Jayce feels confident, he truly does. It isn't even that he is forcing himself right then, sometimes he has to make himself believe, strongly enough for both of them. As they get closer he may allow himself more doubts, and he'll allow his fear later with Caitlyn or other people, but for now, he has to believe it enough that Viktor will too. And he can tell in the way Viktor looks at him that he does.
"We're the best at impossible things."
They also have so much more going on for them here that gives it a higher chance. Viktor had a much shorter clock and no real help, one of the reasons he probably failed. And yet he has a group of helpful hands here, a community that will boost him, and then magic and assisted tech. His chances are much higher here.
He knows that simply picking up Viktor will bother him, but he is relieved when Viktor relaxes against him and allows it. He did go through something terrifying, Jayce doesn't want him to have to struggle to walk back or get his breath back. He can do that tomorrow, and every day forward. For now he just needs to take care of him. It's how to keep sane. And it's a gesture between them too, that trust, the acceptance of someone taking care of Viktor and him allowing it.
Jayce sets him down on his side of the bed. The bed only has blankets somewhat pushed off from when Jayce followed him, so it isn't difficult to encourage them both back under them. Jayce immediately puts an arm around Viktor again, wanting to snuggle up with him. "We both will get sleep. We know what we have to do."
"We're the best at impossible things."
They also have so much more going on for them here that gives it a higher chance. Viktor had a much shorter clock and no real help, one of the reasons he probably failed. And yet he has a group of helpful hands here, a community that will boost him, and then magic and assisted tech. His chances are much higher here.
He knows that simply picking up Viktor will bother him, but he is relieved when Viktor relaxes against him and allows it. He did go through something terrifying, Jayce doesn't want him to have to struggle to walk back or get his breath back. He can do that tomorrow, and every day forward. For now he just needs to take care of him. It's how to keep sane. And it's a gesture between them too, that trust, the acceptance of someone taking care of Viktor and him allowing it.
Jayce sets him down on his side of the bed. The bed only has blankets somewhat pushed off from when Jayce followed him, so it isn't difficult to encourage them both back under them. Jayce immediately puts an arm around Viktor again, wanting to snuggle up with him. "We both will get sleep. We know what we have to do."
It bothers him in a way that's difficult to articulate--not necessarily the act of Jayce picking him up, but what it means for him in the future. Already he's anticipating a time not so far away where Jayce has to carry him from bedroom to bathroom, a time where he can't make it out of the apartment and to the laboratory at all. Despite the fact that he knows Jayce will care for him without question, even the possibility of being so dependent is almost too much to bear. All the more reason to move quickly, to avoid ever getting to that point.
Jayce is right. They've done the impossible before. There's no reason why they can't do it again. He tries to keep that thought in his head as they move back into their bedroom and he's set down gently on the mattress. He waits, patiently, for Jayce to join him, then shifts so they're face to face. He pulls the blankets up over the both and gets close, snuggling into the embrace offered to him, knowing that it's comfort for both of them.
"Okay. Yes." Viktor's hand slides between them, palm resting on Jayce's face, thumb stroking his cheekbone. "I believe we can do this. We have to."
There is simply no other choice.
Jayce is right. They've done the impossible before. There's no reason why they can't do it again. He tries to keep that thought in his head as they move back into their bedroom and he's set down gently on the mattress. He waits, patiently, for Jayce to join him, then shifts so they're face to face. He pulls the blankets up over the both and gets close, snuggling into the embrace offered to him, knowing that it's comfort for both of them.
"Okay. Yes." Viktor's hand slides between them, palm resting on Jayce's face, thumb stroking his cheekbone. "I believe we can do this. We have to."
There is simply no other choice.
Jayce,
It’s my hope that by the time you’re reading this, we’ll have performed the procedure successfully, and all that will be left is for you to wait for me to wake up. I know this isn’t what you want to read, and of course I hope that when you do read this, this letter will already be irrelevant, but in the event the worst has transpired, I want to make this as easy on you as I possibly can.
My possessions are immaterial—you may do what you like with them. Similarly, my only wishes for burial are your taking steps to ensure I’m not involved the next time the dead rise (I recommend cremation). I think you already understand, however, that none of the aforementioned is very important to me. I trust that you’ll handle my affairs in a way that I would find acceptable, because you are the person who knows me the best.
This will be hard. Remember that you have people here who care for you, who are ready to support you when you need it. Right now it must seem impossible, but please continue to live, and to work, and do good, not only in my memory but for yourself as well. It is a great injustice, that outside circumstance would render me unable to accomplish all the things I wanted to—you must pursue our dream in my stead.
I was selfish, to indulge in our relationship, and it isn’t lost on me how painful this must be for you now, but I cannot bring myself to regret it. These months we’ve spent together have been the happiest of my life, and our partnership both professionally and otherwise has changed me in ways I cannot begin to express. You are brilliant, and kind, and any world is better for having you in it. Whatever happens after this, know that I have loved you more than I ever thought possible. Thank you for sharing this time with me.
