𝐇𝐇 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄 - Hazbin Hotel

GA, BH

Golden Apple, Blankened Heart

Clinking glasses, the dull roar of overlapping chatter, and smiling faces filled the lobby of the new and improved Hazbin Hotel. Red velvet, golden trim, a larger and far grander staircase than the one before; the redesign positively reeked of powerful magical talent. What else could one expect from the King of Hell, the First Demon, the Fallen Angel himself known as Lucifer? To him, their victory was ultimately owed against the angelic onslaught known to all Sinners as The Extermination; as he had emerged to strike down the host of said horde and send the army into a full retreat. It was an overwhelmingly impressive display of Hell's strength, much to the chagrin of one Sinner.

Alastor, otherwise known as The Radio Demon, watched the joyous festivities from a bird's eye view. Hands clasped behind his back, each finger twitched at the absence of a smooth, round surface to perch upon; oh, how he already longed for his cane to be restored! The memory of its fragmentation flashed before his eyes. Note; Angels were not to be underestimated a second time. His staff would take time to fully mend, and it was time that he concluded it would be best spent in scheming contemplation. Below, the laughter and gluttony of the rag tag band of Sinners continued to relish their glorious triumph of staying alive. Despite the swelling urge to let his lips sink, Alastor forced them to rise into a jester-like grin. They wouldn't have survived without his aid, but they could be trusted to survive the night; if only that he may retire to his new radio tower in silence.

Like a ghost, he wandered away from the banister and retreated down the hallway. As he traversed the somewhat familiar veins of the hotel, his fingers slowly snapped with the passing of two doors. A sharp and echoing snap soon became a beat, and the Radio Demon began to weave some figments of companionship into a seemingly cheery hum. Despite having been at Death's Door mere hours ago, the sight of his gloved fingers brought an almost giddy amount of anxiety to his breast; for with that same hand, he had struck a bargain with the Princess of Hell herself! Alastor chuckled to himself as he reached the end of the hall and gracefully turned to begin ascending a winding staircase; at the top of which was a ladder that stretched to a hatch in the ceiling.

Methodical musings over the bargaining chip he now possessed made his climb instantaneous; and to his eternal surprise, his radio tower appeared untouched. Gone was the wreckage brought about by the fury of Adam. It was likely that Lucifer was to thank for that little renovation as well, even as Alastor was loathe to admit or accept the capabilities of such a powerful fallen angel. Speaking of which...

The Radio Demon turned his head to gaze upon the white sheen of Lucifer's residence within the hotel. Like ears on a head, their respective domains would guide the Princess of Hell in the proper and interesting applications of her potential power! Of course, the less influence that Alastor surrendered was ultimately to his benefit. Atop the pentagram geography of the Pride Ring, a warm light that encompassed all in its humming glow sang a clarion call of comfort and peace. Violence had passed, the threat was extinguished, but a presence, an expectation, coiled at the back of Alastor's mind as a nesting rattler would. If his assumptions were correct, said anxiety would come to a head when whatever was causing it came to his doorstep; but until that moment, he possessed a miniscule measure of peace. He sat upon his broadcaster's chair and crossed his legs, hands clasped at the lap with bent thumbs to struggle for faux dominance, and closed his eyes for a mere moment...

...only to hear the floor hatch open and slam shut again. "I figured I'd find you up here."

Alastor envisioned the face of the unknown speaker without turning; red circular cheeks, slicked back blonde hair, deathly white skin, and the attire of a true gaudy ringmaster. "I suppose that the King of Hell has no courtesy within his own kingdom?"