Alastor had to admit, after seeing the boy's actions inadvertently knock these obnoxious V's off their pedestal, he thought his entertainment value on the Young Suzuki was starting to wane. The boy was becoming somewhat chummy with those inept Imps, the boy had what many assumed to be a blossoming romance with the young Goetia princess, and he even managed to make amends with that Emily Angel. Alastor was close to intervening and spicing up the show himself.

But the day with Satina … flailing around, humiliating that snake demon who's name he already forgotten about … and learning that the rules of living human souls were far more malleable than demons and sinners … truly, an astounding feat of interest. He wondered if he should bring out some more volatile experiments at a later date through IMP … maybe post extermination.

Right now he has more important things to focus on … "Oooh, quite the damage." Alastor clicked his tongue at the broken leg. "That'll make running around quite difficult."

"Ow ow ow ow.." The boy limped around, looming like he wanted to glare or fight back, but merely settle for whimpering as he wrapped the gauze around his leg. "Last time I ever cook with Alastor around."

"Least you got it off easy kid." Husker groaned as he drank what was probably his twentieth bottle … and said liquid falling out of the gaping hole Alastor left in his stomach. "I hate regeneration."

"Why would you ever hate it?" Good old Nifty questioned as she took a bite out of Husker's removed liver. "Free food. Want some Chomper?"

"Uh… pass." Iruma scooted away.

"Oh don't be like that, young lad. Husker here is quite use to seeing his body parts getting ripped out and eaten. Why, I almost say the little kitty likes it."

"… Is this why I never see him with a job?" The boy questioned the car. "He just has anyone under his contract give him organs whenever for food?"

"Overlords own souls, and just like you, they can get them to do whatever they want." Husker rolls his eyes.

"Even give me all their money." Alastor chuckled. "Barring dear old Husker of course. Our deal says I always make sure to leave him enough to keep up his desire to gamble. How did your latest hand do anyway? Another loss of a pot?"

"Fuck off you jobless ass." Husker flipped him off. "Seven years gone and you think you can still be hot shit."

"I'm relevant no matter when or how I appear. So says the view count." He kept up the grin. "I'm always on everyone's mind, whether it's their terrors of their screams or their theories."

"But Octavia said the higher class don't listen to the radio."

He turned to Iruma. "… Say goodbye to that other leg."

"Should have stayed quiet." The boy winced as he prepared for the hit to come…

Knock knock knock

"… Saved by the bell.. for now." Alastor held back as he turned to the door.

"Another guest?" Nifty tilted her head. "Is it going to be another sin kid to force chomper on a walk, or somone that'll actually succeed in ripping out his heart, you know, other than his girlfriend?" Nifty chuckled.

"Again, you should be more specific when you say girlfriend." Iruma pointed out. "Literally all my friends are girls." One of the added bonus of having such a naive soul around was that they weren't filled to the brim with hormones, crude behavior, and desires that Alastor personally found detestable.

He opened up the door … and was greeted by quite the familiar, and welcome, sight. "Mimsey!"

"Alastor! Put em there!" One of the few people in this literal hellhole he'd allow physical contact with. They had a quick hug before pullin away. "Been livin without electricity for a bit, didn't hear about you comin back till I saw it in someone's paper! You shoulda told me you were comin back with jazz in your step."

"Oh you know me by now Mimzy, I'm always keeping everyone on their toes. Maybe I'll take a seven year Sabbatical, maybe I'll get summoned to the mortal realm, or maybe l'll frequent a small pub for the music, who knows what I'll do next!"

"Still, seven years is a bit long ta keep a girl waiting. Who's gonna look after whittle ole me?"

"The loan sharks?" They paused for a second before they laughed along with the laugh track.

"…. What the heck am I watching?" The boy asked in bafflement.

