[Jayce is already regretting having made this bet with Viktor. They're both stubborn, but Viktor might be moreso. And Janna knows Jayce is able to get distracted by the long line of Viktor's elegant neck --
No! No, he can't think of that. He needs to finish unpacking his bag and setting up his notebooks and pencils at his desk for the day. And absolutely not thinking of Viktor's neck.
[Viktor was, as he had claimed, very patient. The other side of the coin from stubbornness, of course. But he was also more than willing to go to some effort to prove his point, and if summer weather in Piltover meant rolling up his sleeves to his elboows and forgoing a tie for a slightly open collar, well, it was hot out. Plausible deniability.]
[On the other hand, a couple days in and he was starting to get annoyed. Mostly at the lack of strong hands on an aching back and leg, more than anything else. But that was fine. He just had to wait it out a little longer, that much Viktor was sure of.]
Good morning. [Already hard at work, Viktor turned his head slightly to regard Jayce over his shoulder, loosened collar revealing an often hidden beauty mark on his throat.] Did you sleep well?
You know I didn't. [Gods, it's starting already. This early in the day and his sleeves are already up? Terrible.
The first day, Viktor had come in with his tie loosened and by the end of the day it was off. The second and third days started with no tie and the sleeves were rolled up by the end of the day. Today (day four, one day longer than Viktor's prediction), it looks like he's starting with no tie and rolled sleeves, and Jayce might well snap a pencil in half.]
[It had been a process, of course. He couldn't just go all in from minute one, then there would be nowhere to escalate to. That said, he was running out of escalation. Admirable, really, to have lasted this long.]
It's fine, thank you. [It wasn't, but it had been worse.]
I'm not dismal, I'm just. I'm winning, is what I am. [He's absolutely not winning. He spent a long time in a very cold shower last night trying not to think about that damn beauty mark now visible on Viktor's neck, and failing utterly. And taking care of himself afterward had just felt empty and cold.
His drawings of Viktor in his notes have nearly doubled.] But it doesn't matter, because we've got work to do.
[And he's going to pull his tie off as well, tossing it in his bag. Not to try and even the playing field so much as he does, in fact, feel overwarm]
Mm, I'm sure. [Turning back to what he was working on as calm as anything. Off course Viktor had his own limits, but...well, clearly they were far further along than some people. Work before pleasure in all aspects, apparently.]
You are right, we do. I have already been here for some time.
[It's driving Jayce up an absolute wall, how cool and calm Viktor is able to be right now. As though they haven't had the most incredible intimate moments together over the last month. Exploring and learning and loving each other's bodies and sweet Janna he needs to concentrate on his notes.
He sighs and moves to the chalkboard to catch himself up on whatever Viktor's been up to this morning.] And what did you do, in some time? Any major breakthroughs?
[Jayce heaves a sigh and slams his open notebook on the table a little more forcefully than necessary. He thought he'd been so careful, too. So to hear that only was he suffering, but his work was a well, was immensely frustrating.] Can't imagine how I managed that.
I'm not -- you're being dramatic, if anything. [He makes his best attempt at Viktor's accent (which isn't entirely successful, but the tone is there)] Oooh, I had to come in early to correct Jayce's mistakes.
[Thank every god, a potential subject change, and he leaps on it ravenously.] I've been meaning to ask you about that, actually. I know your place is close and all but do you sleep ever? Or do you just nap in your chair for a few hours after I leave. You know that's not good for your back. Not just your back -- anyone's back. Bad for backs, generally speaking.
I sleep just fine, Jayce. [Viktor shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat at the reminder of an annoying, persistent ache.] I have slept here on occasion, but I usully do go home if I think I can manage it.
[That makes Jayce pause on his way to the chalkboard, glancing over his shoulder at his partner.] If you think you can get home? What does that mean, you can't get home some nights so you sleep here and make the problem worse?
I think I'm being just the right amount of dramatic. I worry about you Vik -- [He moves to try and turn Viktor towards him, to bring him close, but pauses as his hand lands on his partner's waist.
And encompasses almost half of it. Which make short circuits his brain more than a little, especially with this stupid bet they have going on.]
I managed to take care of myself long before I met you, and I am certain I will continue t-...
[Viktor hesitated under the contact to his waist--gentle, compassionate, both things that very reliably set his heart rate quite a bit higher--then hesitated again at Jayce's expression.]
Sorry, I just didn't realize that, um. [Shaking a little, he sets his other hand against Viktor's waist as well. And with very little effort, his fingers meet at the small of Viktor's back and Jayce's knees wobble a little.]
[On one hand, it was of vital importance to Viktor that he should be regarded as a capable individual--he was, of course, just with the occasional complication. On the other enormous hand currently encircling his waist, there was also immeasurable relief in simply not doing that. Letting someone else have control, letting himelf be turned into a shivering teary-eyed whimpering mess underneath him--]
[...Damn it. A miscalculation. Viktor realized he needed this far more than anticipated, but he'd already dug his heels in and refused to back down now. But if Jayce didn't fold in the next few minutes, Viktor doubted hs stubbornness would hold out.]
