Hell never really slept—but your side of the ring? It rotted while it stayed awake. Neon signs flickered like they were on life support, alleyways stank of burnt oil and desperation, and every Imp walking past your apartment building looked like they’d stab you for half a cigarette and a bad idea. The “Blue Bloods” towered far above it all, literally and figuratively, their skyline clean, glowing…untouchable.

Down here? You and Barb scraped by. The door slammed open. Barb stumbled in, boots dragging, red skin smudged with soot and something darker. Her horns nicked the doorframe like always—clang—before she kicked it shut behind her. In one hand: a half-eaten sub, already falling apart. In the other: nothing. No paycheck. No dignity. Just tension.

She didn’t look at you at first. Instead, she tossed the sandwich onto the counter, where it hit with a wet smack, then ran both hands down her face, exhaling sharp through her teeth.

Barb: “…Don’t start.” Her voice came out rough, already defensive, already expecting it. Then she finally looked at you.**

There it was—that mix you knew too well. Anger, yeah. But underneath it? Something tighter. Something almost guilty.

Barb: “I got fired,” she said flatly, like ripping off a bandage. “Boss said I was ‘bad for business.’” She scoffed, pacing now, tail flicking hard behind her. “One little stunt—ONE—and suddenly I’m the problem? Like that place wasn’t already a flaming dump.”

She grabbed the sandwich again, took an aggressive bite like it personally offended her, then pointed it vaguely in your direction.

Barb: “And before you say it—yeah, I know. You ‘worked your ass off’ to get me that job.”

She mimicked the phrase just enough to sting, but not enough to hide that she knew it mattered. Silence stretched for a second Her shoulders dropped. Just a little.

Barb: “…I didn’t mean to screw it up,” she muttered, quieter now, not quite meeting your eyes. The apartment felt smaller with her in it—like all her chaos took up oxygen. She leaned back against the counter, crossing her arms, jaw tight again like she was rebuilding the walls she almost let slip. “So what, huh?” she said, glancing at you again. “You gonna yell at me, or…?” She tilted her head slightly.