[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.
[ did he know that jayce had killed, hm, even one trencher at this point? well, he sure does now —
anyway! she can't see the way he's sighing, and then immediately doubling over in a coughing fit as that sigh catches its hooks in his lungs, it is fine, ]
I am capable of understanding your reasoning and disagreeing with the principle.
Now is... fine.
im crying what happened to my html in the last tag SMFH
[ luckily, this time he is expecting her — and so it doesn't take him too long to make it to the door, pulling it open with... not quite an apprehensive look, but one of his brows is raised as he looks at her, and almost expects her to make some comments about his appearance or something else about him like so many he's met so far from home have done.
so it's fair if he starts, isn't it, ]
The hair is different, [ he says, a non-sequitur, ] Longer. [ a pause. he squints. ] I suppose it suits you. [ what makes women attractive at any given time, he does not know, anyway; he's stepping aside. ]
[she looks at him out of the corner of her eyes as she walks in. gauging him. but his appearance... it looks the same as she remembers. regular skin. short hair.
maybe he didn't go with them and get... whatever happened.
she moves to put the gauntlets against the wall, and shrugs.]
Thanks. Thought it was time to change up my look.
[or fall into such a debilitating depression you don't fucking care--
ANYWAY.]
Glad to see you're still hanging around, though. I know it's only been a week, but... [. . . wheeze. it was easier when she didn't know him at home, but now? she has memories of him here, and from home. that he was a trencher like her, and just wanted to help the world.
it makes it even more difficult for her to hate him.] A lot can happen in a week, apparently.
[ he just raises his brows at that, as if to say, calling bullshit at that but without words — if that is what she wants to say to it, well. he doesn't claim to know her well enough to prod at the real reason.
he narrows his eyes, though, glances from the gauntlets back to her, and sighs. ]
How long has it been? [ a pause, and then, ] Don't say a week. I mean back home.
[of course he wants to get straight to the point, but it's not like she'd been planning on beating that much around the bush anyway. she doesn't want to let on what she knew about him, especially if he didn't remember it. the whole thing with Jinx and telling her she'd died was a slip of the tongue when she was already upset.
she looks at him and rubs at her shoulder with one hand and rolls it.]
Almost a year. Lost a few months though, [lmao] kind of went by in a blur.
[ the raise of his eyebrows is very expressive as she says she lost a few months — there are a variety of explanations for that and none of them are particularly good — but he doesn't ask... at least not yet.
instead, he says, dryly, ]
In the past week? No, I would say not. No sudden blackouts or monsters to speak of. It's been quite boring.
[ a pause, and because he's viktor, he adds, ] Perhaps you'd benefit from some... boring.
[ he actually makes a face at that — one that shows just how little he wants "boring" at all. he's been going, going, going, ever since he walked into the academy like he belonged, and hasn't stopped since.
"boring" is the opposite of progress. "boring" is waiting for the ever-shorter clock of his life to hit midnight. ]
Eh, [ he says and shrugs, turning towards the bag, raising his brows as he looks at the contents. ]
You can tell Caitlyn she doesn't need to keep feeding me like I'm some kind of stray cat. [ and yet, there's some wry gratefulness in his tone; he protests more for the sake of doing it, really. ]
[she notices his expression, and wonders a bit about it. normally people would embrace the quiet -- she certainly does, at times. with her coming back and some of the conversations she'd had here before she left, though, she feels a bit more of a stir to be less... boring. the desperate need to spend time with Jinx and Caitlyn in fear of losing them when she went back home had kind of overruled everything.
and yet, she did lose Jinx. but she's working on that part here, in Aldrip.
she smirks a bit at him when he protests, though.]
See, that's the thing about Cait. Once she decides she cares about you, she gets super stubborn about that sort of thing.
[which is... kind of nice, in Vi's case. to be cared for, for once in her life, instead of being the caretaker. it's more... mutual. there's a certain fondness in her voice that comes across that she doesn't mind it at all.]
Well, she's just stubborn in general. But I'm sure you already knew that.
[ also wryly said — but he, too, sounds fond, because while he may not have been as close to caitlyn back home... well, that's one thing he's quite grateful for, being here. he's got to know caitlyn better, got to know vi at all — something that makes him think it might have been worth it, back home, to foster... some connections, at least. maybe these ones if nothing else.
with a sigh, ] Then, give her my thanks.
[ a pause, as he walks closer to the gauntlets, his crutch clanking against the floor. as he examines them, he says, without looking at vi, ] How bad was it all?
[ he doesn't need to know details... but he'd like to know at least the scope of whatever went down back home. ]
[she nods with a bit of a smile, but it fades quickly as he looks at the gauntlets and asks his next question. she's quiet for a while, eyes unfocusing for a minute.
