[ he's just gonna file that away to ask when vergil gets back home. ]
you're talking to guy who barely had enough money to keep the lights on on a good day i went for the cheapest shit i could find sue me also there is nothing wrong with pizza
Maybe if you did not do jobs for free or next to nothing you may have been able to indulge in something other than hole-in-the-wall Chinese.
...
And I suppose Pizza is fine. I do not mind a margarita every now and again.
[ and within the hour he's home, he's cutting up a pizza that is way more fancy than Dante's usual place. It's definitely from some fancy Italian eatery, sorry man. But at least it's really good cheese and sauce, the bread probably the best you've ever had.
While he's pointedly avoiding his brother's gaze. ]
[ he is not dignifying that with a response, in fact he doesn't reply at all and simply waits the hour it takes for vergil to come back home. what did he do during that hour? well, none of your business that's what. what matters is dante smells the pizza and he's damn hungry so he emerges from his room in search of it, only to find vergil determinedly cutting up the pizza and avoiding dante's gaze.
something's up.
he leans against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed across his chest, notably missing his coat. ]
A flamboyant half-man half-zebra propositioned me on the Libra app today.
[ he's putting dante's pizza on a plate like a civilized person. Handing it off to him as he takes his own slice and busies his mouth that isn't going to elaborate any furthur than that. too busy eating. ]
[ sorry, one moment dante.exe has ceased functioning please turn your dante off and on again.
it's instinct that has dante take the plate in order to save the pizza from meeting an untimely demise on the kitchen floor, blue eyes blinking rapidly as he tries to process the string of words his twin brother just spoke to him. someone propositioned him. a flamboyant half-man half-zebra propositioned vergil. some truly insane person thought to proposition vergil; mister 'not using a perfectly good knife for cooking anymore because i stabbed you right it', mister 'that shirt was armani and you just used it to clean up blood'.
[ he's eating so much pizza right now. he won't even LOOK at dante as the other's OS crashes and needs a hard reboot as he struggles with the idea that someone had the audacity--bravery? to hit on someone like VERGIL over a network post.
Finish bite of pizza. Still refusing to elaborate. But he will offer: ]
I speak English perfectly, despite the fact that it is my second language.
[ dante moves almost slowly towards the table, putting the plate down, before turning to focus on his brother again. now he's just being an ass and dante feels the beginnings of irritation form in his gut. ]
Just say it again, I need to know if I heard you right.
[ vergil's met with silence first. an almost slack-jawed look of sheer disbelief, before finally, finally, dante just laughs. he doubles over, hand to his gut as though he has just take another knife, and laughs louder than he has ever since he got to kaisou. ]
Y-you─ [ holy shit, he honestly thought he had heard wrong that some half-man half-zebra person hadn't propositioned his brother on the app today but lo and behold. ] Holy shit!
[ his laughter lasts a solid minute before dante is able to stand up straight again, almost winded by the experience, he has tears in his eyes some of which had fallen to stain his cheeks. this is the funniest thing he's heard ever in his damn life. ]
no, dante is LAUGHING and somehow it's the WORST and Vergil is going to slowly quietly just start sinking down into his seat
maybe he could lie on the floor, it is IMMACULATELY clean and he could just stay there, under the table. maybe grow roots in hopes of becoming a tree that'd slowly eat all of Kaisou. This city was hell. Why did he move here. ]
Don't make me stab you again.
I am so, very. Sorely tempted. Don't get close to me.
[ the response comes perhaps a little too quickly, almost flirty in a way that doesn't hit dante until the words have passed his mouth and there is no taking them back so he might as well roll with it. he shakes his head, pulling the chair out to sit down and take a bite from dinner, chewing briefly before speaking again. ]
And? So? Did you take him up on the offer?
[ the answer, of course, is no but dante wants to hear vergil say it. ]
[ he's almost glad vergil doesn't say anything on the initial comment, his focus more on the absolute absurdity of the question instead. still, it's a surprise to hear vergil yell, were he more demon than human he's sure that he would have even jumped a little. yet despite vergil being still very human, the shimmer to the air doesn't go unnoticed ─ dante's pulse almost quickening in response. ]
Not to get hit on by a half-man half zebra? [ his dear brother is on edge, he shouldn't torment him so much but... ] Oh, dear brother mine, to think old dad's looks are finally catching up to you. Because it sure as shit wasn't your personality that go you the attention.
