Adventures of Dantero and Company - Part 1

-*- vermillionVanquisher hey kid, did y'know they have a hotdog place here called "th'weiner's circle"?
<-> Jaspersprite is now known as Doug
-*- vermillionVanquisher 'm not even kiddin' -- y'walk in an' the staff /insult/ y' as they take y'order. it's the funniest thing.
-*- Doug It's true
-*- Doug They do
-*- TheSpine dante's first place of work
-*- Doug Dante became the manager at an incredibly fast pace
-*- vermillionVanquisher I would legitimately set it there if people can join in there
-*- vermillionVanquisher Though I'm not sure if it's the kind of place the Spine would be but /still/
-*- TheSpine he
-*- TheSpine he was on a date okay it seemed like a good idea at the time
-*- vermillionVanquisher sPINE,,,,
-*- TheSpine it was HER IDEA
-*- TheSpine I swear but then she didn't show up and this was our fifth date and
-*- TheSpine this always happens 8(
-*- TheSpine okay it was still my idea but
-*- TheSpine shhh
-*- vermillionVanquisher shh Spine it's ok
-*- vermillionVanquisher Dante will counsel you through your romance problems
-*- TheSpine  8'(
-*- TheSpine just wants to be human sob
-*- Doug Did you try rubbing your cheek up against her cheek and then gave her a bird? See that usually works for me! :3
-*- vermillionVanquisher give her th'bird?
-*- vermillionVanquisher i dunno what girls y'been datin' but 'm not sure they're th'kinda girls y'/wanna/ be datin'.
-*- Doug Yes! A bird. A bird to nibble on maybe and play with until it starts getting a little old and you dont want to play with it anymore.
-*- TheSpine I did not do that, mainly because I'm certain it's not how one goes about courting human ladies,,,
-*- TheSpine also ref http://steampoweredgiraffe.com/images/david.jpg
-*- TheSpine much easier to find because Rabbit's face changes all the time jesus
-*- vermillionVanquisher A long morning, a plane ride, a grumpy teenager, and a lot of traffic were the highlights of his day so far. He was pretty sure it wasn't going to end well -- what, with the destination he had to be at in an amount of time that was far too short for comfort, and the uncomfortable thinness of his wallet that made him take the job in the first place.
-*- vermillionVanquisher He didn't even want to think about either of those things.
-*- Doug There was only one thing on his mind, that evening. He had to get to the fucking Weiner's Circle or his job would be pulled right from underneath his feet.
-*- vermillionVanquisher But, just because the day looked bleak, didn't mean he was going to lie down and let it. He'd brought the kid with him and he was gonna do his damnedest not to let that go to waste.
<vermillionVanquisher> [omf that too[
-*- Doug He couldn't think about that, either. Raising a kid all on your own was enough Lifetime material as it was-- pile the part-demon bull on top of it and it'd have housewives and old widows on the edges of their plastic-covered seats.
-*- Doug I'm sorry]]
-*- vermillionVanquisher "i'm tellin' ya, kid. y'gonna love it."
<-> Doug is now known as Jaspersprite
<vermillionVanquisher> [dON'T BE THO]
-*- Jaspersprite Ffffffffffffff]]
-*- TheSpine jasp you are magestic
-*- Jaspersprite :y
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<-> chthonianGunslinger is now known as alabastorArchfiend
<alabastorArchfiend> [sIIIIIIGH]
<alabastorArchfiend> [guess i gotta write that big ass paragraph allll over again]
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-*- TheSpine :c
<Jaspersprite> [[8c]]
<vermillionVanquisher> [also yeah I give up on trying to do this qUIRK]
<vermillionVanquisher> [I keep forgetting because it's so close to normal]
-*- alabastorArchfiend Ugh. Chicago. What was so great about Chicago, anyway? Just a bunch of stupid pigeons, pedestrians, and pizza. Were he a little more naive, perhaps a few years younger, he would've suspected that was the true reason why they were here. The pizza, of course. Duh. Not like his dad gave any damns about pigeons. Or people, for that matter.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But no, he knew better. He knew much better. He was far from stupid, after all. He remembered all those times when his dear ol' dad would violently refuse to check himself into the ER, no matter what his condition. His ribcage could be collapsing and he still wouldn't go. 'i'll sleep it off!' he always said, as his intestines started to bleed all over the couch.
-*- alabastorArchfiend And...well...
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Fine, whatever, he was right. Happy now?
-*- alabastorArchfiend That wasn't even remotely his point, though. So shut up, okay?
-*- alabastorArchfiend Point was that he wasn't stupid. If it wasn't him-- and it very nearly wasn't, seeing how the offer popped up on a Friday-- then it'd probably be Lady. If not her, then Morrison. If not him, then his dad would go out of his way to drag that blond homewrecker back into their lives.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Not like he had a choice in the matter, anyway. His dad had already bought the tickets before he could even protest, and that was the end of that. He could've handcuffed himself to his bed, of course, but...
-*- alabastorArchfiend But...
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...It was better than watching TV all day and waiting for his PSP to arrive, okay? There, he said it. It wasn't completely boring.
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...But it was still dumb.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Which was why he refused to be anything less than a smoldering pile of angst right now, trudging alongside his father. He'd play his dad's little game, sure, but he wouldn't pretend to like it.
-*- alabastorArchfiend >B<
-*- alabastorArchfiend "...whatever."
-*- alabastorArchfiend "youve seen one stinkin piece of shit city, youve seen em all."
-*- alabastorArchfiend looks back at ungodly long post]
-*- alabastorArchfiend weeps because god what am i doing]
-*- vermillionVanquisher being perf]
<vermillionVanquisher> [http://www.wienercircle.net/ just so you guy sknow because yo u need to]
-*- TheSpine oh shit I think I've heard of that place before
-*- vermillionVanquisher iSN'T IT PERFECT
-*- vermillionVanquisher Ha. Dante smirked. Yeah, kid, you be the self-righteous know-it-all. You're still gonna love this place.
