Virgo
Team A

the halls of Virgo, a hallowed place where few dared enter. Ghostly white marble pillars surrounded countless doorways and passages throughout the labyrinth. In the middle, standing behind a raised stand was the deathly visage himself. He once again looked over the faded parchment before him, detailing the fresh batch of collectors he was due to train. Outside, the screams of the damned along with the bored simple minded folks torturing them could be seen. Idly as Virgo often did, he thought about his past and heaven.

As he settled in to wait for the oncoming recruits, Virgo perused today's copy of the end times, Hells most popular newspaper. Today marked the day of the ending of the Great War, which had resulted in hell gaining full control over the United States. Of course many deals had been made throughout the war, for protection or otherwise and the influx of runaway debtors had seen cause for several new squads one of which he was due to oversee. With a deathly whisper of disappointment he once again resumed his place to wait.

Big Red
Team B

Big red was not what you would call a patient man. In fact he was not a man at all but rather a hulking red demon with gigantic horns, and a well tailored three piece suit. He waited on the corner of Brimstone Avenue, a wildly extravagant section of hell something akin to the Las Vegas strip. The passerby's hung their heads as they walked by, while Red seemed to glare straight through them. "shoulda been here by now" he muttered while chewing on a fat cigar.

Quite honestly Big Red wasn't sure why he agreed to sponsor this group of recruits. He could be partying right now, celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Great wars end. He knew it wasn't a sense of duty or honor, because he was completely incapable of those feelings. Idly he considered leaving, and then decided against it. Some of these new collectors could prove useful in the future. With a puff of thick black smoke, Red leaned back onto the nearby wall of a hotel and waited.

Narious
Team A

Narious walked slowly throughout the halls of Virgo. Taking his time looking at the pillars, asking himself questions to himself like "I wonder how these pillars were made". He explored every doorway and passage in utter awe of the sheer grandiosity of the halls, "Someone has to have a lot of time on their hands to build something like this" His hand brushed the walls enjoying the fell he got, mostly because it's been seven to 8n years before he has touched anything that would attempt to maim him or outright kill him on sight." ahh, the feeling of touching something and not having them kill you on sight, the best in the world"

Narious then took out a piece of paper given to him three months ago that read" Narious Sleeker You are to find Virgo and under his tutelage, you are to collect 2 million souls in 3 years time, If not done correctly your soul will be kept here forever and be destroyed""About to subject to brutal torture might as well enjoy" He mused, he finally made it to where Virgo was and said"Narious Sleeker nice to meet you" with a smile

---

Brimstone Avenue, a regular haunt for Lilith. Excess and gluttony carved a niche for her to settle, yet somehow it was more honest than its earthly counterpart; it lacked the pretence, had its façade stripped away – this wasn’t wrong here, they were the demons and the damned. And without the sweetness of sin, the lies the mortals told themselves and others, the hope and despair and desperation, the cheating and the wanton avarice and greed… Lilith shifted on her bar stool. The place just lacked that certain… “je ne sais quoi”.

Lilith sat at the bar wearing skin that was not her own. She sat alone. Heat haze mixed with cigarette smoke and sulphurous fumes to veil much of the establishment in obscurity. On the bar stood a drink, liquid vice, as of yet untouched; the froth writhed in its chalice, having lost all appeal the moment she bought it, almost one hour ago now. Some had spilled, and Lilith was drawing patterns across the wood with one hand whilst her chin rested in the other as she stared off into space, the motion almost hypnotizing with its fluidity. In the grain of the wood one might think they saw faces, drawn long in agony. One might also swear they shuddered and contorted away from her touch.

The woman was the very picture of elegance, with porcelain skin, rosy cheeks, and glossy curls of spun gold. Her demeanour was a veneer of dignity and amusement; a smile toyed at the edges of her lips as if there was a joke only she was in on. It would not be amiss to call her outfit “de rigueur”, for the World Above, draped in a dress of deep red silk as she was, its lack of sleeves revealing arms of that creamy complexion – pale and smooth. Her signature, rose-tinted shades were in place, out of habit rather than necessity down here, but they had invariably become part of her identity.

