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.

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[superstylishsquid]

Somewhere outside, Alastor sneezes. But he doesn't think much of it. Really, he's kind of distracted. Dante's back. That means it's time to face the music, as much as he's not looking forward to it. He pauses for a moment with his hand on the door, not paying attention to what's on the other side of the window, before pushing it open.

And then he stops, just a step into the shop, dark grey eyes wide as he looks at Lady.

"Oh...uh...I'll...um, come back later."

And then he starts to back out of the door.

[hellspawnedhero]

Dante has just opened his mouth to respond to Lady when he hears the door open. It's kind of easy to tell that the newcomer is a demon, but he's been starting to get used to seeing devils that were visiting on polite business. The confusing part is the fact that the guy's staring at Lady like he caught her in the shower or something.

"Lady, you know this guy?"

[patricided]

The sound she makes is just on this side of barely restrained annoyance as her hand and forehead meet rather unceremoniously. Now? Of all times, Alastor had to pick now? But she's looking at Alastor equally flummoxed by his presence as he seems to be about her's as she responds without looking back at Dante.

"Uh...Hi Alastor..." Awkward of awkwardest greetings yes all things considering.

She moves then, crossing the room and surprises herself when she catches Alastor's arm.

"I can wait outside." It's an invitation to do what he needs to do. Granted it comes out mumbled with her eyes staring holes into the floor. Her hand letting go then, though most notably not as if he burned her so much as letting him go to make his own decision.

[superstylishsquid]

He jumps a bit at the sudden hand on his arm, although he doesn't lash out. He just stands there staring for a moment, before he reaches up and scratches the back of his head awkwardly.

"You were here first, so I, uh, don't want to interrupt if you were in the middle of something."

[hellspawnedhero]

Alastor? Well huh. This guy doesn't seem at all like the sword that ran him through and tried to possess him a few years ago. But still, there's something familiar about him that Dante can't quite shake. Maybe it really is him, and he just isn't nearly as eloquent or threatening when he's caught off guard?

Well, for now he'll just watch what these two do.

[patricided]

She shrugs. "It's fine. I was just letting him know you were looking for him." And his arrival stopped her from asking quite possibly a very stupid question. So there was that too. She almost wants to tell him thanks.

[superstylishsquid]

"Alright...I guess I'll, um...let you know when I'm done."

He glances over at Dante, tense and resisting the urge to draw his sword preemptively. There's just something terrifying about being in the presence of the master you defied. Now he understands the fear of his servants when they brought him news they knew he wouldn't appreciate.

"If I can, anyway."

[patricided]

"Thanks and...uh good luck?"

She isn't really sure he'll need it, but it can't hurt right. She might not have the highest opinions of demons, but she's aware enough to recognize when one isn't entirely comfortable. Doesn't stop her from being incredibly awkward about it as she ducks out the door to sit on the bottommost step. And this is the least she can do after being the most closed-minded and rude individual he's probably met before.

[superstylishsquid]

"Yeah..."

He takes a deep breath and walks back into the shop as she walks out. The conversation takes a little while, and Alastor's voice raises a couple times during it. At one point, there's even the sound of a fist hitting wood. But eventually it calms down, and Alastor walks out of the shop, looking tired but pleased, despite the obvious tear lines running down his cheeks.

"You can go back in now, if you want."

[patricided]

She was pacing. Sitting there wasn't cutting it anymore and she needed to do something. And why did she say she could wait outside. It wasn't any of her business how it worked out and she wasn't sure she had anything left to say to Dante.

But she stills as the door opens again. Her head tilting as she takes him in. Well, he came back out on his own power and didn't look particularly distraught so that counted for something. But she doesn't ask how it went, just stands there a moment and then seems to snap out of it and nods. Though she still hesitates before ultimately slipping by to go back inside. Maybe she should have said something but what she didn't know and maybe her silence was better than putting her foot in her mouth again.

"So..."

[hellspawnedhero]

Dante's still sitting at his desk, although the pizza box is skewed slightly. His expression is as unreadable as ever, anything he might be feeling hidden behind a casual veil.

"That was interesting."

[patricided]

She raises an eyebrow at him. "You don't say." Really you're going to be vague now?

[hellspawnedhero]

"Yup."

There is always a certain amusement in being infuriatingly vague, thank you.

"Seems we're gonna have another pair of hands around the shop now."

[patricided]

Oh how she hates him when he does that. It isn't very nice.

"Oh good. Kind of slow right now, so he'll have to wait a bit before getting a job." She mutters crossing her arms over her chest. Seemed to happen whenever Dante saved the world all the slightly intelligent ones got smart and the dumb ones hid for a few days.

[hellspawnedhero]

It's fun, though.

"Give him some time to get settled, then. Get to know the rest of the gang. Should be interesting when he meets Morrison."

[patricided]

Is not.

"It should, imagine his surprise that I didn't shoot Alastor from the get go." And she hops up to sit on the edge of his desk, twisting slightly so he isn't talking to her back.

[hellspawnedhero]

Is too.

"Forget his surprise, I'm stunned. How'd he manage to avoid that?"

[patricided]

Not in the slightest.

She grins at him and just shrugs, "Well not holding me over the side of a tower by my ankle was a nice start."

[hellspawnedhero]

"Ouch, Lady. Got me right here."

He pats his chest, over his heart.

"You don't let things go, do ya?"

[patricided]

"I do. I'm just saying there was a huge difference between our first exchange and my first exchange with Alastor."

And yet if the whole thing was compared to the entire first exchange with Dante they were equally horrible. Simple fact she's horrible at making friends if they have demonic heritage. Absolutely horrible.

[hellspawnedhero]

"Glad to hear it went better than the time you met Trish, then."

Nevermind the fact that he was a big part of the reason that confusion didn't get cleared up a lot faster.

[patricided]

"That was your fault and you know it."

[hellspawnedhero]

"And here I thought it was that fake priest's fault. Don't remember tellin' you that Trish was one of the bad guys, anyway."

He shrugs, blatantly being deliberately difficult.

[patricided]

"You weren't exactly forthcoming when I asked you either. I distinctly remember you saying there were a lot of demons that could pass for human instead of saying she was your ex-partner."

And it's working to annoy her as she makes the grumpiest face at him.

[hellspawnedhero]

"You didn't exactly give me a detailed description, now did ya?"

It's a flimsy excuse and he knows it, although there really had been some doubt that it really was Trish.