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It was no secret to those in the Hotel that Charlie was emotional, sometimes overly so, breaking into song and randomly dancing. It had caused problems, lots of them, mainly in regards to the political side of things. Charlie was not cut out for politics. At all. She was beyond terrible at it, and anyone who told her a sob story would get away scot-free. Vaggie didn't trust Alastor not to screw the Hotel over, so he had been barred from doing politics in regards to the Hotel. Which caused problems.
Lots of them.
Angel had been mocked and laughed out of the room when he had tried to negotiate, and Husk?
They had been lucky to get Husk out of the room alive.
They were also aware that they couldn't ask Lucifer to help either, and not because he wouldn't want to help, but rather because he was taking a more active role in being King again, he was catching up with everything that had gone on in the last couple of decades that he had misse,d and there was a lot that he had missed. So he was currently cleaning up a lot of messes and putting out a lot of fires.
Fires that had been caused by his absence.
They knew that he was going to be busy for some time, and as such, they wouldn't be able to rely on him, which limited how many they could rely on. Charlie wanted to ask Alastor to help, but Vaggie was refusing to budge. Angel thought that Vaggie was being stubborn, out of everyone present at the Hotel?
Alastor was their best chance.
But Vaggie was refusing to see reason, and such things were starting to pile up, since Alastor was no longer dealing with the protection and politics, as per Vaggie and Charlie’s requests, the Sinners that had issues with the Hotel were starting to attack it more and more. A lot of Sinners also had an issue with the fact that Husk was at the hotel. More than one Sinner wanted to get revenge on the former Overlord, that was without the other Overlords and the Vees' smear campaign going on.
Needless to say, things were rough at the hotel.
Vaggei was refusing to back down; she wanted to prove that they didn't need Alastor as much as they did, and it was becoming clear to anyone with eyes that they did indeed need Alastor. A lot. It also didn't help that Lucifer backed Vaggie and had been doing his best to get Alastor to leave the Hotel. Husk thought that they were both idiots. Losing Alastor was not something that they needed right now. Not only would they lose his protection, but they would also lose access to what the other Overlords were doing as well. Which meant that if any of them were planning an attack?
Then they would have no idea. They would be completely blind and at the mercy of the Overlords.
Which was not a thing that they wanted or needed, not when it was proven that redemption was possible. They were working with Heaven, and the last thing that they needed was for the Overlords to attack them. Not only would it send the wrong message to Heaven and those that they were working with, but anyone who wanted redemption?
Wouldn't take the chance.
Not when it was clear that joining the Hotel would put them at war with the Overlords.
Husk knew that Alastor was a bastard; he was prickly on the best of days and a mean, spiteful, petty bastard on his worst days. Not even Rosie was able to deal with Alastor on his bad days; even the Vees knew better than to go against Alastor when he was in a bad mood. It had taken Vox months to rebuild the NEterianment District the last time Valentino had pissed Alastor off. Even now, over twenty years later, the crater that Alastor had created?
Still, remained in the centre of the Entertainment District. It had yet to be filled in.
Husk thought it was because they were too scared to do so, but he got the feeling that it also had something to do with Vox and his obsession with Alastor. There was no way that Vox would allow anyone to fill the crater in. Not if Alastor had been the one to make it; it was probably a monument of some kind, knowing Vox. Husk felt a shiver run down his spine. Vox would most certainly cause trouble if Alastor left the Hotel; he would target the Hotel to drag Alastor back. Which would put Alastor in a bad mood, which in turn would make things difficult for those who lived in the Pride Ring.
Which was not something that they needed right now. If ever.
Husk knew that the situation was going to go from bad to apocalypse if they didn't do something. The problem was the only one being in Hell who could help?
Was impossible to get a hold of.
However, that was only part of the problem. There were several other problems that could happen if she bothered to answer the call and if she bothered to help them. It was very possible that she would decide that they needed to clean up their own mess and would leave them to deal with a very volatile Alastor. Which was not something that they were equipped to deal with.
All he could do was hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
However, he knew that the situation was only going to get worse and right now?
