deercountry | april catch

Entry tags:

april catch - all

Who: viktor and others, open to all with some closed prompts
What: some late march/early april logs, including some tdm stuff. i'm happy to attach something else on if anyone's interest in doing something specific
When: late march through april
Where: various

content warning; terminal illness, arcane season 1 spoilers, likely game typical beast gore/body horror, potentially ableism mentioned, claustrophobic imagery

open prompts.

fishers of dreams - the lighthouse, early april (tdm)

a. while awake

[if you've been roped into this lighthouse business too you may enter to find a man already there. he seems vaguely disgruntled by the business, offers vague greetings but otherwise sticks to scribbling in his notebook. it looks like schematics and formulae, but anyone with an eye for either might notice they tend to trail off and start in odd bursts.

viktor will offer to cook when evening falls (or whatever seems to be the right mealtime in this place) so maybe that is a better time to strike up conversation. the smell coming from the kitchen is heavy on whatever spices the place stocks, promising pain to anyone who doesn't have the stomach for that sort of thing. worse if he finds the rotgut liquor tucked away, which he will pull out and offer despite smelling more like turpentine than anything edible.

these tricks of the eye though, flashes of people vaguely recognizable, he chalks it up more hallucinations. last month was mushrooms, so this? irritating, far more distracting, but it followed the pattern.

it isn't until later in all this he'll track whoever is with him down.] Did you see someone else come through? There, just up the stairs.

b. nightmare

[trying to reach the odd lighthouses is fruitless, the shadows converge and when the dark clears the area seems more closed in than before. it shouldn't be, he was just outside on the shore, yet now the dark sky seems to hang too low, lower still, suffocating.]

What now? This is another illusion of sorts, is it not? One this place is so fond of. [viktor sounds more irritated than anything, maybe defensive since the grip his has on his crutch is white-knuckle tight. in the distance seems to be a lighthouse, though the light is far and the area is so stifling, promising a tunnel that will close and snuff out the light entirely.

it's ridiculous of course, the walls are not that close, certainly not enough for this suffocating grip on the lungs and throat. there's no real explanation, less so when a few steps forward and the ground begins to dot with great metal cables, the distinct, sickly sweet smell of chemicals in the air. there are pools between them where the ocean should have been, this time shallow spills of what could be gasoline or something similar, slick rainbow puddles, oily and difficult to walk through without slipping or sinking.]

(ooc; for this one please, feel free to add your own character's nightmare in any flavor at any point!)

odds and ends - willful machine, early april

[viktor can be found around the vendors often enough, especially those specializing in scrap metal, tools or small machinery. for the most part he doesn't stick out, except for the fact often his massive omen often accompanies him, some sort of huge pink salamander/axolotl that he'll lean against or ask rather politely to help carry larger purchases.

he doesn't seem to notice or care about any attention, though the creature will blink curiously around. feel free to approach or find him haggling rather intently for such a stick of a man, accent thickening when it gets heated enough. maybe you want the same scrap? or are looking for something and he's standing nearby enough to notice a lost look and offers assistance?]

[one might also find him about by the sound of a nasty coughing fit. he stands with his back curled, a rag to his mouth as a makeshift handkerchief. it's a wet cough that shakes his entire frame, and when it's over his sniffs and clears his throat, straightening.

the cloth is stained in a pale color that catches the perpetual moonlight of april. paleblood, that he regards for a moment before folding the cloth in on itself with a small frown.]

closed prompts.

jinx - willful machine, late march

[viktor doesn't stay by the lamp exactly. he would usually but he hardly sees the point when this person he's meeting knows him by sight as far as he can tell. it leaves him feeling comfortable to wander within eyeshot mostly of the lantern, strolling down the canal docks to find a place to stand and watch the boats cut slowly through the water.

he likes it here, he thinks, in this district. the noise and foot traffic, the winding canals and dirty water, the boats bobbing to and fro - it wouldn't be a bad place to set up. a lab that will double as his home because he doesn't see the point in separating the two any longer, even if he can practically hear heimendinger's tutting about his work-life balance in his ear. it will be closer to the vendors, less of a hike to acquire what he'll need to start fresh. first a new brace for his leg and back, then some basic experiments into lunar energy to get a feel for it.

