[ So. Dante is back. If anyone asks, he will not admit that he feels somewhat comforted by the fact. It does mean that he's slowly coming out of his self-imposed exile, though. ]
[He starts by writing out something, stops, deletes it, starts again. Stops. Deletes it. Tries again to word himself. Again, struggles. Finally he just gives up on writing and sends everything via voice.]
Yeah, it was. [A pause, and Vergil can very distinctly hear him exhale, trying to find his words.] I had to tell him because you almost died. I almost died. Dante is family and we can't leave him out of that.
[It's a simple mindset, but a solid one. Even if Vergil didn't want the others to know, they should know. They have a right to- family may not know all the details, but it's important enough to stick together through things like this.
Being alone in his grief was absolute agony. No one should ever have to go through that, absolutely no one.]
I don't care if it's your pride that was bruised, you'd have wanted to know if Dante did the same damn thing in your place.
[Vergil would have, because he'd be furious Dante would have lost sight in protecting his nephew. If they're anything similar, then Nero knows that that much is true.
He hesitates, unsure of what else to say. Or rather, how to say it. He's already irritated his father by ratting him out to Dante (and V, but that'll come later), he doesn't want to make this worse. But then, quietly, almost as if he's too afraid to even speak it:]
..........I almost lost you, Vergil. After losing Dante. I don't... wanna think how I would have been if I'd seen you die.
[At the end of everything, he's still a boy chasing after the silhouette of his father, trying desperately to connect with something that makes this- all of this- real.]
You wouldn't have nearly died if you hadn't It shouldn't have m Why do you
[ None of it is right to say. None of it is entirely accurate or truly what he feels he should be expressing. He doesn't really even know how to express what it is he's trying to say.
I took your arm, and the two separate halves of me lied to you and tried to kill you. You've been kept primarily at arm's length, because I haven't the first idea of how to be the sort of father you should have had. Yet you still care, and I cannot fathom why.
He can't say any of that. No power in this world, or any of the apparent multitudes of others, can get him to say that. Perhaps some small part of him envies Nero for his openness.
He had acted rashly in the battle. Hadn't been as careful as he should have, hadn't paid nearly enough attention. It had almost gotten his son killed, and so soon after he'd had to kill his brother and been confronted by the she-devil. He thinks about seeing his mother's corpse, and realizes that he would prefer that Nero didn't have a similar experience.
Funny, the things one only starts to understands after too much has happened. ]
Thank you, Nero. [ This, at least, he can say. ] For reminding me.
[ Reminding me why I started doing any of this in the first place. ]
[They should have been more careful. Should have looked out for each other more. Should have stayed together after losing Dante, not separated only to reunite after nearly taking a blow that would mean they'd die. None of this should have happened, but it did, and they now have to live and learn from it.
...He wishes it were easier. Both being family and wanting to simply connect with a man who is still such a stranger to him, in some aspects. He certainly knows more about his father than he did when he first arrived here, and he wants to believe that little by little, he's making progress. It's nowhere near where he wants it to be- hell, he's not even sure where he wants their relationship to end up. All he knows is that he wants to know Vergil. As a person, not just a face.
So there's a bit of surprise when the thanks comes through, but it's a little odd reminder of when he first saw him, back in the Qliphoth.]
Yeah. [Vergil can't see it, but Nero's smiling, just a little. He doesn't quite understand why he's being thanked, but he has a good idea.] You're welcome.
[A pause, and then he swaps back to text.]
also you better be ready soon im gonna want a spar with you again still gotta teach me shit right?
[ He can't help it, a little bit of a laugh when Nero says he's welcome.
His son is an insolent boy. Brash, too. But in all honesty, that more than anything is confirmation enough of their relation. It seems to run in their bloodline, to be hot-headed and flaunt authority; more annoying when the authority that's being dismissed is his, but Vergil supposes he can allow it to slide.
Once.
He raises his eyebrow at the texts that come in next, reading them carefully. ]
Much.
