cultmirror | 002 ⚙️ omens in your skies

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arcane: viktor

002 ⚙️ omens in your skies

[ Viktor is, uncharacteristically, putting effort into presenting himself to the full range of audience possible through the Murmur. He's sat in front of a mirror and watching himself through one glowing golden eye that shines through the veil that obscures much of his face. The rest of his body is also easily seen, purposefully so, spindly limbs too long for the chair he sits in so his knees bend near his chest and visible skin darkened at the extremities. He hopefully looks a little more approachable in the oversized sweater and baggy slacks he's wearing, at least. When he speaks, there's no obvious movement of a mouth, but in his mind he makes his accented voice more human, less metallic. He's putting a lot of effort into being approachable without masking what he is. ]

Hello, fellow dreamers. For those of you I haven't met yet, my name is Viktor. In my past life, I was a researcher, among other things. It is a career path that has been surprisingly useful since arriving here.

Previously, a census went out courtesy of Miss Lortel about the nature of everyone's magical abilities and transformations. It sparked my interest in where these powers come from, and where any innate ones have gone.

I'd appreciate hearing any personal experiences regarding the following:

First, if you were born with any superhuman abilities.
Second, if you might have gained any superhuman abilities through other means, but still in your native world.
Third, if you have retained any of those abilities since arriving here.
Fourth, if your new-found abilities bear any similarity to those you previously had or still have.

If you didn't have any superhuman abilities before being brought here, I'd still be interested in learning about your world, whether or not such abilities exist at all. I would like to get an estimate of how many of us did or didn't have any powers before any were bestowed upon us.

[ Bowing his head, the connection begins to dim, but not before he thinks to himself: ] How many times can one man say the word "abilities" in a minute?

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[Toki's not exactly having the best time but he's still going to make an effort to answer because this stuff sounds important maybe.]

Well... when I'm together with my brothers, we can do stuff sometimes? Like... float... and have glowy eyes... and make a whale eat a guy.

[Unfortunately they didn't have a lot of time to really explore stuff.]

And... oh! That's brothers who were brothers later because we're in a band, not brothers who were already brothers first, so I don't think it's a parents... thing.

[Might be important.]

I don't know if I can do any of that here, 'cause nobody's here and I think we all have to be together for it. And... I guess flying is kind of like floating but with more wings. Don't know about any whales though.

[ Viktor is taking notes, but there's a pause in the audible scribble of his pencil when Toki mentions "making a whale eat a guy." He had been under the impression that the man was in a musical band, but perhaps he meant a band of warriors as well. ]

Whatever the source, it sounds like you share a remarkable connection with your brothers.

[ Not for the first time, Viktor counts himself luckily (and guiltily so) for having his one friend here with him. ] By that implication, I take it that you're able to fly here with wings gained via transformation?

[As far as Toki knows, that's just something that happens when you're in a band and also there's this prophecy and guys who want you to do things and whale gods and all that other stuff. It's all very complicated.]

Oh, yeah, I got these really big wings, and I can fly around with them. I like them. When were were doing the floaty stuff, we didn't really go very far... just kind of up. And then down.

[Way more like an elevator than anything cool like being able to fly from place to place.]

I don't think there's much else like what we did there, that I have now.

Well!! Let me tell you about the most amazing serum that's ever been created, called "Shimmer," that came from my world of Runeterra. But specifically from a city of iron and glass, or "Zaun".

[ obviously, she is just dicking around with him. ]

Fascinating. Where I come from, a mad doctor invented something similar that drove people crazy. Did you partake?

What gave you that idea? My complexion and my eye color are all natural.

[ obviously not. if it weren't for this place, who knows how long her lifespan is. ]

Yes, and I supposed you were born with supernatural speed and blue hair as well.

Ugh, what is with everyone assuming I dyed my hair? I came out of my mom's woo-ha like this, alright?!

Just ask my dads and Sharon, they'll tell you.

Edited (Last time I promised lol) 2026-02-22 01:03 (UTC)

Well, color me surprised. I apologize for striking a nerve.

Yeah, well, how would you feel if you're constantly getting mistaken by a tin trash can? You'd hate that, right? People chucking garbage at your head.

[Well. There's a lot of personal information linked to the details of this, which she is not willing to risk placing too near to the Murmur. So when her voice comes through, it's a little distorted, one degree removed from reality. It's more like a recording of something pre-written than direct speech, or the recollection of a voice that one hasn't heard in a while.]

1. yes, but i come from a world where humans are just one of many sapient species (which often reproduce together) so "superhuman" is a mostly meaningless distinction
2. yes
3. no in Manhattan, yes in the shared dreams
4. yes, they are similar to some of the abilities i gained from an outside source in my own world. i utilized magic more like a Token in my own world, though; the physicality of being an Offering is quite different.

