Ch. 8: A Grim Meeting
(Intro starts, Ready to Play by Club Player)
This is a dream world, we're living in.
Junior is seen sitting on a couch in the IMP break room, polishing his guns.
Every move feels like a beginning.
Junior is then seen sitting in the meeting room with the others, sharpening his scythe with with a sharpening stone.
I can't believe my eyes.
Blitzo is standing before them with his hands behind his back.
I'm feeling so alive.
Blitzo slams an order form and a photo of the target on the table.
All the colors in overdrive.
Everyone looks at the photo and Junior smirks a bit.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Game time, game time.
Junior stand up and twirls his scythe in his hands.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Aim high, aim high.
Millie and Moxie stand up, ready for action while Loona lazily gets up and rolls her eyes.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Game time, game time.
Loona sends a look to Junior, sending a small smirk at him while Blitzo comes to Junior with a smile on his face.
Power up, here we go.
Junior lifts his scythe before swinging it, opening a portal to the mortal realm.
Are you ready to play?!
The group stands before a castle in London, England.
Are you ready to play?!
The group charges into the castle though a back door, leaving a two dead guards on the floor.
Get ready. The world's at your finger tips. There's nothing like this.
They make it to the master bedroom and see group of guards before them.
Are you ready to play?!
The guards point their weapons to Junior and the others, ready to kill them to defend their king/queen.
The future's today!
IMP gets ready to fight, Moxie pulling out a shot gun, Millie pulling out a mace, Blitzo pulling out a flintlock gun and dagger, and Loona growls and bares her fangs.
Get ready. The world's at your finger tips.
Junior smirks at the guards before pulling out one of his guns.
Are you ready to play?
Junior shoots the bullet at the screen in a flash of light.
(End of Intro)
A week after the mission with the cheating wife and her crazed family, the employees of I.M.P. were as they usually are in the office. Waiting on the next mission while talking, cleaning their weapons, or just practicing in ways to kill someone. Though, Junior's mind was somewhere else and he was double checking if he made sure the preparations were made. And now, he was standing next to Loona's desk as his hellhound girlfriend was talking with him.
"So, your parents are ready to meet me?" Loona asked Junior, a bit nervous.
"Yeah, they are. Dad's excited to see you in person while Mom's feelings are...a bit more complicated than that." Junior said to her, looking to the side a bit.
"Complicated? I'm going to assume that's bad?" Loona questioned as she looked to Junior.
"Yeah, mom has always been sort of testy. She's probably going see if you're worthy enough for me, I think you should prepare for the worst." Junior said as he pulled his collar a bit.
"Al...right." Loona said as she looked away a bit.
Loona didn't show it but she was extremely nervous about meeting his parents, they were THE Grim Reaper and THE Bitch Queen of a region in hell! This was going to be the biggest challenge of Loona's life, one that she never thought she would experience.
"I know you're nervous but don't worry, it'll be alright." Junior said as he took Loona's hand in his. "Because we'll have each other to look out for."
Yeah. We will." Loona said as she intertwined their fingers, gazing lovingly at Junior.
As the two were enjoying their gaze into each other's eyes/eye sockets, a sudden bullhorn interrupted the moment.
"M & M, get in here! We're going to Loo Loo Land!" Blitzo said through the bullhorns.
"Loo Loo Land?" Moxxie asked before glass was heard breaking.
"Loo Loo Land?!" She said with excitement!
"Loo Loo Land!" Blitzo said again.
Growling in annoyance at their shouting and running the moment with her mate, Loona shot up from her chair and screamed back at the trio of imps.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" She screamed as Junior began calming her down.
"Well. . At least we know what everyone's doing" Junior said to her as he got Loona to sit back down.
"Yeah, going to an amusement for some reason." Loona said as she calmed down. "At least I won't have to worry about Blitz finding out and ruining this. Who knows what your parents would do?"
"I have a good idea of what mom would do." Junior said with a chuckle.
Loona could guess the same as she laughed with Junior, knowing that a lot of people would kill her father for his annoying attitude. Eventually, the imps of I.M.P. left for whatever business they had at Loo Loo Land while Junior and Loona waited to be taken to meet Junior's parents. They knew Junior could jsut make a portal to getting there but his parents insisted on sending someone for them.