-*- Jaspersprite It /is/]]
-*- alabastorArchfiend You say that like he can ever stop being the self-righteous know-it-all.
-*- alabastorArchfiend B[
-*- vermillionVanquisher It was an unassuming, squatting brick building, just one small front room with the kitchens in the back. There weren't many people there this time of day -- just a few a little early for dinner, and two of them were leaving now. He shoved open the door like he owned the place, an air of magnificent swagger about him, and ignored the odd looks and double-takes from the room's few occupants.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Eye. Rolllllll.
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...Well, didn't entirely ignore them. The entry felt a little duller with only his kid and a small handful of random people to witness it. Wasn't like he was bustin' into a crowded room or something. Still.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Will his dad ever stop being a diva?
-*- alabastorArchfiend Answer: never.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Hey now. He had a few hours to kill, and he was gonna kill them in style.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Just like how he killed everything else.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Are you going to 'kill it' down in the abandoned sanitarium, old man? Is there some kicking rad party going on over there? Is that it?
-*- vermillionVanquisher The waitress behind the counter looked as unimpressed as the grumpy little puppy tagging at his heels. "You ain't gettin' a free meal fo' enterin' like a diva, pasty-ass whiteboy faggot," she sassed as he stepped up to face her. He just grinned.
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Holy shit.
-*- TheSpine that is the best description for Dante
-*- alabastorArchfiend Did she just?
-*- alabastorArchfiend Jesus christ, she totally did! She just backsassed him like some ghetto gurl down in the projects.
-*- Jaspersprite Carley,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
-*- alabastorArchfiend He--
-*- alabastorArchfiend And why is his dad just standing there, grinning like a loon?
-*- vermillionVanquisher He fuckin' told you.
-*- alabastorArchfiend His eyes flicker to the girl, back to his dad, then back to the girl again. This...
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...This was totally part of the plan, wasn't it?
-*- alabastorArchfiend Just look at that smug grin. Of course it was.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Satisfied his son was sufficiently blown away, Dante grinned devilishly over his shoulder before turning back to the waitress. "two char dogs with th'works. ah -- d'those come with olives? hold th'olives."
-*- vermillionVanquisher God, he loved this place.
-*- vermillionVanquisher The waitress pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow but took down his order anyway as he offered his kid yet another smug look, arms crossed, as though waiting for something.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Realizing that he'd let his gaurd down for far too long, something he knew his dad took infinite pleasure in, his face quickly snapped back into his usual pout as he crossed his arms. God, he should've known something like this was gonna happened. His dad was like Bugs Bunny, minus all the fur. Or charm.
-*- TheSpine or the carrots
-*- Jaspersprite You know who /does/ have all the fur & charm tho
-*- alabastorArchfiend That too.
-*- TheSpine unless carrots can be translated into alcohol
<-> Jaspersprite is now known as crimstonTomcat
-*- crimstonTomcat M r o w
-*- TheSpine I thought of clifford because of that handle even tho he's a dog
<-> crimstonTomcat is now known as Jaspersprite
-*- Jaspersprite Fffff
-*- alabastorArchfiend And yet he couldn't help but to ask the blindingly obvious, something he just knew he'd regret. If he had the foresight, that is. "...yplanned this"
<alabastorArchfiend> "didnt ya"
<alabastorArchfiend> "ylil shit i bet youve been here before havent you"
<alabastorArchfiend> "n ydragged me allllllll the way here just to see me jump like a fuckin jackalope"
<alabastorArchfiend> "what is wrong with you?"
-*- vermillionVanquisher The grin widened. "hey, 'm just providin'  f'ya. gotta eat somewhere." He crossed his arms, leaned back against the counter. "what, y'wouldn't've done th'same thing?" He would've. Dante knew he would've, and that was why it came out as more of a smug taunt than an actual question.
<vermillionVanquisher> ["y'wouldn't've"]
<vermillionVanquisher> [Dante this is too many apostrophes for no spaces]
<Jaspersprite> [[Snot whore ywouldntve]]
<Jaspersprite> [[Stoo]]
-*- alabastorArchfiend A small (very small) part of him wondered whether he really should be swearing like a sailor in public-- he'd already gotten into plenty of trouble with that-- but, fuck, why did it matter? They already called his dad a faggot. He was pretty sure all bets were off in this place.
-*- alabastorArchfiend And you know what?
-*- alabastorArchfiend That felt so.
-*- Jaspersprite Why accents are hilarious, an autobiography by the Redgrave Family
-*- alabastorArchfiend So.
-*- alabastorArchfiend So fucking liberating.
-*- vermillionVanquisher You're welcome.
-*- alabastorArchfiend The kid gloves were off. He was gonna let his old man fucking have it.
<alabastorArchfiend> "oh like youre some kind of mother fuckin theresa you shiteating cockweasel"
<alabastorArchfiend> "well fuck you"
<alabastorArchfiend> "no shit i wouldntve let you starve or anythin"
<alabastorArchfiend> "cuz"
<alabastorArchfiend> "yknow"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "aw, so y'gonna be a good daddy like y'old man? cute."
<alabastorArchfiend> "im not a fuckin sociopath"
<alabastorArchfiend> "ugh no would you sHUT UP--"
<alabastorArchfiend> "iM NOT EVEN FINISHED YET--"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Hahaha, this kid made it too easy.
<alabastorArchfiend> "YSPOTLIGHT STEALIN"
<alabastorArchfiend> "DIVA"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "now that's just plain plagiarism. th'nice lady b'hind th'counter already used that."
-*- alabastorArchfiend He could've said something a whole lost worse.
