Author's Note: Guess who totally forgot they had this account and to upload/update all my fics! I'm very much into writing Hazbin Hotel now, so expect quite a bit of that. This one is a multi-chapter, and I'll post updates ever Thursday (provided I get the chance). Here's chapter 1, enjoy!

Angel Dust took a deep breath, his head leaning against his hotel room door. He really, really, really didn't want to go out there, not today. He didn't know what it was, but he just didn't think he could put up with Charlie's usual cheery bullshit, or Vaggie's constant threatening glare, or Alastor's creepy ass smile. He just couldn't do it, not today.

Then again, if he didn't step out of his room, one of them was sure to come and fetch him. And with his luck, it'd be Alastor. God damn he hated that bastard sometimes, with his constant grin and his high horse attitude. No, no he really didn't need them to send him, it was just best to suck it up and go outside himself.

Besides, breakfast sounded really good right now.

He opened his door and stepped out into the long, empty hallway. Luckily for him there weren't too many residents yet. He guessed his little stunt with Cherri didn't do much to attract the crowds. Not that this dumbass program worked anyway. Clearly he was the poster child of their failure, or so Alastor kept saying. With a soft sigh he made his way to the kitchen, the scent of eggs and toast making his stomach growl. He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until right then.

"Oh please, please tell me that grubs for everyone." Angel Dust strolled into the kitchen, not even waiting for a response before he grabbed a plate. "Because, lemme tell ya, I am starving."

Nifty looked up from her place at the stove and giggled. "Of course it's for everyone, miss Angel Dust! The others have already gotten theirs and are waiting for you in the dining hall."

"I ain't a chick," Angel Dust snorted, grabbing a fork and scooping some of the eggs onto his plate.

"Yes ma'am, Angel Dust!"

"What did I just-" Angel Dust sighed and waved her off. "You know what? Nevermind. You do you, Nifty."

"Yes ma'am!"

Angel Dust shook his head before he headed to the dining hall, but he couldn't stop his soft smile. Sometimes he just couldn't with that little runt, but damn if she wasn't lovable as hell. Plus, her cooking was to die for. He walked into the dining hall where the others were already seated. Charlie and Vaggie were discussing the plans for the day, probably strategizing on how to get new saps for their little redemption scheme. Alastor had clearly long since finished his plate, and was fiddling with his radio and humming a soft tune. Husker was the only one who looked like he didn't want to be there as much as Angel Dust, no doubt he had been forced to eat with everyone else. Whether he had been forced by Charlie or Alastor had yet to be seen, but considering one was significantly more threatening than the other his money was on Alastor.

"Aww, don't tell me I missed the party." Angel Dust slipped into an empty seat next to Husker. He propped his elbows on the table and leaned over his plate, offering a sultry grin to Alastor. "Did ya miss me, babe?"

"In order to miss you, I'd first have to enjoy your company." There was no hesitation and not a hint of emotion. Once again Alastor showing off the fact that he is absolutely no fun whatsoever.

Oh well, his loss.

Angel Dust rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to his eggs. They smelled amazing as always, but that was Nifty's cooking for you. He took a bite and, oh, damn that was good stuff. It didn't take him long to scarf down his entire plate, and he was left wishing he had gotten more. He was way hungrier than he initially thought he was, but the kitchen was all the way over there, and he really didn't want to get up. Oh well, suffering it was. He pushed his plate away from him and rested his chin on his hands with a soft sigh. "So, we actually doin' somethin' today, or am I just gonna haf'ta be bored as hell?"

Charlie looked up from her planning session with Vaggie and offered a strained smile. "Sorry, Angel Dust, we have some campaigning to plan today. Do you have anything you've been meaning to do? You can take the day off, maybe relax a little?"

Ah. So that's how Charlie told people to fuck off. "You got it, toots. I gotta check in on my best gal pal anyway."

Vaggie narrowed her eyes in a glare. "Cherri Bomb? So you can go wreak havoc again? I don't think so."

"I think what Vaggie is trying to say," Charlie shot her girlfriend a quick look, "is that Cherri Bomb isn't the best influence for your recovery…" She seemed to consider a moment before her face lit up in a grin. "Oh! Do you think she'd be willing to enroll in the program? You guys could definitely hang out then, and even help each other get better!"

"Cherri? Not a chance," Angel Dust snorted. "She thinks you broads are lame enough as it is. If she had to stay here the place would be leveled in, like, an hour tops."

Charlie immediately deflated. "Oh… well, I guess you would know her best."

"Then obviously it's a no." Vaggie stood and glared Angel Dust down. "After your little stunt with the news, you shouldn't be going anywhere near her. Or anyone you used to hang out with."

Angel Dust furrowed his brow. "Really? Well, last time I checked, you can't exactly stop me."

Charlie cast her gaze to the table. "That's uh… that's, actually something we wanted to talk to you about."

Angel Dust cocked an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? How's that."

"If I may." Alastor stood, his grin taking on a twist of cruelty that Angel Dust really didn't like the look of. He set the tip of his microphone cane on the ground and leaned towards Angel Dust. "We've been discussing your recent behavior, and we've arrived at a solution that I believe will work wonderfully."

"Oh yeah?" Angel Dust leaned back a bit, eyes flicking over Alastor's face. He was sure his expression did nothing to hide the nervousness gnawing at his stomach. "And, uh, what solution would that be?"

"Why given your current situation, the nature of your so-called 'friends', and your behavior when you associate with them," Alastor leaned in a bit further, his eyes narrowing and his grin stretched just the slightest bit wider. "We've decided the best solution for you is house arrest."

