[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

[techmaturgy]

[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.

[assembles]

[ 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? ]

[techmaturgy]

[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.]

[assembles]

[ 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. ]

[techmaturgy]

[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.

[assembles]

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. ]

wrappink

[techmaturgy]

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.