3 years after arriving in hell and meeting Charlie, Gabriel was now used to living in hell. And despite a few minor differences, he had to admit that it was no different from the human world.
There was a hierarchy based mainly on birth/abilities obtained when he arrived in Hell, companies that ruled over the inhabitants, contracts that could bind one person for life to another, a more or less disconnected ruler... yeah, it was like on Earth, only less subtle.
But there was one thing that defensively differentiated these two worlds... that thing was annual and had just come to an end.
All over Pentagram City, angelic women wearing masks that made them look more demonic than angelic withdrew their weapons from demon corpses before flying off into the distance.
It was the day of extermination, a once-a-year event when an army of exorcist angels descended to kill sinners and reduce the population to hell.
It disgusted Gabriel that Heaven, where all good people go, was organizing genocide.
Now he could see Charlie standing on a balcony, watching the angels ascend to heaven after completing their annual task of extermination.
At the end of the rainbow there's happiness
And to find it, how often I tried
But my life is a race
Just a wild goose chase
And my dreams have all been denied
Why have I always been a failure
What can the reason be
I wonder if the world's to blame
I wonder if it could be me
I'm always chasing rainbows
Watching clouds drifting by
My schemes are just like all my dreams
Ending in the sky
Some fellows look and find the sunshine
I always look and find the rain
Some fellows make a winning sometime
I never even make a gain,
believe me
I'm always chasing rainbows
Waiting to find a little bluebird
In vain
Charlie watched the angels leave with the eyes of her demonic appearance, the clock tower as the timer reset to start the countdown to the next extermination, causing her to shed a tear.
Gabriel, wearing a hooded cloak and a mask he had to wear only when alone or with Charlie where they lived, approached her and took her in his arms to comfort her.
Elsewhere in Pentagram City, a sinner fell when he had just been transformed into a demon. He fell head first onto the road and is surprised to see that he is still "alive".
"Aaaaah! Ugh. Huh? I'm alive! I'm alive…" Dit le démon à quatre bras avant de se fait ensuite écraser par un taxi.
The cab was driven by a demon bird, with "ears" shaped like those of an owl, a facial disc and a short, pointed beak. He had gray feathers all over his body with black claws for fingers. Its torso appeared to have pimples. His face seemed to be a lighter shade of grey with his left eye having a black sclera with a red heart-shaped iris. Just wearing a black hat.
Out of the cab came a demon measuring 2m66, with a slender silhouette with soft white hair and pink details on his fur, including a pink heart on the back of his head. He had eye shadow and visible eyeliner. Both of his irises were pink, his left eye had a dark sclera and no pupils, he also had a single golden fang among his sharp white teeth.
One of its most remarkable characteristics is its prominent chest. The chest is made entirely of fur, and the fur that he seems to be treating like breasts is actually a cluster of his fur pushed over time to shape the breasts due to the waterproofness of his jacket. He wore a white suit with pink stripes, a black and pink bow tie, a black choker, pink gloves, a black miniskirt and long black high-heeled waders.
The driver sneered as the other demon got out of the cab.
"Heh. Thanks for the fun time, hot stuff!" Said the demon.
"Yeah, yeah, listen." Said the demon out of the cab, staring at his hair. "Keep this discreet, you hear me? I can't let out I'm offerin' my services to randos on the street! It was a quick cash grab. Ya got it?" He said with a gesture with his fingers and snaps his fingers on him with a smile.
"Pfft! Whatever you say, slut! Muhehehehehehe!" Returned the cab driver.
"Ouch! Ooh!" Said the androgynous demon, pretending to be outraged before turning around to face the driver. "Such an insult! Let me know when you've come up with something creative to call me, you sack of poorly packaged horse shit! Tell the missus I said "hi"." He said by pointing with all his index fingers before quickly kissing him. "Shnuckums!" He said before the driver starts and leaves angry.
The demon looked behind him to see a drug dealer. He went to fetch angel dust and just as he was taking it, a demon came by and stole his drugs.
"Hey!" Shouts the androgynous demon.
"Up yours, drag show!" Shouts the thief before a rock falls from the sky, crushing him with the drugs he has stolen.
"Oh my GOD!" The androgynous demon gasped as he bent down to pick up what was left of his drug pack with a devastated look on his face. "MY DRUGS!" He said, squeezing the cloth angrily and looking up. "Damn it!"
On a TV set, a news program had just started. It was presented by two demons, a man and a woman.
The woman was very tall and slim, with a narrow waist and wide hips. She had short-cut blond hair, pure white skin and red eyes with small yellow pupils. Her most striking features were her long neck, red lips, large firm breasts and broad shoulders.
The man had an expressive gas mask as a head covering his neck as well, and a band of ashen-blond hair. He was wearing a gray suit with a white collared shirt, what appeared to be black gloves, a red tie and a red suit pocket.
"Hello, my name is Katie Killjoy." Says the woman.
"And I'm Tom Trench! Chaos in Pentagram City today as a turf war rages on the west side!" Said the man as the screen behind them showed an image of the snake demon clad in a suit with some kind of top hat trying to be hip, followed by a drawing of a white-skinned female demon with a single pink eye with a white cross dressed in a punk-looking outfit, a bomb in her hand. "Between notable leader, Sir Pentious, and self-proclaimed courageous powerhouse, Cherri Bomb!" he introduced.
