Wash It Clean
Vox’s eyes darted from screen to screen, his fingers flying over the control board as he filtered through the thousands of cameras around Pentagram City and the billions of hours of backlogged footage. Snippets played a few seconds at a time before switching to a different camera, catching moments in Hell. A bar fight, a mugging, a couple on a date, a robbery, catcallers, a deal being made, a drug deal, a woman shopping. It all sped by as he searched for what he was looking for, occasionally saving a clip or some still frames to review in more detail later. Good think he was basically a computer, or this would never be possible at this speed.
“Mmm, Voxy, baby…” Valentino whined. “How much longer is this going to take?~”
Vox bit his digital tongue, forcing himself to keep calm. “Val, I told you already, this shit takes time. Your whores won’t fuck themselves, so why don’t you go check on them while I finish up here?”
“Actually, the whores do fuck themselves, if you pay enough.” Valentino laughed at his own joke. Vox would roll his eyes if he wasn’t so focused on the cameras. Val draped himself over the back of Vox’s chair, tracing the edge of his screen seductively. “Come on, my love, can’t you find me my little doll faster? I have waited for a whole year already. Think of how much money I have lost not having her.”
Before Vox could try again to get Valentino out of his office, Velvette burst through the door. “For fuck’s sake! I’M slaving away making sure the Vees stay relevant, while you two pissants are squirreled away in here goofing off and sucking each other’s dicks! Pull your britches up, put your fucking obsessions aside, and get on with it! It’s been a year, so get your arses back into fucking gear, NOW!”
Vox felt his head screen glitch as he growled and spun his chair around, knocking Valentino to the floor. He glared at the small woman, leaning against the wall and scrolling on her phone. Vox took a deep breath and put on his most charming smile. “Velvette! There’s my right-hand boss babe. Just who I needed to see-”
Velvette flipped him off, not looking up from her phone. “Fucking get to the point, old man. You and your boy-toy have been pissing off to chase after some doll and the Radio Demon, and for what?!” She finally looked up from her phone and glared at him, arms crossed and hip popped out on the side. “Just fucking let it go and let’s go back to the original plan already!”
“Hahaha, yeah, no.” Vox crossed his arms. “The original plan wouldn’t work anymore. Too many things have changed, and it was based on other factors that are now irrelevant. Our best bet to get what we want is through that rag doll bitch.”
“Oh yeah?” Velvette fumed. “Why, in the name of unholy torture, do we need her?”
“Because she is valuable!” Valentino cut in. “I almost had her, such a rare and unusual specimen… I could have made her bigger than Angel Dust! But that fucking princesa and her fucking hotel STOLE her right out from under me!”
“Oh, boo hoo, you bloody baby!” Velvette spat at the moth’s feet. “You lost out on one Sinner. Big whoop! There are hundreds of new arrivals every day. She isn’t the only doll-themed demon in Hell, and she isn’t even the best-looking one at that.” She flipped her hair haughtily and Vox rolled his eyes. Velvette was indeed also doll-themed, but her jealousy could not be matched. He wanted to point out that she would NEVER be willing to be a part of Val’s work, hence it negated her argument, but he knew that would just make everything worse. He needed to be smart about this.
“Velvette, we have been over this.” Vox turned back to his screens, pulling up the video footage and photos from around the city and the hotel. Each showed a staff member from the hotel interacting with the doll demon. “This woman isn’t just someone Val wants for his studio. She has ingratiated herself into the Hazbin Hotel so completely that EVERYONE in that place is connected to her now. She is never seen outside the building without at least one of the original crew escorting her. Hell, she even has Alastor, of all people, walking her around like he’s some sort of guard dog! Lucifer, King of Hell, is tied to her hip.”
“Yes, and?” Velvetted sighed, feigning frustration, though she was showing more interest now. Vox could hear her walking closer to study the photos and pictures. Just one more push, and she’ll be on board.
“And we can use her to strike at not just that stupid hotel, but at the heart of Hell itself! If we can dig up dirt on this doll, on her relationships with those in the hotel, and on her importance to the Royal Family, we can use it to deal a huge blow to Alastor, Charlie, and Lucifer! We could go from Overlords to Rulers!”
Velvette was silent for a few moments, then started chuckling under her breath. “Well, fuck! Count me in. Let’s get rid of the fossils and climb to the top… That should wipe the smug look off Carmine’s face!”
