Eating at the table the four sinners were seated at proved steady and methodical. Jersey had a healthy appetite, but it was necessarily slowed as conversation around business continued. He did not expect such a gathering to be so diplomatic in nature, and more than once his attention was drawn to the conversation at hand.
'I'm not entirely sure I belong here.' This thought had dominated his mind until he finally brought it to the attention of the one who had invited him to this dinner. Jersey gently asked Alastor whether he should excuse himself from the talk of a new alliance. The Radio Demon's answer was quite telling.
"It will be fine. That is, unless you intend to spill the proverbial beans to our mutual nemesis. A nemesis who thought nothing of having someone poison your moscato on the grounds of sitting next to me at a table."
"What's to stop the rest of the restaurant from hearing, then?"
"My dear Jersey, you must have failed to notice! Sound waves are part and parcel of my talents, and that includes the ability to obscure any noise I so wish. Not a soul is even aware of what we're talking about."
Jersey passively stretched out his senses, and he could not help but feel a suppressive feeling around him, as if the perimeter immediately around them was encircled by a hollow sphere of invisible cotton. Glancing in his periphery, not a single sinner or demon was even so much as looking at the group's table. Whether it was a sense of politeness or fear, there was no eavesdropping to threaten the security of the conversations.
The unmentioned threat was present, but Jersey realized quickly that he possessed a pragmatic set of reasons to not be worried about the conversation next to him. Chiefly, no one at the table had reason to distrust him. The stunt with the poisoned drinks was done without any prompting by anyone present. He was simply a guest invited by an unusually generous Overlord.
Secondly, he had no intention on getting involved with any war, cold or otherwise, between sinners of high status within Pentagram City. Fighting would only heighten his profile in an unproductive way. Jersey wished only to be known as the humble workman with a desire to be "redeemed," despite his misgivings on the possibility of redemption on a personal level. Getting involved with grudges and deadly vendettas with powerful souls was a recipe for disaster.
'Surely,' Jersey though, 'I won't get myself dirty with all this politicking and backstabbing.' It was a naïve thought of assurance, but he did not want to focus on how idealistic he was sounding.
Jersey's efforts on that end were of no use; part of him still worried about the non-zero chance of him being dragged into the world of the Overlords. Realistically, he would be seen as a target by the Three V's. After all, he could not escape his association with the Radio Demon. He had just ridden in a car with him, shared a table with food and drink with Alastor and his closest associates, and uncovered a plot to have them poisoned with a substance that might have killed or maimed them had he not intervened. If Alastor had enemies, which was certainly the case, it would not be a stretch for such foes to think of him as a potential weak point to attack.
Such worrying was drowned out by the intensive discussion between the two Overlords at the table.
"What does Cannibal Colony get out of this particular arrangement?" Rosie asked poignantly, tapping her needle-like fingers against the glass of wine in her hand. "We inhabitants of the colony are simple folk, uninterested in a potential cold war in the Pentagram. And no, promises of free flesh will not suffice, my dear Alastor. Speaking for myself, I am not nearly so single minded, and my closest associates within the community share that sentiment."
"Ideally, such a conflict will remain entirely conceptual, Rosie." Alastor spoke with all the acumen of a military strategist, though Jersey found such an analogy dubious given the Radio Demon's apparent background. "Valentino in particular knows not to waste resources in a battle with an entire district of the Pentagram. Velvet is a self absorbed hedonist with an obsession with, ugh, trends. Vox has his own goons, but even his arrogance won't let him be reckless."
The Radio Demon paused to make a slow, purposeful bite of the cornbread. He hummed in delight as it was chewed to a mash in his mouth. Alastor took a sip of his drink to wash it down, and he returned to discussing matters. Even the arrival of appetizers and steaming hot meals did not inhibit important business.
Both of the Overlords went back and forth over the finest of details over an official, albeit quiet alliance between the two. Mimzy also put in her concerns and ideas while Jersey remained silent throughout the negotiations. Ideally, this triumvirate was meant to discourage aggression against them, but Rosie wanted guarantees if she was targeted by any of the Three V's without provocation. In the end, a theoretical framework for a "treaty" was agreed to.
