Menial VS Meaningful
Stitches sighed. It was her first day at I.M.P., she had been there nearly all day, and no one was letting her do anything. Blitz was hiding in his office, pretending to work, which was basically the same as Loona, who was scrolling on her hellphone at the front desk. Millie was flirting with Moxxie as she cleaned and sharpened weapons and he did inventory. Then there was her.
Sitting on the couch in the lobby.
Bored.
For hours.
Everytime she attempted to move, someone would jump up and insist on doing it for her or demand she not worry about it. She wanted to sweep the room? Nope, no need, Loona said it was fine. She thought it might be helpful to sort and organize the piles of files and paperwork? Nope, Moxxie had a system and would work on it later. She wanted a fucking cup of water? Millie would jump up and fetch it for her.
Every.
Damn.
Time.
Sighing in frustration, she stood up to go to the restroom. Immediately, three pairs of Hellborn eyes locked onto her, ready to step in. That was the final straw. “FOR SATAN’S SAKE!” she yelled, her temper finally getting the best of her. “I’m just going to the fucking BATHROOM! What, are you all going to do that for me too!?”
Blitz’s office door slammed open. “What the fuck is going on!?” the boss man yelled.
Stitches growled at him. “What is going on is that I am here to work, to do something, literally anything, and no one is letting me do a damn thing!” she seethed, crossing her arms. “I’m not some fragile princess! I was a minimum-wage employee most of my human life. I want to fucking be treated like any other demon, damn it!”
“Oh really?” Blitz scoffed and leaned against the door frame. “Cuz, if you were any other demon, your royal brattiness, you wouldn’t have been hired! We don’t need anyone else on the team, and the only reason you are allowed to be here is because Stolas insisted on it. Because you aren’t just any other demon!”
Stitches felt the bracelet containing her powers give her a small zap, warning her that she needed to calm down. But her anger was raging hot now, and she was having trouble keeping it in check. She took a shuddering breath and counted to ten. “Look, I get I am priveleged, and I can acknowledge that it changes how others view me, but I just want to help. I am only asking to be allowed to do basic, menial shit, like wiping down the table or sweeping… or getting my own damn cup of water!”
“Asking or demanding it?” Blitz taunted.
“FUCK YOU!” Stitches screamed, her bracelet giving her a nasty shock that made her gasp and fall to her knees, clutching her wrist to her chest. Millie and Moxxie ran to her, but didn’t touch her, their hands hovering around her like they were afraid to touch her. She growled at them, tired of everyone’s pity. Loona was staring at her wrist, her face concerned and something unreadable under it.
“Why do you have a power restricting bracelet?” Loona asked quietly.
Stitches froze, staring at the hellhound. Most power restriction bracelets were large and clunky, looking more like manicles, a punishment for demons that got out of hand. Hers, however, while being just as powerful and impossible to break as the usual ones, looked more like a fancy charm bracelet. No one should be able to tell what it was, so how…
“You…” Stitches hesitated, her eyes searching Loona’s face. “You know what this is?”
Loona shrugged, but her eyes look haunted. “I had some bad homes when I was a kid,” she said softly, “some worse than others.” She stepped around the desk and came to kneel in front of her. “Is your home…?”
Stitches shook her head immediately. “No!” she assured her. “No, I am treated really well at the Hazbin Hotel, and Lucifer is an amazing dad! None of them would ever, ever hurt me!” She winced, thinking about the last conversation with Charlie. “Well, not intentionally…” she muttered. She fiddled with the bracelet. “No, this is for my protection, because the one time my power activated… well, I almost couldn’t pull myself back together.”
The room was silent, suddenly suffocating, as her words weighed heavily in the air. She knew that last sentence had been soaked in pain and shame, but she just couldn’t think about that day without feeling it. It was that fear, that guilt that had spurred her into action. Lute’s surprise attack wasn’t how it was supposed to be, it wasn’t like in the show at all! If she couldn’t figure out exactly how the timelines were being altered and what all it changed, then something like that could happen again.
I can’t let that happen again.
Stitches huffed out a hollow laugh and stood. “I, uh, think I should go now. I’ll be back on Wednesday. I just need to… yeah.”
She grabbed her cloak from the rack by the door and put it on, pulling up the hood to hide herself. She really didn’t want to deal with people on the way home. She reached for the door handle, but paused when she heard Blitz clear his throat, not turning around.
“Listen… We’ll, uh, have a chore list for you when you come back. Alright?”
She turned, and he met her gaze. It was softer, kinder, like he was actually willing to give her a real shot. She smiled, small but genuine, and hurried out. She debated just darting into one of the empty offices and asking Lucifer for a portal home. But she buried the thought and started making her way out of the building and towards the bus stop. If she begged for an easy out on her first day, there was no way that anyone at home would support her continuing to work there.
At least next time will be a little better.
____________________________________________________________________________
Blitz stared at the closed door. Ever since that strange Sinner had appeared in his fucking office, she had come off as closed off and a bit arrogant. It had seriously pissed him off, the thought of another royal getting involved with his crew. He had been fighting it every step of the way, but…
Her guard had dropped talking to Loona. He knew trauma, and her eyes were drowning in it.
“Sir, you aren’t actually going to give her real work, right?” Moxxie piped up. “She’s royalty!”
“Yeah, royalty who wants to work.” Blitz rolled his eyes. “Just get me a list of shit she can do around here. I’ll be in my office.”
Looks like Lucifer isn’t the only one adopting another misfit.
Fuck.
____________________________________________________________________________
Stitches stood and stretched. The difference between her first day at I.M.P. and her first day here at Belphagor’s office in Sloth were night and day! She was treated like the other assistants, and the staff was more than happy to have her help. The baphomet demons were a lot like Bel, sleepy and moving much slower than those in other Rings. Even her fairly tame energy was higher than anyone else’s here, and she was going through tasks at record speed.
