abraxaslogs | [open] march catchall

It does, and we share the same problem. [Sure, Alucard's Horizon is more like "what if I just let everyone know how depressed I am and had a really good kitchen?" but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy his time there. There's always the quiet comfort of reading while something bakes in the oven, the soft patter of rain against the roof. And rarely and visitors.

Alucard's on his feet and behind Viktor in an instant. Not that he's using vampire speed, he's just enthused.] It does seem well organized, which is always pleasant.

[It's probably for the best that time passes normally in here--all Viktor wants is time. That in combination with a near-limitless power to conjure up whatever he wants? Well, it's slightly dangerous, for someone like him.

Alucard seems to understand, though, and his enthusiasm is noticeable. The study it is, then, and Viktor leads him on a short trip out of the lab, down a hall, and through another door. The study that greets them both is warm, with tall, vaulted windows, and creature comforts like plush furniture and house plants, and, yes, books. He's already covered the blackboards and worktables with notes and schematics.

Viktor looks proud of it, all things considered.]

I thought a personal space might be useful. You're welcome to make yourself comfortable.

[Alucard steps into the study, and the warm glow of nostalgia smacks him right in the face.

It isn't the same as home, of course. The decor isn't quite right, there were never any houseplants in Dracula's libraries, the blackboards did not exist. But the windows, the furniture, the smell of them both? That stirs up warmer memories.

He starts with the shelves, eyes glancing over the titles. One hand moves over the spines as Alucard moves. Leather, leather, vellum, leather.]

It's quite cozy. Is this what you'd be aiming for in reality?

[It's not hard to see that Alucard is fairly pleased by this development, and that makes Viktor grin a little in turn, like he should be proud to have made something that someone else likes. Maybe a little silly, but another reminder that he's in good company. The special attention to the books is not lost on him.]

To be honest, I'm not even sure about everything in here. [He gestures vaguely to the bookshelves.] I put in the broad strokes, some specific elements, but then allowed things to, ah. Spiral.

[To iterate, and draw from his subconscious to fill in the blanks. He'd never be able to recreate an entire shelf of books word for word, so he let the Horizon do some of the work.]

It's a little nicer than what I have back home-- [More akin to the office or study of an actual professor at the Academy, he means.] --but that's the point, isn't it?

Edited 2022-03-26 16:23 (UTC)

That's very much the point. [He can't help it. Alucard takes one of the books off the shelves, curious as to the contents within. If there might be contents within, because there's something to be learned about how the Horizon works if the pages are blank as well.]

I've gone for the precise opposite of back home, save the kitchen. [The kitchen and having a good one that works is very important, thank you.] Not spending all of my time there is a struggle.

[He's careful as he leafs through the pages, eyes skimming. No use in destroying someone else's books.] Have you managed to find any lab space in the waking world?

It's difficult, isn't it?

[He says that a little wistfully, like there are a few additional reasons he might like to be in here, and might be slightly disappointed that time passes as normal in the real world.

But there are, in fact, contents within the books--outside of his engineering skills, Viktor is primarily a mathematician and physicist, and it seems the library has populated itself accordingly.]

I have, yes. Just a workshop, but it will be sufficient, especially given the fact that I can supplement my work here.

Some days more than others.

[Alucard gets it. There's a comfort in retreating to a little isolated spot where there's gentle rain against the roof, a fire's glow, and nothing else to do. It is an easier place to exist.

The contents are only a little familiar to Alucard, but it makes logistical sense in his mind. Viktor's time and place is the next logistical step from his father's work and what he himself learned. The theories evolve and become more complex.]

Through patronage, or did you luck into something that pays exceedingly well?

If you're looking for anything in particular, let me know. I can try to find it.

[Or make it. Because, again, that's the point of all of this, isn't it? Viktor might also be using this space as a way to hedge his bets against the misuse of whatever he produces in the real world--private projects, testing, methods he'd rather not make public.

And. Speaking of. Viktor looks momentarily conflicted, like he doesn't quite know how he wants to answer that question.]

A little of both, though I wouldn't say it pays exceedingly well. [He's doing a lot of odd jobs at the various workshops and the Academy, not wanting to end up in a position where entirely beholden to somewhat unsavory individuals.] My research has garnered some interest, but I'd rather not be wholly dependent on patronage.

