A/N: Time to shift the focus away from Carmilla, and away from John in general, and move back to the rest of the cast back at the Hotel. Because there are still other characters in need of actual development.

The very moment that John and Alastor had departed with the Egg Boiz, Charlie and Vaggie had wasted no time in gathering everyone for today's session.

A session which… Vanessa wasn't sure what to think of based on what she saw.

There was a small elevated platform set up in the lobby, with a banner on it that read 'Trusting 101', Vanessa got the inkling that there was going to be some kind of show aspect to it.

Though a part of her would much rather still be over on the couch with Leo playing games, she honestly needed a different distraction. As much as she enjoyed the games… well, it wasn't just that she'd gotten so used to it with John, but at the same time, it was.

Because with John having agreed to attend the Overlord meeting, she couldn't help the feeling in the pit of her stomach. That ever-present sense of dread.

She still thought about Andre's words from only days ago, and she'd still been grappling with the decision of whether or not she could come clean to John. If there was an ounce of hope that anything would be done… well, John would do it.

But she wasn't quite ready yet, not with the thought of Vox and especially Val lingering over her shoulder.

Considering the Overlords knew they were at the Hotel, Vanessa was genuinely surprised that Val hadn't called them back to the studio yet. Not that she was complaining, but… well, Murphy's Law.

And video games only served to make her stress about it more than actually distract her.

So maybe one of Charlie's sessions would do it. After all, Vanessa had always enjoyed Charlie's sessions, no matter how menial or childish they may be.

Finally, after some waiting, Charlie and Vaggie finally walked up in front of the makeshift stage. As usual, Charlie had a beaming smile on her face while Vaggie looked as if she wanted to be anywhere else.

Vanessa knew better than to think that was actually the case with Vaggie, but the scowl that seemed to always be on her face would give that impression.

"Hi guys!" Charlie greeted with an eager wave as she turned to address he Hotel guests. "Thanks for coming! It's been brought to our attention that there may be a little… tension, in the Hotel."

The moment the words left her mouth, Vanessa found herself jumping slightly when she heard the sound of Pentious hissing, as his tail wrapped around Niffty and lifted the cyclops into the air. Vanessa's eyes widened when she spotted the… gun of some kind in his hand, and he looked like he was about to shoot Niffty with it!

"Tension that can be counterproductive to what we're trying to do here." Vaggie continued Charlie's words with a frustrated tone as she approached the snake, and swiped the weapon from his hand without a second thought. Pentious looked disappointed at the action, before crossing his arms and glaring at the moth's back.

If that's what he considered fun… was it too late to see if John could kick him out?

Pentious was funny in an admittedly pathetic sort of way, but unlike the others, Vanessa couldn't help but to be uncomfortable around the snake given his penchant for steampunk death machines.

She found herself thankful that Vaggie was present. Though she had a different approach than John most of the time, she did the job of security rather well when the behemoth was absent.

"We think that this group could really benefit from…" Charlie paused in an almost dramatic manner as Vaggie returned to her side, and Vanessa didn't miss the look of actual nervousness on the moth's face as she, and everyone else, realized what Charlie was about to do. "... Trust exercises!"

"Trust exercises!" Vaggie joined in with Charlie's charade, jumping into the air and shouting it with her. "Oh shit." Unlike Charlie, however, Vaggie failed at a proper landing and ended up planting her rear squarely upon the ground.

"Vaggie…" Charlie audibly moaned in disappointment as she turned to the moth and proceeded to help her to her feet. "We rehearsed this." It sounded almost chiding, and no one missed the look of disappointment on the moth's own face, nor the look of slight shame. However, it was gone as quickly as it came as Charlie let out a sigh, before both women turned to the Hotel guests with smiles. "We're doing trust exercises."

"So, uhh… what's with the whole… this?" Husk asked, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to the makeshift stage as he did so. "I'm not about to put on some show for these chumps."

"Oh I will." Angel assured in a flirtatious voice as he intentionally swung his legs into Husk's lap, earning him a scathing look from the cat demon in response.

Vanessa simply rolled her eyes at Angel's antics. She knew why he was like that, and it hurt to know how much pain he was in.

Didn't make it any less annoying.

