[I can't explain how much the first part made me laugh this morning when I woke up. I don't drink a lot of alcohol, so the immediate on point accusation made me lose it because I was like I looked this up why am I wrong. IT'S OK HEI IT'S JUST RP I'M GIVING YOU WRITING FLAVOR nevermind i will simply snatch the alcohol right out of jacopo's idiot hand.
Jacopo could have hated it if he wanted, but liking it just earns Viktor some bonus host points hopefully. It's posh, but Viktor has already given Jacopo ale, and so he stupidly has thought this more currently posh-pretending Italian may want some wine.
The taste for wine just feels like Jacopo after Heaven. Enjoy.]
Yes, well... You were apprehensive about it, so I did not think you were interested. You can meet him if you want.
[Just reiterating, he isn't gatekeeping Jayce. Perhaps it would be funny when he leads Jacopo to Jayce's grave (no) (it was something I considered doing for hilarity).]
[ okay i was like oh if you know this from experience i wouldn't get it but thank you
It does add to Viktor's progress card, even though he's fumbling on this soulmate portion here. Jacopo doesn't go so far to think Viktor and Jayce are soulmates, but like he said in Heaven, he thinks that they mean something to each other.
He doesn't say anything as he eats more and sips more. Viktor is meant to continue his thought? Tell him more? ]
[I do know wine has some weird flavor profiles, but it's all too dryly alcoholic for me. I dislike them. (spits on Jacopo's Italian heritage)
Jacopo really doesn't say anything else, leaving the hanging conversation all on him for explanation. I had half a mind to make up a story about alien clone mpreg and how they now have a child together, but I will be nice.]
...We talked things over. Reconciled. Made better, more secure alterations to the Hexgates, to our Hextech. I convinced him not to destroy the Hexcore even though I had been the one to beg him to initially. [As noted by the staff with the weird fucking orb he's toting around.] We stabilized it further instead.
As long as it is in a catalyst form, it's alright. And then... I worked on getting rid of the pollution in Zaun while he worked to change the politics of Piltover.
[I will give them a weird mpreg child and kill Jayce off, and now Jacopo has to be the stand-in second father for it because I knew it would make Jacopo lose his entire mind.
He thought Viktor got more normal, but he instead became more of a freak.]
A long time ago, yes. It seemed incredibly dangerous at the time. But he didn't. And when he was desperate, he used it to save me.
[So very funny. This is all Jayce's fault.]
He was before. He was a councilman when he was my partner. The conflict of interest between our work and politics got him into a lot of trouble usually.
... I'm surprised someone like him would find any footing in politics.
[ Sorry, Jayce. You just seem like a giant nerd puppy who wants to work on his nerd projects with his partner? Politics is a den of wolves. Very not fun. Jacopo thinks rather than passion being the key to success in politics, it's greed.
Munching on this cracker as he judges an ill-equipped brunette getting into politics even though that's just also him. ]
It makes it a bit poetic when he came after you, then.
He was good at the forward-facing side of it. The charisma. But I think a lot of people used his good nature against him. He had a difficult time saying no under certain pressures.
[Such is the way of politics, bureaucracies, trying to please (my fingers typed pleasure hello) multiple people. As Jacopo thinks: satisfying the greedy.]
He did not tell me before why, not really. But since then, he has shown me... a world of terrible, lonely solitude. A desolate place of husks going on forever. It was the world I would inadvertently create on the path I was headed.
He had been trying to stop me. To... uphold the promise I asked him to destroy the Hexcore.
From the earliest memory in the medley you showed me, he had puppy-dog energy.
[ So it lines up with everything Viktor has said about Jayce so far, though when he became burly and harrowed Jayce gave a totally different vibe.
He sips his wine and contemplates. There's that small and familiar envy, but also gratitude. It's good that Viktor had and has someone like Jayce. He wishes he had someone like that in his past life. ]
[JACOPO REALLY JUST SAYS WHATEVER AT ALL TIMES. This makes Viktor almost laugh; he snorts and covers it with a fist and a cough. Well. Jayce has some over-grown Saint Bernard energy.]
He was a bit naive in his hopeful optimism for our dream. He had changed after his... journey. I could tell something had... matured him, but it wasn't until I came back that I learned what had happened.
[He told so many people in Heaven, confused, he didn't know exactly why Jayce had blasted him other than being simply... human. Emotional.]
Jacopo. I'll eat your ice cream, too, if you keep on.
