april catch - all

[mehanizovati]

Who: viktor and others, open to all with some closed prompts
What: some late march/early april logs, including some tdm stuff. i'm happy to attach something else on if anyone's interest in doing something specific
When: late march through april
Where: various

content warning; terminal illness, arcane season 1 spoilers, likely game typical beast gore/body horror, potentially ableism mentioned, claustrophobic imagery



open prompts.

fishers of dreams - the lighthouse, early april (tdm)

a. while awake

[if you've been roped into this lighthouse business too you may enter to find a man already there. he seems vaguely disgruntled by the business, offers vague greetings but otherwise sticks to scribbling in his notebook. it looks like schematics and formulae, but anyone with an eye for either might notice they tend to trail off and start in odd bursts.

viktor will offer to cook when evening falls (or whatever seems to be the right mealtime in this place) so maybe that is a better time to strike up conversation. the smell coming from the kitchen is heavy on whatever spices the place stocks, promising pain to anyone who doesn't have the stomach for that sort of thing. worse if he finds the rotgut liquor tucked away, which he will pull out and offer despite smelling more like turpentine than anything edible.

these tricks of the eye though, flashes of people vaguely recognizable, he chalks it up more hallucinations. last month was mushrooms, so this? irritating, far more distracting, but it followed the pattern.

it isn't until later in all this he'll track whoever is with him down.] Did you see someone else come through? There, just up the stairs.



b. nightmare

[trying to reach the odd lighthouses is fruitless, the shadows converge and when the dark clears the area seems more closed in than before. it shouldn't be, he was just outside on the shore, yet now the dark sky seems to hang too low, lower still, suffocating.]

What now? This is another illusion of sorts, is it not? One this place is so fond of. [viktor sounds more irritated than anything, maybe defensive since the grip his has on his crutch is white-knuckle tight. in the distance seems to be a lighthouse, though the light is far and the area is so stifling, promising a tunnel that will close and snuff out the light entirely.

it's ridiculous of course, the walls are not that close, certainly not enough for this suffocating grip on the lungs and throat. there's no real explanation, less so when a few steps forward and the ground begins to dot with great metal cables, the distinct, sickly sweet smell of chemicals in the air. there are pools between them where the ocean should have been, this time shallow spills of what could be gasoline or something similar, slick rainbow puddles, oily and difficult to walk through without slipping or sinking.]

(ooc; for this one please, feel free to add your own character's nightmare in any flavor at any point!)


odds and ends - willful machine, early april

[viktor can be found around the vendors often enough, especially those specializing in scrap metal, tools or small machinery. for the most part he doesn't stick out, except for the fact often his massive omen often accompanies him, some sort of huge pink salamander/axolotl that he'll lean against or ask rather politely to help carry larger purchases.

he doesn't seem to notice or care about any attention, though the creature will blink curiously around. feel free to approach or find him haggling rather intently for such a stick of a man, accent thickening when it gets heated enough. maybe you want the same scrap? or are looking for something and he's standing nearby enough to notice a lost look and offers assistance?]



[one might also find him about by the sound of a nasty coughing fit. he stands with his back curled, a rag to his mouth as a makeshift handkerchief. it's a wet cough that shakes his entire frame, and when it's over his sniffs and clears his throat, straightening.

the cloth is stained in a pale color that catches the perpetual moonlight of april. paleblood, that he regards for a moment before folding the cloth in on itself with a small frown.]




closed prompts.


jinx - willful machine, late march

[viktor doesn't stay by the lamp exactly. he would usually but he hardly sees the point when this person he's meeting knows him by sight as far as he can tell. it leaves him feeling comfortable to wander within eyeshot mostly of the lantern, strolling down the canal docks to find a place to stand and watch the boats cut slowly through the water.

he likes it here, he thinks, in this district. the noise and foot traffic, the winding canals and dirty water, the boats bobbing to and fro - it wouldn't be a bad place to set up. a lab that will double as his home because he doesn't see the point in separating the two any longer, even if he can practically hear heimendinger's tutting about his work-life balance in his ear. it will be closer to the vendors, less of a hike to acquire what he'll need to start fresh. first a new brace for his leg and back, then some basic experiments into lunar energy to get a feel for it.

