( Ordinarily, he'd never say no to a chance to get some pizza into him, but. Considering all of what had happened and how he currently feels, he's going to have a take a pass on the eating suggestion. )
Think I'm gonna have to go with the resting option. Might just spill my food all over me.
( Super unattractive for anyone to see. At that, however, he slowly lets himself ease back against the bed and just lays there, as he is, legs hung over the bed there while he remains there next to his brother. Arm draping itself across his eyes, he sighs and it's an emotionally tired one β lets himself gently find his breathing again. Even as he does, his other hand, the one closes to Vergil, gently holds to his brother, as if a lifeline or a means to reassure himself that his brother is here with him. )
Maybe I'm just getting old. Taking so much out of me.
[Vergil moves his arm out of the way when he feels Dante beginning to lean back towards the bed. He leans forward a little, resting his arms on his legs, giving Dante a bit of privacy as he just breathes even as he keeps a hand on Vergil still.]
That form is more powerful than what you're used to, [he says, resting his palms against one another.] And you spend the entire time you're in it fighting it, don't you?
[He lightly wraps his fingers around the back of his hands to fully clasp them together. Vergil can't necessarily speak to how the other, lesser form felt for Dante. For Vergil, it never felt any different to him than when he is in his human form, much as the same is true of his newer, stronger demonic form. One is the exact same as the other with no distinction between them. It is as much Vergil's true self if perhaps not still arguably more than as he is right now. But Dante's always held the devil within him to be something different, something separate. A combatant within him. So, Vergil would imagine fending off whatever it is about his demonic forms that he feels he must fight is likely easier in the lesser of the two forms. He's had more practice at it, but it's not nearly as much demonic power.]
You're not old, you're just pushing past your limits. [Over his shoulder, he looks at Dante. His expression is not soft, nor tender, but neither is it the angry, confused look he gave Dante again and again throughout their time in and atop Temen-ni-gru.] I'm not going to tell you what to do.
[While he doesn't know the exact reasoning why given the potential list of reasons, Vergil knows Dante won't listen to him regardless of what he says. It will just be a brush off or an argument, and possibly both if Vergil pushes just a little too hard.]
But what you're doing now isn't going to work forever. [Arguably, it's starting to fail now, but Vergil is not about to pile it on. Dante will surely do enough of that later if he's not already doing so now. Vergil puts a hand on Dante's knee beside him.] Take it from someone who already knows the consequences of denying what you are.
( Well leave it to big brother to clock it so easily. Thatβs how theyβve always been with each other though. A twin thing, maybe. Dante being able to read his brother like an open book just as much as Vergil can read him. Itβs infuriating sometimes but also appreciative others when neither really want to speak about whatβs troubling them. They can more or less take a stab in the dark and get it right every time. Even now. Some things donβt ever really seem to change.
He rolls on his side towards his brother. Lays there in silence, hand still there holding to his brother where he normally would his bear when he was little. When he finally comes to speak, itβs soft β vulnerable and almost as if itβs meant for no one else but Vergil to hear. )
Iβm scared, Verge. Scared of what could happen if I lost control.
( Maybe he wouldnβt really be able to hurt his brother much. But Nero? Anyone else? If he ever did, heβd never forgive himself and already has a lot he doesnβt necessarily forgive himself for as it is, regardless of whether or not it was really his fault.
He tells his brother this not because heβs looking for a lecture or a reason to brush him off. But because heβs his brother and heβs scared. )
[As Dante rolls onto his side, Vergil takes his hand back from his knee and rests it on the edge of the bed instead.]
[Reasonably, Vergil cannot tell him to be unafraid. In that form, while Dante is likely to fatigue himself quickly and return to his human form if he were to truly unleash the extent of his power, that would result in a significant amount of harm. Vergil doesn't think Dante could ever walk away from something like that unscathed. Even in a place like this where death never takes and counts even less to the most callous among them, it would change him deeply. His heart is simply too soft, too human.]
I know, I know... [It's said without any sort of blame or accusation behind it, just understanding for Dante's nature.] But you can never hope to truly possess control so long as you remain in fear of it, Dante. You know that...
[Such is the nature of devils. Strength and power are what matter most to them. A devil arm would never submit itself to a creature it viewed as lesser than it, which is what makes them impossible for humans to wield. The same holds true for Dante's demonic side. So long as Dante refuses to accept it and fears it down to his core like that, it shall rule over him one way or another. And it becomes a matter of when and not if it shall take more control for itself.]
[Vergil turns his gaze forward again as he mulls something over for a moment, uncertain if he should speak of it or not. In the end, he decides to say nothing. The less their father is involved in this conversation perhaps the better.]
( He's quiet as he lays there β as he listens to his brother speak and, after a moment, he shifts. Closer. Wraps his arms there around his brother's waist and buries himself against him from behind, much like he'd do when they were kids. Never mind Vergil is sitting up. He makes it work.