[HELLO. You fell immediately in love with Adolphe, you stupid piece of shit, shut up. Not that he can deny the tragic romanticism of his and Jayce's everything, but shut up again.]
We don't need to dance around it. That man got the puppy traumatized out of him.
[ This isn't as funny despite the way Jacopo says it, but it is still a little funny despite him taking it seriously. He is glad... That Jayce and Viktor were able to connect again, though he had no doubt. If it wasn't going to be in this current life, then maybe the next, or in death.
What he learned from living life again is that it's difficult to escape the threads of fate. It is a small sphere. Do not take his ice cream... He will guard it. ]
What? Are we suddenly kids?
[ HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING WRONG HERE! JUST DENY IT LIKE A NORMAL GUY? And listen here. He didn't immediately fall fro Adolphe. He hated that guy's ass for a week and a half. ]
[JACOPO!!!! He can't take you anywhere. A WEEK AND A HALF IS NOTHING WHEN IT'S ONLY BECAUSE YOU ARE LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR!!!]
It was a harrowing experience.
[He is trying to take up for Jayce here when Jacopo is that one friend who tells it to you straight and to your face. The puppy did get traumatized out of him.]
Why must eating another man's ice cream in retribution be called childish?
[Yes. They are children. When they leave here, they will be getting de-aged. Two ten year olds. (no)
Speaking of - ice cream, not children - the frozen dairy treat finally makes an appearance, hopefully long enough after the first snack and drink to keep it from tasting weird. It looks like normal ice cream, like the ice cream found in Heaven.]
[ he is a slow burn most of the time, an intense whirlwind in a moment very rare times... okay..... ]
Good to hear he's holding on there and that you guys finally got to talk.
[ Yeah? Very rich coming from a man who couldn't talk to his wife, honestly.
Jacopo doesn't know about therapy just yet. Maybe Jayce would benefit from it though, rather than meeting Jacopo who would give him another reason to go to therapy because he's an annoyance. Imagine in the world of Arcane, they leave this bar and become twelve. ]
All right. [ He gestures to the cold treat. ] Steal my ice cream, then. Go on and tell me how empowered and sated you feel.
You don't sound very convinced. I can hear the struggle to withhold judgement until you have met him. You're in pain.
[Okay, now he's teasing more seriously. Maybe it's payback for the sass about the ice cream. He reaches out and pushes the ice cream more in front of Jacopo, closer.]
You know I'm prone to being a benefactor. I wouldn't be able to enjoy your satisfaction of the ice cream if I ate it before you could. Go ahead.
[A gesture at the ice cream. He takes up the spoon of his own.]
[ how did you predict we would all crash out about essek ]
In pain over not meeting your haunted partner... I think I can also go without knowing him, especially if there's a nonzero chance he shoots a sizable hole through me. Though I suppose we could get along?
[ Is that something Viktor wants? For him and Jayce to get along swimmingly? It's very much possible since they both had held wonder for technology and innovations before. Jacopo was one of the first few to foresee movies when all they had were phenakistiscope. He invested in artists and inventors for a colorful future.
[YOU GUYS ARE REALLY GOING THROUGH IT ABOUT ESSEK!!!! HE HAS FOOD AT HOME!!!]
I don't think Jayce would shoot a hole in you....
[He doesn't sound quite as convinced as he should sound really, but that's okay.]
I think the two of you would butt heads a bit, but only because you aren't afraid of telling people what you think of them.
[EAT YOUR DAMN ICR CREAM. Viktor reaches over and dips his own spoon into Jacopo's ice cream to steal some. He eats it. He won't double-dip, though, out of respect.]
Jacopo notices that Viktor is not very convincing and that kind of worries him. Is he scared of Jayce? Not necessarily. Is he scared of what people in general can do? Yeah. So normal amount of worry. ]
Criticism is important in his line of work. For both fields, though I have no clue if you two are tinkering and inventing anymore.
[ When Viktor comes to steal his ice cream, he looks at him to see how Content and Sated he is as it was part of the joke ("are you happy now?"), but doesn't give him much grief after. He will start on the ice cream after, careful to not give himself a brain freeze. ]
[Jayce is a changed man now... Well. He's a less unhinged and more therapied man now. Just like Viktor. People can change! (looks at jacopo)]
We have returned to inventing, yes. Sometimes together, sometimes on our own.
[Sometimes you are still a mad little scientist and your buddy is a jock nerd, so you want to create different things. It's fine. He smiles slightly when Jacopo finally has some of the ice cream. Enjoy your brain freeze.]
