[ About the stopping from distracting. Jayce laughs and lets him steal a kiss, as if he minds, enraptured with how Viktor's letting him do anything he wants. Indulging him. Although it seems he wants it just as much, less of an indulgence, and more of an agreement they should always be touching. Jayce wonders what it'll be like when they leave this bed, and he hopes it'll be both adorable and saucy from time to time.
The kiss lingers for multiple beautiful seconds and it's like he can't possibly get enough of him. Is this what being in love is truly like? He's always felt it for Viktor but it was unrequited until now. He understands what all the stories and songs meant now. ]
Yes, please.
[ What they did do was great, don't get him wrong. It was a new position for him and Jayce felt very tender about it. More lovemaking than sex, with Viktor playing his body like he'd known it for much longer. But he does want that pounding. He wants Viktor to pin him against the bed and make him scream. Sometime.
Jayce laughs again, nuzzling their noses. ]
What part of being with me so far makes you think that would get me to shut up?
[ If anything Jayce will be a louder mess! His hand strokes up and down Viktor's back again, along his bolts.]
Would you get on your stomach for me, love? I'd like to massage your back a little, you had a hard time recently. I'll be gentle.
[ Jayce asks permission first. He knows Viktor's body is unique and wants him to know he can trust him to respect his physical boundaries. Whereas Jayce never needs to be asked, he'll take whatever he can get. ]
[Even if Jayce is probably right—nothing short of gagging him (though that sounds fun, too) is going to get him to shut up, but for Viktor it means more like reducing him to incoherence. A challenge for himself, as well, to see just how much he can undo the other man. He already knows how desperate and wanting Jayce is. Taking away his very ability to make words is an incredibly appealing thought.
He knows, too, that the anticipation, the teasing, is all part of the appeal. Jayce likes it. Viktor likes that Jayce likes it, and it’s thrilling to know they’ve only barely scratched the surface.
Asking to give him a back rub is a surprise, and it’s probably evident on Viktor’s face as he processes the request. It’s been a very long time since he’s been intimate with anyone in this way, and he can’t remember any former partners asking to do something like that. He’s surprised, again, but how natural all this feels, and after a moment of consideration nods, and scoots a little so that he can roll over on his stomach, grabbing a pillow for his head and folding his arms beneath it.]
You don’t have to be gentle. I imagine I need it.
[They both know he doesn’t exactly manage his own stress very well, shoulders in stubborn knots.]
[ Jayce thinks gagging him is likely the best way to make that happen, although he'll probably still manage to make noise even while stifled. He's not against it in the slightest. It'll be necessary if they try to have sex in a place easy to hear, and Jayce has already been clear that he'll be ready to go in any situation. So covering his mouth will be the best bet. He knows that Viktor likes it. In this, he's not subtle. It's why Jayce hasn't tried to stop himself; he might have tried if Viktor displayed dislike of it in the start, but it would've been difficult. Instead he feels empowered to let it all out.
Jayce is still testing the boundaries. He knows what he wants, which is to be able to touch every part of Viktor's body, and it's not purely sexual. He loves him, he wants to make him happy. But he's a caretaker and while his healing helped Viktor's breathing and chest, it can't fix all of his stiffness or pains. So maybe he can approach it from another angle. Viktor already knows that Jayce enjoys taking care of him. He flashes a pleased smile when Viktor agrees, moving away from him so he can settle.
He's seen Viktor's back intimately on more than on occasion, considering he helped secure the back brace when he arrived. Jayce kisses the back of Viktor's head. ]
Stay right here, sweetheart, I want to do this right.
[ Maybe Jayce is testing out other pet names since Viktor hasn't pushed back about love. Jayce does disappear for a moment but he's very fast, knowing exactly what he's going for. This will now move into their joint bedroom, but Jaye has oils for when he's worked himself too hard in the forge. He does upkeep on his strained muscles and sometimes he's pulled one or two, so he brings that back with him. He's gone less than a minute, climbing back onto the bed.
As he crawls onto it he playfully kisses his way up Viktor's body, even on his thighs and ass because he can, and along his bolted spine. Jayce spreads the oil onto his hands and sets it aside, straddling Viktor's hips but putting none of his weight down onto his back or legs. He knows what he's doing.
Jayce has large hands and they easily cover most of Viktor's shoulders, kneading into his tense muscles. He is gentle at first to get a sense of it but since Viktor asks he applies a little more pressure, his hands steady and strong. ]
It's not any fun if I give away everything all at once.
[This is only the first real day of their relationship, after all, and even for someone with limited time, Viktor still doesn't want to rush things. There's so much about Jayce he wants to learn, beyond what he already knows, and he thinks he wants to savor it, as much as he can. Jayce asking to massage him is not surprising, but it is new and different, so of course he wants to enjoy the moment.
One pet name he could let slide—it’s hard to ignore another one, so he decides to comment on it, calling while Jayce is out of the room.]
Do you have a list of pet names, too? Trying them out one by one?
[He’s not sure how he feels about it yet. It’s very overly-affectionate, in a way that Viktor isn’t, but maybe it’s the principle of the thing. Someone thinking all of these things about them, and voicing them in turn.
Viktor doesn’t look to see what Jayce has come back with, figuring that if he offered, he must know what he’s doing. He shudders a little from the kisses in unexpected places, but soon enough Jayce is working at him with his hands, and he grunts at the pressure. It sounds like he’s uncomfortable, but the truth is that this is anything but.]
[ Jayce does want to know everything about Viktor eventually, but he's having a great time learning them one by one like they're doing now. Each new reveal is exciting. This more falls under the category of his mindset that if they do have a future together, a real one, it'll lead to all the firsts they could ever ask for and more. But he's not going to bring that up now, because they are living in the moment. ]
That's exactly what I'm doing.
[ In response to him trying pet names out. Right on the money. Viktor doesn't sound like he hates it, but maybe is uncertain. It's not as if nicknames are new to them, Jayce has been calling him Vik and V as long as they've been friends, but that's friendship nicknames. Not relationship ones. Maybe he wants to try out these intimate names and see if any of them will fit in nicely with their new coupling. There's no harm in trying.
Jayce hesitates for a moment at the grunt because he can't tell if it's a good or a bad one, but Viktor would tell him to stop the moment he didn't like something. He knows that much. But he also might push himself more than Jayce typically would. For now, he decides to keep going, but at that same medium ground rather than going any rougher. He massages the back of Viktor's neck too, the shoulders and his biceps. He's been sleeping in a cart for over a week. None of it was comfortable. ]
Okay, so I admit, it's something my parents used to do. Call each other pet names and it seemed so sweet, and I thought when I was in love, maybe I'd find one I liked with my partner.
[ Jayce's parents did represent a good relationship to him, although purely from the point of view of a child, but his mother never got over his father. She never moved on, she focused all her attention on Jayce. And he's fairly sure he's going to be the same way. Not that he's going to ever say that to Viktor, who feels guilty enough for being with him despite dying. He is going to focus on the sweet aspect. ]
They used darling. I do think I like calling you love. I spent so long avoiding the word with you, it feels relaxing to use it so easily.
