Tomorrow needs to make up for this week
But it is FINALLY cooling back off a bit. 85 is too hot for April in OH. I could open the windows today. Tomorrow it could potentially snow. Um... but still maybe I can sleep as I haven't done that in a week.
Also happy birthday to lordgloria. Hope it was a good one.
I'm going to the Ohioana book festival tomorrow in Columbus which should be a nice respite from this shit week.
Speaking of shit, Rocket has shit in the house three times. Now for 3 years he has gone outside to do this and/or used the litter if desperate. I think this is either a) the antibiotics make him sick b) he's rage shitting out of revenge for the antibiotics or both.
And the shit hit the fan with L at work (only she don't know it yet) Sigh. I wish she had just let me handle things but man the bridges she burnt...
Also today called to find out when my pressure test is going to be. The number online is not for orthopedics but Neuro. She reluctantly (and I do mean reluctantly) transfers me to ortho. It's the pain clinic. this one doesn't even know how to transfer as she's an after hours person (looks at time...it's not 5 pm and they're open til then). Well leave a message and they'll call you. I've been waiting three weeks for that call back. No thanks.
Called the dentist (also no one there in spite of them being open til 5) just because I'm having issues with the automatic systems not doing my cancellations and I cancelled again in a message. Got a letter in the mail from the psychiatrist. Dudes. I DID. NOT. MISS. my appointment I canceled it and it's already rescheduled. If you don't stop with this shit, I'm rescheduling somewhere else.
So wipbigbang is now open for sign ups. I love this for finishing the old Buffy stuff I have but this year I didn't get my shit together. I could do my Owl House WIP but I don't want to wait until Sept to finish this thing SOOOO this Hazbin Hotel story bit hard so I wrote this in like a day and a half as my starting point. I might need to break it into two chapters. Curious to know what you think if you do read this rough beginning.
Title: Hope Can Be a Cruel Gift
Summary: As Angel comes to realize that he does like living at the hotel, his hopefulness takes a beating. First, his dad and brother show up but that’s a problem he knows how to handle. However, when someone decides to destroy everyone’s happiness, Angel may have to fall back on his old mafia-born ways and violent sins to keep the people he cares about safe.
Rating: teen
Author Note - Written for spikesgirl58’s six word challenge and the six words were Scintillating, Rattle, Cracker, Low, Illustrious & Acceptable and chapter one was written for the allbingo prompt of wise guys.
Since this isn't on Ao3 let me give you some chapter one content warnings. Angel Dust is a drug addicted sex worker so there are mentions of abusive relations, sexual abuse, drug, use, abusive parent, bullying older brother, more bad language than should exist in one chapter.
Angel stopped wondering if things were acceptable long ago. “Living” inside a porn studio for more years than he’d technically lived on Earth had a way of rattling one’s moral center - not that he’d had much of one to begin with. If he had, he sure as fuck wouldn’t have ended up in hell. So yeah, probably turning a column in the lobby into his dance pole was unacceptable but he sure as shit wasn’t hanging around the studio to practice for his upcoming live show. Normally he would have but now that he was living in the hotel, Angel had no interest in sticking around there any longer than he had to.
How long before Val realized he could command Angel to stay and he’d probably have no choice? Could he bend his contract to Val enough to take off if he needed space? He wasn’t finding out. Val let him go home at the end of the day and Angel took full advantage. Of course, he hadn’t been down to the studio in three days as Val was on a bit of a vacation as the first big budget movie they’d made this year was ready to hit the screen. They were treating it like a blockbuster, right down to the red carpet celebrity walk tomorrow night for the premiere.
Angel wasn’t going…in theory. Val’s choice, not his. Irritated that Angel wouldn’t give him something he’d wanted, Valentino had brutalized Angel on the office floor and then again in front of the cameras with some truly disgusting, drippy demons that surely no one wanted to see fucking. Could that possibly be anyone’s fetish? Now he wasn’t speaking to Angel and had told him in no uncertain terms that he’d be unwelcome on the red carpet even though he was the fucking star of the movie. Hell, he’d even done an orgy with women as well as men. He’d had to slap his meat between Tiffany Titfucker’s mountainous breasts and let her go to town. Neither of them had been happy that day.
Of course, Val could change his mind at any moment and there was a ninety percent likelihood he would because people would expect his star at the premiere. Vox would talk sense into Valentino even if he couldn’t give a solitary fuck about the movie. In the meantime, he had to work on his new routine to some music brought down fresh from earth so he’d been spinning around the pole while Husk pretended to ignore him. To be fair, he wore his pink t-shirt and blue and white skintight shorts that Cherri said reminded her of the dude in Wham! whoever that was. Angel - ever since that night of the bar fight - was pretty damned sure Husk was interested in him. If nothing else, he’d held Angel’s hand in the street and danced with him and the memory of it made Angel tear up. Outside of Charlie - who had no interest in him as a lover and vice versa - when was the last time anyone had genuinely been tender with him?
