Chapter Text
With the sound of a radio, with her favorite songs, she enters in the bathtub.
The bath water and bubbles surround her form, the music continue, sad songs that are in that moment the original soundtrack of her life.
Just a moment, she stops... She is lost in thoughts.
What was that quote again? Ah, yes: Horizontal was a cry of attention, vertical was for results.
She took a deep breath and made the cuts, she submerged the wrists under the water and closed her eyes. For the first time in forever, there was a calm, sleeping away, with the sound of the radio and her sad songs...
…and then the deafening sounds of people talking, screams, a horn from a car.
She was in Pride, she was in Pentagram City...
She was in Hell.
It was not even a month since the hotel was rebuild from the ground up and the place looked better than ever. There were a lot of rooms ready to be filled and everyone of the valiant fighters of the last battle against the exorcists had a place to call home inside.
Charlie and Vaggie had the presidential suite at the top of the hotel and while they were constructing it, they decided to place a suite for Lucifer near theirs... and a suite plus radio tower for Alastor in the other side in the top floor.
Alastor wasn't able to vanquish Adam and had to withdraw and even when, specially Charlie, they were worried sick about him, they decided to think he was ok, that he would return in one piece. The little princess wasn't ready to cry another lost and when the Radio Demon returned to the hotel, even Vaggie was happy and the feared Overlord even was amicable to a group hug and all.
Some floors under the top one, there were the private quarters for Angel Dust, Husk and Cherri Bomb, who decided to stay in the hotel after helping to build it, even when she still thought the Princess' Passion Project was a lot of baloney.
And Niffty, near the laundry room in the basement of the hotel, had some form of cubicle, tho she called it the Center of Command, maybe because she was always orchestrating the demise and complete erradication of the bug population that unaware entered the hotel. Charlie even offered something better, one of the nice rooms upstairs but she refused claiming she wanted to be 'near the action'.
The new and improved Hazbin Hotel also had a completed bar, not a simple counter like the old one, but huge one with tables and a stage that could be used in multiple forms or types of entertainment. Charlie already talked about poetry nights, karaoke... and Alastor of course mentioned about jazz and maybe to have some nights to dance, removing some of the tables.
And of course there was a huge kitchen, a full reception, a new bigger parlor more tacky than before.
Everything was new and perfect... or not perfect but better, like the relationship of Alastor and Lucifer.
A couple of days after the Overlord's return, the King of Hell discerned the sinner was in huge pain. The always effusive hugs from his daughter, that always delighted the Radio Demon, specially when he was arround to see them, made him twitch and feel uncomfortable, breaking contact with an impecable excuse. Of course the fucker hid that from Charlie but Lucifer was in alert and observant at the man that proclaimed, as sooner as their eyes met for the first time, that was a better father to his little apple than him.
He hated him, he hated his guts but... talking about guts, Lucifer also caught on the smell. It was very subtle, easy to lost to a less trained nose between the regular sandalwood, aged rum and, strangely, dried flowers that always permeated Alastor. It was a rotten scent of burned flesh pristine pressed against bandages.
Of course Lucifer had to ask... and Alastor had to evade. They danced that tango for a couple of days where Lucifer asked politely about the wound and Alastor denied even the possibility of having one. They argued, they insulted each other, they singed about it and, after an almost-fight and some property damages on the new parlor, they sat down and decided to talk like adult demons over a glass of brandy while Alastor shadowy slaves reconstructed the place.
The Overlord showed the wound to the King, still open but sewn together with a pale green thread, with soaking bandages to match. Alastor talked about the battle, the roof, Adam... and that stupid attack he didn't even see coming after his microphone cane was torn in two. The Radio demon, after a couple of minutes in complete silence even had a very rare, Discovery Channel, Guiness Record book's moment of vulnerability and commented to the fallen angel how, in the past, he had the power to heal something like that... to heal people in general...
But like a mirage of an island that doesn't exists, static surrounded the man and he, nonchalantly, changed the subject.
Lucifer, after thinking for a moment, decided to heal the Radio Demon.
It was a tenacious four days job, where Lucifer used part of his blood and the light that as an angel he could mold in his hands to heal, inch by inch, the flesh of the Overlord. It was also really painful, even for Alastor that was a very stubborn seasoned motherfucker... In those moments on Alastor's suite, the Radio Demon was always in pain, bitting over one of his own belts while the Sovereign of Darkness and Lies tended him like a very dedicated nurse.
