[ah, and he's pulled in close, unable to help squeezing tighter to alastor, like if he moves too suddenly or tries to back up and look at him, the spell will break and he won't be held like this any longer. so that's where he remains, while alastor makes his confession.
vox shouldn't be surprised. he isn't, not really, maybe only in the sense that alastor was so very young when this all started--but the rest, hmm.
he thinks about the dead guy on the floor again and imagines... more of them. a few memories come back to him, people he'd dealt with who'd never returned calls, people who'd tried to flirt with him like the waiter...]
Selfish! [he chuckles, squeezing alastor's hand.] My dear, you're perfect. I should have paid more attention. No one has ever had my best interests at heart like you do.
[best interests here meaning, naturally, the ones that revolve around alastor. now vox leans back to look at him fondly.]
If I could find you, though... well, promise me you'll be careful. I won't have anyone taking you from me, either. [a beat.] And we should get this fellow cleaned up.
[ perfect, he means. he sounds pleased as punch, so obviously he believes it. he gives vox a little squeeze, smells his hair briefly because he's a completely normal person without any obsession issues whatsoever, then draws back from the shoulders up to look at him, eyes searching his face for lying and finding none. he didn't expect there would be any. ]
You found me because you love me. A boy, [ and he was a boy, pathetic and useless and overstepping, ] like that? No one loved him enough to follow. Not like you love me.
[ he presses a kiss to the top of vox's head, just like that, then steps back. ]
Let's clean up the mess and go home. I'm exhausted after all of this activity. I'll stay with you tonight so you don't have to worry about anyone trying to steal me away.
[vox hums a little affirmation; yes, perfect, so wonderful and darling and special. very unlike the dead fellow on the floor, who must have had someone who loved him and cared if he died, but that isn't really their problem.
he smiles, face flushing hot at the kiss to his head. the whole moment is so very tender, even with the body they have to deal with.]
Really, you will? Then let's get started.
[what a wonderful night it is, indeed!! vox steps back and claps his hands, looking at the body and all the blood. he doesn't know how to clean up a body! hm!]
Darling, you'll have to tell me what to do here. I didn't bring any mops.
[ by omission, yes. but not directly. vox is so cute like this... alastor keeps thinking it, but he genuinely is so, so charmed. vox is so happy about sleeping in the same bed, even.
he gives vox's shoulder a little pat, then urges him to stay where he's stepped off to stand. ]
Watch me, darling. I'll show you how it's done.
[ alastor had brought a bag with him, because of course he had. he plucks it off the box he'd set it on, opening the satchel's flap to dig around in it. he glances up once, squints over at the body, adjusts his glasses, and turns back to the bag.
overall, he's quite fast: he has no intention of bothering to hide the body, but he does make quick work of (and shows vox how to) get rid of the incriminating bits, from fingerprints on the body's throat to anything recognizable like hair or a tiny scrap of fabric from alastor's coat.
it's not as though there'd be much to find if he left those things, but he's careful and thorough. it's quite a little crash course for someone who's never killed anyone before. he's very clinical about it to the core.
near the end, however, he looks down at the body dispassionately and shrugs as he packs everything away again. ]
[he's never been more excited to chastely sleep next to someone in his life. it hits different after alastor reveals he's killed multiple people just to keep vox to himself. he's really looking forward to it.
but ah, oh, he wanted to help... he holds his hands up, acquiescing and staying out of the way. it's fascinating to watch alastor work, as it were; a different kind of fascinating compared to watching him kill the guy earlier, but vox watches intently, making a note of all the little things he does. just in case he does have to help, one of these days...
when alastor is ready, vox joins him, offering his arm.]
They're going to close the restaurant for a while when they find him, I imagine. We'll have to find somewhere else to go for our weekly dinner.
[shame. the mediocre breadsticks were a fine tradition.]
[ yes, well, there will be plenty of chances for vox to help in later instances, and now he knows what to do. alastor is, if nothing else, a good teacher in the art of murder, and once they're ready to go, he links their arms easily to head out into the night. ]
Mm, you're right.
[ he considers, as they walk. ]
Perhaps that new place that opened across town? I've heard good things.
[just two ordinary, normal citizens, on their way home at the witching hour for reasons totally unrelated to murder. vox keeps an eye out for any errant pedestrians, if only to remember to let go of alastor should they run into anyone.]
