Like my previous three days were spent, I was now in the I.M.P office sitting in a chair while Loona was on her phone. Millie, Moxxie, and Blitzo landed on the floor in front of me, having returned from another mission. They seemed pretty energetic which meant this mission must have gone off without a hitch. "I'll be in my office for the next 15 minutes to make some calls, don't disturb me," Blitzo waved us off.
I watched the married duo unload the gear they took with them to Earth. "Hun," Millie looked at me with a small smile. "We got some news for you."
"What is it?" I hummed looking up from my book.
"Moxxie and I found you a possible job," she replied.
"Oh," I nodded in surprise. "What's the job?"
"It would be working at a publishing house," Moxie answered for his wife. "Since you have been reading different HellBooks you might find it interesting. My friend is the head of the publishing department and they're short on staff right now."
"That actually sounds interesting," I smiled in delight.
"What did Blitzo say about you finding a job?" Millie questioned.
"Oh," I frowned. "I haven't actually… asked yet."
"You what!?" Moxxie hissed. Blitzo ran out of the office with his phone on his chest. Despite this, we could hear Stolas listing all the perverted things he wanted to do. I sighed as Blitzo hauled Loona into his office and shut the door again.
"I got distracted and forgot to mention it," I sighed. "Besides I am an adult, I don't need to ask him for permission."
"You're living under his roof and he does look out for you," Moxxie put a hand to his head in irritation.
"I'm not Loona."
"He's not saying you are," Millie intervened. "It's just Blitzo… is a bit sensitive is all. If you were to just get a job and not tell him, he'll be really hurt."
"Alright," I relented. "But only after it's a sure thing I got the job. I have to like interview for it right?"
"No," Moxxie shook his head. "You got it. They are one of the worst publishing companies in Hell. It's at risk of going out of business if they don't turn things around. They are literally the definition of desperate."
"Oh," I nodded in surprise. "In that case, I guess I should ask soon."
"Job starts as soon as next Monday so I'd do it before the weekend ends," Moxxie advised me.
"I'll do it," I reassured him.
"Don't sweat it too much," Millie smiled. "Blitzo should be fine with it. You do gotta make a life while you're here. Maybe you'll meet someone at work." I tried to give her a fake smile at the notion. I wasn't exactly eager to go on another shitty date. What happened at the ranch was enough humiliation for me at the moment.
Hell was similar to Earth but also vastly different. I was going through what would be called culture shock back home. I couldn't imagine how one could just adjust to the afterlife. Granted I had no idea what Heaven was like, but either way, wouldn't you also miss Earth in Heaven?
"Alright Mills, Moxx, I'll see you two on Monday," Blitzo announced as he opened the door to his office. "Loonie, Espi, get in the van! I'll be right there as soon as I lock up." I rolled my eyes at his nickname for me. I supposed I should have expected it sooner or later considering everyone had a nickname except for me.
"Blitzo," I began as soon as Loona left the room.
"What is it?" he hummed, not looking me in the eye.
"I need to ask you something when we get home," I told him before my nerves could get the best of me.
"Sure," he shrugged nonchalantly. "When I'm making dinner we can talk." I nodded and went to the van. Loona was in the passenger seat typing away on her phone. I pulled the Man in the Grave into my lap and read a couple of lines to distract myself. Nothing I read stuck so when Blitzo let the engine roar to life I looked out the window.
I was used to Blitzo's driving enough to where I didn't really consciously think about holding on. My hands naturally moved as necessary without any lingering panic. I closed the book and resigned to looking out the window for the rest of the car ride home.
When we made it, I headed into my room. With some money, I could expand my wardrobe considerably and get entertainment for myself so that way I wasn't dependent so much on Loona for things. I was of course grateful to Blitzo and Loona for their help but being independent was important to me.
I laid down on my bed and softly whispered some song lyrics.
I'm too high on paranoia
All of my flaws are bittersweet
And so I spoke to God but she don't speak
Millie showed me a song that had come up in her Earth music package. It wasn't something I had ever heard but it was lovely to hear some music from Earth. Hell music was very explicit and while not entirely bad, I couldn't relate to much of it in some ways. I perhaps had yet to really meet someone with a similar music taste as me.
"Esperanza!" a familiar voice shouted. I blinked in confusion as I felt like I had literally just got into my room. Blitzo usually took longer before he started to cook. I opened my door and Blitzo was inches away from my face. I jumped back in shock and he simply laughed sheepishly. "You can follow me into the kitchen, I'm ready to cook now."
"Sure." I followed him out into the hall. His tail was swishing back and forth like a cat's when it's excited. I wasn't too sure I enjoyed all of this warm, happy energy considering he might not take this conversation well. I looked at my hands.
At the same time, Blitzo would probably take this calmly and actually might even be happy. I had no idea about the details of Hell's economy but anyone would love the idea of someone they're letting couch surf becoming independent. I could even get my own place so that way I wasn't dependent on Blitzo for everything. "So what is it that you wanted to tell me Espi?"
"Esperanza," I corrected him in annoyance. "Anyways, so Millie was telling me that Moxxie was able to find me a job at a publishing company. I could start on Monday. I just wanted to let you know I won't be imposing on you and Loona for much longer. Once I start saving up, I can get my own things and maybe even move out eventually."
Blitzo's hands stopped moving. His grip on the knife tightened suddenly. "Oh," he shrugged nonchalantly. "That's great." His voice was lacking real enthusiasm which made me worry.
"You sure?"
"Of course," he smiled. It was a fake smile. I could see it from a mile away, but I didn't exactly want to deal with his emotions right now.
"Good," I nodded awkwardly. "Glad we had this talk then. I'm just gonna..." I walked away without finishing the sentence. He didn't make a move to stop me or say something.
A guilty feeling bubbled inside me. I trudged back to my room. Inside there was nothing for me to do except lie down. It wasn't fair that Blitzo wanted to keep me at home without working. Well, I couldn't assume what he was thinking. It just seemed odd that it should bother him. Most people would want a squatter out of their hair. I hadn't been exactly easy to deal with since my arrival. My disguise misfiring at the festival was just one big example of that. With a troubled frown I closed my eyes and begged for sleep to come.
Third Person: Earth
"To find Esperanza," Maggie answered with unwavering strength in her voice.
"Ah yes Esperanza," Agatha smirked with a slight attitude at the last syllable of Esperanza's name. "It seems everyone would bend over backward for that girl."
"She's a wonderful friend and person. People do tend to go to great lengths for great people," Maggie retorted evenly.
"I'll grant you an audience with the Radio Demon," Agatha announced after a sip of her tea. "But you'll have to make a deal with me first."
"And what would that be?"
"I require your body," Agatha smiled.
"Hell no."
"Then I guess you don't want your friend."
"I guess you don't need bodies with all the visitors you have lined up ready to do your bidding," Maggie snarked, putting the tea cup on the tray roughly. The cup rose and the tea splattered over Maggie's clothing.
"I wouldn't be rude in someone else's home," Agatha warned venomously.
"Go to hell bitch!" Maggie screamed. Chains emerged bounding Maggie to the chair.
"I suppose you need some manners," Agatha smiled sweetly.
A/N: I've been on a long hiatus due to a lack of inspiration and free time to write. Please don't worry about me abandoning the story. I just am a perfectionist and want to carefully craft everything as the episodes are released and make sure my ideas for the storyline mesh.