likethelight | IC Contact @ Deer Country

Allen, why am I hearing people say you, and I quote, 'rode a dragon like a bull rider?'

[ Oh my gOD. ]

it wasn't so much like a bull really

[ He left Viktor on "read" five minutes before finally responding with that. ]

[viktor is just absolutely putting his head in his hands because oh my god. he sort of knew it was true because Allen Walker but oh my god.]

I also heard you were fighting it along with this riding.

You are not injured, yes? Do you need anything before I ask dear gods Allen, why were you fighting and riding a dragon?

[ HE'S SORRY!!! He didn't want to worry you!! ]

i'm fine. [ Mostly. But, more seriously... ]

it was corrupted.

i had to. it was suffering, and a lot of people could have been killed.

[at least now he's seen allen in action, otherwise he'd really just be like oh my god allen what the absolute HELL. and god, he can't argue any of that. he can sigh though, like a lot.]

Fine, but come have dinner with me to prove that you actually are fine.

[tempting allen with food, low blow though he genuinely doesn't realize that yet. once he does he'll still use it anyway though...]

okay

[ Look at how easy that was! Just look at it! He wouldn't have recognized it as a low blow even if it was. ]

[allen gets a time sent to him, and arriving at the lab will be to a pretty good smell in the air. rio's batting happily at some crumbled paper, goes over immediately for pets, and viktor's putting a pot of what looks like a thick stew next to some bread on one of the empty tables. there are two bowls, spoons, etc. all a bit dented but perfectly useable.

he even went out to get the bread from the bakery so it's pretty fresh? honestly this is easily the best meal he's probably had since coming here, the wonders of cooking for someone else instead of scrounging for yourself.]

There you are, let me look at you. No missing limbs? [he will glance allen over, yes. a dragon, honestly... shounens will be the death of him and themselves.]

[ Uaaa, it smells so much better in here this time around. It's really starting to feel real --

Or like a home.

He's very happy to give Rio pets and ruffle her face the same he would a dog, and looks up with a smile as Viktor comes over. He's actually dressed very sharply, in an intricately sewn new uniform of sorts. Even if the edges around the lapels are already looking a little worn. Somehow not scorched though.

And then he looks sheepish. ]

What? Ehhh, no, no... nothing like that. [ Hahaha... rubbing the back of his neck. _{You don't need to fuss over him!!}

Just don't mind the entire lower half of his face is bound up in an awkward gauze bandage, an equally awkward space left for his mouth. It's fine. He's used to things like this. ]

Edited 2022-04-12 19:56 (UTC)

[the look viktor has right now. he knew it.] I knew it. You do not fight dragons without a scrape.

[he squints at the bandaging, well... at least it could be worse. with a shake of the head he gestures to the table. by the way rio is very happy with the attention, happily going back to batting the paper ball.] Well, sit and tell me of this dramatic dragon fight. Oh, that is what Miss Stone made for you, is it not?

[ Miss Stone-- there's a slightly confused flicker from Allen, before it clicks with a silent "oh". Sansa is keeping her name from most people, after all. ]

Ah-- yes! She did! [ He plucks at one of the lapels. Timcanpy leans forward slightly from where he had been nestled in with his hood, and before Rio bounds away, he wags his wings slightly at her with an intent sort of silent look. _Hello. ]

I asked her to make me a uniform like I used to have... what I remember of it, at least. [ In all honesty, with his jumbled memories, he accidentally spliced two different ones together in his head and this is the result. But he likes this.

He takes a seat, scooting the chair in as he does so and looking around as he offers Viktor a somewhat contrite smile. Please don't be too upset with him? ]

It smells really good, the food.

Edited 2022-04-12 20:57 (UTC)

[oh tim is much more interesting, and rio comes over to sniff up at the golem. thankfully not eating the poor thing like many a cat seem to do, poor timcanpy.

viktor takes a seat as well, resting his crutch against it and spooning a large serving into the bowl he hands allen. it's got quite a kick to it, and he gestures to go ahead and eat as he fills his own bowl a little less generously. he is not a teen boy who fights dragons and likely needs those nutrients.]

It looks good, I think I may go to her to get some gloves made for lab work. [he offers, glancing over and offering what he hopes is a reassuring smile. he was and is worried, yes, but he does respect allen makes his own decisions about risk and what he can handle.

he does worry that allen seems the type to never put himself first, but that's another matter.] Thank you, it was a popular recipe where I grew up. Easy to make, easy to substitute ingredients for what you can get your hands on- eh, a little spicy though.