his lungs flare and burn, minor enough he manages to swallow it down without reaching for the rag in his pocket. he makes a note of the severity and timing, adds it to his growing mental list that seems to indicate his illness does indeed remain but is diminished. promising, if he's being optimistic, but at the moment he feels only a sense of irritation that now he doesn't know the timeline of his own life. one he might be shortening drastically with this ridiculous stunt.

a sigh and viktor goes back to watching the boats, trying to clear his head. he considers trying to message vi and ask her opinion of this but... no, he doubts he'll get anything. he's not sure if he disgusts her as a class traitor or amuses her in truth. better to just see for himself what he's gotten himself into like a fool.]



allen - willful machine, early april

[the 'grand tour' doesn't amount to much yet, the lab area just a large, empty space dotted with a few tables and a couple of desks, not even a chalkboard he's been keeping an eye out for or something that could do the same. one of the desks at least is littered with junk, at the moment tools and the starts of a knee brace, a table nearby with all the scrap he's managed to grab that could be useful in the future. one corner has a cot, maybe he'll clear out whatever other small rooms the place has later for a bedroom proper. maybe not.

viktor seems satisfied with it as he gestures around, and rio has commandeered one of the tables for her own to lie across.] A solid start, I think. I like this area, this eh... Willful Machine, that is.

[he'll never admit part of it is the boats. everyone's allowed a sort of childish interest, right? they're soothing, even if they lack the motors that fascinated him.] Have a seat, if you'd like. How have you been since the tombs?



wildcard.

[as i said, feel free to ask for anything else, including other tdm prompts, i am more interested in seeing the worlds built by others for the archway prompts so i didn't include any here. my plurk is dichotomy or you can dm me here!]

Comments

[mehanizovati]

I do. [that's easy enough to answer. pretending he didn't would be a ridiculous kind of denial.]

There are times I forget he is not here when I get too deeply into my work and think something like 'I will need to make a note of this for Jayce.' It can be quite jarring. [he glances over with a shrug.] Usually it is simply a matter of keeping busy.

[they're within sight of their destination though so he slows to a stop, because he too has a question he'd like to ask,] Is it the same for you and the group you mentioned?

[mehanizovati]

[rio's happy trill coming down the stairs makes viktor glance up, offering a smile when chizuru manages to drop the mister. yeah, easy to tell how much effort that actually takes, and said effort is appreciated.]

It is good of you to come, Chizuru. [he gestures for her to come to the kitchen, curious about the bag in her arms- he does not have rice, which really viktor, food staple? shame.

also special is the right word honestly, he exhales in amusement as he glances around.]

It's something, yes? Palamedes was kind enough to offer me a place here rather than sleeping at my lab. [maybe most wouldn't think an actual whole ass bunker more comfortable but viktor does.] For the best, I will admit the lab does not make for a good kitchen.

[megatheorem]

[Oh, that's very fun, the messy stage. Never let anyone see these squiggly doodles, not that it would make sense to anyone but maybe three other people here? But still, the shame. He gives the back of Viktor's head a fond hair ruffle before nodding over towards the wee kitchen cabinets.]

Let me pick a mug, and then you can tease me about my sports management.

[He makes it quick, grabbing the first mug that is both clean and blank and bringing it back to the table. That he sets down, and he drags the other chair around to sit next to Viktor so they can tinker and draw Together.]

I do have— more obligations than I previously thought, true enough. Have I been looking haggard? Be honest.

[The line between keeping busy and overworking is thin and nebulous, it helps when someone else can keep him honest about the children's sports team workload, and so on.]

normal nerd activities

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes scoffs again, moving to sort of half-perch on an unused corner of the table, arms crossed. Being a Lyctor has cemented his bird bones physique as permanent, so if the table even notices his weight, it would be a miracle. Hmm, this guy and his sass.]

You're consistent, [he concedes with a tip of his head. Viktor is that, insofar as he can reliably be found where Palamedes wants him to be and has a laser focus that is to be envied. Unwittingly, he likes this about Viktor; likes, too, the dry quips and devotion to work. With a restless mind and empty heart, Palamedes is somewhat surprised he can still dredge up emotions like enjoyment.

But, hey- he leans over and plucks that vial away, like, please? His blood is always high quality, picky man. The palm of his hand, visible, is darkly stained once more, but otherwise appears to have never been cut at all; Lyctor perk.]

Give us this day our daily task; how's progress? [hm, and,] You're more rumpled around the edges, you really did stay here all night, didn't you?

