Sometimes Worse is Better

by urlocalwerewolfboyfriend

Summary:

A cat-like sinner with vibrant red wings stepped into view.

His hair was smoothed back, accentuating his salt and pepper fur, and the sinner himself was dressed in a deep grey suit with red lining that complimented his wings.

His tail, which had matching plumage at the tip, flicked passively as he boldly approached the Vees.

“Why so tense? You'll make me think you're not happy to see me!”

-----------------------

Overlord Husk but what if he was a jackass

Notes:

Strap in y'all I write slow.

Let's rock 'n roll.

I also have some art I made assosciated with this fic here !

Special thanks to my head editor: KAI !!! <<<333

Chapter 1

Angel could barely keep his eyes open as he stumbled into his room. Valentino had been in a particularly sour mood as of late, often interrupting shoots by dragging Angel or his co-stars into new positions, screaming at them, or at his phone. Angel had gathered from bits and pieces of Val's tirades that a formerly absent overlord had returned to the scene. Since his return, profits had been at an all-time low, leaving the Vees practically hemorrhaging money. Not to mention, souls were now choosing other overlords to make deals with over the Vees with their now palpable instability. Not the worst choice to make, in Angel's opinion.

Angel couldn't be bothered to give it much more thought though, he was so tired . He was still in his post-filming attire: a tight, barely-there black bra, a matching thong mostly concealed by a silky pink robe that stopped just above mid-thigh, and his signature black boots. He collapsed on his bed, unwilling to even remove said boots, curling up into a ball and hoping to at least get a few fucking minutes of rest before Val inevitably called for him to "help him unwind".

Keeping that in mind, Angel groaned as he pulled up one of his sleeves and coaxed out a bit of his demonic power. His fangs extended marginally and venom pooled in his mouth as he bit down. His venom wouldn't do much to him since it was his own, but it would be enough to make his aches more tolerable. As the venom coursed through him, he felt his muscles relax and sighed in partial relief.

As if he could sense Angel didn't want to see him, Angel could hear Val storming down the hall to his room, sounding like he was on a warpath. " Shit... " He grunted, pushing himself up into a sitting position with trembling arms and taking a steadying breath before sliding his sleeve back down and slipping on the sultry expression he knew Valentino preferred. The door to his room was thrown open, slamming loudly into the wall. Angel flinched, eyes darting to the adjacent wall as several of his polaroids fell and scattered across the floor, a few landing directly in front of the doorway now obscured by Valentino's silhouette.

Angel quickly regained his composure and looked up to take in Val's expression, holding back another flinch upon hearing his growl through bared teeth, smoke billowing from the gaps. "H-Hey, Val." He swallowed thickly, forcing a sickeningly sweet smile. "Ya’ look awfully worked up... want me t—" A strangled noise escaped him, cutting him off as a smokey chain manifested and ripped Angel from his bed to the floor. Valentino towered over him as he grabbed one of Angel's upper arms, yanking him up and dragging him out the door without so much as a second glance.

"Move those fuckin' legs, whore , if you wanna keep them," he spat, accentuating his words with an extra firm tug on Angel’s arm. Trying not to trip, Angel did his best to keep up with the breakneck pace Valentino set, watching as Val squinted at his phone before letting out another slurry of curses. 

It wasn't long before they reached one of the fancier meeting rooms of the V tower where Vox and Velvette were already waiting. Vox was positioned behind a long desk, standing bent over and scouring a mess of documents as the screens surrounding him flashed frantically, while Velevette paced behind him, typing feverishly on her phone. Vox was first to acknowledge their arrival, static buzzing between his antennas. "You fucking stopped to get Angel?!" He yelled, screen glitching. "We're about to get royally FUCKED, and you stop to get Angel!?"

Angel shrank in on himself while Val began to puff up. "Did you want me to leave the last fucking thing making us money unprotected?" Indignation dripped from his words. Vox raised a hand to his screen, massaging between his eyes, far too exasperated for this conversation. " Nowhere is ‘protected’ right now, Val." He sighed, "We’re—" 

"About to get our asses handed to us, is what we are!" Velvette chimed in, not even glancing up from her phone. Vox grimaced in agreement. Angel felt his legs start to tremble beneath him; he hadn't anticipated being dragged around this much, and with his mounting exhaustion mixed with his venom, it was making his head spin. He nearly collapsed when Valentino dropped his arm to perch himself on the corner of Vox's desk, crossing his arms tersely. "So the fuck are we going to do about it?" Val asked gruffly.

Vox sat unceremoniously in his swivel chair. "Not much we can do,” he muttered bitterly. "At this point? We hope the bastard doesn't realize how much power he holds over us, which—" he continued irritably, "considering who we're dealing with? Unlikely. Fucker’s probably been planning this for a while."

Velvette rounded the desk, not looking up from her phone, to sit opposite Valentino with a huff. "Well, whatever you fucks wanna say, decide quickly. Him and his entourage are almost here."

Val growled, his gaze snapping to Angel, who was quivering at this point, before beckoning him closer. Angel stumbled towards Val's side, dropping to his knees obediently, relieved to at least not be standing anymore. Val raised a hand, cupping Angel's cheek, smiling darkly, before swiftly cracking his palm against it. The force sent Angel sprawling, gasping in pain as he reached a hand to tentatively hold his stinging cheek. Tears pricking at the corners of his eyes, he shifted, swallowing back the venom that threatened to spill from his lips against his will. As he met Valentino’s gaze he could see his reflection in Val's glasses, his own face contorted in pure, unbridled hatred . “If you had just made us more money, we wouldn't be in this fucking situation,” Val seethed.

Vox lurched across the desk, grabbing Valentino by the clasp holding his wings together.

“VAL! ” he roared, voice distorting as his eye flared, “Bigger fucking fish to fry. When he gets here, I need you to shut the fuck up . Understood? ” Valentino scowled, but gave a tight nod. 

Vox let Val go as he eased back into his seat, electricity continuing to zap between his antennas. “One of your outbursts will only make shit worse ,” he gave Val a pointed look, “and don't act like I'm wrong. We both know what’s happened every time you've tried to fucking negotiate.” 

Valentino let out an indignant squeak and crossed his arms, looking like he was about to argue before Velevette's phone began making a shrill beeping. The four of them jolted in shock. Velvette turned to Vox, nodding. “It's him. He's already making his way here.” She said gravely. “Fuck, of course he is, okay.” He turned to Valentino. “Val, since you brought him, put your fucking whore somewhere he won't get in the way.” He waved weakly towards Angel. Val scoffed as he stood to approach Angel, who was already shoving himself off the ground. 

