[The morning after this disaster, Husk arrives at Voxco, a nervous, but amused look on his face. He lets himself in the front door and looks around for cameras.
Pulling a familiar-to-Vox Glimmer out of his pocket, he holds it up to the nearest camera.]
[Vox has been fretting for the last hour or so. Waking up on the floor with a fierce hangover is nothing new to him. The singe mark on the wall nearby where he apparently leaped out of the electrical grid with all the grace of a tranquilized elephant is also nothing too unfamiliar or distressing. No, what's messing with his head is the fact that he can't find his Glimmer. That, and someone apparently cleaned up the penthouse while he was out last night. (Or out cold on the floor.) He expects it was that little maid again, and that complicates the misplacing of his Glimmer, since she might've moved it. He can't for the life of him remember when or where he last saw it. And he can't even call his own number to listen for the ringtone because he doesn't have his fucking Glimmer. His wallet charm is on that thing, god fucking dammit, his life really is a crap avalanche.
When someone enters the VoxCo building, he's on immediate alert. He's got enough security set up around the place to know these things. One check through the cameras confirms the visitor's identity and oh no. Oh hell no.....
He doesn't take the elevator down, or anything that pedestrian. Instead, he turns to electricity, leaps into the nearest outlet and surges his way down to the reception hall, where he hops back out and re-materializes in front of Husk. He's embarrassed and apprehensive, but none of that stops him from putting on a strained sort of grimace.]
Heeey, welcome! Didn't think I'd ever be seeing you here.
Yeah, well, I didn't fuckin' think I'd be here either, but here I am.
[He holds the Glimmer out, but doesn't hand it over just yet.]
Can we talk? Like... somewhere private that people won't walk in?
[It's annoying that he feels sympathy for this guy. Really annoying. But there are some things that need to be said, and things that need to be asked, and Husk is going to say them.
It's clear that the bartender is in no mood to actually attack Vox, at least physically. He might get a piece of Husk's mind, but that's par for the course.]
[If this were Hell, Vox would've fried Husk where he stands. Him being one of Alastor's goons wouldn't change that. If anything, it might've fueled the attack. But there's a standing agreement not to harm anyone, and he'll stick to it because he doesn't need the extra headache that would come with murder.
Now he has to instead deal with the headache of acknowledging how his Glimmer ended up in this guy's bar to begin with. Ugh... He gestures towards a nearby door, leading out into a short hallway.]
[Husk follows Vox, quietly. Once they're in the room, Husk turns back to him.]
I know it was you last night, Vox. Once I saw the sharks, I put it together. This isn't about Alastor or your not-so-secret secrets. It's about Valentino.
[Husk's hand that isn't holding Vox's glimmer makes a fist.]
I need to know if he has a weakness, or if his contracts have a weakness. Also, did he even know Angel is here?
[Once Vox has closed the door, he makes sure to step to the side so he's not blocking it, lest he be accused of even more intimidating things he isn't actually doing. He doesn't even remember half the shit he talked about with Husk last night. He knows he started off talking about 'his partner's departure', but everything gets a little blurry after the second glass of whiskey.
Time to just laugh it off!]
Ha ha ha- wow! Not just gonna give that thing back to me without deciding on your own finder's fee, huh? You've got a lotta nerve.
I've got plenty of nerve. I always have. Besides. One of the stories you told me last night was very familiar, if a new perspective than I knew before.
Vox, I'm not here to snipe. I'm here about safety. Valentino is dangerous to someone I love. I need to know how to deal with that if he comes back. You can't tell me that you wouldn't do the same if you were in my situation.
[That story remark shuts him up, and stirs a few vague memories of what he shared with Husk. Wow. He really shouldn't have done that. Great going, idiot. There's a moment where he does the equivalent of pinching his nose, just kind of raising a hand to his screen as he sighs and grumbles.]
Fuck... Fuck. Okay. [...] Fuck.
[Finally, he lowers his hand again, looking back at Husk.] Right. Listen. Obviously I'm not gonna tell you how to hurt Val. We've all got an agreement not to go after one another, and some of you are havin' trouble getting that through your thick skulls, so if someone goes after Val, I'm stepping in. I don't care who started it. I'm putting a stop to that shit immediately. That means kicking your ass and that means kicking Val's ass.
As for the contract, that's the same as with any other contract. It depends on the wording. I dunno what that is, 'cause Val's contracts are none of my business. Angel should know. Find a loophole. It's seriously no skin off my back if you break that thing, porn stars are a dime a dozen anyway. [Translation: Vox doesn't give a shit about Angel Dust and would love to see him gone, actually.]
