[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.]
You're right, it's not. Doing the right thing, it's gotten me hurt more than once. [He touches the gloved pad of his thumb to the tip of the rose's thorn.] Killed once, even...Mundus came after me because I refused to let him turn the Thunder Hell to his demented crusade.
But I guess that's why Captain Blue always said that persistence is the heart of heroism. Can't win 'em all, even in Movieland.
This Captain Blue guy sounds pretty smart. He a friend of yours?
[ No, Dante has no idea about those movies. His father tried to take him when he took Vergil, but he couldn't sit still at that age. Never had a reason to check them out later. ]
I should have whalloped Mundus even worse than I did for killing you.
That's...complicated. He was my first attempt at finding a worthy rival, but got taken out of the picture for a while before we could have a satisfying battle. Now he seems to be mostly retired from the superhero biz, sticking to his day job as a director instead.
Oh, uh...he's in a similar position as I am, being a real person who also lived a role in Movieland. Apparently he's also Silvia's father, and I guess I'd say we're on good terms now? He did offer me a role in the sequel to the Viewtiful Joe movies, so...
[He...doesn't know what to say to Dante wishing he'd gotten better revenge for him.]
And don't worry about Mundus. Even if I wasn't any help against him directly, I at least got a front row seat to see him knocked down a peg.
You just said a whole lot of surprising things quickly. Silvia's father? Rival? Offered you a role? [ He shakes his head with an amused smile. ] I gotta see these other movies you were in. I don't think enough about the fact I'm dating a movie star.
[ The amusement fades, though. ]
But I'm still gonna worry about it, you know. If I'd known what an asset you were, I'd have made way better use of you. I didn't really think things through back then. Worried I still don't.
I'm not a star quite yet...though I have been offered a role as one of the three leading characters in the next movie.
[He taps the rose against Dante's nose.]
Blue Lumiere wrote, directed, and starred in the Captain Blue movies. At some point, he ended up in Movieland, living the role directly, but had a daughter before that happened. That daughter is Silvia, pretty sure you read about her that time you stole my diary.
[He turns to face Dante directly, putting a hand on his shoulder.]
And, listen. I can't blame you for benching me against Mundus. Fact is, I just didn't have the kind of oomph you needed for that.
...okay. [ Dante leans in closer, trying to look into Alastor's eyes through the visor. ] I still can't help but feel bad, but I'll try to keep that in mind. It's just difficult when I've seen how powerful you are like this.
[ Not that he's sees even half of it himself. He's heard, from Vergil - he wants to see that form for himself. He can't help a grin tugging at his lips again - he never stays down for long. ]
Should I be jealous only my brother has seen your most powerful form, though?
[The visor obscures the details, but there's a definite softness to the light behind them.]
That's because you didn't fight me in your most powerful form. You'll see it when we have a rematch.
But unfortunately, I wasn't at anywhere near full on Mallet. That place stifled my recovery from defeat, and being used to seal the cathedral siphoned what power I had left. Otherwise, I'd have made myself a new body and flown off centuries ago.
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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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But I guess that's why Captain Blue always said that persistence is the heart of heroism. Can't win 'em all, even in Movieland.
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[ No, Dante has no idea about those movies. His father tried to take him when he took Vergil, but he couldn't sit still at that age. Never had a reason to check them out later. ]
I should have whalloped Mundus even worse than I did for killing you.
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Oh, uh...he's in a similar position as I am, being a real person who also lived a role in Movieland. Apparently he's also Silvia's father, and I guess I'd say we're on good terms now? He did offer me a role in the sequel to the Viewtiful Joe movies, so...
[He...doesn't know what to say to Dante wishing he'd gotten better revenge for him.]
And don't worry about Mundus. Even if I wasn't any help against him directly, I at least got a front row seat to see him knocked down a peg.
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[ The amusement fades, though. ]
But I'm still gonna worry about it, you know. If I'd known what an asset you were, I'd have made way better use of you. I didn't really think things through back then. Worried I still don't.
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[He taps the rose against Dante's nose.]
Blue Lumiere wrote, directed, and starred in the Captain Blue movies. At some point, he ended up in Movieland, living the role directly, but had a daughter before that happened. That daughter is Silvia, pretty sure you read about her that time you stole my diary.
[He turns to face Dante directly, putting a hand on his shoulder.]
And, listen. I can't blame you for benching me against Mundus. Fact is, I just didn't have the kind of oomph you needed for that.
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[ Not that he's sees even half of it himself. He's heard, from Vergil - he wants to see that form for himself. He can't help a grin tugging at his lips again - he never stays down for long. ]
Should I be jealous only my brother has seen your most powerful form, though?
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That's because you didn't fight me in your most powerful form. You'll see it when we have a rematch.
But unfortunately, I wasn't at anywhere near full on Mallet. That place stifled my recovery from defeat, and being used to seal the cathedral siphoned what power I had left. Otherwise, I'd have made myself a new body and flown off centuries ago.
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