Chapter 11: What's Happening?

Later on in the lobby Allison checked off all the requirements for the celebration and was ready to relax and report her progress to the princess and moth Latina. However when she looked over the list again she'd found that the food still needed to be checked on as when she first did so it wasn't close to being finished yet.

"Briskette I'm going to check up on the food again it should be done by now." She said. Brisk popped out from the pile of extra fabrics smiling as she replied. "Okay I'll clean up here." She called out. Allison nodded then turned heading back down the hall toward the kitchen. As she walked on she read her notes silently making sure she didn't forget anything else. She found that the only thing left to do was to decorate the exterior of the hotel and with this new inspiration courtesy of Alastor she had an idea of how to do it. She absentmindedly manifested the rose he gave her. She looked at it intently as mixed feelings about the gesture bubbled up inside her chest. She was flattered and admittedly a little smitten but she was also angered by the potential true intentions behind the act. She remembered what Vagatha told her and she herself knew better than to get any closer to the dangerous deer man, yet she found it hard to deny the bubbly feeling she got whenever he charmed her.

Allison bit back a longing sigh before dissipating the rose and shaking her head to clear her mind of such fanciful thoughts. Even if there was anything to these feelings they would immediately go away as soon as Alastor revealed his true intentions. She had to keep herself from getting hurt by this inevitable end and besides once the party was concluded and her services were no longer required, she and Brisk would have to move on and likely never see the Hazbin Hotel or any of its inhabitants again.

She just couldn't go getting her hopes up when it was more than likely she'd be let down as always.

...

Vaggie sat on one of the counters in the kitchen brooding while Niffty was darting around excitedly. "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! He likes her he really really likes her!" She cheered causing Vaggie to groan the little bug had been at it for hours since Alastor left. Her joy was uncontainable and Vaggie was becoming less and less inclined to encourage her gleeful disposition. "Niffty could you please be quiet so I can think?" The moth pleaded. "But don't you think it's exciting? Alastor actually likes Allison!" God that statement alone made Vaggie want to vomit. There was no way that could be the case, Alastor didn't love anyone.

"Sorry to burst your bubble Nif but Alastor isn't capable of loving anyone." She said honestly. "I'm sure he does! Why else would he want to go on a date with her? He probably just doesn't know how to tell her!" Niffty guessed.

Vaggie then took a deep breath before turning to face the tiny demoness. "First of all Alastor isn't shy about anything he's way too confident to not speak his mind about anything. He would've confessed to Allison by now. Second He'd sooner kill Allison before ever admitting to any feelings towards her." She explained.

"Then why did he get all tense when you asked him if he likes her?" Niffty rebutted smuggly. Vaggie stiffened at the question. It was strange that Alastor was so quiet when she questioned him about liking Allison. Even she didn't know what that meant. Alastor has always been a very patient hunter. He'd stay silent for as long as he could, unless telling the truth was unavoidable and Vaggie, unfortunately knew this. "I-I don't know. Maybe he was caught off guard..." her mummbled response was then finished by Niffty. "Because he LIKES HER!" Vaggie's ears rang from the high pitched squeal. She didn't understand why Niffty and Charlie were so admin about their sponser and coordinator being in love. With such clashing personalities nothing good could come of it.

However the more she thought about it the more she realized she and Charlie were the same. Two completely polar opposite personalities but they worked just fine most of the time. Alastor maybe a psycho but perhaps with someone keeping his more mischievous side in check things might be a bit more bearable around the hotel but was Allison the right person or was it just wishful thinking?

Niffty soon scurried off before Vaggie could even get a word in as she went to who-knows-where to continue her happy rant. The moth was left alone to contemplate this strange turn of events. Just as she herself was about to leave Allison walked in. The blue lady looked up and saw her wearing a look of slight confusion. She closed the doors then asked as she looked around the kitchen curiously. "Ms. Vagatha? W-why are you here if I may ask? W-where was Ms. N-Niffty off to, a-and where's Mr. Dust?" She held her notes close as her eyes finally fell back on Vaggie.

