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[levelshift]

un: Accelerator
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[levelshift]

[More reading material is always going to be welcome, even if the subject is going to be on medicine and surgery. Reading is Accelerator's only real hobby, so he doesn't mind.

Besides, his attention is more focused on Viktor's explanation for all the robotics. His humanity was a weakness? Normally that would be concerning to hear, though he's aware from the other Viktor that he has some kind of physiological issues. Even this version still seems to have something of a limp, though it's subtle.

There were kids back home who underwent surgeries to replace parts of their body with technology, and in the case of the Rensas everything except the hypothalamus, but they were children whose circumstances forced it. The only people he knows who willingly threw their humanity away were monsters, and in the case of the Magic Gods huge jerks. That's why he looks a little unsure.]

Most people wouldn't consider their humanity a weakness. I guess it can be, if you're only talking about it in physical terms.

[sweetmilk]

[ Viktor, unbothered, is currently texting a list of twelve books, having long since memorized all of the titles and authors. There are a few on medicine and surgical procedures, but the vast majority are advanced robotics and techmaturgy. He ends the long message with:

To start.

And then he focuses his attention back on Accelerator, the task having taken only a minute or two. He notices the uncertainty. That is a look he is more familiar with. ]

I am not most people. [ There are days he doesn't even consider himself a person. ] My physical body was weak, yes, but I corrected more than that.

[levelshift]

[He'll review the list later, and probably ask Aurora for some additional books since it's doubtful a modern New York public library would have everything.

Right now he keeps on eyeing Viktor.]

... What do you mean?

[sweetmilk]

I possess a number of inhibitors.

[ All of which are, to varying degrees, functional again, though the emotional dampening is... less effective than he would like. The pain inhibitor is working at it's intended capacity though, which is more than enough. ]

Let me ask you a question. [ Viktor doesn't wait for permission, however. ] You seem familiar with augmentation. What are your concerns?

[ He assumes there must be some, judging by Accelerator's line of questioning and the reactions to Viktor's answers. ]

[levelshift]

[Inhibitors? There was the pain inhibitor he mentioned, but otherwise that sounds so vague.

He sighs a little.]

I'm from a city whose main reason for existence is to research and develop psychic kids. A lot of shady experimentation goes on, including this 'augmentation' kind of shit you've done to yourself. Everyone I've met or read about who's gone through it, and in every single one of those cases it involved a kid being manipulated or forced into it for the benefit of some fucking researchers. It was never to help the kid.

[So he's a little wary.]

[sweetmilk]

My augmentations and the extent to which I have performed them, I have only done to myself. Augmentation as a practice in Zaun has only ever been done to those willing to pay.

[ Viktor might have become misguided in desire to embrace what he believes is humanity's next step in evolution, but following the disagreement that had led to his exile and subsequent descent into near madness, Viktor has held one simple goal: ]

I only help the willing, and only what they ask me for. I have not augmented a single thing other than lungs to breathe and legs to walk. My work is and always will be, to help those who need it, adult and child alike. And I do not ask for payment for it.

Believe what you will. That is all I will say on the matter.

[levelshift]

[This is one of those subjects that hits close to home in a bad way, though Accelerator recognizes not every universe is like Academy City. If Viktor is saying things are different for him, then he can at least him the benefit of the doubt for now.

............. And if Viktor ends up doing horrific science here in Etraya, well, Accelerator will just deal with it.]

... Fine. I'll still help you with the surgery, since you shouldn't be doing that kind of shit by yourself.

[sweetmilk]

[ Any horrific science Viktor might experiment with in Etraya will be wholly focused inward. While he still extols the merits of parts of his glorious evolution, his time in Pollux and then Auriel tempered the obsession that had clouded his vision in Runeterra. ]

I have for over ten years.

[ Trust, especially in this, is something Viktor doesn't offer readily, not after everything he's been through, to the point that he'd rather suffer alone than attempt to seek help. He had tried to, years ago, and it earned him nothing but pain. Never again. ]

And it is only a spine. I cannot make it worse than the one I was born with.

