![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
IC INBOX - kaisou
I'm busy. Make it quick.
(or just don't leave a message at all.)
(or just don't leave a message at all.)
username: dark slayer | ✉ ☏ 📷 |
username: dark slayer | ✉ ☏ 📷 |
no subject
[The Sparda twins do seem to reek of 'probably were tangentially connected to some weird demony cult thing' vibes.
He remains blissfully unaware that he's flustered Vergil so much. If he was, he would have milked it for all it was worth. But no, here he is genuinely happy that Vergil is actually willing to take a trip into this madness with him at all. And that he can get the poor guy out of the house after everything. That too.
When Vergil goes radio silent for a fucking hour, he assumes the man thought better of it and went back to his hermiting. He chalked it up to a failed attempt and made a mental note to try again later in the week. But no, here Vergil is, back again. ]
You did, but I never thought I'd see active proof of it.
Oh, I bet you are. I've seen some of the stuff in your shop. It's real nice.
...
Does that mean you're still on for some mischief? You were gone a WHILE.
no subject
[ demons hated the man and humans either feared or worshipped him, so... it seemed complicated. he didn't have the whole story yet. he rolls the words around in his head a bit as he answers the bit about sparda before the bit about the 'mischief', trying to figure out how to say it without coming across the wrong way. ]
I am not rescinding my suggestion, nor my participation.
...
I was merely flustered. And did not know how to respond.
1/2
[I was merely flustered. I was merely flustered. He's squinting at this, then goes back to read what he'd sent.
S Q U I N T]
2/2
Holy cow, if I knew that's what did it for you, I would've just taken you to Hobby Lobby. Lesson learned!!
Anyway, fab! GREAT to hear. Glad you're coming out of the house for some mischief. Meet me at the statue?
no subject
He'd worked hard for an HOUR to come up with a response that was honest, but not TOO honest as to embarrass himself, and clearly he'd messed up. He's getting yelled at, aaaugh. Social interaction was-- ]
I have no idea what you are talking about. What does what for me.
Do not answer that. It is not important now. I do not know what a 'Hobby Lobby' is.
I will collect my kit and ... see you soon, I suppose.
[ there's no way he can admit it was more the inundation of compliments and how ... happy zulius seemed that had flustered him. it's too late now. ]
no subject
Fine, keep your secrets. Anyway Hobby Lobby is a place where you can buy hobby stuff. They're actually pretty shitty. We probs don't wanna go there.
Great! See you soon!!!
[It's far too late and Dante is gonna ruin it for him. Tragic. Regardless, Zulius is gonna, just play around on his phone while he waits for Vergil to show up. Still just. Sitting in statue!Zhongli's lap. It's fine, Venti gave him permission. ]
no subject
Vergil will collect up a number of things. He won't bother replying to the text, he has a dozen things to bring along--fortunately, he'd gotten a curious item a while back--an odd backpack he'd gotten from a strange egg. This world was weird.
Anyway, the thing about it was... it was like a damn mary poppins bag. He's going to fit just about a dozen different 500mL containers of oil paint of several colours in there--mostly black, brown, gold, orange and yellows--as well as an entire array of brushes and some containers for water.
The same kit he uses to restore old items that had tarnished or he bought cheaply, while they needed a bit of a paint job.
He won't dare wear it, opting to carrying it, attached to his belt, hidden under the long coat he wears.
Does he need to bring his katana? No. Does he? Yes.
Vergil shows up in his usual long blue coat and vest--looking nothing like someone set to vandalize--or decorate--a statue in the mall square.
He's gonna stare up at the thing--good lord, it really just IS out here in the middle of a commerce area, for everyone to see.
....And there's zulius, just lounging on him.
He drags a hand over his face. ]
Should I even ask how you managed to get up there.
Or did you quite seriously teleport five feet up.
no subject
Zulius turns when he sees Vergil arrive- dressed as fancy as always and absolutely not dressed as someone who's about to commit vandalism against their god-friend's fancy new statue. Zulius himself is clearly full of mischief still, his tail flicking as he peers over Statue!Zhongli's knee like a cat about to pounce on a crinkle ball. ]
Ha ha! No! I used my magic flying parasol to get up here.
[Sure. You know. His magic flying parasol. Obviously. He can't see the backpack yet, hidden as it is with the coat, but oh boy will he have some comments on it when he does.]
You need help getting up here Handsome?
no subject
[ ...speaking of his own mary poppins-style item, it's almost funny to hear zulius has an item that could be considered from the self-same children's story. He almost wants to laugh, but instead, he gestures, a bit. Looking out at the somewhat busy commerce area--and how Surprisingly Few people are actually paying attention to the Zebrataur and the Statue. ]
Normally, I would simply fly up there myself, but turning into a devil in the middle of the afternoon does not seem like a sound idea.
