Hazbin Hotel: A New Venture

Chapter 5: Dad Beat Dad

Jack yawned and stretched as she walked down the stairs, though she stopped when something caught her eye. Everyone was already there, looking at what Jack now saw was a very panicked Charlie in front of a board, papers everywhere. Her hair was a wreck and she looked like she hadn't slept at all.
"Is she okay?" Jack whispered, walking to where everyone else was gathered. Angel shrugged.
"We're not sure." He said.
"Charlie?" Vaggie asked.
Charlie, though, was muttering to herself. "I'm just not quite understanding why it's not working. Okay, okay, think, Charlie. Think, think, think, think, think, think, think, think. Okay if I do this, it's going to be-" She gasped. "I have trust falls every morning. We can do-" She gasped again.
"Yikes." Angel hissed.
"Come on, come on, come on, come on." Charlie muttered.
"Charlie? Sweetie? You, uh, you good?" Vaggie asked.
Charlie looked back at her, an insane look in her sleep deprived eyes. "Nope! No, not really. Haha. I've been up all night trying to figure out why the hotel isn't working. We've done trust falls, we've tried sharing our feelings, we only have a couple of months left before the angels come." Her form shifted to her demonic form as she laughed maniacally before returning to normal.
"Maybe it's time-" Vaggie said.
"NO." Charlie said, looking back.
"To ask-"
Charlie got up close to Vaggie, holding her cheeks desperately. "DON'T SAY IT."
"Your dad." Vaggie finished. Charlie groaned, releasing Vaggie's face and hanging over the back of one of the couches. Vaggie continued. "Charlie, I know you don't want to, but we need every advantage we can get."
Charlie lifted her head. "He let the extermination happen to begin with. They just had a meeting and said, 'Go ahead and kill everyone'-" She suddenly gasped. "Wait that's it!"
"Kill everyone?" Vaggie asked.
"No! He could get a meeting with Heaven!" Charlie exclaimed.
"Didn't we try that?"
"Well, yeah with Adam, he was a jerk. But he isn't in charge of all of Heaven. We could go to the top. There's sure to be some angels who will listen." Charlie started scrolling through her contacts. When it seemed like she had found the contact, she stopped with her thumb lingering.
"What's the holdup? You got daddy issues?" Husk asked.
"No, we just have never been close." Charlie explained. "After and mom split, he never really wanted to see me. He calls, sometimes, but only if he's bored or like needs me to do something."
Husk smirked. "Daddy issues."
"Well, I'd like to meet the big guy in charge." Angel said.
Niffty, holding a knife, laughed. "The ultimate bad boy. I bet he's scary." As she laughed maniacally, Angel carefully took the knife from her and tossed it away. Charlie finally pushed the call button, putting her phone to her ear. Jack's ears perked up and she could hear both sides of the conversation.
Jack listened as the dial tone went on for a while before the line picked up and Lucifer answered. "Hey there!"
"Hi, Dad." Charlie said.
"Hey! How are you? Oh ho. Where-where are you these days?" Lucifer asked.
"You know where I am, Dad. I've told you before."
"You have? Oh, yeah, uh, well, you know, I um uh-"
"I told you when you called me five months ago or did you just not listen?"
"No, no, no, no. Just, you know, just forgot. You know, I've just been really busy, you know, with, um, important things." Lucifer said.
Charlie sighed. "Well, I'm actually running a hotel to rehabilitate sinners. Maybe you saw our commercial?"
"Oh, sadly, I missed it. Heh heh. You know, I haven't been watching much TV lately. Scrambles the brain." Jack heard him make some weird noises before he continued. "But, hey! A hotel, fun."
Charlie sighed. "Listen, Dad, I've got kind of a big ask."
"Yeah, of course. Anything in my power is yours for the asking. You just name it-"
"I need to speak to Heaven. Well, whoever's in charge up there, above Adam, above anybody. I need to go to the top."
"Oh, no. No, no, no, no, Charlie, no, no, no. That's, uh hah, no.
