Hazbin Hotel

[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?