[ Jayce sounds calm and relaxed and it's because he is, he's doing great. He presses his fingers in to rub at the skin right next to the bolts, figuring that area doesn't get a lot of attention. ]
[Whatever thought he was about to have dissolves into a muffled noise that he makes into the pillow. Jayce is kneading the tension right out of him, and he feels a little boneless as he works out the knots in his shoulders. When Jayce digs his thumbs into either side of his spine, Viktor lets out an involuntary moan of relief. It momentarily distracts him from the things he wanted to say, and gives Jayce the opportunity
Ah. So that's what this is about. He knows Jayce doesn't mean anything by it, but Viktor can't help but feel like there are some expectations, here, that come along with his various fantasies about their relationship. He worries his lip, adjusting his head on the pillow as he thinks about how he wants to phrase this.]
I don't dislike it. [It's just going to take him some getting used to.] But, we aren't your parents. You don't have to do something just because they did.
[Viktor would prefer the opposite, actually. He doesn't doubt that Jayce feels the way he says he does, but looking to a (presumably) happily married, long-term relationship as an example for theirs seems...inadvisable, in their unique situation. Perhaps he's just being pessimistic.]
[ Any concerns Jayce had about maybe going too hard are let go when Viktor's noises are reassuring and he can tell it's helping. He is very pleased that this is going so well and he knows Viktor barely if ever does this sort of thing, so he wants to be thorough. And already puts that in his mind as something he can do regularly, when Viktor allows him too. He'll be more relaxed than ever before, between the orgasms and the massages. He continues kneading into the spine on either side from his neck down to his back right in front of where Jayce currently hovers. ]
I know that, V. I'm not doing anything because it's something they did. Otherwise I would already have been married with a kid of my own and working permanently in the forge.
[ If Jayce wanted to be exactly like them, they did a lot of other things by their thirties that weren't Jayce's path. He isn't against marriage or kids theoretically, but he had different ambitions and priorities. He's not a very conventional man despite appearances; he wouldn't have been experimenting with forbidden magic instead of making friends if so.
Viktor isn't entirely wrong that there is a part of Jayce's fantasies for them that is ill-advised, putting all his eggs in one basket so to speak, but there's no real way to get around it. He knows the odds are against them, but he refuses to let that bring him down. Jayce may have become more realistic since his current experiences knocked him a few pegs down, but he still has hope. Especially now that he has Viktor in his arms.
He works meticulously on each part of Viktor's back until he can feel him relax, and takes a temporary break from it to press his hands into Viktor's hair but to massage his scalp as well, digging a thumb into the space right between the tip of his neck to the back of his skull where he's found some relief before himself. ]
I've always liked calling you by nicknames, because it feels special to us. It's why I don't call you V in front of other people, it's an us thing.
Perhaps it's selfish of me, but I'm glad you didn't. Your incredible brain would have been wasted on a forge.
[Selfish, maybe, but Jayce's trajectory led right to Viktor, and he'll never regret capitalizing on the opportunity to complete Hextech. Things might have been very different for both of them, if Jayce hadn't secured patronage from the Kirammans, and gone into the family business, instead.
It's gradual, and it's likely going to take more than one session, but Viktor relaxes under Jayce's practiced hands, the tension leaving his body as he works out the knots in his muscles. If he wasn't sure before, he certainly is now--he's not leaving this bed for a good long while. Viktor imagines that was part of the plan. He should have foreseen this! Now he's trapped.
When Jayce gets to the back of his neck and his scalp, he takes that as a sign that he's more-or-less worked through everything else. Viktor allows himself to enjoy it for a few long moments, then decides that they're finished, rolling over onto his back. This is very nice, being underneath Jayce like this, and the smile on his face is soft and sincere.]
I like it when you call me that. You can do it around other people, if you want.
I agree, which is why I never planned on it. My love for magic is really just connected to the reasons I love science too. Discovery, potential, progress.
[ Jayce did get some pressure from his family about leaving the business, although it went on without him obviously, by then it was a self-sustaining business that they owned and hired other people to manage. He would've ended up in science no matter what, although the arcane pushed him there more solidly. His mind would never be satisfied living in an average way. Even among scientists, Jayce has always been more ambitious. So has Viktor. They were meant to find one another.
Viktor is very much trapped and Jayce is smug about it. If Viktor did want to get up and go, he would have accepted it albeit with some pouting, but he was victorious this one time. Jayce wants a day just for them, just for this. They can exist in the real world tomorrow. And will have to come up with some compromises for how to act outside of the apartment, but that is future Jayce's problem.
He feels Viktor starting to move and sits up a moment, his legs on either side of Viktor keeping him off him in the first place, so it was very easy to turn. Jayce smiles down at him and settles back on top of him, putting his hands on either side of his head so he can lean down and kiss him slowly. Sweetly. He shakes his head. ]
No, then they might use it, and I'll get annoyed.
[ That is the reason he keeps it between them. Maybe he's a little possessive of all the details that are only theirs. He can't stop other people from coming up with nicknames for Viktor, but he's not going to give them ideas. V is his. Jayce lifts up on his arms so he can look at Viktor's face, eyes traveling over all its precise details. ]
I really thought there was no way I could love you more, but I was wrong. I'm more in love with you by the second.
[ It is so cheesy and sweet but absolutely true from his point of view. Jayce kisses him again, not really close to getting enough of his taste and his soft lips. ]
[That gets a laugh out of him, perhaps not expecting Jayce to be so possessive. Still, he can get behind the rationale. Viktor is not necessarily an open person, and is probably going to be more subdued about them in public. Being so unabashedly affectionate in the privacy of their bedroom (because it is, now, their bedroom) is special. He can see why Jayce might want to treasure the things that are only theirs, nicknames included. Viktor's not much for giving them, but again, the earnestness with which Jayce approaches everything makes him want to offer it in turn.
He reaches up to take Jayce's face in his hands.]
It was nice. I could get used to it.
[They're both good with their hands, but he hasn't given much thought to how that translates outside of their work. It turns out Jayce is fairly endlessly talented. Viktor, of course, lets the kiss linger, brushing his thumbs over Jayce's cheeks.]
You make me very happy, Jayce. I hope you know that.
[ Considering Jayce has survived off being allowed to touch Viktor's arm, he won't find it difficult to slide into a reasonable medium when it comes to PDA. Something as simple as being able to run his hand along Viktor's back will make him happy. Although when they're alone in the workshop, there may be some kissing. Jayce will agree to any and all boundaries Viktor sets out for them, and cheerfully so, because he knows they'll be able to go home to this. The fact Viktor not only allows his affection but gives it back in their private space means everything.
He doesn't expect any nicknames in return, just like Jayce doesn't care about love confessions. He has always been the more open of the two of them. He doesn't need those things to feel treasured and loved. And that is proven when Viktor cups his face and says those words, and Jayce's heart actually hurts. In the best sense. It feels full. He has been waiting for this all his life, in a way, to find a true partner. ]
I do now.
[ Honestly, Jayce feels so overcome that he gets a little emotional about it, his eyes watery but not leading to tears. He has never been so happy. Purely joyful. Considering what a hard few weeks it's been, it was something of a roller coaster emotionally. He goes from his hands to his elbows next to Viktor's head, his body pressed more directly against him but still keeping his full weight off. ]
And I've only just begun. You're going to get this every day, love.
[ As if Jayce only plans on being this sweet for their first day together. He'll still probably bring him breakfast and food over the course of the day, he'll massage and heal him whenever Viktor allows, tell him he loves him every day with his heart in his eyes. ]
It's not too much?
[ Jayce knows that he doesn't have a good reason to need reassurance, but being Too Much is one of his major flaws. Or positive traits, depending on who you are. ]
[Viktor keeps in mind that he'll need to verbally affirm Jayce every now and again, in addition to his physical affections--not that he's going to complain about it. The look on Jayce's face when he tells him this is reward enough, to see him so overwhelmed. Emotional, but in a good way. He shies away from this in every other aspect of his life, but this, he thinks, is more than worth it.
