Vanessa could safely say that her life had gone to complete and utter shit. Well, if calling her death and subsequent fall to hell a life counted.
It had been looking so good, too.
After so long hiding her crush, after so much relentless teasing from her friends, she'd finally worked up the nerve to ask James Guthrie out. The boy she'd been harboring feelings for so long, and she'd finally asked him out.
Granted, it was only to the homecoming dance, but he'd said yes! He'd said that he was glad to be going with her!
Usually, people would use the expression of "nothing could ruin the good mood." In response to her joy.
But something… someone did ruin her good mood. And he ruined her life in the process.
Or… what little life she had left after the fact.
It's so easy to think about the horrible things that can happen to anyone, and believe they'll never happen to you. It's so easy to fall into the fantasy that despite some turbulence, life would always be good.
But Vanessa had learned that things could change in a moment. She'd learned that lesson harshly, in a way she couldn't bring herself to wish upon anyone else.
Her day had been relatively good, if somewhat worrisome. Her little brother, Raymond, had needed to go to the hospital for stomach pains. What caused those pains, Vanessa would never know.
Because she couldn't live with the shame, and shot herself.
It's so easy to hear about rape, and wonder how anyone could feel shameful of something that wasn't their fault. It was so easy to hear about rape, and think that it would suck, but that it couldn't fuck people up that bad, right?
It was so easy to hear about rape. But Vanessa spoke from experience when she said that it would never, never be easy to experience it.
Even dead… she didn't feel clean. Even dead, she couldn't wipe away the shame, the idea that it could've been avoided. She couldn't wipe away the hatred she'd felt for her cowardice.
She couldn't wipe away the guilt that wasn't hers to feel.
Logically, she knew it wasn't her fault. Of course it wasn't. Mike had broken into her home and waited for her. And with no chance to plan for or any indication that her parents would be gone…
Mike had planned on doing it anyway.
But if her parents had been home that day… it wouldn't have happened.
Of course, that wasn't necessarily true either. For all she knew, Mike would've forced her to stay quiet somehow.
But… she felt guilty for letting it happen. She felt disgusted with herself. She was a coward. She was weak.
And that was only proven stronger when she'd found herself in Hell.
All of the obvious seemed to fly right over her head at Valentino's promise of safety and security, if only she'd sign her soul over to him.
And she had.
And now she was nothing more than a glamorized prostitute. Albeit, one that no one seemed to want.
That was the one solace of her shitshow of an afterlife.
Due to the terrible luck she'd had, Hell had manifested her form as that of a succubus. That was the real reason Valentino pounced on her. He had thought she'd become one of his best money makers.
But there was a drawback, one that she hadn't expected to work in her favor.
As a being meant for sex, succubi had failsafes in their biology in the event of any sort of attack.
That being the fast acting poison within their tails.
Which basically meant that on instinct, her tail would lash out, and the soul that made any attempt on them would be dead in seconds.
Vanessa wasn't exactly good at hiding the fact that she didn't want to do anything, anything, of a sexual nature. And since most of Hell obviously knew of this failsafe, no one was interested in trying out the new employee when they saw the look on her face.
Valentino had once tried removing her tail, but ignoring the fact that it would regenerate at some point, a timely intervention from Vox was the only thing that had saved Valentino from a quick death.
Although, she assumed sinners would regenerate at some point after death. After all… she'd been here just in time to experience the annual Extermination that apparently happened once a year.
From what she learned, angels were the only thing capable of truly killing sinners, so she assumed that Valentino wouldn't have stayed gone for good.
She'd have still been bound to that godforsaken contract.
Though… it was entirely hopeless, Vanessa could admit.
There was another worker, Angel. It hadn't taken long for Vanessa to learn who he was.
He was a spider demon, and he looked… odd. One look at his face told you that he was a man, but his body resembled a woman's to an absurd degree, down to fur on his chest that fluffed up, resembling a pair of breasts.
He was Hell's top pornstar, and Valentino's favorite pet.
At first, Angel had been just like everyone else. Vanessa avoided him like the plague, and stayed out of his way when he was present.
But then Angel had started talking to her. And maybe she was naive, especially since she'd only been in Hell for a little over a month, but… he really seemed like a decent guy.
Sure, he was a massive flirt, and he had absolutely no grasp of the concept of boundaries, but when she needed someone to talk to, Angel was always there.
