#muse | viktor

[versus-written]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIKTOR!

[versus-written]

"Is that... blood??" — Jayce

 Viktor startled at this sudden question, as if Jayce had caught him in the middle of a forbidden act.

And in part… that was the truth. He had not expected Jayce to be up so early. The sun was barely painting the sky in a lighter violet yet, but Viktor hadn’t slept all night. Turning and staring at Jayce, he looked utterly guilty. In his lap he held the egg he had been caring for for months now. It had been all well. Growing, healthy. The shadow within becoming bigger and more defined, but by now it was too large to make out what creature it would be, light couldn’t get through the leathery shell anymore.

But in the past two days… it had moved less. It had grown colder. Or at least Viktor was imagining that. Holding a stethoscope to it, he thought he could hear a heartbeat. Slow. Fading. And something in his chest had gripped him full of fear. Fear that he would lose whatever was in there. He couldn’t. It felt as if part of himself would die, if he allowed nature to take its course here. He couldn’t let it die, because whatever it was, Viktor… deeply cared for it. Did he love it…? Maybe… He wasn’t sure what to think.

And he wasn’t sure what to tell Jayce now.

He had cut his own hand. Like back then, when he had tried to grasp for the Hexcore’s power. Blood. It had always worked through blood. The Arcane connecting this to life. The Arcane healing and mending what was broken and ill – all jumpstarted by blood. So, couldn’t blood now help too?

Whether this had been a coherent thought or something that had been whispered into his mind by dread, fear or some outside force… Viktor couldn’t tell.

But he knew it looked bad. How he sat there, with the egg on his lap, a bloodied scalpel on the table and his own hand seeping blood. He had wanted to press his hand against the egg. That had been his glorious plan.

But now as he looked up to Jayce, utterly guilty and wrecked with doubt and fear alike? He hesitated.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Jayce… I promise it’s nothing- not like back then. But… it’s getting weak. I think it is dying… And last time… last time this worked…? I can't let it die. I just can't.”

@madeofthreads

[versus-written]

“Stay up with me. I don’t want this feeling to fade yet.” — Jayce

What a ridiculous thing to demand. To say.

Viktor turned his head curious. Golden eyes watching Jayce’s face with all the attention he could give. Jayce did not return his look. Instead, he still laid there, looking up to the starlit skies above. How had they ended up here, at the top of the highest Academy tower? Viktor didn’t know anymore. Something about physics. Astronomy. Star constellations.

Now despite the darkness of the night, Viktor could clearly make out the silhouette of Jayce’s face. How relaxed he looked. How happy.

And Viktor felt the same.

But to hear Jayce asking him to stay around? To continue their little talks here, the endless wandering of their minds? It had made Viktor feel so warm. As if something filled the cavity of his chest, golden glowing, like starlight. To know that Jayce wanted this too?

It made Viktor smile. And he looked back up to the stars, nodding.

“You underestimate my knowledge about the stars, if you thought I was done by now…”, he uttered, as if he held all the confidence in the world. When in fact it had been Jayce’s request to fuel this. And Viktor allowed his head to fall to the side a little, leaned against Jayce’s shoulder.

@madeofthreads

[versus-written]

[versus-written]

When Silco finally returned to Zaun, stepping out of the boat and onto the dock, the air felt different, or perhaps it was he that was different instead. It had been years; too many to count, and within Stillwater, time was endless anyway. There were no days, there were no nights. Just stone that echoed their voices back at them.

As he stared up at the buildings, the old cannery front and center, he wondered what had happened to the kid. He'd been a fool to think he could run forever; eventually, the Enforcers would catch up. They always did. The kid, though, Viktor, Silco hoped that he'd left him in good hands with the folks who'd agreed to look after him once he'd decided he'd reached the end of the line and gotten tired of burning Zaun to the ground just for his own selfish freedom.

The kid had to be grown by now, and Silco wasn't sure Viktor would recognize him. Thin, haggard, hair a grown-out mess, the only thing he was absolutely certain the kid might recognize was the damaged eye.

Indeed, the kid had grown up.

And he had changed. Even more so than Silco had in these years.

Silco had left a vacuum of influence and power – and he had left Viktor, who had never really forgiven him for that. With each passing year, each passing realization of Silco’s involvement with the day of Ash and the consequences from all that… Viktor had become more bitter towards the man he had once admired so much.

But Viktor had let go of that. He had developed his own path. His own ways to help Zaun, from the shadows. Machines, devices, medicines. Whatever he could steal from Piltover and change to help those in need, he would take it. And he had changed himself. Failing body parts exchanged for metal and steel.

