The Quietest Room At The Hotel
Synopsis: After all of Hell finds out that redemption is possible, every sinner wants to try their luck at crossing the pearly gates. And one such new guest finds herself wanting to be redeemed, but it seems like Alastor doesn’t care for them all that much.
TW: lowkey found family troupe(?), atychiphobia, lowkey got sad when I realized Angel’s with the Vee’s</3, set after season 2
A/N: Tbh I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I’ve written so much for my staticmoth x reader series that coming back to singular stories was lowkey whiplash. However, I’ve been wanting to write about Alastor for a while now so🤷 anyway 3k words…one part is mostly dialogue
Masterlist
The Hazbin Hotel has never been this loud before. Not even during the months when Charlie first opened the doors and filled every hallway with overly enthusiastic trust exercises, disastrous trust falls and painfully optimistic speeches about the goodness hidden inside each sinner.
Back then, the building echoed because there were very few people who filled the space. But now, the hotel held too many people.
Ever since Vox’s failed attempt at taking over Heaven and all of Hell had seen that Sir Pentious had ascended, the Hazbin Hotel had transformed overnight from the Pentagram’s favorite punchline into the most sought after address.
Redemption was real. And every sinner who had once laughed at Charlie’s ideas were now suddenly interested in their own self improvement.
The hotel lobby was filled to the brim with suitcases and demons of every imaginable shape and size. There were sinners arguing over room assignments, demanding an upgrade to their rooms, or simply wondering whether they had to fill out paperwork and pay for their stay.
“Everyone gets a room!” Charlie promised for what seemed like the fiftieth time that morning as she hurried between guests with a bright smile on her face. “We’ll figure everything out! Don’t you worry! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel!”
Vaggi walked over to a group of arguing sinners, an annoyed look on her face. “Back of the line if you’re gonna argue. Do it away from people who actually care.”
Nearby, watching the madness unfold was Husk who stood behind the bar where he quietly polished a glass. For once, there was no annoying spider sitting at the bar and flirting with him. And while Husk always dreamed of this day, it seemed like now that the day had arrived, it was anything but relaxing.
Across the lobby, Nifty zipped through like a tornado.
“So much dust!” She said as she clutched her feather duster in one hand. “So many fingerprints and cobwebs!”
Even Alastor found himself standing by the grand staircase, his cane resting against the guardrail as he looked over the bustling lobby. Truthfully, he had never expected that this passionate project of Charlie’s would come this far. But then again, he also hadn’t expected to break his pesky contract with Rosie either.
“My, my…one successful redemption and suddenly everyone wishes to reinvent themselves,” he said aloud to nobody in particular as his red eyes observed the chaos below him.
Charlie ran up the steps, joining Alastor by the staircase with a bright smile on her face. “Can you believe this, Alastor? People are actually coming in and giving redemption a chance!”
Alastor nodded, subtly grabbing his cane and side stepping to create some sort of distance between himself and her.
“I can believe it, Charlie. However, I do question just how many intend to stay after they discover that self improvement requires effort.”
As another group of sinners entered the hotel, Charlie caught her breath and ran off to greet them personally just like she did with everyone else.
Some of them looked nervous. Others looked skeptical and a few looked downright terrified when they realized the Radio Demon was standing by from afar.
Among the newest group was a young sinner with bright eyes and an eager smile across their face as they glanced around the lobby. But instead of shrinking from the overwhelming chaos, they clasped their hands together excitedly.
“So, this is the Hazbin Hotel..!”
And for the first time since they had arrived in Hell, it felt like they had finally found where they were meant to be.
“Hi! Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel! I’m Charlie!”
The young sinner turned to see the Princess of Hell standing just before her.
“Oh! Hi! My name’s Y/N!”
The two enthusiastically shook each other's hand.
“You know, I’ve heard so much about this place,” Y/N continued, practically bouncing on the balls of their feet. “Everyone kept talking about how this place was a joke, but then when that snake guy got redeemed?” Their eyes lit up, “you proved that it was possible!”
While the two loudly conversed with one another, Alastor’s ears twitched upon his head, catching every word of their conversation.
He had seen countless sinners walk through these doors over the past few days, but this ‘Y/N’ person was certainly the only one who he had seen this happy.
