Eli stood in front of the hotel, eyeing the giant neon sign that flickered above him: "Happy Hotel." The place looked like a mansion in his opinion. He let out a sigh but squared his shoulders, bracing himself for whatever chaos might be waiting inside.
He still remembered the conversation he had with Moxxie and Millie about this whole mess.
Flashback...
"Why don't we just let him work there?" Moxxie suggested, his sharp eyes locking onto his wife's, trying to gauge her reaction. He was practically grabbing the bull by the horns… or in this case, the very angry country wife by the daggers.
Millie frowned, crossing her arms. "Ah don't know, Moxxie. Who knows what could happen? They might find out and take our baby away! I may be confident in mah strength, but against someone who rules over Hell, I'd be squished like a bug on a windshield!"
"To be fair, Mills, you've taken down some pretty big demons before." Moxxie pointed out, attempting to soothe her nerves. "Remember that time you suplexed that one guy into a crater?"
"Yeah, but this ain't some street thug!" Millie huffed. "We're talkin' about someone who reign over hell for billions of years, Mox!" She bit her lip, imagining a dozen ways this could go terribly wrong. "I ain't about to become a pancake just 'cause the princess offered our boy a job."
Moxxie placed a comforting hand on her back. "Look, Mills, I'm just as nervous as you, but if Eli turns the offer down, that might cause even more problems later. And the last thing we want is the Princess of Hell showing up at our doorstep, wanting to know why our son can't work at her hotel." He said. Well he can't really confirm it, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Millie grumbled, knowing Moxxie was right. As much as she hated it, they had two choices: allow Eli to work there to keep suspicions low or reject the offer and risk drawing unwanted attention—attention that could cost them their son.
Eli remained silent, watching the exchange between his parents, his expression unreadable.
With a heavy sigh, Millie slumped her shoulders. "Alright..." She muttered, pouting slightly as she crossed her arms in reluctant defeat.
Moxxie and Eli exchanged a knowing glance before stepping forward and wrapping their arms around her. A small, warm smile broke through her pout as she returned the embrace, holding them close.
Flashback ended...
Eli shook his head. It was a miracle that Blitzo was fine with this arrangement. Just as he was about to step into the hotel, Charlie seemingly appeared out of nowhere, her wide grin practically beaming.
"You're here! Oh, thank you for accepting!" She exclaimed, vigorously shaking his hand with enthusiasm. "Come on, let's go meet everyone!—which, well, isn't actually a lot of people, but still!"
Her excitement was practically contagious. She could hardly believe it—the imp actually accepted! This was already shaping up to be one of the best days she'd had in a while.
Before Eli could even get a word in, Charlie had already dragged him inside, her grip firm with determination.
"Vaggie! We got a new member!" Charlie called out excitedly as she practically skipped toward her girlfriend.
Vaggie, deep in thought about ways to promote the hotel, barely had time to process the words before Charlie skidded to a stop beside her, positively vibrating with enthusiasm.
The silver-haired woman perked up just in time to see Charlie dragging along a visibly unenthused Wrathian imp by the wrist, like a kid showing off a new toy—except the toy looked like it wanted a refund.
With a grin that could rival the sun, Charlie thrust the imp forward as if presenting a rare collectible. "Remember this guy?" She asked, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Eli, his expression unreadable, locked eyes with Vaggie. His silent stare practically screamed, Is she always like this?
Vaggie blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "I... do, Charlie," she said, her brain scrambling to catch up. Now that he was up close, Eli looked even younger than she had assumed from a distance.
Still, she extended a hand, though her skepticism lingered. "As Charlie just announced, I'm Vaggie. Nice to meet you?" Her voice carried a slight uncertainty; socializing was never her strong suit, and this imp radiated the kind of quiet intensity that made small talk feel like a high-stakes negotiation.
Eli hesitated only briefly before shaking her hand with a polite, almost mechanical formality. "Eli… Knolastname." He said, shifting his weight slightly as if debating whether to say more.
