[ alive alive alive. definitely alive. winding a hand into the back of his hair and sort of laughing when he has to pull back - but swept up in it again too after viktor leans back in.
eventually he does have to breathe if he wants to continue being alive, so he breaks away, keeping his forehead pressed to his. ]
[ pushing fluffy hair out of his face, trying to tuck it behind his ears where it'll just pop out again in a few seconds. he can cry if he wants to, it's probably healthy. ]
I'm okay-- I'm fine. You're alright?
[ he can't pull back all that much but he'll look down to check him for injuries. ]
Lucien doesn't get any opportunity to see much because Viktor immediately burrows his face into Lucien's shoulder, turning it inward toward Lucien's neck. He doesn't sob because he isn't, like, heartbroken, but he does cry a lil because he's RELIEVED. Lucien can have some wetness on his neck.]
[ yeah that's alright. wrapping his arms around his shoulders instead, pulling him in close enough he can just support his weight and let him lean there. he isn't sure relief is what he's feeling yet as much as a release of weeks of tension, which isn't quite the same thing, but it's getting there. ]
[Shoving himself into Lucien enough to assimilate. He stays there for a long while, though not too long it's obnoxious. Long enough to draw in a few deep breaths of Lucien's skin and readjust.
Finally, he loosens himself enough to straighten up. Gently wipes at his eyes between them.]
[ he can really stay there as long as he wants lucien isn't about to evict him and is not keeping track of the time. sort of spacing out and enjoying the proximity for a bit. I don't know what dried blood and astropulvis smell like. ozone-y like magic, maybe.
BARKING a laugh at that. ]
I did, and it felt damned good for the record.
[ he was not there to witness viktor completely fumble this moment. the twink debuff. ]
[Thank god Lucien is as brain empty as the rest of them in these moments. He really wants to yank on Lucien's ear, or bite him, but he's thankfully too tired. Lucien did NOT get to see him fumble, and that's for the best.
He is a bad wizard and also a bad fucking marksman.
He tips his head forward and kind of nuzzle Lucien's face briefly.]
Yes.
[He loosens his iron hold finally, enough Lucien can move about.]
[ god that's sweet. leaning in to kiss him again briefly because it he is there and he is alive and that is a good enough reason, but he'll pull back - taking him by the hand to wander off somewhere hopefully private. away from the tourists and exhausted crew. ]
[That is a good enough reason for him, too, so he accepts the kiss given. His long fingers lace with Lucien's, and he follows along after. He's a bit slow, but not too bad he can't get wherever they're going.
His laugh is short and airy.]
We do... Have you even thought about anything?
[Saying like he doesn't know Lucien can't STOP thinking which is half Lucien's problem.]
[ he never stops thinking, which is half the problem. squeezing the hand. he's not rushing him anywhere, they can walk slow. ]
I don't know. I suppose I was thinking of our inevitable oblivion and putting off any actual final consideration on such things because, well, if oblivion happened, it would have been a waste of time to spend, aye?
[ but also he has been obsessing. ]
How do you feel about-- I don't know if it will be possible, but I know they can do it, somehow, I mean, surely they brought us all here, there is some sort of Planar travel happening-- [ he's birdwalking. ] I've never much been one for staying still. I don't know how you feel about travel. If you ... wanted to stay in one place, I would learn, I suppose, but I wouldn't mind perhaps a choice that is less of one choice forever. And the same as yourself, there are people I would prefer to not have to bid goodbye to forever.
[Lucien is flustered with uncertainty...? It's very cute actually. Gap moe. It pulls a small smile to the corner of Viktor's lips.]
I did say I would go wherever you go. [Idiod.] That also means... if you just keep going, and going, and going.
[He's gotten to know Lucien pretty well, and he can tell Lucien is not the type to anchor in a single port. Viktor is someone who has grown used to staying in one place, but only because a physical deformity shaped a mental one. He thought that's all there was for him, to be ball-and-chained to an Academy, to a inventive partnership.]