He needed the backup; no one needed Alastor rampaging through the streets of the Pride Ring, killing those unfortunate to get in his path. Husk knew that he wasn't strong enough to take on Alastor by himself, and there were very few in the Pride Ring who were capable of such a thing.
With a tired sigh, he pulled out a battered phone and dialled one of the very few numbers that he had saved in the phone.
“This had better be good.” Unlike Alastor, her voice didn't have the distinct radio filter over it; it had a harsh twang to it. He knew that she had been raised in the United Kingdom for a good portion of her life, but he didn't know where, and her accent made it difficult to pinpoint the location.
“We got a problem.” All he could do was silently hope that she would be willing to listen to him and willing to help him stop the volcano that was Alastor from erupting.
“I am listening.” Husk didn't know if all the stars had aligned or if someone had decided that he needed a bit of luck tossed his way, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
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Charlie had decided tha she was going to show off the Hotel, the Sins had been invited, as had several members of the Nobles, and while there was a lot of hatred between the Nobles and the Sinners, none of them were willing to piss off the King of Hell. Then the situation was made so much worse when the Vees turned up at the Hotel, Husk knew that they were in trouble, and he had warned Angel to keep himself out of Alastor’s sight. Husk knew that things were going to get nasty. He watched as the Vees belittled the Hotel, Vox tried to charm everyone in the Hotel, and for the most part, it looked as if the others were falling under Vox’s sway.
Husk had always known that Vox was charismatic, but he hadn't realised until now just how easily Vox could sway a room. The only ones that weren't affected were the Nobles and the Sins.
Husk hoped that he would be able to do enough damage control until she turned up. When he had phoned her earlier, she had informed him that she would be arriving soon, within a couple of hours. Silently, he hoped that she would get here sooner; he needed the backup and if anyone would be able to calm down a raging Radio Demon?
It was her.
Husk felt his fur stand on end when Vox continued to be a swarmmy bastard and continued to make rounds; he was rubbing elbows with the Nobles, and the Nobles were lapping it all up. But that wasn't what worried Husk; Alastor had yet to make an appearance. Husk knew that Alastor could feel the presence of the Vees, and he knew that Alastor didn't tolerate any of the Vees and for a very good reason. The fact that there were Sins, Nobles and the other Overlords wouldn't stop Alastor from making his displeasure known, so where was he?
Husk had a bad feeling.
He could hear creaking and groaning coming from the upper floors, and the alarm bells began to ring inside his head. Then green symbols began to appear all over the Hotel, and Husk knew without a doubt that they were running out of time.
“Well, it certainly looks as if I have arrived not a moment too soon.” Husk felt a wave of relief wash over him. Standing in the doorway was Sarah.
Husk knew that the others were staring; it was impossible for anyone to miss the resemblance between her and Alastor, while she didn't have Alastor’s height or nose, there was no denying just who her father was. Husk had never seen her smile either; her red eyes kept him pinned in place, and he knew that she was just as deadly as Alastor. But unlike Alastor?
No one knew what her powers were.
She was a wild card.
She had been for as long as he had known her, just as he knew that she didn't suffer fools lightly, and she was more than capable of knocking an Overlord or two down a peg. His eyes moved to the Vees, and he watched as her eyes moved to them for the briefest of seconds before moving back to him. Husk knew that she had wanted to kill the Vees for years, but it was only because of Alastor’s former friendship with Vox that had kept her at bay. It was the same with Mimzy as well. Husk wondered if they would ever find out how close they were to being permanently ended, and not just in a physical sense either.
Sarah would destroy everything that they had built before she killed them; she would ruin them in ways that no one would ever be able to recover from.
Husk was silently wishing and praying that no one would prod the sleeping monster; unlike Alastor, she didn't have any connections to the Hotel, and she would lose nothing if the Hotel didn't work out. If anything?
She would stand to gain far more than they would.
Alastor would leave the Hotel, and he would go back to being with her, which was not a good thing. Husk had always wondered if their relationship was incestuous; it wouldn't be the first one that he had seen in Hell. However, he had quickly come to realise that it wasn't. They had a very codependent relationship, and if either of them got into a relationship of some kind?
It would be difficult for anyone to compete with the codependent relationship that the pair of them had.
