9:52 am Charlie's Office
Today was an exciting time for Charlie. With a new influx of arrivals, she decided now was as good a time as any to experiment with group sessions. She believed the transition to group sessions would have a net positive effect on the hotel: it would, over time, encouraging empathy, self awareness, and communication skills. Likewise, a sense of camaraderie might help with the redemption of at least one of the Hazbin Hotel's guests. Vaggie, however, did not share her level of enthusiasm as the idea was suggested.
"That doesn't sound like a good idea, Charlie."
"Why not?" Charlie asked, genuinely curious.
"People, especially sinners, don't like spilling their life stories if they can help it. Plus, when you consider Crymini's attitude, Angel's immaturity, and Jersey's general hesitancy to talk about his life story outside of our usual sessions..." Vaggie trailed off.
Charlie nodded along with Vaggie's words. She likes to think she could understand other points of view before making any sweeping changes and decisions.
"I'm just making sure you don't get your hopes up, Charlie. Don't forget that half of the people that are coming to this lesson are not the most friendly people."
Charlie hardly needed to be reminded. Angel often resorted to his customary skill in provocation for his own amusement. Crymini, despite being a new arrival, had quickly established herself as a rude individual, a description that was a complete understatement. Despite these dubious personalities under one roof, the Princess of Hell was not one to give up on diversifying her reform strategies.
"It's a test run for group talk. We'll have four sinners just engaging in a dialogue." Charlie explained from her side of the desk in her private office. "No debates or judgment, just three people sharing their experiences, and thinking of ways to redeem themselves despite their sins."
"A shame we couldn't find sinners who weren't so... dysfunctional." Vaggie knew her words came across as harsh, but she had her own misgivings about a therapeutic tactic which could put their efforts several steps back rather than one potential step forward.
"Judgment is not helpful, Vaggie." Charlie reminded her. "We're trying to understand and to encourage improvement, not condemn people who are already in Hell."
"Yeah... I know."
"Awesome." Charlie remarked, trying to move forward with the group therapy session. "So, how do we set it up?"
"The old dining hall would be good. Niffty has the place cleaned up, and the door's no longer boarded up." Vaggie suggested. "It could just be a round table, and we'd pass something to indicate who gets to talk first."
"Cool beans." Charlie said, writing down the suggestions. "Guess we just have to find a suitable object for the speaking part."
"As long as it can't be used for any innuendoes by Angel..." Vaggie added quietly.
Charlie gave a sheepish smile. That would be easier said than done. "Do we know if everyone is available sometime later today or tomorrow?"
Vaggie glanced downward, staying silent as she tried to recall her conversations with the guests and her last sighting of the sign in sheet at the hotel entrance. "Crymini and Jersey are definitely here. I could have sworn I saw Baxter tinkering with some robot parts, and Angel should be back by 4:00 today."
"Awesome! We'll have a half hour session to introduce everyone to everybody and to start off conversations. That way, we can gauge people's reactions and know when to step in to keep things settled." Charlie declared as she rushed to put a reminder on her Hellphone.
Vaggie huffed quietly as she mimicked the same procedure. "Just don't get your hopes up if this turns into a shit show."
"You know me, Vaggie." Charlie said as she hurried out of her office to get the old dining area set up. "I never give up."
4:12 pm
Angel Dust returned with a minor limp in his step. His normally cocky grin was not present, instead showing a tired grimace. It was one of those workdays, when he began to have serious regrets about his current work situation. Then he would realize that leaving his corrosive relationship with his boss was easier said than done, and that even in a best case scenario, he'd still be treated as a sack of meat to be used and abused by anyone outside of his meager circle of friends and acquaintances.
"Fuckin' Val." Angel groaned. "I didn't do shit today to deserve being put through the fuckin' finger, and he still finds an excuse."
The one solace was the hotel, which he now considered a decent boarding house, if nothing else. He refused, however, to believe in any cause of redemption, especially when he felt so low on this day. All he wished to do was shower up, and fall in bed before dinner.
As he numbly entered the hotel, he narrowly remembered to sign in on the time sheet that was on a hanging clipboard next to the door. He turned to find that Jersey was once again hanging out with Husk, albeit with Crymini sulking on a seat on the far end.
"Sheesh, can you old shits talk about anything besides war stories?"
Jersey looked to Crymini with a raised eyebrow. "You know you could just find somewhere else to brood..."
"Yeah, but this is the only place with half decent liquor."
"Can't argue with that." Husk drawled.
"So, what are you fellas doin'?" Angel asked, trying to present his usual, flirtatious self.
