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Oh, good.
I have met Pomni. I did not know she was a soldier. What sort of armor would be suitable for her needs?
I have met Pomni. I did not know she was a soldier. What sort of armor would be suitable for her needs?
[She probably doesn't know she's a soldier either, but she has the singular misfortune (added to the pile) of having Gadriel think of her as a protege.]
She wishes to take part
in dangerous quests
she needs protection.
I can provide some schematics
of the armor
of the Astra Militarum
or
if you can create a power source
that of the Sisters of Battle.
She wishes to take part
in dangerous quests
she needs protection.
I can provide some schematics
of the armor
of the Astra Militarum
or
if you can create a power source
that of the Sisters of Battle.
Ah, yes, of course.
I am out of magic crystals to power inventions for the time being. I would need to purchase more, and they are quite expensive. Perhaps I can design something that will work with or without a power source and we could add one in the future?
I am out of magic crystals to power inventions for the time being. I would need to purchase more, and they are quite expensive. Perhaps I can design something that will work with or without a power source and we could add one in the future?
that would be good
Anything at this point
Is better than what she has.
How do we do this?
Unlike Elion
I cannot bring her on a leash [and he was doing so well at humaning...]
Anything at this point
Is better than what she has.
How do we do this?
Unlike Elion
I cannot bring her on a leash [and he was doing so well at humaning...]
[Viktor actually snorts at his phone as he reads that.]
I am certain she will come in willingly if you ask nicely, without need for physical tugging. You could come with her, or get me the appropriate documents beforehand.
I am certain she will come in willingly if you ask nicely, without need for physical tugging. You could come with her, or get me the appropriate documents beforehand.
[Viktor sighs.]
Tell me, are you offering this to be a friend, or simply because you want license to punch someone?
Tell me, are you offering this to be a friend, or simply because you want license to punch someone?
Well... I do appreciate it. [It's an aggressive way to show you care, but that seems to be the way Nina is- and he's surprised she cares for him at all.] And I trust you will use your best judgment. [He says this like a parent passive-aggressively warning their kid to be careful.]
I am, yes. And you are... A fighter?
I am, yes. And you are... A fighter?
I will bring her
to you
shortly. [Surely that doesn't sound ominous or anything, right?]
She will want
maneuverability.
You did an exemplary job
with Elion's armor.
I am sure this is in your
skills.
But I can provide the
specifications
if you trust Elion
to bring them. [Carrier pigions? WACK. Carrier Tressyms? Not wack.]
to you
shortly. [Surely that doesn't sound ominous or anything, right?]
She will want
maneuverability.
You did an exemplary job
with Elion's armor.
I am sure this is in your
skills.
But I can provide the
specifications
if you trust Elion
to bring them. [Carrier pigions? WACK. Carrier Tressyms? Not wack.]
In that case, I have a hunch that your best judgment usually says, "Punch that guy."
[And in Jax's case, it wouldn't be wrong.]
I am quite interested in magic, as well. Though I fear I would bore you with it in conversation. It sounds like you are used to far more excitement than I am.
[And in Jax's case, it wouldn't be wrong.]
I am quite interested in magic, as well. Though I fear I would bore you with it in conversation. It sounds like you are used to far more excitement than I am.
Or "punch that lady." I'm equal opportunity. ( so yes, that is correct, Viktor. )
I think magic is cheating, especially in a fight. ( Nina might also just be too dumb to learn magic. Or maybe too impatient.) What kind of magic do you use? Or... whatever you do.
I think magic is cheating, especially in a fight. ( Nina might also just be too dumb to learn magic. Or maybe too impatient.) What kind of magic do you use? Or... whatever you do.
[Viktor exhales a huff through his nose, the closest most people get to making him laugh.] Well, at least you have principles.
Cheating? [This is a bit perplexing to him. Give him a second.] I, ah... My partner and I invented Hextech, a fusion of magic and science. We use magical power sources- crystals, gems, and cores- and combinations of runes that activate them for specific uses. There is a fair bit of physics involved, and engineering, of course. It is somewhat similar to how machines are powered in this world without electricity.
The magic propelled our inventions to heights never previously imagined, such as the Hexgates, which are giant long-range teleportation devices. So, yes, I suppose you could call that "cheating," but I have never been above breaking the rules to accomplish something truly great.
