[Sidon is too nice and (everyone voice) you're going to be tutorial, aren't you.
Viktor isn't sure how to feel. This is something he's always dealt with, and something he has mostly always dealt with alone. No one else has really understood what it was like. No one else has felt the way he has, so he... has never had to explain it?
He can't tell if the sympathy is humiliating or relieving. Guess both of those come through.]
I'm... not sure. Something new maybe. You can use it if you'd like.
[ i cannot listen to you of all people accuse me of being tutorial. shut the fuck up.
it's a fine line, not wanting to be patronizing, and wanting to relieve this man's suffering however much he can. If only you were here...
mipha could do something about this, in ways he feels powerless to. for now, he nods. ]
I can start us off, at least. [ somewhere 'new' is somewhere old for sidon, though. water spreads out beneath their feet, misting in the air, cool and refreshing and almost sweet in how pure it smells. ]
[Well sorry to Sidon, the second person who has tried to assist him in Chilling the Fuck Out, only for it to backfire. The moment Sidon lights up the room with a simulated Zora's domain, Viktor has disappeared from Sidon's side. Lil guy go brrrrr, Sidon should be used to it.
He's hobbling out farther into the area (a little), wildly looking around with the most astounding expression on his face. SOMEWHERE NEW! This is the greatest gift.
The chronic ache is still there, but the disordered mental space and the Sads have rolled into the background.]
[ well. this was not the intended result—zora's domain is soothing and hopefully therapeutic—but lil man go brrrr is indeed very familiar to him. and—well. if he can't heal viktor, he's happy to at least make him feel better... in a way.
it is very pretty to look at, though. there are mountains with water-rounded cliffsides all around them, and the whole structure is built within a massive spring. besides the moonlight, the stones laced into the architecture alight everything well enough to see and navigate with a soft, blue glow. ]
It is Zora's Domain. [ his usual exuberance is still sort of tempered by VIKTOR'S FULL BODY DETERIORATION, and he'll follow after him because a stiff breeze might blow him over, but there's still a wave of contentment in him as their surroundings settle in. he likes people enjoying his home!! it's nice. there is an innate pride in him for it. ] It is the heart of my kingdom, and my home. A replica of it, anyway.
The place is too big for Viktor to go ham, so he finally shuffles to a stop so he can just... look all around them.
And then at his feet, at the water. Having the pride come in feels strange for a place he doesn't know, but he understands. He bends a little, using the crutch... tries to cup some of the water, only to remember it's a simulation.
He stares at his haggard, unwell reflection, feeling like he's tainting the water from that alone.
He swallows and looks up, away.]
It's beautiful. It looks... so pure. Um, untouched.
[ viktor... this is so sad. sidon accepts these troubled feelings, with something like easy fondness filling in the space left behind. ]
We've always sought out pure water. It's a necessity for us—for reasons I'm sure you can guess.
[ they breathe water. fish are just ocean filters.
but that doesn't mean the domain is so pristine it can't be touched. the simulation feels natural, akin to home—it answers when he uses powers he no longer has, drawing water out from the shallow pool around them to spray up gently at viktor, moving it with a flick of his wrist like he's using any other tool. zora waterbending. ]
And some of us are capable of purifying it, when necessary. The royal family most of all. I'm glad you can enjoy the fruit of our efforts.
[ his emotions are briefly something like hehe before he nods. ]
We have no great source of contamination. But in theory, any water. [ looks at fucking totk goop ] You've mentioned the Undercity before—is that your home?
[Idly, he looks out again over the domain, finding it... quiet and peaceful. In a way, it isn't too different than certain parts of the Undercity. The elbows where Piltover meet Zaun by the river and the sewer grates.
The aesthetic is just immensely better.]
When I was older, I wanted to get into the Academy in Piltover, the city across the river. It was the only place I knew I'd be able to get the resources to follow my dreams. And so I did. I've been in Piltover ever since.
