Far be it for Nox to miss school being back in session– once again, his classes are full of overly-energetic and rambunctious gremlins who either go too hard in PE or want nothing to do with the gym at all. The semester may be different, but honestly, his kids aren't, and he wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Of course, not everyone's happy he's back to coaching. After school is usually pretty quiet, considering most kids have already left and a lot of teachers have gone home. Still, sometimes people have a habit of choosing to be thorns rather than accepting of outcomes.
Rounding a corner, it's easy to see he's been roped again into an elitist family conversation.]
Mr. Miller, I presume? A word with you, please.
[Although it's not the same parents as before, Nox can easily tell where this conversation is going. He pauses after setting down some of the basketball equipment, eyes going over the family who now wants to talk to him.]
That's me, how can I help?
We wished to discuss why you did not select our son for the team. Our boy is very good at the sport and enjoys it, and he was crushed to find out he didn't make it.
[Nox exhales through his nose and crosses his arms, already noticing how his demon's perked its head up at the sound of opposition.]
Unfortunately we had a lot of students try out this year. I'm looking for players who'll work together as a team rather than hog the spotlight.
Your decision is wrong, and our son is going to be on your team.
[Oh, is he now? Nox knows better than to say anything, but he does raise a brow at the demand. This again, huh.] Your son is talented, Mrs. Brendon, make no mistake about that. However, [And here, he listens to his demon and decides on a compromise, recounting how much has changed since the last school year.] Your son is also notoriously known for shoving kids out of the way and grabbing the ball every chance he gets. Unfortunately, that was what showed the most in tryouts. I can't risk him hurting the other kids just so he can shoot a shot. I'm sure you understand.
[Without even skipping a beat, the father speaks up.] Should we remind you of your previous outbursts, then, and how unprofessional that makes you for the job? [This, of course, gets Nox to turn his head ever so slightly, and the husband continues.] Oh yes, we've heard all about your temper flares, Mr. Miller. How you supposedly yelled at your team more than once last year.
[Normally, Nox would brush this aside and continue playing the neutral part. But now? You know what? No. I'm done playing nice. He can feel his demon practically roar at the audacity of these humans, thinking they can get past him and harm the boys on his team. While Nox doesn't move at all, he certainly feels his senses sharpen as he turns completely territorial.]
Mr. Brendon, I'm sure you know it's against school policy to accept bribes or adhere to threats. [Slowly, he lets his aura push out, his demon snapping and clicking its claws in absolute anger. It bares its fangs and hones in on the couple like prey. As for Nox? He's quietly seething. No one is going to get close to his kids unless he says so.] In case you didn't, I'd be more than eager to speak with you about it while we have a mediator between us. Someone like the principal, maybe? A guidance counselor? I'm open to suggestions.
[All the while, the couple begins to slowly shrink back from Nox, despite him not even inching forward. It's hard to demand much when the entire hall suddenly feels like it has a thousand fucking eyes on you. Even worse when you can't see any of them. Nox tilts his head, looking completely curious and innocuous about the whole thing, his demon staring straight through his eyes right at the couple and demanding they label it as a fucking threat.
The father looks nervously at his watch while the wife casts her eyes hurriedly left and right.]
A-ah, w-well, about that, I think there's somewhere we have to be right now–
You sure? [He sounds completely casual, as if he doesn't notice them suddenly reversing their insistence, as if he himself isn't pushing his aura out further to make the space seem even more dangerous than it already is. The feeling of being watched like prey intensifies like knives in their backs, though Nox only exhales.] It wouldn't be a problem for me to go and arrange something, after all.
[The couple backs up quite a bit at this, coming closer together and desperately looking all around them, before the wife lets out a bit of a whimper.]
N-No need, we'll continue this another time.
[They bolt from where they stand, immediately getting as far away from the hall and Nox as they can, terrified out of their wits. Good, get the fuck out of here. The aura that was there before suddenly disappears, the space feeling normal again, and Nox sighs. He turns, and that's when he notices there's someone else there. Uh, oops.]