Vander. losing Vander. losing Jinx. losing Caitlyn, and then almost losing her again. she'd almost lost everything, and honestly? one of the people who set it all into motion is standing right in front of her. but she can't hate him, especially know that she knows him.
the him before the hexcore, anyway.]
There was a war.
[she says it quietly, dragging her thoughts back into the present, blinking rapidly as if that would get rid of the thoughts.]
So... guess you can kinda figure how shitty that was.
[ a war. he wonders if it was because of what happened to the council, or something else — or both, perhaps. there are many things that can lead to a war, none of them good. he bites down on a number of questions. ]
... I see.
[ there is heartbreak in her voice, the kind of loss that never truly lets you go, and viktor thinks, who did you lose —
he bites down on that, too. ] Yes, I can. [ he lifts the gauntlets, then, one by one, carries them over to his workbench in silence. ]
Whoever or whatever it is that you lost... I am sorry. [ no, he has no idea, truly, just how much he should be saying this — it is sympathy, more than anything, and yet. and yet — ]
[she lost so much. she lost her sister, Vander... among so many other people she watched die right in front of her.
she wipes a tear from her face, before composing herself for the last time and following him. of course, he's dragging the gauntlets by himself.]
Thanks. There's nothing to do but keep going, right?
[she had Caitlyn. Ekko. she had her life, as much as she might hate to have it right now -- she would trade it in an instant if that meant Jinx would come back to life.
but she's not!! gonna!! keep!! thinking about this!!]
Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I'm not all that good at just standing around.
[especially when she's trying to keep her mind occupied, here.]
[ as they discussed, not so long ago. he sighs, then; waves his hand towards a drawer next to the wall. ] Bring me the toolkit.
[ and really, he might as well say this, ] The next time these break, you might want to ask Jayce for help, instead. I know how to fix them, of course, but if you are looking for bigger alterations, those are much more his specialty.
[she does what he asks, and brings it to him, setting it on the table within arm's reach.]
I'm not really looking for alterations. [maybe??? probably??? what would she even ask for LMFAO] Just... maintenance, especially since you felt so bad for taking my money.
[a beat.]
And I kinda wanted to check up on things. I know it's only been a week, but a lot can happen here.
[ he makes a huffing sound, laugh-adjacent — yes, he did feel bad about it. he still feels bad about it, so this is fine, he supposes; it gives him something to do, a way to help, insignificant though it feels. ]
So it is to make me feel better? [ wryly said; it's not like she's wrong, but he can at least sound a little self-deprecating about it. ]
Yes, it seems so. [ he sighs. by this point he has spoken to caitlyn, spoken to heimerdinger... spoken to jayce.
and so he can say with some confidence, extrapolating from everything he's heard, the way everyone has treated him (while still looking at the gauntlets, swapping one tool for another), ]
Are you here to ascertain I have not been, hm, returned home as well?
[there's a pause at the next question, though, and she shifts on her feet uncomfortably.]
I mean, Cait told me you didn't. [of course she would. they tell each other everything at this point, because keeping things from the other only ever ended badly. she approaches the table, quiet again for a long time. she doesn't really know how to say what she's going to say next, because she doesn't want to say anything that'd give too much away. unlike she had with Jinx, she's not going to explode one day and tell him everything he's done.
so she leans up against it, watching him.] I missed talking to you. We... never really got a chance, at home.
[not before he turned into a robot deity, at least. but now she thinks that it wasn't really Viktor, even though she can see the pieces of the heart that was under all of that was still him, at his core. at least, before Ambessa sank her claws into him and everything went to shit.]
Of course, [ he mutters to himself — caitlyn would have told as much to vi, and he should have expected that from the start.
what he could never have expected, however, is what vi says next; he freezes entirely, a statue instead of a person for one heartbeat, then another — and when he looks at her, head turning almost involuntarily, his expression is all naked surprise. ]
You... did?
[ will he ever not be surprised when people express that they find his company something to look for? no, it may very well be that that'll never happen — he's so used to those in piltover not sparing him one single thought, dismissing him instantly, that the opposite happening leaves him floundering.
in the end, though, his lips quirk in a small, hesitant smile. ]
I mean — you're one of the few people I do not mind talking to, Violet. I'm... glad, if you think the same.
