[His eyes lift from his book, and seeing Declan hurry closer in the manner that he does... Well, it reminds him of a kid in a candy shop. Or a kid soon to be in a candy shop.]
Not at all. I was catching up on a bit of reading.
[He's used that line before, or a similar one. But not that Declan would know.
SPEAKING OF READING-]
I am happy to see you. So happy, in fact, that I feel inspired to start our date out on an utterly romantic note, to match the saccharine-sweet nature of the shop we're about to set foot in.
'The fountains mingle with the river And the rivers with the ocean, The winds of heaven mix for ever With a sweet emotion; Nothing in the world is single; All things by a law divine In one spirit meet and mingle. Why not I with thine?'
[ Even without the added context, Declan gets the feeling that every time he meets up with V, he’s going to find the other man with his nose in a book. It’s rare to catch him without some kind of tome on-hand, so say nothing of the apparent volumes of poetic knowledge he keeps in his head.
V sure is laying it on kind of thick right out of the gate, isn’t he? ]
Oh! Ummm… that’s very lovely, yes. Right back at you!
[ Technical manuals and history books absolutely count as literature, okay?
But yes, inside they go. He gives V a nod as he walks in and... pretty much rushes over to the first counter he can see, all but pressing is face to the glass to watch someone working with molten sugar over a heated table. ]
He follows, though not nearly as swiftly as Declan. V can't move fast in the OFF world, so he lags behind a bit until he takes his place next to the other man.]
I see it.
[He's never seen this process before, of course, and it's weirdly mesmerizing.]
Do you suppose they intend to shape while it's still malleable?
[A sidelong glance confirms that, yes, he is much like a kid in a candy shop. V feels proud of his choice of "date", at least, in that it provides ample entertainment for the both of them. He might not have the same kind of fixated interest in machinery and how things operate, but he does possess a needling curiosity and desire for knowledge in general -- even when it comes to subjects that he never bothered to focus on before. New information is always enlightening in its own way.
(Also, he's looking forward to trying some of this candy.)]
Instead, they keep it just right. Like Goldilocks.
[Well, it makes sense, at any rate.]
Maybe we can pick some up on our way out. I haven't had lunch yet.
[ Declan has since turned his attention back to the candymakers at work. He seems to delight in every little thing. From the table and the tools to the way the liquid candy sizzles and steams when color and flavor are added. They’re making pillow candy today, one of the workers informs them. Declan doesn’t know what that means, but it sounds interesting! ]
Well, I don’t know who or what Goldilocks is, but surely you don’t mean to make a meal of just candy. Is this all you had planned for our “date”?
[Wow! His lips tilt with faux indignance, and he turns his cane at just the right angle to prod Declan in the chest with the handle. The remark was just enough to tear his gaze away from the colorful batches of pillow candy in the making, which V assumes will look like little... pillows when it's all said and done.]
Oh. I see. Just a few minutes in, and you're already criticizing my choice of romantic outing? You're a tough man to woo.
[No, this wasn't "all", but they've barely even started!]
He just looks at him for a moment. No, given V's potential for dramaticism, he's not sure this man knows what he's asking for. But that's fine; if that's what he wants--]
Very well. If that's what you think.
[Rearranging itenerary in his head-]
I still think this was a perfect place to start. I see, for instance, those over there-
[He's guiding Declan to an arrangement of candy bouquets, overstuffed with chocolate bars and lollipops, and bursting at the edges with little decorative hearts. And how does he lead them there, you ask? He takes him by the hand and laces their fingers together, of course.]
Abort abort this is already more than he bargained for. (It's just handholding— MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.) The tips of his pointed ears go red as he's led over to the candy bouquets. ]
V tucks his cane under his arm. A practiced gesture that frees up his other hand to angle his body in and scoop up the purple candy bouquet, and he presents it to him with a half-bow.]
For you, then, my dear. You can carry this about as a symbol of our love for the rest of our date, so the whole world may know of my sweet affections for you.
[He says it with a smiling face, but still a straight one that doesn't crack under the amusement. Eyes flick up to watch Declan's reaction, and boy, the tips of the man's ears are already so red. Is he regretting this yet?]
[ Declan is a poor actor on the best of days, and this is suddenly much too, well, much. The “find out” stage snuck up on him far too quickly after the “fucking around” stage, apparently. It’s hard to tell what flusters him more – the gesture as a whole or the term of endearment.
