✨ＦＡＩＲＹ✨

@twinklefairy-dust

[She watched him quietly, her head tilting ever so slightly as she observed him combing the newborn’s soft black hair back while allowing the child to grip one of his fingers, Jude’s tiny legs kicking about in protest.] It was strange seeing Victor like this. Not because he looked different. But because she’d never imagined him caring for someone with such quiet patience. [As Victor gave her a small nod, briefly glancing back at her over his shoulder before turning his attention to Jude once more, she returned the gesture.] She didn’t comment on his hesitation. Though the accent that slipped into his voice did catch her attention, quietly filing the detail away. It left her wondering where Victor had come from long before she’d ever met him. [She approached the bassinet slowly, careful not to startle the infant any further, before coming to stand beside Victor.] “…Hey, little guy.” [The words left her lips almost instinctively, her voice barely above a murmur as she leaned over just enough to properly see Jude.] For a brief moment, she found herself remembering a much younger version of herself standing over cribs not unlike this one, helping care for children who were far too young to remember her. “You’re giving your dad a hard time, huh?” [Warmth lingered in her voice as one hand rested lightly against the edge of the bassinet instead of reaching for the baby.] She’d learned a long time ago that not every crying infant wanted to be picked up. Sometimes they simply wanted a familiar voice. Sometimes… They just needed a moment. [Her softened gaze lingered on Jude before lifting toward Victor.] “If it’s alright with you…” She hesitated. “I’d like to try.” [Her attention drifted back to the infant as both hands rested lightly against the edge of the bassinet.]

This was his personal nightmare, and if he was being honest, Jude wasn't helping at the moment. He sighed and he stepped aside, letting Nyx take over.

As he watched her, it finally occurred to him that he could turn down the temperature in the room. Maybe that was why Jude was upset. He remembered that overheating was linked to SIDS, and he hurried to the other side of the cramped room to cool things off.

Wiping his sweaty brow, Victor knelt down in front of the tegu's carrier. He heard the wheezing, and he frowned. He picked up the carrier carefully, so as not to startle the creature inside, and he inspected its eyes and nose for discharge, and its lips for any signs of scabbing.

#victor gideon #para rp #yeah we can go with that

[ Nyx shifted to take Victor’s place as he stepped aside, accepting the responsibility he’d quietly handed over.]

She glanced down at the newborn, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she watched him cry within the bassinet. Surely Victor had already seen to the obvious—feeding, changing, burping. If that was the case…

What was bothering him?

Her attention briefly lifted as Victor crossed the cramped room, finally noticing the warmth that had settled over it before turning the thermostat down.

Thank god.

Perhaps that had been the problem all along.

[She looked back toward Jude, resting a gentle hand against the blanket covering him before speaking in a voice barely above a whisper.]

“Hey…”

For a brief moment, she simply let him hear her.

[ When the crying didn’t seem to settle just yet, she carefully slipped one arm beneath him and the other behind his head, lifting him from the bassinet with practiced care.]

“There we go…”

[ She began rocking him gently against her chest, absentmindedly swaying from side to side as she murmured softly beneath her breath.]

“What’s all the ruckus about, huh?”

Her tone carried nothing but warmth.

———

[Inside the carrier, Vanta shifted slightly as she heard approaching footsteps. The warmth of the room had eased some of the stiffness from her body, her movements no longer quite as sluggish as before.]

Her tongue slowly flicked out, tasting the unfamiliar scent as the carrier was lifted from the floor.

Not Nyx.

She grew still again.

[Amber eyes remained fixed on Victor through the bars while he inspected her.]

There was no scabbing around her mouth thankfully.

But a thin layer of thickened mucus clung around one nostril and the corner of her mouth.

[She continued watching the unfamiliar man for another moment, her tongue flicking out once more before she slowly rested her head back against the floor of the carrier.]

@twinklefairy-dust

Nyx just stared as Victor stood there, clearly lost in thought. From everything she’d seen so far, it didn’t exactly surprise her. Whatever had happened had clearly caught him off guard. More than that, it seemed to have left him unwilling to be seen by anyone else. As Victor gave one final glance toward Vanta before eventually stepping aside, allowing her into the room. [ Nyx let out a quiet, steady breath before stepping inside, holding the carrier in front of her and carefully avoiding brushing against him as she passed.] As she walked into the room, the immediate warmth was the first thing that hit her. Seeing that it was not only small but windowless, she had a feeling they were going to be sitting in it for a while. [She stood there quietly, her eyes wandering around the room.] The room wasn’t anything like she’d expected the more she took it in. Painfully simple. Bare, almost. There was little more than a bed, a bassinet, a changing table, and the scattered necessities. Nothing like the image she’d built of someone who seemed to live and breathe his work. But now wasn’t the time to judge. [Unsure where to place Vanta, she crouched down and carefully rested the carrier against the wall before straightening once more.] Another cry from the infant filled the room. [Her attention drifted toward the bassinet before settling on Victor as he looked down at the child, the distress on his face impossible to miss.] She didn’t move toward the bassinet. Just watched. Thinking over the possible reasons for the infant’s refusal to settle down. [She let out a small breath as she rubbed the back of her neck.] “…I can check on him if you want,” she offered after a long moment of silence, her voice quieter now.

Victor tried to ignore her for the moment as he stroked Jude's soft black hair, and let him grip one of his fingers while he cried. He didn't ignore her to be rude, but because having another grown person in the room with him right now felt suffocating.

