Chapter 9:

Getting a "after"taste for it

It wasn't until 3 days after waking up that Lute was eventually released from st. An's hospital and before she knew it, she was able to return to the place she had grown to see as a safe haven, the hazbin hotel.

Once she had settled back into the regular flow of things, Lute had begun to once again pick up on her "rehabilitation" and even with the small steps the former lieutenant made, there was visible progress in her recovery and subsequent "redemption"

She had shown great willingness to partake in any activity that had even the slightest hint of mending her past mistakes, even going as far as to volunteer for "community service" by helping some of the overlords who backed the hotel.

Even if the idea of the cannibals strongly unnerved Lute, she had to admit that helping around in Rosie's emporium had a certain charm….that is…if you could look past the whole "people eating" thing as somehow, she had ended up as the assistant of the local tailor's shop, helping the woman who owned it by modeling for her as she did adjustment work to dresses and even learning a bit of sewing herself.

While some days, she would be found in cannibal town, other days she had offered her services to the Carmines, helping Carmilla's daughters with deliveries, as well as being an extra hand around the warehouse and workshop.

Where the angelic arms dealer once was put off by the idea of the former exorcist lieutenant, she had to admit, she had warmed up to the fallen angel and even began to enjoy having her around, the extra pair of hands being greatly appreciated.

Tho after another long day of "community service", Lute would slowly wander inside the lobby of the hazbin hotel, shuffle over to a nearby sofa and flop down unceremoniously, face down as she grumbled into the pillows.

"Long day?" a familiar voice spoke up, and as Lute raised her head to follow the origin of the sound, she was met with the face of the spider demon, Angel Dust.

Giving him a tired smile, she gathered the last bit of her strength and sat up "That would be putting it lightly. Back in the day, I had energy and strength for days…but since…"ya know"…I've not been able to get any training in….as much as I hate to say it, I've become rusty"

"Aw come on, you just need to get your mind off work for a bit and let loose!" a peppy, cheerful female voice with an Australian accent spoke up as the explosive Cherry Bomb would enter the lobby from deeper within the hotel.

"Uhm, I really don't think that's a good-" Lute wanted to protest, but the hotheaded sinner had already grabbed her, hoisted her up and was currently holding her tightly against her with one arm as she waved the other dismissively "Nah you can rest when you're double dead, bitch, come on, live it up a bit!" to which Lute just blinked her eyes a few times as she realized there was no talking down this woman….

..

..

It wasn't long until the trio of them were walking down the streets of pentagram city as they pulled up to a futuristic looking building, loud music coming from inside as a long line of sinners was standing outside the doors.

As Lute looked up at the marquis, she saw a big neon sign of a womanly hand holding up 2 fingers as a pair of lady like lips stuck out a tongue in-between them, the thing it was implying being rather obvious as bellow it, flashed the name "The aftertaste"

"Welcome to one of the best and safest clubs in all of pride!" Cherry Bomb yelped up in excitement.

The idea of going to a club periodically made the fallen angel nervous as Lute wanted to speak up, before Angel Dust would speak "And before ya ask, don't worry, you're not running into Val here, Vox and that tall fucker are not allowed in here" as they would approach the line, tho skipping it completely as they saw a large, boar like sinner in front of the entrance doors, probably the bouncer as Angel Dust spoke up.

"Ey Hudson, long time no see my man!" as the boar's face lit up "Angel, yeh feck, where ya been?! Shit just ain't the same without yeh and Cherry around" as the 3 hugged, clearly knowing each other.

To the displeasure of the crowd still in line, the large boar demon known as Hudson would let them skip the line as they entered the rather large club as Lute spoke up "How were you able to skip the line?" to which Angel Dust just casually dropped "Perks of being best buddies with the overlord who owns it"

"Fuck yea" Cherry Bomb added "You've met her, Ashley, the anarchy demon" which quickly brought back some memories for the former lieutenant.

She remembered it clear as day….her ….hanging in the air on cybernetic wings….a mechanical army behind her….and across from her, on the room of the hazbin hotel, the overlord known as Velvette and that tall, shark like sinner woman….

"Now listen here you mechanical cunts!….i rolled out of bed this morning wanting to do only 2 fucking things….chew bubblegum…..and kick ass….and I'm all out of motherfucking bubblegum….."

"Wasn't she at one of Charlie's activities?" Lute asked.

Angel Dust nodded "Yea, you shared a couch with her" as they approached the bar, behind which stood a female sinner who bore a striking resemblance to the hellborn succubi, tho missing a set of wings.

"ANGEL, CHERRY, GET UP IN HERE!" the pink sinner yelped excitedly as she leaned over the bar and gave the duo a tight hug before giving a unsure look towards the fallen exorcist "Uhm….and what's the story behind….her?" she spoke as she gestured to Lute, causing her to avert her eyes in shame.

