ic contact for pixieled —

[victus]

Viktor

crankit

---

COURT

DAY

DORM

Room 201 (with Stephen Strange)

Message @crankit

Comments

action;

[fatalis]

(( ooc: after this. ))

[ Just from that message, Jayce knew that Viktor wouldn't have his Leaf and he abandoned his work, unsorted, unfinished, to scale stairs all the way up to where he knew his partner would be.

Lowering himself down stiffly, Jayce hung his legs over the edge with a soft exhale. ]

Talk to me, Vitya, [ he murmured, gaze fixed on his partner and not the view. ]

action;

[victus]

[ Maybe he should have felt guilty for reacting so strongly, or for disappearing, but the only thing in Viktor's mind was the haunted look on Jayce's face when they first arrived. He still knew so little about what happened in that dark future, but —

Footsteps. That name. Viktor relaxed just a bit, but he didn't look at Jayce quite yet. ]

They will pressure you. [ He was frowning, staring straight ahead. ] You can't escape it, Jayce. Even if you believe you can resist, the temptation won't disappear.

[fatalis]

I know. [ Jayce exhales softly, eyes tracing the line of Viktor's profile. ] I...

[ It shouldn't be so hard. Viktor had seen the blueprints; he must have, that day in the lab, before he left him standing alone in the only place that felt like home. ]

They will, and I might break again. I know that. [ Jayce already felt the pressure on all sides bearing down on him, the burden of expectation, and there were already faultlines in the bedrock of his resolve. Finally, Jayce looks away and down at his own hands, rough and calloused and bloody. ] What other options do I have?

[victus]

[ Viktor was quiet for a long moment, his heart aching to hear the conflict in Jayce's voice. He'd suffered so much, and still, he was being tested. Would there be no end to senseless violence wherever they went? Would Jayce always be asked to use his talents for death and destruction?

Sliding his hand over his partner's, Viktor squeezed gently. This time, he was looking at him. ] You have me. [ It was simply stated, but full of warmth and confidence, and maybe a hint of frustration. ]

We shut each other out before. [ He searched his face, his own eyes shifting between gray and pink. ] We can't do that again.

text | c.kiramman (you saw nothing)

[kirammans]

[Cait is Making An Effort. She's been thinking about what he said. Family.]

I heard you have terrible jokes. Is this true?

[victus]

[ He's surprised when the text comes in, but he's even more surprised when it seems playful.

After a beat: ]

Did an atom tell you that? I would be careful trusting them. They make up everything.

[ ... yeah, horrendous. ]

[kirammans]

[She misses her gun.]

That's actually clever.

text — un: defender;

[fatalis]

Vitya, do you have a minute?

[victus]

You need more than that from me, I hope. [ A pause. ] Are you alright?

[fatalis]

Always.

[ Jayce types slower because he's flustered and smiling to himself. But no, he did have something important to ask. ]

Yeah. I've just got a lot on my mind and I wanted to talk to you.

text: un: sistersalvation

[against_descent]

Viktor, this is Cass. I have had a vision of dandelions and dragon scales...I cannot tell you what it means.

I wish I could. I have already texted V; I should hope he will tell Jayce.

[victus]

[ His reply is almost instant. ]

That is deeply concerning. I will investigate for myself, though I have a feeling her captor will anticipate this.

Are you alright? Did this vision hurt you in any way?

[against_descent]

[From her room in Winter, Cass blinks, startled. She tried to not wake Kel, this time, with questionable success.]

Please be wary. If you wish back-up, I will come.

And I am well. They do not usually harm me.

[At least not physically. Trauma is a thing, but she's used to that.]

lol hiya — audio | un: recorder

[goldenturtle]

Th— [ Cale is cut off by a sudden, wet cough. Viktor will then also hear the unfortunate sound of retching, followed by a few quiet gasps for breath. This goddamn worthless body...! ] Her location's moving.

[ He hadn't intended to push himself this time. He just wanted to take a quick look at things! Seriously! ]

[victus]

[ Viktor is so not concerned about the dragon in this moment. There's something far more important. ]

Cale, where are you?

