In the span of three months, Charlie had yet to make a decision regarding Selena's offer. An outcome Selena had anticipated. During these months, Selena had helped Niffty clean the first three floors to perfection and remodeled some of the rooms that had become dingy. Selena had suggested to Charlie and Alastor that until the hotel prospered that any floor above three shouldn't be available. That way they could make Niffty's job easier. After getting the first three floors done, Selena and Niffty began working on the fourth floor. It was dusty and torn apart. They noticed that this floor was in worse condition than the first three. No wonder Charlie agreed quickly. Now due to the agreement, Selena and Niffty had more time to be meticulous and repair the neglected rooms.
When Selena wasn't helping Niffty, she was helping Alastor in the kitchen. She usually just helped with preparing the food or prepping mixes or whatever he needed. She discovered that the Overlord had an affinity for playing pranks on the unsuspecting. She usually fell prey to his shenanigans and giggled it off. She wasn't one to prank back, but she would come up with a remarkable pun that had the deer demon in a fit of laughter on the floor. In her few months there, Alastor had become something akin to friend to her. She found he loathed touching and kept Angel at least five feet away.
Selena rarely spent time with Husker the grump, but his quick witted comments put Angel in a stand still several times. She grew to like the cat who seemed to have no love in his heart. But that's because she knew that deep down, he was the biggest softie at the hotel. He was gushier than Charlie and that said something. Selena, though, realized that he put up this grumpy armor to hide his pain. He hid his kindness because he didn't want to be used and abused again. Or so she suspected.
Vaggie and Charlie remained sweet to each other. It made Selena's heart explode with happiness. Charlie deserved someone good for her, and Vaggie seemed to be the perfect balance. She quite adored her "niece -in-law." It hadn't happened yet, but Selena wanted to help see it through. Charlie deserved every ounce of love she could get. Selena just knew it.
Niffty was an extreme chatterbox but remained vague on anything that happened in her life. She gave bits of info to Selena, but it wasn't enough to say she actually knew her. Selena knew that that tactic was used to keep people unsuspecting and that she probably had something awful happen to her when she was alive. Selena just couldn't help but adore the tiny cyclops and would often call the girl "cute" or "adorable" all the time. It would elicit a giggle from Niffty which made Selena happy. Selena was surprised that Niffty came from Alastor's menagerie. She seemed so sweet and kind. But if she was associated with Al, she must have a dark side.
The only hotel resident Selena couldn't get a read on or knew anything about was Angel Dust. They rarely were together except at dinner so she had no time to get to know him. Charlie insisted that on her few hours off today that Selena and Angel Dust had a girl's day out. Selena agreed but was unsure how to proceed. So Selena decided to get comfortably glammed up because she wanted to not "embarrass" Angel Dust with her comfortable style. Angel had often poked fun at Charlie's dapper suits. If she was going to befriend Charlie's friends, then she would do all she could to make the best one-on-one impression.
Upon the agreed time, Selena met Angel Dust in the lobby for their outing. "So-uh- toots, I was hoping to hit some shops today. Sex stores aren't gonna make ya nervous, are ya?"
Selena shook her head and giggled, "I'd expect nothing less." The two walked with arms linked down the street to the first boutique Angel wanted to see. At first, Angel seemed off putting, but once she got used to it she quite enjoyed his company and innuendos.
"I need a party dress for the after Extermination Day party Charlie's gonna throw. I'mma start looking now." Angel explained. Selena guessed the spider demon saw her confused face when it wasn't a sex store they were walking into.
"Hey, Angel, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, toots, ya just did." Angel gave Selena a cheeky grin and opened the door to the boutique.
Selena laughed and rolled her eyes, "What pronouns do you use? I'm fairly old and learned quite recently that that was an important question to ask. Especially when you can't infer from how they talk about themselves. If it's a bother, I'm sorry." Selena felt like that was an unusual question, but Charlie helped keep Selena with the times. She stressed that it was important because it may offend the person you are speaking to. She never wanted to cause someone distress.
"Ah, doll, as long as ya talkin' to me I don't care what ya call me, but thanks for askin'." Angel walked in behind Selena. "I like to doll up and look cute. I don't really care what people think so long as they don't hurt me." The two began looking at the dresses on the racks.
"I understand that. I never really cared myself. I've been called all sorts of things. And that's rather admirable. Being yourself is never easy. It takes a strength that even the gods don't fully possess." She thumbed through the dresses seeing an array of colors and carefully trying to select one for Angel. "And being hurt by people is a sign of weakness on their part. They are the ones who have faults they wish to hide. So no matter what, know that you are better and stronger than they could ever dream." Angel looked at her from the opposing rack.
"Easy for ya to say, toots. I hear you're older than this world's time. No one can hurt ya anymore." Angel looked sad. A sadness that resonated with Selena.
"Hurt happens. I have endured a good bit. None of it is easy, but I've learned that those who can turn to help and see their own weakness tend to have ways to move past the pain. Yes, the people in my previous life can't hurt me anymore, but that doesn't stop anyone from trying or succeeding now. All I can tell you is that when you chose Charlie, you chose the best person to help you. She will always attempt to ease suffering and try to remove the thorns embedded in one's side." She looked at Angel who immediately looked away.
"Yeah, but what about her? It causes her pain too. I can't burden her with that." Angel held a deep pain. One that he may not openly share with Selena, but one she would try to mend regardless of Charlie's decision. His suffering isn't something she can ignore.
