"I'm glad to have these new experiences with you, then."
As if he would be doing this with anyone else. This is all geared towards artisans, he thinks, but maybe that's good. They already have influence in Libertas, it only makes sense to make inroads here, next, even if it's more of a stretch to market their innovations. He's sure they can come up with something mutually beneficial, but they'll have to talk to Marsh, first. Viktor's got his eye on the stalls with raw materials, and the intricate art pieces. He makes a mental note of what he wants a closer look of, once they have selected some beach gear.
"You didn't have me to rely on?"
That's a bit pointed--Viktor makes no secret how bitter he is that he lost Jayce's ear, back home. Part of it his own fault. He was occupied, he'd vanished for a day or two, he has no taste for politics. He hasn't forgotten, however, that he'd given Jayce a hard line about the weaponization of their technology only to have Mel and Vi sway him more convincingly. He should have pushed harder, but he'd been so busy worrying about his dwindling time that there was only so much he could do, especially in the face of better manipulators and more passionate argument.
Viktor selects a hat, tries it on, and turns back to face Jayce, the seriousness of what he says next perhaps undercut by what he's wearing. Despite this, his voice is sincere.
"So much of what happened there had to do with an untenable situation that the Council allowed to fester." Yes, the situation was, in many ways, a perfect storm, but in many ways that storm had been brewing for years. And, yes, Viktor includes Jayce in that calculation, as painful as it is. "I'm heartened by the fact that you will not be ruling this city. I'm heartened that you do not have an underclass to oppress. I'm still wary that you'd want to be involved this, after everything."
As far as they know, it likely cost Jayce his life.
no subject
As if he would be doing this with anyone else. This is all geared towards artisans, he thinks, but maybe that's good. They already have influence in Libertas, it only makes sense to make inroads here, next, even if it's more of a stretch to market their innovations. He's sure they can come up with something mutually beneficial, but they'll have to talk to Marsh, first. Viktor's got his eye on the stalls with raw materials, and the intricate art pieces. He makes a mental note of what he wants a closer look of, once they have selected some beach gear.
"You didn't have me to rely on?"
That's a bit pointed--Viktor makes no secret how bitter he is that he lost Jayce's ear, back home. Part of it his own fault. He was occupied, he'd vanished for a day or two, he has no taste for politics. He hasn't forgotten, however, that he'd given Jayce a hard line about the weaponization of their technology only to have Mel and Vi sway him more convincingly. He should have pushed harder, but he'd been so busy worrying about his dwindling time that there was only so much he could do, especially in the face of better manipulators and more passionate argument.
Viktor selects a hat, tries it on, and turns back to face Jayce, the seriousness of what he says next perhaps undercut by what he's wearing. Despite this, his voice is sincere.
"So much of what happened there had to do with an untenable situation that the Council allowed to fester." Yes, the situation was, in many ways, a perfect storm, but in many ways that storm had been brewing for years. And, yes, Viktor includes Jayce in that calculation, as painful as it is. "I'm heartened by the fact that you will not be ruling this city. I'm heartened that you do not have an underclass to oppress. I'm still wary that you'd want to be involved this, after everything."
As far as they know, it likely cost Jayce his life.