History Fanfic / StrikerStrikesBack

* KickTheSonOfABitch: After Striker is backstabbed by Verosika, she tells Vortex to do with the snake imp as he sees fit. [[TokenGoodTeammate Vortex,]] who feels bad for Moxxie and didn't at all like how Striker treated the smaller imp, [[BewareTheNiceOnes obliges.]] [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Enthusiastically.]] Considering Striker is the reason any of the fic's events happen in the first place, it's really hard to feel sorry for him.

''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/31086677/chapters/76802912 Striker Strikes Back]]'' is a ''WebAnimation/{{Hellaverse}}'' FusionFic by ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Cranberryfriend/pseuds/Cranberryfriend Cranberryfriend]]''.

''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/31086677/chapters/76802912 Striker Strikes Back]]'' is a FusionFic fanfic between ''WebAnimation/HelluvaBoss'' and ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' by ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/users/Cranberryfriend/pseuds/Cranberryfriend Cranberryfriend]]''.

* ArtifactTitle: While the fic is titled "Striker Strikes Back" and Striker is indeed the main catalyst for the fic's events, he's very quickly sidelined as the main villain as Valentino takes on the role instead. The fic's description of AO3 [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] this, noting that the story started with Striker, but soon turned into "Moxxie VS. Everyone."

* YouGotSpunk: Valentino expresses this sentiment towards an unconscious Moxxie (In his typical condescending manner, of course) [[spoiler: after the latter’s second assassination attempt has failed]], finding the imp to be a ”cute little fighter.”

* SlapSlapKiss: This is apparently a constant of Valentino & Vox's relationship, as highlighted in Chapter 17: Valentino confronts Vox about disobeying his orders and hitting him for it, [[CoitusEnsues which eventually turns into them having violent sex with each other.]]

* JerkToNiceGuyPlot:
** Angel Dust is at first cold & slightly uncaring towards Moxxie, not wanting to get attached to the new blood but through a series of events, he slowly reveals his more kind, supportive side to the imp. When Val develops a liking towards Moxxie, Angel is the main one making sure he’s okay & safe through it all.
** Same thing happens to Vox, who is initially jealous of all the attention Moxxie's getting from Val. The more he spends time with him, though, the more Vox beings to care about the imp, [[spoiler: even managing to overcome his toxic relationship with Valentino.]]

* AbsenteeActor: Played straight at first and then subverted. Despite I.M.P ending up at the Happy Hotel pretty early on, Charlie and Vaggie are absent for most of the story. It’s eventually explained that they’re attending a seminar about Heaven in the Sloth ring, which has poor Internet connection [[LockedOutOfTheLoop and thus leaves them out of the loop regarding the troubles in the Pride ring.]] Once they ''do'' find out what’s going on and see just how much the situation has escalated, however, they immediately return to the hotel, and Charlie offers her assistance in rescuing Moxxie and Angel and takes on a more active role in the final ”act.”

* AlienBlood: Valentino’s is pink, and when some of it drips down on Moxxie’s face as Val [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown tortures him]] [[spoiler: after the failed assassination attempt at the studio]], it burns him, suggesting that it either has some acid-like properties [[MyBloodRunsHot or is simply burning hot.]]

* AngerBornOfWorry: Moxxie is rightfully angry at Angel for claiming that they are in a relationship… because he can’t believe the spider sinner would put his neck on the line for him without telling him first.

* AttemptedRape: Valentino has several moments of these towards Moxxie. One moment in particular happens in Chapter 22 where he tries to seduce the imp while Vox is in the shower. Thankfully, the Overlord stops him before Val can carry out the deed.

* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: [[NiceGuy Moxxie]] inspires this in quite a few of the people he meets while he's Valentino’s captive, [[MoralityPet which gains him several allies]] over the course of the story;

* BerserkButton: Just seeing Striker is enough to send Millie into a blind rage and try to kill him. More than justified, considering what he did to Moxxie.
** Valentino beating up his beloved Fat Nuggets pisses off Angel Dust so much that he almost finally stands up to his boss.

* BigBrotherInstinct: Angel Dust becomes ''very'' protective of Moxxie once they become friends, not hesitating for even a second to put his own wellbeing on the line if it means keeping the little imp somewhat safe from Valentino. And Val, [[ManipulativeBastard naturally,]] uses this to his advantage repeatedly to keep Angel in line. Moxxie becomes just as protective of Angel Dust in return, though sadly, he finds that there's less he can do about it.

* BigShutUp: Val says this to Angel Dust after witnessing his clubs being destroyed.

* BreakTheBadass / BreakTheCutie: Good grief, is Moxxie really put through the wringer here. The story starts with him getting kidnapped and beaten up by Striker. Then he’s ForcedToWatch Blitzo [[TakingTheBullet get shot with the angelic rifle to save Millie,]] [[TraumaCongaLine and]] ''[[TraumaCongaLine then]]'' [[TraumaCongaLine Verosika sells him to Valentino,]] [[FromBadToWorse and it just gets worse from there.]] Chapter 16 culminates [[AloneWithThePsycho in him getting cornered by Valentino,]] beaten up and abducted ''again'' [[spoiler: after [[TheMole Mags]] rats him and Angel Dust’s escape plan out to the Overlord]], thus separating him [[LivingEmotionalCrutch from the small support network he has,]] and forced to perform solo for Valentino and Vox. This series of events manages to partially crack his resolve to escape and leaves the poor man bursting into BrokenTears. [[ManipulativeBastard All according to Valentino’s plan, of course.]]

* CallBack: After escaping from Striker the first time, Moxxie finds himself cornered in an abandoned house while armed only with a knife; He ends up asking himself [[WhatWouldXDo what Millie would do in this situation,]] using her tactics to try and get the drop on Striker. He asks himself the same question in chapter 34, but this time [[spoiler: when trying to assassinate Valentino for the second time.]]

* CassandraTruth: Angel Dust at first doesn’t believe that Moxxie has a wife, believing it to be akin to a GirlfriendInCanada situation. And even as Moxxie tells him that he works for an [[MurderInc assassination company]], [[UnderestimatingBadassery Angel doesn't believe that he's actually one of the assassins]] until [[TheGunslinger Moxxie]] gets to demonstrate his ImprobableAimingSkills in chapter 12.

* ClosetPunishment: Val does this to Moxxie at one point to keep him from Angel Dust and to punish him for not fighting back against his advances.
* CloudCuckoolander: Velvet is not all that stable. She has very skewed views on love & Val's relationship with Vox, is more than happy to kill and torture random people [[ManChild and has the personality of a bubbly teenager.]]

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: After Moxxie receives a key from [[AbhorrentAdmirer Valentino,]] which turns out to be a key to his penthouse suite, Angel reacts [[{{OhCrap}} in horror]] at seeing it and asks Moxxie what he thinks the key leads to. Moxxie’s initial takeaway from it is that Valentino now wants him to be a locksmith.

* ConflictingLoyalty: Vortex has a hard time dealing with the situation, feeling bad for Moxxie and what he’s going through, but still wanting to remain loyal to Verosika. [[spoiler: Eventually, he starts helping I.M.P. and even fully leaves Verosika once her grip on her sanity starts to fade.]]

* CooldownHug: Angel Dust gives one to Moxxie in Chapter 27 [[spoiler: after Vox's apparent death.]]

* CryIntoChest: Two instances in chapter 4; When Blitzo wakes up in the hospital after getting [[TakingTheBullet fatally shot by Striker with the angelic rifle]] and learns that Stolas saved his life, he ends up crying bitterly in the Goetia’s arms over his failure to save Moxxie from Striker. Meanwhile, while in Verosika’s custody, Moxxie bursts into tears when he’s reminded of Blitzo TakingTheBullet for Millie and potentially dying for his trouble. [[TokenGoodTeammate Vortex’s]] guilt almost overtakes his sense of duty when he sees this, [[PetTheDog leading to him lending Moxxie a literal shoulder to cry on.]]

*** Moxxie gets to do the same thing with Angel Dust in the following chapter when Valentino calls Angel over to the penthouse suite in order to calm Moxxie down.

* DeathGlare: Stolas shots several at Striker while in feral form whenever the cowboy complains about his ride, which promptly shut him up.

* DidntSeeThatComing: Valentino is [[EvilCannotComprehendGood completely blindsided]] [[spoiler: by Moxxie swaying Vox over to his side simply by being his adorable, [[NiceGuy kind,]] EndearinglyDorky self and getting Vox to see just how unhealthy his relationship with Val is.]] This leads to him [[spoiler: losing one of his ”boyfriends” after a BludgeonedToDeath Vox is revived by Alastor and destroys several of Val’s clubs as payback.]] [[{{Understatement}} Valentino is not happy about this]] [[NeverMyFault and immediately shifts the blame on Moxxie.]]

* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu: After abducting Angel and Blitzo and taking them to the club’s roof [[spoiler: during the wedding reception,]] a [[SanitySlippage delusional,]] [[spoiler: OneWingedAngel-formed]] Valentino [[VillainousBreakdown goes into a crazed rant about]] [[spoiler: [[VillainousBreakdown Vox’s ”betrayal” and]]]] [[VillainousBreakdown how he owns Angel, Moxxie and Mags and doesn’t need anyone else,]] after which he moves towards grabbing Angel. Cue Blitzo slapping away the hand [[TailSlap with his tail]] and ''daring'' the Overlord to [[GoThroughMe go through him first.]] He almost gets to experience the consequences of [[DoNotTauntCthulhu taunting an Overlord]] first-hand, [[spoiler: [[BigDamnHeroes but he’s saved by Vox at the last second.]]]]

* EnemyMine: Despite everything Striker has done, from trying to kill Stolas to kidnapping & selling off Moxxie, I.M.P. and he join forces in order to save Moxxie and get their payback on both Verosika & Valentino. While Striker mostly uses them to get back his rifle and recapture Moxxie, he comes to care a little about them in time, or a least about Blitzo, though not enough to stop carrying out his plans.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Striker is a [[{{Sadist}} sadistic,]] smug, [[TheUnapologetic wholly unapologetic]] [[{{Jerkass}} asshole]] who has no qualms about performing kidnappings and taking hostages - After all, him doing just that is what kickstarts the whole plot in the first place. But he draws the line at [[WouldNotHurtAChild using children for this,]] if only because he thinks a pro shouldn’t have to resort to it, and is disgusted when [[DirtyCoward Gritzer]] [[WouldHurtAChild takes Octavia hostage to get the drop on Stolas.]]

* ForcefulKiss: Valentino gives one to Moxxie during their limo ride, both to force feed him smoke and for his own pleasure. This is something he proceeds to do repeatedly to both Angel and Moxxie over the course of the story.

* FreakOut: Poor Moxxie has a heartwrenching breakdown the day after his limoride with Valentino.

* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Nobody, and I do mean '''NOBODY''', on the Save Moxxie team likes Striker. More than justified as he's the reason Moxxie's forced to work for Val in the first place. It doesn't help that the imp is not even remotely apologetic for his actions, doesn't change his behavior, constantly antagonizes everyone and is clearly plotting his own schemes behind the scenes. The only reason they still work together is because they need his info.

* GiveMeAReason: After noticing how close Angel and Moxxie are becoming, [[ManipulativeBastard Valentino]] starts to use it to his advantage and tells Angel that if he shows off any more plotting or rebellious tendencies, Val will make sure to separate the two in order to punish them. This is something the pimp actually ''hopes'' will happen in order to get his hands on Moxxie, and a promise he makes good on in chapter 16 [[spoiler: when [[TheMole Mags]] reveals the two’s KeepingTheEnemyClose plan to him]]; After Moxxie and Angel’s performance, he drugs Angel unconscious on-stage and corners, beats up and kidnaps Moxxie when the latter is alone backstage.

* HandGagging: Valentino clasps his hand over Moxxie’s mouth in order to shut him up a [[{{Pun}} handful]] of times; First in chapter 16 when kidnapping him, then in chapter 19 to keep Vox from hearing him over the phone after the intoxicated imp has wandered off, and in chapter 36 to keep him from protesting when Angel interrupts Val’s AttemptedRape of him.

* HateSink: Valentine is utterly reprehensible in this story. He's physically, emotionally and sexually abusive and manipulative towards his boyfriend Vox, his workers Angel Dust and Moxxie and even his own ward Mags. [[spoiler: While he's later revealed to have been an abuse survivor himself, [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse it does little to help justify or redeem him from all the monstrous acts he does to the people around him.]]]]

* HealingHands: Stolas is shown to have the ability to heal somebody on the brink of death back to health, something he demonstrates on Striker (On Blitzo’s insistence since he believes [[EnemyMine they need Striker to track down Moxxie,]] though neither he nor Stolas are happy about it) after the snake imp is [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown almost beaten to death]] by Vortex.

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Vortex starts out being loyal to Verosika, even as he’s forced to fight against I.M.P. and allow Moxxie to be sold. But due to his regret over his actions and as she grows more unstable, he begins to aid I.M.P. and the rest of their side behind her back, starting in Chapter 15 when he knocks out Verosika right as she's about to kill Stolas & Loona. He finally switches sides in Chapter 22 when he takes Octavia to Stolas.]]

* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler: Moxxie is barely able to function and register the world around him after helplessly witnessing Valentino beat Vox to his apparent death. It and Valentino's gaslighting manipulation leaves him a traumatized, broken mess, believing himself to be responsible for it.]]

* HopeSpot: While cornered in an abandoned house and subdued after his first escape attempt, Moxxie manages to free himself from Striker’s grip by kicking him in the face and dives through a hole in the wall to escape… only to pass out outside from shock, blood loss (Since he was slashed and stabbed in the leg during their brawl) and possibly his earlier [[TapOnTheHead head trauma,]] allowing Striker to easily capture him once again.

* HotPotato: Moxxie & Angel briefly do this over a key to Valentino’s Penthouse.
* HyperventilationBag: Charlie does this shortly after Stolas leaves with Striker to confront Gritzer, ashamed of being unable to prevent it.

* IHaveYourWife: The central plot of the story is kicked off when Striker kidnaps Moxxie [[HostageForMacGuffin and demands that Blitzo gives him his holy gun back in exchange.]] While he gets his gun back, I.M.P. is unable to save Moxxie, and from there, things only get worse.

* IllKillYou: Blitzo has this reaction to Striker in Chapter 22 when he learns about his attempt to seduce a drunken Moxxie during his night at the club.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Valentino uses the thin chain with the penthouse key that Moxxie starts wearing [[SinisterSuffocation to strangle him]] whenever he’s interrogating or torturing him.

* InternalReveal: At the end of Chapter 12, Loona finds out about Moxxie performing at Valentino’s club through browsing social media.

* ItsAllMyFault: Loona blames herself for Blitzo’s near-death experience in chapter 3. [[TheCavalryArrivesLate Since she arrived late to the scene as usual,]] [[TheSlacker figuring that Blitzo and Millie didn’t need her help,]] she reasons that she could’ve prevented it from happening and that they could’ve saved Moxxie right then and there had she just been there from the start. Blitzo is quick to comfort her and tells her that it’s not her fault.

* JerkToNiceGuyPlot: Angel Dust is at first cold & slightly uncaring towards Moxxie, not wanting to get attached to the new blood but through a series of events, he slowly reveals his more kind, supportive side to the imp. When Val develops a liking towards Moxxie, Angel is the main one making sure he’s okay & safe through it all.

* KickTheDog: Good lord, does Valentino go all-in on puppy-punting in this fic - Not a chapter featuring him goes by when he ''doesn’t'' perform a deplorable act [[ForTheEvulz just to be a manipulative, sadistic, spiteful asshole,]] with Angel and Moxxie being his favorite targets.

* LetsSplitUpGang: Happens to the main party (minus Millie, who ditched the group earlier) at the start of Chapter 34. Stolas has already left with Striker to confront Gritzer who has Octavia, Charlie, Vaggie, Husk and Blitzo go to try and save Moxxie and Angel Dust, and Loona goes to help Striker and Stolas.

* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Angel Dust becomes this to Moxxie as the imp suffers no end of tragedies at the hands of Valentino.

* ManipulativeBastard: Valentino is this in spades, emotionally and psychologically manipulating others for his pleasure. This includes making Mags believe she needs him to survive, tricking Vox into loving him despite everything he puts him through and the various psychological trauma he puts Angel & Moxxie through.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: Mags has this reaction in Chapter 21, after seeing Valentino's terrifying display of power over Angel Dust during his performance and after being outed as the spy. It's this that causes her to realize how dependent she has become to the Overlord and that she does truly care about Angel, Moxxie and officially causes her to defect over to their side.]]

* TheNoseKnows: [[spoiler: Valentino is able to figure out that Vox contacted Moxxie shortly after his resurrection when the moth smells his Ex's cigarettes on him.]]

* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Moxxie [[BoomHeadshot shoots Valentino through the skull]] in Chapter 24 when he assaults Vox. Unfortunately, it was with a regular gun, so Val shakes it off and returns back to life no worse for wear.]]

* OddFriendship: Moxxie, the neurotic, easily flustered imp assassin eventually becomes close friends with Angel Dust, the cocky, flirtatious spider sinner stripper.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Seeing Blitzo close to dying after his failed rescue attempt is enough to shock the usually apathetic Loona and even make her drop her phone.

* PerkyGoth: Velvet is shown to be very bubbly and teasing towards others. In particular Vox and Moxxie, the latter of which she takes a liking to.

* PuppyDogEyes: When Angel refuses to let Moxxie perform with him after the latter’s traumatizing first outing with Valentino, despite the imp insisting that he needs it in order to forget, Moxxie tries to convince his new friend to change his mind with these. It doesn’t work, but Angel still relents after Moxxie promises to rest first, and it turns out that Valentino was going to force the two of them to perform a duet anyway.
--> '''Angel:''' [[DeadpanSnarker That’s not gonna work on me, you little vomit-smelling shit.]]

