Trees from hell are no joke, Mercie. They're ugly and nasty-looking, and the inside smells like hot garbage. It even had a bunch of insect-like demons crawling around and inside! A whole damn ecosystem!
[ok, fuck it, the whole drink goes down the hatch before he forces the glass down onto the table. eryn is already there with a light shake of his head, refilling the glass.]
[it's as if he sometimes forgets who he is dealing with here. mercedes has proven time and time again that there is truth in not judging a book by its cover; that her softer and gentle nature don't really show what she has experienced.]
I'm not too familiar with how a tree like that even gets cultivated. [he starts, as if he had not paused to warn her about it.] But the more blood it gets, the more it grows, with the sole purpose of producing one single fruit.
[the small amount of liquid left over in his glass swirls as he does circular motions with his hand, blue eyes caught in it.]
A fruit for power, for the next king of the demon world. Countless of lives sacrificed for that very selfish purpose.
[ It's probably for the best that her experiences don't leave her an open book of distrust and solitude, though she chooses not to think about that and focuses instead on Dante's explanation. ]
It... feeds on human blood in order to produce a single fruit that will grant power to the one who eats it?
… That's despicable. So many lives unwillingly sacrificed, for such a thing... like you said, that's very selfish.
[dante shrugs. seeing it from the very human perspective, it really is a tragedy and a crime against humanity as a whole. seeing it from a demon's perspective, it's nothing more than something to throw over his shoulder and not let guilt hound him until the end of his days.]
It's not really the happiest thing to retell.
[he eyes her a moment.] But there's nothing that can be done about it other than sealing the gate and keeping the demons at bay.
[ There's a faint smile, and Mercedes amiably returns to her glass. She can't chug like some people, but she can drain it quickly and politely enough. ]
I can't imagine that's what you had in mind for family bonding... but then again, I can't help but think that suits you.
[what's with that quiet acceptance of his character? dante is mildly touched, and it only shows on the lopsided smile painting his features.]
No better way for my brother and I, truth be told. [always fighting, their blades always clashing with the other; this intrinsic need of competition and to best the other.] But we've done better since coming here.
[their fights have been les, their talks more. like relearning how to be brothers all over again.]
—and how are things on your end? [he motions at the ribbon on her hand with a nod of his head. so maybe he's doing a follow-up on how she's handling the news about her brother.]
[ She's relieved to hear that, considers mentioning that she'd run into someone who really had resembled Dante at the party... in appearance more than mannerisms, but decides against it. ]
Ah... [ With a bittersweet smile, she reaches up to tap the ribbon. ] If I stay busy... it's easier. It still feels like a very raw, painful sore when I think about him, but I include him in my prayers. If nothing else, I hope he can find peace.
If that's the only thing I can do for him as his sister, I would do anything to assure that.
[dante nods knowingly, understanding of the situation she is in. it is difficult, to think about someone who has been lost. anything can trigger a memory of them, or even just be a reminder of their face or mannerisms. for dante, for years, he would break mirrors when his face was the one to remind him of his brother—aging and knowing that the only face he could remember of vergil at the time was when he was nineteen, or of a corrupted demon in pain.]
[he brings his glass up.]
A toast, to your brother. [if she raises her cider to clink with his glass, he adds.] May he find peace.
[ Of course she'll clink glasses with him, though sadly, she lacks more than the dregs of her drink so there will be no chugging in honor of his toast. ]
Thank you, Dante. I'm certain he would have liked you, if he had been able to meet you.
[ Well. According to her memory of what he had been like as an enemy, he had also sought strong opponents to face in battle, so. Either way, Dante likely would have earned her little brother's approval. ]
[some people have told him such things in the past, and while he isn't too sure on how true that claim could be, it's easy enough to give it some consideration to allow for the idea to cement itself into something that is... more of a reality than not.]
[he nods after he's set his glass down, empty now.]
Don't know about that. I think I'd be biased towards you more. Little brothers get all defensive about their older siblings.
[he's not going to hide the fact that he, as the youngest of the two, can sometimes be too overbearing on vergil. obviously, there are more complicated feelings involved, possessiveness too.]
I know what I'm talkin' about. But it's the older siblings who gotta accept us for how we are. [he should mind his words] If Vergil's ever complained, I don't think I've ever cared to listen.
That guy? Yeah, right. The least he can talk the better for him.
