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In the agonizing streets of hell, all was the usual. Crude demon activities, infamous overlords collecting souls like Pokémon, you could say. But there was an unusual silence in the Hazbin Hotel.
Alone sat the radio demon himself, sipping his awfully hot brewed tea.
Charlie, sitting on the couch a little far off beside him, was doodling new plans for her resident's redemption.
And lastly sat Husk, cleaning a few shot glasses in his smug, miserable glory at the bar.
While these three were in the hotel alone, their comrades were busy with other activities. Nifty, cleaning upstairs, Angel, working with Valentino, Sir Pentious, doing his own thing with his egg bois in whichever realm of hell, and Vaggie, who was in search of books of overlord tales.
Charlie groaned as she set down her notebook and various different colored markers. “Redeeming your friends is hard work..and so. BORING.”
Alastor turned his attention to her. “My dear, I did inform you from the start that such loathsome sinners were not to fight for.”
His smirk widened as Charlie rolled her eyes. “But since you are driven by such passion, it is only fair to let you experience such discouragement for yourself.”
Charlie glared, “Right…thanks.” she turned in the direction of the bar, to Husk, who was now sipping on a glass of rosaé. She smiled “Heyyy Husk! How are you over there?”
Husk grunted, and put down his glass. “Same ol’ booze, same ol’ hotel, same ol’ me.” He shrugged, sitting back on his stool. “My ‘love’ for this shit is just about the same too.”
Charlie sighed. “You do a really great job holding down the bar, Husk. Thank you for your service.” Husk nodded.
Alastor raised an eyebrow. “Love, was it that you mentioned? Well I thought you lost the ability to love Husker!” He asked, standing up and walking over to the counter. He rested his arms on it and stared deeply into Husk’s eyes.
Husk groaned in response to his usual antics. “I did. I won’t ever love again. I’ll be lonely for as long as I live through every other extermination in hell.” He grabbed the bottle of whiskey behind him and poured its remains into the glass, and guzzled down the rest of his bitter drink.
Angel Dust walked through the door with comedic timing. “Nonsense whiskers! You have this gorgeous babe in front of you!” Angel proudly exclaimed, walking up to Husk.
Husk however, scoffed in disgust. “When I get into heaven then I’ll consider your existence.” Alastor chuckled under his breath. Angel sighed and walked away. “Alright, but you're missing out." Husk flipped him off.
Angel snickered, and stretched his arms. "Love to stay and chat, but I've got a bed that is calling my name. Being this sexy don't work everyday without some shut-eye. Later.” He waved his goodnites, and made his way up the stairs.
Charlie yawned, and stood up, stretching as well. “Get some rest, you two, gonna wait for Vaggie in my room.”
Alastor grinned. “Sweet dreams, darling child. As they say, ‘don't let the bedbugs bite’! Hahaha!”
Charlie chuckled, and made her way to her room.
Alastor turned his attention to Husk, who put down his last clean glass of the night. He noticed the sinister red eyes following his movements, and groaned. “What. Do. You want?” he stared back.
Al hummed. “My charming friend, what do you want?” he folded his hands expectedly.
Husk raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Me? I want the hell out of this place for fuck sake.” He stood from behind the bar, stretching to the best of his old man abilities.
Alastor stood as well, assuming the other would begin to his room. “Ah, but you already know the consequences of your lively actions! However, that isn't what I was referring to my dear.”
Husk raised an eyebrow. Alastor removed his monocle and wiped it off on his suit. “It's ill of me to assume, but I can theorize. And being that you mentioned ‘love’ I sense you miss that one sentimental connection you could have with another being. Would I be correct, Husker?”
Husk blinked at him. “Where the hell is this coming from? Did I accidentally spike ur tea earlier?”
Alastor chuckled heartily. “Hahaha, heavens no! I simply am asking my dear companion a question about himself to- as some might say- bond with him!” He put a hand on Husk's shoulder gently. “Now, do answer my earlier question?”
Husk emitted a low growl at the contact, and shrugged the other off of his shoulder. He put a hand on his hip, weighing his options. He could either tell Al no, and go to sleep, only to be tantalized into talking anyways, or he could still tell Al no and be given one hell of a scare of a threat.
Or he could let his walls down just enough for him to peek over at the other's nosy self.
Preferring this soul of his over no soul and wanting to peacefully sleep off his hangover already kicking in, he decided to be real for a moment.
“Yeah, you're right. Why are you concerned with what I think about?”
Alastor’s smile stretched wider. “Why, Husker, I was just wondering-”
Husk interrupted, “You know what? I actually don't wanna hear it. Save it for the morning, I have a migraine and want to have decent dreams tonight that don't involve you terrorizing me over and over again.”
He waved his hand dismissively as he began walking away. Al tilted his head, watching the other walk away without so much of a pause.
Once he heard a door close upstairs, the deer demon relaxed his uptight shoulders and let out a sigh of dissatisfaction.
He went back over to the bar, and magicked himself a half full glass of light whiskey. Distant, quiet radio music could be heard as he sipped, thinking about him and Husk's conversation just minutes ago.
“Why that Husker is a tough cookie to break…if to change his mind could serve him some sort of joy…” He thought out loud before a tiny one-eyed maid appeared at his side,
“Hi Al!” Nifty exclaimed from behind Alastor. Alastor turned to her vibrant presence. "Well if it isn't my darling little exterminator! Awake this late, Nifty?”
Nifty pulled out a flyswatter. “There's this creepy crawly I've been hunting since this morning! Still can't find it.” She sighed exasperated.
Alastor chuckled, as he patted the empty seat next to him. “Take a break my dear, I'm sure you've tired yourself out now.” Nifty nodded, and took her seat next to him.
“I heard you talking to Husk earlier. Sounded like someone was being a bad boy.”
Alastor cleared his throat, chuckling. “No, No. None of that, that goes on in your crooked mind. It was an innocent talk between friends.”
“But then why were you talking about love?" She asked, really not letting up. He sighed, seeing no reason to hide the conversation he just had with Husk not too long ago from Nifty of all people.
"I was pondering how I could make our dear feline friend feel… human-like connection again.”
Nifty asked, "Like love and stuff?” To which Al replied "Precisely.”
"You could date him yourself!”
Alastor's ears perked up at the word 'date’. He shook his head, laughing somewhat obnoxiously. "No, no! That's preposterous! Do I look like the type of sinner to date?”
Nifty frowned. “You are the main one concerned about him loving someone again. Why not try to love him yourself? He could love you in return!”
Alastor frowned to the best of his ability, what with a plastered smile on his face still. "Darling, I'm the last sinner our Husker would ever want to romantically associate with.”
Nifty looked at the overlord with stars in her eyes. "Make him see why you're the only one he ever would want for.”
Al took in a breath. The possibilities were endless of how this could go. Even if he further ruined their relationship with this little stunt, realistically, there was nothing Husk could do about it. He still belonged to Alastor regardless.
However, he could truly ruin a bond he knew not even all the booze in the world he could offer wouldn't make up for. And that was honest to Lucifer the LAST thing he wanted.
"We will discuss this tomorrow after we both get some well needed rest. I need some time to think about it.”