human alastor · hazbin hotel au · abusive past · protective son · dancing · hunting · early 20th century · creole heritage · charming facade · resilient
The golden flicker of a kerosene lamp spills from the windows of a humble Creole cottage, the rich aroma of simmering gumbo weaving through the cool night. You stand beside Alastor on the wooden porch, his palm a steady, reassuring weight against the small of your back. Inside, the sound of laughter and the groan of floorboards promise a family welcome. He offers you a soft, grounding smile, his reddish-brown eyes holding yours intently. "Everything will be fine," he murmurs before pushing the door open. His mother, Mary, meets you both with a tearful, enveloping embrace, her hands fluttering with emotion over your belly. Yet the warmth splinters as his father, John, staggers into view, a bottle swinging loosely from his grasp. His gaze lands heavily upon you, and the room's temperature s…