[ lucas is hesitant and slow, but scien answers him with certainty every step of the way. when their fingers weave together, scien's curl to gently hold lucas's hand in return.
his expression softens ever so slightly.
lucas calls his heart unpleasant. scien doesn't bother to waste time arguing with him about it. to say that he's better than he thinks, or that he's just so entirely human. even if those things are true. what is most important to scien is one simple statement. ]
As long as you choose your heart, then I will choose you.
[ just as lucas never wanted to become a reliver, scien would never think to accept a diluted version of him. emotions can be confounding, annoying, and inefficient—but it is because lucas feels so much, so wildly, so recklessly that it makes the whole of him so captivating. ]
[He's the one who initiated this paw hold and yet he's suddenly wanting to pull his hand away again... IT'S SCARY!!!!!
But he leaves his hand where it is and watches as Scien's fingers curl around his own, and beyond the gnarl of ever-present unpleasantness, there's something soft.]
Well. I'll always choose my heart, at least.
[Said as if it's a great misfortune, because his heart is selfish and leads him to do things like survive and survive for Nadia's sake, even if he should really be buried and forgotten. If Scien would choose him even then, it's not like he has much of a say.]
It is the heart that loves your sister. That educates an island of children that desperately need better than what they've been given. That fusses over everyone else and seeks to give understanding even to those who don't expect it.
[ at least, that's how scien felt about it. ]
Even if sometimes it screams for retribution, it isn't wrong. And it's still yours.
[ so what if lucas sometimes gets violent? so what if his strength is predisposed to tearing people apart? it is the dichotomy of these—to have such a gentle heart and a destructive hand, that makes him so uniquely bizarre.
scien doesn't pull his hand away, and he doesn't turn his gaze elsewhere either. he looks upon lucas in his entirety, and admires him nonetheless. ]
I think you're the only person who would speak so certainly on it.
[It's a heart that loves his sister, certainly, and one that tries to be gentle even if it sometimes screams for retribution, but Scien is capable of looking at him more kindly - much more kindly - than he's capable of looking at himself.
When he looks up and Scien's looking at him, his eyes immediately flick away again. OH THE HORRORS OF BEING SEEN (literal) (metaphoric).]
[The way Lucas truly has such a skewed experience of Scien Brofiise because he spends his time being showered in nonstop favoritism...
He's just SILENT in response to the first part because he's NOT he is perhaps NOT CRUEL ENOUGH but it's fine. Hilariously this time, he just allows Scien to scoop him up instead of kicking up a fuss about it and leans into him without much pause. He's just accepted his fate. Truly adapts so quickly.]
You said that you've been able to make your pain medication again, correct...?
scien rewards him with a lil kiss to his hair again, but proceeds on quickly afterward ]
Since the first time you reminded me, yes. I take it after I see you.
[ he said he'd remember to take it as long as lucas wanted him to, and since they've been seeing each other more often this is the most diligent scien has been in a long time ]
[PAVLOV'D WITH SO MANY LIL KISSIES. He doesn't even make a little disgruntled noise this time, he simply accepts it, even if he is still a bit tense. There's a little beat, but then he nods.]
Alright. [His stupid not-insane heart still feels guilty over the time he kicked Scien into the suffering box even if it was only like 12 hours.]
i think about how scien has been walking around with broken ribs because i stole francy's 6 to get him injured by lucas, and he has said not a word about it and never will. ]
And you? When was your last coughing fit? Have they lessened in frequency?
ALSO SAY SOMETHING YOU PIECE OF SHIT SCIENTIST. The way Lucas barely even remembers that whole ordeal and wouldn't think to doublecheck because Scien is so damn good at hiding his injuries and his brain is still so used to registering Scien as an enemy.]
They have... It's been five days since the last notable one. I still have a few here and there, but nothing debilitating.
[HIS BRAIN IS SOOOOO SOUPY GOD. He's just having the audacity to be so comfycozy in Scien's arms even though he's still telling people he does not like Scien.]
No, and yes... [Thinking back with great exhaustion on Thursday. Yeah his stamina is fine.] Everything seems to be in order, more or less. ...I think I may visit the springs, though.
[He doesn't want to because his Catholic Guilt demands he keep his injuries as penance, but everyone is so worried about his stupid foot that it makes him feel even worse. MATSUI ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM.]
[HE LETS LUCAS GET AWAY WITH TOO MUCH!!!!! HE GETS AWAY WITH TOO DAMN MUCH!!!!!! But he does truly appreciate having his agency and he perhaps tucks himself away a little more cozily on the reflex of feeling safe and listened to.]
