The Hotel for Hazbins

The sounds and the scent of the bayou greeted him as he woke up from his slumber. His black-and-red hooves clicked on the boards as he exited his room and shadow-traveled down the stairs into the entrance hall, where Lucifer was frantically flitting around, eyes wide and bloodshot from no sleep.

"...I'm not quite understanding why it's not working, why isn't it working? Is this a punishment from Heaven? AM I DOOMED TO FAIL? Think think think! Come on Lucifer! We do redemption exercises every day, I've noticed them changing, but WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN IN HEAVEN? MAYBE—WAIT I GOT IT!" He grinned manically, running back to the board and standing on tippy-toes to place a Post-It note at the top, scribbling something down as he went back to his pile.

"Yikes." Husker commented from the bar, where he was having a riveting conversation with Angel.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"

"Ah, Lucifer, my dear, is everything alright?"

"NOPE, no, yes! No! HAHAHA! I've been up ALL NIGHT trying to do stuff! Why isn't it working? I want to know why IT ISN'T WORKING!" He crushed the paper in his hand, eyes glowing bright red. "We only have like three months left before the Extermination happens! And I've still gotta deal with Valentino…." He turned towards the group manically. "HAHAHA!" Eyes materialized around the room and his horns and halo appeared, and then disappeared as quick as they appeared. "...V Tower….angelic power….running out of time…."

Husker turned away from Angel to glance at Lucifer before returning to his conversation.

"SOOO….here's the gameplan! In a few days, we try to gather up enough poison….no, WEAPONS! NO….poisonous things? Hang on!" Lucifer shook violently, ripping the paper in his claws in half before he returned to scribbling down more things. "So, we gather up enough things to kill Valentino! Or, or, or maybe we get Husker or Angel to stall him so Alastor can sneak up and kill him and take his soul! No, wait, that's too violent….hmmm….CHERRI BOMB!"

"Yes?" The cyclops asked. "What?"

"Do you think killing somebody, even Valentino would be a good redemption activity? Or is it too violent?"

"Well, isn't the whole point of this Hotel not to encourage that? I mean, ever since I started going here, I've felt less violent and more calm and/or controlled. I think my outlook on life is getting better."

There were several people nodding throughout the crowd, and Lucifer's manic smile dropped, replacing it with a more genuine one.

"Well, my dears, I have a friend coming over: Mimzy, perhaps you've heard of her? A famous singer and dancer?" Alastor asked. "She was thinking about visiting the Hotel today, and I was waiting to tell her my answer."

"That's a GREAT IDEA!" Lucifer exclaimed. "If she's famous, maybe if she decides to join, she could advertise it in one of her performances! Thanks, Al!" The King wrote something down on a piece of paper and tacked it to the board, linking a red wire and writing 'MIMZY ADVERTISMENT' in big swoopy purple letters.

"Okay….how am I gonna mess with….Baldentino? Valentinlow?"

"Valentino," Angel corrected.

"Ah, thank you Angel," Lucifer commented. "So, anyway, anyone got any ideas on how we off Valentino? I know I could literally just snap my fingers and he would disappear, but I want to see the look on his face as it happens." Lucifer chuckled darkly.

"Lucifer, my dear, please calm down. Could you possibly go to get a drink or some food? I could make jambalaya…!"

Alastor walked over and pried the King's hands off of the marker he was nearly crushing, and he guided him into the kitchen.

After about an hour, Alastor sat down beside his friend with a steaming cup of hot chocolate (people who liked sweets he could never understand), sliding it over to the king. He took it gratefully, downing it in three gulps and then slumping against the island, frog-blinking and falling asleep.

Alastor smiled fondly at him before summoning his shadow and teleporting them both to his room, tucking him into bed.

"Sweet dreams, my king."

XXXXXXX

"Alright, while our dear King is asleep, I am in charge!" Alastor announced. "Although my friend is not one to be picky, we want to make the best impression possible. Niffty, continue cleaning!"

