Hazbin Hotel: Hellish Misfits
Chapter 12: Harvest Moon Festival; Missin' Him Pt.1
3- 4 Week Later
Hazbin Hotel
It had been three to four weeks since James left the hotel. That long since the events at the rave party in the Human Realm since James had gone through what he had done and deciding to leave. Leaving without so much as a goodbye to the others, but to Lydia, Vaggie, and Charlie. And each one trying to deal with their own ways of it. Including the other occupants who didn't speak about it, or much less avoided the subject altogether.
Lydia had slowly gotten up, as her alarm went off. She did her morning routine as since going to the hotel. She cleaned up by taking a shower, albeit resisting the urge of her cat instincts to lick herself while bathing. Dried off as she turned into a puffball of fur, to which she brushed to calm the fur down. Got dressed in her usual attire, which was clean, and walked down for breakfast.
Vaggie got up and tried to do that, but she had a dark, glowering expression on her face.
Her mood was far more sour and self-loathing at this point, as she got cleaned and dressed. Though when she looked at the mirror, she just got angry and turned off the lights, not wanting to see herself.
Charlie however remained in bed.
Even with Razzle and Dazzle present there to try and wake her up, even KeeKee curled up next to her to make her happy, Charlie wasn't getting up. Apparently, she had been in bed for 4 weeks straight. She was super depressed that she couldn't convince James to stay at all. Her pillowcases were stained with tears at this, as she continued to cry herself to sleep at times. Nobody dared to come in, not even Alastor who probably knew better than to barge in. Vaggie tried a few times but couldn't get her out. Though Charlie didn't expect who would try to help her out this time.
The door to her room was knocked upon, as Lydia's voice spoke up, "Charlie?"
Charlie remained silent.
She couldn't even hear Lydia, not after how she failed to keep James with her... it was the break-up and her family's separation all at once.
Though it wouldn't stop Lydia, as Charlie heard the lock being picked, as Razzle and Dazzle flew over to try and stop the door, but Lydia opened it anyway. She gently shushed the two familiars, as she silently assured them both she'd try and get her out of bed. Lydia gently walked in, and made it to Charlie's bed, and sat down. She then looked to Charlie's backside, as she let her tail gently swat the covers, gently, as she answered, "Hey."
"Please leave me alone Lydia..." Charlie weakly pleaded...
"I know Vaggie's been keeping her distance from you, but..." she started and looked to her, asking, "Charlie... how do you feel about James?"
Charlie remained silent, not sure how to answer without crushing Lydia...
"I'm okay with the answer. I just..." Lydia assured her and poured out, "Look, it's been three days and you've been in bed nonstop. I just..." she took a deep breath, as she admitted, "I'm worried for you, okay, Charlie? And besides, I don't care if you're a Hellborn. Bedsores hurt like hell."
Charlie chuckled weakly, at that before she laid there for some more minutes and answered, "I could've stopped him... but I didn't..."
"I know," Lydia said, as she scooted over to her, gently reaching for her shoulder to rub it, "James has... he's not easy to try and sway when he's sometimes like this." She sighed, as she answered, "James has a fear of never feeling accepted. Or losing people he cares about. I think that might have been the big reason why he's like this right now."
"Why didn't he talk to me - To Anyone, about it?!" Charlie asked, or shouted, tears in her eyes!
Lydia sighed, as she answered, "He can be... pretty stubborn. He's not one to show weakness to those he cares about." She sadly smiled, as she answered, "Not to me, either. Or you."
"Then why... Why can't he just..." Charlie asked before looking at her and almost sounded demanding, "Why didn't you try and help him out of it?!"
"I try. But the more I try, the more he pushes back," Lydia replied, sadly, as she looked down. "It was the same when his dad disappeared when he was thirteen. He wouldn't show it, but he was so full of anxiety and doubt." She looked to Charlie and said, "He thought his dad hated him, and that kinda started his fear of never being loved or accepted." but then Lydia sighed, "Though I think... this is different."
"Yeah, I'm sure..." Charlie muttered turning away from Lyda.
Lydia looked over her shoulder, at Charlie's back, and then looked away, asking, "Charlie? Do you... love James?"
Charlie looked at her, but then looked away, "I... I don't think I should answer..."
"Because I'm in love with him, Charlie Morningstar," Lydia said, sounding a bit more serious.
Charlie became surprised, so much so she turned to face Lydia, "I know. I knew when you said that after you got drunk..."
"Well, if you're in love with him, then that makes us friend rivals," Lydia said, as she pounced on Charlie, looking at her, "And I refuse to allow my rival to suddenly spend her days in bed, getting bedsores and give up so easily." She then sat in her lap, as he asked, seriously, "Didn't anyone ever tell you that Love is a battlefield? They even wrote a song about it in the Human Realm."
"That's easy to say for you, you've known him since you were both kids. I only met him months ago..." Charlie said looking away sadly.
"And oddly enough, you have gotten way farther than I ever did," Lydia confessed. "You popped up with your gorgeous blonde hair, cute hooved toes, and your hot bod. And to top it all off, you're a princess." She fell to where Charlie was looking, curled up to her, and asked, "How can I compete with you?"
Charlie looked away and said, "You're a regular girl... Someone who has more freedom than I do... and when people see you, they don't think of you as a copy of my parents or an easy access to the throne... They see you as you are... a girl who can make her choices..."
Lydia wrapped her arms around Charlie, as she rested her face in her back, as she muffled, "Believe it or not, James just sees you as Charlie."
Charlie began to tear up as she admitted, "I guess that's why I fell in love with him... because he first saw me as Charlie and not someone who wants to be on good with my father or get the throne, and he's the first one outside of Vaggie who wanted to help me with my dream of redeeming sinners."
Lydia sat up and gently combed her hair with her claws, as she smiled, "Believe me, Charlie, if I were James, I'd fall for someone as amazing as you are too."
"Then why did he leave?" Charlie asked, still heartbroken...
Lydia then sighed, as she began, "Well..."
"Charlie," Vaggie called out, and opened the door, "There's..." but then blinked, as she frowned at Lydia combing Charlie's hair. She got a little annoyed at this, as she asked, "I'm sorry, but what is going on?"
Charlie sat up and said, "It's okay, Vaggie, Lydia's just trying to help me feel better."
"Okay then," Vaggie arched an eyebrow, "I know you're still reeling on the whole situation, but we still have another situation. Redemption and Proving the Hotel."
Lydia narrowed her eyes in a glare, "I should've known you wouldn't care about James. Ever since he got here you've been trying to either get rid of him or hoping he died."
"He's a big boy, he can handle himself," Vaggie said. "Besides, it's getting restless downstairs."
Lydia blinked, as did Charlie, as she asked, "What's going on?"
Downstairs
"Oh, you are full of it, Pentious," Clint shot at the steampunk Cobra-Man.
"I am not," Pentious hissed out, "The fact of the matter isss you're what we called in my day isssss Balhmy!"
Charlie, now fully dressed and cleaned up, along with Vaggie and Lydia, were making their way to the stairs, as they saw both sides led by either combatant, in some violent debate. Even Niffty seemed eager to draw first blood. On Pentious's side was Dan and Niffty, while Clint had Bruce and the Professor. The only ones not in the argument were Husk who was blinking and cleaning drinks, and Alastor was at the bar sipping tea. The Egg Boiz were making a card tower. Though Angel was absent as he was just lying on the couch, reading a Porno Gossip Magazine, getting the details on the situation.
"Youse guys are completely out of it," Dan pointed out. "Our side wins. End of story."
"Please, the statistics of it wouldn't add up to any of it," the Professor implied.
"What the fuck is going on here," Charlie asked, whispering her question to Vaggie, though she added, "Pardon my language."
"I have no idea. This is dumb, even without James in it," Vaggie admitted. But then walked up, "Yo, idiots! What the hell is this?"
They all stopped what they were doing, but Pentious spoke up, "Oh well.. ummm... we've been debating on this subject for over an hour, and we have yet to come to an agreement."
Dan nodded, "Yeah, usually James would pop up and try and figure it out for us."
Charlie rubbed her arm uncomfortable as she asked, "Maybe you guys can explain what the debate is about? Maybe we can help."
Husk sighed, "Oh, here we go..."
Angel chuckled, "Dis'll be fun..."
Pentious then cleared his throat, "Well, it'sss probably not ssssomething we wanted to trouble you ladiessss on ssss bady, ssssooo..."
"We're trying to figure out who would win in a fight to the death," Clint answered, "Astronauts vs Cavemen."
The faces of the three ladies became one that reads "Are you serious" as Vaggie asked, "THAT'S What you guys were gonna kill each other for?"
Lydia softly facepalms herself muttering "We're surrounded by idiots."
"Well, not like you ladies, you're our pals." Dan said, smiling up at them.
Vaggie, not really impressed responded dryly, "Charmed..."
Though Charlie thought on it, as she asked, "Do the Astronauts have weapons?"
Pentious and Clint went wide eye on that, as they realized that. They sighed, and began smacking their foreheads in synch, realizing that was a factor.
Vaggie face smacked herself for letting Charlie getting involved.
Angel then pointed out, "Dis is stupid. We've all been doin' whatever while redhead's gone missing. Possibly to another ring."
Alastor blinked as he said, "Oh my, I certainly hope not, especially how his majesty's been making sure no one used either the old pathways or the elevator. Especially with the punishment and all."
Clint thought on it, as he said, "I think he can bypass that with that scythe he's got. Besides he looks more imp than any of us sinners ever have. So nobody would question if he's a Sinner Demon or an Imp."
Vaggie then blinked, as she asked, "Wait, you knew?" She looked to Clint, glaring angrily, as she asked, "You knew he could open portals with it?"
"Well, not after the first accident," Clint answered, shrugging.
He heard a schnitk of blades and saw Lydia behind him with her claws out, dangerously close to his jugular and asked in a deadly, cold, voice, "You knew all this time and you didn't tell us? You better tell us HOW you know right now or you're my scratching post and DD's Chew toy..."
"But bear in mind nobody will hurt you," Charlie said, pulling the two back, as she calmly said, "We just wanna know the details."
"Well… it started after we started working as interns for IMP," Clint gulped.
Two Weeks Ago…
Clint and James were alone in the back. They were inspecting the freezer door during to the lock being updated without being tested.
James walked right in as he said to Clint. "Okay, I'll check the inside to see if it locks. I'll give the okay for you to open it after I give the okay."
He then closed the door as he jiggled it, "Seems to work okay ."
"That's good to know," Clint said… right behind James who jumped in shock.
"Clint! You were supposed to be outside," James shot out panicking.
"Wait what?" Clint asked confused.,
"Yeah," James nodded, "How did you forget?"
"And that's when he used the scythe, right," Vaggie asked.
Clint shook his head, "No, it took a while to get there."
Both were pacing back and forth rubbing their arms for warmth.
James, looked at him, "Wh are you cold? Are you a Ice-cat or something?!"
"I still feel cold, okay," Clint shot at him, "it's weird."
"Then use your powers to obsorb the cold or something!"
"I'm not Iceman," Clint grumbled. "I dunno, let's try not thinking about the Cold. Maybe think about something else. Like eh... Star Wars."
"Ice Planet Hoth," James retorted.
"MAYBE SOMEWHERE HOTTER LIKE TATTOINNE," Clint shot out annoyed.
