The ceiling was a a dark red. A familiar color, one that lost its luster a lifetime ago.
Niffty hadn't realized she'd woken up. Birds chirped, dancing shadows reflecting near. She laid straight, hands across her chest, perfectly parallel to the ceiling and window. Her lips turned to a smile, trying it on like a dress. Rising, careful not to disturb the quiet of her room, she made her way to her dresser. She looked into the mirror, staring at her one eye, and traced her lips with a finger. 'Set for the day', she thought, and freshened up, starting with a hot shower, then brushing her teeth.
The days had a 'consistency.' Consistency was good, wasn't it? Recalling her fellow contractee's words, she tried to find the wisdom in it, and something seemed to resonate; just a flicker of understanding. It was something warm, but she didn't quite understand, either.
Discarding her bathtowel, she looked at her body, the shape of it, the mirror affirming her thoughts. Brushing over her hair, she sighed as it brought some relief, the stroke through of the freshly dew strands, droplets flowing down the ridges of her arms. Niffty came to a still momentarily. The birds still chirped away, and the sunlight, just a few feet away, laid just short of where she was, the warmth barely reaching one of her legs. Noticing the clock, she made haste as she realized it was later than she thought, the short arm on 8, and the long arm past 4. Putting on her usual dress, she looked one last time into her reflection, and made her way to the lobby, likely where Alastor would be now.
"Good morning, Niffty!"
Niffty had somehow ignored the voice, a few steps past already, before she looked to Charlie's brightness, golden hair shining bright, and a smile somehow even brighter. She felt a sort of likeness, watching those lips move naturally, not a hitch, not an off sounding syllable, nor a mismatching motion. Charlie was, in many ways, what she wished she could feel. The
"Good morning, princess!"
"Just Charlie is alright. We were looking for you earlier! But, I made sure Angel kept your food warm."
"Thank you! I'll get right to work after."
Charlie scoffed. "Please, take your time. I know you do your best everyday. Don't ever feel it goes unnoticed."
Niffty lowered her head. "I am contracted to do no more, and no less."
"Don't work too hard!" Charlie called out as Niffty entered the elevator, who stuck out a hand to wave farewell.
"Sometimes it don't feel pretty. But when I think about it... everything. In this hell, what more can I ask for?"
Niffty recollected as the elevator doors closed. It was fortunate, and sort of funny, remembering how Husk had been there the whole time. The number of bottles should have tipped her off, but there she'd been, fooling around, and nearly slipping. How late would she be today, needing to regenerate until the next morning? She'd have to thank him formally- Niffty knew Alastor would've been upset.
A few dings, and she took to the vastly empty lobby, two tall figures having their usual bickering and jabbing with one another. Niffty felt a glimmer of amusement. It used to be that Alastor was so revolted, and insulting towards Angel. As the months went by, they ended up mending quite well: a serious, calculating man in Alastor, and a teasing, wise guy in Angel, and despite the former's insistence on staying professional, Niffty could see the cracks in that smile, the way his eyes lowered, and voice sang. The mutualism was present. It had been a long time since he'd seen Alastor enjoy someone else's company. Sure, there was also Charlie, but it was more akin to the conduct of business, rather than a friendship.
It was nice to see the gang, in general, get along. She mostly felt apart from it.
"So then I told him, 'SHUDDUP!'"
"Oh really. You told Vox to shut up?"
"What's he gonna do, touch me up? I'm tellin' ya, Val does not give a flying fuck about him! That prick ain't about ta damage the merchandise. I bring in the money, babe."
"I'm sure you do." Alastor groaned, before directing his attention to Niffty. "Ah, doll! Have some breakfast. Anthony made sure to keep your meal heated. Didn't you, Angel?"
Angel got up, exaggeratedly nodding his head. "Do ya one better, I'll make you a freshly cooked breakfast."
Alastor rolled his eyes as he waved a hand, a shadow emerging from under the table to pour Niffty a cup of coffee as she took a seat.
Alastor, too, enjoyed his own, a sip from his mug before he asked, "Have you seen Husk?"
"I thought he'd already be here." Niffty spun some cream and sugar
"Tsk tsk tsk," The deer clicked. "drinking late again, I can imagine. After you finish that, please be a dear and wake him up."
"Alright."
