Chapter Text
Alastor was upset that his parcel to Rosie never reached her. The incompetence of the mail delivery service in Hell was irritating. But because he refused to use technology owned by Voxtech, he had to rely on the postal service to not lose his messages and he deeply regrets it every time. He was too busy as an overlord to deliver the message himself as it would be intruding on Rosie without notice. Looks like another visit to the post office was needed to remind them who they were dealing with. Maybe only one poor mail attendant will meet an early end today.
Hmmm maybe two.
Sitting at home, you held a small thick envelope addressed to the overlord who owned the territory you resided in. Clearly delivered to the wrong address, you found it deep within you to return it to the correct receiver. Because one - it’s for an overlord sent by another, there might be consequences for keeping such a thing in your possession. While you’ve never seen Alastor in person, he was definitely well-known in this greater ring of Hell. Alastor and Rosie were both very terrifying and powerful beings, not many survived trying to overtake their territories. You, a measly sinner, could be squished with a pinch of their fingers. And two - maybe you’ll get compensated for it? You were hopeful but not particularly expecting much. You didn’t have much need for other people’s packages, so returning it was the best bet (on your life).
Turning towards the only device that tells time in your comfortable apartment in Hell, you lifted your phone off the kitchen counter. Two in the afternoon. If you left now, you could catch Rosie before her store closed. The quicker you could get this package out of your hands, the quicker this feeling of anxiety would go away.
Swinging back and forth on your heels, you decided it’s now or nev- no - possible death if you didn’t return it today. Slipping on your boots and sliding your phone into your back pocket, you slipped out your front door, locking it behind you, and jogged down the hallway towards the stairs.
Rosie’s emporium was located just around the block from your apartment building. It was always full of people as her shop was one of the most popular in all of Pentagram City. You had visited it once before to buy the most intricate dress you owned for a party, always having the intention to go back and buy another once you had saved enough or had a real reason to indulge.
The store was bursting with business as usual, the amount of people in the crowd making you a little uncomfortable. While you were a resident of Cannibal Town, you were one of the select few who were not entirely cannibals. You had dabbled in the delicacy when you were alive, which landed you directly in this district when you died. But you still mainly had the diet of a normal sinner. All the other residents have deep black voids where their eyes would be and teeth so sharp you would’ve thought they could cut metal. But you didn’t.
Holding the parcel tight, you managed to squeeze your body through the crowd towards the back counter where the beautiful and radiant overlord stood. Rosie was smiling and conversing with as many customers as she could. It was a skill she developed over the decades and perfected it to the tee. She held a Victorian era dress against one customer while complimenting the scarf pattern that draped on the neck of another customer. She was an expert in her field.
Just as Rosie finished conversing with a weasel sinner, you cleared your throat. It was very hushed but just loud enough to catch Rosie’s attention. You had hoped you weren’t interrupting her at a bad time, otherwise you could end up as her next meal. “Oh hello little one, what can I do for ya’ today?”
“Ms. Rosie, I - uh- have a package that I think is meant for you. I received it in the mail today by accident.” Slowly you presented her the deliciously smelling box. You looked away, embarrassed. It made you nervous to have all her attention on you, as the last time you really had a deep conversation with her was when she made a deal for your soul after your fall.
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“Oh? Someone returned my package to you?” Eyes widened, Alastor sipped his tea as he sat with Rosie in her emporium’s back garden. He was intrigued to hear that someone didn’t decide to just eat his lost gift for her. It was priceless kidney meat after all, fresh from the butchers - plus a note to meet today. Having that package lost to someone in Cannibal Town meant that it was guaranteed to be eaten the moment it was misplaced.
“Yes! A small resident of mine brought it to me. She could barely look into my eyes as she did!” Rosie giggles. “Oh ya’d love her, darling. So small and easy to pick up. Not to mention, just delicious on the eyes. Almost makes me wonder what a soul like theirs was doing down here in Hell.”
Alastor chuckled. “My dear, I cannot take one of the souls that you already own. Plus, I don’t think I would want souls the way you are implying.” Rosie waved her hand with a flick and winked at her old friend.
“Ya’ never know unless ya meet ‘em.” The radiant overlord smirks over at her friend, who was trying his hardest to pay no mind at her jabs. Instead he sighs, taking a quick sip of his tea before placing the cup back down on the table. It was hard for Alastor to deny anything that Rosie offered, especially when he knew that she always thought well of him. She would never suggest something that she knew wouldn’t benefit Alastor in some way.
