abraxaslogs | [open] january/february catchall

[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.

Edited 2023-01-15 05:00 (UTC)

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.]

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.]

Isn't there always.

[It's not said judgmentally, more a statement of fact. Because Caitlyn's pretty sure that Viktor is much like Jayce in that regards. There's always some sort of project he could be getting to, something that could be done. Sitting still and doing nothing just.. isn't in the Jayce Tallis way. She's pretty sure most genius science types have a similar compulsion, but admittedly it's not like she's met many of them.]

I'd appreciate that. Maybe it'll help make things clearer.

[Because the Hexcore was... complicated. The explanation she'd been given was simplified, but still left quite a bit that she couldn't quite be sure she was correct about it.]

It's hextech. So science, but also magic. Like most of the things you two work on.

[Talking while walking is familiar, and she falls into it easily enough.]

But that the Hexcore is something more and it's tied to you specifically. And it's the key to putting everything together.

[How, she's still a little fuzzy on, but it's not like she's the one doing any of this. Caitlyn's come to accept that her role is basically little more than moral support these days.]

[Even Viktor doesn’t fully understand the Hexcore, not that he’s going to say as much. He needs to have complete faith in it, or risk having doubts about what they’re doing and what they plan to accomplish. Things are, at least, a little clearer now, thanks in part to those accustomed to more advanced technology. They’ve help him put words to the device in a way he doesn’t think he could have done, back home.

A computer. A device programmed to execute certain tasks. To think on its own. Artificial Intelligence.]

It’s the next iteration of Hextech. An adaptive conduit for arcane forces that can be taught to perform any number of tasks.

[He brightens at this—-despite the fact that he seems exhausted, it’s clear that he’s still reserved some enthusiasm for this.]

Obviously, we’re exploring the medical applications at this time, but its potential uses are nearly limitless.

[Normally she'd brace here, because oh no. She's set off the magical science geeks again. But you know what? With everything that's going on... if he wants to wax eloquent about her work? Let him. She'll be happy to listen.]

The next... Hextech was already a miracle. You've managed to improve upon it again? Already?

[It's honestly a little hard to believe, but believe him she does. Because doing the impossible is kind of their specialty after all. So why not revolutionize the world more than once in their lifetimes? Caitlyn actually pauses to take it all in. The surprise apparent on her face.]

So it's... advanced hextech that can adapt? Grow and learn?

Already? It’s been years.

[Viktor never would have forgiven himself if they stopped with the Hexgates. The potential was too great, and Viktor is naturally impatient. Even stabilizing the crystals had happened too slowly for his liking, and Viktor never would have been happy with only tools and equipment. Not when he knew Hextech could do so much more.

Having made their way onto Academy grounds, Viktor is quick (well, relatively) to guide her into one of the buildings. He’s surreptitious about it, looking up and down the hallway, making sure they aren’t being watched when he pulls out a key and hurries her inside.

There, on the tabletop, is the device he’s talking about, casting a blue glow across the walls.]

Grow, and learn, and think. All on its own.

Yes, but before Hextech when was the last time we had a major technological advancement of this scale?

[Leave it to a genius to not realize that finding a major life altering technological advances is usually only a once in a lifetime thing. Not every few years.

Caitlyn notices, because how could she not? It doesn't take a detective like Caitlyn to realize he's trying to be furtive. But she doesn't say anything, trusts he has his reasons, and just follows obligingly.

And there it is. All blue and glowy and... not at all intimidating looking considering what it is, what it can do, and what they're hoping it'll accomplish in the future.]

Somehow I thought it'd be...bigger.

[She's feeling sheepish for admitting this even as the words are slipping out of her mouth, but it's not like she can take it back.]

Well, that wasn't my fault.

[Possibly a dig at Heimerdinger. And the Council. And Piltover in general. If Viktor and Jayce hadn't broken into the lab that night, they would have been content to dispose of the research and never think of what could have been. The lives that would have been changed. City of Progress, indeed.

Viktor shuts the door behind them and watches her admire it, clearly proud in spite of himself.]