That experience, with them talking some more, with little moments of truth and not facade from the radio host, made them... not friends but not enemies either. In fact, most of the time they were very nice with each other.
“This is a hotel, your majesty, not a toddler's room!” said Alastor while snapping his fingers.
That time, they weren't.
“We need some color!” said the Ruler of Hell while snapping his fingers in return. “We can't decorate like this is a fucking mortuary!”
Both men were in front of the stage in the bar and every time one of them snapped the fingers, the curtain changed. From wine color velvet to light blue with little and elegants ducks in golden thread.
Alastor snapped again.
“Continue to change my curtains and it will be, you little poorly carved doll!”
Lucifer snapped.
“Maybe I'm a doll but at least I'm not a problem for the hotel” said the Devil with a jagged smile. “Last time a patron was interested, we had to promise you have all your vaccinations in order and you wear a muzzle at night!!”
Static, the sound of the shuffle of channels and then another snap.
“Oh, of course you make fun of the cannibal” said Alastor resting over his cane with both hands. “A king should not step so low as to insult the dietary necessities of his subjects! My good man, I'm dissapointed.”
The Radio Demon made a disapproving sound with his mouth, raising the mic with one hand and looking at it like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
”Buuuuuut... Taking your absence and your disinterest for your own realm, I think is almost normal, expected even” said the demon with a wide smile, wider than ever.
Lucifer snapped while making a mockery of the Radio Demon talking, using his hand.
“And pray tell, why I should be respecting cannibals of all people?” asked the tiny man.
Alastor made complete eye contact with the King and then moved his head to a side with a sound of broken neck.
“Because, those same cannibals helped protecting your daughter's dream” said the radio host. “Including yours truly. Also we make an invaluable contribution to Hell's society... not like its King” said the Radio Demon, making a dramatic pause just to snap his fingers just right in front of Lucifer.
“Talking about steppin' low” said the Devil with a sigh after Alastor mentioned the battle. “And what is that contribution? Please, inform your Ruler and Master about that subject.”
Alastor twitched an eye over the word “Master” but the demon let it slide focusing on the other part of the argument... while snapping his fingers.
“Cleaning Services, of course!!” said the radio host with the same tone as he was announcing a new product, with canned applause included and opening his arms widely. “When sinners kill each other, it's not permanent!! The carcase is left behind and the sinner reconstitute in another part of Pentagram... a safe haven if they have one or other place. We take care of that, we cannibals are a vital part of society, my good man! You should appreciate that and, at the same time, what about trying not to be a discriminatory little asshole, hmmm?”
Lucifer was about to retort when Husk spoke.
“Hey, if you finished with your... particular diss track, Charlie called for Alastor” said the barterder pointing to the black rotary phone near him in the counter. “She said Rosie called, she asked if boss can catch with her on Cannibal Town, she has something or whatever.”
And he didn't care, the very tired ex-overlord only wanted some peace and quiet and he knew he wouldn't get any until Alastor and Lucifer were out of his pub.
“Oh, so Rosie wants to see me” said the Radio Demon while from an indetermined place, a sweet jazz song started to play. “Sorry to cut our conversation... short but my friend needs of my services, no doubt.”
With a floriture with the microphone cane, Alastor started to walk to the door of the establishment while saying bye with the hand in an elaborated movement.
“Ta-ta!” said, just to stop and look, fixed on Lucifer who was about to snap again. “Stop touching my curtains...”
He singed playfully before being complete out of sight.
Lucifer snapped... but was not the same without Alastor, so he snapped again and let the curtains with the wine velvet fabric before deciding that 10 in the morning was a good time to get some of the sweet apple licour that he liked so much.
***
Alastor could just enter into a shadow and appear near Cannibal Town but he decided to take a stroll, enjoying the view of people running away from him. In the past, just the sound of very animated jazz that accompanied him while being happy or at least in peace for a while, could clean up a block of pedestrians.
Now, not so much... Yes, some people that recognized the Radio Demon changed to another sidewalk or even jumped themselves in front of a car thinking it was a easier way out than being a new radio broadcast guest. But they were so few, so sporadic... Seven years of absence was too much in Hell and there was a complete new generation of sinners that didn't knew about the Radio Demon, the Serial Killer of Overlords. It was a pity but thinking about it hardly, it was better that way.
