DEVILSPLIT.

It’s him, beyond any doubt. She’d recognize that corset-sandal-cane combo anywhere, and his poetic manner of speech only seals the deal. She struggled to believe it at first, that a devil could split into two halves, but Lady figured even Vergil had to have some shred of humanity left in him. Whatever his reasons, he had helped even back when Temen-ni-gru was a problem, and she hadn’t known him to go out of his way to hunt humans like most other demons. All in all, he could have been worse, and V being his humanity just made him better in Lady’s eyes. 

  “Oh, I’ll prepare, don’t you worry about that. He cost me my Kalina Ann, and he owes  me for her. Besides, I doubt he’d be lurking around anywhere… if he was here, you would’ve seen or heard something. A giant throne or villain cackling somewhere, probably.” Hopefully not another tree. That place was disgusting, way worse than most other dens and dungeons she’d cleared.

  “Confined, huh?” She sighs softly, shoulders drooping with a slight shake of her head in disappointment. “I was hoping this would just be a blip on the map, but there’s no way to leave after all, huh? Well, I’m sure we’ll find one eventually. Everything has a weak spot, you know. Besides, maybe it’ll be nice… I’ll call it a vacation for now. I haven’t seen a single demon yet, so this might even be better than the beach.” A smile replaces her brief pout, and her hands find her hips in defiance of the situation. No reason to go getting more bummed than needed, not yet. “I’ve only been here for… maybe a couple hours? Got to my new home, got bored, and set out to explore. Figured I’d stop for pizza on the way, see if Dante is set up anywhere to finally  collect on some of that debt he owes me, and that’s when I ran into you.” 

  Her head cocks slightly to the side, an index finger tapping gently on her lower lip in thought. “But you’re really doing better? No risk of crumbling or anything?” There’s a brief pause as she wonders just how familiar it’s alright to be with him, especially since they barely had the chance to speak, let alone meet  before. “It’s… kinda strange to be talking to you when I’m not feeling totally worthless or minutes away from getting my ass kicked.”

The casualness in which she speaks, the fact that she’s still speaking at all─ V isn’t quite sure how to interpret it. Whether she knows the entire story or not shall remain a mystery, and V decides he doesn’t particularly care to think on it too much. She’s here, she’s talking to him like he’d assume a pair of old friends would talk, and there’s no hostility. 

Perhaps the humanity in him is actually grateful for that, and mildly relieved.

“ Powerful he may be, yet not a creature worthy of a throne. ” V states with narrow eyes. He still vividly recalls watching as Urizen manifested into the world alongside him and the feelings that accompanied. fear. awe. guilt. envy. He wonders: where did that half of him go to? “ Shame about your weapon. ” he interjects as an afterthought. Genuine, but still no change in his tone. Her optimism about the situation doesn’t surprise him. He’s still getting used to familiarity, after all: remembering qualities about others that aren’t just a measurement of power, or good or evil. Strange. 

“ If there was a way to leave willingly, we would have discovered it by now. Unfortunately, I believe your debt collection will have to be postponed. Are you surprised? ” a conclusion she’s likely surmised already, but one he finds almost amusing to point of. 

It isn’t unlike his dear brother to not return what he’s borrowed, after all. He should have hid his own things more thoroughly. Ah─ seems the memories still continue, even here, even so far after he ended things. Not wanting to linger on the thoughts too much, lips part to affirm his recovered state.

But a certain familiar has other plans.

‘ Good as new, good as new! ’ the demon bird chants as he manifests from the ink on V’s body, ‘ Our wittle V here is doing as good as eva’! So, miss Lady, if you’re thinkin’ of messin’ with us, think again! You guys got here, yeah? Heehee! Means you’re weaker than us right now! Well, not like you had much of a chance anyw─ ’ the cawing is cut off by a sharp THWACK !! of V’s cane, causing the avian to squawk defiantly. 

‘ Oh come on !!! I’m just happy to see another familiar face! Imagine being me and being stuck with Mr. Gloomy all the time! You’re happy to see someone we know too, ain’t ya’? ’ the former directed at Lady, while he turns to V for the later question. V just sighs, returning his unwavering gaze to her.

“ It’s good to see you in one piece. And... human. ”

@devilsplit​

Welcome to Vraelgard. Welcome to Terra. Enjoy your stay. Ugh - how was she supposed to enjoy anything without her weapons? No ride, no guns, no nothing. Not even Trish to bug, or a pizza to chow down on. But… wait. Wasn’t that..?

