deercountry | june catch-all

Entry tags:

june catch-all

Who: viktor and others, open to all with some closed prompts in comments
What: june catch-all, some tdm prompts
When: june
Where: various

content warning; terminal illness, arcane season 1 spoilers

misc lab stuff and various fruits.

[viktor's lab in the willful machine is usually left unlocked when he's working inside. friends or acquaintances have likely been told they're welcome to stop by if they like, either to say hello or to get help with whatever a vaguely sketchy lab could handle. of course someone he doesn't know can just walk in too or knock. maybe there's a sudden downpour and that ajar door is tempting? go for it.

the lab has been slowly filling with all sorts of nonsense on the various tables- lasers! tasers! some weird machine hooked up to a blood gem? it is not unlikely to be walking by and hear some minor booming noise and either a curse in czech or a satisfied 'a-ha!' feel free to investigate.

this month there's something else too, a bowl full of fruit. all the fruits mentioned in the tdm in fact, there to be tested on though it looks more like they're just for guests if people are unaware there's some weird shit going on.]

Just a moment, make yourself at home. [he might say to guest. that would include eating some fruit, right? enjoy. probably not the raw lemon though, that's weird.]

[ooc; if you want to memshare i am game, my only hard limit on memories is no suicide stuff please. self sacrifice is fine! feel free to ask to make sure one is okay. if you'd like a viktor memory let me know any hard limits and what sort of memory you might prefer!]

gaze and time loops.

[having lungs mostly working for the moment is pretty great, in viktor's humble opinion. it means walking around the trench doesn't come with the risk of coughing up blood and attracting beasts and generally having a bad time, along with added perks like not getting so easily winded and going for longer. it also means he finds himself out longer than he usually would, which maybe isn't the best, as it turns out.

for example, making his way home through gaze and hearing the chilling cry of a beast, sighing and trying to make his way around what turns out to be the wrong corner. maybe that's where he sees your character before the snarling of a too close beast starts in earnest.

and then snap! they're both back about an hour, where they passed on the street. the look viktor gives is somewhere between resigned and 'fuck this, actually.'] There is a term for this. 'One of those days,' I think.

[ooc; if you'd like to wildcard or do something else you can pm me here or find me at

dichotomy]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's a different kind of feeling, being prepared for the possibility of being dumped unceremoniously into some kind of... experience, again. Unlike the dream of their mutually dismal futures, unlike months ago when the Winter Mournings were a coin toss each time of whether or not he'd see something and then whether or not he'd be able to move around, to do anything within the vision. Somehow, when Viktor says, oh, these apples might cause something odd, bon appetit, it doesn't unsettle Palamedes in the slightest.

So he's reading a shitty novel he picked up in a shop in Willful Machine, slumped in his old man pajamas with the comfortable warm weight of Viktor leaning against him, and he's having a lovely and pleasant evening. He turns his head when he feels Viktor shift, and—

—and he's somewhere else and also nowhere at once. When he looks around the city, crowded and cramped and full of noise, he can feel the heat of the afternoon and the bite of breathing in the chemical air with his untested Sixth lungs and he can feel himself move aside to avoid being pushed into by a passerby, but when he looks down there's nothing of him there.

So that's odd.

He drifts after that, an awareness that lingers aimlessly until he zeroes in on a child with a limp and a tousle of familiar dark hair, mole on his face Palamedes knows in that face plus years, no longer round with youth, and oh- little Viktor is adorable. The awareness that he is right now follows little Viktor as he goes about his scavenging adventure, and down to a set of caves, which he'd stop and marvel at if Viktor weren't getting further ahead and around a corner. The same with the lab itself, dark and dingy as it is, but then Viktor is out by the water with Rio and then he looks at Palamedes and speaks to him—

Oh. Palamedes glances down - he exists, it seems, mercifully dressed in his greys and not his flannel pajamas. He looks up again, head canted to the side to briefly take in this tiny, round-faced version of the man he just spent an hour with on the couch, hm! Still cute, but he can't help but wonder what the Trench's trick is for this.

Still. He shrugs, palms up.]

I'm only going for a walk; I won't disturb him, don't worry. My name's Palamedes. [He doesn't come any closer yet; little Viktor's clutching the boat like a shield keeps him loitering back where he is, but he gestures at the toy.]

Did you make that? Would you believe I've never been on a boat?

[weird huh!!]

