abraxaslogs | [ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

[He's not going to pretend it isn't for selfish reasons, but elaboration on the subject might have to wait for another day. Now that he's successfully turned the conversation onto Claude and his friends, Viktor sees no need to speak on it further.]

Reopens?

[It's always slightly strange, to talk about homes they might never see again, but learning more about the unique circumstances of each Summoned is never a waste of time. Viktor has a curious mind--of course he's going to ask questions.]

What happened to it?

[ It's not until Viktor asks that Claude realizes - yes, he will have to explain that, won't he? But where to start; he continues turning the gear a bit longer like it's holding his attention rather than needing a bit to sort through the finer details of how to summarize what happened to the monastery, to Fodlan, everything tied to both. A simpler explanation's for the best. ]

There was a war, back where I'm from. The academy was set at the main monastery of Fodlan's religion, and that Church in particular was under attack when the war started. The monastery fell the day the war began and suffered immense damage. We worked on rebuilding what we could when we were stationed there but there's a long way to go.

[ Time to put the gear down. What parts are on the table are what Claude considers now, though they don't offer him any answers in return for his consideration about clock repair or otherwise. ]

Much of what's come to pass recently between Thorne and the Free Cities is familiar to me in ways I wish it wasn't, for everyone's sake.

[It's a story he's heard half a dozen times, by now, and it's hard not to draw similarities to his own situation, back home. Piltover and the Undercity aren't at war yet, but given what he knows Jayce has done, he can only guess it will be a matter of time. And then, to hear about similar conflicts all across vast, innumerable worlds...well. It's disheartening, to say the least.

Viktor's expression seems a bit solemn, which he tries to disguise by turning his focus back to the screws and gears in front of him.]

Yes, war seems to be a universal constant.

[Depressing. It makes his job so difficult.]

Has anyone approached you about joining the military, given your background?

[ Universal constant finally gets Claude to look up with a wry smile since that's a vast understatement. It certainly is; he's learned as much from talking to others about what they've lived through and makes the impending war here that much more painful. Even if they - theoretically - aren't the ones in the direct path of it all, it doesn't change that the citizens here are. ]

No, fortunately. If they're aware of my background, which I feel they almost certainly have to be as the reason I'm here at all, they're keeping it to themselves. And whether they're pretending or someone don't know? I'm not inclined to bring it up to them or get involved.

[ Just to make that clear if it wasn't already - regardless, it's worth repeating. Claude's not particularly under any disbelief that some form of supposedly voluntary contribution from them couldn't be mandated at any time should the officials decide it's necessary. After the attack on Libertas and the retribution following, it's seemed even more like a matter of time for when it might happen.

Which - that brings him to another important thought. ]

What about you? I expect there's plenty of eyes on what all you've created and from organizing the operations at the mine.

[Viktor wants to argue that they must be, because if not then they really are just casting magic spells to see what sticks. It's never made sense to him, that the officials bring them here only to more-or-less let them do whatever they want. They're being watched, he's sure of that, but otherwise it's unsettling how not coerced they are. He expects that to change, sooner rather than later, but why wait so long?]

No, it's best not to invite their involvement.

[Which is the fine line that he and Jayce walk--they're altruists by nature, but advancing this world's technology too much, in the way that he knows they can, will prove disastrous, given the militaristic nature of Cadens' government. Still, he's not blameless in this department.]

I'm attending the Grand Academy on recommendation from one of the city councilmen. They know what I'm working on. [A lie--he hopes they don't know what he's doing with the Hexcore.] But I try not to give them any indication that I could advance things far past what they're able to do themselves.

[ The agreement to not invite any involvement - and along with it, scrutiny about what it is any of them are doing or capable of, Claude assumes - gets a slight hum from him as he considers that. The same applies to backgrounds and histories in his mind, even more so after a couple conversations with others about it, but. There's nothing they can do about that now besides stay wary of what they're asked or offered, and share that where they can.

With that in mind: he does raise an eyebrow slightly at Viktor mentioning attending an academy he's heard of in passing, and it raises a little higher at the mention of them knowing what's being worked on there even with the clarification of not advancing technology past what's already here. ]

And they don't suspect anything based off of that? That's fortunate. [ Even if his question is mildly skeptical, the sentiment of it not attracting unwanted attention is rather genuine. ] Given how the military infiltrates what feels like every part of Cadens, I'd hate to think what they can do with additional resources on top of their own.

[ Though he means in general, there's a good chance a bit of further detail's required there. ]

For the record, I'm not interested in sharing anything with them that might speak to others' capabilities, whether that's inventions or whatever else they've come here with, at any point. [ Powers, abilities: Claude's heard references to both and that feels enough to encapsulate whatever's in question may be. ] How did you begin attending the academy, if you don't mind my asking? I've never looked into it myself.

[He makes a noncommittal noise that indicates he’s not going to say much more about the secret projects. Thinking he’s getting away with this unnoticed is probably optimistic of him, anyways, and it’s for the best that he doesn’t drag anyone else into his under-the-table research. Fortunate is right, though Viktor can’t necessarily claim that he’s as lucky as Claude things.]

I’m sure they have some idea of what Jayce and I managed to accomplish. Why bring us here, otherwise?

[Yes, it’s strange they haven’t been asked to reproduce any of their work yet, but to think they can simply run a shop and do what they like is naïve. He’s waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. In the meantime, he needs Academy resources, so he has to take the risk.]

I attracted the attention of one of the inventors there. He asked for a demonstration of my abilities, so I devised a telemetric device for him. He was suitably impressed, and recommended my admission.

[And the rest, is, well. Under-the-table research.]