Grabbing Angel's arm, Valentino tugged him behind a smaller neighboring desk that was partially concealed by a large rack server. “Sit here. Stay out of sight and quiet,” he hissed. Nodding stiffly, Angel sank to the floor. God, he was too tired for this bullshit. He just wanted to sleep, but instead he was here, with no clue why the ever-loving fuck everyone was so panicked. 

This was clearly overlord bullshit, not Angel bullshit. 

Regardless, he pulled his legs to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. The three overlords arranged themselves at Vox's desk, swiftly collecting the papers Vox had strewn across the surface. After a few tense minutes, a click sounded, and the door of the room swung open.

“Gentlemen!” A man’s voice called out, deep and confident. “—And Velvette,” he amended. “I see you prepared for my arrival, how hospitable of you!” He chuckled darkly. Angel peeked at Vox's desk, checking if the Vees were paying attention to him, before softly placing a hand on the server rack. He cautiously shifted to his knees and leaned around the edge, seeing a flutter of red and black as the sinner approached the Vees.

A cat-like sinner with vibrant red wings stepped into view. His hair was smoothed back, accentuating his salt and pepper fur, and the sinner himself was dressed in a deep grey suit with red lining that complimented his wings. His tail, which had matching plumage at the tip, flicked passively as he boldly approached the Vees. “Why so tense? You'll make me think you're not happy to see me!” He grinned.

Vox let out a nervous laugh. “Of course not, Husker! To what do we owe the pleasure?” His tone was a performative one, Angel noted; one he seldom heard outside of interviews and commercials.  Husker brushed his fingers along their desk, eyeing the pile of mismatched papers. “Well, from what I've heard, you lot have found yourselves in a less than savory situation.” He nodded as though he were empathetic to their predicament while his words dripped with condescension. A growl erupted from Valentino, causing static to buzz around Vox's antennas and earning a slight glance from Husker before his gaze returned to Vox, expression unchanging. Vox cleared his throat pointedly. “Things have certainly been better in previous years,” he admitted hesitantly.

The feline hummed agreeably, casually glancing around the room. Angel hastily ducked back as the cat's eyes flicked in his direction, nearly whacking himself into the desk in the process. Husker's ear twitched faintly before he spoke, “Y'know, I gotta say, I remember this room being much fuller the last time I visited. Could use some renovations as well, don't ya think?”

Vox let out a defeated sigh. “Husk, we both know you didn't come here to discuss our décor.” Husk let out a small amused huff. “Always so quick to talk shop, Vox. Maybe that’s how you ended up in this position. Not a very good way to make friends.” 

Velvette let out a sharp laugh. “Since when are overlords known for being buddy-buddy with each other?” 

Husk tutted softly at her. “New souls have so much to learn, don't they Vox? I would've thought you'd have taught her a thing or two about the importance of alliances—” he paused for a moment, a sly smile beginning to form “—like that old pal of yours, what was his name?” His eyes flashed menacingly as Vox stiffened before he continued,  “Ah, yes! Alastor! I had actually spoken to him before deciding to pay you a visit. He seemed to think you all might be feeling a little... vulnerable right now.”

Vox scowled, brows knitting together tightly. “And what would you suggest a... ‘friend’ do in this kind of situation?” Vox asked stiltedly. Husk barked out a laugh. “No friend of mine would ever end up in such a situation, Vox.

“That being said,” Husk continued cooly, “I do still have a proposition the three of you might find… preferable .” Husk’s statement was met with looks of extreme skepticism across all the Vees. “Go on...” Vox cautiously waved him on.

Angel's limbs were starting to go numb at this point, however the suffocating atmosphere kept him still. Despite the fact that the sinner, from what he gathered, was an overlord, something about him was… enticing. Angel couldn't quite place what the feeling was, but something about the way Husk made the Vees cower did something to him.

“You hand over your souls and all your assets willingly, and I ensure your business performs better than it ever has.” He said frankly. 

The silence was deafening. 

Until it wasn't. Valentino immediately began shrieking, “WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!” He lunged across the desk, wings snapping open behind him, only to be yanked back hard by Vox. “ Get a hold of yourself ,” Vox growled.  Velvette jerked forward, opening her mouth to join in Val’s outrage, only to have Vox’s other arm block her from rising. “Not from you, either,” Vox grunted. 

Vox returned his sights to Husker, who was looking rather pleased with the reaction he garnered. “How can you expect us to agree to that?” Vox began, distraught, “As things are, the three of us are still stable, and strong enough to fight off even the more powerful overlords, including yourself.”

Husk nodded softly, looking away. “True, true. I wouldn't be able to force you into such a deal; in a fight, you three would win. But,” a smirk began to form on his lips, eyes flicking back to the trio, “who's to say who might show up after? It's like Velvette said: overlords don’t play ‘buddy-buddy’ very often. Might have someone less than desirable swoop in and finish the job.”

Vox scoffed, “You’d really risk having your own soul snatched in the process?” Husk shrugged dismissively, “I've always been a gambling man, myself. How ‘bout yourselves?” He leaned forward, palms splayed on the desk, his tone taking on an ominous lilt. “You lot feelin’ lucky?”

Vox scanned Husk's expression anxiously, desperate to find an ounce of hesitation, only to come up empty handed. “You're serious.”

“Deadly.”

Vox retracted his arms from his colleagues and sunk into himself, eyes fidgeting in thought. Lifting his head, he faced Val and Velvette, and being met with looks of concern, he cringed and looked away once more.

 “Fine...” Vox choked out as he weakly extended a hand towards Husk. 

Velvette and Val both reached for his arm, yanking it back away from the cat. “You can't be fucking serious!” Velvette shrilled, while Valentino snarled, pulling Vox close. “You're bluffing!” He snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at Husker. 

This couldn't be happening. He knew things had gotten bad, but not this bad. Angel's heart thudded violently against his ribs. He pressed a steadying hand to his chest with bruising force, pushing down his panic in favor of keeping focused. He leaned around the corner of the desk, arms trembling underneath him.

Vox jerked away from their grip with a grunt. “ No . No. We knew this was coming. That it was only a matter of time before someone made a move” — he grimaced — “We should be thankful we lasted as long as we did.”