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: Even in Hell itself, Valentino's sexual assaults and attempted rape towards Moxxie and Angel Dust is treated as utterly reprehensible by most of the cast.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler: Vox gives on to Valentino in Chapter 24 when the moth Overlord tries to hurt Moxxie, finally standing up to his abuser and calling him out on everything he's put him through.]]

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: As expected, Millie goes on several in her quest to rescue her husband.
** Blitzo has one towards Striker in Chapter 22, after finding out about him seducing a drunken Moxxie at the club. The only reason he doesn't kill him, is through some quick smooth talking from Striker.

* {{Sadist}}: Valentino’s every action makes it crystal-clear that he ''thrives'' off of the suffering and pain that he inflicts on others. While [[EvilGloating gloating]] to Moxxie [[BreakThemByTalking after giving him a brutal breaking speech,]] he tells him that he finds Moxxie much more fun when he’s ”trembling, powerless and absolutely punished”. And when Moxxie later tries to find SafetyInIndifference, Valentino gets angry (As he sees it as yet another act of defiance from his ”pet”) [[SinisterSuffocation and strangles him]] until he snaps out of it [[KickTheDog because he likes Moxxie the best when he’s crying and trembling in fear and pain.]]

* SanitySlippage: Verosika steadily grows more & more unstable and bloodthirsty as the story goes on. Her obsession with her image and hatred of Blitzo, being the root of it. Eventually she becomes more focused on killing Stolas & ruining I.M.P. than her own career, costing her Vortex & much of her fame, forcing her back to Valentino.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Millie briefly leaves Blitzo & Co. to find Moxxie on her own after their failed rescue attempt in Chapter 3. She eventually rejoins them when the two groups catch up at the Hazbin Hotel.

* ShutUpHannibal: Moxxie finally stands up to Val in Chapter 28 [[spoiler: when the Overlord attempts to beat and [[NeverMyFault blame him]] for losing his clubs after killing Vox. The imp harshly calls Valentino out for killing Vox, saying it's his own fault that his clubs are destroyed and how the Vox deserved better.]]

* SinisterSuffocation: Valentino strangles Moxxie on a couple of occasions, most of the time by using the penthouse key that Moxxie starts wearing on a chain around his neck. It’s played for pure NightmareFuel every time, and at one point, Val strangles a [[SafetyInIndifference numb]] Moxxie in order to snap him out of his state… [[{{Sadist}} simply because a Moxxie that’s terrified and in pain is the Moxxie that Valentino likes best.]]

* TemptingFate: While Moxxie may not enjoy being locked in a hot basement room and fixing weapons at the beginning of his time as Valentino’s captive, he thinks to himself in chapter 7 that it’s at least better than being kidnapped by Striker since he’s not tied up or beaten. Little does he know [[FromBadToWorse just how bad things are about to get for him…]]

* TheTease: Striker frequently flirts with Blitzo, much to his displeasure.
* ThirdPartyPeacekeeper: On top of keeping Blitzo & Striker under control, when they start fighting like children in his car, Vortex is forced into this role during Blitzo attempts to call a truce with Veroiska, having to keep the two from killing each other and make sure everything goes civil.

* {{Tsundere}}: As Vox grows to care about Moxxie, he starts to act more like one towards the imp.

* WhamEpisode: As soon as chapter 5, things are drastically shaken up. Blitzo makes a deal with Striker, Moxie ends up under Valentino’s control and Striker is betrayed & left for dead by Verosika, who even steals his holy gun.

* WhamLine: In Chapter 7, Striker leads Blitzo to someone he knows, who might know where Moxxie would be kept. He implies that the figure is a cat and likes alcohol, hinting that it might be Husk. The final line confirms it: “He’s staying at a place… called the Happy Hotel…”

--> [[spoiler: “I think Ah’m pregnant.”]]

--> [[spoiler: ''[[RoyalBastard Lucifer slept around, Moxxie!]]'' ''Is it really that surprising?'']]

* WorfHadTheFlu: Due to a near fatal shot from Verosika using Striker’s Gun, Stolas is left with a broken arm and unable to do tasks he would otherwise have no trouble with, like opening portals and fighting back when he & Loona are attacked by her again.

** Chapter 28 ends with [[spoiler: Valentino [[ScarpiaUltimatum threatening Angel Dust into marrying him, Vox & Velvet planning to hurt Val through Moxxie and]] Charlie & Vaggie finally making their debut in the fanfic, rushing to get back to the Hotel.

** Of the three Vs, Vox is by far the kindest of them, at least towards Moxxie. While he starts off being jealous of the imp, he eventually ends up helping & befriending him.

* BallroomBlitz: [[spoiler: Valentino and Angel's]] wedding reception turns into one once the guards discover that [[WeddingSmashers I.M.P and the Hazbin crew]] have infiltrated the party and close in on them as Cherri’s smoke bombs go off. The end result is a ton of mayhem and hundreds of demons dead. [[spoiler: [[FromBadToWorse And then Valentino reveals his]] OneWingedAngel form…]]

* CalmingTea: Angel Dust makes some for Moxxie [[spoiler: during his [[HeroicBSOD post-Vox's death breakdown.]]]] Poor Moxxie's hands are shaking so badly from the ordeal that Angels ends up having to help him drink it.

* CassandraTruth: Angel Dust at first doesn’t believe Moxxie has a wife.

** Chapter 26 ends on several doozies. Blitzo goes to rescue Moxxie, having found out about [[spoiler: Vox's death]] and knowing where he'll be, only to be confronted by Gritzer who has just beaten up Striker. [[Velvet finds Vox's broken body and is ready to confront Valentino, only to find Alastor there and apparently planning to bring his rival back to life. And finally, Angel Dust is called to Val's home where he finds the [[HeroicBSOD broken]] Moxxie and told to calm him down by the next day. Or else both of them will pay.]]

--> '''Angel:''' ''*shaking Moxxie*'' THAT’S FOR HIS PENTHOUSE! [[PunctuatedForEmphasis YOU. INNOCENT. LITTLE MAN!]] IT LEADS TO HIS ROOM!

--> '''Moxxie:''' '''*blinks*'' … Oh.

* ImplausibleDeniability: After [[spoiler: [[BackFromTheDead Vox]]]] broadcasts the security footage of Val’s NoHoldBarredBeatdown of Moxxie and Vox [[spoiler: (and Vox’s subsequent destruction of his and Val’s shared clubs as revenge)]] to everyone in Hell, Husk heads to [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend Millie’s]] room and finds her in the process of climbing out the window. When he asks her what she’s doing, she answers [[BlatantLies that she’s about to take a piss.]]


--> ''
*Millie jumps anyway,'' ''[[{{OhCrap}} to Husk’s horror*]]''

* OurVampiresAreDifferent: [[spoiler: Mags turns out to be a type of demon known as a hellbird. Hellbirds are more akin to vampires rather than other bird demons, being able to eat and digest normal food but only getting sustenance from blood and demon corpses, something Valentino uses to his advantage [[AbusiveParents by starving Mags for weeks on end in order to keep her in line.]] Since hellbirds are very powerful and dangerous, they were practically hunted to extinction, meaning that Mags may or may not be the LastOfHerKind.]]

* PreciousPuppy: Moxxie gets a small puppy from Valentino in Chapter 22, which he ends up affectionally naming Phantom.

* PsychoForHire: While not a full psychopath, Gritzer is not a honorable or sane hitman, taking great pleasure in the idea of killing people, slowly torturing them for his amusement and even attempting to rape them while they're powerless to fight back. Even after the hit is called off, he continues to stalk everyone, as a means to prove his superiority.

* SafetyInIndifference: After Valentino reveals his HealingHands, Moxxie [[GivingUpOnLogic almost shuts down completely]] in the face of the sheer ''hopelessness'' he feels regarding just how powerful his captor is, resolving to retreat into himself [[NeverBeHurtAgain to prevent Valentino from hurting him anymore.]] Too bad for him that the [[{{Sadist}} sadistic]] Overlord sees this as an act of defiance and [[DefiedTrope refuses to allow it,]] [[SinisterSuffocation strangling him until he has a panic attack from lack of air]] and snapping him back to the fear, pain and despair he felt previously.

* SaveTheVillain: When Striker shows up at I.M.P., close to death, Blitzo reluctantly has Stolas heal the cowboy as he still needs him alive in order to find Moxxie.

** Millie once again ditches the group at the hotel to try and save Moxxie on her own after the footage of him [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown getting brutally beaten by Valentino]] [[spoiler: and VOx getting beaten to death]] is broadcasted to all of Hell.

* TheShowMustGoOn: Moxxie is forced to take up the role of guitarist during one of Angel Dust’s shows after the other guy becomes sick.

** Chapter 23 gives Magatha a song, that being [[WesternAnimation/{{Sing}} Scarlett Johansson's Set It All Free]].

* ToothyBeak: Mags, despite being a bird demon, is noted to have fangs. [[spoiler: This is because of her nature as a [[OurVampiresAreDifferent hellbird.]]]]

** Chapter 28 ends with Valentino threatening Angel Dust into marrying him, Vox & Velvet planning to hurt Val through Moxxie and Charlie & Vaggie finally making their debut in the fanfic, rushing to get back to the Hotel.

