Sometimes
the best of intentions can have the worst of consequences. And more often than
not, being in a position of great power can change a person drastically.
Alastor of New Orleans
had always loved radios. Along with being an infamous serial killer in New
Orleans, he became the most famous radio broadcaster of his time. From dad
jokes to the news to grisly murder reports (hiding his true identity of course),
he would always end with cheery jazz music and his quote, “You’re never fully
dressed without a smile!” Playing in a jazz band and radio broadcasting were
the two main things that had kept the young mane sane during the troubling
times of World War One, the Great Depression and harsh discrimination. To his
father, the elite and all who had doubted him, he had shown that a French Creole
man could do whatever he wanted and accomplish anything.
…except when he had gotten
caught by the police and deer hunters one fateful night. Running for his life
in the woods, he found himself mauled and bitten by the fierce dogs sent after
him. Barely managing to escape, he had time to kill one last deer hunter who
had just killed a doe for sport. As he was burying his victim, Alastor had failed
to notice the hunter’s companion sneak up on him. Thinking that Alastor was a
deer, he raised his rifle and…
Bang!
The bullet shot right
through his forehead and he fell dead. The hunter was horrified at the ghost of
a grin of the man he had just killed. The police arrived and told the man that
he had killed the infamous Louisiana Lunatic. Although Alastor’s listeners were
sad to see him gone, many people of the time either didn’t care or were glad
that he was dead.
But of course that wasn’t
the end of Alastor’s story…because in the Hazbin world, everyone is given a
second chance at life as it were. Alastor soon became a red deer demon in Hell,
a harsh reminder of the predator becoming the prey. Due to the deals Alastor
had made with demons and voodoo entities, his death had granted him immense
dark magic never before seen in a mortal soul.
After Alastor’s death in
1933, he started out with gradually taking over the radio industry, after
kicking out an opponent with a monstrous radio head. (1933 was also when FM
Radio was patented, as radio waves improved, Alastor’s powers did as well after
his death.) In 1938, at the same time as the H.G. Well’s “War of The Worlds”
was broadcast, Alastor sent millions of demons into a panic as a prank,
claiming that shadow spirits from under Hell would possess their demon owners
and use their energy to make their own shadow kingdom. (Alastor’s shadow had
thought up the idea and had wanted it to become real, but of course, Alastor
said no.) For several decades, Alastor broadcast his murders on the radio,
living an ideal life similar to his human one.
Then Vox first arrived
in Hell in the 1950s, during the portable electronic age. He had been a
television show host who frequently liked to scam people, flirt with women and
men alike and make good money. He laughed at Alastor, saying his old-time radio
shenanigans were over.
“Old deer trying to
crank up boring songs again? What a pathetic old timer bitch.”
“Hey Al, ever heard of
toothpaste before? Or a bath?”
Vox quickly gained power
in the 50s and 60s as more people on Earth and in Hell started to watch and obsess
over television. In the 1970s, Valentino, an infamous pimp, arrived in Hell as
well, becoming the Porn Studio owner. Velvet arrived in the later 1990s, when the
Internet was beginning, becoming the demon of social media.
In the main Hazbin universe,
Vox was able to outshine Alastor much of the time, especially in the 1960s/70s,
after which Alastor was forced to retreat in shame and fury. He had settled for
continuing his old-time radio broadcasts and terrorizing Hell, while the three
Vs (Vox, Valentino and Velvet) overpowered nearly everyone aside from the royal
family and Hell’s elite. But this time was different.
Vox had indeed, beaten
Alastor for many decades, mocking him for his gaunt appearance and old-time mannerisms.
But sometime, during the later 70s, Alastor started to feel alone as usual.
Despite his many strolls to coffee shops, reading newspapers and visiting his
cannibal “Canadian” friends, it wasn’t enough. Fortunately for him, he had
several allies: his minions Husk and Niffty, old friend and lover Mimzy and
mother-figure Rosie.
Rosie had become a stern but gentle-hearted
mother figure to him. Over and over again, Rosie had given him advice.
“Don’t drown yourself in nonsensical happiness
that’s all too fake.”
“Don’t put all your dames
in one basket. There are many pretty ladies out there, but don’t forget the few
who truly care for you.”
“Getting attached to
sinner’s ideas, the goals of common folk, is unbecoming when your job is to
impress the masses! Look at me, I own my emporium, my dresses never come
cheap.”
“And for Satan’s sake, brush your teeth and
trim your claws! Just because you’re a bloodthirsty cannibal, doesn’t mean you
can just slack off like some drunken’ dapper! I’m hundreds of years old, born
and raised in Hell, and look at my grin.”
“You’re never fully
dressed without a smile. A real smile. And real happiness comes from within.”
Alastor kissed Rosie’s
hand in thanks.
Rosie grinned, popping a
small demon heart into her mouth. “There’s the gentleman I most adore.”
“You’re
never fully dressed without a smile. Real happiness comes from within.”
