[go ahead and ask, she does love pets. viktor's been trying to figure out if she really does hold something of the real rio in her, if it's his own memories of rio loving pets shining through or it says something about him and a little touch hunger if she's merely a reflection of him. he vastly prefers the first of the list, thanks. it might be a little naive but he can't help clinging a little to the idea some version of rio gets a pain free life somewhere.

traumatic childhood pet dragon stuff aside he nods along to that.] I don't see how they expect two people linked so closely from a young age not to have a deep personal bond as well. Trying to fight such a basic human instinct seems a losing battle.

[maybe not all of them are from birth? even then it still seems a bond that's bound to get personal one way or the other. he only spent a decade working closely with jayce and the idea of that ever staying purely professional lasted about a couple of hours.

he pops the seed into his mouth before going to dig through his bag with his free hand, pulling out a little matchbook and pushing it closer. he also pulls out a little incense holder, someone was prepared! truthfully it's something he does just carry around incase he has a really bad blood cough fit and he needs to make sure he can sit to breath and not attract every beast around.]

Surely it can be replicated. [nerd excitement again.] With how adaptive blood magic seems to be and the odd nature of darkblood itself...