[It had been a little while since Caitlyn had heard from Viktor. It was nothing unusual, getting radio silence from him for days, but since Viktor wasn't the most social of people and Jayce wasn't here to make sure he was taking care of himself, Caitlyn felt obligated to fill that position. They were friends, so she worried about him, even if they weren't as close as she was to Jayce. Still. She knew how rough this place could be, and wanted to help him adjust to this new world as best she could.
Since it's been a bit, Caitlyn decided to pay him a visit. It was unannounced, even though it wasn't a spur of the moment decision. She honestly wondered if maybe unannounced was better, that way he couldn't tell her not to come. He'd feel obligated to let her in, and she could actually see how he was doing.
So here she was, knocking on the door to his place. A bag was tucked in her arms, filled with some goodies she had made (some simple danishes, as well as a handful of egg bites with various toppings), as well as her favorite blend of tea. If nothing else, she can make sure he has some food while she checked up on him.]
[ viktor's place is, as a matter of fact, also his workshop — a house a little out of the way and yet not too far that he can't still make it to the city on foot, not too large but enough for a separate room for the workshop, and another for the office (which, yes, he uses as his bedroom). there's also a kitchen tucked away at the back, barely more than a cubicle.
under normal circumstances, viktor isn't too slow to open the door, even when not expecting visitors... but this time, caitlyn finds herself waiting on the doorstep for ten, twenty, thirty seconds, then a minute, minute and a half... it is enough that one might imagine he isn't home — except then there's sounds from the inside, the familiar clank of his crutch against the floor, and as the door is pushed open —
to say that viktor looks bad would be an understatement. the skin under his eyes is purple with sleeplessness, his cheeks grey and gaunt, and there is a speckle of blood on the side of his mouth like a particularly gory beauty mark, left from coughing out copious amounts of blood for the past minute or so. ]
Caitlyn. [ he does his level best to sound normal, whatever that means... but his voice is rough and tired, and he leans on his crutch like it truly is the only thing holding him upright. ] What brings you here?
[Caitlyn always knew Viktor was frail, but this was on an entirely different level. She hadn't been in the Uppercity when Viktor had been given his prognosis, and when she had returned, she hadn't exactly talked to Jayce long enough to learn anything, so seeing Viktor like this is shocking news.]
Viktor-- are you alright? I hadn't heard from you in a little while, so I wanted to check on you-- I brought food, but-- You don't look well. Have you been sick?
[Her eyes flicker to the blood on his chin, then back to his eyes, concern filling hers. She doesn't want to just barge into his home, but he looks rough, and she wants to help him. Jayce would kill her, too, if something happened to his partner under her watch.]
[ oh. oh. viktor grimaces, looking away and then at the ground — the uncomfortable realisation that caitlyn doesn't know hits him as she speaks, and, well. he never really had to tell anyone, back home, jayce took care of that... so this is effectively the first time he has to force the words from his lips. ]
You haven't heard, [ he says, stalling, before he sighs; only, the breath catches in his lungs once more and he descends into another coughing fit, turning away so caitlyn doesn't have to watch him... or that he doesn't have to see her expression.
once he gets his breathing under control, he turns back to her, glancing at her before looking away once more. ] I'm dying, Caitlyn. I don't have long. The doctors... the prognosis was very clear. [ a pause. ] I'm sorry. I thought Jayce had told you.
[Any questions burning in her head disappear when he launches into another coughing spell. The bag of goodies are set aside and she forces her way inside, grabbing a chair and making him sit. Even as he turns to avoid her gaze, she keeps her eyes on him, watching and waiting for the fit to pass.
It was the gasses from the Undercity, wasn't it? She's heard enough about them to know. And her mother had helped fund some of the ventilation systems to help make it better. Even with him escaping the fumes and spending the past several years in Piltover, it seems the poisoned air caught up with him anyway.]
After the Council meeting, I didn't have anything else to say to him, and then... too much happened too quickly.
[And then she was here, and feeling very guilty about missing out on some very important details. Suddenly, him not caring so much when she told him of the attack on the Council made sense. He didn't care if he died, because he knew his death was coming soon anyway.]
