"So, what can I help you with, my dear?"

Alastor had obviously noticed her slight distress, watching her carefully as she shut the door behind them. Her back pressed against the door as she breathed slowly, pulling the photograph away from her chest to look at it once again. Part of her wanted to believe she had seen things before, but staring back at her from behind the thin plastic protective screen was the human with dark eyes, warm skin and a brilliant smile. Clover gathered all her courage, avoiding eye contact with him as she began to speak.

"...Al, what did you look like in life?"

She couldn't look at him, she was too nervous in how he would react to her having this information without his permission. Her small reprieve was short lived, the image of shining black shoes entering her vision below the photograph shook her enough to look up at him, finding herself nose to nose with the Radio Demon as he leaned over her. The photo was crushed to her chest as she backed up towards the heavy door behind her instinctively, giving her enough room to look up at what was waiting before her. Alastor seemed entirely calm despite the intimidating move, his voice backlit by radio static as he spoke.

"Why?"

Swallowing the thickness in her throat, she spoke slowly as possible to try and keep the conversation to her own terms despite her nerves.

"I don't know what happened, or why but…"

The photo was flipped in his direction, held between them with shaking fingers as she watched for any sign of a reaction. It would have been less nerve wracking if he would have blown up at her immediately, but that wasn't Alastor. He definitely had a temper, that much she knew from reputation and what she'd heard in his radio broadcast, but Alastor was cunning, collected; he would talk his way through this in a way that ate away at her if he was going to take an offensive approach. Instead, he cocked his head at the photograph, his smile meshing in a confusing fashion with a furrowed brow before it dropped slightly. The expression broke her heart a little, she'd not seen him seem anything but chipper since she'd met him, not even during their somewhat emotionally confusing moment in the garden. It was quiet for far too long, and when the shadows started to shift in the corners of her vision, her anxious mouth began to run at full speed.

"I'm really sorry, I honestly don't know how or why this happened, all I did was take a picture! I took one of Charlie and some idle things and they all turned out normal, I don't know why it came out this way. Cross my heart, I wouldn't invade your privacy like that, I just wanted to see f traditional photography would work and I had no idea that i-"

"Quiet."

The voice that stopped her nervous babbling didn't come from the man standing in front of her, it echoed inside her skull with a hiss like that of an alligator reverberating across her skin. It startled her, pushing her further back into the dark wood behind her as her ears twitched in search of the sound. Movement out of the corner of her eye turned her gaze from the still concerned looking Alastor in front of her, and her heart leapt into her throat at what was staring back at her.

A shadow, barely visible in the low light of the fireplace but solid enough to set itself apart from the dark panelling behind it, stood inches from her shoulder, twisting itself out from around Alastor's form in front of her to look down at her with it's glowing neon teal grin. A finger moved from its place pressed against the cracks of sharp teeth to press against her own trembling lips, a sharp sting of cold forcing a gasp from her as she forced herself not to recoil. She was less surprised than she thought she would be when faced with something such as this, but Alastor's Voodoo aesthetics and the twisting shadows that seemed to gather in the dark corners of the hotel clicked together all too well with this new addition of information about him. A glance down at the photo that was now being gently pried from her fingers by sharp claws only proved the point, her eyes narrowing at the shadow the human Alastor cast on the wall of the hotel and finding it adorned with the now familiar antlers that towered over her.

Well, there was another flurry of mysteries she would have to find the answers to later.

Finally, Alastor spoke, turning the photograph thoughtfully between his claws.

"I do not believe that you would do this with any intention other than proving your point, cher. Now, where did you get that camera?"

Clover felt herself slide downward as her knees gave out slightly from her relief, attempting to regain control of her priorly tense muscles to keep herself upright in a short scramble to remain vertical. Her voice was breathless as she spoke, but she tried her best to answer regardless.

"A pawn shop, somewhere near the coffee shop. I bought it the day we were closed when y-"

He didn't seem to notice her pause, or at least he made no motions to address it, so she disguised it with a clearing of her throat before she continued.

"-when there was that murder down the street from it, did you ever hear about that?"

"Ah, yes. I believe Rosie mentioned it the last time I joined her for tea, it sounded like it was quite the gory affair."