[that explanation does not get any immediate reaction aside from a continued, uneasy stare. at first, at least. one flinching moment of expecting a sudden turn around eases after a beat, and hm. the man doesn't seem like a threat. he's definitely not a normal thug, he doesn't look like he's more than sticks and bones held together by grey.

he doesn't look desperate either, like a starving or drug ridden thing. so... maybe he is just taking a walk? that's weird. who takes walks in the fissure caves?

what actually settles viktor's nerves is a glance to rio. he can't help a surprised blink when he notices she's just wagging her tail, completely at ease. rio, who gets freaked out when a bug she doesn't know enters the cave and tries to eat it. she should at least be nervous, but instead she looks... well, almost pleased?

weird, like this guy. (less weird later, when the shifting from memory to paleblood dream within the memory makes him wonder if his omen peeked her way through.)

it's enough to make his shoulders ease though, glancing back to pal with more open curiosity.] You shouldn't wander around the fissures, it isn't very safe.

[said with a touch of 'duh' in his tone, though he's still careful enough to keep that mostly under wraps. he turns to face him better, the little boat chugging to a stop in his hands.] I did. [he admits, back to a touch shy rather than guarded at least.] I haven't been on one either, yet. I want to see the engines, but they don't like people snooping around in those.

[a brief moment to think and he winds up the boat a few cranks, not too many. the man could steal it but the desire to show off his work is stronger, so he leans down to place the boat in the water, sending it palamedes' way.

of course rio immediately and happily bounds after it, making viktor choke down a chuckle with a bitten lip.]

[Ah, Rio, what a real one. Palamedes looks at her when little Viktor does, admittedly surprised that she's just enjoying her day, although not for the same reason; obviously, it occurs to him much sooner that Rio-the-omen may very well have been pulled into this strange memory recall-but-extra as well. She was in the room with them, after all.

He'll keep an eye out for mean birds. But nevertheless, if it's Rio that calms Viktor down, that simply tracks in Palamedes' estimation. Thank god for Rio.

He can't help the grin that splits across his face at being sassed by a little baby, but he holds his hands up to concede the point anyway.]

I know, I know. I'm lucky I found you two before I got lost.

[Or whatever would happen in this odd, semi-imaginary space. He watches Viktor crank the little boat and then shuffles to the edge of the water to crouch down and watch it approach, look at that, wow!! He's seen Viktor build all number of insane things - the fucking taser, for example, out of basically Trench garbage? - but this little boat is probably his favorite one.]

You'll have to get better at snooping. Or doing whatever you want.

[Haha, just telling children to break onto ships, that's fun. Anyway he's watching this boat, so if Rio completely knocks him over, that is just going to happen because he is not paying attention to where the giant pink lizard goes. Oops.]

[viktor can't help the look that crosses his face at 'lucky to find you two,' which isn't too unlike the face he sometimes makes at pal as an adult when he says something ridiculous.

he ducks his head though, still careful, glances back again when pal offers that sage advice. his lips quirk like he's trying to fight it and remain neutral, failing.] I guess. Why haven't you been on a boat then?

[bad sneaker, viktor guesses. how anyone wouldn't want to go on a boat and see it up close is beyond his comprehension.

he then gets to see rio solidly bump pal in her excitement to get to the boat. in her defense she immediately sniffs in his face to make sure he's ok from where she probably laid him out on his ass.

viktor gets up, concern then amusement as he walks along the little creek to make sure pal was ok- maybe more so wasn't mad.]

[There it is!! That's the face! Palamedes shrugs and studiously does not make a face in return, because good god, how would one explain that? His usual response to that Viktor face (tm) is unbridled delight, so - best to not.]

I don't know, I— [Ah, and there's Rio, knocking him on his ass before he can quip about sneaking into places. Now he's on the ground with a Rio face in his face, and he huffs in surprise and maybe a little amusement, reaching up automatically to give her the sort of affectionate face squeeze he would at any other time, but ah-

Maybe not right this second. He diverts to holding his hands in front of his face instead, so he doesn't get drooled on by accident. Help, he is stuck...]

I'm alright! [tbh this is for Rio, Rio he is fine, please Rio,] What happened to the boat?

[He'd twist to try and see, but that would probably stick the back of his head in the water, so nah, pass.]

