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almondpants · 8 days

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Why V hides himself

While playing through dmc5 one of the questions that I’ve seen pop up a few times is, whether Dante knows who V really is or if he’s clueless about it. The game itself can be a bit vague on that subject (though there are still several hints to be found), but luckily Visions of V is very clear in this regard. In it, we have several panels of V discussing his looks and how he should act so that he won’t be found out by his brother, and also several hints that show us Dante really didn’t know.

But why is V so adamant on Dante not realizing who he is/who he’s a large part of? They’re brothers, twins... family. So why all this effort?

One easy answer could be that V(ergil) does not want Dante to see him in such a weakened state. After all, the initial split of V and Urizen was partially to facilitate that Dante wouldn’t meet Vergil in a half-dying form, which means that V’s silence could once more be something related to pride.

But V does swallow a lot of his pride when necessary during his time out and about, he even tells Trish about his origins, so why doesn’t he get clean with Dante as well? Even when he comes close to his end, why does V keep silent when being open would make their dealings so much easier? Dante would then know that V has to land the last blow, he would also know to maybe keep a bit more of an eye on V, as well as to not dismiss him as easily… And it wouldn’t be the first time that Vergil tells Dante stuff, if anything, he has always seemed the most open towards Dante when it comes to answering what’s going on. At least during dmc3 that is...

But that’s dmc3. And a lot has happened in the interim. A whole lot, that in my mind has drastically shifted Vergil’s approach in regards to Dante, which we really need to take into account as to answer the question posed above.

So let’s take a look at things from Vergil’s side for once, why don’t we? Starting with the very beginning, namely the attack on the twins’ home.

Here, Vergil’s attitude regarding Dante is pretty easily summarized. Before the attack he’s Vergil’s annoying (endearing) little brother, who he’s supposed to be responsible for, and after... Dante is dead. There’s not much to say here next to Vergil grieving his twin, as well as probably swearing revenge on their family's nemesis.

But oh, what have we here? A decade later Dante turns out to still be alive! Alive and somewhat thriving, hidden among the humans, while also being so very human himself. Even vulnerable to boot, as his demonic side hasn't awakened yet (meaning he hasn't been sufficiently in danger for it to happen ‘naturally’ as it did for Vergil). During their first real meeting in the dmc3 manga Vergil offers Dante to join him in breaking the seal of Temen-ni-gru, which Dante clearly rejects. In general, there isn’t much warmth during this encounter, but also no immediate hostility from Vergil's side. Vergil has no intention of harming Dante, at most he wants to grab the amulet, though even that he gives back afterwards, with a provocation that's probably meant to give Dante the motivation to grow stronger. Not that Dante really takes that piece of advice… but while on the surface this encounter may seem fruitless, it does shift a few things around.

Again, this is my speculation (on which you can read a more detailed post here), but I interpret Vergil’s objectives from then on to include protecting and ensuring the survival of his weaker twin, after all, he’s supposed to be the responsible one of the two and Dante clearly hasn’t grown much in the missing years in that regard.

Which isn’t all bad, since indulging Dante allows Vergil to also relive the brawls he’s missed from his youth. The first time after that initial meeting at the beginning of dmc3 he (again) goes to test Dante’s might, only to find what he sees lacking and forcefully unlocking Dante’s trigger. The second encounter he needs Dante’s blood which comes with the advantage of Vergil also getting the fun of another match and to maybe release some of his frustrations. After that stuff kinda goes a bit to shit for Vergil’s plans, but that isn’t as important here. What is important is that even with Arkham’s interference, Vergil is having a great time with his brother overall (despite Dante being his usual aggravating self). If you don’t believe me just watch how he only ever really banters with Dante or look at how in the iconic “Jackpot” scene Vergil even goes so far as to smile!

But then we come to the waterfall fight and oh boy… Yeah, stuff goes really really wrong from here on out. Before this, Dante has already rejected Vergil and his plans several times, and it comes to a head when Dante finally finds the purpose he’s been lacking for most of the game. Only, the timing is poorly chosen, and his determination way too set.

Which ends with Vergil being bisected (a killing blow to anyone who isn’t a son of Sparda) as Dante’s conviction proves iron, while Vergil is grasping at straws in a situation that’s out of his control and only further pivoting into a direction he can’t allow. And while Vergil till the very end acts on an intent to protect Dante, Dante from his point of view does not seem to harbour any goodwill towards Vergil anymore (seeing as he was prepared to kill him).