“Well, my dear, I will play on the idea of writing them a quick thank you note. How’s that sound? I can’t leave myself owing another person anything, especially on the mistake of that blasted postal service.”
“Darling, just have your shadow deliver it to me next time.” Rosie scolded. She puffed up her cheeks and pouted.
“He was busy with something important, my dear.” Alastor retorts.
“Too busy for lil’ ol’ me?”
“Never, my dear.” Alastor smiles as he chuckles at her casual tease. Rosie gives a small smirk, knowing that Alastor was an absolute dear to those he knew. While she could never be disappointed with Alastor and his poor planning of using the mail carrier, she had found this the perfect opportunity to spark Alastor’s interest. She just wanted to give him a little push in making some new friends. Especially someone like you, who dropped right into her little doorstep by sheer chance.
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A strange suspicious letter appeared from underneath your front door. It sat a few inches in from the door frame against the carpet, brightly colored red. You had a hard time not noticing it when you walked out of your room this morning, nearly blinding you against the red glaze of the pentagram above in the sky. You picked it up and flipped it up and around.
Someone slid it in overnight while you were sleeping, leaving no trace of who sent it on the envelope. It was, however, addressed to you. There was a strange scent attached to the parcel, almost like the smell of earth and nature. It reminded you of leaves blowing in the wind, a smell you hadn’t encountered in a long time.
It has been a week since you dropped off Rosie’s package to her emporium, and you didn’t expect to get another letter mailed to you so soon, considering how you didn’t really know anyone outside of a few other residents in Cannibal Town. You barely ordered anything online as it was, seeing how many websites in hell seemed to try to scam everyone with every possible product in Hell’s existence.
Walking towards the kitchen, you began opening the letter slowly, a little hesitant of what might be in store. For all you know, there could be poison hidden in it. Maybe there’s a new scam going around Hell? Instead of a possible deadly trap, you found a very nicely folded, crisp piece of paper. A perfectly handwritten letter addressed to you.
To my newest confidant,
I would like to personally thank you for returning my package for my dear friend, Rosie. I appreciate that there are still some wayward souls like you who harbor no ill intent for no reason. I hate to think that I must owe you for the small kind gesture as I do not even know who you are, nor was the package lost your fault by any means.
Fret not, as a token of my appreciation, I have included in this letter a small gift. Please accept it as it would be rude otherwise. Gifts from overlords are well-respected in certain parts of Hell! Maybe one day we shall meet in person, but until then, you have my gratitude from afar. I hope you like red, I have this feeling you would look amazing on you.
Sincerely, Alastor the Radio Demon
You stood there in the foyer of your apartment with your mouth hung open. Your chin at some point went lax and fell to reflect your surprise after seeing the well-crafted signature at the bottom of the letter. It’s not everyday you receive a letter from an overlord thanking you for something so silly as returning a package to its intended receiver. It honestly made you a little nervous. Rosie must have said something to him. Now that he knew of your existence, was there something he would want from you? And how did he know where you lived? Was this really compensation that you thought you wanted or was this just a deathtrap?
Your eyes hovered over the words describing the existence of a gift. You wandered into the kitchen and set the letter down before focusing your attention on the bright red envelope. Shaking it over the kitchen counter top, a small gold chain falls out. A necklace of some sort that included a small pendant the size of a small coin. It was embedded with a small gem that resembled a ruby, the color mimicking the same shade as the envelope.
The detailing of the pendant and the shine in the jewel made you think this had to be an expensive purchase. Expected nothing less of an overlord. You could almost feel the metal burn against the palm of your hand as you held it. It seemed out of place to be within your grasp.
With little deliberation, you slipped the necklace tightly in your palm before walking back to your room to store it in a safe place. A small box filled with sentimental and high monetary value items was hidden in the back of your closet. As much as you would love to wear the necklace, you didn’t want to be a moving target for thievery. Especially if you were to leave the vicinity of Rosie’s protection on her side of the town.
You decided to put the letter from the Radio Demon neatly folded into your drawer by your bed. Unsure when it will be the next time you read that letter again, you put it aside - out of sight, out of mind. You started to get ready for your day to day job down in Hell, making your usual living without causing problems for any other sinner around. It was how you passed the time. This is how you will pass eternity.
