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Velvette swirls her lukewarm cup of coffee, leaning against the back of Vox's chair. Some days, she was the life of the party. On others, she was.. quiet. Not sad, but quiet. And either way, her friends had long ago accepted her shifting-moods as a part of her- so she never felt like she had to hide it from them. "So, what's this meeting about? ..you gonna fangirl about Al some more, or..?"
"Wha-" Vox's screen glitches for a moment, magenta pixels flickering around the edges. "Don't tease me! I'm still recovering from last time!"
Valentino slips into the room and pulls out a chair, not even batting an eye when Velvette flops down into it. "Why have you called us into here?"
The Television-demon doesn't say anything, just nervously tapping his nails on the table.
Valentino raises a brow at his friend's uncharacteristic anxiety. "..Voxy?"
Then, Vox finally speaks up. "Do you- do you ever think about how close we might have been to going to a worse place than this? I-I just-" He looks away for brief moment, and takes in a deep breath. "We really- I think we all really lucked out in only ending up in Purgatory."
Velvette deflates a bit at that, leaning back in her chair. She gives Valentino a pointed glance after a moment, and the Moth-demon trots over to his friend and gingerly rests his hands on the shorter one's shoulders. "Why are you thinking about that? There's.. well, I don't mean to sound insensitive, but there's no use in worrying about it now. We didn't end up in Hell, so we can't be all bad."
Velvette mutters into her mug. "I know I got better since I ended up here.. therapy helped.."
"I know." Vox groans, standing up to pace. "That's kind of the point."
The movie-producer freezes for a moment before taking a step back to give the television-broadcaster a bit more space. "I.. don't really understand. Are you saying that you don't think you're better since coming here?" He can't help but smirk. "Because, if that's what this is about, let me tell you, you're-"
"No!" Vox blurts out with a groan of irritation. "Shut up! I'm trying to think, to articulate my thoughts, just!-.." Turning around, he trails off at Valentino's wince and Velvette's widened eyes. "I just.." His voice softens to a mumble- barely audible. "..'m sorry.."
Valentino manages a smirk again, but it's a bit more strained. "You're stressed out, I can see."
Velvette puts down her drink and crosses her arms. "That's an understatement."
Vox's screen glitches at the edges- a few blue spots, but they're big enough to be noticed. He takes a step towards Valentino and nearly puts a hand on his shoulder, but hesitates. "I.. Val, even if I am stressed, that doesn't mean I can yell at you, alright? I'm sorry."
The Television-demon freezes up when the Moth-demon steps forwards and pulls him into a somewhat tentative embrace. "You're forgiven. I'm just upset about the fact you're upset."
"I'm just thinking about everybody who didn't get as lucky as us." Vox mumbles into his chest.
Velvette watches for a few more moments before standing up and slipping out of the room.
Valentino sighs, leading Vox back to his chair and kneading his shoulders- after everything they've been through he hates to see his friend stressed out over things that he can't control. "Well, maybe they'll get luckier one day.."
"Pretty damn unlikely." The television-broadcaster grumbles, but a jolt goes through his systems when the movie-producer squeezes the nape of his neck for just a moment too long. "I mean- uh- you-"
The taller of the duo chuckles softly, patting the shorter one's head. "That's more like it! Besides, this has given me an idea.." Val trails off for a moment before sitting on the table in front of Vox. "What if we could redeem them? We can't handle all of them, of course! Just.. the ones like us."
The Television-demon relaxes a bit, and looks up at his friend with a spark of vulnerability in his eyes. "You really.. think so?"
The Moth-demon grins widely, resting a hand on the other's glitching face. "It's not what sinners are- it's what they could be!"
He stands, pulling Vox along to watch him do a little pirouette. "With new help and therapy, from us and the others.. see?"
Vox can't help but smile weakly, doing a small, slightly clumsy spin of his own. "We could go down there, and help some sinners atone. If we work together, we could give them a new home."
Val chuckles in delight, pulling his (queer-platonic) friend in for a proper twirl. "We'll show them how good life could be, try to change their fates!"
Alastor bursts into the room, twirling his cane with Velvette following behind him. "Then let us start planning, my friends!~ Oh, we mustn't be late!"
Vox's screen glitches yellow and then pink, his internal fans kicking up to an audible degree. "Uh-! How much of that did you hear?!"
Looking very satisfied, Velvette sits back down in her seat- and Alastor strides up to Vox to shake his hand. "Why, nearly all of it! Me and miss Velvette heard everything past the 'having an idea' bit. And I must say, your ideals aren't half-bad!" The Radio-demon chuckles brightly, and leads Vox into a waltz- and the latter's audio glitches as a result. But the Deer-demon could've sworn that he heard the word 'fuck' in there.
