Hey. Are you a grumpy book nerd with a son that's a precious overbearing worrywart?
[ She's savvy enough not to say his name out loud, which means Vergil gets this as a greeting from a tiny girl with bare, dirty feet and a storm cloud of an expression. Nero had made it seem like he wouldn't take her seriously, which means obviously she has something to prove.
But she has to make sure she has the right target first. The heartbeat is weird, and he's in the Aestus area of the castle accommodations, so it could be him. ]
[Vergil looks his short interloper over, from her dirty feet to that cantankerous expression that belongs more on the face of an old woman than a child this young. He had been on his way out of his lodging, off to make some vague effort of socialization when he was stopped in his path by her standing before him. He cannot say he recognizes anything about her features, but that comes as little surprise to Vergil. He has hardly met anyone in Etraya. (And he knows without question that she is from Etraya. No true Fae would speak to him that way.) Vergil heaves a sigh already regretting the decision to emerge into any public space even if it is just the hallways.]
[She must know Nero. He frowns deeper.]
[Grumpy book nerd?]
[He does not know what he finds more aggravating: that Nero clearly spoke to this child to put her in his vicinity or that Nero opted to describe his father in such an uncharitable manner. What wrong has Vergil committed upon Nero as of late to deserve such treatment in return? Is he feeling neglected and ignored? Is he attempting to instigate something?]
Why are you wasting my time with questions you do not care to hear my answer for? [Because Vergil holds his doubts that even if he were to lie and say that she has him confused for someone else, she would simply allow him to leave without any further delay. Really, he must figure out what it is about him that keeps attracting those of a smaller stature with incredibly persistent, irritating temperaments so this will cease happening.] What do you want, girl? Speak.
[ Toph points at him aggressively, facing something off to the side and not even trying to fake eye contact. ]
I heard you were this big scary badass who can wipe the floor with most people, and I'm getting bored.
[ As in, she's not looking to have a smackdown with any old random person: she wants Nero's dad, both because he's apparently super powerful and because she promised Nero she'd look out for him. If he has a son worrying about him, he can't be that bad of a guy, in Toph's opinion. Which means he's probably a good training adversary and not just an annoying jerk.
[Vergil's instinctive response is a scoff, but he says nothing further immediately. He looks this child up and down silently, scrutinizing her as best he can. Looks are, after all, deceiving, and that is doubly so with what he assumes to be a glamour. It's difficult to ascertain what she exactly she is, but she's managed to mildly pique Vergil's curiosity. Only mildly so though. There is still a great chance that her confidence in approaching him for a match is unearned arrogance.]
You have heard wrong then, [he says smoothly after that moment of assessing her.] The only person who stands a true chance against me is my brother. I find sparring with most others to be deeply unsatisfying.
[A beat.]
I do not imagine you shall be any different, girl. You are perhaps better off seeking out toys to play with to rid you of your boredom. But if you are so eager for a demonstration of my strength, I will oblige you. I shall, however, only say this once: the fact you are a child means nothing to me. I will put you down.
So, if you fear injury or your ego is too precious to accept the reality of your inevitable defeat then I suggest you walk away right now.
[ She can see what Nero was talking about in terms of him getting into trouble because he doesn't take anyone seriously, what with telling her to find toys if she's bored. On the other hand, this is exactly the kind of response she lives for. Assuring her that he doesn't care about her age makes her more eager than ever. She's not discounting the fact that she might be majorly outclassed, but she's not assuming it, either -- she's run into all kinds of other people with abilities beyond her comprehension, but at the same time, they tend to not be familiar with earthbending, either.
Toph grins fiercely out of nowhere and lightly rocks back on the balls of her feet, playful. Is this the shit-talking part of the fight? She makes a guess that standard shit-talk is not going to work on this guy, and adjusts appropriately. ]
If your ego can only handle it when you win, that just means you're too afraid to take on a real challenge, [ she throws back at him.
Mockingly, ] I'll say this only once: the fact that you're a good enough dad to have an adorable cringy kid doesn't mean I'll go easy on you.
[Vergil makes a small noise at the comment about his ego. One could almost even mistake it for almost a laugh as it's notably amused and not exactly derisively so either. His expectations are tempered—Vergil truly doesn't expect much or for the match to last particularly long—but she is proving herself to be quite interesting nonetheless.]
