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Groggy with bleary eyes, an imp blinked away its unconscious state of mind. Coming to their senses, they slowly moved their eyes towards the window, peering out at the twilight sky of the Sloth Ring.
Their body felt like lead, their mind was fuzzy, and they couldn't recall what had even happened to them.
With a soft knock and opening of the door, Belphegor, the Queen of Sloths herself, languidly sauntered within the room. She was dressed professionally as her position of power was no mistake within her hospital.
The imp themself couldn’t help but be intimidated yet entranced by her ethereal beauty; her five eyes along her long alpaca neck, long fluttering lashes, and lanky ominous figure.
She hummed with the soft clicking of her hooves, moving at her own pace across the room, reading a file. It was the record of the imp’s enrollment and other legalities.
“Vomiting, Fever, Hallucinations, Collapsing… Stomach pumping… Blood transfusion…” She muttered to herself while collapsing on a wide visitor’s sofa across from the foot of the bed.
Flitting through other papers, her ear twitched in annoyance, yet her face remained unreadable.
“Family grievances, investigation… financial compensation for the consumption of an ‘expired product’...”
Her voice was flat, but the tone was anything but thrilled. She slowly closed the file and looked across from her seat, staring into the imp’s eyes.
She did not comment on how the imp miraculously woke, but instead her cold and calculating gaze was ominous.
Being less than thrilled by Greed Imps, the patient’s family, trying to mooch off and use their offspring’s plight for some gain.
She wasn’t surprised by any means, but the sleazy way of attempting to legally damage one of her businesses’ reputations and the audacity of trying to pull the rug beneath her to try and get their way to one-up her standing of authority were enough to make her nose flare and exhale shimmering mist of irritation.
“Just because a powerful little one of your kind made an ass of one of mine, gives no leeway for such audacious pursuits.” She spoke with impertinence, staring at her troublesome patient. “You little ones sure have been becoming more bold as of late…” She whispered with her five eyes on her head piercing through the imp lying before her.
Despite her laid-back and completely apathetic attitude, the room was thick with tension. She unfolded her pocket fan and began to cool herself off, for she was in a silent simmering of offense and irritation.
“Asmodious’s behavior and tolerance of becoming a bitch from mere shallow threats, from an imp no less, has become quite humiliating and dishonoring… Especially from one of his status…” She mused to herself, “And by tolerating that, here I am, being ‘threatened’ by the same audacity by your family… Troublesome, don’t you agree?”
The imp simply rested in silence and slowly closed their eyes, wishing the ground swallowed them whole. They were running from deep shit, yet even now with their futile acts of trying to get away they managed to inadvertently get into more trouble by another powerful figurehead.
She lazily closed her eyes while still waving her fan. After a moment of silence, she opened her eyes again, staring at the miserable imp with an expression showing she was waiting for their response.
She was sitting, with her left leg crossed over her right one, looking relaxed yet slightly awkward. Her tail casually waved behind her as she tilted it side to side while waiting.
More moments of silence passed as she stared at the silent imp before leaning her chin into her hand, rolling her eyes, and speaking again with the same laid-back attitude.
“No use in just staring. Would be nice if you could answer, at least…” She said, in almost a mocking and amused voice. Still lazily waving with her fan while her tail lazily swooshed back and forth.
Without a second beat, an explosion of an electric dark puff cloud appeared within the room, it had confetti and a little royalty-free children's cheer accompanying it. It was none other than Mammon, the King of Greed himself, who quickly trotted across the room and looked at the patient in the bed.
"Ya Bloody-Fahkin weasel! How dare ya fahkin disappear on me thinkin' ya can get outta your contract!" He angrily snarled and loomed over the patient's bed
Belphegor didn't really flinch at the sudden appearance of Mammon and his loud attitude. She just looked at him for a moment, before rolling her eyes, as his voice was rather annoying her more than she was shocked or surprised.
“Could you be a bit quieter, big boy?” She said in a rather calm and emotionless manner, still using her fan.
Mammon's face dropped with his body stiffening, feeling he had been caught red-handed. He quickly glanced back, eyeing Belphegor, looked forward, clearing his throat before double-taking another look at her.
He straightened his body and ran a hand through his jester bells before putting on his charismatic and cheerful expression.