Any attack by a member of the three V's against one party, when there was no provocation by said party, would require the others to act in appropriate defense. Negotiations were to be an essential tool to hash out any conflicts between the Three V's and any members of the new alliance; any kind of turf war or escalation was to be a last resort. All parties were to provide any information regarding actions by any of the Three V's, including conversations and moves made by known underlings and associates. Finally, any resources that Alastor, Rosie, and Mimzy could accumulate in the interest of the alliance had to be with the primary goal of preventing aggression.
There were finer details in place, many of which were requested by Rosie, who arguably had more to lose than Alastor. Considerations for her allies in Cannibal Colony had to be taken to account. Alastor promised that a deal would not be finalized until they had a representative to give their input on such a deal. In turn, the Radio Demon insisted that any talk of a formal meeting be withheld, and that anyone representing the general population of Cannibal Colony had to be carefully investigated for any affiliation with the Three V's or their known accomplices. Secrecy was another priority, so elements of conspiracy had to be followed, as amateurish as that sounded to the high class Rosie.
Jersey had finished his meal before anyone else. The sinners whom he shared a table with had the excuse of quiet, but fervent negotiation. Everything from the salad to the roast beef was quite excellent. Jersey was even tempted to ask for a desert menu later on, but for the time being, he remained silent, his ears divided between listening to diplomacy, and the gramophone playing at the back of the Maribou's Roost.
"Boy, you were quick." Mimzy commented to the handyman.
"Of course. Easy to finish a meal when you spend less time talking and more time eating."
"Not much of a talker, are ya?"
"I can be, but I understand that its a good idea to listen more than talking."
"Heh. Ya almost sound like Allie."
"Allie, eh?" Jersey kept himself from any hint of amusement. Especially when the Radio Demon was literally across from him. "How did you two meet, anyway?"
Mimzy sighed dreamily. "I was just a young dame wantin' to make my way in the world of entertainment. He was a radio host down in Baton Rouge who had taken the role of an announcer at a local play that I was performing in. His voice, his charm, everything about him made my little heart flutter.
"We hit it off for a time, but we found ourselves being drawn apart due to our careers. He was still comfortable in Louisiana, while I wanted to see the country, maybe even the world after I made my big break." Mimzy's smile became strained, before she slumped a bit in her chair, shaking her head sadly.
"It was a few years after the stock market crash when I managed to get some spare time to visit Louisiana again. I searched for him, asked for what he was doing, but that's how I learned about his dirty doings... and how he had fallen..."
Jersey almost felt pity for her, though he mentally admitted that his experience with romantic relationships was quite sparse.
"I kept on traveling the country as a flapper, and even managed to make some connections in the wider world. My biggest mistake was that they weren't connected to very good people. From there, my rise and fall was sudden. Mimzy the starlet went to Mimzy the mob boss and then Mimzy the dead. Now, here I am, performing Broadway tunes for all of these sinful shits..."
The recollection ended on a somber, and somewhat awkward note. Mimzy took a rather charmless gulp of her Gin Rickey, sighing heavily as her dark eyes settled on a corner of the table the group was sitting at.
"Would you say that your life was lived well?" Jersey asked.
Mimzy glanced his way with mild surprise. Her lips creased as she gave the inquiry some thought. "Objectively, no. All the same, I wouldn't trade a damn thing if it meant I couldn't meet Ally-cat again."
"Then that's all the more reason to let go. No use in lamenting what could have been. All we can do is our best with what's given to us."
Mimzy gave a small laugh. "You've been givin' it a lotta thought, huh? Got a lotta experience with regrets?"
Now it was Jersey's turn to take an unprompted drink, albeit a sip by comparison. "Only too well."
To Jersey's relief, the conversation promptly went to business, which he was much more comfortable with. "So, Al told me you can do plumbin' work."
Jersey sat up at this. "Indeed. I've plenty of experience at the Hazbin Hotel and, as Rosie can attest, I've done work at her establishment in Cannibal Colony."
"That's good." Mimzy said. "Been hearing a bunch of creakin' in the walls, and I've been receivin' complaints about it from servers and guests alike. How soon can you come and work on it?"
"When is the Roost closed?"
"During morning hours, until 11:00 at the least." Mimzy explained.
"What if I come this Monday at 9:00?" Jersey offered. "I can give an overview of the pipes in the areas where there have been sounds. I can evaluate the damage or issues and give you an estimate of how much it will cost. I can strategize how to replace or repair the plumbing and take care of it on Tuesday."
