This was... Quite unique.
The hotel was nice. He already knew that. Charlie had good tastes and, apparently, the Radio Demon had a good eye for aesthetics... For Hell standards, at least.
Still, Naruto was trepid.
It had been a long time since he had been in such an environment or anything like it. He had long become accustomed to the ruined apartment complex outside Cannibal Town. He had forged an understanding with them.
Don't fuck with him, he wouldn't bother them. And if anyone did...
Death was preferable.
At least at the start. Once they learned their lessons, he was far more reasonable with them.
However, Naruto did not have that established relationship here. There wasn't that inherent respect he had forged, outside of Charlie and Vaggie...
"Good morning!"
...And Lucy.
"Guess you could say that," Naruto repressed the urge to grimace at the contact.
The first step he took outside of his new apartment, and he was already bombarded... Fuck Bee, fuck Vaggie... Fuck, Loona, Blitzo... Charlie...
Naruto had nothing. He could never say a bad word about her. She was still a shining light.
Still, a sliver of warmth grew within as Naruto forced a half smile at Lucy. "You doing fine here, kiddo?"
"I am!" Lucy beamed, ignoring what seemed to be a small vermin of some sort racing behind and past her in a panic. "Ms. Morningstar and Ms. Vaggie have been so welcoming to me! Angel Dust is nice and helps me out around the hotel! And miss Niffty..."
Naruto swiftly interrupted Lucy's long-winded spiel by lifting her away as the one-eyed Sinner raced through where Lucy had been brandishing a knife.
"Die, die, die, ahahaha!" Niffty laughed maniacally, chasing the vermin down the hall.
"And Sir Alastor lets me assist Niffty with pest control!" Lucy hesitantly laughed at the scene.
"I'm sure he does..." Naruto squinted at Niffty with mild distrust before setting Lucy down.
"Niffty can be quite something, can't she?" Charlie's nervous laughter drew Naruto's attention to the other side of the hall. "And as... Unique... of an individual she may be, she has been an amazing help here so far."
"Mhm," Naruto raised his eyebrow skeptically. Charlie's chuckle only grew more uncomfortable, causing Naruto to sigh.
"Say, you want some coffee? I could use some. And, if you have a moment, perhaps we could chat?" Naruto sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"I would like that," Charlie returned with a genuine but soft smile. And with a gesturing motion to come with, she led down the hallway. "While we're still trying to find someone as the cook, Husk is a great bartender..."
"Sold. Gonna need to whiskey my coffee..." Naruto muttered before he stopped alongside Charlie and stopped at Lucy's voice.
"Could I join? I never had coffee before..."
Glancing at one another before looking back down at the young Sinner.
"Sure... It's bitter, though." Naruto grunted.
"The more the merrier." Charlie chirped before beckoning Lucy to join. "With all the guests we have today, today is certainly going to be lively!"
Naruto stopped in his tracks once again. With a sharp glance at Charlie, he furrowed his brow and scowled.
"What do you mean, guests?"
[ X ]
Naruto could feel his brow twitching. The will to draw a knife and tear everyone apart.
This was ridiculous! He was sure he told them he wasn't coming in today!
"Why are you all here?" Naruto gnashed his teeth and growled at the sight of Vaggie entertaining all of his coworkers over a drink of their choosing as they sat at the bar with a few of the other residents.
...'Bout to be ex-coworkers...
"Well, you see... Sir!" Moxxie nervously started but was shoved to the side by Blitzo.
Almost as if he was trying to silence him...
"Business was slow today, yatta-yatta, we decided to take the day off and come check out this shithole you're now staying at," Blitzo commented nonchalantly, giving a rundown glance over the main hall with a chuckle. "Been meaning to check this out after witnessing that horrendous interview. Meh, it's better, I suppose."
"This is not a shithole..." Charlie muttered under her breath, taking offense at Blitzo's comment.
"Take it from me, that is just how he compliments things," Naruto whispered while patting Charlie on her shoulder. His eyes sharpened like daggers, and then, he focused on his coworkers and grunted. "Wouldn't you want to blow off a potential job after your frivolous spending of all the contracts we just made?"