-*- alabastorArchfiend FUME.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Grin.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "You two gon' take yo' trash o' stand the'e whinin' like li'l bitches?"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Oh, the food was here --
-*- alabastorArchfiend Fuck, he didn't have anything to counter that. He could always call his old man a shitty dad, but...
-*- alabastorArchfiend Ugh.
-*- alabastorArchfiend STOMP.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Man, they must really (ha, his son was so petulant it was cute) have no business today -- there was one guy in the...corner...
-*- vermillionVanquisher Squint.
-*- vermillionVanquisher No.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Christ ridin' a golden calf, no.
-*- vermillionVanquisher It was simply not possible.
-*- TheSpine wow that's a comforting train of thought
-*- alabastorArchfiend God, what was it no--
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Oh.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Oh.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Fucking hell.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Looking suddenly just a little mystified, Dante grabbed his char-dog and approached the only customer that had been there since before they got here with the distinctive spine on the back of his trenchcoat --
-*- alabastorArchfiend Watch Dante you have a little shadow trailing behind you. He didn't really give a shit about their music, but--
-*- alabastorArchfiend No.
-*- TheSpine is definitely trying to not be noticed as he sulks away in the corner, fedora pulled down. There was a bit of a hunch to his back, if only because his trench didn't have holes in it for his spines to jut out of.
-*- alabastorArchfiend No way.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Here?
-*- TheSpine it was a mistake, but he had kept the coat for non performance use.
-*- vermillionVanquisher It had to be. There was no way but it had to be.
-*- Jaspersprite "i'm yer biggest fan--"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "kickin' christ in a dirty diaper. y'gotta be shittin' me."
-*- Jaspersprite "can i have yer autograph--"
-*- Jaspersprite "just"
-*- Jaspersprite "sign m'boy"
-*- Jaspersprite "nero get over here"
-*- Jaspersprite nERO
-*- TheSpine he also wasn't paying attention, after taking a moment to frown at the sound of a younger kid cursing-not any of his business, really-he had tuned out the voices though. If only to sulk more.
-*- TheSpine ;alskjdf
-*- alabastorArchfiend dAD THAT IS NOT HOW YOU GREET A ROBOT.
-*- alabastorArchfiend (However, if Nero was being honest-- and ocassionally, surprise surprise, he was-- he would've admitted he probably couldn't do better.)
-*- TheSpine I don't think that's something I should do sir,,,
-*- alabastorArchfiend (In fact, he'd probably do a whole lot worse--)
-*- TheSpine ink poisoning and stuff that could happen, y'know.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Completely unabashed and ignoring his son, Dante slid into the seat across from the automaton, grinning like a complete loon, chin on hands and elbows on table as he fondly regarded this --
-*- Jaspersprite "it'll be worth it"
-*- vermillionVanquisher This marvel of music.
-*- alabastorArchfiend HEY.
-*- vermillionVanquisher And marvel of science, he guessed, but whatever.
-*- alabastorArchfiend DON'T YOU IGNORE HIM.
-*- alabastorArchfiend HE'LL--
-*- alabastorArchfiend HE'LL--
-*- alabastorArchfiend He'll sit right beside you like a good little boy. Goddamnit.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But. But. But.
-*- Jaspersprite But he'll hold his breath 'til he turns blue as a berry, he swears to *gOD*.
-*- vermillionVanquisher After a long moment of simply staring, he finally spoke as though he hadn't before, and as though he didn't have a tiny lookalike with him. "hey, 'scuse me. y'wouldn't happen t'be lookin' for a new drummer or guitarist any time soon? 'cause i can play both. simultaneously. pianos, too. 'm willin' t'do one-time jobs with y' too but i'd have t'get paid somethin'. got a kid t'take care of an' all."
-*- alabastorArchfiend It was a real life robot. One out of only, like, four ever made. You couldn't dream of making one of these guys again. Their mechanics, their blueprints, were simply too complex.
-*- alabastorArchfiend And they made music too.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Whatever.
<vermillionVanquisher> [omfg Nero stop being a qt ok]
-*- alabastorArchfiend His dad had no fucking sense of scale, he swore. This was a real live android, and he wanted to talk fucking shop.
<-- Jaspersprite (Mibbit@24.148.127.150) has left #bromegle
-*- alabastorArchfiend AND NOT EVEN THE RIGHT KIND OF SHOP, EITHER.
-*- alabastorArchfiend CHRIST.
<-- timaeusTestified (~robertyPo@pool-108-50-2-110.sctnpa.east.verizon.net) has quit (Read error: Connection reset by peer)
<-> Midna is now known as MidNap
-*- alabastorArchfiend GOD, NO ONE CARES DAD.
- {Day changed to Fri Nov 30 00:00:00 2012}
-*- TheSpine arms had been folded before him, hands covered with black fabric to hide the chilled metal. He barely noted them sitting, thinking it was a mistake and that they'd move on, when the elder spoke up about... being a drummer? He sat up straight to better look at Dante, giving him a quizzical look before his words properly settled in his sensors. "Um... Well,
-*- alabastorArchfiend After a few seconds of properly fuming over his dad's idiocy, he finally decided to stop this madness and forcefully jabbing his old man in the rib. "fuckin hell old man"
<alabastorArchfiend> "learn some goddamn manners will ya"
<alabastorArchfiend> "thats not how ygreet someone you aint ever met"
<TheSpine> I can't really say. We've got all we need for our next few performances. We'd have to see you in action before we'd ask for assistance later on." He gestured a bit, looking at his own hands before his brows. "Uh who--" And then Nero interrupted, and green optics looked to him.
