You know, I’ve heard a joke or two about kids falling into wells but I didn’t expect it to actually happen.

-takes a slow sip of tea-
They were interrogating you? About what?

*not how we got here I hope*

Yye-yeyes- please.

*My teeth are going to chip if they keep chattering, how is that water so damn cold?*

Ho-how was tea?

I'm fine! Bumped my leg on the way do-

Viktor...

-leans forward to press their foreheads together-

Just a chill and a bump on the leg, I'm fine.

‪One of Urel’s daughters fell into the water well, she cant swim-‬

‪I jumped in and have her above water, but it’s ice cold and the wall are too slick for em to climb. My got my bad leg in the way down…‬

‪She’s trembling like a leaf, the poor girl is terrified.‬

‪*He’s going to look beautiful in it*‬

‪It’s one of a kind so don’t let them try and take it from you. Have fun with your no husband gathering, see if there’s anything we can help with.‬

‪I’m going to head to the forge.‬

*Excellent*

You? Mrs?

But I thought your pronouns were hex/herald?

‪Mrs. Talis… hm there is no way they’d know her. ‬
‪Hmmmmm, it’s clearly not me because it wasn’t SENT to me…‬

‪*Will he say it*‬

It was sent to YOU, I can’t go.
But… I find it odd that it was sent to you while it’s addressed to my mother.

You don’t need my permission but Viktor we need the gossip to better help people and fit in!

Captured Viktor’s flustered expression beautifully

‪Well… you don’t have a husband so go if you want?‬

Does the beard make me look less like a Piltie?

I can keep it for now.

If you want another let me know, maybe it can be part of a nighttime routine. Give us a sense of normalcy.

Now let’s put our purchases away.

It wasn’t enough though, was it?

My attempts at my best hurt a lot of people when it was guided by being selfish and naive. I think this second chance is to make up for that.

Make up for something I’d admittedly and statistically, do over and over again across lifetimes.

-tenderly, Jayce begins to work on Viktor’s leg muscles-

*I was… everywhere else while you got sicker and sicker*

Hah, doing… everything but what I was tasked to do. In the end, I deserved the irritability.

How’s this?

-After removing his shoes at the door, he joins Viktor on the bed before gingerly lifting his leg up and over his own-

Let me know if I should add more pressure or take it away. Okay?

*his legs are so… thin*

‪Those will take time, won’t they? Plus won’t that just help hide the pain and not work out any tightness? ‬

‪If it hurts or you don’t like it I’ll stop, but I really think I can help. I’ll be resting sitting next to you, I use my hands so much this barely counts as work! ‬

Thanks to your superb shopping skills, none of this will go bad if we leave it out for a few minutes. I can tell your leg is bothering you, Vik, I can massaging it to help.

I learned a few tricks dealing with my own.