Yeah, making Husk all hot and bothered swinging around the pole in his usual dance get ups wasn’t playing fair. It might be hard enough - pun intended - to watch him do it in casual, concealing clothes. Niffty kept coming back into the lobby to watch. She seemed to enjoy it and was probably less creepy than some of his fans.
Niffty scurried out of sight as Angel alighted for some floor maneuvers. He swung his hips to the beat, scowling. He needed to get this down so he could practice doing it while singing next.
“Something feels so off about this,” he muttered, bringing it down low as he mimed fucking the floor. Rotating his hips like that usually drove ‘em nuts.
A few moments later, a few bills rained down over his head. He glanced up, glaring at Husk who stood there smirking.
“Better?” Husk raised his big feathery eyebrows.
“Fuck you.” Angel scoffed. “And yes.”
He spun back up on the pole, closer to the ceiling. Hooking one leg around the pole and thrusting the other out straight, he hung down, slowly rotating in a pose appropriately named the broken doll. He wasn’t broken enough but Val sure the fuck was working on it and it would be him that broke first. He didn’t have enough juice to hit back at Val in any way that mattered.
As the beat changed, he inverted himself and wrapped an arm around his upper leg as he split them to swirl around the pole, his crotch polishing it. Inverting his whole body, legs over shoulders was usually a killer move and he could get some speed on his swings. By the time he was upside down in an ankle hang, Angel realized Husk was calling his name.
“I’m trying to concentrate,” he griped.
“Yeah but Niffty found a couple spiders on the doorstep.”
“She can stab them as usual,” he said, sliding into an elbow grip as he Y-ed his legs.
“Not that kind of spider.”
Angel glanced toward the lobby door, lost his grip, and nearly landed on his head.
“Graceful.” Arackniss snorted at him.
Picking himself up with as much grace as he could, Angel tugged his pink half-shirt down. “What are you two doing here?”
“So, you do know them?” Husk turned on the TV at the bar. It had been a battle with Alastor to get it but Charlie overruled him since Husk had literally the worst job in the hotel - outside of the hotel that was Angel’s crown.
“Unfortunately, I’m his father,” Henroin grumbled.
“Unfortunate runs both ways,” Angel bristled, delighting in the disgruntled growl rumbling in Husk’s throat, annoyed for Angel’s sake. “And that’s my older brother, Arackniss. I’d say big brother but as you can see he ain’t big.”
“Stugots,” Arackniss glared.
“I repeat what are you doing here? Charlie don’t allow none of the stuff you two get up to.”
“Carmilla sent us to talk to a former customer, Sir Pentious to see what we can do to bring him back to the fold,” his dad replied.
Angel made a noise in the back of his throat and then gestured to Husk. “Got any ciggies back there?”
“What do you think?”
Angel sighed. Arackniss fished out his pack and let Angel light up. Angel blew the smoke toward the ceiling, having learned the heart-shape blow from Val. He could manipulate the smoke like his owner though.
“Charlie ain’t gonna like that either but Pen’s a big boy.” Angel levered himself onto a bar stool. “Niff, want to go get Pentious? Faster he gets down here, faster the ugly leaves.”
“Sure!” Niffty raced off.
“We need to talk to her about what she lets in the front door.” Angel took a long drag, the end of his cigarette flaring.
“Did we interrupt you about to get drilled on the bar after your little show?” His father grimaced, shaking his shaggy head. “ Mio figlio, la più grande puttana dell'inferno.”
“So, what if I am hell’s biggest whore? Besides, I’m a movie star,” Angel huffed. “But no, Husk’s not my lover. He’s a good friend. He’d be a great friend if he rummaged up a snack after that work out, though.”
Husk rolled his eyes and dug around under the bar. He came up with crackers and spray cheese. He slapped them on the bar top. “Anything else?”
“I think this visit requires your strongest drink.” Angel surveyed the shabby offering. “Really? I mean you couldn’t improve this a bit? A little lemon ricotta and anchovy or brandied figs and blue cheese?”
Husk brought down a glass so hard he nearly cracked it. “Where exactly do you think you are? Maybe you get that shit at the Vees but you’re here and hell is made of spray cheese.”
“No argument.” Angel sprayed some crackers, popping one in his mouth as Husk mixed him a drink. “And just because you know I’m here now, don’t mean you can come for visits, Papi.”
“And you somehow think we want to? Why?”
“Maybe I miss your scintillating conversation.”
“He’s still a little asshole.” Arackniss smirked.
“Bigger than you.” Angel ate another snack. Okay, maybe spray cheese wasn’t entirely awful.
“Henroin, Aracknisssssss,” Pentious hissed, slithering his way down the steps. His eyes darted nervously, probably looking for Vaggie and her trusty spear. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Getting the mail!” Niffty chirped, flying out the front door.
“Ms. Carmine misses your business,” Henroin said. “She wanted us to see if we could talk you into a new purchase.”
Pentious’s shoulders sagged. “No weapons are allowed at the hotel.”
“Says who.” Henroin chuckled at the ludicrous thought.
