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Octavia nestled back into her usual spot on the sofa as she browsed her feed. She briefly considered popping her earbuds in to put on some tunes, but her battery was getting rather low. The tunes could wait until after she'd recharged.

*click click click click click click click*

The adolescent smirked at the news that Verosika was getting married again. The comments section was already making bets on how long this one would last. The current record was six days. From the looks of the pop star's latest groom, Octavia idly considered betting some of her allowance on 48 hours. Then she remembered that she didn't care about celebrity gossip and kept scrolling.

*click click click click click click click*

A flame war had broken out the night before over who was the more talented pornstar. Unsurprisingly, Angel Dust had an army of simps riding in to defend his honor. And they were posting screenshots. Thank Lucifer that she had that filter installed.

*click click click click click click click*

Finally, Octavia grunted in annoyance and glared up from her phone at Stolas, who was loudly pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace once again.

"Dad," she said as calmly as she could, "I'm happy as everyone else that you've finally come out of your room, but that is really getting annoying."

Stolas sighed and swung around to regard his daughter. "I'm sorry, Via, but I just can't help it. I cannot stop pondering what went wrong. Everything was perfect! Or so I thought." His expression darkened as he turned and resumed pacing at a slower gait. "No, it wasn't anything I did. He did something to discourage Blitzø from returning my affections."

Octavia huffed and put her phone away. There went her relaxation time. "No Dad, it's simple. The reason he only wants to be friends is-"

"Because that fire-breathing fiend manipulated him!" Stolas finished, "I can only imagine the nasty things he says about me. Why, he must have rocked my poor Blitzy to his core! How could he possibly see the truth when Harper's scales are over his eyes?" he shuddered, then added "in a literal sense."

The owlet buried her face in her hands, then dragged her fingers down her cheeks in exasperation. "For Godsake..."

"Language," Stolas sternly warned her.

Octavia ran her hands through her hair and stood up. "Why do you have to make this into some big conspiracy? The better answer is that your attempt to get serious was likely too little too late." She walked over to her father's side and took his hand.

"For what it's worth, you put a lot of effort in," she added, "and it sounds like Blitzø's willing to be your friend. That's something, at least! And you still get to tumble with him every full moon. Can't you enjoy that for what it is?"

Stolas quietly regarded Octavia, who hopefully smiled up at him. Then, he looked away. "No. I can't 'settle' for having Blitzy as just a friend."

Octavia deflated, but Stolas didn't seem to notice. The owlet let go of her father's hand and rubbed at her temples. She was too damn young to be getting migraines. Meanwhile, the Prince of Hell had turned to stare into the fireplace.

"You won't understand," he murmured, "But Blitzø is just too important to give up to some upstart commoner who thinks himself better than the nobility." He folded his hands behind his back, and his posture straightened. Then, he turned around to face his daughter again.

"That imp has made me feel things, Via," he continued, "Things I have never felt before in my long, long life. I savor every moment that I'm with him, and I want nothing more than for him to savor those moments in turn."

With a loud groan, Octavia threw her hands up. Stolas drew back, eyes wide in surprise.

"Dad, do you hear yourself talk?" she demanded, "You sound as entitled as a bloody Disney princess! Having Blitzø over to our house to cheat on Mum every month isn't enough for you. Lording over a big chunk of Hell isn't enough. Being at the command of twenty-six Legions isn't enough. Now, you want the guy you have a creepy obsession with - and who you coerced into being your fuckbuddy in the first place - to love you back???"

The Prince of Hell shrank back, then wilted. Realizing her mistake, Octavia reached out to take both of Stolas's hands this time. "I'm sorry, that came out harsher than I wanted," she continued, "But this is getting frustrating. You're making this harder on yourself - harder on me. I get you're used to getting whatever you want, but this is going to be the rare time that you don't.

"My lowborn friends have a saying: 'Quit while you're ahead.' You already have a friend with benefits, and it sounds like he won't feel as bad about shagging you now. That's a win! I don't want you to throw that away trying to chase something you can't have." She squeezed her father's hands before letting go.

Stolas offered Octavia a watery smile, then knelt down with his arms spread. Octavia happily stepped into the hug, and nestled into his soft chest. Though she was too proud to admit it, hugs from her Dad were the best.

As she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Stolas in turn, he finally spoke. "Oh, my precious starfire," he cooed, "Who knew someone so young could have he wisdom of centuries? But..."

Octavia's eyes opened. The bottom dropped out of her heart in anticipation of what he was about to say. "It is as I said," he murmured, "You wouldn't understand."

The owlet's grip on her father tightened. "You can't be fucking serious," she hissed.

"I am serious, and again mind your language," Stolas said as he straightened up. "My Blitzy is just too important to let go. He and I are destined to be together, and I cannot stand by and let some Sinner get in the way of destiny."

Octavia stormed back over to the couch and flopped down with a huff, her arms crossed. "Alright Dad, quit it with the flowery language and be honest. There's more to this than all that shite about true love and destiny and whatever, isn't there?"

Stolas tilted his head in curiosity as he came over to join his daughter on the couch. She continued. "This stopped being about 'your Blitzy' the instant he started getting closer to Lord Harper. I know how much you hate that wanker's guts, and I don't even blame you."

Reluctantly, the adolescent owl demon scooted closer to her father as he sat down. "Just tell me straight. Are you upset that you lost out on a relationship with Blitzø, or are you upset that you lost out on it to Harper?"

Stolas sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Octavia watched him in trepidation. What would he say? Was he going to say anything? Did she break him?

Just as Octavia was about to wave her hand in front of his face, he leapt to his feet. The owlet recoiled to the other end of the couch in surprise. The Prince of Hell turned to his daughter and puffed up. "You know what, Via?" he said, "You're right. That Harper has been a thorn in my side for too long. And now he is taunting me by moving the imp of my dreams into his sphere of influence. Peace treaties be damned. That he stole my Blitzy from me is the final straw! It is time that he learn an object lesson about his place in Infernal society."

Octavia groaned once more in exasperation, but Stolas didn't seem to notice. "I've been watching his moves closely for the past few months," he said as he started pacing, "Until now I had no idea how to respond. I.M.P.'s headquarters were moved into a building in his territory. That was an obvious and direct challenge, and I've waited long enough to answer it."

The Prince of Hell returned to the couch, lifted Octavia's head up from her slouched posture, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, my owlet. You have been a beacon of clarity in the solar storms that have rocked my soul these past few days. I know what I must do now."

With that, the owl demon stood once more and strode out of the sitting room. Octavia breathed a long, loud sigh as she toppled onto the couch and sprawled out.

"Dad, I love you," she grumbled to the ceiling, "But you can be really sodding thick sometimes."

Prince Stolas breezed into his study, shutting the door behind him. After taking a seat at his desk, he hauled his fancy rotary phone over from the corner. He then opened one of the desk drawers and produced a thick book of phone numbers. Stolas leafed through the pages to a few he had highlighted. Smiling, he began to dial.

"You think I don't know what a proxy war is, do you Harper?" he said with a chuckle, "Well, let me show you a thing or two about centuries of political experience. Let's make your day-to-day life a little more interesting, shall we? Maybe then the time you spend with my Blitzy won't be so pleasant."