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After all the mess that had been caused at the Limbus Headquarters, the Sinners would spend their days fixing, cleaning and generally just helping out at the Headquarters. Getting the company back in shape was definitely tough, especially considering how much went on in here and at the House of Spiders.
Dante found themself overseeing the Sinners as they worked hard. They’re a quirky bunch, always getting into each other’s ways, yet it was sweet seeing how friendlier they’d gotten with one another. As always, Outis took it upon herself to command the Sinners around.
“Listen up men! Although this might not be a typical task we receive, it is a mission we must clear and an opportunity for the LCB, as well as the Executive Manager, to gain more trust from the Limbus Company! Everyone, immediately get into positions and do your assigned tasks, failure will result in- OW- HEY what do you think you’re doing?!”
“T.M.W., do your job.” Ryoshu responds, while having smacked Outis in the face with a broken panel she was carrying.
“T-too many words… she said..” Sinclair mutters.
At least they’re their usual selves, Dante thinks to themself. Even if they have their little quarrels every now and then, they’re making progress, but perhaps not everyone thinks that..
“Hmm, I do believe I have given you a sufficiently detailed explanation on how this hall is to be cleared out in time for the upcoming repairs” Hohenheim would check in on them from time to time, to see whether the progress being made by the Sinners was at least somewhat up to pace with the schedule.
“Faust guarantees the work will be finished in time for your miscalculated schedule. Your reoccurring and unwelcome appearance in our line of work is not appreciated, as our Manager oversees that all work is done in correct time intervals.”
< Ah right… The repairs are happening soon… I’ll go over the schedule again, but we’ve all been working hard, so I’m sure we will be done soon >
Dante navigates through their PTA, opening a page with a time table including all kinds of different tasks they’ve been handed with. A coordinated schedule results in peace of mind, as it gives you direction when you’re most lost - Dante recalls Yi Sang telling them.. something like that.
As they check through all the tasks written down, they notice something scheduled in their calendar in a couple of days. Not being able to recall that task, Dante clicks on it to see what it is that they had forgotten about.
< Vergilius’ birthday..? Oh.. huh >
“Whaaat~ did I hear you say Vergilius’ birthday is coming up?” Rodya leans over to Dante. “Now that I think about it, we've never celebrated his birthday before… hopefully he’s not too jealous of the cakes we’ve always prepared for the others~”
< I don’t even remember writing Vergilius’ birthday down though… >
“Fufufu, behold! It is I who hath taken it upon myself to carry out this righteous deed! To be the very first to offer salutations upon the anniversary of one’s birth, especially unto a Fixer, nay.. perchance, even a Color, is a noble obligation of greatest importance! Therefore, I, Don Quixote, have informed thee of such dates most profound!”
< That explains the random birthday notifications I’d get… w-wait when did you get a hold of my PTA!? >
Although birthdays aren’t exactly that big of a deal, especially all around the City, it is true that the Sinners would have their own small celebrations each time someone’s birthday came up. However, this is Vergilius we’re talking about. Dante is sure that he’d not want the Sinners to throw him a surprise birthday party anyways… but it continued to linger on Dante’s mind throughout the whole day.
—
< I would like to thank him though… He’s helped out a bunch with the surprise attack from the Nursefathers.. not only that but..>
Dante finishes that sentence in thought: His patience is growing. Although one may look at Vergilius and say that he hasn’t changed, he has been adjusting to the LCB more. He’s still his intimidating self, but slowly he’s becoming… more gentle?
Dante recalls when Vergilius’ group, consisting of Rodya, Heathcliff and Gregor, were fighting Valencina and Lucio. During the battle, Vergilius tells them:
“Dante. I understand it may be difficult to not cast your gaze here, given the circumstances. But… you’d best pay attention to your battle rather than let the deaths here distract you.”
Was that Vergilius’ way of reassuring Dante? He was showing empathy towards Dante’s situation, validating the stress they’re feeling. And then, looking out for them, Vergilius warned Dante to not get distracted by the deaths, because that very distraction could get Dante hurt.
Then throughout that battle, Vergilius patiently plays around Dante’s commands for the Sinners. It’s as if he naturally trusted Dante to make the right calls, and would go along with anything they planned out, fighting alongside them, like a duo.
“Well, hehe, everyone around me always got me lots of gifts for my birthday… clothes, jewelry, or a new building.. maybe you could get Vergilius something of that sort?”
Hong Lu’s response to Dante’s muttering brought them back to reality.
“The hell-?! And how do you suppose Clockface will afford a gift that expensive, lass?” Heathcliff responds almost offended to Hong Lu’s unintentionally outrageous comment.
< Ah.. a gift could serve as a means to thank Vergilius. But what in the world could I even get him? >
That seemed to immediately quiet the fraction of Sinners that grouped up around Dante down. They all nervously stood deep in thought. Most of them probably awkwardly came to the conclusion that “a no-gift” is a better gift suited for someone like Vergilius, considering he’d probably find it a nuisance.
“Haha.. taking a stroll through a shopping district could maybe give you an idea for a gift? I could really kill for some nice food after all this work yknow?~” Rodya’s idea of going to a shopping district seemed to immediately elevate the moods of all the Sinners present. Technically speaking, the Headquarters would have to be emptied out, meaning the Sinners would have to leave for a day or two, because of the repairs. Most Sinners have probably been dying to get some fresh air, so it didn’t seem like that bad of an idea.