[That sounds like a diplomatic way to ~~lie about it~~ put it.]

Anything that might touch on architecture would be pertinent to my interests.

[Because reasons, of course. Alucard is still in the early stages of figuring out the public hall's restoration efforts and audio engineering is a whole new ball game, so more advanced theories? Those could be huge boons.

Viktor's expression gives Alucard pause. He isn't the kind of person to pry - in fact, it is how he's built up most of the trust with people he has met here - but that doesn't make the concern go away either.

He nods once.]

That's always wise. Patrons can sometimes clash with the intent of the creator. [He has to tilt his head though.] Have you ever put in controls in your work to allow for the sudden cease of use should a patron go contrary to intent?

I'll see what I can come up with.

[Viktor seems to think for a minute, as if trying to determine where such a book would be in his mind-study, then stands, making his way over to peruse the shelves. Anything he manages to conjure will be mostly related to Piltover's particular architectural style (read: Art Nouveau), but it's likely an interesting read either way.

Despite the fact that he generally works very hard to keep himself from wearing his feelings on his sleeves, he knows his face often betrays him--he isn't surprised that Alucard seems a touch concerned.]

Legally? I'm not often in a position to do that. [But that's not really what he'd find important, anyway. The last thing he wants to do is spend time and money litigating the use of his work, not when there are easier ways to go about it.] What I'm working on here, is. Well, it will be difficult for a layperson to make sense of, let alone utilize to its fullest extent. I've considered failsafes.

[That is, he's going to make himself invaluable--if people want his tech, they'll have to respect how he wants it used, or they won't be able to use it at all, even if it means he has to destroy it.]

Edited 2022-03-28 21:34 (UTC)

[Alucard follows, but at an acceptable pace behind. He has zero qualms with learning a new style (especially since Dracula's jam was just art deco a few centuries too early.)

Also sorry Viktor. You're not subtle, and Alucard's grown up around Tepes Man Drama which has no subtly and way more blood.]

Making yourself integral to operation is one way to go about it, I suppose. [Risky, though. Very risky.

But he'll let the subject drop, settling for trying to peer at the titles of the books they're near by.]

[He's not going far--just down the shelves a bit, hooking his cane on his arm as he steps up onto a low stool to reach a higher shelf. Sure, he could probably conjure the books right into his hands, but he seems to like the routine of browsing the volumes and selecting the right one.]

I'm afraid I'm not as well-versed in architecture as some other subjects, but hopefully this will suffice.

[The implication being that Alucard is welcome to either stay here and read, or borrow it indefinitely, once they finish their arguably more important conversation.]

The situation is not ideal, but I need to continue my work. [Implying that there's something unspoken, here--it's not simply a matter of wanting to be industrious.] I have things under control.

Edited 2022-03-29 14:55 (UTC)

[Yeah, he's borrowing it. Alucard can't help but open it of course and flip through a few pages, evaluating the images he's seeing.]

It's perfect. If you don't want me wandering about the place unsupervised, perhaps you can install a book drop?

[He believes in respecting privacy.]

I'll trust your intuition. [Speaking of.] What have you started on?

Not a bad idea.

[Truthfully, Viktor doesn't care about Alucard in here, but he's not so trusting of most people. Better to keep anything sensitive in a place he can lock, even if it's only through sheer willpower, or however things work in here. He makes a mental note to implement something like that once they're finished here.

As far as the rest of it is concerned, he's already convinced himself he has everything under control, for better or worse. When asked about his current project, he seems to light up a little, clearly getting excited just at the prospect of talking about it.]

I'm attempting to recreate something I built back home, adjusted for this world's magic system. It's a...conduit, of sorts, for harnessing arcane forces.

I'm afraid the library in my domain is much smaller, but if you can think of anything obscure, I may be able to dredge up a title.

[Alucard's library is just a pile of books in a tiny little room, but never mind that. The ~~depression hut~~ woods are mostly dark and cozy, a far cry from what Viktor has created here.

Alucard's head tilts just s lightly.] Harnessing them to what end, precisely?

