[ handsome? no, he's a wreck. a shaggy dog. confusion squints his eyes and pulls at his lip. the only thing staff has done is call him uncouth to his face. but did this viktor get a little darker there? if it did or not, jayce doesn't pay it much scrutiny, not when, as he continues to speak, it's something fabricated from the ends of his dreams that seemed to be weaving into reality.
someone is interested in his work. someone, to his longing, is interested in his ideas, his prototypes. jayce's heart skips with a youthful excitement that has long been beaten out of him. eager to go along, there is one thing that stops him, and pins his eyes on viktor's to probe for truth. he must've heard more about his work than simple gossip if he's asking for it. ]
Why? [ he tests him. there are wolves out there dressed as sheep. people who would rather dig your downfall than see you rise, or worse— take credit. it's one of the reasons he had taken such an awful pause in his work altogether, following the accident that nearly cost the family their integrity. ] Why would you be interested in something with no proof?
[ yet. no proof yet. but he wants to know what the man thinks. ]
Proof? [ Viktor chuckles despite himself and then holds up a hand in good faith, eager to not upset this seemingly skittish bulk of man. Though he knows the basic outline of the Talis history, he knows nothing about the personal struggles of their only son and heir. ] Science is about doing something in search of the proof.
Technology should benefit people who can’t afford pure-bred, prize-winning horses. [ Drumming his fingers against his knee, he cocks his head to one side while continuing to look up at the other. ] But it’s the responsibility of those with said horses to fund such technology.
[ is he implying . . . what he thinks he's implying? jayce needs a moment. he's a little dumbstruck and wasn't expecting that. better yet, he hasn't been expecting any of this since stepping into the library.
he's never met anyone who thinks like he does. it's the second time in these few minutes, that his heart leaps with joy that's long been muted. he doesn't show it too easily, but his lips— they part in a small smile. ]
—Later today, [ he shouldn't be bold and say he'll return to the house; it isn't his place to be, but damn it does he consider it and swing his weight. ] I can show you. My notes, my work—
[ and a pause; he considers this gravely. if he's wrong it's going to cost him everything, but he knows he's not. he's definitely not. it works, he's certain of it. if he gets it on them, no one will notice until it starts giving results.
and if viktor actually believes in it, then it's worth telling him. ]
[ The spark he sees in shining grey eyes shows him all he needs to know—there is passion in this man, a kind that isn’t about money nor fame but simply the pursuit of knowledge itself. A man of progress, and one that Viktor thinks he can trust with their horses.
Smiling, he claps his hands on both thighs and pushes himself up from the armchair. ] Excellent. Would you mind me visiting your workshop?
[ The name surprises him, and he wavers a moment before catching his weight on the back of the armchair. ] Did— I’ve been away for several years and haven’t been out to see the horses. Is she alright?
[ yes, yes— of course. it is a murmur that feels . . . rekindled, a bit disbelieving but only because this was more of a pleasant surprise than the worst he'd expected. maybe he could start anew. maybe like-minded perspective and fresh new eyes was what he needed.
maybe a friend was what he needed. ]
She's in good health. [ if that would quell any worry; jayce continues with a quick runthrough of his project with her, briefly flicking a glance to the door and lowering his voice into a bare whisper. he'll take a few steps closer if it meant he'd be heard. ] Her trim is too short, it compromised her posture and I can't rasp a thing without hurting her— I'm making new shoes, just for her— corrective ones.
[ in their day and age? there's no such thing as a therapeutic shoe approach. if she got any lamer with no improvements by the next competition prep (a little less than a few weeks on the horizon), they'd likely consider putting her down, unfit for sport and losing value. ]
I could show you, now if you want— I even did the math, it should work.
[ you have to believe me his colorless gaze pleas. ]
[ Clucking this tongue, Viktor shakes his head. Their family has had some bad luck with past farriers, people who advertise themselves as experts when they have no idea how to work on such specialized horses. They all need shoes, yes, but not the same shoes, nor the same amount of trim.
Viktor’s eyes widen, smile quirking up the corner of his lips. ] Corrective ones? How promising!
I thought you were in the middle of something, Mr. Talis. [ His smile widens further, teeth glinting with mirth. ] You can go ahead and prepare, I’ll be a while reaching the stables.
[ well, that's— yeah. suddenly, jayce seems a touch sheepish, his eyes diverting and what's visible of his cheeks through the smears of grease are darker— it wasn't as if he'd been lying earlier. he was in the middle of something. this something, specifically. but he's a little too excited, isn't he?
jayce flattens his lips, voiceless, folds his hands behind his back and ducks his head. ]
—Thank you.
[ it's all he manages before turning his good heel to go through the library doors and back to where he belongs. one of the staff calls out for him, telling him that he should wait for her, but he says clearly: I know my way out.
it's the forge again. hot brimstone, fire, iron and hammering all the way until nightfall, pauses to fufill his duties included. ]
Don’t thank me yet, I’ll be putting you to the test.
[ He can’t help but smile as he watches the broad back disappear back through the library doors; he hadn’t expected anything at home to be so promising as a distraction from… well, everything else that came with being home. He loved spending time in the stabled, but there was only so much he could do with the horses, both due to physical abilities and restrictions.