“I mean, we’d probably have to ask Faust if we’re even allowed to go to a shopping district.” Ishmael makes a good point.
After the day's work had been finished, Dante approached Faust about the manner. She explained that some Sinners were assigned to help clean up the LCCB transporter truck back at Hongyuan. It was planned for the rest of the Sinners to just stay back in the bus, however Faust didn’t see an issue with going out for a stroll as long as Dante was present and they’d come back at the given time.
So with all that cleared up, Dante and the group of Sinners, consisting of Rodya, Hong Lu, Meursault and Ishmael decided to head out the next morning.
“Alright~ Meursault did you memorize what the others asked us to get them?~” Because the Sinners who had to stay back weren’t exactly happy to do so (especially Don Quixote) Rodya went around asking what she should get for them.
“Ryoshu asked for some cigarettes, Don Quixote asked for the recent copy of the Fixer Magazine, Yi Sang asked for a pen, Heathcliff asked for a violet handkerchief and Sinclair asked for a paintbrush along with some watercolors. Both Faust and Outis didn’t ask for anything.”
“Haah… Rodya I told you this wouldn’t be a good idea yknow? Do they think we’ve got tons of money to spare or something?” Ishmael isn’t wrong, Dante only thought about buying one person a gift, yet the situation spiraled just ever so slightly.
“No worries, I know of a more private shopping area where most shop owners know of me. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind lowering the prices if I tell them I’d put in a good word for them with Xichun~” Hong Lu’s connections sure come in handy.
< I-is that not bribery? >
“Hehe~ it’s fine Dante, just think of it as old friends making an exception for you!” Hong Lu smiles, although that doesn’t make Dante feel any less bad. But since none of the Sinners' requests were anything too crazy, Dante let it slide.
Hong Lu leads them into a quiet, yet still busy area not too far from Mephistopheles. Each side of the main road is filled with cafés and stores, definitely not the place the average person goes shopping in. After a quick stop to get the magazine Don asked for and the cigs for Ryoshu, the group heads into a department store.
“Poor Greg~ I need to get him something as well, a sweet recovery gift…” Rodya says, looking around and dragging Hong Lu with her to give her suggestions on what to get him.
Meanwhile, Meursault walks off into a different corner of the store to find the violet handkerchief Heathcliff asked for. It seemed like he was analyzing every handkerchief available there, comparing them in regard to material and quality.
Ishmael took it upon herself to gather the more artistic gifts for Yi Sang and Sinclair. “Since when does Sinclair even paint? Although I guess our trips to different districts do get extremely boring…”
So, with the group being in search of different items, Dante is left alone wandering around the large shop. Since yesterday, they’ve made no progress on coming up with a birthday gift idea.
< Is there even a point in getting him anything…? He’ll just throw it away right? > Or worse, what if he just declines the gift?! Dante can imagine Vergilius flinging whatever gift they’d brought him out the window of the bus…
< I-I’ll attach a letter to it, maybe that will stop him from getting rid of it, at least before he reads it.. > Dante walks over to the stationery section and starts looking through the cards. Ishmael who’s been looking through the art supplies walks over.
“A card doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Considering you can’t communicate with him clearly he probably won’t find it too… childish?”
< Yeah, I was going to write him an explanation of the gift using my PTA but, I feel as though that might diminish my gratitude towards him.. >
Dante considered how abruptly handing Vergilius a gift without an explanation would confuse him more than anything. Although Vergilius has this almost uncanny ability of understanding Dante’s ticks, they don’t want to leave it up to chance.
“I can’t say for sure but, I have a feeling that no matter what you get him, he’ll actually appreciate it.”
< Y-you think? I’ve been thinking the exact opposite, that he’d just find it unprofessional and dismiss it immediately… >
“If he received a gift from any of the Sinners, yeah he’d definitely get rid of it… But hear me out, I think Vergilius has a soft spot for you. Maybe I’m just imagining it, but during group conversations I’ve noticed he’ll focus on watching you.”
Before Dante was able to refute that insane statement from Ishmael, someone else chimed in.
“That is correct. The Guide shifts his attention toward the Manager in order to assess their reaction. Maintaining eye contact with the person you are addressing is standard behavior. However, he frequently looks at the Manager instead of the individual he is currently conversing with. This can be confirmed by observing the angle of the Guide’s gaze, as well as its steady redirection towards them. In conclusion, he places greater trust in Dante’s responses than in those of the others and consistently attempts to understand Dante’s ticks.”
Meursault, who popped in out of nowhere, decided to give his assessment on the situation. Though Dante always appreciates Meursault’s very clear statements, this one in particular seemed like an overstatement to them.
< You guys are making it sound embarrassing… >
At a loss for words, Dante didn’t know what kind of response to give the 2 Sinners. The worst part was… they couldn’t fully deny what they just claimed. There have been more than a few moments, where Dante caught Vergilius’ unwavering gaze lingering on them.
And whenever Dante tried to return that look, instead of staying composed and professional, their mind would go completely blank. Like the gears in their head had simply stopped turning.
