Viktor (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
techmaturgy) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2023-01-09 11:31 pm
techmaturgy) wrote in abraxaslogs2023-01-09 11:31 pm
Entry tags:
- altaïr ibn-la'ahad; the magician,
- alucard; the hierophant,
- caitlyn kiramman; strength,
- cirilla of cintra; the devil,
- claude von riegan; the wheel of fortune,
- hilda goneril; the lovers,
- jayce talis; the magician,
- nadine cross; the world,
- stephen strange; death,
- steve rogers; the hierophant,
- tony stark; the magician,
- viktor; death
[open] january/february catchall
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 ![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
whitticus and on discord at whitticus#8139.]
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.
no subject
[ Not any more than barging into his home and stealing his work, anyway. Ciri pulls up a chair across from the bed, so she's not hovering. Takes a good long look at him, as if to make sure no one tried to rough him up (he looks rough enough on his own).
After a moment, she sighs and just pushes the basket closer. ]
What are you afraid they might do with what's left?
[ She doesn't ask why he didn't burn all of it, though there is that underlying question. How much was left? ]
no subject
[That's only partially true, which he makes clear with a roll of his eyes. They'd given Viktor the chance to turn over his research and his keys, and from his recovery bed he'd staunchly refused. In response, the officials raided the apartment, and now will be doing the same for the lab and the workshop and anywhere else they deem suspicious.
Viktor was foolish, to think he could get away with this, but he also knows it could be worse. He offers Ciri a shrug.]
Reverse engineer it. Turn it into a weapon.
[You know, the usual.]
no subject
Ciri crosses an ankle over her knee, settling into her chair. At his response, her frown deepens. It's not an unexpected answer overall, but-- ]
I thought you destroyed it precisely for that reason.
Do you really think the leftover scraps you hadn't gotten to can be reverse engineered to that extent?
[ Assuming they'd been scraps at all, and he'd gone in order of most to least important. Ciri has little understanding of the actual work and science that goes into it, but she knows this is the outcome Viktor wanted to avoid at the cost of destroying his greatest accomplishment. Surely he wouldn't have only half-done a job that important. ]
no subject
[He sounds defeated, hands folding over each other limply in his lap. Ostensibly, the scientists and researchers here are not as advanced, but he knows that Klingel is very smart, and obsessive. It's possible he or someone else that Viktor hasn't accounted for could puzzle it out, given enough time.]
The Hexcore was user-locked to me. [In that he'd inoculated it with his own blood, though he's not convinced that they won't try.] So they'd have to start from the beginning, at least.
no subject
[ Unless they decide to try to come after Viktor, if they are indeed so determined to figure it out and can't. It is practical, but also dangerous, that he may be the only one to use such a powerful magical source. And okay, she may be projecting just a little, but it feels like a valid concern. ]
Do they know that? About you being the only one who can use it.
no subject
[But if they find out, they could come after him, or try it with one of their own. Viktor has hope that blood magic will be so taboo that they won't even attempt, but Klingel has never really struck Viktor as the kind of person who would let that stop him.]
They might try to build their own, but unless they're willing to entertain certain taboos, they may find it difficult.
no subject
[ That's a small relief. ]
Who knows what they're willing to entertain or not? But either way, it sounds like it would be a long while away. And they're starting further back than you, considering this was something you devoted so much time to before coming here.
What I'm saying is-- it's a problem for the future. You need your rest. As long as they have no reason to come after you, directly, for the time being, perhaps it's better not to dwell on it.
[ Easier said than done, she knows. Ciri tone is reasonable, gentle. They've taken what they could already. Short of running after them and causing even more problems, there's nothing they can do. ]
Is there anything else still here? Or elsewhere?
Anything you need help with taking care of?
no subject
[Because there is a future now, one he's still having a bit of trouble coming to terms with. He imagines it will all settle in time. Ciri is right--he's barely had a chance to process anything, let alone what he wants to do, now that he has the time for it.
But, thankfully, it's thrilling more than it is frightening. He'll always have the anxiety about the potential misuse of his work, but he knows he did everything he could to safeguard it. Whatever happens now is out of his hands.]
They didn't take everything. [That is, Viktor may have squirreled a few notes away, prior to the procedure, not that he plans to build the Hexcore again.] The only thing I need is an antidote for boredom.
no subject
[ She teases, cracking a smile again. Not asking about the things they didn't take.
Ciri reaches into one of the small leather bags at her belt and pulls out a couple of velvet drawstring pouches. ]
I have dice, cards, and my dagger wit. Also real daggers, but let's save knife throwing games for another time.
You finish that puzzle already?
no subject
[The company is nice. It would be easy to withdraw, after this, but Viktor is slowly coming around to indulging in the company of friends, especially now that he's feeling better. Turns out ridding himself of terminal illness does quite a bit for his mood.
She's right that he doesn't need to be throwing knives, but at the mention of the puzzle box, he reaches over to his bedside table and produces it.]
I did, yes. But it did provide a challenge, so you can give my compliments to the craftsperson.
no subject
[ Ciri laughs. She knew it had to be something difficult to keep his attention, so after Jayce had given her the good news that he was recovering, she'd spent a few days searching the more niche shops of Cadens and even some in Libertas to find something worthwhile. It's great to hear that Viktor found it entertaining. ]
I'm sure you figured it out already, but they told me that once solved, you can access the hidden compartments to actually store items inside if you wish, so it's not just a decorative piece.
[ Probably not supremely useful, but not only a fancy paperweight. ]
Maybe you can hide something for Jayce inside and see how long it takes him to find it.
no subject
[Of course he did--Viktor hadn't stopped until he'd explored every nook and cranny of the box, which means that yes, he's figured out the hidden compartment. Possibly he has plans for it.]
And I made note of my time. [The time it took to solve the puzzle, that is.] I'll have to see if he can beat it. [And, a small smile.]
Thank you, Ciri. It was a welcome distraction.