[For Nero it's just another day of the same old routine. He sits in the shop tinkering around with his sword. The Red Queen is a unique weapon that needs a lot of maintenance. After inspecting the hilt of his sword he hears a strange sound.]
I think I've got company.
[His expression crumples into a frown and he grimaces awkwardly. It could be Dante or one of his friends. Nero feels like greeting the unknown visitor.
At that moment he sees Vergil turning in the other direction.]
Hey, are you just gonna leave without even saying hello? Last time I checked it was rude as hell to stay quiet when someone's talking to you.
[ vergil stops when he hears nero, but doesn't turn around from facing out the door. terrific. it was careless of him to just drop dante and think no one would hear. ...still satisfying though. ]
Nero. [ he speaks his name, tense, and turns around to look at him. ] I brought back Dante.
[ dante, who is passed out snoring on the ground a few steps from him. ]
[For a moment it seems like Nero has something he wants to say and then he quickly shuts his mouth. All he can manage is nod and a few words.]
Yeah, sure.
[??? Nero doesn't reply with Vergil's name in return because he isn't sure what to call him. Technically Vergil is his father but it gets complicated from there. Why do things have to be like this?
Nothing really makes sense but he's just glad to see them again. Vergil looks okay but Dante's awkwardly lying on the floor.]
Is he dead or what?
[Dante can't be killed that easily so Nero says that in jest.]
We battled our way out of the underworld, but he either couldn't or didn't want to wait until getting back here to pass out. [ which one, vergil couldn't say. truly his brother is an enigma no one wants to solve. though he would also like to get rest after all of this. ] He's your problem now. I'm leaving.
[It sounds like Dante and Vergil haven't changed one bit. They've always been utterly ridiculous.
Nero pauses in his tracks and pulls out something from his coat. It's a book with the letter V printed on the cover.]
You need this. I've been holding onto it for a long time now.
[Nero's not much of a bookworm. He flipped through the pages once or twice in the past and got bored of it. Vergil would get more use out of something like this.
[ he's about ready to turn just as nero calls for him not to go, ready to rebuff him. that rebuff falls away in his mouth when he sees the book. worn out from being read far too many times to recall, even the intricate 'V' on the front is faded out from ever moving time. hrm. ]
Did you even read it?
[ he wagers a guess of 'no' but he's curious nonetheless. ]
[ not big on books, unbelievable. is dante so sure nero is his? vergil sighs and walks further into the building, coming up to nero to take the book. ]
...This book was given to me by an old man. He was a nearby neighbor to my home as a child. Back then, it was the one place I could gain reprieve from Dante.
[Nero says that with an obvious and familiar tone of recognizable sarcasm. He doesn't care too much about being called an idiot. Calling him deadweight is an entirely different scenario where he would likely scream for a while however. ]
If it's so important to you then why'd you leave it here?
[Clearly it's more than just a book to Vergil. Nero is listening carefully because his questions are being answered.]
[ there is not much he knows about nero, but the fragmented memories of his time as V still linger. an intuition that even if he did not care for the book, he would at least not discard it. ]
[Well, Vergil isn't wrong about that. Nero wasn't raised with a proper family but he at least knew things like respect and kindness.
He wouldn't toss out something which held sentimental value. At least the book has returned to its proper owner. Sorry it probably smells like pizza by now because of Dante's habits.]
[ he tucks the book into his jacket and once more plans to leave, only stopped by nero's offer. the mention of food gets his body reeling, the thought of eating highly appealing in his weakened state. even so, his brow twitches. ]
[ a sharp spike of - anger, maybe guilt - drags claws against him when nero calls him father. he wasn't even aware nero was his until dante brought it up, and yet memories of V determined to keep the boy out of the conflict make him wonder. vergil's jaw tenses. ]
Pizza is disgusting. [ he says with no trace of sarcasm, and far too seriously. ] But I will take some meat and vegetables for the road.
