Emily and Gabriel are in the Promenade, trying to calm down a massive group of Winners once more - the outrage over Extermination Day happening yet again is fierce, and the two of them are the only ones able to reason with them and at least temporarily calm things down.
Though, that's mostly on Emily being so young and Gabriel being so level-headed, as the Archangel was very nearly physically attacked multiple times the first few rounds of this scenario. Michael still doesn't dare go near them, and Raphael is too emotional over everything they're angry about to last more than five seconds - they're angry about Extermination Day, they're angry about Eve being brainwashed, they're angry about Lucifer being punished for undoing it…which, fair, all of it is perfectly reasonable.
But it means Michael is a prime target, as he was the one that was ordered to actually execute the punishment, Raphael is almost as much of a target and will absolutely get verbally torn to shreds and reduced to ugly-crying once more, and the only reason Gabriel is no longer subject to the same treatment is because he already all but got down on his knees and begged forgiveness from them after explaining the three of them had no idea about Eve and what they did know at the time. He's somewhat tolerated, people still interrupt and yell at him, but nobody's physically gone after him since.
Sera appears just as the Winners have stopped protesting, and everything immediately goes tense. After a long moment, Sera says "Emily, this needs to end. Heaven is in disarray, the Council is divided - we are losing control. That control is all we had to maintain order after He vanished, and-"
The Winners start protesting once more, one person calling out "So you decided to control all of humanity?!"
"And picked a convenient scapegoat when it went wrong!"
"I saw her in the images, she looked just as impassive watching him be tortured as she does now!"
"Were you this impassive when ordering Extermination?!"
"Maybe she just told that asshole, Adam, to do whatever he wanted so long as we didn't know!"
Emily waves a hand at the angry crowd, and says "They're angry, Sera, and they have every reason to be! Heaven's actions towards humanity, along with the actions taken to cover it up-" Something in Sera's expressions shifts, and Gabriel barely has time to register it before a green dome suddenly appears around Emily.
Emily gasps, the crowd of Winners gasps and backs away, and Sera stares at the younger Seraphim in horror.
Gabriel asks "What's…this is Calliope's magic, why…" And then the last time she was actually up in Heaven runs through his mind, the pendant she gave Emily. She'd said it would activate if…if someone was going to Fall Emily. But…Emily?! The sweetest, kindest…Sera wouldn't, right?!
Gabriel feels sick to his stomach when he remembers that's exactly how he would've described Lucifer before his Fall.
She would, she absolutely would - she has, after all.
Barely a three seconds after the green dome appears, a portal opens up and a figure in a black hood, black leggings, and black combat boots runs through it - and then they pull the hood down, revealing Calliope underneath the fabric.
A really pissed off Calliope, no less.
Emily says "Calli! Um, hi…"
Surveying the area, Calli flatly asks "Who was gonna Fall this kid? Was it you, Sera? Is this just some kind of pattern you have? You find the sweetest person in Heaven, get them angry over something they can't let go of, then get rid of them?" And then she off-handedly adds "You look like utter shit, by the way."
Emily says "I was talking with Sera, and then…"
"This happened?" At Emily's nod, Calli rolls her eyes and says "Figures. I'll take you back to the Hotel, we'll get everything sorted out from there." Tapping the shield makes it vanish, leaving Emily free to move around once more.
Emily blinks in surprise, Gabriel stares in shock, Sera opens her mouth to protest but flashes green and suddenly can't make any sound at all, and one of the Winners asks "What? She…you're taking Emily?"
Calli rolls her eyes, and says "I'm saving Emily. Human souls get reincarnated again and again after they die in whatever realm they're currently residing in, it's why Extermination Day is such a headache for D. And, given the detail that Sera knows this - or, at least, knew it once upon a time - she won't kill any of you because it wouldn't do any good. Heavenborn…not so much."
"Wait a minute…what?!"
Calli glances towards the owner of the voice, and stops dead in her tracks when she sees an indignant-looking spider-like Winner. One with a really familiar face, no less. Gabriel watches in shock as Calli tilts her head to the side, and asks "Is…is your name Molly? Did you have a twin brother when you were a human down on Earth?"
The spider-Winner nods her head, saying "Yeah, 'Tony, he's the reason I'm up here. He and our older brother did everything so I didn't have to…" She knows they're down in Hell…and they'd both tell her to stay up here in Heaven while they handle everything, just like back when they were on Earth.