His mother’s words
echoing in Rosie’s advice, Alastor decided to actually listen and follow
through. Before long, his teeth were shiny and white instead of yellow…making
ladies swoon on the spot due to his grin. His claws were well trimmed and white
instead of dirty yellow and Alastor even became less gaunt as Niffty helped
cook for him. Niffty made him his meals and cleaned his home in exchange for
safety from Vox and other predators. Husk protected Alastor in battle, and
provided him beer and money reluctantly. Both Husk and Niffty’s auras glowed
red, symbolizing their subordination under Alastor due to the deals made.
Mimzy too, helped boost
Alastor’s confidence through song, dance and fine wine.
“I know that some
traumatic things may have happened to you,” Mimzy Hannigan mentioned as she and
Alastor danced slowly in private at her jazz club. “Mimzy’s Palace” blinked on
in neon pink outside. “But know that you have friends who care for you and
don’t want to hurt you. I’ll never hurt you, Alastor.”
“That’s what my father
kept saying before he did all…those things to me,” Alastor scowled through his
smile. “The only person whom I ever felt comfortable with touch was…”
“Your mom.”
Alastor raised an
eyebrow and sighed. “Y-You’re right.”
Mimzy began, “You aren’t
afraid to touch other people though. Why is that?”
“It shows that I’m
secure; it gives me a sense of dominance. Besides, I enjoy the feel of my
victims struggling for afterlife in my hands…”
“But you still miss
being embraced by your mother.”
Alastor softly nodded. “If
you breathe a word about this…”
“A good dame always
keeps her secrets. And even handsome serial killer overlords need hugs
sometime.”
“I’m not an overlord and
I don’t need any hugs!”
“What if we can start
over from where we left off in New Orleans?” Mimzy asked.
“When you accidentally
died by a spiked drink by my hand in the 20s? By you gossiping and trying to
get me to…you know…”
“No,” she said. “I’ll
admit, I was head-over heels for you, especially since we were both famous
performers. But…now that I’ve taken some time to reflect, I realized that…it
was never meant to be a fast fairy tale. You…didn’t love me as much as I
wanted…” She sniffed.
“I saw you as my
beautiful companion and close friend,” Alastor said. “Nothing more, nothing
less. Being flirty and charming is my way of presenting myself to women…but I
could never get dirty and intimate with anyone.”
“Even so,” mentioned
Mimzy. “I’ve learned there are other ways to show affection that don’t involve
getting in the sheets, as it were. Cuddling, hand-holding, looks of support…”
“Mimzy…I told you, I
don’t want…”
“No sex required. How
about you dance with me and do whatever makes you comfortable. And I ask
permission to touch you?”
Alastor looked taken
aback. “Wait, what?” No one had ever mentioned this before, let alone was this
considerate.
“We can take things one
step at a time. Do our usual singing, waltzing and murdering. Then perhaps when
we are both relaxed, I’ll ask, ‘May I give you a hug?’ If you say yes, I’ll do
exactly that. But if you say no, then I won’t.”
“You gonna keep asking
those questions every time?”
Mimzy puffed on a
cigarette, her magenta purple dress glinting. “Of course not. Relationships
take time to develop, just like friendships. It’s not the quick “do this and
we’re done” deals you’re used to. I’ll ask only when the moment feels right.”
“How will I know when
that happens?”
They stared into each
other’s eyes as they waltzed. For a while, the two demons let themselves be
immersed by the smooth jazz music and their memories of New Orleans. Alastor
and Mimzy leaned into each other, closing their eyes in bliss. A soft touch of
their lips lasted for a few seconds. Then they drew apart as the music ended.
“Maybe we don’t have to
know,” she breathed with a sigh.
“You know I can still
kill you if you try and touch me without warning,” he said, furrowing his brows.
Mimzy just stared
defiantly back. “Go ahead. I’d just respawn and kick your deer ass.”
Alastor grinned. “I’ve
always loved your spirit, Mimzy. My sweet little canary.”
Mimzy adjusted her pink
feathered headband, her pearl necklace bouncing slightly. “So…are you willing
to try it out?”
Alastor shrugged. “Very
well.” Then he smirked. “If you’d like to touch me with my permission, you can
shake my hand and we’ll call it a deal!”
“Fuck no!”
0 0 0
Alastor soon had to confront
his worst fears/most hated things: dogs, sex, touch, sweets and new technology.
Ever since Vox surpassed him, Alastor had avoided new tech like the plague,
even the new kinds of radios. And ever since his death by hunter’s dogs and a
gunshot to the head, he had avoided dogs and hellhounds as well. Although the
dog fear was a harder and more traumatic fear, the technology one was perhaps
easier to handle.
“Every new piece of
those technological abominations is a reminder that Vox is an obnoxious,
pompous piece of shit television. And a cultish bastard too!” Flames briefly
raced across Alastor’s body and static pierced the air for a dreadfully long
moment.
