With the passing of time, Maxwell grew more and more familiar with the Hazbin Hotel and its current occupants. Talks were a lot less serious, and just allowed Max to learn little trivial information about the others. For example, despite his reservations about Alastor, the man is one hell of a cook. There was no denying that. With the week at its end, Charlie invited everyone together for a group meeting, which brings us to the present in the hotel lobby.
"Alright team! I'm confident that all seven of us have gotten to know each other better, and with that, I say it's time we go out and give another try at convincing others to become residents of the hotel!" Charlie proclaims cheerfully.
"Hell yeah let's do this!" Max responds with a fist pump.
"Loving the enthusiasm! What about the rest of you?" Charlie asks, looking at everyone else who collectively seem to be far less energetic.
"It's not that we're not stoked honey...but what's the plan?" Vaggie asks in concern, Charlie noticeably becoming less enthusiastic at the question.
"...well, I was thinking we could...go around on foot and talk to people?" She answers shyly, not realizing her plan wasn't really a plan.
"Hmm, I like where you're going Charlie, we need a way to effectively spread the word. Unfortunately if what I was told was true, the news was a bust, so maybe interacting individually may not get good results." Max rubs his chin, pondering ideas to help. "Maybe we could do a show in a park?"
"Oh yeah that sounds fantastic kid, I'll just be running a rotten tomato stall for people to throw when they inevitably hate it." Husk comments in a pessimistic tone.
"And come now Maxwell, you expect to give a show while looking like that?" Alastor adds and points at Max's state of attire. With little clothing due to being abruptly transferred to hell, his only clothes were a slightly disheveled tank top, shorts, and sandals. "Not exactly the type of attire that screams 'look at me! I'm successful!'" Alastor teases while Max just huffs.
"Well excuse me, I don't see you changing outfits often! And before anyone asks, yes I've still washed these clothes, I'm not a slob. I just did it late at night and wore only a towel."
"That aside, I think it's time we do away with your casual wear for something more professional!" With that, he snaps his fingers and a cloud of smoke appears around Max.
"Gah! It smells like sulfur and despair!" He coughs out before waving his hands to dispel the smoke. Max looks down at his own body, admiring his new clothing, a long sleeve white button up top that feels as if it was recently pressed with a clothing iron, completely free if wrinkled and hugging his body nicely, the white helping his black pants stand out more. Replacing his comfy sandals are some over the ankle high white socks and black steel toe loafers. Lastly, on his hips were some strange rope parts hanging off the side of his pants.
"Wait, are these suspenders?" He asks out loud before lifting the stretchy hoops and hooks them over his shoulders.
"I thought you'd like the option, you can wear them when you feel like looking a tad classier, or let them hang off instead for a more rebellious look, it all depends on the occasion." Alastor informs with an innocent smile despite the deadpan look Max was giving him.
"I feel like I'm a moustache, a cap, and some white gloves away from looking like a black and white rip off of super Mario. Wait...you fuck, did you choose this outfit because I'm part Italian?" Max accuses jokingly.
"Huh? You got Italian blood? Well what are the odds, no wonder you look nearly as good as me." Angel comments with a little laugh, patting Max's back.
"Huh, small world… Besides that, answer the question, you red and black licorice whip!"
"Nooo of course not, what do you take me for?" Alastor asks while batting his eyelids coyly, Max just huffing before unclipping the suspenders.
"Yeah, no thanks. I think Charlie pulls that look better and I'd rather not go around stealing styles." He points to said princess who just looks at her own outfit, playfully tugging at her suspenders under her tuxedo jacket. "But I will say the rest of this outfit works nicely, it's rather slimming too." He compliments while rolling up the sleeves a tad to give his hands more freedom, and undoing the first couple of buttons at the top to give his Adam's apple more room. One of his hands reaches down to his pocket rubbing the golden revolver gingerly, happy he's had no need to use it yet but grateful to Angel for giving him some lessons on using a gun.