  “V?” An eyebrow quirked at the sight of a familiar black haired cane toting individual, and Lady couldn’t help but jog down the street to get a closer look. “It is  you! You’re here? I mean, not just this Vraelgard place, but… here  here too? Don’t tell me Urizen is back… I’m not up for another round, especially with a cardboard tube for a ‘gun’.” She motioned briefly to the tube strapped to her back with a gloved thumb, but quickly shrugged it off in favor of a gentle smile. “Whatever it means or however it works, I’m glad to see you.” He’d been shady for a while, but V proved himself a trustworthy ally in the end. In a way, he had just as much to do with saving everyone as Dante and Nero.

The sudden beckoning takes him by surprise; the extended passage of time has done little to bring V out of his shell or give him reason to bother making friends. On a GOOD day, he’d deem this place and ( most of, anyway. ) it’s inhabitants a solid ‘ TOLERABLE ’. So, when he hears his name, watches as the person jogs towards him with vigor, V can’t help but feel surprised. His shock grows as he recognizes a familiar face.

Expression remains neutral as he shifts his weight, attempting to sort out his feelings ( all still very new, mind you ). He can’t help but feel the warm, familiar greeting is unwarranted. Perhaps she never learned of his true identity? Of the actions he took that led to Urizen’s revival? Surely, he would be despised if that were the case.

He decides he won’t think on that too much. Instead, he laughs to himself at the mention of Urizen’s revival. Well, for V, it’s more of a grin and a snort. 

“ If Urizen is here as well, he has yet to make an appearance. ” he says plainly, “ If you’re concerned, surely you can prepare. I expect one of Dante’s trusted to be most suitable for the task? Should ‘ another round ‘ occur. ” it’s a bitter memory; watching, sidelined as Dante and his allies faced their strongest opponent yet. Helpless to do anything but watch. How pitiful. 

“ I would return your ... friendly gesture, Lady, ” a very brief pause, as if he’s hesitant to address her by name, “ But it only means that you’ve also been confined here. Whether it is a misfortunate situation or not will have to be up to you. ” he drums his fingers in his cane, waiting a few moments before speaking again.

@devilsplit

“hey! catch!”

there’s a moment of hissing as the calid saint winds up his throw, and–whoosh, there goes a firecracker, sailing right over the stranger’s head. like, way over. like, ‘guess who forgot he has divine-level strength’ over. from the next street there comes a muffled cry of alarm and a lot of very menacing crackling as the firecracker goes off.

“okay, do-over. stay right there.” cal fumbles with a lighter, ignites the fuse on another little firework. “that was just a test–this one’s for all the glory. ready? hands up, friend!”

yeet.

He stops as soon as the voice reaches his ears, only his head turning to the source. A bored gaze follows as the firecracker soars through the air, clearing him as if it was shot from a gun. No ordinary strength, then, is his observation. Because, hey!─ he wouldn’t be V if he wasn’t constantly analyzing people around him. His brother would call him boring; he finds it practical.

Lips part to inject a comment but he’s hardly got the time before another firecracker is lit. This time, the aim is better. Rather, the stranger’s strength is more controlled. A clean shot, but V doesn’t move or make any attempt to catch. He’s still as the object soars through the air and watches calmly.

The figure that ends up catching it manifests from the tattoos on V’s body, a mixture of shadows, feathers, and ink. The avian demon catches the firecracker in his talons, ready to brag that he managed to get it when V couldn’t. That’s when V steps back, watching as his familiar squawks curses and flails about, feathers coming off in a cloud.

V actually smirks, looking towards the stranger once more.

“ Nice shot. A fair amount more controlled than your first one─ even if I had the intention of attempting to catch it, I would have hardly had the chance. ” he muses. And that’s when Griffon recovers, flying circles above the other.

@devilsplit​

“Ah-hey! You’ve got a book! That means you’ve gotta be one’a those smart fellas, right?! Y’know what that means…you’ve gotta know a thing or two about this place! Sooo, why don’t you just go ahead and direct me to the nearest teleportation relay or giant floating globe in the sky?”

He felt like he was repeating himself. But in the world of trying to get back to a place you really wanna get back to…one had to butter up potential informants. 

Attention drawn away up from the book the library had so generously provided, V huffs slightly, eyes narrowing ─ not so much a glare, but definitely not very pleased with the interruption either. He scoffs a bit at the notion that he’s intelligent ( he is, but that’s besides the point ) simply because he’s reading, but casts away that small detail for now. Instead, V pointedly closes his book. 

