[He knows what he's saying. He thinks it is quite simple, uncomplicated, that he should ask Vaer to simply be who they truly are.
After all, is that not what he's expected from the start? They may take many forms, but the half-demon has never seen them as anything more than an unflagging companion in this war. The ability to wear many faces is not what defines them, it is but a trait that they wield with such finesse and ease that it adds to the merits they already possess â and this, due to knowing the issue of identity and self it presented them in the past, only adds to a strength of character.
Perhaps he had the advantage of knowing only Vaer as⌠Vaer. To never have expected them to playact as anyone else. And yet Vergil believes that even if this wasnât the case, this moment would still crystallize down to the exact same request: he wants them as they are. Nothing more and nothing less than that.]
See?
[âhe utters after theyâve reverted into their true form, with a underlay of kindliness that so few ever hear from Vergil, even after having regained his humanity. Eyes sweep across their face, that alabaster appearance.]
âArt can never exist without naked beauty displayed.â
[He quotes from someone, something. Right now, it doesnât really matter.]
[ They watch as the usual steeliness of his gaze gives way to something irrefutably softer, warmer, kinder as it sweeps across their bare features, and a warmth arrests and twists at Vaer's heart at the very sight. It is so far removed from the gaze with which he greeted Vaer upon their summoning...
Humanity suits him, they think. That part of him that gave up his own existence to be reunited into the whole of Vergil did well - he looks beautiful, like this, letting himself lean into his heart when he once rent himself free of it.
Is this really okay? For a Servant to feel so strongly about their Master, and for a Master to feel this way in turn? The moment that Vergil recites Blake (which they only blessedly recognize because they are a Servant) they decide, too, that right now it doesn't really matter.
At length, with their face flushed in an almost lilac tone across their cheeks, all they can really say and do is to let his name pass breathlessly: ]
Vergil...
[ and to frame his face with their hands as they resume the kiss that they so foolishly cut off moments ago. ]
Edited (shakes fist at repetition) 2023-07-10 12:01 (UTC)
[What is there left to do, really, than to return the sentiment? It feels like a confirmation of a confirmation â the seal of finality placed upon Vergilâs answer, that of course he accepts Vaer as they are. Let this moment be the epitome of that answer, made manifest in a single gesture.
The kiss, once severed, presses warmly against his lips again, and Vergil does little more than deepen it, one hand trailing to rest just behind Vaerâs shoulder blades, the other finding itself cupping the side of their face in turn.
Let the burgeoning mana, warm and healing, do its work. Gladly, happily, he ushers it into existence for Vaerâs sake. But that reasonâwhile still wholly important for his tired, battered Servantâfeels all but secondary, now.]
[ Mana or no, Vaer soon finds themself lost in the press of their lips together, in Vergilâs surprising warmth, and the touch of his hand at their back and on their face. It would be a meaningful, worthwhile moment even without the flow of magical energy from their Master, though thatâs not to say that they donât appreciate that aspect of it, too. Vaer has never had a kiss that trasnferred such energies like this, and the sensation is new and exciting in and of itself, even if itâs not the most important part of this.
Just as Vergil accepts, wants Vaer as they are, so too does Vaer towards Vergil. Neither of them are perfect beings by any measure of the word. Both of them have made mistakes, have walked in the shadows for so long, only to now find themselves at those crossroads, perhaps feeling lost. But all of that is why Vaer has become so wholly drawn to him; though their worlds and their lives are so different, they have somehow found their paths crossing at this most opportune moment, and they have come to understand each other in a way that perhaps very few others wouldâŚ
There really is little left to do at this juncture than to wind their arms around him atop his shoulders, pulling him closer into their arms as they deepen the kiss even further, parting their lips against his, seeking to taste him on their tongue. ]
[Like is drawn to like. There's plenty of poetry that Vergil could recite on the matter, how two souls drawn from similar circumstances, broken in similar ways, might find healing under each other's wings. And if not, at the very least they might find comfort in knowing that they are not alone.
