candybox | OPEN POST: V - Devil May Cry

William Blake, 'The Proverbs of Hell'. [He says, and by way of explanation, produces his book from his pocket. He learned much of it by heart simply by carrying it everywhere.]

A pity Nero does not share your appreciation for the arts.

[ The fact that this book was on his person must mean that these poems were very important to him, or at the very least this poet was. She couldn't help but smile just a little more as she watched him. ]

Well... it's as they say, art is subjective. Nero just happens to find the beauty in other things around him instead.

[ Once she feels V is comfortable enough in his chair, she wanders about the kitchen, grabbing a couple mugs and a kettle to heat up some water. ]

I wonder. To what or who could you be referring?

[He smirks, unable to resist that jibe. Even if he's sure she didn't mean it in a self-complimentary way, that's sure what it sounded like.

He rests the book on the table, and Shadow appears at his feet, laying across them to help keep him warm. Hopefully Kyrie doesn't mind kitties in the kitchen.]

[ She gave him a flustered look in return and quickly shook her head. She didn't mean herself at all, but that look on his face was all she needed to understand what he was implying. ]

I-I meant his weapons! He takes very good care of them and each of them are like works of art!

[ Oh gosh, she was just going to avoid eye contact for a moment as he tries to regain her composure. Maybe even get a small bowl of water for this giant cat. Luckily for her things like this only slightly surprise her anymore. ]

[He can feel a ripple under his skin that Griffon is laughing, so he releases him too, Griffon materialising in black smoke and addressing Kyrie.]

Hahaha! I bet he lets you take real good care of his weapon too-- [The bird is cut off by a good whack from V's cane.] H-hey, you were making fun of her first!

[V raises an eyebrow.] Yet as always, you go too far.

[In amongst the squabbling, Shadow rises when Kyrie fetches a bowl and gives her a silent look of gratitude before beginning to drink. At least one of her houseguests has some manners around here.]

[Nero's friends... sure are colorful.

Kyrie didn't mean to stare, but it wasn't every day that you get to meet ~~some hot topic disney princess~~ someone with such interesting animal companions, especially one that seems to talk!!

She didn't even realize she was being teased by the bird until V scolded him. ]

Nero doesn't really mind me being around his weapons, but I wouldn't know the first thing about using them...

[ Kyrie... no.

She gives the two of them a gentle smile, though it was clear on her face she was a little more than confused. Her attention turns to Shadow and she smiles, gently reaching out to scratch behind his ears a little. ]

Oh..! I didn't even ask yet. Are any of you hungry?

[ She didn't expect so many house guests, but honestly it just kind of made things more lively. ]

[Kyrie... no...

Shadow tenses at first, as if uncertain. But then as Kyrie scritches behind his ears, he seems to decide he likes it, because he purrs and bumps his head into Kyrie's palm. Both V and Griffon pause to watch with surprise.]

Never seen him so friendly with a stranger before.

Nor I. [Remarkable how quickly she won him over, really. V then addresses Kyrie--] My companions need no sustenance, so you needn't concern yourselves with them.

[ She laughs softly when she feels him bump his head against her hand. Taking the hint, she scritches behind his ears even more and gently petting all around his head. She already loved shadow! ]

I find it hard to believe he isn’t always a sweet heart. Just look at him, he’s like a big handsome kitten!

[ Or maybe Kyrie just gave off the impression of someone kind and that’s why he gave her a chance. Either way, she couldn’t wipe that smile off her face now. ]

What about you though, V? Surely you must be hungry. [ A small pause ] oh! Do you like sweets?

[Shadow looks completely relaxed now, sitting there with his eyes closed and his tail twitching in delight. When the pettings seem like they might be letting up, he rubs up against her leg, insistent but still gentle.

V's raising his eyebrows at Shadow turning to putty, but his familiars do have a will of their own. He doesn't decide how they react to others, no matter how closely they're tied to him.]

Sweets... I suppose so. Though you needn't go to such lengths, when you've already shown me great hospitality.

Nonsense! I absolutely insist that you have something.

[ She tilts her head up to beam warmly in V's direction. ]

Our neighbor, this very sweet old woman, she came over earlier asking asking if I would make her some cookies. She had the ingredients, but her hands just aren't as steady as they used to be, so I made them for her all morning. Only for her to surprise me.

[ She laughed softly and leaned in to nuzzle her cheek against Shadow's head. He really did seem like a big cat. It was so adorable, at least to Kyrie anyway. ]

She wanted me to make a bunch of batches, but told me to keep half of them for Nero, Nico and the little ones. [ She paused again with another smile. ]

Besides, who can say no to cookies, hm?

[Shadow is purring like an engine, while Griffon turns and makes retching noises like Kyrie's story makes him want to puke. He quickly stops when V reaches to lift his cane again.]

"Little ones"... You and Nero have children? [That was something he hadn't heard mentioned, and now he's beginning to feel increasingly uneasy. The last time "he" was here-- the thing he had done to Nero to shatter their happy family life-- if she knew, Kyrie would not be nearly so kind to him as she is now.]