"But it's cash up front. And I know that one can't afford me." Angel's tone switched to a more genuinely teasing one as he pointed a finger at Pentious, causing the snake to recoil in disgust.

"Gross! I'd never think of it, spider!"

"What's do you mean by that?" Leo's voice suddenly piped up from his spot on the other sofa, next to Vanessa, as he looked at Angel with a curious gaze.

Everyone simply stared at the child for a moment, and it was no wonder that Angel looked absolutely mortified. Vanessa could almost imagine the daggers John would have in his eyes if he'd been here to see that stunt.

Luckily for the spider, Angel was present.

"Don't worry about him, he's just an idiot." Vanessa waved it off, resting an arm on Leo's shoulders with a smile and ignoring the literal squawk of indignation she heard from Angel at the remark. "He does and says things like that all the time."

"I don't know whether to thank you or flip you off." Angel replied with a slight chuckle and an amused shake of his head, causing Vanessa to turn to him with a deadpan look.

"At least John wasn't here."

"She's got you there." Husk commented with an amused chuckle of his own.

"Right." Vaggie spoke up, bringing everyone's attention back to her and Charlie as she turned to the Princess. "Let's get started. Charlie?"

"Actually, I thought maybe you should take the lead on this one." Charlie spoke up, clearly catching the moth off-guard with that proposition as she turned to face her. "I trust everyone, so maybe you know better about how to build it properly?"

Vanessa wasn't sure she agreed with that logic, and clearly, neither did Vaggie herself. Nonetheless, the succubus joined the other Hotel guests as they moved from their original spots and joined Charlie in a semi-line in front of Vaggie.

"What?" Vaggie sounded genuinely baffled at the idea, her gaze turning away as she shook her head. "Uh, I don't know if I'm qualified, uh-"

"Oh come on, it'll be easy!" Charlie assured her clearly nervous girlfriend with a smile. "I'm sure you can handle this."

Vanessa would've liked to have had that same confidence. But admittedly that was rather difficult considering how uncomfortable Vaggie looked right now.

"Yeah…" Vaggie spoke slowly, still sounding unsure and more like she was trying reassure herself than anyone else. "Um, sure. I can handle this. No problem." She stared at the Hotel guests for a few moments, before taking in a deep breath.

And then her entire demeanor changed. It was like Vaggie had suddenly gone from the typical Hotel guardian and manager to a literal drill sergeant.

"Alright!" The loud volume of her voice shocked everyone into place, all of them watching as the moth began to methodically pace back and for in front of them. "So we are starting with trust falls!" She stopped in front of Husk and got in his face like an actual drill sergeant, causing the cat's eyes to go wide in alarm as Vaggie glared at him. "Each of you is going to share something vulnerable with the group about yourself and fall backwards while the rest fo the group catches you!" She turned away from Husk and continued her pacing, finally stopping in front of Charlie as she finished. "Got it? Who wants to go first?"

…

Um… what?

Vanessa would have to… share something vulnerable? And then fall? Into other people's hands?

She still remained surprised that she was so comfortable at John's touch, and she'd had time to get used to Angel's. But everyone else's… not so much.

As even Charlie had learned, unexpected contact tended to frighten her, and Vanessa was positive that having so many hands on her at once would not be good for her state of mind.

Despite it being her idea, Charlie was the first volunteer to go first, and Vanessa was thankful for that. Despite her misgivings about the idea, mainly when it would be her turn to fall, she still had no issue participating as she stepped up next to the moth.

To both their surprise, Leo stepped up right next to her with a broad grin on his face.

"You know you don't have to do this stuff, right killer?" Vaggie asked, sharing a confused glance with both Charlie and Vanessa as all three of them looked down at the child in confusion.

"I know." Leo nodded, before grinning as he turned his gaze up to Charlie. "But that doesn't mean I can't, right?"

Vanessa turned towards Vaggie as the moth shared a contemplative look with the Princess, before shrugging her shoulders.

"Alright." She agreed as she turned back to the kid with a smile. "But no catching anyone. I don't need to explain to your dad why you got crushed under seven different people."

"Aw." Leo sounded genuinely disappointed at that condition, but nonetheless, he nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, Vaggie."

"Now then," Vaggie turned back to Charlie with a supportive smile and gestured for the Princess to begin. "Charlie."

