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The whole makaar-bred city is falling out of the sky!
[How to approach it? Think, stupid bird. The window was wide enoguh for Viktor to come out form, but— Skan is briefly visible outside the wide, lovely view, as he discards that notion as impossible. The hot oil, the tumbling kitchen implements, and then difficulty of climbing out a precariously-tilting egress... Stupid bird, there's no time! He gives a loud, frustrated cry, shrill and eagle-like, and beats higher, up and over the house, shouldering aside the front door and marring the floor with the grip of his talons as the slow increase of the angle continues to progress.]
Viktor! Here! Come on, we must leave!
[How to approach it? Think, stupid bird. The window was wide enoguh for Viktor to come out form, but— Skan is briefly visible outside the wide, lovely view, as he discards that notion as impossible. The hot oil, the tumbling kitchen implements, and then difficulty of climbing out a precariously-tilting egress... Stupid bird, there's no time! He gives a loud, frustrated cry, shrill and eagle-like, and beats higher, up and over the house, shouldering aside the front door and marring the floor with the grip of his talons as the slow increase of the angle continues to progress.]
Viktor! Here! Come on, we must leave!
[Well, honestly Viktor's plan had been to stay on the floor until whatever was happening had ended, but-- if the island is falling out of the sky, then yes, he does need to get out of here.
Still in pajamas and a bathrobe, Viktor struggles to his knees, reaching for his crutch which had slid away from him. The heavy tilt of the floor makes it hard to get traction on his knees, let alone stand up. He crawls toward Skan. God, this is embarrassing, but his pride is secondary right now, so:]
Help?
Still in pajamas and a bathrobe, Viktor struggles to his knees, reaching for his crutch which had slid away from him. The heavy tilt of the floor makes it hard to get traction on his knees, let alone stand up. He crawls toward Skan. God, this is embarrassing, but his pride is secondary right now, so:]
Help?
[Embarrassment was an emotion for safer times; Skan abandons his own dignity without a second thought, scooping Viktor up in his talons and cradling him close, like a nestling. It's an awkward, ungraceful thing to turn on only two feet and waddle out the door, made no better by the cane dangling from Viktor's hand, or the annoying way the tilting ground makes the door want to swing shut.
Outside, the city is in an uproar, the streets full of panicked faces and screams of horror and fear— it's not much of a tilt, really, but it's pronounced and obvious, as is the steady wind as air is displaced from under the sky island. Soon, or so it all seems to say, the tilt will grow worse, until buildings crumble and people go sliding down and off, into thin air. Soon the island will not merely sink, but will fall... But Skan spreads his wings and leaps, immediately caught by that prevailing updraft and whirled up and away from the chaos.]
This is bad... Viktor, are you aright? I'd heard something might be wrong with Aella, but this...
[It bespoke far worse than an antisocial attitude, or a deific lie-in. Something like this was death itself, to a Great Mage.]
Outside, the city is in an uproar, the streets full of panicked faces and screams of horror and fear— it's not much of a tilt, really, but it's pronounced and obvious, as is the steady wind as air is displaced from under the sky island. Soon, or so it all seems to say, the tilt will grow worse, until buildings crumble and people go sliding down and off, into thin air. Soon the island will not merely sink, but will fall... But Skan spreads his wings and leaps, immediately caught by that prevailing updraft and whirled up and away from the chaos.]
This is bad... Viktor, are you aright? I'd heard something might be wrong with Aella, but this...
[It bespoke far worse than an antisocial attitude, or a deific lie-in. Something like this was death itself, to a Great Mage.]
[Viktor clings to Skan, wrapping arms around his neck, and as they take off into the air, he's grateful to have a friend who can fly at a time like this. They at least don't have the immediate safety concern of falling off the island. But still, their house... And everyone else...]
I'm alright. What's wrong with Aella?
[As always, he's had his nose in his work, keeping himself occupied with renovations and not much else. So he's heard nothing about this.]
And how can we help?
[He doesn't want to just fly away when Heaven's Bow is in peril.]
I'm alright. What's wrong with Aella?
[As always, he's had his nose in his work, keeping himself occupied with renovations and not much else. So he's heard nothing about this.]
