It takes a second for Viktor to shuffle himself back together. First body language, loosening from startled to confident. Then expression, that familiar, easy smile settling on his features. His head is the holdout. That posture, that voice...
But he is no stranger to seeing lost faces reflected in strangers or hearing familiar voices long silenced. It never gets easier — he just bulks up to shoulder it better. He reminds himself that he can't muck up such a precarious diplomatic endeavor.
Viktor pulls in a breath, quells the misplaced excitement in the back of his mind, and...there. Somehow taller, somehow sturdier, somehow stronger. He is the Warrior of Light once more.
Recompiled and oblivious to the glowering of onlookers, he finally echoes that name, "G'raha."
Just as with every name on the First, it's as though he tastes the sound. G'raha is soft and warm, honey on fresh bread. Different from Crystal Exarch, a name that, even at that first, tense meeting, had seemed like a strange new candy in his mouth.
"It's nothing. I keep busy." Also familiar: his near total ineptitude as a diplomatic speaker. "Ah! I mean, thank you. A pleasure to meet you. I am eager to learn more about your people, as you learn of ours." Viktor's gaze quickly bobs from head to head in the assembled crowd before settling back on the Allagan prince once more. He is handsome in a way that hurts Viktor's heart, but he doesn't let it show. His head lists to the side, and his smile goes a little silly. "Will I also be guarding your entire entourage?"
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timeasmymeasure
all tag lengths are good tag lengths!
Date: 2024-03-12 05:16 pm (UTC)But he is no stranger to seeing lost faces reflected in strangers or hearing familiar voices long silenced. It never gets easier — he just bulks up to shoulder it better. He reminds himself that he can't muck up such a precarious diplomatic endeavor.
Viktor pulls in a breath, quells the misplaced excitement in the back of his mind, and...there. Somehow taller, somehow sturdier, somehow stronger. He is the Warrior of Light once more.
Recompiled and oblivious to the glowering of onlookers, he finally echoes that name, "G'raha."
Just as with every name on the First, it's as though he tastes the sound. G'raha is soft and warm, honey on fresh bread. Different from Crystal Exarch, a name that, even at that first, tense meeting, had seemed like a strange new candy in his mouth.
"It's nothing. I keep busy." Also familiar: his near total ineptitude as a diplomatic speaker. "Ah! I mean, thank you. A pleasure to meet you. I am eager to learn more about your people, as you learn of ours." Viktor's gaze quickly bobs from head to head in the assembled crowd before settling back on the Allagan prince once more. He is handsome in a way that hurts Viktor's heart, but he doesn't let it show. His head lists to the side, and his smile goes a little silly. "Will I also be guarding your entire entourage?"