Last Updated: 2025 Dec 29

Alcohol Instead

“Well you look like shit.”

Husk cleaned a mug at the bar as Charlie stumbled in and slouched onto the counter..

“Ughhh we’ve been constantly juggling responsibilities today!” she groaned. “Niffty takes care of Vox, then Vaggi has to fill in for housekeeping, then I have to fill in for Vaggi, then we left the front desk empty and scramble back.”

“You know running an active hotel takes more than five people, and the guy has less of a body than a quad amputee. He ain’t exactly quiet when he’s bitching about that too.”

“I had to feed him,” Niffty popped in.

The small demon girl stood on the bar counter to meet eye level with Husk and Charlie.

“I thought the fork would bonk the screen, but it didn’t.”

“It’s not just that either,” Charlie’s cheeks rested on her hands and her elbows planted on the counter. “Alastor and Dad just really hate him!” How am I going to make this work?

“Yeah, I heard that ‘group therapy’ session didn’t work out too well,” Husk said.

“They told you?”

“They’re still here.”

Charlie and Alastor made direct eye contact the moment she noticed him. Alastor’s red hair and red coat blended in with the red wall behind him. He sat in the bar stool and had his usual dandy smile that was non-indicative of his mood.

In front but below eye level, Vox was also seated at a bar stool. The top of his head was parallel with the counter. He didn’t take kindly to Husk’s comment.

“Oh…”

Alastor twirled in his bar stool.

“Oh, don’t worry Charlie. It was simply the station of a mortal soul, wasn’t it?

“All our actions subject to scrutiny and judgment by higher powers with everything else to do but mind their own business.”

Husk leaned closer to Charlie.

“He’s had four glasses of whiskey.

“(And still this pissy),” Husk warned. “(Lucifer must have gotten to him.)”

“Alastor, I had no idea my dad could do that,” Charlie said. “I should’ve stopped him. I’m sorr–!”

“Princess! Charlie! Don’t see it like that,” Vox laughed. “You’ve done me an excellent favor.

“Without you! Alastor! the fucking hack! doesn’t have shit on me!”

“Don’t I, old friend?” Alastor said. “You’re a complete mess. I have plenty of strings to pull. I learned so much about you and your friends while I was captured.”

“You’re a mess?” Niffty the maid commented to Vox.

“And I’m more than happy to elaborate!

“You just needed me to be around for anything you’re doing,” he hissed to Vox.

“Really. Here?” Vox said.

He started to notice Alastor was both trying too hard and self-aware. He doesn’t just want me to shut up, does he?

“This homosexual,” Alastor bonked the top border of Vox’s screen with his staff, “regularly has intercourse with that mothman.”

“Is now really the time?” Vox interjected, but Alastor continued.

“And after all the times they’ve bedded each other, they’re only ‘partners in business’.

“That must be why Angel isn’t here…”

Always wanted that whore to quit. Vox’s eyelids dropped.

“…and why you unceremoniously arrived here in an open cardboard box. The sender really didn’t care if you got lost on the way.

“You were discarded not delivered, weren’t you?”

Vox closed his eyes and huffed.

“Take me back to my hotel room. I’ll be available again when I call for room service.”

“OKAY!” Niffty lifted Vox over her head.

Charlie was stunned by the scene Alastor caused.

“Vox…?” she sympathized.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

Niffty jumped from the bar counter then scurried up the stairs with Vox.

Charlie confronted Alastor.

“That was uncalled for!”

Alastor partially covered his smile with the tips of his fingers.

“Oh.. I may have had too much to drink.”

“Alastor, I’m serious. Apologize to him tomorrow morning!”

“Of course!” Alastor stood and planted his staff at the floor. “We’re all on a path to becoming a better person! It’ll be the first thing I do tomorrow morning!”

He left.

Alastor was more agreeable to apologizing than Charlie expected.

“Um, have you ever heard Alastor say ‘Sorry’ before?” she asked Husk.

Husk silently nodded ‘no’.

---

Charlie walked into her bedroom. She went to her bed to land face down with a groan.

Vaggi had been waiting for her.

“Hard day?”

Charlie sighed and flipped herself over.

“I’m pretty sure I messed up. I think… Alastor and Vox are right about me.”

“Alastor? Vox?” Vaggi didn’t see that coming. The both of them agreeing on something and dissing Charlie? “Hold on! What happened?”

Charlie rolled to her side.

“I mean it just wasn’t from today. Back at the gala, Vox said I was just a pale imitation of my mom…

“It’s not that Alastor insulted me. But he has a point that I never lived a mortal life…

“I can’t intuitively understand the boundaries a sinner needs like my mom can. That’s why she was the voice of the people.

“That’s why I drove Angel away, and I think Alastor is angry with me too now.”

“Look. Everyone makes mistakes,” Vaggi said. “Immortal souls too.

“Alastor has stuck with us through far worse. I’m sure he’s fine, and we both know it starts with ‘sorry’.

“When you know what you did was wrong, tomorrow will always be better,” Vaggi planted a kiss on Charlie’s lips.

Charlie smiled and reciprocated.

“Thanks, Vaggi.”

---

Charlie slept soundly, but she got up immediately when she remembered. She checked the clock.

8 AM.

“OH SHIT!”

She knew Alastor was active in the early mornings to get hotel maintenance out the way before the day started for most guests. By now, he would already be done.

Charlie ran to Vox’s room and found Alastor.

Vox’s body restored.

And the two in the middle of a handshake.

“Right on time, Charlie!” Alastor commented.

The deal was sealed. The pinstripes on Vox’s suit were no longer his usual cyan and blue colors but the same verdancy of Alastor’s powers. A radiant green chain in Alastor’s hand bound Vox by the neck. It was as though the collar also connected Vox’s head with his body.

After the chain and collar dismissed themselves, Vox adjusted his bowtie.

“Alastor?! What did you do!” Charlie demanded.

“I apologized! What better way than to give my friend his old body back!”

Charlie spoke gravely as the hotel wasn’t supposed to be a platform for predatory deals. If she didn’t enforce this boundary now, Alastor could easily walk over them.

“Alastor, I know that was a deal. What did you really do?”

“I just turned the hotel’s greatest liability into a new employee!”

Alastor’s tone shifted as though he had been annoyed for long enough.

“Now. No one has to carry him around like a baby, and he can even feed himself!

“Good job,” Alastor elbow nudged Vox. “And don’t you worry, Charlie, he still has his soul!

“This obnoxious picture box on the other hand is never to speak about what your odious father divulged about us in that horrendous therapy session ever again!

“Sloppy with his secrets. Sloppy with ours!” Alastor chuckled and walked out the room.

Vox stretched. He enjoyed the freedom of movement and range of motion he had been denied since he was beheaded. With steepled hands, he followed out and said.

“Pleasure doing business with you as always, Alastor,” he grumbled.

They left Charlie confused.

“WHAT IS GOING ON?!”