[He blinks a little at Nero's reaction, the color in his complexion not abating immediately.]
Yes, well. [Vergil clears his throat a little and looks back at the books he's sorting.] I enjoy reading...
[He does not have much by way of hobbies otherwise. There is only ever so much to do with gardening and without necessarily a direction given towards cooking, he's a bit more...listless with that. So, reading it is. As it always has been. As he told Nero, he had a bookshelf like the one in his room now as a child, but the difference that it was actually full of his own books. He'd read so many of them cover to cover several times.]
I know. It's just impressive. You're really smart.
[It's good there's a library close by that can feed that voracious habit of his. Just makes Nero wish he was a little better at it himself. Though he fully intends to sit down and push through that book Vergil picked out for him, come hell or high water. Maybe even when he gets back from dropping the books off.
It, uh... is not going to be a one-sitting thing for him, most likely.]
[He hums lightly as he reaches for the top of fourth and final stack to sort.]
I suppose I am better off not asking if you're only just now figuring that out, [he says, the joke being at his expense given just how much reason he's provided Nero to think him otherwise. Not that he believes any of this to truly be a reflection of his intelligence, anyways. The most that can actually be said is that he is well-read and is making up for a tremendous amount of lost time with the library at his disposal.] Your uncle doesn't understand why I frequent the library so much instead of owning the books myself. The question isn't entirely unreasonable considering how modest my collection is now compared to what I owned during my childhood, but I believe you can see why it's best I continue making use of the library.
[Even if he owned only a fraction of the books he's read since coming to Folkmore, he wouldn't have had the ability to walk or move around in his studio apartment by the time Nero and Dante joined him. And at this point, in the house, they most certainly would have escaped containment from his bedroom and overtaken much of the living room.]
[There is also the small matter that he will not be able to take any of these books with him when they leave this realm eventually. Vergil has spent most of his life unattached to objects, and he would like to remain as such until he can actually enjoy a true degree of permanency.]
[He could make a comment about there being different types of intelligence... but Nero is good enough to only laugh at Vergil's self-effacing joke. After all, it's not like he's a mega genius of any sort. And he still remembers the offense Vergil took the time he teased him for being a book nerd. He prefers to approach that particular angle of humor very carefully, if he approaches it at all.]
Yeah, it's better this way. No interventions. No coming home to find you crushed under a stack of books the size of a building...
[He looks at a few more of the books from the stacks as Vergil works through them. Opens to the first page and skims the text... sometimes nodding, sometimes making a face and shaking his head before quickly putting them back in the stack.]
[Vergil huffs a quiet laugh at the notion of being crushed beneath the weight of his own literary habits. Beyond his own typical restraint when it comes to generally emoting, he keeps the laughter contained to avoid potentially bringing on another coughing fit. He smiles a little at Nero's consternation with some of the books he looks at while Vergil finishes organizing the last of them into their two separate piles.]
There, [he says, placing the last book in the pile to be sent back to the library.] That's all of them that need to be returned.
[From his "keep" pile, Vergil selects one of the books before reaching for his tea again. He tucks his legs back underneath him on the couch, settling back to where he was before when Nero first brought out the small mountain of books. He doesn't have any interest in lying about in bed, but imagines Nero is going to insist he stay put. So, he might as well have something to keep him occupied while Nero is out.]
[Ha, ha. Made Dad laugh-- even if it was quiet and contained.
Vergil finishes sorting the stacks and Nero sighs a bit at just how many there are. No, it's nothing he can't handle... particularly with four arms. But it's also not gonna be the quick, easy errand he expected.
He's not about to make a big deal out of it. Nothing that would discourage Vergil from sitting the fuck down and getting some fucking rest while he's sick.]
Okay. I'll drop these off for you. You want anything from the market while I'm out?
I haven't a need for anything personally, and the kitchen should be well-stocked. I went to the farmer's market only a few days ago.
[But if that isn't the case, Kyrie will surely let Nero know sooner rather than later. With Vergil out of the rotation of people to make meals for the foreseeable future, he imagines she will volunteer to pick up the slack while Nero is worrying about Vergil. Which Vergil knows that boy is going to do even if Vergil happens to be the most compliant possible patient.]
[That's a joke. He hopes it's taken as a joke. Not entirely certain it will be but, hey...