[ the corner of his lip twitches, holding back amusement. ]
You do that. [ dante deserves any scolding he gets as far as vergil is concerned. ] I will give him credit - he put up a hell of a fight in the underworld.
Dante gets all worked up in a fight then he just sleeps. Talk about a mess.
[It still sounds like Nero's quite fond of Dante regardless. There's no trace of scorn in his tone and he's speaking rather casually about everything.]
I met him a few years ago in a church. Things have changed since then.
[ They're all much older now and Nero has grown more mature as well. He doesn't know what kind of things Vergil has experienced but he only heard stories from V and Dante.
[ a few years ago huh. he wonders how many years have passed since he fell into the underworld. how many years was he made to be a slave, mindless and emptied, doing mundus' bidding? his fingers ache, a hateful spite surging that he has to hold back. so much time taken away, all full of failure.
he decides to push on this thread. he must learn. ]
At some old island named Fortuna. Back then I was just a knight and all of a sudden Dante appeared.
He used to piss me off all the time.
[Sometimes Nero is more like Vergil than he thinks. He can understand why Dante makes Vergil so frustrated. They weren't really friends until recently because of that.]
[ his very existence infuriates vergil. he should have left him in the underworld, or even just on the street. yet his pride would not abide by it. no demon will consume his brother as a morsel. ]
So you were born on Fortuna. I recall going there once, a long time ago. [ his shoulders slack, a tired breath exhaling. ] My memory is much too vague to tell you more than that.
[ he's sure nero has speculated on who his parents are. though he knows one of them, vergil couldn't tell him more. between torn apart memories as nelo angelo, and a splintered life lived between demon and human vessels, he feels lost in himself. ]
Do you even remember what day of the week it is? Yeah, I didn't think so.
[Maybe Nero is just over compensating for his weakness by making humorous jokes. He's at least thankful that Vergil didn't kill Dante so he thinks there might be some hope for them.]
[ he doesn't know the day of the week, nor the month, and he only has a passing grasp on the year. so much time unaccounted for and he's not entirely sure he wants to know. but he makes the slightest chuckle at nero's suggestion. ]
You sound like him. Dante. [ who continues to snore behind them, completely oblivious. ] Your concern is unnecessary. If you have any to spare for me, give it to the fool passed out on the ground.
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BRING BACK CHILD SUPPORT
I think I've got company.
[His expression crumples into a frown and he grimaces awkwardly. It could be Dante or one of his friends. Nero feels like greeting the unknown visitor.
At that moment he sees Vergil turning in the other direction.]
Hey, are you just gonna leave without even saying hello? Last time I checked it was rude as hell to stay quiet when someone's talking to you.
you won't get a cent
Nero. [ he speaks his name, tense, and turns around to look at him. ] I brought back Dante.
[ dante, who is passed out snoring on the ground a few steps from him. ]
You can take care of things from here.
Help
Yeah, sure.
[??? Nero doesn't reply with Vergil's name in return because he isn't sure what to call him. Technically Vergil is his father but it gets complicated from there. Why do things have to be like this?
Nothing really makes sense but he's just glad to see them again. Vergil looks okay but Dante's awkwardly lying on the floor.]
Is he dead or what?
[Dante can't be killed that easily so Nero says that in jest.]
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[ hah. wouldn't that be nice? ]
We battled our way out of the underworld, but he either couldn't or didn't want to wait until getting back here to pass out. [ which one, vergil couldn't say. truly his brother is an enigma no one wants to solve. though he would also like to get rest after all of this. ] He's your problem now. I'm leaving.
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[It sounds like Dante and Vergil haven't changed one bit. They've always been utterly ridiculous.
Nero pauses in his tracks and pulls out something from his coat. It's a book with the letter V printed on the cover.]
You need this. I've been holding onto it for a long time now.
[Nero's not much of a bookworm. He flipped through the pages once or twice in the past and got bored of it. Vergil would get more use out of something like this.
Take the book you nerd.]
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Did you even read it?
