passimclamoribus

[ Seven years gone is seven years too long. Alastor loathes the fact that he has returned and so many things have changed. Well. Truthfully, Hell is still Hell. That part never changes. Sinners never change. That's just the way of things. However the development of Hell's culture certainly has and Alastor can't think that it is for the better. There's little doubt in his mind that there had been something of a vacuum that his absence had created and that a particular group had taken advantage of that.

It makes him sick to his stomach.

Now there is much for Alastor to learn, to catch up on. That's how he has found himself watching one of those picture boxes. They are growing rather thin now, aren't they? Barely anything but a screen! And on it is the news, which is rather advantageous to Alastor. It means that he can at least get a broadcast about the latest.

Which happens to be this hilarious segment about Lucifer's daughter. Redeeming Sinners? Laughable. Entirely and completely ludicrous. The girl is clearly misguided, isn't she? But the naive ones, such as this one, can be made of use. Alastor is already tapping on the tip of his cane, thinking about how he might be able to sway this child. Use her to meet his own ends.

The first of which, of course, is to get himself back to where he ought to be. Then make the ones responsible for putting him in such a state where making a deal had been necessary pay. Dearly. Oh Alastor can already think about how that will go down and who knows? Maybe he will be the one to make this child sing and dance to his tune.

All the while, of course, he hasn't quite caught onto the fact that he maybe could be watched from afar. ~~What are drones? He doesn't know!~~ ]

[ in alastor's absence vox ( and the other vees ) rose to fame and power to fill the void he left. his disappearance was sudden, and no one knew what happened to the radio demon, but all they cared about was finding out how to get their information. it was perfect, in a way, because vox was able to pivot hell toward the future of technological growth. as a result he had his finger on the pulse of pentagram city, so nothing happened without him knowing in some capacity... ]

[ and that's how he learned of alastor's return. he was standing in front of one of the shops watching the news, and following vox's immediate fit he swiftly summoned a number of cords, so he could plug himself in. the broadcast was interrupted, prompting a number of demons to walk away, but vox hoped his ~smiling face would be enough to convince alastor to stick around. ]

Long time no see, Alastor. It's been, what, seven minutes? seven years?

[ Excuse you, Vox. He had been WATCHING that. Alastor does so love to enjoy watching people suffer and struggle. Charlie had been doing that live and uncensored. In fact, once the crowd had started to disperse, Alastor had meant to do the same.

Only to hear that voice. His ear twitches and his grin grows tight as he, instead, looks at the television. Of course all of this has taken a turn for the worse because of the one demon in front of him. ]

Now there is a face I can't say I entirely recognize! Did you lose your old head? I can never keep up with you kids and your fads.

[ alastor can watch lucifer's daughter charcoal or whatever embarrass herself later. this is important, and that's why he zaps himself onto the street beside alastor, leaving the tvs to default to static. vox reveals in the comforting sound of the white noise for as long as alastor keeps his mouth shut, which... isn't long. he scowls at his comment, but forces himself to laugh it off. ]

Ha ha ha h̷̲̎a̷̫̚ ̶͖͌h̵̎ͅa̶̟͝ ̴̫̅h̶͉͂a̷̙͝ȧ̵̩a̶̦̚å̵̖. I got an upgrade! as has everything in Pentagram City. Your welcome. Look around, Alastor, the times have changed, but... you... [ he tsks, scrutinizing him as he circles him. ] you haven't changed a bit. [ if it sounds like an insult, then that's because it's meant to be one. ]

It's no fad. It's the future! [ vox makes a motion at the tvs and as static jumps from his fingertips their screens all change to various stations being broadcast in hell. from news to cooking to conspiracies. ]

[ Oh goodness no, he won't be keeping his mouth shut for long at all. Shocking that Vox would manifest on the sidewalk just right there. Immediately puts Alastor on alert. Eyes narrow and he holds his cane a little tighter. ]

Well, it is no fault of mine that these fresher Sinners have no taste. Ah, such a sad thing to see, the slow decline finally reach even Hell.

[ Fighting the urge to turn with Vox, Alastor hums at this "future" nonsense. He allows for the stations to play their silly pictures before he gives a snap. Oh these smart televisions - their frequencies can be scrambled as easily as ever. So all of those shows begin to glitch out. ]

The future still seems to responds to the past in the same fashion. Not very reliable if you ask me.

[ his smile tightens at the snub on television, because that’s a low FUCKEN blow. ] Radio’s dead, Alastor. [ he can be a sanctimonious prick too, see! ] Television gets the job done better, and just because you don’t, can’t, and won’t understand it doesn’t mean it’s n̷o̷t̵ ̸g̸o̵o̶d̵ ̴e̵n̷o̶u̷g̴h̶.̴. [ if it sounds like he’s losing his cool it’s because he is, since a crack at tv is a crack at him. ]

Knock that off, Alastor. [ he sends an intense spark of electricity into the group of tvs, their screens pixelating and staggering with all sorts of snippets of the channels they’d displayed beforehand before eventually righting themselves. ]

Why don’t you come inside. We can continue this conversation there.