The blow could have been avoided or blocked. It seems you have yet to take to heart any lessons about reading your opponent.
[ Truthfully, his side still hurts where Dante clawed him — he's used a spell or two on the wound, but hates the taste it leaves in his mouth to do so. So while it isn't exactly healed, he isn't going to admit that. ]
[He doesn't mind this banter, really. It's familiar, something becoming much more familial as time goes on. Nero slowly considers his words, thinks of how exactly to counter this whole thing- because Vergil very well knows that he can block and counter just fine. He's simply trying to be an ass.]
yeah yeah and you know i can block a sword its not that hard and reading is nbd honestly i do it all the time in battle why does it matter
You're right. It's not that hard; you have no excuse.
[ Oh god though. He's aging the more Nero says. ]
That is not reading your enemy. That is running in headfirst and hitting things until they stop moving. If you applied some finesse to your strategy, you would receive far fewer wounds. Both you and Dante are flashy fighters — if you must put on a show, use it to your advantage. Distract them, decipher their movements, and predict where they will be next.
What are you talking about. Reading comprehension is not a skill that just vanishes. You can be obtuse, but you are not Dante. Cease this foolishness, Nero.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text.
Nero. You've heard from him?
[ Not a question. Just a confirmation. ]
text.
you finally came out of hiding huh
but yeah
found him in my van in the middle of the night yeah
nearly punched him
[Yep, there's your confirmation, Vergil.]
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"Nearly?" The restraint.
[ And then about a minute later: ] How is your cheek?
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ikr it was close
[But the question actually makes him pause, and he absentmindedly touches the wound, scarred over as it continues to heal.]
better
still healing but that comes with being human ig
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Also, pardon him while he takes a few minutes to work out "ikr". ]
It was a choice between your face or your life. You'll forgive me for making the decision for you.
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no complaints here
im thankful
just dont be a dumbass okay
[Strikes = deleted.]
i dont want to lose youjust be careful
people care about you even if you dont think they do
and dont try to take whatever it is on your own
thats why were here
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I was fairly certain the role of dumbass is taken. I'll pass the sentiment along.
[ And then he pauses. It's a few minutes before he adds: ]
I'm sure I don't know what you mean, but I'll take it into consideration.
It's
appreciated.
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SOMEONE told me to keep myself aware of the environment
especially in a fight
im just making sure you hear it too yeah?
[He was expecting that sort of reply. Doesn't mean it's not true.]
ofc you dont
point still stands vergil
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[ Let him be surprised, okay?? He definitely would not have expected Nero to take anything he said to heart. ]
Very well. I take it this is advice you've given your uncle, as well?
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shockingly i do have ears tbh
and in this case it was kinda necessary?
[GUESS WHO IS PROUD OF HIMSELF FOR REPEATING THAT SHIT BACK TO HIS DAD? THIS BOY IS.]
working on it
his skull is thicker than yours tho
may take some time
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[ He promises he's not trying to be shitty, okay. He can't help the way he is. ]
That does sound like Dante. It may be a lesson he'll need repeated many times.
Speaking of; I was "off my game," hmm?
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[Honestly, if Vergil actually complimented him and only that, Nero would know something was wrong.]
off your game?
what?
oh
fuck
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And yes.
Fuck.
Was that necessary?
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Yeah, it was. [A pause, and Vergil can very distinctly hear him exhale, trying to find his words.] I had to tell him because you almost died. I almost died. Dante is family and we can't leave him out of that.
[It's a simple mindset, but a solid one. Even if Vergil didn't want the others to know, they should know. They have a right to- family may not know all the details, but it's important enough to stick together through things like this.
Being alone in his grief was absolute agony. No one should ever have to go through that, absolutely no one.]
I don't care if it's your pride that was bruised, you'd have wanted to know if Dante did the same damn thing in your place.
[Vergil would have, because he'd be furious Dante would have lost sight in protecting his nephew. If they're anything similar, then Nero knows that that much is true.