She'd been examining his room, her expression as cryptic to him as always, but he could tell that she was quietly assessing him. It normally wouldn't have bothered him--twelve or fewer hours ago, other people's opinions had little to no bearing on him--but now? He didn't know what would have been worse: finding out what she was thinking, or dying without knowing what she was thinking.

When Nyx offered to help, Victor chewed his lip before nodding, glancing at her briefly over his shoulder before turning away again. He opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, and then said, "I'd appreciate the help."

He stared down into Jude's crib. Now, with four simple words, she could probably figure out that he was from some distant holler in the Appalachians that hadn't been on a map before or after the coal mining companies got done with it. He grimaced. How long had he worked to get rid of that accent?

#para rp #I’ll help aid in research lmao #victor gideon

It was strange seeing Victor like this.

Not because he looked different.

But because she’d never imagined him caring for someone with such quiet patience.

[As Victor gave her a small nod, briefly glancing back at her over his shoulder before turning his attention to Jude once more, she returned the gesture.]

She didn’t comment on his hesitation.

Though the accent that slipped into his voice did catch her attention, quietly filing the detail away. It left her wondering where Victor had come from long before she’d ever met him.

[She approached the bassinet slowly, careful not to startle the infant any further, before coming to stand beside Victor.]

“…Hey, little guy.”

[The words left her lips almost instinctively, her voice barely above a murmur as she leaned over just enough to properly see Jude.]

For a brief moment, she found herself remembering a much younger version of herself standing over cribs not unlike this one, helping care for children who were far too young to remember her.

“You’re giving your dad a hard time, huh?”

[Warmth lingered in her voice as one hand rested lightly against the edge of the bassinet instead of reaching for the baby.]

She’d learned a long time ago that not every crying infant wanted to be picked up.

Sometimes they simply wanted a familiar voice.

Sometimes…

They just needed a moment.

[Her softened gaze lingered on Jude before lifting toward Victor.]

“If it’s alright with you…”

She hesitated.

“I’d like to try.”

[Her attention drifted back to the infant as both hands rested lightly against the edge of the bassinet.]

@twinklefairy-dust

[Nyx stood waiting outside the door until, finally, she straightened as she heard approaching footsteps. What she could only assume was Victor’s shadow settled at the foot of the door before the doorknob rattled and slowly turned.] As the door pulled open, neither of them spoke. Victor simply stared down at her with wide, unblinking gray eyes. Nyx stared right back. She hadn’t expected… This. [Her eyes wandered over him almost instinctively, taking in the details one by one. The sheen of sweat gathering across his forehead. The wrinkled button-down with its sleeves rolled to his forearms. The unpressed khakis.] Everything about him felt… Different. He looked younger. Livelier. And somehow… More human. “…Um…” The word slipped out before she could stop it. [She gave a small shake of her head, as though pulling herself back into the moment. Dozens of questions raced through her mind, each competing to be asked first.] But none of them felt appropriate. [Then Vanta shifted inside the carrier, her tongue flicking out as she took in her new surroundings. The movement was soon followed by another faint wheeze.] Nyx’s attention immediately returned to why she’d come. “I know this probably isn’t the best time…” she began quietly, lifting the carrier slightly. “But I really do need your help, Victor.” She was ready to leave it at that, but her gaze drifted past him into the room as the newborn’s cries reached her ears once more. Only then did she notice how visibly rattled he seemed. “…And…” [The corner of her mouth tugged upward ever so slightly.] “Perhaps I could help you, too.”

Nyx had him at a disadvantage, and oh, how Victor hated it. Did he really have any options, though? Someone had shown her to his room, and now she knew about his son. He would have been irate under normal circumstances, but things were far from normal now.

His mind was still cycling through a deluge of emotions and memories that he hadn't endured in ages, things that had been long buried, decades' worth of another life that was best left behind.

Now he knew where his son's name came from. How very original.

He cast another glance at the ailing reptile before he stepped aside, allowing Nyx into his private domain.

It was small, and windowless, and was obviously meant to be a storeroom in a previous life. The room itself was unadorned, and the furnishings were sparse--a bed that dominated most of the available space, a bassinet and a changing table, a wastebasket, a clothes rack, and a nightstand. Victor hadn't had the time or the presence of mind to turn down the heat yet, and the thermostat was set to nearly eighty degrees Fahrenheit.

Victor looked down at the screaming infant, momentarily (and thankfully) distracted by his distress, and he wondered if he should switch off the overhead lights. Maybe they were too bright for him.

As Victor gave one final glance toward Vanta before eventually stepping aside, allowing her into the room.

[ Nyx let out a quiet, steady breath before stepping inside, holding the carrier in front of her and carefully avoiding brushing against him as she passed.]

As she walked into the room, the immediate warmth was the first thing that hit her. Seeing that it was not only small but windowless, she had a feeling they were going to be sitting in it for a while.

[She stood there quietly, her eyes wandering around the room.]

The room wasn’t anything like she’d expected the more she took it in.

Painfully simple.

Bare, almost.

There was little more than a bed, a bassinet, a changing table, and the scattered necessities.

Nothing like the image she’d built of someone who seemed to live and breathe his work.

But now wasn’t the time to judge.

[Unsure where to place Vanta, she crouched down and carefully rested the carrier against the wall before straightening once more.]

Another cry from the infant filled the room.

[Her attention drifted toward the bassinet before settling on Victor as he looked down at the child, the distress on his face impossible to miss.]

She didn’t move toward the bassinet.

Just watched.

