In which the Vees tried another tactic

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Valentino had never liked Vox borrowing Angel Dust to use as a spy, and he liked it even less when Vox's intel picked up that his little star seemed to have...feelings about the hotel's bartender. Husk had barely been on Valentino's radar other than that overlord who lost his status by selling his soul to Alastor, but Valentino is a greedy, jealous, possessive man who doesn't like sharing his toys, and clearly both the toy and the thing he's attached to must be punished.

Somehow, he managed to talk Vox into letting Angel go for the night and capturing the bartender instead. We'll not only cripple the hotel, but his power could prove quite useful to us. Plus, Alastor is a bit tied up and won't be able to stop us from using his pet.

(The deal was that Vox let the cat and the scary little gremlin live, nothing else.)

So while Husk was on his way back from the casino, Vox called him pretending to be Alastor needing a "favor". I'm a bit indisposed at the moment and I forgot I have a package waiting for me in Cannibal Town. Val himself was waiting, and all too eager to hurl all manner of insults at Husk for daring to "touch his favorite toy" before knocking him out.

Whatever plan Vox had for Angel they'll just have to adjust to work with a scruffy drunk cat instead.


Angel, meanwhile, is waiting at the hotel for Husk. Sure, Husk claimed he wasn't coming back, but he will. Just cause Al aint here doesn't mean you don't care about us.

He settles on the couch, feeds Fat Nuggets another snack, and waits.

Comments

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Vox wasn't going to turn down a chance to play with one of Alastor's toys, one that the radio demon actually seems to care about. The gremlin maid wouldn't be of any use, but that cat, there's possibilities there.

After he has Husk settled on a couch, nice and hypnotized with a bottle in his hand, he calls Velvette to get him dressed in something befitting an Overlord.

One thing leads to another, and then, it's time for a broadcast.

Back in the Hotel, the TV comes on, and there's Husk, looking every inch the Gambling Overlord.

"Hey, Hell. I'm Husk, owner of the Casino district and Overlord. I'm here to tell you about one fuck of a bad deal. The Hazbin Hotel is exactly what it seems. A joke. There's nothing there worth your time. Even I don't want to take a gamble on that redemption shit. It's a bad deal, and I think you all know it. Vox is the kind of leader we need, someone who'll take the chances that are necessary for Hell. Thank you."

Husk walks off the stage to applause.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Charlie screams into the paper bag she's been breathing into, popping it to shreds. Cherri lets out a fairly loud what the FUCK, and Baxter mutters something about how this is why he doesn't drink, alcohol kills valuable brain cells.

Angel is pissed, but not for the reasons one might think. It's definitely a convincing performance, but this is his best friend and a man he's developed strong feelings for, he and Husk know each other...not quite like the backs of their hands, but well enough.

And he's remembering the nights where he'd come home from a job and not remember anything, and he still has no idea why that happens, but something about the way Husk is behaving strikes a chord with those moments.

"He would not fucking say that!" And even if he would, Angel would gladly smack some sense into him and remind him it was Vox's fault he nearly got killed by a train.

[hotelmanagervaggi]

Vaggi stares at the TV from where she is sitting with Charlie. "Are you sure, Angel? He has been pretty prickly lately."

Niffty jumps up on a table. "No. Kitty wouldn't do that. Kitty likes the hotel, even though he's grumpy."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"Even at his most prickly he'd never abandon the hotel, especially not for the Vees," Angel said. "Plus he didn't look right. I mean, he looked hot in that suit, but his body language, his voice, everything was just off. Even if he was mad at us he'd never put his lot in with those fuckers."

[hotelmanagervaggi]

"Alastor's not here, Angel. What if Vox somehow got Husk from Al? He might be..." Vaggi sighs. "I don't know. He said he was an overlord. Maybe Vox tempted him with that?"

Niffty shakes her head. "No. Niffty would know if Husk's chain had been broken." How? Who knows.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"I dunno what happened, but I just know Husk didn't do this on his own." Angel stands up, pulling out two of his guns. "And frankly I don't give a shit about the whole story either, cause those shitfucks have gone too far this time! It's one thing when Val throws me around like a fuckin' rag doll but when his buddy gets his nails into my Husk, heads are gonna roll!"

"ANGEL NO!" Charlie leaps up and grabs his arms. "Look, I know you're angry, I'm angry too, but you can't just storm the tower!"

"What if it's a trap? What if they're using Husk to lure you over?" Baxter asks. "Valentino isn't that clever, but if Vox put the idea into his head..."

[hotelmanagervaggi]

Vaggi gets up, and stands by Angel. "Angel, stop. Charlie's right. You can't just storm the tower by yourself, no matter how many guns you have. That won't help Husk."

Niffty giggles an aside to Baxter. "Spider claimed kitty."

Vaggi paces a bit. "We need to beef up the Hotel's defenses. If they got to Husk, they're going to come for the rest of us next."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"I wonder if he realizes he did," Baxter murmurs.

"They're right, Angie. Normally I'd be all for blowin' shit up and givin' those cunts what-for, but not if it's gonna put you in danger."

Fuck, even Cherri's telling him not to do it. With a frustrated groan, Angel puts the guns away and buries his face in his hands. "Sure, that's all well and good for us, but what about Husk?!"

Just then, Charlie's phone goes off. It's Vox inviting her to a party...and Lucifer's there, he says.

