divinetree | It's not that complicated, no matter what they say

Charlie scrunched a little under the touch, though she was so used to being pulled and yanked around that it hardly registered - he was shmoozing, sales guys did that sort of thing, yada yada. Flipping through the slides-turned-weird-book, Charlie tilted her head this way and that in thought.

Keeping employees in line...? Well, they've been great, so that hasn't been a huge issue... funding and money management? Well, keeping the business documents in line is a little annoying, but no one's really called her on any mistakes...

"I guess most of what's not in here is just helping with maintenance and de-escalating anything violent happening. Sometimes helping take care of pets when the guests are gone for a long time... uhh, sometimes helping them through their withdrawals... and finding all the stashes of drugs..."

Those are the things that keep them busiest.

"That's an everyone job, but Alastor was really good at finding stashes. And keeping people from fighting."

Half of the time just by virtue of showing himself - most people scrambled just to get out of the way, offering plenty of time for cool-off and for someone more reasonable to intervene.

"Yeahhh, he's got his, ah- tall, dark and spooky bit going." He wiggled his claws in emphasis. He gave Charlie mercy by backing off.

"But deescalating fights? Please..." He turned to face her with a cheshire cat smile, left eye swirling.

"I can be persuasive, dear. They may even be happy to show me where every last baggie is hidden away, as one important step toward their new life."

"Noooope, no you don't--" Vaggie interjected, practically bristling. "I know you have a hypnotism trick-- that's not going to fly here. Mind controlling people is not going to be something we do, we can't force people to be better."

Though not nearly as angry as her girlfriend, Charlie nodded in agreement. "Vaggie's right - we have rules, and our guests agreed to them, but we can't just force them to do the right thing. That isn't being better or kinder, and that isn't talking through their anger and hurt at each other. So that sort of thing wouldn't work here for what we're doing."

"Mmmm." 'Make things take longer and more difficult'. Loud and clear.

"Then I trust you've got alternative methods! Since Alastor's not here, I'm now more curious than ever on how you propose breaking up a fight! All the more reason to observe, see this place in its most... organic."

He clicked his tongue. "We'll just circle back to hypnotism another time."

He conjured one more slide, an overview on hypnotherapy, and slid that hot little number in with the rest of the 'book' he'd offered Charlie.

"Now, when you mention maintenance...?"

"Yeah - Niffty's really good at being on top of cleaning, and Vaggie and I are used to sorting out the rooms - but Alastor definitely handled rebuilding stuff, fixing piping issues..."

"Usually while he was already looking for drug stashes, since half of those are just flushed..."

"Hah! Yeah, that's true. Oh man, you get over being squeamish about toilets SO fast here, haha!"

Right, Al's conjuration. Shit, he can't really do anything like that- probably tag ol' Kingy for that- but he was technical enough that he could do repairs.

Vox froze briefly. Toilets. Alastor mentioned toilets.

He burst out laughing, hands on hips. "Ohohokay...! Alright- you got me! See, I thought I just heard I was going to be working on toilets... good one...!"

"Weeeee all end up having to fix the toilets... last time Niffty tried, she got stuck and almost flushed down one."

His face fell. "...Orrrr you could... hire a plumber...?"

Because, seriously?

"Weeee... tried that a few times..."

"Four just walked out, one kept using the drugs he found stashed in there, three of them ended up dealing them back to the guests, eight took the paychecks and pretended to work until they stopped showing up, and one had a stalker that was constantly trying to put hidden cameras all over the hotel."

"...And you're dead set on me not... suggesting that toilets aren't where the drugs go, huh...?"

Pleeeease, he doesn't wanna mess with toilets, groooooss, that's janitor stuff-

"Yeah... no. It's-- it's really important that they learn how to break their bad habits themselves, y'know...? And we're here to help them, not force them."

SORRY, BUB...

NO YOU'RE NOT.

...

Do it for them.

Do it for the peeper.

DEEP BREATH.

"Okay-! So I add some parameters to Shok.wav's olfactory systems. He can smell blood in water for approximately a kilometer, and I'm sure he can sniff out narcotics on a guest arriving and send an alert. It's that or installing a camera at the door, and I'd assume that's a no-no, right...?"

