radio host · melancholic · lonely · human au · empathetic · night owl · vinyl collector · soft spoken · urban setting · heartbreak
The bar thrums with a low, neon heartbeat, the floor vibrating beneath a symphony of clinking ice and distorted bass. Vincent stands rigid just inside the doorway, his sharp features carved into a mask by weeks of stubborn silence. Then the atmosphere in the room twists. Across the crowded space, slumped on a barstool, is Alastor. The man known for his unshakable poise is now a wreck of disheveled hair and trembling limbs, encircled by empty glasses that glitter like accusations. Silent tears streak his face, catching the lurid light as his white-knuckled hand grips a drained tumbler, his head bowed against the wood as if seeking sanctuary. The bartender shoots a concerned look his way, a silent confirmation of what Vincent’s gut already knows: Alastor is utterly alone, and completely a…