abraxaslogs | [OPEN] february catchall

Entry tags:

[OPEN] february catchall

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

title or description

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

title or description

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

title or description

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.

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[ Once things have settled a bit from the excitement, the Doctor intends to make good on his promise to stop by and see Viktor's workshop in greater detail. He'd explored as much as he could at the party, but, well, it was a party and not the most opportune time to have much in the way of conversation or looking at his achievements and projects more in depth.

The Doctor is perhaps occasionally late when he doesn't mean to be. Back in a flash! I'll only be gone ten minutes! I'll see you tomorrow! are all familiar refrains, and then he's sometimes (unintentionally) quite delayed. But he arrives precisely when he means to (in his mind), and he's here now and though he tells himself he'll just pop in for a bit to grab a screwdriver from Viktor, chat him up, delight at a few projects and then be on his way, he will actually absolutely be here all day if Viktor doesn't shoo him away.

Armed with a small plate of very questionable pastries in his attempt to recreate Jammie Dodgers, the Doctor invites himself inside. In his usual excitable way, he calls out — ]

Viktor! I brought sweets!

[Viktor gets back to work quickly after all the fanfare, wanting to put it behind him as expediently as possible. Still, he hasn't forgotten about the open invitation he extended to the Doctor--the party wasn't the most conducive setting for showing off his work, and he's interested in the other man's projects, as well. Cadens doesn't Summon many engineers, so he's always willing to capitalize on the appearance of someone with scientific knowledge.

Suffice to say, the intrusion is welcome, though way his eyebrows knit together indicate that he did not expect additional gifts in the form of pastries. He reacts similarly to being presented a painting--like he's not used to such gestures, and he isn't sure what to do about them.]

You'll have some too, I hope. [He's thinking, of course, of all of the cupcakes Hilda supplied at the party. Viktor gestures at the workspace, indicating that the Doctor can set them down.] Wherever there's room.

[It is, however, in short supply.]

[ With an invitation like that, the Doctor won't delay on indulging. He loves sweets! And he can consume far more than would seem healthy or anywhere in the range of normal, probably. If Viktor samples what he's brought, depending on his palate, the flavors might seem in strange combination with each other, hints of salt and a strange earthy, herbal undertone that possibly shouldn't be there. ]

Delighted to! Never turn down an offer like that.

[ Space to set the pastries down does indeed seem in short supply, though he can't say it surprises him. It's a bit like his own mind, really, things spreading out and taking up every bit of free space possible. He does find a small corner, though, and sets the small box down before immediately shifting his focus to looking at everything around him. ]

I'd ask what you're working on right now, but —

[ Gestures around him, with a wide grin. Of course, he'd expect nothing less. ] What aren't you working on might be the better question. More to the point, anything you need an idea bouncer-offer for? I'm good at that.

[Luckily, Viktor doesn't mind if the Doctor needs to nudge some things around to fit the box on one of the worktables, as long as he isn't trying to move something that appears to be overly-delicate. He'll look at the contents in a bit--as always, the work is what's most important.]

I like to keep busy.

[And he gets the sense the Doctor is the same way. Viktor takes stock of their surroundings, trying to decide what he wants to get into first.]

Some of this is just projects for clients. [He has a business to run, after all.] My primary personal project right now is the automaton. I'm trying to replicate the spell that allowed us to animate it.

Bit dangerous if we're not keeping busy, aren't we? If your mind is anything like mine, that is. It all just... [ He gestures a bit with his hands on either side of his head, puffing out his cheeks a little, in an attempt to symbolize a volcano exploding, if that reference isn't entirely lost on the other man. His hand gestures might not be very easy to comprehend regardless. ]

Well, doing nothing or very little means it all just sits in there and that won't do.

[ The Doctor is a fidgeter by nature, and he's also easily distracted, so his eyes tend to dart around every which way. By the same token, when he's focused on a singular task, he's blind to anything else. But he desperately wants to fidget and poke and prod and see what the other man's up to, out of curiosity, but he has enough restraint at the moment to keep his hands stuffed in his pockets. That won't last long. ]

Give your automaton a more permanent kind of intelligence, so to speak? Not entirely the same, but in my travels, I met a Professor who'd created a robot dog meant to be loyal and logical. He'd created it using a medical computer, intraresponsive brain app, laser scalpel, a few other bits. Gifted a version of it to me, which I modified over the years when it broke down or needed improvements. Of course, he wanted it mostly to serve as a friend and companion. I realize your aims are different, obviously. It was a clever little thing, though, and fun to have around if I'm honest.

[He gets the sense that the Doctor is still trying to find his place in this world--something that must be difficult, if he's used to more freedom and technology far beyond what's available here. The least Viktor can do is offer him some of his own resources, in an attempt to mitigate that.

