abraxaslogs | january catch-all

At least this was over quickly.

[Which is a foolish thing to say, because a choice between a revolution of attrition and a bloody uprising that's squashed before it has a chance to begin is not much of a choice. After the ill-fated fight on the bridge, some kind of tenuous peace was achieved, but all that really meant was that everything were left to simmer. Things got better for some, but worse for almost everyone else. Even Jayce's tenuous, last-ditch proposal for the Undercity's independence seemed futile, if all that meant was handing over Zaun to Chem-baron thugs like Silco. All he's ever known of his own city is cycles of violence.

He knows he feels differently, not having lived those last few days and only hearing about them secondhand. Maybe it really is the only way to make things right.]

I didn't participate. [But that's not what Kyle means. He supposes it all loops back to the beginning of this conversation, where Viktor admitted to not having many human friends, though of course he knew many of the people who were killed.] I left not long after.

[It's not lost on him, that he was lucky to get out when he did. Then again, his admission to the Academy was unconventional.]

[ Kahlil has no response for that, and says nothing. Not much of a choice, no. It's funny though, in a grim way, as he realizes how he fought on both sides. Ravishan with the Fai'daum, and himself with the Payshmura...

Viktor answers between lines. He tilts his head to the side. There's a part of him used to filling up the space that someone else leaves in a conversation. ]

I always wanted to leave. [ The journey and the pain that awaited terrified him when he was young, but he clung to the idea that Nayeshi would be how he left Basawar behind - for him and Rousma. ] I would've done my duty and just never gone back. I would've stayed on Earth.

[ Had everything gone as it was supposed to. He would've seen to John's slow and agonizing death had he gotten to the key and the letter first. Kahlil had nothing else to offer his world like Viktor could for his Undercity. The church wouldn't have bothered chasing him down, and he could've lived in Nayeshi with Rousma. His mind wouldn't have been torn apart, and he wouldn't have the memories of a dead man forced into it. Ravishan never would've existed. ]

Things very rarely turn out the way we want.

[There's sympathy in his voice, because he's sure Kyle understands. Viktor has spoken about his attempts to bring Hextech to the Undercity--how the Council was uninterested in things like water purifiers or air scrubbers, so they'd tried mining tools and even that was deemed too dangerous. At the time, he'd written it off to Heimerdinger's particular brand of conservatism, when it came to their work, but now he understands that it was at least partially a fear of putting the Undercity on equal footing.

Without that, there will never be true independence, not for anyone. Maybe it's the same where Kyle comes from, though Viktor cannot imagine abandoning Zaun. Even his life here is temporary. He'll return, eventually, and he'll use what he knows to help people, whether the Council wants him to or not.

And he can contribute to this place in the meantime. Viktor's silent for a moment, before he seems to decide that, despite all of this conversation, he should do what Kyle came here for.]

Would you like to meet it?

[The automaton.]

Edited 2024-01-13 15:59 (UTC)

[ He gives a conceding tip of his head to that, though there's a touch of ambivalence in his expression. He doesn't struggle against his fate anymore, not like Viktor does. Without a miracle or god's intervention, his hypothetical return to his own world once his time here is complete will likely be very, very short. He'd rather not waste this time that he now has thinking too much about it anymore.

It hasn't always been easy, but he's loved his time here.

Viktor breaks the silence to remind him why he'd been invited over, and he smiles at him, taking another step back from the automaton. ]

Yes, very much.

[Viktor smiles at that, a small thing, but sincere nonetheless. There's still a great deal left unsaid, not only with regards to this topic of discussion, but other things to--and as always, it's easier to brush it all aside and focus on the work.

This is not quite what's true in the real world, but there was no real expectation of that, given how the Horizon functions. Without Hilda here, the automaton will act the way Viktor envisions it might in the future, as its own independent entity. When he wills it so, the power core in the machine's chest flickers to life, followed quickly by the eyes. Its metal joints creak as it groans to life, straightening where it stands.

For a moment it seems to register its surroundings, Kyle included, and then hesitantly offers a jerky little wave.]

Go ahead. It's safe.

[If Kyle wants to get closer, or otherwise interact. Of course it's safe, because this is the Horizon, but he's proud to say that it's safe in real life, too.]

[ He's not sure what to expect when the robot comes to life - the sudden metallic groaning has him hop-skipping another involuntary inch backwards.

It waves, almost cartoonish, and he gives a little wave of his own in return. He glances at Viktor - important questions first: ]

Does it have a name?

[ Besides 'the automaton'. He expects Hilda would have something to say about that too. ]

[Despite the size of the automaton and the slightly clunky start-up, once it's "awake" the movements are surprisingly fluid--Viktor is particularly proud of his articulation system. To demonstrate, it offers a handshake, and if Kyle obliges he'll find that the touch is surprisingly refined. Almost gentle.]

Hilda calls it "Perry"--but that's the name she has for the spell.

