[ As soon as Jayce's hand is gone, Viktor misses the weight of it on his skin anchoring him in his body while his mind spins. He's still listening to the details as they are reluctantly shared, but it's a distant thing; his main focus becomes the research he's done on the topic. ]
Is this also a result of your accident?
[ If so, it would have fewer implications. For some reason. It makes sense in Viktor's head, because what is the likelihood that they would both be born with a total inability to see color? They were completely different in all other aspects, at least physically, yet had been immediately drawn together due to shared interests, intelligence, and now this? ]
[ jayce shakes his head. suddenly, despite their proximity, staying this close lacks something more. ]
I was born with it. The accident was . . . My fault.
[ he doesn't really know what to add about it. he spooked the horse, ignored the signs and overlooked a precautionary measure. but now, jayce . . . is observing them both. their legs, their eyes . . . their minds, their interests. how much they compliment each other was almost scary, but especially wonderous.
his heart is skipping beats again. ]
Strange, huh? [ he says it in a way that frames it anything but strange. it's in a soft, admiring way. ] We're like a coin.
[ Two revelations, one after another. In Viktor's opinion, it didn't matter who was to blame for the accident, it was still a tragedy. Unless Jayce had been abusing horses, which was very unlikely, there was no reason to deserve such an injury.
Viktor is more interested in their shared inability to see color, though. ] Strange. [ He has an unfamiliar memory of a gear rotating through the air, smooth and golden on one side, colorfully rotted on the other. He's never seen such a thing in this life.
Stepping closer, he looks up into Jayce's eyes and squints. ] Is it just greens, perhaps reds as well?
[ jayce raises his shoulders a bit; his family never pursued any further medical treatment, especially when there was nothing that could really be done about about a condition so rare. only by some miracle that his vision isn't impaired to the point that he needs glasses— only his goggles when he's in front of the forge's fire, or when the brightness of a too-sunny day begins to hurt. ]
Monochromacy. [ he doesn't see . . . any type of hue. just whites, greys and blacks. ] And yours?
[ It's impossible, the chances that they would bear this similarity is so statistically slim that it feels like it can't be a coincidence.
Running a hand through his hair, Viktor leans heavily against his cane, hip resting where his hand grips the handle. ]
Do you ever dream in color?
[ Clearing his throat, he waves his hand. He's getting ahead of himself and ] Here I am asking all these questions, and we're just standing in the grass. Would you like to return to the stables and sit? The brace is brilliant, by the way. I hardly feel it.
[ He slows his words, breathes in, and then smiles up at Jayce. Such a lovely gift deserves an unhurried thanks. ] Thank you, Jayce. It was incredibly kind of you to spend your free time and money making this for me.
[ jayce has thrown all his weight to his good leg at this point, and the overcompensation begins to, just slightly, strain the joints under the most pressure. amd it looks like viktor is not too far behind. he's curious, enthusiastic aboit the discovery— he wants to be inquisitive. his mouth opens, then promplty closes when viktor decides to break his pursuits.
jayce could only press his lips together and bring them to a sheepish smile. ]
I just hope you can forgive the avoidance.
[ it wasn't birthed from wanting to create distance, but yes, bring them together. while they're at it, jayce gestures to the stable's benches—
and perches his arm out again, bent to his sides to form that triangle loophole, offering viktor a beckoning look. he did like the feeling of it before. he wishes to welcome it again. ]
[ If Jayce could admit that he thought Viktor was afianced, then Viktor can at least admit to wondering if Jayce's nights were spent in romantic company.
The offer of the elbow brings a smile to his face, and he switches his cane over to his other hand so that he can wrap his left one around Jayce's arm. The cotton of his shirt was even warmer now after being out in the sun, and Viktor was struck with the desire to just lay down here and soak it up. Another time, maybe, perhaps even under different circumstances.
Nodding, he glances sidelong at Jayce. For some reason, he had expected to find yet another similarity in this, but they were still opposite sides even if they were of the same cog.
Coin. ]
Not always. The dreams are always quite fantastical, so I thought that perhaps my brain is inventing the colors it has never seen. [ He frowns. ] I'm not sure what it means if you do not have this similarity.
sorry, viktor, he's. he's still there. even as they hobble along together, the warmth from within his chest spreads high to his face. it's not embarrassment, it's . . . pleasant warmth. not the kind to stain his face any shade darker. it's the kind that wrapped warm around him like a blanket. a blanket that he— quite suddenly imagines fixing around viktor after thinking he was cold.
you must be cold—
maybe he should stop imagining things, else that will feel embarrassing. but jokes on him! ]
-I'm, ah. Single.