Eventually the smile soured, and a sigh slithered from between a painted pout of cherry red. Business. That’s what she was here for. Reality was a most unwelcome depart from her reverie. She left, the sultry supposition in the serpentine sway of her hips one most of those Below were wise enough to abstain from entertaining.

Big Red was not hard to find; Lilith knew the locality well enough to find the Hotel described by the Message Imp with relative ease. Big Red himself stood out like, well, like a gargantuan red-mass of muscle dressed in a tailored suit. Such juxtaposition was not too uncommon though, much to Lilith’s regular delight. Yet his piercing glare and air of impatience scattered the gathering amusement. They had met before only once, and Lilith knew enough that it would be folly to get on his bad side. She approached.

“Big Red, I am so deeply sorry for my tardiness,” she said sincerely. Then her tone froze over quickly with the icy severity of business, one hand resting upon her hip as she gestured at the empty space around them with the other, “It was my impression we were expecting others, no?”

Astiroth
Team B

Brimstone Avenue was certainly a place for demons and the damned to visit. Astiroth mostly found his way through the casinos. Never before had he seen so much sin in one place. One might think that seven deadly sins themselves would be here watching. Asiroth shadow hopped from demon to demon. His purpose was simply to help them cheat and he would get a portion of the winnings. Normally, they are very keen on spotting cheaters but who would be able to see a shadow in such a crowded place. Asiroth heightens ones abilities, if cheating was one then congratulations, you just got better at it.

Eventually, he had tired of it. Looking at the time, he realised he was going to be late for a meeting with the Big Red himself. His shadow moved through the crowd until found it's way outside. It then physically manifested into Astiroth. "I think I know where I'm going." Astiroth seeped back into the ground and began to move throughout Brimstone Avenue to find the meeting location. It wasn't long before he spotted the hotel. "That looks like it." He manifested himself into full from and walked through the front door to see Big Red and a female demon standing there. "Sorry I'm late. I lost my way. My name is Astiroth. You have a job for me?"

Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV
Team A (Running Start)

---

In these, presumed anyway, hallowed halls triumphantly stood the result of thirteen glorious generations. Here was Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration the Fourteenth one of the finest dogs which had ever had the glory of being bred in Hell. And this place, well really more the individuals here than the building itself, would provide Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV a chance to leave a mark, besides the one he had already made, and secure him a place among his ancestors. While yes he had already made a mark it was not quite the mark that the fourteenth member of the esteemed lineage of the Conflagrations would like to leave. "The Incident" left a rather nasty stain in the eyes of many, but fortunately due to his prowess in the glorious arena of dog-fighting among a few other good deeds he hadn't secured complete black sheep status. The 'black sheep', the naughtiest or worst dog, of the family was still Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration VIII. Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV was at least above him and a touch above some of the others, but still he was firmly low compared to what he wanted his standing among his kin to be.

"Prrah!" was the noise emitted from the act of Choppers spitting out a copy of 'The End Times'. It was one of the most popular newspapers among demonic animals and demonic pet owners for its absorbancy. As the paper rested against one of the marble pillars, Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV lifted up his left hind-leg and proceeded to use the restroom on the newspaper.

Once that task was completed he walked through the corridors to the chamber in which two individuals, Virgo behind some manner of podium and Narious Sleeker who was not. Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV tilted his head slightly before sitting down. "Rrraow." spoke Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV in the tongue of his ancestors, and not in the more common dialect of demonic. After saying his piece Choppers lowered down and began scratching behind his ear with his right back leg.

Ratwing
Team B, Brimstone Avenue

Across the street from the corner, on a streetlamp, Ratwing crouched, staring intently at a terrified woman in a cafe. Earlier, he'd been perched down the street- there were a lot of "corners of Brimstone Avenue" to look for. This is where he'd perched for the past hour and a half or so, waiting for Big Red and the others among a few damned pigeons. It was a somewhat disturbing sight- seeing the long, thin black legs bent at knees slightly above the crouching figure's head. The weird, oily black skin of a completely nude, yet entirely modest, demon glistening in the light. The mesh of meat and feathers that formed the closest thing to an article of clothing- a cape. The strange rainbow sheen of where the light hit him just right didn't help. He rubbing the three clawed fingers of his long, spindly hands together as if expecting something. But whatever he was expecting, it never came.

