Chapter Text
The radio demon was back for the first time in over seven years. The timing was about as good as it got. However, Charlie's little girlfriend seemed to hate everything except Charlie. So for now certain things were kept secret.
Now it's been a few weeks, he finished that stupid commercial, but at least he won't be asked to deal with that medium anymore.
The extermination was moved up? Wait why was Charlie dealing with this meeting? That asshole, now she's going to think she's the reason shit got shortened.
After Vaggie had gone to bed, Charlie made her way to Alastor's room. He lets her in.
"I messed up so bad Alastor. I don't know what to do." Charlie says as she takes the spare seat in the room for her. He pours her tea the way she likes it with a few tea cakes she really likes.
"I think the shortened time was going to happen regardless, so don't worry about it. We cannot change what has been done but we can learn from it and continue forward. I am here to help and your father, well, he will be here to help when needed."
"I could use some ideas."
"First, breathe. You are trying to do something that's never been done before. We don't know how to redeem a soul, but I imagine getting through walls people have put up would be a start, but they have to realize you are being genuine in your efforts. Playing sweet is how a lot of them got hurt in the first place. Break down the walls, build a bond, be able to see the core issues, deal with them. I will make sure you have the environment to do so with."
"Thank you, for believing in me. And being here."
"My dear it will be alright. Being revolutionary is not supposed to be easy. But if we can find a way, then everything will work out. And before you winde rif I'm taking time away from your father,.it was at his request actually so you would have help and I could take a break from.his depressive episodes."
"More ducks?" She asks.
"So many there's no where to sleep. I love him anyway. Naturally...."
"No telling anyone. It's more fun when people get frightened off with your power. I know."
"I can't wait to see how Vox will take my return, not long after that of course will be an overlord meeting anyway. It's been a while and I like being a mystery. For the time being I am your dutiful Hotelier. If Vaggie does find out just tell her it was under royal order that you didn't say anything. She can't get upset about that. I do wish she smiled more."
'Yeah, it's not easy keeping a secret from her. I feel kind of bad for it but you won't get to see things as they really are if everyone knew you were married to dad."
"Nothing to worry about. For the time being let's observe work on breaking down those walls and get to the center of it."
"Would you ever want to work on redemption?" Asks Charlie.
"If I did that then I couldn't be with your father. I may never get to see my mother but, she would have rather me chosen romantic love for familial. But if you ever get to heaven, you can call yourself her grandbaby."
Charlie eats a cake and sips her tea. Feeling much better now.
She finally goes to bed and Alastor rests before preparing for the next day.
A bit later is when Pentious showed up, twice. He messed up his coat but at least he had a fun return with Vox. Now when Pentious showed up the second time he already knew and could feel the digital tech off of the Victorian inventor. A spy for the Vees. Pathetic and anyone that has to scream how evil they are, isn't. At least he does the activities. Angel is kind of joining in.
Alastor gets reports of things during his time out with the eggs. Finding out about an angel being killed at the hand, or rather foot of Carmilla, was unexpected but an excellent boon if things go south.
Charlie was feeling more and more cornered as the time to keep away. Alastor watches and listens to how the phone call goes with Lucifer. She's begging and he's floundering. He didn't remember where she was?! Oh hell no!
They had to pretend to be strangers and Alastor may have been more than a little miffed with this. Lucifer had the gall to push back and Charlie might have been a touch annoyed too since she showed Alastor favoritism over Lucifer.
So yeah, he doesn't have regrets about being on the blonds ass about how both of them were treated, but it did soften when Lucifer sang to Charlie.
While Charlie's meeting with heaven went, Alastor had gone home, no one questioned him when he disappeared.
"So you finally came around."
"Yeah I was just um... "
"Lucifer Morningstar, you forgot where your daughter was and I was right there when you tried to be your way through the depressive haze. I'm going to likely have to make a deal with her to gain some resistance. If things go awry... you may have to step in."
"Don't you think I know that? For me to step in means someone has to die. Or at least get hurt. I never taught Charlie how to fight. If she can't convince Heaven today then... Alastor, it's going to be war. I could lose you and I wouldn't be able to do anything. So you better survive."
Alastor crosses his arms. He feels it, they both went to look at the orb.
"You are an exorcist? Why didn't you tell me? Go.tell the others I ... I need some time."
"Charlie, I... "
"Go! I have to figure out what to do. Adams going to come right here!"
Vaggie leaves the room,.Charlie cries and Vaggie has to explain herself to everyone.
"I knew Heaven wouldn't listen." Lucifer says darkly. His forehead gets flicked.
"Your baby girl is hurting and has to prepare for war. I have to get in place." He disappears through his shadows.
Lucifer grumbles.
Alastor 'overheard' that Charlie was alone in her room and goes there.
"Now now my dear, I heard things didn't go well."
"Everything is going to shit. Vaggie lied to me about being an exorcist this whole time. Adam.. Adam said he's coming for the hotel first. I have no proof of redemption, nothing! We can't even defend against the angels!"
