“Dante”: 

“This yer Halloween ‘fit or do ya always rock the ‘metal band lead vocalist’ look? Because I swear I’ve seen you on an album.” 

“I’ve totally gotta rock your style sometime. I think I could make it work. The shades, especially. Always wanted some but damn do the demons not like it when you won’t look ‘em in the eyes.”

“Hey, haven’t I seen yer ugly mug ‘round before?”

Gods, was this not what he expected when he first envisioned this little gag. Still, it was amusing. He hadn’t seen this man for quite some time and now he was too far into the role to let himself be caught off guard. It’s for the best that he just keeps rolling with it until he physically can’t do it anymore. Good thing they were brothers or else Vergil might not be able to fake it.

Here he is: Wacky yahoo pizza guy! Totally nobody else this could be! Give this a like and you’ll get a starter from the son of Sparda! Wowsers, ain’t that neato?

He could only grin at his brother’s response — glad to irritate the other a little.

“I don’t like wasting too much time, y’ know! Besides, it’s not like I was doing anything. A guy’s gotta’ rest from savin’ the world every now and then.” He sits down in one of the tables, picking up a nearby book. “Hey, we could work together here! You do all the readin’, and I’ll… do other stuff, yeah.”

He never did any contracts back home — he just trusted the people he worked with, his primary goal just to erase demons from threatening the earth. However, that is a mystery for another day. Instead of pondering further, he just stands up, leaving the book right where he left it, thinking of how to reply.

“Mhm. I’m known for givin’ out good stuff in Halloween back home.” He did live on the more somber pats in town, so it was no wonder many came to his place for candy. “But yeah, they pull pranks all the time. You had somethin’ in mind?” He is very curious, but doesn’t want to show it too much.

“Remind me to teach you how to read when I have the patience to avoid a migraine.” A jab at the other’s expense, though certainly not something out of the ordinary. “However, I suppose you don’t need to read for what I have planned so it hardly matters.” 

Vergil leaned back in the seat behind the desk, resting boots on the counter. The owner disliked the gesture, yet it was more out of habit that he did so. If they didn’t like it, they’d have to purchase a foot rest for him. Otherwise, that’s what he’ll continue to do. He watches his brother approach, slipping the bookmark into his own book and tossing it onto the desk. 

The words that came next were said in perhaps the most dry, flat tones they had ever been uttered in.

When Vergil had texted his brother, he had perhaps expected the other to show up within the hour. Not, however, within the next ten minutes. So when his gaze flicks to welcome the person that entered, he could only groan and shake his head when he saw who it was.

“I said I’d get off my shift shortly, Dante. Not immediately. Nevertheless, I suppose so long as you actually pretend like you can read, I can’t stop you from loitering.”

In truth, Vergil wasn’t entirely sure if his brother could. He had ran a ‘demon hunting’ business, but that didn’t really bode well. He probably just took whatever job was said to be around without any contracts. 

The belt of laughter you answer him with is broken only with a grin and the sound of your fist meeting the opposite palm, like a thunderclap.

“Haha, ohhh, please try.”

vergil is just an old-fashioned and grumpy dad.