Calli grins, saying "I know him! He lives at my niece's hotel! Here, text me and- oh, fuck, is that the time?!" The black hoodie and boots disappear, replaced by a red shirt and flats, and Calli quickly tries to put her hair up in a ponytail - then has to stop because Lute suddenly charges her with a battlecry.
Calli just catches the spear mid-charge, throws Lute to the ground a few feet away, and then tosses a rubber duck in front of the one-armed Exorcist - her expression says she really does not have time for this, to boot.
Hilariously, it makes her scramble up and point the spear at it.
Molly raises an eyebrow, asking "You alright?"
"Oh, you know," Calli says, continuing her struggle with her hair that seems to want to misbehave at every possible opportunity right now, "just late for meeting up with Alastor and one of his friends at her shop by fifteen minutes. Fuck, how long was I down there? Dammit, stay put, hair, I swear…"
Gabriel has to wonder, as he watches Calli fight with her hair, if this is what Lucifer saw in her all that time ago - messy hair, chaotic magic, and the woman underneath it who tosses rubber ducks around and chats about people's brothers who she happens to know. If they had just given her a shot…would Lucifer still be up in Heaven? Would they know their niece? Or would they have all gone down to Hell in defiance of the Council?
Or, a voice in Gabriel's head asks, would the potential friendship have broken because you would've chosen Heaven anyway?
When Calli finally manages to get her hair into an only-slightly messy ponytail, she asks "I've got about twenty pounds of makeup on my face, don't I?"
Molly says "You look…" Well, she does - and it just appeared there - she looks like she's going to a fashion runway or something. Or, like she's going on a date. To a really fancy restuarant, no less.
Calli makes a mirror appear in her hand, then groans in frustration and most of the makeup vanishes as she mutters "It's just tea with two friends, I do not need to look like I'm trying to turn it into something else altogether…" Focusing on the mirror, Calli makes sure she's just got some lip gloss, eyeliner, and a bit of eyeshadow, the basics she uses regularly rather than for anything royal - she's just going to meet up with Rosie and Alastor, she doesn't want to make them think she's suddenly flipped a hormone-switch or something!
Also, she's been meaning to ask Rosie if she wants to come for the party, and needs to know what to make for the woman.
"Here's my number, text me, I'll send you his number! Later, Molly! C'mon, E, let's get the Hell out of here."
Alastor and Rosie sit down at one of the tables in her mercifully-empty Emporium, and Rosie asks "I thought Calliope would be coming with you?"
Alastor nods, saying "She'll be here, she's just…taking care of something for me, Rosie."
"Well, while we wait, how have things been up in the Hotel?" More than that, as they're both well aware, how have things been with Calliope?
Alastor ducks his head, a blush forming on his face, and murmurs "It's been…fantastic, actually." He's never met anyone like Calliope, willing to accept him for him, lack of sex and all - the few partners he tried to have in his human life up on Earth either tried to guilt trip him or wanted to 'fix' him. Calli's never given even a hint of that, though, willing to accept whatever he's comfortable giving.
Rosie smiles, and says "Well, anyone that can make you look like this," she taps him on the nose playfully, "Alastor, is a keeper. What's she helping you with?"
Alastor's smile dims, nearly disappearing from his face altogether, and he murmurs "It's…complicated, Rosie."
Rosie frowns, then asks "Does it have anything to do with the past seven years?"
Alastor nods his head silently, then murmurs "I…messed up. Got in a lot of trouble. Calli's been helping me try to fix it…"
Rosie takes Alastor's hand in her own, and says "If I can help-"
Alastor immediately shakes his head, saying "It's safer for you if you don't know anything, Rosie. You have to believe me on that."
Rosie nods her head slowly, then asks "Can you at least tell me how it happened, then?"
Alastor nods, glancing down towards their hands as Rosie starts stroking her fingers down his palm soothingly, and says "It…was right after my last battle with Vox…the one Valentino interfered in."
Rosie nods silently, remembering hearing about it from some of her Cannibals - Vox and Alastor were caught live on camera in a battle, one that was broadcast throughout all of Pentagram City. Alastor was winning, Vox was obviously exhausting himself against Alastor's magic…so Valentino literally swooped in, tackled the Radio Demon to the ground and literally shoved his tongue down the other's throat. Alastor panicked, managed to throw the moth off him and summon a small army of puppets for them to deal with…and vanished into the shadows while the other two Overlords dealt with hundreds of puppets that nearly ripped them apart altogether.
