Vergil has been somewhat waiting to see what it is V will do. It seemed just as one environmental danger passed, another began soon after. So, it worked out well enough that V made no attempt to find and establish his own place, separate from Vergil, Nero, and Kyrie. Vergil doesn't doubt that even if neither one of them brought it up directly, there would be some agreement that V needed to return, and they would end up back together again before long.
But now the danger has passed once more—life in Folkmore returning to as normal as it can be on a good day—and V remains. Vergil has opted to say nothing of it. He's gotten used to V skulking about, to the bird's yammering when he's permitted to exist outside of V, and to Shadow's incessant need to be a tripping hazard. He can't say that V's existence outside of himself sits well with him any better than it had before V moved in, but Vergil's tolerance for him has nonetheless increased since beginning to share a living space. Bygone are the days of thinly veiled resentment, or sharp words for critical remarks. It's...something, at least. Even if Vergil finds him to be a walking, confounding contradiction—wanting to remain in Vergil's orbit while in the same breath inherently undermining Vergil's own existence in his decision to prolong his life—it's something.
"What are your plans for the day?" Vergil sits at the kitchen island, his breakfast finished albeit his dishes still in front of him.
The moderate dangers wrought in Folkmore buy V time, time in which he seems expected to stay in this household. It's as close to a home as he's had, but V's well aware he's a guest not a resident, no matter how long the visit extends. Dangers here inevitably pass, and the day will come when they see no need for him to stay. It appears to be that day when Vergil speaks to him after breakfast. A stone sinks in V's gut. He holds his breathing steady and closes the book of poetry, one of Vergil's, he'd been reading from.
"I'm going to the library," V says. He may as well borrow books from there instead of Vergil, something he needs to get used to. "I'm considering checking out the community gardens in Willow, but that is not certain."
He does not trust the invitation from their host, but spirits that host stalls near his at the farmers' market invited him as well. It's a way of earning more Lore. V can hear how sad his plans sound, how little is to them, how little there is to his life. The life he insisted on living by coming here. A life he has little idea how to live. He must, however, to make it worth it.
Vergil hums his acknowledgment of V's response before rising from his chair.
"If you would not mind a detour along the way to the library then," he says, as he gathers up his dishes, "there is something I have been meaning to show you that I believe you will like."
Vergil has no intention of taking it personally, however, should V decline today. He's not exactly on the verge of death, but neither is he particularly spry and energetic. When it comes to traveling around Folkmore, V must be far more mindful than the rest of them about how far and how much walking he must do. Walking to and from the library and spending time wandering its shelves could very well wear V out on a bad day, and whatever other plans he might make for himself. And given Vergil's intention of an invitation rather than derailment of V's plans for the day, Vergil almost anticipates a suggestion they go another day rather than acceptance.
Heading to the sink with his dishes, Vergil stands with his back to V as he cleans them, his habit of avoiding dishes being left in the sink for long persisting even now.
Something, V suspects, might be tolerable living conditions, perhaps an apartment or small home near but not too near to this house. It might even be closer to the train station, the library, or should Vergil feel especially generous and thoughtful the Catfe. It is thoughtful in a way, but V tastes ash in his mouth instead of breakfast. As much as he feels an imposition on the household, he's come to enjoy being part of it. V wants to stay, but the words dry in his mouth. Nero might be more amenable, but V will not put the boy between the two of them. Should Vergil want him gone, V and Vergil can work it out (even if working it out primarily entails V packing up what belongings he has and taking up residence elsewhere).
"That's fine," V says. Delaying the inevitable, when it has come, serves no purpose. He's not going to squirm out of the conversation to buy another day or two or seven in this home. "Catbus regularly comes to the library around the time school ends for the day, and it stops wherever people need to go. I can time my activities accordingly."
Sharing the seats with children, even teenagers, is a larger bother than stepping inside a creature for transportation. However, V has no qualms about holding his own with them. Other adults might give them leeway, but they're responsible for their actions, the same as anyone else.
"We can head out when you are ready then. I've little else for the day."
Softer individuals might question V's agreement, provide that reassurance that it did not need to be today just to be certain it would not inconvenience him. Vergil offers no such coddling, assuming V to be more than capable of managing himself and judging what he is capable of doing in a day. He washes and dries his hands after setting his clean dishes in the drying rack. Vergil remains unaware of the leaps in logic and conclusions that V is reaching as a result of his vague introduction of doing anything together at all today.
