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“Ah, perfect. Not a soul around to annoy me,” Alastor said as he leaned back in the sauna.
It had been some time since he took a moment to relax, seven-year absence notwithstanding. He planned to use every second of his vacation to relax and think about nothing beyond that. The door opening was easily ignored, especially as he couldn’t see who came in. The steam was too thick for that. He settled further into his section on the bench for a while longer, basking in the heat that reminded him of his home when he was alive.
When it finally felt like he was reaching his limit, Alastor stood up and made his way to the door. The issue made itself apparent quickly. The knob was stuck.
“Fuck.”
“Alastor?”
“Fuck.”
Vox’s screen was rather visible now that the brightness had been turned up. It got easier to see him the closer he got, and the fur on the back of Alastor’s neck raised.
“What are you doing here?” Vox asked, hands on his hips and a glower on his screen.
The deer rolled his eyes, “Trying to get out and away from you, obviously.”
“Exc-cuse me!”
“You’re excused. Now, get away so I can fix the door and get out.”
“Wow,” Vox laughed. “The Radio Demon defeated by a doorknob of all things! Can’t wait to spread that around.”
“As if anyone would ever believe you,” Alastor huffed, hands crossed over his bare chest. “At least my nipples don’t glow.”
“Hey!”
Vox lunged forward as if to grab the other overlord, but it was an easily side-stepped attempt. However, it sent the TV sinner into the wall next to the door, breaking the temperature control. They both froze.
“Well now you’ve really done it. Congratulations on getting us stuck and in danger of being steamed alive!” Alastor clapped loudly as he maniacally giggled.
“Can’t you just shadow us out of here?” Vox asked.
“Of course not! Did you not know this resort has seals keeping sinners and others from using their powers? My, my, you silly video podcast, you must not have read the terms and conditions~.”
Vox’s screen glitched, but the steam really was building up now that the control mechanism was broken. Even the bright light from the screen was getting rather difficult to see through it, and Alastor knew they didn’t have long before they passed out from the heat and humidity. It would be the first time he’d seen or experienced it in Hell, but it wasn’t entirely uncommon up top. Vox had a TV for a head, and Alastor himself had already been inside for a while now.
“Alas, we should find a way out before we boil and lose all credibility.”
That seemed to knock Vox out of his anger-induced glitching, at least. He stared at the door as Alastor looked about the room for other exit points. It was unlikely, but always worth a shot. Vox would likely have more luck with the door.
“What if we just rammed the door until it broke open?”
“The reinforced for stronger-than-sinner beings? Unlikely.”
“Windows?”
“I could possibly throw you through one.” Alastor turned to look at Vox. There was one window, and the TV for Vox’s head alone was likely heavy enough.
Vox stumbled back against the door, waving his hand, “Uh-uh, no way! You’ll break my head!”
“Oh, I wasn’t aware that wasn’t something you expected!”
“Fucking-!” Vox paused and held his hands out, “Nope. I’m good, I’m cool. Not getting into a fight with you in a sauna that will melt us while we’re powerless.”
Alastor pouted, “Well you’re no fun.”
“We are literally about to get steamed to death! You said so yourself!”
“And?”
More glitches skittered across Vox’ screen, and Alastor laughed. It did knock the TV out of it, though, and he turned to start ramming his shoulder into the door. The constant jostling made Alastor suddenly aware that they only had towels on, and Vox was going to lose his if he kept that up. Oh dear.
“You are wearing nothing but a towel,” the deer hissed.
“And? This is our best bet of getting out without our powers or you throwing me through a window that I don’t think this room even has.”
“I will make one.”
“You just said the building is reinforced to deal with people stronger than sinners!”
“I’m sure I can find a weak spot with that thick head of yours.”
Vox had given up on ramming the door, at least, and threw his hands up, “YOU’RE NOT THROWING ME THROUGH THE WALLS!”
Alastor smirked, “It would be more than one, dearest.”
“Fuck you!”
“No thank you!”
Their arguing continued, both sweaty, overheated messes with tempers to match. They were so absorbed in their argument, they didn’t notice the door swinging open or the employee that came in.
“You know,” the hellborn interrupted, “your arguing was loud enough that even if the sensors didn’t trip, we would have noticed.”
He left, leaving the door propped open to vent and let who he was sure was an old married couple out. He does not get paid enough.
Alastor and Vox glared at each other, but quickly went to their rooms, that were apparently right next to each other.
‘Uh-“
“Not. A. Word,” Alastor seethed.
“Shutting up.” Vox lowered his head but didn’t stay quiet for long. “Actually, what if we left the personas behind? You said no powers, and I checked the guest list. Nobody else from Pentagram City is here…”
Alastor squinted at his door, hand on the knob and ready to open it and slam it in Vox’s face. Yet it was tempting. “Fine. Tomorrow we will share breakfast and go from there.”
Now, he did enter his room and slam the door shut. He still heard Vox’s excited cry of victory through it.