Husk pitied the fool who thought that they would be able to get in between the pair of them. Sarah had followed Alastor to Hell for fucks sake.
“Husk, I am assuming that papa is upstairs?” Husk knew that he was going to be fending off a lot of questions, and he knew that he wasn't going to answer any of them. No amount of bribing, pleading, demanding, threats or crying would get him to budge.
Without a word, she turned on her heel and made her way upstairs; the only sound that could be heard was her heels connecting with the marble flooring of the Hotel's stairs. Husk could feel the eyes of everyone in the room burning into his skin; however, he wasn't going to bend or buckle. A roar came from upstairs, followed by crashing, smashing and the sound of something hitting the floor. Charlie went to go up the stairs, but he stopped her before she could make it too far.
“I wouldn't do that.” There was another thudding sound, and the ceiling violently shook. Husk had no idea how long the fight was going to last. But he knew that this wasn't the first time that such a fight had happened.
“But.” Husk shook his head and refused to move. They could not interfere, not now. Not unless they wanted a rampaging Radio Demon on the streets of the Pride Ring, this was a far safer option.
“Trust me, this? It is far better than the alternative.” There was a roar, and the chandelier came crashing to the floor. Husk knew how it looked, and he knew that Charlie was going to try and interfere.
Vague moved to stand beside Charlie, and Charlie tried to make her way up the stairs again. Only this time, he grabbed her arm to stop her from going any further; he ignored the hiss that came from Vaggie and the bloodlust that was coming from the Sins and the King.
“Do you want a rampaging Radio Demon on the streets of the City? That is what will happen if you interfere. Right now, the best thing to do is wait and let them fight it out, this way? The only ones that get hurt are them." Husk knew that he was being harsh, but it was the only way to get her to listen. The threat that she could cause Alastor to kill an untold amount of demons had caused her to pause. There was another roar and the sound of glass shattering and followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground.
The sound of bones shattering filled the air, followed by a sickly gurgling sound. Husk had no idea which one of them had been thrown out of a window, and he wasn't going to move from the stairs to look either. Not when it was clear that Charlie still intended to interfere, the sound of someone stumbling down the stairs caused him to turn. Sarah was clutching at her stomach, her intestines were in her hands, and one of her ears had been torn off. One of her eyes was swollen shut, the bones in one of her legs were protruding from the skin, and Husk knew that it took a considerable amount of willpower to walk away from a fight with Alastor. Especially when she was as injured as she was.
Husk also knew how this looked to everyone else.
Alastor looked like an abusive father, and he knew that Lucifer would use this to try and drive Alastor out of the Hotel. After all, what kind of message would it send to those who were looking for redemption?
Husk watched as Sarah reached inside of her and ripped her intestines out of her body; she didn't even flinch as she did so. She threw them into the fire and continued to walk towards the door. She ignored everyone around her. Before she had a chance to get to the door, it was violently thrown open. Alastor stood in the doorway, a feral look in his red eyes; he didn't bother to look at anyone else. He only had eyes for Sarah.
Before anyone could say or do anything to stop him, Alsator rushed forward and grabbed hold of Sarah before disappearing into the shadows. Husk knew that they wouldn't be able to find them. Alastor had more than just his bayou, and finding out what pocket dimension they were in?
Was not an easy feat.
Husk didn't say anything as the others surrounded him and started to yell over each other, he kept his lips sealed and even when the Koing and the Sins got involved?
He still didn't say anything.
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It had been three months since Alastor had disappeared, and each day he was avoiding questions, demands and threats, the Overlords were not happy that Alastor had disappeared again. Charlie was not happy that Alastor had disappeared, and things in the Hotel were starting to pile up and not get done, and the King was not happy that a threat had been so close to his daughter, and Husk was refusing to answer any questions that were aimed at him.
The Sins had also decided to stick around, and that was adding another level of stress that he did not need. At all.
The Vees were also being nuisances, more than normal, and he knew why Vox was refusing to let it go. Husk knew something about Alastor that he did not. He had known that Alastor had a daughter. Something that Vox had never known. Husk knew that it would be causing all sorts of problems for Vox, as Vox had always prided himself on knowing everything about Alastor and his life in Hell. The fact that he didn't know as much as he assumed he did?
