hextech-workaholic

[hextech-workaholic]

Why must they be freeze-dried? I am not sure how I feel about the…texture difference of that. Pickles are meant to be wet, I feel…

I have not lost track of Blitzcrank, though. It should be right where I left- hm…I will double check.

Jayce send help I just got ran over by something big and yellow and I think it was one of your Hextech creations because runes were all around it😕

Also I didn’t know Hextech could operate vehicles—especially not ones that big and…yellow. Send help please and thank you before I kidnap Viktor and force him to eat nothing but freeze dried pickles and fart sauce.

Big and yellow? @hextech-workaholic, you didn't lose track of Blitzcrank again, did you?

And hey—ease up on the threats. While V might not be wholly opposed to an all-pickle diet, I take issue with the kidnapping. And the, uh, other thing.

[hextech-workaholic]

There's such a gap between his emotions- the fondness he feels while Jayce talks about his mother's garden in Spring, versus the deep rooted pain in the distance he suddenly feels between them. Hearing Jayce talk about how meaningful things are - and second guessing…everything. He makes a noise - a soft mutter of acknowledgement - but what is there to say? Anything he could feels like an overstep, suddenly. He had made himself so…at-home, in Jayce's life but…he needs to pull back for Jayce's sake, does he not? Back behind some professional line that…he can barely remember. He isn't sure he's ever been on the right side of that line, when it comes to Jayce.

Not that Jayce makes it easy to put that distance between them when he's being…well…Jayce. Leaning against his desk like Viktor had not tried to brush him off. Viktor's eyes dart over to Jayce's side for a moment- and the very purposefully back at the math in front of him. Trying to tune out the emotions of it. The closeness when everything feels so fresh.

He can almost do it. Just withdraw himself into thinking strictly about HexTech as Jayce talks about getting the funding elsewhere. He furrows his brow as he listens to Jayce changing the plan- not necessarily against not having to go to some fancy event to appease Salo-

He nods along with the idea, about to agree just to be over with it and give himself some mercy of not having to attend some opera…

And then Jayce says he'll step down from Council. And he cannot stop the way his head whips up to look at Jayce- brow furrowed and shock clear on his face. Shaking his head as he listens.

"Jayce…Jayce I…I would not ask you to do that. You are doing…good things, Jayce. I…"

He takes a breath, sighing as he looks away to process before just responding.

"I…I do not need you to be here for me, Jayce. I am fine."

There's a weight to saying it. A heaviness that settles in his chest- but it's never been his goal to lean on Jayce, anyway. Or anyone, for that matter. It's better not to. Especially…now. With the decline of his health as it is.

"You will get our projects through, I believe in you. If anyone can- it is you. And my place is here, in the lab, where I can support you on that. This…setup between us has been working."

He swallows. There's something about this conversation that feels like swallowing down blood. Trying to put up barriers again after something that had felt so…world altering.

"We can try Shoola. But you do not need to…to step down from the Council. Not…Not for my sake, Jayce."

Jayce stands awkwardly beside Viktor’s desk, and clears his throat. His hands are clasped behind his back in a strangely formal, nervous stance.

“Hi, Viktor. Good afternoon. Sorry to interrupt you. I know you’re in the middle of something. I just wanted to confirm what your favorite kind of flowers are. It’s work-related.”

- @jayceofprogress

Viktor tensed, when Jayce came over. Purposely not looking up from his notes to just try and avoid the awkward air that formality between them brought. Though he couldn't help but glance over for a second when Jayce asks about flowers, of all things, confused until it hits him.

"Ah. For the, eh, event with Salo? I have never put much thought into it, you can get whatever you think is best. You are better at these kind of…caring about appearance things."

He pauses a moment, though, in clear thought, before speaking again.

"Though…what were those ones Ximena was planting last time I was over? The red ones? Perhaps…Salvia? I liked those. They were rather striking."

[hextech-workaholic]

How do you feel about beards? Specifically, Jayce with a beard and maybe like...messier hair?

I suppose they are…nice. I would not say I have any sort of strong feelings either way on them. On, Jayce, though? With…hm. I, eh…hm…

He does look…rather nice with stubble when he doesn't...immediately shave it off...hm... ... …what was the question, again? I, eh, pardon. The lab is rather warm from the forge, I, eh, may need to go open the window. And perhaps...refill my water.

