dear_mun | Shakin' the dust off a Force Ghost before a TTRPG requires it...

[She's not used to indecision. But seeing him, here - coming from when she does? It definitely provokes it. She doesn't trust him, not at all. He's not Ahsoka, after all. And, as far as she knows, he's dead - a victim of the Jedi Purge. What does he know? How has it changed him?]

[If only she knew the truth, which is far worse than that. Because oh, there are fates far worse than death.]

It won't. But that might not be a bad thing.

[Fates far, far worse indeed--but also fates far better. The man in front of her knows both sides, and everything in between, better than perhaps anyone ever could.

Even if he hadn't warmed a little to the Mandalorians since Ahsoka took in his grand-padawan, this one is--for all intents and purposes--as close to a sister-in-law as Obi-wan has, and one who can't stand him. This automatically makes Bo-Katan a delight in his books (now that her shenanigans are not his problem to solve).]

A very good thing, truth be told. The alternative was merely revisiting encounters of mine from the past and I was--

[shadow flickers over his face and fire in his eyes, almost too quickly to see]

A very different man in those days. They aren't interactions that would prepare one well for more casual conversation.

[Oh, the idea of getting to do things over again, do them differently...]

Still, a tempting prospect.

[~~also viktor if he was ever in star wars verse: I'm no jedi and i'm no sith, those are as far as visible just some names for one and same thing (i wouldn't agree with vik there, oh well XD~~ ]

Rust?

Edited 2025-03-18 11:15 (UTC)

A great deal of it. It's been a long time since I got any exercise, so some of the machinery is doubtless in need of maintenance.

[There is almost a whisper of an echo on the wind.]

Metaphorically speaking.

I see.

[Frown]

[Warily, almost quietly] Have you ever, hmmm, touched the Arcane?

[Ah] You don't have to answer if you... don't wish to.

Edited 2025-03-18 14:46 (UTC)

I've not heard the word used as a proper noun before. Care to explain what it is?

You might've heard of magic or of the Hextech, instead? Of mages? Of arcane forces?

Nevermind. Let's say you haven't touched the Arcane and my senses are frayed, simply. I could prefer that. Too much time in the Arcane is not a normal thing.

[Viktor leans slightly, if a bit heavily then a moment ago, on his cane.]

Magic, certainly. A number of willfully ignorant people have referred to me as a wizard or something similar before.

[For minions of an empire run by a Sith, Imperial officers could be terminally bullheaded about the Force. (Usually he was the source of that termination.)

Anakin watches Viktor thoughtfully.]

You could prefer that, you say. Simply because it's easier, or because the actual question and answer are unimportant?

Hmm.

Simpler, perhaps. However, ah, I'm a scientist. I can't abide own wilful ignorance, even on... worse days.

But I won't force you to talk.

I could show you 'arcane' but- you probably already have seen it. So, no, no point to that.

[Eh. Well. Good?]

Edited 2025-03-18 15:18 (UTC)

I assure you, child, that it would be impossible of you to compel me to talk.

[Anakin examines Viktor through the Force with a little more more active attention. When meeting people, he keeps the majority of his own presence firmly wrapped under a mask of normality, both because it makes talking to people easier and because who Anakin Skywalker is, in the Force, is overwhelming and easy to misunderstand.

But some sense of who Viktor is will tell Anakin what the young man can handle.]

For the sake of conversation, let's say I am curious to see how you would show someone the Arcane.

[Anakin might, for a moment, think that there's something like a Force ghost deep inside Viktor, attached - it might even sound female - but no, it's not a true force ghost. If anything, it's a power that might pretend, in part, to be one, something MUCH STRONGER AND MORE ANCIENT AND PRIMAL...]

