Nico Goldstein

As for your bet Nero, I'm extremely disappointed. Mario kart? Against Dante of all people?

We can’t officially end this party without dessert!  

With the courtesy of @thereddestofqueens in helping us preparing and making this cake for us. 

But of course, before we begin slicing I have a few words to say.

@nerosdailydiary, thank you. Thank you for bringing joy into my world, for going through everything to save me, back during the Fortuna incident… I was scared, I was scared that nobody was going to come back and save me, I thought it was going to be the end of me but. You came. You came back for me and at that moment I knew. I knew I loved you. And I still do, so let me say it again. I love you Nero.

@thereddestofqueens and @journalofvergilsparda, I understand when you two created Nero, you were both still young and experienced, but, I want to thank you both for bringing him into this world cause if none of this has happened, I don’t know what would have happened to us.

@thenicogoldstein, I still remember the day you came in just like as if it was yesterday. You really were like a big sister figure for him and how you worked tirelessly, pulling multiple all nighters in a row to help build Nero’s arms? My respect for you is astronomical.  

@diaryofcredo, my dear brother, you have always been taking care of me ever since our parent’s…left and even during your time at the order, you have always found time away from your duties to spend time with me and Nero and with your death, I was devastated. It then made me commit to some ‘foolish’ choices but being able to see you come back brings utter most happiness to me.

@diaryoflucia, although I didn’t know you too well, I know that you and my brother are very close and that you have spend countless times with him. I’m sure you have made him quite happy and I hope for the best of you two.

@the-diary-of-v, @diaryofshadow, @the-diary-of-nightmare, @griffons-diary, even though now days you have retreated yourself into the library, you were there with Nero back during the Qliphoth and I would like to thank you for that.

@rebootdantesdirtydiary and @rebootkatsdiary, despite the fact that the both of you came from another dimension it never changed the fact that we have all become close knitted friends despite the few bumps in the road. But we are all glad to have you back as well as your companion!

@diary-of-nevan, you once was a devil arm and that’s all I knew about you. But now you have proven you are more than that, you have style, and you have quite a sense of fashion. You also truly know how to catch cute dates!

@diary-of-lady, you convinced Nero to not kill his own father and I am quite proud of you for that. With Nero, it’s a nightmare to convince him to do anything especially when he’s angry. 

@diary-of-trish, I wish to say, congratulations on your little children and for giving the final push to convince Dante to go to Fortuna island!

@mundusjournal and @pattydiary, I can not thank you enough for the wonderful pugs you have let us adopt into our growing family! The pugs are still doing wonderfully and have even turned themselves into therapy dogs for the orphans! Thank you Mundus and I hope that good fortune will fall onto you and the dog shelter. Patty, thank you for being by Mundus’s side and making him feel less lonely and to teach him how to bond with humans and rebuilt bridges again, you have taught him well.

@diary-of-eva, @journalofsparda, The Adam and Eve of this whole story. If neither of you two fell in love, a whole sequence of events would have never happened. Dante and Vergil would’ve never existed, without Vergil, Nero would have never existed, and without Nero this party would have never existed. Your bond is the strongest I have ever seen in my life and I hope me and Nero would fall under the same strength. I can never thank you both enough.

and now. A TOAST!

/right before she raises her glass she pauses and rushes out of the shop/

@dantessssdiary, Thank you for traumatizing me by killing Sanctus in front of me in the opera house! 

/she returns back to the front of the crowd and holds Nero’s hand/

It's been the greatest gift, meetin' the both of ya an' becomin' like a family...I'd gladly do it a hundred times over if it meant seein' you an' Nero always this happy.

So I really should be thankin' both of you, for givin' me a real purpose with my work, an' my life.

It said to Check Engine!

It said to Check Engine!

Subject of Study: Dante (Young/Alternate Timeline)

To add to my notes on the DMC Crew, I’ve decided to take my Dante (wow that still takes some gettin’ used to) outta town an’ have him do some tests for me.

I already got notes on his basic abilities and all that somewhere in the van, but I haven’t had a chance to study him in DT, so that’s what this is all ‘bout.

Alright darlin’ ready to start?

Dante winks at her in DT, his glow softening just a bit as he leans in closer to Nico. It turns more of an orange-yellow than red.