[The answer is any end, because that's the whole point of the Hexcore--to be able to learn and adapt and serve any purpose. All of that, however, seems a bit complicated to explain, so he decides to start with the broad strokes, and elaborate further if necessary.]

Before arriving here I was exploring medical uses-- [Which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he looks visibly ill outsize of the Horizon, of course, lest he betray a less-than-selfless motivation for creating such a device.] --but I believe there is potential for environmental restoration, renewable energy...the applications are nearly limitless.

[He seems excited just thinking about it.]

[Great news Viktor: Alucard's going to just throw some off handed information out for you.]

Really? That's quite an interesting path to go down. My mother was a doctor and had great interest in progressing the medical arts, although our civilization was no where near as advanced as yours has proven to be. [Even with Dracula being...Dracula.]

But truly there are some logistical restrictions, no?

It's not necessarily the level of advancement that's the issue. [It's the fact that half the population lives in an environment poisoned by toxic runoff and fumes.] Industry has a human cost--wastewater, pollution, a lack of interest in safety. To be able to lessen or reverse those effects is important to me.

[Not that it's personal, or anything. Viktor raises his eyebrows a little at this (very useful) tidbit of personal information.

Does the Hexcore have restrictions? Maybe. Right now it all seems to be a font of possibility, and all he can really hope for is to recreate it here, to a similar capacity. That said...]

Development...hasn't been without its roadblocks. I imagine I'll continue to encounter them.

--Investment in one over the other then? [Alucard thinks he's reading the implication correctly, but he wants to be sure.

And not poke at the personal. Yet.]

Doubtlessly. Such issues always arise but...[He breathes out, a little wary.] The air of mistrust with magic makes me concerned.

[Viktor nods, but doesn't say anymore, seemingly aware that he might have revealed a little too much about his own situation. It's not that he thinks it isn't obvious, just that he finds it difficult to talk about, even with someone who is, arguably, at this point, a friend.

Easier to talk about the particularities of his work, instead.]

I know that Cadens is wary, but it's my hope that once I have a workable prototype, the benefits will be self-evident.

[Alucard is content enough to move on from the subject and not return to it for the day. It was already a personal enough thing to reveal. No reason do well.

There's small nod at that, but Alucard can't help what comes out next. It has to be asked.]

And if it is used for war?

That is...always a risk.

[He knows that better now. Knows that he can't charge forward blindly with innovations that might be misused. It's almost funny, that he's the one thinking about safeguards now, but a great deal has changed for him in a relatively short amount of time.]

All I can do is build in the appropriate failsafes. [What those are, exactly, he hasn't quite figured out, though he does recall Samus telling him that he needs to build in stops and gos, to make sure that the Hexcore doesn't do anything he doesn't want it to do. He'll start there.] Which is part of the plan. If that's what you were wondering.

Yes, it was.

[It's nice to have implications so easily read and understood. And to know that his concerns are not unfounded, but rather anticipated and seemingly planned for.

It is a nice step up from ~~Hector~~ others in the inventing world.]

If you want to return to work, I can rather happily amuse myself here with books.

[At the very least, his intent is clear, even if, internally, he isn’t quite sure how he’s going to accomplish any of this just yet. Viktor has his theories, about arcane conduits having connections to specific users, which seems like a promising place to start.]

You’re not bothering me. [He’s always looking for an excuse to get back to work, but he can’t say he minds Alucard’s company. Again—nice to spend time with a like-minded individual.] You’re welcome to stay as long as you like, though I’ve been warned that time passes normally outside of this place.

[Otherwise he would, uh. Stay in here forever, probably.]

[Go talk to Sypha, Viktor. Her take on magic should help.]

I can keep myself here then, if you'd rather work in the lab space. [He's polite enough, and definitely does not want to overstay a welcome.] And I've allowed myself space for the day, so I am not terribly worried with regard to time.

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techmaturgy - 2022-04-12 21:50 (UTC) - Expand

[open] march catchall

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several days later: alucard just flat out returns goro's money

lmao right

btw is he gonna be there because alucard can be nerdy about the work part at vikor

ya im gonna tag your top level hee hee hoo hoo

8))) i am so ready

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