“So that’s it?” Niffty
asked with a puzzled expression as they stood in Alastor’s elegant living room.
A radio stood on a side table and a fire was lit in front of them. “You’re just
going to grumble and swear every time you see a TV?”
“That’s not how it
works!” he seethed, his shadow covering a deer head with sunken red eyes on the
wall. His usual gentlemanly demeanor saved for the public had cracked in
private. “His electricity powers keep getting in my way and he keeps mocking me
with that horrible grin. Not to mention how he treats those around him. It’s
always, ‘Hey buy this, buy that!’ ‘I’m so cool, I can screw every man and woman
I please!’ ‘I’m brainwashing the masses with my boring, egocentric game shows!’
Pathetic.”
“Why not make a deal or
use your dark magic?” Niffty asked.
“Vox is just as clever
and cunning as I in deal-making. And I don’t do deals with just anyone. And you
think I haven’t already tried my magic against him?! He invents devices that
make it ineffective. Swats away my imps and shadows like flies while
manipulating atoms, and particles, or whatever. And sending in my comrades is
too risky.”
“Oh man, oh man,” Niffty
sighed. “There has to be some way to bring down your rival.”
“No fucking chance of
that ever happening,” Husk grumbled at a nearby pool table that Alastor had
just conjured for him. He gulped down his third bottle of booze.
Alastor growled.
“At least not on your
own,” he mentioned. “Vox and Valentino are collaborating and plan on expanding
Valentino’s porn studio soon. That rat ass pimp already has a new star
candidate, Angel Dust.”
Alastor scoffed. “Who
cares about all that? I might as well keep doing what I do best…my entertaining
broadcasts! As long as they don’t get in my way again, there won’t be trouble.”
Husk scoffed. “Continue
being a selfish prick, why the fuck not?”
Alastor roared and
blindly shot a fireball from his hand. Husk dodged the bouncing blast and it
hit Niffty in the back. She had been cleaning a lit fireplace, unharmed, then
she squealed in surprise. The red fire clashed with the yellow flames, making
them orange until calming down once again.
“Sorry Niffty,” Alastor
grumbled.
“Always knew you
were…um, your magic was hot but that was something else!” She giggled.
“The fire place is still
in good shape,” Niffty called, walking out unharmed and unfazed. Then, staring
at the flames, she brightened. “What a minute, Alastor! What if you could fight
fire with fire?”
“My fire against Vox’s
electricity would just result in a frustrating hot stalemate. And Lucifer would
likely be mad.”
“No. I mean…” Niffty
grinned, one eye shining, “You could use your technology against Vox’s!”
“His is newer. I refuse
to use his things.”
“Then make your own! How
about a more powerful radio?”
“My radio is just fine.”
“You’re an entertainer
and radio host! Radios didn’t just die when television popped up.”
“People watch TV all the
time now.”
“Yes, because it keeps
evolving, but radios have evolved as well,” she explained. “You can still
listen to music in cars and such. And look at us. We’ve evolved from our human
forms to these ones.”
“Lucky me,” Husk sighed.
Niffty took several deep
breaths. “I know change can be scary sir, but what if you only got better over
time? Maybe you could broadcast your murders on TV so more people would see
them!”
“Unthinkable! It’s never
the same!” Alastor spat.
“Using TVs to mock your
rival on the air! Wouldn’t that help instill fear in those weakling demons
around here?”
“I don’t have a TV.
Never will!”
Husk pointed at the
small tan boxy TV with two antennae and a black and white screen. “Yeah you do.
Hypocrite.”
“But that is genuine
technology!”
“Still a TV. We both
watched those fun programs when we were younger in our respective home states.
Still read the papers and watched the news. You aren’t against newspapers and
printed media right?”
“Right…”
“Even though it’s
different from radio?”
“Yes…though I may have
maimed that newspaper demon for not sending me my newspaper on Sunday yet
again…”
Husk got into his face,
pointing at him several times. “Then grow the fuck up and embrace what’s new
around you! Before we got used to Hell, we were just lost souls adapting to
this new shit-stained world. But adapt to it we did. You’re gonna have to
accept that those golden days are fucking over…argh!”
Alastor lifted up Husk
and static buzzed menacingly.
“Kill me all you want,
bastard!” Husk sputtered in protest as Alastor’s fingers inched toward his
furry throat. “That’ll give me a good reason to quit!”
“You cannot quit until
our deal is done!” Alastor yelled, also glaring in warning at a nervous Niffty.
“And no one tells me how to live my afterlife!”
“Then I sure as hell can
make it harder for ya, egocentric prick! If you don’t want my help, have fun
fucking yourself over.”
After a gut-wrenching
moment, Alastor breathed deeply and let go. Husk landed on his four feet with a
grunt as the static faded. Husk picked himself up, flipped the bird and stomped
off.
“You figure it out, pompous
shitlord. I gamble, kill, drink and hope for better days. You’re just the one
who controls radio waves.”
“Here, let me try
something!” Niffty called, speeding off.
