Weird lights
May. 30th, 2025 11:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessI was downstairs in the game room talking to evil_little_dog and I noticed that over the bar where my parents have hanging glasses (like at some real bars) and it's backlit. That's new. I didn't think much of it until I turned off the lights and it didn't go off. Nor did it go off when I left the bar (thinking it might be motion activated) so I go up and ask Dad (he put them in. he was an electrical engineer) and he's like how did they get on? I expected I accidentally hit one of the switches but no, this is on a separate little controller. You couldn't accidentally hit this. We have no idea how it got turned on. Weird.
You're getting a two-fer for fannish 50 today. First up, have I mentioned I'm a fan of plants? I suspect many of you could guess I love plants from my posts. Well I escaped the house to go to one of the three local greenhouses because I needed herbs (and mom is also sick with bronchitis, sorry Mom so she didn't come). There I am, unsupervised in a greenhouse/farmer's market.
Long story short, I got cinnamon basil, bonsai basil, regular basil, lemon thyme, Italian parsley, zucchini and a flower, a torenia. And then they had free tomato six-packs that you could take one. Come with me early girls (not my favorite but hey free). I am a happy girl with all my new plants that I have no idea where I'm putting them.
In good news, my busted open toe is finally sealed over (a week after the fact) I am relieved. It's not red, not swollen so I think I'm past the danger zone.
So let's move on to the rest of the fannish 50, stories and art! I have a story for you this week myself
Title: Holding Out For a Hero
Fandom: Hazbin Hotel
Summary: Even Pentious might have been impressed with Angel’s new steampunk movie and Angel would give anything to be able to make a sequel. That would mean Pentious and his airship were still alive and he wouldn’t be mourning a friend. Worse, the Vees want to capitalize on his pain and force him to betray the friends he still has.
Rating: teen and up
Author Note - Written for the Get Your Words Out Yahtzee challenge. I’m aiming for a large straight in which I have to write a linked story using all five prompts—all five prompts must connect to tell a united story. This is story number two and the prompt is curious. Since they are connected stories it would be better to start with number one.
Also written for the lyrical titles album challenge 2025 using the Footloose album and the song Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler.
Also written for the allbingo prompt of black and blue and for spikesgirl58’s six word challenge. The six words were Fate, Unpleasant, Captive, Colony, Anxiety, & Swap
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life
Holding Out For a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
“Helmsman, check the binnacle. It was spinning on its gimbals after that storm. Make sure we’re not off course. If we’re late getting this medicine to the colony, the governor will have my head hanging off the Hard Limit’s bowsprit!” Angel gestured to the man who looked more like a chameleon than anything that had been human once.
“If you hadn’t stopped to pirate that luxury liner, we wouldn’t be in this position, Captain Domula,” a tall tiger man snarked.
“If they didn’t want to be violated, they shouldn’t have made it so easy. Besides.” Angel cast a soft, seductive glance to the man bound and gagged next to the ship’s wheel. “Some booty is worth it.”
“Gross, spider!” Pentious paused the movie. “But you remembered all the terminology. I can’t believe it.”
Husk leaned forward on the couch and set his bottle of booze on the table so he could hold out a hand to Pentious. “Pay up.”
“Awww, did you have faith in me, Whiskers?” Angel put a hand on his chest and simpered.
Husk rolled his eyes. “I know we agreed to watch your new movie, Angel, but if you’re going to be extra Angel Dusty you can watch alone.”
“Fiiiine, sorry.” He pouted. “I did good, though, didn’t I, Pen? Do I sound like a ship’s captain?”
“You sounded believable,” Pentious admitted reluctantly. “I am wondering how you managed to get it to look so much like the War Machine on the inside. I’ve never allowed you onboard.”
Angel shrugged. “Frank helped. I gave him a camera.”
“Frank!” Pentious huffed. Husk handed him another drink without being asked and Pentious pounded it. “Betrayed by my minion!”
“Eh, no one is gonna know it’s accurate.” Angel waved him off. “Don’t worry about it.” he added as he – as Captain Domula – said on screen: ‘Everyone get below deck. I need time with my captive. Hadden, see if you can get more speed out of the engines.’
“That’s not how that works,” Pentious said. “And why would a pirate keep his stolen loot on the bridge I would not kno….oh my! That should never happen to the steering wheel.”
Angel smirked, pleased that Husk, at least, seemed interested in the scene as Captain Domula lashed his captive, who was kissing him with animal hunger, to the wheel. He looked pretty good in the scene if Angel said so himself. Husk’s gaze followed Angel’s erection until Vaggie screamed Angel’s name.
“Angel, what have we said about this?” She pointed to the screen. Charlie was peeking through her fingers at it, her other arm still locked with Vaggie’s. Next to them, Niffty stared at the screen with eagerness.
“They were curious about my new movie,” he said, crossing his arms defensively.
