Chapter Text
It had been a few weeks after the last extermination. Lucifer had moved into the Hazbin Hotel recently in hopes of rebuilding his relationship with Charlie, he’s been doing his best to seem like a good parent (all while fighting with Alastor as well of course). Since the extermination, it had been pretty chaotic in Charlie’s hotel, and she was beginning to feel a bit desperate for a way for the residents to bond, or at least stop fighting 24/7.
Vaggie and Charlie were in their room late at night, Vaggie was reading a book in bed when Charlie sat down next to her.
“Hey, Vaggie?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“My dad told me something interesting.”
Vaggie put her book down and Charlie moved to lay on her stomach with her hooves kicked in the air when she spoke again. “Apparently he’s able to let sinners travel between rings. It’s not legal, but it could be fun to bring everyone somewhere…”
“Like a road trip? Are you sure we can do that?”
“Yeah, I told him ‘isn’t that against the law?’ But he just said ‘I am the law.’, So I think it’s fine.”
“I meant do you think we can handle it? Our friends aren’t the most… mentally stable.”
“I think it’ll be great! If they’re forced to be together in a small vehicle, they’re bound to get along! Plus, everyone’s super tense after the last extermination, we deserve a vacation!” Charlie looked a little manic from desperation. Most of her hours were spent doing work or brainstorming ideas for trust exercises.
“... Alright, if you’re sure. We should talk about where we’re going in the morning while everyone else is with us. Are you ready to sleep?”
“Yup!”
–--
The next morning, Angel Dust was sitting in the lobby, along with Husk, Niffty, and Alastor. When Charlie asked him to come here without offering an explanation, he’d assumed she had found one of his drug stashes, but seeing everyone else here put those thoughts at ease. Charlie walked in along with Vaggie, and she began speaking in that automatic cheerful voice that made his frequent headaches worse.
“Hi everyone! Since you all happen to be here-”
“You asked us to come here.” Husk interrupted and Vaggie shot him a glare.
“SINCE YOU ALL HAPPEN TO BE HERE, I have a question for the group! If you could go to any ring, where would you go?”
“Lust,” Angel answered almost immediately. Shortly after, more people gave their answers.
“I’ve been told Sloth has the best hospitals!” Niffty answered cheerfully. No one knew or wanted to know why she wanted to go to the hospital.
“Greed probably,” Husk answered, which was followed by a stifled snort of mirth from Alastor, he suddenly felt defensive. “I bet your choice wouldn’t be much better.” Husk retorted.
“Fair enough, I was going to say Wrath or Gluttony, but none of the options are really flattering, are they?” Alastor replied, not looking at all sorry about laughing at Husk’s gambling addiction.
Angel Dust grew tired of the foreplay (which was rare for him, considering he usually loved foreplay) and finally asked what everyone was thinking “Why’re you askin’ us this, dollface?”
“Wellll, I recently found out my dad can bring sinners to other rings, as long as they don’t plan on living there or staying there during the exterminations or something.” Charlie responded happily, not seeing how this could at all be a bad idea.
Angel Dust and Husk both looked dubious, Alastor and Niffty looked like they were plotting something, but Angel was pretty sure that was just Niffty’s resting face.
“You’ve got to be joking. There’s no way we’d be fine for however long it takes for us to travel rings.” Husk said after everyone processed.
“It’ll be fine! You got along when you were alone fortifying the hotel!” Charlie reassured (No one knew if she was reassuring Husk or herself).
“Me, Husk, and Niffty ain’t the same as us plus Alastor and Lucifer. Hate to say it, toots, but they ain’t the most compliant.” Angel added. Lucifer was fine for the most part, a little awkward for his taste, but when he’s with Alastor, that was a different story, and unlike Lucifer, Alastor is irritating towards everyone.
“What, are you still mad about the time I took Fat Nuggets and taped him to the ceiling?” Alastor replied casually.
“THAT WAS YOU?!”
Angel’s annoyance was interrupted by Lucifer entering the lobby.
–--
Lucifer had just woken up, he groggily sat up, wearing an oversized yellow t-shirt with a cartoonish duck face on it, and black boxers, he looked around, not used to waking up in a room without giant old family photos that were constantly screaming ‘This is what you lost’ at him every morning. His bedroom was already filled with rubber ducks, not nearly as much as he had in his palace, it was only a matter of time before it became cluttered though.
He heard chatter from downstairs. Roommates were also something he wasn’t used to. He figured they were doing some redemption workshop, and he clearly looked like a major ass for not being there. Maybe he should invest in an alarm. Lucifer stood up, now motivated by the possibility of everyone hating him, and he magicked his regular clothes on before teleporting downstairs.
“Heeeeeey, bitches!”
Everyone stared at him like he was an idiot. He probably was. Why’d he even come down here? His to-do list had currently consisted of getting an alarm clock, and learning social skills. He spoke again, trying to not sound as idiotic this time.
“What uh, what are you guys doing?”
Alastor answered, of course it was him who answered. “Oh, we’re just chatting about how you’re too childish to go on a road trip without derailing it!”
Before Lucifer could spiral any further, Charlie chimed in. “We’re not. I’m just telling everyone that you’re able to bring us to other rings!” Charlie gave a disapproving glare to Alastor, Alastor pretended not to notice.
“Oh, that!” Lucifer was thankful that they weren’t just having a casual conversation about how horrible he was, it was still a possibility to him though. “Yeah, it’s no biggie! I’m sure no one will mind five sinners exiting the pride ring for a little bit, plus, I don’t even know if Maggie counts, so it might just be four sinners! Have you decided which ring?”
“Yeah, we have. We’re going to Lust!” Angel answered without anyone else’s input. “Not a chance.” Alastor interjected. “Why don’t we take a vote? And so no one only votes their own thing, everyone gets three votes.” Charlie suggested.
Angel Dust grinned “Works for me, since everyone’s gonna vote for the obvious answer.”