I thought it obvious I have always been smaller than you. [Nearly impossible to keep his voice steady, the lightest tremor lingered in what was supposed to be a casual response.] What of it? [Or, 'what are you going to do about it?']
Oh? [He hears that little tremble clear as a bell, even over the sound of his own heart pounding in his ears. He loves that tone, that slight shake to Viktor's voice that lets Jayce know when he's hit exactly the right spot and should linger there for a while until he has Viktor begging and --
Steady on.
He brushes his thumbs back and forth over Viktor's stomach, glancing from his clasped hands up to Viktor's face. Trying to look for his usual tells.] I think you like that you're smaller than me. I know I do.
I do not like or dislike it--there is little point in concerning oneself over a simple objective fact.
[He liked it quite a lot in the right contexts. There was a lot to be said for either giving or taking control in such situations; knowing a thin and powerless form could still have the man before him utterly in shambles in a matter of minutes. Knowing that fragile body would be treated like an object of reverence in turn.]
[Janna's fucking mercy.]
[Viktor's free hand dropped to the edge of the desk behind him, white-knuckled grip betraying his best attempt at a poker face. Do not fold or you'll never live it down.]
I think you do. [He can't hide the way his own voice shakes and cracks, the way he shifts into Viktor's pace. Craving it after having been denied it for what feels like lifetimes, at this point. He knows there's a beauty mark just above Viktor's collarbone that, if Jayce placed his mouth there, would absolutely make Viktor fall apart.
But that would be folding first, wouldn't it?] I think you like that if I wanted to, right now, I could lift you onto your desk, spread you out, and worship you the way you deserve to be worshiped.
i've played all my cards, and that's what you've done too... [for hexcrafter]
No! No, he can't think of that. He needs to finish unpacking his bag and setting up his notebooks and pencils at his desk for the day. And absolutely not thinking of Viktor's neck.
Or his hands, his slender fingers and --
Oh he's fucked, isn't he?]
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[On the other hand, a couple days in and he was starting to get annoyed. Mostly at the lack of strong hands on an aching back and leg, more than anything else. But that was fine. He just had to wait it out a little longer, that much Viktor was sure of.]
Good morning. [Already hard at work, Viktor turned his head slightly to regard Jayce over his shoulder, loosened collar revealing an often hidden beauty mark on his throat.] Did you sleep well?
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The first day, Viktor had come in with his tie loosened and by the end of the day it was off. The second and third days started with no tie and the sleeves were rolled up by the end of the day. Today (day four, one day longer than Viktor's prediction), it looks like he's starting with no tie and rolled sleeves, and Jayce might well snap a pencil in half.]
How's your back?
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[It had been a process, of course. He couldn't just go all in from minute one, then there would be nowhere to escalate to. That said, he was running out of escalation. Admirable, really, to have lasted this long.]
It's fine, thank you. [It wasn't, but it had been worse.]
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His drawings of Viktor in his notes have nearly doubled.] But it doesn't matter, because we've got work to do.
[And he's going to pull his tie off as well, tossing it in his bag. Not to try and even the playing field so much as he does, in fact, feel overwarm]
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You are right, we do. I have already been here for some time.
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He sighs and moves to the chalkboard to catch himself up on whatever Viktor's been up to this morning.] And what did you do, in some time? Any major breakthroughs?
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[Gesturing vaguely with one hand, without looking over his shoulder:] You will find them a bit to your left on the chalkboard.
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[Oh. He was definitely winning this.]
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I always come in early. The fact that it gave me time to notice your mistakes is merely incidental.
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And encompasses almost half of it. Which make short circuits his brain more than a little, especially with this stupid bet they have going on.]
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[Viktor hesitated under the contact to his waist--gentle, compassionate, both things that very reliably set his heart rate quite a bit higher--then hesitated again at Jayce's expression.]
...What?
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Oh.
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[...Damn it. A miscalculation. Viktor realized he needed this far more than anticipated, but he'd already dug his heels in and refused to back down now. But if Jayce didn't fold in the next few minutes, Viktor doubted hs stubbornness would hold out.]
I thought it obvious I have always been smaller than you. [Nearly impossible to keep his voice steady, the lightest tremor lingered in what was supposed to be a casual response.] What of it? [Or, 'what are you going to do about it?']
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Steady on.
He brushes his thumbs back and forth over Viktor's stomach, glancing from his clasped hands up to Viktor's face. Trying to look for his usual tells.] I think you like that you're smaller than me. I know I do.
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[He liked it quite a lot in the right contexts. There was a lot to be said for either giving or taking control in such situations; knowing a thin and powerless form could still have the man before him utterly in shambles in a matter of minutes. Knowing that fragile body would be treated like an object of reverence in turn.]
[Janna's fucking mercy.]
[Viktor's free hand dropped to the edge of the desk behind him, white-knuckled grip betraying his best attempt at a poker face. Do not fold or you'll never live it down.]
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But that would be folding first, wouldn't it?] I think you like that if I wanted to, right now, I could lift you onto your desk, spread you out, and worship you the way you deserve to be worshiped.
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