Vaggie pointed a finger at him. “We’re supposed to be avoiding sin.”
“If I avoid sin, Valentino will change my white and pink to black and blue. I don’t have a lot of choices, toots,” Angel shot back. “And I thought if they wanted to see it better here than in a sticky movie theater.”
“Gross.” Pentious shuddered.
Husk turned the TV off as Niffty scurried over to Angel.
She lifted his skirt with shocking swiftness and looked up it. “Where is it now? It’s gone.”
“Niffty!” Angel tugged his skirt out of her hand. “I keep everything tucked away, okay. You don’t go peeking up a guy’s dress.”
“Yes, Niffty, that is invasive,” Charlie said. “There are better ways to do that.”
“To ask why Angel’s smooth around the bend like a Ken doll half the time?” Husk arched his eyebrows, grinning.
“Well, I mean…” Charlie sputtered, reddening.
“It’s because Valentino markets me as androgynous,” Angel said. “I can pull my arms in too.” He pushed out his bottom set and waved to Niffty. “He was thrilled I could do the same with my cash and prizes because it was different and made me very marketable but I am a man.”
Niffty shot him a dubious look like maybe she thought the cock on screen was a strap on.
He ignored her and Vaggie. He leaned closer to his friends, draping his arms around Husk and Pentious’ shoulders whispering, “We’ll pick this up in my suite later.”
Husk nodded. Pentious looked doubtful. Angel strode out of the room, trying to escape the unpleasant feel of it. One day maybe he’d be able to put into words how he felt. One day he’d let the mask drop for someone other than Husk. One day he’d make them understand him. He was his own worst enemy and one day Charlie would understand there was no saving him.
# # #
“Isn’t that day three on that outfit, Angel?” Velvette smirked as the Vees’ meeting broke up.
Angel barely nodded at her. Most of his clothing had been lost when Adam destroyed the hotel and Velvette damn well knew that. They had lost so much that day, the least of which was Pentious. Angel wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing them as a form of self-solace. He would swap places with Pentious. Really he would.
He had never voiced that to anyone. It would be in poor taste, especially after Lucifer had rebuilt the hotel in homage to him and Husker. He never expected Xs and hearts running up one side of the new hotel but that was for him. It warmed his heart. Charlie would weep harder if she knew that thought was in his head but how could it not be? Pentious gave his afterlife for them all. If it had been Angel to make the sacrifice at least then he’d be free of Valentino. Pentious deserved better.
“If you were sweeter to me, I’d buy you new outfits, amorcito,” Valentino purred as if he hadn’t blackened Angel’s eye little more than an hour ago when Angel asked why he needed to be in the meeting. “Move back home, baby.”
“We don’t want that, Val,” Vox reminded him.
No, they didn’t but Valentino wasn’t a hundred percent onboard with Vox’s plan. He thought with his dick so he wanted Angel closer, where he could force himself into whatever hole he wanted at that moment. He wanted someone there to kiss his ass in a way neither of the other Vees would. Valentino could have anyone do that but Angel remained his favorite for that task.
Angel turned tired, swollen eyes on Vox, feeling too dull at the moment to even register the anxiety building in him. Things were about to go very bad. Vox wanted a spy inside the rebuilt hotel. The Vees didn’t like that the hotel had been restored so quickly. They were, however, dismissive of Lucifer’s contributions to Charlie’s dream. Lucifer had let too many cobwebs grow over his throne. It hadn’t been the same since Lilith disappeared and even before that, Lucifer had been a non-entity in controlling hell, or at least so Angel had heard. He’d never really paid much attention if he were honest.
He was now, even as he pretended to be far higher than he was. The Vees needed to think he was out of it. They needed to believe that he was theirs to manipulate. He had other ideas. He would tell Alastor how excited Vox was that Adam had nearly killed him. He would tell Lucifer that the Vees wanted to plop their collective ass on his throne. If the lord of hell wanted him to play the role the Vees planned for him, then he would, carrying misinformation to them.
“He needs to be home and we’ll make a sequel to Airship Pirates. You’ll like that, Angel.” Valentino reached out and stroked Angel’s back. “Too bad we won’t be able to get new footage of Pentious’ ship.”
Tears pricked Angel’s eyes but he wouldn’t shed them in front of the Vees. “I wish you could.” God, he wished Pentious was still here. He missed Pen more than he thought possible. It had been so long since he’d had a friend who didn’t want to fuck him. Husk was still that friend but Angel had plans on changing that. Of course, sleeping with someone he actually wanted to hadn’t happened in forever either.
“He’s better off in the hotel, Val. We’ve discussed this,” Vox said.
“He’s not smart enough to do what you want, Vox,” Valentino whined. “And I want him home.”
“He’s not stupider than Pentious and we sent him.” Vox laughed.
Angel did manage to work up a scowl. “Pentious wasn’t stupid and neither am I.”