"Look dad," Charlie started, getting angry, before she sighed. "I don't ask you for much, I never have, but this, this is really important to me. It's the most important thing I've ever done. And I... need you. I need your help."
"I don't know, Charlie."
"Please! Just come see what I'm trying to do. You'll see why it's a really good idea. And Heaven is bound to agree if I get the chance to talk to them. Please, Dad."
"Wait, you're... inviting me over?!" Lucifer exclaimed. "Absolutely! Oh, I'll be there in an hour!" And the line went dead as Charlie turned to everyone.
"Welp, we have an hour until he gets here." Charlie said.
"Okay people!" Vaggie exclaimed, everyone snapping to attention. "Lucifer is on his way. So, we are going to get this place presentable and we are going to make an amazing impression. Vamanos!" And everyone scattered to try and get everything ready. As Jack walked across the room, she glanced up at the balcony and saw Alastor standing there, his usual psychotic grin on his face.
Eventually, everything was done and all they had to do was wait for Lucifer to show up. "This is certainly going to be interesting." Jack said, leaning up against one of the walls, arms crossed with her staff clenched in her left hand.
Charlie, who was standing by the front door with Alastor, sighed. "Okay everyone, it's showtime." She opened the door to find Lucifer standing there.
He threw open his arms as he exclaimed, "Charlie!" He threw his arms around Charlie, wrapping her in a tight hug. " Oh, it's so good to see you!" As Jack watched, she saw Alastor glaring at them, his left eye twitching.
Charlie gasped. "It's uh, good to see you too, Dad." She took a deep breath as Lucifer released her. She cleared her throat. "Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!"
Keekee curled up to Lucifer and rubbed her face against his leg. Lucifer smiled, kneeling down and rubbing her head. "Oh, hewwo, Keekee." He said as Razzle and Dazzle flew around him. "Razzle, Dazzle. Oh, look how much you haven't grown. Still fun sized. You taking care of my little girl?" His voice turned deep and threatening. "You better be." He snickered, his voice returning to normal. He looked around. "Wow! This place sure looks, uh... uh huh yah uh huh... It's got a lot of character!" That was when he spotted the bar and immediately looked repulsed. "Oh, what is that!"
Alastor appeared from the shadows, in front of Angel. "Just some of the renovations we had done. Adds a bit of color, don't you think?"
"And you are?" Lucifer asked, looking behind himself when Alastor popped up behind him.
"Alastor. Pleasure to be meeting you, sir. Quite a pleasure." Alastor shook Lucifer's cane, wiping his hand on his jacket after doing so. "It's nice to finally put a face to the name. You are much shorter in real life." He held up two fingers in indication as he spoke and Jack had to bite back a smirk.
"Who is this?" Lucifer asked. "Who is this nut? Are you the bellhop?"
"Aha! No! I am the host of the hotel. You might have heard of me from my radio broadcast." Alastor said.
"Hmm, nope!" Lucifer exclaimed. "I guess that's why Charlie called it the Has-been Hotel, ahaha." As he laughed mockingly, he nudged Charlie's side.
Alastor shot back with his own mocking laughter. "Ha ha ha. It was actually my idea."
"Ahaha" Well, it's not very clever!"
"Haha! Screw you." Alastor snapped as Charlie got between the two to stop them.
"Okay! Okay, anyway. Dad, look at this lovely parlor where people can get to know each other and share secrets and stories and intimate feelings! Without Alastor, we wouldn't have been able to pretty it up this much."
"Charlie has a very unique vision." Alastor said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I am happy to fulfil her bizarre requests."
"Oh, thank you, Alastor." Charlie said.
"Quite an impressive young lady." Alastor continued. "We're all very proud of her."
Lucifer walked between them. "Ahem, Charlie! Dear, eheh, why don't you introduce me to your OTHER friends."
"Oh yes, of course." Charlie said. "This is Vaggie." She pulled Vaggie to her. "She's my girlfriend."
"Oh, my golly! You like girls? So do I! We have so much in common! You put her there, Maggie! Hey!" He grabbed Vaggie and hugged her tightly. "Oh yeah. She's so pretty."
