Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"V-Velvette!"

"Velvette!"

"Hey! Stay with us Vel! Come on! Stay awake!"

"Por favor levantate!"

"Velvette please! Wake up! Don't you dare do this to us!"

"V-Voxy! They're coming!"

"I know Val, but we can't leave Velvette!"

"But...they're..."

"I don't care! Velvette! Come on! Get up! We've gotta go!"

"........."

"Velvette?"

"........"

"V-Velvette please!"

"Voxy...is she?"

"No...no no no! Sh-She can't be! You're okay Vel! Y-You're fine! You're gonna be just fine! R-Right?"

"........"

"No! Velvette no! You can't do this! Wake up!"

"Please Velvette! Don't leave us! Te necesitamos!"

"Velvette! Velvette!"

"Voxy! What do we do!?"

"I...I don't...fuck! W-We have to go!"

"But what about Velvette?"

"The building is collapsing Val! We need to go!"

"Where will we go!?"

"Away from here!!!"

Their beloved tower collapsed all around them as they ran, dodging falling debris and angelic steel tipped spears. They thanked their lucky stars that none of the weapons had touched them, though they still managed to get hurt from the fight. Finally, they made it out of the building, stopping only when they knew they were safe. They watched their home completely crumble to the ground, disappearing in dust, leaving only a tangled mess of wires and steel beams. All of that hard work, all the blood, sweat and tears, gone in the blink of an eye.

Somehow, in the back of Vox's mind, he sort of knew this would happen one day, though he could never have predicted that it would happen so soon. The other Overlords had finally snapped, and with help from Carmilla, launched a surprise attack on V Tower, destroying the once proud building. Vox and Valentino had managed to escape with only a few injuries, but Velvette...

"Wh-What do we do now Voxy?" Val asked, nervously fiddling with the fur on the sleeves of his coat. Vox didn't reply right away, staring blankly at the remains of his home.

"Voxy?" Val said, reaching down to his boyfriend.

"We should go." Vox said, turning away from the wreckage, refusing to look at Val.

"Go? Go where?" Val asked.

"Anywhere but here." Vox muttered, walking away. Val looked back at the wreckage momentarily before following him.

Chapter Text

Valkyrie sighed as she walked down the hall, thumbing through the many papers of her presentation. She had already rebuilt half of the Doomsday District of Pentagram City, as her foley studio had just finished with the last of its attachments, but there were still a few things she needed to go over, and tomorrow's Overlord meeting, her first, was the perfect place to do so. Her main studio was buzzing with activity, with both employees and performers darting left and right to get where they need to be. Rehearsals for an upcoming concert were well underway, with a few of fellow Overlord Scorpen's troupe using the auditorium Valkyrie's team had built to practice in. The concert was meant to be a grand reopening of sorts, introducing sinners to the new and improved Doomsday District, soon to be Music District.

Valkyrie couldn't have been more proud of how hard everyone was working. It was because of her team that she was able to build both her penthouse and the auditorium is record time. Her foley studio took a little more time due to preparations for the concert, but the building had been finished regardless. However, despite how fast her district was progressing, Valkyrie still had several concerns about how the other Overlords would react to said progress. The meeting she was attending would be the first time she would meet the other Overlords, and she had no idea what they were going to say about her rebuilding project. The only Overlord she knew personally was Scorpen, and he was about as sweet as they came.

Valkyrie's train of thought was interrupted when she bumped into someone, a tiny 'oof' leaving her. When she looked up from her paperwork, she saw her recently hired financial assistant. A navy blue eel with an electric blue streak in his hair and tail.

"O-Oh! Miss Valkyrie! I-I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going!" the eel squeaked, hiding behind his own pile of papers in his arms.

"Eli, relax. It's okay, really. I wasn't looking where I was going either." Valkyrie said. Eli relaxed slightly, a nervous smile forming on his face.

"Oh...a-alright. A-Are those for your presentation miss?" he asked, pointing to the papers in his boss' hand.

"Yep, that's exactly what they are. I was actually looking for Rhubarb so she can help me sort through them, have you seen her at all?" Valkyrie asked.