[Unconnected to any magic, Anakin might notice that Viktor - who, being over thirty years old, would not take kindly to being called 'a boy' - is dying of terminal disease. No magic, just a mundane thing. Completely mundane, and since childhood, Viktor has never been completely healthy. The Arcane has nothing to do with that. For example, Viktor's lungs - might give up working, completely, any day (or month or week) now]

[Nvm though, seeing as--] Well, [Viktor says] my partner once told me how he was saved by a strange mage. I'll likely never meet him, but I have a feeling that our abilities could be similar.
There are various runes. Which should I show you? Inspiration? Acceleration? Perhaps--- ehh, sorry, maybe in a minute, first I need to---just a moment---

[And suddenly, Viktor has a short coughing fit. And then, as if he simply sneezed or yawned, he continues talking] Or perhaps domination? Or Precision? Should I continue guessing? I don't know which rune, ugh, you prefer. If any. Ehhh. But... did I answer your question?

Edited 2025-03-18 15:47 (UTC)

[Anakin has been experiencing the world for over seventy years, and grew up a slave and, to a degree, a child soldier. Viktor is a boy.

Aaaah, there it is. Anakin can't help it: he's fascinated by this thing that is not of yet is inside Viktor. That it is raw power is palpable; that it is not like the Force in not being inextricably both source and growth from life itself as the Force is? Equally palpable.

Sidious would have given a great deal to acquire this power.

Out of curiosity, he reaches out past Viktor with the Force to touch this presence directly, if lightly. Does it have awareness? Does it have purpose? Is it, for all intents and purposes, merely the output of an energy reactor?

Out loud, however, his voice is still light and curious.] Quite thoroughly, though now I have many more. How about an explanation of what those runes would do? No need to exert yourself in a demonstration.

[when Anakin reaches out- if it's Force, that power, it's different kind of Force, anyway, it is, as Viktor said, the Arcane- and it is as if it's tethered to something that is outside Viktor - if Anakin asks Viktor, he'd be slightly surprised but he'd explain that yes, it is outside, it's in the laboratory and the thing's name is HexCore, but--

if Anakin reaches with the force, Anakin will suddenly, somewhere deep inside Anakin's mind - and no, it's not Viktor doing that, it's the Hexcore - Anakin will hear, somewhere deep inside Anakin's mind, a voice, either Padme's, or Shmi's, or Obi-Wan's or Luke's or maybe even Qui-Gon's, whichever feels more pertinent at the moment, the voice saying: Careful, please,dear...Anakin... Viktor is fragile. Don't touch- and don't tell him we're speaking - I'm not letting him hear, right now, because Viktor is tired and blames himself- but that's a secret- shsh-]

[Unaware of the 'conversation' - see above - Viktor straightens himself and says] Explanation, huh? Fine. Jayce - I mean, my partner, Jayce Talis- would do better with that, most likely - he's in love with Magic, unlike me nowadays - or he's just in love with some powerful mage who saved him many years ago - but Jayce is busy with Councilor work right now. So, I suppose you'll have to do with me, Anakin.

[Viktor blinks] Huh, I'm so dazed, I don't even remember when you've introduced yourself. My apologies. No matter. Let's start on that explanation.

The Arcane is something that some people are, well, connected to. They are born with that talent. However, I'm not - not one of those people. Not a Mage, sorry if that disppoints you, Mr. Anakin. However, I know some things, so, even though the Arcane connection is not in the nature of my body, if you'd still listen, I'll gladly share.

[now, where to begin- Viktor will organise his own thoughts while waiting to see if mr Anakin decides to just walk away, unisterested after learning that Viktor's no mage]

[Truthfully, this thing--the Arcane--sounds like none of them, because these days Anakin is intimately acquainted with being power in its purest, most essential form.

Anakin holds up a hand. It's a gesture filled with unconscious, habitual expectation of being Obeyed.] A moment, if you would.

[When his entire existence is consciousness and power, and no longer bound to the delights and admittedly many, many tiresome consequences of corporeality, separating out layers of the conversation is simply a moment of concentration. That moment of concentration, however, also shuts off some of Anakin's own presence in the Force to Viktor's personal senses. As long as this thing wants it shielded from Viktor, then Viktor will get the more muted version of Anakin's presence. No need to damage the boy unnecessarily, now that he's made contact with the other thing. By all means, if you wish.]