After a long moment, Alastor continues, saying"I…wasn't thinking clearly after that battle. Valentino's venom is potent stuff. Possibly the strongest drug in all of Pride Ring…maybe even all of Hell. I'd shadowed away to an empty alley somewhere in the city, I don't remember where. I was going to come here, but…"
Rosie quietly says "But you were interrupted."
Alastor nods, then quietly says "A shapeshifter. They posed as the Queen. I was, ostensibly, to be the Princess' unknown bodyguard. In return, I'd never have to worry about insects or sick bastards like Valentino ever again." He blames Valentino's venom for signing, everything was so…so hazy with that damned poison in his system, so muddled and surreal. He could barely string two thoughts together until it wore off, it felt like he was delirious. But he managed to keep himself semi-lucid long enough to tell 'Queen Lilith' he wanted to be strong enough to not have to worry about someone violating him like Valentino would certainly have done had he not been smart during his fight with Vox.
And then, as soon as he signed…there was a chain around his neck and a completely different contract in his hands. And he was trapped - tricked. At least, when he hands someone a soul-binding contract, they know it's a soul-binding contract! They know exactly what they're signing up for! He's never had to resort to deception to get a new soul on his chain - he's rather proud of that, truth be told.
Rosie gets a furious look, and mutters "If I ever get my hands on that damned bug…" Because of that disgusting, drug-spitting bug, one of her closest friends in Hell is currently trapped by some kind of eldritch horror if his behavior is anything to go by with no way out. Glancing at Alastor, she asks "And Calliope is trying to get you free?"
Alastor nods, murmuring "She's been searching the other Rings one by one for them, but…a shapeshifter isn't easy to find at the best of times. Even when you actually have personal experience raising one."
Rosie blinks, asking "Come again?"
"Her Godson, as it happens. He was a…the term she used was Metamorphmagus. He could look like anyone or anything, inherited it from his mother apparently."
And then, suddenly, a portal opens up just outside the Emporium and they see Calli come through it…with a very blue girl about Charlie's height, six small wings on her back and wearing some kind of robe. She doubles over at once, looking panicked and clawing at her throat, until Calli waves her hand and a green glow washes over the girl.
"So…" Rosie says, "her?"
Alastor shakes his head silently, wondering just where Calli got this girl from and who she is. Thankfully, Calli points towards the Emporium and then they head over. As soon as they get in, Calli says "Sorry I'm late - lost track of time down in Greed. And then, out of the blue, the pendant I gave Emily over here activates - and it would've done that only if she was in very real danger. I didn't keep you two waiting too long, did I?"
Rosie says "Not at all, really!" Getting up, she quickly pulls Calli into a hug to everyone's surprise.
Once she lets Calli go, the red-head asks "Um…thanks?"
"Thought you could use it, honey." Calli's eyes widen, though, when Rosie scratches at the side of her neck as the words leave her mouth.
"Oh…anytime, really."
They all sit down at the table, and Calli pulls some containers out of her bag, saying "Brought some goodies, wasn't sure what you'd like but I know Alastor prefers Venison, so…" So, she went and hunted a large deer down for the occasion, skinned it, and dressed it. And put all the raw meat in containers, so at least Alastor will be able to enjoy it.
Rosie stares at the tupperware containers, then claps her hands together and says "So polite all the time! Gracious, such a rarity down here! I can see why you and Alastor get along so well!"
Calli shrugs, saying "I just like feeding people is all…did Alastor tell you about the party yet? I've been meaning to ask if you wanted to come, trying to get the guest list finalized and all."
Rosie shakes her head, saying "No, we hadn't gotten to that when you arrived…what party is this?"
Calli smiles, saying "Charlie's birthday party. It's the first one I've been here for in the past hundred and fifty years, so…" She trails off, expression going morose, and adds "We wanted to make it a good one. I didn't want to leave, but I did anyway…"
"Hey," Rosie says, putting a hand over Calli's, "you're here for this one. And you really do love that girl, I've seen it. She's lucky to have you. And, yes, I'd love to come to the party."
Calli smiles, saying "Wonderful. You like venison? At least, enough to eat it for one day? How 'bout sweets? Or non-meat foods? Would you like to bring someone? Pretty much everyone is bringing a plus-one at this point." Asmodeus is bringing Fizzarolli, Stolas is bringing Blitz, Octavia is bringing Loona, Beezlbub is bringing her boyfriend Vortex, Belphegor is pretty much the only other one coming alone.
Rosie asks "Plus all the Hotel guests, right? How big is this party gonna be?"
Calli waves her hand, saying "Meh, I've got Expansion Charms if the Hotel won't be big enough. Smoothie, anyone?"
