A/N: Just a fair warning, this is a considerably lengthy chapter, even with considerable trimming. This chapter is also, with some original dialogue and interaction, the most faithful of the show, as in the least amount of changes, so if you're not interested in looking for the bits of my original style in it, you can just ignore this chapter. The next ones won't be so lengthy and same-same.
When the day finally came to announce to the public of the now patented "Happy Hotel", we were at the 666 news station to promote Charlie's passion project. I was straightening her bowtie and combed her hair as last minute touches.
"Okay, you remember what to say?" With the announcement of the Happy Hotel getting closer and closer, Charlie was starting to feel quite nervous about the whole thing. She took a deep breath and nodded her head for confirmation and assurance of remembering her speech.
"Yes, I remember what to say and I hope all goes well for us once the announcement is made. It's been a long road for me to get to this point, but I hope that it'll be enough to make my efforts worth it in the end."
"Just stick to the important parts. I know you want to give it your all, but don't trip over yourself trying to say everything all at once." She had to admit that she was guilty of going a little bit overboard sometimes with how many points she liked to talk about, so she was relieved that I was helping her to simplify the points and make it sound more clear and straightforward.
"I'll keep that all in mind and make sure to stick to the important parts. I don't want to go on and on too much, so I'll just state the main points instead."
"Good. And… be careful. Katie Killjoy is not pleasant from what I've heard, just so you know what to expect." Charlie's ears perked up a bit when I mentioned Katie Killjoy's name. She had heard bad things about the reporter as well, and she certainly knew she would not be easy to go against.
"Don't worry, I'll handle her on my own. I know just how to give her a talking to."
"Okay. Good luck." I give her a kiss of good luck. I could tell by her reaction that my kiss meant a lot to her. A blush appears on her cheeks as she turned to straighten her skirt and adjust her appearance again.
"Thank you. I'll do my best and don't worry, I won't let anything or anyone get to me." I nervously smile and watch as she approach the reporter, while I stayed on the sidelines. When Charlie had finally reached the reporter, it was clear to everyone in the audience that this was going to be a very intense announcement. Katie Killjoy made no attempt to hide her disdain for Charlie's efforts, she seemed irritated and unhappy just with the sight of her standing in front of her.
"Hi. I'm Charlie." She offered a hand to shake.
"Katie Killjoy. I'd say it was a pleasure to meet you, but that would be a lie. And you can put the away. I don't touch the gays and bis. I have standards." She said, refusing to shake your hand, knowing of her open bisexuality.
"Okay, I understand. Anyways, as you might already know, I'm the new owner of the Happy Hotel."
"Look, my time is money, so I'll keep this short. You're not here because we want you here." She said, poking her soft chest before her nose on the final word. "You're here because Jeffrey Dahmer couldn't make it for his cannibal cooking show. You might be some royal big shot, but that doesn't mean shit to me. I'm too rich and too influential to give a flying fuck about what some tux-wearing demon "princess" wants to advertise." She air quoted your royal title. Charlie began to tremble with anger when the reporter poked her in the chest. She didn't like it at all when people made fun of her, and she certainly didn't like the way the reporter so rudely mocked her. Her expression began to shift, as it was hard to stay composed and polite now. Still, she remained strong and kept her voice as level as she could.
"I see... Well, whether or not you like or approve of what our goal here is at the Happy Hotel, it won't be changing." Katie was about to say more when they were about to be on air in 5, so Katie rushed back to her seat so that so that the interview started.
"Welcome back, watchers, to 666 News! Here we have is the head honcho's daughter herself, Charlotte." She gestured to Charlie, not using her preferred name. Charlie was relieved when the reporter had went and sat back down and the camera was on her. She took a deep breath and put on the best smile and fake, happy face she could as she gave a polite, friendly wave to the camera. She began speaking loudly and clearly for the viewers to hear.
"Hiya everyone. I'm Charlie, the owner of the Happy Hotel, and I'm here today to introduce you all to my new hotel. The Happy Hotel is a rehabilitation hotel for all of our guests to learn and become the best version of themselves."
"Well, tell us of this new rehabilitation passion project you've been insistently pestering our news station about?" She said with a strained, annoyed grin reaching ear to ear. She could clearly notice the faked interest and annoyance on the reporters face and it made her roll her eyes. She was ready to respond with as much politeness as she could despite her irritation with the reporter's attitude.