However, you had given some thought after a few days. It would be impolite to receive a gift from Alastor and not write a thank you letter back right? Especially since he was the one who sent you a letter first. What if he was expecting one? He did say it was rude to return the gift, he might be presuming that you would send a notice of keeping his well-thought out gift.
You scratched your head in frustration. The thought got the better of you as you walked towards your desk and pulled out some paper and pens. Though your handwriting was not going to be anywhere as good as Alastor’s, you thought to put in as much effort to write neatly. Can’t have him thinking you were anything less than the usual common folk, right?
Dear Mr. Radio Demon,
I wanted to return your sentiment in the form of a thank you for the very beautiful pendant that I thoroughly do not deserve. I was only doing what was right in returning things to where they belong. However, it seems that I may have no power to refuse your thoughtful gift, so I wanted to sincerely thank you for thinking of me.
Sincerely,
You quickly signed your name on the bottom, painfully aware of how terrible it looked compared to Alastor’s signature. Cursive was not your strong point, even when you were alive. You folded your letter as best you could and carefully adjusted the ends to slide it into a new pristine envelope. Never had you thought you were going to be mailing things in Hell, but here you are.
You placed the now completed letter upon your kitchen table. Pondering, it seemed that you didn’t have an idea of how to get this letter to Alastor. There was no return address on his original letter to you, yet he must have known where you lived. You thought about leaving the letter taped to your front door, but thought better of it as your neighbors may think it’s strange. But also, it isn’t just residents of Cannibal Town that wander into the neighborhoods. Your letter might be stolen if left unattended for too long.
So the only other option was to visit Rosie once again. The two were exchanging parcels so she could tell you his address. It was strange that this was the sequence of events that led you to interacting with your overlord twice in one week and sending a letter to another. You had barely interacted with her since your fall and this was getting overwhelming. Holding only your letter in your hand, you walked into the store nervously.
Rosie’s face lit up at you entering through the door. She immediately trotted over in her high heels happily with a small entourage following her requesting for her attention. You felt a little intimidated by the sudden shift of everyone’s eyes on you. Before you could even greet your overlord, Rosie got her words in first. “My dear! I have been waiting for you!”
You momentarily and instinctively took a small step back, afraid of the powerful overlord who was approaching you. “No worries, little one, I can take that letter for ya to Alastor.” She pats you on the head gently. You quickly looked up at her, confused. How did she know what you were here for? Overlords with a sixth sense were terrifying. She chuckles at your expression, “Ya look like ya quite a question for me.”
“I-I’m sorry. How did you-?” You started.
A small giggle interrupted you. “Who did ya think left his letter on your doorstep?” Rosie stroked your hair gently. You stared up at her, unsure if you were more concerned that she knew where you lived or that she was caressing you like you meant something to her. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t know where to find Alastor without me. I’ve been looking forward to seeing ya the last few days. You’ve been making me wait!”
Slowly, the envelope sitting within your fingers slipped out of your grasp. Rosie removed it from your hand and looked down at you. She seemed to be staring a hole into your chest, making you feel more uneasy. The large void that filled her eyes made no emotions if it weren’t for her smile. She tilted her head with a frown. “Where’s the necklace?”
Your eyes peered open. Necklace? How did she know about the necklace? “I - uh, left it at home.” You responded shyly.
Rosie tangled her finger into your hair, curling it around her sharp digits. “Aw my dear, that is so disappointing. It would look so pretty on ya. Make sure to wear it next time ya go outside, okay? I helped him pick it out for you. It saddens me to see that ya didn’t put it on.”
“Oh. Yes m’am.” You quickly apologized, looking down at your feet.
“Oh dear, don’t feel sorry. I just felt that a wonderful soul like you deserves such a gift from a gentleman. You should proudly wear it!” Rosie chuckles. You gave her a curt nod. Before any conversation could proceed, the crowd around Rosie demanded her attention from you. You gave a quick wave and excused yourself, feeling the pounding in your chest shake your entire frame. Rosie gave a quick wink at you before you disappeared from view and out the door. She licked her lips. Oh Alastor would love teasing you, she thought.