Yes, he had been waiting here for quite some time. He'd been called here for some work, and while he had a steady income from all the damned pigeons, a couple of pigeon souls a second wasn't going to buy him that massage chair for his surveillance room. He'd gone in and ordered as a courtesy, and even used silverware when eating. But he was still mad. There were pigeons to monitor, especially in the northern cities- people always got a lot antsier this time of year, which often resulted in accidents and immoral behavior. It was not for a few moments before he came to a realization and turned his head 180 degrees, stretching his arm to scratch his head in his current posture. Eventually, he stretched and did a quick flit across the way, landing among the others as he began eating from a bag of corn.

Leo Armati
Team B

"And there you have him ladies, the Big Red in the flesh, suit and all. Told ya I wasn’t just a pretty face", said Leone as he casually and very opportunely sauntered from around a corner and ran right into his "business meeting" wearing his shades and with his arms around a pair of demon lasses. The vampire flashed a confident, killer smile and shrugged as if to say this wasn’t at all his fault; while the spawn of Lilith to his sides, seemingly young and certainly a cruder and simpler sort of temptresses, managed only a nervous laugh and stood transfixed in equal parts admiration and fear. "Could’ve sworn we weren't due till later, but they just wanted a look at the big guy and they’ll be leaving. Isn’t that right girls?".

It was all, of course, lies from the scion of the Armati bloodline. Well, except for being more than just a pretty face. The vampire had been enjoying himself at a nearby dive for a while, a place where the lights were low, the music was loud and vice flowed freely amidst a mass of partygoers looking for simple thrills. The place had become one of his usual haunts and it had been very simple to have someone stand watch and tell him when the famous red devil, who stood out like a particularly angry sore thumb, showed up to their meeting. Yes, Leone liked to enjoy each day as though it might be his last, a common thing in his line of work, but there was also the simple matter that being fashionably late was just his style.

"Still speechless? Don’t blame ya, ladies, but run along now and we can carry on another time", he insisted as his companions gaped at the situation they’d found themselves in, and with a sigh Leone untangled himself from their arms and gently sent them off by way of firm nudges clearly below the beltline. They were only vaguely aware of his name and had no means to look him up besides the club and the same went for him, all in good fun since it wasn't like there were slim pickings down under. Still smiling, Leo removed his shades and checked out his coworkers up and down before taking a slight bow, never taking his eyes off of them. "Leone Armati, last of the Armati vampire dynasty, at your service".

Mr. Slake
Team A

A hazy figure stepped through the threshold to Virgo's office, little more than a black smudge on the room's metaphorical canvas. It strode forward, set a briefcase down on a tasteless white marble end-table, and set about removing it's coat. Emerging from the rain slicker cocoon came the brilliant rainbow wings of Mr. Slake, glittering dust trailing back towards the door.

"You really ought to put up some signs, you know.", Slake started as he folded his coat, not bothering to look up, "Practically impossible to find an office in this place; I was wandering the upper floor for over an hour before I realized your secretary was one of those savages who calls the ground floor a "first floor". Ghastly, I tell you. If I hadn't followed your dog I don't think I'd ever have found you.", He draped his coat over his lower right arm, picking up the briefcase in his left.

He walked towards the desk/podium/interior-decorating-nightmare, eyeing Narious and Choppers and maintaining his distance with obvious disgust- as obviously as one could show disgust without facial expressions, at least.

"Virgo, I take it. I must admit, I expected you to be a bit more... feminine?"

Mr. Slake fished a small, printed rectangle from his jacket pocket. Tastefully thick; eggshell, with Romalian type. No watermark just yet; he was saving that for his promotion.

"Folus U. Slake, AMT Banking And Legal. My card."

Sprawled on the floor of the cellar was a large pentacle drawn in red candle-wax. On every corner there was iconography of some kind, ranging from animal skulls to raven feathers. Standing on the end of one point of the pentacle was Levi Hawthorne, muttering incantations while his sacrifice was making ready. Getting to hell wasn’t really a problem after all of Levi’s deeds in life Heaven would never except him. Getting back in one piece was more problematic and therefore he needed an open portal. The ritual had been performed by Levi so many times now that he didn’t need his full attention for the incantations and so his mind wandered.