"They...finished cooking like an hour ago." The moth answered. Allison's eyes widened. The two finished that fast? "H-how? Th-they weren't nearly even halfway finished w-when I first checked on th-them." Allison said. Vaggie rubbed her arm not sure she should tell the doe about Alastor helping but what else could she say to explain the finished inventory? "Uh well...they might've had a little help." She said shyly. "Wh-who?" The doe asked a bit worried. Vaggie groaned a bit then confessed. "Alastor came by and..." suddenly the sound of a clipboard hitting the floor could be heard before the Latina could finish her answer. All it took was the demon's name to send the poor frightened lady into a panic. The next thing Vaggie knew she saw the frantic doe scurrying to pick her papers back up.

"Hey are you alright?" She asked with consern as she watched the blushing woman quickly gather her notes and board. "O-oh y-yes...I-I j-just...n-need to get m-my uh..." the moth felt pity as the blue demoness scrambled around to pick up the papers before she got down to the ground to help her. She handed the papers she gathered to the coordinator earning a small 'thank you' from her before the two of them stood back up. Allison hesitated for a moment wearing the same sad and worried face she always did as she struggled to speak her mind. "H-he...he's b-been acting s-strange today a-actually g-getting involved w-with the decorations and n-now the food. I-I'm afraid he might try to do s-something to hinder our progress." She said honestly.

Vaggie pursed her lips in silent agreement. She figured Alastor was responsible for the change in the floral arrangement in the café. It wasn't a bad fix but it was still the work of the radio demon. She couldn't completely trust it. The silence soon became stagnant and the two demonesses were unsure of what to do or say next. They were both worried for the celebration but so long as Alastor hasn't actually done anything [that they could see] there was no reason to keep him from helping out if he wanted to.

"Yeah me too. Unfortunately there isn't much we can do about it right now." Vaggie responded. Suddenly a question came to her one that had been bugging her since she talked to the aforementioned red demon. "Alastor said you two had an agreement to go on that date in exchange for him backing off today. Why would you agree to such a thing?" She questioned hoping there was even an answer at all whether it was a good one or not. "I-I...I just w-wanted t-to h-help I...Things h-have b-been g-going wrong f-for days a-and Alastor's a-antics a-are the l-last th-things we n-need right now. He...he p-promised n-not to d-do anything b-but a-agreeing t-to his deal d-doesn't m-mean I e-entirely t-trust h-his word." Allison said.

"Huh well as long as you didn't offer up your soul to him." Vaggie responded with relief. Allison looked down more she couldn't help but speak her thoughts. "I-I could never d-do that. M-my soul is t-the only valuable thing I have." She said. Allison and Brisk shared a small modest apartment all the way in Imp City with little furniture, even though their income was somewhat more than stable. With all that money going into their projects, rent and food they didn't really have much to their names other than the clothes on their backs but their souls were priceless. They valued them very highly and as far as Allison was concerned she would never give hers up to anyone.

"Glad you think so." Vaggie responded. Soon silence fell upon the two. The younger demoness wanted to combat the wordless atmosphere so she switched the more mundane topic to something more productive. "So on another note. What were you planning for the outer part of the hotel?" She asked. Allison gave a confused look before her brain caught up with the words. She had nearly forgotten about that part of the planning. The doe immediately pulled up her notes then straightened her specks. "U-uh I-I have some idea! But I-I might need more flowers." She frantically stated. "The roses were admittedly a more fitting choice believe it or not." She said blushing. "Uh huh. With all do respect I'm not exactly up for another 'adventure'." Vaggie said using air quotes. Allison gulped. She understood very well that the moth was apprehensive about going out on another errand after the last two times. She wouldn't put her through that again and she just knew Brisk would get distracted on her own so with a heavy sigh she made a crucial decision. "I-I s-suppose I c-can g-go m-myself. I-I have no previous engagement a-at the moment a-and B-Briskette s-seems to h-have e-everything else c-covered." She suggested. Vaggie widened her eye in surprise. "Are you sure?" She questioned in worry.

...

