itsytitsyspider: (Ample Floof)
Angel Dust ([personal profile] itsytitsyspider) wrote2021-10-14 12:15 pm
Entry tags:

Behind Closed Doors



PSLs Catch All
lonelysmiles: (Face Half In Shadow)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-20 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
Alastor was struck completely silent as he stared at the image. It was all of them at the bar in a relaxed moment. It must've been taken with a film camera because even Alastor could be seen clearly. (Anything digital attempting to take his photograph never worked properly, his own image coming out glitchy at best.) Even Vaggie seemed calm and less on-guard than usual. Even more unusual: Husk had a content smile on his face.

How had Angel gotten such a picture? When?

The Radio Demon had no heart. Everyone knew that. Yet something deep inside his chest keened with longing as he looked at the happy photograph. From the outside, they almost looked like the family Charlie claimed they were.

Charlie leaned over his shoulder to see what had struck the radio host mute. She beamed at Angel. "Oh, wow! Angel, this is incredible! When did you get the picture?!"

The rest of the hazbins of the hotel swarmed around to take a look, praising Angel's stealthy photography skills and teasing one another as was their want.

Alastor's throat constricted with the close proximity and the sudden surge of emotion. When was the last time he'd taken a photograph with anyone like this? When had people at least looked happy in his presence? Did Angel even realize what a treasure he'd given Alastor?

He swallowed, attempting to clear the obstruction and failing. His voice came out somewhat strangled as he said, "Thank you, Angel." He cleared his throat. "Excuse me a moment."

He teleported into the kitchen: close enough to hear what was going on but far enough to reset himself. He grimaced as he heard the radio on the shelf behind the bar suddenly starting to croon with one of the more modern jazz performers' voice:

♪♫ I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents by the tree

Christmas eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams ♪♫
lonelysmiles: (Face Half In Shadow)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-20 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"No. I mean, yes, I'm fine. I just...I needed a minute. Too many people crowded around me. Not used to it."

Another "not entirely a lie" statement. Everyone crowding around to look at the photograph had put far too many people into his personal space bubble. Add to that his emotions running high from the actual photograph...well...he'd needed to bail to reset.

The pocket watch was open and cradled in his claws. He was staring down at it, face relaxing, as he resigned himself to "I'll Be Home For Christmas" playing in time with his scattered emotions.

His shadow waved to Angel, trying to draw his attention. Then it put on a little shadow play of a lone man walking past houses filled with people gathered together. All of the people including the loner were smiling but the lone man's eyes were turned downward, hinting that the smile wasn't genuine.

Unaware of what his shadow was doing, Alastor said softly, "This really is the finest gift I've ever been given. Anything I might've gotten you seems inadequate by comparison."
Edited 2021-12-20 13:14 (UTC)
lonelysmiles: (Wistful)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-20 02:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"I...yes. I was your Secret Santa," Alastor said softly. "I wasn't really shopping for one of the ladies. Besides, I've known Niffty for decades. Do you honestly think I'm so narcissistic that I wouldn't have at least some inkling of what she might like?"

He gave a wry chuckle at that.

"The shopping trip was actually to see what caught your eye. You and I are so different from one another that I was utterly lost on what you might want. If I have to do something, I prefer to do it right."

Angel had given him a token that held so much meaning to him, and what had Alastor done? He'd gotten him a record player.

"I know you said it isn't a contest, but...you really don't know how much this pocket watch means to me." He chuckled. "I made my living off of almost nonstop chatter, and I now find myself utterly lost for words."

He finally looked up at Angel from his seat on the floor. It was a good thing his eyes were already multiple shades of red so it made moisture harder to see in them.

"But thank you."
lonelysmiles: (Content)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-20 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, you can go find out. I just need another minute or two to pull myself back together." He adjusted his bowtie. "Honestly I should cut myself off for the rest of the evening. Too much mulled wine turns me into a complete fool, it seems."

He looked back down at the watch before clicking the cover closed. He leaned his head back against the lower cabinets, taking a moment to close his eyes and breathe. Just breathe...calm down...just breathe...

However, Angel would easily see that Alastor kept the watch cradled in his claws, not putting it away even though he'd closed it. The Radio Demon was going to be holding on to the trinket for quite some time.
lonelysmiles: (From Behind - Slumped)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-21 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
Alastor watched Angel go, the kitchen around him turning black as the little shadow creatures swarmed him, cautiously approaching him to do what Alastor had no idea Angel had wanted to do. He chewed the inside of his cheek to try and calm himself as he clutched the pocket watch tighter.

Breathe...just breathe...

----------

Back at the bar, Husk gave a casual shrug to Angel's question. "Sure."

