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"My dear Vagatha! How are you on this fine evening?" The Radio Demon inquired, a sharp-toothed grin spread from cheek to cheek as he entered the Hotel.
"What the fuck do you want, Al?" Vaggie retorted, crossing her arms with a slight glare. "You here to piss me off?"
His grin widened, neck cracking slightly to the side unsettlingly. "Why, I'm simply greeting a friend! Is that so hard to believe?"
"Yes, it is." She shot back. "Where have you been anyway? It's getting late, even for you."
She had to admit, she had been a tad worried. Not that she would ever admit it. But now that the old-timey bastard was back, she couldn't understand how she had ever been even the slightest bit concerned.
Now that she took a closer look, though, he seemed a bit off. His smile was slightly too tense, and she could've sworn she noticed a slight twitch in his fingers.
"Ah, I've just been out running a few errands, you know. Going out on the town, having some fun." He replied easily, though it still seemed off, in that strange way.
Vaggie looked up at Alastor. She couldn't help but worry about this now. "Did something happen while you were out?"
Alastor's smile grew ever wider and ever more strained. "What would give you that impression, my dear?" He questioned, grip tightening on his staff. Vaggie noticed the sound of static growing slightly louder.
"You just seem.... Off. You were fine when you left, but now you seem stressed out or upset." Vaggie replied in a rare moment of honesty with the Overlord. "Not that I care." She added in a feeble attempt to maintain the air of disdain she held for the Radio Demon.
Alastor hummed. "I suppose there's no harm in sharing this." He began. "Well, you see Vagatha, I was visiting a Speakeasy earlier, and let me say that I was having a ball!" He exclaimed, an audience cheering on his radio.
"Mhmm." Vaggie arched a brow. "So what went wrong?"
She could've sworn Alastor's smile nearly fell.
"Well, I was approached by a young woman. She had been interested in having a dance with me, and, I must admit, I was a bit intoxicated. I would even say that I still am." His smile grew slightly. Whether it was from real amusement or trying to cover up how he truly felt, Vaggie couldn't tell.
She frowned a bit at this news. Now that she really looked, his cheeks did seem a bit flushed. She didn't know he was capable of getting drunk, though, it does explain his willingness to share what had happened with Vaggie of all people.
"Do you need to sit down?" She asked, preparing to help him move to the couch.
He hummed. "I suppose that may be nice. Thank you, Vagatha."
She grumbled at his insistence in using her full name, but helped him to the couch nonetheless.
"So, what happened?" She questioned, urging him to continue his story.
Alastor's smile appeared a bit more as a grimace as he settled on the couch. "Well, we shared a dance. I am powerful enough to have fought her off if she decided to attack, even under the effects of alcohol. But, well, I suppose I've never understood this kind of thing. I should have known what she would do, truly." He lamented, rubbing a hand across his face. The sound of static grew louder.
Vaggie worried her lip, well and truly concerned and damn well near panicked. "What happened then? Are you alright?" She asked urgently, having to make sure. Whether she like it or not, she was semi-responsible for the Radio Demon's well-being as a fellow co-worker.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine." Alastor reassured. "It's just that, well. She kissed me. On my mouth." He unsteadily replied, feeling nauseous at the memory. His smile was near absent. The static only grew.
Vaggie's eyes widened. "Oh Satan. I'm so sorry, Al." She consoled. "How are you feeling? What did you tell her? What did you do?"
"I suppose I feel a bit sick thinking about it." He replied honestly. "I'm embarrassed to admit I simply said "Oh dear" and teleported out of the establishment as quickly as I could."
He let out a small sigh. "I fear I've never enjoyed anything of that nature. Though, I should have known that since I had accepted the dance, a kiss would be expected from me at the least."
Vaggie felt anger rise up inside her. "That doesn't matter, Al. Even if it was expected, she should've asked first."
Alastor hummed. "Perhaps she should have..." The static died down ever so slightly.
Vaggie sat silently for a moment, before speaking up. "I'll be right back, Al. Don't move a muscle." She instructed.
"Wouldn't dream of it, darling!" Alastor exclaimed back in an attempt to bring back his typical excitement.
Vaggie beelined from the couch straight to the kitchen. She reached up to the cabinets and grabbed a glass. She walked over to the faucet and turned the water on cold, holding the glass under the stream.
She couldn't believe Alastor had been assaulted in that way. It was really awful. Though... Something else he said had caught her attention. He didn't understand this kind of thing... As in romance? Kissing? What did he mean? Could he perhaps be aroace?
Vaggie sighed, turning off the faucet as the water reached close to the rim of the glass. If he was aroace, it was more than likely he didn't know it. He had died in the early thirties and hadn't bothered to learn damn near anything from after his time living.
Though, regardless of sexuality, what had happened to him was still unacceptable.
She walked back over to the couch, and, true to his word, Alastor hadn't seemed to move even a single muscle.
"You know, I didn't mean it literally. You could have moved some." She sighed, looking down at him, unimpressed.
His grin widened and his eyes gleamed. "Where's the fun in that?" He chuckled, gently taking the glass of water with a small thank you.
She huffed, a small smile adorning her face as Alastor sipped his water.
"Alastor," she started, twiddling her thumbs. "I've got a question for you, if it's not too personal."
He raised an eyebrow at her, moving the glass away from his mouth.
"Well, my dear, I can't guarantee that I'll give an answer, but you're free to ask." He easily replied, going back to sipping his water as he awaited the query.
"Are you aromantic asexual?" She questioned, opting against using the shortened version. He probably doesn't even know what both of the whole words mean, let alone the shortened word.
His brows furrowed in confusion. "What do those words mean." He questioned flatly, energy having been spent on his less than ideal night.
Vaggie snorted. "You don't experience romantic attraction, and you don't experience sexual attraction."
Alastor began to play a soft jazz tune. "Hmmm... That's a strange way of putting it. Though, it may very well describe me."
He contemplated aloud. "In my day, that was referred to as a sexual dysfunction." He grinned.
"Well, it's not. It's a sexuality, like being straight and being gay." Vaggie retorted softly. "Don't let anyone tell you different Al. It's normal, it's not something to fix."
Alastor was silent as he contemplated this, still sipping his water.
Vaggie looked at him with a small smile. "You don't have to worry about if that describes you. Look into it if you want. It helps some people to have a name for what they're feeling. If you don't care too much to name it, though, then don't worry about it. Do your research if you want, Al." She assured, leaving the Radio Demon with room to explore.
Her smile fell. "However, it doesn't matter what your sexuality is. What that girl did is wrong, Al. Even if you were straight, it wouldn't be okay. There's nothing wrong with you for not liking getting kissed by her."
Alastor's silence continued. Vaggie sighed, standing up. "Try to get some rest, Al. You've had a long night, and combined with the drinking, you need the rest." She began to walk away. "If you need anything, you know where to find me. Good night, Al."
As she began to ascend the stairs, Alastor called out. "Good night. Thank you, Vaggie."
A smile spread across her face as she let out an amused sigh. "You're welcome, Al. I'll see you in the morning."