He was, together with Charlie, the face of the Hazbin Hotel and it was true that some possible patrons left running for their demonic lives when they saw who the hotelier was. He loved those moments... and then Charlie with her round puppy eyes of disappointment made him feel less happy about it.
The Radio Demon sighed.
First he wanted a way out of his deal and having the favor of the Princess of Hell was a perfect way to get to that. After some time with her, the band of misfits and now with his... non-friendship with Lucifer, he really wanted the Hotel to work, specially after the information they received from Heaven's Embassy.
Sir Pentious, the petulant buffoon overlord-wannabe, that sacrificed himself trying to save everyone, was redeemed. He was now an angel and together with that other little one, the seraphim Emily, they were the new embassadors to Hell.
The first moments of the news were a rush. All the hotel, even him in secret, felt very happy that the snake was saved... The death of the stupid moron was a dent in him when he returned. He wasn't at full power, he lost, someone paid the price. But Sir Pentious was ok, not complete happy because he missed Cherrie and his friends but he was enjoying Heaven, talking about a program for scientific minds that let them experiment and create new things.
Emily and Sir Pentious visit to Hell was short but a new deal with Heaven was made: the hotel has five years to prove its viability and redeem more souls to show that Sir Pentious wasn't an isolated incident and will be no more exterminations. According to Emily, Sera, the high Seraphim, wanted to give just a year and Lute wasn't having none of that but the young seraphim reminded her sister that Adam broke the contract made with Lucifer Morningstar: Lute killed Dazzle, a hellborn, and Adam was trying to kill Charlie, another hellborn. The Fallen Angel could even ask for compensation, an eye for a eye, like Adam loved so much to said... so arrangements were made.
Also, Emily and Sir Pentious have the task to monitor Hell for possible uprisings, taking that was Adam's excuse to get to reap the population once a year.
With the deal in hand and the happiness from the discovery that Charlie was right, the only thing the hotel needed were new patrons to put the theories to test.
And they had a few... but was not nearly enough.
With that thought in his mind, the Overlord reached Cannibal Town, were the terror that his presence projected was replaced with recognition, smiles and salutations. That place was his home away from home. Bringing terror was all well and good but sometimes a man just wanted to be a man and be himself for a while.
“Alastor!” said Rosie with the same happy energy she always projected. “C'mon in, sweetheart, I have something very special for you! Or for your hotel at least!”
“Rosie!” they hugged.
Two days ago they were taking some tea and pinky fingers but they always greet each other like passed years since the last encounter.
“Well?” asked Alastor with the sweetiest of his trademarked smiles and amused curiosity.
The Cannibal Overlord conducted her friend inside her emporium shop to a corner of the room, almost free of people, with a tea table, chairs and a divan in the farthest part. There was something, covered with a grey blanket with cutey skulls in it. Something... or rather someone, that was trembling like a leaf, small, with only hands visible holding a cup of what smelled like hot cocoa.
“Darling, this is the gentleman that I was talkin' about” said Rosie, moving Alastor with a delicated touch in his back so he could approach.
The blanket was moved and under it was... well, a very small kid. Not like Niffty small but at least Lucifer's size.
She has a very pale light purple skin, almost white, round face with huge red eyes with yellow sclera (very similar to Lucifer's or at least that was Alastor's first thought). One of the eyes was hiding under her long black straight hair. The little thing had very human teeth for a demon, with just two little fangs and didn't have claws either. It was a complete unassuming form that didn't give Alastor any clue about how she died... until she left the cup in the table. From the wrist to the elbow in the internal part of the arms, she had a fine line with some X like stitches in regular intervals. It looked like a tattoo but Alastor doubted that was the case.
You always looked how you died mixed with how you were alive... mixed with the twisted sadistic sense of humor that Hell had.
The child didn't know what or how to say, looking from Alastor to Rosie, trusting the lady that saved her when she nodded encouraging her.
“M.. My name is Lucia, it's a pleasure, sir” she said, lowering slowly her head.
“So polite, don't ya think?” said the cannibal lady.
The Radio Host nodded, adjusted his bowtie and rested both hands over his cane.
“Alastor, pleasure to be meeting you, sweetheart, quite a pleasure!” said with his trademark introduction. “May I be so bold to assumed you are gonna be a patron of my establishtment?”
The young girl doubted for a moment, looking to another part of the room and Rosie intervened.
