Hell. Mortals hated it. Hellspawn everywhere loved it. The Royals and Nobles ESPECIALLY adored their infernal home. It was a playground to fulfill all their desires, no matter how twisted or depraved. In short, it was paradise.
Paimon had never dreaded being in Hell. There were moments where he was displeased with something specific, but never anything relating to his home. Like any true Demon, he relished the realm of Corruption. It was only the people that ever made him wish to be somewhere else. Yet, when this happened, he could always retreat to a different location and be free of the company of fools.
Unfortunately, Paimon could not rely upon that luxury this time. When Asmodeus said he'd call his best decorators to help with the gala, Paimon could've never predicted who'd arrive. Most of them were Demons whom he didn't recognize. But then...there was HER.
A vixen mixed with an insect. To be precise, it was a bee. The reigning Queen of Gluttony. Although, by looking at her, you couldn't tell. The most bee-like thing about her was the color of her fur. It possessed the same golden hue as honey.
Okay, there were a few other details. But it's not as if Paimon cared. He was too focused on not reaching for a gun to blow his brains out. Asmodeus, Beelzebub, and the fucking Imp clown were a non-stop chatterbox. They went on and on and on. Honestly, he was skeptical they even still talked about the gala.
It had been many hours since Paimon, with guests, came to the estate. The day was nearly over, and he wondered when the others would return. Whatever Gabriel fetched them for must've been truly important. Why else would they be taking so long?
Speaking of, Paimon had the staff keep him informed of how Hell was reacting. When Beelzebub arrived, the first thing out of her mouth was the shocked exclamation that Katie Killjoy had been whisked away during a live broadcast by the Archangel of Justice. Huh. After some consideration, Paimon realized that must be what the circus trio were so uppity about all this time. Alright, even he could admit that was justified.
Anyway. Paimon, as told by the staff, was aware that Hell was STILL in an uproar. Social media websites were barely functional because of the neverending comments and posts. Television networks, particularly channel six six six, were frantically trying to learn ANYTHING. As for the Nobles and Royals, they had discovered Lord Lucifer and his family were missing, too. You can imagine how that helped.
During all of this, Stolas had also gone somewhere. Paimon, wondering what was taking him so long, sent a maid to investigate the library. She reported that the Goetian Prince was missing. Paimon didn't think anything of this since his Son was a timid, fragile creature. He was likely off somewhere secluded, crying his eyes out. Luckily, the gaggle of loons he observed had never noticed.
"Paimon!"
...Fuck. At last, Asmodeus remembered where he was and who else was in the room with him and the others. As he called out, Beelzebub and Fizzarolli also turned toward the Owl Demon. Whelp. So much for remaining an element of the environment.
"Yes, Asmodeus?" Paimon replied. His arms were folded over his chest, and his eyes were half open. He'd been relaxing and doing his best to drown out the noise of their conversation. "Is something wrong?" He asked.
"You bet there is!" Asmodeus answered, followed by him and the other two approaching. Fantastic. "I just realized we forgot all about you. I'm SO sorry. You were so kind to invite us AND allowed us to contribute. Yet, here we are, not including you." He explained.
"Aw, don't worry, Oz. It was an accident!" Fizzarolli said, not wanting his boyfriend to feel bad.
"Shockingly, I do agree with the jester," Paimon admitted. "I don't blame you for being so fixated on your conversation. I kept quiet and let you three talk without interruption." He stated.
"Even so, we should've come over and made you a part of it." Asmodeus asserted. The more time the Owl Demon spent in his company, the more surprised he was at the Ruler of Lust's kind nature. A horny hen with a heart. Who could've guessed?
"Out of curiosity..." Paimon started as he slowly pointed at Beelzebub. "Have you clued her in on why we're gathered?" He inquired.
"We didn't think it was our place to. You made it VERY clear back at Ozzie's that this was a need-to-know situation. We've not let a SINGLE detail slip past our lips." Fizzaroli responded. Huh. Despite his appearance, the clown wasn't a fool. At least, not entirely.
