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[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.

Some would say being a jack of too many trades means you do not have a fine mastery of any--which can be disadvantageous. However, in this case, I believe such a statement would be wrong. [ what a busy life it must be, taking care of all of that, under one big roof that covered the vogue. It's busywork that Vergil would not have the patience and social grace to handle--but somehow, it suited zulius and all his metaphorical--and literal--glitter. He gestures vaguely towards the stage. ]

And you would be right about that. While I am not exactly an expert on relationships, I believe one must first be built on understanding and camaraderie first. Simply giving your life to another without any sort of expectation for it to go wrong is just a formula for disaster.

[ ...hm. zulius is more sensible than he thinks, maybe. he would have mistakenly judged the centaur for being someone who had a fairy-tale like belief in romance. Consider him corrected, and he'll think more critically from now on. ]

I can only hope my company has not been too dull.

[That gets a laugh out of the zebrataur as he does a theatrical little bow.]

Obvi! I figured out how to make that work for me because I'm just that good!

[He appreciates the boost to his ego, Vergil. It's how the world show be. More people should do it for him. They'd go up so much higher in his estimations if they did!

And huh. That's...an interesting way of looking at it. He's had dalliances with friends, of course, but that was casual, no strings. He wasn't really FRIENDS with his ex before they got together. He's still far too gunshy to think about letting anyone get that close again. But that's. Not a bad theory. ]

I guess that makes some sorta sense. Maybe someone who was your friend first would be less likely to flush your heart down the proverbial toilet, but who knows.

[He tries to keep his tone light and airy. It's fine, he got his heart broke and he learned from the experience. Fool him once, and all that. It's fine. He's fine. It's made him smarter about it. Still, he flashes Vergil a grin. ]

Oh, Babe, your company is thrilling. Promise. I wouldn't spend my valuable time with you if I didn't enjoy it.

[ he's not the sort of person who gives out compliments unearned, so the ego boost wasn't just one given because Vergil felt like giving one. It was a genuine observation, on the short amount of time that he's known the odd centaur man. He wouldn't have imagined he'd be calmly spending time with him after the psychic damage the guy gave him on the network some weeks ago, but here they are. ]

Less likely to flush it down the proverbial toilet, [ he nods in agreement to the statement, once-- ] Or less likely to start a witch hunt after you do not answer your phone for a week.

[ he'll match the light and airy tone as much as he can, see. They're having fun. Probably. Something like that.

He's gonna reach a hand up and push his hair up, as if fixing any stray strands that might have come loose. ]

...Very well. I will believe you, odd as I might find it.

[But here they are! Life is just full of surprises sometimes! He lets out a little HAH!]

Right! Because if they knew you, they'd get that maybe you don't do the phone thing so well and BAM, issue over! No screaming harpy flipping out because you go off-grid.

[Because that's still A Lot, even for someone as dramatic as Zulius. He watches Vergil fix his hair with a lil' smile.]

Well~ People might say I'm an odd guy. But thanks. Glad you believe me. [He peers over the edge of the box to the mingling people.] You want a drink refill before it starts again?

[ there's a hitch in Vergil's throat--it rumbles in his chest a bit, the sound becoming the lowest, but most apparent laugh of actual amusement he's shown in front of the other. The sound is quiet--dry, but oddly soft, unlike the mismatched smile he showed before. His expression doesn't much reach the same sort of amusement as the tone of his voice, but. Small things. ]

'Harpy' is a fantastic term to use. I believe I will borrow that one next time.

[ ...as if there'll be a next time that he talks about someone about something like that. He looks down at his empty wine flute. ]

...One more will not hurt.
I will take up that offer.

[The laugh is a surprise, but it's a pleasant one. Zulius lets out a delighted little hum of his own.]

Oh, that's a laugh a guy could get used to hearing. [He'd like to hear that more, please, sir. He gives a little hand wave.] Go for it, I think it really hits the vibe of your ex.

[He's here to support catty bitching about people's awful exes! He leans over to pull the little call rope again.]

Great! Prosseco again?

[ who could think that he's actually not hating this as much as he thought he would. ]

One should never get too used to things. They become mundane, when they are too regular.

[ he'll wave a hand right back. take that. ]

One in the same. I fear if I ask for anything stronger, I may not walk straight out of here.

[ ...he's a cheap drunk, usually. ]

[Whoever could have predicted this? Neither of them, probably!]

