Characters: Dante Sparda, Vergil Sparda, Nero Sparda, V. (Probably I'm going to add the Ladies later.)
-> My masterlist
Dante
Uncle Rock Energy. Especially from the 80s and 90s.
Think Old school rock and roll, AC/DC, Guns and Roses, Van Helen, Led Zeppelin, Mötley Crüe, all of that.
If he wants to feel extra badass, he puts on some Pantera and Megadeth.
But because he was a 20-year-old in the early 2000s makes me believe he had a Nu-Metal phase. So Korn, P.O.D., Limp Bizkit (ofc.), Godsmack, Rage Against the Machine, Mudvayne and Snot. (DMC3 Dante is so Snot coded)
Nero once told him that Limp Bizkit is considered “old man music”, and Dante almost had a stroke.
Has a soft spot for dad rock bands like Nickelback, Incubus, Creed and Audioslave.
Defends Nickelback with a passion, says the "Look at this photograph!" meme in 2025.
Unexpected music favs: 80s/90s pop divas & disco queens. Madonna, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Cyndi Lauper and Boney M. (He had danced to Rasputin more than once)
If you asked DMC3 Dante if they likes pop, he would say, "No way! That's chicks' music, I only listen to real music. Now, check this out!" [Breakdances to Gorilla Radio]
But now, as a 40-year-old, he doesn't give a single damn. He'll sing shamelessly to Mariah Carey at 2pm on a Thursday like he is auditioning for American Idol.
His DMC4 design makes me think that he may also be into country music. Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and maybe some Dolly Parton (I know next to nothing about country guys, I'm not a gringo.)
Vergil
Classical Music, he is a pretentious snob like that.
Bach, Chopin, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Complex, layered and structured. Something that requires great skill and feat to execute.
He would rather analyse and dissect the music than listen to it casually.
However, I feel that he would like some jazz pieces, especially very piano-forward compositions, as this genre can also be layered and complex. It also requires a high level of mastery from extremely skilled musicians, which Vergil respects.
Think of Bill Evans, Art Tatum and Miles Davis.
Guilty pleasure: Progressive/math rock
He will have to be introduced to it, maybe by Nero or Dante, and he would begrudingly listen to it until he finds himself kinda liking it.
I think that some bands that are considered "Musician music" could grow on him, like King Crimson or Rush. He would never admit it out loud, but Nero notices that every time he puts on Tool, Vergil doesn't scoff or ask him to turn it off. (He is secretly vibing to it)
Aside from those 3 genres, I think he loathes everything else with a burning passion.
Especially Dante's music.
Every time Dante listens to music, Vergil complains.
“Cease that infernal noise,”
And Dante grins and cranks the volume up one decibel.
This has caused no fewer than 2 broken stereos, six noise complaints and one police visit.
Nero
Emo, pop-punk and alt-rock. He likes aggressive songs with grit and an emotional core.
Lots of My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Simple Plan, Paramore, early P!ATD, Evanescence, All Time Low, and Breaking Benjamin.
He cried to Cancer by MCR. Feels all deep and profound (unironically) when listening to "My Immortal"
Has a workout playlist with a copious amount of Linkin Park.
He listens at painfully loud volumes. He destroys his eardrums every time he puts on a playlist. Kyrie nags him because she’s convinced he’s going deaf by 30.
My man goes to every small indie/garage show in the city.
He knows every grimy basement venue and sketchy bar with a stage.
Mosh pit fan. It could be a Taylor Swift concert, and he will find his way into a mosh pit. Every time he goes to a show, he comes back with so many bruises that he may very well have come back from hunting demons.
Once tried to crow-surf and fell face-first to the floor.
Nico filmed it, and it is one of her most prized possessions.
Guilty Pleasures: Probably girly-pop ballads from singers like Taylor Swift, Chappel Roan, Olivia Rodrigo or Alicia Keys. Kyrie put it on all the time.
He sings with her, but claims it's "totally ironically" (he loves every second of it.)
V
I'd divide his musical taste into two categories: 1. Pretentious Poet. 2. YouTube atmospheric, ambience, haunting gothic music compilations, 2 hour + rain sounds.
Lots of Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Björk, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and Ethel Cain. Obscure, melancholic and avant-garde
His shortest playlist is 7 hours long.
He once put an Ethel Cain album interlude. Vergil walked in and genuinely thought the stereo was broken. (This is no hate to Ethel Cain, my man is just uncultured like that.)
Because of his taunt, I feel that he kind of likes swing and tap music
Owns a suspicious number of soundtracks from obscure arthouse films no one else has seen.
Secret Favourites: This man loves Hozier, Kate Bush and Florence + the Machine. He knows "Take Me to church" and "Army of Dreamers" by heart.
I saw @heist-family-content's post about Bruce and Jason bonding over reading, and got inspired, even if I can't find myself to write it in full...
Here's the base for different scenarios I imagine lead to the rest of the batfam learning about Bruce and Jason's two three person book club:
Nightwing and Batman crouching in the middle of a patrol, looking at Gotham's skyline.
Dick: I'm telling you, that backflip should go to for Guinness
Bruce: hm
Dick: Like, I know my opinion comes too close from home but-
Jason, throws a book at Bruce like a shuriken:: Think fast!
