[open] january/february catchall

[techmaturgy]

Who: Viktor and special guests and YOU
When: January through early February
Where: Cadens, the Horizon
What: open stuff, closed stuff, dangerous and illicit magical surgery, the usual
Warnings: the usual references to terminal illness including a steep decline and medical procedures/surgery. will list additional warnings as needed.

[open and closed starters in comments! This is also a general catch-all for Viktor’s do-or-die attempt to cure himself, and the events leading up to it, and his recovery (to come later). 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. the workshop, earlier in the month

[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. Rio Enterprises is always slightly chaotic—Viktor and Jayce are at their best when they get to work on multiple projects simultaneously, but its current state is a special kind of disarray. Many of the current commissions are cleared away to side tables and shelves and benches, the main worktable covered in notes and schematics and pieces of metal, carefully etched with arcana symbols. The geometric drawings and equations that have graced the blackboards for so long are coming to fruition.

Viktor himself is still receiving the occasional visitor, but he looks incredibly worse for the wear, even more than usual. When he opens the door to receive a visitor, he looks almost surprised.]

I wasn’t expecting anyone.

[But he doesn’t refuse entry, turning and walking back to his workbench, his usual gait even more halted. You’re welcome to come inside, though it’s hard to see how you might make yourself comfortable. Viktor seems harried.]

If you could keep it quick—I have a lot of work to do.

ii. the workshop, later in the month

[Things get worse. It gets harder and harder to drag himself out of bed and go to the workshop every day. Viktor isn’t bothering with commissions anymore, only stopping into the Enterprises shop to collect a tool, or some supplies. Perhaps you catch him on his way in or out—either way, the bags under his eyes more pronounced, curls of dark hair plastered to his temples with sweat.

Maybe you let yourself in. There’s coughing from the back room, and when Viktor emerges he’s leaning heavily on his crutch, a bloody handkerchief balled in his fist.]

I was just leaving. Whatever you have, you can leave it for Jayce.

iii. the academy, throughout the month (hexcore viewing for close cr only)

[Viktor isn’t letting anyone into his lab at the Academy, at least not without prior discussion. Whatever he’s doing in there, he’s trying to keep it as private as possible. He crosses the quad surreptitiously, looking over his shoulder as he heads to one of the laboratories, keys in hand. Those who only know him in passing, or are just friendly with him, might get a nod of acknowledgement as he locks the door—but he otherwise doesn’t invite you inside.]

Were you looking for something?

[If you’re particularly close to Viktor, and he can trust you to keep a secret, he might bring you there himself. On the center of his desk is a floating polyhedron, animated with indigo. Arcana symbols are delicately etched into each metal piece. Plant matter litters the tabletop.Viktor looks immeasurably proud.]

It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

[Despite his general air of exhaustion, worse than usual, his expression lights up. It’s clear he truly believes in this, whatever it is.]

ii

[assembles]

[ Tony's been anxious lately. Jumpy, more so than usual, just when it seemed like he'd finally come to terms with Peter's disappearance. With them renting rooms literally next door to each other, it would be impossible not to notice.

It hadn't taken much to get an explanation out of him. Viktor's getting worse. Whatever solutions he'd had for his condition, they've stopped working. There are plans, a last-ditch effort that's in the works, but that's no guarantee. Tony had been insistent that they would succeed, that this was fixable, but Steve had still noted the desperation hiding in his wide yet steely gaze.

Steve's kept his distance, under the impression that he represents something unattainable to Viktor. Maybe he should stay away even now, but with so much that's uncertain, he feels the need to stop by and check in. And to maybe make an offer, even if it was expressly refused in the past.

He shows up unannounced to the workshop shortly before closing, letting himself in. He hears that wracking cough all the way from the entrance, spots the bloodstained cloth as Viktor hobbles out.

