CH 51: Rosie

Esme and Alastor are still locked in a death stare until the door opens and Vaggie walks in, "What is going on?" She says, causing both of them to snap towards her, "Carmilla Carmine? Alastor, you knew about this the entire time and you didn't say anything?!"

Alastor hums and looks down at his nails, flicking his wrist in annoyance. "Well, perhaps I had a plan before I was rudely interrupted."

"And rightfully so..." Esme whispers before heading to Vaggie, "You should head over there and gain as much information as you can, Carmila will let you in if you play your game correctly. Trust me."

Vaggie takes a moment to ponder Esme's instructions before she nods, "Alright, so you are going with Charlie alongside Alastor, right?" Esme's eyes widen and she backs up.

"Oh nononono, I'll hold down the fort over here while the three of you are gone. Charlie knows what to do, I have faith in her." Esme scowls back at Alastor, who rolls his eyes and stretches his smile in frustration. Vaggie and Esme turn to head downstairs, but Alastor disappears into his shadow to join Charlie outside.

As Vaggie and Esme come down the stairs, Angel approaches them. He laughs nervously, "So, aha, Alastor and Charlie just left like they were runnin' away from their responsibilities, should we be alarmed?" Esme walks over to him and wraps her arm around his.

"No." She says.

"We have a plan, but it includes defending ourselves against the angels." Vaggie sighs.

There's a scoff from the couch and Husk leans in, "Uh, are you fuckin' high?"

"They can be killed."

The little egg creatures scurry across the floor, one turning to Vaggie, "Yeah, that knife lady, Carmaro Carfight, killed one!"

Vaggie gets down on her knees to face the gremlin, "Wait, you knew about this?"

"Yeah, I told Boss about it months ago!"

"He, what?!"

Pen throws his arms up in the arm, "What? They say insane shit all the time, how was I supposed to know this one was true?"

"Bank accounts are a scam created by the shadow government!"

Esme sighs and leans her forehead on the wall behind her. "Mamma mi...." She mumbles. Angel pats her back, chuckling softly.

Vaggie sighs, "What's important now is that we're gonna have a fight on our hands." Esme smiles at the idea, "Look, this hotel's about to become the most dangerous place in Hell, and we-I can't guarantee your safety anymore. I still believe in Charlie's dream."

Esme looks around at their disheartened faces, a frown coming across her face.

"I know this place can work, but none of you signed up for this." She opens the door, "I'm going to go learn how we can fight back, but when I come home, well, I'll understand if none of you are here."

She walks out the door and it begins to slowly shut. Angel sighs and Esme wraps her arms around his back, placing her head on his spine. "It's okay..." she whispers.

"Well, this is awkward...." Pen mumbles.

"'Kay!" Nifty cheers and the door closes.

~ Alastor's POV ~

Will she ever stop talking? Can she stop talking? At this point, I doubt she is physically capable of refraining from speaking. She just keeps on like a record on repeat that never comes off the spinner, and for the love of me, I don't comprehend how I of all demons got picked to be here with her.

But, this plan will work after all. I will see it so.

She keeps blabbing...

"Three years I've been sharing my life with her and I tell her everything. My hopes, my dreams, my insecurities, my embarrassing habits..."

Hmm, a smudge.

I blow some air on my monocle and wipe it along my sleeve, unbothered.

"What fucking deodorant I like! She keeps something like this from me?! Why would she lie for so long? Does she think I wouldn't accept her? What about me, me, says un-understanding....misunderstanding? Disunder- wait, where are we?"

Oh thank Satan himself, you're done.

"Cannibal Town!" I slide back over to her and link arms, "There's a friend of mine I think you should meet." God, it's been a while since I've seen her. Far too long actually. The only person who keeps me sane in this wretched place.

"In Cannibal Town? But it's..." She looks around, "It's surprisingly nice here.."

"Isn't it, though?" I cheer. I often come here for solitude and moments to share with good ol' Rosie. The town is filled with respectable people, just my kind of company. If only my own hometown were filled with these chaps when I was alive. "And it's all thanks to a very special someone." I hold the door open for her and we enter the emporium.

Her voice carries through the floor with a bright, cheery, tune, "Well, who hasn't thought about eating their first husband?" She gleams, "I certainly would have if he didn't taste so bad!" She chuckles, "I tell ya what, you bring old, tall, dark, and armless to me, and I'll straighten 'em right out, okay sweetie? Now, here's my card a-"

She makes eye contact with me and I wave, "Oh my stars..do my eyes deceive me?" She pushes through the crowd, "Alasta! Where have you been?" She takes me by the arm, one of the few people I'd actually let touch me, "These halls really lost some of their sparkle without your lively presence and-"

She turns to Charlie, leaning in, "Oh, who's this you brought with you?" She turns back to me, waving her hand playfully, "Come now, Alastor, she's much too young for you." She sways her hips and waves her hands dismissively, "Oh, I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding!"

