video; un: viktor

[mehanizovati]

[the video starts near one of the blood blisters, though by 'near' it's clear the video taker has no particular interest in getting close enough to be in a potential splash zone. the video itself is more focused on the pair of blood hounds gathered around it.

when a voice speaks it's with a heavy czech accent and only after scratching that sounds like he's writing something.] I suppose it is customary to make greetings here, as a new arrival, so hello. I am Viktor.

[he clears his throat like he's glad that's over with, onto what he apparently really wants to talk about. the video pans down to a pale finger tapping his notebook, one page blurred and off the the side with what looks like confused formulas trying to figure out how the hell an omni works in his frame of knowledge, the others with notes on the bloodhounds.

one noticeable feature to people without paleblood is he keeps drawing/referencing mushrooms on the beasts, which clearly aren't there.] I've been curious about this fungal growth, especially as I've noticed it on more than just the eh... stag dogs.

Comments

[fattyhands]

[ heh; a tiny shake of her head and an even tinier touch of amusement. ]

Not the worst name I’ve been called. [ and she’s not exclusively talking about the undercity or stillwater. trench has a few mouthy brats in it as well and vi’s racked up some interesting nicknames. there’s a certain feeling of safety when anonymity is involved and for a few moments, vi clearly hesitates, eyeing him as though she hasn’t been conversing with him for however long now.

new life, new start, she thinks. doesn’t matter anymore, she repeats. the lines, the divides… they don’t exist as before and so, she concludes that she can play friendly. a breath and then a: ]

It’s Vi. [ she’ll even smile at a slant, the cheek branded vi plumping rounder. yeah, about that – don’t ask. she turns away shortly after and pulls up her hood, flicking one hand out in a backward wave. and that’s it, she’s off to call on her lamp friends and get herself back to crenshaw. time to check in on powder. ]

[tealeafs]

[ ...

Yeah, this is definitely the part where Chizuru looks a little awkward and goes quiet for a moment.. The reason for it becomes very obvious when she does finally speak up. ]

I.. didn't know they had names.

[ Apparently she hasn't been able to talk with hers yet. ]

So I don't know.. This one only makes bird sounds at me. [ While it does seem like he's been able to communicate with Rio somehow. ]

[hijinxer]

[ ... the pink haired woman. so viktor's already met vi, has he? where jinx had been feeling confident in her prodding just a second ago, this blip in the script throws her for a loop immediately.

vi is talking to viktor. what does that mean? what did they talk about? vi had been asking questions about the blue stone jinx has in her possession, and now viktor is here to do -- what? potentially moralize over it being too dangerous to remain in jinx's possession? give vi reasons to suspect?

heh. looks like you're getting screwed over anyway. ]

No! [ said aloud for an audience only jinx is privy to. ] She said we were gonna start over. That all that stuff from before doesn't matter!

[ breathing hard, jinx squeezes her eyes shut and covers her ears. ]

Shut up! You don't even know what they were talking about!

[ she snatches up her omni, hastily typing out a message. ]

we haven't.
but we could change that.

[ ... your move, viktor? ]

[mehanizovati]

[huh. frankly viktor isn't really sure they usually have names either, now that she says it.] Ah, well the only two I have seen, my own and the omen of a man named Allen, are reflections of creatures we knew.

[he puts his fingers to his chin as he considers.] Do you wish to name them? I suppose it would be your prerogative.

[mehanizovati]

[ah, now this couldn't scream 'bad idea' louder. meeting someone who has been so cagey, hasn't given a name and doesn't seem particularly fond of him? he didn't survive childhood in the undercity on luck, ever instinct he has says keep the hell away.

except

this isn't the undercity, or piltover, or even runeterra. he already risked his neck on vi and he thinks he's going to do the same thing here, because as he understands death isn't the same. on top of it he's still dying already, still coughing up blood he must hastily find ways to clean before it's scented in the air. if his lungs don't kill him the beasts will sooner rather than later once they're drawn to the trail of bloody hankerchiefs he's been leaving behind like breadcrumbs, so... why not?

if she kills him at least he'll know. if she mugs him he has nothing that valuable to lose anyway. it doesn't matter anymore is something he said to vi in regards to so many aspects of their old lives now, and he feels that keenly. it doesn't matter, he's a walking corpse more than he's ever been and either this talk of death being temporary will prove true or it will be over, just like it was going to anyway.

if she doesn't do either then... he doesn't know. she represents something familiar, and as irritating as that is he finds it comforting to know others from his world exist. more so others from the undercity.]

I have been looking for a place to set up a lab in the Willful Machine area, most likely. If you wish to meet at the lamp location.

[tealeafs]

I'm.. not sure. I mean, they aren't really pets, are they..?

[ It doesn't feel like a pet, anyway. Not to Chizuru. There's the fact that it feels like the Omen is almost part of her that makes it feel so different, and that leaves her unsure whether naming it would be okay..

