open/closed ][ I should not be left to my own devices

[bealufull]

Who: Kaz Brekker & open
When: March
Where: Cadens & Horizon
What: catch all for post event stress, open posts in comments
Warnings: violence, bar fights, the damage of such fights, gambling, likely excessive drinking, talk of body horror, vicious mockery including taunting others about weight and looks





𝐈'𝐦 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥

Comments

[bealufull]

Kaz blinks at that, at the way the man looks back at him. In truth he's been looking that way but he hasn't been focused. Instead caught up in other thoughts, of trying to straighten out things in his head to keep him on the path he knows he needs to be in here.

One gloved hand covers the other, the coin vanishing as he shakes his head. Not willing to risk losing control of the coin as he lets his attention wane and actually turn to the other man.

"Nothing? Why?"

Completely unaware that he's been staring intently at the other man, all but scowling in that way he has that is more resting face than it is the anger that seems to reflect there in his eyes.

[techmaturgy]

"You're staring."

Viktor cares little for various social norms. If he has something on his mind, he's going to say it, up to and including calling people out for aforementioned staring. If Kaz wants to come over and talk about something, he should simply do it, as far as he's concerned.

"Do you need something?"

Not hostile, or malicious. Just asking.

[bealufull]

"Was I?"

He sounds confused by that, considering himself a few moments before. He turns his hand and the coin reappears between his fingers, and he frowns at it before making a face.

"I was staring but not at you. Lost in thought," he admits, something he rarely did in public, though it let him just not focus on anything and feel the room. Here at the Inn it was usually an easy comfortable air where he didn't worry about letting his attention wander like that. He'd never known a public place in the Barrel like that.

"I hadn't meant to stare and intrude."

[techmaturgy]

"You were."

He says that like a statement of fact. The explanation is satisfactory, however, though it's certainly awkward to be having this conversation halfway across the room. Viktor starts moving right after the was I?, so that by the time he's finished it's a little less awkward.

"Well. There's a great deal to think about, recently, so I can't say I blame you."

[bealufull]

He shifts his hand and the coin comes to rest on his knuckles, balancing on its edge. It fairly vibrates as the other man approaches, even as Kaz reminds himself this is not the Barrel and most here aren't considering what taking him on might gain them. Or cost them.

So he shifts a bit, gesturing for the seat opposite him if the other man would choose to sit.

"Were you there or still up here? I..." He considers the lies, the easiness of dismissing the truth and chooses the harder route. "Some of it blurs together between things that happened and who I saw there and after."

[techmaturgy]

He'll sit, thanks, mostly because that's what's most comfortable for him, but partially because it's less awkward. Kaz doesn't have to entertain him, of course, and Viktor is more than aware that he's elbowed into a private moment, but if he's at all apologetic, he doesn't show it.

What does put a sympathetic expression on his face is the mention that Kaz was among those who were kidnapped. Viktor is only starting to hear about their experiences underground, and suffice to say he wouldn't wish it on anyone.

"No, I wasn't taken, but I worked to find your location. My regret is that we weren't able to pinpoint it more quickly."

Still, faster than any of the governments could have done on their own.

[bealufull]

Kaz stays still, less like a rabbit silent in the brush but with wary eyes and a careful stare as if assessing all possibilities if things were to go south in that moment. Yet as Viktor takes a seat, commenting on his actions during recent events, Kaz's mood shifts slightly.

His shoulders untense, his hand relaxes and he lets the coin drop, catching it with a deft twist of his gloved hand.

"My regret is that we didn't take down everyone and everything in getting out, so we all learn to live with them. That said, you shouldn't. You took action and that's what matters," he points out, thinking of all of Jesper's actions while he and Inej were prisoners.

[techmaturgy]

For a moment, he's afraid he's said the wrong thing, but Viktor is getting used to a certain jumpiness from those who spent time in captivity. He's patient, waiting for Kaz to find what he wants to say, listening with a sympathetic ear.

"My understanding is that many of the acolytes died in the chaos." Or made deals, or were otherwise imprisoned. That will have to be good enough. Viktor shrugs. "If the governments won't protect us, someone has to."

[bealufull]

"Not enough."

He knows it's likely not the right thing to say, and he can imagine many might be bothered by such sentiment. He wouldn't have cared before, and much as there's been talk about being a different man here, he isn't sure that would change the man he is.

"That is a sentiment I agree with. Something needs to be done, by us, to ensure it doesn't happen again." Only a small pause this time. "Have you heard of any attempts at this, or truly a thought that needs to be put into action?"

[techmaturgy]

"Yes, that seems to be the prevailing sentiment."

For Viktor, it all seems like a waste. None of this needed to happen--no trauma for the Summoned, no lives lost in service of some kind of malicious god. Revenge, too, is rarely the best path forward, and will only result in more needless death.

That said, he does understand what those who were kidnapped are feeling. It's a complicated situation.

"She was executed and that seems to be it. If the government of the Free Cities is taking steps to prevent something like this from happening again, I haven't heard of those plans."

Then again, he'd never liked the idea of relying on the government, anyway.

[bealufull]

His expression grows darker, shaking his head.

"It does seem they just want us to go about our lives as if nothing happened, doesn't it? Everyone's back and all is well. Someone is punished and it's all better now."

His tones are a growl, eyes narrowed. "Except there are obviously people that didn't come back. Their own and possibly summoned."

He saw it happen, and knew how bad it had been.

"If not for our own, like yourself and Jesper, more wouldn't have come back. It has made it clear that all along we are all we have."

Not that he hadn't believed that before but it had been all but spelled out now.

[techmaturgy]

"Yes. That's why I'm not necessarily pleased with this outcome."

Though Kaz seems to be of a similar mind, so Viktor doesn't really need to tell him this. None if it, at least, is surprising to him.

"I think that's always been the case. It's just more obvious, after all of that. What do you plan to do now?"

[bealufull]

Kaz has talked to others and many seem to be okay with how things went, who was punished. So for someone else to sound as displeased as he feels is interesting. He considers the other man for a moment, thinking on his own feelings, what he wishes would happen, and just how much he's willing to be open about.

"For now, I think I want to confirm the others are even in prison, what it consists of, and just how much this is punishment or protection. I don't trust they're even there, to be honest."

[techmaturgy]

It's not that Viktor wants retribution--any loss of life is unacceptable to him, and he finds everything that happened to be a waste more than anything else. So much pain and suffering caused, only for the governments to try and wash their hands of everything as quickly as possible. The execution was expedient, of course, but it doesn't get to the root of the problem if nobody acts to prevent something like this from happening again.

"I'm sure you could ask." Viktor is not necessarily interested in any of that, though Kaz brings up a good point. The perpetrator was from Solvunn, but they can't be sure what they're doing with the rest of the acolytes. "I don't imagine Solvunn can maintain their neutrality for long, given the origin of the cult."