"Charlie made the choice herself. Besides, she won't be bearing anyone's pain alone. That's why she has friends. That's why you have friends. No one should be forced to shoulder their burdens alone. Especially when most people share burdens whether they realize it or not." Selena feared that she was perhaps causing more trouble by giving advice. "Look I may be ancient but I'm not omniscient. I don't know what you're going through, but eventually, I hope you'll trust me to share your burden." She continued browsing until she saw a savvy blue dress that seemed to match Angel's natural pink. "What about this one?" She held out the dress for Angel's view.
"Damn, girl, ya got tastes, but I don't think that'll compliment my figure. Thanks for trying, toots." Angel gave a smile and continued browsing. He ultimately decided that the dress he would wear wasn't here so they left and walked down the road. The duo browsed a few more boutiques but nothing caught Angel's eye. So their next stop was the sex store. "I gotta admit, toots, I took ya for a prude much like that strawberry pimp." He giggled in his Angel-like way as they trolloped into the shop.
"Mmm. I understand that. I don't usually talk about such things, but many priestesses and priest fucked as a way to communicate or worship their gods. The act of fornication is completely a spiritual process for some." She browsed the store's goods. As Angel made his way to the lingerie section, Selena took this time to see what the new age had in store for sex. It had been ages since she had seen fornication rites and even longer since she healed others. Sex always seemed to be a mystical healer so dildos of bone, wood, and metals were made and sold as medical tools to prescribe to patients. "Also, sex was a common medicine. And I believe it remained that way until the 1950s. Someone in my position would act as a healer. I used to advise copulation to heal."
"Damn, toots, you make it sound so dull. It's probably my favorite thing!" Angel's comment caused a stifled giggle from the fox.
"I guess it seems that way. You see so much of it it becomes boring to a degree, but with all the new inventions and progress, sex may be fun again." Selena began browsing lingerie with Angel. "I don't think I've had sex since I was human." She mumbled.
"What was that, toots?" Angel looked at Selena.
"Uh—uh. Nothing!" Selena's blush rivaled Alastor's suit in color.
"Did ya say you hadn't fucked in ages?" Angel gave an eyebrow wiggle.
"No! You heard wrong!" Selena didn't want the spider to gab at everyone. Plus, being around Angel made her realize she missed it.
"Don't worry, toots, ya secrets safe with me. Who am I to spread people's sex life around? But expect endless teasing." Angel gave her a pat on the back as he continued rifling through the underwear. "Oooooo. Toots, this would look smokin' on ya." He held up red lacy underwear. Selena nodded in agreement but refused to buy it. The two joked and laughed and suggested outfits and toys to each other. Angel answered her questions over some of the gadgets she was unfamiliar with. The two became quick friends in the sex shop. Angel ended up leaving with two bags in hand of lingerie and an assortment of toys.
As they walked back to the hotel a van pulled up onto the sidewalk, blocking the two's path. Six men poured from the vehicle. "Angel, you've violated your contract. Valentino has requested we return you to him."
Selena turned towards Angel who was petrified with fear. He looked at her, "I don't wanna go." His murmur was barely heard by her sensitive fox ears.
Selena placed herself between Angel and the men. "Now, gentlemen, why don't we come to an agreement?"
"Get out of my way, furry bitch." A lizard demon moved to push Selena out of the way. She held her ground and struck the man. A hole appeared consuming his chest and abdomen.
"What the fuck?!" "We didn't even see the strike!" Among other awed sayings were said between the spectators and the men who were facing Selena and Angel.
"Please leave. I'm afraid my friend won't be doing anything with Overlord Valentino. And unless he desires, he won't return there. So please leave and take care of yourselves." The lizard demon regenerated and slowly stood up. The smile the fox demon gave was a small, soft one. It sent warmth through them, and they felt as if they should listen and leave her be. A compulsion that was too strong for them to fight. The men gave a shy smile, apologized, and left with no trouble.
"What the fuck?" Angel stared at her. "That was one hell of a punch! Most demons can't muster that much power."
Selena shyly rubbed the back of her head. "It's no big deal, Angel. Now let's head back to the hotel."
The two strolled back to the hotel. Once they entered, they were greeted with a worried Charlie. She crashed into them giving them a hug. "How did it go? Did you guys bond?"
"Everything's fine. Don't get ya panties in a wad. You have the coolest aunt ever and the most badass person I've ever met." That last sentence caught everyone's ear. Alastor popped out of the kitchen, Husker nonchalantly turned his ears to the conversation, and Niffty was clinging to Alastor while munching on cookies. "Val's men came to get me, toots. Ya aunt here delivered a punch so fast no one saw it, and so powerful it decimated the guy's chest and stomach! Why didn't ya tell us that she's super strong? I mean it was fucking awesome!" At some point Charlie had released the two, and during the demon's delivery, he gave a one sided embrace to the fox demon. He then walked off. "Baddest bitch. Ever! I'mma put up my stuff." He comically disappeared towards his room.
"Thanks for helping him, auntie." Charlie gave an appreciative look. "He's in it bad with some porn star director that's part of V. The Overlord is super cruel. That's why he's here." She offered a small smile.
"What an admirable thing, my dear! Saving a resident!" Alastor materialized beside Selena and placed his hand on her shoulder. She realized that getting him to stop with the unwanted touching was impossible. She tried to reason with him, but it seemed he was doing it more to annoy her. However, he hated being touched himself so she started reciprocating his touches until he backed off. It seemed he forgot. The thought could be seen flashing into his eyes, and he quickly removed his hand.
Selena's phone began to ring.