And how can we help?
[He doesn't want to just fly away when Heaven's Bow is in peril.]
She didn't make a showing at the big festival, according to gossip.
[Hardly out of character for Aella, who seemed to enjoy being as feckless as the wind and about as dependable— or so they said. But Skan knew full well how dependable thin air could be, and this was no mere absentia.]
When great mages die, their spells die with them! I'm worried something has happened. And if it has...
[As they gain distance, it becomes more and more obvious; how low the city is floating, and at what angle. How deep the shadow underneath it might soon be seen to grow.]
...This could get very, very bad.
[Hardly out of character for Aella, who seemed to enjoy being as feckless as the wind and about as dependable— or so they said. But Skan knew full well how dependable thin air could be, and this was no mere absentia.]
When great mages die, their spells die with them! I'm worried something has happened. And if it has...
[As they gain distance, it becomes more and more obvious; how low the city is floating, and at what angle. How deep the shadow underneath it might soon be seen to grow.]
...This could get very, very bad.
[Viktor also doesn't think her mere absense at a festival says much, with how secretive the leaders can be, but the last time a god shut herself away, she burst from her castle weeks later calling for aid against Triton.
And Viktor remembers the story Skan told him about his father, how his death sent the magic of the world into complete chaos.]
Oh dear. I hope she is okay...
[He watches with horror as they get far away enough to see the tilt of the island.]
What do we do?!
And Viktor remembers the story Skan told him about his father, how his death sent the magic of the world into complete chaos.]
Oh dear. I hope she is okay...
[He watches with horror as they get far away enough to see the tilt of the island.]
What do we do?!
[So do I... Skan thinks, with deep reserve. But the island was listing and the goddess was nowhere to be seen. Surely calling on her to fix this would have been the first thought of anyone with sense— and yet, clearly, it wasn't happening!]
To tell you the truth... [And it is terrible to admit it.] ...I just don't know.
To tell you the truth... [And it is terrible to admit it.] ...I just don't know.
Skan woke to a pale grey darkness. Pre-dawn was coming in through the open shutters, along with a breeze that smelled of early bread, phlox, and the cold high winds that flew just beyond the borders of Heaven's Bow. He woke, but he didn't move, didn't stretch his wings or legs, didn't rise and rouse his feathers. In the crook of one wing, nestled up warm against his side, like the memory of nestlings, Viktor was sleeping.
His head bobbed with every breath, and Skan could feel his mind turning lazily over itself, the night's dreams wending their ways through him like affectionate cats. It would be a shame to disturb him, whatever the hour, and now...
...Well, it was no crime to sleep in, once in a while. And true, it was pleasant to lie this way, warm along one side, with the cool freshness of the morning against his nares, and to watch the world outside slowly wake to the day. Lights flickered on far below, and the sky grew brighter by increments, and airships began their first forays, trundling with their beetle-like sway out into the air, or back again. He could hear, with his ears pricked up, the sound of a cheerful exchange, somewhere out on the streets above, the words indistinct, but the laughter evident.
It was going to be good day. And best of all, he was beginning it with a friend.
His head bobbed with every breath, and Skan could feel his mind turning lazily over itself, the night's dreams wending their ways through him like affectionate cats. It would be a shame to disturb him, whatever the hour, and now...
...Well, it was no crime to sleep in, once in a while. And true, it was pleasant to lie this way, warm along one side, with the cool freshness of the morning against his nares, and to watch the world outside slowly wake to the day. Lights flickered on far below, and the sky grew brighter by increments, and airships began their first forays, trundling with their beetle-like sway out into the air, or back again. He could hear, with his ears pricked up, the sound of a cheerful exchange, somewhere out on the streets above, the words indistinct, but the laughter evident.
It was going to be good day. And best of all, he was beginning it with a friend.
Viktor's dreams are short and aimless, but none of them are nightmares. He never seems to have bad dreams when he sleeps next to Skan, as though his subconscious can tell that he's safe. A dream where Jayce asks him a nonsensical question, and upon receiving an answer, hugs him for no reason. A dream of being an octopus again, cradled by Xander's hands. A dream of flying with Skan to the tippy-top of the Hexgate and looking off of it, Skan expressing his pride in Viktor's work on it.
