red grave city au with alastor

[carvemyname]

 

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[wholelyconsumed]

"Back in the day?"

Vergil is immediately on edge again, from the possible implications of that. For example, could 'back in the day' mean when she died? Therefore a certain someone standing before him hadn't been there for her when she needed it?

"When was that?"

[superstylishsquid]

"A couple thousand years ago. Back before Mundus went and made a mess of everything."

If he'd just gone along with Mundus' demands at first, would he have been free for the end of Sparda's rebellion? Able to help the Umbra?

...Would he have been able to look his reflection in the eye if he had done what Mundus had wanted of him?

"Suffice it to say, that disaster didn't exactly end well for me."

[wholelyconsumed]

The timespan wasn't a surprise. Vergil is well aware of how long demons can live, and of legends back then of a witch named Eva and her contract, Sparda. He wasn't stupid enough to think it was a coincidence.

"So you disobeyed your master, and found yourself caught in the repercussions."

...what was Alastor expecting, a thank you?

"Will you do the same to Dante?"

[superstylishsquid]

"Tch, Mundus was never my master. Just some egotistical conqueror who expected everyone to bow to his whims."

He'd been established as a power of the underworld long before Mundus was even born. It was nothing but sheer arrogance that had led the demon king to think he would obey.

"Dante and I did have a bit of a spat, but we've worked out our conflict. I'm loyal for as long as he needs me."

[wholelyconsumed]

"I see."

Vergil walks by him and stares at the portrait. He seems to be lost in contemplation for a moment, but what he's thinking about isn't really clear.

"Good for you."

[superstylishsquid]

He tilts his head. He could focus in on Vergil's emotions to try to get a clearer picture of what's going through the guy's head, but that's a bit on the intrusive side. Eavesdropping is one thing, but listening to someone's emotions is miles more personal.

"...What was he like, anyway? Your father, I mean."

[wholelyconsumed]

"He cared for my mother."

Yes, he's aware that's what everyone knows. But he doesn't really feel like giving more information than that.

"She was the most important in his eyes."

[superstylishsquid]

"Hm...you know, most people think devils are incapable of emotions like love."

He looks up at the painting, at the way the couple seem so natural together.

"I could tell just looking that it wasn't true of Sparda. That his family was something truly precious to him."

[wholelyconsumed]

"He favored Dante more."

...why is he saying this? It's a weakness.

"But that never bothered me."

What a lie.

[superstylishsquid]

"Maybe he just thought Dante needed more personal attention."

Okay, maybe he's still a bit grumpy at Dante. He did only just manage to apologize.

"But looking at this picture, I can't imagine he didn't care for both of you."

[wholelyconsumed]

He snorts at the idea of Dante needing 'special attention', but this doesn't mean he doesn't hear both statements.

"You might be right."

Vergil hardly ever admits such a thing, Alastor! Feel proud of what you've done!

[superstylishsquid]

A faint smile twitches at his lips at the hint of laughter from Vergil. It almost reminds him of when he first met Blue Jr., and they bonded over dunking on Joe.

"Still...it's a strange sight, to a guy like me. My father just made me in hopes of being able to mold an impressionable servant to his will, and I'm not exactly uncommon in that regard. Seeing a fellow demon so clearly in love is..."

[wholelyconsumed]

"Startling," Vergil fills in. He knows the feeling. He'd always found it odd to look at as a child, but it was especially so now that he knew everyones' true natures.

[superstylishsquid]

He nods. Of course he's heard the legends about Sparda, but seeing a family portrait of him is so much more personal. More candid. It's not the same at all.

"I wonder how he felt about it, when he realized how much he cared for other people."

[wholelyconsumed]

"Having a crisis of your own?"

Not that Vergil cares. He already regrets asking, even.

"Take it to your psychiatrist."

[superstylishsquid]

"Very funny." His tail flicks and he crosses his arms. "Just trying to figure him out. The stories make it out to be a simple 'woke up to justice' or however they put it, but it must have been incredibly confusing for him."

[wholelyconsumed]

"That's none of my concern."

Vergil... hates talking about this sort of feeling. He lost the one chance he had at a positive relationship a long time ago. Maybe he can eventually find something with his son, but it seemed unlikely.

It's obvious from his face that he's uncomfortable. It's the look that Dante is fond of calling 'emotionally constipated'.

[superstylishsquid]

"Is it? I thought people on this side tended to see their parents as role models, or something."

He regards Vergil for a moment, his own expression one of thought.

"Or are you trying to take after your demon side, go all 'I don't need anyone but myself'?"

[wholelyconsumed]

"..."

Vergil scoffs. It's a way of hiding the fact he doesn't like being so seen. It's obviously just a lucky guess on Alastor's part - there's no way he commiserates, right?

"There's no 'trying'."

[superstylishsquid]

"I'm not so sure...you are still half human, and denying such big parts of yourself never works."

Just like Fire Leo hadn't been able to get away with hiding his burning spirit for long. It's a waste of time to try to pretend you're something you're not.

"...Neither does trying to drive everyone off, for the record. Some people are amazingly stubborn."

[wholelyconsumed]

"Dante has shown me that, yes."

His brother just insists on being around, ever since Nero stopped them from fighting. There can be too much of something, and he hit that several weeks ago.

"He had the gall to ask when I'd be home for dinner. As if it'd be anything but pizza."

[superstylishsquid]

That earns a half-amused, half-sympathetic twitch of his lips. He unfolds his arms to rest one hand on his hip.

"Not if I have a say in it, and I do. From now on, I'm in charge of food at Dante's place."

[wholelyconsumed]

"A demon knows how to cook?"

Well, that was a stupid question. Anyone could cook - and maybe it'd even be decent, at least compared to what Dante tended to offer.

"That sounds promising."

He's not being sarcastic, actually!

[superstylishsquid]

"I developed a taste for human-style food a long time ago. Seemed like a good idea to learn how to make it for myself. So, don't worry. There's going to be some actually decent food, not to mention variety, on the menu. Whether Dante likes it or not."

Given his reaction to just some canned soup, Alastor suspects Dante actually will like it.

[wholelyconsumed]

Now the problem was that Vergil hadn't even found a place to live yet, let alone anywhere to eat, but he's not mentioning that to anyone. He doesn't wish to be pitied with a place to stay.

"I'll look forward to trying it."