"Hey, Al'," Angel called. "ya want a hotdog? I got an extra."
"How delightful! I still haven't had my fill."
Knock, knock.
Niffty had never entered Husk's rooms before. The two of them never shared much of a relation, not friends, and barely acquaintances. There was an air of hesitation as she didn't have much of a grasp on what he was truly like. It was strange not knowing anything about a co-worker who she'd had for how many years now, save for two obvious things: he loved alcohol, and he used to serve as Alastor's bodyguard. Their duties had gotten a lot easier as time went on; all to the point that they were more or less coasting in life. Coasting... a privilege, wasn't it?
Demons suffered. Angel was a prime example, but even beyond that. At times, she'd go to the city, and many would be on the streets. So many sad, tormented souls; some had the strength for joy, or maybe that was delusion. So much death, hurting, and desperation. From the very basic needs of food, down to the crisis of not wishing to live in such a world... she didn't have to deal with any of it. Alastor paid her well, and protected her, too. A shadow was always nearby, should any threat come her way; likewise with Husk, and all other souls signed under him. This was everything she could ever need in a life down in Hell.
And yet-
Niffty took a deep, shaky breath. Now was not the time.
Knock, knock.
Niffty tried again. And again, and again, until she decided to lean her head against the door. She couldn't hear a thing. Pulling out a key, she was left no choice. Perhaps he'd left the hotel and locked his room? Though, if that were the case, Alastor would've known. Entering stealthily, the lock turning one tick at a time. The door creaked as she slipped her head in. Expectedly, the room was a mess of bottles and rummaged clothes scattered all about, as if the place were robbed. Clearly it wasn't though, as she saw the cat slumped on his front; fast asleep.
She crept up easily, her featherweight making it easy to get to him. Niffty didn't want to be rude and make a racket. However, she was going to need to wake him up.
"Husk."
"..."
"Husk."
"..."
Clearing her throat, she spoke more firmly. "Husk!"
Seeing as he had zero reaction, she was prepared to turn him over, reaching out, only for the cat to shake violently a moment before.
"WUUH, WHO THE FUCK-"
"Uhhh?!" Niffty tripped backwards, falling onto her rear, seeing the wide-eyed Husk sit up... only to lay back down, stuffing his head under a pillow.
...
...
...
"Husk?"
"Mmm."
Niffty exhaled, approaching yet again. "You're late. It's past 8."
He groaned, muffled. "Takin' the day off."
"Alastor doesn't do call-ins."
"Head hurts." Husk insisted.
"..."
Husk blocked everything else out, too exhausted to think any further. The vibrations of footsteps fading off into the distance, and the door closing, he let his mind rest; the previous night left him aching, a dull throbbing in his head and a general exhaustion all throughout his body. He'd just have to take the earful from Alastor later. It wasn't as if the hotel was booming in customers all of a sudden.
...
...
...
Rustling awoke him not so far later, his door thumping. Mustering the energy to wake up. he winced as he removed his pillow and stared into direct Hellsun. The blinds had been fully opened. Husk hissed, but the scent of bacon and eggs took him straight out of his annoyance. Looking to his desk, there laid the plate of food, and a glass of water beside it. It felt like he'd been transported to a different room; a spotless, empty, shining floor, organized closet, and his work clothes folded over a chair. Someone had made short work of the dumpster he'd created. He'd 'planned' on arranging it sooner or later, but never had the time.
Husk took the plate into his hands, the food still warm- freshly cooked. Taking the fork, meticulously placed, he was glad to taste the hickory smoked meat first thing in the morning, with a side of lightly seasoned scrambled eggs. Looking to the glass of water, he spotted a small note taped, red, cursive, and a small, white tablet below it.
Husk,
Drop the tablet into the water. It'll help with the headache.
Thanks for last night.
Rosiness brewed onto his cheeks. Caringly, he set the note into his bedside cabinet.
"My favorite feline fellow!" Alastor announced to the empty lobby as if the appearance was a surprise. "You, my friend, are late."
"Yeah," Husk snorted, making his way around the bar corner. "we sure coulda made a killing if I were here."
Alastor just smiled. Leaning onto the counter, he twisted his fingers in the air, a shot glass emerging between his pointed, red claws. Alastor placed it onto the faded, chestnut table, to which Husk filled with raw espresso, then got to shining the shined glasses, arranging the arranged drinks, dusting the dusted tables... and so on, and so forth.