"Sh-She's with Grafitti right now. They're working on a few promotional posters for the concert." Eli replied.

"Okay, I'll check in with her later then. In the meantime, why don't you head out to lunch, it's already noon." Valkyrie said.

"R-Really? Okay, thank you miss." Eli said.

"No problem." Valkyrie said, and she watched the little eel walk away. Only then did she let out a long sigh. She hated how terrified Eli was around her. She remembered when he first showed up to her office looking for a job. He was a nervous wreck, and it took Valkyrie reassuring him multiple times before he relaxed somewhat, and even now, he still was a little jittery.

"Everything alright darling?" a flamboyant voice said from behind the hornet. Valkyrie turned and saw Scorpen standing behind her. Scorpen easily towered over Valkyrie, standing proud on four insectoid legs, his other four arms at his sides, the two main ones possessing powerful pincers. He was light brown with beautiful green eyes and striking blonde hair, and he wore a sparkling blue leotard.

"Hey Scorpen, yeah, I'm fine. I've just...got a lot on my plate, that's all." Valkyrie replied.

"Oh darling, I told you not to worry so much. Everything is going to be alright, the others are going to love what you are doing here! I know I do! My dancers have never been more excited to perform, and it helps when they have a near infinite number of music to choose from." Scorpen said, winking at Valkyrie.

"You really think the other Overlords will like what I'm doing?" the hornet asked.

"Why certainly! I don't see why they wouldn't, besides, who doesn't love a little music? Music is the blood that flows through the body of dance. Without it, everything simply falls apart." Scorpen said.

"I guess, I just hope everything goes smoothly at the concert." Valkyrie said.

"It will darling, it will. Your team is the best there is, just look at how fast they built this studio. It was within a few measly weeks! I say this concert is in good hands." Scorpen said, giving a satisfactory nod. Suddenly, a voice called out to Scorpen.

"Hey, uh, Scor, I hate to bother ya, but can I ask ya somethin'?" the voice said. Valkyrie and Scorpen turned to see a pink and white spider wearing a pink and white striped tuxedo.

"Angel! My most spectacular dancer! What's on your mind darling?" Scorpen asked.

"I uhh...I'm kinda havin' second thoughts about my number." the spider said.

"Second thoughts? Are you feeling a little nervous darling? If you are I understand completely." Scorpen said.

"No, it ain't dat, I just wanna try somethin' a little different, dat's all." the spider replied.

"Ahh, you're looking to broaden your horizons? How exciting! What did you have in mind?" Scorpen asked.

"Dat's da problem, I don't really know." the spider said, scratching the back of his head with his upper left hand.

"Don't fret darling! I'll help you find the perfect style for you!" Scorpen declared. Valkyrie cleared her throat, hoping that everyone would remember that she still existed.

"Oh my! I do apologize Valkyrie. I suppose I became wrapped up in the excitement. This is one of my highest performing dancers, Angel Dust. He's fresh off the heels of the porn industry, and now he wishes to dance to his heart's content, under my care of course." Scorpen said, stepping to the side and introducing the spider. The spider, Angel Dust, walked up to Valkyrie.

"How do ya do toots? Scor here's told me a lot about ya. All good things I promise." Angel said.

"Glad to hear it. I take it you're no stranger to dancing?" Valkyrie asked.

"Kinda, I've done plenty of different dances before,  but I kinda wanna settle intot one I'm comfortable with, y'know?" Angel replied.

"Yeah, I get what you mean, but hey, like Scorpen said, it's always good to broaden your horizons." Valkyrie said.

"Most definitely!" Scorpen added.

Chapter Text

Valkyrie thumbed through her presentation on final time as she made her way to the Overlord meeting room. She had looked over every single page at least ten times now, but she had to be sure she had everything, and she did. Speaking with the other Overlords was a major deal, especially since none of the other Overlords knew who she was. Valkyrie had risen to power inside a district that nobody wanted, and had been slowly but surely bringing it back from the dead. With new buildings and lights suddenly springing up, questions were bound to be raised, but Valkyrie was happy to answer them. She just hoped that no one had a problem with her setting up in the Doomsday District.

