kaisou | text | un: devilhunter

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text | un: devilhunter

WHO: Dante & you.
WHERE: Network.
WHEN: Today bitches.
WHAT: Uncle Dante coming in with starbucks... wait why is everything on fire?
WARNINGS: not at the moment, will updated when nessecary.

[ good morning? day? what is time honestly? dante doesn't know, he sure as hell lost all concept of it ever since they closed the gate and sealed themselves in the demon world. how long ago was that? fuck, he really lost it, hasn't he? nevermind that, more important things to focus on right now. ]

so thanks for the free phone
could have done with a hot shower and a nice meal but this will have to do
anyway if someone could point me to the nearest, cheapest, motel that'd be great

oh and the name's dante

[ where is he? fuck if he knows. he just really really needs a shower right now. and food, god when was the last time he had a hot meal? let him tell you, the demon world is not known for it's cuisine. ]

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[ what?? bud this is a lot, what do you mean yes and also no?? the question sits on his tongue heavily and dante just frowns at his phone, unable to even ask as the kid just keeps going. fuck, he expected something along these lines when they finally made it back─ expected nero to be pissed with the way they had left things, but this? this is different. it feels different. ]

Your father and I left you to go cut down the overgrown tree. [ whatever joviality normally in his voice is gone, it's almost cold, far too reminiscent of vergil. ] Why?

[Yeah, he knows it is. All of Kaisou is, and it doesn't help that the entire app is ready to go on a rampage, so emotions are flying around already.

When he gets the answer, Nox sighs.]

So I have an idea of how to explain all the bullshit that's this city. I'm further, past that.[It's not a lie, honestly. Reincarnation is after death of some sort. Not that Dante's gonna like hearing it.

And he hears that tone, don't think he doesn't. Doesn't help that it agitates his demon even further, or causes Nox's back to stiffen with it.]

Kaisou itself is a mess and I'd rather not tell you everything over the network.

[ further? he's almost glad nero can't see him, not with the way his expression flits between a frown and something akin to panic. for some reason, he doesn't like the sound of after, feels his demon coil under his skin as though it is wrong, something about it feels wrong. maybe it's the tone of nero's voice, the way he's almost panicked at dante's appearance.

or maybe it is just nothing and he's overreacting after that labyrinth, after searching and searching and searching for his brother and coming up empty. ]

Yeah, alright. Not sure where I am at the moment, there is a "Void Denny's" across the street if that helps any.

Right, Undertown. Be there in three.

[It's almost surprising how quickly Nox knows where that is, but then again, it was his sparring ground for a good chunk of last year, until he started doing too much collateral. Void Denny's always reverted by the next day, but the cars there, not so much.

True to his word, Dante is going to see a pair of very familiar wings dropping by, as Nox lands relatively close to where his uncle is. Same jacket, same shirt, same lousy pants and posture, but Nox's demon is wound up so badly it's like a siren blaring in the background.

Something is wrong. And not in the way Dante expects. Nox approaches but also makes sure he doesn't set off other other's demon in the process.]

Hey. [Small talk, at least, to get the greeting out, sure. At least that part is easy.] A lot's going on, and I know you're gonna want to know what the hell is happening. So. Where do you want me to start?

[The whole "yeah and no" thing? The fact that he's as tense as a livewire, despite his tone? The fact that his demon seems like it's seconds away from mauling something just to get rid of its nervous energy? There's a lot of fucking options.]

[ dante senses him before he sees him, body tenses in a way that has been a constant over the last... god knows how long since he and vergil went to hell. instinctively he reaches for the guns at his sides, only to stop himself upon seeing the pair of familiar wings, then the body that follows it. he should be relieved, should be almost overjoyed to see nero, but something doesn't sit right and it screams in the back of his head.

he is seated on a bench when nero approaches him, seemingly relaxed but the trained eye can see he is anything but. he's on edge, ready to leap at the first sign of trouble, ready to strike at the first perceived attack. he sits like a predator awaiting prey. ]

At the start. [ there is some forced joviality to his voice, but the tone still remains the same as it as. traces of vergil clinging to his body like a security blanket. ] The hell did you mean "yeah and no"?