'They're already trying to intimidate her with my status.' Junior thought as they stood outside of the building, having gotten a call from his parents about the care being there soon.
A few minutes later, a black limousine with a front grill that looked like monstrous teeth, windows tinted green, and a silver skull hood ornament pulled up in front of them.
"Nice ride." Loona said as she took a photo of the limo.
"Yep." Junior said without a care, not impressed by the limo.
Steeping out of the driver's seat, a metal guard from the castle came and quickly walked to the back door and opened it for Junior and Loona.
"Your highness." He said with a bow.
"Hello." Junior said with a single nod.
"Your parents are awaiting your arrival and I have been informed that your sister will be away for the moment." He said as Junior and Loona stepped into the limo.
"Thank you for letting us know." Junior said with a nod as the door closed.
'Especially with Minnie, I don't want to see how she reacts if she still has feelings for me.' Junior thought.
Once they were in, the metal guard hurried back to the driver's seat and began the trip back to the castle. It would be a short trip by driving to the edge of Imp City and opening a portal to take them back. Inside the limo, there was a provided bar with several mini bottles of alcohol and glasses. Loona thought she could use a drink to help her loosen up but she shouldn't, it wouldn't be good for either of them since Loona really wanted to make a good impression.
'Just relax, it'll be fine. Nothing is as bad as it seems, just like when I was adopted by Blitz.' Loona thought to herself, leaning her head onto Junior's shoulder.
He knew she was extremely nervous right now and him just holding her close was all the comfort he could give right now to help calm her down. So the limo had come to a halt as they reached their destination, Castle Grimskull, as the car stopped in front of a stone courtyard. Two lines of guards were standing at attention with their weapons at their sides as the head guard came to greet them as the limo was opened. He was dressed a 16th centurary knight with mint-green skin. He wears a light-blue uniform with a black belt and has a red blocked line on the edge of it. He wears a black cape, red from the inside, with a high collar that reaches above his head. He also wears a black necklace with spikes. Under his clothing he wears an metal armor. The armor has spikes on the gloves. He also wears a metal helmet with spikes on top of it and covering his eyes.
"Welcoming his visit to the castle, Prince and Heir to the throne, Grim Junior!" The head guard, Lord Pain, said as all the guards bowed to Junior before standing back at attention.
"Wow, big welcome party." Loona commented.
"Yeah, I know." Junior said as Lord Pain rose his head.
"Please, follow me, your highness!" he said as he turned around and walked forward.
Taking Loona's hand in his, Junior lead Loona down to the castle through the doorway as the guards slowly fell in behind them. Before long, Lord Pain had left them and the couple were left with the reaper himself standing before them. Standing as tall as Junior, Loona saw that the current reaper was wearing a classic black robe with a red inside from the hood, a rather large jaw on his skull, and his legs were not showing his legs as his robe completely reached the ground.
Immediately, Loona bowed to him as she gulped a bit in fear.
"Lord Reaper." Loona said with a hint of fear.
"So you must be Loona." Grim said in a Jamaican accent.
"Yeah, dad. This is the girl I told you and mom about." Junior said as Loona rose up.
Taking a step towards her, Grim stared at Loona for a moment before he suddenly...hugged her. Loona was surprised by this hug as Junior was in shock of his father hugging his girlfriend.
"Uh, dad?" Junior asked as Grim broke the hug, smiling towards him and Loona.
"It's nice to finally meet the girl that won me boy's heart." Grim said with a smile.
"Well...it's nice to meet you too." Loona said as she slowly grew a smile of her own.
"Junior never had the best of luck finding the right girl but I'm glad he found you. Under all that rough exterior, I can tell is an honest and loving soul." Grim said as Loona blushed and looked away.
She had a smile on her face as he complimented her on her soul, something Loona had never experienced before.
"Well...thank you, Lord Reaper." Loona said with a bow.
"Please, call me Grim." Grim said with a smile.
The trio walked through the castle on a sort of tour as Loona and Grim seemed to be getting along nicely but now all he had to worry about...was how his mother would react to Loona.