“Says me.” Vaggie appeared from a corridor with Charlie at her side. “And Charlie. No weapons so if Pentious wants to make a purchase, he knows he can’t stay,” she added as Niffty raced in with a stack of mail. She climbed up on a stool next to Angel and plopped the armful on the bar.
“Sssorry,” Pentious said, his cobra flap slumping. “I’m out of the weapons business.”
“So, you two can go now unless you want to help Niffty sort my fan mail with me.” Angel opened up one of them.
“You’re still a moron,” his father grumbled.
“That’s not very nice,” Charlie scolded.
“Leave it alone, Charlie,” Angel said. “Okay, Niff, we’re dividing it up to nice enough letters that might get a picture back from me, creepy letters that won’t and disturbing shit that I need to get Val’s security crew out hunting the assholes down.”
“Angel,” Vaggie said sharply. “Don’t pull Niffty into your business.”
“And do you really trust her idea of what’s disturbing?” Husk asked.
“Nice one!” Niffty shook the letter at Angel.
He took it from her. “If you don’t let me fuck you, Angel Dust, I will hunt down your family and skull rape them all.” He made a face. “Niff! That’s not nice.”
She clenched her hands together and said in a dreamy voice, “He’s a bad boy.”
“Okay, you’re off letter duty. Husk can help me.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Here.” Angel tossed the balled up letter and envelope to Arackniss. “This is a problem for you.”
“Fuck, if this dude comes looking because you can’t stop sucking dick for ten minutes, you’re not going to like what happens,” Arackniss promised.
“Again, that’s not nice,” Charlie said and then she widened her eyes. “Wait?”
“Now don’t you go getting all doe-eyed, doll face. Yeah, they’re my family but trust me you don’t want them around here. They aren’t going to be interested in redemption,” Angel warned quickly and Charlie seemed ready to protest until his father laughed.
“Redemption? You really are a segone. You ain’t getting into heaven.”
“You don’t know, Papi.” Angel sighed as Niffty ran for the front door again. “I’m entirely too sober for any of this.”
“You? Sober?” Arackniss chuckled. “Guess I better go get my winter coat.”
“Vai a vendere il culo” Angel flipped him off and snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
“If I’m selling my ass, I’ll have to take lessons from you, zoccola.” Arackniss snorted. “Hey, what’s that?” He nodded to the tv where banners were being unfurled over various towers on the news.
“Oh, hey, turn that up, Husk, please.” Angel leaned in as the banners showed him and the twins Adonis Rocco and Northstar adorned several buildings. Tiffany Titfucker and Venus Mantrap fluttered down the sides of others. He ignored the dual face palms by his relatives as Katie Killjoy’s voice echoed in the lobby after Husk turned up the volume.
“And Valentino’s latest project - the first efforts from his latest writing protégé, Gem Gemson, hits the theaters tomorrow.”
“The horniest citizens of Pentagram City are already lining up, Katie,” Tom interjected.
“Of course they are, Tom, you idiot. The Manor of Many Dreams promises to be porn with plot and plenty of bondage.”
“I’m looking forward to Tiffany’s mid-air blowjob, imagine being in that bondage gear with your meat between those breasts,” Tom said dreamily.
“I can imagine it. Love her,” Arackniss said overtop of Katie verbally eviscerating Tom. “Might need to see it.”
“Yeah well, I’m the one in mid-air, not her and it’ll be my cazzo you’ll be seeing.” Angel rolled his eyes.
“And that killed it….forever.” Arackniss shuddered.
“It stars the illustrious adult movie star, Angel Dust and the wolf twins, Northstar and Adonis along with Tiffany as you mentioned and we can’t forget Venus as well. Angel Dust gets to guide the sexual awakening of the twins, lucky bastard,” Katie said.
“The orgy scene has to be seen to be believed from what we’ve been told. Fetish play, bondage, beautiful settings, this show has it all.”
“It’s a run up to the Sexies awards (check spelling) Let’s have a look at the list of nominees. Not surprising Angel and Tiffany are both up for best picture and best actors.”
Husk turned the sound down. Angel was about to protest until he saw Charlie’s stunned expression. How did anyone grow up in hell and be this innocent?
“You could get an award for cock sucking?” his father groaned.
Angel gritted his teeth. “I have multiple awards already so yes.”
“ Mio figlio, la più grande puttana dell'inferno,” his father repeated.
“And I’m very talented at it.” Let his dad choke on it.
“How were you ever a wise guy?” Arackniss rolled his eyes.
“Because you two forced me into it. It wasn’t my life plan but I wanted to make you proud of me.”
“You failed,” his father sniped and Angel hunched his shoulders.
“Hey!” Charlie glared his way as Niffty sailed back in.
“Package and a guest.” She shoved the package into Angel’s hands while everyone stared at Lucifer in the doorway.
Angel couldn’t see his dad and brother’s skin losing color under their spider fur but he knew it was happening. They sidled closer to him as Charlie squealed ‘Dad!’ and ran to hug him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I…wanted to check in,” Lucifer said hesitantly as if afraid she’d say no. Angel hadn’t needed Husk to point out her Daddy issues. As someone with them by the car load, he knew it when he saw it. “See how your sinners were doing.”
