[open] september/october catchall

[techmaturgy]

Who: Viktor and special guests and YOU
When: Post-Nocwich, through September and early October
Where: Cadens, Libertas the Horizon
What: open stuff, closed stuff, Libertas stuff, 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.]

Comments

cadens

[techmaturgy]

i. workshopping

[Do you need something built? Fixed? Improved? A great idea you absolutely MUST see realized? You have come to the right place. Or you would have, if circumstances were better.

Things are different now. Viktor is splitting his time between the workshop and Libertas, but if you time it right, you might be able to catch him—he’s not especially in the mood for visitors. Where he was, generally speaking, always open to a pitch, a verbal description, or even a napkin drawing, he now seems more haggard (which, for him, is impressive), the usual organized chaos of the workshop replaced with what materials and tools for relief efforts in Libertas. He might explain, if you ask nicely. He might be too busy talking to the cat that hangs around the space.]

I’m sorry—we’re closed right now.

[As time passes, he becomes a bit more agreeable, ready to take on personal projects now that the military more-or-less has things under control. He enjoys the idea of having something to do (or a distraction, maybe) more than he wants cold hard cash or favors (though those are nice, too), perking up at the sound of anyone knocking at the door or inviting themselves inside.]

Do you have something for me?

[He’s a bit terse (no time to waste, after all), whether you know him or not. Probably he doesn’t even get up to meet you at the door (the crutch leaned against the worktable next to him, perhaps, an indication as to why that’s the case), but he’s attentive all the same.]

ii. the academy, later

[Though Viktor has always made a point of lingering around the academies, attending lectures and auditing classes, it’s only recently that he seems to be frequenting the Grand Academy of Science with greater purpose. Observant individuals might draw the correct conclusion that he works (or at least studies) there now.

Viktor, generally speaking, moves with purpose, and this is no exception—so good luck stopping him as he crosses the quad. You might be better off waiting until he's settled on a bench, pouring over various textbooks and notes.

Or, perhaps you corner him within the Academy itself, ducking out of a workspace. In here, he’s less likely to stop and talk, though of course that’s not indicative of anything shady going on. Everything’s all legitimate—nothing under the table happening at all, thanks.]

the academy

[catholica]

( matt hasn't enrolled in the academy but he does get some leeway to use their library while he both figures out the legal system and spends time pouring over various documents in an attempt to help rehome as many refugees as possible.

it's not easy work but it's something that his law degree makes a little easier and it's something he wants to do. sleep has been at a bit of a premium so when he hears what he's identified as viktor's familiar footsteps, he makes a trip over to say hello.

his walking stick it out in front of him and once he's closes enough, he leans against it and says: )

Studying anything interesting?

[techmaturgy]

[For a moment, Viktor tenses, hand closed around a key that he turns in a lock, half expecting some research assistant or another to ask him what he's doing or why he's in that room. When he looks up to see that it's Matt, his shoulders relax slightly.

Truly, everything is above board here.]

The Free Cities concept of "new magic" is something akin to my own work, back home. I applied here to gain a greater understanding of it.

[And, you know, co-opt the resources on the side. So above board, that Viktor is going smoothly turn the conversation back on Matt.]

I didn't think you were an academic.

[No offense, or anything.]

[catholica]

I haven't been — not for awhile. But, I'm turning over a new leaf.

( because he wants to do what he can to help and sometimes, he can't be the man in the mask to do that. )

I'm not exactly planning on going back to school but they've got some quiet places to study here and I've been trying to learn...the entire legal system in Cadens.

( it's going about as well as expected. )

There's a decent library here too.

[techmaturgy]

Well, there's no better place to do it.

[Viktor says that a little dryly, not serious at all, though he does know that many of the Summoned look at all of this like a second chance. He hasn't quite come around to that, yet (outside of all of the things he refuses to admit to himself).

So, academia, no, but law, yes. It once again his him wondering why certain people are summoned--he isn't going to downplay the use of a lawyer, but it certainly seems mundane, compared to some of the other people in their group.]

And? Better or worse than the system back home?

[It's not like he spends a lot of time thinking about lawyering--probably this will be an interesting perspective, especially given the current political situation.]

