Viktor (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mehanizovati) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
deercountry2022-03-31 12:24 pm
mehanizovati) wrote in deercountry2022-03-31 12:24 pm
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![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
dichotomy or you can dm me here!]
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
no subject
It would, I'm sorry to say your actual skull isn't the selling point here, it's the whole eh... whole package. [viktor points out.] Besides, it could be a stylized skull. Or your scroll skull mascot.
You are the man with the notebooks. I am just reading the trends. [fond, as always.] I do like that one, see the ink smudges are a subtle nod to the pens as well. It comes full circle.
no subject
You don't know; my skull might be very nice. I'd even let a scroll be shoved in there for the most House spirit.
[And listen, he has only so many vices, let him have office supplies. He pictures the mug, notebook smudges and all, and decides with considerable amusement,] It's hideous. Don't put me on a mug, please. I can't fathom a future of my face being forgotten about in sinks and cabinets.
[That said, in the spirit of things,] What about your face mug?
no subject
No skulls, culturally significant or not. You don't wear the skull facepaint, you haven't earned a skull background if we are being fair and just. Your ninth friends have 'dibs,' I think. [sorry pal, just not goth enough i'm afraid.
viktor hums like maybe he'll consider sparing pal this fate, up until a mug of his own is brought up and he makes a disgusted noise, grimacing.] Dear gods no. Jayce made me one, actually, and it was absolutely hideous. I hate everything about it.
[yes i am counting the stupid picture one of the official arcane twitters commissioned canon because it's so funny and ugly a mug it makes me laugh. also spoilers he doesn't hate everything about it, but he'll only admit that under pain of death, thank you.]
this mug ended me
That's fair. I don't want to upset Harrow by muscling in on Ninth traditions.
[Now, hold on, he has to sit up and boggle at Viktor for this one, Jayce did what!!]
You're already on a mug? And it hasn't fallen out of a portal purely for entertainment's sake? This town is a nightmare. If Jayce washes up on the shore, I'm going to beg him to recreate it— don't try to change my mind.
[Partially because it's allegedly hideous, he really, desperately wants to see this Viktor Mug (tm). Jayce, out in the ether... send mugs...]
it's an absolute work of art on every level
viktor lets his head fall back with a suffering sigh he hopes conveys just how terrible the mug is.]
The worst part is he wasn't even trying to mock me, he was indignant I didn't get horrible mugs too. So he somehow earnestly made the worst thing I have ever seen. [he points at pal as though this battle can somehow be won, even though he knows he lost the moment he spoke of The Mug.] If I suffer you suffer, I'll badger him until he makes one of you and then you'll regret it.
[actually that might be worth it. poor jayce, on mug duty.]
no subject
No, no; now I'm coming around to the idea of my face on a hideous mug. D'you think he'd figure me out if I am only ironically interested in mug design? I'd hate to lie about somebody's art.
[But if he's so earnest, like he sounds... well, Palamedes would hate to hurt a guy's feelings by laughing at his mug art, even if it's a good laugh? A kind laugh? And yet. He lists a hand to catch Viktor's fussy pointing one, leaning in to press a kiss to his knuckles to mask, like, an ounce of his amusement. It doesn't work, mugs are the funniest thing now.]
I could make you an even worse mug, although it'd lack the charm if done on purpose. Maybe you as a squid?
no subject
Eh, hard to say. He can be fairly dense. [casually mean, that's what friendship is.] To be fair he's aware painting on mugs isn't his strong suit so I doubt he'd be particularly offended. It would be just as terrible if it turned out well anyway.
[ugh, the kiss absolutely ruins the stern bit, expression softening on cue. hopeless. the squid mug just makes it worse.] I do like your squid art. Very well, if any mugs are to be had and accepted here it will be your squid artwork on one.
no subject
I admire the dedication to... [he shrugs, like, ehh-] -equality, I suppose. You never know; maybe he's improved in the interim.
[That is, of course, assuming time continues to pass when they're here - he's never quite figured that one out, other than time continuing to pass while he was dead-from-sea-monster — a very different concept. Better to not dwell on that now, instead going for another hand kiss before he lets go. Hmm, yes. Squid art.]
