Broken and Lonely Ch. 09
Clara has finished the last touches on Velvet's makeup. "There! Don't you look beautiful?" she turns the former Overlord to the mirror and if she could vocally praise the arms dealer for keeping up with the trend, she would. But, the Vee will have to settle for a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thanks, Vee!" Clara giggles as she finishes her own.
Velvet looks in the mirror to examine the simple black, white, and red dress she's in with a casual red jacket with folded sleeves and then over at the simple grey dress that Clara's wearing. Before she knew it, the Vee found herself taking in not only the Carmine's choice of wear but also her figure. She then flinches as her name is called.
"Velvet?" Clara looks at her worriedly. "Are you okay?" she places a hand on Vee's shoulder. "We can skip out on this if you want. This can't be easy for you given your history with them. They'd understand if I tell them something came up."
Velvette thought for a moment. There's a lot that she doesn't like about going to this wedding. Especially with the thought of running into one person in particular. But Clara has been looking forward to this and has already done so much for her. The least the former Influencer could do is go with her this one time.
With a smile, the Vee gives her a nod.
"Thanks, Vee," the Carmine laughs while placing a hand on her guest's shoulder. "But only if you're sure. Now then," she turns Velvette back to the mirror and grabs her hair and starts positioning it. "Want to keep your hair down or would you like some twintails. I always thought you were cute like that. How about a ponytail? Simple yet stylish."
The Vee's fashion instincts were kicking in while examining where the hair is set up currently. She gestures her head up and Clara raises the ponytail.
"Like this?"
Perfect!
.oOo.
The camera turns on to show Angel Dust leaning over the counter talking to Husk.
"And then I told him that you can't pay me enough to stick that in—" Angel Dust gets cut off by a cough.
"Uh, Mr. Dust, sir. We're live."
At that, Angel straightens up, raises his microphone, and with a smile starts. "Welcome to Channe News! I'm Angel Dust, coming to you live at the Hazbin Hotel where we're having the wedding of the millennia!" an image of both Charlie and Vaggie appears to his right. "Two very good friends of mine, Princess Charlie Morningstar and her girlfriend, Vaggie are finally tying the knot. And it seems we have many big names showing up for this day. From three of the Deadly Sin and the respective partners of Asmodeus and Beelzebub," the Sins and their partners walking into the building waving at the audience with Mammon stepping in front of the others to get more pictures of himself. "Among those is also Prince Stolas along with his bodyguard… Hold on a moment," the Spider Demon places a hand where one of his ears should be. "I just word that Prince Stolas is the Plus One of Blitz. The O is apparently silent. How'd an imp hook up with a looker like that," a growl is then heard from the side and Angel finds Husk glaring at him. Sweat drops down Angel's face as he clears his throat. "Anyway! Another notable name among that list is—Holy Sh(bleep) is that Velvette of the Vees with Clara Carmine?"
The camera turns to show the Vee walking in, seemingly being escorted by the Carmine. The real commotion started when Clara puts her arm around Velvette's hip and pulls her closer to her. That surprised the Vee but happily accepts the gesture as she leans her head on Clara's shoulder.
The couple make their way to where other guests are mingling. Most present demons stop momentarily as they walk in as almost everyone knows the past of the two Overlords but then start back up with their conversations.
"Hey!" Loona walks up to them with Octavia and Kayla following behind. "Didn't think you guys would go public this soon."
"Why wouldn't we?" Clara asks. "Besides. People would have talked just because we arrived together, and rumors would spread. This may not curve all the wild stories but at least they'll know for certain that Vee and I are together."
The group starts talking among themselves, ignoring everyone around them. Well, except for Velvette who can't help but focus on the conversations where she and her girlfriend are the center of.
"I feel so bad for her."
"For who?"
"Clara Carmine."
"I know, right? Never thought she'd take a sympathy project so far."
"She could have at least pick one that appears more favorable."
"Vee?" Clara places hand on Velvette's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Velvette simply nods before gesturing her head away.
