《 Chapter 26: Hello Rosie! Pt. 2 》

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Meanwhile to Cannibal Town, Alastor escorts Charlie down the streets as he listens to Charlie, cleaning his monocle in the process.

"Three years! THREE YEARS I've been sharing my life with her, and I tell her EVERYTHING! My hopes, my dreams, my insecurities, my embarrassing habits, what fucking DEODORANT I like, and she keeps something, like this, from ME? Why would she lie for so long? Did she think I wouldn't accept her? What about me—me—says un-understanding? *pauses* misunderstanding *pauses* dis-under, wait wh-"

She pauses for a moment, looking at their current location.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Cannibal Town! There's a friend of mine I think you should meet." Alastor happily introduced.

"In Cannibal Town? But it's, it's..."

She looks at surroundings.

"...surprisingly nice here."

"Isn't it though? And it's all thanks to a very special someone."

Alastor opens the door for charlie as they enter Rosie's Emporium, where they meet the Cannibal Overlord herself at her desk speaking to a young woman at the front of a long line.

"Well who hasn't thought about eating their first husband? I certainly would have if he didn't taste so bad! Hehe, I tell ya what, you bring ol' tall dark and armless to me, and I'll straighten him right out, Okay sweetie?" she explained, giving her a card. "Now here's my card a-"

She stops and notices Alastor.

"Oh, my, stars! Do my eyes deceive me?" she gasped, peeking through the crowd and making her way through. "Alastor? Alastor! Where have you been? These halls really lost some of their sparkle without your lively presence and-"

She then notices Charlie.

"Oh. Who's this ya brought with you? Come now, Alastor, she's much too young for you!"

This makes Charlie roll her eyes.

"Oh I'm just kidding. I know you're an Ace in the hole." Rosie joked.

"A what now?" he asked, not understanding what she means.

She ignores him and pays attention to Charlie.

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

"Ahh, yes. Charlie, this is Rosie..." Alastor introduced.

Rosie curtsies politely.

"...the most darling, delightful and dangerous Overlord this side of the Pentagram!"

"Oh! Always such a charmer." Rosie chuckled bashfully.

"And Rosie, it's my pleasure to introduce you..."

He pushes Charlie up to her.

"...to princess Charlie Morningstar. Daughter of Lucifer and heir to the throne of Hell!"

"How do you do?" Charlie waved nervously.

"Well well! isn't this a regal surprise!"

Rosie pushes her to desk.

"Come in! Come in! Can I offer you somethin' to eat? I'm sure I have a leg around here or somethin'. Oh, what am I thinkin'?" she offered and then poked Charlie's stomach. "Small thing like you? You're probably watchin' your figure! How bout some nice pinkie fingers instead?"

As she spoke she got out a box of cut off pinkie fingers in little pink wrappers.

"Um...No. no, thank you, though." Charlie politely declined, freaking out at those fingers.

Rosie understands and puts the box away. She then pats her head.

"Oh look at you! So polite! Alastor, you could learn a thing o' two.

Rosie then proceed to take Charlie to a table with two chairs. she sits her down on one of them and she sits on the one across from her. Alastor walks up to Rosie.

"Well, sit down. Sit down. Tell Auntie Rosie what she can do for you. Ya know, Alastor. I got a premo-connect on a guy with about eight blocks of territory and not enough goons to run it. Prime pickin's for a deal to be made, my friend."

"Appreciate the offer." he said, walking up to Charlie. "But we're here on business of another kind."

"Well don't keep me in suspense! I'm a very busy woman." Rosie said, drinking her cup of tea.

"Well, as you know..." Charlie explained and started panicking. "...the extermination is coming early. It'll be here in a month, and they're-they're coming for my hotel and my friends first, and I-I-I-I-"

Alastor interrupts to help her finish her sentence.

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

"Wow!" Rosie said, putting down her cup. "When you ask a favor ya don't start small, do ya, your highness? Oh now, don't fret." she then gets up. "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." Alastor assured her.

"Well, in that case, sure! Why not?" Rosie smiled.

"Really?" Charlie asked in surprise.

"What can I say? I like your moxie girl. And old Alastor has never done me wrong before." Rosie said.

Charlie happily holds her hands.

"Oooh! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vaggie makes it at Carmilla Carmine's house as soon as Damari just left after her training, as she bangs on the door.

"Carmine! Carmine, we need to speak." she shouted.

Vaggie walks up to the security camera and stares at it

"I know what you did on extermination day. We can talk about it inside, or I can yell about it out here."

The door clanks open.

