Radiodust Week 2022

Day 2: Angels & Demons

    Redemption.  Quite a stupid idea.  After all, the sinners of hell couldn’t be redeemed.  That is, Alastor thought that until a duo of angels showed up at the hotel doors and announced that redemption was in fact possible.  That was two months prior, and Alastor’s opinion of them was very low at first. 

    A loud boom had sounded just outside, Charlie had at first assumed it was an attack on the hotel, but she was fortunately mistaken.  Within a few seconds a loud knock came from the front door.  Charlie’s eyes flitted in Alastor’s direction as she slowly approached the door, placing her hand on the doorknob for a few moments.  She opened the door.

Standing there, clad in white with massive feathered wings, were two angels.  The one standing directly behind the door had long dark brown hair and dark skin, she had an eye patch over her left and had a cold and determined stare.  The other was slightly taller, blond and had heterochromatic eyes.  Charlie gulped and looked at Alastor, who was staring in fascination, like a child on christmas morning.  A child who had just been gifted a murder weapon, but a child nonetheless.  “Um, how may I help you?”  Charlie squeaked.  The shorter of the two stepped forward, “We’ve been informed you’re attempting to redeem sinners.  We’re here to make sure you can pull it off.”  Charlie’s jaw dropped, “So, redemption is possible?”  she asked, hopeful.  The taller smirked, “If the people ya have are up for it, most likely.”  A grin spread across Charlie’s face.  “Oh!  Come in!”  She moved aside and gestured for the angels to come in.  “What are your names?  If we’re going to be discussing this I’d like to know you two as best I can.”   the princess asked.  “I’m Vagatha, or Vaggie, and this is Anthony,”  the shorter one said as the slightly taller waved.

Charlie stuck out her hand for the two to shake, “I’m Charlie!  It’s nice to meet you!”  Vaggie shook her hand firmly and then stepped back.  Anthony took his turn after.  Charlie turned to Alastor, who’s fascination had gradually turned into disinterest.  “Er, this is Alastor, he’s helping me out,”  Charlie said, gesturing toward the deer demon.  “Helping is an overstatement, dear,”  He said, taking a few steps forward toward the angels and extending a hand as well, “A pleasure to be meeting you both,”  He said as the two took turns shaking his hand.  

Yes, that strange meeting had thrown a lot of things out of perspective.  Since the duo’s untimely arrival, they had made a home out of the hotel, however, they didn’t particularly mingle with the guests, only observing quietly from satan knows where.

It took Alastor a month to fully get used to them, and actually come to like them.  He came around to Vagatha fairly quickly, learning that she had died in recent years, and was from Mexico.  Anthony, however, took a lot of getting used to.  If Alastor had to use one word to describe him it would be rambunctious.  The man was confusingly androgynous, to the point of almost contstant misgendering on Alastor’s part.  After a thorough interrogation, Alastor had discovered the man had died in the forties and was from New York, he didn’t get much else information, as the man was prone to jokes and unexpectedly vulgar innuendos than giving straight answers.  

But after some time, Alastor found himself enjoying the company of the blond, sometimes seeking him out, though he’d never admit it. 

On one particular evening he heard a knock on his office door late one night…

Alastor sighed and opened the door to find the blond standing in front of him, “Jeez Smiles, you ever sleep?”  He joked, shifting his weight.  Alastor chuckled, “Only when the need strikes.”  He stepped aside, “Please, come in.”  Anthony walked in and sat in an armchair sat in the corner of the room, one wing draped over his lower half and the other under him.  Alastor turned to face the blond, “Is there anything you needed?”  The deer demon asked, sitting down back behind his desk again. 

Anthony looked at the floor for a moment, “Yeah actually, uh, one o’ the guests has been showin’ some signs of bein’ redeemed, and if they can get up there-”  He trailed his right index finger to the ceiling, “-then Vaggie and I are gonna be leavin’.  We only came down to see if this whole redemption thing was possible, and if this guy actually does manage to get into heaven, we’ll have proved it possible and be goin’ ‘home’.” He made air quotes around the word home.  

Alastor felt a hairline crack form somewhere in his chest, “Ah, how unfortunate.  I assume Vagatha is informing Charlie?”  Anthony nodded, “Yeah, she told me to come in and tell ya.”  Alastor’s eyes flitted to the space in between his shoes, “I see.  How long would you say until this sinner is redeemed?”  Angel thought for a moment, looking at the ceiling.  “Give or take a few weeks.  They’re pretty close,”  He replied, shifting his wings so he could sit up straight.  "Ah," was all Alastor said as he watched Anthony stand up.  "I must say, it will be rather dull without you,"  Alastor said before the blond could leave.

Anthony chuckled sadly, "I would try t' visit if I could, but I dunno if I could get clearance to come back down here."  he shrugged and made his way to the door, "Well, see ya Al,"  He said, placing his hand on the doorknob.  "Wait!  What if I attempt to redeem myself?"  Alastor exclaimed before Anthony could leave.  The angel paused in shock for a moment, then smiled, "You'd get to see me more often,"  he said.  "Would your status not affect our ability to see each other?"  Alastor pondered.  Anthony's eyes widened, "Oh! I don't have a 'status', I tagged along with Vaggie 'cause I had to, I would've been kicked out if I didn't.  This was a bit of a rehab for me, hehe… but no, I don't have a status to worry about."  Alastor let that statement settle for a moment before shaking his head.  "Well, I might consider speaking with Charlie, then,"  he said brightly. 

Angel smiled, "All right, if ya do decide to come up, I hope you like it there.  See ya babe!"  He blew a kiss and closed the door, Alastor felt his heart thumping against his chest at the gesture.

Redemption.  Maybe he'd reconsider the idea.

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