"Belphieee~!" He crooned, leaning forward before sauntering towards her like a confident fat cat "Since when were ya in here, ya cunt?" He nervously chuckled and leaned on his cane, looking down at her with a forced smile
She let out a slightly amused scoff at him, clearly noticing the difference between his behaviour a moment ago to now.
Looking up at him as he approached her, she crossed her arms casually, looking quite amused now. She rolled her eyes but still had a bit of a lazy grin on her face. Her tone was lazy and nonchalant as usual.
“Since a moment ago. Just had to deal with some nasty business. Why? You missed me that much, Mammon?”
"Oh, Belphie, baby, you sure flatter yourself~" His eyes roamed her languid figure, raising his brow in intrigue.
"Though, seeing you're with my lil' Fizgig," He pointed, gesturing with his thumb back at the imp patient in bed. "Makes me wonder if you're the one who misses me~" he smirked, purring and leaning down. Giving a large shark tooth grin, bouncing his brows flirtatiously.
Belphegor let out another amused scoff with half-lidded eyes at him, clearly amused by his attempt to fluster her. She rolled her eyes, but couldn't really hold back a small chuckle.
“You're such a goofy jester, you know that?” She said in her usual lazy tone, amused by his silly attempts. She leaned back nonchalantly, crossing her legs and propping herself on an elbow. “Don't need to get all flirty with me, you greedy clown.”
"Why, ya afraid it’ll tickle yer fancy~?" he crooned and sauntered closer to her side, leaning his face down close to her.
She let out another scoff, flaring her nostrils a little as he leaned closer to her. She lazily tapped her chin with her fan, looking up at him, with no hint of shyness on her face.
“Please, you think some clowny words are enough to get me flustered, huh? I thought you were trying to make me blush, not laugh.”
"They say that laughter is a way to get a lady to blush." He teased and winked at her. "Ya gotta be impressed by my naturally funny antics, dontcha Bel? You have a funny bone~" He said in a manipulatively pleading tone and pushed his face closer to hers, grinning wider, flashing his sharp teeth.
She rolled her eyes again and couldn't help a smirk appearing on her face. She shook her head lazily, but there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
“Oh please, you're not really that funny. It's not like you'll get me blushing with just some cheesy lines. I've heard them all before.”
"Oh Bel, I don't need to speak some lame-arse lines to entertain ya. Who do I look like, any other bloke?" He teased, "No, I think we both know that I entertain ya in a different manner than any other bugger." He smirked and walked his fingers along the couch's arm playfully.
"I see that smirk along yer pretty little face~" he twirled a lock of her fluffy fleece-like hair around his fingers smoothly.
She rolled her eyes at his little jokes, but couldn't help a small blush appear on her face, as he toyed with her hair. She was clearly amused and slightly flustered by his bold moves, but tried not to show it too much.
“Mm, don't flatter yourself too much. I'm just mildly amused by your pathetic attempts to charm me.” She said in her usual bored and nonchalant tone, but there was something endearing in her expression.
"How about we strike a deal; ya get to receive a little smooch by the magnificent and amazing Mammon, which is I, for free." He grinned mischievously, "and in exchange, ya give me a little privacy with my slave- fahk, I mean- client~" he fumbled goofily before he purred, bringing a lock of her hair to his lips endearingly to hide his mischievous grin.
Mammon's eyes were predatory, yet his sly grin and words were smooth and charming.
Belphegor shook her head but was clearly entertained by his boldness. She chuckled a little at his fumbling, seeing right through his facade, but tried to hide it. Humming at his offer, feigning disinterest, but her eyes flashed with curiosity.
“Really? You seriously think a little smooch is going to make me agree? Do you have any idea who you're even talking to?” She looked at him with half-lidded eyes, but there was a hint of amused interest in her expression.
"Fine, I'll throw ya the extra cash in and we can both be happy to rid of this... happy little accident~?" He let go of her hair and glanced back at the patient, then back at her, raising his brows.
Belphegor looked at him for a moment, clearly weighing her options. The lazy gaze on her face slowly turned into a leer.
“Hmm... You know how to tempt a lady, huh? But I have a feeling you won't stop at just a little smooch.” She drawled lazily with a hint of mischievousness in her eyes.
