kowase | IC INBOX

[He deserves SO much comfort for his big old zebra butt!!!]

You gotta have a certain level of "this might as well happen" about you to survive New York, I think. You for SURE can't be uptight about it which I'm...not 100% sure you're capable of so, yeah. Probs best to avoid it.

[Zulius would very strongly stand by the fact that the acoustics in his theatre are ahamazing. He grins, waggling his eyebrows a little. ]

Maybe it's a little bit of both. And great! A man after my own heart!

[He'll lean over to pull a little bell rope, summoning one of staff, who he instructs to bring some prosecco with a wink and a "thanks, Babe". ]

Either way! It makes life way easier.

[ hes gonna give zulius a LOOK as the man accused him of being too uptight to survive somewhere like NEW YORK, but. the expression fades pretty quickly, half because its not worth being annoyed about. and half because maybe he just... decided theres no point in arguing truth. ]

...You like it as well. Somehow I am not surprised. It's a ... fancy enough drink.
I simply do not getting drunk, unlike certain other people in my family. [ hes not even talking about the spardas this time ] But if I am to enjoy liquor, it is best to be one that tastes good.

[ he never understood the point of getting drunk on something that tasted like burning chemicals. ]

...Grazie. [ he takes the drink when its delivered, and he'll even raise his glass to zulius. ]

[At the LOOK, Zulius just raises his eyebrows and does a little air kiss. Unbothered, ready to GO. He's probably a little disappointed Vergil didn't try to make an argument out of it.]

Totes! If I'm gonna have a drink, I'm gonna enjoy it. I'll also take a good mojito, for your future reference. [Because obviously there's going to be future times where Vergil is going to buy him a drink, obviously.] I'm not surprised you don't like getting drunk. Probably a little too much like letting go for you, huh?

[He would pay money to see Vergil let his hair down, he really would! He grins, and raises his own glass in a little toast.]

Cheers! [He takes a sip of his drink, then idly, casting a glance at the flowers he definitely hasn't got any feelings about again:] I'm actually a little surprised you showed up. I figured you would have bailed.

[ he might not know Zulius Super well by now, but he knows ENOUGH that the man isnt someone who can be debated when he has the upper hand. Vergil isn't someone who likes going into battle with a disadvantage. ]

Mojito. Sugar and mint, is it not. I remember having one of those on a trip to Cuba when I was young. They put far too much sugar into it, it was like sand at the bottom. [ he's a picky drinker, Zul. but if its what zulius likes, it... is unfortunately being noted. ] I tend to have difficulty with English if I drink too much. It is my second language, and in order to speak it, I am... translating what I am thinking in my head. If I drink, I stop being able to do that flawlessly. [ yes. he gets embarrassed about letting his accent show. thats what he's saying.

he clinks his glass with zulius', and then turns his eyes to the stage, watching the other audience members get settled. ]

...I considered it.
My desire to see the show was outweighed my discomfort for social engagement, it turns out. That, and I am more than certain my mother would roll in her grave if I stood someone up.

[ how many times has he heard her repeatedly tell him to "always be a gentleman".

time to take a long sip of his wine. ]

[A wise man if ever there was one!]

Aww, see that's the fun part! The sugar is a little pick me up- a nice little boost! [One day Vergil will see Zulius unhinge his jaw like a snake to devour an entire-ass cake and learn just how much of a sweet tooth this man has. As is he'd be delighted to know Vergil is making a mental note of his drink of choice. ] Ohhhhhh I see. Honestly, that sounds adorable. Even you're allowed some flaws sometimes, you know.

[And well. That's an answer. Not the ego boost he was looking for, but an answer it is. He sips his drink.]

So nooooooot for my delightful company then? [He raises his glass in a little salute.] Hooray for mothers who raise their kids to be considerate.

If I wanted a pick me up, I would have espresso. If there's one thing America has difficulty with, it is getting a proper cup of the stuff outside one of those cafes that take twenty minutes to prepare it. [ which is fine, but he makes better coffee at home, on his own. ] ...And I do not know what you are talking about. I am without flaw. I graduated top of my class, you know.