'Now I hope mom will like her.' Junior thought as they entered the den, lit with a fireplace and some tea on the coffee table.
"Sit and relax. If you do not like the tea, I can have the server bring ye something else." Grim said as he sat in a chair while the couple sat on a couch.
"Thanks, but it's fine." Loona said as she reached for the tea and poured herself a cup.
When she took a sip, it really helped calm her down and Loona knew she would need to be calm if she was going to gain the approval of the bitch queen herself. They trio spent about 20 minutes talking and enjoying their conversation until the bitch queen, Mandy, came into the dean...holding semi-automatic pistols in her hands.
"Junior...why does you mom have two guns?" Loona asked him with worry, beginning to sweat a bit.
I...think I know." Junior whispered back as he looked towards his mother nervously, speaking normally. "Hey...mom. Just coming back from the shooting range?"
"Hello, Junior. And yes, I did." Mandy said with her usual frown before gazing at Loona.
"...U-Uh, hello, ma'am." Loona said nervously with a small wave.
"Hello, you must Loona." Mandy said as she sat on the arm of the chair, on Grim.'s left side. "I've heard many good things about you from my son, but I wanted to see your for myself."
"O-Okay." Loona said as she shivered under Mandy's gaze, like she was in great danger being in the same room with her. "And?"
"Hmm, you're don't disappoint but I need to be sure you're right for my son." Mandy said as she cocked the guns in her lap. "For that, I only believe in one method of seeing that."
"Uh...what method is that?" Loona asked as her instincts went insane, telling her to get out NOW!
"Combat." Mandy said as she aimed her left pistol at Loona.
"What wait?" Loona said in surprise before she quickly jumped up as a bullet tore through the couch!
"Mom!" Junior shouted as he tried to get up but he couldn't leave the couch.
"Trial by combat is the only way I'll allow anyone to be with my children." Mandy said as Loona landed behind the destroyed furniture. "If your strength is up to my standard, I'll have no problem with you being with Junior and be able to take my place if you last that long."
"Are you serious?! This is nuts!" Loona shouted before seeing Junior struggling to get up from the couch.
"If your wondering why Junior isn't getting up, it's because I had the couch enchanted to keep him there until I say so." Mandy said as she got up and walked to Loona. "Now, fight me."
Dodging more shots from Mandy, Loona had no choice but to take her challenge and charged at her on all four limbs.
'Fine, you want to fight?! I'll fight!' Loona thought as jumped at Mandy.
She tried to bit into her flesh or claw at her but Mandy dodged or knocked away each and every attempt before shooting at Loona, who always managed to dodge while only suffering a graze or a scratch. The battle went on for minutes that felt like hours but Loona could see that she was losing and needed a way to win, though her thoughts left her open to be kicked in the stomach by the bitch queen!
"GAH!" she screamed as she was sent tumbling towards the wall.
Breathing heavily from the battle, Loona looked up to see Mandy reloading her guns and something...shining behind her?
"Huh?" Loona let out before she got back on her feet and rushed to, dodging several shots from Mandy as she grabbed it from the floor.
'I don't know where the fuck this came from but thank god!' Loona thought as she held up a circular shield colored with rings of red and white with a blue circle and a white star in the center.
'Wait, that shield!. Junior thought.
'So she purposefully left a chance for Loona to survive but how will she react outside of defense?' Grim thought as he watched.
Back with the battle, Mandy fired without mercy at the shield as Loona blocked the shots and charged at while keeping low to avoid her legs and tail getting shot. Gazing up over the shield, Loona saw her guns were out and charge at Mandy much faster then before.
"RAH!" Loona screamed as she knocked one of her guns and tackled her to the ground.
Loona pulled the shield back and reeled it back to stabbed into her neck but stopped short, a few inches to stop from killing her as Loona was breathing heavily from the battle.
"There! I...win!" she said between her breathes heavily, growling down at Mandy.
"Hmm, not quite." Mandy said, surprisingly calm as she looked up at the huffing hellhound. "Look at your waist."
Still taking breathes to calm down, Loons looked down and gasped to see Mandy's remaining gun right against her stomach with the hammer back.
