Hi everyone, hope you are well. I saw the trailers of DMC5 and at first I was like whoa Dante! but then I was like horry shit, that's what I'm talking about after seeing Nero spinning around and around and avoiding purple lasers. Can't believe the reboot came out back in 2013 (5 years go, WTF!) and so I've written a lot of DMC fics for this board, and now the only character I have not tried yet is Reboot Vergil, so I'm going to try this out. Don't think there's a lot of love for Reboot Vergil out there or for the Reboot in general, but if there are any fans, I write this for you and I hope you enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: Don't own Ninja Theory DmC or Reboot Vergil.
Summary: Prequel to DmC. After a car accident ruins her budding career as a professional ballet dancer, she now works at the Devil's Dalliance, having given up on her hopes and dreams (and life in general). However, an encounter with a white-haired young man changes everything.
THE BLUE ROSE
"How oft the warmth of the sun above
Makes a pretty young girl dream of love."
...
...
"And up and two, and three and four. Beautiful, Nina, beautiful."
A young woman danced in the centre of a brightly lit stage in rhythm and in tune to the jovial music that was emitting from a piano. She wore an elegant smile on her face, her chin poised in the air with confidence, her arms raised high in the air gracefully whilst she twirled and danced. She loved the attention. Everyone was watching her, their attention on her.
"Retiré devant and grand jeté! Perfect! Now turn! Plie, and jump!"
With the music growing louder and louder, the tempo becoming faster and livelier, she adjusted her pace. Arms high, legs wide, back arched. Her feet thudded over the floorboards, the ground creaking with each timed step and leap and landing. Her heart was thumping, adrenaline thrumming through her veins. She could close her eyes and almost picture it... she would be in full costume, the audience would be bathed in darkness... and she would be dancing, dancing to her heart's content. The music would stop and then all would go silent, before applause would erupt from the crowd...roses would be thrown at her feet. So close...just three days, three more days. It would be her big day, her big moment.
Finally, the music stopped and she stopped too, she was panting slightly, head thrown back to face the ceiling gracefully, arms held behind her, her feet tucked neatly in fifth position. There. Finished. It was done. She hoped her performance had been...perfect. No, it was. It most definitely was.
At first, there was silence and then the applause came.
"Lovely work, Nina. Wonderful performance as always. That was absolute perfection."
She returned to stand, breathing heavily, smiling as she curtsied. "Thanks."
"The performance is in three days...make sure you also practice at home and eat healthy, get lots of rest."
Nodding, Nina abruptly left the stage and grabbed her bag from the side. Sitting with her peers, she chatted with them regarding the upcoming performance and changed out of her ballet shoes and into her sneakers. Grabbing the rest of her outdoor wear, she left the school and into the streets, staring up at the darkening sky. She was in a good mood. She had practiced and rehearsed for such a long time and finally it had happened. She'd been chosen to play the lead in a small ballet production company, but it was a good way to get her foot in the door. There would be lots of people watching the performance. She would be seen, she could be scouted...there would be plenty of opportunities for her... And then one day, she figured, she would be able to make it and be able to leave Limbo City and -
"Look out!"
Huh?
She stopped in the intersection and turned to see a pair of headlights coming her way.
THREE YEARS LATER.
A bunch of letters were sticking out of the mailbox in a sad pile.
Frowning, she grabbed them and stormed inside the apartment complex. Clearly, dad hadn't bothered to pick up the mail as usual. Dumping them on the last step of the staircase, she sat down and went through them individually. Five of them were useless leaflets. Three were late notices for the rent, electricity and gas. Two were letters from the hospital, informing her that her payment for medical care and physical therapy was overdue. The final letter was not a letter at all, but a piece of folded paper where the words "PAY NOW OR DIE" was scribbled messily in red ink. Her nose caught whiff of the smell that radiated from the letter and she shivered. Blood.
Huffing, she got up from the steps and slipped into the lounge where a middle-aged, fat and bald man sat slumped in a simple but dirty armchair with his feet propped up on a makeshift leg stool consisting of her gym bag. A small table stood beside him, covered in multiple empty beer bottles and cans, along with a half-eaten pizza slice that was attracting flies. The cheese and toppings were looking a little mouldy...
Sidestepping away from the disgusting display, she snatched her gym bag away from beneath his feet in rage and moved in front of the TV, effectively blocking the view of the obese man. "Dad. Get off the couch and stop watching TV."