his lungs flare and burn, minor enough he manages to swallow it down without reaching for the rag in his pocket. he makes a note of the severity and timing, adds it to his growing mental list that seems to indicate his illness does indeed remain but is diminished. promising, if he's being optimistic, but at the moment he feels only a sense of irritation that now he doesn't know the timeline of his own life. one he might be shortening drastically with this ridiculous stunt.

a sigh and viktor goes back to watching the boats, trying to clear his head. he considers trying to message vi and ask her opinion of this but... no, he doubts he'll get anything. he's not sure if he disgusts her as a class traitor or amuses her in truth. better to just see for himself what he's gotten himself into like a fool.]

allen - willful machine, early april

[the 'grand tour' doesn't amount to much yet, the lab area just a large, empty space dotted with a few tables and a couple of desks, not even a chalkboard he's been keeping an eye out for or something that could do the same. one of the desks at least is littered with junk, at the moment tools and the starts of a knee brace, a table nearby with all the scrap he's managed to grab that could be useful in the future. one corner has a cot, maybe he'll clear out whatever other small rooms the place has later for a bedroom proper. maybe not.

viktor seems satisfied with it as he gestures around, and rio has commandeered one of the tables for her own to lie across.] A solid start, I think. I like this area, this eh... Willful Machine, that is.

[he'll never admit part of it is the boats. everyone's allowed a sort of childish interest, right? they're soothing, even if they lack the motors that fascinated him.] Have a seat, if you'd like. How have you been since the tombs?

wildcard.

[as i said, feel free to ask for anything else, including other tdm prompts, i am more interested in seeing the worlds built by others for the archway prompts so i didn't include any here. my plurk is

dichotomy or you can dm me here!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Of course he'd ask to see, and of course that was going to come up if they were to try and understand his powers in a way that might be able to help others do similar to what he can. Allen knew that, and there is literally no logical reason why he should feel skittish about it.

But he does. Like it's something so very deeply ingrained in him, to keep that hand of his out of sight unless he has to. So he looks a little squirrely for a moment, pale grey eyes flickering up to Viktor's a little quickly, before he gives a nod and moves to tug his left glove off.

The hand is blood red and distinctly inhuman, plated with armor-like carapace at the joints of his fingers and with long black nails. It's both delicate and grotesque looking in design, but in the back of his hand -- which he twists around and stretches out to show Viktor -- is a thin four-pointed golden crystal. It looks more like a star than anything, and with facets that appear delicately cut.

It would seem embedded in the back of his hand, but it's smooth and well-formed to it. Like it's simply a part of his skin. With a presence to it that feels ever so faintly holy or pure, if someone were sensitive to that sort of thing. ]

It isn't active right now. This is just how it is when I'm not using it.

[allen's reluctance almost makes viktor say something, deciding eventually to just let the boy decide himself if he wished to share and take his time with it. when his hand is revealed well... that did explain the reluctance. it's certainly a lot to take in, though viktor regards it without any disgust or morbid fascination.

to be fair he's used to a world of augmentation, of other races far different from humans, so it isn't a huge shock, even if there's something a little grotesque about aspects. maybe not that, just something distinctly other feeling about it, meshing humanity with something most certainly not human at all.

not what he was expecting by any means, but mostly his brow furrows as he wonders how this happened. if it hurt or felt as natural as any other limb.]

I see... [he leans in a little to get a better look at the crystal, measuring it against the hexcrystals he worked with. again far more stable, like the crystal allen just showed him.] I apologize, I know your memories are not fully available, but do you know if you were born with this or if it was something you attached yourself?

I was born with it. [ The answer is immediate from instinctive knowing, no hesitation. There may be a lot of holes in his memory, but those ones are rooted so deep in his identity they would be impossible to forget. However... his brow knits for a moment, trying to remember something that's mostly there but not quite. ]

But I know it's changed over time. It... adapts. [ Yelled at. He remembers being yelled at by someone, for being too reckless while it reformed. And that makes something click. ]

The crystal mirrors the heart of the host. So the two are one. [ His expression flickers at that, becoming clearer. Yes, that's right. It's familiar, the analytical way it was explained to him. The way he took that and made it his core identity.

"You and I, a weapon to save the world."

