Bittersweet is the name of the game [until it's just sweet and there are weddings]

[disneyprincessofhell]

There's a lot to be happy about. For one thing, Mom finally called her back and judging by the short conversation they shared, seems proud that she was able to figure out a way to save the city and herself. Maybe she just wanted her grown daughter to fend for herself?

(She could have just said so instead of ignoring her, though.)

The hotel is full of sinners who truly want to be redeemed, Vaggi's happy with her new name, Baxter is one of them, and she's mending her relationship with her dad more and more. Plus, the Vees are leaving them alone.

But Husk...isn't in good shape. He's functional, but he always looks sad and lost and disinterested. She's caught him in Angel's room cuddling with Fat Nuggets and trying not to cry.

And Alastor's not helping. Charlie was initially glad to have him back, but he's still his usual difficult, cagey self treating the hotel like an amusement, and she's noticed a lot of his jerkish behavior is aimed at the poor bartender.

"Tsk, tsk, Husker. The bartender's supposed to be the one everyone goes to when they're depressed, not the other way around," the radio demon scolds. "You're lucky anyone comes to you for drinks lately, the clubs have bartenders who know how to smile and look appealing!"

"Alastor, maybe leave him alone," Charlie says sternly. "He's doing his job, and...it hasn't been easy for any of us."

They've gotten used to the eight-foot spider-shaped hole in their lives, but that doesn't mean they're okay with it being there. They never were.

today set a standard for bad

[aschmoozerandadummy]

By now Angel's used to it. The abuse, the demands, the sixteen-plus-hour shoots with no breaks unless Val himself needs one or he's feeling generous and decides Angel should drink some water so he doesn't pass out and ruin the shoot. Val helping himself to him afterwards, snide comments from Velvette, Vox rubbing salt in the wounds by being himself.

He hates it, hates everything about it, hates himself for being dumb enough to fall for Val in the first place, but he's used to it.

Today, though...Val was in a mood. A trafficking scenario with lots of violence and a gang rape, knives and claws and teeth. No breaks, just Angel getting his holes stuffed with dicks and his body slashed and cut up until he was sure he'd pass out from the blood loss.

Val did the bare minimum of bandaging him and only so he didn't bleed all over "the nice clean floor" which you could run a fucking wet towel over and it'd be good as new. No ride home, either, so Angel was left to limp back to the hotel, trying to block out the pain. At least the randos trawling the streets tonight weren't interested in fucking a whore when he was down.

It's late when he gets back, and he's trying to hide himself in the shadows so no one sees him and makes a fuss.