With the help of his shopping bags, Nero manages to pack up more of the books without having to resort to superpowers of any sort. It is, however, more books than any normal person could comfortably carry, made featherlight by his strength.
He departs then, leaving Vergil to his own devices for round about an hour.]
[Vergil heaves a sigh once Nero is gone, allowing himself to slump a little more where he sits on the couch. He remains convinced that this is Thirteen's doing, which means it's not likely something he can just wait out like one would a normal illness of this magnitude. There has to be something that needs to be done before his symptoms will truly abate. But what is he meant to do like this? If he can barely walk without feeling the world sway beneath his feet, there's not much hope for being able to really engage with others as so often tends to be the solution.]
[It's only a few minutes ultimately that he spends pondering this condition in Nero's absence. With little ability to investigate himself right now, he sets it aside to read instead. By the time Nero returns, Vergil is more or less exactly where Nero left him. He occupies the same corner of the couch, but has left a leg extended on the couch itself. At some point, he poured himself a second cup of tea, but it's since been forgotten and left to go cold while the glass of water Nero brought him remains untouched. It's not some form of childish protest, however, that he's neglecting any further liquid intake. He's nearly a hundred pages deep already into his novel, and it's likely clear from how he does not look up from the book in his hands or say anything by way of greeting that he is merely engrossed rather than being particularly stubborn.]
[At the very least, no aerobics happened and he stayed put.]
[Once Nero is a couple steps into the house, he finally speaks albeit somewhat absentmindedly.]
Did you manage alright without the truck?
[He finishes the page before finally looking over to Nero.]
Yeah, only mildly threw my back out, once or twice...
[Nero is carrying fewer books than he left with, by a good margin. But he's not empty-handed as expected. He walks up to the couch and sets a book bag with expertly-stacked titles alongside it.]
Whole bunch of your holds were ready, so I checked them out for you. This oughta last you... [He pretends to be doing math in his head.] Three days?
[The surprise Vergil experiences at seeing Nero not return empty-handed doesn't exactly cross Vergil's face sans the way he shyly averts his gaze briefly while Nero sets the books down. The pleasantness of the surprise is a little more evident though with Vergil's slight smile.]
I'll try to stretch it out to four, and give your back more time to recover. [Vergil shifts and moves on the couch to provide Nero with room to sit, tucking his knees close so he can rest his current book against them with a single hand. He's tempted to say that Nero didn't have to do that, but it's a foolish thing to point out something so obvious. Nero didn't have to go to the library in the first place, never mind picking up some of Vergil's holds. He did it anyway. Because that's the sort of person that he is.] Thank you, Nero.
Sure. Anytime. [Nero's practically beaming at the thanks, and even moreso at the smile. Honestly, his motives were to encourage Vergil to actually get some rest while he's sick. Best way to do that? Positive reinforcement via his favorite hobby and books that he wanted to read anyway.
That smile, though. Man, it's worth all the headaches and hoops sometimes just to see his dad smile at him like that.
It's a moment before Nero actually sits. He goes to the kitchen first to get a glass of water for himself. Makes a detour to kick off his shoes. Then he circles back around the couch with one more book in hand-- the one Vergil mentioned that he might like, which he checked out himself this time.
He flops on the couch next to Vergil and makes himself comfortable, showing every intention of settling in to read.]
[As Nero steps away into the kitchen for his glass of water, Vergil turns his attention back to his book. Normally, he would anticipate Nero's return to the couch would be his only warning before one of his three living, breathing weighted blankets made himself at home. But this time, Vergil is uncertain. He doesn't think Nero is about to treat him like a precious thing, easily broken if mishandled even slightly. It would only agitate Vergil given enough time if he did that, and that's not Nero's intention. However, considering the earlier upending of Vergil's stomach, he wouldn't necessarily fault Nero for wanting to take it a little easier on Vergil right now as far as jostling him around is concerned.]
[Vergil glances up, and ultimately does a slight double-take when Nero settles onto the couch. Nero's gotten past most of his self-consciousness about how he reads. So, the sight of him with a book or willingness to read in Vergil's presence isn't unheard of these days. Nero's selections, however, tend to be among the books Beatrice loved or one of Vergil's books of poetry. They're books he can only tolerate in small bursts as such, and Nero's enjoyment of them is at times limited. (Which is all well and good when Nero is most likely reading them for the sake of a connection between himself and his parents, not necessarily for his entertainment.) Thus, it's more happenstance than anything that Vergil comes across Nero reading. Nero sitting down with Vergil with the intention of reading himself (and reading a recommendation Vergil made, no less) is a far more novel experience.]