"The Happy Hotel is a hotel designed specifically for demons in the pride ring to come and rehabilitate. Our goal is to rehabilitate them through therapy, a friendly environment, and a few other techniques such as group activities and entertainment." I smiled as she started talking, and I gave a thumbs up explaining why she made the hotel, while Katie looked like she couldn't care less as she started to fall asleep. As she went on listing all of the reasons why she had made the Happy Hotel, she kept in mind that her efforts to change the demon's lives were not in vain. She refused to let someone like the reporter, who clearly didn't care for what she was going to say, discourage her. She would continue talking for as long as she needed to, even if the reporter wasn't going to listen, just so she could say her piece to the people watching this broadcast. "We believe that all demons, no matter how evil they may seem, have the potential to change and become better. So, we've provided a safe haven for them all to come and be rehabilitated." When no one seemed to believe her, she kept going.
"Look, we lost so many souls this extermination, and it breaks my heart to see my people being slaughtered every year. No one is even given a chance! I can't stand idly by while the place I live is subjected to such violence! So, I've been thinking: Isn't there a more humane way to hinder overpopulation here in Hell? Perhaps we can create an alternative way to change souls through... redemption? Well, I think yes! So, that's what this project aims to achieve! A rehabilitation center for Sinners!" After she was finished, everyone stayed silent until they all started laughing. Katie, her co-reporter Tom, the filming crew and the entire audience. I became greatly annoyed at how nobody but me liked her idea aside from being a big joke.
"What in the Nine Circles makes you think a single denizen of Hell would give two shits about becoming a better person?! You have no proof that this little experiment even works! You want people to be good?! Just... because?!" She continued laughing. At this point, all of the laughing and mocking was really starting to get to Charlie. It became clear to her now that everyone thought this rehab hotel was nothing but one huge joke, and no matter how hard she tried to explain in which this would work, no one was going to believe her. But at least she had a card up her sleeve.
"Well, we have a patron already, who believes in our cause and he's shown incredible progress!" Katie feigns shock.
"Oh, and who might that be?"
"Our first patron is a lovely boy named Angel Dust." Tom spoke up.
"The porn star?" Katie looked at her co-worker menacingly.
"You fucking would, Tom. She turns back to Charlie. "In any case, that's not even an accomplishment. I'm sure you could get that hooker to do anything with enough booger sugar and lube." She motions doing a handjob. All of the jokes about Angel Dust from the reporter hit her hard at first, as she got really embarrassed over them making light of his profession. But she tried her best to push through and stay strong. She still needed to stand up for her cause and not let them get to her that easily.
"Well, whether or not you personally consider this an accomplishment, it shows that he has the ability to change. If he can do it, then there's no reason to believe the others won't be capable of doing so as well. He's come a long way since he's been here and he's shown incredible progress. And I know that if one can change, then any of these demons can change, as long as they're willing to try." Suddenly, breaking news alerted everyone, prompting Katie to shove Charlie aside.
"We are receiving word that a new player has entered the ongoing turf war! Let's go to the live feed. The live feed shows Angel Dust stepping on an Egg Boi and throwing a grenade over at Sir Pentious, having fun with explosive arsonist, Cherri Bomb, breaking his two week long rehabilitation streak. Charlie's eyes grew wider at the scene presented in front of her. The rehab hotel's first patron, who was shown to come such a long way when he first started his stay, was now backsliding and causing the very destruction and chaos they had worked to try and prevent. It was all over now, everyone would now see this project as a failure, and she would be the joke she knew she appeared to be right now.
"Oh shit."
"Oh, shit" indeed! It looks like the one who just joined the battle is none other than-" fake gasp. "Porn actor Angel Dust! What a juicy coincidence! You must feel really stupid, right now. She laughed as she and Tom yelled with Jazz hands, "Ratings!" Now with all of the evidence stacked against her and her hotel, Charlie almost completely lost it, but me putting my hand on her shoulder helped her. She continued to wipe away her tears as she tried to keep herself self from falling apart, even though she was already having a hard time holding it together. Charlie was determined to finish this press conference through this disaster instead of running like she wanted to. She refused to let her emotions get the best of her. However, Katie was being relentless.
"Well, it sure looks like your little project is dead on arrival. Tell us, how does it feel to be a total failure?" She kept laughing along with everyone else. I refused to let Charlie handle this shame alone as I supported her. She was feeling more and more angry at the reporter's relentless mocking and all the laughing. It felt as though it was rubbing salt into this wound of embarrassment that she was already dealing with. She tried to keep her cool, but she could feel that she was really ready to snap at the reporter and anyone else who insulted her efforts to change the demon world for the better. Still, I was there for her, which made her feel not quite as alone in this room.
