"Oh! Yeah, that happens. I go home at the end of the day and have to shake chalk dust out of my hair." But his laugh is bright and easy, now that he's adjusting to the idea of how much possibility there really is, here.
"They let me have access to my forge again. So anything we design in here, I can just run down and make. When you want to change the world, don't ask for permission, right?" he grins, reaching out to nudge Viktor's shoulder companionably.
"I guess I will learn quickly what you would look like with white hair." He's laughing too. This is still...easy. Comfortable. The start of a good thing, he thinks. Maybe the start of a real, REAL chance to -
He'd better not get ahead of himself.
"Exactly!" He nudges right back, a little awkwardly, but - it's an attempt. "For my part, I know my best work is done in iron, not on paper."
"I think you mentioned that." Oh -- that's adorable. The nudge back gets a smile and a pat on the shoulder, and Jayce moves a bit to perch on one of the desks.
"The uh, the tinkering, I mean. You like to build things? If you ever need access to the forge, let me know."
Well, good. Someone who isn't going to make fun of his somewhat clumsy attempts at socialization. It isn't that Viktor is anti-social, it's just...usually, people make some assumptions that grate on him, and it's easier to keep things to cool civility.
Not necessary here, it seems. That's nice.
"The Forge...I would love to see it, sometime, actually. I've never seen it in person."
"Would you?" Jayce looks surprised, but pleasantly so, at the idea of bringing his new partner, his new friend down to the forge with him. To show him the ins and outs of how he builds things.
"Yeah -- yes. I'd like that a lot. I'll give you a full tour, whenever you'd like."
"Of course. The Forge is where the things I work with are born. Why wouldn't I like to see that?"
But he understands - the novelty of someone taking interest in something you've had a hand in for as long as you can remember. So his smile is warm, his eyes glittering slyly.
"That's not hard to do, actually. I'd say to knock first, but the bellows gets pretty noisy. But honestly, I'm happy to share the space with you, just as much as the lab here. It all goes to our work, so you're welcome to all of it.
If you don't watch out," he teases with a grin, "I'll put you to work shoveling coal."
He's about to protest that that wasn't what he meant at all, but then Viktor is leaning into his space. Is laughing, and teasing him much like he had earlier.
Jayce blows out a relieved breath and shakes his head. "You're mean. Already, so cruel to your poor partner. Just for that, I'm making you sort the coal to weed out the smaller pieces, like my dad used to make me do."
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"They let me have access to my forge again. So anything we design in here, I can just run down and make. When you want to change the world, don't ask for permission, right?" he grins, reaching out to nudge Viktor's shoulder companionably.
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He'd better not get ahead of himself.
"Exactly!" He nudges right back, a little awkwardly, but - it's an attempt. "For my part, I know my best work is done in iron, not on paper."
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"The uh, the tinkering, I mean. You like to build things? If you ever need access to the forge, let me know."
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Not necessary here, it seems. That's nice.
"The Forge...I would love to see it, sometime, actually. I've never seen it in person."
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"Yeah -- yes. I'd like that a lot. I'll give you a full tour, whenever you'd like."
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But he understands - the novelty of someone taking interest in something you've had a hand in for as long as you can remember. So his smile is warm, his eyes glittering slyly.
"Careful. I'll show up unannounced."
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If you don't watch out," he teases with a grin, "I'll put you to work shoveling coal."
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"Oh, I see how it is. I'm from the Undercity, so put me to work like a miner, eh?"
But it's playful. Easygoing, not defensive.
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Jayce blows out a relieved breath and shakes his head. "You're mean. Already, so cruel to your poor partner. Just for that, I'm making you sort the coal to weed out the smaller pieces, like my dad used to make me do."
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He laughs again. Everything feels warm right now, and his chest only hurts a little.
This could be the start of something good, he thinks.