''[[{{Beat}} *several seconds of silence*]]''

* DidntSeeThatComing: Valentino is [[EvilCannotComprehendGood completely blindsided]] [[spoiler: by Moxxie swaying Vox over to his side simply by being his adorable, [[NiceGuy kind,]] EndearinglyDorky self and getting Vox to see just how unhealthy his relationship with Val is.]] This leads to him [[spoiler: losing one of his ”boyfriends” after a BludgeonedToDeath Vox is revived by Alastor and destroys several of Val’s clubs as payback.]] [[Understatement Valentino is not happy about this]] [[NeverMyFault and immediately shifts the blame on Moxxie.]]

* Foil: Valentino serves as one to Stolas in this fic. Both are high-ranking demons in Hell (An Overlord and a Prince of Hell, respectively) who have gained an imp as an object of their affections, and they both alternate between treating the imp like a small child and a LustObject. The difference being that Stolas, for all of his flaws and creepiness, ''does'' genuinely love and care about Blitzo, whereas Valentino is a LoveHungry, abusive, [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]] PsychopathicManChild who ultimately sees Moxxie as little more than his cute little toy to do with as he pleases.

** Verosika Mayday comes across as a spiteful, petty, vengeful, self-centered glory dog who'll do just about anything to get back at Blitzo. Wether it be selling Moxxie off to Valentino or trying to kill Stolas on her own. Her redeemable and sympathetic aspects are toned downed here, giving her very few moments where we feel bad for the succubus. Though she does eventually [[MyGodWhaHaveIDone start to regret her actions]] when she sees for herself how badly everything starts to go south, downplaying this trope somewhat.

''
[[{{Beat}} *awkward silence*]]''

* UnsuspectinglySoused: The ”not aware of the potency” version is used here: When Moxxie is dragged to a night club with Velvet and Vox, Velvet drips a potion into their drinks in order to make them ”that much sweeter”… which ''is'' true, but the main effect is that it causes the alcohol to enter the system much faster. And since Moxxie already CantHoldHisLiqueur, the end result is that he gets ''very'' drunk ''very'' fast, much to Vox’s irritation when he finds out.

--> [[spoiler: [[RoyalBastard Lucifer slept around, Moxxie!]] Is it really that surprising?]]

--> [[spoiler: Valentino: Something that should’ve never existed. But here I am~ Thanks to dear old Dad.]]

* ActorAllusion: Blitzo [[DisguisedInDrag disguises himself as a snooty woman named Karen]] at one point in order to enter a dance competition. Karen is the name of the ObnoxiousEntitledHousewife character (Named after the modern-day slang term for such a woman) from {{Creator/Brandon Rogers}}’s (Co-writer of HB and Blitzo’s voice actor) Youtube sketches.

* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: After Moxxie [[UnsuspectedlySoused is drugged by one of Velvet’s potions]] at the night club in chapter 19, he becomes so intoxicated that he loses his ability to think straight; The end result of that is that he decides to wander off instead of staying at Vox and Velvet’s table while they’re away buying more drinks, despite the warnings that Valentino hates it when his ”boyfriends” try to escape from him.[[note]]WordOfGod confirms that, since he decided to do this after Striker promised him that he’d get to see Millie again, he decided to leave to look for her.[[/note]] He ends up running into Valentino some ways away from the club anyway (And has managed to forget how he got there and why he walked off in the first place by that point), and the pimp is simply pissed off that Vox managed to lose him.

* BeautifulDreamer: Downplayed, platonic version in chapter 20; Vox takes a drugged-unconscious Moxxie back to his apartment and places him on the bed, whereupon Moxxie immediately curls up into a ball and hugs a pillow while wagging his tail. Vox finds himself rather taken in by the adorableness of the sight, [[Tsundere not that he’d ever admit it out loud,]] and Moxxie’s cuteness is one of the reasons why Vox [[DefrostingIceQueen starts to warm up to him.]]

** Husk develops one for Millie [[OddFriendship after she befriends him,]] [[Tsundere no matter how vehemently he tries to deny it to Alastor.]] He becomes highly concerned for her wellbeing, makes her tea [[spoiler: when he finds out she’s pregnant]], tries his best to prevent her from running off and endangering her [[spoiler: and the baby’s]] health [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend when she sees the footage of Moxxie being on the receiving end of a]] NoHoldsBarredBeatdown [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu and tells Alastor to leave her alone when he implies that she might provide him some entertainment.]]

* DeliriousMisidentification: When approached by Striker at a night club while Vox and Velvet are away, a [[UnsuspectedlySoused drugged and]] ''[[UnsuspectedlySoused very]]'' [[UnsuspectedlySoused drunk]] Moxxie is left too intoxicated to fully recognize him, merely noting that the other imp ”looks like this one guy [he] truly hate[s].” [[EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor Striker finds this hilarious]] and plays along in order to seduce Moxxie.

[[folder: Tropes A - J]]

[[/folder]]
[[folder: Tropes K - Z]]

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Verosika does this to Striker in chapter 5 after she sells Moxxie to Valentino, taking his gun & cash and leaving him at the mercy of Vortex. Striker barely manages to survive, however.

Currently ongoing with 45 chapters at 220,666 words, but is reaching it’s endgame.

!!These fanfics provide examples of:

* AbhorrentAdmirer: Valentino was already this to Angel Dust in cannon, but he soon develops an obsession with Moxxie after hiring him and seeing the imp perform.
* AbusiveParent: It is heavily implied that Valentino adopted Mags when she was little. He keeps her as his ward & most trusted employer, though often mistreats her in order to make sure she stays loyal to him. In particular [[DeniedFoodAsPunishment starving her for days, until he believes she has earned food.]]
* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: Striker & Husk seemingly don’t know each other in canon, but in here they used to work together in the past and were even in a relationship at some point. Though, it is not a time Husk remembers fondly.
* AdaptationalVillainy: While Verosika was already a bit of a bitch, she was still mostly just an egocentric, alcoholic pop star who only antagonized I.M.P. due to her bad breakup with Blitzo. In here, however, she’s one of the main big bads and one of Valentino’s Dragons, [[spoiler:whose crimes involve working with & betraying Striker, selling Moxxie off to Valentino, and trying to kill Stolas on Stella’s behalf just to spite Blitzo.]]
* AffablyEvil: Despite being on Verosika’s side, for the most part, Vortex doesn’t enjoy what he’s doing and still has his moments of kindness towards Moxxie, bandaging him up after he’s been wounded and trying to take care of him. [[spoiler:He eventually even defects from the succubi and helps everyone, in rescuing Moxxie.]]
** Of the three Vs, Vox is by far the kindest of them. At least towards Moxxie. Starting off being jealous of the imp, to eventually helping & befriending him.
* AfterActionPatchup: A frequent occurrences given the number of fights that happen in here. Notably examples include Blitzo in the Hosptial, after I.M.P.'s first run-in with Striker. And Chapter 30, where both Gritzer and Striker & Blitzo get treated from their wounds during their encounter with one another.
* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Despite being abusive towards him for so long and being the one to put a hit on him, Stolas is still grief-stricken at finding Stella dead, not wanting this to happen to her.]]

* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: [[spoiler: Valentino forces Angel Dust to marry him, after his break up with Vox. Angel agrees, after Val promises to never hurt Moxxie so sadly again…and after threatening to break the imp's legs if he refuses.]]
* AngerBornOfWorry: Moxxie is rightfully angry at Angel, for claiming that they are in a relationship…because he can’t believe the spider sinner would put his neck on the line for him, without telling him first.
** Similar in Chapter 14, Angel is furious at Moxxie for wanting to play, so soon after his sexual assualt from Valentino, insisting that his friend should be resting and recovering, and stay far away from the Moth Overlord.
** Angel Dust gets another one in Chapter 28, harshly reprimanding Moxxie for shouting and speaking back to Valentino, since he knows the Overlord's temper and fears that he might've gotten killed had he not been so lucky.
** The longer Moxxie remains trapped with Val, the more impatient and angry Millie gets at his prolonged capture. So much so, she eventually leaves the group to try and find him herself.
** Upon hearing that Val threatened his life, [[to make Verosika sing for him, Vortex becomes furious, going to confront the Overlord himself, even joining up with Millie to do so.]]
* AnguishedDeclarationOfLove: Stolas finally confesses his full, true feelings for Blitzo and how he longs to be in a relationship with him in Chapter 24, when the prince confronts the imp about his attractions to Striker.

* ArmorPiercingQuestion: After seeing how poorly Valentino treats Vox, Moxxie finally asks the TV Overlord why he doesn't just leave him, if he dislikes how he's being treated. Vox furiously responds that he has left him multiple times, but always comes back. Moxxie then asks, why he comes back. The Overlord dodges the question, the imp having struck a serious nerve.