He looks down at his hand as he makes a fist with it, thoughtful and determined. ]

The shape it chooses to take reflects that.

[viktor takes a moment to consider all of that, hand going to his chin as his eyes fix on this crystal. reflect the host? interesting, this almost sounds like a different way of being a mage, born instead with this physical representation of his relationship with the power.]

So yours takes the shape of... power than can purify corruption? That does seem in line to your personality. [he offers with a quirk of the lips as he glances to allen's face again] Or is it the more literal shape? It looks rather like a star to me.

This is intriguing. This crystal you received may be our ticket to understanding purification and your own abilities better. Are random gifts like this common?

[ His personality? That statement gets an almost comical sort of blink from Allen, like it caught him entirely offguard. But that, ah...

...he likes that. Very much. Something about it is very relieving to him. As well as Viktor also believing there may be a connection between it and the moonestone; a way forward. ]

It's more the literal shape, I think... the way that it works. If it's a sword, or if it's something else. No two look the same. [ Entirely missing that Viktor implied a similarity between the star on his hand and the pentagram above his eye? Yes. ]

But whatever shape it takes, it's always meant to destroy corruption. To purify the soul. [ This crystal, its purpose -- of that, he's absolutely certain. Even if there's something else, something not quite the same... Something about his, something different-- not so much to destroy the corruption, but to save.

He gives a rueful sort of lopsided smile when Viktor asks about "gifts" though, scratching lightly at his cheek in a sheepish manner with his still-gloved other hand. ]

I wouldn't say gifts are really common though. And I don't know if they feel like gifts so much as... more tests. Or if they are, they're ironic ones. Patrons can give them as blessings, but they're not always a good thing.

[frankly allen's world fascinates him, he'd love to learn more about all of this and how exorcists function in relation to magic as he knows it. more so how technology works in a world like this, but he'll keep himself on task. or mostly on task.]

Does your arm cause you any pain? [gods know he'd understand that feeling. he sits back, a nod as he says,] I think the first thing we should do is expose this stone to a mild level of corruption if possible, to see how it reacts. I admit I'm uncertain the best way to go about this- can a plant be corrupted by the blood pollution?

[a safer subject, unless it just turned to a plant monster then joke's on him. the bit about gifts though, it makes him give a soft 'oh' as he takes his crutch to pull himself up.] That would explain it- I was given a packet of spices for a drink I enjoyed at home. I thought it some cheeky reward for the ridiculous nonsense we were put through.

[honestly is he wrong? either way he moves over to one of the tables- he has a guest so he heads over to where he has it stashed, he may as well make the boy a hot drink as hospitality dictates. it's only enough for one pot of sweetmilk, and milk to use wasn't particularly easy to find but he's glad he made the effort.] Do you like sweet drinks? Allow me to make you a cup.

[ Sweet drinks? He's leaning forward in eager curiosity, trying to imagine what he means by that. It doesn't sound like he means juice, which he's also a big fan of. And Allen is absolutely the boy who dumps spoonful after spoonful of sugar into his tea. ]

Ehh, really? Yes please! [ It's so automatic and cheerful, without a shred of the usual hesitation or humility. You just don't look a host's gift food items in the mouth. You're the best, Viktor.

He gives a hum to his earlier question though, looking around the lab and considering that as the older man moves to prepare the drink. ]

I don't know about plants... Most people talk like it stops them from being able to grow. [ Farmers he's talked to outside the city, that sort of thing. Also, the idea of a mutant, corrupt plant... hhh. It gives him a weird kind of PTSD feeling. ]

As far as I know --[ He trails off a little, expression becoming thoughtful. Filtered.

"In this world, the only species that can get cursed are humans."

He presses his lips together for a moment ]

... only humans can become corrupted. Become beasts.

[allen's reaction makes makes him shake his head in amusement, using a little bunsen burner he rigged up to heat the milk up and add the mix. he only has some dented tin cups to work with but they'll do well enough he thinks. it's odd to rebuild a life, so many little pieces to work with.

he supposes he has his upbringing to thank for how prepared he is for a great deal of this. scrounging, making ends meet, bartering and working with scraps. even finding meaning and simple pleasures in the small things to get by.

viktor idly stirs as he considers that, a small frown that it's unlikely plants can be used.] Humans - or sentient races at least, as there seem to be more than just humanity here. I wonder what it is about that sentience that attracts corruption, gives it a place to grow.