[The thing that's currently piloting the machine. Viktor has greater aspirations, and it's slightly unfair to keep taking advantage of Hilda, in this way. Right now, she needs to be present and actively casting the spell if they want "Perry", such as it is, to operate.]

I suppose when it's fully independent, it will need a new name.

[ Kahlil thought to grasp one of the fingers for the demonstration, and instead finds his entire hand clasped in its much larger grip. There's clear uncertainty that flickers across his expression, smoothing out quickly as he finds his hand not held in a metal vice, but with careful and deliberate movement. ]

Good to meet you, Perry. [ He laughs, taking his hand back and wiggling his own fingers for a few seconds. ]

Perry II? [ he teases, cocking his head toward Viktor with a wry grin. ] Perry Junior.

[ He's never had to name so much as even a pet. ]

[The automaton doesn't speak, but it seems pleased that Kyle has accepted the handshake regardless, offering a little tilt of the head and a particular hunch of the shoulders that seems to indicate that it doesn't want to intimidate.

There's not really anything for it to do, but Viktor wants to show off its abilities anyway. As they watch, it makes its way over to one of the workbenches, where it helpfully begins to reorganize some large boxes. Viktor watches with no small amount of pride, even if the task is simple.]

Hilda will want a say, when the time comes. Though I imagine both those options will be on her list of suggestions.

[Viktor might contemplate the decision, for a little longer.]

It feels presumptive, to say I'd like to name it if and when a personality reveals itself, but--

[That's his hope.]

[ He wonders if the way it uses body language translates in the real world, or if this is a quirk for Horizon. Either way, it's kind of adorable.

Kahlil watches the automaton busy itself with moving things about before glancing back over to study Viktor doing the same, almost like a parent watching a child performing. He makes another small sound like a laugh under his breath, an amused warmth to his tone. ]

No, that's smart. Just in case it grows up to decide on world domination after all... [ Teasing, he glances back to the current iteration of automaton, addressing it despite its lack of ability to verbally reply: ]

Perry at least seems more like a lover than a fighter, right?

[ And looking again toward the creator to add more seriously, lest he thinks Kahlil means to insult him - ]

This is amazing, Viktor. Really. [ He means it. He might have his concerns about wider use in the real world, but here, he can appreciate it as something only amazing. ]

Edited 2024-01-15 23:38 (UTC)

There's a killswitch. If you're worried.

[Both remote and on the automaton itself. Viktor has no real concerns about world domination, but he certainly has concerns about the Free Cities military. All he can really hope, if it comes to that, is that he won't be destroying a sentient being.

But like he told Kyle, this work is a long way from that. Right now, he's going to enjoy the feeling of creating something truly revolutionary, even if there is more work to do.]

Thank you. [He says that, sincerely, with a genuine smile on his face.] I would have liked to make something like this, back home.

[ To that confirmation, he only nods. It's a necessary measure - but a bit morbid to be discussing in front of poor Perry, shifting around his boxes. ]

You still might, one day.

[ He raises both eyebrows, his tone fairly neutral - maybe even faintly encouraging, despite referencing a topic they've disagreed over many, many times over now. ]

I still might.

[He understands the implication, though given all of their previous conversations, he's not quite sure what to make of it. Viktor's smile becomes something sad, instead, though Kyle is surely accustomed to that, by now.

He'll want to bring this to the Undercity, eventually, especially if he can keep all the knowledge he's gained from this place. Viktor just has to find Jayce, first, even though he knows it's selfish.]

Who knows? Perhaps one day you'll meet it in the real world, too.

[ The way Viktor's smile turns like that has Kahlil glancing away. There's been something on his mind, though he doubts Viktor has any more answers now than he did back then. ]

Maybe. In the children's stories, the robots sometimes turn into other things to disguise themselves - like trucks or planes. [ He cocks his head again. ] If only you could train Perry to pretend to be a carriage... or a bicycle.

[ With that he grins, he shakes his head. ]

I should probably get back. [ He crouches low to wave at Rio if she's still under the desk, and then Perry. ]

[Yet again, something goes unsaid between them, and Viktor briefly contemplates pushing just a little further before Kyle deflects. It's an intriguing thought, one that gets a laugh out of him if only for how impractical it is. Something to think about for the next design, maybe.]

I've kept you long enough.

[Rio, for her part, perks up a little at Kyle's farewell, watching him step away.]

Nocwich, next month. I'll have the blueprints.

[And maybe a prototype, depending on how ambitious he's feeling.]

[ He shakes his head at I've kept you long enough. It's usually Kahlil bothering Viktor for his time - or it often feels that way. At the very beginning his intentions may have been dishonest but - he likes spending time here. He likes making Viktor laugh by saying or doing something a little odd or silly.

(maybe what happened with John and the letter wasn't a fluke, maybe he is actually just very, very bad at his job) ]

See you soon.

[ With that, he gives a little bow and vanishes as he usually does - off to check on Rousma. ]

january catch-all

you'll just have to thread with me forever ig

oh no so terrible

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject