Disclaimer: You might be wondering where I hazbin. Well, a lot of that time was used to come up with that joke. The joke that really deserves to be under a "disclaimer". And now to the story that is even further down there.
Silence ensued as the two characters made their way through the hallways. The Radio Demon was walking a couple feet ahead of the princess, his hands behind his upright back and a pleased grin on his lips. Charlie also moved with reliance as she didn't want to give room for doubt. What was done is done. Also, she felt that she had handled the situation somewhat well, considering it all.
Coming closer to the last set of stairs, the pair caught an end of a conversation.
"...was the argument?" Vaggie spoke in a questioning tone.
Descending, the arriving pair saw everyone gathered around the bar. They were particularly focused on Niffty, the only one who had her back towards the stairs.
"Well…" Niffty started, sounding like a cautious kid that was put in the spotlight. "It was less like an argument and more like her just dumping shit on Al."
Apparently she wasn't that cautious after all.
It was only after this sentence that everyone detected the subjects of their conversation. Niffty, confused as to everyone's shocked faces, followed their line of sight. There she found a very smug demon and just slightly embarrassed princess.
"Hi Al!" Was all the reaction the little girl had.
Charlie no longer felt that she had handled the situation somewhat well. Forming a slight pout, though only because of the disappointment in her own behaviour, the princess continued approaching the group, her pace lethargic. Vaggie gave her a sympathetic gaze while Angel and Husk played oblivious.
"Hello to yourself, little lady!" Alastor replied jovially, causing Niffty to bounce in place. Instead of bending his back, the Radio Demon actually lowered himself on one knee. With an easier tone, he proceeded talking. "Everything went well in the kitchen?"
Stopping, Niffty waved her hand at Alastor. "Oh yeah, those two goats took over the cooking."
"Razzle and Dazzle are back?" The princess piped. Forgetting her previous worries, her features lightened up. "How did the advertising go? Was anyone interested? Did they bring someone with them?!"
Both Alastor and Niffty turned to witness the gloomy woman shapeshift into a star eyed girl. The reticence she got in return didn't dissuade her either as she kept her hands clasped and eyes locked on the two demons.
"Well?" Came the eventual high pitched query.
After a second, Niffty crossed her arms, switching to a more affronting stance.
"No." She answered bluntly.
Her sunshine dunked again, Charlie gave an awkward chuckle. However, she kept her smile plastered on while lowering her still joined hands.
"What… does that mean?" She asked after a couple seconds.
Keeping her pose up, Niffty corresponded in the same manner as before. "It means, you should ask them." Pointing in the direction opposite of the hotel entrance, the little girl then turned and walked away.
Charlie had wanted to speak further, maybe apologize but as Niffty departed from the conversation, the princess got the message not to proceed. With a sigh, she started making her not-so-lavish-way towards the kitchen. Going past the stairs, she made a mental note to put effort into improving her relationship with her guests.
Vaggie had watched the exchange by the bar and was now moving to follow Charlie's trail. Of course, not before giving the small girl and the dark demon the judgeful eye.
The dark demon caught the puny gesture but disregarded it. Deciding the others can look after the meal, he made his own trail to the saloon. A spot which Niffty had chosen as well. She was sitting next to Angel, who was sitting in the far right stool.
Closing in on his destination, Alastor gazed upon Husker.
"I see you're finally awake." The Radio Demon greeted in his typical polite gallant, attaining the cat's attention. He took a seat on Niffty's left side. His head tilting a little, Alastor pointed at his own upper lip while meeting the bartender's eyes.
"You got a little something on your whiskers."
A barely voiced 'what' was heard, followed by some vigorous wiping of one's mouth. The motion ended with a more vocalized "Dammit." The cat raised its ire towards the spider. "You said I got it all off."
The spider in question raised his head at this, clearly not having paid attention. He turned to the other stools only to see all eyes staring back at him.
