abraxaslogs | [open] march catchall

Entry tags:

[open] march catchall

Who: Viktor and special guests and YOU
When: throughout March
Where: Cadens, the Horizon
What: open stuff, closed stuff, general nerdery, horizon visits, whatever I WANT
Warnings: the usual references to terminal illness, will list additional warnings as needed.

[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 at whitticus#8139.]

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[He's "settled", sure, but he's not comfortable, really. It's going to take more time for that, but Viktor is nothing if not industrious. Despite his first forays into the general scientific community of Cadens, a few bruised egos haven’t necessarily harmed his endeavors. It helps that Viktor is both incredibly sharp and generally industrious, which gets him a few odd jobs here and there—fixing one thing or the other, making improvements to something else. Nothing permanent, yet, but he understands that reputation is just as important as everything else he’s trying to secure, and the more he ingratiates himself with he locals, the more they’ll come to trust his skills and the more momentum he’ll gain.

So he isn’t settled. But he's in a better place than he was a few weeks ago, thanks to some actual patronage, and part of this process includes maintaining even tenuous connections. Luckily, Ciri isn’t difficult to locate (she’d said as much), and it takes only some cursory asking around to determine her usual haunts. She'd said to come find her when he'd secured space, and, well. He's done that. As promised, he's waiting for her in one of the alchemical shops that she frequents, fiddling with some kind of delicate glass alembic as he waits.]

It took me a few weeks, but--

[He's not really bothering with any formalities--Ciri seems like someone who means business, so he'll get right to the point.]

I'm in a better position to discuss a potential arrangement.

Edited 2022-03-18 19:34 (UTC)

[ Ah. There's a familiar face. Ciri pauses at the door when she spots him and cocks her head, a question and a greeting in one. ]

Faster than I expected, considering what I'd assumed to be the breadth of your social skills previous.

[ It's said lightly, clearly poking fun more than meant to be actually insulting. Striding up to join him at the worktable, Ciri leans casually against the wood as though it's not covered in delicate instruments, one hand on her hip. ]

I'm listening.

Edited 2022-03-19 06:48 (UTC)

What do you mean, the breadth of my social skills?

[Viktor says that with some amusement, knowing full well what she means. He thinks, again, of Jayce, who is better at this in most ways, though he also likes to think that he's been doing a fairly good job of advocating for himself. Look at him, out and about, making deals and arrangements with people.

And, hey. None of this is his stuff, so he doesn't even object to her casually leaning against the worktable. Instead, he sets down what he's doing and gives her his full attention.]

You're still interested in various, uh. Improvements, yes?

[ Ciri grins, her eyes immediately lighting up at this. ]

Always.

Did you find a suitable workspace?

I did, yes. I'm renting a workshop.

[What he doesn't say is how and where he got the money to do that, but he doubts Ciri is very concerned about the details. What matters is the practical outcome, which is that he can be of some use to her.]

It's not what I was used to back home, but, it will be sufficient.

Great.

[ He's right; she doesn't care in the slightest. His money is his business. ]

And I expect you'll be needing my help finding supplies? I may be able to procure some equipment as well -- not without coin, I'd wager, but I know my fair share of apothecaries and inventors who might be willing to part with older items.

[ She's pleased that Viktor sought her out. If he's as competent as he seems at first blush, this could be a useful partnership in the longer term, so she's willing to help him out a bit upfront. Considering he was able to get a space so quickly, he's clearly committed and determined. She can respect that. ]

Procurement is what I had in mind, yes. Depending on what you want to do. I believe we spoke of some kind of metal resistant to a specific corrosive?

[At least to start. He's got lots of ideas that he's sure she'd be interested in, and he knows that his work speaks for itself. Viktor is cleaning up what he's doing at this particular worktable, apparently in preparation to leave.]

I can show you the space, if you like. So you know where to find me.

[ Ciri brightens, straightening up. ]

Oh, yes! Show me!

[ She'll need to know where it is soon enough anyway. She is quite curious too, on top of the practical reasons. Viktor seems so determined and dedicated to his craft, she's eager to see what kind of work he'll do. Worth the investment and listening to her instincts, hopefully. ]

I have a few other ideas as well. A mask to filer out poisonous fumes, for instance. The one I've got right now could use some enhancements. Oh! And a light more easily carried on my clothes or something like that so I'm not limited by having to hold it when I'm trying to use my sword.

Of course.

[He's not really doing anything important here, so he just takes another moment to finish what he's doing, then raises his hand in farewell to the shopkeeper before he starts making his way back outside. The workshop isn't far, but he'll certainly walk and talk anyway, eyebrows lifting a little when she makes it clear she's come prepared.]

You've put some thought into this. [The good news is that all of this is...relatively doable? He nods along.] Not exactly difficult, though. I can take a look at what you're working with, and see what I can do.

[ She follows along animatedly, curious to see where he'll lead. ]

Sure. I'll bring by my current equipment next time.

Of course I've put thought into it! I'm the one running around in the desert trying not to get stung by scorpions. Naturally, I'd put some thought into my armor.

I'd like to see it.