He was willing to listen, and he gave advice where he saw fit. Whether Vanessa should or would follow that advice was a completely different story, but she appreciated the fact that he was trying to help. In his own way, anyway.
But lately… Angel hadn't been around.
And of course Vanessa knew why. Angel had at least been nice enough to inform her about being invited to the Princess's new redemption Hotel.
The poor sinner would give anything to go to the Hotel… or just be away from Valentino in general.
But the fact that the moth demon owned her soul, and the fear she held of him… Vanessa was honestly scared to even leave Porn Studios for risk of retaliation.
She was glad Angel was at least somewhere safe… but she honestly did miss him. She missed having someone to at least talk to.
Especially since she was now stuck in this shitshow without any outlet. And due to her own cowardice… her own weakness…
She could do nothing but hide away in her room and weep.
She'd give anything to go back. She'd give anything to fix her mistake. If she'd have known shooting herself would've led to all of this… she would have at least tried to power through.
This was Hell, both figuratively and literally.
And Vanessa would give anything just to feel some semblance of safety again.
"So, my only real job is to protect the place?" John asked for clarity as the limo made its way through Pentagram City, looking at Charlie and Vaggie as he spoke.
"Yep." Charlie nodded eagerly. That was essentially the gist of it.
"We'd like you to act as a guest as well, but your main priority is the Hotel's safety." Vaggie added on, looking at the behemoth with crossed arms. "We'll handle any paperwork that comes with the job, but the actual safety of the Hotel and it's residents is your responsibility."
"Got it." John nodded his head as he turned to glance out the window. "So, do I have to be a guest? Like, follow and participate in programs and lessons? Or am I just staff?"
"Well, Alastor doesn't, so if you'd rather not, we won't make you." Charlie assured, though she honestly hoped that John would participate.
It didn't seem to be, though.
"Well, no offense, but I really ain't interested in trying to redeem myself." John admitted with a sigh, his expression falling slightly as he said it. "Not for now, at least." He mumbled under his breath, but Vaggie seemed to catch it.
"Can we ask why?" Vaggie couldn't help the suspicious gaze she gave the sinner as she asked the question, but all she got was a mirthless chuckle in response.
"Because I don't plan on changing until I know that a monster isn't needed anymore."
That was… not a response that Charlie had respected. And clearly, it even threw Vaggie off-guard as well.
"What.. what exactly do you mean?" Charlie asked after taking a moment to process those words. Admittedly, she wasn't entirely sure what exactly he was referring to. Did he see himself as a monster? Because Charlie could confidently say that from what she'd seen, John was nowhere near the mark.
John glanced at Charlie when the question left her lips, and he shook his head slightly with a chuckle. "With all due respect, Charlie, look around." The behemoth's gaze moved back towards the window when he said that. "What you're trying to do is good, really good. And I do personally believe that it could work. But this is Hell, and not everyone down here wants or deserves redemption. And for every monster walking this shitshow, you need a bigger monster to fight back." His expression was sad, almost regretful as he said it, before he turned his attention back to Charlie and Vaggie. "What I'm saying, Charlie, is that I have no problem with being as mean, as cruel, or as vicious as I can get with my enemies, so long as my loved ones and anyone else undeserving won't be hurt in the process."
That was… enlightening, Charlie had decided. So, there was a dark side to the behemoth sitting in front of her. But the only question was if it would be counterproductive to the Hotel's goal?
… Alastor's a cannibalistic killer, Angel was constantly harassing people, and Niffty was… a thing.
She severely doubted John could be any worse based on what she'd seen.
"So what exactly are you willing to do if you think the situation calls for it?" Vaggie asked, her expression still holding some suspicion as she voiced the question, shooting a scrutinizing gaze at John.
John actually seemed to think about that question for a moment, before shrugging.
"Well, someone kidnaps somebody I care about? I'll find them, I'll stick my fingers in their back, and I'll play with their spinal cord until they tell me what I want to know." It was said so casually, in almost off-handed tone, that it was almost easy to think that John hadn't just described one of the most vicious ways of torture Charlie had ever heard of.
"Okayyy…" Charlie couldn't help the nervous tone, nor the equally nervous smile on her face as she responded. That was not at all where she would've expected this conversation to go.
"And you don't have a problem with that?" Vaggie asked, on edge once more around the behemoth now that she'd been told that.
"Of course I do." John replied with a sigh, turning away from the window to face the two women with a look of regret. "But I can feel guilty later. Long as a scumbag is put down and an innocent life is spared… well, in that moment, I could care less how cruel I get." He admitted.
