august catch-all

[mehanizovati]

who: viktor and others (closed*)
what various august logs
when: august
where: around the trench

content warnings: on the thread subjects

[ooc; * feel free to pm if you have a wildcard idea or would like to do something!]

Comments

for palamedes, august where pal loves the sea so much

[mehanizovati]

[the first time he lets go of pal's hand since they came down to the shore is now, to sit on one of the jutting rocks and unlace his shoes. to be fair even that is tentative, done with a glance that is taking measure of how pal is handling this. not fussing, he swears, just... concern, in general. in situations like this he prefers careful observation of all the variables, even if it's just to know when to squeeze pal's hand tight.

rio's having a good time though, already skittering to the water and diving under, head popping up to regard them impatiently.] You're going to have to tell her not to swim too fast, she'll eh... zoom around.

[here's him not asking if pal's sure, because he knows pal will tell him. it was his idea after all.]

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes would be lying- and everyone knows how likely that is- if he claimed he hasn't thought more than once on the way here that he would like to go back home, actually. The pull of the mystery at the bottom of the ocean, of the history of this place that might shed some light on their current circumstances, is great; but the oppressive mass of water is great and terrible, as they approach. He hasn't minded the sea, at a distance; when Viktor coaxes him down to the safe distance of the docks to tell him about ships, that's fine.

But standing on the shore with nothing between him and the water besides a stretch of wet sand is, hm, different? Too close in some ways to the last horrific journeys out to sea he's had, and just different enough in others.

He watches Rio having fun in the water - which is slightly glowing! wow! that actually does help, considering - and blinks himself out of a heavy frown when Viktor speaks. Ah, yes, they are here-]

Honestly, a straight zoom down might help matters. Hang on- [He has a tiny backpack here for putting Sea Objects in, which he now takes a moment to tighten the straps of. He's not going to lose his cool sea objects if he has to go down there, nuh uh.] Do I- hmm. Where do I put my shoes?

[mehanizovati]

Rip off the bandage mentality? Perhaps. [viktor muses, shoes put to the side and on top of the same rock he's sitting on.

which he gestures to.] Here is fine. If they get stolen that is just the sort of fast paced life we lead, I'm afraid.

[he can reach out again, hand running down to squeeze pal's forearm. rio splashes to remind them the water is here, thank you.] I should warn you, adjusting to being able to breathe water is, hm... unpleasant.

[megatheorem]

[Well, he felt almost good about ripping the bandage until that tidbit about adjusting. Like, he doesn't want his heart to explode from the shock or something? Maybe taking it slow is a better idea; Rio will have to wait for Palamedes to be done making faces, which he is doing right now.

He does laugh at the shoe thing though. God.]

The fast-paced life of having my favorite [only] boots stolen? It's almost as if you don't like the yellow.

[But! Alright! He twists his arm to take Viktor's hand and give him a swift kiss on the knuckles, then Boldly marches towards the water. Ennh... ugggghh....]

Can you count down? That'd help.

for iskander, august underwater quests

[mehanizovati]

[frankly this sort of thing felt like it was so up iskander's alley it felt natural to send him a message, asking if he heard about the shipwrecks. which, of course, led to asking if he was interested in coming with him, warnings of some of the weird monsters around the sea, speculation.

viktor's already there, shoes and socks tucked on a rock and knee deep in the water when he notices iskander and raises a hand in greeting.] You know where I am from shipwreck stories usually go hand and hand with hauntings, skeletal pirates, things of that nature.

[amused. as far as he knows it's tamer than that, thankfully. probably.]

[towards_okeanos]

[Iskandar has heard, and was fully prepared to go alone if none of those he knows decided to muster the courage. He understood Waver's reluctance to go, his love was more busy than usual, setting up wards wherever he could put them, so they won't get inundated by those weird sudden floods. Another reason to get out his way. When it comes to magic, Iskandar still feels a bit useless.

So he was relieved to receive Victor's message. Doubly so to see the man in person when he arrives. He comes prepared, wielding a spear of his own making. A trident would be more appropriate, but Iskandar neither has the means nor the skill to have one fashioned for himself, yet. More the reason for a trip to a proper shipwreck for some pillaging to sound more enticing.]

Where I come from such stories are about sea monsters, a huge variety of them. I have a feeling we might encounter those skeletal pirates, sea monsters, or some combinations of both.

[The wide grin on his face clearly indicating what he thinks about such an incident.]

[mehanizovati]

[the spear gets a curious glance, then a chuckle at the words that follow.]

We had some quite large sea creatures, I'll admit. Here? I can only imagine. Beings like us come from the sea, after all.

[a very, very odd place.] Thank you for coming. I'm afraid curiosity got the best of me here. How does it go... fortune favors the bold, or so I've heard.

for nico, august curse fretting

[mehanizovati]

[it's midday when viktor finally pulls away from his work, a grimace at the way his back retaliates for the bullshit he puts it through. this curse business on top of the upcoming surgery have been overtaking his free time, ignoring the stress of certain new arrivals from his world. all in all he can't complain though, not when the month has been far tamer than he expected.

the floods suck, but eh. seen worse.

he swears he sees nico pass by the doorway, enough that he calls out,] Nico? Would you like to come to lunch? As a kindness, I need someone to distract Abigail from trying to shove food down my throat.

