Rewatching TFATWS for the first time in ages and my stupid internet really froze up on me at this exact moment what the hell this is emotional terrorism
Did you know that between 1939 and 1941 the NYC Tax Administration and the Works Progress Administration collaborated to take photographs of nearly every building in all 5 boroughs of New York City? And that you can see these photos today thanks to NYC Municipal archiving? This is, obviously, amazing for hundreds of reasons. For the purposes of this post, it's fantastic because this is a very real address:
And when I put that address into the photo locator map, I get this:
Going from there, we can walk around the surrounding blocks via photographs. And if we assume that Steve and Bucky's pre-war apartment was fairly close to the Barnes', then these photos from 1939 to 1941 are a historically accurate trip to their neighborhood.
So, let's explore some pre-war Brooklyn. For your fic inspiration needs, your feelings, the general Stucky vibes, or just because:
160 State Street, bigger and without the map.
(If you ever feel like making the details of a fic incredibly historically accurate, there are so many real businesses to choose from in these photos.)
Like I said, there are pictures of nearly every building. This is just a small collection of the images I grabbed from the immediate blocks around 160 State. You can walk around the neighborhood in more detail, or anywhere else in 1939-1941 New York you want on the map I used.Ā Ā
Radioapple fic, where after the Extermination, Lucifer decides that Alastor isn't allowed to pretend to care about being Charlie's parent if he isn't going to actually step up into that role. And so he just forces Alastor to be her other dad.
The first time Charlie asks Lucifer if he can do something for her, and he goes, "Actually sweetie, I think this might be better suited for your other father," the blare of radio static was so loud a few glasses at the bar actually shattered.
Charlie was confused but ecstatic that her dad and Alastor are getting along, and Lucifer had to keep himself from cackling at Alastor's reaction (and his face, as he was forced to agree with both the task and the fact that he can't argue with Lucifer for doing this to him.)
Slowly, Lucifer just gets the entire hotel to call Alastor "Charlie's Other Dad," and whenever one of them disagrees with something she says, now Charlie will go "Well I'm going to ask my other dad, then!"
Eventually, Alastor just embraces the role that he (unintentionally) made himself have, and he does really treasure the face Lucifer makes the first time HE does the "ask your other father" routine.
(They have new mugs that say "Dad #1/Dad #2 and they actively fight to grab the Dad #1 mug before the other can reach it.)
The problem is, only the original cast was THERE for the dad fight song, and no one has told any of the new residents about it. So, to everyone else, it just looks like they really ARE Charlie's dad's and that they actually are in a relationship.
(Their constant bickering and need to be around the other isn't helping matters here.)
Pretty soon, it's not hard for the connection of Lilith going missing, Alastor going missing, and Lucifer never being in the public eye to arise. Because, what other reason would Alastor come back after a 7 YEAR hiatus just to help Luciferās daughter with her project, for only a few months later for Lucifer HIMSELF to come out of hiding to also help, for Lilith to still be MIA and now suddenly Alastor and Lucifer are being referred to as Charlie's dad's.
During a fight, Lucifer makes the joke about wanting a divorce and the entire hotel riots.
I think, given hisā¦ erm, past, that Alastor would view murder as an appropriate form of showing affection.
He does it for all the hotel inhabitants. Everyone who starts to grow on him, whoās wellbeing he begins to care about, despite himself.
It happens with Charlie first. A sinner out on the streets talks a little too poorly about her and her hotel, her dreams, her ideas. She hears and it brings her down for only a moment (she always was one to recover quickly) but the short moment is enough for Alastor.
They find the sinnerās body impaled on the wrought iron fence the next morning. No one fully understands why Alastor seems particularly giddy about it.
The next time, itās Angel. A client sees him outside of work, and seems to forget that he isnāt owed time he doesnāt pay for. Alastorās shadow grows behind him, and after steering Angel and the others away, Alaator guides the man down a darkened alley.
He eats the man whole, enlarging his head to do so. He returns to the others with the manās shiny golden tooth, which heād spit out after devouring him, and he drops onto Angelās hand without an explanation.
For Lucifer, itās a bit more subtle, or at least harder to detect. Because Lucifer didnāt even know that the bodies heās constantly finding outside his room belonged to individuals whoād once mocked his name. He hadnāt known that theyād belittled him, called him weak, called him a coward.
Alastor knew. Which is why, one by one, he picks them off. His memory is carved from stone, and he remembers each and every greatest offender.
And what better place to leave his kill than at Luciferās door? Like a cat presenting his master with a caught mouse, he brings his trophies back to Lucifer, depositing them where he is sure to find them and be proud.
Eventually, everyone figures it out- Alastor was never hiding it, but the others didnāt know to look for it either. They piece together that all it takes is an insult in front of Alastor, and suddenly the offender is missing, or perhaps they come across their body shortly after. Death is so common in Hell, that it takes them a while to get it.
When confronted heāll shrug and hum, offering a half hearted wave of his hand. āIām just doing my civic duty as patron of this hotelā he says, casually examining his claws.
No one really knows what to say. They are not used to love that is so vicious, so violent. So damning. Red paints not only Alastorās heart but also his hands, staining him further with every act of affection.
Itās all he knows. The only way he understands to express his indebtedness to the others, the only way to carve out a bit of himself and present itself to the others for them to adore.
Itās unconventional, but so is everything that Alastor ever does.
And for the othersā¦ Well. In a place like Hell-? Itās not exactly a bad way to receive love, so long as it keeps them all safe.