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[clockworksoul]

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duonet id: steelsong

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ABOUT ME

Artificer, inventor, scourge of many an HOA. I will definitely, totally, absolutely get back to you as soon as I am able!

NOTE

May not actually get back to you in a timely manner.

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[clockworksoul]

As much as I would absolutely love to, the technology here is a fair bit beyond my ken! And without magic to aid me, I don't know that I could keep up.

[ A damn shame, that. Well, maybe he'll dabble and see what he remembers. He'd hate to leave such an interesting hobby behind. ]

Oh, yes. She's an arcane cannon that I built to help me in battle! I don't have her here, but she's with me in that other world. I shall have to show you some time.

[verselet]

[Yes, he does want to see her. Color him curious. An "arcane cannon" might not be the sort of "weapon" he's familiar with, but he's always harbored an interest in unique and interesting... arms, shall we say.

But first, he has to be cheeky about Declan not being able to keep up:]

Hmm. Only with that attitude.

[He echoes his words right back at him, very droll.]

/2

[clockworksoul]

[clockworksoul]

[ He barks out a laugh, doubling over a little with his hand on V's shoulder to keep him steady. ]

Damn! You got me there!

[verselet]

[Pfft. Satisfied with that, he chuckles a little.]

I hope you'd at least try to keep up with the times, because I might need you for repairs in my shop.

...But hold that thought.

[BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE REALLY SPEEDING UP--]

[clockworksoul]

Don't go breaking things on my account!

[ But he'd sure love to take a crack at busting open some of this new technology and putting it back together, anyway.

BOY THEY SURE ARE GOING FAST ALL OF A SUDDEN. ]

Hold that thought for what—??

[verselet]

[He'll probably end up breaking something because he doesn't know what the fuck he's doing, so it's fine.

But they sure are just speeding along for real now! And V's grin widens as he fixes his gaze on a point up ahead: the stairs that properly lead down to the foyer of the first floor of Dodo. It doesn't take a genius to assume what's going to happen if they don't slow down.

Which is that they'll probably go flying right over the set of stairs and go sailing to the foyer below at top speed.]

For a little excitement.

[clockworksoul]

[ Yes, he knows how physics works. He's an engineer (in some life or other), and he does the math rather quickly. They are definitely going over these stairs. ]

I hope you know that if we crash, I'm blaming you!

[ He does not sound all that bothered by that prospect, though. ]

1/2

[verselet]

[Oh good, he enjoys a little fun, too. V obviously doesn't look terribly worried about them crashing, even though one might imagine he'd break every bone in this fragile body if they did slam into the ground at this velocity.]

'Each outcry of the hunted Hare
A fibre from the Brain does tear-'

[Well that probably doesn't bode well. Or maybe it does? If they're just having fun here, what's wrong with them.

The darkness-scooter reaches the top of those stairs, and indeed goes sailing right over. They're careening down, down, down at worrisome speed, gravity making his stomach drop-]

[verselet]

[-with no more darkness beneath them, because Shadow is now an inky black void at the bottom of the stairs, right where they might land.]

'A Skylark wounded in the wing
A Cherubim does cease to sing!'

Ha!

[HOPEFULLY HE HAS A PLAN FOR WHEN THEY HIT THE BOTTOM, SURELY? HOW YOU DOING, DECLAN?]

[clockworksoul]

[ They’re soooooarin’, flyyyyin’—

I mean, Declan’s doing great! He gives a delighted holler as they go rocketing off the top landing, and the fact that their mode of transport is no longer beneath them doesn’t seem to be a bother. Declan’s still a dextrous sort of beanpole, so whatever happens he’ll be fine. ]

[verselet]

[PERHAPS BOTH OF THESE MEN SHOULD BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT FLINGING THEMSELVES OFF THE STAIRS--

But no, V lets out a low laugh as they streak through the air, tumbling down, down, until right at the last second, Shadow forms itself as little more than a big blob of darkness. Usually, this is followed up by a very rude spike attack, exploding and lancing in all directions.

Today? His familiar is just a big, blobby, bouncy beanbag, there to catch them both.

V's all gangly limbs when he's half-enveloped in the darkness, and his cane goes flying sometime when he lands, but that's fine, too.]

[clockworksoul]

[ Truly the best day ever. The trip was fun, the flight was great, and the landing is nice and soft. Declan's raucous laughter is only muffled by being half-consumed in shadow on the impact, but then it's back full-force the moment both he and V settle. ]

Oh, that was brilliant!