"Fuckin' right you open that door."

As soon as she heads inside, the door slams shut.

"Hello?" she called out, looking around the dark room.

"You have 2 minutes to convince me not to silence you for good." Carmilla's voice echoed through the room.

A spotlight is turned on revealing Carmilla above Vaggie by the railings.

"Miss Carmine, I'm here on appointment from the princess to enlist your aid in the defense of hell from the angelic extermination. We know an angel fell at your hands and we need to know how." Vaggie explained.

"No!" Carmilla glared.

Vaggie was in disbelief at her answer.

"What do you mean, no? The princess of hell--"

"Means nothing to me. You have to do better than that. 90 seconds." Carmilla interrupted.

"With your knowledge, we wouldn't have to helplessly stand by while--" Vaggie started.

Carmilla interrupted her again.

"Clearly I am not the helpless one here. 80 seconds."

"Well, then why? Why wouldn't you use what you know to fight? You taught Damari how to fight." Vaggie asked.

"To avoid the very problem you and your little friends are facing right now. I will not invite destruction into my house, on my people. Plus, Damari needed my training to learn to control her power and protect herself and her people."

"You think we asked for this? All Charlie has ever done is try to make things better to help her people who, news flash, include your people too."

"And how exactly has that worked out for her? 45 seconds." Carmilla stated.

"We didn't pick this fight, but it's here now. And they aren't going to stop with us. You didn't see the look on their leader's face. With us out of the way, it's only a matter of time before they come for the rest of you. They won't stop until all of Hell is wiped out, so you can help us make a stand here together, or you can stand alone tomorrow. And what do you think your chances will be then?"

Carmilla closed her eyes after listening to Vaggie before opening them and glaring at her, eyes glowing red.

"You're out of time."

Carmilla jumps down and kicks Vaggie in the face. Vaggie slides on the floor.

"Angels attack quickly, viciously, and without mercy. You'll need to defend better than that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to Cannibal Town, Rosie holds up her megaphone and calls out to the cannibal citizens.

"Cannibals and Cannibettes, assemble in the square."

Rosie walks with Charlie to the stage.

"Now, darling, you know I would do anything, anything for my clients, but I can't exactly command all of Cannibal Town to follow someone else into battle. Now, don't get me wrong, they love carnage and bloodshed, but to get this group into line, you got to win 'em over." she explained before calling out again through the megaphone. "Settle in! Settle in! Important meeting."

The cannibals form a crowd around the stage.

"But how do I--" Charlie asked.

Rosie interrupted her with a smile.

"With sparkle! Razzamatazz! And that oh, so appealing moxie of yours."

"Shouldn't be a problem. It's not like you've ever failed to inspire before." Alastor added, recalling when Charlie started singing in Channel 666 news.

Charlie groans as she walks on stage.

"Now, fair warning. This group sticks together. So in order to convince any of them, you'll need to convince all of them. And there's one in particular--" Rosie started.

Alastor finished her sentence with an annoyed groan as he glance away with his ears down.

"Uuuugh, Susan." he said, not liking that name.

"Susan, who's a bit of an... uh--" Rosie nodded, trying to think of something insulting.

"Ornery old bitch?" Alastor added.

"That! She's tough, but win her over and the rest will be easy as pie. Ready?"

"I guess." Charlie said, looking nervous.

"Everyone, we have a very special, very royal guest this evening! Please put your bloody hands together for Princess Charlie!" Rosie announced through the megaphone.

Charlie smiles awkwardly and waves at the crowd. An annoying old woman's voice was heard through the silent crowd as they revealed a cannibal woman with a dark blue fox coat, wearing a hat with light blue feathers and holding a walking stick.

"Booooo, bring Rosie back!" she shouted rudely.

Charlie glanced at Rosie and Alastor.

"Susan?" she guessed.

"Susan." Rosie and Alastor confirmed in unison, deadpanning.

Charlie laughs nervously and begins her speech.

"Sorry. Uh, okay, uh, my name's Charlie, and..."

Susan and Charlie both speak at the same time.

"Well, I run this hotel with my part... well someone and...Wait, let me start over. Angels are coming to kill us all and we need help defending our realm. So-- we, uh... we need your help-- With your assistance, we can make a stand for--" Charlie starts to sing. "♫I...I have a dream♫ and I--"

"Booooo! Get off the stage, you blue blood bitch! Booo! We don't give a shit about some hotel! Leave before I eat those big-ass eyes of yours! Boo! Get off! Where's the showmanship? Where's all the finesse? Fucking mediocre!" Susan yelled, interrupting Charlie.