Valentino whipped around to face him, the skin around his eyes tight. Angel knew he was moments from another beating but fuck, Val. He wasn’t going to let him insult Pentious. “You think I don’t know why you’re curious as to what goes on in the hotel. Nothing good comes of it, that much I can tell you. Lucifer ain’t someone to trifle with. Did you watch a different newscast than the rest of hell?”
“We saw Alastor get his ass handed to him.” Vox laughed.
“He was overconfident. I used to see that all the time when I was alive. Some of the goons that used to work for my father would get a head up of steam, think nothing could touch them and then they were dead. Al’s so used to be top of the heap he didn’t think anything could touch him. Could you three take him? Maybe. Would Charlie help Al? I dunno and I don’t want to. I ain’t telling you if I did.”
Angel roused himself, dropping the act. He was too tired, too fed up with how they treated him to care anymore. “I was a lot of things back in life but I was never a rat. If my papi’s men didn’t kill me for being a rat, he would have. And I hated him but I kept his secrets. Imagine what I’d do to keep Charlie’s? I fought angels for her dreams and you three ain’t got nothing on them,” Angel scoffed, bracing for what was to come. He wasn’t getting out of this without a beating but this time, he wasn’t going to beg them to stop. He wasn’t giving them that satisfaction. It was his fate to suffer, after all, and to keep Charlie and his friends safe, he’d do it happily.
“Look who thinks he’s the princess’ hero.” Valentino yanked him closer. “Is your head so full of angels you think you can take me on, amorcito?”
Rolling to his feet, Angel showed his fangs. “You have my soul. I know I can’t fight you but that’s the only reason I don’t.”
“Ooo this is getting good.” Velvette clapped her hands.
Standing, Valentino removed his glasses and set his cigarette holder down on the table. “Don’t worry about your soul, babe. Worry about what I’m going to do to your face but go ahead, make it a fair fight. Defend yourself for once. You’ve probably forgotten how.”
Angel grinned ferally. He was coming out of this on the bad side of it but he wasn’t wasting time trading barbs with Valentino. He punched him square in the jaw as his answer and it was on. Both of them were leaving this room bloody and black and blue. Fists drummed on muscle, teeth tore flesh and feet flew.
When it was finally over – Valentino having resorted to whipping out the soul chains to get Angel off of him – Angel had been dragged to a cab by security. He could barely see out of his swelling eyes and blood was all he could taste and smell. He was fairly sure he’d broken at least two hands because he’d hit Valentino so hard. He might have lost but Valentino was going to have a bad night too. When he got to the hotel, his friends surrounded him with concern and aid while he laid out everything he knew about the Vees’ plans of conquest. Maybe they shouldn’t talk with him in the room like he was as brainless as the sex dolls they sold of him.
Once he was sure they were warned, Angel passed out on the couch, waiting for Niffty to bring him some soup. It would be a bad night of pissing blood and aching but standing up for his friends was worth it. He might not be on Pentious’ level but this was what his friends needed in this moment. Angel was happy to swap his pain for their protection.
# # #
“I told you he wasn’t going to come back here,” Vox said to Valentino who sat with an ice pack pressed to his jaw while they waited on someone to arrive. It had been a last minute invite to Vox’s office and Vox was happy simply to have the man meet with them on such short notice.
“That ungrateful whore needs me. He needs to be reminded who is in charge,” Valentino grumbled, tossing the ice pack onto the conference room table. “When he gets back here, he’ll be starring in so much torture porn, he’ll wish the angels had killed him.”
“Did it ever occur to you to treat him nicely?” Velvette looked up from painting her nails. “Maybe then he’d have been willing to spy for us.”
“I think he’s too far gone for that,” Vox replied. “I know when someone’s been manipulated and that fool has his head turned right around by the princess. He’ll dance to her tune long before he’ll do anything for us.”
Velvette shrugged. “Maybe but knowing when to butter someone up is a useful tactic. You used to do it better, Valentino. That’s how you got Angel Dust in the first place.”
He glowered at her. “He was different back then.”
Angel had been dumb and in love and Vox had hated him so much back in those early days. He hadn’t been used to sharing Valentino with anyone who actually meant something to him. Unlike the people Val used like tissue, Angel was the one whore he couldn’t seem to quit. Vox was glad he was gone, lost to the hotel. He only wished Angel had been more open to the idea of indulging their curiosity as to what went on in the hotel. It always had been a long shot. So was this plan unfolding half-assedly in front of him.
Vox’s aide poked his head into the room. “He’s here, Mr. Vox.”
“Send him in.”
Vox watched the short overlord he’d invited in cross over to the table and sit. He was minor league, content with his niche in hell and he had a skillset they could use. The man looked at him expectantly.
“Ya want something from me,” he said.