Thinking over the possible reasons for the infant’s refusal to settle down.

[She let out a small breath as she rubbed the back of her neck.]

“…I can check on him if you want,” she offered after a long moment of silence, her voice quieter now.

#para rp #victor gideon

@twinklefairy-dust

[She let out a grateful sigh as the man gestured for her to follow. Picking up the carrier once more, Nyx fell into step behind him as they made their way down the hallway and into another wing entirely.] Her curiosity only continued to grow. If Victor was here instead of his office, then whatever had supposedly put him “under the weather” was apparently enough to keep him tucked away from the rest of the facility. Her gaze followed as the janitor motioned toward a nearby door. She gave him a firm nod of thanks before watching him quietly slip away, assuming he had no interest in being caught as the one who had given away Victor’s hiding place. [She looked back toward the door, her brows furrowing slightly as she stepped up to it. Her fist raised, ready to land a firm knock against the wood, but it came to an abrupt stop.] A baby’s cry drifted through the other side. For just a moment, her expression softened. The sound tugged at something buried deep in the back of her mind. Familiar enough that, despite the years, she recognized it without thinking. Then came the quiet murmur of someone offering soft reassurances. The voice sounded almost entirely like Victor’s. Almost. Something about it felt… different. She couldn’t quite place what it was. [Nyx let out a quiet sigh before finally lifting her hand once more, giving the door a few gentle knocks.] Stepping back a couple of inches, she waited in silence for whoever was on the other side to answer.

On the other side, Victor almost didn't hear anyone knocking at the door. He was too rattled by everything that was going on--his abrupt transformation, Jude's refusal to settle down, the fact that Areej hadn't answered any of his calls in the past fifteen minutes. Now, someone was at his door, and he highly doubted that it was her.

Victor let out a shaky sigh, and, after a moment's hesitation, he opened the door. Almost immediately, he regretted his decision. There stood Nyx, the very last person who needed to see him in this sorry state.

He stared down at her with wide, unblinking gray eyes, at least for as long as he could manage before it became physically uncomfortable. He was sweating, which was in of itself an oddity, and he was out of his usual attire, now dressed in a wrinkled white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his muscular forearms and a pair of un-ironed khakis. He swallowed visibly, and he was about to ask her if she could come back another time, but then the tegu in the carrier caught his attention. His tense facial expression relaxed a mere fraction.

As the door pulled open, neither of them spoke.

Victor simply stared down at her with wide, unblinking gray eyes.

Nyx stared right back.

She hadn’t expected…

This.

[Her eyes wandered over him almost instinctively, taking in the details one by one. The sheen of sweat gathering across his forehead. The wrinkled button-down with its sleeves rolled to his forearms. The unpressed khakis.]

Everything about him felt…

Different.

He looked younger.

Livelier.

And somehow…

More human.

“…Um…”

The word slipped out before she could stop it.

[She gave a small shake of her head, as though pulling herself back into the moment. Dozens of questions raced through her mind, each competing to be asked first.]

But none of them felt appropriate.

[Then Vanta shifted inside the carrier, her tongue flicking out as she took in her new surroundings. The movement was soon followed by another faint wheeze.]

Nyx’s attention immediately returned to why she’d come.

“I know this probably isn’t the best time…” she began quietly, lifting the carrier slightly.

“But I really do need your help, Victor.”

She was ready to leave it at that, but her gaze drifted past him into the room as the newborn’s cries reached her ears once more.

Only then did she notice how visibly rattled he seemed.

“…And…”

[The corner of her mouth tugged upward ever so slightly.]

“Perhaps I could help you, too.”

@twinklefairy-dust

[ Nyx continued down the hallway, her eyes briefly peering into every room she passed in search of Gideon.] Finding nothing, she let out a quiet sigh before spotting a janitor mopping further down the hall. Finally. She quickened her pace, only slowing once she realized the earbuds were tucked into their ears. [Carefully setting Vanta’s carrier down beside her, Nyx reached out, gently placing a hand on the handle of the mop to catch the janitor’s attention. She waited patiently for him to remove an earbud before speaking.] “Sorry to interrupt…” [She offered a small, apologetic smile.] “I’m trying to find Dr. Gideon. He wasn’t in his office, and I really need to speak with him.” [Her eyes instinctively dropped toward the carrier for a brief moment before lifting back to the janitor.] “It’s about my tegu.” [She gestured lightly toward Vanta.] “Would you happen to know where I can find him?”

The janitor didn't speak as much English as he did Portuguese, but he still understood what she was asking, especially when Director Gideon's name came up. Everyone knew by now that something horrible had happened to him--whatever that something was--and that he was hiding in disgrace. He'd made a spectacle of himself while fleeing to his room, though the nurses were reluctant to tell anyone else what had happened.

The janitor nodded and set his mop aside, and he motioned for Nyx to follow him.

"Come here," he said, heading down the hall and to another wing entirely.

Shortly before they arrived at their destination, the janitor motioned to a door and then slipped away, not wanting to be found out as the one who'd given away the director's hiding spot. From behind the door, a baby cried while someone murmured reassurances to it, and that someone sounded almost entirely like Victor...

Her curiosity only continued to grow.

If Victor was here instead of his office, then whatever had supposedly put him “under the weather” was apparently enough to keep him tucked away from the rest of the facility.

Her gaze followed as the janitor motioned toward a nearby door. She gave him a firm nod of thanks before watching him quietly slip away, assuming he had no interest in being caught as the one who had given away Victor’s hiding place.

