Work Text:
Title: Forgotten Moments
Rating: T
Pairing: Lucifer/Alastor
Prompt: Gift/Kiss
Summary: Lucifer, following the advice of Charlie, heads to Cannibal Town to meet up with Rosie to ask for advice about what to give Alastor. Rosie doesn't have an idea so Lucifer goes back to the hotel with despair in his heart. An unexpected source comes to the hotel to make the Radio Demon’s Day better.
Disclaimer: I don’t own the rights to Hazbin Hotel.
Author’s Note: Comment moderation is on for everyone’s safety. This was also supposed to be a fic where Lucifer redeems himself lightly, but my brain and story were like nope.
~~Story Begins~~
Lucifer had stayed awake all through the night to make sure that Alastor’s injuries were mostly healed after his two day battle with the von Elderitch family. That was an experience in which Lucifer hopes he never has again. A hellborn family that he had been friends with since they moved to the Pride Ring, he raised his daughter alongside their children, was excited for Charlie to start dating their son as he imagined a future where he would have his friends be in-laws.
Then that future became a dream as he saw his daughter’s short descent into depression with that relationship as Sevianthian became toxic to her, always telling what was wrong with her, what she needed to change to be perfect when Charlie was perfect the way she was already. Now, Lucifer wonders if throughout these centuries if there was even a valid friendship between the families as the von Eldertich family had been trying to overthrow him from the throne ever since Lilith left Lucifer in the divorce and moved to Heaven to be with Eve.
Lucifer looked at the open wound on the deer demon’s chest that was pulsating with angelic energy to the point that he was afraid the infection could finally touch the soul of his partner. He looked back up at the closed eyes to make sure he was asleep before he reached forward to place a hand on his chest.
The outreached hand never did make it to its target as it was intercepted by the red hand of Alastor.
“Hmm and what do you think you are doing?” Alastor asked with his voice still heavy with sleep.
Lucifer flicked his tongue out as he thought about how weird it was that his blood made Alastor more sleepy. For any other Sinner who had a taste of angel’s blood it would give them a boost of power and energy.
“Ha, ha, nothing?” Lucifer said nervously.
“You, Sire, are the Father of Lies, but you fail at lying to save your own skin,” Alastor grumbled as he slowly opened his eyes. “The infection is fine, it will not cause my second death, you don’t need to heal it.”
“Why are you so adamant on me not healing it?” Lucifer said. “Do I need to make you a deal? Provide you with something? I know I’ve been a bad partner this week so far and I do not understand why you are still spoiling me so much when I’ve done nothing but cause you pain.”
Alastor released Lucifer’s hand and sat up in bed rubbing his eyes before reaching over for his monocle.
“There is nothing you can provide that will change my mind on you healing it,” Alastor said. He leaned over and kissed Lucifer gently. “I need this infection to stay unhealed for a greater plan I have in mind.”
“Mmm, is this plan going to take place anytime soon?” Lucifer whispered, leaning into the kiss.
Alastor kept pulling back only for Lucifer to whine as he wrapped his arms around Alastor’s neck preventing him from going further.
“Noooo,” Lucifer said. “When was the last time we actually kissed? It felt like forever. I didn’t realize until now how much I miss your kisses. Don’t leave me without kissing me everyday! No, wait, I demand kisses every minute.”
“That is not possible,” Alastor said. “That would provide us with too many problems.”
“There isn’t a problem that your kisses wouldn’t be able to solve,” Lucifer said.
“We would not get anything done which would lead to a backlog of paperwork between your duties as the owner of the hotel and King of Hell, and a backlog of paperwork for my realm, my duties as a hotelier, and my radio shows,” Alastor said.
Lucifer let out a pout. “Your King demands it!”
“My King demands it, does he?” Alastor asked with a chuckle. “Too bad I only have one king that I listen to and he’s unfortunately obsessed with ducks and not kisses.”
“I can be obsessed with both!” Lucifer said.
“I never said you couldn’t,” Alastor said with a disinterested hmm. “However, if the king demands kisses every minute, then you would never be able to complete a duck or get some of the precious sleep that you so dearly love.”
Lucifer stuck his tongue out at Alastor before letting out a yelp and looked offended at Alastor.
“Did you just bite my tongue?” Lucifer asked as his tongue healed.
“Of course I did,” Alastor said. “You are the original temptation and you gave me a sneak peek at a snack. I’m nothing more but a lowly sinner so how could I resist?”
“Shut up!” Lucifer said. “You are laying it on thick.”
Alastor chuckled. “Have you been to your room recently, Sire?”
“No? Why would I?” Lucifer asked.
“I would appreciate it if you take a minute to look in there,” Alastor said.
“Why?”
“Why, Sire, I have left little gifts in your room everyday for you,” Alastor said. “Including today’s gift.”
“Wait, what? What is today’s prompt? Oh no! I forgot today’s prompt and-”
“No worries Lucifer,” Alastor said. “You already fulfilled it.”
“Huh?”