Ahhh, shit. Sorry you had to hear that. [Or see it. Whichever. Look, he's exhaling because he's embarrassed now. Hopefully the whole aura didn't fucking scare this person too.
the great library.
a. entrance. Hearing the call again for action has Nox immediately heading towards where he needs to be. Zodiac may be there to give him information and the like, but he also has to keep his mouth shut from saying something he really shouldn't in their faces. It's a good thing he's learned how to work on his temper since he first got it all those months ago.
Still, the entry to the library is... not what he's expecting, and he reads the lines of giving knowledge over a few times before it really settles in his head. Normally libraries just let you in and don't have requirements, but this also isn't a normal library, so it makes sense.]
Anyone got a spare piece of paper and pen or something?
[Yeah, you may just see him looking a bit for assistance so he can write down what he has in mind to give the library so he can get in. Some help would be great.
b. the knowledge wing (closed to certain characters).
It happens without warning.
Nox hasn't been doing much except reading, finding the books that stood out to him the most, and the one he'd started with was for an all too familiar name–
Vergil.
It hadn't explained everything, but it actually gave him an image to a face, an actual person instead of something vague and unknown. Nox starts with a normal beginning: Vergil was a very studious child, very prompt, focused, and also a complete nuisance to his brother. He and Dante would fight as children and bicker over things to the point where Vergil would label his things to make sure they stayed his. Nox actually stops for a moment and covers his mouth, if only to stop himself from snickering at the image of two boys arguing over everything they owned just to get on each other's nerves.
He reads about how much later, his father came to Fortuna when he was in his teens and then left shortly after, once he'd been satisfied for what he came to learn. How his father raised an entire demon tower to gain power in order to succeed at his plans, and eventually lost to his twin brother. Who could not accept defeat and all the ugliness with it, and threw himself into Hell rather than let Dante reach for him and take him home.
Getting this far becomes frustrating and upsetting, so Nox puts the book down with perhaps a bit too much force on the seat, causing the thing to rustle in its pages. It finally rests with over three quarters of the book passed by, a new section open and waiting for him to return to. After a moment of letting his emotions pass through him, his eyes glance back and catch the words he came across a man with a demon arm in a garage, one who strangely felt familiar and also completely foreign–
A shock suddenly goes right up his spine, and he clutches his head as a memory slams itself back into his mind. Seconds later, he grasps his right arm, unable to stop the feeling of overwhelming agony flood his entire body, before he simply collapses to the floor unconscious.
There he lies, not a word out of him, only the memory of losing his arm stuck on replay in the dark.
c. the knowledge wing (redux)[open to all]
Hours later, he still hasn't left, though this time he's careful in what he picks up. Nox has gone through several books at this rate- Vergil's, Dante's, a book on Fortuna, a woman named Kyrie (and his hands had shaken at holding it, as if his heart was grieving over someone he never knew, but felt so much towards, and and so much for), and settled on a new one that stood out when he'd thought he was done.
Despite the many memories he's gotten since the beginning of this year, he doesn't ever remember seeing or hearing about this woman. Nico. While he's well aware there's still a lot he's missed, it's apparent enough that Nero had found her to be just as important as everyone else.
In one hand he holds the book about her– but in the other, well... the other arm is actually robotic, this time. It's odd, because Nox has always had a normal right arm, but this one seems incredibly well designed, like it belongs to him specifically. He twists his wrist once and squints back at the book, looking over something, before trying it again. And again. And again. There's definitely a disgruntled look before he exhales, cracking his neck once in an effort to relax, and then trying again. This time he doesn't just flick his wrist, he actually focuses on trying to make it work through his demonic heritage–
The arm actually extends, pulling outwards into another form, and Nox nearly jumps out of his seat when it happens.]
Holy shit. [What the fuck is this???? He knows he was a devil hunter in his past life, but how the fuck did he even have these or get them to work for him when he needed? His confusion is completely apparent, even as he forces the arm to go back to its original form.
