Chapter Text
All Hallow's Eve, Halloween, Samhain. Many different names for the one night of year that the veil between worlds draws thin. The spirits of the dead walked among the living, the borders between realms weak enough that things could fall through from anywhere. In Heaven, they allowed Winners to go down and be with their relatives so long as they were still remembered, while for Hell, demons found themselves the rare opportunity to sneak above to intermingle.
There were a few natural paths between the Black Pit and Earth open only tonight. Cults and Satanists would try to summon demons through tomes and scrolls to gain power, truth, or any sort of bargain with the children of Hell. For a very, very, very unlucky few, they actually succeeded.
As humans across the world intermingled during the cold night of haunts, one pop-star succubus had an encounter that would change her life forever.
**********
Verosika Mayday should've been on top of the world. Here she stood, dead center of the stadium, tens of thousands all around as she lorded over them from a raised platform with her back-up dancers. She wondered if this is what King Lucifer felt like.
It was so packed people were spilling out onto the streets and parking-lots, listening from bars across the world. Her voice had hypnotized an entire culture and she was The Moment. She could tell them to go burn everything to the ground if she wanted to and they'd do it because it was her who was asking.
Her human disguise on, clothes on point, and her make-up and hair flawless as always. Verosika felt like a goddess as she raised her hand and let the crowds sing her own lyrics for her. She nodded her head as the crowd sang word-for-word her newest hit to shatter the entire pop game. She was on top of the world.
Like a Roman empress, she waved a hand and a human wave began to surge where her fingers trailed. She was The Moment.
She wished she was in the proper head space to enjoy it all.
She wanted to cry, to scream, to break and burn everything in sight. She wanted the Earth to open up and drag her to the lowest ring in Hell. She wanted to fall into a lake and just dissipate into nothingness. All so she could forget the pain.
And how he left without even a goodbye.
Three little words. Just three little words were all it took to end a really good thing. She'd decided to let the most inner part of herself come forward, the part of herself she kept hidden from everyone in Lust, and let her inner romantic shine forward for one glorious moment.
And like that, it was over.
"Only little bitches strum the strings of their hearts." Were Asmodeus' words, and Verosika hated how right he'd been. Her turmoil wanted to break free as she fought the desire to just scream and start a mosh-pit. The sheer rage, sorrow, and hurt inside her demanded a riot, and she wanted to give in until the pain stopped.
But her loyal fans needed her right now, and so did Asmodeus.
Verosika let the playful smirk stay on her face, even if it didn't reach her eyes, and strutted to the mic. She tossed her hair back and sang until the screaming in her head stopped.
**********
Cameras flashed, people cheered, autographs were signed, and a massive, tricked-out party bus approached as Verosika strutted down the rolled out red carpet. Vortex and a few of her beefier entourage members kept the rabid crowd away as she and her Lust Ring friends got on the bus and into purple mood lighting. The glimmering crystals shining over the bulbs produced an almost mosaic effect while they sat in plush, velvet, marshmallow-like seating. Completing the bus was a flooring done in shag, a few poles in the back, privacy screens in the front, and a Fizzi-bot to help massage after a long day's work. Letting go of her human disguise, she sank into a very expensive seat, feeling numb as she stared at the ritzy ceiling.
"Um… Verosika?" A pleasant, plus sized succubus with chocolate skin and gray hair looked nervously at her. A few back-up dancers matched her demeanor as she said, "I… that is to say, we, are kinda worried about you."
"Mhm," She didn't resist as someone put a red alcohol cup in her hands, the someone in question being, a very tall, very buff incubus rocking out without a shirt. His chest scars on full display despite the fact he could just glamour them away if he wanted. He placed a fluffy blanket over her with a frown, opened his mouth, paused, and smiled, "How about we all watch a porno? You always enjoy critiquing their techniques whenever we have movie night."
Verosika didn't get up, instead continuing to stare at nothing as he frowned and tried again, "I don't know why you're this upset about things ending, it's not like you were in love with him or anything."
But I was... Had she not been so practiced at avoiding it, Verosika would've winced at the word: Love. The very notion was the ultimate taboo for Lustborn. To open your heart to another without expecting a sexual boost in return. To accept that you were incomplete without another demon beside you. To accept that you were weaker without them. That was love, and it was… it was everything she'd always wanted.
Verosika always knew she'd been different from other succubi, given her… romantic inclinations. The secret stash of rom coms she had hidden under her penthouse bed was proof enough of that. She thought she'd finally had it with Blitz, but he… he didn't seem to care. Oh sure, it'd been a typical Lustful pairing at first, filled with nothing but sex, drugs, endless debauchery and fun. She had a lot of fun with Blitz and felt strongly enough about him to reveal her weaker, romantic side.
Those three little words she'd spoken before bed had been all it took for him to abandon her without a word. Instead of reciprocating, he'd taken her car, her credit card, and was spending it all in Wrath on horse-riding lessons. He abandoned her in a moment of weakness and it hurt so much. She just wanted to curl up and cry for a week, but that would require explaining why, and by extension, revealing she was a romantic at heart. Unless something massive changed in Hell, that'd be the equivalent of shooting her career and social life in the head and burying it in a ditch.
