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It was a calm evening in the Hazbin Hotel, slowly dimming into the night. Some people had gone to sleep. Some people had gone out.
Angel Dust was neither of those. No, the lanky sinner was on a very specific quest. One that needed enough guts to go bother a certain antlered demon overlord in his own radio tower.
The knock on the door got no reaction, but Angel could hear the buzzing and creaking that seemed to follow Alastor around like crackwhores 'round a dealer, and so he decided to just go in."Goooood evening handsome!" They grinned, leaning against the frame of the open door.
The room attached to the tower was big- huge, even. Angel would bet two of his arms Alastor had done some time-and-space fuckery to it.
Speaking of, the demon was sitting in the back in one of the old hotel armchairs, a book in their lap which vanished in a puff of dark mist when Angel entered.
"Angel Dust." The radio demon spoke. If he was surprised, he didn't show it- instead there was the ever-present grin around his lips. "How can I help you?"
"Oh, ya know~" Angel lilted, swaying their hips as they invited themselves further into the room. "It's such a lonely, boring evening.. And I was wonderin' if you'd be up for some fun." At this point, the demon had draped themselves over the other armchair, giving Alastor the prime view.
"No." The sharp rejection was almost hilarious. Good thing then, that Angel was excellent at staying in character."Hmm, are you sure? We can do whatever you like."
"No."
"I could call you…Radio Daddy?"
"Not going to happen. You're wasting my time and your own, Angel Dust." Alastor said flatly, with only the slightest twitch of his eyes betraying his annoyance.
"Ugh, come on!" Angel slid into a more comfortable position, with one of his legs dangling off the armrest. "Why are you not into me? Everyone's into me. I got the creepy fan letters to prove it!"
"Not everyone. If you want to talk to people who are not attracted to you, go bother Husk." Alastor rose, and with a twirl of his microphone the door swung open invitingly. "Please." The demon emphasized.
Angel Dust snickered as he blatantly ignored the hint."You don't think so? Oh please. Kitty might deny it, but he is Totally into me. We bonded just the other day!" Angel stated, realized how that sounded, and quickly continued."Over Alcohol. And being drunks. Nothing else."
Alastor had not moved a hair, still towering over the room, a sharp joyless grin on his face.
"Charlie is not into you. I'm sure she would be absolutely delighted to hang out with you, no matter the time of day."
Angel leaned back comfortably, not planning to move. "Hah! If I'd try to wake up Charlie right now, Vaggie would skewer me. And not in the way I like it, if ya know what I mean~" Angel wiggled their eyebrows, their cheeky grin mismatching the radio demon.
"So of course..that leaves.. you."
Angel wasn't sure what was stopping Alastor from using his black smoke tentacles to throw him out of his room at that point. Probably the knowledge that Angel was into that shit. And until Alastor decided that his alone time was worth more than his dignity, Angel could learn more about what his deal was. Win-win.
"So.. are you like a cooch only kinda guy?" The spider demon crossed their arms behind their head. "Nothing wrong with havin' a preference, ya know. Personally, I think-""I do not bother with such things." Alastor interrupted, the irritation palpable in his creaking voice. "With nobody."
"Really? But you're like- You're hot! You’re creepy, but there’s plenty of people into that. You can get with anyone you want!"
The door swung closed again, as if Alastor could sense there was something else behind Angel's insistence to be annoying. Something besides pure boredom and hormones. Something that stood out to the dealmaking overlord like blood in the water.
"I simply don't want to." He said, the mask of calm control back in place as he regarded the intruder. "Quite simple."
Angel raised two of his hands in a defensive manner. "Alright, alright. Fine. Could've just said you're an ace."
Alastor did not react to the word as if he understood it, instead staring at Angel for a few awkward seconds too long.
"Rosie keeps mentioning that." He finally muttered, more to himself before glancing up at Angel again. "Is it some kind of… pornographic term that I'm unaware of?"
Angel stilled, lifting himself upright as the realization dawned. Alastor didn't know. Fuck, was he about to give The Talk to a demon overlord? "Er, no, no- kinda the opposite, really. A person who isn't… sexually attracted to anyone. Asexual. Ace."
Angel fumbled through the explanation under the unchanging grin of the radio demon. He seemed to be listening, at least? "It's just a.. orientation. Just like gay or straight. Though I'm pretty sure Val uses it only as an insult."