"You're one hell of a bargainer, bustin' my balls here..." He grunted, frowning for a moment, and tapped his chin contemplatively. He snapped his fingers and looked at her, "How about ya kiss my cheek and I'll be hands off, yeah~?" He leaned close, grinning sleazily yet goofily charming.
The Sloth Queen rolled her eyes at his demand, humming softly.
"My, you're really persistent, aren't you? Fine, deal. A little kiss on the cheek, and your creepy hands better stay away." She said, trying to sound stern, but her gaze was betraying her amusement
"Oi, I'm a gentleman, through and through." He crossed his arms, looking away, feeling particularly offended with his chin in the air, with a huff.
Yet his offense was tossed to the side as he dramatically and deliberately showed her his three arms folding behind his back and holding onto his cane respectfully before leaning his cheek down to her face with a smug and goody grin, waiting.
Belphegor couldn't help but scoff at his "gentlemanly" act, but there was a hint of humor in her eyes.
"You and gentleman within the same sentence? That's an oxymoron if I ever heard one." She moved her head closer and pressed a light, yet firm kiss to his cheek, her lips lingering for a moment.
Mammon grinned widely, his ego blasting through the roof. He cackled and leaned back, wiping his cheek instinctively.
"Pleasure doing business with ya~" his gravelly voice rumbled with a satisfied wink.
He extended his hands out and gently lifted her off the couch, escorting her away from the lounging sofa.
"Now don't worry about yer precious reputation, big ol Mam will handle it, 'kay sugarlips?" He spoke smoothly, holding the small of her back and her hands respectfully as they practically tangoed across the room.
"You're insufferable, you know that?" She couldn't help but scoff, rolling her eyes at his over-the-top attitude, but there was a hint of amusement in her face.
She let out a hum as she was pulled into a dance. Trying to maintain her usual lazy demeanor, but couldn't help the small lopsided grin appearing on her face when he used the ridiculous pet name, he certainly was a smooth talker.
"Watch it, clown. You're pushing your luck." She chided lightheartedly.
"Dontcha know me, Bel? I'm Mammon, king of excess and greed. Ya know what I want is never enough~" he huskily whispered, looking down at her with a playful wink as he twirled her.
"I know all too well how insatiable you are, Mammon. You just can't get enough..." She rolled her eyes again at his insistent need for extravagance. It was all way too excessive, but she had to admit, he had a silly charm to it. She couldn't help feeling a small flutter in her stomach as he whispered and winked at her.
Belphegor let out a breathy sigh, her fluffy hair swaying and bouncing with the smooth motions of his light feet. It certainly has been a long time since anyone has tangoed with her so gracefully. When she was twirled, a genuine warm smile appeared across her usually stoic face, letting out a breathy chuckle.
"Oh, and keep a little eye on your bank account, sweetheart, I always keep my end of a deal." He grinned, opened the door, and gently led her out cordially by her fingers to show the hospital staff outside their professionalism for both their sakes.
No need for pesky rumors now.
As she was led out, she kept her usual nonchalant demeanour, ignoring the stares from the hospital staff. She gave a quick nod towards Mammon, her enigmatic and aloof demeanor returning, upholding her ice queen persona. Her fingers still lingered on his, but she quickly pulled them away, trying to maintain her composure.
Mammon smirked, winking while he shot her a finger gun while clicking his tongue before shutting the door. His obnoxious cackle was heard from behind the door.
Belphegor scoffed at the finger gun and tongue click, but couldn't stop the small, faint blush appearing on her face.
"What a charmer," she muttered to herself flatly as she shook her head, trying to forget about the little flutter she felt in her stomach.
The Queen of Sloth couldn't believe she was even remotely flustered by the overly dramatic King of Greed. But there was something about his goofy and suave nature that was undeniably endearing.
Looking to the side, she saw a mixed group of sharks and other Greed Ring denizens, knowing all too well of the shady business of their presence.
She looked away apathetically and hummed, sauntering away with languid regalness, knowing all to well that Mammon would take care of her problems.
She was relieved she didn't need to lift a finger to keep her reputation intact or deal with legal issues over her "company's mistakes."
All she had to do was give a chaste kiss to a greedy jester, and she couldn't be slothfully happier.