She swirled her drink and forced out a laugh she hoped was convincing, "Love? Love is for cowards and losers. He was a good lay and… and…" She snarled and crushed the cup in her hand, spilling beer all over herself, "I don't want to talk about him. Not now and not ever."
The incubus (Damian, if she remembered right), nodded and took a step back before another incubus gave her a berry-baja strawberita. Damian opened his mouth before a wild cheer from the back of the Glam-mobile caused him to leave for the slowly starting party, leaving her alone again. With a sigh, Verosika chugged the fruity cocktail to cap off the end of her US Coast Tour. This should've been the best night of her life! She should be feeling on top of the world, a cute imp with his nice set of horns in her lap.
Instead, she was single, broken up with, and abandoned.
Life isn't fair, She lamented as a presence joined her on the couch and she saw the furry form of her head of security, Vortex, sipping away at a glass of whiskey.
"Looked like you could use some company."
"Please… just don't talk to me right now," Verosika hugged her knees against her chest, Vortex nodding yet making no move to leave. She was grateful, but even if her shitty mode wouldn't show it. Falling to his side, she hugged herself, the blanket nice and warm as she just stared out a window at the passing trees.
Vortex's phone rang, the hellhound pulling it out and answering, "Now's not really the best-Oh, Lord Asmodeus!"
Verosika sat a little straighter, brushing herself off before realizing Ozzie wouldn't be able to see her. Vortex passed the phone off to her and she plastered on a fake smile, answering as cheerily as possible, "What's up, my lord?"
"You killed it this time, V!" The Sin of Lust's voice practically vibrated from excitement, "Do you know how much energy made its way down here from your concert tour?"
She sighed, "No, my lord, I don't actually-"
"It's a lot!" She could hear movement over the phone as the Sin kept talking, "Like, the amount of energy you produced will empower the whole ring for half a damn year!" He giggled, actually giggled, "Well done!"
She wanted to be happy. She wanted to actually feel something at all, but all she could muster was another sigh, "I'm happy to be of service, my lord."
Silence reigned, more movement sounded out, and then Asmodeus' voice came back and it sounded worried. "V? I… you don't usually act this deferential. Is there anything I could help with?"
He could hunt down Blitz and make him talk, make him explain, make him say anything at all. However, explaining that would involve confessing how she'd broken the ultimate taboo of Lust: Giving away her heart to another. "I'm fine, my lo-Ozzie," She corrected halfway through, "I'm-I'm just tired is all."
More silence was her answer until Asmodeus replied in concern, "Okay, but you know you can always talk to me, right?"
She nodded, realized he couldn't see that, and then replied that she did before hanging up abruptly.
"You just… you just hung up on a Sin," Vortex was shocked and wide eyed, "You…" He clearly thought better of whatever he was going to say because he closed his mouth, nodded, and then leaned back into the seat so she could snuggle better.
It was nice, having a big and furry blanket to cuddle with. She kept it purely platonic, because she wasn't in the mood for anything else… and also because she'd met Vortex's girlfriend. Only an idiot would cross the Party Queen of Gluttony.
The bus drove on and all Verosika wanted to do was get drunk until things stopped hurting.
She also just wanted to leave. Everything around her, from her friends to their laughter and joy… it was pissing her off. She wanted to scream, to throw things at them to make them stop because why should they get to be happy!? Her heart was breaking and she couldn't even admit it because to do so would be to admit she'd been in love.
And she wasn't going to do that… ever. She needed to leave before she ruined everything, so she blurted, "Stop the bus."
Vortex startling upward as he glanced at her in confusion. "Boss?" He cocked an eyebrow, "You okay? I could've sworn you said-"
"STOP THE BUS!" She stood up and yelled. The bus screeched to a halt, everyone within jolting from the sudden stop, and she grabbed an Asmodean crystal out of the air. Making her way to the doors, she stormed out to the roadside, rolling farmlands as far as the eye could see for miles.
"Boss!" Vortex cried out behind her as everyone rushed to try and get to her in a mad jumble.
"I just need some air," She opened a portal and headed off.
**********
The portal closed behind Verosika and she summoned her human disguise. Gone was her hot pink skin and white hair, replaced with flawless tanned skin and golden hair that flowed to her back. She now wore a pair of distressed jeans, knee-high stiletto boots, and a sparkling top covered by a leather jacket. Flipping her hair, she looked around to see where she was, as it'd been a random jump with no real destination in mind. So far, she saw trees stretched tall and proud as she stood in the middle of a forest.
The only thing of note was the pleasant, whimsical looking cabin in the middle of a clearing. It had fairy lights strung up across the bottom of the overhang, while a few gnomes with funny slogans sat on the porch. Completing the little hut was a rather odd-looking red door, swirls of shade leading to a central knob beneath a child-like shooting star at its center.