[mehanizovati]

Good, it will give me time to workshop the different angles to tease you from. [viktor calls, eyes going back to the schematic and important squiggles. he starts on the adjacent page with a new blueprint, making room for the changes in question.

and snaps back to the present when pal's beside him again, glancing over with a thoughtful look.

hm, haggard. also leans in a little, without really thinking about it. proximity.]

Not yet, though given your schedule you will no doubt be if you do not take proper breaks. I have no doubt you'll be terrible at determining when those are needed. [he settles on. an honest answer, as requested.] No worries, I will keep an eye on your condition and make you aware of these times if you are too stubbornly focused to notice, if you would like.

[mehanizovati]

[consistent is a compliment here, as far as he's concerned. better than the flighty lot that exist in these parts, doing little more than making trouble for themselves.

having his prize snatched away gets an unimpressed look, but fine, it is as good as it ever is.] Progress is passable. The pacification fields require further tweaking but should be ready for testing one way or another.

[these are largely for defense- big monsters chasing you? throw one of these down and suddenly it's mindless. might work against god too, who knows. more necessity than anything but it does pave the way to more interesting work, as far as he's concerned.]

What else would I do with my time, exactly? Go down to the Earworm to rumple myself a different way? [dry again as he regards pal, lifting the machine for him to examine. probably more so whatever ward-related work already laid down.]

[megatheorem]

[Oh, but he hopes it will work against God. Palamedes understands too well now the depth of the Lyctor package, as it were, and Actual God can only be what wretched thing he is tenfold; there's a decent chance Viktor's pacification field does nothing at all.

But Palamedes also understands, privately, in a deeper part of himself he will not look in the eye, that even chasing his tail about killing God is an act that will at least keep him saner than he could otherwise be. He looked his grief in the face and memorized it before it even came; now if Camilla's eyes haunt his face and each waking moment burning the forge of his Lyctorhood is a moment Camilla does not have to spare— well, if he dwells, he will go insane, he's sure of it.

So, in order to not go instantly mad, he scoffs again and reaches out to put a thumb on a corner of the machine and tilt it so he can squint at it scrutinizingly.]

Is that what you think about when you sit here all night? I had no idea. [but before he dwells on that, ahem,] There's a line missing in this ward; here.

[He leans to point, lips pursed. Hm, Viktor may be a sleep deprived grouch, but he doesn't skimp on details, so,] I'd forgotten it. Don't test this on anything you don't want to explode.

["oh I forgot" says local man who often talks about killing god, very convincingly]

[mehanizovati]

I think about how one shuts down the higher functions of a being so powerful they cannot die. [like an absolute fool he cannot help let his tone have the faintest thoughtful edge that skims of innuendo, given there are certainly fun ways to uh... 'shut down higher functions' of an immortal man. maybe more temporarily stall, he does need pal's reasoning intact if they're going to finish this.

it always annoys him that pal pulls out this back and forth too easily. getting attached to a man on what some would consider a doomed journey from the start would be ridiculous even for people with less discipline.

viktor clicks his tongue, taking the machine back and peering at the area, brainstorming how to add the needed line. he starts to work on it, far too comfortable with pal simply sitting at his workspace when he says,] A shame, I was going to suggest testing it on you. A beast would be ideal but far more trouble wrangling than they're worth.

[megatheorem]

[Tease variety? Be still his heart. He gives Viktor a look for that one, amused and a little challenging, like please - do this. He'll accept it with relish. And he enjoys the proximity, quietly, leaning in for a brief press of arm against arm before he moves away again. They are Working, after all.]

I'm taking a proper break right now, [he says, lifting his doodle notebook significantly. He has to perfect the Viktor squid before it can go on a mug, it's a process.] But thanks. How are you doing? With the... you know.

[He wiggles his marker at Viktor's whole self, broadly; the bug itching thing. How are the bugs coming, mister.]

I have to say: some people had to eat their own skins back in winter, but this is much more viscerally gross.

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes thinks, well, they could try to blow up God, but if it goes sorely wrong they'll both be murdered in a heartbeat... That he actively drew the wrong ward he credits solely to, hm, how he's full of rage? It's more of an unconscious influence than an honest mistake, so - he's fine, and he is making good decisions.

Ah, but what is this fascinating desire to shut down his higher functions, huh Viktor. What's that about, bud. Palamedes stops thinking about deicide to raise an eyebrow.]