"Yeah, well..." looks around, before snatching up a pen. "How does it feel that I got your pen, huh?! Bitch?!" Everyone stopped laughing as Katie gave you a death glare.
"Oh, you did not just go there. I will fucking bury you!" Katie let her more demonic side out to fight Charlie. But to my surprise, she didn't back down. With the heat of the moment rising and my support behind her back, Charlie felt like she couldn't back down even if she had wanted to. She felt an urge to fight back and not let herself get bullied, even if it meant risking it all. Still, it was a risk she was willing to take after all this embarrassment she had already put up with. She wasn't going to take anymore mocking from her and let her win. I watched as Charlie fought Katie head on, while the entire news station went all crazy, havoc and chaos ensuing. She didn't hesitate to get physical with her after she had given me such a bad time. She was sick of all these jokes and all of this humiliation and I was not about to back down and let it continue. So before she would have time to react, Charlie lunged at Katie and punched her straight in the face, causing her to stumble back and hit her head against a nearby wall. Grabbing her hand, I had to get her out of here. I pulled Charlie back, aiming my spear at anyone who got too close.
"Back, get back! This interview is over!" With all the chaos surrounding the reporter and our fight, it had become clear that it was best to get out of there before it gets even worse. She let me pull her back with my protective strength, allowing her to have my support as I took on anyone who tried to get in our way. She was not planning on giving Katie the satisfaction of seeing her get taken down so easily like this. Pulling Charlie out, I used my spear to collapse the exit, preventing anyone to follow us. I panted in frustration, before calming down. "This is why I don't watch the news. I turn to her. "Are you okay?" She let out a deep sigh and rubbed her forehead as we stepped outside, away from the chaos and the people that we could hear yelling and panicking behind us inside. She could feel her cheeks still tingling from the embarrassment of the reporter's insults, and her hands had become sore from the punching. She let a soft smile play across her face as I looked over at her, thankful for my support and for how I stuck up for her.
"Yeah I'm fine." I hugged her.
"I'm sorry that went so bad. You're still doing good." Charlie let out another soft smile as the hug made her cheeks begin to tingle and her heart race slightly. It was nice to have a moment of silence and peace after all that chaos. She felt like she had let down the hotel and that she had failed the rehab idea after all of that.
"It's okay... I just--It was too much. I couldn't keep it together. I let myself get mad and I ruined it. That's it. I ruined it..."
"No, no. You didn't ruin it." I drew back as I called up for the hotel limousine. "It was Angel Dust. Ugh, when I get my hands on the porn star, I'm going to castrate him, and feed him his own dick." I growled furiously as we waited for the limousine. Charlie chuckled slightly at what I had just said, thinking I was being a bit much, but cutely protective. She also couldn't believe how fast I could change and get furious about something like this. It was a nice change of pace to hear you so angry after she had just heard that mocking laugh from the reporter.
"I don't know how he changed so quickly like that. He was almost doing the right thing for a while and then he just backslid so much... You'd think his progress had meant something."
"Apparently not." I grumbled as the limousine soon arrived. I opened the door for her. "After you."
"Thanks." Charlie smiled as she got in the limousine and sat back. As the limousine drove away from the news studio, she could feel a sense of calmness starting to wash over her. Although we failed at changing the minds of those reporters, she was still determined to help these demons find a better way to get by. She refused to let their opinions discourage her and ruin everything she worked so hard to achieve. Once we picked up Angel Dust, it was an awkward trip together. Charlie sat in a ball all depressed, I stared furiously at Angel Dust, and all he was concerned with was repeatedly opening and closing a window with a button to entertain himself. It was a very awkward silence between the three of us at the start of the trip, she sat curled into a ball as she just replayed the whole event in my head, replaying all of the insults and all the mockery. As she looked over at Angel Dust, she couldn't believe how he had thrown all of that progress away and decided to backslide over the turf war, helping with Cherri Bomb. He didn't seem like he cared at all about what he lost and how she felt. When he noticed us, and asked "What?", I retorted, nearly tearing out some of my hair.
"What? What?! What were you thinking?!" Angel Dust just threw his hands up as he laughed, clearly not taking this seriously at all.
"I owed my girl buddy a solid! Isn't that a "redeeming quality"?" He does air quotes. "Helping friends with stuff?" He rolls eyes.
"Not with turf wars that result in territorial genocide!" Angel Dust shrugs as he still has his eyes closed.
"Oh no. It's just a little war. It wasn't that bad anyway. Chill." As he continued messing with the window button, I threw a dagger at it, breaking it to get his attention.