This moment between them, mana or otherwise, is proof of art reflecting life to the fullest. Perhaps this is what he's been missing for so long, unwilling to grant himself anything like it during those dark years of his life. Not needing to accrue another "weakness", as he would see it, even if now, he truly understands the reality. What he and Vaer have, no matter how it's defined, can only ever make him feel stronger. His blade sharper, his abilities fiercer, bolstered by something truly worth fighting for.
How strange that he should find such a thing in the middle of a war, worlds and worlds away from his own. But, maybe, not so surprising at all, either.
Doesn't matter. Vaer parts their lips and Vergil is keen to do the same, indulging in each other's taste for as long as they can until either party needs to draw breath. His chest feels warm, his heart hammers behind it. It's almost as though they can't be close enough, and again, the idea of healing is all but secondary.]
[ And Vaer, for their part, has only ever longed for someone to look at them as they are - as they truly are - and wish to remain by their side all the same. The part of them that has pushed Tala away even as she walks once more among the living for fear of showing her just how much they changed in her absence, that found themself here has always been alone, and lost. Even in pursuing shallow friendships and carnal pleasures they have worn a mask in some form or fashion; but this is not true of what they and Vergil share, now. It needs not a label, or any definition. It only needs to be.
Even if their time together is short. Somewhere in the back of their mind dwells a thought, a knowing that realizes that soon the war will be but a party of three.
But that, too, doesnât matter. Not when Vaer feels very much the same, like they cannot possibly close enough to sate the thunderous beating of their heart against his, to feel the warmth that they seek, that they need. Healing truly has become a far-flung idea by this point, and in its place is this nameless but wonderful sentiment that blooms between them even in the most desperate of times, one that is shadowed only by a need to breathe.
Though when that time comes, Vaer is reluctant to be anywhere but remaining close to him, and as such they only break the kiss in favor of pressing their forehead to his. The silence at first filled with the sound of them trying to catch their breath, but soon filled by a remark that Vaer is helpless against keeping to themself: ]
[(No, best not to dwell on the inevitability of war. At least not right now.)
At some point, they both need to draw breath, an unfortunate reality that becomes more agreeable knowing that neither Vaer nor himself feel the need to widen the space between them just yet. Their forehead gently meets his own, and their breath fans against his cheek with the retort.
And that makes Vergil laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly with the effort, though the actual sound rumbles in his chest more than anything else.]
I'm full of surprises. What a shame it'd be for you to think I'm dull and predictable, after all.
He is laughing. And what a sound that is, what warmth it brings to their battered body. As they remain pressed together like this, the rumble of it echoes in their own chest, and though they don't mirror his laugh with their own, there is an undeniable fondness with which Vaer rubs their nose against his. He really is full of surprises. ]
I think you've surprised me at every turn thus far.
[ From their surprise to his affinity for classical music and poetry, to what they saw in his memories, his surprisingly (and relatively) easy-going attitude at the beach, finding out that he has a son, and now this... ]
Though I don't think I could ever find you to be dull. You are an endlessly fascinating man, Vergil.
[ They catch his lips in another kiss. Maybe less so out of need or desperation this time, but simply because he's right here, in their arms, and they can. ]
[Far be it for him to complain about one more kiss. He meets it with ease, parting his lips to encourage Vaer to do the same, and though this one is brief, it incites no less warmth pulsing behind his ribs.
He thinks to himself, in the breadth of a passing half-second, how nice it would be to always have the opportunity to surprise Vaer.
And when he finally pulls away again, his smile has not faded.]
Then I think I'll keep it my priority to remain the object of your interest for as long as we remain together.
[ Their heart hasn't stopped beating like a storm in their chest for some time now, between the battle they'd just fought and now this, but this is a sort of impassioned moment that they vastly prefer over combat.
He wears a smile well. Perhaps his smile would only grow, now, as they unwind their arms from around him and lean just the slightest degree away so that they can press their hand to their chest and cast a healing spell on themself, now that mana runs through them once more. ]
...Oh? Your priority?
[ Their gaze flicks back up at him as the healing magic washes over their body, sealing their yet open wounds, brow quirked at his words. It's not as if they'd come to know Vergil as a shy man, but his confidence had thus far been placed in things like strength and fighting and slicing up fruits at the beach. To have it instead directed at them in this way takes their breath away, makes their heart swell with excitement, their lips slant into a grin. ]
And how do you intend to achieve that, Master? How are you going to hold my interest? My attention?