[And a pleasing one at that. Not that Vergil's minded the hours upon hours of wrestling and movies he's chosen to watch with Nero—he's actually gotten more invested in both than he thought he would in the beginning—but Vergil possesses far more limited hobbies for Nero to choose from, and he's not ignorant enough to believe that reading wouldn't occupy a fairly low position on Nero's list of preferred activities in general.]
Hm? [As it turns out, Vergil was a little distracted by his silent marveling at Nero choosing to read with him.] Oh. Yes, I feel fine right now.
The dizziness was only occurring when I moved too quickly. Reading doesn't exactly require particularly quick movements that would trigger it again.
[Which is a good thing because if he was too dizzy to read...]
Bite your tongue if your next words have any resemblance to "I told you so."
Hey now. [Nero laughs at the pre-emptive warning, and leans his head back in a playful backwards head bonk, nudging Vergil's leg as he lies down with his feet hanging over the arm of the couch.] I didn't say shit, old man.
[... and he wasn't going to say "I told you so." Probably. Most likely. At least, not in a way where he meant it as more than a way to annoy his father...
Nero does settle in, pulling out the book and thumbing through it before he starts attempting to read in earnest. This is honestly more about making Vergil feel better about bailing on their spar, about cutting short their afternoon than it is that he really desires to sit and read right now, but... hey. His dad's sick for possibly the first time in his life. He could use a little company, so he might as well get started on this book while he's at it.
Reading alongside Nero does offer a few minor challenges though. It's not silent for long before he speaks up.]
[At this point, Vergil is well accustomed to the disruptions to his reading when he isn't alone with it. With Dante, it's incessant chatter about whatever comes to mind which Vergil has gotten quite good at tuning out. Well. He tunes most of it out. Dante still has the tendency to occasionally say something that sparks his temper or otherwise hooks him into a conversation whether he likes it or not. And if it's not that, then it's Dante's need to constantly keep moving that eventually pulls Vergil from his book to deal with his little brother elbowing him in the side or nearly clocking Vergil in the jaw with a knee or foot every couple of minutes. Mizu has a tendency to read with Vergil albeit she favors nonfiction, typically reading something that contributes to her research on London. So, occasionally, she shares something she's read or asks him a question to clarify the veracity of whatever claim has been made by the author. Most of the time, a brief response is all she needs. It's rare that she goes looking for conversation, and she tends to be just as still as Vergil. Nero, oddly enough, tends to occupy a middle ground between Dante and Mizu on both fronts when he hangs about while Vergil reads. If he chooses to make conversation with Vergil, he tends to either keep it brief or something that will be of interest to him. He can't keep nearly as still as Mizu, but it's blatantly obvious to Vergil that Nero tries his very best to tamp down his urge to fidget lest Vergil nudges him back into his own space.]
[Thus, Vergil never held any expectation that Nero would stay perfectly still nor perfectly quiet with his own book. At some point, he was bound to speak or move, or both. Vergil hardly minds, glancing up briefly from his own reading.]
Tantalized means to have tempted someone with something they really want, but without giving it to them. It's typically an impossible desire they're being tempted with, but not always. It's derived from Tantalus in Greek mythology, if you're familiar.
[Which he says as a way for Nero to remember the meaning of the word easier, not to condescend or make him feel stupid for not being able to guess at the word's meaning. Honestly, if Nero doesn't know the myth, that's a mark of failure on the part of schooling in Fortuna either for only teaching the myths surrounding Sparda or being unable to actively engage Nero in learning. Regardless, it's not a reflection of his son as far as Vergil is concerned.]
[Nero never cared all that much about school, or the ways in which he struggled with it. It was mostly boring as hell, and a waste of time that could have been better spent doing other things: playing outside, learning to fight, exploring the forest, listening to music, watching his forbidden TV... climbing on rooftops... going places he wasn't supposed to... Reading in particular never came easily for him, words getting all jumbled up in his head and making long passages increasingly difficult to understand. It was also unengaging, mostly dry-ass churchy shit about Sparda (sorry Gramps, but it was probably all fake anyway, right?) He liked comic books (the visuals and smaller amount of text help,) and he's read more than a few technical manuals trying to decipher them. But apart from that, reading for pleasure was not his thing.