“Yeah, I called Charlie for you to fetch her” the lady overlord took Alastor's arm and moved him to talk in confidence. “The little one is new to Hell and rather young. One of my girls, Carla, saw her being dragged for an unflavoured fella near the entrace and didn't sit well with the girls the way the little one was crying. She's been here less than a day! I think is perfect for the hotel, my dear.”
Alastor looked to the kid, nervous little girl, and nodded. Obviously the little one was in Hell for a reason but being new and if the reason wasn't too much, maybe was an easy task for redemption.
“Of course, my dear” said the Radio Demon, approaching the girl. “Well, Lucia, isn't? We should be going, darling, the hotel awaits! You'll love it there. Hazbin Hotel is a safe haven here in Hell, you'll feel right at home there!”
The girl nodded but Alastor was a very observant demon, he saw the little poorly hidden chill at the word “Home”.
Lucia moved, ready to go with Alastor... It was something rather curious, but the overlord also noticed how she stopped the trembling as soon as he presented himself.
“Ok, sweetheart” said Rosie, lowering a little to talk near the little girl. “You can trust old Alastor here with everything and good Charlie is gonna help you a lot... You'll see, everything is gonna be good from now on. Trust Auntie Rosie with that.”
The little demoness thought for a moment and nodded trying to project a very sad smile... Not because she was sad but that face looked like it didn't make the exercise of smiling very often.
“I'll remember that” said Lucia. “Thank you for your help, Miss Rosie.”
“Oh, so sweet! Take care of her, Alastor!” the cannibal overlord hugged the girl.
The Radio Demon, now that she was on her feet and near him, notice that her clothes were also a mess. Full in black, with a simple bluse and long trousers, with huge sings of deterioration and tatters and not a all in her size, like someone trying to dress with the first thing found on a trash can. Or she died with those or this was again another tell of Hell's sick humor.
“Come along, my dear, we'll arrive soon” said the Radio host making a gesture to the girl to follow him.
“Yes, Mr. Alastor, sir” said, following the Radio Demon outside of the Emporium.
***
The hotel wasn't very far from Cannibal Town but it was a sustancial at least twenty minutes stroll and the only sound around the girl and the demon was the sweet jazz.
Lucia was walking a couple of feet behind Alastor, with a scared expression plasted on her face and a nervious tic of rubbing her hands together like she was cold. She was observing everything: buildings, cars, people... people running for the mere pressence of the Radio Demon...
There was fear and curiosity so the radio host decided to break the silence.
“Do you found the city strange?” asked.
Lucia nodded but then denied.
“It's strange” she said. “Not different from an earthly city but not the same. Like...”
She thought for a moment.
“Like seeing a monster with your friend's face” she said, making Alastor, that was continue walking and looking in front of him, to look back at her. “Looks like your friend, but you can't pinpoint what's wrong, you just feel it.”
The Radio Demon, nodded widening his smile.
“It's a very good analogy, very suitable for Pentagram City or any city of the Pride Ring, if you think about it” said the overlord.
“Miss Rosie was gracious to explain to me about that” said the girl. “About the rings, governed by the Deadly Sins made flesh, tho she didn't mentioned any name... And she told me we... sinners, guess was the word, can only live here in Pride. That this is the biggest city but not the only one.”
“Yes, it's good you have some information at hand” said the radio host. “It's less to explain. Here, we are ruled, so to speak, by Lucifer Morningstar, the deadly sin of Pride and Hell's sovereign.”
Lucia stopped, Alastor noticed a couple of feet later and stopped too.
“Lucifer is real?” she asked and then she nodded. “Of course he's real... I never thought Hell was and here I am.”
She looked... annoyed and Alastor smiled to that.
“You don't like the idea?” he asked.
“The Devil being real?” she shook her head. “No, I don't like the idea of my priest being right and, with my luck, sure he's a tyrant that enjoys torment and mock and... vilify his subjects, having a twisted type of fun from our suffering. Like an oversized school bully.”
She graunted while looking up.
“I guess it was too much to ask for a funny little man that likes to sing and dance like the Devil from Cuphead” she lowered her head and sighed. “Sorry, Mr. Alastor, I don't want to be disrespectful. Miss Rosie said you were a well respected man in Pride, I think she used the word 'Overlord'. I don't want to disrespect your... well, our ruler.”
Alastor laughed a lot and encouraged the girl to continue to walk placing a hand in her back... a gesture, he noted, tensed her a little but received good and continued to stroll.
