Chapter Text
V1 lunged at Gabriel as soon as he was back in sight, dragging him into a hug. After a second of hesitation he wrapped his own arms around it to complete the embrace. After a moment it pulled away and grabbed the sides of his helmet, lightly crashing its head into the cross on his own with a clink . He relaxed ever so slightly with a sigh, and V1 let him go and backed up enough for him to watch its hands. It took note of the second sword in his scabbard
“You ok?” It gestured vaguely to the carnage surrounding them.
“Mhm. A weight’s been lifted. Though I’d like to get out of here before any more guards show up.”
V1 gave him a thumbs-up and began wrangling the rest of the battle party to make their exit. Hopefully it can convince the virtues to drop them off on the ferry rather than in Greed. Travelling through Greed sounds like a nightmare today.
—
The Ferryman was kind enough to clear out the dining room for them, before leaving to grab medical supplies. In the time they were gone V1 ran a diagnostic while scanning Gabriel for injuries. It only had a few superficial nicks in its plating, and Gabriel had a couple small, already scabbed over, cuts on his torso and arms. It thanked them and waved them off to help the others as Gabriel declined their help. It watched the Ferryman sign, then pass the first aid kit to Minos. He passed a roll of bandages to Sisyphus and began helping V2 with leaks they couldn’t reach.
The Ferryman turned back to it and Gabriel, walking over while asking, “Staying tonight?”
V1 nodded before Gabriel could even consider telling them no. It held up one finger to him, telling him to give them a moment, before dragging the Ferryman around a corner and out of sight.
“You still want cook with me?”
They nodded, “They tired. Meal tomorrow morning?”
“Yes, cook overnight?”
“Morning? You all rest, we cook, food warm when they wake up.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“Helped Gabriel, thank you .”
V1 gave them two thumbs up, then pointed back the way they came, and walked back to the dining room. It took a seat beside Gabriel, who was busy petting Kitr as she rubbed on his shins. As V1 approached she darted away, jumping on a table V2 was sitting at and hopping onto their shoulders. Gabriel sat up and glanced at the Ferryman as they passed, both of them watching as they told the other three something. They gestured to both V1 and Gabriel to follow.
The Ferryman led them through familiar halls, back to the cabins, pointing out five with open doors. “Your rooms. You can stay in dining room until tired if you want. Wake up, breakfast tomorrow.”
V2 was quick to thank them and vanish into one of the offered rooms.
“Many thanks, Ferryman. Thou art an excellent host,” and “Thank you, night,” preceded Minos and Sisyphus retiring to their own room.
“Thanks, have a good night,” was all Gabriel said before heading to his room, Kitr trailing behind.
V1 turned to follow him, but the Ferryman grabbed their forearm first, quickly signing, “Will wake you when time to cook.”
V1 nodded, signed, “Thank you,” and shut the door to their room.
It plopped onto the bed beside Gabriel, crawled under the sheets, and waited for the angel to fall asleep before entering a low power mode itself.
—
V1 was up and ready to go as soon as it heard the Ferryman’s footsteps outside. It left a note reading In the kitchen for Gabriel when he awoke. It was outside before they could even knock. It took note of their frilly, pink, strawberry patterned apron that read “I will teach children how to extract your DNA” in cursive designed to look like glitter.
As they began their walk back to “Nice apron.”
“Thanks, I collect them. Want see?”
V1 nodded excitedly, following them to a closet under the stairs next to the bar. They opened the door with a flourish, showing off quite a few handmade aprons. It looked through them, finding increasingly absurd text and patterns, ranging from a simple black and red one that said “YUO’RE NEXT” to a white one covered in embroidered idols that read “Angels want me, filth fear me”, to one that was just a blue rat stirring a pot of soup. The last one wasn’t even handmade, the pattern was printed on.
“Can I wear one?”
The Ferryman nodded and it picked up a black one with white text that read “Kiss the cook.” A classic. And easy to clean if any messes occurred. It slipped it on and closed the door to the closet, looking over to them, awaiting instruction.
With as much efficiency (and least bumping into them) as it could, it began gathering pots, pans, bowls, utensils, and ingredients while the Ferryman tracked down an ancient looking cookbook and began preparing the food. It watched as they pulled out some fresh bread dough, likely made before they went to wake it up, and it lit a fire in the nearby stone oven.
While they waited for the bread to bake the Ferryman had it rehydrate some dried figs. Afterwards they had it find flour while they whipped up the rest of a batter. While they fried whatever it was they were making, they had it pull out small containers of cheese, honey, and dried meat. Soon after they stationed V1 at the bowl of oil, after showing it how to fry the batter, and took their time selecting a bottle of wine. They filled a pitcher with fresh water, and pulled out a half dozen wine glasses.
They took over cooking for V1, “Anything else needed?”
V1 thought about it for a second. They made food for Gabriel, Minos, and Sisyphus, but they should probably have something for V2, so they don’t complain, and for Kitr, because she deserves it.
It nodded, grabbing another pitcher, “Blood, fish. Me, V2 eat blood, Kitr eat fish.”
“Have neither. Can you get quick?”
“Yes, will come back soon.”
It sprinted out, making it to the lake in record time and plucked a few trout from the water. No need to waste time with the rod. It killed and wrung out all but one into the pitcher. It didn’t need to refuel, and V2 could handle blood that wasn’t the freshest possible. It was back to the ferry in less than fifteen minutes, just in time to pull out cutlery and clean up the kitchen while the Ferryman set fabric up around one of the tables. Most of the way through they shooed it off to go make sure its party would be up to eat.
It nearly crashed into V2 on the way to the cabins, and was quick to demand that they wake up Minos and Sisyphus. While they did that, it entered Gabriel’s room and gently shook him awake, while quietly beeping. Kitr streeeetched, before hopping down and sitting at the door. Gabriel eventually groaned, sitting up and stretching before turning to look at it.
“Morning V1… Why are you wearing that?”
“Made breakfast, done.”
“Ah. I’ll be out in a second.”
It and Kitr left, shutting the door behind itself. Kitr padded over to V2, sitting and using their calf as a scratching post for a minute before they scooped her up.
“They said they’ll be out in a minute.”
V1 nodded in acknowledgement, and waited for the three to join them. When they did V1 led them down to the dining room, where the still steaming meal awaited them.
The Ferryman waved to them, “Help yourself.”
V1 snatched the fish and set it on a plate for Kitr, then watched as everyone else, other than V2, filled a plate with the bread, figs, fried pancakes(?), and had a glass of wine poured for them by the Ferryman. After Minos and Sisyphus sat with V2 (who V1 told there was blood), the Ferryman led Gabriel to the weird fabric box.
As if sensing both of their confusion, the Ferryman explained, “You see us sign,” They pointed out a raised section of the curtains, “we hear you talk, can’t see your face.”
“Oh, thank you, my friend.” Happiness colored his voice.
As V1 and the Ferryman chatted with Gabriel, and it listened in to V2 and the prime souls’ conversation, it decided that, despite the pain and anguish it had witnessed and created, this wasn’t the worst outcome. Things would get better for Gabriel, and it would happily stand by him for as long as he would allow it to, be it only a minute more or for the rest of their eternity.