Well, Vox had a rather large ego, and it was clear to anyone with eyes and common sense that Vox’s ego had taken some serious damage. So Vox was making trouble for everyone, and where Vox was, the rest of the Vees tended to follow, if only so Vox didn't cause too much damage to their reputation. Which was understandable. But it did cause him a lot more problems; still, it wasn't the first time that he had dealt with such problems and nor was it the first time that he had to deal with questions from those who were more powerful than he was.
Still, he had no idea how long Alastor would be gone this time. Last time he had gotten this bad, he had disappeared for seven years. Many had assumed that he had been killed, but Husk, much like Vox, had known better. After all, the radio waves were still working. The Hotel was busy, and even though it was busy and there were Sinners looking for redemption, it still didn't stop the questions being aimed at him on an hourly basis. It was draining to keep dodging them, but that was what he was going to keep doing. Not even Angel could get him to answer any questions.
One night, he was tending to the bar, making sure that they had everything they needed for the next couple of weeks. They had trouble getting their usual stock since Alastor wasn't the one ordering it, and they were also paying double the price that they usually did. They were also getting less than what they did if Alastor ordered it. It was something that he had pointed out, but Charlie had just smiled and said that she would deal with it. Husk hoped that it didn't involve her breaking out into song.
He hated it when she did that.
“Rye neat.” He didn't even flinch as the order came from behind him; lounging at the bar was Sarah. She looked better than the last time he had seen her. He didn't say anything as he poured her a drink, and he slid a bowl of nuts towards her. He watched as she took a couple of nuts and tossed them into her mouth.
“He is doing better. Another month or so, and he should be able to come back. If he wants to.” Husk didn't flinch at the words, not how dark Sarah’s voice was. It was clear that the pair of them had been talking.
“I am doing my best to make him see reason and not return to the Hotel.” Husk closed his eyes; this was what he had feared when he had gotten in contact with her, that she would talk Alastor into leaving the Hotel.
There was a scoff, and Sarah was looking at him; her normally red eyes were dark, and Husk knew that he had to tread very, very lightly. He had no desire to piss her off.
“Please, no one in the Hotel actually wants papa here; you want him here because he makes things easier. He keeps the other Overlords at bay; he offers protection, security, and free advertisement. His powers allow for travel to anywhere in the Pride Ring in a matter of seconds. He can scramble modern technology, making it impossible to take a photo of him. He offers information about the Overlords and their plans, information that no one in the Hotel can get their hands on. You really think that the Overlords would allow the princess who is trying to take away their souls into a meeting with them? Absolutely not. No one cares, Niffty will follow papa wherever he goes, so it isn't as if she is bound to the Hotel. You can stay if you really want to.” She took a swig of her rye; it wasn't a sip like she would normally do, and Husk knew that how she drank would sometimes reflect her mental state. It wasn't always a foolproof way to judge. Sometimes, she would do it just to piss someone off.
“Redemption is possible, it always has been. The problem was? Heaven didn't want to listen; they didn't want to put in the hard work that came with redemption, but now? Now they have no other choice; someone higher than Sera has interfered, and now they have no other option but to work. Heaven is undergoing some changes, and Hell? Well, those who want redemption will have to earn it, and those who don't deserve it can stay and burn. Not that it matters to me.” Part of Husk wasn't that shocked to hear that she had known that redemption was possible, that it had always been possible. He also knew that Charlie wouldn't take the news well.
Charlie had been under a lot of pressure, and it was showing; she was erratic with her emotions, she was pushing boundaries, trying to force more and more Sinners into redemption activities, and she had very little to show for it. She was starting to crack. Husk knew that it was only a matter of time until she crumbled under the weight of everything, and while he did care for Charlie. He didn't like who Charlie had become since they had found out that redemption was possible.
Husk knew that Angel was thinking about leaving the Hotel, due to the way that Charlie was acting. Even though it would put Angel at the mercy of Valentino, which meant that Angel was at the end of his rope and Charlie?
Was not making things better for anyone.