[ And this is why Timcanpy likes Rio; she doesn't try to eat him. Also she's fun to ride around on, as evidenced by how he leaves Allen's shoulder to flutter down and set on top of her head, puffing up and sitting there contentedly.

But ooooh, Allen takes the bowl with gusto. And since Viktor okayed it, does take a hearty spoonful right away. Although it... takes a moment of awkward consideration and moving, given his bandages. ]

It reminds me a little of curries. It's good! [ Spicy! But he likes it; he spent a fair amount of time in Indian and enjoyed all the cuisine immensely. He can't eat it that quickly even if he does enjoy spicy food, but... Viktor may be onto something there. He can't just wolf it down as easily. But it is very quick spoonful after spoonful still....

But, speaking of gloves -- he raises up both of his hands to demonstrate for a moment. There's a short, well made black leather glove on his left hand, and a long and extremely form-fitting one on his right that disappears fully up into the coat somewhere. A bicep glove he can actually still have good dexterity in. ]

She's definitely really good at making gloves. She even got it to fit around my left hand. [ Even with the armor plating on it. And with this material it no longer tears when he invokes! Look! (Yes, he's wiggling his fingers.) ]

I'm sure she'd like the business and to be able to help, too. We were both out collecting more of those orbs. [ Which, oh, speaking of...!

He takes his duffle from beside him and sets it up on the table. There's a faint glasslike 'clink' from inside. ]

We collected quite a lot.

Edited 2022-04-14 13:54 (UTC)

It's similar. In truth most of the recipes I know are slapdash. They are meant to be easy to swap ingredients for what you do have on hand. [very useful in the trench! the powers of spice and slow cooking.

he nods along, making a note to message her on a few matters, when the duffle bag comes out. it makes him chuckle, gesturing to a table nearby with maybe half a dozen jars of the orbs in varying jar sizes and types.]

We've both been busy, though you more so it seems. They are fascinating, are they not? I have a very good feeling about way we could at the very least use them supplementally in purification.

[ There aren't words for the quiet way in which he's warmed by that; the way it makes him smile. So very truly and genuinely. It isn't like the hope he so often clings to, the one where he has it because he needs to have it despite the likely truth of things.

This is real hope. And gratitude. ]

Have you been having good luck then in your studies?

In some ways much more than I thought. Your friend, Todoroki is it? We've met and he's been very receptive to helping us in our goal. [viktor gestures with his spoon as he speaks, and his tone makes it clear he likes shouto already.] In fact most I've mentioned it to seem open to the idea rather than resistant, which is a very good sign.

I've also met a man named Palamedes who is helping me better understand both blood magic and blood gems, which I think could end up being useful in our effort.

[he offers allen a smile, clearly in a pretty good mood. lots of interesting opportunities! lots of data! things are moving smoothly and that is not something he would have expected. hope might very much be a thing.]

Oh! You met Todoroki? [ His enthusiasm is somewhat muffled around a very full mouthful. How does he manage to talk and eat at the same time so much? Practice. ] And others who want to help?

[ He sets his spoon back in the bowl, swallowing finally and smiling wide. ]

Aaa, that's good to hear. [ And he does seem ever so genuinely happy to hear that. Lighter and more carefree. ]

And someone familiar with blood magic and gems? [ Jury's still out on exactly how he feels about blood magic, but even Allen can't deny its use. Especially with making his uniform more functional and armorlike. ] Is he one of the blood ministers, then?

Yes, by chance too, at the market nearby. He was not haggling. [the grimace he has at that. he knows it was busybody of him but he's still glad he got to be there to rectify some of that.] I'm going to give him lessons on how to maintain his own equipment, so he needn't rely on the whims of this place.

[he looks a little amused by that, he didn't imagine he'd be teaching again but here he is. given how people can vanish without a goodbye he's glad he can offer a more concrete service of self sufficiency.

he stirs at his own meal with a tilt of the head.] Hm, not officially I think. He is a necromancer? Apparently there are quite a few of his world here. [it's a dramatic lore he's slowly learning. turns out necromancers are kind of a Lot when in a group.] He has an exceptional mind, I'm quite confident our research will bear fruit eventually.