[catholica]

Just...different. There are thankfully some similarities so I'm not completely out of my element but some things are different enough that I just sit there and scratch my head trying to figure out how it makes sense.

( but this is how the law is written here and that's what he has to learn, has to follow. )

It's not a completely medieval system which is what I was afraid of when I first went into this.

the horizon

[techmaturgy]

i. mind palace etc

[In the wake of the attack on Libertas, Viktor is less frequently found in the Horizon, though he’s courteously left a note for any Summoned in other factions who might be anxious about his well-being, given that, as he understands it, the actual location of Thorne’s strike against the Free Cities was not necessarily known right away. He makes no apologies for the hastiness of the message:]



[When he does find time to return, he’s more often than not he’s in the lab or his study, or even sitting in quiet contemplation at the overlook. He will most certainly be working on some kind of project, and may even explain it, though he’s a bit more terse about it than usual. Whereas before, he might have jumped at the chance to enter an involved conversation about applied mathematics or theoretical physics, right now he seems on edge.

He’s less often found down below, but more intrepid visitors might find something of interest in the cave system. Or, maybe it’s just Viktor and his weird dog. Everything’s fine and normal here, thanks.

If you've met Viktor outside of the Horizon, the difference may seem a little striking. Given the ability, he seems to have done away with whatever ails him in the real world—his face is fuller, less pale, and he stands straighter, using a cane instead of his usual crutch. If you haven't met him, well. Good. Less opportunity for prying questions (outside of his various experiments, of course).]

peekin down in those caves. cool caves. party caves.

[vengeanceinside]

[Though the Horizon is very much not Nero's jam, he can at least say it's interesting. Got new places to peek in that isn't just Solvunn's communal drinking halls and trees. Look, he loves a good tree and all, but he's used to, you know... exploring. Fighting demons. Getting impaled on stalactites. Stalagmites? Whichever one's on the ceiling.

He can't dodge everything.

So a dingy cave's not the weirdest thing he's poked his head around, and at least there's no Behemoths down here trying to bite his entire ass off. (And the tail. At least he wouldn't miss that.)

So it's just him, hood pulled up around his head, and the big black panther padding silently at his side.

He turns a corner, dodging some dripping slime, into --]

Oh. Wow. Hey. [Into a giant, uh... lizard?] Hey, buddy. You're a cute one, aren't you? Totally not the ass-biting kind of guy, right?

[Yeah, he's talking to the weird dog. It's... actually, yeah, it is pretty cute. Shadow doesn't agree, and in a feline way, nearly seems to roll her eyes. Maybe she's jealous her eyes aren't the size of dinner plates.]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor has more-or-less stopped trying to find some kind of explanation for Rio. She's here, apparently borne of his subconscious, but the particulars of how she works and is able to exist as an independent entity within the Horizon is still a mystery to him. For once, he isn't sure he wants to know, and it's been so long that he simply accepts this as part of the Singularity's power.

And, he has to admit, it's nice that she receives visitors so he doesn't have to, though he's always fairly wary of people poking around in the caves, trying to intercept such intrusions as quickly as possible.]

She's harmless.

[Viktor does not seem like a guy who does or should spend any amount of time down in weird caves, but here he is anyway, cane echoing on the stone as he gingerly makes his way down. It's possible he's hoping to stave off any potential animal fights, especially after he sees Shadow. Nero gets a cursory glance as Rio raises her head, alert, then darts toward Viktor to curl behind him.

Comical, really, given how large she is and how slight Viktor is. He doesn't acknowledge this.]

Are you looking for something?

[vengeanceinside]

Oh. [He turns at the voice. Not really surprised to find he wasn't alone. Real hard to find that kind of solitude sometimes around here, like everyone's just got people-pokin'-around radars.

Then again, he figures no one's really trying to climb into his van. Maybe he'd get the same alert.]

Kind of a coward, too. Hey, no offense. [He holds up his hands -- but that's for Rio, not Viktor, because he doesn't wanna scare any cute giant lizards. He's not even walking around with his sword! He --

Right. Shadow. He puts a boot on her side and pushes her, but she just flops over. Unfortunately, the Horizon's shoved her at him and most of the time he doesn't spend a second thinking about her. Or why she's here. Or what she means. Easier not to. Way easier. There's a quiet warning in the movement: quit scarin' everyone.]

