Infernal Rivalry - The Clash Of Vox And Alastor

Chapter 28: Impressive Smoke

(Vox's POV)

As Valentino took a puff of his cigarette, red smoke billowed out in the shape of a heart, adding to his mystique. "Impressive" I remarked, gesturing to the heart-shaped smoke. He smirked and took another drag. "So, who actually are you? You seem to know all about me" I casually ask. With a sly grin, he replied, "Valentino". I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you mentioned that. Still doesn't ring any bells"". His expression shifted from amusement to mild annoyance at my lack of recognition. "You're serious? You've never heard of me?" he questioned incredulously. I shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling out of my depth. "Uh, no, can't say I have," I admitted, running my hand down the back of my neck. His grin turned mischievous as he shuffled closer to me, his voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "Well, I run the porn side of hell. You know, all the juicy stuff" he teased, enjoying my discomfort.

I shifted uncomfortably, feeling my screen get hotter. "I, uh, don't usually dabble in that side of things" I admitted sheepishly, trying to downplay my embarrassment. He chuckled, his tone dripping with innuendo. "Oh, come on now, Voxxy. No need to be bashful. We all have our vices." I cringed inwardly at the nickname, but tried to maintain my composure as Valentino continued to use it. "Well, uh" I began, shifting the conversation away from his choice of moniker, "do you always give strangers nicknames?". He leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not all of them, Voxxy" he replied, his tone dripping with charm. "Just the ones that catch my eye. The hot ones, you know?". I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at his blatant flirtation, instead opting to take a sip of my drink and change the subject. "Right, well, let's stick to Vox for now, shall we?".

Valentino chuckled at my insistence on sticking to my preferred name. "If you insist, Vox" he replied with a smirk. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling a bit out of my depth in this conversation. "So, uh, what brings you here?" I asked, trying to redirect the discussion. He leaned back, taking another drag from his cigarette. "Always on the lookout for new talent", he said casually. My heart sank at his words. "Oh, well, I'm not really interested in that" I responded quickly, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping up my neck. Valentino let out a hearty laugh at my earnestness. "Relax" he said, shaking his head. "I'm not here to recruit you. Though, if you ever change your mind...". I bristled at his teasing tone, suddenly feeling defensive.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, a hint of irritation in my voice. He raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his cerise eyes. "Oh, come on, Vox" he said, leaning forward. "I think you know exactly what I mean". I narrowed my eyes, not entirely sure what Valentino was getting at. "I'm not sure I do," I replied, trying to keep my tone steady. He chuckled, tapping the ash from his cigarette onto the floor. "Well, let's just say, I'm always open to negotiation" he said with a sly grin. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, feeling a bit out of my depth. "I appreciate the offer, but that's not really my... line of work" I said awkwardly. His grin widened. "Fair enough" he said, leaning back in his seat. "But don't be too quick to dismiss opportunities when they come knocking". I nodded, unsure of how to respond to his cryptic advice. "I'll keep that in mind" I said, more to end the conversation than anything else.

I leaned back slightly in my seat, studying Valentino with a mixture of curiosity and discomfort. "Is this... typical for you?" I ventured, gesturing vaguely to his flamboyant attire and suggestive demeanor. He let out a low chuckle, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Oh, if you think this is provocative, you clearly haven't seen anything yet" he replied, his voice laced with amusement. As he spoke, he casually opened up the bottom of his coat, revealing a glimpse of fishnet-clad legs and stylish boots underneath. I couldn't help but swallow nervously at the sight, feeling a flush creeping up my neck. "Right" I muttered, suddenly feeling out of my depth. "Your... industry certainly seems to suit your... personality".