<alabastorArchfiend> "like"
<alabastorArchfiend> "ever"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Ow --
-*- alabastorArchfiend Now that he had that taken care of, he had the Spine to his full attention. He practically beamed under the attention, as if he was a different kid entirely from the fuming little wonder he was just a few seconds ago. "msorry bout that"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "jesus pope th'third, kid, y'think i ain't talked t'anyone a day in m'life?" Feeling awkwardly put off for a moment, Dante shifted in his seat then wiped off the uncomfortable, defensive scowl. And --
<alabastorArchfiend> "i swear someone dropped him on his head when he was like"
<alabastorArchfiend> "one maybe"
<alabastorArchfiend> "i dunno"
<alabastorArchfiend> "anyway"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Well, it was not untrue. He had spent the first eight years of his life more or less in isolation. He was pretty sure certain people would say that still affected him pretty strongly. He didn't really think much of it.
<alabastorArchfiend> "youre the spine right?"
-*- vermillionVanquisher He really didn't.
<alabastorArchfiend> "the one made outta chrome?"
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...
<alabastorArchfiend> "jesus"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "(who's spotlight stealin' now?)"
<alabastorArchfiend> "thnames nero--"
<alabastorArchfiend> "(sHUT UP)"
<alabastorArchfiend> "(you had your turn)"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "'m dante -- th'offer t'be a drummer still stands! think 'm better with th'guitar, but 'm admittedly pretty damn good at all three."
<alabastorArchfiend> "for fucks sake dad--"
<alabastorArchfiend> "stop advertisin yself like ysome fuckin"
<alabastorArchfiend> "hobo"
<TheSpine> "Yes, but it's actually a titanium alloy." He offered a hand to the teen. "Didn't think I'd meet someone here who'd recognize me." He gave a nod, "and I'll make sure to let the others know, Dante." He gave a nod to the elder as well, before letting them argue a bit more.
<alabastorArchfiend> "no one cares"
-*- alabastorArchfiend But he wasn't about to let that hand go untouched, oh no. He was shaking that thing 'til the crack of dawn if he had to. Nero Redgrave was gonna be on his best behavior, yessir. Anything to chat it up with this marvel.
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...OF SCIENCE.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "he said he'd let th'others know. you sure aren't passin' up th'opportunity t'grill him about his physical make-up. y'know how personal that is? 's like askin' a stranger 'bout his sex life."
-*- vermillionVanquisher "a famous stranger, no less."
<alabastorArchfiend> "i--"
<alabastorArchfiend> "shut up"
<alabastorArchfiend> "thats different an yknow it"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "y'fuckin' kiddin' here? y'want him askin' 'bout your biology?"
-*- vermillionVanquisher "...oh -- sorry, spine. guess y'probably don't really wanna listen t'us."
<alabastorArchfiend> "im sure he wouldnt mind any questions bout that"
<alabastorArchfiend> "right?"
-*- TheSpine uh
-*- alabastorArchfiend Please say yes please say yes please say yes--
-*- alabastorArchfiend He had no idea he had a titanium alloy! No wonder he was so durable!
<TheSpine> "I wouldn't mind sharing some things about my build, I suppose." As long as they don't expect him to ask Nero about his anatomy because that's probably illegal.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Actually. He felt a little bad that Nero couldn't really examine the automaton to his heart's content. He did what he could to satisfy that curiosity but.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Clearly, his attempts were...meager.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Ohhhh, you just made this kid's day. Look at that face. That face could power entire continents. You didn't even know such a sulky kid could manage that face.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Maybe Chicago wasn't so bad after all.
<alabastorArchfiend> "y-ywouldnt!"
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Cough.
<alabastorArchfiend> "i-i mean"
<alabastorArchfiend> "yeah"
<alabastorArchfiend> "duh"
<alabastorArchfiend> "told yso dad"
-*- alabastorArchfiend He still had a rep to keep, after all.
-*- alabastorArchfiend B[
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...God that face. He'd practically lost an arm to protect that face before. Had really lost an arm, once. So instead of jumping on the opportunity to pull the yappy pup's chain, he rolled his eyes, smirked, and grabbed one of the tomatoes from his formerly-forgotten hot dog.
-*- TheSpine he's trying to be cool about this. It's making him think of the time rabbit, jon, and he met Bobby McDarin--
-*- TheSpine the first he is nero
-*- vermillionVanquisher oh ok I was wondering
-*- TheSpine nero's trying to be cool with it and it's remind spine of how his brothers even though they aren't brothers fawn over bobby mcdarin
-*- TheSpine and then weren't happy when he affirmed that what they thought was mac the knife was a mcdonalds tv commercial
<alabastorArchfiend> "anyway, i"
<alabastorArchfiend> "uh"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Damn, these dogs were great. And he was hungry -- he'd admittedly been skipping breakfast lately. Largely for the sake of that face. The face that was fawning over this opportunity, much as he tried to hide it. Fawning to the point where he didn't seem sure where to start.
-*- alabastorArchfiend God, where did he even start? There was just so many questions he could ask here. Questions he'd never have the chance to ask ever again.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Ever.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But, h-he could do this. He wouldn't let this opportunity slip by just because he was holding an audience with one of the greatest wonders the engineering world had ever seen. He just had to.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Keep it cool. Yeah. That's it.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Maybe not doing the best job but.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He.
-*- alabastorArchfiend T r i e d.
<alabastorArchfiend> "so um"
<alabastorArchfiend> "you said you were made of titanium alloy right?"
<alabastorArchfiend> "even the spines?"
-*- alabastorArchfiend Yeah, yeah! He had this!
-*- alabastorArchfiend (Holy shit no that came out soooo awkwardly, Jesus.)
-*- alabastorArchfiend (Dave would be laughing up a storm if he saw him right now.)
<TheSpine> He nods, smiling faintly at just how excited the kid was. "Especially the spines."
-*- alabastorArchfiend Especially the spines. Christ, he had to write that down s o m e w h e r e,,,
<alabastorArchfiend> "oh"
<alabastorArchfiend> "i-i"
<alabastorArchfiend> "uh"
<alabastorArchfiend> "if ydont mind me askin"
<alabastorArchfiend> "um"
<alabastorArchfiend> "what are the spines for?"