Flapping his wings once, twice, Dante lifts into the air and shoots forward, doing a full loop around DMC before flying back to Nico. He winks at her as he passes, continuing for loop after loop after loop until he finally needs to rest, gliding to the ground in a graceful crash and gasping for breath.

Woah man… I’m a little dizzy from that many turns..

Breathe Dante.. In and out…in and out… Alright. Now get up and show Nico what you can really do!

Well that was fun! So…you want a surprise ey?

Dante rubs his clawed hands together, a michevious smirk forming on his face.

Alright…whaddya think about…THIS!

Darting forward, Dante snaps his wings open and scoops Nico up off the ground, rocketing straight up into the air. He only slows when they’ve reach the clouds, chuckling before tipping backward in a swan dive. Nico is held tight against his chest as they rush toward the ground, only to swoop back up when Dante spreads his wings again at last second. A loud, breathless laugh escapes him, making his chest vibrate against Nico as he flies them up to the roof of DMC, gently landing and helping Nico regain her balance before smirking.

Warnin’ next time please! I think-holy fuck-I think my heart almost burst.

Dante practically folds in half with laughter, arms wrapped around his stomach as he laughs and laughs. Eventually though he straightens up and grins at Nico. 

Hehe… So. What else ya wanna see? I’ll do anything you want babe~

Dante steps forward, leaning down to purr in Nico’s ear.

Hmm…after that little stunt you owe me big time…

Let’s see-

You’re gonna spend the rest of the day fightin’ as many demons as ya can handle so I can finish takin’ notes, an’ ya can’t tease me while ya do!

Taking a small bow, Dante winks at Nico again before launching into the air, searching the area for demons. It takes him a bit but he eventually spots a group of Empursas and pulls his wings in, dropping into a steep dive that ends with Rebellion slicing off the first of the demons’ head as he lands.

Just like OG Dante, in DT D’s capable of flight. An’ with the amount of stamina he has (which seems to be more than the other counterparts) he’s able to stay in flight for a long time. If I had to guess, I’d say he could stay flyin’ for at least upwards of an hour, if he wasn’t pushin’ himself or fightin’.

An’ I’ll bet he’s pushin’ himself too hard right now…always gotta keep the tough guy act up, huh.

When it comes to fightin’, D’s basically the same as OG, just-sloppier?-less refined. Seems like a given, considerin’ OG bein’ a crazy an old man, while D’s still young (and hella reckless, not that I’m one to judge)

Driving Rebellion through the chest of an Empursa, Dante flips backwards to avoid a slice from another. Flicking his wrist, he sends the demon’s body flying off, knocking over another charging Empursa as he lands gracefully on his feet, immediately Trickstering to his right to dodge yet ANOTHER attack. Yet, he keeps his smile on the whole time.

I’m fuckin back baby!! Who’s next?

Turning, Dante smirked when he saw a tiny Empursa rushing at him, easily sidestepping the runt.

Well at least someone here has guts!

Enraged, the demon roars and launches itself at Dante, but he simply grabs it by the throat, chuckling to himself as he crushes the demon’s neck with a simple squeeze, tossing the limp body aside.

Anyone els-

Dante is cut off by a rush of air, and then he’s flying backward, Trickstering back as fast as he can, even using his wings to throw himself back. His eyes are wide and panicked, fixed on the demon crouched where he had just been standing. The red and black form rose, blades and eyes flashing as it stared him down.

Oh no no no no no no no no no no nonononononononononononononononono…..

A fucking Fury. It was a fucking FURY. Despite being in a big parking lot, Dante felt like there were walls pressing down on him, trapping him back in the tiny corridors of the castle.

Nononononononotagainnotagainnotagain….

Backing up, Dante raised Rebellion, holding it tight in shaking hands.

F-fuck-fuckfuckfuck..

Come on Dante..breathe….breathe..

I-I can’t-I…

You can! You’ve got this. Breathe, breathe and fight back. Fight BACK. Figh-MOVE!

Dodging to the side, Dante gasped for breath, adjusting his grip on Rebellion. As the demon rose again, he closed his eyes.

You can do this…you can do it…wait for it to strike…dodge it and then strike back…..NOW

Rolling to the side, Dante slashed upward and cut a deep line in the Fury’s side, sending it staggering back. For a moment they both stayed still, then the Fury’s eyes drifted from it’s side to Dante, growling low and lunging forward in a blur.