[he stands as he speaks, leaning heavily on his cane. surely no one is cursed! surely.]

[umbraportation]

[ Nico spends a portion of every day at the Sanctuary, there's a lot for him to do here, and he attempts to set time aside for them all. He's no stranger to Palamedes or Viktor's offices these days, though the demigod knows he's still new enough to touching mechanical stuff to not do it on his own.

When Viktor's voice calls out, he'd been on his way to get some cleaning supplies, but he turns back to the open door. ] Sure, I hadn't even noticed it was lunchtime.

[ Sometimes, he forgets to eat. On those rare bad days, he just doesn't. ]

Every time I'm here, Abigail always catches me to feed me something. My boyfriend would like her for that.

[mehanizovati]

I've been trying to be better about noticing. I have a surgery later in the month it wouldn't do to be skeletal for. [he says with a snort- not a bad way to get informing him of that out of the way. he comes out to the doorway, offers a greeting nod.

and a smirk for abigail.] Ah, she's found a new victim? She does the same with Palamedes. It's far more amusing when it isn't happening to you. [and time to move down the hall, towards the kitchen.] Her daughter was one of the first beasts I saw Allen manage to save, actually. It's why she's set up shop here to terrorize us all.

for battler, august research and chess

[mehanizovati]

[sanctuary is an old, repurposed church, and people asking places they might go to figure out more about this whole curse business might be pointed there. it's a place that researches and tries to understand corruption and beasts, after all, so surely? and transfusions are being done in the infirmary, though if battler asks for research in particular he'll be pointed to a different area.

a lab, sort of. in particular a room with a man leaning over a microscope, cane resting against his desk and vials of blood in neat rows all around. there's shelves of books, glass jars of odd, glowing little orbs, a chalkboard full of schematics for machinery and some half made gadgets around. a chess board and two squat chairs near the back, a sofa off to the side.

yup, looks like a place research might happen, and said man at the microscope will glance up when he hears footsteps.] Hello, can I help you?

[chessboardturn]

[ Battler wants to help; he's just not quite sure how just yet, so when he's pointed in the direction of someone doing more research he's quick to wind his way over to them. He picks his way into the lab, eyes sharp and bright, taking in the equipment. It reminds him a little of the lab in school, but... well. Much more serious, isn't it? And more glowy. He's still glancing around when Viktor speaks. His expression brightens a little and he lifts his hand in greeting. ]

Hey! I asked about helping out with research into all of this and got pointed in your direction. I'm Battler. Battler Ushiromiya. Interesting place you've got down here.

[mehanizovati]

[the name gets a blink, and not just because it's a little odd.] Battler- ah, you are Beatrice's friend?

[his very slavic accent stumbles a bit over her name, a valiant effort regardless to do it justice. he's fond of beatrice so he warms just a touch from the professionalism, offering a nod.] Welcome to the right place then. We mostly do research on corruption and beasthood here, but at the moment that's become more focused on this 'curse' going around. Here-

[he gestures to the microscope, stepping back so battler can go and see for himself what the cursed blood looks like when examined, the black bits eating through it.]

for jun, august microscopes

[mehanizovati]

[it starts with just a message he sends jun's omni:]

I have samples of that glowing plankton, if you'd like to get a look. It's rather fascinating under the microscope.

[it's a bit of a check in, to see how jun is doing, but also simply because he wonders if jun's interests might fall under this. not exactly typical animal life but still a biological focus on creatures natural to this world.]

[icanhearscreams]

[The message is unexpected, but welcome. Despite the nagging urge to go to the Archives again, he responds.]

I'll be right over.

[And indeed, it doesn't take him that long at all to get over to Sanctuary, knocking on the door and finding his way over to where Viktor is. His backpack looks... heavy, and it sounds it as he sets it down by the door with a solid thunk.]

I wasn't exactly doing anything interesting...

[Though Viktor will probably notice some blooming bruises on his cheek and hands, he doesn't mention them.]

[mehanizovati]

[the backpack gets a quirked brow.] What have you got in there?

[just normal curiosity, better than the niggling concern at the bruises. ah, he has no idea if questioning would be welcome, and for the moment decides it better to let it be and not scare jun off with an inquisition.

instead he turns in his desk chair, holding out a small jar with water and the glowing seaweed and plankton he promised.] For you, if you want. I have more samples. [a nod over to where there are a couple of bigger jars.] Perfectly harmless, thankfully. Some even used it as bandaging.

for jason, august worrying about your bff's curse levels

[mehanizovati]

[sometime in mid august viktor sends a message to jason, asking if he'll meet him at sanctuary for lunch. it's pretty typical, as it turns out he likes just hanging out with jason somewhat regularly, checking in and swapping news, ribbing each other.

he does have the motive of informing him about the lung surgery coming up, and maybe more so asking the favor of being there for pal if things do go poorly. normal things, a little heavy but he's mostly hopeful.

and also frying fish in a pan when jason arrives. he's making basically fish and chips, you can't go wrong frying fish and potatoes.]

