Chapter Six: Consultation

Notes: I wanted to take a moment to say hello to newcomers YinHai17 and EctoPanda. I had fun reading your comments! It's always nice to hear from everyone who reads my stories, new and old, so it made me smile to see a few new faces in my inbox. Thanks for reaching out! Also, I'm changing the break icon to this "(-~-)" because it's not showing up on and the parentheses seem to help (from what I can tell) and it makes the pacing pretty awkward.

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Colorful morning light danced between the clouds creating a patchwork of rainbow hues that reflected off of the residual moisture present in the fog as a light rain coated the road in negligible amounts of liquid. It was actually more of a misty rain than anything else, but the effect was similar to that of a thick fog and you couldn't honestly really tell the difference either way. It lended the area an air of tranquility and slowness that one would normally equate to a snowy day in winter. An unusual thing to experience in the first week of August.

The buildings passed by in a misty blur as the van made its way through the early morning streets. No one was really out at this time of morning save for a few unlucky souls that were more than likely on their way to work or school. There would be little reason besides that to be out here.

Perched on the couch silently with his face in the palm of his hand and his shoulder leaned against the window frame was V. The young summoner took in his surroundings with mild curiosity, this being his first time in the city since his recent pseudo-resurrection. While he had indeed been alive when the van had made its journey from the warehouse where they had conducted the spell to the docks that housed the ferry to Fortuna, he had been semiconscious and unable to take in his surroundings. Actually getting to see something for a once was a nice change of pace.

As he gazed almost sleepily out of the window, he couldn't help but think about how many things had changed since then. It felt like a lifetime ago. An almost surreal amount of information had been dumped on him at a staggering rate, and he was still reeling from the aftermath. Part of him was subconsciously hoping that talking to Magnolia today might help put him at ease on certain personal matters. He supposed that it was all par for the course to some degree. Everyone had insecurities and anxieties that kept them awake at night. But V was under the impression that those concerns didn't normally include a critical lack of knowledge about potential demonic powers and having to grapple with a parent that had literally been partially responsible for their untimely death. Everything in his life was just so… complicated.

Within a few minutes, they had arrived in Magnolia's neighborhood, the rows of pastel colored townhouses and quaint business still slumbering beneath the cover of the thick mist. The warm glow of the vintage street lamps and the gentle swaying of the trees that lined the roads was a strangely welcoming sight, despite the fact that the last time they had been here had been under very trying circumstances and an immense amount of time pressure. It would be nice to simply take things slow for a change and have a conversation that didn't center around dire straits.

Nico turned the corner and pulled to a stop as she yawned sleepily. It was beyond her how V managed to be so alert this early in the day, especially after putting up half of the books she'd found him the night before. Even Nero wasn't that good with waking up on short notice, and he took cat naps in between fights on a regular basis. Said devil had opted to stay in bed where he belonged and sit this brief trip out. The way he figured it, there was no need to go into town for anything at the moment. They would be leaving for the bay the next day as it was anyhow, so why wake up at the crack of dawn and go kick Dante's door (and possibly his skull in) for having a hand in arranging this extraordinary uncomfortable vacation. More like Angstcation.

"Well, this is it," Nico said as she hopped down from the driver's seat and walked into the interior of the van, half to check and see if V had managed to stay awake during their trip," She's runnin' some sorta shop outa her place, so I'd guess she's up by now."

Due to the fact that V hadn't experienced the mixed joy of riding the ferry before (which had been… uncomfortable for him, to say the least) he hadn't said very much since they'd left this morning aside from the odd thing here or there when Griffon or Shadow materialized and began to pester her while she was trying to focus on not crashing into a building. Both of them had come to the silent conclusion that Nero made these sorts of trips much less dull. But would they ever tell him that? Not in a million years. He'd never let them live it down, especially Nico. As a general rule, V got a "get out of crap free" card from his younger sibling due to his more somber and thoughtful personality. Nero was more wary of saying the wrong thing to him. But Nico? Nah, she was free game.

V pried himself off of the window, entertaining the idea of cracking his back for a moment before deciding that it was more than likely an awful idea and simply standing up to wait for Nico to go and get whatever he had agreed to deliver for her the night before. In a way, he was morbidly curious as to what she and Nero had gotten a hold of.

"I appreciate your help," he said as he stifled a weak yawn, rubbing his eyes with his left hand," Where will you go?"

"Hell if I know," She said as she returned and plopped a clear Tupperware container full of dirt and plant matter in his now outstretched hands,"Just gimme a call when you're ready to go. The number hasn't changed. Honestly, nothing really has. Van is still a mess."

V's eyes traveled across the room in an involuntary attempt to assess his surroundings. He concurred. It seemed that he might end up sorting that out at some point if he reached peak boredom. With a small nod he exited the van through the side door and stepped down onto the wet cobblestone, internally cursing his lack of balance. While he didn't think he'd break anything if he fell, he didn't exactly enjoy doing it, either. And there was no way that he was going to call on Griffon to try and catch him in a residential area with this many homes. That was just asking for trouble with the recent cult scare.