"True," Paimon said before turning to look at the Ruler of Gluttony. "However, you did receive my letter, yes?" He asked.
"I did. I also got a call from Lucifer. He told me that this was serious shit. No jokes. No usual Noble bullshit. I needed to put on my crown and act like a Queen." Beelzebub answered, only to realize something immediately. "Wait. I'm here. You're here. Azzy and Fizzy are here. You can catch me up to speed!" She suggested with a grin.
"That...would be a good use of our time." Paimon agreed. "How about we talk over a meal? It's too late for lunch, which we skipped. We could have a hearty dinner." He offered.
"Oh, no, P. We've already taken too much of your hospitality. We couldn't-"
FWOOM
That noise caused all four to jump. Anyone else in the room, whether staff or decorator, did the same. At the space's center, a portal was opened. Emerging from it were Octavia, Stella, and...holy shit...
"Ah, Sir Paimon." Gabriel greeted as he stood behind the two Goetias. "I'm glad to see you've returned. And, in addition to Asmodeus, you've brought with you Beelzebub." He said.
"Although I'd like to claim that praise, I'm afraid I cannot." Paimon started as he pointed to the three before him. They were all slackjawed and frozen in place. "She arrived at the request of Asmodeus. They both would like to assist with the gala." He informed them.
"About that," Stella interjected. "We need all of you to come with us." She told them.
...
...
"Pardon?" Paimon questioned with a raised brow. It took him a few seconds as he didn't expect such a perplexing statement.
"Sorry, Grandpa. We can't explain. Like, actually. We CAN'T." Octavia replied with emphasis. "This is something that you HAVE to experience. The more we say, the more confused you'll be." She explained before taking a look around. "Where's Dad? Is he still not back yet?" She asked.
"Your Father's gone somewhere to curl into a ball. It IS that time of day, after all." Paimon answered with an eye roll. "Regarding the nature of this sudden appearance, are we comfortable throwing these three into the deep end as we were?" He inquired while gesturing to the still-stunned trio.
"Believe us, Paimon. There's nothing BUT deep end," Stella responded. Afterward, she, Octavia, and Gabriel turned around. "Now, come along. We have no time to spare." She instructed.
"These three might need some assistance," Paimon noted, again gesturing to the statue-esque Hellspawn.
Without an utterance, Gabriel approached Asmodeus, Beelzebub, and Fizzarolli. Then, he conjured another portal. Only this time, it was directly beneath the trio.
THUD
With a rough landing, the two Demons and an Imp made it to the other side. For a moment, the Goetias looked at the Archangel with a mixture of surprise and amazement.
"You said yourself we have no time to spare, Miss Stella. And I certainly wasn't going to carry all three to Urdak." Gabriel stated before closing the second rift and returning to the first.
"...Urdak?..." Paimon questioned as the Archangel went through the portal.
"Again, we can't explain. You just need to experience it." Octavia repeated, following Gabriel.
"Here," Stella said, offering her hand. "Take it. You WILL want something to hold onto." She informed him.
So secretive and ominous. Although he wouldn't admit it, Paimon was starting to feel nervous. As he took his Daughter-In-Law's hand and ventured through the portal with her, his mind busied itself with what could warrant such behavior.
Elsewhere, At The Magne Estate...
"Chop chop! Hustle, now! No idle hands or feet! We've got to get moving!" Lucifer ordered with a series of claps.
The staff of the Magne estate were busier than ever before. Out of nowhere, the Lord and Lady appeared from a portal and began giving instructions. The most pressing, at the moment, was to strangely move much of the castle's items through the portal they arrived from. What made it even weirder was that it led to the Happy Hotel. You know, that thing Lucifer thought was a joke?
However, NONE of the staff would be dumb enough to ask questions or voice their confusion. They obeyed their orders without falter.
"Do you think we're going a bit far?" Lilith asked, standing beside her Husband. "We're essentially moving ourselves into the hotel." She added.