Charlie had enough of that old hag and flips Susan off.

"FUCK YOU, YOU OLD BITCH!!!!!"

This cause the cannibal crowd to gasp. Charlie seethed in and out as Rosie nervously approached her while facing the crowd.

"Okay! We'll be back after a brief intermission."

She then moves Charlie away from the stage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to Vaggie and Carmilla fighting as Vaggie is slammed onto a pillar but then starts charging at Carmilla. Carmilla kicks Vaggie onto the floor. Vaggie gets up and starts charging again. But again, Carmilla kicks her onto the floor. Vaggie gets up and just barley points her spear at Carmilla before being kicked onto the floor again.

"Fuck! Ow!" she groaned in pain.

Vaggie gets up, only to be kicked yet again. She strikes at Carmilla twice but she dodges both times and kicks Vaggie again.

"Come on, what is this?" she asked.

"You want me to teach you how to beat angels? That's what I'm doing." Carmilla said.

"By beating the shit out of me? I'm not used to fighting with long hair. How did Damari even managed to endure your training?"

As Vaggie charged at Carmilla, the latter took her hairnet down, revealing her full hair at lower position.

"By showing you the flaws in your own fighting style. Yours and all your sisters'."

Vaggie's eye widen in shock.

"Wait... you know I'm an exorcist? How?"

Carmilla looks unamused and points it out.

"You have a giant X over your eye and wield an angelic spear. It's not rocket science. Before you found out about me, did you know angels could be harmed?"

"No." Vaggie answered with a glare.

(A/N: Really? 😒 Does she not remember her losing her eye to the angelic sword from Lute? It's clear that they can be harmed...)

Carmilla goes to kick her again but this time Vaggie dodges. She goes for a knee kick, and it hits.

"That shows in how you fight. You leave yourself open with every swing. You fight like someone unafraid of harm, and this is what you'll take advantage of. Angels wield no shields, little armor and fight with reckless abandon. Strike them here, here, and here." Carmilla explained before kicking Vaggie in the face 3 times.

"Argh! With what? Some secret weapon of yours?" Vaggie asked.

"Stupid girl, are you really so dense you don't realize you're holding the answer?" Carmilla commented with a grin.

Vaggie looks down at her angelic spear in surprise.

"Angelic weapons? It's that simple? How has no one else figured this out?"

"Angelic steel isn't common, and those who have it aren't exactly rushing off to test it against exorcists." Carmilla explained, recalling the last extermination with her two daughters. "When my daughters and I were cornered in that last extermination, I tried to buy time for my girls to flee, and well... You don't become an angelic arms dealer without arming yourself first."

Carmilla does her ballet dancing and begins to sing.

https://youtu.be/uKGpaU4ffnk

I see you're driven by your detestation
Your every step is stoked with animus
You need a different type of motivation
Or there's no way that you can handle this


I know you're thirstin' for vengeance, Vaggie
You're out for blood
But you'll only stand a chance if you're out for love

Out for love, love

As she sings, Carmilla and Vaggie continue to spar.

Think of who you care about
Protect them and be out
For love, love
You're gonna fight without gloves
Long as you're out for love

Fuel yourself with the fear of losin'
That somebody who's your reason to live
Harness your heart and you can't help choosin'
To fight with all you can give

I know you're thirstin' for vengeance, Vaggie
You're out for blood
But you'll only stand a chance if you're out for love

Vaggie and Carmilla smirk at each other before charging. The two hold each other off before running up the stairs as they keep on sparring. Carmilla then backflips all the way downstairs and lands. With quick thinking, Vaggie slides down the railings of the stairs, much to Carmilla's surprise.

Out for love, love
Think of who you care about
Protect them and be out
For love, love
You're gonna fight without gloves
And when that push comes to shove
Yeah, you just might rise above
Long as you're out for love

As soon as she goes to the end of the railings, Vaggie jumps into the air when suddenly, she grows a new pair of Angel wings.

"Well, look at that. You might just survive this." Carmilla smirked at the display.

Vaggie lands safely and grins up at her.

"We're going to need more weapons."

"And armor." Carmilla added, surprising Vaggie.

"Really?"

"Yes. You're gonna need that. That's why I made one for Damari after her training."

"If... by any chance Damari is here with you right now?" Vaggie asked, looking nervous. "I need to talk to her."

"She already left. Though I had a feeling she has a plan." Carmilla said with a fond smile.

This left Vaggie to wonder what kind of plan Damari has.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to Rosie and Charlie as the former takes the latter to her room.