I appreciate your answers as well as the formatting. It makes notetaking quite simple.

[ There may be a hint of humor to his tone, but he is being genuine which hopefully comes across in the connection. ]

One. Forgive my inaccurate vocabulary, I meant "human" as a simple placeholder for sentient society.

Two. Is it common for people in your world to gain abilities later in life?

Three. Fascinating, and very helpful. Does it feel like you have those abilities because of your perception of self includes them, or because you dream of yourself as a memory?

Four. So one might posit that your abilities could be physically manifesting, thus changing some aspects?

[ God, that is so fucking weird to hear. ]

Abilities like any of this wasn't normal. [ A pause as that sounds a little disparaging. ] It wasn't what anyone had. That sort of stuff was for movies or comic books. That sort of thing. Not for real life.

[ 'Course -- ] -- only supernatural thing in my world was some fucked up town. But that was an entire place. It didn't give me or anyone supernatural abilities, I don't think, it just was a messed up place.

Think like ... here. Only without any powers.

[ If Viktor is being honest, he was waiting for someone to come forward who wasn't formerly a psychic or wizard or angel, so it's comforting to have found someone. ]

Pure fantasy, then. Was this true for just your culture, or all known civilizations on your planet?

[ That's definitely a surprise. ] A supernatural town, but no supernatural people... Would you mind giving an example, if it's not too much to ask?

As far as I know, it was just pure fantasy for everyone.

[ He makes a soft "I dunno" noise, though, since he can't say that he's a man of the world. ]

An example? Like what?

What about the town was supernatural if not its people? I understand the similarities drawn to this world, but it's interesting to consider a "messed up" location as being supernatural in nature.

The whole area -- [ Murphy is making big hand gestures that can't be seen but possibly felt through the Murmur. ] -- you had to play by its rules.

Look, you could be in a building. Like any of those in this place. But you had to go through the door. You couldn't break a window. Even throwing a chair at the glass wouldn't do anything but cause it to fly back and shatter on the ground.

Blood would come pouring out of paintings. [ That was weird. ] Victims, I guess, of what happened - and they wanted a specific painting burned. It was all like that... a whole town like that kind of bullshit.

INLAND EMPIRE - (He's beautiful.)

Last time they talked Harry was capable of keeping his emotions to himself for the most part. Now, his words are messy with his feelings and distant impressions, a gnawing pain, and the constant swirl of his thoughts. Blues, purples, reds, and yellows, a swarm of vibrant patterns that fights itself.

“…Hi Viktor. I’d like to talk about Elysium. I might end up outliving it here and it really fucks me up to think about being the last…Elysian?”

Harry’s voice hitches in slight uncertainty.

“I could see the future. Read minds. Stuff like that. I think for my whole life but my memory…you know. Unfortunately being supra-naturally gifted is a lot like being crazy. You hear voices. Magic isn’t really a thing where I’m from, hearing the world spirit is only supposed to be for Innocences.”

“I can’t talk to this world's spirit, maybe it’s dead, maybe I can only talk to Revachol.”

[ Viktor flinches away from the connection that brings with it more than expected. sparking memories of kaleidoscopic explosions and swirling nebulae. He hasn't seen nor heard from Harry in some time, so he does his best to recover quickly as to not give the wrong impression; he's happy to see that the man is still alive and relatively well. ]

Hello, Harry, and thank you.

[ It's obvious how the unknown fate of this Elysium affects him, both through the shared emotions and the tone of his voice. Viktor knows he's in a minority of people who don't feel homesickness despite the perils of this world, but that doesn't mean he can't empathize with someone who was so clearly connected to his home. ]

Being special can be such a burden. It's odd that people can yearn for magic and yet shun it when others touch something bigger than themselves.

Lortel and I have also been curious about some of this. We were a little worried that asking too much at once would bore people.

[ But the time that's passed, and the novelty of somebody different asking, hopefully mean people will be more willing to indulge the questions! He's taking notes, either way. ]

In my own world, I'm a jujutsu sorcerer. We're able to manipulate what we call "cursed energy," which is generated from negative human emotion, to varying effects. It's innate, but also very rare.

My specific use of jujutsu is called the Ten Shadows technique. And here, I'm a shadowbinder. I'm able to achieve a lot of the same things, and it honestly does feel to me like I'm still tapping into cursed energy, but it...handles differently, you could say.

I appreciate the two of you sparking the discussion. I'm not unused to being considered a bore, but I worried about asking too much of people unfamiliar to me.

[ There's a pause as Viktor takes some written notes, the scratch of pencil on paper filtering through the audible portion of their connection. ]

Fascinating. Do positive emotions create kind of energy, or only the negative ones? It's very interesting that you haven't experienced too many changes while others seem to have been given powers that are completely unrelated to their previous ones. Have you had any direct contact with Sleep?