[ No haggling?? Todoroki no. Though while Allen gets a somewhat haunted grimace at that, he also isn't surprised at the slightest. The other is such a straight forward and direct sort of person that he can't see him trying to strike any kind of bargain and just taking everyone at face value. Even merchants trying to upsell their wares.

It's not a bad thing, in fact quite the opposite. But oh... it hits him right in his tightwad little soul. Ouch. ]

A necromancer? [ That steals his attention entirely though. A touch alarmed, but... not entirely. His mentor was... somewhat one as well, one of the many hats Cross wore. But it didn't mean Allen was entirely comfortable with that either. ]

He's interested in trying to find ways to reverse corruption as well?

[he feels you, allen. especially when it came to buying tools viktor is finicky, to say the least.

he nods, ripping off a piece of bread as he says,] Fascinating, isn't it? His world seems to have a great deal of them. Or I suppose I should say worlds, they live on separate planets.

[which also fascinates him! space travel is definitely not something runeterra has.] We mostly spoke of a separate research topic, but several ideas from it I think can apply to ours project. [he dips into the bowl with the bread as he says,] I will ask him. He actually invited me to stay with him rather than sleep here, so I see him often.

[ He drops his spoon. ]

Planets?! [ That... that was possible?!?! He's seen a lot of crazy things be possible in the Trench but that...!! ]

-- ah... [ collect yourself Allen, this is the Trench. strange new things you never considered before is the norm ] That's good! [ still collecting himself and processing what Viktor actually said ] Finding a friend to live with.

I'm glad. [ you should take care of yourself more, after all. says the pot to the kettle ]

Isn't it incredible? They can travel in ships through space. [his nerd is showing. he leans in a little as he says it, grinning.] What I would give to get a good look at one myself. Ah well.

[poor allen, i guess to be fair komui made a giant robot once so it's not totally shocking tech can be wild.

he pauses a moment before his expression softens a little and he admits,] It is. I never had a roommate before, it has been a pleasant experience.

[ Komui's robots, among other things, are exactly why Allen is as leery of scientific experimenting and technology as he is.... Viktor, you're very lucky you come across as far more level-headed than most of his other scientist friends. Otherwise he'd be treating this whole place like it might blow up or try to inflict something awful on him at any moment.

Also it helps he didn't have his full memories when they met. Still, planetary travel is a new level—

Sort of. His gaze becomes a little distant for a moment actually, recalling that— and how maybe it isn't all that strange. Huh. ]

I've never really had a... proper one. [ It's a long story, and complicated. Does an assigned guard dog he became friends with count as a roommate? It's still a different sort of thing even if they slept in the same room... But the more important thing that both of those just reminded him of --

He looks back up at Viktor, meeting the other man's eyes in a way that's a little uncertain and more sobered. ] Viktor...

I got my memories back. All of them.

[oh, that has viktor sobering as well, putting his spoon down to give allen his full attention.]

That... must be a lot to process. Would you like to discuss it? [there's a touch of concern there, really more for just how much it is to process for somebody. a whole life, likely with a lot of painful moments, people he can now remember to miss.

a hesitant moment and he reaches over to put a hand on allen's arm, a squeeze before he pulls away, something he hopes is an assurance of some sort.]

[ The hand on his arm catches him a little offguard, his expression becoming a little slack with awe. Viktor doesn't usually make gestures like that, so to do that--

Allen blinks, but smiles then. Grateful, and shakes his head slightly. No, it's okay. You don't have to worry about him. ]

It's alright. I'm... glad. [ Even if it is a lot. Even if some of it really scares him, the uncertainty of parts of it. His left hand, his Innocence he's been relying on and believing in so much...

No. He can't think about that too much right now. ]

Even if it's a lot, it makes me feel better. Everything I felt about this place, the corruption and how people can become beasts... I'm even more certain of that now.

[ Because unfortunately... some things never change. ]

[viktor nods, brow still a little furrowed as he tries to imagine just processing so much information at once. even if it was all happy memories it would be a lot, and he points to the food like eat!

surely he needs his strength. between fighting dragons and remembering himself again.]

How did it happen? Was it one of the portals? [maybe one led back to his world and that triggered something?] I am glad if it brought you any peace though.

IC Contact @ Deer Country

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I misread, end me

i do this constantly, you are amongst friends

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sorry for delay! my portfolio deadline left me very little brainpower for tags

no worries!! never a rush bud <3

<3

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