[Oh, lovely - he slides his hands back up to give the brace a little tap, a cheeky acknowledgement of that permission, before he resumes his indulgent exploration of skin. His concern about the brace is... largely surrounding Viktor's comfort levels, considering he's seen the one for his knee and it does look faintly gnarly, but: brace tune-ups are a topic for another time. Viktor says he can touch it, he'll touch it— eventually, when he's finished touching him elsewhere.]

My mother used to call it "terrifying the wildlife" any time someone did something unexpected— though I wasn't ever caught doing this in the stacks.

[If only, badum tsh.]

Sixth gossip is usually about whose experiments are going sideways. We'd get a gentle reminder about deadlines, if they bothered at all.

[Better than tutting and looks, which seems Third, yet again. He drinks in the kiss like they're in the stacks trying not to get caught right now, all eager with an edge of daring. Bold, for here on the tiny couch. He definitely takes it as a reward for his mercilessness, and he's more than happy to keep coasting on the good mood of this silly bit. That, and the easy pleasure of hearing that things about him are attractive, ooh, Viktor—]

Do you? Wait until I find a new red pen.