“You actually believed in me?” Charlie asked.
“Of course!” Y/N nodded, “even if it wasn’t in this century, I just knew there had to be more to this whole Heaven and Hell thing. Besides, if nobody tried it, we wouldn’t know.”
Charlie sniffled, tears filling her eyes. “That’s so sweet!”
Y/N quickly waved their hands about. “I-I didn’t mean to make you cry!”
“It’s okay,” Charlie assured as she wiped her eyes. “I’m just really happy you’re here.”
Alastor’s ears twitched again, his smile thinning slightly.
Great…there’s two of them now.
“And here’s your welcome packet. We do group activities every afternoon, therapy sessions throughout the week and community dinners at least twice a month—.”
“I love community dinners!” Y/N exclaimed, “I used to help plan them when I was alive. I’d love to help out whenever you need it!”
Alastor’s ears twitched again.
And now she’s volunteering…
“And every Friday we have reflection circles where everyone talks about how they’re growing as people!”
Y/N nodded along as Charlie grabbed their hand and dragged them around the lobby, introducing them to each staff member of the Hazbin hotel.
“This is Husk.” The Princess introduced. “He's in charge of the bar.”
Husk gave a curt wave.
“Nice to meet you, Husk. I hope your day hasn’t been too stressful,” Y/N smiled.
“Uh, thanks?”
“And over here is Nifty!” Charlie beamed, “she’s the maid. I’d say she’s harmless but…”
Alastor continued to watch Charlie drag their new guest around the room as she talked about how her dad was probably in his room and that they’d meet him later. She then added on about how another one of their guests—Angel Dust—had been away for a while now.
“And that’s Alastor,” Charlie said, gesturing up to where the Radio Demon stood.
“Can I introduce myself?” Y/N curiously asked.
“Sure?” Charlie shrugged. “I-I mean, he can be a little…weird.”
Alastor felt a presence beside him only seconds later, and when he turned his head, he saw Y/N smiling up at him. They didn’t look arrogant or frightened by the demon standing before them, they simply looked hopeful.
“Alastor, right?”
“Of course, my dear!” Alastor smiled, “and who may you be?”
The sinner introduced themselves and immediately went on about how his fight with Vox was impressive, although Alastor thought otherwise.
“Anyway, I’ll be around.” Y/N concluded, “it was nice meeting you.”
“You as well, my dear.”
Alastor watched Y/N run back down the stairs and regroup with Charlie who brought them over to the front desk.
What the Radio Demon didn’t know was that from that small interaction, he would create a complex relationship with the sinner.
•••
“Good morning, Alastor!”
The demon had barely stepped out of his room when he heard Y/N’s familiar voice from down the hall. Of course he turned to look at them as it would’ve been rude otherwise.
At the end of the hallway Y/N stood with an armful of towels that they had volunteered to help Nifty organize.
It had been a week since the young sinner had arrived at the hotel, and it seemed like within just a week, they had already made the hotel their home.
“As cheerful as ever, I see,” Alastor replied with a smile.
“I got a full night's sleep!”
“How fortunate.”
That afternoon Charlie had gathered a few guests into the lobby where they all were subjected to another round of trust exercises.
“Today we’re doing trust falls!” Charlie happily announced to the group as a few sinners groaned in protest.
“Oh, I’ve always wanted to try one!” Y/N smiled.
Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the room stood Alastor. It had always been easy for him to blend into the shadows, but then again, most of his abilities revolved around the darkness.
But it seemed like no amount of hiding had any luck, for he was caught by Charlie.
“Alastor, you should come join us!”
“No thank you.” Alastor replied, stepping out of the shadows.
Y/N shrugged. “I respect his honesty, Charlie.”
A few days later Alastor found himself in the hotel’s kitchen with the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows. Even in death cooking had remained one of the few hobbies Alastor’s kept up, even if he didn’t necessarily have to.
The hotel was quiet aside from Alastor’s soft humming as he kneaded some dough for this morning’s breakfast.
Alastor’s ears twitched as he heard someone shuffle into the kitchen doorway.
“Oh!” Y/N began, “I didn’t know anyone else was awake.”
“One could say the same to you, my dear,” Alastor said as he grabbed a pinch of flour.