[She looked back toward the door, her brows furrowing slightly as she stepped up to it. Her fist raised, ready to land a firm knock against the wood, but it came to an abrupt stop.]

A baby’s cry drifted through the other side.

For just a moment, her expression softened.

The sound tugged at something buried deep in the back of her mind. Familiar enough that, despite the years, she recognized it without thinking.

Then came the quiet murmur of someone offering soft reassurances.

The voice sounded almost entirely like Victor’s.

Almost.

Something about it felt… different.

She couldn’t quite place what it was.

[Nyx let out a quiet sigh before finally lifting her hand once more, giving the door a few gentle knocks.]

Stepping back a couple of inches, she waited in silence for whoever was on the other side to answer.

#para rp #victor gideon

@twinklefairy-dust

[ Nyx took full strides, the carrier still held firmly in one hand as she approached the office door. She shoved it open, letting it swing inward as her eyes immediately swept across the room in search of him.] But only silence greeted her. “Gideon!” She called out, hoping for some response that might indicate his location. Nothing. [She stood inside the office, muttering to herself as her attention lingered around the room, taking notice of the sudden changes and the fact that it looked as though he’d left in a hurry.] It wasn’t of any importance to her, of course, but she noticed the two laptops atop his desk. One looked new, while the other had clearly been there for some time. [Her expression softened slightly as her eyes settled on the new framed photograph, capturing a newborn with its eyes barely opened.] She remembered noticing what had looked like a child’s room the last time she’d been here. Perhaps that had been what it was for. It could even explain why he’d seemed so tense when she’d stopped to notice it. “…Hmm.” For a second, she considered helping herself to a little more snooping, her gaze briefly catching the scattered photographs of the woman she recognized as Grace Ashcroft. But then Vanta let out another faint wheeze. [ Nyx’s attention immediately snapped back to the carrier in her hand.] “Right…” [She adjusted her grip before stepping back into the hallway, her eyes searching for the nearest member of staff.] “If he isn’t hiding in his office…” she muttered to herself. “…Then where the hell is he?”

A janitor was mopping nearby, ear buds in, hoping that they could go about their night without any incident. A floor down at the nurse's station, Drew and a couple of other nurses tried explaining in vain to one of the patients that no, there wasn't a persistent ringing noise that everyone could hear, and that he should just go back to bed for now. This only seemed to upset the patient, who was becoming agitated.

Meanwhile, Victor woke up to hear Jude crying in his bassinet. He padded across the small room and picked him up, checking his diaper and shushing him.

#para rp #victor gideon #Task Updated: Talk to Janitor #😂

[ Nyx continued down the hallway, her eyes briefly peering into every room she passed in search of Gideon.]

Finding nothing, she let out a quiet sigh before spotting a janitor mopping further down the hall.

Finally.

She quickened her pace, only slowing once she realized the earbuds were tucked into their ears.

[Carefully setting Vanta’s carrier down beside her, Nyx reached out, gently placing a hand on the handle of the mop to catch the janitor’s attention. She waited patiently for him to remove an earbud before speaking.]

“Sorry to interrupt…”

[She offered a small, apologetic smile.]

“I’m trying to find Dr. Gideon. He wasn’t in his office, and I really need to speak with him.”

[Her eyes instinctively dropped toward the carrier for a brief moment before lifting back to the janitor.]

“It’s about my tegu.”

[She gestured lightly toward Vanta.]

“Would you happen to know where I can find him?”

@twinklefairy-dust

[Nyx’s leg bounced impatiently as she sat, her fingers absentmindedly scratching Vanta gently through the bars of the carrier.] Her attention shifted to the young nurse as she approached. Nyx’s expression remained unreadable. By now, she’d already figured Victor wasn’t coming down himself. There had to be some excuse on its way. “…Under the weather?” [Her brow furrowed ever so slightly, her tone making it clear she wasn’t buying the excuse. Not only that, but the nurse’s hesitation hadn’t gone unnoticed.] “Forty-eight hours…” she echoed, letting out a short, humorless laugh as her hands came up to rub at her eyes before she slowly stood. She wasn’t in the mood for this. Not today. “The fuck did he catch, Ebola?” she muttered under her breath, with sarcasm. [Without waiting for an answer, Nyx stepped past the nurse and headed down the hall toward Victor’s office, the carrier held securely in one hand.] She wasn’t leaving without at least trying to get him to look at Vanta.

Areej didn't bother trying to stop Nyx. Hell, maybe she could convince the doctor to stop hiding like a damned child... Instead, she went to the nurses station, where she quickly and quietly packed up for the night before Victor could page her again with another ridiculous request.

A prematurely balding, pale young man in scrubs watched her from his seat by the window. Areej raised an eyebrow and whispered, "your problem, now."

"Thaaaanks..."

Victor was nowhere to be seen in his office, though it looked as if he'd left it in a hurry. A new laptop sat on his desk alongside the desktop, and though it was password protected, it wasn't tethered down. There was a new framed photo on his desk. It was a picture of a newborn child, southeast Asian in heritage, its eyes barely open. Aside from that, and the fact that Victor hadn't even put away his collection of candids of that one pasty blonde girl, there were no other indications that anything was amiss.

#para rp #victor gideon #literally 😂

But only silence greeted her.

“Gideon!”

She called out, hoping for some response that might indicate his location.

Nothing.

[She stood inside the office, muttering to herself as her attention lingered around the room, taking notice of the sudden changes and the fact that it looked as though he’d left in a hurry.]

