, as she nodded ... her memories of that night flooding back.

"I remember", Loona spoke tersely, gritting her fangs.

She remembered how Blitzo had been when he'd come home that night ... utterly, emotionally shattered.

A complete wreck of his former take-trash-from-no-one self. Even worse than that night at Ozzie's.

Loona had seriously been ready to run over to Stolas's place and RIP the owl prince to pieces for what he'd done!

The only two things that had prevented that from happening were ...

1. Being there for Blitzo, while he worked through his feelings and heartbreak.

2. Becoming best friends with Octavia.

The hellhound wasn't about to shred her bestie's dad ... no matter how much of a loser she considered the latter.

"What happened at that party, and the blowup before that ... it hit me very hard", Blitzo confessed. "So hard."

The boss imp cleared his throat awkwardly, as he turned to look at his daughter.

"Loonie ... I'm so sorry. I know that I'm a mess and it stresses you out, but ... I just ..."

Blitzo started to sniffle a little, the tears flowing faster now.

"I just can't be hurt anymore. By anyone", the boss imp's voice was raw and blunt.

"You can't imagine ... The last time I lost someone I cared about ..."

Blitzo screwed his eyes shut, as the horrifying memories played through his mind.

The painful burns on his face ...

The roaring hellfire consuming his circus home ...

Mom ...

The boss imp flinched, as he was jolted out of his internal nightmare by a soft paw on his shoulders.

"Hey ... it's going to be okay, Dad."

Blitzo opens his eyes ... to see Loona smiling softly at him, a gentle look in her eyes.

Not a look that the boss imp saw often from the sassy, usually indifferent hellhound.

"Really?" Blitzo said, in a small voice. Loona nods, and rolls her eyes in mock-exasperation.

"Yeah! I mean, come on!" the hellhound replied, once again adopting her devil-may-care attitude.

"The last thing that this party will be is all angsty and dramatic! What's the fun in that?"

Loona made 'ludicrous' gestures in the air as she spoke, winking at Blitzo.

"Sinsmas is a time to have damn good fun with family and friends, not to be all mopey!"

The boss imp's eyes widened as the emotional fog of stress and drama he'd been under that day started to clear.

Maybe ... Blitzo HAD been overthinking things a bit lately?

"Anyway, I thought that YOU were usually the life of any party you crashed into?" the hellhound finished, with an accusing glance at her dad.

"Or not any more?"

Blitzo instantly bridled at the accusation, his anguish and stress momentarily forgotten.

"Of course, I am!" the boss imp snapped, quickly scrambling out of the fridge.

"What sort of question is that?!" he added, glaring up at Loona ... and then sighed. "I just—"

"Look ..." the hellhound interrupted, placing a reassuring paw on her father's shoulders.

"If you're really worried about what those owls think of you ... I'll tell Via that you're a good sort", Loona promised, giving Blitzo another wink and smile.

Underneath everything else, the hellhound mentally muttered.

"Also, if Stolas tries to bring up the past ... I'll send him packing with a bottle of hot sauce up his whatsit!"

The boss imp smiled at this; a sincere smile ... not a smirk or a sarcastic twist of the lips.

"Thanks, Loona", Blitzo said quietly, but honestly. "Thanks for that."

Loona's eyes sparkled as she drew her dad into a warm hug; ears pricked up, and tail wagging happily.

The slightly muffled, but sudden sound of the front door bell outside made the two demons jump and flinch!

"Oh cripes!" Loona cursed, her fur bristling a little as she lets go of Blitzo quickly! "They're here already!"

"ACTION STATIONS!" the boss imp roared, instantly back to panicking again.

He hastily grabbed the nearby tray of Sinsmas cookies, and rushed towards the door.

"Wait, Dad!" the hellhound bellowed, as she chased after Blitzo. "You have to open the door—"

Loona's words came too late, as the boss imp slammed into the door at top speed ... shattering the biscuits on impact.

"... first", the hellhound finished, groaning and facepalming again.

After peeling a woozy Blitzo off the door, and shaking him back to full awareness ...

Loona and her dad quickly salvaged what they could of the broken biscuits, put them back on the tray, and opened the door.

—————

Back in the lobby, I.M.P Headquarters, 5 mins later ...

"We're coming, Mills!" the boss imp declared loudly, as he strode through the door with Loona close behind.

"Don't worry, we'll open the ... door", Blitzo's voice faltered as he came face to face with Stolas and Octavia; who were now standing slightly awkwardly in the lobby.

Millie, who was just in the middle of closing the door ... smiled apologetically at her boss and shrugged.

The boss imp grimaced, then forced his face into a wide, practiced grin ... as he nodded politely to the Goetia prince.

"Um ... welcome back to I.M.P headquarters, Stolas", Blitzo mumbled, not looking said owl in the eyes.

Ironically, Stolas was doing the exact same thing ... as he returned the nod with an equally forced one.

"Blitzo", the prince said, formally but stiffly.

Octavia, Loona, and Millie all shifted uncomfortably, as a VERY awkward silence fell upon the lobby.

Blitzo's smile faded a tad, as memories started to flood his mind of the 'Hate Blitzo' party, the insulting song, the drunk Stolas's harsh words ...

A sudden, loud cough abruptly ended the tenseness in the room, causing everyone to blink and flinch!

The boss imp turned his head to look at the culprit ... and saw Loona rolling her eyes at Blitzo with exasperation.

The hellhound gave her dad a pointed look, and then turned to Octavia ... her expression changing to a warm smile.

"Welcome to headquarters, Via! It's great to see you!" Loona said casually, opening her arms for a hug ... to the surprise of her fellow workers.

Blitzo and Millie had never seen the hellhound be that affectionate with ANYONE, to the truth.

Loona wasn't really the kind of person to show affection openly ... at least that's what they'd thought before.

Octavia, much to Stolas's surprise ... smiles back and rushes into the hellhound's hug.

"Great to see you too, bestie!" the owlet replied happily, smiling back at her friend.

"Is everything ready for the party?" she added, her eyes glinting with eagerness.

"Just peachy, Via", the girl hellhound said, smiling mischievously. "Ready to have some fun?"

"You bet!"