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“Goin’ out AGAIN, Alastor? That’s, like, your fifth time this week!”
Alastor halted in his tracks, a somewhat annoyed look on his smiling face as he turned around to face Angel Dust. “I wasn’t aware what I did in my own time affected you so much, Angel.”
“It’s just weird, Al! You NEVA leave the hotel this much. Just curious, is all.”
“Well, what I do in my personal time is precisely that; personal. If you’ll excuse me, I have to get going now. But I implore you to tell me your theories on what you think it is I’m doing when I return!” With that said, Alastor turned on his heel, exiting the Hazbin Hotel to get on with his day.
Angel Dust walked over to the bar, taking a seat and taking a large gulp of the drink Husk had placed in front of him. “Sheesh! Ya ask a guy one question and he gets all defensive on ya!”
Husk chuckled, shaking his head as he wiped the glass in his hand with a rag. “What do you care about what he does, anyways?”
“I’m just curious! Ain’t you the least bit curious too?”
Husk set the clean glass down, reaching for his bottle and taking a swig of the alcoholic beverage. “Guilty.” He smirked.
“See!” Angel exclaimed.
“You want me to follow him?!”
Angel yelped in surprise as he looked at an overly excited Niffty who had randomly appeared. Once his initial surprise went away, he had a mischievous grin on his face. “Niffty, that’s a great idea!”
Husk rolled his eyes at the two plotting sinners, but he went along with the idea, interested in seeing what Niffty’s findings were.
———
“Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!” Niffty kept chanting to herself as she scurried a good distance behind Alastor, ducking behind objects and other sinners on the streets when she thought he was looking towards her. She had been following him for quite some time now, watching as he made several stops along the way to wherever his intended destination would be.
First, he had stopped by at the tailor’s. Niffty wasn’t quite sure what he had done in there, but when he emerged from the shop, his suit looked to be in a better state than when he had arrived. As they entered Cannibal Town, Alastor had made his second stop, entering one of the flower shops in town. When he stepped back outside, he was carrying a large bouquet of roses. Lastly, she witnessed him enter a butcher shop, of all places. Niffty giggled at the hodge-podge sight of Alastor walking in with the flowers in hand into the grotesque nature of the shop. Her curiosity piqued further when he came out holding not just the flowers but a heart-shaped container full of what looked to be fingers, her eye barely able to make out the shapes from the see-through cover.
Alastor was on the move again, his hands juggling the newly acquired items along with his cane. His shadow emerged shortly after, offering to carry the flowers and heart container, to which Alastor agreed. They continued walking through Cannibal Town until they reached what Niffty assumed to be Alastor’s final destination, a place called Rosie’s Garden. The garden was lovely, seeming to be a private retreat for the Cannibal Queen. Niffty’s eye took in the serene atmosphere of it all before she focused again on following Alastor.
She hid in the covers of a nearby bush, watching as Alastor greeted the one and only Cannibal Queen of Cannibal Town, Rosie. Thankfully, she was close enough to get a front row seat to the action, able to see and hear their entire interaction, her small stature being the perfect perk for this very task.
“Alastor! Why, are those for me? Oh, aren’t you just the sweetest thing!” Rosie gushed, her face turning a shade of red similar to the roses being offered to her as she blushed at the sentiment. She cupped his face, placing kiss after kiss onto his lips, her lips going askew and leaving him slightly marked all upon his face by her lipstick. When her onslaught of kisses was over, Alastor stood there with a pleased smile.
“My sweet Rose, you deserve SO much more than this. This is but a humble offering for now.” Alastor wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing them closer together in an embrace. He nuzzled their faces together, a happy rumbling sound emanating from his chest when she circled her arms around his neck and buried her hands within his hair, his ears always a magnet for her hands.
When they broke apart, Rosie turned to Alastor’s shadow next, the entity holding onto her gifts dutifully. “Come here, you. I certainly didn’t forget about you.” She peppered it’s shadowy face with kisses as well, thanking it for the lovely gifts. She took them from it’s arms, guiding Alastor to have a seat at one of the tables nearby.
Niffty watched their date in awe for some time, staring adoringly at how cute Alastor was with Rosie. Rosie had set up the table with drinks served in teacups, and a few plates full of severed body parts for them to snack on. They took turns feeding each other, laughing and just having a swell time all-around. Eventually, Niffty snuck herself out from the garden, buzzing with excitement to tell Angel and Husk the news of the two overlords dating.