Steve shakes his head. ] I'm not here for that. [ True to his word, he doesn't have either of the shields with him. This isn't about wanting something; it's not about running more tests. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor looks momentarily surprised to see that it's Steve, although maybe he shouldn't be. He can't expect Tony to keep his mouth shut, and as long as he's only talking to a trusted circle and ideally not mentioning the Hexcore at all, Viktor simply does not have the time or energy to care about other people discovering his current state. His only real wish is that if someone does come here to speak with him, that they don't waste his time. Though he isn't necessarily close to Steve, Viktor at least respects him, and therefore is more willing to give him a moment, provided what he has to say is worthwhile.]

Condolences go on that table. [He cants his head towards one of the work benches. It's covered in dead houseplants.

Viktor assumes the joke won't land mere seconds after it leaves his mouth, so he recalibrates, giving Steve a look up and down before he pivots.] What are you here for, then?

[assembles]

[ The joke doesn't quite land, if only because Steve can see up close and personal now how awful Viktor looks. He knows the comment is meant to lighten up a terrible situation, but Steve can't quite bring himself to even fake a smile.

He moves toward the table anyway, frowning as he inspects the dead plants. What do they have to do with all this? There must be a reason they're here, but he also doesn't need Viktor to explain the specifics of his plan to him. He can get that from Tony if he's really curious. ]

To see you. [ He turns back toward Viktor and manages to not wince or frown at the sight of him. He's been on the receiving end of all those looks, though he's pretty sure he was never this bad. When he had a nasty bout of pneumonia, maybe. ] Tony said things are coming to a head, that you're on the verge of something.

[ That it's do or die. ] You don't have to explain, I just... [ He trails off and shrugs. He wanted to offer support in some small way, but it's going to feel inadequate no matter what he does. ]

[techmaturgy]

Well, that's the hope, isn't it?

[It's difficult, not to view this with suspicion. Despite the fact that he has no real reason to doubt, anymore, Viktor still isn't quite used to people coming to see him. Most of his relationships (aside from Jayce, of course) up until this point have been entirely transactional, and it's difficult not to immediately assume that this is simply another in a long string of them.

He tries to swallow that down--tries not to think the worst of this visit.]

I'm sure Tony told you everything you need to know.

[If Steve wants further information about the exact nature of the procedure, he can ask. For now, Viktor seems slightly guarded, like he doesn't understand why Steve would think to come here.]

tony (closed)

[techmaturgy]

[This is another late night in a sequence of them--not necessarily out of the ordinary for Viktor, but it's getting harder and harder to hide the fact that he's not able to weather these like he used to (said like he ever weathered them well in the first place). True to form, however, he puts his head down and ignores it, seemingly of the mind that if he doesn't pay any attention to it, his lab-mates won't, either.

The Hexcore is not perfect. It wasn't perfect back home, either, but that's all part of the process. Here, however, Viktor has a team--not only himself and Jayce, but Tony, too--to check the math and tweak the arcana symbols and measure the outputs. That means more to him than he can possibly express, especially given their time limit and the general dire-ness of the situation, but predictably Viktor chooses not to talk about any of that and instead focuses entirely on the work ahead of them.

At least, until he finds himself unable. He wears down as the night goes on, until finally he stops scrawling at his pages and pages of near-incomprehensible notes and pushes his stool back, scrubbing a hand against his face.]

I need some air. [He needs to show weakness and doesn't want anyone else to see it, and in that statement is a hope that Tony won't follow him out of the lab.] Put more coffee on while I'm out.

Re: tony (closed)

[industries]

Sure. [ Tony mutters, about eight fractal equations deep on the piece of paper in front of him. Viktor's statement only registers about three seconds after Tony's replied to it, and he raises his head to look at the guy. Spend enough time around Viktor – or several days of straight work, in this case – and it's easy to forget that he's pushing the same breakneck speed as everyone else with three bald tires and a faulty transmission. ]

You sure you don't want to take a break? [ Tony raises the packet of procedures and contingencies they've compiled, waves it in the air. ] Object permanence is a thing – this won't disappear if you take a nap.