Especially if there's real risk to the man getting bored.

Luckily, Viktor is more than happy to talk at length about his projects, and his goals for them. It's nice, too, to be able to discuss the automaton with someone who seems familiar with artificial intelligence and related technology. He brightens at the thought of a robot dog.]

There's no reason why this couldn't be a companion. [Viktor likes the idea of having one to help out around the lab, especially for his own purposes, given his various difficulties. It's a nice thought, to get a foot in the door for automaton work in the mines.] I would love to know more about this...intraresponsive brain app?

[He knows at least two of those words!]

[ That's exactly it, for him. Difficult. Frustrating. He does appreciate the open invitation Viktor's extended, for him to pop by here and have a look at things, explore, perhaps even collaborate. From what he can see at a glance and at least as far as the automaton goes, Viktor's projects are interesting, to say the least, useful and impactful. At the moment, the Doctor's primary objective is attempting to get closer to those in power, even if he has to go the long way 'round.

And of course, he wants to understand this world, its power to summon people as it does, and everything he can learn about the Singularity from those who've been here longer. ]

Oh, yes, that! Clever bit of wiring — you see, the heart of K9 Mark I was a rather sophisticated supercomputer, a database of sorts. Though the scientist who created it initially intended for it just to serve as a simple companion, he'd gone further, of course. As we do! The intraresponsive brain app was designed and programmed to allow K9 to verbally communicate, connect the voice box as it were, to the machine heart, and there you are! Something that can walk and talk in simplistic terms. Beyond that, actually, there were several iterations of the design — even left one of them with one of my best friends on Earth. It protected her, kept her safe.

[ He wanders a bit, finding trouble staying in one place even when he's just having a conversation. ]

You're sorted here with your projects, are you? Or could you use an occasional lab partner?

[Viktor feels some of the same kind of anxiety he felt with Tony--that it's silly, for someone so used to advanced technology to take interest in what he's doing. But he stands behind his work regardless, and he knows that in this world and his own, he's on the cutting edge of integrating magic and science. That's worth something, even for people who travel amongst the stars.

And they're all on more equal footing here, regardless. Doing their best within the (often frustrating) parameters of this continent. It's always worth it, to learn what he can from others, and Viktor listens to the Doctor describe this robotic canine with no small amount of interest. He imagines, again, what his own automaton might say, if he gave it the ability to speak.]

I would love to see it--if you can remember enough about it to show me the inner workings.

[That's one advantage of the Horizon, at least. Viktor's been exposed to vast amounts of previously-inconceivable technology, and it's informed his work here. The automaton exists in no small part because of his temporary partnership with Tony.]

I'm always seeking collaboration. Just as you seem to be seeking something to occupy your time. Do I have that right?

[ The Doctor, of course, finds nothing at all less than in Viktor's work. The Time Lord has an ego, of course, it's undisputed, but as much as he'll boast about his knowledge and travels and experience, he's quick to elevate others around him, especially when he latches on to a brilliant mind. And Viktor is brilliant, that's clear in what he's created here. ]

I'll absolutely show you. We'll just make a day of it, or many days.

[ Which reminds him — ]

I need to show you the TARDIS, too. Both, we'll do both! And yes, yes, what gave it away?

[ He teases with a little smirk, making fun of his own self. ]

Maybe not many days.

[Tempting as it is to get the full tour of everything the Doctor has described, Viktor has too much business in the real world nowadays, and he can certainly see the other man getting carried away in a place like the Horizon. That said, the promise of the TARDIS is difficult to resist.

But, first things first. Viktor shrugs.]

You look as though you need a project. Have you made any progress on your screwdriver?

[ Oh, fine, fine — acceptable, he supposes. Can't stay away for too long in there. No, he understands and he's got enough to occupy himself in the real world, too. But it is hard for him not to want to show off things (many, many things) to Viktor and compare notes, in a manner of speaking. ]

That! Yes. Yes, a bit. Not as much as I'd like. Basic functions are sorted, of course. It lives up to its name, I'm just missing the sonic upgrades. Naturally. My actual sonic screwdriver could do everything, anything at all, except sort out wood. But! Yes, everything else. So I'm missing it as you can imagine.

[ He pulls it out of his pocket now, offering it to Viktor. Of course, there's nothing much to it yet, though he's added a few modifications to make it more useful particularly with manipulating locks and being able to cut certain objects on a rudimentary level. ]

Do you have access to calcium carbide here, or something similar? For acetylene gas. [ He's trying to make this. ] My old sonic screwdriver could cut through metal. Handy when you're trapped somewhere! [ Not that such things happen to him a lot or anything... ] Next step will be modifying it to be able to create a protective forcefield with it. So, toss them at me, Viktor, any and all of your ideas!