“Look, I like it here and whether or not Alastor comes back? I am staying.” Sarah hummed and tossed some more nuts into her mouth. She didn't say anything, merely looked at him. There was a noise from upstairs, and Husk tensed, wondering if anyone was going to come down the stairs. His eyes darted to Sarah, who looked unbothered.
“I know that Alastor hasn't been treated the best, and I aint saying that it is right to treat him the way that they have done. Alastor has done a lot for the Hotel, more than any of them will ever know, and he hasn't been thanked once for his work. They just expect him to do it.” Husk had his issues with Alastor, which he wasn't going to deny, but he knew that the way that Alastor was being treated wasn't right. By any standards.
Still, it wasn't as if anyone would listen to him and what he had to say, and Husk got the feeling that the only way that any of them would learn was when Alastor left the Hotel, and he knew that Sarah would do her best to convince Alastor to abandon the Hotel. To stay with her. Part of Husk hoped that Alastor listened to his daughter; he knew that if Alastor did stay at the Hotel?
It would lead ot Alastor’s second death, and he did not want to see the aftereffects of that.
“Both Heaven and Hell are going to change; change is part of nature. Always has been, things either change and survive or they don't and then they die.” She propped an elbow on the bar, and Husk made the mistake of looking into her eyes. Jet black eyes stared back at him, and he swore that he could feel death trail its cold fingers down his spine.
He clutched the bottle in his hands so tightly that the glass had begun to crack. She didn't say anything as she stared at him, then she snorted and looked away. He shakily set the bottle onto the counter and grabbed a glass; he needed a fucking drink after that.
“You know, most would be lying curled up and sobbing on the ground after that.” Husk didn't know if it was a compliment or not, and he wasn't going to ask. No fucking way.
Thanks for the drink.” He watched as she downed what was left of her drink and stood up he knew that the rye in the Hotel was not the cheap stuff, and most would have problems walking straight after downing a glass in one go. Yet she was acting as if it wasn't affecting her, although given who her father was?
It was entirely possible that it didn't do anything for her.
“See you around, Husk.” She disappeared into the shadows, and he slumped against the bar. She was just as terrifying as Alastor was. He was immensely grateful that he had never done anything to piss her off or earn her ire.
He doubted she would have been as polite.
He downed what was left in his glass and made his way upstairs. He needed to sleep and pretend as if the whole thing had never happened.
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Lucifer cut the feed from the scrying orb and steepled his hands together. He had learned far more than he had expected, and he wasn't sure how he felt about what he had learned. Part of him wanted to drive Alastor away from the Hotel. However, the more logical side of him could see how much of an advantage it was to have Alastor at the Hotel; not only would it give them an advantage over the other Overlords, but also those who would oppose Charlie’s dream.
Lucifer would admit that he wanted to track down the doe demon and make her talk; he wanted to find out how she knew that redemption was possible and had always been possible. But doing so would mean that he would make an enemy of Alastor, and they didn't need Alastor working against them, not when it was clear that Alastor was powerful. Exceedingly so, and while he was nowhere near as powerful as him. Alastor could easily launch a smear campaign against the Hotel and cause problems that way. He could also rally the Sinners of the Pride Ring to attack the Hotel while Lucifer was not there.
It was not a risk that he was willing to take.
He couldn't approach the situation as Charlie’s father; he couldn't allow himself to get emotional. Not only would it not benefit anyone, but it would also cause problems down the road. He needed to think like the King of Hell, and that meant he needed to remain logical.
Alasto9r was a valuable asset and one that he could not lose. Not only did he keep Charlie protected while Lucifer was busy, he was also an extra line of defence should the Hotel be attacked. Then there was Alasotr’s daughter, who clearly knew far more than any of them. It was something that he could use to his advantage, but in order to do so?
He needed to make sure that Alastor stayed at the Hotel.
Which was not going to be an easy task, given how hostile he had been and the way he had treated Alastor. It meant that any change in his attitude or demeanour would put Alastor on high alert and could cause Alastor to leave the Hotel.
It was going to be a very delicate rope that he walked, but he had walked far worse ones before.
With that in mind, Lucifer began to put a plan into motion.