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[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.]
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?
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.]
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.
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?]
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?]
[ he falls into the chair without much effort at all on her part — he doesn't have the strength to resist, nor the will. once the coughs finally subside, he grips his crutch, white-knuckled. ]
... Of course. [ hm, maybe self-centered of him, to expect his fate might have been anywhere near being important enough to have come up, back then. why would it? it isn't like him being gone would really change anyone's life much at all. it would be like silco said — they would both be forgotten, their legacies absorbed into those of better men.
the way he glances to the side is as good an admission as any, before he says, ]
No, I have not. Perhaps that was... short-sighted of me. [ because he had thought that nothing could be done to his lungs to save them, aside from perhaps what the hexcore might have done, if the cost hadn't been far too high to pay. ]
... What will happen if I die, here? Do you know? I have heard this place self-corrects, when the deaths occurring are unnatural. But what if it isn't?
... Of course. [ hm, maybe self-centered of him, to expect his fate might have been anywhere near being important enough to have come up, back then. why would it? it isn't like him being gone would really change anyone's life much at all. it would be like silco said — they would both be forgotten, their legacies absorbed into those of better men.
the way he glances to the side is as good an admission as any, before he says, ]
No, I have not. Perhaps that was... short-sighted of me. [ because he had thought that nothing could be done to his lungs to save them, aside from perhaps what the hexcore might have done, if the cost hadn't been far too high to pay. ]
... What will happen if I die, here? Do you know? I have heard this place self-corrects, when the deaths occurring are unnatural. But what if it isn't?
It wasn't-- I was preoccupied. By Vi. [Caitlyn knows what he must think, that neither her or Jayce prioritized Viktor and his condition, but that was further from the truth. If she had actually taken the time to check in with Jayce after the Council meeting, she had no doubt that Jayce would have brought it up, but even when her and Vi went their separate ways, Jayce had run off and was exploding Shimmer factories with Vi. And then she was being kidnapped by Jinx. It really did all happen so fast.]
I...don't know. People have died. I've died, but it was at the hands of a monster. Silco's alive, and he had died before he was brought here. But someone ill? From something they came here with? I have no idea. Do you feel worse? Do you feel like it's-- progressing? [Given the way things worked around here, she wondered if it would just go into a remission of sorts. Not quite going away, but not getting worse? But she really had no idea. She wasn't a healer, and this was the first time this sort of thing had come to her attention.]
I...don't know. People have died. I've died, but it was at the hands of a monster. Silco's alive, and he had died before he was brought here. But someone ill? From something they came here with? I have no idea. Do you feel worse? Do you feel like it's-- progressing? [Given the way things worked around here, she wondered if it would just go into a remission of sorts. Not quite going away, but not getting worse? But she really had no idea. She wasn't a healer, and this was the first time this sort of thing had come to her attention.]
You don't need to explain, [ he says, softly, quiet and understanding and tired all at once. he knows now there were many things he had missed, at the time — and really, truly, what is his illness when compared to everything that had happened? and even through that, he doesn't doubt that jayce cared. but he'd promised to destroy the hexcore, and thus viktor's only chance at survival... and that was as it should be.
he'd be gone, either from the explosion or shortly after it, due to his illness finally being too much for his wasting body to handle. that's just how it is.
but then she speaks of something he very much does want her to explain... only it seems she can't. ]
I see. So the self-correction happens only if someone passes from being alive to being dead, through unnatural causes. It seems whatever is simulating this is capable of constructing a version of us here even after our death in our world of origin. Then it is reasonable to believe... yes, there is no reason why my — hm, condition, wouldn't be identical to how it is outside of this place.