Well, that makes things more difficult for us. I suppose it's a good thing plants can't become massive beasts with a drop of blood regardless.

[ "I wonder what it is about that sentience that attracts corruption, gives it a place to grow..." ]

I think... maybe it might be the soul? [ He pauses, considering his own words for a moment. ]

Not that I'm sure animals don't have them or not... I think maybe they must-- [ It's a good thing too, because Timcanpy started gnawing on his earlobe in a way that was entirely not delicate or fond and he winces a little while trying to reassure the golem with some frantic pets. _{Please stop chewing on him, he's going to bleed.} ]

But the thing I always see when it becomes corrupt enough... it's the soul. Every beast seems to have one, and they all appear to be humanoid. Or, at least they once were. [ You'd think he'd see ones that had animal souls otherwise, or more where he couldn't see any soul at all if that was how his eye worked. The only time he didn't see a soul... they were still fully "human" if insane or, as far as he could tell, just a pure monster born of the world. ]

Maybe there's something different in the soul itself.

Edited 2022-04-04 10:15 (UTC)

[the soul, that's interesting. viktor's never been particularly interested in the spiritual, he has a vague respect for it but he's always preferred what he can see and unwind with his own eyes and hands. even magic could be to an extent with runes, but a soul? such a nebulous concept, so open for interpretation and misunderstanding.

he can't help some amusement at tim's reaction to that.] That certainly will make things more complicated to try and figure out, but at least it's a groundwork. Humanoid, sentient creatures, some quality of their soul- oh.

[the little oh comes from the milk beginning to bubble. he takes it off the burner and pours two glasses, heads over to offer one of those to allen with a nod.] Here you are. You know another thing I'd like to study in all this is those hounds who seem to devour corruption. A woman named Miss Stone made a post regarding the one she's tamed, offering its services.

[ He'll get no argument from Allen -- the soul is an incredibly complicated thing, maybe even moreso to someone who can see it as a tangible and real thing, at least when they've become so deeply corrupted. Soul and body, body and soul, how the soul can be separated from the body...

If anything, he just wishes he could explain it better. In some way that might help Viktor to study such a thing. And it's so annoying, because it feels like something is there right at the edge of his mind, just out of reach...

--oh! He accepts the warm mug and blows on it for a moment to cool it, but he isn't sitting up quickly because of that. Well, he is, but not just that and more because-- ]

Miss Alayne Stone? And Knight? [ Hard to forget a blood hound's name because a blood hound itself is hard to forget, especially a tame one. ]

I know her! She's making a new coat for me. One that can withstand blood pollution better.

[ Also his last one -- the one he's wearing... well it's seen better days. If the very meagerly mended long rips and burns along the left arm and at the hems indicate as much. ]

Edited 2022-04-04 21:46 (UTC)

[viktor takes his seat again with a little sigh, letting rio lean in to nose at his cup curiously. she's more interested in the warmth at least. he assumes omens do not need to eat since she hasn't tried to eat his sleeve in retaliation yet.]

Yes, that is her. I asked her if she could record the process with her hound and promised to bring anyone I thought could use the service.

[he tilts his head as he looks over the coat and its damage.] She can make something like that? Impressive. I should hire her when I have the ability. [he's still mostly rocking the welcome robe and some odds and ends he's picked up. very chic. the damage on allen's coat does worry him, even though he's well aware the teen fights and has for some time. danger is part of his life it seems, even if viktor wishes he could have a peaceful life instead.]

[ The Trench is a small place sometimes. It's kind of a marvel, honestly. And he gives a nod, blowing again on his sweetmilk to help cool it to a drinkable temperature. _{It smells good.} ]

Mm. She's a seamstress actually, over in Cellar Door. You just have to supply her with the materials and maybe something for her dogs. [ A sign of a good person. He likes how she does business. He also brought her an extra gift of some special tools for working with the cloth, but... that's as much because his honor demands fair pay for fair work and she's too nice to fleece. ]

The blood pollution resistance comes from a cloth that I found at the markets. It's made by a special process, apparently. Like the robes they give us when we first wake up. [ Ah, his drink is cooled enough now! He stops to take a sip--

... and then stops with slightly widened eyes.