"But where are your manners, Mister? Introduce us, why don't you?"

"Ah, yes, Charlie. This is Rosie! The most darling, delightful, and dangerous overlord this side of the pentagram."

"Oh, always such a charmer~"

"And Rosie, it's my pleasure to introduce you to..." I grip her arms and practically fling her forward, "Princess Charlie Morningstar, daughter of Lucifer and heir to the throne of Hell~"

"How do you do?" She chuckles nervously. It'll still work, despite her deposition.

"Well, well, isn't this a regal surprise?" She immediately begins pushing her forward, causing her heels to scrape on the tile. Ah, yes, this is exactly what I envisioned happening. "Can I offer you something to eat? I'm sure I have a leg over here or something, if Ezzy didn't suck me dry..." I snicker at that. "Oh, what am I thinking? Small thing, like you, you're probably watching your figure. How about some nice pinky fingers instead?" She holds out a box and presents the delicacy to Charlie, who tenses up.

"Ummmm, no, no. Thank you, though."

Perhaps I'll swipe some on my way out. I could use a snack if I have to listen to her yapping the whole way back.

"Oh, look at you, so polite!" She pats her head, moving her away from me, "Alasta, you could learn a thing or two~"

We move towards the seating area, "Well, sit down. Sit down. Tell Auntie Rosie what she can do for you." She beckons me over with her finger, "You know, Alastor, I got a primo connect on a guy with about eight blocks of territory and not enough goons to run it. Prime pickings for a deal to be made, my friend~"

"Appreciate the offer, but we're here on business of another kind."

"Well, don't keep me in suspense, I'm a very busy woman~"

Charlotte begins to explain our dilemma, well her dilemma really, but quickly becomes undone.

Goodness, don't make a mockery of me.

"We need your help." I interrupt, "Well, your cannibals help at least, to fend off the attack."

"Wow! When you ask a favor, you don't start small, do you, Your Highness?" She sees her saddened expression and waves a hand, "Oh, no, don't fret." She stands, "I didn't say I wouldn't help, but I assume there's more to this plan than a bunch of unarmed cannibals."

"Oh, your people will be far from helpless when we're done with them. And by the end, they will be able to eat their fill." My static coming forward, with me practically salivating at the thought.

"Well, in that case, sure! Why not?"

"Really?"

"What can I say?" She shrugs, "I like your moxie girl, and old Alastor has never done me wrong before."

Wouldn't dream of it, dear.

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" The two join hands.

"Now, let's get started..." Rosie begins to lead us towards her office, "I could get them situated in the town square, but you'll have to have a good speech prepared, hunnybunch~" She opens the door and we head inside, "You know, Alasta, I hear our girl Ezzy has been hanging around the hotel. How is she anyway? It's been far too long since I've seen her!"

When I get my hands on her, you'll never see her again...

"She's doing quite splendidly." I snicker. Rosie must have picked up on this because she tilts her head to the side.

"My, not fond of her company? The two of you always seemed to be rather close in those meetings."

I remain silent, but she continues.

"Still searching for her beloved?" She asks, rummaging through her belongings and taking out a megaphone, "I keep trying to tell her.." She turns it on, speaking through it at a rather loud volume, "Forget the old sack and move on!" She pulls it away, "But she never seems to hear me~"

"Oh, but..." Charlotte takes a step forward, "Esme remembers everything now! She's been a big help especially with talking to heaven, they even restored her memories!"

"Oh!" Rosie grins, throwing the megaphone over her shoulder and clasping her hands over her chest, "Why isn't that some news! I wonder if she ever did find her man."

Charlie steals a glance at me and Rosie appears to notice, her eyes widening and her smile fading. She places her hands on her hips and tilts her head to the side, staring at me with a stern expression.

"I believe we're getting sidetracked~" I slide over to the door, motioning towards it, "Shall we?"

~ At The Square, Narrator ~

"Cannibals and cannibettes, assemble in the square!" Rosie shouts through her megaphone. She places a hand around Charlie's shoulder, "Now darling, you know I would do anything for my clients, but I can't exactly command all of Cannibal Town to follow someone else into battle. I mean, if we had our lovely siren we could happily force them, but alas..."

She smiles and continues, "Don't get me wrong, they love carnage and bloodshed, but to get this group into line you got to win them over." She pulls the megaphone to her mouth once again, "SETTLE IN! Important meeting!"

Charlie races up to her with her arms stretched out, "But how I-"

"With sparkle, razzamataz, and that oh so appealing moxie of yours~" She pinches her cheek.

