Chapter Text
Charlie never really liked herself very much.
She would never actually tell anyone that, but she couldn't keep hiding that from herself anymore.
Even as a child, she always felt broken. She wish she didn't care so much about other people. Her mother always told her that was a fatal flaw of hers, that she should learn to put herself before others, that she shouldn't spend so much time and energy learning about other people. She couldn't never bring herself to actually follow her mother's advice though. She just cared too much.
Because of this, spent a lot of time alone. No one in Hell really wanted to be around someone like her, and to be honest, she didn't really want to be around them either. Charlie grew quite lonely because of this. She wish she had actual friends who cared about her.
Although her mother said that she cared about Charlie, she knew the truth. Her mother probably wished she was more like her. More commanding, more ruthless, more selfish. It hurt to think about.
She really wished she had friends. She thought she had friends too, at least a couple times throughout her life thus far, but those so-called "friendships" always fell apart one way or another.
Heck, she even thought she was getting acquainted with people at her silly little hotel! And now that she learned that her girlfriend was a former exorcist angel, she felt absolutely alone, more than ever before.
Who was she kidding thinking she could actually have a girlfriend!? Vaggie must've cared about the hotel because she was trying to redeem herself to get back to Heaven! Or maybe she found joy in toying with the feelings of the Princess of Hell! Charlie didn't even know what she was thinking right now; she knew her thoughts were a bit outlandish but none of it made sense anymore. It's not like Vaggie could've actually liked her as a person!
She didn’t even want to think about the can of worms that Vaggie has the blood of Charlie’s people on her hands. That was a whole other can of worms that Charlie did not want to open right now.
As for the rest of the people at the hotel, they had been getting fed up with her attempts to try to make the Hazbin Hotel be what she wanted it to be. The trainwreck of the results of what happened in Heaven was the last straw for them. They had enough of her failures and sad attempts to try to make things better, but Adam was right — hell is forever.
As she laid in bed, silently sobbing with her animal companions beside her, she couldn't stop thinking about how she wish she could be like Keekee, Razzle or Dazzle and just be a cute little animal who didn't have to worry about things like this.
She wished she could just disappear in an instant.
Suddenly, she hears the goddamn Radio Demon teleport into her room. Goddamit it, probably here to get enjoyment from her misery.
"Alastor… seriously, not now…" she says as she covers her pillow over her head.
"What?" he says snarkily. "Don't want me to see you crying over how pathetic you are?"
She groaned in response, tears still falling from her eyes, as he continued to yammer on about her incompetence for seemingly forever until something within her cracked.
Charlie had had ENOUGH of being kicked around like this and wouldn't take it anymore. She's not some helpless idiot (even if she sure feels like she is a lot of the time).
"You know what, Alastor? Fuck you!" she says as she gets out of bed and points a finger at him acusingly. Her eyes narrow as genuine anger rises in her body. Alastor doesn't move a muscle, still holding that big unnerving smile on his face as he looks down at her.
"You're a fucking asshole, Alastor, and I don't want you attempting to mock me or put me down ONE more time! I am TIRED of being kicked around by EVERYONE in my life!" Charlie is still crying as she yells at him, moving so close she's now right next to him. She's fuming with anger and frustration.
And then, Charlie collapses to the ground on her knees and sobs.
"Who am I kidding… I'm nobody. Just do what you want, Alastor. I'm not even worth it…"
She then hugs her knees and rocks back and forth, her sobs growing quiet yet similtaneously more erraneous.
She feels a cold, sharp hand on her shoulder and initially wants to flinch away, but she stops from doing so when she hears the gentle words "There, there."
It's Alastor. He's… comforting her?
She looks up tearfully with visible confusion. "Why… why are you comforting me? I thought you said this idea was stupid and that I'm incompetent! You can't just say shit like that and have me accept your comfort!"
"I don't quite understand why myself, my dear!" he responds.
Charlie sighs. She knows he's not lying. Alastor was always off playing his own emotional games with everyone around him, but she knew that he must've felt some weird form of affection for her. She was definitely not in the mood to deconstruct it though.
"Anyway," Alastor continues, "I have an idea if you want this hotel idea to actually work… and for you to mend all the relationships with the other hotel residents. But you and I will have to work side by side..."
She does not want to believe him, even though she's admittedly tempted to hear his offer. Alastor has been known for playing dirty and often taking advantage of situations at the detriments of others. But after a moment of thinking, she realizes she has nothing to lose in at least hearing him out.
"Fine. Tell me what you have in mind, but you better not make me regret this" she grumbles.
"Well, I must admit, I think your desire to save sinners from extermination is… quite good. Yes indeed, it is quite good! But your execution? Boy is it mighty flawed! Ha ha ha!"
Charlie groans, not wanting to have to hear even more slander from Alastor. He takes the hint and abbreviates the rest of his proposal.
"So… I was thinking we utilize your little hotel idea to rehabilate sinners, not to try to get them to Heaven, but to try to make Hell better."
"Huh? Make Hell better?" Charlie is genuinely confused what he means by this.
"Well of course!" Alastor's grin grows in response as he begins to pace around the room steadily and rhythmically. "Trying to get sinners to meet Heaven's standards is a lot of work, but getting sinners to be even just a little bit better without them having to sacrifice who they are as people? Now that's something you and I could actually do!"
"But they will still be in Hell when the exterminations happen! Them being better won't save them from extermination!" Charlie's head is spinning from the craziness of this idea.
"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, dear! I think if we show Heaven how Hell doesn't have to be so bad, that we wouldn't think of trying to take over Heaven, then maybe they could call off the exterminations! No need to have such a thing if there's no threat, after all!"
Charlie thinks for a moment. This… might just work. There's the matter of what Adam was saying about him doing the exterminations as entertainment, but with someone like Sera to rule out his objections, maybe Heaven would actually agree with this plan.
She eventually gets up and makes eye contact with him. "Okay, Alastor. We can try your idea."
Alastor's smile grows in response, though not from malice. Hegenuinely looks quite pleased. She smiles back, more gently.
Suddenly, the two are interrupted from a knock at Charlie's bedroom door. Charlie raises an eyebrow in confusion as she goes to answer it and is surprised to see it's Sir Pentious.
"Um… Hello Charlie. I… overheard what you and Alastor were saying."
Charlie gives an awkward smile while Alastor turns towards the door and breaks the awkward silence. "Do come in! I am intrigued by your thoughts on the matter!" he states.
Sir Pentious nods and nervously slithers in. "Well… um… I… like the idea. And if you don't mind… I'd like to help."
Charlie can't help but admit she feels a bit excited to put this new plan into action when she hears this. She feels... hopeful.
"Wonderful!" Alastor responds. "I shall consult the other hotel residents at once!" He exits the room, pleased with himself.
"Charlie, I…" Sir Pentious hesitates, uncertain about what to say next.
"Go on and say it, Pentious. I don't care if you hate me or not."
"No! I… I wanted to say I am very glad you are not giving up on the hotel. I… I do quite like it here and I enjoy the friends I've made here so far. I will do my best to help with this new plan!"
Charlie gives a genuine smile, though she takes special note of how he mentions his friends. She notices Keekee come up to him, asking for pets, and responds warmly. "Thank you, Pentious. I really appreciate that."
In all the chaos of the situation, she realizes that her friendships were real this time around. She hopes she can reconcile with Vaggie soon.