Jayce is clearly trying to keep most of his weight off him, but Viktor likes the closeness and the press of a warm body above him. He slides his arms around Jayce's shoulders in a bid to get even closer, kissing the side of his face, his temple, nestling into the crook of his neck, holding him tightly in a way that says more than his words ever could.
Even if this is only for a short time, he already knows it's worth it. He can't believe he denied himself this feeling for so long.]
You're never too much. [Dangerous words, but Viktor has always loved Jayce's passion. His drive. It's thrilling, to think about how this might translate to a relationship. This is only the beginning.] I want all of you, always.
[ While Jayce obviously swallows every bit of physical affection up, verbal confirmation is also very helpful. He doesn't really like it about himself, that his insecurities need to be soothed, but Viktor knows him well. It won't take much now that he's being fed regular love and support. Maybe one of these days he won't even dwell in his anxieties and simply brush them off.
Jayce sighs when Viktor slides his arms around him and he gives in, leaning in closer, allowing more of his weight to sink onto Viktor. He is tall so he cradles his hips between Viktor's legs so he can settle there easier. Viktor's holding onto Jayce tightly which is exactly what he likes, nosing into Viktor's hair when he nestles into his neck. Jayce shudders from Viktor's words as the emotional impact of them, the reassurance it gives him, is powerful. Jayce, who often apologizes for being too intense, who spent years trying to curb his enthusiasm.
It is okay for him to still do that in certain cases, he knows who can handle it and who can't, but with his partner, it is important that Viktor not only accepts it, but he actually likes that about him. ]
You're the only person who could have all of me.
[ Why would Jayce need to go looking elsewhere if he could have Viktor? He so easily slots into everything Jayce has ever looked for. No one sees him for who he is. He thinks maybe that's why Viktor has found it in his heart to move past what happened; he knows Jayce is terribly flawed, but he hasn't given up on him yet. ]
I know when I realized I was in love with you. It was right after the Hexgates launched, we had finished something incredible, we were flushed with success. Anyone else would have considered that a big success and celebrated it, maybe taken a few days off.
[ They did work around the clock and basically didn't live in any other way but the project. It was sometimes the worst thing in his life, but usually the best thing. And when they made it happen, when it was launched, Jayce felt completely at peace for a few moments. Until he looked at his partner. ]
You smiled at me and said okay, good, let's get started on the next project.
[ Jayce laughs into Viktor's hair and nuzzles. This is what he means by he knew for years, although he never did anything about it.]
I literally felt weak in the knees with how much I wanted you.
[Jayce has made that clear many times over, by this point, not that Viktor is going to complain about it. He holds the embrace, and smiles against Jayce's neck, taking in the warmth and the closeness and thinking about how he could stay like this for a long time, listening to Jayce recount the years they spent together. How it doesn't feel like lost time, because of how close they were, regardless.
Viktor remembers all this--how can he not? The Hexgates were a staggering achievement, proceeding from the night in Heimerdinger's lab to industrial-scale teleportation in a little under five years. The sheer feat of engineering would put anyone in the history books immediately, but of course even that hadn't been enough for him. It's slightly bittersweet, thinking of how quickly he wanted to get back to work--Jayce wouldn't understand until later why Viktor had been so urgent to proceed, but if his sheer industriousness was just one more thing to love about him, well. Maybe he can accept that for what it is.]
There was--there's still so much I want to do.
[All the more reason they need to work together on a cure. All the more reason why failure is not something he can accept.]
[ Jayce does know now that he was running against time, but no one has had a drive quite like his before. While Jayce was tired and wanted to enjoy their success, he just smiled at Viktor and was right there with him ready to go to the next thing. Viktor's always driven him to be better, do more. He still has yet to meet anyone who cares as much as he does about work like theirs. Maybe that's why they still avoided a relationship. They would enjoy this too much, as they've proven.
Jayce gets more serious because he knows this goes back to Viktor's health, and he swallows through a momentary painful lump in his throat. He promised that he would give up when Viktor does, but they aren't there yet. Not anywhere near it. ]
You'll get the chance, V. We can do this, I know we can.
[ There were a lot of things in their way back home that are not here. Viktor doesn't need to do any of it alone. Jayce can put his full time and energy into it. They have other scientists, there is magic, the possibilities are far higher. Jayce moves his body down Viktor a little so he can get his face out of his neck and kisses him firmly. He wills Viktor to believe the way he does.
Jayce kisses him until even he's breathless. ]
How else are we going to get through both of our lists?
[ Jayce teases, brushing their noses together. He wants to give Viktor an out if he'd like to joke around rather than focus on it.]
[Once again, Jayce's conviction is infectious. He has to believe, like Jayce does, because there's no other choice. The alternative would be to give up, and Viktor isn't ready for that, both because of all the things he wants to do, and the new future that's laid out in front of them. He isn't going to abandon it so easily, not when they're finally removed from all distractions and only have each other. He believes in them--in their ability to do the impossible, and their ability to solve this.
It would be easy, to continue wallowing in despair, but thankfully Jayce offers him an out--first with the kiss, which is long and heated and leaves him breathless, then with a joke. Viktor decides to capitalize on that.]
Yes, that's reason enough to stay alive as long as possible. To make it through our lists.
[He laughs, in spite of himself, and determines that there's little more to do or say here but press their lips together again. Viktor allows himself to get lost in it, deciding that for now, it's the only thing that matters.]
-- [They stay in bed for a little while longer, Viktor drifting back off to sleep--not as deep as the previous night, but enough for him to get a little energy back, in preparation for an extremely busy day of continuing to stay in bed. When he awakens, he decides that a little break is in order, and directs Jayce to set up their new sleeping arrangements while he spends a little more time in the washroom (both to clean up, and to make a few additional preparations, because at this point, it's not going to hurt to be ready for anything). When he emerges, he makes them lunch, figuring it's the least he can do. They clean up the kitchen together, talk about projects, and then retire back to the bed, which is now twice as large.
Viktor can't say that watching Jayce do a little heavy lifting was unappealing, so by the time they've finished their various chores and return to the bedroom, he already has some ideas percolating. To start, however, he's content to settle back into each other's arms, lacing their fingers together and continuing the conversation where they left off in the kitchen.]
I was thinking this week we could look for a new workshop. I have my eye on a few places that are up for lease.
[ Jayce doesn't go back to sleep but he happily lets Viktor sleep on top of him while he uses the time to go over things he needs to get supply-wise for work in his head. He can always fill his time with thinking, it is easy. He gets right to work on getting them that giant bed, which requires moving both rooms around. Jayce's muscles are good for a few things, this is one of them, and he changes the sheets and blankets. He'll have to see if there are big enough ones for the whole thing, but for now, it's fine to do them separately.
He kisses Viktor sweetly when he makes lunch and updates him about the collapsible staff and sword, which are officially done and through the trial period. He is at his most productive when he's emotionally unstable, so a lot of his in-progress setups are done. Jayce takes every chance he can get to kiss Viktor in between food or chatter, never seeming happy unless they're touching in some way.
This is the ideal sort of life, the two of them being normal in so many ways with added details. Jayce has an arm around Viktor's shoulders and loves the simplicity but comfort of their joined hands. ]
I agree, it's time. We have the funds, we're ready.