“You’re making biscuits?” Y/N asked, looking at the display of ingredients on the counters.
“I should hope so.”
“Can I watch?” They added, “I promise that I won’t get in the way.”
Alastor looked over at the young sinner for a moment before shrugging and returning to his biscuit making.
“I suppose observing is harmless.”
So, for the next hour, Y/N stayed close to Alastor as they watched him finish making biscuits and then bake them. And when the first batch emerged from the oven, they smiled.
“They smell amazing, Alastor.” Their eyes then darted between him and the warm, homemade biscuits. “Can I have one?”
“I suppose.”
“Really?” They asked, their eyes lighting up.
“I believe I am making enough.”
Y/N snatched up a biscuit, crying in pain at how hot it was against their fingertips before biting into the fluffy biscuit.
“Oh my gosh!”
“It’s just a biscuit, my dear.”
They shook their head. “A really good biscuit,” they corrected.
And for some unexplainable reason, Alastor found their statement to be pleasant.
Weeks continued to pass with Y/N helping out around the hotel while Alastor watched from afar…for the most part.
He learned that they always greeted everyone, that they had somehow memorized everyone’s birthdays (not that sinners necessarily celebrated), and that they had learned everyone’s favorite meals.
They thanked Husk every time he poured them a glass.
They complimented Nifty’s cleaning skills.
They applauded every achievement no matter how small.
If someone managed to go all day without fighting? They celebrated that too.
Someone admitted they were struggling? They’d sit down beside them and listen.
But Alastor couldn’t understand it. Most sinners were selfish, manipulative, cruel in some way…but Y/N simply wasn’t.
On one rainy afternoon where the scream rain was particularly loud, Alastor found them sitting alone in the library with some tape and a book in hand.
“Whatever could you be doing?” Alastor asked.
“Oh! Someone ripped this,” they said, showing off the book. “I figured someone else might want to read it someday.”
“You are most peculiar.”
“I know, but it felt wrong to throw it away.”
Alastor hummed. “A respectful sentiment, I suppose.”
Y/N’s eyes widened. “Was that a compliment?”
“Do not grow accustomed to them.”
“I won’t,” they smiled. “I’ll just treasure it forever.”
There were countless other moments where Alastor had found himself partaking in Y/N’s presence, and soon, he had begun to reply to their silly optimistic comments as if it were second nature. But then, it all stopped.
Very suddenly at that.
Alastor had grown accustomed to his routine, or what would be the equivalent of a routine when living at the Hazbin Hotel. So when he realized that Y/N’s usual morning greetings had suddenly stopped, he realized something was wrong.
The first morning it occurred he figured that they had overslept. Sure, it was unlikely, but with how busy they kept themselves, it wasn’t surprising.
The second morning there was no greeting once again. There was no cheerful smile or enthusiastic wave from half way down the hallway as Alastor stepped out into the hallway.
It was just quiet.
By the third morning, it seemed like someone other than Alastor had noticed the young sinner’s absence. And that somebody happened to be Charlie herself.
“Has anyone seen Y/N around?” She curiously asked. “Actually, I haven’t seen them since—…when was the last time anyone saw them?”
Husk shrugged. “Couple of days.”
“They’re probably just overwhelmed,” Vaggi suggested.
But despite that, it seemed like nobody was willing to check in on the missing sinner. And so, by evening, Alastor appeared out of the shadows and carefully knocked on Y/N’s door.
He told him that they weren’t his responsibility. That they were just another guest at the hotel, yet here he was.
“Come in,” a soft voice answered from inside the room.
Alastor turned the brass door handle and quietly stepped inside the dimly lit bedroom. The curtains had been pulled shut so tightly that not even the crimson glow of Hell seeped in. On the bed Y/N laid curled up with the blanket wrapped around them. Their hair was messy, eyes dull with exhaustion and their once bright expression had darkened.
“Oh.” Y/N said, looking up at him. “Hi, Alastor.”
“Good evening, my dear.”
Normally, Y/N would have apologized for their messy appearance and dark room. They would have offered him some tea or even asked how his day was going. But they stayed quiet.
“I must admit, I was beginning to believe that you had begun hibernating.”
Y/N weakly laughed. “Sorry.”
