[ you will have to save yourself, the stranger says, and viktor huffs out a laugh that blends seamlessly into a bout of coughing — great, could his lungs have decided on another moment to try and exit his body via his trachea?
the coughs subside, but his quiet, dry mirth over being told to be the one to save himself does not; isn't that simply the way of things? why should this be any different. ]
Yes, [ he says with a nod, grabbing his crutch. ] Yes, it is.
[Well, sorry if you were waiting for a knight in shining armor, Viktor. Richard doesn't quite fit the role unless he's playing a coup or some other horrible shit. Besides, he does not necessarily believe in free handouts just like that, if you want something you need to work for it.. And it's not like he can fly up and sweep you off your feet.
Richard waits for Viktor's coughing fit to be over, watching him with his usual neutral expression. So, his assessment about the the other man had been right after all. The sickly pale complexion had been a dead giveaway. Still, he didn't think that to be enough reason to treat the other any differently.]
The "lock" seems to be nothing but a latch. You should be able to work it open. After that I want you to climb outside of the cage and hang from the bottom. If you drop down from there I should be able to catch you. If possible you can place your feet on my shoulder for support.
[It's really a good thing that Blackie is A Big Horse.]
[ oh, no, not at all — he wasn't waiting for anything, actually. that this stranger is actually willing to help at all is a pleasant surprise; all he'd expected was to be told to figure it out himself.
he makes a face at the instructions, not to argue against them but mostly because it's the most sensible course of action and he can already tell it's going to be a struggle. not that he's not going to do it — he's used to doggedly proving people wrong over and over again, when they believe he can't do something... or when his body tries to tell him he shouldn't be able to do it. ]
Shall we? [ no time like the present and all that... he maneuvers his crutch under his arm and uses that to push himself upright with some difficulty, working the lock open with relative ease (can't fall over when the iron bars are supporting him as he leans against them); the most challenging part comes after, and he takes a moment to evaluate the best way to get through this. in the end, he decides his crutch will just be in the way, and so he leans against the bars fully and lets the crutch drop between them to the ground.
then, slowly and painfully lowering himself to a sitting position at the edge of the now-open door, he lets his feet dangle over, twisting a little as he takes a hold of the bars, as low as he can. from there, it shouldn't be hard to simply... let himself drop, and hopefully be able to hold his own weight long enough. before doing this, though, he raises his eyebrows at richard. ]
[Richard understands that the task ahead of them is very much easier said than done. Especially when taking into consideration the other man's physical condition. An old injury perhaps? Or something that he was born with? Richard's not a medical expert by any means so all he can guess. But then again, whether the man's appearance was due to brittle bones or an accident did not really matter to here. This was the situation they had to deal with no matter the past.
He watches carefully the man to struggle himself up and work on the lock. Briefly he turned his attention down on Blackie, who started to get interested in what was going on as the crutch was. Shushing quietly Richard pets gently his steed's neck, which seems to do the job. Blackie let's out a loud sigh and drops his head down to sniff at the crutch.
Once Viktor is ready in the position Richard leans forward and places his weight on the stirrups as he sits up from the saddle. It is a bit tricky to gain secure position like this but Richard still makes do. Letting go of the reins he raises his arms up, preparing to help the other one down.
[ yes, well — give him a moment. or two, so he can draw a breath that actually sticks in his lungs and doesn't make him want to cough out copious amounts of blood, which is a positive side to all of this... right. he needs to do this.
it is with some apprehension that he tests his hold on the bars and then finally simply lets himself drop from the edge, slowly, with as much control as he can manage — and maybe there's something to be said for the fact that his illness has made him so thin he looks downright malnourished, because at least there isn't much body mass that he needs to hold up.
glancing down, at the now no longer quite so significant drop down, ]
[Viktor's physique certainly didn't inspire much confidence or trust. The man appeared frail enough that even the most lightest push would make him fall and break every bone in his body. It actually reminded Richard a quite lot of his own body, which is exactly why he didn't want to treat the other man with silk gloves when instructing him through this task. His own mother had locked him up countless times during his childhood using his frail body as an excuse. "Children like Richard needs to be protected", she would say when in truth it was just her attempt to keep him hidden away. Out of of sight, out of mind, as they'd say.
However, it had been just that what had driven Richard to prove her and everyone else wrong. That despite his small and feminine size he could do everything and more than his brothers could. And it's that exactly what makes him want to believe that this poor, sickly man could pull out this seemingly herculean task of breaking free of his confinement.
When Viktor lowered himself down, Richard stretched his arms upwards. His fingertips could reach the man's calves. Good, that made this somewhat easier.]
Now you let go. I will not drop you. [Time to take a leap of faith with Richard, Viktor.]
[ right — well. it isn't like there are too many options for him, here... and despite the other man being small of frame, there is a confidence to him that makes viktor think it'll actually be fine.
with a shaky exhale, he nods — and hangs for a moment longer, as his hands don't seem to want to do what his brain tells them to do, to relinquish his grip on the bars. ]
[It's truly a good thing that Richard' isn't secretly some kind of asshole who'd just trick a guy and then leave him hanging like that.
But yeah, the situation is hardly ideal for either of them. Though, it's not like there's much else that they can do, unless Viktor would have preferred him to aim to drop the cage while he's still inside of it. So yeah. They gotta make do with what they got.
Richard watches the other man with keen eye, preparing for the moment when he finally releases his grips on the steel cage and-- ah, there he comes!
Staying true to his words, Richard does not drop the man. His arms wrapping tightly around the other man's torso so that he can pull the man against his body and guide him on the horse's back. Surprised by the sudden added weight, Blackie takes a few nervous steps as he tries to adjust to the situation -- well, at least he is trained well-enough not to try shake them off his back.
