The day had dragged slowly for Angel Dust. It usually did in the mind-numbingly boring hotel run by those two 'crazy broads' that ix-nayed anything he considered fun and the psychotic Radio Demon who prowled the halls humming a variety of tunes in a slow maniacal manner that was clearly meant to be unsettling for anyone that heard it. His felt a shiver run through him as Alastor passed the mismatched front bar where he and Husker were sat.
"Urh, doesn't he do anythin' other than act like a creep?" His words made a slightly drunken smirk twist the yellow-toothed demon cat behind the bar.
"Whhatta you fffink.." Husk's words ran together indistinctly as the smile vanished once more as he lifted his current bottle to his lips. He was swaying a little as he did so due to the sheer consumption of alcohol he had taken in. The pale pink spider demon was inwardly impressed by the huge volume of booze the chronic alcoholic cat demon could take in, he could easily drink him under the table, it would be no contest. But outwardly Angel merely looked concerned towards Husk.
"Your kinda slurrin' ya words. Maybe it's time to stop, or at least slow it down, whatta ya say?" Angel said in a soft tentative tone, knowing that he had to be careful with how he said things as the hulking cat with wings clearly had an addiction similar to his own. The lanky spider knew his withdrawal symptoms could drive him crazy. The sweating, itching and constant fidgeting was bad enough but the mood-swings and complete lack of will-power when presented with what he missed most was murder on his co-opted soul. This was also how Valentino kept a tight control over him. He knew he had hit rock-bottom the day he had gone crawling to the sick demon overlord running the adult film production company but at the time he was so doped up and desperate that he literally had no choice, falling hook, line and sinker to the smarmy bastard. Realising only too late that he planned to pimp him off as well as let him star in those sleazy films. From that day he had been stuck in a nightmarish void of sex, drugs and alcohol topped off with physical abuse and countless degrading acts. This only fuelled the drug abuse further in a vain attempt to blot the worst parts out and he eventually just started living as the persona of 'Angel Dust'. He wasn't even sure if he knew his real self anymore..
"FFuck offff. I'll know when I'ffff 'ad enouffff.." Husk's words cut into his moment of self reflection making him blink to see the hulking black and white cat demon glare, still swaying on the spot holding moving the bottle as he spoke, slopping it's contents slightly.
"Hey, it was just a suggestion, no need to bite my head off.." Angel rolled his eyes and folded his arms somewhat offended continuing, "We ain't so different, believe it or not? Besides, your the sanest one in this dump and that's sayin' somethin'!" His eyes had been shut, his body turned slightly away from the bar so he didn't notice when Husk wobbled, unsteadily and finished off the booze in the bottle before dumping it. Immediately his eyes rolled back into his skull and he collapsed behind the bar with a crashing noise..
"Husker?" Angel's odd-sclera red eyes opened in shock before he leaned over the bar top. "Ohhh..... Shit." The huge cat demon was passed out on the floor of the bar, his large red wings out and spread-angled. With a furrow of concern on his brow Angle stretched out one long, lanky arm out and poked Husker with one finger sharply, laughing nervously, "Ahhaha, c'mon.. Jokes over, ya got me.." He uttered in a kind of vain hope that this was just a stupid prank and the alcoholic demon wasn't in a drunken stupor. Wishful thinking. "I'll get Smiles if ya don't get up..."
Nothing.
"Ah, fuck." Angel sighed smacking his face then moved silently to check the coast was clear of Vaggie and Charlie. The last thing he wanted was those two getting involved.
"Hey Al..." He drawled catching the attention of the Radio Demon who had been standing stock still, silent and weirdly lifeless looking. The second Angel Dust mentioned his 'nickname' Alastor's eyes lit up red and he blinked, his smile widening.
"Oh. Angel Dust, it's you. What can I do for you my raunchy associate?" His eyebrows quirked as his head tilted curiously.
"The lesbos aren't around, are they?" The spider demon asked immediately as his eyes darted around.
