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[scienceofthearcane]

Artist

Text|Voice|Video

You have reached Viktor. I'm sorry I can't receive your message right now. But if you leave it for me here, I'll return it as soon as I can.

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Gift delivery from K!

[obeir]

[ Delivered to Viktor's home around the 23rd (because K isn't entirely sure of the "correct" time frame for these things, having never celebrated before) are several festively wrapped packages, containing: a small, delicately crafted figurine of a scientist at work handmade by K from recycled electronic parts and meant to represent Viktor, a blank notebook with similarly hand crafted front and back covers, and a kitty scarf (in Abyssinian cat colours).

There's also a signed note from K wishing Viktor a pleasant holiday season. ]

Backdated to Christma's Eve | Action

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ It probably shouldn't come as a surprise that Jayce sought out Viktor during the winter holidays. They have a different kind of celebration in Runeterra, but it was still a time for gift exchanging and showing your loved ones your appreciation.

Jayce knocked on the door of the man's home, held a wrapped box with a bow on top in his hands, and waited. They hadn't had an easy year, and he wanted to start anew. And also to make sure that Viktor wasn't going to freeze to death before they find a way to improve his health, hence why Jayce got him a new coat. He couldn't even remember seeing his friend with one and doubted the man even owned a coat. ]

[scienceofthearcane]

[ It was rare for Viktor to be making use of the tiny house in Talmaria since he is so often at the lab. But occasionally he will prefer the privacy of the tiny house. Not necessarily privacy from Jayce either, but sometimes people dropping by the lab or a certain android always being there wore on Viktor an introvert.

So it's with some surprise that he finds Jayce at the door to the tiny house. Not the least of which is because he had neither brace on nor his crutch. To be fair he wasn't expecting anyone tonight, either. ]

Jayce? What are you doing here?

[ It's not asked in a mean way but as though Viktor was honestly confused. ]

[ironypoisoned]

[ Tony wordlessly sends an invitation to a Valentine’s party that he scribbled on. ]

OOC: [ Helpful Link to the Log ]

[ Set shortly after Valentine's day | Action ]

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ In the last few days, Jayce's mood had improved significantly, and his eyes had been a steady yellow at last rather than the somber cyan blue of the early weeks of the month. Realizing his feelings for Viktor and K, as well as learning that Viktor was okay with the idea of people loving more than one person and forming a familiar bond with K, have left Jayce feeling all warm inside.

He was still nervous about sharing that last bit of information with Viktor, but he wanted to tell him the news as soon as possible, since he had no plans to keep it a secret.

Jayce gathered the finished blueprints for Rio's new giant aquarium tank and went to find Viktor at his desk, probably working on Cobb's new arm. ]

Viktor, do you have a moment? There's something I'd like to tell you.

[ Going by Jayce's tone of voice, slightly nervous but still upbeat, Viktor could probably tell it wasn't bad news. God knew they had enough of those this month. ]

[ Set shortly after Valentine's day | Action ] Also doing prose;

[scienceofthearcane]

In fact, he was. Viktor was adjusting the torque that would allow the elbow and the wrist movement with two very thin screwdriver-like instruments. It's also noteworthy that at the corner of his desk, he had what had been a bouquet of a dozen roses but was now rather odd looking with most of the blossoms snipped off of the stems. Viktor had found that Rio did not like the stems probably because they were too tough for her to swallow whole.

Viktor looked up from what he was doing to regard Jayce, though, who seemed to be nervous but excited about something? Viktor set aside the thin screwdriver-like instruments, not wanting to accidentally make a mistake on Cobb's arm while he wasn't paying attention.

"I can take a moment, yes."

voice; un: pickle

[trickfoot]

Hi Viktor, I'm Pike. Baphomet had made a post about needing some help in regard to your health. I know it meant finding a new body for you, but I think I might have some healing spells that might work. Back in my world, I'm a cleric - a healer.

I obviously don't want to get your hopes up. Divine spellwork isn't an exact science and I don't know what sort of disease/toxin is messing with your body beyond what I heard. But I wanted to reach out to you in case you might want to go through with it.

