[ 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.
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?
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! ]
[ 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. ]
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. ]
[ 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.
[ And yet he's still looking to undermine her. But quietly, to give himself as much of a chance as possible in finding out what will happen to him before he pulls the trigger. ]
They certainly make me much stronger, but I could have found other resources within Fellden to sustain my strength.
[ Mercedes brings her cup to her lips, lifting her eyebrows at him over the rim of it. She waits until she's sipped and lowered it again before she speaks. ]
They do say the more complicated things are the ones most worth the effort.
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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.
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[ 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?
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[ Before this world is destroyed. ]
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Then, please... allow me to help. We may be from different factions, but you did tell me your intentions.
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[ 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. ]
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And truthfully, I'd want to be there to help if you were to end up getting hurt by this.
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[ There's a but coming. ]
But it would be most preferable if people would carry on the work.
[ Rather than fussing about him. ]
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[ Tough shit, V. ]
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[ 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.
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[ 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.
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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. ]
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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.
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[ 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. ]
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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. ]
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[ And yet he's still looking to undermine her. But quietly, to give himself as much of a chance as possible in finding out what will happen to him before he pulls the trigger. ]
They certainly make me much stronger, but I could have found other resources within Fellden to sustain my strength.
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[ Especially since, with what he's said, this may not be an arrangement he keeps for too long... ]
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[ So it wasn't all just treason. ]
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[ Well. Honestly, it makes sense. ]
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I don't expect it to be a simple matter.
[ It might cost something ugly. ]
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They do say the more complicated things are the ones most worth the effort.