Cheating? [This is a bit perplexing to him. Give him a second.] I, ah... My partner and I invented Hextech, a fusion of magic and science. We use magical power sources- crystals, gems, and cores- and combinations of runes that activate them for specific uses. There is a fair bit of physics involved, and engineering, of course. It is somewhat similar to how machines are powered in this world without electricity.
The magic propelled our inventions to heights never previously imagined, such as the Hexgates, which are giant long-range teleportation devices. So, yes, I suppose you could call that "cheating," but I have never been above breaking the rules to accomplish something truly great.
I really wish Stazz was here, he'd be eating this up. That said — I guess that's less so cheating than a raw mage would be. And you need something when you lack in other aspects. No offense. ( genuinely.)
Nothing ever gets done if you let the rules weigh you down. And that logic got me kicked out of the Brotherhood of Valor.
Nothing ever gets done if you let the rules weigh you down. And that logic got me kicked out of the Brotherhood of Valor.
Thank you. I will do my best to make it flexible and lightweight for her.
If you trust Elion to bring them, then I do as well. Come right in when you arrive with Pomni- I may be absorbed in something and not hear the door.
If you trust Elion to bring them, then I do as well. Come right in when you arrive with Pomni- I may be absorbed in something and not hear the door.
He will be
on his way
momentarily.
He may require
a snack. [It's about an hour later when Viktor might here the unmistakable flapping of a tressym outside the window, followed by a siren like wail to get attention, because he's been told to NOT go inside and break things. In his paws, he's carrying a scroll on which are specifications for both Astra Militarum flak armor and the armor of the Adepta Sororitas]
on his way
momentarily.
He may require
a snack. [It's about an hour later when Viktor might here the unmistakable flapping of a tressym outside the window, followed by a siren like wail to get attention, because he's been told to NOT go inside and break things. In his paws, he's carrying a scroll on which are specifications for both Astra Militarum flak armor and the armor of the Adepta Sororitas]
I will get the treats.
[A successful delivery must be rewarded. Viktor is surprised that Elion doesn't bang against the window like a confused housefly, but does wail until he opens the window. He takes the scroll and gives the tressym a few treats and a scritch before sending him back to Gadriel. Then he hunkers down to look at the specifications. He was imagining something much more elaborate, since Gadriel's armour is... Really something, so this is actually quite simple in comparison.]
I received it. He is on his way back. This looks quite doable.
[A successful delivery must be rewarded. Viktor is surprised that Elion doesn't bang against the window like a confused housefly, but does wail until he opens the window. He takes the scroll and gives the tressym a few treats and a scritch before sending him back to Gadriel. Then he hunkers down to look at the specifications. He was imagining something much more elaborate, since Gadriel's armour is... Really something, so this is actually quite simple in comparison.]
I received it. He is on his way back. This looks quite doable.
Er... Alright... [He doesn't know what to say to that. It's slightly offensive. She basically just said he's weak so he needs to cheat at science to make up for it.
Anyway.]
What is the Brotherhood of Valor?
Anyway.]
What is the Brotherhood of Valor?
It's a ordinary-enough night for it, the night after the performance. Except of course, for all the emotional upset.
"I still think I ought to have least placed," Skan is complaining. He's had that complaint intermittently ever since the winners had been announced, and it's not likely to be the last time, "Honestly."
Nymion. Blowhard. Untrustworthy witness. BRAT!
"...At least it was a productive enough day. I saw your display with Xander, as well. No nose for utility in these judges, I notice!"
"I still think I ought to have least placed," Skan is complaining. He's had that complaint intermittently ever since the winners had been announced, and it's not likely to be the last time, "Honestly."
Nymion. Blowhard. Untrustworthy witness. BRAT!
"...At least it was a productive enough day. I saw your display with Xander, as well. No nose for utility in these judges, I notice!"
"I agree," Viktor says, though it's far less enthusiastic than it was the first couple of times Skan complained about this, now more half-heartedly placating him than expressing a real opinion. "Though there were many good acts."
He almost asks what Skan thought of their inventions, if he liked them. He'd like to hear that, but his thoughts are mostly elsewhere as he swirls the ice in his glass of vodka. They haven't yet addressed the elephant in the room, which is that Skan possibly just killed a man on Viktor's behalf, and that makes him uneasy. He stares into the middle distance, somewhat grimly.
