Tagged by: @rebelichor 💙
Tagging: @somnus-lucis-caelum , @soldier-lodbrok , @anjaofthewild , @firxga
Intense focus. There is always a project to work on, something to test and improve upon, a new idea to see from half-realised sketches to tangible, completed form. The work is more important than the body. Sleep wastes time, food can be eaten with one hand while the other works. Focus. Do not be distracted.
Tired. Exhausted. A bone-deep, soul-dragging heaviness that creeps in in the quiet moments. He has many years ahead of him and it isn't always exciting. The possibility of 'eternity' can be daunting.
Cold fury. His anger is slow to build and when it snaps, it is an icy, implacable force. 'A wise man fears the anger of a gentle man' and Vergil can be so very gentle - and so, the other side of that coin is ferocious indeed. Cut without mercy. Raze until nothing is left. Cut. Cut. Cut.
Indignation. He has seen how desperately non-humans hide themselves for fear of persecution, and while he knows it is sometimes necessary, it still grates at him. He has grown up among such a mixed bag of people and species that he knows even the most fearsome appearance can hide the gentlest of hearts. He hopes for better one day. He will fight for it himself if he must.
Self-loathing. Acceptance can be a long road with many twists and turns along the way. For a boy born to both the divine and the demonic, it takes many long years to accept the former - for it was angels that harmed his mother, and that same divine blood flows in his own veins. How is he to reconcile having something in common with those attackers? It eats at his conscience but it will not be denied forever. Divinity is not so easily stifled.
Clear, sky blue (#6194d6): He has always had comments on his eyes ('they're so bright!' ; 'are those contacts?' ; so on and so forth). They are bright with the spark of intelligence, a crystalline shade that sharpens and pierces in moments of heightened emotion.
Honey-gold (#c8a55e): Warmth, sweetness, ichor. Divinity is a golden curse, an inescapable half of him. One day he will embrace it - but not this day.
Steel, starlight (#cdd4de): His preferred working material, and the colour of so many stars in the skies above. Somewhere up there is an ever-watchful eye, a celestial guardian whose love will never wane.
Crimson red (#990000): Courage, a beloved father's crest, a bold shade that will forever remind him of Ariadne. She has always been fierce, a lioness more than worthy of the Deleoux name.
Gunmetal (#353839): Deeper, darker, reflecting light back and allowing brighter shades to truly shine. His preferred shade of clothing and weapon alike, a perfect base to build upon and so very versatile.
Grapefruit, geranium, leather, cedarwood. His preferred 'cologne' (see: technically a 'perfume' but he prefers the scent of this over more traditionally masculine ones). Always has a spritz at the wrists and the side of his neck.
Machine oil. He works with it often, so of course it pervades him at times. He finds the scent grounding. Needless to say he's usually the one volunteering to refill the car when it needs topping up.
Spicy & sweet. The favourite blend of flavours - and, naturally, scents when it comes to food. His mother's curries are always delicious, and so it always reminds him of home when he catches similar scents elsewhere.
Ozone. Air during a lightning storm. Electricity comes at his command and so, at times, there is a hint of atmospheric scent about Vergil.
Converses. He'll wear these with almost all his outfits bar formal ones, so they're a bit scuffed and well-loved. More importantly though, they're worn in and still comfortable, so good luck getting him to part with them.
Glasses. Simple, refined, elegant - and necessary to correct slight far-sightedness. While he doesn't strictly need them at all times, Vergil keeps them handy just in case. He's most likely to wear them while tinkering with his various projects or while gaming.
Vests. He is not immune to a sharp silhouette and his lean figure lends itself well to 'gentlemanly' clothing. He'll dress it down with jeans, or dress it up with a blazer over the top. He's not afraid of wearing clashing patterns or bright colours either. As far as he's concerned, typical mens' fashion is boring so he will make it fun for himself.
Hooded jackets and cardigans. Another staple of his wardrobe, these are typically for when he's feeling the gremlin urge and wants to be more 'shapeless blob' than 'person'. It also amuses him that people mistake him and Ariadne for each other when they're both in hoodies (at least, before his growth spurt happened. Sorry Ari!).