Takes another, much longer sip. ... Sip... ... Sipping... ]

Uaa, this is good! [ He's... he's so happy. Good tasting things are hard to come by in Trench. It's nearly gone already but he's so happy. ]

What is it?

Edited 2022-04-04 22:31 (UTC)

[that's incredibly fair-minded of her, to an extent it concerns viktor a little that she may be underselling her talents. not that he's been much better, on more than one occasion now he's offered repair work or the like for the cost of materials, so maybe she's simply of the same mind that help should be given freely in matters of great importance.

he nods to that about the cloth, offers,] That must be popular with hunters. I haven't seen fighting a beast myself yet but I've certainly seen how ah... messy it gets.

[he takes a sip himself, easing a little at the familiar taste. if only getting this was possible, maybe he'll try and see if the spices are individually available or something like them.

especially when allen reacts that way, reminding him of himself the first time he tried it.] Sweetmilk, from my world. It is mostly a collection of spices soaked into the milk, but it is excellent, no?

[he's pleased as punch allen Gets It. truly a man of taste, is allen walker.] There's more in the pot if you'd like a refill. I could never finish a whole pot anyway, I'm glad I could share it.

[ It really is the little things in life that can give so much to look forward to. The light in the distance to have faith and joy in, even when things are dark.

And that's always been food and good-tasting things for Allen. ]

Are you sure? [ aaaa ] Thank you.

[ He is going to try to savor what remains though, in a rare feat of self-control. Especially when food is actually scarce or limited -- usually by how much he can afford -- he likes to take his time.

His expression also smooths a little, if still bright-eyed and restored, thinking back to the task at hand. ]

What do you think is next? In what you need to get started.

Edited 2022-04-05 19:29 (UTC)

Quite sure. It's good someone appreciates it as much as I do. I've been teased for having a bit of a sweet tooth. [he answers, amused. that and his relationship with food is complicated already, what with the scarcity of it in childhood. a matter he doesn't know he shares with allen, he'd be even gladder to share it knowing that in truth.

he takes some time with his drink, letting the warmth seep into his fingers as he considers allen's question.] At the moment data is most important. I was thinking of speaking to hunters about their experiences and getting a better understanding of corruption.

That and blood ministers. [a little hesitant there, mostly because he also needs to talk to though about his illness. allen's the only one who knows the full scope of how bad it is, so after a beat he says,] I need to talk to them anyway about my health. It... I think it will still kill me here, if it cannot be hampered. You wouldn't happen to know any doctors or healers here to speak to, would you?

[ Mention again of Viktor's disease has Allen's expression flicker, brows drawing together slightly. That's right, he said he had a terminal illness of some sort... It's easy to forget in talking to him. How long did that mean he has?

It's both a question too invasive he feels to ask, and one he's not sure he really wants to know the answer to. And even Timcanpy lowers his wings slightly, a little quieter in how he holds himself. ]

Not any doctors or healers, no... Not beyond those at the Lumenarium. They might know. [ He really wishes he did. It's something he'll need to pay more attention to. It's also not a bad idea in general, given how banged up he can get.

However, speaking of getting banged up... ]

But I do have a friend who's familiar with medicine in addition to being a hunter. He's been here longer than I have and might know.

Hm, I should probably try asking on the network. [there's an obvious reluctance there, he's never shared his health openly, learned very early on to keep it to himself for a variety of reasons. going out and publicly declaring it in hopes of finding help? not appealing. maybe necessary, but not appealing.

he perks at that though.] Oh? He sounds like he could be very useful in our research. What is his name?

[ He gets the reluctance, he really does. Allen doesn't like sharing his more private problems at all, let alone in any public format. He doesn't even really like using the network at all in that regard, except like one might a telephone to relay a quick or important message.

Though that might also be from being of an era and lifestyle of someone who can't really understand the fascination with an internet and the way people use it. ]

Todoroki Shouto. [ And he draws an imaginary line right down the middle of his hair. ] He's hard to miss. White hair on one side and red on the other.

