[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]

They'll keep an eye on the plant over the course of the evening--Viktor still doesn't expect the effect to last, but they're in much better place than they were when they started. Still, there's so much that could go wrong.

"I wish we didn't have to." It's working--the Hexcore is working, and they're going to have to destroy it as soon as they know it won't have an adverse effect on him, simply because of the government. For as much as Viktor knows that the Hexcore could do immeasurable good, the risk of keeping it active when it will most certainly be co-opted by the military is too great. He understands that now, but it still stings. His life's work, existing for so brief a time, and helping only him. "Think of everything we could do with it."

Jayce's hand is heavy and familiar on his shoulder, but this time he doesn't stay where he is. He leans into it, shifting his weight until he's tucked himself under Jayce's arm, enjoying the small comfort in the fact that he doesn't have to stop himself, anymore. "I'm sorry. I should be glad for this. We're so close."

[hextechhead]

"I know, V." Jayce puts his full arm around Viktor when he willingly comes in closer, holding him close. It seems like forever ago that he was afraid to do more than put a hand on his back, that it seemed too close to personal, and he lived off those crumbs. But all of it led here. And the Hexcore will push them past the now into the future, a real one, for both of them.

He can see all the ways that it could do good, but for him, nothing matters more than Viktor's life. That is what it was made for, and he will dismantle it so that it ends there. He knows it's hard though, for Viktor. This is a beautiful and incredible machine he created, one that lives in a way no technology can. Jayce kisses the top of his head.

"We'll come up with something else afterward, love. With our minds, we have unlimited opportunities. This isn't the end of our ideas." It doesn't have to be Viktor's life work. If he has a lot more life left, that could come later. It will always be hard because of the army, but they'll work around that. Viktor's mind is what matters.

[techmaturgy]

He lingers, in spite of himself. Viktor has come around to the fact that he's allowed to seek comfort, especially in his situation, but there's still a part of him that tries to pull away. He fights the urge for at least a few moments longer than he might ordinarily, tucking against Jayce's side, resting his forehead against his chest.

Perhaps later, he'll have more to say about the trips he wants to take when this is done, or how they should hide his notes, so they can build this again if they think it's safe. Now, however, there's still work to be done, as tempting as it is to stay exactly here. Jayce is right--what matters is that he lives, so he can continue to create, and improve lives, and it isn't selfish of him to want that.

"A good experiment is replicable." Not that he needs to say as much. "We have to do it again."

And again, and again, until they're absolutely certain.

Wrap on this!

[hextechhead]

Jayce thinks it's unlikely they can keep any of their notes, but luckily their brains are plenty useful on their own. They might not be able to exactly replicate every number, but they probably could find their way back to this, some day. The only use he cares about with the Hexcore is this one. He can remember looking at Viktor nearly wasted away, and it's made him a little more skeptical of the device. It is beautiful and it is going to be everything they need, but maybe it's too dangerous, in the long-term.

"Okay, time for the repetitive part." He taps Viktor's chin up and kisses him very briefly, a light touch, and then a kiss to his forehead as well. No distraction. He just does it because he can. "Let's get started."