Before dinner, Selena and Angel had learned that Alastor was a cannibalistic serial killer in a port city surrounded by swamps and bayous. Angel had explained that New Orleans was the likely candidate. She had heard of it but has never visited during her explorations of the current living world. It seemed to Selena that Alastor had a strong love for his hometown. Husker had eventually recovered from his earlier embarrassment and piped up that Al was from the 1920s. She had learned in the group's jibber-jabber that Angel was from a mob family in the 1940s and that Husker had sold his soul to Alastor to get out of his gambling debts before he died in the 1970s. Alastor had even claimed that he had gotten Niffty out of trouble with the law for killing a man who attempted to rape and beat1 her in the 1950s.

After Al left to start dinner, she had realized why they all seemed to have a relatively strong bond. He rescued them from something. Even though his price was steep, it seemed he bothered to learn all about the people he made deals with.

"Well, gents, I should probably help him." She got up and headed to the kitchen herself.

"So, Husk, is it just me, or is Smiles, there, crushin' on our resident fox?" He gave Husk a smug look.

"When the fuck did you get perspective?" He just stood there and aimlessly cleaned a glass.

"Ooo. I gots ammunition." Angel smirked.

"Do ya wanna die, you dumb fuck?" Husker shook his head in disbelief.

Selena was helping Al make salads while he made an etouffee and rice. He had his microphone playing jazz and was humming along. She couldn't help but feel glad that he seemed so happy. "So, what's the real reason you brought Ryan here?" She was curious.

"Well, that, my dear, must remain my secret." He gave her a soft smile. "Let's just say: I have no negative intentions with him." He seemed to be telling the full truth. He wasn't cutting around the conversation like he usually did.

"Alright. I believe you. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you so genuinely happy until I watched you make a deal. It seems to be your niche."

"My dear, I believe you are wrong, but maybe that's because you've never seen me kill." He gave her a large genuine smile.

"Maybe it was the song instead of the deal?"

"Now that could be!" He gave her a gentle tap on the shoulder.

"Mmm. Got any more songs involving deals, you wanna sing?" She seemed to be more relaxed around him again. He couldn't explain why he was so happy about it. Maybe she liked his singing? Or maybe she felt his heartfelt apology? Maybe her love of music was shining? He loved it when it did, but it was so rare. He only saw it once.

"Only if you sing me something after?" He didn't wanna push his rekindled friendship with her, but he heard her once. He felt like it would never be enough. "Sorry, dearie. But I got a taste for it last night, and I must say I've never enjoyed a voice more than my own so much!" He played a laugh track to try to ease the mood he may have soured. He didn't know why, but recently his intention to destroy her began to fade. He didn't know when it started; he thought that he wanted to during the Extermination, but now, he wasn't so sure.

"Sounds like a deal! After dinner though!" Selena was carefully pulling apart the lettuce. She sliced it quickly and moved on to the other vegetables.

"Any chance you want to go out with me later? I know that I haven't been the best person to be around, but I can show you the inner workings of deal making or even give you pointers on killing. I might be able to introduce you to some people I know that can help with your stage work." He didn't know why he felt anxious, but it was eating him from the inside out. It drowned out his eternal hunger for flesh.

"I may take you up on the stagework help and the deal making." She seemed to be thinking. Fuck! Did he ruin their fragile friendship already? "Al?" He hummed in response. "Are you going out of your way to make up for the last couple of days to me?"

Busted.

"Uh. Something like that. To be honest, you are my only friend not caused by deals or being forced to work with me. I've been told that's something to value." It wasn't a lie, per se. But he couldn't admit to anyone that he valued her altogether. On the whole. Somehow, she became important to him. And, Satan knows he'd want to kick himself for it down the road.

"Wait! Is Husker your conscience?" She dropped her knife and the carrots she was holding. "Wait! Wrong way to say that! I mean, did Husker wake you up in the friendship department and make you apologize?" Selena's face was as red as her blood-stained hair.

"I go to him for advice from time to time." He quietly admitted.

"Well. Good thing! It seems he steered you in a good direction. I would value that grumpy cat." She had kind of figured to begin with but didn't expect him to admit it.

"Something I've been told I need to learn by him."

