Take Up Space - Alastor
You were one of the newest members at the Hotel, but Alastor was more intrigued by you than anyone else there. You had just arrived that day, in fact. Unlike most of the residents, you kept to yourself. Rather than join in for dinner, Charlie’s inane trust exercises, or even casual chatting, you were quite content to remain a fly on the wall. As someone who had made a name for himself, both in life and death, using little more than his voice, the idea of a person remaining so silent was a mystery to the radio demon.
The following day, shortly after breakfast, everyone had left the table except for you. Alastor saw his opportunity and took it, gliding gracefully over to sit next to you. “Hello my dear, I don’t believe I’ve had the chance to more formally welcome you to Hazbin Hotel. I’m Alastor. Resident radio demon and hotelier; if there’s anything at all that could be done to make your stay more comfortable, you come to me alright?”
He pauses, likely expecting you to reply with your name and some form of gratitude, but you don’t. Not out loud anyway. The most you can comfortably muster is a nod and slight smile. If Alastor is taken aback by this, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he takes a breath, smiles a little wider, and tries again.
“My apologies if I’ve interrupted you; it was never my intent to invade your space. I just like to make sure all my residents are well taken care of, that’s all.”
When you still don’t give a verbal response, Alastor takes the hint, clears his throat awkwardly, and bids a somewhat hasty retreat. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. Welcome, once again! Come find me should you need anything at all.”
You feel a little bad as you watch him head upstairs, but you don’t make a move to follow. Meanwhile, Alastor has gone to find Angel, of all people. Alastor enters Angel’s room when he answers the door, choosing to remain standing and pace while Angel flops back down on the bed.
Alastor jumps right to the point of his visit. Or rather, tries to. Instead he uncharacteristically stumbles, trying to find the right way to phrase his question “My arachnid friend, you’re…..familiar with people. More-so than I. One of the downsides to radio work is that it only requires listening to your own voice rather than the outside world. Your work, on the other hand, is very….social.”
“Yeah, what’s your point?” Angel replies, already tiring of the unusually unsure demon’s presence.
“I suppose what I’m trying to ask is, in all your interactions here in Hell, have you ever come across someone completely unable to speak?”
Angel thinks for a moment, shrugging. “Nah, can’t say I have. Usually my clients can’t shut up.”
Alastor grimaces at the images that conjures in his mind, but soldiers on with his inquiry. “Right, but medically? Do you know of any souls that have retained earthly medical conditions upon entering Hell?
Angel shakes his head, more confused than before. “As far as I know, everybody’s fully healed of all their crap, long as it’s not part of why they’re sent here. Living down here is punishment enough. Why?”
“Our new guest; I went to introduce myself and they seemed pleasant enough, but they didn’t utter a word, not one. Wouldn’t even tell me their name.”
“And you jumped right to a mysterious medical condition instead of, I dunno, the fact that you practically cornered them into talking to you? I’m guessin’ you tried this after we all left.”
“Naturally; I didn’t feel the need for a more public conversation. They also were not, in my opinion, cornered. There was plenty of open space. They could have excused themselves at any point.”
“Maybe you left space physically, but you don’t leave much otherwise. How do I put this delicately? Ya freak people out, dude. Maybe they were just too scared to talk.” Angel pointed out.
“Surely not. I wasn’t even trying to be remotely intimidating this time.”
“When are you gonna learn that you don’t have to try. You just are.” Angel smirked as Alastor turned toward the door, realization written all across his face. He had an apology to make.
He thought about sending his shadows, but quickly nixed the idea. The last thing he wanted to do is frighten his guest more. Instead, he made his way to room 102 himself and knocked. He only entered after hearing a soft, “Come in.”
"Ah! There you are - just the lovely demon I was looking for. I wanted to extend my deepest apologies for earlier. I didn't mean to frighten you."
You look up from the book you’re reading, eyebrows raised in confusion. “Frighten me? You didn’t. What are you talking about?”
“Earlier. At breakfast. You didn’t respond at all when I approached you. I admit, at first I thought it was a personal problem of yours, but I have since been informed that my presence can be a bit….overbearing to say the least, So, again, my sincerest apologies.”
Suddenly your tone shifts to one of understanding. “Oh my god! Wait….am I even allowed to say that down here? Or is that actually a way to call on heaven? Hopefully not. Anyway, Alastor, I promise you’re totally fine! If anything, you were right the first time. It is a “me” problem. I owe you an apology. I made things weird and I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t want to accidentally step on anybody’s toes. I’m so sorry!”
The sound of a needle scratching harshly on a record was heard as Alastor struggled to comprehend your words. “Whatever do you mean, my dear? As far as I know you’ve done nothing of the sort.”
You hastily glanced away, feeling a bit awkward as you realized you were now doing exactly what you were trying to avoid. "Well... I just don't like feeling like I'm wasting people's time. I don't like taking up space unnecessarily."
Alastor softened, now understanding the issue, and needing to rectify it immediately. “Excuse me? I’m not sure I heard you correctly. Did you say you don’t like taking up space unnecessarily? My darling, taking up space is always necessary. How else are we demons supposed to entertain ourselves during our stay in Hell, hmm? God forbid we actually,” he mock shuddered at the thought, “redeem ourselves.”
For the first time since your arrival at the hotel, you chuckled. Alastor, noticing what he’d said, makes quick work of backtracking with a stern order. “Do not, under any circumstances, tell Charlie I said that.”
“You don’t have to worry about that; Charlie seems lovely, but I definitely don’t want to be the one responsible for the wrath she will inflict if her dreams were to be crushed.”
Alastor sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in mild exasperation. “Do you know the meaning of the words self-preservation? While I appreciate you not uttering a word of our conversation to Charlie, even the way you answered was a way to avoid taking up space. You agreed to protect others without a second thought towards yourself.”
“I’m sorry….” you mumbled, shrinking into yourself again.
“Oh, for the love of…stop that! There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing things for selfish reasons, taking up space, and claiming what’s yours. Sure, most of us living here may have taken that to an extreme, but a little self-confidence never hurt anyone.”
“I suppose not. I just don’t know how to do any of that. Help me?” You questioned.
Alastor smiled, genuinely, if a bit menacing. “Well, you can start by claiming something that has only ever belonged to you. Tell me your name.”