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For several weeks, you and Alastor had somehow been passing letters back and forth with the help of Rosie as the messenger. After your initial thank you letter, Alastor was more amused by Rosie’s description of you than the actual words you had scribbled onto the plain white paper in his hands, convinced that you were the perfect prey who would tremble at just the sight of him. With a few twisted praises and encouragement, Alastor had convinced you to continue exchanging letters with him. He kept asking questions, wanting to get to know you. Out of fear of disappointing an overlord, you would respond and find yourself asking similar questions back. Your confidence didn’t falter when the terrifying overlord who ruled over the radio waves was transcribed over words on a piece of paper.
Still, you had never seen him. You never left Rosie’s territory to venture into the wild and you never made a visit to her emporium the days Alastor was in town. Of course, it was also well known that Alastor was never visible on television, internet videos, or digital photos. When the news would broadcast his latest achievements of overtaking new territory, his face was blurred by lines of static and white noise. Almost like he didn’t have a face or a body form. Newspapers could never capture him either, as the old cameras that printed light onto film had long been disposed of once technology had advanced. Call yourself curious, but not brave. You wouldn’t leave your safe little bubble just to risk getting a glimpse of this mysterious overlord.
Instead, Alastor had asked you to tune into one of his shows one day, a specific one on a specific day and time. You thought it wouldn’t hurt to do so, seeing how he asked you so politely through his neatly written writing. That cursive never ceases to impress you. Maybe his voice would be just as smoothe.
The show started with an announcement by yours truly. The way he introduced himself had you in a trance. Alastor’s voice was just as you imagined, it carried itself confidently but very composed - the way a radio host should sound to attract listeners with his words. After a few rounds of news about Pentagram City, he then dedicated the next show just for you. “To my new little mysterious friend from Cannibal Town, I hope you’re listening tonight~!”
There was momentary silence as the smooth jazz that played in the background faded following his announcement. You waited by your radio, leaning forward and waiting for what you thought was going to be another story.
“H̫͕͕͎̩̣ͦ̕E̺̖̼̒͒͝Lͥ͏͍͍̤̯̩P̷͕͈̘̫̞͓̃ͨ̋ ͉̪͕̦͚͐̃ͩ͗͝M̡̦̰ͨ̓ͬ͋E̲̗͉ͭͤ̑͛͝”
A loud shriek fills your room from the screeching of the radio wave. The sounds of nails dragging across a board on top of a rhythmic chopping oozed in the air. You swear you heard the sounds of paper or fabric tearing into pieces. A chorus of crying and sobbing filled your ears. “I̒͌̂̊͏̱̙͕͉͕͈ͅT͎̖̰̳̥͒̎̈́̀ͅ ͓͍̹̞̪̦̖̾̌̀͟ͅH͙͈̯̓̅̃̽͘U̲̮̲͉ͨ̓̓ͭ̀R͔̣̭͍͇͗̓̓̈́͢T̛̬̘̻̘̘̞̰̳͗̂̇͗S̳͓̘̺̼̟̗̥ͫͪ͘” It repeats over and over again. “I̫̺̞̳͇̳̖͓͊̋͛͝T̶̺͇̜̱̘͇̮ͯ͋ͅ ̼͉͎̦̘̍͘H̗̮̠͖̜̩̫̃̿̌ͭ͝U͙͎͎͚̣͖̔ͤ͜R̵̬͈͍̭̥̟̞̭̈ͫ̆̔Ţ̝̙̠͈̲ͥͩͤͦŞ̺͉̜̱͙̦̫̓ͬ.̤̠͇̝͔ͩ́͢ͅ ͚̙͍̏͐͂̇͠I̶̫͖͙̳̼̍ͣT̙͈͈̬̯̤͌̾͆͠ ̡̻̺̜̐͋́̎H̸̺͚̠̓̈́͛̽U̧͎̥̮̜̹̣̔̿͗Rͦ҉̝̙͖͇̺̙̖ͅT̐̔̐̀҉͓̙͔̞̹̟̠Š̨̲̥̝̞͐͗̉.̶̮̼̼̝̪̾̀ ̢͈̬̠͉͋I̴̳̩̣̾ͅT̻̮̮̮͔̰̘̔̋ͩ̑̀ ̝͕͆ͣ͝H̞̺̩̊͘Ǔ̸̻̹̦̥̖ͤ̄̈́R̢̠̻̠͈̹͎̤ͧ͊ͨT̵̟̙̹̻͓̫ͭS̶̜̗͙͙̬̭̳̩͑ͦ.͒̑҉͖̝͓̼͓̦ ̆͊ͯͪ҉͖̝̠͇ͅ”
You slapped your palms against the side of your head, covering as much of your ear as you could. Nearly falling off your bed, you tried everything you could to reach for the dial of the radio that sat on your nightstand as it sang the songs of demonic demise. Heavily breathing, you could feel your chest getting crushed by the sounds of desperate begging and crying. The wet sounds of blood echoed in your apartment, almost sounding like it was filling your walls and threatening to drown you. The gargling voices in the background doubled down that sinking feeling.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the radio started to power down. A whisper fades into the background and the broadcast ends. “ᴾᴸᴱᴬˢᴱ ᴵ'ᴹ ˢᴼᴿᴿʸ ˢᴬⱽᴱ ᴹᴱ”
You sat there on your bed, cowering under the covers with your nails digging into the side of your head. Your palms were sweaty against your ears and your breathing was short.