[ he felt the need to make that known? even though it was already known??? jayce laughs after a moment under his breath. the both of them thought they were with someone else.
strange similarity. it makes him smirk, like a buffoon.
he was no doctor, so he couldn't exactly add to the color dreams, although they do sound bizzare in the best way. ]
For the record. Are you cold?
[ one thought is just leading to another. the evening was upon them. his damn imagination is playing wingman, isn't it?
if it was a hunch, he'd rather not ignore his hunches. the secret language of the invisible, and all that his mother still thinks. ]
[ He can't keep the surprise from his voice. Despite all the gossip he's heard secondhand, he can't believe that no one would be interested in Jayce Talis. Perhaps it's more due to Jayce himself, then, not finding anyone stimulating that he felt for romantically. Perhaps he needed to find someone with similar interests.
Smiling a little to himself, he looks up at the question. He hadn't really been paying attention, but if he thinks about it, maybe he is getting a little cold. When he had struck out towards the stables earlier, he had only worn a shirt and vest, forgoing a jacket as he often did when near the warmth of the forge. ]
A little. [ He tightens his grip on Jayce's arm. ] On my left side. [ Pointedly not the side that was close to Jayce and his warmth. ]
[ if only viktor knew red, but jayce's endearing, sheepish fluster, plaster silently across his face, charmed smile and allm if it were possible to hug him sideways and continue their short walk, jayce would, but that would mean relenting his selfish little chaperone hold on viktor and perhaps a little too much proximity for tonight. ]
I've got a coat inside.
[ thankfully, it's not the one he uses for work, so it shouldn't smell overwhelmingly bad. maybe a little of horse. a lot of jayce and his forge musk. ]
[ Viktor hums an answer, looking up at Jayce and raising an eyebrow. Is he back to flirting? Yes. There have been revelations and secrets and confessions, but... maybe that can be a little normal. ]
[ there was a lot to think about. he's still thinking about them. the fact of the matter was that in the end, he still wanted to spend as much time with viktor as possible. the good and the harsh come together to accent what jayce is beginning to admire about viktor. all of his . . . imperfections.
once they are in front of the room, jayce is reluctantly slipping from the hand to his bicep and stepping toward the gap between darkness and light. when he reamerges, it is with a dark zip up, which he slowly closes their distance, face to face—
and and throws the jacket around viktor's shoulders, pulling the fabric tight until the zipper touches and hangs on its own. he's lingering, again, and it's to say something caught in this throat. ]
Thank you, for sharing earlier.
[ its still positively strange that they share something so..... rare.
it is not that strange to jayce, knowing he wants to know everything else there was to know about viktor. ]
[ Viktor misses Jayce's warmth immediately when he pulls away, and the fact that he disappears into a darkened room makes Viktor think, for a moment, that he won't be returning.
But then he does, with a jacket that looks well-worn in the coziest of ways. Jayce comes closer, then even closer into Viktor's personal space, and Viktor stands there to see what happens. For a second, he thinks... but then Jayce wraps the jacket around Viktor's shoulders and tucks it close to him. ]
Thank you, too. And... for being easy to share with.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Is this also a result of your accident?
[ If so, it would have fewer implications. For some reason. It makes sense in Viktor's head, because what is the likelihood that they would both be born with a total inability to see color? They were completely different in all other aspects, at least physically, yet had been immediately drawn together due to shared interests, intelligence, and now this? ]
no subject
I was born with it. The accident was . . . My fault.
[ he doesn't really know what to add about it. he spooked the horse, ignored the signs and overlooked a precautionary measure. but now, jayce . . . is observing them both. their legs, their eyes . . . their minds, their interests. how much they compliment each other was almost scary, but especially wonderous.
his heart is skipping beats again. ]
Strange, huh? [ he says it in a way that frames it anything but strange. it's in a soft, admiring way. ] We're like a coin.
[ to different yet very similar sides. ]
no subject
Viktor is more interested in their shared inability to see color, though. ] Strange. [ He has an unfamiliar memory of a gear rotating through the air, smooth and golden on one side, colorfully rotted on the other. He's never seen such a thing in this life.
Stepping closer, he looks up into Jayce's eyes and squints. ] Is it just greens, perhaps reds as well?
no subject
Monochromacy. [ he doesn't see . . . any type of hue. just whites, greys and blacks. ] And yours?
no subject
[ It's impossible, the chances that they would bear this similarity is so statistically slim that it feels like it can't be a coincidence.
Running a hand through his hair, Viktor leans heavily against his cane, hip resting where his hand grips the handle. ]
Do you ever dream in color?