[He says, even his eyes wander to note the way Vaer heals themself, their wounds stitching together as injuries convalesce. Another wash of relief overcomes him, knowing they're truly recovering, even if the idea of healing had been temporarily secondary in the face of everything else.
Vergil isn't the sort that teases all too often, but he does make the effort to affect at... consideration, anyway.]
But should you grow tired of me in the future, what would spark that interest once more, I wonder? Music? More wine? [Leaning in slighty-] Maybe another kiss or two?
[ He's right, he does have Vaer fairly rapt at the moment. Though they had been engaged in their own respective fights up until this point, they were no doubt impressed and amazed by how he fought against Caster's master. This victory would not have come to fruition without his own strength and power.
Yet they appreciate his attempt at matching their wit with wit all the same, making no moves to shy away from his proximity as he leans in. ]
You've the right idea with any and all of those things, darling.
[ Unwilling to resist any longer, they avail of "another kiss or two" right there and then as the healing spell fizzles out. Oh, but it's entirely new to them, this feeling - that regardless of what takes place in this moment, they will wake tomorrow and still be here with Vergil. They will still be... Well, Master and Servant, but it's for the best not to think too hard about that arrangement at the moment and to simply focus back in on the feeling of his lips against theirs. ]
[Music and wine, then. Certainly on the right track. And "another kiss or two" just happens to be coming into play right now, and if he truly wanted to slip a quick quip in, he might say that with Vaer's clear eagerness, he's off to a good start so far.
But what do words matter? So very little in the face of one more kiss, pressing their lips together again, indulging in the simple fact that each other exist, theyâre there for each other, at least until the next day comes to pass. Thatâs all that matters.
This one is no less impassioned as the ones before. If nothing else, the presence of mind bolstered by a healed body only allows him to taste them more deeply, bringing a hand up to rest gingerly against Vaerâs neck. Yes, it would seem theyâre both feeling quite better now.
The next step would be to leave this dilapidated warehouse behind... but they can have this moment for a little bit.]
[ The press of his fingers against the back of their neck sparks a heat within them that truly dispels any remaining weariness from their battle with Caster and his Master. Vaer had always known Vergil to be a dangerous man, his severity and attitude and thirst for battle painting a very clear picture... But like this, he is dangerous in an entirely different way, and one that Vaer had not anticipated despite their constant teasing and flirting leading up to this point.
The kiss breaks before too long, however; Vaer isn't quite interested in continuing this out here, in the rubble, the aftermath of Caster's defeat still hanging heavily in the air around them. ]
...We should make our way back and rest...
[ ...Before they forget, entirely, that they are in the midst of a war that could spell their demise at any moment, especially enraptured as they are with one another out in the open like this. ]
[The kiss breaks, and it'll always feel too soon. But logic, eventually, has to creep in between the cracks of an impassioned moment, never mind how much either would like for it to stretch on and on and onâ
He inhales, forces his awareness outward. The crumbled state of the warehouse. Proof of battle strewn around them. A war, still ongoing, stopping for no oneâs amorous moments. Vaerâs right. Vergil responds on the exhale.]
âŚYouâre right.
[And so, finally, Vergil stands â his body far less thrumming with pain and injury than only minutes before, and offers Vaer a hand up. The warmth and fondness still thriving, caged in his chest, has not left, though he might keep it reined in just enough to say-]
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no subject
After all, is that not what he's expected from the start? They may take many forms, but the half-demon has never seen them as anything more than an unflagging companion in this war. The ability to wear many faces is not what defines them, it is but a trait that they wield with such finesse and ease that it adds to the merits they already possess â and this, due to knowing the issue of identity and self it presented them in the past, only adds to a strength of character.
Perhaps he had the advantage of knowing only Vaer as⌠Vaer. To never have expected them to playact as anyone else. And yet Vergil believes that even if this wasnât the case, this moment would still crystallize down to the exact same request: he wants them as they are. Nothing more and nothing less than that.]