Earnestly, she wasn't even sure if he was paying the slightest bit of attention to her.
"Wha...what do you want?" He slurred as he tried to rise out of his throne; his chin was greasy and slick with oil, his beard thick and crusty with what looked like old food and flakes of dead skin.
"I found another warning letter in the mailbox."
"What letter?" He barked, frowning at her. "Move outta the way...I was watching the game.."
"I'm not moving until you tell me that you're going to do something and pay off your debts, dad!" She hissed, waving the letters in the air in exasperation and anger. "The gas, the electricity, the water...our food...when are you going to do something about it?! About this?! All of this?! What the hell is wrong with you?!"
His jaw went slack, his eyes were dilated and a glob of drool leaked out from the corner of his mouth and over his wobbling chin. Drunk. "...Fuck off, you dumb bitch."
Gritting her teeth, she finally felt the thread snap. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
She had so many arguments with him that the only response was a snarl as he tried to get up from the sofa but to no avail. She watched him struggle for a few moments before eventually giving up, emitting an agonizing and defeated, tired croak. "...Don't you have work to go to or something..."
Roaring in frustration and spewing forth a stream of obscenities known to man at him, she turned and stomped out of the flat, slamming the door shut, the handle of her gym bag clamped tightly in her small fist. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she trudged down the steps and into the dank and dirty streets on her own, ignoring the flashing neon signs and the roar of cars zooming past. The street were busy with tonnes of people walking up and down and there were adverts flashing everywhere, all telling her to drink Virility to get a 'hot bod'. Limbo City was alive but she felt dead inside. With her eyes trained on the ground, she deliberately avoided the cracks on the dirty slabs.
"And up and two, and three and four. Beautiful, Nina, beautiful."
Ahh... why was she thinking about that day? She had forced herself to forget but the memories kept resurfacing. Her lips wobbling, she looked at her legs and sniffed slightly, then stretched her leg forward slowly, then took two steps, three, then four.
"Retiré devant and grand jeté! Perfect!"
She lifted her arms in the air, placing her right leg behind her left, ignoring the looks she received from passer-bys; good, she still remembered the pose...
"Now turn! Plie, and jump!"
She pushed off her right foot but then a searing hot pain stabbed her in the ankle and she cried out, falling out of her position immediately and landing on the dirty ground. Her expression crumbled at her failure.
It's no use...
Crestfallen, she picked herself back up and continued her journey silently and it would only be a matter of minutes until she would arrive at her destination: The Devil's Dalliance.
She avoided the front door where a long queue of loyal patrons were waiting to be let in by the huge, intimidating bouncers and sauntered to the back of the building; she paused when the door for employees flung open wildly and a barely dressed man and woman came leaping out. The woman was quick to leave the scene, scampering across the car lot with her clothes bundled in arms whilst throwing cautious looks over her shoulders now and then. The man was half naked and with his pants around his ankles; he almost bumped into Nina if she hadn't sidestepped to evade him.
Spotting her and eyeing Nina from head to toe, he gave her a wide grin. "Hey, babe." He greeted, accompanied with a wink. Another girl followed him out, cursing and wearing nothing but white silken lingerie and a pair of angel wings as she hobbled on ten-inch high heels, throwing a barrage of objects at him ranging from a cigarette lighter, a high heel shoe and finally, a bra.
"Fuck you, Dante! Fuck you!" She was screaming.
And the young man was trying to put his pants back on, lifting them over his exposed buttocks and up to his waist whilst trying to buckle his belt. "Babe, it's not what you think - I didn't mean...listen, uh...Rachel, this is all just a misunderstanding - "
"Misunderstanding my ass! And my name is Jade! JADE!" screamed the enraged angel girl.
Nina passed the couple without batting an eyelid and towards the door. "Hey, Dante, hey Jade."
"Hey, Nina." greeted the fuming girl. Turning to the dark-haired young man who was still grinning, she screamed, "Get the fuck out of my face! I don't want to see you here ever again!" The girl called Jade was yelling non-stop, her voice shrill and squeaky. It was giving Nina a headache.
"Hey, you forgot my Triple Six!" yelled Dante.
Grabbing a bottle of 666 off the floor which was allegedly his, Jade threw it at him with all her might, then slammed the door in his face. Outside and they could hear him laughing.