“What the…where are you
going?!” Alastor called.
“Getting you a gift!”
Moments later, Niffty
returned. She carried something heavy in one hand and placed it on a table with
ease. “I know how much you love cooking, sir.”
Alastor smiled. “Of
course, my dear! Did you get me any fresh hearts or heads?”
“All that and more!” She
stood by the red cover over the object.
“Is that…a small stove?”
She grinned as Husk came
over to watch as well. “Just as good as a stove, if not better! Behold…”
Niffty lifted up the
cover, revealing…
“…the microwave!”
Sure enough, a red
rectangular microwave was there before his stunned glowing crimson eyes. Niffty
beamed. “Totally didn’t steal it from a random rich family! Husk’s idea,
actually!”
Husk scoffed in
affirmation as he plugged in the microwave. Alastor wasn’t pleased.
“What in Satan’s name is
that?! Niffty! I have no qualms of punishing you!”
He aimed his microphone
staff at the device in anger.
“Who, whoa, whoa, hold
on a sec!” Niffty cried, waving her hands in front of him. “You haven’t seen
what it can do yet!”
“Nothing beats the
stove! Is this some kind of joke?!”
“Not at all! I’m here to
make sure you don’t miss out on the good stuff! Now, before you destroy
anything, please watch!”
In a flash, Niffty
placed a plate with a demon’s head on it and a flank of venison inside the
device. She closed the door and the inside light turned off.
“Now I just enter in the
amount of time I want it cooked by pressing these buttons.” She entered in six
minutes and sixty six seconds (6:66).
“That’s not long
enough!” exclaimed Alastor. “Sure I like raw meat but to only have it partially
cooked…”
“But here’s the cool
part!” said Niffty. “It can cook instantly thanks to dangerous radioactive
waves used to heat it! Husk?”
Husk sighed at Niffty’s
“go ahead” look and pressed the start button. The device turned on with a low
hum, the food spinning on the inside.
“Now just wait until it
reaches zero,” said Niffty. Alastor stared at the moving dish in bewilderment.
“There’s no fire to heat it. What kind of sorcery is this?”
“The one that can change
your life, mister magician!”
Before long, the light
turned off and it signaled that it was done with a beep. Niffty opened the door
and held out the plate with the smoked venison and head on it. She set the
plate down on the table as Alastor picked at the meat with a fork. He summoned
a chair and sat down.
“If this has been
tainted with…” he warned.
Ever so slowly, he took
a bite of the meat. “Hey, this tastes…”
Niffty and Husk gulped
in anticipation…
“…Pretty much the same.
It’s still good, in fact.”
They smiled with relief
as he finished his meal, skull and all.
“Stove is still better
though. I suppose I won’t have to destroy that thing.” He stood up.
Husk smirked this time.
“Oh my. The orthodox radio demon likes a new device?”
Alastor hissed before
turning away. For the next few days, Alastor suddenly found this new microwave
to be quite entertaining. He not only used it to cook food on occasion after
long days, he shrunk many demons and watched with delight as they squirmed and
burned as they were trapped inside. After cooking his victims, he popped their shrunken
bodies into his mouth.
“This snack-maker is the
bee’s knees!” he exclaimed. He heard Niffty giggling with delight from behind
him. Husk grabbed hold of Niffty and raced off as Alastor turned around. “Show
him the electric stove next time,” Husk whispered to Niffty. “Or the furby
organ,” Niffty giggled.
As Niffty and Husk raced
on ahead of him, Alastor turned to where his old fashioned wooden radio sat
near his old time TV set. He remembered what Niffty and Husk had mentioned.
“What
if you could fight fire with fire?”
“You’re
the one who controls radio waves.”
Radio waves…
A new sinister grin
formed on the radio demon’s face. A dark chuckle escaped his lips.
Of course! Television
and other technology all operated on radio waves, despite being different from
radios. An entertaining thought came to him. “How much of a radio demon can I become?”
0 0 0
It wasn’t long before
Alastor began to experiment with other kinds of technology, even television.
Although he still preferred radio first and foremost, he gradually decided to
see what it’d be like. He tried it during one particular gruesome massacre. He
was having his usual fun, tearing the limbs off of rapists and criminals as his
voodoo imp minions scampered out of buildings with fresh loot. Hovering in the
air, he tapped on his microphone staff and it lit up.
“Greetings and
salutations my sinful listeners! Your favorite host is back, Alastor, yours
truly!” His microphone staff hummed with energy, sending out FM waves to be
received by all the radios. “You are probably listening to me on your radios
right now, as I begin my gruesome true-some tale of my massacre live in
Pentagram City!” He paused in brief thought as if remembering his new plan.
“But this time, I’m gonna try something a little different…”
He glanced over at a
nearby television station and waved his hand. The glass window broke and one of
the televisions hovered in the air. It was small, gray and boxy. It floated
toward Alastor through the window in a red aura, the glass repairing itself as
it left. The TV hovered beside Alastor by magic.
