Function Over Form

“I forgive you”

Sky observed him mostly dispassionately. Despite justified anger and being pushed past the point of being willing to deal with much of his behavior, she did still care about him. She didn't want to at the moment but she had loved him for so long that that feeling was unlikely to just go away. It had changed however. She was no longer going to put up with him ignoring her or shutting her out. She had let that go on for far too long and this was where it had gotten her.

No more. He was hers now. That meant he wasn't allowed to die on her. She'd make sure he stayed alive and that he stayed hers. As she decided that something clicked into place within the Hexcore. A choice made, a path set.

"Yes, that place will work as well as any." Sky agreed when he suggested a place to scatter her ashes. She saw how tired he was. If she planned to keep him then she would need to get him to rest. Her ashes could wait. Getting him to her apartment and getting him a dose of medicine took priority. He didn't know herbs. It would be all too easy to direct him to add a sleeping mixture to the medicine she had already prepared for him.

She felt the Core powering the wagon and moved for the first time to place her hand on the wagon. She could feel the flow of energy and after a moment she found she could direct it. Normally the wagon didn't move on its own but after a few tries she was able to manipulate her energy well enough to push it. Not terribly fast, but not any slower than his usual walking speed.

He winced very obviously from her final statement. By Janna, if he could take back those times he turned her down - he would. If he didn't work so hard... If he had paid more attention. If he simply had the time to give to her, like he had when they were children... God, everything would be different. The guilt felt like a dagger through his flesh yet again. His childhood friend...and he didn't even know where she lived.

Wordlessly, he picked up her coat he previously wrapped around a nearby chair and removed the keys from the pocket. He placed them in his own pocket before folding it rather delicately and placing it on the wagon. He wasn't sure why... Sentimentality, perhaps. It felt as if her belongings served more of a purpose in her apartment then here on the cold floor...

"Let's go then..." Viktor mumbled as he made his way for the lab doors. The academy was as silent as the grave. Rather ironic, considering... And also to their advantage. The streets of Piltover were just as dead. Only once or twice did Viktor have to detour as he spotted someone heading their way.

Soon enough, they arrived at her door. His hands shook ever so slightly as he put the key in and turned it. This was not how he wanted his first visit to be... He wasn't sure what he did want it to be instead, but anything would be better than this...

Viktor took a moment to look around, placing the coat upon a nearby coat hanger. Able to bring at least something so minimal back home...

Sky could tell he was inexperienced but she didn't care. She was just happy to be finally kissing him. Besides, she knew that was something that would improve with time now that they had finally admitted their feelings for each other. She did worry that she might be coming on too strong as well even though he was the one who started it. Just as she was considering easing up a bit she heard his crutch fall and felt his arms around her.

She made a happy little sound into the kiss when he embraced her like that and held him a bit tighter while also melting against him. This moment was pure bliss for her and she wanted it to go on forever. Predictably however, that was the moment that Jayce chose to knock.

If looks could kill then Jayce would already be dead, even with the door in the way.

"I'm never naming you the godparent to my children Jayce!" She called back. She thought about telling him to fuck off as well but she held back because they did need to get out of this closet eventually.

Jayce was heard chuckling even from behind the door, but eventually there was a scraping noise once again as he clearly shifted whatever had been pushed up against the storage door. But Viktor didn't move right away.

"Sounds like a fine plan, Miss Young." Viktor joined in with the teasing just a little bit longer. "Pfft," He scoffed. "Jayce would find that to be a holiday, not a punishment." He rolled his eyes slightly. Soon enough though, with a sigh, he gripped his crutch with both hands and pulled himself up to his feet. As soon as he was steady, he held his hand out to hold hers, and assist her upright as well.

What if they met before or during Act 1

Caitlyn huffed and rolled her eyes a little, but couldn’t help but smile afterward. “Sometimes I think you're worse than I was when I was a kid,” she returned the tease. Honestly, Viktor had always been a delight for the young Kiramman, he never swayed nor looked at it as if she had to be proper and perfect. She couldn’t help but enjoy how he would encourage her more mischievous nature. Sadly, she could not keep up this entertainment though, as she was trying to figure something out.