[ dante leans back on the chair, grinning widely. ]
[ when he's less suffering in silence he might think on it later and belatedly snit at you for it sir but for now he's wondering how he got into this mess. even worse? zebra man owns a THEATRE and vergil LOVES the theatre and performative arts and he's got a ticket to an italian play and he wants to die-- ]
You do not need to finish that sentence. [ the shimmer in the air faded, but uh it might make dante's ears ring a little. probably nothing. probably.] My personality is fine, thank you. I will have you know it's how I've made many of my business partners over the years.
...
You have my face, you absolute fool. If you shaved, maybe you'd--
[ it certainly does make his ears ring a little, as though the pressure in the room had suddenly shifted. he rolls his jaw in an effort to pop his ears, grin planted firmly on his face. ]
Vergil, I hate to break it to you but business partners aren't the same as romantic partners. [ how the hell did this guy end up with a kid? ] Pretty sure that guy today wasn't hitting on you because of your 'winning' personality.
[ dante raises an eyebrow, question clearly planted across his face. maybe he'd what? go on, say it. ]
I am aware they aren't the same thing. [ he almost hiSSES ??? with frustration??? and then realises he's getting worked up again. just breathe. hands up. hands on table. tap table. ]
I do not have romantic partners. I learned very young that most people who showed any sort of interest in me were only interested in my money or the prestige of my name. So I keep that at arm's length.
[ oh, he definitely touched a nerve there. dante leans forward, the chair returning to all fours, grin dropping for something a little more somber. ]
No wonder you're all pent up. [ he has to wonder exactly how nero came into being if vergil somehow managed to find someone with who he truly connected. did they laugh together? was he happy? did she somehow come upon him battered and broken after his defeat at dante's hands and nurse him back to health? who was she? how did she die? dante frowns, taking hold of his pizza and taking an almost aggressive bite from it. christ, he shouldn't feel jealous of a dead woman. what is even wrong with him? ] You really gotta find a way to release all that shit you've been bottling up.
I am not pent up. [ maybe he actually is but he'll die on this hill like the stubborn asshole he is. tearing into the crust of the too-fancy pizza he'd bought with a tinge of irritation on his face. he can't exactly how dante's feeling, the jealousy that boils over in his chest over a faceless, nameless woman that vergil, even now can't put a name to--doesn't even remember even having a connection with. in this life he'd never shown interest in anyone either. and now in a city far from home, his only connection was Dante. it's been... oddly good living with him. he's going to glance up at the other with a huff of a sigh. ]
I have been thinking of taking up a martial skill. I've been told it is a good idea to defend myself, in this city. And with no actual abilities other than 'make things float' and 'make someone's ears bleed if I shout too loudly', I am one bad encounter away from a fatal injury in this cursed place.
[ it's stated very matter-of-factly, because of course dante can tell. he knows vergil as well as he knows himself and even dante can admit to being pent up in more ways than one. it's been quiet, he doesn't do quiet, there is very little he can busy his hands with or even fully satisfy desires. dante finishes the piece of pizza quickly, forcing the crease from his brow, and focuses his gaze on vergil again. ]
Well, you were pretty damn good with a sword back in the day. [ he thinks about yamato, about the sword that somehow showed up at nero's condo, familiar and yet not. ] And I know my way around one, could always help you spar.
I am not. [ this is going to devolve into a very childish bickering match good god he can HEAR it in his EARS dante wasn't the only one feeling restless however. regardless of how often he was in his own shop, he was still actively looking for part-time workers to watch it for at least half of the day so he didn't have to work over 50, 60 hours a week. an itch under his skin that he hasn't had the last 10 years he's owned the shop and now it was there and ]
I remember a katana. White-handled. ...A strange weapon to choose, as it's not a very clean weapon, in terms of combat. Usually most katana battles end with just one or two strikes before the blade became warped, you know. [ he's... itching, weirdly. when dante offers to spar. ]
Something tells me you're an ogre when you fight. Would you even go easy on a normal person, Mr. Demon.