[ he wagers a guess of 'no' but he's curious nonetheless. ]
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[Oh God no. Books make Nero fall asleep. He doesn't think it's useful for anything except nap time.
Vergil's got the right idea. It might be disappointing to hear but it isn't really surprising.]
I'm just not big on books. You might get a paper cut.
[His hands are very fragile hence why they're called 'Devil Breakers']
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[ not big on books, unbelievable. is dante so sure nero is his? vergil sighs and walks further into the building, coming up to nero to take the book. ]
...This book was given to me by an old man. He was a nearby neighbor to my home as a child. Back then, it was the one place I could gain reprieve from Dante.
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[Nero says that with an obvious and familiar tone of recognizable sarcasm. He doesn't care too much about being called an idiot. Calling him deadweight is an entirely different scenario where he would likely scream for a while however. ]
If it's so important to you then why'd you leave it here?
[Clearly it's more than just a book to Vergil. Nero is listening carefully because his questions are being answered.]
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Because I knew you would keep it safe.
[ there is not much he knows about nero, but the fragmented memories of his time as V still linger. an intuition that even if he did not care for the book, he would at least not discard it. ]
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[Well, Vergil isn't wrong about that. Nero wasn't raised with a proper family but he at least knew things like respect and kindness.
He wouldn't toss out something which held sentimental value. At least the book has returned to its proper owner. Sorry it probably smells like pizza by now because of Dante's habits.]
Do you...uh ...want something to eat?
[Is Vergil hungry??? Does he need food???]
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What even passes for food in this place?
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[Always pizza. This is the pizza man's house what did you expect? Vergil might not want junk food so Nero offered a healthier alternative. ]
The choice is yours, father.
[It feels awkward saying 'father' because their circumstances. Maybe Vergil feels the same way. ]
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Pizza is disgusting. [ he says with no trace of sarcasm, and far too seriously. ] But I will take some meat and vegetables for the road.
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[Once in a while is fine but he fails to see any nutritional value in pizza. Nero is trying to stay fit so he's mindful of what he eats.]
Dunno how this guy does it. [Nero rolls his eyes and points to Dante lying on the floor. ]
I'll be sure to scold him when he wakes up.
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You do that. [ dante deserves any scolding he gets as far as vergil is concerned. ] I will give him credit - he put up a hell of a fight in the underworld.
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[It still sounds like Nero's quite fond of Dante regardless. There's no trace of scorn in his tone and he's speaking rather casually about everything.]
I met him a few years ago in a church. Things have changed since then.
[ They're all much older now and Nero has grown more mature as well. He doesn't know what kind of things Vergil has experienced but he only heard stories from V and Dante.
Talking face to face feels very different.]
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he decides to push on this thread. he must learn. ]
Where was this church?
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He used to piss me off all the time.
[Sometimes Nero is more like Vergil than he thinks. He can understand why Dante makes Vergil so frustrated. They weren't really friends until recently because of that.]
Does he make you angry?
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[ his very existence infuriates vergil. he should have left him in the underworld, or even just on the street. yet his pride would not abide by it. no demon will consume his brother as a morsel. ]
So you were born on Fortuna. I recall going there once, a long time ago. [ his shoulders slack, a tired breath exhaling. ] My memory is much too vague to tell you more than that.
[ he's sure nero has speculated on who his parents are. though he knows one of them, vergil couldn't tell him more. between torn apart memories as nelo angelo, and a splintered life lived between demon and human vessels, he feels lost in himself. ]
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[Maybe Nero is just over compensating for his weakness by making humorous jokes. He's at least thankful that Vergil didn't kill Dante so he thinks there might be some hope for them.]
You've been through a lot so just take it easy.
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You sound like him. Dante. [ who continues to snore behind them, completely oblivious. ] Your concern is unnecessary. If you have any to spare for me, give it to the fool passed out on the ground.
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[Listen, Nero's upset that Vergil compared him to Dante. The word dad is emphasized to a ridiculous point.]
What about you? Do you have somewhere else you need to be?