“Did you find a date, Ulmuka?” The strix hadn’t been in the house for more than a few moments before his father’s low voice beckoned from his entertainment lounge. The strix, while having his little rebellions, didn’t want to disobey this time. He was feeling confident and his excitement about prom seemed to be carrying a boldness to him.

“Yes.. yes I did. Thank you for the flyer.” His head bobbled on his shoulders as he peered in the door and then slowly walked into the large lavishly decked out room. Archibald Knobwalker, Senior as they called him, was lounging on a couch with the celebrity news muted on his skelevision. Surprisingly, besides the grin and eyes, Muka looked quite a bit like his father. The elder demon was the same cool grey skin tone, umblemished and unaging. There was no real way to tell how old he was besides the gray in his black hair. He had no wrinkles or spots but his horns arched perfectly over the round of his head and back into crooked points. He held an air of superiority, maturity that marked him as older. He twirled his pointed goatee and looked at his monster son with pale slitted eyes. “A little help is never a problem.”

Muka hadn’t liked the flyer. He felt a strange burn in his chest but it was barely a tremor, not enough to move him. “Well I have a date. She is a ghost.. her name is Needle and she is an Engraver.”

The demon seemed to sigh, as if his efforts were wasted. “Well at least you have a date. Is she at least attractive?”

The strix faltered for a moment. He didn’t have the appearance hang ups of others. He wasn’t sure he knew anyone that he’d personally call unattractive. He knew his father’s qualifications but with a tremulous noise of confirmation he nodded. “Yes.”

The demon smirked, unsure if he could trust his son’s opinions. The strix was odd and had never in the past expressed interest in anyone besides for friendship. He didn’t even know if the strix preferred ghouls or boils. Perhaps both? It did not even dawn on Senior that the strix may not be interested in anyone at all. If he did, he’d find it to be another deficiency , some sort of retardation.

“Good then.” With a final tug to his facial hair, a twirled point, he gave his son a smile. All of his smiles seemed warm, genuine, even when they weren’t. It was one of his many gifts. “You did well. I’ll take care of the rest. “ A pause. A look. The smile dropped away to boredom again. “That’s all. You can go. Your brother will be by in the morn-“

“No father.” The strix interjected with almost a screech. It startled the demon and his slitted eyes widened only a bit in surprise. “You won’t take care of it. You’ll pay for it.. but I am planning.”

“Oh.. hahaha.. Ulmuka. Really.” Senior laughed, a manicured hand laying on his finely tailored shirt front. “It’s good of you to take initiative but-“

“I will do it. I will send the seamstress for measurments, I will look at designs. I will order flowers and call the photogrpahers.” His grin was static though his voice had evened out to a cold even tone. It trembled in it’s usual manner but the strix seemed to be putting effort into keeping it steady. “I want to do it myself and I will. Needle has particular needs and they will take extra care.”

Senior stared at him, eyes narrowed again in contemplation. Would he take the chance? Would he trust a few points on the social pages of the paper to his son’s handling? The strange monster who even know could barely speak in an even keel?

“I will send a car for her and she will come here for photos. She ah.. hmm..” Muka’s confidence faltered only a moment and he lost that train of thought. “You will be here and you only may call 3 papers.” He held up 3 taloned fingers. “She isn’t used to the attention. But I will need your funding and.. I will be sure that it is perfect.” He wanted the perfection as much as his father, but more out of self satisfaction than for appearances. “We have an appearance to uphold.”

The last part made Muka straighten, his grin growing. He was almost proud of himself… if he knew what that swelling feeling in his chest really was.

“You’ll need flow-“

“Flowers, dress, tuxedo, car, photographers. I know father.” He giggled now, more uneasy than usual. Now that his speech was said he was nervous to his father’s reaction. The moment stretched on, gold eyes unblinkingly pinned on the demons narrow pale ones.

“Fine. You may.” Saying it, allowing him of his own will, made him feel a bit better. Senior was impressed, only mildly with his son’s effort. Perhaps he was learning at this school? He’d begun to think it was a waste of time. “But I’ll be giving you a bit of extra instruction on prom etiquette and what is expected before and after.”

To this Muka ruffled, happily now. Everything he knew of manners he learned from his father personally and so he knew the knowledge would be valuable. This was his first prom and so he was sure to learn something from the more experienced demon and he did always enjoy any attention the succubus could spare him. “Yessir!” he hooted.

A flick of the demon’s hand sent the strix away in a flutter. He had so much to do!

..and he was SO HUNGRY.