It wasn’t of any importance to her, of course, but she noticed the two laptops atop his desk. One looked new, while the other had clearly been there for some time.

[Her expression softened slightly as her eyes settled on the new framed photograph, capturing a newborn with its eyes barely opened.]

She remembered noticing what had looked like a child’s room the last time she’d been here.

Perhaps that had been what it was for.

It could even explain why he’d seemed so tense when she’d stopped to notice it.

“…Hmm.”

For a second, she considered helping herself to a little more snooping, her gaze briefly catching the scattered photographs of the woman she recognized as Grace Ashcroft.

But then Vanta let out another faint wheeze.

[ Nyx’s attention immediately snapped back to the carrier in her hand.]

“Right…”

[She adjusted her grip before stepping back into the hallway, her eyes searching for the nearest member of staff.]

“If he isn’t hiding in his office…” she muttered to herself.

“…Then where the hell is he?”

[ Nyx stood just outside the care facility, a carrier held tightly in her hand.]

As she stared at the entrance, she briefly considered sneaking her way inside again, helping herself to a few medical supplies and treating Vanta on her own. It certainly would’ve been easier.

But she’d given Victor her word.

Besides, she hated that he was the closest thing she had to someone she could ask for help.

Not that she couldn’t have gone to a regular exotic veterinarian. She simply wasn’t willing to take the chance. The questions, the paperwork, and the fact that it gave too many opportunities for somebody to recognize an identity that was supposed to belong to the dead.

Not to mention, she didn’t exactly trust the clinics in her neighborhood either.

“…It’s gonna be okay, Vanta,” she murmured, crouching just enough to peer through the carrier.

[The white tegu rested quietly, her eyes peering back at Nyx through the bars, each slow breath accompanied by a faint wheeze.]

“I’m getting you help.”

[She hesitated, glancing back up at the building before looking down at Vanta once more.]

“I hope.”

Knowing reptiles weren’t exactly Victor’s specialty, she still hoped he could point her in the right direction. Besides… he had a crocodilian under his care now. Surely he’d picked up something useful.

[Taking one last steadying breath, Nyx stepped inside the facility and approached the reception desk.]

“I’m here to see Dr. Gideon.”

[She spoke firmly, the carrier still cradled securely in her arms.]

“Tell him it’s Nyx.”

[With that, she wandered toward the waiting area, settling into one of the chairs with the carrier resting carefully across her lap.]

Minutes later, a brown-skinned young nurse with gleaming black hair tied back at the nape of her neck entered the waiting area. She looked more than a little frustrated for some reason, but she sighed and put on a smile when she saw Nyx.

"I'm very sorry," she said as she approached her, "but the director isn't seeing anyone for the next two days. He's... under the weather."

She almost mumbled the last part, as if she felt stupid for having said it, or as if she was telling an obvious lie.

"You'll have to come back after 48 hours have passed."

#para rp #victor gideon #she’s a VERY upset mother at the moment

[Nyx’s leg bounced impatiently as she sat, her fingers absentmindedly scratching Vanta gently through the bars of the carrier.]

Her attention shifted to the young nurse as she approached. Nyx’s expression remained unreadable. By now, she’d already figured Victor wasn’t coming down himself. There had to be some excuse on its way.

“…Under the weather?”

[Her brow furrowed ever so slightly, her tone making it clear she wasn’t buying the excuse. Not only that, but the nurse’s hesitation hadn’t gone unnoticed.]

“Forty-eight hours…” she echoed, letting out a short, humorless laugh as her hands came up to rub at her eyes before she slowly stood.

She wasn’t in the mood for this.

Not today.

“The fuck did he catch, Ebola?” she muttered under her breath, with sarcasm.

[Without waiting for an answer, Nyx stepped past the nurse and headed down the hall toward Victor’s office, the carrier held securely in one hand.]

She wasn’t leaving without at least trying to get him to look at Vanta.

@twinklefairy-dust

She nodded her head to the response, though she wasn’t entirely sure how to properly respond. Surely he had his reason. Perhaps it was to continue his mission without setbacks, or simply the culmination of years spent perfecting whatever prototype he had planted within himself. But was it worth giving up the experience of being human? Not that he wasn’t… in a sense. Still, she found herself wondering if there were things he no longer got to enjoy. [She watched him carefully as he began unclasping his vest again, her expression immediately showing concern.] For a brief moment, she worried he was about to pry himself open with his bare hands to make his point. “Yeah, there’s no need, hey—!” [The protest had just left her lips when his hand suddenly enveloped hers, pressing it against his chest. Her eyes widened slightly, her fingers instinctively tensing.] Through the steady beat of his heart, she felt it. Something alive and moving within his surprisingly lukewarm body. She remained silent as she continued to stare, even while feeling the intensity of his gaze waiting for her reaction. At the very least, she hadn’t recoiled or pulled away, but simply stood there feeling it. [And despite herself, she smiled softly, almost amused, as she lifted her gaze back up to him.] “So…” [Her thumb shifted ever so slightly against his chest before lightly tapping it.] “This…” Her expression softened as her eyes lingered on him. “This is your masterpiece?”

His masterpiece? No. It was merely a means to an end, a way for him to optimize himself while he strived to complete his master's endeavors.

More than that, it was a symbol of his absolute devotion, not only to Spencer's work, but to his remaining progeny, if only he could make her understand as much.

Why let her know the depths of his commitment, though? And of course, why ruin the moment? He simply nodded, smiling at her.