"'Not that bad'? You have no idea what you've done, do you?" Angel Dust sat up, finally noticing that I was furious. After a few moments he looks back over at me. "What do you mean? It was a turf war between me, Cherri Bomb, and Snake Dick. The only thing that came out of it was a few destroyed buildings, but no one important really got hurt."
"That's not what I-!" I screamed, before stopping, and calming down with a breath. "You should know for breaking your two week long streak." He rolled his eyes again, clearly not concerned, or even worried and only acting annoyed that I was being so dramatic.
"Okay, well sure, I broke my streak and I messed up. But so what? It doesn't matter. It's done now and it can't be taken back. My credibility was on the line! I mean, what kind of reputation would I have if people found out I was tryna go clean? It just throws out my entire persona." He said as he pushed up his floofy chest hair seductively.
"Your credibility? What about the hotel?!" I gestured to Charlie. "Your little stunt made us look like fucking jokes!"
"No, no, no, dude. Jokes are funny! I made you look... uh, sad! And pathetic! Like an orphan... with no arms... or legs... Oh! With progeria!" I was disturbed by what he said about comparing jokes with that. I noticed Charlie's reaction too to Angel's description. She sat shocked, her mouth left wide open in both horror and disgust. Angel Dust really had no limits to what he said and it showed. It was like he never cared about anyone but himself and his own image, or how other people felt and were affected by what he said. He was also a real douchebag and that was definitely not in good taste at all.Angel continued, "Great! Now I'm bummed thinkin' about it! He starts looking around the limousine. "This thing have any liquor?" I crossed my arms, mumbling to myself.
"I'm going to kill him." Angel Dust just gave a small laugh before grabbing for the bar in the limo and pouring himself a glass of whiskey.
"Too late, mate. Wait! Would that make me double dead? Hah, and where exactly do I go? To Double Hell? Hahahahahahahaha! Sorry, you're stuck with me, bitch. Get used to it." I grit my teeth.
"For fuck's sake, you bastard son of a bitch." Angel Dust stopped laughing at my comment and smirked, taking another swig of the glass as he tried to get back under my skin. He was doing a pretty good job of making me riled up and furious with his sarcastic and snarky attitude. It was almost as if he had a personal vendetta against me.
"Listen, who cares if some jack-offs got hurt? Most of 'em are ugly freaks. Look around!" He looks out the limousine window, smirking. "You got a bunch a fuckin' Harlequin babies down here!"
"You're one to talk." I retort with a smirk.
"Hey! I'm not ugly! Well, at least I have a little razzle-dazzle with my charm. And I've got the creepy fan letters to prove it. But some of these guys—" He makes a face as he looks out again before shaking his head. "—they look like a bunch of inbred freaks!" He chuckles before downing the rest of his glass. I sigh.
"Charlie, can you help out? He's obviously not listening to me." She could feel that the situation was getting out of hand and that it was best for someone to step in. She looked over at me and sighed.
"I'll try." She then turned towards Angel Dust and tried to speak in a soothing and relaxed tone to break the tension. "Angel… can you please stop? You're only upsetting everyone here. It's not helpful to be this disruptive and rude. That was really uncool, y'know, Angel."
"Uncool? After that train-wreck, there is no way anyone is gonna wanna stay at the hotel! All thanks to you, and your selfish bullshit!" I pointed at Angel Dust.
"Does that mean I don't have a free room anymore?" Angel asked with a finger to his chin. I gave an angry gesture of "What do you think?" "Aww, that's such a disappointment. I think that I was really starting to get comfortable at this hotel." Angel smirked as he turned himself back on me and started to taunt me with a grin. I sit back angrily, needing Charlie's comfort to calm down. Once Angel had his little moment of trying to get under my skin, Charlie turned back towards me, knowing I needed her comfort especially after everything that had happened and all the stress the situation had caused me. She put a hand on my shoulder to start trying to get me to calm down and take a deep breath.
"Hey, come on. We don't know if things are over yet! Try to relax, Ryan. It-it will be okay." I somewhat relax, smiling at her softly.
"Okay. I'll try to be calm for you."