"Your familiars will need to behave themselves while we are out."
Griffon will just get them thrown out. Even with all the signage emphasizing utter silence is to be maintained at all times within the bookshop, no doubt the bird would take that as a challenge. And while Shadow is less likely to cause nearly as much trouble, he is still a willful being. Better that he remain a mobility aid for V as much as possible if he is to be present.
A day with only V on Vergil's agenda—no training with Nero, no comparing notes on books with Kyrie, no time spent with his partner. Vergil has more connections, even should they sometimes have similarly light schedules in Folkmore. The restriction on their time together is only V's schedule, something that gives V a polite way to exit should he need it. He's loathe to depend on it, however, as Vergil is as likely to see through him as he is to see through Vergil.
He doesn't leap up to go immediately. V sets the book aside and considers his day. Whatever happens, however things go with Vergil, it's best they part ways afterward. So he will be out through lunch, so he'll need to buy or summon his food. Probably. V rises and moves toward the kitchen to check out leftovers in the fridge he might bring with him. He's not picky, and the food here is quite good on average.
He glances sideways at Vergil at the reference that V's familiars, not only Griffon, will need to behave. The bird can bother most people, so V takes that into account for when he allows Griffon free to roam and when he accepts being tormented in his own head as the cost for not allowing it more often. It really slows down his reading sometimes. However, the library is not a place for Griffon to be allowed free. Also, Vergil prefers Griffon not to be out all the time at home. His head can be quite the noisy place.
It is probably best none of them are out if the conversation turns the way V expects. Yet he doubts that's what Vergil means. Vergil would not demand that for his own sake, so there's definitely some third party involved, even if it's only the cats at Catfe.
He pulls out a container and an ice pack. V packs them into his bag. It'll stay good long enough. That's all he needs to be ready, and waiting for bad things to happen makes them feel like they take forever. "I'm ready."
While V readies himself to head out, Vergil does the same by collecting Yamato and his coat. True to his word, once V indicates he's ready, Vergil steps out of the house. He keeps a slower pace than he would normally walk, trying to be mindful that V's stamina will only last for so long even if it is not the least bit likely he will be exhausted by this walk alone. Vergil does not reach for any semblance of conversation as they walk. At most, Vergil spares a glance or two towards V when they first begin walking, making certain his pace is not too much before his attention is on the path ahead of them.
Walking side by side, people could be excused for missing the similarities between them. V hunches, not at his full height, and his gait reflects the way he leans on and uses his cane. He's thin, gaunt even, and no amount of moisturizer will fix all the cracks subtly marking his skin. It's how he's coming apart, an act ever in process and never reaching its conclusion. Vergil, however, is strong, solid, and tall. He emanates an energy that says not to fuck with him in a way that doesn't stick with V. It helped him get rich in a matter of days, to pay Dante's fees, but it's a continued annoyance here in Folkmore.
He says nothing when Vergil says nothing. The silence, in and of itself, means little. Neither of them are partial to small talk. V uses that conversational technique only to gain enough spoons to live and usually with strangers or acquaintances. Not Vergil. He's sooner get impaled on Yamato.
"Slowly but surely," V answers. "Though I haven't finished your books, I've taken to rereading some as I go along. I get more out of them the second time."
And more, after he's read a few more books. They continue to hold new ideas, new worlds, in only turns of phrase he could never derive on his own. It's one of the greater pleasures he's found here, a good use of his time.
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october
But now the danger has passed once more—life in Folkmore returning to as normal as it can be on a good day—and V remains. Vergil has opted to say nothing of it. He's gotten used to V skulking about, to the bird's yammering when he's permitted to exist outside of V, and to Shadow's incessant need to be a tripping hazard. He can't say that V's existence outside of himself sits well with him any better than it had before V moved in, but Vergil's tolerance for him has nonetheless increased since beginning to share a living space. Bygone are the days of thinly veiled resentment, or sharp words for critical remarks. It's...something, at least. Even if Vergil finds him to be a walking, confounding contradiction—wanting to remain in Vergil's orbit while in the same breath inherently undermining Vergil's own existence in his decision to prolong his life—it's something.