Have you seen a healer here? They know of medicines from other worlds, maybe they can give you something. Help stabilize you, or...if nothing else, give you some relief. [She knows death isn't permanent here, but that's always been in scenarios where they were killed by something here. What happened when someone died from something they entered the simulation already suffering with?]
[she. has so many mixed feelings about contacting Viktor right now. she lowkey wants to know what he knows, if he'd disappeared too, but she's not going to ask him right out. this place does weird things to people's memories, and she knows this.]
so... i have an idea on how you can pay me back, now.
[ the text fails to carry the relief that he's feeling — he'd checked lupin and caitlyn's office several times, just to see if either of them was back; and he's not the type to trust hope too much, so there is some genuine surprise there, too, that she is here again, truly. ]
[she's still not sure what to do about him. but the point is eventually end up seeing him and seeing... what's up with all that!]
i know you didn't want your inventions to turn into weapons. but Jayce... [LMFAO] well, i took the atlas gauntlets from Jayce. they're kind of beat up though, do you mind if i bring them by?
then you know i told him he'd have to kill another trencher before he took them from me. so... more my fault than his.
[she sighs. she does feel kind of bad, she really does. Viktor seemed so pure about his vision...]
i don't use them against anything that doesn't deserve it. but... stuff here isn't always beaten by just using some random woman's fists. i couldn't even stand up against someone with Vander's gauntlets.
[It's early in the 25th morning. Most people are still sleeping and the sun is only about to send its first rays to break the darkness of the night sky. But then there is a sudden knock on a door. Huh?! Who could it be! Whenever Viktor gets to the door, be it immediately or hours late they will find a christmas wreath with white roses placed on their doorstep. There might even be snowy (or wet!) small hoof marks leading away from the present. Hm. I wonder, who indeed did deliver this?
On the wreath there is a letter that reads:]
To Viktor,
I hope you have found Aldrip treating you well, despite the rough start. Please, if there is anything you might need help with do not hesitate to let me know. Those born with less ought to support each other. There will be a feast held at the Inn’s tavern for the next 12 days and I welcome you to enjoy it for free. There will be warm food, treats and homemade mead and wine for you to indulge in. I hope to see you there.
Merry Christmas.
Signed, Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester
[ooc: There will be no ic mingle log for the feast. But feel free to either handwave or thread it out!]
[Late morning on December 29th, Viktor would hear a knock at the door. For once, it was not Caitlyn, but an employee of the bar she sent on a delivery run. The man delivered three packages.
The first, a personal sized chocolate cake. It was poorly iced, clearly pointing to the fact that it was completely homemade, and some angles were definitely off. Don't judge, Caitlyn tried her best!! She's new to this whole baking thing, especially with only one eye.
The second, a goodie bag of various other treats, like she always brings him. Homemade egg muffins, breads, cookies, and such.
The third, a gift-wrapped box. When opened, it reveals a textbook on some science topic that she can't begin to comprehend.
There's also a handwritten note inside that simply says 'Happy Birthday -C' in a very elegant script.]
[Silco understood the value of this current state, and he was unwilling to face whatever this world required and lose this inspiration. It reminded him far too much of the good old days when he had killed Vander and took the Lanes by force, pulling the levels of the undercity under his rule through his Chem-Barons. It had been such a rush.
There was a certain prowling spring in his step as he made his way to Viktor and formally boy genius' scientific research laboratory. He had kept his distance in the past to determine how much Viktor would be tempered with the presence of the Councilor, but that seemed a moot point. No, this was the time for action.
He stepped into the laboratory and his blue eyes moved around to search for Viktor. Under the effects of the wish seed, he looked healthier with a few extra inches to his height and filled out with muscle across his frame. His left eye glowed blue like a hextech gemstone rather than red, and he seemed perfectly confident with the subtle changes to his own appearance.]
It's been awhile, boy. What inventions have you created for the betterment of the city and its population?