Were these incantations really necessary? And if not, what parts where? The sacrifice most certainly was ri-

Was the sacrifice humming? She was just around the corner, a beautiful maiden of only 21 summers old. A waste really, but she had entered the bond willingly. As far as these sort of things go willingly at least. She turned the corner in a robe, elegant and bare-foot. Levi kept muttering the incantations but gave her a smile and gestured her towards the centre of the pentacle. Her timing was perfect for he was almost done with the incantation she was humming along with. Speaking the last words he gestured her to turn around and lose the robe, which she did unquestioningly with pupils wide from the concoction of drugs he had given her.
It was almost too easy Levi found, as he flicked his wrist to summon the stiletto hidden in his sleeve to his hand. A swift step and drawing movement at her throat send blood flying on the floor.

“Sorry child. If it only could’ve been another way.”

Levi said, as he quickly retreated, avoiding the blood deftly. With a flourish he took off the ceremonial robes (he didn’t know why he had bothered) and used them to wipe the blood of the blade. Simultaneously he walked towards the wall to pick up a briefcase he had left there. When he turned back again his sacrifice’s’ body was suspended in mid-air, the blood pooled in the pentacle; held there by the elevation of the wax lines, was glowing now as a soul purposed for heaven was forcibly taken to hell.

“Off to work we are then.”

Without hesitation Levi stepped into the pentacle. The blood that had filled it up was almost black in the light of the cellar and his feet never touched it, for Levi fell right through what now seemed to be a hole in the ground.
Levi landed on the doorstep of the Halls of Virgo. He was getting better at this stuff, but the joy of that was drowned out by his strong dislike of the place. As a magician he liked a bit of misguidance on stage, but this was behind the curtains, unnecessarily complicating matters. He had an appointment to make however and so he purposefully set about the maze.
As Levi set foot in the middle room he looked around to see most already assembled.
Goddamn, late…

Nevertheless he continued his way to present himself to Virgo, giving a curt bow before saying:

“Master Virgo, A pleasure. I am Levi Hawthorne, loyal servant. My sincerest apologies for the tardiness, the intrinsic problem with meeting in a maze I’m afraid.”

An apologetic smile perked on his ugly face as he retreated to blend in with the others.

30 Silver - Team B

Running Late. Of course he would be. After all, if you're a minute late it's the same as two minutes, or three, or a good ten. But eventually, he had to move. He had to get up and be alive. The being alive part of things though, that was the hard part. The day was hot. He hated hot days, and he just wanted to stay where it was cold. But that wasn't possible, not if he wanted to get back. Get back that thing he lost. Whatever it was. He just knew something was missing.
"You alive?" It was an older man who spoke up, finally paying attention to the thing that had been resting in the alley way. In a box. With that visible eyeless skull, those arms and legs stripped of meat, and that shaggy body that at the very least seemed like it could still be alive.
"أعيش" The noise the creature made sounded old. A dead langue, but it wasn't a demonic language. It was the lanaguage the thing knew best. The language of his home.
"That english?"
"No... It's older." The creature let out a sigh, which was like ice. Slowly he stood, towering over the old man and letting the box fall to the ground. It collapsed, clearly held up entirely by the sleeping creature. Slowly he turned around, his empty eye sockets seemed to take the world in for a moment.
"You usually sleep in a box?" The answer was... No. He usually slept wherever he could. He liked that. Being able to pick and choose where he slept. Having a designated place felt... Caging. Slowly the monster walked off, and the old man waved him away. "Well, catch you later then. Weirdo."

Brimstone Avenue wasn't hard to find. Well, harder than most places, but not all that hard to find once you knew where to look. A lot of space to cover, but it couldn't be all that hard. Not for that creature. He drew a few eyes, with his bright white coat of fur, but most ended up looking away. After all, it was rude to stare.
He was the last to step into the group, a claw brushing against the stone. He brushed the grooves of the stone, as if ignoring the others. He was probably the last to arrive. He could tell just by looking at the others. One of them, the big guy, and clearly Big Red just by the look of him, was the most striking of the group. Well, at least the one who stood out the most. The beast man drew his attention to the vampire, who had just finished shuffling his... Well they were probably prostitutes if one was to give a guess. The other two didn't have much to talk about... Though they had their uses, or they wouldn't be there.
"تحية طيبة." He said, stepping forward and brushing his neck. "I am Thirty Silver. I apologize for my tardiness."