"If I was serious, you'd be dead but you actually managed to surprise me by getting this close. Good." Mandy said as she moved her gun away. "Your instincts are impressive and your reaction time was quick. With plenty of potential to grow, you'll make a good queen one day."
Looking a bit surprised at her compliment, Loona was a bit surprised as Mandy pushed her off and stood up to get her guns.
'Queen? Me?' Loona thought as Mandy took the shield from her, pulling her to her feet as well.
"You're a good woman for my son, strong and trust worthy but if you hurt him..." Mandy said as she glared harder at Loona.
"You'll skin me alive?" Loona finished her as she got nervous again, shivering under her glare.
"No, not that. If you hurt my son, not even God or Lucifer THEMSELVES can help you." Mandy said in a dark tone.
At this warning, Loona felt her entire being right down to her soul shiver as Mandy's eyes glared at her for a moment before she stopped and put her gun away. The Bitch Queen snapped her fingers and the couch that was holding Junior flashed for a second before stopping, unleashing Junior as he was able to move again. The prince quickly rushed over the Loona and checked her for any injuries but saw nothing be a look of terror on her face and a shaky smile.
"I-I-I'll be s-sure no-not to disap-ppoint you, m-ma'am." she said as looked to Mandy, quickly latching onto Junior to try and calm down.
"Please, call me Mandy. You've earned it." Mandy said to her before walking back to her husband, Grim.
Junior sighed in relief, his mother approved of her and Loona could finally relax but that lead to her legs go in out and nearly falling to the ground.
"I got you!" Junior said as he quickly rushed to her and held caught her in his arms.
"Thanks, babe." Loona said as she slowly regained the feeling in her legs.
"No problem." Junior said as he looked towards his parents. "I know this might be sudden but do you want to stick around to talk with them more or do you wanna cut this visit short? I can assume my mom's little test was extremely taxing."
"Well, I guess I can endure a bit more." Loona said, somewhat confident now that she had gained the approval of both parents.
Then I guess, we can stay a bit more before leaving. Who knows if Blitz and the others are done with their thing by now?" Junior said as he carried her to the couch.
Though, the moment Junior and Loona had returned to the couch, a new voice had joined in the group.
The moment the new voice came into the room, everyone in the room turned to see what could be described as Mandy's twin sister. She was wearing a dark purple and green version of her outfit with a black headband and a skull broach around her neck.
(Dark purple to replace black and green to replace red.)
"Uh. . Hey, Minnie." Junior said nervously.
'Minnie? His sister?' Loona asked as she looked at her but flinched at her cold gray eyes, eyes even more glaring at her even more than Mandy was before. 'But they said she'd be away at something!'
"Who is this?" she ask as she looked at Loona.
Walking up to the group, Minnie sat next to Junior as she kept her eyes on the white hellhound.
"Minnie, this is Loona...my girlfriend." Junior said to her calmly.
"Girlfriend?" Minnie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, we met at work." Junior said as he tuned to Loona. "Loona, this is Minnie. Her full name is Minimandy but you can call her "Minnie" for short."
"Uh. . Hey." Loona said nervously as she waved at her.
"A good morrow to thee. . Girlfriend." Minnie said, a bit more sour than it should be.
The tension could be felt like it was choking as no one could say anything at her sudden arrival but Junior felt he HAD to say something to her about the whole feelings thing between them. It wasn't a secret to the family that Minnie had feelings for Junior since they were kids and they were homeschooled together. For a time they got along until something happened, something that made Minnie just as cruel as their mother. Junior tried to keep their relationship friendly but it was just too hard, Minnie just shot down every opportunity and they grew apart. I was one of the reasons Junior moved out, he thought some space would be good for her. It was time to talk and he knew just how to do it as he turned to her, taking her hands into his. A blue flame flowed from his hands as he stared into Minnie's eyes, not burning her as she didn't look away from him.
"Am I...missing something here?" Loona asked, not exactly knowing what was going on.
"It's nothing to worry about." Grim said as he and Mandy didn't do anything. "It's just a way of communication to keep very private talk private."
"Okay." Loona said as she went back to watching her boyfriend and his sister.
