TW: Mentions of Sexual Content

Chapter 14: Hanging With Lars

May 5th. Me and Lars were hanging out.

"Where are we going?" I asked him,

"I want you to help me with something." He replied, "It's for my Mom."

"Oh?"

"Basically we gotta do some shopping at a supermarket. She gave me 100 dollars and a list right here. I asked if a friend of mine could help and she said yes."

"Where does your Mom work?"

"She's a businesswoman. Gets good money, but very boring."

"I can tell."

"However, I always wanted to work at the supermarket that my Mom and I always go to, but I don't have any experience or any schooling offered ever since we moved to Pride."

"Did you go to high school?"

"Yeah, but I dropped out due to a fiasco there back in Lust."

"What kinda–"

"-A huge fucking orgy."

"Oh…"

"Yeah, it's disgusting. Every single senior and junior were having sex. I was a junior and just walked out. Fucking hell. I don't even want to imagine that shit."

"Sorry to hear."

"It's fine. Mom's alright with me dropping out as long as I find a job here in Pride since she was hired for a job here as well."

We went to the supermarket. Lars was looking at the list.

"Let's see, cereal, milk, eggs…" He said, "Breakfast section should be over there."

A young man the same age as Lars walked up to him.

"Hey, Lars, did you hear about The Phantom Thieves?" He asked him, "Overlord Velvette confessed to her crimes yesterday."

"Yeah, I heard." Lars replied, "I have no time to talk, I got an errand to run for my Mom."

"Alright, alright. But I'm just saying that there's a website for The Phantom Thieves now."

"A website? Who made it?"

"I heard that some Hellhound from Gluttony made it. They call it The Phan-site and they question whether or not the Phantom Thieves were real. And surveyed on who the Phantom Thieves should steal the hearts of next, but that's for special occasions."

"...Wow."

"Wow indeed. Anyways, I'll leave you alone."

Lars sighed.

"Let's tell Cattleya about it later." He told me,

"Alright." I said,

"For now, let's get these groceries to Mom."

I helped out with Lars in life. It seems that our bond is slowly growing.

May 6th. Me and Lars were walking again.

"Did you apply for a job at that supermarket?" I asked him,

Lars stopped walking.

"No." He replied, "I tried to make an application, but I can't."

"What? Why?"

"...Again, I have no experience or any schooling, but…"

Lars sighed.

"I'm scared of failing." He said, "I've always had a fear of failing ever since I hit puberty. If I need to get shit down, then I'll do it so that I won't think about failing. But that shit just won't leave me be."

"I see…" I said, "Just be brave."

"Look, I'm trying my best to be brave for you, Cattleya and Mom… But it's hard to make you guys happy and not view me as a disgrace."

"You're not a disgrace."

"What makes you say that?"

"You always helped out when we needed someone."

"Teh, I guess I do… But still, I feel like I gotta man up or something."

"That's all you need to do. Be brave."

"I guess I gotta…"

I now understand what Lars is all about.

May 7th. Lars invited me to his house. He let me in.

"Mom's not here." He said, "It's best for me to stay in this house and guard it while she's not here."

"That's a first on being brave." I said,

"Heh, again with the brave shit."

"So, why did you invite me here?"

"I need help on making an application. You did that when you applied to Rosie's Emporium, right?"

"Well… No."

Lars then got surprised.

"She didn't accept applications?" He asked,

"Well, for a newcomer like me, no." I replied, "After working for a few more days with her, she wanted to accept applications. Heck, I don't even know how to make one anyways."

Lars sadly sighed as he sat on the sofa.

"So much for inviting you here." He said, "Well, guess we gotta figure it out for ourselves."

I sat next to him, thinking.

"Oh, what if we look up how to make a job application?" I asked him,

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Lars said as he got out his phone, "Let's see what the web got."

We searched for a few minutes until we found one and read it.

"Ok, I'm gonna save this one." He said as he put away his phone, "I appreciate the help so far, Ren, so thanks."

"It's nothing." I replied,

I started to understand Lars more.

May 8th. I was at Lars' house again as he was writing an application.

"Let's see…" He said, "Hey, Ren, can you tell me more about myself?"

"Yeah." I replied, "Lars Rabash is brave and rebellious, but he can be cool and kind to anyone close to him."

"Ok then… I guess I'll write that down."

Lars sighed as he put down his pencil.

"Do you think they'll accept me with the rebellious part?" He asked me,

"Maybe." I replied,

"Let's hope so… For now, I'm gonna finish this and I still need your help."

"Alright."

I'm cooperating really well with Lars.

May 9th. I was waiting for Lars outside of the supermarket we went to a while ago. It was named The Hellish Market. Not very creative. Lars came out of the market with his application in his hands.

"Well? How did it go?" I asked him,

"Well, let me see how I put it…" Lars replied as he sadly sighed, "It went terrible. I didn't get the job. I guess they didn't accept me for my rebellious behavior."