She leaned against the table, letting Viktor look over the scar on her shoulder blade that pulsed with the blue light; a bit more reactive being this close to other hexgems which she assumed must be in a box in the room. “I haven’t told anyone. My mother would have a bloody fit in a half and I did not want to cause more problems for any of you when I was younger. So I kept it to myself,” Caitlyn said and then nodded. “yeah, it hurt the first few weeks after the incident, but since then, it’s healed up. I have had no pain, nothing that would cause my problems. It just... pulses light and hums. Like, I can hear it humming, especially when I’m near other hex gems,”

Blue eyes watched Viktor as he had debates within his might, trying to figure out what might be. A small breath left her lips as she reached over to grab the chair and sat down and folded her hands together. “It’s okay, I didn’t expect any answers in truth. It’s just weird thing. I thought at first it was just mean being overemotional or angry. But, I think I’m feeling what other people feel, like I’m absorbing the emotions the emit. Its... overwhelming honestly,” Caitlyn said as she gave a shrug.

“I guess I’ll just have to figure it out,” she chuckled and waved her hand. “I’ll let you know if anything else comes up, but, for the most part, it’s just been a scar that glows,”

Viktor made his way to a shelf of hand-written journals close by as Caitlyn took a seat. A well trained finger cast over the backs before settling on a rather battered looking, navy leather back. It was thin, but swollen with extra pages shoved in. It seemed a mess to most, but to Viktor he knew exactly where to look.

"It may not be as far fetched to think your emotions could be at least exacerbated by the Hexgem shard." He commented as he hobbled back over, fingers flying through the pages until he came to the log he wanted to recall. "I mentioned here how being around the gems seemed to make emotions all the more noticeable. My highs were higher, my lows abysmally low. But-" He put the book, open, upon the table and turned it around. The entire journal entry had lines crossed through it. "-as you can see, Jayce didn't think so. He thought it was just me 'going through the motions' - or something to that effect. But- It's rather indescribable, but it's almost like a pull. Magnetic."

Viktor leaned against the desk and swallowed thickly, unsure on how to bring this up without sounding doubtful of her abilities - which he surely wasn't. "I must ask, as part of investigation you understand... Your incredibly keen sight and accuracy... Has that always been a gift of yours? Even before the explosion?"

Fortunately, what he reveals is very interesting. She's never seen anything like it before, and while it's clearly inoperable at the moment, it's not hard to spot where Viktor has been working away to bring it back into working order. She approaches slowly, looking it up and down as the mechanist explains what it is. "...I can tell it was working with some nasty stuff. I've never seen metal eaten through like that... but if you could find parts from enough of them, I bet you could put together one that's almost like new."

The scientist couldn't help a short smile as Student took a keen interest in the golem. It was always nice to see curiosity so raw and untamed. "That's the goal," Viktor responded, petting one of the dampener. "and hopefully this will bring me all the closer." He gave a smirk and a slight shaking of his head at her comment of replacement.

"Think of them more of an assistant rather than a replacement. If you need help getting somewhere that's unsafe, then it'll be there. Think of the treasure troves no doubt left behind that mere humans cannot reach? But machinery can. Machinery is here to help us, not hinder." Viktor confirmed.

// I'm terrible, I'm sorry. This isn't even including what I owe over on Viktor blog...

// I'm hoping I'll have more energy tomorrow, want to try and get a chunk in the queue for all blogs because I'm on a morning family trip/rush into town/son's swimming lesson Wednesday and would probably be too exhausted by the time the evening rolls around to respond to anything major.

Sky was used to his coughing fits and how she could help although this was a more intimate position than she usually used for it. Still, she held him close against her to keep his back somewhat straight to help open his airways and give his lungs room to expand properly. She murmured soothing words and promises to make him so tea as soon as the worst of the fit passed.

