Max stood in the kitchen, carefully plating the food while several pots and pans still sizzled behind him. The rich smell of steak and butter filled the hotel lobby, making the entire place feel warmer and far more alive than usual.
He had gone a little overboard.
Again.
Extra sides.
Fresh bread.
A massive bowl of roasted potatoes.
Several drinks.
Desserts cooling off nearby.
And enough food to feed far more than just the girls coming tonight.
The front doors opened.
The girls arrived one after another.
Verosika walked in first, looking around the hotel with a raised eyebrow.
"This place is kind of a drag," she said bluntly.
"Relax," Max replied while flipping a steak in the pan. "They're nice people."
He pointed toward the tables.
"Sit wherever you want. Food'll be ready soon."
Bee, Verosika, Poppi, Loona, and Millie all settled into the lobby seating area.
Charlie and Vaggie were out for the evening, thankfully giving Max the privacy he wanted for tonight.
Bee stretched out across an entire couch like she owned the place.
Which technically she probably could if she wanted.
"So," Bee asked lazily, "what've you been up to today?"
Max casually answered while seasoning the asparagus.
"Well… I got summoned to the human world."
That immediately got everyone's attention.
Millie blinked.
"…Wait, what?"
"I didn't think sinners could fully manifest in the human world," she said. "That's what everyone says anyway."
Even Bee looked confused.
"Huh," she muttered. "Yeah, that actually shouldn't work."
Max shrugged.
"Who knows anymore."
Then he added casually—
"I got summoned by my ex's husband."
CRACK.
A glass shattered.
Max slowly looked over.
Loona was holding the broken remains of her cup.
"…You have an ex?" she asked slowly.
The tone in her voice made it very clear she did not like this information.
"You trying to see her again?"
Max immediately shook his head.
"Oh, hell no."
He pointed dramatically.
"She's probably one of the many reasons I died."
That got everyone's attention.
"Luckily," Max continued casually, "nobody at the wedding party survived long enough to tell the tale."
Silence.
"…You killed them?" Verosika asked.
Max shrugged.
"They're in Hell now."
Bee burst out laughing.
"Damn."
Poppi looked impressed.
"Honestly kinda romantic in a revenge way."
Loona still looked irritated.
Max wisely turned back toward the food before that conversation escalated further.
Though he absolutely noticed the girls exchanging looks afterward.
Planning something.
Probably involving his old human connections.
Which honestly worried him a little.
A few minutes later, Max finally carried the food out.
The reaction was immediate.
"Ohhhhhh my god," Bee said.
The steaks were perfectly cooked.
Butter melted over roasted potatoes.
The asparagus smelled amazing despite being simple.
And the drinks gave off a faint sweet fruity scent.
"This smells incredible," Verosika admitted.
Everyone dug in almost immediately.
Max noticed Verosika discreetly pouring some Beelzejuice into her drink anyway.
"…Really?" Max asked.
"What?" she replied innocently. "Enhances the flavor."
Poppi was already halfway through her plate.
"This is amazing!" she shouted with her mouth full. "Perfect!"
Honestly, her reaction made sense.
Most food in Hell wasn't exactly quality unless it came from a Sin, an Overlord, or somewhere extremely expensive.
Real home-cooked food stood out.
Especially food made with actual care.
Bee finished her steak absurdly fast.
Then immediately started stealing potatoes off Max's plate.
"You weren't eating those."
"I literally was."
"Not fast enough."
Millie laughed while cutting into her steak.
"This is really nice, sugar."
Loona stayed quieter, but Max noticed her tail swishing happily behind her chair while she ate.
Which said enough.
Once everyone had settled down a bit, Max snapped his fingers.
"Oh yeah."
"I already gave Loona and Millie their gifts."
He reached into his shadows again.
"Now for the rest of you."
First—
He handed Poppi the bouquet of poppies.
She blinked.
"…Flowers?"
Then one flower opened slightly, revealing wiring and explosives inside.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"You made me bomb flowers?!"
She looked genuinely emotional.
"This is the sweetest thing anyone's ever given me."
Max felt both proud and slightly concerned about that statement.
Next—
He handed Bee the massive exotic snack basket.
Bee stared at it for two whole seconds before immediately digging in.
"Oh my gods."
Her tail wagged violently.
"YOU FOUND HUMAN WORLD SNACKS?!"
She was already eating before he answered.
Finally—
He handed Verosika the elegant custom Beelzejuice bottle.
The crystal shimmered beautifully under the lobby lights.
Verosika slowly took it.
"…Okay," she admitted softly.
"This is gorgeous."
Max smiled.
"Glad you all like them."
Bee had already somehow eaten nearly the entire basket despite having just finished dinner.
"Worth it," she mumbled through candy.
Max leaned back in his chair.
"Well," he said, "I'm assuming you girls have plans after this involving my old human-life problems."
Nobody answered.
Which was answer enough.
Max sighed dramatically.
"…Please don't destroy an entire city."
"No promises," Bee said immediately.
Verosika smirked into her drink.
Poppi looked way too excited.
Loona cracked her knuckles.
Millie just smiled sweetly, which somehow felt the most threatening of all.
Max decided not to ask further questions.
"Alright," he said carefully.
"Then let's just relax for now."
Everyone agreed, settling in around him as the night slowly continued.