[levelshift]

[Accelerator scowls up at Viktor, unimpressed. His expression is kind of petulant, honestly, since he's going to push hard on this.]

There's a chance you could still end up killing yourself, right?

[Even if potential is near zero he doubts the procedure is completely safe.]

[sweetmilk]

There is always a chance, yes.

[ Viktor always runs the variables and even with all of them accounted for to the best of his ability, there persists the inherent danger of surgery. ]

It would take a great deal more effort to kill me than for most however.

[levelshift]

Doesn't matter.

[His response is very blunt.]

Dying around here is shitty. Echo will bring you back, but you lose something in the process. It isn't something to take lightly.

[sweetmilk]

I am aware.

[ Viktor is too careful to have put himself in a position to experience that cost firsthand, but he had been in Pollux long enough to have seen it happen. ]

There are a number of systems that will keep me alive should the worst happen. The odds of failure is low.

[ Never zero, but he's pushed those systems to their limits often enough to know where the line is. ]

[levelshift]

[Accelerator's stare is very firm, not beating around the bush.]

Have you died before?

[sweetmilk]

[ Viktor matches that stare. ]

That depends on what you consider death.

[levelshift]

[Well, he can certainly clarify.]

I don't mean some psychological concept bullshit like ego death. I mean your heart stops, meaningful brain function ceases, and under normal circumstances you wouldn't be able to come back from it. You'd just be gone forever.

[sweetmilk]

I know. I do not believe in the concept of a soul.

[ That was a pretty fantasy that he'd never really subscribed to, and certainly not one he finds comfort in now. ]

My core has stopped before. My heart, too, when I had one. But no, by that definition, I have not died. I do not intend to either.

[levelshift]

I have. [He doesn't offer any details about that, just that he's experienced death before.] And I can tell you that any offer that decreases the likelihood of dying is an offer worth taking.

[sweetmilk]

Hm.

[ Viktor won't offer condolences. Those won't turn back the hands of time and he's not the type to waste words if he doesn't see a use in it. ]

I can see the merit in the offer. What is it you expect in return for it?

[levelshift]

Nothing. [He shrugs.] You already sent me shit to read and helped me with the cane. There isn't a lot to do in between missions, so this is just something interesting for me to do.

[Plus, he likes Jayce's Viktor, and this one helped him out, so helping him and decreasing any chances of chances of death is enough for him.]

[sweetmilk]

I see.

[ Viktor is unused to a great many things, and generosity without ulterior motive is yet another. It has never been something he's trusted before, but he is willing, at least, to see where this goes. ]

When you have the specifications for the alloy, we can discuss the matter further. I will need the time to test it. You are welcome to be present for that as well, though it will be less, eh, exciting than the surgery itself.

[levelshift]

[He gives a slight nod.]

All that's fine. I'll let you know when I get all that shit from Aurora.

[sweetmilk]

I will resist the temptation to do something stupid in the meantime.

[ How effective that will be is still to be determined, but at the very least, he'll think twice about it and that counts for something. ]

[levelshift]

Hrm. [He doesn't look entirely convinced, he's heard that enough times to be wary.

Anyways, there was one more thing he wanted to do. He holds the cane Viktor made him in Auriel out for him to take.]

You can have this back, too.

[sweetmilk]

[ Viktor hums back, looking down at the cane. Taking a step forward, he takes it and holds it up into the light. ]

Hm, you can keep it if you would like. I have no use for it.

[ He should have no use of it, now that he has access to more stable compounds. ]

This alloy is nothing I can use. Gold is best used for magic and I do not work with it often.

[levelshift]

[Accelerator blinks, looking down at the cane. He doesn't need it either now that he has his crutch back, but it's well-made and a lot of effort clearly went into crafting it. He doesn't want to just throw it out.]

... You sure?