Let me know either way! If you don't want my healing, maybe we can be friends.

Voice, un: Machinist

[scienceofthearcane]

Hello, Pike. I appreciate the thought but the toxins that I have dealt with are all from the time I was a child to growing up amid polluted water, land and air. This means that every part of my body is now failing. Baphomet has helped me be able to live like an able-bodied person but without his intervention I would be dead. I am not saying I don't want your healing, I am saying that there's nothing to heal. And believe me, I certainly wouldn't be willing to go through with something so extreme if there was another way.

Audio | Un: Talis

[defenderoftomorrow]

Hello, Viktor. I saw Baphomet's post about giving you a new body, and I'm...[ Worried sick. Scared. Freaking out??? All of it, really. ] ...I wanted to know what you thought of that idea.

Audio | Un: Machinist

[scienceofthearcane]

I'm not sure how to answer that? You've known that Baphomet's intervention was only a stopgap and was never going to be an actual cure. Though extreme, this would actually result in a cure.

[ Or worst case scenario, Viktor would be dead. But Viktor honestly didn't think that would be the case. ]

Text: J.T.

[defenderoftomorrow]

[ Jayce messages Viktor shortly after his conversation with Hawke. The blunt question is because he's worried now, otherwise, he would have said 'hello' first. ]

Are you in pain?

[scienceofthearcane]

[ Oh goddamnit Hawke. This is really not how he wanted to have this conversation. ]

... I get headaches sometimes. They are well controlled from continuing to take cannabis though.

text (around the holidays) - un: cloud s.

[moseyin]

Hey uh

You probably don't know me
I'm the blond guy who would be at the Forge sometimes. Ive seen you around

You're Jayce's [What? Partner, friend? More? They seemed pretty friendly, lets go with that] friend, right

[scienceofthearcane]

[ Yeah good luck coming up with a name for what they were. Partner is what Viktor considered him, but more is also accurate. However, viktor is confused about why anyone who knew Jayce would contact him. ]

Yes, I know who you are.

Gifts for Viktor

[obeir]

[ The next time Viktor visits his work space in the lab, on his desk he'll find two tiny handmade clockwork figurines: a golden dragon and a golden cat. He may have noticed K working on them over the last few weeks. Even if not, it won't be a mystery who they're from — the android has also left a signed note that states he hopes Viktor likes his gifts and also suggests doing something together soon. ]

[scienceofthearcane]

Instead of leaving his jagged chicken scratch handwriting, Viktor goes to find K at the lab. Adele would have found him first and she has been dividing her time between visiting with K and overseeing what Viktor has been working on.

"Thank you for the figurines. But you never need an excuse to see me, I always enjoy your company."

Viktor gives K a sincerely warm smile.

"Although I will admit that I have been spending a lot of time measuring the PH balance of the hydroponic garden."

text @polaris

[ferrokinetically]

Hey. Saw your request for help, seemed like you got more than enough so I didn't think you needed another offer. But I wanted to let you know if you need to relax some after all that mess you've got a free voucher at my bar. If you're not against going down to Tides.

[scienceofthearcane]

I have nothing against going to Tides. I also had not been able to drink before Folkmore, but I know the labels for the kind of liquor that they would make in Zaun, where I'm from. It would seem that it was quite a bit stronger than things I have seen since. Well, stronger because it's spiked.

I have only had one alcoholic drink that was sweet enough for my taste. If you have an entire bar then perhaps you will know another?

[scalesbalance]

[ Delivered to Viktor's mailbox is a dark-wood toolbox with a silver handle that has several compartments and levels for any tinkerer to store his various tools. Included in the toolbox are a few assorted tools from the lab ruins of Cruel Summer that were intact and looked to be something up Viktor's alley.

For Adele there is a code attached that Viktor can redeem for a gift for the small dragon be it some food or a toy. ]

Viktor,

Thank you for your friendship this year. I hope you can find something to do with this. Please get Adele something nice as well.