At first, those eyes only felt intimidating and cold. But now, Dante didn’t think there’s any true malice behind them (except when he’s scolding the Sinners). Still, the fact that he apparently only did this to Dante, that it was only them he kept observing, only them he seemed intent on understanding, was almost too surprising to begin to believe. So much so, that Dante couldn’t help but blurt out the first thing that came to mind.
< I-It’s kind of sweet… >
Dante paused. A singular metaphorical trickle of sweat ran down their forehead.
< !?!!? >
Luckily the other 2 had already gone back to searching for gifts again, meaning nobody heard Dante’s crazy thought. They exhale and decide to pull themselves together, wanting to forget whatever they had briefly thought about.
Back to the task at hand, Dante ends up choosing a very minimalistic red card, one not really suited for a birthday card. They concluded that any card with “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”, confetti and lots of colors would earn them a smack on the head. So something simplistic was the right choice. Red as the color, because of … yknow the RED gaze,... and red being Dante’s signature color … it made sense, right?
They grab the card and start roaming around the store, checking every corner of it. Clothing didn’t seem like a great idea for a gift, even getting Vergilius a tie felt too personal. Dante skimmed through all the different sections, beauty products, home decor, office supplies, books, electronics, but nothing made sense. More than anything, it became apparent to Dante how little they knew about Vergilius and although they tried to suppress this thought, they wished they could learn more about him.
Sometimes Dante wondered if such a day would ever come. A day when they could get to know Vergilius better. As selfish as the thought was, Dante momentarily hoped Vergilius would get his own turn, just like all the Sinners. Even if the Sinners have to struggle so much, when they reach their own turns, they manage to face their sins and learn from them. None of them are static characters in a story, they’re constantly moving forward even if it’s only in little steps. Dante couldn’t help but assume that Vergilius must’ve endured his share of suffering. And so, all they could do was hope that, one day, they might be allowed to help him, even if it was only a mere splinter of Vergilius’ story, that would come to light.
“Ah there you are Dante~ were you able to find a suitable gift?” Rodya and Hong Lu made their way over.
< Oh, well I found a card but I’m still lost on what to get him. Nothing seems to suit him.. Did you guys find a gift for Gregor? >
“Take a look at this, it’s an intricately designed ash tray, in Hongyuan style! His usual one is boring and sad, so I thought getting him a cuter one might brighten his day!~”
< That’s considerate, I’m sure he will love it. >
As Hong Lu began to explain the ash trays design, both Ishmael and Meursault came over as well. It seemed everyone managed to find what they were looking for.
“Well this sucks, looks like Dante hasn’t been able to find anything for Vergilius though.” Ishmael sighs. “Maybe … we should check out a different store, Hong Lu got any ideas?”
“Hmm~ further up the road, there’s a nice antique store. I found myself mesmerized by all the interesting objects they had there when I was younger. Maybe you could find something better suited for the Guide there?”
< Would be a waste not to check it out, and I’ve basically run out of options, so yeah let’s head over there. >
The group paid for the items and started walking along the road towards the hidden, tucked away antique shop. Upon entering it, you could see piles of old books, paintings, silverware, anything really. Dante could see themself getting lost in here, spending hours of their day going through all the interesting scattered objects laying around. However, what immediately grasped Dante’s attention, were of course the clocks. The whole place was ticking, with clocks filling the entirety of the walls, leaving no empty spots. Dante giggled at the idea that, had Vergilius been here, he’d probably have struggled with differentiating between Dante’s ticks and the clocks.
One clock in particular stood out though. It was a table clock made of dark wood the color of ash and old smoke. Its design was rather simplistic, with no ornamentation or carvings, just clean and quiet on the outside. However, its clock hands were made of gold and each with a thin line of red. Its ticks weren’t loud or disruptive, instead they sounded rather soft and reassuring in their own way.
Would it come off as selfish, if Dante gave Vergilius something that resembled them so much?
Perhaps. But they couldn’t help it. They wanted to remain a part of Vergilius’ daily life, in a less work-like manner. The clock could serve as a small presence on his desk, in the corner of his room, in his own quiet life. Something that wouldn’t ask anything of him, but instead just stay beside him. A gentle reminder to Vergilius, that he wasn’t truly alone.
“Awe it looks like you’re holding your own child!~” Rodya teased Dante once she saw what they were so intently staring at.
< W-what?! >
“That is an incorrect assessment. The Manager carries a clock for a head yet their humanity is undeniable. If the Manager were to have a child, it would resemble them purely in human form.”
Meursault came in to defend Dante, however his statement only made Dante feel more embarrassed.
“Hehe~ I’ve never seen Dante this flustered before! Hmm, if my child was a clock, it’d probably look something like… that one!~” Hong Lu chimed in and pointed at a very beautiful, much more ornamented and expensive looking clock.
“Will you guys quit it already? You’re just being bullies… Jeez.” Ishmael's frustration was coming to show and thankfully so, considering Dante didn’t want to hear any more of this teasing.
“Oh c’mon Ish, we’re just joking around~” Rodya wraps her arm around Ishmael. “I think Dante found exactly the right gift. Perfect for someone like Vergilius!”
< You think? That’s a relief… since I don’t think I’ll find anything better than this. >
“Yeah don’t stress it too much, like I said before, he’ll like it for sure.” Ishmael attempts to shove Rodya off of her but to no avail.