She was about to open another portal and go… well, wherever she could score a few free drinks, when she heard the promising sound of heavy bass. Almost instantly, Verosika recognized it as party music, and where there was party music, there must be, by simple statistics, a party. Following the siren call, she made her way out of the woods and into a typical cut of human suburbia, houses on both sides of the street lined in neat little rows. She focused her attention on the pale blue one, which was currently shaking from the power of party music.
Nice looking house too, with a cute little vegetable garden in the back and a nice bird fountain in the center. Would've looked like all the others on the block if one ignored the small army of college kids in the backyard. All of them were drinking, talking, dancing, and enjoying themselves to the limits of human capability. Some were in full costumes, others simply wore masks, and most just hung out in casual clothes, be it in a makeshift circle of lawn chairs, or on the roof.
By Verosika's standards, it was a pretty mild party, nobody dead from alcohol poisoning or a drug overdose yet. But maybe this was just what the doctor ordered for her broken heart? Something mild, tame, and wouldn't remind her of him.
She cocked her head to the side and considered things. College kids tended to be the worst, even if they were good for fueling Lust. Nothing but idiots who were only slightly better than high-school kids by a matter of semantics. A college party at some random house normally would've been something she ignored in favor of a wild, crazy one held by some rich prick. But at the same time… maybe just pretending to be another face in the crowd would take her mind off of things?
Verosika sighed and marched up to the first person she saw: A random guy dressed up as some anime character she was too popular to know about. "Yo," She pulled him over and looked him in the eye, using her magic on him, "Where are we right now?"
"Noceda house," He slurred out, whether from the jolt of magic or the alcohol in his system she didn't know, nor did she really care, "Vee's throwing it while her mom's out."
"Yeah, okay, great," She rolled her eyes, "I meant where are we in America?"
"Gravesfield, Connecticut?" Now his voice was slurring even harder. She let him go as he rushed over to the tree line and began puking in the bushes. Verosika grimaced and asked herself if she really wanted to spend her time gatecrashing a random house party before remembering that she was, in fact, still cripplingly alone and devastatingly heartbroken. Squaring her shoulders, she cracked her neck and strode into the house alongside what looked to be a trio of magical girls.
**********
The party was… fine. It was fine. Sure, it wasn't her usual scene, but nobody knew she was a succubus… or that she was Verosika Mayday for that matter. She was unknown and unnoticed, glad to feel as such for once.
The inside of the house was a mess, streamers and trash everywhere as college kids partied like the world was ending tomorrow morning. She rolled her shoulders to work a kink out when a random person invaded her space.
"Hey, cool costume," The witch said with a toothy grin, revealing a gap alongside their pearly whites. They had a goth aesthetic that worked well with the traditional black robes, pointy hat, and golden ankh necklace. "Welcome to the Cabin Seven Halloween Bash."
Verosika blinked and looked around, "And… is this Cabin Seven?"
The witch laughed, "Nah, that's just the name of our friend group for reasons I don't want to get into with a stranger." Verosika nodded as they grinned and continued, "No, one of our friends has never been to a house party before, so we decided to change that."
Verosika let out a small "huh" and considered it. From the look and sound of it, they might've gone a bit overboard in that regard. Apparently, she'd said that out loud, because the goth witch chuckled and rubbed the back of their head.
"Yeah… we may have invited a few too many people. But it's fine! Vee's mom won't be back for a few days, so we have plenty of time to clean up afterwards."
"Ah. Gonna get rid of the evidence?" She asked, the witch nodding. The succubus tried to smirk, but it died half-formed, so she sighed and gave a nod of her own, after which the goth ran off to welcome someone else. Verosika made her way into the central living room. Not much going on there, given that most of the party was happening outside and around it, so she plopped herself down on a couch and just stared at nothing, still feeling numb after all this time.
Here she was, the ass end of nowhere with none of her minions… and she still felt like absolute garbage. Would she always feel this way? Desperate, she grabbed a random bottle from a side table and began to chug (it was vodka) like it was going out of style.
Nothing. Her throat burned from harsh alcohol, and she still felt nothing.
She wanted to get blackout drunk and forget the entire past month. She wanted to drink until she forgot her ungrateful shit of an ex-boyfriend. She wanted to drink until the pain of rejection stopped hurting so badly. But it'd never stop, would it?
Sighing, Verosika got up and made her way into the kitchen where a bunch of drink mixers were stacked next to coolers of jungle juice. She remembered her college days where she mixed all kinds of alcohols together with fruit until it formed a berry drink that could knock an elephant on its ass. Right now, she desperately needed some-
"Hi, welcome to-WOAH! Nice Verosika Mayday costume!" The dark and shaggy haired guy with a five-o'clock shadow said, nodding his head as he stood in a simple white shirt with the words 'This Is My Costume' on it. He leaned against the counter between two coolers full of sloshing red liquid and orange slices. "Seriously, other than the hair it's almost a dead ringer!"
"… what's wrong with my hair?"
He scratched the back of his head, "It's a bit too light for Verosika. She has a darker tone. Plus, it's too poofy. She's got this wavier thing going on and-" The real, actual Verosika Mayday listened as a random human explained all the ways her hair was wrong. Her eye began to twitch half-way through and she just stood in simmering rage as he ignorantly finished, "-really need to do something about that. Plus, you know, why on Earth would she be in Gravesfield?"