Clover couldn't help the flicker of fear that lit up the fire beneath her ribcage, fueling her heart rate to quicken once again. He addressed it so simply, but the slight twist of his smile spoke volumes where he said only sentences. Any doubt that Alastor was who had slaughtered the demon that assaulted her, as little as there was, disappeared in that simple quirk of his lips. Before she could fumble for what to say next, Alastor's gaze turned to the shadow beside them, and the creature rushed from the room with nothing more but a soft breeze between them. She'd barely caught her breath from the cold chill that had spread across her chest at the motion when he began to speak once again, his voice low and heavy with radio static.

"Who else have you photographed with this?"

"Just Charlie, really. You're the first person I've used it for beside her, and like, my shoes."

The soft laugh that passed from his lips made her relax slightly, but her nerves will still wound tight with the instinct to run at the first sign of ill intent from her fiendish friend. He was still so close to her, as close as he had been when he'd invaded her space upon their first meeting, causing her neck to crane upward to look at him and her skin to light up with a flustered flush. She felt her ears twitch forward as he spoke, soft and low.

"Well then, it seems we'll have to do some inspection into this topic together, for once."

"What the hell Al? Ya' can't just snatch a guy outta' bed like 'dat without any warnin', ya fuckin' shadow scared me halfta' de- Oh!"

Angel Dust's outburst stalled the familiar flutter in the pit of her stomach, instead spreading the hot burn of embarrassment across her chest as the spider demon looked over their position with all wide, eight eyes from the now-open door beside them. Alastor seemed entirely unmoved by the outburst, simply turning his head towards the newest addition to the library. Angel's mouth dropped open, glancing between them for a moment before a smirk revealed his fangs and he began to tease.

"Well, well, well, Smiles, if this is your way of invitin' me for a threesome, then I shoulda' told ya' that I charge extra for the ladies'. Tho' I could cut ya a deal if ya' nice tuh' me and le-"

"Angel."

Alastor's voice was filled with heavy static, warping the simple command into a terrifying bastardization of a name as his neck cracked into a sick angle. Angel shared a panicked glance with Clover, the smallest of the three simply sending him a worried smile as Alastor finally left her personal space to stalk towards Angel Dust. His voice returned to it's normal cadence when he spoke to their effeminate friend again.

"I need you to photograph us! You don't mind, do you?"

It was only when he placed her camera into Angel's raised hands that she realized the weight of it was missing from around her neck, looking downward without a second thought and finding the front of her sweater instead of the off-white and rainbow device . There was no time to question when he'd taken it from her, Alastor reappearing beside her with a soft pop and a flurry of shadows.

"Smile, my dear!"

A long arm wound its way around her waist, pulling her hip against his side with a soft thud as he turned them both towards Angel Dust. She couldn't help but laugh when a familiar theatrical tune clicked on from his radio to punctuate the moment, looking up at him to find his signature bright eyed smile. The camera flashed before she was ready, causing her to jump and blink through the bloom that blinded her. Claws brushed against her back, sending a chill down her spine as the solid form beside her disappeared.

When her vision cleared, Alastor was examining the photograph carefully as it developed. Angel looked as confused as she felt, looking between the two of them as audible gears turned beneath fluffy white fur. Angel Dust seemed to have enough of Alastor's games, grinding his teeth together before yelling towards the red demon.

"Is anyone gonna' tell me what da' hell is goin' on?"

"Quiet, Angel."

Alastor placed the camera back into Clover's hands, the edge of irritated confusion in his manner gone as he smiled down at her before turning back to Angel Dust.

"Now! Would you be so kind as to allow our mutual, fairer acquaintance to take your portrait?"

"Uh, sure?"

The confusion in Angel Dust was tossed aside as he seemed to catch up with the conversation, tilting slim hips seductively as he leaned against the doorframe. Clover watched the interaction with interest, stifling a smile as Alastor's own twitched when Angel continued on in a low growl.

"How do ya' want me, Deer Daddy?"

Clover instantly covered her mouth to silence her hiccuping laugh, but the loud slap drew attention regardless. Despite the radio screech that came from Alastor, his ears twitched towards her regardless. The movement was quickly followed by a sharp turn of his head, raising a brow at her as she fumbled to move her camera to a usable position. Angel Dust seemed to get the message, keeping his posture the same but breaking into a radiant smile as the camera flashed. As soon as the whir of the photo printing started, Angel began talking again.

"You know Al, that kinda' shit usually costs people. You're lucky I like ya', photos with a star like me's usuallys top dolla'."

"That is all Angel, you are free to leave."

