[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

[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.]

[assembles]

He told me enough.

[ Both with words and without them. Tony had told him way more than he'd probably wanted to, because Steve has spent enough time with him to be able to read between the lines — and Tony's never been that good at hiding what's on his mind in the first place.

So Steve knows there's a part of Tony, deep down, that's scared that Viktor isn't going to survive.

He moves further into the workshop, but doesn't sit. He's getting the distinct sense that he's not exactly welcome. He just also happens to be stubborn. ]

Do you have any idea what the chances are that this works?

[ Has he even considered the alternative? ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor nods, making an affirmative noise in the back of his throat. He supposes it doesn't matter what Tony said, and it's not as though he finds Steve untrustworthy. Everyone's going to have to cope with this in one way or another, and Viktor can't exactly begrudge how his friends go about it.

He doesn't stop Steve moving further into the workshop, though he does heave a sigh, as if recognizing the stubbornness and making it known that he won't be objecting.]

It's experimental, untested technology. [He doesn't want to put a percentage on it. Viktor believes in his own work more than most other things, but he has to be appropriately realistic. He can't get his hopes up.] It's just as likely to kill me as it is to cure me.

[A shrug, the implication clear.] I would rather take that chance, than weather the alternative, at this point.

[assembles]

[ "Just as likely." It's not quite a percentage, no, but it gives Steve an idea of what to brace for here. They've got some incredible minds working on this, so he wants to believe that Viktor will survive, but he also understands that sometimes there's no miracle cure. To say nothing about the million things that could go wrong in the middle of the operation.

Still, he takes Viktor's point with a firm nod. Of course he would at least want to try, if the alternative is a steady decline until his body gives out on him.

Living in a ticking time bomb — yeah, it's a bad beat. ]

You're gonna be on the table, right? [ A magical lung transplant, is what he thinks Tony called it. ] If you're willing to hear me out, I might have something that could turn the odds in your favor. [ They've talked about it before, but Steve still stretches on arm out, the fingers of his opposite hand touching at his inner elbow, over the vein there. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor's expression is hard, like he expects Steve to offer him pity, or something else that he's sick of, by now. When he simply nods in understanding, Viktor seems a bit surprised, even moreso when it becomes clear what Steve is offering.]

Does Tony know about this?

[Tony, who seemed incredibly alarmed by the possibility of Viktor seeking out the answer to the enhancement serum. Now Steve is here, seemingly offering his own blood if it gives Viktor a better chance. What he doesn't say is that he's already explored this, with Alucard. This might be superfluous, but Viktor is curious to hear Steve out regardless.]

I was told your blood is dangerous.

[Said, however, like he doesn't believe it.]

[assembles]

[ At the question, Steve shakes his head. It's not like he came here intending to go over Tony's head or anything like that, because he's pretty sure at this point he'd accept anything that might up Viktor's chances of survival. ]

I'll let him know, if you decide you want to take me up on the offer.

[ Maybe it will turn into an argument, maybe it won't. These days he'd say it's about fifty-fifty with him and Tony.

And then he glances back down at that large vein in the center of his forearm. ] It's dangerous if you're using it to try and make someone like me. Enhanced. But I'm offering it for its potential healing properties. Assuming you could take a transfusion of it, if our blood types are compatible, it might make you more likely to survive the surgery.

[ He can't say that for certain, but at this point shouldn't Viktor be open to any possibility? The procedure is already experimental, he said that himself. ]

[techmaturgy]

He's very opposed to an attempt to give myself superhuman abilities.

[Which is, probably, what had offended Viktor so much about that conversation in the first place. Viktor doesn't want superhuman abilities--he's not seeking power, or strength. He just wants to live.

The funny thing is, of course, that Viktor has already gone this route. Maybe if Steve's implied offer hadn't been so fraught, he would have gone in this direction, instead. Almost laughable, that Alucard's blood would somehow be less complicated.

That gets a small laugh out of him, more an exhalation than anything else.]

We've already developed a serum. Using blood with similar properties, actually. [Not that he's going to say whose blood.] I'm glad you had the thought, but I don't want you to feel this is something you need to do.

[assembles]

[ Steve knows why Tony had opposed that idea, having seen firsthand what happened to Bruce, but that's far from what Steve is suggesting. He knows better than anyone how bad of an idea it is to try and make any more super-soldiers, and he doubts that's what Viktor would want anyway.

