While Viktor tended to the food, Xander pulled out the bottle of wine from his bag — a light, citrusy pinot grigio that, hopefully, Viktor would enjoy. He set it down at the table, then took a few moments to appreciate the decor and build of the home he had so graciously been invited to.
"Of course. Your home is beautiful." He made sure to note as he hobbled after the other man, ready to take whatever plates and such he needed to set the table fully. Likely to be a slower process with two limping men, but they'd get there eventually. Xander pulled out Viktor's chair while he was at it, then did the same for his own and sat down once they were ready.
"Thank you. A cheesemonger used to live here, so when Skan and I moved in, it was full of huge wheels of cheese... We had to get some strong Visitors to help us move it all out. They also helped us with renovations to make it more accessible for Skan and I. We sold some of the cheese to Astarion's winery and donated the rest to Finnick's Inn, so there is a good chance you've eaten some of it." He exhales a slight chuckle, breathy.
He's recounting all of this as they shuffle the short distance from kitchen to table a couple of times. Each of them has only one arm to carry things while walking, so their combined efforts are that of... One non-disabled person. But they get it done, and he finds it sweet that Xander pulls out his chair. Once he sits, he pours some of the already open wine into their glasses.
"Yes...?" He answers innocently, not entirely sure he understands the question. Who else would have made it...? "Well, I bought the noodles at the market, and I did not make the cheese, as I said, but..."
Xander chuckled sheepishly, realizing it may have been a strange question to ask when so obvious. But he had a reason behind it.
"It is impressive." He offered, "and delicious, as I will attest to once I take a bite. I am not much of a chef myself — the extent of my abilities in the kitchen began and ended with the picnic fare I offered. This is so much more, and an honor you would go through the trouble for me."
"Ah, I would not call myself a chef by any means... I admit that in my student years, I was poor and busy enough to mostly subsist on cheap take-out and pre-packaged meals. But once I got older and my health started to decline, I decided to make more of an effort to eat well, and taught myself a few things." His nimble hands and sharp mind perhaps made him more apt for learning to cook than the average person, not that he sees it that way.
"You are more than worth the trouble, Xander, and you have gone to such efforts for me, so I thought it only fair to reciprocate." He looks across the table with bright eyes and lifts his wine glass to clink against Xander's.
"I was more surprised than I should have been, I think. You are a talented man who can do anything he sets his mind to." So it certainly tracked.
He felt his cheeks heat up with a blush, and he tilted his own glass to gently clink against Viktor's. He took a sip, set it down, and finally took a bite of fish. A pleased hum rumbled from his throat. "As I suspected: delicious." He said with a nod.
"By the way... have you considered the request Nymion has made?"
Viktor looks down, huffing a soft exhale through his nose and shaking his head slightly at the compliment.
"You sound like Skan. The two of you are going to inflate my ego to the point of madness."
He sips, sets down, takes a bite of pasta. His appetite is very meager these days, but he has worked one up today, and this is one of his favourite dishes anyway. Xander is right; the labour has paid off.
"Ah, I was going to ask you about that. I was hoping that we could work together to build something new. Perhaps a medical technology of some sort."
He will leave it at that for a moment; he has a thousand ideas, but he wants to see what Xander thinks first.
Xander took a bite of pasta as well and seemed more than satisfied with the taste. All in all? An excellent meal clearly made with love.
He hummed thoughtfully, fork between his lips while he considered the suggestion. "I have been considering some sort of respirator, rather than the simple masks filled with herbs that are more common in my world. Or perhaps... an auto-cauterization device? Something that could seal wounds cleanly and disinfect them at the same time."
Viktor briefly has to wonder how a man can be this charming and handsome while also being incredibly smart and altruistic. It is a mystery science has yet to solve.
"You deserve one as well, then," he retorts.
"These are excellent ideas. I particularly like the idea of a tool to seal life-threatening wounds, for those who do not have magical healing, or have exhausted their supply of it. My own ideas included continuing our work on a sedative gas like the one in the coins, or some sort of... Vehicle or method of transporting injured citizens." He gestures slightly with his fork as he speaks. "Though I admit, perhaps that one came to mind due to my own failings in transporting others during emergencies here in the past. Perhaps it is more a salient problem to me because of my limitations, but I have witnessed many people carried from rubble or away from front lines in battles here."