Valkyrie entered the main meeting room, taking care not to drop any of her papers. She really should've put them in a folder. Carrying them loose was a nightmare! The hornet nervously walked through the room, trying not to be noticed, but that hope only lasted about ten seconds. Suddenly, a cheerful, feminine voice called to Valkyrie from behind her.

"Why hello there dearie! You must be the brand new Overlord!" the voice shouted excitedly. Valkyrie flinched and turned around slowly, quickly realizing that everyone's attention had been placed onto her. The voice had come from a woman with pale white skin and hair, her eyes black like Hellborne blood, wearing a pink Victorian dress and hat.

"U-Uhh...yeah! That's me! The new Overlord! Brand spanking new!" Valkyrie shouted, though she really didn't mean to. She had a habit of shouting her responses when nervous. Another woman stepped up to her. A tall, grey woman with white hair and red eyes, wearing a black ballerina's outfit.

"You must be the one responsible for rebuilding the Doomsday District." the woman said. Valkyrie's left antenna twitched.

"Y-Yep, I sure did. That's...not a bad thing...is it?" Valkyrie asked. The woman chuckled.

"Far from it. You've brought major improvements to a district that desperately needed it, and you are the first Overlord to specialize in music." she said.

"Oh, w-well I'm glad I left a good first impression." Valkyrie said, rubbing the back of her head nervously.

"Indeed. I am Carmilla Carmine, what might your name be?" Carmilla asked.

"Valkyrie." Valkyrie replied. There were a few collective gasps in the room.

"Another Overlord with a 'V' in their name? At least this one doesn't seem so bad." a pink and green dragon demoness commented.

"Zeezi, we don't talk about them anymore, remember?" Carmilla said, shooting the reptile a venomous glare.

"Right, I forgot." the dragon, Zeezi, mumbled.

"At any rate, Valkyrie, go ahead and take a seat over there. The meeting will start soon." Carmilla said, pointing to a nearby chair. Valkyrie nodded and walked over to where Carmilla had pointed. A few more Overlords filed into the room, and then the meeting began. The discussion was mostly involving the status of each Overlord, marking down any new souls that had been acquired. Valkyrie didn't pay much attention to the discussion however, as something else was on her mind. Three seats sat empty next to her, one small, one medium, and one large. Valkyrie mentally counted all of the Overlords in the room, but all of them had their own seat. So then why were there three empty ones?

"Valkyrie? Where is Scorpen?" Carmilla's voice yanked the hornet back to reality.

"H-Huh?" she said dumbly.

"I asked you where Scorpen was. You and Scorpen have formed a tight alliance, I figured you would know of his whereabouts." Carmilla replied.

"Oh! Right! H-He's been busy with rehearsals for an upcoming concert." Valkyrie said.

"Ahh yes, he mentioned something like that to me. He said that you were orchestrating a concert to celebrate the grand reopening of the Doomsday District." Carmilla said.

"Yep, though I'm just providing the music. Scorpen's the one doing all the heavy lifting." Valkyrie said with a shrug.

"Nonsense, music is just as important as dancing in a concert." the white skinned woman said, smiling ear to ear.

"I admire your modesty Valkyrie, it's quite an honorable trait." Carmilla said. Valkyrie let out a nervous chuckle.

"Thanks." she said. The meeting continued, the topic now revolving around adjusting to the Doomsday District's return from the dead. Valkyrie had given a few of her insights on what to do, and she even got the approval of the others to rename the district, the Music District. For now, she listened to Carmilla give a lecture about the new opportunities that the Music District would present. Valkyrie felt a sense of pride beam in her chest. Her hard work was paying off. One of the Overlords, an odd looking mantis, pulled out a cigarette and lit it, a cloud of smoke wafting throughout the room. It slowly drifted through the room, with no one giving it a second thought, until it reached Valkyrie. The second she caught a wiff of the smoke, Valkyrie's lungs caught fire.