Alastor stood motionless, overthinking the matter. "I see. As far as any labels apply to me.. I suppose that one is decent enough. The orientation of 'No, thank you.'"
Angel scoffed. "That's easy. Wish I could say that."
The radio demon cocked his head in interest, the static increasing slightly. "I was under the impression you liked your..occupation."
Fuck. "That's not it." Angel said quickly, much too quickly to be genuine."I do. I love it. If it wasn't for my contract-"
Fuck. His mouth shut with a click. What was wrong with him, mouthing off. First to Husk, now to Alastor- if Val found out about this, then..
Alastor's eyes narrowed at the sudden halt. "Do you really think," He spoke slowly, as if he could read the other's mind, "That of all places in Hell, my room has been tapped by the Vees?"
Well if you put it like that, Angel looked like an idiot. "Fuck, I don't know." The slender demon dragged a hand over his face. "I'm sorry. I'm too sober to have this conversation right now."
Right on command, a bottle with two fancy glasses manifested on the small table in front of them. Alastor sat down, eyes focused on the visitor. "Please." He gestured invitingly. "Be my guest.You can talk freely here."
Angel glared up at him- confiding in one demonic overlord and fucking up his life once seemed enough, he wasn't That big of an idiot. Been there, done that, zero stars, wouldn't recommend.
On the other hand.
Alastor knew exactly what deals and contracts were. Hell, he probably had some demon-overlord-sixth sense, seeing the rose-colored chain and collar light up around his neck already.
And there was booze.
"Fuck it." Angel sighed and leaned forward opening the bottle of orphan tears absinthe or whatever Alastor liked to drink. They glanced at the glasses, but put the bottle to their lips instead.
There was a strong burn, but it faded quickly into the familiar numbness Angel had become so used to to take the edge off his shitty, shitty life.
Alastor was simply watching, smiling as always. Now that he thought of it, Angel had never seen the radio demon drink anything.
"It's not a big deal, any of it." The lanky demon tried to brush it off. "I just think that if it wasn't for the contract, I wouldn't be spending that much time on sex. I've seen it all anyway. I've got friends to hang out with like Cherri, and the people here at the hotel."
He was rambling, Angel was all too aware of that, but the scolding voice that sounded like Val was pushed to the back of his mind by the alcohol, and he could pretend Alastor's smile was tinted with something empathetic.
“So, you like the label as well.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement, and Angel froze. "What? Hah, no no no. Have you seen me? With a body like mine, it’d be a waste not to use it.” Angel shimmied in the chair, almost spilling some of his drink. “Besides, it’s the best way to get anything I want.” They boasted, not even knowing if they were trying to convince Alastor or themselves.
The Radio Demon looked unimpressed as always. “Anything you want, hm. Except being left alone.”
Angel stopped again, glaring at the demon opposite them. “Fuck off. You don’t know.” The overlord let out a knowing hum, but before they could open their mouth again, Angel put the bottle down. Dinc. Empty.
“Okay, fuck. I don’t know. I'm not asking you for help or a deal or anythin’. I'm sorry, I should have left earlier.” They pushed the ball of their hand to their brow and groaned. This was going to be a hell of a hangover tomorrow.
“Nonsense.” Alastor had the nerve to sound chipper about the whole situation. “It's a good quality of a radio host to be a good listener, you know.” He tilted his head slightly. “But yes, it is getting late. You should probably find a soft surface to crash on that is outside my room.”
A small, sarcastic smirk curled around Angel’s lips as he lowered his hand. “It took so long to throw me out? And I didn't even have to suck your di-“ “Thank you.” Alastor cut them off, and rose from his seat. This time, Angel got the hint and walked back to the door. There, they stopped and turned.
"Hey. You’re- pretty nice for a hot guy. So..Thanks, I guess.”
Alastor nodded at the attempt at a compliment, and glanced at the door until Angel closed it, leaving the Radio Demon alone once again.
—
This had been quite the unexpectedly productive evening. Alastor wasn't a very social type, but he'd never shy away from gathering information. And from someone so desperate for connection as Angel Dust, it was almost too easy.
Maybe, just maybe, once Alastor had figured out how to break his own leash, he could share that information with Angel. Not because the demon's confession had struck something in Alastor's own core, or because he was- hell forbid- an altruist. Of course not.
Of course not.
It would just be prime entertainment to relieve Vox' degenerate boyfriend of their favourite plaything. And then, of course, Angel would be immensely grateful, and-
Alastor shelved the thought. All that would come later.