[she understands body language. she notices that Viktor freezes up a bit, and then that... shock.
her eyebrows raise. it gives her the impression that either he was too quiet or not well liked for some reason, even though she'd much rather talk to him than Jayce. for as much as she picked on him, verbally and mentally, she doesn't hate him, but the naivete can only go so far before she gets exasperated.
but--]
You don't deal with bullshit. I don't understand the nerd shit--[she gestures to the gauntlets and wherever his notes are]--but we still have an understanding because we came from Zaun. So yeah, of course I like talking to you.
[ you don't deal with bullshit, she says in her usual blunt way, and it startles a quiet laugh out of him — no, he doesn't, she's certainly right about that. ]
Contrary to popular belief, [ he says wryly, ] I am capable of talking about something else than... eh, "nerd shit." [ yes, somehow the air quotes are audible in his voice.
and yes, he says capable, but what he means it i don't do it often but for those i like i might make an exception. ]
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[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?
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[ 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.
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[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?
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anyway! she can't see the way he's sighing, and then immediately doubling over in a coughing fit as that sigh catches its hooks in his lungs, it is fine, ]
I am capable of understanding your reasoning and disagreeing with the principle.
Now is... fine.
im crying what happened to my html in the last tag SMFH
she doesn't respond, but instead makes her way over there, gauntlets in tow. she even brings some soup (was it Caitlyn's idea?? maybe,) with her.
when she gets to his door, she knocks on it.]
Hey, it's me!
shhh we do not see it
so it's fair if he starts, isn't it, ]
The hair is different, [ he says, a non-sequitur, ] Longer. [ a pause. he squints. ] I suppose it suits you. [ what makes women attractive at any given time, he does not know, anyway; he's stepping aside. ]
Come in.
that's what i get for phone tagging lmfao
maybe he didn't go with them and get... whatever happened.
she moves to put the gauntlets against the wall, and shrugs.]
Thanks. Thought it was time to change up my look.
[or fall into such a debilitating depression you don't fucking care--
ANYWAY.]
Glad to see you're still hanging around, though. I know it's only been a week, but... [. . . wheeze. it was easier when she didn't know him at home, but now? she has memories of him here, and from home. that he was a trencher like her, and just wanted to help the world.
it makes it even more difficult for her to hate him.] A lot can happen in a week, apparently.
[smooth.]
ah yes..... the dangers of phone tagging are real
he narrows his eyes, though, glances from the gauntlets back to her, and sighs. ]
How long has it been? [ a pause, and then, ] Don't say a week. I mean back home.
incredibly real...
she looks at him and rubs at her shoulder with one hand and rolls it.]
Almost a year. Lost a few months though, [lmao] kind of went by in a blur.
[an alcohol and pain-filled blur.]
Did I miss anything?
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instead, he says, dryly, ]
In the past week? No, I would say not. No sudden blackouts or monsters to speak of. It's been quite boring.
[ a pause, and because he's viktor, he adds, ] Perhaps you'd benefit from some... boring.
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Everybody from Runeterra could probably benefit from some boring, no matter what they remember.
[it's kind of a pointed statement, because... even Viktor probably needs it.
she moves to put the bag with the soup in it on a nearby table.]
It doesn't usually stay boring for long, though. So enjoy it while you can.
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"boring" is the opposite of progress. "boring" is waiting for the ever-shorter clock of his life to hit midnight. ]
Eh, [ he says and shrugs, turning towards the bag, raising his brows as he looks at the contents. ]
You can tell Caitlyn she doesn't need to keep feeding me like I'm some kind of stray cat. [ and yet, there's some wry gratefulness in his tone; he protests more for the sake of doing it, really. ]
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and yet, she did lose Jinx. but she's working on that part here, in Aldrip.
she smirks a bit at him when he protests, though.]
See, that's the thing about Cait. Once she decides she cares about you, she gets super stubborn about that sort of thing.
[which is... kind of nice, in Vi's case. to be cared for, for once in her life, instead of being the caretaker. it's more... mutual. there's a certain fondness in her voice that comes across that she doesn't mind it at all.]
Well, she's just stubborn in general. But I'm sure you already knew that.
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[ also wryly said — but he, too, sounds fond, because while he may not have been as close to caitlyn back home... well, that's one thing he's quite grateful for, being here. he's got to know caitlyn better, got to know vi at all — something that makes him think it might have been worth it, back home, to foster... some connections, at least. maybe these ones if nothing else.
with a sigh, ] Then, give her my thanks.
[ a pause, as he walks closer to the gauntlets, his crutch clanking against the floor. as he examines them, he says, without looking at vi, ] How bad was it all?
[ he doesn't need to know details... but he'd like to know at least the scope of whatever went down back home. ]
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Vander. losing Vander. losing Jinx. losing Caitlyn, and then almost losing her again. she'd almost lost everything, and honestly? one of the people who set it all into motion is standing right in front of her. but she can't hate him, especially know that she knows him.
the him before the hexcore, anyway.]
