deercountry | catchall for homies

Hmm, one might argue that would make it better, but I imagine you wouldn't want to advertise your artistic ability alongside your products. [No one seeing a taser with a silly face on it out in the world will immediately think, hey, I would like one of those! Sad but true.

He gets another kiss for the scrunched-up face, just because it's cute. Chickens, though! Indeed.]

An actual chicken; I've met his omen, it's a different bird. I'd admire his confidence in bringing a chicken along, but— I can't.

Edited (bruh html sucks ass) 2022-05-01 19:13 (UTC)

You overestimate people being able to comprehend my scribbling enough to even be art. [which might actually help if they don't realize it's supposed to be a face at all. they can pretend it's just a really nonsensical logo or something.

and truly pal's face deserves better. it is lovely, in viktor's humble and completely unbiased opinion.]

Which teenager is this? A chicken as a pet... hm, frankly I am surprised someone hasn't tried to eat it yet. [if omens ate he'd be worried rocky would, to be honest. sorry rocky, you're scary.] Did the Sixth have pets?

Will you draw it on something else, then? For me? Privately; I'll keep it somewhere secure. [Can he use his gay privilege for bad art? He would like to, pretty please.]

And, worse: this isn't one of the teenagers, although the anarchy is there; he has cajoled me into helping him manage a... children's sports team? [He says this like he has no idea what the hell a children's sports team does besides throw sports balls at each other, because he does not. Aaaa.] His name is Shoyo; he wanted to come to the party very badly, so you'll meet him. Maybe even a chicken, too, if he doesn't heed my advice.

[Sigh... and Rocky definitely would bully this bird, for sure. That's why she has to guard the bunker.]

The Sixth, shockingly enough, did not have pets. When I was about five I had a favorite construct, though. [hah....... not weird at all, considering it was a human skeleton, ahem.] The omens are convenient for someone like me, who would not remember to feed an animal.

[he is weak, he only manages to offer a sigh before agreeing,] Very well, if it never sees the light of day then I will draw you. What is- be careful what you wish for, that is is. [and now there's even more arts and crafts to be done on arts and crafts day.

oh, this is excellent, viktor can't help but grin at this news.] Wait, you never told me you manage a children's sports team, Couch Palamedes. Oh, that is absolutely delightful. What sport? Do you have uniforms? [he'll never let you live this down while also finding it sweet. shoyo does good work.]

Construct? [he's imagining a toy. joke's on him that he doesn't immediately realize it's bones because it always is that with the necromancers huh.] Hm, it does make things easier. I've never understood the appeal of the sort of pets that require intense maintenance and expensive equipment to own.

[Ooh yes, a whole portrait, he's ready. He grins, and he's so infinitely delighted by a bad Viktor drawing that he can't be embarrassed by his Children's Sports Team. Kids are cute, he's a sucker, what can he say.]

It's "volleyball"? I don't wear a uniform. Allegedly, some of the kids are even pretty good at it. My job is to keep records, I suppose. I'm not even sure if there are other teams.

[But please come to a children's sports game (tm) if they do, one day.

Now, hm, does he explain what a construct is... maybe in a bit. He hums, thinking about Rio's big squishy bed like, ah, yes. Buying things for pets, so difficult. Viktor is cute about Rio even if he doesn't realize it.]

I don't know, there must be an appeal in having a cute animal companion around. I think petting other people's dogs works just fine for me.

You got suckered into playing score keeper for the local youth. That is... cute. [honestly the idea of pal sitting in his usual grey get up, keeping tally on whatever volleyball is (if his world has it he's shockingly never heard of it)- yeah, that's pretty endearing.

he could be convinced to go to a game, though he'll probably just work on his schematics the whole time. look up occasionally to politely clap. that's how these things work, right.]

Companionship, I would guess. [easy answer there, now that he thinks of it. if he's being honest rio was his first friend and he assumes that's what most people get out of a pet that doesn't have some other function, like hunting.] Most sentient races crave it one way or another. [note he would push what a construct is but give pal's been having a Day he's willing to let it go and just be chill instead of a question machine. he deserves a medal.]

Do you think so? I've been starting to wonder how many projects is too many.