[hearuthinking]

[Hanging out with Viktor is definitely a highlight. They both need breaks sometimes even if neither will openly admit it. So dropping by the Sanctuary that day isn't anything weird.

The weird thing is the rash he picked up. If it could even be called a rash. Jason has lived long enough in Trench to know that having your skin turn black, scaly, and damp are not good combinations.

He pauses seeing Viktor cooking]

What're you makin' there?

[mehanizovati]

Fried things. Fish and potatoes, in this case- around here they call it fish and chips. [he calls from over his shoulder.] A staple in any world, I hope. I used to get it on the docks back home.

[and he'll turn to greet him properly- though is any of that rash visible? because if it is instead of smile he'll get a concerned frown.]

for palamedes, october honeymoon

[mehanizovati]

[a fun new way the bond works is the bubbling of relief and excitement that comes through, followed by the distinct tapping of viktor's cane through the house.

the recovery from the surgery has been worse than he was hoping, dragging on for well over a month and keeping him stuck in bed for most of it. likely more the whole magic squid blood and necromancy magic settling than anything. he's at least endeavored to be a not atrocious patient but even before the bond it was clear how frustrated he was. productivity, work, these were viktor's lifeblood and being hindered for an extended period of time?

yeah it was not great. more than once viktor probably ranted to pal about it, or apologized for the ranting.

but here's the first time he's been well enough to not only shower and get dressed but walk around for an extended period without feeling the slightest bit unsteady. hence the joy, and when he reaches the room pal's in he says,] Tell me this is it. Palamedes, please be aware I will be inconsolable if the answer is no.

[megatheorem]

[Honestly, Viktor is a terrible patient when it comes to having to sit still and not aggravating his stitches and complaining a lot, but - Palamedes is fairly used to about two-thirds of that, actually. Camilla is also a terrible patient in her own way, and so Palamedes is as understanding and tolerant as he can be about all the ranting. Sometimes, it is even cute, hence the effort to go get Viktor a clunky lap desk for some degree of working-in-bed.

Like, it worked? The whole thing. It did work. The high of "it worked" and "Viktor is alive" have carried Palamedes through an entire month and still kind of are; he's perfectly content to sit around listening to cane taps and smirk to himself over bond feelings, while Viktor goes about his little exploration. Presently, he is reading a book. It's trashy of course, and he peers at Viktor over it for a moment before setting it face down and open on a coffee table or whatever, RIP to that book's spine.]

Well, now I have to add a tally to my 'inconsolable threat' counter, but yes— I think so. Come here and let me have a look.

[Or: the umpteenth-thousandth Critical Check-Up, so he can be very sure, but also let him delight in that wheeze-free stroll, too.]

[mehanizovati]

[viktor does just that, taking only a moment to eye the book and snort fondly at pal's incredible taste in literature. then he's standing before his- well, husband, and that still is quite the thing to consider.]

Just think, we're reaching phase where I am endlessly grateful for your patience and work.

for allen, september sappy boys

[mehanizovati]

[the surgery is a success, something allen is probably made aware of by pal or whoever else. it goes well even, though viktor looks a bit corpselike in bed. to be fair he usually looks a bit corpselike, but as it turns out complex surgeries melding necromancy, blood magic and hextech are a lot? they're a lot.

even so when he sees allen he smiles, and his breathing has no rattle to it at all. clear, quiet, easier than it feels it's ever been to him despite all the recovery surrounding it.]

I'm already bored, Allen. I am starting to feel a great sympathy for your time stuck in that chair.

[likethelight]

[ That's why he comes bearing overflowing armfuls of snacks and games! Aren't you lucky. He's already snacked on some of the treats though. Seems like today is a fruits and chess day. ]

That isn't the same thing at all!! At least I could still get around thanks to you. [ Fretful, and he's quick to unload today's offerings on the table near the door before he pulls up a chair to sit by Viktor. Large silver eyes as filled with nervous energy and concern as they were the moment Viktor first woke up and how they've remained the entire time he's been near glued to his side. ]

How are you feeling? [ He is so relieved and happy, but going to be worried until he's up and about again. ]

[mehanizovati]

I've been thinking we should make a few more of those chairs one of these days, offer them to people dealing with death sickness. [he muses as he watches allen deposit his offerings, lips quirking a little at them. excuse him, having a whole feeling about having people who care enough now to do things like this.

not that it will stop him from complaining about boredom, but still.] I'm recovering well, better than we thought. The biggest concerns of rejection have already passed thankfully. Palamedes managed a minor miracle, as he often does.

[his expression warms again, despite his usual efforts to keep from being too telling.] I'm proud of you, you know. Not many people would be able to build all you did off an idea made in a graveyard.