"Two jerks havin a ball." Husker grumbled, trying to keep the alcohol in his stomach from leaking out. "Fuckin …"

"Husker, you ole sunniva gun! I see Al wasted no time keepin you close on ya leash, like a good widdle putty cat." Mimsy grinned as she ruffled the cat's face. "Be a dear and pour a gal an ice on the rocks, considering all the booze ya drinking is going right through ya." The man merely grumbled as he began pouring.

"So …" Suzuki started. "... Another soul you own?"

"Of course not! I would never dare to chain down a marvelous girl such as this!" He grinned.

"Oh Al, you old flatter you." Mimzy blushed with a wave of a hand. "The name's Mimzy, little bluebird. I'm an old friend of Al, from both up top and down below if ya know what I mean."

The boy blinked rapidly. "... You have friends?" Iruma questioned.

"Why of course I do. You already met dear Rosie, remember?"

"Yeah, but she was a cannibal, so I thought it was more like wolves in a pack thing."

"Pfft, you really are a jokester, aren't you hun?" Mimzy laughed. "Me and Al go back a long ways beyond simmering demon flesh. We knew each other back when our hearts were beating and our toes were tapping up topside."

"You were quite the gal on the dance floor." He chuckled.

"….. I'm sorry, it could be because of the broken leg or the blood loss from my lack of pancreas, but the idea that Alastor was once human just completely slipped my mind." The boy continued to be confused. "You sure he wasn't some kind of elderitch parasite sucking out every bit of life out of you?"

He laughed. "Oh quite the flatterer this one." Alastor chuckled.

"Pffft, great sense of humor too." Mimzy grinned. "Relax darling, Al's a great guy once you get to know him, and I got to know him very well."

"…. Is this one of those psychological tortures where you show me something so bizarre my brain breaks…. Cause it's working." The child stated.

"Hahahah! Seriously Al, where did you find this kid?"

"The human realm!" He shouted.

"How the heck did you get the little bluebird here from up there?" She asked.

"Why does everyone from cannibal town call me bluebird?"

"Cause ya cute, tiny, fragile, and could be eaten in one bite?" Nifty suggested.

"... First thing all day that made sense."

"Anyways, I would've visited ya sooner, but between runnin my bar, paying off debts, and the constant crowd surrounding every place ya visit to off the little bluebird, I couldn't find the time." Mimzy grinned. "But I thought to celebrate your return, I'd invite you to a night on the town, like the good ole days when you relaxed after a night of murder."

"Now just sounds positively delightful!" He exclaimed. "Come along now everyone, we have a party to attend." He then turned to the boy struggling to stand. "And Suzuki … walk it off please."

"…. If we're not walking into a bottom pit of shadows and misery, I will legitimately be surprised." The boy grumbled as he did what he was told.

"Hahahaha, seriously kid, ya gonna kill me again with that wit of yours!" Mimzy cackled. It was truly delightful to hear the laughter of an old friend.

"Finally." Husk groaned as his stomach fixed itself. "I can drink again." He was gonna need it for the headache this woman would give him when shit went flying. Always another day of life fuckin up, like how the kid mannaged to loose his own soul twice, and got his leg broken for it. "You doing alright, kid?" He asked, offering his umbrella, which the kid used as a makeshift cane.

"Yeah… just fine…." The kid grumbled as he passively moved forward. "Alastor with a friend… I honestly thought I would die for real before hearing those words."

"Come on Chomper, everyone has a friend." Nifty grinned. "You have Octavia and Loona, Alastor has Mimzy and Rosie, and I have you guys."

"….I'm your friend?" Iruma asked, looking just as confused as before.

"Of course you are. You guys don't boo me when I put on roach puppet shows." She grinned.

"Yeah, that's a perfectly good reason." Husk groaned.

"My standards for friendship are so shot it basically is." Iruma groaned. "I sold my soul a second time…. I sold it thinking I was just making a friend…I really can't trust anybody down here."

"Correct indeed young Suzuki." Alastor chuckled. "Unless you're strong enough to mutilate everyone around you, no one will view you as anything other than meat to be eaten, or labor to be exploited."