Vox grinned and went back to sifting through his cameras. “Oh, Carmine will soon be well beneath us. All of them will...”
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“HAPPY ONE YEAR IN HELL!”
Stitches raised her glass to the toast shouted out by her family and friends, laughing with them. Much to Charlie's mild protests, Cherri and Angel were filling another round of shots while Husker snuck more vodka into the punch bowl. Alastor was sipping on his rye in the corner, keeping a steady eye on Lucifer, who was on his fourth banana foster. Vaggie was bringing another tray of nachos out from the kitchen, while Niffty was already trying to clean up the mess from the party. Stitches smiled at the contained chaos, cheeks flushed from the cocktails and merriment of the evening.
Nostalgia had been hitting her since the start of the party. A year ago, she came through the Hotel doors, nervous and bursting with the thrill of a fangirl meeting her idols. Who would have guessed that she would now be calling those same people friends, and some even family! She is a daughter of Lucifer Morningstar and sister to Charlie! Alastor had slowly morphed from the big bad Radio Demon she thought might kill her into… well, he was still the big bad Radio Demon, but he was gentle and even doting towards her, in his own way. Angel Dust was the Big Brother she always wanted, and everyone else… she was just so lucky.
This is why her heart clenched when Charlie signaled it was time for her to give her “guest of honor speech”. She smiled warmly on the outside and went to stand at the front of the room, but inwardly, she wanted to just freeze time, for just a few more minutes - delay what had to be done, and stop herself from having to say what she had practiced. To stay in this moment of joy and peace for just a moment longer….
Stitches took a deep breath and looked at everyone. “Thank you so much for such an amazing party, guys! I am so lucky to have gotten to spend a whole year in Hell with all of you.” She looked at Lucifer, leaning against Alastor, looking so proudly at her. “It hasn’t been the easiest year- I have been known to give everyone a heart attack or two- but I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have traded this year for the world! I have learned so much, healed, and grown, all while making lasting friendships and finding a family. The amount of love and support I found here has gone so far beyond anything I could have hoped for, and I will cherish all of these moments for the rest of eternity.”
She paused to allow for the “aw”s and “here, here”s to pass. She closed her eyes, took one more deep breath, then looked straight ahead, focusing on the far wall. “Which is all to say: I think it is time I left the Hazbin Hotel. I want to try making it out in Hell, on my own.”
The room was silent for a moment, and then it turned into chaos. Everyone was talking over one another, some begging and pleading, others confused and frustrated. It was hard to pick out individual words from the uproar, but she caught bits and pieces:
“Brandi, fuck no!” Angel yelled.
Niffty was sobbing. “But WHY!?!”
Charlie said something about “redemption” and “no need”. She couldn’t hear Vaggie or Husk, but they looked at her with a mix of outrage and concern while shouting. Cherri was gesturing strongly, but it was hard to tell with her accent what exactly she was trying to say. Lucifer looked frozen in place and Alastor… Well, he was the only one simply watching her, with an unreadable expression. She looked back to where she had been staring at the wall and saw Shade at the ready. Oh, Alastor is going to be pissed… She nodded at it, and Shade turned out the lights, turning the room into pitch black. Shade grabbed her hand, and she let it lead her to the door, where she quietly slipped out.
Once in the lobby, she smiled at Shade. “Thanks, buddy, but you better get back in there. Alastor is going to kill both of us for that stunt. He’s not going to be happy that I roped his shadow into my plan.” Shade chittered and nuzzled her before melting away, returning to the room. She giggled, picked up her black lace gown, and hurried out to the garden. It was the last place they would look for her, and she really just wanted to be alone for a bit.
She quickly navigated the hedge maze to the pavilion in the center. She had designed it, while Lucifer had made it a reality, once she had her strength back from her time in a comatose state. From the sky, it looked like an eye, with the pavilion being the pupil. A little moat surrounded the structure, with a small bridge over it, adding to the ambiance. Rose bushes, red and white, surrounded the walls leading from the maze, and beautiful ivy in violet and black shades crept around the trellis and columns of the building.
Reaching her destination, she slid down onto the semi-circle bench to the left side of the entrance and took a breath. Her heart was hammering in her head, the adrenaline finally catching up to her, leaving her feeling lightheaded. She leaned back against a column and focused on her breathing, listening to the quiet sounds of fish splashing in the moat and the chirps of the bugs in the bushes. She smiled sadly, realizing that if all went to plan, this might be one of her last times to come here as a resident of the hotel.