“They’re doing great.”
Arackniss leaned in and whispered, “That’s Lucifer. I can’t believe you know Lucifer.”
Angel sneered at him and lifted up the box of crackers and spray cheese. “Would you like me to make you some snacks, Short King?” He flashed Lucifer his best smile, eating up the shock on Arackniss and Papi’s faces.
Lucifer held up his hands. “Noooo thank you.” He peered over at the TV, his eyes widening.
“The ssspider is being honored.” Pentious rolled his eyes.
Lucifer looked at Charlie. “I thought you said it was going great.”
“It is,” Charlie insisted. “Angel sort of has to do these movies. He’s under a contract and it hurts his feelings when we disparage him for it.”
Angel blinked, shocked she got it at last. “It does,” he whispered. “I have talent even if it’s a talent not everyone approves of.”
“Who could?” his dad asked.
Angel put a hand out to Husk. “Can I have a knife?” When everyone tensed, he added, “To open the box. I recognize Valentino’s handwriting on it. Betting it’s what he wants me to wear to the premiere tomorrow.”
“Or it’s a bomb.” Husk gave him a knife and pushed his phone to him. “By the way someone was blowing up your phone while you were rehearsing.”
“Ugh, probably him. Here.” Angel thumbed his phone open. “Play the voice mails while I open this.”
Husk complied and Valentino’s voice echoed out of the phone.
“Angel, baby, you’re forgiven. I’m sending something for you that you’ll love. Wear it to the premiere, Angelito.” Valentino’s voice could be so honeyed when he tried.
“Angel, don’t be this way. Call me back….You fucking twink, you better call me back or you’re going to be taking Rocky and his friends two cocks at a time up your flat ass….sorry sweetie, I shouldn’t have yelled but you need to call me back…Angel you coked up puto, if you don’t call back I’m coming down to that hotel and fucking every last one of you.”
“Okay enough of that,” Lucifer snapped.
Husk stopped the voice mail playback. “If he does, he has to get through me and you, sir, not to mention Alastor.”
Arackniss leaned in and hissed to Angel, “The Radio Demon really lives here?”
“Yep. I spend all day with the three Vees and all night with the Radio Demon lurking around, fuck my life.” Angel stood up, lifting the midnight blue fabric from the package and the note that was with it. “And my king, I won’t give him a reason to bring his violence here. I’ll calm him down though I would love to see what you’d make of him.”
Lucifer scowled.
“We’ll all protect each other,” Vaggie added.
“We will. My egg bois will help,” Pentious promised.
Angel unfurled the dress and read the note. His breath caught. It was a beautiful garment embroidered to look like a field of stars, gems in it catching the light. The halter top resembled delicate bondage gear and had mock cuffs for all six arms because of course it did. Val knew he hated to have out all his arms so this was his punishment for being stubborn. Still, it was gorgeous. He cooed, holding it to his chest.
“Velvette made this for me. Shoo, Husk.” He pushed Husk out from behind the bar so he could use it as a shield to change into the gown.
Husk took the dismissal with grace. “There’s a blue wig, nail polish and sparkly stilettos in here too. How the fuck do you walk in those?”
“I have grace.” Angel shimmied into the dress. “Husk can you make sure the back straps are straight?”
With a sigh, Husk helped him make sure everything was straight and Angel sashayed out in the dress. It swirled around his ankles. “It’s beautiful! Have you seen a prettier dress?”
“No, but also remember the asshole who gave it to you,” Husk said.
“You look amazing in it, Angel,” Charlie said, forever supportive.
“If only molly had been this excited to wear a dress.” His dad made a disparaging sound.
Angel scowled and turned his back to Husk with a wiggle. “Undo me again, please. And what are you and Arackniss still doing here, Papi? Pentious said no. Isn’t Carmilla going to wonder where you are?”
His dad snorted and pointed to the door. Arachniss hesitated, maybe wanting an introduction to Lucifer. Instead Angel slipped back out of the gown and redressed. He sat down and opened his polish. At that dismissal, his relatives left. He hit redial and started painting.
“Val, baby, I got your present. I’ll have to get something nice for Velvette. Tell her amazing work as usual,” he purred into the phone. “Don’t be like that, sweetie. I was rehearsing and the bartender here didn’t tell me my phone was ringing. I couldn’t hear it over the music…yeah well he’s barely competent as advertised.” He shot Husk an apologetic look. He’d explain later the less Val thought of him, the safer Husk would be. “He can’t even mix a Devil in a Blue Dress right and that’s exactly what I’ll be in your gorgeous gift. I can’t wait to wear it. I’m painting my nails right now…okay, I get it; it’s a very busy time for you right now with all the movie rigmarole. No worries, you get back to getting ready for the premiere. I’ll work on pampering myself so I look like I belong on your arms tomorrow. Can’t wait.” Angel hung up and turned off the phone before adding, “You pompous pissbaby.” He sighed. “There, he shouldn’t be a problem for any of us for a while.”