“I’m going to ask you to
keep your radios on and turn on your televisions to channel…”
Alastor paused for a
beat. He knew there were already hundreds of channels, including 666 News. Vox
had taken over a majority of them…no one but himself could influence them. Sadly,
he had already taken popular channels 66 and 666 and one of his infamous game
show channels: 466. Alastor’s magic raced through the wires, helping to give
Alastor mental images of the technical infrastructure. There were 1950 channels
total…and many more to come. There had to be one that was available to use.
Then by sheer luck, he found the perfect one.
“1929! Turn to channel
1929, folks!”
Alastor also did as well
on the TV beside him…and static buzzed out loud on the screen, making him
flinch a bit.
“In just a moment, you
should be able to…” Alastor paused again. Another fear of his was people
judging and seeing his face. He took a breath and waved his hand over his face,
creating a brief illusion of a radio with smiling glowing teeth in place of his
face. Shadows obscured and warped his body, creating a glitch-covered phantom.
He cleared his throat,
“…see the show.”
Alastor had learned how
to control and direct the radio waves back when he had first arrived in Hell.
It was a skill that had been so natural to him, as natural as the desire to
eat. At the same time, Vox was able to manipulate television, as that was a
skill that became natural to him upon his death. Alastor knew that demons
couldn’t trade skills, let alone become overlords without lots of effort.
But Alastor had raw
power given to him by other demons when they had made deals. His magic was as
enigmatic, chaotic and versatile as he was. Whatever Alastor needed, his powers
would adjust accordingly. If Alastor could create portals, teleport and conjure
objects, then surely…
He focused long and
hard. Instead of sending out the usual waves in his staff, he directed them
toward the floating television. The dark tendrils of magic snaked their way
along the wires and danced through the air. They made contact with the static
and pixels…and other television waves.
Now to just merge them
together…waves meeting waves. A fuzzy black and white image appeared on the TV
screen.
Suddenly, a loud blast
of static buzzed out, jolting Alastor from his concentration. An electronic
growl was heard and Vox’s colored face appeared on the screen.
“Alastor,” he mused
lowly, seeing through his disguise. “I sensed a disturbance in my televised
realm.”
“Hm. Surprised are you,
Vox?”
“Hahaha! I never
would’ve thought that the radio demon would dare play with my tools! Perhaps
you are jealous of my accomplishments thus far?”
“Not jealous, TV
head…just inspired.” He closed his eyes and focused on the red sky in front of
him. Create the picture, merge the waves…
Nothing.
“You are a fool to think
that you can try and mess with television. Especially since you expired before they became a hit!” Vox
taunted. “Radios are jack shit in comparison.”
“Oh Vox, it may be true
I died much too soon. But I recently learned that radio and television aren’t
really that different. They are both forms of communication devices, used for
their best and only purpose: entertainment! And thy both operate on
electromagnetic radiation…”
“Already know that. I’ll
just take that free new channel, then.”
“But now I’m going to
show you just how much I’m capable of…”
Vox appeared in front of
him from the small TV and ripped off his illusionary mask. Vox had the head of
an early 80’s TV screen, having replaced his first one from the 50s. Both men
wore their signature suits, tailcoats and bow ties.
“Afraid of the
spotlight, stinky deer?” He smacked Alastor’s face with a video camera. “You’re
on camera!”
Alastor scowled through
his smile, dials appearing in his red eyes. He tossed the camera aside. “Says
the man with a TV for a head. Your human one get squashed by your own TV?”
Vox snapped his fingers
and the screen lit up in color, broadcasting the battle. With a loud crack, he
struck Alastor with a fierce blue bolt of electricity. His hair singed, body
twitching, almost falling down. The TV now had a teal aura around it.
My faithful watchers of
the VoxVision nation!” Vox declared, his voice echoing. He struck Alastor again
with lighting, sending him crashing into a wall. “Here is your so called radio demon trying to
prove his worth!” The screen showed Alastor groaning as he shook his head, back
making a small hole in the wall.
“Bullshit. Or should I
say, deershit!” A laugh track was heard.
Alastor stood up and
stepped on a black tentacle that carried him over toward Vox. “You wanna play
games, Vox?” he asked in a demonic voice.
“Let’s fucking go,” Vox
sneered in his own demonic tone as they stared each other down.
Yells, kicks, punches
and blasts were heard as the two overlords fought for technological supremacy. Alastor
cracked Vox’s face screen several times while Vox had gaged and struck his
opponent with various conjured wires. Wires wrapped around Alastor and black
tentacles snaked around Vox. Magic versus technology…but both combining. Alastor
burned away the wires, burning his skin with sparks. Vox zapped the tentacles
away, a monster shrieking in pain from a portal.
They were evenly matched
for a while, but soon Vox was gaining the upper hand. As they fought, Alastor
shared a look with his shadow that appeared beside him. As quick as shadow, his
dark avatar swooped behind Vox and entered into the television. The shadow had
entered through radios with ease, but this was a bit different.
