It all started with a text from Victor:
Contact: Yuri Lowell
[15:36] Please come over when you're not busy. I have something for you. Elle approved it before you worry it's nothing good.
Whenever Yuri chose to arrive, he'd find a note on the front door to let himself in. Once he opened the door, he'd see Victor drinking a glass of wine on the sofa. Though before a step was taken, he'd glance over and set his glass down.
"It's... good to see you, Yuri," Victor greets the man with no underlying cynicism in his voice. "I'll save the explanation for after you open this."
Victor hands Yuri a long, somewhat heavy purple box held together with a sash not dissimilar to his own. As the sunlight peeked into the box, the gift's polished metal glistened. Once the box is completely opened, a blade near exact length and weight as Yuri's awaited him. An insignia of the Gemini constellation was etched into the hilt- a trait it shared with Victor's short swords.
"This sword's a custom order from the brand my--Julius and I use. Castor & Pollux products are premium gald, but the price does match the quality," As proof, Victor presented one of his pristine short swords. "10 years of through use and my swords are still in perfect condition with basic maintenance. Whatever you may face, this blade will cut it down."
That wrapped up the what. Now the 'why'... It always has a way of being difficult when it's not Elle at the receiving end. But he won't back down.
"As for why I commissioned this, it's my thanks for showing me mercy and later, kindness. Even though Ludger told you not to, you had plenty motive to see me arrested. Or killed me to spare everyone a trial that would sentence me to death regardless."
Victor chuckles, having sat through his share as a witness.
"So while I'm aware this gift won't make up for my actions, I hope it can at least show I bear no ill will towards you."
Well, he wasn't sure it would be nothing good... but more, is it going to kill him or maim him. Though, perhaps that was an exaggeration, of course... Victor had gotten... better? Nicer? lately. There was less anger directed at him for the whole mess of that job, at least.
That damn job still ate away at Yuri a bit, but that wasn't Victor's fault, per se. That was his own lack of knowledge and his impulsiveness that made him feel poorly about his decisions. But then, if it could at least help their family deal with these... issues, at least a bit... maybe it was a good thing in the end? But he still needed to backtrack and do better.
Maybe it was a good thing in the end... and that thought stuck in his mind, quietly, at the very back of it, as Victor said it was good to see him. The change in tone was even more relaxed than the first time they met, when Victor was at least being polite.
It wasn't... his birthday or a holiday or anything, so the sudden gift caught him unexpecting. Still though, he wasn't sure it was likely Victor would do anything to hurt someone that Elle enjoyed hanging around, because that in turn would hurt Elle. If Yuri was right and Victor really was changing his behavior toward him, it was probably nothing to worry about.
So he took the box, a familiar weight coming with it, and that familiarity was confirmed when he opened it. As a kid, Yuri used to browse the shops in the marketplace, looking at different swords. They were all formed of varying craftsmanship, and it always intrigued Yuri. To some people, having a fondness for weapons might seem strange or even dangerous, but Yuri found weaponry, especially swords, to be beautiful creations.
Plus, his guild work did require him to use a sword often enough. That and... well, he did help the knights sometimes, officially under guild work, but doing so was more or less unavoidable when his fiancé was the literal commandant. The sword would definitely see its fair share of use.
Yuri paused, hoping to sort his words before answering Victor's confession. "Well, sure, some of it was out of concern for Ludger's feelings on it, 'cause all that stuff is between you and him... but I, well, tend to have a habit of just doing something if I think it needs doing. But, um... hm. Don't take this wrong the way, but I guess it was sort of a... hunch, or... intuition or... something, but... whenever I talked to you, I didn't feel... pure malice?"
Maybe it had something to do with Elle? He didn't really know exactly what it was that made him believe Victor wasn't the same sort as the likes of Ragou and Cumore. But sending him to a trial that would result in death? Something told Yuri he didn't deserve that. That something was going on that he didn't understand, and that it wasn't his place to make a judgement on.
"I still don't totally understand your circumstances, the thing between the two of you, but... I've met some really evil people. Even one guy who fed kids to monsters as a hobby. I didn't really feel that sorta... really disturbing evil in you. Whatever you've got going on, it seems personal and... emotional, if I'm being honest. All this time, you've been targeting Ludger, but not like, the general public, or just mass killing innocent people. You don't get close to people as if it'd be a waste of time, but Elle doesn't talk about you like you're some villain. So... I dunno. You didn't feel anything like the sort of people I've seen who actually deserved to die. I don't think you fit that bill. I know my thoughts about it have some holes and all, but... you know that feeling I had with Ludger? How I just... couldn't kill him because I was starting to know him? I think that's how I was with you."
He paused again and sighed. "Sorry, not trying to bore you with this stuff. Just figured I'd explain it, 'cause... whatever's going on with you, I don't think you deserve unkindness. Like I said, it's just a feeling I have, so maybe it's kinda dumb, but... ever since knowing you more, I think that was the right call. A gift might not make up for what you were gonna do, but... I think your feelings and what you're doing now are. And thinking like that is definitely still a step in the right direction."
Frankly, if it came down to it, he didn't want to kill Victor. He'd pushed and pushed, subtly, gently, to get Victor to be less... cranky, perhaps. Repeated visits, cooking for the family, and so on... A truly evil person would not, even over time, come to respect or care for anyone - or whatever it was Victor was doing in regard to Yuri - no matter how much time they spent together. No matter how often they saw a person. Even if Yuri couldn't figure out what it was yet, there was something there. Maybe it showed in the way he, just like Ludger, kept giving Yuri gifts. They didn't need to, but... it felt rude to dismiss their feelings, and gifts were simply a physical form of expressing those feelings.
"But, um... thanks. I appreciate it." His expression relaxed into a calm, small smile. His eyes rested on the blade as he continued to speak. "I don't want anything to happen to Ludger, no... but I don't want anything to happen to you, either. And I know you're more of a 'work by yourself' kinda guy, but if you ever wanna come with me on guild work sometime, I'm sure I can talk to the little boss man about it. That kid I mentioned to you when we met. You might be able to see this sword get put to good use."
