[Viktor's eyes first shift to see Jayce tilt himself, to look back at him rather than the sky above. He thinks to not engage, to not indulge, but fails his own resolve. With a slow swivel and then a slack thud into the soil, Viktor looks fully sidelong to Jayce. His pearlescent eyes are dull in night time, the moon's glow filtered through foggy glass and the shade of leaves. Jayce might believe they're playing tricks on him, that color and illumination is conspiring to make them appear more honey toned than they are.
As Jayce understands it, as a bruise, Viktor's voice asks with tenderness,]
What do you mean by that?
[it sounds like Viktor, like the old days. The radio practically sounds like it's speaking through him, with less hiss around the edges. Perhaps so much listening to his old self could let Viktor mimic it, to act out a role he used to play well. A retired mask, the Assistant to the Dean of the Academy. It hadn't been enough for him, he had bigger aspirations, he could not be content as he was.
The tone is gentle, not accusatory, not harsh. Just curious. Prying. Hopeful towards the promise of knowledge, of understanding better how Jayce's mind works, of what he's thinking.
Viktor used to have a sense of wonder, after all. In this moment, it's not gone from him.]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2025-08-13 03:47 pm (UTC)As Jayce understands it, as a bruise, Viktor's voice asks with tenderness,]
What do you mean by that?
[it sounds like Viktor, like the old days. The radio practically sounds like it's speaking through him, with less hiss around the edges. Perhaps so much listening to his old self could let Viktor mimic it, to act out a role he used to play well. A retired mask, the Assistant to the Dean of the Academy. It hadn't been enough for him, he had bigger aspirations, he could not be content as he was.
The tone is gentle, not accusatory, not harsh. Just curious. Prying. Hopeful towards the promise of knowledge, of understanding better how Jayce's mind works, of what he's thinking.
Viktor used to have a sense of wonder, after all. In this moment, it's not gone from him.]