"No. But you really shouldn't be referring to them by their relationship status, it is rather disrespectful, don't you think?" Alastor's red eyes narrowed in a dark way the spider demon didn't like.
"Yeh, yeh, got it. Can You come help me with somethin' real quick.." Angel Dust furiously beckoned the tall, red pinstriped suited Radio Demon over and Alastor obliged walking with quick deliberate steps.
"What seems to be the trouble?" He asked at the same loud volume he usually spoke making the lanky spider demon shush him.
"Don't you have volume control?" Angel hissed in irritation, not wanting him to draw attention to them.
"Of course I do..". Alastor added in a dangerously low volume tone as he scowled, his smile glinting eerily as he spoke. "Now what is so pressing that you had to pull me out of standby for.."
"Wait.... You were on standby?" Angel quirked a brow in disbelief.
"Don't change the subject.." Alastor retorted sharply before snapping his head back so fast anyone else would get whiplash. His glowing red eyes narrowed a moment then scanned the bar top before leaning over and chuckling in some amusement at the sight of the comatose cat demon. "Ah! Husker, you drunken clown, fallen afoul of your libationous lifestyle, eh? Angel be a dear, help me get him upright, there's a good lad."
It took both Angel and Alastor to pull the surprisingly heavy cat demon and prop him up by their shoulders, his head lolling forward as his wings drooped downwards dragging the floor.
"Geez, this guy is fuckin' heavier than he looks.." Angel Dust grunted, staining to lift his side as the Radio Demon seemed unperturbed by the weight of his subordinate.
"Haha, he is quite the weighty fellow, isn't he? No matter, I have just the way to transport him." Alastor replied and instantly the room seemed to go fuzzy, static like as if the background of them was in the process of changing channels.
"Freaky, I had a trip like this once.." Angel smiled briefly before it dropped as they seemed to arrive in the poky bedroom of Husker. "It didn't end well.." The spider demon added as he and the Radio Demon dumped the hulking demon cat unceremoniously onto the single bed in the room.
"Fascinating. You'll have to regale me with it sometime.." The deer-like humanoid demon in the red pinstripe suit of various shades responded looking genuinely interested. "I do like a tale filled with misery and woe.."
"So will he be ok?" Angel ignored these words and the unsettling feeling in his stomach. Of course this guy would get off on a story from one of the darkest parts of his past.
"As long as he doesn't swallow his tongue, he'll be fine." Alastor stated brightly before flashing Angel a wicked look, "Which is where you come in."
"Me? Whatcha want me t'do?" The spider demon blinked not liking where this was going.
"Watch him, of course!"
"What!" Angel looked outraged. "Why can't you do it?!"
"Because... I need to go back downstairs and cover for him.." Alastor smiled widely before his look turned slightly sinister and crafty. "And since nobody will miss you I can make it worth your while.." He slowly waved one hand over the bedside table as a bag of very familiar white dust appeared and the Radio Demon smirked adding in a hinted sing-song voice. "Nobody may ever need to know.."
"You know I'm not allowed drugs inside this hotel!" Angel snapped but could already feel the pricking inside as his body was craving a hit just from the mere sight of his greatest weakness. He tried to will it away mentally telling himself that he was here to get clean..
"We both know this little venture is doomed to failure Angel, why deny it?" The Radio Demon added, his smirk widening. "Look at it this way.. All I'm asking you to do is watch Husker, it's your choice whether you take the drugs or not.."
"You really are a god damn creep!" The spider demon snarled back annoyed.
"Just let me know the instant our mutual friend is awake.." Alastor acted as if he hadn't heard him then disappeared into the shadows of the room leaving Angel Dust by himself with the comatose cat demon slumped on his front and the bag of Angel dust sitting innocently on the side..
...Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh, fuck, oh fuck....
Angel scratched himself nervously. Reminding himself he was here to help Husker, not get high out of his mind. But still, it had been a few days since he had had a good hit... and Husker was going to be out for the count for quite a while. Wasn't he? Maybe... he could just have a little pinch...