Outside then, girl. [He gestures to the hallway around them.] Close quarters like this would suit me just fine, but I can only imagine how displeased our hosts would become over any amount of property damage were I to put you through several walls.
[ It's a sly remark about his ego, but also an assurance about hers: Toph takes losing as a challenge to do better, and she never shies away from pushing her limits. She feels the most herself, the most honest and joyous, when she's confronting what everyone else only thinks she can do.
Vergil makes something approaching a humorous noise, and that's good enough for her. So far Toph hasn't heard anything to dissuade her. Insisting on taking it outside is responsible in a way she is, too, and appreciates in others. Property damage should be saved for when it's warranted; people live in buildings. So Toph sets off with alacrity, her stride confident and unhesitating. She navigates without a trace of difficulty. ]
Don't call me girl, [ she tells him pointedly, but without real offense. He doesn't know yet that he should respect her, but he'll find out, win or lose. Toph will make certain of it. ] My name's Toph Beifong, and you're about to join the ranks of people who remember it.
[ Fortunately, her 'true name' is something else. Toph couldn't imagine introducing herself with anything else. ]
[Vergil follows behind Toph albeit at less of a hurried pace, his footfalls behind her moving at what would perhaps be more accurately labeled as leisurely. Fortunately, his stride is long, so he isn't in any real danger of falling behind despite the markedly slower pace.]
If you manage to land a strike, I may bother to remember.
[His words are too matter-of-fact to have any bite to them. It is hardly anything personal to her at the very least.]
[ Toph moves with purpose, somehow not seeming like she's hurrying but rather being propelled by sheer force of will to maintain a speed that taller people have to keep up with. She's eager to get outside and get started, but not enough to start busting holes in the walls -- even if she could fix them relatively easily, there's no need to go showing her hand that way right off the bat.
His response is amusing to her. ] You're good at the smack talk, [ she notes approvingly. ]
Not gonna turn into a whiny bitch when a little girl throws you to the ground, are you?
[Vergil says nothing to her compliment on his ability to banter. That is a skill due in no small part to Dante, and he is not about to pay his twin brother a compliment at this precise moment. That said, he cannot help the bit of laughter at her question.]
I do not believe in dying on one's knees. Were you to somehow be successful in landing a strike, girl, I would not answer it with complaints.
[In all his life, Vergil has never accepted defeat. In the past, it was a combination of youth and foolhardy pride that kept Vergil pushing past his limits. Nowadays, that pride is a bit more tempered and disciplined. His will to stand and fight stands as a testament to all that he has been through, the strength and power he has obtained, and discipline he's used to sharpen and hone his skills rather than a purely arrogant, almost instinctive refusal to yield.]
[The matter here with her is not so life and death, but Vergil's principles remain the same regardless of the stakes. He fights until the end at the very least, and perhaps beyond that should the need arise. He doubts very much that it will in these circumstances even with as interesting as Toph Beifong is proving herself to be already, but better to make it clear that he does not say things he does not intend to back up.]
And I should hope you do not answer with complaints when I refuse to treat you like a fragile thing simply because of you are still a child or because you are a girl. [Or because it seems likely she is a human.] If you choose to fight, then you are to be treated as a warrior. Not as a defenseless babe.
[Just to be funny, Nero wraps the gifts all together in a manner that's clearly meant to be mildly irritating more than it is practical. They take the form of a gigantic round lump of paper on Vergil's bed that at first glance could be a garbage bag.
It's not though!! Nero just wrapped one of the gifts, a weighted blanket, around the others. In its center is a couple of books-- another Romantic poet treasury (since he didn't take the other with him,) A Christmas Carol, and a brick of Shakespearean sonnets.
Tucked in the middle is a card that he's written on and signed, in unusually careful handwriting (with unusually careful spelling, too.)
These heavy blankets are supposed to be relaxing, so give it a try!
[Vergil's inbox is largely comprised of messages from Nero. Sometimes it is a sincere message that Vergil has taken the time to respond to, or it is a picture of something Nero found that he felt was neat and wanted to show his father. Most often though it is "memes" as Nero refers to them. Images meant to be found amusing to some degree or another. Vergil does not often understand the humor behind them, and even less often responds to those messages.]