"I love you guys!" Charlie sounded genuinely emotional as she said it, and she was actually growing teary eyed as she spoke. Vanessa found herself surprised by how honest Charlie sounded as she said it. "Like really, really love you guys."

And then she quite literally spun on her heel.

Vanessa was glad to know she wasn't the only one caught off guard by the action, as both herself and Vaggie scrambled forward as the Princess began to let herself fall.

Once Charlie's weight was in her arms, Vanessa found herself gasping in surprise… and admittedly saying something she probably shouldn't have.

"Why are you so heavy?!" Vanessa asked as she and Vaggie, mainly Vaggie, helped Charlie so that she was on her feet. Her question went ignored, luckily in the succubus' opinion, as Charlie let a sigh of relief escape her.

"That. Felt. Good!" The Princess declared with a broad grin, smiling as she flipped her head towards Angel. "Angel, why don't you go next?"

"Fine…" Angel sounded like he absolutely wanted to be somewhere else. But nonetheless, he trudged his way towards the platform and up the steps, and Vanessa admittedly found herself thankful that it wasn't quite her turn.

"Good job, Vanessa." Vaggie assured the succcubus as Charlie too offered a proud smile. Vanessa couldn't help but to feel a little bashful under the praise.

"It is a part of the exercise." Vanessa pointed out as she brushed some hair behind her ear.

"But you were also the only one who actually tried." Vaggie replied with a proud grin, before it faded quickly in place of an irritated grimace as she turned to face the rest of the Hotel guests. "Speaking of, everyone needs to catch Angel this time, unless you want me to hurt you." She didn't sound too serious about the threat, but considering the fact that she brandished her spear… Vanessa wasn't entirely sure.

Nonetheless, with looks of annoyance and disinterest, everyone stepped closer to participate at the moth's instructions, though they all looked less than eager. Angel stepped up on the stage, and considering this was Angel… well, Vanessa wasn't shocked in the slightest by what followed.

"Something about myself, huh?" Angel tried to look like he was thinking about it, before a joking grin came onto his face. "How about this? I love to suck-"

"I swear to fuck if say dicks!" Husk was clearly at his limit with Angel's antics. And considering the cat was Angel's favorite… Vanessa honestly didn't know whether to call him a target or a victim, but she supposed the difference didn't matter. Either way, she definitely understood the older sinner's frustration all too well.

"Popsicles, ya sicko!" Angel actually let a laugh escape him at his own trick, shooting Husk an irritatingly amused grin. "Get your mind outta the gutter." Following that, Angel quite literally jumped in the air, and despite his frustration, Husk didn't hesitate to catch the spider.

Considering it was obvious from a mile away that Angel would likely jump into someone's arms instead of merely falling, Vanessa also wasn't surprised in slightest.

"But you know, dicks too."

Yeah, Vanessa didn't blame Husk for casually dropping Angel to the ground at that one.

Angel took a moment to soothe the ache in his bottom, before looking at Pentious with an amused smirk. "Alright, new guy. You're up."

Two minutes later, one overly dramatic confession about his Egg Boiz (Seriously, what was the deal?!) Vanessa helped Charlie and Vaggie catch the snake as well.

Only to immediately have to force herself not to recoil.

"EW!" Vanessa had no shame in shouting, her face twisting in discomfort and disgust as she held the snake in the air. "Why are you slimy?!"

"I don't control it!" Pentious retorted in indignation as he immediately slithered out of their grasps, turning to face them with an… almost hurt look. "I'm a snake! It shouldn't be that surprising!"

"It's still icky!" Vanessa retorted immediately, scrambling to find something to wipe the slime off with… and immediately opting for Angel's shirt.

"Hey, what the fuck?!" Angel exclaimed, jumping back far too late in response as Vanessa turned and pressed both her hands down on her shirt, jerking them down the fabirc in the hopes to clean her hands. "Ness, not cool!"

"You didn't help, so you get to suffer!" Vanessa shot back without a moments hesitation, still waving her hands in order to try and possibly dry the little bit of slime remaining on her hands.

"Alright, who wants to go next?" Vaggie asked once she'd finished cleaning her own hands on her shirt.

"Me!"

The person who volunteered… was Leo.

