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[ Jim peers around at each and every item and piece of machinery Victor points out, soaking up the information as well as taking in every tiny little detail, committing it all to memory. ]

This is kind of cool, not gonna lie. [ Also absolutely weird, but— look, it's Frankenstein. Weird is a given, and something Jim willingly accepts. ] What does he really look like? The creature, I mean. Is he anything like in the movie?

[breathe, Victor. This is the moment he has been dreading. Silently he hunts around for the sketch and hands it over. He drew Gerhardt from before and after. It was for Lucy’s book, but this works too]

That’s him. His name was Gerhardt. [a beat] Frankenstein.

[ Jim turns most of his attention to the sketch, not too terribly shocked by it. It's somewhat along the lines of what he was expecting to see— if anything it's not nearly as grotesque as Jim thought it might be.

It's the last word that trips him up. At first he doesn't even put the pieces together, eyebrows knitting as his gaze lifts up to meet Victor's. ]

Wait, [ The 'wait' is as much for himself as it is for Victor, actually. ] He's your brother?

My younger brother. He was shot, and I brought him back. I made him into a monster.

[he says this mechanically, like he expects any moment James will stop seeing him as someone special, someone he wants]

[ Well, he's wrong if he really thinks that's all it would take to push Jim away. That bit of information is still pretty heavy, and quite a lot to process, so Jim takes a few seconds to be quiet, looking over the drawing in his hands. ]

I'm sorry. [ That Victor had to go through that. That he was so desperate to see his brother being brought back to life. Jim can't say if he wouldn't do the same himself, were he in the same position. ] Where is he now?

[he very slightly relaxes. He manages a little smile. It’s been a while since someone’s shown any sympathy. He’ll always be grateful to Ruby, but there’s something about hearing it from James...]

Thank you. I’m hoping he found peace.

[ More so than sympathy, Jim tries to empathize, to understand. It's not too much of a stretch, really. The loss of a loved one is an ache he can relate to all too well.

He sets the sketch down on the table next to Igor's, then steps closer to Victor, reaching out to hold one of his hands. ]

Have you?

[he stares down at their joined hands. The physical is easy, but how James makes him feel is so much harder. This man has seen his scar, his lab, his brother... Victor swallows hard]

I think I’m closer.

[ Jim smiles, warm and genuine, and it's maybe just a little less scary than it should be, getting to learn all these things about Victor, getting to peer a little into his past— his real story.

He runs his thumb over Victor's own, tracing the inside of his wrist. ]

Good. I'm glad.

[Victor's skin tingles from the touch. It's such a simple thing, but it makes him feel warm. He wets his lips]

So you would want to... put up with me a while longer?

[ Jim's brow raises and his smile widens. He lets out a soft huff, lifting a shoulder as he steps closer to Victor, still not letting go of his hand. ]

I thought we'd agreed on that already? Didn't think that story would be enough to scare me off, did you?

Maybe a little. But what I mean is... us doing more things together. Like stargazing or walking on the beach. Or going dancing again.

[he's well aware of the romance behind those activities. One would think he'd be less awkward about asking someone on more dates]

[ It's kind of sweet how awkward Victor is, though. There's just a hint of a fluster on Jim's cheeks, and he tugs a little at the front of Victor's lab coat with his free hand. ]

I love all those things. [ Also candlelit dinners, poetry, flowers and chocolates, because Jim can sometimes be a walking cliché. ] Are you asking me out on dates, is that it?

[at least Victor isn't the only one getting flustered. He lets the tug pull him forward, his fingers brushing James's cheek before sliding around to his shoulders]

Yes, James. I'm asking you to go on dates with me.

[ His smile stretches even wider, and he dips his head in a nod. His answer is prompt, so Victor doesn't have to stand there worrying that Jim might say no. ]

Yes, please. I'd like that very much.

[he grins, feeling relieved and warm. He sort of wanted to do this sooner, but he's glad he waited until after showing James the lab. He pulls the captain closer, pressing a kiss on his mouth]

Stay here.

[Victor releases him, going to turn off the ambiance rain and thunder. A bit of hunting around later and he finds what he wants, pulling it out. A violin case]

I haven't played for anyone in years, but special dates usually have violin music.

[ He kisses Victor back, whining playfully when he pulls away and tells him to stay put. He does as told, though, leaning against one of the tables while he waits for Victor to come back with...

Well, a violin case, apparently. He's genuinely surprised and caught off-guard, and a soft chuckle slips past his lips. ]

They do? Aw, man. And I can only play the guitar. [ Which Victor may have guessed by the guitar sitting on a corner of his loft. ] Does this mean we're on a special date right now?

[he smirks, taking the violin out and plucking the strings to make sure they're in tune]

You're in Frankenstein's lab about to be serenaded by a violin. What do you think?

[though actually, if James is expecting something slow and romantic, then Victor surprises him. It's Come On, Eileen. He does it hoping to get James to smile or laugh]

[ He holds both his hands up apologetically. ] You're right. Sorry, my mistake.

[ Jim's not actually sure what he expects, but he is surprised, and immensely pleased too, when Victor starts playing the song and he actually recognizes it. He lets out a soft laugh, and it's not long before he starts singing along to it, in a near perfect pitch. ]

[Victor grins, listening to James sing for a while. Then amazingly, he finds himself singing along. He hasn't sung out loud in an even longer time than playing the violin, but he's just in that sort of mood. He's happy.

He sets the violin down, grabbing James to pull him close. It's the sort of song that demands dancing]

[ He lets out a soft little yelp when Victor sets the violin aside and pulls him close, grinning as he wraps his arms around the doctor's shoulders. ]

It's kinda difficult to dance without the song playing, you know.

[ Not that he'll let that stop him from trying, of course. ]

[he laughs breathlessly, resting a hand on the small of the other man's back with the other between his shoulder blades]

Okay. What about this song:

Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars.
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars.
In other words, hold my hand.
In other words, baby, kiss me.

[he's no Frank Sinatra, but he has a clear voice. And singing to James while dancing with him makes it a bit more intimate]

[ Oh no, that's aiming straight to his soft sappy heart. He's grinning so much he thinks his cheeks might actually start to hurt. ]

Fill my heart with song and let me sing forever more,
You are all I long for, all I worship and adore...

[ He sways a little to their singing, even if there's no tune in the background, no instruments playing to mark the pace. ]

[this is better than anything he could've come up with. Just slow dancing with James, the two of them singing In Other Words back and forth. Victor knows the next part of the song but it's a little much, so he improvises a little]

In other words, please be true.
In other words, I want you.

[ Jim's eyes glint a little in amusement and surprise. He'd wondered how Victor would go about that particular bit of the lyrics, and he has to admit he is very much pleased with the quick little improvisation. ]

This is really nice. [ He hums the tune, letting his head rest on Victor's shoulder. ]

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