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.
I promise you my devil form next time, then. I won't hold back at all.
[ Wait, is that him admitting to holding back a little last time? Well, it was probably obvious from how a skewering made him concede. It was usually business as usual for him. ]
I wonder what it'd be like to use your weapon form now... It's gotta be more powerful.
[He glances over at the grave marker with a thoughtful hum.]
You know, witches like your mother used Devil Arms, too. Pretty sure Agni and Rudra used to be hers, even. I bet you'll do her proud, putting this one to work.
I have no clue. They're lucky I didn't bury them on my way out.
Though...I know you're being metaphorical, but she really would have been the Umbral equivalent of a saint. Witches like her were enshrined when they died.
Well...normally, a witch of her caliber would be entombed in a stone sarcophagus. Under the circumstances, though, I think it'd be best to just put the traditional tomb on top of where she's buried.
Nah. The main point of being entombed in the sarcophagus was in hopes that it would make the journey to the underworld even a little bit less painful. There's...well, a few reasons I don't think it would've mattered much for Eva.
The enchanted stone, though, is a different matter. That's to make sure the shrine never deteriorates, and can never be defaced by mundane grave robbers. I think that's going to be especially valuable here, since it'll also keep weaker demons from vandalizing it.
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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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[ Wait, is that him admitting to holding back a little last time? Well, it was probably obvious from how a skewering made him concede. It was usually business as usual for him. ]
I wonder what it'd be like to use your weapon form now... It's gotta be more powerful.
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[He grins, wide enough to show off his fangs.]
Prove to me you can handle a sword properly, and I'll let you wield me again.
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[ Er, he probably shouldn't be saying that on a grave? Whoops. ]
I'll prove it to you. Anytime, anywhere, I'm ready.
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[He claps Dante's shoulder, then steps back.]
The desert outside Capulet City makes a good battleground. Not today, though...after all, you already got a birthday present.
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[ He's a little disappointed to lose the closeness, but tries not to show it. ]
A damn good present, too. Can't wait for a job to use it on...
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[He glances over at the grave marker with a thoughtful hum.]
You know, witches like your mother used Devil Arms, too. Pretty sure Agni and Rudra used to be hers, even. I bet you'll do her proud, putting this one to work.
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[ Dante is horrified. ]
She really was a saint.
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I have no clue. They're lucky I didn't bury them on my way out.
Though...I know you're being metaphorical, but she really would have been the Umbral equivalent of a saint. Witches like her were enshrined when they died.
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Do we have to correct her burial in some way, then? More than just a better display?
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I'd been afraid we'd need to dig her up or something. That's better.
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The enchanted stone, though, is a different matter. That's to make sure the shrine never deteriorates, and can never be defaced by mundane grave robbers. I think that's going to be especially valuable here, since it'll also keep weaker demons from vandalizing it.
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[ Dante rubs a hand over his face. ]
I've had to fix up the current marker way too many times.
When can we do this?
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[He kneels down again to touch the marker. Violet light suffuses it, and a few sparks show around it for a second.]
A bit of a surprise to discourage vandals.
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Thank you.
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