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Alastor was clutching his head maniacally. How could he have been so easily overthrown? He was the Radio Demon for Lucifer’s sake! Everyone has feared him from day one, he has enough power to topple cities, even with the restrictions against his power. No, this wasn’t right. A cocky bastard like Adam shouldn’t be able to do this sort of damage to him. Alastor painstakingly stared down at his now broken microphone, not quite processing it as reality. It seems he was now stuck in a state of denial despite being fully aware of his current situation, an odd feeling for him.
“What a fool.” He whimpered to no one in particular. He was alone after all. That may be the worst part of his predicament. No one came to find him, to reassure themselves he was safe and not killed in battle. Although, it’s not like Alastor particularly cared if the others cared about him… Right? They were still simple pawns in his own little game after all. He was only at the hotel out of boredom and a deal, nothing more. So then why did it hurt so much to realize that he was alone, even in his most vulnerable of states? He had thought, hoped even, that his love, you, would at least try to find him. Perhaps he was a fool for having such emotions, no matter how uncontrollable it seemed.
Putting emotions aside, Alastor imagined how the public would react to the news of his demise. Joyously he could only imagine. What a pathetic way for such an overlord of his status to go out. People would be laughing over his grave, mocking him. “Alastor, the altruist, died for his friends. Ha. What a joke.” Alastor mumbled bitterly. That is what the people would say, being humored by the irony of such a heartless demon dying in a critically selfless way. He almost wanted to laugh at himself.
“Is that really what you think they would call you? An altruist?” Hm? That sounded like your voice, but those were not your words. None that he could imagine you saying to him at least. You were always so kind to him, more so than any of the others. You were the only one who didn’t look at him like he was only his crimes. So then why did your words hold such disdain?
Alastor’s eyes frantically dart around, searching for your typically loving presence. His eyes trained themselves on a shadow figure in the corner of the room. A complete carbon copy of you, however this version of you was completely in grayscale. It stood still and lifeless. One of his very own shadow puppets he guessed, but he doesn’t recall ever making one of you.
“Now don’t look so pitiful my dear.” You stepped closer, no emotion in your voice. Even your body movements were ice cold. “We both knew your arrogance would destroy you in the end.”
Alastor replied with a forced and strained smile, “It is not arrogance when I know that I am capable of doing what I say.”
“Evidently you are not capable. Look at your condition now. It will take much more than a tailor to restore your charming look.” There was now a smile on your shadowy face, a genuinely condescending smile.
Alastor huffed, “My full potential was stolen from me, my dear. My limits simply slipped my mind.” He winced as he felt one of his wounds get rubbed the wrong way by the fabric of his overcoat. He was in worse shape than he had thought. After the wearing off of his adrenaline high he feels even more hopeless.
“Your potential was not stolen, rather it was given away by its holder; you.” Alastor shudders at the reminder of his decisions. “You are quite quick to blame everyone but yourself for the predicament you find yourself in. It was you who shook your master’s hand, was it not?”
Green shackles begin to form around Alastor’s hands, his mouth being stitched together, a harsh reminder that his deal is never to be spoken about with others. But this was still his psyche messing with him. It wasn’t you. You wouldn’t say such cruel things. “You know nothing, darling.” His pet names sounded more condescending rather than loving at this point. “I played the cards I was dealt, I had no other options.” His smile was now a snarl. He still felt the need to defend himself, knowing he is only speaking to air.
“Oh Al, there is always another way. You simply have to find it for yourself instead of waiting for the answers to fall into your hands.” You walk towards him, circling his broken and bruised body with intimidating eyes. “What you made was a stupid, reckless decision and now look at yourself, facing its inevitable consequences.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Alastor’s smile was now anything but genuine. It was bitter and visceral. “My dear would never say such things!” His anger levels were visibly rising.
The shadow seemingly ignores his cries and continues, “I suppose none of it matters now, though. What you did is done. And now here you are, the Great Alastor, chained to a hotel and place where no one even bats an eye at his death.”
“Radio is not dead.”
“As far as they know, it is.”
“They trust I wouldn’t die so easily.” Whether he was trying to convince himself or the shadow at this point was unclear.
