Chapter Text
Industrial District
Carmilia’s Tower
Alastor had made this walk many times over his time as Overlord. He knew exactly how long it took to walk there, every corner he had to turn, the doors he had to pass through.
Yet today...it seemed to be taking longer. The number of turns and doors no longer exact. He knew why.
This was the day. The day a lot of things would be finally revealed.
And it would be foolish of him to expect everyone to take what he had to say sitting down, so to speak. No no, he was fully expecting some outcry, even violence.
It was the latter likelihood that Lucifer had insisted on Akos going with him: the chaos infused seraphim currently shape shifted as a flea in his hair. Never mind that he already had several powerful Overlords in the know on these things and would no doubt defend him if things came to blows.
Still, Akos may be better able to explain-
“Nervous, Al?” Vox’s voice slightly startling him out of his thoughts, the Media Overlord having met up with him at the building entrance. He was grateful for his presence, though he suspected it must be hard on him right now considering what happened not long ago. Namely, Alastor helping Vox realize what sent him to Hell.
It had been a rather tragic and humbling moment for his friend.
“Hard not to be, with what is at stake,” Alastor admitted, Vox nodding in agreement as they stepped out of the elevator. “H-how are you holding up?”
“A bit rough…,” Vox confessed, rubbing the back of his head as they proceeded to the hallway that lead to the meeting room. “A lot of thinking...wondering if I am digging into a bigger hole with how I run things. After talking to Siren about it a couple of times I decided to not worry about making any drastic changes until I know what happens here.”
Alastor nodded, smiling faintly that Vox reached out to another for support. “A reasonable decision.”
“Has Akos made any progress on...you know?”
“They have,” Alastor confirmed, feeling Akos shift in his hair. “Though now it is a matter of figuring out who can actually replicate the method. We’ll be starting with the Sins first.”
“Probably better if it stayed at Sin level, in my opinion,” Vox remarked as the door to the meeting room came within site. “Would help prevent over saturation and abuse.”
“Agreed...though with Mammon getting involved that likely would be inevitable no matter what precautions we take,” Alastor sighed.
“Ugh...good point.” Vox groaned as they stopped in front of the door.
“Go on ahead,” Alastor told him. “I need a moment more to collect myself.”
Vox nodded in acknowledgment, then patted him on the shoulder with an encouraging smile. “You got this, Al,” he told him. “After all, you’re the Radio Demon.”
Alastor chuckled and patted his shoulder in turn, returning his smile. “Thank you, my friend. I’ll be in momentarily.”
When Vox opened the door to go in, he had caught a glimpse at how...full...the room looked.
He swallowed, feeling his heart start to hammer in his chest. It was one thing to announce something over the radio, when he was just a voice on the airwaves with no one in the same room. But directly in front of a group of fellow Overlords, each one powerful in their own right….
“Deep breaths, fawn,” Akos’ polyphonic voice said soothingly. He felt them move, shift into something larger and settling again on the nape of his neck. “If things go south….”
“I know,” Alastor whispered, taking deep breaths as instructed. Perhaps Lucifer was right to have Akos tag along.
A panicked squawk caught his attention. He turned to see Siren half running, half flying in his direction. “I...I am not too late, am I?” the young Overlord asked.
“You are not, my friend!” Alastor assured the peacock, whom had stopped beside him to catch his breath. “I requested this meeting, so it would be rude for them to start without me!”
“Oh...thank Lucifer,” Siren sighed, before asking. “Is Vox already…?”
“I just saw him in,” Alastor assured him, with a slightly smug smile. “I am certain there is a seat next to him that is vacant.”
A seat that used to be Valentino’s when all three Vees bothered to come to these meetings in the past.
“Oh!” He caught a hint of a blush on the bird. “Good...um…”
Siren then looked him up and down, finally noticing his new look...and used it change the subject.
“Looking quite snazzy there, Alastor,” Siren said teasingly, elbowing him. “Whom are you trying to impress?”
“This? Ah, just wanted to upgrade my look to one more fitting on what is to come,” Alastor said smugly. “You will find out why during the meeting.”
“Oooh intriguing,” Siren remarked with wide eyes “Can’t wait to hear!” The peacock gave him a wide smile before turning and entering the room.
He heard Carmilia question the bird’s presence, followed by Vox vouching for him.
No sense in delaying this any further… He started to take a step toward the doors, but then paused.
“Should I have my wings out?” he whispered in question.
“Ah, want to make an entrance, do you?” Akos teased before turning serious. “As amusing as it would be to see their reactions, I think avoiding a riot before the meeting properly started is best.”
“Unfortunately, you have a point there,” Alastor agreed. “Standard entrance it is then.”
He dropped into shadows and slid under the door before rematerializing. Unfortunately, no one was surprised he would make such an entrance….
….at least no one at the table.
“Warn me next time!” Akos hissed in his ear. To which Alastor just quietly chuckled as he took a quick glance around the room.
Zestial, Carmilia and her daughters were at the head of the table on the opposite side of the room to him. Rosie was setting in a seat closest to him on the left. Siren, Vox and Velvette were in the three closest seats on the right, while Zeze was on the left side some where in the middle. The remaining seats were filled with Overlords he either couldn’t be bothered to recall their names or were new to the Overlord ranks.
“Oh Alastor!” Rosie cooed. “Lookin’ quite fine there!”
“Well, damn…,” Zeze was remarking. “This must be big if someone like him gets all fancy.” A few other Overlords were nodding.
Zestial, he noted, had straightened in his seat, his expression one of full attention, not just to him, but to everyone else in the room. Carmilia was looking a mix of worried and curious. Rosie was now glaring at him, her eyes saying ‘did you pick a yet?’
In response Alastor just held up a finger and winked. Now she looked she was going to burst at the seams in excitement.
Velvette, for once, wasn’t looking at her phone, while Vox was calmly waiting for his part in this.
“Alastor,” Carmilia began calmly. “You requested this meeting, saying you had a matter of great importance to discuss.”
“I did indeed,” Alastor confirmed as he took the remaining seat at the head of the table opposite from her. “Though technically several things, things that all...tie together.”
There were a few mummers around the table, particularly among the Overlords that had no idea what he was referring to. Carmilia nodded for him to proceed.
“I am certain at least some of you watched the broadcast regarding the last attack on the Hotel?” Alastor began. After seeing nearly everyone nod he continued. “You have likely noticed the footage of the attack shown was heavily edited: that was by my and the Morningstar’s request, for the footage you did not see revealed things we were not yet ready to share.”
Carmilia had leaned back a bit, her mouth slightly open. Zestial had raised his head in anticipation, as did Rosie. Velvette started fidgeting and looking around, while Vox just...waited. The rest just looked confused.
“Because we knew what it represented...what the reaction would be,” Alastor continued. “The problems it caused...and the solutions that would be needed to counter it.”
Those that were in the know nodded.
“Then get to the damn point already!” Zeze demanded.
Alastor sniffed and lifted his head in affront to the dinosaur Overlord’s rudeness. “Very well. Vox?” He looked toward him. “If you would please.”
Vox nodded and plugged a thumbdrive into a device in the center of the table. Immediately a hologlobe appeared and playing upon it was…
...Selene’s moment of redemption.