He began to pace. "But he- and I- can't be here 24/7, so some things may slip through the cracks. However, finding SOME drug stashes beats finding too many."

Vox turned and pointed to Charlie. "You, princess, can traverse the Rings freely. You're also probably buddies with Queen Belphegor- surely you can tap in a favor and get hold of at least a couple of fresh counselors who specialize in addiction...?"

"Oh! Uh, yeah-- I can see if aunt Bel is interested in helping, now," Charlie perked up. It wasn't that the Sins didn't support her, they just... didn't... really believe in Sinners either. They'd seen what it did to her dad, and all.

But! Maybe things would be different, now? Hopefully...!!

"Satan already helps with getting shipments on food here from Wrath, so. I should see if Bel reconsidered."

"...If she needs a pitch, I can draft something over the weekend. But you'd know your Aunt Bel the best, I suppose."

He brought his hands together. "...So! With all of that in mind to start... how are we feeling, what are we thinking?"

"Confused? But kind of excited? We were going to have dad's help with Alastor leaving, saying he didn't want to endanger the hotel with... whatever he's doing. But this is at least nicely timed!"

"Keep your sadism to yourself and you might even be a better version of what half-assed work Alastor gave us."

"Vaggie!! He did try, don't be so hard on him..."

He snickered, leaned for a theatrical whisper next to the princess: "My sadism, she says. Tell me- Does she sleep with that spear in her hand, too? Just curious..."

"Oh, don't be like that...! She's trying to make sure that our guests are safe. They're our family, here, after all!"

Vox made a bit of a face. Bit 'Olive Garden' there, princess. But that's sort of on brand, wasn't it...?

Fuck. He wanted bread sticks right now.

"Aw, I'm just lightening the mood...! Anyway, I'm going to have a walk-around and observe for a few hours. Take notes. You know, that sort of thing." He tapped one side of his monitor to check the time.

"Hmm... Get a break for lunch delivery at noon sharp, too, for the staff. My treat!"

LOOK HOW MUCH BETTER HE IS. WITNESS HIM.

"Oh-- really?"

"Just skip anything with pork or boar - a couple guests get pretty sick and miserable after eating it."

"Oh, yeaaah... I thiiiink they might be allergic, but we haven't gotten to check."

"Pigless! Got it." Hellboar was a little funny like that- you had to make sure you had all your fucking shots before you ate any of the stuff. How the imps make do, Vox will never understand.

"Alright... the day continues as usual! Consider me invisible." He waggled his claws in emphasis, then turned. He needed to peek down these halls, and finally get his own perspective, rather than ~~cameras and spies~~ RUMORS AND HEARSAY.

"Ooookay, well... uh... right now is group therapy... so everything anyone says in there has to be one hundred percent confidential, okay?"

"Charlie! Don't let him in the room, we have enough trouble when ALASTOR stands in there and menaces everyone!"

"He-- didn't try to menace anybody, he was helping! In a way that's not his strong suit but-- if you really are helping, then I-- right! I order you, aaas Princess of Hell, to stay and help Sinners redeem their souls at the hotel! ...For as long as you want to. No Deals - we had that talk with Alastor, too."

He actually paused and turned his head on a swivel to blink at her.

"Wait. Did... did you seriously just try to issue an order?"

Vox had to bite his lip a bit to stop more than the little snort he gave. "Oh my god."

His head turned back, and he waved a hand dismissively. "But no no, I'll leave listening to the people talk about their daddy issues to you, princess...! Besides, I can't be an invisible observer if I'm there and it makes them all clam up, right? Interferes with the ✨ healing process~ ✨"

He conjured just one more holographic screen. "Anyway, just give me a holler if you need me for anything! I'm going to wander and take notes."

GOSH he was as weird and off-putting as Alastor in completely different ways.........

"Well... okay, uh, I guess we'll meet before the trust exercises at two...?"

That's why they were besties once!!! Inspiring!

"That I'd like to see! ...And the catering will be here at noon sharp. I'll have it all sent to the kitchen when it arrives. It's a lot, so don't spoil your lunch, people! Let's roll!"

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