The early morning light poured in through several large windows within a corridor of the Goetia Estate. The warmth of Hell's sun helped to dispel the cold air brought upon by its absence in the night. Within this hallway, there were several things. Paintings, decorations, small tables rested against the walls, a long carpet stretched from one end to the other, and a few candles or candelabras on the walls and aforementioned tables.
The time was six forty-eight, swiftly approaching seven. As such, a lone maid traversed the corridor. Along with her was a cart that she pushed carrying a freshly cooked meal. A staff member was randomly chosen to deliver breakfast to the Estate's honored guest for the past few days.
At first, the staff was incredibly hesitant and cautious around the guest. They kept their distance and studied him from afar whenever he was outside his room. The most jarring detail about the guest was his species. He wasn't any type of Hellspawn; he was human!
Humans in Hell, to put it lightly, was a big no-no. However, King Paimon stressed to every member of the Estate's staff that the Lord and Lady knew about their guest. Additionally, said guest was here to educate everyone about something. At the time of initial introductions and the guest's arrival, none in the Estate fathomed what it could be.
But then, as the days passed, everyone quickly understood. With pen and paper, their guest described and depicted a place called Doom in a sea of words and inked images. He shared with them horrors that made many of Hell's frights seem like the musings of an imaginative child. Grotesque environments, ravenous monsters, and evil so ancient, it pre-dated any record. Although fantastical, the staff were highly skeptical, even with King Paimon vouching for its validity.
However, not one day after their guest's arrival, their Lord came to the manor. Lucifer was there to speak to Paimon but also confirmed this was true. Should they still have doubts, his Wife, Brothers, Sister, and Daughter would happily offer their statements. Their Lord's assurance was enough, but to hear that more children of God also believed it forever ended any disbelief.
Moving forward, the staff hung onto everything their guest shared. To their surprise, so did the Goetias. Excluding the young Octavia, Stolas, Stella, and Paimon's egos were quite high. Each, in their way, was a speaker rather than a listener.
Yet, despite that, there was a remarkable shift in attitude from them. Don't misunderstand; they weren't suddenly new people. The trio of avian Demons displayed a never-before-seen willingness to be taught something. Usually, they were so certain of themselves and their mindsets that suggesting ANYTHING different was met with immediate dismissal.
Perhaps it was solely due to Lord Lucifer's involvement. Whatever was happening was of great significance. As the Estate's guest continued his lessons, everyone increasingly understood that. Amazingly, those who engaged with the material the most were I.M.P. Every member, including the angsty Hellhound, asked the most questions and interacted with their guest more than anyone else.
Maybe the common ground they shared allowed for such casual behavior. Their professions, though different, involved combat, guns, and violence. So, as strange as it was to consider, I.M.P. may be the best among them to understand their guest. They could, to some degree, know what he'd been through.
Ah, but that was enough exposition for now. The maid couldn't help but recall the miraculous changes in the Estate's atmosphere and their lives in these few days. However, she now found herself standing outside of their guest's room. It was seven on the dot, time to deliver his breakfast.
"Good morning, sir!" The maid called out with a smile. A week hadn't passed yet, and still, the staff knew their guest would be awake by now. They quickly realized he operated on routine, much like themselves. "For today's menu, there is a freshly cooked serving of ham. Accompanying the main dish is a bowl of sliced fruits. To wash it all down, a refreshing glass of tea." She informed him.
From within the room, the maid could hear the sounds of shuffling. Most likely, the guest had been in the middle of their morning exercises. Once at the start of the day, noon, afternoon, and night after dinner. That was the schedule for the guest's workout regimen.
Yet, despite being aware of this, the maid still wasn't mentally prepared for what happened next. After a few seconds, the shuffling became footsteps, followed by the door opening. What lay on the other side nearly sent the maid into a spell.
Doomguy, shirtless, with a light layer of sweat on his torso, greeted the maid. To the space marine, this wasn't awkward. Although, if he spent some time thinking about it, he might realize his isolation in Doom greatly affected his social norms and standards. What was a sweaty, scar-riddled abdomen compared to a gaggle of Imps trying desperately to rip your face off like rabid chimpanzees?
