Track 12: Do You Wanna - Franz Ferdinand

(There are several random sketches of people, places and things, including what looks like a studio, cameras, a demon wearing a pimp outfit, a hotel, a cat demon, a very tall man with wings in various poses and sultry expressions, a young woman, and a pig)

(Naturally, there are several drawings of penises)

Number 3:

Today was a doozy, fuck me running. The sharing circles ain't ever really easy, but today? Talking about Molly, remembering how badly I fucked up…ugh. Then Adam came back from Heaven (shoulda used that line about falling from Heaven there, dammit) and he had…her specialty. He didn't say anything when I asked, not that I blame him, but…knowing Molly got where she deserved was good to know. Even if it made me feel like shit.

Actually, the whole circle today made me feel like shit. I mean, fuck, man. Husker's best friend runs off to war, only to come back and die on him? Ow. Pentious never having a friend beyond a parrot? Hilarious, yeah, but sad. And Nifty? Well shit, I'm starting to think she's a little psycho for a reason.

And Alastor's…well, it made sense. Cannibals are gonna cannibal, though him saying Rosie's husband was a bastard sounds a li'l weak coming from him.

And then there was Vaggie, like, girl, do you realize how bad it sounds when 'the only important person in your life' is your girlfriend? As an old friend used to say, 'girl got issssssues. Mmhm.'

…I do like that Charlie considers us important, though. That was nice. She's such a sweetheart but christ, she's lucky as shit she is who she is.

That wasn't all, though. When I got back to my room, I found an envelope full of pictures on my bed, and when I cracked it open…

…Well, go sis, first of all.

Second, what the fuck, Adam? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FUCKING MY SISTER?!

He better be treating her right, I swear to god.

Third…god, I'm jealous. Not just of Molly climbing that tree, but…she's got her own bakery and a friend or girlfriend, I guess, close enough to have a threesome. She deserves it all and more, but…I wish I was there, too.

(there is a sketch of a young woman, smiling as she cuddles with a small pig)

I know I don't deserve it. I know.

Fuck.

Sometimes I can't tell if Adam does this shit on purpose, giving us all these benefits and treats, making the Hotel like Heaven in comparison to the rest of Hell…which it is. I just dunno if he's gettin' his jollies this way, torturing us with shit we'll never get.

I don't wanna fuckin' think about it.

I'm gonna snort something nice and rub myself raw to these pictures.

Not the ones with Molly in 'em, fuck that noise I got standards.

Her friend, though? Free game.

…

Oh shit, they're videos, too?!

…

Number 4:

…Alright, what the fuck? KeeKee, the fuckin' cat turned into…not really a demon or Sinner, kinda just…a catgirl. That pod thing was freaky as shit, but seeing KeeKee get all possessive over Adam and Charlie was pretty damn funny…

…Wait. Sexy Catgirl Maid. Possessive.

Fuck! That's another obstacle gettin' in-between me and the OG Dick! Dammit!

…Ah, hell. It's not like he'll fall for my charms anytime soon, but I ain't giving up. Man spends ten thousand years at the all-you-can-eat taco buffet and never once got curious about the sausage table? Bull-shit.

…Christ. Reminds me of some of the weirder shit I've had to do as whore. Never vore, though not for the lack of asking, apparently I got too much hair. Go me.

…And that reminds me of the shit I've been doing since Adam took over the hotel. Ducking Val. I made my excuses about Adam and Charlie being slave drivers and basically keeping us locked up in here, but…fuck, I can feel it. Doesn't help I've been filming Adam playing his guitar and uploading it to Voxtube. Got more hits on 'WingDaddySings' than I ever have in my own movies, which, again…ow.

I'm fuckin' scared, man. I don't know what Val's gonna do to me, but…shit, I need to get redeemed or get dead before the year is up, I swear.

(there are teardrops marring the page)

I never wanted to be a whore in the first place, you know? It was all I had that could make money for me and Mol, I don't have any skills. I already liked suckin' dick and life's been giving it to me raw forever, might as well get paid for it.

But shit if that wasn't a mistake. It was all for Molly but in the end…

…I don't wanna think about this anymore.

…Is that music? The fuck?

…

It was music. Husker and Adam just jammin' out…I didn't think they were friends. I mean, it's easy to get along with Husk, that grumpy cat barely speaks (though I do love listenin' when he does) but…those two were having fun. Christ, I already thought they were handsome fucks (OTT!) but them smiling and laughing like that…shivers, baby. I thought I ruined it, but I got to go up with them and we all jammed out.

Drumming wasn't easy, exactly, but it wasn't hard to pick up; turns out four hands is good for more than just four handjobs at a time, even though BJP (RIP) had me beat there.

Then Charlie joined in (there is a sketch of a woman with a set of bagpipes, her face red and eyes bulging as she blows) and man…it was just plain ol' fun. Just…fun. Hell, even Nifty got in on it! I don't…man, I don't think I've ever had that much fun that didn't involve copious amounts of Nose Candy, but there it is. We played and sang and drank and…just had a good time.

Oh fuck, did we just become best friends?!