"Angels can be a pain in the tail sometimes. However we have other priorities. I have some information but I need to make a deal with you for some resistance to holy power. A favor for the information."
"How good is the information?"
"It will make a difference in defending ourselves. However getting the important part depends on information extraction."
"No killing or anything outlandish like that."
"I don't need your help to kill people. So let's work it properly, a favor at the time of my choosing where you harm no one and I will tell you what I know. Do we have a deal?"
"Deal!" Flash of green light and Veves with some kind of magic circle light up, his horns grew and curled instead of jagged branching out like usual. Stitches in the mouth and as expected.
"What did you do?!" Vaggie. Charlie stops her from pointing his seat at her and they talk some more before mentions of numbers come up.
"I know just who to help " Vaggie gets sent off to talk to Carmilla and Alastor gets to listen to a complaint fest on the way to Cannibal town.
It wasn't surprising that Rosie took to Charlie. Charlie is a sweetheart even when it felt like everything was crumbling down.
After a bit of breaking the ice, soon Charlie was up there trying to explain things but Susan got to her. The ornery old bitch.
Charlie came back and he hands her his mic and eventually with Rosie they push her off to really get in there.
Always wonderful to be with friends. But yes, they got the cannibals, Vaggie even got weapons. Huh, ironic that it's angelic steel. Maybe they should just call it soul steel. He doesn't do marketing much anymore. Ah well. Time to start training.
Vaggie trains the cannibals and Alastor sneaks off to teach Charlie what he can. She's powerful, but also a pacifist.
He has to keep the more entertaining things focused for Vox 's stupid drones.
He explains his part in the battle. Also has Charlie explain that Lucifer is under a specific non-involvment disclosure where he can't do anything unless a hellborn gets hurt or killed.
Eventually came the night before the battle. Everyone drinking and talking more earnestly than usual. The gathering reminded him of when he first actually got to meet Lucifer about ten years ago. An established overlord along with others going to this fancy party so the king of hell knew what types were actually running his ring.
It was before Velvette had shown up. Rosie had brought Franklin and he showed up alone.
The short king had been bored with people sucking up to him. That or hitting on him.
"Do you dance or are you only working out rolling your eyes, your shortness?" Asks Alastor.
Lucifer looked up to an offered hand. "What did you say to me?"
"Terribly sorry, you must have a terrible time hearing me all the way down there." He bends down. "Better? Do you want to dance or what?"
Lucifer was amused at being spoken to like that and dances before stepping in Alastors feet all before letting out his wings when they spun around. Cracking jokes with one another.
It takes everything and some fun conversations to keep either of their attentions. Banter was the key. At least for them.
He raises a singular glass of rye before drinking it and setting it down for Husk on the bar via tendril.
The next day, everyone stood at the ready. Customized weapons. There is still only so much to go around. If his shield falls the axes go to the cannibals. "Let the slaughter begin." And he laughs as he lets loose with shadows and Veves, soon wielding the angelic battle axes.
Adam didn't take too long to punch break his shield. Might as well play polite.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Alastor, pleasure to meet you, quite a pleasure, I'm about to end your fucking life!"
"Nice voice don't you know jazz is for pussies?"
You did not insult my music! Wait ... How did he get jazz just from his radio voice?
A few fun hits in bit no real damage and just when Alastor thinks he has the upper hand, his staff gets broken. "Fffuck." Ow! Without Charlie's deal that would have sliced right through him. He has to bail out of the battle.
He remembers going to his radio tower, throwing a small hissy fit while his clothes mend and his shadow pulls itself together.
His radio in the hotel and then.... The hotel all destroyed. They had won somehow. He finds out later due to having to withdraw that they lost Pentious.
He plays like everything is fine, but that would was helped together by green stitches, good thing he wears all red.
Everyone was exhausted.
"You survived!" Cheers Lucifer.
"And I see you will be living with us." He responds in his normal prim way.
"Will you come to bed with me?" Asks Lucifer as he hugs Alastor from behind which makes the red demon hiss in pain. "Alastor? Wait, did you get hurt?"
"Shut u-" his clothes were gone and his tentacles came out to cover him up. "I'm not in the mood tonight."
"You're hurt. How did you get hurt?"
"Well, you see, I was fighting the first man and he broke my mic and then reinforced his holy energy into his ax guitar thing and sliced me open. I only ran because staying any longer was going to make sure I broke my promise to you."
"You took a full powered attack from his holy weapon and lived. I could have lost you!"
"Don't you start crying. You can try and heal me if it makes you feel better, but I don't think Charlie can handle anymore loss at the moment."
Lucifer gets him to move his tentacles out of the way and heals the wound. The relief left Alastor boneless and he collapsed.
"Hm, while you're down there..."
"We can see eye to eye." Alastor said it but with no bite as he pitches forward and passes out on Lucifer who was on the verge of having words.
"Yeah yeah good night."