"Alright, what has you so out of sorts, Darlin? Ya clearly got more on your mind than angels." Rosie asked with concern.

Charlie sighs.

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

"Romance? My specialty! Come on, dearie. Details, details!" Rosie said with a smile.

"My girlfriend is an Exorcist angel, and she never told me." Charlie revealed, surprising her.

"Oh, shit! Quite a secret. How does that make you feel?"

"Just, angry, because we share everything, because she always supported me, and my ideas, and-and- and now, I don't know whether or not that was just more of the lies!" Charlie gasped. Oh no that's a horrible thing to think! Do i think that?! Yes! N-no. Kinda?"

She later sits on couch whimpering.

"You said you love this girl?" Rosie asked gently.

"Yes. Or well, I...yes." Charlie eventually answered.

"Have you ever once doubted that she loved you in return?" she asked again.

As she spoke, Rosie sits down next to Charlie, who shakes her head at the question.

"Well, then what's the problem?"

"She took part in the very thing we've been working so hard to end!" Charlie said.

"Well, isn't that silly hotel of yours all about redemption?" Rosie asked.

"Yes?"

"Perhaps this girl, was trying to redeem herself too."

"She knows better than anyone that I believe in second chances, why not tell me?" Charlie said with frustration.

"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? If there's anything I've learned, it's that words are cheap, but actions, they speak the truth. So, what have her actions said?"

"That she believes in me, and what we're doing. Right now she's off learning how to protect everything we've worked for." Charlie softened.

"You know, you're not the only who's in love." Rosie said.

"Who?" Charlie raised her eyebrow.

"Alastor."

"Wait, him? Really?"

"He's been talking nonstop about your female human friend of yours Damari. Which I'm still looking forward to meet." Rosie explained. "He may not know it nor admit, but I can tell how much he cares for her. He's even willing to make sure she's safe."

To show further evidence, Rosie holds up a recorder and plays it.

"Ah, you would love to meet Damari Valor. She's very sickly sweet and kind to others even if they are different." Alastor's voice said with a hint of fondness.

"You really like this Damari character. Are you finally seeing someone?" Rosie asked teasingly.

"...What? Nonsense! We're just acquaintances, just normal talk and business nothing serious! Don't mistake me for being soft!" he denied, sounding... embarrassed?

"Mhm... Alright, whatever you say."

"I'm serious! It's nothing!"

"Hmm..."

"You don't believe me, do you? Okay, maybe I do care for her, but don't mention this to anyone!"

"I won't, I won't."

With those last words, the recorder ends.

"Wow... I never knew how he felt." Charlie said, looking speechless.

"I know. And I'm happy for him." Rosie nodded with a fond smile.

 "But even so, I can't even pitch my hotel right!" Charlie frowned.

"Well how do you normally explain your hotel?" Rosie asked her.

"By singing. But that never works."

"It will work here. Trust me."

After that talk, they're back to the crowd as Charlie and Rosie both walk back up on the stage. Alastor hands Charlie his microphone, and Charlie faces the crowd and begins to sing.

https://youtu.be/us2qgNOpwpw

Have you ever wanted something that was so clear in your mind that you could taste it?

"You mean like human flesh?" Susan asked.

"Eugh, sort of." Charlie replied awkwardly before continuing singing.

It's a feeling like a rumbling in your gut that you could finally be faced with
A billion needy faces
I guess what I mean to say is, for the first time in my life
I might have to be ready for this
Ready to be the one who's leading from the front

Gotta come into my own
Gotta come into my throne
Gotta take charge and defend my only home
And although I kinda feel unsteady
Now I need to be ready for this

Charlie marches into the crowd.

Have you ever felt like you're willing to die to save the people of your city?

"By "Die", do you mean use my teeth to rip flesh apart?" Susan asked again, getting where this is going.

"That's a start!" Charlie smiled.

'Cause right now we need a leader
And it seems to me that destiny has picked me
To be that, if you'll permit me, so who's with me?

Charlie starts dancing.

Wouldn't it be super to see more of Hell?
Join up now if you like travel
Come on boys, hop in the saddle!
Lotta sights to see en route to my hotel
Not to mention the camaraderie

Yes siree, you'll form life-changing friendships
With the folks along the way

Alastor chimes in.

And feast on all the angels you can eat

This made Charlie smile nervously at that part.

Okay...

Hearing that made the cannibals excited, including Susan.

Free food!
I'm in!
Oh-whoa, It's food!
Nom-nom-nom

The cannibal crowd join in on the song and start dancing as well.