Rio, be careful! [viktor scolds, trying to put on the sort of tone the doctor does when he wants to be listened to. shockingly it isn't remotely effective, though rio does move away after an affectionate bump of her head to pal's hands.

he is free. rio skitters over to the water, going in with a little splash that probably gets pal wet, sorry. viktor huffs, much less dignified as a child, cheeks puffing with it. the boat is fine at least, rocking gently in the water.]

Sorry sir, she likes to run around when she's feeling okay. [and viktor's unease around pal seems to mostly be gone now, largely from the fact he didn't get upset with rio. he's still baffled that rio seems to like him, which probably means he's been around before? on his weird walks. weird grey stick man.]

Edited 2022-05-31 03:03 (UTC)

[Ah, that's the proper Rio alright, and Palamedes gives her a smile and a quick pat before Viktor can get too suspicious about his pink lizard connection. Instead, he gets splashed, wow... yep... this is happening.

He sits up, brushing himself off and tugging one of his sleeves, more wet than the other, down over his hand so he can wring it out. This has already been very illuminating.]

It's fine— at least one of us is having fun. [This, with a Look he throws over at Rio, because "fun" here means "being a giant pink lizard who forgets everyone else is not giant, good god." It's a good-natured look, but he is now wet and dusty, a great combination.]

Shame that I only got to see half of your boat's journey. [A beat, and with a private quirk of his lips for how utterly absurd this question feels, he asks,] What's your name?

[pal gets another curious look before viktor moves to find a shallower part of the water, stepping in and using his cane to carefully pull the boat back to him. the look he throws to pal is kind of shy again, like he clearly wants the answer to his next question to be yes but he's trying to pretend he is too mature for any of that.]

I can show you again, if you want. [he wants to show off his cool boat so bad, okay. it's so rare he has any kind of audience that isn't rio.

he regards pal for a moment, only a brief one before he decides to answer,] I'm Viktor. I assist the doctor. [he nods to the door, still kind of convinced pal is here for that.] If you're here for him you don't need to lie about it, you know. You just have to wait.

[Palamedes pauses in brushing himself off, squeezing out his sleeves - ah. That's- that's so goddamn cute, the shy way little Viktor offers to show off his boat again, the way he tries so very hard to be the serious and legitimate Doctor's Assistant and not a kid playing with his toy boat and his - uh, Rio.

Palamedes is still not sure if Rio is a pet. His Rio, then. Either way, it's adorable, but the face he makes is even and considering, like he is talking to another adult and not a tiny, baby-faced Viktor.]

I assure you, I'm not here for any medical operations. I'm perfectly well. [The cageyness and what he does know about the undercity make him think, oh, it's drugs. Drugs are what the doctor does, aren't they. Well, he doesn't need to mention that explicitly, just a casual no thanks.

He gestures at the boat, moving now to go back further up the side of the stream, to watch properly and not get Rio-wasted this time.]

Let's see what that thing can do. How does it run? You know, I don't know that much about machines, either.

[being talked to like an adult does wonders, unsurprisingly, even if he remains a little unsure about this guy being here. it's probably better not to poke his nose where it doesn't belong, even if curiosity is a hard thing to curb. if this guy is sick maybe he doesn't want to say it.

he would rather nod quickly, one moment of hesitation before he carefully moves across the little creek. he wobbles a little on a slippery stone and rio skitters over, helps him catch his balance before he's approaching pal. again, one moment of keeping a little distance before he gives in and shuffles closer, bold with rio at his side.

he offers the boat and the little crank that can be slotted in.] You um, you put that in the slot there and turn it. There's a torsion spring that holds the energy until the crank is pulled out and then moves the gears.

You can try it, but don't keep turning it if it gets hard to, okay? [he is very Serious about this. rio watches with clear interest in the boat itself, ready to be a menace about it the second it hits the water.]

[Oh- oh, he didn't expect to actually be handed the boat, how exciting. Palamedes takes it carefully, holding it up to look at it closely, checking it out - it's a boat, for sure. Really he knows nothing at all, but he enjoys the things Viktor makes in the lab, and little Viktor looks like he wants someone to admire his handiwork. Even if he won't say it.

So, ooh, boat. Very nice.]

I don't know if my word means anything, ignorant as I am about machinery, but it looks exceedingly well-made. Tell me if I'm doing it wrong.

[He can handle turning a crank in a slot, but it's the principle of the thing. He crouches by the edge of the water as he turns the crank, glancing at Viktor to see if he's good to go before he sets it in the water.