"Money well spent!" Blitzo broadly grinned, displaying a shiny golden locket before he glowered and glared at Naruto. "And watch it! I don't appreciate being followed around..."
Naruto raised his brow incredulously, and Loona, Moxxie, and Millie followed suit with equally questioning stares.
"What?" Blitzo responded, indignant at the looks.
"Anyways," Vaggie cut the conversation short. "With this being your first day, we wanted it to be relaxing for you... Then Sir Pentious brought in a cannon into his morning..."
"He did what?" Naruto exclaimed, rapidly glancing around, searching for the snake. "How did I not hear that this morning? ...Wait... He's staying here?"
"Oh no..." Vaggie's expression fell, and concern set in. "This might be an issue..."
"No it won't! You worry too much." Charlie expressed with a vehement smile, ignoring the ball of flames generated in Naruto's hand.
"I agree, it won't. I get a front row seat to watch the show!" Blitzo smirked, sucking down his drink through his straw.
"Oh, I want to see this as well! I've heard the stories and want to see them myself!" Angel Dust curiously turned around to watch the fireworks.
"Believe me, they're real." Loona exhaled, swirling her drink and grimacing. "I've had first row tickets to that show before... It's something, alright."
"And I missed it!" Blitzo incredulously complained. "Ah, fuck! I picked the wrong mission that day!"
"So," Charlie innocently chirped, unaware of the tension behind her. "Since you are all here, and happen to be my uncle's coworkers, would you like to participate in the fun activity I have planned today for the residents? You would be a great help since you are already a team and help show us how it is done!"
"Oh, that sounds like fun! I'm in!" Millie excitedly jumped on the opportunity before turning to her husband. "Isn't that right, hun?"
"I guess," Moxxie exhaled before glancing up at Charlie. "If I may, what activity would you like us to participate in?"
"Trust building! I've been noticing a high amount of tension lately, and..." Charlie beamed before she was suddenly interrupted.
"Fuck no!" Blitzo spat out the sip of his drink, his belting laughter drawing everyone's attention. "There is no way I'm taking part in that! Trust exercises for a bunch of Sinners and Demons? No selfish demon would ever claim to trust another demon! Oh, I might just want to stick around and watch this travesty... Ow, fuck!"
"Are you... Okay? That looked like a nasty fall," Charlie concernedly stared at the fallen Blitzo. Despite being increasingly frustrated with his demeanor, she was accustomed to such spectisms.
And it was as if he launched out of his chair!
"More like someone tripped him," Vaggie's gaze shifted toward a calmed Naruto, who sneered at Blitzo.
"Charlie, sweetie," Naruto weakly exhaled, glancing at the vibrant Charlie. "I hate to agree with half of what he was saying, but Blitzo's right about everything he said. ...Do you even have a plan?"
"Well, I do know that I'm too trusting, so I'm probably not the best to teach about it." Charlie laughed.
"Ain't that the truth..." Naruto and Vaggie stated simultaneously before staring at one another.
...Waiting for the other to give in and take the obvious bait...
"Dammit, I'll do it," Naruto relenent, releasing an exasperated sigh while shooting Vaggie an annoyed glare.
"You will! Thank you! I couldn't think of anyone better!" Charlie appreciatively thanked.
"I could think of several..." Naruto grumbled, furrowing his brow thoughtfully. After a moment and a shake of his head, he glanced at the bartender. "Do you have any spare rotten eggs?"
"A few dozen crates. Got them for Alastor as he likes to feast on rotten things. I can have Niffty grab one for you, if you like," Husk nodded before turning his gaze to the crazed maid.
"If you wouldn't mind, we'll need at least one." Naruto nodded, and Niffty gleefully rushed to grab the order.
"I don't like where this is heading..." Loona scrunched her muzzle, knowing how horrific the smell was. "I might regret this..."
"But I want to see where this goes."
[ X ]
"Precisely what are we supposed to do with these?" Angel Dust complained, lazily lying on the couch with the egg perched between his fingers before smirking. "You know, I usually have people pay me for this kind of thing."
"Or not. ...I was just joking." Angel Dust shrank at the death glare Naruto sent his direction, muttering to himself after.
"And why am I here?" Sir Pentious curiously asked with a hiss.