What he showed and told her was everything. From his childhood with her to his life with I.M.P., Junior shared with her all of feelings and his pain from her turning to a dark phase in life. He missed kind self, he missed his best friend. It made the glare and scowl vanish from Minnie's face as she kept her gaze at him.
"Doth. . Doth thou mean that?" she asked him.
"Every thought." Junior said with a smile as he stopped his flames, releasing her hands.
She then suddenly hugged him as Junior returned it, letting Minnie cry over his shoulder as they had not felt in years fall as so many of her emotions and feelings had finally found peace. As Loona watched them hug, she didn't exactly know what happened or understand it completely but whatever it was, made her feel so much calmer then before as the room felt more at ease than before. Breaking away from the hug, Minnie looked over to Loona and gave the friendliest smile she had given in years.
"I wish thee and mine brother the best." Minnie said with a nod to her.
"Oh! T-Thank you, and I wish you the best too." Loona said as Minnie pulled Loona into a hug.
"Though remember, if thou hurts him, you will deal with both our mother AND I." Minnie whispered so only Loona could hear him.
"G-Got it." Loona said as she gulped and shook again, this threat was sweet but it's tone was just as chilling.
The hellhound was intimidated beyond belief but at least now, she glad that her boyfriend's family was approved of her. After the air had finally been cleared, the rest of the visit was more pleasant as they talked and had lunch. Even showing Loona some of Junior's baby pictures.
"AW! You were such a cute baby!" Loona said as she gushed over a photo.
"Yeah, I was." Junior said with a blush as they looked over one of his baby pictures, the one with him in a little pink and blue onesie and sucking on a pacifier.
"Yes, he was a rather cute baby." Mandy said as she looked up to Loona. "I'm sure your babies will be just as cute when you have them."
"Babies?" Loona suddenly said, looking up with a blush.
"MOM! Too soon!" Junior said with a blushing skull!
"Tell that to your grandmother." Mandy said to Loona as she looked back at the pictures, remembering how her mother reacting after finding out of she was married.
In the early years of her marriage, her mother wouldn't get off the same subject about grandchildren but now that her mother was gone and in heaven, Mandy surprisingly missed it and her. As Grim silently chuckled at the inside joke, the rest of the visit was pleasant and calm until Loona for a call on her phone. She quickly pulled out out and answered it as she apologized to the Grim family quickly.
"Hello?" she asked into the phone.
"Loonie, it's daddy! Listen, something happened at Loo Loo Land and we gonna need some help." Blitzo said, sort of like he was drunk.
"What sort of help? And what happened at Loo Loo Land?" Loona asked as everyone turned to her.
"Loo Loo land? The shameless rip off of Lucifer's amusement park, Lu Lu World?" Minnie questioned as she turned to Junior.
"Which in itself is a shameless rip off of Disney World." Grim muttered to his wife.
"How Lucifer managed that is beyond me." Mandy whispered as she shook her head. "Maybe he hired Walt Disney."
"Well, we sort of burned the place down and we got seriously injured because of it! So we need you guys to come get us, load us in the car, and drive us back to work with Stolas and his kid!" Blitzo said to his daughter.
Loona sighed in annoyance, of course something like this would happen to her adopted father. Whether intentionally or not, something like this was bound to happen.
"Of course." Loona muttered as she rubbed her temple, hanging up the phone as she turned to Junior. "They burned down Loo Loo Land, got too injured to move, and need our help to get back to work." Loona said.
"I should've expected this." Junior said as he looked to this family. "Sorry our visit has to be cut short cuz of our boss, guys."
"Don't worry about it, the visit was still nice." Mandy said as she waved it off.
"I'm sure you'll visit us again. And maybe next time, we can meet Loona's parents." Grim said as the couple turns to each other.
"Yeah..." they both said as they got up and waved goodbye as they left, deciding on a portal to Loo Loo Land instead of a limo.
As they left, Minnie was currently having other thoughts as she watched them leave. Thoughts about not waiting until their next visit to see them again, thoughts of doing the same as Junior did and...move out. Excusing herself from the den, Minnie went towards Junior's old room and searched his computer for something special, something that would be a very vital item. An application form to work with Junior and Loona at I.M.P.
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