Either way, he’s quickly dragged out of his depth. After a moment of awkward hesitation, he takes the bouquet. ]
I see you’re also the type of man who rises quickly to a challenge.
[ Help, he’s so red right now. And he’s definitely not looking at V. ]
[ Gods above, V is going to end him before all the horrors of Barovia could, apparently, because that color is spreading swiftly over his cheeks. He more or less asked for this sort of attention, but now that it's been turned on him, he honestly has no idea how to respond. ]
The way the red flushes across Declan's entire face, coupled with his remark, at least makes V ease back a little. He's a gremlin, and he still harbors a few of his more unflattering traits associated with Vergil's humanity, but... He isn't mean for the sake of being mean.
He releases his hand.]
Just a bit of fun, my friend. I won't torture you any longer.
[A gesture at the bouquet with the handle of his cane.]
I will purchase you those, though. I meant what I said about it bringing out your eyes.
[If that's what the "thank you" was for, then it's worth driving home the fact that it wasn't merely said for show.]
[ It’s strange how when V lets go, Declan is left feeling like he’s the one who has somehow messed this up. None of this is serious, right? It’s all for some job that neither of them even remember signing up for, so it shouldn’t matter. He should have just rolled with it.
It seems he really underestimated his ability to deal with gestures of affection – even fake ones. ]
It’s fine.
[ The hand that was once in V’s comes up to awkwardly scrub at the back of his neck. ]
You took me by surprise, that’s all. [ Is it? ] You really needn’t go to such lengths. I think we can put on a good enough show without it, hm?
[Something about Declan's response is strange to him. Perhaps he's reading too much into it, but it's almost as though he feels-- What? Guilty, that he didn't follow through with V's overt display of "romance"?
He wonders if he overstepped. Even if it was just a bit of fun; handholding, playing up their date like he was supposed to.]
...It isn't much of a "length" to go to just to buy you candy flowers, Declan. [Or hold hands, even, but he doesn't say that.] But if I do something that makes you uncomfortable, you only need to say so. Chocolates are not worth embarrassing you constantly.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
clockworksoul) wrote2023-04-30 08:50 pm
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Not at all. I was catching up on a bit of reading.
[He's used that line before, or a similar one. But not that Declan would know.
SPEAKING OF READING-]
I am happy to see you. So happy, in fact, that I feel inspired to start our date out on an utterly romantic note, to match the saccharine-sweet nature of the shop we're about to set foot in.
'The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?'
[At least it's not Blake today.]
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V sure is laying it on kind of thick right out of the gate, isn’t he? ]
Oh! Ummm… that’s very lovely, yes. Right back at you!
[ Awkward fingerguns. HE’S TRYING??? ]
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He huffs out in amusement, snapping his book closed with one hand.]
"Right back at you." What a wordsmith you are.
[Gonna shuffle that book right back into his bag.]
Maybe the interior of this candy shop will induce more amazement from you than the words of poor Shelley.
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Only one of us here is the wordsmith, and it certainly isn't me.
[ He's more of a metalsmith. A... gadgetsmith. Something like that. ]
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Never too late to flex those atrophying literary muscles.
[Anyway, he turns and holds the door open. Like a gentleman!]
Shall we?
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I'm quite literary, thank you!
[ Technical manuals and history books absolutely count as literature, okay?
But yes, inside they go. He gives V a nod as he walks in and... pretty much rushes over to the first counter he can see, all but pressing is face to the glass to watch someone working with molten sugar over a heated table. ]
Oooh. V, come look!
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He follows, though not nearly as swiftly as Declan. V can't move fast in the OFF world, so he lags behind a bit until he takes his place next to the other man.]
I see it.
[He's never seen this process before, of course, and it's weirdly mesmerizing.]
Do you suppose they intend to shape while it's still malleable?
[So many colors!]
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[ He glances over as V steps up beside him, his grin wide. Now he’s really like a kid in a candy store. ]
They probably try to keep it at the right temperature, too. Too hot, and it’s just a liquid. Too cold, and it hardens. The ingenuity amazes me.
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(Also, he's looking forward to trying some of this candy.)]
Instead, they keep it just right. Like Goldilocks.
[Well, it makes sense, at any rate.]
Maybe we can pick some up on our way out. I haven't had lunch yet.
