for future happiness; in a blue field violence [closed]

[sassery]

WHO: Nero, Dante, and maybe an NPC ;)
WHAT: After the Moon Temple audience, Nero is concerned about the Priestess' desire for Vergil to take the Temperance cards given to Otherworlders, by word or by force. Naturally, he and Dante have gone seeking answers, looking for a certain Attendant to give him anything that may help.
WHERE: God's Wood
WHEN: Sometime after the audience, maybe a day or two for him and Dante to talk and get their shit together.
WARNINGS: Other than potential memes or swearing, none!

Azrail!

[The trees to the entrance of the wood seem like the the worst kind of decorations, completely twisted on themselves to prevent anyone from coming in. In a small way, he's reminded of Mitis Forest, how the shadows of the trees would change depending where you went, how the riddles of monuments would get you lost or help you find your way out, how the ground itself would rise to swallow you whole into an area full of demons waiting to kill you.

...he misses Fortuna.

Reminiscing does him no good, however, only wanting someone to respond and finding only silence as a reply.]

Anyone home? Azrail! [A pause, and the Devil Breaker punches against a tree trunk, Nero clearly irritated.] C'mon. Answer, asshole- it's important! [The distress in his voice is apparent, it's nothing like when Nelo Angelo was around, but then again, this is a completely different thing. He and his friends may be in trouble; he really isn't worried about himself, he's more concerned about the safety of those he cares for. Not only those with the tarot cards, but also Vergil as well.

He doesn't trust the Priestess, and trusted her even less when she offered the powers of Nelo Angelo to the other devil- acting as if it was simply a token of gratitude, disregarding the pain it put his father in. Had Dante not been there to put a hand on him, Nero would have more than likely busted into that conversation and outright told the woman to fuck off (and probably also flipped her off while doing so). As it stands now, he's told Dante he wants to go here, and it's their best start at gathering more of the truth.

Or, at least, some inkling of it. Hard to trust any gods when stuff keeps turning on its head so quickly. Nero turns to Dante, exhaling, fingers itching to call out Red Queen or Blue Rose, but he restrains himself for now.]

They've gotta be home, I know they are. Death wouldn't send them and then fuck off.

[At least, he hopes it wouldn't.]

Comments

[redload]

[dante has been here before when the woods decided to close itself from anyone pushing any further inside, so this feels all too familiar at this point. he glances around as nero loudly announces their presence - noting dismissively that his nephew hasn't yet mastered the art of keeping cool. it's been an angry show of emotion for the past few days now, but dante cannot blame him; it's that itch for wanting to do something rather than wait with his arms crossed.]

[all he offers nero is a nonchalant shrug of his arms, although deep inside he, too, feels impatience prickling at him to move onward.]

Looks to me like this is more to keep people out. [obviously, there must be people inside. a push from the woods' floor and dante's balancing over a large root that twists and turns upwards. a hand over his eyes, and he casts a glance further up-] Or they're having a nap.

[he turns back to look at nero, pulling nevan from around himself and to his front, casually strumming at the strings as he walks down the root.]

As far as I know, they're fans of music. [and a hop back down onto the ground, steadily playing at the strings, moving closer to his nephew.] Temper yourself, Nero. It would blow to go back empty-handed.

[for once...the voice of reason]

[felldennpc]

Damaging property, insults, and the audacity to request help?

[ Azrail appears on a branch high above them, arms folded across his chest as he stares to the Otherworlders below him. For one that is so often even-tempered and unaffected, he now seems to be the complete opposite. ]

Leave.

[sassery]

[Oh fuck.

Oh fuck.

Great. Nero stares up at Azrail with a look of surprise, clearly not expecting him there. And by the tone from Azrail? He's fucked up. He's fucked up good. Shit. Shit shit shit. Vergil would be intervening at this point to try and soothe things over, but he's not here, and his son may have just pissed off Death. Nero opens his mouth and immediately closes it again, blowing out air through his nose. Of course he'd fuck this up, because he wasn't even thinking- he swallows down both his fear and his anger at this sudden discovery of the Attendant, but his stubbornness refuses to let him simply give up.

So he hangs his head, cursing at himself inwardly but also realizing he has to apologize, first and foremost, if anything else is to come of this. ]

Sorry. [He means it, not that he knows if Azrail can tell or not.] Look, I have a question about something the Priestess said. Something about the tarot cards and Temperance, something she didn't seem interested in when you first showed her. [A beat, and he looks back to Azrail and squares his jaw a little, struggling to make amends and not piss off the other further.] If you're willing.

