[ 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. ]
[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-]
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. ]
[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.]
[ 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. ]
[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.]
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?
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.
[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.
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.
[ 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?
[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.
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?
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. ]
[ If that's the case, it's only a shared trait because this place made it so. ]
Well, when I say "impenetrable" I do mean that literally. We cannot leave. But all that aside, the people there have suffered enough. Dispatching the vampire lord who rules the place would be a benefit to everyone.
Then, if you'd care to hear it from the man himself, I can provide. We were gifted his diary at one point.
It is about what one would expect. "I loved this girl, she loved my brother instead. I killed my brother and, for some strange reason, the woman I loved didn't take that well and flung herself from the castle walls. My torment knows no bounds, Vampyr is my name forevermore, blah, blah, blah."
[ This is clearly a Declan-ification of the words of "the man himself", though he can provide the text in full if V is really that curious. ]
[A "Declan-ification" is no doubt a biased account, though V is sure he's... justified in his patronization of this vampire lord, given what little he's already been told.
Even so, brother issues? Double yikes.]
But in his own words, I'm sure his actions made sense to himself, if only himself. A relationship between brothers can be a messy thing.
[HE WOULD KNOW......]
I wouldn't mind hearing a passage or two from his diary, if you can recall it.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
no subject
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
'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-]
no subject
'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?]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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.]
no subject
Oh, that was brilliant!
no subject
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.
no subject
[ He kicks his feet a little, rocking back on his new perch. ]
You struck me as a rather dire sort at first, you know.
no subject
[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?
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
no subject
[ He frowns a bit, one hand braced on his hip and the other tucked beneath his chin in thought. ]
Curiouser and curiouser.
no subject
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?
no subject
[ 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. ]
no subject
[Perhaps that’s a shared trait. All of them cut off from something important — this much would apply to V.]
What it is exactly that you’re trying to achieve in this place?
no subject
Well, when I say "impenetrable" I do mean that literally. We cannot leave. But all that aside, the people there have suffered enough. Dispatching the vampire lord who rules the place would be a benefit to everyone.
no subject
This vampire lord… He adds to the people’s suffering for what purpose? For this woman you mentioned?
no subject
[ He's read Strahd's diary, he can recite it— the dude also has brother issues, it'll be a great time. ]
no subject
...My curiosity knows no bounds.
[Of course he wants to know the details, even if he might be curious for more personal reasons, too.]
no subject
It is about what one would expect. "I loved this girl, she loved my brother instead. I killed my brother and, for some strange reason, the woman I loved didn't take that well and flung herself from the castle walls. My torment knows no bounds, Vampyr is my name forevermore, blah, blah, blah."
[ This is clearly a Declan-ification of the words of "the man himself", though he can provide the text in full if V is really that curious. ]
no subject
Even so, brother issues? Double yikes.]
But in his own words, I'm sure his actions made sense to himself, if only himself. A relationship between brothers can be a messy thing.
[HE WOULD KNOW......]
I wouldn't mind hearing a passage or two from his diary, if you can recall it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)