Muttering to himself, though still audible:]
Yeah, we're definitely not in Kansas anymore, fucking hell.
nero (nox miller) // devil may cry (normal au) // ota
Far be it for Nox to miss school being back in session– once again, his classes are full of overly-energetic and rambunctious gremlins who either go too hard in PE or want nothing to do with the gym at all. The semester may be different, but honestly, his kids aren't, and he wouldn't trade it for anything else.
Of course, not everyone's happy he's back to coaching. After school is usually pretty quiet, considering most kids have already left and a lot of teachers have gone home. Still, sometimes people have a habit of choosing to be thorns rather than accepting of outcomes.
Rounding a corner, it's easy to see he's been roped again into an elitist family conversation.]
Mr. Miller, I presume? A word with you, please.
[Although it's not the same parents as before, Nox can easily tell where this conversation is going. He pauses after setting down some of the basketball equipment, eyes going over the family who now wants to talk to him.]
That's me, how can I help?
We wished to discuss why you did not select our son for the team. Our boy is very good at the sport and enjoys it, and he was crushed to find out he didn't make it.
[Nox exhales through his nose and crosses his arms, already noticing how his demon's perked its head up at the sound of opposition.]
Unfortunately we had a lot of students try out this year. I'm looking for players who'll work together as a team rather than hog the spotlight.
Your decision is wrong, and our son is going to be on your team.
[Oh, is he now? Nox knows better than to say anything, but he does raise a brow at the demand. This again, huh.] Your son is talented, Mrs. Brendon, make no mistake about that. However, [And here, he listens to his demon and decides on a compromise, recounting how much has changed since the last school year.] Your son is also notoriously known for shoving kids out of the way and grabbing the ball every chance he gets. Unfortunately, that was what showed the most in tryouts. I can't risk him hurting the other kids just so he can shoot a shot. I'm sure you understand.
[Without even skipping a beat, the father speaks up.] Should we remind you of your previous outbursts, then, and how unprofessional that makes you for the job? [This, of course, gets Nox to turn his head ever so slightly, and the husband continues.] Oh yes, we've heard all about your temper flares, Mr. Miller. How you supposedly yelled at your team more than once last year.
[Normally, Nox would brush this aside and continue playing the neutral part. But now? You know what? No. I'm done playing nice. He can feel his demon practically roar at the audacity of these humans, thinking they can get past him and harm the boys on his team. While Nox doesn't move at all, he certainly feels his senses sharpen as he turns completely territorial.]
Mr. Brendon, I'm sure you know it's against school policy to accept bribes or adhere to threats. [Slowly, he lets his aura push out, his demon snapping and clicking its claws in absolute anger. It bares its fangs and hones in on the couple like prey. As for Nox? He's quietly seething. No one is going to get close to his kids unless he says so.] In case you didn't, I'd be more than eager to speak with you about it while we have a mediator between us. Someone like the principal, maybe? A guidance counselor? I'm open to suggestions.
[All the while, the couple begins to slowly shrink back from Nox, despite him not even inching forward. It's hard to demand much when the entire hall suddenly feels like it has a thousand fucking eyes on you. Even worse when you can't see any of them. Nox tilts his head, looking completely curious and innocuous about the whole thing, his demon staring straight through his eyes right at the couple and demanding they label it as a fucking threat.
The father looks nervously at his watch while the wife casts her eyes hurriedly left and right.]
A-ah, w-well, about that, I think there's somewhere we have to be right now–
You sure? [He sounds completely casual, as if he doesn't notice them suddenly reversing their insistence, as if he himself isn't pushing his aura out further to make the space seem even more dangerous than it already is. The feeling of being watched like prey intensifies like knives in their backs, though Nox only exhales.] It wouldn't be a problem for me to go and arrange something, after all.
[The couple backs up quite a bit at this, coming closer together and desperately looking all around them, before the wife lets out a bit of a whimper.]
N-No need, we'll continue this another time.
[They bolt from where they stand, immediately getting as far away from the hall and Nox as they can, terrified out of their wits. Good, get the fuck out of here. The aura that was there before suddenly disappears, the space feeling normal again, and Nox sighs. He turns, and that's when he notices there's someone else there. Uh, oops.]
