carvemyname | red grave city au with alastor

You put a real sharp edge on it! I couldn't ignore.

[ Oh, hi Dante. Vergil shakes his head at the terrible pun his brother presents while walking in, and hopes he hasn't been standing there long enough to ruin his surprise. ]

Shut up, Dante.

Really drove it in, didn't I?

[He moves to put Dante in what looks like simply a playful headlock...but is also subtly putting him between Dante and Vergil's new DVD set.]

[ Dante starts laughing, but protests anyway. ] Hey, no! I came for a birthday kiss, not gettin my hair messy!

[ Vergil rolls his eyes, taking the box again and slipping it behind his back. ] Spare me the sight.

How about a birthday gift, instead of making your brother gag? It is his birthday too, after all.

[And it's not like short hair musses very well...not that it stops him from ruffling it.]

That's a sweet deal, though I expect that kiss later. [ He pauses. ] Oh, right! [ Dante points at Vergil, who is trying to sneak out so he can put the box in his room. ] Stop leaving! I have a gift for you too!

[ Vergil's eyebrows raise; again, he is surprised by such a notion, even though he had gotten Dante a gift as well. ]

Ah?

[ Dante snorts. ]

Don't 'ah' me! Like he said, it's your birthday too!

Of course, just not in front of your bro.

[No more hair ruffling, but he does draw the knife again to show it to Dante...still with an arm slung around his shoulders.]

Sorry there's no wrapping paper, but it didn't exactly come in a box.

[ Dante takes the knife, feeling it in his hands. He can tell immediately that it's a devil arm, getting the same feeling he does with all of them. He looks impressed. ]

Where did you get this?

[ He tries a test thrust with it. ]

I made it. Rodin helped me pay a quick visit to the underworld for the raw materials...and the rest was honestly easier than I expected. Standards have dropped since my day.

....

[ Dante doesn't think he should disgust Vergil, but he really wants to kiss Alastor right now. He'll settle for a hug instead, pulling him in tightly. ]

I can't believe you did that. Thank you.

[ Vergil isn't disgusted, he's just uncomfortable, because he has no idea what to do with himself. He wants to ask what soul is in the knife, but he doesn't think he should interrupt the moment. So he just stands where he stopped near the door, staring at a spot on the wall. ]

[Well, he already has an arm around Dante, so he'll just add a wing as well.]

Last time I overheard you get a local mission, you seemed to be needing something a bit better suited to fighting in cramped quarters than Rebellion. The solution seemed obvious.

I've got a new mission tomorrow! I can try it out then!

[ Yeah, he sounds excited about that. He hasn't had a mission in a long time, and now he gets to greet the demons with a sweet new weapon? Hell yes. ]

You're smart.

[ Dante can't help it, he places a kiss on Alastor's cheek. That doesn't really count, right? ]

I'd say you don't survive in the underworld as long as I did by being dumb, but...well.

[Hitting hard can go a long way toward survival down there. And it's up to Vergil if that counts enough for gagging.]

Just try to remember daggers don't work like greatswords, alright? Already told Vergil what I'm gonna do if you don't.

[ Vergil knows Dante was trying, so he's not going to hold the small slipup against him. He's become slightly more lenient, through both living here and remembering V's experiences. It's a change.

He can't help it, though - he laughs again at the reference to earlier. Between the threat and the laugh, Dante looks temporarily shocked, then shrugs it off. ]

I'll remember! You can come to make sure if you want, I'll probably need the help.

[ Dante has changed too, considering he's actually admitting to needing help with something. It's Vergil's turn to look surprised. ]

You know? That actually sounds like fun. After the letdown that guy was, maybe the extra restrictions from fighting with the environment to worry about will help keep me limber.

[A slight smirk.]

Besides, unless you've gotten more observant since Mallet, you could use me watching your back again.

I haven't!

[ ...he's so cheerful about it, too.

Vergil snorts, then points at the door. ]

Please let me leave, so I can get your present. [ And so he can hide this one, that he's still awkwardly hiding! How has Dante not noticed it yet?! And yet, he has not. ]

okay, fine.

[ Dante agrees to that way too easily. ]

[Well, he did just loudly proclaim he hasn't gotten any more observant since he needed to have one of his Devil Arms play lookout for him.]

Honestly...sometimes I wonder how much dumb luck has gone into you surviving this long. But fine, I'd be better at it even if you had picked up some observational skills. Pretty sure I have at least one sense you don't.

That's kinda hot.

[ Dante... no... ]

Can I get that kiss while he's gone?

[ So that's why. ]

I haven't even said what the sense is.

[But that does explain his willingness to let Vergil leave. Alastor's not going to call him on it, however, and instead gives him that kiss.]

[ Dante returns the kiss, making a happy noise. He doesn't try to push it deeper or anything, knowing Vergil will be back in a minute. But oh, is that tempting. Still, he breaks it off soon enough. ]

- So what is that sense?

[ And heeeree's Vergil, carrying a small, well wrapped package. ]

What sense?

The one I have that I'm pretty sure neither of you do. Empathy, the actual magical sort. Strong emotions, like, say, what Mundus' followers feel on seeing one of Sparda's descendants? I don't even have to be actively listening to pick those up.

[Which might have something to do with why he's so good at figuring people out.]

[ Dante and Vergil respond to that at the same time, their words going over each other. ]

I'd sooner die -

That is hot -

[ Vergil pauses at what Dante said, and gives him an odd look. ]

You're disgusting.

Relax, I don't make a habit of snooping into the depths of people's hearts. Furthest I go without reason is getting a leg up in judging a reaction.

[He's honestly closer to Vergil. He's always tried to obscure the deeper contents of his own heart...an ingrained habit from trying to project an image other demons would respect.]

But it does come in handy for noticing when there's someone with malicious intent around. Hatred and bloodlust are pretty loud by nature.

Well, that's a relief! I was afraid my present had bloodlust!

[ Vergil stares, and stalks closer. ]

What. Did. You. Get. Me.

[ Dante just holds his hands up and laughs. ]

Gotta wait! I really do want to hear more about these empathy powers. Like if they'll come in handy on the mission - or in bed -

[ Vergil grabs for him, but Dante evades. ]

I'm going to kill you, brother.

Speaking of bloodlust!

[Sorry, he's not going to protect from maimings you bring on yourself.]

Try not to leave my mind's ear ringing too badly.

[ Vergil exhales and closes his eyes, counting down from some insanely high number. It's difficult to do when Dante is laughing at him, but he somehow manages to calm down a little. ]

You good, Vergil?

[ Vergil opens his eyes. ]

Shut up and get the present.

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