"Nah, Tattoine was a desert planet. Not hot enough," James said, but then lit up, "Oh! Maybe Mustafar!"
"That's overkill a bit," Clint sighed.
James sighed, as he looked around, "Maybe we could talk about something else."
Clint thought on it, and devilishly smirked, "Okay. So, which one do you like? Lydia, Vaggie, or Charlie?"
James blushed bright, heat radiating off of him, as he blushed, as he quickly turned around, and asked hysterically, "WHAT?!"
All three girls blushed, as they asked together, "WHAT?!"
Clint nodded, "Yeah, that's how he reacted."
"Did he act like he wanted to kill you?" Vaggie asked, cracking her knuckles threatening at him.
"No, he was downright embarrassed," Clint replied, as he didn't care for Vaggie losing it. But then smirked, "But he forgot about the cold long enough for us to have company."
Husk arched an eyebrow, as he said, "I'm afraid to know who else got stuck with you."
Suddenly, to their surprise, Dan and Bruce lept in, as Dan announced, "Snootch to the Motherfuckin' Nootch."
Both Clint and James blinked at this, as the latter asked, "Dan? Bruce?"
"Dat's our names. Don't wear 'em out," Dan joked, as he went further, "Unless ya wanna pay for another one."
Clint shook his head as he asked, "But how'd you guys get in here?"
Dan shrugged, as he pointed to the slow-moving door, "The metal thing with the knob."
"THE DOOR," both boys shouted, as they raced to it, only for it to close again, as James groaned, "Not again."
Bruce arched an eyebrow, as Dan asked, "Wait, we're stuck in here?"
"Until someone comes to get us out," Clint sighed.
Bruce looked to Dan as he made gestures, to which Dan nodded, "Yeah, that might be a while, since the Princess has got everyone doin' that community service gig."
James paled, "It's gonna take all day, isn't it?" Bruce nodded, to which James slouched to the ground, "This stinks."
Clint slouched down with him, as he groaned, "It's gonna get worse."
"How," James asked.
"They're gonna use up all the air in here," Clint replied, pointing to the new additions.
"No, they're not," James argued.
But then the two heard heavy breathing as they looked to where it came from. And there sure enough, Bruce and Dan were breathing heavily. Though it wasn't to slurp up more air; apparently, they wanted to see their breath in the cold. James and Clint looked to each other, knowing full well it was gonna be a while.
"Dude, there was more air in there than youse guys thought," Dan argued.
Vaggie groaned, as she pulled at her face, "Look, this is all well-informed, and glad you are enjoying the flashback, but this still..."
"When exactly does James use the scythe," Charlie interrupted.
"We're getting there," Clint replied. "It was later an hour, and we were still in there... until..."
1 Hour Later...
Niffty was buzzing around the kitchen, dusting like a sprite on caffine, zipping around on ceiling and shelfs. Even going into a hot stove and coming out unscathed, as she pulled out finished cookies. She zipped and zoomed, until she stopped at the freezer, while walking over to the window display for chill ingredients and meat display. She took out a bottle of Helldex and sprayed it on, and rubbed it lickity split... and saw the frozen bodies of James and Dan, frozen in terror clawing at the glass.
Though instead of gasping in fear of losing friends, she freaked out as she barely recognized them, "GAAAAAAAAAAAAH! FREEZER MONSTERS!" And bolted out of there like a nut.
Though as she did, she didn't notice Clint and Bruce popping up behind them. Bruce had finished the details of his ice sculpture of Dan, as Clint was finalizing the details on James's statue, as he smirked, "You're right, Bruce. It is amazing what you can do with Ice."
Dan and James though were watching and rubbing their arms for warmth, as Dan shivered, "Man, this is colder than Hoth."
Though James groaned, "We've already made that Star Wars Reference, Dan."
"I know, but, if I had a lightsaber," he said as he slithered in the middle, making sword movements, "I'd go Voom Voom, snip snip snip. Whoooa, Jedi..." And turned to James and Clint, as he half-smirked, "Slice open Tubby here.." gesturing to Bruce, "... we can crawl inside him and stay warm for the night."
Bruce's eye went wide with shock, as he looked down at hsi body, in worry that Dan would do that.
James sighed, as he slouched on the floor, while Dan looked to Clint, and asked, "So how'd youse get in here?"
Clint chippered up, as he confidently said, "I remember like it just happened..."
Flashback
Though it didn't go accordingly to how it was, as Clint was dressed like a nobel peace scientist, as he confidently put some of the stuff away, as he said, "I'm going to finish restocking the shelves and sallyforth to retrieve my nobel peace prize." He then turned to James, who had googily eyes, a dumb grin, and swinging a cat crying out in a circle, while wearing a dunce cap on his head, as Clint politely scolded him, "Now Dante, don't let that door close..."
And then James hit the cat on the door closing it. And the cat ran out of there screaming, while James answered with his eyes rolling, "I'm the biggest idiot ever."
The girls frowned at him, as Lydia said, "Clint!"
And Vaggie pulled her spear out, "Do you want us to hurt you?"
"Don't worry. James corrected me," Clint softly smiled, "I was just adding humor at that time."
James though frowned at this, as he wasn't laughing, "Clint! That's not what happened at all!"
Though Bruce and Dan, who were sitting in, looked at him, with Dan not believing this, as he said to him, "Dude, you're a tool."
James gave him an 'are you kidding me?' look, as he stated, pointing at Clint, "He doesn't even have a peace prize!"
Dan scoffed, "Yeah, right." But then got serious, as he said, "I remember one time, me and Bruce were outside this metal thing with a knob."
Moments Ago
Bruce and Dan were outside the freezer door, as Bruce opened it, and they landed in with a jump, as Dan announced, "Snootch to the Nootch!"
Present Past
Dan nodded at that, as he looked to the guys, "Youse guys remember that?"
James and Clint looked at him annoyed, as the former answered, "Yeah, you did it, moments ago."
"Well, deja-frickin'-vuu," Dan smirked.
Clint then looked at Bruce, as he asked, "Well, how about you?"
Bruce was quiet for a moment, as he arched an eyebrow to them all, and then closed his eyes tightly as he thought of something.
On the hotel's roof, Adam knocked Charlie to the ground, before picking her up by the throat. Charlie's tail and horns receded as she struggled to break his grip on him. At the moment, James was on his knees, with the Scythe stabbed halfway in his heart and clear through his left lung, as he couldn't pull it out due to the result of killing him.
Charlie struggled, as she grunted, Let...me...go!"
Adam chuckled, as his mask glitched for a moment, as he taunted both of them, "This fight was cute n'all, but it's time to die..." and looked down to see the occupants of the hotel being surrounded by Exorcists,"... with the rest of them!"
Vaggie flew to the roof to help Charlie and James, but Lute flew after her and pinned her to the floor.
Vaggie struggled, as she called out to them both, "Charlie! James!"
Suddenly, Clint and James, both okay, waved their arms out and shouted, "NO! No spoilers!/You're way ahead of everyone, Bruce!"
Bruce snapped out of it, as he just shrugged at them all, as Clint sighed, "Well, this is a waste of time. Still not out yet though."
James brought his legs in Indian style, as he sighed, "It's funny, you know. Sitting here, trapped in a freezer..." he looked to Clint, as he was intensely looking at a target, as he asked, "You know what I was just thinking?"
"Which one of them we're going to have to eat," Clint asked, arching an eyebrow, looking at Dan and Bruce... who went wide eye in surprise as they looked to him... while a pile of food was behind the duo.
"Nah, I was thinking if having a relationship in Hell or the Afterlife in general is possible," James answered.
Clint sweatdropped, as he nervously looked around, hoping he wasn't alluding his relationship with Loona. Of which nobody knew about. "What brought that up?"
"Katlynn Bree," James sighed.
"Oh, I knew that chick," Dan smirked, "She was fine hotness. Lost my virginity to her."
"I know, Dan," Clint sweatdropped, as he pointed to Bruce, "You had Bruce hook up spy cameras to tape those sessions." He then huffed, "I also seem to recall she broke your heart, as well as Bruce's and left you both wrecks."
"At least we still have our dignity," Dan smirked, as he waved his phone, "And still have the videos of us havin' sex together."
"Wait, Bree was a player," James asked, suddenly, getting news on this. He then arched an eyebrow, as he asked, "Were there any others she slept with or cheated on?"
"Well, there was that time, she asked us to paint her house," Clint answered.
The trio were setting up to paint up the house. Clint was rounding a corner, but stopped as he was wide eye. He saw a painter standing up, while Katlynn in his arms, and her legs wrapped around his waist, making out.
James sweatdropped, as he said, "Dang."
"That was nothing," Clint shook his head as he shrugged, "Well, there was also that time at her birthday..."
During the party's cake and singing, Clint looked for the girl in question... and found her making out with the painter, half nude and riding him on a couch.
Dan nodded, "Aaaah, I thought it was odd she invited the painter to her birthday party."
"And then there was the time at the Painter's Birthday party," Clint added in.
When cake was being served, Katlynn and the painter were missing, and Clint went to find them again. He went looking for them, until he found them upstairs, in the master bedroom... nude as the painter was doing her doggystyle while she was pressed up against the glass.
Dan then thought about it, as Bruce nodded, "I thought it was weird the painter invited us."
"Anything else you want to add in," James asked, but then Bruce made motions, "Wait, what?"
Some time ago, Dan and Bruce stole or lifted a couch, as they were running from the cops. They made their way to an alleyway, as they were out of sight. They stopped though when they saw a silhouette of Katlynn Bree, nude and making out... with two painters. The duo parked the couch, and sat to watch the show, and smiled at each other as they gave each other a high five.
James blinked, as he asked, "Wait, so she did it with two painters?"
"At the same time," Dan answered.
James sweatdropped, "Yeah, I figured that much."
"It was a three-way," Dan continued.
Clint sweatdropped, "Yeah, Dan. He gets it."
"An all-Painter Three-way, Man!"
James sighed, I don't know how much more insane this gets."
Present
Lydia pulled at her face as Vaggie was getting impatient, though everyone else, including Charlie, were all at a mixture of shocked and confused. Though Charlie was seemingly less depressed, as Lydia groaned, "Is there a point to all this?"
Dan shrugged, "What you mean?"
"You're supposed to tell us HOW James was able to literally tear a fucking portal with the Scythe he has, NOT TO TALKIN ABOUT WHATEVER BS YOU'RE TELLING US RIGHT NOW!" Yaggie screeched out the last part eyes promising death for the stooges for not answering her truthfully.
"Chillax, V. We're getting to that part, just hold on," Dan tried to calm her down.
Though Husk pointed out, "So far we're learning more about you guys than the portal stuff."
Back to the Story
"Well, get ready for more insanity, James, because what happened then to Dan..." Clint chuckled, as Dan paled, "It was a doozy."
"No, man. We swore never to tell anyone about this," Dan pleaded.
"What happened," James asked.
"You know those mail order brides you get from Japan," Clint asked, as he pointed to Dan. "Mr. Ladies' man tried out for it. But he got he wrong form." Dan slapped his forehead, as Clint continued, "So instead of a mail-order bride..."
Dan groaned, knowing there was no going back, "I got a mail-order husband."
James went wide eye, "WHAT!?"
Dan nodded, "Yeah. He was one of those business guys that worked at a factory, had me doin' all the cleanin' and cookin'."