"Shouldn't be a problem~" Alastor sings, winking at Charlie, "It's not like you've ever failed to inspire before~" He walks up the stairs into the stage.

"Now, far warning...this group sticks together. In order to convince any of them, you'll need to convince all of them." She pauses, her tone dropping to annoyance, "And there's one in particular..."

Alastor groans from behind them, leaning on the railing and looking away with narrowed eyes, "Uuugh, Susan." He huffs, his ears falling to the side.

"Susan...who's a bit of a uhhh..." She puts her finger to her chin.

"Ornery old bitch?" Alastor grins, motioning his hand out in a sassy manner.

"That!" Rosie agrees, "She's tough, but win her over and the rest will be easy as pie~" She beams, "Uh, ready?"

"I guess..."

At first, it seems like it could work, but Charlie soon becomes flustered when an older woman begins to shout from the crowd.

"Boooo, bring Rosie back!"

"Susan?"

"Susan."

Charlie persists despite Susan's insults and demands, standing her ground and nervously speaking about her dream and the hotel.

Until...

"Fucking mediocre!"

"FUCK YOU, YOU OLD BITCH!" Charlie screams, throwing up the bird.

Rosie jumps in next to Charlie, taking her by the shoulders, "Oookay, we'll be back after a brief intermission!" She cheers as she pulls Charlie away to her sanctuary.

The two enter the room, which is full of lavish burgundies and other deep colors. Rosie pulls the drapes closed behind them, "Alright, what has you so out of sorts, darling?" She turns to her, "You clearly have more on your mind than angels."

"What do you do when someone you love lies to you about who they are?"

"Romance? My specialty~" She sashays towards her, "C'mon dearie, details, details!"

"My girlfriend is an exorcist angel and she never told me."

"Oh, shit!" Rosie puts her hands on her hips and raises a finger to her mouth in shock, "Quite a secret." She turns back to her, "How does that make you feel?"

"Just angry..." Charlie begins to trail off, "...because we share everything! Because she always supported me and my ideas and now..." She sighs, "I don't know whether or not that was just more lies!" She shouts, pacing frantically. She gasps and turns back to Rosie, "Oh no, that's a horrible thing to think. Do I think that? Yes! N-No. Kinda?" She sighs and plops down into the cushioned seat, crying softly into her hands.

"You said you love this girl?" Rosie asks with a gentle, nurturing, tone.

"Yes..or..I- yes."

"Have you ever once doubted that she loves you in return?"

Charlie shakes her head with an innocent look in her eyes. Rosie smiles and leans back, putting her hands up in the air,

"Well then, what's the problem?"

"She took part in the very thing we've been working so hard to end!" Charlie exclaims, crossing your arms.

"Welll," Rosie hums, tilting her to the side, "Isn't that silly little hotel of yours all about redemption?"

"Yes?"

"Perhaps this girl is trying to redeem herself too." Rosie coos.

"She knows better than anyone that I believe in second chances, why not tell me?"

Rosie leans in closer, raising an arm in the air, "It can be difficult to admit to things you're not proud of, especially if those things hurt the ones you love. She fucked up, sure. She's flawed, but hey, who down here isn't?"

As their conversation comes to a close, they are unaware of the man who lurks from behind the curtained door, listening intently to each word. Her words hit him deeper than he would like to admit, and resonate within his soul. The string of words almost transport him back to that living room on that fateful evening, where his love's life would come to an abrupt halt.

Even if by accident, he couldn't bring himself to stay longer with the memory for more than a few moments. He had spent most of their lives together protecting Esme and keeping her shielded from any harm, even though deep down he knew she was capable of handling herself. She was his everything, his light in the dark, and his most cherished jewel. He had made an oath to himself to keep his identity a secret to her for her own wellbeing.

Yes, he was flawed - but so were they all.

He knew that eventually he would have to reveal his reasonings to her, but he wasn't ready - not yet. But, there was something about Rosie's motherly lession, and how they rested so carefully on his ears, that made him contemplate...

Perhaps, behind the siren that he wanted to rip to shreds just hours prior, hid the wife he so fondly adored. 

~ Author's Note ~ 

I'm sorry for the delay in uploading, I've had some personal emergencies to take care of. 

Anyway, I hope you all are enjoying the Esme characterai bots! Here are some of my favorite moments with her. (IF YOU CALL HER YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO HER VOICE! IT'S PERFECT!) 

⬇️Asking Esme about when Alastor manifested into Hell...

⬇️Reflecting on the fight with Valentino...

Then I put Al and Esme into a group chat together and well, things got interesting. 

Alastor wanted to clear up the whole Eleanor debate...

Big yikes....but then ~ 

🖤Words: 2635🖤

~ Artemis 🦌💗