Nifty giggled as she kept poking holes in the walls. "Poke poke poke! Find the snow, win the prize, find the snow, win the prize!" It was a fun little game Charlie came up with for today's activity, finding all of Angel Dust's drugs! So far she was in the lead.

"Come on Charlie, don't you think this is a little overkill?" Angel Dust asked with a nervous grin. "I mean, absolutely zero? Cold turkey? Do you know the kind of withdrawal symptoms I could have?"

"You're immortal." Husk said bluntly. "A 'strong' spider like you can take it."

"Yeah, but... I get like… weird and shit, and not the kinky kind of weird I like to play with, I'm talking deep levels of weird."

"Angel, it's been months." Vaggie said with a glare. "You've had TIME to get lesser and lesser doses, this is the price to pay."

"Angel, we trust you and love that you're taking this seriously now." Charlie nodded. "…But we also know you are a pathological liar that relapses"

"Oh come on, can't I at least avoid going cold turkey and do it in gradual small doses?" He begged. "Last time I tried I was throwing up for five hours."

"Yesssss." Pentious nodded. "But I'm getting sssscared that my egg boisssss are getting into the ssstassssh." He pointed to eggs looking up at the sky, their eyes dazed.

"Time … is … a circle."

"You're a genius, Frank."

"... We have names?"

"You're right, that is weird… they're less funny now." Nifty pouted. "I liked the weird stuff they say, like how crypto is AI's attempt at defunding humanity, or how Elvis was kept alive by the illuminati for ten more years without the world ever knowing, or how the roots of all evil constantly spread and feed the forever living trash queen."

"Hahahahahahaha. Hilarious." Alastor chuckled. "... They'd think I'd be into digital financing."

"Either way Angel Dust, you've committed yourself to being better, and this is us committing OURSELVES to helping you achieve that goal." Charlie smiled proudly as she uncovered a large bag of PCP under the carpet. "Haha, found it-GAH!" She shouted as she was tackled by a rabid weasel. "IT GOT INTO THE COKE! IT GOT INTO THE COKE!"

"A pest that's high … now THAT'S a challenge!" Nifty cackled as she tackled the beast.

"Doesn't the thing usually go after the kid?" Husk asked.

"Iruma's still asleep, his little trip to Greed threw off his sleep schedule." Vaggie shrugged. "Anyways Angel, this would go a lot faster if you'd just tell us where the rest of your stash is."

"Come on, you've been at it for two hours already, pretty sure you got them all." Angel Dust waved off. "No need to look anymore."

Nifty was thrown up by the rabid weasel, blinking. "Oooh, white snow on top of the chandelier!"

"... Okay, NOW all of them."

"Uh huh." Vaggie glared. "And there's absolutely none in the kitchen?"

"Oooh, that exxxxxxxxplaaaaaiinnsss why my tea thissssssss morning didn't tasssssssste as sweeeet… ssssside note, hasssss the hotel alwaysssssssss been blue?" Pentious spoke up, slowly blinked.

"Okay, the kitchen is the LAST place I stashed my coke, that's all, none, nothing's after that."

"You're sure you're sure Angel?" Charlie asked. "I want to believe you…"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Did you shove an emergency supply up your ass?" Husk poured a drink.

"Come on, I'm a stereotype, but I'm not THAT much of a stereotype!" He shrugged. "… Although I'm not opposed to you giving me a cavity search."

"Come on man, you're beyond that now." Husk rolled his eyes.

"I ain't if you're gonna make it easy." They shot back.

"So, that's all of them?" Charlie asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Yes, yes, you got all of them all." Angel rolled his eyes.

"Hey, my pillow just got puffier and this white powder is all over my room now." Iruma said as he walked up covered in PCP. "….My brain's starting to feel funny….did the hotel always slant sideways?"

Angel Dust gave a weak, sheepish smile.

"... I'm gonna start punching you now." Vaggie cracked her knuckles.

"Come on, I…. Was…, helping him sleep better….?" Angel Dust chuckled as Vaggie threw her punch. "Ahh! Come on, he doesn't even know how to use-aaaagh! Fuck, you hit hard woman!"

"It's called training! Now how about you take it like a man!?" Nifty was liking this.

"Iruma; you alright? Sit down, drink some water." Charlie led the boy to the couch. "Just... wait it out and keep your heart rate low. Your metabolism should burn through it… eventually."

"Burn through what?" The boy blinked as he drank the water. "I just stood up too fast."

