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You certainly wouldn’t call Alastor a shy man. When he wanted something, he pursued it, and oftentimes he got it no matter what he had to do to get it. He exuded a confidence that you honestly wished he could sprinkle on you every now and then. So no, you wouldn’t call Alastor shy… Private, perhaps would be another word for it. And that would certainly explain why he was taking his sweet time taking you out on a first date. Not that you were rushing him, of course! You cared about him, and like you promised each other, you were going at his pace, but you couldn’t help but be a bit… Excited. And you weren’t the only one.
Angel had been so excited for you when you revealed that you and Alastor were dating, he practically swung you around in circles until you were dizzy. Husk was a good enough sport to wish you well, though it was followed up by a warning to be careful. Angel of course gushed with you over the new relationship you found yourself in, but he grew really energetic when asking you when Alastor planned on taking you out.
Unfortunately, you didn’t have an answer for him. And you didn’t for a while.
Alastor understood the importance of a proper first date, and to him you deserved the best he could provide. That was why he put a lot of thought into where he wanted to take you. A simple dinner sounded classic, but it was a tad too simple for him, and most of the modern dating suggestions didn’t exactly appeal to him like they might have to you, so those wouldn’t do either. Of course, being the sweetheart you were, you always assured him that he didn’t need to do anything special, that something as simple as sitting at a cafe on one of your usual outings was fine with you, but he brushed it off every time. No, he was going to do something special.
Finally, Alastor seemed to make up his mind one night when he approached you after dinner, asking your opinions of jazz music. After a bit of back and forth, you had finally gotten him to confess where he was taking you, which was a new jazz club that had sprung up in Rosie’s domain, which very closely mimicked the 20s era in it’s prime. If it were possible, you had grown even more excited at the reveal.
That was what led you here, striding down the street with him towards Cannibal Town. Alastor was dressed in his typical attire, and you had decided to treat him by wearing a dress similar to the one you went to the hotel ball in. It was dark red with black lace, except a fair bit shorter and clearly meant for dancing, and Angel had been lovely enough to help you with your makeup so you looked just a bit more pretty than usual. You knew Alastor approved when you had walked downstairs to meet him and his eyes had gone wide before he composed himself.
“So, how long has this place been here?” You hummed, looking up at the building that was decently decked out in lights and small advertisements.
“A few weeks now. I would have invited you sooner, but I wanted to make sure that this place was up to my standards first.” He pulled you to a standstill. “Ah, I almost forgot.”
You quirked your brow as he made a motion with his hand, and a charmingly red rose was suddenly clasped between his fingers. You could barely keep yourself from blushing as he carefully wove it into your hair, making sure not to prick your delicate skin with the thorns.
“There we are. Lovely.”
“Thank you.” You murmured, feeling your cheeks burn pink despite your best efforts.
“Of course. After all, I must try to do this properly.” He looked pleased.
“Al.” You smiled playfully. “You know that there’s no way to have a ‘proper’ first date, right? As long as we both have fun and enjoy ourselves, its a good one. Okay?”
Alastor’s expression softened just a smidge. “Okay.” He perked back up at a particularly loud burst of music from the club, grinning as he offered you his arm again. “Shall we?”
“We shall.” You laughed lightly. “Show me how to party in the 20s.”
Alastor merely laughed as he escorted you inside.
The club was fairly large on the inside. There was a stage, where live music was being played, a large dancefloor where people were already twirling around, a large bar that took up almost the entirety of one wall that was packed with patrons, and small tables clustered on both sides. Your presence in the club was noted almost immediately, and you knew that people were already giving him a couple of looks, but Alastor didn’t pay them any mind as he led you to a small table off to the side, near enough to be able to hear the music without going deaf to it.
After you were seated, and a rather nervous looking server came up to your table, Alastor took the liberty to order a few drinks for the both of you before the skittish demon hurried to put the order in.
You barely noticed, of course, since you were too swept away in the atmosphere.
“This place is amazing.” You murmured, finally looking at Alastor, who had a fond look in his eyes. “It feels like I stepped back into the 20s.”
“Oh yes. This reminds me of one of the speakeasies that I frequented while I was alive.” He chuckled, grinning a bit wider at the server when he returned with your drinks, which just as quickly sent him skittering off. Poor man.
Alastor took a light sip of his drink, looking pleased. You of course recognized it as three fingers of rye, which was something he frequently drank at the hotel. How he could get it down, you had no clue.
“Ah, this is what I always had, too.” He mused.
“You always have it now, too.” You snorted. “Didn’t you live during the Prohibition era?”
Alastor chuckled, looking a bit smug. “As if that would have stopped me.”