"I," Jersey said with some emphasis, "and Crymini have been waiting for you to get back so we can go on to group therapy."
Angel was initially tempted to make a crude joke at Jersey's choice of words. Then he heard the last five or so words of the handyman's sentence. "Go to group what now?"
"Group therapy you goddamn man whore." Crymini answered scathingly.
Jersey sent a light glare Crymini's way. "I wouldn't have put it so rudely, but yes. Charlie wants us, and Baxter, to go to a group therapy session in the old dining area in the back."
"Yeah... socializin' about personal shit ain't my thing, Jersey baby." The porn star raised a hand in dismissal, and was about to go upstairs. Unfortunately, Jersey grabbed the extended hand, and began heading down the south hallway, in the direction of Charlie's office.
"Then you'll explain to Charlie why you don't want to do the therapy. I hope you have a flawless argument." Jersey said bluntly and with no tolerance for excuses.
"Hey! Hands off the goods! I ain't exactly the biggest fan of dubious consent skits, ya know."
"You can make crude joke all you want," Jersey replied tersely, "but if Charlie says you're going, then you're going."
"Or what, you'll put your hammer up my ass?"
"I'm not excited about group therapy either, as a matter of fact, but I won't be selfish and try to squirm out."
Angel looked mildly surprised as they came to a stop outside of Charlie's office. "You mean you aren't-"
"I too, like my privacy." Jersey explained. "I'm not the most open book. At the very least, Charlie has insisted that this session is more of a test trial. She won't force any of us to spill our inner secrets if we don't want to."
Angel Dust jerked his arm out of Jersey's hand. At the very least, he was not grabbed with a painful level of force. Averting his gaze, he let out a long suffering sigh. "Fine. I'll do this group therapy bullshit. I won't like it one fuckin' bit."
"Then I suggest you get yourself comfortable." Jersey said, heading back to remind Crymini of her obligation to join the therapy session. "By the way, you should see to the bruise on your neck."
As Jersey knocked to let Charlie know that everyone was present at the hotel, Angel instinctively reached up to a sore spot on his neck. He had assumed his suit collar would be able to hide the ligature mark caused by a choke scene he had performed earlier in the day. Flinching at the pain, he remembered that the mark nearly reached his jawline. 'As if I needed to be reminded.'
It was a painful reminder of his afterlife.
"This is gonna be one long fuckin' evening."
4:29 pm
Vaggie struggled to hide her discomfort at the sight before her. The group session was just beginning, and body language alone painted a less than optimal picture for how this test session would go. She had promised not to wield her spear as a means of keeping order in a worst case scenario. That did not mean she had neglected to carry and conceal her knives as a back up set of weapons.
Six members of the Hazbin Hotel's meager population were sitting in a loose circle of chairs, with Charlie and Vaggie sitting next to each other. Crymini, furthest to the right, looked grumpy as usual, her arms crossed while one of her feet tapped impatiently. Moving to the left, Baxter was busy focusing on his own clipboard, likely covered in scientific notes or blueprints. The glowing lure that protruded from his head acted as a headlight to ensure whatever was in front of him had sufficient illumination.
Jersey, first to the left, looked most relaxed, but he was hardly a model of eagerness. His arms were propped on his legs as he locked eyes with Charlie, his stare half blank with boredom. Angel Dust had his legs crossed, appearing to not care in the least what was going on. A cigarette was in his right hand, while his left hand was propped behind his back and his lower pair of arms crossed themselves.
"Alright!" Charlie's customary cheerfulness was jarring over the plainly disinterested or unenthusiastic crowd. "Since this is the first time we're doing a group session, I think it's only natural for each of us to introduce ourselves."
She brought up a small, diamond shaped, rose colored sofa pillow. "We're going to pass this pillow between each of us. When it is in your hand, you may speak. If you wish to defer to another guest, you must ask. However, everybody will be expected to give an answer to a topic or to explain themselves. Okay?"
Angel smirked. "That sure gives new meaning to 'pillow talk.'"
Vaggie groaned at the innuendo. "Maldito seas..."
"I'll start things off. I'm Charlie, owner of the Hazbin Hotel, and chief psychologist of the redemption program."
Vaggie tensed as Charlie sent a pleasant stare her way. Straightening herself up, she cleared her throat and grabbed the pillow to address the others. "I'm Vaggie..." She answered lamely.
Charlie gave her a pat on the shoulder. Vaggie did not need telepathy to understand the silent encouragement. "I'm the... co-founder of the Hazbin Hotel. I... administrate the hotel in a number of ways."
