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[boyofprogress]

ＩＮＢＯＸ

𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 ★ 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎 ★ 𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 ★ 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

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[boyofprogress]

You know each other? [Their friendship becomes more clear when the waverider's tail starts wagging and she comes over to great Viktor.

So Jayce hangs back a little, letting the two of them reunite and reconnect. Smiling at the shock but also joy in Viktor's expression.]

[hexcrafter]

[For a second, he didn't really seem to register Jayce had said anything; with a clattering of a dropped crutch Viktor ignored the ache in his leg and knelt down to put his arms around the wiggling waverider, who was very insistently nuzzling her enormous head against Viktor's. His breath hitched uncomfortably as he tried to speak, words coming out more than a little strained. Whatever he said first was nearly inaudible and in his own language, but sounded remarkably like an apology.]

...she's...an old friend of mine.

[boyofprogress]

[Jayce presses a hand to his mouth, feeling himself get choked up at watching this reunion. A little odd, but wonderful all the same. There is clearly a great affection between the two of them.]

Obviously, she's staying here.

[hexcrafter]

[He let out a soft, unsteady laugh, pulling back to pet a very contented Rio's head with one hand and quickly swipe the other over his eyes.]

That much was never in debate. [Looking back over his shoulder with a shaky smile.] I let you stay here, after all.

[boyofprogress]

Ha, ha. But fair point.

[He takes a step closer, curious, but not wanting to interrupt.] Her name is Rio, you said? Should I -- can I say hello?

[hexcrafter]

It's alright, she's harmless. [Picking up his cane, Viktor pulled himself back to his feet and gestured for Jayce to come closer.] Just try not to move too quickly and let her get used to you.

[Because she had settled for sitting beside Viktor and was currently back to squinting at Jayce suspiciously. Interloper.]

[boyofprogress]

She's... big. [Not that he's seen a ton of waveriders, but this one seems to be about ten feet long. He's never seen anything quite that size.

So he approaches, a little at a time, holding his hand out in greeting.] Hey there, Rio. You're gorgeous. I'm Jayce, it's nice to meet you.

[hexcrafter]

She's... [He trailed off, uncertain of exactly how to answer.] ...a little unusual, but not dangerous. I used to look after her when I was much younger.

[Rio trilled in a way that sounded almost like a growl, Viktor settling a hand on her back in reassurance. Her tail thumped against the deck in irritation, but she begrudgingly sniffed at Jayce's hand before lowering her head to within petting range.]

[boyofprogress]

[The... growl? Has him leaning back again, but she's at least letting him give her a few awkward pats. Which he does, fascinated by the unique texture of her skin.] Hey now, I promise I'm nice.

I'm not sure you'll fit in the tub, but I'll build you a... pool? Or at least some sort of area off of the dock, so no one comes by to bother you.

[hexcrafter]

I suppose living on a boat does have its advantages in this case. She should do just fine with the water here until we determine a more lasting solution.

[A pause, hesitant and possibly even a little nervous.]

At least, I think she will.

[boyofprogress]

I could ask around? I've never cared for an amphibian myself, but maybe someone else here has. Or there's a library! I can see if there's a book...? [While he chats, he pets Rio absentmindedly, stroking his hand over her smooth, cool head.]

[hexcrafter]

It isn't that--she is not difficult to look after, despite her size.

[Viktor shifted nervously, looking at Rio who blinked owlishly while largely ignoring Jayce despite letting him pet her.]

She lived with my acquaintance in the Undercity. I do not know the exact details, but she has some kind of...mutation. If it should still pose a problem, I do not know how to treat it.

[boyofprogress]

[Jayce leans down to press a kiss to the top of Vitkor's head, squeezing his shoulder firmly.] We'll figure it out, if it happens. I'm sure there's someone here who works with genetics, or biology.

She means a lot to you, so she means a lot to me, too. I'll help her in anyway I can.

[hexcrafter]

[Viktor leaned against his side, humming thoughtfully.]

...You're right. If I'm still fine, I do not see any reason the same would not apply to her.

[boyofprogress]

Exactly. [It's easy to wrap an arm around Viktor when he's leaning against him like this, so he does so, and happily.] And given that the boat house is pretty cozy, I think I'd know if you weren't fine. Or I'd hope you'd tell me.

[hexcrafter]

...still just the same. [He answered with a small, tired smile. Rio, meanwhile, tilted her head and thumped her tail on the deck, not unlike an irritated cat.] A little better than I have been the past few days, I think.

[boyofprogress]

[His hand stills on Rio's head, his full focus now on stroking Viktor's hair to help ground himself.] I got scared, that day in the kitchen. So it helps. Knowing that you're feeling better than you did that day.

[hexcrafter]

[Rio pressed into Viktor's side as if in reassurance as he slipped an arm around his partner's waist, sighing quietly.]

I am sorry for frightening you, and for being unable to say it will not happen again. I never said anything before, because...I did not want to give anyone more reason to pity me, least of all you.

[boyofprogress]

I never pitied you, Viktor. Not then, and certainly not now. I worry, certainly, but -- pity implies I think of you as lesser, which I don't. I couldn't.

[hexcrafter]

... [Viktor didn't answer right away, his other hand resting idly on Rio's back as she made a noise somewhere between trilling and purring.]

I know. And I do not want to see that change. I have kept things to myself because I can not stand the idea of anyone thinking I am some helpless, miserable thing. What little self-sufficience I still possess is something important to me, and I do not need you or anyone else thinking me utterly incapable.

[Viktor paused, a thought occurring to him for not the first time. He'd spoken of it on Jayce's first night here, but only briefly--the tangle of complicated emotions was one he didn't really want to navigate. And he definitely didn't want to think about who must have been the one to find him that night in the lab.]

...That being said...I acknowledge I should have been more honest with you a long time ago. Before it came to a matter of waking up in the hospital.

[boyofprogress]

Hey... [It takes a little effort, and there's a wince or two, but Jayce lowers himself to sit on the deck next to Viktor. Wanting to have this conversation on the same level as him, physically.] If I've ever done anything that made you feel incapable, I apologize. That's never been my intention.

I've only ever offered to help you because I feel helpless. Not because I think you are.

[hexcrafter]

...I know. [He reached out to put a hand on Jayce's leg, idly working out some tension in slow and precise motions.] Helping people is in your nature. I have never disliked your efforts, it is...simply a difficult thing to accept, for me.

[boyofprogress]

If it's too much, tell me. [Though what he means, what he feels, at times, is If I'm too much, tell me. Jayce Talis is a passionate person, and he feels things with his whole self. After a lifetime of being told to tone it down, he worries about overwhelming people.

He makes a quiet noise at the hand on his leg, laughing a little.] Honestly, I'm going to be relying on you a lot, while I get used to this. The brace, the cane or crutch if I end up with one. I want your help to update the brace, for sure.

[hexcrafter]

I would, if I found it too much. It is more a matter of...I just do not always know how to respond to it, and perhaps never have.

[The corner of Viktor's mouth twitched into a hint of a smile as Rio curled up behind him like a supportive amphibious cushion.]

...I do not mind that. We already designed mine together, so doing as much again will be easy. And...if you wanted to rely on me, I would like that as well.

[boyofprogress]

We have all the time in the world, for you to learn. For both of us to learn.

[Jayce lets out a quiet oof as Rio leaning against Viktor jostles them both, and he gives her tail a polite pat.] I know you said she's easy to care for, but I'll probably end up doing research about amphibians anyway. It's what I do, when I encounter something I'm unfamiliar with.