Ah, but this time he's ready to get out of Rio's way after the boat hits the water, here goes.]

[viktor smiles like he's trying not to, an impossible to miss pleased air to his work being appreciated. even if this guy didn't know the difference, he'd see for himself how well made it was.

he puts his arms around rio's neck and murmurs,] Rio let it run for a little bit, okay? [rio trills but sits and viktor pats her head.] Thanks, you can run after it soon, just remember what I said.

[then his attention goes to pal, this odd man- why did nice people hang out in caves anyway? it's kind of weird it happened twice, he thinks, but then focuses on the boat.

it chugs down the creak and viktor glances to pal, trying not to make it obvious he's peeking at his reaction. soon enough rio loses her patience and skitters after it, a little splash of water in her wake that has viktor biting off a laugh and holding up an arm. at least she didn't knock pal on his ass again.

speaking of pal viktor looks to him and offers a proper smile, lost a little in the moment a rio's happy splashing.]

[Look at the little boat go, wow... Look also at little Viktor and Rio, who Palamedes finds much more interesting than the toy, but he's studiously not being disconcerting by looking too much. This tiny, shy Viktor is just adorable? He gives him a short grin when Viktor catches his eye - probably accidentally, given how he keeps glancing over and Palamedes keeps pretending not to notice - and turns his attention back to the boat.]

It's fast! [And jesus christ, so is Rio, splashing away so suddenly that Palamedes also laughs in surprise, ah-]

Well, she listened for a handful of seconds, there. [rio.....] I'm starting to think if you managed to see the engines in the bigger ships, you'd have a whole one put together down here in record time.

[Wind up toys are very comparable to engines, ahem, he already said he doesn't know anything about machines.]

She always dents the hull. [viktor sighs with all the world wariness of whatever the hell age he is right now. nearby rio is pouncing and probably denting the hull as they speak, so she's having fun.] And then I have to take it all off and try to bend it back to shape! It's annoying.

[and yet he's looking to rio fondly so... there you go. worth a little elbow grease, as it were.

all in all he's pretty pleased with getting to show off his work though, torn between ducking his head and standing straighter. maybe more so at the implication he could make a whole ship, like out on the water. he scoffs, pretty sure this has to be teasing but- well, maybe a little happy with the prospect.]

You don't know enough about engines to say that. [another pause and he says,] If um, if you went on a walk again you could come back. Rio likes you. [viktor does, but admitting that? nope.]

[Palamedes makes a face - he knows several things about engines, like for one, they make noise and they're dirty? Something like that - but alright, alright, he concedes the point. He shrugs, laughing lightly, and after a moment of watching Rio enjoy the boat some more, he says,]

Well, she's very charming. [And little Viktor is precious, but nobody has to embarrass the boy with that.] Sure; I'll come around another time, if I have a minute. You can teach me something about engines.

[He'll even remember this for later, when present day Viktor next nudges him all the way down to the docks again: engine lessons. For now he straightens up, brushing dirt off his knees, and he turns to say something else to Viktor—

—And then he's smaller (comparatively) and greyer (marginally) and crammed into a sealed off little bunkbed that he is already far too tall for. Even without the too-small bunk size, the awkward shape of teenage limbs that don't know where to put themselves and the particularly pinched and beaky look to his face betray this as a new, different memory, back on the Sixth.

Camilla is there, of course, crammed up against his shoulder and reading from a letter while the not-quite-Warden scribbles frenetic chicken-scratch numbers. They have a brief argument about that, or rather, Palamedes protests numbers and educational bureaucracy (at least one "who cares?" about that, and bending his glasses the wrong way in frustration) and Camilla checks his math again just in case, until they're interrupted by a tap that makes them clamber out of the bunk.

Archivist Juno Zeta looks, frankly, nothing like her gangly offspring, but the memory-association of Palamedes' helpfully floats the idea of 'mother,' in case anyone might be somehow witnessing this from an unseen separate dimension. What follows is a lengthy conversation full of Sixth gibberish - committees and bloody thumbprinting and unsealings and forms, a "sad story" about an old Scholar - and then it's out into the grey corridors of the Sixth, past near legions of children watching the constructs, skeletons covered in bright orange thermal paste outside the view screens, doing maintenance, and Archivist Zeta for certain elbows a seven-year-old out of her way as she leads Palamedes and Camilla, chattering all the while about the history of some old study.