Almost opposite her, Angel Dust crinkled his eyes in amusement. He looked like a joke was on the tip of his tongue, but he remained quiet.
"Okay, moving on to our right..."
Crymini narrowed her eyes as Vaggie tossed the pillow to her in invitation to speak. She caught the cushion with derision in her eyes. "Crymini. Biggest bitch in Hell. Unemployed. Just came here to get a free roof over my fuckin' head."
"Pfff... he he he he." Angel could not contain himself this time. "Give ya points for honesty, toots."
"Angel, please remain quiet while everyone's introducing themselves." Charlie remarked gently.
Angel shrugged, then slumped in his chair. He lazily took a drag of his cigarette. Crymini stretched the pillow out Baxter's way.
"Next!" Charlie said with glee.
Baxter, still engrossed in the papers before him, was too focused to mind the events going on around him.
"Baxter?"
Still, the anglerfish demon did not so much as look up from his clipboard. He even began to write something down.
"Baxter!" Vaggie shouted.
The most socially awkward of the sinners gathered would have likely ignored even this firm call when Jersey gently shook his shoulder. He recoiled with a grimace, staring at Jersey as if he were a disgusting mess before looking around him with bewilderment.
"Baxter?" Charlie asked, mildly concerned.
"..." Awkward silence persisted for a few seconds. "What am I doing here?"
"We're doing a group therapy session." Charlie explained patiently.
Angel looked ready to start laughing again. Crymini facepalmed and grumbled something rude under her breath.
"Oh..." Baxter chuckled unconvincingly and clumsily placed the clipboard upside down and under his chair. "So, where were we?"
"We're introducing ourselves." Charlie said. "Crymini has introduced herself already, and now it's your turn. Please take the pillow to give your introduction."
"I see..." Baxter cleared his throat, then cringed as he tenderly grabbed the pillow from Crymini's tiring grasp. "I am Baxter. Scientist and inventor. That's all you need to know about me." He made an effort to scoot slightly away from his immediate neighbors, just out of arms' reach. Even in a group therapy session, Baxter's apparent haphephobia refused to relent.
Charlie cleared her throat, moving on from the anti social Baxter. "Next."
Baxter weakly tossed the pillow to Jersey, who caught the tumbling object by one of its corners.
"Name's Jersey." Jersey introduced himself, sitting up slightly straighter as he did so. "Second person to be a guest at the Hazbin Hotel. I am also the hotel's plumber, electrician, and part time carpenter."
Angel Dust smirked as he received the pillow and made the final introduction. "Name's Angel Dust. Mighta heard about me as the greatest porn star in Pentagram City. Love ta snort funny stuff, suck dick, and cause a lotta fuckin' trouble."
The soft sound of growling emanated from Vaggie's direction. Angel's smirk grew wider as he took a drag from his cigarette and tried to flaunt his assets with a second pair of glove covered hands. He threw the pillow to Charlie, who was thankful that the object used to indicate speaking order was soft in nature.
"Okay!" Charlie remarked overenthusiastically, trying to stop any attempts to provoke the other hotel guests. "Let's move on with telling a bit more about yourselves, like what your past lives were, and the sins you committed to get you to this place."
Once again, Crymini was handed the speaking pillow. "What's there to say? I was a wild chick back when I was alive. Hung out with the 'wrong crowd.'" She gestured with air quotes.
"Wrong crowd how?" Vaggie asked.
"Drugs, drag races, vandalism, skipping school and other kinds of shit."
"Your parents disapproved." Charlie remarked.
Crymini growled. "Didn't give a shit whatever the fuck they thought of. Always telling me to stick to curfews, and to study, and to not dress like a goddamn hooligan. All they ever gave me was rules, and nothing else. Couldn't have fun. Couldn't do anything other people in high school did."
"You felt left out." Charlie surmised with sympathy.
"I just wanted to fucking belong, I dunno!" Crymini exclaimed, irritated by Charlie's genuine empathy. "I ran away from home. Best decision I ever made. Fuck my parents."
Both corners of Charlie's mouth turned down. The comment hit surprisingly close to home, if only because of the insistence by her father that redemption, that the mere hope for salvation for sinners wanting a better fate was a pointless exercise. She still had love for both of her parents, but she knew all too well the feeling of not being supported by the people who raised you.
Vaggie noticed and tried to ease the situation. "Calm down, Crymini."
The wolf demon huffed in derision. "What the fuck ever."
Charlie cleared her throat, addressing the clearly perturbed Baxter. "Do you wish to go next, Baxter?"
