[ There's no sense in even pretending he's not blushing. His face is so hot he's certain that more of his face is red than isn't. It reaches the tips of his ears and the back of his neck. He's used to the warmth of the forge but this -- it's so distinctly different and though he's not a stranger to the feeling -- well, he's certainly yet to experience it around Viktor.
And he can't even bring himself to ask Viktor to stop because he's not mad about it. He doesn't know if he wants him to. The other seems to be enjoying it, and if Jayce were honest, he is, too. It's a feeling that settles deep within his gut and he's pretty sure that something has unlocked inside him that he didn't know was there.
Logically, intellectually - he's very aware of what's going on. But that's currently being overridden by emotion and instinct. And when he gets out of the moment for a little while, he'll come to wholly realize it. But for now -- he's going for a ride he didn't know he was on and allowing himself to be pulled along it. After all, one shouldn't be opposed to some self-discovery.
And the way he's looking at Viktor still has that unmistakable yearning that he always has. Affection and fondness for the man who's teasing him and he's willingly participating in it. ]
I wouldn't mind. [ What? Listening to another's commands? Listening to Viktor's commands? ] I'd listen to your every command. [ He doesn't need to be a knight to do that. ] Not just because you're the Prince but because I want to.
[ He sees it as nothing more than a confession to his loyalty for Viktor. ]
[ Viktor's brain cannot compute what Jayce has just said to him, so he actually stares back at the other man with confusion written all over his face and in his eyes. I'd listen to your every command. Jayce Talis, what are you even saying??
Viktor can feel his face just overheat as he looks away, clearing his throat, because, hm. ] That's quite the proposition, Jayce. Quite dangerous, too.
[ Just going to ignore the hammering in his chest and the fact that a pool of heat has coiled itself down in the pit of his stomach. But he's probably teased the other man enough and at his own expense too, it seemed, somehow getting taken by surprise by Jayce's sincerity and overabundance of affection and honesty once again. Affection and adoration that he still doesn't understand entirely. Or why Jayce would so vehemently expose it to him like some offering to do with as he pleased when he hardly thought he was deserving of it in the first place.
He shifts a little in his seat, his eyes taking fleeting glances back at the other man, cheeks still hot. ] While the thought is tempting...
[ But Jayce does look ever so handsome with the color red staining his cheeks. He does lean in a bit closer, his eyes finally meeting Jayce's. ] I wouldn't wish to command you to do anything. I fear that in doing so, I would lose one of the parts of you that is rather endearing, albeit confusing at times.
[ Jayce's uncanny ability to catch him off guard. That spontaneity has been the cause of so many breakthroughs and strangely intriguing late-night discussions. ]
[ Jayce can feel his heart hammering mercilessly against his chest. Here he was, freely offering something to Viktor and getting a response like that. Even in a hypothetical, Viktor would never abuse his trust like that. It was hard to deny how fuzzy that made him feel about it all. His eyes softened a bit - still full of that want directed at the man looking into his eyes.
His legs weren't just feeling weak from the thought of what it would be like to replicate the images in that doujinshi (though if he were forced to admit it, that was something on his mind), it was from something else. Affection, maybe? The word hits him like nothing else had.
In all this time as partners and friends, had this thought been behind lock and key? Just waiting for something to turn and unlatch itself to be set free. For all the affection that Jayce has for the people around him - Mel, his mother, Caitlyn - the affection he has for Viktor is just as everything else is of Viktor's - uniquely his.
It reminds him of the day they met, like he's on the verge of some major discovery. So he has to keep at it. He tries to find the words, on the tip of his tongue. He's enjoying this conversation. He enjoys the pleasant heat that's settled deep in his core.
Does he want to look through more of them? See if he can find something else to catch his attention. Yes... but maybe he should do that on his own time. He's had a challenging enough time to pull himself from the image.
His heart is racing impossibly fast. Here is Viktor being so perfectly kind to him in ways that others weren't. In ways that weren't because they wanted and needed something of him. Endearing. Confusing. It's so perfectly said. ] I guess that's why we work so well together. Even when I'm confusing, you understand what I mean.