I'll let you know.
[Or he will just meander off at some point, either way.]
unfortunately that just gets scien to laugh, a warm and amused sound. ]
You can't hide from me forever.
[ (threat)
but he'll shift his hold on lucas so it's easier from him to open the door, bringing them into his room! it's such an empty, almost clinical space, a little reminiscent of the institute itself. multiple machines have been built, towers that hold data and seem to be running tests even while scien was gone. it's not the cleanest, but it's manageable given the fact that will is just staying in the penthouse and scien calls him down to clean. there's no bed in sight, just a couch. it's some combination between scien's office and the actual laboratories in the institute, though there's of course not a single reliver machine to be found.
but there is a scrap pile of other tech that scien cannibalized just to build all this.
he'll walk forward, setting lucas on the couch gently ]
[HE JUST IGNORES THAT STATEMENT HE CAN HIDE!!! HE CAN HIDE!!!!! (he cannot hide)
But he'll allow himself to be carried over to the couch, and he glances around the space as they go. It's certainly clinical, but considering how barren his own room is, does his ass really have space to judge... He's a little surprised by the tidiness considering how quickly he'd managed to get shit all over Adolphe's house, but then he remembers Will is indeed over here and also feels guilty about it because he KILLED THAT GUY. It's fine...
At the question, he just nods.]
I am. You said you wanted to look at my stitches again and redo the bandages...?
[In addition to the usual checks. He'll just start disrobing from the top, though, because he truly is nowhere near as much of a Catholic as people fucking thing he is. But as he goes:] --What are all of these...?
[ everyday grateful that scien is still being soooo gentle and careful with lucas so the disrobing doesn't fully activate the horny brain
as scien goes to gather the supplies he needs—more bandages, something to wipe down lucas's injuries, more stitches—he'll just answer from afar. ]
I want to understand this space. The machine failed last time because of the interference of magic, which I've never needed to take into my calculations before. If I'm able to understand more of the molecular structure of this location, I'll be able to limit risks from whatever comes next.
Aside from that, I have a few people who asked me to grant them miracles. I intend to follow through, when I make time for it.
[ it's so funny that by endgame people always ask scien to save them but it's very ic at least ]
Lucas will just watch him move about from his seat on the couch, disrobed down to the waist and keeping his hands folded neatly together in his lap. He's a good patient... He will not get up and start walking around on his bustedass ankle again.
IT REALLY IS SO IC THOUGH DAMN Lucas gazes over toward some of the machines.]
I see... [Everyone truly ends up relying on Scien Brofiise. Something about it sits uncomfortably within him for a second, but that's just his rabies.] ...Do you understand more about it here, then?
[ he's just so beautiful is what he is and scien doesn't care about aesthetics but he does care about getting to touch who he wants
but scien will ignore any and all of that for now, coming back with his supplies. he'll lift lucas one more time, forcing his legs to come up onto the couch and over scien's lap so that his bad ankle can be elevated. he also puts an ice pouch wrapped in a cloth over it.
what's the damage on his injuries, aki... scien will just go to gingerly and carefully remove the bandages so he can change them regardless. did lucas strain his stitches again ]
I do. There are more variables than in Arpéchéle, but as long as we're aware of that, we'll be more successful in the long-term.
[SCIEN JUST LIKE GOODBYE HORNY THOUGHTS IT'S DOCTOR TIME.
HE'S LIFTED. He's looking disgruntled about it, but he will allow himself to be rearranged however Scien needs for the check-up. His stupid busted ankle will be grateful for it.
Also his stitches aren't strained that badly! A bit, but after he was done doing his apology tour Friday, he didn't really move around much, and then spent most of Saturday seated at trial. His ankle's taking the worst of the damage since his dumb ass keeps WALKING ON IT, so the stitches on the bite wound there are probably in need of replacing. Maybe a few along his waist, where he twists and bends the most.]
Alright. [Quietly, in response to the second part. He moves his foot a little, frowning. Broken ankles are a pain in the ass.]
... [He's like || this close to being like SO THINGS WILL BE OKAY PROBABLY RIGHT again, but pulls the sentiment and words back.] Things will likely start moving more quickly next week, won't they?
[ HE'S A GOOD AND DILIGENT DOCTOR!!! HE IS CAPABLE OF FOCUSING EVEN WITH THE GAME VOTED MOST BEAUTIFUL TWINK HALF-DRESSED AND IN HIS LAP
scien will focus on his bandages first and foremost though, removing them with a deft hand. ]
I'll clean your wounds first. [ just to explain what he's doing before he does it, so lucas is aware. bodily autonomy! he'll move to clean the sites where the stitches are to prevent any discomfort or chance of infection. his touch is light, careful, far more mindful when tending to lucas's body than his own. ]
But I assume so. The living will have their tasks to do, and we'll need to work on ours. With the ritual happening, I expect a few unexpected problems to come up, but we can find our own ways to prepare.