"I'll drink to that." Mimzy laughed. "Come on now pups, welcome to the club!"

"The only club I wish for right now is for the oversized kind to bash you over the head."

"Not even for the free booze?" Mimzy grinned at him with that evil fucking smirk.

"... Fuckin." He snatched the bottle, downing it. Everyone had WAY too good a read on what Husk liked.

"So… you knew Alastor when he was alive?" Iruma asked, trying to find a place to sit that didn't have someone's else's spilled booze in it.

"Oh yeah, way back. The old guy knows how to chug a bottle of brand and a cup of Rye after a long day of serial killing." Mimzy grinned.

"And Mimzy knew how to flee quick and silently after a hit and run." Alastor agreed as he turned to the bartender. "Rye, on the rocks."

"Oh never change, Al."

"…. Husk, I'm probably going to need some of that strong stuff you drink if I ever want this whole thing to make logical sense." The kid turned to him.

"Give him a Strawberry Mimosa." The boy was a lightweight, he'd pass out after one.

"Thanks….So did you know Alastor was capable of having friends?" The kid asked.

"Yeah. Although 'friends' is stretching it." He air quoted as the booze finally hit his liver. "More like sinners who don't annoy him while paying attention to him."

"Ah… so they're just another form of entertainment for him, just not in a torturous way."

"You catch on quickly." Husk nodded. "Don't let the syrupy ditzy facade trick ya kid. The girl is a whirlpool of misery because she always drags others into her shit." Husk stated. "And Al always gets a chuckle out of whatever that shit is, so he always enables her."

"Dragged in … can you give me an example?"

"First time I met the chick, she crashed at Al's plays, claiming that her house was getting fumigated, only for two days to pass and we realized that her house was demolished because she ran over the landlord after stiffing him for rent the past five months and shoving his kid into a sewer pipe."

"Oh, I get you." He nods. "I knew someone like that in middle school, told a couple of mob guys that I would pay his debt, then I got shot at for a week." Iruma stared at his mimosa. "... Chances are Alastor's gonna send me in to deal with the problem even if I have a broken leg, isn't he?"

"Very." Nifty cackled. "Cuase you're a good little doggie like that, aren't you."

Iruma sighed, shoving his drink away. "Can't afford the inhibition. I'll be too dizzy to deal with the bullets and knives, and I'm already down a limb as it is…. My ability to dodge danger has only made the pain stronger….ow.."

"Then get stronger than the pain." Husk shrugged. "You can't go your whole life without feeling it. Yeah, it's shit that you got to deal with it, but constantly dodging it ain't going to cut it forever."

"Yeah, but, this is hell." The kid said. "What inconveniences and hurts you permanently injures and kills me."

"Then you'll be with us forever." Nifty smiled. "Away from IMPS and other rings, and earth, and that angel woman."

"...So what was that about getting stronger than the pain?" The kid immediately turned back to him.

"Not saying you need to become a masochist like Nifty over here…"

"Pain is hilarious!"

"A toast to pain!"

"But you want to know the reason why I can get away with cursing at Al?"

"Because you spent so long being maimed and hurt that having your head chopped off is just annoying?" Iruma questioned.

"Sorta. The thing is kid… pain is numbing after awhile. Al WILL push your buttons, but eventually…. It doesn't scare you. It doesn't intimidate you, and eventually, it doesn't hurt you. See all these dead fuckers around us?" He waved to the bar patrons. "The reason why they can smile and drink without a fucking care is because whatever torture they suffer over the decades, or even centuries, it's become a comodeity. And you're alive… so by the time you're dead, you'll be ready."

"... Okay …" The kid took the drink. "... I'll try and accept it." He drank it all down …

thump

… And passed out. "... Can I nab him?" One medusa lookin demon asked Nifty. "My dance partners are usually too sober to dance with a snake girl.

"He's too wimpy for me, so he's all yours." Nifty waved off.

"Sweet." She grabbed his body, dragging it into a back room.

