The inside of Nico's van was filled with tools, spare parts, and half-finished Devil Breakers.
You sat beside her at the workbench, helping assemble a new Devil Breaker for Nero—the Punch Line.
Nico tightened a bolt and handed you another component.
"Hold that steady, will ya?"
You carefully fitted it into place, but something caught your attention beneath a pile of scrap.
A strange, rough-looking piece of material sat among the parts.
You picked it up, turning it over curiously.
"Huh. What's this?"
Nico glanced over.
"Oh, that? Probably a chunk of Goliath."
Your eyes lit up with interest.
"Goliath? Think Nero would recognize it?"
Nico snorted.
"Probably. Though knowing him, he'd call it 'Tummy Teeth' again."
You laughed.
"That's what he called Goliath?"
"Yep. That fucker's got a real talent for naming things."
You examined the piece again.
"So this is one of the horns apparently."
"Sure is."
You grinned.
"Think we can put it in Punch Line?"
Nico's eyes lit up.
"Now that's the kinda question I like."
She immediately reached for her tools.
"Let's find out what a little Tummy Teeth can do."

For: @fallen_starxq

Character: Dante
Weapon: Dr.Faust
Demon: Lusachia
Place: Ruins of Sparda Manor

For: @poor_lonesome_cowboy

The ruins of Sparda Manor held more memories than either of you cared to talk about.
You followed Dante through the broken halls, stepping over fallen stone and old debris.
"So this is where you grew up?"
Dante glanced around.
"Yeah. Kinda lost its charm."
Before you could reply, a swarm of Lusachias descended from the ruined ceiling.
Dante immediately reached for Dr. Faust.
"You know how to use this?"
You barely had time to answer before he tossed the weapon toward you.
"Wait—what?!"
You caught it awkwardly.
Dante drew his own weapon and grinned.
"Consider it a temporary loan. Keep those things off your back."
The Lusachias closed in.
You raised Dr. Faust and fired, its strange power tearing through the demons as Dante fought through the others.
One Lusachia swooped toward you.
You turned and fired again, sending it crashing into the rubble.
Dante glanced over.
"See? You're getting the hang of it!"
"You could've warned me before throwing it!"
"Where's the fun in that?"
You shook your head, firing another shot as more Lusachias descended.
Dante laughed.
"Welcome to the family business."

For: @poor_lonesome_cowboy

Character: Nero
Weapon: Red Queen
Demon: Hell Judecca
Place: Red Grave, Chiaro Mondi Hotel

For: @Thenosechanell

The halls of the Chiaro Mondi Hotel were crawling with Hell Judeccas.
You grabbed Nero's Red Queen and swung it with everything you had.
Or tried to.
The sword barely moved.
Nero stared at you for a second.
"...You good?"
"It's heavier than it looks!"
Another Hell Judecca lunged.
You struggled to lift Red Queen in time, but Nero quickly stepped in and took the sword back.
"Yeah, maybe leave this one to me."
He revved the Red Queen, the engine roaring through the empty hallway.
"Watch closely."
Nero charged.
A powerful swing sent the nearest demon crashing aside, followed by another strike that cleared the rest of the hallway.
You watched, totally stunned.
Nero rested Red Queen on his shoulder.
"See? Easy."
You stared at him.
"For you, maybe."
He laughed.
"Fair point."
With the last of the demons gone, Nero started walking down the ruined corridor.
"Come on. I'll find you something lighter."
You followed, still wondering how anyone could possibly swing that ridiculous sword so casually.

For: @Thenosechanell

Character: Eva
Weapon: Luce & Ombra
Demon: Basilisk
Place: Sparda Manor

For: @bunbun_81

You were supposed to be watching Dante and Vergil.
Instead, curiosity had led you into Sparda’s office.
The boys were unusually quiet, which should have been your first warning.
As you looked around the room, a pair of ornate pistols caught your attention.
Luce & Ombra.
They were resting on Sparda’s desk, looking far too interesting to simply ignore.
You picked them up.
“Hmm…”
Your attention shifted toward the wall.
A Basilisk had been mounted there as one of Sparda’s rather intimidating decorations, its head frozen in an aggressive pose.
You raised one of the pistols, amused.
“Wouldn’t it be funny if—”
BANG!
The shot echoed through the manor.
You froze.
Somewhere down the hallway, footsteps immediately followed.
“Oh, no.”
The office door swung open.
Eva stood there.
She stared at you.
Then at the pistol.
Then at the Basilisk decoration.
Then back at you.
“…What,” Eva said slowly, “are you doing?”
You lowered Luce & Ombra.
“I was curious?”
Eva closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“You're Dante and Vergil's nanny. You're supposed to be keeping them out of trouble.”
“I was.”
“By shooting the decorations?”
“I only shot one.”
Eva gave you a look.
You quickly put the pistols back on the desk.
“I'll put them away.”
“You will do more than that.”
Eva walked over, taking the weapons from you before you could touch them again.
“And from now on, if you become curious about anything in this office…”
She pointed toward the door.
“You ask me first.”
You nodded.
“…Understood.”
A tiny voice came from the hallway.
“Did she shoot something?”
Eva turned.
Dante and Vergil were peeking around the doorway.
Eva sighed.
“Apparently, your nanny has decided to compete with both of you for the title of troublemaker.”
Dante grinned.
Vergil looked at the Basilisk.
“…Can she do it again?”
“No.”
You quietly decided that perhaps curiosity needed better supervision.