[verselet]

[Once Shadow is sure that these two idiots aren't going to break a tailbone, it shifts back into its panther form. This leaves Declan sitting atop its back like a cat-bench, and V just... sitting on the ground. Because the familiars also like to troll him sometimes, too.

He doesn't appear bothered, smiling that tilted grin of his, sitting up with an arm resting on a knee.]

We make our amusement where we can.

[clockworksoul]

Then I should thank you very much for including me in your fun.

[ He kicks his feet a little, rocking back on his new perch. ]

You struck me as a rather dire sort at first, you know.

[verselet]

What is a "friend" [quotes because of fake memories] for, but to toss other friends off of high, precarious places?

[V puts in an effort to get onto his feet with a slight wobble, but he manages it. He casts about for his cane, which had skid away a yard or two in the thrill.]

Oh, I can be dire. [And dour, and aloof.] But I also like a thrill. Better than lamenting being trapped in another dimension, somewhere far flung from home, hm?

[clockworksoul]

Better to think about flung off the top of a staircase than flung into another plane of existence, is it?

[ His gaze darts over, landing on V's cane, slid up against a wall and caught in the folds of a throw rug. With another swing of his legs, he abandons his cat bench and moves to retrieve it. ]

You have quite the interesting definition of friendship. [ A smile, as he offers the cane back over, handle-first. ] But I like it.

[verselet]

[Does he? Here's a fun fact: V was certainly never in existence long enough to cultivate friends. And Vergil led a solitary life, seeking only power and a way to grasp his father's legacy in his own hands. Friendship is a foreign concept all around, even if V is not terribly unfriendly as a general rule.

So when Declan comes back with his cane, V grasps it without responding, not quite sure how to reply just yet. He finally settles on:]

I suppose our "other" selves were friends for a reason, anyway.

[That feels like a safe middle ground, at least.]

Though I am going to safely assume mine was only half as exciting.

[clockworksoul]

[ Declan himself never had many friends until he ended up in creepy vampire land, so perhaps they're on more even footing than they think. ]

Perhaps! Maybe enough of a reason to serve as a foundation for something new?

[ They don't have to be besties right away, of course, but how could he not find himself liking V after this little adventure? ]

Hm. There is a distinct lack of squishy panthers in my other memories.

[verselet]

[A foundation for something new?

The thing about being half of a whole is that, when complete, his experiences now will be as though he lived them himself. Because he did. Technically. It's all very confusing when you've been split in twain. (Again.)

...But he supposes this particular "foundation" is not inherently terrible. Not even unfavorable. V had always wished to drive home the idea of one's humanity being necessary, being a pillar of strength instead of weakness. Would this only reinforce it further?

Probably.]

...Maybe.

[Speaking of squishy panthers, Shadow strides back up to V and dissolves into disintegrating darkness, settling back into V's markings on his skin.]

And no. Nor loudmouthed birds or golems. I'm what you call an upgrade.

[clockworksoul]

[ That "maybe" seems to be about as good as he's going to get in terms of friendship, which is fine. They've only just met for real. Time will tell.

He watches with rapt attention as Shadow becomes the ink on V's skin,. None of the familiars he's seen can do that and it makes him wonder just how many more tricks this man has up his sleeves — quite literally, perhaps. ]

Loudmouthed birds and golems? Will I get to meet them, too, one day?

[verselet]

[Not as many as he used to, unfortunately. He tucks his cane beneath his arm for now, tilting his smile wry.]

I don't know. I can't access them any longer. [How long will they remain tamped down, just designs on his skin? He wishes he knew.] Even in that other world. The "ON" one.

[clockworksoul]

Hm. Perhaps it's a way of limiting your abilities. Much like mine feel dampened, even here, or in the... "ON" world.

[ He frowns a bit, one hand braced on his hip and the other tucked beneath his chin in thought. ]

Curiouser and curiouser.

[verselet]

[V runs his hand through his hair idly.]

Curious is right. I wonder at the point of it all. Why these false memories, why we’re weakened. Why we’re even here. Do we all share certain traits, something that makes us qualify for interdimensional kidnapping? Or is it random?

[clockworksoul]

I have no idea. And as interesting as all this is, I do have rather urgent business I need to get back to at home.

[ A sigh. He hopes that the others aren't too distressed about his disappearance, but after what happened with Ash... he can only imagine Gideon his beside himself. ]