[he stretches, leaning back on the stool. in that same moment, eryn places a plate with potato wedges and sauce beside it. dante stares, skeptical, then squints over at the bartender who just winks over at mercedes like the damn charmer he is. dante's still suspicious even as eryn walks off to tend to another task, grabbing at one of the wedges and slathering it with sauce before popping it in his mouth. it's crunchy and salty and delicious—he's so bummed out by the fact that he'll probably end up paying for it, too.]
It's probably on my tab already, so you might as well eat some, too. [grumble]
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[ Wait, can trees even do that. ]
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[ok, fuck it, the whole drink goes down the hatch before he forces the glass down onto the table. eryn is already there with a light shake of his head, refilling the glass.]
Probably for the best that they aren't common.
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[ It sounds kind of awful. ]
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You familiar with 'curiosity killed the cat'? [he snorts] If you really want to know, I'll tell you. It's not a pretty story though.
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[ Her own, while not as dramatic, wasn't pretty either. ]
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I'm not too familiar with how a tree like that even gets cultivated. [he starts, as if he had not paused to warn her about it.] But the more blood it gets, the more it grows, with the sole purpose of producing one single fruit.
[the small amount of liquid left over in his glass swirls as he does circular motions with his hand, blue eyes caught in it.]
A fruit for power, for the next king of the demon world. Countless of lives sacrificed for that very selfish purpose.
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It... feeds on human blood in order to produce a single fruit that will grant power to the one who eats it?
… That's despicable. So many lives unwillingly sacrificed, for such a thing... like you said, that's very selfish.
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It's not really the happiest thing to retell.
[he eyes her a moment.] But there's nothing that can be done about it other than sealing the gate and keeping the demons at bay.
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[ Well, she tells herself, surely not. He would have said so otherwise. ]
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[he points at her forgotten glass of apple cider.] Don't worry. Like I said, my brother and I got it all sorted out.
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I can't imagine that's what you had in mind for family bonding... but then again, I can't help but think that suits you.
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No better way for my brother and I, truth be told. [always fighting, their blades always clashing with the other; this intrinsic need of competition and to best the other.] But we've done better since coming here.
[their fights have been les, their talks more. like relearning how to be brothers all over again.]
—and how are things on your end? [he motions at the ribbon on her hand with a nod of his head. so maybe he's doing a follow-up on how she's handling the news about her brother.]
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Ah... [ With a bittersweet smile, she reaches up to tap the ribbon. ] If I stay busy... it's easier. It still feels like a very raw, painful sore when I think about him, but I include him in my prayers. If nothing else, I hope he can find peace.
If that's the only thing I can do for him as his sister, I would do anything to assure that.
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[he brings his glass up.]
A toast, to your brother. [if she raises her cider to clink with his glass, he adds.] May he find peace.
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Thank you, Dante. I'm certain he would have liked you, if he had been able to meet you.
[ Well. According to her memory of what he had been like as an enemy, he had also sought strong opponents to face in battle, so. Either way, Dante likely would have earned her little brother's approval. ]
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[he nods after he's set his glass down, empty now.]
Don't know about that. I think I'd be biased towards you more. Little brothers get all defensive about their older siblings.
[look, it's not—friendship, okay.]
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And of you and your brother, which is the younger one?
[ Look, she has to ask. ]
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[he's not going to hide the fact that he, as the youngest of the two, can sometimes be too overbearing on vergil. obviously, there are more complicated feelings involved, possessiveness too.]
I know what I'm talkin' about. But it's the older siblings who gotta accept us for how we are. [he should mind his words] If Vergil's ever complained, I don't think I've ever cared to listen.
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But I'm sure your brother would probably have a lot to say to you.
[ Even if Dante wouldn't listen... ]
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[he stretches, leaning back on the stool. in that same moment, eryn places a plate with potato wedges and sauce beside it. dante stares, skeptical, then squints over at the bartender who just winks over at mercedes like the damn charmer he is. dante's still suspicious even as eryn walks off to tend to another task, grabbing at one of the wedges and slathering it with sauce before popping it in his mouth. it's crunchy and salty and delicious—he's so bummed out by the fact that he'll probably end up paying for it, too.]
It's probably on my tab already, so you might as well eat some, too. [grumble]
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[ And Dante looks so pained, how could she let him handle paying for potato wedges? ]