For a moment, neither Doomguy nor the maid did anything. He wondered why she had fallen silent while she was busy trying to get the gears of her mind to start turning again. Sadly, as the seconds began to build, Doomguy realized something was amiss. If not because of the silence, the maid's wide-eyed stare and flushed face clued him in.
SNAP
"GAH!" The maid shouted in a startle, quickly blinking her eyes and jumping backward.
Doomguy, with a raised brow, kept his gaze fixated on her. His arm was outstretched, and his hand raised. With little deduction needed, the poor flustered maid figured things out.
"Forgive me, sir!" The maid pleaded in embarrassment as she swiftly bowed her head. "I-I didn't mean to stare! Honest!" She insisted.
Of course, seeing it as no big deal, Doomguy waved his hand dismissively. Afterward, he pointed at the cart to ask if it was alright for him to take it.
"Yes! Go right ahead!" The maid replied, her face still burning. "I-I'll be back in an hour once you're finished!" She told him before hurrying off.
Watching as the maid left, surprised by the haste in her steps, Doomguy would take his breakfast into his room once she was out of sight. As for the maid, word of her interaction with the silent soldier would rapidly spread throughout the Estate. Hopefully, the Goetias wouldn't catch it. They'd likely have much to say about such gossip.
At The Same Time, In The Dining Hall...
The sounds of silverware cutting or stabbing into meat filled the air. Now and then, a glass would be raised and lowered to wash down the meal. The beverage being consumed wildly differed depending on the individual. The same could be said about those seated for breakfast.
Truthfully, in the two weeks they had spent together before now, everyone had gotten relatively used to the unorthodox situation. The only lingering uncomfortableness was between Stolas and his family, which wouldn't go away anytime soon. Although, Paimon and Stella had drastically reduced their mean-spirited commentary and were starting to ignore his presence outright.
Miraculously, this wasn't done as a clever way to further punish Stolas for his mistakes. Paimon and Stella, once they had learned so much about Doom, busied themselves with the job Lilith had given them. Currently, their main focus was establishing trustworthy connections in Noble society. They needed to ensure they possessed a reliable network to help with crowd control once Doom's existence was made public.
Furthermore, Paimon and Stella were also planning a massive gala. Of course, they had Lucifer, Lilith, and Doomguy's permission to do so. The purpose of this event, once they established their social network, was to reveal Doomguy ahead of time to the most powerful figures in Hell. That way, even when the public inevitably went into a spiral of chaos, those in charge across the Circles would already be in the know and could re-establish control much faster.
Paimon was in talks with the ruler of Lust, King Asmodeus. Lucifer had helped to establish the connection, along with many others. If the Goetias could get even ONE ruler of ANY Ring on their side as an ally, that would be HUGE. Contrastly, as Paimon waded the waters of the most powerful Demons in Hell, Stella played her field a bit closer to the ground, so to say.
Stella's main focus was on regular Nobles and, more importantly, Overlords. Simply put, Overlords were the common man's success stories of Hell. For any Sinner to be able to play with the "Big Boys and Girls" was nothing to overlook. And, within the immediate vicinity of Pentagram City, one name was mentioned more than any other.
Valentino. Owner of "Porn Studios". He was part of a three-Sinner gang appropriately named "The Three-Vs". Of which Valentino was undeniably the leader.
The other two members, Vox and Velvette, were considered Valentino's right and left hands. However, apart from their association with the porn producer, they earned their Overlord status in other ways. Vox was the proprietor of the largest multimedia company in all of Hell. Velvette was a social media celebrity who, more notably, was a renowned maker of potions, elixirs, and other related formulas.
With their talents and skills combined, it was no wonder how the three Vs managed to become so powerful despite being former mortals. Each one of them contributed something to a larger empire. While Nobles and other true Hellspawn didn't interact with them or their wares too much since they were still former humans. The group's advantageous alliance couldn't be ignored.
Porn and drug addicts? Check. A massive social presence among the Sinner population? Check. The means to easily spread and control information? Check. They wouldn't need to worry about the Sinners if they could get the three Vs on board.
However, to Paimon and Stella's surprise, Lucifer had requested they not reach out to them. He intended to speak to Vox on a different matter. Should everything go well, then it could lead to the Vs agreeing to an alliance then and there. Of course, neither Paimon nor Stella questioned or objected to this. Stella, in particular, was admittedly happy she'd have fewer Sinners to interact with.