"Now that you're better dressed, I say we gather residents with blackmail! If they're not coming in willingly, then the next best thing is making them check in unwillingly!" Alastor suggests gleefully, Charlie immediately waving in her arms in a negative manner.
"No no no, the point of redeeming them is to give them another chance. If they don't take the chance on their own terms, then they'll never really try!" Charlie explains.
"I'm sorry my dear but the truth is, without evidence showing this could work, no one is going to want to join! Humans have a hard time giving up sin while alive, to give it up while in a sinner's paradise? Highly unlikely!" Alastor counters. While the two slowly escalate in their slightly heated conversation of how to gather hotel residents, something Alastor said began to spin the cogs in Maxwell's mind.
"No evidence...wait a second!" Max puts his fingers to his temples as he slowly pieces together a plan before audibly gasping. "I believe I have a genius plan!" Max shouts confidently.
"Well you better hurry, the princess and Al are getting a bit riled up." Angel advises as they both look at Charlie who now has her horns visible and Alastor's grin turning more into an impatient sneer.
"Oh boy. Anyone here good at loud whistling? I'd like to get their attention." He asks the four bystanders, getting mostly no's except for Husk. Once he realizes he is getting stares, he just sighs and puts his fingers to his mouth before letting out a shrill whistle, loud enough to make Charlie and Alastor pause. "Thank you very much Husk. Now then, I have an important question for you two."
"Ahem, go on Max, you can ask anything." Charlie answers with a smile as he rubs her hands through her hair, composing herself.
"I can't promise I'll answer any questions you ask, but go ahead and speak your mind!" Alastor confirms, acting as if he had no problem whatsoever with the conversation earlier.
"So...Charlotte, Alastor, do either of you know what humans look like when they go to heaven? Does anyone here in hell know for that matter?" The two look at each other, expecting the other to give an answer, yet when no answer leaves their mouths, Max snaps his fingers. "Then I think I got the perfect plan!"
"I think you might be exaggerating on perfect, no plan survives first contact with the enemy. And in your case, you enemy is every resident of hell looking for a way to rise up the social hierarchy." Vaggie comments skeptically.
"Exactly, but what if everyone looked at me and said 'That's no human at all.' without a hint of sarcasm whatsoever?" He asks them all, getting many disbelieving looks.
"Uh hate to burst your bubble, but you look nothing like a demon." Angel points out, only to receive an enthusiastic nod for Max.
"Yep, and it'll be the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. Let me explain. Our two problems are that if anyone finds out I'm human, it could be catastrophic. Two, we need residents for this hotel. Now the question is, why doesn't anyone join the hotel? Because they believe it doesn't work, there's no evidence, no proof! However, what if we show them proof?" Max asks with a devious grin on his face.
"But Max, there is no proof." Charlie states with a downcast expression.
"No, but who's to say we can't create our own proof?" At that, Max gained the attention of everyone in the room. "Now, many humans believe when you die and go to heaven, you retain your body and gain a halo and wings. However no one in hell knows that for sure, all they know is going to hell gives you a demonic form. So what if we showed them someone that's in the middle of transitioning from hell to heaven? That's where I come in! We reveal to hell that due to the efforts of the Hazbin Hotel, my progress in redemption has caused me to shed off my demon form, and regain my humanity! Of course, the wings and halo are reserved for those in heaven only, so I still have much more redemption to go through. With this news circulating the seven rings of hell, sinners will flock toward the hotel with knowledge that there is a chance of not only getting your human body back, but a real chance of the entire process working and getting to heaven! With that, both of our problems are solved in one fell swoop!" Max smiles wide, proud of coming up with such a plan.
"Except for one problem." Charlie speaks up, biting her lower lip. "We'd be lying to everyone."