“That you should be,” Husk beamed, shifting his gaze to Valentino. “Not just anyone could run themselves into the ground as long as you all did!”

Angel's eyes were drawn to Husk's tail as it flicked expectantly. One thing Angel knew for certain about Val was that, however oblivious he could be, sly comments like that never failed to set him off. ‘Seems the kitty has done his research,’ Angel silently acknowledged, shifting his gaze to Val.

Like clockwork, Valentino shot out of his chair, lunging across the desk faster than Vox could stop. Four hands made contact with Husk's suit jacket as Val attempted to lift Husk off the ground—as he often did to Angel (he shuddered at the memory).

Husk instead returned Valentino’s efforts in an almost seemingly unaffected manner, if it weren't for the glow his eyes began to emit and the faint puffing of his feathers. He gripped Val by the neck, squeezing purposefully.

A choked noise escaped Valentino, hands slipping off the other's coat as Husker yanked him down to eye level. “You should listen to your host friend over there. This isn’t an offer you wanna jeopardize.” He growled. 

Loosening his grip just enough to let Val breathe, Husk held him to the side so he could look at Velvette and Vox and scowled. “I'm getting annoyed at this point. Do we have a deal or are we settling things the way this idiot wants to?” He shook Valentino effortlessly, as though he was only a wheat stalk.

Velvette paled, reality hitting like a ton of bricks. “...And just what would you do with us in this ‘arrangement’ of yours…?” she asked feebly. 

Husk sighed, shaking his head disappointedly. “I don't see how that matters much. Either I own you, or someone else is going to. Do you want the devil you know or the devil you don't?” 

Velvette hesitated at that before turning to Vox with a bleak nod. 

Vox raised his hand once more with effort expected of something much heavier and a slight tremble, just barely noticeable.

“You have a deal.”

A grin slowly began to stretch across Husk's face. He released Valentino completely, shoving him to the side, and took a bold step forward before grasping Vox's hand with both of his. “And they say the house always wins!” Husk exclaimed jovially.

A flash of gold with tinges of red burst from their joined hands as Husk's wings flared. Vox's screen in turn dimmed more than Angel had ever seen, leaving it just barely bright enough to make out his features. 

Husk let out a blissful sigh as he released Vox's hand before turning to Velvette. “You next, I assume?” Husk began to shift towards her, only to have Val physically cut him off. 

“No. ” Val growled, jutting out a lower hand. “I've been Vox's business partner longer. It should be me who goes next.” 

Husk blinked back up at him, unimpressed. “The order doesn't matter nearly as much as the outcome does.” Husk took his hand with a (noticeably dimmer) light flashing similarly to how it had with Vox.

Husk let out a snort, watching as Val sagged, his legs trembling. “I should've guessed with how impulsive you are you’d own less souls than Vox. Too focused on that spider of yours to grow your power effectively.” He hummed in thought. “I ought to give him a try and see what left you so weak,” Husk mocked, moving towards Velvette.

Angel was reeling as adrenaline coursed through him. He felt the smokey chain that suffocated his lungs vanish and shift into a cold, metallic one that settled heavily at the base of his neck. Gripping at the phantom sensation with one hand, he covered his mouth with another to hold back a whimper. He had spent so long in the miasmic haze he had built in tandem with Valentino that to have it just be gone , even if only replaced, was overwhelming.

Val grunted. “ Pinche niño de tu puta madre no sabes nada, pendejo .”

Husk whirled around. The sound of metal echoed throughout the large room as Val was pulled towards Husk by his neck—in a way not dissimilar to how he had done to Angel just moments before—a golden cuff now shining around his neck with a matching chain wrapped around one of Husker’s hands.With his free hand, he once again seized Valentino’s throat.

An inhuman growl erupted from Husker, his tail thrashing behind him as his wings flew open. “I'm not sure what power you think you still have here, but I can assure you,” Husk jerked Val's face towards his, only inches apart, “You. Don't. Not anymore.”

Husk hurled Valentino to the floor, sending him sprawling with a groan. “Next time remember your place, pendejo. ” Husk spat.

Angel watched with wide eyes, shivering as Husk straightened his coat, staring at Valentino with cold eyes. The cat was being unreasonably hot for Angel's sleep deprived brain, without even trying . ‘Imagine if he did try,’ Angel's mind supplied unhelpfully, the first traces of arousal beginning to stir in his gut.

Husk fluffed his wings as he finally strode up to Velvette, giving a false air of politeness as he bowed dramatically, one hand behind his back as the other extended towards her. “Last, but certainly not least!”

Face twisting, she delicately placed her hand in his, despite him having just sent Val careening across the floor.

 The light that their deal produced shocked everyone as it shone brighter than either of the others’ had. Husk was damn near moaning as the deal finalized, garnering a throb from a mildly disgruntled Angel. (Fucking work and Val giving him a hair trigger.)

Removing his hand from hers, Husk arched his back as he slicked his hair back, magic swirling faintly around him. Small gold shimmers mixed with swirls of warm, honey-like oranges. “Who would've thought you’d have been the strongest?!” He patted her cheek with a sneer. “Should have aimed higher and focused on winning over more than just lowly sinners.

“Now then!” He began leaning away from her. “On the topic of sinners, when were you all planning to mention our little guest?” He said, locking eyes with Angel.

Angel flinched, beginning to shuffle back, careful how he positioned his legs, as Husk began to strut over to him. “He really couldn't let go of you, huh hot-stuff?” Husk squatted down in front of him, wings extending to block his view of the Vees (or maybe the Vees’ view of them ). “Shit finally hits the fan and he runs to grab his favorite toy.”

Husk lowered a wing to peer over at Valentino, who was still dazed where Husk left him. “What do you think? Should I make him my arm candy now?" Husk purred.

Val puffed slightly, blatantly wanting to snap back with something obscene. Instead his face twisted bitterly as he lowered his head submissively, looking away from the pair. Seeing Val in such a pathetic state after decades of torment was borderline pornographic, even if it wasn't by his own hand. The sight went straight to Angel’s already interested dick.

Angel swallowed thickly, his gaze darting back to Husk only to find piercing golden eyes fixed firmly on him, observing. Angel fought not to squirm under his gaze.

Husker was now his overlord, too. It was time to make a good first impression, exhaustion be damned. Nothing new, just another overlord. Angel lowered his chin and tilted his head with a slight smile and faintly lidded eyes. “I can be anythin’ you want me to be, Whiskers.” 