"That's right, Tom! After the recent Extermination, many areas are now up for grabs! Demons from all over Hell are already fighting to win new territories!" Says the woman as the screen behind the two presenters shows a live video of Cherri and Sir Pentious' confrontation is shown.
"Those two really seem to be giving it their all, don't they?" Says Tom.
"They look like they're fighting tooth and nail." Says Killjoy as she respectively takes a tooth and a nail from her coffee cup. "To acquire this area!" She said before swallowing said nail and tooth.
"And I'd sure like to acquire his area!" Joked Tom as he watched the live video focusing on Cherri.
"Haha, you're silly Tom! Or should I say..." Said Killjoy before pouring hot coffee over Tom's crotch. "A hot bunny?" He says as Tom cowers in pain.
"Ugh ... not again!" Says Tom.
The screen behind them showed a photo of Charlie while Tom could still be heard moaning in pain in the background.
"Coming up next, we have an exclusive interview with the daughter of the very famous ruler of Hell, who's here to discuss her newest so-called revolutionary project! All that and more, after the break!" Says Killjoy before the commercial break buzzer sounds as she crushes her cup in her hand and turns to the still-suffering Tom. "That'll teach you son of a pu-!" She says as the commercial break is launched by the technical team.
Nearby, Gabriel helped Charlie get ready for his interview and finished tying the underworld princess's bow tie.
Gabriel was now wearing a tuxedo with a red shirt underneath.
"Okay! Do you remember what you have to say?" Gabriel asked, his mask raised as they stood alone.
"Yes! Let's go!" Charlie replied.
"If you have any gaps, let me know and I'll let you know." Said the human in a serious tone.
"Come on, Gabriel!" Said Charlie, leaning back. "I know what to say! I just feel like we need to... I don't know..." Says she, grabbing and tossing a doughnut that her bodyguards grab to eat. "Make things more exciting! Ooooh! And if I..." she began.
"Sung a song about it?" Gabriel finished.
"You knew I was going to say that!" Said Charlie, stroking her boyfriend's cheek.
"Because I know you very well. But please don't sing. This is serious business!" Says Gabriel.
"Well, you know, I'm better at expressing myself and my goals through song!" Said Charlie as he climbed onto the table with Razzle and Dazzle, the two red goats serving as Charlie's bodyguards, happily munching doughnuts, looking at her.
"But life isn't a musical, darling." Said Gabriel. "Even if I like musicals. At least in a musical, the world is less horrible. Unless it's called Sweeney Todd or Phantom of the Opera."
"Right. But I have these other ideas of what to say!" Says Charlie, starting to bounce a little as she shows Gabriel a piece of paper. "I highlighted the best parts!"
"Uh, it's all highlighted... Wait, is that a drawing ...?" Says Gabriel, looking at the end.
"Yes! That's the happy ending!" Said Charlie, starting to fantasize. "Everyone smiling and happy in heaven!"
"I don't think it's that simple. Please follow the plan we've drawn up to the letter and don't sing. It's bad enough that when they first started out, the revolutionary ideas got a bigger kick than Angel. But, if you do this, you're going to feel it." Said Gabriel, not wanting Charlie to feel humiliated in front of thousands of people.
"Okay, I get it. I'll just have to resort to my incredible talent for improvisation!" Said Charlie before waving goodbye to Gabriel as she made her way towards Katie Killjoy.
The latter put his mask and hood back on before going over to where the audience and technical crew were.
"Hi, I'm Charlie." Charlie greeted nervously, trying to shake hands with the presenter.
"Katie Killjoy." Said Killjoy, blowing smoke from her cigarette. "I'd say it's a pleasure to meet you, but that would be a lie." Said she, tossing away her cigarette. "And you can put your hand away. I don't touch those who date randoms. I have standards!"
"Yeah? How... how were you doing?" Said Charlie, turning to look around nervously.
"Look, my time is money, so I'll keep this brief." Said Killjoy, poking Charlie's chest a few times. "You're not here because we were expecting you. You're here because Jeffrey couldn't make his cannibal cooking show. You may be of royal blood, but that's of no value to me. I'm too rich and influential to give a damn what some 'princess' wants to announce." Says Killjoy as Charlie sees Tom shake his head in disapproval as Killjoy boasts of his wealth and influence.
"But I..." Says Charlie as Killjoy interrupts and continues to prick his chest.
"Then don't play innocent, darling, or I'll break your fucking neck!" Said Killjoy as Gabriel restrained himself from using his gun or flashing his door and using one of his books on her.
"And we're live!" shouted a staff member.
Killjoy rushed to her desk, holding papers while cracking her neck.
"Here we are again! So, Charlotte!" Said Killjoy pronouncing the full first name of Charlie who took his seat in the chair next to her.
"It's... Charlie." Says Charlie, smiling nervously as a spotlight flashes in her direction.
"Never mind. Tell us about this exciting new project that's wasting our audience time!" Says Killjoy, trying to hold back his angry outburst as he clutches her pen.