[ in short, yes. what is your plan for helping him up there, though. ]
no subject
[Yup, he's just gonna come right out and say it! Zulius does peer around them. People tend to give him odd looks sometimes, but most of them rush on by in the same way most people do if they think someone has escaped from some sort of institute. He doesn't know what they see when they look at him, but it's not what he is, but they don't bother him with it, either, so he'll take it. ]
Yeeeaaaaaah, no. They'd probs super notice that. Hang on, I'll get you up in no time.
[And before he can say "Zulius, Zulius, let down your hair", the zebrataur whips his head, his mane elongating to make a little, black and white stripey rope which he dangles over the edge. He knows exactly what he's doing. The shit-eating grin he's got going on is proof of that.]
Ta-daaaaaa!
1/2
2/2
He puts a hand on his hip, raises his head to the sky as if to ask for mercy--then swings it down with such a put-upon sigh.
And then he's going to tie his sword to his hip and climb the fucking hair rope.
Once he's up. He's going to give him a one-handed gesture, like. Are you serious. ]
You could have at least made it a ladder instead of making me do a Rapunzel reenactment on broad daylight.
no subject
His shit-eating grin never goes anywhere. Not for a second. He just mirrors that one-handed gesture. Yes?]
I could have. But then I would have missed out on watching you climb a rope with your gorgeous biceps and I'm not about denying myself a visual treat when I deserve one.
[He has done nothing to deserve that.]
So! Do you have the paints? You ready for some mischief?
no subject
But now he's going to push his long coat to the side, and into Zhongli's statued lap goes... that terrible turtle-shell backpack. ]
I can see the look on your face, and before you say it, it is an item that has an unfortunate look about it, but is so entirely useful I have to overlook it.
'Mary Poppins' is an apt word to use here, as well.
[ and he's gonna pull
so many little cans of paint out of it.
far more than should fit in the little backpack. And washcloths. And jars of water. and paintbrushes. and-- ]
no subject
[Zulius is Zulius and there's no changing him. Vergil gets it right on the money as Zulius lets out a soft, amused snort at the backpack. He can't help himself: ]
Cowabunga, Dude. Don't know what you're talking about. You'd be the envy of fourth graders everywhere.
[He watches as Vergil keeps pulling more and more supplies out, his eyebrows raising.]
...Wow, you weren't kidding. How much can you get into that thing?
no subject
[ somehow he expected the mario joke--you know, italian and all, but Zulius went an even wilder direction.
He hefts a can of dark brown paint, deciding to start with that. time to colour zhongli's hair. smaller details before the larger ones. ]
I have not tested the... limits of it, fearful that I may break it.
but let us just say this thing made moving my shop intensely simple.
It carried at least half of the smaller items I had in stock that could fit inside the opening.
no subject
[He didn't take the low-hanging Italian fruit.]
Man, I bet it saved a TON on U-Hauls. And it looks like it was probs safer than carting stuff in boxes anyway? Like, less chance of them breaking.
[He picks about the tins of paint, a slow smile crossing his face as he realises he can up the mischief a little here. Well, for himself, and that's the best kind. Speaking of Italian fruit...]
So, what do you think about some oro for the cube? Make it real fancy.
[He grins around the paint can, drumming his fingers on it and waiting to see if Vergil notices the Italian he casually slid in there. ]
no subject
[ yes, that's the only reason.
He's going to get comfortable, leaning against the top part of the statue as he starts to work, quick motions with his paintbrush to fill in what little flecks of hair that dip down under the hood the shadowed figure wears. He'll colour the inside of the hood a dark colour as well, before he's turning his head to nod at Zulius. ]
Not that money is an issue, but half the reason moving to America in the first place was a pain was because I could barely trust companies to handle my items with proper damn care.
I far prefer handling my own things.
[ another flick and press of his brush, and then a pause.
...Yes, he absolutely caught that slip of Italian, an eyebrow quirking at the other. A little smirk follows, as if to wordlessly praise the other. ]
That is quite the idea.
Gold paint may be one idea, but as you say... 'making it fancy...'
...Perhaps we should decorate it with actual gold flake. That way it will never tarnish.
no subject
You're so good to me, Handsome. I really appreciate it.
[He's certainly going to take some time to watch Vergil work. He's not really had the chance to see the other man getting his whole restoration on. It's delightful to watch, really. Seeing the little lines of concentration on his face and the careful but deft movements of his hands. Zulius quietly logs them all in the back of his mind. He knows he really shouldn't be indulging like this. It's a dangerous game he's playing with himself and he really should know better. He knows how this ends and he doesn't want to put himself through it again.