[But if Viktor thinks he's cute with the Sports Team, well, add that to the list of compelling reasons to learn about a sport, under 'kids should have nice things' and 'how hard could it be?' Do come and occasionally clap for these children, yes.

Anyway, he tries very hard to come up with a way to say "companions that can have a conversation are better" without making it sound like he's into human pets, but ah, no. He cannot. It's been a long day. Maybe if he'd had a mouse or something in his ghost room, he'd understand; alas.]

Point. Well, on the Sixth, it just wasn't an option. I wouldn't know how to take care of one here.

No such thing, unless deadlines are involved. [viktor dismisses.] Which may be the best part of this place aside from 'no galas.' The lack of sponsors and academy personal breathing down one's neck is refreshing.

[he starts idly tapping a pattern into pal's shoulder, not restless in the same way but apparently still prone to little movements when like this, quiet and thoughtful. thinking about Sports and what a volleyball is, how having a social life is more demanding than he realized but mostly fulfilling, if he's honest. things like that.]

Eh, you have Rio now too. [given how often she probably plops by pal for pets this is true.] You're doing well enough with a version that does not need to eat. And for the best, picking mushrooms all day for her would cut in on work hours quite a bit.

Hmm, you may have a point. [Maybe; they've eased back into a much more pleasant mood than when he was sobbing on the bathroom floor that he doesn't want to bring up the nature of time being a limited resource again, but he does think about it for a moment. It's alright; he can manage a bunch of kids doing Sports and do all of the other things he wants to do, too.] There's definitely more variety here than I'm used to. Don't get me wrong, I could have studied necromancy alone for a long time, but...

[Sports. Bloodstones. Tasers and lasers and so on. The novelty is part of the charm, and it doesn't seem to run out.]

We do live out in the middle of this field, aren't there mushrooms out there? Admittedly, I haven't looked. She would like running around sometimes, wouldn't she?

[Would this be very cute? Should they do this, mushrooms optional?]

Mm, I know the feeling. I spent a decade on Hextech, I would have gladly spent the rest of my days on it as well, but it is nice to follow whims. [admittedly he's now back to hextech only with bloodstones but still. if he's honest it always feels a little odd without jayce there, though having pal to talk to and at about it helps.] I still need to read that book of yours.

[he still kind of hopes pal actually writes the heist novel too, he's never been sure how serious all of it was given they were drinking a lot of blue at the time.]

Oh... yes, I'm sure she would. [his expression goes soft as he says,] She lived in a cave in our world, she used to climb all over the walls and chase things down the little river when she was feeling well. Sometimes she'll chase crumbled paper around the lab- I'm sure she'd enjoy the field.

Well— if my book is terrible, remember that I wrote it on the wallpaper in my isolation room for its first draft. I'd like to consider it broadly competent.

[And that's the most humor he can inject into the isolation room right this second, sort of curling in tighter to Viktor a moment later with a little huff. Think Hextech and Rio thoughts, Palamedes...]

She's welcome to come to the party, although I don't know how much she'll enjoy the noise. Maybe she'd like her own party, minus the fireworks. Just us. [her two gay dads sitting in the grass while she runs around, how idyllic.] Sometime.

[Hmm. And, the other thing he's been idly wondering about...]

Should our bloodstone project have a name? It's similar to your Hextech, but 'Bloodtech' feels too on the nose, you know? It's this town, blood is compulsory.

You'll find I am not a critic in these matters. If you write a proper paper on necromantic court intrigues then I may start asking for sources. [he answers, dry though the mention of isolation has him running his hand down pal's back, up again, lips pressed for a moment to his forehead.

oh no, rio's own field party gives him a Feeling, one that makes him press a kiss to pal's temple again to try and wrangle.] She'll hate the noise, I'm sending her away once the fireworks start properly. But- that would be nice. She would like that, I think. [he would like it. the domesticity is killing him slowly, in an excellent way.]

Oh... hm, I suppose you have a point. Names were always Jayce's strong suit, not mine. [probably why he just called it the 'hexclaw' and jayce did cool sounding shit like atlas gauntlets and mercury hammer. he hums as he considers it.] Nothing nautical, I think. Gemtech? Though that's assuming we end up focusing on bloodgems and not the blood itself.

