It has only been three days since I came down here and it had been the worst 72 hours of my entire afterlife.
I stayed holed up in my room agonizing by myself. I couldn't bring myself to ring up Aria or talk to anyone in the hotel. I felt guilty, I felt angry, I felt lonely here. I wanted to go home already.
In situations like these, there is only one solution. I fluffed up my pillow and covered myself in a blanket.
I slept through half a day and honestly, I felt a lot better. Just as I had calmed down, a knock came on the door.
"My dear." A familiar radio tune resounded from the door.
Great.
"Y/N, I came here to apologize." He said, getting straight to the point.
"You are only here because Charlie forced you to." Who else could have gotten him to come here and apologize to me?
"Whether or NOT-" Alastor's voice raised for a moment before calming down, "Whether or not Charlie did send me, doesn't change the fact that I apologized to you."
"Apologize for what?"
"You know."
"I mean you have to be more specific than that."
I hear a pestered sigh from his lips, "I apologize for purposefully aggravating and disrespecting you last night."
"Hm," I slowly walked to the door, "What if I don't forgive you? Would that upset Charlie and would that mean you have to keep coming here begging for an apology?"
A radio screeched through the door. "What do you want." His voice lowered.
"I want a proper apology," I replied.
"You have to further elaborate that, my dear." He said before I opened the door, finally facing him eye to eye.
I pause to think of something ludicrous, something so unlike of him, so that I can tease him for it for the next 12 months.
"A proper apology would be... Bringing me to have a nice dinner. Fetching me with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a kiss on the hand." I saw Alastor's eye twitch, and before he could utter a word, I continued, "You have to be an absolute gentleman. Then over dinner, you would say how lovely I look before apologizing again for what you did and deeply confessing how you regretted it."
I smiled in contentment. "Not that hard right?"
"See you then at 6." He manages to say before disappearing.
What.
Huh
Wasn't he supposed to protest and refuse my conditions, or at least negotiate?
Wait was he really serious about accepting my request?
Wouldn't that mean I accidentally scheduled a date between me and Alastor?
I hastily closed the door and leaned on it. I could feel a flustered look flushing across my cheeks.
But I can't lose face against him. I brought up the conditions, I can't just back down on it.
But wait do I have anything to wear? Wait, no, why do I care? I'll just go as I am right now. That should at least squeeze a little annoyed face from him.
But I have to at least make myself presentable if I were to have a nice dinner out with someone.
I opened my luggage and pulled out a simple and classic red dress Aria packed for me.
I mean, when else can I have the opportunity to dress up nicely in hell?
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It was nearly 6 and time had never flown this fast in hell. I was getting nervous and regretted making the conditions like so.
A soft knock then came from the door and as I opened it, a well-dressed demon greeted me.
"Good evening, my lady. Are you ready?" He says with a warm smile. He brought with him a bouquet of red flowers. I took a short glance at it before he placed it around my arms.
He offered his hands to mine and just as I accepted his offer, he leaned in for a kiss on the back of my hand.
Nononono, Y/N, get a grip.
HA, I mean
What is this side to him? How could he change that fast just to comply with my demands? What a twisted and cunning demon.
The scene changed and we stood by the main door where Charlie and Vaggie greeted us.
"I am soo proud you are taking Y/N our for dinner as an apology, Al." Charlie squealed. "Have fun and tell me more about it after." She shoved us both in the limo and I nervously laughed as a response.
The silence between me and Alastor in the car was.... something alright....
"You look better without your attitude." It was supposed to be a compliment to alleviate the mood but with so much pressure and anxiety, I guess the words I used weren't that pleasing.
A frozen smile plastered on his face for a second before replying, "Thank you, Y/N. I'm glad you liked how I dressed up for this. I hope you do understand that although it is hard for me to hold back, I will save my compliments for you as we have dinner."
Translation: You should appreciate how I'm putting so much effort into this. Like heavens I would have to return your 'compliment,' I'll only do so as necessary and only once during our dinner to appease you.
:)
The car stops and Alastor leaves first.
Just as I was about to get off, a hand reached out to me. I smiled at Alastor before accepting it.
"This place, dear Y/N is called HellofARestaurant."
(A/N: Sorry too lazy to think of a name)
Alastor leads me to a chair and helps me sit.
Wow, I could get used to this.
"Here, my dear Y/N, they serve an array of foods to satisfy hell's unique tastebuds. It might be a bit different from what you are used to, which leads me to ask. What is your favorite food?" He narrates.
What the hell, why does he take so long to just ask me what I want to eat?
I think of foods that I want to eat right now. Being hungry reminds me of home and Aria's cooking.
"...I do love to try hell's version of jambalaya," I responded.
"Jambalaya? Why! If I had known, I should have cooked a portion just for you." He started chattering happily. Does he enjoy Jambalaya that much? "My mother taught me how to cook her special Jambalaya. The absolute best in the world, in fact, it nearly killed her!" A laughing track played in the background.
"Really?" I responded, "My friend taught me her special recipe as well, and I have to say it was atop the heaps of worldly standards."
"Are you challenging my mother's recipe?" Alastor raises his brow.
"Then are you suggesting a cook-off?" I responded heartily. An easy challenge I can win.
"I accept." Alastor's smile widened, "But what will the victor get in return?"
"Hm," I wouldn't mind another dinner just like this one again, "If I win you have to bring me out again to another nice restaurant."
"And if I win, you have to admit how I exceed you in every way possible." Alastor reaches out for my hand across the table, "Do we have a deal then?"
I took his hand and exchanged a firm shake, "Deal."
Alastor smiles as a green light flashes around us. 'This will be easy,' he thought to himself.
Heh, this will be easy.
"Save your appetite for Jambalaya for another day my dear," Alastor's mood instantly lit up. "May I recommend trying the finest venison in hell?"
"Finest venison in hell? Would that be you?" I say out loud. It sounded less embarrassing in my head.
A laugh echoed from Alastor, "You have quite the sense of humor, however, you wouldn't be able to get even a bite of me."
"Is that another challenge?" I replied before bursting into laughter. "Joking aside," I composed myself, "Yes, I would like to try your recommendation."
"Lovely," Alastor replies before sending our orders in. Surprisingly it wasn't that long before it arrived.
But before we began eating, I leaned towards the table and looked at Alastor with an expecting smile. He sighed and rolled his eyes.
Alastor plucked a rose from the bouquet in front of us and placed it on my ear.
"My, what a lovely garden I stumbled upon today." Alastor closed his eyes and continued, "Who knew that hell would receive a flower from heaven today."
Warning Y/N, this is no time to giggle in front of his face. He almost got me there.
"I was foolish yesterday to try and cut you down." He moves on to the apology, "I hope you accept my sincere apology, and I hope that it did not hurt you in ways irretrievable."
"Thank you." I coughed trying to contain how pleased I was. "I forgive you."
"I'm glad to hear that, my dear."