He glanced up, then sighed. "If I must. I love science, and I have given everything to achieve great feats with it. So much can be amended or accomplished with some application of chemistry and physics."
"But, what's so sinful about that?" Vaggie asked.
"Well," Baxter replied as he appeared abashed, "I may have acquired funds with less than legal means to further my research. Money does not grow on trees, nor is it made by condensation reduction reactions. He he he..."
The silence at his attempt at a joke was deafening.
"Ahem... anyway. I also might have, occasionally, used living test subjects for a variety of medical experiments. Ugh, not one of my brighter ideas. Between having to dispose of the bodies and all..."
Creaking broke Baxter's train of thought as Angel, Crymini, and Jersey took the time to scoot their stools at least one foot away from the anglerfish demon. Angel and Crymini gave distrustful glances Baxter's way. Most interesting was Jersey, who had a thunderous glare in his verdant eyes.
Vaggie looked ready to have a conniption. Angel's antics and crudeness were frustrating. The casualness with which Baxter talked of malpractice left her feeling a level of disgust almost as strong as her distrust of Alastor.
"Alright..." Charlie said with anxiousness in her tone. 'I really hope this was the right decision...'
Jersey noted it was his turn. "I killed people." He said bluntly.
Angel looked unimpressed. "Really, Jersey baby?"
The hotel's handy man shot him an intense stare. "Not everyone can have some carnal sin to their name. Every person I killed deserved their fate. I won't apologize or compromise on that belief of mine."
At this, Angel felt a sliver of respect for Jersey. If someone was going to sin, there was no point in becoming defensive or making excuses.
Vaggie looked ready to rebuke Jersey at that statement, but she remembered Charlie's insistence that judgment would not be helpful. She could not help but notice Charlie appear downcast at Jersey's statement. It was a painful reminder of the first session they had with him: a day that was infamous within their confidential circle.
"Okay... we have our sins, given that Angel's was own sins need no introduction."
Angel's eyes crinkled in pride, a toothy smile stretching across his face.
"So, next is..." Charlie's comments stalled as she found herself at a loss for words. 'How do I move forward? Especially with everyone having such different vices...'
Vaggie was able to come up with a suitable talking point. "Why do you guys do the things you do? The sinful things, anyway?"
"Like, our motivations?" Jersey followed up.
"Yeah!" Charlie exclaimed, with Vaggie nodding along. "Help us understand what makes you tick."
Crymini quirked an eyebrow, and only gave a few seconds of thought before shrugging noncommittally. "I dunno."
"Surely there's something that motivates you, Crymini." Charlie said. "You mentioned something about your parents. Would you be willing to elaborate on whether their strictness had anything to do with your behavior?"
Crymini grew agitated again. "I wanted fucking freedom! I couldn't do that with my Mom and Dad breathing down my fucking neck, trying to force me to do shit I didn't want to do, and trying to boss me around every second of the fucking day!
"Do you bitches have any idea what it's like being treated like a fucking dog?! When you're just expected to keep on a leash with goddamn curfews and keeping to the house outside of some shitty school?!" Crymini growled, rising to her feet. "All I wanted was to do my own shit and do things on my time. So yeah, I took the chance to run away. I got to fuck around with chill fucking people, and it was Heaven on Earth!"
Vaggie was ready to chide Crymini for her language and tone. Charlie simply leaned forward, locking a sympathetic set of eyes with the most recent sinner to join the hotel.
"I didn't much in the way of curfews, and I had a good deal of freedom, to a certain extent. I do, however, have a dad who-"
Suddenly, the door to the large dining area burst open. Inside rushed Niffty, who looked unusually frantic. "Ms. Charlie! Come quick!"
Charlie stood up to her feet, her face clearly concerned. "What is it, Niffty? Is it an emergency?"
"Well, it depends on your definition. Someone's here to see you." She remarked cryptically. The monophthalmic maid was unusually tight lipped, though nobody in the room noticed it.
"If it's a hopeful guest, surely Husk can settle the matter himself. We're having a group therapy session, and I'd rather not have any interruptions."
"Can you not make time for your dear old father, my dear little appleseed?"
This voice was unknown to those with their backs to the entrance to the dining room. It was deep, aristocratic, and velvety. All of the noise sucked out of the room as the hotel guests turned in their seats to see who the voice belonged to.
It was a slim, handsome man, with an eerie resemblance to Charlie. He too, had porcelain skin, blonde hair, and rosy cheeks. Aside from the obvious masculine differences, his demeanor was dramatically different from the empathetic, and sometimes aloof Charlie.
