abraxaslogs | [open] july catchall

[ Kyle leans forward in his seat and looks for a moment like he might try to snatch the false dessert out of his hand, but manages to stop himself while scowling, then looking thoughtfully at the wax flower in Viktor's possession. ]

Or a souvenir? If they're only going to throw them away when we're done...

[ He supposes they could reuse them, though the Arcanis at least presents an appearance of an establishment that wouldn't be so misery. With a small grin he plucks another faintly glowing fake flower - an orange one, and slips it into one of his many pockets.

Not such a waste, then. ]

Careful.

[Putting it in a pocket seems like a good way for it to get smushed, and Viktor would be lying if he said he didn't find them pretty. Very pleasing to look at. He'll take another and inspect it closely, smiling a little to himself before setting it aside.

Despite the fact that they really should eat the real food, Viktor is now mostly interested in the desserts, leaning in like he's preparing to make a selection.]

Does anything else strike you as purely decorative?

[Mostly a joke. But Viktor is not necessarily accustomed to fancy outings such as these, and maybe he should find all the wax flowers, first.]

I am always careful. [ He gently pats the pocket, the spike of embarrassment he felt a minute ago long gone, and he counters with a grin: ] You remember to be careful...

[ Later, when he inevitably gets distracted and forgets its in his pocket. Under the table he hooks Viktor's good ankle with his own, like it is something easy to do without thinking, and not still so very new to do out in the real world - out where someone might notice them.

The question he takes seriously, at least for a second, before reaching for a strawberry topped with some sort of cream - which he pops into his mouth without fear as though he didn't just eat a piece of wax. When he first arrived in Abraxas from Basawar he had to take eating more slowly, but now he savors it in his mouth just to enjoy the taste. ]

So far so good.

[Viktor raises an eyebrow that clearly says are you, though, but there's still some fondness in the expression. Kyle nudging him underneath the table has him flinch, briefly, in surprise, but he quickly decides that it's nice, and nudges back. Maybe there's some concern, about openly flirting in public, but Viktor has his hand and forearm exposed for this outing as a sort of test run, so probably people will notice that first, before any displays of affection.

He's still getting used to it. Weaning himself out of the gloves seems like a good start--also less messy when he decides to grab a little dessert for himself.]

When was the last time you were able to do this?

[Viktor suspects something like this would be a rare ocurrence for someone like Kyle, if he ever indulged at all. Not that he's really one to talk, given his propensity to focus on work at the expense of everything else.]

[ He cants his head to one side, as though uncertain as to what's specifically being asked before he gives a small shrug. ]

What? Go out? I go out all the time. [ When he's not in jail. He lets out a light huff. ] I've probably wandered in and out of every shop, tavern and cafe in Borrel, Nott and the castle city.

[ He likes exploring, he likes experiencing new things. But it's true, sitting and relaxing isn't usually something he's good at, and he wouldn't spend money on a meal like this except for someone else. Most of his friends aren't exactly the type that like to leave the castle often of their own volition, though, and the common interests he's shared with his more intimate companions haven't included sitting across a table and chatting. ]

Yes, but. With anyone?

[Viktor isn't asking about other romances, since he arrived here, though that's certainly part of the question. He knows about John, of course, but he might be curious about the time between Kyle's arrival in Abraxas and their actual meeting. It's with some regret that he admits not reaching out to Kyle until his interest in other worlds became relevant, and he still doesn't know much about his day-to-day in Thorne.

It's probably not hard to guess that the last time Viktor did this was with Jayce. He offers a sheepish smile.]

I admit my friends are usually bringing things to me. [Because he spends all of his time in his workshop, of course, though he does make time to visit certain merchants and fellow inventors.] I don't usually, eh...go out like this.

[ They have a number of friends in common, so it's not hard to imagine someone like Hilda or Claude making frequent stops at the workshop.

He takes a longer pause to think about how to answer the question of with anyone. ]

Sometimes. I had friends who lived in Nott instead of the castle, I would visit them when I could. Lately, I might convince someone to go with me to the city if I notice they haven't left the library in weeks...

[ This could apply to at least one or two people at any given time. Another pause, then it's his turn to look sheepish: ]

For a little while there was a tavern I'd go to in the castle city some nights. The lights were dim and the music was loud. It wasn't very good for talking. [ He laughs at himself, lowering his gaze to the table. ] So, not really like this. With someone.

[ His gaze flicks back up as he tries to read Viktor's expression. ]

[He can only assume Kyle means Rhy and Kell, unless there are others who moved to Nott that Viktor isn't aware of. He knows that he has something of a blind spot, when it comes to the Thorne summoned--with a few exceptions, he doesn't really interest himself in the goings-on of the castle. Now, he should, for a variety of reasons.