[ the domain is peaceful; he's more contented here, even if it isn't exactly real. it isn't a bustling metropolis, particularly at low light, where the tides are high and most zora have taken to being in the water.
to him, it's all very familiar. he almost wants to ask to see viktor's home instead, but the newness of his surroundings seems to keep the edge off, so they can splish splash around zora's domain however long. his interest is piqued, though. ]
What sort of dreams do you carry, Viktor? It must be important, if you traveled from your home.
[Walking isn't, like, his favorite pastime, but Viktor starts a little trek around the immediate area. He is just trying to enjoy the scenery even if it's a simulation. Having the water around his feet is weird, but somehow comforting. Different.
And it isn't polluted Zaun water.]
I want to build things. Machinery. I want to build what will help people like me. The people living in Zaun.
[ the water is beautiful, shimmering with blue light and the moon and the stars—where it doesn't ripple from their footsteps or fall off the platforms, it captures glimpses of the sky and high, silver archways. he cannot imagine the undercity. it would hurt him, both physically and emotionally.
but he can understand the conviction behind helping those in one's home, no matter their circumstances; his feelings reflect that, a mix of respect and hope. hope for the best, for viktor and his city. ]
...Would that everyone could be as bold as you! [ venturing forth and trying to make solutions. ] I'd gladly invite a mind like yours to our kingdom. But it doesn't sound like we are the ones that need you.
[ they have a little man solving their problems already. ]
[Mobility isn't the entire issue with his hunger for the scenery. His body might not work, but his brain has always done overtime. He has spent so much of his life holed up in a room, or in a lab, toiling away with parts and pieces.
When you think the road ahead of you is long, but it turns out the ground suddenly drops off ahead, you begin to realize what all you've missed. What you've unintentionally taken for granted.]
I'm not sure I'm going to be the one who help Piltover, or Zaun.
[He is just standing there again, head tipped back so he can look at the sky.]
[ the moon shines down in a crescent, strung up brightly in a clear sky. the stars peek out over the mountains. it's thoughtshare week, but he still finds himself wondering what viktor has on his mind, looking out so far. ]
No? You seem to have both the drive and ability for it.
[You trying to force me to thoughtshare. Unfortunately, the thoughts literally that and are very sad, depressed, and guilt-ridden. He is a broken, depressed, guilty man.]
That was Jayce. The savior, I mean. My research partner. He was the face of Hextech, and he became a council member after our work on the Hexgates. People believed he could fix the relations between Piltover and Zaun.
There's a lot on his plate. I just want to create things. I'm not exactly a socialite.
[ you say that like i remember that thoughtshare exists for more than 1 tag out of a 100 this week. anyway this is so... sad. his own feelings answer as though in reaction—reassuring and fond, warm despite the cool air of zora's domain. ]
That is what partners are for! I'm sure Jayce leans upon you for his weaknesses too.
[ you don't have to be good at everything. you just have to be able to find people to fill in your gaps. ]
A leader is never the sole savior of anything just by merit of being a leader. I've learned that much firsthand.
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no subject
Viktor isn't sure how to feel. This is something he's always dealt with, and something he has mostly always dealt with alone. No one else has really understood what it was like. No one else has felt the way he has, so he... has never had to explain it?
He can't tell if the sympathy is humiliating or relieving. Guess both of those come through.]
I'm... not sure. Something new maybe. You can use it if you'd like.
no subject
it's a fine line, not wanting to be patronizing, and wanting to relieve this man's suffering however much he can. If only you were here...
mipha could do something about this, in ways he feels powerless to. for now, he nods. ]
I can start us off, at least. [ somewhere 'new' is somewhere old for sidon, though. water spreads out beneath their feet, misting in the air, cool and refreshing and almost sweet in how pure it smells. ]
no subject
He's hobbling out farther into the area (a little), wildly looking around with the most astounding expression on his face. SOMEWHERE NEW! This is the greatest gift.
The chronic ache is still there, but the disordered mental space and the Sads have rolled into the background.]