Since meeting Vergil and learning about his mother, there's been times he's become self-conscious about his thoroughly average-to-below average reading interest and ability. Initially, he feared that his father might think he was stupid or slow. It felt like one more irreconcilable difference between them, one more way Nero could fail at being a good enough son to acknowledge.
Most of that, thankfully, has gone away. Vergil even reads to him now and then, and he finds it easier to understand by listening. He's even comfortable enough to ask for word definitions when needed (more often than he'd like.)
But still... it is a little embarrassing to admit when he's not getting a reference.]
Greek mythology? I don't know anything about that...
[But then a memory slowly dawns on him. Kyrie loves to read, and back in the day she would notice how Nero grumbled or slowly drifted his attention away from any attempts. So sometimes she'd offer to read to him, action-packed or scary books or things she knew he'd be more interested in. More often than not, Nero was too busy being enamored with Kyrie to pay attention to the book.
[It's not altogether that surprising for Vergil to hear that Nero doesn't understand the reference. He's about explain it a little further when Nero chimes in with his reference that Vergil doesn't understand as indicated by the slight furrow in his brow as he looks up.]
I assume that's a film...?
[Vergil hesitates to say that it's based on anything in Greek mythology. What film adaptations Nero has shown Vergil have varied wildly in how closely they follow their source material for better or for worse, and he doesn't know where Greek mythology would land exactly. Vergil feels safe assuming it would likely vary greatly depending on the myth in question as to how far it might stray. Some of them were quite action-packed after all, and would probably make for great cinema in Nero's eyes, but others would probably be as interesting to him as watching grass grow if they were presented at all authentically. The title gives nothing away as to what myth it's referring to exactly, however. Hence his hesitation.]
Yeah, it's one of those old fantasy movies with the stop-motion monsters and stuff. Pegasus? And Medusa? And the lady chained to the rock, with the sea monster?
[He... THINKS that's Greek mythology? All the names the same as star constellations and all. That means it's Greek, right?
Oh, and-]
Ah, and Hercules? I mean, he wasn't in Clash of the Titans but I saw those movies too.
[Well, now that's just confusing. Although not the part about Hercules' absence from Clash of the Titans.]
I would hope he wasn't included in something meant to tell the story of Perseus given he is both his younger half-brother and great-grandson... [Vergil shakes his head a little as he momentarily closes his book, leaving a finger between pages to hold his place. He gets to the part that does not make much sense.] How exactly did this film get its title? Perseus' myth comes after the Titanomachy, and if memory serves, Atlas is the only Titan ever remotely associated with him depending on the author.
[He frowns a little further.]
Of course, setting aside the inaccuracy to the original myth, Perseus' story has enough story to be told on its own between the slaying of Medusa and Cetus without the addition of the Titans. They are not included in the film, are they?
[Vergil really cannot think it would be any good under those circumstances because there's creative liberties and then there's simultaneously bloating and diluting a narrative needlessly.]
[Nero does not outright say "what on earth are you talking about?" It is at least mildly written all over his face, though.
He lets Vergil ramble for a moment, then catches the question and tries to remember the movie. He's seen it more recently than on his handheld television but it was still a while ago.]
Uh... no. I don't think there are any titans, come to think of it. [A beat.] It's a good movie though. We should watch it sometime.
[Then he cracks a sly grin, upside-down from his spot leaning his head on Vergil's leg.] You can tell me all the ways it's not the same as the book.
[He heaves a sigh with a slight shake of his head.]
I am beginning to yearn for the days when you were less cognizant of how much you are able to get away with by virtue of being my son. [Patently untrue. While he can't say he exactly enjoys being wound up on purpose like that so often, Vergil doesn't entirely mind it either. And he would certainly prefer Nero doesn't feel he needs to walks on eggshells around him either. It's better that they both don't feel such a hair's breadth away from everything falling apart. With his free hand, he grabs hold of Nero's face by his chin to scrunch up that shit-eating grin.] How unfortunate that polite young man was all but an illusion. Instead, I have this foolish hooligan to call my kin.
[He gives Nero's head a little shake before letting him go.]
I'll watch your film that is likely littered with egregious inaccuracies, but you would do well to learn more Greek mythology beyond what you would see on a screen, child. It may even lead to you appreciate things you already like more than you do now.