Are too. [ this is a hill dante will be dying on and you cannot stop him.
honestly, he is a little glad he isn't... completely himself yet, that the demon in his veins is still bound by unbreakable chains. he's always been good at curbing his more demonic urges but with how peaceful (accidental stabbing aside) things were these days, he'd be worried that his usual tricks wouldn't be enough. it doesn't stop the itch just underneath his skin, the need for more, for blood, for something that isn't sitting on his hands waiting for the next disaster to drop itself on their doorstep.
maybe training would help settle the itch, even if it is only for a little while, plus it'll make sure vergil knows how to defend himself just in case dante isn't around. ]
It's got a name, Yamato. [ he leans an elbow on the table and props his head upon the palm of his hand. ] If it were a normal katana, yeah it'd be a strange weapon to choose. Yamato isn't a normal weapon, it's what I call a 'devil arm' and it was forged by our father.
[ maybe talk of sparda isn't a great idea but if he already remembers fragments of yamato, he isn't that far off remembering something about daddy dearest. ]
Of course, I would. I know when told hold myself back.
I am not pent up, I am stressed out. [ he will die on this hill too goddamn it.
vergil doesn't realise it yet--but parts of his powers have already started to return. the demon still hasn't reared its ugly head, but vergil sits here, blissfully unaware that he, too, could take a knife to the lung and survive it. as much as he avoids violence, he hasn't realised it yet. certainly, once his own demon starts to fight the chains its in, dante's own will be satisfied, but until then, he's just preparing for something that might never happen.
People on the damnable network telling him he could be in danger without a weapon. ]
'Yamato' sounds familiar. [ he mutters the name, a squint on his face as he tries to remember something. ...the memories were odd, they never came when he was actively trying to rack the clouds in his brain, and now isn't any different. but he remembers the feel of that blade in his hand, how his fingers ached almost pleasingly when it struck dante's larger, broader sword. how he flicked it as if it were made of paper from his side, sending waves of... something. The mention of their father, as well. He can't remember his face. ]
Devil Arm. Something stronger than a normal weapon, I'd assume. [ he looks between his fingers at the man, tipping his head to the side. ] ....But very well.
I bought a pair of practice spears to use with an old business partner of mine. But if you're skilled at using such a weapon, I would not be... opposed to learning from you, as well.
You can be pent up and stressed out at the same time, Verg. Trust me, I know what pent up looks like and you're it.
[ he might be projecting a little, to avoid bringing light to his own pent up state, but that is fine really. vergil could probably do with getting some action anyway, it doesn't do a guy any good to go without some sort of release for thirty-seven years. ]
Definitely strong, most of them are made from the very soul of the demon they came from. [ he has, at the very least, one up in his room thrown carelessly onto the floor near his bed. were balrog a talkative type he would probably assume the demon isn't all that happy with that ─ but thankfully for dante none of his devil arms have ever possessed a mouth capable of talking on the level of agni and rudra. ] Some a made from either parts of a demon or something that's been infused with demonic power.
[ dante pulls a face, considering, before shifting back in his chair again. ]
Can't say I'm a master at a spear, but I've dabbled a bit. [ he wishes he had king cerberus with him when he arrived. ] Maybe learning how to wield a sword might knock some cobwebs loose in that head of yours to.
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[ he's just gonna file that away to ask when vergil gets back home. ]
you're talking to guy who barely had enough money to keep the lights on
on a good day
i went for the cheapest shit i could find sue me
also there is nothing wrong with pizza
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...
And I suppose Pizza is fine. I do not mind a margarita every now and again.
[ and within the hour he's home, he's cutting up a pizza that is way more fancy than Dante's usual place. It's definitely from some fancy Italian eatery, sorry man.
But at least it's really good cheese and sauce, the bread probably the best you've ever had.
While he's pointedly avoiding his brother's gaze. ]
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something's up.
he leans against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed across his chest, notably missing his coat. ]
Alright, spill it. What happened?
1/3
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[ he's putting dante's pizza on a plate like a civilized person. Handing it off to him as he takes his own slice and busies his mouth that isn't going to elaborate any furthur than that. too busy eating. ]
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it's instinct that has dante take the plate in order to save the pizza from meeting an untimely demise on the kitchen floor, blue eyes blinking rapidly as he tries to process the string of words his twin brother just spoke to him. someone propositioned him. a flamboyant half-man half-zebra propositioned vergil. some truly insane person thought to proposition vergil; mister 'not using a perfectly good knife for cooking anymore because i stabbed you right it', mister 'that shirt was armani and you just used it to clean up blood'.
he isn't sure if he should be upset or amused. ]
A what now?
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Finish bite of pizza. Still refusing to elaborate. But he will offer: ]
I speak English perfectly, despite the fact that it is my second language.
I said what I said.
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Just say it again, I need to know if I heard you right.
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He stops chewing for a second. Looking up. And taking a low breath. ]
A half-man. Half-Zebra.
Propositioned me. Today.
On the Libra app.
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Y-you─ [ holy shit, he honestly thought he had heard wrong that some half-man half-zebra person hadn't propositioned his brother on the app today but lo and behold. ] Holy shit!
[ his laughter lasts a solid minute before dante is able to stand up straight again, almost winded by the experience, he has tears in his eyes some of which had fallen to stain his cheeks. this is the funniest thing he's heard ever in his damn life. ]
Brother, I love you, I needed that laugh.
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no, dante is LAUGHING and somehow it's the WORST and Vergil is going to
slowly
quietly
just start sinking down into his seat
maybe he could lie on the floor, it is IMMACULATELY clean and he could just stay there, under the table. maybe grow roots in hopes of becoming a tree that'd slowly eat all of Kaisou. This city was hell. Why did he move here. ]
Don't make me stab you again.
I am so, very. Sorely tempted. Don't get close to me.
[ i'll sharpen a damn pizza crust. ]
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[ the response comes perhaps a little too quickly, almost flirty in a way that doesn't hit dante until the words have passed his mouth and there is no taking them back so he might as well roll with it. he shakes his head, pulling the chair out to sit down and take a bite from dinner, chewing briefly before speaking again. ]
And? So? Did you take him up on the offer?
[ the answer, of course, is no but dante wants to hear vergil say it. ]
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No!
[ have you heard vergil shout even once--
ah, there's a weird shimmer to the air when he shouted, too. oops. reign yourself in, vergil. ]
No. Of course I didn't take him up on the offer!
I was there to talk about some of my more abyssal memories, not.
...
[ he's gonna take another bite of his pizza. ]
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Not to get hit on by a half-man half zebra? [ his dear brother is on edge, he shouldn't torment him so much but... ] Oh, dear brother mine, to think old dad's looks are finally catching up to you. Because it sure as shit wasn't your personality that go you the attention.
[ dante leans back on the chair, grinning widely. ]
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You do not need to finish that sentence. [ the shimmer in the air faded, but uh
it might make dante's ears ring a little. probably nothing. probably.] My personality is fine, thank you. I will have you know it's how I've made many of my business partners over the years.
...
You have my face, you absolute fool.
If you shaved, maybe you'd--
This is a stupid conversation.
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Vergil, I hate to break it to you but business partners aren't the same as romantic partners. [ how the hell did this guy end up with a kid? ] Pretty sure that guy today wasn't hitting on you because of your 'winning' personality.
[ dante raises an eyebrow, question clearly planted across his face. maybe he'd what? go on, say it. ]
You're the one who brought it up.
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I do not have romantic partners. I learned very young that most people who showed any sort of interest in me were only interested in my money or the prestige of my name. So I keep that at arm's length.
[ change the conversation just change it ]
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No wonder you're all pent up. [ he has to wonder exactly how nero came into being if vergil somehow managed to find someone with who he truly connected. did they laugh together? was he happy? did she somehow come upon him battered and broken after his defeat at dante's hands and nurse him back to health? who was she? how did she die? dante frowns, taking hold of his pizza and taking an almost aggressive bite from it. christ, he shouldn't feel jealous of a dead woman. what is even wrong with him? ] You really gotta find a way to release all that shit you've been bottling up.
[ no subject change. ]
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he can't exactly how dante's feeling, the jealousy that boils over in his chest over a faceless, nameless woman that vergil, even now can't put a name to--doesn't even remember even having a connection with. in this life he'd never shown interest in anyone either. and now in a city far from home, his only connection was Dante. it's been... oddly good living with him. he's going to glance up at the other with a huff of a sigh. ]
I have been thinking of taking up a martial skill.
I've been told it is a good idea to defend myself, in this city.