As for the other people sitting at the table, there wasn't much to report. Stolas had been quiet and private these past few days, focusing on himself. The members of I.M.P. busied themselves, like the staff of the Estate, by studying all of the information Doomguy had provided. Lastly, Octavia was mostly the same as the others. Although, she did seem to have a peculiar fixation on the space marine.
Not in an unsettling way, mind you. This might be Hell, and she a Demon, but she THANKFULLY wasn't a depraved pervert like her Father. Of that, Stella and Paimon were most grateful for. The source of Octavia's extra attention on Doomguy, though unknown, was more than likely spawned from harmless curiosity and nothing else.
Ever since she was a child, the youngest Goetia was obsessed with wonders that went beyond Hell. Octavia yearned to see the stars and worlds of the mortal realm. Then, all of sudden, a literal space man from a DIFFERENT universe arrives. On top of that, he spent an INSANE amount of time in a Hell which, while horrifying, was VASTLY unique from the one she knew as home!
So, as everyone assumed, Octavia saw Doomguy, more than any of them, as a teacher. He was her first opportunity to learn more about Creation. She had hoped her Father would do that someday, as he always eluded to it in her childhood, but Octavia was confident he'd forgotten about those promises. A harsh truth that she had accepted LONG before recent events.
But there was plenty of time to explore Octavia's unfortunate upbringing later. Right now, everyone is focused on their schedule. Like the previous days, discussing what would happen or what they'd be doing was done during breakfast.
"What time will you be leaving, Grandpa?" Octavia asked her Grandfather before eating a piece of fruit.
"Not long after we finish breakfast," Paimon answered while carefully cutting a slice of his meal. "I want to arrive at and leave Lust as fast as possible. Thinking of the unknown amount of fluids covering that Circle makes my skin crawl." He stated.
"Could you not have approached any of the other Circles' leaders?" Loona inquired. Truthfully, she and Moxxie were the most appreciated by Paimon and Stella after Octavia. Loona because she kept to herself and didn't fuck around. Moxxie because he was polite and wasn't the one who slept with Stolas.
"I sent messages to them all. Amazingly, Asmodeus was the first to respond. I'd assume he'd be too busy having an orgy at his establishment to notice. So, it'd be rude of me to ignore him." Paimon explained.
"Ah. Gotcha. Don't want to piss off a potential ally." Loona said.
"How about you, Mom? How're things going with the other Nobles?" Octavia asked.
"Where our family is concerned, we have no worries. Your Uncle and I have my side of the family secured. Several other Noble clans and broods have also become aligned with us. Some because of genuine trust, others due to sensing something big is happening. We'll inevitably have a few who ignore us, and the rest will want to remain neutral for as long as possible." Stella answered.
"What about the Overlords?" Moxxie inquired.
"With Lord Lucifer handling the Vs for me, I haven't many left within Pentagram City to attend to," Stella replied as she raised her glass. "Although, there are a few who are ACTUAL Demons. One of which is quite familiar with the Radio Demon. I'm going to see them later for brunch." She explained before sipping her beverage.
"I've been thinking about that..." Millie spoke, a perplexed look on her face. "Why did Lord Lucifer need to see Vox all of a sudden? Seems out of the blue." She questioned.
"Yes, I wondered that as well," Paimon confessed. "However, as I assume the rest of you will do, I've refrained from looking into it through other means. We are steadily earning the trust of both our rulers and members of Heaven's high order. ANY lapses in judgment will not go unpunished." He warned. His eyes were specifically locked onto a certain Imp.
"Don't worry. I've been keeping my horns down." Blitzo promised. He didn't even look at Paimon to confirm if he was being stared at. He just knew.
"You better. One wrong twitch or movement, and I'll have your limbs severed at the joints." Paimon stated.
"Mhm. Yeah." Blitzo responded. By now, Paimon had lost any ability to terrify him. This sudden absence of fear was thanks to Doomguy. With the newfound knowledge of horrors and monstrosities the mind couldn't fathom, what was an angry shapeshifting owl supposed to do? A maiming from him seemed like a mercy compared to what they now knew Doom was capable of.