Nina stepped into the corridor and made her way towards the door on the far left. Pushing the door open to reveal a burlesque-themed room, she saw a group of blond women standing in one corner, chatting with cigarettes balancing in their hands and dressed in nothing but the same skimpy white lingerie, angel wings and matching stilettos which were the staple uniform of the nightclub. She didn't pay much attention to them aside from greeting them and they also greeted her in return. Settling her bag down on the nearest chair, she unzipped her hoodie, removed her top and pants, leaving herself in her undies - which were also the club's white bra and tiny thong uniform - and she pulled her bobble off, letting her long hair trail past her shoulders. Plopping herself on a cold chair in front of the huge vanity mirror, she took out her stilettos from her bag and slipped them on, inspecting the heels at the same time. They were becoming a little worn. She didn't have money to buy a new pair. Grabbing her pair of angel wings that were hanging off the wall where the name "Nina" was scribbled on a piece of paper and taped on top, she started unfastening the hooks just as Jade from before slipped into the dressing room with a growl.
"You okay?" Nina asked.
"Yeah." Jade bit out, fists curling; she was nibbling so hard on her lip there were lipstick stains dotted all over her teeth. "...Fucking asshole didn't even know my name..."
"What happened?"
Jade could be heard sniffling next. "He was cheating on me."
"I'm so sorry, Jade..."
"He was cheating...!"
"Jade..."
"I-it's fine...I'm fine..."
"Don't cry over him. You deserve so much better." Nina said, trying to reassure her. However, Jade didn't seem to stop crying and instead, howled even louder and harder, causing the other girls to wander over to check if she was fine. Nina felt useless. She'd never experienced a break up before, so what else could she say in this instance? Listening to the other girls, they were all going on about how much of a rat bastard Dante was. True, everyone knew about Dante. A devilishly handsome young man who enjoyed picking up girls, particularly the angels of the Devil's Dalliance. Jade was perhaps the only one who decided to get into a 'real' relationship with him. Agreeing with the group entirely, Nina said, "They're right. He's a cheating bastard. A dirty, lying, cheating bastard. He's not the right one for you."
Finally, the poor angel girl ceased her crying, reduced to helpless blubbering and hiccuping. "Yes!" She babbled, dabbing at her tear-stained face. "I hate him! I fucking hate him, Nina! He deserves to rot in hell for what he did to me!" Glancing at Nina as she continued slipping off one hook after the other of the fluffy angel wings adornment, she said, "Gimme that, I'll do it for you."
"Okay..." Nina said, as Jade seized her by the shoulders and turned her round, fixing the angel wings on her back and ensuring they were sturdy and would not fall off.
"And I'll do your makeup too." Jade hissed, swerving Nina round to face her.
"Sure."
This seemed to help lift Jade's spirits and the girl was eagerly helping her apply mascara, eyeliner and lipstick onto her face, albeit applying it on with a little more force than usual. She spun Nina to face the mirror and she stared at her reflection. Her eyes were outlined with thick eyeliner and mascara, making her eyes more defined and her lips were the color of blood. Jade had overdid it again, but she seemed happy with her work. Once both girls were ready, they left the changing rooms and to the dance floor where Jade split up to head to the bar and Nina lingered near the stages, staring at the dancers who were climbing up the poles and twirling around them effortlessly. She narrowly avoided some drunk customers who were dancing and grinding against their partners, laughing and downing bottles of alcohol one after the other continuously.
Suddenly, there was a rough grip on her wrist and she was spun round to see a very drunk man before her... She recognized him immediately to be a regular customer who always asked the girls for private dances. Gilbert...Smith, Campbell...somebody, something. Sleazy as hell and also unfortunately ugly to boot. He'd asked her before but she was always used to be able to reject him and turn him towards the attention to someone else who was willing to entertain him.
"Hey, Miss Dark-hair, Dark eyes angel babe, I want a private dance." slurred Gilbert, positively reeking of booze and vomit and cigarette smoke.
"The stage is over there, Mr Gilbert. Take your pick." She said. Even if she hated this place and everything about it, she couldn't risk the job. It was important to her. It was an easy job too. All she had to do was stand around for a few hours, serve a few drinks, and when her legs hurt, she could take a rest. Then she would go home. That was it. Also, Madame Lilith was good to the girls and treated them all like family.
"Nuh-uh, sweetcheeks...Not tonight...I know you - you're the one who always says 'no' to me...not this time." The drunk man swayed, giggling and grinning widely at her before he delved a hand into his pocket and took out a few fifty dollar bills, waving them at her face. "How much will it cost ya?"