[ he is staring at a spot on the floor with the kind of look that betrays his want for a notebook, for a board, somewhere to jot down his thoughts. ] I haven't felt particularly worse, but I suspect it is because I had already reached the point where I... cannot feel much worse than I already do. [ she had asked, but he doesn't feel great, having to admit this. ] If the goal of this simulation is to make us repent our crimes, it would make sense for it to suspend my illness in a form of stasis, of sorts... but if it is something else, to observe us, to see our reactions to events that happen —
[ well, in that case, letting his condition progress to its inevitable conclusion would be much better for observation than a remission. to let him die, only to bring him back, for the cycle to repeat; cruel, yes, but he's never had cause to believe the simulation to be anything else. ]
he'd be gone, either from the explosion or shortly after it, due to his illness finally being too much for his wasting body to handle. that's just how it is.
but then she speaks of something he very much does want her to explain... only it seems she can't. ]
I see. So the self-correction happens only if someone passes from being alive to being dead, through unnatural causes. It seems whatever is simulating this is capable of constructing a version of us here even after our death in our world of origin. Then it is reasonable to believe... yes, there is no reason why my — hm, condition, wouldn't be identical to how it is outside of this place.
[ he is staring at a spot on the floor with the kind of look that betrays his want for a notebook, for a board, somewhere to jot down his thoughts. ] I haven't felt particularly worse, but I suspect it is because I had already reached the point where I... cannot feel much worse than I already do. [ she had asked, but he doesn't feel great, having to admit this. ] If the goal of this simulation is to make us repent our crimes, it would make sense for it to suspend my illness in a form of stasis, of sorts... but if it is something else, to observe us, to see our reactions to events that happen —
[ well, in that case, letting his condition progress to its inevitable conclusion would be much better for observation than a remission. to let him die, only to bring him back, for the cycle to repeat; cruel, yes, but he's never had cause to believe the simulation to be anything else. ]
[And yet, Caitlyn feels like she does. She doesn't want Viktor to think she doesn't care about him, or that he was a mere second thought to Jayce. She knows how much Jayce cares about him, there's no question of that, but she wonders if maybe Viktor has been feeling second best ever since Jayce got thrown into the Councilor position. She hadn't exactly been around, but she's all too familiar with the responsibilities that come with that role.
She winces to herself when he mentions how bad he felt, and she feels even worse for not necessarily noticing. But she's noticing now, and she's going to do something about it. What that something is, she's not quite sure, but she knows a few people in town that might be able to help.]
I would think it would be a kind of stasis. That makes the most sense, given... people come back from the dead. Those injuries are reversed, so why not an illness? You can't "learn" and "improve" if you're never not fighting for your life.
[Surely that was the case, and not the alternative Viktor mentioned. Surely this place wouldn't set him up to die, only to bring him back, and do it all over again?? That was cruel, on a completely new level.]
She winces to herself when he mentions how bad he felt, and she feels even worse for not necessarily noticing. But she's noticing now, and she's going to do something about it. What that something is, she's not quite sure, but she knows a few people in town that might be able to help.]
I would think it would be a kind of stasis. That makes the most sense, given... people come back from the dead. Those injuries are reversed, so why not an illness? You can't "learn" and "improve" if you're never not fighting for your life.
[Surely that was the case, and not the alternative Viktor mentioned. Surely this place wouldn't set him up to die, only to bring him back, and do it all over again?? That was cruel, on a completely new level.]
[ second best? perhaps — or perhaps it had been the pain of diverging loyalties, diverging priorities, a rift that he had tried his hardest not to see for years, now. a rift he'd ignored, because even after it all, jayce was — is — the most important person in his life. has been so ever since that fateful night and floating in the professor's office, surrounded by the most beautiful glow of blue he'd ever witnessed.
his mouth twists; he lets one shoulder rise up minutely in a kind of a haphazard half-shrug. ]
It would make the most sense, on paper, yes. However, I believe it is clear this place doesn't hold to what makes sense. Everything we say is nothing more than speculation — until I die, or I don't.