"Mother fucker.." Husk groaned as he got up. He was no baby sitter, but he wouldn't let the kid get raped. He wasn't an ass like Al.

Mimzy spun around with a big smile on her face, singin with the music. "They call me the wanderer, oh yeah I'm the wanderer, I roam around around around."

"You go Mimzy, break a leg!" Alastor, man it's been a while since they chatted, shouted out with his ever present grin.

"Heck yeah I will!" She laughed while kicking someone's kneecaps. Always a fun time all around. Hell ain't been the same since he left. And by that, she meant she actually had to be careful about stepping on too many tails without her tall dark and gruesome savior behind her back.

But with the scapegoat known as one of the most feared overlords in hell by her side, Mimzy could go back to bein her spontaneous, wild, and most importantly, gorgeous self. "Come join the dance floor Al, it's still warm!"

"Just a moment, a song about sexual attraction isn't something I diddy to myself." He grinned. "Plus Husker is in quite the game of tug a war right now."

"Rape someone older you fucking pedo snake gobbler!" The grumpy cat shouted as he held that funny human boy above his head while a Medusa demon lady strangled him."

"I just want someone short enough to spoon damn it!" The woman screamed as she chased them, multiple snakes trying to bite the former overlord. "Way too many demons in hell are tall and lanky!"

"Eh, not the worst reasoning I've heard." She shrugged as she spun around. "So Al, why mess with a human at all? I get the torture and misery being entertaining, but you usually torment those with a little more meat on their horns and less baby fat."

"Call it a creative change of pace. The screams of former overlords just don't ring like they use to." He sighed with melancholy. "It's just been repetitive you know? Beating up those who don't know proper respect, messing with Vox, eating flesh? It gets boring. And boredom is worse than hell itself."

"I thought I'd never see the day. You, Alastor, running into a dry spell on how to have fun in hell." Mimzy cackled. "I'd suggest taking an apprentice if I knew you'd shank me."

"You can't be the classics." Alastor cackled. "Though admittedly an underling putting a new spin on my craft does sound enticing to a degree.." the old deer head mused with a small hum. "Oh I can set someone up to ride only to watch them tumble down into the firey pit if failure…..who's to say. A lot of options have opened up to me quite recently." The man chuckled. "Enough about me, my dear. What's new with you? Surely you haven't just been waiting around the corner for my smile to brighten your day up for the past seven years."

"Ah you know me Al. Cruisin, bruisin, stabbin hoes who get grabby with my body." She answered. "Personally I've been debating if I should get into the overlord business. Thought it was just overkill at first, but apparently there're this imp killin off Overlords and Goetia."

"An imp you say? Ooh, sounds fansinating." Al leaned in with intrigue. "Hells bottom parasite rising through the ranks of infamy with those ontop caught unawares! Between that and IMP, the hellborn have gotten more interesting in my time away."

"When you literally can't get any lower." She chuckled. "Who knows, maybe a hellhound's gonna come gunning for your antlers."

"Hahahahahah, oh you're adorable when you joke like that…. The fact any dog lives near my presence is purely due to the boredom of a mundane kill."

"You know I kid." Mimzy grinned. "Anyways, so I decided to start collecting souls of my own, mainly bar patrons too drunk out of their asses to realize what they're doing till the hangover headache in the morning."

"Smart."

"Pretty much … till I may have stepped on some wrong toes in that department." She chuckled. "Like say, stealing the soul of a certain overlord's best client."

The man paused at that. "Are we talking someone as annoying as the Vs or as lovely as Rosie?"

"Eh, I place her smack in the middle. It's that dinosaur party chick, Missi Zillow." Mimzy rolled her eyes. "Apparently she had a hold on all reptile type demons, which is call bullshit on. It's one gator looking mother fucker …. That I ran over and forced to piss on her house, but by then the cunt was just being unreasonable."

