march catch-all

[ancunin]

Who: Astarion and friends
When: During the storms
Where: Horizon, Farhill mines
What: Weather effects + setting things up for the medical clinic at the Farhill mines
Warnings: General vampire shenanigans, will be specific content warnings in comment headers

Comments

[techmaturgy]

[Despite the fact that this is probably the last place someone like Viktor should be, he's here anyway. He has no real interest in running a business, but this seems to be a glimpse into his leadership style regardless, refusing to ask his employees to do something he wouldn't do himself. Given his personal investment in the miners, it wouldn't feel right, to stay away.

So here he is, in full desert gear, complete with goggles and respirator and a hat. With the weather and the task at hand in mind, he's forgone his crutch in favor of the bulky metal exoskeleton he wears on occasion, and the groan of metal as he clomps his way over to Astarion is likely slightly disconcerting.]

I have designs for household air filters. The problem is scaling production.

[Further into the tent, he can lower his own respirator, though he keeps the goggles on for now, an indication that Viktor doesn't plan to rest for very long. He takes stock of the boxes around them and frowns in thought, his expression visible now that his face is unobscured.]

Were you taking inventory?

[ancunin]

[ Astarion is slightly more familiar with the horrific (to him) noises Viktor makes when using his funny metal legs. He's one of the few people Astarion does bother to look up at when he approaches, frowning slightly. ]

I was... [ while answering he picks up a clearly broken respirator that had gotten mixed up with the good ones and tosses it in the 'parts collection bin' rather indelicately. Since Viktor already heard what he said about needing to restock for tomorrow he doesn't bother repeating himself. Instead, he sighs and crosses his arms. ]

As far as scaling goes... you might start with hiring more workers. Ones who actually make and fix things.

[ Not like him and Claude. Or, maybe Claude does make things. He has no idea, he's never bothered to ask. ]

[techmaturgy]

[The frustration in Astarion’s voice is evident, and of course Viktor doesn’t blame him in the least. This is a frustrating situation, and the weather has made things uncomfortable and slow. He brings up a salient point, as well, one that has Viktor himself discouraged lately, especially after the loss of some of his employees.]

Yes, well, tell the government to summon more engineers.

[Viktor, slightly distractedly, starts combing through the collection bin, not because he thinks Astarion has misidentified the respirator as broken, but because he wants to see what’s inside for himself.]

You could always learn. If you want.

[He knows that the workshop is not necessarily what Astarion wants to do, but it can’t hurt to ask if he’d like to get a little more hands-on. Right?]

[ancunin]

Perhaps I shall.

[ He makes his proclamation with another flippant hand wave. ]

Perhaps I shall request ones that are more robust this time. A bit of muscle on the bones. Your last few were quite... um, stringy.

[ He wants! people! who can! carry! things! Between the two of them there is a distinct lack of STR.

He swipes some of the dust already accumulating on the table in here, then raises an eyebrow at Viktor's next suggestion and gives him a baffled look. ]

Why?

[techmaturgy]

[One would think a government like the Free Cities would want engineers and inventors--all the more reason for Viktor to believe that the summoning ritual as it's currently being performed is mostly random.]

We are, generally speaking, on the more delicate side.

[Not to stereotype, or anything. That said, Astarion would have found Jayce useful, he's sure. It occurs to Viktor that most of his employees don't even realize that Rio Enterprises was, at one point, a partnership.

He's not fazed by the confusion. Viktor perhaps expected it, so he shrugs.]

I don't know. You might find it interesting?

[ancunin]

[ It's true, Astarion would very much have enjoyed having Jayce around for all sorts of reasons. And it's equally true that he has no idea Viktor had a partner when he first began this venture. It does not occur to him in this moment, however, that he ought to learn more about his employer.

Viktor earns himself a quick, assessing look again at delicate.

Well. Deep gnomes seem hardy enough. Not that he's hoping for any to be Summoned... ]

Perhaps... [ His admission comes with reluctance (resistance), for which an excuse comes rather quickly: ] When would I even have the time to learn anything?

[ He's busy! Helping orphans! Because of you. But there's another sigh, and Viktor might get the sense, surprisingly, that he's not entirely uninterested. He just thinks he's about to get extra work foisted on him... ]

[techmaturgy]

At your discretion.

[Viktor does not purport to know Astarion's schedule outside of the workshop or Aquila, nor is he going to impose if this is something he decides he has no interest in beyond the hours he already works.]

I'm simply putting it out on the table. As an opportunity, if you wish to pursue it.

[ancunin]

[ He narrows his eyes at Viktor, then abruptly gives a deep sigh. ]

Darling. Please. You could at least try appealing to my ego just a touch. Something like 'Astarion, you have such dexterous hands - not to mention an eye for quality, of course you'd enjoy yourself!'

[ He pulls a face, hands on his hips and looks away, his expression smoothing over as he adds: ]

But fine. Perhaps I could make some time.

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor fixes Astarion with a look that asks when he has ever taken the opportunity to stroke an ego. The fact that he's offering at all, he thinks, should be reason enough to believe that Viktor has some investment in this. In Astarion.]

Only if you want to.

[He'll just keep making that clear.]

But if you want to, I'm happy to teach you what I know.