A possible sequel to #4 'ebbing entertainment'
CW: Character death. Really, really dark & angsty. Zalgo text is also used.
The hotel burns. The wards are torn -
he̕͜ ̢to̧͜r̢e̛͠ ̴͠͝the͠͠m̧͘
It was, in the moment, exhilarating to watch as realization filtered through the denizens and then as panic set in. A true feeling of elated apprehension that he hadn't felt in so long…
...
Then the angels came in.
Alastor lies, twisted, watching the circling formations through the peeled roof. In corners of his vision there's a scattered pack of cards, a tattered feather, a ripped red lady's glove.
The chaos, the collapse of forlorn hopes and dreams… yes, it was most entertaining. While it lasted. But now…what could top this – allowing exorcists to enter protected premises?
Was it worth losing Husker? Seeing the princess turn her back and disappear into herself, no fire, just the mere act of giving up?
Was it worth the holy blade piercing his body, draining his essence into the void?
He doesn't regret, though. What still consumes Alastor, as he fades, is a hunger for M͞ƠR̶͢͠Ȩ͘ of the thrill that has brought him down.
The end is absolute boredom.
*cue ironic swing cover of Addict*
If Alastor does go down a villainous path, I hope it goes something like this. I've never really gone for intentionally malicious villains.
Here my concept is that Alastor is, well, 'addicted' to feeling entertained, and over time he becomes desensitized to what used to give him a rush – thus seeking out bigger and bigger thrills. In #4 'ebbing entertainment' I tried to convey the beginning of that process at the Hazbin Hotel – Alastor tiring of watching (and having a hand in) Charlie & sinners struggling for redemption. This continuation has him simply plunging into being more and more disruptive and chaotic, to incite bigger reactions and be entertained again.
Culminating in him allowing exorcists to enter the Hotel on Extermination Day, and being wounded and erased by their holy weapons in the chaos (and yes, that's Husk's cards & wing, and Angel's glove, that Alastor sees out of the corner of his eye)
...yeah this is a bleak one. I don't intend to write many of those - there's some fluffier chapters (or at least ones with happy/hopeful endings) coming up next.