She wasn’t sure how long she stayed like this, but by the time she heard the flapping of wings, her breathing and pulse were back to normal. She moaned softly; the alcohol had made her drift off halfway, and she suddenly was quite upset she had to make herself wake up to face the music. She kept her eyes shut in defiance as she heard two sets of shoes cross the bridge and enter the shelter.
There was a pause. “Brandi, are you asleep?” Charlie asked, hesitantly and quietly. Part of her wanted to pretend she was, maybe get them to let her sleep, and talk about this tomorrow, but that would only make it worse.
She sighed, keeping her eyes closed. “No, I was just enjoying the quiet solitude while it lasted.”
Lucifer spoke next, his voice concerned, but with an undertone of hurt. “Duckling, we need to talk about this.”
She opened her eyes and saw both of them sitting across from her. Charlie was fiddling with her hands, her head turned away, but eyes darting back to her off and on, as though unsure of whether or not she should have tagged along for this. Lucifer, on the other hand, was sitting with his legs crossed, arms crossed, and watching her with a steady, paternal stare. He didn’t look angry, just hurt, and his posture looked more like he was holding himself together, not trying to be intimidating.
She sighed and smoothed out her gown. “Okay, then we’ll talk about it, but I am not changing my mind. The best thing for me to do right now is to leave and work on building a life for myself. Hell may not be forever, but it is for some of us, and I want to get started on my eternity-”
“But you could be the next one to be redeemed!” Charlie interrupted, finally looking at her and gesturing wildly in her passion. “You are already such a kind and caring person, so I am sure it won’t be long at all before you are ready. Once we figure out how the redemption process works, I’m sure you will be one of the first to become a Winner!”
Stitches crossed her arms. “Why would you think that?” Charlie looked stunned. “Seriously, Char, why would you believe that I am any closer to redemption than I was when I walked in here a year ago? I have attended your exercises and activities, sure, but I haven’t shown any real change. You can’t tell me that I have either, because you don’t even know my sins.”
Charlie huffed. “Well, maybe I would if you would just talk to me! Fuck, you even stopped seeing Auntie Belphagor!”
“Don’t be so dramatic.” Stitches rolled her eyes. “I haven’t had a spiral since I woke up, and I still do the breathing exercises and coping techniques. I don’t need constant therapy anymore. I have her number saved if I feel like I need it.” She narrowed her eyes at Charlie. “And no offense, Sis, but I am not obligated to tell you anything. You can’t empathize with what I have gone through or done, and your sympathy can only take you so far.”
“Oh, so now I am too sheltered and pampered for you to be honest with?” Charlie’s demon form started to peak out in frustration.
“Your words, not mine,” Stitches seethed. She loved Charlie, she did, but her optimism and views were, indeed, shaped by the life of nepotism that she had enjoyed as a princess. She had had struggles, sure, which is why she had anxiety and abandonment issues, but she could never understand the nuance of what some people had to do to survive. Or what led some to die. Like her. She was in Hell for a reason, and only one person knew the whole truth.
“Girls, that is enough.” Lucifer’s voice was tired and still pained. She hated seeing him like this, but she couldn’t back down. Not this time. “Charlie, go take a walk, Sweetie.” Charlie began to protest, but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder and a gentle smile. “Please?” Charlie looked between them and then nodded, leaving quickly. Lucifer waited until she walked into the maze, leaving them alone, before turning back to Stitches. He got up and came to sit next to her, taking her hands in his and looking her in the eye, searching. “Okay, Duckling. Explain. Please.”
Brandi sighed, tears coming to her eyes. “Dad, I am not doing this to hurt anyone. I am doing it to help. We need to know what we are dealing with, how my being here has changed Hell, maybe even Heaven. But I can’t do that if I am being kept in an ivory tower! I need to leave the hotel, interact with the outside world, and figure out what is going on. As long as I stay here, no one is going to let me do anything on my own, go anywhere, do anything, without supervision and restrictions. I can’t plan the next move if I can’t see half of the chessboard!”
“Sweetie, no one needs you to play strategist!” Lucifer squeezed her hands. “We only just got you back-”
“SIX MONTHS AGO!” Stitches closed her eyes and counted to ten. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled. But, Dad, you have all been coddling me since I woke up. I get it, I scared everyone when I went into the coma, but I have gotten so much stronger since then! My mental health has improved, Vaggie has been training me to build up strength and stamina, teaching me self-defense and fighting skills. Everone has been helping me learn about Hell and how society works, and I have been working hard to prove I am ready to move on to the next step. But you won’t even let me learn about my powers! What good is the Magne status if I can’t even get permission from you to be out of sight for more than five minutes without a chaperone!”
