Work Text:
Entertainment District
Alastor stared up at the VeeTower, smirking when he saw there were now only two V’s making up the sign. The smirk widened into a proper grin as he recalled how he caused it to be that way.
Getting Valentino ousted, reconciling with Vox...he will treasure those memories.
Ah, but it wasn’t Vox he was here to see today. He was here to see his remaining partner, Velvette. Thus with that thought he strode toward the tower’s entrance.
Oh to think a few months ago he wouldn’t even consider stepping foot inside, unless it was to cause chaos.
A bit of chaos occurred anyway as he entered the lobby, the staff and patrons having not expected the Radio Demon himself to waltz in. A few ducked through whatever door they could reach and others cowered. Surely they had gotten the memo that he and Vox were on good terms once more? Oh well.
He approached the reception desk, where the receptionist there seemed to shrink in his presence.
“Good day to you, good sir,” he said pleasantly as he leaned on the counter with an elbow. “Can you direct me to Velvette’s studio? She is expecting me.”
“I...Um….” the man stuttered.
There was a flash of cyan light as Vox appeared.
“I’ll take him there,” Vox told the man, the receptionist breathing a sigh of relief, before Vox said with a smile “This way, Al.”
“Vox, old pal,” Alastor greeted warmly as he followed him. “There’s no need to take time out of your no doubt busy day to tend to such a trivial manner such as this.”
“Non-sense!” Vox boosted, patting him on the back as they stopped by the elevator. “Nothing is trivial when it comes to helping an old friend! Shall I teleport you there instead of taking the elevator?”
“Ah...I must decline,” Alastor said politely. “As amusing as it would be, I don’t think Velvette would appreciate all my fur standing on end during the fitting!”
Vox belted out a laugh as he pressed the call button. “Good point.”
The elevator arrived quickly and they both stepped in, Vox pressing the appropriate floor button. “You know she’s been practically bouncing with anticipation,” the Media Overlord spoke up as the elevator started to move. “’I get a chance to update that tacky red freak’s attire’ she said.”
Alastor was torn between rolling his eyes and laughter, so he did both. “I’m afraid I’ll disappoint her,” he said. “I do intend on insisting on the style of the same era as it is mainly a color adjustment I am considering.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Vox said with a chuckle. “You know she will insist on modernizing.”
“And I will remind her that I could always go elsewhere,” Alastor stated curtly. “And hint that she’ll lose the opportunity for a different tailoring job.”
Vox caught on quickly. “Yeah...she’d be Valentino levels of stupid to lose out on that!” he said with a chuckle.
No tailor worth their salt would purposely ruin the chance to design and make the clothing for a royal wedding.
The elevator stopped and they stepped out, Vox guiding him toward Velvette’s main studio. It took only seconds for Velvette to notice his arrival when they entered said studio.
“Well, at least I can say your punctual,” the doll demon remarked.
“Time is a valuable asset, my dear,” Alastor remarked as he magically stowed his cane. “And I am loath to waste it if I can help it.”
“Uh huh, right,” Velvette said as she walked around him, looking him over with a critical eye. “So what ya thinking of having done?”
“A color change, mainly,” Alastor replied. “Was thinking of adding a bit of white and gold to the palette.”
“Oh you need more than just a color adjustment, mate,” Velvette sneered. “This 1920s shite is-”
“Staying,” Alastor said with a tone of finality, his eyes narrowing. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Vox pull out a small bag of popcorn.
“Oh no...no it ain’t!” Velvette snapped. “You need to get with the times!”
“And you...best consider your next words carefully if you wish to not only keep this order and but to have a chance at an even bigger one in the near future,” Alastor said sternly.
Velvette blinked at him, having gone stock still. “How big are ya talking?” she asked after a moment.
In answer he dispelled the glamour hiding his engagement ring with a snap. Her eyes were immediately drawn to it. “Oh...shi…..” The expression on her face was priceless.
“Imagine the clout, the reputation boost you’ll receive if you land that?” Vox commented with a sly grin. “Don’t mess this up.”