Charlie looks around as Gabriel beckons her on. "Well..." She says before clearing her throat and exhaling. "As most of you know, I was born here in hell and growing up, I always tried to see the good in everyone around me."
As Charlie said this, Killjoy spotted a slug and stabbed it with his pen, the slug's blood bursting everywhere.
"Hell is my home and..." Charlie began, getting slug blood splashed on her cheek, which she then wiped off. "You are my people. We... we've just suffered another extermination."
Gabriel gave Charlie a thumbs-up and a gentle nod to let her know she was on the right track as Killjoy quickly began to lose interest.
"We've lost so many souls and it breaks my heart to see my people slaughtered every year. Nobody even gave them a chance!" She says, slamming her fist on the table, waking Killjoy as she stands up. "I can't stand by while the place where I live is subjected to such violence! So, I thought: isn't there a more humane way to prevent overpopulation here in Hell?" She says as she strolls into the audience.
"Maybe there's an alternative to saving these souls like... redemption? Well, I think there is! So that's what this project is all about!" She said before returning to Killjoy's office. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm opening the first of its kind! A hotel that rehabilitates sinners!" She said, leaving a small moment of silence that made him start to lose his confidence. "Because... hotels are for people passing through... temporarily... I think it will serve a purpose... a place to work towards redemption..." She said.
Far away, demons watch the show in a TV store window. A mysterious figure approaches to watch it being broadcast alongside a group of other demons watching.
Elsewhere, a violet-skinned woman with white hair and a pink cross where her left eye should be was looking at the paper and seemed to be turning her attention to Charlie.
In an abandoned bar, 7 humanoid monsters, each seemingly inspired by a specific type of animal or insect, were also watching the newspaper with interest.
One of them was red and seemed to have a bird-inspired appearance, another black and yellow with a feline-inspired appearance, another black and yellow with an insect-inspired appearance, another black and gray with a heavy Animal-inspired appearance, another more feminine-looking one was black and blue with a sea animal-inspired appearance, another purple with a dinosaur-inspired appearance, another orange with a reptile-inspired appearance, and another skeletal-looking one resembled a samurai in heavy armor.
"His desire is interesting..." Said the feline-looking one, playing with a silver medal representing a tiger.
Back at the set everyone around the set, except Gabriel, was unmoved by Charlie's announcement.
"What a cunt." Sneered one demon before Gabriel punched him violently, knocking him out.
Charlie looked around, saddened, before continuing her speech.
"Look, every one of you has something good, deep down. I know you do..." she said, before flashing a quick mischievous smile. "How about I give you a little taste."
Razzle and Dazzle were then alerted that Charlie was about to sing and might need their help.
"Oh shit..." Said Gabriel as she realized she was about to do what he told her not to.
Charlie snapped his fingers as the room went dark and a spotlight was shown above a piano on which Charlie, Razzle and Dazzle began to play. Meanwhile, the mysterious figure and his shadow can be seen tilting their heads curiously as they smile.
I have a dream,
While she was singing, Charlie walked away from the piano as two editors looked at each other.
I'm here to tell.
She took out a drawing of the Happy Hotel.
About a wonderful, fantastic new hotel
Yes it's one of a kind, right here in Hell
Catering to a specific clientele !
Killjoy is in shock as Trench looks around, confused.
Inside of every demon is a rainbow,
She throws her arms around the necks of two demon birds.
Inside every sinner is a shiny smile!
Cross the tail of a hellhound.
Inside of every creepy hatchet-wielding maniac,
She dodged all the axes aimed at her.
Is a jolly, happy, cupcake-loving child!
She handed a demon a small cake and patted him on the head.
We can turn them 'round!
She turned to Killjoy and Trench.
They'll be heaven-bound!
Jacob stands with a worried expression doubting how the situation will end for Charlie.
With just a little time down at the Happy Hotel!
She pointed at a couch demon.
So, all you junkies, freaks and weirdos,
Creepers, fuck-ups, crooks, and zeroes,
And downfallen superheroes, hope is here!
All of you cretins, sluts and losers,
Sexual deviants and boozers, and prescription drug abusers
Need not fear
Forever again
We'll cure your sin
We'll make you well, you'll feel so swell
A demon lands on a wheelchair and is pushed by Razzle towards Charlie and Dazzle who shows the demon his map and Dazzle injects a serum of happiness into the patient.
Right here in Hell, at the
Charlie turned into his demonic form. She had dark reddish horns protruding from her head and the sclera of her eyes turned bright red with slit pupils. Then she immediately returned to her default shape.
the Happy Hotel !
Razzle continued to play the piano aggressively as Charlie slid to Killjoy's right.
There'll be no more fire
And no more screams,
She slid to the left of Trench.
Just puppy dog kisses, and cotton candy dreams,
And puffy-wuffy clouds, you're gonna be like "Wow!"
Once you check in with meeeee~!
She showed a check-in board as Jacob hesitated to shoot himself in the head so that Charlie would have a guest for his hotel.
So, all your cartoon porn addictions,
Vegan rants, psychic predictions,
Ancient Roman crucifixions
End right here!