* AttemptedRape: Valentino has several moments of these towards Moxxie. One moment in particular happens in Chapter 22 where he tries to seduce the imp, while Vox is in the shower. Thankfully the Overlord stops him before Val can carry out the deed.
* AwwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Loona is shown that despite disliking Blitzo’s clinginess, she still cares about him. She’s horrified at seeing him nearly die in chapter 3. And in chapter 4, is genuinely remorseful for not arriving on time and nearly getting him killed.

* BadassInDistress: Moxxie, a skilled assassin and cunning strategist, spends the majority of the story captured by Striker and the sold to Valentino as a performer. Despite being severally underpowered, the imp still attempts to escape on multiple occasions with some newfound friends, though so far none of the attempts have been successful.
* BadBoss: Valentino is nothing short of an utter scumbag to his employees, in particular, Angel Dust & later Moxxie, with whom he is emotionally, sexually, and physically abusive towards. He is also incredibly manipulative towards his own ward Magatha, whom he starves for days, so that she will remain dependent on him.

* BastardBastard: [[spoiler:Valentino, the Overlord big bad of the story, fond of emotional and physical abuse as well as rape and murder, is revealed to be the illegitimate son of Lucifer himself.]]
* BatmanGambit: [[spoiler: Among the many horrible reasons for Valentino deciding to marry Angel Dust, one of them is to get Vox frustrated and angry enough, to try and retaliate at the wedding, allowing the Moth Overlord an opportunity to take over his territory and operations.]]

* BecomingTheMask: [[spoiler:Magatha was set by Valentino to pose as a friend & helper for Angel Dust & Moxxie, to keep an eye on them and ensure they don't try to escape or cause any trouble. As time goes on however, she starts to genuinely care about Moxxie and eventually defects from Valentino to help him & Angel escape.]]
* BerserkButton: Just seeing Striker, is enough to send Millie into a blind rage trying to kill the imp. More than justified, considering what he did to Moxxie.
** Valentino beating up his beloved Fat Nuggets, is almost enough piss off Angel Dust so much that he almost finally stands up to his boss.
* TheBerserker: Millie was already hotheaded and rash, but her losing Moxxie and seeing everything Val's doing to him is enough to send her on blind rages trying to get her husband back.
* BettyAndVeronica: Blitzo has to choose between Prince Stolas, the sweet, kind, loving Betty, and Striker the arrogant, dangerous, cruel but charming Veronica.
* BigBad: After Striker is double-crossed by Verosika, Valentino becomes the big overarching villain in the rest of the story, being the guy who ends up keeping Moxxie when Striker’s done with him.
* BigBadWannabe: Surprisingly enough, despite being the one who kidnaps Moxxie and sets everything into motion, Striker is doubled-crossed by Verosika and nearly dies from the experience. He’s left wounded and without his gun, forced to team up with I.M.P., in order to get his revenge.
* BigDamnHeroes: Just as Gritzer is about to slash Blitzo's throat, a beaten up Striker saves him with a stab to the back.

** In the same chapter, Blitzo gives a few of these to Striker, after he finds him near death and still flirting with him, after their fight with Gritzer.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[spoiler:At first, Magatha aka “Mags” was introduced as a stern but otherwise caring friend of Angel Dust & Moxxie, who wants to help the little imp escape from his current predicament. But, as revealed in chapter 14, she’s a cruel, greedy mole, secretly working for Valentino who’s more than happy to sell them out.]][[spoiler: Subverted later on though, as it is revealed she's only been doing because he's made her dependent on him. When she finally has had enough, she truly becomes friends with the two and helps them escape their boss.]]

* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler: Moxxies manages to shoot Valeninto in the head, when he tries to rape Vox. Sadly since it was regular bullet, all it does is take him out for a few seconds.]]
* BoomerangBigot: Striker outright tells Moxxie, in the first chapter, that he thinks imps are disgusting, lowly creatures, despite being one himself.
* BruiserWithASoftCenter: Husk, acts uncaring, jaded and snappy towards others, but he does have his caring moments. Especially in regards to Millie, whom he quickly forms a bond with and comforts, when she's broken up about Moxxie.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Octavia gets a big one in Chapter 29, calling out both Stolas & Stella for their equally selfish behaviour and how it’s affecting her. She calls out Stolas for parading Blitzo around like her mother doesn’t exist and tears into Stella for hiring Striker to kill her father.
* CalmingTea: Angel Dust makes some for Moxxie [[spoiler:during his post Vox's death breakdown.]]
* CanNotSpitItOut: Millie sense that Husker has feelings for Angel, similar to her own feelings for Moxxie, but the cat continues to deny that's the case.
* CantKillYouStillNeedYou: When Striker is at death's door, after this brutal beatdown from Vortex, Blitzo still saves his life because they need his help to track down and save Moxxie; despite him being the sole reason Moxx is kidnapped in the first place. This is despite the protest of Stolas and Blitzo makes it very clear to everyone that once Moxxie is saved, Striker is a dead man walking.

* CatharticCrying: Octavia breaking into tears, during her rant towards Stolas & Stella about how tired she is with their fighting, her being ignored and her mother's assassination attempt, is describing is being incredibly needed for her after having endured it for so long.
* CharacterDeath: [[spoiler:Stella is kidnapped and brutally killed by her former bounty hunter Gritzer, after attempting to call off the hit on Stolas.]]
* {{Cliffhanger}}: Serval.
** Chapter 3 has Blitzo nearly losing his life, in front of Millie & Loona, while Striker escapes with Moxxie.
** Chapter 12 has Moxxie suddenly faiting after performing, possibly from inhaling Valentino’s smoke and Loona finding out about it online.
** Chapter 26 ends on several doozies. [[spoiler: Blitzo goes to rescue Moxxie, having found out about Vox's death and knowing where he'll be, only to be confronted by Gritzer who has just beaten up Striker. Velvet seeing Vox's broken body, is ready to confront Valentino, only to find Alastor next to it, apparently planning to bring his rival back to life. And finally Angel Dust is called to Val's home, where he finds the broken Moxxie and told to calm him down by the next day. Or else both of them will pay.]]
** In the very next chapter, [[spoiler: it ends with Vox broadcasting the footage of his death and resurrection to the world, sending a message to his ex and murderer.]]
** Chapter 31, [[spoiler: ends with Gritzer starting his attempt on Stella & Octavia's lives, after being fired, with the two Goetias being trapped inside their car.]]
** Chapter 32 has two. [[spoiler: The first is Gritzer calling Stolas, telling him he has Stella & Octavia hostage and that the Prince surrender himself and bring Striker in toe, to decide wether the gator sinner kills the prince, his wife or his daughter. The second has Millie show up at Valentino's club, willing to wait for the others to arrive, so they can start their rescue mission.]]
* ClosetPunishment: Val does this to Moxxie at one point, to keep him from Angel Dust and to punish him for not fighting back against his advances.
* CloudCuckoolander: Velvet is not all that stable. She has very skewed views on love & Val's relationship with Vox, is more than happy to kill and torture random people and has the personality of a bubbly teenager.
* CommitmentIssues: As usual Blitzo is a bundle of these, though they get more focus during the later half, in particular Chapter 32, where he can't bringing himself to take the next step in his & Stolas relationship, after it forced to Prince to neglect Octavia's safety just to check on him.
* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike: [[spoiler: When Moxxie sees Valentino sexually assault and attempt to rape Vox in Chapter 24, he attempts to finally kill the Moth Overlord by shooting him through the brain. Rather than being thankful, Vox is furious and beats up Moxxie, being absolutely furious that he took his kill from him.]]
* ConflictingLoyalty: Vortex has a hard time dealing with the situation, feeling bad for Moxxie and what he’s going through, but still wants to remain loyal to Verosika. [[spoiler:Eventually, he starts helping I.M.P. and even fully leaves Verosika, once her grip on sanity starts to fade.]]
** Mags has had many different loyalties throughout the story. [[spoiler:At first introduced as a friend to Angel Dust & Moxxie, she's revealed to be a DoubleAgent for Valentino, so that he can keep taps on them. But eventually, she starts feeling bad for Moxxie, and becomes more disillusioned to Valentino, she becomes a double agent for the two of them instead.]]
* ConvenientlyTimedAttackFromBehind: Just as it seems Verosika is about to kill Loona & Stolas, [[spoiler:Vortex finally has enough of the succubus and knocks her out.]]

* CooldownHug: Angel Dust gives one to Moxxie in Chapter 27, [[spoiler:after Vox's apparent death.]]

* DaddysLittleVillain: Played with. Mags is implied to be the adopted ward of Valentino, [[spoiler: but while she seems to enjoy working for him, this is mostly out of a believed necessity. She eventually turns on her boss and ends up helping Moxxie & Angel Dust.]]

* DatingCatwoman: Despite everything Striker has done to Blitzo, neither can deny their attraction towards each other. Of the two Striker is the most open about it, frequently flirting and trying to get with Blitzo, while he tries desperately to deny it and hate him, but let's his feelings slip through the cracks at times.

* DeathGlare: Stolas shots several at Striker while in feral form, when ever the cowboy complains about his ride, which promptly shut him up.
* DeniedFoodAsPunishment: The main way Val keeps Mags in line, is by starving her for days on end, and only giving her food when she does something that pleases him.