He hesitates, unsure of what else to say. Or rather, how to say it. He's already irritated his father by ratting him out to Dante (and V, but that'll come later), he doesn't want to make this worse. But then, quietly, almost as if he's too afraid to even speak it:]
..........I almost lost you, Vergil. After losing Dante. I don't... wanna think how I would have been if I'd seen you die.
[At the end of everything, he's still a boy chasing after the silhouette of his father, trying desperately to connect with something that makes this- all of this- real.]
no subject
You wouldn't have nearly died if you hadn'tIt shouldn't have m
Why do you
[ None of it is right to say. None of it is entirely accurate or truly what he feels he should be expressing. He doesn't really even know how to express what it is he's trying to say.
I took your arm, and the two separate halves of me lied to you and tried to kill you. You've been kept primarily at arm's length, because I haven't the first idea of how to be the sort of father you should have had. Yet you still care, and I cannot fathom why.
He can't say any of that. No power in this world, or any of the apparent multitudes of others, can get him to say that. Perhaps some small part of him envies Nero for his openness.
He had acted rashly in the battle. Hadn't been as careful as he should have, hadn't paid nearly enough attention. It had almost gotten his son killed, and so soon after he'd had to kill his brother and been confronted by the she-devil. He thinks about seeing his mother's corpse, and realizes that he would prefer that Nero didn't have a similar experience.
Funny, the things one only starts to understands after too much has happened. ]
Thank you, Nero. [ This, at least, he can say. ] For reminding me.
[ Reminding me why I started doing any of this in the first place. ]
no subject
...He wishes it were easier. Both being family and wanting to simply connect with a man who is still such a stranger to him, in some aspects. He certainly knows more about his father than he did when he first arrived here, and he wants to believe that little by little, he's making progress. It's nowhere near where he wants it to be- hell, he's not even sure where he wants their relationship to end up. All he knows is that he wants to know Vergil. As a person, not just a face.
So there's a bit of surprise when the thanks comes through, but it's a little odd reminder of when he first saw him, back in the Qliphoth.]
Yeah. [Vergil can't see it, but Nero's smiling, just a little. He doesn't quite understand why he's being thanked, but he has a good idea.] You're welcome.
[A pause, and then he swaps back to text.]
also you better be ready soon
im gonna want a spar with you again
still gotta teach me shit right?
no subject
His son is an insolent boy. Brash, too. But in all honesty, that more than anything is confirmation enough of their relation. It seems to run in their bloodline, to be hot-headed and flaunt authority; more annoying when the authority that's being dismissed is his, but Vergil supposes he can allow it to slide.
Once.
He raises his eyebrow at the texts that come in next, reading them carefully. ]
Much.
The blow could have been avoided or blocked. It seems you have yet to take to heart any lessons about reading your opponent.
[ Truthfully, his side still hurts where Dante clawed him — he's used a spell or two on the wound, but hates the taste it leaves in his mouth to do so. So while it isn't exactly healed, he isn't going to admit that. ]
Ready when you are.
no subject
yeah yeah
and you know i can block a sword
its not that hard
and reading is nbd honestly
i do it all the time in battle
why does it matter
[Your son's strategy for enemies, Vergil.]
no subject
[ Oh god though. He's aging the more Nero says. ]
That is not reading your enemy. That is running in headfirst and hitting things until they stop moving.
If you applied some finesse to your strategy, you would receive far fewer wounds. Both you and Dante are flashy fighters — if you must put on a show, use it to your advantage. Distract them, decipher their movements, and predict where they will be next.
no subject
i suddenly cant read
[HAVE FUN FIGURING THAT ONE OUT, DAD]
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What are you talking about. Reading comprehension is not a skill that just vanishes.
You can be obtuse, but you are not Dante. Cease this foolishness, Nero.
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you just killed it
[Excuse him he's gonna start laughing, he'll be here for a while.]
no subject
I've killed Mariah Carey.
Does this mean you can read again?