His sharp, black irises, peering behind lavender eye lids, looked on with cold amusement. The man's teeth were terrifyingly sharp, like that of a piranha. Furthermore, if one was perceptive enough to memorize the family pictures at the front of the hotel's lobby, one would easily recognize that the white suit and hat in one of the portraits was currently being worn by him.
Lucifer Magne stood confidently, his white high collar jacket, black bow tie, and the rest of his attire an exact image of when he posed with his wife and daughter before a social gathering. He wore a white, wide brimmed hat, which sported a crimson apple and a violet snake trim which wrapped around the crown. In one of his hands, a black cane with a red apple for a handle, was gripped extravagantly in his left hand. It truly appeared as if the Lucifer in that picture had come to life and joined the sinners in the hotel's dining space.
Everyone, save for one person, looked on with apprehension. Jersey stared on with a more defensive gleam in his eyes than the others. He had seen a similar look in people's eyes before, including that of his former master. There was the telltale look of a malicious schemer: a predatory shine in Lucifer's eyes that explained just how evil he truly was.
"Well, my dear daughter, are you not going to introduce me to these fine sinners?"
Charlie swallowed thickly. Her complexion looked paler than normal. 'This is definitely not what I hoped for today...'
Charlie stood up, trying to put on a smile as she began to feel a bit of anxiety driven nausea. "Ahem. Um, guys, this is my dad, Lucifer. He was... gracious enough to uh... lend me the hotel to begin the redemption program."
Angel and Jersey could not help but doubt Charlie's rather charitable claim. They had seen the condition of the hotel before it was patched up and renovated. It was far more likely that Lucifer handed Charlie a hand me down property with no value. The Happy Hotel was a pittance granted to his daughter for the expressed purpose of having her fail.
"So, uh... what are you doing here, Dad?" Charlie asked nervously.
"Why, I simply wanted to see how well your... charity is going." The tension in Lucifer's tone was obvious as his teeth looked ready to grit together for a moment's notice.
"It's going great, as you can see." Charlie remarked anxiously. She hoped that he might leave, and thus spare any potential scrutiny of the sinners she had managed to convince to stay on with the hotel.
"I suppose there is some truth in that." Lucifer brandished his cane as if it were a pointer in a classroom. He swept it slowly in the general direction of the four guests of the hotel, who sat tensely before the King of Hell.
"Just look! Four pathetic excuses for souls! Four more than I could have possibly imagined! I wonder what bribes you were able to offer to convince them that you can actually redeem them..."
Charlie's anxious smile fell. It felt like another stab through the heart, her father being able to mock her guests and seed doubt in her plan with impunity. Deep down, she was aware that her father would inevitably scrutinize her efforts, but it did not make Lucifer's visit any less awkward or demoralizing.
"Well, perhaps the details of how you coerced these vice consumed maggots can wait for later. What are their names?"
No one looked eager to introduce themselves. Lucifer grinned even more, pleased to see most of the sinners squirming under his cat-like visage. He turned towards Angel.
"You seem familiar... Ah you are one of Valentino's pets!Angel Dust, is it not?" Lucifer pointed his cane like an accusatory finger.
Angel looked briefly aggrieved to have been given a designation like a pet. The mention of his boss was almost more chilling than the fact that the King of Hell was speaking directly to him.
"Y-yeah... I'm Angel Dust." Angel said, his voice devoid of the usual swagger he often possessed.
"Indeed." Lucifer strutted up to Angel, and grabbed one of Angel's hands. The move startled the porn star, and he became comically rigid as his hand was shook with genuine courtesy.
"May I just say, thank you for being a part of this program!" Lucifer complimented. "You truly have been an instrumental person in my daughter's charity."
Angel blinked a few times, then gave an unsure smile. "Really?"
"Why yes! When you took part in that turf war while my dear Charlie was advocating for this hotel and singing your praises, it was nothing short of hilarious! It was a classic act of betrayal! A sinner after my heart if there ever was one..."
Angel felt his heart drop into his stomach. Self-loathing began to manifest in his stomach, leaving him a little bit nauseous.
Charlie looked broken-hearted hearted. She sat back down in her seat, her gaze falling to the hands in her lap. Right now, they were more interesting than anything else going on.
"That was one of the most callous, bold-faced, selfish backstabs I have ever had the pleasure of seeing on a TV screen. After all, why redeem yourself when you can prove how irredeemable you really are? Why let some bleeding heart heiress of the royal family stop your fun?"
Angel turned to look at Charlie. He felt like a complete ass, being reminded of his behavior when someone believed that there was something more to him. A need to speak words of comfort, or to rebuke Lucifer's words bubbled up inside, but words failed Angel once again.
