Mom says it's my turn with the Alastor

[sugaronthecream]

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[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."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Vagnolia, of COURSE!" He slapped the heel of a palm against his forehead, fallen hook, line and sinker.

"Also, give me a break- I'm still trying to recall names. I know my daughter was dating- a while back, she was seeing that von Eldritch boy for a while- but I'm proud to say I'm well into my catch-up to speed!"

[sugaronthecream]

"Honestly, I'm quite surprised it hadn't come up over one of your phone calls with dear Charlie."

Because you definitely remembered, right? Right.

"I don't have anything against the hellborn, but Charlie's ambitions are ill suited to a lazy royal deadweight as a partner. As temperamental as Vagnolia is, she has served well as security."

[youknowwhothisis]

He was quiet at that, but his eyes gave a scattered glance around the area. She- probably??? PROBABLY MENTIONED IT? But he was- he was busy!! Just so, so busy. With things. There's a lot on his mind! Shut up, you.

"Their relationship was very... faerie tale. First crushes and first relationships tend to be ones of flights of fancy, especially when you're young and inexperienced. Although the von Eldritches have been friends to the Royal Family for ages, I can... agree to that. Seviathan needs to figure out his priorities. The daughter? Woof. She's a real piece of work. I can only hope she mellows a bit and gains a touch of humbleness with time."

[sugaronthecream]

Alastor practically throws his head back in laughter, though he still doesn't break stride in his task. Almost done fixing all these dreadful curtains. "Hahahah! Expecting humility from royalty!"

[youknowwhothisis]

"I can only mostly agree- we both work for a girl who trumps that expectation completely, after all!"

Oh, don't worry- each curtain he changes is only adding something to Alastor's room. How would he like a big Lucifer bust pouring water from the mouth into the swamp, a giant rubber duck floating among the mucky water, and an apple-print bedspread set?

[sugaronthecream]

Oh, Lucifer... when he finds it...

"A strong-willed hard worker," Alastor agreed. And a dreamer, and a bit of an airhead - but inspirational, and with power that can be harnessed. "A dreamer that has proper willpower and drive."

[youknowwhothisis]

You'll love it, right? Of course you will. Scoop him up with a, 'Thank you! THANK YOU, your Highness!' And then a big ol' punch in the face.

"Chip off the old block, that one. I've... it's been amazing, seeing her work, in her element."

He neatly folded his hands behind his back. He closed an eye and smirked the Radio Demon's way. A small flex of creation magic would try and quiiiiietly put a little apple sticker on the back of his jacket.

"Hell will be in superb hands with her."

[sugaronthecream]

Oh, yes, and to be able to put a thumb on that scale... Deal or no, he was going to be poised for real power and freedom.

Rather than saying that, Alastor chuckled. "Oh, to be a part of history, indeed! I am honored to have been supporting this endeavor of hers from the very moment it became public. It'll be a delight indeed to see where she takes things next."

[youknowwhothisis]

"...Then I should have you know that, haha... She prefers the apple aesthetic. And she's the boss, isn't she...?"

The rug they tread over gained a merry circle of the festive, fun fruit.

"Couldn't entirely sell her on the ducks, buuut, she enjoys my little creations. They do instill such joy."

[sugaronthecream]

It is... to some degree... but it's still less juvenile than the ducks.

"The fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is your family heirloom, after all," Alastor scoffed. "I have been keeping her aesthetic preferences in mind. She and I simply align on an appreciation for art deco and jazz. Adds class to the place."