Satisfied...? You mean in general? [Hmmmmm. He looks out over the bar distantly, thoughtfully.] Yes, mostly. I believe so.
[ Jacopo is just freed from the curse, not that Viktor got to saw him under its influence. He only saw him as the haunted man that he was, changed by the circumstances he couldn't control.
Overall, Jacopo himself seems fine. He doesn't look off to a distance anymore to leer at ghosts who don't exist. ]
That's good. Never forget your passions or roots.
[ Mistakes he makes like twice. It's fine. He will NOT get a brain freeze YET, but if he isn't careful with his pacing he will perish.
Viktor may be looking out, but Jacopo is watching him. ]
Mostly? What... Hit a block on your current project?
[Imagine being free of ghosts. Being free from past hauntings.
He looks back at Jacopo and exhales a quiet little laugh before eating some of his own ice cream. It's going to be a milkshake soon, but he likes those, too.]
No, nothing like that. Sometimes, I simply find myself missing some of our friends.
[The ones from Heaven. He grabbed Jacopo's soul by the neck, and he could probably warp to a few others, but still. He has not totally tried since he has been busy here.]
"Home" would be perfect if the people you love were there, wouldn't it...
[ At least... That's a sentiment he has always felt, but he would have been fine to stay in those wheat fields for an indefinite time. He wouldn't have stayed forever, though. Something, someone, maybe multiple of these would eventually spark the desire to come back.
No one truly wants to be alone, not even the most solitary of men.
Jacopo turns away as he thinks about sentiments. It has been a long time for him and if time had moved the same, then many of the people they knew would have long passed. He... Would have no place in their lives, too, he thinks. No one wants to be visited by a ghost and give it room. He's content with knowing that they likely led lives where they had more happy moments.
Still... ]
I suppose... I did find myself thinking of them sometimes. [ He won't be letting his ice cream become cream water, so he's eating well without dying. ] When I was waiting in the den of that mansion with nothing to do, I wondered how everyone else was doing.
[ It would have been nice to see them, but he knew he wasn't allowed. He turns what is a rather somber topic to something positive, instead. It'll have to be at Viktor's expense. ]
[His turn to watch Jacopo look into the middle distance about the people they left behind.]
You only see the result before you now. As I only see the result before me. I'm sure we went through trials and tribulations to get where we are now.
But we are here.
[They persist. The most important part. Persisting.]
If you miss them... I could... potentially take you to see them. Traversing realities also means traversing time.
[The way he had worldhop because of special alien magic privileges, but did not say anything at the time because he did not understand that deeply yet. But now!]
You were the first one I made an attempt to find. I figured your feisty ire would be strong enough to pinpoint.
We are here. [ He echoes the sentiment, even though they don't know what the other has been through. ] ... Traversing realities and time, huh. You kind of did become something like a god, or a devil.
[ Jacopo had thought it was insane talk back then even though he witnessed Viktor's powers back in recovery center of Heaven. It was beyond him, incredibly, and still kind of is. Science fiction was close to witchcraft and stupid talk about fates to him, honestly... Unless it was closer to scientific than fiction. Still, the way he talks and looks at Viktor tells that he only thinks of him as a man.
He's on the last scoops of his melting ice cream. Somehow, he did not expire from the cold. It's fine. He will make a fool of himself some other time, likely soon. ]
But who wants ghosts knocking on their door? No one.
[ It seems... A lot to invade people's lives when there might not be room for him. Perhaps in Heaven he had a spot for those two months with people, but he can't say he does now. Even if they were to go back where time has barely stretched, the fear of rejection doesn't wane. What matters and what he wants is for people to lead happy lives. As much as he'd like to, he doesn't need to be there.
His eyebrows arch now, incredulous despite the smile. ]
I'm going to take offense. Just because I yelled at you a little...
[i am trying to type this but my cat keeps being annoying in the way because i think she wants me to be asleep if i'm in bed
but i refuse
The first comments makes him chuckle without any offense. He has had a bit of time to stew with his regrets and his sorrows and his frustrations, so it doesn't sting as much as it would have if Jacopo had said it to him after he new what truly would have become of this place if he hadn't been fixed.]
Who said anything about you being a ghost? A lot of people liked you.
[Unfortunately for Jacopo, of course. He smiles a bit around his spoon.]
A little...?
[HE WILL JUST SAY IT. It had not been a little. It was short! But it was not a little.]
You were one of the only ones who ever raised your voice at me in such a way. But it woke me up somewhat, at least...