... Even in Exandria. If I get the Eyes taken care of, I suppose we could head back. And besides-- there's solutions for your stuff, right? I know it's a mage thing, but they can make these ... spaces. Bigger on the inside and such. The right Enchanter for the right price, I'm sure. At least I can probably put enough gold together for a Bag of Holding for tools and whatnot that you want to carry around.
[ so he has been thinking about this A LOT. viktor already said yes so he's just arguing for no reason. ]
[Yeah, okay, this is incredibly cute. And touching? It's difficult to reconcile the idea someone else is thinking kindly about him... Though he's had about seven or so weeks of getting it dumped on top of him.
He slows to a gentle stop, but makes him arm rigid so Lucien stops, and then he pulls Lucien back to him by the hand. His other hand lifts to take Lucien's face, and he gives Lucien a very kind and appreciative, soft sort of kiss on the lips.
[ he is interrupted in another rambling spew about finding passage on an airship to Emon, probably, or maybe even taking a stop in Rexxentrum to see if his sister will speak to him. it was embarrassing and personal and the kiss helps.
he is not a naturally kind person. not like some of the people here, for which kindness seems second nature. it doesn't come easy to think of others or try and put them first, because his first, second and third natures are all rage and ice and spite. but he really, truly does want viktor to be happy. so maybe it means something he's willing to try kindness for it.
the tug to a stop surprises him but the kiss not so much, leaning into it and staying close once it stops. ]
He laughs quietly between them. Yes, he is stuck with Lucien. His thumb fondly brushes Lucien's cheek and the corner of Lucien's lips.]
You're stuck with me, too.
[He gives him another peck of a kiss, then releases him. Not the hand, though, he is still holding that.]
Tell me more about where we're going. [He doesn't mind Lucien's over-thinking and anxious prattle planning.] Are you trying to show me off to your sister...?
Sure, aye, but I spent too much time trying to stick you to me to complain about that.
[ there's a lot of trepidation about even discussing going back to exandria, and a lot more optimism (well, optimism for Lucien) about thinking of going other places, but he's been sort of caught up in it. the sticking point turns into a bit of fear about going and getting stuck some place where there's zero other tieflings or anything that even looks like a tiefling and he sticks out like a sore thumb. ]
We haven't spoken in about five years and I've died twice in the interim, so I imagine whatever she thinks of you will be nothing compared to hating me.
[ she'd cut him off so maybe its just adrenaline talking that she'd even speak to him at all. ]
[Viktor wonders if she might like the slightly new Lucien, but he can't say.]
You don't know that. Not until you try. And even if she does... I'll be here.
[He is not a stand-in for a sister, for family, but he is here to return to if it doesn't work out. Lucien might be a bad influence as an uncle, though.]
...I'm going to need several bodies to keep up with you, I think.
[He smiles at the joke, but it's a little weak at the edges.]
I'm not going to be around forever, you know. [JUST... mentioning it, not to rain on his parade.] You probably live a lot longer than me, right? We do get old pretty fast.
[Well, like, fifty or sixty years is a long time actually, but it is faster for people who live a lot longer. This isn't even touching the fact he only had about one left before he had so many options of fixing it.]
I know you mentioned-- the bomb and such, but if could go back-- I'd obviously go with you, if you wanted to.
[ HIS CITY HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS ......... but he might want to see it. ]
I'm not an elf or a gnome or something. [ me shaking in five different lore books saying six different things. ig tieflings can live from anywhere from "a few years longer than humans" to 150 which is a terrifyingly large range. lucien himself has never once thought about it because he thought he'd just die in a ditch somewhere after losing a fight. ] Of course it's okay. Just ... stick around as long as possible. And I will too.
[Runeterra has SO MANY problems, and a lot of them are in Piltover and Zaun.]
We'll figure it out together.
[They are still kind of lunatics, so who is to say they won't fall into a pit of immortality together. It can happen. They're becoming vagabonds, there is no way Lucien won't get them into MORE ancient, terrible artifacts and ruins.]
I don't mind showing you where I'm from... If you wanted. I don't have to go back, but... I wouldn't mind seeing... at least once.
Perhaps I would have something to help Zaun with by then.
