[Center][img]https://i.postimg.cc/28hFcDbZ/Rain-Header-2.png[/img][/center]

[Color=silver][b]Location:[/b][/color] Mount Justice
[Color=silver][b]Interactions:[/b][/color] Daphne[hr]

Viktor's interactions with his teammates during the two months between major missions were trying if not reflective for him. Kila, Kassandra, and Alisa had all made significant impressions on him. Each instance stuck with him in its own unique way, yet it was his time spent with Daphne that may have been the most peculiar.

[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/230124/3aa99a7ce786884f1bc87b5454561463.png[/img][/center]
[Center][url=https://youtu.be/jbC7g66kF9w]Falling Leaves[/url][/center]

[I]Day Zero[/I]

Viktor had been the most conflicted at this time when approaching the tree that was Daphne. Despite not being in the mood to do so, he had assured his comatose teammate that he'd help her with some form of self-development whether she accepted it or not. His emerald eyes set on her still form. He was going to spout something rude but stopped himself when he noticed a subtle change from when he had seen her previous to the mission to Taos.

[Color=silver]“You moved… and you're smiling… Good, but still unacceptable. Always aiming for the bare minimum, Daph. As if I'd expect anything more from you or any of them.”[/color] He circled around her, arms crossed as inspected her. 

Once he was in front of her again, his expression showed dissatisfaction. 

[Color=silver]“You should know that Alisa was hurt today during our mission…”[/color] He felt a lump form in his throat but contorted his face in anger. [Color=silver]“A mission we could have used you on. Events may have played out differently if you weren't stuck like this… If you can hear me, you'll feel as guilty as I do, but frankly, I don't care. How could you let this happen to you? To fail us… You're pathetic. You're too weak. You can't do anything right.”[/color] Though he aimed the words toward her, Daphne was not who he was truly referring to. [Color=silver]“You weren't there for her… I- I… I wasn't there for her. I wasn't there for you either. Or Talon… You probably enjoyed hearing me say that. Hm?! Say something! Move!”[/color] Viktor performed an open-hand thrust toward her but stopped short. [Color=silver]“Very well… Continue to be useless. As if it makes a difference.”[/color]

[I]Day One[/I]

It was long after sunset, when Viktor approached Daphne this day. This time he took a seat on the ground in front of her but wouldn't look her in the face. 

[Color=silver]“Don't take what I said personally. I was not in my right mind. However, I will not apologize. I am here to help you get better, not become your friend.”[/color] He finally stared up at her.

[Color=silver]“Only your smile has changed. And barely at that. Daph, you were capable of moving much more before. Even where your hand originally was. If you want to move, then will it. Take matters into your own hands for once. Have you never thought of what you might be capable of if you simply relied more on your own strength?”[/color] He paused as if awaiting a response, watching to see if any part of her shifted in response to his words. 

[Color=silver]“You think no one notices, but I do. You'd let any next person lead if it means you get to sit in the background. You let others take the lead, even when we split into smaller groups. You never take the keys to the jeep… Sure, you might think that's small but let's take everything else. What have you actually done? Hm? People like you on the team because you're pleasant, not because you're useful. And you know this. You play into it. The meals, the gifts, the way you ask to be led by whoever's leading. Not ever challenging their ideas or methods. You buy our favor with treats and sell your own initiative away.”[/color] He stood up, remaining unamused by her as he turned away once more. [Color=silver]“Initiative… Think about what that means to you, Daph. I will return tomorrow and the days following.”[/color]

[I]Day Thirteen[/I]

Viktor circled around the tree, hands clasped behind his back while lecturing Daphne as he had for nearly two weeks now. 

[Color=silver]“Thorns, poisons, spores… How have you not utilized these yet in the field? Don't tell me you just mimic the plants you've seen in person… Did you not try to research what other plants can do so you could replicate them? Daph…[/color] He stopped right in front of the tree with an eyebrow raised in interest. [color=silver]“Do you think you could grow fungi? Who knows how broad the spectrum is for your power. Try it. It's not like you have anything else going on. I'll see you tomorrow. Same time.”[/color]

[I]Day Twenty-one[/i]

[Color=silver]“I believe the day is coming soon. Maybe even today. Kila and I will face each other. After I've beaten him, I wish for him to simply accept my superiority... By the way, you're moving too slowly. I give you 24 hours to move and you have no other tasks, so just do it.”[/color]

[I]Day Twenty-two[/I] 

Viktor simply sat before Daphne in silence. After a few moments, he rested against the trunk of the tree sharing her view of the greenhouse area until he left for bed.

