Chapter Text
"4 years I've been in Hell, and I've survived another extermination.” I think aloud to myself before taking another swig of my drink, I blankly stare at one of the bar’s TV as another commercial for the new ‘Hazbin Hotel’ plays. “Does Lucifer’s kid really think that shit is gonna work?” I say, not really speaking to anyone but myself.
I heard the person in the seat next to me at the bar shift uncomfortably. “What’s got you in such a sour mood, Smogster? We survived another year in…well Hell.” The voice coming from my buddy Ace, “And now things have gotten interesting with some of those top dog overlords. Remember that city wide power outage the other day?” his voice now had a ring to it as if he had something exciting to say.
I sigh, “How could I forget? I had just finished stealing a new soul over at those old warehouses downtown and I came out-...” Ace cut me off before I could finish. He’s lucky he’s my friend or I would take his soul for myself too.
“Yea yea….you walk out and see everything has lost power. Just listen.” He says to me in a huff, “Heard that the all powerful Radio Demon is back in town and he’s shaking up at the princess’s hotel, and I know how much that guy has caught your interest ever since that 1920s dancer chick started telling you stories.” Ace once again was either not using her name on purpose or forgot it.
I rolled my eyes. “First off, her name is Mimzy…get it right for once jackass.” I swish what liquid is still left in my glass, “I’m wondering why a guy like Alastor would want anything to do with some rehab center like that, doesn’t seem like his type of tune to want to be redeemed…especially with how many people he’s killed. Remember how we were told that he’d broadcast the screams of those who crossed him?” I took another sip of my drink and now left the glass empty. Ace continued talking while I waved the bartender over and ordered another of whatever poison I was putting in my body tonight.
He sneered a bit, probably from me correcting him about Mimzy’s name again. “I don’t have the slightest idea why you still defend that crazy bitch like she’s your friend. She still owes us money for that little job we did for her? I’m hoping you haven’t forgotten she is under contract and owes you her soul if she doesn’t pay up.” He lectured me, which I didn’t much of appreciate but I let it slide for now because he was right.
Nonetheless, a low growl rippled in my throat. A terrified look showed on my dear friend’s face as I showed my displeasure. “Yes, I remember! You don’t need to keep reminding me, but with Alastor back in town I’d be signing myself up for a world of hurt for sure if I did that. Fucker would definitely be smart enough to some how track it back to at least one of us, which in any case I’d have to get involved.” My tone having a twinge of annoyance to it, “We can’t let that happen, I can’t go revealing my demon form to the public too soon…not until I’m ready. Not until the rumors have them scared enough.” I say in a more hushed voice to Ace.
Ace shook his head as he leaned on the bar, turning in his seat to face my direction. The bartender finally came back with a fresh drink. “Whatever you say, boss. Dunno why you didn’t just take up the chance to become an overlord by now with all your powers, even without that uhm…big scary demon form of yours by now, but you were always a thinker so I trust you have some kind of plan.” It was comforting that in the 2 years Ace has been back at my side in Hell that he still had faith in me. “But back on to what I was talking about before with Alastor. I heard he’s actually helping out with the hotel itself, assisting the princess in making sure the place doesn’t fall to shambles so quickly. Assuming that psycho isn’t under some kind of royal order from her, my guess is that he’s just giving all those lowlifes some hope before watching their whole world shatter.” Ace kept talking, but my attention was drawn to looking down at my drink. I was fixated on the murky brown liquor as my mind wandered, I was thinking about that hotel.
Ace didn’t seem to notice that my mind had wandered away from what he was talking about, he continued to ramble on while I schemed…no, not quite that. But something in my mind was stirring, I couldn’t pull my thoughts away from that hotel and it wasn’t just Alastor. Something about it made me feel drawn suddenly, something made me feel that I should go there and investigate.
“Ace, I think I’m going to go to that Hazbin Hotel.” I say, his words had become so garbled when I was lost in thought that I hadn’t even realized I interrupted his ranting.
He was of course confused, I could see the confusion on his face as he tried to figure out if I was serious or not, “You-...W-wait what?! Why would you want to go there?” his tone was panicked. “You can’t be serious. Smog, you have everything you could want here in Hell. You are on the cusp of making your move to become an overlord. You would seriously throw that all away just to maybe go and live with those pricks in heaven?” It was a miracle the bar was so loud, or that the other patrons just didn’t care, that it made it easy to have our conversation so easily.
I took a good few gulps of my drink before answering him, leaving Ace metaphorically on the edge of his seat while awaiting to hear what I got planned this time. I chuckled, “Don’t you worry your pretty little head, my friend. I know I’m long past being redeemable and I do so enjoy love devouring souls.” I paused for a moment to formulate my next words. “No, I have a plan.”
I could see I piqued his interest. “Oh? What you got cooking up this time?” He had that stupid grin he always gets on his mask-like face when excited about a plan I have.
I returned a small smile, thinking myself to be clever with this new idea. “Well, think of it this way. I could easily stir up some trouble of my own and take a spot as an overlord in this little hellhole we call home…but imagine how unstoppable I could be if I allied with Lucifer’s kiddo, maybe I could get in good with the king of Hell himself that way. Or even get myself on the Radio Demon’s good side, if I’m lucky he’d make for a pretty good guard dog while I finish clawing my way to the top.” I say then adding, “And if shit goes to fuck, and things arn’t turning out as planned…I could always just go steal all their souls when they let their guards down and get juiced up enough to finally make my move.” my smile turning a bit sinister.
Ace returning the same smile, I knew he would like my plan. “Hope you’ll still remember me and J-miser when you’re at the top.”
“We’ll be like the new Vees of Hell with how big we’ll be, just as long as our hubris doesn’t bring us down.” I say then finishing off one last sip of the awful liquor, I set the glass down as I stood. “I think it would be in my best interest to get the ball rolling. Would you mind passing on this little plan of mine down to the third member of our trio for me?” I say as I start taking out enough cash to pay for both our drinks for the night.
Ace nods, “Of course boss, Jackie and I will be waiting if you need us.” he says as I throw the amount due on the bar counter.
I nodded back as I started to walk past him to leave. “Good. I’ll be seeing ya.” With that, I left the bar and was back on the violent streets I’d grown accustomed to calling home.