[Another swallow, and Dante will probably not be happy to hear this, but-] And if you want me to fix the stuff I damaged, I'll do that too. We nee- [He stops himself, because that's also a demand and he's not wanting to make this worse.] We're looking for information, and this is about the only place we know where to at least start.

[It's not groveling, but it's damn near close. All these words feel so foreign in his mouth, and were it not a god and Death's Attendant, he wouldn't have even given a shit. But he does, because this information is important. He's just hoping Azrail won't drag him across the coals for his outburst.]

[redload]

[ah, they showed up. dante immediately pushes nevan to his back, where it hangs, and moves close enough to nero that he gets to put an arm over his shoulders, leaning in heavy. if this is the azrail nero spoke of, the man sure does seem angered.]

[with good reason!]

[it doesn't steal the smile from dante's face, though.]

You'll have to forgive my nephew. His father never really showed him manners.

[there's a rough scrub of the boy's hair before dante pulls back, and allows for nero to keep his near-groveling attempts.]

You see, [arms outstretched] my brother's been set on a task by the Priestess. Retrieve the cards and return them to her. She said those who held them could be, what's the word [turns to nero for a second, waving his hand about like the younger man's going to know what word he means; wait, he's got it.] — influenced upon and have their minds manipulated by Temperance.

I, for one, don't trust her one bit. And so we find ourselves seeking guidance from the only god we've ever really met in our world before.

[death.]

[felldennpc]

[ Azrail steps off the branch, his fall graceful as he lands on his feet as though he hadn't just stepped from an incredibly high limb.

His hand lifts, outstretched to Nero. ]

Give me the card. [ He offers no manners. Nero does not currently deserve them. ]

[sassery]

[Nero ignores Dante's words, and the scrubbing of his hair, instead choosing to remain silent and holding his breath in the hopes that Azrail simply doesn't walk out on them. It's only as the Attendant drops from the tree and requests the card does he finally exhale, thankful but not saying a word for fear of jeopardizing his chances.

Thank god.

He doesn't demand answers, simply obliging when Azrail asks. Out comes the card from his pocket, Temperance still on the front with "TEMPERANCE RETURNS" shining still in gold letters. The countdown still continues, and Nero hands the card over without so much as a question uttered.

Please, please have something they can work with. He doesn't want to be unable to do anything in the end.]

[redload]

[that's a good sign as any, and dante watches the exchange with distanced professionalism, happy to play the outlier and spectator.]

Well, what's the verdict?

[but things of this world work very differently to how demons build their towers and enchant their castles. there's only so much that he, himself, can tell despite thinking that he's seen it all.]

Apologies! Replied to the wrong comment.

[felldennpc]

[ Azrail stands in silence as his eyes glaze over the card, turning it, holding it between both hands, gaining a sense for every inch of it and the capabilities it holds. The silence stretches until he finally seems settled upon an answer. ]

It is a conduit. [ The card is held back out to Nero for him to take. ] That is how the passing of time is able to be shown on the reverse of the card.

[ Before Nero or Dante can request clarification, Azrail continues. ] There is nothing dangerous about it in this very moment but it doesn't mean it is incapable of more. A conduit means that magic of many forms may pass through it. Suggestion, manipulation, distortion, even affecting ones health or magical abilities. Conduits are powerful indeed.

[ Which might be why what follows is surprising. ] I care not what you decide do with it.

With my sister in the throes of punishment for assisting your kind and for the continued lack of courtesy toward the Wood and Lord Death, hear this: No further aid will be given to Otherworlders by Death's Attendants until each of you learns how one shows respect to those that have lived in this world far longer than any of you have drawn breath.

NO WORRIES also holy shit time to die HE'S SORRY DEATH

[sassery]

[Nero takes the card, staring back at the letters as he listens, quiet and doesn't interrupt. A conduit. So... the Priestess could have been telling the truth? He doesn't want to believe it.

And then he hears how there's no care in what's done with it, and he blinks.]

You-

[Nero shuts himself up immediately as Azrail continues, eyes going wide. He's fucked up. He's fucked up royally. Without Death to help or even give anything, they're on their own with faction leaders they can't trust. And while the blame may not land on his shoulders alone, he knows he didn't help.

