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Very few stumble across Roo’s little hiding place and live to tell the tale.
She is just as elusive as she is mysterious. The general populace of Hell know very little of her, such information reserved only for demon royalty, the Seven Deadly Sins, and the Morningstar family themselves. To the common sinner, she is but a rumor; a fairytale, a bogeyman. A concept to either be feared or adored.
However, to the few unlucky enough to stumble across a wide scar gouged into Hell’s walls; an entrance adorned with twisting black roots and flowers that seemed to have imposed itself there overnight…
If they so choose to cross the threshold, they are never heard from again.
This False Paradise is Roo, and Roo’s alone.
A sprawling garden filled with lush vegetation and towering gnarled trees, as beautiful as it is dangerous. Carnivorous plants eagerly devour anyone who dare set foot into the second woman’s cursed territory. Venus flytraps, sundews, pitcher plants, they exist to protect her. From holes in the bark her Eyes survey every square inch of the garden, watching over it just as the angels had back during the golden days of Eden. Though unlike Eden, there is no Snake to ruin bless humanity.
Well. Most of the time. Lucifer does find ways to worm into False Paradise, much to Roo’s annoyance.
But now, it is quiet. Peaceful. Zen.
For the first time in what feels like forever, Roo allows all her Eyes to close. A single night where the denizens of Hell have true privacy.
The hustle and bustle from this year’s Extermination had long since died down. It was quite the interesting one, if she did say so herself. For once – Hell was able to fight back against the onslaught of angels. They were rewarded for their efforts, for not only did Charlie’s little rag-tag group of misfits manage to kill several Exorcists–
–but also slayed the Exorcist commander.
Oh, Adam. Bold and vain. Thought so highly of himself, but fell at the hands of the Hazbin Hotel’s housekeeper. What a fitting way for his story to end. Not with a bang, but a pathetic little whimper.
At least, that would have been the end of his story, but Fate had other plans.
Roo noticed a brand new sinner had appeared several days after the fight. Normally she wouldn’t even give them a second glance, but this one caught her eye. Keeping out of sight, slinking through the bowels of Pride like he already knew the dangers this hellhole posed to him.
Oh how amusing, Roo had thought. The First Man, no longer an angel, but one of the very same lowly sinners that he once slaughtered so gleefully. How poetic.
Now he scurries about Pentagram City like the rat he is, scavenging for what little food he could now that hunger became a necessity and not just something he indulged in for pleasure.
Roo should go pay him a visit sometime. She’s been meaning to, but she simply wanted to see him writhe and squirm and simply be humbled, to finally be cut down to size and put on equal footing with the rest of Hell.
Once she feels his pride is sufficiently wounded, then she would seek him out.
But for now, she would bide her time, and simply enjoy the silence and zen that closing her Eyes provides. Sitting by a crimson lake stands a cottage, and within it Roo lies peacefully under comfortable sheets. Peaceful. Serene. She could perhaps use a long, several day nap. Maybe a few weeks. Maybe a month– nothing interesting can happen in that short a span of time, surely? For a being as old as she is, a month is nothing to her.
Yes, yes. A month sounds nice. She can ask her overlords what she missed once she wakes.
Roo’s mind begins to drift into a comforting unconsciousness, drawn further and further towards the veil with the promise of rest and relaxation.
And then she feels a tether snap.
Ghastly white eyes pop open, already thin pupils constricting even further. A hiss sounds from everywhere and nowhere at once, courtesy of Roo’s many, many Eyes reflecting the displeasure that she herself does not physically display.
Of course.
Of. Course.
The moment she decides to get some shuteye is the moment something happens. Just her luck. So much for a nice, long nap.
Was that… one of her soul contracts? An overlord under her spell?
Had one of her dutiful little puppets perished?
Roo doesn’t make soul deals frequently. The very few who she does bother to approach with the offer of an afterlifetime are eternally indebted to her, with the only prerequisites be that they act as little spies for her, so that she may keep tabs on areas that other high-ranking demons don’t want her to. In return, she would protect them.
Clearly, she failed in that regard. But just which one was it…
Roo’s soul pulses. She reaches out to her remaining threads, aetherial fingers tenderly sliding along the length of the bridges that connect herself to her contracts, searching for whoever is missing from her network.
Not that one… no, not you either… ah– there you are.
Or rather, there she isn’t.
It appears that Rosie Maddox, Overlord of Cannibals, is no more.
Surprising. Perplexing. Deeply annoying.