Eventually, he becomes aware of his surroundings in intermittent hazy spurts. There is nothing like waking up surrounded by a big, feathered, warm body. Especially one that is there to care for and protect him. In the blissful space between awake and asleep, there is only comfort where there might otherwise be cold and emptiness and pain.
Not that he's without pain or stiffness this morning, especially curled up and leaning on Skan the way he is, but it's very secondary to the comfort. It sure beats waking up with your face smushed against a desk, surrounded by whatever you fell asleep working on.
He breathes in deeply to try to rouse himself, squinting his eyes open, and automatically his hand moves to pet the black feathers on Skan's side.
Eventually, he becomes aware of his surroundings in intermittent hazy spurts. There is nothing like waking up surrounded by a big, feathered, warm body. Especially one that is there to care for and protect him. In the blissful space between awake and asleep, there is only comfort where there might otherwise be cold and emptiness and pain.
Not that he's without pain or stiffness this morning, especially curled up and leaning on Skan the way he is, but it's very secondary to the comfort. It sure beats waking up with your face smushed against a desk, surrounded by whatever you fell asleep working on.
He breathes in deeply to try to rouse himself, squinting his eyes open, and automatically his hand moves to pet the black feathers on Skan's side.
Xander had become a regular at the workshop, likely to no one's surprise. He was not quite the tinkerer everyone else seemed to be, but the tools provided offered him plenty to experiment with even with his more medically oriented expertise.
Viktor was a common sight too, and one Xander delighted in seeing. They talked regularly, but even when they were both busy doing their own things, the silence between them was never heavy or uncomfortable.
One day, Xander left and did not return for several hours. When he did, it was with a wicker basket looped around his elbow, a small patterned cloth across the top. He hobbled over to Viktor, waited until he was no longer busy, and cleared his throat.
"I have a proposition for you, if I may be so bold."
Viktor was a common sight too, and one Xander delighted in seeing. They talked regularly, but even when they were both busy doing their own things, the silence between them was never heavy or uncomfortable.
One day, Xander left and did not return for several hours. When he did, it was with a wicker basket looped around his elbow, a small patterned cloth across the top. He hobbled over to Viktor, waited until he was no longer busy, and cleared his throat.
"I have a proposition for you, if I may be so bold."
This is truly Viktor's happy place, aside from in the skies with Skan- he can work on his little projects in the company of brilliant people and comforting friends. Barcus, Lioriley, Simon, Ferin, and the latest addition, Xander.
Viktor is the picture of grace when Xander arrives back at the shop. He's had several hours alone to hyperfixate on his project, and boy did he. He's lying on the floor on his side, assembling a prototype of a wheelchair, which also lays on its side as Viktor tinkers inside of it.
There are exceedingly few people who can break Viktor out of hyperfocus, if any. But he's gotten used to the sound of Xander's mismatched step, the three points of contact with the floor rather than two, and it pulls him from his focus immediately today, with a flutter in his stomach. He grunts softly as he pushes himself to sit up.
"I did not expect you'd be back today," he murmurs, looking up at Xander, clocking the basket curiously.
"A proposition?"
Viktor is the picture of grace when Xander arrives back at the shop. He's had several hours alone to hyperfixate on his project, and boy did he. He's lying on the floor on his side, assembling a prototype of a wheelchair, which also lays on its side as Viktor tinkers inside of it.
There are exceedingly few people who can break Viktor out of hyperfocus, if any. But he's gotten used to the sound of Xander's mismatched step, the three points of contact with the floor rather than two, and it pulls him from his focus immediately today, with a flutter in his stomach. He grunts softly as he pushes himself to sit up.
"I did not expect you'd be back today," he murmurs, looking up at Xander, clocking the basket curiously.
"A proposition?"
"It's a lovely day," he began, shifting his weight slightly, "I had thought we might pull ourselves away from work long enough to enjoy it. I have food enough for the both of us, and a bottle of wine."
Was this too forward? Hopefully not. Just two friends sharing a meal. But, also...