"So..." Moxxie began, hoping to steer the conversation away from bodily mutilation. "What do you think we'll learn today? I know this will sound presumptuous, but I don't think we have much more to be told." He asked.
"Hmm, good question..." Stella hummed, giving it some thought. "Day one was dedicated to a general history of Doom. Day two was spent establishing the known locations within the realm. Day three transitioned into how Doom's powers work and how similar they are to ours. Day four focused on its Demons. And yesterday, we were shown how they have evolved." She listed. "Quite frankly, I don't know what could be left." She confessed.
"Well, we still haven't learned about what happened on Mars. That could be it." Millie suggested.
"If so, I'll have to be filled in after I return," Paimon said while cleaning his beak with his napkin. "On that note, I'm off." He added before rising from his seat.
"Good luck, Grandpa," Octavia told her Grandfather as he departed.
"Thank you. I'll need it to avoid catching any STDs." Paimon responded with a wave.
Not long after Paimon's exit, the others would finish breakfast. Afterward, as the staff hurried to clean everything up, everyone readied themselves for today's Doom lesson, whatever it might be.
Elsewhere, In A Massive Factory Within Pentagram City...
"Vox, for the last time. I do not want anything to drink." Lucifer firmly stated with an un-amused half-lidded stare. By this point, he was escalating from annoyed to pissed.
Sinners. Ugh. Lucifer hated interacting with them. Admittedly, some of that distaste came from seeing himself as their better. However, the remainder was caused by their ever-nervous behavior and overly-eager desire to please him.
When the first batches of mortals arrived in Hell, Lucifer found this quite entertaining. It was as if he was God but for the wicked. Yet swiftly, as time passed, he HATED it. Their restrained groveling and pleading for mercy became borderline fanatical.
Sure, the true Hellspawn were somewhat like this as well. Yet, they were classy about it. Contrastly, Sinners were like scared children afraid of punishment. Except in this case, it would be torture rather than a time out or spanking.
Even for a Sinner as notable as Vox, who, like any of them, was arrogant, he knew better than to have an attitude with the Devil. So, while not kissing his shoes, he still did everything he could to please the Lord of Hell.
Speaking of, the appearance of Vox was, like with every Sinner, a reflection of himself. A man who was obsessed with technology and its advancements. As such, his Demonic head and face were that of a flat-screen television. However, though standing at seven feet, the rest of himself was normal. At least when compared to most Sinners and their outlandish forms.
"M-My apologies, sir." Vox stuttered out with a bow. "I-I just don't want you to be uncomfortable, is all." He explained.
"If you shut your yap for a few seconds and let me study your facility in peace, I wouldn't be," Lucifer told him.
"R-Right..." Vox meekly replied, immediately falling silent.
For several minutes, the duo walked in a blissful absence of noise. Well, not counting the many machines working around them. But, to Vox's credit, he'd designed these contraptions to work in perfect rhythm. Lucifer had to resist the urge to close his eyes and follow the melody of the production that the factory conducted.
"...Vox," Lucifer spoke again while coming to a sudden stop.
"Yes! My lord?" Vox responded, nearly standing so straight you'd think he was in the military.
"What's the current energy production of your operation? How much is possible, and would there be a danger to the city if its use was significantly intensive?" Lucifer inquired.
"Are you planning on producing something large-scale, sir?" Vox asked.
THWAP
With a quick, impressive wrist motion, Lucifer smacked Vox across his digital features using his cane.
"Did I say you could ask questions?" Lucifer inquired with a slight sneer. "Answer mine, and depending on what I hear, I'll elaborate further." He stated.
"Right...sorry..." Vox apologized, needing a moment to recover from the unexpected thwapping he received. "Regarding our energy output, we barely expend any. Hell's technology, combined with its sorcery, allows for the mass production of any product with little effort. If you need us to crank things to their maximum, that won't be a problem. I've always wanted to see what my machines could do at full power. Depending on your want, it could reshape all of Hell! We could turn this city into a-"
THWAP
Another good smack across the nonexistent lips. This time, the impact briefly caused Vox's face to fill with static.
"ANY more sales pitch and I'm tossing you into the nearest set of gears," Lucifer warned as he returned his cane to the floor. "One more question, then I'll enlighten you about the nature of my visit." He said while turning to face him directly. "If I asked for your service, could I trust it?" He asked.