"Okay I admit that sounds bad, but it's a white lie, and one supported by the many ideas mankind already has. Do you think everyone here in hell would go to heaven while keeping their demon bodies?" At that Charlie is silent but still looks apprehensive. "Even if it's a lie, it's only until someone in hell finally becomes redeemed, then we get irrefutable proof that outclasses my existence, and everyone ends up happy. I know deception sounds awful to you Charlie, believe me, I don't like it either, but if a lie is what's necessary to find the real truth, if it's the key towards finding if redemption is truly possible, then don't you think we should at least give it a chance?"
"...this is a big risk Maxwell, if this goes wrong you could get really hurt." Charlie says worriedly.
"Not to mention if your true origins ever comes to light, it could destroy what little reputation our hotel already has!" Vaggie nearly roars out just to be poked on the shoulder by Angel.
"Uh, last time I checked toots, the hotel has no reputation other than being a pipe dream. I say we take the chance." Angel accepts with a grin. "What's life without taking a few risks? Come on Husky, you can't say you've ever run away from a few little gambles?"
"First of all, don't call me that. Second of all this isn't just a little gamble, this could cause a lot of trouble that I don't want to be in the center of."
"You have a point Husk, but if the choice is to either have the hotel stagnate and collect dust, or risk having it become something so much more, then I'll happily take that chance. I trust Maxwell's plan!" Niffty counters with her own thoughts on the matter.
"This is what I've been waiting for, the perfect opportunity to see if this hotel will finally sink or swim. I've been growing a tad bored lately anyways. Come now everyone, let's give the human's plan a try!" Alastor chimes in all too eagerly, the room divided on the plan with Angel, Niffty, and Alastor in support, and Vaggie, Husk, and Charlie feeling doubtful.
"Hmm, doesn't look like either side is budging...how about this, we do a trial run? I never said we had to try in front of a baseball stadium or a news station, maybe we can start small like at an unpopular club or dingy tavern? That way if my plan truly is a flop, not many demons will know. If it helps we can even keep Charlie out of the limelight and only one or two of you can be at my side as witnesses or help if any violence breaks out, I don't know what the crime rate in hell looks like but I wouldn't be surprised if every average Joe here has a weapon of some kind." Max negotiates in hopes to ease any worries.
Charlie is quiet for a bit before speaking up again. "Max, you chose to believe in me and my hotel...I'm still worried, but what kind of friend would I be if I didn't put some faith in you too." She finally relents, leaving Vaggie and Husk.
"...question, what will you do if someone gets too curious and asks more about you?" Vaggie inquires, trying to look for any holes in his plan.
"Hmm, well I would try to be honest, though you have a point, I need to create a background. What did I do to get to hell, how did I come across the hotel, what did I do to be redeemed?" Max holds his own chin deep in thought only to be tapped on the shoulder by Alastor.
"I believe I have a solution to your problem!" Alastor snaps his finger and in his hand appears a photo of a red eyed demon with black fur, a red heart pattern on the back of his neck, and a bear-like appearance. "This here is an old associate of mine. I have his soul due to an unimportant deal we made some time ago. He recently died during the latest purge, however there are no witnesses to his death. With me vouching for you, we can say this is your old demon form, a perfect comparison of before and after!"
"That's great! Wait, did this guy have any friends or family?" Max asks in worry, only for Alastor to laugh it off.
"Of course not! He was a lone wolf, or lone bear in his case. No close relatives, no friends or associates whatsoever, barely anyone remembers his existence, just another face in a sea of sinners. And if anyone asks how you arrived in hell, simply be vague! Say you were killed in revenge, you've hurt others to claw your way to the top, say you're an atheist! Just don't give any names besides your own, and your backstory will work well enough. As for how you arrived at the hotel, say you watched the newscast and felt pity for the princess, only to find yourself actually giving it a try!"
"That's brilliant Alastor!...shit, of course you'd be smart AND scary, next you'll say you have super strength." Max grumbles much to Alastor's amusement.