"Really? My dad?" He hadn't answered any of her apology texts, and she's been worried, usually he texts her back before she can even finish sending her message.

[hotelmanagervaggi]

Vaggi thinks for a moment. "Angel. Do you think you could figure out where they'd be holding Husk without it turning into an invasion? Because this might work.

Charlie, you and I go to that party. Baxter and Niffty can see about shutting Vox down. Angel and Cherri go find Husk and get him back."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"I might. I've spent enough time at V Tower to know the basic floor plan, so it's just a matter of narrowing down the rooms," Angel says.

"This could cost me my job, but I no longer care," Baxter says. "Vox has had it coming for a long time, and to be quite honest, I've grown used to you lot."

Just then, a portal opens and Emily flies in with good news. Heaven believes in redemption, and there may be a way to connect Heaven with Hell to prove it.

"Really?!" Charlie instantly brightens. "Baxter, is this true?"

"Actually, yes. Vox has been pirating Heaven and Earth's TV channels for decades," he says.

[hotelmanagervaggi]

Vaggi nods. "Alright. Baxter, you shut down Vox and patch Pentious through. Angel and Cherri, get Husk, and don't do anything too stupid. Charlie and I are going to party."

Niffty salutes. "I'll keep Smart Boy safe"

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Charlie's already feeling much better, and soon as they make their plans everyone's singing about the future. Including Angel, who's vowing to get his best friend back and maybe get back at the Vees for all the shit they've put him through.

The night of the party comes. Angel and Cherri advance on the tower, weapons tucked away in case they need them, but the goal is to get Husk out of there before they're spotted.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

V tower is as it always is. A couple people recognize Angel and let him in. One girl he knows from various shoots tells him that Val stashed someone in his room, so if he's going up there, don't be startled.

Upstairs in Angel's room, Husk is passed out from a combination of drugs and booze. He hasn't had a coherent thought since Val smacked him around back in Cannibal Town. There are playing cards strewn around him, along with poker chips. It almost looks like he was trying to find himself through poker.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Not where Angel would have expected, but at least he doesn't need to risk Val walking in and fucking this up.

When he enters his room and finds Husk, his heart squeezes in his chest at the sight of him. He's seen Husk drunk before, but nothing like this, and he recognizes the symptoms associated with some of his own past vices.

"Fuck," Cherri mutters, "what'd they do to him?"

"This must be how they got him to say all that shit," Angel mutters. "Along with that weird hypno-eye thing Vox has."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"Uh?" Husk moves a bit, blinking at nothing. He looks around, and reaches for a bottle on the table next to him. All he's thinking about is drink and something that he just can't grasp. Something's wrong. He can't figure out what it is.

He takes a long drink out of the bottle, and lies back, closing his eyes again.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"Husk?" Angel nudges him. "Husk, it's me, Angel, Cherri n' I came to save you. Let's get outta here."

"Good thing I brought the vomit sack," Cherri mutters, remembering all too well what happened anytime she had to rescue a drunk or drugged Angel from something.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"Huh?" Husk sits up, head swimming. "Wha? Angel? Why're you here?" He blinks a few times. "You're... all sparkly. You don't want me back. I said stupid things. I... think. I don't know what's going on."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"We'll talk about that later." Right now Angel's concern for Husk overrides anything else. "Cherri, you keep an eye out for anyone, okay?" He offers his hand, hoping Husk will take it as Cherri peeks out the slightly-ajar door.

"Think we're good."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk does take Angel's hand, standing up... and wobbling a lot. "Ugh. Why's the room spinning? I think I'm going to hurl."

He pulls back from Angel. "Can't go. Have to stay."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"No you don't, this isn't where you belong. You were gonna come back to the hotel last night, remember?"

Cherri's at their side with the sack immediately. "We need to hurry, I think we're about to be spotted. Some Robo-Fizz is lurking about."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk blinks, then takes Angel's hand. "Alright. I'll go." A pause. "Angel? What dumb shit did I do?"

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"You said some stuff you never would, but it was their fault. Vox...did something, it had to be him, and I guess Val kept you out of it with all the booze and pills."

They get about a foot from the room before Angel hears footsteps and muttering in a familiar voice. Shit.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Vox turns the corner, pausing when he sees the trio in the hall, a large smile coming across his screen. "Oh, how adorable. A little rescue team for the kitty cat."

He crosses his arms, electricity flowing from his fingers. "Cute, Angel Dust, that you think you, of all people can steal from us." His eye goes red for a moment. "Especially since you've been the one telling me everything that's going on." He smirks. "Such an empty head that I was able to use."

Husk tries to straighten up, but it doesn't work. "Don't call Angel names."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"You fuckin' liar! I'd never do anything like that, why would I ever give you any important info?!" Angel snaps. "Especially after what you did to Husk?!"

"Yeah, Angie's no idiot! Now get the fuck outta our way before I blow you up!" Cherri grabs a bomb, ready to throw it.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"Hey, kitty cat, why don't you help me out here?" He snaps his fingers, and Husk stiffens, reaching over to grab Cherri's wrist, claws digging in.

"Nights that you don't remember, Angel Dust. Times that are just fuzzy. You've been feeding me all the information I needed, and some that I didn't. I might have let your little... infatuation slip to Val in a conversation." Vox smirks.