[OPEN] february catchall

[techmaturgy]

Who: Viktor and Friends
When: Early February
Where: Cadens, Nocwich
What: a little afterparty, Nocwich weekend, maybe some other stuff
Warnings: irresponsible cycling

i. the occasion

Despite various protestations and an insistence from Viktor that all of this should not be a big deal, a response to the Academy is sent, announcements are made, and invitations are distributed with the date and time. He maintains, until the very end, the possibility of renagation up until the hour of his award, but Viktor manages to attend, suitably cleaned up in a new suit that he most certainly did not choose for himself. The affair is formal and slightly stuffy, befitting of the Grand Academy, Aleksander Klinger’s usual dour demeanor providing contrast to both Viktor’s apparent discomfort and the small entourage of Summoned in attendance to show support.

The accolade does not kill him, but in the aftermath he doesn’t linger long. There is always more work to do, whether he is now in possession of a ceremonial degree or not, and Viktor is not the type to rest on his laurels, not when all of this has been more of a distraction from what he really wants to be doing, than anything else.

That, and there’s an afterparty to attend.

ii. the workshop

Viktor’s workshop is a familiar setting by now, especially to those who frequent the district of town lined with inventors' laboratories and machine shops. It can aptly be described as organized chaos. Viktor likes working on multiple projects at once, with pieces of clockwork mechanisms littering the worktables, and the walls are plastered with notes and schematics.

For those reasons, this is not a place conducive to gathering in ordinary circumstances, but Hilda and Jesper have done their best to correct that. Tonight, the more delicate projects have been stowed away, the plans carefully removed from the pinboards. The large bay door has been raised, and warm lights invite visitors in. The interior, too, has been decorated with strings of lights and garland, and at least one Hilda-Most-Certainly-Made-This banner that reads “CONGRATULATIONS VIKTOR” (he probably is doing his best not to acknowledge it).

If not for the decorations, the whole affair could be mistaken for one of the firm’s open houses, but instead of showing off current projects and innovations, an attempt at hospitality has been made, with drinks and snacks, an Academy-loaned gramophone piping soft music through the space. Mismatched furniture populates the room, clearly borrowed from other locations, offering comfortable—if no-frills—room to sit. Anything more, it seems, might be a little too much for the ostensible “host”, who despite his quiet gratefulness for the show of support, seems slightly overwhelmed.

Don’t worry about that. Make yourself at home.

iii. later

Once things loosen up a bit (once the requisite amount of alcohol is imbibed, to provide adequate social lubrication for certain involved parties), the gathering becomes livelier, with card and dice games, and possibly entertainment (to be continued). Viktor himself, now in a jacket that Hilda produced for him with the now-infamous decorative stud fastener, might be cajoled into demonstrating a few of his business’s offerings—all manner of tools and equipment for artisans and monster hunters, everything from a handheld gyroscopic laser cutter to night vision goggles that wick away moisture, to respirators for the desert.

There are slightly frivolous projects, too, like automatic appliances and magic-borne electricity dancing around in a faraday cage. The more alcohol involved, the more likely Viktor might be to show off (with some prodding) something…explosive.

And, of course, the automaton (complete with party hat and bowtie) is active, supplying refills and also fulfilling any requests for hi-fives and handshakes. Of everything that’s happening tonight, Viktor seems most pleased with this, and he can be caught sneaking glances at anyone who might be interacting with it—not unlike a proud parent.

iv. ooc stuff

feel free to use this log as a general mingle, otherwise open and closed starters of my own are in the comments. If you’d like something specific, just hit me up. I’m on plurk at whitticus and on discord also at whitticus.

Comments

[techmaturgy]

I'm here, aren't I? [He did not bail on the actual ceremony, and he is mostly tolerating being the center of attention at a party.] That is the most anyone can possibly ask of me, in this moment.

[But that said, he certainly understands that all of this has come about because there are people here who care about him. It's less novel than it was even a year ago, but perhaps there's still a part of him that finds it difficult to wrap his head around.

The alcohol is helping--but he still finds it in him to be slightly indignant, so it's probably for the best that Steve turns his attention to the automaton.]

That was my idea, actually.

[assembles]

[ Viktor's not wrong, and Steve is pretty sure that Hilda and Jesper and everyone else appreciates that he's stepped so far out of his comfort zone. It's not an easy thing to do. And it would probably have all been much easier if Jayce were still here — a sentiment that's mainly remained unsaid this whole time.

So, focusing on one of Viktor's projects seems like the better tack here. Steve glances back to him as he joins him in front of the large bot. ]

Was it? So you do have a playful side.

[ He's teasing. ]

How's the work on it been going?

[ It's hard not to think of how involved Tony would have been in all this, were he still here, but Steve pushes that thought aside, as he does every time it crops up. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor only shrugs, deciding not to confirm or deny said playful side. Something that's important to him is making sure that the automaton isn't frightening, and this is all part of that. He won't get much further if people are frightened of it, so he's taken some of Hilda's advice in this department.

That, and watching the robot server drinks while wearing a little bowtie is amusing, as Steve has discovered.]

The next step is to separate it from Hilda's spell. Then it can be truly autonomous. We've received some interest after the festival, so we're able to continue the research, at least.