Said maid nodded vigorously, and continued running around and screaming about bugs.

"Husker and Angel—clean up the dining area and bar, and for the love of Hell, Husker, please put a shirt on!"

"You got it, my deer~" Husker chuckled.

Alastor rolled his eyes, and pointed to the other sinners.

"You all can get dressed and clean up. Everyone else, we can decorate the hotel! Mimzy will be here in an hour!"

The process was long, but they managed to clean up the Hotel for his friend. In front of the door, they had set up a long table with a pale green tablecloth, with trays of cookies and some drinks. There were banners and balloons sprinkled around the Hotel—much like the modern version of parties, not his idea, but it was vaguely interesting, although something that Mimzy wouldn't really enjoy.

Lucifer walked down the stairs, rubbing his eyes. "Wow, you guys really worked hard! I'm surprised you managed to get Iochi off the couch!" The King nodded at the new Sinner who was sitting at the bar, wrapped in a blanket with half-lidded sleepy eyes.

Husker was positioned on the table, perfectly balancing a tray with some drinks in one paw. Much to Alastor's dislike, Husker had indeed not put a shirt on.

"Ruins the look, baby." The cat wiggled his eyebrows.

Cherri Bomb was positioned near the table, watching the cookies like a hawk, so much as slapping Husker if he even shifted towards it.

Luna was sitting with Mimic on one of the couches; the latter was in a stiff position while the former was sitting on one of the armrests, hands folded neatly in her lap.

A knock at the door sounded and Alastor scuttled over there to open it for them.

It was not Mimzy, but another Sinner who was at his height, a shocked look plastering across their face.

The Sinner had tan skin, with disconnected arms from their shoulders. They wore black gloves on their hands, along with what looked like a green sleeve and a black bracelet on their right side, and a black sleeve on their left side, with a green bracelet. They had a white shirt with a black planet and gold stars on it; they also had black stripes on the sides of the shirt. They also had dark green pants with brown shoes and slightly-poofy hair.

"This is the Hotel for Hazbins, right?"

"Why, yes, it is. Might I have your name?"

"Ah, Kevin—that's my name. I'm here to be redeemed, is that still possible?"

"REDEEMED?" Lucifer shouted. "YES! Ahem," he cleared his throat, tamping down his earlier excitement. "Yes, this is the Hotel for Hazbins. Al, would you mind checking Kevin in?"

Kevin followed him to the desk, where Alastor pulled out a new sign-in sheet that Lucifer had made, and Kevin signed it. They had made everyone sign it, despite Husker, Cherri Bomb, Luna, and Mimic having been here for three months now, and Iochi not…being in the right mind currently, along with Chizuki and Tatsu.

"Can I have a normal hotel room but with a Fuetiger Aero aesthetic?"

Alastor frog-blinked for a moment. "…what?"

"Fuetiger Aero…it's like futuristic," Kevin said. They brought out a red phone, swiping for a few moments and showing him a picture.

He recoiled out of sheer reflex, and he adjusted his monocle and he looked at it. "I…believe I could try," He snapped his claws. "Now please take that technology away from me. Enjoy your room."

"Thanks!" Kevin reached a hand out to him. Alastor looked at it and then looked at him before shaking it. The familiar jolt of physical contact shocked up his arm and he took his arm away too fast.

Yet another knock at the door, and opened it. Another Overlord was there again…Henka?

"Why hello, my dear, what brings you here?"

"I would like to redeem myself." She said.

"WOW!" Lucifer exclaimed. "Today must be the Hotel's lucky day! Two new residents and a new advertisement in one day! Yes, please come in and sign right here…"

XXXXXXX

Lucifer sat in one of the couches, tapping his foot on the floor and waiting for Mimzy. It had been almost two hours since Kevin had appeared, and he was sure that Mimzy usually wasn't this late. A knock sounded on the door, and out of his peripheral vision, he saw Alastor get up and answer it.

