HellWalker: Beyond the Line part 2

from /hhg/ - Hazbin Hotel General Thread #181
part 1: https://pastebin.com/cXGszAVn
part 3: https://pastebin.com/pk1MzBSy
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>the silence was deafening - between the three of them, there was nary a breath taken
>slowly, Stretch lowered his arm, still staring at the soldier
>Walker stared, sand swirling ominously, the phosphorous attempting to burn through the blanche figures... Well, lack-of-eyes
>Chan was seriously considering legging it - an increasingly growing number of posters screaming inside his head, in lieu of a survival instinct (or rather, outshouting it)

>Walker blinked
>slowly, he turned his head to the side, the fires illuminating the worn, green service coat

...

>he was right
>there was no insignia - despite all the ribbon bars, the rank insignia was conspicuously amiss

"Captain."

>came the short reply, eyes once again fixed on the guy's face
>he merely nodded, before tilting his head up a bit
>it took him a moment to realize it - he was looking over his shoulder
>tension rose
>then the green man spoke up
"We're here."
>turning around, his eyes immediately fell upon the door, bearing a closer resemblance to the front door of a house than that of a hotel room, the golden 33 standing out proudly against the red wood

>with the clatter of the lock and key, the door opened into a dark room - heavy curtains shielding the window on the opposite wall, leaving only a sliver of light to oppose that of the hallway's
>the factotum stepped in, immediately marching to the curtains to open them, while the soldier stopped in the doorway, taking it all in
>the room was of a decent size, and well furnished - old fashioned canopy bed to the left, flanked by a nightstand and a wardrobe towards the door, and by a nightstand towards the window
>across the room a commode with a couple of big drawers, an old idiot box on top of it, and beside it, another door...

>he's interrupted in his musings, as a pale, cartoonish arm slowly creeps into view, holding his hand-bag sized luggage

Cont.
-
"Here."
>and with that, the hand placed the bag, seemingly in mid-air, in front of the bed - returning it to it's original size
"As promised."
>turning to the side, the Captain saw a faint smile on the anon's face, before he noticed his stare, and politely stepped out of his personal space
>with the curtains drawn, red light filled the room from the skies beyond
>interest piqued, Walker stepped in, as the suited man turned, and opened the door on the right, slipping into the other room
>soon, there was light, and he heard running water
>so, the bathroom

*click*

>he spun around on his heels, incensed at once, boots creaking and whining from the sudden stress
>the fires from his eyes engulfed his entire head filling the room with a pale, sickly yellow light

*click-click*
"Ah! So the light IS working! Well, I'll better put a new bulb in anyway, this one seems to be--..."

>Stretch's chatter and smile soon faded out, as he took note of the vortex of glass and fire in the center of the room
>but as quick as it came, the fire went out, leaving after-images in his vision, forcing him to blink(?) in the darkness

>Walker gave a deep sigh
>the guy's just trying to help - keep it together, soldier
>the two anons made short work of tidying up the place, taking note of everything that needed fixing - which ended up including the television set and some of the outlets, as well as the wardrobe, as the door broke off with a gunshot-like crack, crumbling away at its hinges
>damn nearly gave the three heart attacks, doubly so for the two staff members, who's minds immediately snapped to the volatile man behind him
>it took Walker a few deep breaths, but soon enough, he had calmed down

>finally, they stood in the center of the room, Stretch observing a checklist and penning down whatever needed to be, while Chan verbally walked him through the last few thing

Cont.
-
"Right, so, you'll need a new TV, a new wardrobe, two new outlets and a bulb for the lamp."

"His reading lamp is fine, though."
>Stretch quipped, helpfully, before giving him a wry smile
"We won't leave you in the dark."
>Chan groaned, but went on
"The other door closer to the hallway leads to a step-in coat rack - it's like a closet, but really shallow. Good enough for spare shoes and coats, but not for hiding."
"Bed should be fine."
>Stretch added, before glancing up from the paper, and at his colleague
"Will you tell him about the--?"
"Yes."
>Chan fixed his gaze on something on the wall, and Walker soon followed suit, spotting the old rotary on the other side of the door not far from the coat rack's door
"The Hotel's landline system is ancient, particularly the in-house circuitry..."
"It was designed in the era of the Telephone Herald, before the radio."
>the blanche figure added, taking the word from his friend
"We've rigged it up so it can function as a sort-of intercom system."
"We'll eventually get around to installing a proper one, as Al seems interested in the whole Phone Herald thing."
>Chan continued
"In the mean time, if you need anything, just dial zero. It'll put you through to Husk, and he'll send over whoever's available. Now..."
>the two anons stood, ready to depart
"Anything else you'd like? We'll get you a new TV tomorrow."
"Mini-fridge?"
>Stretch quizzed
"Short-wave radio? AGH..!"
>he yelped, as Chan elbowed him in the ribs
>Walker exhaled, amused, but shook his head dismissively

"Right now, I just want to rest."

>the other two nodded, and departed, closing the door behind them
>but not before Stretch called out one last time:
"The WiFi password is HotelHappy2019!"

>finally alone, the Captain took another, scrolling look on his room, before his eyes locked onto the only source of light:
>the window

>his view was - thankfully - that of the Hotel's untamed garden, and the Wastes tat laid beyond
>he allowed his mind to wander

Cont.
-
"So, what is she like?"

>the other two looked up
>the question caught them off-guard

"Charlie?"
>Stretch asked back
"She's a sweet girl. Excitable. Bit naive, though, she's been around for at least 700 years."
"She still knows about jack shit when it comes to humans."
>Chan added
"But that's why she has Vaggie. Well, that, and for management."

"Are they an item?"
>Walker asked
"Unfortunately."
>came the reply, followed by a long pause

"And... Vaggie?"

>Chan snorted
"Just your regular tumblrina, except armed with knives. Offended by anything and everything... Oof!"
>this time, it was Stretch who elbowed him, albeit not as forcefully as he did. Giving his colleague a dissentient look, he turned to the soldier
"Vaggie's... A bit of a control freak. She hadn't had the best of childhoods, what, with El Salvador still reeling from the civil war, and... Didn't exactly turn to the right people for help."
"Matter of fact, she turned to the left..."
>Chan chuckled, but, after getting another wry look from Stretch, he cleared his throat

"Basically, she thought the internetz would help her fight the corruption. Fat lot of good that did. Her cousin's gambling debts didn't help, either."
"It didn't do any good for her mental health. Or... Well, physical health, either."

>Stretch gave a dark chuckle, but then turned serious

"Charlie's just about the only person she can depend upon, so she'll defend her with tooth and claw, if need be.

>the captain only looked aside, mind processing the info. However, the anons continued

"You already know Al, and you'd probably heard of Angel Dust..."
>Chan continued
"Husk, well... He's a Vietnam vet... Hell, Sting's an actual WWII one, now that I think about it... Anyway, you'll get to meet the others soon enough."
>Walker "hmm"-ed

"...You said she was 700?"

"Charlie? At least."
>Stretch replied
"Jury's still out if she's just a nephilim, or the Anti-Antichrist."

Cont.