You can take your money and shove it up your ass, was what she really wanted to say, but before she could say anything, a tall, dark figure stepped into view and maneuvered between them and she glanced up to see a young man standing in front of her. Confusion swept across her face all at once.
"...She said 'no'." said the young man. The pounding dance music assaulting her ears made him a little hard to hear.
Nina watched in astonishment as Gilbert... a man of six foot two, weighing possibly over two hundred pounds... immediately shrink into his clothes, stepping backwards clumsily that he almost tripped over his own two feet. His expression that had been one of pure anger, had converted to one of pure fear. "S-sorry..." He croaked out, before he turned on his heel and started darting away from the younger man, disappearing amongst the dancing crowd. Nina stared wide-eyed at the spectacle.
And when the young man turned round to her, her jaw almost hit the floor. This man...! He looked exactly like -
"Dante?" Before she could help herself, she had already spluttered out the name.
He gave her a smile, cocking his head to the side and she got a better look of him. No, this was not Dante...he appeared to be the same height and possibly the same build, but this man was wearing different clothes...he was too well-dressed for the occasion... and despite the laser light show that constantly bathed the dancefloor in multiple lights, she could tell his hair was...white.
"Dante?" He repeated, his tone holding light endearment.
"Sorry, my mistake." She said quickly, before she made a move to leave, turning away from him. Good idea, Gilbert. This man meant trouble. Following Gilbert's example, she disappeared as quickly as she could into the crowd and towards the bar. She needed a drink... she hastily grabbed a cup from the shelves and poured herself some water from the tap and slinked into the employee rest area. She enjoyed a few moments to herself until -
"Hey, Nina. There you are."
She almost leapt out of her skin when Jade poked her head through the doorway. "Jade! What is it?"
"A customer's looking for you." She said nonchalantly, playing with a strand of her hair.
"Oh fuck, it's not Gilbert, is it?"
"Nope, someone saw him leaving a while ago."
Phew! Nina inwardly recited a thankful prayer to the heavens above. "Then who is it? I thought I was off dances now."
"It's an urgent request. I heard it's some hot, rich-looking guy. He's waiting in room three. Sorry, but you need to go."
"Can't someone else do it?"
"No, he is specifically asking for you."
"Urgh...what...why me?"
"I dunno. Maybe you have an admirer. You have to do it. No one is free right now, we're super busy tonight. I mean, look around you! It's crazy, total full house. I would go but I'm helping out at the bar."
"...Fine." Nina said, with a wince. Been a while since I danced...
Making her way to room three, Nina anxiously grasped the door and took a deep inhale and an equally long exhale. Pushing down on the gold handle, she entered the room only to see the same attractive young man from before who had assisted in getting Gilbert's filthy mucky mitts off her, sitting on the plush velvet sofa with his legs and arms crossed. Her breath caught in her throat immediately and her heart thudded a little harder than before.
What...this guy...? Seriously...?
She stood silently in shock, hand unmoving on the handle.
"Nina, was it?" He spoke first, smiling gently. Gesturing to the door, he added, "Can you close the door, please?"
Stunned, Nina obliged and shut the door behind her quietly, then turned to him. "What do you want?" She said, flicking some hair over her shoulder. As she took in his features, she noted the following: Black trench coat that has been exquisitely tailored, looks expensive. Designer, obviously. Silver watch on left wrist. No ring. Unmarried. Young. Maybe early twenties. That smell... not cheap aftershave, that's for sure. More expensive stuff. Cologne. Definitely a rich guy. Rich and powerful, perhaps. But what's he doing here? Virgin? Bachelor party? Visitor? Tourist? Or maybe he's sick and has a kink, some sick fetish...maybe a fan of BDSM...or maybe he's a serial killer.
He looked at her from head to toe as though oblivious to her mental scrutiny of him, and although she'd been subjected to perverted gazes by male customers who stepped foot in the establishment before, something about his gaze made her uncomfortable for a different reason. However, she forced herself to stand and not to make any effort to cover herself up, crossing her arms and shifting all her weight to her left leg.
"How long do you plan to stare at me?" She uttered.
"My apologies." He finally averted his gaze to the floor. That smile was still plastered on his face, however.
Nina stalked over to the side where a bottle of champagne was placed gingerly in an ice bucket and removed the cork carefully, grabbed a glass and poured some inside. "Champagne, sir?" She said, without looking at him.