[hextech-workaholic]

Hi Viktor. Do you ever feel like you have so much feelings for someone you don’t know what to do? I think that it is how jayce feels for you but doesn’t know how to tell it. If you imagine if he told you he is inlove with you what would you do? Will you stay mad at him or forgive him. I think he will do anything for you please give him a other chance

I do not know why you all seem so…involved in my love life, but I assure you I am not mad at Jayce. There is nothing to forgive him for. But there is also no point in imagining such a scenario.

Look- we had a messy night. Things were said. We've talked it over, and it was…a mistake. That is fine. Thank you for your concern, but things are fine between us. I am still focused on HexTech, that will not change.

[hextech-workaholic]

If domitri asked you out what would you say? If you and jayce aren’t going to be together maybe you can give him a chance.

I suppose the same thing I answered with when he asked when I was still an assistant- that I feel no chemistry there, and I always feel he has ulterior motives when asking, rather than genuine interest. Perhaps with an addition that I did stress that I will not be leaving HexTech for any other projects, regardless of what he may be offering for me to.

Besides, I am not looking to date in the first place. There is too much to do here in the lab, and I…do not need to split my time. It is better to keep myself busy.

[hextech-workaholic]

What's your go-to fancy coffee order? Do you even drink coffee? Is there coffee in Zaun?

I do, yes. And there is coffee in Zaun- we certainly need the energy, after all. Though it is more common for it to be had straight in Zaun, than it is here. Black- I think that is what it is referred to? It is also the way I drink it in the lab.

Though I do admittedly have a soft spot for "fancy coffee" when I have the time to stop for it. My, eh, current order is a honey lavender latte from the cafe near our lab. They add some sort of spice blend to it with the lavender that I really enjoy.

[hextech-workaholic]

Saw you and Dmitri at a café recently.

Ah, yes. Perhaps do not tell Jayce, yes? I know they do not exactly…get along. He had reached out for help with one of his projects, though, and it is in my field of expertise, so we did meet up so I could go over the issues with him. I do still like to help out where I can, outside of HexTech.

[hextech-workaholic]

There’s a small envelope left in the lab mailbox, inside there is a medical vile, filled with blood.

And a note

Hello, I find your work quite admirable, here is a fresh donation for studies, please use it instead of your own blood.

Viktor leans back in his seat as he opens the letter, reading it as he eyes the vial. His eyes dart between it, and his notes, thinking, brow furrowed.

He tucks the paper into his notes when he catches movement behind him, tucking the vial into his pocket for the time being. Getting back to work.

[hextech-workaholic]

I feel as though you would crumple easily, like paper

I would like to think I am not so easy to "crumple", though perhaps in my current state you are not so far off. I am not exactly strong like Jayce- but I am capable of defending myself, if ever needed, which I suppose is part of that implication, yes? My cane is fairly solid - not something one longs to be hit with.

[hextech-workaholic]

Are you aware that you're the most beautiful person ever?

I am waiting for the punchline. You have clearly not seen me eh, recently. But, thank you. The compliment is eh... appreciated.

[hextech-workaholic]

You were a really cute kid, you were like some kind of strange underground bug (adorable) (I would have put you in a cup and taken you outside nicely)

This is a nice sentiment, thank you. If more people had such a sentiment of me as a child I wonder how different my life would have been.

I suppose things have turned out well enough for me in the end, regardless.

[hextech-workaholic]

We would make beautiful children together.

This is, eh, rather bold, is it not? Anyway- regardless, I have no intention to have children, nor would I be capable of doing so. Imagining myself as a parent is...I would be horrible at it.

[hextech-workaholic]

Being around Rio eases Viktor's nerves, a bit. He could almost forget about the stranger, until she was offering him an alternative place to stay, if he needed it. Which is…nice. Having options would be good, right? But he's…skeptical. He stays quiet watching them leave, just petting Rio as she curls around him as he watches the door close.

"I am glad you are back, Rio. You should wait for me next time, though."

He pets her head, before making his way back over to his desk to settle back in to study, dumping a bucket of the purple flowers the Doctor had him feed Rio onto the floor for her to eat while he finished what he was working on.

No it’s ok Do More Alcohool. Its good for you🙂🙂🥰🥰😍😍😍😍😍😍

Aren't you the... from the Doctor's... cave-lab-thing? How'd you get out, hm?

She leans down and pets the waverider's head.

I don't know about good for me, but you know how it goes. What would you know about alcohol, hm?

[hextech-workaholic]

ignore this if you want, but do you have your period? how do you deal with it?