While Husk went to work, Charlie walked over. "Is everything okay with you two?" She chewed her lower lip, guilt all over her face. She'd thought her little manipulation of the Secret Santas would help things but it seemed like she'd just made things worse. "I could talk to him if you want." She fidgeted with her hands. "Or if you just wanna talk, that's good, too."
lonelysmiles: (Aimless!)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-21 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, but this was supposed to be drama-free," Charlie said, continuing to fidget with her hands. "I thought it'd help you two clear the air or something. I couldn't help noticing you were avoiding Al and then he started avoiding you..." She chewed her lower lip again. "I didn't think I'd make things worse."

"And you haven't, my dear!"

Charlie about jumped out of her skin as Alastor's voice called from just behind her. She gave a shriek and whirled about to nearly end up smacking herself in the face with the tray of mugs Alastor was brandishing. Fortunately, Alastor lifted it up just enough to avoid disaster. He lowered it again, offering the tray to her, Angel, and Husk.

"Hope you don't mind I took the liberty to make some hot chocolate. The real thing, not that grotesque powder," Alastor said cheerfully, no hint of his earlier melancholy registering on his face or in his mannerisms.

"Um...th-thank you, Al." Charlie took a mug and then helped herself to quite a few of the mini marshmallows in the bowl in the center of the mugs.
lonelysmiles: (Look At These Idiots)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-21 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Yup!" Niffty chirped. She beamed up from the neatly-organized piles of gifts. She darted about, placing them next to their appropriate recipients as Alastor finished passing out the hot chocolate and returned to his former seat.

Alastor predictably had the smallest stack. However, he legitimately didn't mind that. Just being here to enjoy the evening was enough. It was more than he'd had in a long, long time after all. The extra set of presents -- all wrapped in green paper with silver ribbons and name tags without senders on them -- would be discovered later after Alastor had left. He'd made sure of it with a light glamour which deepened the shadows just enough beneath the Christmas tree for someone to overlook them. When he left, the glamour would be lifted so anyone would see the gifts.

"Surprised you don't have a pile of coal," Vaggie said dryly, nodding towards Alastor's meager gift pile.

"Given how hot it is down here, coal is a bit hard to come by since it isn't needed!"
lonelysmiles: (What? No Deal?)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-25 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
Alastor buzzed with alarmed static as he found himself yanked to his feet and dragged up the stairs. He could see the record player in Angel's hands.

Oh dear. Had he misinterpreted with his gift? Perhaps it brought up too many bad memories of his time with Valentino. After all, was that not the fate of the previous record player the spider had owned?

"Is something the matter?" he asked, grin a bit too wide in a sudden fit of nervousness.
lonelysmiles: (Content)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-26 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Alastor relaxed as Angel explained himself. His smile softened at the sound of the music. Ah, this was a good one.

He took Angel's hand and pulled him in close to lead the dance. Not the swaying they'd done that first dance but something more in line with the song. He was much more sure-footed, too. Oh the advantages to dancing while sober.

Meanwhile he marveled that Angel had kept the records he couldn't even listen to. Perhaps Angel had always intended to get another record player but hadn't dared risk it getting broken. In any case, a record player was easy to replace. The record itself? Not so much in this day and age.
lonelysmiles: (Boop!)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-26 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
"I never met my grandmother, but every older woman I ever met tended to be either very kind or someone you wanted to avoid angering," Alastor said with a chuckle. "Your Nonna sounds like a blend of the two."
lonelysmiles: (Face Half In Shadow)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-26 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Static jumped between Alastor's ears as Angel kissed him. His eyes were wide, shocked, as he froze in place.

It wasn't unpleasant, he supposed. He'd never really had much interest in kissing. Why would he, after all? It was such intimate physical contact. He could taste the liquor that Angel had been drowning himself in all night.

That brought to mind his own drunken self cuddling against Angel, wanting the spider to scratch his ears again to feel that shiver of pleasure rolling up and down his spine. And Angel's rejection of him. Looking back on that moment with sobriety, he knew why Angel had pushed him away. Even if he'd been too drunk to understand and had been hurt by the rejection.

It was time to repay the favor.

He gently reached up, cupped Angel's face in his hands, and carefully pushed him away.

"Not when you're drunk," Alastor said, his emotions confused. "That'd be taking advantage, and I don't want to do that."

But did he want to kiss Angel? Well, that was the part he wasn't sure about. It had been pleasant, yes, but kissing implied more of a connection than just casual exchange of saliva. To him, it was something fragile yet more permanent. Something he'd never participated in. Hell, he came from a broken home and had never seen an even somewhat healthy relationship outside of the public personas people put up. He didn't even know how such a relationship could work.
lonelysmiles: (Warning)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2021-12-26 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Alastor leaned back. Even with emotions running high, he needed to be firm. "I said 'no'."

He could easily teleport away. Angel knew that. However, he wasn't going to. Not yet. He wanted Angel to get the message that there were lines he absolutely would not cross.

If they were going to move forward with...whatever this was...he didn't want the confusion of alcohol and future regrets to come into play.

"Now please release me."

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