After a second, the porn star appeased their curiosity. "Relax, it's just milk."
The cat's disapproving grunt rang in symphony with the giggle resonating from the little girl.
Curiosity appeased, Niffty settled for browsing the bottles on the wall. Husk began sauntering towards Alastor's end of the counter while still giving mind to Angel.
"Fuck you, you know no one thought of it like that."
The accusation got a disinterested shrug in return which went unnoticed by the cat, not caring to see it. Parking his now quite sober form in front of the Radio Demon, he was met with a curiosity left unappeased.
"Thought of it like what?" Alastor asked, eyes round and ears erect, searching the cat's gaze as if they were withholding some secret truth. As Husker's muzzle turned dumbstruck, Alastor turned to gauge the others for an answer. "What else would it be?"
Angel, naturally, was ready to answer. "Well-" he managed to say before getting caught off by Husk's loud "Shut it!"
Then, unnaturally, Niffty went ahead with her own explanation. "Think of something stic-" was all she managed before the cat slammed his paw in front of her. Rising said paw to point at the girl, Husk lowered his voice and inquired her the most natural of questions.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Seeing this, the Radio Demon didn't bother to inquire further, not really caring anyway. Lowering his sight to the table, Alastor eventually came up with a proposal.
"Well my friend, if it would help you feel more comfortable," He spoke without looking up, not caring who heard him. "Just say the word and the spider won't be bothering you anymore. No strings attached."
His voice was casual, along with his smile. Nevertheless, the cat didn't doubt the authenticity of his offer.
Taking a sincerely pissed glance at Angel, Husk considered the deal before weightening against it.
"Nah." The cat responded. He then turned back to the Radio Demon who's eyes were now on him. "That black eye was plenty. Not that he learned anything from it."
Alastor raised an eyebrow at this. Like an owl, the Radio Demon looked right over Niffty's head, straight at Angel's lowered one. "Trip down the stairs gave you a black eye?"
Angel raised his head again, looking right back at Alastor before getting distracted by the bartender's questioning look. This time, the spider seemed more precarious about how to proceed with himself, stumbling with his response.
After a couple of seconds it was clear there wasn't going to be an answer. Alastor rotated back forward. "I was going for a couple broken limbs since you got some to spare. But I suppose that just means there's more to go through if you ever think of doing something like that again." Even when said with vigor, the level of loathing translated just the same.
While intimidated, discreetly of course, Angel surprised himself by looking back towards Husk. However, only the cat's tail could be seen as he was sorting through something under the wall of liquor.
A quiet moment fell on the bar. The spider, not willing to dwell in his thoughts, pulled out his phone. Alastor settled his elbows on the bar, a motion that did nothing to his eccentric aura. Niffty hopped onto the bar only to swing her legs off the edge. And Husk drank from his newfound bottle of unquestionable substance.
A couple minutes later the cat had found himself again in front of the Radio Demon. Having brought out a small glass, the bartender put it in front of his customer. After filling it, the cat took a relaxed stance of his own. His voice somehow deeper, he started.
"So…"
"Oh, Cherry's coming to the opening!"
The red demon and the cat kept their gazes on each other, dead on ignoring the noise coming from the other side of the stool row.
"And she has a new outfit of her own!" The spider squee'ed, reading his texts with each word breaking more sound barriers than the last.
Rolling his eyes, Husker proceeded. "How'd it go with the lady?"
Taking his time, Alastor took the presented glass in his hand for examination. It wasn't too long before he took a sip. During this, Husker could hear Charlie and Vaggie returning from the kitchen. Appearing around the corner, the pair's topic of conversing became quite clear.
"You made a deal with him!?"
Raising an eyebrow, Husk looked back at the Radio Demon. Said demon, swallowing the little amount he had drunk, set the glass back on the table. He then met the bartender's gaze. "It went quite well, thank you."