There was a war.
[she says it quietly, dragging her thoughts back into the present, blinking rapidly as if that would get rid of the thoughts.]
So... guess you can kinda figure how shitty that was.
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... I see.
[ there is heartbreak in her voice, the kind of loss that never truly lets you go, and viktor thinks, who did you lose —
he bites down on that, too. ] Yes, I can. [ he lifts the gauntlets, then, one by one, carries them over to his workbench in silence. ]
Whoever or whatever it is that you lost... I am sorry. [ no, he has no idea, truly, just how much he should be saying this — it is sympathy, more than anything, and yet. and yet — ]
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she wipes a tear from her face, before composing herself for the last time and following him. of course, he's dragging the gauntlets by himself.]
Thanks. There's nothing to do but keep going, right?
[she had Caitlyn. Ekko. she had her life, as much as she might hate to have it right now -- she would trade it in an instant if that meant Jinx would come back to life.
but she's not!! gonna!! keep!! thinking about this!!]
Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I'm not all that good at just standing around.
[especially when she's trying to keep her mind occupied, here.]
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[ as they discussed, not so long ago. he sighs, then; waves his hand towards a drawer next to the wall. ] Bring me the toolkit.
[ and really, he might as well say this, ] The next time these break, you might want to ask Jayce for help, instead. I know how to fix them, of course, but if you are looking for bigger alterations, those are much more his specialty.
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I'm not really looking for alterations. [maybe??? probably??? what would she even ask for LMFAO] Just... maintenance, especially since you felt so bad for taking my money.
[a beat.]
And I kinda wanted to check up on things. I know it's only been a week, but a lot can happen here.
[she's standing proof of that right now.]
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So it is to make me feel better? [ wryly said; it's not like she's wrong, but he can at least sound a little self-deprecating about it. ]
Yes, it seems so. [ he sighs. by this point he has spoken to caitlyn, spoken to heimerdinger... spoken to jayce.
and so he can say with some confidence, extrapolating from everything he's heard, the way everyone has treated him (while still looking at the gauntlets, swapping one tool for another), ]
Are you here to ascertain I have not been, hm, returned home as well?
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[there's a pause at the next question, though, and she shifts on her feet uncomfortably.]
I mean, Cait told me you didn't. [of course she would. they tell each other everything at this point, because keeping things from the other only ever ended badly. she approaches the table, quiet again for a long time. she doesn't really know how to say what she's going to say next, because she doesn't want to say anything that'd give too much away. unlike she had with Jinx, she's not going to explode one day and tell him everything he's done.
so she leans up against it, watching him.] I missed talking to you. We... never really got a chance, at home.
[not before he turned into a robot deity, at least. but now she thinks that it wasn't really Viktor, even though she can see the pieces of the heart that was under all of that was still him, at his core. at least, before Ambessa sank her claws into him and everything went to shit.]
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what he could never have expected, however, is what vi says next; he freezes entirely, a statue instead of a person for one heartbeat, then another — and when he looks at her, head turning almost involuntarily, his expression is all naked surprise. ]
You... did?
[ will he ever not be surprised when people express that they find his company something to look for? no, it may very well be that that'll never happen — he's so used to those in piltover not sparing him one single thought, dismissing him instantly, that the opposite happening leaves him floundering.
in the end, though, his lips quirk in a small, hesitant smile. ]
I mean — you're one of the few people I do not mind talking to, Violet. I'm... glad, if you think the same.
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[she understands body language. she notices that Viktor freezes up a bit, and then that... shock.
her eyebrows raise. it gives her the impression that either he was too quiet or not well liked for some reason, even though she'd much rather talk to him than Jayce. for as much as she picked on him, verbally and mentally, she doesn't hate him, but the naivete can only go so far before she gets exasperated.
but--]
You don't deal with bullshit. I don't understand the nerd shit--[she gestures to the gauntlets and wherever his notes are]--but we still have an understanding because we came from Zaun. So yeah, of course I like talking to you.
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Contrary to popular belief, [ he says wryly, ] I am capable of talking about something else than... eh, "nerd shit." [ yes, somehow the air quotes are audible in his voice.
and yes, he says capable, but what he means it i don't do it often but for those i like i might make an exception. ]
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[even though she's obviously looking at... whatever he's doing in here. probably some nerd shit, right?]
We've already talked about a lot of things. Kinda depressing things, but... still. We'll get to talk about something dumb eventually.
[she doesn't know if she's really in the mood for dumb currently, though. there's still so much she still has to sift through.]
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