[ it doesn't sound like another joke.

It's another joke.

He's watching the stagelights now, the bustle of people down in the lesser seats starting to chatter, much like zul and himself. ]

...
You startled me when you first spoke to me.
Your... blatant disregard for any sort of boundary upon meeting someone for the first time was completely jarring. I have never in my life met someone so...
How would you say it in English.

Someone with the spoken subtlety of a tractor driving through a fence.
[ that is to say... ]

I do not dislike your company.

Perhaps I may even appreciate the ... wild variety to my usual company.

Yeah? Definitely not to your grand Italian standards, huh? I usually have coffee with Moxxie, and it takes baristas like, a million years to get his order read anyway, so I honestly can't say I really notice the difference.

[Because that's what happens when your friend has the most complicated coffee order known to man. He snickers at the joke, look, Vergil is obviously trying and he deserves some sort of reward for it. He can throw the guy a bone here. ]

Really? Top of the flawless class? That explains so much.

[He watches the people mill around below them as the seats begin to fill. The theatre is his baby, he knows every inch of it, he knows the building's heartbeat as well as his own, and he makes quiet mental notes- how quickly it's filling, is seat 35H still getting stuck? he needs to make sure to get a restock for the ice cream cart tomorrow morning, looks like the issue with the top left spotlight was fixed.

He then realises Vergil is talking, he turns his attention back to the other man and what he's saying sinks in. That's actually...kind of touching. In that weird Vergil way. Naturally, he's not going to let Vergil know how touched he is by it, instead letting a sly smirk cross his face. ]

The spoken subtlety of a tractor driving through a fence, THAT'S a new one. I'm gonna remember that one for the future.

[Look, he's not DENYING it, that's a pretty damn fair assessment of his character. Still, he grins around his drink as he takes a sip.]

I'm glad you appreciate my wild company, Verg. Always happy to give you more of it. You're not so bad to spend time with yourself. Wouldn't kill you to smile once in a while, but I guess that makes you...you. Got this whole dark and brooding thing goin' on.

...I fear to ask what sort of coffee he orders. 'To get his order read' makes it sound as if he is one of those dreadful millennials who have an order that cannot be made without more than one intake of breath.

[ it goes without saying that vergil takes his coffee black.
thanks for laughing at his jokes though. maybe that's why he's slowly accepting that he doesn't mind zulius' company. he's the only person who laughs at his dryly delivered, terrible jokes and don't point them out for their failure to launch the way he aimed to.

he'll claim he's funnier in italian.

he doesn't seem to notice, or mind that zul seems distracted with the goings-on down below. he owns a shop, he knows what its like to have people bustling around inside something that's his life's work. ]

For all the failures the English language has, it does manage to paint a stark enough metaphor if you choose the right words. And I fully believe my choice is perfect in this situation.

You'd be the first of few that would admit to enjoying my company who isn't one of my usual heavy-literature and antique-fascinated fanatics.
How peculiar.

...

My friend Gil calls me an 'Elegant Goth, like a modern-day Dracula.'

[ and he'll turn to zulius
and give him the most unnerving, 4-second smile before returning to his usual expression. ]

It takes so long. It's got so many stupid words in it. I can usually drink a entire ass coffee while we're waiting on his. I genuinely once watched him make a kid in Starbucks have a full emotional breakdown when we were in Cats. That kid never came back again.

[Poor Starbucks kid. Whatever happened to you.

Zulius does actually find Vergil's awful jokes funny. Whether that's because he finds the content funny or just the delivery funny is hard to tell, but he does find them funny all the same. At least Vergil will have one single soul who'll always find his awful sense of humour amusing.

He clicks his tongue, amused.]

You kidding? It's perfect, I love it. I'm gonna get it printed out and hung up in my office.

[And awww, Zergil. He smiles a little softer.]

Well~ In my opinion, that's just everyone else's loss and my gain. They don't know what they're missing out on. All the more for me.