Virgo
Team A

As the diverse crew of collectors gradually filled the hall one by one, Virgo silently checked them off in his mind. After waiting a generous amount of time, he noted the absence of one such employees, which he reminded himself to check up on later. Surveying each group member, he made an effort not to speak telepathically, but instead used a common ghoulish tongue known by most demons. Even though it was nothing more than a whisper, the ghastly words seemed to echo around the pale chamber. welcome employees, I am your Mark and mentor, Virgo. I hope that this may be a profitable relationship for all of us."

Watching them for a moment, he continued "even though this is a newly formed group, due to the recent influx of runaway debtors we already have several class F contracts currently waiting. Due to this, your training and practice will take place on the job. Please take the next few minutes to gather yourselves and meet your fellow teammates, while I take care of some things that require urgent attention." Quickly Virgo faded into nothingness, appearing to have just ceased to exist for this moment in space and time.

Big Red
Team B

Red silently glanced at each of them as they gathered around the corner. First off was Lilith who he swore he had met somewhere beforehand. Somehow, he managed to answer her question with a thick cloud of smoke and a piercing glare. Astiroth, of whom he had already nicknamed "shadow man" in his head arrived next, but being deep in thought as he was he barely acknowledged his presence. When Ratwing fluttered downwards Big Red gazed at him for a moment, before muttering something about "damn pigeons" and returning to his cigar. He grinned when the vampire drew near quick to batten down his ego. ohhh, Armati huh? You guys used to be big shots way back when, we'll see just how useful you are nowadays." Silver though, was the most interesting of all. Many strings had to be pulled to get a lease on satans little pet, and Red's demonic mind lit up almost as much as Silvers soul did, a sputtering black flame in the palm of Red's gigantic hands. He gleefully waved it in front of the slaves face well aware of his history. I bet you'd like this back wouldn't you? Maybe if you serve your purpose I'll let you hold it for a second!" Red guffawed loudly, causing the lesser demons around them to hurry their already frantic pace.

Red gathered the group around spoke with a booming voice. I'm not going to introduce myself, either you know me or you were spawned yesterday. We got a lot of shit to do, and you all are on cleanup duty. You slackers are already late, so might as well take some time and get to know the people you'll be working with. While you're doing that I got some business to take care of. Pushing off the wall he was leaning on, Big Red fastened on a pair of custom tailored hellstone knuckles, bejeweled to increase strength and ferocity. Grinning like a predator before the kill, Rec laughed loudly as he stepped into the hotel. It was not long before screams and the sound of murderous intent could be heard from the inside.

Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV
Team A(n Introduction)

Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV's eyes followed the spectral host as he began to speak. This was certainly not the most unorthodox introduction for a hiring process, after all he wasn't expected to place his freshly dipped bloodied paw on a piece of parchment while circles of druids chanted in the background, but it certainly wasn't as streamlined as he was expecting. It was certainly business casual. As Virgo was starting to briefly talk about the targets, plentiful he expected but he was not sure about the classification system that was being in use. Master Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV was expecting something perhaps relating to their name or location; however as he opened his maws to ask about such a question Virgo had already headed off.

"Brrroaw." grumbled out Choppers as he turned his head from side to side. He had many compatriots here, but did not know where any of their virtues laid. As the ghost suggested, it would be a splendid idea to familiarize himself with his new business partners. Well it would be a good idea as long as they survived of course; if they failed to live then such time would've been spent better on one of his hobbies. Oh well that did not matter now. What did matter was the process of introductions.

Cornelius lowered his head and began flaring his nostrils in and out. He slowly stomped about the room and began to sniff at each of the members there, taking good note of their personal scents.

The first to be smelled was the gypsy-born known as Levi. Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV brushed up against Levi's hindquarters and began sniffing. As he processed the smells of that one, he moved on to the armored individual who was known as Narious. Again the process was repeated with Cornelius brushing up against Narious's backside and began sniffing it to note the scent. Lastly he did the process with Mister Folus U Slake, brushing up against the wings and sniffing around to note the scent.