"Lovely to meet you, uh, sir." Vaggie said.
"And this is Sir Pentious and Angel Dust, our guests!" Charlie continued.
Pentious shot up to attention, saluting. "Your majesty!" He then fell into the cookies.
"Hey." Angel said.
Charlie kept going. She pointed to Husk and then Niffty. "Husk is our bartender and Niffty is our housekeeper." Charlie smiled as Zen and Magny walked up, Magny climbing up onto Jack's shoulder. "Oh, and we've also got Zen and Magny. Zen helps Husk and Magny helps Niffty. And finally, there's Jack, our maintenance manager." Charlie pointed at Jack, who gave Lucifer a short wave before crossing her arms again.
Suddenly, the chandelier fell, producing a huge amount of dust, causing nearly everyone to start coughing, except for Lucifer and Alastor. Jack rolled her eyes, knowing as well as she was sure Lucifer did that Alastor had done that. Lucifer laughed. "Alright then." And with a swing of his cane, the chandelier disappeared as he broke into a song about being the best for Charlie, which Alastor soon joined as he had been with Charlie from the start. Eventually, the song turned into them arguing before the doors opened and a very familiar person joined the song, introducing herself.
"Oh great." Jack groaned. "Not her. Anyone but her."
"Who?" Lucifer asked.
"Didn't you just hear me?" The woman, who had introduced herself as Mimzy, said. "Why is everybody gawking? Is it because I'm adorable?"
"Mimzy!" Alastor exclaimed, walking over to her.
"Alastor! Sweetie, Doll-face. So good to see you! How've you been? Good? Good." She and Alastor hugged as Mimzy continued speaking. "Listen, I was in the neighborhood. I heard you were staying at this ritzy slob factory and I figured I'd stop by, say hi! For old times sake."
"Of course, sweetheart!" Alastor said. "Everyone is welcome here!"
"Oh, how nice!" Charlie exclaimed. "So, you two know each other?"
"Oh yeah, we go way back, ran in the same circles when we were alive." Mimzy said. "You know, this one used to frequent the club where I used to perform. He's the only one I knew who could pound whiskey like a sailor and then keep up with me on the dance floor!"
"Oh, quite a talent this gal. Ho ho!" Alastor exclaimed. "You should have seen her in her hayday!"
"Hey, watch it, tall, dark and creepy!" Mimzy said. 'I'm still in my prime!" That was when she spotted Lucifer. Her eyes turned starstruck. "Oh, oh my stars! Is that Lucifer?" She pushed Pentious out of her way and stepped closer to Lucifer. "Pleased to meet ya! Your highness." She turned to Alastor, whispering. "Alastor, you gotta warn a girl when she's in mixed company."
Jack snickered, noting the uncomfortable look on Lucifer's face. "Charmed, I'm sure." Lucifer said.
"As much as I'd love to catch up, Charlie and I have a tour to continue." Alastor said. Lucifer stiffened and took Charlie by the arms before dragging her in front of himself.
"I'm sure Charlie can handle showing me around." Lucifer said. Alastor suddenly appeared in front of them.
"Nonsense!" He exclaimed, grabbing Charlie and dragging her forward. "We started the hotel together, and we'll show it off together. Right, Charlie?" Alastor stopped dragging Charlie to allow her to be the one to lead the tour.
"Oh, right." Charlie said once Alastor had released her. She started to lead on with Vaggie and Lucifer as Alastor turned to Mimzy.
"Why don't you let the others help you settle in and I'll be back before you know it." He said, then turned to follow the tour. Jack and Husk shared a look when Mimzy turned to face the bar, starting to saunter up to it.
"So, where can a girl get a drink around here?" She asked. Husk turned and groaned, trying to ignore her. Mimzy sat down, her face changing as she recognized him. "My, my, is that Husker? Alastor still has you slinging hooch for him, I see." She chuckled. "Classic! How ya been, fur ball?"
"Good! Until five minutes ago." Husk said.