"...this still seems like a dumb idea, but we are definitely not getting anywhere...carajo, fine! I'm in." Vaggie relents, giving the plan a go ahead.
"Well shit, that leaves me outnumbered." Husk realizes before sighing. "Just promise me if you get in any trouble, leave me out of it."
"Don't worry Husk, this plan mostly requires Alastor and I. If anyone wants to join and assist, they are welcome but it's not mandatory." Max affirms honestly, making Husk roll his eyes before nodding.
"Go ahead then...just try and be careful." He adds quietly at the end.
"I swear I'll make you all proud. Now then, we still need a location, and anyone who wants to join this little adventure, feel free to prepare and get ready to join Alastor and I."
"It'll probably be best if I stay out of the limelight, as much as I'd like to help." Charlie decides, not wanting to risk messing up his plan.
"You'll probably need some street smarts, plus this sounds like a good excuse to stretch my legs a little." Angel stands up, giving his legs a little kick to get the blood flowing before going to his room. "Just give me a sec, I might need something for a little protection in case trouble arises."
"Sounds like a plan, anyone else?" Max asks, the rest of the crew choosing to stay at the hotel and get it ready for anybody deciding to check in.
"Okay I know this was my idea, but I'm starting to get second thoughts." Max nervously says as he waits behind a curtain. With Angel's help they were able to find a relatively quiet bar, sure it had its occasional drunken fist fight or someone either passing out and/or vomiting from drinking too much booze, but...it has a nice atmosphere at the very least.
"Oh don't tell me you have stage fright Maxwell? I just went through all the trouble of intimidating, I mean negotiating… who am I kidding, I meant intimidating, the owner himself who allowed us to put on this little show!" Alastor informs while pointing to the barkeep who looked very pale at the moment and was hiding behind the counter.
"If you're feeling tense I could always give you a quick handy-j." Angel teases, making a jerking off motion with one hand, Max unsure whether to laugh or blush from the joke/offer.
"I appreciate it, but I'd rather not risk getting my evidence all over the place in case this plan bombs." Max deadpans before lightly shaking his head and taking a breath. "Alright let's do this, you may begin Alastor."
"I thought you'd never ask." Alastor drawls, a sinister sensation running up Max's spine. Even with a week of getting used to things, it seems Alastor still has many ways to make the human's paranoia and wrath flare up again. At the very least it took his mind off how nervous he was.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Alastor begins as he steps out from behind the curtains, mic in hand making his voice boom so everyone's attention was on him, some of the many demons nearly having heart attacks as they realize just who is in front of them. "My lovely sinners, I've come to make a special announcement on behalf of the previously known Happy Hotel!" His neck rotates slowly as he watches one foolish sinner run and attempt to leave the bar. Once they open the door however, all they can see is a nightmarish black void filled with teeth and tentacles, making the sinner immediately shut the door.
"Now now, you may be excused once I've finished what I have to say." He explains in a controlled voice, but everyone can feel the promise of indescribable pain and torment awaiting them if they interrupt him again. "If I may continue, the newly reopened and renamed Hazbin Hotel has been open for business for a couple of weeks now, and so far we have had only two residents check in. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the effeminate fellow known as Angel Dust, but what you don't know is someone less popular, but someone who may very well leave you in shock and awe."
Many were skeptical, even if the radio demon was so powerful, what could he possibly know that could change their minds concerning the flop of a hotel they saw on the news. "May I present to you, Maxwell...Ignitus!" He steps aside, allowing Max to dash out from behind the curtains and slide on his knees, Angel following from behind.
"Ha! Boom baby!" Max cheerfully yells out, arms spread out and a showy wide smile on his face, though he speaks to Alastor through grit teeth. "Sorry for not giving you my last name beforehand."
"Don't worry about it, a human last name would have been suspicious anyways." He whispers back, before returning his attention to the gobsmacked audience. "Now then!" Back to full volume, he waves his free hand to Max. "As you can see, this is no ordinary demon. What we have here, is a demon on the path of redemption, and by sticking to his guns, has regained his human form!"