(Every time Palamedes and Camilla exchange a look over 'Doctor Sex,' take a shot.)

The investigation of the study is a lot of not being allowed to touch anything, and Palamedes politely making comments about the mysterious addition of two skeletal hands on the desk in a sealed room (and waiting for the adults in the room to be impressed), and eventually, watching Camilla crawl up into a vent, which Palamedes does protest for a little while, before curiosity wins out.

The end of the puzzle mystery is less important than afterwards, when Palamedes and Camilla have finished laughing themselves sick over Doctor Sex and being politely asked to leave the kitchens already, because they're making a disturbance. Archivist Zeta had mentioned taking this before the Oversight Body and, heedless of what time it is (late), Palamedes insists on going there immediately. Camilla tells him she'll wait in the hall where it's slightly less boring, and Palamedes in all his thirteen-year-old overconfidence marches into the Oversight Body's break room, to wait for someone to come out and listen to him.

He glances at the other person in there, raises an eyebrow, and continues on his way to get a biscuit; terribly dry and gross, as he was warned. He wraps it in a waxy bit of flimsy from a stack sitting next to the offered snacks and politely throws it away, and then turns on his heel to face the Visitor again.]

Did your escort abandon you down here? You'll miss your ship if you don't hurry.

[there is a long, disorienting moment where viktor needs to readjust to, well, his entire adult life and personality planting itself back in his head. it's a blessedly brief process, as intense as it is, followed by an equally confusing adaptation to being a specter in a memory, one gently narrated by passing impressions.

he's in the sixth. that, more than anything, strikes him with awe in the foreign place that feels worn like home, thanks to pal's memories.

actually not true, seeing pal almost beats that awe- the gangly little bastard is still taller than him, of course, and still bends his glasses, and still brilliantly and relentlessly chases after answers and goals that viktor's heart could maybe burst. even more than anything, the curve ball of it all, is finally seeing camilla. young of course, younger than she'd likely be if they ever got the chance to meet, but he understands he's seeing something like a piece of pal's heart here, as she checks his math and acts in all the ways viktor would have expected.

he follows after with little choice in the matter, not that he would have strayed, as tempting as the labs were. he learns what a construct actually is and wishes he had the body to run a hand down his face in exasperation at the important, skeletal fact pal left out. he looks out a view screen and sees space, and space rocks, and sadly no collisions.

he sees pal's mother, who he only recognizes in personality as tying to pal. he's fascinated by their interactions, so businesslike but not strained or bitter like he might have expected. he doesn't know what to make of it, and then the mystery starts.

(take a shot every time viktor sighs or rolls his non-eyes when the teenagers glance at each other over 'dr. sex.')

it's all very fascinating, and gives him some last minute ideas for his puzzle box gift. he's a little disappointed he can't follow camilla, though he won't say no to regarding pal in all his endearing teen glory.

it isn't until the end that he realizes this may be similar to the memory of before, which does not give him much time before he's faced with a teen pal who can see him. he resists the urge to glance down at himself, can already guess at the fit and the cane instead of the crutch that it's one of his academy uniforms, along with the cane jayce gratefully made him after his broke in service of barring the door. lots of golds and reds, because of course he had to stick out like a sore thumb.

grey and silver, why not at least pick a more contrasting second color? honestly. he'll complain to pal about that later, when he's not putting on as neutral a face as he can and offering,] You could say that.

[pal just constantly moving about almost cracks over his expression in a smile. he fights it to say with a glance to the biscuits,] Did you come here to sample the hospitality? I was imagining they must be a not so subtly disguised deterrent.

[There's nothing wrong with silver and grey, thanks, picky visitor. Palamedes looks him up and down, that eyebrow still raised with such skepticism it's probably going to get stuck like that if he doesn't stop in a minute. He can't remember hearing about any visiting ships coming in today, and he would have, because the other children in the dormitories are always going on about it when there are visitors and today they are out watching skeletons do maintenance.

So this is strange. He wonders if this guy isn't supposed to be here at all, in which case, he's chosen possibly the worst spot to sit around in the open? Not that the Oversight Body pays any attention, so maybe it's not so bad, after all. One of the extremes.

Many questions. Regardless. Palamedes scoffs at the biscuits, waving them off with a dismissive gesture.]

From our Oversight Body? They're dry and unappetizing, just like the Body's recent string of policy changes.