[ To pay for it and to pay their way out of the other situation. Jayce is a very good bookkeeper, it comes with the business mindset, so he has kept things organized. He smiles over at Viktor, having been a little excited for this piece. And a little nervous, like most things when he's putting something out there new. ]
I had an idea for our business name.
[ They aren't Hextech anymore. They are making other things which means it's an entire other project. ]
What do you think about Rio Enterprises?
[ Jayce looks hopeful. ]
I thought symbolically it made sense, since Rio inspired you to get involved in this work, and it's almost a promise, you know? To be responsible with our inventions.
[ Well, Jayce mostly needs to learn that, but he's trying to be general. Of course the moment he says it he gets a little worried. ]
[Combining the beds proves to be an excellent idea--Jayce is not exactly small, and despite Viktor doing his best to wrap around him or curl up against him as they sleep, his bed isn't built for two grown men. Taking an intermission to rearrange the apartment is necessary, and he thanks Jayce for it when they're back to relaxing and they can both spread out as much as they like. Again, he finds himself thinking that he can get used to this, and for once, the guilt he feels in the pit of his stomach seems to lessen.
Despite their initial disagreement about the source of their funding, Jayce has stuck by him, and together the two of them worked to extricate themselves. He's not even worried about the repercussions of pulling out of the deal, because for once, Viktor feels supported--not only by Jayce, but by their network of friends and colleagues. He can't help but feel full of possibility. Finally, they'll be their own employers, and won't be beholden to the whims of a council or an academy. He smiles a little, and when Jayce says the name he has in mind, he can't help but break into a grin, the excitement evident on his face.
Viktor knew he's been working on this for a while, but this is all surprisingly thoughtful.]
I love it.
[Here he was, bracing himself for something with "Talis" in the name--not that he would have objected to it, but this is something uniquely theirs, for all the reasons that Jayce lists. Viktor shifts a little, turns, and kisses Jayce on the cheek in apparent approval.]
[ Jayce did like the excuse of a small bed for Viktor to drape on him at all times, but luckily he does that anyway. The size fo the bed doesn't change that the two of them seem glued to each other once they can be. He has been touch starved for a long time and now he's getting fed so frequently he's going to end up a glutton.
While Jayce did have an issue with Goro from the start, he never blamed Viktor for what he did when he thought there was no other choice. He did warn the man that the two of them planned on going independent as soon as possible, so he felt no real concern over that. And same as Viktor, he had a suspicion if they got in trouble, they had a support system that would be behind them. It's time to move out and up. Being independent is something they both used to hope for, while existing under the thumb of the council.
That grin could warm him when freezing to death, and it makes Jayce grin right back. He had hoped for that reaction. Jayce turns his head after the kiss on his cheek so he can steal an actual kiss from Viktor. It's still so good every time. ]
You thought I was going to suggest something Talis, right?
[ Jayce can laugh at himself, sometimes he has to laugh at himself. ]
I like being detached by the idea of house names.
[ He is proud of his family and what they've done, but some of his obsession surrounding putting the T on everything has to do with the struggle for a lower 'worker' house to still be beneath everyone else. The fact someone from a low house was put on the council was a scandal all in itself. ]
[But, he appreciates Jayce’s desire to divest himself from not only the pressures and obligations of home, but the trappings of it, too. He knows that the Talis name means a lot to him, given how Jayce elevated their house from its lower status, but all of those things mean very little here. That said, Viktor certainly wouldn’t have begrudged him wanting to keep it, or for emblazoning their nascent business with its emblem. The fact that Jayce doesn’t want to speaks to a desire to have a clean slate for both of them.
Viktor thinks that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For as much as he wants to return home and accomplish everything he needs, to, they’re getting a lot of second chances here, ones he isn’t sure he can pass up.]
If you want to put a “T” on it, you still can. I won’t judge you.
[Of course, Viktor is already envisioning Rio-shaped logos. He thinks that might be cute.]
[ There are plenty of things he makes on his own that aren't a joint effort by them. And he can keep using his name where necessary. But as a general business idea, it had to be both of theirs. Jayce personally is not interested in returning home, although he understands that it is what Viktor wants, or at least thinks he wants. He has his mom and Caitlyn back there, and it would mean never seeing them again, but there are downfalls and upsides to everything that could happen. He also isn't sure it's possible to go back, not without creating a new timeline.
His priority is VIktor's life. Wherever he's alive, that's where he wants to be. Especially now that they may have a future ahead of them brighter than before. Jayce kisses him again, sweetly, and squeezes his arm around his shoulders in a warm little hug. ]
I'll tell Alucard to change the ad to our new place when we move in.
[ He kindly put the information out there on the building he's renovating and it got Jayce quite a lot of work that added to their joint money doing well. He has no doubt their friend will be relieved about them becoming independent. ]
You know, I was looking forward to this as much as I was to the sex, when I fantasized about us.
[ Jayce smiles gently, raising Viktor's hand to his lips and kissing his wrist. ]
Talking in bed, making plans together, being partners in every way.
[A new business venture. Being fully independent and choosing what they want to work on. Coming home to a shared apartment--and now a shared bedroom--at the end of the day. Viktor is starting to understand why Jayce has apparently spent so much time envisioning these things. He can't help but buy into it, though of course there's the slight apprehension of having to match Jayce's (many) fantasies.
The good news is that it seems he's been doing an acceptable job so far. Viktor leans more heavily against him, settled into the curve of his shoulder and enjoying the moment. Yes, he thinks he wants this, too. Simple domesticity is never something he imagined for himself, but now he has it, at least for a little while. He can't deny how natural this feels--how it seems to slot right into their working relationship and how neither of them seems to be missing a beat.]
I'm glad I'm living up to your imagination. Imagine if I was bad at sex. [He's not. That's the joke.] You would have been in trouble.
It is. Even if we end up working with the academies here, we still have more independence than ever before.
[ Jayce assumes they'll have to work with academics eventually, if they want to get the crystals (his focus) and the kind of support to keep climbing higher. It'll lead to the Hexcore, if they have a shot, and that's fine with him. He likes working in and with academia! The point is though that it's more their own choice. They aren't beholden to anyone and they have their own business. He knows that Hextech wouldn't have been possible without having the full weight of the Council behind it. But they've always been limited by its authority.
He likes Viktor curling up close to him, he wants to be touching him at all times now that he's allowed to. Jayce has dreamed of this, yes. Not necessarily all the pieces, but the concept. Being in love with someone who can be everything to him. Giving Viktor something he hasn't gotten before is part of it, he knows his love hasn't really looked for this. But he's enjoying it, he's leaning into it, and Jayce can tell it's satisfying him at the same time.
He laughs and unravels their fingers from each other so he can kiss each of Viktor's fingers one at a time. They're so long and beautiful, skilled. ]
People can always get better at sex. It was low on the list. A bonus, not a requirement.
[ Jayce does have a sexual appetite but it comes with intimacy, he wants Viktor because of everything he represents. When he gets sicker, if there's a point in time they can't go at it like this, that won't change anything about his feelings or his satisfaction as his partner. He playfully nips at his fingertips. ]
But, I'll admit, it's a very nice bonus that we have chemistry in bed too.
[That Viktor is, apparently, the whole package and then some. His smile is looking more like a smirk, though of course he does not object to Jayce kissing his fingers. He lets him get through all five on one hand before he decides to tease, pulling his hand away, though the way Jayce bites at his fingertips reminds him that they've barely begun to scratch the surface of intimacy. Viktor shifts onto his side, sliding a hand to gently put his palm against Jayce's cheek, tilting his head down so that he can kiss him again. He takes it slowly and lets it linger, deepening it after a moment and letting his eyes slide closed.