Nyx took his simple nod and smile as confirmation to what she thought was his way of showing himself.

Especially after the two of them had spent the better part of the interaction revealing things they considered vulnerable.

At least, on her part.

[Her smile tugged upwards slightly as she stared back at his chest, still feeling whatever was alive beneath it.]

“Mm.”

[She didn’t say anything after that. Her thumb gave one last gentle tap against his chest before she finally withdrew her hand, though not hurriedly, taking a few steps back from him.]

After what seemed like forever, she finally spoke. Her smile had faded, but her expression had noticeably softened.

“Well…”

[She folded her arms loosely over herself. It was clear she didn’t really know what to say, or if there was anything left to say anyways.]

“Thanks…”

[She paused awkwardly, giving a slight smirk.]

“For, uh… sharing that with me.”

"Of course," he said, still smiling as he does up his vest once more. "It isn't every day that I meet someone who can appreciate my more revolutionary procedures..."

He wondered if this was a byproduct of the weed that he'd just smoked. Was this the result of lowered inhibitions? Was he being... vulnerable? Victor quickly dismissed the possibility. He was too massive to be affected by a single blunt—at least, he was fairly sure of that.

Wait, what if he was experiencing paranoia now? Oh, he needed to lie down...

#para rp #when isn’t he 😂

“Yeah… no problem.”

[She responded quietly, her arms still crossed loosely over herself as she watched the smile still plastered across his lips with a strange sort of interest while he buckled his vest back up.]

Truthfully, Nyx herself wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened, or why.

She could’ve blamed the weed. But even drunk, she tended to remain reserved, always aware of herself rather than completely losing her senses.

Still, the question dwelled in her mind.

Why had she shared so much?

And why had he?

She could only think that perhaps some part of her had wanted to.

To finally have somebody see.

To understand.

And it wasn’t exactly a thought she felt comfortable acknowledging to herself, let alone anyone else.

“I’m probably gonna take my leave now,” she murmured, finally pulling her keys into her hand.

Unless there was something else he wanted to ask, she didn’t see much reason to linger around any longer. Besides… She had a lot to think about now.

@twinklefairy-dust

His masterpiece? No. It was merely a means to an end, a way for him to optimize himself while he strived to complete his master's endeavors.

More than that, it was a symbol of his absolute devotion, not only to Spencer's work, but to his remaining progeny, if only he could make her understand as much.

Why let her know the depths of his commitment, though? And of course, why ruin the moment? He simply nodded, smiling at her.

#para rp #emotional tension?

Nyx took his simple nod and smile as confirmation to what she thought was his way of showing himself.

Especially after the two of them had spent the better part of the interaction revealing things they considered vulnerable.

At least, on her part.

[Her smile tugged upwards slightly as she stared back at his chest, still feeling whatever was alive beneath it.]

“Mm.”

[She didn’t say anything after that. Her thumb gave one last gentle tap against his chest before she finally withdrew her hand, though not hurriedly, taking a few steps back from him.]

After what seemed like forever, she finally spoke. Her smile had faded, but her expression had noticeably softened.

“Well…”

[She folded her arms loosely over herself. It was clear she didn’t really know what to say, or if there was anything left to say anyways.]

“Thanks…”

[She paused awkwardly, giving a slight smirk.]

“For, uh… sharing that with me.”

@twinklefairy-dust

If Victor were to pick up anything from her pheromones, it would be a mixture of things. The lingering scent of marijuana, traces of frustration, curiosity, amusement, and something else that even Nyx herself couldn’t quite put a name to. Relief. [Her head tilted slightly at the sudden display, though her attention briefly lingered on the odd flick of his tongue before deciding she had neither the energy nor sobriety to question it.] “Well yeah, that’s… obvious.” She replied, her eyes taking him in as he spread his arms wide, almost as though presenting himself to her with pride. Truthfully, she found herself more interested in what exactly he had been transformed with than anything else. But that question could wait. As she thought on his last words, she wasn’t entirely sure how to react. Most people she’d met would’ve sounded bitter. Ashamed. Regretful. But Victor sounded proud. Or at the very least, satisfied. “Well, I can’t say I’ve ever heard somebody describe a radical procedure with that much enthusiasm,” she admitted with a faint laugh. “But a resounding success, huh…” [Her finger brushed thoughtfully against her chin as curiosity slowly crept into her expression.] “So…” [Her eyes lifted back toward him as her finger continued to scratch idly at her chin.] “Was this something you chose?” From her tone alone, it was clear she was simply asking as Nyx now, rather than someone trying to gather information. Because if somebody had offered her the chance to become something more… She wasn’t entirely sure what her answer would’ve been.

"Yes, it was," he said, unclasping his vest once again, still grinning. "I suggested it, in fact, after I perfected the prototype. I had to be sure that it worked exactly as intended..."

He suddenly took Nyx's hand, and he pressed it against his chest near his heart.

She could feel it, through his heartbeat. Something thrummed and writhed beneath his skin and his muscles in his lukewarm body, something that was altogether other. He watched her for her reaction, his eyes burning intensely behind his visor.

But was it worth giving up the experience of being human?

Not that he wasn’t… in a sense.

Still, she found herself wondering if there were things he no longer got to enjoy.

[She watched him carefully as he began unclasping his vest again, her expression immediately showing concern.]

For a brief moment, she worried he was about to pry himself open with his bare hands to make his point.

“Yeah, there’s no need, hey—!”