(there is a quick sketch of the winged man, holding up a thumb and grinning with the words "YEP!" in a speech bubble)

And we started a band, too! I mean, I need more practice and figure out like a setlist or something…if we actually did start a band, and it's not just what we're callin' it when we jam. I kinda hope we actually are a band. Hanging out, playing, having a good time…I really don't want that to be the only time.

…Finding out about Husk, though. Christ. Feel kinda bad about calling him 'grumpy' all the time, though…he totally fuckin' is, ya know? But fuck me if that ain't a good reason to be depressed. Great job, great pay, got people answerin' to ya, makin' the moves…only to back the wrong horse and get horse-cocked into Hell. I can't imagine what it's like, being an Overlord, holding that many souls in your hand and just…losin' em. To that fuck.

(there's a sketch of a Deer demon lying on his back, drunkenly smiling and holding up a glass full of blood, with a speech bubble that says "Oh Deer!" and an arrow pointing from the words FUCKIN' STEREOTYPE!)

But then, when Husk asked Adam if redemption was possible, even for a former Overlord…there was some shit about forgiveness, but…

Adam didn't say no.

Why the fuck didn't he say 'no?'

Does he…is he-?

Fuck. Fuck, man! I hate this goddamn feeling, this fuckin' knot in my chest that hurts and hopes and…

…I wanna see Molly again…

Shit. I don't know what to do.

…

Number 5:

Still don't fuckin' know, big surprise. Got me thinkin' though. You'd have to be blind not to see how touchy-feely Adam and Charlie have been getting…did the daughter of Lucifer actually seduce the First Man? I mean, if I was her, we'd be fuckin' everywhere in this damn place; the whole Hotel would like a Pollack piece under a blacklight! They ain't doing that, so…hm, maybe.

Anyway, gotta go. I'll report the hot gossip later, we got another trust exercise. Hope it's not the fuckin' Maze again; the danger makes it fun, but it's like, all we've done the last couple of weeks…

…Wait, holy shit, we've been doing this for a month. Over a month, even. Don't know how I didn't notice.

…

It was a bit of a surprise for the Sinners to be dismissed after breakfast, considering they usually went straight to the maze after eating. "Take like, thirty or forty minutes, then meet us in the basement!" Charlie announced with an even brighter-than-usual smile, nearly skipping out of the dining room as she dragged Vaggie by the hand.

Thirty-five minutes later, most of The Happy Few were standing in the basement, though 'gaping in awe at the basement' would likely be more appropriate.

Because it wasn't a basement, it was a pool hall. Larger than the ballroom, there several different pools sunk into the ground; an Olympic-sized pool a hundred and sixty-five feet long, with diving boards and a max depth of thirteen feet.

The next was a more reasonable eighty-foot long, twenty-foot wide pool that went down to twenty feet at max, followed by another that was a mere thirty feet long, twenty feet wide and only went to six feet deep, and scattered around were smaller pools that were bubbling. The ceiling was high and arched, with columns in-between, all colored a pleasant blues and yellows and white. And in the walls were doors, leading to saunas, wood and steam, ice baths, and everything one could think of.

It looked like something out of a Roman bathhouse. Except far, far larger.

"Impressive, isn't it?!" Charlie cheered as she came walking into the 'basement', her voice bouncing and echoing off of the walls, "Not that we need all of this, but you know what they say about first impressions!"

She snapped her fingers and space bent, folding in on itself in such a way that the room shrank down to only the thirty-footer and a hot tub. Angel, Husk and Pentious stumbled, holding on to one another; Alastor didn't move, though his grip on his cane became a bit white-knuckled. The floor underneath them hadn't moved and the air hadn't become displaced, but the sheer movement was almost sickening.

"Sorry, guys!" The Princess said sheepishly, planting her hands on her hips. "Anyways, welcome to the Pool Room! This is where we're gonna do our next trust exercise! I love the maze as much as you do-" Husk and Angel both scoffed, "-but a little variety never hurt anyone!"

They noticed that Charlie was no longer in her uniform, instead wearing a modest but still flattering one piece bathing suit. It clung to her figure, being a dark blue with arcs of white and yellow around the arms and legs, and with the absence of her dark, slimming uniform, they could see that Charlie was rather thin all told, but very shapely.

The door behind her opened and a rather sour-faced Vaggie walked in, wearing a modest two-piece that was the same color as her usual clothes, her arms crossed under her chest.

And behind her was Adam, and he too was wearing a swimsuit. They might've pictured the First Man wearing an old-timey striped one-piece or possibly a loin cloth (or nothing) but instead…they were simple trunks. Dark blue, with a pattern of white and yellow musical notes on one leg. There was a towel draped over his neck, with Nifty perched on one shoulder and KeeKee perched on the other.

The tiny maid was in her own swimsuit, a black one-piece with a frilled skirt. The former cat was still in her maid uniform, and was currently hissing at the water.

"As you can see, we're going into the pool!" Charlie announced, somewhat unnecessarily, "So you're all gonna need swimsuits, which you can find in the changing rooms," she pointed to the wall opposite of the saunas, which was marked with doors for changing rooms and bathrooms, "Just say what you want and it'll appear!"