Sorry there, Pops. You were gonna figure it out sooner or later.
[Remember when Vergil and Nero were too uneasy to even touch one another? Now they're at the point where Nero's getting his face scrunched for mouthing off. Bothered FatherTM. He cackles and permits the head shaking, delighting in being called a foolish hooligan.
Then Vergil suggests he experience more Greek mythology. And actually?]
Sure, you can read me the book sometime. It sounds cool.
[Vergil opens his mouth to clarify that Greek mythology is by no means contained within a single book, but decides against it. Let that be something Nero discovers on his own while Vergil has this buy-in for now. He runs the fingers of his free hand through Nero's hair lightly.]
I believe if you approach it with an open mind, you'll quite like it.
[Some parts of it may be of less interest to him than others, of course, but there's plenty of monsters and action in most Greek myth to keep Nero plenty entertained if he's able to track what's happening. And what Vergil says is true. Greek myth serves as a foundation of Western literature, and he's more than clever enough to draw those comparisons. Vergil knows it. He just needs to give it a chance, and have it presented in a manner he can enjoy it rather than have it be some dry academic discussion.]
The Greeks wrote poetry about wrestling, you know. And not just about the mythic heroes against their monstrous foes. They held the sport in high regard, and as the greatest demonstration of human strength. [He huffs a small, quiet laugh.] Of course, their wrestling was far more violent than the wrestling you watch. Even the Romans felt the Greeks needed to "chill out," to borrow a phrase from you.
[Vergil's extremely formal usage of "chill out" makes him laugh. Especially because Vergil is also laughing.] Ah, so the Greeks had good taste, then?
[He assumes "more violent" than professional wrestling is probably referring to the fact that his wrestling is staged. So does that mean they were actually beating each other with chairs? And writing poems about it?
Yeah, actually, he could get behind this shit.
Nero leans his head back into those head strokes like a cat seeking the contact.]
So you're saying the fact it's violent and there's monsters makes it... tantalizing, for me?
Quite. [He smiles with an equally pleased hum at Nero's correct use of the word "tantalizing."] Although you do not share in Tantalus's fate. Whatever you desire shall never be impossibly beyond your reach, dear child.
[Perhaps it is a bit odd for so true and sentimental statement to come now, but Vergil is nothing less than sincere in that belief and finds it merit saying given the day's events. To him, Nero is limitless in all that he can do. There is nothing he cannot accomplish nor obtain once his mind is set to it. Whatever it takes, he'll push himself to see it through to the end. Nero simply is all Vergil thought to be the impossible with all his strength and love.]
[But still he borrows a small page from Dante and Nero's book, lessening the weight of his words a little with a slight tease, mussing up Nero's hair in the process.]
You're far too damned stubborn to let it be otherwise.
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Yes, well. [Vergil clears his throat a little and looks back at the books he's sorting.] I enjoy reading...
[He does not have much by way of hobbies otherwise. There is only ever so much to do with gardening and without necessarily a direction given towards cooking, he's a bit more...listless with that. So, reading it is. As it always has been. As he told Nero, he had a bookshelf like the one in his room now as a child, but the difference that it was actually full of his own books. He'd read so many of them cover to cover several times.]
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[It's good there's a library close by that can feed that voracious habit of his. Just makes Nero wish he was a little better at it himself. Though he fully intends to sit down and push through that book Vergil picked out for him, come hell or high water. Maybe even when he gets back from dropping the books off.
It, uh... is not going to be a one-sitting thing for him, most likely.]
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I suppose I am better off not asking if you're only just now figuring that out, [he says, the joke being at his expense given just how much reason he's provided Nero to think him otherwise. Not that he believes any of this to truly be a reflection of his intelligence, anyways. The most that can actually be said is that he is well-read and is making up for a tremendous amount of lost time with the library at his disposal.] Your uncle doesn't understand why I frequent the library so much instead of owning the books myself. The question isn't entirely unreasonable considering how modest my collection is now compared to what I owned during my childhood, but I believe you can see why it's best I continue making use of the library.
[Even if he owned only a fraction of the books he's read since coming to Folkmore, he wouldn't have had the ability to walk or move around in his studio apartment by the time Nero and Dante joined him. And at this point, in the house, they most certainly would have escaped containment from his bedroom and overtaken much of the living room.]
