[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]

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.