That single inquiry was more stunning than the blows to Vox's head. Unless the strikes had damaged his mind, the Techno Demon was confident he understood what Lucifer was asking. If he did, Vox was left speechless.
"My Lord..." Vox spoke in disbelief. To think, he, a lowly Sinner, was being given a chance to serve the Devil directly. This was a dream come true for someone like him. "I...don't know...what to say..." He admitted, his mind still processing the words. "Why come to me? Surely, with your power and those who are a part of your inner circle, anything I can provide would be unimpressive." He pointed out.
"Where raw power is concerned, yes. That is true. And while my advisors and I are not ignorant of the ways of mortal-made technology, we aren't experts. You, however, are. Vox, what I am asking for isn't a new line of shoes, cereal, toys, or smartphones. If I can trust you, you will help in something far greater than you can comprehend. But that is all I can say for right now." Lucifer replied. "So, I'll ask once more. Can I trust you to work for me? Or will mortal ignorance be an unavoidable complication?" He asked.
"Absolutely!" Vox instantly exclaimed. There was no hesitation nor a need for thought. This was HIS big break. FINALLY. A chance to truly carve out a permanent place in Hell and establish an eternal legacy! "I vow on my soul, Lord Lucifer, to serve you with everything I can offer! I will follow your order to the last letter! I'll even degrade myself if you want!" He promised.
THWAP
One more for the road. This time, the force was enough to knock Vox off his feet and send him to the ground.
"Enough ass-kissing. Geez." Lucifer scolded, at last at his limit. "I'll get in contact with you before long. Until then, you are to keep a TIGHT lip on this. If anything gets out about this meeting, I'll replace your head with a toaster." He stated before opening a portal and leaving.
"Yes...sir..." Vox weakly responded with a slightly raised hand. His face's screen was black, and he was likely to be out for a bit.
Elsewhere, At The Happy Hotel...
"Raging Inferno still leads the pack! Skeletal Nightmare maintains its second position! Rotting Rodeo seems to be breaking through, hoping to steal victory! It's neck and neck!"
That energetic and enthusiastic voice came from the TV in the hotel lobby. With every other person in the building busy with work or their rehab programs, Husk was left to himself. Allowing the feathered feline to check in on the horse race he'd been waiting for these past few days.
"Ugh...last time I bet on the loser..." Husk sighed. His feet were on his desk, his back leaned into his chair, and he had a freshly open bottle of non-descript liquor in his hand. "I also go for the underdog. Mainly for the biggest profit. But that's the one habit I NEED to break..." He carried on.
"The racers are coming around the turn! This'll be the final lap! Raging Inferno maintains first! Skeletal Nightmare has fallen back a bit! Rotting Rodeo has overtaken them and is gaining on Ragin Inferno! Wait! Wait! HOLY SHIT! OUT OF NOWHERE! CINNAMON BUN HAS GAINED A BURST OF SPEED! IS IT DETERMINATION? MOTIVATION? WELL-TIMED EXPENDITURE OF STAMINA? DRUGS?! I DON'T KNOW! BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS THEY'RE HEADING FOR THE FRONT!"
As if the life were sent straight back into him, Husk jolted forward into a leaning position. His eyes were glued to the TV. Holy fuck! Could...he win? Was Husk about to be one of the richest men in all of Hell?!
Silently and unblinkingly, Husk watched his horse get closer and closer to first. The finish line was rapidly approaching. Snout-to-snout. Come on! Come on!
Click
With one button press, Husk felt his heart stop. His lungs tightened. Every muscle contracted. Slowly, he turned to his left as that was where the remote was on his desk.
"Hello, Husker!" Alastor greeted with a "friendly" smile, the TV remote held firmly in his hand. "How are you doing today?" He inquired.
...
...
"Hon, you need to relax," Vagatha told Charlie with an amused yet sympathetic smile as both women walked down the hall.
Ever since they left Mars, Charlie had been in a mood. What mood? Hard to say. She wasn't angry or annoyed. It was as if Hell's Princess had invented an entirely new emotion.
"Vaggie, you've been saying that to me all week," Charlie grumbled while pouting. Her pouty face didn't do her any favors since it was incredibly adorable.
