[open] march catchall

[techmaturgy]

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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[techmaturgy]

Ah. Well, he should have expected this. He needs to recalibrate--Viktor is not a stranger to other people's money and all the expectations that come with it, but now there's no real buffer. In a more ideal situation, Jayce would be the one to meet Goro at the door, to handle all the questions about progress and the state of things and to mostly keep the people doling out the money and resources as far away from Viktor as possible.

But it isn't as though he can't handle this. He just prefers not to, and he's adjusting to the fact that he's fully removed from Piltover's social hierarchy. Back home, it had been preferable to stay relatively out of sight, not wanting to remind anyone of the ugly fact that the prosperity of recent years was at least partially thanks to a citizen of the Undercity. None of that matters here--nobody cares where he's from and there's no unwritten rules to navigate (at least, not the same ones). It's taking some getting used to, to be the face of his own research.

"I try to be as industrious as possible."

There are a variety of reasons for that, but none that he cares to elaborate on, especially when he knows Goro is more interested in the final product. But he nods when asked about the workshop, moving to stand and giving everything an appraising sort of look.

"Yes. As you can see, I'm still settling in. Acquiring materials."

[fourarmedandangerous]

Goro nods slowly, examining the lab. "So I do." There is a sense of satisfaction in his voice. He seems to be pleased with the start Viktor is making, inasmuch as Goro shows any emotion other than his usual stoicism.

"If there is a need to acquire materials, you may present me with a list on my next visit." He continues, placing a lower hand on a nearby table. "There are resources I can reach out to for anything particularly...esoteric." Though it won't be quite as easy as it once might have been now that Maxwell appears to have vanished into the aether. A shame; that priest, such as he was, would have been a useful connection to Cadens' underbelly and black market. Ah, well. Adapt, and move on.

A thick finger taps the table. It shakes a little with each dull thud. "You mentioned you working with a partner before." He says finally. "I am curious as to the length of that particular partnership." Not so much the partner, whoever that may be; rather Goro wishes to know how long it has been since Viktor worked on a project alone.

[techmaturgy]

Well, at least he seems pleased, even if Viktor doesn't have too much to show, yet. He imagines that the first few weeks are going to be mostly theoretical, so it might be some time before he has anything tangible to show--then, he'll know

"I'll keep that in mind."

He senses there's some kind of implication there, but he decides not to pry further. Either way, he'll have that list ready, though of course he internally dreads the thought of visits. Progress reports. Another reminder that he's beholden to third parties. All of this, however, is not out of the ordinary. What he doesn't necessarily expect is questions about Jayce.

"My research partner, yes. We've worked together for seven years, though more recently on independent projects within the field we developed."

That. That seems like a good way to put it.

[fourarmedandangerous]

Goro nods, keeping his back to Viktor. "I see. So you have only recently begun taking on projects of your own again." He replies, raising the hand that was one the table and idly examining it.

"I do not doubt your skill, or your intelligence, but six months is an aggressive schedule, especially when the technology here is unfamiliar to you." Similar, perhaps, but not the same. "Therefore I have something else that may ensure things run more smoothly."

His lower arms come together to clap twice. "Enter."

The door opens again after a moment and a severe-looking woman in her mid-thirties and a slightly younger, freckled man step inside. The woman focuses immediately on Viktor, while the younger man instead looks around the lab. "Celia Aberholdt and Kolin Linnelman." Goro carries on, turning back to Viktor.

"Research assistants. Your research assistants." The Shokan clarifies. "Both are fully trained, and well-versed in the theoretical and practical application of Free Cities technology. I'm sure they can help you get up to speed much faster, and make your work proceed more smoothly."

[techmaturgy]

He opens his mouth to interject, but it becomes very apparent very quickly that this is something premeditated. For a horrendously private person like Viktor, this is nothing short of an ambush, and his expression immediately indicates that he’s both surprised and not exactly a fan of this turn of events.

“No, no, this isn’t—I appreciate your intent, but this isn’t necessary. The technology of this world is familiar to me in that it simply predates the systems to which I’m already accustomed.”

Despite his somewhat precarious position, it seems he has no real problem saying this in front of the lab assistants in question. It’s possible that although Viktor is a brilliant mind, he’s not a very tactful boss.

“I’m able to do my own vetting. I’d prefer to, actually, if you want me to take on assistants.”

The implication is clear from both directions—these are Goro’s people, and Viktor is not exactly keen on having the situation foisted on him, given the sensitive nature of his work (and, of course, the fact that has not been entirely truthful about some things—his health, to start). They might be, ostensibly, his lab assistants in name, but he has the suspicion that everyone in this room knows exactly who they’re working for, and who they’re going to answer to.