If he had been honest with Jayce, he would have mentioned an interest in his leg brace as well as potential innovation in riding technology for someone with limited use of one of his legs. It’s the reason he’ll need time to reach the stables—he hadn’t been hedging, nor implying anything in terms of Talis’ responsibilities.
Cane in hand, taking his time, he makes his way to the workshop and finally reaches the doors around sunset. ]
[ jayce gives no reason to doubt his responsibility when he manages to do everything on time. it's hard to really imagine it's only been a few days— he's made the place his home, with his personal touch, despite none of it being his. frequent places to sit in the form of logs, old hay bales or chairs are scattered at nearly every corner. around the stables, there's always somewhere to sit, to viktor's luck. even when jayce works the horse's feet, there's a support that holds the leg for him— he despises that thing, any uncooperative beasts wouldn't take kindly to it. he'd always use his legs, but that's not as easily possible nowadays. he's begrudgingly carries it about.
most of the stables are getting dark at this point of the day, with all horses tucked in and feeding on supper. the sweltering forge is just behind the barn, where the clanking of metals and burning white embers make their own dancing sunset. applying the finishing touches on one last shoe, jayce hammers iridescent iron between tongs before placing them in water to sizzle and cool. that should do it. with his shirt off in this terrible heat, he pulls his handiwork out of the pool and scrutinizes it. when it's finally approved, he takes a deep, preparatory breath in— collects all four and moves his tool box, along with a tattered towel over his shoulders right outside. it's where he runs into viktor, dropping the clench in his teeth from his complaining leg.
he manages to look even dirtier, somehow. ]
Oh— [ an incline, a brief look up and down— he catches sight of the cane and wonders: that's all the support he has? jayce must be careful. he'll get ideas on top of ideas and that's never good for his actual progress. he shakes his head, only to himself. ] You made it.
[ he decides that's the better greeting, in an attempt to quell his anxious vibrating within. ] This way.
[ he's not about to walk ahead of him; his legs are a bit too fatigued for that, his limp a touch more prominent. if anything, he'll walk with viktor. a short walk, thankfully. the hay bales await like a soft bed in the night. ]
[ Viktor pulls up short when they nearly collide, wincing as his balance slides off-centered and he has to put a hand out to catch himself. He can tell that Talis is looking at him with some kind of thoughts in his head, and he can only hope that it’s nothing that will cause him to start coddling Viktor. ] Of course. I hope you haven’t been waiting too long.
[ Nodding and following the farrier’s lead, he’s surprised when he instead falls in step next to him. They’re going at about the same speed, and it’s only because Talis is limping more obviously that Viktor doesn’t take it as going easy on him. He doesn't try to speed up like he normally would around others, pleased that he doesn't feel the need to prove that he's capable.
Walking side-by-side also makes it easier not to focus too much on the fact that Talis is shirtless, muscles glistening where they aren’t dusted with soot. ]
You look like you’ve been productive. Where should we start?
By sitting, [ jayce retorts, a bit of jesting tone to truth he means; he really needs to sit before his knee pops from the pressure. he may have overdone it today, but— he was excited. he had to work overtime on his own watch if it meant finishing today and beginning this few week long experiment. then he could make some adjustments to his brace and . . .
he's felt so uplifted, in good spirits and eager energy that the way he swings his stiff, braced leg feels like a small price to pay tonight. he tells the cosmos, and himself, that he'll take more care of it from now on. sit more, use his aids. he wouldn't want to be rendered completely useless in the barn— he's not. and he still has so much to do.
before getting started, jayce slips into the open tack room for his shirt, rio's head halter and his notebook. he leaves their lamp as well as his clinking tools at the base of the first bench they come across, just outside the room to encourage sitting there. curious nickers resound at the movement and the clicking of belts and buckles— they know someone is going to get a little evening stroll, and it brings a quiet simper to jayce's lips. the horses were really endearing.
he tries to straighten his face when he circles back to viktor yielding unsatisfactory results, because now— he's going to be within his element, and he's quite enthusiastic when it comes to explaining his own thoughts. sitting beside viktor, he stretches his leg out and shuffles his box for four of the shoes he'd been molding all afternoon. individually, they're all very, very different from each other. some of higher grooves than others, slanted or angled oddly when it came to width and girth where metal should disconnect into a U-shape. it doesn't, creating a smooth heart-shaped finish. too thick here, too thin there. no wonder people would doubt its efficiency. it looks close to a disaster that didn't exactly seem comfortable, and no one would want this on their horse.
but no one was a horse to prove him otherwise. ]
Listen— I know how it looks. But I could explain, with, with biomechanics—
[ and there comes the giddiness he hasn't felt in ages, an addicting rise in his purpose. jayce flips through the pages of his notebook while viktor can inspect his metalwork, filled with scribbles and sketches of not only his ideas, but of horses themselves. he always draws a bit during downtime. but, the point of the matter is this page, signed and stamped. the design of his work, measurements used with formulas and intricate statistics. evidence. math!
he's actually rather bright. ]
I think these will save her. [ in fact .... ] They'll save a lot of them. And that's only the beginning.
[ but lets not count the chicks before they hatch. ]
[ The smell of the stables, off-putting to many, is home to Viktor. He slows a little as he passes the first stale, walking up to the door slowly but confidently. He's a stranger to many of these horses, but not to their nature—he knows better than to rush up to a huge animal and stick his fingers where they could get bitten. For now, he merely admires the horse that approaches him with cautious curiosity, and he wishes he'd brought something for her.