Vaggie narrowed her eyes. Was that actually his last name, or was he just declaring that he didn't have one? The deadpan delivery made it impossible to tell.
Charlie, meanwhile, had the same realization a second later. Wait… did I ever ask for his name?
Before either could ponder further, a familiar voice cut in.
"What's with all the noise? Someone throwin' a party without me?"
A tall spider demon strutted over, one hand on his hip, a toothy grin in place.
Eli, meanwhile, took in the unexpected sight. A spider demon. He had encountered countless demons in Hell, yet this was only the second time he had seen one of this kind. They seemed rare—why was that? A question for Stolas in the near future.
"Oh, nothing! Just showing Vaggie the new staff member I hired." Charlie chirped, gesturing at Eli like a proud recruiter.
Angel raised a skeptical brow. "Seriously? Why'd you even hire a new staff member?"
"Well, we kinda need a security guard." Charlie answered, her smile unwavering.
Angel scoffed. "No offense, toots, but I'm pretty sure Smiles' mere presence is enough to send most troublemakers running." He said, referring to the Radio Demon.
"I know, but he's not always here." Charlie reasoned. "So it's nice to have some extra protection!" Not to mention, this was mostly just her trying to get more staff members.
Angel Dust rolled his eyes before smirking and bending down slightly to Eli's height. He gave the imp's cheek a playful pinch. "Right, and what's this kid gonna do? Other than grow into a total stud, of course." His gaze flickered over Eli's physique. "Not bad, actually. Hey, kid, you drink?" He teases.
"Oh yeah, he's a Wrathian imp!" Charlie added, with both hands clasped behind her back.
That was when Eli got annoyed. His eye twitched ever so slightly before he reached up, grabbed Angel's wrist, and applied just enough pressure to make the spider demon wince.
"Ow, ow—okay, damn, strong grip!" Angel tried to pull away, only to realize he was stuck in an ironclad hold. He blinked. "Wait. Are you flirting or threatening me? 'Cause I'm into both."
Eli, recoiled and released him.
Vaggie groaned. "Angel."
Angel rubbed his wrist and chuckled. "Alright, fine, I like 'im. Little guy's got some bite."
Out of nowhere, a small cyclops demon materialized and latched onto Eli's side, a feather duster in hand.
"What the—?" Eli blinked, lifting his arm to see the wide-eyed, grinning demon practically glued to him.
"I heard stud! Where!?" she demanded, her single eye darting around the room—completely oblivious to the fact that she was clinging to a total stranger.
Angel Dust, still nursing his aching wrist, sighed and pointed directly at Eli. "You're holdin' him right now, Tiny."
The cyclops turned, finally registering the person she had latched onto. Her grin stretched wider. "Ooooh! Hi! I'm Niffty! What's your name?" She leaned in, practically vibrating with excitement as she looked him up and down, clearly liking what she saw.
Eli—who had dressed in a suit for professionalism (at least, that's what Moxxie claimed)—opened his mouth to respond.
"Eli—"
But before he could finish, Niffty detached, a blur of movement as she snatched something from his suit's hidden compartment. Her eye gleamed as she held up his dagger, that was given to him by Blitzo after they had took down Striker, the blessed blade glinting under the dim light.
"Ooooh, nice knife." She purred, rubbing her cheek against the blade as her pupils shrank to pinpricks. Black veins appeared in her eye. "Do you like killing people? Because I dooo~."
The group blinked at the weapon, it's no surprise that he was carrying a weapon, the real questioned was where did he get a blessed weapon?
"Wha—" Eli placed a hand on the hidden compartment of his suit, blinking when he realized it was empty.
His gaze snapped to Niffty, who was gleefully twirling his weapon in her hands. Without hesitation, he snatched it back, causing the tiny maid to pout. She reached up with a grabbing motion, eye wide with longing.
Eli simply held the weapon out of her reach. "No." He scolded, before lightly chopping the top of her head with his free hand.
Niffty let out an exaggerated, "Aww..." rubbing her head with both hands. It didn't hurt—she just did it out of instinct.