He barely breaks it to speak, though when he does he hopes it makes his intent clear.]
It doesn't hurt to practice.
[Since Jayce got a little nippy, Viktor sees no issue reciprocating, biting at his lower lip in encouragement, slinging an arm around his shoulder to pull him closer.]
[ Jayce laughs when Viktor pulls his hand away and leans his head into Viktor's touch on his cheek, his smile soft as he returns the kiss. It stretches on and lingers in a way that still gets Jayce feeling flushed and tingling. He plans on stopping Viktor from talking with another kiss but then teeth sink into his lower lip and Jayce groans openly. The sting is perfect and Jayce doesn't need much encouragement to come in closer.
In fact, he presses Viktor in encouragement for him to move onto his back, boldly sliding back on top of him. Like before he settles between Viktor's legs but this time he does apply more of his weight so Viktor can really feel him, one hand moving down to curl around his thigh. ]
I've been practicing telling you what I want all day, haven't I?
[ Jayce drops his head down to suck another mark onto Viktor's neck, this one not at all hideable, it will show proudly no matter what Viktor wears tomorrow. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
zvi
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Date: 2022-07-09 01:11 pm (UTC)[ About the stopping from distracting. Jayce laughs and lets him steal a kiss, as if he minds, enraptured with how Viktor's letting him do anything he wants. Indulging him. Although it seems he wants it just as much, less of an indulgence, and more of an agreement they should always be touching. Jayce wonders what it'll be like when they leave this bed, and he hopes it'll be both adorable and saucy from time to time.
The kiss lingers for multiple beautiful seconds and it's like he can't possibly get enough of him. Is this what being in love is truly like? He's always felt it for Viktor but it was unrequited until now. He understands what all the stories and songs meant now. ]
Yes, please.
[ What they did do was great, don't get him wrong. It was a new position for him and Jayce felt very tender about it. More lovemaking than sex, with Viktor playing his body like he'd known it for much longer. But he does want that pounding. He wants Viktor to pin him against the bed and make him scream. Sometime.
Jayce laughs again, nuzzling their noses. ]
What part of being with me so far makes you think that would get me to shut up?
[ If anything Jayce will be a louder mess! His hand strokes up and down Viktor's back again, along his bolts.]
Would you get on your stomach for me, love? I'd like to massage your back a little, you had a hard time recently. I'll be gentle.
[ Jayce asks permission first. He knows Viktor's body is unique and wants him to know he can trust him to respect his physical boundaries. Whereas Jayce never needs to be asked, he'll take whatever he can get. ]
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Date: 2022-07-09 07:25 pm (UTC)[Even if Jayce is probably right—nothing short of gagging him (though that sounds fun, too) is going to get him to shut up, but for Viktor it means more like reducing him to incoherence. A challenge for himself, as well, to see just how much he can undo the other man. He already knows how desperate and wanting Jayce is. Taking away his very ability to make words is an incredibly appealing thought.
He knows, too, that the anticipation, the teasing, is all part of the appeal. Jayce likes it. Viktor likes that Jayce likes it, and it’s thrilling to know they’ve only barely scratched the surface.
Asking to give him a back rub is a surprise, and it’s probably evident on Viktor’s face as he processes the request. It’s been a very long time since he’s been intimate with anyone in this way, and he can’t remember any former partners asking to do something like that. He’s surprised, again, but how natural all this feels, and after a moment of consideration nods, and scoots a little so that he can roll over on his stomach, grabbing a pillow for his head and folding his arms beneath it.]
You don’t have to be gentle. I imagine I need it.
[They both know he doesn’t exactly manage his own stress very well, shoulders in stubborn knots.]
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Date: 2022-07-09 07:49 pm (UTC)[ Jayce thinks gagging him is likely the best way to make that happen, although he'll probably still manage to make noise even while stifled. He's not against it in the slightest. It'll be necessary if they try to have sex in a place easy to hear, and Jayce has already been clear that he'll be ready to go in any situation. So covering his mouth will be the best bet. He knows that Viktor likes it. In this, he's not subtle. It's why Jayce hasn't tried to stop himself; he might have tried if Viktor displayed dislike of it in the start, but it would've been difficult. Instead he feels empowered to let it all out.
Jayce is still testing the boundaries. He knows what he wants, which is to be able to touch every part of Viktor's body, and it's not purely sexual. He loves him, he wants to make him happy. But he's a caretaker and while his healing helped Viktor's breathing and chest, it can't fix all of his stiffness or pains. So maybe he can approach it from another angle. Viktor already knows that Jayce enjoys taking care of him. He flashes a pleased smile when Viktor agrees, moving away from him so he can settle.
He's seen Viktor's back intimately on more than on occasion, considering he helped secure the back brace when he arrived. Jayce kisses the back of Viktor's head. ]
Stay right here, sweetheart, I want to do this right.
[ Maybe Jayce is testing out other pet names since Viktor hasn't pushed back about love. Jayce does disappear for a moment but he's very fast, knowing exactly what he's going for. This will now move into their joint bedroom, but Jaye has oils for when he's worked himself too hard in the forge. He does upkeep on his strained muscles and sometimes he's pulled one or two, so he brings that back with him. He's gone less than a minute, climbing back onto the bed.
As he crawls onto it he playfully kisses his way up Viktor's body, even on his thighs and ass because he can, and along his bolted spine. Jayce spreads the oil onto his hands and sets it aside, straddling Viktor's hips but putting none of his weight down onto his back or legs. He knows what he's doing.
Jayce has large hands and they easily cover most of Viktor's shoulders, kneading into his tense muscles. He is gentle at first to get a sense of it but since Viktor asks he applies a little more pressure, his hands steady and strong. ]
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Date: 2022-07-10 01:36 am (UTC)[This is only the first real day of their relationship, after all, and even for someone with limited time, Viktor still doesn't want to rush things. There's so much about Jayce he wants to learn, beyond what he already knows, and he thinks he wants to savor it, as much as he can. Jayce asking to massage him is not surprising, but it is new and different, so of course he wants to enjoy the moment.
One pet name he could let slide—it’s hard to ignore another one, so he decides to comment on it, calling while Jayce is out of the room.]
Do you have a list of pet names, too? Trying them out one by one?
[He’s not sure how he feels about it yet. It’s very overly-affectionate, in a way that Viktor isn’t, but maybe it’s the principle of the thing. Someone thinking all of these things about them, and voicing them in turn.
Viktor doesn’t look to see what Jayce has come back with, figuring that if he offered, he must know what he’s doing. He shudders a little from the kisses in unexpected places, but soon enough Jayce is working at him with his hands, and he grunts at the pressure. It sounds like he’s uncomfortable, but the truth is that this is anything but.]
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Date: 2022-07-10 01:48 am (UTC)That's exactly what I'm doing.
[ In response to him trying pet names out. Right on the money. Viktor doesn't sound like he hates it, but maybe is uncertain. It's not as if nicknames are new to them, Jayce has been calling him Vik and V as long as they've been friends, but that's friendship nicknames. Not relationship ones. Maybe he wants to try out these intimate names and see if any of them will fit in nicely with their new coupling. There's no harm in trying.