Still, it sounds like Viktor has everything covered. With... similar blood. That's enough to seize Steve's attention, one eyebrow lifting because he can't help but be curious. Who has blood like him? The first person he thinks of is Geralt, but he isn't about to invade anyone's privacy by asking. ]

I came here because I wanted to. [ He may not know Viktor that well, but he's seen all the good that he and Jayce have tried to do while here. Not just for the Summoned, but for the people of the Free Cities. He's heard about Viktor's raison d'être from Jayce, how it was spurred on by the horrible conditions he grew up in.

The truth is, no one should have to die this young. But Steve can come up with a whole other list of reasons why not, in Viktor's case. ]

If you think my blood would be redundant, then fair enough. No harm, no foul. [ He lifts both hands in front of him in a conceding gesture. ] But I've got plenty of it to spare, so if you change your mind on that, just say the word.

[techmaturgy]

[Even saying that much is something of a risk, so predictably he doesn't elaborate further. Despite this, however, he seems to be seriously considering Steve's offer. After a moment, he shakes his head.]

I couldn't ask you to do that.

[So, yes, it seems like he does think he could find a use for Steve's blood, if it's being offered. Having admitted, however, that it's at least slightly superfluous, it feels selfish to ask for it regardless.]

But it must be a good idea, if we both thought of it.

[assembles]

Sure you could. You also don't have to ask — I already offered.

[ Still, it seems like Viktor is toying with the idea if nothing else. If he feels bad for taking some of Steve's blood, he really doesn't need to, given how fast it replenishes.

Steve takes a quick look around the workspace, as if searching out any medical supplies that he might need to safely remove and store some blood. Nothing is immediately popping out at him, but he knows he could go to Nadine if he had to.

Maybe he shouldn't be that forceful, anyway. ] But fair enough, just know that the offer stands. [ There's a brief pause, then, as he looks back to Viktor, his expression returning to one of careful concern. ] ... Will you be awake? During the operation.

[techmaturgy]

Yes. Okay. I'll let you know.

[Offer understood, even if Viktor seems to have this covered. The prospect of accepting regardless is tempting, which means he needs to cut this topic of conversation short before he does something stupid.

Even more stupid than what he already has planned, as Steve is quick to address. Luckily, Viktor seems to recognize this as well, nodding.]

The device, it's, eh. Locked. To a specific user. So, I'll have to be.

[assembles]

[ Does that mean, to some extent, that Viktor will be performing his own surgery? Steve's frown deepens at the thought, but he knows that if nothing else, Jayce and Tony will be present.

Besides, he can't give advice on that in particular, but there is a reason he asked. He squares his shoulders and crosses his arms over his chest, sizing Viktor up for a moment. He can almost see that the pain is now weighing him down, pressing into his bones, but the fight hasn't left him yet. There's still that driven, unconquerable look in his eye. ]

I don't know all the details, but... chances are it's gonna be painful, right? It's gonna hurt like hell. [ This is the part no one wants to acknowledge or talk about, but Steve's been there. ] There may be moments when you want to just stop, when you're screaming so much that everyone else around you wants to stop too. Just... find some way to push through it. If that means mentally going somewhere else, or picking a thought or image to focus on until it's over, you just have to hold on.

[ That small speech, if it could be called that, is delivered with the intensity of someone who's speaking from experience. He clears his throat when he's done, then steps forward to grip Viktor's shoulder, tilting his head down to meet his gaze. ]

You've got this. All right?

[techmaturgy]

[If Viktor had to sit and think about how many personal motivational speeches he’s recieved in his life, he’d probably be able to count them on one hand. As such, he doesn’t really understand what Steve is trying to do until about halfway through. Even then, Viktor reads between the lines. Outright asking about the procedure that enhanced his physiology to such a degree seems far too personal, but he can tell that the things Steve is saying are things he’s experienced. He’s giving Viktor advice in the way that he knows how.]

I’m not afraid of pain.

[He’s been living with it for much of his life. Viktor is much more frightened of failure than anything he might have to withstand during the procedure. The touch to his shoulder surprises him a little, though he doesn’t move away or otherwise reject it. Awkward as this is, he can understand and appreciate the sentiment.]

Thank you, Steve. We’ll be in touch after.