There. Now then, young man [yes Anakin has a baby face and looks in his forties at most], feel free to continue. You have my attention.

Edited 2025-03-18 21:55 (UTC)

[In this life, Viktor can hear the hexcore only when the core allows it. In the 'next' one - soon - the scientist - the not-quite-mage (but actually the mage sort of in the future) - can hear it much more often, but, well, the Hexcore allows that, so maybe that's why]

[there's something that might be concern about Anakin's presence from the Hexcore - or perhaps 'concern' is not the right word - a memory, and is it Viktor's or the Hexcore's, might flash suddenly through Anakin's mind - a memory of Hexcore's from slightly before there was a thing called (by Viktor) the Hexcore - anyway, that memory might flash through Anakin's mind

HexGates (Viktor can explain what Hexgates are, Anakin might get the impression)
Viktor and Jayce (Partner, Best Friend, Jayce Talis) checking on something at the HexGates
blood, Viktor's blood, falling down, during the cough, falling down where it mattered, down where the mechanism of a Hexgate was-
Jayce's voice - Viktor, are you alright?
Viktor's voice - headache. I need to go back to the lab

and a tentative connection of not-yet-HexCore very suddenly to the owner of the blood viktorviktorviktorviktor, not more conscious than a dog's or cat's connection to somebody who accidentally fed it would be, maybe. or something else. The HexTech is not a person, it does not see the way a person was
however, it connected from afar to viktorviktorviktor and then gave Viktor a vision, not even a minute later, a vision due to which Viktor then created the HexCore, as he called it when enthusiastically showing it to Jayce Talis soon after
viktorviktorviktorviktor- The HexCore was not a person, but it was now connected to Viktor, for real now, after, soon after that, even more of Viktor's blood, after yet another coughing fit, one that ended with viktorviktorviktor unconscious while not to far ago his partner was having a close carnal connection with a councillor Mel Medarda, a connection that the HexCore could also feel through not too far away a space, ah, so persons connect by touching, good to know- so now, surely the hexcore was connected to its Viktor slightly in such a way- though the Hexcore did not understand it the way a person would, but differently - and so then Jayce Talis had something of a premonition that something could be wrong with the partner and so when Viktor woke up in the hospital, Jayce Talis, having left a luxurious bed a few hours ago, was at Viktor's bedside, and that brought some comfort

the hexcore was not a person, but it was almost as if it was alive, in some sense - it could, through glancing at connection, understand comforts - in a perhaps limited way - though it could not understand higher brain processes, perhaps]

[Anakin Skywalker was not Viktor's comfort, so perhaps Anakin Skywalker should just disappear. But that remained to be seen.]

There can be, [Viktor says, unaware for now of the 'conversation' between the 'HexTech' (and don't blame Viktor for the name, Jayce Talis is the man who named the whole thing that instead of 'magic' because 'magic' is banned in Piltover and also 'magic' feels like something that belong to the great real 'mages', in Jayce's amazed eyes, so, yeah...) and Anakin] various runic patterns. People often think that the mages conduct magic through the runes, and that's true, in a way, but--- the magic - the Arcane - actually speaks through the Mages. That's why a Mage is not bound to a single function. The Arcane speaks through them, learns through them - learns, evolves. Mr Skywalker, do you know what evolution is? Before I explain further.

Hmm, I probably am boring you with this topic-

[unsaid: seeing as you're no Jayce Talis nor Sky Young nor even professor Cecil Heimerdinger]

so tell me if it's, ehhh, a bit much.

Anyway, the basic Runes are-- ahh, right, first, I've almost forgotten. Do you know what 'evolution' is? If not, I should first explain. For, ehh, the basics.

