( He lets the silence fall between them — lets his gaze linger on the bottle he rests there against his leg. He’s lounging there on the bed — a leg propped up which means boot on the bed and his back pressed against the pillow or two he’s propped up as a means to give him some support with the headboard. He’s… almost uncharacteristically quiet for a long moment, even as he hears Vergil toss a conversation starter his way and he sighs as he tips his head back and looks to the ceiling. )

Do you think dad’s dead?

( He realizes it’s a bit of a one-eighty swerve from what they’d been talking about but, he adds: )

Nero asked me about him. I didn’t really know what to say.

( Huff on his lips, he looks to his bottle again. )

I mean he’d have to be, right? Unless he’s just that much of an asshole to ditch his family.