Ahhh, shit. Sorry you had to hear that. [Or see it. Whichever. Look, he's exhaling because he's embarrassed now. Hopefully the whole aura didn't fucking scare this person too.
the great library.
a. entrance. Hearing the call again for action has Nox immediately heading towards where he needs to be. Zodiac may be there to give him information and the like, but he also has to keep his mouth shut from saying something he really shouldn't in their faces. It's a good thing he's learned how to work on his temper since he first got it all those months ago.
Still, the entry to the library is... not what he's expecting, and he reads the lines of giving knowledge over a few times before it really settles in his head. Normally libraries just let you in and don't have requirements, but this also isn't a normal library, so it makes sense.]
Anyone got a spare piece of paper and pen or something?
[Yeah, you may just see him looking a bit for assistance so he can write down what he has in mind to give the library so he can get in. Some help would be great.
b. the knowledge wing (closed to certain characters).
It happens without warning.
Nox hasn't been doing much except reading, finding the books that stood out to him the most, and the one he'd started with was for an all too familiar name–
Vergil.
It hadn't explained everything, but it actually gave him an image to a face, an actual person instead of something vague and unknown. Nox starts with a normal beginning: Vergil was a very studious child, very prompt, focused, and also a complete nuisance to his brother. He and Dante would fight as children and bicker over things to the point where Vergil would label his things to make sure they stayed his. Nox actually stops for a moment and covers his mouth, if only to stop himself from snickering at the image of two boys arguing over everything they owned just to get on each other's nerves.
He reads about how much later, his father came to Fortuna when he was in his teens and then left shortly after, once he'd been satisfied for what he came to learn. How his father raised an entire demon tower to gain power in order to succeed at his plans, and eventually lost to his twin brother. Who could not accept defeat and all the ugliness with it, and threw himself into Hell rather than let Dante reach for him and take him home.
Getting this far becomes frustrating and upsetting, so Nox puts the book down with perhaps a bit too much force on the seat, causing the thing to rustle in its pages. It finally rests with over three quarters of the book passed by, a new section open and waiting for him to return to. After a moment of letting his emotions pass through him, his eyes glance back and catch the words he came across a man with a demon arm in a garage, one who strangely felt familiar and also completely foreign–
A shock suddenly goes right up his spine, and he clutches his head as a memory slams itself back into his mind. Seconds later, he grasps his right arm, unable to stop the feeling of overwhelming agony flood his entire body, before he simply collapses to the floor unconscious.
There he lies, not a word out of him, only the memory of losing his arm stuck on replay in the dark.
c. the knowledge wing (redux)[open to all]
Hours later, he still hasn't left, though this time he's careful in what he picks up. Nox has gone through several books at this rate- Vergil's, Dante's, a book on Fortuna, a woman named Kyrie (and his hands had shaken at holding it, as if his heart was grieving over someone he never knew, but felt so much towards, and and so much for), and settled on a new one that stood out when he'd thought he was done.
Despite the many memories he's gotten since the beginning of this year, he doesn't ever remember seeing or hearing about this woman. Nico. While he's well aware there's still a lot he's missed, it's apparent enough that Nero had found her to be just as important as everyone else.
In one hand he holds the book about her– but in the other, well... the other arm is actually robotic, this time. It's odd, because Nox has always had a normal right arm, but this one seems incredibly well designed, like it belongs to him specifically. He twists his wrist once and squints back at the book, looking over something, before trying it again. And again. And again. There's definitely a disgruntled look before he exhales, cracking his neck once in an effort to relax, and then trying again. This time he doesn't just flick his wrist, he actually focuses on trying to make it work through his demonic heritage–
The arm actually extends, pulling outwards into another form, and Nox nearly jumps out of his seat when it happens.]
Holy shit. [What the fuck is this???? He knows he was a devil hunter in his past life, but how the fuck did he even have these or get them to work for him when he needed? His confusion is completely apparent, even as he forces the arm to go back to its original form.
Muttering to himself, though still audible:]
Yeah, we're definitely not in Kansas anymore, fucking hell.