Xander did not argue, but his face did redden a touch at the retort. Well damn, Viktor.
He nodded along approvingly, taking bites of the delicious meal Viktor had prepared when breaks in conversation allowed so he was not being rude. As always, he was entranced by the passionate way the other man spoke when it came to scientific discovery and invention. "It is a good idea. Transportation in emergency situations seems entirely reliant on others with physical strength to spare. If they are not around, something else would need to be implemented." A beat. "How long do we have? Perhaps multiple things can be completed with enough time and effort..."
"The Revel is toward the end of the month, so I think we have two or three weeks." The suggestion of multiple inventions is exciting to him, despite the prospect meaning less sleep. "I would certainly be willing to build more than one. Perhaps we ought to consider what might lend itself best to a demonstration, then. If we found someone who was already injured in an unrelated circumstance, healing a wound on the spot would be impressive."
He takes another bite of food, trying to pace himself a little and not get too excited.
"I also have already been working on the coin, and it would be nice for Beleth to see that her idea had borne fruit."
Perhaps between the two of them, they would get enough sleep to function enough at the actual revel for said presentation. Xander may be a doctor, but he really didn't take his own advice as often as he should — especially when he was deep in study or, in this case, deep in building fancy science projects with the man he was head over heels for.
"Then the coin and the cauterization device. If we can implement your crystals to power and heat it, perhaps it will not be too difficult to produce. And we can assure no one ends up unconscious while handling the coin and trying to reform its use."
"Absolutely. The crystals are hard to come by, but I do not foresee us needing to mass-produce such an item- a few in the right hands would do wonders. The anaesthetic, on the other hand, needs no crystal and could be produced more easily, but I would still want to control who has access to it, so it is not used for nefarious purposes."
While he feels they shouldn't spend their whole dinner talking about work, he can't quite help himself. His heart quickens and he can't stifle a smile as he nearly shivers with excitement.
"Oh, I am thrilled! This brings me back to the Young Inventors competitions Jayce and I would enter. I did not think I would ever get such an opportunity again." What with, y'know, being about to die.
"Of course. A few to the healers quarters in the three realms, once we perfect it enough to reproduce." They had to make the thing and test it first, but never say these two weren't enthusiastic. "I agree, of course." No just tossing that out to randoms. "I assume you could craft a list of trusted Visitors that could make use of it." Or a shorter list of Visitors he did not trust.
Father help him but Viktor was so cute. Especially when he smiled.
"Perhaps the workshop can host another without any godly interference in the future."
Viktor nods to that. Yes, shorter to make a list of those he doesn't trust, which is simply Jax and anyone he hasn't met yet. Percy would be on it too, but he is now gone.
To his idea, Viktor actually gasps, soft but barely audible.
"This is a marvellous idea." He points loosely at Xander with his fork before loading it with more fish. "I hope to see other Visitors' inventing things for the Revel. I am eager to see the other talents as well."
His face falls a bit as he seems to have a particularly unpleasant thought occur to him.
"Surely Barcus will be inventing something to display." From what he knew of the gnome at this point, it stood to reason.
Xander smiled and set his fork down so he could reach over for Viktor's free hand with both of his own. "I can speak for us, if you like. I do not mind it."
"Yes! I must ask him what he's planning. I'm sure with all the time the three of us will be spending in the workshop in the coming days, we will find out in one way or another."
He softens as Xander takes his hand, his nerves easing immediately. He takes a few long moments to ponder this, rather than going with his knee-jerk answer of yes please.
"I appreciate this... However, I always had Jayce speak for us in public about our inventions, and as a result, I do not think anyone even knew I was partly responsible for them. I should take more credit for my work here, when I am able..." He sort of mumbles and trails off, clearly thinking ahead and worrying about it already.
"You should." Xander squeezed gently, thumb rubbing along the back of Viktor's hand. "You deserve the recognition for the things you make. If, however, you need to hold my hand while speaking, I would not be opposed."
Xander was confident enough that when the time came Viktor would manage, one way or the other. And if the man had to grip his hand for several minutes to get through it, clearly that was a sacrifice he was willing to make.