One squid mug it is, then. If I'm dedicated to the cause, I could have it done before that ill-advised fireworks party. You could take it around and show everyone.
no subject
[another jayce-pal similarity, doodling in notes. a refined art.
viktor steals his hand back just to intertwine their fingers, he tilting as he considers.] Not a bad idea. I can fill it with something strong and lord it over the teenagers who will not be allowed both alcohol and fireworks at the same time. I can make them new fingers but I'd rather not.
no subject
[It would be— fun, he thinks, in the moments it isn't standard-Trench-terrifying, for Jayce and Camilla to both turn up here. Camilla could call all three of them cocky brainiacs and it would be a joy to behold. And there could be squid art! Amazing. But the terror is somewhat of a downer, so— for now, this: the little happiness just imagining it brings.]
Oh, right— one of them has already requested tequila. I told him the tequila and fireworks will occupy distinctly separate parts of the field. [hmm,] That said, drinking tequila out of a squid mug has a certain aesthetic I can't not encourage.
no subject
[it's something viktor thinks about too, feels only slightly guilty for hoping despite himself maybe the pair will come. at the very least he thinks camilla would want to be here, with pal, and be equipped to handle it so maybe that is alright. he has this terribly gay inclination of wanting pal to be happy
]
No one with a cup of tequila gets a cherry bomb, that is certainly going to be a rule. [he'll probably break this rule himself but he making the cherry bombs so everyone can deal with that.] Good, I plan on bringing out a stool, sitting to the side and drinking my tequila within vague range of socializing. That's a good compromise, yes? You are welcome to join me, because I like you.
no subject
[He means it, he will strive to make the most accurate squid drawing possible, besides when he draws glasses on them. But ah, Viktor's party plans make him earnestly laugh, and he shifts back in to lean on his shoulder again. Picky and antisocial, truly the most attractive things a man can be.]
I'm obliged to set off a few explosives, as it's my party— I suppose. Then I will gladly join you, although without any tequila. I've already promised to be sober in order to remain responsible for - well, the rest of you. [if Viktor is going to drink his mug liquor, he's included,] Don't worry; that's how I'd prefer to go about 'partying'.
no subject
Of course you are, I am making these cherry bombs for your enjoyment more than anything else. If you did not set off a few it'd be quite insulting. [designated explosives handler then. he takes a moment to consider if this is a shame or not, because drunk pal is pretty cute if he remembers correctly. ah well, they can have dates now so they'll likely meet again eventually.]
I promise I will keep lucid for you. I guess we are supposed to be the responsible ones. [he rests his head against pal's again.] How do you end up throwing parties you don't even like much yourself?
no subject
[Honestly, he's mentally preparing for at least one injury at this party, but hopefully nothing worse than a burned off eyebrow, or some such. As for parties, well... these are just Teens, not Imperial weirdos, but.]
A decent percentage of my friends here- and their friends, and so on- had a very bad time not too long ago, [sea monster,] and the impact of that incident hasn't exactly settled. I heard 'we probably can't have another party here,' up at the Emperor's house, while discussing all of that, and— suddenly I'm rounding up fireworks and snacks to serve.
[So in sum, he's soft. That's the entire backstory here: he is soft, and sad teens looked at him sadly and he immediately said yes to another party.]
And then you offered fireworks, separately— it was inevitable.
no subject
that explanation gets a soft exhale, fondness palpable in how his fingers card through pal's hair again. that is sweet, understandable and not at all surprising for pal's character. if he had any doubts about the party there they go, without so much as a wave goodbye.]
I will help you with snacks too then. If we are to be hosts we'll need another list, it seems. [make sure the traumatized teens have a good time and all that, make sure pal can maybe feel some ease in knowing he's doing something, even a ridiculous fireworks party.] Though hearing they apparently think they are banished from having parties at this Emperor's house does not inspire confidence.
Hm, I suppose that's the plus side of having a sturdy bunker.
no subject
[Or, new idea: Viktor keeps playing with his hair, and they never leave this couch again— well, for a while longer, anyway. Who knew that being soft about friendship would convince Viktor to like this one party, just for a little - hmm.]
Paul mentioned bringing something sweet; I'll leave the other snacks to you, just tell me what to bring home. [Fruit Bowls with Cream are not very portable snack foods, he's out of his depth.] Paul also suggested locking up the valuables, although...
[Well. It's not as if they're rolling in luxury items down here. Probably, the most valuable item is the chalkboard, which they already stole, so Palamedes supposes someone might try to steal it anew. He hums.]
We'll keep the door locked.
no subject
but back to hair playing yet again, this time with a little more intent at least than the idle twirling of before]
Now is Paul one of the teenagers in question? Or a necromancer too? [he's slowly learning the list, he thinks. gideon, harrow, a couple or several teenagers who may or may not also be gideon and harrow since he has no idea how old they are.]