[ Don't think it's the papers he's worried about drifting away in his sleep, a voice says, deep down. Tony shoves it away – they're close, and they're even optimistic about their chances, but...

It's a tough pill to swallow, after everything. The idea he might lose someone else. ]

[techmaturgy]

I'm going out for some air. That's taking a break.

[As in, any minute not spent working is technically a break. He knows what Tony is getting at, though, and heaves a sigh, because despite everything he's still incredibly resistant to people caring about his well-being. Viktor looks at Tony, then at the stack of papers in his hand, and after a moment seems to relent.]

Do you want to take a break?

[The implication being that if Tony wants to go him--out of the need to keep an eye on him, or for general company--Viktor is not necessarily going to object. He'll grab his crutch and haul himself up from the worktable either way.]

[industries]

I mean. [ Tony exhales as he drops the packet of paper, then stretches his arms over his head. He winces, feels his joints creak and stretch. ] No, but. There also isn't a very real chance I'll drop dead on the job.

[ He's started to get an idea how Pepper felt, all those nights he locked himself in the garage. How hard it is to stop the kind of frenetic energy animating Viktor's every movement – the pure, urgent conviction. Tony knows it intimately – the curse of knowledge, that survival may not be a right, but a privilege. Something that needs to be fought for.

And right now, Viktor's fighting like hell.

He drops his hands to the table, pushes up on them to stand. ] We're just rewriting the calculations to account for the variant energy input, right? Cakewalk. I've got it covered. It's fine.

jayce, early Jan (closed)

[techmaturgy]

They've talked about getting their hands on the crystal they need to power the Hexcore almost from the moment they learned of its existence. It had, however, never quite seemed worth the risk, given their various stop-gaps and the time they thought they had. Better to work their way up in the Academy the right way, acquire it through above-board means. They still, technically, got their hands on one through legitimate means, though Viktor isn't exactly pleased about the deal they had to make to do it.

All of those worries--the anxiety that the government might discover the exchange--might as well vanish when the activate the device for the first time. It's just as beautiful as he remembers it, though it looks a bit different now, with arcana symbols inscribed on the facets, instead of familiar runes. The feeling in the pit of his stomach that he gets when it finally--finally--levitates from the surface of the worktable and starts to spin of its own accord, however, is much the same as it was back home. He grins at Jayce, then, beaming. It reminds him of how things used to be, just the two of them and the thrill of boundless discovery.

Of course, the work isn't done. Testing comes next, which is less exciting and much more grueling. Viktor faces the same problem he did back home, where the arcane power pushed through his subjects is simply too much for them to bear. That's where the blood and the sap from Ikorr and their own magic comes in, the two of them doing everything they can to fortify the plants that they then subject to the device. The good news is that it's promising--given the correct application of their various substances, the plants are lasting longer and longer.

But it's not perfect, yet. They can't try it on Viktor until it is. He brushes the latest round of plant matter off the worktable.

"I think we're almost out of subjects," he says, and despite the situation and the long hours of testing and adjusting, there's fondness in his voice. This reminds him of first puzzling out the Hexgates, years ago. "What do you think about a cactus?"

[hextechhead]

Jayce thinks the deal was pretty reasonable, all things considered. There were a few options and he took the one that seemed the least likely to circle back around, but they both knew that some things are inevitable. It was on Jayce to make the compromise, to make what he was asked to, and get the crystal in exchange. The crystal was always going to be his, too reminiscent of who he was before. It's what he knows best, and he can live with whatever happens.

He especially thinks that when the Hexcore powers up and levitates and they both smile at the same time. When Viktor beams at him, he is beaming back, and it really is just like old times. In that minute it's like seven years - now almost eight - are replayed in all their beauty. This is who they are, pioneers. And even if this Hexcore can only exist for a short time, it is still real. The testing will take time and it's exhausting, but so far, so good. This is a huge step, confirmation that it works. It's a relief, he almost feels faint for a moment.