“Not a all, my dear... You can disrespect the King right away at your heart's contemp” said the overlord. “He's not a very dedicated ruler, so don't worry. Besides, with every second I think you'll enjoy a lot my hotel, more and more.”
He said with a wicked smile. Oh, Lucifer was about to have a fieldday with that one, specially if he managed to hide the fact that said ruler, that was in fact a little man that loved to dance and sing, was at the hotel at all.
He will love to let the kid talk about her opinions on Lucifer and see the clown's face twist over the words. It was a thing for him to insult the devil, but a naive little kid? Sugar on the cream.
Lucia smiled, not noticing the satisfied and wicked smile of Alastor.
“So... I don't have to present myself or something?” she asked.
“Heaven's no! No, no, no, my dear! He doesn't care at all” in fact, she was about to be presented, liked or not. “We all live our after-life like we want to, ruler be damned. You just have to focus on your rehabilitation at the hotel, trying the upmost to get into Heaven.”
They continued walking and talking.
“And... that's possible?” she asked.
“Yes, one of our patrons managed to do it and some are almost there” if there, thought Alastor, was a long, long highway, with no curves or intersections, with a clear objective but not on sight. “No matter which sins you have, you'll be free of them in no time.”
The girl sighed strongly and lost her sight to some point around the sidewalk.
“If you say so, Mr. Alastor...” she wasn't convinced.
The Radio Demon was about to retort when he noticed the girl just stopped and not because she wanted. A tall slim demon with yellow scales like a serpent and very long arms was in front of Lucia, with a sadistic smile.
“So cute of a thing, I always wanted a pet” and he grabbed from the arm with his claw.
Shadows moved, the sound of static and shuffleing of channels around, some of the lights in the nearby shops flickered a little.
“Oh, we have a brave soul, brave enough to touch something that doesn't belong to them” said the Radio Demon, with his eyes in radio dial form and his antlers slightly bigger.
“Shut up, you bitch, find your own whore” growled and tried to move with the very afraid kid's arm in his hand.
Another youngster that didn't recognized him or maybe never knew about him. Well, another good thing coming from his absence was the pure unaltered fear and surprise coming from his new and very willing but ignorant victims.
Alastor hit the ground strong with his cane and a shadow tentacle arrived at its master's command and ripped clean of the arm of the serpent demon in a clean shot.
“My fuckin' arm, fuck!!” said eloquently the demon, in the ground, touching with his remained hand the place were the other arm existed seconds ago.
The demon of the radio started to walk slowly towards the willing entertainment with a jagged wicked smile, radio dial pupils in pitch black and huge antlers while the sound of wailing banshees from afar was surrounding him. The fury from the serpent demon transformed to pure terror while he was trying to escape, moving backwards, crawling over his own butt, with the help of his remained hand, without the idea, desire or even thought of getting up.
“Manners maketh man, you know?” said Alastor with his diabolic voice, not moving his mouth at all while speaking, just pure jagged teeth. “And it's bad form to not recognized the Radio Demon... or even worst, trying to harm one of his sheltered souls. Say “sorry”, little shit” he asked, his voice full possessed horror mode but not angry sounding... so soft that was even more disconcerting and enerving.
The guy stopped, thought... in his mind his survival instint must had decided to stir the boat because he muttered:
“I'm sorry, man, sir... Radio Demon, sir, won't happen again” he was trembling like a leaf.
And like it came, it was gone, all the signs from Alastor's demon form decreased to nothing while the radio host smiled.
“See? That's better” he turned around and started to walk.
The serpent demon sighed relieved... just to being impaled by four razorsharp tentacles coming from Alastor's back, obliterating him in a second, transforming his body into pulp.
The Radio Demon sighed and thought now he will need to find his young charge, of course the little girl must have run at the sight of... The feeling of touch, of someone so near his leg, interrupted his internal monologue.
Lucia didn't run, she was there, complete scared of course, but not from him. She was seeing where the other demon was and looking around like trying to find more threats. She was almost holding to the Radio Demon's trousers.
“Are you ok, little one?” asked Alastor, surprise very visible in his face.
She nodded.
The Radio Demon noted she had a couple of pearls of blood in her face, a couple in the arm so he invoked a purple handkerchief and give it to the girl.
“Clean your face and arm, darling, and don't worry, you can take a bath as soon as we are at the hotel” he said, starting to walk again with her this time by his side.
Lucia did as instructed and cleaned herself, tending the handkerchief back to Alastor when finished with a grateful smile. Again, that smile was sad for Alastor's taste but he was sure his curiosity will be met in days.
