you and i are friends of empty graves

[assembles]

Who: Steve Rogers & OPEN 
When: Throughout September 
Where: Farhill Mining Camp; the Horizon 
What: Following his decision to perform some light sabotage on a military base, Steve has to do some jail time out at the mining camp.  
Warnings: Mention of child labor; will edit to add if anything else comes up! 

[ Open starters can be found below! Reach out to me on plurk at demonology or discord at demonology if you have any questions! ] 

Comments

[assembles]

[ That is frustrating, and Steve huffs out a sigh around grit teeth as he shakes his head in disdain. What kind of logic was that, anyway? ]

Just about anyone can learn New Magic as a matter of course living in the Cities. It's definitely not the same thing as stealing proprietary technology.

[ Granted, Steve knows that he's preaching to the choir, but sometimes there's catharsis in having a friend emphatically agree with you.

He reaches a hand up to rub at his eyes. ]

And that was it? She didn't have anything else to say for herself?

[techmaturgy]

That's what I said.

[Another gesture into the air around them. He knows that Reva was there representing the government's best interests, which are of course antithetical to his, but that didn't make the conversation any less frustrating. Or concerning.

But, maybe this is a good thing to talk about with Steve.]

She asked me, if you can believe it, if I would be interested in working for the Free Cities. To afford myself certain legal protections.

[He says legal protections like he doesn't believe that, either. If they stole his work once, they'll certainly do it again.]

[assembles]

[ Steve can only barely believe it. Leave it to a government body to be this audacious. He lets out an incredulous laugh, and the bark that it comes out as is loud enough that some of the kids who were playing glance over, heads tilted in curiosity.

He waves them off, as if he's just responding to some joke that Viktor told him.

Which is partly true. ]

She can't have actually thought you would agree to something like that. Not after everything they've already done.

[ He wipes his hand off on his already dirty pants before he reaches up to rub at his eyes in quiet dismay at the situation. This is one of those times where it feels like all you can do is laugh.

But when he glances back to Viktor and speaks up again, his voice is appropriately lowered. ]

Your workshop's pretty public at this point. They know exactly where it's located. [ Obviously. They already raided it. ] Have you put any thought to finding another location where you could maybe develop certain things with more secrecy?

[ Maybe it's impossible. They haven't confirmed how the authorities are surveilling them, or to what extent. But it might be worth thinking about. Steve would never expect Viktor to stop his work, but he has to find a way to protect it given the circumstances. ]

[techmaturgy]

She seemed to think that I did not have a choice.

[And, maybe he doesn't. Viktor has been mulling the conversation over and over in his own head, and despite the fact that he knows he can refuse all of this, it does mean the government will continue

That said, he doesn't think much for their legal protections, either. If they want what he's working on, they'll simply seize it again.]

I've already shifted much of my work to the Horizon. If you know where, in the real world, I might be able to hide things, I am open to suggestions.

[assembles]

[ Maybe there is no real choice. If that's the case, though, then that's even more reason for Viktor to have certain projects that he does above-board, with the government aware of them, and others that are done in a different location during his off hours.

The Horizon is a good option for that, at least when it comes to initial development, but eventually there will come a time when Viktor will have to do things outside of a mental space. ]

... Can't say that I do, but it seems like something we should look into. Or maybe ask other Summoned to look into.

[ He quirks a smile, which seems genuine (if teasing) despite his tiredness. ]

You may have picked up on this, but I'm more of a soldier than a spy.

[ He's better at blowing things up and attracting attention rather than finding ways to do things on the down-low. But surely there are other Summoned who are skilled at that kind of thing. It does make him miss Nat all over again. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor nods, thinking about Cassian and his various offers. It will all depend on what he can smuggle to Nocwich, but beyond that, the automaton already exists in his workshop. If he wants to further that technology, to have it operate independently of Hilda's spell, he will need to work elsewhere.

Steve gets a soft laugh out of him.]

Well, I am neither. So you're already ahead of me.

[In this, in politicking. He's making a joke, but there's a grateful undertone in his voice, that Steve would offer his advice.]

I might know someone who can help. [It's Cassian--but he won't say as much out loud.] In the meantime, I shouldn't keep you.

[assembles]

Yeah, well, you're plenty of other things.

[ Okay, maybe just "inventor," "engineer," and "mechanic." But still, there's no reason to set aside the importance of the work that Viktor does.

Besides, there's nothing wrong with relying on other Summoned who have skillsets in different areas to ensure that his technology stays in his hands. Viktor has helped out so many Summoned by making them various things — it's about time that those favors were returned, as far as Steve's concerned.

He's relieved to hear that Viktor has someone he can turn to about this, though, and he isn't going to pry any further than that. Not here, at least. ]

I'm glad to hear that.

[ A loud bell rings from a distance place, signaling the end of the lunch period. The nearby children groan, but dutifully head back toward the mine entrance. Steve also presses to his feet. ]

Thanks for the visit. [ He gives Viktor a two-fingered wave and a nod. ] I'll keep in touch.