The heat blooming across his cheeks had not ebbed since the earlier compliment, and he felt it burning up to the tips of his ears now when Viktor kissed his knuckles.
"I will look forward to it, as I always do these days." He liked having someone to see every day at the workshop, be it to work together or to just bring him lunch.
Xander reluctantly pulled his hand back so he could take up his fork and finish his meal, unable to keep the smile off his face for the rest of their time at the table. "I would suggest we start tonight, but I admit I was hoping this invitation was meant to have us distracted from work for a time."
The blush is very charming on Xander, and it makes Viktor blush in turn, looking down at his food and trying to keep his mind from wandering too much.
Viktor eats like a bird, but he at least makes a valiant attempt at clearing his plate, and gets about 3/4 of the way through it before declaring that good enough and nursing his wine glass more. He anticipates his nerves cropping up again, and figures a drink or two will take the edge off, without making him as loopy as he was at the picnic. Frail as he is, Viktor can hold his liquor much better than his.
"It was," he confirms. "As eager as I am to start the work... For once, there are some activities I am more eager for." He smiles wryly.
Xander had been debating heading down to the tavern for dinner when Viktor extended his offer, so by the time he got ready and made it to his home, he was starving. Hence why he cleaned his plate — which hopefully made the other man feel good about his cooking, because it was clearly delicious.
He also might have been nervous and excited now that the conversation was shifting completely, and he took a hearty drink of his own wine just as Viktor spoke up.
"I will be honest," he began, fingers fiddling with the stem of his glass, "I was hoping you might say as much. Our brief time at the picnic has kept my mind... busy."
that was s'pose to say his jelly... Zoned out and mist a word
"... Is that so?" Viktor asks quietly, smiling to himself. For him, the picnic was an emotional roller coaster from start to finish, and though Xander was a highlight, it was hard to think back on their encounter without feeling embarrassed at himself. He's glad to hear that Xander still wanted him after, apparently even moreso, so clearly he hadn't messed up so significantly as to turn him off generally.
He tops up both of their glasses, then reaches for Xander's hand again, thumb stroking over his knuckles.
"Well... Why don't you sit on the couch while I clear our plates and clean up in the kitchen for a few minutes. Then I will join you. We can allow our food to settle and see where we go from there. The sweetbread can be a late-night snack," he finishes with a quirk of his lip.
This was there Xander simply nodded, the blaze of heat on his cheeks so intense it was starting to make him sweat. No need to tell Viktor how frequently he thought of that encounter when lying alone in his bedroom at the inn. Nope. Nah.
"No, let me help." He squeezed Viktor's hand insistently. "It will be quicker that way." He caught himself. Laughed nervously. "I must sound a bit too eager, don't I?"
Viktor observes the blush, the nervous eagerness, and suddenly doesn't feel so silly for his own awkwardness with romance, his overzealousness at the picnic. Xander is stumbling through this, too, and there is comfort in that.
There is also a teeny tiny bit of power in that. In being wanted like this. It feels good.
Viktor pushes himself up from the table, taking his crutch and moving as smoothly as possible to Xander where he sits. He puts a fingertip under his chin to tilt it upward. He slowly leans down to kiss him, incredibly soft and light, just the slightest taste of something.
"There is nothing wrong with eager." He intones it as a declaration, something to absolve them both. Then, he straightens and offers a hand to help Xander up.
It had been... a long time since he had been intimate with someone. His arrangement with Celene was purely for the sake of continuing the Riverwatcher name, and neither of them found true pleasure in it. The difference between them was that Celene had actually gone out and found her pleasure when she could — Xander had not. He was always too busy. So maybe he was a little rusty.
He looked up, obediently tipping his head back to look up at Viktor. And he accepted the kiss, humming against the other man's mouth, heat roiling in his belly.
Okay... maybe very rusty.
"That is good to know." He grasped his hand and stood, and for a split second, Viktor would feel the distinct tension in Xander's arm — like he was about to pull him closer and only just stopped himself. Not yet. Soon. They needed to get those dishes up. "Let me fetch my bag once we're done, and I will follow you anywhere."