...
...
...
Alastor hadn't left his seat.
"...You want another?" Husk called from across the room, arranging a particular picture frame of Charlie and her parents.
"Hm? Oh, no, no." Alastor sat with a leg crossed over the other, playing with the glass he'd long since consumed.
"Okay. Ya need somethin' else done?"
Alastor hummed at the question, mulling it over some.
"Valentino." The Radio Demon rasped.
The light screeches of static made Husk grimace. "You mean you don't want to kill him yourself?"
Alastor broke into a laugh, returning right back to his jovial mood. "That was a joke! Of course I'd prefer to kill him myself! Your preferred method of the standard bullet just wouldn't do. Too efficient, and too easy."
"Implying they were angel bullets. Would take a whole lotta money for even just one."
The deer gave a nod, his head twisting as Husk made his way to tables further back. The cat waited for anything more, anticipating a rare task, to which he'd invite. It'd been quite a long time since he'd done anything 'exciting.' Returning to the bar, he leaned close to Alastor from across the counter, expecting more.
"Well? Are we doing it?"
"What?" Alastor spoke quickly, tilting his head in confusion. "Doing what?"
"The hit on Valentino?"
"No! Oh, good heavens, no!"
Husk stared blankly, to which Alastor blinked innocently. "So are you just gonna accompany me for the next 10 hours, or?"
"On the contrary, I believe you had a task for me. But!" Alastor raised a finger. "In the form of a question, isn't it?"
Husk wiped the spot in front of Alastor with a cloth. "I ain't got anything to ask."
"Oh, Husker. You can't lie to me." The Radio Demon half sung. "I know something is on your mind. More precisely, someone."
A thought crossed Husk's mind at the proclamation, to which he exhaled, rolling his eyes. "I wasn't thinking of her until you mentioned it."
"Oooh, a her? I wonder who this 'her' is. Perhaps you'll introduce me sometime." Alastor's lips teased, smug as knowing, smooth as snake-oil.
"You're charmed- already acquainted." Husk played along, turning around and crossing his arms. "How did you two even meet?"
Alastor took a moment to respond. Husk watched the reflection of the deer bounce off of a shined red wine- disguised as strawberry juice. "Ahhh... now that is a memory lodged far. A long, long knife ago- a stitch in nine, saves time, as they say. When I met the little marionette, she was a waitress at a local diner. These were the days before the flood of the Pride ring. What a smash that was! You would've loved to see it!"
Husk did not concern himself much with the history of the circles.
"We can all understand the frustration of being served the wrong drink. I had ordered an Earl Grey, but she ended up giving me- wait for it- a green tea! How could you mistake the two? Of course, I did not raise my voice nor do anything to provoke, as I could simply ask for a refund, to which she obliged. But her manager was not as understanding- the tub of a man threatened to feed her to his hounds!"
"So ya ate him."
"I did not." Alastor spoke defensively, putting on a flat expression, then exhaled. "Ah, perhaps just an arm. An eyeball or two."
Husk grunted. "Then you hired her."
"And then I hired her. Every lord has a sort of secretary, do they not? I only needed one for my property. On the other hand, muscle such as yourself, require a handful."
"Right..." Husk trailed off, looking away from Alastor's reflection.
"Another question burns in your mind, doesn't it?" The Radio Demon chuckled as Husk narrowed his eyes. "That Alastor. Would he, perchance, despite years showing no evidence of such, have gotten to the minx? To her heart?"
"..."
"No! Of course not, Husker! The Radio Demon does not deal in such frivolous, time-wasting relations!" Alastor's microphone cackled in droves. "By golly, take a breather. You are as stiff as a corpse!"
"Who said it had anything to do with romance?" Husk scoffed, shaking his head and turning around, seeing Alastor already halfway across the room, prancing off. "I'm an old has-been. I'm just lookin' to pay back my dues is all."
"Whatever the case may be." Alastor paused, turning his head to side eye the cat. "Husker."
Husk watched Alastor's smile lower, almost grim, his eyes dimming to darkened maroon, voice stern. "I would suggest you keep an eye on her."
The two shared a stare. Husk would nod, and Alastor would take his leave.