<alabastorArchfiend> "i mean"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Haha. Keep at it, kid. Dante threw an encouraging arm up around the back of Nero's seat, smiling before taking a bite of his hot dog with the other hand.
<alabastorArchfiend> "unless theyre just an aesthetic thing"
-*- vermillionVanquisher (An arm around his shoulders had long been unacceptable, of course. Reputation and all that. Didn't really stop the habit, though.)
<TheSpine> "They used to help release steam, actually, until I got an upgrade from the government. If I had any reason to, I could shoot missiles from them now." He gestured a bit as he talked. There weren't really many missiles aligned to fire, though, and he had plenty of good reasons not to fire them.
-*- TheSpine like a vow of peace, as well as the fact that there were people here.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Fuck, how could he ever forget the missiles? The missles that he could shoot out of his back any time? God.
-*- alabastorArchfiend That was so fucking cool and he could so use that for one of his designs and and and--
-*- vermillionVanquisher He'd forgotten how good these hot dogs were. Speaking of which --
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Aw, and nothing. He knew better than to ask about all that war stuff-- even if he really, really wanted to-- around them. That usually just made them depressed.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "(...hey.)" He nudged Nero with his knee, both of his arms too occupied being lazy or holding food to do anything else. "(don't f'get t'eat.)" He didn't wanna make the kid stop asking questions, but...it was pretty important. And the food here wasn't cheap, and the entire reason he was here was because he was desperate for money.
-*- alabastorArchfiend It was disappointing, but...well, he didn't want to be a douchebag to this guy. Not after answering all of his questions like it was no big deal at all!
-*- alabastorArchfiend WHICH IT TOTALLY WAS...n't. Wasn't. Wasn't a big deal at all.
-*- alabastorArchfiend B[
-*- alabastorArchfiend Besides, he had a ton of other questions to as-
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Oh.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Right. Right. Whatever. If his dad went to all the trouble to specifically take him to the place where you could get away with calling someone a pasty ass whiteboy faggot without anyone batting an eye, then he might as well respect that.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Though.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He refused to take his eyes off of the Spine, food or now.
-*- alabastorArchfiend That might've, uh, complicated the whole process.
-*- vermillionVanquisher That's a pretty bad idea.
-*- TheSpine uh
-*- alabastorArchfiend sHUT UP HE'S EXCITED OKAY--
-*- vermillionVanquisher It'll get pretty messy pretty quickly --
-*- alabastorArchfiend AND HE STILL.
-*- alabastorArchfiend HAS.
-*- alabastorArchfiend QUESTIONS.
-*- alabastorArchfiend So butt out. B<
<alabastorArchfiend> "s-so-"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Hah. Whatever, kid. Your lap.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Chomp. Oh wow, look at those chompers.
<alabastorArchfiend> "i was wonderin bout the steam"
-*- alabastorArchfiend Chomp. They're.
-*- alabastorArchfiend They're looking pretty sharp over there.
-*- vermillionVanquisher And his daddy's look. Worse.
<alabastorArchfiend> "hows that all work out?"
<alabastorArchfiend> "i mean"
<alabastorArchfiend> "in there"
<alabastorArchfiend> "is there like"
<alabastorArchfiend> "a motor?"
<alabastorArchfiend> "shit no"
<alabastorArchfiend> "its"
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...He was as smart as his uncle but about a fifth as eloquent.
<alabastorArchfiend> "probably steampowered right"
-*- alabastorArchfiend CHOMP. Eloquence is for babies.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Babies who have a lot of questions about robot mechanics, apparently.
<alabastorArchfiend> "but what kind of steampowered engine could power all those mechanisms? theyre too complex to be powered by just one engine"
<alabastorArchfiend> "specially the ai"
<alabastorArchfiend> "you uh"
<alabastorArchfiend> "do have an ai"
<alabastorArchfiend> "right"
-*- vermillionVanquisher Oh, kid. This was what he meant about it becoming a little personal.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Boy oh boy, is he on a roll now. You might want to run and hide, kids, this geekery isn't going to let up for a long time.
-*- vermillionVanquisher That was like asking whether or not someone was a real person.
-*- vermillionVanquisher And he could relate all too well to wondering that. Not that he'd ever share that fact.
-*- TheSpine ... "Well, in a sense, that's what I am, aren't I?" He said with a bit of a smile and nervous chuckle. "I can't run on steam alone; that's why my creator used a substance he discovered himself. Can't really share much about it, I'm afraid--family secret, in a sense."
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Oh. You could almost see his face deflating at the words 'secret', realizing that his plans for an entirely steam driven toaster would have to be...put aside.
<alabastorArchfiend> "...oh uh"
<alabastorArchfiend> "thats okay"
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...Oh hell.
-*- TheSpine don't let Rabbit near that toaster
<alabastorArchfiend> "i understand"
<alabastorArchfiend> "if ytold everybody then thered be billions of ya wanderin round"
<alabastorArchfiend> "an they probably wouldnt be as good as you"
<alabastorArchfiend> "...sorry."
-*- vermillionVanquisher Dante frowned -- he wanted so much to suggest something else to bring up, because he was pretty sure that, not only was it disappointing for Nero, the Spine might not have been all that comfortable with it either.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He surprised himself there, dejected as he was. Apologies weren't his thing. They sucked and they usually made him feel all awkward and junk. He tried to avoid them whenever possible.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But.
-*- TheSpine ...shoot. "Well, the Walters don't understand everything about it. We wouldn't want someone using it wrong and getting hurt, y'see." he gestured a bit, starting to feel a bit awkward and bad himself.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He couldn't help but to feel like he crossed some line there. He was so eager to learn about what laid under the hood that he had entirely forgotten that this was, for all intents and purposes, a person he was talking to.
-*- alabastorArchfiend That'd be like.