What is this place? It's... amazing.
no subject
it is very pretty to look at, though. there are mountains with water-rounded cliffsides all around them, and the whole structure is built within a massive spring. besides the moonlight, the stones laced into the architecture alight everything well enough to see and navigate with a soft, blue glow. ]
It is Zora's Domain. [ his usual exuberance is still sort of tempered by VIKTOR'S FULL BODY DETERIORATION, and he'll follow after him because a stiff breeze might blow him over, but there's still a wave of contentment in him as their surroundings settle in. he likes people enjoying his home!! it's nice. there is an innate pride in him for it. ] It is the heart of my kingdom, and my home. A replica of it, anyway.
no subject
The place is too big for Viktor to go ham, so he finally shuffles to a stop so he can just... look all around them.
And then at his feet, at the water. Having the pride come in feels strange for a place he doesn't know, but he understands. He bends a little, using the crutch... tries to cup some of the water, only to remember it's a simulation.
He stares at his haggard, unwell reflection, feeling like he's tainting the water from that alone.
He swallows and looks up, away.]
It's beautiful. It looks... so pure. Um, untouched.
no subject
We've always sought out pure water. It's a necessity for us—for reasons I'm sure you can guess.
[ they breathe water. fish are just ocean filters.
but that doesn't mean the domain is so pristine it can't be touched. the simulation feels natural, akin to home—it answers when he uses powers he no longer has, drawing water out from the shallow pool around them to spray up gently at viktor, moving it with a flick of his wrist like he's using any other tool. zora waterbending. ]
And some of us are capable of purifying it, when necessary. The royal family most of all. I'm glad you can enjoy the fruit of our efforts.
no subject
ACK-- He realizes he isn't hit by anything actual wet and feels incredibly silly after.
The indignant look he starts to give Sidon melts suddenly away. Hs stares.]
You can... purify water? Any water...? We could have used someone like you in the Undercity.
no subject
We have no great source of contamination. But in theory, any water. [ looks at fucking totk goop ] You've mentioned the Undercity before—is that your home?
no subject
It's where I was born.
[Idly, he looks out again over the domain, finding it... quiet and peaceful. In a way, it isn't too different than certain parts of the Undercity. The elbows where Piltover meet Zaun by the river and the sewer grates.
The aesthetic is just immensely better.]
When I was older, I wanted to get into the Academy in Piltover, the city across the river. It was the only place I knew I'd be able to get the resources to follow my dreams. And so I did. I've been in Piltover ever since.
no subject
to him, it's all very familiar. he almost wants to ask to see viktor's home instead, but the newness of his surroundings seems to keep the edge off, so they can splish splash around zora's domain however long. his interest is piqued, though. ]
What sort of dreams do you carry, Viktor? It must be important, if you traveled from your home.
no subject
And it isn't polluted Zaun water.]
I want to build things. Machinery. I want to build what will help people like me. The people living in Zaun.
no subject
but he can understand the conviction behind helping those in one's home, no matter their circumstances; his feelings reflect that, a mix of respect and hope. hope for the best, for viktor and his city. ]
...Would that everyone could be as bold as you! [ venturing forth and trying to make solutions. ] I'd gladly invite a mind like yours to our kingdom. But it doesn't sound like we are the ones that need you.
[ they have a little man solving their problems already. ]
no subject
When you think the road ahead of you is long, but it turns out the ground suddenly drops off ahead, you begin to realize what all you've missed. What you've unintentionally taken for granted.]
I'm not sure I'm going to be the one who help Piltover, or Zaun.
[He is just standing there again, head tipped back so he can look at the sky.]
no subject
No? You seem to have both the drive and ability for it.
no subject
That was Jayce. The savior, I mean. My research partner. He was the face of Hextech, and he became a council member after our work on the Hexgates. People believed he could fix the relations between Piltover and Zaun.
There's a lot on his plate. I just want to create things. I'm not exactly a socialite.
no subject
That is what partners are for! I'm sure Jayce leans upon you for his weaknesses too.
[ you don't have to be good at everything. you just have to be able to find people to fill in your gaps. ]
A leader is never the sole savior of anything just by merit of being a leader. I've learned that much firsthand.