[ is this the first time silco has been in the laboratory since it appeared here, in this place? perhaps. viktor has certainly never invited him to visit, and it seemed the fact jayce was there more often than not had kept him at a distance... so with jayce's disappearance, of course silco would show up.
show up looking markedly different, at that. viktor hadn't seen anyone during the black beast debacle; had read about the wish seeds, yes, but never seen their effect in action... until now.
his only way of acknowledging that is the raise of his brows, and then he turns back to his table, saying, ] I would remind you I am over thirty years old.
[ a sigh. ] It is not an easy process, not that I expect you to understand... but it is not as simple as inventing. We do not exist in a world that obeys any laws that normal worlds do; there is a chance anything I do invent will be undone simply because the simulation rewrites it so.
[The partner was loud and arrogant, so it was best to not tangle with him and ostracize what little he had with Viktor. Besides, he had other matters to attend to and avoiding those of Runeterra had crept up the list, but they were all disappearing again to leave the original four plus Viktor. Perhaps he would stay. Perhaps he would not.
Silco walked smoothly around the lab, examining it. He had been in many little workshops that inventors had set up, including that of the doctor, his daughter and other inventors in need of funding for their wild ideas. This place was generally cleaner than the others, but it also showed signed of works in progress too.]
I'll remind you that still makes you young enough to be my offspring. [Not that Silco was interested or cared for such dalliances. He had been too busy surviving back then, scratching out a living.]
So, boy, you have nothing to show for all of your efforts? Perhaps there is a lack of motivation based on the excuses I'm hearing. The simulation holds us, but we operate within it rather freely. You simply need to convince it that what you have enhances rather than detracts from it. [Said like it could be that simple. He knew it wasn't that way.
He switched tracks.] Resources are dwindling. You're finding enough to eat?
[ he huffs out a wry laugh; yes, alright, he's got a point. and though he glances at silco as he walks around, he doesn't stop him — doesn't make any move, in fact, letting him see whatever he wants to see. one table is full of papers not in viktor's handwriting, mostly consisting of different types of augmentations one might do, even on the medical side, with a particularly detailed drawing of a set of artificial lungs.
on his side of the room, there is a pile of different things: parts that look like they might belong to a robot, or perhaps a scrapped design of one; a blackboard full of complicated calculations for a backup power system fueled by the hexgems in the city right now; and in another corner, drawings for a small device, enough to be held in the palm of his hand. ]
Nothing is not entirely accurate. [ he waves his hand haphazardly at the blackboard, ] It might be possible to build an entire network of backup power in Aldrip. The number of hexgems we possess would make it possible, but it would be unstable. The hexgems are not reliable, here. [ then, he picks up a prototype of the device and holds it out for silco. ]
This is meant to track monsters. I am still refining the mechanism... but if it is successful, it would make life here safer for everyone.
Being naked goes against safe laboratory practices.
[ ha ha, get the joke, like anything in hextech has ever been done according to safe laboratory practices... anyway. the only way that'd happen would be if he was showering, in which case he wouldn't be responding, so no worries. ]
I'm sorry to prove you wrong, but my house did not make it... so come straight to the back.
[ previously, his house stood closer to the street, while the entire laboratory occupied the space behind it; now there is no house, but luckily the lab doubles as such for him. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
action;
Since it's been a bit, Caitlyn decided to pay him a visit. It was unannounced, even though it wasn't a spur of the moment decision. She honestly wondered if maybe unannounced was better, that way he couldn't tell her not to come. He'd feel obligated to let her in, and she could actually see how he was doing.