“Today’s prompt is either a gift or a kiss and you already kissed me. You already-”
Lucifer tackled Alastor back into the bed and proceeded to kiss him all over his face. It took Alastor using his shadow magic to restrain Lucifer and putting him into a blanket burrito.
“That is quite enough of that, Sire,” Alastor said, getting up. “We have a busy day ahead of us and must not waste time with your obsession with kisses.” Alastor tapped Lucifer on the face with his microphone. “After all, some of us have duties to help Charlie with her hotel.”
“You tacky piece - wait a minute,” Lucifer said. “Alastor, have you been doing both prompts for the day, everyday?”
“I did not give you chocolate on the first day,” Alastor said, twitching his ear.
“No, because you know as well as I do that while I love sweets, I detest chocolate. You made me pancakes, apple cinnamon pancakes layered with whipped cream and chocolate syrup even after I was a jerk to you but you made that to be our Valentine's supper and I brushed it off because my pride was injured after you rejected my chocolates,” Lucifer said.
Alastor’s ears lowered a little.
“Then you cooked with Charlie and I cooked with your mother for a supper we were going to enjoy after the dance in which I was supposed to dance with you and you tried but I kept brushing you off,” Lucifer continued.
The ears were closer to the red hair.
“Then the whole entire time you’ve known me, you’ve been flirting with me, protecting my family and even when you was suffering from the wounds Frederick and his family provided you, you had a whole date planned with things that I would have enjoyed or mentioned to you about wanting to try and don’t think I didn’t notice. You don’t have me fooled, Alastor, all those questions that you asked me yesterday, that was another way of you flirting with me while reminding me of how much I matter outside of Lilith.”
The ears were flattered down to the head all the way.
“Now today, you kissed me first and then told me I have gifts in my room,” Lucifer said. “Why are you putting so much effort into this?”
“Why indeed?” Alastor said in return. “I believe that answer is best left in the dark.” Alastor vanished into the shadows and returned to be fully dressed. “Now, I believe it is time to start the day, please hurry on, Your Majesty.”
Lucifer growled and breathed out small fire as he struggled to escape the blanket burrito.
“No, you just have to be a prick,” Lucifer mumbled into the room and to Alastor’s shadow who stayed behind. Lucifer glared at the shadow as it motioned that it was giggling. “Shut up! Your owner decided it was a great idea to implement anti-teleportation wards on the blanket burritos so I have to struggle to get out.”
Alastor’s shadow wrapped his arms around his waist and motioned that he was laughing.
“Yeah, yeah laugh it up,” Lucifer said as he finally got himself out of the burrito. He looked at the shadow and smiled as the shadow came by to rest on his lap. Lucifer scratched in between the antlers. “Hey, what do you think I should give Alastor as a gift?”
The shadow motioned a deer.
“Yeah no, I want to give him something personal,” Lucifer said. “Oh wait, he said he left gifts for me in my room. Let’s go!”
Lucifer left Alastor’s room and sprinted to his bedroom, Alastor’s shadow trailing behind him. When he entered the room, the first thing he saw was the Lucifer wooden duck that Alastor had made back in the room.
Lucifer let the door shut as he was closed to his workbench with tears in his eyes as he looked at the scene. On one side of his workbench was a miniature arch with hell flowers wrapped around it. Underneath the arch was a wooden duck designed to look like Vaggi, from there were red hell flower petals leading to the other end of the workbench. Off to the side of the flowers was another wooden duck that looked like Angel Dust was placed there facing Vaggi. Lucifer’s eyes followed the trail of flowers, his wings popped out and flapped a little bit as he stared at the scene with his hands covering his mouth.
At the other side of the flowers was his Lucifer duck, but next to him was a wooden duck that looked to be like Charlie and was wearing a white wedding veil over the head that Lucifer knew he could take off.
“How am I supposed to compete with this?” Lucifer asked in a watery voice.
A photo album caught his attention as he wiped his eyes and opened it. The first photo was the Lucifer duck sitting at a table with a plate of pancakes, chilled wine, and candles.
“The first night of this event,” Lucifer said.
He turned the page. There was another photo of duck Lucifer, but he was placed on one side of the workbench with mini phone in front of it showing the caller ID was duck Charlie and on the other side of the work bench was Charlie duck with a different mini phone in front of her showing that she was calling Lucifer duck.
The photo on the next page was Lucifer duck standing next to Charlie duck and in front of them was a Vaggi duck. Lucifer turned the page and saw that the fourth photo was the scene that was being played on his workbench right now.
“Why did he have to place the bar so high?” Lucifer whined. “I can’t just summon something that I think he would like! I can’t just do something that everyone else will get him like deer meat, sinner meat, whiskey, or radio! It needs to be something about him that nobody really knows.”
Lucifer started to fly back and forth like he was pacing. Alastor’s shadow watched in amusement on the wall.
“I can’t ask Zimzy because she would just bring trouble,” Lucifer said. “His mother is still very much annoyed with me, I could ask Husk but he’s chained to Alastor, and then there is you. What are you anyway? Are you a part of Alastor, an extension, or are you its own entity?”
Alastor’s shadowed smile widened and raised its hands up in the air as it shrugged.
