[He has no idea how to take this. It's not as though he's anyone important, but he and Nina also aren't that close... Is this pity? Nina doesn't seem like she's capable of pity, save for those she truly loathes.]
Yeah. I asked what happened with the rabbit since I saw him drag him off.
( Let's be real. She just wants an excuse to punch people. )
That's what I said. If you need someone who can beat ass when you need them to, I'm offering my services. And since I like you, they're free. You can say no.
[He feels conflicted, just as he always does when Skan wants to do something violent like this. On the one hand, he wants people to conduct themselves as they wish. On the other, such discordance makes him uncomfortable. Around here, violence seems to often beget more violence, when he'd much rather things settled out.
On the other hand, he still finds himself quite anxious at any gathering where Jax is, and he doesn't foresee that changing any time soon. If anything, he will probably be more anxious to see him now that he's been killed to avenge Viktor and knows it.]
I would prefer there be no more "ass-beating" on my behalf, going forward. However... I'd appreciate having you around at gatherings to help curb any interaction he tries to start with me.
[Viktor actually can be very assertive when he wants to be, but Nina is... Assertive on steroids, plus she is intimidating, what with her strength and all of her swear words.]
Sure. Consider yourself under the watchful eye of Nina Ironfist during any future gatherings. And this request for no ass beatings on your behalf can be ignored if he starts shit... right?
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.]
Hero, knight, fighter. My nephew is an inventor — most intelligent Goblin I ever met. You would probably like him. My brother dabbles, too, but focuses more on magic these days.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
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.
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.
Good, then, as you should. They lost a good knight by sticking to the book, so perhaps their book was not so perfect to begin with.
[He's never been particularly fond of law enforcement... This order sounds better than Piltover's Enforcers, but still.]
I do not regret any rules I have broken either, even when it made some quite upset. I was born in a place with no opportunities, so I had to make my own. Seize a place for myself in the world that was not handed to me. I cheated not because I lacked merit, but because if they saw where I truly came from, they would disregard the merit I did have.
I kind of lucked out, being adopted by a nobleman. And I don't remember life before that. ( well, she did, but it was the fighting for her life parts that stuck with her, not the mundane memories of the family she may have once had. )
I'm sure you don't have to hear me say it — but keep doing it. It's all worth it in the end, I think, to break those rules. People like you tend to make things better when they do.
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Ah... I assume Skan told you?
A... Bodyguard?
[He has no idea how to take this. It's not as though he's anyone important, but he and Nina also aren't that close... Is this pity? Nina doesn't seem like she's capable of pity, save for those she truly loathes.]
no subject
( Let's be real. She just wants an excuse to punch people. )
That's what I said. If you need someone who can beat ass when you need them to, I'm offering my services. And since I like you, they're free. You can say no.
no subject
On the other hand, he still finds himself quite anxious at any gathering where Jax is, and he doesn't foresee that changing any time soon. If anything, he will probably be more anxious to see him now that he's been killed to avenge Viktor and knows it.]
I would prefer there be no more "ass-beating" on my behalf, going forward. However... I'd appreciate having you around at gatherings to help curb any interaction he tries to start with me.
[Viktor actually can be very assertive when he wants to be, but Nina is... Assertive on steroids, plus she is intimidating, what with her strength and all of her swear words.]
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Sure. Consider yourself under the watchful eye of Nina Ironfist during any future gatherings. And this request for no ass beatings on your behalf can be ignored if he starts shit... right?
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Tell me, are you offering this to be a friend, or simply because you want license to punch someone?
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But seriously, I'm doing it as a friend. Figured we should try and spend more time together, too. You're an inventor, right?
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I am, yes. And you are... A fighter?
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Hero, knight, fighter. My nephew is an inventor — most intelligent Goblin I ever met. You would probably like him. My brother dabbles, too, but focuses more on magic these days.
no subject
[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.
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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.
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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.
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Nothing ever gets done if you let the rules weigh you down. And that logic got me kicked out of the Brotherhood of Valor.
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Anyway.]
What is the Brotherhood of Valor?
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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.
no subject
[He's never been particularly fond of law enforcement... This order sounds better than Piltover's Enforcers, but still.]
I do not regret any rules I have broken either, even when it made some quite upset. I was born in a place with no opportunities, so I had to make my own. Seize a place for myself in the world that was not handed to me. I cheated not because I lacked merit, but because if they saw where I truly came from, they would disregard the merit I did have.
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I'm sure you don't have to hear me say it — but keep doing it. It's all worth it in the end, I think, to break those rules. People like you tend to make things better when they do.
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I will. Thank you. I was discouraged for a time, but it seems my spark has returned.
You should continue, as well. I can tell that you have a kind heart.