"If you possess the strength to travel beyond this cavern," Vergil says. There is nothing inherently mocking, nor judgmental in his tone, but there is not exactly an extension of help that follows beyond information. "I would recommend you choose another region than this. Nowhere in Folkmore is remotely as hostile as the Underworld or the wreckage caused by the Qliphoth, but Wintermute is hardly a place for those who cannot stand on their own."
Between the isolation and climate, Vergil cannot imagine V lasting particularly long in this region of Folkmore. He offers no suggestion for alternatives, however. Vergil knows his own preferences, but he still would not claim he knows what would be satisfactory to V. Or to what degree V may be willing to compromise on those preferences to what he pragmatically needs.
"I will make them aware of your presence to avoid misunderstandings." Not that Vergil thinks Dante and Nero would necessarily suspect Vergil of having done anything. Or, well, he hopes they wouldn't conclude such a thing. He is not in that place of desperation he had been in when he made the decision the first time. Vergil would like to believe the conclusion would be one of concern that something has happened to him rather than a choice he made. "What you do from there shall be between you and them as far as I'm concerned. I've no interest in interfering or mediating."
There's a small beat of silence before he looks at V again.
"Although there is one circumstance concerning the boy in which I will intervene. Nero's heart is too great and arguably too forgiving for his own good. He understands the reasons behind my actions and has forgiven me for my transgressions, including your own. I am certain you will find he is no more angry with you for your manipulation than he is with me for maiming him." Nero does not even appear to view what V did as particularly manipulative. He had his own reasons for wanting to involve himself even before the truth of his heritage was revealed, and that seems to be enough that Nero's only ever seen it as mutually scratching one another's backs. So, on that count, there was nothing to exactly forgive from Nero's perspective. But Vergil does not offer that level of absolution. That is a conversation for Nero and V to have, if they should ever have it in the first place. It also undermines the point he is making right now to call V's choices anything less than what they were intended to be regardless of Nero's perception of them. "However, if I should discover that you are using my child to your own ends again, I will make you reconsider the value of existence. Is that understood?"
That day Nero chose to forgive Vergil for the harm he caused, Vergil made a promise to his son that he would never harm Nero again for any reason, not even as a desperate act of self-preservation. It's a promise that Vergil has maintained since it was made even when placed in a circumstance where its violation would have been to his direct benefit. While he does not believe Nero would hold him accountable to choices V makes, Vergil still will not abide by any aspect of himself inflicting harm upon his dear child for any reason. As far as he's concerned, V is beholden to the same promise whether he likes it or not.
no subject
Between the isolation and climate, Vergil cannot imagine V lasting particularly long in this region of Folkmore. He offers no suggestion for alternatives, however. Vergil knows his own preferences, but he still would not claim he knows what would be satisfactory to V. Or to what degree V may be willing to compromise on those preferences to what he pragmatically needs.
"I will make them aware of your presence to avoid misunderstandings." Not that Vergil thinks Dante and Nero would necessarily suspect Vergil of having done anything. Or, well, he hopes they wouldn't conclude such a thing. He is not in that place of desperation he had been in when he made the decision the first time. Vergil would like to believe the conclusion would be one of concern that something has happened to him rather than a choice he made. "What you do from there shall be between you and them as far as I'm concerned. I've no interest in interfering or mediating."
There's a small beat of silence before he looks at V again.
"Although there is one circumstance concerning the boy in which I will intervene. Nero's heart is too great and arguably too forgiving for his own good. He understands the reasons behind my actions and has forgiven me for my transgressions, including your own. I am certain you will find he is no more angry with you for your manipulation than he is with me for maiming him." Nero does not even appear to view what V did as particularly manipulative. He had his own reasons for wanting to involve himself even before the truth of his heritage was revealed, and that seems to be enough that Nero's only ever seen it as mutually scratching one another's backs. So, on that count, there was nothing to exactly forgive from Nero's perspective. But Vergil does not offer that level of absolution. That is a conversation for Nero and V to have, if they should ever have it in the first place. It also undermines the point he is making right now to call V's choices anything less than what they were intended to be regardless of Nero's perception of them. "However, if I should discover that you are using my child to your own ends again, I will make you reconsider the value of existence. Is that understood?"
That day Nero chose to forgive Vergil for the harm he caused, Vergil made a promise to his son that he would never harm Nero again for any reason, not even as a desperate act of self-preservation. It's a promise that Vergil has maintained since it was made even when placed in a circumstance where its violation would have been to his direct benefit. While he does not believe Nero would hold him accountable to choices V makes, Vergil still will not abide by any aspect of himself inflicting harm upon his dear child for any reason. As far as he's concerned, V is beholden to the same promise whether he likes it or not.