"Of course not," Lucifer answered, now looking at her. "Although I've come to acknowledge how much of an ass I was to our Daughter and her ambition, I will not take anything back that I've said about her hotel. Granted, if I had been supportive, it wouldn't be so shabby. Still, I will not have you or I staying in a place that feels little more than a four-star motel." He explained.
"Oh, come now, Luci. We've stayed in some rather sketchy places during one of our romantic getaways~" Lilith reminded him in a sultry whisper.
However, Lucifer wouldn't react the way his Wife anticipated. He now looked at her with a gaze that conveyed shock, horror, and disgust.
"...Did...you just call me Luci?..." Lucifer questioned in a mutter.
"...Oh. I guess I did." Lilith realized. It genuinely wasn't intentional. "To be fair, it is a nice nickname, hon. After hearing Michael say it so much, it just slipped out." She said.
"..." Lucifer continued to stare at his spouse in disbelief. "...Please, never say that again." He requested.
Now, it was Lilith's turn to stare. However, unlike her Husband, it wasn't in reaction. Instead, the gears of her mind slowly turned, which Lucifer could see. Eventually, the Queen of Hell had an unsettling smile of amusement appear on her face.
"No." Lucifer quickly told her. He knew what was coming. "Stop it, Lilith." He preemptively commanded.
"Aww, Luci~" Lilith cooed. Shivers, NOT THE GOOD KIND, went down Lucifer's spine. "I want a pet name for you." She whined in false sadness.
Remember, this was still the Devil and his Wife, who was a Demon. They delighted in not just love but torture. They'd happily cuddle under a warm blanket on a cold night. They'd also revel in pushing each other's buttons and getting a rise out of their beloved. Truly, this pair of sadists were meant for one another.
"Lilith. I mean it." Lucifer asserted, backing away from his lover.
"What's the matter, Luci?" Lilith inquired, following him step-for-step. "I just want to tell you how much I love you, my dear, sweet Luci~" She said.
Akright. Enough was enough. Lucifer, with great haste, fled from his Wife. Hearing his Brother call him that their entire lives were more than enough madness. He didn't need this in his home!
Unfortunately, this delighted Lilith FAR too much. She'd give chase and wouldn't relent on using her new favorite name for her Husband. Now, some might find this sudden interaction between the two a bit strange, especially with all that was happening. However, this was entirely normal for them. If things weren't so screwy right now, this is likely what the married couple would be up to. It was a spontaneous surge of normalcy. Something that wasn't isolated to them.
Elsewhere, At The Happy Hotel...
"Aaaaaaah..." Husk exhaled as he sat down in his chair. His body melted into the familiar comfort.
The Happy Hotel was as busy as the Magne Estate. Charlie, Vagatha, and Nifty were occupied with getting rooms ready and preparing for the insanity to ensue in due time. Lucifer and Lilith, thankfully, had been considerate enough NOT to open a portal to their castle in the lobby. At this moment, the aforementioned trio was likely assisting the King, Queen, and their staff with getting them settled in.
Alastor and Katie were off somewhere as well. Husk's best guess was they were trying to find the right location in the hotel for a studio they could operate from. If one didn't exist, then they'd sure as shit make it. If any construction work needed to be done, they'd get assistance from Samuel's drones, which Vega now piloted. The idea was to make a hybrid television and radio studio comfortable for the duo and their work. The idea posed no problems; it was whether or not the Radio and Mantis Demons could keep from killing each other that might.
Surprisingly, Angel Dust, Cherri, and I.M.P. were doing the grunt work. Regardless of who they went with, they'd assist with the heavy lifting and getting things into place. This allowed Husk, to no one's surprise, to enjoy being alone in the hotel's lobby. However long it'd last, he'd pretend there was no Doom. He didn't meet God TWICE. And he wasn't faced with an ever-growing stack of existential crises.
A bottle in hand. Feet on the desk. Ass in its cushion. Husk was ready to finish off this insane day with some MUCH-needed R&R. The only thing left to do was to pick up the TV remote and-
FWOOM
...Oh, thank FUCKING God. Er, Khan? The Creator? Husk would need to work on that one. Anyway, the familiar sound of a portal opening reached the Hellcat's ears alongside its appearance. Before the hairs on Husk's back stood straight, they recognized the color of the rift. It was pitch black.