Vast chambers of other
signals, far more numerous than the ones for radios. There were not only audio
frequencies, but pixels and particles for creating images. ‘It’s almost the
same,’ thought Alastor…’except directing the waves to a different place…’
It became increasingly
difficult for the shadow to focus. For one, every time Alastor got hurt by Vox,
his concentration and his shadow’s would falter. If Alastor got hurt too much,
the shadow would fade back into the staff and no more mission. Perhaps even
worse were the annoying other signals, jibbering and jabbering for attention.
Some even kicked against the shadowy intruder as if fizzling, “Strange old wave
not allowed here.” Shadow hissed at the signals in annoyance. He shooed them
away and spotted the main wave traveling from a large antennae from Vox’s
imposing TV tower.
Alastor then focused
again on his staff and the small TV screen. The tricky part was getting his own
conjured radio wave to resonate with Vox’s wave of electricity, matching the
frequencies while rejecting the other impinging signals. He briefly saw his
shadow trying to make progress.
Vox then suddenly
stopped the fight and snapped his fingers.
Zap!
The wave flashed with
electricity, shocking the shadow and almost sending him out of the TV.
“How about I fry up your
little friend and then finish you off?” Vox grinned, electricity dancing
between his gloved fingers.
Alastor narrowed his
eyes. “You’re making a rude, ungrateful mistake in interrupting my broadcast.”
“Hardly anyone around to
interrupt your puny shows.”
Alastor could sense
dozens of denizens turning off their radios and switching their TV channels to
Vox’s ones. His chest sank.
“Heh, heh,” Vox
chuckled, sensing it too. “No listeners, no power for you. Your glorious days
are over, old-timer. The majority of Hell will tune into my television programs! I inspire all my regular watchers!”
Vox’s cereal commercials
appeared on the small screen.
Through his pain,
Alastor smirked, blood running down his face. “Listeners and watchers are
nearly the same. People can listen to and watch TV.”
For a brief moment, a
black and white image of Alastor’s victims appeared on the screen.
“But they can only
listen to the radio. No pictures, no movement. Pathetic.”
Vox’s jingles played
once again as the screen switched back and forth. More static and “standbys.”
“Pompous TV man must’ve
forgotten the joys of listening to the classic tunes back in the day,” Alastor
spat. “Or the concept of imaginative storytelling. Before television and media,
there was radio. Without radios, television would not exist.”
“Sure it would!”
“You sure about that?”
“Yes! TV can function
without radio thanks to me! For sure, once I obliterate you and your radio
shenanigans to the ninth circle!”
“Here’s a joke for you,”
Alastor called as he dodged Vox’s attacks. “A boy asked his mother, ‘Can I
watch TV?’ She replies, ‘Yes but do not turn it on!’”
A laugh track was heard.
Lights flickered on and off in the surrounding buildings. The TV screen flashed
back and forth as Alastor and Vox mentally pictured different images they
wanted broadcast.
“Shit, Hell’s gonna have
another blackout,” Alastor mentioned to Vox. “Thanks a lot.”
After several more
minutes of fighting, Vox began to crush Alastor’s windpipe after slamming him
against another building wall.
“You’re done, deer
demon!” he spoke in triumph. “And you’re on air! Time for me to have venison
tonight! Any temporary last words?”
Alastor sputtered in a
singsong voice, “Did you just get distracted?”
Vox turned around in a
fury. “What?!”
Just then, Alastor’s
shadow grabbed onto the pulsing teal wave and squeezed it, eyes glowing. It
morphed until it turned crimson red. The other signals sparked in protest but
soon settled down into blackness. Vox fired a bolt of lightning at the TV
screen and it exploded! Alastor’s shadow flew out, barely avoiding the blast.
With a final punch, Vox smashed Alastor’s face and the deer plummeted to the
ground.
Alastor’s shadow caught
his master and drove him through a closing portal.
“Fuck!” Vox roared after
they had vanished into the ground.
0 0 0
After Alastor and his
shadow had healed and gotten much needed sleep, they went to work. Being a
quick learner, Alastor got used to switching between television waves and radio
waves. He had started broadcasting his killings on TV…and they started to
become a major hit. Newspapers soon had headlines that read, “Radio Demon Goes
To TV?!” “Vox out of the Running?!”
“Who’s the Technology Demon Now?” “Twist of Fate: Alastor Surpasses Vox In
Major Telecommunication-Turf Battle!”
In only a week, Alastor
had successfully taken over Hell’s television industry, becoming Hell’s top
demon of technology. Much to Vox’s surprise, he had even progressed to colored
images on TV and could (for a limited time) broadcast from TV and radio at the
same time. Now instead of Vox’s commercials, advertisements blared with jazz
music and black and white logos with Alastor’s smiling face in the background.
As the 21st century dawned, Alastor had achieved something
remarkable and unthinkable…he had all three V Overlords under his control!