-*- alabastorArchfiend That'd be like someone ripping away his bandages and poking through that cancerous piece of shit growth, asking just how it did what it did.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Like someone asking just why his teeth were so sharp. Like someone asking any why questions about the Redgraves.
-*- alabastorArchfiend When he didn't know and didn't care to know.
-*- TheSpine awkward silence,,,,
-*- TheSpine also it's
-*- TheSpine kind of impolite to ask someone why they have pointy teeth when oneself is entirely silver
-*- vermillionVanquisher Now seemed like an okay time to move his arm from seat to scrawny little shoulders. C'mere, little boy blue. Y'did good.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "so --"
-*- alabastorArchfiend Oh--
-*- alabastorArchfiend Well.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "spine." He glanced around for a split second to find something to ask about. He wasn't a detective for nothing, and previously-ignored details (in favor of talking to The fucking Spine) returned to his attention. "y'come here often? doesn't really seem like th'kind of joint y'd frequent."
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...He'd allow it this time. But only because no one else was around to make him feel like a dumb little shit.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But only this time.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Sure, kid. Whatever y'say.
-*- alabastorArchfiend It's not like he needed it or another.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He's fine. Just fine. Don't mind him glancing at his arm or anything. That's just.
-*- alabastorArchfiend A thing.
-*- alabastorArchfiend A thing that doesn't matter at all.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Of course it doesn't. Neither does the affectionate, reassuring little squeeze on the shoulder, ignoring the texture of bandages under cloth all the way up the arm. (It was too much of a risk to leave even the upper part of his arm uncovered. What if it spread suddenly? What if something went wrong?)
-*- TheSpine looks to Dante, glad for the topic change. sort of. "Not particularly, actually. We're passing through for a few performances, actually. Was at a restaurant up the street before coming down here." He. Didn't want to think too much about it. He was still quite aware of Nero, and thought. Maybe if he just. Removed a glove and. Offered the metal hand to the
<TheSpine> younger of the two. Does. Does that help.
-*- vermillionVanquisher (They didn't know -- couldn't know -- anything, and that was the scariest part for Dante. What would it do to him?)
-*- vermillionVanquisher Oh --
-*- vermillionVanquisher Dante stared at the hand like he'd just been offered the assurance of a comfortable, happy life for his son at no cost. None at all.
-*- vermillionVanquisher And then flashed the automaton a grateful little smile.
-*- TheSpine lets a smile tug at his lips in turn, hoping that this helps.
-*- vermillionVanquisher He was so much more fantastic in person than on stage, even. Dante had always loved this guy, would've gotten down on one knee and proposed when he saw him if even he didn't know that was ridiculous, but -- God.
-*- alabastorArchfiend All thing he tried his damnedest to forget about. Just. Try to live life as if nothing had changed. As if nothing was wrong. But he couldn't possibly ignore it, not forever. Not when he had no idea how or when or why it did anything. He could wake up one day and find himself covered in the scaly growth, like some kind of--
-*- alabastorArchfiend Jesus Christ was that his hand.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Look at that hand.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Aaaaaa oh my christ--
-*- TheSpine I don't think I can legally marry
-*- TheSpine since I'm technically not a person
-*- vermillionVanquisher Dante wouldn't care. He'd marry you anyway.
-*- vermillionVanquisher It's not illegal so he can do it --
-*- vermillionVanquisher You're as human as they come and he'd know. He had to work for it.
-*- alabastorArchfiend His angst and paranoia was suddenly discarded like a shedded skin as he marveled over the hand, reaching out as if to caress it.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But that would be.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Kind of weird.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Nudge.
-*- alabastorArchfiend So it just sort of.
-*- vermillionVanquisher It's The Spine. Do it.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Do y'old man proud.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Hovered there.
-*- alabastorArchfiend OW.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Jesus, of course you'd want him to do it. Freak.
-*- TheSpine I think we should date before marrying, Dante
-*- TheSpine shhh it's okay
-*- TheSpine touch da hand
-*- alabastorArchfiend He...
-*- alabastorArchfiend He touches the hand.
-*- TheSpine flexes the fingers lightly, slightly showing off
--> Jaspersprite (Mibbit@24.148.127.150) has joined #bromegle
-*- alabastorArchfiend Warily, mind you, because he hadn't been given the persmission to actually do so but--
-*- vermillionVanquisher "so," he continued casually, as though none of that was happening at all. He could tease the kid about it later, if he so desired. Later, when he needed something to focus on besides white-washed walls and impossible lingering sme-- "y'likin' chicago much? 's a pretty neat place so far, i think."
-*- alabastorArchfiend Ohhh man, would you like at that--
<alabastorArchfiend> "sweet baby jesus those hydralics are fuckin fantastic"
<vermillionVanquisher> [Welcome back Jaspurrs! owo]
-*- alabastorArchfiend That.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Probably shouldn't have been the first thing that popped out of his mouth.
<Jaspersprite> [[uou]]
-*- vermillionVanquisher They really were fantastic -- even Dante could tell that. He'd...tried to learn about robotics and general mechanics, when Nero showed an interest while he was fixing the hunk of junk car they used to own. It turned out anything beyond what was necessary to keep said hunk of junk running was pretty beyond him. It was the kind of thing Verge would take to, though.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Like a psychotic duck to a river of blood.
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...That was a morbid metaphor and he didn't want to follow it up. At all.
-*- PurpleKoopa good thing it was just an internal monologue, huh dants
-*- vermillionVanquisher Instead, he squeezed the thin little shoulders under his arm fondly. Don't ever stop bein' a good kid, okay, kid?
-*- PurpleKoopa oh wait that's right we can read your miiiiiiiiiiind
-*- vermillionVanquisher oh -- oh fuckin' lucifer in labrador.