"You want my advice? Keep getting high boy, and don't delude yourself in thinking you could ever have redemption. Besides, do you even deserve redemption?"
Lucifer ceased shaking Angel's hand. The porn star looked paler than usual.
"Aah, Vagatha! It's so good to see you!" Lucifer proclaimed as he approached the spearmaiden.
Any other person, Vagatha would have immediately raised her voice in defense of Charlie. Such would not be the case against the King of Hell himself. Vagatha knew better than to risk saying something regretful. Nonetheless, she allowed a firm glare to meet Lucifer's gaze. She nodded somberly and gave her girlfriend a much needed side hug.
"Now the rest of you..." Lucifer muttered as he turned to face the rest of the sinners present. "How about you, young lady?"
"Crymini, your uh... Majesty." Crymini looked ready to make a run for it under the sadistic leer of Lucifer.
"A pleasure to meet you..." Lucifer purred. He met the gaze of Baxter, who looked ready to piss himself.
"Baxter, y-your highness."
"Ah yes, Baxter... Nothing like turning this hotel into your own chemistry lab. Tell me this, how fruitful was your first experiment?"
Baxter struggled to answer. "N-not very s-satisfactory."
"Are you sure? I'd think keeping your fellow demons up at night and creating a tear gas bomb with a few extra steps was quite the achievement. You would make a good chemical weapons specialist. Why doubt your potential?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vaggie giving him a firm stare. Whether out of shame, or too pressured to give a response, he curled up. He dared not speak.
Lucifer gave a hum of disappointment. He always preferred sinners who were transparent about their destructive natures. He then looked to Jersey. The resident plumber of the hotel had not broken his defensive stare at Lucifer since he entered the room. Taking a better look at him, the King was quite taken by how human-like in appearance this particular sinner was. Likewise, he made no illusions about Jersey's lack of fear.
"And you?" Lucifer asked, leaning forward. It was less a provocation and more an attempt to test the resolve of this stranger.
The man was more than ready to keep his resolve. His answer was firm and clear.
"Jersey. Plumber and electrician of the Hazbin Hotel. Hired by Princess Charlotte as a formal employee."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed, betraying his brain's evaluation of this brave upstart. 'How curious...' The King thought. A deep chuckle resonated from his throat.
"No doubt my daughter made at least one good decision with this once derelict building."
"Dad," Charlie spoke, forcing a courageous face as she stood to address her father, "I must insist that you permit us to continue the group session. You may wait in the lobby for me to see you properly."
"Oh very well," Lucifer said flippantly, "I suppose I've had my fun. See you in a little bit, my precious Appleseed! Good luck getting these sinners' hopes up!"
With a wave of his arm, Lucifer strutted out the way he came, passing the silent form of Niffty, who was left speechless for the first time in a while. The doors to the dining area shut resoundingly, leaving several of the remaining sinners looking downtrodden or ashamed. An indomitable silence followed.
"..." Niffty glanced back between the door, then at an emotionally exhausted Charlie. "That was awkward..."
Charlie let out a watery gasp. She harshly wiped her face with her sleeve, refusing to cry before her own guests.
"Charlie..." Vaggie stood up, wrapping the Princess in her arms once again.
For a moment more, nothing was said. Then Charlie looked up, her eyes looking puffy, but determined. She took a deep breath of air to compose herself.
"Okay..." Charlie announced as she gently removed herself from Vaggie's hug. "That was not how I wanted things to go. Having Lu- my dad come here and dress you guys down was not my intention. I cannot even begin to tell you guys how sorry I am."
No word was spoken, but the general attitude was not one of resentment or distrust. Everyone, Angel included, seemed content to listen to Charlie.
"I know that apologies can only do so much..." Charlie sighed again. "So if you guys want, you can choose to leave this group session now, and have the rest of the day off. I won't judge you if that's the case. All of you deserve better than to be mocked or reminded of your mistakes.
"So, if you want to leave, by all means, I won't stop you."
The four hotel guests glanced at each other. Not a word was shared. Even more surprising, no one stood up from their chairs.
Angel cleared his throat, a striking sound given the relative silence moments before. "Uh... I got nuthin' betta' to do, so... I'm good for doin' this... therapy thing."
Charlie blinked, her eyes beginning to water yet again. Her disbelief prevented her from speaking.
Next to him, Jersey gave an imperceptible grin. "I agree with my... colleague, if you are still up for continuing the session."
A smile soon crept on Charlie's face as well. Vaggie soon mirrored her actions.