Husk huffed with an amused smile before standing. He proceeded to offer Angel a hand, which Angel accepted, ignoring the way his bones were beginning to scream at him again.

Once standing, Angel could fully appreciate their height difference. He had seen how Val had towered over Husker, but experiencing it himself was an entirely different thing. Angel was glad he had accepted the cat's hand with one of his lower ones; he didn’t think his back could've handled having to bend otherwise.

“Next order of business,” Husk started, moving Angel’s hand to drape over his shoulders, “I have a ‘friend’ waiting for us up top, and it's awful rude to keep a friend waiting.” A knowing smile teased across his lips.

Not sparing another glance at the former overlords, Husk moved towards the exit, placing a hand on Angel's hip. Angel followed along obediently, keeping his body as loose as possible despite the way he desperately craved another dose of his venom—hell, he'd almost take Val's at this point. But. This was Angel's thing. He could handle this. Just win over his new owner just enough to live comfortably, but not so much that he became another overlord's favorite. He was tired of being an overlord's favorite. 

Keeping a schooled expression as they walked, Angel’s mind drifted to Fat Nuggets who, god willing, was still safely resting in Angel's room. He’d have to seduce Husker into letting him keep him before they left. That, or contact Cherri as soon as he could.

Soon enough, Husk was pushing open the door leading to the foyer, which was the emptiest Angel'd ever seen it, save for a sinner dressed in red with what looked like an old stand microphone turned into a cane sat on the reception desk, swinging his legs idly.

Angel could feel the static that buzzed around Vox as he saw the sinner.

The man turned to the five of them, an eerie smile plastered on his face; one Husk reciprocated in earnest. “Husker! So glad to see you in good shape! Would've been such a shame if you weren't!” The sinner began. “Oh please, Alastor, we both know you would've been just as excited to see my downfall as any other.”

Alastor let out what sounded like a rehearsed laugh in response, hopping off the desk with a click. “Ah, Husker, always one to call it how you see it.” Shaking his head, he continued, “Regardless, quite the prosperous day for you, hmm?” He spun his cane quickly before clacking it against the floor.

Husk began toying with the slippery band keeping Angel's robe shut, nose faintly scrunching before dropping it. “A bit of an unfortunate day for you though, huh? Lost out on claiming 4 overlord souls and their enterprises. How ‘bout I brighten your day?” Husk started coyly.

 Alastor perked at that, striding closer to the group. “And just what did you have in mind, dear friend? ’ he said in an overly sweet tone, eyes never leaving Husk's.

“Well,” Husk drawled, “I'd like to have you formally announce this evening's events and promote my upcoming business endeavors for the next couple of months. In exchange?” Husk flashed a wild grin, “You can have this one.” Husker removed himself from Angel’s side to shove Vox towards Alastor. 

“I know you have no interest in televised content, so that part I'll keep for myself, but he still makes a nice prize, don't ya think?” Husk asked, tilting his head, his ears flicking as Vox produced a low electric hum. Vox looked a mix of shell-shocked, angry, and almost… heartbroken?

Alastor hummed thoughtfully, seeming to enjoy the way Vox twitched under his gaze. “Fair enough.” He shrugged. “I'll inform my loyal listeners of your newly acquired assets as well as encourage them to venture down to that quaint casino of yours for the next… three months.” His grin widened as Vox shrunk in on himself. “And of course I'll let all of hell know about your new business ventures during those broadcasts.” 

Husker nodded along as he listened before reaching out a hand. “Sounds like we have a deal!”

The mingling of green and gold swirls that twirled around their clasped hands was faint compared to the prior deals of the evening, but the reaction Vox gave was visceral. Far worse than when Husk had taken his soul. It almost made Angel feel bad for Vox.

Alastor wasted no time putting the new contract to work and summoned a green chain that linked Vox to him. “Even nicer than I thought it'd look. I always said green was your color.” He chuckled. “On that note, I think it’s best that I take my leave. Do remember to invite Rosie over, you know how she loves to gossip over finger food.” He said, wiggling his fingers.

Husker huffed out a laugh. “I'll be sure to. Pleasure as always, Al.” 

Alastor’s smile seemed to be a relaxed one as he turned on his heel, giving a small tug to encourage the frozen Vox to begin trailing behind him.

Husker's smile faded to a more serious expression as he pulled a phone out of his pocket, quickly tapping across the screen and making a call. “It's done. Bring the car around front.” He then clicked the phone off.

Husk turned to face Angel and the remaining Vees. “When the car arrives, you all will get in and listen to the instructions the driver gives you.” He reached towards Angel once more, running his claws along the end of the robe. “On second thought, Angel, lead me to your room and see if we can find you something nicer to wear. I won't have you next to me dressed so poorly.”

A ping sounded from Husk's phone, drawing his attention once more. He appeared to send a quick text before turning to the remaining Vees. “They're here. Velvette, Valentino, go. I'll meet with you to discuss how you'll fit in the casino shortly.” 

Velvette grabbed one of Val's hands, tugging him away to prevent any outbursts as she swiftly exited the building. Angel was a bit surprised, honestly; he didn't think Velvette was too fond of Valentino. He would have thought she'd just let him fly off the handle and deal with his own consequences. ‘Maybe it’s more to appear useful than anything else,’ Angel considered as he watched the door swing closed behind them.

Husk looked up at Angel expectantly. “Lead the way.”

He peered down at the cat with hooded eyes, nodding and biting his lip. “Of course, I'd be happy to take you to my bed …room,” Angel teased hotly. The rush of energy the adrenaline had brought was starting to fade, but he still needed to ensure Husker would let him keep Nuggets.

Husk hummed at that with an expression Angel couldn’t quite place. Groaning internally at the lack of response, Angel turned on his heel and began guiding Husk, hoping his irritation wasn't visible (or the limp he was fighting to suppress).

Upon arrival, Angel didn't have to bother turning on the main light, his fairy lights still on from when Val retrieved him. He opened his closet wide so the overlord could look over his options before taking a step back. Admittedly, there was less than there used to be. Once the Vees started having financial problems, Angel’s pay was one of the first to get cut, but he still needed to be able to get shit, and selling clothes that The Angel Dust had worn was a quick way.