"Once we go down there!~" Alastor's voice rings out brightly, with a hint of staticky enthusiasm in it. "Down to the fallen land!"
Velvette- looking at something important on her phone- raises her coffee as if she's doing a toast, and Valentino's wings unfurl in his excitement. "A few hundred souls could get redeemed in the end!"
The radio-demon gives his closest friend a look that makes him feel.. warm. "Too many fish down there, my dear, let's upgrade their bowl!" ..dear?
Vox's internal fans become almost dangerously loud, and Alastor.. hesitates and takes a step back? He doesn't look as excited now, as he joins Valentino in his dance. And seeing that, the Television-demon feels a pang of regret. Did he do something wrong? Did he get too excited? Did he weird Alastor out, somehow?
Valentino is looking between Vox and Alastor now, but his wings begin to flap to the tempo of his fast-paced words. "We'll teach them personal growth, and brighten their souls!~"
"Think of all the dreams that could come true.." Velvette muses to herself, looking out the window.
The movie-producer blurts out. "Even the wet ones!?" Once he realizes what he said, his wings immediately retreat to his back, and he covers his mouth in embarrassment- but to Alastor's credit, he doesn't stop dancing with him.
Velvette gives him an empathetic look. "..not those ones, Val.."
And then, Vox tries to change the subject before his friend leaves the room in shame. "Imagine what it could enable!"
Alastor joins in with a grin, tapping his shoes as he twirls back over to the television-demon. "I bet we're able- yes!"
Vox spins him in excitement, his half-mechanical heart soaring as the radio-demon just laughs. "To know that they rose up because of us!"
Velvette whistles in thought. "Maybe I'll make a few new buds."
Val clears his throat, rubbing his arm as he murmurs. "Deal with their sin and make them blessed.."
The fashionista nods, and the moth-demon relaxes a bit, strolling over to her and pulling her to her feet to dance.
Alastor winks at Vox. "And what's best is!~"
Valentino 'accidently' pushes the television-demon a bit closer to the deer-demon before twirling Velvette. "You, my friend, had told us this way!"
Alastor pulls Vox a bit closer. "If this plan works, it must have been fate!"
The doll-demon laughs softly as she nearly trips while trying to spin her much taller friend. "We could give them a brighter day.."
Vox's pixels begin to glitch again- this time, a hot pink. "Don't give me all the credit, you all had a say.."
He can feel that he might shut down again soon- he has to get his feelings out while he can. "To everyone who's in this room- I'm sorry if I'm blunt- you all make me feel warm inside, and Al, you are my sun.."
All three of the others fall silent at that- and then the television-demon lets out a staticky yelp as he stumbles. Alastor catches him, and sets him down gently. His posture is relaxed, but his worry is betrayed by the hesitant sheen to his usually-cheerful voice. "Forgive me, my friend, I.. feared that this would happen. I should have left more space between us while we danced.."
Sensing that this moment is.. sensitive, Valentino leads Velvette out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
The deer-demon patiently waits for his counterpart to calm himself, gingerly putting his hand on the other's head. "I apologize for making you feel unease. If you'd like me to leave, I have no problem with doing so.."
"Stay." Vox mutters, weakly taking his hand. "You make me nervous in- a good way. Help me stand?"
The radio-demon hesitates for a moment, but then rises, pulling his friend along with him. "You meant what you said? About me being your sun?"
The television-broadcaster nods tentatively. "You make me feel warm inside, but I'm scared that I can't hide."
Alastor tilts his head after a moment. "You know I'm Ace, but I feel the same- let's be queer-platonic."
The television-demon nods gratefully. "I appreciate that you understand."
The deer-demon chuckles softly, resting his head against his friend's(?) before leading him over to his chair. "Please, just mind where you put your hands."
Vox nods quickly Vees. "I'll give you your space, like I always am."
Alastor uses his cane to open the door before scooting the chair over and sitting next to Vox.
Velvette saunters back into the room, looking more like herself- Valentino looks relieved.
Before she can say anything, the television-broadcaster chuckles nervously. "Don't pry!"
Velvette pops her gum, leaning against the wall with a (mostly) good-natured roll of her eyes. "Ugh, fine."
The radio-demon leans against his counterpart with a hum. "You're sly."
Valentino sighs, going to Vox's other side to lean against him. "You'll have to share."
The fashionista can't help but smile as she leaves the room- she doesn't want to interrupt, she'd rather pay a visit to her favorite dance-teacher.