All you monsters, thieves and crazies,
Cannibals and crying babies,
Frothing mouth that's full of rabies,
Filled with cheer!
You'll be complete! It'll be so neat!
Our service can't be beat! You'll be on easy street! (Yes!)
Life will be sweet at the Happy Hotel~!
Charlie finished the song, rather exhausted as everyone in the news station watched it in disgust and disbelief.
« Wow !... C'était à chier ! » Dit un démon.
Everyone in the audience, including Killjoy and Tom, starts laughing at Charlie. She looked devastated and falls back in her seat. There was a booed section in the news and the demons didn't seem interested.
"Name of the Nine Circles! What makes you think that a single person in Hell would want to bother becoming a better person?! You don't even have any proof that your little experiment works! You want people to be good?! Just ... like that?!" Killjoy said before continuing to laugh.
"Well, we already have one adherent, who believes in our cause and has made incredible progress!" Charlie retorted.
"Oh? And who might that be?" Killjoy asked, not believing it for a second.
"Oh, a certain... Angel Dust!" Charlie replied, trying to sound smug and confident.
"The porn actor?" Tom asked.
"Connoisseur." Said Killjoy, turning to Tom menacingly before turning back to Charlie. "In any case, it's not even a feat. I'm sure you could get that whore to do anything for her dose of cocaine and lube." Killjoy retorted, making a wanking motion.
"Oh, I beg to differ!" Said Charlie, starting to count on his fingers. "He's been wise, sober and trouble-free for two weeks now." Says she.
"News flash!" Says a staff member before Killjoy pushes Charlie out of his office.
"We learn that a new player has entered the ongoing turf war! Let's go to the live feed." Says Killjoy.
The live feed shows the effeminate demon hurling a grenade at Sir Pentious with laughter visible in the background as Charlie stares at the screen in defeat.
"Oh, shit." Says Charlie realizing she has nothing left to maintain her project's credibility in the public eye.
"I'm a bad person!" Says Angel from the video feed.
"Oh, shit, indeed! Looks like the one who just joined the battle is none other than the porn actor, Angel Dust!" Says Killjoy, turning to Charlie as she shakes her fist. "What a juicy coincidence! You must feel really stupid now." She said.
Charlie watched the live feed with distress and tried to block it from public view.
"Don't look at that!"
"Well, it looks like your little project is dead on arrival. Tell us, how does it feel to be a failure?" Killjoy said before bursting out laughing.
"Yeah, well..." Said Charlie, looking around before grabbing Katie Killjoy's pen from the desk. "What do you care if I take your pen, huh?! Bitch?!" She said.
The whole set fell silent for a split second as Trench took his distance.
"Ehehe... oops." Charlie said, putting the pen down.
Killjoy assumed her demonic form as she hovered over Charlie. She had an extra pair of eyes that, next to her original pair of eyes, glowed bright red. She also had two extra pairs of arms that resembled the front legs of a praying mantis just below her usual pair of arms.
She tried to attack him, however, before she had time to do anything, Gabriel had grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the set table before shoving the barrel of a gun resembling a cell phone into her.
"Touch it..." he said, before shoving the gun further into his mouth. "And it'll be harder for you to make deep throats."
Much later, the Morningstar family limousine pulled up to the hotel. Charlie hugged her knees, staring out of the window, her jacket in tatters after Katie Killjoy had attacked her, while Gabriel, still wearing his hood and scarf, sat beside her, with a reassuring hand on her. Angel Dust was content to play with the button on the car window a few times.
"Stop it." Gabriel said, rather annoyed with Angel Dust.
"What?" Angel Dust asked, not thinking she'd done anything wrong.
"There was only today when you really had to keep quiet. And it had to be this one that you messed up." Said Gabriel in a tone more annoyed than angry.
"I was helping a friend! Isn't that a 'redeeming quality'? Helping friends with stuff?" Said Angel Dust.
"Yeah, but given the context it didn't matter. It's not." Said Gabriel.
"Oh, come on! I had to do it! My credibility was at stake! What kind of reputation would I have if people found out I was trying to repent? It goes against my image!" Said Angel Dust, suggestively pushing the fur over his chest.
"Your credibility? What about the hotel's? You made Charlie's project look like a joke." Gabriel reproached.
"No, no, no. Jokes are funny! I made you look... uh, sad! And pathetic! Like an orphan... without arms... or legs... Oh! With progeria! Great! Now I'm disgusted just thinking about it! Does this thing have alcohol?" Said Angel Dust.
"Can you please try to take this seriously?" Gabriel asked, doing his best not to get upset.
"There's really no alcohol here?!" Angel Dust asked annoyed. "Listen, who cares if some guignole got hurt? Most of them are ugly monsters. Look around you! You've got a bunch of fucking harlequin babies down there!"
"I've got more ridiculous in front of me." Said Gabriel, looking at Angel Dust.
"Hey!" Said Angel Dust offended before motioning to his body. "This body is impeccable! Everyone wants a piece." Said he, reaching into his chest and pulling out a letter. "And I've got letters from perverted fans to prove it!" He said, showing Gabriel the letter.