No sooner had the door closed than Nico had launched backwards out of her makeshift parking spot and peeled off in the opposite direction, narrowly missing him in the process. He stood there, contemplating why he thought it was a good idea to take her up on her offer for a ride as she passed him by. The white haired summoner was literally never going to get used to her terrifying interpretation of what driving was supposed to mean. It was a wonder he made it anywhere alive with her behind the wheel. Why didn't anyone else ever try their hand at it? Did she even have a driver's license? That was a matter for another time.

With his companion gone, he turned his attention towards the front door to the townhouse. Much to his sarcastic delight, she had stairs. A lot of them. While Nero's home did as well, it was very rare that he had any reason to venture up them. And also, his weren't stone or nearly this steep. That was always an added bonus.

"Well, isn't it wonderful to see your face again, dear?! And you've bought me a gift as well? I'm quite flattered. Two lovely surprises today, then!"

V flushed slightly and cast his gaze up, catching sight of Magnolia. She was leaning out of her third story window. Or considering the fact that the business she was rumored to run seemed to be located slightly below ground, did that make that the second floor? Or was her shop in the basement and not the ground floor? Why did he suddenly care so very much about it? He was going to have to climb the same number of stairs regardless.

He gave her a singular and deliberate waive as he made his way up the stairs, more focused on not tumbling back down them or dropping the box he was carrying than with responding verbally. He'd have to make amends for that once he was inside. The distinct pitter patter of feet against wooden stairs could be heard from inside the house, leading V to note subconsciously that she was coming down stairs. Though he wasn't sure why she'd found the need to rush for his sake. She'd probably beat him there anyway.

The white haired young man's prediction proved correct when she opened the door just as he stepped in front of it, seemingly boundless flight of stairs now behind them both.

"I do hope you're quite well, then? I heard you came to the hospital to see how well off I was." She said as she stepped out of the way, seemingly taking note of the extra care he'd allocated towards safely ascending the stairs. While he didn't really walk up them any slower than most people with his stature (especially his legs. They were quite long.) he'd clearly taken the time to mind his foot placement and had actually taken the stairs one at a time instead of skipping over them in mutaples. "Please, come in. I was just about to have my morning tea. Perhaps you'd like to join me?"

"Likewise. I haven't heard anything about your condition since you've left," V said with a polite nod as he crossed the threshold into her home, noticing for the first time how much taller he was than her. It was slightly disconcerting," I hope I'm not imposing. My apologies for coming on such short notice. That sounds nice."

Magnolia ushered him towards the living room with a pleasant smile as she took the container from him and sat it down on the coffee table, giving it a curious once over in the process. "Oh, think nothing of it, dear! I adore impromptu visits." She stepped into the kitchen and turned her back to him for a moment, fussing over a tea tray as she carried on," In fact, that's how I met your father. At this point, I'm quite certain that's his only method of dropping by for a visit. He's not exactly a social creature. Seems to run in the family."

Somehow that didn't surprise him. It wasn't too different from how he'd first encountered Vergil himself. And the sudden realization that an aversion to social interaction was something they both shared was uncomfortable to him. V had noticed a lifetime ago that Vergil wasn't the most talkative person alive, but having someone that he was almost certain had known him longer than he had been alive made a conscious note of this made it stick in his mind like an insect in an especially sticky trap. He wasn't sure how to take being compared to his father. It made him question himself. How deep did their similarities run? Was being the level headed but internally tumultuous older sibling a curse of some sort that flowed within his very blood? After all, it was something else they shared in common.

The botanist stepped through the doorway that led into the living room and slipped between the set of armchairs, making a note of his studious silence as she sat the tray down and made herself comfortable. There was a certain presence in the room now that hadn't been there a moment ago when she'd left, and it held a weight that could almost be physically felt. If it were possible for a thought to suffocate someone, she'd be willing to believe that this one was capable of doing just that. But she wasn't concerned so much as she was curious. Her young companion had been perfectly fine mere moments ago. What had changed that? Did bringing up Vergil have that kind of effect on him? She had never considered the kind of relationship they shared before.

"...You think I'm like my father, don't you?"

Although spoken under the guise of an inquiry, they both knew the answer to that question. A heavy silence fell over the small room, making the meager space between them feel like miles. It was Magnolia's turn to be studious and roam the halls of her mind palace in search of the answers that eluded her; to form the words and phrases that could vocally manifest the wisdom she intended to impart upon her tea guest. But what could she say about something she had no part in the history of?

Dark brown waives with flakes of grey in them cascaded over her shoulder as she leaned forward, carefully considering her words. Clearly she had tripped head first into a very touchy subject for her new aquanence. While suffering from an existential crisis shortly after being reclaimed from the waiting room of the afterlife made perfect practical sense to her, she felt the need to try and offer something of worth to this discussion.