[Still, even though Skywalker is not Viktor, there is SO MUCH, well, not Arcane but Force in Skywalker that, tentatively, shyly, from afar the Hexcore might innocently poke Anakin slightly, not anything aggressive-

It might sound like Padme Amidala's voice, if Anakin did not know it better, saying,
Anakin, I was waiting for you-]

[But then, Viktor apparently hears and startles]
[And looks around as if expecting to see a woman behind Anakin]
[Half to himself, almost inaudibly, Viktor suddenly mutters] ...a wife? But, we haven't been introduced, so, why...?

[Startled, Viktor drops the sudden subject of 'anakin's wife']
[He is staring. A little]

Mhm... apologies. I'm simply tired. For all I know, you might even be single, Mr Skywalker. It's been, ehhh, a long day. Sorry. Who's... Padmè...? Ahh, never you mind. Not my business.

Edited 2025-03-18 23:09 (UTC)

Viktor.

[The tone is firm and steady.]

Has anyone ever taught you about meditation?

[Does it seem like a non-sequitur?]

[Blink.
Blink.
Hrmhrmh ehhh??!!]

...I think you misunderstood something, Master Skywalker, I am no Mage, I'm a scientist, perhaps not the city's, uh, official man of progress

[That's Jayce]

..but a scientist, I need no fairytales and there is NO miracle cure to my ailments, so thank you for
[almost scathing] your offer of charity, master Skywalker, but-

[Oh!] Mister. Mr Skywalker. I don't know, er, what---
[Suddenly cautiously] why? Do I need to - meditate? What benefit would that bring to my people? Somehow, I doubt there would be any.

[Viktor, no surname as he's from the undercity, still wary, but now with a bit of a lighter, half-mocking, half questioning]

And - I believe you interrupted the important topic. Why should I forgive such waste of time?

[Leans more on his brace and on his cane now.
He truly looks tired. Even a stranger can't not notice that right now. Unfortunately. But he holds himself as upright as he can. There's strong pride and dignity there, not giving up even if his body is less and less functional in months. Viktor holds himself like a gravely injured dignified king or prince, at times - not showing any exhaustion if he can help it.
Which is just being human. And stubborn. Or petty. Or determined. Choose whichever.]
[Scoffs] Meditation. D' you confuse me for a monk?

Did I make an offer of charity or a miracle cure? Did I express any interest in your people? Did I tender advice?

[Anakin takes a moment in his own mind to concede to himself that there is no visible indication to this boy that he might be familiar with what it means to have a failing body and live for far too many years despite it.]

You have thoroughly engaged my curiosity about these runes of yours, I assure you. As it stands, you have shown less ability to actually focus on an informative conversation about them than a free-range nerf.

So, Viktor.

[Throughout, Anakin has maintained his firmly even tone.]

Would you like to share your academic discoveries with someone who wants to hear about them?

[Viktor coughs, slightly (there's blood) into his own hand, as surreptoitiously as one can (so, not very, but he won't make a spectacle of himself...)
Then turns to face Anakin again]

I've been, uh, unfair. To you. Perhaps. If you see it that way. For no reason at all. And so, I'm obliged to listen more carefully.

Perhaps I misunderstood - what is your definition of meditation, Mr Skywalker?

[Ah..?] Excuse the odd question, but, that is your name, yes? I've been slightly rude. On an account of - busy day... today. No matter. So, is it?

[or am I going insane, unsaid]

Shakin' the dust off a Force Ghost before a TTRPG requires it...

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an Ani, yay!!! IDK if youknow arcane, here's Arcane from Vik's PoV: I and my partner messed up a bit

Haha, lack of attention span has prevented me from getting to Arcane so I am going in blind!

I'd rec it, it's fun and only 18 episodes XD

Re: I'd rec it, it's fun and only 18 episodes XD

Re: I'd rec it, it's fun and only 18 episodes XD

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see, Ani, you're not Viktor's comfort blanket, shoo, shoo...pffftt.... XD

2/2

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