abraxaslogs | [open] july catchall

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[open] july catchall

Who: Viktor and special guests and you
When: throughout July & August
Where: Cadens, the Horizon, Nocwich
What: ah oh no we were indirectly responsible for bombing the castle
Warnings: war crimes

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[Well, Viktor supposes he deserves this. He's never known Steve to be at all vindictive, but the joke is well-placed and if he weren't sitting down, about to throw up, he might comment that he walked right into it. A selfish part of him thinks he might convince Steve to go in, help him do the talking and articulate his points--but that would be unfair. Viktor is responsible for this situation, and it will be his responsibility to make it right.

No matter how tempting it is, to ask Steve to flex his political muscles. Figuratively speaking, of course.

Even the prospect of water makes him nauseous, so he shakes his head at the offer.]

I would not be opposed to the company.

[While he waits, he means, and Steve should know that this is an admission of itself, on Viktor's part. His gloved grip on the folio tightens, slightly.]

If you're waiting here anyway.

[ Not even taking water? Steve frowns, because Viktor really should or he's just going to feel worse, but maybe he can convince him once they've moved inside.

This is as close as Viktor gets to outright asking for help, and the fact that he's even going that far is enough of a shock that Steve's eyebrows shoot up toward his hairline. If Viktor's admitting to wanting company, then this must be serious. Is it possible he even needs some moral support for whatever this is about? Steve glances down at Viktor's pale hand, gripping the folio, and then nods and takes a seat next to him. ]

Happy to.

[ He isn't going to confirm whether or not he'd be "waiting here anyway." The answer is no, but if he mentions that he's just here to keep Viktor company, there's a good chance he'll try to send him away.

He gestures to the folio. ]

What's this about?

[It's not hard to see the hints of shame in Viktor's expression, like he's embarrassed just for admitting that he'd rather not be on this bench alone. If it was just about the anxiety of waiting for a government official, however, he wouldn't look so consternated, eyebrows furrowed together and lips pulled tight. Clearly this is about some larger issue.

He scoots a little, to make room, though his grip on the folio doesn't lessen.]

I believe my technology has been stolen.

[This is, apparently, difficult for him to admit, because it's been stolen for a long time. It only took until now for the military to figure out what to do with it.]

And. Repurposed.

[ Not just Viktor's expression, but everything in his body language is screaming that something is seriously wrong. His own health issues he tried to downplay as much as possible, which means this has to be something else — something external. Something related to the government, obviously.

And then he explains.

The thing is, Steve remembers when Viktor's tech had been taken. It was so long ago now that he'd almost forgotten, all of them forced to move on without anything further said about it, but... ]

You mean when they went into your workshop while you were recovering post-op?

[ He'd heard the story from Jayce, he's pretty sure.

Steve heaves out a sigh and drags a hand back through his hair. ]

Not that I figured they were just going to dispose of it, but... what did they do?

[Viktor swallows hard and nods. It's not surprising that Steve remembers, and in many ways it makes things easier--Viktor has had to spell it out for more than a few people, but he makes the connection quickly.]

It took them long enough to puzzle it out, I suppose.

[So he's lucky in that regard, but despite the esoteric nature of the Hexcore and all of the safeguards he put in place, they were able to create something functional regardless. Worse than that.

Viktor gestures, vaguely, into the space around them.]

Bomb Castle Thorne, apparently.

[ It took them a while, sure, but they had still made use of it. And not to do whatever Viktor had intended with it, but they'd weaponized it.

Because of course they did.

Even so, the response that Steve gets causes his back to go ramrod straight as he stares at Viktor. ]

What?

[ Of course he'd heard about the bombing. The Summoned in Thorne had reported about it as soon as it happened, and he had known there would be a retaliation after the Heartwood outbreak. But he definitely couldn't have guessed it would be with Viktor's tech. ]

Are you sure?

[ He's not actually questioning Viktor so much as he's still in disbelief, requiring more info on the specifics before he can really wrap his head around it. ]

[Perhaps Viktor was hoping Steve could put the pieces together on his own, without his having to admit it outright, but that's not the case. He's surprised, even, and somehow that's worse--that despite everything, Viktor's technology being used for such a thing is inconceivable.

It's not, though. He's always known this, which is why he destroyed the Hexcore in the first place.]

I'm sure.

[He wouldn't be here if he wasn't. Politics is certainly not his strong suit.]

I have a piece of the device. It is unmistakably based on my theory of the arcana.

[ Steve lets out a long sigh, fighting the urge to slump in his seat on the bench. No, none of this is surprising, but learning that the Free Cities finally made use of Viktor's work still feels a lot like getting the rug pulled out from under him.

He could ask how Viktor got his hands on an actual piece from the weaponry that was used, but he can make a guess that it was through someone from Thorne bringing it to him in Nocwich. There's really no other way, but he refrains from asking given that they're not the only people waiting around here.

As if on cue, the line moves forward and they're invited to take a seat inside. Steve moves alongside Viktor, heading over to some seats indoors, part of an even longer line to get to the front desk where they can file the necessary paperwork.

He's done this before, he knows the drill. ]

So what's the plan?

[ Viktor's going through the expected channels to do something about this, at least for now, but what does he have in mind? ]

[Viktor is spared having to say anything else by the movement of the line, but thankfully once they're inside there's more seating. Unfortunate for him, that there's no getting out of this, after doing his best to avoid even setting foot in this place.

Evidenced by the fact that when they settle in and Steve asks a question, he doesn't have an answer.]

I was hoping you could tell me.

[Steve is personable, and well-versed in this. Surely he knows how to navigate the politics better than Viktor, who doesn't know how to do it at all.]

[ Maybe Steve should have been prepared for that answer, but he isn't. It's not like Viktor could have anticipated that he was going to wander by and be able to join him in this. Had he thought about reaching out to him or to Sam, but thought better of it for some reason? Or maybe he's not thinking clearly at all right now, too stunned by the thing he was dreading for so long finally becoming a reality.

Steve heaves out a sigh and sends a glance around the room, eyeing the line of people also sitting and waiting. It's probably going to be another hour or two, but he's stubborn enough to wait. ]

I guess the first step is to confront them about it. Which might not do much, but it could give you a shred of agency in the situation.

[ It's preferable to doing nothing, anyway. ]

... Anything more than that, we probably shouldn't discuss here.

[ But it's not going to stop unless real action is taken. And even then, it might be too late, though Steve isn't one to immediately jump to a defeatist attitude. ]

[Viktor gives Steve a withering glance, as if to argue the fact that he'd be able to confront any government official about this, but in the end he's not sure he has a choice, not if he wants a specific outcome.

He might not get it, regardless. But he knows he has to try.]

Yes, you're right.

[To all of it, including the need for discretion.]

I can't ask you to wait with me any further. But I'll let you know how things go.

You could, actually.

[ Steve doesn't mind the waiting, especially if it helps Viktor through a situation that's clearly way outside of his comfort zone. Even if it's just a matter of Steve standing nearby while Viktor says his piece to whoever he's allowed to talk to, the moral support is probably worth something.

On the other hand, he doesn't want to overstep or push too hard. ]

I'm happy to stick around, but if you'd rather do this solo, I get that too. Just keep in touch.

[ He hasn't stood up yet, though. ]

I could, but I won't.

[He's not going to impose, and though Steve has made it very clear that he's here out of his own volition, rather than anything else, Viktor will not insist. Even this amount of moral support has been helpful, though he's not very good at showing it.

Maybe the fact that he no longer looks so nauseous is enough.]

Thank you, Steve.

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[open] july catchall

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