Lock the door. [instant agreement, because:] We have our chalkboard to protect. They can have their own academic heist if they want one.
no subject
Paul isn't one from home, no; but a teen, yes. He's... under a lot of pressure, but he's been doing better, lately. [Even when he does creepy blood experiments in the woods.] He knows about you, although obviously lacking some crucial updates— he's already decided he's a fan, because I like you.
[Not an exaggeration, that really happened. Paul is up there with Gideon and Harrow (and Camilla) on Palamedes' list of buds he'd like Viktor to meet; it'll be swell. But ah, chalkboard defense, a man after his heart.]
Don't say things like that when the tequila comes out, or we'll be responsible. You have the right idea, though.
no subject
his lips quirk at paul apparently being a fan, because pal likes him- it's sweet, to think of pal just mentioning that casually to a friend. paul also sounds like the good sort of friend to have, raising him firmly in viktor's opinion already.] If he's a good friend to you then I like him as well, we'll start on even ground. [a pause and he exhales, amused.] Bah, I swear I wasn't always this sentimental.
[lies, he just doesn't squash it with pal.] Yes, wouldn't want them to think of it as a challenge. Maybe I'll put Rio's bed by the door so they'll have no way of squeezing the chalkboard through even if they do sneak in.
no subject
[Speaking of sentimental. He grins at Viktor's fussing and lifts his head, catching Viktor's jaw with his fingertips and turning him into a proper kiss. Play with his hair again in a minute; this is the reward for sentiment and pre-approving his myriad odd friends.
Very good. Chalkboard defense. Yes.]
I can ask Rocky to perch on it for the duration, too, if anyone gets past us to get in here. I'm sure she'll be quite the deterrent.
no subject
which is cut off by being rewarded for being sentimental with that kiss, setting a terrible precedent and further enabling him. he smiles against it and gladly goes back to hair playing when he's done, making a personal note to keep an eye out for this paul even before the party.]
Oh that's cruel, I like it. She has an excellent look of judgment that might be deterrent enough. [and if that's not enough it's on them to mess with the very scary big bird. rio certainly won't do anything other than probably accept pats and go back to sleep.] When do you want to aim for this party? I imagine we should have everything in a couple week's time at most.
no subject
[Maybe the Trench will summon big worms, the way it summoned Paul's Leviathan; it's within the realm of possibility. Desert worms, though - surely not long for a climate like this one. But he'll leave the worms to Paul, settling back into the soothing repetition of Viktor's ministrations in his hair.
Big cruel bird, on the other hand... It shouldn't make him smile; it does.]
That will do; I'm not aiming to put a rush on anything. Particularly not your cherry bombs. You'll have plenty of time to perfect them.
[To show off, specifically.]
That, and I'll have to let everyone know. There's time. Anyway, I have an unrelated question, if I could. [ahem,] Do you want to share a bed?
no subject
and he does want to show off at least a little now, not that he'll admit it. they'll be good bombs, damnit.
pal's question has his fingers stilling for just a beat, returning to action with a soft chuckle.] Yes, very much so. [shocking, given ever since they've confessed he's been touching or thinking of touching pal in one way or another. who would have guessed.
still he feels the need to address,] I may wake you up, sometimes I have issues with breathing or coughing fits. It's been better here. [but he could no longer try to smother it quietly and hobble to the bathroom when it does happen. he has the very distinct feeling pal isn't going to care either way.]
no subject
Still, give him one moment here to be quietly delighted. Not only does he very much want to, himself, but - well.
That leaves one whole extra bed for book storage. Exciting.]
Frankly, I might still be awake. [He is infamous for his minimal sleep cycle, after all, but in the interest of sentiment he's more than willing to crawl into bed with Viktor and maybe just bring a book for when Viktor falls asleep.] But if I'm not, don't worry about it; obviously, don't. You can roll me out of the way into the wall, I'll be fine.
[ha. that would be fine, though.]
no subject
viktor shifts a little, careful not to jostle pal but wanting to slip an arm around him. his delight makes his chest feel a little tight, maybe a bit of wandering into a feast after a famine in terms of touch, offered again and again by pal and seemingly enjoyed just as heartily. ]
We'll just make sure I'm on the open side. I have a terrible sleep schedule myself but when I do manage I do deeply, so it's unlikely you'll wake me. [the smile is very much in his tone still.] You do have a tendency to fidget, I noticed.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)