"We can ask Jaskier to make more plants, I'm sure he'd make you something special." Jayce leans in to kiss his forehead gently. Jaskier's skill with plants is part of why Nadine has so much access to them, and so it all comes full circle, with her being integral to the end result as well.

They're close. They can't waste that much more time. Jayce still heals Viktor every day despite the fact they know it's wearing off, but it gives him just enough of a punch that he can keep going day by day. Running out of time, but not fully yet. He will have to pour all of his power into the surgery and he even has a mysterious card that he was told would amplify his healing. All the pieces are falling together, soon it'll just ... have to happen.

Jayce looks worn out. Not physically, since he is the peak of health even with little sleep, but obviously it is all weighing heavily on his heart. But he still manages smiles. "It reminds you of the old days too, huh?"

[techmaturgy]

"Something special for me to feed to our insatiable magic computer? I think he might be offended."

Sure, Viktor has no problem making foliage a casualty in the name of science, but it seems slightly rude to ask Jaskier to make plants for them, not really tell him why, and then inevitably destroy them all. But, of course, the hope is that they'll move on from this soon. They have to.

For now, however, Viktor is content to take a moment to bask in the sheer thrill of scientific discovery, even if these stakes are much higher. Jayce seems to be having similar thoughts, if the small displays of affection are any indication. He brings up the "old days", and Viktor can't help but smile, leaning into him at a little even as he scrawls notes from the most recent test run onto a chart.

"It makes me miss it, a little." Late nights, making progress, really feeling like they were going to change the world. It's tempting to linger on the thought, and he does, for a moment, enjoying Jayce's proximity, before snapping back to attention. "We can adjust the output. A little less, this time. See if it has an effect. Or maybe strength is the wrong symbol, here. It seems straightforward, but maybe there's something more fitting."

[hextechhead]

"Oh, right. Good point. They're not only plants to him."

Which Jayce respects, he's just not really thinking big picture currently. His only picture is the Hexcore and the cure. Jayce is being remarkably single-minded currently, but so would anyone. Jaskier has a good heart, he can see him getting attached to his plants, even the ones that Nadine might need to use for her own work.

"We're in the desert, we can go get a dozen cacti outside the gates. Not the one that Alucard hides in sometimes, obviously."

He is only teasing about that. Alucard is a damned hero in Jayce's eyes. How much he's done for them, how much he is still going to do for them. Jayce understands that friends will go above and beyond for each other, he would do the same, but this is still monumental. He only wishes he could find a way to thank him without it being uncomfortably sentimental and emotional. TBD.

"Endurance, maybe? Instead of strength." It is still a testing situation so they have all kinds of options. The problem is knowing something is almost right but not quite there yet. Jayce reaches out to brush fingers through his hair. He still likes to take the chance to touch him whenever possible, sharing affection. It feels better, having Viktor at hand, reminding himself he's there.

II

[preferscuffs]

Hello to you too, Viktor.

[There's a tinge of dry amusement in Caitlyn's voice. But honestly, she hadn't expected any other sort of reception from her housemate for showing up here unannounced. Honestly, she's been trying not to hover. Though, she honestly kind of wants to, but she knows Viktor would hate that.

But as the month has progressed and things have gotten worse it's been harder to remain fully confident that things really will be okay. But she's been trying. Someone has to believe this isn't going to end in a tragedy. And she's made it her job. Because otherwise? There's next to nothing she can do and that sucks.]

I was about to head back and wanted to see if you were wrapping up for the day. I thought we could go home together?

[Making sure he doesn't stay too late is she? Or making sure he doesn't collapse on the way back with no one around? Honestly, there's any number of reasons Caitlyn might be here. But they're all born from concern. Both for Viktor and Jayce.]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor has generally accepted the belief that, given the extenuating circumstances, he's allowed to act however he pleases, though he finds it difficult to be rude to Caitlyn. She hasn't asked to be here, nor should she be subjected to what Viktor is going through right now. And it's not going to do him any good, at this point, to reject those who do, ostensibly, care for him, even though it exposes weakness that he'd rather keep hidden.

