Viktor seems a little surprised when Jayce tries to rip the tendrils away and does it easily, but of course they continue inching upward with little interruption. His eyes flick down to them as they snake back around his waist, but he doesn't seem to be alarmed, not in the way Jayce is.

"It's okay," he says, but instead of leaning into the hand on his shoulder in preparation to stand, he rests his palm against Jayce's cheek. Viktor knows he can't tell Jayce to go on without him, because he'll refuse. It leaves them at something of an impasse, but sooner or later the choice will be made for them, either way. "You can't protect me from everything."

Not the least of which is his current desire to simply let this happen. He's been fighting for so long, and they've bought him time, yes, but only with stop-gap methods that wear off. The rest of his work, a more permanent solution, stymied by bureaucracy, the same as it was back home. Why even make an effort to leave the Horizon? He only wishes Jayce would save himself, and the frustration makes its way onto his face.

"I'm usually much better at changing things, in here." Changing himself. "I don't know why it's not working."