[There is also the small matter that he will not be able to take any of these books with him when they leave this realm eventually. Vergil has spent most of his life unattached to objects, and he would like to remain as such until he can actually enjoy a true degree of permanency.]
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Yeah, it's better this way. No interventions. No coming home to find you crushed under a stack of books the size of a building...
[He looks at a few more of the books from the stacks as Vergil works through them. Opens to the first page and skims the text... sometimes nodding, sometimes making a face and shaking his head before quickly putting them back in the stack.]
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There, [he says, placing the last book in the pile to be sent back to the library.] That's all of them that need to be returned.
[From his "keep" pile, Vergil selects one of the books before reaching for his tea again. He tucks his legs back underneath him on the couch, settling back to where he was before when Nero first brought out the small mountain of books. He doesn't have any interest in lying about in bed, but imagines Nero is going to insist he stay put. So, he might as well have something to keep him occupied while Nero is out.]
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Vergil finishes sorting the stacks and Nero sighs a bit at just how many there are. No, it's nothing he can't handle... particularly with four arms. But it's also not gonna be the quick, easy errand he expected.
He's not about to make a big deal out of it. Nothing that would discourage Vergil from sitting the fuck down and getting some fucking rest while he's sick.]
Okay. I'll drop these off for you. You want anything from the market while I'm out?
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I haven't a need for anything personally, and the kitchen should be well-stocked. I went to the farmer's market only a few days ago.
[But if that isn't the case, Kyrie will surely let Nero know sooner rather than later. With Vergil out of the rotation of people to make meals for the foreseeable future, he imagines she will volunteer to pick up the slack while Nero is worrying about Vergil. Which Vergil knows that boy is going to do even if Vergil happens to be the most compliant possible patient.]
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[That's a joke. He hopes it's taken as a joke. Not entirely certain it will be but, hey...
With the help of his shopping bags, Nero manages to pack up more of the books without having to resort to superpowers of any sort. It is, however, more books than any normal person could comfortably carry, made featherlight by his strength.
He departs then, leaving Vergil to his own devices for round about an hour.]
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[It's only a few minutes ultimately that he spends pondering this condition in Nero's absence. With little ability to investigate himself right now, he sets it aside to read instead. By the time Nero returns, Vergil is more or less exactly where Nero left him. He occupies the same corner of the couch, but has left a leg extended on the couch itself. At some point, he poured himself a second cup of tea, but it's since been forgotten and left to go cold while the glass of water Nero brought him remains untouched. It's not some form of childish protest, however, that he's neglecting any further liquid intake. He's nearly a hundred pages deep already into his novel, and it's likely clear from how he does not look up from the book in his hands or say anything by way of greeting that he is merely engrossed rather than being particularly stubborn.]
[At the very least, no aerobics happened and he stayed put.]
[Once Nero is a couple steps into the house, he finally speaks albeit somewhat absentmindedly.]
Did you manage alright without the truck?
[He finishes the page before finally looking over to Nero.]
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[Nero is carrying fewer books than he left with, by a good margin. But he's not empty-handed as expected. He walks up to the couch and sets a book bag with expertly-stacked titles alongside it.]
Whole bunch of your holds were ready, so I checked them out for you. This oughta last you... [He pretends to be doing math in his head.] Three days?
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I'll try to stretch it out to four, and give your back more time to recover. [Vergil shifts and moves on the couch to provide Nero with room to sit, tucking his knees close so he can rest his current book against them with a single hand. He's tempted to say that Nero didn't have to do that, but it's a foolish thing to point out something so obvious. Nero didn't have to go to the library in the first place, never mind picking up some of Vergil's holds. He did it anyway. Because that's the sort of person that he is.] Thank you, Nero.
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That smile, though. Man, it's worth all the headaches and hoops sometimes just to see his dad smile at him like that.
It's a moment before Nero actually sits. He goes to the kitchen first to get a glass of water for himself. Makes a detour to kick off his shoes. Then he circles back around the couch with one more book in hand-- the one Vergil mentioned that he might like, which he checked out himself this time.
He flops on the couch next to Vergil and makes himself comfortable, showing every intention of settling in to read.]
Still dizzy? Are you feeling any better?