For: @bunbun_81

Character: Lucia
Weapon: Klyamoor
Demon: Goat Clan
Place: Vie de Marli

For: @Amberinoctober

Vie de Marli was already crawling with demons when you and Lucia reached the point where your paths had to split.
Lucia glanced toward one street, then the other.
“We’ll cover more ground this way.”
You nodded, but before leaving, Lucia reached behind her and pulled out a spare weapon.
Klyamoor.
She held it out to you.
“Take this.”
You raised an eyebrow. “Your spare?”
“Exactly. I’d rather know you have something reliable if things get ugly.”
You accepted the weapon, giving it a quick look.
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring it back.”
Lucia smiled. “You’d better.”
A distant screech interrupted you.
Several Goat Clan demons emerged from the street ahead, their strange forms filling the road.
You tightened your grip on the Klyamoor.
Lucia drew her own weapon.
“Looks like we found our missions.”
You glanced at her. “Try not to finish everything before I get there.”
Lucia gave a small laugh.
“No promises.”
With that, you both took off in opposite directions.
A moment later, the sound of combat echoed through Vie de Marli.
Lucia had trusted you with her spare Klyamoor.
Now it was your turn to prove she had made the right choice.

For: @Amberinoctober

Character: Dante
Weapon: King Cerberus
Demon: Phantom
Place: Inside Mullet Island Castle

For: @DantesPizzaParlor

You and Dante had split up inside Mullet Island Castle to search different parts of the building.
You hadn't expected to run into Phantom.
The massive demon filled the room, forcing you backward as you swung King Cerberus desperately to keep it at bay.
“Come on…”
You managed to strike it, but Phantom barely staggered.
Another attack sent you stumbling across the floor. You raised King Cerberus again, but your arms were getting tired.
Phantom lunged.
Then—
CRASH!
The doors behind it exploded open.
“Looks like you picked the wrong room to cause trouble in.”
Dante charged into the room, King Cerberus in hand.
You blinked.
“Dante?!”
“Miss me?”
Before Phantom could turn fully toward him, Dante unleashed a flurry of strikes, driving the demon back. With one final powerful blow, Phantom was sent crashing across the room and disappeared.
Silence returned.
You lowered your weapon, catching your breath.
Dante walked over and gave you a look.
“You know, splitting up was supposed to make things easier.”
“I had it under control.”
Dante glanced at the wrecked room.
“Uh-huh.”
You frowned.
“…Mostly.”
He laughed and offered you a hand up.
“Come on. Let's stick together for a while.”
You accepted his hand.
“Fine.”
Dante grinned.
“Good. I was getting tired of rescuing you.”
You gave him an unimpressed look.
“You really had to bring that up?”
“Absolutely.”

For: @DantesPizzaParlor

Character: Vergil
Weapon: Yamato
Demon: Scarecrow
Place: Fortuna

For: @underthemoonlightii

The alley in Fortuna was unusually quiet as you made your way through it alone.
You barely had time to notice the shadows moving before a group of Scarecrows emerged around you.
You stepped back.
Then a flash of blue cut through the alley.
The Scarecrows were struck down almost instantly, their forms dissolving into the air before you could even react.
A man stood where they had been.
He said nothing, simply turning away and walking off.
You later learned his name was Vergil.
When you found him again, you approached carefully.
"Thank you. For saving me."
Vergil glanced at you.
"It was nothing."
You shook your head.
"Maybe to you."
Before he could leave, you held out a small ribbon.
"I made this for you."
He looked at it with mild curiosity.
"A ribbon?"
"A little memorial. Something to remember that night by."
Vergil was silent for a moment before accepting it.
You carefully tied it around the sheath of Yamato.
He looked down at the ribbon, then back at you.
"You are sentimental."
You smiled.
"Someone has to be."
For the briefest moment, something softened in his expression.
"Perhaps I'll keep it."
With that, Vergil turned and disappeared into the streets of Fortuna, the small ribbon quietly following Yamato wherever he went.