Hong Lu walked over to the shopkeeper to purchase the clock. After they make their purchase, the group heads out to grab some dinner for all the Sinners. They exhaust themselves by carrying all of the stuff back to the Bus, however the rest of the Sinner’s happy expressions made up for it.
After a lot of hard work, the food tasted even better. The Sinners who asked for gifts received their respective ones, each very thankful for them. Overall, it was a satisfying day’s end.
Dante hoped for more days like these. Although the Sinners were getting used to dealing with difficult situations and getting through them, Ryoshu’s turn had ended not very long ago. A couple of them still struggled calming themselves down after all that had happened, so being able to enjoy a nice evening together, proved to be quite therapeutic.
—
The repairs are still not done yet, meaning Dante has the next day for themselves. They decided to spend it writing Vergilius’ birthday card. However, everything having to do with Vergilius came with difficulties. So Dante decided to ask the most poetic person on the bus for help.
“Hmm, I would advise you to push past including simplistic apologies. Do not hunt for splendid words to embellish your card, instead follow along the sincere waves of your thoughts. Sit with the thought of the Guide in mind and note what stirs within you. Let the birthday card become a window left slightly open. Let your gratitude flow through.”
Maybe asking Yi Sang for help was a mistake, because as poetic as his suggestions were, they didn’t make much sense to Dante. Now they’re even more confused.
< A-alright I see, thanks a bunch Yi Sang..>
Yi Sang smiled at the thought of being able to help his manager. It left him feeling prideful about somewhat returning the favor of what the manager constantly does for the Sinners.
“Executive manager, your effort in composing a card reflects commendable consideration. However I find it wasted on the Guide. An individual such as Vergilius lacks the disposition to properly understand its contents and to receive sentiments. But I, for one, would regard receiving a card from you as an honor.” Outis smirked as she made a remark. However her words don’t exactly make Dante feel better, as they indeed hope for their words to reach Vergilius.
< Thanks, I’ll keep that in m- >
“M-me too! I-I would also appreciate.. any sort of card from you Dante! Please know that no matter what Vergilius says to you in response, that I-I would never!” Sinclair, who partially interrupted Dante, also tried to console them in his own manner, which again, wasn’t making them feel any better. They were making it sound like Vergilius was most certainly going to dismiss Dante’s birthday card. As if failure was inevitable.
< R-right, thanks Sinclair. >
But, Dante was too far in to quit now. So they headed back to their office and started to write the letter.
-
Inside of the bus, the streaks of light grew orange, an indicator of how much time had passed. One by one, the Sinners began to storm into their rooms, tired and ready to rest for the rest of the day. Sometimes, they could hear little taps coming from Dante’s office.
Inside, crumpled paper balls overflowed the trash can, with many of them laying all around the office. Every now and then, Dante would either tap their pen against their desk or slightly nudge it with their foot. Usually, Dante is rather good at writing reports and they weren’t a bad consultant for their Sinners either. They were good at staying neutral, unbiased even though during certain situations, they could freak out at first. But now, writing a personal letter left them contemplating and overthinking every single letter. Not only did their own handwriting bother them, but also their manner of professionalism.
Having gotten used to the Sinners and conversing with them, meant that during consultations, Dante would learn to figure out how to speak with each of them. Usually, the Sinners needed compassion or empathy to be shown. Some of them needed more reassurance than others. And in the rarest situations, objectivity and concreteness was the best approach. Some Sinners required professional managerial approaches, while others relaxed more within a friendlier environment. It was great that Dante had learnt so much about each of them, however they hadn’t ever had such a talk with Vergilius.
Should they simply state that this is an extension of their managerial duties, and that they believed in equality between all members, which included Vergilius? But Dante didn’t want that. They wanted Vergilius to understand that their gift for him was more than some manager handing you a paycheck as a part of a contract. And with the little bit of confidence that they had left in them, they decided to just go for it and finish writing the letter.
In any case, Vergilius’ birthday was only in some days, meaning if they could think of anything better, they could always rewrite it. They told themselves this as they walked over to the main area of the bus. They needed a break from their office before they’d decide to resign for the night, and they typically enjoyed staring out the windows in the main compartment.
After all, Dante was still getting used to the world as it is. They found the night sky truly encapsulating. It looms over everyone in the world, a dark force that was beyond most people’s understanding, yet everyone trusted it. From where the bus was parked, Dante could see life below in the streets. The day wasn’t over for many people, they were rushing around with no care towards the deep sky that engulfs them. What if it was slowly moving down closer and closer to us? What if one day that darkness settles? That’s probably why people light up the streets and their homes. To keep the unknown away. Maybe they’re copying the stars. Is that where they learnt it from? It brings them a sense of relief seeing some specks of light in the vastness above. Maybe one day, they’ll be able to reach out and grab one.
They don’t even notice that same darkness standing beside them.
“Dante.”
Dante shrieks as they’re pulled out of their late daydreams of the night by a familiar voice. They turn around to see Vergilius standing beside their seat, when did he even get here? They embarrassingly calm their panic down and turn to look up at him, not knowing what to do or say.
“I’d prefer the Manager to get enough rest in order to be able to conduct themselves properly the next day.” Vergilius is not fazed by Dante’s surprise at his presence.
Dante wasn’t expecting company and they didn’t bring their PTA with them, meaning they didn’t have an effective way of responding to Vergilius. So they did the only thing they could think of.
