IC Contact

[jolting]

Work Phone: You've reached Doctor Frankenstein. Leave your name and number and I'll return your call as soon as possible. My office hours are from [time] to [time].

Personal Phone: If you're calling this number, then it must be pretty important. I'll call back soon.

Comments

[winscenario]

[ Jim laughs at that. ] Sorry. Forgot how incredibly impatient you can be, sometimes.

[ With a teasing smile, he hands Victor the bag. Inside he’ll find a small and equally black square velvet box, and inside it a silver ring, in the shape of a stethoscope with two brilliant but small stones.

Jim is a little nervous, which might be kind of obvious as he watches Victor’s reaction expectantly. He did mention getting Victor some jewelry, but he can’t help wonder if maybe he overdid it a little. ]

[jolting]

[He smiles a little in amusement. The smile grows to something warmer when he sees the box. James did promise jewelry and he's curious to see what it is. Out of all the pieces of jewelry, a ring was the very last one he expected to see. He's never seen one with this kind of design before. It's so perfect.

His brain turned itself off and he can't seem to find any words. Slowly his eyes move up to James's face. Suddenly he feels a little nervous, too]

W..will you put it on for me?

[winscenario]

[ He doesn’t really know what to make of Victor’s reaction at first. His smile wavers but never quite leaves his face, though when Victor speaks it grows wide again, his heart leaping happily in his chest. ]

Sure. Uh— I think the size is alright, but we can take it back and adjust it if it doesn’t fit. [ He says while taking the ring out of the box, putting the box back into the bag before reaching for Victor’s hand. ] Which finger do you want it in?

[ Okay, he didn’t really think of that. Hopefully it won’t make much of a difference, size-wise. ]

[jolting]

[Well, shit. That wasn't a decision he wanted to make. He swallows, flexing his fingers a little]

Just, um... whichever finger it'll fit on?

[Which, yeah, shouldn't make that much of a difference, but the thought of actually choosing makes him very nervous]

[winscenario]

[ Jim nods. Makes sense, at least. Though he hopes it won’t be so tight that it’ll only fit on Victor’s pinky finger, because that’d look pretty silly.

He starts with the index finger, though, but both that and the middle finger seem a little too tight. The aptly named ring finger ends up being the one where it fits best, and Jim runs his thumb over the stones once it’s in place. ]

How’s that? [ He worries his lower lip, looking up at Victor. ] It’s not... too much, is it?

[jolting]

[He had a feeling the ring would eventually fit there. It doesn't stop his breathing to hitch a little and his pulse to stutter, though. He has that same awkwardly nervous feeling as their first date, when he wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself, and feeling slightly panicked and scared of his emotions.

The logical part of his brain wants to tell him he's being ridiculous, but then he sees how nervous James looks. That's enough to pull himself together a little and breathe]

It's exactly right, my beloved.

[He lifts his hands to cup James's face, brushing his cheeks gently so James can feel the metal on his skin]

[winscenario]

[ He feels marginally more at ease when Victor answers, putting his worries to rest. He lets out a chuckle that still carries the remnants of his nervousness, though that fluttery feeling in his stomach doesn’t quite go away.

He had honestly debated on what kind of jewelry to gift Victor. A watch even crossed his mind, or an engraved bracelet or necklace pendant. It doesn’t escape his notice what a ring could mean, especially one that looks like this— hell, even the jeweler thought he was looking for an engagement ring. But he figured Victor wouldn’t think it was meant that way. ]

It looks perfect on you. [ He closes his eyes and rests their foreheads together, his hands settling on Victor’s waist. ]

[jolting]

[Actually, that was exactly what Victor thought it meant, which was why he panicked and didn't want to pick a certain finger for the ring. Victor closes his eyes, feeling James's breath and touch. He would rather stay in this moment, but eventually he wets his lips and clears his throat]

When, ah... When Lucy sees me wearing this, she's... she's going to ask.

[Which is absolutely true, but also his roundabout way of asking]

[winscenario]

[ Jim pulls back a little, opening his eyes and shrugging. ]

Just... tell her it was a gift from me. [ Which is also the complete truth. He does go on to add, though, just to make things clear. ] I mean, it’s not that I’d— mind something else. But it’s... you know, soon, probably? We’ve only been dating for four months. We’d be moving too fast, right?

[ Never mind that ‘fast’ is the only pace they’ve known since meeting each other. And Jim is yet to make a decision he regrets in the slightest, regarding Victor. ]

Besides, if I were proposing, it wouldn’t be like this. It’d be more special than just handing you over a bag in your office, while you’re halfway through your shift.

[jolting]

[He relaxes a little, his smile turning warm again. He tries not to look too relieved that this wasn't what he thought it was. Not that he wouldn't want it eventually, but at the moment? Too much too soon] You're right, it would be too fast.