[But the jMan93 stands out in stark contrast amid all the XxBlackKnightxX that occupies his inbox. Vergil frowns and almost thinks to delete it without reading it, assuming there to have been some mistake in messaging him. Just in case, however, Vergil chooses to read it.]
[His frown deepens.]
[Vergil has regrets.]
[So many regrets.]
[Vergil considers whether or not he should just ignore the message altogether. That would perhaps be the easiest choice to make. But upon further consideration, Vergil acknowledges there's a likelihood more messages will ensue. Ugh...]
Upon our return to the castle, I considered our business concluded and parted ways from you. Rather than understanding and accepting that, you have chosen to pester me further now by not only alerting me to your presence in general, but also asking me about a cloak I clearly did not care about and asking questions you do not need me specifically to answer.
But no. I am clearly the one in need of people skills when I take the time out of my day to answer your questions in lieu of easily ignoring your initial message altogether. And it is so plainly my fault that you are completely incapable of inferring Mizu must possess a great amount of skill given I recommended him at all.
Mizu's work and skills speak for themselves, you idiot. And you would be so lucky that he would decide to speak to you, let alone forge you anything. Frankly, I would not recommend for him to forge you a blade. In the time that I've known you, nothing about you has demonstrated whatsoever that you can wield that responsibility. And I would tell him as much were Mizu to ask for my opinion.
But fortunately for you, it is not my decision to make, and I do not feel compelled to offer my opinion without being asked. Even were it my place, I fully trust Mizu's judgement when it comes to the matter of his craft.
So, you can only hope you managed to form a more positive impression upon him than you have me. Or pray that my lover's failure to mention you is indicative that you have an opportunity to prove a more favorable lasting impression.
[ He's so dramatic. He sounds like he's in a play with every single line, except really well-spoken and not embarrassing himself the way Zuko can get when he's worked up. It is smack talk and she recognizes it as such, but not at all the kind Toph would find in the Earth Rumble tournament. At the same time, he's clearly dead serious; Toph is good at reading tone of voice. It's not flowery language for the sake of sounding good -- he means it. And she does like people who say what they mean and mean what they say, even if he does talk like a misplaced stage actor.
He keeps trying to warn her that he won't go easy on her, too, which Toph knows is a nice thing to do whatever his tone of voice is when he says it. Azula or Ozai wouldn't ever give such a warning, much less twice. Her attitude lapses into something more sincere, still rife with confidence but the smile tempered friendlier. ]
People who go easy on me because of that, or because I'm blind, seriously piss me off, [ she informs him. ] If I lose then I lose. [ It does happen! ]
Winning because of pity is so much worse.
[ Just the thought of it makes her Aestus-fueled emotions riled up, anger simmering. ]
[ Junpei stares at the wall of text he gets back wherein Vergil lays into him, hitting on the same points his father would always go on about in his drunken rages. How useless Junpei is. How irresponsible. How he doesn't really deserve much of anything worthwhile, let alone someone's time. At the heart of it is Junpei's deepest rooted fear -- that it's all true and no matter what he does, he'll never be good enough. It's one thing to hear it from that guy, but another thing to hear the sentiment from someone like Vergil -- someone he'd admired from the get-go. Junpei had only wanted to reach out and build a connection...
But he can't even do that right. ]
ouch
ok.
i can take a hint or in this case a bludgeon
there's a lot i still need to learn about fighting and getting stronger about making and keeping connections i'd just thought maybe i could learn it from you...
that's the real reason i reached out sorry for wasting your time
but it does mean a lot in spite of how little you think of me you remembered my name
[Well. Vergil does not need to see the boy in person to know that he's been crushed by Vergil's words. The lack of excessive exclamation points speaks to how Junpei's mood has been so clearly and thoroughly brought down.]
You have chosen poorly in regards to your teacher. [Vergil knows without a doubt that he is not someone that anyone should desire to replicate. Yes, he is powerful and strong, but the cost to obtain that power was not worth it, and he will spend the rest of his life trying to reclaim what he can.] In case that was unclear in this serving as example enough for you at how well I do with others.
But if you have any intentions of growing stronger, Junpei, you should not allow yourself to be so easily dissuaded and cut down by the words of another. Especially one who does not know you well enough to truly judge your character.