Even if it stung, may Viktor of another universe know Jacopo means no ill of it as a man who had trouble doing good without doing bad. Sometimes you will stand at the summit and all below and beyond you is in ruin, then you embody your emotions that have nowhere to go and no one left to serve.
He doesn't hang his head and his mind isn't swarmed by a cloud of self-depreciating thoughts like it did before. They're there but they're dull, still ringing clear and true... Especially when no longer dressed in the voice of his younger self. Jacopo stays propped up and keeps his head high because you should own the mess you are, just you know a little less tense. ]
"A lot" is definitely an overstatement. I was an incredibly difficult and haunted person.
[ As if he isn't a difficult person now, but he does mean he was worse back then. He abandons his spoon in his empty bowl, smile growing into an impish smirk. ]
... All right, I do think I didn't yell at you quite enough considering how out of your mind you were, but it worked out. Was it a long and difficult journey?
Of course you don't need to tell me your adventures with your new magic staff.
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no subject
Jacopo could have hated it if he wanted, but liking it just earns Viktor some bonus host points hopefully. It's posh, but Viktor has already given Jacopo ale, and so he stupidly has thought this more currently posh-pretending Italian may want some wine.
The taste for wine just feels like Jacopo after Heaven. Enjoy.]
Yes, well... You were apprehensive about it, so I did not think you were interested. You can meet him if you want.
[Just reiterating, he isn't gatekeeping Jayce. Perhaps it would be funny when he leads Jacopo to Jayce's grave (no) (it was something I considered doing for hilarity).]
Things are alright now.
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It does add to Viktor's progress card, even though he's fumbling on this soulmate portion here. Jacopo doesn't go so far to think Viktor and Jayce are soulmates, but like he said in Heaven, he thinks that they mean something to each other.
He doesn't say anything as he eats more and sips more. Viktor is meant to continue his thought? Tell him more? ]
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Jacopo really doesn't say anything else, leaving the hanging conversation all on him for explanation. I had half a mind to make up a story about alien clone mpreg and how they now have a child together, but I will be nice.]
...We talked things over. Reconciled. Made better, more secure alterations to the Hexgates, to our Hextech. I convinced him not to destroy the Hexcore even though I had been the one to beg him to initially. [As noted by the staff with the weird fucking orb he's toting around.] We stabilized it further instead.
As long as it is in a catalyst form, it's alright. And then... I worked on getting rid of the pollution in Zaun while he worked to change the politics of Piltover.
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Wait, so you begged him to destroy it. [ Jacopo is just flabbergasted? ] And he's a politician?
[ Both renditions of Jayce Jacopo saw do not scream politician. ]
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He thought Viktor got more normal, but he instead became more of a freak.]
A long time ago, yes. It seemed incredibly dangerous at the time. But he didn't. And when he was desperate, he used it to save me.
[So very funny. This is all Jayce's fault.]
He was before. He was a councilman when he was my partner. The conflict of interest between our work and politics got him into a lot of trouble usually.
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[ Sorry, Jayce. You just seem like a giant nerd puppy who wants to work on his nerd projects with his partner? Politics is a den of wolves. Very not fun. Jacopo thinks rather than passion being the key to success in politics, it's greed.
Munching on this cracker as he judges an ill-equipped brunette getting into politics even though that's just also him. ]
It makes it a bit poetic when he came after you, then.
[ Destroying the alien core. ]
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[Such is the way of politics, bureaucracies, trying to please (my fingers typed pleasure hello) multiple people. As Jacopo thinks: satisfying the greedy.]
He did not tell me before why, not really. But since then, he has shown me... a world of terrible, lonely solitude. A desolate place of husks going on forever. It was the world I would inadvertently create on the path I was headed.
He had been trying to stop me. To... uphold the promise I asked him to destroy the Hexcore.
no subject
[ So it lines up with everything Viktor has said about Jayce so far, though when he became burly and harrowed Jayce gave a totally different vibe.
He sips his wine and contemplates. There's that small and familiar envy, but also gratitude. It's good that Viktor had and has someone like Jayce. He wishes he had someone like that in his past life. ]
Wow. That's almost tragically romantic.
[ Said in like "that's kind of gross" tone. ]
no subject
He was a bit naive in his hopeful optimism for our dream. He had changed after his... journey. I could tell something had... matured him, but it wasn't until I came back that I learned what had happened.
[He told so many people in Heaven, confused, he didn't know exactly why Jayce had blasted him other than being simply... human. Emotional.]
Jacopo. I'll eat your ice cream, too, if you keep on.