Fan letter with a photo of a dirty naked middle-aged man, who ironically has a tattoo of Angel Dust on a ban sign, licking an attached Angel Dust body pillow with the message saying "Show me your feet!". -Bryrin, Fan # 1 Critic".
"I'd say hopeless." Gabriel retorted.
"That was really uncool, you know, Angel." Said Charlie.
"After that wreck, nobody's going to want to stay in a hotel! We can thank Angel Dust's bullshit for that." Says Gabriel.
"Does this mean I don't get a free room anymore? Oh bummer." Said Angel Dust.
"Oh, come on." Says Charlie, taking off his ruined jacket. "We don't know if things are over yet! Try to relax, Gabriel. You'll be fine." She says, putting a hand on Gabriel's shoulder.
The limousine arrives at the hotel as the hotel door opens, revealing a very old and dirty establishment.
Gabriel sat down on the sofa and resisted the urge to take off his hood and scarf, but he was obliged not to because of Angel Dust.
He and Charlie had discussed this and agreed that, apart from Charlie and his family, no one in hell should know that Gabriel was human.
Angel Dust rummaged in the refrigerator, leaning against the wall and grabbing a box of popsicle sticks.
"Hey, it's probably a good idea to find real food in this place. You know, to feed all the rebellious souls you've got around here! Ahahaha! Ahaha... ! eh... ah..." He said as he closed the fridge door and saw Charlie's dejected look.
He hesitated to go and comfort her, but changed his mind and finally went to the sofa with Gabriel as Charlie came out of the hotel with his phone in his hand.
"You don't know how much Charlie cares about this project." Says Gabriel.
"So?" Angel Dust asked.
"This hotel is the only solution she's found to ensure that no one gets killed to reduce overpopulation in hell. Without it, she would have continued to mourn each extermination." Gabriel replied.
"So what, I've been living here since 47 and I haven't been even a little bit of a victim of this thing. You soon get used to it." Said Angel Dust.
"You haven't seen how it affects him..." Gabriel sighed.
It was at this point that Charlie returned and leaned close to the door in defeat as a sudden knock could be heard from the other side of the door, which surprised her. She decided to open it anyway. The mysterious person who had been watching her performance before could be seen standing in front of her.
He was 5,83ft tall. He was quite slim, with Kahki-colored skin and sharp yellow teeth. His head, resembling deer ears, and two small black antlers. His eyes had red sclera, bright red irises, black pupils and wore an oval-shaped black monocle over his right eye. He wore a dark-red pinstriped coat slightly ragged on the bottom, a bright-red dress shirt with a black cross on the chest underneath, and long burgundy suit pants with matching bright-red cuffs. He was also dressed in a red bow tie, burgundy gloves and black pointed-toe boots with red deer hoof prints on the soles. He also held a thin cane with a vintage-style microphone.
"Hel..." he began, before Charlie slammed the door in his face.
She looked to the side for a brief moment before opening the door again.
"...lo." He finished before Charlie closed the door again.
"Hey, Gabriel?" Said Charlie.
"Yeah?" Gabriel asked.
"The radio demon is at the door!" Charlie replied, pointing to the Greeed at the front door.
"What?!" Gabriel said in surprise.
"Uh ... who?" Asked Angel Dust after taking the ice cream out of his mouth.
"What should I do?!" Charlie asked, overwhelmed by the situation.
"Don't let him in!" Gabriel said immediately.
Charlie decided to ignore Gabriel's advice once again and opened the door to the demon.
"Can I take the antenna?" He asked.
"You may." Charlie replied, to which the demon quickly held out his hand.
"Alastor! Nice to meet you, sweetheart!" He said, pulling Charlie towards him. "It's a pleasure!" He said as he entered the hotel. "Please excuse my surprise visit, but I saw your fiasco on TV, and I couldn't resist! What a performance! Well, I haven't been laughed at since the stock market crash of 1929!" He says before laughing, playing with his cane. "So many orphans..."
As he finished his statement, Gabriel stood in his way, with a blue flame emerging from his right hand.
"If you come here to try anything bad, I can assure you you'll pay for it." Gabriel threatened.
"Oh come on, if I wanted to hurt someone..." He said before partly transforming into his demonic form. "I'd have done it already..." he said.
This startled Gabriel and Charlie, who remained silent before Alastor reverted to his default form.
"No! I'm here because I'm here to help your cause!" Said Alastor as he walked down the corridor.
"What did he say there?" Charlie asked.
"Help! Hahaha, hello? Does this thing work? Test, test!" Said Alastor, tapping his microphone, which opened one eye.
"For me it was crystal clear!" Said the mike.
"Would you like to help? For... ? " Charlie asked before Alastor teleported behind them with his shadow.
"This ridiculous thing you're trying to do! This hotel! I want to help you hold it." He said.
"But... why?" Charlie asked.
"Hahaha, why does anyone do anything? Pure, unadulterated boredom! My muse left me long ago. My work has become tiresome, aimless, purposeless! I'm craving a new form of entertainment! Hahaha!" Said Alastor.
"Does threatening a journalist with burning alive count as entertainment...? ? " Charlie asked, looking at Gabriel.