"That's good. We still have hope, so as long as we try to keep a positive outlook." She said with a small smile and a soft look in my eyes. She was trying to keep the positivity between us and continue on with good spirits because that was what was important. We couldn't help anyone if we let this situation take us down. She continued to rub my shoulder, trying to soothe me after the intense moment. We finally make it to the hotel. Upon entering the lobby, I fall onto the couch, sighing exhaustively. As I fall onto the couch, Charlie sits down next to me and let out a deep breath. I was feeling a mix of emotions, but I was mainly relieved that we had made it back okay. Charlie was relieved that Angel Dust hadn't caused any more trouble, and that he hadn't tried to get one last word in. I tried to relax myself and just sit in silence for a moment. There was something about being back here with her at the hotel that made me feel comfortable and safe. As we tried to relax, Angel with a popsicle actually did try to get one last word in as he said,
"Eh, it's probably a good idea to get some actual food in this place. Y'know, to feed all the wayward souls you got in here! Ahahaha! Ahaha...! eh... ah..." He stopped when he saw we were just done with everything, not willing to entertain him. He finally looked sympathetic of our frustration, and tried to say something comforting, only to change his mind and walk away, finally giving us peace. We could finally let our guard down for a moment, relax, and settle down in the comforts of the hotel.
"Prick. He knows the place is empty. Do you think he actually seemed sympathetic there after rubbing our failure in our face?" Charlie let out a soft sigh as she shrugged her shoulders. She was so exhausted after everything that had happened today. She wasn't sure if he had really been sympathetic, or if it had just been for show, but we were just too tired to care anymore.
"I'm not sure, Ryan, but I don't think you should let him get to you. It's not worth it."
"Yeah." I sigh as I pull her close to comfort her. She let me pull her close, and she laid her head on my shoulder as she closed her eyes. I let out a small sigh again as I just tried to relax for the moment. Things had been so hectic all day long, it was such a relief just to be able to breathe for the first time in what felt like forever. Suddenly, we heard a knock on the front door to the rhythm of "Shave and a haircut". "Uh, you want to get that?" Charlie sat up from my shoulders and looked over to the door. She felt her heart race and her stomach drop when she heard someone knocking on the door. Who could it be? Why were they knocking on the front door and why were they knocking to that tune? She swallowed her nerves and got up to go answer the door. A tall red demon with a literally sharp smile and antlers in his hair stood over her. He spoke in a voice like he's on a radio.
Alastor: "Hel-!" I heard you slam the door in surprise in his face. "-lo!" I heard another slam.
Who is it, love?" I ask.
"I-it's the Radio Demon outside the door." She was able to squeak out a short response as her voice caught in her throat and she was just barely able to form any sensible words.
"What?!" I stand up, seeing his silhouette past the stained glass of the door. She glanced over to my direction when I stood up from the couch, seeing that I was visibly startled by his presence as well. She looked back towards the tall red devil with the radio-like voice as he just continued to stand outside the door, waiting for her to open it. "Don't open it." I said quietly with a tense look, wondering if she'd open the door or not. She swallowed her nerves, trying to build up the courage to open the door and see what he needed. I knew that something was weird about him, the way he spoke, and just the way he looked. This devil gave me the creeps, but then again everyone in the pride ring did, so at this point it was nothing out of the ordinary. She looked over at me, hoping to give me a reassuring look before she stepped ahead and grabbed the door knob, about to pull it open. When she opened it, he asked,
"Can I speak now?" She was surprised by how polite he was, but she didn't let her guard down or give herself too much a false sense of security. She stepped to the side to let him into the lobby after a quick nod of her head.
"Um... sure. Um, you can come in, sir..." He quickly shook your hand before coming in.
"Alastor! Pleasure to be meeting you, sweetheart! Quite a pleasure! Excuse my sudden visit, but I saw your fiasco on a picture show, and I just couldn't resist! What a performance! Why, I haven't been that entertained since the stock market crash of 1929! Hahahahaha, sooo many orphans." He chuckled. She had to keep herself self from getting spooked by his unsettling mannerisms and that laugh of his.
"You saw a picture show of that?" Her voice had become quiet, a little fearful and timid, and a little bit shaky too. But before he could continue, I raised my spear at him.
"Stop right there, bastard. I know your game and I'm not gonna let you hurt anyone here, you pompous cheesy talk show host shitlord." Despite my protective, threatening demeanor, he looked perfectly calm with that perpetual grin of his.
"My dear fellow, if I wanted to hurt someone..." He slowly became demonic as sigils floated in the air and radio static echoed through the air. "I would've done so already." But then he shook all that off as he clarified, "No! I'm here because I want to help!" Charlie raised an eyebrow and tilted her head slightly at his response, finding it a bit hard to believe that he was really here to help.
"Really- you came here to help?" She asked him, a bit suspicious of his intentions still.
"Yes, help! Hahaha, hello? Is this thing on?" He taps on his mic "Testing, testing!" It responded back to him.