[Vergil hesitates before adding:]
Acquire a blade. After that, if you are still serious about improving your skill and you understand that I do not coddle those under my tutelage and that my expectations for your effort are high, you may seek me out.
Well, I would offer my condolences that something like that is common enough of an occurrence to be so agitating for you, but I believe you would have some colorful suggestion of where I can place those condolences were I to even suggest them.
[Vergil says this lightly, masking the genuine sentiment that he feels she has every right to be angry should anyone try to hand her a win simply because of how she was born or her age. But one might dare say he is smiling a little as he says it.]
[ Aww, Vergil! See! Junpei knew he was a good guy. Of course, Junpei never stopped thinking he was a good guy even after what he'd said. He'd own a hundred percent of the blame because he really hasn't done anything to put his best foot forward. Goofing off has always been the default -- the way he made and kept friends. If Vergil didn't like him, then clearly the fault had been with Junpei.
But it's not like that, is it? Vergil is gifting him a chance and he can't squander that! ]
you mean it??
sorry stupid question of course you do you said it
i won't let you down!!!
and i don't expect you to take it easy on me don't worry i might not seem like much but i'm pretty good about taking hits and staying upright
for the record tho i wasn't dissuaded yeah, my feelings got hurt... but i can't blame that one on you it's just me, once again failing to read the room
but the thought i had was this: i was gonna find mizu get that blade and train as hard as i could so that even a guy like you would have no choice but to notice my worth!!
i promise the same kinda thing if you teach me i'll be serious about it i won't quit no matter how hard it gets and i won't make you regret saving me that day in the woods
[Saving him? Vergil would hardly call what he did saving. He finished what he set out to do and Junpei happened to tag along rather than returning to the castle on his own. He would have managed one way or another on his own ultimately even if their paths hadn't crossed. Perhaps not getting to the castle as quickly and a bit hungrier and colder, of course, but he was not in any real mortal peril out there.]
May I ask why you are so insistent on talking about me like that?
I will grant you that I was not direct on the matter at the time, but I felt I was still quite clear that I have no intention of anything resembling the heroics you keep mentioning.
[On Christmas morning, Vergil will find a couple of packages wrapped surprisingly neatly in red paper.
The smaller package contains a katana servicing kit. Not that Yamato needs such a thing, but Vergil's a stickler for tradition.
There is a slightly larger, flatter package, containing a framed ukiyo-ē print with three samurai battling a demon.
Beneath it, there is an envelope, containing this letter:
Vergil, I know I drive you up the wall and I've not always been the best brother to you. I've made a lot of mistakes and I don't expect you to forgive me for the things I've messed up between us in the past. I know I can't forgive myself. I'm not good at explaining myself. Probably worse than you, actually. You keep telling me I'm never serious so I guess my Christmas gift to you is the gift of sincerity. When Mother died and I lost you, I lost a part of me. I've spent my whole life trying to find it again and when I met Nero, it almost felt like having you back but it wasn't the same. I promised myself I'd do better by him than I'd done by you and I take that promise seriously, even if he's more than capable of kicking my ass. Seriously Verge, that kid's the greatest thing you've ever done and seeing you two together makes me so freaking happy and sad because we never got a Dad as good as the one you're turning out to be. So what I'm saying is I'm glad you're back because I missed the shit out of you. I'm proud of you because you're so damn brave and I can't believe how far you've come. Merry Christmas, brother.
The last, largest package, labelled TO VERGIL FROM SANTA, contains this.]
you let me tag along you didn't have to, but you did and i guarantee if we'd run into some kinda danger you would've disposed of it without hesitation!!
more than that.... it's what you said about your family how you only care to protect them
flashy heroics are cool and all badass strength and powers are great but a real hero takes care of the people they love
and you clearly love so fiercely you'd level ANYONE if they even so much as threatened your fam
Aside from Mizu, I also have my son. He is a handful of years older than you, and named Nero. My twin brother is also here. His name is Dante. I would hazard a guess that you would get along well with him. We do not share the same temperament.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action...
[ She's savvy enough not to say his name out loud, which means Vergil gets this as a greeting from a tiny girl with bare, dirty feet and a storm cloud of an expression. Nero had made it seem like he wouldn't take her seriously, which means obviously she has something to prove.
But she has to make sure she has the right target first. The heartbeat is weird, and he's in the Aestus area of the castle accommodations, so it could be him. ]
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[She must know Nero. He frowns deeper.]