"There is a quest as well, technically of the more intimate variety, but I asked around — it involves a quiet location and paint one can use on the body. If you do not care to indulge in that aspect, I do not mind either way. But I thought, perhaps, even doodling on our arms might entertain us."
Was this too forward? Hopefully not. Just two friends sharing a meal. But, also...
"There is a quest as well, technically of the more intimate variety, but I asked around — it involves a quiet location and paint one can use on the body. If you do not care to indulge in that aspect, I do not mind either way. But I thought, perhaps, even doodling on our arms might entertain us."
Oh. Food and wine- a picnic. That's what the basket is for. Viktor's expression softens, but then colours with a tinge of panic as Xander goes on.
Intimate? Paint on the body? Oh dear. Viktor's brain stops working for a moment, and he feels suddenly very nervous. There's sort of a stunned silence as he continues to look up at Xander, before realizing he's being very rude.
"I-- ah, I'm sorry. A picnic sounds lovely. I... I may decide on the paint later on, if that would be alright," he stammers, blushing. "I didn't-- I haven't prepared for... Ah..." He looks down at his dirty hands. He's trying to say he hasn't had time to get ready for a date, if this is a date, so he doesn't look his best, and is this a date? But the words just get all tangled up, and he doesn't have the nerve to ask that question anyway.
"Sorry. Yes." He puts down his screwdriver and wipes his hands of grease.
Intimate? Paint on the body? Oh dear. Viktor's brain stops working for a moment, and he feels suddenly very nervous. There's sort of a stunned silence as he continues to look up at Xander, before realizing he's being very rude.
"I-- ah, I'm sorry. A picnic sounds lovely. I... I may decide on the paint later on, if that would be alright," he stammers, blushing. "I didn't-- I haven't prepared for... Ah..." He looks down at his dirty hands. He's trying to say he hasn't had time to get ready for a date, if this is a date, so he doesn't look his best, and is this a date? But the words just get all tangled up, and he doesn't have the nerve to ask that question anyway.
"Sorry. Yes." He puts down his screwdriver and wipes his hands of grease.
Xander felt his own cheeks flush. Had he overstepped? Hopefully not.
"Of course." He assured. "That part is not mandatory. Well — none of this is mandatory, obviously. I am sure you know what I mean." He laughed, nervous now himself. "The location is beautiful, however. We would be remiss not to spend some time there."
And breaks were good. God knows they needed them. "Take all the time you need. Do you need assistance?" He set the basket down, hobbled over, and offered a hand.
"Of course." He assured. "That part is not mandatory. Well — none of this is mandatory, obviously. I am sure you know what I mean." He laughed, nervous now himself. "The location is beautiful, however. We would be remiss not to spend some time there."
And breaks were good. God knows they needed them. "Take all the time you need. Do you need assistance?" He set the basket down, hobbled over, and offered a hand.
Viktor also smiles and laughs- a breathless huff. His mind tries to catch up with himself, shifting gears from work to- to this.
"I would love to see it, then." These days, Viktor tries not to say no when a break is suggested, and especially so in this case.
"Yes, please." Once Viktor's hands are cleaner, he moves to his knees and takes Xander's hand, grunting softly as he stands. Steadying himself with Xander's help, he grabs his crutch from where it leans on the table.
"If I had known, I would have cleaned myself up," he says apologetically. "This is very kind of you to do."
"I would love to see it, then." These days, Viktor tries not to say no when a break is suggested, and especially so in this case.
"Yes, please." Once Viktor's hands are cleaner, he moves to his knees and takes Xander's hand, grunting softly as he stands. Steadying himself with Xander's help, he grabs his crutch from where it leans on the table.
"If I had known, I would have cleaned myself up," he says apologetically. "This is very kind of you to do."
He gripped his hand and planted his cane firmly to the ground, keeping himself steady so Viktor could leverage himself up. He released him once he was on his feet.
"If you're worried a little dirt might scare me off, you are very much mistaken. We are going to be outside anyway, and you look just fine."
Xander would help him clean up anything that needed to be cleaned up, and put up any tools that might get in the way for others. "I do apologize for taking you from your work. Is this the chair you were talking about?"