For a moment, all fear was forgotten and replaced with outrage. Angel Dust stood and slammed his lower arms on the table. "What?!" He placed one of his upper arms on the table and pointed the other at Alastor's chest. "You can't fuckin' do that ta me! You can't even enforce that!"

"Oh, but we can," Alastor practically purred. "I have more than enough power to keep tabs on you and, really, we all think it would be best if you stayed away from such bad influences."

"Bullshit!" Angel Dust glared at Alastor with a snarl. "You and I both know Charlie would never agree to somethin' like that!"

"Actually…" Charlie's soft voice, riddled with guilt, tore his attention away from Alastor. He glanced over at her, she was rubbing her arm and looking at anything that wasn't him. "Alastor's right, we all talked about it and we all agreed… we know you're putting real effort into getting better," the look the other three gave her very much said otherwise, "and we know you're just doing your best, but friends like Cherri Bomb are really hindering your progress. I've been thinking, exposing you to people from your past life may be triggering relapses and maybe it's best if we just… don't?" She looked up at him with a tentative smile, hopeful that he would take it better than expected.

He was definitely not taking it better than expected.

Angel Dust stared at her, wide-eyed and slack jawed. Taking away his friends? His friends? Was she serious right now? He could understand the drugs, the sex, the violence, hell, he could even kind of understand the "problematic language", but this was a step too far. A step waaay too far.

"Fuck that, fuuuuuuck no!" He took a step back from the table. You're fuckin' crazy if you think I'm goin' along with that shit! Fuck this, fuck you guys, I'm out."
"Oh, Angel Dust." Angel Dust did not like how pleased Alastor sounded as he took a step forward, a predatory grin stretched wide across his features. Although Alastor was shorter than Angel Dust, the other demon had a way of looming over others. "Whoever said you had a choice in the matter?"

Angel Dust's eyes widened. "The fuck is that supposed to mean? This ain't a prison, you can't just lock me up like some kinda criminal!"

"Last time I checked, you were a criminal. Both in life and in death." Alastor twirled his microphone a bit, eyes locked on Angel Dust like a fox sizing up a particularly helpless rabbit.

"But that doesn't mean that's what this is!" Charlie interjected, her grin betraying the nervousness she clearly felt. "Don't think of it as being locked up, think of it as a program to help you better yourself and grow into the person you want to be! It's only temporary so we can test how it works, I promise."

"Oh, so I do get a say in all this?" He crossed both sets of arms, glaring Charlie down. "'Cause I say no fuckin' way, toots."

"Well…" Charlie awkwardly glanced away. "I mean, not necessarily, we figured you might be… resistant to the idea at first, so Alastor volunteered to make sure you actually try it, but I promise if it doesn't produce results within a month you can stop!"

"A month?!" Charlie winced at the shriek. "You can't keep me locked up for an entire month! The fuck am I supposed to do with myself for that long?!"

"I'm sorry Angel Dust, I really am." The sincerity in Charlie's voice irked him way more than Alastors faux friendliness ever could. "But I really think this is what it's going to take to make things better for you, and if we didn't all believe that we wouldn't be making you try it."

Angel Dust just stood there in shock, mis-matched eyes flitting from person to person in a search for any sign of support. When there was none, he snarled and turned on his heel to storm out. "Fine! Maybe I don't need to stay at this run-down, shitty ass hotel anyway! I'm sure I can win Val over with enough sugar, I'll just-"

He stumbled back with a squeal when Alastor seemingly materialized in front of him, his narrowed eyes betraying the insincerity of his grin. He took a step forward with each step Angel Dust scrambled backwards, arms held neatly behind his back. "Now now, Angel Dust, let's not be hasty." Static filled the last word, distorting Alastor's voice in a way that filled Angel Dust's stomach with dread. "Why not give Charlie's little experiment a chance, hmm? You signed up for this, regardless of what your reasons may have been, and now you must face the consequences."

Angel Dust swore Alastor was enjoying his panic. Damn sadist. Even so, as much as he hated it, there wasn't much he could do to fight back. Alastor could rip him to pieces without even breaking a sweat, his little show with Sir Pentious proved as much. As much as he hated it, going along with this absolute cluster fuck of a plan was probably his best, if not his only option.

He glanced among the others one last time before bringing his gaze back to Alastor, not bothering to hide the fury in his glare. "Fine," he spat, "guess I can't stop ya. But don't blame me when this all goes up in flames. And I mean when this literally goes up in flames, because I get bored and burn the whole fuckin' place to the ground."

"Oh don't be dramatic! That's my job, after all." Alastor had the nerve to wink at him, that cheeky bastard.

"Yeah, whatever." Angel Dust shoved past Alastor and headed down the hall. "I'm going to my room, you all can go fuck yourselves with pitchforks." No one stopped him as he made his way around the corner and into his room, slamming his door behind him. After taking just a moment to process, he leaned back against his door with a heavy sigh and slid down to the floor, pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around his legs. Fat Nuggetz perked his head up from his bed with a soft snort before getting up and trotting over, gently nuzzling Angel Dust. He couldn't help the faint smile that played on his lips at the show of affection. At least one thing here wasn't a complete bust. He reached out and gave Nuggetz a soft pat on the head, earning himself an affectionate snort.

"I know she means well, Nuggetz, an' I like her and all, but sometimes she just goes too far…"

Charlie's muffled voice came through the door, faint from the distance Angel Dust had put between himself and the rest of them. "Well, all things considered, I think that went surprisingly well!"

He froze mid-pat before groaning and resting his forehead on his knees.

"Nevermind. She's just fuckin' stupid."