[Grumpy book nerd?]
[He does not know what he finds more aggravating: that Nero clearly spoke to this child to put her in his vicinity or that Nero opted to describe his father in such an uncharitable manner. What wrong has Vergil committed upon Nero as of late to deserve such treatment in return? Is he feeling neglected and ignored? Is he attempting to instigate something?]
Why are you wasting my time with questions you do not care to hear my answer for? [Because Vergil holds his doubts that even if he were to lie and say that she has him confused for someone else, she would simply allow him to leave without any further delay. Really, he must figure out what it is about him that keeps attracting those of a smaller stature with incredibly persistent, irritating temperaments so this will cease happening.] What do you want, girl? Speak.
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[ Toph points at him aggressively, facing something off to the side and not even trying to fake eye contact. ]
I heard you were this big scary badass who can wipe the floor with most people, and I'm getting bored.
[ As in, she's not looking to have a smackdown with any old random person: she wants Nero's dad, both because he's apparently super powerful and because she promised Nero she'd look out for him. If he has a son worrying about him, he can't be that bad of a guy, in Toph's opinion. Which means he's probably a good training adversary and not just an annoying jerk.
Though that really does remain to be seen. ]
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You have heard wrong then, [he says smoothly after that moment of assessing her.] The only person who stands a true chance against me is my brother. I find sparring with most others to be deeply unsatisfying.
[A beat.]
I do not imagine you shall be any different, girl. You are perhaps better off seeking out toys to play with to rid you of your boredom. But if you are so eager for a demonstration of my strength, I will oblige you. I shall, however, only say this once: the fact you are a child means nothing to me. I will put you down.
So, if you fear injury or your ego is too precious to accept the reality of your inevitable defeat then I suggest you walk away right now.
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Toph grins fiercely out of nowhere and lightly rocks back on the balls of her feet, playful. Is this the shit-talking part of the fight? She makes a guess that standard shit-talk is not going to work on this guy, and adjusts appropriately. ]
If your ego can only handle it when you win, that just means you're too afraid to take on a real challenge, [ she throws back at him.
Mockingly, ] I'll say this only once: the fact that you're a good enough dad to have an adorable cringy kid doesn't mean I'll go easy on you.
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Outside then, girl. [He gestures to the hallway around them.] Close quarters like this would suit me just fine, but I can only imagine how displeased our hosts would become over any amount of property damage were I to put you through several walls.
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Vergil makes something approaching a humorous noise, and that's good enough for her. So far Toph hasn't heard anything to dissuade her. Insisting on taking it outside is responsible in a way she is, too, and appreciates in others. Property damage should be saved for when it's warranted; people live in buildings. So Toph sets off with alacrity, her stride confident and unhesitating. She navigates without a trace of difficulty. ]
Don't call me girl, [ she tells him pointedly, but without real offense. He doesn't know yet that he should respect her, but he'll find out, win or lose. Toph will make certain of it. ] My name's Toph Beifong, and you're about to join the ranks of people who remember it.
[ Fortunately, her 'true name' is something else. Toph couldn't imagine introducing herself with anything else. ]
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If you manage to land a strike, I may bother to remember.
[His words are too matter-of-fact to have any bite to them. It is hardly anything personal to her at the very least.]
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His response is amusing to her. ] You're good at the smack talk, [ she notes approvingly. ]
Not gonna turn into a whiny bitch when a little girl throws you to the ground, are you?
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I do not believe in dying on one's knees. Were you to somehow be successful in landing a strike, girl, I would not answer it with complaints.
[In all his life, Vergil has never accepted defeat. In the past, it was a combination of youth and foolhardy pride that kept Vergil pushing past his limits. Nowadays, that pride is a bit more tempered and disciplined. His will to stand and fight stands as a testament to all that he has been through, the strength and power he has obtained, and discipline he's used to sharpen and hone his skills rather than a purely arrogant, almost instinctive refusal to yield.]
[The matter here with her is not so life and death, but Vergil's principles remain the same regardless of the stakes. He fights until the end at the very least, and perhaps beyond that should the need arise. He doubts very much that it will in these circumstances even with as interesting as Toph Beifong is proving herself to be already, but better to make it clear that he does not say things he does not intend to back up.]