"Hahaha! In its purest form, my dear: reality! Passion! After all, the world is a stage and the stage is a world of entertainment." Alastor replied.
"So does that mean you think it's possible for a demon to redeem himself?" Charlie asked.
"Of course not! It's absurd! Redemption, oh non-existent humanity! No no no no, I don't think there's anything left that could save such repugnant sinners!" Said Alastor, looking at Angel Dust, who shrugged. "Their chances were given to them while they were still alive, and they deserve to be punished. We can't do what's already been done!"
"So, why did you want to help us if you don't believe in my cause?" Charlie asked.
"Consider it a purely personal investment!" Alastor replied, pulling Charlie close to him and twirling her around. "I want to see the scum of the world struggle to climb the hill of redemption only to stumble repeatedly and fall into the fiery abyss of failure!"
"Okay." Said Charlie, removing Alastor's hand from his back.
"Yes, indeed! I see great things coming your way and who better to help you than me?" Said Alastor, dragging Charlie along to continue talking to him.
"Uh, so... uh, who's the smiley face over there?" Asked Angel Dust.
"You never heard of him?" Gabriel asked, to which Angel Dust shrugged. "The radio demon. One of the most powerful beings Hell has ever seen?" He said.
"Eh, me and politics." Says Angel Dust shrugging a second time.
"Decades ago, Alastor manifested in Hell, seemingly overnight. He began overthrowing the Overlords who had ruled for centuries. This kind of raw power had never been harnessed by a mortal soul before. Then he broadcast his carnage throughout Hell just so everyone could witness his ability. Sinners began calling him "The Radio Demon". Many speculated on the unimaginable strength that allowed him to rival the oldest and most destructive evils of our world. But one thing is certain: he's an unpredictable source of danger, a wicked spirit of mystery and a violent monster of chaos, whose involvement we can't risk unless we want to end up obliterated!" Gabriel recounted, concealing the fact that he'd known him long before he'd arrived in hell.
"Are you done? He looks like a strawberry plant." Angel Dust said before laughing dryly.
Gabriel ignored Angel Dust and grabbed Charlie by the shoulder to lead him away from Alastor for a chat.
"Charlie, listen to me. You can't trust him! Who knows what he really wants?!" Gabriel warned.
"I... we don't know! Look, I know he's bad, and I know he probably doesn't want to change, but the point is to give people a chance!" Says Charlie, watching Alastor inspect a portrait of the Morningstar family. "To have faith, things will get better! How can I turn someone away? I can't. It goes against everything I'm trying to do. Everything I believe in." She said, putting her hands on Gabriel's shoulders. "Just trust me. I can take care of myself!"
"Charlie...whatever you do...don't make a pact with him." Gabriel says worriedly.
Alastor gestures with his hand, apparently concentrating on Gabriel.
"Don't worry, I learned one thing from my dad!" Charlie said before imitating his father's voice. "Gotta show the demons who's boss!" She said before going over to where Alastor was.
"All right, then. You're super shady and you think this is just a joke." Says Charlie as he turns away from Alastor, as glowing red symbols begin to appear beside him that quickly disappear after Charlie turns back to Alastor. "But I don't. I think everyone deserves a chance to prove they can be better. So I accept your offer. Provided there are no... scams or voodoo curses."
"So, do we have a deal?" Says Alastor, twirling his cane and presenting his hand for a handshake as green energy bursts throughout the hotel before Charlie refuses the handshake.
"No! No pact! I... hmm... As Princess of Hell and heir to the throne, I command you to help us with this hotel. For as long as you like. Does that sound fair to you?" Said Charlie.
"Hmm... Very well!" Alastor agreed.
"Cool, great." Said Charlie with relief.
Alastor hummed, looking around as he stopped in front of Gabriel.
"You should take off that mask to show off your smile. You're never fully dressed without a smile!" He said before turning to Charlie. "So, where's your hotel staff?" He asked.
"Uh, well..." She replied, pointing to Gabriel.
"Ohohoho, if you ask me, you'll need more help." Said Alastor, adjusting his monocle before walking towards Angel Dust. "And what can you do, my effeminate comrade?" He asked the pornstar.
"I can suck your cock!" Said Angel Dust without the slightest shame.
The sounds of a microphone can be heard in the background as Alastor tries to process what Angel Dust has just offered him.
"HAH! No. " He replies as he pulls away.
"As you wish." Angel Dust says mockingly.
"Well, that won't do! I suppose I can do a few favors to liven things up." He said before snapping his fingers, a new fireplace had replaced the hotel's worn one as he approached it and picked up the mysterious soot-covered figure, who then opened his only eye and stared at the trio behind him before the figure blew all the soot away at once.
She was a small cyclops demoness, her eye composed of a bright pink and orange sclera with a light yellow iris. She also had short but fluffy pink hair with a yellow tinge. Her teeth were sharp and light yellow, and she had pink dots at either end of her mouth. Her outfit was 50s-themed, wearing a dark pink scarf, a white shirt with pink polka dots and a pink skirt with a poodle pattern and yellow dots. She also has small limbs of dark pink coloring.
"This little lady is Niffty!" Alastor introduced, dropping Niffty.