Viktor likes the idea of browsing the shops and cafes in Nott or Borrel, just as he enjoys the idea of showing Kyle all the workshops and laboratories in Cadens and Libertas and Aquila. Not possible, of course, but maybe there are some residual memories of doing just that, when Kyle came to stay with him in the Free Cities.]

I think you'd have to drag me out of Thorne's libraries, too, if I ever found myself there.

[He's less an academic, nowadays, but he'd still devour that volume of knowledge, even if they both know it's carefully curated. Viktor isn't naïve about the nature of such taverns, either--he can easily read between the lines, but it's not like he's going to judge Kyle for that sort of thing. He tries to offer a reassuring glance.]

It's new for me, too. But I like it.

[ He gives a grin and teases: ]

I'd expect to. Lucky I've had all this practice already.

[ There aren't any libraries to be found in Luna, but maybe they'll find something in Ikorr if they decide to visit there next time, or something else entirely unexpected. He too vaguely remembers of when they sometimes traveled together in that other life, and most of what remains is glimpses of Viktor's expressions rather than anything they saw.

His brow furrows slightly as though he's almost surprised when Viktor says this is new for him too, and he's reminded how little he knows about his relationship with Jayce. He keeps himself from asking now, though, uncertain how to navigate those questions, and even less certain Viktor wants to talk about any of it.

Easier to focus on how pleased he is to hear him say he likes this too, and pluck another strawberry from the dessert plates, pausing before he eats it. ]

I like this too. I like being strange with you.

[With Istredd, Viktor presumes, and it's sort of funny to imagine Kyle trying to drag the man away from his books. He resolves not to be so difficult, should they ever find themselves in a library together, and entertains the fleeting idea of showing Kyle some particularly interesting papers. Reading to him, maybe.

He takes it as a good sign, that he's already thinking about what they might do next.]

Is this strange? [Sitting at a restaurant, ordering lunch and then eating dessert first. It feels normal, all things considered, which Viktor likes for the novelty of it.] What sort of strange things might you like to do next?

[ The lunch isn't strange - they are both a little strange, but Viktor doesn't make him feel that way. Instead of trying to explain, he eats his strawberry with another grin and then attempts to consider his actual plate of food before it gets too cold. ]

Not only strange things. [ He thinks for a minute while he takes his fork and knife in hand, cutting his eggs and steak into smaller pieces. ]

On the beach here, I remember there were little pools in the rock where the water gets trapped. Tiny fish and things that lived in there. [ He tilts his head, indicating past the dock toward the shoreline. ] It's not so far. Or there's always the spa on the ship.

[ Even less of a walk, though personally Kyle isn't in the mood to have strangers touch him right now. ]

[Given tacit permission to eat something besides dessert, Viktor...continues to eat dessert. He's still working on the little cake, managing to turn something that should have been one bite into two, chewing thoughtfully as he considers their next course of action.]

I like the beach. [And inspecting strange creatures that live in tide pools, apparently.] But I'm unsteady on the sand, so I might need your assistance.

[A not-so-subtle flirtation, maybe. An invitation for Kyle to walk him down to the tide pools with a hand at the small of his back.]

I've been to the spa. It's fine. That sort of thing has always felt...excessive, to me. Too indulgent.

[Piltie nonsense, he'd called it. Viktor doesn't really want to be hovered over by strangers, either.]

Edited 2024-08-25 16:54 (UTC)

[ Kyle supposes he would choose cake over cold soup too, and he observes without commentary, taking note of how Viktor stretches out a portion. It's in part an automatic behavior on Kyle's part to pay attention details, all people are puzzles, an amalgamation of little habits they may or may not even be aware of themselves. He tries not to make it obvious, at least, knowing Viktor doesn't like being scrutinized in general. He shifts his focus to his own plate, not exactly savoring it the way he did with the fruit and cream. ]

I can probably manage that. [ He says this with another smile pulling at the edges of his lips. One way or another he's been grinning since they got here, it's easy enough to see that he's genuinely relaxed now and enjoying himself. He teases: ]

But eating dessert for lunch is just indulgent enough. [ He cleans off his fork in his mouth and reaches with it for another little cake, sectioning off a piece of eating it. ] I see.

[The truth is that Viktor does not necessarily derive his pleasure from food, and therefore prefers dessert, though now that the cake is finished he'll be a responsible adult and work on the food that he ordered. If he notices he's being scrutinized, he doesn't show it--Viktor is more focused on the fact that Kyle seems to be enjoying himself.]

If I had my way, I would photosynthesize. Like a plant.

[Obviously a joke on several levels, because Viktor doesn't exactly spend much time in the sun, either.]

But then I wouldn't be able to have dessert. So.

[He's allowed one indulgence, apparently, and it's this.]

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