[He wants to protest. That much is likely obvious even to Nero in the way Vergil's expression pinches, his jaw flexing ever so slightly. But it's difficult to make much of a protest when Nero's form of prying is as gentle and subtle as it is. He avoids any overt questioning or pushing, and ultimately leaves it as Vergil's choice what he says or does, but neither does Nero play stupid about the matter. He's ignorant of the specifics, not the broad strokes after all. In the absence of protest, however, Vergil has little to offer Nero. Or, at least, it feels that way. So, for a moment, it's just the sounds of Dante's sleep in the other room over the soft theatrics coming from the television after Vergil minutely nods because it does. Suck, that is. To wake up like that. Mortal panic and terror coupled with the worst possible fears and anxieties coursing through one's self over what boils down to a trick of the mind...]
[Nero had called it stupid last time. The label still applies even if Vergil doesn't give it more than passing, private acknowledgment. But it feels more...frustrating than that now when it's not just the past coming forward into the present. What happened in that dream has never come to pass, and Vergil would sooner lay down his life than allow anything remotely like it. But for those moments in his dream, and when his waking mind now glances upon it, it feels too achingly real with the image still so fresh. Vergil looks away from Nero, belatedly realizing he's been absentmindedly staring at him. It's something perhaps easy to chalk up to his poor sleep, but Nero is far too sharp to not have it likely bring a few questions to his mind all the same.]
[Vergil takes a step back towards his bedroom, trying to will it to leave things there before some larger part of him decides that he might as well. It's not as though Vergil is necessarily convincing Nero all that much that he doesn't need anything whatsoever and it's not a matter that he doesn't know what he needs. So, he detours to the couch and gives into the impulse of embracing his son as tightly as he can, letting Nero's physical presence alone serve as its own reminder that Nero is safe and whatever ways in which Vergil has failed Nero as his father have not somehow amounted to such irreparable harm. Dante called Nero a pretty great kid once, after all, and that isn't even the half of who and what Nero is.]
It was just a bad dream, [he says, letting Nero go and leaving a great deal unsaid.] So, you can help me by finishing your terrible movie and getting to bed soon.
no subject
[Nero had called it stupid last time. The label still applies even if Vergil doesn't give it more than passing, private acknowledgment. But it feels more...frustrating than that now when it's not just the past coming forward into the present. What happened in that dream has never come to pass, and Vergil would sooner lay down his life than allow anything remotely like it. But for those moments in his dream, and when his waking mind now glances upon it, it feels too achingly real with the image still so fresh. Vergil looks away from Nero, belatedly realizing he's been absentmindedly staring at him. It's something perhaps easy to chalk up to his poor sleep, but Nero is far too sharp to not have it likely bring a few questions to his mind all the same.]
[Vergil takes a step back towards his bedroom, trying to will it to leave things there before some larger part of him decides that he might as well. It's not as though Vergil is necessarily convincing Nero all that much that he doesn't need anything whatsoever and it's not a matter that he doesn't know what he needs. So, he detours to the couch and gives into the impulse of embracing his son as tightly as he can, letting Nero's physical presence alone serve as its own reminder that Nero is safe and whatever ways in which Vergil has failed Nero as his father have not somehow amounted to such irreparable harm. Dante called Nero a pretty great kid once, after all, and that isn't even the half of who and what Nero is.]
It was just a bad dream, [he says, letting Nero go and leaving a great deal unsaid.] So, you can help me by finishing your terrible movie and getting to bed soon.