Dante carefully taps the window of the bus, pointing up into the night sky.
< I was about to head back anyways. I just like watching the night sometimes, … so I decided to hang around here for a bit. > They knew Vergilius didn’t actually understand them, however perhaps they wanted to pretend that they were actually having a conversation with him.
Maybe it was their way of repaying Vergilius for never seeing Dante as anything less than a human. It reminds them of something they’ve previously thought about:
‘When it comes to conversing without the Sinners, I find that there are two types of people. The first type usually says whatever is on their mind without pausing for or caring to hear my reply. Given that this type of person isn’t actually looking to communicate with me, that simplifies things a little on my end. However, it’s also oddly insulting as it seems as though they don’t recognize me as a human, but rather a wall… or a clock on a wall. And the other type is the one that reads me so well they might as well be able to hear what I’m saying.
Vergilius falls into the latter category. He recognizes the pitch of my ticks and tocks, reads my body language, or sometimes even claims to see my ‘expressions’ like how Don Quixote does…’
And once again, Vergilius seems to understand what Dante was trying to convey to him.
“There are far too many things people don’t understand or question, the night sky being one of them. Most people here live on without the slightest of question for something so unthinkable. They’ve got bigger issues of their own, things they can at least grasp or influence, things within their own lanes. Averting their gaze towards something outside of that, is meaningless, so they don’t. I believe it’d be better for you to not get distracted either.”
Maybe it was because the day was coming to a close, because of the tiredness of working the whole day, that Vergilius spoke more than usual. However, before Dante could even think of a response, Vergilius had already left the compartment.
Was that Vergilius’ attempt of telling Dante to not stick their nose into where it doesn’t belong? To keep out and just continue on as they usually did? Because, Dante didn’t want that. More than anything they wanted to reach out and figure the night sky out. They wanted to learn, even just a little bit about it. Even if most people ignore it, keep moving on and don’t have the time to look towards it, it’s still important. Especially to Dante.
Their head is ringing with thoughts as they walk into their office and close the door. But instead of immediately heading to bed, they decide to rewrite that birthday letter.
-
The next few days go by in a buzz. Dante manages the Sinners, as they continue working hard with helping around the Headquarters. Most of the repairs are done, safe for some unsalvageable ones. It might not be a vacation, considering everyone’s sweating their asses off, but physical activity does help with stress and getting your mind off of things.
That conversation was the last one Dante had with him, as of this moment. Now they find themselves hanging around the main compartment of the bus every night. It’s a new routine they’ve gotten used to, even though Vergilius would probably scold them for not listening to his advice. But the night sky is very mesmerizing and at this point, it serves to calm Dante. Observing people’s homes from afar, Dante notices just how many blinds are always shut. Considering the dangers of the City, it’s understandable why people do so. They don’t want someone randomly peeping into their safety and the same goes for the night. For many, the night is a physical indicator of incoming danger. However, Dante decides to ignore that, and instead keeps their blinds open in their bedroom now.
And with that, the day finally arrives. Vergilius’ birthday.
Dante doesn’t expect to see Vergilius with open arms waiting for a celebration and gifts or anything, but they hope to catch him at some point. They wouldn’t describe themselves as nervous, not at all.
“C.H.”
The fact that they ironed their clothes more than twice in a row, doesn’t mean they’re nervous. Why would their appearance matter, no one would notice some crevices in their clothes.
“Oi, Clockface.”
No one would notice the newer pair of dark gloves Dante is wearing today, because they look the exact same as the usual ones. It’s not that they’re nervous, it’s just that they didn’t want to accidentally end up dirtying the gifts.
“Are they bugged or something… maybe I gotta knock them on the head a little.”
And usually the little scratch at the bottom of their clock didn’t really bother them. But why’d they spend 30 minutes trying to lightly paint over it? It’s not because they’re nervous, it’s just that they’ve become more observant, specifically today.
“I.H.Y.T.C”
“Uh.. I hate you.. Twisted c.. cunt? … say that to me again and I’ll bash your head in”
Dante’s thoughts are interrupted by Heathcliff being loud. They snap back and realize that they’ve just been standing in the hallway and probably made Ryoshu, Heathcliff and Sinclair believe they’re malfunctioning.
“S-she means ‘i hope your ticking continues’..”
< Huh, sorry guys I spaced out.. Didn’t get much sleep last night. >
Unfortunately, Dante can’t just sit waiting for Vergilius all day. They had to continue working at the Headquarters. Every now and then, they’d spot Vergilius in a crowd, working or talking with some employees. They’d notice the people’s expressions when talking to him. Some would nervously fidget around, others would listen to him speak in awe, most people would certainly portray their utmost respect towards him. Dante did find it kind of nice that they had someone of such high caliber working in their department.
It didn’t seem like anyone really knew of the fact that it was Vergilius’ birthday that day. Even the Sinners had mostly forgotten, except Don Quixote of course, who, however, couldn’t bring herself to congratulate him after she got in trouble earlier.
Dante thought about pulling Vergilius to the side to congratulate him and to let him know that they were planning on giving him a gift. It would make things easier, because that way they didn’t have to gamble on seeing him in the evening or not. But he seemed so far, that they decided to just spend the entire afternoon, evening and night waiting for him.