"So you'd… rather be a monster to save lives?" Charlie asked, and finally, John let out a chuckle that actually sounded positive.
"When the time calls for it." John answered with a small smile. "Other times… all it takes is someone willing to listen." He sounded earnest, genuine in that belief. "Someone trying to hurt someone else? Then yeah, I'm not afraid to get physical. But if someone's in a bad spot, down on their luck… sometimes the only difference between good and bad is having two cents worth of patience."
That was… pretty wise, actually. Charlie would have to remember that.
"But what happens if the person you are trying to save doesn't want to be saved?" Of course, leave it to Vaggie to point out any possible flaw in the logic.
"Well it still depends on the situation." John answered with a small smile. "You can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves, but sometimes… well, I know fear when I see it, that's all I'll say."
Well, this conversation was certainly enlightening, in regards to the Hazbin Hotel's newest security guard. While Charlie still had confidence that John would be a great help, it was clear that they may need to keep an eye on him.
The limo began slowing to a stop, causing all occupants to turn to look out the windows.
"Am I looking at a building or a statue?" John joked, wide-eyed as he looked at the Hotel with disbelief written all over his face. "Is that a cruise ship?"
Charlie couldn't help but to look sheepish at the Hotel's haphazard design. "I mean… it's not bad is it?"
"Of course not, Hon." Vaggie was quick to assure the Princess, getting a smile in response, before turning towards the behemoth for his answer.
"It's… different." John said, looking as if he were trying to think of the proper word to use. "I wouldn't say it's bad… but it's definitely unusual."
The limo came to a stop in front of the Hotel, and Vaggie was the first exit, more than happy to have a bit more space between her and the… confusing sinner that was now their security guard. Charlie followed behind her, before the two turned to watch as John climbed out of the limo.
Or tried to, in any case.
"Jesus Christ…" John could be heard grumbling as he tried to maneuver so that his elbow spikes cleared the edge of the door, only to knock his left elbow spike against the edge. "Ow! Motherfucker!" He exclaimed in annoyance, eliciting giggles of amusement from Charlie and a snicker from Vaggie.
When John had finally found himself outside of the limo, it was clear he was annoyed, incoherently grumbling to himself as he turned and reached in to grab his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder before closing the door.
The window promptly shattered.
The two watched John simply stand there frozen and stare at the door, and after a few seconds of no movement, Charlie found herself laughing to her heart's content at the rather comedic site, and even Vaggie was trying not to laugh out loud.
Slowly, John turned around with a wide-eyed look to face Charlie. "My uh… my bad…"
That was the straw that broke the camel's back, as Charlie found herself on the ground, her lungs aching from her giggles while Vaggie found herself laughing as well, hunching over and holding herself up on her knees as her body shuddered in amusement.
John merely rolled his eyes, but he had a smile on his face as he did so. "Yeah, yeah, make fun of the new guy." He joked at his own expense as he moved so that he was next to them.
Once the two women had recovered from her amusement, Vaggie helped Charlie to her feet before the three began making their way to the Hotel.
"Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!" Charlie announced cheerfully as she threw the doors open, turning around and spreading her arms in a welcoming manner as John and Vaggie followed behind her.
John stopped for a moment to take in the interior, piercing blue eyes scanning the lobby as he took in the abundance of Royal Family photos, decorations, and overall atmosphere of the Hotel.
At least, the atmosphere Charlie wanted for the Hotel.
"Looks nice." John's words were simple, a nod accompanying them as he took a few steps forward. "Where are all the guests?"
Charlie couldn't help but feel a little nervous at the question. Was he expecting many guests to be at the Hotel?
"Well, we are in Hell." Vaggie pointed out bluntly as she moved to stand next to Charlie, looking at the sinner with a raised brow. "We only have one real guest at the moment, and we haven't found anyone willing to give it a try."
John nodded his head, his eyes still appearing to scan over every inch of the lobby. "Their loss." He spoke, before turning to face Charlie and Vaggie with a smile. "So… it's one guest and the staff?"
"Yeah…" Charlie admitted with a sigh, rubbing her arm slightly. She still felt a little nervous for unintentionally misleading him, and if it weren't for Vaggie's reassuring hand upon her shoulder, she'd have probably broken down into apologies already.
"Who's the beast?" The familiar voice of Husk rang out from his usual position at the concierge, causing all eyes to shoot towards him.