Nearby, a certain anthropomorphic avian-cat demon blinked in surprise. The new guy had just pacified the manic housekeeper with ridiculous ease.
Eli slipped the weapon back into his suit, then patted Niffty's head as if to console her. He turned his attention back to Charlie, unfazed.
Niffty, however, giggled madly at the gesture. Angel Dust, who had been standing close, immediately took a cautious step away.
Just then, Niffty spotted something scuttling nearby. A manic grin split her face. "Bugs!" She shrieked, pulling out an assortment of needles before dashing off in pursuit.
Eli exhaled through his nose before folding his arms. "What should I do, Ms. Magne?"
The question snapped Charlie out of her stupor—along with her equally stunned girlfriend.
"Oh! Uh—sorry about Niffty." Charlie said quickly, trying to regain her composure. "You can... stand guard at the entrance? Also call me Charlie!"
'I won't...' Eli thought before nodding and turned to leave, only for Vaggie to step in front of him.
"Wait." She said, eyes narrowing. "Where did you get a blessed weapon?" Suspicion dripped from her voice.
Eli met her gaze, completely unfazed. "My parents are assassins." His answer was short, but it carried enough weight to satisfy—or at least silence further questioning.
Vaggie hesitated, but Angel Dust just shrugged. "Yeah, that checks. Assassins are usually stacked with all kinds of crazy shit."
Eli simply shrugged, then continued on his way.
A few hours later...
The day had gone much better than expected. A few demons had tried stirring up trouble, but they were nothing more than low-level thugs—easily dealt with. There were also a handful of debt collectors lurking around, hoping to drag sinners out of the hotel where they had been hiding.
Niffty was starting to make a habit of pestering Eli during her free time. Thankfully, she was easily distracted.
"If you had to fight Satan, who would win?" Mary asked, floating invisibly above her great-grandson.
"Satan." Eli answered without hesitation, leaning against the wall. Yeah, he couldn't really win against one of the seven deadly sins.
Mary opened her mouth to ask why but stopped short when she noticed someone approaching.
Eli shifted his gaze, turning his head just in time to see a man in a red suit.
The stranger grinned widely and seized Eli's hand in a firm shake. "Hello there! I'm Alastor, the Radio Demon. A pleasure to make your acquaintance!" His voice crackled and warped like an old-fashioned radio broadcast.
Eli subtly glanced at his great-grandmother, who simply smiled in amusement and gestured for him to return the greeting.
"A pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Alastor." Eli replied, his tone polite but laced with quiet mischief.
Alastor blinked, momentarily surprised, but then his grin widened—if that was even possible. Eli had been certain it couldn't stretch any further.
"It seems dear Charlie has chosen someone with taste." Alastor remarked, his amusement evident. It wasn't often that someone greeted him with such poise. That alone earned Eli a few points in his book.
"Well, then." He continued, adjusting his sleeves, "I came to see who dear Charlie had hired. Looks like my concerns were unnecessary."
With that, Alastor turned on his heel and took his leave, already humming a tune to himself.
Eli watched him go, his expression unreadable. "...That easy?"
Mary finally let out the giggles she had been holding in. "That easy."
Eli yawned, stretching as he soaked in the serene quiet. Thirty minutes had slipped by in a blissful calm—and if the peace continued for just a few more hours, he'd be home free.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a chocolate bar and took a thoughtful bite, savoring the rich, creamy flavor. The silence, however, was soon broken by a burst of cheerful energy.
"Eli!" Came a bright call as Charlie's head appeared at the hotel entrance, her eyes scanning the area with unmistakable enthusiasm.
In that moment, Eli's confidence wavered. I spoke too soon, he mused silently, the half-eaten chocolate bar pausing mid-air.
Without warning, Charlie spotted him and sprinted over. She grabbed his wrist with an exuberance that left no room for refusal and led him back into the building.