-
The clock hit 8pm, and it had already been a couple hours since Dante decided to wait in the main compartment. Usually they’d have been in their office by now, working on reports or something alike. A change of scenery doesn’t do any harm though, and they brought their PTA with them anyways. Usually they’d have been fine working in the main compartment. It’d actually have probably helped them, as it feels less stuffy here. It’s also very quiet, since all the Sinners have resigned to their rooms. Sometimes Dante can hear a Sinner or two opening doors in the hallway and chit chatting with one another. It’s quite nice, Dante loves the feeling of casual daily life. They admire the Sinners for always staying true to themselves, for always being able to hold normal conversations with one another even after witnessing or experiencing the absolute depths of hell. Maybe that’s why they were chosen by the Limbus Company, who really knows though.
But for some reason, Dante can’t stay casual at this moment. They’ve gotten over seeing the most frightening sights and watching the Sinners die constantly, but why are they so restless now? Every noise startles them and makes them look towards the door of the bus. When will he get here? It’s already so late…
And then it hits them.
It’s his birthday, so he’s probably gone out to eat with others. Vergilius probably has friends or at least acquaintances at the Limbus Company, people he’d maybe even enjoy hanging out with. After all, Dante did watch as he interacted with others that same day, there’s so many people who’d enjoy hanging out with him, even if they’re nervous. It’s childish to be jealous, it really is. But Dante can’t help feeling jealous over the people who’re able to hang out with Vergilius outside of working hours. They’re the manager of the LCB, aren’t they supposed to hang around the other managers, or directors or executives? Dante knows that it must be because of their loss of memories and their inability to speak with anyone but the Sinners, but it slightly upsets them regardless.
There’s nothing they can do about that though. They simply blame themselves for not congratulating Vergilius earlier, or at least letting him know of the present they’ve prepared. Now Dante doesn’t even know if Vergilius will come back in time, before the next day starts. Would they still be allowed to give him a present? They aren’t exactly in the know of birthday customs. However, there’s nothing else they can do, but wait. And so that’s exactly what Dante does, sit there and wait, while they partially try to concentrate on work.
-
It’s quiet, completely quiet.
The Sinners have probably all gone to bed by now, even if it’s not that late, they’re exhausted, just like Dante. They’ve been trying to stay up, but the whole day of running around and helping out is getting to them, and they’re slowly starting to fall into slumber. The warm color their fire emits gives their surroundings a nice warm comfortable glow, a glow that soothes and pushes one to sleep. The slight cracking noises the fire makes is relaxing too, they imagine it resembles a lullaby that apparently brings people to sleep.
That’s when they hear the door handle nudge, and the door of the bus open quietly. Dante doesn’t realize it at first, but as they feel something looming near them, they finally realize that he’s here.
“Ah, Manager, you’re here again.”
That voice immediately wakes them up completely and they spring to action. They grab their PTA to check the time, it’s quarter to 11pm. Perfect. Then they start typing as fast as they can:
“I heard a bit ago that your birthday was today, so I prepared a little gift. Could you please wait for me as I go get it?”, and then immediately shove the screen in front of Vergilius’ face. They watch as he carefully reads the lines.
< I-I left it in my office because I didn’t want to dirty it! >
Yes, they may have forgotten to actually congratulate him first, but that’s fine, it’s fine.
“A gift? Color me surprised, sure, I’ll spare you some time.”
Dante stands up and practically sprints towards their office. They managed to capture Vergilius before the day had even ended. Now all that was left was handing him the gift and hoping for a positive, or well… a neutral reaction towards it. They grab the gift and walk slowly back towards the main compartment. They didn’t want to accidentally trip over and break it. As they moved closer and closer towards the door, their nervousness grew more and more. They could see Vergilius sitting down on their spot, the one near the window. Was he observing the night sky too? They approached Vergilius and stood to his side, with the gift sitting in their hands and the letter right on top.
< I will understand if you see this as something … perhaps t-too personal from my position as a manager… However I hope that you will at least spare a glance towards it… As I-I tried my best, to come up with a suitable gift.. My inexperience of gift giving might throw you off… so I ask you kindly to have some patience with me… >
“I do remember telling you that it is your job to manage the crew, not befriend this old guide. But seeing as you might explode from nervousness, I’ll admit that I appreciate the gesture, Dante.”
Dante wants to question Vergilius as to why they can’t befriend him. Is it really that unprofessional, or is it because they’re so distant from one another? If they can’t be friends, then can they at least be acquaintances? Dante would accept anything as long as it's an upgrade from what they are right now. With that Dante leans over to hand the gift over to Vergilius. Their hands slightly touch as Vergilius takes it from theirs. He carefully places the gift on his lap, and starts to open the envelope of the letter.
However, as Vergilius begins to read their letter, he sighs. Oh no.
“It’d be nice to have a night light nearby to be able to read the contents. Unfortunately I wasn’t born with night vision capabilities.” Vergilius looks knowingly at Dante, as if he was asking them for something.
At first they’re confused, they look around but there’s no lamp nearby. Ah, he’s asking for them to turn the lights on inside of the bus compartment. Dante turns around to hurry over, but instead they’re pulled down onto the seat below, by Vergilius.
“You happen to fulfill that function.”