“We need you to take out these people, not permanently sadly but they need to be out of the picture for the near future.” Vox slid a screencap of Husker to the other overlord. He recognized the man from the angelic battle. He’d thought Alastor had killed the gambling overlord but there he was, apparently so demoted he no longer got invited into the overlord meetings or even was a blip on the radar.
“Make it messy,” Valentino added. “Bring them back in hunks if you can. It needs to take them a long time to respawn so we can cut them back up again for as long as it takes. We’re sending a message.”
The overlord fished out his cigarettes and lit one. He leaned back in his chair, multiple red eyes studying the Vees until Vox felt uncomfortable with the scrutiny even as he returned it. The little spider didn’t look like much in his antiquated suit and bizarre spiderweb bowtie but his reputation for murder and mayhem was undeniable. “Just this guy?”
“No.” Vox pushed pictures of the maid who had killed Adam over along with the one eyed woman who was obviously Charlie’s girlfriend. He added a picture of Cherri Bomb as well. “Both cyclops for certain. Leave the white haired one for last or for another day more likely.”
“Getting cold feet?” Velvette laughed.
“She might bring more heat than we want,” he replied hotly. “You should be able to handle this, Arackniss.”
Arackniss smirked, his cigarette wobbling on his lip. “In my sleep but I ain’t promising nothing yet.”
Valentino winged a picture of Angel Dust and his stupid pig over to Arackniss. “Angel is the last to go. Do the others first. In front of him. Make him watch. Especially that pig. You can feed it to him. There isn’t anything he loves more than that pig, not even me,” Valentino sniped and Vox hated he detected a hint of sadness in that last statement. “Angel needs to get the message loud and clear. He’s fucked with the wrong people.”
Arackniss took a drag and blew rings at Valentino. “I thought he fucked for ya.”
“Oh, he does but he’s trying to play for another team, trying to play the hero. He needs a reminder of where he belongs and who he needs to make happy. Watching his friends suffer because of him should do the trick,” Valentino replied.
Arackniss scooped up all the pictures and shuffled them into a pile. “I’ll consider the offer. I need ta do a little investigating first, get the lay of the land. I saw this crowd fighting angels just like everyone else did. I need ta do risk assessment before I say yes. Might need more than just me for this.”
“We’re willing to pay for extra hands,” Vox said. “Just keep in mind the Radio Demon lives in that hotel. Leave him out of this. He might be useless against angels but he does love tearing up overlords.”
“I’m aware.” Arackniss snubbed his cigarette out on the table instead of the ashtray. Vox didn’t miss that petty act of dominance. “Give me a few days. I’ll call ya if I decide ta take the job.”
“You have two days and I’ll call you,” Vox replied.
Arackniss shrugged and swung off his chair. “Whatevah.”
He strode out without another word.
Velvette curled her lip. “He’s unpleasant.”
“And ugly,” Valentino shuddered, pressing the ice pack back to his jaw.
“But good at what he does. If this works, you’ll have your revenge on Angel and we all will have the princess knocked off her pins. It’ll make her easier to deal with afterward,” Vox said.
All three of them laughed. Yes, once her subjects were cut into hamburger, Charlie wouldn’t put up much of a fight. It would put the Vees up several rungs of hell’s ladder. They were so close to the top Vox could taste it. And then, Alastor would be all his. The thought made Vox smile. This would go right. It had to.
Recs
Bright Isn’t Always Beautiful Torchwood
From the Other Side of the Road 9-1-1
snug as a bunny — 31 days of domestic wangxian 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Exception to the Rule. Stargate Atlantis
A Visit to the Hospital Harry Potter
Someone Who Cares Torchwood
Coming Clean The Owl House
Negotiation a New Treaty Teen Wolf
Maybe We Can Hope Tomorrow Murder, She Wrote/Teen Wolf
darling, please worship me (unless you prefer to bleed) 时光代理人 | Link Click
Sunshine The Murderbot Diaries
Royal Flush Hazbin Hotel wip
It Doesn't Matter if They are Cute! Stargate Atlantis
Sing Me Home 镇魂 | Guardian
Proper Doggy Style X-Men/Deadpool
The Mystery of the Purloined Coin Murder She Wrote/The Unusuals
Protecting the Supernatural Reveal Teen Wolf
Is This Parenthood? Helluva Boss
Friday Plans Torchwood
Operation: Keep Fuuka Warm Persona 3
Breaking the Fidelius Harry Potter
Eating the Local Food Stargate SG-1
A momentary lapse Call of Duty
Anonymous Birthday Present 9-1-1
Stressful Days Stargate Atlantis
Planning the Next Steps Teen Wolf
evil_little_dog and I noticed that over the bar where my parents have hanging glasses (like at some real bars) and it's backlit. That's new. I didn't think much of it until I turned off the lights and it didn't go off. Nor did it go off when I left the bar (thinking it might be motion activated) so I go up and ask Dad (he put them in. he was an electrical engineer) and he's like how did they get on? I expected I accidentally hit one of the switches but no, this is on a separate little controller. You couldn't accidentally hit this. We have no idea how it got turned on. Weird.You're getting a two-fer for fannish 50 today. First up, have I mentioned I'm a fan of plants? I suspect many of you could guess I love plants from my posts. Well I escaped the house to go to one of the three local greenhouses because I needed herbs (and mom is also sick with bronchitis, sorry Mom so she didn't come). There I am, unsupervised in a greenhouse/farmer's market.