From the looks on their faces, his solution wasn’t one that made them happy. It didn’t make him happy either.
Also happy birthday to lordgloria. Hope it was a good one.
I'm going to the Ohioana book festival tomorrow in Columbus which should be a nice respite from this shit week.
Speaking of shit, Rocket has shit in the house three times. Now for 3 years he has gone outside to do this and/or used the litter if desperate. I think this is either a) the antibiotics make him sick b) he's rage shitting out of revenge for the antibiotics or both.
And the shit hit the fan with L at work (only she don't know it yet) Sigh. I wish she had just let me handle things but man the bridges she burnt...
Also today called to find out when my pressure test is going to be. The number online is not for orthopedics but Neuro. She reluctantly (and I do mean reluctantly) transfers me to ortho. It's the pain clinic. this one doesn't even know how to transfer as she's an after hours person (looks at time...it's not 5 pm and they're open til then). Well leave a message and they'll call you. I've been waiting three weeks for that call back. No thanks.
Called the dentist (also no one there in spite of them being open til 5) just because I'm having issues with the automatic systems not doing my cancellations and I cancelled again in a message. Got a letter in the mail from the psychiatrist. Dudes. I DID. NOT. MISS. my appointment I canceled it and it's already rescheduled. If you don't stop with this shit, I'm rescheduling somewhere else.
So wipbigbang is now open for sign ups. I love this for finishing the old Buffy stuff I have but this year I didn't get my shit together. I could do my Owl House WIP but I don't want to wait until Sept to finish this thing SOOOO this Hazbin Hotel story bit hard so I wrote this in like a day and a half as my starting point. I might need to break it into two chapters. Curious to know what you think if you do read this rough beginning.
Title: Hope Can Be a Cruel Gift
Summary: As Angel comes to realize that he does like living at the hotel, his hopefulness takes a beating. First, his dad and brother show up but that’s a problem he knows how to handle. However, when someone decides to destroy everyone’s happiness, Angel may have to fall back on his old mafia-born ways and violent sins to keep the people he cares about safe.
Rating: teen
Author Note - Written for spikesgirl58’s six word challenge and the six words were Scintillating, Rattle, Cracker, Low, Illustrious & Acceptable and chapter one was written for the allbingo prompt of wise guys.
Since this isn't on Ao3 let me give you some chapter one content warnings. Angel Dust is a drug addicted sex worker so there are mentions of abusive relations, sexual abuse, drug, use, abusive parent, bullying older brother, more bad language than should exist in one chapter.
Angel stopped wondering if things were acceptable long ago. “Living” inside a porn studio for more years than he’d technically lived on Earth had a way of rattling one’s moral center - not that he’d had much of one to begin with. If he had, he sure as fuck wouldn’t have ended up in hell. So yeah, probably turning a column in the lobby into his dance pole was unacceptable but he sure as shit wasn’t hanging around the studio to practice for his upcoming live show. Normally he would have but now that he was living in the hotel, Angel had no interest in sticking around there any longer than he had to.
How long before Val realized he could command Angel to stay and he’d probably have no choice? Could he bend his contract to Val enough to take off if he needed space? He wasn’t finding out. Val let him go home at the end of the day and Angel took full advantage. Of course, he hadn’t been down to the studio in three days as Val was on a bit of a vacation as the first big budget movie they’d made this year was ready to hit the screen. They were treating it like a blockbuster, right down to the red carpet celebrity walk tomorrow night for the premiere.
Angel wasn’t going…in theory. Val’s choice, not his. Irritated that Angel wouldn’t give him something he’d wanted, Valentino had brutalized Angel on the office floor and then again in front of the cameras with some truly disgusting, drippy demons that surely no one wanted to see fucking. Could that possibly be anyone’s fetish? Now he wasn’t speaking to Angel and had told him in no uncertain terms that he’d be unwelcome on the red carpet even though he was the fucking star of the movie. Hell, he’d even done an orgy with women as well as men. He’d had to slap his meat between Tiffany Titfucker’s mountainous breasts and let her go to town. Neither of them had been happy that day.
Of course, Val could change his mind at any moment and there was a ninety percent likelihood he would because people would expect his star at the premiere. Vox would talk sense into Valentino even if he couldn’t give a solitary fuck about the movie. In the meantime, he had to work on his new routine to some music brought down fresh from earth so he’d been spinning around the pole while Husk pretended to ignore him. To be fair, he wore his pink t-shirt and blue and white skintight shorts that Cherri said reminded her of the dude in Wham! whoever that was. Angel - ever since that night of the bar fight - was pretty damned sure Husk was interested in him. If nothing else, he’d held Angel’s hand in the street and danced with him and the memory of it made Angel tear up. Outside of Charlie - who had no interest in him as a lover and vice versa - when was the last time anyone had genuinely been tender with him?
Yeah, making Husk all hot and bothered swinging around the pole in his usual dance get ups wasn’t playing fair. It might be hard enough - pun intended - to watch him do it in casual, concealing clothes. Niffty kept coming back into the lobby to watch. She seemed to enjoy it and was probably less creepy than some of his fans.