['Exceedingly loud, Scholar,' comes Camilla's voice from the doorway, where she's leaned her head in to indeed remind Palamedes that his bitching about the Oversight Body never has volume control, and he's standing in their lobby. (This, too, gets a 'who cares' out of him.) Then she looks at Viktor, brow furrowed suspiciously, then at Palamedes, and the two of them have a conversation entirely in silent looks and a few shrugs.

Whatever decision is made here, she rolls her eyes and leans out of the doorway again, but the door stays open. Ahem. Palamedes holds up his hands.]

Sorry. No; I'm here to deliver a report. And you?

[to be entirely honest viktor things he deserves a reward for keeping a straight face. maybe he missed his calling in acting, because watching pal mock the oversight body in front of their door? finally seeing camilla exert her influence and the charming little silent conversation that follows? not even cracking a smile is painful.

all he can do is keep a bland watch on proceedings as best as he can manage, though he cannot help meeting camilla's eyes when she regards him so suspiciously.

this is just a memory, he could likely get away with simply telling the truth, but he'd rather not be whisked away for the finale of this odd waking dream. maybe better to make himself a puzzle, just to see how this younger pal reacts.]

I'm afraid it would be better if I did not tell you the answer to that. [hey, it's the truth. that it can mean so many things is just a fun perk of the truth.] But please, do not stop me from a well earned rant on the slog of bureaucracy.

[Palamedes squints at him - and his glasses are, if one looks at him long enough, just a touch crooked permanently now, after bending them to hell and back in the study. Someone will have to do something about that eventually (it will be Camilla). But he squints, raising an eyebrow, considering Viktor like one indeed might consider a puzzle, or a particularly lengthy and confusing theorem to unravel.

So, good work.

Here's what he's got: probably, a man who isn't from around here shouldn't be wandering around unsupervised, and since he and Cam are already here, well, it only makes sense if he hangs around to figure out what the heck he's doing, sitting in front of the Oversight Body's door and inviting Palamedes to talk more shit about them. Palamedes makes a decision that involves a short sigh breathed out through his nose, fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves.

Okay.]

I barely scraped out full credits in Inter-House Empirical Diplomacy, but somebody has to be your escort. So whatever; we have time. Cam, tell me if anyone comes.

[Outside, Camilla hums her agreement. Palamedes circles around to the other side of the snack table, the side closest to Viktor, and leans against it, crossing his arms. This is not a standard escort; never mind.]

Your colors are Second, but you didn't preen around doing the usual Cohort regimen, so you're not military. Ambassador? Although from the Second, they're basically the same.

[ah lovely, this is basically a game of necromancy trivia and most of what viktor knows is about the ninth or sixth house. what was the second again? the poem was something about discipline and trials, the cohort is the army he thinks, so... great. he's aligned himself accidentally with the necromancer enforcers. he loves that, personally.

why did they have to be color coded? if the academy was more goth he'd at least have a little bit of an easier time, assuming the lack of skull paint didn't give him away.

all that aside it is simply endearing to watch pal wind up and go, so he supposes he can suffer this awkward trivia shuffle. he assumes the worst case scenario is flubbing so badly camilla decides he's a threat and kicks his ass, which he thinks would end the dream. probably. hard to say when it's also a memory going wildly off the rails.]

Responsible of you. Imagine the trouble one could get into between the biscuits and [his face goes a little pinched] flimsy. [god what a nightmare.]

Then I must not be an ambassador either by that logic. How old are you? [he can ask questions too, and he's curious.]

See, if you said that without making a face in the middle, then I'd believe you were Second to the core. I overheard one of them once insisting that standing under three feet from our viewscreens was "against safety protocols."

[Foolish. It's like they don't even linger in pockets of cleaning chemical vapors to test their endurance. Maybe it's the Second who is a bunch of cowards, actually.

Anyway, nobody said Mysterious Visitor Guy could ask questions, especially not when Palamedes has a puzzle to solve. He says,] Thirteen.

[—like he's not even acknowledging a question was asked, somehow, despite answering it, and then goes on,] Second necromancers are especially the worst, so I'm ruling that out, too. What about— Cam, does the Second even have Scholars?

['I assume they can read,' comes Cam's voice, which is the most polite way to say 'those meatheads? eh' one could come up with. Palamedes snorts.]