“You’re lying,” Lucifer said, narrowing his eyes. “You know exactly what you are.”
Alastor’s shadow motioned like it was giggling and went down into the floor merging itself with Lucifer’s own shadow.
“Some help you are,” Lucifer said with a pout. He let out a sigh, snapped his fingers to change clothes and placed his feet on the ground before his wings disappeared. “I’m sure I can find something.”
He walked into the hotel lobby and was instantly greeted by Charlie who was jumping up and down.
“Dad! Dad! I’m so glad you are here!! I have an important announcement I need to share with you,” Charlie said. “I’ve already talked to Alastor and I plan on making a big announcement but I need you to be here for it. He promised that you would be here.”
“What is he? My keeper?” Lucifer asked.
“It’s because of him you have been showing up to meetings, eating, socializing, and actually taking better care of yourself,” Charlie said. “So yes, in a way he is your keeper.”
“Ouch, Charlie,” Lucifer said. “I’ll be there. I have a question for you, concerning Alastor.”
“What’s going on?” Charlie said her energy was leaving as she became serious.
“I need to give Alastor a gift, but it needs to be something special, something meaningful to him,” Lucifer said. “He’s been fulfilling both prompts everyday this week and I’ve done nothing. I want - no I need - to find him something that means a lot to him but it can’t be with anything that we all know he likes. It needs to be a hidden interest of his.”
“Uhm, Dad,” Charlie said nervously.
“What?”
Charlie pointed behind him and looked over to see that his wings had appeared again.
“Really? When did they come out again?” Lucifer said folding them up since they want to make themselves seen. “Fine, you can just stay pressed up against my back since you don’t want to stay hidden.”
“Dad, is everything okay?” Charlie said.
“Don’t worry about it. Anyway, do you think you can help me or guide me in the right direction?” Lucifer asked.
“Hmm, I don’t really know of any hidden interests he might have,” Charlie said, tapping her chin. “Oh! Rosie might know why not ask her?”
“Rosie, got it. Thanks for the lead, Char-char,” Lucifer said.
He went to go ahead around her, but stopped as Charlie grabbed his hands and enclosed them in front of hers, her eyes sparking with joy.
“Dad, do you know why your wings keep appearing out when you mention finding Alastor a gift?” she asked.
“Uh, because they want to be stubborn?” Lucifer said.
“No! It’s because you seriously want to start courting Alastor now!” Charlie said. “It’s your angelic heritage coming out.”
Lucifer hummed and blinked. “That’s interesting, I remember my wings fluttering like crazy when I was talking with your mother, but how did you know that this is an angelic trait?”
“Since Vaggi rediscovered her wings, whenever she gifts me with a new hard rock album her wings just appear,” Charlie said. “I asked her about it and she explained it, but she was also confused as there has only been one other angel who has issues with their wings and that’s because they keep fluttering when he’s daydreaming.”
“Ah, well that’s interesting. I’ll keep that in mind, but I really should be going if I want to make it back to the hotel before your announcement,” Lucifer said with a fake laugh. “That, uh, that Rosie sure does like to talk once she has you in her grasp.”
“I know, but she does give very good advice!” Charlie said. “If it wasn’t for her advice, I don’t think Vaggi and I would still be together. I don’t think we would have made it against Adam and his army without her advice either.”
“So, you think she would actually be able to help me?” Lucifer asked, looking at his daughter.
“I think she would be able to help and if not, perhaps she can give you an idea on what you can do,” Charlie said.
“Thank you Charlie,” Lucifer said.
Charlie didn’t let go of his hands as he tried to pull away. “Dad,” she said gently. “I love you so much and I am so proud of you for moving on from Mom.”
“Charlie-”
“You can’t keep hurting him Dad,” Charlie said, shaking her head. “You just can’t and after last night with everything we found out that he saved us from.”
“I know, sweetie,” Lucifer said, finally pulling his hands away. “I know which is why it’s so important for me to find a gift that’s special just for Alastor. Something that shows that I do pay attention to him.”
Lucifer thought back to the wooden ducks and the scene that was in his room. It brought a smile to his face.
“And to give you this,” Lucifer said, taking off his wedding ring and placing it inside of Charlie’s hand.
Her eyes widened.
“I’ll give you its partner later tonight, I’ll need to stop by the palace to grab it and to finalize the divorce,” Lucifer said. “Perhaps you can use them for your own partner.”
“Dad.”
“I need to stop hurting Alastor, you’re right. I need to move on from your mother and I think the first step to that is to quit trying to hold onto a relationship that is over,” Lucifer said. “I think the reason why I dragged my feet so long was because your mother is the last thing that I had from Eden. She’s happy and has moved on and I’m just slowing her down as well.”
Charlie hugged her dad tightly causing a quack to escape from his mouth.
“I know it’s hard Dad, and I know it will be a slippery slope for you,” Charlie said, “but I’m proud of you. I’ll be there to support you as much as I can and I’m sure Alastor will be by your side. He has always been by your side before we even met Alastor.”
“I know, but he has to have his limits,” Lucifer said, hugging her back. “Trust me, I’m alllll about pushing the limits but I don’t want to push this limit. Not with him.”
