Chapter Text
“I think this punishment is as close as we can get to matching the crime without becoming what we seek to stop,” Sera said, gesturing at the window to Hell. “I would just recommend one more thing…”
Suddenly Emily was in the hotel lobby, relaying the order to Charlie and her ragtag team.
“I think it's a great idea!” Charlie beamed. “He'll stay here with us, and we'll rehabilitate him!”
“Mmm,” Alastor purred from the corner. “I can think of some better ideas. Ones that involve disassembling those parts and scattering them across the pentagram. Maybe letting Baxter use his inners to fix the guests’ Wifi problems?”
“Well, speaking of his wires and... you know... the whole TV situation…,” Emily hesitated. Hands fidgeting with each other. “Sera wants to try something... new! I've been ordered to return him to his... human body!” She couldn't help but squeal the last bit. “Sera thinks it could help with the new start. Less powerful. More vulnerable. But also not totally unfamiliar.” Her voice hit a high note on the totally, but her smile remained.
Angel had all four arms on waist and hips when he chimed in, “are you sure that's a good idea? He'd be like the only one in hell that looks human!”
“Well, my dad kind of looks human. Ironically enough....,” Charlie scratched her head.
“Listen, I've never died,” Vaggi chimed in, “but I think having a constant reminder of how you died, probably doesn't leave one in the best mental state to be redeemed.”
“I like this plan,” Husk proclaimed, leaving the bar and walking towards the circle of friends standing around, “only the people in this room will know it's him. And maybe his followers from before but they won't be anywhere near the hotel. The only problem is if Mr. Anti-TV-Pictures will be able to keep it together.”
“Personally,” Alastor replied, leaning over Vox's sleeping tablet head on the floor beneath him, “I'd prefer not having this perverse technology with us.”
“So it's settled!” Emily beamed, knowing that wasn’t what Alastor meant, but taking it as a win all the same. She giggled to herself, “so here I go!”
She threw her arms down towards Vox and channeled energy from what appeared to be the concentrated, pressured look on her face.
Cherri went to laugh but Angel gave her a soft elbow nudge. Everyone silently watched. A bright glow surrounded him. A quick collage of human memories flashed in the magical swirl covering his screen. And when it dissipated, a man lay before them.
Oddly, he seemed immediately more comfortable. Still in a catatonic state, he stretched out and flexed like a house cat, eyes slightly opening beneath thin glasses even though he was still deep in the heavenly sleep.
Charlie gasped and everyone followed her lead in leaning forward over him with wide eyes.
“I'm just gonna say it,” Cherri announced, “he’s hot!”
Vaggi rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but notice Angel, Charlie, Husk, Nifty, and even Alastor with mouths slightly opened, starring.
Husk clocked Alastor, too. Giving Angel a little head nod in Al's direction.
Charlie grabbed onto Alastor's arm and squeezed. “His eyes... are they different colors?! As a human! That’s…”
“Hot,” Cherri finished her sentence confidently.
“Well,” Charlie blushed, looking at Vaggi, who had a you-guys-gotta-be-kidding-me expression. Charlie released Alastor's arm and straightened up.
Alastor also straightened, feeling Husk and Angel's eyes on him. But even he couldn't stop staring. He caught sight of a vein in Vox's neck. It was pulsing ever so slightly. Alastor thought he could smell the living human blood moving under the skin.
“If he’s human,” he looked at Emily, “can he die again?”
“Human bodies are pretty flimsy,” Angel added, squatting down for a better view of the broad shoulders on the ground. Angel slowly removed Vox’s glasses, brushing against the man’s slightly rosy cheeks.
Alastor began tapping his foot. His shadow reached out, swatting Angel’s hand and placing the glasses back on Vox’s human face.
“What? I’m just looking… you wouldn’t be getting jealous, would you?” Angel teased.
Alastor gave a classic exaggerated radio laugh, but before he could respond, Emily jumped in.
“He has all his physical human traits but he is still a sinner,” Emily explained, “He'll regenerate if anything happens to him. And he won't age. I made him the age where he seemed most... happy? I don't know if he was happy... his human life was CRAZY, but he seemed to like the way he looked most in this specific moment.”