[ He thinks, at least. Viktor's probably the only person that can help Jayce shift his perspective easily. He finally shifts a few of the books to the side to peek over at what Viktor's working on. Refocus. ]
Of course. Your calculations and schematics, while a bit sloppy at times, have always been incredible and thought-provoking...but they've always made sense.
[ Said in a somewhat raspy whisper. Viktor's heart is much the same, especially with how close they're now sitting to each other. He can feel his palms getting sweaty as his breath hitches ever so slightly in his throat. At Jayce's words, Viktor can't help but smile, softly, and nod as he looks away towards the blueprints and the beginnings of a small copper body meant for their robot.
Right. Refocus, that's what he was busy with before Jayce arrived. ] Ah. Y-Yes, that's right. I was going through runic configurations for its intended movements. I don't think using the acceleration rune would be wise, unless we would like it to be flung across the segments at high velocity...
[ Which would not end well for their poor little robot. ]
[ It's challenging to recenter himself on actual work now. He's pretty sure he ruined hours of his work day with his curiosity. He'll have to make up for it later. But, he can at least pretend to be focused while he tries to get there. They're close, though. And though he's caught blushes and the teasing he wonders if Viktor is as flustered as he is. He has to be, right? He blushed and all of that.
And every time he tries to think, the image in that doujinshi comes back to his mind.
Then Viktor acting as his Prince. He had managed to calm himself down for only a few moments before his thoughts brought him back to the obvious blush. Still, he peeks over at Viktor's work. ]
Yeah. We should...probably not send it on a segments tour. We could try to balance a couple of different runes and... uh - see if that takes.
[ He's staring, but he doesn't fully realize it. He thinks about how beautiful Viktor is. Jayce is considering himself lucky to have him in his line of sight. He lets out an intentional breath. Thoughts for later. ]
Yes. Definitely not. [ Viktor is trying not to be distracted by the wildly inappropriate thoughts now careening through his mind, thanks to Jayce's little stunt. He should make him apologize for it, for now rendering him incapable of working on their project, but he bites his tongue. Admitting to that would be admitting to his feelings and thoughts about the other, and Viktor cannot do that right now, so he's just going to try and refocus back on his work.
It normally works, but with Jayce so close, there's a sort of tension in the air that is almost oppressive but thrumming with latent energy. He is more aware of Jayce's muscular body, his scent of cologne and soot from the forge, and his intentional breath does not go unnoticed. ]
I'll make some adjustments. [ His eyes finally tick back toward Jayce, the heat of his blush lingering on his cheeks as he does so. ] Unless you have any other suggestions?
Oh - I - [ It's hard to concentrate this close to Viktor right now. He's realized that the source of his confusion is Viktor. The reason that his heart is beating so quickly. The reason for the deep flush of pink on his cheeks. The reason that he's a little turned on right now. All sensations he's going to have to take some time to really think about it.
He'd never want to share things like that with Viktor without knowing it wasn't just some experience sparked by some horny books drawn by people fascinated with their partnership. It's not the appropriate time to let his thoughts settle into the book. So his attention shifts.
Focus. Robots. Work. Robots. Work. HexGems. Runes. Magic. Science. Okay - he thinks he's calmed down just enough to answer something. ]
I think that's the right way to go. [ Like most things they do, some tests need to be done. ] But we won't really know until we try it. But the good news is with one arm working right, the other should work similarly. Hell, figuring out the arms will probably make the legs easier, too. [ Not the same, probably, but similar! ]
Mm, yes. It should be easy to replicate, not just on the bot, but on whatever else we decide to make, too. I should like to run some field tests to make sure the oscillations are stabilizing properly...
[ He will idly twirl a piece of hair with a finger as he speaks, jotting down notes on a spare piece of paper. ] Once we figure out the stabilization pattern needed, everything else will fall into place.
[ His cheeks are still rosy as he looks back at Jayce, turning his head ever so slightly to give him a small smile. ] This reminds me of the past. It's...enjoyable doing this again with you, together, as partners.