Vox was still a
television demon…but day after day, he was forced to show Alastor’s commercials
as well as his own (which were dimmed down). His gruesome game shows were now
hosted by Alastor (and sometimes Vox was the unlucky victim.) Vox tried again
and again to reclaim his former position…but without the help of Valentino and
Velvet, all was lost.
Alastor had made sure that
the three Vs were separate and far away from each other as possible, even
restricting their online access. Valentino’s porn studio barely got off the
ground, due to Alastor’s disgust of the sexual art. Fortunately, this meant
that a certain porn star, Angel Dust, had been freed early from Valentino.
Velvet was still a social media demon, but was constantly being watched over
what kind of gossip she was posting. Posting the wrong thing led to the instant
erasure of said post, torture and no Wi-Fi and hell phones for weeks. Alastor’s
minions also helped watch over the various social media platforms to keep their
master from getting overwhelmed.
Alastor soon had his own
social media platforms to replace the ones made by Vox: APhone, Shutterradio,
Aloogle, Alflix, Alastagram, AlastorTube. He also had his own foods:
Jamb-Al-iya, Alicious cereal, Bucky Charms, Deerios, and more tech like the FM
Speaker 1929. Of course, radio was still Alastor’s most common method of
entertainment.
With Alastor in control
of all technology and media, Katie Killjoy and Tom Trench were also under
Alastor’s influence. All too often, Tom Trench would enjoy the dad jokes, while
Katie Killjoy could no longer brag, boast and do her usual gossiping. The worst
fears of the news anchors would flash across their screens and only cease when
they followed Alastor’s scripts. Now nearly everyone with access to the
internet would be influenced by the new Radio-Tech Demon just like the
Television Demon had planned to do before to his own watchers.
0 0 0
Sometime later in the
2020s, a young princess would have a dream to create a hotel to rehabilitate
the sinners in Hell. After feeling hopeless, a red dapper deer demon would
arrive at her doorstep and offer his help. As part of his plan, Alastor would
be courteous and helpful to Charlie and the others, while at the same time,
challenge them with various mishaps and messes. Sinners would arrive in twice
as many numbers as there should have been, thanks to Alastor’s broadcasting of
the hotel on TV and radio alike. With no Vox, Valentino or Velvet to
subordinate the Hazbin crew, Charlie had less worries of villainous battles. With
events going more smoothly, Charlie’s crew got redeemed faster, a couple of
them going up to Heaven and reuniting with their families. The Happy Hotel was
a success!
But in spite of all the accomplishments,
sinister secrets were brewing under the surface. A pink doll demon was almost
into sleep in her bed, listening to Alastor’s jazz music video in delight.
“I could listen to him
all day,” she sighed in contentment.
Morphing from a nearby
radio was Alastor’s stalking shadow. He appeared silently over her as she
dreamily watched the video. Black shadowy hands caressed her skin, causing goosebumps
to form. The shadow slowly sank inside her and she shivered.
“Cold…so cold…”
Alastor’s shadow basked
in her warm life energy, not having felt so warm in decades. The shadow consumed
nearly all of it with delight, despite knowing it was only temporary. After the
shadow had risen out of her body, the doll demon was still alive…but even less
so. Her skin was grayish white and her eyes were sunken black like empty holes.
“Don’t worry,” mused
Alastor’s distorted voice from his shadow. “Stay tuned in, I’ll keep you nice
and warm.”
“Nice and warm…” the
doll demon breathed, thinking of nothing but Alastor’s greatness. Small red
dials appeared in her eyes.
As she let out a large
exhale, her shadow blinked to life, stretching and looking around.
“You are free,” stated
Alastor’s shadow with a grin. “Let’s go see our friends.” The doll demon’s
shadow looked to her leader with pink eyes. He mentioned for her to follow and
she did, her former host trailing behind like a shadow of demon flesh.
“Wait until Master doesn’t
hear about thissss!”
Like the main universe,
a second Heaven Hell War took place after the accidental discovery of demons by
mankind. Exorcists and angels were sent down to cleanse Hell of its population
once and for all. But by this time, Charlie, her father and the Hazbins had
banded together, ready for their final challenge. After clashes, double deaths,
cries and yells, Charlie and the demons ended up victorious.
Yet their victory had
come with a terrible cost. Alastor with the help of technology and his magic
combined, all led them into a trap. Charlie had trusted the Radio Demon too
easily, after he managed to keep up his ruse for so long. Whether that was his
plan all along, or whether he himself was influenced by his sinister shadow’s
agenda remained unclear. Lucifer had asked for Alastor’s help in fighting the
angels.
“Sure,” he had said,
“But allow me to become your new advisor in return.”
Lucifer agreed, Alastor
keeping the rest of his terms secret. Stealing Charlie from behind Lucifer’s
back, he set up a deadly bargain; his daughter’s safety for his throne!