I'm glad someone's doing the research. I'd normally like to catalog it but I've been busy with the Infirmary and hospital.

[He usually provides medical care and also does medical research on Deep Space Nine, but that's when the infrastructure is all laid out for him and he has a whole medical staff.]

I wasn't born with any abilities and back home, I hadn't gained any to speak of. [A slight lie, since the genetic Augmentation had enhanced quite a few things to the highest human norms. But did that even count compared to the transformation and powers in this place?]

But it's not impossible - if uncommon - for humans to gain abilities or powers back home. All kinds of phenomena and powerful beings have been known to alter them in some way. A few individuals have even ascended to a higher plane of consciousness and left their material forms behind.

It's a somewhat complicated subject as it's sometimes contingent on the natural abilities of other nonhuman species, granting power somehow. Many of those species have certain gifts human don't.

I believe that anyone can hold a census, but having the knowledge and experience necessary to give medical treatment is far more necessary and rare.

[ Viktor is following along fairly normally, taking some notes and barely reacting until the mention of ascending beyond the need for physical bodies. That's not the point of this conversation, however, so he scribbles something down quickly and decides to return to that topic another time. ]

So in your world, humans are only able to gain abilities through interaction with non-human species. What would you say is the split between natural, technologic, and spiritual means of sharing said power?

Thank you for this, Viktor. I'm sure you won't mind sharing your findings with me, hm?

[ as if she wont be stalking this entire post ]

I wasn't born with my powers back home. I learned them. Most people have the capacity for magic, though of course it can be trained, and some have higher natural aptitude than others. All of those abilities are gone now, and my current ones are nothing like what I used to be able to do.

My research will be available to anyone who asks, especially because the information has all been shared willingly.

Would you say your homeworld's magic is innate within people and needs to be studied to bring it forward? Or is it that you learn ways of calling magic forth from the world around you through spells?

We haven't had the pleasure of meeting in person. May I ask if you find yourself exhibiting the abilities of those we're calling Tokens, or the transformation of an Offering?

It has been surprisingly useful, hasn't it? Greetings, Viktor. [Guess who has two thumbs and also has an Ambiguously Eastern European accent.

And, well, since she participated in the initial study, and she has some downtime between investigating the Voids and murdering Hosts, might as well take the second one. In the most... Maria way possible.]

My family line is not entirely human. I manifested the inhuman traits more strongly than almost anyone else of my ken. Adding the transfusion of Blood exacerbated the abilities even further. I have not retained any of those abilities in the waking world of this place... in fact, the changes manifesting here to myself are more akin to a different side-effect of the transfusion.

[ There's a spark of pleasant surprise as he recognizes the accent, and he's instantly curious about her origins. Luckily for him, she sort of launches into it automatically, given the nature of his questions. ]

I sense that the "blood" you speak of isn't entirely human, either. Was it given from your family, or a non-human source? It's unusual that such means could change what sounds like a mutation even after birth, unless your abilities were caused by a bacteria or virus.

Ah, you're saying there are multiple reactions to said "blood," and that some are more physical transformations than purely ability-enhancing ones?

I was born with psychic abilities—think telekinesis and clairvoyance. I didn't gain abilities through any other means, but they did change as I grew. [ She thinks the trauma changed them. Forced evolution. ] I can still access them in the dream, but not here.

My abilities here are... [ She frowns, uncertain how to explain it without revealing things she isn't keen on revealing to anyone, let alone so publicly. ] It's like they touch upon the familiar. Not close to what I could do, but can mimic it well enough, I guess.

Sharon, it's good to hear from you. I hope you've been keeping well.

Very interesting, you're the second person to mention you maintain the abilities in the dreams. I'd like to ask you the same thing I asked them: Does it feel like you have those abilities because of your perception of self includes them, or because you dream of yourself as a memory?

[ He senses the hesitation, but he doesn't push. The point of this exercise is only to record what people are willing to share and nothing more. ] That seems to be common as well. It's curious that some of us are given abilities that we can more easily tap into because of prior experience while others have the slate wiped clean.

Yeah, I had a special ability.

I could do a hilarious impression of my homeroom teacher.

[ Viktor smiles internally and hopes that the warmth of it exudes through his reply. ] I'm sure your teacher was a big fan of that.

Heh. [ He's grinning from the other side. It's fun making people laugh and feel good. ]

It's a lot easier to tell when yer smiling over the Murmur like this.

Viktor! How have you been?

[ Glad to hear from Viktor again? Of course, very much so! The familiar energetic vibe from Caelus hasn't changed since the last time they met personally. ]

Anyway, yes, I've always had what others consider superhuman abilities. And I gained more over time in my own universe as well. Our gods are known as Aeons, and THEY can choose to gaze upon someone who catches THEIR interest. It's a rare occurrence, and no one truly knows if they'll ever be gazed at.

