[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 — 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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[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.]