“You watched his life?” Husk questioned, taking a swig from his bottle.
“Well, yeah. Me, Sera, Abel, and Sir Pentious. It was uhhh... interesting! There was even an Alastor cameo!” She proclaimed like their lives were available for entertainment. “Well, not really, but he did listen to some of your old recordings when he was in college. I think there was one bit called Jazz with A-”
“I have to stop you there my little cherub! A name is a powerful thing, and I’d rather that stay between us,” he emphasized the last syllable with less threat than he would have liked.
“So he was a fanboy before death, huh?” Angel added. “You really did a number on this one. Maybe you should be a part of his redemption then?” Angel suggested, knowing Alastor would hate the implication.
But Emily and Charlie didn't. Emily flew in the air. “What a wonderful idea! He really looked up to you as a performer, maybe you can use that to help him!”
“Help? Him? Sorry my dears, but I am much too busy for this... thing.” His hand swirled above Vox's body.
“Doing what exactly?” Vaggi questioned. “Afterall, you owe Emily, she saved your life.”
“Ho ho! I was waiting for that to come up.”
“Charlie? You gonna chime in?” Angel asked and they all turned to Charlie who was basically gawking at the man on the floor.
“Oh, of course! Yes. Sorry. This is just the first real human I've ever met and he's just so... lively?”
“You okay, Charlie?” Vaggi asked, feeling somewhere between jealous and curious.
“She’s starring at the smoke show in front of us,” Cherri casually declared, “You can’t deny it. Even Charlie is feeling the heat.”
“What?! No, no no no no. I'm just... excited! About this new development! A new form of like... sinner therapy! Right, Emily?”
“I think that's the exact way for us to think about it!”
“And none of us are thinking about it in any way other than that. Right?” Vaggi asked, scanning all the sinners in the circle.
Just then, Nifty shuffled over, running her fingers through one of the salt and pepper streaks in his otherwise dark hair. Then a scissors materialized in her hand and she stole a small piece. "This will do nicely," she snickered.
That direct contact seemed to jolt Vox awake for the first time since they took him from the Vees. He yawned into his hand, brushed his hair into a perfect wave, and leaned up into a sitting position. They all watched, wordlessly.
“What the hell?” He started, repositioning his thin glasses before opening his eyes fully.
“Yeah, that'll do it for me, I'll be in my room for some private time if anyone's asking,” Cherri announced before turning to leave.
“Whoa whoa whoa,” Angel put an arm around and stopped her, “I think this is gonna be a fun little show.”
Vox scanned the room and began to stand. He adjusted his bow tie without looking down. Instead he glared at his surroundings. “Why am I here?”
“For redemption!” Charlie beamed, putting her hands on his shoulders then immediately letting go and backing up. “Sorry! Sorry! I'm just so excited you're here.”
“Yeah, well I’m sure this has been a real treat princess, but I'll be taking my leave now.” Vox pointed a hand towards a nearby electronic and awkwardly stood, in pose, while looking at Charlie.
He tried it again, still making undeterred eye contact with her, but when it didn't work, he finally looked at this hand.
It wasn't an immediate freakout. He slowly brought it in front of his chest with his other hand and began to examine his still long but much less sharp fingers. Blue claws replaced with pale flesh.
“What’s…”
He went to touch this face, missing by a few inches, then finally finding his chin. He slowly felt around his own face. Just as he remembered, strong jawline, long eyelashes, perfectly kept hair.
He began to back up, paying no mind to his surroundings anymore, until he bumped into someone, almost falling over. Alastor's claws crept onto his shoulder, steadying him. “You okay, old pal?” He teased.
Vox swung around so quickly that Alastor’s claw snagged his soft, fragile human skin around the neck, leaving a slight scratch that revealed an almost indiscernible amount of blood.
He pushed Alastor away and began breathing much heavier. “What's happening? Why am I... who... what is going on?” He began patting every part of his body, almost like he was double checking that it was actually his. He looked back at Charlie with genuinely terrifying eyes. He looked so fragile. Almost sweet she thought.
Without warning, Alastor ran his finger along Vox's neck from behind and pressed hard until a little blood leaked onto his claw.
"Red looks good on you, Vincent."