"You're talking about metabolism to the boy with an appetite so large it displaces matter." Husk said bluntly. "If it ain't Sloth grade, it ain't gonna stick."

"See, it's not hurting the kid-stop punching me, he's okay!" Angel cried as he was tossed into the usual spot.

"Do you think I should just keep a construction crew at all times around that wall?" Alastor asked.

"I just assumed everyone got a turn at destroying the wall." Iruma nodded.

"It issssss pretty inconvenient." Pentious nodded.

"Okay okay, I'll go full cold turkey, just stop punching me already!" Angel Dust shouted as he got up from the wall.

"Good." Vaggie cracked her neck. "Now are there ANY other stashes we need to be aware of!?"

"No!" Angel shouted. "There's no crack in the entirety of this hotel!"

The door opened, as a girl imp walked in. "I'm here delivering one kilo of crack to an Angel Dust?"

Vaggie glared at the spider, who stared with a blank face. "… I did not lie. There was nothin' in the hotel."

"Hey Barbie." Iruma waved to the woman.

"Hey kid, still standing I see." The woman waved back with a smile. "Fancy place you got here, kind of tacky but, livable. And has actual air conditioning." They walked up. "Heard about your little 'upgrade'. Congrats."

"Yeah, super weird, but I'm starting to adjust." The kid looked down at his arm, slowly splitting the left one in two. "Now I can hug people twice as hard."

Barbie grinned. "Sweet, bet your girlfriends must like that."

"Girlfriend, just the one."

"I somehow doubt that concerning a prepubescent sin of gluttony." The imp snickered, tossing him the brick of drugs. "Go ahead and give that to whoever ordered it, I gotta get down to Lust fast, I'm finally getting my asmodean crystal."

"Oh congrats. Have fun in the human world selling drugs." The boy waved as she walked away.

"Will do kiddo, far away from my asshole brother!" The imp girl cackled as she left.

"Isn't it delightful what friends he makes, dear Charlotte?" Alastor asked with a smirk.

"Fuck off Alastor!" Charlie shouted, before taking in a deep breath. "I am NOT letting you ruin the mood, we're finally making progress on BOTH our patrons and I'm not going to let anything slow me down while we're on the train of progression!"

"Here you go Angel." Iruma handed over the bag to the spider.

"...Kid, why don't you just… take the day out or something?" Vaggie shook her head.

"He's our bellhop of course, he needs to be there to comply with any needs of our patrons."

"I mean, I did invite Octiavia over, but I can take her out. It's been a while since we had our last date with the tears." Iruma nodded

"Excellent, you do that Iruma." Charlie rubbed his head, smiling. "While the rest of us continue on to part two of today's activity!"

"There's a part two?!" Angel shouted before moaning in displeasure. "Wasn't giving up all my drugs enough!?"

"Nope, because now that you're no longer seeking to get high off of drugs, we need to get you high off of life and all of its natural wonders so you'll never turn back to the devil's dandruff."

"Wait, what about the reward for finding all the snow?" Nifty asked.

"Oh right, I almost forgot. Nifty, for locating the most powder in the hotel…" Charlie started, making her giddy. "You get-"

"The keys to everyone's room!?"

"..No..."

"The key to Iruma's room at least?"

"No."

"A peephole into Iruma's room-?" So she could see the boy get feral as she jumped into his mouth.

"How about I throw you into another wall?" Vaggie glared.

"You mean I can experience pain, BEST PRIZE EVER!" Nifty giggled. "But can Iruma be the one that throws me?"

"He already left." Husk deadpanned.

Nifty whined. "Come on! I just want one wild bad boy to rip me up, is that too much to ask!?"

"Throwing you through the wall now!" Vaggie picked her up and threw.

"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Super fun, even if it wasn't as fun as she wanted it to be…. ONE of these days… that boy was going to rip her apart.

"Gonna play today, gonna play today, gonna play today." Satina giggled to herself as she skipped forward. Today was another day for fun. Daddy was busy with royal stuffy stuff, so it was up to her to enjoy the day! Thus, it was time to hang out with her bestest friend, Iruma! "Me and Iruma gonna play all day!" Last time it was super fun, making all those other lesser fun people explode into fun fun juicy paint that decorated the walls. Too bad Cousin Charlie didn't explode. Satina bet her blood must be beautiful.

"Let's play, let's play, let's play!" Satina giggled as she opened up the door. "Hey there everyone, guess who's back!" She waved her hands around. "Your ol pal Satina!"

