Hello everyone! Here is a little story celebrating our favorite spider demon Angel's birthday! Enjoy!
"Happy Birthday to us! Happy Birthday to us! Happy birthday to us! Happy birthday to us!" two voices sang in unison. "Here Anthony, blow out the candle!" a young girl said, handing the boy, Anthony, a cupcake. "Don't forget about yourself Molly!" Anthony replied with a laugh. "It's your birthday too! Quit tickling before the wax all melts!"
Angel woke up to being tickled by his favorite pig. "Stop it Nuggs, that tickles." Angel said, grabbing and hugging the little pig close. "It was a good dream too Fat Nuggets. Molly and I were doing our annual birthday cupcake exchange. I hope that she has a good birthday today. She would've loved you."
After spending some time cuddling the little pig, Angel got up and dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast and to see what new plan Charlie had come up with for the hotel. "In a way, she reminds me of Molly. Not a bad bone in her body." Angel said to himself as he spotted her at the top of the stairs, going on about her latest plan to Vaggie and Alastor. About halfway down, Vaggie spotted him and started making hushing noises to Charlie and pointing in his direction.
"You alright toots?" Angel asked, joining the little group. "Stop calling me that Angel." Vaggie said, ignoring the question. "Angel! What are you doing so early? I thought you had a late-night shoot or something?" Charlie asked. "I always get up early on April 1st. Why you asking?" Angel replied. He noticed that Charlie seemed slightly nervous about him being here. To him, she was giving the whole I'm planning something you can't know about vibe. He wasn't sure what, but guessing from Vaggie's reaction and Charlie's surprised question, it had something to do with him.
"I'm not in trouble am I? I swear I had nothing to do with it." Angel said to the three. "What trouble are you talking about, my dear?" Alastor asked, looking at Angel closely like he was about to do a prank. "I hope you are not planning on any pranks today, dear Angel." "No, I'm not doing any pranks Al. Scouts honor." Angel said holding up the boy scout salute. "Good, well I have a favor to ask of you. Husk and Nifty need some help today with restocking the hotel and bar. And you are the only one that is free today." Alastor told Angel.
"I was going to go see Cherri for a bit, but I guess I can help them first." Angel said, "Why do they need my help though? I thought you just magic everything here." "Usually yes, but Husk and Nifty are people and do not need to chained to the building all the time." Alastor replied, looking at his claws. "Besides, it will do them some good to get some fresh air."
Just then, Nifty popped her head into the lobby. "Breakfast is ready! Come get it while its warm!" They followed behind her into the dining room and sat down to pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, jelly, coffee and juice. "This looks great Nift. You outdid yourself on this. It smells great too!" Angel said filling his plate. "Thanks Angel, it's no problem. Eat up everyone!" Nifty said to Angel.
After breakfast, Angel headed out with Husk and Nifty. "Bye guys! Don't hurry back! Take all the time you need!" Charlie called out to the three departing demons. Once they were out of sight, she turned back to Vaggie and Alastor. "You don't think Angel suspects anything do you?" Charlie asked. "Nope, I don't think so. Let's go over the plan again before they get back." Vaggie replied. "Ok, Vaggie you are in charge of presents, Al, you're in charge of food and music and I've got the decorations." Charlie told the two. "Great plan Charlie dear, but who is doing the cake?" Alastor asked. "Cake? What cake?" Charlie asked before going wide eyed. "THE CAKE! VAGGIE, I FORGOT THE CAKE!" Charlie yelled. "Don't worry hun, Cherri is doing the cake remember? She does know Angel best." Vaggie said, calming Charlie down. "Now then my dears, let's get this plan in action before they get back." Alastor said guiding the two women back into the hotel to start getting ready.
While that was going on, Angel was holding onto Nifty to keep the little one-eyed demon from running off on him and Husk. "Say whiskers, do you know what was going on with Charlie, Vaggie and Al? They looked like they were planning something." Angel said to Husk. "Nope. Not a clue. If Alastor is in on it, then you don't want to be in on it." Husk replied, "It can't be good if he's in on it." "Come on Husk, Alastor's plans aren't always bad. Especially not this plan, hehe." Nifty chimed in, now sitting on Angel's shoulders. "Besides, it's for Hmgf!" Husk grabbed Nifty down and clamped a paw over her mouth before she said anything that could ruin the surprise that Charlie was planning. "What are you talking about Nifty?" Angel asked looking down at the pair. Nifty tried replying, but Husk was having none of it. "Just forget it Angel. Besides, we're here at the store. Let's get in and out." Husk said walking in with Nifty and Angel in tow.
After getting what Nifty needed for the hotel, the trio headed towards the liquor store to get the order that Husk put in for the bar. Halfway to the store, the trio ran into Cherri Bomb, Angel's closest friend. "Cherri! Long time Baby! Where've you been?" Angel said. "Angie you bitch, you know where to find me! Besides, I don't have time today to listen to your Val this and Val that. Another time." Cherri said. "See ya later!" "Bye Bitch!" Angel called out. "That was weird. Do you know what that was about?" Angel asked Husk. "Nope, now listen, I got this taken care of here, so why don't you take Nifty and her stuff back to the hotel." Husk told Angel handing Nifty over to him. "And Nifty, keep your trap shut." "Alright whiskers don't take too long." Angel said, walking off with Nifty back to the hotel.
