[ it's strange to be in a bed. he doesn't mind sharing it, it's big enough to house them both because of their divergent sizes. but jayce waits at the edge of one side, attempting to fiddle with the metal of his broken brace so it'd at least hold his weight the next day. they could get more metals, tinker with some impromptu improvements here and there with whatever the convoy provided. against the bedside wall was the mercury hammer, quietly pulsating and humming like the dull beat of a sleeping heart. its core ripples when the thump of viktor's cane nears, the same way the chamber in jayce's chest does.
jayce opens his mouth, hitches a breath in to speak— and subsequently closes it, his exhale quiet through his nose. he may have ruined what little composure they had, with all this palpable tension and the massive elephant in the corner of the room. jayce doesn't exactly regret it, but he does feel responsible. his gut feeling tells him that now is not the time to touch upon it either, and perhaps ever. if viktor would like to focus his energies elsewhere, that's . . . okay. he was more than valid for that. ]
I, uh, [ jayce starts, ] don't know if I'll sleep.
[ he really doesn't; it's doubt more than a wish. he tries, anyway, but rather than stretching his legs, jayce curls into himself, facing the wall so that viktor could have his space. this was the only position he was able to momentarily get chipped rest for nearly a year. even when the surface beneath him wasn't rock hard, or frigid, it didn't feel like he could fathom of sleeping in any other way. ]
We can move when we're ready.
[ it could be in . . . three hours, or five. less. that would depend, and jayce would be ready to fetch a truck full of dog shit if that's what viktor asked of him. ]
no subject
jayce opens his mouth, hitches a breath in to speak— and subsequently closes it, his exhale quiet through his nose. he may have ruined what little composure they had, with all this palpable tension and the massive elephant in the corner of the room. jayce doesn't exactly regret it, but he does feel responsible. his gut feeling tells him that now is not the time to touch upon it either, and perhaps ever. if viktor would like to focus his energies elsewhere, that's . . . okay. he was more than valid for that. ]
I, uh, [ jayce starts, ] don't know if I'll sleep.
[ he really doesn't; it's doubt more than a wish. he tries, anyway, but rather than stretching his legs, jayce curls into himself, facing the wall so that viktor could have his space. this was the only position he was able to momentarily get chipped rest for nearly a year. even when the surface beneath him wasn't rock hard, or frigid, it didn't feel like he could fathom of sleeping in any other way. ]
We can move when we're ready.
[ it could be in . . . three hours, or five. less. that would depend, and jayce would be ready to fetch a truck full of dog shit if that's what viktor asked of him. ]