[ viktor will one day realize that it is a matter of intimacy— but that will be so easily kicked once they establish a friendship. which, speaking of— ]
—Jayce, [ he calls out. they are, surprisingly, the same age, give or take. it feels odd to use his surname, especially when he isn't talking to either an elder or someone much younger than him. viktor was no lad. ] Call me Jayce.
[ he has yet to experience the sound of it in his ears, but he thinks he doesn't . . . need formalities. he's a farrier.
he gets mildly distracted with viktor's horsemanship and feels an image imprint into his memory for later— rio's gait, priority. jayce watches her legs swing and push the ground, studies her balance and the way her hooves maneuver beneath her. he watches facing her, he stares from behind her— and at last he keeps to the center of the circle she trots in. all of it comes down to this: jayce running his hand through his disheveled hair, with eyes restored hope more than he's ever felt in this lifetime. he beams an incredulous, unfurling smile, and exchanges a faraway, approving stare that fails to break.
it's working, he whispers to himself. this was not the end. it will take maintenance and adjusting. jayce will have to be on top of her foe weeks until her hooves are naturally restored. but—
he had someone to share it with. he had someone who believed in him, now. ]
no subject
—Jayce, [ he calls out. they are, surprisingly, the same age, give or take. it feels odd to use his surname, especially when he isn't talking to either an elder or someone much younger than him. viktor was no lad. ] Call me Jayce.
[ he has yet to experience the sound of it in his ears, but he thinks he doesn't . . . need formalities. he's a farrier.
he gets mildly distracted with viktor's horsemanship and feels an image imprint into his memory for later— rio's gait, priority. jayce watches her legs swing and push the ground, studies her balance and the way her hooves maneuver beneath her. he watches facing her, he stares from behind her— and at last he keeps to the center of the circle she trots in. all of it comes down to this: jayce running his hand through his disheveled hair, with eyes restored hope more than he's ever felt in this lifetime. he beams an incredulous, unfurling smile, and exchanges a faraway, approving stare that fails to break.
it's working, he whispers to himself. this was not the end. it will take maintenance and adjusting. jayce will have to be on top of her foe weeks until her hooves are naturally restored. but—
he had someone to share it with. he had someone who believed in him, now. ]