Heaven's Hotel

I: WITCH

It's been years since Crutori became a demon. They wanted to avenge the entities. Yet, now they've been punished and separated from Gudiar. Gudiar now refers to herself as 'Guiding Light' to make her think of the fate of her partner less. However, it's useless; Guiding Light works day and night to try and make negotiations and letters to change the minds of the Virtue angels possibly. She hoped to shorten Crutori's time in Hell and make the hotel Crutori's forgiveness assignment. Inside, she prays to the Seraph that her work will make a difference. She wanted her partner back. Even if it's been days since she's slept and has neglected everything around her. It will make up for it all, she repeats to herself with every stroke of ink left behind by the delicate brush. Her body has become sore from lack of exercise, Guiding Light couldn't care less. Nothing matters.

        If only Guiding Light were human, she could die. She could go to Hell. She could see her partner. Any Hell could become Heaven with Crutori there. She'd do anything to lay eyes on the bumpy yellow skin and frizzy mohawk of Crutori. To stand outside in the chilly rain one more time next to the curious angel-- but Guiding Light wouldn't get anywhere unless she kept on reading and writing!

        Guiding Light began slowly losing her composure to write properly, leading to her finally putting down the quill and relaxing, staring into the azure abyss. She exited her personal limbo and drearily paraded the halls of the hotel. She had to cling onto the walls and furniture for support, as her body begged to rest. Exhausted footsteps ambled on top of the stained wooden floorboards.

        She eventually reached the lush courtyard, ambling over to sit on the drenched steps. She bit her quivering lip and her beautiful milky white robe began to get wet, as did her eyes.

        Lost in her sorrow and self-pity, she failed to hear the iron doors of the opposite side of the courtyard creeping open.

        "Rest tomorrow, Lumi." A voice from behind startled Guiding Light, "Your persistence has crossed the line between 'dedicated' and 'stubborn'. Nothing you write will convince the angels if you're deprived of your needs."

        Snare Viridis. While Haeres created the Original Three as a demonstration, Snare was the first entity to be truly crafted by Crutori. Her dress of vines wrapped around the stairs and into the cracks of stone as she sat beside Guiding Light.

        "I--" Guiding Light stuttered, interrupted by her hiccups and sharp breaths.

        "Calm yourself," Snare grew a flower to cover her palm's thorns and patted Guiding Light on the back, "They'll be back. You'll have them back."

        Guiding Light buried her miserable face in her hands, letting herself sob. The pouring rain drowned out the sounds of her weeping. She kept on trying to speak, but eventually gave up, focusing on releasing years of built-up pain. The rain kept pounding on her shivering body regardless.

        The sly, inky creature watched from the dark corners; observing, feeling... sympathy?

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Anxious steps muffled throughout the aura of chatter. Entities sat and spoke to one another in the cheery wine cellar. The souls gossiped and laughed together surrounded by dark wood and barrels with empty alcohol bottles. Jeff the merchant brought his radio from his shop some doors behind. The whispers were light as to not overstimulate the librarian, known to have sensitive hearing. Despite how Figure usually disliked social settings, this all felt nice. The joy of everyone gathering together and interacting helped him ignore his irritation. Figure discreetly slipped his large hand and squeezed the hand of the infamous dark cyclops--Seek. Both letting a personalized smile of their own creep upon their faces--even though Seek's face only contained a large, piercing eye, and Figure lacked every other facial feature besides a great maw. The noise continued, until a certain someone finally arrived.