Yeah, having a reason or intention doesn't fix a problem. I break plates all the time. But at least I can own up to it and follow through.
[Does he know Verg doesn't mean that quite so literally? Maybe not. Broken plates sure are sad.
Still, he nods along.]
I don't have any attachment to this place, either. If the food was unlimited and I could come back here with my brothers without that sacrifice rule, that'd be different. But they're not here, so it doesn't matter.
It's fine if you're not, Vergilius. My appetite isn't exactly normal.
The death threats aside, it's just nice to indulge without a lecture afterwards. It's easier for me to keep calm when I don't have to worry about being too hungry.
[A pause, as he digs through a bread just piled with bakery items to pull out a pretty modest bread roll and hand it over.]
It's why I hope you can eat, too, when you're up to it. We can't get out of here without strength, and we can't have any strength without feeding ourselves.
[Sir you are so sad. Don't be sad while eating, that's just extra sad.]
Yeah. My oldest brother handles the bills, and that includes for my food. He doesn't tend to be happy if I overdo it. But at least we don't pay for our meals here.
[He does pause mid-bite at the extra remark, though.]
I guess so. Sometimes. I try to have self-control. But I can only get so hungry before I can't ignore it.
[Despite the sheer amount of food he's continuing to shovel into his mouth, he doesn't look any different. No slowing in his pace. No distension in his abdomen.]
I'm supposed to represent Gluttony, though, according to the king. Maybe that's why.
[It's not a denial. But he'd rather not dwell when he sees that Verg is looking a little uncomfortable.]
Anyway. It's just a scent. I'm used to picking up things others can't, and you're obviously not bleeding onto the floor, so I wouldn't worry about it. It's not something I need to share.
Where exactly are you from, Vergelius? I've never really met a person with eyes that act like yours. Not outside one of Levi's TV shows, anyway.
[He knows what hunger does to a person. He knows how it changes them.]
[...]
...No. It's fine. It's not like you would understand. [A little sigh - he's only taken a few bites of his bread.] The place is called the City. Only a couple here hail from it. From what I can gather, you wouldn't be able to wrap your mind around it.
...There's nowhere else to go. The City is all that is. To go to the Outskirts is like spreading your arms and welcoming one hundred different types of pain and suffering.
[Sounds like the trek between the eight layers of the Devildom and the human world, but a little more immediate. Like maybe the layer of suffering below the Devildom itself.]
Mn. Sounds like the depths of hell.
What exactly does this City do, then? How is it succeeding somewhere in a place meant for suffering?
[ACTUALLY DOESN'T REALIZE BEEL IS TALKING ABOUT HIS PLACE...]
...It's headed by a number of corporations. Each corporation acts as a "Wing", almost like a governing power, to their own District. It may be a horrible machine, but its well-oiled for what it is.
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[Does he know Verg doesn't mean that quite so literally? Maybe not. Broken plates sure are sad.
Still, he nods along.]
I don't have any attachment to this place, either. If the food was unlimited and I could come back here with my brothers without that sacrifice rule, that'd be different. But they're not here, so it doesn't matter.
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[Just like...saying.]
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[Wow! What a reveal!]
It's fine if you're not, Vergilius. My appetite isn't exactly normal.
The death threats aside, it's just nice to indulge without a lecture afterwards. It's easier for me to keep calm when I don't have to worry about being too hungry.
[A pause, as he digs through a bread just piled with bakery items to pull out a pretty modest bread roll and hand it over.]
It's why I hope you can eat, too, when you're up to it. We can't get out of here without strength, and we can't have any strength without feeding ourselves.
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[??????]
[And yeah, okay. Bread roll. He stares at it, for a moment, before heaving a sigh and taking it.]
Sure. [He's going to take a bite. Even when he's chewing he just looks like a wet dog in the rain.] Mm. So your hunger's a problem.
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Yeah. My oldest brother handles the bills, and that includes for my food. He doesn't tend to be happy if I overdo it. But at least we don't pay for our meals here.
[He does pause mid-bite at the extra remark, though.]
I guess so. Sometimes. I try to have self-control. But I can only get so hungry before I can't ignore it.
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[He hums, thinking on it.]
...Why are you so hungry? Something to do with your body?
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[Despite the sheer amount of food he's continuing to shovel into his mouth, he doesn't look any different. No slowing in his pace. No distension in his abdomen.]
I'm supposed to represent Gluttony, though, according to the king. Maybe that's why.
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...King? What king?
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[You know. Just a normal guy.]
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He's king of the Devildom. The most powerful of all of us demons.
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That means nothing to me.
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He's the strongest. He gave me my title. Now I'm hungry all the time. That's all you really need to know.
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[JUST SAYING.]
...So he changed you, and now you have this whole downside to deal with to keep up that strength of yours?
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It's not bad. You just don't smell like a usual human, that's all. The blood does weird things to my palette.
[Chomp chomp chomp.]
I don't know if he's the one that changed me, or if it was something else. But it's not like I can ask anymore. He's been asleep for a long time.
I don't try to consider it a downside. It's just how I am now. And I'm happy when I can eat.
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[Something about that makes something dark sink into his eyes.]
I'll be blunt with you. It sounds miserable. But good for you, I suppose.
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...So long as I can eat, I can manage.
[It's not a denial. But he'd rather not dwell when he sees that Verg is looking a little uncomfortable.]
Anyway. It's just a scent. I'm used to picking up things others can't, and you're obviously not bleeding onto the floor, so I wouldn't worry about it. It's not something I need to share.
Where exactly are you from, Vergelius? I've never really met a person with eyes that act like yours. Not outside one of Levi's TV shows, anyway.
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[He knows what hunger does to a person. He knows how it changes them.]
[...]
...No. It's fine. It's not like you would understand. [A little sigh - he's only taken a few bites of his bread.] The place is called the City. Only a couple here hail from it. From what I can gather, you wouldn't be able to wrap your mind around it.
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Then I'll do what I can to control myself. But... I'd prefer not to think about it.
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Maybe not. But I'd still like to hear about it. I don't really leave the Devildom all that often anymore.
Is it anything like this island?
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[He repeats, dully - he knows that some powers come with downsides, and it seems strength mixed with hunger is no grand combination.]
[Beel, Beel, Beel. What to do with you.]
No. It's a place built on the backs of people who've died to make itself succeed. Nothing as peaceful as this.
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Is it somewhere you like calling home? Or is it just where you happen to be for now?
[It doesn't sound like a pleasant place with the bare bones that Vergilius is giving. But neither did the Devildom.]
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[It really is not! IT'S NOT A GREAT PLACE.]
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Mn. Sounds like the depths of hell.
What exactly does this City do, then? How is it succeeding somewhere in a place meant for suffering?
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[ACTUALLY DOESN'T REALIZE BEEL IS TALKING ABOUT HIS PLACE...]
...It's headed by a number of corporations. Each corporation acts as a "Wing", almost like a governing power, to their own District. It may be a horrible machine, but its well-oiled for what it is.