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[hextechhead]

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[techmaturgy]

More like interference. If it was trying to help us, it did a poor job of it.

[hextechhead]

Why did you go out to the desert? Even with someone like Ciri, it's dangerous.

[techmaturgy]

Why shouldn't I?

[He's practically daring Jayce to tell him.]

I had an escort. We never meant to go far. What happened to us was unforeseeable.

[hextechhead]

It would've been just as dangerous for me. Are you saying you wouldn't be worried if our positions were reversed?

[techmaturgy]

Yes, of course. But I also trust that you can take care of yourself, and will make relevant decisions accordingly.

Given the opportunity to go, I decided I'd like to do so. I now know it was unwise.

[hextechhead]

I'm sorry. It wasn't your fault. It's normal to want to explore. I'm freaking out a little.

[techmaturgy]

If it makes you feel better, I'm also "freaking out".

[hextechhead]

[ Viktor never admits to that. It actually does calm him a little, instead of spinning him out more. It means he isn't likely to take more risks. ]

It does make me feel better, although I'm really sorry you went through something like this and had to feel that way. But you and Ciri are alive, that's what matters.

[techmaturgy]

We were lucky to get to Aquila. For a short amount of time I thought we would be stranded at the crater with no supplies.

Actually. The horse has my crutch. I have no idea if it made it back to Cadens.

[hextechhead]

Luckily it didn't come down to needing a plan for that.

[ Because there's no way Jayce would've just accepted them stuck somewhere without doing anything to get them. ]

I can ask around to see if a horse came back. If not I can make you a new one. You went on a horse? How was that?

[ If he can distract them both from their freak out, probably for the better. ]

[techmaturgy]

I enjoyed it, until he threw me.

It wasn't his fault. Jaskier might know if he came back--Ciri said her horse knows the way home, and it's likely mine would have followed.

[hextechhead]

Have you left Aquila yet? If not, stop by a medicine store, with such a long trip those bruises are going to get worse. You'll need numbing salves and temporary pain killers. Trust the not-quite-a-doctor.

I'll message him and see if it got there.

[techmaturgy]

I'm extremely well-acquainted with pain management, Jayce. Falling off a horse is the least of my problems, right now.

[Implying, of course, greater injury, but whatever.]

Thank you. I've left most of the communication at Ciri, for reasons that are perhaps obvious.

[She's also slightly distressed--he doesn't want to inadvertently make it worse by reaching out to her people in her stead.]

[hextechhead]

What do you mean? What else happened?

[techmaturgy]

I suppose I should start at the beginning. The reason the horse threw me was because it was startled by one of the desert creatures, which subsequently attacked us. That's when Ciri tried to teleport us away, but we were pulled to the crater, instead.

[hextechhead]

[ A desert creature. The deadly variety. He almost died, Jayce can fill that much in. He rubs his hands over his face. ]

Does she seem to know why the Singularity would react like that to her powers?

[techmaturgy]

No, we haven't been able to discuss it just yet. Our arrival to Aquila was similarly....traumatic.

[hextechhead]

What? What do you mean?

[ This keeps getting worse. ]

[techmaturgy]

We missed Aquila. We teleported into the bay.

[hextechhead]

Fuck.

[ Jayce rarely swears but if there was ever a time it was appropriate, now would be that time. He has to remind himself that obviously Viktor lived, he's talking to him right there, he doesn't have to panic. ]

V.

[techmaturgy]

I'm all right, thanks to Ciri. We're safe now, and I'll see you when we've made it back to Cadens.

[hextechhead]

You will?

[ Despite Viktor reaching out, Jayce still didn't know if this would lead toward him being allowed to see him again. Viktor said he didn't want to, and Jayce had stayed out of his way ever since. He's so hungry and hopeful all of a second. ]

[techmaturgy]

Yes? Did you think I would want to avoid you forever?

[hextechhead]

Maybe?

I didn't want to assume anything.

[techmaturgy]

You did a terrible thing. I'm not sure I'll ever forgive you for it, but I don't want to spend what could be the last months of my life without you.