LABY INBOX.

[malleiform]

un: talis
[ TEXT | AUDIO | VIDEO | ACTION ]

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voice; un: foxyou

[gottheedge]

[ Jayce might be surprised to get a phone call from a certain fox-eyed chap one morning, seemingly out of the blue. ]

Hey there! How's it going? Hope you're well!

[ Hoshina's cheerful voice calls out, full of energy and joy, when the call is answered. ]

We met before, It's Hoshina, I'm the guy Nao blackmailed; you remember me, right? You officiated a cat custody contract for us? Well, I have a favour to ask of you, a top secret one at that! Don't worry, it's all totally above board!

[malleiform]

I've not forgotten you. You're close to Nao.

[ It's his perception of their friendship from the way he's seen them interact. It takes him almost no time at all to consider the request. ]

As long as it's above board, sure. What's the favor?

[gottheedge]

Oh good! Even if I'm only remembered as someone close to Nao, I s'pose there are much worse things to be remembered for, huh?

[ Oh really? Hmm. He's getting sloppy then, if people are already assuming they're close! Not that he has anything against that, in fact, that's exactly why he's asking a favour! ]

I assure you it is, scout's honour!

[ Yes, yes, you best believe he saluted even though this is just a voice call and Jayce can't see him. ]

So, here's the sitch: I want to take Nao-chan out on a date. I've got the whole thing planned out, up in the airships from location to location, start at sunrise and have her back home safe and sound by sundown, only thing is we can't take Shiro with us and I don't want to leave her home alone for all that time either. Soooo~ what are your catsitting skills like? I'll bring you back a souvenir and some shards for your trouble, of course, I don't expect something for nothing!

[malleiform]

It's not bad at all. I like and trust her.

[ He's very earnest and honest. ]

Oh. A date. [ Cute, he thinks it but doesn't say a word. ] I'd be glad to watch over Shiro. I have two cats at home, so as long as Shiro seems to get along with others, it shouldn't be a problem.

When about is this? [ So he can make sure Viktor understands why there's a random third cat in their house. ]

[gottheedge]

That’s good because I like and trust her too!

[ Hoshina likes that about Jayce. He knows he’s not interacted with him all that much, but he is aware that Nao has, and she seems to like and trust him, so that’s good enough for Hoshina. ]

Oh, Shiro doesn’t need to get along with your cats, unless you’re bringing them with you- Which by all means do! – Oh, sorry, did I forget to mention that this favour also includes doing my share of the farmwork? I mean, I can’t exactly sweep Nao-chan off her feet and then be expected to pick up my chores when we get back home, now can I?

[ Oh, he’s a sneaky little thing, huh? Maybe he should have started with that before he let Jayce agree! Then again, he doesn’t think he’ll refuse now, not when he knows how special the date is going to be for Nao! ]

[malleiform]

I have to say the attempt was admirable, but you'll want to find someone more suitable for farmwork.

[ There's definitely amusement in his voice when he answers. He's definitely seen this attempted before. At least this seems harmless. Jayce, though - with one functioning leg knows better than to let himself cave to physical labor. ]

I'm glad to help with Shiro still, but can't help with anything else.

Action | Early July

[notachickenhawk]

[Wherever Jayce is, he might get the sense that he's being... followed. Then again, maybe it's just his mind playing tricks on him?]

[But there is a hawk that's suspiciously... a lot of places. And it's not doing anything but staring at him. It doesn't seem to be hostile, but there's a weird sense of loneliness to the bird?]

[Maybe it's just his imagination.]

[Or it might be, if the bird doesn't end up flying inside his house when Jayce opens the door, landing on the floor in front of him.]

[malleiform]

[ Jayce attributes the feeling to his normal paranoia and hallucinations. At first, he doesn't think much of it. They had been doing better for awhile, but after his time in inferna, the problems got exacerbated. He's been limiting his company to almost exclusively Viktor for a little while since he seems to calm that edge that Jayce has. But it's not an option to simply not see anyone else, so he leaves the house from time to time to get food or bring back things for the home. He's not fully resumed his work in the forge. Yet.

He had thought the hawk was a part of that feeling he's had around him for a long while. At least, until it was on the floor of his living room when he had just stepped back inside from a short walk. He stares down at the creature, questioning. ]

Uh- hi?

[notachickenhawk]

[For a moment, the bird is silent. And then there comes the 'voice' that he's heard before - the voice of the kid who turned into the... well, he didn't explain what it was.]

<I went away. I went home. I'm back.>

[Tobias doesn't sound happy about it, but he's alive at least.]

<It uh. Wasn't a great time, to say the least.>

[malleiform]

[ He shifts to take a seat in the large chair of their living room, but he sits on the edge of it so that he can focus on the hawk here. He nods, listening. ]

I'm sorry, Tobias.