"Alright, get on up there, killer." Vaggie agreed with a smile on her face as she gestured towards the stage. With a beaming smile, Leo did as instructed, rushing towards the platform and quite literally hauling himself up the side with ease.

Yeah, that's definitely John's kid.

"So… what exactly do I share?" Leo asked as he turned back towards everyone, looking at Vaggie for guidance.

"Something vulnerable." Vaggie answered, offering a reassuring smile to the boy. "Something you don't usually share with people, but something you're willing to."

"Oh… okay…" Leo didn't look as excited now that he knew what the actual goal of the exercise was. Something both Charlie and Vaggie took note of.

"You don't have too, Leo." Charlie assured, stepping forward with a gentle smile as she looked at the now nervous boy. "You're not a guest, you don't have to do these exercises."

"I know." Leo nodded his head, offering a thankful smile to Charlie as he stood up on the stage. However, when he didn't move after a few moments, it was quite clear that he was still intent on participating.

Vanessa found herself concerned by the child's switch in demeanor. For the time he'd been at the Hotel, Leo had never failed to be an excitable ball of energy, so seeing him as he was now… it was more than a little jarring.

"Leo?" Vanessa couldn't help the concern in her voice as she stepped forward, worried for the boy's well being.

"I know my parents wish I didn't grow so fast." Leo suddenly spoke, catching them all off guard by how… well, blunt, that he was. "I know I wasn't planned, and I know that they wish I could be a regular kid. But they still try their best… and even with my age, I'm thankful that I have good parents."

Vanessa couldn't have stopped the shell shocked look on her face if she'd tried. That was… surprisingly profound. Leo's development cycle had never been entirely certain for anyone, but it was clear that though bound by childish tendencies of a typical five year old… Leo was much smarter than most of them knew.

"I know I'm not normal. Not like other kids in Hell." Leo continued, keeping his gaze to the ground. His voice was soft, and he looked more vulnerable than anyone Vanessa had ever seen. "But… My parents don't care."

"Kid, do we look normal to you?" Husk suddenly piped up, stepping forward with a grin on his face. "You got horns, blue hair, and gray skin. I'm a talking cat, Angel's a spider, Pentious is a snake, and Charlie's part angel." He pointed out with an amused expression on his face, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know what kind of standards you're used to growing up in Hell, but you're about the most normal thing I've seen in a long time."

"But… I'm different."

"I don't know if you've noticed, Leo, but do any of us look the same?" Angel asked with a reassuring grin of his own, a slight chuckle escaping him at the boy's words. "Come on, turn around and fall already. You're talking about how you ain't normal… but no one in this place has any room to talk."

Leo let a small smile come onto his face at that, a grateful expression accompanying it as he met their gazes. "You mean that?"

"You think your dad would tell you different?" Vaggie asked with a reassuring smile of her own. "Because I'm positive that if he'd have heard that, he'd be right here telling you that there isn't anything wrong with you, and I know he wouldn't change anything if he could."

"You're his son." Vanessa pointed out with a smile, catching the sinnerborn's attention. "You may as well be his whole world."

Leo held Vanessa's gaze for a moment, and the succubus offered a thumbs up for encouragement just further any reassurance he may have needed.

After a few moments, Leo let a sigh escape him, and nodded his head.

And just like that, the excitable boy was back.

"Wee!" Leo shouted with glee as he quite literally jumped into the air. If anyone needed any other clues as to who his dad was, it would be very apparent considering Leo quite literally cleared at least ten feet with a single jump.

Safe to say… not a single person did anything but scramble in a near blind panic to catch the boy. Even Niffty's small form was zipping around in a frantic frenzy, trying to make sure the boy wasn't going to impact the ground.

"Got him!"

"Gotcha!"

"Holy shit!"

"You're supposed to fall, not jump!"

Several sets of hands shot into the air as their owners pretty much piled on top of each other, followed by just as many shouts and groans of strain as the boy's surprisingly hefty weight crashed down.

"A kid shouldn't weigh this much!" Husk shouted in a hoarse breath as he helped keep the boy in the air. Leo, for his part, was either intentionally mischievous or completely oblivious as he sat atop the makeshift bed of hands, excited giggles of glee escaping him every second.

"Again!"

