mazeofrelationships | if life had panned out differently

if life had panned out differently

Once upon a time, in Las Vegas, a young man named Anthony skipped out of a boring Mafia meetup disguised as a "business convention". He went to a jazz club, met a gorgeous saxophone player, and they clicked almost instantly.

Sadly, after that weekend, Anthony would never see that man again. Years passed, he'd end up killing his own father for sending Anthony's twin sister Molly on a dangerous errand and yelling at her for nearly getting herself killed. He started using drugs to cope with all kinds of bullshit, and ultimately died of an overdose in 1947.

Of course he went to hell for killing his dad, patricide is a sin. But here at least he could make a fresh start and be as openly gay as he wanted to. So he cut off all ties to his mob family, changed his name to Angel Dust, and got into sex work.

Except even down here some guys are selfish closeted pricks. Or just selfish pricks in general. Angel's had some good tricks, gotten to enjoy kinks he never could have in life, but there's a lot more frustrating bullshit than perks. His pimp's a tightwad who whines about having to give his workers a cut of the money, and some clients try to get out of paying the full amount because they popped off too quick. And of course, some of these fuckers can get nasty if they're on some kind of drug or they've had too much booze.

Tonight's client was a dickhead who handled Angel a bit too roughly, wouldn't shut up about how much he hated his ex, and came all over Angel's back. Getting cum out of his fur is the worst.

The guy dropped him off on a corner, so Angel ducked into the nearest spot he could find to clean up and change out of the tuxedo-miniskirt combo he wears for work. Now dressed in stretch pants and a cropped sweatshirt, he's at the bar, sipping a drink and muttering.

"Fuckin' movies always made it look so glamorous. What was I thinkin'?"

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"Made what look glamorous?" Behind the bar is the Casino's Overlord and bartender, a cat-demon known all over the Pride ring as ruthless but not unkind.

He's collected quite a few souls in his day, but only due to debts. Most of his souls work for him in some capacity, and at the end of the day, people don't think he's a bad guy to sell your soul to. Unless you cross him. He's known to be quite vicious to people who try to get out of deals or get out of paying what they owe. He's no loan shark, but he's always certain to get his due.

He looks at his new customer for a moment. There's something about those eyes, and it finally clicks. "Anthony? What the fuck happened to you?"

Angel is about to tell the whole sordid story to the bartender because that's what one does...until he's caught off guard by the sound of that voice, and then the bartender calls him by his human name. Memories flood his mind, and Angel - Anthony - laughs, blinking back tears.

"It's been a long time, Howard." His voice cracks a little.

Husk grabs a bottle of whisky, pouring it in a glass and sliding it over to him. He rather liked this guy in life, had a fantastic weekend, and then always wondered what happened to him. Now here he is, in hell, Just like him.

Then again, considering he's almost certain that was a Mafia convention that day, he's not surprised to see him.

"It has. Always wondered what happened to you." A pause. "So, what's goin' on now? Why're you drinkin' your sorrows at my bar?"

"Thanks." Angel sips slowly; in life drinking something the Irish favored would get him a beating from the whole neighborhood, but here? Fuck them, this tastes better than the Strega his parents favored. Shit was as bitter as chewing on a clove.

"It's...a long story, Howard," he sighs. "Shit got bad, with my family and life in general, I needed something, anything to deal with it."

"I got all the time in the fuckin' world." It's been a long time since anyone called him Howard, and he can't help but smirk.

"Well, that would at least partly explain while you're in hell, but what happened today?" He gives a nod to a bartender down the bar a ways, then slips out to sit down beside Anthony with the rest of the bottle of whiskey for both of them.

"Client was a pain in the ass," Angel says, drinking more of the whiskey. "I can deal with a little manhandling, but this guy treated my chest and ass like a stress ball. Least he paid me the full amount, otherwise Johnny'd gimme an earful about it. Like he's in danger of runnin' out anytime soon!"

"Wait, so you're turning tricks?" Husk glares at nothing for a moment. He's pretty sure that he knows this Johnny from the Casino. He's also pretty sure he owes him money and he's one loan away from soul contract territory.

"I know that jerk. He owes me." A pause. "You should be singing, Anthony. Or at least performing somehow, not just... working for some pimp." If Husk is a bit vehement, well... Anthony has always been able to get under his skin.

"Wait, seriously?" Angel knows Johnny's got a thing for gambling, but not to the point where he's been gambling away their earnings. "No wonder he's such a tightwad...and that'd explain why he's loaned me out to this place more than once. I just didn't know you were there any of those times. Heh, those were probably the best gigs I ever had, too, people listenin' to my voice instead of starin' at my tits."

Edited 2026-01-16 01:04 (UTC)

"I own the place, of course I'm here." Husk swirls the ice in his glass, voice soft. "Besides, I remember our weekend. You sang while I played. It was beautiful."

A moment goes by and he straightens, looking at Angel. "Come work for me. Not as a loan from that jerk, but full time. I've got rooms upstairs you can stay in, and I'll pay you double what he is." Or, really, whatever Angel wants. He's got plenty of cash. "I haven't been able to find anyone with half your talent."