Niffty scurried out of sight as Angel alighted for some floor maneuvers. He swung his hips to the beat, scowling. He needed to get this down so he could practice doing it while singing next.
“Something feels so off about this,” he muttered, bringing it down low as he mimed fucking the floor. Rotating his hips like that usually drove ‘em nuts.
A few moments later, a few bills rained down over his head. He glanced up, glaring at Husk who stood there smirking.
“Better?” Husk raised his big feathery eyebrows.
“Fuck you.” Angel scoffed. “And yes.”
He spun back up on the pole, closer to the ceiling. Hooking one leg around the pole and thrusting the other out straight, he hung down, slowly rotating in a pose appropriately named the broken doll. He wasn’t broken enough but Val sure the fuck was working on it and it would be him that broke first. He didn’t have enough juice to hit back at Val in any way that mattered.
As the beat changed, he inverted himself and wrapped an arm around his upper leg as he split them to swirl around the pole, his crotch polishing it. Inverting his whole body, legs over shoulders was usually a killer move and he could get some speed on his swings. By the time he was upside down in an ankle hang, Angel realized Husk was calling his name.
“I’m trying to concentrate,” he griped.
“Yeah but Niffty found a couple spiders on the doorstep.”
“She can stab them as usual,” he said, sliding into an elbow grip as he Y-ed his legs.
“Not that kind of spider.”
Angel glanced toward the lobby door, lost his grip, and nearly landed on his head.
“Graceful.” Arackniss snorted at him.
Picking himself up with as much grace as he could, Angel tugged his pink half-shirt down. “What are you two doing here?”
“So, you do know them?” Husk turned on the TV at the bar. It had been a battle with Alastor to get it but Charlie overruled him since Husk had literally the worst job in the hotel - outside of the hotel that was Angel’s crown.
“Unfortunately, I’m his father,” Henroin grumbled.
“Unfortunate runs both ways,” Angel bristled, delighting in the disgruntled growl rumbling in Husk’s throat, annoyed for Angel’s sake. “And that’s my older brother, Arackniss. I’d say big brother but as you can see he ain’t big.”
“Stugots,” Arackniss glared.
“I repeat what are you doing here? Charlie don’t allow none of the stuff you two get up to.”
“Carmilla sent us to talk to a former customer, Sir Pentious to see what we can do to bring him back to the fold,” his dad replied.
Angel made a noise in the back of his throat and then gestured to Husk. “Got any ciggies back there?”
“What do you think?”
Angel sighed. Arackniss fished out his pack and let Angel light up. Angel blew the smoke toward the ceiling, having learned the heart-shape blow from Val. He could manipulate the smoke like his owner though.
“Charlie ain’t gonna like that either but Pen’s a big boy.” Angel levered himself onto a bar stool. “Niff, want to go get Pentious? Faster he gets down here, faster the ugly leaves.”
“Sure!” Niffty raced off.
“We need to talk to her about what she lets in the front door.” Angel took a long drag, the end of his cigarette flaring.
“Did we interrupt you about to get drilled on the bar after your little show?” His father grimaced, shaking his shaggy head. “ Mio figlio, la più grande puttana dell'inferno.”
“So, what if I am hell’s biggest whore? Besides, I’m a movie star,” Angel huffed. “But no, Husk’s not my lover. He’s a good friend. He’d be a great friend if he rummaged up a snack after that work out, though.”
Husk rolled his eyes and dug around under the bar. He came up with crackers and spray cheese. He slapped them on the bar top. “Anything else?”
“I think this visit requires your strongest drink.” Angel surveyed the shabby offering. “Really? I mean you couldn’t improve this a bit? A little lemon ricotta and anchovy or brandied figs and blue cheese?”
Husk brought down a glass so hard he nearly cracked it. “Where exactly do you think you are? Maybe you get that shit at the Vees but you’re here and hell is made of spray cheese.”
“No argument.” Angel sprayed some crackers, popping one in his mouth as Husk mixed him a drink. “And just because you know I’m here now, don’t mean you can come for visits, Papi.”
“And you somehow think we want to? Why?”
“Maybe I miss your scintillating conversation.”
“He’s still a little asshole.” Arackniss smirked.
“Bigger than you.” Angel ate another snack. Okay, maybe spray cheese wasn’t entirely awful.
“Henroin, Aracknisssssss,” Pentious hissed, slithering his way down the steps. His eyes darted nervously, probably looking for Vaggie and her trusty spear. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Getting the mail!” Niffty chirped, flying out the front door.
“Ms. Carmine misses your business,” Henroin said. “She wanted us to see if we could talk you into a new purchase.”
Pentious’s shoulders sagged. “No weapons are allowed at the hotel.”
“Says who.” Henroin chuckled at the ludicrous thought.
“Says me.” Vaggie appeared from a corridor with Charlie at her side. “And Charlie. No weapons so if Pentious wants to make a purchase, he knows he can’t stay,” she added as Niffty raced in with a stack of mail. She climbed up on a stool next to Angel and plopped the armful on the bar.