"ALASTOR!" Someone exclaimed. "Ah, I'm sorry for bein' late, I had to deal with somethin'."

Mimzy wore a dark pink feather boa that was slung around her shoulders, along with a dark purple-gray dress that had little tassels at the end, along with light pink heels.

"Why are ya all gawkin'? Is it 'cause I'm adorable?" She grinned, striking a pose.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Mimzy," Lucifer said.

"It's always a pleasure to meet the King of Hell," Mimzy did a little curtsy. "So, Alastor, tell me more about this place! It's certainly charmin'!"

"Ah, well, it was all our dear King's idea! Ohohoho, you should've—"

"Oh, the King came up with it? I thought one of those things came up with it," Mimzy sneered. "Thought our King might've been above that."

"Excuse me?" Lucifer asked.

"Oh, sorry, did I hurt your feelin's?" Mimzy asked.

"Well, you didn't hurt mine, but I would like it if you apologized to my friends, coworkers and residents. Need I remind you that you are also at their level?"

Mimzy raised an eyebrow at him and continued on the tour with Alastor, who was already talking with Mimzy about the Hotel.

Soon they rounded through the floors, and were back in the first floor and the entrance hall.

"Ah, well, it's too bad that you wasted your beautiful palace on this idea," Mimzy said. "Guess that's why you're only an advantage to Alastor, not a true friend."

Lucifer's eye twitched. "At least I know how to arrive to an appointment on time." He grinned.

"Ahahaha…alright then…" Mimzy sang. "Looks like you could use some true help, from the best singer in Hell herself! Check out my reviews on Yelp! Five stars, flawless, greater than great! With the drop of a microphone, you're not gon' be dancin' alone! Usually I charge more than one, but you get the best friend rate!"

"Thanks Mimzy!" She said, moving Alastor's mouth along with the words, oblivious to his uncomfortable look. The mere thought of it made him want to get her off him.

"Who needs an absent King when you've got the best?"

"The best!" Someone chorused in the background.

"Michelin-tastin' menu free à la carte! I'll do it all for you 'cause you're the best! Champagne fountains, caviar mountains, that's just a start~"

"Who's been here since day one?" Lucifer but in. "Who's been faithful as a nun?" He summoned a rubber-duck-themed religious outfit. "Makes you chuckle with a pun? This guy!"

"That's true!" Alastor exclaimed.

"I'm your friend, your day-to-day, your chum, your steadfast manager~ Remember when I rescued Niffty today?"

"I was stuck, thank you sir~!" Niffty sang.

"Oh you!" Alastor grinned.

"I'm truly happy that we've built such a bond~" Lucifer placed a hand on the side of his friend's face.

"Awww!" The deer leaned into the touch.

"You're like the best friend that I've never had~!"

"That's sad :(" Alastor sang.

"Uh, what!" Mimzy exclaimed.

"I'll care for you just like my best friend~"

"Uh, hold on now!" Mimzy growled.

"It's a little funny, you could almost call me your best frieeeeeeeeeeeeeend~!"

Lucifer smiled mischievously at Mimzy. He whipped out his golden fiddle and began playing, while she tap-danced.

"They say that when you're looking for assistance, it's smart to pick the path of least resistance~!"

"Others say that in your needy hour it's no substitute for PURE PLATONIC LOVE~! Who just happened to also know you in real life?"

"Sadly there are times when friends are duds," Lucifer sang. "They say the friends you 'click' with are better!"

"What a bunch of LOSERS!" Mimzy exclaimed.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Lucifer growled. He was too busy singingbattling with Mimzy to notice the shimmering sounds outside or the flashes of light…

"Will you butt out of my song?"

"Your song? I'm singing this!"

"Oh you tacky piece of—"

The Hotel doors suddenly slammed open, and a demon appeared. "It's me, yes it's me, I know you all were waiting for me! I'm here, what a gas! It took a while, but I'm present at last! It's me, it's me, ChaaaAAAAAAAAAaaaarLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIEEEEEE!"

