The next evening at the Grand Reopening of the new and improved Hazbin Hotel, Alastor entered the parlor. Golden garlands draped over the railings and stairwells, accenting the room very nicely and helping reflect the light from the new elaborate chandelier that hung from the ceiling. The parlor actually felt warm and inviting for once and even Alastor had to admit it looked very nice.

The other residents were all already seated around the parlor, drinking and talking with each other, including the King of Hell, Lucifer himself. He strode proudly over to Alastor when he noticed him enter, "Well, look who finally decided to make a grand appearance! If it isn't the hotel's very own bellhop!" He cockily leaned forward onto his cane. "Since you apparently decided to take a vacation or something and disappear for the past week, I had to swoop in and save the day by handling all the decorations for the party, last minute. You're welcome, by the way."

Alastor cocked an eyebrow at him, his smile widening at his challenger. "Why, I've never seen a more tacky parlor in my life!" He replied, microphone static underlining his disgust.

"Tacky or not, at least I know not to mix a bold red with neon green!" Lucifer shot back with a laugh.

"Visual appeal is only half the battle," Alastor replied, "Audio Ambiance is just as if not more important and sets the mood for the whole gathering." He gestured with his microphone to the room as a whole. "So if your goal was to set the mood of this gala as dreary and dull, I should say mission accomplished!" He turned back toward Lucifer and cocked his head as he grinned down smugly at him. "I dare say it is a good thing I arrived when I did and before any prospective guests had arrived! What would they have thought?" He snapped his fingers and instantly the music playing in the room changed from classical orchestral to swing jazz.

Lucifer gasped in horror. "How dare you insult these great visionaries!" He exclaimed. "They are the backbone to all other genres of music! There's a reason most of my first soul contracts were music and art based!"

"Let it go, Dad, just let him have this one." Charlie chuckled as she stepped into the other two's conversation. Lucifer huffed and continued to grumble to himself like a petulant child while Charlie turned her attention over to Alastor, "Hey, Al, could I talk to you in the other room for a second?"

Alastor quietly dismissed himself and followed her out behind the door into the hall. "What is it you need?" He asked after Charlie stopped and turned back toward him.

Charlie pulled out something from her pocket that had been hidden in a small blue cloth. "Here. I have something for you, and I figured you probably wouldn't want the others to see."

Alastor cocked an eyebrow curiously, but took the small object from Charlie. He unfolded the top of the cloth it had been wrapped in. His eyes widened when they lit on what was inside--his handkerchief, perfectly bleached, pressed, and folded, with only a vague tannish outline showing that there had ever been a stain at all.

Charlie continued speaking, "I know I'm not supposed to ask about your past or anything, but I could tell this clearly meant a lot to you. So I asked Nifty to help me clean it and get it looking as close to new as we could," She paused but Alastor didn't reply. He seemed frozen as he just stared down at the small cloth in his hands. She spoke again. "I...hope this was ok. I know I probably should have asked permission but..."

Alastor stopped her with a lift of his hand. He closed his eyes and pursed his lips together before responding, "No, My Dear, don't apologize." His hand faltered for a moment before resting on Charlie's shoulder. When he opened his eyes again they appeared to reflect more of the light than normal. "Thank you, Charlie," he finally said after a brief pause. "This means more to me than you could fathom."

Charlie smiled back up at him. "I think I have an idea."

Alastor quietly took his hand off her shoulder and went about putting the handkerchief away. He paused with it over his heart for an almost indicernable second before slipping his hand under the lapel of his coat and sliding the handkerchief back into its inside breast pocket. Charlie danced up on her toes after he finished. "Ok, well, that was it. We should probably get back to the party before the others start wondering where we disappeared to again."

"Indeed," Alastor agreed. His smile shifted from the genuine one he was wearing to his typical broad showmanship version. "After all, the show must go on." He offered an elbow to Charlie with a deep bow. "Shall we?"

Charlie giggled and returned the bow with a small curtsey of her own, draping an arm over Alastor's. "We shall." Then together they walked back to the parlor, the rest of the Hotel none the wiser to the whole misadventure.