The hotel was almost in sight when the Radio Demon decided to ask the question that was mulling for a while.
“Why you didn't run?” he asked.
She looked at him and then to the floor.
“Well, he was holding me in place” she said and the Radio Demon shake his head.
“No, no, later, when you saw my demon form... because you saw it, right?” he asked.
The girl nodded.
“Yes but you were protecting me, sir, saving me in fact, I don't had a single reason to run” she said, shruging.
Alastor rise an eyebrow with impecable form.
“Well, people normally run from it, despise my intentions.”
“I dunno why, your... demon form you called it? It was pretty cool” she smiled softly. “I didn't know people called you Radio Demon, sir.”
Alastor laughed a little.
“Well, well, I'm glad you liked my demon form!” he said cheerfully. “But yes, people started to call me Radio Demon so many decades ago and I ended up embracing it. I'm a radio host, nonetheless. The proper medium to express oneself!”
He said followed by his canned voices of agreement.
“I took a sabbatical for a time and I'm not been active but little by little I'm starting to broadcast again” and he thought for a second and asked “Do you like the radio?”
The girl was fresh from the living world, almost one hundred years pass his prime, so he was waiting for the answer was 'no'.
But Lucia smiled broadly.
“Yes!” she said. “I love music! And I like to heard some podcasts. My on... my prized possession was a little black radio with an antenna and a single speaker. It was a present from my mother, was very old and bumped but worked like a charm. It was always with me... I feel almost not dressed without it.”
She said, losing the smile. Then she shruged.
Alastor thought for a moment while they were near the external entrance of the hotel, with the girl looking up to the building with curiosity.
“And... what type of music do you like?” the Radio Demon was ready to be bombarded with styles and songs he couldn't even recognize.
“Blues... and jazz, rhythm'n'blues, swing, I like some classical pieces, some folk music, some country music... depends on the song, really” she said, still marveling herself with the hotel, finding every detail with her eyes while talking. “Kids in school and later in high school always picked on me saying I was a gramma for my music taste... but I also liked some pop and rock, even metal... But was more about song to song basics. And... I also love musicals!”
She said with enthusiasm, just to stop the rambling like she was remembering she was talking to Alastor.
“Sorry.”
“No need, darling, such passion for radio is to be commended” he said, opening the garden door that lead to the road from front door to the actual entrance of the hotel. “And what type of podcast you liked? Young ladies things? Romance?”
The pure expression of disgust was soon in Lucia's face, it was like Alastor directly insulted her and her mother.
“Fuck no!” first time she said a curse word but she closed her mouth with the hand for a second and looked to the demon with apology eyes.
“I... I don't like that stuff, at all” she said. “No, no, no, I'm not at all like those... Stephanie or Britney types at high school, talking about boys, nailpolish and the last romantic movie like it was the most important thing in the world. No, no, no... I'm a terror and mystery gal. I love the mystery podcast talking about myths and legends, horror stories, creepypastas...”
She thought for a moment, Alastor looked and talked very old. For the notion of him being a radio host and talking with transatlantic accent, she was rounding it to mid 20's.
“Creepypastas are new horror stories, urban myths about demons, ghouls and monsters” she explained before the radio host could ask, if he wanted. “Also I love serial killer stories if they are interesting and not a simple “He wanted to get laid” types... Jack the reaper is borderlining that line but at least he... or some people think maybe she... was interesting.”
Alastor was puzzled. That girl was strange... he was starting to like her a lot, not just because she liked radio, obviously, but he has to admit to himself the gal was strange. Maybe that was the reason she was in Hell, maybe she followed into the steps of her favorite serial killers, didn't stand the pressure, she offed herself and now she was here to pay for those deaths. Maybe she wasn't as easy to redeem as Rosie and him initially thought.
It didn't matter, really, at least was someone new at the hotel and someone that, to boot, was very interesting.
Alastor smiled softly.
“I see, very refined taste, my young lady” he said, opening the door of the hotel and letting her pass before him. “Maybe you will love my radio show then... It has a little bit of that, some of my showmanship and, of course, good music! Yes, you'll love it!.”
Lucia smiled.
“If there is a radio at the hotel, I'll love to listen to it” she said.
Alastor smiled back, he really liked that kid.
In the reception of the hotel, Charlie and Vaggie were talking about brochures, the facilities and what activities was the princess preparing to be regular ones.