"Well I can hear you loud and clear!" When he kept up this silly act longer than he probably should've, Charlie's annoyance mixed in with my suspicious and concern. She let out a small sigh of frustration at his dumb little game. Of course, what did she expect? This was Alastor.
"What exactly are you planning to help with? I'm genuinely curious to hear what you can possibly have in mind."
"This ridiculous thing you're trying to do! This hotel! I want to help you run it." She was actually a bit surprised to hear that he wanted to help us run the hotel. Maybe Alastor wasn't as crazy as she had originally thought- or maybe he really was and this was all just another one of his schemes, which was a far more likely option.
"Are you serious? Why would you want to help us run this hotel?"
"Hahaha, why does anyone do anything? Sheer, absolute boredom! I've lacked inspiration for decades. My work became mundane, lacking focus, I've come to crave a new form of entertainment! Hahaha!" Charlie raised her eyebrow again at his response. His reason for wanting to help us run this hotel was so much worse than she had expected. So there was nothing more to his request than he was just bored and wanted something new to do.
"Does getting into a fistfight with a reporter count as entertainment...?"
"Hahaha! It's the purest kind, my dear: Reality! True passion! After all, the world is a stage and the stage is a world of entertainment." He gave a knowing smile. His expression and words gave her chills. His whole demeanor just felt wrong at this point. Everything he said felt so rehearsed and planned, a little too well, which made his whole demeanor feel like it was just a show to entertain him. She could feel the unease radiating in the air around him.
"So do you think it's possible for Sinners to be redeemed with rehabilitation?"
"Hahahaha! Of course not! That's wacky nonsense!" He waved his hand and shook his head. "Redemption, oh the non-existent humanity! No, no, no, no. I don't think there's anything left that could save such loathsome sinners! The chance given was the life they lived before, the punishment is this!" He puts his arms out, gesturing the entirety of Hell. "There is no undoing what is done!" Once again, his attitude was so nonchalant and careless towards the topic of sinners and their punishment. Charlie felt like this was all the answer she needed, he wasn't here to help, he was here for his own pleasure. His words were making her cringe, seeing how little empathy he seemed to have for these sinners and how much he appeared to enjoy hearing their pain.
"So, then. Why do you wanna help me if you don't believe in my cause?"
"Consider it an investment in ongoing entertainment for myself! I want to watch the scum of the world struggle to climb up the hill of betterment only to repeatedly trip and tumble down to the fiery pit of failure!" He said it with such selfishness, his face full of the idea of seeing everyone failing no matter how hard they tried. She sighed in disappointment. This was not the answer she was hoping to hear. This was a really sick way of just using people and then watching them fail. This whole hotel was meant to be a safe place for people to change, not a reality radio comedy for him to watch people fail and crumble.
"So, it's not that you actually care about these 'scum' as you said? You just want to watch them fail?"
"Yes indeedy! I see big things coming your way and who better to help you than I?" She rolled my eyes at his response.
"Are you a sadist? Because what you're saying sounds like something that a sadist would say." I take her hand.
"Charlie, a word?" She looked over to me when I took her hand, looking slightly concerned by my gesture.
"Um, y-yeah. What's up?" I pull her aside, so that I could talk to her discreetly.
"Charlie, listen to me. You can't believe this creep. He isn't just a happy face. He's a deal-maker. Pure evil! He can't be redeemed. And is most likely looking for a way to destroy everything we're trying to do." When I pulled her aside to talk in private, she felt relief wash over her for a moment because she didn't have to act so polite and fake towards this strange devil standing before her. My words made her heart sink because she'd really been trying to believe that he could possibly be a good person.
"Okay… yeah, I can't deny that everything he's said has been a bit, weird… but we don't know that! Look, I know he's bad, and I know he probably doesn't wanna change, but the whole point of this is to give people a chance! To have faith things will be better! How can I turn someone away? I can't. It goes against everything I'm trying to do. Everything I believe in. Just... trust me. I can take care of myself!"
"Charlie, I do trust you, but whatever you do, do not make a deal with him." She let out a deep sigh when I warned me about making a deal with Alastor. She knew you were only looking out for her, but she couldn't deny her desire to give him a chance. Of course, she wasn't an idiot and he didn't exactly strike her as a trustworthy person, but like she said, she couldn't just turn someone away! It made me feel all conflicted inside.
"Don't worry, I picked up one thing from my dad! "You don't take shit from other demons!"" She said, imitating her dad. I sigh as well.