"Yeah, because you keep ignoring me every time I do," Vagatha replied, her smile maintaining. "Charlie, we've had plenty to do to keep us busy while everyone gets everything sorted. Don't forget; we ARE running a hotel." She said.
"HOW can I focus on the hotel when DOOMGUY isn't here?!" Charlie questioned with her hands thrown into the air. "The whole reason I wanted to do this was to help people find peace! To overcome their struggles and pasts! And yet the most damaged man in ALL of Hell isn't here!" She exclaimed.
"I don't know. I think there might be a few people who could give the big guy a run for his money," Vagatha argued.
Upon hearing that, Charlie stopped and stared at her lover with the biggest eyes she could produce.
"Hey, I'm not saying Doomguy didn't go through MULTIPLE lifetimes' worth of shit." Vagatha clarified while raising her hand defensively. "But some people have been in Hell since Adam and Eve ate that apple. Sure, what got them sent here doesn't compare to Doomguy's history. But what they've gone through since being here is pretty fucked up. I'm trying to say that there are PLENTY of souls you can hyper-fixate on for a while." She explained.
"I...guess..." Charlie hesitantly agreed. She couldn't ignore her girlfriend's valid points despite wanting to. "But WHERE will I find someone with even a FOURTH of the issues as Doomguy?" She asked.
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
That unexpected yell came from the lobby, which the ladies were already headed for. Following that violent shout was a series of colorful words and phrases that neither had heard before. Truthfully, they weren't entirely certain some were real. Regardless, the duo hurried ahead to figure out what was going on.
As Charlie and Vagatha entered the lobby, they saw a sight that was not as surprising as they expected. Husk was doing his damndest to get his hands on Alastor, who looked as smug as ever. However, the angry barkeep was easily restrained by myriad inky tendrils.
"Alright. What's going on?" Vagatha casually inquired as she and Charlie approached them. Their demeanor changed from alarmed to completely relaxed in less than a second.
"I haven't the faintest idea," Alastor said, clearly lying through his flawless teeth. "I was only trying to have some morning conversation with one of my dearest friends. When suddenly, he lashes out and begins attempting to murder me. I think I will need an emergency therapy session to address this." He told them.
"YOU'LL NEED A FUCKING SURGEON TO PUT YOUR FACE BACK TOGETHER!" Husk roared. Although, considering he couldn't do so much as squirm, his intimidation factor was severely hampered.
"Husk, calm down." Charlie said, even going so far as to pet him. "Tell us what Al did." She requested.
"This ABSOLUTE unit of ASS turned off the fucking TV!" Husk exclaimed. He'd never admit to it, but being petted did help to calm him down. "I was about to see the winner of my fucking horse race! I think I've won big! But this BASTARD just HAD to pull his usual shit!" He informed them.
"Geez, Al. Really? Can't let the poor guy enjoy a bit of gambling for once?" Vagatha questioned.
"Oh, calm down. It's not like he won." Alastor responded with an eye roll.
"YOU DON'T KNOW THAT! YOU TURNED OFF THE FUCKING TV!" Husk yelled, returning to full volume.
"Husker, you know that is an old race, right?" Alastor asked.
In the following seconds, the others studied the Radio Demon's face. To their shock, it didn't seem like he was attempting to push this "joke" further. The question was sincere.
"Al...what the actual fuck do you mean?..." Husk quietly inquired as a feeling of dread washed over him. Simultaneously, he was released from the tendrils.
"Any of Hell's channels dedicated to vices, such as gambling, drinking, sex, drugs, Etc. are heavily censored or not live feeds. Everything you see in those programs while inside the hotel is already recorded. That's why I turned it off. I thought you'd seen it a million times by now." Alastor explained.
"...Charlie?..." Husk asked in a MUCH quieter volume while slowly looking at her.
"...Uh...yeah...it's true..." Charlie confirmed with an awkward smile. "I thought it'd be easier for people to escape their addictions without playing into them if they had something to watch. So, excluding the news, which is ALWAYS a live feed, everything else on all channels is recorded and carefully selected by myself. Surprise." She told him. Throwing that "surprise" in at the end to try and put a positive spin on it.
"Wow. I never knew that." Vagatha confessed. "How come you never told me?" She inquired.