Fair hit. You, [mystery fella, hi,] I'm only willing to feign ignorance when I get caught showing a Second visitor the public Archives if I know he's a Scholar-equivalent, so is that it?

[This is carrot and stick at once, and like, it would work on him? So.]

I'm sure those three feet really make a difference when any sort of catastrophe strikes. [viktor can't help but snort at that, probably giving himself away further. he is more interested in thirteen- gods, look at him. what a terror, sharp and confident even so young. viktor feels only vaguely sympathetic to the oversight body and whoever else had to handle this, mostly he just wishes he could have imparted a similar confidence in jayce the fully grown man.

ah well. thirteen. he wishes he could take a picture to show shoyo, he'd probably get a kick out of this.

but a chance to see the public archives is too tempting not to try and angle for, even if he's not sure how the hell trying to read anything in there would work in
a dream/memory.]

I am certainly a scholar, you have me there. I read and everything. Sometimes I even write, when the mood strikes. [he glances between them, it really is hard not to be too obviously fascinated, especially by camilla.] I am Viktor, by the way. [apparently the maybe second scholar if they even have those.]

[Ah, and Palamedes makes a face for just a moment that is incredibly pleased with himself, for figuring out the correct combination of carrots and sticks to dangle to get the answer he wanted. It's a face he makes at least twice a week as an adult, with the only difference being that thirteen-year-old Palamedes tries to hide it after a few seconds. Truly, the tragedy of being the smartest person in the room when you are also thirteen is having to consider adult egos...

Still! He got his answer, so they can go see some books now. Viktor the Second Scholar and his two youthful escorts, both of whom bring differently helpful "don't stop us, we're busy" energies to the table.]

Did you hear, Cam? He even writes. ['A paragon, Scholar.'] Well, come on, d'you want to see the Archives or not?

[He's already heading back to the door as swiftly as he marched in minutes ago, waiting at the threshold with Camilla at his elbow.]

I'm Palamedes, this is Camilla. [Notably, he doesn't look to see if she's come to stand by him before he gestures to her, be thrilled by how in sync they are.] We're not supposed to do this, so let's hope that anyone who catches us thinks I'm cleverer than I am a nuisance.

[Or: he's loving this, let's go. The two of them wait politely for Viktor to join them, and Palamedes leads the way to The Public Archives, which are not precisely impressive to look at - being more boxy grey corridors, only with a lot more shelves and flimsy - besides the vastness of the chamber, which is enough that to walk from one end to the other definitely looks like it would take several minutes. Here and there are a few plexiglass display cases, all of them empty. Palamedes hums as he glances at one on the way in, explaining:]

We only bring out the displays to show off when visitors are actually announced. What do you want to read? Poetry?

[this is a fun prank to pull on strangers]

[oh he is very delighted, trying to keep a neutral face as he regards their dynamic with increasing fondness. perhaps a little melancholy at the edges, the bittersweet of seeing a bond palamedes has lost in a time he likely needed it most.

but he refuses to dwell, instead following after, a polite nods to the names he now doesn't need to pretend he does not know.] You make it quite obvious how much you enjoy the nuisance aspect. I doubt that will help your case.

[the archives is fascinating- he would love to show pal the academy library one day, to see how he'd feel about an overtly and obnoxiously grand display of knowledge and wealth. he is also starting to wonder if the commitment to grey on pal's part is a defense mechanism after years of this, everything so dull. viktor thinks he'd go mad.

poetry makes him immediately think of ortus and not the erotic poetry, more the fool he is.] I'll trust your suggestions, given you are my guide for the moment.

[Oh, superb!! Palamedes hums, only a touch too brightly as he turns away to make a beeline towards a particular shelf. Camilla watches him with a patient kind of wariness, as if maybe he'll cause an inter-House incident and they'll have more forms to sign, and as if she's done this same watch-and-wait before.

Palamedes returns with a book that is largely nondescript, titled QUALIFICATION EXAM: NIREIDS - III and bound in simple, well, grey with darker grey font.]

Here. The third volume is the most popular offworld.

[Open to any page to see such titles as:

'Dark and Glowing Before the Tomb'
'Strange and Sinuous in the Spirits' and
'All Entrancing Beside the Vapors and the Metacarpals'

All of them are deeply and overtly erotic, sorry bud. The last one is most definitely about Ortus' favorite Matthias Nonius, and how.]

june catch-all

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