[ He had heard that it can happen, but he's not met anyone who's done that yet. ]

Want to share? Talk about it?

Animorphs spoilers go here, also vague suicidal ideation

[notachickenhawk]

<Talk about it? ... It was war. It stopped being a secret war and started being an open one. We won, but our city's half-destroyed, a lot of our allies were killed in what was basically a suicide attack, and... and...>

[He pauses, tries to keep breathing. It's hard to admit. He just saw the urn, after all. Just held it.]

<I don't know if you've ever loved someone, someone who knows all of you and accepts you and you accept them and know them, too. ... But I do. Did. I was just at her funeral. She didn't have to die, but our 'leader' sent her to kill her cousin, his brother, anyway. Enemy or not, that should have been someone else's job. It should have been me, not her! She had so much more to live for...>

continued suicidal ideation/thoughts/references.

[malleiform]

I'm sorry to hear that. The unfortunate thing is war can be rotten like that.

[ He shifts a little at Tobias' next words. He feels his stomach sink and it aches to think about. He's heard those words before - right out of his own mouth. It should have been me were the words he shouted at Mel when she said that she protected him out of instinct. It should have been him instead of Viktor.

Viktor may have been a dying man, but Jayce always stood close to the ledge.

It shows on his face. ]

Viktor—he's here. He lives in this house. He died at home, too. That's the person I love like you describe. It's awful, isn't it? But I promise...I promise if you were the one who was gone instead, she would be saying the same thing. She would say it should have been her.

[notachickenhawk]

[His first thought is that maybe he went too far. He's not good at reading faces anymore, but that expression... it doesn't seem good.]

[But then Jayce moves on and he breathes a little. If his partner can show up, then maybe...]

<... She would. Though she'd know that the only family I have left is an alien uncle and a mother who doesn't remember me. ... Long stories, both of them. I just... don't know what to do without her. I don't know how to hold on to being... human. Not anymore.>

[malleiform]

[ It's hard to hear words that he once said from someone else's mouth. He doesn't know Tobias as well as Mel knew him, and it still kind of sucked to think of someone else feeling that way. He wondered how Mel felt hearing it. He could say that he wasn't right at that time - he had a lot of problems going into that conversation, and things he was even wrestling with now. But loss - it sucks.

It sucks a lot. Losing someone is awful. Loving someone you love that way is worse. He knows the sting, but he also knows rebellion against that sting in his choices that led to him ending up how he is now. ]

What happens if you don't hold onto it, though? Isn't she part of your humanity?

[notachickenhawk]

<She is. But I... I mean the plan was to go run off into the forest until... I don't know. Until the end of my natural lifespan as a hawk. Or something - something like that. Why would I want to be around humanity when I have nothing really tying me to it? No reason for being human?>

[It hurts. God, it hurts so much.]

[malleiform]

I wish I could tell you an answer, but I don't have one for you.

[ He's smart, of course, but this is not something he's good at. He doesn't have answers for something like this. Probably because he's had those feelings. He gets it - more than he'll admit here and now.

He remembers what it was like to have everything stripped from him - his life, his dream, his education. Love can sure as hell bring someone back from the deepest darkest pits, and Jayce loved the people in his life as if it were breathing. It was easy for him to love, and equally easy for the love to hurt him. ]

I don't even know if this is good advice. [ He's honest enough to admit. ] But I'm certain you don't have to decide today, tomorrow, or even this month. You can take your time to figure it out.

[ Time to figure out what keeps him here. ]

Birthday actiony stuff ehe

[hexcorized]

[ Viktor awakens to a normal daily routine. Jayce's heavy muscular arm draped over his frail form, his legs intertwined with Jayce's. It's just something that he's come to find as normal here, oddly enough. He never thought he would be given such things in his lifetime. Never considered his own affections returned in such a way by the one man who not only understood him but truly saw him for who he was. It's a peaceful thing, homey in a way that Viktor considered unobtainable for himself. After all who would want to spend their life in such a short lived relationship now that he knew his time limited?

He'll open bleary eyes to stare back at Jayce's sleeping form with enough affection and love in his eyes that no amount of denial could hide the truth brimming within them. He doesn't know why Jayce does it, love him, when he could have anyone he wanted especially not someone who was dying. But Viktor is not going to give up so easily to fate, he will find a cure here and he will continue to live as he wishes and he has Jayce to thank for that. He wants nothing more then to just continue living for his sake more so than his own. Knowing the future and what it holds he wants to do things right here, together, and as partners. He'll smile lightly as he brushes some of Jayce's bangs away from his face before he checks the date and gives an inward gasp. Oh. So it's today? He gently extracts himself from Jayce's grasp doing his best to not wake him before slipping out of bed with Jayce's large sweatshirt on and just his under garments. A soft sigh again as he stretches his back and leg aching with the action but it's something that helps despite the pain.