"Oh, don't tell me you're not happy to see me! You might hurt my feelings!" Mimzy said, giggling. While Husk got her a drink, she turned to Niffty. "Hey Niffty, whatcha been up to, girlie?"
"Fighting bugs." Niffty answered.
"And uh, how's that going for ya?" Mimzy asked.
"They're winning." Niffty said, grinning sadistically as she pulled out a large knife. "But not for long."
"Uh huh." Mimzy said slowly as Husk gave her her glass. "Thanks, pussy cat."
Husk groaned, walking off. "Oh, screw you."
Jack pulled her hood over her head, cringing when Mimzy addressed her. "And Jack Jack, you're here too?" Mimzy exclaimed. Jack shot daggers at Angel when he snickered at the nickname.
"I've told you hundreds of times not to call me that, Mimzy." Jack said, shooting the shorter demon a red eyed glare.
Mimzy laughed. "But it suits you so well!"
"Don't care." Jack said, laying her head down on the bar, making sure she was as far away as possible from Mimzy. Angel and Pentious ended up taking the seats next to Mimzy.
"So uh, you and Alastor are like, what? Friends?" Angel asked.
"Well, that's your word, not mine, but I think it fits." Mimzy said. "Why so surprised?"
"Well, just didn't know he had any of those, besides Jackie here." Angel answered. "He's been here a while and is still a big, creepy mystery." Jack wasn't going to comment on the fact that she was the same, minus the creepy part. Angel continued. "What's his deal?"
Mimzy smiled darkly. "Well, you probably heard the stories. He appeared in Hell suddenly, making a splash quicker than anyone had ever seen. At first, people wanted to dismiss him, but soon, overlords started going missing, and not small ones neither. We're talking heavy hitters. No one knew what happened to 'em, until these strange radio broadcasts started going out. All you could hear were screams.
"Every time an overlord went missing, there'd be a new voice screaming in the broadcast! That's when Alastor revealed himself as the radio demon, and anybody that would mess with him... Well, let's just say, his broadcasts never lacked new voices." Mimzy chuckled. "That's the story most people know, but underneath it all..." Suddenly she was all smiles. "He's a total sweetie! Put on some jazz and pour a couple fingers of rye and he becomes a kitten."
Jack looked at Angel and Pentious, noting the spooked looks on their faces and that, as usual, Mimzy wasn't bothered. She rolled her eyes and pulled a small book out of her jacket pocket, writing some things down. She didn't look up when Mimzy continued speaking.
"Stop with the looks." She said. "He hasn't done any of that in a while." She raised her glass. "Can I get another one of these?" That was when she realized Husk wasn't there. "Oh, what the heck!"
Jack snickered. "Looks like Husk bailed on you." She said. Mimzy looked at her.
"Aw, Jack Jack, he loves me." She said.
"Sure, he does." Jack said. "You keep telling yourself that. And also, I said don't call me that." Jack turned back to what she was writing, trying to tune out Mimzy as she rambled to Angel and Pentious. A sudden crash and the building shaking nearly set Jack off balance. "What was that?" She exclaimed, jumping up from the chair and summoning her staff. A voice echoed from outside the building.
"Mimzy! We know you're in there, you lousy witch!"
Mimzy slipped off the chair, sliding down in front of the bar. "Oh, crud." She muttered. That was when Charlie, Vaggie and Lucifer appeared from a portal.
"Que Carajo?!" Vaggie exclaimed.
"What's going on?!" Charlie exclaimed as everyone but Lucifer gathered around Mimzy.
"I maaaaay be in trouble with some loan sharks. I may or may not have borrowed fifty grand from-" A loud thud caused Mimzy to squeal in fear and jump behind the counter, peeking out.
The voice echoed again. "You better come out!"
Mimzy stood up a little. "And I may have stolen a car... and crashed it... into the loan shark's girlfriend, but that witch had it coming!"
"Sure, she did." Jack muttered. "Should have expected that once again you'd bring trouble with you. Why am I not surprised?"
