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Despite what common convention would state, Valentine’s Day was the most popular holiday in Hell.
At first blush it seemed odd, being named after a saint, however modern traditions had nothing to do with any saint and were largely invented, or at the very least popularized, by card companies – an example of corporate greed if there ever was one – and many of those traditions were thinly veiled preludes to expressions of lust. Those without partners had wrath and envy for those who did. Those with partners pridefully showed off that fact. Taking in the gifts and dates and expensive dinners and chocolates with great gluttony....
It was all the sins one could fit in a day. (Sloth, as usual, being too lazy to contribute anything of its own.)
This Valentine’s Day was not working out for Charlie.
One of her patrons had had an issue Charlie needed to help resolve, but it had taken longer than she had hoped and she and Vaggie had missed their reservation for the Valentine’s Day date they had booked last year – the only way to get one on valentines without paying an arm and a leg to a scalper.
That, of course, had caused a fight between the two of them. Mostly about how Charlie devoted so much time to her clients and would drop everything if they so much as had a bad hair day.
Now, Charlie knew that Vaggie was mostly just venting her disappointment into frustration and anger – as she was wont to do, wrathful behaviour was her staple after all – but she... kinda had a point? Charlie didn’t want to take her friends and loved ones for granted, or ignore them or make them feel that way, but she also didn’t want to abandon her subjects, especially those who were trying to make better choices.
Normally, Vaggie understood that, or at least Charlie thought she did. She seemed to. But she guessed when they missed their Valentine’s Day date to help another demon with their romantic problems it made it look like Charlie didn’t care about ‘them.’
‘I know you want to help your people, I get it, your kind, giving nature is one of the things I love about you, but we haven’t had time for ourselves in a while. And the one time we plan something, a plan we’ve had for over a year, and it’s out the window because someone else had a problem! I didn’t mind you helping in the extra time we had, and if it was something urgent and life threatening or life changing, I’d understand! But you wouldn’t cut him off when it was clear we were going to be late for our reservation and he was just griping about him not being able to find a partner in time for Valentine’s Day because he’s a prick who doesn’t see women as anything other than pretty faces to show off or sleep with.’
“Why the long face, doll?”
The sudden voice shook Charlie out of her reminiscence.
“Oh, Alastor,” she said, startled, forcing a smile and quickly wiping her eyes.
“Didn’t you say I had to man the Hotel because you were going out with your paramour?”
Charlie couldn’t help but frown at the direct reminder of her hurt, and it was a dead give away he had found the root of her issue.
“Now, now, Charlie, you’ve peaked my interest now. You know better than to think I’ll let this go, and one way or another I’ll find out, so you might as well spare yourself the trouble and just give me the down low.”
Charlie sighed, knowing he was right. “I ruined our date dealing with one of our guest’s problems, one that wasn’t really urgent, because it took so long that we missed our reservation, and Vaggie’s mad because of it and she says I seem to not be as invested in us as I do my patients...”
“Well, this seems most unlike you. Normally, you fight for the things you care about. Your giving up so easily is rather uncharacteristic.”
Charlie sighed, “There’s really not much I can do. To get even a fifteen minute spot in the worst dinner in Hell you’d have to pay a scalper an arm and a leg – if there were any even still available.
Alastor laughed, “My, what an interesting concept for business venture!” Then he cocked his head to the side. “Still, I would think that you could do something to salvage your romantic plans.”
“I can get us somewhere for a make up date tomorrow, and see about reserving something somewhere nicer for next year, but for this Valentine’s Day....” Charlie sighed and looked down.
After a small moment, Alastor grabbed her wrist and said, “Come along, dear,” in a cheerful voice, pulling the princess down the rest of the stairs and towards the kitchen.
“Wh- Alastor, what are you doing?”
“Why, helping you prepare a meal for your date tonight,” he said, pulling out pots and pans. Then he looked over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised. “You do know romance existed for people who weren’t fabulously wealthy before such things as eating out were affordable to the masses?”
Charlie groaned. “Oh, I am so stupid!”
Alastor gently pat her head. “There, there my dear. One can get so caught up in a plan that they forget there are other options. I’m just surprised, because normally you don’t fall into that trap. Usually when you want something you just keep hammering at it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you just give up before.”
“Thanks Al.”
“Not at all my dear. What are business partners for, after all, but to lend their own strengths to balance each other out? Speaking of which, we have a ballroom we could use to set up tables for Valentines Day bookings. If we reserved guaranteed tables for guest, we might be able to get some desperate Sinners to check in if such spots are in as high demand as you say! We can even ensure a few days commitment if we implement a policy that one must be a patron for a certain amount of time before they get the guaranteed reservation.”
“That sounds like a good idea, actually. And if people aren’t worried about trying to find a spot for Valentine’s Day, then they can use that time to work on their redemption!”
“And we can use the revenue from the additional bookings to run the Hotel.”
The two continued to discuss the idea as they cooked the meal.
Charlie took a deep breath, before knocking on the door to the room she and Vaggie shared. When the Sinner opened the door, looking tired, Charlie said, “I know that I messed up our date today, and I’m sorry. I never wanted to make you feel like I was prioritizing our guest over you.”
Vaggie sighed, “I know, Charlie. Valentine’s Day has a bunch of bullshit expectation lumped on it for no reason, and I know that. I just let it get to me, I guess.”
“Would you let me try to make it up to you?”
The young demon gave a small smile that said yes, and Charlie gently took her wrist and led her down the stairs. When they reached the ballroom, the princess open the door to reveal the large room lit by candles, a single table set with a delicious meal, a trolley beside it with more covered dishes, indicating that there were multiple courses. Charlie brought her partner to the table, pulled out her chair and pushed it in for her as she sat before going to her own seat. She pulled out a bottle of wine that had been chilling in a bucket of ice, and when Vaggie scrunched her nose a bit, said, “One drink, on a special, occasion won't hurt.”
Over Vaggie’s shoulder, Charlie could just make out Alastor standing in the shadows. The Radio Demon made a waving gesture with his hand, and gentle music began to play, as though from an invisible gramophone, or an old radio. Charlie’s smile gained a fond, thankful note, and Alastor melted into the shadows.
The rest of the night was spent with the two chatting, and eating the delicious meal. Tomorrow, Charlie would discuss the ideas she and Alastor had come up with, but for tonight it was just the two of them.