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"Are you alright?"
Settling back into his radio tower, Alastor turned, somewhat surprised to see the little seraphim hovering at the doorway, her wings beating softly, toes a few inches above the carpet. She was looking at him tentatively, and it was all so very Charlie of her, clearly chomping at the bit to talk about feelings.
His smile tightened.
She had pulled him from harms way, though; he supposed he could humor her, for just a moment, then send her on her way. Appearances, and all.
"Never better, as a matter of fact." Free of chains, power restored; things were in fact looking up for the Radio Demon. He gave his staff a quick spin. "Fine and dandy!" His smile broadened and the butt of the staff gave a light thump on the floor in punctuation. "How very sweet of you to check in, ah-"
"I'm Emily!" She chirped, and Alastor swept an exaggerated but brief bow.
"Emily." He rose with a flourish. "I suppose I should thank you, it's possible I was at a slight disadvantage when Vox started firing that weapon of his." Weak. But on brand, wasn't it? Of course Vox needed his giant, toothy mongrel and a weapon of mass destruction to have a chance against Alastor. (He was, historically, pathetic like that.)
"It was pretty scary." Emily's toes touched the floor and she stepped in, her expression sobering. Alastor felt the corner of his mouth twitch. "And things got pretty bad, so I just wanted to make sure you were ok, and to thank you for helping us stop the weapon." She smiled earnestly. "I wanted to make sure to thank everybody before I go back."
"How polite." He tilted his head and gave a wave of his hand. "Well, as I said, no need to worry, thank you, you're welcome, and have a lovely portal back to Heaven!"
She was still watching him intently, and he pushed down the urge to outright shoo her.
"I'm going to have to fix my painting."
"Your what-now?"
"Well I knew Sir Pentious was missing all of his friends from here at the hotel, so I painted everyone! But I'd never actually seen you- I just knew Charlie said you were like a deer, so I guessed!" She shrugged sheepishly, but beamed nonetheless. "Now I know what you look like, I can fix it!"
Alastor blinked then said flatly "You really don't have to do that."
Emily giggled, and fluttered around him, clearly studying him; clearly painting in her head already. She was certainly a sprightly creature, wasn't she?
"Penny" Penny? "misses you all so much, it would really be my pleasure." She landed in front of him once more, looking up into his face, then seemed to hesitate for a moment, before crossing her arms over her chest and squeezing her shoulders tightly inward.
"My dear, what in heaven and hell are you doing?" Alastor eyed her in bemusement.
"Well, I saw you don't really like it when people touch you-"
"Saw that, did you?"
"And I checked with Charlie, to be sure, so it's an air hug!" She beamed like a little drop of silvery sunshine, and for a moment Alastor wasn't certain whether he was annoyed or ever so slightly charmed. Was it both? It was quite possibly a little of both.
What a considerate little seraphim.
"Dear angel, you thought I needed a hug?" He leaned down to her, his smile stretching. "How precious."
Her hands clasped together, and her blue, guileless eyes met his.
"You know it's ok if you do, right?"
"I assure you," He raised one finger and tapped the tip of her nose lightly. "I am perfectly fine. Spectacular. Swell, even."
She twirled back, and gave him a studying look that Alastor would have almost described as shrewd, but then she nodded, apparently placated for the moment.
"Well, if you ever do, I've been told I give the very best hugs."
"Is that the Pride ring rubbing off on you, now, Emily?"
"Just the facts as they've been reported to me." She gave a curtsy of her cloud-puffed skirt. "Was the air hug ok? Could you feel it?"
"No complaints." He took her hand and spun her- "Good day to you, Emily!" -directly out the door, shutting it smartly before she decided to produce a puppy, or some other such angelic nonsense.
"Oh- uh- good day! It was nice to meet you!"
His shadow seeped past the lamplight, watching her, antlers taking shape. She turned and gave a start, yelping, before the shadow gave a small wave, one finger at a time.
Her shoulders relaxed and she shook her head.
"See you next time, Alastor." She glanced from the shadow to the door, then back, before opening a silvery portal and zipping through.
Til next time. Alastor rolled his eyes.
Annoying, but very slightly charming, too.