“Sssorry,” Pentious said, his cobra flap slumping. “I’m out of the weapons business.”
“So, you two can go now unless you want to help Niffty sort my fan mail with me.” Angel opened up one of them.
“You’re still a moron,” his father grumbled.
“That’s not very nice,” Charlie scolded.
“Leave it alone, Charlie,” Angel said. “Okay, Niff, we’re dividing it up to nice enough letters that might get a picture back from me, creepy letters that won’t and disturbing shit that I need to get Val’s security crew out hunting the assholes down.”
“Angel,” Vaggie said sharply. “Don’t pull Niffty into your business.”
“And do you really trust her idea of what’s disturbing?” Husk asked.
“Nice one!” Niffty shook the letter at Angel.
He took it from her. “If you don’t let me fuck you, Angel Dust, I will hunt down your family and skull rape them all.” He made a face. “Niff! That’s not nice.”
She clenched her hands together and said in a dreamy voice, “He’s a bad boy.”
“Okay, you’re off letter duty. Husk can help me.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Here.” Angel tossed the balled up letter and envelope to Arackniss. “This is a problem for you.”
“Fuck, if this dude comes looking because you can’t stop sucking dick for ten minutes, you’re not going to like what happens,” Arackniss promised.
“Again, that’s not nice,” Charlie said and then she widened her eyes. “Wait?”
“Now don’t you go getting all doe-eyed, doll face. Yeah, they’re my family but trust me you don’t want them around here. They aren’t going to be interested in redemption,” Angel warned quickly and Charlie seemed ready to protest until his father laughed.
“Redemption? You really are a segone. You ain’t getting into heaven.”
“You don’t know, Papi.” Angel sighed as Niffty ran for the front door again. “I’m entirely too sober for any of this.”
“You? Sober?” Arackniss chuckled. “Guess I better go get my winter coat.”
“Vai a vendere il culo” Angel flipped him off and snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray.
“If I’m selling my ass, I’ll have to take lessons from you, zoccola.” Arackniss snorted. “Hey, what’s that?” He nodded to the tv where banners were being unfurled over various towers on the news.
“Oh, hey, turn that up, Husk, please.” Angel leaned in as the banners showed him and the twins Adonis Rocco and Northstar adorned several buildings. Tiffany Titfucker and Venus Mantrap fluttered down the sides of others. He ignored the dual face palms by his relatives as Katie Killjoy’s voice echoed in the lobby after Husk turned up the volume.
“And Valentino’s latest project - the first efforts from his latest writing protégé, Gem Gemson, hits the theaters tomorrow.”
“The horniest citizens of Pentagram City are already lining up, Katie,” Tom interjected.
“Of course they are, Tom, you idiot. The Manor of Many Dreams promises to be porn with plot and plenty of bondage.”
“I’m looking forward to Tiffany’s mid-air blowjob, imagine being in that bondage gear with your meat between those breasts,” Tom said dreamily.
“I can imagine it. Love her,” Arackniss said overtop of Katie verbally eviscerating Tom. “Might need to see it.”
“Yeah well, I’m the one in mid-air, not her and it’ll be my cazzo you’ll be seeing.” Angel rolled his eyes.
“And that killed it….forever.” Arackniss shuddered.
“It stars the illustrious adult movie star, Angel Dust and the wolf twins, Northstar and Adonis along with Tiffany as you mentioned and we can’t forget Venus as well. Angel Dust gets to guide the sexual awakening of the twins, lucky bastard,” Katie said.
“The orgy scene has to be seen to be believed from what we’ve been told. Fetish play, bondage, beautiful settings, this show has it all.”
“It’s a run up to the Sexies awards (check spelling) Let’s have a look at the list of nominees. Not surprising Angel and Tiffany are both up for best picture and best actors.”
Husk turned the sound down. Angel was about to protest until he saw Charlie’s stunned expression. How did anyone grow up in hell and be this innocent?
“You could get an award for cock sucking?” his father groaned.
Angel gritted his teeth. “I have multiple awards already so yes.”
“ Mio figlio, la più grande puttana dell'inferno,” his father repeated.
“And I’m very talented at it.” Let his dad choke on it.
“How were you ever a wise guy?” Arackniss rolled his eyes.
“Because you two forced me into it. It wasn’t my life plan but I wanted to make you proud of me.”
“You failed,” his father sniped and Angel hunched his shoulders.
“Hey!” Charlie glared his way as Niffty sailed back in.
“Package and a guest.” She shoved the package into Angel’s hands while everyone stared at Lucifer in the doorway.
Angel couldn’t see his dad and brother’s skin losing color under their spider fur but he knew it was happening. They sidled closer to him as Charlie squealed ‘Dad!’ and ran to hug him.
“What are you doing here?”
“I…wanted to check in,” Lucifer said hesitantly as if afraid she’d say no. Angel hadn’t needed Husk to point out her Daddy issues. As someone with them by the car load, he knew it when he saw it. “See how your sinners were doing.”