James arched an eyebrow, as he asked, "Then why do you sound so nonchallant? Figured you would have hated it."
Dan smirked, as he remembered those times, "Actually, it wasn't all that bad. Felt kinda nice someone complimentin' my work. Even crazier when they were eatin' sushi off my chest and stomach." All three paled and went wide eyed at that, as Dan looked to them, and asked, "What?"
"Nothing," they all quickly answered, as James cleared his throat, "So what happened?"
"There was another discrepancy in the paperwork, and he had to get shipped back," Clint explained, as he looked to Dan, "Glad that was over, eh?"
"Yeah," Dan nodded, but smiled, as he looked to the heavens at the side, "Farewell, Toshiro. Wherever you are." And oddly enough, the room was darkened with only a spotlight on him, as Japanese music played in the background.
James then looked to Clint, and asked, "So um.. anything else happened during this nutso time?"
Bruce shook his head, as Clint nodded, "Oh yeah. There was that time Bruce and Dan were going into the Priesthood."
James blinked, as he asked, in surprise, "You guys were gonna be priests?!"
Flashback
In a church, a priest was reciting the sacred vows to Dan and Bruce, who were currenlty dressed in priest attire, as they knelt before him, as he said, "Do you take the temporary vows of obedience, honesty, and chastity?"
"We do," both Dan and Bruce said, though Bruce's voice was silenced by Dan's voice.
"Then by the power vested in me by the State of New Jersey," the priest said, as he closed the book, and smiled to them both, "I now pronounce you Husband and Wife."
Suddenly, their proud faces went into shock as to what had truly transpired, "WHAT?!"
"GET TO THE POINT!" someone shouted from behind.
The two were confused, as they blinked, "Huh?"
Present
"GET TO THE POINT!" The three women shouted at the three stoogies, but for different reasons. Charlie was hysterical, Lydia shouted angrily, and Vaggie was close to murdering them.
Clint held his hands up, as he looked to them, "We're reaching it. Calm down, you nutjobs."
Back to Flashback
James shook his head, "Now I've heard everything."
Dan and Bruce sat up, as Dan said, "Yeah, let's get outta here before it turns into a foursome for warmth."
"How's that," James said, as he pointed to the door, "The door's locked."
Bruce then fished into his coat, and produced a crowbar, smirking. He then began to pry the door open much to the relief of the others... until it broke. The four guys blinked at this, as Bruce looked at the bar, and pointed an inscription on it, as Clint took it and read aloud, "Best before Nov 1959." He then looked to Bruce and asked, "What?"
James groaned, "That's it! Sorry, but the door's coming down!" He then pulled out his scythe, as the others backed away, and he brought it down on the door. But instead of it being sliced in half... it created a black and purplish red circular portal. James blinked, as he asked, "What the heck...?"
Bruce walked up to it, as he examined the portal, and then looked to Clint, as he understood, "Bruce thinks it's either a vortex: a gateway into another dimension.. Or a Black Hole." Bruce shook his head, as Clint corrected, "Not a black hole. otherwise, we'd be sucked in and spaghettified."
"Should we throw an orange in it," Dan asked.
"Why," James asked.
"Just makin' sure," Dan looked at it, as he pointed it out, "Looks like somethin' outta that Twilighty Show about that Zone."
The portal didn't die off as it remained in front of them, as James asked finally, "So... should we take our chances in the mystery portal to get out of here?"
The three of them nodded, looking at James and pushed him in without a second thought, as Dan said, "you made it, you enter it."
"Gaaaah," James screamed as he fell through it... and it closed on them, as Clint shouted, "WHAT?!"
Dan blinked and he called, "James, are you dead?!"
Bruce hit him, and pointed to the part where the portal closed, stating the fact that James couldn't hear him. But then suddenly, the freezer door opened, as a much normal and unharmed James stood there, as he arched an eyebrow, as pointed to the scythe, "Apparently, this thing opens portals."
Clint sighed in relief, "Oh good, you didn't die."
James frowned, as he looked at them, "So you guys assumed I would die if I stepped in?"
Dan stood up and said rather proudly, "We considered it to be a possibility."
Present
Lydia grew claws at that while Charlie glared disappointedly at Dan, Vaggie growled her spear in hand.
Clint then shrugged, "He did get hsi revenge in the end."
Flashback
James shot the scythe out, as it slashed at the floor, pulling it back to him, but cutting the floor. Suddenly, a portal opened underneath all three, as they fell right in there. Then when it closed up, a loud crash was heard in the main lobby. James walked in and saw the trio in a heap, as they had fallen from the ceiling of the room right into the ground.
James smirked, "Ain't I a stinker?"
Present
The three girls sighed in relief hearing that.
Clint then shrugged, as he said, "Afterwards, it was all experimentations. He found with practice, he could make a portal in one place, while opening the main one in front. A Point A to Point B type deal. And the rest, he just needed an idea on where to go." He then chuckled at something, though Bruce and Dan got what he was laughing about, and they joined in too. Though this confused the others.
"How do you think Death's able to go around the world to do his duty?" Vaggie asked, brow raised.
"Ah no, we figured that," Clint replied, "I was just realizing in one of the experiments, James made two portals horizontally parallel to each other and slipped in by accident. He was continuously falling for 30 minutes until one of us found out about him, and got him out. He was really exasperated on that one"
"Oh boy.." Charlie said before blinking, "Was that why he looked winded that one day?"
Clint nodded, but then asked, "So... what now? I mean, you guys know about the portal part, but what now?"
"Unfortunately, we can't go since we don't know where he went." Charlie said sadly.
Clint groaned, "Well, that's great."
Ring, Ring
He blinked, as he picked his phone up, and answered, "Hello?" But then blinked, "Wait. James was at work?"
"Yeah and he's been given an offer to go with us to this crappy festival in the Wrath Ring." the person on the other end of the line side.
"Hmmmm," Clint blinked on that, and then asked, "Say, um.. who made this offer?"
"Who do you think..." The tone of the voice he was talking to said, being annoyed.
Clint nodded, "Ah, guess that makes sense. Though is he offering to take the Hotel to this shindig?"
"You're gonna find out if you can have the princess over there call him to find out... I don't care either way..." The person who called him said.
"Mmmhmmm, kay," Clint nodded, but then blinked as he arched an eyebrow, "Wait. Where are you calling at?"
Suddenly, something fell from the ceiling, as they crashed in to Vaggie's arms. It was Blitz, who was purring like a cat, as he innocently looked to them all.
Clint sighed, "Yeah. Of course."
Vaggie dropped him as he said, "Just because we're not trying to kill each other, that doesn't mean you should stalk us..."
"I actually came over because of Jimmy. He called and wanted me to talk to the trio," Blitz said, as he got up and brushed himself nonchalantly.
"Just them?" Lydia asked, hurt hearing that.
"Um, no, I was talking to you three," Blitz said, as he pointed to Lydia, Charlie, and Vaggie. And then looked at everyone else, as he stated, "He insisted it be private."
"I'll only talk to him in person..." Vaggie said, still angry.
"Okay, fine. I forgot about the message entirely," Blitz shrugged, as he walked to the door, as he waved off, "Just don't expect him to be coming back. I heard he's been making a home in Wrath."
Vaggie snarled hearing that, "That coward..."
"Yeah, considering you shooed him out," Blitz taunted, as he opened the door, and peeked back, "Guess Sally's got no competition then. Byeeee!" And was about to close the door... until a shadow claw grabbed him, and pulled him in, as he was now facing three freaking out females.
"WHO THE FUCK IS SALLY!?" They screeched really wanting to kill Blitzo for this.
Later On
Train to Wrath
The Train to Wrath took the occupants of the Hazbin Hotel halfway there. The van of the IMP was also parked in the train's cargo area, while the IMP residents, now dressed in country work getups, along with the Hotel residences... minus Alastor who stayed at the Hotel, were currently sittingint their seats. Though the trio grilled Blitz on who Sally was, there wasn't much intel as he only said that she was Millie's sister, and just as tough as her. He even showed them a photo of Millie's family and pointed to Sally in particular. To say the least, Charlie felt defeated at how beautiful Sally was.
Lydia was fuming as shadows seem to licking off her body as she was mumbling to herself.
Vaggie huffed arms crossed, not caring in the slightest.
Though Angel, who was sitting behind Charlie, looked to Vaggie and Lydia, he said, smirking, "You girls are jealous over someone you haven't met yet. It's adorable."
"Shut up," Vaggie threatened, not at all jealous.
Charlie then sighed, "Angel, I appreciate the commentary, but this is confusing as it is."
Angel shook his head, "Seriously? You really think in the 4 weeks he's been outta the hotel, he was foolin' around with a lil' somethin' somethin' in the country?"
"No," Charlie shot out, but then looked doubtful, as she shrunk into a ball, "I dunno. Maybe?" She then fell on her side, grumbling, "Ugh, this is so hard!" She then looked at Vaggie, Lydia, and Angel, as she asked, "Why am I feeling like this?"
Vaggie knew the reason, but didn't want to say, because it'd be like stabbing herself with ice for saying it aloud.
"You know," Husker pointed out, as he was looking over a brochure of Hell, replied, "It's none of my business, but maybe you're feeling like this because the one guy in Hell that is decent enough to be a really good catch, got confused and had to get some distance to clear his head before he could give an answer. And it wasn't helping matters that he was livin' in the same roof as you three."
"Not to mention how he hopped at a chance to help you with the hotel," Niffty said laying on the top ridge of the train's seats sighing, "How romantic."
Charlie blushed, as she Shrunk, "What? Nooo, James wouldn't. I mean, why me?" She pointed at Lydia, "I mean Lydia has a better chance than me. She's normal." They all arched an eyebrow, as they didn't believe it. But Charlie shrugged, "Ish?"
Though Lydia pointed to Vaggie, "Why not her?"
Vaggie narrowed her eyes, "Excuse me? I don't like him, I don't like men in general" Vaggie said shaking her head and raising her hands in emphasis.
"Yeah, we figured dat," Angel smirked, "But he ain't an ordinary man, toots."
"He might be more... 'positive' than your typical man, but he's still a man," Vaggie said, thinking back to how James came ot their rescue from those perverts from the Halloween party almost a month ago.
"Is that why you two kissed?" Nifty said leaning over her shoulder.
Immediately everyone thought they heard the train screeching to a halt before Vaggie violently grabbed her and snarled in the most savage manner anyone's ever seen her, "HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?!"
"I was cleaning the inside of the hotel's vents when I heard a commotion and saw you two talking before you two kissed, you looked cute together by the way," Nifty replied smiling innocently.
At that moment, Vaggie screamed up a storm as she shook her violently, her face a new shade of red that no one, especially Charlie, ever saw on her face before, "I did not kiss him, he kissed me! Without my consent! He stole my first kiss! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"
All the while not knowing how this was looking to the others.
"Ooooh, never knew you had it in you Vagina," Angel said moving his eyebrows in an emphasis in a flirting tone.
Angel then ducked just as a knife flew at him, almost grazing his cheek as she shouted, "SHUT THE FUCK UP ANGEL! I DIDN'T DO IT! HE DID!"
"That reaction says otherwise," Angel said with a smug smirk and a raised eyebrow at Vaggie's reaction.
Vaggie was now frothing at the mouth at this as she looked like she was losing her mind at how they were talking like SHE wanted James to kiss her.