"Holy shit..." Husk breathed out in relief. A second later, Azrael came slithering through.
"Husk?" Azrael spoke when she saw the feathered feline, noticing his odd behavior. "Did something happen? Why are you holding your chest?" She asked.
"I thought more bullshit was about to happen..." Husk answered as she approached the front desk. While doing so, the portal was closed.
"Such as?" Azrael inquired, curious to know what he assumed.
"I don't know. It could've been anything!" Husk exclaimed before raising his hand to count with his fingers. "Maybe another mysterious person like the Wretch making a perfectly-timed dramatic debut. How about another interdimensional traveler looking for assistance? Hell, there could even be MORE God-like entities out there similar to Khan, who decided to show up for no reason!" He listed.
"Hm, I see your point," Azrael said, better understanding his worries. "However, we've reached the end of unknowables and questions. The only way there could be something else is if it preceded Khan, which isn't possible." She reasoned.
"You never know. There could be ancient gods or something just chilling in the background." Husk replied, making her chuckle.
"Ancient gods? That is an amusing idea. Wouldn't make much sense, though." Azrael told him. The Hellcat's imagination was truly wonderful in her eyes. Admittedly, it did stem from genuine paranoia. Even so, he could say the most outlandish things sometimes.
"Eh, fair enough." Husk agreed with a shrug. "So, what're you doing back here so soon? I thought you and your siblings were gonna batten down the hatches in Heaven?" He recalled.
"That's for when Khan reveals herself, and everything is sent into chaos." Azrael clarified. "As of now, Michael's gathering up our kin in Heaven and taking them to see Khan." She said.
"And you didn't want to help?" Husk inquired, finding that odd.
"It's not that I didn't WANT to; I just...needed a break." Azrael sighed before laying her head on her arms, which rested atop the desk.
...Shit. It was obvious Azrael wanted to get something off her chest. To make matters worse, the scene was perfect for it. She and Husk were alone in the lobby. The front desk had been made to resemble a bar. This was the exact scenario you see ALL the time. A barkeep with open ears and the wary patron needing to share.
However, if it hadn't been made clear by now, Husk SUCKED at this stuff. He wasn't a people person! He didn't even like himself! How was he, out of ANYONE, supposed to console someone? Let alone Death Incarnate!
"..." Husk stared wide-eyed at the Angel of Death. Was he meant to do something before continuing the conversation? Was it meant to be the other way around? Fuck. Where was Charlie when you needed her?! "...You...look...tired..." He slowly commented.
"Tired...isn't the right way to put it..." Azrael began, letting out another sigh. "...Husk, have you ever felt...confused? About yourself, I mean." She asked.
"...Uh..." Husk stammered. There were SO many interpretations of that question. His brain was too soaked in alcohol to improv like this. "I've...had moments where I...wonder what I'm doing with myself..." He answered.
"Hmm...that's not what I meant..." Azrael hummed. "I'm referring to your existence. Have you ever considered what it meant to be you?" She inquired.
... Ooh. Okay. Good. Husk's few brain cells came together. What the Angel of Death was experiencing was a crisis of identity. Upon making that realization, Husk now had somewhat of a way to navigate this conversation.
"...I...think once or twice, sure." Husk started, feeling more confident about his response this time. "Everyone has a moment where they stop, assess themselves, and think...what the fuck is going on here? It's normal." He continued as he got a bottle of wine from one of the shelves. "Although with that said, you're anything but normal, Az. You're the Angel of Death. The title isn't different now, but your role in the grand scheme is. I can't begin to imagine how much that's fucking with you." He said while getting an empty glass.
"I...wouldn't say it's fucking with me. That sounds a bit strong." Azrael argued, yet she still kept her head on her arms and looked rather deflated.