"Miss Zillow you say…, I remember her. Honorable, but her savage style isn't really my cup of tea." Alastor gave a buzzing radio sound of a pondering hum as he gazed into her soul. "... Luckily, I have JUST the solution to your problems!" He shouted, walking over to Husky, and slapping the human brat awake. "Iruma, would you please help me by walking up to the Kaiju Kluub and setting it ablaze?"

"... Y-... Yes … ssssir …" The boy slurred, slowly getting up, before wincing and falling to the ground. He then started crawling out of the bar.

"Are you fuckin serious!?" The cat shouted. "He's drunk AND injured."

"Exactly! Which is why he'll be doing this alone." He cackled. "Who knows what'll happen? Maybe he'll succeed, maybe he'll get eaten alive, maybe the V's will come around and shoot a bullet in his head, the possibilities are endless!"

"Maybe they'll turn his skin into a rug for their club!" Nifty cackled like the madwoman she was. "Ooh, then I can knit chomper a new skin out of the bites of skin I peel off of other demons!"

"Creative as always." Mimzy laughed. "Have tah say all, I thought there was only so much fun you can have torturing a single person. But ya prove me wrong."

"It's all about execution and proper presentation. Each new day is a canvass of endless possibility!"

"... I am surrounded by sadists." The cat grumbled as he took a swing.

"Aww, don't go acting like you don't love us, you giant grumpy fluff ball." She teased.

"... The only reason I'm not leavin this bar is because Al took my legs the moment he said the kid'd do it alone." He pointed to the stumps.

"And now you're staying here like the good kitty you are."

"Fuck you all."

Missi Zilla took a swing as she overlooked the new ride. "Oooh yeah, this bad boy will do just fine." Tearin up the streets loud and wild, gun placement for any traffic, and a bottle holder. Just how the Kaiju Krew rode.

"We gonna run over the enemy turf with this baby?" One of her krewmates, a crocodile dude, grinned.

"Hmm … it's all a matter of debate." Another krewmate, a newt cick, took on a pondering pose. "Would it be better to kick the Vs while they're down, or wait till they build back up, THEN kick them back down?"

"Ooh, that's a tough one." Missi chuckled as she thought about it. "They're probably the most pathetic they've ever been, but a large part of me wants to see how the radio demon uses that human kid to fuck them over sideways again." She wasn't too political when it came to overlord business, but watching the others rip each other apart was always hilarious.

When Missi got to hell, she realized the absolute blast a gall like her could have. So, she started beating up anyone who gave her shit and having a blast, forming a small gang and causing chaos. When overlords came knockin for breakin too much of their shit, the most loyal ones gave Zilla their souls for a power boost to fight on even footing. From then on, the Kaiju Krew truly became a name worthy of hell.

They weren't people anymore, they were demons. And more than that, they were fucking animals. Animals of the highest and most savage order. So why be bound by human law and human morality? Strongest survives, instincts rule, have fun and eat well. Just be … free. "Hmm … let's put it on hold and see if the Vs can actually claw themselves out of that hole." She chuckled. "Place the bikes out back."

"We'll do it once the rest of the krew's done." The crocodile spoke.

"Done with what?" She questioned.

"Oh. They found some brat in the back trying to start a fire. They're teaching him a lesson as we speak." He chuckled.

"Really?" She smirked. "Who's crazy enough to set the Klub on fire and think they can get away with it?"

"Mimzy?" The newt sarcastically questioned.

"True. Must've been one of her lackies or something she sent." Missi shrugged. "Eh, what the hell? I want to see this crazy bastich before seeing their head smashed in." She walked out to the rear garage … seeing the boys and gals swing baseball bats against a kid … a familiar one … "Holy shit, is that the radio boy?"

"Sorta." A gal shrugged as she swung a bat into his face. "He's not really … all there right now."

"Hahahaha.." The blue haired kid laughed, covered in bruises. "I'm … I'ma too drunk to feel the pain right now … haha oh was the sky always this red?"

"... Unchain him, I wanna chat." Missi smirked.

"You sure?" A snake asked as they began uncuffing the kid. "He doesn't really seem in the chatting mindset."