Shit

Dante tried to dodge, but the demon was too fast, claws bit into his scaley demonic flesh, tearing three large gashes. A scream tried to escape but Dante grit his teeth and forced it back, using the momentum from being tossed by the slash to spin in the air, bringing Rebellion down on the Fury’s neck with a roar of rage. As the demon faded into nothingness, Dante moved a shaking hand to his side.

Please be healing, please be healing, please be healing….

Carefully inspecting the wound, Dante sighed heavily when he felt the skin beginning to knit together already. Falling to his knees, he let Rebellion clang to the ground beside him as he pressed his shaking hands to the blood-stained concrete. And then he faded out of devil trigger, kneeling on the ground only in torn jeans and the unbuttoned red flannel that was slowly being stained a darker crimson by blood as his wound healed at a sluggish pace. There was a tingle in his neck, the messy remains of the sigil only serving to remind him again of what he barely survived.

SHIT

Dante?!

Forget the notes…god, I looked away for two seconds-

Oh fuck is he hurt-what happened-god dammit why’s our luck so bad?!

Tell me you’re okay-

Tell me you’re not bleedin’-oh god dammit not again-

Dante grits his teeth, reaching out blindily to grab and cling onto Nico’s arm.

I..I’m healing…I’m healing I-I’m okay…fuck I’m okay…

Now what the fuck was that Dante? Why the hell did you lose your shit over a fucking Fury? You could’ve finished it with ease!! Why…why did I panic? What the hell just happened to me?

He’s even more jumpy than after his last big fight, but why-

Holy shit, I think I know why.

It would make sense…given everythin’ he’s been through in his life…and ‘specially now…

Dante stared at the ground in shock as he tried to come up with another reason, any other reason for why he had freaked out. 

I don’t…I don’t panic…I don’t have panic attacks-this doesn’t make sense…

Panic attack…panic attack? Why would I panic I don’t..I don’t fucking get it..I’m stronger than this dammit!!!

….so why did I freeze?

All those years of hiding how he really felt, the trauma, the pain…ain’t no way he’d ever let himself admit it…

Dammit…it won’t get him nowhere, but-

I can’t just say that…cause saying shit doesn’t always help…I just gotta be there for ‘im…

Stop it stop it stop it dammit….you’re stronger than this…come on jackass get it together..shit..maybe…is..what if Nico’s right…?

I really think so, Dante…

But…its not entirely a bad thing. I’m not sure how to explain…but…

C'mon, get the words out, stupid!

It’s because that last one was a Fury, right…? Your reaction to it…just, you faught a lot of them for that job, right?

Of course I already know the answer…

How can I not…you mumble in your sleep…

Even though you survived attacks from ‘em before, that job…that fight brought the bad memories back to the surface…

Darlin’…I think you’ve been traumatized from everythin’ you’ve been through in your life, especially this last job…

Fuck…get it together…talk Dante..just TALK….

The..the Fury…it..there….

…there were so many….

New tears well in Dante’s eyes and he clings desperately to Nico, legs shaking terribly. He felt like he might collapse at any moment.

I tried..I tried to fight them but it was s-so hard…they were so fast..even before it was t-taken my jacket was ruined by slashes…my skin too….

Just talk..keep talking…..keep walking…

A-At one point I got s-surrounded..I thought-I-I thought…

..I thought I was gonna die….

Dante’s grip on Nico tightens and his head droops so he can hide his face in her neck.

I thought I was gonna DIE, Nico…I was-I was scared…

I didn’t think I would make it home…I was gonna die a fool…a failure…h-hated by my own family….

And there it is…now she knows the truth of my worthlessness…how pathetic I am…she says nothing can change how she feels but..how can anyone love me when I’m this weak?

….no one would miss the reckless pain-in-the-ass little brother…the one that did nothing but cause trouble and anger…

Dante chokes on a sob, crumpling to his knees and whimpering as a hand reached back to claw at his disfigured neck.

I was gonna die…I was gonna die without proving my worth…without fixing my mistakes…I….I…

You're wrong, Dante...

I don't believe that for a second...as messed up an' insane as this family is, I know every single damn one of 'em would be distraught if you died...especially me...

You're not a fool, not a damn failure...reckless and a pain in the ass? Absolutely. But that's what we love the most 'bout you, an' never want that to change...

We've all made our mistakes darlin'...but that doesn't mean we have to fix 'em. Learnin' to live with the things we've done and acceptin' they're part of us, that's what proves we're growin'...