kowase | IC INBOX

[ but admitting he's a good person would mean giving up his hard-earned Scrooge status! It was a matter of principle! And hard work! And... he doesn't try brushing off Zulius' observations this time, simply raising a hand to drag through well-kept hair, as if to fix what doesn't really need fixing. ]

You would do the same. Were our roles reversed. [ he's not about to suggest this is payback for when he was taken by Krusnik either--he's already analyzed and decided such a comment would be ingenuine. ] As such, I suppose it is my loss on the debate again today. [ he aquiesces to Zulius' point, raising a hand and giving him a little wave as if to offer him the higher ground. ]

Ah. Role reversal.
I suppose I can handle taking care of the fifth of what you plan to order. [ ...and then a pause, a consideration. ] Be sure to order those saccharine drinks, as well.

[His principle here is dumb and Zulius will never give up on this one. He's pretty sure he can out-stubborn Vergil on this one if he tries hard enough. ]

I mean, natch, but I don't go around lying and saying I'm not a good person. [That was a very, very wise move on Vergil's part. It definitely wouldn't have gone down well. Zulius would have been clear such acts of kindness shouldn't be repaid. You do them because you care about the people you're doing them for, with no expectation for that kindness to be returned.

As Vergil offers him the higher ground, Zulius is more than happy to take it with a soft laugh, reaching over to pat Vergil on the shoulder. ] It's okay, Big Guy. You might win one eventually.

[Signs point to no on that one, but Zulius likes seeing Vergil try, so he wants to encourage that. He raises one eyebrow slowly upwards at the saccharine drinks comment.]

Is that your weird Vergil way of saying that you want milkshakes? [He chuckles, adding them to to order with a few taps- he gets a couple of flavours, if Vergil is going to live in the sin of eating Five Guys again, he'll make it an indulgent one] Okay, you adorable weirdo, done and done. They'll be here before we know it, blessed be are the powers of Doordash.

I will eventually master your tactics, and you will never again be able to get one over me. Just watch and wait. [ he won't, but he can still threaten, he can still HOPE; or at least put on the facade that he believes there is a battle to be won here.

He makes a face as the other calls the drink a 'milkshake', and he wonders why the english language is such a travesty. ]

...Is that what they are called. That is a terrible name for something, I am certain you are aware. Nearly half as bad as 'Smoothie'. These names are inane.

[ BUT THATS NEITHER HERE NOR THERE. he's going to just... nod his head. ]

When it arrives. I will go fetch it, at the very least. [ no need to make Zulius get up and go near the exit. probably for the best? ]

HAH, says you. [He raises his hands in faux-surrender.] Okay, Verg, I'll watch and I'll wait for the magical day you might get one over on me. Like, press X to doubt and everything, but I'll humour you.

[His grin only widens at Vergil's visible distress about the milkshakes. It might be at the other man's expense, but this really is making him feel better. Grounded. More himself again. There's light at the end of the tunnel and it's not an incoming train.]

Well, yeah! You get your milk, you add your ice cream and you shake it. Ergo, milk. Shake. Milk that is shaken. And what's wrong with smoothie? It rolls off the tongue really nice. Smooothiiie.

[And he can at least read between the lines there, and his smile softens, just a touch.]

...Thanks. I'm uh...sticking away from doors and windows for a little while.

[ normal things are offering Vergil chunks of Americanized culture as completely normal. Well read a scholar that he is, he still grew up in Europe and somehow, every day, America manages to make his brain feel like it's leaking out of his ear. ]

I will allow you the logic that milkshakes are spun drinks--but they're not milk. They're ice cream. Ice cream has more egg in it than milk. Heavy cream is closer to butter than milk.

[ do you see his problem?! ]

In Italian, it is Frullato. 'Blended Fruit.' It is far more sensible.

[ the hand gesture is back. ]

I figured such would be the case. It is not a problem.

[America continues to be The Worst and none of them should expect any different.

Zulius Can't Even Cook Toast Bunter frowns at that, confusion spreading across his face almost comically.]

...Wait. What? It doesn't have milk in it? What makes it so liquidy??? I thought that was milk? So there's like, zero milk in it at all? Why do they call it milkshake, then?! It would be not-milkshake if that was the case, right?

[Explain that one, Vittore!!!!

Zulius watches the hand gesture with a wide grin. He mirrors it as he tries to repeat the word. His attempt is, at least, a little better than his previous tries at Italian. He is improving with it. Slowly. ]

Frullato. I mean, okay, yeah, that's literally what it is, but it's not supposed to be sensible, Babe, it's supposed to be fun

Edited 2023-11-20 21:04 (UTC)

I suppose some milkshakes can have milk added in to aid in blending it, I suppose. I cannot claim to be an expert in your fast food, after all. ...Even if adding milk or water would cheapen the whole thing.

...

Fast food is generally cheap, though, is it not. I remember spending no more than 500$ at that place I did not go and it fed everyone. Uncomfortably strange. [ 500$ is how much you spend on wine. ]

I suppose I cannot. Fully argue that the language needs to be stiff.