The cat demon was cleaning a couple glasses at the moment, and Charlie couldn't help the smile on her face as she found the perfect person to start introductions.
"This is our bartender and doorman, Husk." Charlie introduced, moving over towards the concierge while John and Vaggie followed. "Husk, this is John Gallagher, our new security guard."
Husk didn't say anything at first, merely raising an eyebrow, before turning his attention to John. "You still go by your real name?" He asked.
John nodded, a small smile on his face. "I'm not ashamed of who I am. I don't need to hide behind a fake name to make myself feel better." His tone oozed nothing but confidence at his own words, and Charlie really wished that many sinners would take after him in that aspect.
Well… the aspect of his name anyway. Not so much anything else.
Husk looked at John for a moment, his face blank with the exception of a raised eyebrow, before he shook his head. "Your choice." He didn't sound like he would agree, but he wouldn't judge. "So you're the new security guard?"
"Yep."
"And why do we need him?" Husk asked bluntly, turning to look at Charlie and Vaggie with yet another raised eyebrow. "I hate Alastor, but he should be enough protection as it is."
"Who's Alastor?" John asked in confusion, turning his attention to the two women as well with a look of curiosity on his face.
Charlie couldn't help the absolute shock that flooded her at the question. First Angel, and now John didn't know who Alastor was? The speed with which she and Vaggie both snapped their gazes to him would've given anyone else whiplash.
"What?" John asked with a shrug as his expression of curiosity changed to one of confusion. "Should I know who he is?"
"The Radio Demon?" Vaggie revealed, expecting that to maybe clear things up.
No such luck, as John simply shook his head, as confused as ever.
"You know, fox ears? Radio voice?" Husk added on, looking at John as if he'd grown a third eye.
"Never heard of him." John admitted with a shrug. "Sounds like someone from the thirties with a name like Alastor."
A rather loud amused snort escaped Husk at those words, and he found himself chuckling at the… rather apt description, Charlie could admit.
"Not far off." Husk admitted with a shake of his head. "No point in telling you about him, you'll meet him soon."
"Right…" John gave a slow head nod, before he suddenly tensed up, his head beginning to swing around, as if searching something. "What the-" His hand swung to his back, and they hear a slight yelp as he seemed to grip something, before pulling his hand back into view.
Charlie couldn't help but to feel sheepish at the small cyclops demon currently hanging by her head from John's hand.
"Niffty!" Vaggie exclaimed, marching up to the two of them as she pretty much snatched Niffty from the behemoth's grasp. "Quit climbing onto people like that."
"But I wanted to check out the new boy!" Niffty immediately responded, looking upset that her activity (if it could be called that) had been interrupted.
"No." Vaggie said sternly with a shake of her head. "Go back to killing bugs and keeping the Hotel."
"Okay!" And just like that, Niffty was back to her usual psychotic little self, immediately sprinting off to somewhere else in the Hotel the moment Vaggie released her.
"That's our housemaid, Niffty." Charlie informed John as she stepped next to the behemoth, who was currently starring after where Niffty had buzzed off to in disbelief. "We're eighty percent sure she's harmless."
"Sure…" John nodded his head slowly, before turning to look at Vaggie. "You sure you don't need protection from her?" He asked, jerking his thumb in the direction Niffty had disappeared.
Finally, Vaggie actually gave the sinner a smile, albeit a small one of amusement, as she nodded. "Tempting, but no. Outside of running up and climbing on people, you don't have to worry about her."
"Alright…" John didn't look like he believed that statement, but he didn't argue as he turned back towards Charlie and Vaggie. "So… that leaves the guest and this… 'radio demon.' Right?"
"Yep." Charlie nodded her head in confirmation. "Now we just have to hope that Angel's-"
Charlie found herself interrupted the moment Angel's mouth left her lips, when the front doors suddenly flew open and the spider demon himself trudged in, looking rather exhausted and irritated.
Angel seemed to have been mumbling something too quiet for them to hear, before his eyes flicked up. He slowed to a stop, his eyes going wider and wider as they honed in on the face of John.
"Jesus Christ…" Angel found himself muttering as he stared at John, who found himself looking at the spider with a raised eyebrow.
"Considering you don't have fox ears, I'm guessing you're Angel." John said as Angel seemed to regain his bearings, though he was still stunned.