"Gaaaaah!" The snake hid behind the couch. "It'sssssss the litttttttttle Ssssatan girl! Runnnnnn beffffffore sssssssshe blowsss ussssssss up again!"

"HAHAHAAHAHAHA, you're silly, snake man, have a lollipop." She handed him the screaming circle candy. "It's made with screams of laughter … or was it pain, I forgot what daddy used."

"Your death will bring happiness to all." The lollipop whispered.

"Oooh, screams of despair, THAT'S what daddy used." Satina nodded.

"HEEEEELLLP!" Haha, super funny.

"Ooooh, who's my favorite little girl!" That fun Nifty woman ran over and hugged Satina. "We gonna play more games today?"

"Yeah, we are! We just need to find my best friend and the fun can begin!" She summoned her little chain, yanking on it. "Iruma! Come out and play!"

"Ah, Satina, he's actually out-" Charlie began to speak as her fluffy best friend came flying in through the hole in the wall the giant shadow puppets were filling up, spreading it everywhere. "... Of the hotel…" She winced.

"Oh…..ow… still never getting used to that…" Iruma muttered as he looked up at her from the ground. He blinked. "Hey Satina…. Getting taller?"

"No, but my teeth are sharp enough to snap bones in one bite, just like you!" Satina rubbed her best friend's fluffy little head. "We can be bite buddies now!" So much fun to be had. "Oooh, wanna play stick the tail on the demon?" She pulled out a giant, oversized spike with a fluffy tail on the end. "We can pin it on someone here that doesn't have a tail… Charlie?"

"Ahh…" Her cousin smiled shakily.

"Satina… I love that you want to hang out today." Iruma laughed funny. "But I was kind of with my…" A purple fire formed over his chest.

"Oooh, pretty lights." Satina cooed.

FOOOMF

And from the fire came a really tall and kind of pretty owl looking lady. "Iruma, are you alright!?"

"Yeah, just … met a friend." The boy nodded. "...Wait, since when can you use the contract to teleport?"

The bird lady had a surprised face. "I … kind of just thought about coming after you …" She looked down.

"Yeah, you can do that." Satina nodded. "But I like walking here instead cause Iruma's friends are super fun to play with!" She grinned. "Hello, birdie! I'm Satina, Iruma's bestest best friend!"

The bird blinked, looking down at Iruma. "That's the kid that owns your soul?"

"Yep."

"... Could you-?"

"Charlie already tried and she has cousin clout." Iruma said.

"You wanna play games with me and Iruma?" Satina asked excitedly.

"...That sounds…. Fine… but I was on a date… with him." The birdie answered slowly.

"That's fine. We can just all go on a date together!" She clapped.

"Wow, didn't think I could find anyone that understood romance less than the kid, but here I am." Husk nodded.

"Hey, I…. no, that's pretty accurate actually, I just kind of stumbled into it." Her best friend nodded. "Or... you can have fun at the hotel until we get back?" Iruma asked hopefully.

"..." She turned to the others. "... Nah, they're not nearly as fun. They tend to lose really fast … although between you and me, I think Nifty likes to lose."

"Failure is life's ultimate pain!" Nifty giggled.

Her bestie rubbed his head. "Sorry Via-chan, we might have to reschedule-"

"No, no, I'm not just going to leave you alone to deal with another one of your contracts. We can think of something to do… while bringing … her along." The birdie sighed.

"Oooh, what if we play musical chairs?" She asked. "Everyone that doesn't pick a seat gets set on fire."

The birdie blinked, before taking in a deep breath. "... Is there anything NON-fire using related you'd want to do?"

"I was suggesting pin the tail on the demon earlier." She pulled out the giant spike with a fluffy end.

"This is how it always goes with her. Everything usually comes back to pain." Iruma nodded. "I think the least dangerous game just involved not moving or eyeballs blinked you into paste."

"Oooh, what if we play that one game where if you don't pick the right panel of glass, you fall five thousand miles to the ground?" Satina asked. "Or we could cook up some food again?"

"I will veto that one." The bad tasting deer spoke up, his eyes narrowed a little despite having the same funny smile. "Our kitchen couldn't survive the mess."

"Why don't we… go somewhere… fun?" The birdie asked carefully.

"Ooooh, like a bomb factory?"

"Aquariums can be fun." Everyone turned around and looked at the Spider, who was sitting next to the funny cat man. He blinked. "What?"

"Nothing... Just weird to hear your suggestion be something… you know…" The gray moth woman spoke up.

"What, you think I was going to say a bar or drag show?"