Yours, always,
V
It’s my hope that by the time you’re reading this, we’ll have performed the procedure successfully, and all that will be left is for you to wait for me to wake up. I know this isn’t what you want to read, and of course I hope that when you do read this, this letter will already be irrelevant, but in the event the worst has transpired, I want to make this as easy on you as I possibly can.
My possessions are immaterial—you may do what you like with them. Similarly, my only wishes for burial are your taking steps to ensure I’m not involved the next time the dead rise (I recommend cremation). I think you already understand, however, that none of the aforementioned is very important to me. I trust that you’ll handle my affairs in a way that I would find acceptable, because you are the person who knows me the best.
This will be hard. Remember that you have people here who care for you, who are ready to support you when you need it. Right now it must seem impossible, but please continue to live, and to work, and do good, not only in my memory but for yourself as well. It is a great injustice, that outside circumstance would render me unable to accomplish all the things I wanted to—you must pursue our dream in my stead.
I was selfish, to indulge in our relationship, and it isn’t lost on me how painful this must be for you now, but I cannot bring myself to regret it. These months we’ve spent together have been the happiest of my life, and our partnership both professionally and otherwise has changed me in ways I cannot begin to express. You are brilliant, and kind, and any world is better for having you in it. Whatever happens after this, know that I have loved you more than I ever thought possible. Thank you for sharing this time with me.
Yours, always,
V
[ She's anxious to ask after Viktor, but has the sense to wait. At least a little. Eventually, when Ciri decides she's given Jayce and all involved a polite buffer, she'll send a message. ]
May I ask what the news is?
May I ask what the news is?
[ It's been exhausting to say the least, one hell of an experience, but he's managed to set Viktor up safely in recovery. ]
He's alive. He's still sleeping and we're going to make sure the lungs look clean before destroying the Hexcore, but he made it.
He's alive. He's still sleeping and we're going to make sure the lungs look clean before destroying the Hexcore, but he made it.
[ Oh, thank fuck. The relief may as well be visible in her mind-writing, it's clear enough. And vice versa, honestly. She's happy for them. Both of them. (Viktor, of course, but Jayce as well.)
Ciri responds immediately. ]
That's wonderful news!
Please let me know when it's all right for me to visit.
[ She is absolutely running out to go buy a gift right now. And will ask Jayce to give it to Viktor soon enough. ]
Ciri responds immediately. ]
That's wonderful news!
Please let me know when it's all right for me to visit.
[ She is absolutely running out to go buy a gift right now. And will ask Jayce to give it to Viktor soon enough. ]
He is currently going in and out of consciousness while recovering, but he should be ready for visitors in a few days. I know he'd appreciate seeing you. It's still new for him to know other people care about him.
Then he'll simply have to get used to it.
I'll be by soon.
I'll be by soon.
That's what I told him!
Thanks, Ciri. He's going to get bored of just me soon enough.
Thanks, Ciri. He's going to get bored of just me soon enough.
Jayce,
Kell is missing. Have you heard anything from him? Please respond.
Kell is missing. Have you heard anything from him? Please respond.
I'm sorry.
I don't
know what to do.
Mat's gone too.
Please
promise you'll tell me if you find out anything.
I don't
know what to do.
Mat's gone too.
Please
promise you'll tell me if you find out anything.
Yes. And Elrond. There might be others.
I do not know for sure.
I've been searching the Horizon.
I do not know for sure.
I've been searching the Horizon.
Shortly after Sam's announcement during the disappearances
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
widows_kiss
2023-02-22 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Unlike the other two Sam had her contacting, Natasha at least knew who Jayce and Viktor were, although she'd spent more time chatting with Jayce in the Horizon than the brief talk she'd had with Viktor in Nocwich weeks ago. ]
Hello, Jayce, this is Natasha. I'm not sure if you remember me or not, but we met in your lab briefly in the Horizon a while back.
Sam's put me in charge of trying to keep lines of communication open between all of us in the different faction, so information doesn't get lost or overlooked, or missed completely if it's relevant to an investigation happening elsewhere. He suggested you and Viktor as among those it would be good to contact in Cadens, which is why I'm reaching out. Would you be open to letting me know if you find anything you think might be of note, or hear anything?
Hello, Jayce, this is Natasha. I'm not sure if you remember me or not, but we met in your lab briefly in the Horizon a while back.
Sam's put me in charge of trying to keep lines of communication open between all of us in the different faction, so information doesn't get lost or overlooked, or missed completely if it's relevant to an investigation happening elsewhere. He suggested you and Viktor as among those it would be good to contact in Cadens, which is why I'm reaching out. Would you be open to letting me know if you find anything you think might be of note, or hear anything?
Yes. V mentioned the tracker we had on Ciri, we're working on amplifying them. I'm working with the Cadens government to boost the mechanical birds they're sending out to try and track the areas. Everyone's hitting up their contacts. What we need to have happen is the factions agree to allow us to work together.