-*- alabastorArchfiend in which we all learned that dante was maybe a little bit schizo
-*- vermillionVanquisher Hey, man, if Vergil's got Headte --
<TheSpine> He chuckles a bit, then proceeds to answer Dante. "Yeah. Nice when we aren't cooped up together in a hotel room." three automatons and three humans was a bit cramped for their single hotel room. Good thing the robots could go into stasis whilst remaining on their feet.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Hey, don't be getting too touchy now. They were in the presence of The Spine. He didn't want to come across as a big baby or anything, okay? This was some serious shit right here.
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...Even if that serious shit involved him fawning over a single hand.
-*- alabastorArchfiend It was a really good hand, okay? A really, really good hand.
-*- TheSpine thank uwu
-*- alabastorArchfiend It'd take him centuries to ever get to this level of perfection. And to think it was all handcrafted, before there was like.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Assemblies.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Or whatever.
<-> Jaspersprite is now known as The
-*- The F u c k
<-> The is now known as TheMotorInnGang
-*- TheSpine his current chasis was made in like, the sixties, actually. Unlike Rabbit, the Spine was all up for updating his internal workings.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Amazingly, however, he did manage to break out of his stupor to flinch at the Spine's words. "...just one? yserious?"
-*- vermillionVanquisher That would be convenient, replied Dante's internal monologue, on the matter of robots being capable of entering stasis while on their feet (like horses!). And then, aloud, "i think so too. we jus' got here t'day -- i've been here a couple times but 's the first time th'kid's been. decided t'take him out for a treat 'fore i have to start on the job i was hired for here." And then the kid -- had a good question. One room?
-*- alabastorArchfiend It wasn't like him and his dad were living in the lap of luxury or anything (seriously), but that was just the two of them. They at least had different beds to sleep in.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He'd never thought he'd see the day when he'd be grateful for that.
<TheSpine> He nodded. "There's two beds and a fold out couch for the humans. We need to keep a reign on our expenses, y'see." Don't want to wind up in a position where the government takes advantage of financial insecurity. "Everyone understands that, and is alright with it." He paused, letting a puff of steam escape. "What sort of work are you doing?"
-*- alabastorArchfiend Two beds and a couch? With six people? Robots or no, that was crazy talk. Did they sleep on the floor? Did they just not sleep at all? Did they even need sleep? All these questions and more were running through his mind, just begging to be asked, but--
-*- alabastorArchfiend Knowing his old man-- and no one knew the old man better than himself-- he'd leap at the chance to pour over his job. Anything to make himself seem even more exotic and more dazzling, even if that meant outing himself as a looney tune.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Well.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Oh, what a question. Dante grinned like the devil. "'m a private investigator by trade. kind of a...specialist in my field. get calls fr'm all 'round the country f'special cases." All this was said with an air of pride, as if the title of private paranormal investigator wouldn't make him sound like a complete crackpot, or as though a particularly noteable number of his jobs were actually outside the far northeast. Very few of them were, in reality. Also as though most of his calls weren't complete duds. Chupacabras didn't even live this far north. Just go take the damn dog to the shelter.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Very few of them were, in reality. Also as though most of his calls weren't complete duds. Chupacabras didn't even live this far north. Just go take the damn dog to the shelter.
-*- alabastorArchfiend More like the sole sane guy in a sea full of looney tunes.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But really, who cared? Even if he was a rational crackpot, he was still a crackpot...to everyone else.
=> Netsplit between *.net and *.split ended. Users joined: TheMotorInnGang
-*- TheSpine  number of his jobs were ac)
-*- vermillionVanquisher of his jobs were actually outside the far northeast. Very few of them were, in reality. Also as though most of his calls weren't complete duds. Chupacabras didn't even live this far north. Just go take the damn dog to the shelter.
-*- alabastorArchfiend The thought was enough to sour his mood, twisting his mouth into a scowl as he thumbed circles into the Spine's knuckles. Everyone in school always asked him how he could ever hate his dad's job. He was a ghostbuster! A real live ghostbuster.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "still willin' t'do side jobs, like playin' instruments for events." A shameless plug offered with a cheeky grin. He actually had been hired a few times as a pianist for various events -- his fees for that were a lot lower than people who tried to make a career of it, and it used to be his primary source of income, back when keeping Nero fed was his only concern and his stomach was eating a hole in the rest of him with desperation to survive.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Yeah, well, nobody ever talked about the creepy fanboys. Or the scathing reviews. Or the conspiracy theories...
<vermillionVanquisher> [did it cut off]
-*- TheSpine was eating a hole in the rest of )
-*- vermillionVanquisher his stomach was eating a hole in the rest of him with desperation to survive.
-*- vermillionVanquisher It hadn't been a pleasant time in his life -- back when his career was just a concept, a passing thought, and he came home every night with sore hands and so little to show for it. And the only thing he could regret was that Nero got the short end of the stick.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Granted, that was...a pretty big regret.
-*- alabastorArchfiend SOLE SON? OR ALIEN CLONE?
<TheSpine> A soft nod in understanding. "What sort of special cases, if it's alright to ask?" He shifted the held hand slightly; just another bit of show.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Jesus, just get out of their lives already! What business was it to them, anyway? Didn't they have fake moon landing to prove? Crystal skulls to find? Bullshit 9/11 theories to write up?
-*- vermillionVanquisher But the performing -- he was the next Billy Joel, someone had said, probably in reference to Piano Man. And he'd have loved it. Wouldn't have even minded the stuffy suits at the big, fancy events -- the kinds of close Verge would wear for dayclothes -- with his hair so dolled up he'd have to cringe. God, he'd have loved it.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Not that he hated being an investigator. He loved that, too -- wouldn't give it up for the world. Well, except some days. But not in general. He couldn't regret his career taking off any more than he could regret singing himself hoarse in the shower to practice.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Anything would do, he didn't care what, so long as they kept their noses where it didn't belong. To think that someone had the nerve to break into their house just so they could take pictures of them for their private collection, or that every new age hippie this side of New England had to come a knockin' so they could sell their.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Fuckin'.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Crystal light bed.