Yeah... same. [ Jayce manages to say it confidently. He did miss this a lot. He always felt so at ease working with Viktor. He always felt comfortable and confident in their work. And while he was good with the social aspect that was necessary, this was by far his preferred state.
But honestly, he's finding himself paying far more attention to Viktor in this moment instead of the work itself. Watching as those strands of hair wrap around his finger and he seems to not realizing what he's doing. He's paying attention to the shape of his hands, the way he writes, and -- oh, Viktor's looking at him again.
Without hesitation, he sits upright, hands folding directly on the desk in front of him. His back stiff, clearly a position he had just snapped into to pull himself from his staring. His face is a shade of pink, showing that he's undeniably flustered. What was Viktor saying beyond enjoying this time again?
Shit. Oh right. Stabilization pattern. Finally, he draws out a few runes on a piece of paper. It's a simple series - only four. ]
This is kind of where you were going but maybe -- [ Taps the third one. ] This one? Is something else.
[ It's fine. He's fine. He's totally not turned on and can't chill out. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
And he can't even bring himself to ask Viktor to stop because he's not mad about it. He doesn't know if he wants him to. The other seems to be enjoying it, and if Jayce were honest, he is, too. It's a feeling that settles deep within his gut and he's pretty sure that something has unlocked inside him that he didn't know was there.
Logically, intellectually - he's very aware of what's going on. But that's currently being overridden by emotion and instinct. And when he gets out of the moment for a little while, he'll come to wholly realize it. But for now -- he's going for a ride he didn't know he was on and allowing himself to be pulled along it. After all, one shouldn't be opposed to some self-discovery.
And the way he's looking at Viktor still has that unmistakable yearning that he always has. Affection and fondness for the man who's teasing him and he's willingly participating in it. ]
I wouldn't mind. [ What? Listening to another's commands? Listening to Viktor's commands? ] I'd listen to your every command. [ He doesn't need to be a knight to do that. ] Not just because you're the Prince but because I want to.
[ He sees it as nothing more than a confession to his loyalty for Viktor. ]
no subject
Viktor can feel his face just overheat as he looks away, clearing his throat, because, hm. ] That's quite the proposition, Jayce. Quite dangerous, too.
[ Just going to ignore the hammering in his chest and the fact that a pool of heat has coiled itself down in the pit of his stomach. But he's probably teased the other man enough and at his own expense too, it seemed, somehow getting taken by surprise by Jayce's sincerity and overabundance of affection and honesty once again. Affection and adoration that he still doesn't understand entirely. Or why Jayce would so vehemently expose it to him like some offering to do with as he pleased when he hardly thought he was deserving of it in the first place.
He shifts a little in his seat, his eyes taking fleeting glances back at the other man, cheeks still hot. ] While the thought is tempting...
[ But Jayce does look ever so handsome with the color red staining his cheeks. He does lean in a bit closer, his eyes finally meeting Jayce's. ] I wouldn't wish to command you to do anything. I fear that in doing so, I would lose one of the parts of you that is rather endearing, albeit confusing at times.
[ Jayce's uncanny ability to catch him off guard. That spontaneity has been the cause of so many breakthroughs and strangely intriguing late-night discussions. ]
no subject
His legs weren't just feeling weak from the thought of what it would be like to replicate the images in that doujinshi (though if he were forced to admit it, that was something on his mind), it was from something else. Affection, maybe? The word hits him like nothing else had.
In all this time as partners and friends, had this thought been behind lock and key? Just waiting for something to turn and unlatch itself to be set free. For all the affection that Jayce has for the people around him - Mel, his mother, Caitlyn - the affection he has for Viktor is just as everything else is of Viktor's - uniquely his.
It reminds him of the day they met, like he's on the verge of some major discovery. So he has to keep at it. He tries to find the words, on the tip of his tongue. He's enjoying this conversation. He enjoys the pleasant heat that's settled deep in his core.