Long story short, I got cinnamon basil, bonsai basil, regular basil, lemon thyme, Italian parsley, zucchini and a flower, a torenia. And then they had free tomato six-packs that you could take one. Come with me early girls (not my favorite but hey free). I am a happy girl with all my new plants that I have no idea where I'm putting them.
In good news, my busted open toe is finally sealed over (a week after the fact) I am relieved. It's not red, not swollen so I think I'm past the danger zone.
So let's move on to the rest of the fannish 50, stories and art! I have a story for you this week myself
Title: Holding Out For a Hero
Fandom: Hazbin Hotel
Summary: Even Pentious might have been impressed with Angel’s new steampunk movie and Angel would give anything to be able to make a sequel. That would mean Pentious and his airship were still alive and he wouldn’t be mourning a friend. Worse, the Vees want to capitalize on his pain and force him to betray the friends he still has.
Rating: teen and up
Author Note - Written for the Get Your Words Out Yahtzee challenge. I’m aiming for a large straight in which I have to write a linked story using all five prompts—all five prompts must connect to tell a united story. This is story number two and the prompt is curious. Since they are connected stories it would be better to start with number one.
Also written for the lyrical titles album challenge 2025 using the Footloose album and the song Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler.
Also written for the allbingo prompt of black and blue and for spikesgirl58’s six word challenge. The six words were Fate, Unpleasant, Captive, Colony, Anxiety, & Swap
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure, and it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life
Holding Out For a Hero by Bonnie Tyler
“Helmsman, check the binnacle. It was spinning on its gimbals after that storm. Make sure we’re not off course. If we’re late getting this medicine to the colony, the governor will have my head hanging off the Hard Limit’s bowsprit!” Angel gestured to the man who looked more like a chameleon than anything that had been human once.
“If you hadn’t stopped to pirate that luxury liner, we wouldn’t be in this position, Captain Domula,” a tall tiger man snarked.
“If they didn’t want to be violated, they shouldn’t have made it so easy. Besides.” Angel cast a soft, seductive glance to the man bound and gagged next to the ship’s wheel. “Some booty is worth it.”
“Gross, spider!” Pentious paused the movie. “But you remembered all the terminology. I can’t believe it.”
Husk leaned forward on the couch and set his bottle of booze on the table so he could hold out a hand to Pentious. “Pay up.”
“Awww, did you have faith in me, Whiskers?” Angel put a hand on his chest and simpered.
Husk rolled his eyes. “I know we agreed to watch your new movie, Angel, but if you’re going to be extra Angel Dusty you can watch alone.”
“Fiiiine, sorry.” He pouted. “I did good, though, didn’t I, Pen? Do I sound like a ship’s captain?”
“You sounded believable,” Pentious admitted reluctantly. “I am wondering how you managed to get it to look so much like the War Machine on the inside. I’ve never allowed you onboard.”
Angel shrugged. “Frank helped. I gave him a camera.”
“Frank!” Pentious huffed. Husk handed him another drink without being asked and Pentious pounded it. “Betrayed by my minion!”
“Eh, no one is gonna know it’s accurate.” Angel waved him off. “Don’t worry about it.” he added as he – as Captain Domula – said on screen: ‘Everyone get below deck. I need time with my captive. Hadden, see if you can get more speed out of the engines.’
“That’s not how that works,” Pentious said. “And why would a pirate keep his stolen loot on the bridge I would not kno….oh my! That should never happen to the steering wheel.”
Angel smirked, pleased that Husk, at least, seemed interested in the scene as Captain Domula lashed his captive, who was kissing him with animal hunger, to the wheel. He looked pretty good in the scene if Angel said so himself. Husk’s gaze followed Angel’s erection until Vaggie screamed Angel’s name.
“Angel, what have we said about this?” She pointed to the screen. Charlie was peeking through her fingers at it, her other arm still locked with Vaggie’s. Next to them, Niffty stared at the screen with eagerness.
“They were curious about my new movie,” he said, crossing his arms defensively.
Vaggie pointed a finger at him. “We’re supposed to be avoiding sin.”
“If I avoid sin, Valentino will change my white and pink to black and blue. I don’t have a lot of choices, toots,” Angel shot back. “And I thought if they wanted to see it better here than in a sticky movie theater.”
“Gross.” Pentious shuddered.
Husk turned the TV off as Niffty scurried over to Angel.