He almost asks what Skan thought of their inventions, if he liked them. He'd like to hear that, but his thoughts are mostly elsewhere as he swirls the ice in his glass of vodka. They haven't yet addressed the elephant in the room, which is that Skan possibly just killed a man on Viktor's behalf, and that makes him uneasy. He stares into the middle distance, somewhat grimly.
( She's stupid and bad with words. )
The knightly order of my home city. They were... ( All dead or booted from the brotherhood at this point. Well now she made herself sad. ) Good people, honorable people. Kept Valorstone safe and upheld the law — but they didn't like me taking the law into my own hands, so they gave me the boot.
I don't regret shit about that, though. A lot of lives were saved when I decided to start swinging instead of going by the book or whatever.
The knightly order of my home city. They were... ( All dead or booted from the brotherhood at this point. Well now she made herself sad. ) Good people, honorable people. Kept Valorstone safe and upheld the law — but they didn't like me taking the law into my own hands, so they gave me the boot.
I don't regret shit about that, though. A lot of lives were saved when I decided to start swinging instead of going by the book or whatever.
Many have accused Skan of being unobservant and self-absorbed, not without justice, but he's not completely stupid. He knows when he's being ridiculous— that's much of the fun, after all. But Viktor's enthusiasm this evening is low, even by ordinary standards.
"...True," he allows, belatedly, flopping down at last on the cushions nearby. He sighs, still dissatisfied with the whole of it; the reception, the competition, the broken promises, and yes, even that little side-task he'd undertaken for himself, "You're preoccupied."
Of course, that would be easy to attribute to the looming, deadly moon, continuing to menace all and sundry in clear defiance of Nymion's supposed intentions... But Skan knows better. It wasn't as if he were being terribly subtle, after all, not that he'd intended to be.
"Want to talk about it?"
"...True," he allows, belatedly, flopping down at last on the cushions nearby. He sighs, still dissatisfied with the whole of it; the reception, the competition, the broken promises, and yes, even that little side-task he'd undertaken for himself, "You're preoccupied."
Of course, that would be easy to attribute to the looming, deadly moon, continuing to menace all and sundry in clear defiance of Nymion's supposed intentions... But Skan knows better. It wasn't as if he were being terribly subtle, after all, not that he'd intended to be.
"Want to talk about it?"
Edited 2025-10-10 02:16 (UTC)
Viktor shifts his gaze to his glass, watching how the clear liquid undulates around and over the ice in it. He doesn't bother to deny that he's preoccupied. He is. He has been all day. He's tired.
"I saw you carry Jax off."
He lets that settle for a moment before continuing.
"What happened?"
"I saw you carry Jax off."
He lets that settle for a moment before continuing.
"What happened?"
Skan picks up his head again, watching Viktor brood in the shadow of that question. Ah, so it's going to be that kind of talk, then. Well he can't say he didn't let himself in for it.
"I did," He agrees, quietly but unashamed, on a nod, "I think you know what happened."
For all his foibles, and no one is free of them, Viktor certainly was not a stupid man. He was sharp-minded, clever, and driven: all qualities that appealed to Skandranon, and which drew admiration from him. But for all that, he was so very... well, for lack of a better term, civilian. And that's what brings the considering tilt to Skan's feathered head. How to give him to understand, to bridge this gap?
Even back in White Gryphon, he hadn't known how. And then... Well. He's been trying not to think about that, hasn't he? Playing the turkey, having a good time of it.
Lying, even to himself.
"Are you asking for details? Do you think it would help, to know?"
"I did," He agrees, quietly but unashamed, on a nod, "I think you know what happened."
For all his foibles, and no one is free of them, Viktor certainly was not a stupid man. He was sharp-minded, clever, and driven: all qualities that appealed to Skandranon, and which drew admiration from him. But for all that, he was so very... well, for lack of a better term, civilian. And that's what brings the considering tilt to Skan's feathered head. How to give him to understand, to bridge this gap?
Even back in White Gryphon, he hadn't known how. And then... Well. He's been trying not to think about that, hasn't he? Playing the turkey, having a good time of it.
Lying, even to himself.
"Are you asking for details? Do you think it would help, to know?"
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