That was her favorite food supplier. Meat from cattle simply does not dance upon her taste buds quite like human flesh does.
No matter. This slight against her will not go unpunished.
All of Roo’s Eyes in Pentagram City open. They scry every single corner of Cannibal Town for the perpetrator, all while the demon herself simply remains motionless in bed. Whoever did this could not have gone far. And once she finds them, she is going to rend their soul apart till the very spiritual energy it’s composed of cries for mercy.
Search as she may, she comes up empty-handed. Hardly anyone is up at this hour, and the few that are don’t look to be in any shape to kill an overlord. Mostly drunk sinners just now waking up from partying too hard.
Frustration boils beneath Roo’s skin. Who the hell would even have it out for Rosie of all people? Out of all the overlords in Pride, she mostly kept to herself, staying on good terms with her fellow sinners in positions of power.
Wanting answers and finding none in Cannibal Town, Roo consults her soul connections once more–
–and tugs the strings of every sinner in Pentagram City.
For a lesser being, the act of connecting to so many souls at once would overwhelm them. But Roo’s power and experience renders her only mildly overstimulated.
She was going to find that dirty little cannibal killer one way or another.
Roo skims over hundreds of people’s memories in the span of only a couple seconds. Any evidence that may incriminate them. Anything so that she may–
…
Oh?
She finds what she’s looking for. Her Eyes home in on her target.
Nestled deep in one of the Uptown District’s corridors, sleeping deep and soundly, is a very familiar face.
Tattered wings as black as her heart, sickly grey skin not too unlike Roo’s missing “friend,” and unkempt cedar hair that looks like it is long due for a trim. Adam’s mere presence is not what drew the elder sinner’s attention, however.
It’s his engorged, loudly burbling stomach.
Roo’s Eyes slowly blink.
Ah.
So that’s where Rosie went.
All of Roo’s plans of inducing torture of the likes the human mind can only dream of fizzle out in an instant. Call her biased, but she isn’t too keen on erasing her sweetheart, even if he did eat her favorite meat donor.
It’s a shame what happened to the cannibal overlord. Truth be told, Roo was kind of attached to her. A hum escapes from the second woman’s lips.
She might as well go make the most of it.
Dragging herself out of bed and slipping her usual attire on, she breaks apart into thick, gnarled roots, then re-appears merely a few feet away from the slumbering former Exorcist commander. He sleeps surprisingly soundly, chest rising and falling with every steady breath he takes. Something within her tainted heart trills as she steps closer, the glow of her eyes being the only source of light in this dark alleyway.
Ebony claws flex. Excitement builds with every bit of distance she closes. She’s like a wolf drawing closer to a sheep; itching to sink her teeth into their succulent, tender flesh. She pauses before the unaware sinner with lips curled into a sharp smile. Roo raises her hands and-
-begins to tenderly run her palms across that round, squishy mass.
Oh, she has been wanting to do this for a long, long time.
A giggle slips through Sin Incarnate’s lips as she presses her digits into that burbling paunch. Her Eyes hiss and trill at every gurgle, growl, and squelch that putting pressure down onto that overfilled organ causes. The more time that passes where Adam doesn’t stir, the more comfortable Roo gets in escalating her doting. She gently leans into that round belly, its squishiness a pretty good indication on how far along the digestive process Rosie is.
It’s a genuine shame that she had to die for Roo to get this opportunity, but oh well. Time marches on, with or without her, and overlords can always be replaced.
The sinner coos quietly whilst she continues to press and knead and overall treat that gurgling belly with what little love still remains in her. She wishes she had been able to do so much earlier. But alas, the opportunity never presented itself. Adam would more likely attempt to glass her than allow a sinner to intimately touch his midriff like this.
A leather boot drives itself into Roo’s face with no warning.
“GET THE FUCK OFF ME!” Adam shrieks.
The blow shoves her to the ground, back against concrete, her eyes wide in genuine surprise. She slowly sits up and meets her beloved’s incredulous and frankly pissed-off expression. The elder sinner makes a show of rubbing at her bruised cheek.
“Ow…” Roo dramatically moans, but doesn't really hurt. Not even a little bit.
Adam growls and shuffles away. He peels his lips back into a snarl and fluffs his wings, trying his best to look intimidating despite his compromising position. “Who the fuck do you think you are!? Fucking feeling me up n’ shit like a freak…” he hisses, voice low in his throat.
Roo purses her lips and tilts her head to the side with only the slightest frown. “Well, that’s no way to treat someone who was giving you a free massage.”