"Impossible!" One cries out among the explosive chatter of the many patrons.
"You say so, but the proof is in the pudding!" He then grabs Max by the back of his shirt.
"Hey wait, don't touch me!" Max struggles as Alastor brings more attention to the human.
"Look at it with your own eyes, tannish skin, a plain head of hair, no horns, no tail, as human as possible! The only thing he's missing is a halo and wings, and he'd be off to heaven in no time! I mean, did any of you really think after any rehabilitation, you'd stay looking as you do now?" He asks the audience, many beginning to sway and some nodding their head, wondering if the hotel truly is a source of hope.
"Wait!" Once again, a more outspoken demon steps up from his seat. "How do we know you didn't make a deal with a real human, for all we know, you're just trying to confuse us like the slithery deal maker you are!" Some start to shift stances again, questioning the slowly losing patience radio demon. Before things could get hairy, Max steps in.
"Well hey, if you don't believe him, take my word for it. As charismatic and terrifying as this overlord is, I've made no deals with him." He pulls out the photo Alastor showed him earlier of the demon. "This is the form I used to have when I started my afterlife here in hell. I'm no saint, I'll tell you that. I'm just a sinner like everyone else. However it was thanks to the Hazbin hotel that I'm one step closer to being not only free from hell and the fear of being purged, but closer to true redemption. Sure it's difficult at times to stay with the program, Angel here can probably attest to that, but with some proper effort, you all can at least regain the humanity you thought you discarded years ago." His words helped others at least start to consider the hotel, but many stayed stubborn.
"That photo could be fake! We still need proof, if you're a demon like the rest of us, prove it! Or go ahead and reveal that you're really human, I've heard human meat sells well on the cannibal market!" Another naysayer explains, some letting their greed show as they eye up Max.
"...proof? Well...if I was human, that would mean I could die. Not just come back and walk off a fatal wound but literally die, correct?" Many nod their heads, Alastor and Angel looking at Max, wondering where he's going with this. Looking across the audience, Max sighs before shrugging his shoulders. "Fine then, guess I'll die." With that, his hand goes to his pocket and brings out the golden revolver. Many stand up, some even snarling as they prepare for a fight, only for Max to put the barrel at the side of his head.
"Whoa whoa wait Max don't do this!" Angel tries to stop Max only to see him turn his head slightly and wink at the spider demon. Alastor only looks on with a sadistic and pleased grin.
"See ya." Max finishes before pulling the trigger.
BANG
His body collapsed onto the ground, a silence washing over the entire bar. A few seconds pass, no one is willing to make a move or make any sort of noise, except for one person.
"Oooow."
The entire crowd was awestruck, many tense as they just looked at something that made them question everything about hell. Angel looks at Max with wide eyes and Alastor was happy to know things are definitely gonna stay interesting now.
"Ow, fuck that hurt." Max grits his teeth, hissing in pain as he slowly gets back up on his feet, making sure to discreetly put the flattened bullet that was at his head away in his pocket for no one to find. While the bullet itself didn't hurt much, the loud bang of the gun left his ears ringing. He quickly examines his body, noticing his veins glowing just like the time when he was with Lucifer.
"A-as you can see, I'm already dead. Though I guess when I'm able to move again, you can see that inside I'm still all demon, my body just looks human. It's gonna take more time before I reach heaven's standards." Max explains to the audience, using his strange wrath induced form to his advantage. "None of you are gonna tell me a human is capable of looking like this, and being just fine after taking a bullet to the head right?" Max questions the audience, no one willing to say anything as they were still too astonished.
Alastor steps back into the limelight with a smile. "Well that's all for today folks! I hope you enjoyed our little announcement, here's hoping to see you or any of your friends at the Hazbin Hotel!" With that, Alastor escorts Max behind the curtain, the bar exploding into conversation once the human is gone, the lie of what the hotel is capable of now making its way through the grapevine.