"Dear… It isn't so much a question of if you're like your father, as it is a question of what part of him you like. What kind of person do you see him as?" Magnolia was tempted to take his hands into her own for a moment as he seemed to be diverting his subconscious attention to them in an effort to escape this topic, shifting slightly in his seat and carefully concealing his true feelings from the world around him," Everyone has a little bit of someone within them that they would otherwise happily choose to do without. No matter how irredeemable or imperfect that person was, they left a lasting impact of some sort. Most of the time that's an open wound instead of a scar. And unfortunately, a lot of the time that person is one of our parents, the very people closest to us. But the part of them that left the impression and what we choose to do with it is what's important above all else. You don't have to become them."

V took a long moment to consider her wisdom, trying to find the part of his mind that could properly process what she had just said. While he understood exactly what she had just said, he wasn't sure he was currently able to apply her advice to the matter at hand. He needed to understand where he stood first before attempting to dive head first into the deep end of these sorts of issues. But she had gotten to the root of the matter alarmingly quick. V didn't really know what to say to that. While he knew he couldn't avoid this topic for his entire life, a part of him wished that he could.

Magnolia leaned over a little further, carefully brushing the back of her hand against V's forearm. She knew simply by looking at him that grabbing onto him probably would have an opposite and undesired effect that counteracted the one she was trying to achieve. She took a second to consider the best way of phrasing what she wanted to say.

"There are people who exist in this world for the sole purpose of taking up space and possess no redeemable qualities. They should be avoided at all costs. I don't see Vergil falling under that category." The almost casual tone she spoke in took V slightly by surprise considering the subject matter and severity of what they were discussing. This was a fact, as far as she was concerned. V could see that. And he didn't necessarily disagree with her.

"How did you come to that conclusion?" V said quietly, wondering for a moment if they were thinking the very same thing. He was torn as to which way he wanted her response to go, despite the fact that nothing about his demeanor or facial expression betrayed this. At times, he was forced to acknowledge the fact that he was woefully good at containing his thoughts and emotions.

"It's quite simple. Those people don't try to accomplish anything worthwhile, only thinking of themselves. The closest thing to meaningful growth they will ever experience is the bottomless emptiness they feel every time they work towards furthering their own goals and succeed, but in doing so fail yet again because it was all a facade. It brought them nothing of value," She took a moment to pour them both a cup of tea from the pot that sat on the tray, dropping a sugar cube into her own cup and string," Vergil is certainly trying to achieve a goal. He always has been. I think that goal has changed recently. But the difference is that this time it depends on factors completely out of his control, and he is slowly coming to grips with the terrifying reality that there is nothing he can do about that. And yet the fact that he continues to push forward shows how far he's come in that regard. But you didn't come here to get philosophical, did you? You've already come to this conclusion yourself. That's why you're so conflicted, isn't it Dear?"

V nodded slowly, more to himself than to Magnolia. Yes. She was right about that. In some way he felt that he owed both of them the chance to at least try and understand one another. And yet a part of him was... exhausted by the very thought of how much energy he'd have to invest into something that he wasn't sure he could handle. Emotionally and mentally, he'd be gambling with odds he could see beforehand, and the thought of an unfavorable outcome was as crushingly heavy as the weight of an ocean. Avoiding it was simultaneously the easiest and hardest thing he could do about his current situation. There was no painless way to solve this.

"I find that it tends to help distract someone from their own toxic thoughts when I implant new ones." Magnolia said with a humorous tent to her voice, giving him a gentle pat on the shoulder," Get out of your head, Dear. Let's discuss your well being and abilities. That is why you're here, is it not?"

V smirked slightly, letting slip a singular chuckle. Yes, he did like talking to Magnolia, didn't he? There was something profound about how much she seemed to understand while knowing just what to say. It was strangely comforting how she seemed to be able to peel back the layers of whoever she was talking to and get right to the heart of the matter. It was admirable, if not a little disconcerting.

He gestured towards the tray in front of them, wordlessly asking if he could fix his drink now. Magnolia nodded, an almost sarcastic look crossing her face as a loud beep sounded from the next room. She glanced over towards the kitchen, a smile spreading across her face. V gave her a curious look as she grinned like the Cheshire cat, a devious but well-meaning (hopefully) giddiness overtaking her. "... Do you happen to like tiramisu by any chance?"

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Ah another late night finished! Be sure to check back in on Friday for part two! I'll be starting it tonight after an early morning siesta! But at least I didn't work straight through my morning alarm for once! I hope you enjoyed this first interaction between V and Magnolia! There is more to come, so I'd love to see what you think of things between them so far. This was super fun to write! Look forward to reading your feedback soon and I can't wait to see you all again on Friday! Take care out there!