“But you’ll only ‘land it’...if you satisfy my order to my tastes, not yours,” Alastor said with a coy smile.
Velvette blinked some more, then rounded on Vox. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me!?” she screeched pointing an accusing finger at him.
“Oh you don’t know how much I want to blast this on the airwaves my dear,” Vox said with a shrug. “But...I have a healthy aversion to getting smited by our King, so my lips are sealed until we get the go ahead.”
“And I would highly suggest you practice the same level of discretion until the right time, darling,” Alastor warned.
“Right, right...fine!” Velvette sighed, her finger tips on her temple. “Let’s get this started then. Any particular ‘style’ from that...time frame...you prefer?”
“I am particular to the ‘jazz style’,” he replied as he pulled off his overcoat, bracing himself a ‘certain’ reaction as he draped it over a chair.
“Right...gotta accentuate that stu-ahem...thin waist you have,” Velvette muttered as he circled around him once more. Her stopping when she was behind him was sadly, predictable. “OK...I can see why your jacket has that exaggerated flare to it. Perhaps something with a split in the back would be more suitable to accommodate your tail?”
Huh, not the reaction he had been expecting. Then again...someone like her has probably dwelt with a lot of tails of various sizes.
Oooor Vox told her about it since…
He squashed that memory immediately. Vox wasn’t like that anymore, he had ensured it himself, after all.
“I’ll keep that in consideration for a future order,” he replied. “For now, I’d rather not deviate too much from what I have now, style wise.”
“Noted. I’m guessing you want to keep the shirt and pants the same?”
“Indeed, though I am open to color options for the shirt. Pants I want to keep black, though the hem I am thinking of changing to gold.”
By now Velvette was back in front of him, but on her phone. From the brief glimpse he caught of her screen, she was looking up reference images of the style he wanted. “Alright, let’s start with this,” she announced, snapping her fingers.
A white jazz style overcoat appeared on him, though a bit large on him. Another snap fixed that, the overcoat now fitting him comfortably.
She then snapped several times, the coat coloration changing slightly each time. What started as a pure white coat changed to one with a red lining, the lapels the same color, but trimmed with gold. Then the lapels were changed to black with gold trim and a gold trim was added to the bottom edge of the coat.
His shirt was adjusted to a deeper red coloration, with the black cross pattern changed to white. His bow tie was changed to a red color, and his neck collar was shifted to black. The pants stayed black, but their hem and the cuffs of his coat were changed to gold.
“This makes you look almost too...holy,” Velvette remarked. Alastor mentally snickered: did she miss the wings on the drone footage from that day? No matter, she will known for certain soon enough. “Think it’s that damn cross pattern on your chest…”
With a snap it was changed back to black. “Better. That bow tie bugs me though….”
Looking in the full length mirror, he had to agree: it seemed very out of place now. “Perhaps shrink it a bit?” he suggested.
Velvette made a thoughtful noise, then snapped, the bow tie shrinking down to half it’s original size. “Huh...that actually works,” she remarked, then added with a smirk. “Guess you’re not completely lost when it comes to fashion.”
“Well, compared to my beloved, I certainly hope not!” Alastor quipped, Vox nearly choking on his popcorn in laughter.
“Ha!” Velvette laughed. “I can agree with you there. He’s the other one I desperately want to get my hands on.”
“You may have your chance, soon enough.”
“Certainly hope so.” She did one last snap and his shoes colors swapped places, though the red was now a darker hue. It wasn’t something he had asked for, but he could see how it fit the new look better.
“Now...I can do hair as well,” the doll demon remarked. “Please tell me you are looking to change that stupid, girly bob you have.”
“Fret not, my dear, I am,” Alastor confirmed.
“Oh thank gods! Though….” She walked around him. “I don’t have much to work with on the back.”
“Not to worry! I have a solution for that,” Alastor stated before pulling out small vial from his magic pocket.
“What is that? A hair grow potion?”
“It is indeed!” Alastor confirmed as he pulled the cork out. “My dear friend Akos is quite adapt at making potions for all sorts of situations! So adapt that they are no longer allowed to cook normal food.”