"If you're worried a little dirt might scare me off, you are very much mistaken. We are going to be outside anyway, and you look just fine."
Xander would help him clean up anything that needed to be cleaned up, and put up any tools that might get in the way for others. "I do apologize for taking you from your work. Is this the chair you were talking about?"
"Very well," he says with a sheepish smile, making a meager attempt at cleaning up his workspace. He appreciates the help, but it's mostly futile anyway- Viktor's workstation always looks a bit like something exploded there, messes of paper diagrams and machine parts and empty coffee cups. And the chair, well, that's staying on the floor, because neither of them are lifting that. So he doesn't waste too much time cleaning, eager to focus his attention on Xander.
"It's okay- it's not like this would be finished today, in any case. And yes, it is. I am building the frame now, and soon hope to acquire some magic crystals to power it. It will take a lot of trial and error if I want it to hover."
He places a tool on his desktop, squinting at the chair for a final moment like he's calculating something, then looks at Xander again and gestures for the door.
"Shall we?"
"It's okay- it's not like this would be finished today, in any case. And yes, it is. I am building the frame now, and soon hope to acquire some magic crystals to power it. It will take a lot of trial and error if I want it to hover."
He places a tool on his desktop, squinting at the chair for a final moment like he's calculating something, then looks at Xander again and gestures for the door.
"Shall we?"
"If there is any way I can help, please do not hesitate to ask." He made sure to say, even if he had offered as much before. Xander was nothing if not eager to learn, even if their areas of expertise differed.
When he suggested they head out, Xander smiled, nodded, and picked up the basket again, carefully hooking it into his elbow. He turned toward the door, moving as fast as he could to assure he held it open for Viktor. Like a gentleman. "I—" okay. He should have mentioned this sooner, but... "I may have rented a carriage to drive us to and from the destination." He motioned to the horse drawn waiting outside the workshop. "Don't worry, they won't be prying on our... outing."
When he suggested they head out, Xander smiled, nodded, and picked up the basket again, carefully hooking it into his elbow. He turned toward the door, moving as fast as he could to assure he held it open for Viktor. Like a gentleman. "I—" okay. He should have mentioned this sooner, but... "I may have rented a carriage to drive us to and from the destination." He motioned to the horse drawn waiting outside the workshop. "Don't worry, they won't be prying on our... outing."
"Of course," he nods. "Many of the phases are easier with two people, so I would welcome your assistance at any time." He misses having a partner in such things. Someone committed fully to a project with him, staying up through the late nights together, struggling with problems as a unit, and celebrating successes together. Perhaps that is a once in a lifetime thing to find.
He's pondering this as the door is held open for him.
"Oh, thank... You- you--" his jaw drops as Xander reveals the carriage.
Okay, so yeah, this is definitely a date. Viktor has never been planned for or spoiled quite like this. He's never even been on a real date. He's gobsmacked. He almost laughs, a breathy incredulous sound.
"All- All of this for me? Why...?" Why him? Is there some occasion? What did he do to earn this sort of attention?
He's pondering this as the door is held open for him.
"Oh, thank... You- you--" his jaw drops as Xander reveals the carriage.
Okay, so yeah, this is definitely a date. Viktor has never been planned for or spoiled quite like this. He's never even been on a real date. He's gobsmacked. He almost laughs, a breathy incredulous sound.
"All- All of this for me? Why...?" Why him? Is there some occasion? What did he do to earn this sort of attention?
The funny part was — this was the bare minimum for Xander. An Imperial nobleman wasn't going to walk to his destination whether he was in perfect health or otherwise. And he certainly wasn't going to ask his date to take a hike through the woods after such an impromptu invitation. He only thought to warn him now because he recalled that vision he had seen. Viktor... probably was not used to this like Xander was.
"Why not?" He asked earnestly as he turned to smile at him. "I am taking you out. I may as well make it comfortable and worthwhile. If we were to walk, our time would be wasted resting once we arrived."
"Why not?" He asked earnestly as he turned to smile at him. "I am taking you out. I may as well make it comfortable and worthwhile. If we were to walk, our time would be wasted resting once we arrived."