[ Pardon the capitals, that's how people from Caelus's universe show reverence for the Aeons. ]

Those who are gazed upon are called Pathstriders, and I'm one. We gain powers unique to ourselves, but are always related to the Aeon's ideals. Actually, I caught the gaze of multiple Aeons, so I have more than a single Path.

Unfortunately, when I'm here in the waking world, all my Paths are sealed. But I can access them freely in the shared dreams we have here. I never really understood why.

My abilities as an Artificer have no relation to my Paths that I can think of. Instead, I noticed they're closely related to the skills I already have. For example, my skill in engineering…

Caelus, I'm glad to hear from you. I've been doing well, especially thanks to you. The material from that arm has been incredibly helpful, I'm in your debt for helping me salvage so much of it.

[ There's a soft chuckle accompanied by the sound of a pencil scratching over paper. ] I hope you don't take this the wrong way as I mean it genuinely, but you do strike me as the kind of person to gain the attention of multiple deities. Are you able to use all of your abilities equally, or do you have to consciously choose the Path that you are tapping into?

You're the third to mention keeping your abilities in the dream. Does it feel like you have those abilities because of your perception of self includes them, or because you dream of yourself as a memory?

Interesting. So it seems that Sleep may have chosen to enhance your own abilities rather than doing anything related to those given to you by other gods. That does seem like Her, jealous as she is.

I was born with what my race called "projection magic", which is essentially being able to... I guess, manifest certain things. I used to be able to manifest swords and spears made of magic before I came here. I could use my emotions to heal people or harm them. Stuff like that. It's theoretically infinite if you're creative or skilled enough.

I never gained abilities in my native world. I learnt them, but the capability was always there.

I haven't retained any of my powers, though. I'm completely different than I was. That said, Sleep gave me an ability to heal people with my blood, but it has consequences for me, namely that I take on the pain of the injuries. I try not to use it unless I really have to.

Any new abilities I have from being a Daemon are all different than what I'm used to, and I can barely control them. They're foreign to me, and I don't like them.

So although the name "projection" would suggest something intangible, you could manifest physical items?

[ It certainly sounds powerful, if the only boundaries were one's own imagination, so Viktor can see instantly why Sleep would want to collar such abilities.

The mention of consequences certainly perks Viktor right up. Until now, no one has mentioned that to him. ]

Unfortunate that a power so beneficial would be gifted in such a limiting way, especially if your transformation is difficult to get used to. It does seem like many of us exhibiting the abilities of an Offering are struggling to adapt to them.

Basically! Or "project" emotions into physical form. Like... oh, a hologram, I guess?

[The consequences sure are consequencing.]

I wish my healing was like the healing I had before coming here, where the only risk was running out of mana. ["Many of us", Viktor says...] So, what abilities did you get that you're struggling to adapt to?

The answers here are already very interesting. I do hope you'll share your research with the rest of us, as I'm quite keen to see what a mind like yours makes of this place.

I'm afraid I have nothing to offer in response, however. I'm as dull as dishwater compared to most who have arrived here, it seems.

[ don't mind your daughter too much, she is just laughing. loudly and maniacally, almost, because goodness! they really don't have to lift a finger, do they? ]

He did offer to help. I wasn't going to discourage him.

People really are very trusting, aren't they?

It's remarkable, really. One hardly has to do anything at all.

The very first thing I did when I got here, months ago, was ask everyone how they had changed. It's remarkable how much information everyone was willing to surrender.

They're largely good people, here. Not everyone, of course. But of those who are, so few seem to realize how easy that is to take advantage of.

[ it had been a powerful advantage, back then.

it worries her, now. ]

As I mentioned to Miss Lortel, I'll willingly share the research with anyone who asked since all of the information was given freely.

[ If people were already giving away WHAT their abilities could do, Viktor doesn't know if any more harm can be done by trying to understand where said abilities come from nor how Sleep might be managing them. ]

Don't sell yourself short, there's hardly a dull thing about you. It will be interesting to see what Sleep has decided suits you.

We all apparently have special abilities now. That's honestly all that matters.

There is a sure amount of currency falling to anyone's waiting hands.

It certainly levels the playing field. Even if some of us are more accepting of the power than others, it feels safe to assume we would be dead without the help.

[ Viktor can't raise his eyebrows, but there's the feeling in their Murmur connection of being gazed at with some level of an appraising eye. ] You think that someone will commodify abilities?

From what I've been told, I circle the drain more often than I would like, so... not sure any extra is going to help me avoid another spin around the sewer.

[Vander's bemusement was obvious. He didn't hide it.] Probably more than someone. Knowledge is currency when there is nothing else to exchange.

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002 ⚙️ omens in your skies

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