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[opposed]

@medarda

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[techmaturgy]

Well, yes. I'm allowed to be pessimistic. You're supposed to tell me that everything will be fine and I'll be home soon.

[opposed]

I don't know if you're aware but you have an entire other person where you are who is much better at comfort than I.

[ just saying ]

And you will be home soon and back with us. So you can go right back to your work and not rest at all.

[techmaturgy]

Correct. But you are a realist, and that's important, in situations like this.

[Behind his Syntrofos, that does get a laugh out of him.]

You're learning.

[opposed]

Ah, I see now. So as the realist, if I say it is so, it must be true. I had no idea I had such power. I will be certain to use it most wisely.

[ Ridiculous. She shouldn't be laughing. ]

[techmaturgy]

That's not what I said. You're likely the best of us at tempering expectations.

damb this got long sorry

[opposed]

I liked my version better.

[ It really just sounds like he wants a balance between his (understandable) pessimism and Jayce's unyielding hope. ]

You know as well as I do that Patho-Gen will do everything in their power to keep you alive. [ Because of the implications if they lose someone. ] We don't know what comes next. Because you and I both know that 'alive' and 'well' are two different things.

[ You wanted realism, Viktor. ]

I know you'll return to us. I don't believe that is a matter of hope. Whatever the outcome is, no matter what's happened, we will be with you to handle it. But that is cold comfort when we aren't the person who is actually enduring the result.

[ And for all that either of them can say they are here to shoulder the burden and the pain, that's not actually how it works, and she's well aware of that. ]

You are the arbiter of your own path, Viktor. But we are choosing to be a part of it, in the places where we can.

[techmaturgy]

I know.

[But then, of course, why bring him here in the first place, if they were going to expend extra resources to keep him alive? It's only fuel for his theory that they search for desirable occupations or skillsets, rather than individuals.

He doesn't expect this kind of reassurance from Mel, and it does occur to him that she likely feels some amount of guilt, for the political situation of their home and Viktor's place in it. All of that, though, doesn't seem to matter as long as they're here.]

I've never been very good at this. But, I'm grateful.

[opposed]

I'm not very good at it, either, I assure you.

[ Beneath the gold and gilded edges of her armor, she knows she has a heart, because she feels as easily as anyone else. But time has allowed her to build too many walls, keep too much distance, and Mel has fallen out of practice with things like friendship and the intimacy of support. In this, however, she doesn't want to have regrets. She has too many of those already. ]

I'll see you again when you return. I'll make sure you have better tea and coffee waiting for you in the lab this time.

[techmaturgy]

Do you take issue with the tea and coffee currently at the research station?

[opposed]

I take issue with the quality, which I will be rectifying. The coffee's flavor is weak and it's no wonder that all of you are having multiple cups to stave off exhaustion.

[techmaturgy]

If you insist.

[opposed]

There's not much else I can do at present. I don't have a mind like you or Jayce. So I'll do what's within my power until I can do more.

[ And if that means working on funds for their work, for amenities, and fuel to keep them going, then that's just going to be how it is. ]

And we'll work on getting better equipment.

[techmaturgy]

You undersell yourself. Ours is not the only kind of genius.

[opposed]

I'm being realistic. Politicians aren't needed here. There's more important work to be done.

[ Actually helping people, finding alternative food and energy sources. Helping them with the Katalyth problem. Being a source of hope. ]

[techmaturgy]

Politician is an occupation. The skills are what matter.

[opposed]

Are we really going to debate this now?

[ You are wandering off to Patho-Gen in 24 hours, sir. ]

And words are a waste on people who need action. The people here are struggling as it is. They don't need someone to tell them it'll be all right; they need us to do something about it.

[techmaturgy]

[yes.]

Words make things happen. Push people in the right direction, or provide an opportunity. Something I was never very good at.

[opposed]

[ Viktor, that's avoidance. ]

I have ideas. But I don't have the influence I had in Piltover, nor the money. And I am no more qualified than anyone else to push people in any direction considering what I've neglected back home.

[techmaturgy]

Something I learned during my time in Piltover is that one must never underestimate the value of not asking for permission.

[opposed]

I recall that tactic served you quite well previously.

[techmaturgy]

For a time, yes.

[opposed]

[ Mmhm. ]

I'll consider it. I'm trying to avoid repeating my previous mistakes.

[techmaturgy]

I think we all are.

[opposed]

[ The next reply takes longer to come through. ]

I know. We're all sitting with our regrets.

[ She can't even imagine what Viktor's are, but it's not her place to ask. She and Jayce have circled this drain before, naming some of the things they wished they could have done differently. Of course Viktor must carry some of his own. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Perhaps, one day, Viktor will be able to tell Mel all of his.]

It's why I want to help this place. I can't make things right for our home, but here...there is still a chance.