-Arthur

More gifts for Viktor c:

[obeir]

[ Earlier in the month of December K transformed their renovated apartment with festive lights and decorations, including decorating the many house plants, wanting to make their first Yuletide/Wintertide holiday together feel special. Their adopted robotic spider pet even gets some miniature festive clothing to wear. Throughout the month K's baking skills have been getting a workout, with new treats being made on a daily basis (and there's usually extras of everything on purpose, should Viktor want to share with others.) Adele isn't forgotten, either; K makes her various fish treats. Domestic life seems to suit the android.

On the evening of the 24th, a couple wrapped gifts are left out for Viktor: one box contains a page of handwritten sheet music as well as a recording of K playing it (backup upload in case), and a smaller ring box contains an elegant handcrafted ring with a circuitry and gears theme meant to represent their connection — a brilliant engineer and an android. A mechanism within even makes the tiny cogs turn when the ring is worn.

Unannounced but still intended as a gift to Viktor is the walk-in closet filled with nice winter clothing in Viktor's size, including a new cat-themed scarf to replace the other K had given him before. K has enjoyed seeing Viktor wearing his own sweaters, so he isn't going to mind continuing to share, too. Now Viktor just has more options, plus ample room to expand his wardrobe in the future should he wish to. ]

text; un: giftshopist

[spktr]

[sent a couple days after receiving the intriguing tablet gift from Viktor]

I've been so curious about this gift you sent me over the holidays, and I can't stop thinking of all the possibilities! Is this for a project you're working on? Is there more I should know? I'm buzzing to help however I can!

Also - thank you, of course!

[scienceofthearcane]

While I do have plans for the directory that you were going to fill it involves someone else and someone else's lab so I can't talk too much about that part. What I can say is that filling in as many of the stories from across the interconnected universe - a multiverse if you will - as possible will allow us to start numbering the different worlds. Numbering them is a solid first step to being able to travel in the multiverse.

When Viktor returns from his canon update...

[obeir]

The last week may as well have been a lifetime when K doesn't expect to ever see Viktor again. He hopes against hope to, but the promises they made each other hinge on the cooperation of Thirteen and the multiverse as a whole, and so his expectations are understandably very low. In his experience, that's how unannounced disappearances pan out — he's always the one left behind. Always the last man standing, the only one who remembers what he shared with someone.

So when he feels the essence of their bond suddenly thrum back to full strength, his heart is in his throat as he drops everything he's doing and quickly follows it to where he hopes to find Viktor, scarcely able to believe what's happening. Viktor actually came back to him? His Viktor?

[scienceofthearcane]

The hivemind of everything that had even had enough sentience to experience an emotion dissipated and it felt to Viktor like he was being torn apart. It wasn't painful; it came with the knowledge that he was using a kind of sympathetic magic along with Jayce to close this part of the anomaly. He decided that his death would be less frightening when he was not alone.

But it was not his death. Instead, he was fully conscious but in a weird sort of limbo state. When he became aware of his surroundings they had turned into a foggy swamp, one that he recognized as being Exile. Things that he had known and somehow forgotten or they were mixed up with what the arcane had done to him and hadn't seemed important. Knowing what he now did, he could see where he'd been led around like a bull by the nose ring and felt sick at it.

He didn't even look remotely human anymore, instead standing like a tall creature with insect-like joints and glowing holes in his mask. A mutation on his design for the hex claw sprouted from his back, this one was much thinner, much more prehensile, and it created a halo made of runes behind his head. The staff that he'd been using since he left Piltover was still in his hand though notably without the anomaly held in the top.

text; after Viktor's canon update!

[scalesbalance]

[ It's been a minute since he's heard from Viktor. Arthur knows the man has the tendency to isolate himself and engross himself in his work. Now that Arthur is starting to understand the timetable of Folkmore he figures there isn't much time before some other Trial begins...better to check on Viktor before the chaos ensues.

So he messages the other man on his Relic not looking for any particular timetable for a response-- just that one comes. ]

You've been especially quiet.

Checking in to see if you're alright.

[scienceofthearcane]

[ No. He is not alright. He might be as far from alright as it is possible to be. ]

Something...happened to me. The time difference of how long it's been here in Folkmore, and the fact that it's been a year for me outside of it is just one of the many discrepancies.