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At first, Viktor listened to K's rambling with a fond look. He so often stayed silent that it was nice just to hear him speak. The list he offered of things to see and do didn't really narrow down what it was that K liked to do - though that may be something that K himself doesn't know yet - but Viktor privately thought that they would probably be better off doing something that didn't require him to be out in the sunlight. Having such pale skin would, unfortunately, mean that he got sunburned very easily.

But then K spoke of a Familiar bond and Viktor was stunned.

Stunned enough that he barely noticed it when K took his hand and certainly wouldn't have pulled his hand away even if he had been fully aware of the contact. With his lips parted in surprise Viktor's mouth felt numb as he tried to make makes his wits work. The calming effect K had on Viktor did help as soon as he touched Viktor's hand at least.

"...but what about Jayce? I thought you were already bonded with him."

It's true that K's still figuring out his own interests, navigating what it is to be a person who's allowed to have them, and he's also hoping to encourage Viktor to broaden his horizons and experience new things with him. Within reason, of course — he'd understand the health concerns.

"I am. I wouldn't trade it for anything," K replies as he takes Viktor's hand between both of his. "And I don't have to. It's possible to have more than one bond simultaneously. You're both so important to me... you've changed my life for the better. You even," he briefly ducks his head again, smiling to himself, "gave me a name." As a cat, but he considers it his name regardless. And it's hard to express just what that means to him.

"Through a bond, maybe I can do more for you, too."

Viktor still felt like this couldn't really be happening. He'd been trying to sort out his own feelings regarding K and despite Viktor's own opinions about himself, K still wanted to be close. And since a Familiar bond was supposed to be an intimate one, it wouldn't matter how little Viktor's regard for himself was. The idea that someone that he held in high regard would actually want to be near him, even if all they were doing was sitting together at Viktor's desk as a cat and person, also neatly bypassed a lot of Viktor's mental defenses.

"How-"

The word came out as a croak. Viktor cleared his throat and tried again.

"How does a Familiar bond get formed?"

An intimate bond and one that, for K, he hopes would be permanent for as long as they both want it, even if circumstances or Thirteen herself might end up separating them. To never again have to know the utter solitude and loneliness he'd experienced in his home universe, despised as he was by humans and other androids alike... to always have a connection with Viktor no matter what, it's everything that K wants. Ideally while being able to remain at Viktor's side through anything and everything that life throws at them. He's fully prepared for this to be a lifelong commitment.

"By both of us agreeing to it. And I do," he says with a hopeful smile, and already the magic seems to be gathering around them, a sensation not unlike the charged air before a storm. But for the moment, that's all it is — powerful energy waiting to be given purpose. It's Viktor's decision.

It wouldn't have occurred to Viktor to say no. Even if he didn't want to create a Familiar bond he still wouldn't have thought of saying no. It still didn't seem truly real either. But it was something that he did want, and if he was being honest with himself he was more than just fond of K. Viktor was still learning about the different kinds of love but he was certain that what his own feeling about K came to was love. The only question then was what sort of love it could be called. Swallowing any of what amounted to Viktor's own issues with himself, Viktor's hand tightened enough from being slack to properly hold K's hand.

"Yes. I agree."

Viktor's voice was quiet, more intimate though he felt like he should be whispering. As though he were doing something illicit just by wanting something for himself.

With Viktor's agreement, a warmth begins to flow through them both as the magic fully takes effect, binding them together. K can feel the way his awareness seems to expand as emotions that aren't his fill his mind, carrying with them a very distinct feeling that he's come to associate with Viktor. It's like coming home after a long time away. It feels right. His own emotions are also laid bare for Viktor: an overwhelming emotional kaleidoscope of elation, joy, hope for the future, all woven together with an undeniable sense of love. Love for Viktor.

"How do you feel?" K asks in a hushed voice after a long moment, and the curiosity and anticipation he's feeling are also carried through their new bond. He hasn't released Viktor's hand yet and his eyes are momentarily drawn to the one Viktor keeps covered, unsure what to make of the unusual energy he's beginning to sense.

"I...don't know. I've never been able to feel what someone else is feeling before."

It wasn't bad though? There was a slowly dawning sense of wonder on Viktor's side of the new bond. Viktor has never had a family before or even more than one friend so he doesn't know how those connections should feel. There was a rightness to this feeling though. A sense of satisfaction, like a puzzle piece that he didn't know was missing being slotted into place.

But beneath that sense of wonder, there is another sense. Almost like a black hole or a void if you will. Right now it's still subtle, With Viktor's usual sense of emotion overlaid on top but it's definitely there and quietly eating away at Viktor.

"You've done this before but I haven't. How is it supposed to feel?"

Once the initial powerful rush of magic settles into a steady thrum of energy between them, K's characteristic equanimity rises to the forefront of their now shared emotional landscape, providing a solid foundation. It's not unlike the calm he usually emanates, but amplified severalfold by the bond. He considers Viktor's question for a few moments before glancing back up at him.

"I think it's going to be different for each individual, for each bond," he eventually answers. "You feel different from the way Jayce does, to me. Distinctly. And..."

He hesitates, then gives Viktor's hand a light tug and leads him over to one of the plush sofas, encouraging him with a nod to finally have a seat if he wants to.

"I can feel something else, too," K finishes his thought, sounding uncertain — and through their bond, worried. "Something that isn't you." And he isn't sure if Viktor's even aware of whatever it is, himself.

Viktor followed K to the couch and sat down on it when it was offered. He hadn't really noticed that he had been holding K's hand this whole time and now actually felt odd about releasing it. It felt rather nice to be able to hold it physically while he felt a new sense of a bond internally. He didn't say anything in return but a sense of resignation came with his sigh. If K was binding himself to Viktor it was only fair that he understand what that could mean

Using one hand he loosened the fingers of the glove one at a time until he was able to remove the whole thing. Beneath the glove, his hand had become something like metallic stone showing fractured and muted reflections of everything around it. Yet the hand moved just like the hand had always moved.

"It's more than likely that you can feel what this is doing to me."

It was still warm to the touch as anyone's hand would be, though.

"I was told that my 'aether' is being very slowly consumed, which I took to mean my life force or whatever it is is about a human that can be magical."

Now real fear swirled up through Viktor's wonder at the new bond, but outwardly he just looked a little pensive.

"I once felt what it would be like to have no more aether left. I didn't feel anything. Like it was all disturbingly numb."

Viktor shook his head still staring at the hand.

"It was frightening."

Before coming to Folkmore, Viktor had never known what it was like to feel any emotions but painful ones or guilt so even in his own mind it would offer a gruesome kind of relief. But feeling what he could now he was so afraid to lose what he had come to cherish.

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