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╰---------➤ ❝ [𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑] ❞

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Around 1 am...

Husk finished washing the glass cups, his thoughts consumed by his daughter. As 1 am approached, the crowd dwindled, leaving only the familiar regulars. Alastor, the Radio Demon, settled onto a barstool, his intense blue eyes sweeping the room as he acknowledged him with a cheerful grin on his face: "Just the usual, my dear Husker~,"

Alastor's voice, tinged with radio static, responded as Husk deftly served the Overlord's drink and prepared his gin and tonic. While minding his own business as he continued polishing wine glasses, Husk sensed someone chuckling behind him and felt their gaze on his red wings to which he could grumble.

"What do you want?" 

"Whatever do you mean by that, Husker?" Alastor tilts his head, pretending to be confused, and continues: "Can't a friend make a conversation with the bartender?" 

"You may do what you please but, you ain't gonna fool me, you damn radio demon." Husk's expression turned guarded, he stopped polishing the glass and snapped again: "Now for the last time, what do you fucking want, Alastor?" 

Alastor's grin widened mischievously, his gaze fixed on Husk's crimson eyes. "Oh, Husker~," Taking a sip of his drink, he sighed dramatically, "always so direct, I simply wanted to inquire about your lovely daughter. How is she faring these days?~"

Husk's grip on the cheap booze tightened, not understanding why Alastor was interested in his daughter right now, and knowing Alastor; It can't be good. A flicker of concern etched his face before he masked it with a scowl. "She's fine, Alastor. No thanks to the princess girlfriend," he muttered, resuming his task with a deliberate focus. 

The Radio Demon's smile didn't waver as he leaned in slightly, "Ah, yes. Miss Vagatha seemed to make a 'grave' mistake in putting your petite chatte in a very~ troubling trauma but I know that you still have a soft spot for her," He paused then continued again: "Perhaps I could offer some fatherly advice or two?" he suggested with red eyes glinting with an otherworldly light. 

"I don't need your fucking help, Alastor." He scolds him, "And keep your favors to yourself," he retorted. 

The tension between them crackled like static in the air which caused Alastor to lean in, "But I'm willing to return your soul and Overlord status.~" He sang. At the mention of those magic words, Husk's eyes widened in disbelief, not only of joy nor excitement but the thought of having his soul and power as an Overlord once again meant that the Radio Demon wanted something in return, so he questioned: 

"What kind of sick game are you playing at?" His yellow eyes narrow suspiciously at him, who leans in. "Interested? My my~ I'm just something I've been Dying to try out." Alastor chuckles, "I think your daughter's soul would be a perfect replacement for entertainment." 

"You stay the FUCK away from Gabriella. Ya, hear me!" Husk angrily warns Alastor, who smoothly replies with a laugh: 

"Oh? And why might I ask did You request such a thing, my dear Husker?" The cat demon felt his grip on his drink tighten further which caused Alastor's grin to widen even bigger than before as he found his effeminate fellow's reaction to be quite entertaining.  

"You think...I'd trade someone's soul just for your FUCKING ENTERTAINMENT?!" Alastor leaned in closer and shushed him into a whisper. "Careful now," He smirks at him: "Remember the last time you acted this rudely towards me cost you your life?" Husk shuts up and huffs by crossing his arms at the Radio Demon, and waited while desperately wishing to beat his ass to the next dimension: "Now, are you willing to comply with my favors?~"

Husk's eyes flashed with anger, but he knew Alastor was right. He never meant to drag her into his mess especially when you are dealing with an Overlord like Alastor, "...I'd rather do your shit than give Gabriella's soul to ya." He growled. 

"Ah, good man.~" He cheerfully stands up from the stool bar, "Just remember, Husker~... the offer still stands." And before Husk could even reply or attack him, he swiftly twirls and waves: "Have a good night's sleep, my friend.~" Husk clenched his fangs as Alastor slipped away into the shadows, leaving him to ponder how to untangle himself from the situation. 

He glanced at the shards in his hand, then removed them quickly. Disregarding the pain, he grabbed more cheap booze and went upstairs.

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The silence enveloped the room as Husk entered his dimly lit bedroom, cluttered with empty alcohol bottles strewn across the floor and shelf. Ignoring the mess, he exhaled wearily, taking a swig from a cheap bottle of booze, his disheveled appearance revealing his state of disarray.

Husk's inner turmoil peaked as he grappled with disbelief over his daughter being in Hell instead of Heaven. Questions about what transpired in high school to cause her trauma and why God rejected her raced through his mind, leaving him overwhelmed with sadness, confusion, and pain. He thought she did alright but apparently she didn't and it caused her to end up in the same ditch as he is.

With slightly different reasons, as the memories continued replaying in his mind of how he watched how he held her in his arms for the first time, how he enjoyed taking care with his little dice (a nickname he used to call Gabriella back when she was a child), and watching her grow up had turned into cruelty after he returned from the Vietnam war, divorced his EX-bitchy wife, and losing his magic jig with many debts. 

He was never the same.

On top of it all, Husk had used the leftover money that he was supposed to pay his debts off with had been used to pay for Gabriella's education; Hoping that she didn't walk the same path as he did and yet, she did... and those things happened for a reason that it made Husk regret not staying alive for a few more years to protect his little dice on who he calls as his daughter.

If it weren't for debts he had to pay for, saying goodbye, or even telling her that he loved her very much that is. And the truth was that he couldn't do anything to change it, what's done is done and if he was still an Overlord, he would've found his daughter and welcomed her warmly, instead of mistreating Gabriella upon their reunion after years apart.

But it never happened.

During this time, He had already sold his soul to the Radio Demon in a gamble, and in return, he had to do the demon's bidding. On the condition that he doesn't murder anyone, which forced Husk to never let anyone try to get close to him, especially his loved ones. Now that Alastor knows about Husk's daughter's existence in the hotel, he won't have much of a choice but to comply with his favors forever...

Husk wanted to hug her, tell her everything was going to be alright, and protect her but still...he isn't well-known for 'talking it out' stuff and he fully knows that pushing his daughter away until she could be redeemed and sent to Heaven would benefit her protection.

But will she?

Sitting on the bed, he clutched an empty liquor bottle with his clawed hand, tears escaping him for the first time in centuries as he trembled knew the path he had chosen was a lonely one, but the weight of his duty pressed heavily upon him. He couldn't help but think that he was trapped and a pack of cards – and Alastor was holding all of them, "Fuck." 

Muttering to himself, Husk swiftly finished his drink in tears for a while until he let the darkness claim him in his sleep. As the night faded into dawn, he felt like he was entangled in a dangerous game involving his daughter and the devil.

The devil has him chained in a contract that cannot be broken. For all eternity.