homecoming

[devilmaycaregiver]

[Spardas things.]

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[devilmaycaregiver]

[The kitchen in their house is still relatively spartan, and there isn't a lot more than the basics, but this is not preventing Glory from cooking out her feelings while they wait for Vergil to show up. She gets up to stir the stew that's on the stove every couple of minutes. This is definitely more often than is necessary.]

[namelessnevermore]

[raven, meanwhile, has been cleaning up the house as best he can. he and glory have some necessary pieces of furniture, but much of it is mismatched, antique, or otherwise second-hand. however, the house is still quite dusty despite their regular cleaning, simply by virtue of being an old house that had been abandoned for a few years. the cleaning is coming along well enough, but it's clear raven is feeling the weariness of it all, and he needs a break.

he heads for the kitchen to check in on glory]

"The busy bee has no time for sorrow"... or little else. He should be here by now.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[Glory does not move away from the stove, but she leans back against Raven when he comes close.]

I decided I have to give it at least another fifteen minutes before I start worrying if something happened and he's not going to show up. This could use to cook down a little more, anyway.

[namelessnevermore]

[he places a hand on her hip, just touching casually]

If he's late, we'll just have to punish him. I won't accept any excuses.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[smiles a little]

Well, we'd have to make sure he doesn't enjoy it too much, or that would just encourage him to do it again next time.

[namelessnevermore]

True. Perhaps I'll just have Shadow sit on him.

[he leans down and rests his chin on her shoulder]

What are you making?

[devilmaycaregiver]

Beef stew... I brought him some, before, and he seemed to like it. Try some?

[she lifts some broth on a spoon for him]

[namelessnevermore]

[he blows on it first because it's hot, and then eats some]

... hmmm.

[in that tone of voice that's neither approving nor disapproving, just thoughtful...]

[devilmaycaregiver]

[lowers the spoon]

What do you think?

[namelessnevermore]

That he would be a fool to turn his nose up at something so delicious.

[smiles at her]

You have nothing to worry about. In this regard, that is.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[a small amused huff, and she stirs the pot a bit more before setting the spoon aside]

Are there other things I should be worrying about?

[namelessnevermore]

Not really, but... I can't help but feel anxious, too. It's been a while.

[devilmaycaregiver]

...Yeah.

But I'm sure it will be fine. It's Vergil.

[namelessnevermore]

Indeed.

[he leans back after a moment, and glances towards the kitchen window, lingering on the setting sunlight, as though he can sense vergil's--or the yamato's--presence]

[auguryofinnocence]

[What a coincidence, maybe he can sense it, because only a moment later a void opens in the living room, and Vergil's stepping out of it. It closes when he sheaths Yamato, and he looks around himself.

Huh this is the right place isn't it, did he get it mixed up...]

...Raven? Glory?

[devilmaycaregiver]

—Vergil!!

[Glory dashes out of the kitchen and immediately runs over to hug him.]

[namelessnevermore]

[raven follows behind, immediately dashing as well but glory's quicker, and as soon as he crosses the threshold into the living room he slows his gait, like he wasn't just as excited. ahem.]

There you are. We were beginning to wonder.

[auguryofinnocence]

[Yeah Raven, play it cool.

He absolutely returns that hug without hesitation, and a pretty big smile for a Vergil, for just a moment. He's good at this now!!]

I apologise for the intricacies of space and time. Be glad it is the right day.

[....probably?]

[devilmaycaregiver]

[She looks up at him with a pretty big smile for Glory.]

What, you haven't learned to traverse between universes with precision down to the minute yet?

[They probably did not even specify a minute.]

[namelessnevermore]

[he clicks his tongue, leaning against the wall]

Disappointing, Vergil.

[he's just watching them for now, even though he feels like he could vibrate out of his skin for the want to touch vergil]

[auguryofinnocence]

I'd like to see you two try. Come visit me next, 5pm on the dot.

[There's still a hint of a smile even to his pout.]

[devilmaycaregiver]

As long as you have dinner ready for us when we get there.

[She gives Raven a look over her shoulder. Why is he still not participating in this hug]

[namelessnevermore]

[he comes over to them, and places a hand on vergil's shoulder--still oddly distant, clearly wanting to wrap himself around vergil, but there's still that hesitation, that anxiousness]

You'd have to leave Yamato here for that. I'd take good care of her, of course.