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his expression softens ever so slightly.
lucas calls his heart unpleasant. scien doesn't bother to waste time arguing with him about it. to say that he's better than he thinks, or that he's just so entirely human. even if those things are true. what is most important to scien is one simple statement. ]
As long as you choose your heart, then I will choose you.
[ just as lucas never wanted to become a reliver, scien would never think to accept a diluted version of him. emotions can be confounding, annoying, and inefficient—but it is because lucas feels so much, so wildly, so recklessly that it makes the whole of him so captivating. ]
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But he leaves his hand where it is and watches as Scien's fingers curl around his own, and beyond the gnarl of ever-present unpleasantness, there's something soft.]
Well. I'll always choose my heart, at least.
[Said as if it's a great misfortune, because his heart is selfish and leads him to do things like survive and survive for Nadia's sake, even if he should really be buried and forgotten. If Scien would choose him even then, it's not like he has much of a say.]
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It is the heart that loves your sister. That educates an island of children that desperately need better than what they've been given. That fusses over everyone else and seeks to give understanding even to those who don't expect it.
[ at least, that's how scien felt about it. ]
Even if sometimes it screams for retribution, it isn't wrong. And it's still yours.
[ so what if lucas sometimes gets violent? so what if his strength is predisposed to tearing people apart? it is the dichotomy of these—to have such a gentle heart and a destructive hand, that makes him so uniquely bizarre.
scien doesn't pull his hand away, and he doesn't turn his gaze elsewhere either. he looks upon lucas in his entirety, and admires him nonetheless. ]
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[It's a heart that loves his sister, certainly, and one that tries to be gentle even if it sometimes screams for retribution, but Scien is capable of looking at him more kindly - much more kindly - than he's capable of looking at himself.
When he looks up and Scien's looking at him, his eyes immediately flick away again. OH THE HORRORS OF BEING SEEN (literal) (metaphoric).]
...In any case, if you're done...
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[ and scien is cruel and horrible to so many people, but never him.
he'll take the suggestion for what it is though, going to stand and giving a brief warning - ] Let's go then.
[ before scooping lucas right back up into his arms to start walking back toward the apartments ]
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He's just SILENT in response to the first part because he's NOT he is perhaps NOT CRUEL ENOUGH but it's fine. Hilariously this time, he just allows Scien to scoop him up instead of kicking up a fuss about it and leans into him without much pause. He's just accepted his fate. Truly adapts so quickly.]
You said that you've been able to make your pain medication again, correct...?
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scien rewards him with a lil kiss to his hair again, but proceeds on quickly afterward ]
Since the first time you reminded me, yes. I take it after I see you.
[ he said he'd remember to take it as long as lucas wanted him to, and since they've been seeing each other more often this is the most diligent scien has been in a long time ]
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Alright. [His stupid not-insane heart still feels guilty over the time he kicked Scien into the suffering box even if it was only like 12 hours.]
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i think about how scien has been walking around with broken ribs because i stole francy's 6 to get him injured by lucas, and he has said not a word about it and never will. ]
And you? When was your last coughing fit? Have they lessened in frequency?
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ALSO SAY SOMETHING YOU PIECE OF SHIT SCIENTIST. The way Lucas barely even remembers that whole ordeal and wouldn't think to doublecheck because Scien is so damn good at hiding his injuries and his brain is still so used to registering Scien as an enemy.]
They have... It's been five days since the last notable one. I still have a few here and there, but nothing debilitating.
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he nods at that ]
Good. Any notable chest pains? Your stamina is the same as usual, I'm assuming.
[ if he's wandering around without his crutches by choice ]
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No, and yes... [Thinking back with great exhaustion on Thursday. Yeah his stamina is fine.] Everything seems to be in order, more or less. ...I think I may visit the springs, though.
[He doesn't want to because his Catholic Guilt demands he keep his injuries as penance, but everyone is so worried about his stupid foot that it makes him feel even worse. MATSUI ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM.]
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scien cannot imagine being moved by the opinions of other people, so he doesn't know what could've brought this up, but he's not against it. ]
Do you want me to bring you there?
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I haven't decided yet.
[Maybe he will dip in a single foot so his ankle is better and just keep the rest since no one can see it all.]