I don't actually give a fuck about him as long as he stays away from Angel. I don't actually want to hurt him. I don't know why you'd think I would be going after anyone. All I've done here is open a bar. I've never given a shit about the power games. All revenge does is get everyone pissed and bloody.
Thanks. I stand by everything I said last night, whether you remember it or not. Even more now that I realize the situation. I'm pretty sure if you two were to just talk without sniping at each other, things would go a lot better for everyone.
I actually liked Vaughn. Whether he was who you were when you were alive or not, he's a good guy. I wouldn't mind a rematch sometime.
[Husk sighs, holding the Glimmer out for real.]
All your stardust is still there. I might cheat at cards, but I ain't no thief.
[In Vox's paranoid brain, asking for someone's weakness means asking for a way to physically hurt and/or kill them in a fight. So... Yeah. He stands by what he said. And he's not sure what Husk means when he says that "you two" should talk without sniping. Him and Val...? That won't happen here, since he doesn't expect Val to come back. (Any other options for the "you two" refuse to dawn on him.)
He snatches the Glimmer from Husk's hand.]
Yeah, I figured you wouldn't spend any of that. You're too honest a guy. You play by all the rules. Real dangerous thing to be in Hell, but I probably don't need to tell you that.
[The Glimmer is quickly slipped into his pocket.]
Anyway, like I said, I'm honoring the agreement. I don't expect Val to listen when I tell him to keep his head down, but if he does come back here some day and tries to start shit with Angel, gimme a call. I'll come pick him up. ...And I'd take you up on that rematch, but we're probably better off playing somewhere else. If Pentious sees me anywhere near your bar, he'll have a fucking heart attack and die all over again.
[Vox is fine with just understanding in place of friendship. It's a clear cut agreement, detached of emotion or attachment, because that's easiest.]
Good to know. Honestly, I dunno how much Vaughn will still be around. It was just a new thing I was trying out, but some fucking asshole [you know who, Husk] jumped right to accusing me of setting up some kinda grift.
[Remember how he said he's been trying to get a break, but crap just kept following him around anyway with laser-targeted precision? Yeahhhhhhhh...]
You're not a grifter. You care too much about image. You want to be noticed. The best grifters appeal to people, but fly under the radar. You forget them half an hour after you encounter them.
[Husk shrugs.]
He knows what buttons to push. Always has. Guess I'm just good at giving as good as I get.
I still think you two should talk without button pressing, but... I'm just the bartender.
[Vox never pegged Husk as being this perceptive, but that thing about Vox's image is right on the money. 'Under the radar' schemes aren't his style, unless there's a huge spectacle of a payoff, and Vaughn doesn't lend himself to any of that.]
Yeaaahhh... I don't think either of us is capable of that. And even if we were, nothing good will come outta that. Alastor is a miserable, selfish prick. Absolute bitch material. What's there even left to talk about, anyway?
[Husk raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. He won't push, because Vox will close off. There's plenty to talk about, but maybe this isn't the exact way to do it.]
If you say so. [In tones of 'you keep telling yourself that'] Let me know when you're up for a game. We'll figure out where to go.
[He does say so!!! Gosh! Well, whatever, Husk is letting it go so Vox will shove it aside also. That last remark deserves more attention away. Is that a backwards compliment? Seems like it. He huffs.]
Right back atcha.
[It's not exactly a shout, but still said at a volume where Husk can hear it even as he walks out the door. So long for now, cat goon.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
In-person
Pulling a familiar-to-Vox Glimmer out of his pocket, he holds it up to the nearest camera.]
Vox. We need to talk.
no subject
When someone enters the VoxCo building, he's on immediate alert. He's got enough security set up around the place to know these things. One check through the cameras confirms the visitor's identity and oh no. Oh hell no.....
He doesn't take the elevator down, or anything that pedestrian. Instead, he turns to electricity, leaps into the nearest outlet and surges his way down to the reception hall, where he hops back out and re-materializes in front of Husk. He's embarrassed and apprehensive, but none of that stops him from putting on a strained sort of grimace.]
Heeey, welcome! Didn't think I'd ever be seeing you here.
no subject
[He holds the Glimmer out, but doesn't hand it over just yet.]
Can we talk? Like... somewhere private that people won't walk in?
[It's annoying that he feels sympathy for this guy. Really annoying. But there are some things that need to be said, and things that need to be asked, and Husk is going to say them.