For such a cold man, they can almost feel some heat radiating off of his body nearby. Or perhaps, it’s their own. Startled as they may be, they’re surprisingly happy to close some of the existing distance between them. They turn their head to watch Vergilius, who’s started to carefully unfold the envelope in which their letter lays. Dante continues to wait in waking anticipation as he reads the letter. They watch to see if they can see any sign of his eyebrows furrowing, a subtle indicator they’ve noticed Vergilius does when he’s irritated. Maybe it’s the dim atmosphere, but Dante swears that they see his eyebrows relax slightly.
It takes a minute or two, or maybe even a whole hour in Dante’s mind, for Vergilius to finish reading their letter. They’re nervous, they’ll finally admit it, because they have no idea what to expect. They’ve crossed the horizon, breached a border, as if they’ve done something illegal. And they wish fullheartedly to see what emotion they’ll be met with. He closes the letter and for a while, they just sit there in silence.
“...”
Vergilius stares off into the night sky beside them.
“Perhaps the lights that some turn on to push the darkness away, only end up hurting the night sky. Maybe the stars are like blood and maybe the lines connecting them are scars. When you think of it that way, Dante, does that scare you?”
They shake their head, it doesn’t. Everyone bleeds, physically or mentally, everyone suffers. It’s difficult to take on one side and dismiss the other, because they can’t blame people for being scared of something so vast. Maybe even just a singular person, is enough for that darkness to at least feel some sense of comfort, and they’d gladly take on that role.
Vergilius turns to face Dante, but they don’t wince or look away. Their answer is unwavering and although they definitely still are nervous, it won’t change.
“This may be a meaningless request, but I’d like to hear the letter spoken from your own words.”
He uses one hand to move the letter towards Dante, not close enough for it to seem like a command, but not far enough for it to seem like it didn’t matter to him. They carefully grab it from him, because as meaningless as it may be, to read something out loud when he’s already read it, what isn’t meaningless at this point?
< Happy Birthday Vergilius,
The other night, you told me that there are countless things people do not understand. Things so far outside the boundaries of their lives that there is little point in looking toward them. I have been thinking about that ever since.
I think you were right. But perhaps, I’m not very good at following your advice, because I’ve found myself looking at the night sky more often lately.
It’s strange, for something that hangs above us, watches over us, all the time, there is so much of it we cannot see. From our perspective, most of it is darkness, and what little we do see, is just the façade. We try to label things, like stars, and draw lines between them, coming up with our own assumptions as we try to figure things out from so far away. Maybe, that’s enough. Maybe it’s dangerous to want to learn more.
But I find myself too engulfed to look away, so I leave the blinds open, in order to give the night sky an opening.
You remind me of it, sometimes.
We’ve been on the journey together for a while now, and the longer it goes on for, the more I wish to at least learn a little more about you, too. I understand my job as a manager doesn't concern you, however you can think of it as wanting to have an acquaintance, outside of the usual employees.
You told me that it would be better not to avert my gaze toward things outside my own lane. I understand what you meant. There are some distances that exist for a reason, and I don’t intend to cross that one simply because I am curious. But I don’t think I can simply avert my gaze either.
I don’t expect you to tell me everything, I don’t expect you to tell me anything at all. I only hope that, if there’s ever a night when you feel like pointing out one of your stars to me, you’ll know that I would like to see it.
Until then, I think I am content simply knowing that the sky is there.
Regardless, I would like to thank you for your work, but not in a managerial way, instead in at least a more acquaintance-like manner. I truly appreciate what you’ve done for us. I understand that everyone carries around their own burdens and pasts, their own sins, so I’d like to thank you for your patience.
I, also, especially understand that it must be bothersome speaking to a clock, someone you can’t hear speak, however I’m grateful that you treat me as a person. There’s many times where I feel lost, not knowing what to do. Therefore I’m grateful to you for continuing to guide me, no matter how much of a nuisance it can sometimes be.
I hope that you don’t take this the wrong way. I understand that considering the circumstances and the contracts, a friendship is unnecessary. However, I wish to at least try, even if it takes a long while. For the time being, I’m happy with staying a simple presence in a far away corner.
Once again, Happy Birthday Vergilius.
Dante. >
Thanks to Vergilius not being able to hear the words, Dante’s slight stuttering and pauses of embarrassment may have not reached him. Because having Vergilius’ unwavering stare directed towards them the entire time that they were reading the letter out loud, made their words sound shaken. They know that if they had a real face, it’d be the same color as their clock. But seeing as how Vergilius didn’t turn to look away, didn’t furrow his brows or sigh, Dante found themselves so immersed, that they really felt like Vergilius could truly hear them. His gaze always felt cold and intimidating at first, now it feels all-knowing, as if it just sees right through them. It’s as if he was studying them, trying to learn and observe more, in order to be able to read Dante like an open book. Once they’d finished reading, they couldn’t help but slightly raise the letter, to perhaps cover some of their embarrassment. They can’t withhold themselves from that piercing stare any longer, so they look in the other direction, becoming too flustered to return it.
Dante feels Vergilius’ finger pulling their hand down, not wanting them to hide. Instead of reaching away, they keep it there, almost having full hand to hand contact.
“At first I found your ticking cumbersome, but I’ve come to rely on it as an indicator of all being okay. I tend to be able to read people pretty well, so it frustrated me when I wasn’t able to hear your voice. I am the LCB’s guide, as well as your guide after all, so I felt it’d be best to pay you more attention. However, my observative nature of you seems to have led to this…
Sure, I wouldn’t mind becoming your friend, Dante.”