I know I can be a little, um, intense sometimes with my emotions. This ring is perfect and I love you went through the effort to find one that would suit me so well.

[winscenario]

[ Jim pokes Victor’s nose with a wide smile. If the doctor looks relieved that this isn’t an actual proposal, he doesn’t seem to take it to heart. After all he would most likely be panicking right now if Victor had just proposed to him so soon.

Still, it’s nice to talk about it. Jim never thought of himself as the marrying type, but he does want Victor to know he’s not all that opposed to the idea either. ]

I think we’re both pretty intense, actually. But I like that— a lot. So don’t even think about stopping.

[ Besides, after ordering a custom made ring for Victor, he is pretty sure he’s winning on the intensity department right now. ]

[jolting]

[Victor wrinkles his nose at the poke. It is good they have so much common ground on things. They've always fit right and matched each other's speed. So whenever that time comes to get to the next point, they'll both be ready for it at relatively the same time. That thought makes Victor more relaxed about it.

He leans in a little more to brush their noses together. He has to chuckle at the words, though]

As long as you don't, either.

[winscenario]

[ His smile gets a little crooked, and he half-shrugs. ]

Of course not. You know me. [ He’d never not be himself, especially around Victor. The thought of even watching his step around him (figuratively) doesn’t even cross his mind. ]

Anyway— should I maybe get out of your way, and let you get back to work?

[jolting]

That I do. My gloriously intense Captain Charming. [He slides his fingers through James's hair. Just because he can, and also making sure the ring won't snag on any strands. Luckily the designers thought of such things and Victor won't be pulling on hair unless he wants to]

Mmm. You are pretty distracting. Makes me wonder how it would work if I really did join your medical team.

[winscenario]

Kinda like the sound of that. [ His words dissolve into a sigh and a soft purr as those fingers sift through his hair, head tipping back a little. The smile on his face doesn’t go anywhere, though. ]

Mm, I wonder... [ He tips his head forward again, grinning a bit as he promptly starts nibbling and licking at Victor’s lips. ] You do seem to have a problem with getting any work done whenever I come visit you at the hospital.

[jolting]

[Here they are talking about being intense and for Victor, that's the most clear when they're physically close like this and exchanging touches and kisses]

And you'd do better if I was the one coming by your work space?

[winscenario]

Well, I am a consummate professional.

[ Please. He can’t even say that with a straight face. But he goes on to add on a more serious note. ]

I think we’ll do alright. But if for some we don’t, we can just make sure we’re not assigned to the same missions. [ He kisses Victor on the lips, lingering. ] I love that you want to help more. And I don’t want to be the reason you can’t.

[jolting]

[He could very easily escalate this, but he keeps it light. That shows it is possible for him. And they did all right when on the rescue mission]

I do want to help more. I don’t want to be tossed around by magic or creatures or whatever else. It’s why I’m training my body and going to the shooting range.

If anything, James, you’re the reason I’m working hard to be fit enough to go on these missions. We’ll always worry about each other, but I want you to worry as little as possible. I want you to feel that I’ll be okay.

[winscenario]

[ Jim smiles a little at Victor’s words. ]

I’ll try to worry as little as possible. But you know that given the chance I would much rather be with you when you’re out there. I like knowing we can have each other’s backs.

[ Victor’s training hasn’t slipped his notice, though. It shows in the smallest things, and if nothing else, in the slightly increased definition of his muscles— something Jim can tell even when they’re just lying together in bed at night. ]

I saw you at the shooting range, the other day.

[jolting]

Yeah, I’d rather be with you on missions, too. We make a good team.

[At that, he smiles awkwardly] I didn’t notice you at all, sorry. I’m not quite ready to join the magnificent seven, but I’m hitting all the targets.

[Yes he watches westerns]

[winscenario]

I know you didn’t. But I was busy at the time too, and I didn't want to interrupt you.

[ Didn’t stop him from taking a quick picture, but still. ]

You’re doing pretty great, actually. Wouldn’t want you in the Magnificent Seven anyway, pretty sure they all die. Plus, I couldn’t let Steve McQueen steal you away from me.

[ Jim you’re the one with the huge crush on Steve McQueen. ]

[jolting]

[He laughs, giving James a quick kiss]

Steve McQueen, really? I don’t think you need to worry about that.

[winscenario]

Are you kidding? It’s Steve McQueen.

[ He chuckles, though, kissing Victor right back. ]

But I’m glad. That’s good to know.

[jolting]

Maybe I should be worried about him stealing you away. It’s kind of cute, actually.

[winscenario]

Well, if he weren’t a corpse right now you might have something to worry about.

[ He winks teasingly at Victor. ]