[ Also, is he using his name backwards and presumed the wrong first name? Yeah. Yeah he is. He's British, Vatican influence made all Eastern individuals he knew (except Kanda, but Kanda is weird) use Western order, and Japan was obliterated along with most of its culture in his world.

-- and that's how Shouto introduced himself and hasn't corrected him yet. It's not his fault!!! ]

He can seem a little standoffish at first but he's really kind.

Edited 2022-04-05 20:31 (UTC)

Todoroki Shouto? [ah, now he's thinking that's the correct order too. horrible westerners. if piltover even is west, hard to say.] That sounds Ionian. [aka fantasy arcane sort of japan. he doubts this man is from the same runeterra but who knows.]

Do you think he'd be interested in helping us? At some point we will have to deal with actively corrupted individuals, and while I am sure you can hold your own I would prefer if you also had back up. [which is something viktor's been considering, if he should make himself a proper weapon or not. he doesn't like the idea but he's not naive, certainly not in matters of self defense.]

Ionian? [ Did... did he not know Todoroki was that?? Should he have?? I mean, with all the different backgrounds people can be from, that is possible isn't it??? —then again, it's not like it makes much of a difference when they're all now of the Waking World. Unless it does?? _{No, no. It's fine...}

He shakes his head slightly, focusing on answering. ] Mn, I think so.

[ No, in fact-- ]

I know he would. [ Not to speak for him, but... he had the right kind of heart. That's the sort of thing Allen picks up on. Although this would be something he would protest, that he needs to work with/endanger another person who might be more susceptible to corruption than he is. But... he has worked with Shouto before. Not fought with, exactly, but used both of their abilities and seen the other in action enough that the idea is natural to Allen. Comfortable, actually. Despite always wanting to be the one endangering himself instead of others.

Exorcists usually worked in teams, after all. ]

Edited 2022-04-06 21:20 (UTC)

It's a country where I'm from. I wonder if he is from Runeterra...? [he tilts his head, offers a little shake.] Hm, probably not. I've only met two people from my world so far, it seems a rarity.

[it makes him wonder if anyone from allen's world is here and allen simply doesn't remember enough to know. a depressing thought, honestly, hence why he decides not to voice it.

allen seems sure of this man (boy? maybe he's another teen? so many teenagers here, having to fight.) he considers it as he finishes his drink, placing the cup to the side for rio to sniff at as he pulls himself up by the crutch.] I look forward to meeting him then, you seem to think highly of him.

[ Runeterra, that's right. That isn't what surprises Allen -- what does is when Viktor lets slip he's actually met two other people who share the same memories of a world before. A rarity, that?? Did that mean...

...could that mean he's missing people from his own he might know? It's a worming, painful sort of thought he immediately has to push down.

Although the comment catches Allen a little off guard. Think highly? Ah, does he? Well of course he does. ]

Oh -- mn. He's the one who first found me when I washed up on the beach. Where he came from, people like him are professional "heroes" who help protect people.

From everything I've seen he tries to keep doing that here.

[ In his opinion, a far more capable man than him. ]

Professional heroes? Like soldiers? [it makes it sound like professional comic book heroes, which viktor thinks is unlikely. oh viktor, the little you know.

still he nods, hand to his chin as he considers.] It's interesting the variety of people who end up here. I have met some who seem civilian in every way and others who baffle me with their power. I wonder if there is a rhyme and reason in the madness.

[he shakes his head again before looking to allen.] Would you mind coming with me on an errand? I'd like to continue our talk but I've also been meaning to get some more incense, I'd like to do so before it gets too late.

[ A rhyme or reason -- it's a good question, one Allen... recognizes as soon as Viktor's voiced it, even if he hadn't directly considered it before in so many words. Even if the way he considers that, so many different types of people that wash up on the shore, from so many different backgrounds and different sets of memories, different abilities...

...just how many "worlds" are there that they all remember? ]

An errand? Sure, I don't mind. [ It's the best way he figures he can help, especially while Viktor is getting started. So please...!

He quickly finishes off the last of his sweetmilk and goes to rinse it and put it back by the pot. He has manners -- when it comes to being respectful of other people. ]

Where do you usually get it? Disciple's Defense? [ There's also the shop cart that brings it to the nearby Architect Market, but he's not sure if it would still be there at this hour. Maybe? ]

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