"I think that went well!"
At least, that's what Max was telling himself as he paced back and forth backstage, slowly letting his body return to its fully human form. Meanwhile after the crowd calmed down, Angel and Alastor dealt with the rest of the advertising for the hotel.
"Jeez, to think I used to think standing up and giving a presentation to class was nerve wracking." He chuckles to himself only to feel a hand on his shoulder.
"I know right! Maybe that's why I prefer the radio, less personal!" Alastor's wide ear to ear smile hovered next to Max, making him give a sigh.
"Hello Alastor, is the crowd pleased enough not to start an angry mob?"
"Unfortunately yes! But that's not all, some of them are actually considering checking in! I don't know how you did it, but your plan worked my boy!" Alastor cheerfully congratulates.
"Really?! That's great! At this rate, not only will we get to give the hotel business, but we may get more solid proof that the hotel works! Oh Charlie is gonna be ecstatic!" Max pumped his fist in the air excitedly.
"By the way I've been wondering, how did you survive the bullet? I don't remember you purchasing any blanks to fire." Alastor asks curiously.
"Well, I guess there's no harm in telling you. The gun Lucifer gave me is enchanted so the user cannot harm himself with the gun. I guess the guy wanted to make sure I didn't accidentally kill myself, not because he cares about my well-being, but a human corpse in hell would be fresh meat for any power hungry demons waiting to sink their teeth into my flesh." Max explained while adding in his own thoughts, Alastor quietly thinking over this new information as Max continues.
"Come on, we gotta get Angel and go give the good news to the others!" As the human prepares to dash outside, he bumps into a new demon. He shakes his head and looks down to see a short feminine canine demon with black fur styled similarly to a toy poodle.
"…You're not him are you?" The stranger asks in an accusatory tone.
"Uh…well I'd love to stay and sign autographs but we gotta get going." Max nervously answers as he tries to get past the demon, Alastor taking a couple steps back as he begins watching the fireworks.
"YOU'RE NOT HIM!" She shouts this time, eyes full of hate but also some hot tears welling up in her eyes. "That bear you're posing as! I knew him…he was the only good thing in this shitty world. He treated me with such love and care~ sure he occasionally had the angry mood swings and may have been a little violent, but nobody is perfect!" She keeps ranting in front of Max, the young man on the verge of panicking as his hand reaches down his pocket toward his gun.
"Then I go to his apartment one day hoping he'd love the meat pie I made him, only to find out he's been killed by those damn angels! And now you're pretending to be him? You're sick! I'm not gonna let you get away with this! Oh once I tell everyone what a faker you are, no one will step one foot into that stupid hotel! I wonder if I'll be on TV?" She wonders out loud as she turns around, hands clasped together as she wonders about her future outloud. "I'll be the biggest hero in hell, I'll be showered in adoration, riches, and hunky men in tuxes as my reward. I WILL BE-" THUNK
She's cut off as she's hit across the back of her head with the butt of the pistol in Max's hand. The human trembles as he looks at his hand and realizes what he just did.
"Well now! That was quite the show! Well we best get moving now." Alastor idly comments as he moves toward the exit of the building.
"Are you kidding me?!" Max shouts, his face the definition of panic. "You heard what she said! She's gonna tell everyone everything! The hotel is ruined the second she opens her mouth…you fucker, you told me the demon in the picture had no one close to him!" He shouts as he grabs Alastor by the collar, his wrath already flowing through his body as he lifts the Overlord off his feet, yet the demon kept a straight face and the damn smile in place.
"Yes I did, and I never lied once…about that particular subject." He chuckles before placing his hands on Max's. "He had no one close, not even that lovesick puppy, he saw her as nothing more than a stress reliever, a booty call as Angel would so elegantly put it. How was I to know she saw things differently and was quite smitten with him?" Alastor is soon enough let go as Max can't help but see his logic. In the end, Alastor didn't give him all the information, but still never lied.