[ that is quite simply it... and so far, he has been waiting. ]
his mouth twists; he lets one shoulder rise up minutely in a kind of a haphazard half-shrug. ]
It would make the most sense, on paper, yes. However, I believe it is clear this place doesn't hold to what makes sense. Everything we say is nothing more than speculation — until I die, or I don't.
[ that is quite simply it... and so far, he has been waiting. ]
[He's right. Of course he is. It's Viktor. Even though he hasn't been here long, he's already figured out how this place works. It's never easy, or simple, or right. It goes out of it's way to make the hurt as painful as possible. So why wouldn't it drag out his illness, and make him suffer? She shudders at the thought, but what better answer does she have?]
Let's start with getting you to a healer, first. I know a few people that I trust that know a thing or two about medicines.
[Claude and Ethlyn are the first two people she thinks of. She knows Claude a little better. He's better with elixirs, and given she's not sure Viktor can be cured, maybe that's the better option to start with.]
Let's start with getting you to a healer, first. I know a few people that I trust that know a thing or two about medicines.
[Claude and Ethlyn are the first two people she thinks of. She knows Claude a little better. He's better with elixirs, and given she's not sure Viktor can be cured, maybe that's the better option to start 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.
so... i have an idea on how you can pay me back, now.
Welcome back, Violet.
[ 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?
[ 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?
thanks.
[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?
[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?
[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 Innβs 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!]
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 Innβs 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!]
Edited 2024-12-25 16:56 (UTC)
What use will it be?
[ excuse him sounding a little sharp with that — he sighs, hearing his own words, and attempts again. ]
You don't need to fix me, Caitlyn. My illness is not your responsibility. [ it is no one else's than his own; that is why he didn't want to tell anyone, back home, wouldn't have told anyone if jayce hadn't been there, finding him and bringing him to the hospital. ]
[ excuse him sounding a little sharp with that — he sighs, hearing his own words, and attempts again. ]
You don't need to fix me, Caitlyn. My illness is not your responsibility. [ it is no one else's than his own; that is why he didn't want to tell anyone, back home, wouldn't have told anyone if jayce hadn't been there, finding him and bringing him to the hospital. ]
Yes, I've been told of the shimmer factory.
[ 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.
[ 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.
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.
you busy now?
[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?
[ 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.
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.
[well. okay. at least he can understand it.
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!
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!
[ 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. ]
Come in.
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.
[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.
[smooth.]
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.]
[ 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.
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.
[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.]
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.]
[Caitlyn hears that sharp tone and she knows-- she's pushing it with him. While her and Viktor have always gotten along decently, it was always Jayce that was the real connection between them. Jayce could talk Viktor into anything, and while... there was a part of her, now, that was doing this for Jayce, she....also wanted to do this for Viktor. Because was still her friend.]
I'm not-- [-- trying to fix you, she stops herself from saying. It wouldn't be completely true, even if she did. Because...she kind of was, wasn't she? She's spent a lot of time with Vi, learning how things she always thought meant nothing could mean to someone from Zaun. How prejudice and classism played into how their two sides interacted. Even if Viktor had lived in Piltover for years now, he was still a child of Zaun. She could only imagine what he thought of them, sometimes. Especially when Piltover was largely to blame for most of their problems, and likely...his illness.]
I only want to ease your suffering, Viktor. You're my friend. Is it so wrong, that I don't want you to be miserable?
I'm not-- [-- trying to fix you, she stops herself from saying. It wouldn't be completely true, even if she did. Because...she kind of was, wasn't she? She's spent a lot of time with Vi, learning how things she always thought meant nothing could mean to someone from Zaun. How prejudice and classism played into how their two sides interacted. Even if Viktor had lived in Piltover for years now, he was still a child of Zaun. She could only imagine what he thought of them, sometimes. Especially when Piltover was largely to blame for most of their problems, and likely...his illness.]
I only want to ease your suffering, Viktor. You're my friend. Is it so wrong, that I don't want you to be miserable?
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