Hearing Talis move around brings Viktor back to the task of sitting, and he's just settling down on a hay bale when he's rejoined by the farrier. It's the most impromptu presentation Viktor has ever prepared himself for, but maybe that's what fills him with anticipation—he's going to see something new, first-hand, right where it was made. That gives an air of expertise far stronger than any academic hall could hope for. ]
They look like they've been tailored to each foot. [ He reaches out and takes one of the horseshoes, heavy in his hand but obviously well-constructed. Viktor has always been more of a theorist than a maker, but he can recognize good quality when he's running his fingers across it.
His eyes are drawn to the flipping pages, catching glimpses of both metal and beast and math. The last one is the most abstract and yet, to someone fluent in mathematics like Viktor, it's almost more concrete than the items in his hands. ]
May I? [ He trades the horseshoe for the notebook before getting a verbal response, tilting his hand so the page catches more light. ] You sign your own notes? Bit egotistical, don't you think?
[ He means for it to sound teasing, but his mind is racing through the calculations. It's so simple, so obvious, and yet no one has gotten this far before if they had even dared to start. It seems like Jayce Talis was uniquely equipped with the vision, drive, and talent to make all of this a reality—now he just needed someone with a horse that trusted a voyage into uncharted waters. ]
[ jayce falters for only a second but can't seem to say "no". it's his personal book, a few journal entries of his feelings are scribbled on tops of some pages, which briefly makes jayce's chest sink. some of it was personal and a bit dark, but— that can easily be overlooked by charming sketches and crude blueprints, right? he relaxes his shoulders when he realizes viktor's interest: formulas. the biomechanical, scientific part of his work, that's quite separated from his emotional ponderings.
he exhales a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and bends to pick up the lamp on the floor to shine more light between them. viktor gets it. he's following. he feels a little fidgety all of a sudden, and then—
something pangs his deepest thoughts and unceremoniously rocks his core. something so simple and silly, that he could either take offense to, find annoying or explain, and yet. he's searching his mind now that it's been touched. his brows crease and he blinks as if he were flinching, because . . . where has he heard those words before?
he tries hard, but he cannot seem to find it. he's also been staring for too long without saying a single word, enough to make even jayce feel mildly embarrassed. ]
—Uh, [ he starts, diverts his gaze to the shoes hanging from his fingers now, ] It's— It's for ownership. [ that's it. [ I believe in the idea.
[ Next to him, Jayce gives the tiniest of starts, drawing Viktor's attention. He expects something, a defense or retaliation, and he parts his lips to counter—but nothing. There's a haunted sort of look around Talis' eyes, like he's focused on something distant and painful. Viktor's heart skips a beat at the thought that he might have truly insulted him, but then Jayce is back to the present, though he swims to the surface a bit slowly.
Viktor should say something, but he doesn't know what it would be in his place to say. He introduced himself to a stranger this morning, and just because they share a passion for invention doesn't mean that he's gotten any closer to Jayce in the hours since then. ]
Good. That makes two of us.
[ Handing the journal back, Viktor stretches his legs out in front of him and absentmindedly kneads at the side of both thighs. ] I see you've already finished the shoes, but is there anything else you need in order to get started?
—O-oh, [ right. that made him look kind of stupid. jayce shakes his head and prepares to swing his weight up to stand, heavy hands on both sides of the bench and forcing him up, halter over his shoulders and shoes in his tool box. ] no, I'll shoe her.
[ he pauses mid step, and remembers: ]
She's going to need a rider [ he falters here; he had one word in mind, then quickly changes it, ] tomorrow. To test her gait— nothing extreme.
[ he, personally, would like to see the result of it now, but knows that it might be asking for too much. it's just some walking back and forth. viktor could do that, or, someone else could. it just needed to be done and jayce has never gotten over the fear of swinging onto horseback again. he feels like he's a little too brute for these steeds, anyway. his mounting style consists of something more relaxed and western, plus . . .
he probably couldn't be caught dead riding the family horse anyway, even if he entertained the idea for a split second. jayce disappears into the darker halls of the stable to retrieve rio, who should be sleeping— but if the secret is safe with viktor, then this is all okay. he brings her back to where viktor sits, and prepares the ropes and halter right then and there, for him to participate. even if it's just to watch, for now.
he has to work quickly, but not sloppily. jayce hammers the nails in after plenty of eye-to-hand estimations, lifting, using hoof rests to assist the ache in his leg, and so on. it's a lot of physical work, but jayce works so swiftly, so cleanly— he makes it look absolutely easy. ]
[ Compared to how confident he had been when discussing the technology, Jayce seems to be more reserved again now that it comes time to take the plunge. Viktor can't blame him, assuming that it's because of his own presence and the somewhat surreptitious nature of this whole endeavor. They hadn't signed anything, hadn't even figured out the exact details beyond "show me your technology" and "it looks like a good idea."