"Yes, Vaggie," Charlie spoke, arms flailing to better express herself. They were nearing the bar with the princess leading. "We sealed a deal. And no, I'm not going to apologize for it so could you just not drop it now." While controlled in manner, it was rather clear the hostess was getting fed up with the conflicts.
Vaggie stayed quiet for the rest of the walk, taking the hint to not pester the princess further. Reaching the bar, she pestered someone else. And she chose her victim with her pointy finger.
"You puta! You tricked her." Vaggie accused the poor soul. Alastor automatically turned on his seat.
"I'm not going to apologize either, you know." The smiling demon chuckled. Rising from his spot, he approached the two ladies. "And I didn't trick her, so there's no need for such language."
"Seriously, drop it." Charlie commanded them both before Vaggie could venture further. Alastor halted next to the two women and put his hands behind his back. Vaggie just huffed and crossed her arms.
"Good." Said Charlie, cementing this truce and switching her focus to the rest of the bar.
With a much more positive tone, the hostess began. "Alright everyon-"
"You're not gonna talk about the deal?"
After adequately expressing her denial to Angel, Charlie continued, switching her focus back and forth between the faces of those present.
"Are you ready for the Grand Opening?"
Angel gave a lazy thumbs up. Nifty voiced a "sure", probably still feeling crossed with Charlie. And Husk gave a well resounding "What!?"
The amiss reaction gathered everyone's attention. The cat couldn't help feeling out of the loop once again. "The… Opening… it's happening now?"
"Yes." Charlie confirmed as if it was the most obvious thing. "It is." With her eyes going from the tip of the cat's ears to his waist (since counter hid the rest), she raised her hand to indicate him questioningly.
"Where is your new outfit?"
"My… are you kidding me?"
By the expression that said 'read me', the cat took that as a no. Looking around and seeing Alastor and Niffty wearing their typical clothing, Husk switched to stare back at Charlie while pointing at the other two.
"Why should I dress up differently when they don't?"
Charlie turned to look at the two in question. With her face changing into one of confusion, she turned back to Husker.
"What are you talking about?"
Now confused himself, the cat took another glance at the pair. And, indeed, they were now wearing a new set of clothes. Taking a closer look at the minimalistic changes in Alastor's outfit, he recognized the 'totally-did-not-snap-my-fingers-just-now' facade on the demon's face.
With a sigh, Husk focused back on Charlie. "Forget it. I'll just put it on later."
The hostess consented after a moment, deciding to avoid causing more tension. Putting on a smile, she began her march to the entrance of the Hotel.
"Alright everyone..!" She waved at the others to follow her. "It's time."
While leaving, Charlie heard the faint sound of fingers snapping. Soon after there was a louder sound coming from the tail end of the group. "You fucking… get this off of me!"
"You know, with the way you guys advertised this thing, I, for one, am shocked at this outcome."
The group stood at the covered entrance of the Hotel. They had been silent for the past minute. At least, that was until Angel had spoken up. With the way the empty lot was staring back at them, no one really felt like pitching in on the remark.
The only thing missing was a lone tumbleweed.
Charlie gave a deep sight. To be fair, she knew there wouldn't be too many people at this event. Since they were never officially 'closed' and had already been declared open for service, the 'Grand Opening' was a little desperate to begin with. Still, Charlie had thought it was for the best. It was a sound marketing tactic and a good way to celebrate the work they had done on the building and its services. She had also done it to boost the morale of her occupants.
Glancing at the others, Charlie recognized at least one of those things flopping.
Looking back forward, she decided to might as well move on with the Opening. For the event, she had thought that it would be fun to have a big ribbon and scissors of the same size. The ribbon was now flapping in the wind in front of the group, tied to the two poles that held the cover over the entrance. Deploying the other inconveniently sized item, Charlie raised it in an attempt to cut the ribbon.
The mismatching sound of high heels stopped the princess. Setting its tip to the ground, Charlie and everyone else focused on the new arrival.
"So she wasn't kidding."
Angel said this more to himself than to others. That didn't stop everyone from glancing at him, especially Charlie who seemed the most surprised.
However, it was Vaggie who said it first. "You brought someone?"
Angel spoke after a second, turning to Vaggie. "Well.. I mean not… reall-"
"Angie!"
Eyes locking back to the single approaching one, Angel met Cherri's greetings.
"Sugar tits!"
Ducking under the ribbon, Cherri Bomb walked in front of Angel and immediately commenced a tacky personalized handshake. Before the motion was over, Charlie had already appeared next to the new face.
"Hey there, welcome to the Grant Opening! Would you be interested in joini-"
"Eeeaah no." Cherri cut Charlie off, although without menace. "I'm just here to see my guy buddy!" While not an answer Charlie had hoped, she settled on just being glad someone new came. She fell back next to Vaggie who was staring at the new girl in puzzlement.
Cherri focused back on her official 'guy buddy'. "How you've been? Haven't seen ya since our last outing!" This was said with a friendly punch to the guy's shoulder.
While the two were conversing, Husker, Alastor and Niffty stood a little ways off, following their exchange.
"Didn't think he had any female friends." Husk stated, wearing his latest design pants topped off with suspenders.
"Some girls just stick together." Was Niffty's input.
Alastor just hmm'd. "I hope she keeps him."
After some time, Cherri took notice of Angel's black eye. Joy slowly drained from her face, she reached her hand to feel it.
"Who did this?"
Alastor, with his teeth on a shining display, went to raise his hand. That was, until Husk motioned for him to stop. "Hold on." He said quietly, still looking in Angel's direction.
The Radio Demon gazed at the cat, his brow raised and intrigue piqued. Complying, he turned to follow Husker's line of sight.
For the second time today, the spider was having a hard time responding. Taking a quick glance around, Angel became increasingly aware of the eyes on them, especially the cat's.
As no words seemed to come out, Cherri continued. "Did it happen… on the clock?" She tried to be gentle with the question, clearly not helping.
"Look" Angel interceded, putting his hand on her shoulder. He took another glance at the others before focusing squarely on Cherri. "Can we talk about this later?"
While confused as to why he was acting this way, Cherri agreed with a nod. Taking his hand, she let him lead her further into the Hotel.
"Come on," The spider spoke. "Join us on the 'Grand Opening meal'." This was said with noble gesturing of multiple limbs. "By the way, where's your new outfit? You look exactly the same."
The pair's conversation became fainter the further they went. After it got silent, Charlie drew the attention of the rest by picking up the large scissors. "Well, let's go enjoy that meal then."
Inserting the fabric into the opening on the tool, Charlie pushed the blades together, creating a satisfactory 'snap'. The fabric fell to the ground only to be swept up by the wind.
"Don't worry Vaggie." Charlie assured in unfiltered volume. They were making their way to the dining room. "I did recognize her. Still, we should not intervene with our guests' social actions. It's up to them and they know to keep this Hotel in mind while they do."
Arriving at the dining room, Charlie saw that Angel and Cherri were already seated at the long table. The spider had his legs on up, an act only rivaled by his current jokes.
"See?" Charlie presented to Vaggie, indicating the pair. She didn't mean to sound complacent but she really needed this. With everything that's happened, she was worried the spider would be juggling with bombs or something.
Vaggie gazed at her girlfriend appraisingly. "I just asked if you recognized her."
After a second of locked eyes, Charlie exhaled through her mouth. "Oh." Taking a more relaxed stance, she began her way to the head of the table.
"Right. Everyone, get seated."
Vaggie watched the hostess as she walked on all stable-like. The Salvadoran reminded herself to talk to her later.
The room, like many others, was shaped like a rectangle. Decoratively it was plain and simple with only a single large chandelier. The long table was the other impressive furniture, providing room for those present and more. It already contained the necessary utensils, only missing the plates. Of the room, one long wall held the open and arched entrance while the other was filled with a row of tall windows. One of the shorter walls held the entryways to the kitchen. While not the only dining room in the building, it was the biggest.
The members of the Hotel went around, choosing their seats. Charlie naturally took the one at the end while Vaggie chose the one next to her. Angel and Cherri, having sat right in the middle of the long row, made the rest also join Charlie's wing. Since, on the other side, safety was of no guarantee.
Husk got seated next to Vaggie while Alastor chose to sit on Charlie's other side. With the windows behind him, the Radio Demon gazed across the table to enjoy the frustration there. Niffty, back to being enthusiastically energetic, opted to sit next to the smiling demon.
When everyone got settled, Charlie seized the spotlight once more by raising.
"Look…" She started, now clearly hesitant and woredown. "I don't wanna make a speech out of this but… with everything that's happened, I just want to thank all of you for being here, for being a part of this. It means a lot."
No verbal response was made. Vaggie gave a reassuring smile while some of the others just looked around. Lastly gazing at Alastor, Charlie thought he looked unfazed, possibly not even paying attention.
Sitting back down, the hostess changed the subject. "So, how about some food?"
This got a more sounding correspondence, ranging in from "Yas!" to more relaxed "eah".
Clapping her hands theatrically, the doors to the kitchen opened. Pushing multiple trollies through them, Razzle and Dazzle moved along the opposite sides of the table, serving out food.
One after the other, a steaming meal found its way in front of every guest, each giving off a pleasant scent. After everyone had gotten their plate, the two goats continued setting the table up with some accessory nutriments.
Before starting the meal, Charlie rose again. "And a special thanks to our master chef who prepared this grand meal." She raised her hands to display the person at her side. "Alastor."
"We know." Came the cat call.
Nevertheless, Alastor woke from whatever thought he had going and gave Charlie a polite nod. As she got seated again, the Radio Demon engaged her further.
"Shall we invite our obtrusive friend as well?"
Taking a second to process his words, Charlie gave the universal 'what' motion.
The demon elaborated. "The one peeking at us from the window." Rotating to sit sideways, Alastor pointed at the wall behind him. As Charlie glanced at the directed spot, a portal opened up, giving them a view through the wall. And, surely enough, there was a demon that had the dictionary equivalent posture of suspicious. He seemed to own reptilian features, even though he clearly had a humanoid figure.
Making a startled jump after registering the portal, the reptile, ironically, chickened out.
"Wha- Wait!" Charlie abandoned her chair, dashing to the portal. She jumped through but didn't give a further chase as the stranger was clearly set on escaping.
"You're welcome to join us!" She yelled, forming a megaphone with her hands. The reptile glanced back but didn't even slow down.
Alastor stepped up next to Charlie, joining her in the act of watching another unknown entity flee from their place of business.
"Don't even think about it." She advised him in a warning manner.
The Radio Demon just kept smiling. "Maybe I should."
This pried the princess' gaze away from the strange demon, only to lock onto another one. In turn, Alastor switched to meet her gaze, looking as if surprised by her attention. "He could have come through the front door but chose to skulk around the back. A sketchy fellow to say the least."
The red demon then looked back at the significantly smaller silhouette. He smiled wider. "Would be safest to just end it now."
"You don't know that." Charlie expressed, trying to hold on to her composure. She knew she couldn't stop him, especially after the deal. Yet, she didn't want to relive the event from last friday.
"So don't. Please."
The Radio Demon kept his eyes on the escapee. He had stopped running.
"...If you insist." Alastor finally agreed, though not sounding dulled at all. Pivoting around, he stepped back through the dimensional doorway. One relieved breath later, Charlie followed suit.
The others were well into their food by the time the two sat back down, apparently opting for eating over drama. After filling Vaggie in on what happened, Charlie made it her mission to just attend to her meal.