"Hi, I'm Niffty! Nice to meet you! It's been a while since I made any new friends!" Said Niffty before looking around and noticing how dirty the place was. "Oooh my god, this place is filthy! It really needs a woman's touch!" She says as she pulls out a feather duster and begins to quickly clean the entire hotel.
Ils regardaient Niffty alors qu'une voix provenant d'un démon inconnu peut être entendue à proximité.
It featured an anthropomorphic cat demon with a casino playing card theme. His fur was taupe, covered with white fur on his face, torso, feet and upper arm. He had long red eyebrows with dark red vertical stripes near the tips, a black heart above each eyebrow and his eyes are brown with orange irises. His tail was brown and long, ending in large red fur with black and white stripes. His wings were large and red, with black stripes and the symbols on playing cards: hearts, spades, clubs and diamonds. The inside of his ears was white with matte pink stripes. He wore a black top hat with a red headband, gold hat decoration, red bow tie and a darker shade of taupe suspenders.
"Hah! Look at that and weep! Full oh..." He said, laying poker cards on the table before illusions temporarily distorted the environment. "… tel?" He asked as he looked around and spotted Alastor, eliciting an angry purr as he pointed at him. "You!"
"Ah, Husk, my good friend! Glad you could make it!" Said Alastor.
"Don't take that tone with me, you son of a bitch! I was about to win the jackpot!" Husker says, pointing to the disappearing jackpot.
"Nice to see you too!" Says Alastor.
"What do you want this time...?" Husk asked.
"My friend, I'm looking after a charity, I took the liberty of hiring you as a volunteer do you mind!" Said Alastor.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Husk asked, clearly annoyed by what Alastor had just done.
"Hmm ... No, I don't think so!" Said Alastor.
"Did you think it would be some kind of fucking good idea to drag me into one of your bullshit schemes?! You think that's all I care about?!" Husk asked, clearly disturbed by what Alastor had done.
"Maybe!" Said Alastor smiling as if he was about to laugh.
"Yeah, well I'm not fucking volunteering." Husk retorted.
"Well, I thought you'd be the perfect one to tend bar at this fine establishment!" Said Alastor, pointing to the bar he'd made from his magic. "With your charming smile." Says he, pulling Husks' lips into a forced smile before heading for the bar. "And a welcoming energy, this job is made for you! Don't worry, my friend. I can make it more welcoming!...If you wish." He said, conjuring a bottle of "Cheap Beer" from nowhere.
Husk looked at the beer for a few seconds before moving closer to the bar.
"What? You think you can buy me off with Cheap Beer?!" He said, grabbing the bottle and looking at it. " ... Well, you're right!" Says he as he begins to drink the contents of the bottle and stand behind the bar counter.
Charlie and Gabriel look hesitantly at the bar as Angel Dust looks at them, crossing his fingers with puppy-dog eyes.
"Well... I suppose if we put a limit on daily consumption, we can afford to have a bar." Gabriel pondered, to which Charlie nodded.
"Yes!" Angel Dust said enthusiastically before heading over to Husk to flirt with him. "Hi~" He said seductively.
"Fuck you." Said Husk.
"Only if you look at me!" Said Angel Dust, holding Husk's face so he'd look at him before being pushed aside by the hotel's new bartender.
"Oh my goodness! Welcome to the Happy Hotel! You're going to love working here!" Said Charlie, trying to shake his hand with a smile up to his ear and stars in his eyes.
"I lost the ability to love years ago." Said Husk before continuing to drink his beer.
"So, what do you think?" Alastor asked.
"It's incredible!" Charlie replied, rubbing his cheeks in excitement.
"That's good." Gabriel replied in turn.
"Hahaha! This is going to be very entertaining!" Said Alastor, drawing them back to him.
He summoned a fireball, hurling it at the hotel ceiling just so he could distract Charlie quickly enough for him to nudge Gabriel. He dressed in a tuxedo and matching top hat and began to sing while dancing with Charlie.
You have a dream,
You wish to tell,
And it's just laughable
But, hey kid, what the hell?
'Cause you're one of a kind,
A charming demon belle!
Now, let's give these burning fools a place to dwell
Take it, boys!
(Ha-ha!)
Boo!
Inside of every demon is a lost cause
(Ha)
But we'll dress them up for now with just a smile
Wicked smiles~!
And we'll chlorinate this cesspool
With some old redemption flair
And show these simpletons some proper class and style
Class and Style!
(Oh!)
Here below the ground,
I'm sure your plan is sound
They'll spend a little time
Down at this Hazbin Ho-
He couldn't finish his song because the hotel door exploded, taking Niffty to the wall. Charlie, Alastor, Angel Dust and Gabriel looked out.
There was Sir Pentious's warship standing in front of the hotel.
"Hah! Well, well, well. Look who's harboring the striped monster! We meet again, Alastor!" Said Sir Pentious upon seeing Alastor as all present exited the hotel to see what was going on.
"Do I know you?" Alastor asked, vexing the snake demon.
"Oh, yes! And this time, I have the effect of... SURPRISE!" Said Sir Pentious as he pulled a lever making a big cannon appear right in front of the Happy Hotel staff. "Ahaha! I'm so bad!"