"Sure. Want me to go with you?"
The Vee shakes her head.
"Okay, Vee. Don't take too long. Don't want to miss the ceremony, do you?" Clara turns back to the others. "Isn't this your second wedding this year, Loona?"
"I'm not really sure you could call the last one a wedding," the Hellhound shook her head. "It was more like a really intense party where somebody just so happened to get married. "Not sure what I expected from Bee. On the bright side as Maid of Honor, I got the privilege to test out her new brew. Just wished I could remember what it tasted like."
As the conversation continues, someone walks up from behind.
"Ms. Carmine."
Clara turns to find her therapist. "Dr. Howler? What are you doing here?"
"I actually set up my new office here," the Hellhound explains. "Turns out that they needed a Ph.D. to help the guests here with problems they won't tell a bartender. Now, may I have a word with you? I think it's something we should discuss."
The Carmine excuses herself from her friends and she and the Doctor went to a more secluded part of the Hotel.
"So…" Dr. Howler removes his glasses to clean them. "You and Velvette?" he places them back on.
"Yeah," Clara smiles. "It's a recent development."
"Ms. Carmine. As someone who once longed for another, I would say that I am happy for you. But as your Doctor? This relationship is an unhealthy one. For both of you."
The CEO blinks. "What?"
"Velvette is the subject of your inner turmoil. Whether you truly care about her or not, your outbursts may only get worse. Then, there's the fact that the feelings you have for one another may be misinterpreted. You keep her close to you to fill the void and she has been remaining with you because you help her with daily necessities that she is unable to perform herself," the Doctor sighs as he knows what this part is likely to bring. "It's my professional opinion that you and Velvette need some time apart to better sort out your minds. And feelings."
Clara glares at him. "I think I would know my own feelings," she turns. "I also think that I should better advise Charlie on who she hires as help," then walks away.
Howler rolls his eyes. "Why does every client threaten to fire me?"
.oOo.
Velvette walks down the hall and enters the restroom. She stood there for a few moments before kicking the wall. Then, the Overlord slumps down against it. The Sinner wished she had silence to think but there was the tell, tell sound of someone hurling in one of the stalls.
Either someone who can't hold their drink or they took something they're not used to. Not my problem.
The stall then opens and a voice that terrified the Vee spoke.
"I remember you."
Velvette's eyes widen and she stands straight up and bows.
Lilith glares at the lowly demon before going to wash up but even from the reflection she never let her gaze leave the Vee. "I'm guessing you're a plus one as I doubt you would have been an intentional invite."
Without looking up, Velvette nods her head.
The Queen glared one more time before exiting the restroom. But unknown to her, while swinging her purse over her should, a large envelope slipped out of it.
Velvette eyed the envelope and was trying to decide whether or not to leave it. But her curiosity got the best of her, and the Vee finds herself removing one of her shoes, steps on the envelope with one foot, uses her toes to unclip it, and removes the contents. Her eyes widen at what was before her.
The Vee is now running out of the restroom with the envelope in her mouth chasing after the Queen. Once behind her, Velvette taps Lilith on the shoulder with the envelope.
"Huh?" the tall woman turns and glares at the Vee but soon notices that the envelope is being presented to her. Not once did Lilith drop her glare as she accepts the offer and takes note of something. "Did you look inside?"
Velvette refuses to meet her in the eye. The envelope was then waved in her face and the Vee looked up at the Queen.
"It would be a shame if this gets out. Especially at this time," Lilith inches the envelope closer. "Eat it."
The Vee's eyes widen.
"Eat it!" the Queen subconsciously reaches her other hand up to her necklace where one of the gems had a gleam to it. "Or shall I Command you?"
Velvette trembles at the thought. The last thing she wants is to go through that again. Her mouth opens and prepares to accept her fate only for her teeth to come together but nothing in between them.
"I will never forgive you for what you have done," Lilith places the envelope back in her purse. "But you have at least earned my respect."