Do you think Cadens would be open to that? I have no idea how the Queen would react to that, but I can put out some feelers on our end.
Good luck, I hope you can locate something. If you DO get a location, there are some here in Thorne that wouldn't let anything stop them from leaving to lend their aid, I'd wager.
Good luck, I hope you can locate something. If you DO get a location, there are some here in Thorne that wouldn't let anything stop them from leaving to lend their aid, I'd wager.
Multiple people here too.
Yeah, I noticed no Horizons were missing, only people in person. I thought maybe they were sent home, but.
Yeah, I noticed no Horizons were missing, only people in person. I thought maybe they were sent home, but.
I don't know, but I asked our most influential Summoned, Sam being one of them, if they can pitch it to the leaders. If they'll only approve of us meeting up in Nocwich to talk, it's still better than nothing.
Jayce,
I hope you're well. As well as one can be with everything going on.
I doubt you've been idle. Has aught been found in Cadens?
You've been an adept student at Conjury so I do have a request. Has anything looked out of sorts in the wilds and nature around the city? Has anything felt out of sorts?
Until we meet again,
水
I hope you're well. As well as one can be with everything going on.
I doubt you've been idle. Has aught been found in Cadens?
You've been an adept student at Conjury so I do have a request. Has anything looked out of sorts in the wilds and nature around the city? Has anything felt out of sorts?
Until we meet again,
水
Nice to hear from you, Himeka. I'm glad you're still safe.
Viktor and I have been working on tracking technology, a Summoned volunteered to be caught with a tracker. It is still active wherever they are, although difficult to get an exact read. I'm amplifying mechanical searching birds. We're refining all of our tech, hopefully we'll lead somewhere. We're getting reading of north from Free Cities.
A group found strange kelp in a bandit camp in Cadens, they went to Aquila to see if they could find more answers. I don't know if anyone noticed anything about nature, I'll ask around. It was reported from Kyle in Thorne that he found desiccated trees and some strangely desiccated animals in the mountains there.
What have you noticed?
Viktor and I have been working on tracking technology, a Summoned volunteered to be caught with a tracker. It is still active wherever they are, although difficult to get an exact read. I'm amplifying mechanical searching birds. We're refining all of our tech, hopefully we'll lead somewhere. We're getting reading of north from Free Cities.
A group found strange kelp in a bandit camp in Cadens, they went to Aquila to see if they could find more answers. I don't know if anyone noticed anything about nature, I'll ask around. It was reported from Kyle in Thorne that he found desiccated trees and some strangely desiccated animals in the mountains there.
What have you noticed?
[[ooc: After this as context.]
Natasha, I may need you to look into something in Thorne for me. I had met with Josselyn Creed during negotiations, she told me she had trade routes throughout all of the factions with her family. She agreed to give us more supplies for Libertas. She's been reported missing in Solvunn, it got me thinking. So I went investigating with my friend Alucard, and we found that some of the shipment she sent had rotten supplies.
But here's the thing: Alucard told me it's not rotten wood, it's rotten flesh smell he's smelling (he has super scent). We don't know if this is going to be helpful at all, honestly, but we may be going to Solvunn to see if there is a connection. I was told that Josselyn also sent grain to Thorne.
If there is anyone in Thorne that has super smelling abilities (I don't know if you have any vampires), it may be worth looking into. I don't know how you'd convince them to look, outside of saying it may have been infected or something. This may not amount to anything, but it's weird as hell, that's for sure.
Natasha, I may need you to look into something in Thorne for me. I had met with Josselyn Creed during negotiations, she told me she had trade routes throughout all of the factions with her family. She agreed to give us more supplies for Libertas. She's been reported missing in Solvunn, it got me thinking. So I went investigating with my friend Alucard, and we found that some of the shipment she sent had rotten supplies.
But here's the thing: Alucard told me it's not rotten wood, it's rotten flesh smell he's smelling (he has super scent). We don't know if this is going to be helpful at all, honestly, but we may be going to Solvunn to see if there is a connection. I was told that Josselyn also sent grain to Thorne.
If there is anyone in Thorne that has super smelling abilities (I don't know if you have any vampires), it may be worth looking into. I don't know how you'd convince them to look, outside of saying it may have been infected or something. This may not amount to anything, but it's weird as hell, that's for sure.
Shit, that name just keeps popping up everywhere.
I'll see what I can do, get someone to look into this.
I'll see what I can do, get someone to look into this.
Edited 2023-03-01 15:15 (UTC)
When I met her, she seemed very enthusiastic and excited about helping. Now I can't help wondering if it was because this gave them an excuse to get into guarded cities easily. That's assuming the worst of her, she may also be a captive. But my instinct told me to look closer at this, and we did find something.
I've been looking into her since her name kept coming up during the negotiations. I wasn't sure if she was involved or being set up. But it's looking more and more like she was very much involved and very good at covering her tracks.
Do you have any idea what the wood you received was?
Do you have any idea what the wood you received was?
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