I'm not keen on exploding, Viktor, [he says, then,] Once it has the correct warding, though: sure. Better me than something else.

[Maybe getting smacked around with his own magic can shut his thoughts off for a while, that would be something. Maybe an afternoon reduced to static would be good for him. With or without the machine.

Hm, but while Viktor tinkers, Palamedes speaks up again after a moment,] Have you thought more about that thing I asked?

["that thing I asked," or, "can your insane drug rip my immortal soul in half or what"]

[mehanizovati]

Then make sure the ward is right this time. [is viktor's answer. hey, he's confident in his side of things. mostly. fine, he could easily blow them up too but in this case he thinks the worst that will happen from the hard tech of it is altering the effect in some way. it would probably be a huge problem if it went rogue or, say, dipped to levels that reverted the magic to amplifying a person's psyche instead of deafening it.

he has a feeling amplifying whatever is in pal would end messily for anyone within a certain radius, so... maybe he'll doublecheck the math.

anyway.] We could test it on your omen instead, if you preferred. Still, you are the closest thing we have to the intended target.

[he boxes in the part of himself that doesn't like testing it on pal regardless.

a little more tinkering and he's starting to see how this can be an easy fix, pausing only a brief moment when pal asks that before returning to his work.] I have.

It could be done. Shimmer works on a genetic level- if we filter it with certain blood it will likely work on a level that can interact with the direct source of your necromantic abilities. [tinker, tinker. it's an interesting thought experiment. it does not horrify some part of him, not at all.] I will say again, the damage this could do would surpass what blood ministration or even the ocean here can fix. Even if we had all the time in the world there will be... side effects, no doubt.

[mehanizovati]

[one word, uniforms. still going to make sure pal has to suffer that if it isn't in the works already. but fine, this is pretty much a pal break, and viktor considers it a break because he's only idly tinkering and doing so with their arms brushing. gay.]

Forgive me, I forgot drawing squids was a favored form of recreation for you. [arts and crafts, baby. the question gets a sigh, which probably answers it well enough.]

It's annoying but manageable. I've had to keep my nails as short as possible because when I don't pay attention the idle scratching gets ugly. [he's got a few raw marks on his neck for proof of that, though skin eating has his brow raise.]

They did what exactly? Was it a mental compulsion? [he's hoping it wasn't a starvation thing, not a fan of that. did enough of that in the undercity, thanks, and without auto-cannibalism.]

[megatheorem]

The bird? No; it has to be me. The result won't be as useful if we get it from something else. [Closest target, like Viktor says. Leaving aside that Palamedes may be a constant font of grief and fury these days but he still has empathy, and he's not going to - to risk his stupid bird on this thing. Even if Viktor suggests it a hundred times.

Palamedes watches him work, and hums; he only needs to see that second's pause to know Viktor still doesn't approve of this idea of his, but hearing it spoken aloud again is - well, he listens without dismissively waving him off; that's something.]

Side effects are the point; I don't intend to come out like this on the other side. [like this, he gestures to himself, a terrible necromancy machine,] I did this to her— I owe it to her to undo it.

[He speaks softly, without defensiveness but with conviction. He owes this to Camilla, whether it leaves him a twitching ball of viscera or not. If the work can be done it can be undone, he can only rely on that theory to keep himself moving, so - well, so.

He shifts to rest a foot on Viktor's chair, hello, Lyctors are above personal space, and leans his elbow on his knee. Hm, to call a man out on having emotions or not...]

You don't have to be there. If it bothers you.

[megatheorem]

I'm getting very good at it, [he says with a little pen flourish, and begins to draw Another Squid. It looks the same as all the other squids. If he glances at the marks on Viktor's neck with classic "stop relaxing and fuss about this" energy, well, oops? He's trying to stay on task.]

I'll bring you something... the ministers will have a salve, no doubt. [Ahem, okay, fussing diverted. He peers at the real squid pictures in the book so he draws the eyes in the right place for once, hm-]

It was— snake shedding, more or less. People became different versions of themselves; older, younger, that sort of thing - and the literature suggested, well, eating the shed skin to reverse the process.

[A beat. So yeah, disgusting? And yet.]

Not in public, mind. Mercifully.

[mehanizovati]

Fine- the very initial test will be on some of the insects around just to make sure it does not immediatel blow up in our faces. [and at the very least he's not entirely sure how... real any of these bugs are? the ones the darkbloods make. not that it matters, simply less mess in the long run.] We may want to do it in the bunker, you will be incredibly vulnerable during the testing and that is a more fortified area.

