"I am always exhausted," Viktor admits very quietly. He has no idea how his body has held on this long. He should have been dead months ago, but his illness seems to be in stasis.
But he's been given the gift of more time, and for the moment he delights in Xander's hand in his, his warmth, and the green outside the windows.
"Well, how else would I accomplish anything meaningful? Unfortunately, it was not possible to do so in my circumstances in the Undercity, so I had to change them. Thankfully, Heimerdinger was impressed by my tenacity and did not punish me other than a scolding."
Viktor's brows raise slightly. "Did I not tell you about Jayce? Ah," he's thinking about Jayce every day, so it feels like he talks about him more than he probably does. "He is the research partner and friend with whom I invented Hextech."
"We met when I was the Dean's assistant and he was one of his students. Some troublemakers broke into Jayce's apartment, and in tampering with some of his gear, caused an explosion. The resulting investigation led to Jayce being put on trial for owning illegal and dangerous equipment. Magical study was forbidden at that time, and that's what he was doing. He was banned from the academy, and almost from the city entirely. But I was involved in the investigation, and I found his notes... His ideas about mixing science and magic together intrigued me. So much so that I went back to his apartment, late at night, and found him preparing to end his life. I told him I thought he was onto something, and I wanted to help him complete his research. Some questionable acts later and some asking forgiveness instead of permission, and... We invented the Hexgates. Teleporters that could instantly transport goods into and out of the city. With the boost in trade, the City Council decided it was in their best interest to support us. Conditionally, of course." Viktor rolls his eyes. All the politics really ruined it.
cw suicide plan/attempt
But he's been given the gift of more time, and for the moment he delights in Xander's hand in his, his warmth, and the green outside the windows.
"Well, how else would I accomplish anything meaningful? Unfortunately, it was not possible to do so in my circumstances in the Undercity, so I had to change them. Thankfully, Heimerdinger was impressed by my tenacity and did not punish me other than a scolding."
Viktor's brows raise slightly. "Did I not tell you about Jayce? Ah," he's thinking about Jayce every day, so it feels like he talks about him more than he probably does. "He is the research partner and friend with whom I invented Hextech."
"We met when I was the Dean's assistant and he was one of his students. Some troublemakers broke into Jayce's apartment, and in tampering with some of his gear, caused an explosion. The resulting investigation led to Jayce being put on trial for owning illegal and dangerous equipment. Magical study was forbidden at that time, and that's what he was doing. He was banned from the academy, and almost from the city entirely. But I was involved in the investigation, and I found his notes... His ideas about mixing science and magic together intrigued me. So much so that I went back to his apartment, late at night, and found him preparing to end his life. I told him I thought he was onto something, and I wanted to help him complete his research. Some questionable acts later and some asking forgiveness instead of permission, and... We invented the Hexgates. Teleporters that could instantly transport goods into and out of the city. With the boost in trade, the City Council decided it was in their best interest to support us. Conditionally, of course." Viktor rolls his eyes. All the politics really ruined it.