Adam digs his claws into the concrete. “Don’t care. Get your goth bitchass out of here and pretend you never saw me, or else you’ll join her,” he threatens, not-so-subtly motioning to the overlord that is more mush than person at this point.
“Oh, come on now. We both know you couldn’t manage that,” Roo hums. She picks herself off the ground and tenderly rests a hand on his belly. “You look like you couldn’t beat an imp if they had their limbs tied behind their b-”
She recoils when Adam rakes his claws across the arm planted on his stomach.
“DON’T FUCKING TOUCH ME!”
Sanguine seeps from the marks in her skin, and Roo furrows her eyebrows with a tut.
So that’s how it’s going to be, huh?
Alright. So be it.
Twisting roots suddenly erupt around the ratty old mattress Adam lays upon. They ensnare his limbs and hold them tight against the ground, much to his surprise and anger.
Mostly anger. A lot of anger.
“What the f– you bitch! Let go of me! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!” Adam roars and kicks and thrashes at his restraints. All the while Roo slowly leans back onto his belly and continues her massage, entirely unbothered by every swear and threat he hurls at her. The claw marks on her arm had even healed over already.
He can’t do shit to her.
“Ssshhh,” Roo condescendingly murmurs for Adam to be quiet. “Your yelling will draw unwanted attention.” In spite of her suggestion, the first man continues to shout and try to wrench his arms free.
“Bitch, like you aren’t unwanted attention!? Keep your hands to yourself!” Adam spits.
Roo shakes her head, her chin gently pressing into the other sinner’s loud belly. “Just let it happen, darling.”
He angrily protests over being called darling by a stranger, but she isn’t listening to him at this point. He’d wear himself out eventually, she knows it. For now she just focuses on giving that belly some much needed love.
-
How fucking humiliating.
Just as Adam’s night started looking up with his capture of that cannibal bitch, this she-demon comes along and ruins it. Snuck up on him while he was at his most vulnerable and binds him to the very floor all while she… rubs and massages his belly. It confuses, angers, and kind of disgusts him.
This cunt is definitely getting off to this, Adam thinks to himself with an internal growl. That’s the only reason he could think that this complete stranger would be this infatuated with his gut. Using those large, clawed hands to tenderly knead that soft belly. Pressing inwards til the surface caves and she’s rewarded with a loud slosh. Adam grumbles internally to himself.
He hates to admit it, but it did feel really good.
So much so that he eventually lets out a satisfied hum, cutting it off and physically fuming when a smile tugs at the pale sinner’s lips.
No! No, no, no! He will not give that wench the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of him!
…That resolve falls apart immediately, though. He goes right back to relishing the belly rubs.
It’s hard to tell how much time has passed by the time Roo finally stops. He notices immediately, however, sitting up slightly (also noticing that his bindings disappeared at some point) to glare at the sinner for daring to stop pampering him like he deserves. She still leans against his much softer stomach, though, with her digits intertwined with each other, chin resting on them.
“Feeling any better?” She asks. Adam tuts and averts direct eye contact. He feels deeply uncomfortable when gazing into her eyes for too long, anyway.
“I guess,” he replies with a huff.
“Good,” she chirps. One hand moves to tug at the fabric of his outfit. His worn, dirty, bloodstained outfit. “You certainly have seen better days, I imagine.”
Adam scoffs. “Understatement of the fucking century.”
He doesn’t know why he’s bothering holding a conversation with this demon. He just wants to fall asleep again and finish digesting this cannibal cunt, then go back to plotting how he’ll get his revenge on the princess and her Hazbin Hotel.
At least this sinner isn’t immediately trying to kill him like every other one that he’s come across this month. Still, he doesn’t know her intentions, and that makes her dangerous.
“You know…” she begins, twirling a couple threads of her hair around her finger. “I think I can help you get back onto your feet.”
And there it is. The catch. She’s going to ask him for his soul or some kind of binding contract. The stomach massage was just a way to butter him up so he’ll say yes.
“Oh yeah?” He grumbles, already intending to turn down anything and everything she offers. He doesn’t need her help. He’s Adam! The First Man! He doesn’t need help from anyone! He’ll get his strength back and slaughter everyone in that hotel all by himself. And then when he does- he’ll find his way back to Heaven, where he rightfully belongs.
“I can provide you with filling meals and other necessities. Entirely free of charge,” Sin Incarnate hums.
“Yeah fucking right,” Adam snaps back. Free meals? In this hellhole? Don’t make him laugh. That’s way too good to be true. “Just be honest with me. You just want my soul or some shit.”