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Well, I don’t know who or what Goldilocks is, but surely you don’t mean to make a meal of just candy. Is this all you had planned for our “date”?
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Oh. I see. Just a few minutes in, and you're already criticizing my choice of romantic outing? You're a tough man to woo.
[No, this wasn't "all", but they've barely even started!]
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Are you not the type of man who enjoys a challenge?
[ Look at this innocent grin, clearly unaware of what he’s just asked. ]
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He returns his cane to his side, and just look at this eyebrow lift so high it's practically at his hairline.]
Are you challenging me to make this as thrillingly amorous of a date as possible, Declan?
[Yes, because he does like a challenge, no matter what form it takes. Some things never change.]
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[ Stupidly. He sure doesn't know what he's getting into. ]
What better way to ensure we fulfill the task to the fullest, hm?
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He just looks at him for a moment. No, given V's potential for dramaticism, he's not sure this man knows what he's asking for. But that's fine; if that's what he wants--]
Very well. If that's what you think.
[Rearranging itenerary in his head-]
I still think this was a perfect place to start. I see, for instance, those over there-
[He's guiding Declan to an arrangement of candy bouquets, overstuffed with chocolate bars and lollipops, and bursting at the edges with little decorative hearts. And how does he lead them there, you ask? He takes him by the hand and laces their fingers together, of course.]
Which appeals to you the most?
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Uhhhh.
Abort abort this is already more than he bargained for. (It's just handholding— MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.) The tips of his pointed ears go red as he's led over to the candy bouquets. ]
W-which—? Um... that one, I suppose?
[ (It's the most purple one.) ]
someone help this man
V tucks his cane under his arm. A practiced gesture that frees up his other hand to angle his body in and scoop up the purple candy bouquet, and he presents it to him with a half-bow.]
For you, then, my dear. You can carry this about as a symbol of our love for the rest of our date, so the whole world may know of my sweet affections for you.
[He says it with a smiling face, but still a straight one that doesn't crack under the amusement. Eyes flick up to watch Declan's reaction, and boy, the tips of the man's ears are already so red. Is he regretting this yet?]
there is no help for him
Either way, he’s quickly dragged out of his depth. After a moment of awkward hesitation, he takes the bouquet. ]
I see you’re also the type of man who rises quickly to a challenge.
[ Help, he’s so red right now. And he’s definitely not looking at V. ]
he dug his own grave
Is that not what you wanted?
[He straightens, but he's still holding onto his hand. He gives it a little squeeze, his gaze moving from the bouquet to Declan's face.]
Oh, it compliments your eyes. How dazzling.
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... You've made your point, V.
[ Then, as a half-mumbled afterthought: ]
Thank you.
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The way the red flushes across Declan's entire face, coupled with his remark, at least makes V ease back a little. He's a gremlin, and he still harbors a few of his more unflattering traits associated with Vergil's humanity, but... He isn't mean for the sake of being mean.
He releases his hand.]
Just a bit of fun, my friend. I won't torture you any longer.
[A gesture at the bouquet with the handle of his cane.]
I will purchase you those, though. I meant what I said about it bringing out your eyes.
[If that's what the "thank you" was for, then it's worth driving home the fact that it wasn't merely said for show.]
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It seems he really underestimated his ability to deal with gestures of affection – even fake ones. ]
It’s fine.
[ The hand that was once in V’s comes up to awkwardly scrub at the back of his neck. ]
You took me by surprise, that’s all. [ Is it? ] You really needn’t go to such lengths. I think we can put on a good enough show without it, hm?
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He wonders if he overstepped. Even if it was just a bit of fun; handholding, playing up their date like he was supposed to.]
...It isn't much of a "length" to go to just to buy you candy flowers, Declan. [Or hold hands, even, but he doesn't say that.] But if I do something that makes you uncomfortable, you only need to say so. Chocolates are not worth embarrassing you constantly.
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[ So, no, V didn’t overstep quite so much as Declan overestimated himself. He flashes his friend an apologetic smile. ]
I am as a delicate flower in your hands, my friend. Please be gentle with me, hm?
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I understand. Newness can be overwhelming; that, or it can make a man not know exactly where certain boundary lines are. This is new to me, as well.
[V hasn't existed long enough to go on any real dates, anyhow. And did Vergil ever date? Don't make him laugh.]
So. A gentle touch all around. Let's start over, shall we?
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