[auguryofinnocence]

...Well, I will have to ask Hephaistos to cook. But we could arrange it.

Just... bring it back to me quickly.

[One arm moves from Glory as he looks at Raven. Also... nervous. But finally he at least sets that hand on Raven's arm.]

[devilmaycaregiver]

[Glory's brow furrows]

...What, are you both being stupid?

[She also unwraps one arm from Vergil and steps back a little, but only so she can physically grab Raven too and pull them both closer together. Problem solved]

1/2

[namelessnevermore]

[of course they're being stupid, glory

raven has a moment to look surprised at vergil, mouth opening to say something about how he wasn't expecting him to readily agree to lend raven the yamato--]

[namelessnevermore]

[--before he's pulled close, and the closeness is too much to resist, so he gives in to his instinct to wrap his arms around vergil tightly. saying nothing, just closing his eyes and holding on]

[auguryofinnocence]

[Of course they are!! They need to sniff each other first, make sure it's okay.....

Or just get pulled together. His arms tighten around them both, neck drooping to get a little closer.]

...I've missed you.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[Good. Now this is correct. Glory leans back against Vergil's chest, tension going out of her body.]

...It's really good to have you here.

[namelessnevermore]

[softly, just barely above a murmur]

I missed you too.

[at a more normal volume]

This is... the longest we've been apart since Redgrave.

[auguryofinnocence]

...Since I didn't exist, you mean.

[He laughs softly.]

Does that not mean we are never truly apart so long as I am myself, then?

[devilmaycaregiver]

[makes a face]

That doesn't count. Raven's a part of you, but he's also his own person now.

[namelessnevermore]

[he chuckles]

It's alright. The thought of me still existing within you, even if it's faint, is... comforting. Regardless of who I am now.

[he winds an arm around glory]

Ours is a strange existence, after all. I can only hope that "me" keeps him from doing anything too foolish.

[auguryofinnocence]

Don't worry, I am well aware of the difference.

...But I don't need anything to keep me in line, you know.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[huffs. that's fine she guesses]

You're keeping you in line. Isn't whatever is keeping you in line Raven, by definition?

[her voice does not indicate it, but she may be teasing him a bit.]

[namelessnevermore]

By some definition, perhaps. I can't decide if Cosmo is partially responsible for keeping you in line or not. Perhaps it's a shared duty.

[auguryofinnocence]

[Okay maybe Glory isn't wrong!]

What, do you not believe he is a good influence? And there's no need for Cosmo anymore, his name is Hephaistos.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[Glory is always right (citation needed)]

Hephaistos...

[namelessnevermore]

I thought his name was Lahabrea...? I'm sure he's a good influence in some respects--he's certainly more emotionally intelligent than either of us--but I doubt he has any desire to reign you in, so to speak.

[he glances sidelong at glory with a smile]

Something he has in common with you, I think.

[auguryofinnocence]

Lahabrea was a sort of title, he has retired now. So, you should know his real name.

But, well. Why should we be reigned in anyway.

[devilmaycaregiver]

I am not sure I'd describe myself as emotionally intelligent... But I am not sure I'd describe Co—Hephaistos that way either. So maybe we are about the same level.

[namelessnevermore]

My perspective may be biased. After all we've been through together, and all the ways you've helped me understand my own feelings... I do think of you as emotionally intelligent.

But what would you say, instead?

[he leans back, taking each of their hands in his own, to hold]

[auguryofinnocence]

[wheeze. He's shy. But okay, hand holding now,]

She's right, it is more about being observant, isn't it? To recognise things in others, but not necessarily yourself. But it does appear to be the same thing on the surface.

[devilmaycaregiver]

[hand holding now!! claps Raven's hand]

Something like that. Plus the fact that if you struggle with emotions for long enough, you learn a few things you wouldn't if you were actually good at them.

He's had a while. And I had... an aggressive approach.

[namelessnevermore]

[hand holding success!!]

The end result is more or less the same to me: we've found ourselves with people who complement us well. People who understand us, and care for us as we are.

[he squeezes both their hands]

Now, are you hungry?