channellings | ☂ fellden inbox

[yeesh, that was a lot— still kind of is in a sense but klaus isn't deterred. in fact, it makes him more curious; what else is there about v he doesn't know? or had he just given him the entire story all at once here? regardless, for whatever reason v's telling him, he appreciates it, has decided he'll do the same in kind and definitely understands a little better than before.

and if it's any consolation, klaus questions his existence here at least two or three times a week. sometimes, it feels like a dream he'll eventually wake up from, yet whenever he awakens in the same bed, the same room surrounding him, he realizes he's not dreaming.]

Hopefully, it's a good opinion? [please, v, go easy on yourself.

the fingers touching his wrist in return briefly draw his attention, he tilts his head, considers them a long moment then looks right back up at the acerbic response.]

Vergil? [alas, that and ‘sparda’ aren't names he's familiar with.] Hey, give yourself some credit, V. You're here, aren't you? That must count for something, incomplete or not.

[ He opens his mouth to say something, but nothing initially comes out. He sighs and finally concedes with honesty, shaking his head, ]

I'm still building an opinion.

[ As for his not-family, ]

Vergil and his twin brother Dante are claimed by the Moon Temple. Vergil's son Nero is in the Court now.

[ A situation that is somewhat heartbreaking to V, since this Nero will never have met him at all. V doesn't relish having to explain who they are to one another. ]

Fair enough.

[he's also doing that, too. being here is different, having a second chance to try something else is different but being given the choice in the first place, that's what really sort of blows his mind about it all.

dante and nero are absolutely names he recognizes though and when v says ‘twin brother,’ well—] I... think I know all of them, actually? Dante helped me get out of a tight spot once, I helped Nero wrangle some kids a while back and Vergil, he— [don't make assumptions, you don't know if that was legit vergil or not.]

Well, I'm thinking I might've run across him on a real bad day? Although I'm not sure.

[ What V takes from the hedging is that Vergil did something cruel or violent. It doesn't shock him, and he doesn't bother warning Klaus that he's dangerous. He should know already if he's met all the Spardas. So V just nods that, yes, that description sounds correct. ]

I know this isn't the most elegant way to learn about me, but it spares me having to pretend that I know what it's like to live my life.

[ It lets him be more open and clear about his boundaries and limitations. Although maybe those limitations are only in his perception, who knows. ]

[what about both? both is good— although maybe not so much during that situation. klaus doesn't need any warnings, he's witnessed it himself and plans on steering clear of ‘vergil’ for as long as necessary. (even though it technically wasn't him, which will be odd to learn later.) dante seemed capable but not nearly as dangerous in his opinion.]

It's not but I don't mind. Gives me an idea of what exactly you're dealing with.

And it definitely makes me feel a little better about sharing my own shit. [a moment's hesitation, his tongue nervously darting over his lips, the faint grip he has on v's hand tightening.] Like how I can see and talk to dead people. [just for starters, anyway.]

[ As promised, the look on V's face is one of fascination more than repulsion. To be quite honest, V doesn't think about 'dead people' very much. When he himself dies, he doubts he will become a 'dead person'. He will just disintegrate, all the magic inside of him just caught up and carried away. It had already started to happen to him, before he joined with familiars and even after. Hunting down the demon half of his former self had taken too much out of him, he had begun to crack like a porcelain doll. He has felt Death's touch on him, and there is a reason he makes no attempt to befriend that god now.

But he knows a lot about what people think about the dead. Vergil, and by extension himself, read all those classic ghost stories, and here in Fellden V has a little book of poems The Dead and the Undead full of emotions about living, dying, and all else. His own relationship to the concept is just... warped. He wonders if that's how Klaus feels too. Like he knows these stories and these ideas, but his reality is different. ]

That is interesting. Always?