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[Vergil glances up, and ultimately does a slight double-take when Nero settles onto the couch. Nero's gotten past most of his self-consciousness about how he reads. So, the sight of him with a book or willingness to read in Vergil's presence isn't unheard of these days. Nero's selections, however, tend to be among the books Beatrice loved or one of Vergil's books of poetry. They're books he can only tolerate in small bursts as such, and Nero's enjoyment of them is at times limited. (Which is all well and good when Nero is most likely reading them for the sake of a connection between himself and his parents, not necessarily for his entertainment.) Thus, it's more happenstance than anything that Vergil comes across Nero reading. Nero sitting down with Vergil with the intention of reading himself (and reading a recommendation Vergil made, no less) is a far more novel experience.]
[And a pleasing one at that. Not that Vergil's minded the hours upon hours of wrestling and movies he's chosen to watch with Nero—he's actually gotten more invested in both than he thought he would in the beginning—but Vergil possesses far more limited hobbies for Nero to choose from, and he's not ignorant enough to believe that reading wouldn't occupy a fairly low position on Nero's list of preferred activities in general.]
Hm? [As it turns out, Vergil was a little distracted by his silent marveling at Nero choosing to read with him.] Oh. Yes, I feel fine right now.
The dizziness was only occurring when I moved too quickly. Reading doesn't exactly require particularly quick movements that would trigger it again.
[Which is a good thing because if he was too dizzy to read...]
Bite your tongue if your next words have any resemblance to "I told you so."
[Despite Vergil's tone, it's a playful warning.]
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[... and he wasn't going to say "I told you so." Probably. Most likely. At least, not in a way where he meant it as more than a way to annoy his father...
Nero does settle in, pulling out the book and thumbing through it before he starts attempting to read in earnest. This is honestly more about making Vergil feel better about bailing on their spar, about cutting short their afternoon than it is that he really desires to sit and read right now, but... hey. His dad's sick for possibly the first time in his life. He could use a little company, so he might as well get started on this book while he's at it.
Reading alongside Nero does offer a few minor challenges though. It's not silent for long before he speaks up.]
What's "tantalized?"
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[Thus, Vergil never held any expectation that Nero would stay perfectly still nor perfectly quiet with his own book. At some point, he was bound to speak or move, or both. Vergil hardly minds, glancing up briefly from his own reading.]
Tantalized means to have tempted someone with something they really want, but without giving it to them. It's typically an impossible desire they're being tempted with, but not always. It's derived from Tantalus in Greek mythology, if you're familiar.
[Which he says as a way for Nero to remember the meaning of the word easier, not to condescend or make him feel stupid for not being able to guess at the word's meaning. Honestly, if Nero doesn't know the myth, that's a mark of failure on the part of schooling in Fortuna either for only teaching the myths surrounding Sparda or being unable to actively engage Nero in learning. Regardless, it's not a reflection of his son as far as Vergil is concerned.]
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Since meeting Vergil and learning about his mother, there's been times he's become self-conscious about his thoroughly average-to-below average reading interest and ability. Initially, he feared that his father might think he was stupid or slow. It felt like one more irreconcilable difference between them, one more way Nero could fail at being a good enough son to acknowledge.
Most of that, thankfully, has gone away. Vergil even reads to him now and then, and he finds it easier to understand by listening. He's even comfortable enough to ask for word definitions when needed (more often than he'd like.)
But still... it is a little embarrassing to admit when he's not getting a reference.]
Greek mythology? I don't know anything about that...
[But then a memory slowly dawns on him. Kyrie loves to read, and back in the day she would notice how Nero grumbled or slowly drifted his attention away from any attempts. So sometimes she'd offer to read to him, action-packed or scary books or things she knew he'd be more interested in. More often than not, Nero was too busy being enamored with Kyrie to pay attention to the book.
But he remembers ONE thing.]
Oh, wait. Greek... Like Clash of the Titans?
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I assume that's a film...?
[Vergil hesitates to say that it's based on anything in Greek mythology. What film adaptations Nero has shown Vergil have varied wildly in how closely they follow their source material for better or for worse, and he doesn't know where Greek mythology would land exactly. Vergil feels safe assuming it would likely vary greatly depending on the myth in question as to how far it might stray. Some of them were quite action-packed after all, and would probably make for great cinema in Nero's eyes, but others would probably be as interesting to him as watching grass grow if they were presented at all authentically. The title gives nothing away as to what myth it's referring to exactly, however. Hence his hesitation.]
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Yeah, it's one of those old fantasy movies with the stop-motion monsters and stuff. Pegasus? And Medusa? And the lady chained to the rock, with the sea monster?