"Okay." I brush your cheek. "I love you." *When I brushed my hand across her cheek, a soft smile appeared on her face as her cheeks got a bit red for some reason. She was always very easy to blush when it came to me.
"...I love you too." Alastor approached us, cutting in.
"Is this gonna take much longer? I am offering help." She looked back over to the Radio-like devil who suddenly cut himself into our small, private conversation without really giving either of us a moment to speak for ourselves. Charlie was a little annoyed that he was eavesdropping on us like that, but she didn't let it show.
"No no, we're just… finishing up a conversation." I said in a quick, polite manner. "Okay, so, Al. You're sketchy as fuck and you clearly see what I'm trying to do here as a joke. But, I don't. I think everyone deserves a chance to prove they can be better. So, I'm taking your offer to help. On the condition that there be no..." She makes gestures with her hands. "tricks or voodoo strings attached."
"So it's a deal, then?" He twirls his mic staff and presents his hand for a handshake as green energy bursts throughout the hotel, deal-maker magic flowing in the air around his hand. Charlie's eyes widened slightly when she saw the strange green energy suddenly bursting throughout the hotel, this is definitely not something I was expecting to happen. She felt a strange chill run up her spine as this strange devil's hand was being presented in front of me for a handshake, one of the more famous ways to seal deals in the Pride Ring. All my suspicions were proven true now as I saw the strings being drawn up between the two of us to form a binding pact between us, before refusing it.
"Nope! No shaking! No deals! I... hmm... As princess of Hell and heir to the throne, I, uh, hereby order that you help with this hotel. For as long as you desire. Sound fair?"
"Hmm, fair enough." He shrugged while retracting his hand, still smiling nonchalantly. She breathed a sigh of relief as she heard his response. Her gut feeling was right, but at least she was able to find a way out of the tricky situation without making a deal.
"Cool-cool. Great."
"Oh come now, smile, my dear!" He tickles under her chin, not caring that one shouldn't tell women to smile. "You know you're never fully dressed without one!" She let out an annoyed groan as he began to tickle her, a very strange gesture that he didn't seem to take care of. She hated it when people treated her like a child. She quickly pulled out of his reach, turning her shoulders away from him.
"I'm not smiling because you told me to, I'm smiling because I'm glad we were able to settle this without a deal, that's all. Don't get any ideas." I took her hands.
"That's right Charlie. Your beautiful smile is when you feel like it, not because someone tells you." I smiled at her. She felt her cheeks growing warmer again from all the attention I was giving her right now. She couldn't deny the fact that she was feeling flustered, a bit embarrassed now that I was drawing attention to her blush, but it was a nice way to feel compared to Alastor's weird way of tickling her chin.
"Heh... thanks, honey."
"That reminds me, where is the rest of your hotel staff?"
"It's just us."
"Ohohoho, you're going to need more than that." Alastor walked up to Angel Dust. "And what can you do, my effeminate fellow?"
"I can suck your dick." He offered coyly. Mic feedback can be heard in the background as Alastor tries to process what he was just offered.
"Hah! No."
"Your loss." He shrugged. I looked towards you, wondering what you were thinking with those two.
"Well, this just won't do!" He takes out his mic staff. "I suppose I can cash in a few favors to liven things up." At the snap of his finger, a new fireplace has replaced the hotel's worn down one as he approaches it and picks up a mysterious figure covered in soot in the fire place, which then opens its eye and stares at us behind him. The soot was shaken off to show a 50's style cyclops Sinner.
"This little darling is Niffty!" He drops her, to which she stands up."
"Hi, I'm Niffty! It's nice to meet you! It's been a while since I've made new friends!" She eyes the three excitedly. "Oh, a man! Are you a bad boy?!" The one eyed maid clung to my leg with a giggle.
"No." I respond as I tried shaking her off, but she clung on. Using my spear, I shoved the blunt side between her and my leg, and tried to pry her off until she sprung off, crashing into some boxes. She came out unharmed.
"Oooh, man! This place is filthy! It really needs a lady's touch! She grabs a spider and crushes it. She speed cleans throughout the hotel with vigor.
"Yeah- yeah, this place is definitely in need of a clean up. I'm glad you've come to help." Charlie nodded with a little hesitation from Niffty's enthusiasm. An unknown cat demon could be heard as he was also being summoned.
"Hah! Read 'em and weep, boys! Full Ho… tel? What the fuck is this?" He looks around and spots Alastor, eliciting an angry purr as he points at him "You!"
"Ah, Husker, my good friend! Glad you could make it!"