"...Yeah, that'ssssssssss exxxxxxxactly what we were exxxxxxpecting." The snake nodded.

Spider rolled his eyes. "Okay, fuck you, I'm three dimensional." They spoke. "I can take them there too."

"Oooh, that sounds fun!" Satina clapped. "I can see all the killer fishes light up and try to eat people!"

"Okay, I WAS going to question why hell would have an aquarium in the first place, and that answered everything neatly." Iruma nodded.

"Angel, that's so sweet and generous of you." With a proud smile, Charlie patted the spider on the back.

"Yeah, it is." The cooky spider grinned. "I'll be out, don't look for me!"

"Two people crashing the date … fun." The birdie grumbled.

"Sorry Via-chan, it's unexpected for me too." Iruma sighed as he got up. "... Shall we get going then?"

"Yay!" Satina clapped as she pulled them all away. "Aquarium! Aquarium! Fishies, fishies, fishy fun!"

"Yay…. Fun…" The birdie said dryly as they walked out and met up with the spider. "I get the little imp coming, but why the pornstar?"

"... Yes, fuck, that got me away from today's activity." The cooky spider took in a deep breath once they walked out far enough. "Princessa's been trying to get me 'high on life' by making me read all her YA novels…. and I can NOT take one more second of bland barely PG sexual tension of a will they or won't they trope shit! All it is is one bitch getting two dudes that want to fuck her, when in reality they should wise up, ditch her ass, and fuck each other's brains out cause they're the only ones with fucking decent chemistry." He grumbled.

Iruma tilted his head. "Is that the Kiss Him, Not Me novel?"

"It's EVERY fucking novel!"

"...So you latched onto our date just to get away from Charlie?" Iruma asked.

"You could always leave if you want to. We'll just vouch and say you came with us." The birdie said coolly.

"Not going to work on two fronts." The spider groaned. "Numbero Uno, the broadcasts are going to tell them if I ditched, and Vagina's already skeptical of my attempt to change to begin with."

"Oh right, never a moment of privacy. Sorry about that." Iruma nodded.

"It's fine kid, I've accepted it." The spider shrugged. "Besides, I meant what I said. Visiting Aquariums was a hobby I had both up top and down below, so I DO find them fun. Did all my best babysitting there."

"Babysitting?" The birdie narrowed their eyes. "People trusted you to be around children?"

"I don't know, do people trust you to not be a bit-" Spider looked at Iruma and Satina, before shaking his head. "I'll have you know that long before I was the sexy actor I am today, I was a great babysitter." The spider guy puffed up his puffy chest in pride. "I looked after my sister Molly all the time."

"You have a sister?" Iruma blinked. "How come we never met her?"

"Nobody's seen her, so she's probably up in heaven." He shrugged. "She was never a gangster like my brother and pops and I were, so if she ain't there, then there's no hope for anybody."

"Wow, poor girl." Satina noted. "Stuck up in a lame place in heaven."

"We can only pray, Satina." Iruma agreed. "We can only pray."

"... You agree with the strangest of things, Iruma-kun." The birdie muttered.

"Trust me, you haven't heard the HALF of it." The cooky spider rolled his eyes. "... So, when are you planning on movin' to the next stage?"

"You can't just ask that!" The birdie glared. "Especially around a kid!"

"Oh come on, she doesn't know if you use terminology." He chuckled. "Hey little Satina?"

"Yeah Angel Dust?"

"What do you think a guy and a girl do in bed?"

Satina smiled. "The girl pulls out a strap on, fucks the guy's ass, then rides his dick with her pussy for twenty hours. Then nine months later, I'm born!"

"..." The two stared at her silently while her bestie made a baffled blink.

"It's my favorite bedtime story daddy tells me." Satina grinned.

"... Maybe I wouldn't have been too off base to suggest a drag show." The spider whispered.

"You mean dragging cans around as people's heads are shoved inside?" She asked with a head tilt.

"...How many naive morons can exist in hell?" The spider scratched his head.

"Don't know, and don't care, I'm just glad I'm dating the best one." The birdie hugged Iruma.

Octavia watched as the man at the front lazily raised his hand. "Four tickets. Enjoy the monotony of fish in cages."

"Well THAT'S a good sign if I ever seen one." Octavia muttered as she rolled her eyes. She just wanted to spend a little time with her boyfriend, something that should be common fucking courtesy to anybody, hell or not, but nope, she had to be dealt a rather cruel… and annoying, reminder that her boyfriend's life was at the mercy of other people…. One of those people being Octavia herself sadly.