Angel would Glare at the barwoman "Cut her some slack, Pink, she's trying to do better"

Putting up her hands defensively, the woman spoke up "Alright, Angie, if you say she's good folk, she's good folk" before turning towards the fallen angel "So….Lute hu?" as she extended a hand "Name's Pink….Pink Neon, and I'm the assistant manager of this here fine establishment" she smirked.

Caught off guard by the kind gesture, Lute would shake her hand as she tried to get her nerves under control "Uhm….it's….n-nice to meet you…I'm still …..new to…." As she gestured to the full club "…well…..this…."

Cracking her knuckles, the pink woman smiled "Yea no kidding, I guess there aren't many nightclubs in heaven, hu?" before she put both palms on the bar counter "So, what can I get ya? Looking for something sweet? Strong?" before giving a "ooh" as she disappeared behind the bar and popped back up with a bottle in her hand "Perhaps looking for a little bit of both?" catching Cherry Bomb's attention.

"Holy shit, Pink, is that beelzejuice?" to which the succubus like sinner smirked "Sure fucking is"

Angel Dust chuckled "So Ashley finally got that deal set up with Beelzebub?"

"Eyup" Pink spoke "We are one of only a hand full of places in the pride ring that serves it"

They would suddenly be interrupted by a familiar voice that proudly and confidently piped up from behind them

"You're damn right we are!"

Pink Neon would just smirk as she poured a couple drinks as Angel Dust, Cherry Bomb and Lute would rubberneck into the direction of the noise.

There, dressed in a white button up with rolled up sleeves, black dress pands and sleek dress shoes, suspenders and black, fingerless gloves stood the "queen of anarchy", the overlord of mayhem, "Miss Fortune" or Ashley.

Her hair was up in a tight, messy bun as she sported a subtle bit of purple eyeshadow, her whole outfit just screamed "mobster" as she waved a cigar around "Angel, Cherry, long time no see bitches" she smiled as she grabbed the both of them into a tight hug before focusing her attention on the fallen exorcist "Well well, look who decided to liven it up a bit"

Lute wanted to speak up when suddenly, Ashley would close the distance and embraced her too into a tight bearhug, to the former lieutenant's surprise as she spoke "Good to see you're stepping out of your comfort zone"

"You're….not mad at me?" Lute stuttered out "After everything i…"

Ashley just swung a arm around her shoulder "Girl…listen…..everyone fucks up, we all got that in common, why else would we be in hell?" as she took a deep drag from her cigar "What matters is that we take accountability and be better today then we were yesterday….which is what you're doing, and I respect the ever loving shit out f that" as she let go of Lute and gave her a playful shoulder jab "That takes guts, girl, so by all means, liven it up, drink, fuck, enjoy yourself. Allow yourself a little treat for good behavior…a little reward so to say"

Around this time, the doors would open again as the short form of the social media overlord, Velvette stepped inside of the club, bringing a smirk to the shark like overlord's face as Ashley spoke up "Speaking of treats…." As she approached the short fashionista before casually swinging an arm around her waist and dropping her into a leaning kiss.

"Hey babe, glad you could make it" Ashley spoke as the short doll demoness giggled "Such a charmer" as she planted another peck on Ashley's cheek, before yelping in surprise as the shark sinner scooped her up bridal style and carried her to the bar before plopping her down on one of the stools as Pink Neon behind the bar asked "The usual, Vel?"

Lute wasn't sure when it happened, but she was very quickly adopted into this apparent close knit group as the night went on and before she knew it, felt all her stress melt away as she danced, laughed and drank until deep into the night.

..

..

It was well into the early hours of the morning when the trio consisting of Angel Dust, Cherry Bomb and Lute made their way out of the club and back in the direction of the hotel.

At a certain point, Lute had began to straggle behind them, but as the tall spider demon paused for a moment to allow the former lieutenant to catch up, she's dismissively wave her hand "You guys go on ahead, I'll see you at the hotel" she barely managed to get out, her speech severely slurred due to the alcohol.

After getting a lecture from Angel on shooting him a message the MOMENT something was up, the 2 sinners made their way towards the hotel as Lute wandered the streets for a bit.

Around this time of night, it was weirdly peaceful around here as the fallen angel breathed in the cooler evening air, looking up at the giant pentagram in the sky.

She couldn't believe she was saying it, but she had to admit, hell had its charm once you got used to the violence and the garbage. Back in heaven, everything was clean, yes, but it all felt artificial….at least down here, what you see is what you get, and Lute couldn't help but appreciate the realness as she very slowly wandered her way into the direction of the hotel.

That was….until she saw something that gave her pause…..There are those situations where one immediately sobers up…..this was one of those as she quickly dove behind a dumpster to observe a sinner coming from around a corner….

"It can't be…." Lute thought as she quickly pulled out her phone and took a picture, before managing to sneak her way outside of the man's field of view before bolting towards the direction of the hotel.

"Charlie and Vaggie GOT to see this…."