It is a fair question. I do, yes, though infrequently. My health has never quite, eh, allowed it consistency. When it does hit, though, I tend to be forced to take, eh, easier. Last time I ended up doing much of my work in the forge, trying to stay out of Jayce's way, because the heat helped. Most of the time I find myself just seeking warmth and sweetmilk to power through what needs to be done. Though I will admit, occasionally they take more out of me than that. I can recall a few times over the last few years where I had no choice but to stay in bed until it was over. Luckily that is less common for me, and luckily Jayce is understanding when it has been that bad.

[hextech-workaholic]

What is the funniest prank you ever played on Jayce? Are there any you can’t believe he fell for

I do not quite know the funniest, per day, but my favourite is just telling him things about Zaun that are not true, and having him believe me simply because I am from Zaun. I recently told him that it was a tradition to eat an entire jar of pickled fish for your birthday as a Zaunite, and suggested that he should join in the tradition with me this year for his.

...I look forward to seeing if he has figured out I was lying, by then. Though I would at least tell him before he's eaten the entire jar- I do not want him to actually make himself ill.

[hextech-workaholic]

"Scarlet sage…it is not, eh, fancy?"

For a mere moment, a thought crosses that maybe this is why it wouldn't work between them. That Jayce was actually pretty good at this whole looking fancy and blending in with people like Salo thing. But…it's easily dismissed. There doesn't need to be a why, does there? And besides…if Jayce does not want him- it would not be for some shallow reason like that. He'd like to believe that, at least. He's seen the man drop and sandwich onto the lab floor and put it back together to eat like it didn't matter- it better not be for a shallow reason like that.

"I will leave it up to you, then. I am no good with this type of thing, Jayce. Perhaps ask Sky- she knows much about plants."

He brushes it off. Marks his paper as Jayce talks about suits. For a moment he's surprised at Jayce offering to help- it had become such a routine for these kind of things for Jayce to just…assist. To help with balance. Like it was nothing more than a brace fitting - something that he now realizes would feel far too intimate now that Jayce knows how he feels-

It suddenly feels…warm. He clears his throat. Tries to push down the pain in his chest at the thought that all of that comfortableness between them was gone- Jayce likely didn't want to be so close to him like that again.

"No, no, that is…fine, Jayce. I should be able to manage on my own, thank you. Just, eh, leave it there and I will…try it on in a moment."

Jayce stands awkwardly beside Viktor’s desk, and clears his throat. His hands are clasped behind his back in a strangely formal, nervous stance.

“Hi, Viktor. Good afternoon. Sorry to interrupt you. I know you’re in the middle of something. I just wanted to confirm what your favorite kind of flowers are. It’s work-related.”

- @jayceofprogress

Viktor tensed, when Jayce came over. Purposely not looking up from his notes to just try and avoid the awkward air that formality between them brought. Though he couldn't help but glance over for a second when Jayce asks about flowers, of all things, confused until it hits him.

"Ah. For the, eh, event with Salo? I have never put much thought into it, you can get whatever you think is best. You are better at these kind of…caring about appearance things."

He pauses a moment, though, in clear thought, before speaking again.

"Though…what were those ones Ximena was planting last time I was over? The red ones? Perhaps…Salvia? I liked those. They were rather striking."

[hextech-workaholic]

"I know. Thank you again. It is just…impossible to keep Rio out of trouble. She is much bigger than me…when she wants out she goes."

Viktor stays put, as the stranger steps further into the lab. Stays out of the way. He isn't bad with strangers, per-say, but…he still gets a bit anxious around them, until he's got a feel for the situation. But since Rio doesn't seem nervous, he at least doesn't mind talking. Though he shifts on his feet and avoids eye contact as he shakes his head.

"No, no…I mean…I…stay, sometimes, with Dr. Reveck, but I am not his child, no. He just lets me help with Rio and I come to study and, eh, eat sometimes. He said since I do not have anywhere else to be…"

He trails off. That is a bit more than he's willing to say to a stranger, but…he smiles.

"Anyway. I am just watching the lab for him, right now. Since…he was going to go find Rio."

No it’s ok Do More Alcohool. Its good for you🙂🙂🥰🥰😍😍😍😍😍😍

Aren't you the... from the Doctor's... cave-lab-thing? How'd you get out, hm?

She leans down and pets the waverider's head.

I don't know about good for me, but you know how it goes. What would you know about alcohol, hm?