And I should hope you do not answer with complaints when I refuse to treat you like a fragile thing simply because of you are still a child or because you are a girl. [Or because it seems likely she is a human.] If you choose to fight, then you are to be treated as a warrior. Not as a defenseless babe.
Christmas gift
It's not though!! Nero just wrapped one of the gifts, a weighted blanket, around the others. In its center is a couple of books-- another Romantic poet treasury (since he didn't take the other with him,) A Christmas Carol, and a brick of Shakespearean sonnets.
Tucked in the middle is a card that he's written on and signed, in unusually careful handwriting (with unusually careful spelling, too.)
These heavy blankets are supposed to be relaxing, so give it a try!
Thanks for being my dad
Love, Nero]
text; un: jMan93
yoooo, vergil my dude
guess who made back to etraya????
give ya a hint:
🧚♂️🥶🔥🍄🟫💪💪💪
(3 times jacked arms cuz you are a total badass!!!)
text | un: vergil
[But the jMan93 stands out in stark contrast amid all the XxBlackKnightxX that occupies his inbox. Vergil frowns and almost thinks to delete it without reading it, assuming there to have been some mistake in messaging him. Just in case, however, Vergil chooses to read it.]
[His frown deepens.]
[Vergil has regrets.]
[So many regrets.]
[Vergil considers whether or not he should just ignore the message altogether. That would perhaps be the easiest choice to make. But upon further consideration, Vergil acknowledges there's a likelihood more messages will ensue. Ugh...]
Junpei,
Was there something you wanted?
- Vergil
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i actually still got your cloak
thought maybe you might want it back?
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you seemed like a natural in it
like it was your whole vibe to be cloaked and mysterious
i'm surprised
but i guess more importantly
you seem like you know your way around this place
you happen to know where i can get my hands on a sword?
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He may be willing to help you if you are prepared to compensate him appropriately.
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i knew i could count on you, my guy
so what's your swordsmith usually charge?
money/favors/errands/info??
cuz i got a feeling currency isn't the most valuable thing in this place
not for etrayans anyway
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His name is Mizu.
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mizu??
as in
"wandering swordsman who can singlehandedly take down samurai" mizu?
i met him at that weird clown party
he taught me a few sick moves
i should've figured you two rolled together, tho
birds of a badass feather and all!!
so he makes swords, too???
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that was your chance to hype up your friend
be all like:
"oh yeah, mizu? shiiiiit he can do it all!!!"
and i would've been like:
"wOOooOoOw!!!"
maaaan, vergil-san
you got aura but....
your people skills could use some work
no subject
Upon our return to the castle, I considered our business concluded and parted ways from you. Rather than understanding and accepting that, you have chosen to pester me further now by not only alerting me to your presence in general, but also asking me about a cloak I clearly did not care about and asking questions you do not need me specifically to answer.
But no. I am clearly the one in need of people skills when I take the time out of my day to answer your questions in lieu of easily ignoring your initial message altogether. And it is so plainly my fault that you are completely incapable of inferring Mizu must possess a great amount of skill given I recommended him at all.
Mizu's work and skills speak for themselves, you idiot. And you would be so lucky that he would decide to speak to you, let alone forge you anything. Frankly, I would not recommend for him to forge you a blade. In the time that I've known you, nothing about you has demonstrated whatsoever that you can wield that responsibility. And I would tell him as much were Mizu to ask for my opinion.
But fortunately for you, it is not my decision to make, and I do not feel compelled to offer my opinion without being asked. Even were it my place, I fully trust Mizu's judgement when it comes to the matter of his craft.
So, you can only hope you managed to form a more positive impression upon him than you have me. Or pray that my lover's failure to mention you is indicative that you have an opportunity to prove a more favorable lasting impression.
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He keeps trying to warn her that he won't go easy on her, too, which Toph knows is a nice thing to do whatever his tone of voice is when he says it. Azula or Ozai wouldn't ever give such a warning, much less twice. Her attitude lapses into something more sincere, still rife with confidence but the smile tempered friendlier. ]
People who go easy on me because of that, or because I'm blind, seriously piss me off, [ she informs him. ] If I lose then I lose. [ It does happen! ]
Winning because of pity is so much worse.