[Palamedes hums, like, luckily! He remembers everything! He could very well cite his sources, actually. But more like he appreciates the physical comfort, leaning into it almost greedily and allowing thoughts of isolation to slip away and be replaced by... Rio's own party.]

Then we'll do it. We'll— sit on a blanket or something, I don't know. She can run around us. I'll only complain about the outdoors, hm, twice.

[It's a good plan. Put it on The List. Anyway, Gemtech makes him snort— Viktor that is the same level as Bloodtech, and Bloodtech was bad on purpose!!]

Here's an idea: nothing with 'tech' in it.

I'll keep count. I'll also try and find something else to show you... hm, maybe grass whistles. [does gaze even have grass.] The pet owning joy of throwing something for Rio to catch and the fifty-fifty of if she'll even bother.

[a disgustingly sweet way to spend the evening, since he assumes the less sun the better as far as pal's concerned.]

Then I am out of ideas. [he is genuinely so terrible at this, help.] The last two things I named in Hextech I just put 'hex' in front of a general way to describe the prototype. It's a perfectly serviceable way to name your work.

Grass whistles...? [Gaze probably has grass. It's probably not very good grass? But.] What if I tossed mushrooms around?

[Except then he'd have to pick them, which would be terribly dull. Still, the thought of it makes him smile - not hugely, but more broadly than he has throughout this whole episode, so points for Rio and a few more bonus points for Viktor just putting hex in front!!! Good god, man!! Palamedes says, deadpan:]

Techblood, then, [and then actually has to lean back to boggle at Viktor for this one, nearly laughing,] You made me change the door password for having too many sixes, and all this time you've just been putting 'hex' in front of another word?

[help, this is the funniest thing a person could ever do, viktor!!]

Yes, you can fold a blade of grass in a way to make a whistle out of it. It's a complex art. [it is not, it's what bored children do when they're bored. still, important life lesson.] She would definitely chase that, if not try to eat it.

[truly the pet experience in a nutshell, though rio could actually stomach most things unlike other pets. she basically ate toxic waste mushrooms as her main diet.

viktor tries to give him an unimpressed look, ruined because pal looks something like happy and after all the tears? it's hard not to be happy in turn.] That is different! Besides, hexclaw and hexcore, it was to the point. You are just like Jayce, always with the fancy titles. 'Atlas Gauntlets,' honestly. Hexgloves would have been fine.

[worse still-] Techblood doesn't sound terrible either. Though it does imply the technology is in the blood itself.

That sounds— whimsical? Sure, show me how to make a grass whistle. [He'll show Gideon in turn and hope she understands the unspoken goal of irritating people they don't like with it. Just like a real childhood.] Mushrooms for Rio and whistling for us; I'm all for it.

[Anyway, it's not different! Viktor! Now he really does laugh, ducking his head to Viktor's shoulder and just letting it go on— is it funnier, after the many decidedly not funny things they've talked about tonight? Probably; he'll take it.]

We're not calling it Techblood! Viktor, you're too brilliant to get behind Techblood. Leave it, we'll think of something else.

[Don't give him more ammunition than this, he'll start calling things around the house hex[items]. Open the hexfridge, come to hexbed, pass that hexbook...]

I think 'Atlas Gauntlets' sounds exciting. [But ah, do not fuss; have a kiss on the cheek to preempt fussing.] I might allow 'Techblood' in the rough drafts.

Eh, cheap entertainment. Also quite annoying right in someone's ear. [so yes, exactly that. he offers pal a smile as he asks,] Is this the date I was promised then? It sounds like a good one.

[viktor huffs- yes, he likes the laughter and will run his hand through pal's hair but he he can still be offended for his absolutely terrible naming skills.] Ugh, fine. Let us make it dramatic - sanguine technology. The hemoglobin of machinery in your hands.

[he's smiling despite himself, even with the eye roll at jayce winning a round against him from beyond the ocean.] They are mining tools, why must they sound so fanciful? Bah, you are the writer and visionary, I suppose this is your area of expertise.

It could be. Actually, yes; I'll even bring home a fresh blanket purely for throwing around on the ground outside. Soon.

[Cool date activity no. 35567: sitting on the ground outside. In fairness, nearly every other time Palamedes has done this... in his life, it's been because someone was in desperate need of aid, so. It's going to be better, this time.]