Alastor's voice was far closer to her ear than she'd expected it to be, but she didn't take her eyes off the slowly developing photograph to check where he'd placed himself. They'd made a pact to respect each other's wants for their personal space, and even though the closeness made her heart relocate to her throat, Clover was comfortable with having Alastor as near to her as he chose to be. Angel Dust sighed loudly with an exasperated gesture, two sets of hands crossing over his plush chest.

"Wait'a minute, what the hell is goin' on here? You twos are bein' weirder than usual."

"All in good time. Now, you may return to whatever it was you were doing before we interrupted."

Angel shuffled, muttering something underneath his breath before raising his voice once again.

"Will ya' at least tell me if I look alright?"

Clover smiled as the photo became clearer, looking up from the paper clutched between her fingers to meet Angel's eye.

"You look great, Angel, I promise. Thank you."

Angel gave one last suspicious look between the two of them before he sighed, nearly falling out of the doorway in his lazy escape after seeming to decide that he'd had enough of their antics. The door closed quickly behind him, Alastor's shadow twisting itself around the doorknob until the sharp click of a lock echoed through the room. Clover should have felt more intimidated by the motion, she knew that for a fact, but she was too invested in the ending to this small mystery they'd fallen into together.

Looking back down at the photo, the plot thickened.

Leaning against the doorway wasn't the four armed spider-demon that she'd been speaking to moments prior. Instead, there was the bright image of a young man. Angelic blonde curls contrasted only slightly to the white fluff it replaced, framing bright eyes and a wide grin with the slightest gap, a familiar gold tooth glinting slightly from the camera's flash. The lopsided smile and sparkle was unmistakably Angel Dust, the disguise of a sharp pinstriped suit couldn't hide the brightness that she'd come to relate to her foul-mouthed fellow tenant. Alastor peered over her shoulder, flickering through radio stations almost-anxiously as he spoke.

"Well? What have you deduced, my dear? Is it our fellow acquaintance Angel Dust?"

"It is. What about the other one? Is it, uh. Well...us?"

Alastor produced the other photograph, holding it in front of them gently between sharp claws. It was them, but instead of the image of the tall, dark haired man that she'd seen before standing next to her pre-expired form, was the image of two demons. Still, her heart fluttered at the visual of him standing beside her despite the strange circumstances. Before she became too caught up in her own rampant, ridiculous response, she continued on to solving their conundrum.

"I don't understand, why do we look the same there but…"

"I believe the obvious answer is that it isn't the camera after all! It seems you have something to do with it."

"All I did was take a picture."

"The fact that you seem to be entirely unaware of it is even more curious. Even so! It is a fitting little trick, though I would be careful with it. Many demons aren't entirely comfortable with being known outside of this life."

"But Charlie looked the same, why would that be?"

"Well, Miss Morningstar is not a sinner like we are dear, perhaps it only works on our kind!"

Clover was met with a fantastical idea, one far too romantic for a life in hell, but she turned to look up at him regardless. He only smiled back, seeming to have entirely forgotten any discomfort he'd shown in her having evidence of his image in life in the face of a far more entertaining situation. She paused her assumptions for now, needing time to reflect on it all, when not in the presence of such an inviting distraction. Instead, she continued to try and keep amnesty between them with the hope that his improved mood would only continue to develop.

"I really didn't know Al, I promise, I-"

"Now, now, do not fret. I do not believe that you are playing tricks here, dear. Your honesty is obvious."

"You can keep the photos if you'd like, I won't tell anyone, I don't want to invade your privacy like that… though, if it's alright for me to say, you do photograph well. You...uh, well, you're very pleasant to look at."

Alastor looked at her for a long moment, his radio going silent. Her heart stilled, her breath stolen from her throat as he towered over her. Clover could slap herself for saying such a thing, for not restraining her anxious babbling and need to please others from terrorizing her sanity. She was far too honest for her own good sometimes, and if she continued to let the habit run wild around the Radio Demon, she was sure to get herself into further trouble and emotional anguish than she ever had before. Just as the air became too heavy for her to bear and her mind began to scramble for what to say next, the moment ended. He jumped to life with a series of movements, his voice amplified as he stepped out from behind her and made his way towards the door, the lock clicking open with a flick of his wrist.

"Well, I've no use for them! Do with them as you wish I suppose, now-"

He turned to her again, the door held open with a single extended set of claws as shadows curled around her feet, gently nudging her towards their exit with the cold whip of their tendrils. Relief flooded through her when his expression remained positive, aggressive optimism and amusement in his eyes as they met hers.

"I believe we both deserve a drink."