[Gosh. Palamedes scoffs, shrugging one shoulder and resisting - mostly - the urge to roll his eyes.]
You're too enamored with your machines; flesh yields more than you'd expect. [He can put lungs in there, good gracious, don't make it sound so impossible. But speaking of flesh yielding, and the quip back about his soul-ripping plan that dies on his tongue, ah— It's not the first time they've done this particular dance, it's not even the first time today, but the touch of cool fingertips centers him on Viktor the way a rogue innuendo only sometimes does.
He leans in, just a smidge; just tipping his face obligingly. He's helping.]
You'd give up an entire afternoon? You have been thinking about this all night. [Ha ha,] And if it will get you to take a break— gladly.
[He's not going to renege on the taking a break point, it's important - but taking a break and harmless flirting aren't mutually exclusive items. The magnetic draw of Viktor's touch nearly sparks at the part of Palamedes that knows he should keep his distance, that Viktor doesn't deserve to be dragged into Lyctor business, that he should stop asking about the other terrible thing—
But it makes his restless mind an iota less so; too compelling to ignore. He lifts his dismissed hand again, this time to curl fingers around Viktor's metal wrist and settle there, poised between encouraging and pulling away.]
no subject
You're too enamored with your machines; flesh yields more than you'd expect. [He can put lungs in there, good gracious, don't make it sound so impossible. But speaking of flesh yielding, and the quip back about his soul-ripping plan that dies on his tongue, ah— It's not the first time they've done this particular dance, it's not even the first time today, but the touch of cool fingertips centers him on Viktor the way a rogue innuendo only sometimes does.
He leans in, just a smidge; just tipping his face obligingly. He's helping.]
You'd give up an entire afternoon? You have been thinking about this all night. [Ha ha,] And if it will get you to take a break— gladly.
[He's not going to renege on the taking a break point, it's important - but taking a break and harmless flirting aren't mutually exclusive items. The magnetic draw of Viktor's touch nearly sparks at the part of Palamedes that knows he should keep his distance, that Viktor doesn't deserve to be dragged into Lyctor business, that he should stop asking about the other terrible thing—
But it makes his restless mind an iota less so; too compelling to ignore. He lifts his dismissed hand again, this time to curl fingers around Viktor's metal wrist and settle there, poised between encouraging and pulling away.]
Hmm, but would I like to— I might.