[He tilts his head, watching Lucien with his honey eyes. Studying Lucien's face perhaps for something. None of this he ever gave much thought at all. Why would he? It had not been important.
But death was so close it had been breathing down the back of his neck. He doesn't know how close death is here doing the same. He thinks about Throne telling him, You only have one life. You can live it however you want, but you don't get a second try. Not like lucky Lucien, getting another go.
He reaches out toward Lucien, hesitates. Then wraps his fingers around the end of one horn to pull Lucien toward himself.]
When have you ever been worried about the risks...?
[ Three goes at it so far, actually. A deeply unfair balance, if it wasn't bought and paid for in blood and tragedy. the trouble with being a favored plaything of the gods is they love to see the suffering in equal measure, it keeps the story moving along at a good clip. he's not sure what viktor is looking for here, and the studying makes him the tiniest bit antsy. shy is another emotion that's probably not in his gamut at all, but ... flustered under the inspection is close enough. ]
Not the first trap I've disarmed with my face, I suppose.
[ moving easily with the tug on his horn, partially because it's attached to his skull so it's not like he's planning on going anywhere else without it, shifting an arm to hold himself up across his shoulders so he can lean down into a kiss, reaching his free hand up to viktor's cheek - pressing the thumb against the mole there. ]
[His hand moves away from the horn as Lucien leans in, and it loops around to tangle into the hair at the back of Lucien's neck.
He smiles momentarily into the kiss because Lucien is an idiot, and even though he wants to voice this, his mouth becomes too preoccupied to do it. The first few kisses were new and awkward and exploratory. He still isn't great at it, but getting your first actual kiss from a fish dude under curse duress when the fish dude is decent at it really gives you a crash course, and what rules are there for kissing anyway.
This one is slower, longer, a kiss for learning Lucien and maybe learning himself, like opening a door and stepping in rather than simply standing on the outside.]
[ he is an idiot, but unfortunately he is a beautiful idiot so he gets away with absolutely everything. maybe that's his entire fucking problem.
there's no rules in kissing though and viktor's had a good beginner's curse-induced crash course. lucien is probably slightly less sharp thank a shark guy overall. he is also very practiced (whore) - but he's not trying to push anywhere too far or too fast. to be perfectly honest it's been a while for him and he doesn't mind the exploring, scientific study nature of it. if viktor learns anything it's that under all the hissing and spitting then lucien is probably a bit on the romantic side. it goes hand in hand with the theatrics. ]
[There is a forked, pierced tongue and fangs in his mouth right now, Lucien is definitely only slightly less sharp than the shark.
Knowing Lucien has a squishy center is half the reason Viktor bullies him so badly.
For what it's worth, going slow gradually builds Viktor's confidence. He figures out what he's supposed to do with his mouth and, more importantly, what he's supposed to do with his hands. He can kiss and twine Lucien's hair in his fingers, scratch his nails on the base of Lucien's scalp; he can kiss and feel Lucien's throat threaded with scars, fist his hand into Lucien's shirt and keep him there.]
[ he doesn't leave hickies but imagine if he did you'd have to go back and retcon his body in trial. you'd have to go comment there now that you were wrong and have amendments to make.
murmuring approval whenever viktor does something he likes, shifting to let him do whatever he'd like, encouraging, the pulse at his throat thrumming under his fingers. he runs a hand over viktor's waist - over the brace, fingers tracing the patterns of leather and metal, gentle, curious more than anything.
he can't really help but grin once the hand fists into his shirt, pressing himself closer at that - like it's an invitation. pulling back to take a break to catch his breath, and also because he can't stand not hearing the sound of his own voice for that long. reaching over to tuck some of viktor's hair behind an ear, the tips of his claws playing at the back of his neck. ]
[STOP!!!! not any worse than nu telling me at 11:55 am saturday there may be a hickey from the curse
It's like people can just turn their brains off when they make out, and this is wild to him as someone who never turns his brain off at all. Immediately, he gets embarrassed when Lucien leans back and he realizes that's exactly what happened. He actually blushes.
Trying to inconspicuously release Lucien's shirt...... He lowers his other hand to rest it on Lucien's forearm.
We can't all be experts in how to keep our mouths busy...
[ he's purple so he doesn't have to suffer from the curse of being caught turning funny colors when he gets embarrassed. that's good, right? turning it off and back on again is good for a nice reboot.
he thinks that is very cute so he'd like to keep making him embarrased, reaching up to cup his chin in a hand, clicking his tongue at him. ]
I don't know what you're accusing me of here, I was always a very focused student.
[The fact it does continue to make him embarrassed means he is looking a little again like he might want to try biting.]
Focused on talking?
[He tries to push down playfully on the hand with his chin.]
You were definitely the type to sit behind me at the Academy and try distracting me, or try to get me to give you the answers even though you knew them already if you would just read the exam.