"Vaggie," Charlie's voice spoke up, breaking her out of her rage-induced insanity. She looked to see a blushing yet surprised Charlie and an equally shocked Lydia stare at her.
Vaggie looked at her best friend, and secret crush, embarrassed, and was at a lost for words about what was revealed.
Though Charlie blushed, as she said, "Vaggie, I... I didn't realize you cared about James that much."
"I- I don't..." Vaggie denied, "He forced his kiss on me Charlie..."
"Yeah, but did you fight back when he did," Lydia asked.
Niffty, however, sung, "No she didn't~."
Lydia and Charlie gasped as their faces were in surprise at this, while also blushing as the truth Niffty rung in their ears.
Vaggie snarled again, "I will kill you if you don't shut up..."
Though Husk spoke up, being the more rational of them all, "Well, this explains why he bolted, not just because of his anger issues. You girls are confusin' him."
The three girls, who were busy either trying to kill Niffty (Vaggie) or protect Niffty and stop the killer (Charlie and Lydia) stopped and asked, "Huh?"
"Well, think about it: you three are in his life constantly. Eventually, that friendship would evolve into something more," Husk pointed out each of them, "The bleeding heart Princess of Hell like something out of a fairytale. The girl next door who's been friends with each other since they were kids. A badass tomboy with a heart of gold who's around a guy who makes herself feel cared for and treats her like a lady in her vulnerable and emotional moments." He shrugged, "It's no wonder you each suddenly got feelings for him."
The three girls all blushed at that before Vaggie shouted, "You're out of your mind, Husk!"
"And the problem is that he realizes it," Husk answered, and shrugged, "And he doesn't have an answer on who he wants to spend Eternity with because he knows that there's gonna be a winner and two broken-hearted girls who lose their supposed soulmate. So, he's avoiding trying to answer that question, by distancing himself from said girls/ladies. Even though he knows this hurts them, just as much as he is hurting himself in doing so."
Charlie blushed further, as she cupped cheeks, "Oh man... I did not think this through."
"You gotta me fuckin' kiddin' me," Husk grumbled, as he looked to them, "Aside from Lydia here, you mean to tell me you didn't realize this?"
Moxxie poked out from behind his seat to face Husk, as he commented, "You sure know an awful lot about this stuff... for a gambler turned bartender."
"I've broken a few hearts and had my heart broken a couple times in my day when I was alive," Husk replied.
Some of the people riding, specifically two of the stooges, Angel, Blitzo, and Millie laughed at that before the southern belle asked, "Wait y'all are serious?"
"You think I was joking," Husk arched an eyebrow, not understanding calmly why this wouldn't be real.
"Um, Millie," Moxxie said as he corrected her, "I think he was serious."
The group from the hotel blinked and asked, "YOU WERE A HEARTBREAKER?!"
Husk arched an eyebrow, as he smirked at them all, "Pretty much."
"But you..." Some of them, especially the three stooges, weren't able to comprehend this and passed out on the spot.
Husk arched an eyebrow as he shrugged, "Oh well." He then looked to the three girls, and asked, "So. What are you three gonna do when you find James again?"
Loona managed to talk, as she said, "Oh worse... what if he's suddenly bored with you guys?"
That made the two girls upset before Vaggie huffed, "I wouldn't care."
"Look you can fool the others, but I can tell you care, Patchy," Loona arched an eyebrow, not believing Vaggie's cold shoulder routine. "You can be as cold-hearted to him this whole time, but you wouldn't go through all this if you didn't care about the only guy that treats you like a person and not a humping post." Vaggie blinked, as Loona smirked, "He talks at work."
Charlie and Lydia got in Loona's face and asked, "What did he say?"
"What do I look like? His confidant," Loona looked at them annoyed, and turned away to ignore them. "If you're so curious, go ask him."
"Sorry, sorry..." Charlie apologized, "It's just since he left, I felt like I need to know how to make things better for him since he's part of the family..."
"Try respecting his choice, for one. If you try and make all the decisions for him, it feels like you don't trust him at all," Loona explained, and then stated, "And also, be honest. Keeping secrets, even the more dire ones, are important. Like, say he's got this big Hell-shattering secret, even he doesn't know about. How would you react? Would you hate him?"
Charlie raised a brow before she said comfortingly, "Of course not."
"Even if he were, say.. an Exorcist," Loona arched an eyebrow. Though the question suddenly made Vaggie almost choke off a soda, as he was falling on the ground to catch her breath.
Charlie hurried and asked, "Are you okay?"
Vaggie was on her knees as she cleared her throat, and groaned, "Yeah. I'm okay."
Though Loona asked, "So out of curiosity... what do you see in him that makes him so special to go this far to find him?"
Charlie looked down before she admitted, "He was the only guy who wanted to help me with my dream of redeeming sinners without wanting anything in return..."
"And you're trying to get him up to Heaven, right," Loona asked, making sure she knew this was right.
"Yes. Like every Sinner here."
Loona then took a deep breath, and dropped the bomb, "Then tell me. What happens when this redemption works, he goes up to Heaven... but you're forbidden from ever seeing him again? For all Eternity."
Charlie stared in shock at that, before becoming down casted.
Loona arched an eyebrow, as she sat away, "Yeah, you didn't think this through, sweetie."
The train suddenly slowed to a stop at the station, as the station called out, "ATTENTION, EVERYONE, TRAIN HAS STOPPED IN THE WRATH RING. CULTURAL CENTER FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE OF ALL HELL. AND THE ONLY PLACE IN THE AFTERLIFE WHERE YOU CAN LIVE YOUR WILD WEST FANTASIES, BECAUSE THE COWBOY THEME FOR THE WEST WORKS HERE, AND DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT SHOOT-OFFS OR STAMPEDES OF HELLBEASTS. BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO BE HERE, SO WAIT A WHILE FOR THE NEXT TRAIN. OKAY? OKAY!"
Clint looked up and commented, "Really not sensing the excitement being here..."
"Well, Wrath is one of the more violent circles of Hell," the Professor implied. "Most of the Imps originate here. Those in the other Rings are able to adapt to other environments. Those that stay here are outlaws or farmers. Those that venture out of the Wrath Ring..." he then pointed to Blitz, as he smirked, "Well, this fellah has adapted quite well in the 10 years since I met him."
Blitz blinked as he arched an eyebrow, "Huh?"
"C'mon, people. Let's get going, and get those hotel rooms," Vaggie stated, as they all got their luggage to head out as IMP went to get their van.
Later On
Hotel 666
A furious Vaggie, and more annoyed group were at the checking in area, as Vaggie shot at the owner, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY VACANCIES!?"
"Like I said, Missy," a southern Imp who was a bit thin with a white beard and hair shrugged, as he was fine-tuning a guitar, "This time of year gets busy with the Harvest Moon Festival. You should have booked in advance before all this."
Vaggie then shout out angrily, "So where the fuck are we suppose to go!?"
"Well, that's your problem. Not mine," the hotel manager said, not caring that Vaggie wasn't taking the hint to get lost.
Vaggie was about to blow up, but then Charlie stopped her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder, "Whoa, Vaggie. We'll find another hotel."
"Won't do ya any good. They're all booked solid until the Harvest Moon Festival's done," the owner said, fine-tuning his guitar again. "I also don't recommend camping. Stampedes of Brimstone or Bone Buffalos gets crazier. And there are also War-Hogs to worry about too."
"Don't you mean Wart hogs.. Oh wait, this is Hell," Clint began to question, but stopped, as soon as he realized it.
An imp wearing a black cowboy hat, a plaid orange shirt, blue jeans, leather chaps and cowboy boots walks by them carrying a box that said 'Harvest Moon Festival Decorations'. "Don't forget the wild Cerberus hound packs, Mr. Smyth," he reminded his boss.
"Or the Bicorn herds," Another Imp said.
"Yeah, it's gotten way more dangerous this year, somehow," Smyth sighed. But then lit up as he looked at Charlie and the others, "Well, good luck out there."
Vaggie snarled at the Imp's unhelpfulness.
Though one Imp was of help, as Millie sighed, "Well... I guess I can take y'all home to my place."
Moxxie paled, "Oooh no."
"Are you sure, Millie? I don't wanna impose," Charlie said thankful to the she-imp's hospitality.
"Oh don't fret, your highness," Millie assured her, "My family's farm and barn are big enough to house an entire hotel of misfits." She only nodded to Moxxie as she smiled sympathetically, "It's Moxxie who kinda has the problem."
Moxxie sighed, as he admitted, "Her family and I.. don't really get along."
"But they still gave their blessings to let me marry you, Mox," Millie walked over and kissed him, "You don't have to always try gettin' their approval."
Charlie looked at them and said, "She's right, Mr. Mox. I think that love shouldn't be barred no matter what the circumstances are."
Moxxie then nodded as he said, "Well, I didn't say I wasn't gonna free to not going."
1 Hour Later
Rough n' Tumbleweed Ranch
The van and a few taxi cabs reached their destination at the stop of a ranch gateway with cow or bull skulls decorating the sign along with some horseshoes on it. The vehicles drove in as they were passing hell steed fields and a pig pen of sorts. They then pulled up on towards a farm 3 floor house with two red barns in the back.
As the van stopped, Millie exited the van and smiled, "Home sweet home."
Everyone had changed to appropriate attire while in Wrath's ranch as Vaggie commented, "huh, it looks better than I feared."
Angel sniffed the air and almost wretched, "Ugh! Zack! What the fuck is that smell?"
Millie smiled, as she announced to htem all, "Everyone. Welcome to the Rough n' Tumbleweed Ranch."
"Aww it looks so wholesome." Charlie said smiling at it and the took a deep breath, "Ah the fresh outdoors."
"You do realize the air is saturated with Hog Ass," Angel commented.
"Just the way I remember it," Millie smiled.
"Oh come on Angel, I'm sure it's not that bad." Charlie said smiling to her friends.
"Don't you own one?" Clint said raising an eyebrow at Angel.
"Fat Nuggets is way more sophisticated. And way cleaner than this," Angel said, pointing out the difference.
Though at the moment, two Imps stepped out on the front porce. The first was a very burly imp, having muscular arms and a pronounced torso. He had red skin, yellow eyes, white hair and a matching bushy mustache, along with black and white striped horns like all other male imps. He also had white marks all along his left shoulder, though it was unknown if they were either tattoos or scarring. He wore a sleeveless black vest over a brown sleeveless shirt, a black belt with silver buckle, and gray pants with black boots.
The second Imp was a female who bore a striking resemblance to Millie, with the exception of having numerous white spot-markings all over her body, graying-hair, and burgundy hoof-like toes. Her body type was rather voluptuous, with prominently large breasts, a narrow waist, wide hips and thick thighs. She was dressed in a maroon ascot around her neck, a white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a light gray upper-section in which thin black tassels are seen hanging from it, dark brown gardening gloves and a belt with a gray buckle, and pale blue-gray jeans.
This was Joe and Lin: Millie's parents.
Excitedly Millie ran over and called out, "Mama!"
"Oh Millie," Lin hugged back, "So glad you made it. And just in time for the Festival."
"Thank ya for letting us be here for the festival, "Millie said as she went to hug her father.
"It's no trouble," her mom assured her, "We know you aren't making as much anymore since y'all went 'freelance'."
Though this kinda irked Millie a bit, as she grumbled, "Freelance pays fine, Ma! We're doin' fiiiiine!" She then looked serious, as she said, "It's fine."