[ lucien won't get them into ancient terrible artifacts? lucien will be solely at fault? this is definitely a situation where they will both be causing problems and it might be necessary for this game to have world hop because they are going to destroy at least a few of them. ]
If I'm dragging you into my mess, only fair to go see yours.
[DON'T JUST ASSIGN THEM WORLD DESTROYERS!!! OOOOOOOO, HATE IT HERE! WHO RELEASED THE LUNATICS OUT INTO THE COSMIC SEA?!?!??! STOP THEM! TAKE THEM OUT!]
You better be careful, or I'll hold you to that.
[He's teasing. He'll drag Lucien to Runeterra when Lucien gets tired of Exandria. Then again, they are... sort of similar in a lot of ways which is hilarious. It'd be jumping from one shithole to another.]
[ do you think about how between the two of them they have 20 million dollars, two wishes and unlimited world hops? they're going to be unstoppable supervillains I'm so sorry to say this.
and yeah runeterra and exandria are sooooo similar down to a lot of the fucked up problems they have. blow them both up. who cares anymore. ]
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eventually he does have to breathe if he wants to continue being alive, so he breaks away, keeping his forehead pressed to his. ]
What the fuck was any of that.
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I don't know.
[SO MUCH FUCKING HAPPENED. He digs his fingers into the clothes of Lucien's back gently, clutching. His eyes are wet when he opens them!!]
No more temples of despair. No more flesh, no more rats. [HE'S DONE!] Are you okay? I'm glad you're okay...
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[ pushing fluffy hair out of his face, trying to tuck it behind his ears where it'll just pop out again in a few seconds. he can cry if he wants to, it's probably healthy. ]
I'm okay-- I'm fine. You're alright?
[ he can't pull back all that much but he'll look down to check him for injuries. ]
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Lucien doesn't get any opportunity to see much because Viktor immediately burrows his face into Lucien's shoulder, turning it inward toward Lucien's neck. He doesn't sob because he isn't, like, heartbroken, but he does cry a lil because he's RELIEVED. Lucien can have some wetness on his neck.]
I'm alright...
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Alright. Good.
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Finally, he loosens himself enough to straighten up. Gently wipes at his eyes between them.]
Well. You got to fire your stupid cannon.
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BARKING a laugh at that. ]
I did, and it felt damned good for the record.
[ he was not there to witness viktor completely fumble this moment. the twink debuff. ]
... Come on, you want to sit down somewhere?
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He is a bad wizard and also a bad fucking marksman.
He tips his head forward and kind of nuzzle Lucien's face briefly.]
Yes.
[He loosens his iron hold finally, enough Lucien can move about.]
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Suppose we have to actually make decisions now.
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His laugh is short and airy.]
We do... Have you even thought about anything?
[Saying like he doesn't know Lucien can't STOP thinking which is half Lucien's problem.]
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I don't know. I suppose I was thinking of our inevitable oblivion and putting off any actual final consideration on such things because, well, if oblivion happened, it would have been a waste of time to spend, aye?
[ but also he has been obsessing. ]
How do you feel about-- I don't know if it will be possible, but I know they can do it, somehow, I mean, surely they brought us all here, there is some sort of Planar travel happening-- [ he's birdwalking. ] I've never much been one for staying still. I don't know how you feel about travel. If you ... wanted to stay in one place, I would learn, I suppose, but I wouldn't mind perhaps a choice that is less of one choice forever. And the same as yourself, there are people I would prefer to not have to bid goodbye to forever.
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I did say I would go wherever you go. [Idiod.] That also means... if you just keep going, and going, and going.
[He's gotten to know Lucien pretty well, and he can tell Lucien is not the type to anchor in a single port. Viktor is someone who has grown used to staying in one place, but only because a physical deformity shaped a mental one. He thought that's all there was for him, to be ball-and-chained to an Academy, to a inventive partnership.]
...I don't mind seeing the cosmos with you.
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I don't know if it would be forever, but ... for now. Then you'd get to see the places you wanted to and such. Sidon's world. Throné's. Whoever else. And there's things I want to show you.