Demons, actually. But hey, looks like your cave's demon-free! And a lot less wet than the ones I'm used to. Guess she must be your pet, uh.. newt?

[Newts are probably not supposed to be that big. But if you've seen one giant lizard, you've seen them all.]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor shrugs, making no apologies for the fact that Rio would rather not tangle with a very large cat. Luckily, both animals seem to be relatively uninterested in going at each other, so he takes a step forward, and Rio slinks off to some dark corner of the cavern.]

Oh, well, as long as this place is demon-free...

[Just kidding. He knows it's demon-free. Whatever that's supposed to be about.]

A waverider. [He will not define that further, though calling Rio a pet doesn't quite fit.] A childhood companion, of sorts.

[vengeanceinside]

A -- huh.

[He recognizes the sarcasm, buddy, don't think you're so smart. Not that Nero was hoping it was demon-infested. (He totally was. People gotta have, like, mental demons, right? More like the Entity, less like metaphysical trauma. Or. Okay, those might be almost the same thing.)]

I guess she is kinda wet. [Like she should be in the ocean. Except not many oceans in caves, man.] This is just emotional baggage. [He scoots Shadow's tail out of his way as he walks past her, and she takes a huge swipe at his leg with claws out. Only just misses.] Yours sounds way more fun. Being a lil' goblin cave kid with a giant -- waverider.

kyle;

[techmaturgy]

[For the first week or so after Libertas, Viktor is largely absent from his Horizon--it's only after things begin to normalize that he returns, more often than not taking refuge in the study. A more place than the cavernous laboratory, or the actual, literal caves at the bottom of the wall, this is clearly a personal space—there are books everywhere, and houseplants, and coffee, with every table and blackboard is filled with notes and schematics.

There's nothing to indicate that anything in here is kept away from wandering eyes--the door is open, after all, but in Kyle's wanderings, if he chooses to take a look at one sheet of paper or another, Viktor is quick to speak up from his desk.]

Do you mind? That's proprietary.

[He's a bit chillier than usual, given what they've been through in the Free Cities, recently, but he makes no actual moves to get up, instead choosing to peer over the stack of books on his desk with a pair of extremely formidable eyebrows.]

NEBULOUS TIME SPACE sorry for the late tag-in, overestimated tagging speed while out of the country

[ushiri]

[ Kahlil has a simple rule when it comes to wandering these spaces: he doesn't attempt to enter any domain that isn't already open. Doors, gates, tangles of plant-life, as long as nothing looks explicitly closed, he lets himself in. It's one way to vent his frustrations at months of being trapped in Thorne and hindered by the wards, surrounded by what amounts to closed doors everywhere he turns.

This domain appears larger than most, though he's come to realize that some of the more massive landscapes are at least in part an illusion. He spends some time exploring the outer wall before making his way inside, observing the strange laboratory while keeping his hands to himself: another rule he tries to abide by. He won't go through drawers or anything like that.

The workshop doesn't need him to, though. There's papers everywhere, and he's too distracted by the odd schematics laid out in front of him to notice the figure hidden behind the stack of books - ]

Sorry. [ He bows his head slightly, but doesn't seem particularly contrite as he studies the other man, eyebrows raised. ] These are all your creations?

[ He lets his gaze sweep the room, and out the doorway toward the main laboratory where that strange device was... ]

me also apparently except without even leaving the country

[techmaturgy]

[It's certainly not that Viktor is opposed to visitors--despite being a naturally private person, the study is unlocked while he's present for a reason. More than once he's encountered a fellow Summoned with a similar interest in science and technology, and magic, and most importantly, the convergence of the two. That possibility is enough for him to be slightly less of a recluse, even if the prospect is, at times, tempting.

Now that he's made his stance on intellectual property clear, he emerges from his desk to give Kyle a look up and down.]

For the most part, yes. [He can't take full credit for everything, but he does tend to keep his personal projects in here, as opposed to the work that he shares with Jayce.] Do you have an interest in engineering?