On their way back, they stopped at a little café to get some lunch. "Hey Nifty, do you know what's up with everyone today? You all have been acting weird." Angel said sitting down. "Nope. No one is acting weird. Unless the bugs are starting their take over again. They try this every week…." Nifty said drifting off into her little spiel about bugs. Angel tuned her out and looked out the window. He couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed to not want him around or be around him today. Normally he would be ok about it, thinking that it was because of something he did, but it really bothered him today. No one even said happy birthday to him. "Guess they either forgot or they actually don't care." Angel thought to himself. "Angel, are you ok?" Nifty asked, startling him. "Huh? Oh yeah, I'm just thinking about today." "Why? What's today?" Nifty asked. "It's my birthday today. Well, mine and my sister's."
"Sister? You have a sister? Is she tall and pretty like you? Does she like to cook like you too?" Nifty asked in a rush. "Haha yeah, I have, had, a sister. She wasn't tall like me, but she was a real beauty Nifty. And yes, she did like to cook like I do." Angel replied with a laugh. "She's hopefully up in Heaven where she belongs. She was way too good to be born in my family." "What did you and your sister do on your birthday?" Nifty asked curiously. "Well, we would spend the day together doing whatever we felt like doing. And then we would make each other a cupcake with a candle and exchange them." Angel said with a soft look in his eyes. "That sounds nice Angel. She sounds like a real sweetheart." "Yeah, she was. I miss her."
After the café, the two made it back to the hotel. Right before they could walk through the front door, Charlie stopped the pair. "Nifty, you can take that stuff round back. I need to talk to Angel." "Ok, bye Angel." Nifty said leaving the two alone. Angel waved before looking at Charlie. "What's up toot's?" Angel asked. "I need you to put this on." Charlie replied holding out an eye mask. "Why? Hey, this is mine! Have you been in my room Charlie?" Angel asked looking at the blushing girl. "Trust me Angel, it's nothing bad. I promise!" Angel just looked at her, not believing a word she was saying. "Angel please. We all worked hard on it. It's nothing bad at all." "Whatever you say toots." Angel said putting the mask on.
Charlie grabbed his lower hands and guided Angel into the lobby. He could hear noises and some hushing. "Ready? Take your mask off in 3,2,1, now!" Charlie cheered. Angel took the mask off and was shocked. "SURPRISE!" Everyone cheered. There in the lobby stood everyone that mattered to Angel. They were standing around a table that was holding a cake that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGEL! With hearts and little spiders decorating it. On another table there were presents. And in the background, Angel heard music that he hasn't heard playing since his time up top.
"What is all this?" Angel asked in whisper, shocked at what was in front of him. "What does it look like bitch? It's a surprise party for you. Miss Rainbows here planned the whole thing out." Cherri said smiling at the shocked look on Angel's face. Angel turned and looked down at Charlie, still looking shocked. "You planned all this?" Angel asked her. "Yeah, you are an important member of this hotel and nobody should celebrate their birthday alone." Charlie said blushing a little. "Besides, we all had a hand in it. Do you like it?" Charlie asked. "This is great! Thanks everyone. This is wonderful." Angel said looking around happy. "Well, get in here so the fun can actually start!" Cherri cheered dragging the spider over to the group.
After laughs, dancing and some good jambalaya, it was time for presents. Angel couldn't believe that everyone took the time and put the thought into the gifts for him. Cherri got him a gun cleaning kit to keep his tommy guns clean and working. "You'll need them when we do target practice on Sir Pentious and his eggs." Cherri said with a laugh. Husk gave him a bottle of his favorite tequila and promise to make his favorite cocktail with it. Charlie gave him a journal for him to write in. "To help you remember all the good things that happens in your life and afterlife." She said with a smile. Vaggie gave him some paper targets for target practice when the turf war bug started itching. Alastor gave him a record of his favorite songs that he can play on the record player in the lobby. "It's better than listening to that little noisy box of yours." He said with a slight distain for today's technology. And last, Nifty gave him a simple cupcake with a candle on it. Out of all the gifts, Angel liked this one the most. "Thanks everyone. I just don't know what to say. Thanks for caring about me." Angel said looking at his friends who have become family to him.
Later, after the party was over, Angel found Nifty cleaning the lobby. "Hey Nifty," Angel said to the little demon, who was cleaning the lobby like her life depended on it. "Hey Angel! That was a great party, but I didn't realize how messy it was." Nifty said, dusting crumbs off the tables. "Well, can you stop for a minute. I got something for you." Angel said. "Ohh, what is it?" Nifty asked coming over. "This is for you. Can't let today be complete without finishing the cupcake exchange." Angel laughed holding out a cupcake with a candied roach on it to Nifty. "Oh, thankyou Angel, it looks great!" Nifty squealed taking it. Angel carefully picked up the grinning demon and gave her a hug. "Thanks for the cupcake exchange." Angel said. "No problem, Angel. Happy birthday."
Hello and I hope you enjoyed this little story. It was fun to write. I especially enjoyed writing the parts with Nifty because there doesn't seem be enough stories focusing on those two. Thanks for reading!