Crymini shrugged, and crossed her legs once more. "I guess I've go no shit to do either..."
Charlie looked towards Baxter, who coughed into his sleeve and attempted to look like a stoic professional.
"I'm... suddenly intrigued by the potential of articulating my own personal experiences with what one could consider amoral behavior and proclivities. Such a discussion could, um, prove elucidating in the circumstances as to how I might find myself in a realm of vice and widespread transgression."
"..." Everyone just looked on with confusion on their faces.
"... I'll do it for science..."
"He he..." Charlie let out a chuckle. "I'm glad to hear that Baxter. Niffty?"
"Yes, Miss Charlie?"
"Could you please leave us? We'll be on in about six or seven minutes."
"Okey dokey!" The maid dashed out of the room.
Charlie relaxed once more, and took her seat again. "Well, since we were... interrupted, we only have a few minutes left, and I don't want to keep you guys any longer than what I promised. So, if you want to continue your explanation of what made you sin, we can do just that."
Crymini recalled that she was in the middle of her explanation before Lucifer arrived. "So, what about me? I was talking before your sketchy as fuck old man showed up."
Charlie nodded gravely. "I think I understand you better now, and I hope to give you the sense of personal choice you felt was denied to you."
The answer was not quite how Crymini would have put it, but it satisfied her enough. "Good. I don't like yelling like some crazy-ass bitch."
"What, you crazy? Perish the thought." Angel quipped, feeling more like himself again.
Crymini quickly flipped him the bird, but left her rebuke at that.
"I've been fascinated with science since I was but a young lad. Things like electricity and the advent of modern chemistry were just so transformative, that I felt it was destiny that I should add my name to those who were expanding humanity's understanding of the natural world!"
"But to sin because of it?" Charlie asked.
"All progress comes with sacrifice." Baxter replied easily. "Do you think medicine advances because of gentle practices? No. We use animals as test subjects. Do weapons gain innovation by sticking to saintly behavior? No! One has to be willing to sacrifice moral boundaries to discover and invent.
"The implication that science is just school kids looking into microscopes and learning about food chains is utterly ludicrous! It is dirty, it is sometimes painful, and it is full of change and difficult choices. That is what I was willing to make, even if it eventually led to my own demise. I make no apologies for doing what so many of my own colleagues were doing all those decades ago."
The slight impudence in Baxter's tone made Vaggie growl under her breath. Charlie silently calmed her with a pat on the shoulder. She, too, was disappointed in the obdurate nature of Baxter's speech, but she felt that his cold, clinical perspective could be changed through reason.
"Thank you for your honesty."
Baxter nodded, then retrieved the clipboard underneath his desk. If the session was going to close, he did not want to accidentally leave his schematics behind when he departed.
"What about you, Jersey?" Vaggie asked.
Jersey paused, staring at the ground with genuine contemplation in his face. It was one thing to divulge kernels of truth to Charlie and Vaggie in private. To say such things in front of the likes of Angel, much less Baxter and the recent arrival of Crymini was quite another.
"I... don't feel comfortable talking about the specifics of what drove me to kill. Sorry if that wasn't what you were hoping." Jersey answered. "I will say that I won't make excuses. However, I'll be forthright in saying that killing the people I did was not for something as vile as pleasure. I despise sadism. My reasons on a specific level are somewhat complicated, but it doesn't matter to me. All I can do is to come to terms with my actions, and to focus more on less lethal means to deal with those who threaten me."
Charlie hummed as she wrote a concise summation of Jersey's words. His relative silence on his violent sins was normal, and she was hardly one to put pressure on him during a test run for group therapy. At least, she could move on to Angel, and wrap up the meeting.
"And saving the best for last, what about you, Angel?" Charlie inquired.
Angel gave a sly grin. "Suck up." He quipped lightly.
Vaggie gave an admonishing glare and a huff of disapproval.
"Well, I do shit because it feels good," the porn actor replied, "cause there's nothin' like a high on my name sake, babe. As for the sex stuff, it pays the bills. Money's real fuckin' useful. Whole goddamn unda'world resolves around it in some way."
"But you don't need an income, Angel." Charlie rebutted. "You can stay here without having to pay rent."
If Angel was convinced, he did not show it. "Sure, you say that now, but what if this place can't keep up the free service. Won'tcha want somebody to pay you for housin' and crap?
"Besides, I have personal debts to pay off, like with credit cards and shit. Nothin' wrong with payin' off debts for good credit and havin' some change saved for a rainy day."