See?
[âhe utters after theyâve reverted into their true form, with a underlay of kindliness that so few ever hear from Vergil, even after having regained his humanity. Eyes sweep across their face, that alabaster appearance.]
âArt can never exist without naked beauty displayed.â
[He quotes from someone, something. Right now, it doesnât really matter.]
Perfect as you are.
no subject
Humanity suits him, they think. That part of him that gave up his own existence to be reunited into the whole of Vergil did well - he looks beautiful, like this, letting himself lean into his heart when he once rent himself free of it.
Is this really okay? For a Servant to feel so strongly about their Master, and for a Master to feel this way in turn? The moment that Vergil recites Blake (which they only blessedly recognize because they are a Servant) they decide, too, that right now it doesn't really matter.
At length, with their face flushed in an almost lilac tone across their cheeks, all they can really say and do is to let his name pass breathlessly: ]
Vergil...
[ and to frame his face with their hands as they resume the kiss that they so foolishly cut off moments ago. ]
no subject
The kiss, once severed, presses warmly against his lips again, and Vergil does little more than deepen it, one hand trailing to rest just behind Vaerâs shoulder blades, the other finding itself cupping the side of their face in turn.
Let the burgeoning mana, warm and healing, do its work. Gladly, happily, he ushers it into existence for Vaerâs sake. But that reasonâwhile still wholly important for his tired, battered Servantâfeels all but secondary, now.]
no subject
Just as Vergil accepts, wants Vaer as they are, so too does Vaer towards Vergil. Neither of them are perfect beings by any measure of the word. Both of them have made mistakes, have walked in the shadows for so long, only to now find themselves at those crossroads, perhaps feeling lost. But all of that is why Vaer has become so wholly drawn to him; though their worlds and their lives are so different, they have somehow found their paths crossing at this most opportune moment, and they have come to understand each other in a way that perhaps very few others wouldâŚ
There really is little left to do at this juncture than to wind their arms around him atop his shoulders, pulling him closer into their arms as they deepen the kiss even further, parting their lips against his, seeking to taste him on their tongue. ]
no subject
This moment between them, mana or otherwise, is proof of art reflecting life to the fullest. Perhaps this is what he's been missing for so long, unwilling to grant himself anything like it during those dark years of his life. Not needing to accrue another "weakness", as he would see it, even if now, he truly understands the reality. What he and Vaer have, no matter how it's defined, can only ever make him feel stronger. His blade sharper, his abilities fiercer, bolstered by something truly worth fighting for.
How strange that he should find such a thing in the middle of a war, worlds and worlds away from his own. But, maybe, not so surprising at all, either.
Doesn't matter. Vaer parts their lips and Vergil is keen to do the same, indulging in each other's taste for as long as they can until either party needs to draw breath. His chest feels warm, his heart hammers behind it. It's almost as though they can't be close enough, and again, the idea of healing is all but secondary.]
no subject
Even if their time together is short. Somewhere in the back of their mind dwells a thought, a knowing that realizes that soon the war will be but a party of three.
But that, too, doesnât matter. Not when Vaer feels very much the same, like they cannot possibly close enough to sate the thunderous beating of their heart against his, to feel the warmth that they seek, that they need. Healing truly has become a far-flung idea by this point, and in its place is this nameless but wonderful sentiment that blooms between them even in the most desperate of times, one that is shadowed only by a need to breathe.
Though when that time comes, Vaer is reluctant to be anywhere but remaining close to him, and as such they only break the kiss in favor of pressing their forehead to his. The silence at first filled with the sound of them trying to catch their breath, but soon filled by a remark that Vaer is helpless against keeping to themself: ]
âŚSo you do know how to kiss a person.
no subject
At some point, they both need to draw breath, an unfortunate reality that becomes more agreeable knowing that neither Vaer nor himself feel the need to widen the space between them just yet. Their forehead gently meets his own, and their breath fans against his cheek with the retort.
And that makes Vergil laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly with the effort, though the actual sound rumbles in his chest more than anything else.]
