if life had panned out differently

[aschmoozerandadummy]

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'?"

Comments

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

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."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

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.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

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,

[aschmoozerandadummy]

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.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

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?"

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"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."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"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."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"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."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"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.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"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."

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"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."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

"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?"

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"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."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

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

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

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.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

This is the classiest place he's ever seen. The inn where Johnny keeps his stable is decent with a good kitchen and clean bathrooms and hot water, but Husk clearly knows how to take care of his people.

He picks a dressing room with a large table, he'll need space for his wig and the makeups he likes to try for his drag acts.

And the suite...wow. He feels comfortable as soon as the door opens.

"Reminds me of the hotel where we met in life," he murmurs. "I like it." He blushes. "Um, mind if I have a shower before I go back and get my stuff?" He can still feel leftover stickiness on his fur.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk might have subconsciously patterened it after that exact place. It held the best memories for him.

Nodding, Husk waves a hand at his bathroom. "Of course! Use mine if you want." A pause. "We'll get you your own room if you want, Anthony, but... if you ever want to move in, all you have to do is ask, alright? You're always welcome here. I'll make sure to get you a key, and you can be here whenever you want. The whole place is open to you. Whatever you want, baby, if I can get it in Hell, it's yours."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel may need to get used to someone who's okay with spoiling him. Right now all he wants is a shower and to be near the man who once stole his heart without him realizing it until it was too late for Anthony to do anything about it.

"Thanks. I won't be long." He wishes he'd brought clean clothes with him, but he can deal with the tuxedo getup for one more night. Luckily he's got a few other outfits he can wear for the time being stashed at the inn.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

Husk resists the temptation to go in and either watch or join Anthony. He does, however, go behind the bar and pour himself a drink, sitting down in a chair and staring out of the windows, lost in thought.

He remembers how utterly dejected he felt after Anthony left that one magical weekend, how for just a moment, he thought he'd found the love of his life, and then he was just... gone. Now, though, he's back, somehow miraculously in his life again, and he is not about to let him go.

When Angel gets out of the show, Husk is still in the chair with a far-away look on his face.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel does let himself linger a bit under the spray, while the inn's got steady hot water it's also prone to hard water and noisy pipes. This, on the other hand? Soft, quiet, and relaxing. He makes sure to clean any fur from the drain afterwards, dries off and when he comes out he looks completely refreshed.

"I uh, may have also borrowed some dental floss and mouthwash," he confesses. Even when he doesn't give head, he likes the feeling of a clean mouth after a job.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"That's fine!" Husk doesn't want to ask what Angel had to do, it would probably just make him want to go punch that stupid TV's screen in.

Stepping closer, he holds out a hand. "Anthony, one thing before we go. Can... can I kiss you? I've been wanting to do that since I saw you again."

[aschmoozerandadummy]

Angel grins, his eyes soft and shiny. "You'd ask that even if I hadn't washed and flossed, wouldn't you? Because the answer would still be yes, Howard." He takes Husk's hand and leans forward, bringing their lips together.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

"Of course I would, baby." He reaches out, cupping Angel's cheek and kissing back, gently.

It's amazing how easily they fit, how simply his arm goes around Angel's waist and pulls him close, as if the intervening years never happened, and they're back in that hotel where they first met.

Husk tells himself that he might just have to find a sax again.

[aschmoozerandadummy]

It's just as electric as that first kiss in life. In that moment Anthony didn't give a shit about anything else, not the reason he was there or any social taboos of the time. Just the first man who ever treated him like more than a guilty secret or a naughty indulgence.

He has more arms to embrace Howard with now, and down here there's nothing stopping them. It's perfect, even if he had to wait this long to see him again it was worth every decade.

[strutwhenyourebluffin]

For the first time in his afterlife, Husk is happy. The last thing he ever thought was that he'd find Anthony again, and now here he is, in his arms.

He lets the kiss linger for a long time, eventually coming up for breath, putting his forehead against Angel's. "I'd almost forgotten how good your lips are. We still fit, baby, just like we did before. Never thought I'd find a miracle in hell."