"I didn't think it was worth mentioning, honestly," Charlie admitted with a shrug. "I assumed our occupants would be too busy trying to escape or indulging themselves to notice." She explained.
"Well, at least we've learned something from all of this," Alastor said. "Don't you agree, Husker?" He asked.
Husk wasn't here right now. He was lying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. For a moment, the others wondered if they should continue speaking to him to see if he was alright. But from the look in his eyes, they decided he deserved some time alone.
"So...Al," Charlie spoke, starting a new conversation. "What're your plans for the day?" She asked.
"Hmm, let me see..." Alastor hummed as he took out a pocket watch. "I'll be heading to the city for a luncheon in a few minutes." He answered.
"Lunch? It's barely been an hour since breakfast." Vagatha questioned, finding that odd.
"We want to get there as early as possible to find the perfect table. The cafe we'll be eating at gets quite busy." Alastor explained.
"Who're you eating with?" Charlie pressed.
"A friend of mine and Stella. As you know, she's been busy connecting with Nobles and Overlords. Since I have a few associates, I offered to make things easier for her." Alastor informed them.
"Wow. That's...nice of you, Al." Vagatha complimented him. Surprised yet impressed.
"But of course. We're mainly sitting on our hands until the show starts. I'd like to be somewhat useful in whatever way I can." Alastor stated.
"Heh, sounds like someone else I know," Vagatha responded while looking at Charlie.
"Yes, it must be eating you alive. Isn't it?" Alastor inquired, knowing what Vagatha referred to.
"I already get enough of this from Vaggie. I don't need YOU telling me to keep my mind busy." Charlie said, not humoring either of them.
"Well then, how about this. What's the status of Gabriel and your Grandfather? Any word?" Alastor asked.
"Amazingly, Grandpa let Uncle Gabe see him on day one. Ever since then, the two have been inside the Ivory Tower. Grandpa's home, if you didn't know." Charlie answered.
"Five days straight. Must be some conversation." Alastor commented. His mind was quickly contemplating what those two were discussing.
"I think it's a good sign. It shows that God's taking this seriously." Vagatha said. "No offense, Charlie. But like Husk kept bringing up, it IS weird how he didn't get involved until now." She told her.
"No, I get it. From what I've heard, Grandpa's always been like that. He's keen on letting everyone figure things out for themselves rather than sort their problems." Charlie explained.
"Hear that from Azrael? Maybe Michael, too?" Alastor guessed.
"Yeah, and every other member of my family. Well, at least on my Dad's side." Charlie said.
"How are they doing, by the way?" Vagatha inquired.
"They're keeping busy with Mom. They wanted to join Gabriel in the tower since he was allowed entry, but the doors didn't open." Charlie informed.
"Curiouser and curiouser. Your Grandfather grows more mysterious." Alastor said.
"I think that's the point of being God," Vagatha responded, but not sarcastically.
"Hm, perhaps." Alastor agreed before checking his pocket watch again. "Well, ladies. I believe I best be off." He decided while putting it back in his jacket. "Anything else we'd like to mention before we part ways?" He asked.
"Um..." Charlie hummed, trying to think of something. "...Oh! I've got a question. Have you seen Angel at all? Cherri, too." She inquired.
"Ah, yes. They waited for the two of you to be done with breakfast and get started on your day before they left the hotel. They said they couldn't stand being cooped up any longer and needed fresh air." Alastor told her.
"Why did they sneak out? It's not like they HAD to stay here until things were ready." Vagatha questioned.
"They more than likely assumed that was the case. Given the combined intelligence they share." Alastor jested.
"Did they say at all where they were going?" Charlie asked.
"It sounded like they'd spend the day at Cherri's pad. Her words, not mine." Alastor answered.
"Ah. So, some rundown factory or warehouse her gang operates out of." Vagatha deduced.
"My conclusion as well," Alastor admitted before turning around. "If that's all, I'll be heading out. See you two this afternoon." He bid farewell.
"Later, Al. Don't cause any trouble." Vagatha told him as he walked out the door.
With the Radio Demon's departure, Charlie and Vagatha were left alone to continue talking with each other. All the while, Husk remained on the floor. How long he'd stay that way, no one but himself would know.