Jayce was…fairly occupied, in the days before I arrived here.

[He tries not to sound bitter about that, proclaiming it as a simple statement of fact, but the truth is that his last memories of Jayce before he awakened at the military barracks were not necessarily pleasant once. Viktor likes to think he’s moved past it, but there is that slight twinge when he’s reminded of it—or, more accurately, reminded of how different things were between them, back home. How their relationship now only exists because the unique circumstances of this place allowed them to pursue it. How, if they were suddenly returned home with no memories, they would never converge upon this singular point.

But he can’t get distracted by that. They’ve just had, arguably, their greatest success. The possibilities before him now are nearly infinite. He should choose to cherish that, but it is difficult, not to think of home.]

I understand. You must have felt stifled. [Sort of. Viktor never had a patron, much less a wealthy, important parent who had certain expectations of him. Still, he’s trying to get to know Caitlyn better, and this seems like an appropriate opportunity.] It must have been stifling.