Quiet note:
Charlie's newest bonding activity for residents of the hotel and staff, Someone had to stand up before a crowd of people. Introduce yourself and say one nice thing about everyone in the room. First to step up was Mirabelle towing Corbin with his snake up with her. Into the air she was lifted when she got a Corbin to pick her up.
"Hi! I am Mirabelle," She waved at everyone while introducing the three of them, "This is my friend Corbin and his snake friend, Cornelius."
"Glad to meet you all." Corbin nodded to everyone as Cornelius stared at the crowd from his shoulders.
This was where the compliments spilled out like a rushing waterfall after a rainstorm. Showing Mirabell had the nicest things to say to everyone, despite who they were. She shared how she loved the smile Alastor wore everyday. How puffy Serenity's fur got was the softest she ever felt. Niffty's skill in cleaning or bug killing was the coolest she had ever seen. Husk made the yummiest non- alcoholic drinks for her. Angel dust always had the most interesting stories and Cherri Bomb's explosives were the loudest. Zon quietly watching the front door was like a sentry. Elanye made the tastiest sweets and Wywave always smelled woodsey. Charlie, Vaggie, and Constantine were still the bestest family she ever had.
"Since I just met Cornelius," She looked toward where he rested on Corbin's shoulders, "I look forward to learning about you."
Slowly the cobra crawled to her with tongue repeatedly sticking out from his mouth to learn her smell. Brought a smile to her face as Cornelius came to her eye level with a flickering tongue. Had Corbin filling the space above everyone's head with white spheres reflecting memories, he formed up this moment after arriving in hell. Each one held interaction with a member of a hotel guest or resident. Angel and Cherri Bomb had advice on the best clubs to visit when lights went out. Husk being a former Overlord shared bits of wisdom with him over small chats. Alastor and Serenity shared an overall understanding and helpful insights. Niffty's ability to kill a bug and her cookie recipe beside Charlie and Vaggie acceptance. His days spent learning beside Octavia under Constantine's supervision. Being reunited with his uncles and aunt along the way.
"He wants the same." Corbin informed her.
"Pretty." Mirabelle looked among the spheres.
Ones where she was shown having stories read to her and during entertainment related activities. Whirled around and shined the brightest for her. Cornelius near her had her laughing when tickled by his tongue.
"That's going to be one hard act to follow." Angel Dust pointed out.
"Yea." Husk couldn't agree more.
"Just goes to shows," Elanye spoke of Mirabelle's way of seeing people, "How children are the best judge of character."
"Makes you think about who she takes after." Serenity looked toward Constantine.
Being reminded of his sister's positive glow while growing up beside her showed in his niece. Way she instantly attached herself to Corbin after just meeting him. Showed how much trust she had within his snake and him. Had him making a mental note about Corbin's continued future with his niece.
"Explains a lot of late," Zon's comment caught Constantine's ear, "Glad to learn the purpose of how serious he's become in our training."
"Shows how quickly he's growing up." Wywave smiled a little.
Elanye quietly interrupted her brothers' conversation to fulfill an old request from a certain prince.
8*8
Hephzibah in her Rosy Maple Moth Cardigan quietly sat out on Elanye's swing. Lost in the sounds of the woods usually came around evening time since she was alone. Not caring to look up when the rustling of someone stepping into the clearing was heard. Unnamed leopard and miniature ghost stayed in the branches of the tree. Dire wolf flora beast sat resting at her ballet flats clad feet. Chewy peeked out from his hiding place in Wywave's garden with finger in his teeth. Elanye's unnamed Tarantula rested on her shoulder with fangs twitching.
"Calm down everyone," She knew who came to see her, "Welcome son of the Sin of Gluttony. Wasp."
"Thought I dropped by," He shook out his fur, "Looks like we're not alone."
He noticed the collection of animals he hadn't seen since the last time he was here. All those eyes on him didn't stop him from walking over to Hephzibah. Who rose from her seat on the swing with her arms full.
"Usually how it is when someone is here by themselves," She watched him, "None of my relatives or Corbin are here."
"Actually … " He looked at her, "Came to see you."
Recalling the day how she was introduced to the sins of the children, was an odd one for her. When she revealed her age and death date after her name. Mixed reactions came from all the children of the sins. Monet was in disbelief while Ragnild, Osmodai, and Wasp were intrigued by her.
"I never really met a fellow empath since my mom." He clearly stated his intentions.
"I am not into the party scene." She clearly stated.