And the saddest thing was? "Fish! Fish! Fish!" Said captor shared his sporadic maturity … ie, none of it when it didn't come from survival or just… not dying from the whims of shitty people.

"I wonder if they have sharp teeth." Satina, princess of Wwrath, giggled with wonder filled eyes.

Her boyfriend's eyes lightened up. "You think they have sushi?"

"I mean if they have a surplus of fish they're bound to eat a few of them. Hell already is overpopulated."

"Good point …" Iruma nodded. "So are fish here just fish? Or fish that were bad in life and got sent to hell?"

The little girl shrugged. "Not sure. Daddy's never answered whether or not animals go to heaven or hell or are just born soulless and die peacefully with nothing but the endless abyss to look forward to… which is how it is for most hellborn, so really, hell is actually full of nothing but animals when you think about it."

Iruma nodded. "Makes sense.. Although if hellborn only get one life, it makes it more valuable to live every day how you want to…. In a weird way, their lives can have more meaning than sinners'."

"… Really?" The little girl blinked.

"Yeah," He smiled. "I mean, one life, one chance, without regenerating. Sinners come back barring extermination… but... Hellborn always have one."

"So having no soul is better than having a soul!" Satina cheered. "I have no soul, thus I'm better than everyone!"

"Wait, that's not what I-"

"I'M BETTER THAN EVERYONE!"

"Wow, the conversation went from naive, to dumb, to insightful, and back to dumb in ten seconds…. A new record." The pornstar, the OTHER tag along on what was SUPPOSE to be just her and Iruma's date, snickered. "Maybe next time they'll shorten it down to seven."

"I'm so glad you can enjoy yourself." Octavia grumbled. "Not like you were invited or needed to come along or anything."

"No, I didn't, but if I didn't, you'd be back at the hotel either watching your hubby-wubby to be-" The spider cooed at her mockingly by squishing his own face. "Getting tortured by the brat's games, or fucking off and listening to him getting tortured."

"I'm NOT letting anyone else that has a hold on Iruma hurt him again." She declared lowly. After Carmine gave her Iruma's soul... It gave her hope that she could end ALL of these fucking contracts eventually. "I just … gah. It's so annoying not being able to do anything."

"If it's any consolation, the little devil managed to break and bend Alastor all the damn time." The spider snickered. "Last time, Iruma used her to make the radio man explode like a fucking firework."

"... Okay, that is satisfying to know." Octavia snickered… before sighing. "I don't get it…. Why is anybody letting that fucker live? The princess alone could easily…"

"It's not easy for Charlie…. And it shouldn't be." The spider said slightly sternly. "In hell, everyone's desensitized to death, it's common when beheadings mean shit to anybody… but she's managed to stay relatively innocent to it." They sighed. "It's like asking your boy toy to off a human. Would you ever do that to them?"

"Of course not..." She trailed off, frowning concerningly at the concept.

"And it's the same for everyone at the hotel for her…." He sighed. "She has the power to be cruel... But… that's not what we want for her.… even if it would help us." The guy rubbed his arm.

"...You actually care, don't you?" Octavia blinked slowly. From what she's heard over the radio, she just assumed he was like that Dickhead Blitzo. "You're treating it seriously."

"… When all of hell listens, you need a really good mask, kid." He answered composedly. "Otherwise the bastards up top take it as a way to prey on you."

"Right… right…." Octavia sighed. "Sorry…. I'm… used to being on top…. That was not a joke, don't laugh."

Angel Dust grinned. "Oh come on, nothin' to be ashamed about, the boy's used to being on the bottom… I mean, you've already big spooned him on the walk over here."

"Aaaaand there go your good points." She muttered as she walked inside … in complete darkness. She blinked. "What the fuck? Where's the-?" And then a wall of lights began forming … swimming in the air. "… What …." Her eyes went wide.

Yellow lines moved, tangled and twisting … as a blue eye gazed upon her … staring into her own eyes with curiosity … "Ah, glowfish, this takes me back." Angel Dust smirked.

"It's like … stars in the night." She whispered as she watched the creature float in awe.

"It's called bioluminescence." Octavia turned to see Iruma smile as he looked at the glass. "It's usually used to either warn predators or lure prey in."

"Must march to the light..." Satina spoke as she pressed her face against the glass, looking practically hypnotized. "Must hug the glowing fishy…"

"These.. exist in the water….?" Octavia leaned in as they glowed a spectacular aura, a flashing yellow and purple glow overcoming one as a red sparking eel swam through... Leaving behind an illuminated trail of light in it's wake.