Have you? Let's try it. It's too far to walk, though, and you always complain about my driving.
[of course he drives like a maniac. endure him, for date night.]
[ thankfully, there doesn't seem to be much of anyone around. they do have to create a little distance once or twice, but overall the walk isn't unpleasantly burdened by it. ]
... Mm. For you, I'll make an exception.
[ he's been making so many of them tonight, but. ]
[another exception to add to the growing list, everything really is coming up vox. he is delighted, genuinely beaming about getting to wacky drive across town.]
I'm supposed to be spoiling you. We'll go next week. Maybe even sooner! Tomorrow! A-- [he snaps his fingers, searching for the right word,] a palette cleanser, after tonight's meal.
[now to just figure out how to imply to any and all wait staff that neither of them are interested without letting slip why they aren't. he'll figure it out.]
[ alastor finds himself laughing, fond, covering his mouth with a hand to hide just how pleased his smile's turned. ]
Tomorrow, then. A palate cleanser.
[ and that's what it ends up being. it's a nice night, alastor endures vox's driving, and overall, things are good. no one has to die, even, as no one tries to flirt.
life is... good. time passes; they are together more than they are not, and alastor is happy. he can tell that vox is happy too, and things are working with them.
vox's birthday is approaching, and alastor has a plan.
six months previous, they'd gotten a place for alastor's... 'work.' to give him time, privacy, and space so he doesn't have to worry about being caught when he's being the busy little man they both know he loves to be.
the night before vox's birthday (the night of, they're going to dinner. he can't interrupt that.) he calls vox at home just as his own broadcast ends and asks him to meet alastor for a gift. as alastor doesn't give a location, he'll know exactly where.
vox has been invited to watch before, a couple of times, but tonight is special.
tonight, when vox arrives in the warehouse, alastor will have a man tied to a chair in the center of the space, a light focused on him. he's gagged and unable to move, but it'll be clear the purpose with a single glance: the man looks strikingly like vox, down to almost the smallest detail. he's even dressed in what appears to be a replica of one of vox's suits, one that alastor had gotten him the past christmas.
the man seems to have either given up on struggling for now or is mildly drugged, as he simply appears to be allowing alastor to give his hair a trim.
so soon as vox enters alastor lifts his head, beaming. ]
Darling! You're a little early, I'm still preparing. Always eager to see me, aren't you? He's almost ready. Just needed a haircut, you understand.
[as a man in his fifties, vox hasn't put a lot of stock into his birthday for a while. but alastor wants to do something for it, and that's sweet of him, so this time - yes, they've made birthday plans, and he's even excited! things have been going so well, after all, and... educationally, he supposes.
he still just watches, when alastor invites him along. he's fine with that; he likes to be included.
so he's expecting more of that when alastor calls him to meet for a gift. he's already thinking of how to tease alastor a little about giving him a gift early, how enthusiastic, when he arrives at alastor's 'workshop.' he's stopping to hang up his coat first, one moment please...]
Of course, my dear. How are you tonight? And how is our guest-- oh!
[oh! that's him! vox's gaze darts between alastor and the body double, he supposes, eyebrows raised in obvious intrigue. darling. dearest. oh my.
he comes closer to bend down and scrutinize the handiwork a bit, humming.]
[ it's fine if vox doesn't much care for his birthdays; alastor never minds his own, really, but he just wants to do something extra special for vox for this one. he deserves it, after all.
he's still so, so pleased with himself when vox realizes what's really happening, even pausing in his current work to smile at him even wider. ]
Isn't it? I was so surprised I almost missed my chance, but he really was such a lucky find. Funnily enough, he originally approached me to, well. I told him I was happily taken.
[ with a raised eyebrow. all men are the same.
then: ]
But oh, Voxxy, you've wanted to know how I would do it, haven't you? so I want to show you in a way you can really remember. And this way, it'll be so, so much easier to imagine it's me doing it to you when you think about it later, because you'll know exactly what it looks like.
[ finally, he's satisfied with the haircut, humming and setting the scissors aside to wipe away the errant hair clippings. ]
I had to work very quickly to get this ready for you, but what timing. You can't get jealous either, darling, because you have to remember that for tonight, for this, this is you.