[He... THINKS that's Greek mythology? All the names the same as star constellations and all. That means it's Greek, right?
Oh, and-]
Ah, and Hercules? I mean, he wasn't in Clash of the Titans but I saw those movies too.
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I would hope he wasn't included in something meant to tell the story of Perseus given he is both his younger half-brother and great-grandson... [Vergil shakes his head a little as he momentarily closes his book, leaving a finger between pages to hold his place. He gets to the part that does not make much sense.] How exactly did this film get its title? Perseus' myth comes after the Titanomachy, and if memory serves, Atlas is the only Titan ever remotely associated with him depending on the author.
[He frowns a little further.]
Of course, setting aside the inaccuracy to the original myth, Perseus' story has enough story to be told on its own between the slaying of Medusa and Cetus without the addition of the Titans. They are not included in the film, are they?
[Vergil really cannot think it would be any good under those circumstances because there's creative liberties and then there's simultaneously bloating and diluting a narrative needlessly.]
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He lets Vergil ramble for a moment, then catches the question and tries to remember the movie. He's seen it more recently than on his handheld television but it was still a while ago.]
Uh... no. I don't think there are any titans, come to think of it. [A beat.] It's a good movie though. We should watch it sometime.
[Then he cracks a sly grin, upside-down from his spot leaning his head on Vergil's leg.] You can tell me all the ways it's not the same as the book.
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I am beginning to yearn for the days when you were less cognizant of how much you are able to get away with by virtue of being my son. [Patently untrue. While he can't say he exactly enjoys being wound up on purpose like that so often, Vergil doesn't entirely mind it either. And he would certainly prefer Nero doesn't feel he needs to walks on eggshells around him either. It's better that they both don't feel such a hair's breadth away from everything falling apart. With his free hand, he grabs hold of Nero's face by his chin to scrunch up that shit-eating grin.] How unfortunate that polite young man was all but an illusion. Instead, I have this foolish hooligan to call my kin.
[He gives Nero's head a little shake before letting him go.]
I'll watch your film that is likely littered with egregious inaccuracies, but you would do well to learn more Greek mythology beyond what you would see on a screen, child. It may even lead to you appreciate things you already like more than you do now.
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[Remember when Vergil and Nero were too uneasy to even touch one another? Now they're at the point where Nero's getting his face scrunched for mouthing off. Bothered FatherTM. He cackles and permits the head shaking, delighting in being called a foolish hooligan.
Then Vergil suggests he experience more Greek mythology. And actually?]
Sure, you can read me the book sometime. It sounds cool.
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I believe if you approach it with an open mind, you'll quite like it.
[Some parts of it may be of less interest to him than others, of course, but there's plenty of monsters and action in most Greek myth to keep Nero plenty entertained if he's able to track what's happening. And what Vergil says is true. Greek myth serves as a foundation of Western literature, and he's more than clever enough to draw those comparisons. Vergil knows it. He just needs to give it a chance, and have it presented in a manner he can enjoy it rather than have it be some dry academic discussion.]
The Greeks wrote poetry about wrestling, you know. And not just about the mythic heroes against their monstrous foes. They held the sport in high regard, and as the greatest demonstration of human strength. [He huffs a small, quiet laugh.] Of course, their wrestling was far more violent than the wrestling you watch. Even the Romans felt the Greeks needed to "chill out," to borrow a phrase from you.
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[He assumes "more violent" than professional wrestling is probably referring to the fact that his wrestling is staged. So does that mean they were actually beating each other with chairs? And writing poems about it?
Yeah, actually, he could get behind this shit.
Nero leans his head back into those head strokes like a cat seeking the contact.]
So you're saying the fact it's violent and there's monsters makes it... tantalizing, for me?
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[Perhaps it is a bit odd for so true and sentimental statement to come now, but Vergil is nothing less than sincere in that belief and finds it merit saying given the day's events. To him, Nero is limitless in all that he can do. There is nothing he cannot accomplish nor obtain once his mind is set to it. Whatever it takes, he'll push himself to see it through to the end. Nero simply is all Vergil thought to be the impossible with all his strength and love.]
[But still he borrows a small page from Dante and Nero's book, lessening the weight of his words a little with a slight tease, mussing up Nero's hair in the process.]
You're far too damned stubborn to let it be otherwise.
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