No way could that ever be mundane. Give yourself a little credit, Verg.

[He grins at the mirrored little hand wave. He'll take THAT, thanks. He orders them another drink each, settling back on his little cushions.]

Don't worry, fun for me as it would be to watch you try to stumble home, I promise to look after you and keep you relatively sober.

Edited (Sometimes you realise spellchecker betrayed you) 2023-07-02 11:28 (UTC)

[ neither of them absolutely not.

he doesn't know how he feels about being called verg, either--nicknames are so weird why do people do that. ]

I do not stumble. Even when I ... have been relatively intoxicated, I keep a certain amount of composure. [ this is a fucking lie, straight and bald-faced. ] The main issue I have when I drink too much is I forget how to properly speak English.

Translating the words in my head becomes difficult and I tend to.

Quit.

[ He takes the drink anyway, as if he didn't just admit something very silly. ]

[He's just gonna have to learn to live with Verg, it's here to stay. Sucks to be him.]

If you saaaaaay so. [That's so sing-song, absolutely calling him out on his bullshit.] You're pretty tall, is all I'm saying. There's a lot of you to get all... uncomposed.

[He can picture your tall ass falling over VERY easily, sir. A chuckle bubbles out of him at Vergil's confession. The mental image of Vergil, who's so goddamn together all the live-long day, suddenly struggling with WORDS, is a delight. ]

So, you're telling me you just end up speaking Italian the whole time? [He grins, leaning over to clink his glass against the other man's.] Sounds like a primo excuse to me to say catty things right to people's faces without them even realising it. I love it.

[ but what if he doesn't want to live with it, what if he LIKES being a fussy human pretzel. who complains about dumb things. ]

...Uncomfortably aware of that fact. I know you are no choir to preach to, given your own leg situation, but the number of times I need to have my clothing tailored due to how annoyingly short or long slacks are when I purchase them...

[ people dont MAKE shit for people who are six foot three, man. ]

And yes. That is, unfortunately, what I am telling you. I quickly slip back into what is most comfortable to me, whether those around me can understand me or not.

[ he pauses. ]

I can be pretty mean in my own language. I do not enjoy cursing in English. It sounds crass.

[He doesn't get a say in it. Sucks to be him. He can be a fussy human pretzel that this particular 'taur will keep calling by an obnoxious nickname forever. ]

Fttt, yeah my legs are tragically a lost tailoring cause at this point. [He lets out a dramatic little sigh.] I've come to terms with it. [Largely because...he hasn't got a goddamn choice in the matter. ] Well~ That explains why you're always so well-turned out! Always getting tailored clothes! That wasn't a big deal for me as a human, the being too tall thing.

[He was kinda short even before all the centaur stuff came in.]

See, now you're just making me wanna see you good and drunk just so I can watch you do that. It'd be fun.

[For him. He takes a sip of his drink.]

You can't say that and not teach me at least one Italian swear now. You just can't.

At the very least, you should only have to worry about dressing the upper half, yes?

[ he gives zulius a look that's almost like. hoping. that zulius doesn't try to put pants on. putting pants on horse body just. sounds like pure absolute suffering... ]

I do not make a particular habit of drinking myself stupid, so I do apologies that I may be a disappointment in that regard.

[ but now he's pausing. thinking. ]

...Well. One of my most common ones tend to be 'Che cazzo dici?'
It is, quite rudely, a way to ask someone if they know what they are saying.
Or to ask them to repeat themselves, because they are talking stupidly.

Edited 2023-07-05 00:43 (UTC)

True! And lucky for me, all my upper half stuff still fits me. I think I would have actually cried if I had to get rid of my entire wardrobe.

[Look. He tried it once and it did not work. Which legs would he even put into the pants? The front ones? The back ones? ALL FOUR??? Nope. There's no way to do it that doesn't look absolutely hideous and Zulius ain't about that. ]

Ahhhh well. I guess I can live with the crushing disappointment.

[So crushing, all the time. He hums in thought.]

Sooooo it's basically throwing shade. Love that. Okay. Okay. I'm gonna try it, but you can't look all pissy at me when I get it wrong, okay? I'm literally super new to this.

[It's time for another round of Will Zulius Bunter Butcher The Italian Tongue? He scrunches his face up, thinking that one out. ]

Che cazzo dici?

[...An attempt was made. ]

Have you ever thought about something along the lines of a drape? I imagine it would get quite cold in the winter...

