"Al, you've been awfully quiet since she arrived. Is everything okay?" Charlie looked at her business partner. Both of them seemed to be drowning in thought. Alastor responded with a hum and sat down where Selena sat previously. "Aunty, would never lie. I have to believe that what she said is true. Or else it would go against everything I'm working towards. But starting what could be a war with God… I don't know." Charlie placed her head in her hands as she propped up on her desk.
Alastor just sat there, blinking slowly. It was as if his blinking was a moment that he comprehended each piece of information. A world before theirs? It didn't seem too incredulous the more he thought about it. Why would something divine not create multiple worlds? Scrap one when they're bored with it and start a new one for fun. That's what he would do. Now to debate the price of Charlie choosing to side with her aunt versus the price of them working alone. It would give Charlie hope if she could redeem someone. And a deity is basically going to back them if they try. If it's possible. What harm would there be? He truly didn't think it was. But a goddess's priestess giving it a go? Huh. He wanted Charlie to say yes just so he could watch it unfurl. It would be interesting if nothing else.
As opposed to him, Charlie did believe it was possible so the consequences weighed harder on her. He could tell that his charming demon belle was battling herself. "Charlie, my dear! I think we should sleep on such a heavy decision! It seems like your aunt wants you to take your time!" He stood up suddenly, jarring Charlie from her thoughts. She knew she would need to talk to Vaggie about this. There was no way she could think it through without Vaggie's opinion. Sometimes, her just talking to Vaggie would let her brain think of all the possibilities. "I think so too!" She stood up too. Alastor offered her his elbow as if he was escorting the princess. They left the office and went their separate ways.
Alastor told Charlie that he would be the main cook in the kitchen. He knew that cooking the hotel's supper would help him process all that this Selena person said. Judging from the conversation, regardless of Charlie's decision, Selena was here to stay. He decided that he was going to make his mother's specialty recipe, jambalaya. After all, it was the perfect recipe for new-comers. He tied up his bob, removed his coat, and rolled up his sleeves. He washed his hands up to his elbows and began cooking the meal.
Selena had learned that Niffty was the housekeeper, and that the child-looking demon contained an abundance of energy. She managed to keep up with the housekeeper and had managed to help her clean a whole floor before dinner. Once a bell rang, all of the hotel workers and Angel Dust rushed to the worker's dining room stationed just outside the kitchen. Charlie placed Selena between her and Angel Dust. Charlie explained that she sat on one end of the table and Alastor the other. Between the two end pieces were three chairs on each side. Everyone else just filled in where they wanted. Alastor came out of the kitchen with a steaming cast iron pot in his mitted hands. "Dinner tonight is jambalaya." He sat down the pot and conjured a serving spoon and dinner plates and utensils. Alastor sat down at the end of the table. Alastor had Husker sitting on one side of him and no one on the other side. Angel attempted to sit there but Alastor kicked him back into his original chair. Charlie stood up and served everyone Alastor's meal. Everyone started eating and conversation seemed to flow naturally. Alastor was telling dad jokes, Angel was flirting, and Husker was trying to avoid the puns and the flirting. Vaggie and Charlie spoke to everyone in an equal amount, and Niffty shoveled the food into her mouth and sat there as if she hadn't received any.
Selena had never had jambalaya before, but it reminded her of a dish back home. She had never tasted such a pleasantly balanced seasoned meal before. Perhaps, the Radio Demon wasn't so bad after all. At least, he could cook. That was more than most people she knew. She complimented the chef and sat while everyone else finished their food. Alastor had finished shortly after Niffty and Selena finished well after them both.
Watching people eat told Selena about them. Niffty ate so quickly you never actually saw it. The food just dwindled off the plate. Alastor ate with a gentlemanly air and with manners, but still managed to eat double the servings of everyone else. Husker ate without manners but cleanly. Angel ate but played with his food. She knew he was trying to make everyone laugh and make Alastor uncomfortable. There were moments when Alastor would visibly flinch from Angel's flirting. To Selena, it was a rather amusing scene.
After people finished, Alastor began to collect the dishes. Selena followed him with what dishes he couldn't carry. Or rather chose not to. "I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to help you clean up." Selena felt that she needed to stay on his good side to prevent them from constantly fighting. Not that she wanted to. Protecting Charlie was her only concern. She didn't really care about anyone else so long as they didn't hurt anyone.
"That would be lovely, dear." Alastor gave his signature faux smile. The two quickly cleaned the dishes and went their separate ways. They ran into Charlie as they walked out the kitchen. Alastor mentioned something about errands and vanished. Charlie offered to show Selena to her room since she was going to help with the hotel. She walked down the hall and entered her new room.
Upon seeing it, Selena asked Charlie if it was a similar room to the workers. Charlie nodded. It was large. Allowing her to summon an idol of her goddess and placing it in the room. She then opened her new closet and snapped her fingers. The closet filled with her favorite clothes. She went to inspect the bathroom which she found was amazing. She knew that she may not be here all the time, but it will make for a wonderful second home.
After settling in, Selena knelt before the statue of Neana. She prayed as she always did. She asked for guidance, for the safety of Charlie's friends, for Charlie's esteem to be healed, and for her mission to succeed. She felt a slight unease at asking her niece such a big favor with such large consequences, but Neana said that Charlie would be the best candidate to push this plan further. Selena prayed and prayed until she was ready for bed. She settled in and fell asleep.