She lifted his skirt with shocking swiftness and looked up it. “Where is it now? It’s gone.”
“Niffty!” Angel tugged his skirt out of her hand. “I keep everything tucked away, okay. You don’t go peeking up a guy’s dress.”
“Yes, Niffty, that is invasive,” Charlie said. “There are better ways to do that.”
“To ask why Angel’s smooth around the bend like a Ken doll half the time?” Husk arched his eyebrows, grinning.
“Well, I mean…” Charlie sputtered, reddening.
“It’s because Valentino markets me as androgynous,” Angel said. “I can pull my arms in too.” He pushed out his bottom set and waved to Niffty. “He was thrilled I could do the same with my cash and prizes because it was different and made me very marketable but I am a man.”
Niffty shot him a dubious look like maybe she thought the cock on screen was a strap on.
He ignored her and Vaggie. He leaned closer to his friends, draping his arms around Husk and Pentious’ shoulders whispering, “We’ll pick this up in my suite later.”
Husk nodded. Pentious looked doubtful. Angel strode out of the room, trying to escape the unpleasant feel of it. One day maybe he’d be able to put into words how he felt. One day he’d let the mask drop for someone other than Husk. One day he’d make them understand him. He was his own worst enemy and one day Charlie would understand there was no saving him.
# # #
“Isn’t that day three on that outfit, Angel?” Velvette smirked as the Vees’ meeting broke up.
Angel barely nodded at her. Most of his clothing had been lost when Adam destroyed the hotel and Velvette damn well knew that. They had lost so much that day, the least of which was Pentious. Angel wrapped his arms around himself, rubbing them as a form of self-solace. He would swap places with Pentious. Really he would.
He had never voiced that to anyone. It would be in poor taste, especially after Lucifer had rebuilt the hotel in homage to him and Husker. He never expected Xs and hearts running up one side of the new hotel but that was for him. It warmed his heart. Charlie would weep harder if she knew that thought was in his head but how could it not be? Pentious gave his afterlife for them all. If it had been Angel to make the sacrifice at least then he’d be free of Valentino. Pentious deserved better.
“If you were sweeter to me, I’d buy you new outfits, amorcito,” Valentino purred as if he hadn’t blackened Angel’s eye little more than an hour ago when Angel asked why he needed to be in the meeting. “Move back home, baby.”
“We don’t want that, Val,” Vox reminded him.
No, they didn’t but Valentino wasn’t a hundred percent onboard with Vox’s plan. He thought with his dick so he wanted Angel closer, where he could force himself into whatever hole he wanted at that moment. He wanted someone there to kiss his ass in a way neither of the other Vees would. Valentino could have anyone do that but Angel remained his favorite for that task.
Angel turned tired, swollen eyes on Vox, feeling too dull at the moment to even register the anxiety building in him. Things were about to go very bad. Vox wanted a spy inside the rebuilt hotel. The Vees didn’t like that the hotel had been restored so quickly. They were, however, dismissive of Lucifer’s contributions to Charlie’s dream. Lucifer had let too many cobwebs grow over his throne. It hadn’t been the same since Lilith disappeared and even before that, Lucifer had been a non-entity in controlling hell, or at least so Angel had heard. He’d never really paid much attention if he were honest.
He was now, even as he pretended to be far higher than he was. The Vees needed to think he was out of it. They needed to believe that he was theirs to manipulate. He had other ideas. He would tell Alastor how excited Vox was that Adam had nearly killed him. He would tell Lucifer that the Vees wanted to plop their collective ass on his throne. If the lord of hell wanted him to play the role the Vees planned for him, then he would, carrying misinformation to them.
“He needs to be home and we’ll make a sequel to Airship Pirates. You’ll like that, Angel.” Valentino reached out and stroked Angel’s back. “Too bad we won’t be able to get new footage of Pentious’ ship.”
Tears pricked Angel’s eyes but he wouldn’t shed them in front of the Vees. “I wish you could.” God, he wished Pentious was still here. He missed Pen more than he thought possible. It had been so long since he’d had a friend who didn’t want to fuck him. Husk was still that friend but Angel had plans on changing that. Of course, sleeping with someone he actually wanted to hadn’t happened in forever either.
“He’s better off in the hotel, Val. We’ve discussed this,” Vox said.
“He’s not smart enough to do what you want, Vox,” Valentino whined. “And I want him home.”
“He’s not stupider than Pentious and we sent him.” Vox laughed.
Angel did manage to work up a scowl. “Pentious wasn’t stupid and neither am I.”
Valentino whipped around to face him, the skin around his eyes tight. Angel knew he was moments from another beating but fuck, Val. He wasn’t going to let him insult Pentious. “You think I don’t know why you’re curious as to what goes on in the hotel. Nothing good comes of it, that much I can tell you. Lucifer ain’t someone to trifle with. Did you watch a different newscast than the rest of hell?”