"From what Charlie has informed me, ever since your arrival, there has been a... An increase in tension amongst the residents of the hotel. A lack of trust, some would say." Naruto growled as his gaze locked onto Sir Pentious. Resisting the desire to fulfill his promise, he shook his head and motioned toward two stacks of crates he had Husk bring up to the room. "Instead, we are going to be doing a trust exercise with these. The winner gets a prize of their choosing... A favor from me."
"Of our choosing?" Angel Dust looked surprised, his eyes widening. A favor from the Embodiment of Death... Could he...
"I could get my Egg Boiz back?" Sir Pentious asked, his expression gleaming with hope.
"Um, uh, sure?" Naruto blinked, unsure of what that was before recalling his previous strange henchmen.
"Then, I, Sir Pentious, am duty-bound to succeed in this endeavor!" Sir Pentious proudly stood, hand to his chest...
Only to realize he had cracked the egg on him.
"Shit!"
Naruto scoffed. Oh, he wanted him to fail. To get last place. Then, he could...
"Shouldn't we start with trust falls? Or something like that?" Charlie innocently asked, drawing Naruto's attention away from his plot.
"No, because mostly everyone here wouldn't catch anyone else in the room." Naruto exhaled before shooting a glare toward Blitzo as he laughed.
"I know I wouldn't!"
"Instead, we're doing this as taking you to a battlefield would be pointless." Naruto glowered a moment longer before his gaze shifted toward Vaggie as she spoke.
"That's what I would have done. It's how I learned to trust others. It's how I came to trust you." Vaggie placed her hand on her hip, eyebrow raised.
"Such a way only works when there is fear of failure," Naruto explained, pointing a finger at Sir Pentious.
And a flame burst out, incinerating his arm into ashes, leaving light flames flickering onto his body.
"By Satan, fucking ow! Why?!"
"Oh my father! Why did you do that?" Charlie jumped in place, glancing between Sir Pentious and Naruto in horror.
To his credit, Naruto gave her a pitiful glance before his gaze hardened upon a flailing Sir Pentious. "Besides the pain... What consequences are there for a Sinner? Outside of stronger demons enslaving you to be their minion, what is there to fear when death really isn't a factor?"
With those words, the room went silent.
Charlie raised her fingers but hesitated before hanging her head, her brow furrowed in thought. He wasn't wrong, but... It felt so wrong to say.
Vaggie winced at Naruto's reasoning. It was sound. She had to have that trust in a fight. If not... Well, she was a Fallen Angel and could die. It was why she trusted Naruto...
"So in this simple exercise, there will be a consequence for not trusting your fellow hotel mates... Or my coworkers," Naruto announced, pulling a pitch black egg from the top crate. "Mox, catch."
"What do you mean..." Moxxie squinted before his eyes widened in terror, watching the egg soar towards him, forcing him to catch it safely. "Whoa! No, no, no... Ahaha! Got it!"
"And we both just earned a point," Naruto announced with a smirk at Blitzo. "Ya mind?"
"Absolutely," Blitzo smirked and smacked Moxxie on his back.
The slight stumble from the sudden motion startled Moxxie, causing his hands to slap together and break the egg; its grotesque yolk was slimy as it dripped between his fingers.
"Oh yuck!" Moxxie groaned in disgust, grimacing as he tried to wave the yolk off his hand.
"And that is one point lost for Moxxie... And I lost two." Naruto's lips curled in amusement. "All because my trust in Moxxie to return it to me safely was misplaced."
"Why doesn't he lose a point? He caused it." Angel Dust pointed to Blitzo while cradling his egg.
"Cause I am the magnificent Blitzo, without the O, mind you, and that is how life works around here!" Blitzo cackled while being a showman. "And I am here to make your lives miserable and cause you to suckers to lose this game!"
"Lose?" Sir Pentious warrily leaned back, carefully cradling his new egg.
"So that's what you meant by consequences... Although the smell is... Pungent, to say the least." Vaggie screwed her nose and mouthed her discuss. Focusing her intent on Naruto, she furrowed her gaze. "So what's the punishment for the person who fails today?"
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Naruto bared his fangs with his grin, a menacing aura pulsing from his very being. "Oh, that's easy. Whoever loses today..."