I thought we could go home together. How many times has he heard that? How many times did he say no?

It's tempting, to take her up on the offer, but ultimately he shakes his head.]

No, I'm not-- [Going home. Not when there's still so much to do.] I'm going back to the Academy.

[That's where he's keeping the Hexcore, and where he'll be for the rest of the evening. He understands the implication in what she's asking, and though part of him thinks that it's fair, to worry about leaving him alone while he's making his way across town, part of him rankles. He hasn't quite lost his pride, not yet.

Still, he's too tired to put up a fight about it. Viktor offers a concession.]

You're welcome to come with me, if you like.

[preferscuffs]

I suppose it's still quite early.

[Not the most ideal situation, but nothing about this situation can be considered ideal anymore. And she's not about to take away what agency he has. Not her place and even if it was she still wouldn't.]

I probably won't be of much help, but I'd be glad to go with you. I can at least try.

[Things have gone far past the work she used to assist Jayce with, before. Maybe if she'd kept at it, she'd be able to understand more. If she'd followed science more and the gun less, but no. No reason to bemoan the choices of the past now. Wouldn't do any good. And there were good things, she hoped, that have come from the path she's chosen.]

[techmaturgy]

Yes, I still have work to do. [Though that shouldn't be a surprise. For a moment, it look like he might reject the offer simply on principle, but he seems to swallow down the impulse, motioning for her to follow him..] I should show you what we're working on, regardless.

[Not that it's simple to explain, and of course every person he shows increases the risk of the information getting out, but if he can trust anyone with this, besides Jayce, it will be Caitlyn.

So, he'll start to lead her on the familiar path to the Academy, one she surely knows by now.]

How much did Jayce tell you about it?

[The Hexcore, of course.]

iii

[godshattering]

[ It soon becomes apparent why Viktor asked to meet him rather than letting Claude simply wander about the academy in search of his destination. The secrecy with the keys, the locked laboratory door: him trying to find his own way there would've drawn far too much attention, wouldn't it? He remembers the mention of a project the scientist was working on here, so perhaps that's part of it. Claude keeps his growing number of questions to himself out of both respect for that and because Viktor is clearly extending trust to him.

The questions threaten to spill over when they're inside and there is a glowing something on Viktor's desk waiting to be admired. There's a long moment where Claude does just that, where he approaches and surveys the object he doesn't have a name for with great curiosity, and walks around it as much as possible in the space there to take in as many details as he can. The glowing reminds him of Shambhala's technology, but - that doesn't mean it's the same. With all they've talked about, Viktor's goals of aiding others have always been rather clear. ]

It is, [ he finally murmurs in response to that query about the sight before him since there's no doubt he's looking at some kind of marvel and not just because he comes from somewhere with no comparison. The appreciation in his voice is genuine.

And he's aware enough to know that asking what is it is enough of a faux pas. After another few seconds of studying the runelike marks on it he glances up towards Viktor, notes that tiredness, notes what looks like delight, and says, ] What all can it do?

[techmaturgy]

[If Viktor were a little smarter--well, maybe not smarter, but less naïve, in these matters--he'd keep this a secret and not tell anyone at all. He knows, however, that when this is over, he's going to need to destroy the device in order to keep it from the military. Viktor's struggling with that more than he lets on, with the pain of his life's work existing for so brief a time before it needs to be disposed of, because of people who would want to use it to their own ends.

It's unfair. It shouldn't be that way. He should be able to use this device for the immeasurable good he knows it can do, not just for the selfish act of saving his own life. Maybe that's why he's inviting Claude here. Someone needs to see it--needs to know he built it, especially if the worst happens.]

It is...configurable magic. [His understanding is that Claude comes from a place technologically similar to Cadens, so he can't really explain the Hexcore in the terms he's learned from people like Tony, who define it as a computer.] Given the right set of instructions, it can do almost anything.

[That's the hope, anyway. The notes spread across the tables and pinned to the walls indicate he might still be working on it.]