[Color=silver]“He won… Not just in combat either. I don't enjoy being wrong but in this instance, I accept it.”[/color]

[I]Day Thirty[/I]

Viktor had gone from circling the tree like a stern drill instructor to taking a seat at its base now. He'd gotten used to just talking about anything that came to him. He was sure Daphne would much rather enjoy that than his lecturing.

[Color=silver]“I'm surprised you haven't tried to make fruit or even tea leaves. Then again, perhaps you've grown tired of giving. Your father was the one person who took too much… But not everything. You're still here and when you can move again, we'll work on making you better. Kila and Talon have taught you some, but I can show techniques as well. For instance, if you shorten the time it takes to transform your body into bark and focus that into your points of contact, your strikes would be faster and far more devastating.”[/color] Viktor stared blankly at her for a moment, he was still expecting to invoke a response from her. [Color=silver]“Sometimes learning from someone else helps… Kila has been helping me understand the [I]art[/I] rather than just the martial prowess of combat…”[/color] He paused once more, wondering if she'd even care for such a topic. [Color=silver]“But if you're fine with the way you were, then that's fine too. Change should be accepted, not forced…”[/color]

[I]Day Thirty-three[/I]

[Color=silver]“Good news, Daph. Alisa has returned…[/color] A smile briefly graced his face. Only briefly. [Color=silver]“You, however, are still in this state. I am sure you can find strength in her return. Motivation to wake up as well…[/color] He winced as his true feelings on the matter surfaced. [Color=silver]“Though, I've begun to notice a regression in your form. You're sinking in. Shifting less… Does that mean you're giving up on us? Does it?”[/color]

[I]Day Forty-one[/I]

[Color=silver]“We received three new members. More people to bake for, yes? Can you believe I'm actually beginning to miss your travel meals… Some of them at least.”[/color] He shrugged his shoulders with a slight smile on his face before switching back to his neutral expression. [Color=silver]“Anyway, the newcomers are adequate so far. I still need to continue my assessment of them. Vincent seems capable in skill but I'm not sure about his disposition.”[/color] He paused for a moment to consider how to describe the next recruit. [Color=silver]“Pei is… hm. She has limited experience, but I can't predict her. I don't know if I like that. I probably don't.”[/color] A sigh escaped him as he thought of the final of the three. [Color=silver]“Then there's the other one. Cora. She is somewhat like how you and Alisa were in skill when you first arrived.”[/color] His slight smile returned as he continued. [Color=silver]“She's definitely more like you. That's if I were to swap your low confidence with her negligence. I believe we can make it work, and I won't be as much of a 'jerk' to her as I was to you. It won't be easy… for her or myself.”[/color] He gave Daphne a single nod. [Color=silver]“But, one day at a time, right Daph?”[/color]

[I]Day Fifty-two[/I]

[Color=silver]“Hmm… Why are you giving up and letting yourself be taken? Everyone can see what's happening to you. No one will say it but…. at this rate, there won't be anything left of you.”[/color] Viktor held a slightly disgruntled expression as he placed a gentle hand against the tree's rough bark. At times he wished he could just pull her out of her self-made prison. [Color=silver]“I assume when that occurs, there's no reason for me to continue doing this…”[/color] Taking a step back, he sighed. [Color=silver]“However, I will. It's foolish for me to be so hopeful but until this tree is no more, I'll consider you present. The team is still awaiting your return, Daph. Keep fighting.”[/color] And with that he took his leave once more.

[Center][url=https://youtu.be/rBCsRQv5Zho]Farewell Daphne[/url][/center]

He continued his short daily visits, despite Daphne's progression into becoming a wilting dying tree. Her face and body vanished beneath the bark, the branches remained without any more movement, and the leaves continued to fall. 

The tree would die in the coming days…. That was certain, and Viktor would be there for the end…