“I know Dad,” Charlie said, pulling away. “You had better get going so Alastor won’t have to chase you down later today.”
“I’ll see you around Duckling,” Lucifer said.
Lucifer’s first order of business was to head to the palace and sign the divorce papers before changing his mind. As soon as he signed the papers, he gave Liltih a call as he picked up her ring and placed it in his pocket.
“Hello Luci, I have you on speaker phone as I’m here with Eve,” Lilith’s voice said over the phone. A soothing balm over his racing heart.
“Hi Lucifer,” another voice said which just made Lucifer smile.
“Hi ladies, I’m hoping I’m not calling at a bad time,” Lucifer said as he teleported himself to the entrance of Cannibal Town. “I need some advice, but I also have something more pressing that needs your attention.”
“Lucifer needing our advice?” Eve asked with a curious tint to her voice. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Don’t be mean to my sometime ex-husband,” Lilith said with a click of her tongue. “I’m the only one allowed to be mean to him.”
“It’s ex-husband,” Lucifer said walking through the streets. “I just signed the divorce papers and I called you not even before the ink was full dry on the paper. I also gave Charlie my wedding ring and she’s going to get yours too Lilith, so she can give it to Vaggi or you know, switch.”
“Thank you,” Eve said in a whisper. “I’ve been waiting for you to sign before I ask for her hand in marriage.”
“You were what?” Lilith yelled.
“Oops, did I let that slip?” Eve said laughing in shy innocence that was obviously planned.
Lucifer laughed as he listened to the two bicker amongst themselves about who was going to be proposaling to who.
“I’m sorry it took me so long,” Lucifer said. “I think last night was a wake-up call for me and how close I was to losing the Sinner I’ve been seeing for a couple of months now. He’s done so much for me during this week alone and then I found out more.”
“You’ve been seeing someone?” Eve said, her voice sounding hopeful. “Tell us everything!”
“Absolutely not! I need to make sure that he is appropriate to be around Charlie,” Lilith said.
“Haha, about that, it’s because of Charlie that I actually met him,” Lucifer said. “She’s more supportive of him than she is with me in this relationship and I don’t blame her. I’ve done nothing but be a bad partner for him and he still sticks by me.”
“Aww, he sounds so sweet,” Eve said. “What’s his name?”
“Alastor,” Lucifer said. “He’s known as the Radio Demon and he’s an overlord.”
“Oh great, so he’s psychotic,” Lilith mumbled.
“Oh, I heard of him. He’s the Overlord who fought Adam by himself and even then it was one of his own souls that killed Adam,” Eve said. “You need to introduce us to him, I would love to meet him and thank him for ending that miserable excuse of a man.”
“Good point, I guess that is one benefit of him being around Charlie,” Lilith said. “But you need advice over him? What’s going on?”
Lucifer sat on the bench in front of the royal family statue in Cannibal Town and pulled his knees up to his chest as he told the two girls everything. He ignored Alastor’s shadow as the shadow tried to comfort him, but saying out loud really brought it home over how much this relationship has been one-sided.
“Oh wow,” Eve said. “I would have left you a long time ago if that’s how you treated me.”
“Ugh I know,” Lucifer said. “I feel like I’m just as bad as Adam right now and I hate comparing myself to that guy.”
Eve gave out some ideas, but none of them really seemed to scream Alastor.
“Lil?” Eve asked.
“I’m sorry. I’m still processing that there is someone who is encouraging Lucifer’s duck collection!” Lilith said. “The fact that he’s also making little scenes with the ducks is just encouraging your behavior with the ducks, Lucifer. Oh, quit your pouting.”
“I’m not pouting,” Lucifer said as he was indeed pouting.
Alastor’s shadow tried to shimmy its way underneath Lucifer’s arms that were wrapped around his knees but Lucifer wasn’t allowing it. He did not need comfort right now, he needed to wallow in this mess he made.
“It’s not that bad,” Eve said. “I think it’s sweet that Alastor is helping Lucifer with his creations.”
“You haven’t seen how many rooms that Luci has in the palace that’s just filled with them,” Lilith said. “I am disappointed in you, Luci.”
Lucifer flinched.
“You know how much creating something by hand wears on the tools,” Lilith said. “If this Radio Demon is making you detailed ducks that show which duck is who without you having to question it, then why not get him a new woodcraving tool? It could be a used one in which you sharpen the blade or customize the handle. You could even do both.”
“That’s brilliant!” Lucifer said lightening up. “Thank you so much Lilith, but I need to go. I need to talk to Rosie to see if she has any more ideas.”
Alastor’s shadow screeched and tried to swipe the phone away causing Lucifer to move away.
“Hey, hey stop! What are you doing?” Lucifer said.
The shadow was finally able to knock the phone out of Lucifer’s hands and had just pressed the end call button.
“That’s enough,” Lucifer said with a growl. “Go back to Alastor this instant. I don’t need you.”
Alastor’s shadow looked back at Lucifer with its ears flattened down on its head.
“Go,” Lucifer said.