"Will get a date with me to learn why they call me the Embodiment of Death."
[ X ]
"This is turning out better than expected." Charlie stepped beside Naruto, watching everyone pass the eggs back and forth to each other. Turning her attention to Naruto, she flashed a brilliant smile. "Thank you so much. I know this is difficult for you... Ever since... I genuinely thank you. You don't know what it means to have you here helping at the hotel."
"You're welcome, I guess..." Naruto tilted his head, his muzzle twisting uncomfortably several times as he watched. They were honestly exceeding expectations.
He really wanted Sir Pentious to fail, but the snake was a pro at handling eggs. He was thoroughly motivated to succeed and willing to trust his fellow demons to accomplish his goals. He even lectured them on the anatomy of an egg to better understand how to handle them.
Watching Blitzo like a hawk to try and stop the imp from ruining their day. Blitzo was still successful. He was good at his job.
And a bit of money kept him motivated.
Still, it was a small sample size... But maybe there was something more to the snake?
But it wasn't just him. Everyone seemed motivated...
Except Loona. She sat in the back, brooding and reading a magazine.
Whether for their own motivations or not, they trusted one another to hand off and return their eggs safely. It was somehow inspiring to watch.
Maybe there was...
Naruto shook the thought from his head. "Alright, time is..."
A sudden crash jolted most everyone. Everyone cracked their heads to the noise source to notice that a simple kick had knocked over all the crates, leaking the putrid-smelling gunk onto the floor.
"Ah, I have to clean that later..." Niffty scrunched her nose, glaring at the perpetrator.
And Loona crossed her arms and huffed. "Big deal... I lost the game, correct?"
"Yes?" Naruto awkwardly stared at Loona, failing to comprehend her reasoning.
She had heard what he had said, right?
"Alright then. Can we do our date when we're off from work? I want to have some time to look my best." Loona confidently grinned.
As Naruto leaned back at Loona's assertiveness, Charlie's jaw dropped. Vaggie tilted her head in bewilderment. Blitzo...
"Woah, woah, woah! Time out!" Blitzo pulled Loona aside and down to his level. "You know what I talked about dating!"
"That you will watch every move we make like a hawk?" Loona shrugged uncaringly. "Of course I remember. And if you are willing to watch as I..."
"Not on the first date!"
"Oh, family drama!" Angel Dust took a bite out of a mysterious bag of popcorn that miraculously appeared. "This keeps getting better and better!"
"Ehem." Sir Pentious coughed to get Naruto and Charlie's attention. "As the victor in his game of ours..."
"You didn't win." Vaggie pulled out a clipboard with which she had kept track of the score. "Niffty won... By a lot."
"What? Preposterous! I was teaching everyone how to properly handle and care for their eggs while handing them over!" Sir Pentious scoffed.
"I won! Yay! I want a bigger knife!" Niffty rapidly approached, holding an entire carton of eggs in her grasp before throwing them in the air out of sheer joy.
"That is how she won." Vaggie pointed at the carton and shook her head at an astonished Sir Pentious. "The rules were simple and easy to bend. No one else considered taking an entire carton of eggs when each egg gave her a point while having various partners."
"Oh..." Sir Pentious morosely slumped in place.
"Ah, so this is where everyone went. I was wondering what that wondrous smell was." Alastor made his presence known.
And behind him were each of the Egg Boiz before they raced to Sir Pentious.
"My Boiz!" Sir Pentious joyously resonated before a confused expression came across his features, turning toward Vaggie. "But I thought..."
"He made me call during the test." Vaggie sighed, hand on her hip, before she smiled. "He made a good point. It's clear you trust these little guys, and it would be stupid to take them away from you when they are clearly helping you... Be better... Besides, it's not like your takeover schemes will work when he's your hallmate with Lucy."
"He's... Oh." Sir Pentious nervously glanced at Naruto, who finally broke out of his stunned stupor to glare at the snake Sinner.
"And you better be on your best behavior from now on," Naruto growled, his cerulean eyes shifting to red as his intent bore onto Sir Pentious. "You cause Charlie any more trouble, and I will become your worst nightmare."
"Believe it."