That was when the windows and walls were barraged with fireballs from outside. The windows crashed and the floors were peppered with fireballs. Charlie and Vaggie screamed as Niffty looked on in horror.
"My windows!" The little cyclops exclaimed as Angel scooted back to his seat as a fireball nearly hit him. Jack used her staff to bat the fireballs back out the windows, her eyes blazing in anger. Pentious yelled as he came out, only just now seeing the destruction.
"Ah! We're under siege!" He yelled as he dodged a fireball. "Ah! Take cover!"
Everyone scrambled to avoid the fireballs. "Look out!" Vaggie exclaimed. Angel picked up Niffty before she could be crushed by a fireball.
"What the heck?" He yelled. He threw her out of the way, but the little maid started scurrying all over the lobby. The whole time, Lucifer looked confused. Jack continued knocking fireballs back outside as Husk put out a fire close to his bar, Mimzy continuing to hide. Everyone else started looking for cover as Lucifer started lecturing Charlie, making her eye twitch in anger.
"You see? This is exactly what I'm talking about Charlie." He started. "You build something nice, you invite people in and offer them everything and they just bring violence and chaos to your doorstep. It doesn't matter how well intentioned you are, they're always going to disappoint you."
Jack looked to where Niffty was trying to recover the shattered windows as Pentious pulled her out of the way of flying debris. "Niffty! Come along!" He exclaimed.
Vaggie readied her spear. "All of you get to a safe distance. I'll take care of this." Alastor appeared out of no where and put a hand on the spear, lowering it.
"No, my dear, leave it to me." He said. "It's time I remind everyone why I am here." As he spoke the last sentence, his eyes turned to radio dials as his appearance turned more demonic.
"Oh, finally!" Mimzy exclaimed. "Took you long enough!"
Alastor shifted more into his demonic form. "A reminder to all, not to mess with the Radio Demon!" He started cackling evilly as his shadow tendrils extended from his body and shot out of the building, killing several attackers.
"Yeah!" Mimzy exclaimed. Alastor then exited the building, his form growing larger as he did so.
"I will devour each and every one of you!" He yelled as he began his massacre. Jack grinned devilishly as she rushed to the front door.
"Yeah, no way am I missing this!" She exclaimed, her own form shifting to her demonic appearance, growing larger and more wolf-like as she snarled and pounced on several mafia members, ripping them apart. She and Alastor were, however, careful to avoid attacking each other, only targeting the mafia members. As their onslaught continued, Jack could still hear Lucifer and Charlie talking.
"Mhm, you see? What'd I tell you? Charlie, sinners are violent psychopaths, hell bent on causing as much pain and destruction as they can. There's really no point in trying." He said.
"Dad! Stop!" Charlie exclaimed. "They're defending this hotel!" Jack looked up just in time to see Alastor swallow one of the loan sharks. Charlie continued. "It may be a bit more sadistic than I'd hoped, but they're doing it for me! How come they can have faith in me but my own father can't?"
Meanwhile, Alastor and Jack had finished their slaughter and reverted back to their usual selves. Alastor smiled as Jack wiped the blood from her face and hands, though that made little difference. "Oh, I have missed getting to let off steam!" He exclaimed.
"Tell me about it." Jack said, stretching and popping her back.
Oh, Alastor!" Mimzy exclaimed, coming out of the hotel and approaching Alastor and Jack. Jack glared at her as she walked up. "What a fantastic show! Bravo! As always. Thanks for helping lil' old me out of a tougher spot, you're always such a pal." A piece of debris fell close to her, making her yelp and back away and causing Jack to snicker. "Oops. Heheh... sorry about the mess, but I'm sure the little bug can take care of it for you."
"I think you should go, Mimzy, now." Alastor said.
"Oh, pff, Alastor, you're such a kidder you! Haha, you are so funny!" Mimzy said.
"I mean it. You deliberately brought danger to this place just to have me clean up your mess." Alastor said. "I can't have that here."
"But you love taking care of me." Mimzy said. "What, you don't actually care about this tacky place, do ya? Come on, I know you." She walked up to Alastor, continuing to speak as she poked his chest with every word. "You heartless son of a gun."