<vermillionVanquisher> [*kinds of clothes]
<vermillionVanquisher> [cLOTHES NOT CLOSE WHAT]
-*- alabastorArchfiend What the fuck did a crystal light bed even do, anyway? Did it balance your chakras? Did it enlighten your chi? Was it just total bullshit?
-*- alabastorArchfiend Ohhhh, he was pretty sure he knew which one of those it was.
-*- alabastorArchfiend It was bullshit like that that made people group his dad with the Demonbusters and Wacky Warrens of his time. And to hear the things they dared say about him, laughing it off like it was no big deal--
-*- vermillionVanquisher "oh, nah, i don't mind at all," he dismissed lightly, still grinning away. Shit-eating, is what they'd call it. Good enough for him. Subconsciously, he rubbed a thumb on the kid's shoulder as he leaned back and answered, "jus' the kind no one else can really handle. might say it's parano--"
-*- alabastorArchfiend "he's a quack."
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...Oh.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Yeah. Oh.
-*- vermillionVanquisher The subconscious rubbing stopped abruptly as he glanced sideways at Nero, suddenly all too straight-faced and solemn. The tone was hard, the words just sharp enough to sting and bitter enough to leave a bad taste on his tongue.
-*- vermillionVanquisher ...He did his best to make sure Nero didn't get the short end of the stick with this. Was the only thing he'd snap at those tinfoil hat loons about -- you don't bring up his son. He wasn't a fucking alien clone and if he was Dante wouldn't give a damn because it was still his son they were talking about.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Did his best, but it wasn't enough, not always.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He knew he shouldn't have done it. He knew that his dad was smart and strong and probably the best at what he did. That it wasn't his fault that their life was a three ring circus. That people didn't know when to leave them the fuck alone and let them at least pretend to have a normal life. A life that wasn't constantly bombarded by demons and ghosts and god knows what else was out to get him.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Very calmly, he dropped his arm to his lap. "y'could put it that way," he admitted, light-humored, but suddenly subdued. It wasn't always glamorous and it wasn't always grand, not like he liked to pretend it was and describe it -- the way he was gonna rave to the Spine. Sometimes it wasn't glamorous at all, and he forgot that sometimes.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Funny. As much as he demanded other people to be considerate of his son, he messed up so badly, sometimes.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But he wasn't thinking about that. He was only thinking about shooting the most toxic of glares. Whatever it took to drill that point home. Whatever it took to dig that knife deeper. Because somebody had to be blamed, and it sure as hell wasn't going to be The Spine...
-*- alabastorArchfiend ...That is, until he saw the way his dad just.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Gave up. No smacks to the head, no annoyingly charming wisecracks, not even a look.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He just folded his cards, pushed his chair away, and walked right out.
-*- alabastorArchfiend And somehow, that was worse than any reprimand. At least then Nero could pretend he was right.
-*- alabastorArchfiend But he didn't know what to say. Didn't know the magic words that could take his words all back. And...and he was still mad goddamnit.
-*- TheSpine sat quietly, watching the exchange, observing each little human movement and... well, it certainly wasn't the happiest exchange. "Sorry, I... didn't mean to bring something troublesome up." He looked between the two, sincere in his words.
-*- alabastorArchfiend So did the only thing he could do, when everything else failed him.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He sulked.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Dante waved a hand -- the same arm that was aching and tingling, having pretty thoroughly fallen asleep while resting on his son's shoulders. "'s no trouble." He smirked lackadaisically. Even though it was trouble -- it just. Wasn't something he thought he could deal with, right now.
-*- vermillionVanquisher What could he do? Hug the kid and apologize for years of public scrutiny? Here? He wasn't sure Nero would even take that, not now. He was upset. Rightfully so. Dante messed up a lot and couldn't fix things a lot of things, least of all his own flaws, it appeared.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Because that was the root of the matter. Not that it happened, necessarily, but that it was his fault.
-*- vermillionVanquisher If he'd just been Billy Joel.
-*- vermillionVanquisher "he's right, more 'r less," he repeated anyway, lifting his arms to knot his fingers together behind his head. "'m a private paranormal investigator. exactly what it sounds like. ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, th'works." Plus some.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Yeah, yeah, go on and pretend like nothing happened back there. There was the old man he knew and loved. The one that wouldn't dare admit anything was wrong, even when it was staring him down in the face. He'd just smile and laugh it off, no matter how much it bothered him.
-*- alabastorArchfiend And it did bother him. He saw that much. His dad wouldn't just give up like that. Not unless it was important.
-*- alabastorArchfiend It re-ignited his anger a bit, reminding him how much of a stubborn bitch his dad could be, but...
-*- alabastorArchfiend At least he could still pretend. That mean he was still normal. Mostly normal.
-*- alabastorArchfiend Still.
-*- alabastorArchfiend He crossed his arms and sullenly watched the two chat it up like thieves, always pretending like everything was fine. Totally fine.
-*- alabastorArchfiend hey dante
-*- alabastorArchfiend remember mothman
-*- alabastorArchfiend ouo
-*- vermillionVanquisher "so," he said, staring at the silver-striped vest rather than the red tie or the coat's red lining, "y'got anything t'do f'the rest of th'day?" He untwisted his fingers, rested his hands on the table, rapped them rhythmically there, jogged his knee along with it.
-*- vermillionVanquisher He wasn't sure where he was going with the question, but today was looking like a terrible day. Might as well hang out with the famous and stunningly kindly robot.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Might as well let Nero hang out with a famous and stunningly kindly robot while he worked, he supposed. He'd be okay. Nero deserved this. Not "haunted" abandoned old buildings and a father who couldn't give him a remotely normal life. And if he couldn't give him something normal, he could at least give him this.
-*- vermillionVanquisher Something cool.