[ holding his hand there tighter for a moment as a little show of force before letting him go, winding the hand into the back of his hair instead - half-grinning at him.
this isn't actually true, he was an obsessive to the point of mentor figures begging him to please fucking relax a little which is honestly hilarious in a blood hunter context. like we know you want to pass this potentially deadly test of skill where you use your blood as magic and drink poison but have you considered gardening or taking a nice walk outside because you're stressing everyone around you out. but that's fine. he likes this version of himself that isn't wound so tightly on anxiety it's possible to do things like tease a friend during an exam (a regular, written one instead of shoving teens into owlbear caves). in a perfect world he probably would be. ]
Only because you'd be ruining the curve otherwise. It's for the greater good.
He tips his head back just slightly, like he's resting it against the hand even if his head is on the bed already. Lucien gets a look of playful exasperation, but his hand rises to brush the fingertips on the side of Lucien's face. They catch down on Lucien's neck, and he pulls Lucien's head to his neck and chest, careful of the horns.
Both arms loop around Lucien's shoulders. He hugs him, holds him. Have either of them had a hug in a long time?]
If it happens again, we're going to end up being late and stuck in the hallway, and Throne will worry.
he snorts a bit of amusement at both the expression and being pulled into the hug, but he moves easily into it - settling in, winding his free arm around his waist in return. no, he has not had a hug in a very long time. ]
[Have a skeleton-feeling hug then. Actually, I think this was the week he was starting to put on weight again maybe it isn't so skeleton-y. He fiddles idly with the ends of Lucien's hair, always needing the hands to be busy.]
I don't know who else will be there besides Temenos, [he says conversationally by Lucien's ear,] so... time to put on your "I love people" face.
[Goodbye warmth. He loosens his arms without hesitation to let Lucien get up. Damn, his hands again.... Well, he fiddles with some of his own vest buttons.]
I'm making fun of your questionable tastes.
[At his own expense, naturally.
He isn't a seamstress, so the holes aren't immaculate, but they were done from the inside so the outer surface looks somewhat more natural. The fixed holes hide better because the color is dark.]
[ he kind of regrets it he was having a nice time in his slightly bony hug, but viktor is probably right they will end up being late. running his fingers over the repairs, humming, before going to dig a hand into the pockets. ]
[ making sure the pack is in there, but he doesn't pull any out. rude to smoke in a small room anyway. ]
I think the nine mages in my skull and the kidnapping to another plane to be exploited for free labor under threat of death is also quite bad for me, so in the grand picture, it's not striking much of a mark for me. [ scoffing anyway. ] I'm not a drinker and I don't care for gambling, so allow me one vice.
[ snorting, flicking a match at him for being annoying. ]
I drink for pleasure, I just don't drink. The kind of drinking you do to drown the world and all its horrors behind a warm haze. I don't find it a useful salve for wounds of the psyche. Dulls the senses, loosens the tongue, doesn't fill the void. But I drank at that party didn't I?
I told you I'd bloody sing so sing I will, arsehole.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ threat. ]
Deciding if it's worth the risk.
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But death was so close it had been breathing down the back of his neck. He doesn't know how close death is here doing the same. He thinks about Throne telling him, You only have one life. You can live it however you want, but you don't get a second try. Not like lucky Lucien, getting another go.
He reaches out toward Lucien, hesitates. Then wraps his fingers around the end of one horn to pull Lucien toward himself.]
When have you ever been worried about the risks...?
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Not the first trap I've disarmed with my face, I suppose.
[ moving easily with the tug on his horn, partially because it's attached to his skull so it's not like he's planning on going anywhere else without it, shifting an arm to hold himself up across his shoulders so he can lean down into a kiss, reaching his free hand up to viktor's cheek - pressing the thumb against the mole there. ]
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He smiles momentarily into the kiss because Lucien is an idiot, and even though he wants to voice this, his mouth becomes too preoccupied to do it. The first few kisses were new and awkward and exploratory. He still isn't great at it, but getting your first actual kiss from a fish dude under curse duress when the fish dude is decent at it really gives you a crash course, and what rules are there for kissing anyway.
This one is slower, longer, a kiss for learning Lucien and maybe learning himself, like opening a door and stepping in rather than simply standing on the outside.]
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there's no rules in kissing though and viktor's had a good beginner's curse-induced crash course. lucien is probably slightly less sharp thank a shark guy overall. he is also very practiced (whore) - but he's not trying to push anywhere too far or too fast. to be perfectly honest it's been a while for him and he doesn't mind the exploring, scientific study nature of it. if viktor learns anything it's that under all the hissing and spitting then lucien is probably a bit on the romantic side. it goes hand in hand with the theatrics. ]
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Knowing Lucien has a squishy center is half the reason Viktor bullies him so badly.