The shadow gave out a whimper, but as soon as Lucifer pointed in the direction of the hotel, it disappeared into the ground and went towards the hotel. Lucifer felt his shoulders relax and he continued the walk to Rosie’s Emporium, not knowing that two empty eye sockets were watching him or that ears had heard everything.
“Pathethic, well, looks like it’s time to make a trip to the hotel,” a voice said. “I need to voice some opinions somewhere and let’s see if they gained anymore spunk.”
Lucifer was back at the hotel sitting at the bar as the residents and guests crowded the hotel check-in desk which Charlie was standing on. Angel Dust was leaning with his back against the bar while Husk sat at the bar stool with a bottle.
“I would offer you a drink,” Husk said, “but I don’t want to keep wasting good alcohol.”
“Ya still on his mom’s bad side?” Angel asked.
“Yeah, I guess I need to do more than just heal her son,” Lucifer said, going to fidget with his ring but rubbing his skin instead. “I haven’t really seen her or Alastor to let them know that I have signed the divorce papers.”
“You finally did it?” Husk said, taking a drink. “Congratulations.”
“Hey, I know this is a long shot, but do you perhaps have any gift ideas for Alastor that's not obvious with his interests? Something that not many people know he’s into. I tried to ask Rosie but she confessed that she didn’t know Alastor before he sold his soul to her,” Lucifer said.
“Yeah, I know something that could help ya with a gift idea,” Husk said. “Will I tell you? No.”
“Why?” Lucifer said.
“I have three simple reasons,” Husk said. “One, you haven’t really proven yourself to me that you have Alastor’s best interest in heart. He may be my boss that I hate and that’s only because he doesn’t let me drink or gamble all day which is how I lost my soul to him in the first place. Alastor is still my friend and I’ve seen him change so much about himself to not only keep himself safe, but to keep those under his protection safe, which includes you and Charlie.”
“I-”
“Second, I ain’t telling you nothing with how you treated his Shadow today. Alastor’s shadow is connected to Alastor so not only does Alastor already know of the treatment it received, but Alastor saw, heard, and felt everything that happens to it while still being its own creature. Shadow is like Alastor’s pet and Alastor is protective over it,” Husk said, poking Lucifer in the chest.
“Everyone, please quiet down!” Charlie said over the noise of the crowd around her but no one was listening.
“Third, one of the things that Alastor hates the most when it comes to receiving gifts is if that gift comes from the advice of someone else -especially someone who he doesn’t know- because in Alastor’s mind, that just means you haven’t been paying attention to his interests or actually thinking about him. It would have been different if you had been to different shops trying to find something that reminded you of him, but you didn’t. You could have made a rubber duck for him, you could have made him a radio, you could have summoned him anything and he would have accepted it because it came from you,” Husk said. “No, you just had to air out your relationship problems to someone who he doesn’t know and someone who you have been mooning for years.
Angel looked over Lucifer’s shoulder to Husk just as Cherri joined them at the bar.
“That doesn’t sound like Smiles,” Angel Dust said.
“Everything that he considers a precious item to him was always given to him,” Husk said. “His life growing up was hard on Maria and him so they didn’t have much money. As soon as Alastor was able to work, he spent his money on making Maria’s life better and easier.”
“Oh!” Cherri said, “That explains why the red deer toy I gave him sits on his work desk. I just gave it to him as a joke, but he looked so delighted on receiving a gift from me.”
The air in the hotel changed and Lucifer took a glance over at the staircase and saw Alastor standing on the second floor, his hands holding onto the banister as he looked over it at the hotel desk that Charlie was standing on. His shadow rose on the wall with the edges bristled up and once it made eye contact with Lucifer, the edges went down just as fast as the ears did. Alastor held out a hand and his Shadow instantly went to it and rested its head on it allowing Alastor to scratch under the chin for a little bit.
“Have you told Alastor that you signed the divorce papers and took the ring off?” Husk asked.
“No, I haven’t had the time,” Lucifer said.
“You could have told him that you finally signed the divorce papers and he would have accepted the gift,” Husk said with a growl, turning his attention back to the Princess. “Alastor has been feeling like he’s a homewreck this whole time and it goes against everything Alastor believes in and his nature.”
“I wouldn’t like that,” Angel Dust said as Cherri nodded.
“Honestly, that’s pretty shitty,” Cherri said. “I mean, getting advice for a gift for your partner from your ex-wife, but your partner doesn’t even know yet that the divorce has been finalized.” She shook her head. “It’s like telling them ‘hey, I got you something but it’s from my estranged wife because I seeked relationship advice from my previous partner.’ It’s not a very good vibe, mate.”
Lucifer felt a gold ring circle around his neck and Husk had grabbed the collar of his jacket.
“He has changed another part of who he is to be with you and if this relationship keeps going downhill then Alastor will close his heart and never open it again because of you. The only people who he might even show a sign of emotion to will be Niffty, Shadow, and myself. If that happens, then I can promise you that Alastor will stop the bickering, he will just get to the point bluntly and would not care about feelings,” Husk said.
“EVERYONE LISTEN UP!” Vaggi shouted, getting everyone’s attention. “Thank you. Charlie, the floor is yours.”