Vergilius smirks slightly, maybe he’s playing a game, and just going along with this because they’re acting childish in his perspective. But at the same time, he wouldn’t have entertained them for this long, if it wasn’t a little genuine at least. This might be the first time Dante doesn’t feel as though their inability to talk is a nuisance. Because it managed to get his attention.
They feel the rising tension, they’ve not felt this way near anyone before, so why is it that Vergilius manages to get them so eager to want more? If any Sinner walked in on them, they’d feel like they were doing something wrong and would’ve ran away. Their chest is definitely moving faster than normal, their heartbeat was racing, and as much as an embarrassment that is, they can’t hide it from him.
< T-thank you for being … my guide >
Dante doesn’t understand why they called him “their guide”, it’s not that they wanted to establish a clear connection between the two. It just has a nice ring to it, a less distant one than before. Perhaps this is their way of playing around, as long as they don’t make it too obvious, Vergilius won’t know what they’re saying to him.
“Is that how you say my name? Let me hear it once more.”
It’s absurd really, this whole situation is.
< … My guide… >
It’s wrong to lie, especially to someone who already is at a disadvantage considering he can’t hear what Dante’s actually saying. But can’t they be a little selfish from time to time?
“Hmm, it has a nice ring to it. It sounds better than other people’s names.”
< !!! >
They give in, a loud whistle like that of a kettle emerges from Dante. If they didn’t think they could be any more embarrassed, then this proved them wrong. But it was just too intimate, having to listen to his low raspy voice tease them, while they sit so close to one another that their shoulders are almost touching, with Vergilius’ steady gaze directed towards them constantly. It was all too much.
“Alright Dante, I’ll take that as a sign to take the teasing down a notch.
Well then, would you like to discuss the night sky a little more? There’s much for you to learn and I happen to know quite a bit about it.”
They’re happy to. Dante is able to chit chat with the Sinners casually, however most of them would either give some dumb general answers, some would be too frustrated to share their knowledge, others would stay too poetic, complicating their answers too much or would state objective facts, when sometimes they’d rather be met with opinions. Dante felt like Vergilius excelled in comparison, because of how observant he always was. They knew whatever conversation the two of them would have, Dante would feel satisfied with it.
They nod and take their PTA out, they’d like to capture as much of this moment as they can, as well as engage in conversation meaningfully. But Vergilius pushes the screen down.
“In a professional setting I would always implore you to take notes, but following the words of your letter, if you’d like this to be a more casual conversation, I’d ask you to leave it be. As for your answers, I’ll put my skills to use. I’m sure I can put 2 and 2 together.”
It’s not that Dante was trying to back out of this, or go back on their word, it’s just that this was all new to them. And as always, they found themselves relying on Vergilius’ guidance, one that they’re only welcome to.
For a long while Vergilius starts to explain all kinds of things he knows about the sky. And it’s not that Dante doubts the general knowledge Vergilius has of the night sky, but they feel as though he may have researched into it a little. Perhaps he was anticipating this casualness between them, just like they were and it made Dante feel so much more heard. Vergilius would ask them for their opinion on different topics, an invitation to make this feel like less of a one sided conversation. They’d answer earnestly, and although not all their words could be understood, Vergilius would manage to get the gist of them most of the time. In the rare cases, Vergilius would give his own answers to his questions, until Dante would nod at one of them, to signify what they were trying to convey. Any time Vergilius would learn something new about Dante, he’d reassure them that he will keep that in mind.
Dante hopes for more nights like these, they hope that Vergilius continues to join them. There’s so much they still wish to learn about the world, and now they’ve found the perfect conversation partner. After an hour or two went by, Dante felt themselves growing weaker, succumbing to their tiredness more and more. They still hadn’t watched Vergilius unpack their gift, but they completely forgot about it. They don’t remember at what point they fell asleep, or how they managed to feel comfortable in such a situation. But they don’t remember hearing Vergilius move away.
They feel their shoulder being rubbed, like someone was gently trying to move them around. They hazily try to open their eyes, as they hear someone else’s voice.
“I’m afraid I can’t leave you to sleep here, it wouldn't be good for your neck.”
They can make out Vergilius’ silhouette, they guess he moved out of his seat a while ago as he was standing to their side. Dante lazily murmurs something they themselves can’t even remember. And the last thing they think they remember are some arms carrying them to their office. Was that a dream, or did it actually happen? They don’t know but they remember the comfort it brought them, being taken care of by someone else. The next thing they knew, was that they were laying in their bed with the moonlight peaking through their open window blinds onto them.
It was a shame that they couldn’t witness Vergilius’ reaction to opening the gift they had prepared for him. The clock they nervously picked out for him. But walking past Vergilius’ open office the next early morning, and seeing that same clock placed on his desk, gave them more than enough reassurance, that their gift wasn’t met with denial.
“Good morning, Dante. It seems I’ve forgotten to close my door.”
Vergilius greeted them with a smirk in the hallway. Someone as observant as him would never forget to do something as trivial and mundane as closing his door. This time, Dante knew exactly what Vergilius was doing. They were happy that they managed to close some of that distance between them.
< Good morning, my guide. >