[Of course it's that question first. He isn't surprised. Being around his uncle right now feels like he's in the mouth of the lion's den- no way back, no way out but forward. And really, there's not even a guaranteed out at the moment, not one Nox can be happy with. But Dante needs to know.

He sighs, scrubbing his nose, trying to will himself to speak. And he does, eyes looking to Dante, to his own hands, and back.]

Yeah, well. Obviously Kaisou's not an ordinary town, you've heard that already. [A beat, and he paces himself.] But the whole of it is... it's a city of refugees. And not like- war refugees or whatever. It's a city of souls that basically found their way here after they died or their timeline just ended. [Nox knows this makes no fucking sense, so. He clasps his hands together, pushes air through his teeth, continues.] Reincarnation, basically. Everyone in this city used to be someone else in a past life. Most of the time, they just go on to live a normal life and never know. But somehow..... within the past year, people started remembering. Started to regain the powers and shit they had in their past life. We don't know why.

[Nox turns his head away at that, lets it sink in before he goes on.] So, to give you an answer: yeah, it's me. Nero. But my life in Kaisou, before I woke up, I lived as a normal human guy named Nox.

[It hurts him, to say this. But he knows there's no way to soften the blow, and Dante is going to dislike what he hears no matter what nice words are put around it. Nox can't blame him- if the roles were swapped, Nero would be livid and walk right off because of his emotions and the loss of family. He's basically expecting it here.]

[ any other person wouldn't believe a single word that comes out of nero's mouth, any other person would laugh their ass off at the mere concept of any of this, another person might even think the guy crazy and should be institutionalized. but dante? dante listens with deadly silence, he takes each and every word in patiently as the kid speaks.

it's only one word that seems to get a reaction from him, a singular word that has blue eyes darken ─ eyes that would flash red where his demon chained down so tightly ─ reincarnation. the implication is heavy in the air, on dante's chest, and his mind starts to whirl with possibilities. nero died? when? how? was it soon after they had dove into hell? was it years later? was it a demon that got him? or was it old age? hand curl into tight fists, nails biting sharply into skin through his gloves. ]

How? [ dante doesn't walk off, he doesn't even move from where he is seated, the only thing he does do is look away from nero. from nox. gaze falling to the ground beneath his feet. ] Just answer me that. How the fuck did you die?

[That surprises him. Nox was expecting dead silence and instead gets asked another question instead. But it's not one that's... exactly unpleasant to answer.

At that, Nox straightens up just a little, swallows, but continues.]

Old age. [Something that would take them all, eventually.] Married Kyrie, had kids, grew old with them. You and Vergil came back, too. So. I don't think it was a life I'd regret, in the end.

[ old age. his shoulders seem to slump with the answer, tension draining from his limbs. that's... the most that he could ask for, honestly, the most that vergil could probably ask for as well. that someone bearing the blood of the dark knight sparda got to live a long and happy life with the person he loves. better than whatever end awaits the twins, that is for sure.

he sits in silence for a second longer before exhaling, head rolling back to look up, before slumping forward a little to gaze his gaze over nero. ]

Alright. [ it explains why something felt off, while the demon chained in his chest writhes about. nero isn't exactly nero, yet he still very much him. ] So you're called Nox here? Gotta say, not the most inspired name. If you don't mind I think I'll be sticking with Nero.

[The tension Dante releases also causes Nox's demon to ease a bit in agitation. It's still upset, but now that Nox doesn't feel so on edge from explaining the situation, there's less for it to feel, in some ways.

Meanwhile, Nox lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.]

Dante- [His voice lodges in his throat, at that. Nox shakes his head, lets out a huff of amusement right after as he looks upwards.] Yeah. Can't blame you, really. I'm fine with that.

[It's... it's hard to describe, but he's... he's happy, about that. About that choice. It feels like a piece of a puzzle quietly clicking into place, being called Nero. And while mostly everyone calls him Nox, there's nothing wrong hearing his old name, to him. Because he's both Nox and Nero. That suits him just fine.]

You got any other questions? Can't say I know everything, but I can fill you in on what you wanna know.