[goldenturtle]

Huh? [ He's still panting for breath and sounds tired, but is no longer coughing or vomiting now that the Crybaby has finished healing his insides. ] Didn't you hear me? Her location keeps moving.

text

[kirammans]

What are the limits to your healing?

[victus]

[ After a slight delay. Caitlyn, where is this coming from? ]

I have not found it.

[kirammans]

Your boyfriend has deeply harmed my mind.

[She's mostly being dramatic for the sake of dragging Viktor into this, but maybe she's a little serious. Ew.]

—action

[victus]

[ A little while after this. ]

I don't know where to start. [ Viktor was sitting on their bed, legs drawn up to his chest. He'd spent so long putting off this conversation that finally broaching the topic felt nerve-wracking. He supposed that was what he got for procrastinating.

Exhaling, he tipped his head back to rest against the wall, shooting Jayce a half-smile. ] Can you forgive me for not mentioning this sooner?

[fatalis]

[ Rolling his head to the side, Jayce studied Viktor's profile. He was sitting right next to him, though his legs were stretched out across their bed, and he'd been waiting for his partner to find the words he was clearly looking for. ]

Start anywhere, Vitya. I'm listening. [ Jayce grasped Viktor's hand then, giving it a gentle squeeze. ] I'll forgive you for anything, [ and he chuckled softly, squeezing those fingers again. ] But there's nothing you need to apologize for.

[victus]

[ He's quiet for a long moment, turning over all this in his mind. When he speaks, he's staring at his hands. It's easier. ]

Most of this is theoretical, [ he started, stilted. ] When we first developed the Hexcore, I recorded what I thought was a vibration. A — resonance, of a sort. Did you ever notice that?

action;

[fatalis]

With a soft exhale, Jayce settles in one of the chairs out behind the cabin, leg stretched out and throbbing in tandem with the beating of his heart which was racing, thunderous in his ears. This was their routine every night — Jayce locked up the front door, turned the sign around, and they would sit out back to watch the sun set as Rio darted around, wheezing happily — except tonight was different. Tonight Jayce had that box in his pocket instead of locked away in the back of a drawer.

Tonight, he'd ask.

Maybe.

Jayce just had to get the lump out of his throat first and dig his way out from under all the thoughts piling up until they were over his head. "Hey, Vik?" His voice sounded so shaky that he stopped there, eyes fixed up on his partner, trying to siphon the courage to keep going from him.

[victus]

Viktor was standing, which was a little unusual for him, but he was filled with such energy today that there was no avoiding it. Still, he didn't go far. Lingering on the porch with his hip against one of the supports, he watched Rio with a smile, pleased to find her so happy here. It wasn't quite the life he'd envisioned for himself — for both of them, really — but Viktor was content, and for once in what felt like a very long time, his whole body was relaxed, utterly at home watching their waverider play, basking in this peacefulness.

So it was with a distracted little hum that Viktor answered his name being called, pausing for a minute before glancing back at Jayce. Then his expression shifted, pinching, concern turning his mouth down a little. "Jayce?" He moved to kneel at his side, resting a comforting hand on his thigh. "What is it?" He knew that sometimes his partner didn't feel ready to share what was on his mind. But he would wait regardless, hoping that his gentle petting might soothe a bit of his stress — like calming a spooked animal.

[fatalis]

The standing was throwing Jayce off a little, if he was being honest. Not that he was going to ask his partner to sit down because it was making him nervous. Jayce liked seeing Viktor full of energy; it reminded him of the years before his lungs started getting bad enough to force him to sit more often than stand at Jayce's side by the board, or hover over his shoulder while he was working to offer little corrections or commentary. This wasn't exactly what he'd pictured when his head hit the pillow either, but Jayce was happy to have this, with him, in a space that was just theirs. So he was on edge a little, but he was content too.

Jayce just watched Viktor, a smile pulling at his mouth, and he forgot about his nerves for a few seconds as he memorized the way the sunset poured over him. It was his turn to be distracted, snapping out of it the instant that hand was on his thigh. "It's nothing," he said reflexively, but he shook his head with a sigh. "No, it's something," was his immediate correction, followed by a slightly exasperated laugh. "I wanted to ask you something." And here he was, failing to ask it.