Joe broke the hug, as he playfully messed up his daughter's hair, "I'm just glad to see my deadly lil' pumpkin spice visit us once in a while. It's not as noisy these days." He smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder, "You and Sally would get in more fights than I care to remember. Even with each other. And that was just havin' fun."
Millie then asked, "Y'all remember my husband Moxxie?"
Millie shoved a nervous Moxxie in front of her parents. In which they stared at him in disapproval, with Joe going, "Hmph."
Moxxie nervously cleared his throat, as he did his best to greet them, "Greetings, Lin! Joe! How have you been, uh, with all the... flaming twisters and stuff around here?" He nervously held out his hand for a handshake.
Joe, not taking it, grumbled at Moxxie, "We lost our old farm hand to one of them terrors last week."
Moxxie laughed nervously, realizing he had hit a wound, as he gulped, "Oh, crumbs. My bad! I am so sorry. I- I didn't mean to open that wound... sir."
Blitz though shot out, "Hey, watch it! I'm the "sir" here, bucko!"
But Lin, deciding to be a bot hospitable to her son-in-law, shook her head, "It's alright. He was already reachin' retirement. We managed to hire some new hands."
Though Joe squinted his eyes, as he said, "Weird fellah. A latter imp, always polite and such." He then looked around, like nobody was listening, as he leaned in to his daughter and son-in-law, "And I think he's a Hellbeast Whisperer. Darndest thing this kid. Talks to Cerberus Wolves."
This perked the ears of two certain females as Charlie went forward asked, "Hi, excuse me, sir. Did you say he's a polite, and talks to Cerberus Wolves?"
"Who are you," Joe asked, confused.
Millie lit up as she said, "Everyone, this is Charlie Morningstar. The Princess of Hell."
At that mention, the Imps around the farm all dropped, looking in shock at this. Even Millie's Mom went wide eye in shock, as she straightened herself out, "Millie! Why didn't you tell us? I would have straightened up."
"No there's no need." Charlie said trying to not have her position get between them, "I was invited here by your- talented daughter and her coworkers, as well as look for a friend of ours who ran away."
"Yeah, my intern who keeps TAKING LEAVE whenever I mention the crazy catgirl or the one-eyed moth demon scream out where he is," Blitz shot out, as everyone was unpacking. "Especially the Moth Demon!" He looked around as he spotted Vaggie, "That's right, Danger-Locks, I'm talking about you!"
Vaggie flipped the finger at him, "Fuck off..."
Millie smiled and introduced them, "This here the princess' royal entourage and protectors from her ring while she's here. Vaggie: her bodyguard. Lydia: the sinner-catlady. Angel Dust, a movie star. Clint, Dan, and Bruce: the trio grunts. Husk: the bartender. As well as my boss Blitz and his Hellhound Loona."
"Hideyoo, Local Yokles," Blitz shot out.
Though Loona was just born, as she didn't pay mind, as she said, "Don't bother remembering my name."
Blitzo then said, pushing Moxxie away, talking to the parents, "It's nice to finally meet sperm and egg factory that made this deadly little gem of an assassin."
"You two raised a sturdy bitch!" Blitzo said, elbowing Millie playfully.
Charlie, fearing that would insult them said, "Blitz, don't be rude."
Though it wasn't a bother, as Joe chuckled, "That we did! So... Blitz, is it?" Blitz and Joe shook hands, "Heh heh. That's a fine name."
Lin smiled, "It reminds me of war."
Joe sighed happily, "Nothing like a little war to make a strong man!" And flexed his bicep.
Blitz smirked, "I like you people."
Joe then looked over to the princess, "How about you, yer highness, surely yer papi told y'all about the War in Heaven with the great Satan by his side sticking it to dem Angelfuckers."
Charlie thought on it, as she smiled nervously, almost wanting to shrink in a box, "Well, War isn't really my favorite subject to study on. I try to avoid that stuff."
"Y'know..." Moxxie began, as he cleared his throat, "More battles were won by technological advances in warfare. I've researched the history of weaponry extensively, and it's inspiring how... for example, the progression of guns utilizing angelic technology has changed the landscape of Hell's combative..."
But then he stopped as he saw Millie give him a 'cut it out' motion with her hands, while Joe crossed his arms. Moxxie sweat dropped, as he started, "I mean..." and then made a deep awkward voice, "War fun!"
"Guns get the job done..." Joe admitted sourly, before said with a murderous glee, "but a man ain't nothin' if he can't tear the head off a hellish beast with only his bare... hands!" Showing such an action with his hands.
"HAAAA! He's right, Moxxie," Blitzo said, as he pointed at Moxxie, speaking baby talk, "You got cute wittle baby hands like your baby dick!" Blitzo grabbed Moxxie's hand and reached toward his crotch.
Moxxie slapped his arm away, "Refrain... sir."
Angel would've joined in the mocking, but after his first encounter with the small Imp who goes on a killing path for him, the spider-sinner is keeping his distance.
Dan however slithered up, "Soochy, Boss-B got it right, Mox."
"Please, stop," Moxxie sighed, getting annoyed by this.
Though Lydia pulled Vaggie up to Charlie, as she motioned for the Princess to ask Millie's parents about the new hands at the farm.
Charlie nodded and approached, "Pardon me, Mr. Joe and Mrs. Lin, but could you possibly tell us more about your new employees here on your farm?"
Joe smiled, as he said, "Well, one of 'em's out rustling up a Bone Buffalo herd in. But you can meet the guy here." He then called out, "HEY! STRIKER!"
Black flaming hooved clopped rapidly on the ground. An Imp's spiky tail whipped a black Bicorn's flank. An Imp wearing a cowboy hat rode a black hell horse with a fiery mane. The Bicorn leapt over a fence. The beast reared up and roared in front of the group, exposing its flaming underbelly. And on its back, the rider was shown to all.
He was a tall, slim and pale, red-skinned imp with a serpentine-like face, a stature that rivaled Blitz, and eyes with bright yellow sclera, dark green rings around the slit pupils, and black eyelids. He also had a small black mustache, and a mouth full of sharp light yellow teeth inside, with one dull gold fang sticking out. He had short-cut, ivory-colored hair kept into in a slightly messy style. His horns were ivory-colored and pointed upwards, however unlike most imps, the stripe pattern was more jagged-styled. He also sported a long tail with four black stripes at the base, and a single black stripe on his tail-fork. He also had eight red and black spikes on the base his tail.
His attire resembled a southern cowboy, which featured a large stereotypical-looking gray hat with his horns protruding, and a red bandana around his neck. He wore a light gray jacket with slight darker-colored lapels, small yellow cuff links on each of the sleeves' dark gray cuffs, and dark gray trimming in which black tassels could be seen hanging from them. His jacket was worn over a black turtleneck which itself was worn under a dark gray vest that is held together by two small yellow buttons, black fingerless gloves, ivory-colored jeans that were ripped at the thighs, and knee-high, dark gray cowboy boots with red cuffs and toes.
This was Striker, as he tipped his hat in greeting, a stalk in his mouth.
Though the three girls, Lydia, Charlie, and Vaggie, all internally groaned, as it was not James.
"Well, howdy!" the Hybrid Imp greeted before he spotted the she-imp before him, got off his steed and greeted, "Oh, lookie here! You must be the famous Mildred!"
"Heard some good things about you from your folks, little lady." He said, winking at her.
Millie laughed sheepishly," Ohhh!"
Striker shook Millie's hand, "What're y'all doin' so far away from Imp City? Heh. The free workin' finally slowin' down?"
Millie giggled, "Oh, no! Freelance isn't free! It's a..." but shook her head, snapping out of it, "... Never mind. We're just visitin' for the festival. The prince is our boss'..." and said in a dramatic voice, "...boyyyyfrieeeend!"
Blitz warned her friendly, "Millie, I am not above hitting a female in front of her daddy."
"Blitz," Charlie looked at him disapprovingly.
"Oh, and the prince is also her godfather," Millie said, as she shot up to Charlie, "Charlie Morningstar."
Striker froze before saying with a smile, "My oh my." Striker said smoothly making his way to the famed princess of Hell, "I didn't think I'd laid eyes on her majesty this soon."
he then took off his hat and bowed low, "Pleasure to meet ya, ma'am."
His tail shaking like a rattlesnake.
Charlie tried to be polite, but there was something eerily uncomfortable about this imp that made her feel uneasy, "Um... thank you, good sir."
He seemed to have caught on and said, "Please excuse me. I bet you don't see someone like me before your royal presence."
Vaggie glowered at that and asked, "What the fuck did you say?"
"I meant my hybrid self." Striker informed her, which was true given how he didn't look exactly like other imps.
"Um, I guess..." Charlie said, as she fidgeted, but then asked, "So um.. where's this other farm hand? I mean... is he...?"
but everyone felt the ground shake beneath them, as Clint blinked, "Holy Satan! Is that a Hell shake?"
Clint looked to Moxxie, as he asked, "Moxx, I thought you said those weren't real."
"Of course they aren't real." Moxxie said annoyed, "I told you this when you started working for us."
"Then what's going on," Angel said, as he gulped looking around, as he grabbed Loona, "Don't panic, wolf girl!"
Loona smacked him, "Will you calm the fuck down! THIS isn't a Hellquake."
Though they all saw a stampede of buffalo the size of elephants, with bone hides on their backs, and their faces looking like skulls instead of their usual fleshy faces, with big black horns, and brown shaggy fur that hid their legs. They almost hit the farm, until a cowboy, riding a familiar Cerberus Wolf, corralled them away to an empty field. Though what was surprising was that there were other Cerberus wolves helping out, as they led the herd into the fields. Once they were all in, the cowboy jumped up on the buffalo, running across them, and then to the fences, as he closed them up. He then whistled as the wolves all heard it and ran for the fence. They then suddenly went into puppy mode, as they ran under the fence, as they encircled the cowboy.
He was wearing black dirty jeans with a brown holster belt with pouches, black and red boots, with a red vest, a black shirt underneath with the right sleeve rolled up, and black fingerless gloves, and wearing a black and red poncho, and a black cowboy's hat. He knelt down, as he petted one of them wearing a brown collar as he scratched his chin, "Good boy. You and the others did great." He then pulled something that looked like jerky and fed it to him. He gobbed it up, savoring the food, as the 'Imp' petted him, "Good job."
He then heard the other pups cry out, as he smiled, "Don't worry, guys and girls..." he then fed them each a jerky themselves, as they felt happy with this.
"James?" Charlie asked, hoping it to be true, especially since that was Daredevil he was riding.
Joe and Lin blinked, as Lin asked, "Wait, you know him?"
Vaggie approached, "He's the one that Charlie and the others were hoping to find.
Angel leaned into Vaggie and Charlie, "I don't think he's noticed. Approach carefully."
Charlie didn't hear him, but all the same cautiously approached him.
'James' affectionately petted each of the pups, and then said to them, "Okay, guys. Go see your mom and dad. Let 'em know you're o.." but then he noticed Daredevil looking behind him, as the pups, albeit one with a sleeping snot bubble coming out of his nose, gander to where Charlie was. He turned around, his face hidden by the poncho and hat, as two red eyes blinked, going wide in surprise to see Charlie.
Charlie focused on him and asked, "It... it is you, right James?"