Humming at the unspoken implication that he should be said rider, he stood up and stretched some of the stiffness out of his legs. He really shouldn't push himself, not after all of the walking he'd already done today, but he hates to be told know and hates to do it to himself even more. There's also a part of him that wants to maybe prove to Talis that he isn't fragile, that there's no reason to tread softly with him. If they're going into business together, they need to trust each other, don't they? ]
I can take her for a short stroll tonight. [ He says it as a fact but with the slight lilt of a question right at the end. Maybe Jayce didn't want to test out the new shoes right away and instead wait to let the horse get used to something that might be unfamiliar to wear.
Though he'd like to sit back down, or even lay down in bed for the rest of the night, he knows that it'll be harder to get back up if he retakes his seat on the haybale. Instead he leans against the nearest wall and watches Jayce work, efficient and focused to the point that Viktor dare not try to carry on conversation. ]
tonight. jayce pauses in his rummaging to pitch another surprised look of pleasant approval. reservation still creeps along the edges of a contained smile as he nods, but it's still a smile nonetheless, one that splits his lips apart to flash the small gap in his teeth— he's a bit more excited, as much as he is still reeling about how much . . . the ideas and thoughts connected.
who would've known. he still wonders if he's asleep in his single cushioned bed, with nothing but a pillow and his childhood blanket, wrapped in lofty dreams and destined to wake up to the neigh of horses hungry for breakfast.
once his working strikes have finished the job, jayce gives one more 360 degree survey around the mare, checking her conformity from the front, then the back. a little lopsided beam makes their dimly lit surroundings look a little brighter as he comes back around, slipping his hammer into one of his leather apron pockets and wiping his labored hands on it. he's satisfied with his work; her posture is perfect. ]
She's ready. I'll— I'll get her tacked up.
[ he can't afford to jog, almost forgets in his haste which quickens a tiny skip in his pace before he forces himself to slow, and walk with less of a limp than when he forces himself. jayce situates himself with viktor's riding gear, which now finally connects in his head, and gets to the final touches. bridle, halter, saddle pad, his personalized saddle, and so on.
it's to the mounting block. he's already smiling dumbly as she treks with him. he can't really see but there's a small difference he hopes he's glimpsing. ]
Do you need help mounting?
[ he figures it's worth it to ask; let viktor be the boss of his own needs. ]
[ Viktor meets the surprised expression with a smile, perhaps a bit smug at exceeding expectations but mostly just enjoying himself. Usually, the staff and servants on his parents' estate had two settings: avoid him like the plague, and treat him like a child. Even his parents sometimes still struggled to give Viktor his independence; it was one of the reasons he'd originally left to live in the capital.
Even just looking at the mare when she's been fitted with the new shoes, Viktor can tell that she seems more comfortable. As Jayce moves around her to fit the riding gear, she doesn't step in place or paw at the floor, just stands at ease and whickers softly when Viktor runs his fingers down the side of her neck. ]
Hm? Of course not. [ He was born with his disability, and being the heir to a family of horse breeders meant that he learned early how to mount and ride despite what others would consider a setback. ] But thank you for the offer.
[ Grabbing the reins and leading Rio towards a hay bale, he clucked his tongue softly at her while stepping up onto it. It took a little bit of maneuvering, and it wasn't the most graceful way to mount a horse, but he was able to get his good leg into a stirrup while leaning his weight against her and then at once pushing himself up and using a hand to lift his other leg into place. It wasn't considered very manly to ride side-saddle, but Viktor wasn't trying to convince anyone of his manhood.
Wrapping the reins around a hand, he looked down at Talis. ] Anything in particular you'd like to see, or just casual walking?
[ jayce has yet to truly realize, but what he sees before him is a thing of beauty. side saddle— elegant and successfully pulled off to the point that he momentarily depends on gesture until the tardiness of his words catch up to him. ]
—Walk and trot. Canter, if you think she could handle a few beats.
[ ...... he's still, technically, speaking to one of his bosses? why was that so easy to forget— ]
Please, [ he corrects. and is ready to watch them. rio's legs, especially. ]
[ The lack of formality or manners is far from being on Viktor's mind—they're doing science, and he's currently acting as a tool in the experiment, so he's not expecting "yes sir" and "if you please" to be featured heavily in the conversation. He doesn't know why he gets that impression from Talis, however, and whether it's based on logical deduction or just... instinct.
Clicking his tongue again, he steers Rio towards the opposite end of the stable at a slow walk. Once they reach the door, he lets her continue out into the evening air and takes a deep breath while looking up at the stars starting to wink into view. If there was one thing that he'd missed in the city, it was how clear and beautiful the sky was out here. ]
Shall we show Mr. Talis a circle? [ It's more of a wide loop, Viktor not wanting to push the mare into doing anything unusual with new shoes and a bad trim on her, but he thinks it should be enough movement to get a good look at how her gait is affected. ]
[ 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. ]
[ It surprises a smile onto Viktor's lips, unexpected but not unwelcome. When he'd asked Jayce to call him Viktor, it hadn't been with an ulterior motive to receive the same courtesy. ]
It would be my pleasure, Jayce. [ A simple name, yet it sends a jolt of electricity down Viktor's spine. Oddly, he feels like he's said the name a thousand times despite never knowing another person called Jayce. He falls into contemplation as the warmth he'd felt before fizzles into cool confusion. Luckily, he doesn't have to focus too hard on the simplicity of riding a horse, and the steady plodding of her walk is soothing to his racing mind.
It doesn't stop him from seeing Jayce's smile that hits him with the force of a thousand suns. It's a smile of something stronger than disbelief—belief that had been proven despite the odds. For someone who came across as somewhat cold upon meeting, Jayce is giving Viktor an awful lot of glimpses at the warmth within.
Clearing his throat, feeling as though he'd witnessed a private reaction full of emotions that he shouldn't be privy to, Viktor turns back towards Jayce and rides right up next to where he stands. ] The ride feels smooth, and I'm guessing she looks good, too.
[ in the span of a few hours, jayce has shown more of himself to a single, accepting soul than he has shown anyone over the last ten years. it almost felt . . . a little ridiculous, the way his heart squeezed at the roll of his name off his tongue like it belonged there.
jayce chalks it up to being tired. when they return, jayce presses a hand and his face to the great slab of the mare's neck, giving her a few praising pats. good girl.
he doesn't know why he pauses when his eyes settle on viktor to respond to him. he wasn't planning on it, and it adds another layer of stumbling before he quickly manages: ]
—Yeah. [ she looks good. his fingers loosely hang off the loop of her halter, and with a pull to side, they walk together. back to the stables. ] I'll have to make more adjustments, and think about the others . . .
[ should he say it? his pulse quickens to. jayce was a little bad at holding back his impulse control— ]
It'd be nice— To have you, I mean. With— with the others, if . . .
[ It's endearing how Jayce leans into the mare, something that Viktor can picture himself doing a hundred times. Maybe it hadn't been up to Viktor to hire the farrier, but he'll certainly defend him if there are any opinions about removing him from the position; he cares about the horses as much as the job itself, an unfortunately rare trait for many working with animals.
When his gaze lifts to Viktor, that same electricity fizzles through his bones. Clearing his throat and trying to ignore the feeling of having those eyes on him before, golden and intense, he waits to be led back to the hay bale where he can dismount. As he's sliding back down to his feet, Jayce's words hit, and though it's a request, it sounds like a confession. Why is Viktor reacting like a schoolboy to this stranger? He almost makes a joke about Jayce being so forward, but he doesn't know how it will land and doesn't want to risk the budding friendship. ]
Of course. You're not getting rid of me so easily, Jayce. We're partners now.
it rocks him to his core, the word, the prospect. for starters, no one's ever wanted to work with him! that, and . . .
it reverberates like a song's hymns that get stuck in your head. they stick and glue. they whirled his emotions up as if they were spun in a bottle and set free.
maybe he needs the biggest shower and his bed, even if he knows he's not a smudge exhausted in mind. its spinning gears, active and excited.
partners. ]
I'll— be here, then. [ jayce keeps rope snd reins in his hand, stands there rather foolishly with the same simper— it is rio that knocks her head into his side enough to startle a step offbalance. it seems she's rather tired herself, huffing at his boots— to which he combs through her mane in apology. ] Tomorrow.
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someone is interested in his work. someone, to his longing, is interested in his ideas, his prototypes. jayce's heart skips with a youthful excitement that has long been beaten out of him. eager to go along, there is one thing that stops him, and pins his eyes on viktor's to probe for truth. he must've heard more about his work than simple gossip if he's asking for it. ]
Why? [ he tests him. there are wolves out there dressed as sheep. people who would rather dig your downfall than see you rise, or worse— take credit. it's one of the reasons he had taken such an awful pause in his work altogether, following the accident that nearly cost the family their integrity. ] Why would you be interested in something with no proof?
[ yet. no proof yet. but he wants to know what the man thinks. ]
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Technology should benefit people who can’t afford pure-bred, prize-winning horses. [ Drumming his fingers against his knee, he cocks his head to one side while continuing to look up at the other. ] But it’s the responsibility of those with said horses to fund such technology.
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he's never met anyone who thinks like he does. it's the second time in these few minutes, that his heart leaps with joy that's long been muted. he doesn't show it too easily, but his lips— they part in a small smile. ]
—Later today, [ he shouldn't be bold and say he'll return to the house; it isn't his place to be, but damn it does he consider it and swing his weight. ] I can show you. My notes, my work—
[ and a pause; he considers this gravely. if he's wrong it's going to cost him everything, but he knows he's not. he's definitely not. it works, he's certain of it. if he gets it on them, no one will notice until it starts giving results.
and if viktor actually believes in it, then it's worth telling him. ]
Riosilitta.
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Smiling, he claps his hands on both thighs and pushes himself up from the armchair. ] Excellent. Would you mind me visiting your workshop?
[ The name surprises him, and he wavers a moment before catching his weight on the back of the armchair. ] Did— I’ve been away for several years and haven’t been out to see the horses. Is she alright?
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maybe a friend was what he needed. ]
She's in good health. [ if that would quell any worry; jayce continues with a quick runthrough of his project with her, briefly flicking a glance to the door and lowering his voice into a bare whisper. he'll take a few steps closer if it meant he'd be heard. ] Her trim is too short, it compromised her posture and I can't rasp a thing without hurting her— I'm making new shoes, just for her— corrective ones.
[ in their day and age? there's no such thing as a therapeutic shoe approach. if she got any lamer with no improvements by the next competition prep (a little less than a few weeks on the horizon), they'd likely consider putting her down, unfit for sport and losing value. ]
I could show you, now if you want— I even did the math, it should work.
[ you have to believe me his colorless gaze pleas. ]
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Viktor’s eyes widen, smile quirking up the corner of his lips. ] Corrective ones? How promising!
I thought you were in the middle of something, Mr. Talis. [ His smile widens further, teeth glinting with mirth. ] You can go ahead and prepare, I’ll be a while reaching the stables.
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jayce flattens his lips, voiceless, folds his hands behind his back and ducks his head. ]
—Thank you.
[ it's all he manages before turning his good heel to go through the library doors and back to where he belongs. one of the staff calls out for him, telling him that he should wait for her, but he says clearly: I know my way out.
it's the forge again. hot brimstone, fire, iron and hammering all the way until nightfall, pauses to fufill his duties included. ]
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[ He can’t help but smile as he watches the broad back disappear back through the library doors; he hadn’t expected anything at home to be so promising as a distraction from… well, everything else that came with being home. He loved spending time in the stabled, but there was only so much he could do with the horses, both due to physical abilities and restrictions.
If he had been honest with Jayce, he would have mentioned an interest in his leg brace as well as potential innovation in riding technology for someone with limited use of one of his legs. It’s the reason he’ll need time to reach the stables—he hadn’t been hedging, nor implying anything in terms of Talis’ responsibilities.
Cane in hand, taking his time, he makes his way to the workshop and finally reaches the doors around sunset. ]
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most of the stables are getting dark at this point of the day, with all horses tucked in and feeding on supper. the sweltering forge is just behind the barn, where the clanking of metals and burning white embers
make their own dancing sunset. applying the finishing touches on one last shoe, jayce hammers iridescent iron between tongs before placing them in water to sizzle and cool. that should do it. with his shirt off in this terrible heat, he pulls his handiwork out of the pool and scrutinizes it. when it's finally approved, he takes a deep, preparatory breath in— collects all four and moves his tool box, along with a tattered towel over his shoulders right outside. it's where he runs into viktor, dropping the clench in his teeth from his complaining leg.
he manages to look even dirtier, somehow. ]
Oh— [ an incline, a brief look up and down— he catches sight of the cane and wonders: that's all the support he has? jayce must be careful. he'll get ideas on top of ideas and that's never good for his actual progress. he shakes his head, only to himself. ] You made it.
[ he decides that's the better greeting, in an attempt to quell his anxious vibrating within. ] This way.
[ he's not about to walk ahead of him; his legs are a bit too fatigued for that, his limp a touch more prominent. if anything, he'll walk with viktor. a short walk, thankfully. the hay bales await like a soft bed in the night. ]
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[ Nodding and following the farrier’s lead, he’s surprised when he instead falls in step next to him. They’re going at about the same speed, and it’s only because Talis is limping more obviously that Viktor doesn’t take it as going easy on him. He doesn't try to speed up like he normally would around others, pleased that he doesn't feel the need to prove that he's capable.
Walking side-by-side also makes it easier not to focus too much on the fact that Talis is shirtless, muscles glistening where they aren’t dusted with soot. ]
You look like you’ve been productive. Where should we start?
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he's felt so uplifted, in good spirits and eager energy that the way he swings his stiff, braced leg feels like a small price to pay tonight. he tells the cosmos, and himself, that he'll take more care of it from now on. sit more, use his aids. he wouldn't want to be rendered completely useless in the barn— he's not. and he still has so much to do.
before getting started, jayce slips into the open tack room for his shirt, rio's head halter and his notebook. he leaves their lamp as well as his clinking tools at the base of the first bench they come across, just outside the room to encourage sitting there. curious nickers resound at the movement and the clicking of belts and buckles— they know someone is going to get a little evening stroll, and it brings a quiet simper to jayce's lips. the horses were really endearing.
he tries to straighten his face when he circles back to viktor yielding unsatisfactory results, because now— he's going to be within his element, and he's quite enthusiastic when it comes to explaining his own thoughts. sitting beside viktor, he stretches his leg out and shuffles his box for four of the shoes he'd been molding all afternoon. individually, they're all very, very different from each other. some of higher grooves than others, slanted or angled oddly when it came to width and girth where metal should disconnect into a U-shape. it doesn't, creating a smooth heart-shaped finish. too thick here, too thin there. no wonder people would doubt its efficiency. it looks close to a disaster that didn't exactly seem comfortable, and no one would want this on their horse.
but no one was a horse to prove him otherwise. ]
Listen— I know how it looks. But I could explain, with, with biomechanics—
[ and there comes the giddiness he hasn't felt in ages, an addicting rise in his purpose. jayce flips through the pages of his notebook while viktor can inspect his metalwork, filled with scribbles and sketches of not only his ideas, but of horses themselves. he always draws a bit during downtime. but, the point of the matter is this page, signed and stamped. the design of his work, measurements used with formulas and intricate statistics. evidence. math!
he's actually rather bright. ]
I think these will save her. [ in fact .... ] They'll save a lot of them. And that's only the beginning.
[ but lets not count the chicks before they hatch. ]
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[ The smell of the stables, off-putting to many, is home to Viktor. He slows a little as he passes the first stale, walking up to the door slowly but confidently. He's a stranger to many of these horses, but not to their nature—he knows better than to rush up to a huge animal and stick his fingers where they could get bitten. For now, he merely admires the horse that approaches him with cautious curiosity, and he wishes he'd brought something for her.
Hearing Talis move around brings Viktor back to the task of sitting, and he's just settling down on a hay bale when he's rejoined by the farrier. It's the most impromptu presentation Viktor has ever prepared himself for, but maybe that's what fills him with anticipation—he's going to see something new, first-hand, right where it was made. That gives an air of expertise far stronger than any academic hall could hope for. ]
They look like they've been tailored to each foot. [ He reaches out and takes one of the horseshoes, heavy in his hand but obviously well-constructed. Viktor has always been more of a theorist than a maker, but he can recognize good quality when he's running his fingers across it.
His eyes are drawn to the flipping pages, catching glimpses of both metal and beast and math. The last one is the most abstract and yet, to someone fluent in mathematics like Viktor, it's almost more concrete than the items in his hands. ]
May I? [ He trades the horseshoe for the notebook before getting a verbal response, tilting his hand so the page catches more light. ] You sign your own notes? Bit egotistical, don't you think?
[ He means for it to sound teasing, but his mind is racing through the calculations. It's so simple, so obvious, and yet no one has gotten this far before if they had even dared to start. It seems like Jayce Talis was uniquely equipped with the vision, drive, and talent to make all of this a reality—now he just needed someone with a horse that trusted a voyage into uncharted waters. ]
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he exhales a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and bends to pick up the lamp on the floor to shine more light between them. viktor gets it. he's following. he feels a little fidgety all of a sudden, and then—
something pangs his deepest thoughts and unceremoniously rocks his core. something so simple and silly, that he could either take offense to, find annoying or explain, and yet. he's searching his mind now that it's been touched. his brows crease and he blinks as if he were flinching, because . . . where has he heard those words before?
he tries hard, but he cannot seem to find it. he's also been staring for too long without saying a single word, enough to make even jayce feel mildly embarrassed. ]
—Uh, [ he starts, diverts his gaze to the shoes hanging from his fingers now, ] It's— It's for ownership. [ that's it. [ I believe in the idea.
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Viktor should say something, but he doesn't know what it would be in his place to say. He introduced himself to a stranger this morning, and just because they share a passion for invention doesn't mean that he's gotten any closer to Jayce in the hours since then. ]
Good. That makes two of us.
[ Handing the journal back, Viktor stretches his legs out in front of him and absentmindedly kneads at the side of both thighs. ] I see you've already finished the shoes, but is there anything else you need in order to get started?
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[ he pauses mid step, and remembers: ]
She's going to need a rider [ he falters here; he had one word in mind, then quickly changes it, ] tomorrow. To test her gait— nothing extreme.
[ he, personally, would like to see the result of it now, but knows that it might be asking for too much. it's just some walking back and forth. viktor could do that, or, someone else could. it just needed to be done and jayce has never gotten over the fear of swinging onto horseback again. he feels like he's a little too brute for these steeds, anyway. his mounting style consists of something more relaxed and western, plus . . .
he probably couldn't be caught dead riding the family horse anyway, even if he entertained the idea for a split second. jayce disappears into the darker halls of the stable to retrieve rio, who should be sleeping— but if the secret is safe with viktor, then this is all okay. he brings her back to where viktor sits, and prepares the ropes and halter right then and there, for him to participate. even if it's just to watch, for now.
he has to work quickly, but not sloppily. jayce hammers the nails in after plenty of eye-to-hand estimations, lifting, using hoof rests to assist the ache in his leg, and so on. it's a lot of physical work, but jayce works so swiftly, so cleanly— he makes it look absolutely easy. ]
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Humming at the unspoken implication that he should be said rider, he stood up and stretched some of the stiffness out of his legs. He really shouldn't push himself, not after all of the walking he'd already done today, but he hates to be told know and hates to do it to himself even more. There's also a part of him that wants to maybe prove to Talis that he isn't fragile, that there's no reason to tread softly with him. If they're going into business together, they need to trust each other, don't they? ]
I can take her for a short stroll tonight. [ He says it as a fact but with the slight lilt of a question right at the end. Maybe Jayce didn't want to test out the new shoes right away and instead wait to let the horse get used to something that might be unfamiliar to wear.
Though he'd like to sit back down, or even lay down in bed for the rest of the night, he knows that it'll be harder to get back up if he retakes his seat on the haybale. Instead he leans against the nearest wall and watches Jayce work, efficient and focused to the point that Viktor dare not try to carry on conversation. ]
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tonight. jayce pauses in his rummaging to pitch another surprised look of pleasant approval. reservation still creeps along the edges of a contained smile as he nods, but it's still a smile nonetheless, one that splits his lips apart to flash the small gap in his teeth— he's a bit more excited, as much as he is still reeling about how much . . . the ideas and thoughts connected.
who would've known. he still wonders if he's asleep in his single cushioned bed, with nothing but a pillow and his childhood blanket, wrapped in lofty dreams and destined to wake up to the neigh of horses hungry for breakfast.
once his working strikes have finished the job, jayce gives one more 360 degree survey around the mare, checking her conformity from the front, then the back. a little lopsided beam makes their dimly lit surroundings look a little brighter as he comes back around, slipping his hammer into one of his leather apron pockets and wiping his labored hands on it. he's satisfied with his work; her posture is perfect. ]
She's ready. I'll— I'll get her tacked up.