Yes and no...

[ Her expressions softens a little. ]

When our home was in danger a while back ago... it left a lot of places damaged and a lot of people homeless. One of those places being the orphanage. Nero and I wanted to do our part to help, so we took in a few of the little ones. They're off playing right now.

[ Because what kid wants to be cooped up in a house all day, right? ]

[V flips through his book, and, finding the correct page (she might even be able to get a glimpse of the intricate illustrations), recites a verse:]

"When the voices of children are heard on the green, and laughing is heard on the hill, my heart is at rest within my breast, and everything else is still."

[He sets the book down.] They're very lucky, to have someone to care for them.

That was really beautiful...

[ She looks a little embarrassed by the comment, but she was just radiating smiles and warmth right now. She was about to open up her mouth to say something else when the kettle of water starts to whistle.]

Oh good!

[ She gives Shadow an apologetic kiss to his soft cat forehead before she gets up and wanders over to the stove to start preparing some tea for V. ]

[Shadow's ears perk up at the sudden whistling of the kettle, and he purrs even louder in response to being kissed. Then, when she moves over to the stove, he follows after her to watch, like he really is an oversized housecat.

V, meanwhile, is lost in thought.]

If I could have grown and lived in a place like this, sheltered by a group like the Order of the Sword... perhaps things would have been different...

[Griffon cocks his head at him from his perch.] You think that's the life your old man and your mom would have wanted for ya? The people here can get pretty... intense about their faith.

[V's lip curls, and he looks back at the book. He can't disagree with Griffon's point, but after speaking with Kyrie like this, he also can't help but wonder about the life he could have lead here.]

[ Sorry, V. You're going to have to visit a lot more now, because Shadow seems taken to Kyrie and she will happily spoil him.

She quietly listens to their words with a thoughtful frown on her face. She can't really blame their thoughts on the Order, but it didn't mean everyone was quite so intense... Still, hearing words like that from V, it seemed to encourage her want to make him feel at home here.

She grabs a couple mugs and sets them down at the table and slips a tea bag into both of them before pouring the hot water into them both. Then she moves to the counter and sets a big plate of cookies on the table in front of V.

She moved back over to V and bends down just a little to smile at him. ]

As long as you're here, you're family.

[V can't quite meet her eye, and the smile in return is wry. Foolish, he thinks, but that would be unkind to say. Of course, his former self would have said it without a second thought, cold and unfeeling.

Instead, he looks down at his hands, knowing that minute by minute, they're slowly decaying away. And his response isn't said with coldness, but with regret:]

It's best if you don't get too attached. This will be my only visit.

Oh...

[ She frowns a little, worried that maybe something is going on that was far beyond her. Maybe... it had something to do what Nero gets himself into. ]

Well even so... our doors will always be open to you, whether you visit or not.

Don't be such a Debbie Downer, V! Can't you just enjoy the moment for once? [Griffon scolds him, this time, and V is visibly startled; the bird does have a point. Moving perches, the demon flutters over to perch on the back of the chair next to Kyrie.]

Listen, he doesn't know how to handle people being nice. Ignore him if he says anything... uhh, depressing. Even if that's most things he says!

[V has no comeback to that whatsoever, so he grabs a cookie and takes a bite to avoid having to say anything more. You win this round, oversized chicken.]

[ She gives a gentle smile, and almost reaches out to pat the bird boy on his feathery head, but hesitates. She's not sure if he'd like it as much as Shadow. Instead she just gives Griffon a warm smile. ]

No worries. I have a bit experience in handling those who have difficulty with kindness.

[ She doesn't say who, but they might be able to guess who she means. She did grow up with him after all. ]

[Much like a real bird, Griffon does seem a bit more twitchy about potentially being touched, puffing up his feathers and side-eyeing her until she hesitates. He does, however, snicker at her response; from what they've seen of Nero so far, it doesn't seem to be wrong.

V, meanwhile, is polishing off the cookie. When he finally speaks up again, his voice is quiet.]

... These are good.

[ !!! ]

You like them?

[ She turns her head toward V again and smiles brightly. ]

Please take as many as you'd like!

Thank you. [He's still a little subdued, like he has no idea how to really react to all this, or even if he deserves any of it. But he takes another nonetheless.]

I wish I could repay you for the kindness you've shown me.

I do know one way you could repay me.

[ She gives him an even brighter smile. ]

Stay for dinner? That's all I ask!

[ And to maybe help him decide she shifts down toward Shadow again and presses her cheek against his face. Just look at this precious cat face, V. You can't say no to that can you? ]

[Shadow's ears are lowered, and the big cat is already licking his lips in anticipation for dinner. V shakes his head, smiling wryly. Shadow has really never been so docile with anyone besides V before, and he's beginning to see how she could wind up with someone like Nero.]

...You have a demonic beast wrapped around your little finger. I hope you're proud of yourself.

[He's not refusing, at the very least, which seems to indicate he's willing to stay.]

OPEN POST: V - Devil May Cry

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