Peeking under his bedside table, Angel was able to confirm Fat Nuggets was still curled up in his little bed. A small smile snuck its way onto his lips at seeing his pig behaving so well, just like his papa taught him.

Husker approached the closet, flitting through the different dresses, tops, skirts, and pants Angel had and scrunched his nose in disapproval. “You were Valentino’s arm candy when not filming, weren't you? Hardly any of this is even tolerable, let alone of quality.” 

Angel let out an exaggerated sigh, pinching between his eyes. “Yeah, Val never cared much ‘bout what I was wearing, so much as how easy he could get it off . Most of my nicer shit… well I uhh… I couldn't keep it, let's just say.” He finished awkwardly, dropping his arm. He’d gotten too excited at having someone see what he saw about Val's fashion sense.

“Cut your pay I'd assume? Cheap bastard.” Husk chuckled, turning to face Angel. “Do you have anything else?” 

Angel hummed contemplatively, bringing his hand to his mouth. He moved to slowly kneel by his bed, facing away from Husker as he bent down and arched his back in a practiced manner before reaching under and pulling out a plain looking box. “Not sure if this is what you’d have in mind, but it is one of the last nicer pieces I kept.”

Opening the box revealed a glittery red form-fitting dress with a high neckline and an equally high slit. It was one he and Cherri had picked out with one of his first big paychecks. Never could bring himself to sell this one. Standing with the dress in hand, he held it up to himself. “What d'ya think? Closer to the look you wanted?”

Husk looked him up and down, his expression closer to calculating than salivating than Angel would have preferred, but he could work with that.

“That should work. Get changed.” Husker directed. Angel nodded obediently, setting the dress down on the bed and untying his robe, letting it smoothly slide down his silhouette, leaving him in only the bra and panty set from work. “Should I change these too… Sir?” he purred, upper hands cupping his bra while his lower ones inched down his torso towards his thong. 

Husk’s eyes lingered on the bite on Angel's arm for a moment before glancing at the dress. “No, with this cut those should work fine. In the future, however, I'll be putting you in something more tasteful.” 

Angel all but pouted at the dismissal. He knew an overlord would be more difficult to infatuate than one of his Johns, but Valentino had clearly warped his expectations on the difficulty level.

Husker scrunched his brows as he sighed, “Don't mistake me for a prude.” He approached Angel, placing both hands on his hips and massaging small circles into them, causing Angel to gasp. “I fully plan on putting you to good use. Just not now.” And with that, the hands were gone as Husk sat on his bed, leaning back on his arms as he crossed his legs neatly. Angel had to hold back a whimper at the loss of contact.

Angel swallowed thickly as he nodded, reaching for the dress beside Husk, and began to slip it on. The dress fit snuggly; the slit in the dress reached the peak of his hip, giving the illusion of a fuller figure. He gave a little spin, the dress coming dangerously close to exposing him again. Husk hummed in approval.

“It's definitely better than the other shit in your closet. Let's go.” Husk said, standing up and beginning to move towards the door. Angel flailed as he began to reach out to grab Husk before thinking better of it and pulling his arms back to himself. “Wait!” He blurted out. Husk turned to Angel with an expectant look, gesturing for him to speak. 

Angel crouched back down, clicking his tongue twice. A soft oink followed by small taps revealed Fat Nuggets emerging from under the table, scurrying into Angel's open arms. Standing nervously, he met Husker's eyes. “This is my hell-pig, I was hoping you'd let me hold on to the lil’ guy. He's well trained and able to be left unattended for extended periods without issue.” 

Husk paused for a moment. “I don't see why not. Grab its necessities, we can discuss other things you'd like retrieved later.” Angel sighed in relief and began collecting everything Nuggs would need to last the pig a bit (sneaking in a little something for himself when he was sure Husk wasn't looking). Once everything was collected he nodded at Husk, a medium bag and Nuggets in tow. “Ready.”

“Good, let's get going then.” 

As they walked down the different halls of the tower, Angel couldn't ignore the knot in his stomach that had been tightening as things progressed. Would he ever come back here? Would he even want to? He squeezed Nuggs a little closer.

As they entered reception, Angel was surprised to find yet another new face. A rather short sinner compared to Angel, she had mostly cat-like features, including a pair of twin tails, but also a pair of bee-esque wings and lashes that gave the illusion of both whiskers and antennas. “This is Kibby, an assistant of mine. I summoned her here to take the pig to your quarters.” Husk stated.

Kibby moved to stand in front of Angel, giving a small bow. “I look forward to working with you, please allow me to take these off your hands.” Angel hesitated for a moment before gently placing Fat Nuggets into her arms, while two tails securely wrapped around the handle of the bag. “Take good care of him, he likes when he's able to lay under somethin’ if that's possible.” Kibby nodded firmly but with a soft smile before turning to Husker.

“The paparazzi have been here for about fifteen minutes now, sir. We've positioned the car to be closer to the doors as you requested.” Husk hummed approvingly. “Excellent, let's get going then.” Pulling Angel closer to himself once more, they exited the building.

Flashing lights blinded them as sinners yelled questions at them, desperate to be first to report. “Angel! Why are you accompanying The Gambling Overlord and not Valentino?” One shouted, “Vox was just seen under contract with Alastor! Do you have any comments?” Yelled another. “The other Vee members were just loaded into another car, Husker, do you now have them under contract?!”

 Husk remained silent, only giving a cocky, prideful grin as he confidently walked them towards the car. The assistant had scurried ahead to open the back door for the pair, lowering her head and gesturing for them to enter with Husk sliding in first.

Angel seized the brief moment of inattendance to turn his attention to a set of cameras. He flashed a cheeky smile and faintly summoned his new soul chain, just enough to where it could be mistaken for a trick of the light, before joining Husk.

Notes:

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Current desk counter: 15

Chapter 2

Summary:

Husk blinked in surprise as he felt the tug of one of his chains being summoned, recognizing it as Angel's.

It stayed manifested for a good while, with an occasional tug here and there, before it eventually dissipated.

‘Hmm…’ Taking another sip, Husk smirked. He would need to ask about that.

Notes:

Finished this one a bit faster than I expected!!

Also make sure to peep the updated tags :>

oh! and I also wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who left a comment!!!
I still get too nervous to reply, but I got super hyped with all of them!!
[eta] literally came here to add this only to see mae had beaten me to it LOL even if we don't have anything to add in reply, we still both read all of y'all's comments and gush over them together! we appreciate them so much! <3 -kai

Thanks as always to head editor Kai who fights my allergy to commas for y'all haha

Angel wasn't sure what he had expected when he got into the car, but it wasn't the bemused look he got from Husk as he settled into his seat. 

