CH1- Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off The night was clear enough that the lights of Isle-de-Mont glittered across the dark water, creating the illusion that the low-tide evening train was barrelling towards a huge sparkling fabergé egg suspended in empty black space. Even with the gnawing sense of dread that had festered low in his stomach all day, Husk found the sight of the island city so breathtaking that he almost caught himself feeling nostalgic. Almost. He fumbled in the side pocket of his duffel bag for his flask again, noticeably lighter now than when they’d boarded on the mainland an hour ago. He’d since swallowed any hopes of loosening the growing knots in his stomach along with the rest of his bourbon, but, truth be told, there wasn’t enough liquor in the world to put him at ease. It had been fifteen years since he’d last set foot on the island, and if Husk had had his way, he’d never set foot on its rocky shores again. But life had a funny way of ignoring whatever Husk wanted and instead liked to hurl him out of the nearest window. No one but his boss could have made him come back here, so now here he was, stuck on a high speed rail surrounded by miles of seawater on all sides, and not a drop to drink. His gut reaction told him Alastor had done it on purpose to fuck with him, but more likely it was just a fun perk. As much as he reveled in Husk’s misery, Alastor liked to work efficiently. It was why he’d sent two of them. Husk glanced at the sleeping figure curled up on the seat opposite, his face softening slightly. In his youth he’d been able to sleep pretty much anywhere, but Niffty took it to the next level. He’d seen her snuggle up in a roach-infested crawlspace in the dead of summer like it was the fucking Ritz. Then again, her bite-sized stature probably made it a lot easier.
Finishing off the flask, Husk glowered at his reflection in the window. They’d been on the road for four days since their last job, and he needed a shave and a shower. Not to mention a decent sleep in a proper bed. His hips ached from sitting on trains, and his back was sore from lugging his bag across miles of empty highway in the early hours. Dragging a body through the woods certainly hadn’t helped either, but Husk had already tucked away that part of the job in the shadowier parts of his mind. Husk replaced the flask in his bag and leaned across to where his colleague lay curled up on the opposite seat. He gave her shoulder a little shake. “Hngh – my windows!” she snorted loudly, dark eyes opening. She blinked, focusing on him. “Are we there yet?” “Almost. Thought you’d want to see.” Husk pointed out the window. Niffty sat up, brushing her short, red hair back over her ears. Her eyes widened. “Oooh! It looks like a Christmas tree!” she breathed, pressing her face into the window. Husk’s eyes rose unbidden to the top of the island, where a hauntingly familiar silhouette sat perched like the star at the top of the tree. “Sure does.” God, he needed a drink. “How long will we be here?” asked Niffty, swiveling her big dinner plate eyes his way, again. “Till bossman calls and says different. Prob’ly a few days, a week maybe. Few hours if he’s being a dick.” Husk leaned to the side to stretch out his stiff spine, feeling the bones crackle. Niffty grinned widely, a little too wide, and Husk could tell what she was going to say before – “Wanna cause a little trouble, bad boy?” He laughed despite himself at her enthusiasm. “Bug, it’s an island. Small town rules. You want the whole place comin’ after us?” Niffty clicked her tongue. “Not a bad boy.” Husk rolled his eyes. “Alastor won’t–” “Alastor doesn’t care as long as we don’t get caught!” “It’s a bad idea.” Husk crossed his arms and looked away, back out of the window.
![“You didn’t think so all those other times,” Niffty sniffed.
Husk grimaced. He knew Alastor didn’t care what they did in their own time as long as they were discreet. It was why Husk had roped Niffty into the cons in the first place. Sometimes, in the sheer boredom of waiting for Alastor to call, the itch would get to him. When that happened, he and Niffty would seek out local casinos and underground poker games wherever they were stationed, and slowly bleed them dry before their next assignment. Or before they could be run out of town. It hadn’t happened yet, but in their line of business it was unwise to be too conspicuous. He didn’t like to think what Alastor would do if their faces started to pop up on wanted posters across the coast.
Niffty smiled widely. She knew exactly how weak his defenses were. “I could wear a little mustache and you could wear a wig, and no one will even know it’s us.” She cocked her head at Husk’s flat expression. “What’s wrong, don’t wanna swindle your hometown?”
Husk narrowed his eyes. “I’m not even gonna ask where you learned that. But no. Could care less about that.”
“Half those buildings are casinos.” Niffty squinted at the island. “Don’t you just wanna sink your teeth in?”