[HELLO. You fell immediately in love with Adolphe, you stupid piece of shit, shut up. Not that he can deny the tragic romanticism of his and Jayce's everything, but shut up again.]
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[ This isn't as funny despite the way Jacopo says it, but it is still a little funny despite him taking it seriously. He is glad... That Jayce and Viktor were able to connect again, though he had no doubt. If it wasn't going to be in this current life, then maybe the next, or in death.
What he learned from living life again is that it's difficult to escape the threads of fate. It is a small sphere. Do not take his ice cream... He will guard it. ]
What? Are we suddenly kids?
[ HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING WRONG HERE! JUST DENY IT LIKE A NORMAL GUY? And listen here. He didn't immediately fall fro Adolphe. He hated that guy's ass for a week and a half. ]
no subject
It was a harrowing experience.
[He is trying to take up for Jayce here when Jacopo is that one friend who tells it to you straight and to your face. The puppy did get traumatized out of him.]
Why must eating another man's ice cream in retribution be called childish?
[Yes. They are children. When they leave here, they will be getting de-aged. Two ten year olds. (no)
Speaking of - ice cream, not children - the frozen dairy treat finally makes an appearance, hopefully long enough after the first snack and drink to keep it from tasting weird. It looks like normal ice cream, like the ice cream found in Heaven.]
no subject
Good to hear he's holding on there and that you guys finally got to talk.
[ Yeah? Very rich coming from a man who couldn't talk to his wife, honestly.
Jacopo doesn't know about therapy just yet. Maybe Jayce would benefit from it though, rather than meeting Jacopo who would give him another reason to go to therapy because he's an annoyance. Imagine in the world of Arcane, they leave this bar and become twelve. ]
All right. [ He gestures to the cold treat. ] Steal my ice cream, then. Go on and tell me how empowered and sated you feel.
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You don't sound very convinced. I can hear the struggle to withhold judgement until you have met him. You're in pain.
[Okay, now he's teasing more seriously. Maybe it's payback for the sass about the ice cream. He reaches out and pushes the ice cream more in front of Jacopo, closer.]
You know I'm prone to being a benefactor. I wouldn't be able to enjoy your satisfaction of the ice cream if I ate it before you could. Go ahead.
[A gesture at the ice cream. He takes up the spoon of his own.]
no subject
In pain over not meeting your haunted partner... I think I can also go without knowing him, especially if there's a nonzero chance he shoots a sizable hole through me. Though I suppose we could get along?
[ Is that something Viktor wants? For him and Jayce to get along swimmingly? It's very much possible since they both had held wonder for technology and innovations before. Jacopo was one of the first few to foresee movies when all they had were phenakistiscope. He invested in artists and inventors for a colorful future.
Terrifying. ]
Now you're going to turn back on your threat?
[ The ice cream stays untouched. ]
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I don't think Jayce would shoot a hole in you....
[He doesn't sound quite as convinced as he should sound really, but that's okay.]
I think the two of you would butt heads a bit, but only because you aren't afraid of telling people what you think of them.
[EAT YOUR DAMN ICR CREAM. Viktor reaches over and dips his own spoon into Jacopo's ice cream to steal some. He eats it. He won't double-dip, though, out of respect.]
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Jacopo notices that Viktor is not very convincing and that kind of worries him. Is he scared of Jayce? Not necessarily. Is he scared of what people in general can do? Yeah. So normal amount of worry. ]
Criticism is important in his line of work. For both fields, though I have no clue if you two are tinkering and inventing anymore.
[ When Viktor comes to steal his ice cream, he looks at him to see how Content and Sated he is as it was part of the joke ("are you happy now?"), but doesn't give him much grief after. He will start on the ice cream after, careful to not give himself a brain freeze. ]
... Are you more satisfied now than before?
[ Have you made yourself a home? ]
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We have returned to inventing, yes. Sometimes together, sometimes on our own.
[Sometimes you are still a mad little scientist and your buddy is a jock nerd, so you want to create different things. It's fine. He smiles slightly when Jacopo finally has some of the ice cream. Enjoy your brain freeze.]
Satisfied...? You mean in general? [Hmmmmm. He looks out over the bar distantly, thoughtfully.] Yes, mostly. I believe so.
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Overall, Jacopo himself seems fine. He doesn't look off to a distance anymore to leer at ghosts who don't exist. ]
That's good. Never forget your passions or roots.
[ Mistakes he makes like twice. It's fine. He will NOT get a brain freeze YET, but if he isn't careful with his pacing he will perish.