“What?” Angel asked. Husk shook his head in amusement. “You get your soul transferred to a new overlord and the first thing you do is try and show it off.”

Angel huffed. “You said I’m gonna be your arm candy, and from how you talked back there, you know the kind of persona I have. I was just delivering what you asked for.” Angel leaned back in his seat cheekily. “And from your expression, you didn't seem to mind all that much.”

Husk hummed noncommittally. “A reasonable assumption on your part.”

The ride grew quiet after that. Angel figured they were being driven to Husk's casino, but once they got there? Angel didn't really know what to expect. Shit with Valentino had overall been pretty simple; film for way too many hours, keep Val happy by being a pretty little thing in his lap when ordered to, and get high enough so he couldn't think about having to do that for the rest of eternity. Simple. Though from how Vox had spoken of him, Husker didn't seem like one for simple.

Even so, Angel was pretty sure that he would be able to handle Husk. So far it didn't seem like he needed to worry about laying it on too thick; Husk was able to brush off his lighter stuff no problem, so he didn't need to worry about the kitty falling head over heels for him over a little flirty behavior.

Angel propped his head up on his hand, peering out the window, watching as the neon colors of the Vees’ former district faded from view.

The scenery transitioned into warm tones as they entered Husker’s district. Angel took note of the plethora of dim and dark alleyways and the shifting figures that filled them. Glancing over at Husk, Angel found he paid them no mind—if it was because it was a normal view for him or because he knew they were there, Angel couldn't be sure.

The car was pulled into an indoor garage and Kibby quickly hopped out to open the door for Husk and, by association, Angel. Husk wasted no time exiting the car and began heading for a set of elevator doors, gesturing for Angel to join him. 

Angel hesitated for a moment, looking back to see Kibby cooing quietly as she unloaded Fat Nuggets and his things from the back of the car. Relaxing a bit, he hurried to fall in line with Husk. Once inside, Husk spoke. “I'm taking you to one of the upper levels to have you tested. I don't trust Valentino to not have cut corners and allowed for his souls to pick up shit from the shoots he's had you all doing.”

Angel wanted to be offended, but technically Husk wasn't wrong to think that. If Angel had been a lower ranking soul on Val's chain, he would have put him in situations where Angel could've picked something up. He could even see him taking advantage of the situation and making porn out of it for the few that get their rocks off to that kind of shit. But since Valentino actually used Angel, he took extra care with who he partnered Angel with and tested him regularly.

Regardless, this wasn’t new for Angel, so he could roll with it. He hoped the sinner doing it was cute though. “You got it, Boss-man.” He winked, giving a little salute. 

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a wide hall with rich red walls adorned with shimmering gold accents and a few scattered paintings. Angel also took note of the padded benches and quaint side tables that looked not too different from ones his family had back in New York. Husk guided Angel towards one of the doors that looked suspiciously like mahogany, and opened it to reveal a room that, while still giving off an air of elegance, felt much more clinical.

Sitting at a desk was a humanoid longhorn bull-esque sinner about Husk's size. He quickly rose as they entered, eyes widening at the sight of Angel before giving a small bow towards Husk. “I'm glad to see you well, Sir.” 

Husk waved him off and presented Angel to him. “Perform a full screening on Angel Dust as discussed. I need to be sure that stupid moth didn't fuck him up. Try and get a taste and I'll have you shot.” Husk stated curtly.

“Understood, Sir.” The bull nodded.

“I'll leave you to it. I have some other new arrivals to deal with.” And with that, Husk swung open the door again and was gone.

The sinner nodded and turned to Angel, “I'm sure you've been through this before, correct?” 

Angel gave a lazy shrug. “Yeah, Val’d have me get this shit done to make sure he never got shit. One of the few perks of being one of his preferred toys.” The sinner nodded solemnly, “I see… Let's go ahead and get started, then. Husk has a schedule he wants kept.”

---

As Angel expected, all his results came back clean. The bull wasn't much of a talker, which was disappointing for Angel, but he was nice enough on the eyes that Angel couldn't complain too much. In another afterlife, maybe Val would've signed him on and they would've been coworkers, though he supposed now in a different way they were.

A soft knock on the door drew their attention as it cracked open to reveal Kibby’s pink snout poking in. “Are you two almost done? Husker asked me to escort Angel to his room.” The bull sinner affirmed they had just finished up and Kibby sighed in relief. “Perfect, if you could follow me this way Angel, I'll take you to where you'll be staying.” 

Following the small cat sinner, Angel was able to really see just how ornate the place was. Now that he was closer, the paintings’ gold frames were more noticeable, the designs of different playing cards engraved into them now visible. Each painting was neatly placed between the different sets of benches and chairs alongside their matching decorated side tables. On those tables were slender flared vases with small yellow and red flowers that reminded him of carnations.

Soon, the pair reached an area with numbered doors, and stopping at one of them, Kibby spoke once more. “This room will be the one you'll be staying in for the time being. These are technically some of the casino’s hotel rooms, but Husk has this floor reserved for souls he owns he wants easier access to.”

Opening the door revealed what Angel would consider a decent hotel room. It had a queen size mattress, a bedside table, a dresser, a small loveseat, and even what looked like potentially its own bathroom. “Not sure if it meets your expectations, but these rooms are significantly better than the shared rooms a floor down,” she said, entering the room. 

“Eh, I've been fucked in worse,” Angel offered, earning a stifled chuckle from Kibby. “I suppose you have, huh? Well in any case, I hope you don't mind, but I did take liberty to put away what you had packed. Most of it is in the larger dresser right here, and if you check under the desk by the bed, your hell-pig should be under there with the bedding you provided.” Kibby paused, pursing her lips. “I did also find a, uh, small baggie in your belongings. While those kinds of substances are permitted, I personally wouldn't recommend being overzealous with your usage.” 

Angel knelt down next to the table, finding Nuggets under there as promised. “And why’s that? Husk gives a shit about his souls’ well-beings?” Angel scoffed. Kibby paused, face scrunching thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t say it's their well-being he cares for. More so their… functionality.”

