[He doesn't expect her to be cheery at a time like this, so the automatic greeting isn't taken personally. Simply a script they both must follow. Vander looks at the door and nods, but turns to face Mel more instead.]
Alright, I'll head down in a minute. First, how are you holding up?
[He looks to her with concern, passing her a coffee.]
[ She takes the coffee automatically as well, letting the contact of the cup warm her fingers. Her gaze lifts towards his and she lifts one of her shoulders. There's not much to say and she doesn't particularly want to keep opening up the worry again and again, especially when there's little to be done. Jayce needs her to be strong enough to weather this. Viktor does too, in a way: he doesn't need her to be so emotional when they're both trying to hold it together.
At length, she sighs. ]
It's... It's difficult, Vander, to see him like that. To know he can't respond or move. I worry he's conscious but can't say or do anything, like he's trapped. I hope that isn't the case but... We're just standing here with nothing to do, unable to help.
[ And he's been falling more and more into the ease of using that other form to avoid things, to keep his heart safe. As much as she can't blame him for it, she wonders if it didn't speed up the process of his corruption. Mel lifts the cup to her lips to sip at the coffee. ]
No. No, we're avoiding that. [ Because of the potential cause, which may expose their research. ] If they're truly watching us and our Augmenters, they'll see he hasn't moved in days.
[ And no one's come knocking, for better or worse. ]
I am, however, looking to see if we can find something about Golems in the library. Perhaps it'll have clues we've missed.
I found him on the street one day, coughing and having trouble breathing because it was reaching his lungs. Been fretting since then.
[Vander hums softly, nods. Even not knowing that Jayce's research is along forbidden lines, he understands why folks wouldn't trust Patho-Gen with something like this. He doesn't have the most positive opinion, either.
And them spying in on the Augmented, and still doing nothing for Jayce, definitely isn't helping that opinion.]
I'm not much good in a library, but I could try, so you don't have to leave him.
[ That's...a story she hasn't heard. It shows briefly in her eyes, that flicker of surprise that settles into dread and then quiet acceptance as she sips the coffee in her hand. She'd seen him struggling some but the change of his lungs happened rather rapidly, fortunately and unfortunately. ]
If you wish. I can go at some point; Viktor will be here, after all. But if you would like, we would appreciate it.
I'll do my best, so you won't have to worry about it.
[He looks to the stairs, nods. He has to duck his head a little when he reaches the doorframe. Descending the stairs, he tries to steel himself for seeing Jayce like this. But he truly wants to be here, wants to help them however he can.]
[Being in the basement makes Viktor feel slightly miserable--no natural lighting, a sort of cramped feeling that sets him on edge, even if it is the lab. He tells himself this is because of proximity to Jayce's inert form, souring his mood. Some activity upstairs distracts him from his work, but he assumes Mel will be handling any visitors, at least until he hears footsteps coming down the stairs.
He's hunched over a table, and visibly reluctant to straighten. There's some uncertainty on his face, at the sight of Vander in the doorway. Hopefully Mel is behind him--Viktor is not necessarily very good at being sociable, even less so now.]
[ She does wander down behind Vander, though she remains close to the stairs when he eventually gets to the bottom. It's hidden behind that mask she wears, the calm, but she doesn't really know the nature of Vander and Jayce's friendship so she can't rightfully say what may or may not happen. Instead, she simply trusts him; Vander's been kind and she sees no reason to keep him from Jayce.
Especially on the off-chance something may happen to help. ]
[Awkwardly, he looks to Mel and then back to Viktor.]
I don't mean to intrude.
[Similarly, Vander doesn't know the nature of the relationship between these three. He knows Jayce and Viktor work together at the science cabin, and that they all live together, and that's the extent of it. And they're all topsiders to him, even if Viktor wasn't born there. He respects all of them, likes them fine- but it doesn't help how out of place he feels in their house right now. Guilty, like he's been caught doing something wrong.]
I've just- seen and felt how imprints can help, and figured every little bit counts...
[And he does want to help, of course, but truthfully this is for himself too. He's been worried sick about Jayce and just needs to see him.]
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[He doesn't expect her to be cheery at a time like this, so the automatic greeting isn't taken personally. Simply a script they both must follow. Vander looks at the door and nods, but turns to face Mel more instead.]
Alright, I'll head down in a minute. First, how are you holding up?
[He looks to her with concern, passing her a coffee.]
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At length, she sighs. ]
It's... It's difficult, Vander, to see him like that. To know he can't respond or move. I worry he's conscious but can't say or do anything, like he's trapped. I hope that isn't the case but... We're just standing here with nothing to do, unable to help.
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Awful. I was afraid this would happen, when I saw his corruption...
[He looks down at the coffees, also feeling a bit helpless.]
Have you asked Patho-Gen for help?
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[ And he's been falling more and more into the ease of using that other form to avoid things, to keep his heart safe. As much as she can't blame him for it, she wonders if it didn't speed up the process of his corruption. Mel lifts the cup to her lips to sip at the coffee. ]
No. No, we're avoiding that. [ Because of the potential cause, which may expose their research. ] If they're truly watching us and our Augmenters, they'll see he hasn't moved in days.
[ And no one's come knocking, for better or worse. ]
I am, however, looking to see if we can find something about Golems in the library. Perhaps it'll have clues we've missed.
no subject
[Vander hums softly, nods. Even not knowing that Jayce's research is along forbidden lines, he understands why folks wouldn't trust Patho-Gen with something like this. He doesn't have the most positive opinion, either.
And them spying in on the Augmented, and still doing nothing for Jayce, definitely isn't helping that opinion.]
I'm not much good in a library, but I could try, so you don't have to leave him.
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If you wish. I can go at some point; Viktor will be here, after all. But if you would like, we would appreciate it.
[ She gestures towards the stairs. ]
Do you want to see him and Viktor?
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[He looks to the stairs, nods. He has to duck his head a little when he reaches the doorframe. Descending the stairs, he tries to steel himself for seeing Jayce like this. But he truly wants to be here, wants to help them however he can.]
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He's hunched over a table, and visibly reluctant to straighten. There's some uncertainty on his face, at the sight of Vander in the doorway. Hopefully Mel is behind him--Viktor is not necessarily very good at being sociable, even less so now.]
Oh--
[He's also not very good at hiding his surprise.]
Was Mel not upstairs?
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Especially on the off-chance something may happen to help. ]
I'm here. Vander came to see him.
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[Awkwardly, he looks to Mel and then back to Viktor.]
I don't mean to intrude.
[Similarly, Vander doesn't know the nature of the relationship between these three. He knows Jayce and Viktor work together at the science cabin, and that they all live together, and that's the extent of it. And they're all topsiders to him, even if Viktor wasn't born there. He respects all of them, likes them fine- but it doesn't help how out of place he feels in their house right now. Guilty, like he's been caught doing something wrong.]
I've just- seen and felt how imprints can help, and figured every little bit counts...
[And he does want to help, of course, but truthfully this is for himself too. He's been worried sick about Jayce and just needs to see him.]