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.
[ Viktor tries to remain nonchalant, but it's difficult when he's excited about the project and the prospect of having someone to work with. Partners. He's never had a partner in anything his entire life, preferring independence which was so often hard-won. Jayce hasn't done anything to suggest he's doing this out of pity or obligation, and that makes it all the more precious to have earned some of his trust.
Why did that matter so much to Viktor?
Chuckling at the interaction between horse and handler, he waves farewell as he takes up his cane and heads back towards the house. ] Tomorrow.
[ he waves off one last tomorrow before he's turning on his good heel and accompanying the click of rio's hooves, the smile hasn't relented and it's starting make his cheeks burn. for a second he feels like maybe he should've said more. thank you, or, i've always wanted a partner, or even i'm happy. that last part was especially true and meant . . . so much.
when rio is untacked and put away for the night, jayce organizes the tack room itself, gets a much needed shower, and shuffles to his night desk with a bright candle light. it's time to write. every evening is a moment to put his thoughts in order, scribble any new ideas. the first thing he writes as a page header is:
I have a partner. His name is Viktor. He believed in me.
Maybe this is what I needed.
he took some notes on rio's gait underneath, some future adjustments to keep in mind for the following week, based on what he saw. then his pencil roamed, starting with the shape of the mare's neck and extending to her front legs. by the time he stopped to realize his work, some time has passed, and he's drawn viktor, riding his steed side saddle in surprising detail and gentle strokes. he didn't forget his moles or his sharp cheek bones, either.
he stares at it in silence, for a while— a puffy breath of a laugh pushes through his nostrils at last. maybe it's time to go to bed.
so he blows the candle out, lays in bed, and sleeps like a log until tomorrow. ]
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no subject
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. ]
no subject
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?
no subject
—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. ]
no subject
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. ]
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. ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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"? ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
Why did that matter so much to Viktor?
Chuckling at the interaction between horse and handler, he waves farewell as he takes up his cane and heads back towards the house. ] Tomorrow.
no subject
when rio is untacked and put away for the night, jayce organizes the tack room itself, gets a much needed shower, and shuffles to his night desk with a bright candle light. it's time to write. every evening is a moment to put his thoughts in order, scribble any new ideas. the first thing he writes as a page header is:
I have a partner. His name is Viktor. He believed in me.
Maybe this is what I needed.
he took some notes on rio's gait underneath, some future adjustments to keep in mind for the following week, based on what he saw. then his pencil roamed, starting with the shape of the mare's neck and extending to her front legs. by the time he stopped to realize his work, some time has passed, and he's drawn viktor, riding his steed side saddle in surprising detail and gentle strokes. he didn't forget his moles or his sharp cheek bones, either.
he stares at it in silence, for a while— a puffy breath of a laugh pushes through his nostrils at last. maybe it's time to go to bed.
so he blows the candle out, lays in bed, and sleeps like a log until tomorrow. ]