[ah yes, all men are the same, utterly weak for a good-looking twink. vox shrugs as if to say, yes, true, cannot deny this, and so in character! for his body double, that is.
he'd be more livid about it, someone trying to come near alastor like that, if not for... the circumstances at hand. it's taking care of itself.
so instead he watches alastor give him a haircut, already a little mesmerized about it. yes, of course he's thought about it, and of course just listening to alastor describe what he might do isn't quite the same-- vox isn't sure he's completely mentally prepared for this, in an exciting kind of way.]
Hah-- my dear, I will try my hardest. I will.
[to not get jealous, that is, holding his hands up, acquiescing. really, he'll try!
he gestures around the room, vaguely.]
Where do you want me to sit? And, Alastor, you and your gift are more than I deserve already, but can I make a request?
[a beat, ahem. he nods at the other vox and his fresh cut.]
Will you cut my hair, too? When we get home.
[the parallels of it, he's so hung up already, help.]
[ it is taking care of itself. or, well, alastor is taking care of it, because no one is as good as vox for him, so obviously anyone else that looks alastor's way has to die. even if they look almost exactly like vox.
or, considering the circumstances, especially so. ]
Mm, I know you will.
[ quiet, maybe a little charmed. at the first question he perks up and gestures to a nearby chair. ]
Front and center, my dear. I want you to be able to see and hear everything the entire time.
[ and then... oh, well, that's just sweet. ]
Of course you can, darling.
[ he steps up close, leaving the expy behind for a moment to focus on vox himself, long fingers trailing gently through his hair but not knocking it out of place. ]
I'll give you a nice little clean-up when we get home.
[ah, alastor is just the sweetest thing, isn't he... vox leans into his touch, closing his eyes briefly to savor it. he lifts a hand to trail his fingers up alastor's arm elbow to shoulder, resting there for a moment. a whole haircut... what a perfect night...]
I'm looking forward to it.
[soft, for the intimacy of a nice haircut at home. then he perks up some, leaning around alastor to look at his double.]
And I'm looking forward to this, too! Let's get started!
[vox moves to take his seat obediently, clapping his hands on his own knees like he's about to sit and watch a sports match and not a lookalike murder. he's so ready! it's going to be great!
he looks up at alastor expectantly, eagerly. let's get fucked up, darling.]
[ alastor shivers a little from the touch, anticipatory if nothing else: vox didn't ask to do it, but they're in a space now where permission is implied so it doesn't matter. alastor is always far, far more willing to be touched in this scenarios than he is in any other.
he pats vox on the head gently once he's settled, then turns to the expy, long fingers unbuttoning and removing his coat to hang it over a workbench as he steps closer. ]
Voxxy, it's time to wake up.
[ to the double, naturally: his voice is low and sweet, the same tone he uses on the rare nights when they do share a bed to sleep and alastor wakes vox in the morning.
the man only stirs after a long moment: whatever alastor gave him must have been strong. he smiles, cradling the man's face in one hand, slipping into a croon as too-familiar eyes slip open. ]
There you are, darling. Good morning.
[ it looks like things are clicking into place very quickly, because there's a full-body jerk away from alastor, whose hold doesn't relent. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
vox shouldn't be surprised. he isn't, not really, maybe only in the sense that alastor was so very young when this all started--but the rest, hmm.
he thinks about the dead guy on the floor again and imagines... more of them. a few memories come back to him, people he'd dealt with who'd never returned calls, people who'd tried to flirt with him like the waiter...]
Selfish! [he chuckles, squeezing alastor's hand.] My dear, you're perfect. I should have paid more attention. No one has ever had my best interests at heart like you do.
[best interests here meaning, naturally, the ones that revolve around alastor. now vox leans back to look at him fondly.]
If I could find you, though... well, promise me you'll be careful. I won't have anyone taking you from me, either. [a beat.] And we should get this fellow cleaned up.
no subject
[ perfect, he means. he sounds pleased as punch, so obviously he believes it. he gives vox a little squeeze, smells his hair briefly because he's a completely normal person without any obsession issues whatsoever, then draws back from the shoulders up to look at him, eyes searching his face for lying and finding none. he didn't expect there would be any. ]
You found me because you love me. A boy, [ and he was a boy, pathetic and useless and overstepping, ] like that? No one loved him enough to follow. Not like you love me.