It doesn't need to be large. The amount of power contained in those conduits is...immense. [Which explains what he says next, his face falling.] We'll have to destroy it, when we're finished.

I suppose that's true enough.

[Honestly, Caitlyn isn't really sure she can disagree with him on this. Piltover has kept a certain status quo for far too long. So much for Tomorrows and progress. The leaders had talked big, but there'd been no real motion for a long time. Maybe compared to some of the other nations? But that wasn't really a fair comparison.

The news is a surprise at first and she glances up, but after a second she's already nodding. It... makes sense. Something that powerful?]

To keep it from being weaponized?

[Jayce has talked about that situation enough she's fairly confident, but she'll still phrase it as a question nonetheless.]

[He could, of course, expound on all his many frustrations with Piltover, but it seems moot, at this point. Viktor's hope is that if his procedure is successful, his next project will be to work on the Summoning ritual, though he knows Jayce is in no hurry to return to their home. Something to think further about when they're on the other side of this.

For now, there's just the Hexcore. Viktor doesn't seem pleased to talk about how it needs to be destroyed, but he appears to have resigned himself to it.]

It seems likely. [That the military would seize it and use it to their own ends.] Given the current political climate, I don't think we should take the risk.

[Some of those frustrations are likely ones that Caitlyn even shares with him. Which might surprise him. She's pretty good at surprising people recently. But ever since she'd had her world view... expanded, Caitlyn's been looking at a lot of things differently.

Honestly, Caitlyn probably should be in a hurry to return home. There's so much left unfinished, but... she's not sure if she really wants to either. There's so much good she can do here and now. With results that she can actually see. Which... almost never happened in Piltover. Just lots of red tape and stonewalling.]

I can't really say I blame you.

[Though it definitely isn't ideal. But given how she doesn't actually know that much about the hexcore, it does lead to a question.]

But what's to stop you from recreating it again another time?

[Viktor has the answer to that, and gestures for her to get a little closer, bending slightly to indicate that she should look inside the spinning facets of the device.]

The crystal.

[It's the source of the blue glow, the rest of the Hexcore revolving around it.]

We had to make a deal with a researcher at the Academy. The government doesn't know we have it. [And they probably aren't going to be happy, when they find out.] So, it's unlikely we'll be able to make another, at least without direct access to the power source.

[And bend down she does, not reaching out to touch. Not that close and comfy with it, but enough to really get a good look.]

Is there no way to separate them? Destroy the main mechanism, but hide the crystal?

[Sure, this is probably stuff they've thought about. But she used to do this for Jayce. It helped sometimes, having a set of eyes that's not used to the project or how things work. Goodness knows she's a little too familiar with hidden, deadly crystals. Damned things. Which... is probably reason enough it's not a good idea. But it does seem like a terrible waste.]

The thing you're planning. You think the government will find out?

[Making deals with the Academic types isn't a surprise. But if the government doesn't know... how would they find out?]

It's beautiful Viktor. I mean that.

[The blue had always struck her as a lovely color. Even if it also carried with it a tinge of warning given everything that's happened because of it.]

No, once installed, extracting the crystal is too dangerous.

[She should know how volatile these things can be. Installing the crystal has imbued the entire device with arcane power—-they won’t be able to separate it now that they’ve begun. Viktor is just going to have to figure out how to live with it.]

I believe that the government monitors us, yes. I also believe that this is far beyond what they could conceive of, technologically. If we destroy everything it’s unlikely they’ll be able to retrace our steps, even if they’re watching.

[Of course, he’d much rather the government stay in the dark, but he knows it’s unlikely. The longer this drags on, the greater their chances of being found out. Predictably, he doesn’t seem happy about it, but a smile pulls at the corners of his mouth when she offers the compliment.]

Thank you. I only wish I could do more with it.

[Saving himself, and then destroying it, seems selfish, even though he knows it’s an irrational thought.]

Edited 2023-01-28 20:05 (UTC)

[Her protests die before they can even start. The urge to say 'But that's what they said about hextech too' going unsaid. Now really isn't the time. Ultimately, he does know way more than she ever could about how this stuff works.]