“We could leave them in stores and... and... and... oh, and dad can have some in Lulu World, in the stores and maybe we can pay to created a mascot for the hotel and they can distribute more in the park!! It's a good idea, Vaggie!” she was her usual Miss Rainbows mood.
The fallen exterminator sighed, taking the princess from the shoulders.
“Honey, I am not saying it's a bad idea” started to talk, with that tone that everyone in the hotel started to call “I love you, but” “But we need to center ourselves first in having a program. Something that we can really put in the brochures?”
Alastor coughed politely to let his presence be noted.
Lucia was behind him, looking in awe at the lavish hotel, with its elegant decoration, rich carpets and all the look of a four stars establishment could have.
“Are... you sure I can stay here, Mr. Alastor?” she asked, still looking around, behind his leg. “It looks so... tacky.”
The Radio Demon continue to approach the lovers with his trademark smile and canned laughs.
“Of course, my dear. Free of charge, at me... well, our expense” he said. “This is Charlie...”
Last name and title omited for further entertainment.
“And her fiancé Vaghata” he presented both women.
“My name is Vaggie” she said.
She was more amicable to Alastor, because she really valued how he stood his ground to Adam and help them in battle (taking she made, and lost, a bet with Angel Dust that the shitlord was about to betray them or run like a bitch) but still Alastor pushed her buttons sometimes and they bickered... but not so much as Lucifer and him.
“This little young lady is Lucia, our newest resident!” announced Alastor with his usual pomposity.
The girl moved from behind Alastor and used a hand to move part of her hair behind her ear, with still one eye almost covered before a curtain of black hair.
“It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Charlie, Miss Vaggie” she said, shyly.
“Oh, you can call me Charlie and call her Vaggie” said Charlie in her efusive usual self. “Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!! You'll love it here!! We have... well.... Everything!!”
Charlie, without losing a moment, took the kid from her shoulders and move her to the front desk to take some basic data about the new resident.
“New to Hell?” asked Vaggie to Alastor.
“Freshly condemned, you could say” responded the Radio Demon.
“Mmmm... She also looks young, did you asked how much?”
“No, of course not, I'll leave this type of social logistics to the princess, Hell is very tricky with apparences” the overlord thought something for a second. “But yes, she is young. Maybe the youngest sinner I ever saw.”
Alastor was looking to the kid, talking with Charlie in the front desk while the princess of Hell was taking her information, the basic one that Charlie was starting to take from the patrons: year of death, age at death, nationality, pronouns, special needs, aversions, even favorite colors.
“What?” said Vaggie. “Cannibal Town is full of demonic looking kids!”
Alastor moved his eyes without moving the head to Vaggie, making his smile wider.
“Those are natives, my dear, hellborn” said the overlord. “Not all, but most of Cannibal Town are hellborn natives of Pride. Every circle has its natives, ours are those, my dear. I thought you knew.”
Vaggie shaked her head.
“Well, now you know... there are even babies there. Did you really thought the little vermin were hell bound? What could be their crime, their sin? Asking for more tit or longer cradle?” he asked, having ton of fun with Vaggie's torned expression.
“Fuck no but... I don't know...” the fallen angel shaked her head. “Don't mock me, shitlord!”
Alastor just stood there, smiling.
“So... she's the youngest?” she asked.
“That I ever saw? Yes” again the Radio Demon eyes were on the child. “I'm trying to imagine her crimes... But I got nothing. She was really plesant to talk too.”
Before Vaggie could ask, Charlie returned with Lucia.
“Well, we have the basic information, now you need a room, maybe a refreshing bath, some clothes...” said the princess.
“That will be lovely” admited Lucia.
Charlie and Vaggie were moving to the stair that led to the first floor and the hotel elevator but after walking a couple of steps, the girl returned to Alastor with a huge smile.
“Thanks for protecting me and guide me here, Mr. Alastor, sir” she said.
“No need, little one, enjoy your stay... And you can call me just Alastor, if it suits your fancy” said the demon in return with a pleasant smile.
The girl nodded and run to Charlie again, talking this one about the rooms and the commodities those had.
Alastor looked around. It was near mid day, soon will be lunch hour and he guessed Lucia and Lucifer will be there, in the kitchen, eating with the rest.
The Radio Demon smiled wickedly.
He was about to have a very fun moment with his new resident and the little King of Hell.
A demon had to find fun wherever that was, no?