"Not to worry, I got an all around cure for any drunken haze." She smirked, holding onto the kid's shoulder. He looked up at her with confusion …

Crack

Before the familiar sound of cracking ribs caused his eyes to widen, and his cheeks to puff. "BLLEEE!" He spewed a mix of stomach acid, booze, and blood onto the floor. "Ah… why.. what did I drink.."

"From the smell of it… Strawberry Mimosa." Missi noted. "Only one apperently., heh, little pipsqueak like you can't hold their liquor, huh?"

"Nope … last I remember … took a sip … brawling … then Alastor sent me here … for arsony …" The kid groaned. "You're gonna eat me now aren't you?"

"I mean, you do smell good.." She snickered sarcastically. "Nah man, don't be so negative. Krew, give us five. I'm gonna talk to the pipsqueak alone. And if you see a crazy imp chick, just give her a push away."

"You got it boss." One by one, they all filled out, leaving the overlord and human isolated within the room.

"You know limiting the number of carnivorous reptiles usually does reassure me, but this is hell and for all I know, you just want to eat me yourself, no offense." The kid looked round.

"None taken, I've done more for less." She nodded, taking a seat. "So, Suzuki. Gotta say, I'm a big fan of japanese culture."

"... Really?" They asked with confusion.

"Oh yeah. From the Bosozoku biker gangs, to the nice sights, and the monsters." The mythology of that country was fuckin nuts. "You ever watch a monster movie?" She asked as she grabbed a drink.

"Once or twice, I'm more familiar with monster manga personally." The kid said. "I used to be an editor, since the job offered a lot of money with little qualifications."

"Is there any job that you didn't have up top?" She asked with bemusement.

"Prostitute." He said with no hesitation."That and middle management … or management in general."

"I hear that." Missi grinned. "Dying is easy, but living is the hard part. I've spent most of my life scavenging and scraping by for a decent seat up top, and now I'm top of the food chain in hell."

"Oh … good on you." They gave her a genuine smile. "I struggled all I can and I still only downgraded as far as I'm aware … well, besides actually making friends. I have three and a half now."

"Three and a half?"

"Satina owning my soul is somehow more of a horror move than whatever Nifty does on the daily." The kid shrugged. "At this point I'm taking what I can get without thinking about the horrific context."

"Sounds rough, eacpailly fo the kid that fucked over the V's." Missi laughed. "Favorite moment was you ripping off that bitch Velvette's clothes."

"You hate them too?"

"Kid, every overlord hates them." She said honestly. "They're just a bunch of pricks flaunting around popularity and an image instead of earning their power." Missi rolled her eyes. "And they only got as many souls as they do cause they hook them in with tread and fads. Believe me, no one worth their salt will ever respect those assholes."" And let the whole world hear that.

"I see." He nodded. "So … what about you?"

"Pardon?"

"Rosie runs a colony of cannibals and talks with them, the … Vs are a bunch of trendy people who focus on useless stuff, and Alastor is a terrifying demon who broadcasts suffering … what about you?"

"Kid, when you look at me, what do you see?"

"… Godzilla's sister?"

"PffAhabahahahaaa, wow, you are a riot." Missi laughed. "And that's kind of what I was going for. I'm a kaiju and proud of it. Most humans when they die end up becoming a demon that reflects who they were in life/how they died. For me, it was getting crushed to death hauling some museum dinosaur bones."

"Oh … wouldn't you be more flat if you died crushed?"

"Eh, take it up with the irony department on that, I wouldn't know." She waved off. "Anyways, I became a dinosaur demon as a result, and with that came certain urges. More hungry, more temperamental, more cold blooded."

"Ah, that sucks." The boy nodded. "Angry at the world and people ordering you around, an empty stomach after days of wandering, and sleeping in the snow with only a little bit of newspaper."

"Actually not too far off." She nodded. "Anyways, that's the deal with most sinners that become animals. So, I started the Kaiju Klub for any Kaiju based/reptile based demon to come in and let loose. They blow off steam and let their wild side run rampant in my Klub so they don't start going crazy everywhere else."