[ what else did he expect? dante has always been one to roll with the punches, never really being knocked off his stride no matter what is thrown his way. this is just another one of those things. it doesn't matter in the long run, does it? regardless of how he got here, nero's still... well he's still nero. he doesn't have to focus on the rest of it, not when there is more important things to worry about.

like vergil.

if anything that is what keeps his hackles from lowering completely, what stops the rest of the tension from draining from his limbs. the guy had been at his side and then, then he wasn't. that along puts dante on edge, makes his throat close with a childish sort of panic he thought he had lost many many years ago. don't take him from me again. ]

Good, glad we're on the same page. [ he shifts, leaning forward on his knees, and pulls the phone out of his pocket. ] Not really, feel like I'm mostly up the speed on things. City is on the verge of a riot, head honchos got turned into demons, and some genius sold them a peach that granted immortality. Sound about right?

[There's a difference between knowing and actually seeing, for him. Someone could tell him his family would never just drop him and leave till they're blue in the face, but the tiny voice in his head always says otherwise, and that's hard to ignore. Nox snorts, frustration easily apparent in his eyes, confirming what Dante's told him.]

That's what's current, yeah. There's bigger underlying shit, but that's always gonna fucking happen. [A hand brushes on the bench, then drops, and he exhales.] Essentially, because of Spirit Realm bullshit, nothing here is ordinary anymore. I'd say it's more like our kind of ordinary, but no demons- usually.

[Sometimes there's an outlier, like right now, or back in October.]

[ dante watches him move, and notices the hand brushing on the bench, before shifting across a little and patting the spot beside him. sit down, the motion says. he has no plan to move from here for the time being, so the kid may as well make himself comfortable as well ─ unless he has other things to get too. family that isn't dante, perhaps. ]

There's always bigger underlying shit, Nero. [ he doesn't expect anything less, really. ] The bigger picture isn't the problem at the moment, no need to stress about it.

[ he joins his hands together in front of himself, gaze flicking to the ground beneath his feet. it'd be easier if he knew where vergil was, easier to stomach all of this, to wrap his head around it. but he finds himself almost frayed in a way he isn't comfortable with, frayed in a way he wasn't aware he could be. ]

You know I noticed something weird. [ he doesn't look at nero, staring straight ahead instead. ] Can't shift for one, my devil sword is still responding but my limbs feel heavier than they should be. I assume that's because of this Spirit Realm bullshit?

Edited 2023-04-04 21:51 (UTC)

[It's nerves that make him not close the space before now, really. Hundreds of thoughts that race through his head, every one of them as viable as the next. It's only when his uncle pats the seat next to him that Nox actually blinks, so caught up in his head he didn't realize how he hasn't moved. There's something that crosses his eyes quickly, a sort of fondness, before he just sits right beside the other and huffs, amused.

Dante says not to stress about the underlying issue, and, well. Nox understands. So he relaxes, shoulders easing out as he leans back into a familiar position. But the question his uncle asks next is one he knows, at least.]

Basically. You've been yanked from home and gotten into this mess- kinda like adjusting to being underwater. It's not permanent, it just takes time to get back into the flow. [A beat, and he gestures.] Far as I can tell, it's sort of the same for the people getting back memories too- you start out with either something or are just fresh off the boat, and then you get parts of yourself back, piece by piece.

[He sure as fuck didn't start out part demon, so getting a new brain friend was a wild time for a bit.]

[ he seems pleased the nero sits at least, sparing a quick glance over his shoulder at the kid before his attention moves back. he can only imagine how the kid must have felt seeing his post, especially with all the other stuff tagged on top. but none of that matters, not in the end, he's still nero, still his nephew, even with this apparent other life hanging over his shoulder.

that's enough for dante. ]

Glad to hear it's not permanent. [ he rolls a wrist around, the feeling almost uncomfortable. ] Can't say I'm enjoying the feeling. It's like I could break a wrist if I so much as look at it funny. [ honestly, how do people exist like this? he's spent nearly fourty years of his life being able to walk off the most insane things and now he's... well he's a lot less than he's supposed to be. ] Feels like I've got cotton in my ears as well, don't recommend it.

[It's different, but not unwelcome. Nox was fully expecting his uncle to ditch him entirely, so this? Yeah, this is a lot better than he was imagining.

He can't help but hold back a bit of a snort at Dante's words, though.]

Yeah, no, welcome to the shit I had to deal with after the whole... [At that, Nox gestures his hands quickly in circles, trying to emphasize what he means- when his arm got ripped off, essentially. Not a fun feeling, that.]