He'll grab his crutch from his bedside and make his way into the kitchen. He's a terrible cook but he's going to do his best. He'll at least start with some tea and then get to work on the pancakes. Easy enough. He built a revolutionary teleportation device, how hard can it be to make pancakes, bacon, and eggs?? The answer is...cracking eggs is his nemesis.

Jayce will be awoken to the smell of bacon cooking in the kitchen. At least it hasn't burnt yet?? ]

[malleiform]

[ He sleeps well next to Viktor. He would probably say it's among the best sleep he's ever gotten. Especially since the day Viktor died. He quietly shifts closer to Viktor when the other shifts and wakes up. He lets out a small pleased sound when Viktor brushes the bangs from his face, but he otherwise sleeps undisturbed.

He makes a sound, shifting a little when Viktor removes himself from the bed. He notices the way that things changed, somewhere in his mind, but he makes no attempts to protest, simply cuddling into the space as if he's trying to make up for Viktor's absence.

It's only when he smells food cooking that he stirs. Viktor may hear the quiet sounds of feet padding around his their room. An awkward gait as he puts on a long tee and boxes, but otherwise doesn't bother with much else. He doesn't put on his leg brace quite yet, but he gets his cane, using it to support himself as he makes his way to the kitchen. Viktor gets a small yawn from Jayce in greeting, followed by curiosity. ]

You're cooking breakfast?

[ He shuffles in, getting close to Viktor. ]

[hexcorized]

[ Viktor will look over his shoulder when he hears the cane, firstly, and then Jayce as well. There's a soft look to his features as he huffs a light laugh. ]

I am attempting to cook us breakfast, yes. I'm certainly not the, eh, best at it. But I have managed to remove all the eggshells from the eggs at least. [ It's a work in progress?? Please. Save him. ]

You should have stayed in bed. I. I was going to bring it to you... [ a blush as he looks away. ] ...for your birthday, of course.

[malleiform]

[ Jayce moves about the kitchen, taking easy steps towards Viktor. It's interesting to move about with a cane. He's still getting accustomed. He moves, settling his hand on Viktor's back as he looks around at what he's prepared. ]

No egg shells is the most important step of making eggs.

[ He looks towards Viktor. He doesn't shift much from his spot, finding it very comforting to be close. It's adorable. It's sweet. It's perfect. It's part of Viktor that Jayce gets to see. ]

You don't have to do anything like that. Besides, if I smell food, I'm going to jump out of bed.

[ It lured him out here. ]

[hexcorized]

Yes. But what if I wanted you to have breakfast in bed with me?

[ He just gives Jayce a heated look as he turns to plant a soft kiss against Jayce's neck. ] But I should have known. You are like a puppy that way. So eager. It is quite cute. [ Viktor, don't tease the man on his birthday!! ]

The kitchen will have to do. It is your birthday, so we will do whatever you like.

[malleiform]

[ Breakfast in bed would be really nice, he thinks. Viktor's not actually wrong. If he smells good food, he goes for good food. Even more now than he did in the time Viktor knew him. Jayce accepts the tease easily - especially partnered with the compliment. ]

The kitchen is perfect because it's with you.

[ There's affection as he takes a seat, admiring Viktor. ]

What else do you find cute about me?

[ you know, since it's his birthday? ]

[hexcorized]

Mm is that so? [ Viktor sounds pleased with himself at that reply. He's just a little bit cheeky today, but he does cough and look away. ]

Hm. Those sayings of yours. They are quite amusing and endearing. But also the way you put your hands behind your back to not look so, ah, intimidating toward others.

[ Not that Jayce could ever be that, although the argument he had witnessed between him and Marcus was a side he hadn't seen before. Jayce's second day on the council, and he was already having to fight to be considered important and on equal ground as everyone else. ]

[malleiform]

You think that's cute?

[ He hadn't considered or really thought about the fact that he did it all that much. He leans onto the palm of his hand, watching Viktor. That makes him the happiest - moments like this where they can simply be. Where he can exist by Viktor's side and be with him. They don't need to be doing anything. ]

It's a habit. I just never want to make someone feel intimidated by approaching me, unless of course I am intentionally trying to intimidate them.

[ A happy sigh. ]

I love you so much. And it's not just a saying or something, it's how I feel. It's what I'm thinking now.

[hexcorized]

Of course. It makes you look...docile, like a cute dog. [ He is saying that in a teasing tone but also an affectionate tone of voice, but does he mean it?! Who knows!!

But Viktor flusters as Jayce continues. ] Of-Of course you do. You say it quite enough that I only know it to be the truth. And I...love you as well.

[ He looks away a bit shyly as he speaks those words outright. ]