"Jesus Christ, I've met plenty of people bigger than me but… shit, you're huge!" Angel commented, moving forward at a quicker pace than before, whatever his earlier frustrations were being forgotten. "Who the hell is this?" He asked Charlie and Vaggie as he came to a stop next to them.
"This is John Gallagher, and he's our new security guard." Charlie introduced the behemoth to their Hotel guest, causing John to give a smile and a small wave to the demon.
Angel's expression took on a look of confusion as he turned his gaze back to Charlie. "Security guard? Wouldn't Al be enough?"
"Ignoring the fact that Alastor is an overlord, he's the facility manager, not security." Vaggie replied with an eye roll, shaking her head slightly at the thought of the Radio Demon actually defending the place. "But this big behemoth seems to be a pretty good fit."
"Nice to meet you." John offered his hand in greeting, expecting a simple handshake.
What he actually got was quite different.
Suddenly, a flirtatious smirk came onto the spider-demon's face as he gripped the offered hand, before twisting around so that his back was pressed against the behemoth's front side with the offered hand was now gripped against his chest.
"Nice to meet you too, baby." Angel replied as he craned his neck to look up at John, who now looked deeply uncomfortable and thoroughly annoyed.
And once again, the nervousness rose back up.
"Right…" John muttered, before pulling his hand free. The action caused Angel to spin in an almost cartoonish manner, falling upon his rear as the three watched, before the behemoth turned to Charlie and Vaggie. "The picture of redemption." He remarked in a bland tone.
"Hey!" Angel clearly took offense to that, but Vaggie seemed to think it was rather amusing, while Charlie could only let out a sigh of relief.
That could have gone far worse, all things considered.
Charlie hadn't expected introductions to be so nerve wracking, but here she was. That only left-
"Well, just who is this gargantuan brute?"
Alastor.
All eyes shot towards the source as the familiar radio filtered voice echoed through the Hotel. Alastor was currently making his way down the steps, his usual smile presented proudly upon his face as he looked at the new security guard.
"Fox ears…" John mumbled under his breath, shooting a glance at Husk, before looking at the Radio Demon. "I take it you're Alastor?"
"Indeed I am!" Alastor confirmed in an overly cheerful manner as he came to a stop, placing his cane… microphone thing firmly on the ground. "Radio Host and Overlord extraordinaire! Might I know who you are?"
"John Gallagher. I'm the new security guard." John introduced himself, offering his hand to the Radio Demon as he'd done for Husk.
To Charlie's honest surprise, Alastor took the hand and shook it rather than avoiding it.
"I'm glad to see someone proud of their true name! And with manners to boot…" Was that… respect? Appreciation?
Honestly, anything but confidence or sarcasm in the Radio Demon's voice was something unusual, a thought clearly echoed by both Angel and Vaggie.
"Like I told Husk there, I ain't ashamed of who I am." John actually gave a small smile as he let go of the fellow sinner's hand. "I have my regrets. Doesn't mean I need a fake name."
"Well screw you." Angel muttered, only for both Alastor and John to actually manage to hear it.
"How about no?"
"How vulgar."
Angel crossed his arms and poured in response, while Charlie and Vaggie were both surprised to see that John and Alastor were getting along just fine… despite two very different morals.
"So, you're this radio demon I've been hearing about, huh?" John asked, looking down at said demon with a raised eyebrow. "The name definitely fits."
"Why thank you." Alastor showed some gratitude, before raising an eyebrow. "Though I do find myself intrigued. You sound as if you haven't heard of me before."
"I haven't." John admitted with a shrug. "Only reason I know your name is because Husk told me about your voice and the fox ears." He explained further, flicking a finger up and gesturing to the sinner's hair.
"Ah. Well, you'll get to know more about me soon enough." Alastor stated in a matter-of-fact tone, looking up at the behemoth with that same smile always present. "Pleasure to be working with you. Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel."
"Thanks." John replied with an appreciative nod as the Radio Demon turned and began making his way back to wherever he'd come from. "So that's everyone, right?" The behemoth asked, turning to face Charlie and Vaggie.
"Yep." Charlie nodded, fangs on full display as she gave the brightest smile she possibly could. Despite the introductions going more rough than she'd expected, it seemed like John hadn't been out off. He was actually staying! "Now, if you'd like, I can show you to your room, and then we can take a tour."
"Good luck getting me to remember this whole place any time soon." John joked with a grin as he moved to follow after the princess, leaving Vaggie standing next to the concierge with Husk and Angel.