Once inside the cozy kitchen, Charlie's excitement filled the space. With a wide grin and a sparkle in her eyes, she finally let go of his hand, clearly eager to share the moment.
Eli, having finished his chocolate, nonchalantly tossed the plastic wrapper into a nearby trash can—a small, tidy act that earned an approving nod from Charlie.
"May I ask why I'm here, Ms. Magne?" He inquired, his tone laced with polite curiosity, wondering if he was about to be put to work in some culinary task.
"Bonding—through cooking!" Charlie exclaimed, throwing both hands up as if presenting a grand idea, her enthusiasm infectious. "And please, call me Charlie."
Eli paused, blinking in surprise at her insistence. Bonding? he thought, caught between his ingrained formality and the lighthearted invitation.
"I'm not following… and I won't." He replied, the words betraying the respectful reserve he'd been raised with—an air of formality that now seemed a touch out of place.
For a brief moment, Charlie's exuberance softened into a determined frown. It was clear to her that his restraint came either from strict upbringing or a deeply rooted sense of decorum. Undeterred, she resolved to break through that barrier.
"Right, anyway." She continued, regaining her buoyant energy. "Since you're new here and still getting to know everyone, I thought we could kickstart our friendship with some fun—an activity that brings us together in the heart of the kitchen." With that, she puffed out her chest as though declaring a small triumph, her eyes dancing with anticipation.
"Sure." Eli replied with a casual shrug, silently acknowledging that perhaps earning Charlie's trust would be good.
Chaos reigned in the kitchen. Eli was on high alert, determined to prevent anything from blowing up as Charlie dashed around, attempting to "cook"—if you could even call it that. Credit where it's due: she was fast. Meanwhile, Eli panted in exhaustion while Charlie busied herself stirring something mysterious in the pot.
"Eli, I think it's almost ready!" Charlie chirped cheerfully, waving at him as he struggled to catch his breath.
"What is going on here?" Vaggie demanded. She had heard strange noises and rushed into the kitchen, only to find her girlfriend and the new hire amidst the chaos—with Eli looking as if he'd just run a marathon.
"Oh, hey, Vaggie, we're bonding through cooking." Charlie replied, grinning broadly at her girlfriend.
Vaggie glanced at Eli, who turned toward her with a deadpan expression.
"Uh-huh, you do know that you can't cook, right, hon?" Vaggie said, leaning casually against the kitchen entrance.
"Pffftt, of course I do." Charlie retorted, dismissively waving her hand at Vaggie.
At Vaggie's remark, a figurative tick mark seemed to appear on Eli's temple—a silent testament to his mounting irritation. "Is that so?" He said in a low tone as he slowly approached Charlie.
The princess of Hell yelped, raising her arms and giggling nervously as she slowly backed away from the increasingly annoyed Wrathian imp.
Just then, a sudden pop caught their attention, and all eyes turned to the oven, which was vibrating violently.
Eli trudged back into the I.M.P headquarters, grumbling under his breath. His clothes were slightly charred, wisps of smoke still curling off him as he stepped inside. Today had been a lot.
But as he opened the door, he was met with a sight that made him pause.
Millie, Loona, and Moxxie stood frozen in place, all covered in blood. And then there was Blitzo—currently being princess carried by a completely clean Stolas, who, despite the absolute carnage around him, looked as pristine as ever.
For a long moment, the two sides simply stared at each other, processing the absurdity of their respective situations.
Eli, his exhaustion settling deep in his bones, finally broke the silence. "Seems like you guys have a very interesting story to tell…" He deadpanned, his shoulders slumping.
Stolas, still effortlessly holding Blitzo, let out an amused chuckle. "As do you, I presume?"
Eli exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Yeah… Let me sit down first."
A/N: I decided to skip truth seeker, because why not since my original plan was wrecked.
My schedule is all kind of mess up so I have no idea when I'll get the chance to write and update.
As for the family, I think I have to borrow a few scene from 'A Loud Among Demons' just a few not all of it.
Also sorry for the inconsistency of words, writers block is my worst enemy.