"Really?! That soon!?" Mimzy cooed. "Oh thank ya, Jersey."
Jersey smiled. "I recommend you gather the testimony of the complaints so I can go specifically to where the sounds are originating from."
"Sure thing, hun."
Understandably, the dining on Alastor and Rosie's end took much more time given the negotiations they were having. Even with the lengthy dining experience, the food was nothing short of exceptional, and Jersey gave compliments to the chef that Wallace happily relayed back to the kitchen. The drinks were satisfying as well, though Jersey was very conscientious of his drinking and politely refused a refill of his moscato.
Mimzy and Alastor relayed many a story about their time in show business when there was a lull in the more diplomatic discussion about the potential alliance between them. Jersey carefully gave his own stories: innocuous tales about quirky customers that he served as a plumber back in the mortal world. Eventually, the meal died down, and everyone payed their respective checks, with Jersey and Alastor giving especially generous tips to their waiter.
"So, we are in an unofficial agreement?" Asked Alastor of Rosie.
"Consider this a preliminary acceptance of the terms we've talked about." Rosie had just finished writing down a myriad of notes in a small book she had brought for the meeting. "We'll reconvene later on. Preferably in a more confidential manner."
"Indeed."
The conspiring sinners did not guarantee anything to writing. There were still some finer details to hash out, as well as consensus to be made within Cannibal Colony. Even if a formal agreement was made, no one was too eager to make a deal, even if the Radio Demon was a friend of theirs. After the grand and expensive evening concluded, the four guests departed firstly, giving a classy farewell and another commendation of the great cooking.
Mimzy took longer to depart the party, still giving Alastor loving gazes and talking her head off about past dates and regrets of what could have been. She was nevertheless eager to be in close association with Alastor again, with a verbal agreement that her stake in the Roost, among other prominent enterprises, would be an excellent boon as far as connections and potential staging grounds for territorial claims. She finally said goodbye with a blown kiss in Alastor's direction, humming a tune that was as older than the advent of rockets. All the while, Jersey kept his words blunt and few, with a careful ambiguity in any pressing questions from Rosie or Alastor.
"Care to add your thoughts on the matter? I'm always looking for thoughtful advice on matters such as these."
"I hope your alliance is fruitful."
"Oh come on now, Jersey! Is there nothing that I could offer to ensure your support?"
"That depends, would I have to make a deal-deal?"
"...Yes." Came the blunt reply.
"I'll politely decline."
"Hmph, such manners..."
Alastor and Jersey left as they arrived: together. The Radio Demon and the handyman of the Hazbin Hotel were not necessarily allies, but as far as Alastor was concerned, Jersey was a part of the web he wished to spin together whether he wanted to or not. The latter knew that for better and almost certainly for worse, he was now fully introduced to the world of the Overlords.
As he stared blankly out into the north side of the Ring of Pride's Pentagram City, Jersey wondered whether he could survive such a world.
Sheesh... So many months since the last time I spent any amount of time on this project: my first proper fanfic on . I'm honestly surprised at the amount of favorites and followers this story got despite the lack of updates beyond the occasional grammar fix. I'm genuinely touched by the folks who have given this amateurish thing a chance.
As for the delay, I struggled to find any inspiration for this fanfic. It did not help that Hazbin Hotel was in the woods as far as whether or not the series would be picked up by anyone. We now know that it will be an Amazon series, although much of the original cast has been replaced. I admit that I did not have much confidence in continuing this fanfic in terms of world building and characterization by the seat of my own pants. It may scream of laziness, but the lack of official Hazbin Hotel content really limited my ability to think any future story lines beyond the general story line I thought of as far back as the days of the pandemic.
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you, my precious followers, that updates on this fanfic will be very slow, at least until a significant amount of Hazbin Hotel episodes have come out to provide better context of how the characters, conflicts, and world building will play out. I don't want to continue a fic if it winds up being a disservice to the canonical characters and word of Hazbin Hotel. This does NOT mean that I am abandoning this fanfic, but it does mean that updates will be very infrequent. If I do abandon this fanfic, I will inform you via a new chapter.
Anyways, thank you all very much for your support of this story. I hope you will check out my other stories, including a new, lengthy one that I believe will have a high chance of being completed in a timely manner. This is B20T76 signing off.