That's true. I've never really been one to believe the Free Cities simply guessed at knowing how to find us or bring us here. I've heard the first summonings in Thorne might've been that to a degree, considering some of the Summoned were told they were 'mistakes' and jailed.

[ A distinct air of disdain can be heard in the last part, considering no matter how many times he's heard that from Summoned here far longer than him it never sits right. That was before he'd connected the dots that for them to have somehow been brought in error meant those in charge had an idea of who they wanted, and then it seemed only logical to connect all the rest together.

Or it did to Claude; whether it's based in actuality or will remain a bunch of theories he's strung together to mean something remains to be seen. It'll likely stay that way without any further information or chats with those who know more or share the same thought processes. Claude leans forward to absently prop his chin in one hand to continue watching Viktor work, though not without an eyebrow raised at the explanation of getting into the academy. ]

Not a bad way to get in, then. Far better than Fodlan's academies usual method of asking for sums of money in varying amounts as a qualification for admission to different schools, or a large amount in the case of the academy I attended. I'd assumed the same would be true for here.

Yes, it seems to have taken the mages some time to refine the ritual.

[Viktor sounds similarly disdainful--surely he wouldn't be so sloppy, with that kind of information and resources. It's all moot now, however, as it seems that not only has the summoning been fine-tuned, but stolen by the other two factions.

As far as his admission to the Academy is concerned, he shrugs.]

It's the least they can do, after they kidnapped me.

[ For a second, Claude pauses from where he was about to lean over to study an unfamiliar clock mechanism in Viktor's hands, blinks, and looks up almost as though he's not sure whether he heard that correctly. But he did, and when it sinks in there's nothing to do but laugh. Actual, genuine laughter at that too rather than anything forced or pretend. ]

When you put it that way, it is difficult to argue with. You'd think they could offer all of us more than being soldiers in return for the kidnapping thing, really. Maybe we should all be asking for more.

[ He's not serious about that, given it'd attract the exact kind of attention none of them seem to want in terms of being shuffled towards the military rather than staying (relatively) out of its reach. That wouldn't be of any assistance to anyone he's interested in helping, not when there's still others who need it more than the Free Cities needs someone else in a uniform. ]

Speaking of that, kind of. I've been helping out at the orphanages here when I have the time, and many of them could use more help than is being provided. I'm not sure of what the logistics behind it would be exactly, but have you heard of anyone organizing something for that aside from what you're doing with the rebuilding in Libertas?

[There's another story here, one about how Viktor more-or-less elbowed his way into a position at the prestigious academy back home, but that also requires an explanation of how and why he would have been barred from attendance in the first place. He finds it refreshing, that he can simply exist on his own merits here.

Speaking of--Viktor makes a few more tweaks, and gets to work putting the casing back, apparently satisfied with his repairs.]

Cadens would rather outfit the military than provide the necessary resources to civilians. Jayce has been orchestrating some of the rebuilding, but you're right that it isn't enough.

[Frustration creeps into his voice, at that--what is the point of this level of technology if not to mitigate human suffering?]

I believe the representative from Libertas is named Quilleth Kaur. She might be worth seeking out. Jaskier and Alucard have had dealings with her in the past.

Yes, I've noticed as much as well. [ Half-murmured, half said to himself as what could almost be an afterthought, if it wasn't for this being a topic Claude's chosen to bring up on his own. ] It's curious to me that a nation which seems to have formed so that each city could benefit from each other has yet to totally fulfill that here, at least from what we can see.

[ There's things going on none of them would be privy to - that much Claude knows from running a nation himself, but it's also not the sort of topic he's about to casually reveal. Easier, in some ways, to just be a guy who needs help fixing a clock he can't figure out but might be able to next time thanks to watching Viktor work from disassembly to reassembly. But some habits are hard to turn off. ]

Quilleth... I've heard her name before. At the art walk, maybe, since I met Alucard there as well. [ That's an important possible connection to consider. Something to keep in mind if things advance to a point where he has actual plans consisting of something to present for larger and grander things, but it's a start to see what can be done now while rebuilding starts its slow process of moving forward. ] Thanks, Viktor. Both for that information and for fixing the clock, since I think my roommates would've been upset if I took it apart only to break it in the end.

Politics bore me. [He sees no reason not to be honest about it.] Pointless quibbling and covert deal-making. Enriching themselves and amassing power while ordinary people suffer.

[Viktor is certainly speaking from experience, here, and sees no reason not to apply his own dealings with the political sphere to whatever's going on with Cadens and Libertas and the rest.

He screws in the final piece of casing, then pushes the clock across the table for Claude to inspect. He'll find that it seems to be working properly, now.]

Just try to keep it in order, this time. [Despite the gravity of their discussion, he manages a quirk of the lips.] But if you do break anything else, you can bring it to me.

The leadership here does certainly seem to suffer from an added layer of 'what can you do for us' rather than the obvious of what a government should do for citizens, that's for sure. At least between all of us, we can make whatever small dent we can in what needs to be done to help where they're not willing.

[ Not enough as what could be done if they had more resources, but Viktor's given him enough to think over throughout their conversation to look into. He inspects the clock briefly, as if he really has any clue about what solution just took place, but when it whirs softly with its usual noises signaling it being in order that's more than good enough for him. At the smile Viktor extends to him Claude offers back a wide one of his own. ]

I'll certainly keep you in mind, and for things to use your expertise far better than clocks alone. Oh, and I should have the funds for the goggles soon with any luck so I'll be by for those then.

[ With a nod to pass as something slightly less informal than how he'd waltzed in earlier - and without bothering to ask if Viktor knows those names and faces - Claude stands to let the inventor get back to his own projects without any further interruptions. ]

[ OPEN ] split tomorrow from today

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we can wrap here if that works!