A sculpture of two crescent moons resting against one another. Forged from the metal of a fallen star, he made it himself as a manual arts project to honour the bond between himself and Ariadne. It has pride of place on the middle of his dresser.
Magnifying eye-glasses. Used for more delicate work, they were gifted to him by his older brother and are a treasured possession. One day they will form the base of his work on a prosthetic eye, but for now they fulfill their intended purpose.
Menrva's divine sword. A gift supposedly given out of love and a commitment to righting past wrongs, but he can only see it as an insult. What makes Her think he could ever accept an apology? It only reminds him of his shortcomings, and so the blade remains in Ariadne's care until the day comes that he is ready.
A rose made from tinted metal. A reminder of her, something to look at in moments of turmoil and remind himself there are good people in the world. It stays on his bedside table where the sun can catch the light of the 'petals'.
Wallflower. He'd rather hang back and observe than be in the thick of things, and rarely is he insulted when others gloss over him or ignore him completely. Why should he waste his own effort putting himself out there if others don't notice him in the first place?
Chewing on his lower lip. He's always thinking, always has several things on his mind at one moment, and so his lip ends up somewhat chapped and bitten. He carries lip balm / chapstick, but naturally forgets to use it as often as he should.
Debater. Growing up with Ariadne has led to a natural curiosity and obsession with knowledge ; the twins easily slide into deep conversation and the habit spills over into conversation with others. Vergil has always been keenly intelligent and curious about the worldviews of others, but is confident enough in himself that he isn't easily swayed. If anything, he delights in challenging others.
Over-thinking. A mind as active as his does not rest easily, and so it is a simple matter to think too much through problems. Anxiety is a constant companion ; though it expresses itself as frequent work and restless hands, it can also lead to shortness of words. Remind him to breathe.
High standards for all. He may be naturally gifted in many things, but he never allows himself to rest on his laurels. Vergil seeks the best and is hardest on himself for this. If he cannot achieve it immediately, he will put in the work until he does achieve it - and then he will continue, because simple excellence is still not enough. If you can't meet that, step back and don't get in his way.
Smirking. Why waste effort on a full smile when a smirk will do? True smiles are reserved for those he trusts and loves. If you annoy him enough, you'll catch a hint of sharp canines in those smirks. Yes, they are a threat display.
Jaw clenched. Is he lost in thought? Is he stuck in his current project and trying to think through the solution? Did you say something foolish and he's holding back the urge to say something snide?
Fidgeting fingers. Idleness doesn't suit him well and so he occupies himself with busy hands. Whether it be a coin, a small metal puzzle, or a stim-toy, it's rare to see him with empty hands. He's listening, honest. Active hands are an outward sign of an active mind and he despises under-stimulation.
Hunched over his desk. Workaholic that he is, it's easy to ignore his posture worsening the longer he's picking away at a project. It's more comfortable than it looks. He'll probably curse himself in a few centuries or so.
A distant, distracted gaze. He can always hear something beyond the edge of human range, a thrum of energy, a current that flows everywhere. It is so very easy to let a conversation flow past while he listens. Maybe one day if he looks hard enough, he will see that current too.
Oil-stained fingers. He works until he physically cannot, and naturally working with machinery means he needs oil, and plenty of it. He isn't afraid of mess. A clean workshop only reflects lack of use, as far as he's concerned.
Meteor showers. Space may be Ariadne's area of expertise but Vergil has always been fascinated with stars - and so to see the cascade of so many is calming, thrilling, beautiful. If he had any talent with a paintbrush, he would have canvases filled with auroras and star-falls.
Stacks of books. An avid reader, he always has at least one stack of unread books. Those are his emotional support stacks, thank you very much!
The harmony of flesh-and-metal. His fascination with robotics means he is constantly thinking ahead, whether it be for the general future or for more... personal augmentations. One day, an eye will be replaced with a refined, multi-use prosthetic. Perhaps a hand will be augmented with metal. Until then, he tinkers, and he learns.
Messy hair & smudged glasses. Hands run through his hair when he is frustrated and tired, and of course this leads to putting smudges on his glasses. It's rare to see one without the other. He often has an air of over-thinking.
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