Side Story I - Similar, not the same (II).
"So, do tell me, Rosie. What has you in such a tizzy today?"
Rosie could do little more than humm as she savored Wallace's tea.
Wallace's Sweet And Savory had its name for a reason. It was a contrast. The place catheter for people in Hell that wouldn't fuck things up. Wallace himself was a monster of a Sinner with ample military experience and a motley crew of equally skilled men and women capable of either killing or, in this case, either cooking, baking or preparing drinks.
It was also one of the few places that openly flaunted a large collection of heavenly weapons, both for close combat and long range. Few wasted heaven blessed steel or other materials in bullets simply because recovering it was impossible. Wallace didn't give a tosh. It didn't matter who you were; hellborn from Imp to Goetia or Sinner from nobody to Overlord. Wallace's was a calm dinner where fucking up meant not coming out. There was a reason why the menu also included the rare cannibal dish after all.
"Whatever do you mean?" Rosie let out a happy sigh as the sweet tea allowed her mind a moment of peace she knew would end soon.
Alastor let out a chuckle before the background radio noise died down. He was serious and genuine this time. "Oh Rosie. You can be more obvious than Mimzi when something is on your mind."
His fellow Overlord grimaced. Mimzi was no bad company at all, but she was sometimes so self absorbed it hurt. If it ever hurt Alastor? Rosie's appreciation of Mimzi would do a full one eighty and the stout woman would find herself a regular guest at the Cannibal Colony.
As a main dish.
"Me? My dear, you wound me." Although Rosie's smile cracked a bit despite the cruel thoughts about that woman making her spirits rise for a second.
And it was far too obvious. After all, Alastor could be many things. Stupid? No, that wasn't on the list.
"Oh, come on now Rosie. We have known each other long enough. Playing games was fun and all back in the day, but I think we owe the other a bit more sincerity, hmm?" Alastor raised a brow at Rosie's clear discomfort. "So, do tell. What has made you enter such a mood?"
Beating around the bush wasn't going to help. Rosie let her smile fall. She rarely did that, Alastor knew that much.
"Do you ever feel like working as you do, alone, makes it better, Alastor?" By now Rosie was looking at her empty teacup, feeling just the same. "Having very few connections with those under you?"
Alastor was loath to admit it, but he found the question shocking. Not enough to make his smile waver, but his look turned questioning. "Why do you ask?"
"Sometimes it feels so tiring." Rosie was drawn to the diner. She could see figures she knew. Some she hated. Others she tolerated. A few patrons were new, others were old but Rosie hadn't ever talked with them. It all had significance in her mind. "To care about at least some of the souls you own and work with. To want what is better for them. It comes with a payout of course, nothing is free. But it means you can't only take, you must also give."
The Radio Demon found himself clicking claws against the table. "Rosie, is this about the mortals?"
"... In part." It was rare to see Rosie ashamed, truly ashamed, of something. But there it was. "I have been having… thoughts. Revisiting memories."
Alastor let out a 'mmhmm' as he prodded her for more.
"Envy, Alastor." Rosie managed to mumble after a few seconds of the Radio Demon looking at her that smarmy way of his. "I want what isn't mine this time… Again."
"Ah, I see." Alastor decided to finish his own tea, take a napkin and clean away. He was making it clear just how simple he thought this trouble was.
Admittedly, he wasn't wrong.
"Rosie, my dear. Do you find yourself envying your dear Evelinde per chance?" Alastor's question was more of another tease than anything else. "We both know your taste in men has been… less than stellar. In every single sense of the word, at that. As has hers, although the meals in her case were far more palatable." Though the teasing ended there. "Is what little you have seen of the young man really that alluring?"
Rosie grimaced. Again, he wasn't wrong. But sometimes even Alastor's closest friend, Rosie included, wished he'd be less of a smart aleck. And with this? Rosie had never told Alastor about what hap-could have happened between the last human that came down here. Between her and Alan. Another man that wasn't hers to take.
Alastor knew he was correct after seeing her expression. So he decided to change his approach and ease Rosie's pain. He wasn't that cruel to his friends. "Forgive me. Perhaps I went too far." Then again, as he made it clear once more, Alastor was a bit special that way. "But you know how I view that kind of thing."
"Of course." Rosie returned a smile to her face. This time the one that said 'I know something you don't'. "You are waiting for the 'right woman', my dear Alastor." It was still amusing how clearly unaware Alastor was of Rosie's knowledge. The woman had pegged him for what he was decades ago and Alastor still had to find out.
Sadly, that was the last bit of mirth she enjoyed during this outing.
"Sooner or later, my dear Rosie, sooner or later. And when I find that person? I will have her." The Radio Demon chuckled as he took out his wallet. It was only proper after all. But, before he left. "Do not fret, Rosie." He said as he gave the woman a much more heartfelt look as he laid a gentle hand to her shoulder. Few would see that on Alastor, and Rosie felt truly grateful that the man had a soft side at all. "Someday you'll have what you want. There is someone for everyone out there. Even for people like us. It may just take a little bit of work, negotiating and skullduggery. Our position is never safe, and one must strive to ensure that, were we to be tied, it will not be so the other party can hang us with our bows."
The Cannibal Overlord managed to smile, a sincere smile at that, at Alastor's words. Alastor could be brutal in his description, but Rosie appreciated his concern. That was enough for her friend to go and do as any good gentleman would in his situation.
Rosie's smile waned little by little as Alastor went to pay. She took a fan to hide her face as she lost it whole. Sometimes there was no other way to say how things were. No other word to describe it. And sadly, the feeling was no different. It was all as simple as it was direct.
Hurt.