“We saw Alastor get his ass handed to him.” Vox laughed.
“He was overconfident. I used to see that all the time when I was alive. Some of the goons that used to work for my father would get a head up of steam, think nothing could touch them and then they were dead. Al’s so used to be top of the heap he didn’t think anything could touch him. Could you three take him? Maybe. Would Charlie help Al? I dunno and I don’t want to. I ain’t telling you if I did.”
Angel roused himself, dropping the act. He was too tired, too fed up with how they treated him to care anymore. “I was a lot of things back in life but I was never a rat. If my papi’s men didn’t kill me for being a rat, he would have. And I hated him but I kept his secrets. Imagine what I’d do to keep Charlie’s? I fought angels for her dreams and you three ain’t got nothing on them,” Angel scoffed, bracing for what was to come. He wasn’t getting out of this without a beating but this time, he wasn’t going to beg them to stop. He wasn’t giving them that satisfaction. It was his fate to suffer, after all, and to keep Charlie and his friends safe, he’d do it happily.
“Look who thinks he’s the princess’ hero.” Valentino yanked him closer. “Is your head so full of angels you think you can take me on, amorcito?”
Rolling to his feet, Angel showed his fangs. “You have my soul. I know I can’t fight you but that’s the only reason I don’t.”
“Ooo this is getting good.” Velvette clapped her hands.
Standing, Valentino removed his glasses and set his cigarette holder down on the table. “Don’t worry about your soul, babe. Worry about what I’m going to do to your face but go ahead, make it a fair fight. Defend yourself for once. You’ve probably forgotten how.”
Angel grinned ferally. He was coming out of this on the bad side of it but he wasn’t wasting time trading barbs with Valentino. He punched him square in the jaw as his answer and it was on. Both of them were leaving this room bloody and black and blue. Fists drummed on muscle, teeth tore flesh and feet flew.
When it was finally over – Valentino having resorted to whipping out the soul chains to get Angel off of him – Angel had been dragged to a cab by security. He could barely see out of his swelling eyes and blood was all he could taste and smell. He was fairly sure he’d broken at least two hands because he’d hit Valentino so hard. He might have lost but Valentino was going to have a bad night too. When he got to the hotel, his friends surrounded him with concern and aid while he laid out everything he knew about the Vees’ plans of conquest. Maybe they shouldn’t talk with him in the room like he was as brainless as the sex dolls they sold of him.
Once he was sure they were warned, Angel passed out on the couch, waiting for Niffty to bring him some soup. It would be a bad night of pissing blood and aching but standing up for his friends was worth it. He might not be on Pentious’ level but this was what his friends needed in this moment. Angel was happy to swap his pain for their protection.
# # #
“I told you he wasn’t going to come back here,” Vox said to Valentino who sat with an ice pack pressed to his jaw while they waited on someone to arrive. It had been a last minute invite to Vox’s office and Vox was happy simply to have the man meet with them on such short notice.
“That ungrateful whore needs me. He needs to be reminded who is in charge,” Valentino grumbled, tossing the ice pack onto the conference room table. “When he gets back here, he’ll be starring in so much torture porn, he’ll wish the angels had killed him.”
“Did it ever occur to you to treat him nicely?” Velvette looked up from painting her nails. “Maybe then he’d have been willing to spy for us.”
“I think he’s too far gone for that,” Vox replied. “I know when someone’s been manipulated and that fool has his head turned right around by the princess. He’ll dance to her tune long before he’ll do anything for us.”
Velvette shrugged. “Maybe but knowing when to butter someone up is a useful tactic. You used to do it better, Valentino. That’s how you got Angel Dust in the first place.”
He glowered at her. “He was different back then.”
Angel had been dumb and in love and Vox had hated him so much back in those early days. He hadn’t been used to sharing Valentino with anyone who actually meant something to him. Unlike the people Val used like tissue, Angel was the one whore he couldn’t seem to quit. Vox was glad he was gone, lost to the hotel. He only wished Angel had been more open to the idea of indulging their curiosity as to what went on in the hotel. It always had been a long shot. So was this plan unfolding half-assedly in front of him.
Vox’s aide poked his head into the room. “He’s here, Mr. Vox.”
“Send him in.”
Vox watched the short overlord he’d invited in cross over to the table and sit. He was minor league, content with his niche in hell and he had a skillset they could use. The man looked at him expectantly.
“Ya want something from me,” he said.
“We need you to take out these people, not permanently sadly but they need to be out of the picture for the near future.” Vox slid a screencap of Husker to the other overlord. He recognized the man from the angelic battle. He’d thought Alastor had killed the gambling overlord but there he was, apparently so demoted he no longer got invited into the overlord meetings or even was a blip on the radar.
“Make it messy,” Valentino added. “Bring them back in hunks if you can. It needs to take them a long time to respawn so we can cut them back up again for as long as it takes. We’re sending a message.”