Alastor and Rosie eagerly take the smoothies that appear in front of them, with Emily getting her own as well after a moment. She takes a sip, then says "This is amazing…oh, erm, I'm Emily, by the way. I don't know if Charlie's spoken about me at the Hotel or not…" She shifts slightly in her seat, taking another long sip from the straw to try and put out the fire that's slowly consuming her lungs - her skin feels like it's cooking, and her lungs feel like they're on fire. The very first breath she took in after getting through the portal Calli made, she felt like she was being consumed by flames and breathing them in - luckily, Calli's magic is making it bearable. But, still…is this was Lucifer felt when he first got into Hell, on top of the pain he was undoubtedly in beforehand?
Rosie links her fingers together and rests her chin on them, asking "So, sweetheart, how'd a cute little thing like you end up down here, exactly?"
Emily says "It's a long story. Heaven is…divided. And it seems it's more serious than I'd thought...or I have- had a bigger voice in it all than I'd known."
Calli says "The Winners - human souls that managed to make it up to the attic instead of down here - are rioting. They found out about Eve being brainwashed, Lucifer getting cast out for undoing it, and Extermination Day. And, to only Sera and Adam's surprise, they aren't happy about it."
"Well," Rosie says, looking a mix of surprised and amused, "fuck. Isn't that something?" After a moment, she decides it's not only poetic justice...it's hilarious.
Calli snorts, saying "In my experience, pretty much the only thing humanity can band together on for any period of time is freedom. Sera just never thought about that before making that giant can of Flobberworms."
Emily exchanges confused glances with Rosie and Alastor, before saying "Anyway, I was talking down a group of Winners with Archangel Gabriel when Sera showed up. She tried to convince me to end the uprising, but…but, I couldn't. And, honestly, I didn't even want to. They're angry, and with every reason to be. Sera's expression changed, but before anything could happen the pendant Calli gave me at the end of the second meeting a month and a few weeks ago threw up this shield, and…and Calli showed up. Everything happened pretty quick after that."
Calli shrugs, saying "She's staying with us now. Sera can just live with it."
Lucifer stares at Emily, who's sitting next to Calli on the couch silently - Calli's just finished explaining what happened, and he's currently just trying to process it all. After a long minute, Lucifer shakes his head and says "I mean, you did tell them the pendant would activate if someone tried to Fall Emily. In front of Sera."
"Mm-hm. Along with Adam, Lute, Emily herself, and a few Archangels. And that I'd show back up if it did."
"And Sera was the only one there with the authority or motive to Fall her."
Emily says "Archangel Gabriel has been helping me with the Winners, trying to peacefully keep them from storming the entire Hall while the Council holds meeting after meeting. He and the other Archangels were horrified about the Exterminations…"
Lucifer raises an eyebrow, asking "They really never knew?" He wasn't sure if any of them knew or not, and didn't want to find out the hard way.
Emily shakes her head, saying "Lute said Sera ordered her and Adam to keep it a secret. Only the Exorcists were to know about Extermination Day."
Calli snorts, saying "First rule of Fight Club, then." Figures. Seems Sera's solution to every problematic piece of information is to cover it up.
"Welp," Lucifer claps his hands, "welcome to the Hazbin Hotel! Charlie and Vaggie should be back soon with a list of rooms that are open for you to pick from. Quick question, how are you feeling? Like…I dunno, you're on fire, maybe?"
Emily nods, saying "Calliope did something to make it bearable, but…" But…it's getting worse as time went on. Slowly, yes…but she gets the feeling she'll wake up feeling like an inferno.
Lucifer nods, saying "I sorta remember what that felt like. You need to adjust to being down in Hell, something that's gonna take its time. I was in and out for a lot of the time when my body was changing, but…what I do remember wasn't fun."
Calli mutters "Yeah, that wasn't a fun time for either of us. Emily, I'm just gonna give it to you straight, alright? That burning sensation is Roo's energy entering your body - at least, that's the current explanation we have. You'll adapt to it…but it's gonna suck, I won't lie about that."
Emily asks "How so?"
Lucifer grimaces, and says "We don't really have a standard case for it…I was already really injured, and Calli's half-demon so it wasn't nearly as bad for her…" He knows his sister powered through her own symptoms for him, even if she'll just brush it off saying it wasn't that bad for her. That her demonic half was already strong enough to keep her from getting the worst of what he went through - maybe that's true to an extent, but he know Calliope. Knows she's got this nasty habit of sacrificing herself for those she cares about, no matter how she goes about it. Fighting through her own fever, aches, pains, and everything else she was dealing with for his and Lilith's sakes is absolutely something she'd do without a second's hesitation.