[ushiri]

[ At the question he gives a shrug, and gives the honest answer: ]

A little. [ When it comes to the ins and outs of rifles he knows a lot, sure. But nothing like this kind of engineering or technology. It wasn't taught by the priests in Rathal'pesha, and most advances were outright discouraged outside of Vundomu.

Or, it was that way, in his memory. He shakes his head after a second. ]

I grew up in the middle of nowhere, I was in awe the first time I saw a television... [ He looks again toward the main laboratory where the glowing cube-like thing is. ]

What is that?

[ It's beautiful. ]

libertas

[techmaturgy]

i. the aftermath

[Probably this guy shouldn't be doing search and rescue. He has little to offer physically, and, in fact, is slightly a hazard to himself, trying to navigate the rubble and largely unable to handle the very strong, very driven working dogs. Still, he seems stubbornly committed to playing some kind of part in this operation, even if it’s just spot-repairing tools and equipment or calibrating the communication devices meant to call in the “professionals”.

He's fiddling with one now, in between supply distribution and (inadvisable) ventures out into the disaster zone. Viktor has set up an area for himself, which is already strewn with wrenches and screwdrivers and various parts that he’s torn out of sub-par equipment. He barely looks up if and when he’s approached.]

Is it malfunctioning?

[Viktor does not even wait to find out what is or is not malfunctioning. He holds out his hand for it anyway

ii. oh no who could have possibly seen this one coming

[Viktor, it turns out, is not cut out for this kind of thing. Even keeping to the logistical side—organizing transport, making repairs, distributing supplies—is draining. The sheer exertion of long hours and the emotionally draining situation, and the state of the environment (read: smoldering) means that he reaches his limit fairly quickly. For someone so intensely private as Viktor, any moments of vulnerability are unacceptable, but in a situation like this, he ends up not having a choice, running up against his own limitations at the worst possible moment.

The smog, the rubble, the sheer hopelessness of it all reduces him to inaction. He has to find somewhere to sit, and it’s not long after that he produces a handkerchief, coughing into it, a rough, wet sound that shakes his slight frame. When he pulls the cloth away from his mouth, it’s spotted a vibrant red, though he can’t seem to bring himself to care, instead simply letting his forehead drop into his waiting hand.]

[hextechhead]

Jayce had to separate from Viktor once they arrived because the reality is he is far more helpful in the hospital itself and doing medic aspects than handing out supplies or repairs himself. The skill that he learned to help Viktor can now be used to help many others, and he kisses his love before leaving. Neither of them care that it's in public. This is the sort of situation that calls for occasional public affection.

When he finally finds his way back to Viktor, he is not looking great himself. He's covered in sweat, dust, grime, blood (not his), and exhausted. His small satchel is almost entirely depleted (it's bigger on the inside) of medical supplies he handed out. He's been carrying a crowbar and shovel on his back like others do a weapon but those were given too. He's been at the hospital, the shelters, walking around the city to help with his brawn and his medic skills pull people out of buildings. He was called to an emergency to save Dean's life.

His magical energy is not fully depleted but it's not at its strongest, and he has used his normal medical skills whenever possible, but he is worn out. His strength and energy has really been utilized without rest but even Jayce Talis has a burn out point. It doesn't help that he is too soft for war and he had to keep it together in the face of death and despair. The emotional wearing out is serious too.

The medics tell him to go take a break. He can come back and do more later, but everyone needs to keep themselves alive if they're going to help others. Jayce hears break and thinks the only reason to do one is to find Viktor, so he goes to do that. At first he can't, which scares him, but it's because Viktor has found a quiet space to sit and no one saw where he went. Jayce eventually spots him, he has Viktor radar to his very core, and rushes over to him.

Jayce kneels in front of him, brushing dirty fingers through his hair gently. "Hello love." Worried eyes brush over his face. "Can I?" He places a hand on his chest but waits for Viktor's consent.