For: @underthemoonlightii

Character: V
Weapon: V's Cane
Demon: Qliphoth Roots
Place: Red Grave, Pawn's Avenue

For: @kiwisarusshitss

You hadn't made it out of Red Grave in time.
Days had passed since the city was swallowed by the Qliphoth, and you were still wandering through Pawn's Avenue, searching for a way out.
One afternoon, a Qliphoth Root suddenly burst through the street.
You barely managed to dodge its first strike before another tendril caught you, knocking you to the ground.
You tried to push yourself up, but the Root raised another tendril above you.
Before it could strike—
A shadow flashed across the street.
The tendril was knocked aside.
A stranger stood between you and the creature, a cane resting lightly in his hand.
"Are you hurt?"
You stared at him.
"I'm... fine."
His gaze shifted toward the Root.
"Then finish what it started."
He moved aside.
You noticed the cane he had left within your reach.
"Use this."
You grabbed it and forced yourself upright.
The Qliphoth Root lunged again.
The stranger calmly watched as you swung the cane with everything you had.
The final blow struck the Root, and the creature recoiled before dissolving into the crimson growth surrounding the street.
You lowered the cane, breathing heavily.
"Thank you."
The stranger gave you a faint smile.
"V."
You looked at him.
"That's your name?"
"Indeed."
He extended a hand, helping you to your feet.
"Come. There is little reason for either of us to wander this city alone."
You glanced at the cane still in your hand.
"Are you sure I can keep using this?"
V smiled.
"For the moment."

For: @kiwisarusshitss

Character: Vergil
Weapon: Rebellion
Demon: Jester
Place: Temen-Ni-Gru

For: @sleeepybat

You had served Vergil since his earliest days in the Demon World, long before Temen-Ni-Gru became the center of his ambitions. Over the years, being his servant had grown into something closer to companionship; you were the only demon he trusted enough to keep at his side.
After Vergil defeated Dante within the tower, you noticed the sword left behind.
Rebellion.
You picked it up with a pleased grin.
"Consider this my trophy."
Vergil glanced at the blade in your hands.
"If you can carry it, keep it."
You rested Rebellion over your shoulder.
"I'll take that as permission."
The two of you continued through Temen-Ni-Gru, discussing your next move, until a strange voice echoed through the corridor.
"Well, well! What a delightful pair!"
Jester appeared before you, twirling his hat as though he'd been waiting for an audience.
Vergil immediately reached for Yamato.
You tightened your grip around Rebellion.
"He's irritating already."
"Then silence him."
Jester laughed and sent a barrage of attacks toward you.
You charged first, swinging Rebellion through the incoming magic while Vergil moved effortlessly around you, Yamato cutting through every opening Jester left behind.
At one point, Jester tried to catch you off guard.
Vergil intercepted him.
"Behind you."
You spun and struck with Rebellion, sending Jester stumbling backward.
He barely recovered before Vergil's Yamato flashed.
The two of you attacked together, leaving Jester no chance to regain control of the fight.
When the battle finally ended, you rested Rebellion against your shoulder.
"Not a bad first day with my trophy."
Vergil glanced at the sword.
"Do not become attached to it."
You smirked.
"No promises."
Without another word, you followed him deeper into the tower, Rebellion still firmly in your grasp.

For: @sleeepybat

Character: Lady
Weapon: Kalina Ann
Demon: Urizan
Place: Inside the Qliphoth Tree

For: @charlotte_Winchester

Lady and you had pushed deeper into the Qliphoth than Dante and Trish, leaving the two of them far behind.
Eventually, you reached a massive chamber where Urizan awaited.
Lady tightened her grip on her weapon.
"Looks like we're on our own."
You raised Kalina Ann.
"Then let's give him a reason to remember us."
Urizan attacked.
You and Lady fought together, moving almost instinctively as you covered each other's openings. Lady's gunfire shattered the incoming attacks while you struck whenever Urizan's defenses opened.
For a moment, it seemed like you actually had a chance.
Then Urizan changed the pace.
A powerful strike sent you flying across the chamber.
"Get up!" Lady shouted.
You tried.
Before you could, another attack caught Lady and sent her crashing beside you.
Your weapons slipped from your hands.
Urizan was left completely unharmed.
Lady struggled to reach Kalina Ann.
"Come on..."
You tried to stand, but your strength was fading.
Urizan raised his hand.
And then everything went dark...

For: @charlotte_Winchester

Character: Trish
Weapon: Handguns
Demon: Plasma
Place: 13th Avenue

For: @Starry_boooo

You'd heard there was trouble on 13th Avenue, so you headed there expecting another routine demon hunt.
Instead, you found Trish already in the middle of it.
Several Plasma demons flickered through the street, surrounding her as she effortlessly kept them at bay.
You raised your handguns.
"Seriously? You started without me?"
Trish glanced over her shoulder with a grin.
"Oh, look who finally showed up."
One of the Plasmas lunged toward her.
Trish moved aside, letting it rush past before striking it down.
You immediately opened fire, catching another demon before it could attack her from behind.
"I came to help."
"I noticed."
More Plasmas appeared from between the buildings.
Trish looked at you.
"Ready?"
You spun one of your handguns before aiming.
"Always."
The two of you fell into an easy rhythm. You kept the demons at a distance with precise gunfire while Trish tore through anything that got too close.
Soon, the last Plasma vanished.
You lowered your weapons.
"So... you were handling everything before I got here."
Trish shrugged.
"Maybe."
She smiled.
"But you showed up, so I figured I'd let you have some fun."
You laughed.
"Next time, leave me a few more."
"No promises."

For: @Starry_boooo