"No, not again!" Vaggie immediately shut down the idea of a repeat as everyone tenderly removed their hands. The moth looked visibly straining from the awkward way she was holding the boy, and once no more hands were holding him, only then did she pull him down, setting him down on his feet. "Jesus, you really are John's son."

"That was fun!" Leo said, bouncing in place as he turned to Vaggie with an eager grin. "Are you sure I can't go again?"

"No." Vaggie reinforced her words with a shake of her head. "I'm glad you found it fun, but no one here wants to be the one to tell John that the floor is broken because you face planted."

"Speaking of which, why are you so heavy?!" Pentious asked the child in wide-eyed disbelief, only earning him another giggle in response.

"I don't know." Leo answered, and though his words were genuine, it was clear that he was amused by the looks of exhaustion. "Vaggie didn't seem to think I'm heavy."

"No, you are." It was clear the moth took great pleasure in teasing the boy, an amused grin on her face at the way he balked. "I'm just a lot stronger than I look."

"Aw…" Leo actually pouted at the way his fun was ruined, crossing his arms and puffing out his bottom lip. "Party pooper."

"Be glad we let you do it. What would your dad say?"

Leo actually looked up in thought, before shrugging his shoulders and nodding his head in agreement.

"Fair. He'd probably ground me. Mom too."

"I wonder why." Even Niffty looked weary, wondering if the child who was admittedly twice her size would try the same stunt.

"Anyway, your turn, Vanessa." Vaggie aid, turning to face the succubus with a grin still on her face.

Vanessa nodded her head. She tried to let nothing show outwardly as she made her way towards the steps of the makeshift stage, but within…

…she was terrified.

She wasn't even sure what she should reveal, and it was hard to think about that when she was too scared of the fact that several different people were about to have their hands on her.

She flinched when someone casually touched her. She wasn't anywhere near ready to imagine what would happen when she felt at least three different pairs of hands upon her.

"I can do this." She tried to assure herself, whispering under her breath and trying to keep her discomfort from showing.

She made her way up the stairs without much hesitation-

Things being knocked off the nightstand.

Vanessa's eyes shot wide as that flashed through her mind. No… not now.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts, and made her way to the front of the stage.

Seven sets of eyes all stared at her, waiting for her confession, each of them looking either curious or, in Angel's case, concerned.

Her gaze fell to Vaggie and Charlie, and the moth offered a reassuring smile while the Princess gave her an eager thumbs up.

Vanessa managed a smile, and took in a deep breath.

Now, what to share?

Something vulnerable. Something she wouldn't normally tell anyone else. Something that… she was willing too.

The words left her mouth before she could even think about the implications behind them.

"Val doesn't let me wear clothes at the studio."

Silence was all that followed that declaration. Every face she was currently looking at held some for of complete shock as they stared at her with wide-eyed gazes.

It was only a second later that Vanessa realized what she'd admitted, and she suddenly felt extremely self conscious under everyone's eyes.

Why that?! Why was that the first thing she shared?! Now what would happen, especially if someone went to the studio because of it?

… what would happen if John found out?

Even knowing that he'd be fine either way, Vanessa couldn't help the swell of nervousness that filled her.

She wasn't ready yet. She shouldn't have said that. Now what would-

"Vanessa?" Vaggie's voice broke through a haze that Vanessa hadn't even realized had developed, and it was only then she became aware of the rapid heaving of her chest, the constant air expulsion from her lips.

She was hyperventilating.

"Kid, it's okay, you're safe here." Husk assured, his expression taking on a rare look of concern as he stepped forward. Leo looked so confused and worried, glancing around at everyone in an almost frantic manner as his sister-figure seemed to be going into a panic attack.

Husk's words should've been reassuring. After all, what he said was true.

And yet…

"Kid?"

Vanessa felt like she was falling. Why was everything so hazy?

"Vanessa!"

She felt weightless for a moment…

And then she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders.

A pair of hands, pressed against her back.

"Vanessa!"

"No, no, no!"

Another pair joined the first.

The sound of tearing fabric.

"Let go!"

"Kid-"

A pair of hands touched her back.

A weight on her thighs.

"Stop, please, no!"

"Ness-"

The grip on her shoulders tightened ever so slightly.

A harsh pressure against her back.

The bed sheets under her belly.

Her hands twisted into the fabric.

A hand over her mouth.