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"Of course. Your home is beautiful." He made sure to note as he hobbled after the other man, ready to take whatever plates and such he needed to set the table fully. Likely to be a slower process with two limping men, but they'd get there eventually. Xander pulled out Viktor's chair while he was at it, then did the same for his own and sat down once they were ready.
"You made this all yourself?"
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He's recounting all of this as they shuffle the short distance from kitchen to table a couple of times. Each of them has only one arm to carry things while walking, so their combined efforts are that of... One non-disabled person. But they get it done, and he finds it sweet that Xander pulls out his chair. Once he sits, he pours some of the already open wine into their glasses.
"Yes...?" He answers innocently, not entirely sure he understands the question. Who else would have made it...? "Well, I bought the noodles at the market, and I did not make the cheese, as I said, but..."
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"It is impressive." He offered, "and delicious, as I will attest to once I take a bite. I am not much of a chef myself — the extent of my abilities in the kitchen began and ended with the picnic fare I offered. This is so much more, and an honor you would go through the trouble for me."
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"You are more than worth the trouble, Xander, and you have gone to such efforts for me, so I thought it only fair to reciprocate." He looks across the table with bright eyes and lifts his wine glass to clink against Xander's.
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He felt his cheeks heat up with a blush, and he tilted his own glass to gently clink against Viktor's. He took a sip, set it down, and finally took a bite of fish. A pleased hum rumbled from his throat. "As I suspected: delicious." He said with a nod.
"By the way... have you considered the request Nymion has made?"
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"You sound like Skan. The two of you are going to inflate my ego to the point of madness."
He sips, sets down, takes a bite of pasta. His appetite is very meager these days, but he has worked one up today, and this is one of his favourite dishes anyway. Xander is right; the labour has paid off.
"Ah, I was going to ask you about that. I was hoping that we could work together to build something new. Perhaps a medical technology of some sort."
He will leave it at that for a moment; he has a thousand ideas, but he wants to see what Xander thinks first.
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Xander took a bite of pasta as well and seemed more than satisfied with the taste. All in all? An excellent meal clearly made with love.
He hummed thoughtfully, fork between his lips while he considered the suggestion. "I have been considering some sort of respirator, rather than the simple masks filled with herbs that are more common in my world. Or perhaps... an auto-cauterization device? Something that could seal wounds cleanly and disinfect them at the same time."
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"You deserve one as well, then," he retorts.
"These are excellent ideas. I particularly like the idea of a tool to seal life-threatening wounds, for those who do not have magical healing, or have exhausted their supply of it. My own ideas included continuing our work on a sedative gas like the one in the coins, or some sort of... Vehicle or method of transporting injured citizens." He gestures slightly with his fork as he speaks. "Though I admit, perhaps that one came to mind due to my own failings in transporting others during emergencies here in the past. Perhaps it is more a salient problem to me because of my limitations, but I have witnessed many people carried from rubble or away from front lines in battles here."
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He nodded along approvingly, taking bites of the delicious meal Viktor had prepared when breaks in conversation allowed so he was not being rude. As always, he was entranced by the passionate way the other man spoke when it came to scientific discovery and invention. "It is a good idea. Transportation in emergency situations seems entirely reliant on others with physical strength to spare. If they are not around, something else would need to be implemented." A beat. "How long do we have? Perhaps multiple things can be completed with enough time and effort..."
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"The Revel is toward the end of the month, so I think we have two or three weeks." The suggestion of multiple inventions is exciting to him, despite the prospect meaning less sleep. "I would certainly be willing to build more than one. Perhaps we ought to consider what might lend itself best to a demonstration, then. If we found someone who was already injured in an unrelated circumstance, healing a wound on the spot would be impressive."
He takes another bite of food, trying to pace himself a little and not get too excited.
"I also have already been working on the coin, and it would be nice for Beleth to see that her idea had borne fruit."
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"Then the coin and the cauterization device. If we can implement your crystals to power and heat it, perhaps it will not be too difficult to produce. And we can assure no one ends up unconscious while handling the coin and trying to reform its use."
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While he feels they shouldn't spend their whole dinner talking about work, he can't quite help himself. His heart quickens and he can't stifle a smile as he nearly shivers with excitement.
