Mom says it's my turn with the Alastor

[sugaronthecream]

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[youknowwhothisis]

Swamp room has mosquitoes.

The remark had him straighten out his bowtie. "...Says the man in the coat with shabby hems."

He leaned on his cane, fluttered his lashes innocently his way.

[sugaronthecream]

Well, THAT gets a sharp radio screech from him. Shabby? Tattered, of course, but how dare you call it shabby?? He works VERY HARD to maintain an air of intimidation thank you very much!!

"I'm not surprised you fixated on the hems, you are rather short sighted."

[youknowwhothisis]

"I fit in pockets, eat tidbits and can't ride a lot of my own amusement park's rides! I've heard 'em all. But you know what else I can do...?"

He raised a hand to mask a corner of his mouth as he gave a theatrical whisper:

"Climb into cars or walk through doorways without risking a concussion. It's pretty great."

[sugaronthecream]

"Only a buffoon would struggle not to hit their heads. I suppose you're quite lucky to have your height and not your daughter's, then - you haven't nearly the good head on your shoulders she has," Alastor gestured dismissively!!

"Now let's make haste changing the dreadful infantile curtains and duck statuettes into proper decor."

1/2

[youknowwhothisis]

"She does have a pretty good noggin on her shoulders..."

2/2

[youknowwhothisis]

"Guh- wuh- hey HEY! Hey now! The ducks stay!"

[sugaronthecream]

Alastor turned on his heel and bent at the waist - entirely overkill to be 'eye-to-eye' with Lucifer. "You want Charlie's guests to feel comfortable and not insulted, don't you? Very few child Sinners ever survive the Purges, we will only need a handful of rooms with childish decor, not every room."

[youknowwhothisis]

His response is to jab a finger against Alastor's nose. That's what you get for 'getting down to his level'.

"I see. ...Just some of the rooms, then, right...?"

A beat.

"Did you know that ducks thrive pretty well in marshy areas...?"

[sugaronthecream]

He'll jab his mic into your chest then, especially with that threat to his bayou!! "A few will feed the gators. But keep your wretched plastic and porcelain out of my waters."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Too late."

The gold of his eyes gleamed as he leaned in closer and uttered: "...Consider it a token of our new partnership."

[sugaronthecream]

"Partnership!" Alastor scoffed, standing upright again to leer down his nose at the noseless wonder. "I think you misunderstand! I'm Charlie's business partner. If you're working here, you're working under Charlie and you're working beneath me."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Nice try, pal, but this is my realm! I'm perfectly fine working under my own flesh and blood, but I outrank you."

He smoothed down his coat.

"But I am ever the merciful King! So long as you're good to Charlie, despite that stunt you pulled a couple of months ago, I think we'll be just... ducky."

[sugaronthecream]

"Stunt? I haven't a clue what you mean, sir," Alastor turned again, strolling to the next room. Time to get rid of more ducky curtains. "I haven't caused any mischief in years! Since returning and joining Charlie, I've been polite as a saint. Loyally at her side. Helping her when she needed someone to turn to~"

[youknowwhothisis]

The King was hot on his heels. OhhhHNOYADON'T.

"Oh yeah, a real holy man, right down to snatching other peoples' kids. But why?"

The big question.

"Why are you suddenly helping her? She's been planning this whole thing for years? What do you get out of it? Some- some kind of redemption?"

[sugaronthecream]

"Suddenly? Why, I was there the very same day she announced it on the picturebox! And every day following that, since she brought me on as the hotelier. I've been here for the entirety I've known of the project," Alastor chuckled, snapping to burn the duck curtains, replacing them with the art deco again.

"My work lacked focus. Lacked inspiration. I wanted to see what Charlie could do."

[youknowwhothisis]

He'll let those curtains go. It'll buy him a little time.

"And... that's it? She's some kind of muse?"

Well, he can't fault that. She was an inspiring young woman. However.

"Say she actually redeems a Sinner. What then?"

[sugaronthecream]

"Well, I imagine the hotel will be quite a bit busier, don't you think?"

Whether or not he believed it wasn't relevant.

"It'll be history unfolding before our eyes. Aren't you curious?"

[youknowwhothisis]

"Of course I am! It would mean the end of the Purges, for starters. But that's not what I'm asking."

He jogged- the deer's stride was long and he needed to practically work out to keep up- and made it to the demon's side.

"I'm asking 'what then' for you, Alastor, when my daughter's project succeeds and you get this- this inspiration you're looking for. I'm being serious."

[sugaronthecream]

"I don't see the problem you're suggesting," Alastor huffed in amusement. If redemption did end up working? If it did end up bringing more souls here? Well, he'd still get to chortle at plenty of failures.

"Are you asking if I have interest in redeeming myself?"

[youknowwhothisis]

He folded his arms. "Do you?"

Then, frowned deeper. "...Eternity is... a long time to just get your kicks from something like this. Charlie depends on us to help see her dream through. If any of us simply leave... it'd hurt her."

He looked over. "My problem is your possibly hurting Charlie, and deriving pleasure from her pain."

[sugaronthecream]

"I did my deeds on Earth and rightfully earned my eternal punishment. A soul like mine doesn't belong anywhere else," Alastor scoffed, waving Lucifer off dismissively.

Yes, eternity is a long time. Yes, maybe he won't find enjoyment here forever. Yes, maybe he has other plans.

"Charlie's order was quite straightforward. 'Work at this Hotel for as long as you like.'"

[youknowwhothisis]

...

So accommodating, but flavored as an order. He thought he felt a small surge of power a while ago. Authority. Whether she could feel it herself or not, she had power in what she'd command as the rightful heir of Hell itself.

She really was one-of-a-kind.

"That... sounds like an order she'd give," he conceded, looking ahead as the scowl dissolved. He shook his head in wonder.

"And you're not one to back out of any 'contract', are you? ...Y'know, I told her once: You don't take shit from other demons! And here she is, working with the bona fide Radio Demon. Huh."

An idle scratch at his hairline. "...Still getting used to that."

[sugaronthecream]

"Yes, she mentioned as much when dear miss Vagatha insisted she not make a Deal with me," Alastor rolled his eyes. "So testy. As if the Princess of Hell wouldn't already know better."

[youknowwhothisis]

"She fusses, but she cares. --Wait, is that her full name?? I've been thinking it was Vargaret!"

Uh oh. Should he have known this by now? It was bad enough that he called her Maggie in his frenzy before.

[sugaronthecream]

"You don't know? No, no, Vagatha is simply a joke of a name for our dear fallen exorcist. Vaggie is actually short for Vagnolia."