Angel blinked at that, shifting to sit criss-crossed, pulling Nuggs into his lap. “What'dya mean?” he asked. Compared to their shared overlord, the little assistant seemed much more chatty (much to Angel's delight). Kibby’s ears pinned back in thought, twin tails flicking independently. “Husker’s gotten this far by being careful, measured. Unruly souls are dangerous souls. They’re unreliable and closer to a security threat than an ace up his sleeve, which is something he doesn’t allow.”

Thinking back to the way Val was tossed around back in the tower over back-talk gave Angel a decent guess as to how those kinds of souls were dealt with. “He's gonna have a field day with Val then, huh?” Angel joked sourly, though if he was honest? He hoped he got to be there when Valentino finally flew too close to the sun. 

Kibby gave Angel a knowing look before switching topics, “Perhaps. Regardless, I'm sure that you have more you'd like retrieved from your previous room. If I could have a list and an estimation on where things are located, that would be wonderful.”

Angel obliged and offered up a list of the different clothes, beauty and hygiene products, as well as some memorabilia he wanted to hold on to. Kibby nodded along, typing everything out before sending it off. “Perfect! Theoretically everything should be delivered by mid-morning, which should give you time to rest as well as prepare for tomorrow evening. Husk will be hosting an event to celebrate tonight's achievements. I'll be the one to retrieve you before the event.”

Angel placed Nuggets back under the small table as he stood back up. “Works for me, I am pretty… flexible after all.” He said with a wink. Kibby giggled nervously, mumbling something about Husk having other tasks for her before taking her leave.

Now alone, Angel struggled to not immediately collapse onto the bed, and instead began searching the different drawers Kibby had gestured to. His venom had faded ages ago, and with the sheer amount of bullshit that had been going on, it wouldn't have been nearly enough now anyway. Someone must have been smiling down on him, because the second drawer he opened revealed the small ziplock Kibby had been referring to. Inside resided a handful of different pills of varying sizes and shapes. 

Keeping in mind what Kibby said, he fished out only two and swallowed them dry, cringing at the feeling of them dragging slowly down his throat. Tossing the bag back in the drawer, he noticed a pajama set resting inside that must have come with the room. While it didn't have his anatomy in mind, it’d still be more comfortable than the dress he had on now. 

Groaning, Angel slipped off the dress with care and folded it up nicely, placing it on top of the dresser, deciding to also remove the bra along with it. Then, with a lot less care, he threw on the shirt, which fit more like a loose crop top, eyeing the shorts that came with it but deciding to forgo them. He sat on the edge of the bed, unzipping his boots and dropping them haphazardly on the floor. Flopping back, he hissed in relief, waiting for the drugs to start helping his stiff muscles and racing mind.

Without someone else for him to focus on, Angel's emotions started to boil over.

‘What the actual fuck.’ 

Angel took a shuddery breath, pulling his leg to his chest and wrapping a set of arms around them. How much of his shit was going to get lost in the process? He had no way of knowing how reliable Husker's souls were. Kibby seemed decent enough, but he knew first hand that didn't mean shit. Not to mention, he knew Val wasn't going to cope with the role change well at all. Would Husk still let Val use him to blow off steam? It might make Val more agreeable, so Angel couldn't really hold it against Husk if he did. Val's bitching gets old fast, and Angel’s just another soul on Husker’s newly expanded chain, he had no real reason not to treat Angel like a carrot on a stick.

Angel squeezed himself tighter before grunting and rolling onto his back. No. This was a new hierarchy; Angel could use this moment of chaos to position himself higher than Val. 

He just needed to uh… be more valuable than… um…Valentino. And things would be… fine.

Angel's thoughts felt like they were moving through molasses as the pills started to work through him. For a second he was surprised at how quickly they hit, before he remembered that the last thing he had eaten was a pickle from the studio's breakroom. Thinking of work brought the phantom feeling of Val's smoke circling him, urging him to summon his new soul chain properly.

With the collar fully summoned, Angel was able to really feel the difference between Husker's and Val's, which brought a surprising level of comfort. Husk felt more solid, sturdy even, with a faint metallic coldness. Running his fingers along it produced a dull buzzing sensation akin to touching a live power line. 

He sucked in a sharp breath in through his teeth, the sensation only aiding in his rapidly fuzzing thoughts. He gripped the collar tightly as the memory of Husk looming over Val, making him cower—chain in hand—filled his head.

His breathing ticked up a notch as skilled fingers shifted his panties teasingly, dick pulsing, aching to slip out from its sheath.

The air of confidence Husk had as he treated Val like he was nothing had been lingering in the back of Angel's mind and now forced its way to the forefront, stoking the desire the kitty had set alight within him back in that room.

Before, Angel rarely allowed himself to imagine having Val trembling before him, filled with just as much terror as he filled Angel with. It had always been too much of a pipe dream. But now that he'd seen it…?

Shit was intoxicating.

Then again, being on the receiving end of Husk’s undivided attention sounded just as appealing. The coy way Husk had teased them, his precision with every move, every glance, every word, not to mention the noises Husk had made after their deals were finalized. Angel was desperate to hear them again. 

Using what little brain power he had left, he ignored his needy cock and instead chose to give attention to his already moistening cunt. Even if he would have finished quicker with his dick (which would've been nice with how tired he was), without more clothes or his wipes, he couldn't risk the mess.

Angel was pleased to find he was still loose from work, unable to help himself from pretending it was Husk who had prepared him. Husk was known for being methodical, right? It was easy to picture the overlord unraveling him piece by piece, making him into the perfect little cock-sleeve for his own pleasure.

He swallowed thickly, sliding two fingers in with ease.

Pumping them in and out slowly, he tried to imagine they were more than just his fingers. Was Husk the type to enjoy slowly fucking his partners? Make them squirm and watch as they  begged for more, only to maintain a slow teasing pace, enjoying the power he held over them? Or maybe—his hand began subconsciously moving faster and with more force—Husk gets so focused on his own pleasure he just pounds into them, as if they were nothing more than warm flesh created for his pleasure.

Angel let out a choked sob. Fuck, both sounded amazing right now.

Moving his hand to the chain attached to his collar, he gave an experimental tug, and the gentle shock of electricity that coursed through him had him tumbling over the edge with a wet gasp, covering his mouth with a hand to keep himself quiet.

Breathing heavily, he pulled his fingers out. Reaching over to the part of the bed furthest from him, he wiped his fingers clean on the sheets, deciding that was future Angel’s issue to deal with.