And the truth was he did. He really, really did. But there was a reason Isle-de-Mont was more commonly called “Pleasure Island.” Between the numerous casinos, clubs, brothels, and speakeasies avoiding the laws of the mainland safely off the coast, a man could lose more than just his wallet and shoes if he wasn’t too careful. Husk should know, it was where he’d once lost everything.
“Maybe,” he caved, but held up a finger to quell Niffty’s excitement. “But not until we know how long we’re in for. Once Al lets us in on his grand plan, we can see if there’s time for a play or two.”
“Or three, or four,” grinned Niffty. Husk shook his head, but his mouth twitched all the same.
[scene break]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:57erq434nsfau7ahdpojxop6/bafkreihl55333a4ap6pk4aml4bsgn66zht6wh5cef3m2n7veb43irhfamy)
“You didn’t think so all those other times,” Niffty sniffed. Husk grimaced. He knew Alastor didn’t care what they did in their own time as long as they were discreet. It was why Husk had roped Niffty into the cons in the first place. Sometimes, in the sheer boredom of waiting for Alastor to call, the itch would get to him. When that happened, he and Niffty would seek out local casinos and underground poker games wherever they were stationed, and slowly bleed them dry before their next assignment. Or before they could be run out of town. It hadn’t happened yet, but in their line of business it was unwise to be too conspicuous. He didn’t like to think what Alastor would do if their faces started to pop up on wanted posters across the coast. Niffty smiled widely. She knew exactly how weak his defenses were. “I could wear a little mustache and you could wear a wig, and no one will even know it’s us.” She cocked her head at Husk’s flat expression. “What’s wrong, don’t wanna swindle your hometown?” Husk narrowed his eyes. “I’m not even gonna ask where you learned that. But no. Could care less about that.” “Half those buildings are casinos.” Niffty squinted at the island. “Don’t you just wanna sink your teeth in?” And the truth was he did. He really, really did. But there was a reason Isle-de-Mont was more commonly called “Pleasure Island.” Between the numerous casinos, clubs, brothels, and speakeasies avoiding the laws of the mainland safely off the coast, a man could lose more than just his wallet and shoes if he wasn’t too careful. Husk should know, it was where he’d once lost everything. “Maybe,” he caved, but held up a finger to quell Niffty’s excitement. “But not until we know how long we’re in for. Once Al lets us in on his grand plan, we can see if there’s time for a play or two.” “Or three, or four,” grinned Niffty. Husk shook his head, but his mouth twitched all the same. [scene break]
In honor of ao3 being down for so long, here is the entirety of the first chapter of my 1920s human au Hazbin Hotel fic Hang 'Em High!
[ #hazbinhotel #valangel #angeldust #huskerdust #husk #ao3 #ao3outage ]
![“I – thank you?” Angel’s fingers felt like they might snap off in the strength of her grip. He slid a smile into place and hid his hand behind his back to shake out the strain in his knuckles. “Did…Molly say anything else?”
Charlie smiled blankly. “About what? Oh!” Her eyes widened, and she pressed her fingertips together with something close to a guilty expression. “Well she did give me a little um…context, but you don’t have to worry, my lips are sealed.” She mimed locking her mouth shut and throwing the key over her shoulder. “And I’ve been trying to get a Meeting set up at the Community Center. You’re not the only resident here with certain um…difficulties in their background.”
“Right…” Angel nodded, still smiling, but inside his stomach plummeted. He hadn’t expected a welcome wagon – he hadn’t expected anyone to know who he was at all.
He’d forgotten the risks of small town life. Of course people would care that Nonna Ragno’s grandson had come to take over the long-abandoned family farm. Of course they’d come out to greet him the second he got off the bus. This wasn’t New York by a long shot.
Nonna had always seemed to know everything about everybody in town. She told them all about it when they visited. Fuck, was he going to have to deal with a bunch of nosy neighbors poking and prodding him about why he had to move? He’d have to come up with an answer to that pretty soon. He wasn’t sure how well this broad could keep a secret, she seemed chatty enough on first meeting. But then again, if Molly trusted her enough to give her the dirty details, maybe she wasn’t all bad.
Charlie clapped her hands together. “Let me show you the way to Paradise – not that you don’t remember! I know you’ve been here before, but sometimes you know, if it’s been a while…”
“It’s fine,” said Angel, following her back towards the gravel path. “I ain’t been here in a hot second.”
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