Especially after seeing what some of America's Fast Food restaurants look like, inside.
...McDonalds has a Playroom for children in it.

I think the whole point is the cheap thing, tbh? Like, it's super popular for a reason, I guess? I mean, I buy it because I love indulging in that fatty, salty goodness. Buuuut I think for a lot of people it's a legit meal for them?

[Zulius is a rich guy but he understands that some people are not, he gets it!]

Glad you could see it my way, Babe. But hey, there's plenty of fun Italian words, too.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh yeah, the kids love Mc-Ds. That's why they have a clown mascot. And...whatever the flunk Grimace is. I remember they had a kids club where you could get like... McDonalds branded radios and stuff if you have a birthday there. Young stage capitalism was wild.

...I suppose that makes sense. Not everyone can afford to cook at home, if speaking to some of the people on the Libra App gives me any sort of view into peoples' lives at all.

[ god lol imagine being poor. he really can't fathom it. ]

...Hm. I'm not sure about funny words, but there are certainly sentences in Italian that always strike me as being strange. [ he mutters a 'In bocca al lupo' under his breath as he ... pauses. Looking quietly at Zulius. Definitely not distressed. ]

A restaurant with a clown as its mascot sounds unsettling at best. 'Grimace' is a terrible name to call anything. And I do not even want to imagine what a restaurant-branded radio looks like. [ capitalism was a mistake.

says the product of capitalism. ]

Yeah, it's a whole thing. I do this whole charity collection every December. Whatever the bar makes, I double and it goes to the local food banks. They super need it. Especially that time of year.

[He doesn't say it with even a sliver of braggart in his tone. It's just a thing he does.

He quirks an ear up, a playful smile crossing his lips as he raises a hand to it.]

Didn't quite catch that one, Handsome. You wanna try that one again?

[Capitalism was an absolute mistake and yet here they are.]

It was shaped like a box of their fries. No lie. And yeah, clowns are bad enough but why name a kid's mascot Grimace? What's that saying to the kids?

...Is that so. That is exceedingly kind of you. [ he definitely doesn't look awkward about it. ...Perhaps he should do. Something like that, at some point.

He brushes the thought off, though, waving a hand at the other as he pushes to have him repeat the italian sentence. He sighs. ]

In bocca al lupo. I believe the English equivalent is something like 'Break a leg.' It translates to 'Jump into the mouth of the wolf.'
The proper response is to say 'Crepi il lupo' in response--'may the wolf die.' Though in recent years, it's changed merely to 'grazi'--thank you--due to people not liking the idea of the wolf dying.

[ he rolls his eyes. ]

'Grimace' is a terrible name for anything. Let alone a child's mascot.
Perhaps it is a name on the nose. Uncomfortable.

Gotta give back when we can, right?

[Do something nice with all your money, Vittore! He has FAITH in you. He cants his head, listening to how Vergil pronounces that.]

In bocca al lupo? [He's really getting the hang of this pronunciation thing!] Omg I love that. We always use break a leg here. It's a biiiig theatre superstition. But I'm really digging the wolf thing. And IDK, I think I prefer the original. Like, "I hope that bitch ass wolf chokes on me".

[That's what it means, right? ]

Maybe! Sure doesn't elicit feelings of happiness and rainbows or anything that kids probably like. Though honestly, I think kids these days prefer tiktok over anything else so who knows, maybe they like it now?

[ doing something nice with his money would suggest that he thinks anything nice of others!! Which is. Really difficult for him. A guy who's spent most of his life fully believing that the only person who needed him was himself.

Maybe he'll change that mindset one day.

One day. ]

--Ha.

Somehow, I almost knew you would appreciate the colloquialism. It is a play on words that strikes me as something you would say anyhow.

[ there's definitely not a hint of fondness in that comment. Not at all. Just a normal thing you say to your normal friend who's asked you to come over and watch some tv so they could feel normal for a few hours. Not at all. ]

...What is 'TikTok'. Is that some sort of new 'Vine.'

Nevermind. I regret asking this, immediately.

[One magical day he will figure it out and Zulius will be so proud of him.]

I do appreciate it!! I do. You are correct and I am SO gonna add that to my repertoire.

[No fondness at all, no sir. Just guys being bros here. Everything is absolutely and completely normal. ]

You're right though! I'm actually a little impressed. It's basically what took the place of Vine! It's essentially the same thing. The kids really dig it.

I will write it out for you later, so you can practice.

[ see, he can do kind things. or maybe it's just him being stuffy, wanting to make sure if Zulius is gonna use it, he pronounces it properly or something.

But. Then he's making That Face. Grumpy old man face. ]

Kids like any sort of social media that's loud and noisy. What else is new.

Thanks, Verg, I promise I'll practice.

[It could very well be both. Zulius will do his best to get it right regardless.

He laughs at the Grumpy Old Man Face.]

Don't forget it has to be in chunks of three minutes or less or they get bored! No attention spans, Kids Today.

[He is stirring the pot. On purpose. ]

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