[ he presses a kiss to the top of vox's head, just like that, then steps back. ]
Let's clean up the mess and go home. I'm exhausted after all of this activity. I'll stay with you tonight so you don't have to worry about anyone trying to steal me away.
no subject
he smiles, face flushing hot at the kiss to his head. the whole moment is so very tender, even with the body they have to deal with.]
Really, you will? Then let's get started.
[what a wonderful night it is, indeed!! vox steps back and claps his hands, looking at the body and all the blood. he doesn't know how to clean up a body! hm!]
Darling, you'll have to tell me what to do here. I didn't bring any mops.
no subject
[ by omission, yes. but not directly. vox is so cute like this... alastor keeps thinking it, but he genuinely is so, so charmed. vox is so happy about sleeping in the same bed, even.
he gives vox's shoulder a little pat, then urges him to stay where he's stepped off to stand. ]
Watch me, darling. I'll show you how it's done.
[ alastor had brought a bag with him, because of course he had. he plucks it off the box he'd set it on, opening the satchel's flap to dig around in it. he glances up once, squints over at the body, adjusts his glasses, and turns back to the bag.
overall, he's quite fast: he has no intention of bothering to hide the body, but he does make quick work of (and shows vox how to) get rid of the incriminating bits, from fingerprints on the body's throat to anything recognizable like hair or a tiny scrap of fabric from alastor's coat.
it's not as though there'd be much to find if he left those things, but he's careful and thorough. it's quite a little crash course for someone who's never killed anyone before. he's very clinical about it to the core.
near the end, however, he looks down at the body dispassionately and shrugs as he packs everything away again. ]
I think we've spent enough time here. Shall we?
no subject
but ah, oh, he wanted to help... he holds his hands up, acquiescing and staying out of the way. it's fascinating to watch alastor work, as it were; a different kind of fascinating compared to watching him kill the guy earlier, but vox watches intently, making a note of all the little things he does. just in case he does have to help, one of these days...
when alastor is ready, vox joins him, offering his arm.]
They're going to close the restaurant for a while when they find him, I imagine. We'll have to find somewhere else to go for our weekly dinner.
[shame. the mediocre breadsticks were a fine tradition.]
no subject
Mm, you're right.
[ he considers, as they walk. ]
Perhaps that new place that opened across town? I've heard good things.
no subject
Have you? Let's try it. It's too far to walk, though, and you always complain about my driving.
[of course he drives like a maniac. endure him, for date night.]
no subject
... Mm. For you, I'll make an exception.
[ he's been making so many of them tonight, but. ]
no subject
I'm supposed to be spoiling you. We'll go next week. Maybe even sooner! Tomorrow! A-- [he snaps his fingers, searching for the right word,] a palette cleanser, after tonight's meal.
[now to just figure out how to imply to any and all wait staff that neither of them are interested without letting slip why they aren't. he'll figure it out.]
no subject
Tomorrow, then. A palate cleanser.
[ and that's what it ends up being. it's a nice night, alastor endures vox's driving, and overall, things are good. no one has to die, even, as no one tries to flirt.
life is... good. time passes; they are together more than they are not, and alastor is happy. he can tell that vox is happy too, and things are working with them.
vox's birthday is approaching, and alastor has a plan.
six months previous, they'd gotten a place for alastor's... 'work.' to give him time, privacy, and space so he doesn't have to worry about being caught when he's being the busy little man they both know he loves to be.
the night before vox's birthday (the night of, they're going to dinner. he can't interrupt that.) he calls vox at home just as his own broadcast ends and asks him to meet alastor for a gift. as alastor doesn't give a location, he'll know exactly where.
vox has been invited to watch before, a couple of times, but tonight is special.
tonight, when vox arrives in the warehouse, alastor will have a man tied to a chair in the center of the space, a light focused on him. he's gagged and unable to move, but it'll be clear the purpose with a single glance: the man looks strikingly like vox, down to almost the smallest detail. he's even dressed in what appears to be a replica of one of vox's suits, one that alastor had gotten him the past christmas.
the man seems to have either given up on struggling for now or is mildly drugged, as he simply appears to be allowing alastor to give his hair a trim.
so soon as vox enters alastor lifts his head, beaming. ]
Darling! You're a little early, I'm still preparing. Always eager to see me, aren't you? He's almost ready. Just needed a haircut, you understand.