* DespairEventHorizon: Eventually all the emotional, psychological and physical abuse he has suffered from Val, starts to drain Moxxie's will and hope for freedom. He briefly reaches his breaking point in Chapter 33, as he becomes numb and doesn't stop Valentino's advances on him like usual. However, this makes the now crazy Val angry as he enjoys it when the imp fights back, causing him to lash out and bring him back from the brink.
* DoNotAdjustYourSet: Val has Vox broadcast Angel Dust & Moxxie's duet throughout Hell, allowing everyone from I.M.P to The Hotel, to Veronica to Stella & Octavia to watch it. [[spoiler: Does this again in Chapter 27, to show all of Hell he survived his supposed death.]]

* EasilyForgiven: [[spoiler: While Angel Dust and Cherri are still pretty mad and hesitant to fully make up with Mags, after they find out about her spying on Valentino's behalf, the hellbird doesn't suffer too many consequences from Angel Dust and Cherri and ends up joining their side rather quickly. Moxxie is fully forgiven and willing to save her, once he finds out, without being upset. Justified, as being a victim of Valentino's abuse himself, Angel realizes that Mags was more than likely forced into this role, and thus is more understanding about it, offering to help her escape from the Overlord alongside him.]]
* EnemyMine: Despite everything, Striker has done, from trying to kill Stolas to kidnapping & selling off Moxxie, I.M.P., and he joins forces in order to save the imp and get their paybacks on both Verosika & Valentino. [[spoiler: While Striker mostly uses them to get back his rifle and recapture Moxxie, he comes to care a little about them with time. Though, not enough to stop carrying out his plans.]]

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Verosika genuinely cares about Vortex and greatly appreciating his loyalty and kindness. So much so, that when Valentino threatens the hellhound's life, she agrees to work for him again.
* EvilIsPetty: Verosika teams up with Striker and takes custody of Moxxie, eventually selling him off to Valentino, and later tries to kill Stolas with Striker’s holy gun, all just to spite Blitzo for dumping her.

* ExactWords: Valentino orders Vox to "sleep" with Moxxie, all but saying that he wants the Overlord to have sex with the imp. Instead, Vox decides to simply sleep with the imp, he sleeping next to the already unconscious Moxxie without trying anything else.
* FakeDefector: [[spoiler: Mags pretends to be this for Valentino, in order to real more about Angel Dust & Moxxie's plans to escape or outsmart their boss. Later Subverted in Chapter 21, where she regrets her actions and realizes how abused she is under Valentino's care and defects for real over to Angel Dust and Moxxie's side.]]

* FakeRelationship: After Valentino misinterprets Angel Dust’s interest in Moxxie as them being in a relationship, the two of them go along with it, in order to keep each other safe.
* FakingTheDead: When Verosika attempts to drown her, Millie pretends to die in order to survive. The trick works as the Succubus leaves her body, allowing the imp to escape.
* FireForgedFriends: When Moxxie first meet Angel Dust, the sinner was very cold & uncaring towards the imp, seeing him as little more than a nuisance and another coworker. He quickly warms up to the imp however, upon learning what he’s been through and the two bond from there becoming True Companions, helping each other endure the heartache they go through.
* TheFriendNobodyLikes: Nobody, and I do mean '''NOBODY''', on the Save Moxxie team likes Striker. More than justified as he's the reason, Moxxie's forced to work for Val in the first place. Doesn't help that the imp's no remotely apologetic for his actions, doesn't change his behavior, constantly antagonizes everyone and is clearly plotting his own schemes behind the scenes. The only reason they still work together is because they need his info.
* FoeRomanceSubtext: This makes up much of Blitzo & Striker’s relationship, when they’re forced to team up. Blitzo starts becoming attracted to his former nemesis, the longer they spend time together, and tries to deny his feelings, still being mad over what he’s done. Striker is well aware of his enemy’s feelings and uses it to his advantage by flirting with Blitzo and trying to seduce him on several occasions.
* ForceFeeding: More like force drinking, as Valentino often forces Moxxie to drink, in order to get him more lively and passive to his liking.
* ForcefulKiss: Valentino gives one to Moxxie during their limo ride, both to force feed him smoke and for his own pleasure.

** Valentino gives one to Angel Dust during, while he crashes his performance in Chapter 21.
* FreakOut: Poor Moxxie has a heartwrenching breakdown, the day after his limoride with Valentino.
* FunWithFlushing: When given a key to Valentino’s penthouse, Moxxie gets rid of it by shitting on it, vomiting on it, and then finally flushing it.
* GenkiGirl: Velvet is the most openly friendly of the Triple Vs. She's very lively, eccentric and cheerful most of the time, even while doing morally reprehensible stuff and having bad company.
* GetOut: Stolas has this reaction to Alastor, when the radio demon attempts to stir up drama and make him jealous, by teasing him with the possibility that Blitzo might be falling for Striker.
* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Valentino is seen smoking in nearly one of his appearances. In fact, he often uses it on Moxxie forcing him to inhale the smoke against his will. [[spoiler: It's revealed his smoke is actually a gaseous drug that drains the strength of those who inhale it and render them unconscious.]]
* GunsVsSwords: More knives than swords, but this is most highlighted in the rivalry between Gritzer, the large alligator man who prefers to use knives to kill his targets, and Blitzo/Striker, both highly skilled gunslingers, with a large arsenal of firearms to fall back on.
* HateSink: Valentine is utterly reprehensible in this story. He's physically, emotionally and sexually abusive and manipulative towards his boyfriend Vox, his coworkers Angel Dust and Moxxie and even his own ward Mags. [[spoiler:While he's later revealed to have been an abuse survivor himself, it does little to help justify or redeem him, from all the monstrous acts he does to the people around him.]]
** Verosika Mayday comes across as a spiteful, petty, vengeful, self-centered glory dog, who'll do just about anything to get back at Blitzo. Wether it be selling Moxxie off to Valentino or trying to kill Stolas on her own. Her redeemable and sympathetic aspects are toned downed in her, giving her very few moments where we feel bad for the succubus.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Vortex starts out being loyal to Verosika, even as he’s forced to fight against I.M.P. and allow Moxxie to be sold. But due to his regret over his actions and as she grows more unstable, he beings to aid I.M.P. and the rest of their side behind her back, starting in Chapter 15, knocking out Verosika right as she's is about to kill Stolas & Loona. He finally switches sides in Chapter 22, when he takes Octavia to Stolas.]]

* HeroVsVillainDuet: Angel Dust goes to do what he believes to be a standard pole dance and song in Chapter 21, only for it to turn into a forceful duet, as Valentino joins him, as a show of his power over the spider sinner, after he finds out about their plans behind his backs.
* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler: Moxxie is barely able to function and register the world around him, after helplessly witnessing Valentino beat Vox to his apparent death. It and Valentino's gaslighting manipulation, leave him to a traumatized, broken mess, believing himself to be responsible for it.]]
** Millie suffers an emotional breakdown, when Husk stops her from jumping out the hotel window to save Moxxie while pregnant.
* HelpfulHallucination: Moxxie, eventually starts hearing Millie's voice calling out to him, encouraging to keep holding out hope for her to arrive and to try and kill Val, while he's distracted, giving the imp some much needed relief and a good boost.
* HonestAdvisor: Loona & Charlie act like this to Blitzo & Stolas respectively, on the matter of their relationship. Loona bluntly tells her father she doesn't like the relationship as it is now, due to his commitment issues and how it would make Octavia feel secondary to Stolas, and even encourages him to try to acknowledge his feelings for Striker and start a relationship with him, if the bounty hunter truly redeems himself. Charlie, while a romantic at heart, understands Stolas' reasons for wanting to leave Blitzo to focus on his daughter, and is encouraging in him to tell Blitzo as much.
* HoneyTrap: Blitzo & Striker's initial plan to take out Gritzer, is for the latter to seduce the bounty hunter, as he's known to have a thing for reptiles, so they can get close enough to kill him and reclaim Stella's holy weaponry.[[spoiler: It doesn't work, as Gritzer was already onto him, but the alligator still takes the opportunity to attempt to rape Striker while he tries to flee.]]
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Velvet has a messed up view of Valentino and his relationship with Vox. She doesn't see anything wrong with the way the moth sinner treats Vox and assaults him. She believes it's how Valentino expresses his love, and that just it means that he loves Vox the most out of everyone.

