[open] july catchall

[techmaturgy]

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

[open and closed starters in comments! If you want a custom starter or something specific, just hit me up. full horizon details are here for any and all wildcarding needs. For everything else, I’m on plurk at whitticus and on discord also at whitticus.]

Comments

[judgmentbolts]

[ Cid shrugs. ] Couldn't very well set my people free if I was dead at the bottom of the sea because I thought I'd have a go at Barnabas and the fucking Einherjar. Not that it stopped me wanting to.

[ He inclines his head, more empathy with the feeling than a true caution against acting rashly. Viktor isn't, as far as Cid has seen, typically inclined toward violence even when he's angry.

He gestures at the workshop in general, gaze tilted up toward the ceiling. ] Stopped doing this for a bit, if I'm honest... but I came to realize that not much had really changed. I designed that engine because I thought it might help us all flee the continents should the worst come to pass... and at the time, I believed that we still had need of it. Eventually, with Midadol's help, I designed another ship. Better engines. Left it in better hands.

[ He meets Viktor's eyes again. ] The way I see it is this: if you want to atone for what you've done, you should do it on your terms, not anyone else's. You know the cost now. Whatever you bring into this world, be sure that it's worth the blood you'll pay for it.

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor knows he isn't the first person this has happened to. He certainly won't be the last. Hearing Cid's personal story doesn't help, necessarily--if anything, it reminds him of just how constant this is, the misuse of technology for war--but it does let him know he ins't alone.

In truth, he wants to destroy the whole of his laboratory, but Cid is right that it's not productive. He can't...not work. He just needs to be willing to live with the risks.]

What they already have...I can't let them continue to use it.

[judgmentbolts]

[ Cid raises an eyebrow. ] Do you have a plan?

[ He'll help, if he can be of any use... but he has a feeling Viktor's plan has less to do with, say, blowing up a lab, and more to do with compromise. ] You already know that it isn't going to be easy to put it all back into the proverbial box.

[techmaturgy]

I was hoping someone else might have a suggestion.

[Though it's unlike Viktor, to abdicate--he's just seeking out people more well-versed in politics than he is. That said, he doesn't necessarily expect Cid to figure this out for him, and he manages to look slightly defeated, a task like this too daunting for someone like him.]

Now that they have it, and they can break through Thorne's wards, there's no reason to stop. I have no leverage.

[judgmentbolts]

[ Cid raises his eyebrows, more out of surprise than anything. It really isn't like Viktor to ask for help in this way, but this has shaken him.

It had shaken Cid too, the first time it had happened to him. ]

You're Summoned. Popular and well-liked besides. Some might consider using that to curry sympathy or advantage in the court of public opinion, but it isn't really your preference or mine. [ Cid waves a hand, dismissing the idea. ]

I suppose if you really want to stop people being harmed by your work, past and present, then it's the war itself you've got to stop. Little need for weapons without it. [ He inclines his head, offering a brief, wry smile. He knows it isn't useful. If any of them knew how to stop the war, it would be stopped by now. ] Personally, I'd consider currying favor with our hosts to put myself in just the right position to misbehave.

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor might argue popular and well-liked, mostly because he's not used to being either of those things, and some very large part of him still imagines most people are only interested because of the things he can make. It doesn't sound like leverage, but maybe Cid is right.

Maybe it's just nice to be told that he can do something--that there is a path forward, even if it won't be easy.]

Put myself in a position to work with them, and then sabotage. Is that what you're saying?

wrapping? 🎁

[judgmentbolts]

It's a thought. [ And like every option, there's risk that might outweigh the reward, but he doesn't think they need to go over it all again. Cid releases a slow exhale. He wishes he had something better to offer, but this is the best he can do at the moment. ]

You aren't without options, is all. [ He pats Viktor on the shoulder, the usual indication that he intends to leave. ] I trust your judgement, Viktor, whatever it is you decide to do. Don't let this nonsense make you doubt it.