[...well, that's sincerely a surprise but holy shit, what kind of afterlife would that be? or would it not exist, either? klaus's had far too many close-calls with death to have not eventually run into that particular deity, albeit during a party, so it wasn't like he'd planned for them to meet. for a long moment, he's distracted with studying v's expression, seeking out even the slightest hint of distaste, although he finds none. the guy's either got the best pokerface he's ever seen or v's genuinely interested and he's unsure which is worse.

at least in stories, ghosts never woke him up in the middle of the night. the reality's entirely different; having a spirit shouting his name, looking just as they did when they'd died? it's a whole different feeling altogether. one he tries to avoid as often as possible.]

Not always, no. [albeit with blatant reluctance, he draws his hand away, turns and reaches into his coat-pocket on the left side, withdraws a flask that he sets up between them. then he props his elbows onto the table, steeples his fingers together, rests the index digits against his chin.] Only when I'm sober.

[ What strikes V most is the reluctance to make this admittance, and then doing it anyway. Maybe this talk of sobriety should have more gravity, but V doesn't know what can lurk behind that word. What he knows is that there are many people in many stories who drink to keep the ghosts at bay, they're just usually metaphorical. Is it more reasonable, when the ghosts are real? It doesn't make it any less of a tragic device, but having tragedy in your life is also something V relates to entirely too much. He puts one of his own elbows on the table, resting his chin in it and watching the other man with a look of mild consideration. ]

You hide that from people.

[ It's not really a question, and V is thinking about what he'd hide from people himself. He'd told Klaus his story, but has been in deep consideration about beginning to lie. Telling new people that he's such and such age, from such and such place just to avoid the questions and the vulnerability. ]

What is it they [ 'People' ] think you should do instead?

[ Why else hide it, if there wasn't something to be avoided. He may be naive about the full implications of an addiction, but he's sharp enough. ]

[klaus's mouth instantly opens but whatever words he'd been planning to say die right on his tongue. no, he doesn't intentionally hide it from people; however, he's never gone out of his way to announce when he's out getting drunk or high off his ass. old habits of making sure no one knows so he avoids getting into trouble die hard and all, even if he's an adult now. a slow, measured sigh and then he finally continues.]

Sometimes. Back home though, nobody was ever surprised to see me intoxicated.

[if that's something v's genuinely considering, he'd be pleased to know that he got the actual story before he decided on lying about his actual homeworld. (klaus can understand wanting the perks of having people believe he's not an otherworlder.)

he shrugs, teeters his left hand.] Most people think I should just embrace it? But they aren't the ones being haunted every goddamn night, so, y'know. [a feeble gesture toward nothing in particular with the same hand then it cups his cheek.

although he's pretty sure v doesn't understand in the sense of actually seeing things.]

[ Nobody was ever surprised.That sounds like someone V knows, and wonders how he actually feels about that internal comparison. Of all the people in Fellden he probably wants to date Dante the least. He takes his teacup in both hands before taking a drink out of it, eyes down in thought. ]

No, they aren't.

[ It's also the advice V would give. If Vergil had faced what haunted him instead of cutting it out, there would be no V and that is always the better world that V imagines. He was only able to survive by doing what Vergil couldn't, by reaching into the core of each familiar and letting the nightmares wash over him.

But not everyone is himself, interestingly enough. ]

Have you considered searching for a charm to suppress your hauntings?

[ He motions inward at some of the necklaces around his throat. There are actually quite a few, although he doesn't make it clear which are magical and which are just jewelry. He would prefer that not be clear to anyone, really. ]

There are things that I do not like touching me, so I wear a ward.

[ No more fae charm magic for him, thanks. ]

Edited (typo) 2020-03-16 04:36 (UTC)

[not to worry, v, he and dante have some things in common but are also quite different. mostly in places where it matters, too. klaus softens somewhat whenever v agrees with him, downcasts his own gaze then reaches for the flask, tucking it back into his pocket afterward.

feels a little selfish; though, in his defense, maybe he feels it's rightly claimed for once? and v doesn't seem to be judging, given the offer of charms.]

...I hadn't. [partially since half of him's afraid of the withdrawal, all while the other part almost prefers being inebriated most days. this, however, is true about his whole self:] Also because I'm sort of an idiot who forgot that was even an option?