Alastor’s ears flickered at the sound.
“You’ve been absent for several days.”
“I know.”
“And..?”
“I just needed some time alone.”
Alastor hummed in acknowledgment.
“…I didn’t think anyone noticed I was gone.”
“I assure you it is rather difficult not to notice when someone who habitually announces themselves every morning suddenly disappears,” Alastor replied.
A tiny, embarrassed smile appeared on Y/N’s face before fading.
“I guess.”
The two remained in silence for a long while before Alastor uncharacteristically sat down at the edge of their bed, crossing a leg over the other.
“What seems to be troubling you?”
“…I’m just tired is all.”
“That can’t be all,” Alastor insisted.
Y/N’s eyes flickered from Alastor then down to the bed where they fidgeted with the blanket that was wrapped around them.
“Do you think that everyone can actually change?”
Alastor’s smile widened a bit as he tilted his head to the side. “What a question to ask someone like me.”
“I know.”
“I’m sure you’re aware my reputation hardly screams moral authority,” Alastor explained.
“I just want to know…” Y/N trailed off, “because I’ve been trying so hard. I really have. I’ve participate in every therapy session, help everyone out, and I’ve been nice. I-I’ve been helping Charlie out around the hotel too. But I can’t help but keep thinking…does any of it matter?”
Alastor remained silent, listening…or so appearing like he was.
“What if I’m just pretending?” They weakly laughed, “what if I’m not actually a good person?”
Their words sounded rehearsed, as if they had asked themselves that same question before.
“I was so excited to come here. I thought that maybe I had finally found where I belonged,” they confessed. “And Sir Pentious proved that redemption was possible…but what if he was the exception? What if I’m wasting everyone’s time?”
A year slipped from their eye and down Y/N’s cheek as they moved to wipe it.
“I don’t want to disappoint them.”
Ah, there it was. The real problem.
“My dear, I do believe you’ve made an error.”
Y/N looked at him. “I have?”
“Indeed. You appear to have convinced yourself that Charlie’s dream is solely your responsibility,” Alastor said.
“What?”
“You speak as though your redemption alone determines whether her life’s work has succeeded or not.”
“I-I guess…I’ve never thought about it like that.”
“It seems you have burdened yourself with expectations that belong to nobody else. You are one sinner amongst many.” Alastor explained, “you are not expected to redeem yourself just to validate Charlie’s philosophy. You are simply expected to try.”
Y/N stared at him. “That’s it?”
“Precisely. You see, optimism is like a lantern. It shines, guides others and provides warmth. But even lanterns require fresh oil, and if neglected, they burn themselves out. You have tended to everyone else’s flames, yet have managed to forget your own.”
Y/N’s eyes widened.
Nobody had ever put it that way before.
“I didn’t even realize…”
“I know.”
Alastor didn’t try to assure them that they’d be okay, he just said “I know” like he was aware of the issue.
And finally, something inside Y/N broke as the tears flooded down their cheeks like a faucet being turned on.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” they cried as they covered their face. “I didn’t mean to disappear or worry anyone. I just—.”
“My dear,” Alastor interrupted, “you have apologized quite enough.”
Y/N sniffled. “I-I have?”
“It is becoming repetitive.”
Another weak laugh escaped between Y/N’s lips, the sound watery.
“There we go.”
“What?”
“I feared someone had misplaced your sense of humor,” Alastor admitted before standing up and walking over to the curtains in their room as the crimson glow of Pentagram City washed over the room.
“You’ve been dreadful company these past few days. And I trust that you will remedy that.”
“I…I’ll try.”
“Excellent,” he said as he headed toward the door only to pause and look back over his shoulder at them . “Oh, that reminds me. Breakfast will begin in thirty minutes.”
Y/N wiped their eyes looking at him. “Yes?”
“It would be terribly inconvenient if the biscuits went uneaten.”
“You’re making biscuits?” Y/N softly asked.
“I was considering it,” Alastor confessed.
“Because of me..?”
His smile widened. “What an absurd conclusion.” He then laughed, “I expect you downstairs when breakfast is ready.”
And with that, Alastor left with the door clicking shut behind him.
And for the first time in days, Y/N found themselves climbing out of bed.
