red grave city au with alastor

[carvemyname]

 

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[superstylishsquid]

Magic lessons for your uncle, teaching him to see and interact with invisible things.

[Alastor isn't casting a reflection, so his voice truly does seem to be coming from nowhere.]

Sorry about the surprise, Dante thinks he's being funny.

[carvemyname]

I am so funny! You just don't understand my humor!

[ Dante finds himself pouting. Meanwhile, Nero is narrowing his eyes, turning away from the mirror to face them. He circles around, but sees nothing. ]

You're that guy. I can smell you, but I can't see you.

[ It smells like an oncoming storm in this bathroom right now.

One that rains bad beer. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Yeah, Purgatorio's a bit funny like that. People outside of it can hear and smell, but not see or touch. At least, not with your bare hands.

[He reaches to pick up a bar of soap, which will seem to be floating from Nero's perspective.]

[carvemyname]

...can you people cross back? This is weirding me out. [ Maybe Nero would like it if it was reversed, but he hates being played with. ]

No way! You come over here! [ Yes, Dante is asking too much of him. ]

[superstylishsquid]

He might need an explanation of how to do that.

[One which Alastor will happily provide!]

[brokenfuse]

Wait, I can do that?

[ Nero looks immensely interested and cheered up. Dante, for his own part, looks appalled. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Sure. Anyone with a respectable amount of spiritual power can, and that includes anyone with significant demonic heritage.

[Sorry Dante, fun's over.]

[brokenfuse]

[ Dante... starts eyeing his available exits. ]

Hey! Tell me quick before he gets away! [ Nero cracks his knuckles. ] I gotta fucking teach him not to try to mess with me!

[superstylishsquid]

It really is best that you do know. Next devil who tries to sneak up on you like this might not be so benign.

[So sure, have an explanation of how the gate spell works!]

[brokenfuse]

I'll say.

[ Losing his arm is still a sore spot. But Nero can't take the time to dwell on that now, because as soon as he crosses over he sees Dante trying to leave. ]

Hell no! [ He grabs Dante by the collar and yanks him back. The next stream of words are unrepeatable. ]

Wow! Just wait till your dad hears that mouth, Nero! [ Dante is still trying to flee but is very unsuccessful. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Don't rough him up too much. I'm trying to get him taking better care of himself.

[brokenfuse]

[ Nero pauses, still holding onto a flailing Dante's collar but doing nothing else. He gives Alastor an interested look. ]

Wait, really?

[superstylishsquid]

...It's a work in progress.

[He shrugs.]

But I've got him eating proper meals now, at least.

[brokenfuse]

Really?!

[ Nero looks impressed. ]

I knew you were important with the way he talked about you, but that's a whole other level.

[ Dante stops trying to flee and covers Nero's mouth instead. He's blushing. ]

Don't!

[superstylishsquid]

Is that so? I'm flattered, Dante.

[Teasing aside, he is...but why would he set the teasing aside, when it's Dante blushing for a change?]

Guess that means I don't need to introduce myself, huh?

[brokenfuse]

Nope! Alastor the demon king. But...

[ Nero gives him an amused look. ]

The Sssssssssquid of Inessssssscapable Doom, too, right?

[ Dante blinks, and looks like he's not sure whether to be confused or amused. ]

What.

[superstylishsquid]

[He flinches at that name, and turns away to hide his flushed cheeks.]

That was just a temporary role! I only wore the stupid costume because we needed a villain for 'Captain Blue' to send packing!

[brokenfuse]

Sure, sure. [ Nero waves a hand, but can't hide his amused grin - not that he's really trying.

Dante, for his own part, circles around Alastor and peers at his flushed cheeks and pokes one gently. ]

You're being cute.

[ He has no shame saying this in front of Nero. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Shut up!

[He swats at that hand. His tail is low against his leg, the tip lashing back and forth.]

The whole thing was dumb, and I didn't exactly have a lot of time to come up with a character. Joe certainly wasn't any help on that front, either...

[carvemyname]

Nope. And being defensive is even more cute.

[ Dante is not going to shut up. He never does. ]

How does Nero know about this stuff, anyway?

[superstylishsquid]

He must have seen Joe's movies. One of them does include a segment where we work together to try and convince a kid his favorite hero is back. Like I said, I didn't have much time to come up with a character, and I absolutely wasn't going to throw a fight as myself!

[brokenfuse]

That shit is why I approve of you. You've got to be alright if you're willing to help a kid out.

[ Dante frowns at this. ] Who asked for your approval?!

[ Nero just crossed his arms. ]

I did.

[superstylishsquid]

Well... [He rubs the back of his head.] I won't deny having a fondness for children. And the poor kid must have been miserable, stuck in the hospital and not knowing what happened to his hero...

[brokenfuse]

I help run an orphanage, you know. If you ever wanted to cheer some more kids up, you could stop by.

[ They've seen the movies. ]

[superstylishsquid]

Maybe. I'm not so fond of taking human form if I can avoid it, though...it's why I haven't really been getting out much, aside from stuff I can do here in Purgatorio.