[If only to get some concrete specs, of course. Viktor sets the pace, though if she ends up ahead of him he won't mind, as long as they stay within talking distance. Soon enough, he leads them down a side street, towards the entrance--a small building, nothing special, but good enough for his purposes, especially given the additional work he can do in the Horizon. He digs around in his pocket for keys.]

Well, with any luck we'll be able to lessen the threat--or at least make you a little more impervious to the scorpions.

[ She might be a little feral, but she's not entirely without manners; Ciri keeps apace, even if he has to walk a bit slow. The man's clearly not in the best physical condition.

She is already trying to peer curiously over his shoulder as soon as he unlocks the door. ]

Perfect. That's precisely what I'm after. Well-- the scorpions are rarely a problem, but just as an example. They are apparently quite useful in a lot of alchemical mixtures and thankfully abundant, so they make me easy money. I'll bring you some next time.

[ Who doesn't love free scorpion corpses? ]

[Actually, Viktor would probably be into some free scorpion corpses.

He pushes the door open, holding it for her momentarily as he makes his way inside. The space is modest, but seems to be suitable enough for his purposes, which are mostly theoretical at this point. There are notes everywhere, and a blackboard scrawled with equations, but it looks like there's been some tinkering going on as well--equipment for various projects strewn across the tables.]

I'm not exactly a chemist, but I know enough. [Also it helps that the technology here is archaic.] With an adequate sample, I'm sure I can work something out. Coffee?

[He is, generally, a rumpled, exhausted individual, but he knows how to host.]

You'll have to give me a better idea of the sorts of supplies you'll need procured.

[ Luckily, her skillset allows for versatility. Small and big monsters! Skins and venoms and bones, you name it!

She brightens instantly at the mention of coffee. Now that is an excellent new concept Cadens introduced to her -- alongside chocolate -- and the novelty hasn't worn off for her yet. ]

Ooh, yes! You like coffee?

Oh, yes. I made a list.

[It is a lot of varying monster parts--mostly samples, so that he can analyze them to study their properties and find ways to counteract them, or even fortify preexisting equipment. Viktor takes a moment to lean over said list, scrawling a few more things there, in light of her more specific requests. He slides it over for her to take a look at, and to raise any objections if she has them.

Then, very seriously, as he bends to light the burner--]

I love coffee.

[He loves it because it lets him stay awake longer.]

A well-organized man. I appreciate that.

[ Difficult to tell if she's teasing him, by the smirk. It's not unkind, though. In fact, she looks excited to take the list and give it a once-over.

As for the coffee-- ]

I'd never had it before coming here. Thought it was medicine, at first. But you can sweeten it and add milk. Did you know? Julie showed me. Actually, she showed me a version in the Horizon that was all... icy. Like snow texture, almost. With whipped cream on top.

[He offers a shrug and a little gesture that says of course, because he has to be. There's a lot going on in here, and though much of it may be inscrutable to the outside observer, there's still a system at play.

Any business, however, seems to be momentarily forgotten in favor of what is obviously a much more important discussion. He laughs a little, apparently finding this endearing.]

I'm aware, yes. [Just wait like five minutes. He will show her a truly obscene amount of sugar, probably.] Seems like that's the kind of thing that would take off here. [Frozen coffee? In the desert? Sounds awesome.] Have you ever thought about a career change?

Edited 2022-04-23 17:10 (UTC)

You're the inventor! [ Or whatever he is. Artificer? Armorer with side gigs? Ciri laughs. ]

I bet Julie can tell you how the cold coffee is made where she's from. [ Does he know Julie? She will introduce him to Julie. ] It's the consistency of ice slush. But it has coffee, milk and... sugar, I assume. It was sweet.

They've already invented ice boxes here. [ A marvel, truly. ] So keeping it cold would be possible.

[ c'mon viktor please start a starbucks. she'll invest!! ]

Yes, an inventor, not a...caffeine purveyor!

[Does this man look like he knows how to run a coffee establishment? He does not. However, now the problem of how to make frozen coffee is percolating (haha) in his head. In principle, not difficult. In execution, well. Probably there will be a few things to work out.]

It sounds like coffee blended with ice. The trick is getting the ice to the right consistency. Something that could do it uniformly, so the results are the same every time.

[A blender. He knows what he is describing is a blender.]

[ Ciri just laughs at his incredulity. Neither of them are caffeine purveyors -- that's precisely why it's funny, my guy.

He's taking this a lot more seriously than expected. It's... endearing. ]

I'm still impressed they have machines that can keep ice from melting. Without spellwork, even. In the desert.

[Considering that Cadens is still somewhat archaic to him, the mention that an icebox is impressive gets Ciri a raise of an eyebrow. He knows by now that the Summoned come from all kinds of worlds with varying levels of technology. He's lucky that everything here in Cadens is at least somewaht familiar--he can't imagine being from a spacefaring society and taking such a step backwards.]

Yes, well. That's the power of technology, I suppose. Keeps all your drinks cold, even in the desert.

[ There it is: the perfect slogan. Maybe he should sell coolers too.

Ciri nods in agreement, actually curious to hear more. She's not as familiar with technology, despite her travels, but she has to admit Cadens has introduced her to a lot of conveniences -- and this time, she plans to stick around to actually enjoy them.

Which means that, yes, she does have a lot of questions about how a blender works. ]

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[open] march catchall

[CLOSED] ciri

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