He has no right to object, nor does he really want to, feeling the guilt seep into his bones just as it did with Credo, all that time ago. They have to fix this. They have to. His jaw tightens, and he bows his head, inwardly cursing himself for making all this worse. He does not rise his eyes.]

We'll learn it, then. [The respect and honor that should be given- even if it's hard for him. Nero's world has no gods, and even considering Death as one is a new thing for him. But he'll try. And try. And try, until he finally earns Death's approval. Nero breathes in and out, closes his eyes, and finally opens them, looking to Azrail.]

We'll learn to respect you and Lord Death, so when you think we've grown enough, you'll want to help again.

[Azrail, Lorelai, Death- all of them are more than welcome to not believe him, but Nero will do everything he can to prove that what he says is what he's going to go by. Even if not everyone else follows through with it, he'll do what he can to fix this.]

wheeze

[redload]

[dante thinks that the punishment does not fit the crime, although there is no denying that nero's more brusque way of seeking aid was not necessarily the smoothest. azrail speaks, says something that sounds more like a general scolding to people that goes beyond who nero represents in his young rage, and dante can see how the guilt immediately spills all over his nephew's being.]

[but if there's one thing, is the quick way in which nero knows how to bow his head and offer an apology and a chance to make amends.]

[he does well, even if he's hardly polished in his ways.]

We'll do what we can. We appreciate the insight. [taking the card - never actually seeing it up close but for now - from nero's hand and flipping it over. he offers azrail a salute with his free hand.] Say hey to the big boss.

[felldennpc]

[ Azrail deliberates on saying more. Truly, he should return to the Wood and leave it at that, however something within Nero's immediate agreement to be better strikes him as surprising. Too many times have Otherworlders been allowed to throw their weight around, to run through the Gods Wood and demand answers unchecked.

Neria, Bigby, Dimitri, the only ones who had shown true respect to both himself and Lorelai. Dante and Sal to the Wood. Others had not been so considerate.

Nero's reaction is the most pleasant surprise he's had in recent weeks. It's why he doesn't disappear without a word. Instead, he offers his hand to Nero to shake, final gesture of good will. ]

[sassery]

[They say that promises here are far more permanent, and Nero has been no stranger to seeing how true this is. Little feathers extending on someone's hand as he promises to bring the delivery back right away with no distractions, a branch of leaves building itself as a guard vows that he'll avenge a wife's husband who was murdered by bandits, a vine that withers when a boyfriend lies to being true to a girl he loves. These and many more are just a part of the every day life of Fellden, a world Nero has come to enjoy and truly care for in his short time here. A world he wants to help, wants to see the citizens of Basir thrive, wants to see laughter and a balance restored that doesn't mean worlds will have to be sacrificed in order to do so.

And so, when Azrail extends his hand, Nero takes it without hesitation. A promise to be better, a commitment he intends to follow through. A Sparda promise is one that isn't to be broken, and he's going to do his utmost to keep his end of the deal.

Quietly, almost as if he's hesitant to speak, he addresses Azrail as best he can.]

Thanks. For everything.

[felldennpc]

[ Azrail's hand grips to Nero's forearm instead: allies. ]

I believe in your desire to make amends. [ Where Azrail's hand rests against Nero's forearm grows warmer. ] When we feel you've sufficiently learned, this mark will fade. [ The tattoo of Death, not often given. As is customary, Azrail offers something in exchange for the promise. ]

When the Wood opens once again, no Otherworlder should enter alone.

[sassery]

[The grip catches him by surprise, but he makes no effort to move, instead simply listening to what he's being told. He had expected a simple exchange of hands; instead he is given far more, and his eyes widen slightly as he understands what this means. Still, he exhales, only nodding as Azrail explains the purpose of the mark, and he can feel the warmth underneath his sleeve like a heated towel to skin.

He pauses, searching for something, anything to say. Finally, Nero settles on something simple, easy enough for him let the attendant know he'll take the words to heart.]

Right. I'll pass it along.

[Nero looks back to Dante, head jerking away from the God's Wood to elsewhere. They've overstayed their welcome, if there ever was any in the first place.

(There wasn't, but Azrail is at least willing to give him a chance. He'll take it.)]

[felldennpc]

[ With the agreement to share the information, Azrail offers an incline of his head before stepping back and disappearing. There one moment and gone the next. ]