“They’re doing great.”
Arackniss leaned in and whispered, “That’s Lucifer. I can’t believe you know Lucifer.”
Angel sneered at him and lifted up the box of crackers and spray cheese. “Would you like me to make you some snacks, Short King?” He flashed Lucifer his best smile, eating up the shock on Arackniss and Papi’s faces.
Lucifer held up his hands. “Noooo thank you.” He peered over at the TV, his eyes widening.
“The ssspider is being honored.” Pentious rolled his eyes.
Lucifer looked at Charlie. “I thought you said it was going great.”
“It is,” Charlie insisted. “Angel sort of has to do these movies. He’s under a contract and it hurts his feelings when we disparage him for it.”
Angel blinked, shocked she got it at last. “It does,” he whispered. “I have talent even if it’s a talent not everyone approves of.”
“Who could?” his dad asked.
Angel put a hand out to Husk. “Can I have a knife?” When everyone tensed, he added, “To open the box. I recognize Valentino’s handwriting on it. Betting it’s what he wants me to wear to the premiere tomorrow.”
“Or it’s a bomb.” Husk gave him a knife and pushed his phone to him. “By the way someone was blowing up your phone while you were rehearsing.”
“Ugh, probably him. Here.” Angel thumbed his phone open. “Play the voice mails while I open this.”
Husk complied and Valentino’s voice echoed out of the phone.
“Angel, baby, you’re forgiven. I’m sending something for you that you’ll love. Wear it to the premiere, Angelito.” Valentino’s voice could be so honeyed when he tried.
“Angel, don’t be this way. Call me back….You fucking twink, you better call me back or you’re going to be taking Rocky and his friends two cocks at a time up your flat ass….sorry sweetie, I shouldn’t have yelled but you need to call me back…Angel you coked up puto, if you don’t call back I’m coming down to that hotel and fucking every last one of you.”
“Okay enough of that,” Lucifer snapped.
Husk stopped the voice mail playback. “If he does, he has to get through me and you, sir, not to mention Alastor.”
Arackniss leaned in and hissed to Angel, “The Radio Demon really lives here?”
“Yep. I spend all day with the three Vees and all night with the Radio Demon lurking around, fuck my life.” Angel stood up, lifting the midnight blue fabric from the package and the note that was with it. “And my king, I won’t give him a reason to bring his violence here. I’ll calm him down though I would love to see what you’d make of him.”
Lucifer scowled.
“We’ll all protect each other,” Vaggie added.
“We will. My egg bois will help,” Pentious promised.
Angel unfurled the dress and read the note. His breath caught. It was a beautiful garment embroidered to look like a field of stars, gems in it catching the light. The halter top resembled delicate bondage gear and had mock cuffs for all six arms because of course it did. Val knew he hated to have out all his arms so this was his punishment for being stubborn. Still, it was gorgeous. He cooed, holding it to his chest.
“Velvette made this for me. Shoo, Husk.” He pushed Husk out from behind the bar so he could use it as a shield to change into the gown.
Husk took the dismissal with grace. “There’s a blue wig, nail polish and sparkly stilettos in here too. How the fuck do you walk in those?”
“I have grace.” Angel shimmied into the dress. “Husk can you make sure the back straps are straight?”
With a sigh, Husk helped him make sure everything was straight and Angel sashayed out in the dress. It swirled around his ankles. “It’s beautiful! Have you seen a prettier dress?”
“No, but also remember the asshole who gave it to you,” Husk said.
“You look amazing in it, Angel,” Charlie said, forever supportive.
“If only molly had been this excited to wear a dress.” His dad made a disparaging sound.
Angel scowled and turned his back to Husk with a wiggle. “Undo me again, please. And what are you and Arackniss still doing here, Papi? Pentious said no. Isn’t Carmilla going to wonder where you are?”
His dad snorted and pointed to the door. Arachniss hesitated, maybe wanting an introduction to Lucifer. Instead Angel slipped back out of the gown and redressed. He sat down and opened his polish. At that dismissal, his relatives left. He hit redial and started painting.
“Val, baby, I got your present. I’ll have to get something nice for Velvette. Tell her amazing work as usual,” he purred into the phone. “Don’t be like that, sweetie. I was rehearsing and the bartender here didn’t tell me my phone was ringing. I couldn’t hear it over the music…yeah well he’s barely competent as advertised.” He shot Husk an apologetic look. He’d explain later the less Val thought of him, the safer Husk would be. “He can’t even mix a Devil in a Blue Dress right and that’s exactly what I’ll be in your gorgeous gift. I can’t wait to wear it. I’m painting my nails right now…okay, I get it; it’s a very busy time for you right now with all the movie rigmarole. No worries, you get back to getting ready for the premiere. I’ll work on pampering myself so I look like I belong on your arms tomorrow. Can’t wait.” Angel hung up and turned off the phone before adding, “You pompous pissbaby.” He sighed. “There, he shouldn’t be a problem for any of us for a while.”
From the looks on their faces, his solution wasn’t one that made them happy. It didn’t make him happy either.