'Sanguine technology' has a certain ring to it. And people like it when their ordinary things sound extraordinary, it can't be helped. [You know, in the dream world where mining gloves are easily accessible to all, and so on.] Admit it: blood magic is more fanciful than mining gloves, though.

I look forward to it then. So far your date sounds like it could beat mine. [he's terribly fond, surprising no one. pal even gets a kiss for the hypothetical.

he's never really done the picnic thing either so they'll just have to see how this sitting on the blanketed ground business pans out. he enjoys such activities as sitting on the couch with pal and lounging in bed with pal so there's possibility here.]

Yes, gods know the sort of nonsense we had to pull to keep aesthetics up. Gods forbid we use the most efficient design, no, we need to account for an entire layer of metal plating and embellishments because 'the looks help sell it, Viktor.' [scoffing. still, he has to snort softly and agree,] I suppose you have a point. Sanguine Technology... a bit of a mouthful, but we'll workshop it.

Edited (i have to say 'gods' because arcane woo woo fantasy bullshit) 2022-05-02 02:28 (UTC)

A blanket on the ground, honestly? Your standards have been irrevocably skewed by how much you like me.

[But he's not going to say no to that or to the kiss, so! As always, teetering on the edge of 'too gay to function' is working out.]

And well, that's not wrong... but I wear grey every day of my life, so I can't say I care all that much about the aesthetics. [unless somebody wants to draw faces on something, of course] Everything here is a little— what would you call it, grimy? Unpleasant, but elegantly so? That's a workable aesthetic for Sanguine Technology.

[Which does have 'tech' in it... compromise.]

A blanket on the ground while you throw mushrooms. [viktor corrects, and still thinks it's got a lot of promise, thank you.] I am afraid I will have to be unbearably sentimental again and inform you that the fact you do not care for the outdoors but will still lounge there so Rio may enjoy herself is what gives it a premature high ranking.

[too gay to function indeed. he says it very matter-of-factly because it is, in his opinion.]

I still need to see these clothes they apparently gave you at that party. [yup, still remembers that.] Grimy is a good word for it. Ah well, if we must be a little artful and elegant with the metalwork so be it. Just appeal to my prideful side about craftsmanship and maybe I won't complain.

Well I have a terrible throwing arm, so you and Rio may need to be satisfied with me simply passing mushrooms, after a few tries. Still; you're sweet. Feel free to be as sentimental as you like, I'm not going to tell.

[Kind of a tease, but still. He'll gladly tell anyone who holds still long enough that Viktor is sooo smart and clever and the pinnacle of genius in his field (probably, machines seem hard?), but the sentimental parts, hm - he likes those best here, quiet between them.]

My... oh; those. They're around here somewhere. [He'll wear them for the date. Now then,] Surely advanced craftsmanship is easy for you. I've always believed it essential to know the rules before breaking them, and while I usually apply that to necromancy— it must apply to making your machines look their best, too? I know you; you can make a marvel without even trying.

[Is he doing it right.]

Good, you'll ruin my reputation for being stand offish and thoroughly unapproachable. [a joke, given he's toned that down here. amazing the social steps you can make when you live in a city that doesn't hate you a little.

and yes, he does prefer these moments just between them. it's a learning process but he's finding the mutual vulnerability thing pretty nice.]

Buried under grey, no doubt. [viktor doesn't even wear a lot of color, just whatever simple things he can get his hands on, but heck if it doesn't make it easy to tell their clothes apart. but boy, viktor can't help a laugh he bites at his bottom lip to curb, a shake of the head at that showing.]

Eh, a little heavy handed but the 'I know you' was a nice touch. I suppose now I must deliver to suitably impress you.

Hm, I've been doing it wrong, because I never once thought you were either of those things. Completely unbiased. [Ha ha, but really, clearly this town has been good for him, despite all odds. He wasn't even unapproachable about Palamedes nearly elbowing him in the face when they met. A gentleman.

He scoffs, and then nods, like yes, and?] I hope you know, they're not very colorful, these other clothes. You might still be disappointed.

[And heavy handed is his middle name; he grins properly and ducks in to kiss him, as always rewarding the wrong things, oop.]

You already impress me, [and again,] —but yes, you will have to do that, completely. I want to see something gaudy, like that god-awful giant octopus thing they put on the front of The Red.

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