[Although, this is the complicated part.]

[assembles]

What does Hilda's spell do?

[ Steve knows that Claude and Hilda come from a world where magic is commonplace, so maybe it's even something that she brought with her, so to speak. Or maybe it has to do with the magic she's been studying here in Abraxas.

He finds her talking excitedly with someone across the room and smiles to himself. Well, for all that Hilda can be difficult at times, she's also good at what she does when she cares about it. And she seems to be invested in this robot. It's not a partnership he ever would have imagined, but it's clear Viktor and Hilda are close.

His gaze flicks back to Viktor. ] And what kind of interest?

[ Who in Cadens wants to make use of this kind of technology? Steve finds it hard to believe that Viktor would give the military the time of day, so it must be something else. ]

[techmaturgy]

It is...an entity that can be instructed to do simple tasks.

[So, in lieu of an actual programmed computer, Viktor got creative with the next best thing. He's fairly proud of the system, and the way they came at artificial intelligence, if he does say so himself.]

We've bound it to the chassis. The next iteration will replicate the spell, and generate it internally.

[He does, at least, understand that this is a risk. Steve seems to pick up on that as well, especially with the mention of interest.]

Private donors. Don't worry--I haven't agreed to anything.

[He would much rather fund it himself, to keep his hold on the proprietary technology.]

[assembles]

[ A spell to summon a whole entity? Steve isn't sure why, but that feels so different from programming an AI from the bottom up. Does the entity exist through an infusion of Hilda's own magical energy? Either way, it seems like all it's "programmed" to do is follow its "master's" commands. ]

Huh. [ He gives the robot another once-over. ] I guess if there was gonna be a magical AI, that would be how it worked. I'm assuming all it can really do is follow orders, then? Or have you found ways to make it more self-sufficient?

[ It's good to hear that Viktor hasn't actually agreed to sell his product to any of these interested donors. Then again, it's going to take some additional funds to further develop the robot, Steve would guess, and he can see how it would be tempting to accept some of their offers to get the work done, but then he'd be forced to give them some sort of cut or stake in it.

Not ideal. With any luck, and his new title, hopefully Viktor won't have to resort to that. ]

[techmaturgy]

In the absence of more advanced materials, and the very real possibility that the Cadens government will try to use this for their own purposes, I had to get...creative.

[He offers a little shrug. Would that he had the silicon and other materials to try his hand at computer chips and real programing (learned from Tony, of course), but for now this achieves the intended effect in a way he's pleased with. The next iteration will be even better, and will hopefully relieve Hilda of the piloting duties.]

Right now, yes. Simple tasks, but I want it to learn. To adapt.

[To operate with some manner of independence.]

[assembles]

And I'm guessing the only way to make that possible is with some kind of New Magic.

[ Steve doesn't know all that much about New Magic and how it works, despite the fact that he lives here in the Free Cities. He's learned what magic he needs to be capable of what he was back home, with his shield, but his exploration into it has ended there.

Viktor, no doubt, has looked into it all a lot more thoroughly.

Nonetheless, Steve does want to test what the robot is capable of as things stand, and so he asks it to refill his glass before turning back to Viktor. ]

What do you have in mind?

[techmaturgy]

Yes. I can't expect Hilda to be on call to perform her spell forever.

[So, as reluctant as he is to create a situation where the Free Cities might be able to reproduce his work, it is an inevitability. All he can do is safeguard things as best he can. He hopes the human casualty it prevents will be worth it, but he won't begrudge anyone their concerns.]

The mines, primarily. But there are dangerous experiments going on at the Academy as well. The automaton can handle toxic materials, operate in dangerous environments...aspirational, perhaps, but achievable. With time.

[Time that he has now, as well as significant clout.]

[assembles]

[ The functioning of the robot being reliant on any one person casting a spell doesn't make it all that practical, no, but Viktor already knows this and has plans. Steve's curious to see how long it takes for him to crack it; he knows that progress can be slow here in the Cities compared to what Viktor might be used to, but he's adapted well all the same.

Steve watches as the robot takes his glass and refills it for him, not spilling a single drop in the process. Hilda's spell allows it to perform in as human-like a manner as it can, and it's interesting to watch, although Steve's also pretty used to this kind of thing thanks to Tony.

While he's already aware of Viktor's plans for the mines, it's interesting to hear what else he has in store. A sort of research assistant, then? It makes sense. ]

Nothing wrong with being ambitious, especially when it's for something like this that's going to directly help people.

[ Whether it's kids at the mining camp or Cadens scientists.

The robot returns with his drink and Steve retrieves it with a brief thank you, then lifts the glass to his mouth to take a long swig. He glances back to Viktor and nods firmly. ]

I'm sure you'll get there. To be honest, I don't think there's much that can stop you when you've put your mind to something.

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor watches the automaton with pride--sure, it's a bit of a silly task, but he likes showing off the dexterity of it all the same, and its ability to complete simple tasks. He's sure that Steve can imagine all of the possibilities, just from this alone.]

Ah. Well, I'm glad you think so.

[He's being modest now, even though he generally agrees with Steve's assessment. The balance, as always, is ensuring the Cadens government doesn't co-opt this technology for militaristic purposes.]

There is time, at least.