[ he can't help the laugh that pushes past his lips, head shaking as he levels his brother with a look that can't be described as anything but fond. ]
You know, it's weird hearing you worrying about getting in trouble. [ honestly, when has vergil ever worried about collateral damage? never in his memories. he isn't sure if it is a nice change or if it's just... weird. ] But the forest sounds like a decent enough spot. Nothing much out there but some trees and animals that'll probably avoid us.
[ even in this state most animals should at least recognize dante for what he is, they are always perceptive for such things. ]
Well, we didn't really go to school you know? It wasn't like we had any friends, just each other. Guess I always wanted your attention and sometimes it annoyed the shit out of you. [ he was a wild child, in truth, always on the move always doing something. it was like he didn't know what to do with himself if he sat still. and he always, always, wanted his brother's attention, often getting jealous of things that vergil gave more attention to than dante himself. ] Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.
I do not know what it was like back in our previous home, what with all the chaos I could see with my own two eyes. What with giant buildings and... organic trees. But this world is much different, and while I do... think I want to engage in combat training with you until I either learn how to use a blade again or... remember my old skills. I do not wish to get arrested.
No matter how strong a demon you are inside you can still go to jail.
[ please understand we are not immune to breaking the law dante!!! ]
I do not know about my old self. But in this lifetime, I ... have a bad habit of hyperfixating on my interests and forgetting that being social is usually a part of life. I got into a lot of trouble with 'friends' growing up by forgetting to talk to them on weeks on end due to being distracted by a project.
...
Perhaps some things don't change between 'lives'. [ maybe he ignored dante a bit too much when he was younger because he simply just didn't think about how lonely dante might have been getting, lost in his own head, in his own world... ]
I'm well aware of that, Verg. You think I've coasted through the last thirty years of my life thinking I'm above the law? I pay my taxes like a good boy and all that. [ a beat. ] Honestly Morrison deals with the majority of all that, I just do the jobs as they land on my desk.
[ unlike someone who hasn't paid a single bit of tax a single day in his life, vergil. ]
Yeah, you had the same kind of habit then. [ and after eva died, vergil forsook everything that was weak in favor of power. it was always power after that. ] Some things really don't.
But it's fine, honestly. I'm a big boy now, don't always need my big brother paying attention to me. [ the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, almost as though it is forced. ] So you don't need to push yourself for my sake.
[ people who live in society have to pay taxes, vergil was never a slave to society so who needed to pay taxes!!!! not him!!!! ]
I don't know. Maybe. Demons in most folk tales aren't exactly the most reliable beings, from my memory. [ hes totally not worried about the fact that most demons are portrayed as evil at all, nope ] You mentioned having your own business before. Morrison your accountant?
[ he should probably ask if dante plans on opening up his business again, here. ....he could help him. Sure, they're both adults and not those kids from his memories anymore. And Vergil's not lived the last 37 years with awareness that he had a twin, but. He's staring at the other when he claims he doesn't need to be paid attention to. ....he does chuckle at that, a little. ]
We are adults, yes. And while I am more than certain you are old enough to not cry about me forgetting to spend time with you.
That isn't to say I will turn you down, Dante.
I have much to catch up on. And I am interested in learning more about who I was. The good and the bad.
Perhaps it will actually be me bothering you overmuch, this time around.
Sort of? He's usually the one who finds me jobs and handles the cleanup. Outside of the debt I owe Lady he's the reason I'm usually broke.
[ in truth it is dante's own fault he is usually broke, considering how often his jobs end up in some sort of collateral and the fact he often takes jobs for free rather than actually charging. he has thought about opening another shop, maybe even roping nero into it, but it isn't like kaisou has a demon problem anymore, right? still, it's a thought. ]
Well, that will be an interesting change. [ he grins. ] Wouldn't mind you chasing after me for a change, desperate for your baby brother's attention.
I'll tell you about everything, oh brother mine. The good, the bad, the ugly. Whenever you want.
Having a business and running it into the red all the time sounds like a struggle.
[ he's gonna pick up a slice of pizza, folding the thing over in the middle to eat it slowly, leaning back in his chair. ]
I'd offer to help you set up your shop here again, but. Until I hire my own staff here, your help has been irreplacable. [ and it'll have dante out of his house for long periods of time--if not completely. and part of him... really doesn't like that. ]
Oh, come off it, I am not desperate. [ he sounds so irritated, giving dante such a look. Pushing at one of his legs with a foot, under the table. ]
One thing at a time. For now, I think, junk food and then watching documentaries on TV until I fall asleep sounds like a good end to the night. I've had far enough excitement today.
The business isn't always in the red, brother-mine. Just me.
[ there is a difference. nevermind that the last time morrison visited him the power was out and the water turned off, but that isn't the point in the slightest. dante grabs another piece himself, biting into it immediately as vergil continues. ]
You know, I work mostly as a private investigator. Who's to say I couldn't just work out of here?
[ he can't help the laugh that hits his chest as vergil all but kicks him under the table, his eyes sparkling with amusement. ] Incredibly desperate. [ he's playing with fire and he knows it, but when has that ever stopped dante from doing things? ]
[ he's going to slowly push the rest of the pizza across the table. Decidedly finished for the night, he's going to continue to press and push his feet against Dante's leg until he either kicks back or moves out of the way. ]
Just you, hm. Is that why you wear so much of the colour. Wear your reality upon your countenance, and all that?
[ teasing, mean words--but ]
If that is what you think is most effective, then I can set you up your own desk somewhere in the shop. You will likely need your own phone line, unless you plan on working out of that phone you got upon entry.
[ dante happily digs into the rest of the pizza, nudging at his brother's feet with his leg in response. he could make a terrible joke about playing footsies under the table, but he decides to bite his tongue for the time being. ]
Surely you've got a spare room in the shop that can be turned into an office, right? As for the phone line, yeah that'll probably be a good idea. Rather not have people blowing up my phone when I'm not on the clock or something.
[ just as blue is his colour. don't bring up the footsies or he'll realise what he's doing, get embarrassed about it, and stop. ]
I do. I have a few spare rooms that are used for stock that I do not have on display. It would be easy to move things around and create an office for you, if that's what you wish.
...
I would trust you to help me move things around, some of them are heavy. And delicate.
[ colored him shocked! he half expected his brother to say something along the lines of blue is better and for the conversation to devolve into a stupid argument about what color is better. he grins, biting into another piece of pizza, stretching out his leg to nudge his own foot against vergil's leg. ]
Of course, as much as I'd love to sit back and watch you do all the work, I'll help out.
I am capable of compliments. Should I have offered an argument instead? Told you that red makes you look puffy?
[ He's going to fold his hands over below his chin, now, tilting his head to the side to give him a very plain, pointed look. don't make him pull that rug, he'll do it out of spite.
he doesn't complain about the nudging, either--simply shifting to push at him, subtly. ]
If you tried to stand back and tried to have me to do it alone, I would make sure the office space I choose is the one with the window that overlooks the dumpsters out in the alleyway.
[ mostly because he enjoys hearing it, because they feel rare and precious and dante greedily wants to hear more compliments - more praise. so no, he will not be tugging that particular rug from underneath their feet today, nor will he be encouraging vergil to do so.
he'll simply finish this slice of pizza, eyebrows raising as vergil shifts to pushing his leg underneath the table. does he even realize what he is doing? dante pushes back, stubbornly determined to be the dominant one in this absent game of footsies. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
You know, it's weird hearing you worrying about getting in trouble. [ honestly, when has vergil ever worried about collateral damage? never in his memories. he isn't sure if it is a nice change or if it's just... weird. ] But the forest sounds like a decent enough spot. Nothing much out there but some trees and animals that'll probably avoid us.
[ even in this state most animals should at least recognize dante for what he is, they are always perceptive for such things. ]
Well, we didn't really go to school you know? It wasn't like we had any friends, just each other. Guess I always wanted your attention and sometimes it annoyed the shit out of you. [ he was a wild child, in truth, always on the move always doing something. it was like he didn't know what to do with himself if he sat still. and he always, always, wanted his brother's attention, often getting jealous of things that vergil gave more attention to than dante himself. ] Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.
no subject
What with giant buildings and... organic trees. But this world is much different, and while I do... think I want to engage in combat training with you until I either learn how to use a blade again or... remember my old skills. I do not wish to get arrested.
No matter how strong a demon you are inside you can still go to jail.
[ please understand we are not immune to breaking the law dante!!! ]
I do not know about my old self.
But in this lifetime, I ... have a bad habit of hyperfixating on my interests and forgetting that being social is usually a part of life.
I got into a lot of trouble with 'friends' growing up by forgetting to talk to them on weeks on end due to being distracted by a project.
...
Perhaps some things don't change between 'lives'. [ maybe he ignored dante a bit too much when he was younger because he simply just didn't think about how lonely dante might have been getting, lost in his own head, in his own world... ]
I have been trying to get better about that.
no subject
[ unlike someone who hasn't paid a single bit of tax a single day in his life, vergil. ]
Yeah, you had the same kind of habit then. [ and after eva died, vergil forsook everything that was weak in favor of power. it was always power after that. ] Some things really don't.
But it's fine, honestly. I'm a big boy now, don't always need my big brother paying attention to me. [ the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, almost as though it is forced. ] So you don't need to push yourself for my sake.
no subject
I don't know. Maybe. Demons in most folk tales aren't exactly the most reliable beings, from my memory. [ hes totally not worried about the fact that most demons are portrayed as evil at all, nope ] You mentioned having your own business before. Morrison your accountant?
[ he should probably ask if dante plans on opening up his business again, here. ....he could help him. Sure, they're both adults and not those kids from his memories anymore. And Vergil's not lived the last 37 years with awareness that he had a twin, but. He's staring at the other when he claims he doesn't need to be paid attention to. ....he does chuckle at that, a little. ]
We are adults, yes. And while I am more than certain you are old enough to not cry about me forgetting to spend time with you.
That isn't to say I will turn you down, Dante.
I have much to catch up on. And I am interested in learning more about who I was.
The good and the bad.
Perhaps it will actually be me bothering you overmuch, this time around.
no subject
[ in truth it is dante's own fault he is usually broke, considering how often his jobs end up in some sort of collateral and the fact he often takes jobs for free rather than actually charging. he has thought about opening another shop, maybe even roping nero into it, but it isn't like kaisou has a demon problem anymore, right? still, it's a thought. ]
Well, that will be an interesting change. [ he grins. ] Wouldn't mind you chasing after me for a change, desperate for your baby brother's attention.
I'll tell you about everything, oh brother mine. The good, the bad, the ugly. Whenever you want.
no subject
Having a business and running it into the red all the time sounds like a struggle.
[ he's gonna pick up a slice of pizza, folding the thing over in the middle to eat it slowly, leaning back in his chair. ]
I'd offer to help you set up your shop here again, but. Until I hire my own staff here, your help has been irreplacable.
[ and it'll have dante out of his house for long periods of time--if not completely. and part of him... really doesn't like that. ]
Oh, come off it, I am not desperate. [ he sounds so irritated, giving dante such a look. Pushing at one of his legs with a foot, under the table. ]
One thing at a time.
For now, I think, junk food and then watching documentaries on TV until I fall asleep sounds like a good end to the night.
I've had far enough excitement today.
no subject
[ there is a difference. nevermind that the last time morrison visited him the power was out and the water turned off, but that isn't the point in the slightest. dante grabs another piece himself, biting into it immediately as vergil continues. ]
You know, I work mostly as a private investigator. Who's to say I couldn't just work out of here?
[ he can't help the laugh that hits his chest as vergil all but kicks him under the table, his eyes sparkling with amusement. ] Incredibly desperate. [ he's playing with fire and he knows it, but when has that ever stopped dante from doing things? ]
Sounds good.
no subject
Just you, hm.
Is that why you wear so much of the colour. Wear your reality upon your countenance, and all that?
[ teasing, mean words--but ]
If that is what you think is most effective, then I can set you up your own desk somewhere in the shop. You will likely need your own phone line, unless you plan on working out of that phone you got upon entry.
no subject
[ dante happily digs into the rest of the pizza, nudging at his brother's feet with his leg in response. he could make a terrible joke about playing footsies under the table, but he decides to bite his tongue for the time being. ]
Surely you've got a spare room in the shop that can be turned into an office, right? As for the phone line, yeah that'll probably be a good idea. Rather not have people blowing up my phone when I'm not on the clock or something.
no subject
[ just as blue is his colour.
don't bring up the footsies or he'll realise what he's doing, get embarrassed about it, and stop. ]
I do. I have a few spare rooms that are used for stock that I do not have on display.
It would be easy to move things around and create an office for you, if that's what you wish.
...
I would trust you to help me move things around, some of them are heavy. And delicate.
no subject
[ colored him shocked! he half expected his brother to say something along the lines of blue is better and for the conversation to devolve into a stupid argument about what color is better. he grins, biting into another piece of pizza, stretching out his leg to nudge his own foot against vergil's leg. ]
Of course, as much as I'd love to sit back and watch you do all the work, I'll help out.
no subject
Should I have offered an argument instead? Told you that red makes you look puffy?
[ He's going to fold his hands over below his chin, now, tilting his head to the side to give him a very plain, pointed look. don't make him pull that rug, he'll do it out of spite.
he doesn't complain about the nudging, either--simply shifting to push at him, subtly. ]
If you tried to stand back and tried to have me to do it alone, I would make sure the office space I choose is the one with the window that overlooks the dumpsters out in the alleyway.
no subject
[ mostly because he enjoys hearing it, because they feel rare and precious and dante greedily wants to hear more compliments - more praise. so no, he will not be tugging that particular rug from underneath their feet today, nor will he be encouraging vergil to do so.
he'll simply finish this slice of pizza, eyebrows raising as vergil shifts to pushing his leg underneath the table. does he even realize what he is doing? dante pushes back, stubbornly determined to be the dominant one in this absent game of footsies. ]
No need to be so cruel, brother, I'll help.