Lucifer was silent for a moment, brow furrowed in thought as he digested her words. “Brandi, I…” He looked up at her, his expression crestfallen. “I just can’t lose you. I have already nearly lost you twice, I can’t go through that again…”
Stitches pulled him into a hug as he cried, her own tears added to his. “I know, Dad. But I really need to figure out what is happening. As much as you can’t stand the thought of losing me, I can’t bear the thought that my being here could put you or Charlie or Angel or anyone in danger! We have no idea what the Vees are up to, Heaven is sketchy at the best of times, Lute could still be plotting something, and I keep feeling like there is something else I am missing. If I can just get out there and investigate, start making some connections outside of the hotel, I might be able to figure it all out.”
“But why leave the hotel completely?” Lucifer asked, voice barely above a whisper. “You could live here, get a job or something. Most of the staff and guests do that. Hell, even I do that!”
Stitches sighed and pulled away. “Well, honestly, because I thought you wouldn’t let me. If I stayed, I assumed you would try to talk me out of leaving the hotel for a job. It’s not like you have given me a lot of freedom, and not just you, but everyone has been acting like that!” She bit her lip and looked down. “Also, I feel guilty for staying.”
“Why would you feel guilty for staying?” Charlie asked, startling both of them as she walked in and sat down next to Stitches. She looked calmer, but her face was confused. “The hotel is your home, and there are people who have been here longer than you, and who have made little to no progress at all at becoming better people.”
Stitches sighed. “Charlie, I don’t believe I can be redeemed.” Charlie opened her mouth to argue, but Stitches shook her head. “I know you see the good in everyone, and think anyone can be redeemed, but Char, I have no intentions of being redeemed, even if I was able to achieve it. Think about it: I am from an entirely different reality. There is no one waiting for me in Heaven. No family, no friends… Shit, I don’t even have an acquaintance up there! Why would I want to leave my only family and friends behind, just to be alone? Sure, EVENTUALLY, I would have others up there with me, but what about you? What about Dad? Hell, what about Alastor, cuz you know he has no intention on ever redeeming himself!”
Charlie frowned. “But… Heaven is so much better! It’s clean and fun, and they have safety and so much that we don’t have here! Everyone from Earth should want to go there, so why…”
“Not everyone does, Char,” Stitches reminded her. “I believe that the true Heaven is the happiness you make for yourself, not some gated community in the clouds.” Lucifer snorted a laugh at her description. “Hell can be its own paradise if you put forth the effort. My time here, while not perfect, has been the best I have ever experienced. The Hazbin Hotel has been the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“Then stay!” Charlie begged. “Maybe you won’t be redeemed so quickly, maybe you don’t want to be yet, but I won’t give up on you. Even if it never happens, I still want my sister here with me! I always wanted a sibling, and now I finally have one. I want to be with you longer, so please, at least live here with us!”
“Charlie, I-”
Lucifer stood up and grabbed her gently by the shoulders. “It’s late. I know your reasons now, so let’s discuss it tomorrow. We can find a compromise, I know we can. Please, Brandi, for me?”
Stitches wanted to argue, but Lucifer did seem open to at least try to meet her halfway. So, she nodded and let him help her to her feet, which she was not as sober as she thought, nearly falling down. They all giggled at her clumsiness, and Lucifer easily picked her up bridal style and opened a portal back to the lobby. Charlie led the way, calling out to the others that they were back, but Stitches just wrapped her arms around Lucifer’s neck, pretending to be asleep. He chuckled and covered for her, taking her to bed.
He helped her change and tuck her in, kissing her forehead. Stitches reached out and grabbed his hand. “So, um, how mad is Alastor about me using Shade tonight?”
Lucifer chuckled. “At Shade? Furious. At you? He will probably lecture you, but I think he was actually pretty impressed at your resourcefulness. Just let him lecture you and soothe his ego with some remorse, and you’ll be fine.”
Stitches nodded, yawning and burrowing deeper into the covers. “Don’t let him be too mean to Shade.” She peered outside of the blankets. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Duckling,” Lucifer whispered. “Sleep tight.”