[As Charlie is crying in bed attended by Razzle and Dazzle, Alastor enters the room] Alastor: Ohh, Charlie, you look an absolute mess! Charlie Morningstar: Ugh, go away, Alastor! [covers her head with a blanket] Alastor: [sits next to her] Now, now, is that any way to act after picking a fight with all of Heaven and dooming everyone you love? Charlie: I have enough on my mind, without hearing your sadistic idea of a joke, asshole! [rolls over, turning away] Alastor: [startles Charlie, causing her to fall backward off the bed] Who's joking? You have a captive audience downstairs, waiting to hear what kind of inspiring performance you have planned next! Charlie: [sighs, curling up into a ball] I can't! How can I face them, after failing them all so hard? They came here to be saved, and all I did was cause them more pain! [Gets up] I'm just as bad as the cruelest Overlord in Hell- maybe worse! At least they don't go around giving false hope. Alastor: [shrugs] Well, I never expected to see such a miserable display of self-loathing from you. Charlie: Oh, fuck you, Alastor! All you do is stand there, smiling while you watch us struggle and fail! I don't know how you can enjoy all this suffering so much! Alastor: [chuckles, looming from behind Charlie] Just because you see a smile, don't think you know what's going on underneath. [grabs her face, briefly stretching it into a smile] A smile is a vaulable tool, my dear. It inspires your friends, keeps your enemies guessing... and ensures that no matter what comes your way, you're the one in control. Charlie: [walks to the window] But I'm not! I'm the furthest thing from in control! The person I trust most has been lying to me for years, Heaven refuses to listen- even if they did, I can't prove the Hotel works! [hits the window] Adam has an invincible Exorcist army pointed right at my doorstep, and there's nothing I can do, about ANY of it!! Alastor: [grins ominously, in a singsong voice] I know something you don't knowwww... Charlie: Huh? Alastor: Those big, scary Angels are not quite as indestructible as they seem. Charlie: What are you talking about? Alastor: Just that you and your little band of misfits might stand more of a chance, than you think. Charlie: How?! I'll do anything! Alastor: Anything? Then... Let's make a deal. [offers his hand] Charlie: [backs away] You... you want my soul? Alastor: [distorted voice, momentarily taking his demon form] YOUR SOUL... Heavens, no! [walks around her] All I need from you, is one itty-bitty favor. [pulls her uncomfortably close] What's a favor between friends? Charlie: [pulls away] I won't hurt anyone for you. Alastor: Who's asking?! One favor, at the time of my choosing, where you harm no one! In return, I tell you what I know! Do we have a deal? [He offers his hand again, green glow emitting from it. Razzle and Dazzle both growl, but Charlie waves them back.] Charlie: [her demon features emerging] Deal. [As she takes Alastor's hand, green smoke and lightning emits from their fingers, and Alastor takes on a voodoo-themed variation of his demon form. Glowing green elderitch symbols and spirits whirl around the room, spreading across the ceiling downstairs] Vaggie: No, No! [She rushes upstairs and bursts in, spear extended, just as the light fades] Alastor: Right on cue! Vaggie: [aims her spear at him] What did you do?! Let her go! [she rushes at Alastor as he releases Charlie] Charlie: [steps between them] Vaggie! Stop. Vaggie: What? [drops her spear] No. Charlie, please, tell me you didn't... Charlie: I made a deal, with Alastor. Vaggie: Charlie! Alastor: [walks past them] Oh, calm down! She still owns her soul. Charlie: He gave me info that can save the Hotel, but we're gonna need help. The Angels can be defeated, and Carmilla is the key. Vaggie: What? Carmilla Carmine? Charlie: She killed an Exorcist in the last Extermination. She knows how they can be harmed. Vaggie: But... I didn't even know that was possible. Charlie: [sharply] If you had, would you have told me? Vaggie: [hurt] Charlie, I- Charlie: I need you, to go to her. Convince her, to teach us. If she can, we might have a chance. Vaggie: With just the seven of us? Charlie: No, we're... we're gonna need numbers, too. Alastor: [pops up next to them] And I know just who can help! As long as Charlie can be her usual, charming self. [pinches her cheek] Charlie: [smiles weakly] What's that you said about smiles? Alastor: [pats her head] Good girl! Vaggie: [pulls her back] Charlie, can we talk about this? Charlie: [pulls away] We can talk later! Right now, we have a job to do. [glares back] You with us?

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