"Yeah … when I was fishing, it was the cheapest and least threatening way to get food." The boy smiled. "At least when it's a river or lake. It's always terrifying when it's the ocean." He added. "There's big and scary creatures, along with small and fast ones … and even though these guys are terrifying … behind safe glass, it's kinda pretty." Iruma looked at a small orb barely illuminating a row of sharp teeth. "Like a little city of people …"

"Molly used to love coming to this section all the time when we were alive." Angel Dust smiled fondly. "It was the one escape we both had, it didn't involve killing, it didn't involve sex, and it definitely didn't involve drugs… it was …. The most peaceful time we've ever experienced."

"… Do you think if Charlie gets you up there … you'll see her?" Iruma asked curiously, hopeful for the man.

"I … I honestly don't know, kid." The man sighed. "I'm so uncertain about this redemption thing to begin with. At first… I admit, I was just a selfish ass. It was purely for the free room…. But… fuck…. If she can see something of worth in this dried up spider… maybe.. Heh… maybe all the hope hasn't been drained out of me yet." He smiled lightly.

"… Maybe not." The boy grinned as another snake slithered beyond the glass "Maybe not …" He blinked, "wait, where's Satina?"

"Hey Iruma!" They turned to see an octopus slowly pulling the girl behind the glass. "The fishy wanna play!"

"No, no, no, the fishy doesn't want to play, the fishy wants to eat you!" Iruma shouted in worry.

"Oooooh... That sounds like a really fun game!"

"We really need to teach you mortality!" The boy screamed as he began hitting the tentacle.

"… You find that hot don't you?" The spider asked, his grin teasing.

"...Shut up…" Octavia blushed.

"Oh don't be like that, I've heard enough of your mushy gushy love story on the broadcast to get the picture, you're a thirsty girl, but you're scared it's too much for him." The porn star smirked.

"You know I broke Val, I can break you."

"Hey, just trying to be helpful." Angel waved off. "Just saying if the kid can understand what sex actually means, then he might be ready for more than you think."

And then you can kiss him all over-Quiet to the both of you!

Iruma panted as he threw another piranha back in the tank. "Vicious … little … guys …" Whether in Hell or Earth, fish wanted to eat him almost as much as he wanted to eat them.

"You were right, spider man, fish are fun!" At least Satina was having fun. "They're in so many colors and they all try to eat you in so many funny ways!" She whooped.

"Yep, that's just me being ya friendly neighborhood pornstar, always here to give great advice, right birdie girl?" Angel Dust nudged Octavia in the shoulder.

"If you don't stop while you're ahead, you'll be down an arm." Octavia muttered. She glanced at him in concern. "You want me to get you some bandages from the gift shop, bluebird?"

"Nah, that's okay." Iruma shoved off his right arm, which began healing from the bites and scratches. "I don't really get hurt anymore from stuff like that. Even the parts of me that aren't mutated heal quickly."

"Hahah, it's just like daddy, except anything that tries to hurt him ends up dying immediately!" Satina giggled before her eyes brightened to a direction. "Oooh, dolphin show! Can we? Can we? Can we?"

"There's still time in the day, I don't see why not." Iruma shrugged as they began walking towards the attraction. "Hey Via-chan.. sorry things haven't gone the way you probably wanted. I know bringing other people along is far from ideal..."

"While that is true..." She looked over to Angel Dust for a second, slowly nodded. "It hasn't been that bad. The aquarium itself is more amazing than I expected it to be... it's almost like looking at the sky... but wetter."

"Oh, we'll then I'm glad you're having fun." He smiled.

"Look at you two." Angel smirked. "A ma and pa at a fish park with their little girl."

Iruma blinked. "But me and Via-chan haven't had kids yet." Octavia coughed as she blushed red. "You okay?"

"Fine fine fine!" She coughed some more as she glared at Angel Dust.

"Ooh, not yet, Iruma? Someone's thinking of the big picture." Angel Dust smirked.

"Well yeah. I'm saving money on the side for when we eventually live together so we don't always have to use her parents' money." Iruma nodded. "I know her dad's nice, but if her mom's going to the lengths to kill her, she may end up broke one day, and I refuse to live in a world where she or my kids have to struggle like I did." Octavia gave him happiness, and he'd give the same.

"Iruma-kun.." Octavia blushed harder as they sat down on the bleachers. "You can be far too sweet for your own good." She kissed him on the cheek.