She carefully clenched her fists, both safely hidden in her pockets, "You couldn't have just kept it at that?" He shrugged as she breathed in, counted to five, and breathed out, "Look, I have had a very bad night, and that's on top of a truly horrible week. Can you just give me the fullest cup of jungle juice you have?"
"Sure!" He said brightly, "Just gonna need to see your ID."
All her anger melted away in that instant as she smiled, "Aww, thank you. You know, that's the closest thing to a compliment I've gotten all wee-"
He chuckled awkwardly and held up his hands, "No, no, no. I mean your student ID." He scratched the back of his head, "Because… uh, I don't think you're a student. But I could be wrong so-"
Verosika turned and walked away without another word, not trusting herself to say anything that wouldn't give away her Hellish nature. Her expression was carefully blank as she made her way downstairs. The basement was done up in fairy lights with a bunch of old posters, a Dominican flag hanging from the wall. A few people were here, simply talking and enjoying themselves, lost in their own little worlds as the secret succubus plopped herself down on a couch and did nothing but exist. All around her, college kids partied like only the below-30's could, and here was the pop sensation of the millennium… sitting alone, no alcohol, and probably the oldest person here.
Lucifer Below, I'm pathetic, Verosika wondered how exactly she was going to explain this when she returned to Hell. Part of her didn't want to, wanted to just sit here until she fused with the couch and became one with the universe.
"Hey, you okay?" A voice called for her attention. She looked up and saw…
Huh… Verosika blinked, staring at a girl with a wild shock of blonde hair that was edged with blue. She wore a red shirt over a similar looking leather jacket to the succubus'. To top it off, the girl had a mouth full of fangs and inhuman eyes that were blue as the sky with golden irises.
"Like my costume?" The girl asked, her expression light as she gestured to her face, "I'm dressed as a shapeshifter."
Verosika shook her head and looked at the human, "Is that because you wanted to be clever, or lazy?"
The human laughed, fangs glinting in the light like real teeth. She leaned in close with a mischievous look and whispered, "Secret."
At that, Verosika actually laughed. For a moment, she forgot the pain and anger inside of her, just enjoying a good trick as the human joined next to her. But all the laughter in the world couldn't make her feel better, and before long, her thoughts drifted back to Blitz. The scarred imp was stuck to her mind like glue, and try as she might, she couldn't get rid of him.
"I'm Vee," The human introduced herself, sticking out a hand before she could lose herself to despair. Blinking at the aforementioned Vee, the succubus couldn't help but smirk.
"That's funny, I was about to say the same thing."
"Your name is Vee?"
"Starts with a V, that's for sure," She kicked her feet up onto a table that a few people had been using for Spin the Bottle, knocking the glass to the floor. A few people left in anger at the act, but she didn't care. Vee looked conflicted but nodded as the two sat in somewhat companionable silence.
"So, you like the party?" Vee asked suddenly, causing the succubus to turn and cock her head to the side, "I mean, my friends and I spent a lot of time putting it together and-"
"Wait, this is your place?" Verosika raised an eyebrow and smirked, "You honestly don't seem like the type to throw a wild house party."
Vee laughed and waved her hand. "Oh, it's nothing like that! I just…" She seemed distant and sad before brightening up, "Just making up for missed childhood opportunities is all."
There was a story there, she could almost taste it. Verosika wanted to push, maybe even use magic to make the little human spill the beans… but she didn't feel like it. She felt like garbage and didn't want to do anything but vibe. Instead, she tried not to despair and shrugged, "Cool. Good luck with your first party. Seems pretty decent."
Vee giggled and hiccupped. "Sorry," Embarrassment flooded her voice, "It's also my first time drinking!"
"Happy birthday." Verosika raised an imaginary glass and returned to vibing away her sorrows.
"Soo… what's got you feeling down?" The human asked, Verosika sighing at her inquisitive, if comforting, glance.
"That obvious?"
"Well… I might've also overheard you and Morgan talking, so I wanted to make sure you weren't too put out by his comments."
She blinked, "Which one's Morgan?"
"The one manning the drinks," Vee answered as Verosika bit back a hiss of displeasure.
"That little dickhole with opinions about my hair?" Oh, she just knew she'd be pissed about that till she died, "I'm fine."
Vee sighed, "Please forgive him, he's kind of drunk right now."
Verosika grunted, staring at the ceiling instead of answering. Her shitty mood somehow turned shittier at that reminder, mixing with the absolute black pit of rage and sorrow that already existed because of Blitz and making her want to rip her hair out and scream. Instead, she gripped the couch's arm hard enough that her nails dug into it, "It's… it's nothing you need to worry about. Just thinking about… things."
Vee nodded and looked sadly at her with a small smile, "Well… I'm sorry you're not feeling so hot."
"It's not your fault for that," She replied, Vee nodding like she actually understood.
"I'll tell Morgan to maybe come down to apologize-" The human began when she cut her off with a snarl.
