#Also it was a -challenge- writing Angel's accent without his dialect and typical speech patterns.

[angel-dust-addict]

Angel was relieved to find himself seated next to Prince Stolas. Of all the bigwigs left - which fortunately didn't include Val, but somehow did include Vox - Stolas was probably the best of the lot. He glanced around the table and mentally amended that to definitely the best of the lot. The rest of them seemed to be interested in the hotel as an abstract, based on their questions to Charlie. Angel knew the prince was actually interested in its residents. And on his other side was Arin, whose namecard read "Aiden" for some reason. Alastor had written them out, though. That was definitely his over-neat handwriting. So given how Arin reacted, this was probably some sort of stupid prank, getting his name wrong on purpose to be a pain in the ass.

When Arin asked who had cooked, Angel grinned. He actually did know. "Smiles. But Nif was helpin', so I'm confident eatin' it. Ain't gonna be any people-meat in it wit' her in the kitchen to tell 'im 'no.'" He laughed in a way that completely didn't mesh with his crafted outward appearance for the night. "She's probably tha only demon brave enough ta smack 'is hand wit' a spoon if he tried ta pull any shit."

He noted gladly that Arin had skipped the champagne, opting instead for his water glass for Charlie's toast. Angel oh so helpfully helped himself to Arin's champagne as well as his own. He was a far way from trying to cut out something as omnipresent as alcohol. At this point, managing to walk away from narcotics would be a huge step. Some nights, that was the only way he could sleep. He wasn't at all prepared to give up the uppers that helped him get through work yet.

He laughed again, more quietly and delicately this time, at Arin's comment about not wanting to know what he did to relax in his room. "Geez, mind outta tha gutta'. You saw Fat Nuggets when you were in my room the night we had that fight. I usually play wit' 'im. Nuggs is my baby. Betta' than a dog, pigs. Just as loyal an' usually smarta'. At least tha four-legged kind!"

Once dinner had started, Prince Stolas leaned over to him and asked, "So, my dear, I don't believe I asked earlier. How did you end up as the princess's test guest? If you don't mind, of course."

Angel considered him for a moment. He wasn't going to decline to answer him. Not only was Stolas royalty, but he had been exceptionally kind earlier. Plus Vox was still here and Val had indicated earlier that he thought Stolas would be interested in him as a client. No harm in encouraging that when it would make Val less pissed at him. All the same, despite Stolas knowing about his work and having treated him no differently for it, this story was very blunt on that point. But maybe he could soften it a bit.

"I don't mind," he replied, carefully modifying his speech. The accent was still there, but the dialect was toned way down. "My boss was upset wit' me. I had missed a shoot because I decided ta deal wit' some otha' business for 'im. It was somethin' a little closa' ta what I did when I was alive. I don't have many opportunities ta make use'a that skill set. When he came ta pick me up, though, he was very angry about me missin' tha shoot. He told me I'd have ta make up what I'd cost 'im. So he left me on a streetcorna' and told me not ta come back until I'd made it all up."

Angel shrugged, trying to appear unaffected, and added, "I got very lucky, because not long afta', Princess Charlie and Vaggie pulled up. They told me they wanted ta talk. I figuahed I could give 'em a few minutes. She's the princess, afta' all. They told me about this place, told me what they were offerin', even paid me fer my time. Enough fer me ta go back an' not have ta spend all night on tha corner. I could tell they were bein' honest, so I said yes. They got me outta a bad situation with housin' without me havin' ta stay at tha studio. That alone was incentive enough."

Prince Stolas looked horrified at several points in his story, and Angel winced internally. But he didn't look disgusted by it at all except when Angel mentioned Val demanding he make up for the lost shoot by turning tricks. And that, Angel could tell, was at Val, not him. It still took a moment for the prince to speak again.

"I see. So this place was a refuge of sorts. At least a partial shelter from those with ill intent," Stolas observed. That reply surprised Angel a little.

"You could say dat," he nodded.

The prince smiled and added, "And Angel, don't feel it necessary to modify your speech for my sake. Goodness knows I'm not bothered by it in the slightest. I rather liked the way you speak." Looking past where Angel was blushing a faint blueish color under his fur, Stolas addressed Arin with the same question. "And you, my dear fellow? How did you come to be here? Again, only if you wish to share your story. I will not order anyone here to reveal anything they wish to put behind them."

Vox and him noticed how Angel had support from other parts and he had smiled a little, knowing now that Angel could see he had help from other people.

"Why did you change it to Arin?" Vox spoke to him and he had sighed, not really a fan of the topic already. "Because I fucking can. Why did you help Val steal my prized possession? Why did you help him clip my wings? I can ask you a lot of whys, whats, hows, and whos but we haven't got the time for that. I offered you a dance and I've give you 6 songs already and you have yet to ask." he said back very serious on the matter.

"Yeah, guess that's fair. So let's talk then. You were an angel, or so we thought and we thought we'd trick you and take your valuables and just leave." he said and at this words he snatched his hands from the demon's hold. He looked like he might attack him but he decided not to. "I wasn't an angel, there was some sort of mistake. My horns were shown when I was up there." he said and crossed his arms. Yes he could in fact dance, but he stopped dancing and began to walk away to the nearest exit with Vox hot on his tail.

"Where are you going?" Vox asked grabbing his wrist making Arin scowl. "To smoke, to do something that doesn't involve possibly breaking your circuit hopefully." he stated and Vox had a clear goal in mind. "Relax, I'm not here to make matters worse for once. Let's just say I'm offering a truce." he said bringing him back to the ballroom.

It's a lie, you can tell when someone's lying. The fucker is lying. Play dumb.

"Go on." he said raising an eyebrow in mock interest. "We can't use it to its full power but you can, so it'd be in your best interest to join us." he started and Arin was frowning again.

It's your fucking pendant! It's your damn power! If they hadn't pulled this dumbass scam they could've JOINED YOU!

"Is that it?" he asked with disinterest, then shook his head. "I don't know what I saw in you." he said under his breath then Vox had presented a bottle of his best alcohol and Arin's senses practically went out of commission. "You have an unhealthy relationship with drinking, right? They're never gonna solve it here. So what's one sip? It's better to accept it then run from it." Vox said stepping closer and he took a step back as his eyes went black and white in panic.

"No. NO. I'm not going down this shithole again-" "We all know the rehabs in hell are frauds, it's best if you just take one little shot and think over my offer again." Vox cut him off, exposing his mental weakness.

Don't.

Just one drink...Just to cut off the edge..

He couldn't even agree on one singular thought and Vox grinned wickedly, he had been moved back thankfully from Arin. But he had put the bottle in Arin's hand. Detaching this is like tearing off Arin's arm to get to it. "Just think it over. I know you'll come to your senses." he said and sauntered away, whoever helped him he knew it wasn't Angel. Angel might returned just now to see this but no he could've still been busy.

But Vox's words got to him, like he hoped they would've.