This is what Alastor does for fun?
After his terrifying radio broadcast, you thought about his next request in his newest letter to meet with you at Rosie’s emporium. You hesitated. The screams and piercing shrieks of the neighboring overlords haunted your dreams for several nights. The sounds of bones snapping and muscles ripping with each echoing crying of sinners gripped onto your chest with every breath you tried to catch when you woke up from your dreams. The reminder of how powerful he was kept radiating and pulsing with a threatening grasp on your undead heart.
“Alastor!” Rosie took her laced fan and smacked the aforementioned demon on the shoulder lightly several times. “You scared the living soul out of her! Of course she’s not going to meet with you!”
Rosie had seen how you refused to look her in the eye the next day. Slightly shaking, you handed her the letter you had for her, thanking Alastor for inviting you for tea but you were feeling too under the weather to accept at this time. It was the best excuse you could come up with in hopes that it wouldn’t upset him to deny him. You hesitated to speak with her directly, as you suddenly remembered that Rosie was also an overlord. Did she also enjoy in torture of sinners by ripping apart their flesh as they screamed for mercy? This was Hell but the reality of it always seemed to slap you across the face of how intense other sinners could be compared to the menial theft you pulled when you were alive.
Rosie looked at you with saddened eyes. The progress she had acquired with you was immediately retracted by Alastor’s little antic.
“Why couldn’t you have just done something lighter for her first show?” Rosie questioned with frustration. She tapped her fan against her arm as she watched Alastor take a sip of his tea.
“My dear, I wanted to give her my warmest welcome. How was I supposed to know it scared her to oblivion?” Alastor laughs manically. As much as you had interested him, this was all fun and games for him after all.
“Well now the poor soul refuses to even look me in the eye!” Rosie huffed. She crossed her arms and looked away, pretending to be mad at Alastor. He knew she couldn’t uphold that anger for long, but he did feel a little bit of guilt for taking away her source of entertainment as well. It wasn’t his intention to scare you, but he had forgotten that most demons were afraid of him just by the mention of his name.
“I apologize, darling. I’ll see if I can make it up to her. If there’s a way we can meet, maybe I can convince her I’m not trying to rip her apart piece by piece like I did on my show.” Alastor chuckles. He put down his cup and slowly disappeared into his shadow. Rosie watched the darkness slither away out the door, wondering how he was going to approach you if he didn’t know what you looked like.
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On your weekly trip to the market one day, you decided to dig out the necklace Alastor had gifted you. You wore a nice white top and black jeans, thinking that the gold chain and red jewel would be accentuated from the monochrome outfit. You chained it up behind your neck, avoiding any hair and horns that may get caught in the clasp. The jewel sat proudly upon your clavicle, definitely a little out of place given your outfit.
Feeling a little guilty for turning down several invitations for tea, you thought to maybe search for something nice to give to Alastor as an apology. It has been a while since your last letter to him. Hoping that he wouldn’t search for you to kill you for denying him too much, fear was creeping up on you in your dreams and snatching you away every night before you sat up at the sight of a shadowy figure smiling devilishly at you in the mornings. Your letter exchanges with him dug you in too deep to reject him completely and ending this little … relationship? That you had with him.