As they headed for the changing rooms, Angel looked back over his shoulder with a smirk, eyeing Adam and Charlie. It hadn't escaped his notice that their swimsuits matched.

"Can't wait to get in the water!" The Princess of Hell chimed, giggling as she dipped her toes in the water and splashed, "It's been too long since I've been in a pool. Baths are nice, even better with c-company-" she was glad she was on Vaggie's blindside, otherwise her girlfriend would've noticed the flush of red creeping up her neck, "-but swimming is so fun!"

"Yeah, splashing around, trying not to drown, so fun," the fallen snarked, turning to give Charlie a smile, "You look cute, babe."

"You look hot, babe," Charlie replied with a grin and a wink.

"I prefer beaches, myself," Adam muttered, pulling KeeKee from his shoulder and scratching behind her ears, making the maid relax in his arms before setting her on a pool chair with a sunlamp, "Hot sun, barbeque, iced drinks. Everything tastes better after splashing around in salt water."

"We'll have to convert the room to that setting sometime for a beach episode," Charlie muttered, giving Vaggie a once-over before grinning, "Adam, don't you think…" She turned to speak to the man, and found her words dying in her throat.

Adam had taken the towel off, draping it over KeeKee like a blanket, in the process revealing where his wings emerged from his back. Instead of being seamless or natural as she thought…there were two thick, messy, crescent-shaped scars on his back, bracketing his spine. Contrasting to the silver marks of past wounds dotting his skin, these were just as golden as his feathers and pulsed gently in time to his heartbeat. For all the world, it looked as if his wings had just…punched their way out of his skin, and the resulting wounds left untreated until the tissue had formed into knotted, twisted scars.

…Or-

Charlie shook her head. The thought was too disquieting to fully form. She cleared her throat, "Adam, don't you think Vaggie looks good in her swimsuit?" She asked innocently, smiling as her girlfriend whipped around to give her an incredulous look.

"Course she does, she's fuckin' hot," the First Man replied bluntly, and Charlie didn't miss the way Vaggie's cheeks darkened at the complement, "Her personality…eh," he wavered a hand, and the fallen growled under her breath, "But yeah, physically speaking, she's a babe," he glanced over his shoulder, giving Charlie a long, sweeping once-over, "…And so are you, Charlie."

From the tips of her pale toes, all the way up her long, smooth legs and the expanses of soft thigh, with her swimsuit cut around her hips and hugging her figure; her narrow waist and trim stomach, a bust that fit perfectly on her slim frame to even her shoulders, down the length of her arms and long, pale fingers…Charlie was truly a mix of beautiful contradictions; slim yet shapely, adorable yet amorous, modest yet wanton. And if anything, her height only added to the effect.

The Princess flushed, a pleased grin curling her lips as she threw an arm around Vaggie's shoulder. "We are sexy!" She crowed, kissing her girlfriend's cheek with a smack, "We are sexy bitches!"

"That's right!" Angel Dust crowed as he strutted out of a changing room, dressed in barely-there speedo, "Woo-!"

"No!" Adam and Charlie both barked, snapping their fingers and turning the pornstars 'swimsuit' into a pair of trunks.

"-Oohh, you bitches," Angel slumped, tugging at the waistband and finding the apparel apparently vacuum-sealed to his body, "Oh, come on! How'm I supposed to accidentally slip out of these?!"

Husk cautiously peeked around the door and, upon seeing the pornstar, he sighed and stepped out. "Oh good, I thought he might've been naked," he muttered, brushing down his own trunks, which were black with designs that matched his wings.

"Wha-?! What's wrong with me expressing myself?!" Angel cried, slapping a hand to his thigh, "Lookit these legs! Who wouldn't want to see these babies in all their glory?!"

"Me," the bartender said bluntly, sighing as the pornstar slumped, walking over and putting a hand on his shoulder, "Listen, it's just…a bit too much at times. It's even funny most times, but there's a limit. Not trying to dampen your spirits or anything, you're actually pretty fun to be around when you aren't trying to sex up everything with two legs and a dick."

"Oh, what's this?" Alastor asked cheerfully, emerging from the changing room in a striped one-piece swimsuit that, appropriately, wouldn't look out of place in the 1920's, "Husker, have you made a friend? Why, should I be jealous?"

Before Husk could answer, the last changing room door banged open as Pentious emerged from within, also dressed in a striped one-piece, though just the top because he was, in fact, a snake. He had no legs. "Swim time!" he cheered, grinning widely, "We will be swimming, yes? Water polo, maybe? Water tag? Water…boarding, I think it's called? Water sports in general, what fun!"

Angel opened his mouth, and paused.

Pentious was wearing goggles. That, in itself, not strange, except that there were multiple goggles strapped to his body, covering the eyes in his hood, along his torso…and covering the eye in his hat.

Adam laughed, the booming sound echoing in the spacious pool room. "Nice look, goggles," he smirked at the snake, "But it's not chlorinated, it's pure mineral water. We took your eyes into account with this exercise, you'll be fine."

Pentious, who had started slumping, perked right back up. "Oh! Huzzah!" He stripped the various goggles from his body and tossed them behind him, blinking as he looked at the First Man underneath his robe and cassock. "Oh my, Sir Adam, you cut quite the figure!"