"I can't believe you remembered all this time." Angel feels a little guilty, the drugs fucked with his brain pretty badly. "But now that I do, I can't believe I ever forgot. It was the best weekend of my life."

He smiles. "So, you own this place, huh? And you'd be willing to take a disgruntled druggie whore on as a singer here?" He pauses. "Actually, I've been clean for a week, not by choice. Johnny hasn't been lettin' us keep a cut of the profits so I can't afford to get high."

"You were my first guy, and the only one who really... mattered." He blushes a bit, breaking his Overlord persona. "I was goin' to ask you to stay, but you skittered before I could."

He nods. "I'd rather you stay off the drugs, but I don't control your life." A pause. "I'm not talking any kind of Deal, soul or otherwise. I don't expect that of my employees." A pause. "And, no, I'm not taking a disgruntled druggie whore, I'm taking on one of the best singers I've heard in my life or afterlife."

"Yeah, I...didn't have much of a choice, Dad would've torn the city apart to get me back," Angel mutters. "Couldn't afford to lose one of his minions, the dickhead." He sighs. "You were the first lover who really...satisfied me. In every way. You didn't shy away or treat me like a dirty little secret or hold back."

To be honest, Angel's felt better without the drugs. Maybe this is a sign. "So this is basically a steady gig, then? For a boss who cares more about his employees than his money?" Angel smiles a little. "You make it very hard to say no."

"Why would I do that? It was Vegas. No one would care. Hell, you probably would have gotten in more shit for bein' with someone like me." Husk shrugs, going quiet for a moment.

"Steady gig, housing and food included." Husk smiles. "I'm not forcing you, though. Even if you don't want to work for me, I'll take care of that asshole. He owes me too much anyway. I was just too lazy to go after him."

And Angel wishes he'd just thought to do that. Nicky was the favorite, even if just by a narrow margin, if Dad thought Anthony was dead he'd just give up. But then there was Molly, who didn't do any of the killing but their parents put at risk by sending her on errands and Anthony did not like that.

"The answer is yes, Howard," Angel says. "Not just for the offer, either, now that I've found you again I remember how good it felt to be with you. Not just in bed, either, just...in general. You were the best thing that happened to me and I wish I'd tried to find you again when things got really bad."

"You'd... really?" He blinks a couple times, reaching out for Anthony's hand. "You'd want to be with me here?" He's hoping that he heard that right, that he's not just reading into what the other man's saying.

He's definitely been single since he got to Hell, but he did have other lovers while he was alive. Anthony was always in the back of his mind, though. Something about him was just... electric. "I would have taken you in, no matter what." His voice is soft, surprisingly gentle considering his looks. "When do you want to start?"

"I would. And I can start right away," Angel says. "Also, what do you go by down here? Your name, I mean. Or should I call you Boss?" He smiles. "Hey, better late than never. Hell might not be the best, but it can't be that bad if I found you again."

"How about tomorrow? We can go get your stuff from... wherever it is, and I'll deal with that pimp."

He shrugs, a bit of a sheepish look on his face. "The call me Husk here. but... I don't mind Howard when it's us. What about you?"

"Sounds good." Angel smiles. "Husk it is, then. I go by Angel Dust, but just Angel's fine...and of course, Anthony when we're alone."

Husk reaches out, smiling gently as he puts a hand on Angel's cheek. "Angel. Sounds just about perfect for you."

He straightens, glancing across the bar to the casino floor. "Oh, look at who's here. I might go take care of that jerk now." Johnny is slinking into the casino, hoping not to catch Husk's eye. Too bad, sucker.

Angel blushes, only to groan in disgust when he notices Johnny as well. "I dunno if I wanna deal with him, but I almost want-"

And then Johnny does spot Angel, calling out to him, frantically demanding today's earnings. Angel glares at him, standing close to Husk.

"Yeah, about that. See, I don't work for you no more, Johnny. Ya sent me off to some whiny box-head who treated me like a squeezy-toy and wouldn't shut up about some stupid deer."

"You sent him to the TV head? That guy's an ass." He doesn't go for gambling, but Husk has Heard Things.

Crossing his arms, Husk glares at Johnny. "Where's the money you owe me, asshole? You know how much you're in the hole. Angel's right. He works for me now, and I'm going to respect him for his actual talents."

"Look, I'm still a little short, but...Angel, just gimme the money, I can pay him with it!" Johnny whines. Angel rolls his eyes.

"You think that's gonna be enough? The TV guy pays well but even that's not gonna get you out of this. No wonder you're such a cheap ass, you've been betting away all our earnings."

Also the TV head called Angel "Alastor" when he came. Gross.

"I'm not taking Angel's money." Husk pauses, standing a bit taller, looking very much the scary overlord. A strange glow surrounds him, and he pulls out a deck of cards, idly shuffling them through his fingers.

"You, however, are on your last extension. Can you pay what you owe me, not taking money from someone who's earned it?"

