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The Hazbin Hotel was always filled with music of some kind or another. Whether it was Angel Dust was blasting music, something playing in the background, or if nothing else, Charlie or Alastor or both would burst into song and dance.
But today was suspiciously quiet. It was as though an aura hung over the Hotel and no one wanted to break it. Another point of note was that Alastor was not around as he usually was. The few times that he was seen were brief, and though his smile was still in place he was far too quiet for the Radio Demon. No music played in the background, no static buzzed faintly in their ears.
Most of the occupants brushed this off: Husk and Niffty were used to just going along with what Alastor did after so many years in his service, Angel Dust had policy of letting others be unless it directly affected him, and Vaggie was grateful that the unpredictable Overlord was leaving them alone – the father away he was the better in her opinion. But Charlie wasn't one to just let things be. This was not usual behaviour from Alastor and if something was wrong she was determined to find out.
Alastor was sitting in an empty lounge when she finally found him, eerily quiet. “Hey Al,” the princess greeted as she approached.
The deer demon looked up at her, and replied, “Ah, Charlie. Is there something I can do for you?” His smile was in place, as always, but his eyes revealed his true feelings, and they were oddly flat and listless, and his tone lacked its usual energy.
“I was just wondering if you were doing okay.”
The Radio Demon gave a distant scoffing chuckle. “I'm just caught feeling a fit of moroseness, it will pass.”
Charlie frowned. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Alastor glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “No.”
As his glaze returned to the far wall the demon princess slumped. She wanted to help, but if he didn't want to talk about whatever it was that was upsetting him, she didn't know what she could do.
Then, an idea hit her.
“The sun'll come out,
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
clears away the cobwebs
and the sorrow
Till there's none
When I'm stuck with a day
that's gray
and lonely
I just stick out my chin
and grin
and say...
Oh!
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gonna hang on
Till tomorrow
Come what may!
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow
You're only
a day
a-way
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're only
a day
a-way!”
By the time Charlie finished the song, Alastor's smile had quirked just so, hinting amusement rousing him from his melancholy. Charlie smiled back, music had always been a language that they shared.
“You know,” the princess started, tone sly, “That musical came out in the 70's. A bit hypocritical, Mr. I-don't-like-anything-past-the-mid-30's.”
“Ha!” Alastor barked. “Well, Little Orphan Annie was a comic in my time, and then of course there was the radio play – which was my domain, naturally. So when I heard that they were telling a story with her using such a classic medium as theater, set firmly in my era – perhaps a couple years after my passing, but not really enough to be too detrimental – I was curious.” He then eyed the princess. “But I was quite sure the lyrics were that tomorrow was always a day away.”
Charlie shrugged. “There was a movie adaptation of the play, and I liked their version better. It sounded more... hopeful.” There was a beat. “Any chance I could get you to watch it?”
“Ha! No!” Alastor responded with a laugh.
“Come on, I'll put on a black-and-white filter, run it thought a good old fashioned projector, I know there were talkies in the 30's.”
“Tell you what, the next time they put on a production in the theater we can go together.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Do we have a deal, then?” Alastor asked, extending his hand, though his voice was playful and no magic swirled in his palm.
“Nope! Just a promise.”
“Sounds square! Shall I see you at dinner then?”
Seeing Alastor back to his chipper self, Charlie felt her job was done. “You bet, Al.” And she left the room to continue her day.