"What are your plans for the day?" Vergil sits at the kitchen island, his breakfast finished albeit his dishes still in front of him.
no subject
"I'm going to the library," V says. He may as well borrow books from there instead of Vergil, something he needs to get used to. "I'm considering checking out the community gardens in Willow, but that is not certain."
He does not trust the invitation from their host, but spirits that host stalls near his at the farmers' market invited him as well. It's a way of earning more Lore. V can hear how sad his plans sound, how little is to them, how little there is to his life. The life he insisted on living by coming here. A life he has little idea how to live. He must, however, to make it worth it.
no subject
"If you would not mind a detour along the way to the library then," he says, as he gathers up his dishes, "there is something I have been meaning to show you that I believe you will like."
Vergil has no intention of taking it personally, however, should V decline today. He's not exactly on the verge of death, but neither is he particularly spry and energetic. When it comes to traveling around Folkmore, V must be far more mindful than the rest of them about how far and how much walking he must do. Walking to and from the library and spending time wandering its shelves could very well wear V out on a bad day, and whatever other plans he might make for himself. And given Vergil's intention of an invitation rather than derailment of V's plans for the day, Vergil almost anticipates a suggestion they go another day rather than acceptance.
Heading to the sink with his dishes, Vergil stands with his back to V as he cleans them, his habit of avoiding dishes being left in the sink for long persisting even now.
no subject
"That's fine," V says. Delaying the inevitable, when it has come, serves no purpose. He's not going to squirm out of the conversation to buy another day or two or seven in this home. "Catbus regularly comes to the library around the time school ends for the day, and it stops wherever people need to go. I can time my activities accordingly."
Sharing the seats with children, even teenagers, is a larger bother than stepping inside a creature for transportation. However, V has no qualms about holding his own with them. Other adults might give them leeway, but they're responsible for their actions, the same as anyone else.
no subject
Softer individuals might question V's agreement, provide that reassurance that it did not need to be today just to be certain it would not inconvenience him. Vergil offers no such coddling, assuming V to be more than capable of managing himself and judging what he is capable of doing in a day. He washes and dries his hands after setting his clean dishes in the drying rack. Vergil remains unaware of the leaps in logic and conclusions that V is reaching as a result of his vague introduction of doing anything together at all today.
"Your familiars will need to behave themselves while we are out."
Griffon will just get them thrown out. Even with all the signage emphasizing utter silence is to be maintained at all times within the bookshop, no doubt the bird would take that as a challenge. And while Shadow is less likely to cause nearly as much trouble, he is still a willful being. Better that he remain a mobility aid for V as much as possible if he is to be present.
no subject
He doesn't leap up to go immediately. V sets the book aside and considers his day. Whatever happens, however things go with Vergil, it's best they part ways afterward. So he will be out through lunch, so he'll need to buy or summon his food. Probably. V rises and moves toward the kitchen to check out leftovers in the fridge he might bring with him. He's not picky, and the food here is quite good on average.
He glances sideways at Vergil at the reference that V's familiars, not only Griffon, will need to behave. The bird can bother most people, so V takes that into account for when he allows Griffon free to roam and when he accepts being tormented in his own head as the cost for not allowing it more often. It really slows down his reading sometimes. However, the library is not a place for Griffon to be allowed free. Also, Vergil prefers Griffon not to be out all the time at home. His head can be quite the noisy place.
It is probably best none of them are out if the conversation turns the way V expects. Yet he doubts that's what Vergil means. Vergil would not demand that for his own sake, so there's definitely some third party involved, even if it's only the cats at Catfe.
He pulls out a container and an ice pack. V packs them into his bag. It'll stay good long enough. That's all he needs to be ready, and waiting for bad things to happen makes them feel like they take forever. "I'm ready."
no subject
He breaks the silence eventually.
"How has your reading been?"
no subject
He says nothing when Vergil says nothing. The silence, in and of itself, means little. Neither of them are partial to small talk. V uses that conversational technique only to gain enough spoons to live and usually with strangers or acquaintances. Not Vergil. He's sooner get impaled on Yamato.
"Slowly but surely," V answers. "Though I haven't finished your books, I've taken to rereading some as I go along. I get more out of them the second time."
And more, after he's read a few more books. They continue to hold new ideas, new worlds, in only turns of phrase he could never derive on his own. It's one of the greater pleasures he's found here, a good use of his time.