[And then he turns and looks at his companion and OH MY GOD, SIR WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE A SERIAL KILLER WHEN YOU SMILE?!! Zulius has full memories of a goopy eldritch monster trying to suffocate him to death and that guy had a SKULL for a FACE and had SPIDER LEGS and he was still less perturbing to look at than Vergil smiling. What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck. ]

[He gathers himself from that mild shock, clearing his throat and managing a wry chuckle.]

That...was an experience. We can...uh. Work on that. I think Elegant Goth really suits you. It's got the right VIBES for you.

Edited 2023-06-05 21:17 (UTC)

[ he... almost wants to laugh
he can almost see the startle go through zulius' whole body, like he'd just stuck a fork in an electric socket. listen, there's a reason why vergil doesn't smile much
its not because he doesn't know how to feel happy, or that he doesn't have anything to smile about. it just wasn't an expression he's used to making.
his joys are usually low key, expressing oneself is hard.

Therefore.
Serial Killer Smile. ]

If you do get it hung up in your office, I will suggest a good frame for it. Do not settle for something plain.

[ he does end up laughing. Just a little sound, like a scoff--it doesn't change his expression much, but it's there. amusement. ]

Missing out, hm.
[ he won't self-depreciate, at least--he knows he can be interesting company! just, to a certain crowd. that crowd doesn't usually include people like Zulius. ] Maybe it's the lighting, but you went white as a ghost there for a moment.
I may have demon heritage, but I assure you I am not going to bite you.

[Look, LOOK, he was not expecting Vergil's smile to be Like That. He makes a mental note to try and figure out how to get Vergil smiling...not like a serial killer. Like. Maybe he just needs to tap into some unknown well of joy inside him. Or something. ]

Like I'd ever settle for anything plain, please. It's gonna be so gaudy, so fancy, it'll be bejewelled.

[He nods at the missing out comment, letting out a solid, unmoveable mmm-hmmm!, he shall not be swayed on such a thought. As Vergil points out the falter, he clears his throat, examining his fingernails.]

Dunno what you're talking about. I'm fine. [And then, because Vergil walked right into it, flashes the other man a toothy grin.] Oh, but Babe, what if I want you to bite me? Don't crush my dreams like that.

[ he... slowly. slowly turns his head to look Zulius right in the eye. ]

[ he... .... slowly.... tilts his head up to look at the ceiling. ]

[ he slowly puts a hand over his face. And lets out the longest suffering sound. ]

English is a language I regret learning.

[ god when is the show starting please something free him from the hell of his own making here ]

[Zulius maintains eye contact, his grin widening as Vergil's exasperation grows. This is the BEST time. A genuinely happy little laugh bubbles out of him. ]

Would you prefer it if I learned how to say it in Italian?

[Is that a promise or a threat? Hard to tell! But hey, at least the house lights are dimming, so it means the show is starting to free Vergil from this hell.

Temporarily, anyway. ]

With how you pronounced a word the last time I gave you one? Absolutely not.

[ and he says that with all the politeness he can, even raising a hand as if to stop zulius from possibly looking up a translation or something on god-awful google.

thank fuck the show is starting.
he can distract himself with that, with the opening prelude to the show, with the way the lights flicker and dull, to some spotlights that pass over a pair who tidly slide onto the stage--an american soldier and a beautiful, japanese woman... ]

[Zulius was absolutely reaching for his phone to google that before that hand gets raised. He scrunches his face up at it, his fun spoiled, RUINED. He puts the phone down with a dramatic little siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh before turning his attention to the stage.

He really doesn't understand the language being sung here- but he does know the story so he can follow along pretty well. It's...admittedly a pretty sad story and tales of heartbreak always cut a little too close to the quick for Zulius. But it's a GOOD show, and he is quiet while it plays out- Zulius respects the theatre enough to not talk over the people on stage. Vergil can enjoy some peace and quiet from the zebrataur for a change.

Until the house lights come up for the interval, anyway. Zulius stretches some life back into his limbs after sitting still for so long, turning to flash a smile at Vergil.]

How'd you like it so far? I told you these guys were good, huh?