Jayce hesitates for a moment at the grunt because he can't tell if it's a good or a bad one, but Viktor would tell him to stop the moment he didn't like something. He knows that much. But he also might push himself more than Jayce typically would. For now, he decides to keep going, but at that same medium ground rather than going any rougher. He massages the back of Viktor's neck too, the shoulders and his biceps. He's been sleeping in a cart for over a week. None of it was comfortable. ]
Okay, so I admit, it's something my parents used to do. Call each other pet names and it seemed so sweet, and I thought when I was in love, maybe I'd find one I liked with my partner.
[ Jayce's parents did represent a good relationship to him, although purely from the point of view of a child, but his mother never got over his father. She never moved on, she focused all her attention on Jayce. And he's fairly sure he's going to be the same way. Not that he's going to ever say that to Viktor, who feels guilty enough for being with him despite dying. He is going to focus on the sweet aspect. ]
They used darling. I do think I like calling you love. I spent so long avoiding the word with you, it feels relaxing to use it so easily.
[ Jayce sounds calm and relaxed and it's because he is, he's doing great. He presses his fingers in to rub at the skin right next to the bolts, figuring that area doesn't get a lot of attention. ]
Do you hate it? Should I stop?
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Date: 2022-07-10 03:50 pm (UTC)[Whatever thought he was about to have dissolves into a muffled noise that he makes into the pillow. Jayce is kneading the tension right out of him, and he feels a little boneless as he works out the knots in his shoulders. When Jayce digs his thumbs into either side of his spine, Viktor lets out an involuntary moan of relief. It momentarily distracts him from the things he wanted to say, and gives Jayce the opportunity
Ah. So that's what this is about. He knows Jayce doesn't mean anything by it, but Viktor can't help but feel like there are some expectations, here, that come along with his various fantasies about their relationship. He worries his lip, adjusting his head on the pillow as he thinks about how he wants to phrase this.]
I don't dislike it. [It's just going to take him some getting used to.] But, we aren't your parents. You don't have to do something just because they did.
[Viktor would prefer the opposite, actually. He doesn't doubt that Jayce feels the way he says he does, but looking to a (presumably) happily married, long-term relationship as an example for theirs seems...inadvisable, in their unique situation. Perhaps he's just being pessimistic.]
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Date: 2022-07-10 05:19 pm (UTC)I know that, V. I'm not doing anything because it's something they did. Otherwise I would already have been married with a kid of my own and working permanently in the forge.
[ If Jayce wanted to be exactly like them, they did a lot of other things by their thirties that weren't Jayce's path. He isn't against marriage or kids theoretically, but he had different ambitions and priorities. He's not a very conventional man despite appearances; he wouldn't have been experimenting with forbidden magic instead of making friends if so.
Viktor isn't entirely wrong that there is a part of Jayce's fantasies for them that is ill-advised, putting all his eggs in one basket so to speak, but there's no real way to get around it. He knows the odds are against them, but he refuses to let that bring him down. Jayce may have become more realistic since his current experiences knocked him a few pegs down, but he still has hope. Especially now that he has Viktor in his arms.
He works meticulously on each part of Viktor's back until he can feel him relax, and takes a temporary break from it to press his hands into Viktor's hair but to massage his scalp as well, digging a thumb into the space right between the tip of his neck to the back of his skull where he's found some relief before himself. ]
I've always liked calling you by nicknames, because it feels special to us. It's why I don't call you V in front of other people, it's an us thing.
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Date: 2022-07-11 03:33 pm (UTC)[Selfish, maybe, but Jayce's trajectory led right to Viktor, and he'll never regret capitalizing on the opportunity to complete Hextech. Things might have been very different for both of them, if Jayce hadn't secured patronage from the Kirammans, and gone into the family business, instead.
It's gradual, and it's likely going to take more than one session, but Viktor relaxes under Jayce's practiced hands, the tension leaving his body as he works out the knots in his muscles. If he wasn't sure before, he certainly is now--he's not leaving this bed for a good long while. Viktor imagines that was part of the plan. He should have foreseen this! Now he's trapped.
When Jayce gets to the back of his neck and his scalp, he takes that as a sign that he's more-or-less worked through everything else. Viktor allows himself to enjoy it for a few long moments, then decides that they're finished, rolling over onto his back. This is very nice, being underneath Jayce like this, and the smile on his face is soft and sincere.]
I like it when you call me that. You can do it around other people, if you want.
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Date: 2022-07-11 04:10 pm (UTC)[ Jayce did get some pressure from his family about leaving the business, although it went on without him obviously, by then it was a self-sustaining business that they owned and hired other people to manage. He would've ended up in science no matter what, although the arcane pushed him there more solidly. His mind would never be satisfied living in an average way. Even among scientists, Jayce has always been more ambitious. So has Viktor. They were meant to find one another.
Viktor is very much trapped and Jayce is smug about it. If Viktor did want to get up and go, he would have accepted it albeit with some pouting, but he was victorious this one time. Jayce wants a day just for them, just for this. They can exist in the real world tomorrow. And will have to come up with some compromises for how to act outside of the apartment, but that is future Jayce's problem.
He feels Viktor starting to move and sits up a moment, his legs on either side of Viktor keeping him off him in the first place, so it was very easy to turn. Jayce smiles down at him and settles back on top of him, putting his hands on either side of his head so he can lean down and kiss him slowly. Sweetly. He shakes his head. ]
No, then they might use it, and I'll get annoyed.
[ That is the reason he keeps it between them. Maybe he's a little possessive of all the details that are only theirs. He can't stop other people from coming up with nicknames for Viktor, but he's not going to give them ideas. V is his. Jayce lifts up on his arms so he can look at Viktor's face, eyes traveling over all its precise details. ]
I really thought there was no way I could love you more, but I was wrong. I'm more in love with you by the second.
[ It is so cheesy and sweet but absolutely true from his point of view. Jayce kisses him again, not really close to getting enough of his taste and his soft lips. ]
Do you feel good? Did the massage help?
[ Still eager to please. ]
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Date: 2022-07-11 04:58 pm (UTC)He reaches up to take Jayce's face in his hands.]
It was nice. I could get used to it.
[They're both good with their hands, but he hasn't given much thought to how that translates outside of their work. It turns out Jayce is fairly endlessly talented. Viktor, of course, lets the kiss linger, brushing his thumbs over Jayce's cheeks.]
You make me very happy, Jayce. I hope you know that.
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Date: 2022-07-11 05:27 pm (UTC)He doesn't expect any nicknames in return, just like Jayce doesn't care about love confessions. He has always been the more open of the two of them. He doesn't need those things to feel treasured and loved. And that is proven when Viktor cups his face and says those words, and Jayce's heart actually hurts. In the best sense. It feels full. He has been waiting for this all his life, in a way, to find a true partner. ]
I do now.
[ Honestly, Jayce feels so overcome that he gets a little emotional about it, his eyes watery but not leading to tears. He has never been so happy. Purely joyful. Considering what a hard few weeks it's been, it was something of a roller coaster emotionally. He goes from his hands to his elbows next to Viktor's head, his body pressed more directly against him but still keeping his full weight off. ]
And I've only just begun. You're going to get this every day, love.
[ As if Jayce only plans on being this sweet for their first day together. He'll still probably bring him breakfast and food over the course of the day, he'll massage and heal him whenever Viktor allows, tell him he loves him every day with his heart in his eyes. ]
It's not too much?