So, looking at it from Vergil’s side, he was also clearly rejected. Found unwanted, unneeded… Unloved.

For if Dante had held any love for Vergil (like Vergil had for Dante), he would've also stayed his blade. Would have also been resolved to not go so far as to kill his twin.

But that was just one moment, one high tension scenario where Dante was maybe a bit too determined, maybe a bit too set on what he thought he had to do. Vergil could recognize that, right?

Well, if he has any capacity to think so over the following years, while being tortured and corrupted until he is only a shell of his former self, it is clearly disproven with what happens in dmc1. While during the first two battles Nelo Angelo could have been unrecognizable, ergo, seem nothing more than an enemy combatant, the last battle involves Vergil managing to get his helmet off beforehand. That, together with all the other clues, the summoned swords, the reaction to the amulet after the first fight… surely Dante knows who he’s dealing with?

Only, that does not discourage Dante at all from attempting to kill Nelo Angelo – from attempting to kill Vergil! He does not stay his blade and Vergil is brought to the brink of death. Again!

And while the saying goes ‘once is chance, twice a coincidence, and three times a pattern’… Vergil can’t take that bet in dmc5. Or better said, V can’t take that bet, being a crumbling shadow of his former self. He has to act with the thought in mind that Dante might very well be set on killing him as soon as he appears, as soon as he reveals who he is. He's kinda been burned in regards to honesty in those last few encounters.

Thinking about it like that, V hiding who he really is only makes sense. Makes it all really the most logical way forward for him, since V does not have the power or constitution to take another intended deathblow, and he does not have the strength to assert himself should Dante prove unreliable. But, at the same time it also makes calling on Dante a good choice (or the only choice, since V doesn't have the power needed and it's a major risk towards him) on how to deal with Urizen since Dante will surely attack.

V just has to be quick enough to make the last strike himself, since Dante surely won't hesitate to do it. Add on here that Dante’s reaction to hearing Vergil’s name could have confirmed this entire notion to V, since he gets immediate threats and hostility. And he is relieved by that!

All of this, this idea that Vergil is sure that he has absolutely no love to receive from Dante also makes V’s confession of “I wanted to be protected and loved…” so much more painful. After Eva’s death, Dante should have been an evident provider of both, seeing as to how he was all Vergil had left in terms of family. Only Dante never does so, not after their reunion and not in any of their following encounters. Instead Dante becomes a threat to Vergil’s continued survival, a fact that V(ergil) actively has to take into account with their every interaction. A fact that even goes so far as to haunt his dreams…

And this continued train of thought also allows this scene here to be interpreted as something different. A warning. An omen of death.

V's face here doesn't really seem to spark with relief or hope or anything. It seems more like... fear to me. It seems almost like this vision says, “Be careful, Dante is going to come for you. He will easily kill you...”

Vergil doesn't have the benefit of seeing how much Dante mourns him, how heavy every seeming demise hits Dante. He does not see the alcoholism, the degradation, as anything caused by him, since all he has to go on are encounters that brought him mercilessly close to death every time, and if they didn’t, they were drenched in hostility.

All of this makes Vergil’s decision at the very end of Visions of V, makes his remembering the one moment Dante clearly reached out for him, even more important!

Cause despite everything, despite having been tortured, brainwashed and decades having passed, Vergil remembers the one moment in his past where Dante showed his hand, their one instance of almost - painfully - proper communication. Where Dante attempted to grasp for him without the intent of doing any harm. And Vergil finally finds hope! He draws new strength from it, from his experiences stumbling around as a human, from the very idea of regaining his brother, even if he’s still uncertain about if Dante wants him.

He really wants to be Dante’s twin again!

… only for Dante to immediately attack Vergil after his rebirth, shattering that fragile wish...

Once is chance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern.

And with the avenue of ever being Dante’s brother again seemingly burned to nothing, Vergil decides to take what he can from the encounter. One last good fight. One last moment where he crosses blades with his brother like they’re back in their prematurely stolen childhood. One last duel, which has been all Vergil’s been looking forward to since the very beginning of dmc5 and then… he would have to be satisfied.