Viktor may be looking out, but Jacopo is watching him. ]
Mostly? What... Hit a block on your current project?
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He looks back at Jacopo and exhales a quiet little laugh before eating some of his own ice cream. It's going to be a milkshake soon, but he likes those, too.]
No, nothing like that. Sometimes, I simply find myself missing some of our friends.
[The ones from Heaven. He grabbed Jacopo's soul by the neck, and he could probably warp to a few others, but still. He has not totally tried since he has been busy here.]
no subject
[ At least... That's a sentiment he has always felt, but he would have been fine to stay in those wheat fields for an indefinite time. He wouldn't have stayed forever, though. Something, someone, maybe multiple of these would eventually spark the desire to come back.
No one truly wants to be alone, not even the most solitary of men.
Jacopo turns away as he thinks about sentiments. It has been a long time for him and if time had moved the same, then many of the people they knew would have long passed. He... Would have no place in their lives, too, he thinks. No one wants to be visited by a ghost and give it room. He's content with knowing that they likely led lives where they had more happy moments.
Still... ]
I suppose... I did find myself thinking of them sometimes. [ He won't be letting his ice cream become cream water, so he's eating well without dying. ] When I was waiting in the den of that mansion with nothing to do, I wondered how everyone else was doing.
[ It would have been nice to see them, but he knew he wasn't allowed. He turns what is a rather somber topic to something positive, instead. It'll have to be at Viktor's expense. ]
You ended up fine, much to my surprise.
no subject
You only see the result before you now. As I only see the result before me. I'm sure we went through trials and tribulations to get where we are now.
But we are here.
[They persist. The most important part. Persisting.]
If you miss them... I could... potentially take you to see them. Traversing realities also means traversing time.
[The way he had worldhop because of special alien magic privileges, but did not say anything at the time because he did not understand that deeply yet. But now!]
You were the first one I made an attempt to find. I figured your feisty ire would be strong enough to pinpoint.
no subject
[ Jacopo had thought it was insane talk back then even though he witnessed Viktor's powers back in recovery center of Heaven. It was beyond him, incredibly, and still kind of is. Science fiction was close to witchcraft and stupid talk about fates to him, honestly... Unless it was closer to scientific than fiction. Still, the way he talks and looks at Viktor tells that he only thinks of him as a man.
He's on the last scoops of his melting ice cream. Somehow, he did not expire from the cold. It's fine. He will make a fool of himself some other time, likely soon. ]
But who wants ghosts knocking on their door? No one.
[ It seems... A lot to invade people's lives when there might not be room for him. Perhaps in Heaven he had a spot for those two months with people, but he can't say he does now. Even if they were to go back where time has barely stretched, the fear of rejection doesn't wane. What matters and what he wants is for people to lead happy lives. As much as he'd like to, he doesn't need to be there.
His eyebrows arch now, incredulous despite the smile. ]
I'm going to take offense. Just because I yelled at you a little...
[ WAS IT A LITTLE???? ]
no subject
but i refuse
The first comments makes him chuckle without any offense. He has had a bit of time to stew with his regrets and his sorrows and his frustrations, so it doesn't sting as much as it would have if Jacopo had said it to him after he new what truly would have become of this place if he hadn't been fixed.]
Who said anything about you being a ghost? A lot of people liked you.
[Unfortunately for Jacopo, of course. He smiles a bit around his spoon.]
A little...?
[HE WILL JUST SAY IT. It had not been a little. It was short! But it was not a little.]
You were one of the only ones who ever raised your voice at me in such a way. But it woke me up somewhat, at least...
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Even if it stung, may Viktor of another universe know Jacopo means no ill of it as a man who had trouble doing good without doing bad. Sometimes you will stand at the summit and all below and beyond you is in ruin, then you embody your emotions that have nowhere to go and no one left to serve.
He doesn't hang his head and his mind isn't swarmed by a cloud of self-depreciating thoughts like it did before. They're there but they're dull, still ringing clear and true... Especially when no longer dressed in the voice of his younger self. Jacopo stays propped up and keeps his head high because you should own the mess you are, just you know a little less tense. ]
"A lot" is definitely an overstatement. I was an incredibly difficult and haunted person.
[ As if he isn't a difficult person now, but he does mean he was worse back then. He abandons his spoon in his empty bowl, smile growing into an impish smirk. ]
... All right, I do think I didn't yell at you quite enough considering how out of your mind you were, but it worked out. Was it a long and difficult journey?
Of course you don't need to tell me your adventures with your new magic staff.