[The protest had just left her lips when his hand suddenly enveloped hers, pressing it against his chest. Her eyes widened slightly, her fingers instinctively tensing.]

Through the steady beat of his heart, she felt it.

Something alive and moving within his surprisingly lukewarm body.

She remained silent as she continued to stare, even while feeling the intensity of his gaze waiting for her reaction. At the very least, she hadn’t recoiled or pulled away, but simply stood there feeling it.

[And despite herself, she smiled softly, almost amused, as she lifted her gaze back up to him.]

“So…”

[Her thumb shifted ever so slightly against his chest before lightly tapping it.]

“This…” Her expression softened as her eyes lingered on him. “This is your masterpiece?”

@twinklefairy-dust

“No—no, of course. I was just asking…” she replied, her hands raising slightly in surrender before she moved to lean against the nearest surface. [With a quiet sigh, she absentmindedly examined her nails before glancing back at him, noticing the thin line pressed across his lips. Her gaze lingered there for a moment before dropping back to her hand.] “It was an ugly fucker, I’ll tell you that much…” she admitted. “Looked like somebody had been turned inside out. I mean… you could see the damn brain.” [She paused for a moment, rubbing at her head as though the memory itself exhausted her.] Eventually, she straightened up again. “But enough about me, though…” she hummed. “What’s your story exactly?” [Her eyes drifted briefly toward the scar hidden beneath his vest.] “You know, besides reopening yourself to impress whoever it was.”

A licker, Victor realized. He would know--the people backing his endeavors sold them to interested parties nowadays.

"Interesting..."

The tip of his tongue flicked out momentarily, tasting the air, tasting Nyx. He was curious as to what she was thinking, and if he couldn't know the answer to that, he could at least have a sample of the pheromones' she expelled from her body.

Victor grinned, spreading his arms wide. "Isn't my story obvious? I've been transformed. It was a radical procedure, and a resounding success."

Relief.

[Her head tilted slightly at the sudden display, though her attention briefly lingered on the odd flick of his tongue before deciding she had neither the energy nor sobriety to question it.]

“Well yeah, that’s… obvious.”

She replied, her eyes taking him in as he spread his arms wide, almost as though presenting himself to her with pride.

Truthfully, she found herself more interested in what exactly he had been transformed with than anything else. But that question could wait.

As she thought on his last words, she wasn’t entirely sure how to react. Most people she’d met would’ve sounded bitter.

Ashamed.

Regretful.

But Victor sounded proud.

Or at the very least, satisfied.

“Well, I can’t say I’ve ever heard somebody describe a radical procedure with that much enthusiasm,” she admitted with a faint laugh.

“But a resounding success, huh…”

[Her finger brushed thoughtfully against her chin as curiosity slowly crept into her expression.]

“So…”

[Her eyes lifted back toward him as her finger continued to scratch idly at her chin.]

“Was this something you chose?”

From her tone alone, it was clear she was simply asking as Nyx now, rather than someone trying to gather information.

Because if somebody had offered her the chance to become something more…

She wasn’t entirely sure what her answer would’ve been.

@twinklefairy-dust

[She curled a brow as she stared at him, almost as though she were trying to read him while he stood there in his relaxed posture. Her tongue pressed against the inside of her cheek as she remained quiet.] Of course, the question was a bit probing and, at most, revealing. Still, perhaps she could entertain this little game for a while. “Mutated, huh?” she echoed, sounding almost amused as her finger rubbed thoughtfully at her chin, as though trying to think something. “You know, I can’t seem to remember all that well…” she hummed lightly. “Perhaps when I’m off my buzz, I’ll get around to answering that for you.” From her tone alone it sounded honest, though if one knew her well enough, they might’ve caught the playfulness in her delivery. “But tell me something, Doctor…” she added, her head tilting slightly as the corner of her mouth tugged upward. “Is this professional curiosity…” [She paused, studying him for a moment.] “Or are you just getting curious about me?”

Of course, more deflection. Victor pressed his lips into a thin line, unamused by her complete and utter lack of seriousness. Then again, what was it that they'd just been doing? Part of him envied her in how effective drugs seemed to be on her system. Nothing he took--over the counter, prescribed, illicit, even alcohol--seemed to affect him anymore. At times, he was tempted to try denatured alcohol, just to see what would happen, but he honestly had better things to do with his time than tempt fate.

He sighed. "Should I not be curious about the woman who wants to work with me?"

#para rp #honestly where is this set?#Lol

“No—no, of course. I was just asking…” she replied, her hands raising slightly in surrender before she moved to lean against the nearest surface.

[With a quiet sigh, she absentmindedly examined her nails before glancing back at him, noticing the thin line pressed across his lips. Her gaze lingered there for a moment before dropping back to her hand.]

“It was an ugly fucker, I’ll tell you that much…” she admitted. “Looked like somebody had been turned inside out. I mean… you could see the damn brain.”

[She paused for a moment, rubbing at her head as though the memory itself exhausted her.]

Eventually, she straightened up again.

“But enough about me, though…” she hummed. “What’s your story exactly?”

[Her eyes drifted briefly toward the scar hidden beneath his vest.]

“You know, besides reopening yourself to impress whoever it was.”