He quickly shot up, acting stiff as a board, and spoke in a Southern accent, "Eh, no, missy. I don't know this James. Name's Dusty. On account mah pants are always gettin' dust on 'em." and quickly patted his pant legs to show that was real. He then turnd around and said, "Well, I better get this pack their dinner ready. They get..."
A black and violet blur went and hugged him tightly to her, Lydia kept him close and said, "It's you... isn't it? This is real?"
"Wha? Catgirl, you're all crazy, I..." he tried to fight off as best he could, but then Vaggie popped up, tugging at his poncho to keep him from running, as Lydia got him around the waist. "GAH! What!?"
"James, we know it's you," Vaggie scowled, although she did blush a bit, whether it was in anger or embarrassment, it was her to know alone.
"No! Ack! Ah don't know who this James is," 'James' struggled to break free of her hold and the catgirl.
Charlie approached and took off his hat, her heart beating against her rib cage.
And sure enough, it was James, as he gulped, "Um... howdy?"
Charlie's face remained as it was before it began to slowly shift into one of relief then tears forming up thick splotches of tears threatening to leave her eyes as her lip quivers before it became so noticeable as she went wrapping her arms around his neck and cried so loudly and emotionally, "I NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE YOU AGA-A-A-AINNNNN!"
"Whoa..." Clint said surprised by how much water was coming out of the princess's eyes.
"Hope she doesn't dry out," Dan said, as Bruce nodded.
Even though grass seem to be sprouting when the tears hit the ground.
Though Lydia was getting wet by it as she said, "Charlie! You're gonna cause a flood. Stop."
Charlie continued to do so before she was picked up by Vaggie who said, "Oh, there there..."
"We-We finally found him..." Charlie said through the tears, before her best friend carried her over and asked, "Hey Bruce, can you hold her for a minute?"
Before depositing the tearful princess at the Handyman's arms before she went over and asked, "James, that's you right? No copy and no illusion?"
"Uh... Yeah?" James said, not liking this tone she was taking.
Vaggie then said, placing a hand to his shoulder, "Good."
Then slugged him hard in the face. So hard that he fell on his back.
James groaned, still down as he said, "Yeah. After leaving… I deserved that."
"You deserve more after what you did to me..." Vaggie said ready to give him another punch with her other fist.
James sighed nervously as he asked, "Still angry about the kiss.?"
"A kiss I didn't want." Vaggie snapped.
But then she shot back, "If you can even call that a kiss."
All who heard that all went 'Ooooh'.
Though Charlie and Lydia scolded, "Vaggie!"
"What? I'm just saying I didn't enjoy it..." Vaggie said before she went, "Now if you excuse me I need to unpack." And goes to do that.
Though she said that, it was all over her face, as everyone thought, 'She liked it.'
James, however, thought, 'Not even a kiss?' And despaired a bit.
But he snapped out of it as he pulled away and said, "Well I should get everyone settled in to the guest barn."
"Na boy, go spend time with your friends, especially after the princess' tears helped make the crops grow." Joe said "lightly" patting James on the back.
"But shouldn't that be after they settle in the first barn?" James asked, "I still gotta get the food ready for the pups and parents."
"Well, take the ladies with ya," Lin winked. "Give them the tour. Who knows, y'all might find some privacy. It's probably been a while for you lovers anyway."
Now the trading commenced as the hotel inhabitable whistled or said stuff to tease James about having an open relationship with the three girls
Charlie blushed and Lydia became self-conscious. Vaggie while setting up felt a cold chill down her spine, unable to understand why and thought it was James' fault.
Wanting to avoid all this, James grabbed Charlie and Lydia's hands as he spit towards the barn, as he said, in a frantic tone, " I think I should introduce you guys the pups and their parents. I think it's best to get a good introduction with them."
Angel looked at Vaggie and asked, teasing, "What? You didn't wanna go on tour with 'em?"
"Yeah? Find a nice, secluded spot somewhere, where you can be alone?" Dan joined in the teasing.
"Because, you know, those three might actually get it down and dirty without you in there," Angel said, which kind of irked Vaggie a bit.
But then she remembered how emotionally distraught Charlie was back, then before all this. The worst part, her imagination was getting the better of her, as she imagined all three of them in a ball of hormones and horniness. The fact that James would actually break down and take them both, well… it just made Vaggie even more frantic.
She then grabbed her luggage down and bolted after them. Everyone sweatdrooped as they all thought the same thing , 'That was too easy.'
"Told you she'd fall for it" Dan told Angel before holding his hand out, "Pay up."
Angel grumbled as he put a wad in Dan's hand.
Later On
Vaggie was looking around for them while wondering around one of the two barns. She figured that Millie's parents converted one of them into living quarters. But then she heard voices coming from one of them as she recognized them and walked to it. But as she reached for the knob…
"Wow, Charlie. This hair is so silky and fluffy."
Vaggie blinked, "What? Charlie's hair?"
"That is a lot of meat, James," Charlie gasped.
'Meat,' Vaggie gulped.
"Okay, Charlie. You'll need two hands for this," James said as he grunted.
"Off. James. Argh, it's.." Charlie whimpered.
"You gotta push through it," James said.
At this moment, Vaggie's face was beet red while contorted with anger. She kicked the door open as she had her spear out while blushing madly, "You sicko! What do you think you're doing to them?!"
However, the site was not what she imagined. Lydia was bending down petting and scooping up one of the puppies, and she was playfully nuzzling with it. While Charlie and James were helping each other half up a huge slice of what appeared to be made from a hell beast that was processed for food. And in the room, the Cerberus wolf cubs were playing with daredevil, while a pair of Cerberus wolves. The size of golden retrievers were currently sitting down, watching the pups play. but at the moment, all eyes were on Vaggie.
The two Golden Retriever like Cerberus Wolves started growling at Vaggie, slowing walking towards her while slowly changing into their more demonic forms.
"Kuro! Mizu! No," James called out frantically as he said, "Vaggie's okay."
The two Cerberus Wolves calmed down and walked back towards the pups
James sighed in relief, but Vaggie chuckled exasperated, "Ha. See? Nothing was happening."
Lydia arched an eyebrow as Charlie asked, "What did you think was happening?"
Vaggie blushed in embarrassment and looked away "Um nothing, never mind," she said, embarrassed at misjudging the situation.
"Well, since you're here, can you help with the pups?" James asked, "I still have to prepare their meal, so they need a distraction. Otherwise, they'll be hopping around, and nothing will be done."
Vaggie blinked, "You want me to do what?"
"Just play with them," James said. "Let them get to trust you, like Daredevil trusted me." And then put the chunk of meat on a table, as he grabbed a cleaver, and started work on it.
Vaggie glanced at the pups.
She went and knelt down and reached for one of the pups.
One of them with a bit ear and scar on his right eye, cautiously walked over to her. The flames on his tail igniting along on his back in case she tried anything funny. James saw that, and said, "Just don't be so hostile to them. Especially Fury. He's a bit overprotective."
Lydia giggled, "Kinda like Vaggie, eh?"
Vaggie glared at Lydia, before taking a deep breath then said kindly, "Hey, it's okay..."
She extended her hand out for the pup to know she's friendly.
He sniffed her palm for a moment, and then slowly approached her. And before she knew it, he was balled up on her lap, sleeping soundly. James looked over as he was cleaning the pieces, and smiled, "Looks like he took to you. Way faster than with Daredevil."
Lydia then asked, "So, aside from Kuro and Mizu, whom I'm guessing you named her after due to her blue eyes and flames..." she pointed to Mizu's blue eyes and the slight flame of hair on her back, "What are the pups' names?"
"Oh, well, you've Mustang," James said, as he pointed to a puppy who seemed sharp and military-like.
"Hawkeye," as he pointed to a puppy with sharp eyes.
"Howitzer," James pointed to a puppy who was a little bigger, indicating he was something of a Gamma or Guardian of the pack.
"Fury," pointed to the puppy in Vaggie's lap.
"Falman," and pointed to a puppy who climbed a haystack pile and jumped down to bounce on another one.
"Havoc and Breda," pointed to two puppies pulling at a sock in a game of tug-of-war; one had a fluff of red hair on its head and another ice blue tips on its ears and tail.
"And that one sleeping next to Daredevil is Sleepy," he finished, as he pointed to Daredevil's new buddy, who was sleeping with a snot bubble out his nose.
The girls looked at him in confusion, as they asked together, "Sleepy?"
"Yeah, I would have named him Luger or Armstrong, but he's um.." James blushed, as he put the chunks in a blender, as he shrugged, "Super sleepy at times."
"You mean like one of the seven Dwarves?" Charlie asked, eyes sparkling.
"Didn't occur to me when I named him, but that works," James said as he then began to puree the chunks, while working on some vegetables.
Lydia set Howitzer down, as he lay on his side, as she rubbed his belly, making him happy, as she asked, "So how did you find these guys? Much less Millie's family."
"Well, it started when I first arrived here, looking for the one demon who might help me with my um... rage problem when I transform," James admitted. "The Sin of Wrath himself: Satan."
Charlie stopped and began to sweat, squinting her eyes nervously while Vaggie glanced at Charlie concerned while the princess says, "Yeah... I wouldn't..."
"Relax, I never even got the chance to meet him," James said
Charlie sighed relieved.
James sighed, as he slumped, "He was a hard guy to find. Like, nobody knows where he is. And I heard rumors about him being a Strong Warrior of Hell. So, he's not what you would call a people person."
James and Daredevil were walking down a highway, sweaty and exhausted.
"We didn't have enough money to stay at a hotel or anyplace. And I wasn't about to give up finding a solution, and go back defeated."
But then he blinked, as he spotted the farm not too far, as they heard commotion. The two bolted as they heard a familiar howling, and ran as fast as they could. They saw Joe and his three sons trying to get into a barn. Daredevil ran in from the head, while James looked around.
"We found the farm, and Joe and his sons trying to break into the barn. Daredevil pushed them aside, while I snuck in the back. It turns out that Kuro and Mizu snuck in as she was pregnant during that time. And they were pretty roughed up."
"And you helped them deliver?" Charlie asked, squealing at the thought of puppies being born.
"Yeah... but not before the animal that attacked came at the barn," James explained, to which got Vaggie's attention. "Apparently, it was a War Hog, and boy... those things are huge."
The beast, being a massive brown and bus-sized wart-hog with four big tusks covered in spikes and a mace tail, came charging at the barn. It would have gotten close and decimated the entire farm... if not for James getting defending, and killing it in one blow to the head, shattering its skull and spine as it fell dead. James blinked in surprise at he managed to do that, while the Imps were just as stunned. Though the Imps rushed at him... only to cheer him on.
James blushed, "That was... a bit of a shocker, I guess." He then defended as he said, "Them welcoming me so easily, not the killing with one blow part."
Vaggie shrugged, "Well, I figured that much."
Then James said, "They let me keep this barn for the birthing. But I couldn't really get involved due to Kuro getting a bit protective. I kept a fire burning while Daredevil stayed to help. Didn't really much help there."
The next morning, James woke up, as he walked in to see the pups born and having mother's milk. Though Sleepy was too dazed to try and find his mom. James scooped him up as he had some milk in a bottle ready, letting him have some.
"Though Sleepy had a bit of trouble, so I helped him out. Luckily, Lin lent me some cow milk in case there wasn't enough for the pups."
Charlie's eyes glistened hearing that and said, with Lydia joining in, "Awww..."