You've probably already thought this through, forgive me.

[It's more formal than she'd be with say... Jayce, but that stands to reason. Viktor isn't Jayce and she ultimately doesn't know him anywhere near as well. If that means relying somewhat on the manners hammered into her by her mother? Well, that's not too unusual for her, darn her mother for being right far too often.]

I'd be surprised if they weren't.

[The political situation here seemed just as complicated as the one back home. Maybe even more so, if just by nature of there being more groups involved.]

Maybe not now, but maybe one day.

[There's a hint of a smile, allowing the playfulness that she'd show around Jayce display with his partner.]

If you work anything like Jayce this just means you'll just use it as fuel to do even more, find something even better someday.

[A block in the road is ultimately just a stepping stone to new progress. She's seen how the genius types work. Enough to be overtly fond of them for it. Only, usually when Jayce isn't around to see it. Perish the thought.]

If there was a way, we'd do it.

[Given time, Viktor thinks he could figure out how to extract the crystal, but every day they spend working on the Hexcore is more of a chance for the government to discover it. He isn't going to have a chance to dismantle it safely or carefully--destroying it, comparatively, is easy.

He hopes, anyway. There must have been some reason why he couldn't do it, in that vision he saw of Jayce's future.

But that's not for Caitlyn to worry about. He offers her a smile, though it's a bit strained around the edges, given the situation. Her sentiment, at least, is understood.]

I hope so. There's much more I'd like to do.

Of course. I don't doubt that.

[Time. One of their biggest enemies. Always. It's getting a little old, but it's not like there's anything they could do about it. At least not this time, not right now. So, it's certainly better to be safe than sorry in this case. Because giving the hexcore to a government? Absolutely not.]

And you'll have the chance to do them and plenty of other things you haven't even thought about yet.

[Little miss optimist, that's her. Full of idealism and dreams still, despite everything.]

Is there anything I could help you with now?

[Sure, she's not as good as Jayce or an Actual Scientist. But she knows enough and is used to assisting. So it doesn't hurt to ask.]

[Viktor nods, and sighs, an indication that he certainly has enough to think about, in that department. They just have to get through all this, first.

Unfortunately, there isn't much to do, practically, beyond reconfiguring the runic array and testing and adjusting and testing again, which is the fairly boring part of scientific progress. Still...]

Just company, if you have the time.

[She certainly doesn't have to stay--in fact, the fewer people in here, the better, probably, but Viktor is only human. He's spent too many nights working by himself in the lab to know how desperately lonely it can be.]

[Luckily, Caitlyn has had to translate a fair amount of sighs in her life. So she can figure out more or less what this one means.

Seems fortunate, that there's only tying things together, doing checks left. If they had much more to do that would have been... difficult considering.]

I have time.

[Even if she hadn't, she would have made some for this. Especially with him outright asking for it. How could she turn him down? Easy answer, Caitlyn couldn't.

Besides, it's not exactly odd for Caitlyn to spend time around here. Not entirely odd anyway.]

Is this a conversational companionship or would you prefer I just sit here for now. I'm fine either way. I've done both for Jayce before.

Thank you.

[Viktor swallows hard and nods, perhaps slightly embarrassed by even that tiny moment of weakness. He doesn’t need conversation, really, but having another body in the room could prove to be comforting. All of that, however, feels a bit too personal to admit, so he deflects.]

You don’t—we don’t need to talk, if you’d rather not.

[Or, at least, she shouldn’t feel obligated.]

Jayce will be back soon.

It's my pleasure.

[Oh Viktor... that's not weakness, that's just called being human. Luckily for him, Caitlyn's been aware of his status as a living person for quite some time now. So it's not a new or surprising revelation.]

I wouldn't want to be a distraction. [A pause] But it does seem like an opportune time to get to know each other better.

[It goes unspoken that considering their importance to Jayce, it seems logical that their relationship should be worked on considering. It's only sensible since they'll be in each other's lives for the foreseeable]

Of course.

[open] january/february catchall

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