She rolled to a stop in front of the gathered crowd, hand on her chest and grinning.

"Who?" Mimzy asked.

"Ugh, didn't you hear me before? I said—"

Wait…it's can't be…WAIT, WAS IT MY DAY?

"CHARLIE!" Lucifer ran towards her, wrapping the taller demon in a bone-crushing hug.

"Lucifer, who is this?" Alastor asked, hand positioned behind his back.

"Why, this is my daughter, Charlie!" Lucifer said. "I didn't know you were coming!"

Charlie wrenched herself out of his hug, blowing the black loop of hair that covered her eye. "I told you before when you called me, or did you forget like you always do?" His daughter huffed, bringing out her phone and walking over to sit at the bar.

Charlie's bodyguard, Viella, followed in behind her, sitting on the couch near, scanning the room with a sharp white-eyed birdlike gaze. Once named Vaggie, at least Lucifer found her in an alley a few Exterminations ago, she had picked the name. Viella was a fallen angel, an Exorcist, to be correct, and she had wanted to distance herself from her past. Viella had light purple-gray skin with her left eye covered, and her other eye had dark pink sclera and a white eye. Underneath the plume of light gray hair, she wore a dark brown eyepatch. She had a dark red bodysuit that cut just above her knees and was sleeveless, with a light red-pink band around the waist, with fluffy light purple-white wrist-and-ankle bands, along with a fluffy light pink bow in her striped-pink hair. The angelic spear, given to her by the King, was propped in her hand against the counter. The tip of it was shaped slightly like a fountain pen, with a diamond-like shape made out of angelic steel, surrounded by an apple-shaped ruby and a golden snake that wrapped around the tip, with a black pole that her dark gray fingerless gloves gripped on to.

"Well, I'm not gonna stay in a place where I'm not wanted," Mimzy growled.

"Well ta-ta then, Mimzy! Good day!" Alastor waved at his friend before she shut the door.

Lucifer looked at his daughter sadly before he sat down a few chairs away from her. "I've…just been busy, Char-Char. I haven't had time to think about that. Was your…mother…here?" He asked.

"No," Charlie huffed. "I was alone again, but it's never different, since you're too much of a deadbeat dad to remember about me."

Lucifer's chest clenched and he felt a cold wave douse his before-excitement. "I…" He trailed off, grabbing his other arm while looking at her sadly. "I just…"

"Have been busy." Charlie rolled her eyes.

"Ah, well, you must be the Princess of Hell!" Alastor walked up to the two, gathering Lucifer up bridle style, earning a squeak from said King, and placing him on the couch to take his spot.

Lucifer laid in the same position on the couch, processing what had just happened.

"Oh, you silly." Lucifer grinned at his friend, who only sent a finger-gun at him and leaned against the counter.

"Should I know you?" Charlie asked, still scrolling through her phone.

"Ah, well someone of your status wouldn't know of such a lowly Sinner. My name is Alastor, although I am better known as the Radio Demon."

"Charmed, I'm sure." Charlie answered.

"Shall we go for a tour of the Hotel, my dear?" Alastor asked. "To show our dear Charlie what you've been working on?"

"Sure." Lucifer made to get off the couch before Alastor picked up him again bridal-style.

"Can't have our King messing up in front of his heir now, right?" The deer grinned.

"Oh you! Put me down!" Lucifer complained.

"No can do." Alastor wiggled his eyebrows, making Lucifer roll his eyes fondly.

"Okay, Dad, stop flirting and focus." Charlie said, hopping off the stool and walking along.

"We're not flirting!" They both exclaimed.

Charlie rolled her eyes but followed after the two.

"So this is the first floor! Char-Char, this used to be my palace so you most likely already know the first and second floors, but I refurbished it!"

"Okay…." Charlie said, barely sparing it a glance.

Lucifer looked at her sadly before he led her around the Hotel.

XXXXXXX

"...and we've been able to find most of Husker's stashes!" Lucifer exclaimed. "And once that's out of the way it should be much smoother sailing for him!"

