[For now, he tucks it into the collar of his armor. It'll be easier to wear in his civilian clothes, but he doesn't want to just hold onto it and risk dropping it.
Thunder continues to rumble overhead as he follows Dante. After the first display, the empousai seem to have taken the cue that being under the clouds is dangerous, as there aren't as many of them visible in the sky.]
Well, even in Movieland, life wasn't always fun and games. Serious moments are important, too.
[ He's not sure how to explain why he wants to take Alastor there. He doesn't quite understand it himself. Or maybe it's just too complicated to put into words... well. ]
I want her to see I'm doing good and I'm with someone who makes me happy.
[ Okay, maybe it wasn't that complicated after all. ]
[A witch's grave...they're all over the place in towns where witchcraft flourished, but given what he's read about the witch hunts, he suspects Eva's is unique here. How much it must have hurt her, to live in a world that saw the art so dear to her ancestors as a tool that could do only harm? Had the people of this city been any more tolerant, for the fact that her husband was a legendary hero?
...For that matter, how much had the people of this city known about Sparda, and how accurate was it? How much did they know was truth, rather than myth? Her final home looked as though it had been lavish while it still stood, but what kind of life had she led here? A happy one? Or had she been alone, outside of her family?]
Can't think of the last time I visited a grave...people I was on friendly terms with, well. I was better off looking downstairs if I had anything I wanted to say to them.
Don't expect much from it. I had to bury her myself, and I was just a little kid. I try to spruce it up with flowers, but...
[ He's a little uncomfortable admitting that. It touches on trauma he'd rather not talk about. But he's tried to emotionally prepare for this as much as he can. ]
[He puts a hand on Dante's shoulder with a gentle squeeze.]
I...do know the old burial rites for witches, if you want me to help set up a marker. It's not much, but it'd at least be harder to deface than a normal headstone.
That'd be great, actually. [ Dante looks grateful for the offer, giving Alastor a small smile. And then, they're there, the grave with a simple wooden marker and several flowers scattered across it. ]
[Its...strange, standing at the grave of someone whose soul he knows is in no position to listen in here. Kind of awkward. But who knows...maybe she'll still be able to sense the intent. Not like he ever bothered to question any of the former humans under his leadership about what it was like, being a deceased mortal.
He kneels down to brush some dust and pebbles away from the grave. It's so basic...if he didn't know what it was, he'd never have guessed this was someone's resting place. Let alone that of a witch grand enough to have earned enshrinement many times over.]
Things that drive in...just how much I've missed. How much has changed while I was rotting on Mallet. Don't get me wrong, I love the modern world, but...the Umbra are gone, demons are better known for indiscriminate slaughter than the old Faustian deal, Rodin is the only face I remember that's still around, and who even knows what kind of state my old infernal domain is in anymore.
Eva...even back then, you were so promising. You deserve so much better than this, you should've had more than just your sons to mourn you. Well, I'm sure Rodin would've said his peace if he'd known in time, but...your son shouldn't have had to bury you himself. He shouldn't have had to bury you at all. I wish I'd been there...maybe if I'd been free to hold up my end of our contract, then...
[He shakes his head and pushes his helmet up as much as his horns will allow so he can wipe at his eyes.]
... I hope you're not blaming yourself for any of it. [ Dante moves in close, kneeling with him, putting an arm around his shoulders. ] If anything, blame Mundus for trapping you in that hell. Taking away your freedom and your form...
[ He's mad about it. He never particularly thought about it when Alastor was just a devil arm to him, but as they've become close, it's been on his mind more and more. What he went through, what can be done to try to help him heal from it. Dante acts like a goofball but he can be pretty serious inside of himself. ]
I just wish I'd...I dunno. If I'd been on Mundus' level, able to defeat him myself, I'm not sure Sparda would've recognized the good in himself. One of the consistent things I've seen in the surviving versions of his story is that it was seeing how Mundus tormented the weak that convinced him to make his stand. So if I'd won back then, would Sparda have ever realized he was meant to be a hero, and come to live in the mortal world?
[He sighs and moves his helmet back into place. If there's a damp spot on his glove, surely he just let a bit of a drizzle leak from the clouds in his distraction!]
I guess what I really wish is that I'd gotten off of that nightmare island sooner. Maybe if I had, you and I would've met on better terms. And, uh...speaking of which. Sorry about the whole 'challenge for eternal dominance' thing.
Can't say I really knew Sparda, actually. I knew of him, he was pretty infamous even before he decided he'd seen enough of mortals being pushed around, but I never really met him myself. Honestly kinda disappointed about that, I'd heard he was an amazing swordsman. Would've liked to see his skills for myself.
Your mother, though... [Maybe there is a way to know. Her soul is still conscious in the amulet, he can tell that much. It might be possible to use magic to communicate with her.] There's something I want to tell you about her, but I think there's someone I need to talk to first.
I guess I got my skills from my dad? Can't imagine I match up to him, though. [ The one thing Dante has always been sure of is that his father must have been godly, and nothing will ever change his mind. ]
I'm not sure what you mean about my mom, but I trust you, so I'll wait.
[He squeezes Dante's hand and lets his tail wrap around his waist.]
You can be sure I'll be here the next time something big and nasty rears its ugly head. And who knows...maybe in a couple thousand years, I'll be the one to show Mundus he's still not welcome here. 'S a long time to hone my skills, after all.
A little bit of both, but...I wouldn't want you to avoid danger. You put yourself at risk so that people who can't handle those kinds of things can rest easy. 'S part of what I like about you.
Just maybe try to avoid incoming attempts to maim you, instead of just powering through? One of these days, you're gonna try to tank something and find out the hard way that it's blessed or something.