* HyperventilationBag: Charlie does this, shortly after Stolas leaves with Striker to confront Gritzer, ashamed of being unable to prevent it.
* IGaveMyWord: Striker tries to use this as an explanation on why he hasn't betrayed Blitzo, and tried to take his rifle back on his own, but the boss sees through it and realizes the cowboy's striking around because he enjoys his company.
* IHaveYourWife: The central plot of the story, all kicks off when Striker kidnaps Moxxie and demands Blitzo give his holy gun back in exchange. While he gets his gun back, I.M.P. is unable to save Moxxie and from there, things only get worse.
** [[spoiler: Gritzer pulls this same move on Stolas, kidnapping Stella and Octavia after the swam cancelled her hit, and calling the prince on his daughter's phone. He demands that the prince along with Striker, arrive at specific location, where Gritzer will then kill either Stolas, Stella or Octavia.]]
* IllKillYou: Blitzo has this reaction to Striker in Chapter 22, when he learns about his attempt to seduce a drunken Moxxie during his night at the club.
* ImAHumanitarian: Aside from Alastor, Mags has grown to enjoy eating the flesh and blood of other sinners, as mostly conditioned to do so by Valentino.
* InTheBack: Striker gives Gritzer a stab in Chapter 27, just as the gator's about to kill Blitzo.
* InVinoVeritas: During Valentino’s first night with Moxxie, he gets the imp drunk and manages to get the imp to confess about his & Angel’s plans of escaping. Thankfully, Moxxie still had enough to sense to keep him from telling the Overlord the truth about their fake relationship.
* InconvenientAttraction: [[spoiler: Despite his best efforts to bury his feelings, in the wake of everything he's done to them and Moxxie, Blitzo can't deny his feelings towards Striker, which only grow more passionate as the mission goes on. It gets to the point, where he considers making things more serious with the bounty hunter.]]
* InstantWebHit: Moxxie’s violin & piano number at Valentino’s Club, becomes a viral sensation overnight, helped by the recent rumours of him & Angel being in a relationship. This soon draws in some unwanted attention. Including a very frustrated Verosika Mayday.

** In Chapter 16, Stella finds out where Moxxie is performing at and the imp starts to suspect that Mags, [[spoiler: might be spying on them for Valentino.]]
** Chapter 20, has Blitzo finally learn about Stella hiring Striker during the Harvest Moon Festival, through the assassin himself.
** While Cherri was suspicious of Mags' loyalties, [[spoiler: Chapter 21 has her and Angel Dust discovering that she's been secretly relaying info back to Valentino.]]
* IronicName: The Doctor who comes to treat the injured Valentino, who is very mortally sound and uncorrupt even by Hell Standards, is named Dr. Sin.
* IrrevocableOrder: [[spoiler: Stella finally cancels the hit on Stolas, shortly after hiring the bloodthirsty Gritzer for the task. However by that point, the alligator man is so furious about being wounded in battle and then humiliated by being fired, he continues his hit on the Prince, gathering together all his men, while also vowing to kill Blitzo, Striker and anyone else who gets in his way.]]
* ItsAllMyFault: Loona blames herself for Blitzo’s near-death experience in chapter 3.
** [[spoiler: Moxxie sinks deeply into this trope, believing himself to be responsible for Vox's apparent death, being the one to encourage the Overlord to stand up to Valentino and having angered the Moth demon.]] [[spoiler:It gets worse, when Vox comes back and Valentino makes Moxxie think he's partly responsible for his wedding to Angel Dust, in addition to the above.]]
** Stolas, understandably blames himself horribly for putting Octavia through so much pain and misery, making her feel like she's secondary to Blitzo, after having ignored her issues while trying to help his paramour. Enough so, for the Prince to want to call their relationship off entirely.
* JackBauerInterrogationTechnique: Millie shoots Striker’s landlord and threatens to kill him, for information on the assassin’s whereabouts.
* JealousRomanticWitness: Stolas won't admit it, but seeing Striker & Blitzo being so close and kissing during the dance contest starts to vain on him emotionally. Especially since Striker tries to kill him not too long ago. He wonders if this is what Stella felt, when she learned of his affair with Blitzo.
* JerkToNiceGuyPlot: Angel Dust is at first cold & slightly uncaring towards Moxxie, nor wanting to get attached to the new blood but through a series of events, he slowly reveals his more kind, supportive side to the imp. When Val develops a liking towards Moxxie, Angel is the main one making sure he’s okay & safe through it all.
** Same thing happens to Vox, who is initially jealous of all the attention Moxxie's getting from Val. The more he spends time with him though, the more Vox beings to care about the imp, [[spoiler:even managing to overcome his toxic relationship with Valentino, taking and pretending to marry Moxxie to keep Val away from him.]]

* LearnedFromTheNews: Having been away from the hotel for business related to Heaven in Sloth, Charlie and Vaggie haven't been up to date on everything that's been going on with Moxxie, Angel Dust and the Triple Vs. It's only after Vox makes his grand display of blowing up Valentino's clubs, that they find out about it all.
* LeeroyJenkins: Millie's prone to split from the team and try to find & rescue Moxxie on her own. [[spoiler:Most noticeably, she slipped away while everyone was distracted and putting together a big rescue plan, taking one of the four tickets to Val's big club, in order to save him herself, after finding out about Val's planned wedding.]]
* LetsSplitUpGang: Happens to the main party at the start of Chapter 34. Stolas has already left with Striker to confront Gritzer who has Octavia, Charlie, Vaggie and Blitzo go to try and save Moxxie, Loona goes to help the first group and Husk stays behind in case Millie returns from her mission.
* LiarRevealed: Val finally learns about Angel Dust's fake relationship with Moxxie in Chapter 28, confronting the spider demon about it.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Angel Dust becomes this to Moxxie, as the imp suffers no end of tragedies at the hands of Valentino.

* MadLove: Despite how much Valentino mistreats him, Vox is always quick to fall back in love with his partner, with little more than a few empty promises and kind words. [[spoiler: Thanks to his growing friendship with Moxxie, who helps him see how unhealthy and bad this relationship is for him, Vox finally decides to leave Valentino for good.]]
* MakeAnExampleOfThem: When Valentino suspects Angel Dust of leaving him for good, [[spoiler: the Overlord sadistically shows him the consequences of such actions, by using his new smoke to knock out Mags in front of a large crowd, showing the control he has over everyone.]]

* MistakenForCheating: While not technically in a relationship yet, Stolas has this reaction to Blitzo, upon seeing him making out with Striker during their dance.
* MoodWhiplash: Chapter 22 starts out sweetly enough, with Moxxie waking up in Vox's apartment, getting his first shower in a while, snuggling with Vark and making the Overlord breakfast…and then Val shows up.
* TheMole: [[spoiler: Mags was originally introduced as a friend and ally to Angel Dust & Moxxie, working with them to escape Valentino. However chapter 14 reveals, that she has actually been working for Val the whole time.]][[spoiler: From chapter 21 and onwards, she truly becomes this to Angel Dust, after having grown to care about the Spider Demon.]]
* MoralityPet: Moxxies becomes this to Angel Dust, Magatha and Vox, slowly bringing out their better kind side, the longer he gets to know them.
* MorningSickness: [[spoiler: Chapter 18 has the first hint of Millie being pregnant, with her suddenly vomitting and feeling nauseous.]]

* MySignificanceSenseIsTingling: [[spoiler: Velvet is able to sense that Vox has apparently been killed, despite being miles away from here the murder took place. It's the first time we see her truly scared and concerned for her friend.]]

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: [[spoiler:Valentino utterly beats Vox into a bloody, near death pulp, when the TV Overlord finally fights back against him in Chapter 24.]]
* TheNoseKnows: [[spoiler: Valentino's able to figure out that Vox contacted Moxxie shortly after his resurrection, when the moth smells his Ex's cigarettes on him.]]
** Despite her nose being busted from a previous encounter, Loona is able to track down Stolas & Striker, thanks to the prince's rage and pheromones being so strong.

* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:Moxxie shoots Valentino through the skull in Chapter 24, when he assaults Vox. Unfortunately, it was with a regular gun, so Val shakes it off and returns back to life no worse for wear.]]
** [[spoiler: In the same chapter, Vox is brutally beaten by Valentino, leaving him a broken, unresponsive mess. Believed to be dead by Moxxie and Valentino, they leave his body. But when nobody's looking a single spark escapes his body and into an outlet. This turns out the be what's left of the Overlord, who goes on to leak the footage to all of Hell, before showing up in Valentino's room alive and with a new body, thanks to some help from Alastor.]]

* NotSoStoic: In chapter 4, Loona breaks down in front of Blitzo at the hospital, apologizing for her apathy, blaming herself for not arriving on time, and getting him killed.

* OddFriendship: Moxxie, the neurotic, easily flustered, imp assassin eventually becomes close friends with Angel Dust, the cocky, flirtatious spider sinner striper.
** There's also Millie, the energetic, optimistic, bloodthirsty imp who strikes a friendship with Husker, the grumpy, pessimistic alcoholic cat sinner with a gambling addiction.
** And of course we have Loona, the angry, phoneaholic, goth adopted hellhound daughter of Blitzo, becoming friends with Octavia, the dower, moody, princess daughter of Stolas, becoming fast friends shortly after meeting.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Seeing Blitzo close to dying after his failed rescue attempt, is enough to shock the usually apathetic Loona and even make her drop her phone.

* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: [[spoiler: When Moxxie saves Vox from Val's sexual assault by shooting him in the head in Chapter 24, Vox lashes out at the imp, furious that he took his kill from him; believing since he loved him, Vox should've been the one to kill Val.]]
* OriginalCharacter: Of note, there is Magatha (a female bird demon and one of Angel Dust’s coworkers, who grows to befriend Moxxie, [[spoiler: and is secretly working for Valentino]]) Gritzer (A powerful aligator bounty hunter demon, who takes Veroskia’s place, after she fails to kill Stolas and becomes rivals with Striker) and Valora.
* OutGambitted: [[spoiler: Angel Dust, Cherri Bomb & Magatha all set up a plan to escape Valentino, by setting up smoke bombs filled with his knockout drug during a live performance, rendering everyone unconscious long enough for them to get out. Unfortunately, Val sees this coming and forces Mags to perform on stage during their big attempt, so that he can knock her out in front of everyone, making their escape impossible and demonstrate his dominance over the three demons, in a terrifying display of cunning.]]
* PerkyGoth: Velvet, is shown to be very bubbly and teasing towards others. In particular Vox and Moxxie, the latter of which she takes a liking to.
* PetTheDog: The first hint of Vox's softer side, is revealed in Chapters 16 & 17, where he disobeys Valentino's orders to have sex with Moxxie. Instead simply sleeping by the imp's side and giving him coffee & food when he wakes up.

* PlotAllergy: Valentino is allergic to Chedar Wood and enough exposure will make him rash and damage his eyesight. [[spoiler: Velvet and Vox plan to exploit this by making gas bombs from the wood, to weaken the Overlord during their big attack.]]
* PreciousPuppy: Moxxie gets a small puppy from Valentino in Chapter 22, which he affectionally names Phantom.
* PregnantBadass: Pregnancy doesn't stop Millie from being a murderous beast.

* PunchAWall: Val does this, after Vox blows up his clubs.
* PushedInFrontOfTheAudience: Moxxie was initially meant to just become Valentino’s weapons handler. But after the regular guitar player suddenly becomes sick, and Moxxie wows everyone as the last-minute replacement, he takes over the role and eventually is forced to become one of Valentino’s regular strippers.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: [[spoiler: Vox gives on to Valentino in Chapter 24, when the moth Overlord tries to hurt Moxxie, finally standing up to his abuser and calling him out on everything he's put him through.]]

** Blitzo gives Verosika a smaller one during their next confrontation, calling her out on all the shit she's put Moxxie through, all for petty revenge.

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: As expected, Millie goes on several, in her quest to rescue her husband.

* RoyalBastard: [[spoiler:Valentino is revealed to be the illegitimate offspring of Lucifer himself, making him a technical heir to the throne and capable of surviving hits, that most demons would die from.]]
* TheRunaway: Octavia briefly runs away from her mother, after she's been kept from her father for too long.

** Val also starts showing symptoms of losing his sanity and calm, [[spoiler: after Moxxie shots him through the brain]], making him much more dangerous and unpredictable.
* SaveTheVillain: When Striker shows up at I.M.P. close to death, Blitzo reluctantly has Stolas heal the cowboy, as he still needs him alive in order to find Moxxie.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Millie briefly leaves Blitzo & Co., to find Moxxie on her own, after their failed rescue attempt in Chapter 3. She eventually rejoins them when the two groups catch up at the Hazbin Hotel.
** Eventually, [[spoiler:Vortex also leaves Verosika and joins I.M.P. after she becomes a bit too obsessive & crazy for his liking]].

* ShutUpHannibal: Moxxie finally stands up to Val in Chapter 28, [[spoiler:when the Overlord attempts to beat and blame him for losing his clubs after killing Vox. The imp harshly calls Valentino out for killing Vox, saying it's his own fault that his clubs are destroyed and how the Vox deserved better.]]
* SlapSlapKiss: This is apparently a constant of Valentino & Vox's relationship, as highlighted in Chapter 17, when Valentino confronts Vox about disobeying his orders, hitting him for it which eventually turns into them having violent sex with each other.
* SoProudOfYou: Blitzo declares this to Loona, after hearing about her fight with Verosika. She’s naturally embarrassed by it.

** Chapter 8, has Angel Dust singing a slow piano version of Addict, with Moxxie providing the music.
** Chapter 16 has two. A duet between of Night Crawling by Moxxie & Angel Dust and a rendition of Music/AdamLambert's Mad World by Moxxie for Valentino & Vox.
** Chapter 21 has a surprise duet number by Angel Dust & Valentino, to the tune of Music/{{Kesha}}'s Take It Off.

** Chapter 26 features a song from the popstar succubus Verosika Mayday herself, singing Music/SofiaCarson's [[Film/{{Descendants}} Rotten to The Core]]
** Chapter 28 has an epic one, with Vox gleefully singing Music/TaylorSwift's Look What You Made Me Do, next to footage of him & Velvet destroying Valentino's clubs.
** Chapter 40 has a dark duet of Black Wedding by In This Moment performed by Moxxie & Verosika
* SpringtimeForHitler: Valentino strongly suggests Mags sing for his club in chapter 23, hoping to humiliate the hellbird in front of a large audience and then scare her back under his thumb. This backfires horribly, after Mags manages to get back her confidence and surprise the whole crowd with her talent. [[spoiler: He then uses his new drugged smoke, to knock her out in front of everyone, to achieve the same goal.]]

* SuddenLackOfSignal: While there is a cellphone signal and wifi service in Sloth, it's so insanely slow that it took Charlie, who was there with Vaggie on business, two week to find out what was going on back in Pride.
* TalentContest: One of the plotpoints of the story is a Dance Competition hosted at one of Valentino’s Clubs, the prize being a pass to Angel Dust’s Club. Blitzo & Striker enter together, and luckily win.
* TastesLikeFriendship: In Chapter 26 Loona and Octavia bond while eating some chips together.

* TheShowMustGoOn: Moxxie is forced to take up the role of guitarist, during one of Angel Dust’s shows, after the other guy becomes sick.
* TheTease: Striker frequently flirts with Blitzo much to his displeasure.
* ThirdPartyPeacekeeper: On top of keeping Blitzo & Striker under control, when they start fighting like children in his car, Vortex is forced into this role, during Blitzo attempts to call a truce with Veroiska, having to keep the two from killing each other and make sure everything goes civil.

* ThwartedEscape: Moxxie attempts his own escape from Striker, in the first chapter, but doesn’t get far, before he collapses and is subdued again. [[spoiler: He and Angel Dust have several escape attempts from Valentino; most of which end in failure.]]
* TitleDrop: Striker drops on in his thoughts in Chapter 34, as he prepares for his rematch with Gritzer.

* {{Troll}}: [[spoiler: Forced to go wedding shopping for Valentino's marriage to Angel Dust, Cherri makes the most of it, when she and Moxxie end up at a high-class establishment, using the imp's fame for her to mess with the manager of the store.]]

* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: Striker & Blitzo plot a simple yet brilliant way to kill Gritzer, by seducing him, steal his holy weapons and then use them to kill Valentino, with some help from Verosika. All seems to be going well, until it's revealed Gritzer knew about their plan all along and starts beating them into a bloody pulp.
* UseTheirOwnWeaponAgainstThem: [[spoiler: One of Angel Dust's first idea to escape from and kill Valentino, is to use his own knockout cigarettes against him, knocking out most of the club and leaving him vulnerable to attack long enough for him and Mags to escape with Moxxie. It doesn't go too well.]]

* WaterTorture: Valentino soaks and nearly drowns Moxxie with ice cold water from the shower, when the Overlord catches Vox's scent on him.

** Chapter 34, is the biggest one in a long while, with such turns as [[spoiler:Verosika arriving at Val's club, Stella found dead by Stolas having been killed by Gritzer, and Valentino being the illegitimate offspring of '''Lucifer Morningstar himself!''']]
* WhamLine: In Chapter 7, Striker leads Blitzo to someone he knows, who might know where Moxxie would be kept. He implies that the figure is a cat and likes alcohol, hinting that it might be Husk. The final line confirms it: “He’s staying at a place…called the Happy Hotel…”
** Millie gets one in Chapter 23, after having been puking for a while.

* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Valentino pulls this on Moxxie, [[spoiler: after his assassination attempt fails, causing Vox to be brutally killed during the crossfire. By this point, having grown close to Vox and being forced to watch his new friend being beaten to death, poor Moxxie falls for the moth's manipulations hook-line-and-sinker.]]
* WhyWontYouDie: Valentino gets killed or brought to near death multiple times, yet he keeps coming back alive and well, though crazier each time, much to the horror and dread of everyone.
* WorfHadTheFlu: Due to a near fatal shot from Verosika using Striker’s Gun, leaves Stolas with a broken arm and unable to do tasks he would otherwise have no trouble with, like opening portals and fighting back when he & Loona are attacked by her again.
** Even though he eventually wears Moxxie outs, Valentino takes one hell of a beating from Moxxie, thanks to his sanity slipping and him having been drunk off his the imp's meds and booze.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Verosika does this to Striker in chapter 5, after she sells Moxxie to Valentino, taking his gun & cash and leaving him at the mercy of Vortex. Striker barely manages to survive, however.

* * {{Yandere}}: Valentino slowly stars dripping more and more into this, as the story goes on. While he was already clingy and emotionally manipulative of Angel Dust and Moxxie, [[spoiler:he really steps it up after Vox breaks up with him.]]