“My story senses are tilling!” Vox remarked. “Do tell!”
“Ah, I’ll tell you just one for now: once they attempted to make a pot of spaghetti...only for it to end up becoming sapient and escaping!” He recalled as before taking a sip of the potion. Only a sip! Last time he drank too much he ended up with his hair down to his ass!
And that had been out of desperation to ‘undo’ Akos’ attempt at cutting his hair. Worse...that version also affected his fur.
It was the one time he willingly took to using a shaver on his fur.
Velvette and Vox were blinking at him. “Holy shit...Akos is the one responsible for the ‘Flying Spaghetti Monster’ craze that happened in the 2000s?” Velvette remarked.
“Quite likely: you are more...attuned...to that sort of thing than I.” The potion took affect and his hair grew down to his shoulders. Bah, still too much. He’ll have to tell Akos the potency was still too high.
“Damn...that’s fast acting!” Velvette remarked. “Is Akos up for selling that?”
“I doubt it, but I can ask,” Alastor said.
Then with a smirk Velvette asked. “Think that stuff can work on Vox?”
Vox once more choked on his popcorn. “Come on, Vel! I think even you would think a TV with hair would look ridiculous!” he protested. “Besides...I don’t even have any hair for that stuff to affect!”
“You may not have hair, but you do have wires!” Velvette teased. “But you are right, you’d look horrendous with hair.”
“Now I am half-tempted to try it to see if I can prove you wrong,” Vox muttered. Alastor chuckling.
“Aaaanyway…yeah, this is more than enough to work with,” Velvette remarked. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”
“Simple, but otherwise, I’ll leave it up to you,” Alastor told her.
“So no mowhawk?”
He glared at her.
“Kidding!” Velvette started looking at her phone again, occasionally looking between him and it, before raising her hand toward him. Magic danced around her fingers as the hair on the top of head was adjusted first, becoming roughly the same as it was before, but shorter.
The sides were adjusted next, being drastically shortened and tapered in the opposite direction as before. Then the back was shortened up to the jawline: he couldn’t see clearly, but it appeared she added some layering, before restoring the black tips to his along the sides and back.
“Well now, despite old as fuck suit style, you’re looking far more refined than before,” Velvette remarked once she was finished. “Does it meet your approval?”
“It does, thank you,” Alastor replied honestly as he examined himself fully in the mirror.
“You know, Al...I bet Lucifer is not going to be able to keep his hands off you, looking like that,” Vox teased.
“Oh come on, Vox,” Alastor said with an eye roll as he turned around and paid Velvette. “Luci has more self-control then that!””
Vox had a wide smirk on his face. “Bet ya a round of drinks.”
“Ha! Your on, old pal!”
---
A few minutes later….
When he exited the portal and into the Hotel lobby, he was greeted by more than one surprised expression.
“Damn, Smiles…,” Angel was saying with an appreciative whistle. “That looks good on ya!”
“I...have to agree…,” Vaggie remarked. “The new hair is definitely a big improvement.”
“Oh, Alastor, you look fantastic!” Charlie was beaming.
“I am glad it meets your all of your-” He was interrupted by what sounded like a tea pot whistling. Then he was staggered back a few paces as something short and white with wings attached himself to his torso.
Of course...it was Lucifer. The King of Hell had wrapped himself around him and was rubbing his face against his. His demon tail wagging/swaying happily.
“HowdidyougettobeevenmorehandsomeAl!” he was saying rapidly with a squeal, before looking at him square in the eyes.
~Bedroom...now~ Lucifer demanded privately.
“Well I think it’s safe to say the new look meets Short King’s approval,” Angel teased with a chuckle.
Dammit...I owe Vox drinks…. Alastor rolled his eyes, but he was smiling as he wrapped his arms around the excited King and started to head for the stairs.
“It would appear my beloved would like a private inspection of my new attire,” he said casually. “I shall be back shortly.”
He ignored Angel’s knowing smirk.
---