So here she was, knocking on the door to his place. A bag was tucked in her arms, filled with some goodies she had made (some simple danishes, as well as a handful of egg bites with various toppings), as well as her favorite blend of tea. If nothing else, she can make sure he has some food while she checked up on him.]
cw: terminal illness...
under normal circumstances, viktor isn't too slow to open the door, even when not expecting visitors... but this time, caitlyn finds herself waiting on the doorstep for ten, twenty, thirty seconds, then a minute, minute and a half... it is enough that one might imagine he isn't home — except then there's sounds from the inside, the familiar clank of his crutch against the floor, and as the door is pushed open —
to say that viktor looks bad would be an understatement. the skin under his eyes is purple with sleeplessness, his cheeks grey and gaunt, and there is a speckle of blood on the side of his mouth like a particularly gory beauty mark, left from coughing out copious amounts of blood for the past minute or so. ]
Caitlyn. [ he does his level best to sound normal, whatever that means... but his voice is rough and tired, and he leans on his crutch like it truly is the only thing holding him upright. ] What brings you here?
no subject
Viktor-- are you alright? I hadn't heard from you in a little while, so I wanted to check on you-- I brought food, but-- You don't look well. Have you been sick?
[Her eyes flicker to the blood on his chin, then back to his eyes, concern filling hers. She doesn't want to just barge into his home, but he looks rough, and she wants to help him. Jayce would kill her, too, if something happened to his partner under her watch.]
no subject
You haven't heard, [ he says, stalling, before he sighs; only, the breath catches in his lungs once more and he descends into another coughing fit, turning away so caitlyn doesn't have to watch him... or that he doesn't have to see her expression.
once he gets his breathing under control, he turns back to her, glancing at her before looking away once more. ] I'm dying, Caitlyn. I don't have long. The doctors... the prognosis was very clear. [ a pause. ] I'm sorry. I thought Jayce had told you.
no subject
It was the gasses from the Undercity, wasn't it? She's heard enough about them to know. And her mother had helped fund some of the ventilation systems to help make it better. Even with him escaping the fumes and spending the past several years in Piltover, it seems the poisoned air caught up with him anyway.]
After the Council meeting, I didn't have anything else to say to him, and then... too much happened too quickly.
[And then she was here, and feeling very guilty about missing out on some very important details. Suddenly, him not caring so much when she told him of the attack on the Council made sense. He didn't care if he died, because he knew his death was coming soon anyway.]
Have you seen a healer here? They know of medicines from other worlds, maybe they can give you something. Help stabilize you, or...if nothing else, give you some relief. [She knows death isn't permanent here, but that's always been in scenarios where they were killed by something here. What happened when someone died from something they entered the simulation already suffering with?]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text un: punchesu
so... i have an idea on how you can pay me back, now.
no subject
[ the text fails to carry the relief that he's feeling — he'd checked lupin and caitlyn's office several times, just to see if either of them was back; and he's not the type to trust hope too much, so there is some genuine surprise there, too, that she is here again, truly. ]
What do you want me to do?
no subject
[she's still not sure what to do about him. but the point is eventually end up seeing him and seeing... what's up with all that!]
i know you didn't want your inventions to turn into weapons. but Jayce... [LMFAO] well, i took the atlas gauntlets from Jayce. they're kind of beat up though, do you mind if i bring them by?
no subject
[ it is sometimes difficult to carry tone over text, but that particular sentence just about drips dry disapproval. ]
You want me to fix the gauntlets that were never meant to see battle, so you can use them to fight some more?
Fine. Just because I owe you. But I do not condone your use of them.
no subject
[she sighs. she does feel kind of bad, she really does. Viktor seemed so pure about his vision...]
i don't use them against anything that doesn't deserve it. but... stuff here isn't always beaten by just using some random woman's fists. i couldn't even stand up against someone with Vander's gauntlets.
you busy now?
(no subject)
im crying what happened to my html in the last tag SMFH
shhh we do not see it
that's what i get for phone tagging lmfao
ah yes..... the dangers of phone tagging are real
incredibly real...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
IC delivery
On the wreath there is a letter that reads:]
To Viktor,
I hope you have found Aldrip treating you well, despite the rough start. Please, if there is anything you might need help with do not hesitate to let me know. Those born with less ought to support each other. There will be a feast held at the Inn’s tavern for the next 12 days and I welcome you to enjoy it for free. There will be warm food, treats and homemade mead and wine for you to indulge in. I hope to see you there.
Merry Christmas.