Adam arched an eyebrow, hands on his hips. Beyond his skin, which was almost more bleached than pale, there were small silver scars littering his torso like constellations, telling old stories in their patterns. Under that, with his broad shoulders and obvious musculature, there was a layer of healthy fat under his skin. All in all, he looked exactly like what he was: a man who, in his prime, could chase down an elk for most of the day without rest, kill it, then carry the multi-hundred pound carcass all the way back home on his shoulders.

Basically, if they'd been a thing, he could've swept the Olympics.

"Of course I do," he said simply, curling his arms up and tensing his entire body. Every hard plane of muscle, every bulge of powerful flesh was thrown into sharp relief. Then he relaxed. "So, here's the fuckin' fun thing we'll be doing today: It's a lot like Marco Polo, but with a few extra steps. First, everyone's gonna be blindfolded-" Adam blinked, ignoring the dismayed cry of "WHAT?!" from Angel, "-And you can't move. You gotta pick a spot and stay there. Not all that exciting, but-"

"-But it's an important part of the exercise!" Charlie cut in, standing next to Adam with a smile, "It's a whole Web of Trust! On the seekers side, they have to trust that they can follow your voice in the darkness; on the caller's side, they have to stay still and trust that the seeker won't do anything bad to them, even though they can hear their voice getting closer and feel the water moving. Then, when a seeker finds a caller, they have to hug!" She demonstrated by hugging Adam from the side, made a little comical by the height disparity; the top of her head barely reached his pectorals, "And then tell them something! It doesn't have to be a big secret or anything, but it does have to be something you haven't told them before. This is where the other trust part comes in: this thing you admit, other people might hear it, or might not. You have to trust that whatever you say, they'll keep to themselves if they do."

"There's another reason this takes place in the fuckin' pool, too," Adam added, gesturing at himself and them, "By being exposed, even partially, you've also made yourself vulnerable, as has everyone else here. You have to trust that, at least in this moment, that vulnerability won't be taken advantage of. Y'know, psychologically speaking and shit."

The Sinners traded uncertain looks, suddenly a lot more shy about the idea. Except for Alastor, who's smile became a little wider and a little sharper.

Vaggie looked down, rubbing her arm as she shuffled uncomfortably, her hair curtaining her face. Charlie laid a comforting hand on the fallen's lower back; it was always the lower back or the shoulder, and never in-between. "Please try," the Princess whispered to her lover, "If you get too uncomfortable, you can leave, but…will you try? For me?"

Vaggie sighed and nodded. "Just don't let…" She squinted and looked around, "What the…where the fuck did Adam go?!"

They looked around and found that somehow, in-between glances, the First Man had vanished like smoke on the wind.

"He's fucking ten feet tall with giant golden wings, how's he so good at hiding?" Husk murmured, looking around. He felt a shiver of fear go up his spine as he heard a shrill, familiar giggle. "…Where's Nifty?"

Then light flared under all of their feet, locking them in place just as Adam came barreling out of nowhere, Nifty hanging from his shoulder as he charged at them with a wild grin on his face. He snatched Charlie and Vaggie up under his arms, wings flicking out to wrap around Husk, Pentious, Angel Dust and Alastor before taking a mighty leap from the edge of the pool. "CANNON BALL!" He shouted, his laughter ringing in their ears just as they hit the water with a splash.

Despite the pool supposedly only being six feet deep, they sank quite far into the water, with Adam pushing them away to let them float to the surface. The Sinners emerged, most gasping for air and looking rather bedraggled from the experience, though Charlie's giggles were infectious. "You dick!" She shouted with a laugh, splashing Adam as he breached the surface, "That was my plan!"

"Sucks to suck, don't it?" He teased, splashing her right back, "Ah, classic."

"Asshole," Husk grumbled good-naturedly, "Er, not to be that guy-"

Adam crossed his arms, the remaining four feet and two inches of his torso and head sticking out of the six-foot deep water. "Yeah, I know," he shrugged, reaching over and grabbing Angel by the face as the pornstar made grabbing motions with his hands, "I'm at an advantage here." So saying, he dunked Angel under the water. "I'll be on my knees for this exercise."

Angel spat water and rubbed his eyes. "Christ!" He exclaimed, "Water sports? On your knees? Is this some kinda new torture specifically for me?!"

"Oh no, why ever would you think that?" The First Man said unconvincingly, deftly removing Nifty from his shoulder and setting her in a floaty that looked a lot like Dazzle, "Why would having all this man in front of you, soaking wet and half-naked even, that you can't touch be considered…torture?"

Angel inhaled sharply. "…You're a bastard, you know that?" He said flatly, crossing his arms, "And not just 'cause you fucked my sister."

There was a second of silence, then Charlie spun around to glare at him. "Adam!" She called reproachfully, "Did you really?"

"I can neither confirm nor deny whatever I did," Adam said simply, "However, if I were, hypothetically allowed to say so, then I would say A: She asked, B: It's no-one's business but those involved, and C: I had fifty minutes to kill so a dozen orgasms seemed like the proper payment for a dozen cupcakes." He blinked. "…Hypothetically."