Here, I was pretty much human and boring as shit until I wasn't. Nothing really special about me. Then I started getting the memories and then came the powers and that [His face says it all, really. It was definitely a wild time.] definitely took some time to get used to. All in all, though- yeah, you'll be fine. Just give it some time and try not to be the big damn hero.

[Oh, look, is that a grin at that? Maybe.]

Edited 2023-04-06 05:15 (UTC)

[ there is a subject there that dante dares not approach, he wonders if the kid had that talk with him sometime fore he died of old age. did dante ever explain himself? he doubts it, as far as he is concerned nero could go the rest of his whole damn life not knowing that dante hadn't considered coming back for that job. that he didn't resist nero's involvement because he thought the kid couldn't cut it, not because he didn't want to kid to not only be involved in the death of his own father but also the witness to his uncle's practical suicide.

dante exhales a noise, something close to a scoff, looking down at his wrists. ]

Might be a little late for that one. [ he leans back, arm extending out over the back of the bench as he levels nero with a crooked smile. ] Already offered my services to the good people around here with the whole capitalist demon problem. They don't seem convinced their current plan is going to pan out, so I'm the back up plan.

[ that reminds him... ]

Now that I think about it, a guy called August mentioned you. [ a beat. ] Mentioned Nox. You planning on marching up to the big bad HQ and knocking on the door?

[The subject he won't broach is one Nox knows, and is sure Nero heard, eventually. How it all played out, well, he likes to think that while it's upsetting and frustrating all at once, it didn't change anything in how Nero saw his uncle.

But at the confirmation of already slipping into his usual deal here, Nox groans, the entire thing exaggerated. He's smiling way too wide to even be annoyed.]

Why am I not even surprised? [He pauses, clicking his tongue in amusement before a brow raises.] Oh, so you met the shitty little adopted brother, huh? Yeah, August is great. And also yeah, I'm basically ready to go to the HQ and kick down the doors. No knocking at all, they really don't deserve for me to be nice right about now. A lot of stuff's been building and gotten worse, so it's basically a keg ready to explode. Better for me to be in the action first and foremost, yeah?

[ adopted brother? that gains a raised eyebrow, dante's attention shifting to nero. he leans back, head cocked to the side, one leg raising to rest on his other knee. ]

Brother, huh? Look at you. Got yourself that family you always wanted.

[ he's... happy, really. happy for nero. if anyone deserved a family it was definitely him. ]

Ah, good to know some things don't change with you, kid.

[In a lot of ways, that look from Dante brings back such a sense of nostalgia Nox has to exhale, fondness very clear in his eyes.

The words, though... not so much (he knows, he knows Dante means well, but it still feels like Nox just got hit in the face with a two-by-four). Were this Nero, he'd snap at his uncle immediately, feel like his hackles were raised and his demon would be agitated. Instead, Nox simply widens his eyes for just a moment, both as himself and as his past self, at Dante. Then he looks away, swallowing down a lump of emotions and huffing to try and hide it as something neutral overall.

Yeah, he has a family here. But... but now that he remembers, it isn't the same. He should be happy with the family he has, in this life. He is. But he wants his old family with him too. Call it selfish, call it a hopeless boy's dream– they matter to him. To Nox. To Nero. To not have them here... he doesn't have the words for it.

Still, he does at least give an amused look when talking about old habits.]

You expect anything less? You and Vergil gave me a job to do.

[That comes with its own return brow raise, his nephew amused for a moment before Nox splays a hand out.]

Okay, hand your phone over. I've got at few bookmarks to slap on your GPS as the basics for the place. Figure you might as well at least have that before you get into the thick of it. I know I can't keep you out of this shit, you're like a magnet wherever you go.

Knew we were leaving it in the right hands.

[ he hit a nerve, he can tell by the way that nero seems to freeze, to swallow down emotions threatening to claw their way out of his throat. were he simply nero, dante is sure he would have had his head all but ripped off, the comment met with fangs and teeth of a kid still angry about a myriad of things. but he isn't just nero and he can see the edges that have been softened by it.

without hesitation he hands over the phone, head tilting as a far more relaxed sort of grin finds his face. ]

It isn't my fault I am just so straggeringly handsome.

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