"Well….that's certainly something," Charlie said, leaning against the pole and putting away her phone.

"So….what do you think?" Lucifer asked softly. He wiggled slightly in Alastor's hold, and the deer set him gently on the ground again.

Charlie frog-blinked and looked at her dad. "I….think the palace still looks the same,"

"It's….a Hotel," Lucifer said, fiddling with Lilith's wedding ring on the golden chain hidden underneath his sleeve. "And….I want to know what you think about it!"

"Okay….I think this railing needs some work. One push and you could fall right off," Charlie said.

"About the Hotel's idea, dear," Alastor cut in.

"Dad, like three visits ago you literally said that sinners were the worst," Charlie deadpanned. "You even gave me a bodyguard and girlfriend who's supposed to protect me from them," Charlie gestured to Viella, who stiffened from watching Niffty clean. She stood to attention.

Lucifer waved her off, and the fallen Exorcist went back to watching the other residents. She ran off one time and came back with Husker's stash of unsavory foods, handing it to Lucifer who made it disappear. Husker's angry yowl sounded somewhere in the hallway and a laugh from Angel interrupted the otherwise uncomfortable silence.

"Heaven isn't just gonna let them prance in there!" Charlie exclaimed. "You have to be realistic, Dad! Not everything is sunshine and rainbows!"

"You don't think I know that?" Lucifer snapped. "Charlie, I know more about this than you! I lived in Heaven, for crying out loud!"

"What makes you think they're gonna listen to you?" Charlie yelled. "They threw you out the first time! They won't listen to you or give you a second chance!"

"Charlie! You don't understand! I know they're never gonna listen to me. LILITH didn't listen to me!"

"You don't know that!" Charlie yelled, balling her hands into fists.

"I….do!" Lucifer sang. Stupid hormones, making him want to cry right now. "You….didn't know that when I tried this all before….my dreams were too hard to defend….and in the end….I don't want to lose it all again…."

As he sang, silhouettes of his siblings appeared around him, all pointing weapons at him with the silhouette of Before Lilith next to him. They pushed him down into a hole that led to Hell. The spears appeared again, pointing at Charlie instead.

"More than anything….more than anything…." Lucifer grabbed his daughter's hands, pulling her towards him in a sort-of protective stance. "I'll shelter and adore you more than anything…."

"You don't need to protect me, Dad. I and Viella can protect ourselves," Charlie glared at him.

"I just….I want you to understand…." Lucifer trailed off.

"When I was young, I didn't really know you at all. I always felt so small, but I heard your stories and I was enthralled~ The tales about your lofty dreams, I listened breathlessly, imagining it could be me~! So in the end, it's the view I had of you that showed me some things could be fighting for, more than anything….more than anything~"

Charlie sent out a little spark, igniting illusions that showed him standing away from her, her walking up to him, and Lilith taking her away. "More than anything….more than anything~ you've made me realize I miss you more than anything~"

"I've been dying to know you more than anything~"

"I've been waiting, wanting the same thing."

"Looks like the apple doesn't fall far~"

"Took you a while."

"I've missed that smile, all that I'm hoping~"

"Now that my eyes are opening!"

"We can start again, not be pulled apart again!" They both chorused. "'Cause in the end, you are part of who I am!"

"I'll support your dream whatever lies in store~!" Charlie sang, smiling at him for the first time.

"Who could ask for more?" Lucifer asked.

"More than anything, more than anything, more than anything! I'm grateful you're my daughter more than anything!"

"...grateful you're my father more than anything!" Charlie chorused.

"More than anything…."

The two smiled at each other and hugged, Lucifer unknowingly wagging his tail in happiness.

"I—" He began.

The King was interrupted by a sudden flash of light, and the air made an audible ripping sound and pure angelic energy appear, with a familiar face broadcasted in it.

"Samael 'Lucifer' Morningstar, you are requested to meet in Heaven for a hearing by the Angelic Court."