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[nuncommon]

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[nuncommon]

V, Griffon, hello!

[ Mercedes is all smiles as she swings the door open and steps back to admit them. As she'd warned them, the area itself seems sparse, but she's already been hard at work adding light blue and white curtains to the windows and laying out rugs. ]

Please, come in. You certainly look well-rested today.

[ He'd definitely appeared wearier when they'd first met, though she had been content to place the majority of the blame on the exhaustion of socializing. It wasn't for everyone, after all. ]

[summonere]

[ V ducks his head politely, tucking his hands into his pockets. ]

Thank you for having us.

[ His vulture friend has flapped out to land on a rolled up rug, balancing there low to the floor. ]

This is a big place!

[nuncommon]

Isn't it? Dimitri told me it was large, but even then, I hadn't expected it to be this big. It's quite a bit to decorate.

[ But she's Determined. ]

How have the both have you been? Has everything been all right?

[summonere]

Oh, yes. We've met Dimitri a few times.

Is Patches your boyfriend, Mercy?

[ No part of that question was discrete, Griffon!! V gives the bird a look. ]

You don't need to humor him. We're well, if busy.

[nuncommon]

Oh, I'm not entirely sure he feels that way about me. [ With the most idle hand flap. ]

But I'm glad to hear that. Are you really being made to move furniture so often?

[ Granted, he never said that was what was keeping them busy, but she can't just outright ask. That'd be rude. ]

[summonere]

I call dibs then.

[ This is what happens when you encourage him! ]

Not so much furniture, I've also been out to some bookstores and libraries looking for something the past few days. Traveing back and forth between Fidei and the Temple and Kyst.

[ He's very motivated once you give him a project.... ]

[nuncommon]

I admire your confidence, but if you'd like to court Dimitri, you'll have to bring that matter up to him.

[ With the most tranquil smile, though it fades a bit in favor of curiosity. ]

Were you able to find what it was you were looking for? I could always try the Court library if you needed someone to search for something there.

[summonere]

That guy? I've already got him wrapped around my finger.

I don't think that's how he would put it.

[ He's already apologized about Griffon to Dima, repeatedly. ]

I'm looking for books on magic, but a little more complex and specialized than 'how to light a candle'.

[nuncommon]

... Hm. Surely there have to be some that would meet your criteria? I think it really just depends on what specific magic you're looking for.

[summonere]

[ He looks at her for a moment, but decides... that they're in Dimitri's house and he's already spoken to Dimitri. ]

The faction leader's summoning ceremony is a unique spell, one that they crafted. I need to learn about how one crafts their own spells in this world.

[nuncommon]

... I see.

[ She's moving over to a table, gesturing to V to sit; there's a teapot resting in the center, warm to the touch. ]

Tea?

[ Well, then. But also-- ]

I haven't found too much in the way of complex spells, especially ones crafted personally... but I am studying at the university currently. I could try to ask one of my professors?

[summonere]

[ Tea? ]

Please.

[ He holds out his arm for Griffon and the bird comes along with them to the table riding on his summoner. ]

I have someone combing the library already. A young man named Haein. I would be careful about the professors unless you clearly know their politics. It could... behoove them to sell out these inquiries to the faction leaders in exchange for some kind of boon.

[nuncommon]

Well, it's true enough that you'd have to be careful who to trust... particularly in a place like this.

[ With a sigh, but she's reaching out to pour the tea into a cup and place it in front of V. The particular blend is a subtle, calming flavor and one she's particularly fond of, despite it not being as sweet as her other favorite berry blend or the one reminiscent of fruit in the southern area of Fodlan. ]

Are you planning to find a way to counteract the summoning ceremony?

[summonere]

If I can, if I can learn enough about it before we run out of time.

[ Before this world is destroyed. ]

[nuncommon]

We don't appear to have too much of that, but you're already hard at work as it is...

Then, please... allow me to help. We may be from different factions, but you did tell me your intentions.

[summonere]

I only care about our factions insomuch as there are resources that only Moon or Stars can access. If too many of us rebel, we will lose entrance to the courts, the territories...

[ He trails off, looking away for a moment. He knows people want to defect from the war, but he! needs! them! ]

I know I can't do it alone.

[ But it's obvious he wishes he could. ]

[nuncommon]

Not if you want to succeed. There are some things you'll need support for-- as you told me, you know that much.

And truthfully, I'd want to be there to help if you were to end up getting hurt by this.

[summonere]

I'm aware that's what people will want.

[ There's a but coming. ]

But it would be most preferable if people would carry on the work.

[ Rather than fussing about him. ]

[nuncommon]

Well, the more people you have, the more you can rest assured knowing that the work will still continue while you're tended to.

[ Tough shit, V. ]

[summonere]

Temperance gave me a regeneration token.

[ It's a shiny bead around his neck, threaded on basic cord. ]

I wouldn't worry too much about me, even if you were to hear I've died.

[nuncommon]

... As much as it relieves me to hear that...

[ Mercedes finally pours herself her own cup of tea, settling properly to take a sip of it. ]

I think I'm allowed to worry, at least a little. I'm sure dying must still hurt, so please do try to avoid needing to use that for now.

[summonere]

[ Is she allowed? The part of him that is Vergil resents that. There's something different in the reassurance of support and the threat of worry. Concern makes him uncomfortable.

And when V is uncomfortable and at a loss for argument, that is assuredly when Griffon's loud voice interrupts, ]

He gets slapped around by demons all the time, he can take it.

[ It's not all the time! V gives Griffon a look. ]

[nuncommon]

[ He's gonna have to get used to it, because Mercedes is a gently smiling force of nature. ]

Does he now? That's a surprise... I thought you were certainly strong enough to keep them from laying a hand on him, Griffon.

Although admittedly, I don't entirely know how familiars work. I've never had one.

[summonere]

I can't always drop what I'm doing to save this guy, Mercy.

[ Simple as that. Sometimes you let the demons slap V so that you can keep on the attack. ]

They're demons, of a sort, bound to me.

[ He pushes up the sleeve of his sweater so that the whorling demonic sigils are visible. Sometimes his tattoos looked like nothing but elegant swirls, and sometimes it would coalesce into a roaring panther, or a pair of narrowed bird eyes. ]

They would have faded away, in the physical world, unless I had anchored them. I wouldn't have survived long without their magic either.

[ V was born an empty doll with no soul, so he'd filled himself up with Vergil's nightmares. ]

[nuncommon]

[ Mercedes regards the tattoos with open fascination-- maybe because she's yet to see such a thing in her own land, maybe because the swirls and whorls of the intricate designs bring to mind the shapes of some of the Crests she's seen flash into existence during magical applications and on the battlefield. ]

Is their presence still linked to your well-being? You... well, to be honest, you look much better than our first meeting, and I believe you mentioned another familiar.

[ Or implied it, at least. ]