Achieving Heaven Through Hell Part 3: Only the Results

chapter 14: Coniunctio

Chapter 14: Coniunctio

Charlie hummed to herself as she set about organizing the hobbies. Hobby-Swap Attempt #3: This Time, It's Personal! Clay, painting, Lego, karaoke, the works! Now that

Moonie had, erm, 'pacified' the princess, he was sure to make progress in his therapy! Not to mention watching those two kids bond over silly games and crafts was going to be absolutely adorable.

The usual suspects filtered in over time. First Vaggie and Angel, they were arguing over something, as usual.

"C'moooon, Snatch!" Angel moaned. "If we's grounded, can't we at least call in some good times? I know some girls what'll rev even yer icy engine, and they dance for cheap!"

"No, Angel, even if we did have the money!"

"Howzit we's got two fuckin' princesses under this roof, and we's still a buncha broke chumps?!" Angel looked over at the spread, rolling his eyes. "Really, Chuck? Hobby-swap again?"

"No..." Charlie said, wagging her finger. "There were interruptions the last two times. They didn't count. We're going to find something for Moonie to express himself with if it kills me!"

"Plus," Vaggie said, smirking. "Watching the the lovebirds mess around with clay will be the cutest shit."

"Oooh!" Angel squealed, grinning, a pair of hands clasped together in front of him while another held his blushing face. "Maybe they'll start ghostin'!"

"Ghosting?" Charlie said, cocking her head to the side.

"Yeah, from the Patrick Swayze movie with Demi Moore?" Vaggie said, coming up behind Charlie, holding her from behind. "Where they make the pottery and that corny song starts playing."

"Ohhh my looove~" Angel crooned. "Mah daaarliiin'..."

"Jeez!" Husk grumbled as he walked through the door. "Are ya torturin' a cat in here?"

"Nah," Angel said, winking at him. "But I can make one hurt so good for the right price!"

"Pass." Husk brushed by him and glanced at the table, the assorted nonsense atop it. "Third time's the charm, eh, Chuck?"

"You know it!"

Husk poured himself some coffee from the urn and sat down, looking between the three of them. "What's got you birds all het up?"

"Oh, just, uh, excited to get on with the program!" Charlie said, blushing.

"Ah-huh," Husk muttered into his coffee. "Not basking in young love?"

"No!" Charlie said, defensively, before adding, sotto voce. "Not entirely, anyway..."

"Yeah. Right." Husk snorted and tossed his full cup at a shadowy corner. "What about you, Chuckles? You crunchin' diamonds wit' yer asscheeks to make macramé?"

Alastor rose out of the shadow, the coffee on his suit evaporating without a trace. "Hardly. I'm here to see what new tomfoolery will interrupt our wholesome hostess' valiant attempt to redeem a mentally misaligned mass murderer!"

Husk blinked and shrugged. "Fair enough. My money's on another hallucination."

"Fifty bucks says Stolas crashes the party!" Angel said, cackling. "Angry Hoot-Daddy!"

"Yer on!" Husk chuckled. "Hallucination here. Fifty buck buy-in, takin' all comers!"

"I want in!" Vaggie said. "My bet's on Stand shenanigans!"

Niffty fell from a ceiling vent with a squawk, dusting herself off a second later. "Fifty bucks says she portals them out of here to make sweet love!"