Does he want to look through more of them? See if he can find something else to catch his attention. Yes... but maybe he should do that on his own time. He's had a challenging enough time to pull himself from the image.
His heart is racing impossibly fast. Here is Viktor being so perfectly kind to him in ways that others weren't. In ways that weren't because they wanted and needed something of him. Endearing. Confusing. It's so perfectly said. ] I guess that's why we work so well together. Even when I'm confusing, you understand what I mean.
[ He thinks, at least. Viktor's probably the only person that can help Jayce shift his perspective easily. He finally shifts a few of the books to the side to peek over at what Viktor's working on. Refocus. ]
Are you working on the bot?
no subject
[ Said in a somewhat raspy whisper. Viktor's heart is much the same, especially with how close they're now sitting to each other. He can feel his palms getting sweaty as his breath hitches ever so slightly in his throat. At Jayce's words, Viktor can't help but smile, softly, and nod as he looks away towards the blueprints and the beginnings of a small copper body meant for their robot.
Right. Refocus, that's what he was busy with before Jayce arrived. ] Ah. Y-Yes, that's right. I was going through runic configurations for its intended movements. I don't think using the acceleration rune would be wise, unless we would like it to be flung across the segments at high velocity...
[ Which would not end well for their poor little robot. ]
no subject
And every time he tries to think, the image in that doujinshi comes back to his mind.
Then Viktor acting as his Prince. He had managed to calm himself down for only a few moments before his thoughts brought him back to the obvious blush. Still, he peeks over at Viktor's work. ]
Yeah. We should...probably not send it on a segments tour. We could try to balance a couple of different runes and... uh - see if that takes.
[ He's staring, but he doesn't fully realize it. He thinks about how beautiful Viktor is. Jayce is considering himself lucky to have him in his line of sight. He lets out an intentional breath. Thoughts for later. ]
no subject
It normally works, but with Jayce so close, there's a sort of tension in the air that is almost oppressive but thrumming with latent energy. He is more aware of Jayce's muscular body, his scent of cologne and soot from the forge, and his intentional breath does not go unnoticed. ]
I'll make some adjustments. [ His eyes finally tick back toward Jayce, the heat of his blush lingering on his cheeks as he does so. ] Unless you have any other suggestions?
no subject
He'd never want to share things like that with Viktor without knowing it wasn't just some experience sparked by some horny books drawn by people fascinated with their partnership. It's not the appropriate time to let his thoughts settle into the book. So his attention shifts.
Focus. Robots. Work. Robots. Work. HexGems. Runes. Magic. Science. Okay - he thinks he's calmed down just enough to answer something. ]
I think that's the right way to go. [ Like most things they do, some tests need to be done. ] But we won't really know until we try it. But the good news is with one arm working right, the other should work similarly. Hell, figuring out the arms will probably make the legs easier, too. [ Not the same, probably, but similar! ]
no subject
[ He will idly twirl a piece of hair with a finger as he speaks, jotting down notes on a spare piece of paper. ] Once we figure out the stabilization pattern needed, everything else will fall into place.
[ His cheeks are still rosy as he looks back at Jayce, turning his head ever so slightly to give him a small smile. ] This reminds me of the past. It's...enjoyable doing this again with you, together, as partners.
[ He has missed it more than he lets on. ]
no subject
But honestly, he's finding himself paying far more attention to Viktor in this moment instead of the work itself. Watching as those strands of hair wrap around his finger and he seems to not realizing what he's doing. He's paying attention to the shape of his hands, the way he writes, and -- oh, Viktor's looking at him again.
Without hesitation, he sits upright, hands folding directly on the desk in front of him. His back stiff, clearly a position he had just snapped into to pull himself from his staring. His face is a shade of pink, showing that he's undeniably flustered. What was Viktor saying beyond enjoying this time again?
Shit. Oh right. Stabilization pattern. Finally, he draws out a few runes on a piece of paper. It's a simple series - only four. ]
This is kind of where you were going but maybe -- [ Taps the third one. ] This one? Is something else.
[ It's fine. He's fine. He's totally not turned on and can't chill out. ]