I'm full of surprises. What a shame it'd be for you to think I'm dull and predictable, after all.
no subject
He is laughing. And what a sound that is, what warmth it brings to their battered body. As they remain pressed together like this, the rumble of it echoes in their own chest, and though they don't mirror his laugh with their own, there is an undeniable fondness with which Vaer rubs their nose against his. He really is full of surprises. ]
I think you've surprised me at every turn thus far.
[ From their surprise to his affinity for classical music and poetry, to what they saw in his memories, his surprisingly (and relatively) easy-going attitude at the beach, finding out that he has a son, and now this... ]
Though I don't think I could ever find you to be dull. You are an endlessly fascinating man, Vergil.
[ They catch his lips in another kiss. Maybe less so out of need or desperation this time, but simply because he's right here, in their arms, and they can. ]
no subject
He thinks to himself, in the breadth of a passing half-second, how nice it would be to always have the opportunity to surprise Vaer.
And when he finally pulls away again, his smile has not faded.]
Then I think I'll keep it my priority to remain the object of your interest for as long as we remain together.
no subject
He wears a smile well. Perhaps his smile would only grow, now, as they unwind their arms from around him and lean just the slightest degree away so that they can press their hand to their chest and cast a healing spell on themself, now that mana runs through them once more. ]
...Oh? Your priority?
[ Their gaze flicks back up at him as the healing magic washes over their body, sealing their yet open wounds, brow quirked at his words. It's not as if they'd come to know Vergil as a shy man, but his confidence had thus far been placed in things like strength and fighting and slicing up fruits at the beach. To have it instead directed at them in this way takes their breath away, makes their heart swell with excitement, their lips slant into a grin. ]
And how do you intend to achieve that, Master? How are you going to hold my interest? My attention?
no subject
[He says, even his eyes wander to note the way Vaer heals themself, their wounds stitching together as injuries convalesce. Another wash of relief overcomes him, knowing they're truly recovering, even if the idea of healing had been temporarily secondary in the face of everything else.
Vergil isn't the sort that teases all too often, but he does make the effort to affect at... consideration, anyway.]
But should you grow tired of me in the future, what would spark that interest once more, I wonder? Music? More wine? [Leaning in slighty-] Maybe another kiss or two?
no subject
Yet they appreciate his attempt at matching their wit with wit all the same, making no moves to shy away from his proximity as he leans in. ]
You've the right idea with any and all of those things, darling.
[ Unwilling to resist any longer, they avail of "another kiss or two" right there and then as the healing spell fizzles out. Oh, but it's entirely new to them, this feeling - that regardless of what takes place in this moment, they will wake tomorrow and still be here with Vergil. They will still be... Well, Master and Servant, but it's for the best not to think too hard about that arrangement at the moment and to simply focus back in on the feeling of his lips against theirs. ]
no subject
But what do words matter? So very little in the face of one more kiss, pressing their lips together again, indulging in the simple fact that each other exist, theyâre there for each other, at least until the next day comes to pass. Thatâs all that matters.
This one is no less impassioned as the ones before. If nothing else, the presence of mind bolstered by a healed body only allows him to taste them more deeply, bringing a hand up to rest gingerly against Vaerâs neck. Yes, it would seem theyâre both feeling quite better now.
The next step would be to leave this dilapidated warehouse behind... but they can have this moment for a little bit.]
no subject
The kiss breaks before too long, however; Vaer isn't quite interested in continuing this out here, in the rubble, the aftermath of Caster's defeat still hanging heavily in the air around them. ]
...We should make our way back and rest...
[ ...Before they forget, entirely, that they are in the midst of a war that could spell their demise at any moment, especially enraptured as they are with one another out in the open like this. ]
no subject
He inhales, forces his awareness outward. The crumbled state of the warehouse. Proof of battle strewn around them. A war, still ongoing, stopping for no oneâs amorous moments. Vaerâs right. Vergil responds on the exhale.]
âŚYouâre right.
[And so, finally, Vergil stands â his body far less thrumming with pain and injury than only minutes before, and offers Vaer a hand up. The warmth and fondness still thriving, caged in his chest, has not left, though he might keep it reined in just enough to say-]
Letâs leave here.