There was another second of silence. "…A dozen?" Angel asked faintly.

"Well, seven split between the two of them, but the first ones were from kissing, which I don't count," Adam replied factually, "…Hypothetically."

The water around Charlie boiled. "A-alright!" She shouted suddenly, making them jump, "This isn't about Adam's unimportant sex life!"

"Hey," the First Man muttered, slightly offended.

"Or Angel's non-existent one!"

"Hey!" The pornstar yelped, highly offended.

"This is about trust and vulnerability!" She continued, coughing into her hand, "S-so, we spread out, get blindfolded, and then I'll start. I'll call Marco, you call back Polo, and you can't move from your spot. When I find you, we do the exercise, then it's your turn to be the seeker, okay? Okay." She waved her hands. "Now shoo."

The Happy Few floated away from the center of the pool, black blindfolds covering their eyes as they stopped. "This is kinky and all, but you couldn't have just dimmed the lights?" Angel asked, voice echoing lightly over the water. There was a sharp whistling followed by a thwack. "Ow! Fuck was that?!"

"No peeking!" KeeKee called.

"Nice shot, KeeKee!" Adam called back.

"Thanks, Master!"

"Yeah, she's got an infinite supply of foam footballs and a real sharp eye," Adam grinned, even though they couldn't see it, "And no shit, Angel, that was the first thought, except that everyone here can see in the dark."

"Alright, it's time to start!" Charlie called, "Now be quiet, except when I call!" There was a great deal of splashing as she spun herself around. "Marco!"

"Polo!"

It was a strangely tense experience, floating in the water completely blind, occasionally responding to a call and feeling the water shift and lap against their skin, the distant sound of splashing being the only indication of whether or not the seeker was nearby.

"Ah!" Vaggie gasped.

"Got you!" Charlie said.

There was a bit more splashing, and a low murmur that didn't carry over the subtle waves and splashing of the pool.

"WHAT?!" The fallen suddenly shrieked, making them all, even Alastor and Adam, jump at the sudden noise. "Wha-no I don't-!"

"Babe!" Charlie said firmly, and there was more low murmuring.

"I…no…but…I-fine." Vaggie sighed audibly. "Marco…"

"Polo."

With nothing but his thoughts for company, Adam settled into the water and let himself drift.

…

Immaculara, 2. 33;

Training had concluded for the day. After the last incursion from Hell, Michael had begun to take the lead in both battle and learning, and soon Adam would have nothing else to teach the Archangel. In a way, he was glad. Standing beside the Seraph and battling their foes was a fulfilling experience, but Adam grew tired of the death, even if it was meted out to the deserving.

With Michael at the forefront, perhaps then Adam would no longer hear the condemnation of his children as they died.

As he sat upon his bed, Adam reached for the side where Sera had slept, the memory of her warmth like a sun-soaked stone. Her visits were an infrequent thing, busy as she was, and the comfort of her arms had begun to fade. Adam dare not ask her for more, for he loved her dearly and did not want to impose upon her time.

"Polo."

"Adam?" The sweet voices of his angels sang as Lute and Vagatha emerged into his room.

"My dearest ones, what do you need from me?" He made to rise, only to find Vagatha embracing him from one side and Lute the other.

"Song of My Soul," the willful twin spoke softly, cupping his cheek as she peered into his eyes, "We have seen how you sleep at night, bereft of the Seraph's company. We wish to take her place, that our warmth may be shared with you."

"And that y-you might share the love in your heart with us, Song of My Heart," the shy twin added, blinking slowly at him as she hugged his arm.

Adam found that his mouth was dry, his heart pounding his chest. "You…desire me?" He spoke hesitantly, as if such a thing was absurd.

"Polo."

"I have desired you since you stood before me and saved my life," Vagatha spoke sincerely, her eyes molten with adoration. "We would have you, now and forever."

He swallowed dryly. "You…would have me? Even as I am?"

"As you were, as you are, and as you will be," she promised, her lips parting as she pulled herself closer to him.

Adam looked to Lute. "Do you feel the same, Lute?"

The bashful angel answered not with her words but with her lips, darting in to kiss him, drawing his breath into her lungs as she clutched at him.

"Wanton woman!" Vagatha laughed, kissing him as well. "Is that answer enough, or is there more proof you desire?"

The angels shed their robes, standing nude before the First Man, their pale skin glowing as the moon.

Adam gladly took them into his arms, for he loved them dearly-

…

A hand landed on his shoulder and despite himself, Adam jumped. "Ah, Adam," he could hear Husk mutter. Then the bartender awkwardly maneuvered himself around and the two hugged.

Just two dudes. Bare chested. Wearing trunks. Hugging in the pool.

Nothing remotely gay about that at all.

"So, uh," Husk started, "I'm…not entirely sure what to say, I've kinda told you, Angel Dust and Charlie everything there is to know. But…I guess if there was something to admit, I…" He gulped. "I think…if you were my…f-father, I…would've liked that."

Adam inhaled sharply.

Don't think about your dead children.

"Husk, I think…" He sighed softly, "I think, if Mrs. Whitmore could see you today, after all you've done, trying to be a better person…I know she would be proud of you."