It's clear that the bartender is in no mood to actually attack Vox, at least physically. He might get a piece of Husk's mind, but that's par for the course.]
no subject
Now he has to instead deal with the headache of acknowledging how his Glimmer ended up in this guy's bar to begin with. Ugh... He gestures towards a nearby door, leading out into a short hallway.]
I've got meeting rooms.
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[Husk follows Vox, quietly. Once they're in the room, Husk turns back to him.]
I know it was you last night, Vox. Once I saw the sharks, I put it together. This isn't about Alastor or your not-so-secret secrets. It's about Valentino.
[Husk's hand that isn't holding Vox's glimmer makes a fist.]
I need to know if he has a weakness, or if his contracts have a weakness. Also, did he even know Angel is here?
no subject
Time to just laugh it off!]
Ha ha ha- wow! Not just gonna give that thing back to me without deciding on your own finder's fee, huh? You've got a lotta nerve.
no subject
I've got plenty of nerve. I always have. Besides. One of the stories you told me last night was very familiar, if a new perspective than I knew before.
Vox, I'm not here to snipe. I'm here about safety. Valentino is dangerous to someone I love. I need to know how to deal with that if he comes back. You can't tell me that you wouldn't do the same if you were in my situation.
no subject
Fuck... Fuck. Okay. [...] Fuck.
[Finally, he lowers his hand again, looking back at Husk.] Right. Listen. Obviously I'm not gonna tell you how to hurt Val. We've all got an agreement not to go after one another, and some of you are havin' trouble getting that through your thick skulls, so if someone goes after Val, I'm stepping in. I don't care who started it. I'm putting a stop to that shit immediately. That means kicking your ass and that means kicking Val's ass.
As for the contract, that's the same as with any other contract. It depends on the wording. I dunno what that is, 'cause Val's contracts are none of my business. Angel should know. Find a loophole. It's seriously no skin off my back if you break that thing, porn stars are a dime a dozen anyway. [Translation: Vox doesn't give a shit about Angel Dust and would love to see him gone, actually.]
no subject
Thanks. I stand by everything I said last night, whether you remember it or not. Even more now that I realize the situation. I'm pretty sure if you two were to just talk without sniping at each other, things would go a lot better for everyone.
I actually liked Vaughn. Whether he was who you were when you were alive or not, he's a good guy. I wouldn't mind a rematch sometime.
[Husk sighs, holding the Glimmer out for real.]
All your stardust is still there. I might cheat at cards, but I ain't no thief.
no subject
He snatches the Glimmer from Husk's hand.]
Yeah, I figured you wouldn't spend any of that. You're too honest a guy. You play by all the rules. Real dangerous thing to be in Hell, but I probably don't need to tell you that.
[The Glimmer is quickly slipped into his pocket.]
Anyway, like I said, I'm honoring the agreement. I don't expect Val to listen when I tell him to keep his head down, but if he does come back here some day and tries to start shit with Angel, gimme a call. I'll come pick him up. ...And I'd take you up on that rematch, but we're probably better off playing somewhere else. If Pentious sees me anywhere near your bar, he'll have a fucking heart attack and die all over again.
no subject
[There's a bit of a toothy smile reminiscent of a certain Radio Deer, before Husk shrugs.]
Well, in that case, I'll make sure to let you know if you need to pick up your moth.
I think we could find a place for a rematch. I'll bring the booze and the cards.
[Is that... understanding? Definitely not friendship. There are no friends in Hell, after all.]
The offer's open to Vaughn or Vox. In case you were wondering.
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Good to know. Honestly, I dunno how much Vaughn will still be around. It was just a new thing I was trying out, but some fucking asshole [you know who, Husk] jumped right to accusing me of setting up some kinda grift.
[Remember how he said he's been trying to get a break, but crap just kept following him around anyway with laser-targeted precision? Yeahhhhhhhh...]
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[Husk shrugs.]
He knows what buttons to push. Always has. Guess I'm just good at giving as good as I get.
I still think you two should talk without button pressing, but... I'm just the bartender.
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Yeaaahhh... I don't think either of us is capable of that. And even if we were, nothing good will come outta that. Alastor is a miserable, selfish prick. Absolute bitch material. What's there even left to talk about, anyway?
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If you say so. [In tones of 'you keep telling yourself that'] Let me know when you're up for a game. We'll figure out where to go.
And Vox? You're not as bad as I thought.
[Is that forgiveness? Understanding? Who knows.
Husk turns to go out the door and go home.]
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Right back atcha.
[It's not exactly a shout, but still said at a volume where Husk can hear it even as he walks out the door. So long for now, cat goon.]