"Don't you "Husker" me, you son of a bitch! I was about to win the whole damn pot!"
"Good to see you too." The sudden appearance of another new arrival drew my attention away from Niffty and over to this new demon that suddenly appeared. It seemed these two knew each other quite well. From what I could make out, this one seemed to be quite a bit angrier and was definitely more aggressive than Niffty.
"What the hell do you want with me this time?"
"My friend, I am doing some charity work so I took it upon myself to volunteer your services! I hope that's okay!"
"Are you shittin' me?"
"Hmm… no, I don't think so."
"You thought it'd be some kind of big fucking riot just to pull me out of nowhere?! You think I'm some kind of fucking clown?!" Alastor looked like he was suppressing a laugh.
"Maybe."
"I ain't doing no fucking charity job."
"Well, I figured you would be the perfect face to man the front desk of this fine establishment!" He gestures towards the bar he made out of his magic. "With your charming smile," He pulls Husks's lips into a forced smile, which immediately drops. "and welcoming energy, this job was made for you! Don't worry my friend, I can make this more welcoming! ...If you wish." He makes a bottle of "Cheap Booze" appear out of nowhere.
"What? You think you can buy me with a wink and some cheap booze?!" He pauses before grabbing it. "Well you can!" He downs it as he then sits at the bar. I was not amused by how much of an alcoholic he was.
"Hey, hey! Hey, hey, hey! No! No bar, no alcohol! This is supposed to be a place that discourages sin! Not some kind of brothel!" I was suddenly tackled onto the ground by Angle Dust, as he looked down at me.
"Shut up! Shut! Up! We are keeping this." He points at the bar.
"Get off me, man-whore, if you don't want to have my spear shoved up your dick."
"Uh, Ryan? Can you not be so rough on Angel please?" Charlie politely requested of me. I shoved Angel Dust off, and brushed myself off.
"Sorry Charlie. But you seriously can't let them have a bar here, right? How do we expect the alcoholics to go clean if they're offered free bottles to drink from?"
"Of course, we can't have them having their drinks here. Their sobriety is the whole point of the hotel and having a bar would kind of defeat the whole purpose. I'm surprised Alastor didn't think of that himself."
"I bet he did it just for a cheap laugh. Just like everything else he does. And he's probably not going to whisk it away, even if we ask."
"I mean, we could definitely try asking Alastor to get rid of the bar but, yeah, I don't think that's going to work. I think we might need to take matters into our own hands here."
"So, what do you think?" The Radio Demon asked, gesturing to our new bubbly maid and grumpy desk clerk/bar host.
"This is amazing!"
"Hahaha! This is going to be very entertaining!" The hotel front doors suddenly explodes, knocking Niffty away with an excited shriek as something was outside, disrupting the peace in here. We looked outside to see Sir Pentious' war ship has made an appearance outside the hotel.
"Hah! Well, well, well. Look who it is harboring the striped freak! We meet yet again, Alastor!"
"Do I know you?" That deflated the snake Sinner's ego before he became angry.
"Oh yes you do! And this time, I have the element of surprise! Ha ha ha, I'm so evil!" His warship protruded a giant laser to blast at us. I raised my spear angrily to protect Charlie. With a snap of a finger, an otherwordly dimensional portal opens with tentacles and shadow demons emerging from it, destroying Sir Pentious' ship while he and his crew is inside. Screams of pain and terror could be heard within. Alastor is then finishing it off as he clenches his fist with a few drops of blood dripping off his hand, as his magic destroyed the warship with ease. Alastor was grinning menacingly in satisfaction, while all of us had varying reactions to his flex of power. Alastor then broke the tension as he now smiled friendly like before walking to the hotel.
"Well, I'm starved! Who wants some Jambalaya? My mother once showed me a wonderful recipe for Jambalaya. In fact, it nearly killed her! Hahaha! You could say the kick was right out of Hell! Ohoho, I'm on a roll!" Alastor's sudden change in attitude was certainly surprising. Just a moment ago he was destroying a warship without a second thought and now he's casually walking towards the hotel and offering everyone some Jambalaya, like nothing even happened. I could just tell that he had a pretty laid back and carefree attitude. I couldn't help feeling slightly concerned about just how unhinged he really was, but that seemed like just another thing that made me weary of him. "This is the start of some real changes down here! The game is set!" With a snap of his fingers, he repaired the front doors to pristine condition, and as just one final joke, changed the giant sign of the hotel from "Happy Hotel" to "Hazbin Hotel". I facepalmed as I followed the Radio Demon inside.