I did, actually. There is no half measures with things like this, how else was I supposed to deliver you a never to forget dinner and company, hmm?
[ as much as he may exclaim otherwise, Molly knows he isn't a miracle worker. Viktor's eyes might not light up but even that little spark is enough to count as a victory. he grins, a soft laugh passing his lips, and leans against the table. ]
Glad to hear it. [ he is practically preening at the praise.
Molly takes the chance then to pick at his own plate, making an pleased noise as he does so oblivious to the way his tail uncoils from around his leg smack against the legs of his chair happily. ]
If you need help with that I've got a tea blend that works wonders. [ he pokes at his meal with a fork, glancing at Viktor from the corner of his eyes. ] There's this little old lady who lives on the floor below me. Sweet woman, really, but far too preceptive for her own good.
She can see me and she noticed the last time I had trouble sleeping. Nightmares and all that. [ poke poke. ] She's some sort of old witch that one, but a woman with a good heart. She gave me a blend that gently coaxes you into a dreamless sleep.
That...does sound nice. [He spoke a little hesitantly, not quite meeting Molly's eyes.] With things a bit calmer now, I-...it would not hurt to take a break on occasion.
[ it hasn't escaped his notice how Viktor all but avoids his gaze, nor how he has prattled on while the other man has been mostly quiet. so he lets the ensuing silence sit for a moment, picking at his dinner while his tail thumps almost rhythmically against the table leg.
you don't push. pushing can only make them clam up and retreat within themselves. you coax them out gently, let them talk if they want at their own pace. sometimes all people need is someone to be there for him, be it in silence or not. Molly's willing to just be here, to fill the space as the world doesn't feel so empty or cold.
he gives it a moment, then another, until he's all but finished his meal and pushes his empty dish away with a satisfied noise. he glances to Viktor then the decorations on his horns jingling softly as he tilts his head. ]
Oh--I'm sorry, I must be terrible company right now.
[A soft, breathless laugh with no real humor to it. Truthfully, he'd been more than a little lost in his own head with the silence that followed; the whole situation felt like a jigsaw puzzle made of shattered glass, Viktor trying to fit into a place which cut from every angle. Most people didn't get a second grim prognosis, least of all somewhere universes away from home.]
[Over the years he'd convinced himself the flow of time had to be different; the alternative was too horrible to contemplate. The disappearance of one practically invisible Undercity rat would go unnoticed by the rest of the world, certainly--except for one person.]
I am just... [He wanted to brush it off; troubling others was not in Viktor's nature. But maybe it was because he didn't know Molly as well as Zelos or Varian that it was easier; if he was going to get scared off by what Viktor believed was his difficult personality, better to do it early.] ...thinking about my world should I fail to get back. There is-...I do not have living family, so that is not a concern. But my partner and our work...those, I worry for.
[ it'll take more than a "difficult personality" to scare Molly off once he's made up his mind. and he made up his mind on Viktor that day he spoke to him on the network, determined to brighten his life if it is the last thing he does.
Molly listens, patient, while Viktor starts to talk. worries clear in his voice, in his expression. it's a shame they don't really know shit about how everything for people who were dragged to the city works. if they'll go back to exact moment they left it or if they even can go back home. in the face of your own mortality it make sense for that to be worrying him. ]
I can't say I know how all that works. [ he pulls a deck out from one of the inside pockets of his coat, casually shuffling through the cards. ] But I'd like to think that Fate has a plan for that should it happen.
[Viktor set down his fork on an empty plate with a softly muttered word of thanks, slowly folding thin arms to lean slightly on the table.]
I have never been one to believe in fate. [A quietly stated fact, instead of an outright denial. A lot of things had happened in the past few years Viktor might not otherwise have believed in, admittedly.] The idea of a force in the world completely indiscernible and unquantifiable...as a scientist, I can not accept the concept. And if it did exist...somehow I feel that would be worse. Does that not imply that such senseless suffering was always meant to happen, rather than the whim of random chance in an unjust world?
[ Molly continues to shuffle the deck, elegant fingers working the cards as naturally as one breathes. it might come off as the intent to give Viktor a reading. or maybe Molly just needs to do something with his hands. ]
It doesn't. Fate doesn't dictate what happens in between life and death, all that is combination of random chance and terrible decisions. [ he stops shuffling them, pulling out a single card and laying it on the table. DEATH & DAWN stares back up at them, DEATH pointing upright. ] Fate meets you are the end of the road, determines whether it is your time to embrace that gentle darkness or if your time isn't up.
[ maybe Viktor won't believe a word he says, being the man of science that he is, but Molly continues regardless. ]
The worse may happen but it won't be the end of your road. [ reaching down he spins the card around so that DAWN points upright instead. ] She won't be done with you and I know she won't be the only one.
[For what it was worth, he listened without argument; gold eyes following those cards with the unblinking intent of one trying to comprehend sleight of hand.]