… because Dante so clearly isn’t willing to ever give him more.

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So yeah. Hope this interpretation of Vergil’s pov was to your taste, it’s been haunting me ever since I got the idea during a conversation with the ever-lovely @prototypelq. She also once more helped me streamline this post.

All in all this interpretation fits quite solidly to me, since it shows how not only Dante was firm in his belief of having been rejected by his twin, but Vergil sharing that same view as well. Their miscommunication running so very deep as always, until it drowns everything with blood and pain.

I will always be thankful for Nero bursting in and busting their heads to make them finally see clarity.

Curious to hear yall’s thoughts regarding this interpretation. Hope you enjoyed!

#devil may cry #dmc #dmc analysis #dante #vergil #this gave me depression #literally almost shed a tear....maybe even a devil may cry fr....

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almondpants · 1 month

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dante if he locked in

inspired by this tweet

#devil may cry #dmc #dmc fanart #dante #trish #HELP?@?@?#literally what dmc1 is

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almondpants · 1 month

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Back on my yap because I’ve wanted to mention this for a while

From the way I see it, Mundus must’ve been obsessed with the Sparda twins, especially Vergil.

Firstly we know that Mundus is kind of a mad-scientist type because of him constantly making demons (all of dmc1 demons were made by him). Most importantly, Nightmare, he literally took a bunch of demons, slapped them into one and realised he created a monstrosity that could even kill him. So that proves the whole Mad Scientist thing.

Then, because Vergil wasn’t concealing his identity, unlike Dante, Mundus literally stalked this young boy, collected data on him and how he fights and created a clone of him (Gilver) who he then sent to attack Dante. Knowing that Mundus stalked Vergil for who knows how long, he definitely caught onto Vergil wanting to reach Sparda’s level of power. He’s definitely seen what Vergils true intentions are (to never feel the pain and weakness he did the night Mundus killed his mother), and realised how weak mentally Vergil was in that state. Maybe he knew that Vergil was going to make his way to the Underworld one way or another.

This brings on my next point. The Proto-Angelo’s show that Mundus had probably wanted Vergil under his control but needed the perfect armour to do that. I think that maybe he ordered Machiavelli to do that, since we know he created the armours. Going along with the Mad Scientist and Mundus’ obsession with God-likeness, he was probably a perfectionist and needed the armour to be exactly perfect to keep Vergil trapped within.

Quick mention: I know that the 2005 DMC1 comics aren’t canon. But it really intrigued me how in those comics, Mundus “adopts” Nelo-Angelo. Going as far as to call him son. Ofc Mundus is a villain, very manipulative and deceptive. But it took me by surprise for him to not only brainwash Vergil, but to also use his admiration towards his father against him and make him think Mundus is his father. Once again, the comics aren’t canon but maybe this part could be.

Long story short: Mundus is an obsessive creep but super interesting as a villain (like what do you mean the world was covered in snow when he was born????) and I wish we got to see more of him

#devil may cry #dmc #vergil #dmc analysis #its quite interesting how mundus uses familial (family) ideas to keep vergil in check #ive always saw vergil as a family man like this dude might want power to protect himself but we know full well he wants to protect his-#family as well #like no wonder why nero is like that (like kyrie's family couldve contributed it but vergil's family love genes are stronger man)

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almondpants · 1 month

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Yeah yeah we all know the "Dante seeing Vergil in his reflection" but what about "Vergil twisting his doppelganger to look like Dante so he has somebody to talk to"

#devil may cry #dmc #dante #vergil #dmc analysis #WHAT IF I GO EXPLPDE GUYS...WHAT IF

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almondpants · 2 months

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I had to draw them together I love them… Instagram | Etsy | Commissions

#Devil May Cry #DMC #dmc fanart #trish #dante #lady #the trio...the besties...#dmc

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almondpants · 3 months

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I felt goofy (I've been thinking about doing this trend for a long time)

#devil may cry #dmc #lady #dante #trish #SO TRUE LADY UR SO ME #love the lil scar that dante has on his chest dudhhdhdd i love him #trish ur boobies are fantastic #dmc fanart

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almondpants · 5 months

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sharing this from my twitter but this made me laugh so hard. heres the full pic and my own translatkons

BTW translations by me. im still learning so apologies for any incorrect translations

Q.05 "from those who appeared in the series, who would best suit a bridal gown?"