Signed,
Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester
[ooc: There will be no ic mingle log for the feast. But feel free to either handwave or thread it out!]
12/29
The first, a personal sized chocolate cake. It was poorly iced, clearly pointing to the fact that it was completely homemade, and some angles were definitely off. Don't judge, Caitlyn tried her best!! She's new to this whole baking thing, especially with only one eye.
The second, a goodie bag of various other treats, like she always brings him. Homemade egg muffins, breads, cookies, and such.
The third, a gift-wrapped box. When opened, it reveals a textbook on some science topic that she can't begin to comprehend.
There's also a handwritten note inside that simply says 'Happy Birthday -C' in a very elegant script.]
TXT; un: QUEENOFZAUN
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
There was a certain prowling spring in his step as he made his way to Viktor and formally boy genius' scientific research laboratory. He had kept his distance in the past to determine how much Viktor would be tempered with the presence of the Councilor, but that seemed a moot point. No, this was the time for action.
He stepped into the laboratory and his blue eyes moved around to search for Viktor. Under the effects of the wish seed, he looked healthier with a few extra inches to his height and filled out with muscle across his frame. His left eye glowed blue like a hextech gemstone rather than red, and he seemed perfectly confident with the subtle changes to his own appearance.]
It's been awhile, boy. What inventions have you created for the betterment of the city and its population?
no subject
show up looking markedly different, at that. viktor hadn't seen anyone during the black beast debacle; had read about the wish seeds, yes, but never seen their effect in action... until now.
his only way of acknowledging that is the raise of his brows, and then he turns back to his table, saying, ] I would remind you I am over thirty years old.
[ a sigh. ] It is not an easy process, not that I expect you to understand... but it is not as simple as inventing. We do not exist in a world that obeys any laws that normal worlds do; there is a chance anything I do invent will be undone simply because the simulation rewrites it so.
no subject
Silco walked smoothly around the lab, examining it. He had been in many little workshops that inventors had set up, including that of the doctor, his daughter and other inventors in need of funding for their wild ideas. This place was generally cleaner than the others, but it also showed signed of works in progress too.]
I'll remind you that still makes you young enough to be my offspring. [Not that Silco was interested or cared for such dalliances. He had been too busy surviving back then, scratching out a living.]
So, boy, you have nothing to show for all of your efforts? Perhaps there is a lack of motivation based on the excuses I'm hearing. The simulation holds us, but we operate within it rather freely. You simply need to convince it that what you have enhances rather than detracts from it. [Said like it could be that simple. He knew it wasn't that way.
He switched tracks.] Resources are dwindling. You're finding enough to eat?
no subject
on his side of the room, there is a pile of different things: parts that look like they might belong to a robot, or perhaps a scrapped design of one; a blackboard full of complicated calculations for a backup power system fueled by the hexgems in the city right now; and in another corner, drawings for a small device, enough to be held in the palm of his hand. ]
Nothing is not entirely accurate. [ he waves his hand haphazardly at the blackboard, ] It might be possible to build an entire network of backup power in Aldrip. The number of hexgems we possess would make it possible, but it would be unstable. The hexgems are not reliable, here. [ then, he picks up a prototype of the device and holds it out for silco. ]
This is meant to track monsters. I am still refining the mechanism... but if it is successful, it would make life here safer for everyone.
[ anyway, ] I manage.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text
[she wants to check on him...]
no subject
[ it's a why response, or meant to be one in any case, but because intent translates poorly in text... ]
You are one of the few I do not mind seeing. The lab is still standing, I will be here.
no subject
[and... you never know what the fuck's going on in this world.]
good, at least someone's shit didn't get wrecked. i'll be there soon.
no subject
[ ha ha, get the joke, like anything in hextech has ever been done according to safe laboratory practices... anyway. the only way that'd happen would be if he was showering, in which case he wouldn't be responding, so no worries. ]
I'm sorry to prove you wrong, but my house did not make it... so come straight to the back.
[ previously, his house stood closer to the street, while the entire laboratory occupied the space behind it; now there is no house, but luckily the lab doubles as such for him. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)