Angel's speech was confident and unwavering. Vaggie was not buying the excuses. "You could always ask us if you need that kind of help, Angel. How come we are only hearing of these debts now?"
Angel's jaw clamped beneath his lips. He was not expecting an interrogation. "Well, you two have been so... generous, I figured I'd ratha' not have my financial ills put upon ya. You know, you scratch my back, I scratch yours."
"How considerate of you..." Vaggie drawled.
"We can always talk about any money issues you have in private. There's surely something we can do to help." Charlie offered.
Angel gave a tight lipped smile. "I'll be sure to think about it." He tersely threw the pillow, a telltale sign that he would rather not talk about the reasons for his continued work under Valentino.
His body language was becoming more obvious. Charlie looked like she wanted to press him to be forthcoming with his issues. However, it was not an ideal time or place, being a group session nearing its end. Instead, she smiled, and addressed the group one last time.
"So, what do you guys think? Would you be willing to do this again?"
Crymini shrugged. "Just don't have it be every fucking week."
"Deal." Charlie agreed.
"It was... more tolerable than I otherwise thought." Baxter muttered.
Jersey nodded along in agreement. "As long as we have covered the same amount of progress in our private sessions, I see no reason not to have this every once in a while."
"Angel?" Vaggie asked.
"Sure, whateva'. Just don't be surprised if I ain't an open book."
Charlie took the answers as very encouraging. Despite her father's intervention, it had not gone completely off the rails. That success in the face of adversity was a victory in and of itself.
"Awesome! If you guys could put up your chairs before you leave, you're all free to go. Dinner should be ready in an hour or so. Thanks for giving a group therapy session a chance!"
Angel blinked an eye in a cocky manner, snapping his fingers as he rose to his feet. Baxter and Crymini moved especially quickly to get out of the room and get back to what they were doing previously. Jersey was the last to leave.
Vaggie turned to Charlie. "I gotta admit: that went way better than I thought it would."
Charlie sighed heavily. "If only Dad hadn't..."
"I guess that leaves dealing with him. Might as well get on with why he's here."
"Yes, let's do that." Charlie declared with conviction. Supreme ruler of Hell or not, she had a right to know why Lucifer would come here, unannounced, after deriding her idea and assuring her that she would fail in a matter of weeks.
Charlie strode out of the dining room with a determined glare. Though it lacked the aggressive intent that her father might sport, it masked her disapproval of his interloping in her fervent attempts to redeem sinners. Vaggie followed behind, her own face almost a mirror of her girlfriend's stern expression.
In the lobby of the hotel, the only people present were Husk, Niffty, Jersey, Alastor, and Lucifer. Husk was still stationed at the front desk, with Jersey sitting at a barstool as far away from where Lucifer was sitting. Niffty was dutifully by Alastor's side, watching the Radio Demon having a genial conversation with Lucifer.
The two demons were sitting on two sofas which had been conspicuously moved next to each other at a right angle. Between the two powerful beings, a tray of tea and biscuits sat. Lucifer and Alastor each had a cup of tea in hand, and both were laughing at some amusing topic.
"Ha ha! I must say, I was worried when I heard that you were lending your time and resources to aid my daughter's pathetic excuse for a *snort* welfare program." Lucifer chortled. "I thought you had all but given up on your woe inducing radio wavelength."
"As I said earlier, your Grace," Alastor replied, "my primary motivation was boredom, not in any sort of mental alignment with your daughter's goals. In fact, I rather share your skepticism."
Vaggie was grinding her teeth in fury. The pink bow atop her head became sharp as the crossed blades of a pair of scimitars. Charlie did not falter, instead clearing her throat to gain her father's attention.
"Oh? Has my precious little Appleseed finished her little pep talk?" Lucifer asked in a fatherly manner. His carnivorous teeth glinted as he smiled in a knowing fashion.
"Dad, we need to talk."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed. Placing down the tea cup in his hand, he rose to his feet. Though not much taller than his daughter, the fallen angel's presence was no less powerful and foreboding.
"So we shall, dear Charlotte."
I must give my sincerest apologies for the long hiatus. Between dealing with work stuff and other important matters, I would not have been able to give out a quality chapter before this time. Rest assured that I do have spare time during the holidays, and I am looking forward to putting out new chapters for this fanfiction.
To the dozens of new favorites and follows, thank you ever so much for giving my story the time of day. It has helped inspire me to keep at it despite my busy life.
Recently was the first anniversary of me officially publishing fanfics on this site. Many thanks to the people who have been supporting me since the very beginning. I should have another chapter out by the first week of December.
Happy Thanksgiving in advance to all who love decent fanfics!