She coughed violently, waving away the toxic cloud. It felt as though someone had poured acid down her throat. She choked and coughed, her paws scraping at her neck as she gasped for air. Her papers scattered as she fell out of her chair and onto her knees, coughing and spluttering as if she were drowning. She knew full well that  everyone's eyes were on her now, but that was far from her priority.

Quickly, Valkyrie clammored for the door, stumbling over herself as she grabbed the door handle and forced her way out of the office, making a beeline for the fresh air outside. Valkyrie burst through the main lobby's door and outside, and almost instantly, her lungs began to clear. She collapsed to her knees again, gasping for as much air as she could get. She was grateful that it was late autumn, as the air was cold and fresh, which was helping Valkyrie breathe better.

One of the downsides to being a hornet sinner was a heavy intolerance to smoke, something that everyone in Valkyrie's studio took very seriously. Perhaps she should've warned the other Overlords about that?

"There you are." a voice said. Valkyrie flinched and turned around to see that someone was standing behind her. A deer, at least he looked like one. He had red hair, ears and eyes, and he was even wearing a red pinstripe suit. A pair of small black antlers sat atop his head, a microphone clutched in his left hand. Valkyrie, still a little dazed from nearly suffocating, gave him a small wave.

"H-Hey." she strained, her wings twitching slightly. The deer walked around and stood in front of her, though Valkyrie just stared at his legs, too weak to look up at him.

"You caused quite the commotion back there my dear. Are you coming down with something?" the deer asked.

"No no, I just can't handle smoke very well. Comes with being a hornet you know?" Valkyrie replied, taking in a few strained breaths.

"Ahh, I see. You were choking, I suppose that makes a little more sense. After all, you didn't appear ill when you entered the room." the deer said.

"Nope, I'm as healthy as they come, except for this...I guess smoke allergy? I don't really know what to call it." Valkyrie said.

"Well, it certainly is something Valkyrie." the deer said.

"Huh? Y-You know my name?" Valkyrie said.

"Why of course! I was listening when you introduced yourself, though I believe an introduction for myself is in order. My name is Alastor." Alastor said, bowing respectfully to Valkyrie.

"Nice to meet you Alastor." Valkyrie said, though she was interrupted by a few coughs.

"Oh my, it seems your breathing still hasn't recovered." Alastor noted.

"Yeah, but it's better. It's gonna take a few minutes for me to snap out of it." Valkyrie stated.

"I see. You know, it's rather fascinating that another Overlord with a 'V' in their name has risen to power, though you're a marginal improvement from the last three." Alastor said.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Valkyrie asked, only mildly irritated.

"Nevermind Valkyrie, it isn't anything to worry about." Alastor said. Valkyrie narrowed her eyes at him, but she didn't press him for any more information. She was too exhausted for that. Suddenly, Carmilla opened the door and stepped outside.

"Ahh, you found her, good work Alastor." Carmilla said.

"It was my pleasure." Alastor replied.

"How is she?" Carmilla asked motioning to Valkyrie. The hornet wanted to reply, but a few more coughs shut her up.

"I'm afraid our newest member is still a little queasy, though she should be feeling better soon." Alastor said.

"I see. I'm terribly sorry about that Valkyrie. Had I known smoke caused such a reaction, I would've told everyone not to indulge in any." Carmilla said.

"It's fine, I should've told you from the start. I guess I got so caught up in today's events that I forgot to mention it." Valkyrie said.

"Well, the important thing is that now we know what not to do." Carmilla said, smiling. Valkyrie did too, to the best of her ability anyways given her mandibles. However, something bothered her, something that she needed answers on.

"H-Hey, Carmilla ma'am?" Valkyrie said.

"Yes?" Carmilla replied.

"Everyone keeps talking about some other Overlords with 'V's in their name. I just...I guess I want to know what that means." Valkyrie said. Carmilla's smile fell to a saddened frown, and she let out a sigh.

"About several weeks ago, we usurped three Overlords known as 'The Vees'. They were causing trouble amongst the others, and so we put a stop to it. Any souls owned by them were either set free or relocated to different owners." Carmilla said. Valkyrie's eyes widened.

"Really?" she asked. All she got in response was a nod.