You laughed, shaking your head. “Oh I know that wouldn’t have stopped you. Nothing can stop you when you set your mind to something.” You mused, taking a sip of your drink. It was an old fashioned, though it wasn’t as good as Husk’s, but it was passable, and at least it gave you something to start a buzz with and loosen you up.
The two of you chatted back and forth a bit, mainly you asking Alastor about his clubbing nights in his human life, until a very upbeat and lively song started to play. Alastor took that as his time to pull you up and spin you around the dancefloor. Normally you would have been nervous with all those people around, most of which you knew had to be watching, but the liquor did it’s job and loosened you up a fair bit. It took only moments before you and Alastor were laughing as you spun and twirled around the floor, with Alastor even teaching you a few new tricks here and there.
You wouldn’t say that Alastor ever relaxed. You knew he was always on edge to a point, eyes and ears open always on alert for any potential threat of any kind, whether to him or to you. He wasn’t relaxed, even now, but he did seem to be loosened up. Maybe it was the familiar setting, the pleasant buzz of alcohol, or your presence, but you could see that flash of excitement in his eyes and it made you thrilled. It only added to the giddy and happy feeling that seemed to wrap around the both of you.
You both had to have been there for hours, and you spent the most of it dancing. You were tired by the time Alastor gently guided you off the floor, but you knew the man was still bursting with energy. How? You weren’t sure, but you were too giddy to care.
“So, I take it our first date was a success?” He teased, lightly guiding you along as you swayed.
“More than.” You giggled. “I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun. We’ll have to go again.”
“Oh we most certainly will.” Alastor agreed. Normally he didn’t enjoy thinking back on his human life for the most part, but this was a pleasant trip down memory lane, though he did have to admit that most of his enjoyment came from you.
Speaking of which, you did have a light stumble in your step, and he had to brace you as he escorted you up the stairs. He chuckled.
“Did we have a bit too much to drink, darling?” He teased playfully, lowering his arm to curl around your lower back.
You shook your head with a grin. “Al, I’m not drunk. I’m tipsy.” You corrected as he escorted you to your door. “I am very aware of everything that is going on. I’m just really giddy and happy.” You laughed again, which made Alastor smile wider. You leaned back against your door. “I had a really great time tonight, Al. I loved it.”
“I’m glad you did. I did as well.” He gently tilted his head to the side, almost seeming to check for something before he returned his attention to you. “If I may… There is something else I’d like to do before we end the night.”
“What is it?”
Alastor chuckled, though it sounded a bit strained, you might even say nervous. It made you tilt your head, looking at him with concern before it evaporated in an instant as Alastor leaned down. Alastor was a tall demon. He had at least a foot on you and undoubtedly more, so it was rather humorous to see him bend down so much. Still, your heart was practically in your throat as his hand gently cupped your cheek, his thumb remarkably softly trailing your cheek. You half expected him to lean off to the side and kiss your cheek again, and you would have been fine with that truly, but he surprised you by carefully pressing his lips against yours.
If your heart had been beating fast before, it had certainly stopped completely before stuttering to a start again at the kiss. Your eyes fell shut on their own accord, and your hands very carefully rested on his chest, slowly leaning in and pressing back against him. Alastor’s other hand came up, lightly cradling the back of your head as if you were made of glass.
It was a simple, sweet kiss, lasting only a few seconds, but it made you feel warm and tingly. When Alastor pulled back and you flicked open your eyes, you were treated to quite the sight. Alastor’s smile was so soft, the look in his eyes so gentle, and the faintest of blushes dusting his cheeks. Your cheeks were likely shades darker, but seeing Alastor with such a doe-eyed and gentle face made your heart flutter.
The both of you stayed quiet, catching your breaths as you looked at each other with big smiles and an almost love-drunk expression on your faces. Alastor seemed almost reluctant to release you, but after a moment more he straightened up, smile broadening.
“That was pleasant.” He hummed.
You laughed lightly, reaching up to rub at your cheeks as if that would fade away the blush you knew was staining your cheeks. “It was more than pleasant… I enjoyed it a lot. Both the kiss and the date.”
“I’m glad you did.” He lightly took your hand, giving it a soft squeeze before letting out a soft sigh. As much as you both wished the night wouldn’t end, it had been a long day and a pleasantly long night, and both of you were in need of rest. “Good night, my darling.”
“Good night, Al.” You murmured, squeezing his hand beck before he completely withdrew. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll be looking forward to it, as always.” Alastor flashed you one last gentle smile before he melded away into the shadows, leaving you to head into your room.
You felt like your heart was still doing little leaps and jumps as you went through your nightly routine, feeling like you were floating as you made sure the rose from the beginning of the night was set in a glass of water. When you finally curled up in bed, giddily counting down to slow your excited mind down enough to sleep.
After all, you had a date to keep in the morning.