Calli says "But, we'll be there. We'll get you through it, Em."
Charlie and Vaggie get into the common area right then, and Charlie says "I'm sorry about Sera, Emily, but…well, welcome to Hell, right?"
Emily chuckles, remembering one of the first things she said to Charlie, Vaggie, and Calli over a month ago, and says "I'm really glad to be here. Glad Calli came when the shield came up. Glad…that I'm not alone."
Vaggie nods, saying "It's gonna be alright, really. C'mon, there's a bunch of rooms on the floor we all share, the one above most of the other guests' floor. Just pick out whichever one you like, and we'll…shoot, you don't have anything down here…"
Calli says "I'll make her some new clothes after she's settled in, relax."
Vaggie nods, remembering what it was like being completely on her own after her last Extermination - no clothes bar the Exorcist uniform she had to get rid of as soon as possible, no help…just her powers, the feeling of burning alive, and her wits and fighting skills. She made it, survived for two years on her own until she met Charlie by chance, but gods was it hard.
Emily tackles Calli in a tearful hug, apparently finally having realized she can't go back to Heaven or that they're really serious about her staying with them permanently, and Calli just shrugs and says "We're gonna need a minute."
Gabriel's sitting between Michael and Raphael on their couch, rubbing at his forehead to try and stave off a migraine - and dodging Raphael's attempts to heal it, as he's pretty sure it'll just be temporary relief - and says "Really, Raph, I'll be fine. It's just…a lot. Sera was going to Fall Emily - and for something that was completely out of her control. If Calliope hadn't shown up when she did…"
A tense silence descends, and Raphael eventually mutters "It's happening all over again." The paralells between then and now are like a dagger to the chest each, and there are far too many for any of them.
Michael nods, feeling Gabriel's migraine coming on, and says "I know. It's so similar…" Too similar for any of their liking, honestly.
Emily is as sweet-natured and good-hearted as Lucifer was before his Fall, couldn't raise her hand to hurt a fly - literally - and Sera was going to just Fall her without any kind of warning. Just like she did to Lucifer - Gabriel was told they wanted to question him, even if his gut told him it was more serious than that. And then Calliope showed up, just like she did for Lucifer - she likely hadn't learned how to make a portal ten thousand years prior, and that's why she didn't just run through one. He doesn't even want to think about what would've happened if he'd tried to keep her from interfering this time, honestly - if Calliope didn't tear him to literal shreds, he's sure the group of Winners that saw everything would've done so.
Getting an idea, Gabriel sits up and says "There may be something we can do, though. You guys remember the ruling the Council passed? Sending a delegation down to Hell?"
Michael nods, saying "Nobody wants to…wait. You're not seriously suggesting-"
Raphael gasps in excitement, wings buzzing at hummingbird-speed, and says "We could be the delegation! Us and a few Winners, to make it seem less suspicious!" Michael immediately says "Raph, it's dangerous. I've no doubt most of Hell won't be able - or maybe willing - to try and tell the difference between the Exorcists that have been terrorizing them for literal millennia and anyone else. And, out of even just the three of us, I'm the only one who knows how to fight."
"So, we open up a portal right outside the Hotel! And we don't go anywhere without someone to vouch for us! C'mon, Mikey, it's Lucifer! And Emily, now, to!" And even Calliope, who he's come to the gut-sinking conclusion that they need to apologize to her…a lot. They need to apologize to her a lot. For a lot.
Michael groans, then says "…just stay behind me until we're actually in the Hotel and all the introductions have been made. Understood, Raph?" As much as the idea itself is a good one...he can't ignore the detail that neither of his brothers are warriors. Neither of them are trained for combat, even if he did make sure they could defend themselves long enough for him to find them - so if someone, Calliope for instance, attacked them...he'd absolutely blame himself.
And the idea of Calliope mistaking them for some kind of revenge party for interfering between Sera and Emily doesn't sound particularly outlandish right now.
Raphael eagerly nods his head, quite literally vibrating in place, and Gabriel feels a smile forming on his own lips before saying "I'll go inform the Council that we wish to volunteer for the Delegation."
Raphael tackles him, then proceeds to heal the pain in his head so thoroughly in his excitement he feels like he's on cloud 100.
Gabriel hums in appreciation, then murmurs "Maybe a few of the Winners wouldn't hurt to take along…like the spider woman Calliope spoke to. What was her name, Minnie…?"