Poll results:

1. Naoto and Yukiko - 37 Votes

3. Persona 4 Protagonist - 24 votes

4. Nanako - 21 Votes

5. Chie - 19 Votes

6. Rise - 12 Votes

7. Yukari - 11 Votes

8. Kanji, Yosuke and Kuma (Teddie).... - 10 Votes

11. Mitsuru - 9 Votes

12. Maya - 3 Votes

Passage Translation (Not literal.) :

"Yukiko and Naoto are both 1st place winners for this situation match!

it was impressive that many comments expressed how yukiko would look good in both western and traditional clothing. A real personification of an ideal Japanese women, right?

On the other hand, notable comments about Naoto, expressed an opinion that she would look good in both groom and bridal outfits!

Many said they want to be the ones to marry them! "

for those wondering, this is taken from the Persona Offical Magazine #08 from the online questionnaire section!

#persona #persona 4 #THEYRE SO REAL FOR THATVSHEHEJUDJ #persona 4 investigation team ur gorever superior /hj

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almondpants · 5 months

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just got a second official warning for my use of "from the river to the sea, palestine will be free" on the OTW volunteer slack

people are also currently asking board to ban saying that the founding of israel was colonialism—equating this to saying racial slurs—and were complaining about my status back when it was "palestine will be free", too

suffice to say, fuck that place, don't give the OTW your money, and don't fucking volunteer there

(the second screenshot is from the warning I got a few days ago)

#organization for transformative works #ao3 #otw #archive of our own #ao3 whats going on man...

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almondpants · 5 months

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[danteleon] its been getting colder lately ❄️

#resident evil #devil may cry #re fanart #dmc fanart #leon kennedy #dante #danteleon #THEM!!!! my silly boys in the snow....#leon and dante having fur on their coats ughehdudejej i love them so much u dotn understand

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almondpants · 5 months

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NANAKO DRAW NANAKO PLEAAAAASEEE MY EVERYTHING

yes

#persona 4 #persona 4 fanart #yu narukami #nanako dojima #yosuke hanamura #nanako finally submits to capitalism by doing a junes training #persona fanart

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almondpants · 5 months

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ok but really even without all the dramatic au stuff i like doing to them, i really think atlus accidently made one of the most interesting dynamics from what was definitely just supposed to be a cameo. the second coming of the detective prince and he's so different from the first. from how he is you'd maybe expect akechi to not really care about the title or even be kind of bitter about being placed in the shadow of someone else he hasn't even met, but no,

he actively mirrors naoto. this sweater is the only canonically confirmed callback but i've sniffed out others, even down to the way they hold themselves.

like, clothing is one thing that could just be for the public image, but come on. it's part of his SELF image. his status as the second detective prince is vital to his view of himself.

and q2 all but proves he respects naoto deeply. and it all makes sense because he really is proud of being a detective, of course he'd be a fanboy of one of the most well-known young detectives out there. i can imagine he relates to the image he has of naoto a lot.

and it's not like it places him to live up to the achievements of naoto or anything, to a degree maybe yes, but not enough to the point that it's a burden. because he's piggybacking off of his legacy and blowing it out of the water. akechi is FAMOUS, much more than naoto was, i imagine. people would hear about the first detective prince and go, "who? i only know akechi." the title only benefits him, publicly and personally.

and it'd be so interesting if they met, because it's not like one is living in the others' shadow. akechi has to live up to naoto's reputation because he's the successor to naoto's legacy, placed on his shoulders by the force of the public. naoto has to live up to akechi's reputation because he's the new big thing, he's what everyone is interested now, he's who was chosen to succeed him. they live in each others' shadows. it's an ouroboros of reputation.

i just think they're neat. they'd get along too, i bet. they definitely got along in q2! they're the only ones in the whole world who can relate to each others' experiences of growing up as a detective prince. they're both big nerds. they're both competitive. PLEASE imagine placing these two in the same room together. it would be so INTERESTING.

and don't even get me STARTED on how Crow looks a hell of a lot like naoto's persona

#persona #persona 4 #persona 5 #naoto shirogane #goro akechi #persona analysis #love big fanboy akechi hes so skrunkly

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