@twinklefairy-dust

She took the moment to study him. Not that she could really see much beyond his lips, but she could tell he had become momentarily transfixed by it. Her eyes caught the subtle shift of his hand, the way it almost seemed to reach out to touch it before stopping itself. Which, truthfully, she was grateful for. [After seeing that he had more than enough time to analyze it, she finally let the shirt fall back over the scar, adjusting the waistband of her pants shortly after.] She wasn’t looking at him anymore. Or anything in particular, really. Her expression seemed caught somewhere in between, as though she still hadn’t decided whether she felt relieved or regretted having shown him. Eventually, she glanced back up at him as he asked the question. Given it wouldn’t reveal much of her past, she decided to answer. “Wouldn’t know…” [Her voice dipped in volume as she crossed her arms in front of herself.] “I remember letting off a shot aimed for their head… but mostly, I just remember my body fighting to stay awake while I lay in the operating room.” [A faint hum left her.] “So I’d like to think they had a worse day than I did.”

This, of course, only left him with more questions than answers. Victor thought about this for a moment, still regrettably sober enough to be aware of his own growing curiosity toward the woman.

"Something subhuman, or perhaps mutated?" He ventured a guess, wondering if Nyx would immediately clam up or if she'd drop another hint.

Even worse, she could start asking questions of him, and he honestly didn't know if he wanted to answer any or not.

His posture was relaxed enough, but internally, as always, he was playing a game of chess with this mystery woman.

Of course, the question was a bit probing and, at most, revealing.

Still, perhaps she could entertain this little game for a while.

“Mutated, huh?” she echoed, sounding almost amused as her finger rubbed thoughtfully at her chin, as though trying to think something.

“You know, I can’t seem to remember all that well…” she hummed lightly. “Perhaps when I’m off my buzz, I’ll get around to answering that for you.”

From her tone alone it sounded honest, though if one knew her well enough, they might’ve caught the playfulness in her delivery.

“But tell me something, Doctor…” she added, her head tilting slightly as the corner of her mouth tugged upward.

“Is this professional curiosity…”

[She paused, studying him for a moment.]

“Or are you just getting curious about me?”

@twinklefairy-dust

She still kept her fingers near her lips as she watched him fasten his vest once more, seemingly stunned by what she had just processed.] Though she seemed to come out of her trance at his mention of vulnerability. Of all people, she hadn’t expected him to be the one talking about it. [Her eyes narrowed slightly as she regarded him, catching the amused smirk upon his lips. She remained quiet for a moment, her gaze darting elsewhere as though weighing something over in her mind.] “Fine…” She finally spoke, though there was a noticeable hesitation in her voice. [Her hands moved reluctantly, rolling up her shirt just enough to expose the deepened scar along her hip, the fingers of her other hand hooking lightly beneath the waistband of her pants to show that it traveled further.] The scar itself was jagged, carving an uneven path downward before tapering near her groin. It widened in certain places, the flesh there having once been torn far more severely than the rest, with faint branching marks splintering away from the main wound. Time had softened its color to a pale silver, but not enough to hide just how violent the injury had once been. “I, uh…” She paused. “Got it during a pretty intense altercation.” From her tone alone, it was obvious that wasn’t the whole truth. But perhaps it was enough. For now.

Victor stared at it, momentarily transfixed. He wanted to touch it, almost reaching out before he stopped himself. He wanted to ask questions, but then again, did he want to answer any himself?

Of course not. On the other hand...

"An altercation... dare I ask how the other involved party fared?"

A harmless enough question, he assumed. And if she demurred, then that would be the end of it.

She took the moment to study him.

Not that she could really see much beyond his lips, but she could tell he had become momentarily transfixed by it.

Her eyes caught the subtle shift of his hand, the way it almost seemed to reach out to touch it before stopping itself.

Which, truthfully, she was grateful for.

[After seeing that he had more than enough time to analyze it, she finally let the shirt fall back over the scar, adjusting the waistband of her pants shortly after.]

She wasn’t looking at him anymore.

Or anything in particular, really.

Her expression seemed caught somewhere in between, as though she still hadn’t decided whether she felt relieved or regretted having shown him.

Eventually, she glanced back up at him as he asked the question. Given it wouldn’t reveal much of her past, she decided to answer.

“Wouldn’t know…”

[Her voice dipped in volume as she crossed her arms in front of herself.]

“I remember letting off a shot aimed for their head… but mostly, I just remember my body fighting to stay awake while I lay in the operating room.”

[A faint hum left her.]

“So I’d like to think they had a worse day than I did.”

@twinklefairy-dust

[ Nyx had stood there quietly, almost peacefully, as Victor finished off the rest. She glanced over briefly before catching sight of the easy grin forming upon his lips, which quickly drew her attention.] She watched with an observant gaze as he unclasped his vest and held it open, giving her a better look at the scar. [Her head tilted slightly.] Truthfully, she didn’t really know what to say about it beyond wondering what exactly had caused it. [But as he explained himself, her expression shifted into one of genuine confusion, her head slowly returning to its neutral position.] “…I’m sorry, but are you implying that you, um…” She paused, as though trying to make sure she’d heard him correctly. “That you self-inflicted this to show off?” There was moment of silence. [Her brow raised slightly, her hand brushing against her lips as she blinked in quiet disbelief] “Doctor, I don’t know whether to be impressed or concerned.”

He shrugged lightly, redoing the clasps of his vest.

"Well, not everyone is impressed by my handiwork, but such displays of... vulnerability can sometimes establish trust between myself and kindred spirits. It's better to show than tell."

The first time he'd done so, he'd only parted the muscle and skin. The second time, upon reflection, he might have gotten carried away by cracking open his own sternum, but there was no need to tell this to her. She was clearly alarmed as it was.

He gave her an amused smirk. "Then again, I suppose that might be a matter of opinion..."