It's only after a moment that he thinks to speak. Soft. )
[Vergil places a hand on his brother's shoulder as Dante curls up closer to Vergil. He doesn't answer Dante right away, although with as close as his brother is, he no doubt feels Vergil draw the breath to answer. It's not that he wishes to deny the responsibility. Vergil does not carry doubts about his commitment to his family. His resolve remains firm. But there is something a bit different about having one of them so blatantly looking to him for protection like this that he doesn't know how Sparda did it, how Nero and Dante do it now. Because it's not a matter of lacking resolve or desire to fulfill that duty: it's that fear of what happens if he fails. Foolish as it is, he does wish Sparda was there to ask since it's not exactly a question he can pose to Dante (right now, at least) and certainly never to Nero. Vergil lets the breath go.]
I won't let it happen. So long as there's breath in my body, [he says, giving Dante's shoulder a light squeeze,] I won't let it happen.
[He can do nothing about the matter of Dante's sense of control over himself. Not without Dante accepting a degree of tutelage from him, and even that still remains up to Dante to do it. But he can at least pose as an obstacle to prevent the worst from happening should Dante lose control.]
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no subject
Think I'm gonna have to go with the resting option. Might just spill my food all over me.
( Super unattractive for anyone to see. At that, however, he slowly lets himself ease back against the bed and just lays there, as he is, legs hung over the bed there while he remains there next to his brother. Arm draping itself across his eyes, he sighs and it's an emotionally tired one β lets himself gently find his breathing again. Even as he does, his other hand, the one closes to Vergil, gently holds to his brother, as if a lifeline or a means to reassure himself that his brother is here with him. )
Maybe I'm just getting old. Taking so much out of me.
no subject
That form is more powerful than what you're used to, [he says, resting his palms against one another.] And you spend the entire time you're in it fighting it, don't you?
[He lightly wraps his fingers around the back of his hands to fully clasp them together. Vergil can't necessarily speak to how the other, lesser form felt for Dante. For Vergil, it never felt any different to him than when he is in his human form, much as the same is true of his newer, stronger demonic form. One is the exact same as the other with no distinction between them. It is as much Vergil's true self if perhaps not still arguably more than as he is right now. But Dante's always held the devil within him to be something different, something separate. A combatant within him. So, Vergil would imagine fending off whatever it is about his demonic forms that he feels he must fight is likely easier in the lesser of the two forms. He's had more practice at it, but it's not nearly as much demonic power.]
You're not old, you're just pushing past your limits. [Over his shoulder, he looks at Dante. His expression is not soft, nor tender, but neither is it the angry, confused look he gave Dante again and again throughout their time in and atop Temen-ni-gru.] I'm not going to tell you what to do.
[While he doesn't know the exact reasoning why given the potential list of reasons, Vergil knows Dante won't listen to him regardless of what he says. It will just be a brush off or an argument, and possibly both if Vergil pushes just a little too hard.]
But what you're doing now isn't going to work forever. [Arguably, it's starting to fail now, but Vergil is not about to pile it on. Dante will surely do enough of that later if he's not already doing so now. Vergil puts a hand on Dante's knee beside him.] Take it from someone who already knows the consequences of denying what you are.
no subject
He rolls on his side towards his brother. Lays there in silence, hand still there holding to his brother where he normally would his bear when he was little. When he finally comes to speak, itβs soft β vulnerable and almost as if itβs meant for no one else but Vergil to hear. )
Iβm scared, Verge. Scared of what could happen if I lost control.
( Maybe he wouldnβt really be able to hurt his brother much. But Nero? Anyone else? If he ever did, heβd never forgive himself and already has a lot he doesnβt necessarily forgive himself for as it is, regardless of whether or not it was really his fault.
He tells his brother this not because heβs looking for a lecture or a reason to brush him off. But because heβs his brother and heβs scared. )
no subject
[Reasonably, Vergil cannot tell him to be unafraid. In that form, while Dante is likely to fatigue himself quickly and return to his human form if he were to truly unleash the extent of his power, that would result in a significant amount of harm. Vergil doesn't think Dante could ever walk away from something like that unscathed. Even in a place like this where death never takes and counts even less to the most callous among them, it would change him deeply. His heart is simply too soft, too human.]
I know, I know... [It's said without any sort of blame or accusation behind it, just understanding for Dante's nature.] But you can never hope to truly possess control so long as you remain in fear of it, Dante. You know that...
[Such is the nature of devils. Strength and power are what matter most to them. A devil arm would never submit itself to a creature it viewed as lesser than it, which is what makes them impossible for humans to wield. The same holds true for Dante's demonic side. So long as Dante refuses to accept it and fears it down to his core like that, it shall rule over him one way or another. And it becomes a matter of when and not if it shall take more control for itself.]
[Vergil turns his gaze forward again as he mulls something over for a moment, uncertain if he should speak of it or not. In the end, he decides to say nothing. The less their father is involved in this conversation perhaps the better.]
no subject
It's only after a moment that he thinks to speak. Soft. )
You won't let that happen. Right?
no subject
I won't let it happen. So long as there's breath in my body, [he says, giving Dante's shoulder a light squeeze,] I won't let it happen.
[He can do nothing about the matter of Dante's sense of control over himself. Not without Dante accepting a degree of tutelage from him, and even that still remains up to Dante to do it. But he can at least pose as an obstacle to prevent the worst from happening should Dante lose control.]