"He took snapshots, if you're curious," a new voice came up from the 2nd floor of the barn.
"Sweet." Lydia said, following him up.
"Wait, who said that," Charlie asked.
"I did," the voice said, as they hopped off the ledge, backflipped into a haystack pile. They then popped out, as they saw who it was. It was a rather tall female imp, roughly the same height as Blitz, with light maroon skin and a pair of serrated, black-and-white-striped horns atop her head. Her eyes sport yellow sclera, slit-like pupils, and long eyelashes protruding from them, with a single white scar over her right eye and on her notched eyebrow. Her charcoal-colored hair was long, oddly with white-colored roots, and tied back into a ponytail by a brown hair tie with messy bangs that covered her left eye. Tied around the back of her head was a red bandana with holes. Her attire consisted of a sleeveless, black turtleneck crop-top with various tears at the bottom, heavily ripped black leggings under a set of gray-beige short-shorts held by a black belt with an oval-shaped dark gray buckle, and matching-colored cowboy ankle boots.
James nodded, "Oh, I forgot. Guys, I'd like you to meet Millie's sister, Sally Mae."
But the trio went wide eye as they realized this girl... was the Sally that was mentioned before.
The three girls narrowed their eyes and said, in a neutral tone, "We've met."
Sally blinked, as she asked, "WE have? Weird, you'd think I remember y'all."
"When Lin told Millie about how she can't compete." Vaggie informed her, "You were busy mocking her."
"Oh yeah," Sally smirked, as she shrugged, "If only she learned how to hide the bodies better."
"Other than that." Charlie said, trying to get away from the gore, "Could we talk about the relationship you two seem to have with each other, please?"
"Oh, well if y'all wanna ask..." she zoomed up to James, as she looped her arms around his right arm, and her tail around his, as she snuggled up, "He's my bed toy."
James blushed in embarrassment, "Stop.."
Charlie's horns sprouted as her eyes turned red, "What?"
Lydia's eyes became ink black and her claws threaten to break out of her fingers.
"He's also my fiancé," Sally smiled, as she snuggled more to him.
James blinked, as he freaked out, "Sally!"
Flames erupted from Charlie's body while Lydia hissed, Vaggie then cracked her knuckles.
Though Sally laughed, as she pulled away from James as she sat next to Vaggie as she said, "Nah, I'm just kiddin'."
Vaggie moved away from him as she said, dryly, "Hilarious."
"He just likes me for mah body," Sally teased more.
James blushed in embarrassment, as he politely scowled, "Stooop." He sighed, as he prepared the bowls, "Anyway... Sally has been helping me by finding an expert with my anger issues. It's been four weeks, but the expert said I'm making progress in some areas."
"Speakin' of which," Sally said, as she stood up, pulling a note out of her shirt, between her boobs, and smiled, "The mail." And tucked it into Jame's vest for him, as he blushed, while she smiled, "I made sure to rub my scent in it for you to get a good whiff of my musk, darlin'. Help ya to decide if you wanna make it official."
"Still not happenin'," James sighed, as he filled the dishes.
Vaggie still gets her knuckles ready to break his face.
"Vaggie. Can you help," James asked, holding the dishes.
"Sure I can kick you in the balls." Vaggie said, thinking that's what he meant.
"Vaggie, please," James politely asked holding the dog howls labeled for each wolf adult and pup.
Vaggie took the bowls and went to deliver them to the wolves calling each name for a responding bark.
Once she had the others she went and gave Fury his bowl, "Here you go."
He lit up and dove in, accepting the meal.
Vaggie couldn't help but smile and petted him, "There's a good boy."
He then popped up in front of the empty bowl and licked her fingers when she reached down to pick it up.
Charlie looked at the mixture and asked, "So what aside from the meat is in this?"
"It's a mixture of War Hog and vegetables, and some water," James answered as best he could. "I'm hoping this will give them a mix and needful measurement of minerals, vitamins and nutrients." He then shrugged, as he said, "Though at times, they'll eat the innards I take out. I dunno, I think they might have more nutrition, but I can't say I find it tasty."
"At least it's not dry dog food. That stuff's horrible," Lydia replied. James then sighed, as he knew this question would come up, and decided to ask, "So... what brings you all to the Wrath Ring?"
Vaggie, while with Fury, snapped, "What do you think?"
"We came to bring you home" Lydia said
Charlie then added, "While also hoping to enjoy the Harvest Moon Festival with Uncle Stolas."
She then blushed and said, "But mostly to find you..."
James froze up as he gulped, "Oh um... good for you guys then. Hope you enjoy the festival. I'll be working on the farm that day."
Charlie became disheartened that he's ignoring what she's saying...
"And... I'm still not going back to the Pride Ring," James honestly said with a straight face, still not facing them.
Both Charlie and Lydia felt a bit disheartened by this, though Vaggie was getting miffed on it
"What the hell asshole?!, we came all this way to bring you back!" Vaggie said angrily.
Charlie looked at her, disapproving, "Vaggie!"
He turned to her, annoyed, "And I never asked you to come after me! I just wanted to be left alone to deal with a very big decision in which I needed space to figure it out." He got in her face, as he snarled, "But no! You have to make things worse by dragging them back kicking and screaming!"
"I didn't drag them here! THEY wanted to! Especially when they found out you're banging Millie's sister!" Vaggie shot back.
"I am not banging Sallie May, she just likes to tease people" James said in exasperation.
He sighed, as he calmed himself, "Why exactly would i do that?" He shrugged, "I mean, I don't care about the whole lower class high class BS. Love transcends boundaries. My mom taught me that."
"It's true," Lydia sighed, "She told me she and James's dad were kind of from two different worlds, figuratively. But they fell in love."
"The point is Charlie was miserable since you left." Vaggie got in his face.
James didn't answer that, as he turned to his work, "I need to get back to work. Last thing the barn needs, or the pups need, are fire ants coming in. Trust me, down here. They literally are on fire." And left to get things cleaned up, but stated, "The barn next door is where you girls can sleep with the others. It's a bed n breakfast for folks needing a place to stay, so pick your beds out."
"Typical... and you thought yourself different from that douchbag Adam..."
There was no response, not even an angry outburst or comeback to any of them at all, just the sounds of silence were left hanging in the air, with the three girls, and the Cerberus wolf pack present there.
Lydia looked at Vaggie angrily, "What the hell?!"
"What," Vaggie started, as she arched an eyebrow, "You're making me the bad guy in all this?" and pointed to the door, "He leaves us and doesn't come back. He treats Charlie like dirt, disavows or comes close to screwing up the purpose of the hotel. He's just as bad as ADAM!"
Charlie stood up her hair covered her eyes.
Vaggie thought that James's words or actions caused this, as she walked over to try and help her, "Look, Charlie. Maybe it was too soon for this. You should go back..."
"No." Charlie said clearly and adamantly.
"Charlie," Vaggie asked, confused on this.
"I'm not going anywhere Until James comes back." She said eyes brimming with tears as she looked at her best friend, "I can' understand why you don't want to trust men... but James isn't like the one who hurt and sent you down here... He left to make sure what happened Halloween didn't happen again, especially sine he did it to save US."
"Because he ki..." Vaggie almost shouted in anger, but stopped, "Because he... he's hurting you. That's why." She then scoffed, "Seriously, Charlie, what is so special about him?"
Charlie's expression hardened at that question, "You remember how Everyone we tried to recruit for the Hotel had made fun of our goal as soon as we explained what we wanted to do? Even Angel did and we paid him so he couldn't get in trouble with his boss. James, he didn't. He understood what we were trying to do and wanted to help us, despite not knowing how unsuccessful we were before he arrived. He helped make the Hotel progress as far as he it has."
Placing her hands to Vaggie, Charlie's expression softened, "He reminds me a bit like you... Kind, willing to go out to help others, and wants to protect those he cares about."
"I know you two have your differences, but do you think that maybe you can bury the hatchet until he comes back to the Hotel? For me?" Charlie asked, almost pleading.
Vaggie tried to say yes, but back on that night. What happened. The kiss just came flooding back. And Vaggie blushed big time. She finally ran off as she screamed, "I can't do it!"
"Vaggie," Charlie cried out.
Though as Vaggie stepped out, Blitz was on the corner, and sighed, "Look, Patchy, you're just making it worse this way."
"How would you know?" Vaggie asked, glaring at the imp who wasn't with his new 'BFF' Striker.
"Because believe it or not, Anvil Chest, I have been in more than possibly..." Blitz started, but then scrunched up his face as he realized, "Oh shit, I lost count on how many I have had..." but then shook his head, as he said, "Look, I fucked up a lot of relationships. One of those key scenarios was either getting bored, freaking out about being dumped, or that I didn't give them space to think about how they felt. And I'm pretty sure... you're doing the third."
But Blitz shrugged, as he pointed, "But if you're looking for him, he went to the corn silo. It'd be a nice place to strongarm him to going back."
Vaggie cracked her knuckles, "Oh, I'm gonna."
She stomped towards there, as Blitz added, "Just don't sploodge all over the place. They need to eat that corn."
Blitz ducked as a knife was expertly thrown at his head by Vaggie.
Blitz sighed, as he said, grimacing, "Satan, help that boy. That bitch's worse than that whore of an Ex…"
Moments Later
Corn Silo
Inside, James was scooping up some corn feed for the chickens, as well as the future dog food for the next few weeks. He was standing on a conveyer platform, while below him was a pic of corn seeds. Anyone dumb enough to get pushed in would sink to the bottom, so it was a safety feature as to not get thrown in there... don't be tempted to do so. Though James grimaced if this area was where Sally liked to hide the bodies. He shook his head, as he looked away, "Probably best not to think about it."
"Think about what? You wanting to stay here and give up on everyone?"
James groaned, as he turned around, as he saw Vaggie, standing there, "Why are you stalking me?" He turned around as he asked, "You heard my answer, and yet here you are, forcing me to go back when I'm still haven't made a decision."
He sighed, as he frowned at her, "Seriously, you just like tormenting everyone. Admit it."
"Fuck that, asshole." Vaggie shot back as she marched at him, "You must think everything in your life is such a bother to you... You have a sweet gig going for you, don't you? You come, you change things, make them care, and you leave. at least Adam doesn't he doesn't pretend to be what you are."
She then grabbed him by his shirt collar and said, "You're coming back even if I have to drag your unconscious ass back to Pride and sit on you during the ride back!"
"NO, not until I figure it out," James tried to fight her on this, as he tried pushing her away.
But her grip on him was a bit too strong, as she asked, "Figure what out?"
"What to do about my feelings for you three," James shot out... but then went wide eye, as he blushed, realizing what he had said.
Vaggie blinked, before becoming red, trying to remain calm, "I get why you would fall for Lydia: the girl-next-door. and Charlie, because of how sweet she is. but me? I'm a man-hating bitch, yours or one of the stooges' words."
"Well, we've got a word for that: a tsundere," James gulped, looking away to try and hide his blushing face, "But I doubt you care that much for a loser like me."
"You're the first man I learned to trust..." Vaggie revealed.
James's face got even redder, as he gulped, "And now I'm even more confused. Shoot."
"I told you, You're the first man I ever learned to trust... especially what you said to Charlie when..." Vaggie began but blushed, shaking her head, "Besides... you know how I feel about Charlie..."
"Yeah, that was kinda the reason why I left too," James calmed as he didn't notice the railing straining from the weight, "I left to try and figure out how this would work. If I did decide, either way it would be a loss."