Johnny's single eye widens and his mouth drops open.

"Fuck."

Angel, meanwhile, blinks in shock. He knew Husk was powerful and rich but those are Overlord powers. Holy shit.

"I'm feeling generous today." Husk smirks. "Angel's put me in a good mood. One poker hand. If you win, you get another month. If I win, your soul is mine."

He hands the cards to Angel. "Would you shuffle for me, Angel?" Give him some luck, baby.

"You've got it, Boss." Angel winks, he played a few games with his sister just for fun in life so he remembers how to shuffle, at least. He does so flawlessly, giving Husk a flirtatious wink.

Husk grins, "Thanks, baby." Mostly he's using the pet name to get under Johnny's skin, but it tumbles out so easily that for just a moment, turns slightly pink.

His expression going back to intimidating, he deals. No magic, no cheating. It's clear by the third card that he's won, and he leans back, smirking. "My luck holds. No more extensions."

Johnny swears, burying his head in his hands. He sucks at this, Angel and some of the other workers have told him so but the idiot doesn't listen.

"Damn it!"

Angel just smirks. That'll teach Johnny to be a cheap ass and make him screw TV Heads who can't get over Radio Demons.

As soon as Husk touches the cards, a swirl of golden magic surrounds him and Johnny, almost like a chain, with hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades in it. "You work for me now, until I release you. You'll live here, as far away from Angel as possible. If you ever touch him, I will hurt you. Understood?"

He crosses his arms, glaring at him,

Johnny lets out a low, pathetic moan as he slumps in defeat. "Got it, sir."

"Maybe this'll get you to work on yourself, grow some new brain cells," Angel says. "Obviously that means you aint getting my money." The money he more than earned with his latest and last client.

Husk beckons over a bouncer, telling him to get Johnny set up. The bouncer leaves with the pathetic loser and in an instant, Husk's persona seems to change, back to the gentle musician that Angel knows well.

"Well, that was... about how I expected that to go. I didn't startle you too much, did I?"

"Not really." Angel laughs. "I really did stumble into one've those sappy romances where the down-on-her-luck heroine gets swept up by a hot rich guy with awesome powers! Not that I'm complainin'," he says. "But I aint just here to be pretty and get rescued, I'm gonna work my hardest for you, Howard. Not just singin', either, I've got a few other skills up my sleeve."

"Fuck, I'm not one for romances, but here I am, up to my ears in one." He can't help a smile as he leans against the bar.

Raising one of his eyebrows, he just eyes Angel for a moment. "And what kind of skills would those be? I'm not expectin' you to turn tricks in here or anything." A pause. "I remember, though. You are pretty bad at sittin' still."

"I'm a damn good cook. In fact, I was the only one of Johnny's stable who could, so they're gonna be eating a lotta takeout," Angel says. "I'm also a damn good shot, in case ya ever need backup when someone's causin' problems."

"I found myself a hot singer who can shoot?" Husk laughs. "Well, hot damn, Anthony. I might take you up on that. You never know when you'll need a bit of extra firepower."

And then he grins. "Please teach the cooks in here some lessons. I don't know why we can't keep a good cook to save our asses. It's not like I don't pay people well. I dunno why they keep leaving." Maybe he needs to find a cook with a gambling problem.

"Gladly. My specialties are Italian recipes, but I'm good with American foods, too, and I'm a decent baker." Nowhere near Molly's level, but he can whip up a damn good banana bread. "And you don't grow up in a Mafia family without learnin' a few things about guns. Or threats."

"Everyone likes Italian food." Husk smiles. "I'm sure you'll be great. Just, promise me you won't work all of the time? I'm not one of those crazy bosses who expects you to do nothin' but work."

A pause, and a small, blushy, familiar smile. "'Sides, I want to spend some time with you. Can't have you working all the time."

"Good. You haven't lived till you've had my lasagna or my bolognese sauce!" Aww, and that smile makes Angel's cheeks flush a little. "Yeah, I figured. I wanna earn my keep around here but sometimes I'll just wanna be with you. Maybe...we can pick up where we left off?"

"I like that idea." Husk reaches out for Angel's hand, almost a bit shyly. "Would you like a tour of the place? It'll be your home now, after all."

"I'd love one." Angel reaches back, taking Husk's hand, and the sparks are as fresh as when they first met.

Husk takes him around the casino, from the normal gaming floor to the VIP rooms, to the stage and behind it, letting Angel pick out what dressing room he'd like before showing him the kitchen and taking him upstairs.

There are suites of rooms upstairs, some obviously for rent (either by the hour or otherwise, please no sex in the casino, if you have to do it, get a room, you horny losers) and some much less fancy for staff. The top floor has some high-roller suites, but at the end of a hall is a fancier door. Inside is Husk's suite, a panoramic window of Pentagram city, with his own bar, a bedroom and bathroom. It looks rather homey. "So that's the place. What do you think?" He looks almost nervous.

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if life had panned out differently

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Giving Arackniss a filler name

Sounds good!

Re: Sounds good!

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