"Oh, I am thrilled! This brings me back to the Young Inventors competitions Jayce and I would enter. I did not think I would ever get such an opportunity again." What with, y'know, being about to die.
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Father help him but Viktor was so cute. Especially when he smiled.
"Perhaps the workshop can host another without any godly interference in the future."
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To his idea, Viktor actually gasps, soft but barely audible.
"This is a marvellous idea." He points loosely at Xander with his fork before loading it with more fish. "I hope to see other Visitors' inventing things for the Revel. I am eager to see the other talents as well."
His face falls a bit as he seems to have a particularly unpleasant thought occur to him.
"Though... I am phobic of public speaking."
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Xander smiled and set his fork down so he could reach over for Viktor's free hand with both of his own. "I can speak for us, if you like. I do not mind it."
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He softens as Xander takes his hand, his nerves easing immediately. He takes a few long moments to ponder this, rather than going with his knee-jerk answer of yes please.
"I appreciate this... However, I always had Jayce speak for us in public about our inventions, and as a result, I do not think anyone even knew I was partly responsible for them. I should take more credit for my work here, when I am able..." He sort of mumbles and trails off, clearly thinking ahead and worrying about it already.
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"I just might." He lifts one of Xander's hands, leaning forward to kiss his knuckles softly.
"For now, I will put it out of mind and focus on the inventions themselves. That is the fun part."
A beat.
"Especially if I am doing it with you."
They are going to have to get this gay shit out of their systems tonight if they want a chance in hell at focusing on their work.
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The heat blooming across his cheeks had not ebbed since the earlier compliment, and he felt it burning up to the tips of his ears now when Viktor kissed his knuckles.
"I will look forward to it, as I always do these days." He liked having someone to see every day at the workshop, be it to work together or to just bring him lunch.
Xander reluctantly pulled his hand back so he could take up his fork and finish his meal, unable to keep the smile off his face for the rest of their time at the table. "I would suggest we start tonight, but I admit I was hoping this invitation was meant to have us distracted from work for a time."
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Viktor eats like a bird, but he at least makes a valiant attempt at clearing his plate, and gets about 3/4 of the way through it before declaring that good enough and nursing his wine glass more. He anticipates his nerves cropping up again, and figures a drink or two will take the edge off, without making him as loopy as he was at the picnic. Frail as he is, Viktor can hold his liquor much better than his.
"It was," he confirms. "As eager as I am to start the work... For once, there are some activities I am more eager for." He smiles wryly.
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He also might have been nervous and excited now that the conversation was shifting completely, and he took a hearty drink of his own wine just as Viktor spoke up.
"I will be honest," he began, fingers fiddling with the stem of his glass, "I was hoping you might say as much. Our brief time at the picnic has kept my mind... busy."
that was s'pose to say his jelly... Zoned out and mist a word
He tops up both of their glasses, then reaches for Xander's hand again, thumb stroking over his knuckles.
"Well... Why don't you sit on the couch while I clear our plates and clean up in the kitchen for a few minutes. Then I will join you. We can allow our food to settle and see where we go from there. The sweetbread can be a late-night snack," he finishes with a quirk of his lip.
My brain filled in the blank its ok
"No, let me help." He squeezed Viktor's hand insistently. "It will be quicker that way." He caught himself. Laughed nervously. "I must sound a bit too eager, don't I?"
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There is also a teeny tiny bit of power in that. In being wanted like this. It feels good.
Viktor pushes himself up from the table, taking his crutch and moving as smoothly as possible to Xander where he sits. He puts a fingertip under his chin to tilt it upward. He slowly leans down to kiss him, incredibly soft and light, just the slightest taste of something.
"There is nothing wrong with eager." He intones it as a declaration, something to absolve them both. Then, he straightens and offers a hand to help Xander up.
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He looked up, obediently tipping his head back to look up at Viktor. And he accepted the kiss, humming against the other man's mouth, heat roiling in his belly.
Okay... maybe very rusty.
"That is good to know." He grasped his hand and stood, and for a split second, Viktor would feel the distinct tension in Xander's arm — like he was about to pull him closer and only just stopped himself. Not yet. Soon. They needed to get those dishes up. "Let me fetch my bag once we're done, and I will follow you anywhere."
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