“How are you feeling, Little Cloud?” Bel asked as she came in to check on her. The little nickname was cute, something she had started at some point during their many therapy sessions. Bel said it was because her personality reminded her of a cloud: something soft and riding the currents, becoming a dangerous storm or a loving shade depending on her whims. It was fitting, Stitches, supposed, so it stuck.
“Doing well, Auntie Bel,” she grinned up at her. That was something else that changed with her Magne title, Charlie having insisted that the Sins were now her family too, and Bel quickly agreeing. Fuck, just had to think about Charlie again…
“Mm…” Belphagor hummed. “Then why the frown now?”
Stitches sighed. “It’s not work, it’s just…” she took a deep breath, “... Just an argument I had with Charlie the other day. She insinuated that I wasn’t really a part of the family.” She slumped back down into the office chair and put her head in her hands. “She was angry because I decided to work for I.M.P., and she doesn’t understand my reasons for doing so. She’s also upset I don’t want to be redeemed. So, because I won’t change my mind and can’t tell her the real reasons why yet, she’s just… lashing out.”
Bel nodded slowly and sat down in a chair next to her. “Charlie is not usually one to hold grudges or try to force others to do what she wants.”
“Yeah, that’s why this is all so fucked up!” Stitches groaned. “It’s like she’s treating me completely different from everyone. I don’t understand why!”
Belphagor hummed. “Well, perhaps she is just worried? She was quite distraught when you were in your coma. It may have convinced her that she needs to protect you at all costs, even from yourself.”
Stitches sighed again, looking up at the sheep Sin. “I can understand that, but then why be so cruel? If she wanted me to warm up to her ideas for me, then why wouldn’t she be kind, like she is to every other fucked up soul?”
“Everyone reacts differently to things,” Belphagor shrugged. “You are valid to feel hurt and angry, and Charlie should consider some therapy herself. I will see if I can convince her to see me for a session.” Bel reached forward and put a hand on her shoulder. “You know, we can have a session too, if you need it.”
Stitches smiled and patted the hand on her shoulder. “I appreciate that, Auntie Bel, but I am really doing okay. I have had a few minor panic attacks, but my depression has been less frequent and managable. I promise, if I need help, I will reach out.”
Bel nodded and leaned back. “How are you enjoying your work here?” she asked, changing the subject. “I know it may not be the most exciting work yet, but once you get some of the basics memorized, we can work on some hands-on experience with healing and such.”
Stitches grinned again, glad for the change of topic. “Actually, I am really excited to learn! Everyone has been so welcoming, and I am taking time to study the books and worksheets you gave me between tasks around the office. I didn’t know I would be so interested in the medical field, but it’s actually really interesting.”
“Is there anything in particular you are interested in?” Bel asked, yawning.
“Hmm, I think I would like to focus on emergency wound care and treatments, especially in a battle situation. I was also wondering if we could do some simulation or talk through some scenarios where I may not have access to magic or standard supplies.”
Bel narrowed her eyes. “You planning on getting kidnapped?”
Stitches laughed. “Of course not! But, this is Hell, and as a Magne, I have a target on my back, now more than ever. I also know it will only get worse when it becomes public knowledge. So, preparing for those situations sounded like a smart move, you know?”
Bel thought about it for a moment, then sighed. “You are correct. Lucifer wasn’t exaggerating: you really are constantly planning.”
“Better to plan ahead and never need the knowledge, than to wing it and regret not doing the research.” Stitches had learned that lesson many times in her life. She wasn’t going to go through that lesson again. “Hopefully, I can eventually convince everyone to let me learn about my powers too.”
Bel hummed, but didn’t address that issue. Even the Sin of Sloth, who had cleared her for not needing therapy sessions anymore, was hesitant to let her take off the bracelet. But Stitches knew she couldn’t be held back forever. She needed to be able to access ALL of her tools and advantages, and being hobbled like she was without access to her powers wasn’t feasible long term. She just needed to get someone else to understand that.
But I can argue that another day...
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“-and so," Lute continued, "I think we should investigate this, as soon as possible. Because if Abel is right, then not only could Adam be alive, but we may be dealing with a much bigger problem, given how many exorcists died at the last extermination.” Lute stared at Lilith, hoping she would show some sort of urgency at the situation.
Instead, Lilith looked…
Excited.
“Have you brought this up with Sera?” the Queen of Hell purred.
Lute cringed at her tone. “Uh, no, I thought your input would be helpful, as you have the most experience in Hell?” She phrased it like a question, because, well, she was honestly beginning to doubt herself on even talking to Lilith about it.
Lilith hummed noncommitedly. Ever since she had come back from her spontaneous trip to Hell six months ago, after Lute attacked the Hotel, she had been… different. And not in a good way. Case in point, Lilith cackled.
“Oh, I wouldn’t know! We never had Winners or Angels die in Hell. But, hmm… I suppose we should consider it.” She lowered her sunglasses and she took another sip of her mai tai. “Go tell Sera your concerns, dear. Better for you if you are the one to bring it her attention, rather than from Adam’s spawn.”
Lute nodded and turned away before her frown could give her away. Lilith had always been almost doting about Abel, like an estranged aunt who cheered him on from afar. Her way of describing him now… Could it be her resentment at having been forced to finalize her divorce from Lucifer?
She shook her head and headed straight for the Council building. The sooner she spoke to Sera, the better. If Sinners could rise to be Winners, and Winners could fall to be Sinners, then the talks with the Hazbin Hotel needed to be reevaluated. Immediately.