Sorry this update took so long! But hereeeee we go!
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Charlie sat at the bar, alone. She was surrounded by balloons, flowers, various party decorations, all of which had magically appeared before she could have even started on them. She had a hunch who was responsible. Everyone would be coming down soon but the decorator, she doubted would make an appearance. She fiddled with a stray straw and sighed. She needed to get herself perked up, it was supposed to be a party after all. But she couldn't shake her nerves at what the angel would say about them tomorrow, or the heaviness on her heart that Alastor might be leaving. She didn't understand what had come over him lately, and she didn't know how he expected her to run things after he was gone...and beyond that...she had to admit, she was going to miss him.
"You all good kid?" the voice made her jump. She looked up to see Husker pouring himself a drink across from her. He was scowling, but something seemed lighter about him. She couldn't help but notice that he was actually drinking out of glasses now, instead of straight from the bottle. The angel had chided him for it a few nights before and he hadn't done it since.
"Yeah," she said with a forced smile. "Almost party time, right?"
His ear gave a slight twitch as he looked at her blankly. Her smile faltered. She laid her head down on the table with a groan. She mumbled something incoherent into the wood of the bar and Husker rolled his eyes. "Can't understand ya, Princess."
But before she could respond she heard a tinkling laugh and thick Brooklyn accent approaching. Forcing back a smile that would have given Alastor a run for his money, she spun around quickly to see Katherine and Angel Dust. Angel was hugging Fat Nuggets tightly, promising the celestial being that the pig would be devastated if she didn't kiss him goodbye.
"I am NOT going to kiss a PIG," Katherine insisted, playfully swatting at the spider demon.
"Awww c'mon sweetie, look at that snout, it's just beggin' for it,"
"HEY GUYS," Charlie said with a regrettable amount of gusto. "Welcome to the party!"
"Wow toots, you really out did yourself on this," Angel Dust said with a sneer, "awful lotta work for someone who's only might gonna be leaving."
"Oh I actually...I didn't…" Charlie felt her positivity begin to wan again. "I think Alastor probably did."
"Man, Smile's has really had a bug lately," Angel Dust plopped down next to Charlie, grabbing the drink in front of Husker. "He's been shining this place up like a dime. I feel like I haven't slept a wink between the jazz and the commotion."
Husker's wings twitched at his drink being taken but just poured another with a sigh, being careful to keep his eyes down.
"Yeah...I think he's just...excited? That maybe," Charlie started but then gave a nervous glance at Katherine, "You know if things go well depending on…"
Katherine gave her a warm smile. "Charlie, darling, I hope you aren't anxious over that. I assure you, even though it's a bit out of my hands when all is said and done, I have nothing but praise for your endeavours."
Charlie lit up, a small squeal escaping her throat. "R-Really?!"
Katherine laughed. "Of course. My time here with you all has opened my eyes. I think that some of you may have had...less than a fair chance. I can't imagine why you wouldn't be allowed a second go at things if there really is progress made. I mean they'll have to be some changes around here but with the exception of the excessive drinking and Annie's rude jokes-"
There was a choking sound as Angel Dust spit up his drink. "What-" he coughed, "What did you call me?"
"You prefer Annie to Anthony...don't you?" There was no apology in the angel's voice. Only confusion. Angel Dust looked horrified. "I think your nickname here is a bit inappropriate, you definitely can't keep it if you ascend."
Angel Dust seemed to shrink under everyone's gaze, he held Nugget tighter. With a soft voice, almost too low to understand, he replied, "No one's called me that since...No one here knows that's my name. I never told nobody... it seemed..."
"Scary," the Angel finished, helpfully. "I understand. You know I've read your file. I'll be honest, you may have gotten here for your own deeds but, the real monsters were those at the Stonewall that night."
Angel Dust cringed and looked down, crossing all of his arms protectively around himself and the small pig.
"I didn't mean to pry. But I had been thinking a lot lately. And so I dug further into your lives before...well...this. That young thing, Nifty, Michelle...She's here for arson and murder, an accomplice to that cannibal you keep around, but she also was scared. A terribly abused young girl. And that Alastor took advantage of her desperation. Just like he did with Husker here. She was lost. And, I won't excuse what you've done either, Annie, but I can see where the world was cruel to you. How you could have lost your way."
"Can we…" Angel Dust cleared his throat, wiping, desperately at his eye. "I don't want to hear that name."
"Angel Dust for now then," she replied kindly. Angel looked up and seemed to warm under her gaze, even smiling a little.