[ Jayce knows that he doesn't have a good reason to need reassurance, but being Too Much is one of his major flaws. Or positive traits, depending on who you are. ]
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Date: 2022-07-11 08:58 pm (UTC)[Viktor keeps in mind that he'll need to verbally affirm Jayce every now and again, in addition to his physical affections--not that he's going to complain about it. The look on Jayce's face when he tells him this is reward enough, to see him so overwhelmed. Emotional, but in a good way. He shies away from this in every other aspect of his life, but this, he thinks, is more than worth it.
Jayce is clearly trying to keep most of his weight off him, but Viktor likes the closeness and the press of a warm body above him. He slides his arms around Jayce's shoulders in a bid to get even closer, kissing the side of his face, his temple, nestling into the crook of his neck, holding him tightly in a way that says more than his words ever could.
Even if this is only for a short time, he already knows it's worth it. He can't believe he denied himself this feeling for so long.]
You're never too much. [Dangerous words, but Viktor has always loved Jayce's passion. His drive. It's thrilling, to think about how this might translate to a relationship. This is only the beginning.] I want all of you, always.
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Date: 2022-07-11 09:53 pm (UTC)Jayce sighs when Viktor slides his arms around him and he gives in, leaning in closer, allowing more of his weight to sink onto Viktor. He is tall so he cradles his hips between Viktor's legs so he can settle there easier. Viktor's holding onto Jayce tightly which is exactly what he likes, nosing into Viktor's hair when he nestles into his neck. Jayce shudders from Viktor's words as the emotional impact of them, the reassurance it gives him, is powerful. Jayce, who often apologizes for being too intense, who spent years trying to curb his enthusiasm.
It is okay for him to still do that in certain cases, he knows who can handle it and who can't, but with his partner, it is important that Viktor not only accepts it, but he actually likes that about him. ]
You're the only person who could have all of me.
[ Why would Jayce need to go looking elsewhere if he could have Viktor? He so easily slots into everything Jayce has ever looked for. No one sees him for who he is. He thinks maybe that's why Viktor has found it in his heart to move past what happened; he knows Jayce is terribly flawed, but he hasn't given up on him yet. ]
I know when I realized I was in love with you. It was right after the Hexgates launched, we had finished something incredible, we were flushed with success. Anyone else would have considered that a big success and celebrated it, maybe taken a few days off.
[ They did work around the clock and basically didn't live in any other way but the project. It was sometimes the worst thing in his life, but usually the best thing. And when they made it happen, when it was launched, Jayce felt completely at peace for a few moments. Until he looked at his partner. ]
You smiled at me and said okay, good, let's get started on the next project.
[ Jayce laughs into Viktor's hair and nuzzles. This is what he means by he knew for years, although he never did anything about it.]
I literally felt weak in the knees with how much I wanted you.
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Date: 2022-07-12 08:25 pm (UTC)[Jayce has made that clear many times over, by this point, not that Viktor is going to complain about it. He holds the embrace, and smiles against Jayce's neck, taking in the warmth and the closeness and thinking about how he could stay like this for a long time, listening to Jayce recount the years they spent together. How it doesn't feel like lost time, because of how close they were, regardless.
Viktor remembers all this--how can he not? The Hexgates were a staggering achievement, proceeding from the night in Heimerdinger's lab to industrial-scale teleportation in a little under five years. The sheer feat of engineering would put anyone in the history books immediately, but of course even that hadn't been enough for him. It's slightly bittersweet, thinking of how quickly he wanted to get back to work--Jayce wouldn't understand until later why Viktor had been so urgent to proceed, but if his sheer industriousness was just one more thing to love about him, well. Maybe he can accept that for what it is.]
There was--there's still so much I want to do.
[All the more reason they need to work together on a cure. All the more reason why failure is not something he can accept.]
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Date: 2022-07-12 08:40 pm (UTC)Jayce gets more serious because he knows this goes back to Viktor's health, and he swallows through a momentary painful lump in his throat. He promised that he would give up when Viktor does, but they aren't there yet. Not anywhere near it. ]
You'll get the chance, V. We can do this, I know we can.
[ There were a lot of things in their way back home that are not here. Viktor doesn't need to do any of it alone. Jayce can put his full time and energy into it. They have other scientists, there is magic, the possibilities are far higher. Jayce moves his body down Viktor a little so he can get his face out of his neck and kisses him firmly. He wills Viktor to believe the way he does.
Jayce kisses him until even he's breathless. ]
How else are we going to get through both of our lists?
[ Jayce teases, brushing their noses together. He wants to give Viktor an out if he'd like to joke around rather than focus on it.]
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Date: 2022-07-12 11:11 pm (UTC)It would be easy, to continue wallowing in despair, but thankfully Jayce offers him an out--first with the kiss, which is long and heated and leaves him breathless, then with a joke. Viktor decides to capitalize on that.]
Yes, that's reason enough to stay alive as long as possible. To make it through our lists.
[He laughs, in spite of himself, and determines that there's little more to do or say here but press their lips together again. Viktor allows himself to get lost in it, deciding that for now, it's the only thing that matters.]
--
[They stay in bed for a little while longer, Viktor drifting back off to sleep--not as deep as the previous night, but enough for him to get a little energy back, in preparation for an extremely busy day of continuing to stay in bed. When he awakens, he decides that a little break is in order, and directs Jayce to set up their new sleeping arrangements while he spends a little more time in the washroom (both to clean up, and to make a few additional preparations, because at this point, it's not going to hurt to be ready for anything). When he emerges, he makes them lunch, figuring it's the least he can do. They clean up the kitchen together, talk about projects, and then retire back to the bed, which is now twice as large.
Viktor can't say that watching Jayce do a little heavy lifting was unappealing, so by the time they've finished their various chores and return to the bedroom, he already has some ideas percolating. To start, however, he's content to settle back into each other's arms, lacing their fingers together and continuing the conversation where they left off in the kitchen.]
I was thinking this week we could look for a new workshop. I have my eye on a few places that are up for lease.
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Date: 2022-07-12 11:48 pm (UTC)He kisses Viktor sweetly when he makes lunch and updates him about the collapsible staff and sword, which are officially done and through the trial period. He is at his most productive when he's emotionally unstable, so a lot of his in-progress setups are done. Jayce takes every chance he can get to kiss Viktor in between food or chatter, never seeming happy unless they're touching in some way.
This is the ideal sort of life, the two of them being normal in so many ways with added details. Jayce has an arm around Viktor's shoulders and loves the simplicity but comfort of their joined hands. ]
I agree, it's time. We have the funds, we're ready.
[ To pay for it and to pay their way out of the other situation. Jayce is a very good bookkeeper, it comes with the business mindset, so he has kept things organized. He smiles over at Viktor, having been a little excited for this piece. And a little nervous, like most things when he's putting something out there new. ]
I had an idea for our business name.
[ They aren't Hextech anymore. They are making other things which means it's an entire other project. ]
What do you think about Rio Enterprises?
[ Jayce looks hopeful. ]
I thought symbolically it made sense, since Rio inspired you to get involved in this work, and it's almost a promise, you know? To be responsible with our inventions.
[ Well, Jayce mostly needs to learn that, but he's trying to be general. Of course the moment he says it he gets a little worried. ]
Is that okay?
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Date: 2022-07-13 04:54 pm (UTC)Despite their initial disagreement about the source of their funding, Jayce has stuck by him, and together the two of them worked to extricate themselves. He's not even worried about the repercussions of pulling out of the deal, because for once, Viktor feels supported--not only by Jayce, but by their network of friends and colleagues. He can't help but feel full of possibility. Finally, they'll be their own employers, and won't be beholden to the whims of a council or an academy. He smiles a little, and when Jayce says the name he has in mind, he can't help but break into a grin, the excitement evident on his face.