"…We're ruined then. The hotel is gonna have even worse publicity and it's all my fault. There's nothing we can do…" Max mumbles in despair as he can feel himself nearly fall apart, leaving him perfectly vulnerable for Alastor's next action.
"Not necessarily my boy." As if in a trance, Max perked up as he hung on every word Alastor had to say. "We're only ruined if this little poodle tells anyone the truth. Of course there is quite an easy way to fix all of this, and all it'll take is one little flex of a finger." He guides Max's hand to his gun and makes sure it aims right at the unconscious demon.
"…w-wait, that won't solve anything. Even if I were to shoot, she'd wake up in a few hours or the next day completely fine and still tell everyone."
"True, though that's if we were using normal bullets." Alastor grins as he drags a finger along the barrel of the gun, a strange eerie green glow surrounding the bullet in the chamber. "I'd like to make a deal…I've enchanted the bullet so that once it hits its target, it'll be just as permanent of a kill as being killed with a holy weapon. One shot is all it'll take, and all our problems are solved."
Alastor's charismatic voice echoed in Max's head, the ease of the solution making his fingers curl around the gun as he steadied his aim, so close to pulling the trigger before his teeth suddenly grit and steam exited his nostrils. "Grr, don't toy with me! I know how deals work, what do you want out of this?"
"Oh what more could I want!? The front row seat of you committing the sin of murder here in hell, and the fact that this precious little secret will be mine to spill whenever I wish? I'd say that makes us pretty even if you ask me. So then…" He puts out one hand, inviting Max to grab it. "Do we have a deal?"
Max wanted nothing more than to take the deal, to accept and let all his troubles go away with something as easy as a pull of a trigger. His free hand inching ever closer to Alastor's while the other is so close to finally taking the unconscious demon's life, only to pull away.
"…I won't do it."
"Oh come now, don't tell me her life is worth more than the little princess's dream?" He taunts, his hands giving a slight twitch, that small movement telling Max all he needs to know.
"Of course not. What makes you think I care about her life?" Max says in a strangely even tone, causing Alastor to give his head a slight tilt in confusion. "Taking her life isn't the issue, the issue here is that I don't trust you in the slightest. I'd like to make a counter offer."
"…I must admit this is quite unprecedented. But go on, I'm curious as to what you have to offer."
"It's simple really. Instead of killing her and leaving myself in your debt, I want you to wipe her memory."
"And what makes you think I'm capable of that?"
"So you can't do it?"
"Oh I never said that! I just doubt you have anything of value to me."
"It's simple, I already have it." He empties the gun chamber and shows off the already enchanted bullet, Alastor's eyelids narrowing slightly. "If you could kill so easily, then you'd be a far greater terror than you're made out to be. No, you need this weapon in order to do so. So here's my offer. If you wipe her memory…and vow to keep silent about this whole incident and our deal, I will be your one time assassin."
One eyebrow is raised as the demon listens closely. "Go on…"
"Anyone aside from Charlie, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Niffty, and Husk, I will use this enchanted bullet and shoot whoever you desire. You say this one bullet is all it takes, I guess we'll just have to see about it when the time is right."
"…you have the makings of a good deal maker, it's a shame you're still human." Alastor idly comments as Max puts out his hand. "…now how can I say no to a deal like that?" He smiles widely as he meets Max's hand with his own, giving it a firm shake as the deal is made.
"Very good, I'll let you deal with the dog. I better get Angel before he gets bored and starts 'doing tricks'." Max gives his own smile before putting away the gun and bullet and leaving the backstage.
Alastor looks down at the canine demon and chuckles softly. "It's not the way I planned it, but I have to say the results are still in my favor." He snaps his fingers and suddenly the demon phases away into the shadows. "Finally got a good use out of that soul, honestly she was just collecting dust before today." He hums happily as he makes his way out to follow Max and Angel.