But he does it anyway. At Vergil's comment about handling his own things, he lets out a filthy chuckle, waggling his eyebrows. ]
Oh, I bet you do.
[That smirk is delightful, he will take the wordless praise, please and thank you! He's been working hard on Duolingo even if he's 90% certain that freaky green owl is gonna show up in his bedroom one night and murder him for skipping a lesson. ]
Oooooh! [He claps his hands together.] LOVE that idea. We've gotta make sure it stands the test of time, after all. It's probs gonna be around as long as he will be and that's probably forever.
[He's gonna grab that and head over to the stupid cube. He has to rear up and rest his forehooves on statue!Zhongli's arm to get up there, but get there he does! He's not got the same delicate touch as Vergil has in painting, but he's not that bad. He's had to spend more than one desperate night before a production painting background sets, after all. ]
no subject
nevermind. He's got things to do. before the police catch a man with zebra animatronics and some fancy vampire cosplayer sitting up on the giant new statue. (as if the police could probably notice something like Zhongli's statue in the first place.)
he doesn't apparently mind being watched as he works either--it's become common enough practice in his own home, after all--Nero or Dante always hovering while he de-rusted some old antique perfume bottle, or the like.
He does pause when Zulius wiggles at the innuendo--vergil quietly chastising his own choice of words again. But once again, he'll let it pass--getting used to being around zulius meant also getting used to the fact that this man will Never let an easy joke like that go.
It's harmless.
what he'll pay better attention to is how excited the other gets when he mentions gold leaf. ]
It's easy enough to apply. I will therefore leave it to you. [ he's got a few pages of it in his bag, after all--he trusts the other to know how to handle it, funnily enough? He has to pause though. ]
...Did you know, traditionally, most everything that was gilded with gold leaf up until the 20th century was done so using squirrels.
[ youre used to this by now, right, zulius. ]
no subject
At least Vergil has grown to accept that these things will happen to him. It doesn't mean Zulius will let up on it, of course- it's just a lot easier for Vergil to accept it than fight it. Like playing dead when a bear's got you, or something.
He snorts in light amusement at the comment.]
Well, so long as it's easy~ Wouldn't want me exerting myself or anything.
[He's going about getting that gold leaf ready and painstakingly starting to apply it when Vergil drops a Random Fact on him. If Zulius is here with with easy jokes, Vergil is here with the random facts. He's used to it. It's part of the charm, and he's pretty sure this is just prepping him for when he gets to go on a quiz show one day. His ear flicks, considering.]
Wait. So like...they trained squirrels to do it with their little squirrel hands?
no subject
I am not sure you have my kind of regeneration.
[ you could just say you're worried about zulius getting hurt, vergil. ]
I ... ... I realise late that I could have worded it better, but perhaps the image of a dozen squirrels being trained to use gold leaf is. Amusing enough an image that I will not backtrack on it, nor be flustered by it.
Rather, I meant that, before the industrial revolution, making fine-tipped brushes for work like gold leafing items was difficult--unless you could get your hands on a squirrel tail.
Their fur was -- exclusively -- the best kind for handling gold leaf. Anything made using gilding that is dated before the industrial revolution was likely made using a squirrel's tail.
no subject
...Is that your weird, anal way of saying you don't want me to get hurt?
[He's just gonna call Vergil out on that one. Because he can. He snorts lightly.]
You can enjoy that mental image. Just lots of little painting squirrels being controlled like, a Disney Princess or something.
[He listens while Vergil gives the historically accurate explanation. It's exactly the level of nerdy he's come to expect from the other man, but it IS interesting. If a tiny bit morbid.]
I think I prefer my take, but wow, really? I did not know squirrel tails were that fine. They always kinda look like bottle brushes to me. But consider me educated. Thanks, Babe, one day I'm gonna have enough random info in here [he taps the side of his head] that I can totes win at Trivial Pursuit and I can thank you for it.
no subject
He moves to switch paints and he catches the others' gaze, and he huffs out a sigh. ]
I do not want half the city coming after me because I was inadequate in making sure you did not break your legs by way of falling off a giant statue. [ read; yes, that IS his weird anal way of saying he doesn't want you to get hurt. Moving On. ]
Perhaps that is what I am gearing you up for. I have few friends. Perhaps I need a partner for a game night. One that can outsmart both Dante and Nero.
no subject
Well, golly gosh, Mr. Vittore, that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me! I'm touched.
[He hums lightly to himself as he goes back to bling-ing up the cube. ]
OH, I see how it is. All these random facts you've been dropping on me is just training me up so you can claim victory over your family. You know what, I am totesgame for that. Dante doesn't strike me as someone who takes losing well. Might be funny to watch.
(no subject)
(no subject)