Roo shakes her head and locks her fingers together again. “I don’t want your soul, Adam, you silly little man. I am simply offering my services out of the kindness of my heart.”
Okay, now that actually prompts Adam to bolt out a laugh - one that is abruptly cut off by heavy coughing. Thankfully, no blood accompanies it this time.
“Kindness of your heart- there’s not a lick of kindness or good in you. That’s why you’re in Hell, dumbass!” He chortles. Normally, he’d also be feeling Prideful over being recognized, but down here, being recognized only meant bad things for him. There’s a ton of sinners who would love to rip him to pieces.
The second woman hums and slightly purses her lips. “Do you really expect to be able to enact your vengeance on Princess Morningstar in a state like that?” She gestures to Adam’s… well… everything. His weakness, his torn wings, his very living conditions.
The former angel sneers. “I’m not going to stay like this forever. The second I have my strength back, Princess Morningbitch isn’t going to know what hit–”
He pauses, then blinks.
“Wait, how did you know–”
Roo cuts him off with a giggle. “I have my methods, sweetheart.”
Oh great. She’s a stalker, too. Fan-fucking-tastic.
“I can help speed your recovery significantly. That sinner in your belly alone won’t be enough. How can you guarantee that you will be able to silently catch more without being discovered by Princess Morningstar?” She continues.
“Well I don’t need your help to do it, that’s for sure,” Adam bites back, getting progressively more annoyed. “Lemme get it through your thick skull that I don’t want or need your help. So stay out of my fucking way if you know what’s good for you.”
“Ohh, you’re in no position to threaten me, Adam,” Roo coos. With one last little squish to that round tummy, the ancient sinner stands up straight. “Very well. You have made your choice clear, and I will respect it.” She takes a step back. “However – my offer still stands. If you ever change your mind I will gladly assist you in your endeavours."
The first man scoffs at her, eyebrows furrowed. “I won’t, but thanks I guess.” A hand ambiently runs over his stomach now that Roo isn’t actively massaging it anymore. “How am I supposed to get in contact with you, anyway? It’s not like I have a phone to fucking ring you up on.”
There’s a gleeful shimmer in Sin Incarnate’s eyes. Her smile sharpens.
“Oh don’t you worry about the specifics of it. If you ever need help, just call out. Doesn’t matter where. If you get into a dicey situation or change your mind about my offer, just remember…”
“I’m always watching.”
And just like that – she’s gone; sinking into the ground much like a certain deer sinner with a haunting laugh. The moment Adam is sure Roo is gone entirely, he huffs loudly and lays back down on the sad excuse of a mattress he calls a bed.
Well, that was weird.
Hey, at least it didn’t end with him getting chased into hiding or stabbed with a broken beer bottle. What a fucking weirdo, though– running her hands across his gut like that. Despite how nice it felt, he doesn’t want that woman touching him like that again.
…Well, actually, he kind of did. Those stomach rubs felt really, really nice. Reminds him of the ones Lute used to give him.
Oh, Lute… she’s probably up there calling for Sera to send her and the army back down to rescue him. He looks forward to the next time dark wings blot out the sky. He’d be back in his rightful place among the angels one day. Until then, he bides his time, gathering his strength. Satisfied with these thoughts, Adam closes his eyes.
As he’s trying to drift into a slumber, his mind cannot help but repeatedly wander back to that strange woman despite his best efforts to forget that encounter. Something nags at the corner of her mind. Why did she feel so…
…familiar?
Bah, he’s just seeing and feeling things that aren’t there. She’s just a strange demon trying to exploit his vulnerability. She never even told him her name! Just goes to show how trustworthy she is.
Though… despite that, curiosity nips at him. Maybe it's just because of whatever cursed energies that permeate Hell’s atmosphere, but he finds himself considering - even for the briefest moment - her offer. There’s zero way there's no strings attached. It’s either kill or be killed down here. There’s no such thing as freebies.
He’s still kind of nosy about what might happen if he actually called upon her, though.
It’s a stupid idea. There’s no way she’ll actually help him. She probably just wants to watch him squirm and fail.
Or maybe by some miracle, that nobody wants to help him without also benefiting herself for some reason.
Adam hums and gets as comfortable as he can to once again attempt to drift off into dreamland. Darkness encroaches while he creeps closer to the veil of unconsciousness, amused by his thoughts.
Who knows. Maybe it’ll be the beginning of a lovely partnership.