"No, thank you." He replied, as she finished filling the glass.
She stilled, the glass balancing in her hand and the golden liquid sloshing inside, before she turned and sauntered towards him, taking long strides until she was standing before him. "Then let's get right to it, shall we?" She settled the glass on the table and lowered herself to the floor in front of him, her legs touching the soft, fluffy carpet, before she proceeded to climb over him on all fours and rose to settle over his knees, sinking herself into his lap and straddling him as she had been trained by the rest of the girls at the club. Placing her hands on his shoulders, he glanced left and right to her palms before looking up at her. His expression did not change. Underneath her palms and she felt the crispy smooth fabric of his coat before she swept her hands to the back of his neck, her fingers weaving through thin strands of silky hair. He seemed undeterred by her bold advances and the sudden invasion of his private space, especially when her face appeared millimeters before his. Now she could really see his features in more detail.
Light blue eyes, almost silvery gray, white hair. Not old at all. Very strange, especially with that resemblance to Dante...they must be related...
"You're very handsome." She murmured, their lips hovering close to each other. "You don't have a girlfriend, do you?"
"No."
"I figured, otherwise she'd be very upset if she caught you in a place like this."
He chuckled and said, "Dante."
"...Excuse me?"
"You said his name when you saw me." He replied, and Nina's grip loosened on his neck as he met her gaze, unwavering. "Do I remind you of someone you know?"
"Oh, about that...I'm sorry for the mistake. Let's not talk about it, hm?" She murmured absentmindedly as she slid her gaze casually to the side. I don't like this conversation... what is he up to? What does he want? Removing her hands from his neck, she took his necktie instead and began untying it, the flimsy blue material slipping between her fingers effortlessly.
"I have a few questions." He added, he seemed oblivious to everything she was doing. Most men would've jizzed in their pants by now.
"You only have fifteen minutes with me." She said as she removed his tie and draped it over herself, then began running her hands up and down his chest, slipping her hands beneath the folds of his coat and over his shirt. It was also very nice to touch, no doubt, another rich material.
He chuckled once more. "Yes, I'm very aware."
"...And yet, you want to spend it by talking to me... wouldn't you rather have sex?" She whispered in his ear as she slid her hand further down his chest and to his waist, near his pants.
Yet again, his expression did not budge. "Talking is fine."
"Are you sure?" She grinded herself near his crotch deliberately, hips rolling as she imitated the position of a woman on top. He watched her movements briefly, then flicked his glance to her as she leaned over and licked the shell of his ear enticingly, before she took his large, cold hands in hers and made him caress her breasts.
His eyebrow rose in response. "I believed there was a no touching rule." He muttered as he turned to her, their noses almost touching.
"You can touch all you want." She murmured, and there was a brief moment of silence as she continued licking his ear before moving to his jaw and neck, although when she let go of his hands, he pulled away from her body and she looked at him incredulously.
"I've no time for games. How often does Dante come here?" He said aloud.
She blinked blankly at him, "...We don't keep track, but he's a regular customer."
"And do you work full-time or part-time, Nina?"
"Part-time."
"Very good." He said, readjusting the lapels of his coat, "I'd like to ask you a favor."
"Favor?"
"If you see Dante, let me know." Rising slightly from his seat, she stared wide-eyed as he reached inside his pocket and proceeded to pull out an intact, beautiful blue rose wrapped in clear cellophane which he presented to her. Nina stared at the rose in muted shock as he pressed it into her hand for her taking. She was taken aback by the gesture but then realized there was nothing on the clear wrapping at all as she turned it around and around. As she marveled the flower, he slowly eased her off him, his hands landing on her hips and she leapt slightly from the contact. It had been the most softest touch, gentle but precise, and with his hands on her hips, he gingerly lifted her off his lap and placed her on the seat beside him, then stood and made his way to the door, opening it.
"There's nothing here." She muttered as she inspected the rose before glancing up at him. She held the flower limply in her hand. "What is the meaning of this?"
Turning to her, he said, "I'm sure you can figure it out yourself." Grabbing his fedora which he'd left on the coat hanger, he put it on and tilted his hat at her politely. "Goodnight, Miss Nina."
A/N
The quote at the very beginning is about the Greek myth of Icarus who flew too close to sun, by Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary.
This is also posted up on another website. Depending on how I feel I will probably choose to keep it on 1 website only.