Viktor knew he's been working on this for a while, but this is all surprisingly thoughtful.]
I love it.
[Here he was, bracing himself for something with "Talis" in the name--not that he would have objected to it, but this is something uniquely theirs, for all the reasons that Jayce lists. Viktor shifts a little, turns, and kisses Jayce on the cheek in apparent approval.]
It's perfect.
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Date: 2022-07-13 07:03 pm (UTC)While Jayce did have an issue with Goro from the start, he never blamed Viktor for what he did when he thought there was no other choice. He did warn the man that the two of them planned on going independent as soon as possible, so he felt no real concern over that. And same as Viktor, he had a suspicion if they got in trouble, they had a support system that would be behind them. It's time to move out and up. Being independent is something they both used to hope for, while existing under the thumb of the council.
That grin could warm him when freezing to death, and it makes Jayce grin right back. He had hoped for that reaction. Jayce turns his head after the kiss on his cheek so he can steal an actual kiss from Viktor. It's still so good every time. ]
You thought I was going to suggest something Talis, right?
[ Jayce can laugh at himself, sometimes he has to laugh at himself. ]
I like being detached by the idea of house names.
[ He is proud of his family and what they've done, but some of his obsession surrounding putting the T on everything has to do with the struggle for a lower 'worker' house to still be beneath everyone else. The fact someone from a low house was put on the council was a scandal all in itself. ]
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Date: 2022-07-13 10:17 pm (UTC)[But, he appreciates Jayce’s desire to divest himself from not only the pressures and obligations of home, but the trappings of it, too. He knows that the Talis name means a lot to him, given how Jayce elevated their house from its lower status, but all of those things mean very little here. That said, Viktor certainly wouldn’t have begrudged him wanting to keep it, or for emblazoning their nascent business with its emblem. The fact that Jayce doesn’t want to speaks to a desire to have a clean slate for both of them.
Viktor thinks that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For as much as he wants to return home and accomplish everything he needs, to, they’re getting a lot of second chances here, ones he isn’t sure he can pass up.]
If you want to put a “T” on it, you still can. I won’t judge you.
[Of course, Viktor is already envisioning Rio-shaped logos. He thinks that might be cute.]
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Date: 2022-07-13 10:40 pm (UTC)[ There are plenty of things he makes on his own that aren't a joint effort by them. And he can keep using his name where necessary. But as a general business idea, it had to be both of theirs. Jayce personally is not interested in returning home, although he understands that it is what Viktor wants, or at least thinks he wants. He has his mom and Caitlyn back there, and it would mean never seeing them again, but there are downfalls and upsides to everything that could happen. He also isn't sure it's possible to go back, not without creating a new timeline.
His priority is VIktor's life. Wherever he's alive, that's where he wants to be. Especially now that they may have a future ahead of them brighter than before. Jayce kisses him again, sweetly, and squeezes his arm around his shoulders in a warm little hug. ]
I'll tell Alucard to change the ad to our new place when we move in.
[ He kindly put the information out there on the building he's renovating and it got Jayce quite a lot of work that added to their joint money doing well. He has no doubt their friend will be relieved about them becoming independent. ]
You know, I was looking forward to this as much as I was to the sex, when I fantasized about us.
[ Jayce smiles gently, raising Viktor's hand to his lips and kissing his wrist. ]
Talking in bed, making plans together, being partners in every way.
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Date: 2022-07-14 03:38 pm (UTC)[A new business venture. Being fully independent and choosing what they want to work on. Coming home to a shared apartment--and now a shared bedroom--at the end of the day. Viktor is starting to understand why Jayce has apparently spent so much time envisioning these things. He can't help but buy into it, though of course there's the slight apprehension of having to match Jayce's (many) fantasies.
The good news is that it seems he's been doing an acceptable job so far. Viktor leans more heavily against him, settled into the curve of his shoulder and enjoying the moment. Yes, he thinks he wants this, too. Simple domesticity is never something he imagined for himself, but now he has it, at least for a little while. He can't deny how natural this feels--how it seems to slot right into their working relationship and how neither of them seems to be missing a beat.]
I'm glad I'm living up to your imagination. Imagine if I was bad at sex. [He's not. That's the joke.] You would have been in trouble.
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Date: 2022-07-14 05:11 pm (UTC)[ Jayce assumes they'll have to work with academics eventually, if they want to get the crystals (his focus) and the kind of support to keep climbing higher. It'll lead to the Hexcore, if they have a shot, and that's fine with him. He likes working in and with academia! The point is though that it's more their own choice. They aren't beholden to anyone and they have their own business. He knows that Hextech wouldn't have been possible without having the full weight of the Council behind it. But they've always been limited by its authority.
He likes Viktor curling up close to him, he wants to be touching him at all times now that he's allowed to. Jayce has dreamed of this, yes. Not necessarily all the pieces, but the concept. Being in love with someone who can be everything to him. Giving Viktor something he hasn't gotten before is part of it, he knows his love hasn't really looked for this. But he's enjoying it, he's leaning into it, and Jayce can tell it's satisfying him at the same time.
He laughs and unravels their fingers from each other so he can kiss each of Viktor's fingers one at a time. They're so long and beautiful, skilled. ]
People can always get better at sex. It was low on the list. A bonus, not a requirement.
[ Jayce does have a sexual appetite but it comes with intimacy, he wants Viktor because of everything he represents. When he gets sicker, if there's a point in time they can't go at it like this, that won't change anything about his feelings or his satisfaction as his partner. He playfully nips at his fingertips. ]
But, I'll admit, it's a very nice bonus that we have chemistry in bed too.
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Date: 2022-07-15 02:43 am (UTC)[That Viktor is, apparently, the whole package and then some. His smile is looking more like a smirk, though of course he does not object to Jayce kissing his fingers. He lets him get through all five on one hand before he decides to tease, pulling his hand away, though the way Jayce bites at his fingertips reminds him that they've barely begun to scratch the surface of intimacy. Viktor shifts onto his side, sliding a hand to gently put his palm against Jayce's cheek, tilting his head down so that he can kiss him again. He takes it slowly and lets it linger, deepening it after a moment and letting his eyes slide closed.
He barely breaks it to speak, though when he does he hopes it makes his intent clear.]
It doesn't hurt to practice.
[Since Jayce got a little nippy, Viktor sees no issue reciprocating, biting at his lower lip in encouragement, slinging an arm around his shoulder to pull him closer.]
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Date: 2022-07-15 03:05 am (UTC)[ Jayce laughs when Viktor pulls his hand away and leans his head into Viktor's touch on his cheek, his smile soft as he returns the kiss. It stretches on and lingers in a way that still gets Jayce feeling flushed and tingling. He plans on stopping Viktor from talking with another kiss but then teeth sink into his lower lip and Jayce groans openly. The sting is perfect and Jayce doesn't need much encouragement to come in closer.
In fact, he presses Viktor in encouragement for him to move onto his back, boldly sliding back on top of him. Like before he settles between Viktor's legs but this time he does apply more of his weight so Viktor can really feel him, one hand moving down to curl around his thigh. ]
I've been practicing telling you what I want all day, haven't I?
[ Jayce drops his head down to suck another mark onto Viktor's neck, this one not at all hideable, it will show proudly no matter what Viktor wears tomorrow. ]
Why don't you practice and tell me for once?
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