It was a steak with some vegetables on the side, all seeming very professionally made. The greens she could identify but of the meat she wasn't sure.
Eating through it regardless, Charlie's mind began to wander. Thinking back on the last couple of days and the events they held, her mind latched on the shooting of that one guest. About how he ended up laying on the ground. In his own blood. His body never recov…
She blinked as her mind did a double take. His body… It wasn't in the front lot anymore. She hadn't moved it. She had just left it there.
Pushing back on the shame she felt, Charlie started to run through different scenarios in her head. All of them were more heinous than the last. At least, until her eyes landed on her food.
Her mind going haywire, the hostess rotated her head to face the master chef. "Al" Charlie uttered, her voice ghastly with tension. Alastor raised his head from his own food.
"What happened to the body of the man you shot?"
"Mmm" He mumbled, chewing the last of his mouthful before swallowing. "I had Niffty take him away."
Charlie just stared at her food. "To where exactly?"
Having listened along, Husk was the first to catch on. Spitting out his food, much to Vaggie's chagrin, the cat rose up to give a resonating roar.
"Tell me you fucking did not!"
Eyes big with confusion, the neutrally smiling demon looked back and forth between the princess and the cat. "Did I add the wrong seasoning?"
"Oh no." Vaggie voiced, terrified. She was the second to grasp it.
Husk continued his glaring. "What is the meat made of Al?!"
More confused than ever, the Radio Demon felt uncharacteristically out of place. "Deer." He answered, really asking why. Then suddenly it clicked, making him the third one to get it.
"Oh you thought- Hah-" Alastor couldn't help but to chuckle heartily. As his face lit back to his typical vigorance, he leaned back on the seat's support and attended to his concerned fellows. "You don't need to stress over such imaginative worries. I'm not in the habit of forcing my taste upon others that are unwilling to try it."
"But you said this meat was special!" Charlie pointed out with obvious skepticism.
"Deer is special." Alastor replied joviantly. "If you hadn't noticed, it's not exactly a common catch in a place like this."
The others were relieved to hear this, even if they were a little slow to sit back down.
"Oh, I've noticed." Came another cat call, much to the disgrace of the real one. The spider had snatched the spotlight. "Been hunting one for a little bit now. And the moment he doesn't expect it, I'll nail him!"
The following silence was deafening. Everyone slowly turned their gazes away from the hunting enthusiast, towards the grand chef. Currently only one eating, Alastor was focused on precisely that, the sound of chewing moving prominently through the air. After a time that should have been too long to hold a breath, he swallowed.
"Then I wish you the best of hunting fortunes!"
Exhales were winded, groans got created and some facepalms reverberated. Only the spider giggled.
"Thanks Al!"
Not much talking occurred for the rest of the meal. And, as the long day ran out of daylight, the Hotel's occupants were quite pleased to have reached the night.
A/N: Almost 5000 words *gasp*. And it's been months? Fuck me. But in my defense, I've been busy working. You see, I love work, I could just sit and watch it all day ;)
Real though, sorry. Especially as this chapter is still on the same day. However, now the story will be able to continue at a swifter pace. Not that I will necessarily be faster but as in the story will cover a larger timeline. You'll see what I mean. :)
Anyway, let me know what you guys think of it all. Definitely the biggest concern I have in the way of writing is the point of view I'm telling the story from. Is it confusing, hasty or just ok? Been running my brain about that. Also, never thought I'd worry about this but am I adding too many descriptions? Or is just my imagination? Anyway, I'm just running my mouth now, as well as my fingers of course :)
Edit: Yep. Wayyy too many descriptions. Some major cleaning as well as a better ending for the chapter. Story-wise it is the same but style-wise it's alot better now, trust me. For those who read it before re-editing… I'm sorry. Dunno why I didn't see it at the time. I even proofread it and still went "Yep, this is guud." Even misspelled 'Chef', oopsidently making a reference to Halo. Don't ask.
Still, thank you for reading!