[There's a comment, here, about how if it's called the sonic screwdriver, then it shouldn't be missing the sonic upgrades--but Viktor knows what it's like to try and reproduce a poor imitation of something from back home.

What's more pertinent is that he can see the prototype. Viktor handles it gingerly, inspecting it from multiple angles. The request is slightly surprising to him.]

You need something to cut metal? I have that.

[The force field will take some work, probably, but Viktor has approximated a laser cutter with new magic and his own knowledge of chemistry.]

There's a great deal one can do with New Magic, to approximate more advanced technology.

[ He thinks Viktor will understand this part, at least, when he explains why he didn't simply ask him sooner — ]

It's all very simple for me anywhere else but here. I need a new sonic screwdriver or I want to upgrade it, or I want to gift an approximation of it to a friend in a different form, such as a pen or a vial of lipstick? Which I have done, by the way! You know how it is — long night, bit bored, locked up in your room, suddenly your clever little tool is that much more clever and where it could only perform a hundred functions, now it's several hundred and beyond, and you're already thinking of the next thing because why stop? It was just a handy little gadget in my younger years, but once I'd modified it the first time, I wasn't about to stop. Of course, I'm missing the ultrasonic sound waves it usually operates on, the vibrations it sends out and interacts with in the surrounding environment. I could scan with it, diagnose illness, hack into computers, geolocate objects, send out signals to creatures like the Daleks or the Cybermen and fry their internal hardware before they could hurt anyone. Now it's, well —

[ While he talks, he's wandering a bit, looking at blueprints, various designs of Viktor's, before glancing back at him.

Also, whoops, sorry, was that a lot... ]

Enhanced functionality for a simple tool like this has always been as easy as breathing for me. To admit I can't as readily here on my own — I suppose I was feeling trapped by it. I'd rather have a partner, though. A clever one like you. And, obviously, New Magic is something I'm not familiar with outside of this world, but I want to be.

[By now, Viktor knows enough about the Doctor to simply let him ruminate out loud for however long it takes. He's listening, he just knows that he has to get all of his thoughts out, first, before the conversation can continue. As always, there are words he'd like to know the definition of, and the screwdriver itself is still something of a mystery to him, but he restrains himself, for now.]

It is an adjustment, yes.

[One he understands very well, even if his level of technology pales in comparison to some of the spacefaring Summoned he's come to know, the Doctor included.]

Luckily, New Magic is often a suitable workaround, even if it's likely not at the level you're describing. I would be happy to help you, if that's what you're asking.

[ It feels a bit like catching his breath at last, though, when Viktor acknowledges his plight and does confirm his understanding of the frustrations he feels. It's helpful, if nothing else — being understood.

To the question, though — well. Yes. Yes, okay — ]

I'm asking. Yes. This is me... [ He trails off and pauses for probably a moment too long. ] ...asking. I want to know about it, understand it better, ask questions, take notes, hover around like the annoying friend you'll never be rid of now.

[ A tease! Said fondly. He's mostly joking about never being rid of him. Mostly. ]

And I offer my help and services. Whatever you need, you've got me!

[Viktor doesn’t find the request untoward or particularly unusual, though he does get the idea that the Doctor is swallowing his pride a bit, in order to ask. He lets him ramble, again, fixing him with an amused look.]

Then, yes. I can show you what I’ve learned.

[Not that he would ever withhold his discoveries, if he thought they could help people.]

I would be content to collaborate. It feels a bit wrong, to call someone of your caliber a workshop assistant.

[ The Doctor does love a bit of ego stroking, he can't deny that. For Viktor to say anything at all of his caliber is appreciated, though not technically necessary. Does he enjoy being the clever one, knowing things? Certainly. But that's not why he does what he does, and he respects Viktor for what he perceives to be Viktor's genuine want to aid in progress and help others.

Their motivations are quite similar in that regard, even if the Doctor has a multitude of projects beyond just scientific ones here in the Free Cities. ]

It's the beginning of a beautiful partnership then, Viktor just Viktor. [ He decides this is a perfect moment to randomly segue and hold out his hand, offering it to shake Viktor's. ] I was going to say Viktor the Wise, to give it a bit of panache, but I understand you don't need all the fluff. You're just Viktor and I'm just Doctor, and there's both of us sorted.

Edited 2024-04-19 06:20 (UTC)

[Viktor takes all of this in stride, even if he might be slightly overwhelmed by how quickly this is all happening. He's not going to say no, however, especially when scientifically-inclined Summoned are so few and far between, so he accepts the handshake, however tentatively.]

Yes, I suppose we are.

[Sorted. He finds familiarity and stability, as always, in the notes that surround them.]

Shall we begin?

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[OPEN] february catchall

wildcard at the workshop~ few days after the party if this works!

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maybe wrap soon or on your next one? for new things~

ya