The bartender stiffened and sniffed. "I…thanks, Adam. It's your turn, now." Husk squeezed him slightly and let go, backing away.

Adam rubbed his knees and drifted away. "Marco," he called lowly.

"Polo." As the seeker, the chorus of voices cascaded over their own echoes and the echoes of the splashing water. It really was quite confusing.

He concentrated and called again. "Marco."

"Polo." Carefully, he cut through the water towards the closest voice. His ears perked as he heard the subtle splash of water meeting flesh, and knew that someone was close. Given the quiet, anxious breaths he could hear, he knew who it was.

Vaggie jumped violently as his hand brushed her arm, nearly flailing in a panic before he pulled her into his embrace. Despite the tension in her body, she almost melted against him, her head resting on his shoulder…then tensing again as his hand touched the small of her back. She growled under her breath as his hand moved up, brushing the curve of spine…and then slipping under the back of her top, the pads of his calloused fingers finding a pair of thick, messy crescent scars between her shoulder blades.

She almost screamed and instead, bit down on his shoulder. The suppressed sound vibrated against his skin, her hand reaching around behind his back, fingers looping around the base of his left wing as if to try and tear it off…she felt something touch her hand. Something knotted, rough and smooth and oddly hot to the touch. Something very familiar. She shifted her hand, her fingers coming to rest on the scars between his shoulder blades. Vaggie swallowed, her lone eye swimming with tears.

Then Adam pressed their cheeks together, brushing her hair aside with his nose even as he stroked her scars gently. Two words he spoke, so softly that even at that distance, she could barely hear him.

"I'm sorry."

She stiffened, trembling in his grasp. "You don't get to say that to me," she whispered hoarsely, pounding her fist against his chest, "Not after what you did- what you didn't do." Her tears dripped onto his skin.

Adam sighed. "Listen-"

"No, I…no!" She ducked out of his embrace, splashing raucously as she swam away and climbed out of the pool. "I'm not doing this! I won't! I c-I won't!" She shouted as she stormed away, her feet loudly slapping against the floor.

"Wha- Vaggie, wait!" Charlie called fruitlessly, the door distantly slamming. "I…dammit, Vags."

"Trouble in Paradise, hmhmhm?"

"Christ, what did you say to her?"

A pair of sharp whistles sounded out, followed by a pair of dull thwacks. "…Ow."

"Nice aim, KeeKee," Charlie muttered, her sigh carrying over the water. "Double kill."

"Thanks, Mistress!"

Adam grimaced. He hadn't meant to cause Vaggie that much distress, or any at all. While he wasn't sorry for her being punished for what she'd done…he could sympathize with the loss of her wings. "…Well, she ran off, so…what now?" He asked.

"Did she get a handful of the pool noodle in your trunks?" Angel asked. Wheeew, thwack. "Ow, fuck!"

"Good shot, KeeKee."

"Thanks, Master!"

Charlie sighed again. "I…guess you go again, Adam."

"Alright," he breathed deep. "Marco."

"Polo."

Eventually, his hand found the rubbery surface of a floaty, and as if she was waiting for that exact moment, Nifty scampered up his arm and hugged his head. "Clean One!" She cheered.

"Sister," Adam muttered, 'hugging' her back, "So, something I'll admit…I think you would fit perfectly with my Eradicators. I'm…kinda hoping you do get redeemed, so we can cleanse Hell together."

The tiny maid sniffled and squeezed his head, pressing her cheek to his. "A-Adam?" She said shakily, her voice sounding ever-so slightly different. "You…you're the only one I feel comfortable with."

The First Man thought for a second. "…Nifty?" He whispered.

She shook her head subtly.

"…Nancy?"

She bobbed her head.

"…Nanako?"

She nodded, pressing herself tightly against him.

"That's good, sister, very good," he murmured, kissing her cheek. "I'll keep it that way…and maybe you can talk to me more, Nanako?"

She inhaled shakily. "Okay, Adam," she mumbled, jumping off of his chest and landing in her floaty, voice normal. "Market!" She called.

"Uh, Polo?"

"Markus!"

"Polo."

"Bad Man!"

"Why hello, Nifty."

Adam sighed as he rested on his knees, letting his mind wander a bit as he thoughtlessly replied to the calls of 'Marco.' Then someone swam into him. "Oh, Sir Adam!" Pentious hissed, eagerly hugging the First Man, "So, I…well. I'm embarrassed to admit, but…I think you may be the only person who really understands me."

"That's sad," Adam muttered, lightly slapping the back of Pentious' head as the Sinner slumped, "I mean the situation, but keep fuckin' taking everything I say as an insult and I will start meaning you."

"R-right, sorry."

"Hm, well…I admit, I thought you were an idiot at first with the whole supervillain thing, but, I do like your style. And…I know you're lonely, Pentious. If you need someone to talk to, you can come to me." He covered the snake sinners mouth as he made to protest, "It isn't an imposition."

"I…thank you, Sir Adam. I believe I will take you up on that."

Adam nodded. "Good." Then he pushed away and started seeking again.

It was only a short amount of time later that he bumped into someone else, and despite being in the fucking pool, he could feel the cane Alastor was holding. "Oho, my good man, clasping me to your naked breast so tenderly, a man might get some ideas," the Radio demon chuckled as Adam (reluctantly) hugged him, "I warn you: I do bite, and I will not be gentle."

"…"

Wheew, thwack.

"Ow! I didn't do anything!" Angel shouted.

"Preemptive!"

"Alright, Period Piece, whatever," Adam muttered, squinting his eyes behind his blindfold in thought, "Hmm…I admit, that I actually liked how the hotel originally looked." Alastor stiffened (not like that) in his arms, "I could vibe with it, but not really live in it, you know?"

"…I ah, I see," the deer sinner muttered, "I suppose…" He breathed heavily, that strange electric fuzz burning in his voice. "I…don't suppose there's room for a pianist in that band of yours?" Alastor sounded legitimately pained, asking that question.

Adam chuckled. "Is there room in the band for a pianist?" He replied, "If there is, well…jamming is a free event, just don't expect to waltz and make everyone dance to your tune. If you wanna take the lead a few times, go ahead. But don't be too hot to trot or you'll be tangoing right back out."

Alastor growled under his breath. "That's…acceptable, I suppose. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I shall seek out someone who isn't quite so fond of…puns." So saying, he swam away. "Marco!"

"Polo!"

There was an impact in the water. "Oh hey Alastor!" Charlie cheered.

"Ah…damn."

Adam chuckled to himself and sat back in the water, waiting for the inevitable last meetings. Husk and Nifty had already finished, and were now sitting on the rim of the pool, still blindfolded.

It didn't take too long for the next meeting. He tried not to gasp as Charlie's hand found his arm, nor the way her fingers followed the limb up to his chest. He tried not to let his heart flutter as she molded her soft curves against the hard planes of his body, her arms wrapping around his neck, their flesh almost meshing as they embraced.

She shuddered and gasped against his ear, and he knew he had failed.

He bit his lip as her soft fingers traced down from the nape of his neck, riding over the ridges of his spine…and came to rest on the scars on his back.

"I…I'm sorry," she murmured, her mouth so close to his ear he could feel her lips brushing his skin, the heat of her breath swelling against the shell, "I wish…I wish I could take your scars away. Heal your wounds."

…I know I'm ugly, Charlie.

Adam swallowed roughly. "Some wounds never heal," he mumbled, feeling a burning in his eyes despite himself, "Some scars never fade…is that what you wanted to admit?"

She licked her lips and somehow squeezed him tighter. "N-no, Adam, I…" He could feel her trembling, her heart pounding against her ribs with such force that she shook, "I…think you're the most gorgeous man I've ever seen," the words tumbled from her mouth like a waterfall as she lifted her hand from his back to cup his jaw, "I…really, really like you, Adam." She kissed his cheek gently.

He stiffened. Despite the coolness of the water, it was beginning to feel almost unbearably hot…but Charlie's warmth in his arms was soothing. Comfortable. Like floating atop a tranquil pond with the sun shining down on your skin. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but she pressed her cheek to his lips to silence him.

"I…I know the situation…Vaggie, and Heaven and…everything," she laughed quietly, painfully, "But…I wanted to tell you. Wanted to…be gutsy. It hurts…but, I'm glad you know." She kissed his cheek again. "You and Angel are the last ones." Then she withdrew and swam away.

Thonk.

"…Ow. Fuck."

"You okay, Charlie?" Adam asked softly.

"Yeah," she chuckled miserably, "I hit my head on the side of the pool."

"…You'll be okay."

"I know."

Adam sighed. "Alright, Angel, swim over here and get them hands on all this wet, glistening man."

"Ha-ha! Thought you'd never ask!" The pornstar crowed, splashing frantically as he swam towards Adam's voice, "Jump into my arms you beautiful beast!"

The First Man chuckled as the spider sinner collided with him, all four arms swiftly wrapping around his torso, manfully ignoring the way the furred fingers groped his muscles. "Alright, Angel Dust, what do I want to admit about you?"

"Your secret deep-seated lust for spider men?" The pornstar asked hopefully.

"No," Adam said bluntly, making Angel slump, "No…I know there's more to you than the sex-crazed drug addict you present yourself as, Angel. I know you're afraid that under that mask you wear, there might be no face worth wearing. And I know…that you'd be wrong. Charlie will tell you that, Husk will tell you that…Vaggie, too. And I'm telling you that. If you can't believe them, then at least believe me. I'm way hotter than all of them, for one."

Angel chuckled thickly. "I dunno about that," he muttered, his voice almost deeper, more accented, "I wanna believe ya, really I do, but…I'm just…empty inside, Adam. There ain't nothin' worth savin' here."

"Bitch, what did I just say?" The First Man grumbled, hugging the pornstar firmly, "I can see there's more work to be done."

Angel Dust leaned against Adam, enjoying the simple embrace more than he thought he would. "You know, Adam, I never thanked you," he started, "For…what you did for Blowjob-Princess. We weren't friends, per se, rivals more like, but…we were friendly."

Adam grimaced. "Don't thank me for doing my job," he said gruffly, "And her name…was Bobbi-Jean."

"Yeah…" Angel bit his lip, "Adam? Can we…make a deal?"

"…Are you serious?"

"Not that kinda deal, just…" He tried to control his breathing, "When this doesn't work out-"

"-If," Adam muttered.

"…If…this doesn't work out…will you do the same for me, like you did for Bobbi-Jean? All this, the hotel, the friends, the band," he sniffled, trying not to cry and failing miserably, "It's all been so…great. I…I don't want to go back to how it was before. I…promise me, please?"

Adam sighed, running his hand through Angel's hair, getting a quiet sigh from the sinner. "…Alright," he finally murmured, "But don't think I'll let you lie there like a dead fish, you fuckin' hear me? You better put in some goddamn effort, or I'm gonna be real mad. You sure as shit better try, or I sure as shit will make you regret it, get me?"

"I-yeah, I mean-"

"Swear it," Adam whispered into Angel's ear, "Swear it on what really matters."

"I…I swear on my sister," the pornstar shakily replied.

The First Man relaxed minutely. "…Good."

They stood in silence for a minute more.

"…You know I gotta, right?" Angel Dust finally asked, two hands trailing down Adam's back.

"Don't you fuckin' dare."

"Too late-!" The First Man dove, slipping out of Angel's grasp before the sinner could get anything more than a squeeze in, "Oh you teasin' fuck! Get back here! I almost had my hands on them buns, and they are in desperate need of a glazin'! And I got just the pipe fulla frosting for the job!"

"More like pipette, ha!"

"Oh fuck you!"

…

Christ. I still don't know, but…Adam believes in me. Fuckin' Adam, the guy who's literally torn Sinners limb from limb while laughing like a psycho, who made a fuckin' volcano in Turf War Central, who…held me and stroked my hair and whispered that he believes in me.

Fuck, man. Fuck!

Shit was way simpler when I was just a pornstar, snortin' rails and gettin' railed, but…man, they weren't better, sure as shit.

Still don't know what I'm gonna do about Val.

Luckily there's no sharing circle today, I'm actually writing this down in the library where we're all hanging out ('cept for Vaggie who still ain't popped up again) and boy ain't that weird. Sitting in the library of a fancy-ass hotel, sippin' on tea and lemonade, listening to Wing Daddy play classical music on his guitar (those fingers though) while writing in my leather-bound journal.

Shit, you'd think I was actually somewhat classy. Whatever. Relaxin' like this good.

…Though I am feelin' a li'l antsy.

Charlie's li'l crack about my sex life kinda hurt 'cause it's fuckin' true. I am in desperate need of some lovin' and I ain't gonna get it here. Not the lovin' I want, anyhow.

Well, it's just a bit after noon. The day ain't over yet.

Maybe something exciting will happen?

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

A/N: (message from the future: the version of this story on AO3 is up to chapter 16 and chapters up to 18 are on my pa-treon)

Angel must've never heard the saying 'be careful what you wish for' because he just laid down a big red event flag right there. And what's this, a part two already written that's twice the length of this chapter?

Oh boy, I wonder what that means.

So, it was a pretty calm chapter, all told, because all the big revelations and whatnot are being saved for part two, but still it's pretty nice. Ya got Charlie doing a bit more work on her OTT, Vaggie's got them confused feelings, not helped by Adam (did you notice Adam didn't get to admit what he wanted to? Wonder what it was…) Husk being a bit more open, Alastor being a Period Piece, Pentious being a dork, and Nifty…well, not quite being Nifty.

And, naturally, this being Angel Dust's first chapter, most of the focus is on him. Gotta say, trying to write out a New York/Italian accent is a pain in the ass, as are most accents. Hope it's not too confusing and reads well. You got some of his inner thoughts, his fears and oh hey who's this 'val' person he keeps mentioning? Probably not important.

Plus, what's this? Adam…is he actually starting to think redemption might be possible?

And hey, there hasn't been enough Adam/Lute, so I give you the time they learned their feelings and accepted them. She's definitely in the background of the fic so far, but not forever.

I'm reeeeal tempted to drop part two soon after part one, but I dunno about that. Kinda depends on the response, heheheh…

Big thanks as always to NSG for being HIM, that's right. Check out his shit, tell him Sol sent you.

Big thanks also to all the peeps in the discord, my own and the FMC. Thanks for inspiring me to bring KeeKink to life, MalaMari!

And thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope you enjoyed the time you've spent and look forward to more! Because there is certainly more coming (chapter 15's already done, cough) and if you like what you saw, why not leave a comment or a review or whatever. I always appreciate it.

Stay Awesome.

~Soleneus

P.S.: If any of yalls like my writing, how about you check out Dare To Wander? It's one of my older stories that I've been going through the chapters and updating to fit my current writing style, but the version on AO3's got like…three comments. If you could fix that, that'd be great. I ain't getting no engagement on that one because FF doesn't send out notices for updated chapters

…not that they're sending me updates anyway, the fuckers.

Hope your summer's still going well! If it hasn't, well, we're getting closer to the end every day.

Stay Awesome Some More.

~still Soleneus