[ to more properly match, you see. ]
no subject
he still just watches, when alastor invites him along. he's fine with that; he likes to be included.
so he's expecting more of that when alastor calls him to meet for a gift. he's already thinking of how to tease alastor a little about giving him a gift early, how enthusiastic, when he arrives at alastor's 'workshop.' he's stopping to hang up his coat first, one moment please...]
Of course, my dear. How are you tonight? And how is our guest-- oh!
[oh! that's him! vox's gaze darts between alastor and the body double, he supposes, eyebrows raised in obvious intrigue. darling. dearest. oh my.
he comes closer to bend down and scrutinize the handiwork a bit, humming.]
That is uncanny.
no subject
he's still so, so pleased with himself when vox realizes what's really happening, even pausing in his current work to smile at him even wider. ]
Isn't it? I was so surprised I almost missed my chance, but he really was such a lucky find. Funnily enough, he originally approached me to, well. I told him I was happily taken.
[ with a raised eyebrow. all men are the same.
then: ]
But oh, Voxxy, you've wanted to know how I would do it, haven't you? so I want to show you in a way you can really remember. And this way, it'll be so, so much easier to imagine it's me doing it to you when you think about it later, because you'll know exactly what it looks like.
[ finally, he's satisfied with the haircut, humming and setting the scissors aside to wipe away the errant hair clippings. ]
I had to work very quickly to get this ready for you, but what timing. You can't get jealous either, darling, because you have to remember that for tonight, for this, this is you.
no subject
he'd be more livid about it, someone trying to come near alastor like that, if not for... the circumstances at hand. it's taking care of itself.
so instead he watches alastor give him a haircut, already a little mesmerized about it. yes, of course he's thought about it, and of course just listening to alastor describe what he might do isn't quite the same-- vox isn't sure he's completely mentally prepared for this, in an exciting kind of way.]
Hah-- my dear, I will try my hardest. I will.
[to not get jealous, that is, holding his hands up, acquiescing. really, he'll try!
he gestures around the room, vaguely.]
Where do you want me to sit? And, Alastor, you and your gift are more than I deserve already, but can I make a request?
[a beat, ahem. he nods at the other vox and his fresh cut.]
Will you cut my hair, too? When we get home.
[the parallels of it, he's so hung up already, help.]
no subject
or, considering the circumstances, especially so. ]
Mm, I know you will.
[ quiet, maybe a little charmed. at the first question he perks up and gestures to a nearby chair. ]
Front and center, my dear. I want you to be able to see and hear everything the entire time.
[ and then... oh, well, that's just sweet. ]
Of course you can, darling.
[ he steps up close, leaving the expy behind for a moment to focus on vox himself, long fingers trailing gently through his hair but not knocking it out of place. ]
I'll give you a nice little clean-up when we get home.
[ a brush of knuckles to his cheek. ]
Shall we? I think he's ready.
no subject
I'm looking forward to it.
[soft, for the intimacy of a nice haircut at home. then he perks up some, leaning around alastor to look at his double.]
And I'm looking forward to this, too! Let's get started!
[vox moves to take his seat obediently, clapping his hands on his own knees like he's about to sit and watch a sports match and not a lookalike murder. he's so ready! it's going to be great!
he looks up at alastor expectantly, eagerly. let's get fucked up, darling.]
The stage is yours, my dear.
no subject
he pats vox on the head gently once he's settled, then turns to the expy, long fingers unbuttoning and removing his coat to hang it over a workbench as he steps closer. ]
Voxxy, it's time to wake up.
[ to the double, naturally: his voice is low and sweet, the same tone he uses on the rare nights when they do share a bed to sleep and alastor wakes vox in the morning.
the man only stirs after a long moment: whatever alastor gave him must have been strong. he smiles, cradling the man's face in one hand, slipping into a croon as too-familiar eyes slip open. ]
There you are, darling. Good morning.
[ it looks like things are clicking into place very quickly, because there's a full-body jerk away from alastor, whose hold doesn't relent. ]