"You two look like you need a drink." Husk noted as he looked at the two of them.
"Yep."
"Please."
Husk merely chuckled, but he moved onto pouring their drinks.
"So, what's the deal with the big guy, anyway?" Angel asked as he and Vaggie both took a seat at the bar as Husk slid them both glasses, pouring whatever alcoholic drink he'd grabbed into them.
"Charlie got a call from her dad yesterday." Vaggie answered as she immediately took a sip of her drink. "He said he might've found someone for the hotel, sent her some news articles for some place a few miles away from Pentagram City."
"Lucifer himself recommended the guy?" Husk asked as he jumped into the conversation, pouring himself a drink as well since he didn't really think anybody else would be coming into the Hotel that day.
"Didn't Charlie say he didn't believe in the Hotel?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow, glancing at the moth demon. "Why would he be looking to help?"
"Well, from what Charlie has told me, they do have a pretty good relationship. They just… don't agree on the whole redemption thing." Vaggie explained to the two other sinners, rubbing her head in slight frustration considering she still didn't trust John. "Anyway, Charlie came to me, telling me we had to go to some place called the Hell Hole."
"Oh yeah, I've heard of that place." Angel commented at the mention of John's home. "Everybody thinks it's a joke. No one wants to go near it cause it'll ruin their reputation. Even with the myth that Angels have avoided the place like a plague for the last two years."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that." Husk remarked with a small chuckle. "Sure says something when your reputation is more important than your afterlife."
"Well… let's just say that they may have made a good decision." Vaggie admitted with a sigh. "Maybe people should've paid more attention. Our new security guard is the only sinner I've ever met with the power to kill angels." She revealed, causing Angel to nearly spit his drink out all over the bar as Husk's gaze snapped towards Vaggie so fast she almost thought he'd broken his neck.
You could hear a pin drop from the silence the permeated through the atmosphere, with the exception of Angel recovering from his choked drink.
"Y-You're kidding, right?" Angel asked as he turned to look at Vaggie with a wide-eyed stare. "A sinner? Killing angels?"
"I'm serious." Vaggie said with a sigh as took a sip of her own drink, before bringing the glass back down with an audible thump. "The news articles that people really should read talk all about it. The reason Extermination Day doesn't happen at the Hell Hole any more is because John slaughtered all the ones that went there on his first two extermination days."
"He did that shit two years in a row?" Husk asked, wide-eyed, before rubbing his head as he took a large gulp of his drink. "Holy shit…"
"Yeah, I know." Vaggie nodded in agreement with the cat demon. "And get this: He's like a hero to that city." She revealed with a shake of her head. "His nickname is the Juggernaut. The city acts like he's some kind of superhero."
"Can you blame them?" Angel asked with a small smile. "With how long this Extermination bullshit has been happening, they'd probably be thanking the big man himself that someone can and will fight them back."
"I think it's more than that. Some hellhound family took him in." Vaggie revealed, recalling the image of the little hellhound pup that was so heartbroken that the behemoth was leaving. "There was a little kid there that started bawling when he found out John was coming here, and the receptionist was worried I would try to hurt him or something."
"Like you'd have any luck with that." Husk commented, earning himself a glare in response. "What? Come on, Vaggie, you're skilled for sure… but if the kid has the power to slaughter thousands of angels, what chance do you have? Or Alastor?"
"He's got a point." Angel nodded in agreement with Husk as he too looked at Vaggie. "I know that's an Holy Spear and all, but what are you gonna do to someone who slaughters beings more powerful than you holding those same weapons? Jackshit, that's what."
Though Vaggie didn't appreciate how casually it was said, she couldn't deny it was true. After all, she'd had the same thoughts herself.
Outside of her spear and her combat skills, she wasn't a very noteworthy sinner in the slightest. What possible chance did she have of even hurting him?
Let alone taking him down…
"Still, sounds like these people sure like the kid." Husk commented, steering the conversation away from Vaggie's basically zero chance possibility of taking on the new security guard. "Can't say I've ever heard of many people taking too kindly to sinners."
"Well, when we met him… he did seem pretty nice." Though she still believed it to be an act, Vaggie would be stupid to pretend that John's demeanor, whether real or fake, hadn't been anything less than amiable. "He said he thought the Hotel was a good thing, but he personally didn't feel he had anything to offer. He wouldn't have come at all, honestly, if it weren't for one of the hellhounds. Andre, his name was."
