Hazbin Lights (A Inanimate Insanity & Hazbin Hotel AU)

Arc 6 Chapter 38: One Small Unsettling Family

"Didn't you just hear me? Why is everybody gawkin'? Is it, cuz I'm adorable?" Bell posed to the gang.

Everyone stared at Bell, having no idea who she was. Everyone but Fan, who greeted her.

"Bell!"

"Fan! So good to see you. How you been? Good? Good." Bell greeted him as the two hugged each other.

As they did, Test Tube glared at her a little.

"Listen, I was in the neighborhood. I heard you were staying at this factory. & I figured I'd stop by, say hi!"

"Of course you can! Everyone is welcomed here."

"Of course! So you two know each other?" Lightbulb went over to the two.

"Oh, yeah. We go way back. I met him a day after I was eliminated." Bell explained to her, but she stopped once she saw Steve Cobs.

"Oh, oh my stars! Is that the king? Pleased to meetcha, your highness." She bowed down.

Cobs slowly walked away from her.

"Well, Bell, as much as I'd love to catch up, Lightbulb & I have a tour to continue. Why don't you let the others help you settle in, & I'll be back before you know it." Fan left her with the others as he left with Lightbulb, Test Tube & Steve Cobs.

Bell looked over at the others, who were sitting at the bar.

"So, where can a girl get a drink around here?" She took a seat.

Yang rinsed a cup & looked at her, annoyed.

"My, my, is that Yangster? Fan brought you around, I see. Classic! How ya been?"

"... Good until 5 minutes ago."

"Oh, don't tell me you're not happy to see me. You might hurt my feelings" She giggled, causing Yang to walk away from her

"Hey, you two! Whatcha' been up to?" Bell looked over at Bow & Bot.

"Nothing much." Bot told her.

"Just cleaning." Bow answered.

"& how's that's going for you two?"

"Pretty good." They both answered.

Yang came back & gave the three a drink.

"So uh, you & Fan are like what? Friends?" Paintbrush asked her.

"Yeah. Why you ask?"

"Well, you two seemed close, like... Really close."

"Oh, no no no. I like him as a friend. I can't see us as anything else more."

"Okay, just checking. Because... He likes someone else here. Same with her. & I think you were possibly making her a bit jealous?"

"Oh shit! If that's the case, I'm not trying to get in between them. Really! But if they happen, let me know."

"Got it. Also, I'm free."

Everyone laughed, all but Taco. She got up & left for her room. As she walked, she pulled out her phone & dialed a number.

"Hello, I need you & your gang to come over for someone under the name of Bell."

...

Lightbulb, Test Tube & Fan walked down a hallway on the first floor, showing Cobs more of the hotel.

"So, once we have the proof that redemption is possible, this whole hotel will be full of objects wanting to check out onto Dream Island. We just need a little more time to prove it. The sharing circles haven't been working as fast as I hoped, but I'm thinking that with a little bit more rethinking, we can really get it going." Lightbulb explained to her father.

"& we've almost been able to find all of Paintbrush's drug stashes & Taco's weapons... Almost." Test Tube added.

"So once that's out of the way, it should be much smoother sailing."

"Definitely!" Fan agreed.

"Well, that certainly is, uh... Is-Is something." Cobs responded, not really paying attention or caring.

The four walked outside onto a porch. Cobs looked around as Lightbulb looked back at her friends, who both nodded.

"So... What do you think?" She asked her father.

"About what?" He asked.

"The hotel."

"Oh boy..." Test Tube whispered to herself.

"What's going on?" Fan whispered back.

"Ignorance."

"Oh yes, it does... It does look much better now, doesn't it?"

"No, the plan, dad! What do you think about using the hotel to help eliminated contestants?" She reminded her father.

"Ahh. Alright, I mean, look... I know you want to see the best in people, but these eliminated contestants are... You know, they're just the worst. I don't know how much you can realistically expect from them on Dream Island."

As he explained, Test Tube & Fan looked at each other & back at him, utterly offended. Lightbulb couldn't believe what her dad was saying, but she still wanted to convince him.

"These are our people, dad, I... I have to try."

Steve pulled Lightbulb beside her as he explained.

"Listen Lightbulb, think of it like this. We are the beautiful flowers in the garden. & when the air is good, we're good. Both visually & scented. However, when pollution surrounds the garden, the beautiful flowers are ruined. They're the trash around us & the chemicals in the air."

Test Tube clenched her fists & was about to walk up to him & give him a piece of her mind, but Fan stopped her & looked back at Lightbulb & Cobs, causing her to stop & continue watching.

"Dad..."

"Our "people," Lightbulb, are awful. They got gifted free will & look what they did with it. Everything's terrible. & no matter what you do, or how hard you try, your idea will never work." Cobs finished.

Lightbulb stared at him, tears in her eyes. She slowly walked back from him, & ran back inside the hotel, crying.

"Lightbulb, wait!" Test Tube ran after her friend.

Cobs watched as the two left & snickered a bit as he smiled. Fan glared at him as he watched him enjoy his daughter's misery.

"Ha ha. Fuck you." Fan said to him left to help Lightbulb.

Cobs watched him in disgust as he left.

"Filth."