...I wish it were that simple. I think there is only one fate left for me now, with so little time left to find a solution.
no subject
[ and if there is one thing he won't ever do, it is break a promise. ]
Hopefully it tastes just as incredible. There is another container of the stuff if you like it, save you having to cook for yourself for a few days.
no subject
[He laughed softly before taking a bite, eyes not quite lighting up so much as giving off a low-energy spark of life to them.]
...This is incredible, Molly. Your hard work has clearly paid off.
no subject
[ as much as he may exclaim otherwise, Molly knows he isn't a miracle worker. Viktor's eyes might not light up but even that little spark is enough to count as a victory. he grins, a soft laugh passing his lips, and leans against the table. ]
Glad to hear it. [ he is practically preening at the praise.
Molly takes the chance then to pick at his own plate, making an pleased noise as he does so oblivious to the way his tail uncoils from around his leg smack against the legs of his chair happily. ]
So... how you feeling post hospital visit?
no subject
...Tired, but that is certainly nothing new. Relieved to be out, certainly.
no subject
[ Viktor does strike him as the kind of person who hates bed rest when he could be doing something productive.
if he noticed the stalling Molly doesn't say anything, only continues to consume his own meal. a beat. ]
...Do you ever sleep properly, Viktor? [ not that Molly can talk about getting a proper 8 hours sleep but this ain't about him. ]
no subject
no subject
She can see me and she noticed the last time I had trouble sleeping. Nightmares and all that. [ poke poke. ] She's some sort of old witch that one, but a woman with a good heart. She gave me a blend that gently coaxes you into a dreamless sleep.
no subject
no subject
[ it hasn't escaped his notice how Viktor all but avoids his gaze, nor how he has prattled on while the other man has been mostly quiet. so he lets the ensuing silence sit for a moment, picking at his dinner while his tail thumps almost rhythmically against the table leg.
you don't push. pushing can only make them clam up and retreat within themselves. you coax them out gently, let them talk if they want at their own pace. sometimes all people need is someone to be there for him, be it in silence or not. Molly's willing to just be here, to fill the space as the world doesn't feel so empty or cold.
he gives it a moment, then another, until he's all but finished his meal and pushes his empty dish away with a satisfied noise. he glances to Viktor then the decorations on his horns jingling softly as he tilts his head. ]
Penny for your thoughts?
[ an invitation, a offered hand. ]
no subject
[A soft, breathless laugh with no real humor to it. Truthfully, he'd been more than a little lost in his own head with the silence that followed; the whole situation felt like a jigsaw puzzle made of shattered glass, Viktor trying to fit into a place which cut from every angle. Most people didn't get a second grim prognosis, least of all somewhere universes away from home.]
[Over the years he'd convinced himself the flow of time had to be different; the alternative was too horrible to contemplate. The disappearance of one practically invisible Undercity rat would go unnoticed by the rest of the world, certainly--except for one person.]
I am just... [He wanted to brush it off; troubling others was not in Viktor's nature. But maybe it was because he didn't know Molly as well as Zelos or Varian that it was easier; if he was going to get scared off by what Viktor believed was his difficult personality, better to do it early.] ...thinking about my world should I fail to get back. There is-...I do not have living family, so that is not a concern. But my partner and our work...those, I worry for.
no subject
[ it'll take more than a "difficult personality" to scare Molly off once he's made up his mind. and he made up his mind on Viktor that day he spoke to him on the network, determined to brighten his life if it is the last thing he does.
Molly listens, patient, while Viktor starts to talk. worries clear in his voice, in his expression. it's a shame they don't really know shit about how everything for people who were dragged to the city works. if they'll go back to exact moment they left it or if they even can go back home. in the face of your own mortality it make sense for that to be worrying him. ]
I can't say I know how all that works. [ he pulls a deck out from one of the inside pockets of his coat, casually shuffling through the cards. ] But I'd like to think that Fate has a plan for that should it happen.
no subject
I have never been one to believe in fate. [A quietly stated fact, instead of an outright denial. A lot of things had happened in the past few years Viktor might not otherwise have believed in, admittedly.] The idea of a force in the world completely indiscernible and unquantifiable...as a scientist, I can not accept the concept. And if it did exist...somehow I feel that would be worse. Does that not imply that such senseless suffering was always meant to happen, rather than the whim of random chance in an unjust world?
no subject
It doesn't. Fate doesn't dictate what happens in between life and death, all that is combination of random chance and terrible decisions. [ he stops shuffling them, pulling out a single card and laying it on the table. DEATH & DAWN stares back up at them, DEATH pointing upright. ] Fate meets you are the end of the road, determines whether it is your time to embrace that gentle darkness or if your time isn't up.
[ maybe Viktor won't believe a word he says, being the man of science that he is, but Molly continues regardless. ]
The worse may happen but it won't be the end of your road. [ reaching down he spins the card around so that DAWN points upright instead. ] She won't be done with you and I know she won't be the only one.
no subject
...I wish it were that simple. I think there is only one fate left for me now, with so little time left to find a solution.