[godshattering]

[ Configurable magic. One question of his is answered, and several more replace it as Claude turns his gaze back to the orb and considers it now with this new context and what he knows of the magic most familiar to him. ]

Configurable in the sense that you have to provide it with instructions rather than know how to operate it, or both?

[ Whether there's actually a distinction to be made: it feels like there is even if it's not something Claude can put a finger upon exactly just yet, what with this being something demonstrably beyond Fodlan's offerings. Possibly even Cadens, if he had to guess, since it makes sense to him yet again why this would be kept under lock and key. It's that thought which causes him to first look at some of the notes nearby for a very quick skim and then back at the other man with curiosity far less disguised this time around, not that it hasn't likely been apparent already. ]

I take it you've done some testing with it to see what all it can do so far.

[ And he would really like to know what some of them are, if Viktor's willing to share. ]

[techmaturgy]

Configurable in the sense that it can be programmed to fulfill any number of tasks. In my world, I built this using a native runic system. Here, I've adapted it to the arcana symbols. It channels magical energy.

[A device not bound to one function--something that can be given a subject and think for itself. He does understand that Claude needs more specifics, and that explaining the Hexcore is fairly complicated. Even he's learned a great deal about what he's accomplished here, from others with more advanced technology than what he knows.

That thrills him, and maybe scares him a little, too. That he'd be able to conceive of and build something so far beyond his own time.]

We're currently testing its regenerative effects on plant matter. If successful, this could--it could revolutionize agriculture. We could use it to restore poisoned water or soil. The medical applications alone are...immense.

here to witness the Weird Shape

[wiedzminka]

[ As agreed upon the previous day, Ciri shows up around sundown, waiting for Viktor on the west side of the quad where he'd specified they'd meet.

She greets him pleasantly, familiarly, though he may catch a pinch of worry to her brows. It hasn't escaped Ciri's attention that Viktor's been looking worse for wear than usual -- and he was already always looking worn out. She doesn't comment, though. What is there to say when she knows he's already doing everything he can, and so is Jayce? All she can do is support him.

And that includes letting Viktor show her what he's been working on. That spark of genuine excitement inspires some hope in her, too.

Ciri smiles back. ]

It is... prettier than I expected. The way it glows like that.

You really made it.

[techmaturgy]

[There are two reasons for this--the first is that he knows it will have to be destroyed, and it seems a tragedy to him that he'd have to keep his life's work a secret in this way. He can't reveal it to the public, of course, so a few trusted friends will have to do. The thought of completing such a revolutionary device only to have it languish briefly in secret until its inevitable destruction is unbearable to him.

He might want to show it off, a little.]

I had some help.

[Which he hopes will make a difference, this time. Jayce seems to think it will.]

But I wanted you to see it, before we use it. [And destroy it, after.] It's shown no indication that it will behave as it did in the nightmare.

[wiedzminka]

[ Ciri nods, walking around the table to see it at different angles, slightly fascinated. She can sense the raw energy coming off the thing (though this time, she obviously doesn't try to reach out and touch it). Instead of feeling foreboding, though, with Viktor smiling like that-- she dares to think there's a sense of hope in it instead.

She refuses to entertain other thoughts at the moment. ]

Thanks for showing me. Sincerely.

[ Ciri turns back toward him now, serious. ]

Will you tell me how you intend to use it?

[ It's not a challenge. She just wants to understand, at least vaguely, how it will work. ]

[techmaturgy]

[He's not sure if this is putting her more at ease, but he wants to make a good-faith demonstration that he's done it right, this time. It's already inoculated with his blood, and if his theories are correct, that means he'll be the only person who can properly use it.

Not that he's going to go into more detail. As unsettling as the procedure it self is, somehow that's easier to talk about, and he motions for her to look at the anatomical drawings on one of the nearby chalkboards.]

I have to give it access to the afflicted tissue. [So, he hopes that implication is clear.] Then, we use he Hexcore as a conduit for...transformative magics.