kowase | IC INBOX

[ ...he actually has to pause when Zulius says that. ...Family? Hm. Family... ]

...I suppose that would be the closest thing I could consider. When my mother passed away, the gap between myself and my own father widened to a chasm; and I feel as if, perhaps, in the interim time between then and now, Zhongli has sort of fit himself in that space left between us. I look to him for advice as well and assurances more than I. May admit to anyone else. [ he doesn't look at Zulius when he says this--deciding it's a moment of vulnerability he doesn't want anyone to see. ]

It is an item I have since locked up in a secure place within my store-room. You are correct, it is a bit too powerful--dangerous an item to just have out and on display. if I choose to use it in the future, it will be on someone's request instead of how I used it ... playfully, last time.

[ but now ah, he does pause. ]

He has told me much about his home world. About mages, and how they use magical artifacts to summon 'familiars' to their side to wage wars with other mages.

I believe the necklace he wears is the item he used to summon Diarmuid to his side.

[Zulius listens to Vergil quietly as he talks, recognising the moment of vulnerability for what it is, and not interjecting or making a big production out of it. Honestly, it's...nice, that Vergil had that sort of presence in his life. It's abundantly clear he didn't really have a lot of people in his corner before coming to Kaisou. It's good he had Zhongli, that he still does. Zulius smiles softly, reaching out to give Vergil's wrist a brief little squeeze before pulling his hand away again. Just a little acknowledgement that he's being heard. ]

Well, we all need people like that in our lives. It's okay to be able to rely on the people you care about y'know? That's kind of the whole point of having friends that're family. People you can turn to, but on the flipside people than can turn to you too. It's a whole having people in your life, thing. And it's good! I'm glad you guys have each other.

[ It's okay to open up and let people in, Vittore, it won't kill you, he promises.]

I mean, to be fair, Verg, you didn't know what it did when you were first using it. You know now, and you know to use it better. And despite everything it did help me. It meant I had faces to all the names I found in books in the library.

[He knows who they are now. His herd, HIS friends-who-are-family in his past life. He's even had a few memories of them now, and he doesn't know if he'd have had that step forward without Vergil's little camera. ]

Ohhhhhhh snap. So diddy can just be like, popped over to him from anywhere with that? Wild. Little clingy, but sure, why not!

...It is a concept I am getting used to. [ he will decide not to bring up that he was once 'perfectly happy' being a hermit, before--because maybe. Just maybe. That opinion has finally changed, over the last six months. Shifted just a little. Two steps to the right. Not that far. ]

If it was helpful in such a way, then fine. I will accept that it has its uses. I admit I have been tempted to use it on myself, but uncertain that I would be interested in seeing what comes of it. [ after what he's read in his own books... ]

Given that their relationship began as one of commander and bodyguard, being able to teleport like that to your companion's side was likely a tactical choice, if nothing else.
Outside of war, well.
Perhaps it is a little clingy.

[ but then, a pause. ]

...Though, being able to teleport to someone's side is not an uncommon skill here, I feel.

You'll figure it out eventually. I've got faith in you. You've already come so far!

[Zulius could have guessed. Easily. He remembers how terrible Vergil was at General People-ing when they first met. He's come on in...well, not quite leaps and bounds, but he's definitely much, much better than he used to be. He can hold almost an entire conversation now!]

Hmmmm yeah. That could be a real unsettling selfie. But I guess Dante would be able to explain anything that came up, right? He doesn't have the whole...messy memory stuff the rest of us do. He'd probably know what it was right off the bat.

[Which doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Not really. ]

Oh, it's definitely clingy. But they're totes in the Honeymoon Period. They're gonna cling, and it's gonna be adorable but juuuuust slightly obnoxious.

[He shrugs, letting out a soft little hum sound.]

I mean, I guess. Mine's more places than people. If I haven't been somewhere, I can't teleport there, no matter who I need to get to. Trust me, I tried. [Just for a moment, that smile fades. It's brief, but the frown was there. He's quick to put the smile back, like it never went anywhere.] Still, it's a useful little trick to have, when you use it for non-clingy purposes.

I am sure Dante -- or Nero, for that matter, could aid me in understanding any photograph I take with it. However, the trouble comes with actually asking them. As I mentioned before, they are... particularly uneasy when I ask them things about our shared past.

[ and after some of the things he read, he could... understand why. ]

'Honeymoon Period'. Is that what it is called? I have often read the term 'twitter-pated', but I admit there is something a little more palatable about the colloquialism you used. [ he'll have to remember that one. write it down, mentally, so to speak. ]

I have recently learned I can do it as well. But mine is much like yours. And requires I use my sword. So it is useful for emergency. ...But truth be told, unless it is an emergency, I would sooner walk, or drive. [ using a portal feels... weird. ] If I could merely 'appear' in one flash like you can... [ his own method is so. so hard to explain to people. it's needlessly flashy. ]

...Well, if you want someone to take a pic of you, I don't mind- you can always ask me for whatever, Babe. Buuuut I figured this was more a...family thing.

[As complicated and messy as the Sparda thing is, he doesn't want to intrude on that particular shared grief. ]

Yeah! Like how couples who've just got married are super loved up and oooooonly into each other and everyone else around them is just like, "jeez, can you guys get a room?" Like that! Twitter-pated is a good one too, though! But either way, that's where they're at.