She seems to silently consider it for a moment, but then she lets out a breath that's almost a sigh. ]

There's a lot to think about. [ So much to think about in this place. ] I mostly hope that things like these will figure themselves out along the way somehow..

[azurestar]

Man, you think that's gross? Wait until you see someone wrapped up in a gross membrane filled with a zillion eyes that watch you.

[He hasn't personally seen the Sleeper Membrane, but he's heard graphic descriptions of it, and it sounds like the red blood vines from the dream. Then he nods.]

Check out Willful Machine, that place is full of people who make and fix stuff. Juuust keep an eye out for pickpockets.

[hijinxer]

[ interesting. she genuinely wasn't expecting an agreement to meet. viktor hasn't even asked for a name or anything -- though, she did say they've never met. maybe he doesn't think the information would be useful.

then again, it's not like she's asked him when in the timeline he's from. his reception to her is going to be varied depending on that alone, but at the end of the day, what's viktor going to do about it if he realizes that she's jinx, enforcer killer and hexgem thief extraordinaire? cry to the enforcers?

yeah. exactly. ]

i'll meet you there in ten.

[ that's just about long enough to get some uh.. stuff together. just in case she feels like leaving a message.

oh but speaking of messages, she'll be sure to leave one for vi on the table that reads "went to hang out with your friend viktor." short and sweet. ]

not here.

[fattyhands]

[ sometime later.
someone's afternoon is ruined. ]

Shit.

[ friend?
hers?
is this going to be a repeat of the caitlyn debacle???

she swears he means nothing to her, nothing. ]

text;

[mehanizovati]

It certainly makes matters easier for us as well. In truth I am surprised you think so, if you were born into the elite. I have met many upperclass open minded but most... not very much.

I spent a good hour toying with it before daring to try and communicate at all, I admit. A pleasure as well, Miss Dawson.

Even if they were at the bottom of the sea it seems like there are many here who may even be able to help you with that. I would imagine your main trouble would be having suitable protection against the creatures and troubles you may run across if you did find a dig site to work with. Perhaps hunters may be the ticket in the end.

Maybe one day you'll get to try a proper mushroom wine or liquor and either turn around on them or solidify your distaste. My bet is the latter, as nostalgic as they are for me.

[freedom and then the fall of fortunes would explain a lot. viktor is used to upperclass of a specifically unpleasant variety, probably the kind who would happily find a way to profit on those family misfortunes for their own gains. lovely bunch, really.]

text; (CW: class division--Titanic)

[nothinglikea]

Yes, it could certainly be said that I was born into an elite class. But I went through an incident which showed me exactly how stupid class was and how everyone had a right to live their lives in peace. Once I saw, I couldn't close my eyes again.

It's absolutely beyond anything my world has. But I'm glad you did decide to communicate.

Possibly? While I have yet to meet any mermaids or the like, it's not unthinkable that there would be people with the ability to part the seas, at least temporarily. And while my abilities supposedly can cause hallucinations, I have yet to actually try it. But you think Hunters would help? I wonder how much they'd charge for their services?

Perhaps? I'm not ready to consider trying now, unfortunately.

[Rose's fellow upperclass wouldn't hesitate to do the same, as long as it kept them in power and those of lesser means staying there. even if it was the difference between life and death for them]

[morningstud]

Lucifer Morningstar. It's a pleasure, Viktor. Despite our horrid circumstances.

I believe firmly that there are ways for us to pacify such beasts with the magic at our disposal.

[It's not exactly the same thing as curing it, of course, but at least they're on the same page.]

text; same class cw, only arcane style

[mehanizovati]

I admit I'm curious, if you wouldn't mind sharing that story. I find closed eyes are exactly the problem. It was alarming how few even understood the struggles or even simply the lives of those they saw as lower class. Always eager to see it as moral failings.

As am I. And I am glad you came to share your distaste for the mushrooms and the Moss King. I was at least somewhat warned.

You may be fortunate in finding hunters who understand the importance of the work or are at least curious themselves. Given the bartering system it is hard to say. I'd be happy to offer repair work if they are interested, to further your project. I very much would like to know more of this world's history myself.

Given how mushrooms so far are growing from people or fake I do think I might pass for a while too. It is... difficult to trust to source.

[they could have some very interesting discussions of classism it seems, and how it really is just the same no matter what time or magical world you may come from]

text; same class cw, only arcane style (CW: PTSD)

[nothinglikea]

I'm not sure I can? The experience still feels terribly raw and painful. I know it will heal in time, but not for a while yet.

I simply can't wait until this awful month is over. And I suppose something of a warning is better than nothing.

That's a possibility? I'd likely need something far more valuable than a fossil to pay for work of that nature. I've heard that there are some gemstones around, but it almost seems uncouth to ask about where they can be found. Though, your offer of repair work sounds like a good one. I'm glad I'm not the only one curious about how everything came to be.

Exactly! It's the opposite of appetizing.

[they will in time, but she's still dealing with untreated PTSD from the Titanic]