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Whatever you decide.
[ the hilarity in the sheer extent scien will respect lucas's agency because if he breaks his body worse then scien will just fix him again ]
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I'll let you know.
[Or he will just meander off at some point, either way.]
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they're at the door of the apartment but scien will pause to kiss lucas on the cheek anyway since he's tucked away all cozy!! stupid!!!!! ]
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unfortunately that just gets scien to laugh, a warm and amused sound. ]
You can't hide from me forever.
[ (threat)
but he'll shift his hold on lucas so it's easier from him to open the door, bringing them into his room! it's such an empty, almost clinical space, a little reminiscent of the institute itself. multiple machines have been built, towers that hold data and seem to be running tests even while scien was gone. it's not the cleanest, but it's manageable given the fact that will is just staying in the penthouse and scien calls him down to clean. there's no bed in sight, just a couch. it's some combination between scien's office and the actual laboratories in the institute, though there's of course not a single reliver machine to be found.
but there is a scrap pile of other tech that scien cannibalized just to build all this.
he'll walk forward, setting lucas on the couch gently ]
Are you ready to begin?
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But he'll allow himself to be carried over to the couch, and he glances around the space as they go. It's certainly clinical, but considering how barren his own room is, does his ass really have space to judge... He's a little surprised by the tidiness considering how quickly he'd managed to get shit all over Adolphe's house, but then he remembers Will is indeed over here and also feels guilty about it because he KILLED THAT GUY. It's fine...
At the question, he just nods.]
I am. You said you wanted to look at my stitches again and redo the bandages...?
[In addition to the usual checks. He'll just start disrobing from the top, though, because he truly is nowhere near as much of a Catholic as people fucking thing he is. But as he goes:] --What are all of these...?
[The machines...]
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as scien goes to gather the supplies he needs—more bandages, something to wipe down lucas's injuries, more stitches—he'll just answer from afar. ]
I want to understand this space. The machine failed last time because of the interference of magic, which I've never needed to take into my calculations before. If I'm able to understand more of the molecular structure of this location, I'll be able to limit risks from whatever comes next.
Aside from that, I have a few people who asked me to grant them miracles. I intend to follow through, when I make time for it.
[ it's so funny that by endgame people always ask scien to save them but it's very ic at least ]
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Lucas will just watch him move about from his seat on the couch, disrobed down to the waist and keeping his hands folded neatly together in his lap. He's a good patient... He will not get up and start walking around on his bustedass ankle again.
IT REALLY IS SO IC THOUGH DAMN Lucas gazes over toward some of the machines.]
I see... [Everyone truly ends up relying on Scien Brofiise. Something about it sits uncomfortably within him for a second, but that's just his rabies.] ...Do you understand more about it here, then?
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but scien will ignore any and all of that for now, coming back with his supplies. he'll lift lucas one more time, forcing his legs to come up onto the couch and over scien's lap so that his bad ankle can be elevated. he also puts an ice pouch wrapped in a cloth over it.
what's the damage on his injuries, aki... scien will just go to gingerly and carefully remove the bandages so he can change them regardless. did lucas strain his stitches again ]
I do. There are more variables than in Arpéchéle, but as long as we're aware of that, we'll be more successful in the long-term.
Let me know when the ice becomes too cold.
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HE'S LIFTED. He's looking disgruntled about it, but he will allow himself to be rearranged however Scien needs for the check-up. His stupid busted ankle will be grateful for it.
Also his stitches aren't strained that badly! A bit, but after he was done doing his apology tour Friday, he didn't really move around much, and then spent most of Saturday seated at trial. His ankle's taking the worst of the damage since his dumb ass keeps WALKING ON IT, so the stitches on the bite wound there are probably in need of replacing. Maybe a few along his waist, where he twists and bends the most.]
Alright. [Quietly, in response to the second part. He moves his foot a little, frowning. Broken ankles are a pain in the ass.]
... [He's like || this close to being like SO THINGS WILL BE OKAY PROBABLY RIGHT again, but pulls the sentiment and words back.] Things will likely start moving more quickly next week, won't they?
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scien will focus on his bandages first and foremost though, removing them with a deft hand. ]
I'll clean your wounds first. [ just to explain what he's doing before he does it, so lucas is aware. bodily autonomy! he'll move to clean the sites where the stitches are to prevent any discomfort or chance of infection. his touch is light, careful, far more mindful when tending to lucas's body than his own. ]
But I assume so. The living will have their tasks to do, and we'll need to work on ours. With the ritual happening, I expect a few unexpected problems to come up, but we can find our own ways to prepare.
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