Complicated homecoming...

[superstylishsquid]

It had been years since Alastor had last seen this town, bustling with humans and reeking of demons. It was almost comforting...if not for the fact that he knew his master was here. The master he'd abandoned without a word, who would be fully justified in striking him down for his insubordination. But it wasn't in Alastor's nature to run. He'd had his taste of freedom, now it was time to face the consequences. If he was lucky, maybe he could come out on top this time and be truly free.

But that would be once he entered Devil May Cry, something he would wait until daytime for. He didn't want to catch his master just returning from a demon hunt and ready to shoot anything that had fangs and claws. So in the darkness of the desert night, he stood atop a building across from the Devil Hunter's shop. His senses were attuned for any hint of magic approaching him, but he might not register an ordinary human right away.

Comments

[superstylishschism]

Hey, I tried to be vague...

*Not his fault wings have to be sensitive to be any use...*

[patricided]

[Or not use too if memory serves.]

Sorry I have a very vivid memory of needing to make a hasty escape because of them.

[superstylishschism]

Hey, I tried to warn you! You were the one who couldn't take a hint.

[patricided]

They shouldn't be that soft.

[superstylishschism]

They kinda have to be. If they aren't very...receptive to sensation, I won't be able to use them to feel my way around air currents. And then, I can't steer properly and things get painful.

[patricided]

All the more reason to keep my hands to myself for the rest of forever where they're concerned. Wouldn't want to break them on you.

[superstylishschism]

They're sensitive, not delicate. You're not going to break anything with your bare hands unless you mean to.

[patricided]

Better if I don't all the same.

[superstylishschism]

Hmmm...at least not until you're a little less likely to turn into a tomato if you poke too much at the wrong part.

[patricided]

Not going to happen.

[superstylishschism]

*Raising an eyebrow a bit. River in Egypt, much? He doesn't even need to be an empath to tell she's repressing...*

Why's it freak you out so much, anyway? I get that there's a cultural stigma attached around here, but this seems like more than just that.

[patricided]

[Not repressing, just focused]

It doesn't freak me out.

[superstylishschism]

*If it was just focused, then wouldn't you be okay with admitting to it when you didn't have anything important to be doing?*

Uh-huh. So is that why you turned bright red and hid your face when I accidentally made a comment that could be taken as something dirty?

[patricided]

[Maybe, or it just didn't matter at this point.]

Maybe it was just embarrassing?

[superstylishschism]

It's not just that...you keep sending mixed messages. Earlier today, you were making dirty jokes and now it's no never. That kinda inconsistency sorta makes me have to wonder if something's wrong.

Honestly, I'm a little worried. I don't wanna see you drive yourself up a wall because you're conflicted about something and you already seem to be chasing yourself in circles.

[patricided]

Nothing's wrong and you don't need to worry. I'm fine. Maybe you should get back to the Devil May Cry before Dante thinks someone kidnapped you.

[superstylishschism]

*He starts to reach for her shoulder, then hesitates and puts his hand on the back of the couch before sighing.*

Just...don't stress yourself too much, okay? I don't even care which side you pick at this point, I just want to see you happy and not acting like you can't even decide what you want.

*And with that said, he pushes himself upright and turns to go collect his shoes and gloves.*

[patricided]

I won't. I'm really good at taking care of myself, been doing it for a long time now.

[She's just going to ignore the whole happy part. She's pretty sure he won't like her response to that, or deciding what she wants.]

[superstylishschism]

*He doubts she's ever had to deal with a situation like this, given Dante's utter refusal to act on his feelings, but saying that now probably won't do any good. So instead, he collects his gloves and puts his shoes back on, then walks back.*

I guess I'll be seeing you around, then, huh? Don't be afraid to just drop by, Dante won't be bothered by it.

[patricided]

Yeah mostly likely. We'll see what happens.

[She gets up and stretches a bit and then heads to her kitchen to get a glass of water. He knows his way out of her place, no need for her to do anything else.]

[superstylishschism]

*He watches her for a moment, then sighs again and collects his armor. If she doesn't have anything else to say to him, he'll disappear without another word.*

[patricided]

By the time Lady finally, stops by the Devil May Cry nearly two weeks have passed by. It is mid-March now and she’s not entirely sure what she’s going to say to either of them beyond the usual. She had a job to do which was part of why she didn’t come in before now. She had responsibilities that kept her from doing what she wanted, and paying jobs kept her in her apartment and her equipment from rusting.

Though it didn’t stop her from coming in with a new job for either boy or both if they felt like sharing and a few new scuffmarks on her boots. Just barely visible under the buffing and shoe polish she used to keep the supple and in good condition. When she comes in it’s all business from her posture to the teasing smile as does her usual once over. Surprised as always not to see the piles of garbage that once littered the floors and flats surfaces.

“I hope you’re paying Patty for all the hard work she does on this place.”

[hellspawnedhero]

Dante, as usual, was leaning back in his chair with a magazine in his hands. A box of pizza sits on his desk, and he barely bothers to look over at the door when Lady comes in.

"Hey, not like I ask her to do it. She can knock off whenever she feels like it."

[superstylishschism]

Alastor, meanwhile, paused the movie he was watching from the couch. He was in human form, as usual when he was in the office during business hours, and holding a box of Poptarts in one hand.

"What, my work's chopped liver?"

He sat up with a huff, although her posture isn't lost on him. Nearly two weeks after his invitation, and this still wasn't a social visit.

"What's the job? Before Pizzaface over there finds a way to stall."

[patricided]

"Probably helps a lot in terms of your business." She saunters over and gives the box of pizza a bit of a look before rolling her eyes. Poor girl deserved more than schlepping pizza boxes out to the dumpster.

"You live here Alastor." She shifts around so she's leaning a hip on the edge of Dante's desk. See not ignoring you either. Though she does frown a little at his tone. She was busy it happens.

"Fine, it's simple really standard menacing of the generally human population. Corpses dissected or disemboweled. No children," she says that almost purely for Alastor's sake, "Most are construction workers for the new building site just on the edge of the highway. It's making the investors worried since it seems the demon has taken a liking to spilling beyond it's original hunting grounds in the last few days."