[ Dante doesn't like explaining himself to anyone. It's not that people aren't owed it, it's more that he's...just. Sometimes he's tired. Sometimes he's disappointed in his decisions. Sometimes it's just too much. This? It was all of the above. And there's nothing quite like letting down family to encourage Dante to curl back up into the safety of his cave.

But Nero is definitely owed it. And, strangely enough, even if he's admitting to his missteps along the way, it does feel a bit better to actually share it. It doesn't make up for it, but maybe at least now Nero can know that he was far from the last thing on Dante's mind--

--he was the reason Dante got involved in the first place.

Thorne's problems are Dante's problems, he's made that clear from the start. If he's not getting paid then he isn't getting out of his seat. But Nero? Nero's a different story all together.

You would have too. Dante does huff at that. For as much as he doesn't want to get involved, he doesn't think the Summoned deserved what happened to them. They're people--people need help.

He doesn't have half the answers Nero wants, he knows--no, he assumes, because Nero hasn't asked him all he wants to know yet. That's the problem right there, isn't it? Dante figures he'll let Nero down and cuts it before it can come to fruition. Before something good can happen. ]

I'm an ass.

[ He agrees with a gruff sigh. ]

But I guess you're stuck with me.

[ He's got to let Nero make that choice of whether having Dante around is good or bad for him--and he can only make it if Dante is around.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he holds the cup between them. There's another long pause as he stars at the settling surface of the cooling coffee. ]

...The only family I've had for the past few decades has been at the end of my sword.

[ He glances back up towards Nero with his lips in a thin line. ]

I'm man enough to admit I'm a little out of practice.