🕯️ ˚ ༘ 𝐕𝐈𝐊𝐓𝐎𝐑

*  /      hiiii genius wenus  <33
            (  @JACKP0TZ  )

*  /      MY SHAYLAAAAA

(  @heisaloser  )        —        patience ,  jayce .      [  it’s all too natural to relax into the councilor’s touch, relief warming his bad knee.  jayce’s weight against him is solid and firm, and he doesn’t hesitate to leisurely lean into the contact.  viktor tilts his face up to press a kiss to the corner of his jaw. a hum fills the silence, quiet and contented.
            
            they rest like that for a short while, eyes gradually adjusting to the gloom — and then a soft glow begins to fill the space.  small points of emerald light blink into view, scattered over the cavern’s walls.  they’re insects, bioluminescent and lampyrid.  boyish delight overtakes viktor’s features as he turns to watch them, lips parting.  he glances over at jayce, eyes shining, watching closely for his reaction.  ]      these are firelights .

@heraldedtech 
                          [jayce follows viktor quietly,  perplexed as to how the other knew this route so well.  was this where he went when he was younger?  such a thought made him realize he barely knew his partner at all.  or at least,  the smallest things about him.  such a detail wouldn't have mattered to someone typically,  but to jayce,  this was just as important to know.  the lighting began to dim,  but yet there was a comfortable feeling that warms the innermost portions of his chest.  jayce slowly settles down,  sitting beside viktor as he was told to do so.  a small,  relieved sigh escaping past his lips as his body leans against the other's shoulder.  the palm of his hand slides to viktor's knees,  rubbing it to offer some sort of ease.]    what is this?  is this where you usually go to or?

(  @heisaloser  )        —        [  he can still feel the warmth of the other’s palm at his waist even after they part, and he finds it to be simultaneously grounding and electrifying.  it’s certainly not the first time jayce’s hand has met his waist or his lower back, but it’s the first time viktor has allowed himself to recognize how much affection is in his gaze when he does so — which, inevitably, makes him loose with fondness as well.
            
            it’s undoubtedly further than a simple walk away, but viktor refuses to give up their destination as he leads jayce through the city and closer to piltover’s outskirts — even when he begins to clamber down the embankment of the pilt river.  in spite of his limited mobility, he makes his way over the rocks with familiarity and ease, continually providing jayce with verbal affirmation that they have nearly arrived.  eventually they come upon the mouth of a small cave, which viktor ducks inside without hesitation.  a small stream runs into the cavern, and he follows it with the weak light that comes in from the mouth.  once he finally seems satisfied with their position, he takes a seat on a larger rock, grimacing as he scratches his bad leg out in front of him and massages at his knee.  nevertheless, his gaze is expectant as he stares up at jayce in the gloom.  ]      come here .   sit .

the android startled  ,  whipping his head upwards to give a rabid shake of his head. a frantic denial towards the question. "of course not! I would never think of you that way  ... " the robot did not have the ability to cry  ,  something heimerdinger had apologized for already. instead a rare frown stretched across his face. the action a bit wobbly  ,  his fans still stuttering from his panic. "it's just  —  I was   /  made  /   to be that. my purpose was not to feel humane. I am a  ...  pleasant mistake  ,  is all."

(  @mechanized-  )        —        absolutely not .      [  the response is immediate.  his brow furrows in thought before he shakes his head, affirming his initial statement.  ]      whether wires and metal or flesh and bone ,  we are all defined by our bodies .   but they need not limit us .   do you believe that  * i *  am just a cripple ,  disguising my impediments with distractions ?
            
            
            *  /     sobs,, esai makes me feel so maternal

@heraldedtech ⸻         ᐥ      no,  but she was just cranky.    she didn’t get the chance to get her nap i’m afraid.    children are stubborn like that     (   …   )        i appreciate that,     it’s humble bare bones we have here.     i wish we didn’t have to move so often,   silo makes it—  well,   difficult.      is there something i can help you with today,    or are you stopping by?  〟     

(  @laKAUZ  )        eh . . .   i do not think the children agree .   is the vastayan child still crying ?
            
            what you have built here is admirable ,  truly .

You’re good with children.

(  @vaporizdastral  )        —        mm ?   ah ,  just more . . .  runic translations .   you don’t secretly harbor a knack for representative epexegesis ,  do you ?

@heraldedtech  
            
                 " She just doesn't want to leave Vander behind ... it's not her passion , I can tell you that — I will try to do so , she is seeing this kid — Ekko ? You know how love is , leaves you little time for other stuff ... I might just give them the tickets — planned date or something like that ... "      a sigh leaves his lips , followed by a little smile as he analyzes his next move , reaching for the glass with his drink and taking a sip from it. He finally moves his piece    " Everything is fine — the air is still a problem in the lower areas, but ... other than that ? Things are way better — don't you ever feel like going back ? It changed ... a lot "

(  @zaunbats  )        —        perhaps it is her greatest ambition to forge ahead in the field of mixology .   surely we should not deny her passions .   . . . will you be bringing her to the next convention ?      [  there’s a pause, an uplifted quirk at the corner of his mouth.  he slides his own piece into position and leans back with a languid roll of his shoulders.  ]      hm ,  you confuse me with my partner .   but . . .  yes .   tell me about the lanes .
            