"It's not his fault either. It's-" She wanted to rage, she wanted to cry, she wanted to curl up with one of her contraband rom-coms and eat chocolate ice-cream until she passed out. "It's his."
A hand made its way to her back and gave a comforting pat. She turned to see Vee looking at her comfortingly. Verosika said nothing, just accepting the comfort as she closed her eyes.
Being rejected hurts, especially after revealing your truest self to them.
Verosika couldn't tell if it was the alcohol, the pain, or just the desire to rant to someone who wouldn't be disgusted by her romantic nature for once in her life, but she actually wanted to let it all out.
"His name was Blitz and he… he was a fun guy and I actually-" She began, swallowing past the nervous desire to just lie and say he was nothing more than a sexual partner, "I actually kind of found myself falling for him, you know?" Vee nodded, which was all the excuse she needed to start ranting like the girl was her therapist, "We met… Hell, I don't even remember. It was a while ago, at least a year." She stared at the ceiling as she lost herself in memory, "He was fun, really fun. It wasn't just sex or anything, I mean the sex was nice, but I actually had emotions and junk for him."
She cast a nervous eye towards Vee, relieved to see that the human wasn't judging her for being a romantic. No, she was merely flushing red slightly. Not that she could figure out why, humans were weird all over like that.
"It was… Christ on a stick, it was supposed to be a special night, you know? All I did was say three fucking words!" She'd never forget that night no matter what. Realizing she'd fallen hard, she decided to reveal her truest self. She didn't want to throw herself into the deep end or anything by bringing out her rom coms, so she tested the waters, telling him those three little words before they drifted off.
"I love you, Blitz."
"It all went to shit so fast. He ghosted me, disappeared before I woke up, and I haven't seen or heard from him since."
Vee was silent for a while, enough that she turned to the human, who looked at the secret succubus in sorrow, "That's… that's awful, I'm so-"
"Don't." Verosika cut her off, sighing in annoyance and shame, "I got enough pity from my minions. I'm here to avoid that."
Vee shot her another sad look, "It's not pity, it's sympathy."
Ah, right, Verosika remembered she was talking to a human, not another demon. They were chock full of stuff like 'sympathy'. With a grimace, she said, "Fine, then… I don't need sympathy right now."
"What do you need?"
Verosika frowned at the question. What did she need? It was such a complicated answer: For the hurting to stop, for Blitz to call back, for Blitz to drop dead, for someone who wouldn't run away at the first sign of romance…
"You know?" She finally decided, "What I really need is a good drink or ten."
Vee got up and moved to a side table with its own cooler full of beers, bringing one over for the both of them. "Here," The human offered, handing her something called a Corona. It wasn't the best, being honest. In fact, she kind of hated it, but it was alcohol, and that was enough for now.
"None of my minions understand that, you know?" Her words startled the human, who sipped at the beer like she'd never drank before. All things considered, that was probably the case. Ah, Verosika thought, To be young and dumb again...
"Pardon?" Vee asked with a small, confused slur.
"Like, they don't get that I'm-" She almost revealed her deepest secret… except this wasn't Hell and Vee was a human, not a demon. She needed to vent, to just lay everything out, to speak her truth. "I'm a romantic."
There, she said it. The greatest sin of Lust and it was now in the open. That she was a big, sappy romantic who followed the music of her heart rather than the policies of Lust: No attachments. No feelings. Just sex and pleasure.
And she had broken all of it.
"I… don't get why that's a big deal?"
"It's a big deal, trust me," Verosika stressed as she shook her head chugged the Corona, "Like, pretend with me that it's a big deal and everyone will make fun of me."
"Ooh," Vee nodded, "It's like… your clique will make fun of you for being a girly girl." She raised an eyebrow and Vee giggled, "I know you were probably a popular girl back in high school. I mean, you call your friends minions and everything so… it's kind of not that big a secret that you're used to having power over people." Suddenly, Vee paused, squinted, and took a sip of her drink as her tone took on a dangerous edge, "When you were in high school, how did you treat Luz Noceda?"
"I… I don't know who that is," Verosika just awkwardly shrugged.
Vee squinted some more and then nodded happily, "Good! That means I don't have to kick you out. Had a few jerks from her school days earlier and we kicked them out on their asses. Funny as hell if you ask me."
"Kicking out unwanted guests is pretty funny, yeah," She agreed and raised her glass. Vee giggled, nodded, and the two clinked their glasses together. After another sip, the incognito, internationally acclaimed pop-sensation said, "But anyway, you could say that I am reasonably popular."
"Figured. You kinda have that vibe."
"Yeah… makes the breakup all the more bitter I think," She swirled her drink and started to rant, "I finally revealed my romantic side to someone and they just… they ghosted me! I tried to talk to my minions about it but they just don't get it!"
"That sucks. Friends should be there for you no matter what." Vee said, Verosika resisting the urge to scoff. People like her, with the level of fame she had, didn't do "friends". Co-workers? Yeah, sure. Minions? The more the merrier. Rivals you kept up good appearances with? Those crawled out of the woodwork.