“Damn shame. Almost as shameful as the glowsticks coming outta the chicken’s mouth!” Dante smirks, deliberately delivering the last half of the sentence to the flying avian above.

“But, I’m sure the nobles think so too, y’know? And hey, it’s not like we’re strangers to this kinda work either. Maybe they even recognised my devilish good looks and thought; ‘hey, this guy’s got it!’ Of course, if we pose that question back at them when comes time to report, we might get a gratitude we can count!”

Talk of his appearance reminded him as he gazed at V in the corner of his eye. The man was well, half a man. His brother, but not *all* of him. He felt a small hesitation in interacting. If it were Vergil next to him right now, would he feel a little safer? It might have been that truth, that it wasn’t all of Vergil standing there that might’ve been a source of his discomfort. 

“I guess you are my brother if you have that much confidence with that cane there. With that you’ve just given me free leave to focus all the Dante on the enemy! Hope you don’t regret it.”

As his footsteps echo boldly into the tunnel ahead, Dante once again feels the freedom of his back. The sword Rebellion usually hung there, and without it Dante might’ve been a little too eager to talk over his unease. If played it any thicker, he might’ve missed the low shifting sound that echoed in front of them.

“Well, uh… that sure wasn’t the beans I ate this morning…” He grips his two nerf guns and points them deep, holding steady. “Wanna give us a light, Griff? I think we might finally have some company…”

“And don’t worry about ammunition. I have a pouch fulla garden stones on my belt. Even had to fight a few worms to get ‘em…”

V has to force back another deep sigh, his shoulders and jaw tense as he listens to the banter between his familiar and Dante. It’s nothing unexpected, or anything; actually, V would honestly be a bit more surprised if they weren’t constantly at each other’s throats. Perhaps once could imply he’d be ever so slightly worried if that were the case. He, surprising everyone, does feel in tune with his human emotions now. How annoying.

And he can’t help the small eye roll following Dante’s statement. His line of thinking hasn’t seemed to change at all since they were children. Except, well, the afterthought of a reward. V scoffs. 

“ I see. You’re hoping for a large reward, then? I can’t say I disagree, though my reasons probably differ from yours. ” he surmises, letting his voice trail out as he says the latter part. It’s not like he expects compensation, rather, he would hope the royal family can justify working it’s civilians for free, without as in depth of an explanation as one would hope.

Shoulders stiffen a bit more at the dreaded ‘ brother ’ topic. Of course, it must be stranger to Dante than it is to him. That would only make sense, given the circumstance. V feels strangely about to too but, once again, for much different reasons primarily dealing with emotions he hasn’t felt since long before he was split in two. Not that he’d ever voice that, though. 

“ Confidence is a must, though one should not ... ” he pauses, pointedly looking at Dante and his.... nerf guns, “ Rely on it so heavily. ” Ah─ there’s some banter, if indirect! 

His attention, though, redirects to the noise before Dante even points it out. V smirks a bit, nodding towards Griffon as Dante barks out his command. Griffon doesn’t seem pleased.

❛ Oh, great! Fantastic! Not just one, but two Sparda’s ordering me around. You guys think you’re so special, huh? I miss it when you hated each other, and now look at ya’! Yeah, let’s boss the demon around because why not, right? ❜ he huffs as he flaps to the head of the group. Despite his excessive complaining, he does as commanded, sending a bolt of electricity that illuminates the area around it. As it reaches the end of the corridor, a distinctive shape can be made out: that of one of the beasts they had been warned about.

“ My, my, someone looks aggravated. ” V’s voice is smooth and calm as he twirls his cane through the air, stepping in line with Dante. “ I hope you two are good at aiming in the dark? Our foe is approaching. ” collected as he stands still despite the incoming footsteps. Griffon bristles in excitement, ready to fight as he unleashes a barrage of lighting bullets─ they don’t appear to do much but slow it while providing a light source that flashes on and off. 

Red eyes swooped between the two, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. Had people so oft confused this creature with what was in the woods was beyond her. Hands smooth out her coat and an absent twitch of her nose at the scent of ozone.

However, one would be foolish turning down a chance to speak with someone who earned the loyalty of such a being. thus, her lips quirk in a smile.