With a snap of his finger, Alastor caused another dimensional portal to open with tentacles and shadow demons emerging from it, destroying Sir Pentious's ship while he's inside. Alastor can then be seen finishing him off by clenching his fist with a few drops of blood dripping from his hand as the ship exploded.
Alastor then flashed a menacing smile of satisfaction for a moment as the others looked on in horror and shock.
" ... Well, I'm starving!" Said Alastor breaking the tension. "Who wants some Jambalaya? My mother showed me a wonderful recipe for Jambalaya. In fact, it almost killed her! Hahaha! Ohoho, I'm boiling hot!"
As everyone turned to go back into the hotel, Gabriel felt something and turned to see something he never thought he'd see here.
"Impossible..."
The rest of the hotel staff and Angel Dust heard him and turned to see a demon they'd never seen in hell, despite the many different bodies they could see.
Before them stood a green humanoid monster whose upper body was composed of a kind of red origami armor representing a hammerhead shark.
"Now that's interesting. Said Alastor, watching the monster with interest.
"What's that thing?" Angel Dust asked.
"The Shark Deadman." Gabriel replied, intriguing everyone, especially Alastor.
The monster rushed towards them. Alastor was about to do the same as he had done with Sir Penthious, but against all odds, Gabriel rushed towards the Shark Deadman and confronted him with a certain ease, ending up knocking him away.
Then, in one swift movement, he removed his cape and mask, startling those present, including Charlie, who was now even more worried about her boyfriend. Now that his nature was known to the radio demon.
"Looks like I'm finally going to get to use it." Gabriel said, pulling the Revixe Driver from his waistband.
Revixe Driver!
He then pulled out the Vistamp he'd designed with the Driver and pressed the button, turning the silver propeller inside as the voice spoke again.
Revixe Gale!
He then applied the Vistamp to his heart and inserted it into the Driver, pressing the button a second time as the waiting jingle played.
Revixe Gale! Come on! Revixe Gale! Go! Go!
At the same moment, a red liquid appeared, rapidly invading the ground beneath his feet, as a transparent red skeletal creature with a pair of wings, seemingly carved from a huge roar, appeared behind him.
He then swung the part to which the Vistamp was attached, which returned to its original position as soon as he let go, while the black screen on its side revealed a slightly closed red demonic eye.
Tornado Up!
Then he brought his hand close to his heart, and clenched his fist.
"Henshin..." He said simply as the creature folded its wings over him, covering him completely before swooping down on him, forming an armor as the transformation jingle played.
Subete no shi ga hitotsu ni! Watashitachi no kanashimi! Kamen Rider Revixe!
Suddenly, what was left of the creature but not part of the armor burst open, revealing a costume that looked exactly like Kamen Rider Igarashi, even if the colors were different: black and red, with the symbol on the chest and shoulders looking slightly different.
"Kamen Rider Revixe..." Gabriel said, introducing his new appearance.
Revixe stepped forward, cracking his knuckles, and the Rider advanced towards his opponent. The Shark Deadman launched an attack, while Revixe summoned a black sword with the edge of the red blade, the Reslasher. The two opponents rushed at each other, exchanging brutal blows.
"Wow, not only is your guy hot, Charlie. But on top of that he's got classy armor and is brutal. Is he like that in bed?"
"What?!" Charlie shouted, his face red from the question.
"Eh, well... Here's something very interesting..." said Alastor, watching the fight with great interest.
The Rider and the Deadman were battling violently as Revixe's bladed weapon and the Deadman's razor-sharp flippers split the air and collided, sending sparks flying. They fought shoulder to shoulder and Charlie, like everyone else, watched in amazement. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen him do. She knew he'd worked on it, but she didn't know it would provide him with the physical capacity and protection to fight in hell, obviously without danger.
The Shark Deadman dodged a sword blow that would have decapitated him, before landing a blow that sent Revixe reeling. Revixe gripped his sword firmly, before swinging it at his opponent. The Shark Deadman decided to go on the defensive and began to dodge before retaliating ferociously, but Revixe managed to dodge them and delivered a powerful blow with his sword, causing the Deadman to retreat.
The Deadman then threw his teeth at Revixe, hoping to wound him. He quickly dodged and took advantage of the Deadman's few seconds of rest to regrow his teeth, chaining him with several blows until he was sent flying several meters into the air.
He then swung his Vistamp twice, gathering a mass of energy around his left foot.
Revixe Rage Strike!
As the Shark Deadman closed in on the ground, ready to attack Revixe once he was close enough, Revixe simply kicked him backwards, causing the monster to explode, leaving nothing but the heat and blast of the explosion, which did nothing for the Kamen Rider.
Revixe then advanced towards the group, removing the Vistamp from the driver, making his gun and weapon disappear.
"Oh well, at least this test is conclusive. Gabriel sighed as he stopped in front of everyone.
They returned to the hotel, Charlie holding Gabriel's hand.
"Oh, yes, my friends! Great things are going to happen! Now..." Alastor said, before using his magic to change the sign at the top of the hotel from "Happy Hotel" to "Hazbin Hotel". "... Stay tuned. Hahaha!"