Big Brothers is Back part 5

from /hhg/ Hazbin Hotel general #634 and #635
part 1: https://pastebin.com/LwRxTRNH
part 2: https://pastebin.com/7yHcR14j
part 3: https://pastebin.com/AfxC5i7f
part 4: https://pastebin.com/uHK1m26T
Big Brothers is Back - de-conditioning part 1: https://pastebin.com/mW1E0BCD
Big Brothers is Back - de-conditioning part 2: https://pastebin.com/T8gpjxCJ
DC timeline Octavia: https://pastebin.com/tmxYDp4t
Dictator charlie - alt-ending: https://pastebin.com/NREXyytV
DC what if part 1: https://pastebin.com/pErwRZ58
DC what if part 2: https://pastebin.com/9B0FTHnT
Dictator charlie dealing with her inner demons part 1: https://pastebin.com/eKiaizwB
Dictator charlie dealing with her inner demons part 2: https://pastebin.com/y2Zrm8e7
Dictator charlie dealing with her inner demons part 3: https://pastebin.com/4aCEZ0Nc
Timeline shenanigans happens: https://pastebin.com/C1jgFV52
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>You never could stand to see your sister cry
>Even if she'd bugged you to the point of snapping at her for her obnoxiously cheery antics, the moment you saw tears marring her cheeks your anger would evaporate
>To see her in pain was a terrible, terrible thing
>You know that this woman isn't your sister
>You know that this person is practically a stranger to you
>You know that you have every reason to hate her with every fiber of your being

>Yet you do the unthinkable

>You hold your arms out
>You, a demon prince, reach out to hug an angel
>An exterminator no less

>Solagne stares at you with confused, tearful eyes
>You realize the stupidity of what you're offering and start to take a step back
>Then you feel her arms around you
>Followed by her wings, enveloping the both of you
>She shudders through a sob

>You can't think of anything helpful to say to her
>If it were Charlie, you'd try to conjure up a happy shared memory or hum a tune that she found comforting
>But this isn't Charlie, it's some color-negative twin of hers that just happens to be as miserable and broken as she is
>You sigh into her shoulder
>What an existence indeed
>What an existence we're all enduring

>Solagne spends the next moments in silence
>She seems much more collected
>Her smile is still nowhere to be found
>But at least she no longer looks like she's about to collapse into sobs in the middle of the floor
>She looks you in the eye inquisitively before she opens her mouth again

>"You're an odd one, if you don't mind my saying so."
-
>Pardon?

>Parting from you, Solagne has to take a moment to contemplate her own meaning before she speaks again

>"You're...not like your sister."

>No, you're a lot like Charlie, at least who Charlie used to be
>You both had the same dreams for a time, just different ideas of how to achieve them
>...you may have had a bit of wanderlust as well, but you shared her hopes
>You used to have a lot in common

>Continuing to converse with the angel, you think back to what Octavia said, about being swept up in this mess like everyone else
>You wonder how all this would have panned out if you had been here for all of it
>Could you have stopped Solagne from...completing her mission?
>How?
>And if you failed to stop her?
>Would that have set the same vengeful fire in your heart that it set in Charlie's?
>Would you have been sitting at the table demanding Solagne and all her ilk be executed with the same fervor as your sister?
>You can't say for sure
>You'd like to think not, but you just can't be sure you don't have the same blackness in your heart that's eating away at Charlie

>"...what do you really stand to gain, letting me see my mother?"
>"An angel hasn't set foot in Satanel's realm since The Fall."
>"Why grant me the privilege out of anyone else?"

>You shrug
>You've got your reasons
-
>"It's called an equitable trade."

>Solagne sucks in a sharp breath, but keeps from audibly gasping

>Charlie stands some distance away, booted feet shoulder width apart, hands folded behind her back
>The usual long braid tucked beneath her cap, the usual morose look marring her features
>She looks in your direction

>"I'm sure you're quite confident in your abilities, Anon, but you really should keep your bodyguard closer at hand when the enemy is right under your nose."

>Moxxie peaks out from behind your sister and proceeds sheepishly back to your side
>You try to catch his tawny eyes as he trots over to surreptitiously let him know he's not in any trouble
>You manage it, tilt your head ever so slightly in Charlie's direction, and roll your eyes as subtly as possible
>His back to his monarch, Moxxie rolls his back just a tiny bit more vigorously
>You breath a silent sigh of relief
>He shook the remnants of his conditioning off pretty quickly this time
>You'd call that progress
-
>Charlie glares a few daggers at Solagne before she continues

>"I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long."

>Her voice drips with sarcasm

>"I was making the final arrangements for our transportation"
>"They're waiting for us, if you're ready"

>Solagne stiffens, takes a deep breath, and nods
>Charlie swings her hands around from behind her to clap them together in mock-excitement, her expression still disdainful

>"Well then, off we go~"

>"Off we go, esteemed ambassador, off to the realm of traitors, turncoats, and mutineers."

>Your sister places a steely emphasis on those last few words to further cut into Heaven's representative

>"I do hope you packed for cold weather"
----------------------
>Your "transportation" for this occasion isn't one of the vehicles from the usual royal motor pool
>It's a military vehicle
>An Overwatch "Crisis Transport", the sort of thing you understand is generally only rolled out in situations where troopers are cleared for "Maximum Sanction"
>A squad of Overwatch troopers backed up by a few of the higher end Enforcer units flanks the path leading to it
>Unnecessary, and in somewhat poor taste, but you're sure your sister knows that
>This is obviously deliberate
>A little show of force to intimidate your guest, to remind her of the precariousness of her situation down here

>It's working
>If Solagne weren't already so pale, you'd expect to see the color draining from her face
>Her body language betrays carefully restrained fear
>Were it not for Moxxie trailing behind the three of you, blocking the path, she'd probably backpedal right back through the door

>The Overwatch demons salute as you pass them
>Moxxie salutes back
>Surprisingly, Solagne follows suit
>You nod in acknowledgement
>Charlie remains impassive
-
>The rest of the party boards the vehicle before you do
>One foot in the door, you turn back and survey the palace
>Up at one of the windows, you can just barely see the silhouette and reddish eye-glow of Angel Dust
>The feline shape of Husk and wide, amber eye of Niffty soon join him
>Ostensibly, the former is only paying a social visit to the latter
>In reality though...
>Well, you'll find out how the first steps went after you return from The Ice, and figure out what to do from there

>You throw out a quick salute, both at the window and at the tidy specimen of Hell's military might, then duck into the vehicle and take your seat
>It's a quiet ride
>You feel the vehicle move, but hardly hear anything
>Your traveling companions are likewise silent
>Charlie stares at Solagne
>Solagne stares back
>Moxxie sits back, legs crossed, and minds his own
>You rest your head against the seat and close your eyes
>It will be a long ride, may as well try to get comfortable


That's it for today. Next time: you arrive in the ninth circle and stuff happens there also.