The whole process is overall very awkward and far cry from perfect catch, considering that the sickly man has, despite his rather pathetic appearance, bigger build than he does. But here they are! Richard moves his other arm underneath Viktor's legs, other one remaining around his back. So yeah... Weird bridal-carry it is.]
See. I told you I'd catch you.
Edited (changed my mind about the icon) 2024-11-04 20:03 (UTC)
[ is this the most awkward thing viktor has ever endured? oh, far from it. there have been plenty of indignities that he's had to suffer over the years... but that doesn't make this not awkward, either; something that shows in the grimace that twists his expression, before he lets it go with a sigh. ]
You did. [ and if he'd had some doubts about that — well, he's been duly proven wrong. another sigh. ] Thank you.
[ he may not be thrilled about this whole thing, but he is genuinely grateful... he just wishes he didn't have to be. but you know what they say about wishes — ]
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expiationlogs2024-10-14 08:59 am
no subject
the coughs subside, but his quiet, dry mirth over being told to be the one to save himself does not; isn't that simply the way of things? why should this be any different. ]
Yes, [ he says with a nod, grabbing his crutch. ] Yes, it is.
[ so do your worst, richard! ]
no subject
Richard waits for Viktor's coughing fit to be over, watching him with his usual neutral expression. So, his assessment about the the other man had been right after all. The sickly pale complexion had been a dead giveaway. Still, he didn't think that to be enough reason to treat the other any differently.]
The "lock" seems to be nothing but a latch. You should be able to work it open. After that I want you to climb outside of the cage and hang from the bottom. If you drop down from there I should be able to catch you. If possible you can place your feet on my shoulder for support.
[It's really a good thing that Blackie is A Big Horse.]
no subject
he makes a face at the instructions, not to argue against them but mostly because it's the most sensible course of action and he can already tell it's going to be a struggle. not that he's not going to do it — he's used to doggedly proving people wrong over and over again, when they believe he can't do something... or when his body tries to tell him he shouldn't be able to do it. ]
Shall we? [ no time like the present and all that... he maneuvers his crutch under his arm and uses that to push himself upright with some difficulty, working the lock open with relative ease (can't fall over when the iron bars are supporting him as he leans against them); the most challenging part comes after, and he takes a moment to evaluate the best way to get through this. in the end, he decides his crutch will just be in the way, and so he leans against the bars fully and lets the crutch drop between them to the ground.
then, slowly and painfully lowering himself to a sitting position at the edge of the now-open door, he lets his feet dangle over, twisting a little as he takes a hold of the bars, as low as he can. from there, it shouldn't be hard to simply... let himself drop, and hopefully be able to hold his own weight long enough. before doing this, though, he raises his eyebrows at richard. ]
Ready?
no subject
He watches carefully the man to struggle himself up and work on the lock. Briefly he turned his attention down on Blackie, who started to get interested in what was going on as the crutch was. Shushing quietly Richard pets gently his steed's neck, which seems to do the job. Blackie let's out a loud sigh and drops his head down to sniff at the crutch.
Once Viktor is ready in the position Richard leans forward and places his weight on the stirrups as he sits up from the saddle. It is a bit tricky to gain secure position like this but Richard still makes do. Letting go of the reins he raises his arms up, preparing to help the other one down.
Ready whenever you are, dude. ]
no subject
it is with some apprehension that he tests his hold on the bars and then finally simply lets himself drop from the edge, slowly, with as much control as he can manage — and maybe there's something to be said for the fact that his illness has made him so thin he looks downright malnourished, because at least there isn't much body mass that he needs to hold up.
glancing down, at the now no longer quite so significant drop down, ]
Now what?
no subject
However, it had been just that what had driven Richard to prove her and everyone else wrong. That despite his small and feminine size he could do everything and more than his brothers could. And it's that exactly what makes him want to believe that this poor, sickly man could pull out this seemingly herculean task of breaking free of his confinement.
When Viktor lowered himself down, Richard stretched his arms upwards. His fingertips could reach the man's calves. Good, that made this somewhat easier.]
Now you let go. I will not drop you. [Time to take a leap of faith with Richard, Viktor.]
no subject
with a shaky exhale, he nods — and hangs for a moment longer, as his hands don't seem to want to do what his brain tells them to do, to relinquish his grip on the bars. ]
Yes, of course.
[ of course. right. he can do this.
he lets go. ]
no subject
But yeah, the situation is hardly ideal for either of them. Though, it's not like there's much else that they can do, unless Viktor would have preferred him to aim to drop the cage while he's still inside of it. So yeah. They gotta make do with what they got.
Richard watches the other man with keen eye, preparing for the moment when he finally releases his grips on the steel cage and-- ah, there he comes!
Staying true to his words, Richard does not drop the man. His arms wrapping tightly around the other man's torso so that he can pull the man against his body and guide him on the horse's back. Surprised by the sudden added weight, Blackie takes a few nervous steps as he tries to adjust to the situation -- well, at least he is trained well-enough not to try shake them off his back.
The whole process is overall very awkward and far cry from perfect catch, considering that the sickly man has, despite his rather pathetic appearance, bigger build than he does. But here they are! Richard moves his other arm underneath Viktor's legs, other one remaining around his back. So yeah... Weird bridal-carry it is.]
See. I told you I'd catch you.
no subject
You did. [ and if he'd had some doubts about that — well, he's been duly proven wrong. another sigh. ] Thank you.
[ he may not be thrilled about this whole thing, but he is genuinely grateful... he just wishes he didn't have to be. but you know what they say about wishes — ]