... Even in Exandria. If I get the Eyes taken care of, I suppose we could head back. And besides-- there's solutions for your stuff, right? I know it's a mage thing, but they can make these ... spaces. Bigger on the inside and such. The right Enchanter for the right price, I'm sure. At least I can probably put enough gold together for a Bag of Holding for tools and whatnot that you want to carry around.
[ so he has been thinking about this A LOT. viktor already said yes so he's just arguing for no reason. ]
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He slows to a gentle stop, but makes him arm rigid so Lucien stops, and then he pulls Lucien back to him by the hand. His other hand lifts to take Lucien's face, and he gives Lucien a very kind and appreciative, soft sort of kiss on the lips.
When he pulls back, his smile is genuine.]
Thank you.
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he is not a naturally kind person. not like some of the people here, for which kindness seems second nature. it doesn't come easy to think of others or try and put them first, because his first, second and third natures are all rage and ice and spite. but he really, truly does want viktor to be happy. so maybe it means something he's willing to try kindness for it.
the tug to a stop surprises him but the kiss not so much, leaning into it and staying close once it stops. ]
Don't thank me yet, you're stuck with me.
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He laughs quietly between them. Yes, he is stuck with Lucien. His thumb fondly brushes Lucien's cheek and the corner of Lucien's lips.]
You're stuck with me, too.
[He gives him another peck of a kiss, then releases him. Not the hand, though, he is still holding that.]
Tell me more about where we're going. [He doesn't mind Lucien's over-thinking and anxious prattle planning.] Are you trying to show me off to your sister...?
I'm sure I will look like a bone scrap to her.
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[ there's a lot of trepidation about even discussing going back to exandria, and a lot more optimism (well, optimism for Lucien) about thinking of going other places, but he's been sort of caught up in it. the sticking point turns into a bit of fear about going and getting stuck some place where there's zero other tieflings or anything that even looks like a tiefling and he sticks out like a sore thumb. ]
We haven't spoken in about five years and I've died twice in the interim, so I imagine whatever she thinks of you will be nothing compared to hating me.
[ she'd cut him off so maybe its just adrenaline talking that she'd even speak to him at all. ]
It won't be as beautiful as Sidon's world, and I doubt it will be as peaceful as Throné's now, but there's still parts of it I haven't seen. I've never left Wildemount. So could be interesting, to see what's out there.
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You don't know that. Not until you try. And even if she does... I'll be here.
[He is not a stand-in for a sister, for family, but he is here to return to if it doesn't work out. Lucien might be a bad influence as an uncle, though.]
...I'm going to need several bodies to keep up with you, I think.
[He smiles at the joke, but it's a little weak at the edges.]
I'm not going to be around forever, you know. [JUST... mentioning it, not to rain on his parade.] You probably live a lot longer than me, right? We do get old pretty fast.
[Well, like, fifty or sixty years is a long time actually, but it is faster for people who live a lot longer. This isn't even touching the fact he only had about one left before he had so many options of fixing it.]
Are you sure that's okay...?
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[ HIS CITY HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS ......... but he might want to see it. ]
I'm not an elf or a gnome or something. [ me shaking in five different lore books saying six different things. ig tieflings can live from anywhere from "a few years longer than humans" to 150 which is a terrifyingly large range. lucien himself has never once thought about it because he thought he'd just die in a ditch somewhere after losing a fight. ] Of course it's okay. Just ... stick around as long as possible. And I will too.
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We'll figure it out together.
[They are still kind of lunatics, so who is to say they won't fall into a pit of immortality together. It can happen. They're becoming vagabonds, there is no way Lucien won't get them into MORE ancient, terrible artifacts and ruins.]
I don't mind showing you where I'm from... If you wanted. I don't have to go back, but... I wouldn't mind seeing... at least once.
Perhaps I would have something to help Zaun with by then.
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If I'm dragging you into my mess, only fair to go see yours.
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You better be careful, or I'll hold you to that.
[He's teasing. He'll drag Lucien to Runeterra when Lucien gets tired of Exandria. Then again, they are... sort of similar in a lot of ways which is hilarious. It'd be jumping from one shithole to another.]
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and yeah runeterra and exandria are sooooo similar down to a lot of the fucked up problems they have. blow them both up. who cares anymore. ]
Promise?