Processing each of these smells, Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV slowly trudged in front of the podium area and just glanced at the three. "Woof. Woof." stated Cornelius Choppers Conflagration XIV quite certain he had made his point.

"Mm, yes. Woof woof indeed, hound.", Mr. Slake muttered with undisguised contempt as he placed his business card back into his breast pocket, "I suppose for all the heavenly host's gifts, a little class isn't among them."

Slouching a little, he leaned back with his upper elbows against the podium and looked up at the gaping void above them, flawless pillars rising into the aether, their tips obscured by slate-grey fog. He let out a long, shuddering sigh, regretting his transfer already. Sure, maybe he had lied about his credentials a tiny bit, owed a few minor favors, been on the wrong end of an audit or two, but this was Hell! Everyone was a scumbag, he was just better at making a career of it.

"...So-", he started, taking stock of his new coworkers. "-is this normal for you lot? Getting ditched in the middle of the interview, I mean."

Leone didn't shrink under the brute's glare, he didn't step back, he didn't overreact. He held his ground and looked Big Red dead in the eyes, returning the demon's predatory grin with a well humored one of his own as he came up from his bow with a shrug. "Well I didn't ask to be here so I must've been doing something right to be called up, eh?", he mouthed off, well aware it might provoke the famously temperamental bruiser. Not that he much cared, about hierarchy, risk to himself or even his family history. He was who he was, he was strong and he'd get stronger, he was gonna make it to the top. That'd never change.

Perhaps fortunately for Leone's future, Big Red appeared to have more important things to deal with that also involved violence and so he left the group to socialize while he took care of it. Well this was a crummy first day on the job, awful management. He'd even consider lodging a complaint, if he were the type to do those things and if this were an actual job. He took stock of his would be companions: a giant multicolored walking pigeon, some rotting goat guy that looked like he'd fold like wet paper, the umpteenth shadowy guy he'd met and the "lovely lady" that was probably some kind of warty hag that'd make his dick fall off.

What the hell, it was as if he'd never stopped running with the gangs and the mobsters back home. At least down here you knew what everyone was, crap most were pretty goddamn open about who they were and what they did. He could deal. "Well...", he started then stopped, interrupted by a shrill scream of agony coming from inside. He sighed, rolled his eyes and gave it another go. "Guess we're stuck together and I dunno about you but I'm not gonna just wait here while he has his fun. Anyone wanna go for some coffee?", he shrugged again and flashed his best killer smile at the group, giving an ample wave at a pick of coffee shops and even one odd traveling cart making his rounds at hand. "Been a long and busy night, I sure could go for some coffee before work".

Team A: Levi

With Virgo’s announcement Levi tilted his head back to ponder what he was saying, looking at the others one by one as the Demon disappeared. His pondering was disrupted due to a sniffing noise that followed a brush against his leg.

“Well Hello there”

Levi’s hand moved in to pet the beast, before he took an actual look, but he thought the better of it when he saw the demonic creature.

“oh yes hello indeed, Good boy?”

Levi posed it more as a question rather than a statement, but it got drowned out somewhat by a statement coming from the strange butterfly-like creature. Butterflies were usually beautiful but magnifying them always diminished that somewhat. How fitting he was concerned with ‘Class’. On his question whether these disappearances were normal Levi shrugged.

“There’s a first time for everything right? As to follow up on the ‘heavenly Hosts’ request;

I’m Levi, Levi Hawford, I believe they refer to my function in the team as fixer.”
He let out a crooked smile that accentuated the scar on his face.

“Happy to meet you all in this spectacular locale. It already seems like a jolly gathering don’t you think?”

Group B

Ratwing did not emote at the rather insulting words of Big Red. While he wasn't exactly rich, there was no arguing that Ratwing did have the largest soul income in hell by volume. He offered one of his business cards written in cuneiform. Stubborn as he was, he'd never seen the need to get it updated. Anywhichway, he'd already seen this group wandering around the city. He'd seen everyone that wandered around this city. They weren't much different than anyone else, but it was likely all that Big Red could get together on short notice. however, he looked at the most beastly among them. Somehow, his beak twisted into a look of disgust as he recoiled.

"...Don't we have leash laws in this city?"