[ he's quiet, nearly the entire show. His fingers resting loosely against the glass of prosecco, eyes on the stage with a nearly whimsical expression on his face.
The fact that he seems so focused should be telling enough, to how much he's enjoying it.

He's a little surprised? Honestly? That Zulius doesn't make some sort of side commentary. Fully expecting the man to be somewhat like his cousin, who would mumble his opinions or quietly jeer from his elbow about any choreography mistakes he picked up on--but. No, the man was pleasantly quiet (probably another point where he might not realise the story hits zul harder than it would most people) and doesn't dare speak up once
until the show goes into its halftime intermission.

Vergil puts aside his now empty glass of wine to turn to look at Zulius appraisingly. ]

As I had hoped, your theatre does have good acoustics. Even up in the furthur up seats, the sound carries.
The actors played their roles well, the emotions felt real, as opposed to just played out by the script.

I find myself actually pitying the damme, despite already knowing the story.

[ he tips his head to the side. ]

It was worth not... running away.

[Zulius does keep sneaking glances Vergil's way while he watches it, mostly to try and see if he's actually enjoying it. Vergil is usually so goddamn hard to get a read on but it's pretty clear he's having a good time here and that's nice to see. The whole point was to let the guy to have a good time after all.

(Also for Zulius to have some eye candy during the performance too, admittedly, but still!)

He snorts in faint amusement, waving a hand in the air. ]

Obvi! I told you it was a good place, that's why I bought it. And the company are great, glad I can always nab them, honestly. Especially with the opera house in town, too. Guess it works to schmooze a little.

[Because if nothing else, Zulius is pretty damn good at convincing people to do what he wants, it's a talent. At the comment about the damme, he finishes his glass, quiet for a moment.]

Yeah. Well. Sometimes you fall in love with someone who's just using you because they're literally made of garbage and you get your heart broke. Tale as old as time. Bet lots of people can relate to her.

[It's fine, he's fine. He just brushes that particular spike of bitterness away like it ain't nothing, instead opting to smile at Vergil. ]

Wow, that was almost a compliment. See? I'm not the worst date in town.

[ zulius got the eyecandy he wanted, even if the company was dry at best--and Vittore gets to see a show he hasn't seen, honestly, since he was a teenager. Maybe younger. When was the last time there was a production of madama butterfly that his mother had insisted on going to see? ]

I was curious. You own the theatre, but do you take part in production. Training the actors, deciding on the shows--or do you merely rent out the space to production companies, and make profit based on a hosting fee?

[ he's terribly curious. Zulius being on stage might be difficult, given he looks like a centaur, but--there were plenty of productions he could probably come up with that had centaurs in it.

But that aside, he taps his fingers against his now-empty wine flute. ]

It is a tale as old as time--and a cautionary one. One should never give their heart fully to a stranger. [ He catches himself. he'd almost said there's no such thing as true love, but he thinks better of it. Perhaps it's not the kindest thing to say on a date. ]

I would personally avoid stating it like that.
'Not the worst' would be discrediting you.

I have not had many 'dates', so to speak, but this one has been pleasant.

[ see, an actual compliment. ]

[It's a fair question, really.]

Sure do. We got a mix, we have touring companies come by who have their own crew for everything- like the opera guys today. Buuuut we've also got an in-house company too. They do most of the regular shows you'd see around here. Plays, musicals, we got our drag queens, too. I step in and help with whatever they need there, producer, director, actor, drag mother [he flashes Vergil a wry smirk] jack of all trades, y'know?

[He's circling dangerously too close to talking about actual, painful feelings he'd prefer don't exist, but the words come out before he gives his brain a chance to filter them through.]

Probably shouldn't give it fully to someone they know either. Can't predict when someone'll turn on you and the metaphorical knife hurts WAY more when someone you actually trust puts it in your back.

[Vergil's 'no such thing as true love' comment might not as be as lost in this conversation as he might think, it turns out.

And yet despite that, despite that, it's...actually a nice thing to hear, and his expression softens, just a little. Look at that, an actual compliment.]

Hah. Well, glad to be of service then. Hitting a solid pleasant on the date scale.

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