"Well I'm glad Husk gives it to you straight. Just don't eat him. He'd be too furry." She gave him a wink and a light laugh. For whatever reason, he found himself to enjoy these moments. "I'm going to too. Just to warn you. I will always tell you the truth. Whether you like it or not."

"I look forward to it." He didn't know why, but he really wanted to know her opinion of him. If she volunteered the information, all the better. They continued having light conversations as they finished making dinner.

As they headed out of the kitchen with Alastor's tiny shadows following them out, they saw a new scenario at the dining table. They tried to ignore that Angel was taking up two chairs on his own as they set the table with food, dressings, and utensils. The only one that remained, on the side she was accustomed to sitting at, was right next to Alastor.

"Angel! You can't take up two chairs on your own!" Charlie nagged him and bopped him lightly on his head.

"Well I gotta stretch ma' legs!" He sat in a split and rubbed his head. "Not like there ain't enough room, ya know?"

Selena sighed. "It's alright, Charlie." She sat next to Alastor and looked at Husk who was trying not to laugh. She turned her attention to Ryan. "You'll learn to get used to them. We're all a little eccentric here. Also sorry about trying to rip out your tongue earlier."

"Da fuck is this?" Angel was looking at the pot Alastor had brought out.

"It's etouffee, my effeminate fellow! It goes over rice." He spoke in a condescending tone. "Mama dearest loved etouffee! I perfected it just for her!" He sat down and began fixing his plate.

Soon after, everyone else had dug in and began eating.

The decision was unanimous. The dish was fucking delicious. Ryan began to slowly warm up to everyone and managed to catch Niffty's eye. She was subtly flirting with him while Angel flirted with all three men present. Ryan shrugged it off, and Alastor ignored him. Husk decided throwing obscenities across the table to Angel was the best way to handle it. A typical meal at the hotel with a plus one. "So guys, I was thinking.." Selena started. Everyone's attention turned to her. "You know how Al won't drop the Hazbin thing. I think I've discovered a solution." Alastor has pushed his dish aside and leaned on his elbow. Charlie was listening intently. "Why not leave the hotel The Happy Hotel and make the club The Hazbin Club?"

She seemed a little worried about her proposition. However, Charlie quickly agreed to it. Alastor hummed, "Not a bad idea, mon cherie!"

After everyone finished, Selena and Al gathered the dishes and began cleaning. Middrying, Selena let out a large yawn. It seemed her killing spree early that day had finally caught up with her. She was tired. "Tired, dear?" She nodded. "Why don't we raincheck?" He passed her a sudsy dish.

"No. I wanna hear the song you've got lined up." She dried it off and yawned again.

"Alright, well, a song or two then bed wouldn't be a terrible idea." He continued to pass her dishes.

"Okay," her ears stood alert despite their drowsy position not but a moment ago. Her tail was swishing in its sleepy rhythm though. "I don't know why I'm so tired. I usually do a lot more and sleep closer to two in the morning."

"Perhaps, your body just needs to catch up." Alastor seemed so genuine in this exchange today. She didn't know why, but maybe, just maybe, he really was trying. She expected it to go tits up in a heartbeat, but he remained keeping to his promise.

He found himself no longer forcing a smile in her presence. He liked feeling so calm around her. He would always stay on high alert, but she seemed to take some sort of edge off his shoulders.

"Also don't think I haven't noticed, but you need to sleep too." She mumbled.

"Ah! That. I've always been able to function on two to three hours every couple of days." His smile became a bit more forced.

"Nightmares, huh?" She seemed to notice. He seemed shocked that she had figured it out. "Hey, I get them too. I get it." She kept drying the dishes he handed her. "Would you like a magic infused lullaby tonight?"

He ignored her last question, "Speaking of nightmares: you screamed a bit and talked in your sleep last night. I was told what I did was wrong. I won't do it again, but I can't help but wonder if you would like someone to wake you during yours." After some thoughtful scrubbing, "I think I would like a good night's rest. But I want to hear another song, if that's okay."

"I have plenty of lullabies up my sleeves." She jokingly rolled her sleeves up further. "I don't know. I can get pretty violent if I am in a deep sleep. Sometimes it's best to just let the dream ride." She accepted the dish he passed to her and dried it. Once they were done, Alastor put his coat on, removed his hair tie, and grabbed his microphone. He offered her his elbow after Selena was ready.

She took it and followed his lead to the ballroom.