Outside the kitchen Charlie and Niffty were eavesdropping on Vaggie's and Allie's conversation internally squealing with joy at what was being said. After darting out the doors Niffty immediately went to find Charlie who was for some reason laying at the bottom of the stairs looking almost half dead. However once she told the princess everything about what had happened in the kitchen when Vaggie confronted, Alastor the girl's head snapped up to attention and soon they both set out to find the blue doe to see if there was any chance she might like the red demon too. So far there wasn't a lot to go by in terms of Allison's care for Alastor other than her not entirely trusting him but she did have to run an errand and Alastor just left. They couldn't send them out together but they could make sure they'd find their way to each other, like some twist of fate. "Perhaps someone could go with you?" They heard Vaggie suggest that was their cue.

"Operation: Chance Encounter is a go!" Charlie whispered excitedly. "Right!" Niffty agreed. Charlie nodded than began a count down. "5...4...3...2...1..." as soon as Charlie reached 1 she and Niffty sprang into the kitchen catching the two woman off guard.

"We'll go!" They both cheered in unison. This outburst earned them two very silent and awkward looks from the demonesses causing Charlie to straighten up to a more civilized stance. "*Ahem!* Niffty and I can go with Allison on her errand and help her get those flowers." She said eloquently. "I don't think that's a good idea hon. The cycle is still going on and the last few days are told to be the worst." Vaggie said. "Come on Vags I know how to take care of myself, Niffty can hold her own and we all know Allison can handle herself." She said confidently. The moth unfortunately didn't have anything to say against this rebuttal. She hated to admit it to herself but she did not trust her girlfriend's intentions one bit. She just knew she was up to something reckless again and it likely involved going on some kind of search to find Alastor to get the two deer together. She glared suspiciously at the two with her arms crossed as though she were scrutinizing them with her eyes.

"You two are still on lockdown for interupting Allison and Alastor's evening. Niether of you are going anywhere." The housekeeper and Princess deflated as they were reminded of being condemned for meddling in other's business. They needed a new plan someone to go in their place, someone who knew the streets of Pentagram City like the back of their hand, someone who they could easily bribe into helping them so long as they kept their demands within reason.

The two then glanced at each other briefly as the same thought of who they could ask came to mind. It wasn't the most foolproof plan but it was silently agreed that it was their best chance right now. "Well can we suggest someone?" Charlie asked. Allison then quietly piped in. "R-really ladies I-I..." she was thoroughly ignored as the moth chica spoke. "No you two need to stop it now!" She scolded. "L-ladies..." Ignored again Charlie and Niffty played oblivious as they responded with folded arms and passive expressions. "I don't know what you're talking about." Charlie defended.

"You two and your stupid game of matchmaking! Did you ever ask if..." the moth was now interupted by the deer lady. "LADIES!" She called out causing everyone to stop and look at her.

She gulped and blushed in embarrassment before fluffing her bob then stammered what she had been trying to say. "P-please I c-can h-handle i-it." She said then summoned her microphone and headed toward the door. "Wait! Maybe Angel could..."

"NO!" Vaggie and Allison shouted cutting Charlie off. "Charlie you think having Angel Dust-- a lust sinner-- around Allison during one of the most brutal days of the Lustlorne Cycle, is a good idea?" The moth asked seriously. Charlie made an indecisive face as she looked away thinking that she should've thought through her plan more. Vaggie sighed exasperated by all this nonsense. She was worried about Allison going out on her own but she couldn't argue with at least one notion of her girlfriend's that the doe was indeed capable of taking care of herself and she wasn't about to let her partner pull of any stupid schemes. Reluctantly she agreed to Allison's insistence. "Okay Allison just be careful." She advised. The blue lady nodded her head to the moth then left. Vaggie blinked then turned to scold Charlie and Niffty only to find they'd vanished from their spot but after hearing sounds like grunting and shuffling, she looked to see the two trying and failing to escape through the air vents. Vaggie facepalmed and heaved another sigh as she wondered why she even loved the goofball demoness princess.

To Be Continued...