The overlord fished out his cigarettes and lit one. He leaned back in his chair, multiple red eyes studying the Vees until Vox felt uncomfortable with the scrutiny even as he returned it. The little spider didn’t look like much in his antiquated suit and bizarre spiderweb bowtie but his reputation for murder and mayhem was undeniable. “Just this guy?”
“No.” Vox pushed pictures of the maid who had killed Adam over along with the one eyed woman who was obviously Charlie’s girlfriend. He added a picture of Cherri Bomb as well. “Both cyclops for certain. Leave the white haired one for last or for another day more likely.”
“Getting cold feet?” Velvette laughed.
“She might bring more heat than we want,” he replied hotly. “You should be able to handle this, Arackniss.”
Arackniss smirked, his cigarette wobbling on his lip. “In my sleep but I ain’t promising nothing yet.”
Valentino winged a picture of Angel Dust and his stupid pig over to Arackniss. “Angel is the last to go. Do the others first. In front of him. Make him watch. Especially that pig. You can feed it to him. There isn’t anything he loves more than that pig, not even me,” Valentino sniped and Vox hated he detected a hint of sadness in that last statement. “Angel needs to get the message loud and clear. He’s fucked with the wrong people.”
Arackniss took a drag and blew rings at Valentino. “I thought he fucked for ya.”
“Oh, he does but he’s trying to play for another team, trying to play the hero. He needs a reminder of where he belongs and who he needs to make happy. Watching his friends suffer because of him should do the trick,” Valentino replied.
Arackniss scooped up all the pictures and shuffled them into a pile. “I’ll consider the offer. I need ta do a little investigating first, get the lay of the land. I saw this crowd fighting angels just like everyone else did. I need ta do risk assessment before I say yes. Might need more than just me for this.”
“We’re willing to pay for extra hands,” Vox said. “Just keep in mind the Radio Demon lives in that hotel. Leave him out of this. He might be useless against angels but he does love tearing up overlords.”
“I’m aware.” Arackniss snubbed his cigarette out on the table instead of the ashtray. Vox didn’t miss that petty act of dominance. “Give me a few days. I’ll call ya if I decide ta take the job.”
“You have two days and I’ll call you,” Vox replied.
Arackniss shrugged and swung off his chair. “Whatevah.”
He strode out without another word.
Velvette curled her lip. “He’s unpleasant.”
“And ugly,” Valentino shuddered, pressing the ice pack back to his jaw.
“But good at what he does. If this works, you’ll have your revenge on Angel and we all will have the princess knocked off her pins. It’ll make her easier to deal with afterward,” Vox said.
All three of them laughed. Yes, once her subjects were cut into hamburger, Charlie wouldn’t put up much of a fight. It would put the Vees up several rungs of hell’s ladder. They were so close to the top Vox could taste it. And then, Alastor would be all his. The thought made Vox smile. This would go right. It had to.
Recs
Bright Isn’t Always Beautiful Torchwood
From the Other Side of the Road 9-1-1
snug as a bunny — 31 days of domestic wangxian 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù
Exception to the Rule. Stargate Atlantis
A Visit to the Hospital Harry Potter
Someone Who Cares Torchwood
Coming Clean The Owl House
Negotiation a New Treaty Teen Wolf
Maybe We Can Hope Tomorrow Murder, She Wrote/Teen Wolf
darling, please worship me (unless you prefer to bleed) 时光代理人 | Link Click
Sunshine The Murderbot Diaries
Royal Flush Hazbin Hotel wip
It Doesn't Matter if They are Cute! Stargate Atlantis
Sing Me Home 镇魂 | Guardian
Proper Doggy Style X-Men/Deadpool
The Mystery of the Purloined Coin Murder She Wrote/The Unusuals
Protecting the Supernatural Reveal Teen Wolf
Is This Parenthood? Helluva Boss
Friday Plans Torchwood
Operation: Keep Fuuka Warm Persona 3
Breaking the Fidelius Harry Potter
Eating the Local Food Stargate SG-1
A momentary lapse Call of Duty
Anonymous Birthday Present 9-1-1
Stressful Days Stargate Atlantis
Planning the Next Steps Teen Wolf
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Yes ...
Date: 2025-05-31 05:50 am (UTC)I have regular basil, lemon basil, and purple ruffles; curly and flat parsley; zucchini and yellow squash; pink and purple torenia; and more tomatoes than I can remember. :D
Re: Yes ...
Date: 2025-06-01 12:51 am (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2025-06-01 02:08 am (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2025-06-01 04:25 am (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2025-06-01 04:37 am (UTC)Re: Yes ...
Date: 2025-06-01 04:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-31 11:20 am (UTC)I didn't realize there were so many different types of basil!
no subject
Date: 2025-06-01 12:49 am (UTC)there are even more types than that, like thai basil