And he knew what was happening in the politics of Piltover and Zaun. So, he had known, who would arrive at the docks this evening. Truth be told, Viktor was curious. If the man live dup to the memories he held of him. But… the one who stood in front of the old cannery seemed like he was barely a shadow of the Silco Viktor had once known.

He seemed frail. Broken. Only his eyes… those were still the same.

Viktor considered leaving well enough alone and just leaving the premises. This man was neither threat, nor a promising ally. But… part of him could not let go. After a few minutes, he stepped out of the shadows. He did not wear his metal mask right now, but it was obvious that his body was augmented up to his throat and jaw, framing his face with steel. The sclera of his eyes pitch black, making the gold glow. He seemed to muster Silco with a certain kind of judgement and… discontent. The mechanical claw on his back whirring and rotating, as if seeking a target.

“They let you go? After all these years?”, he asked casually, as if this was merely a smalltalk-conversation.

“Usually Piltover is more relentless… seems like they deem you harmless. Broken. Is that why you came to me? A lot of broken things and people end up coming to me, so I can mend them. Is it that, Silco?”

@zaunitesnake

[versus-written]

The first steps, reborn, are heavy and stumbling. Water... it scares him. There is a memory he tries to pull away from. The salt water filling his throat and lungs — it burns. Fire is hot. Don't touch. It is no wonder that he leaves the beach behind, despite the many wonders, fear of deep dark water laps at his back.

This forest is calmer. He finds warmth. Wraps his body in a discarded skin — clothes are a concept he observed, and he is excited if a little hesitant. Is he allowed..? There are no screams, no cruel hands. He pulls the old coat a little tighter.

A gentle being teaches him to graze. He learns the green leaves are bitter, but the berries... he tries those again, and offers more to his new friend...

Snap.

The sound of wood cracking startles his friend. He scrambles, wanting to follow, though his eyes fall on another being. They are staring at him too. He gasps and huddles himself even smaller, hiding against a tree like a scared child. What he remembers about man... they hurt. He understands why his new friend ran.

— The son Viktor didn't ask for, but the Viktor the creation deserved :>

Viktor freezes in his movements. But… he isn’t the one who is startled. Not at all. His heart is beating wild – but his eyes soften only a moment later.

There is a man. At first glance Viktor had assumed it was a beast. Large and with dark thick fur. But no… just a very big man in torn clothes. Though he tried anything to appear small. Hidden.

Viktor can see those eyes though. Full of fear… and pain. So unsuiting to a man of his size and strength.

But wasn’t Jayce the same?

Though his partner had never been in such a sorry state, the contrasts mixed here remind him of Jayce.

“Oh…”, it was only a soft breath. Hanging in the air as hazy faint clouds. His golden eyes muster the other. There is more than just pain and fear… there is… something that does not fit into this cruel world. These eyes are like that of a child. Innocent. Not understanding…

A myriad of explanations offered themselves to Viktor. Was this man hurt? Had he lived through trauma? Had he been caught in a community that avoided the outside? Had he been part of a cult? Or was his mind just grown like this?

“Don’t be afraid… I am quite harmless.”, he offered, and set down the basket of berries he had been picking. It was half full. He could see a flash of recognition there. Oh, his face was scarred…

Viktor smiled. Slowly, even though it hurt him, he knelt down, sitting on the damp forest moss. To make himself smaller, too. Maybe others would have called if foolish. To take this risk with his bad leg and a stranger, who could also just be insane. But somehow... that did not feel right. And Viktor's senses towards those in need had been sharpened since he had barely been able to crawl at all.

“Are you alright?”, he asked carefully, before reaching for the basket and picking out some berries. Even if this man did not understand him… food was an universal language. And so Viktor offered the half dozen berries on his outstretched hand.

“Here. You look hungry.”

@madeofthreads

[versus-written]

"Don’t   make   me   regret   this." [ let's keep the :) going with lil viktor ]

Viktor wasn’t easily distraught. He had lived through too many horrors already at his young age. Quite a lot of them connected to Silco himself… but this one statement made him look up to the young man and there almost was a hint of tears in his eyes, which he quickly blinked away.

“It won’t be dangerous… I just want to look…”, he uttered. He could understand that Silco was extra careful and alert. The past weeks had been rough, cruel. Silco probably barely slept… and when he did, he had nightmares, as far as Viktor could judge.

Still, Viktor felt a pang of guilt and shame, when he heard Silco’s warning. He just wanted to go to the Innovater’s Competition to see what everyone else was coming up with. To maybe get inspiration. To maybe get a chance to one day see the Academy…

“I can go alone, if you don’t want to… you don't have to babysit me.”

@zaunitesnake

[versus-written]

Finally watched Frank.einstein.

Viktor would not like Victor's way of doing science.

And he would adopt the creature.

ART LIKE THIS IS TRUE