You walked out of your apartment with a little more confidence than you had the past week. Sleep was escaping you due to the nightmares but you felt a little better today for some strange reason. The old antique shop down the street was your first stop. You had passed by it several times before on the way to Rosie’s emporium, but you never had a reason to step inside.
For someone who was known to be repulsed by modern advancement of technology, you figured something of an older time period would probably bring the radio demon some joy in his tirade in Hell. You browsed the aisles, the glass displays, but nothing seemed to catch your eye that would be worthy of a gift for an overlord. It wasn’t until the shopkeeper eyed you from across the room, wondering what you were doing in their store.
The large ox demon signaled from afar, asking what you were looking for. You asked, what was the most giftworthy item they had in store that would be fitting for a royal. He laughed and turned to pull out a small box, and opened it slowly to reveal something coated in gold.
A single pocketwatch sat on red velvet padding. The detailing of the engraved symbols tickled the bottom of your fingers as you ran your claws over the top. The runes along the border made you curious if this was an old artifact from Earth, an unrecognizable language. You asked to look at the watch more closely, already deciding that this was the gift that you had to get. But what caught your eye specifically was the price point that the watch cost. Almost triple your monthly hellish salary. You cringed, holding onto the box that the ox demon handed to you and thought deeply about the purchase.
“That’s a very pristine and lavish watch you got there.” A very interesting but familiar voice chimed from behind you.
“Oh, thank you. I was thinking of getting it for a friend of mine.” You smiled and responded without thinking, the calmness of this new demon standing behind you made you feel fairly relaxed. Despite the friendly tone, you almost missed the sight of the ox shopkeeper before you, shivering in fear. You turned to take a peek at who was scaring him.
A very scarlet demon stands behind you looking over your shoulder. You turned to stare straight into the large smile that hovered right at eye level. It nearly surprised you into dropping the box but you held it tightly, not wanting to ruin your gift for Alastor.
Said demon looked down at you, staring straight at your newly adorn necklace, seemingly pleased with it sitting around your neck. His grin grew. “Well, my dear, whoever is receiving that gift from you will greatly appreciate it.” Alastor gushed.
“Thank you, but I’m still deciding if I want to buy it though.” You were unsure why you were telling this stranger your concerns, but the words just flowed out of you. “It’s a bit too expensive for me to buy without skipping a couple meals for the rest of the month.” You laughed awkwardly. You looked down at the watch once more feeling a bit dejected.
“O-oH you’ll be getting a discount for being a n-new customer today!” The shopkeeper stumbled to announce, his eyes were trained straight at the tall red demon beside you. “You’ll get it for a third of the p-price!”
Alastor narrowed his eyes.
“A f-fourth!” The ox shrunk into himself, hoping that he gave the correct answer.
“That sounds wonderful!” You beamed. “I’ll take it!”
Alastor watched you jump up and down. Something so simple could make you so happy, he was amused. “How lucky of this new friend of yours.” He chuckles as you turn around. You reached your hand out and presented the watch to Alastor.
“If you’d like it, I wouldn’t mind if you take it. I can always find another gift.” He shook his head, bringing his hands up to the box and pushing it back towards you.
“No worries, my dear. You deserve it. I’m sure I’ll get something similar very soon.” The red demon before you turned away before you could thank him. He walks out of the store and hums a very upbeat jazz tune. You tilted your head in confusion, but turned back to focus on paying for your new purchase.
You had great taste, Alastor complimented mentally. He was excited to receive such a gift from you, skipping a couple steps down the street of Cannibal Town. He dodges a couple residents before turning into Rosie’s store.
In addition to seeing the small smile that you wore, Alastor was quite happy seeing that necklace around the collar of your shirt. Thanks to that bright red gem, he was able to spot you from down the street on his way to find Rosie. It was a good choice, he gloated to himself.
You really did look good in red.
With this necklace, he was able to find you easily. It was almost like marking you as his, though your soul belonged to Rosie. Alastor hoped that you could continue to wear it, even if you continued to avoid him out of fear. Maybe one day, you’ll agree to meet him. Seeing you with that watch specifically chosen for him made him extremely overjoyed. But until then, Alastor will continue to send you letters and attempt to think of ways to get Rosie to hand over your soul to him.
He couldn’t wait.