For what it's worth, going slow gradually builds Viktor's confidence. He figures out what he's supposed to do with his mouth and, more importantly, what he's supposed to do with his hands. He can kiss and twine Lucien's hair in his fingers, scratch his nails on the base of Lucien's scalp; he can kiss and feel Lucien's throat threaded with scars, fist his hand into Lucien's shirt and keep him there.]
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murmuring approval whenever viktor does something he likes, shifting to let him do whatever he'd like, encouraging, the pulse at his throat thrumming under his fingers. he runs a hand over viktor's waist - over the brace, fingers tracing the patterns of leather and metal, gentle, curious more than anything.
he can't really help but grin once the hand fists into his shirt, pressing himself closer at that - like it's an invitation. pulling back to take a break to catch his breath, and also because he can't stand not hearing the sound of his own voice for that long. reaching over to tuck some of viktor's hair behind an ear, the tips of his claws playing at the back of his neck. ]
Quick learner.
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It's like people can just turn their brains off when they make out, and this is wild to him as someone who never turns his brain off at all. Immediately, he gets embarrassed when Lucien leans back and he realizes that's exactly what happened. He actually blushes.
Trying to inconspicuously release Lucien's shirt...... He lowers his other hand to rest it on Lucien's forearm.
We can't all be experts in how to keep our mouths busy...
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he thinks that is very cute so he'd like to keep making him embarrased, reaching up to cup his chin in a hand, clicking his tongue at him. ]
I don't know what you're accusing me of here, I was always a very focused student.
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Focused on talking?
[He tries to push down playfully on the hand with his chin.]
You were definitely the type to sit behind me at the Academy and try distracting me, or try to get me to give you the answers even though you knew them already if you would just read the exam.
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this isn't actually true, he was an obsessive to the point of mentor figures begging him to please fucking relax a little which is honestly hilarious in a blood hunter context. like we know you want to pass this potentially deadly test of skill where you use your blood as magic and drink poison but have you considered gardening or taking a nice walk outside because you're stressing everyone around you out. but that's fine. he likes this version of himself that isn't wound so tightly on anxiety it's possible to do things like tease a friend during an exam (a regular, written one instead of shoving teens into owlbear caves). in a perfect world he probably would be. ]
Only because you'd be ruining the curve otherwise. It's for the greater good.
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He tips his head back just slightly, like he's resting it against the hand even if his head is on the bed already. Lucien gets a look of playful exasperation, but his hand rises to brush the fingertips on the side of Lucien's face. They catch down on Lucien's neck, and he pulls Lucien's head to his neck and chest, careful of the horns.
Both arms loop around Lucien's shoulders. He hugs him, holds him. Have either of them had a hug in a long time?]
If it happens again, we're going to end up being late and stuck in the hallway, and Throne will worry.
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he snorts a bit of amusement at both the expression and being pulled into the hug, but he moves easily into it - settling in, winding his free arm around his waist in return. no, he has not had a hug in a very long time. ]
Well, we wouldn't want that.
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I don't know who else will be there besides Temenos, [he says conversationally by Lucien's ear,] so... time to put on your "I love people" face.
[SO MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE.]
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I adore people. I love being crowded into a small area with a great deal of them who are all asking questions about my health.
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Try not to be too surly with them, yes? We're all having to share the same space unfortunately.
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Perhaps I've used up all of my charming on you today, hm?
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You best scrounge up some more from a hidden pocket then. I'm still not exactly sure why it was all used up on me.
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[ gently extracting himself from the hug after a minute, sitting up and pulling his coat over, inspecting the back of it. ]
And no promises.
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I'm making fun of your questionable tastes.
[At his own expense, naturally.
He isn't a seamstress, so the holes aren't immaculate, but they were done from the inside so the outer surface looks somewhat more natural. The fixed holes hide better because the color is dark.]
Find any charisma left in there?
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My cigarettes?
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They're in there.
[He picks up the needle so when he stands, he can carry it back of his desk and get it out of the way.]
You shouldn't smoke, you know. It's bad for you.
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I think the nine mages in my skull and the kidnapping to another plane to be exploited for free labor under threat of death is also quite bad for me, so in the grand picture, it's not striking much of a mark for me. [ scoffing anyway. ] I'm not a drinker and I don't care for gambling, so allow me one vice.
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[The tone is already teasing. He pretends to make a show of thoughtfulness.]
So you're saying I won't ever hear you sing because there's no way I'd be able to convince you to drink.
[The fact he is giving Lucien a hard time about this when he also does not drink.]
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I drink for pleasure, I just don't drink. The kind of drinking you do to drown the world and all its horrors behind a warm haze. I don't find it a useful salve for wounds of the psyche. Dulls the senses, loosens the tongue, doesn't fill the void. But I drank at that party didn't I?
I told you I'd bloody sing so sing I will, arsehole.
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