Once you became rich and famous enough, your private life was gone and consumed by your public life. After all, the paparazzi wouldn't give a shit either way if you were on stage before tens of thousands or in the privacy of your own mansion. To them, a juicy story was a juicy story.
"I guess," She finally settled on as she took another swig of Corona.
"Well, have you thought of making some new friends?" Vee finally asked.
"What? Just go out and make some?" She scoffed, laughing bitterly before falling silent as she thought about it.
Just… make some friends? Real ones instead of her minions? Like it was easy? Maybe before she became a millionaire… and definitely before she made one billion. But she just needed someone who'd be there in the morning… someone who wouldn't flake on her or deride her interests in romantic stuff.
She was so cripplingly alone, holy shit.
"How'd you make yours?" She asked in lieu of diving down that rabbit hole. In response, Vee chuckled and scratched the back of her head.
"It's… a long story," She said, an embarrassed look in her eye as she avoided her gaze, the secret succubus raising an eyebrow. Vee sighed and took a last swig of her drink, coughing from the harsh bitterness. "Damn it! How does anyone drink this!?" She whined, balefully eyeing the now empty bottle, "What's even the appeal?"
"The appeal," Verosika explained to her human companion, "Is in getting so uninhibited that bad ideas sound good."
Vee paused and stared, "That sounds… dangerous." Verosika shrugged and finished her drink while the human made herself comfy. "Anyway," Vee continued, the music blasting from upstairs changing to a bass heavy beat that shook the walls, "My sister was supposed to go to a place to help her with her problems-"
"Like rehab?" She asked. Vee frowned before a look passed across her face and she rubbed her chin in consideration.
"Something like that, yeah," The human agreed begrudgingly, "Reality Check Camp."
"Oh yeah, definitely rehab," Verosika smirked, though she'd never been to one, despite her addictive personality and many addictions. It just wasn't for her, honestly, what with people whining about themselves and why they were there, and not enough people interested in starting drama or making trouble.
Blitz had been like that: Fun. Someone she could just let loose around and not worry about anything with. If there was anyone else like that though, they were probably in rehab already.
Fuck, rehab was starting to sound pleasant if she could go in and find a firebrand for a friend there.
Vee didn't notice her deep introspection and went on with her story, "Took my sister's place at camp and made friends with the other prisoners," The human snorted and shook her head warmly, "Didn't have anyone growing up that I wasn't related to, so it was great!"
"Home schooled?"
"Imprisoned by a religious nutjob and his cult of fanatics," Vee blinked oddly, something in the lighting making it seem like she blinked sideways like a reptile, "Wow, this stuff is hitting hard! I've never said that out loud to a stranger before."
Ah, I'm corrupting a sheltered religious girl from a fundie background… Ozzie would be so proud of her.
"Can't wait to be able to buy my own booze," Vee laughed, "I'm gonna buy only the tastiest of drinks."
Verosika blinked at the comment and turned it over in her head, "Didn't you buy your own drinks for this, birthday girl?"
Vee flushed with embarrassment and whispered, "Morgan bought it all. He's-" she looked around at the few people in the basement before whispering again, "He's the only one old enough to buy it, anyway."
Her perception of Vee shattered and remade itself. "Rule breaker?" She asked with a demonic smirk, "Nice." Pausing, she thought for a bit about drinks, "Sooo… you hated the cerveza. Maybe something sweeter would be up your alley?"
Before Verosika could get up to start raiding the drinks table upstairs for something, they were both interrupted by a familiar looking face. "Hey, Vee. You're missing the party from down here!" The goth witch from earlier was leaning over the stairs' railing and smiling down at Vee with a cocky smirk.
The succubus was about to politely, but firmly, tell the new human to screw off. But then Vee began to blush, smiling wide at the witch, "Sorry, Masha. I'm just comfort-"
"She's making a new friend!" Verosika slung an arm over Vee's shoulder and brought the human in close, "We're just comparing our favorite drinks is all."
Vee squirmed out of her grasp with a mild glare before blatantly ignoring her in favor of the newly named Masha, whom she clearly had feelings for. It wasn't like Verosika needed magic to tell that Vee was smitten just from the way she was staring at the goth witch, her body language practically screaming with desire. Her eyes were stuck on the goth's lips while she leaned forward slightly, feet kicking back and forth playfully like she wanted to get up and run to them. The succubus leaned back and watched Vee and Masha interact, wanting to see how the Earth couple acted together without Lustborn interference.
Vee smiled and kicked her feet slightly as she stared at Masha like they had personally come down with a bouquet of roses. "I'll… I'll join the party again in a bit, just hanging out for a moment."
Masha grinned, a slight tinge of pink to their cheeks, "Well, don't take too long or the alcohol will be all gone."
Vee made a face of disgust, "I don't mind that happening. Beer tastes gross."
"Yeah, it can be." Masha giggled and shook their head. Verosika noticed how they were also staring at Vee's lips while twirling a black lock of hair around their finger.