As she pulled back a bit to check on him she noticed where he was looking and had a guess as to his thoughts. She was aware that his conditions could be hereditary and she wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to have a biological child because of them.

"We can always adopt Viktor." She said soothingly, having already considered the option. She had had years to think about all the possible paths their future together could take, especially with anything related to his health and medical condition. "I'm not sure I wish to pass on my eye condition either."

But no matter. As they said, there's no need to dwell on it currently.

With his body still shaken up from the coughing fit, and a slight tremble from the adrenaline rush, tea certainly wouldn't go amiss right now. After a soft smile following the kisses to his cheek, he let her slip away from his lap - hands lingering on her for as long as they could. His eyes trailing after her longer still.

A moment to himself, he leaned back in the couch with a soft sigh - not quite believing his luck. A hand ran through his hair. By Janna, was this all some cruel dream he would have to soon wake up from? As she returned, he shuffled across a little to give her room beside him and took the mug gratefully.

"Thank you," Viktor smiled, grasping it in both hands to warm them up as it cooled. It was almost habit now to wait until it was a perfect temperature to gulp it down quickly. Either that, or accidentally forgetting and leaving it to freeze over...

1. does your muse enjoy watching the stars?

2. does your muse have any long-term, life plans?

3. how does your muse manage strong emotions?

4. how many blankets does your muse sleep with?

5. has you muse ever experienced sleep paralysis? 

6. what style of music does your muse like the most?

7. what’s the furthest from home your muse has traveled?

8. does your muse have any unusual fears? what are they? 

9. is your muse / would your muse be active on social media?

10. does your muse get sick often? what’s their go-to remedies?

11. is your muse quick thinking? are they able to focus when stressed?

12. what is your muse’s most helpful coping skill, healthy or unhealthy?

13. what is the strangest / least comfortable place your muse has slept?

14. where does your muse’s strength lie? physical strength? mental? emotional?

15. if your muse had the option, would they prefer to go to space or explore the ocean?

Sky could tell that she had his attention although she worried about how quickly he sat up like that. Still she kept talking before falling silent to wait for his reaction, praying that she had been convincing enough.

"I can bring it first thing in the morning then and brew the tea while you read over my research if you like. I really do think this will work. I've run every test I can up to the point of human trials. I'm completely sure it's both safe and effective." She confirmed firmly. "Depending on the result after the 48 hour period I can adjust the dose to be more potent if needed but given the results I've gotten so far, even the starting dose should drastically slow the progression and keep your health from declining further."

When he began to talk about his plans she listened. His admission that he had been planning to try it that night worried her greatly and made her unlikely to leave the lab that night.

"I remember the Doctor and I've also done some research on Shimmer. I obtained some samples a while back to see if they might aid my research but found it too volatile to be viable." She said slowly, clearly deep in thought rather than outright rejecting the idea. "I understand time is a concern but it may be wise to try dosing the plants with Shimmer first to see how they react before attempting it yourself. If need be, I have ways of getting around the blockade on the bridge to get to the Undercity so I could go to the Doctor for more if we run out of what he gave you."

She wasn't rejecting his idea, just advising caution. She also wanted to make it clear that she was in this with him and would be supporting him.

At her final statement of testing the Shimmer on various other things first before himself, he swallowed yet again. His throat suddenly dry. If these teas worked, if they prolonged the inevitable long enough for him to preform proper studies... It could work.

"Alright... We'll use the tea. Test the Shimmer. Try and find a more permanent solution to all of this..." Viktor responded, a very notable tone of relief in his voice. When she requested the Shimmer to test on, Viktor hesitated for only a second.

No... No, she had been entirely open and honest with him. It was his turn to keep this going.

With a new, silent resolve - he lifted up his crutch and began to unscrew the handle from the main component. In his open hand, he tipped the small vial of Shimmer onto it and reached across to place it into Sky's palm instead. But, before he left go, he kept his hand held over hers, his other hand underneath to hold her hand entirely in his.