On her way back to the hotel, however, Niffty started to reminisce on her time with the Radio Demon. Alastor had always been so kind to her. He never made fun of her mannerisms or traits, actually embracing her weird self as she was. He was the first to truly do so. As she neared the hotel, she had a change of mind, choosing not to out Alastor’s relationship to everyone else until he was ready to do so on his own.
———
“Well well, look who’s back! Got anythin’ juicy to tell us, Nifft’?” Angel Dust asked when he noticed Niffty entering the hotel. He patted the seat next to him at the bar, both he and Husk eagerly awaiting her arrival.
Niffty sat on the barstool, spinning herself on it a few times before speaking with a huge grin on her face. “I got nothing!”
Angel and Husk stared wide-eyed at her in disbelief. “What do ya mean ya got nothin’!?”
Niffty bounced in her seat, giddy about the situation. “Nothing! I saw nothing!” She started laughing maniacally.
“Y’know, that makes it sound like you DID see something but you’re not gonna say what it was.” Husk pointed his finger at Niffty, squinting his eyes as he gave her a suspicious look.
“Who didn’t see something?” Charlie asked as her and Vaggie entered the bar area.
“Niffty here is holding out on information for us. We just wanna know what Alastor’s deal is.”
Vaggie crossed her arms. “His deal about what, exactly, Angel?” Her and Charlie looked expectantly at the three sinners at the bar.
Before anyone could respond, the doors to the entrance of the hotel opened, Alastor himself walking in. He glanced briefly at everyone staring at him, before choosing to ignore whatever was happening there, about to make his way up to his room when Angel Dust called out to him.
“Al! C’mon! I gotta know!”
“Alastor, is something going on?”
At hearing the concern in Charlie’s voice, Alastor sighed, putting on his best smile. He figured he’d come clean, lest the arachnid pester him more about this topic. “If you MUST know, I was on a date with Rosie.”
The shock and bewilderment at his words was rather comical. Angel’s and Husk’s jaws hung open, Charlie was squealing at the news, running to Alastor to embrace and congratulate him on his romance, while Vaggie smirked in his direction, nodding her head in approval, lastly, Niffty stayed seated on her stool, giggling. When Charlie released him from her hug, he smoothed his coat, taking his leave to head upstairs to the sanctuary his room provided, leaving everyone to discuss amongst themselves about what he had disclosed to them.
“Rosie, the cannibal Overlord!?” Angel shouted, still in disbelief.
“Hmm, y’know, that’s actually fitting for them.” Husk smiled smugly.
“A date! Ha! Who would’ve thought!”
“Definitely not me, but, what do I know?” Husk mumbled, taking a swig of his drink.
“There there, pal. Alastor’s never really been the ‘relay your feelings to the bartender’ type. But hey, at least we know there’s more going on underneath all that, whatever he’s got goin’ on, in that head o’ his.” Angel raised his glass expectantly.
Husk, taking the hint, raised his bottle to clink it against Angel’s. “You got that right, kid.”
———
“Never a moment of privacy around here.” Alastor grumbled as he entered his room. “And they wonder why I’m always taking my affairs elsewhere.”
He settled himself into one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, wanting to unwind from the day. Before he could get too comfortable, however, there was a knock at his door, Alastor getting agitated at everyone’s constant nagging today.
“Oh, what now?” He let out an exasperated sigh, thinking it was probably Angel Dust wanting more details about his relationship with Rosie. Mentally preparing himself, he uttered a, “Come in!” To whoever was on the other side of the door. When he saw who entered, he relaxed, grateful it wasn’t who he thought it was. “Niffty, welcome! Have you come to inquire information?”
Niffty scurried on in, leaping right onto Alastor’s unsuspecting lap, giving him an unexpected hug. When she pulled away, she grinned at him, her eye full of sincerity. “I’m really happy for you and Rosie, Alastor.”
Alastor, after the initial shock wore off, softened at hearing that. He brought her in close again, enveloping her in his arms for another hug. “Thank you, dear.” He patted her head, the two enjoying the moment before separating and bidding each other farewell for the night.