[ don't mind him just imagining medieval horses who sometimes wore big drapes over their bodies in the wintertime to keep warm.

While he tries not to think about the fact that he may actually not be able to get drunk ever again because of his demon blood. He remembers waking up from his last hangover a few weeks back way too keenly.

And now he's listening to his new American friend try out a very italian sentence--but at least it's a short one with a very small amount of room to make mistakes.

Vergil almost looks pleased, if you can suggest such a thing, given he doesn't seem to know how to smile properly. ]

...Ah, that was not so terrible. My only real advice to the American tongue is that unlike the botched up mess of a language that English is, Italian words pronounce every letter, nearly verbatim. So you will get it.

The best way I can describe that sentence in English is... I suppose. "What the fuck are you talking about."

[ vergil said the f word. ]

[God, Zulius hadn't even thought about winter. He's a Californian and has never really made peace with the cold of the winter months outside of his home State. He's already spent two winters here and those were miserable. Now he has to navigate that without being able to cover up like 70% of his body mass. Yeeesh. ]

You know, a drape might just work. I'll take that over freezing to death. Maybe I can see what they've got going in the Undertown. Maybe I can get something there?

[They sell all sorts there, after all. It's a real tragedy he can't get hammered again. Unless, of course, they find demon-specific booze in Undertown? Stranger things have happened! But still, Zulius looks pretty damn pleased himself. Given the last time he tried Italian, Vergil looked like he wanted to throw himself off a bridge, he'll consider this a marked improvement. ]

I will take a 'not so terrible' thanks! Maybe I'll get on Duolingo and get better at this. [Is that a promise or a threat? Hard to tell. HIs grin widens.] Love it, and now I know what fuck is so I can make a note of it next time you're muttering under your breath, you secret pottymouth.

[ look, he gets it. he's from milan, and it barely ever snows there--and when it does, it's a light dusting that never stays. he's not looking forward to a heavy snowfall, himself--which is exactly why he thought about zulius' clothing issue. ]

If nothing else, you could get in touch with August. ...He is my cousin's nephew, and I do believe he's a talented tailor. If nothing else, I believe he should be able to, ah, 'hook you up,' as Nero might put it.

[ ....god he hated using that word it feels bad in his mouthgegshjaskl;ksd ]

...anyway.
If you were to use that App to learn Italian, you may catch me off guard one day, who knows.
It'll take a while for you to pick out everything, so I am safe a while yet.

[They can both be miserable about the snow together. Zulius is pretty damn certain they'll be magical bullshit attached to it. Living snowmen. Something like that. ]

Oh hey, I know August! He's one of the folks who run the school I fund. I didn't know he was related! [Exciting new information!!!] But yeah, that's not a bad idea. I can do a little sewing, comes with the territory [the drag queen territory] but thaaaaat's a new one even for me.

[He grins wider, leaning in to nudge Vergil gently with his elbow. ]

Look at you, using the kid's vernacular. So hip. [And honestly, that sounds like permission for him to just DO THAT, so he's gonna.] I'll drop it on you before you know what's coming. Like a ninja. It'll be fun. Mostly for me.

...You fund it? That is not something I was aware of. [ and that is, in fact, a rather impressed look on his face. Look at that. ] Our relation is not terribly close, but it is close enough, I suppose. His aunt was my only friend growing up, and August is a --

[ he pauses. you can see the full stop, and he mutters something sounding like piccola merda under his breath. ]

Let us just say he takes after my 'kid' a lot more than he takes after anyone else in my family. [ good god don't call him hip, if his hair wasn't already fully silver, he would have gotten a grey hair, there. ]

I do not think you have the subtlety to be a ninja, but go ahead.
Surprise me.

Sure do! They said they needed help getting it off the ground and I figured helping out a school seemed like a valuable use of my money.

[Plus it would piss his parents off. That always helps! His ears perk up at the Italian.]

Ohhhhhhh I see! So he's a lot louder and full of himself than you like. But, hey, that's still something right! Pretty sure having family who actually cares about your wellbeing has to be a bonus.

[He doesn't know what that's like but he's seen movies so he's pretty sure that's how it's supposed to go!!]

I can TOTES have ninja subtlety!! [Most people wouldn't say that so loud, Zulius, it defeats the object.] And I so am. I'm gonna surprise the whole holy hackers out of you.

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