"It's only logical to love someone with everything that you have when you care about them." Iruma held her hand. "It's the only good lesson I've learned from my parents from watching them."

"Ah isn't that a riot." Angel Dust chuckled before he blinked. "… Wait, where's the brat?"

"Not again!" He panicked as he looked around. "Satina, wherever you are, don't go into the water again!"

"Hey Iruma!" They turned to see cheerful Satina … tied up and grabbed by some sinners. "These guys said they're giving away front row seats!"

"Satina, no, they're trying to kidnap you!" Iruma exclaimed.

"What, they are?" She looked up at the goat demon, tilting her head. "Are you kidnapping me?"

"… No … " One said unconvincingly.

"It's cool, they're not!" She smiled.

"And we've finally reached a level of naivety that even you haven't fallen down yet." Angel Dust muttered. "So is this a wait it out situation, cause the girl is honestly more of a threat to them than the other way around."

"If Satan catches wind, we'd let his daughter get taken away by strangers, then all of our asses will be flayed six ways all over hell." Octavia mentioned dryly, but also wary. "He submerged half of Wrath under magma as a father-daughter bonding activity. You want to see what he does when pissed?"

"Good point." The spider demon pulled out multiple guns. "Grab the brat, kid, I can handle a coupla chumps."

"Ahem!" They turned to a strict-expressing imp, who pointed at a 'no projectile weapons around glass' sign, and proceeded to snatch away the sinner's guns before walking away.

"Fuck, guess we're doin' it the old fashion way." Angel Dust grumbled. "Rush 'em and run like hell!" He leapt forward and tackled the goat demon.

"Get the little bitch out of here! Sooner we get her to the Vs, the better!" They shouted.

"The Vs!?" Iruma yelled in surprise as he ran through the crowd as they started getting closer to the attraction. "Why would they be after Satina!?"

"Making a deal with a sin kid is still a powerful deal for a sinner to make!" Octavia shouted as she threw demons over her head.

Making a deal … trapped like him … "Let her go." Iruma growled, as his body starting to make that weird buzzing sound whenever he felt angry. He could feel his limbs warp and twist and wings expand. "Now."

"Ooh, fluffy and twisty doggie." Satina clapped.

"… Shit, are we actually going to fight this little bitch boy? He's a sin kid too." One of the demons gulped.

"Relax, he's a bleeding heart bitch, he won't touched us as long as we keep our distance and keep the brat in our arms at gunpoint!" Another shouted arrogantly as a gun was pressed against Satina's temple.

"Guns tickle!"

Iruma stretched his two left arms, wrapping them around the first demon and yanking him back into his blessed gauntlet, knocking him into the ground with a small crater. He then leapt forward, extending a hand to chomp the gun and the second demon's hand off. "Let … her go … now." Iruma repeated dangerously.

"Hey, hey, stop stop-!" The one holding Satina back backed away in panic… as they used their tail to bring out… a holy knife. "One wrong move and little girlie here gets a permanent accessory!"

"Oooh, super sharp!" Satina giggled.

"... You brought a knife to a sword fight." Iruma stated as he did his best to take a breath.

The sinner blinked. "…. What?"

"I said... you brought a knife…." He let his arm glow … as the holy sword came out. "To a sword fight!" And he threw himself forward-

The demon's eyes widened in terror. "Oh fuck please no-!"

Shin-crk

The demon flinched… as the sword just barely passed by the side of his head. He blinked before he breathed heavily. "Fuck... oh fuck, I didn't think those triggers would work! Haha!" The man laughed victoriously. "You missed!"

"Wasn't aiming at you." Iruma smiled as he pointed to the sword... which was deep within the glass tank.

The sinner stopped, now staring at it with wide eyes. "… Son of a-"

Splash

Water poured around them, as a shark bit into the sinner. "AAAAHHHH!" He screamed in agony.

"Yaaaaay!" Satina clapped happily, freed from the kidnapper. "Fishies!"

"Satina, you alright?" He asked softly as he picked the girl up.

"Of course I am, that was an amazing game!" She clapped with a big smile. "Even if the rules were super confusing. Do we get to ride the fishies and have them eat everyone now?"

"No, no, I think that's the end of rides for now." Octavia came up to him and huffed. "You already Iruma?

"I'm fine… I'm just… glad it's over." He sighed in relief. Even if Satina owned him... He would NEVER wish anyone to be under the same circumstances Iruma was in.

"Where the fuck did they even get this thing?" Angel Dust asked as he lifted the holy knife the demon was holding. "No way Val would have trusted them with it."