"You are welcome if you actually want to give redemption a shot." Alastor casually moved her finger off him. "But I think we both know that's not really your style." He poked her nose and walked around her, planting his staff in front of him. "So, you need to leave."
Mimzy glared at him. "Fine! Who needs you? Have fun with your little princess and your little hotel! See if I care!" She turned and started walking away, flipping Alastor off as she left.
Jack sighed, putting a hand to her chest. "Alastor, buddy, I love you, but please don't ever let her back here again."
"I don't intend to, Jacklynn." Alastor said as he and Jack turned to walk back inside, Jack summoning her staff back as she did so. When they got back inside, they found Charlie arguing with her father still.
"Dad, just... help me." Charlie begged.
"I... I can't." Lucifer said.
"Why can't you?" Charlie asked. Lucifer came over and held Charlie by her arms.
"Charlie! You don't understand! Heaven never listens!" He exclaimed. He released Charlie's arms. "They didn't listen to me! They won't listen to you!"
"You don't know that!" Charlie yelled.
"I do!" Lucifer said as he went into a song, with Charlie soon joining him. At some point during the song, the two began to understand each other and Lucifer opened a portal, his three sets of wings coming out as he took Charlie through the portal. A few minutes later, they returned, holding each other in a tight embrace as Jack, Alastor and everyone watched them.
"Aww, that was sweet." Pentious said.
Lucifer pulled away from Charlie, looking up at her. "Okay, I can get you the meeting, but once you're in Heaven, I won't be able to go with you. Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine." Charlie said, holding her father's staff. He placed his hand on top of hers.
"That's my girl." He said as he took his staff, backing away. He sighed before looking at Charlie. "Good luck, kiddo." And with that, he disappeared in a gold and red mist. Vaggie came over to Charlie.
"This next part is going to be scary. You ready?" She asked.
"I'm ready." She hugged Vaggie. "Cause you'll be with me."
"In spirit, right?" Vaggie asked, nervously.
"In Heaven!" Charlie said, a determined look on her face.
Vaggie just looked increasingly more nervous. "Yay..."
Eventually they pulled away and everyone left to do their own thing, Charlie stopping Jack to remind her to clean up. Jack looked at herself, remembering that she was still covered in blood.
"Oh yeah." She said as she went upstairs. As she got to the floor she shared with Alastor, a thought crossed her mind. The older demon had already used his shadows to transport to his room. Jack could have as well, but she didn't really feel like it. So, as the thought crossed her mind, she stopped at Alastor's door, knocking on it. Almost immediately, the deer demon answered, his usual smile wide on his face.
"Yes, Jacklynn? How can I be of assistance?" He asked.
"Can I come in?" Jack asked. "I wanted to ask about what happened earlier with Lucifer." Alastor stepped aside to allow Jack entry.
"What troubles you?" He asked.
"I'm just curious as to why you were getting so competitive with Lucifer today." Jack said. "Was there any specific reason?"
Alastor chuckled. "Of course not, my dear." He said. "I just wanted to mess with him. He was very easy to rile up and it was much fun.
"So no other reason than that?" Jack asked.
"What other reason would there be?" Alastor asked. Jack sighed.
"None I guess." She said.
"Indeed, my dear." Alastor said. "Now, I believe you have some cleaning up to do." He gestured to her clothes.
"Yeah, I know." Jack said.
"Just call Niffty when you're ready." Alastor said. "She's very good at getting blood out of clothes."
"I will. Thanks, Alastor." Jack said.
"Anytime, my dear." Alastor said as he followed Jack to the door, closing it behind her when the wolf demon left.
Jack sighed, smiling slightly. "You can pretend all you want, Al." she said. "We all know you actually do care about Charlie, this hotel and everyone inside it. Me included, but you and I were already friends." And with that, she continued down the hall to her room.
Unknown to her, Alastor had heard her words. "Preposterous." Alastor mumbled. He sighed. "But you may be right."