[ That just. Makes. A smile form. ]

Old friend, if radio is dead then how can these silly screens operate at all? Why, we still use radio every single day!

[ Honestly, it is less about technology itself - because Alastor has kept up on it all and seems to be able to use it fine if needed - and more about it being sloppy. Everything is so cheap and tacky. Trends come and go so fast that effort is no longer being applied to quality content. It's all about that immediate gratification and rush that comes from chasing RATINGS. ]

It seems like you are the one that doesn't understand how your own choice of medium operates or the innerworkings of it. [ Could he overpower Vox again? Sure. But this time? There's a snap and a sickly green static that just flat out fries all of those screens ] As for following you, what do you take me for? Do you think I am about to waltz into your tower where your little mediocre friends lie in wait?

[ Pretty sure you're the one that wants him dead, Vox old pal. ]

[ vox listens, but once alastor finishes he can’t help but to laugh. ] …you really don’t understand. [ a tsk follows as he shoots a quick bolt of electricity at each of the televisions, their displays swapping channels rapidly and revealing that there is literally something for everybody! ] People want to be stimulated, Alastor, and your radio show can only do so much. [ it relies on them too much, and we all know hell’s population is full of fucken idiots. they need to be spoonfed, and that’s exactly what vox can do. ] Not to mention it’s boring. Television can do everything radio can and more!

[ as he makes a mess of his display Vox scowls, having to hastily contact somebody to swap them out, NOW. ] Funny… [ except not. ]

If you think the other Vees give a shit about you, you’re wrong. Both of them have better things to do than lie in wait for you to come inside. But you and me… I want to talk deals.

I may not appreciate radio like you do, but you don’t appreciate television like I do. In either case there are still folks that just prefer one to the other. If we… worked together, then we’d have the entire market eating out of the palms of our hands.

By "stimulated" you mean enjoying cheap thrills and mind-numbing entertainment, yes yes.

[ They could go on for hours about this. It's something that they most certainly have done. Many times. Though right now Alastor doesn't really have any desire to draw this out.

Instead his grin turns sharper. It really is only Vox that is obsessed and he's aware. But the other two Vees would come to his assistance if needed. Val, in particular, can be unpredictable. Alastor doesn't fancy putting himself into those scenarios.

Yet there is mention of a deal. Alastor is interested, for all of two seconds. ]

Didn't I already reject this deal before? What could possibly change my mind?

[ …yes, actually! alongside making stupid amounts of money. ]

[ this was definitely a road they had traveled time and time again and, deep down, they both knew they’d never quite see eye to eye when it came to media; however, for personal reasons vox was ready and willing to set that aside, so he could extend the proverbial olive branch. he had tried in the past, sure, but this time was going to be different… he just knew it. ]

You reject ‘a’ deal. Not ‘this’ one. I think you’ll be very interested in it, Alastor, but we really should go somewhere else. If you won’t come into the tower, then… [ he makes a motion to all around them. ] you pick a place.

[ Now hold on there. Alastor had been preparing to meld into the shadows. To just leave Vox high and dry like usual.

But most unusual indeed. He is telling Alastor to pick the place? That isn't like the man at all to lose the advantage of familiar territory. The language is also not quite right. ]

You've developed different terms.

[ Vox has always been persistent but also uncompromising when it comes to the conflict between them. Alastor doesn't like this already. Doesn't like the fact that someone is acting in a manner that he is unaccustomed to. ]

[ he had suggested the tower for two reasons. one being it’s his home turf, and he certainly does have an advantage in it, but two being the nature of deal and its terms. inside v tower he can ensure nobody else hears, but anywhere else… there are eyes and ears all over, and while most of them belong to Vox, himself, there are others lurking in the shadow. ]

I did. [ he flashes him a razor sharp grin. ] As you said, you’d rejected the last deal, so I figured i could try to sweeten it by laying all of my cards on the table. [ alastor’s too. ] So, Alastor, …where to?

[ There's a static-laced popping sound as Alastor hums, considering. Trying to put this all together so that he can come out on top from all of this. Vox had come IN PERSON. That is unique within itself. Now the desire for a deal isn't anything new, but the approach? Much different.

Something has changed and he doesn't know what. Seems to be checking some of that ego as well. Some, not completely. ]

Very well. [ Wiggling his fingers in Vox's direction. ] Have it your way. Just know that if you try anything, I'll bring that building down.

[ He supposes it won't HURT to at least hear Vox out to try to sort all of this nonsense out. Then he can reject him! ]

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