"… I blame Carmine." Octavia said bluntly. "Giving out her shitty weapons to whoever has enough money." Guess he just had to live with his girlfriend hating his best boss.

"Let's just be happy that no one got hurt."

"THE SHARK'S EATING MY LEGS!"

"Let's just be happy that no one we know got hurt." He nodded. Iruma had to be content with that. He was still processing whether or not he should feel guilty about all those loan sharks he sliced up trying to fly that helicopter.

Helsa Von Eldritch watched as the sinner slowly gained consciousness. "I … what the …" He blinked a few times.

"Hello there little man." She smirked, showing off her sharp teeth. "Quite a lovely day we're having."

His eyes shrunk immediately. "I …" She could see the realization and fear enter his face. "Y-y-yes, it is. I say very much so."

"Or it waaaas." Helsa noted. "Until you and your posse ran around and caused us property damage." She gestured to the broken huge tank. The area around it was wet and covered in scattered glass fragments as a few fishes were flapping desperately for water while most were unmoving, dead.

The sinner's eyes shrunk further. "I…" She let down her hair and used it to choke the little bitch of a man.

"Do you know… how fucking brutal it is for my family to drag sea life all the way from Envy, training them, decorating their habitats, food supply…" She kept up a bright and toothy smile as she squeezed the man harder. "Especially given how difficult it is for Sinners having no real access outside the rings? The fact we have to double down on making sure any and all hellborn we hire don't backstab us?" The Von Eldritch family's deal with Leviathan was the primary source of all their wealth after all.

"Akkk-S-s-sorrry…." He grimaced from his lack of air.

"But … I am a believer in fixing mistakes." She let go, letting him breathe. "So I want two things from you if you don't want me to hand you to my mother. She's much less pleasant than me after all."

"I… okay.. Okay..." He gasped.

"First … information. Why did the Vees want little Ms. Satina? You could threaten that imp that hung around Asmodeus and the hound around Beelzebub. But a bio child of a sin? Too much risk even with a holy weapon, not a good hostage." An emotional sin was NEVER something to trifle with. Even if the losers managed to corner Satan, he would destroy any realm he was in rather than agree to any demands, he was the leader of WRATH for a reason.

"The… the…. The…" The demon gasped. "They… they didn't… want her… they… wanted her contract… around that…Radio kid… They've… switched energy from… killing him… to.. Collecting his remaining contracts…."

"...What do you mean by remaining?" She squeezed.

"I don't… I don't..." She let the barbs sink into his skin. "I…They tried blackmailing… Carmine….for hers…. Rumor has it… she…. Gave it … to someone else… someone… they don't know about…."

Helsa didn't have the full story, but she could piece enough together. The Vs wanted the image of control, and Iruma Suzuki was ruining that all the time, thus they wanted control over him. They weren't dumb enough to try direct confrontation again and we're trying to maneuver to other contract owners. Carmine was first, but she somehow scapegoated the deal.

"I guess that's good enough …" She kissed her grip. "As for the next thing I need from you … you still have your soul, don't you?"

"Uh… yeah, yeah, Vs wanted complete… anonimtiy…..guess I fucked that up…. Announcing that... outloud..."

"Then you wouldn't be opposed to working off the debt for all the damages, would you?" Helsa formed up a contract and a feather pen. "I mean, it's better than working as fish food, right?"

"...Yes... I guess... I'm in no position to argue…" The demon sighed as he lifted his hand to grab the pen before signing.

"Just one more thing." She grinned as she slowly let him go, the signed contract vanished. "The boy, Iruma Suzuki … happened to catch where he went off to?"

"No ma'am … blacked out once the fishes grabbed me." Eh, no real loss. She could just turn on a radio and figure the rest out.

"Good boy, good boy, now clean up this shit or your shark chow just like your little friend there." She pointed off to the side.

"IT'S GOT BOTH MY ARMS!"

"Yes ma'am." He walked over to a broom and began sweeping up broken glass, sulking. Another soul added to her collection … fun.

Mom and Dad were likely going to be pissed, but their mood could be alleviated when they learn that a child of a sin 'had fun' here, which would up their ratings as a fantastic review. And... she just had something on Morningstar's little pet project that likely he or little Charlotte did not know about… emphasis on pet, the boy was like a fluffy adorable dog she wanted to stuff in her purse and dress up in cute outfits.

Helsa's smirk widened. "Now … where to go from here." With so many options, it was almost hard to pick the best and most fun one.