Well, uh...alright, maybe I do...admire the concept. People who go out of their way to help others, or band together just to support each other...it's always been hard not to respect that.
[To the point that until recently, he'd wanted to destroy a symbol of it to prove to himself that it wasn't worthy of his respect. To convince himself it would be stupid to embrace that sort of life, himself.]
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[ He starts heading down the path again, looking back for the other to follow. ]
I should probably warn you that where we're going isn't the happiest place.
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[For now, he tucks it into the collar of his armor. It'll be easier to wear in his civilian clothes, but he doesn't want to just hold onto it and risk dropping it.
Thunder continues to rumble overhead as he follows Dante. After the first display, the empousai seem to have taken the cue that being under the clouds is dangerous, as there aren't as many of them visible in the sky.]
Well, even in Movieland, life wasn't always fun and games. Serious moments are important, too.
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[ He's not sure how to explain why he wants to take Alastor there. He doesn't quite understand it himself. Or maybe it's just too complicated to put into words... well. ]
I want her to see I'm doing good and I'm with someone who makes me happy.
[ Okay, maybe it wasn't that complicated after all. ]
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[A witch's grave...they're all over the place in towns where witchcraft flourished, but given what he's read about the witch hunts, he suspects Eva's is unique here. How much it must have hurt her, to live in a world that saw the art so dear to her ancestors as a tool that could do only harm? Had the people of this city been any more tolerant, for the fact that her husband was a legendary hero?
...For that matter, how much had the people of this city known about Sparda, and how accurate was it? How much did they know was truth, rather than myth? Her final home looked as though it had been lavish while it still stood, but what kind of life had she led here? A happy one? Or had she been alone, outside of her family?]
Can't think of the last time I visited a grave...people I was on friendly terms with, well. I was better off looking downstairs if I had anything I wanted to say to them.
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[ He's a little uncomfortable admitting that. It touches on trauma he'd rather not talk about. But he's tried to emotionally prepare for this as much as he can. ]
It's not lavish by any means.
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I...do know the old burial rites for witches, if you want me to help set up a marker. It's not much, but it'd at least be harder to deface than a normal headstone.
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Hey, Mom.
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He kneels down to brush some dust and pebbles away from the grave. It's so basic...if he didn't know what it was, he'd never have guessed this was someone's resting place. Let alone that of a witch grand enough to have earned enshrinement many times over.]
Things that drive in...just how much I've missed. How much has changed while I was rotting on Mallet. Don't get me wrong, I love the modern world, but...the Umbra are gone, demons are better known for indiscriminate slaughter than the old Faustian deal, Rodin is the only face I remember that's still around, and who even knows what kind of state my old infernal domain is in anymore.
Eva...even back then, you were so promising. You deserve so much better than this, you should've had more than just your sons to mourn you. Well, I'm sure Rodin would've said his peace if he'd known in time, but...your son shouldn't have had to bury you himself. He shouldn't have had to bury you at all. I wish I'd been there...maybe if I'd been free to hold up my end of our contract, then...
[He shakes his head and pushes his helmet up as much as his horns will allow so he can wipe at his eyes.]
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[ He's mad about it. He never particularly thought about it when Alastor was just a devil arm to him, but as they've become close, it's been on his mind more and more. What he went through, what can be done to try to help him heal from it. Dante acts like a goofball but he can be pretty serious inside of himself. ]
I'm sure she understands.
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[He sighs and moves his helmet back into place. If there's a damp spot on his glove, surely he just let a bit of a drizzle leak from the clouds in his distraction!]
I guess what I really wish is that I'd gotten off of that nightmare island sooner. Maybe if I had, you and I would've met on better terms. And, uh...speaking of which. Sorry about the whole 'challenge for eternal dominance' thing.
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[ Maybe that's a little serious to say, but it's true. He can't help but think of Alastor as an important part of his life now. ]
Kinda wonder how they'd think of me dating someone they knew.
No way to know now.
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Your mother, though... [Maybe there is a way to know. Her soul is still conscious in the amulet, he can tell that much. It might be possible to use magic to communicate with her.] There's something I want to tell you about her, but I think there's someone I need to talk to first.
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I'm not sure what you mean about my mom, but I trust you, so I'll wait.
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[He straightens a bit to give Dante a kiss on the cheek.]
Enjoyed watching that, by the way. A shame I wasn't recovered nearly enough to help directly, but it was still satisfying to see him go down.
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[ He has to smile at the kiss, taking Alastor's hand in his own. ]
Someday we'll take something big down together. Even if it wasn't Mundus.
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You can be sure I'll be here the next time something big and nasty rears its ugly head. And who knows...maybe in a couple thousand years, I'll be the one to show Mundus he's still not welcome here. 'S a long time to hone my skills, after all.
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[ He grins. ]
I'd definitely pay to see it.
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[He pulls the rose from his collar to twirl it between his fingers.]
I don't think old age will be an issue for you. Just maybe that reckless streak of yours.
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I'm working on the former, at least. I don't think I know how to change the other...
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Just maybe try to avoid incoming attempts to maim you, instead of just powering through? One of these days, you're gonna try to tank something and find out the hard way that it's blessed or something.
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[ He shudders. ]
It wasn't fun!
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...and worrying you less.
[ Dante has to smile then, though, as he realizes something. ]
You really like heroes, don't you? Got a thing for them?
[ He's teasing now. ]
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Well, uh...alright, maybe I do...admire the concept. People who go out of their way to help others, or band together just to support each other...it's always been hard not to respect that.
[To the point that until recently, he'd wanted to destroy a symbol of it to prove to himself that it wasn't worthy of his respect. To convince himself it would be stupid to embrace that sort of life, himself.]
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But I see it in you too, ya know? What you respect.
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