His hissed some when he knew his reputation about being a bit of a party animal. Would have been heard by her since her family were always well informed. She bluntly stated without a shred of emotion in her voice or eyes. Made his plan on just being friendly toward her a tad harder.
"I am not here to invite you to one of my mom's parties," He assured her, "I am here to just hang out and talk."
"Explains the bottle of Winterberry wine." She saw the bottle he carried.
"A girl who knows her Hellcohol," He was going to like her, "Know where we can talk and drink?"
She ends up showing him to Wywave's garden where a stone table sat and the view it gave. Glasses came from a hidden shelf under the table's top left Wasp whistling at the clever addition. Direwolf flora beast followed her over into the garden to rest with Chewy.
"What you want to know about me?" She asked.
"I knew there was something about you I like." He popped the lid.
She pulled herself on to the table as tarantula crawled down her arm on to the table top. She began with how she died during the witch hunts taking place in the United Kingdom. Dying beside her mother through the usual method used back then to test for witches. Where Azrael took her soul to heaven to live among other children. Loneliness she went through all those decades before Corbin came. Left her happy family finally came as she shared all she knew with him.
"Where was your dad the whole time?" Wasp asked her.
"What do you know about the tale of stingy Jack?" She asked him.
"A condemned soul that is doomed to roam the world between the planes of good and evil, with only an ember of hell inside a hollowed turnip," Wasp recalled the old legend, "Why ?"
"My dad," Her eyes grew sad, "He didn't make it back in time to save either one of us."
He can't pass over to the afterlife for his actions to be with his family pulled at Wasp. Down went the bottle he was pouring when overwhelming sorrow took over him. One that Hephzibah was openly displaying over an issue she rarely shared. Never being able to lay eyes on her father or get closure for a proper goodbye.
"You need to bring this up with your family," He hinted, "I am kinda surprised you held it this far and didn't go crazy."
He ends up being hugged by baggy sleeves of a cardigan where her fingers stuck out of the cuffs. He didn't fight back with his tail curled around her as he returned the hug. Allowing her to cry into his thick furry collar with drinks being forgotten for the rest of his visit. That tarantula watched from his resting spot with stilled fangs.
8*8
Rare appointments of a private nature with an Overlord were rarely made for sinners. One was made for someone who knew the office all too well. Place hadn't changed much since he was here from prototypes on the wall to eyes filled with fear. Didn't stop Wywave from walking a path he no longer feared with each step. Pass the conference room where he once watched past Overlords sit and talk. Making his way past grown faces of girls that worked alongside their mother. Into the space with a view of the pride Ring he never missed after leaving this old life behind.
"I was surprised you've reached out to me," Carmine looked up from her paperwork, "Made me reminisce of a time of your talent before you grew a … heart."
"You still know how to say such nice things." He earnestly answered her.
"State why you're here?" She grew disgusted with his compliment.
"Your not timing me means something," He spoke about time limits she gave people, "My forge spell."
She turned back toward him when he spoke of the ritual he used to create his designs when contracted to her. Magical energizes those three circles held when he altered materials. Created her most potent weapons with strong magical properties for those meeting her asking price. Laid on her desk in the form of a journal that came with numerous pages and diagrams.
"Keep it," She had no use for it, "I was done with it when I was done with you."
"I tried," He picked up his journal, "Also I came for what I left behind."
"You mean those relics of the past, collecting dust in my warehouse?l" She spoke of centuries old weapons no longer desired, "Take them since they belong in a museum."
"I'll be on my way since I took up too much of your time." He figured they were done.
Away he would turn from her as she became lost in last memories of him. She discovered the reason why he developed a heart and met his sister for the first time. Strong familial bond the two shared despite how close to death she left him.
"Your sister?" She brought up Elanye, "Are rumors true about her being seen in company of the prince?"
"We both know I was never one for gossip." She saw his eyes turn a hint of cobalt.
Suddenly a cold chill in the air she felt all the way down past the morrow of her bones was a familiar one. Slight frost that formed on all the glass in her office had placed a smirk on her face. Told her that a sliver of who he was had shifted into a touchy subject over a loved one.
"I'll have one my daughters show you where we store everything now," She summoned her, "You wouldn't find them in workable condition."
"I am willing to take the risk." His last words to her.
When he walked out of her office she was asked by her other daughter why she even allowed him to walk away. Carmine reclined forward as she watched the doors closed behind him, just lost in thought.
"Nostalgia? Maybe." She didn't know when she had work to be done, "I am going soft in my old age."