[sort of an added warning there of making sure he understands he will be putting a lot of trust that viktor will not do something horrid, slit his throat and drain him dry, etc. of course he has no plan to do so but still, it is something pal should be aware of, if he hasn't realized already.

still tinkering, though it slows as he listens. he wants to ask him if it's really worth it, putting this much into someone else. he wants to offer him the out of cutting off that care where it stands, so he can focus on his goals without all the muddling of guilt and trauma. maybe he'd still wish to do this clearheaded, maybe he'd see sense.

he does finally glance over when pal gets closer, a little furrow of annoyance in his brow when he implies viktor somehow doesn't have the stomach for this.] Do not be inane, it does not suit you. I would need to record the effects for myself.

[certainly not he wouldn't leave pal to do that alone.

bah.

he finally puts the tinkering down, turning to regard pal fully.] It is not just side effects for you. She may not be anything of what you remember, should this even work. I suppose you would deem it necessary to try anyway.

[mehanizovati]

[well, it's a very cute squid. he vaguely wonders what they actually look like as squids, or if all sleepers are just basically the same type of squid and the same general size and color.

he does wave a hand though.] Save it- or do give it to me, but if you do I will just give it to other palebloods who need it more. This is perfectly bearable as a whole. [at least he's being honest that he'll just give it away.

also pal gets a bit of a look for that, viktor reaching over for a light flick of his fingers against pal's shoulder in retaliation for-] Really, you started off with 'skin eating' and didn't immediately clarify you didn't mean intense auto-cannibalism? [he's fond despite himself.

and a pause.] Did it work?

[mehanizovati]

[oh, the enthusiasm is a little contagious, or at least the smile gets one from viktor, who shakes his hand (and takes note it feels entirely organic. no tech in that one, he wonders?)]

Ah... I have been using V as username, I hope that doesn't cause any confusion. [he says with a shake of the head. he's terrible at usernames.] It's a nickname my old research partner used to use.

And I suppose you have a point there. I will say a frag grenade is one of the more alarming things I've dealt with here. [a glance around before he offers,] Are you sure you wish to wait here alone? We could at least ask a hunter to help, perhaps.

[megatheorem]

Alright, [he says, in the tone of someone who did not think about that and also doesn't care, now that he's been made to? He doubts Viktor would go through so much effort just to trick him into letting his guard down so he can be dissected, or something - but there are places much more secure than "in the woods somewhere," true.

He supposes he does trust Viktor, all things considered. There are not many people in the Trench or elsewhere he would let say these next things to him without lashing out in response. Instead he merely ices over, looking away purely to be petty when Viktor faces him.]

I'm aware of the risks, thank you.

[... Fine; he will glance back at Viktor, after a pause.]

I owe it to her to try, [he repeats, and bites the inside of his cheek hastily afterwards to hold back saying something too raw, too painful to touch.] I'm not hasty. If it doesn't look like it will work...

[He trails off, so he technically doesn't assure anybody that he will not do the bad thing, but never mind that.]

I need you for this, [that comes out too raw, but oh well, he's said it,] I will need you more if it doesn't work.

[He might get a little upset, so please pencil in time to deal with him in such a circumstance.]

[megatheorem]

Viktor. [Exasperated, but not surprised; if he must sneak medical salves onto Viktor under the guise of more affectionate touches, he will do that. He will attempt to do that, anyway. This particular instance of Viktor refusing to take care of himself isn't too egregious; Palamedes lets it go.

Ah, in favor of skin eating, yes-] Admittedly, it was kind of a strange time. You had to be there.

[Ha ha... that wacky new year's tradition: eating your own skin. Is it still technically auto-cannibalism, hm, better not think about it.]

I assume it must have. [A beat.] I didn't eat any skin, for the record. I thought it sounded extreme, even for here.

[mehanizovati]

[viktor nearly shakes his head- strange man. ready to rip out god's throat with his teeth if need be but still able to shrug off such a vulnerability. it makes viktor feel things he boxes away just as steadily as everything else, an increasing intrigue and horrible bordering of affection that is particularly morbid given the man wants to tear his whole soul in half.

and he can't be sure his own reluctance to help with this is because of that budding affection, which makes matters all the worse. if it's more than common sense, rather a truly pathetic attempt to keep pal whole.

but yes, viktor listens, jaw tightening then easing before he finally offers,] I will not do this if it is clear the formula will more likely kill you than serve it's purpose.