“Thank you Vaggi,” Charlie said. “I’m so glad that everyone is here. I have some important announcements to share with -”
“Boo!” a voice said from the audience, getting everyone’s attention.
“Oh no,” Charlie said in a soft whisper.
“Ignore them Charlie,” Angel Dust yelled, giving her six thumbs up.
“Right, well Vaggi and I received a call from -”
“Get off the stage!” the voice said again.
Lucifer felt his horns and tail appear as he wanted to breathe fire at the sinner.
“-Heaven and we all can send a letter to -”
“You suck! We need someone-”
Alastor’s ears twitched as his smile grew wider.
“Chris and Charles as they were able to get -”
“-better on the stage!”
Vaggi jumped on the desk with her spear out trying to find the person who was interrupting Charlie.
“-redeemed earlier today and -”
“You suck!”
Charlie’s demonic features came out as Alastor disappeared into the shadows.
“Shut the hell up Susuan you-” Charlie started to yell.
“-orney old bitch,” Alastor said as shadows pulled Charlie and Vaggi back onto the ground while he appeared on the desk. “How wonderful it is to see you at this fine establishment! Please do keep that mouth of yours shut while our Princess delivers her announcements. She’s been practicing all day or I’ll take away your little gift.”
“Hello to you, you annoying brat,” Susan said. “Fine, I’ll be good just for you.”
“I won’t mind using your bones as toothpicks,” Alastor said.
Susan walked out of the crowd and looked over her shoulder. “You should know better than to threaten an old lady with a good time, besides your Mama taught you better than that. A lady of my caliber deserves three dinners before you even get that far.”
A radio screeched sounded as his ears flattened down to his head. Susan just laughed and made herself comfortable on the couch, placing the medium size box next to her before wrapping her purple fox scarf around her neck tighter.
“The floor is yours, Charlie,” Alastor said as he held his hand out to help her back onto the desk.
“Thank you,” Charlie said with a relaxed smile. She took a deep breath as Alastor disappeared into the shadows and appeared right back at the top of the stairs.
Lucifer kept an eye on the skeleton sinner -Fusan? Weird name. - but he blinked as Alastor’s shadow transverse from Alastor’s feet to Tusan and laid itself on top of her lap. One of the shadow hands poked at the present only for Lusan to slap at its hand. Alastor’s shadow pulled its hand away and resettled itself on her lap like a cat before it started to pat at the purple fox scarf the Sinner was wearing.
“Okay, so I was saying earlier before I got so rudely interrupted,” Charlie said, sending a glare at the couch. “Heaven has contacted me earlier today. I’m going to be leaving a letter here at the front desk and at the bar to congratulate Chris and Charles as they were both redeemed earlier today. The gifts they gave each other were something that redeemed them? I’m not quite sure how that worked, but we have made progress!”
There were cheers amongst the crowd.
“If you would like to sign the letters then please do so before the final day of this week because on Valentine’s Day, I’m going to Heaven to meet with the Higher Council of Angels to get their support. This is our second and third soul that got redeemed so they need to listen to us. I’ll make sure that Chris and Charles get their letters or give them to Emily or Sir Pentious to make the delivery,” Charlie said. “So at the end of the week, Vaggi and I will both be gone.”
She clapped her hands.
“Now, if I can ask the Hotel Crew to stay behind so I can talk with them in private, but the guests you are free to retire for the evening,” Charlie said. “Thank you so much for coming!”
The guests talked amongst themselves excitedly as they proceeded to their rooms, hope ignited in their eyes at the fact that two of their fellow guests got redeemed proving once again that redemption is possible.
Vaggi helped Charlie get down from the desk, Baxter and Niffty left the vents scurrying to the bar as they chased after a cockroach. Alastor watched the guests go to their rooms with his ears twitching and once the crowd started to spread out, he proceeded to walk down the stairs.
“So, uh, who's the old lady?” Cherri Bomb asked motioning to the Sinner still sitting on the couch.
“Hell’s worst nightmare,” Husk said, taking a big drink of his alcohol.
“Ah, Susan,” Charlie said as Susan stood up once Alastor’s shadow returned back to its own. “What - uh - what brings -”
“Oh shut it,” Susan said. “I’m not here for you in the first place. I hate to break it to you Princess, but I wouldn’t follow you even if my soul was on fire.”
“Show my daughter some respect,” Lucifer said walking forward.
“Like I’m going to take advice from a King who called upon his ex-wife and her girlfriend to get advice on what to do with his current relationship,” Susan said. “I sure ain’t going to take advice from a King with no spine!”
Husk took another swig of his alcohol. Angel and Cherri went to defend Lucifer and Charlie, but the cat bartender stopped them. “Don’t bother or you will just end up on her extremely long list of people to insult,” he said.
“But she’s insulting the Short King and the Princess,” Angel Dust said.
“She insults her own mother, they ain’t no different,” Husk said.
“I would say I hate to break your heart, Princess, but that would be a lie,” Susan said. “No one in Cannibal Town followed you to defend your hotel because of your little song.”