"Seems like a pretty normal name for a hellhound." Husk commented, before looking up in thought for a moment. "Or any Hellborn demon, really."
"Well his daughter's name is Viv, and the little kid's name was… Beartrap, but I'm assuming that's a nickname." Vaggie admitted as she recalled the family. Or what she met of the family, anyway.
"Why?"
"Kid had a birthmark on his arm that looked like a beartrap."
"Ah, well that makes sense." Angel admitted with a shrug, before turning back to his drink. "But what's got you so stressed out about him? He seems like a decent kid outside of spinning me onto my ass."
Vaggie and Husk both gave the spider-demon a deadpan look at that. It only took a second for him to understand.
"Ah, you don't trust him."
"Of course I don't." Vaggie replied with a roll of her eyes, once again rubbing her head in order to hopefully stave off the oncoming headache. "A sinner? That powerful? If Alastor is any indication, then he can't be that genuine."
"I think you're just paranoid." Husk spoke bluntly, causing Vaggie's gaze to snap towards him. "What? You really gonna sit here and tell me that you don't have that habit?"
"We're in Hell."
"...Fair enough."
"Do you know how hard it is for me to trust him with the Hotel's protection?" Vaggie couldn't stop herself from voicing the question. "We just met the guy, what reputation he does have is more notable for slaughtering angels, which means that if he becomes a threat, it's gonna take at least one of the Seven Deadly Sins to stop him." Her gaze locked in on Husk. "Tell me I'm wrong."
"Nah, you're not." Husk admitted as he gulped down the last of his drink. "I'll give you that. Ignoring the paranoia, you've got a point. But the only way we'll really know for sure is to see how it goes."
Vaggie couldn't help but to let out a sad sigh. "That's what I'm afraid of."
"What about Charlie?" Angel suddenly piped up, causing the two to turn their gazes to the pornstar. "I know Hell treats her like a joke, and she's a walking bundle of puppies, but… all jokes aside, she is the Princess of Hell. And I just can't see her sitting aside and letting somebody try to harm… well, anyone in the Hotel." He admitted with a shrug.
"Well, in this case, being a walking bundle of puppies is a massive weakness." Husk retorted. "What's she gonna do, spin up a rainbow to attack him? Sure, nobody actually goes after her, but there's a reason she's treated like a joke."
"I really, really hate to say it… but Husk's right." Vaggie admitted with a sigh. "Charlie doesn't have it in her to really cut loose. I honestly don't know what it would take. But if someone with sufficient power picks a fight with her… I don't like her chances." The moth-demon found herself feeling more and more lost. Completely and utterly useless.
She hated that she didn't have that much confidence in Charlie, because Charlie was the third most powerful person in Hell. But that was the truth. In a true fight, with someone coming for her life… Vaggie couldn't see Charlie winning.
"I personally think you might be jumping the gun, but that's just me." Angel admitted with a shoulder shrug as he turned back to his own drink. "I mean, let's say the guy is as evil as you think he could be. Let's say he fully intends on destroying this Hotel or something. As a matter of fact, let's say that he intends to kill Charlie." Vaggie seriously did not like his examples, and she made sure he knew it with a scowl. Not that he paid any attention to it. "For a guy with a reputation for slaughtering angels… I still can't get over that… he was pretty gentle with me. He's got a family of hellhounds who care for him, and instead of just killing me on the spot or threatening me, he made me the but of a joke."
"Him just throwing you on your ass, deserved as it was," Husk earned a middle finger in his direction for that remark. "Could still be a part of the act. But the family of hellhounds? From the Hell Hole? I don't know, I just can't see it." The bartender admitted as he turned his gaze back to Vaggie. "If he's as evil as you think he could be, I doubt they'd be as relaxed as you make them sound."
Vaggie had to admit, they did have a point. The family of hellhounds definitely weren't being forced into an act, nor were they afraid of John at any moment despite being outsized and more than overpowered in comparison..
But still… it was the 'what if' that kept gnawing on her. And in Hell, 'what if it happens' usually turns into 'when did it happen?'
"I don't really have a choice but to see how things play out." Vaggie admitted with a sigh as she finished up her drink. "But… I will keep an eye on him."
And if she had reason to suspect anything… calling Lucifer was still a viable option. Albeit one she'd like to find an alternative too that would be just as effective.
But so long as Charlie was safe… nothing else mattered.