"That sounds … nice." The radio boy let out a soft smile. "... So … what happens now?"

"Kid, you're a riot, and you look like you've got the raw end of the shit sticky so I'll cut you some slack." She waved off with a smirk. "Y'all bring me some of that manga back from wherever you go topside, and I'll forget about ripping your head off for trying to burn down my joint, capeesh?" Missi offered her hand.

"Okay, doesn't sound too bad." The kid shook it… as the hands glowed and the crow eyes got bigger and darker. ".., I just sold my soul again, didn't I?"

"Tip for a newbie, never shake hands with anyone." Missi snickered. "I'll see you next week, boyo."

"See ya…" The kid groaned. Nice boy, if somehow still naive.

Iruma fell down on the couch, letting out a muffled groan of pain. His leg was messed up, his body was bruised, his ribs were fractured, he could feel damage on his stomach, and his brain was still dealing with the hangover. "I've gotta stop drinking … bad things always happen when I drink …"

"Or it's because your life is a mess that constantly breaks down no matter how much effort you have to deal with the pain or improve itself." Alastor grinned as he looked down on him. "Could be both, young lad. Life's full of surprises, like how not even a day after selling your soul twice, you do it for a third time! Twice is a mistake, three times it's a running joke!"

He didn't have the energy to argue or whimper … he just needed to sleep. It hurt to think, it hurt to move, it hurt to breathe. Iruma just needed to recover even a little …

"Hold on kid.." Husk pulled up.

"Husk, I really don't feel like having another drink right now-ahhh!" Iruma winced as Husk slathered something cold on his back. "What are you doing?"

"Icyhot. It'll numb the pain of your broken ribs, enough for the nights sleep."

"Oh … thank you …" He muttered. "I promise to … pay you back …"

"Kid, don't, just don't." Husk sighed. "You are the last person who owes anybody in hell anything, let alone a stubborn old ass like me. This is just me not being another bastard piling shit on you."

"I know you're not … you understand." Iruma spoke up. "That no matter how hard you struggle, push yourself for better, how much you trust people … that it never improves … it's just a way to get worse … you're probably the only guy in hell I can relate to on that …" He chuckled weakly.

"Eh, what are friends for?" Husk shrugged.

"Yeah.." What were friends.. "Wait, did you just-"

"Get some sleep now kid." Husk waved off as he walked away. "Hell knows if you'll get enough for tomorrow."

"…" Iruma blinked, not sure if that was really real.

"Hehehe, looks like the kitty and the doggie are getting along." Nifty giggled. "I've been trying forever to reach that soft and gooey center. I've tried stabbing it out of him, but he never stands still."

"... Please don't stab me in my sleep."

"Naah, you're bloody enough Chomper." Nifty petted his head. "And if ya too bloody, ya can't watch my roach shows anymore."

"… I really don't understand demons at all." Iruma sighed.

"Well, we're human… ish." Nifty rubbed his face. "Most of us used to be soft skinned flesh bags just like you. Heck, I was in my twenty's before kicking the bucket."

… Okay that DEFINITELY had to be part of his hallucination. "I see …"

"Ya a good, if spineless kid, chomper." Nifty laughed. "We're all monsters, creeps, and killers, but we're people just the same as you. And then one day, probably very soon, you'll be just like us, and we'll all suffer together like one happy family."

"... Family …" Something shifted inside of him at her wording it like that. And it felt … nice?

"Night friend." She waved, as she and Husk left the room. "Till the suffering begins anew!"

"… Night…" He waved them off … he waved his friends off ... he ... he actually saw them ... both Husk and Nifty as his friends … and ... he felt like he could trust them to see him as a friend back..to care for him ... even if wasn't in the most traditional way… "... I've got … four and a half friends …" Iruma smiled as his mind slowly drifted. "... Maybe … some nice things … happen …" Sweet dreams take him.