Bruce, catching it and turning it around to see the cover:
Dick, Lowering his arms from the fighting stance he had them: Little wi-?
Bruce: "No Longer Human"?
Jason, smirking as he jumps down the building: Catch ya on Thursday!
Dick: ???
Bruce: Should I be concerned? Is this a call for help?
Dick: ??!!
Bruce: Or maybe he just likes Dazai. Maybe he just decided to go for eastern literature.
Dick: What-?
Bruce, standing behind Tim, leaning against the chair while the teen types in the computer, both of them in uniform but without their masks.
Bruce, points at something on the screen: Try to input this. Move this other over here.
Tim, nods, clicks and types: Nice! Now we just need to-
Both of them turn around at the sound of the motorbike entering the cave.
Bruce straightens himself when Jason jumps off and furiously walks towards them.
Tim: Woah! Jason?!
Jason: What's yer problem?!
Tim, worriedly looks between them:
Jason, throwing something HEAVY in the table next to them: I have SO much to say! First of all, what the actual fuck?!
Bruce: Language.
Tim, slowly reaching towards the object Jason dropped:
Jason: Second of all, you gave me a WEEK to finish it?!
Bruce: Did you not?
Jason, scoffing: I finished it the same night, thank ya very much. But that's not the point.
Tim, mumbling: "Anna Karenina"?
Bruce: Let me clean myself. I'll see you upstairs.
Jason, already halfway through the stairs: Hurry the fuck up! I'm upset n'I wanna talk 'bout it!!
Tim, still in shock watching as his dad enters the showers room: Lev? Tolstoy?!
Damian, dragging his feet, yawning and rubbing his eyes, opening the door to the kitchen.
Jason, sobbing as he hugs Bruce:
Damian, CONCERNED:
Jason: I knew it was going to happen, but that's still so unfair!!
Bruce, softly comforting Jason, dragging his hand on the young man's back, pressing his cheek on his hair:
Damian: What-?
Bruce, shakes his head and raises his free hand to point to the book on the table: There, baby. Want to go talk about it? We can choose another one for Thursday.
Jason, nods, and let's himself be dragged out of the kitchen:
Damian, grabs the book with a frown: ?? "A Little Life"?
Cass, Bruce and Jason are at the library. Jason and Bruce are discussing the latest book while Cass is resting her head on Bruce's lap.
Duke:
Jason, looks at the teen: Hey, man. Lookin' for pops here?
Duke: Uh... No, actually. Was looking for...
Duke, looks again to the paper in his hand:
Jason, already up, bending a bit to look over Duke's shoulder at the piece of paper: Oh! That one s'actually behind ya, old man!
Bruce, turns around and grabs a book:
Cass, pouting as the movement has her forced up from her cuddling session.
Jason: They making you read Kafka in school, kiddo? Ain't it too political for ya'all?
Duke, taking the book from Bruce: Thank you, B. I... Uh. I guess? They gave us a list and made us choose a title. I just thought-
Jason: What? You thought "Metamorphosis" seemed an easy option because it's length? Oh, boy.
Duke:
Duke: Fuc-
Bruce: Language.
Jason, arms crossed, tapping his elbow. Looks at Bruce:
Bruce, softly smiles, nodding and moving so Cass goes back to her spot:
Jason, trows an arm over Duke's shoulder and moves him to sit on the sofa with him: Tell you what, Duckie-duck. Today we're having an impromptu session with ya.
Duke: Thank you?
Jason: I won't allow you to fail English class just because you didn't check out your options.
Duke: Thank you!
Bruce: We will have a talk about your lack of investigative inquiring, though.
Duke, grimacing already: ...Thank you...
I just imagine Cass knew from the beginning. She's there every Thursday, laying on Bruce's lap. Jason was bothered at her irrupting during his "Bruce time" the first time, but when he noticed Cass was actually paying attention and smiling, he accepted his destiny. She's part of the club, even if she doesn't always actively read the books. She reads them when she's truly interested.
I have a little art/writing dynamic if anybody wants to join:
!!Make your local Cold smile!!
Yes. That's it. It doesn't matter how, doesn't matter what type of smile. Your Cold doesn't even have a mouth? WHO CARES?! nothing can stop the cold little freak.
“When I say run, I need you to do as I say without looking back and don’t wait for me.”
“It’s all going to okay, they would never hurt you again.”
“I swear to you, that as long as I’m alive I won’t let a single soul ever harm you.”
“Listen to me. . . take deep breaths, yes follow my breathing just like that. There’s no need to panic, I’m right here now, aren’t I? You’re safe.”
“When you love something, you protect it with your entire life at stake, and right now, my guts tell me to do the same.”
“I’ll be back very soon, but don’t come out. Stay there hidden until I come back and try not to make a noise, hmm?” *forehead kisses being a must here*
“I’m so so sorry! I wish I would’ve never left you alone! If I knew this would happen, I would never leave you alone.”
I must have said ‘this sucks’ about a million times that day, and ‘that was close’ about a million more. How much longer would my luck hold out? How many more times could I cheat death, in that seemingly endless living hell?
METMYDEADLINE; Inde Alyssa Ashcroft circa 2026, by Cas.