            
            *  /      YIPPEE YIPPEE YIPPEE

** happyland stuff

(  @heisaloser  )        —        [  viktor’s own smile is light and genuine, easy.  he shrugs, giving a noise of affirmation.  ]      it IS shit .   what an astute observation .   perhaps that should be the basis of our next report to heimerdinger .

@heraldedtech 
                           [he looks up at viktor,  he attempts to show a smile.  although it doesn’t necessarily meet his eyes.]    i know.  or i hope so,  but this shit is     —sorry.    [he didn’t mean to slip out the curse word,  a pause.]

(  @heisaloser  )        —        mm .      [  he does not miss the other’s vexation.  he nudges their shoulders together as he stands, the action intentional though perhaps interpreted as accidental.  ]       we will crack it ,  jayce .   we are close .  i am certain .

   /     tomato!
            
            valerian squinted up at viktor  ,  as if that would somehow allow him to see the other. alas  ,  his loss of vision wouldn't change from such a trivial tactic. before answering the question  ,  he took viktor's hand once more  ,  placing it against his cheeks. something he'd never do but found to be a necessity in his delirious state. his hand was cold and it felt good against his feverish face. a means of comfort in multiple ways. touch  ,  temperature  ,  a reminder that this was real. he gave a little smile  ,  content despite the sickness that weighed him down. "mm  ..  yeah  ,  that's fine. thank you  ...  "  with a bit of a frown he released his hands  ,  shifting back against the pillow he had been resting on. 
            
            "sorry you saw me like this  ...  I'm gross right now. lots of snot and germs. you'll catch them if you're not careful." he joked  ,  voice lighter than it would usually be  ,  but teasing nonetheless. "don't feel obligated to stay  ,  okay? I'm a grown adult  ...  can take care of myself. probably." considering his plans were to sleep until he magically got better  ,  that might be debatable. he let out a little laugh at his own thoughts  ,  seemingly overly amused. the thought of that made him giggle even more. 

(  @barcodes-  )        —        [  he immediately stills as valerian latches onto his hand, allowing his fingers to be maneuvered however valerian needs.  he lets his touch linger as it returns to the other’s forehead, brushing his hair back and out of the way, and when val asks him to be louder, his mouth twitches in the slightest of smiles.  ]      yes ,  of course .   i will return in a moment .
            
            [  it doesn’t take viktor long to locate the cloths, and he’s careful to pull from those stored on the right.  he wets the fabric with efficiency, though he splashes the water around more than necessary, and when he returns to valerian’s side, he leans into the tapping of his cane and shuffle of his bad leg.  once he reaches the sofa’s edge, he hesitates for a moment, trying to determine the best way to take a seat without disturbing the other.  he eventually perches on the edge of the furniture, rubbing his fingers together so that valerian can track the movement as he lifts his hands back to valerian’s temple.  he presses the cool cloth to the other’s feverish brow.  ]      here .   is this alright ?
            
            
            *  /      is val a chicken dumping or tomato soup kinda guy 

   /     THE SUPERIOR GENRE!
            
            before the other could move away  ,  his hand reached up to clasp on to viktors. his hold was gentle despite the hastiness  ,  fingers trembling just a touch. valerian ran his fingers over the details he had stored away  ,  steadily relaxing the more that were accounted for. when he was done with his inspection he slowly lowered his hands  ,  finally offering a small smile in greeting.
            
            "glad it's you  ...  " his words were slightly slurred but noticeably less fearful than before. "they're in the bathroom cabinet  ,  don't use the ones on the left." they were rough and the thought of touching them was unpleasant. the cloths were separated by texture specifically for moments like this  ,  when his sense of touch was heighten. after a moment of thought and a bit of shuffling he got out his next words. "and ah  ...  would you mind making a little more noise as you move? I'm afraid I'm not hearing too well at the moment."

the young android immediately brightened at the approved entry  ,  a small skip in his step as he made his way over. "heimerdinger says secrets are necessary  ,  even with those you're close with." he looked down at his hand for a second  ,  the appendage eventually curling into an awkward thumbs up. he was still getting used to that one. "so I assure you that no   '  tattling  '   will be done." esai paused for a moment  ,  eyes squinted in thought before he continued. "as long as you don't tell him I was here. he advised me not to  ,  as you were meant to be grading  —  what I know know to be his  ,  papers."

(  @mechanized-  )        —        hello ,  esaities .      [  despite being interrupted, there is warmth in the scientist’s voice.  though he’s typically opposed to company while he works, he knows the android will not slow him down.  he beckons the other over,  long fingers curling in the air.  ]        of course you may  —  though you will not tattle to heimerdinger that i’m working on a personal project before i’ve finished grading his papers ,  will you ?      [  he’s only partially serious, his words sly.  ]

@heraldedtech  *  SORRY EXAMS OOPS IM ADDING NOW

*  /      liar where are you
            (  @buryhimgone  )

*  /      LOUD CHEERING
            (  @zaunbats  &  @mechanized-  )