“Do they, or do they just not care?” You smile maniacally as the room seemingly starts to build up with deep, black smoke. “Why do you think no one has found you in this pathetic state yet?” He was quite pathetic, wasn’t he. Laying here with now tried blood tainting his iconic suit. Crimson is usually his color, but the shade of his very own blood was only a symbol of his weakness.
“Well-“
“Wrong answer!” Alastor was increasingly irritated, no one should dare interrupt the Radio Demon, no matter his state! However, you didn’t even notice his growing rage as you cheerfully spoke on, “They’re simply not looking for you, they're down there worshiping the damn snake! Ha!” Right. Sir Pencious actually did die in battle.
“I can’t blame them however, at least he made a positive impact on their lives.” You were now striding even closer towards him. Alastor was situated on the floor, in far too much pain to do more than lean on the wall sitting. Your eyes begin to turn into dials much like his own, except yours were a striking green color that greatly contrasted his crimson. “Now tell me, what have you done?”
With each foot step the background behind you seemed to become increasingly dark with smoke. “Make cocky, condescending comments?”
Tentacles similar to his own appear from your back, swirling towards him. “Force your contracted staff to work?”
Alastor didn’t know how much more he could take. “Purposely allow chaos to follow you to the hotel's doorstep? Wow, you’re just nothing but trouble!”
You are now directly in front of Alastor, wearing his iconic smile with his tentacles floating around and his dials in your eyes. Reality and illusion now appear the same to him as he couldn’t tell whether it was himself or you staring back at him anymore. Your voice was now distorted with static as your body morphed to tower over him.
“Tell me, what’s your next move, Al?”
_______
The air around the hotel was polluted with dust and smoke. Hardly being able to breathe, you vigorously cough as you search for the only person unaccounted for. The battle was over now; Adam was dead and everyone was beginning to gather at the front of the hotel planning the hotel’s next move. So far the only confirmed casualty was Sir Pentious. This, of course, broke your heart more than you could describe. You were quite fond of the snake, but you must honor his memory later for there is another person that you need to confirm is safe for your own sanity.
Alastor was last known to be fighting Adam on the roof of the hotel, however no one could find him during or after the battle. All anyone knows is that Adam somehow escaped the unmatchable wrath of the Radio Demon. The thought of Alastor being hurt in any grave way sent a shiver down your spine. It upsets you that no one else is bothering to search for the Wendigo, instead focusing on rebuilding and honoring Sir Pentious. Alastor was just as much a part of the hotel family as the rest of you. He helped build this place from the ground up. You sigh as you still search, catching a glimpse of his now-destroyed radio station. Ah, what a fool you were for not checking that earlier.
Navigating the rubble and taking careful steps you eventually make your way over to the structure. From outside you hear the most relieving thing all day; Alastor’s voice. No matter the state he was in now, at least you know he’s conscious.
“Alastor!” You call out, hoping your voice reaches him. However he doesn’t call back. Finally making it into the main recording room you see a sight you never thought you would; Alastor completely broken. Not so much physically as he looked mentally, but he was definitely not in great condition. Alastor was knelt on his knees, hands entangled in his hair as he frantically looked at the floor. He seemed to be mumbling to himself. You decided to approach him calmly in order to not cause any more panic.
“Al…” You slowly walk towards him. Alastor still seems to be entranced as he didn’t even twitch upon hearing his name. The thing that did it was the light touch of your hand on his shoulder. He immediately jumped back, staring at you like a deer in headlights. “You’re ok.”
“Are you… really you?” You have never heard him so desperate. It hurts your heart to see your confident, cocky darling so broken.
“Yes, it’s really me dear.” Your hand finds its way to his shoulder again, but this time he doesn’t jerk back in any sort of manner. Alastor looks behind him, he looks to be searching for something but is relieved when he doesn’t see anything. His tense shoulders fall under your touch and he looks back at you, straining a smile. Alastor began gripping your arm as if you would disappear if he lightened his hold even a little bit.
“You came for me.”
“Of course I did, you would have for me, no?” It’s true. He would tear apart cities to find you. But the fact that you would reciprocate the act made him forget about all the things his mind was telling him earlier. The voice was oh so wrong.
“Let’s get you cleaned up, love.” You smile at him and, for once after his battle, Alastor held a genuine smile back.