"But you don't act rebellious."

"Not towards shit like this! I'm only rebellious because of Hell itself! Yet, they didn't accept me in the job for that!"

Lars walked away.

"I'm going home." I said, "I'm gonna tell Mom what happened. I really am a disgrace."

I grabbed Lars by the arm.

"No you're not." I said,

"Am I?" Lars asked me, "I came from a ring full of horny bitches and bastards."

"You're not one of them and you're also not a disgrace."

Lars looked away.

"Listen, Ren, I know this is a moment for me and all, but it's tough being with a single mother I gotta look after and help." Lars said, "I'm sorry."

Lars walked away. It seems that I know Lars' pain.

May 10th. I decided to talk to Lars again at his house. His mother was home as well.

"Yes, my son is upstairs." She replied, "He's still upset that he didn't get the job at the supermarket we usually shop at. Why not make him feel better?"

"I want to tell him something." I replied, "I think there's another chance for Lars to find a job and I know the place."

"Oh?"

I was in the living room with Lars.

"The Hazbin Hotel?" Lars said, "Are you sure, Ren?"

"Yes." I replied, "I'm sure. Do it for me. And for your mother."

Lars sighed.

"Alright." He said, "I'll apply there."

Me and Lars arrived outside of The Hazbin Hotel as it was now called.

"Satan damn it…" He said, "I can't believe this… Are you sure this is gonna work? I mean, the Princess's advertisement of this is embarrassing."

"I'm positive." I replied, "Don't you want Hell to be changed in our way?"

"Huh?"

"When you become a Phantom Thief, we all made a vow together to change Hell our way. Do you not want that?"

"Woah! I do want that! What are you talking about?"

"She wants this place to change as well."

"Oh… You're really serious about this… And… Charlie wants to change this place for the better, huh?"

"Yes, I had a conversation with her about it."

Lars took a deep breath.

"I'm going in." He said as he walked towards the doors.

Inside, Charlie was reading a book until she saw Lars and got happy.

"Hi! Welcome to The Hazbin Hotel!" She said,

Lars then encountered the desk that Charlie was behind.

"I want to apply for a job here." He said, "Here's my application."

Lars then got out the application.

"Oh! You want to work here?" Charlie said, "That's great! Here, I'll look at your application!"

"Please do." Lars said as he sat on a lounge chair.

I came back in.

"Ren! Meet me back here!" Charlie said,

"Here I come." I said to her,

I looked at Lars who was looking at me.

"Good luck." I said to him,

"Thanks." Lars said,

I walked to meet with Charlie.

"That's one of your friends that you tell me about?" Charlie asked, "Lars, wasn't it?"

"Yup. Lars Rabash." I replied, "He's looking for a job and was rejected at a supermarket he and his Mom would go to."

"Hmm…"

Charlie looked at the application.

"Hey, he's Bisexual like me!" She said,

I sighed.

"Sorry, sorry, got a little excited." Charlie said as she shook it off, got serious and went back to reading, "Anyways… Uh-huh… Yes… He needs to be trained."

"Oh! That's what's missing!" I said,

"Yeah, he needs some training, but don't worry! We can train him!"

"Actually, you're training me–"

"-No! I mean, all of us are gonna train Lars while we're still training you!"

"Oh, makes sense."

"Anyways, let's tell him the good news!"

Lars meanwhile was taking deep breaths as he saw Charlie and I walking out to meet with him.

"Hi, Lars!" Charlie said,

"So… Thoughts on the application?" Lars asked,

"It's good, but it's missing one important thing."

"Huh?"

"You need to be trained." I said,

Lars sighed.

"I didn't know that." I said, "Damn it, I'm a fool."

"No you're not. You forgot, so it's forgiven." Charlie said, "But yeah, I think you're a good fit to work here in The Hazbin Hotel while also being trained under me and my closest companions!"

"Really? You're not pulling my leg or anything, right?"

"Why would I do that? You're hired, Lars. Welcome to The Hazbin Hotel team!"

Lars then bowed.

"Thank you, Princess!" He said, "I promise you I won't let you down!"

Charlie was a little confused.

"Sorry, Ren taught me that sort of bowing." Lars said, "It's a tradition he does back in Japan."

"Oh! Ha ha, it's ok, Lars!" Charlie said, "Tomorrow we'll have a meeting to debate the schedule! Let me know when you're available during that time!"

Charlie walked away. Lars was almost about to cry as he went over to hug me.

"Thank you so much, man." He said to me, "I don't know what I would do without you!"

"You're welcome." I said,

I finally helped Lars be brave enough.

Lars took a deep breath and dried his eyes.

"I'm sure this will make Mom happy." He said, "Anyways, I'm gonna go home now. Goodbye."

"Bye."

Lars walked away with joy.