"What are you talking about," Vaggie looked to him confused, "You would have won."
"There was never gonna be a winner. It would have been one lucky person with someone they deeply cared about and two lonely individuals who would be left out," he sighed, as he slumped, "If anything, I wish I could clone myself or change my gender."
Vaggie glared, "That's just giving up."
"Well, let me ask you this: if there were three people you thought had feelings for you, and you didn't wanna hurt anyone's feelings..." James asked, "What would you do?"
Vaggie raised a brow, "Did you forget who Charlie is?"
"Yeah, the Princes of Hell," James said
"You would ask her what she wants, truly wants in her heart and then wait for her answer." Vaggie said getting in his face, "That is you have the balls to stay there and hear her out."
But then the railing gave way, as the two almost fell, but Vaggie pulled him back, as he crashed... atop of her. Vaggie looked up at him in surprised by how close their faces were.
James blushed, as he said, "Thanks. For that."
Vaggie remained silent before she then went and kissed him. James blushed, once she pulled away, as he gulped, "That was... not what I expected."
Vaggie blinked in surprise and said, "Stop it." Making it sound like he kissed her instead of the other way around.
He got up, and blushed, "S-Sorry, I just... figured you would either punch me or use that spear to um... castrate me."
"..." Vaggie remained silent as she sat up, "I... don't know what I want to do... Especially since You have this weird crush on me."
"Yeah, you... and Charlie. And Lydia," James sighed, knowing full well this was super awkward, as he groaned, "Ugh, is this what they mean by relationships are complicated? Because if it is, I should have started dating in high school to be better at this."
"Maybe you should have thought of that before you hurt Charlie and Lydia by saying you were staying here." Vaggie shot at him angrily.,
"I'm staying here until I get my anger in check," James said, as he tried to reason with her, as he looked to her, "You saw how I was at the party."
"Those men were douchebags." Vaggie shot back, "YOU'RE the one whose running scared because of something he might be able to control."
James sighed, as he sat down, "I just want to control my anger better than what happened before."
"And how's that working for you so far?" Vaggie asked, arms crossed, annoyed by his stubbornness.
"Shut the fuck up, already," Loona's voice shot out, as both Vaggie and James blinked.
"Loona, shsssh," Clint's voice also spoke out.
Vaggie blinked while sharing a glance at James before cautiously approaching the source of the voices. The two opened a nearby closet... to see Clint and Loona halfway making out, as all four were blinking in surprise at this. James blinked while Clint yelped and unconsciously moved to cover his exposed parts.
Loona and Vaggie blinked, while the hellhound frowned at her, saying, "What? You wanna show?"
Vaggie stared, as she was angrily annoyed, "Seriously? Aren't you gonna try and kill us or something?"
"Can we get dressed and talk about this," Clint sighed.
Moments Later
All four were sitting out of the silo and back in the Cerberus Wolf barn, up on the 2nd floor. James actually made it a rather livable area complete with makeshift sofas, a desk for a journal for himself and the pups' growth, and a nice comfy bed. At the moment, all four were sitting at the couch, because Vaggie was a bit irked at the fact that Clint was with Loona, not because she as an assassin with Blitz. Whatever it was that she wanted to scold him about... she made the first move.
"Well," she arched an eyebrow at Clint,
"Well, what," Clint shrugged.
"When are you gonna explain what we saw you two doing in the Silo." Vaggie said disapprovingly at Clint.
Clint was gonna try and make up an excuse, but Loona shrugged, as she shot out calm like, "Oh yeah, being the judgmental bitch and all." She then shot at her, "What were you two doing?"
Vaggie looked ready to kill before she explained, " I was trying to convince this blockhead to come back to the Hotel and stop avoiding us like a goddamn child going through a tantrum because of how he was able to transform."
"So, what we you two doing," James asked. "Each other?"
Clint chuckled, "Good wordplay there. We were practicing CPR."
Loona snorted, "Sure if that's what you wanna call it." though her words didn't hide the bitterness from how he was making excuses
Clint sighed, as he slumped, "Okay, I can't keep this a secret anymore." He looked at Loona and said, "I'm sorry but I think we can at least trust James with this."
"What," Vaggie went wide eye.
"Me," James asked.
"Well, I figured you would have the same dilemma as me," Clint stated.
"Whatever..." Vaggie said, looking like she's about to get more ridicule from the two sinners before her.,
Clint sighed, "Loona and I are..."
"Are surprisingly adorable together, yeah," James nodded, but shook his head, "Nah, I figured either it was official or friends-with-benefits."
Loona blinked, "What? Got nothing to say about how a Sinner's wasting his time with a Hellhound?"
"Not really," James shrugged, "It's almost like a what if with me, Vaggie, Lydia, or Charlie."
"How's this similar," Vaggie shot out, and looked to Clint, as she was angry, "Seriously, this relationship isn't just gonna get you killed, but it's unfair for you both. If you manage to get redeemed, Clint, you'll ascend to Heaven, but you'll leave her behind..." But then it clicked on the reason why James was now pushing himself away. Not just his anger, but this possibility came in to mind.
Vaggie blnked looking over at him and asked, "Wait... is that why you..."
James nodded, "I'm not an idiot, Vaggie. If Redemption is possible, and if I do go... what if Heaven forbids me from being with you guys at all?"
"You mean before or after everyone else redeems too," Vaggie asked, now focusing on James.
"Either way it works," James said, as he wasn't sure who would be redeemed first. Him... or everyone else.
"I doubt they'd not allow Souls who appear up in Heaven from meeting up." She said silently hinting what she knew of Heaven to James without Clint or Loona noticing.
Though Loona blinked, as she asked, "Wait... you..." she pointed at James, and then at Vaggie, "And her, the catgirl, and princess?" She smirked, "Fuck, J. You're pretty popular."
Vaggie blushed, "It's not like that. I don't want anything to do with this chauvinistic pig who stole my first kiss!"
"Oh? Then what was with that kiss I heard from you earlier," Loona smirked.
Vaggie became even more embarrassed and enraged, ready to kill her if the two guys didn't stop her, "Stop!"
"What? I was just saying..." Loona started.
"Vaggie," Charlie asked, as she was climbing up to see the place.
She saw James on top of Vaggie, the knife hidden from view while Clint was being protective of Loona.
Though Charlie paled as she saw Vaggie and James together, as she paled, "Hey... what are you two doing?"
Vaggie got up and say, pushing James off of her, "This isn't what it looks like!"
"Yeah, there wasn't enough room on the couch, so she used me as a pillow," James replied, as he said, "I um... I have a comfy lap."
Vaggie glared death in his direction, "What he means is that I almost fell on Loona when he pulled me out of the way, but he didn't let go and fell on me."
"Oh," Charlie blinked, but then smiled, as she walked over, "Can I... try that comfy lap a bit?"
Everyone went wide eye at this, as James made no objection, clearly in shock, "Okay then." And then sat down on his lap, as she smiled, blushing, "Wow, Vaggie. I can see why you were relaxed in it."
Vaggie's face became red and close to exploding as Charlie seemed to have ignored her explanation to believe James, "Oh yes... I sure was lucky..."
Clint leaned over to Loon and whispered, "The lucky one seems to be James." both chuckled at seeing James's surprised but frozen face. But then Clint asked, "So what brings you to the Dante's private abode?"
"Oh yeah, I wanted to see if anyone wanted to go see the festival," Charlie smiled, as she showed the flyer, "There's this contest to showcase the strongest of the strong. Striker, Blitz, and Moxxie were gonna enter it, I thought maybe any of you guys would wanna try out."
Everyone looked at the only one who was actually resembling an Imp, who noticed and said, "Wait... me?"
"Well, you would make the cut," Clint smiled, as Loona chuckled at this irony.
"But I'm not an Imp," James groaned.
"You're more imp than anyone here," Loona informed him as she looked off to the side.
Dante sighed, as he slumped, groaning, "Thanks, Loona."
"I think you're a cute imp," Charlie said, surprising Vaggie and James... though Charlie blushed, as she realized what she said, and quickly covered it up, "I mean um.. in modern standards. Most imps from the earlier days were more um... monstrous."
"Or they can be too small..." Vaggie said under her breath.
Clint and Loona stood up as Clint yawned, "well, I'm hitting the hay."
"Same here. Might as well let that dork, Blitz, know I'm okay." The two walked away, as they traversed down the ladder, though leaving hte trio behind.
Vaggie sighed and said, "Just so you know Charlie, I tried everything, but he seems very adamant about being all by himself until he gets Redeemed..."
Charlie looked confused, as she looked to James, "Wait. I don't understand, I thought you wanted help..."
James sighed, "I'm scared..."
"What? Scared," Charlie was even more confused, as she asked, "James Dante, you're the bravest soul I've ever had the chance to even meet. What are you scared of?"
"Not being allowed to see you after I'm allowed into Heaven... or anyone else..." James confessed, "I'm scared of... I don't know... being isolated as soon as I get up there and not being able to see any of the others... or that I lose control and I can't help you redeem a soul..."
At that moment, Charlie hugged him as she said, "Well... it might be a while before you go, if that's all possible." He returned the hug back to her, but then she blushed, when she suddenly asked, "Would it be okay if... I slept over tonight? Maybe help your anxiety?"
James looked at her blushing at the implications of her words meant, "Help my anxiety?"
Later On
James was in bed... along with Charlie, as she was in her pajamas, along with him in his. She was currently snuggled up to his right, as she wasn't yet sleeping. But James was wide awake, even as Daredevil slept at the foot of the bed, knowing full well nothing too hanky panky would go on with his friend.
James felt his heart beating against his ribcage as Charlie Morningstar, daughter of Lucifer, was laying next to him like this...
'Okay, when she said help with my anxiety, I didn''When she said she'd help me with my anxietyt think she meant like this,' James thought as he looked up at the roof. Though unknown to him, Charlie was wide awake, and frantic in her head.
'Help with his anxiety? what the fuck was I thinking when I said that?! He must think I'm a total bitch for making it sound like I wanted to have sex with him!' Then blushed in embarrassment, 'Not that I wouldn't mind doing it one day... but still... I just wanted to help him calm down from his fears... especially since he transformed for the first time and is afraid in the future...'
'Okay, just calm down, just...' James told himself to concentrate. But his concentration was a bit too good, as he concentrated on hearing a heartbeat. At first he thought it was his own, but it wasn't coming from inside him. It was next to him. It was Charlie's heartbeat. He could tell it was going faster than normal. He realized that she was just as anxy as he was. He calmly breathed a bit, and then held her closer to help it out as he could, thinking that maybe it could be some comfort to her.
That made Charlie's heart skip a beat, which was the opposite, and made her beat faster.
But for a moment, Charlie could hear his heartbeat. It was going as fast as hers, though it was doing its best to stay calm... for her.
Charlie still was feeling it as she was nervous of what James planned to do, as well as surprised that he was holding her like that.
But he didn't do anything. He just held her close. Nothing perverted or depraved, merely just held her close.
Charlie couldn't remember the last time she was held like this... no that's not true. She was like this once with her family, back when they were a family... This calmed her down considerably as she relaxed and fell unconscious.
Both were seemingly relaxed, and finally fell asleep at that moment.
Next Chapter: The Harvest Moon Festival; Dirty Dealin' Assassins pt.2