“They were all excited for -”
“We were excited because it was the annoying brat who promised us an all-you-can-eat Angel buffet,” Susan said. “Not your whiny speech and song. You get coddled too much, honestly, how do you expect to do any public speaking if you can’t command a room by yourself or handle someone in the crowd who is heckling you.”
“I-”
“Susan, Susan, Susan,” Alastor said as he clicked his tongue. “Why is it that whenever you open your mouth, you become an ornery old bitch?”
“And why must you be an annoying old brat whenever you walk into the room?” Susan snapped back.
“Walking toothpick,” Alastor said.
“I’ll much rather be a toothpick than a walking skeleton with hardly any flesh on it,” Susan said, jabbing a finger into Alastor’s stomach. “You need to get more meat on your bones.”
“Are you volunteering to be my next meal?” Alastor asked, using his microphone to move her finger away. “I always love a bit of crunch with my meals.”
“Ha! I’ll upset your stomach too much and you’ll just throw me up,” Susan said.
Alastor's ears pinned down to his head. “Bleh,” he said. “Nothing is more disgusting than regurgitated flesh.”
“Ha, for once in our lives, we can agree on something,” Susan said. “You need to stop by my clinic sometime Al, that infection of yours is getting worse, but I think I can freeze it for a day.”
“Ha,” Alastor said, bending down to her level. “No.”
Susan slapped the back of his head causing the Radio Demon to stand up straight with an annoyed look in his eyes.
“Stubborn brat,” Susan said. “You always did hate going to doctors.”
“Yes, I detest doctors, specifically witch doctors who are ornery old bitches,” Alastor said.
“Why darling, don’t you know those are the best type of doctors,” Susan said. She picked up the box and gave it Alastor. “Have this. My granddaughter left it behind at my clinic and I thought you might enjoy it.”
“Mimzy leaves behind many things,” Alastor said with a raised eyebrow. “Hardly anything of hers appeals to me.”
“True, I don’t know where my daughter went wrong in raising her,” Susan said.
“Perhaps it was not eating enough human flesh,” Alastor said. “I know we ate enough and I think we turned out pretty well.”
“I turned wonderfully,” Susan said as Alastor took the box, his Shadow looking over his shoulder. “I guess your pet turned out okay too, better than you at least.”
“I’m not a walking skeleton,” Alastor said.
“No, but you hardly have any skin or meat on your bones so you would make for a terrible meal,” Susan said. “Besides, consider this gift as a thank-you for your gift you gave me last night.”
Alastor opened the box with a gift. His Shadow moved around excitedly as Alastor pulled out an old teddy bear, his brown fur faded with time and tears. His beady black eyes had been pulled off and sewed back on by a slightly different brown thread around them, his nose had stayed on, but it had evidence that it was falling off by a lighter shade of cream threat holding it together.
“Is this Bearry?” Alastor asked, his ears twitching.
“The one and only,” Susan said. “I still remember scolding Mimzy so hard when she stole that teddy bear away from you when you were younger. I know it means a lot to you, just as much as Shadow does.”
Alastor nodded.
“Bearry and Shadow were the only two gifts that my father had actually given to me on time,” Alastor said. “Bearry was a birthday gift that he gave me on my birthday and Shadow was a Christmas Gift on Christmas.”
Alastor crossed his arms to hold onto the bear in front of him and his nose twitched.
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Cherri said. “I remember my pa always telling me that teddy bears were defenders of nightmares.”
“My dad was always busy with work and had to travel all over the world,” Alastor said with a nod. “He has bad time management, but he always wished he could be home more with his family to protect us. He gave Bearry to me to be his substitute for protecting me from dreams and Shadow to protect me from things that could hurt me in the light.”
“Shadow?” Lucifer asked flinching at the glare he received from the deer and his shadow.
Susan snorted. “You wonder why I ain’t going to respect you with questions like that,” she said. “His shadow’s name is Shadow.”
“You named your own shadow Shadow?” Lucifer asked, raising an eyebrow.
“At least I don’t have a duck named Quackwell,” Alastor said in a snappish tone. “Besides, I didn’t name them. My Dad did.”
Lucifer felt his wings flare up at that. “Then your Dad needs to be more creative with names.”
“Sorry that not all of our parents can be known as the Angel of Creation,” Alastor said.
“That’s enough!” Charlie said getting in between the two.
Alastor lifted the bear up towards his shadow who took it and disappeared. “Allow me to take you back to Cannibal Town, Susan. It’s late and we both know my Maman taught me better than to let a lady walk back home alone at night.”
Susan opened her mouth.
“Even if she is an ornery old bitch,” Alastor said before she could utter a word, causing to Susan to laugh.
“At least you have manners,” Susan said as she laughed.
When Alastor took Susan home via shadow transportation. Charlie looked at her dad.
“Dad,” Charlie said. “Did you really ask Mom and Eve for advice over a gift for Alastor?”
“You knew I was going to ask Rosie,” Lucifer said, trying to defend himself.
“He knows Rosie!” Charlie said. “She’s not a complete stranger to him like Mom and Eve are!”