Oh yeah, these bitches are definitely together, Verosika watched with a smirk. It hurt to see someone so clearly in love with another after having had her own heartbroken… and yet the romantic in her was happy, watching the two awkwardly flirt. It was almost painful enough that she actively resisted flooding the room with succubi magic just to make them stop flirting like nervous weirdos and start making out like they both clearly wanted to.
"Hey, so listen," Masha smiled, slowly making their way back up the stairs, "Come find me if you ever decide to stop being lame and hiding out down here during your own party."
"I'm not being lame!" Vee complained as Masha shook their head and disappeared. The human sighed in contentment and turned to find Verosika smirking at her with waggling eyebrows, "What?"
"Oh, nothing," She began in a sing-song voice, her eyes glinting, "Just wondering how long you two have been together is all."
Vee's jaw dropped, her entire face red as an imp's and she all but yelled, "We-we-we're just friends!"
"… No," Verosika said, only for Vee to nod as she groaned in despair, "No." She repeated, voice so thick with frustration it cut with a knife. "No, after all of that-" The succubus gestured between the human and the stairwell that Masha just left, "I cannot believe the two of you aren't making out on the reg."
Vee laughed awkwardly with a high voice, "I… we really are just friends." Verosika raised an eyebrow and Vee somehow blushed redder. "Honest!" The human's complaints only caused Verosika to raise her eyebrow higher. Finally, Vee gave up the act and slumped, her voice small, "Yeah… okay, I like them."
The succubus hummed and drummed her fingers on her thighs, "And how long are you gonna wait to act on their desire for you?"
Vee frowned, "That's not funny."
"Who's joking? They've got the hots for you. I can tell these things with precision," She frowned back and gestured at the stairwell, even as a drunken college guy stumbled down them to groggily declare that spin the bottle was back on upstairs before leaving hand in hand with another drunken college guy.
Vee rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair, "Yeah, then your off because we're just friends." Verosika just stared at Vee with a stern, disappointed glance. Vee began to shuffle beneath it before finally breaking and raving, "Why do you even want Masha to like me?"
"Just because I'm unhappy doesn't mean I'm unromantic." She explained slowly, pronouncing each word carefully to the buzzed human, "So get up there and make with the romance."
"I can't," Pain crossed Vee's face, the secret succubus waiting for her reason. She was a practiced hand at getting what she wants, so all she had to do was sit and wait. And like magic, she got it. "Just… I can't. It… it'd only ruin things." Vee twiddled her fingers and looked down at her lap, "I'm… different." She said like it was some horrifying thing, "Different enough to… to be an issue," With a sad look, she shook her head, "I'm… my body is… an issue, let's leave it at that."
Verosika, the only one in the room who was secretly a supernatural creature in disguise, could only sit there. Unimpressed with the minute human differences, she asked, "So that's why you're not going up there to dance the night away with a potential partner? You've got body issues?"
Vee looked annoyed, "I'd put it as a bit more than-"
"Look, I'm gonna keep it real with you," She cut the human off in resignation, "Your reasons are bullshit." Vee gaped and she rolled right along, "You like this person, and from the way they looked at you, they clearly like you too-" Vee opened her mouth and she held out a hand, "No, no. I'm an expert at these things, so don't even try to doubt me. They want you bad."
Vee flushed and scratched her cheek, "You… you really think so?"
Kids… Verosika resisted the urge to sigh in annoyance as she pinched the bridge of her nose, "Look kid, I'm not gonna sugarcoat things: They want you, you want them, nothing else in life matters. Who cares if you look weird beneath your clothes or have weird hair in places? Guess what? All humans are alike! They're weird, but you get over it after you see a hundred or so."
Vee's jaw dropped, "How ma-how many people have you slept with!?"
"Eh, I lost count after a while. Point is…" A scarred imp ran through her thoughts. She sighed in bitter resignation, "The point is… even if it hurts, even if it crashes and burns, even if the pain doesn't stop, I'd still take a chance on love no matter what."
Vee just sat, contemplating as Verosika tapped her fingers against the couch's arm. Above, the party sounds caused a bit of dust to fall, the heavy bass thumping along to the beat of a tune she didn't recognize.
"You're right." Vee said suddenly with determination and a tightly clenched fist, "You're absolutely right!" The human downed her drink in one go (coughing from the burn) and stood tall, "I want Masha!" She paused and giggled, "I want Masha and damn the consequences!"
Verosika nodded proudly as the human gave her a tipsy hug, "Thank you!" Vee said as she awkwardly patted the girl on her back. Right then, however, Vee stood and charged up the stairs, "This basilisk is ready for romance!"
And then she was on her own again.
She frowned, realizing that she'd just sent her drinking buddy off on a wild adventure. If things worked out, and they would, then Vee wouldn't be back for a while. But if… if Vee came back down with tears in her eyes complaining about how they'd both misread the signs, then she'd eat her damn phone. Of course, neither changed the fact that she was now out a drinking buddy, and drinking alone was lame and for nerds. Since she wasn't either of those things, that left her sitting alone like she was a loser.