But... otherwise I will begin working on it properly. The faster we get it done the less chance she has been completely absorbed into this... lyctorhood, this form of yours, I imagine.

[he thinks the i need you for this would be a very clever emotional manipulation in anyone else's hands. what troubles him is it is only effective in pal's hands, he finds, completely sincere or not.

it has him staring at pal for a long moment, too long, expression not guarded enough before he's the one to glance away.] I'll have you take a dose of shimmer soon, to see how it interacts with your body. Most consider it a pleasant experience, at least.

[mehanizovati]

Palamedes. [is viktor's answer there, brow quirked. at least he tries to be reassuring.] I know my own limits in these cases. If you were in my place I am sure you would insist the same.

[and, to be fair, viktor would also try to coax him into using some anyway. he's happily ignoring that fact for now.]

Hm, sounds both disgusting and intriguing. Did you get to see yourself older? [is older pal hot? given he's biased about current pal being hot he sort of assumes so.

he does make a scrunched face about the skin thing.] Maybe if you could mask it in another meal, otherwise I think I too would pass. I suppose we're lucky it's just eh... bugs, this month. For now.

[megatheorem]

That's - fair, [he says, stilted in a way that makes him feel a little stupid. Like, the point is obviously not to drop dead, that would not serve him or Camilla well at all, but he can't help but wonder if Viktor's threshold for "more likely" is higher or lower than his own. But he won't press; he comes back to himself in pieces as Viktor continues to speak, alternating between mortification towards his own desperation and guilt for involving someone so separate from Lyctors and their problems in his.

And he hears it now, after he's babbled about needing him, how suspect that especially desperate little thing sounds, but doubling down in the long moment Viktor just looks at him to insist he wouldn't lie feels, ah, even more mortifying. He looks away, brow furrowed.

Of course the specifics of potentially ripping himself in half are complicated; he wishes he didn't need to involve anyone else, but here they are. He manages to wave a hand and mutter,]

I don't care about getting high, [and stiffly, he takes his foot off the chair. He stands, crosses his arms, uncrosses them again. Perhaps he should politely excuse Viktor from this idea entirely and at least pursue his terrible ideas with his conscience clear, damn—]

Sorry— I'm doing it again. Don't bother until I'm less scattered.

[megatheorem]

If I were in your place, I would want to be less itchy. [Accept the medicine, dang!! He'll bring some home, and he will keep bringing it home until it gets used.

Anyway, well. He pauses in his drawing for a second, considering - is this a thing Viktor needs to know right now, while they're having a peaceful little arts and crafts afternoon? Would it add anything to the experience to say, oh, no, I was an animated skeleton hand bullying people into giving me pens to write with?

Probably not. It's not funnier in retrospect, like he hoped at the time it would be.]

No, I didn't. What kind of meal could you fit an entire skin into? Maybe someone shorter...

[mehanizovati]

[viktor wouldn't say the spell is broken, because he refuses to acknowledge a spell at all, but it is easier to glance over again. pal closing himself off, distance and crossed arms, conflict.

he adjusts part of the machine, snorts. 'high.' gives pal some privacy and merely watches him through the meagre reflection of the gears.]

Probably for the best. Shimmer has a tendency to heighten emotions and senses. [among other things. it's a weird fucking drug, but he does think pal should probably be 'less scattered' for it.]

My personal project could extend to you, you know. [he says offhandedly. you know, his 'dampen his own emotions' project. he's probably framed it more as control, a clear head, but it's pretty obvious it's kind of a weird emotional lobotomy pipedream. at least here it has more of an off switch available, if it can simply make it a personal device rather than a manipulation of the body.]

[mehanizovati]

I'll consider it if it gets worse. [look at that, a whole half assed concession. he leans in to watch pal's drawing better, fingers still moving idly over the tinkering with only vague glances over. he'd have a whole Feeling about the domesticity of this but he's actually starting to get used to it, simply enjoying it rather than it being a matter to chew over.

the pause does get a glance, though he assumes it's just calling back the memory and nods.] Hm, that's a shame. I think you would be handsome with some grey, and it would match you aesthetic.

It needed to be the whole skin? Nevermind, there's no saving it.