[they're surrounded by magic twenty-four seven and, how unsurprising, something so small never occurred to him. maybe because he's drunk far often than not. he tucks his cup between his arms, leans over the table and carefully catches one of the cords, examining the trinkets there.]

Sounds brilliant, honestly. Where'd you get these done? Or did you make 'em yourself?

[ He's never had someone lean in to look at what he's wearing like that before. He doesn't often think about how he looks, but it's a moment like this that brings it to mind. ]

The charms I've asked for as blessings.

[ He says that like it's been the formal monthly variety every time, but one of them was a direct gift from Temperance. ]

The rest I've just been collecting since... [ Oh right. ] Well, I took everything off a man I knocked unconscious after I was created. He had some jewelry.

[ There was a reason he wanted to explain how he was created before telling stories like that. ]

[v could wear a goddamn paper bag and make it look great, he has nothing to worry about. klaus's index finger curls tighter, the middle digit catching one of the charms, his thumb rubbing over it thoughtfully.]

Blessings, huh? [it really is a genius idea.

maybe, if he remembers, he could ask for something that might help keep the spirits away (because there are a lot more around fellden than he would've thought).]

Wait, did you knock him out for his jewelry? [listen, he's not judging, klaus has done the exact same thing— or something similar to it, at least. he's undoubtedly taken shit off people while they were unconscious, that's for sure.]

I hope that helps. I--

[ He was going to say something about understanding what it's like to be carrying something awful all the time, but he just... doesn't want to. It's the first time so far he's shirked, he's doing pretty well. ]

It was his clothes I needed, for the most part. Griffon and I needed to escape in a rush, he threw me out a window. [ This was a necessary thing, but the point still remains that he had been thrown naked into a pile of trash and really needed some clothes. ] I thought taking the jewelry as well would help... sell the lie.

[ He clears his throat. ]

I liked his jewelry more than his fashion, but prior to coming to Fellden that was all I owned.

[ Stolen clothes, stolen cane, borrowed nightmares, and a discarded book. ]

[klaus withdraws after v hesitates, lifts his head just enough to meet the other man's eyes, his own curious, silently scrutinizing. whatever v wanted to say, he has every right to keep it to himself... but that isn't going to make him any less inquisitive. was he about to say something about understanding? yikes!

finally, since it seems like he's lingered plenty, he releases v's necklace, shifts further back and plants himself in his seat proper.]

The guy threw you out the window or Griffon did? Either way... yeowch. [mainly if he was naked too, like, what the hell, man? he huffs a laugh at that, shakes his head then takes a pull from his tea before commenting,] Probably not the worst idea, to be honest.

[he snorts this time, barely manages cupping a hand around his face to muffle the rest of the noise (because the second half of the remark is not funny at all).]

That's okay, I came to Fellden the same way and back home, I... didn't really have much else, anyhow. [a faint shrug.] Hell, I've got more stuff here than I do there, I'm sure.

Do you care about 'stuff'?

[ Ah, these are the kinds of weird questions you should expect from someone who hasn't existed for very long. Some behavior he's noticed in others and is now trying to determine whether it's a normal behavior or not.

The guileless curiosity on his face likely gives away that he isn't joking, and is actually interested in the implications of the answer. ]

Depends on the stuff.

[which isn't a lie, some of the shit he has is extremely important. the dogtags hanging around his neck at all times are more or less it, though.

an uncomfortable shift in spite of himself, his head briefly inclining, attention concentrated on his teacup.] Most shit can be replaced, it's true, but there are some things that are just... priceless, you know?

[ Does he know? He knows how Vergil feels about the Yamato and about his mother's locket, but does V have anything that important? Someone might tell him it was the book of poetry that Vergil had carried since childhood, but doesn't that description alone explain how that isn't his, yet again? ]

I have yet to find something like that.

[ Was it inevitable? Or could you go your entire life without finding something priceless? ]

But I do like books.