“What is the difference?” Lucifer said. “It’s still advice and they gave good advice.”
“Because King Roach is a private person,” Niffty said from behind the bar counter before she climbed onto the bar counter. “You shared information about him to people who he doesn’t trust or know so he can’t determine how much of a threat they are.”
“They won’t hurt him!” Lucifer said.
“Mimzy wouldn’t hurt Alastor either, but she stole his first gift from his Dad from him so that’s emotional damage,” Niffty said.
“You heard the story about Hope,” Husk said, “and you hurt Shadow when Shadow was trying to help you. You hurt Shadow, you hurt Alastor.”
“Oh my father! It’s not that big of a problem!” Lucifer shouted. “I explained to them what I wanted to do, how much Alastor means to both Charlie and me, and I needed advice as a back-up. Okay!”
“It won’t be personalized!” Husk shouted back with his wings flaring up.
“Whoa hold on,” Angel Dust said. “Cherri said she got him a red deer as a joke so it wasn’t personalized.”
“Why did you give him a red deer?” Vaggi asked because getting Alastor anything seemed like a stupid idea.
“It reminded me of him,” Cherri said with a shrug. “I told him that it was a joke gift, but when I saw it in the window, I instantly thought Alastor would get a laugh out of it.”
“That’s why,” Husk said. “It was something that reminded her of him. You could have gotten him a rubber duck that looks like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and he would have loved it. Why? Because it somehow reminded you of him, and I’m being lenient when I say that because if it was anybody else that gave him that and was lying, Alastor would know, but he might just let it slide because it’s you! If the gift came from you, Sire, I don’t think Alastor would have minded.”
The shadows emerged and Alastor stepped forward, completely unaware of the tension rising.
“Well I-”
Lucifer didn’t even let Alastor announce that he was back as he thrusted a wood craving knife in Alastor’s direction causing Alastor to blink, no one noticing that Alastor’s shadow also came back to the lobby but stayed against the wall behind Lucifer merging with his shadow.
“This way everyone will leave me alone about it, here,” Lucifer said. “I sharpened the blade and customized the handle as it was well worn.”
Lucifer felt his wings flutter as Alastor took the gift and looked it over carefully. Alastor’s shadow was positioned just right to make it seem like it was Alastor who had wings just by going by the shadow as its smile grew wider.
“I will accept this gift,” Alastor said, a claw running over the music notes on the handle. “However, this will not be acceptable enough to earn my forgiveness over how you treated Shadow. Shadow is my best friend, who has been by my side since he was given to me, an extension of myself at the same time. Now, Charlie, what is it that you would like to talk to us about?”
It was later that night that a different Overlord woke up due to being thirsty. He rubbed his eyes to blink the sleep out and let out a scream as he saw a reflection in his windows.
“What the hell Alastor?” the Overlord said. “Wait a minute, is that a -”
“Tell me Vincent,” Alastor said as he turned around and squeezed the teddy bear tighter. His shadow curled around Alastor as much as possible trying to ground its owner. “When you and Valentino get into an argument about decisions that neither one of you agree with, how-how do you make it up?”
“Sex usually,” Vox said with a shrug of his blue shoulders. “Then we talk about it since the emotions have calmed down.”
Alastor’s ears pinned down and shook his head. “Is this Vox talking to me or Vincent?”
“We are both the same, Alastor,” Vox said. “What’s this about?”
“I trust human Vincent more than I trust demon Vox,” Alastor said.
Vox blinked at Alastor and sighed. “Al, I have a feeling that you will need more than just my advice over whatever is troubling you. You’ll possibly need the advice of Valentino and Velvette but you don’t trust them.”
“Fine!” Alastor said with fury. “Our humble king of hell decided to talk about our relationship to his wife and her girlfriend without my permission. Let’s see how he likes it!”
“Okay, well, they are asleep right now so come back tomorrow morning and-”
Alastor’s shadow unbuttoned Alastor’s shirt and revealed the angelic wound that Vox knew about from the time he was held hostage.
“Oh sharks,” Vox said, seeing how bad the angelic infection had gotten, the red flesh glowing with angry yellow around the edges.
“I don’t have time for that,” Alastor said. “I need advice now before it’s too late.”
“Fine! Fine! You owe it to all of us!” Vox said.
Alastor rolled his eyes as his shadow buttoned the shirt up. “I already have all of your preferred coffee, donuts, and hell cream in the living room.”
Vox squinted at Alastor.
“The coffee has triple the amount of caffeine in it,” Alastor said.
“No, but how the hell do you know Val and Vel’s favorites?”
“You kept me hostage in the Vee Tower for over a week,” Alastor said. “I’ve experienced Valentino’s breakdowns and Velvette’s breakdowns.”
“...and you didn’t tell anyone?”
“No,” Alastor said with a shake of his head.
“Then that’s payment enough for us listening to you,” Vox said. “We won’t tell a soul either.”
Vox disappeared into the electrical systems.
Alastor looked down at Bearry.
“I hope I’m doing the right thing,” Alastor said quietly to the teddy bear. “Why can’t you be here to guide me on this Dad?”