homecoming

[devilmaycaregiver]

[Spardas things.]

Comments

[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?