“I must say, he is larger than the birds I’ve seen in those woods. And the scent of Ozone would be another dead give away. He’s a very strong and talented familiar with that level of speech. Most from mine own world are denser than rocks unless one focuses on pooling their focus into giving them a brain.”

A cock of her head and only a small amount of amusement in her eyes as she regarded the foul beak on the creature hovering behind the handsome man. In a smooth motion she dipped into a curtsy before the other.

“Do pardon me, but i should not have reached for him. It is quite a crime to touch the familiar of another. Had i any knowledge of the bond between the two of you, i would not have commuted such a sin.”

Oh, how wonderful. She’s stroking his ego. V sighs, his shoulders slumping while Griffon perks up, raising his head a little higher and almost appearing smug. While he won’t deny his piqued curiosity, if only by a slight amount, at the girl being knowledgeable with familiars, being as they come from different worlds entirely. Before he can speak and dismiss her concerns, Griffon speaks up.

❛ Well, well, looks like we actually got a missy who knows her shit! ❜ he seems to boast, much to V’s dismay, ❛ You know, you might be the smartest person we’ve met here so far! Gotta appreciate when someone’s got an eye for familiars! ❜ he continues and, not for the first time, V wishes he had more control over the bird’s time in the physical world. He shakes his head a bit, clicking his tongue and casting a small glare towards his familiar. 

“ If you’re finished, ” he directs to the avian before turning his attention back to the girl before him, expression no longer a glare but rather a look of acknowledgement, “ Don’t concern yourself too much. Hardly a formality exists in our world, though I can’t assure you that you would come out of an attempt injury free. ” V assures, actually quite certain that Griffon would have fought back with electricity should the situation escalate.  

GRIFFON.

⌁ a literal, giant demon bird. Not big enough to ride on, but big and strong enough to carry V around!   

⌁ unfortunately, the only one of V’s familiars that can speak. he’s pretty vulgar and talks too much for his own good, but don’t take what he says to heart. very sassy but kind of dumb too. has canonically said “pwease” and i just think that’s neat

⌁ uses electrical powers.right now, he can only use bullets though

⌁ almost always hovering somewhere around V. if not, he’s able to manifest at a moment’s notice! 

SHADOW.

◆ who doesn’t want a giant demon panther? because that’s what Shadow is!

◆ part over-sized kitty, part over-protective guard dog. it’s tempting but don’t try to pet her!

◆ can manipulate her own body for attacks because she’s literally a ... shadow demon thing.

◆ not ‘ out ’ nearly as often as Griffon is, but if she is, she’s probably lounging around V or attacking something.

Is she tired? Oh yes, she sure is. Kanon has only been here for… what? An hour? And she’s already gotten whiplash on top of whiplash. It’s to be expected, really, in a city as ‘magical’ as this, but… will she get a break? Maybe she should just go to her apartment, even if she was stalling due to having to meet another stranger…

…Is that a talking bird?

Well… might as well let this happen. She couldn’t help but stare, but lets out a gasp of surprise once he gets close to her. He’s mad… he’s mad! Oh, she’s terrified. Ah? Ahhh?? Oh god, okay! He noticed her, she’s getting scolded by a bird, this is fine–

❝ I-I’m sorry! That wasn’t my intention, I– ❞

And then he’s gone, causing her to look up to see what happened. Oh! Oh, there’s someone else. She fidgets with her skirt for a moment while she lets out a sigh of relief. So much just happened in a few seconds…

❝ It’s—It’s alright! I just got here, as well, so I can understand if things are… unnerving. ❞

Eyes narrow as he casts his gaze downwards towards the girl. He purses his lips, noting her fearful, nervous fidgeting provoked by his familiar. He feels something akin to... sympathy? Maybe a bit of guilt? It was his familiar that added to the girl’s distress ─ the young girl, he assumes ─ who is most plausibly in a situation similar to his own regarding their arrivals to the city. griffon, thankfully, takes the hint. He lands on the ground beside V, tucking his wings to his side and tilting his head a bit, looking up at the girl.

“ Unnerving? Perhaps. ” V echoes her choice of word. For a nervous girl her age, yes, this would be unsettling. V would be lying if he said this whole thing didn’t bother him on some level, too. “ Best to remain calm and adapt to the new setting at hand, lest your nerves consume you. ” he muses gently, relaxing a bit. And at that, V glances down at his familiar, “ nerves leading to stress and unnecessary outburst. ” the implication is heavy, Griffon quickly catching on.