IC Contact (Folkmore)

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[pullit]

Because he's smart, and handsome, and charming, and gives all the best advice.

[Yeah he's doubt.jpg it was really that random a question, but he won't pry... just gives Dante a smirk.]

[devilblooded]

Who said I needed advice?

( He lazy shrugs. )

My hand got stuck in a jar and we made some conversation. Bada bing, bada boom.

[pullit]

Right. Really weirdly specific conversation.

[This does not mean Nero is guessing that Dante is projecting some issue of his own here, much less that there's someone to be concerned about. Just that he thinks there's more to this than old easy breezy Dante is trying to pretend.]

Whatever you say, Dante.

[devilblooded]

Have you ever talked to me before? I talk about a lot of things.

( Again, he shrugs, lazy little grin there on his lips. )

[pullit]

Yeah, like hypotheticals about your brother. Totally, we have that conversation all the time.

[Look, he's not bringing up the "you didn't tell me about my father or that we were related" thing again, he's just gently teasing about it this time.]

Is this all you're eating? Pickles? I could make something for lunch if you're hungry.

[devilblooded]

( He gives a wave of his hand. )

I'm good. Might go out and find something to eat somewhere. But I appreciate the pickles being brought back.

[pullit]

You want me to stick these ones from the sink back in the new jar?

[No judgment... just wondering...]

[devilblooded]

( Hmmmm. )

Probably best to toss 'em out given my hand was all over them.

[pullit]

Well, then you might as well eat 'em.

[Now that the crisis is over, Nero rolls his shoulders and heads over to keep unpacking his grocery bag, settling in the for the afternoon.]

No wonder Dad wants you out of the kitchen. Lack of supervision...

[devilblooded]

( Heh. )

Yeah. Always was a burden.

[pullit]

You're not a burden. You're a menace. Big difference.

[Out of the sacks come some cans of tuna. Looks like those pickles were for his plans, too.]

Hey, are you gonna do anything for New Year's?

[devilblooded]

( He was, but. Not anymore. Poker face it is. )

I dunno. Maybe. Why?

[pullit]

[A shrug.]

Just curious. I was gonna grab a six-pack and take it easy. You're welcome to join me, though if you find something more exciting, don't let me stop you.

[devilblooded]

( You know what... )

I had a date but it fell through.

[pullit]

A date? [Whoooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Dante got a date???????]

Bummer. Gonna reschedule it?

[devilblooded]

And take myself off the market so quick? Can't have that.

( Humor fixes everything. )

[pullit]

It's just a date. Not like you're looking to slap a ring on it. [Maybe. Presumably. He has no idea who it is, what the relationship status is, or if Dante even wants to talk about it. Seems rude to pry. But...]

If you ever want to talk about stuff like that, you can just talk to me, you know. I'm a good listener.

[devilblooded]

Thanks, but I already got someone to talk to. Goes by the name Jack Daniels.

( lol. he's hilarious. )

[pullit]

[That earns Dante another of those withering looks, and a slightly raised eyebrow.]

You know what I mean. And unlike booze, I can talk back.

[devilblooded]

Not if you're doing it right.

( To which he points a finger at the kid and chuckles some, though it's tired. )

[pullit]

[Which gets an even deeper furrow of his brows.

Dante's not as slick as he thinks he is. But he's a feral cat in his own right.]

Right. You can blow it off if you need to. But I'm serious, okay?

[Back to unpacking his bags...]

I'm always here if you need me. I worry about you guys, too.

[devilblooded]

( Another soft chuckle, he gives a shake of his head. )

Shouldn't do that. You're just gonna get wrinkles. Lots of 'em, too.

[pullit]

Well, that's what families do for each other, right? Give wrinkles.

[He glances at Dante with a put-upon, very wrinkled expression of disapproval. Then lets it melt into a smirk as he heads over to the pantry to put things away.]

Anyway. I'll be around tomorrow night if you're looking for company.

[devilblooded]

( If there's one thing he's come to learn about this kid over the past five years, it's that he's incredibly stubborn to the point where he's made him lose his patience with him a couple times. He means well — he knows he does. Maybe it's just that he's not used to it. Doesn't know how to respond to it. Isn't sure how to take it.

Sigh on his lips, he makes his way over to the kid, dropping a hand down on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Voice soft, genuine. )

Hey. It's ok. We can't all be as lucky as you.

( ...catches himself there from almost saying or your old man. Someone really needs to tell the kid here about that and that someone sure as Hell isn't him. )

[pullit]

[He's not surprised he's made Dante uncomfortable. The mere act of perceiving him makes him shrink away sometimes. But that's all the nudging he intends to do, to leave the door open for Dante to step through if he wants to. He's taken him up on it before. And Nero's had practice in uh... let's not call it training Vergil, but at least coaching him that he can expect patience and understanding if he needs it.

So he's going to let it go, but he does look a little puzzled when Dante squeezes his shoulder. That's an odd thing to say.]

Lucky for what?