There was a silence for a moment, Husker looking more uncomfortable than any of them, but it was quickly broken by Charlie, unable to contain herself. "I-Thank you. Exactly. I think that people deserve a second chance. And this could-You could really help us-I-Thank you!"
Charlie stumbled over words pouring out like she couldn't contain them. This was it. She could really make a difference. This was really going to happen. "Princess," the angel cut her off gently. "Charlie. You have a good heart. I'm going to tell Michael tomorrow, I really think you're right." Charlie squealed and hugged the angel who laughed and embraced her back. When the demoness finally released her, Katherine turned to Husker, a brilliant smile on her face.
"Well, drinking might not be a thing here for much longer so pour some to celebrate," Katherine winked, "Ya ol' Tom Cat."
Husker froze, the bottle almost dropping from his paws. As hard as he had fought to keep his head down, his gaze was now fixed on Katherine in shock.
She seemed to beam even brighter. "You do know me don't you?"
Everyone turned to stare as the two were lost in each other's eyes for a moment. Husker's faced moved through many emotions. Frustrated, guilty, and finally...resigned.
"It's good to see ya again, Kat," he mumbled sheepishly. Charlie and Angel Dust's jaws dropped. "I….don't know what all you remember but...I missed ya a hell of a lot."
Katherine seemed to radiate light as she drifted into the stool next to Charlie, her eyes never leaving Husker. "It's just bits here and there. But you were family. And that's hard to forget."
Husker visibly balked at her words. Quickly busining himself behind the bar. Charlie could sense the tension and felt the need to jump in. "Wow so you two…"
"He was basically a son I think," the angel said with a small tinkling laugh. "Or at least a good surrogate brother to my own son. Is that right?" She looked thoughtfully at the cat demon who seemed determined to avoid her gaze before settling on Charlie. "It's actually thanks to him I thought to look more into this. My memory isn't great but...I had stirrings...of him trying his best to help out with my family, practically being family...and I couldn't understand how someone who tried so hard could end up here. And then I realized...it was the deal with Alastor…"
Charlie's ears perked up. And she saw Husker's do the same.
"The young Michelle...Nifty, sorry...and my tom cat here...they never would have ended up in this terrible place if it hadn't been for that disgusting, cannibalistic-"
"Kat!" Husker slammed a glass to the table and everyone jumped. He immediately looked unsure of himself but squeezed his eyes shut, taking in a deep breath. "Look, Kat, I don't know what you remember but...I wasn't...you were very kind, always cleaning up after my mistakes and all. But I made a lot of mistakes. I was a lout and every time you helped me...if I had been actually been around-"
"Husker," she interrupted gently, reaching to touch the fur on his face. A slight twang started to appear in her voice. He started to pull away, but leaned in instead. "It's going to be ok. We're going to get you out of here. Everyone deserves a second chance. And I think if we remove some obstacles...I already mentioned the drinkin', and I've seen to talking to the Radio Demon-"
"Wait," Charlie cut in, nervously. "Is that why...is that why Al is leaving?"
Husker yanked away from the angel in shock. She looked at both of them, confused. "Well he practically has these two enslaved and I'm sorry but his deeds were...I just don't think he can come back from what he's done and having a lost cause around is only going to hinder everyone else's progress. Husker I honestly don't know how he's manipulated you into defending him."
A sudden desperation seemed to overcome Husker. His mouth seemed to try to form words but no sound passed his lips. Finally he growled in frustration. "It's not...Kat...he's...how in the Here do you remember me and not him?"
"I remember-"
"C'mon Kat. Think harder."
"I only know-"
"Didn't you dig into HIS file?"
"I thought I'd seen plenty at the cursory...and what I knew from yours-"
"Katherine, you remember your son, right. Think about it. He got your corny jokes. Took after you like a regular sous chef. Started working for the radio...Real chip off the old block."
"No...that's not possible-"
"Kat he was a good kid. He made some mistakes, mostly me being a bad influence."
"Stop it."
"He wasn't the same when you...and I wasn't there...the kid was all on his own and he just got desperate-"
"I said STOP IT."
"He's your son, Kat!"
All of the air seemed to be sucked out of the room. No one moved. No one spoke. Even Angel Dust seemed at a loss for words. The angel slowly shook her head. "No…" she said softly. "No that...that can't be."
Husker scratched at the back of his neck with claws. He looked around at the eyes burning ino him and sighed heavily. "He's gonna kill me...again. I don't know why he didn't...neither one of you ever knew how to keep your mouth shut about anything...Ok...ok everyone gets a drink. You especially Kat."
She didn't resist.