It's time now to act!
They're on the attack!

Alastor takes his microphone back and Rosie hands Charlie a parade stick.

When they move to strike, we will fight biting back!
We'll follow your lead, we're eager to feed!
We'll sharpen our teeth for the heavenly feast

From this moment on, you can count on us
To be resolute and ravenous
Our appetites are whet and we're set to seize the day
So I say, oh hey, come join the flesh buffet!

Charlie gets nervous and tries to calm them down with their sudden hunger, but Rosie assures her that it's fine.

Well, that's a little violent, can we tone it down?
Oh, don't be put off by their snarlin', that's enthusiasm, darlin'!
Eh, they just seem a little murdery right now
Don't worry, honey, that's their thing
Keep singing
We're super-duper grateful
To have you folks aboard
We can't wait to taste an angel's wings!
Oh, lord

2 Cannibals grab Charlie and carry her as they all march down the road.

For the first time in my life
Maybe I can be ready for this
I can be the marshal leading the parade
I can come into my own, and I think I've always known
My destiny could never be postponed
When Adam brings the battle here
I must appear like I'm ready for this

Rosie watches as the cannibals sing and dance alongside Charlie with a smile.

They're dancing along
They're singing her song

Alastor grins at his friend.

Surprised? Why, I knew she could do it all along

Both Alastor and Rosie dance together.

She's bound to pass the test as princess of Hell
Like her daddy, she is madly power-fell

Alastor looks back at Charlie with an evil smile.

She's filled with potential that I could guide

Rosie chimes in as the two dance and sing together.

I concur! Stick with her, you'll be on the winning side

The 2 cannibals placed Charlie down as everyone sings along with Alastor and Rosie who stands on each side of her.

For the first time in our lives, we know that we are ready for this!
We'll show Heaven a fight they won't forget! (Ah, ah, ah)
It is time to take a stand!
It is time to lend a hand! (Huzzah!)
Against the angels, and their deadly threat!

We cannot take it anymore
The time has come to go to war

Susan gives a nod of approval.

Prepare to fight
We're ready for this!

Charlie marches forward with the cannibals following her as she looks up to the Heaven nervously.

I really hope that I'm ready for this

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the gates of the hotel, Charlie is coming from the left with the army of cannibals while Vaggie is coming from the right with multiple crates of weapons. The two noticed each other and stared.

"Looks like you had a busy day." Vaggie said.

"You too." Charlie smiled.

Vaggie frowns.

"Charlie, I--"

Charlie cuts her off and reaches something into her pocket.

"Hold that thought. Err.. Ah! I got you a souvenir from Cannibal Town."

She pulls out a shrunken head keychain. Vaggie gasps and has an apologetic expression. She goes to hug Charlie.

"Oh, Charlie."

Charlie hugs back and touches Vaggie's wings.

"The wings are new. They look nice~. Come on, let's go home."

Both Vaggie and Charlie walk into the hotel, as they find Angel Dust, Nifty, Sir Pentious, and Husk all working on defenses for the hotel together. Not only that but with the help of Damari and other more sinners.

"Come along, let's put some effort into these fortifications." Sir Pentious ordered.

"Yeah, fortify that..." Angel said before noticing Charlie and Vaggie from the railings. "Well, look who decided to show up. We thought we were fightin' by ourselves."

Angel wraps his arms around Husk, Damari, and Sir Pentious.

"You're... you're still here?" Vaggie asked in surprise.

"What? Do you think we're a bunch of pusssssies?" Sir Pentious scoffed with a hiss.

"I just got used to you guys." Husk scoffed with a grin. "I ain't finding no new drinking buddies."

"I've named all the stains on the carpet." Niffty said and pointed to the stained carpet with a giggle. "That one's Fred."

"I knew you guys would need help, so I managed to bring more allies. And made some new friends."

Damari gestured to the sinners who gave Charlie and Vaggie a smile and a wave as she introduced their names: Frankie, Draculaura, Clawdeen, Cleo, Lagoona, Abbey, Spectra, Venus, Clawd, Ghoulia, Deuce, Rochelle, Rebecca, Operetta, Gill, Jinafire, Howleen, Cupid, and Twyla.

"I still believe in your redemption of this hotel." Damari smiled. "And don't worry about that angel secret of yours, Vaggie. I forgive you. You're my friend and I still care about you."

This made Vaggie tear up. Charlie then grasp hands with Vaggie, smiling happily.

"Well, looks like we have a lot of work to do."

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