[techmaturgy]

Viktor is, generally speaking, good at hiding the more acute aspects of his illness. He knows that when people look at him, they can see that he’s ill, but more often than not they’re too polite to pry, which means he can get away with never addressing it unless he chooses to. Now, however, having worked himself to exhaustion, there’s no real getting around it. The most he can do is find somewhere quiet to recover, and for a while he’s left alone, which is probably the best he can ask for. When he is interrupted, it’s not unwelcome.

Unsurprising, that Jayce is the one to find him. The urge to suggest they leave is overwhelming, but he’s not one to leave a job half-finished. They still have work to do.

“Hi,” he says a little weakly, making some room for Jayce to sit down, even when he chooses to kneel down in front of him instead. Viktor leans into his touch, more a reflex than anything else, at this point, though when he’s offered healing, his first inclination is to shut his eyes and shake his head. “You should save your energy.”

[hextechhead]

Viktor was good enough at hiding that Jayce didn't know and he spent every day with him for years. Or maybe he didn't want to see it. He never wanted to pry. He noticed Viktor wasn't doing well, but he also knew that he would be offended or annoyed if he brought it up. He's always been prideful. At least he's started to open up and not hide it with Jayce, it means a lot to him. But he can tell things are bad if Viktor isn't able to mask it.

"I have plenty of energy, V." Jayce kisses his forehead and for a moment there, knelt in front of him, touching and close, he can pretend it's just the two of them. They're in a quiet corner and that means they can take a few seconds to exist. He is exhausted too but he thinks more of it is from sadness than anything else.

"Please. For me." If not for himself, Viktor knows that Jayce would only worry and fret until he agreed anyway. He's more likely to give in if he makes it about Jayce's comfort than his own.

[techmaturgy]

"You clearly don't," he replies with a raised eyebrow, indicating that perhaps Jayce should take a look in the mirror. They're both run ragged, and sweaty, and dirty, and emotionally exhausted, but at least Viktor hasn't been expending magical energy to heal the injured. Despite the fact that he knows Jayce is the less likely to collapse from exhaustion of the two of them, he would rather not see it happen on his account.

A fundamental disagreement, and Viktor's pride is betrayed by the fact that he coughs into his handkerchief, again, probably the only thing that makes him relent.

"Try to restrain yourself." That is, only heal him a little, or something. There are still plenty of people that need their help. "You don't want to make yourself useless."

the oh no option, of course

[wiedzminka]

Viktor.

[ If he expected Ciri not to follow when he hangs back and has to sit down, he is going to be disappointed. And also should have probably not expected it in the first place.

She waits for the coughing to subside, then hands him her canteen of water. ]

You should be wearing a mask. Take mine. It's sort of yours anyway.

[ It's been doing a decent job with the smoke even if it was made to filter out venomous fumes. Pretty similar, right. ]

[techmaturgy]

[It’s possible Viktor did not, in fact, think anyone was going to follow him, or even notice his disappearance. It’s possible he’s used to being able to fly under the radar, to the point where he looks surprised, when she finds his hiding spot and interrupts his current coughing fit. He has to take a moment to compose himself. The water, he’ll accept, though he shakes his head when she offers him the mask.]

You’re the one out in the rubble. [And the smoke, and the—-okay, maybe he should take the mask, but Viktor is a little too stubborn for his own good.] I just need a moment.

[Several moments. He takes another drink of water.]

Sorry.

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri puts a hand on her hip. Standard no nonsense pose. ]

Just take it, Viktor.

I'll be fine.

[ The apology is ignored. He has nothing to apologize for, except maybe being a little bit of an idiot. But she gets it; Ciri is the last person who'll tell him to give up and go home. He's here because he has to be. Staying out of it was never an option.

Ciri knows him well enough to understand that by now. ]

[techmaturgy]

[He's a lot of an idiot, but it does seem like he's starting to realize that there are people here invested in his well-being, and his usual ploy of avoidance isn't going to work in the face of strong personalities like Ciri. Reluctantly, he takes the mask from her and fits it over his mouth and nose, taking a few deep breaths unclogged by smog and the haze of burning rubble.]

Thank you.

[It feels a little hollow, to him, but he's not sure what else he can say.]

Do you want to sit for a moment?

[She shouldn't wear herself out, either.]