[ Just the thought of it makes her Aestus-fueled emotions riled up, anger simmering. ]
cw: passing mention of abuse/alcoholism
But he can't even do that right. ]
ouch
ok.
i can take a hint
or in this case a bludgeon
there's a lot i still need to learn
about fighting and getting stronger
about making and keeping connections
i'd just thought maybe i could learn it from you...
that's the real reason i reached out
sorry for wasting your time
but it does mean a lot
in spite of how little you think of me
you remembered my name
no subject
You have chosen poorly in regards to your teacher. [Vergil knows without a doubt that he is not someone that anyone should desire to replicate. Yes, he is powerful and strong, but the cost to obtain that power was not worth it, and he will spend the rest of his life trying to reclaim what he can.] In case that was unclear in this serving as example enough for you at how well I do with others.
But if you have any intentions of growing stronger, Junpei, you should not allow yourself to be so easily dissuaded and cut down by the words of another. Especially one who does not know you well enough to truly judge your character.
[Vergil hesitates before adding:]
Acquire a blade. After that, if you are still serious about improving your skill and you understand that I do not coddle those under my tutelage and that my expectations for your effort are high, you may seek me out.
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[Vergil says this lightly, masking the genuine sentiment that he feels she has every right to be angry should anyone try to hand her a win simply because of how she was born or her age. But one might dare say he is smiling a little as he says it.]
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But it's not like that, is it? Vergil is gifting him a chance and he can't squander that! ]
you mean it??
sorry
stupid question
of course you do
you said it
i won't let you down!!!
and i don't expect you to take it easy on me
don't worry
i might not seem like much
but i'm pretty good about taking hits and staying upright
for the record tho
i wasn't dissuaded
yeah, my feelings got hurt...
but i can't blame that one on you
it's just me, once again failing to read the room
but the thought i had was this:
i was gonna find mizu
get that blade
and train as hard as i could
so that even a guy like you would have no choice but to notice my worth!!
i promise the same kinda thing if you teach me
i'll be serious about it
i won't quit no matter how hard it gets
and i won't make you regret saving me that day in the woods
no subject
May I ask why you are so insistent on talking about me like that?
I will grant you that I was not direct on the matter at the time, but I felt I was still quite clear that I have no intention of anything resembling the heroics you keep mentioning.
Christmas morning
The smaller package contains a katana servicing kit. Not that Yamato needs such a thing, but Vergil's a stickler for tradition.
There is a slightly larger, flatter package, containing a framed ukiyo-ē print with three samurai battling a demon.
Beneath it, there is an envelope, containing this letter:
Vergil,
I know I drive you up the wall and I've not always been the best brother to you. I've made a lot of mistakes and I don't expect you to forgive me for the things I've messed up between us in the past. I know I can't forgive myself. I'm not good at explaining myself. Probably worse than you, actually.
You keep telling me I'm never serious so I guess my Christmas gift to you is the gift of sincerity.
When Mother died and I lost you, I lost a part of me. I've spent my whole life trying to find it again and when I met Nero, it almost felt like having you back but it wasn't the same. I promised myself I'd do better by him than I'd done by you and I take that promise seriously, even if he's more than capable of kicking my ass. Seriously Verge, that kid's the greatest thing you've ever done and seeing you two together makes me so freaking happy and sad because we never got a Dad as good as the one you're turning out to be.
So what I'm saying is I'm glad you're back because I missed the shit out of you. I'm proud of you because you're so damn brave and I can't believe how far you've come.
Merry Christmas, brother.
The last, largest package, labelled TO VERGIL FROM SANTA, contains this.]
no subject
you didn't have to, but you did
and i guarantee if we'd run into some kinda danger
you would've disposed of it without hesitation!!
more than that....
it's what you said about your family
how you only care to protect them
flashy heroics are cool and all
badass strength and powers are great
but a real hero takes care of the people they love
and you clearly love so fiercely you'd level ANYONE if they even so much as threatened your fam
that's something to admire
no subject
no subject
[ But it's not, goes unspoken. ]
is the rest of your fam here?
or are you just doing favors for aurora or whoever
cuz that'll help keep your fam safe at home?
no subject
Aside from Mizu, I also have my son. He is a handful of years older than you, and named Nero. My twin brother is also here. His name is Dante. I would hazard a guess that you would get along well with him. We do not share the same temperament.