[Another poet has come and gone. They've not listened to a single poem, they definitely haven't ordered any coffee. Zulius hasn't even noticed- he's having a good time, curled up on a couch next to Vergil, talking shit about...well, anything.]

You use your sword? So like that cool thing you can do with the uh...delayed reaction slicing thing? [He makes the slicing motions, holding an imaginary yamato in his hands, mimicking the movements of Judgement Cut- he definitely makes little swoosh-woosh sounds as he does it.] I mean, yeah, I can see how my way is easier. It doesn't involve waving a weapon around people who might think you're trying to murder them with it.

Perhaps the next time you visit the shop I will allow such a thing. I do not dare take it outside the shop. If I am to trust anyone with it, it would be you.

As for Diarmuid and Waver, I suppose it makes sense for them. Having being separated for so long, as they apparently have been. I remember the look on Dante's face when he saw me for the first time in years.

[ ...and this is where he's interrupted by a scuffed looking Barista, asking if she can get them anything from the coffee bar.

Vergil will give her a withering look--but order a cappuccino--no added sugar. god forbid they give him one of those americanized drinks. ...and some biscotti, if they have it.

once she takes Zulius' order he crosses his arms, returning to his sort of gruff bluster, trying to remember where he left off. ]

...Sort of. That. Odd movement--Judgement Cut, as Nero told me my past self apparently named it--is done with a motion eyes can't quite track.
To open a portal, I.

Hm.

[ this is... awkward to describe, because it's WEIRD. ]

I cut an opening in the air. [ he opens a palm, making an + motion over it with a finger. ]

It opens a ...hole in the air and I can step through it to any place I've been before.

[You know, it's actually touching to hear that Vergil trusts him with that. ]

You bet, Verg. Whenever you wanna do it, you let me know and I'll drop by. I promise there's nothing I can see in there that'd scare me off.

[Vergil's pretty much stuck with him at this point. Suck to be him.]

I guess that's true. Something about absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

[Zulius casts the Barista a withering look, because they're talking here? Naturally, in the complete opposite to Vergil, Zulius orders some ridiculously Americanised drink with about five shots of syrup in it and a goddamn cinnamon stick sitting in the middle. It probably had enough sugar to keep the tooth fairy in business for decades.

He watches as Vergil makes the little X on his hand, letting out a thoughtful hum. ]

...Yeah okay, that is actually pretty EXtrA, Babe. I mean, love it for you, super theatrical. But it'd for sure catch the eye. You couldn't do that stealthily.

Perhaps sometime in the New Year. I think that may be the best idea. I will let you know far in advance. [ ...he's gotten used to the idea of Zulius being 'stuck' in his life. Most people didn't have the man's patience to watch the hermit wiggle out of his shell. ]

It's... a bit much. Truth be told, I will likely only use it in emergency situations--or to go to places far, far too much a distance to drive quickly. I considered using it to go back to Italy to buy things that are sorely lacking here. Like good coffee. And chocolate.

Great! Works for me!

[Zulius has the patience of a goddamn saint at this point. He has patience even he didn't realise he had.]

Sometimes it's a good thing to fall back on, so yeah, emergency situations works. And you know, I never actually tried to teleport outside the city before. [God is that even possible? Hmmm.] I was always afraid of accidentally splicing myself or something. It WOULD make travelling way easier though. It's so hard to get transportation when you're an actual centaur. Unless I wanna stand in a horse box for hours on end which trust me, I do not.

Perhaps, in the future, if there is somewhere you need to 'go outside the city,' I can see if my method of teleportation is one that's a bit more trustworthy than your flashy magic.

...I remember it feeling a bit like getting a static shock. And then my mouth tasted like ozone for a moment.
But perhaps that was just because I was exhausted and could not see straight due to everyone looking as if they were made of pure light.

[ at least he can control that magic sense now--turn it on and off when it suited him. ]

I mean, a little bit of one, a little of the other? You were in a real bad place and I was still kinda getting used to using it. I hadn't had it that long. But yeeaaaaaah, it can be kinda dicey- don't really wanna take the chance you know? I don't know about you, but I can't regrow limbs if any get like...left behind.

[But this is acceptable! He will accept this!]

But yeah, that sounds like a good plan. We can test it out.

I have never lost a limb, from my memory. So I do not know if I can grow one back. However.

[ he ALMOST brings up the fact that he'd put a knife into one of dante's lungs and the guy walked it off, but.

A lady is coming by with their coffee order, and he decides to think better on it. ]

If learning more about my heritage has warned me of anything, it is that we ... heal very efficiently, regardless of what kind of wound it is.

I mean good to know but-

[Oh look the lady is coming and maybe talking about SURVIVING HORRIFIC INJURIES is probably not...normal people conversation. Probably. The lady is glaring daggers at them and he realises, belatedly, that a whole other poet is on the stand. How many did they miss?

He takes the offered ridiculously sweet coffee with things sticking out of it- is that a cinnamon stick? A little candy cane? Probably! ]

Ha ha, thank you, Coffee Lady. We are definitely listening to the really good and interesting poetry and definitely not doing anything else at all.

IC INBOX - kaisou

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