[ he can't afford to jog, almost forgets in his haste which quickens a tiny skip in his pace before he forces himself to slow, and walk with less of a limp than when he forces himself. jayce situates himself with viktor's riding gear, which now finally connects in his head, and gets to the final touches. bridle, halter, saddle pad, his personalized saddle, and so on.
it's to the mounting block. he's already smiling dumbly as she treks with him. he can't really see but there's a small difference he hopes he's glimpsing. ]
Do you need help mounting?
[ he figures it's worth it to ask; let viktor be the boss of his own needs. ]
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Even just looking at the mare when she's been fitted with the new shoes, Viktor can tell that she seems more comfortable. As Jayce moves around her to fit the riding gear, she doesn't step in place or paw at the floor, just stands at ease and whickers softly when Viktor runs his fingers down the side of her neck. ]
Hm? Of course not. [ He was born with his disability, and being the heir to a family of horse breeders meant that he learned early how to mount and ride despite what others would consider a setback. ] But thank you for the offer.
[ Grabbing the reins and leading Rio towards a hay bale, he clucked his tongue softly at her while stepping up onto it. It took a little bit of maneuvering, and it wasn't the most graceful way to mount a horse, but he was able to get his good leg into a stirrup while leaning his weight against her and then at once pushing himself up and using a hand to lift his other leg into place. It wasn't considered very manly to ride side-saddle, but Viktor wasn't trying to convince anyone of his manhood.
Wrapping the reins around a hand, he looked down at Talis. ] Anything in particular you'd like to see, or just casual walking?
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—Walk and trot. Canter, if you think she could handle a few beats.
[ ...... he's still, technically, speaking to one of his bosses? why was that so easy to forget— ]
Please, [ he corrects. and is ready to watch them. rio's legs, especially. ]
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Clicking his tongue again, he steers Rio towards the opposite end of the stable at a slow walk. Once they reach the door, he lets her continue out into the evening air and takes a deep breath while looking up at the stars starting to wink into view. If there was one thing that he'd missed in the city, it was how clear and beautiful the sky was out here. ]
Shall we show Mr. Talis a circle? [ It's more of a wide loop, Viktor not wanting to push the mare into doing anything unusual with new shoes and a bad trim on her, but he thinks it should be enough movement to get a good look at how her gait is affected. ]
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—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. ]
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It would be my pleasure, Jayce. [ A simple name, yet it sends a jolt of electricity down Viktor's spine. Oddly, he feels like he's said the name a thousand times despite never knowing another person called Jayce. He falls into contemplation as the warmth he'd felt before fizzles into cool confusion. Luckily, he doesn't have to focus too hard on the simplicity of riding a horse, and the steady plodding of her walk is soothing to his racing mind.
It doesn't stop him from seeing Jayce's smile that hits him with the force of a thousand suns. It's a smile of something stronger than disbelief—belief that had been proven despite the odds. For someone who came across as somewhat cold upon meeting, Jayce is giving Viktor an awful lot of glimpses at the warmth within.
Clearing his throat, feeling as though he'd witnessed a private reaction full of emotions that he shouldn't be privy to, Viktor turns back towards Jayce and rides right up next to where he stands. ] The ride feels smooth, and I'm guessing she looks good, too.
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jayce chalks it up to being tired. when they return, jayce presses a hand and his face to the great slab of the mare's neck, giving her a few praising pats. good girl.
he doesn't know why he pauses when his eyes settle on viktor to respond to him. he wasn't planning on it, and it adds another layer of stumbling before he quickly manages: ]
—Yeah. [ she looks good. his fingers loosely hang off the loop of her halter, and with a pull to side, they walk together. back to the stables. ] I'll have to make more adjustments, and think about the others . . .
[ should he say it? his pulse quickens to. jayce was a little bad at holding back his impulse control— ]
It'd be nice— To have you, I mean. With— with the others, if . . .
[ "if you want"? ]
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When his gaze lifts to Viktor, that same electricity fizzles through his bones. Clearing his throat and trying to ignore the feeling of having those eyes on him before, golden and intense, he waits to be led back to the hay bale where he can dismount. As he's sliding back down to his feet, Jayce's words hit, and though it's a request, it sounds like a confession. Why is Viktor reacting like a schoolboy to this stranger? He almost makes a joke about Jayce being so forward, but he doesn't know how it will land and doesn't want to risk the budding friendship. ]
Of course. You're not getting rid of me so easily, Jayce. We're partners now.
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it rocks him to his core, the word, the prospect. for starters, no one's ever wanted to work with him! that, and . . .
it reverberates like a song's hymns that get stuck in your head. they stick and glue. they whirled his emotions up as if they were spun in a bottle and set free.
maybe he needs the biggest shower and his bed, even if he knows he's not a smudge exhausted in mind. its spinning gears, active and excited.
partners. ]
I'll— be here, then. [ jayce keeps rope snd reins in his hand, stands there rather foolishly with the same simper— it is rio that knocks her head into his side enough to startle a step offbalance. it seems she's rather tired herself, huffing at his boots— to which he combs through her mane in apology. ] Tomorrow.
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