Still feel like one to boot, Verosika sighed as she stood up and cracked her back, her throat dry for another cervesa. She looked for a free drink, not wanting to go upstairs to deal with that dickjob and his stupid opinions about her hair which were stupid and wrong and… I'm getting a complex about that shit, aren't I?
Sighing, she started contemplating her life, still depressed because… because, well, she deserved to be damn it! And she was wishing for more friends that weren't minions to hang out with. Maybe she could check into rehab, meet some friends, and then break them out to have fun times with? The more she thought about it, the more the thought appealed to her…
Yeah… she'd take over rehab, make friends with fellow addicts and celebrities, and then stage a breakout so they could go to properly wild parties full of hellish debauchery.
And maybe, just maybe, make a new boyfriend…. or girlfriend… or datemate…
She slowly made her way upstairs as she finally took out her phone, turning it back on just in time to be bombarded with over a hundred texts from each of her minions and two hundred missed calls in total.
"What?" She answered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Verosika! Holy shit, we thought you were dead!" Vortex, her ever faithful security hellhound, said with clear relief dripping from his words, "Shit, I think Sammy's going to pass out-Get them over to a couch!"
"Told you I just needed some air," She furrowed her brow, "As in, I'd be fine for a few hours without company." She flipped her hair back and sighed, "It's… it's nice that everyone cares, but I needed to do some soul searching."
Vortex went silent, sounds from the party just past the door clear as day, before asking, "Did you… uh, find it?"
She took a deep breath and finally said "I think I'm going to go to rehab for a bit."
"… Huh."
"Huh?" Verosika repeated testily, "I drop a bomb like that on your lap and you just say 'Huh?'"
"...Good for you?" He tried. She hung up on him and stormed out into the party, which was currently in a slow, romantic bop. Couples across the house held one another or sloppily made out, sometimes both. A few were swaying to the beat of the song, blocking out all existence and focused solely on their partners.
And she saw Vee and Masha holding one another close, faces blushing as the girl and goth stared into each other's eyes and held one another close. Eventually, Masha cupped Vee's face and pulled her in for a sweet and tender kiss. At the sight, Verosika nodded, proud for getting the two idiots together. Knowing they wouldn't see her, she turned around to make her way out the back, not wanting to interrupt the lovebirds-
"VEE NOCEDA!" The front door slammed open and a very angry, tan skinned woman with graying chocolate hair and a sandal in hand marched in. Behind her, a snaggle-toothed woman with bushy gray hair was laughing her ass off, while a brown-haired girl with a scar on her eyebrow was staring at Vee like she was seeing her in a whole new light.
The music stopped, everyone looking to the furious woman glaring daggers at the shivering Vee, who was now clinging to her goth. "Uh, hey mom… hey Luz…" She swallowed nervously, "You're uh, you're all home early-"
"I'm kinda impressed," The brown-haired girl said in shock and awe, "It's only been a few hours since-" suddenly, she yelled at the sight of the red solo cups everywhere, "Is that Alcohol!?"
The woman, presumably Vee's mother, began to furiously shout in Spanish as every last party goer made a mad dash for escape, Verosika right behind them. She dove through a window and rolled to a stop on the ground, sprinting towards the forest behind the house itself… only to remember that she could've teleport in a side room the whole time. Coming to a dead stop in a thicket of trees, she slapped her head in frustration as annoyance ran through her. Shaking her head, she brought up her Asmodean crystal and opened a portal back to Hell, stepping through before anyone could see her.
**********
One week later…
"Hello, my name is Verosika Mayday, and I'm addicted to… well, it'd be easier to say what I'm not addicted to at this point." She said to a small group of demons sitting in a circle around her. From a few Sloth goats to a Greed shark, imps and a Spider, the demons were many and varied.
The clinic was of the high-class, fancy variety. Allegedly, it was run by Belphegor herself, but nobody had seen hide nor hair of the three-headed Sin of Sloth. What they had seen was doctors and nurses of every kind and class. The place was ritzy, with stained glass windows, shiny futuristic architecture, and polished floors that almost shone beneath the lights. It was a place without equal and Verosika was grateful for the privacy.
She'd registered on a whim, not realizing she'd be stuck in this shithole for a year because of an obscure clause in the contract. Still, she was eager to take up Vee's advice and actually, hopefully find someone who'd be her friend.
Asmodeus above, I'm pathetic, am I? She looked at the other junkies and burnouts, realizing this was probably gonna be a wash. Still, she was at least somewhat comfortable in the knowledge that she wouldn't have to see anything that reminded her of Blit-
The door slammed open as two burly goat-demons in doctors coats dragged a thrashing and hissing imp over to a chair and slammed her down hard. The imp was throwing every curse in Hell at the two of them as they made their quick exit.
Verosika had to resist slamming her head against the nearest hard surface. The new arrival looked like a female version of Blitzo, right down to the damn forehead rune. The imp reclined in her chair and fished a cigarette out from… somewhere, before lighting it and puffing away.
"Now Barbie Wire, we don't allow narcotics in this house of healing," The portly looking doctor said. Barbie proceeded to blow a puff of smoke in his face before glaring at Verosika, who glared right back.
She knew right away that they'd never be friends.