Hotel
Max shadow-stepped back into the Hazbin Hotel, his arms full of bags and boxes stuffed with food from all over the world. His steps were sluggish, his shoulders low. Even for an Overlord, long-distance hopping through the human world was exhausting—especially with a missing arm and a glitching timer constantly ticking in the back of his mind.
The hotel lobby was quiet. Too quiet.
He let out a long breath and dragged himself toward the bar.
Husk glanced up from polishing a glass.
"Damn, kid. You look like someone chewed you up and spat you out. Or like you spent the day with Blitzo, which is basically the same thing."
Max dropped heavily onto a stool.
"Hey Husk. Yeah, I could seriously use a drink."
Husk's ears twitched. "Yeah? What's your poison?"
"Anything strong. Unless you can hit the level of Beelzejuice, I'm probably not even gonna feel it."
Max reached into a pocket dimension and set some Hell currency on the counter.
Husk froze.
"Hold up—people actually pay for drinks in this hotel?"
Max shrugged. "I'm trying to set a good example."
"That's adorable," Husk muttered, grabbing the money. "And sorry, kid. I've been dying to experiment with Beelzejuice, but the Princess of Gluttony keeps that stuff locked behind more security than Charlie's optimism."
"You can't make it," Max said, stretching his remaining arm. "Bee doesn't brew it from ingredients—she converts indulgence into a physical form. Magic crap only she can do. Total monopoly."
Husk's wings slumped. "Figures."
"But," Max continued, "if you make me something good, I can ask her to bring a whole barrel here. She owes me a few favors."
Husk lit up like a Christmas tree.
"You'll get the best damn drink of your afterlife."
He immediately went into full bartender-mad-scientist mode.
A few minutes later, Angel Dust walked through the lobby and practically collapsed onto the barstool beside Max.
"I need something strong," he groaned. "Val worked my ass off today. Almost literally."
Husk rolled his eyes and started mixing another drink.
Max sipped what Husk handed him.
"…Holy shit. Husk, this is amazing."
"Damn right it is," Husk grumbled, but his tail flicked proudly.
Angel leaned his head onto the counter.
"So Maxie… why's Bee so low on your list? I hardly see you two together. I thought Gluttony gals were supposed to be clingy, ya know, in a fun gross way."
Husk's ears perked with interest.
Max sighed. "It's not like that. Bee's just… Bee. She's constantly throwing parties and feeding half of Gluttony's population. I'm lucky if I see her three times a month."
Angel raised a brow. "Wouldn't that make her jealous of the other girls in your little harem?"
"You'd think so," Max said. "But actually the girls hang out more with each other than with me. They have weekly video calls they try to hide from me."
"How'd you find that out?" Husk asked.
"Charlie forgot to hang up one time. I walked in because her bed broke in the middle of the call."
Angel cackled.
Max continued, "But honestly? I'm glad they get along. Especially Octavia—she's super shy, but she's coming out of her shell."
Max took another drink. "And they all had great ideas for the hotel. Stuff I still haven't installed. I, uh… was kinda hoping Alastor would help with that—"
A ripple of static filled the air.
Alastor appeared out of thin air with Nifty skittering behind him.
Angel nearly choked on his drink.
"You called?" Alastor asked cheerfully, radio static humming.
"No," Max said, deadpan. "But apparently that doesn't matter."
Nifty waved. "Hi Max! Hi Angel! Hi Husk! Oh—Max! Why do you look so tired? Did you fight someone? Did you die? Did you kill someone? Did you—"
"Nifty, hush," Alastor said pleasantly.
Max chuckled. "Just talking about renovations. You look like a whiskey guy—Husk, give him something good."
Husk happily poured another glass and slid it over.
Max dropped more money on the counter.
"For his too."
Alastor sat, crossing his legs.
"You know, Charlie was right about you, Max. You're far too kind for a sinner—especially one with your power."
Max raised his glass.
"No it's not a bad thing. Not at all."
Husk, Angel, Alastor, and Max all took a drink together.
For a moment, the Hazbin Hotel felt… peaceful.
Which meant it absolutely would not stay that way.