A weight upon her back.

A blunt pressure between her legs.

Skin slapping skin.

Muffled cries.

Pain in her legs and stomach.

An invasive presence.

A cruel voice in her ear.

"Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop-!"

"VANESSA!"

The voice that shocked her from her stupor was so loud, so powerful, so… So young…

And suddenly… it was like her senses returned with a vengeance.

She sat on the ground, breathing quickly and heavily, panic in her very core as her gaze spun around to both find the source of the voice and take in her surroundings.

The familiar wall of the Hotel lobby greeted her, followed closely by the realization that everyone had gathered around her. A firm pair of hands were wrapped around her, gentle in pressure and yet unmoving in her admitted struggles. It took far too long for her to realize that it was Vaggie currently holding her from behind, as well as the feeling of the moth's chin on her shoulder.

"Ness?" Vaggie questioned, a rare tone of genuine worry in her voice as she spoke, shocking the succubus at the sudden noise. "You gonna be okay if I let go?"

"Please let go…" Vanessa couldn't help the quiver in her voice as she made the request. Vaggie was silent for a few moments, and based on the way Charlie looked at the moth before nodding her head, she sought the princess' guidance.

But she did as asked, untangling her hands from each other and letting her arms unwrap from Vanessa before standing to her feet.

She brought her teary-eyed gaze up, looking to see who all was present… and found herself surprised when she didn't spot the one person she needed.

"Where's John?"

It didn't escape her attention the way everyone looked at each other in shock and alarm, and to her surprise… it was Leo that answered.

"Dad's with Alastor." Leo's voice was so small and scared that it just didn't sound right. "Remember? They went to the Overlord meeting."

That was… right.

Alastor offered John to go to the Overlord meeting. And he'd accepted for his own reasons, while requesting that Vanessa keep an eye on Leo.

A task that… that she'd just failed spectacularly at.

Angel moved past the child, crouching down next to Vanessa and raising a tentative hand. Vanessa felt a small bit of guilt build when she almost violently flinched from his touch, but she was more focused on the downright unreasonable sense of panic she felt at that moment.

"Ness, it's me, alright?" Angel's voice was unusually soft as he once again let his hand come to rest on Vanessa's shoulder, causing the succubus' gaze to spin towards him. "John will be back. You're not at the studio, you're not being attacked. You're okay." He assured as he wrapped his other three arms around the succubus, pulling her close and into a hug as one hand softly stroked her head.

Vanessa felt a sense of comfort that she didn't want to lose, and her hands clamped down on Angel the moment her instincts processed that it was him and no one else. Her face tucked itself into his chest fluff, and she didn't care how wrong it looked to the outside viewer, it was a source of reassurance that the succubus desperately needed right now.

"I-I thought I w-was-"

"You don't have to explain, kiddo." Angel assured softly, his voice notably deeper compared to what it usually was as his surprisingly strong yet delicate fingers ran through her hair. "I understand. But you're safe, okay?"

Vanessa could only manage a whimpering nod, gritting her teeth as she struggled to hold in her tears.

She was safe, nothing was wrong, there was no reason for her to cry… she was going to cry, she couldn't hold it back- dammit-!

A choked sob escaped the succubus as she pressed herself further into Angel, and the spider let her without so much as a word of discomfort. His hand was surprisingly soothing against her head, and she took great comfort in his mere presence at the moment.

"Why don't you take her to her bedroom, or yours?" Vanessa heard Charlie suggest. The only indication she got as to a response from anybody was a moment of silence, before one of Angel's hands left her for a moment and hooked itself under knees.

Despite the slight shock she felt when she was suddenly lifted into the air, Vanessa couldn't do anything but sob into Angel's chest, both soaking his shirt and matting down his chest fur with tears.

She wanted to be anywhere but in the lobby right now. She felt a mix of many things, but chief among them was shame.

Because she couldn't keep herself together, she'd effectively ruined Charlie's session, and this was also the very last thing Leo needed to see after the issues he himself had just admitted to.

She very possibly traumatized an innocent boy, and destroyed the work Charlie and Vaggie had managed to do with nothing more than the action of stepping onto a stage.

She could feel a slight bounce with every time Angel took a step… but she couldn't process anything over her own anguish.

Why was she so weak?