[ What a shocker the guy is a nerd. ]

[oof. evidently, v needs to find something to make his own, something personal— or perhaps someone? because friendships can count, too. they're rather priceless in their own way.]

Oh. Well, uhm... I'm sure you'll eventually find something? Even if you don't, it's no big deal, not everyone finds comfort in material things.

[but of course, he likes books and that's a start, isn't it?]

Nerdy, [he grins.] I like it. Books are pretty great though, to be fair.

[ The real question is what book of poems does V have in his cloak pocket today... Let's dig it out. Poems Bewitched and Haunted, a little pocket edition with jack-o'-lantern faces in a pattern across the front. ]

Most of my time is spent reviewing textbooks and researching, but I have a few of these I like to take with me.

[ Even nerdier. Textbooks and poetry. ]

[the moment he does, klaus's propping onto an elbow again, leaning to see the book, eyebrows arched with curiosity.] Poems? Oh no, that's cute, [he gestures toward the little pumpkins, sighs and touches his cheek with his opposite hand.]

Anything good in there? Can't say I've read that one.

[nerdy or not, he can appreciate some good prose.]

I have a few of these, on different themes. Different poets from different time periods. They're easy to keep in a pocket, and read one or two when I have a minute.

[ His circuitous answer about if any of it's good. He just likes being able to read poetry, and if one or two aren't that interesting, there's a selection of others to try. But here, this one is short, ]

I met a ghost in an old bare house,
That looked with lustreless eyes at me,
And drove from my eyes sweet dreams & drowse,
Till the morning made it flee.

My house is builded of years decayed,
And in vain I fill it with new glad light,
For a love that is lost is a ghost unlaid
That troubles the silent night.

[ It's more than likely that his reading of it is more interesting than the poem itself. Calm and sonorous, someone who takes pleasure in the simple act of poetry its sounds, its structures, and its intent to bring indescribable things into description. ]

[before he's even given the chance to ask v to read something, his fellow otherworlder is already opening the book, choosing some poem about ghosts and houses and dreams.

klaus listens intently, absorbing each and every word while he absentmindedly sips at his tea. the prose is interesting; not quite what he'd have in mind when picking poems, considering his whole mediumship thing, but it's still good—

and listening to v speak is completely, one-hundred-percent worth it. his voice is lyrical, smooth as silk, like chocolate melting on the tongue— oh. well, that was unexpected, makes him duck his face a little further into the teacup. he's never been afraid of making his intentions known, regardless of being in public even, although he is somewhat worried about coming on too strong and putting v off.

once klaus's sure nothing inappropriate will come out,] Interesting choice, [he comments around the rim of the cup, lowering it again a moment later.]

What else is in there?

It's the shortest poem in the book, I wasn't going to bore you with a full recitation of the Wood Witch.

[ His smile quirks sharp, not at all feeling down about his poetry habits and more bemused by the idea. Keeping the man hostage in this tea house just to give him a good sense of the book he's reading. Ridiculous. V pushes the book of pocket poems across the table. ]

You can take it, if you want.

[ Being offered whatever book V has on hand is something you'll just have to get used to. He likes books, but there are always others. He refuses to be obsessed with the same book of poetry for twenty years like Vergil. Not here, when he had the opportunity to read anything this world could offer. ]

Wow, rude, how do you know I would've thought it'd be boring?

[he's joking, obviously, grinning in kind while he finally sets the cup down, right as v's sliding the book his way. klaus considers it, tilts his head somewhat then reaches out and rests his first two fingertips against the cover, pulling it closer so he can pick it up.]

You sure? Wouldn't wanna deprive you of good reading material. [not to mention he has no idea when he'll actually read it? sooner rather than later, he'd assume.

to be honest, klaus needs more distractions during his downtime anyhow. something for him to do besides drinking and being obnoxious toward his friends would be good; long ago, he'd have his nose in books all the time, usually back-to-back with a certain horror-filled brother but... well, times have changed.]

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