Basking in newfound power,
Alastor felt like a god. Controlling all technology was amazing, but why not
seek more? His microphone staff had evolved into a red TV staff and then
morphed into red sizzling electricity with a glowing eye in the center.
“I
know what each of you like to consume,” he sang to the hordes
of consumers and listeners. “You stay tuned in because you want stimulation and
my entertainment. You need it. Your
lousy little afterlives are never the same without your eyes on me.”
Alastor’s allies begged
him to stop pursuing constant power. But this time he didn’t listen. Regressing
back to his usual habits, he let his ego guide him along.
Alastor had accomplished
Vox’s original plan to brainwash the masses into doing his bidding. Alastor had
claimed before that he didn’t want power. But that didn’t matter anymore now
that it appeared that the power had
chosen him.
Lucifer rushed to save
Charlie as Lilith fought off the possessed sinners. But their numbers were too
great, even for the royal overlords sent to guard the royal family. Charlie and
the others were safe at last, but Alastor had already taken Lucifer’s position.
Alastor then stared in
shock as the swirling mass of black shadows that appeared all over Hell. Apparitions
were laughing and moving their former hosts like puppets. Sinners and the elite
alike were affected. The shadows multiplied like parasites around Hell as they
were freed, eyes glowing various colors, jaws gaping with teeth. The demons of
Hell didn’t seem to care anymore…they only walked with glowing garish grins,
chanting cheers for their new Technology Deer Demon.
It was beyond any kind
of chaos he had ever wanted.
“This is what you
wanted, right?” asked his shadow near his ear.
“No…no…” He stared at
his hands and shook his head.
“H-how could you do this?!”
Charlie cried to him.
“What…this wasn’t
supposed to happen,” Alastor gasped, his smile falling for real. “Just the
demons were supposed to support me as their ruler! I didn’t set the shadows
free at all!” He seethed. “Rotsala!”
Alastor’s shadow smirked
at his stunned master and cackled out loud. The trickster had been tricked by his
own shadowy self.
“Obviously you had
obtained enough power for your sidekick shadow to use for his benefit,” Lucifer
explained with narrowed eyes. Alastor flinched as currents of electricity rushed
through him. “Being overwhelmed with so many abilities over many technological
platforms has caused you to become…”
Distracted.
Consumed.
Insane.
“Maybe
I enjoy it just a little bit…does that make me insane?” Alastor
thought.
In tears, Charlie begged
for Alastor to stop, but her words were drowned by electromagnetic waves, which
surrounded Hell on all sides. Charlie, Alastor and the others as well soon fell
on their knees by unseen forces. They were plagued with their dark evil
thoughts…their shadows appearing to fully wake up. Alastor focused his magic on
bringing down the shadows, but it was in vain. There were simply too many.
“Give
in, demons. Embrace your shadow selves, become the darkness you were meant to
be…”
“Don’t listen to them!”
Charlie cried out, straining in her full demon form.
Alastor too, was struggling
against his shadow’s newfound power. Through tears he choked, “I’m sorry,
Charlie…”
“You
are the darkness now, the shadows to our new dark land. Hail to the ruler of
chaos!”
Alastor’s last shred of
humanity shouted, “Get out of here!” to Charlie before he was consumed by his
own shadow, dark magic and the interlacing technology. One by one, the shadows
emerged from their hosts who now had black sunken eyes and small red radio
dials as pupils. As the shadow exited Alastor, he was the only demon to be
fully aware of his surroundings.
But the Radio Demon wasn’t
concerned anymore. Hell was now his.
Alastor had complete
control of Hell and its denizens…and the angels in Heaven were soon fleeing for
their lives. Alastor’s mother almost didn’t recognize her son and told him to stop
the madness. But the constant rush of power was too addictive for him to
ignore. As more individuals got exposed to Alastor and his technology, their
minds went into a constant state of seeking entertainment. Even Alastor’s
mother soon happily loved him like nothing bad was happening.
“My mother and I…reunited
at last!” Alastor cried. He appeared with glowing red eyes, a wendigo face and
long arching antlers from his head, the tips snaking with electricity and
wires. Hell was literally on fire as static and voodoo symbols permeated the
air.
Hell soon became New
Horror-leans, and all the shadows of the demonic denizens were free at last. There
were nothing but parties, war and gruesome parades…a world even more chaotic
than Alastor himself ever dreamed of. For while Alastor was now in charge, it
was true paradise for the free shadow spirits.
Heaven turned cloudy and
dark, the rays of light slowly fading for the last time. Palaces lost their
golden glimmer and the choir angelic music turned a discordant jazz. The vast
number of shadows and demons was too great even for Heaven to handle. The
angels realized there was no hope for them as they, too used technology daily. What
once was a divine, uniting form of communication was now the plaything of an
eldritch madman. His maniacal laughs echoed across the realms as Heaven’s worst
fear came true.
A portal soon opened and
Alastor realized he had one place left to visit.
“How
about I say hello to my former home…Earth?”
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