[ Clearing his throat, he waves his hand. He's getting ahead of himself and ] Here I am asking all these questions, and we're just standing in the grass. Would you like to return to the stables and sit? The brace is brilliant, by the way. I hardly feel it.
[ He slows his words, breathes in, and then smiles up at Jayce. Such a lovely gift deserves an unhurried thanks. ] Thank you, Jayce. It was incredibly kind of you to spend your free time and money making this for me.
no subject
jayce could only press his lips together and bring them to a sheepish smile. ]
I just hope you can forgive the avoidance.
[ it wasn't birthed from wanting to create distance, but yes, bring them together. while they're at it, jayce gestures to the stable's benches—
and perches his arm out again, bent to his sides to form that triangle loophole, offering viktor a beckoning look. he did like the feeling of it before. he wishes to welcome it again. ]
You dream in color?
no subject
[ If Jayce could admit that he thought Viktor was afianced, then Viktor can at least admit to wondering if Jayce's nights were spent in romantic company.
The offer of the elbow brings a smile to his face, and he switches his cane over to his other hand so that he can wrap his left one around Jayce's arm. The cotton of his shirt was even warmer now after being out in the sun, and Viktor was struck with the desire to just lay down here and soak it up. Another time, maybe, perhaps even under different circumstances.
Nodding, he glances sidelong at Jayce. For some reason, he had expected to find yet another similarity in this, but they were still opposite sides even if they were of the same cog.
Coin. ]
Not always. The dreams are always quite fantastical, so I thought that perhaps my brain is inventing the colors it has never seen. [ He frowns. ] I'm not sure what it means if you do not have this similarity.
no subject
sorry, viktor, he's. he's still there. even as they hobble along together, the warmth from within his chest spreads high to his face. it's not embarrassment, it's . . . pleasant warmth. not the kind to stain his face any shade darker. it's the kind that wrapped warm around him like a blanket. a blanket that he— quite suddenly imagines fixing around viktor after thinking he was cold.
you must be cold—
maybe he should stop imagining things, else that will feel embarrassing. but jokes on him! ]
-I'm, ah. Single.
[ he felt the need to make that known? even though it was already known??? jayce laughs after a moment under his breath. the both of them thought they were with someone else.
strange similarity. it makes him smirk, like a buffoon.
he was no doctor, so he couldn't exactly add to the color dreams, although they do sound bizzare in the best way. ]
For the record. Are you cold?
[ one thought is just leading to another. the evening was upon them. his damn imagination is playing wingman, isn't it?
if it was a hunch, he'd rather not ignore his hunches. the secret language of the invisible, and all that his mother still thinks. ]
no subject
[ He can't keep the surprise from his voice. Despite all the gossip he's heard secondhand, he can't believe that no one would be interested in Jayce Talis. Perhaps it's more due to Jayce himself, then, not finding anyone stimulating that he felt for romantically. Perhaps he needed to find someone with similar interests.
Smiling a little to himself, he looks up at the question. He hadn't really been paying attention, but if he thinks about it, maybe he is getting a little cold. When he had struck out towards the stables earlier, he had only worn a shirt and vest, forgoing a jacket as he often did when near the warmth of the forge. ]
A little. [ He tightens his grip on Jayce's arm. ] On my left side. [ Pointedly not the side that was close to Jayce and his warmth. ]
no subject
[ if only viktor knew red, but jayce's endearing, sheepish fluster, plaster silently across his face, charmed smile and allm if it were possible to hug him sideways and continue their short walk, jayce would, but that would mean relenting his selfish little chaperone hold on viktor and perhaps a little too much proximity for tonight. ]
I've got a coat inside.
[ thankfully, it's not the one he uses for work, so it shouldn't smell overwhelmingly bad. maybe a little of horse. a lot of jayce and his forge musk. ]
no subject
Lead the way, Jayce.
no subject
once they are in front of the room, jayce is reluctantly slipping from the hand to his bicep and stepping toward the gap between darkness and light. when he reamerges, it is with a dark zip up, which he slowly closes their distance, face to face—
and and throws the jacket around viktor's shoulders, pulling the fabric tight until the zipper touches and hangs on its own. he's lingering, again, and it's to say something caught in this throat. ]
Thank you, for sharing earlier.
[ its still positively strange that they share something so..... rare.
it is not that strange to jayce, knowing he wants to know everything else there was to know about viktor. ]
no subject
But then he does, with a jacket that looks well-worn in the coziest of ways. Jayce comes closer, then even closer into Viktor's personal space, and Viktor stands there to see what happens. For a second, he thinks... but then Jayce wraps the jacket around Viktor's shoulders and tucks it close to him. ]
Thank you, too. And... for being easy to share with.