The post orgasm haze mixed with everything else put the final nail in the proverbial coffin, and within minutes, his breathing had evened out as he finally fell asleep.

---

Husk sat at his desk in his public office, legs crossed, watching as Valentino puffed up in his own seat while Velvette sat next to the moth, looking like a doll (literally and figuratively). He already had a decent idea of how things would play out, but he needed to be thorough.

“Now, I'm not unreasonable. Despite how things appear, I can be flexible.”

Val gripped the arms of his chair so tightly they creaked under his grip. “Were you being 'flexible' when you gave Vox to that bastard Alastor?”

“I was, actually. With his soft spot for you, it would have put him at risk of making poor choices. Gifting him to Alastor is better for him than what would've happened to him if he wronged me. If anything, you should thank me.”

Valentino seethed. “If you seem to know so much about us, what do you think we should do?”

Husk propped his head up on clasped hands. “Close to what you'd been doing before. Velvette, considering your branch of the Vees’ finances actually still produced a profit, and since you've been so reasonable during all this, you'll be allowed to continue running your fashion brand similarly to before. You will have to have meetings every so often with one of my assistants to discuss profits and future plans, however.”

Vel nodded along as Husk spoke. “That seems reasonable, given the circumstances.”

“And me?” Val butted in. “If she’s keeping her business, then I’m keeping mine too, right?” Husk almost laughed at that, but maintained the measured expression he'd started with. He pulled a sheet of paper off one of the stacks on his desk.

“No. As you can see here, your profits were first to dip and then plummet, dragging the other two down with you.” He placed the profit log down in front of them. “Which is honestly impressive! How do you fuck up porn so bad not even people in Hell wanna watch it?”

“Fuck do you know about porn, asshole!? Sinners here just don’t know how to appreciate my art!” Valentino barked, leaning forward out of his seat. 

“More than you, based off these numbers,” he said, tossing a different set of papers at Val. “These lay out which films of yours were most profitable, what they contained, and who they contained, as well as your least profitable ones with the same information. As we moved closer and closer to the current date, your films skewed further and further from what was gaining revenue. I'm assuming the shift was towards things you personally took interest in based on these,” Husk set down a folder this time, “records here. So, no. I do not trust you to make decisions over your former business.”

Val stared wide-eyed at the mound of different papers in front of him, vibrating in anger. “And just who the fuck do you plan to run this shit? Your little horny reviewer who sorted through all my films? And what, did you think removing Angel from the screen and making him follow you around like a dog would increase profit?” He spat.

Husk scoffed, “Plans such as that no longer involve you. Besides, you’ll still take part in your business. I heard the main pornstar recently switched positions, perfect void for you to fill.” 

Val blinked dumbly at Husk with wide eyes. “You're demoting me to being just some whore?”

“More or less.” Husk shrugged. “I don't plan on leasing you out with the shit ass attitude you have, though. It’s bad business practice to offer whores that can’t service their clients correctly, FYI. Figured you might not know that.” Husk smirked.

“Of course I fucking know that!” Valentino growled.

“Oh wonderful, you know more than I expected! Let's have you put that knowledge to use on set.” Husk rose from his seat and began walking towards the door. “I'll have people in contact with you two to instruct you when and where to be while you all adjust. Like I said, I'm not unreasonable.” He paused in the door frame. 

“I do, however, expect you to learn quickly.”

With that, he left the office, entrusting the security stationed outside the door to escort them to the shared living quarters. Husk could've easily spared them a room or two on the upper floor and given them a nicer space, especially Velvette considering her good behavior, but he had to be sure they understood they weren't shit anymore. ‘Especially that stupid moth,’ He thought sourly.

That was one of the reasons he'd decided to place Angel in one of the upper rooms. Not only would it make retrieving Angel more convenient for whenever Husk decided to put him to use, it would also be a prime example for all the newly brought in souls that their previous ranks mean jack shit. It would make for excellent motivation.

Returning to his penthouse, Husk sat in a small offshoot of his living room, pulling an alcohol cart over. He leaned back, sighing as he felt his recent influx of power still buzzing under the surface. The fresh untapped energy made his fangs and claws itch to tear into some poor sinner—the unfortunate downside of gaining more souls, his control tended to attempt to run away from him and let the more… animalistic parts of his hellform take front. Ah well, some new idiot was bound to act up sooner or later. Then he’d at least have an excuse. 

Reaching over, he poured himself a glass of his preferred whiskey, taking a slow sip. He still had a lot of work ahead of him. 

With so many new sinners being added to his collection, there were bound to be those who would rebel against him, thinking they could worm their way out of their old contracts. His security team would be able to stomp out most of the skirmishes that would break out for now, but it's something he would need to address directly.

Husk blinked in surprise as he felt the tug of one of his chains being summoned, recognizing it as Angel's. It stayed manifested for a good while, with an occasional tug here and there, before it eventually dissipated.

‘Hmm…’ Taking another sip, Husk smirked. He would need to ask about that.

Notes:

Follow me over on twitter to check out my art too! <3

Current desk counter: 19

Chapter 3: Last Update

Hey guys, Kai (urlocalwerewolfboyfriend) here. I'm really sorry to have to be making this update. Up until now the story has been on an unofficial hiatus due to my being busy with college and my co-author, nambeeshi, losing veir hyperfixation on Hazbin between seasons and therefore sufficient interest to continue writing until the next season came out. Unfortunately, yesterday (April 1st), vey blocked me and all other common friends on all platforms without any warning or explanation. This does not seem to be an April Fool's joke, and even if it was, it'd be quite the cruel one. Due to a couple factors, any kind of self-actualized threat to veir health doesn't seem to be a plausible explanation, but just in case, I made an attempt to reach out where I could, to no response. I'm sorry to air out personal matters to you all—this doesn't involve you guys, and I understand it's coming completely out of left field—but I feel you all deserve an explanation, as I have absolutely no other context for what's happened.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of time and interest on my end, I will not be continuing the fic independently. I want to thank you all for your investment and incredible support you've shown for the story, after just two chapters. It did not go unnoticed, and it really did mean the most. I kept every single comment you guys left and will continue to hold them close to my heart. I'm very sorry for the disappointment—please believe me when I say that it is an even greater disappointment for me.
Once again, thank you all for the support you've shown SWiB during its lifespan. I'm sorry to say that it must conclude here, but I wish you all the best, and from the absolute bottom of my heart: thank you.