The last decade of Viktor's life has thankfully been more fortunate than his childhood, and carriages are somewhat common in Piltover, so it's not as though he's never been in one or only sees them as a princess fantasy. But he's still agog at... All of it. All the planning, preparation, and thought Xander did to do something nice for him.
"This is... True, yes..." In Viktor's mind, the question that follows this explanation is naturally Why are you taking me out? but he doesn't voice that, because it seems impolite and likely to be taken the wrong way. Xander made these choices of his own accord, and Viktor trusts that he is a smart man who knows what he wants. So, if he wants this, Viktor isn't going to put up a fight. And, of course Viktor wants it too, so that helps.
"Okay. Well, thank you. Let us go, then." Another shy smile, and he links his free arm with Xander's basket-arm.
"This is... True, yes..." In Viktor's mind, the question that follows this explanation is naturally Why are you taking me out? but he doesn't voice that, because it seems impolite and likely to be taken the wrong way. Xander made these choices of his own accord, and Viktor trusts that he is a smart man who knows what he wants. So, if he wants this, Viktor isn't going to put up a fight. And, of course Viktor wants it too, so that helps.
"Okay. Well, thank you. Let us go, then." Another shy smile, and he links his free arm with Xander's basket-arm.
There was a moment where Xander, once again, wondered if he overstepped. The familiarity he felt with Viktor may have muddled his mind and he read the situation wrong and —
Oh. Nevermind. Their arms were linked now, and Xander felt his heart race with excitement. He took a breath and moved forward, the dryad serving as their chauffeur kindly opening the door for them. Xander shifted for Viktor to enter first, then followed after. Luckily, it was only one step up, so it wouldn't cause them too much grief.
"You do like wine, yes?" He asked as they settled onto the cushioned benches. He should have asked sooner.
Oh. Nevermind. Their arms were linked now, and Xander felt his heart race with excitement. He took a breath and moved forward, the dryad serving as their chauffeur kindly opening the door for them. Xander shifted for Viktor to enter first, then followed after. Luckily, it was only one step up, so it wouldn't cause them too much grief.
"You do like wine, yes?" He asked as they settled onto the cushioned benches. He should have asked sooner.
While he knows carriages are not only for princesses, he can't help but feel a little bit like royalty as they board the carriage. He feels... Special. It's a strange and new feeling. He's nervous, but there's also a giddy excitement in his gut.
"I do," he confirms. "I don't drink much, but it is nice to indulge now and then." And don't let his size fool you-- he can hold his liquor.
Now that they're in the carriage, he decides that if Xander has been so bold as to plan an entire date, Viktor can be so bold as to sit close and lace their fingers together. But first, he removes his glove (wow, lewd).
"I cannot contain my curiosity- what sort of spot have you chosen? Or must it be a surprise?"
"I do," he confirms. "I don't drink much, but it is nice to indulge now and then." And don't let his size fool you-- he can hold his liquor.
Now that they're in the carriage, he decides that if Xander has been so bold as to plan an entire date, Viktor can be so bold as to sit close and lace their fingers together. But first, he removes his glove (wow, lewd).
"I cannot contain my curiosity- what sort of spot have you chosen? Or must it be a surprise?"
Rawdogging hand holding? What next? Longing glances across a crowded room? Disgusting.
He gently squeezed Viktor's hand. Soon enough, the carriage started moving, slow and carefully through the streets of Grey Ward and out toward the farmlands. "Out in the woods — not far enough in for any danger, but the flowers are blooming and the shade will be nice."
He gently squeezed Viktor's hand. Soon enough, the carriage started moving, slow and carefully through the streets of Grey Ward and out toward the farmlands. "Out in the woods — not far enough in for any danger, but the flowers are blooming and the shade will be nice."
That's definitely in the queue. Viktor is very good at pining.
"That does sound lovely." He relaxes into his seat as his eyes gaze out the windows of the carriage. It's nice to be out of the workshop, seeing the city without needing to labour over walking.
"What... Made you want to do all this with me?" He hedges.
"That does sound lovely." He relaxes into his seat as his eyes gaze out the windows of the carriage. It's nice to be out of the workshop, seeing the city without needing to labour over walking.
"What... Made you want to do all this with me?" He hedges.
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