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with admitting that life's kicking your ass. You might be the Angel of Death, but you still got one like the rest of us." Husk told her, bringing the wine and glass back to the desk. "What you need is to settle your nerves. Take a swig of this." He instructed, now pouring the wine into the container.
"I...don't know if drinking is a wise decision right now," Azrael said, finally lifting her head. "Also, and I mean no offense with this, I've smelled the liquids in your bottles during our previous interactions. Honestly, much of it seems closer to petrol than something you should be drinking." She mentioned, which made him laugh.
"Yeah, it probably is." Husk acknowledged as he finished filling the glass. "But that stuff's for me. Plus, I like ya, so I grabbed a bottle of legitimately good wine from the shelf. This is something Charlie or Vaggie would ask me to give'em for one of their date nights." He shared.
Taking a moment to study the beverage Husk poured, Azrael couldn't deny it did look appetizing. Furthermore, it smelled lovely. The aroma of the wine floated through her nostrils and delivered an enticing attraction.
"Alright..." Azrael cautiously agreed to his offer, taking the wine glass. "But if this does taste like fuel, I will be throwing it in your face. I'm not in the mood for a bad joke." She warned.
"Sorry, Az. You got the wrong guy for shitty jokes. You want the walking bright-red bastard." Husk replied, making her laugh this time.
"My, such a flattering description," Azrael said.
After taking a moment to swirl the grape-colored liquid in her glass to see if anything odd would reveal itself, to which nothing did, Azrael took her first sip. When the flavor reached her taste buds, her eyes shot wide open, including the ones on her body.
"Oh, my..." Azrael whispered, astounded by how delicious it was.
"As I said, I like ya, Az. I wouldn't serve you toilet water. I save that for Angel when he pisses me off." Husk repeated alongside a...joke? At least, Azrael hoped it was. Otherwise, she felt a tad sorry for the Spider Demon, even though she knew how he could be.
"Well, I'm glad I've earned your favor," Azrael responded, smiling. "Despite the time we've spent together, I assumed your friendliness toward me was out of concern that I'd kill you." She confessed.
"It was," Husk confirmed. He did it so quickly it surprised her. It was almost as if it were on instinct. "During those two weeks, I was scared shitless. Even now, after everything we've learned, you could still kill most people at the wave of your hand. The only ones you can't are either demigods or full-on gods. So, it's not as if you're suddenly weak. You're still crazy-powerful and plenty terrifying." He explained.
"Oh," Azrael said as she gazed at her drink. "...Do...you still fear me? Do I unsettle you?" She asked.
"Ignoring the existence of Doom and the monstrous shit it has to offer, yeah, a little bit," Husk answered. However, he did so with what he hoped was a comforting smile. "But don't take it personally, Az. I'm a mess like anyone else in Hell. I've got nerves, fears, and anxieties that plague my every waking moment. That's one of the reasons I drink so damn much." He told her.
"Hm, I see..." Azrael muttered, an idea forming in her head. "Then, why don't we share this drink? It'll help soothe both our minds." She suggested.
"Nah, I couldn't do that," Husk replied, rejecting the idea. "This wine's meant for you. Besides, if I drink it, who's gonna drink the gasoline?" He joked.
Rather than respond with words, Azrael did something that the Hellcat would've never expected. In silence, she slithered to the other side of the desk, retrieved an empty glass, and set it on the front desk.
"Well? What now?" Azrael playfully inquired while picking up the bottle.
Husk, left at a loss for words for a moment, considered what the right choice was here. However, as he thought about the taste of that wine more, he couldn't deny that he'd LOVE to drink it. Plus, it'd be in the company of someone who'd make the experience pleasant rather than unbearable.
"I...think...we're going to need another chair." Husk decided as he walked away. "It'd be awkward if I'm the only one sitting." He added.
Happy to see things go how she wanted, Azrael busied herself by pouring Husk's drink as he got a nearby chair. By the time she was finished, he was also through with setting it down next to his behind the desk. With seats and drinks ready, Husk and Azrael sat down to enjoy the night in each other's company. A serene end to a chaotic day.