And with no actual abilities other than 'make things float' and 'make someone's ears bleed if I shout too loudly', I am one bad encounter away from a fatal injury in this cursed place.
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[ it's stated very matter-of-factly, because of course dante can tell. he knows vergil as well as he knows himself and even dante can admit to being pent up in more ways than one. it's been quiet, he doesn't do quiet, there is very little he can busy his hands with or even fully satisfy desires. dante finishes the piece of pizza quickly, forcing the crease from his brow, and focuses his gaze on vergil again. ]
Well, you were pretty damn good with a sword back in the day. [ he thinks about yamato, about the sword that somehow showed up at nero's condo, familiar and yet not. ] And I know my way around one, could always help you spar.
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dante wasn't the only one feeling restless however. regardless of how often he was in his own shop, he was still actively looking for part-time workers to watch it for at least half of the day so he didn't have to work over 50, 60 hours a week. an itch under his skin that he hasn't had the last 10 years he's owned the shop and now it was there and ]
I remember a katana. White-handled. ...A strange weapon to choose, as it's not a very clean weapon, in terms of combat. Usually most katana battles end with just one or two strikes before the blade became warped, you know. [ he's... itching, weirdly. when dante offers to spar. ]
Something tells me you're an ogre when you fight. Would you even go easy on a normal person, Mr. Demon.
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honestly, he is a little glad he isn't... completely himself yet, that the demon in his veins is still bound by unbreakable chains. he's always been good at curbing his more demonic urges but with how peaceful (accidental stabbing aside) things were these days, he'd be worried that his usual tricks wouldn't be enough. it doesn't stop the itch just underneath his skin, the need for more, for blood, for something that isn't sitting on his hands waiting for the next disaster to drop itself on their doorstep.
maybe training would help settle the itch, even if it is only for a little while, plus it'll make sure vergil knows how to defend himself just in case dante isn't around. ]
It's got a name, Yamato. [ he leans an elbow on the table and props his head upon the palm of his hand. ] If it were a normal katana, yeah it'd be a strange weapon to choose. Yamato isn't a normal weapon, it's what I call a 'devil arm' and it was forged by our father.
[ maybe talk of sparda isn't a great idea but if he already remembers fragments of yamato, he isn't that far off remembering something about daddy dearest. ]
Of course, I would. I know when told hold myself back.
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vergil doesn't realise it yet--but parts of his powers have already started to return. the demon still hasn't reared its ugly head, but vergil sits here, blissfully unaware that he, too, could take a knife to the lung and survive it. as much as he avoids violence, he hasn't realised it yet. certainly, once his own demon starts to fight the chains its in, dante's own will be satisfied, but until then, he's just preparing for something that might never happen.
People on the damnable network telling him he could be in danger without a weapon. ]
'Yamato' sounds familiar. [ he mutters the name, a squint on his face as he tries to remember something. ...the memories were odd, they never came when he was actively trying to rack the clouds in his brain, and now isn't any different. but he remembers the feel of that blade in his hand, how his fingers ached almost pleasingly when it struck dante's larger, broader sword. how he flicked it as if it were made of paper from his side, sending waves of... something. The mention of their father, as well. He can't remember his face. ]
Devil Arm.
Something stronger than a normal weapon, I'd assume. [ he looks between his fingers at the man, tipping his head to the side. ] ....But very well.
I bought a pair of practice spears to use with an old business partner of mine. But if you're skilled at using such a weapon, I would not be... opposed to learning from you, as well.
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[ he might be projecting a little, to avoid bringing light to his own pent up state, but that is fine really. vergil could probably do with getting some action anyway, it doesn't do a guy any good to go without some sort of release for thirty-seven years. ]
Definitely strong, most of them are made from the very soul of the demon they came from. [ he has, at the very least, one up in his room thrown carelessly onto the floor near his bed. were balrog a talkative type he would probably assume the demon isn't all that happy with that ─ but thankfully for dante none of his devil arms have ever possessed a mouth capable of talking on the level of agni and rudra. ] Some a made from either parts of a demon or something that's been infused with demonic power.
[ dante pulls a face, considering, before shifting back in his chair again. ]
Can't say I'm a master at a spear, but I've dabbled a bit. [ he wishes he had king cerberus with him when he arrived. ] Maybe learning how to wield a sword might knock some cobwebs loose in that head of yours to.
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