"Grandma?" a tiny voice spoke up, and Celest in her pink fluffy dress walked up to the Queen along with her Moms, Vaggie in a black and red wedding gown and Charlie in a red dress that appears to be partially a wedding dress and a tuxedo. "What are you doing to Ms. Velvette?"
Even Charlie and Vaggie are worried as they know the Queen does not favor the Vee.
"Nothing at all," Lilith smiles at her daughter, granddaughter, and soon-to-be daughter-in-law. "We merely ran into one another," she turns her cold gaze to the Vee. "Isn't that right, Velvette?"
Velvette had a hard time keeping contact with the Queen but manages and nods. Then Emily with a clipboard walks up to the group along with Lucifer.
"Have you guys decided yet?" the Seraphim asks the brides.
Charlie sighs. "Not really," she then looks over to her fiancé.
"It's kinda obvious," Vaggie speaks up. "You should walk down the aisle. You're the one here with a dad."
"But, Vaggie," the Princess takes the former Exorcist's hands. "You said you wanted the bride experience, and you deserve it."
"Aw, Babe. That's so sweet," Vaggie moves in for a kiss only to meet a clipboard.
"Na-ah!" Emily scolds as she separates them. "Not yet! You have to wait until after the I do's. It's tradition." The two brides pout at that.
The former Exorcist turns back to her fiancé. "Look, Charlie! Even if I did walk down the aisle, there's no one to take me down there. The closest thing us Exorcists had as a father figure was Adam. And even if he was alive, no way in Hell I will ever let that pig near me."
At the mention of the former Leader of the Extermination Army, Vaggie, Charlie, Emily and Lilith shuddered and Lucifer sneered. Celest and Velvette just glanced at one another and shrugged.
"How about this?" Charlie grabs Lucifer by the arm and rags him over to Vaggie. "You can walk down the aisle with my dad."
The King of Hell shrugs. "I don't mind. As long as I walk one of my girls down there."
"Come on, Charlie. I'd be honored but he's your dad, not mine. I'd feel bad taking that away from you."
Emily checks the time. "You really need to make this decision quick. The guests should be entering the hall now."
The group continues back and forth with no one seemingly able to agree on anything. Soon, there are two taps followed by a short sliding sound that repeats.
Everyone turns to Velvette who gestures down to her feet. The Overlord taps her foot twice before sliding up against her other one. She did this a couple more times before rolling her eyes.
Come one! It's obvious! Surely not all of you are this dense?"
The Vee repeats one more time.
Celest watches before looking up at Velvette. "Together?" she guesses.
At least the brat gets it.
Velvette nods.
The child looks up at her mothers. "Why don't you walk together?"
"Oh, Honey," Vaggie kneels in front of her daughter. "We can't."
The little hazbin tilts her head. "Why not?"
"Well, you see…" the Exorcist was about to explained but came up short. "Actually," she looks up at everyone else. "Why can't we?"
That causes everyone to look at one another.
"Well…" the Seraphim looks over her notes as none of this was planned. "Traditionally, only one partner goes down the aisle with the father while the other waits at the end," she then looks up at everyone present. "You know what?" she tosses her clipboard away. "Tradition changes all the time. I mean. At one point it was tradition that no same sex couples could get married. Besides! Isn't this Hell!? Since when do we follow the same rules that everyone else does," Emily then sighs. "And who cares that all the hard work that the planner put in for this event doesn't go exactly as planned?"
"Oh, Emmy," Charlie hugs her. "And we appreciate this. Even though it won't happen exactly as planned, we only got here today because of you. You are the best Wedding Planner we could have ever asked for."
Emily smiles. "Thanks, Charlie. Now, then. Where's Razzle!? At the call, the goat demon is there with a pillow and two rings. Good! Stand or hover in front of the door. Celest!" she shoves a basket of black rose petals into the girl's arms. "Wait behind Razzle! Lucifer, in the middle! Charlie and Vaggie choose a side and take an arm!"
"Actually," Lilith walks up with a smirk and passes her purse to the Seraphim. "I have a better idea."