folkooc | TFLN aka Tales From Folkmore

I was making toast. Not even I can ruin toast. The toaster does all the work; I was mainly supervising.

I was going to offer you a massage, but you were out like a light in seconds. Were you practicing your magic all day?

Those more ambitious than you have managed it, I am sure. It sounds as though you earned your tip.

A massage would be delightful yet. Peaceful magic—healing magic—may not be the easiest to learn, but I am its most adamant pupil. Which is to say, yes.

Thank you. I'm considering bigger challenges now, like making an omelet. Perhaps even boiling some rice.

It's still on the table if you want it. That's the best kind of magic you can learn, though. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time.

[ Jayce tried to go for that one too, but he doesn't have a lick of magic in him. Oh well. He's happy for her. ]

You're welcome. How about rice or noodles before an omelet. Or scrambled eggs. Omelets have multiple ingredients.

I'll eat it, though Hawke makes me eat and rest some before he lets me leave. I am breaking fewer glasses, for what that's worth.

Fine, scrambled eggs first. I've been taking cooking classes and trying to improve my skills. One day I'll be able to make you a proper breakfast.

I'm glad he looks out for his students. He's a good teacher and a good friend. What are you trying to do with the glasses, exactly?

There's dozens of ways to make eggs. That's wonderful. You have made so many wonderful things that I am sure breakfast will not defeat you.

Yes, the recovery period means we're getting to know each other, not simply study magic. I am releasing a drop of magic into the water in the glass. Too much or without control and it explodes.

Do you have a preference? I'm asking so I can figure out which ones I should learn to make the best. Eventually. [ There might be a few failed egg attempts, and he will make sure to get rid of the evidence. Maybe his new Cat moth pets like eggs. ] Now, you're going to get me blushing. But with support like that, I can only succeed.

That's always good. Trust between people, especially when it comes to learning from each other, is key. What do you think of Hawke so far? [ Jayce won't say it in those words, but it's nice to see Mel making friends. ]

An exercise in precision. Is that safe, though? If a shard of glass hits any of you the wrong way, like in the neck or the eyes, it could cause a lot of damage. I've had glass explode on my face before, it's not pleasant.

Poached is my favorite but, I warn you, not the easiest. [ That will do nothing but encourage him, Mel knows, while being nothing of a surprise. They aren't an easy way to make eggs on a campaign, nor encouraged by monks. She only came upon them more commonly in Piltover. ]

In many ways, Hawke and I could not be more different. Despite our different world views, we share a passion for magic and helping others. He reminds me a lot of people I knew growing up.

It's... safe enough. You can't learn forging without some risk. Same with magic.

Poeached, I won't forget. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. That's fine by me; I like the challenge.

[ She's right. This man spends more than a decade obsessing over how to make magictech a thing, and he won't stop until he gets it right. He's going to possibly ruin many eggs along the way, but he will eventually learn how to make the perfect poached eggs. Maybe even add some truffles finely shaved on top. ]

Viktor and I are nothing alike, and we found a common ground quickly. Opposites can work very well together, I'm glad the case with you and Hawke. When you say 'people I knew growing up', you mean from Noxus or...?

[ Or people more like her dad, is what he's asking. ]

Not without risk, but there are ways to minimize it. I put on safety glasses when welding, you know. I could make you some sort of protective mask? Something elegant, I promise.

I am sure one of our new animal friends will take to any failed egg experiments. Have you... met any new cats?

[ Best they not go to waste. Mel uses raw egg in her paints, but poorly poached is much worse to mix together. A less particular palate is their best bet. ]

Viktor and you nothing alike? Jayce, excuse me, who did I catch you with breaking into Heimerdinger's office with? You two differ in many ways, I grant you, but you share a foundational set of values toward science and magic. Without it, you never would have worked as well together.

I mean Noxus, not monks. Strength is strength in Noxus. My mother, like Hawke's father, valued control.

Thank you, Jayce, you're very kind. It's motivating to do it right, but go ahead, make me something beautiful and befitting.

I did, in fact. Wait a moment. [ Jayce is going to send Mel a photo of his new pet, one of the MothCats that he met a few days ago. She fits in the palm of his hand but it's currently resting on his shoulder, head pressed against Jayce's chin. ] I named her Andromeda.

Well yes...we're alike in the things that matter. That's exactly what I meant by finding common ground. Gods, we're never going to live that down, uh? Not our smoothest moment.

I see. Control is important, but so is knowing when to be flexible.

It's no problem, Mel. I want to keep you safe, when possible. I'll run my first design by you, to make sure it is up to your standards.

Oh she's beautiful. This little one found me in my studio.

[ Mel sends Jayce a photo of a slugcat hovering inside her cottage in Gram. ]

We're still trying out names.

That moment, that night, is highly representative of much about you both, and it was how our partnership began. I remember it fondly.

That's what politics is. Flexibility. There's too many moving pieces to control all of them.

Always building solutions to everyone's problems. This is how your face ended up on a blimp. And mugs. I appreciate it, as long as you aren't overdoing yourself.

Aww, yours is cute too. It's a good thing the apartment already has a cat flap door. Is it a boy or a girl? Or that doesn't apply?

That night was life-changing in many ways, and it matters a lot to me too. Thank you for giving us a chance, Mel.

[ The day was also memorable, but for the opposite reasons. He can't say he remembers fondly how it started because Jayce has never felt worse in his whole life. Not to mention the damage the trial and its repercussions left on his psyche. ]

Indeed. I'm surprised that Folkmore doesn't have any kind of established rules or leaders beyond the Fox, and yet things still work without becoming utter chaos. Trials aside, of course.

[ Keep saying these things, and you are going to make him blush, Mel. Or really get him in the mood. Both, mostly likely. ]

I like helping. But you did just as much for the city, if not more, and for a longer period of time. I don't mind working a little extra for those I care about, it's worth it. But if you think I'm overdoing myself, you can come drag me back to our room to rest. Or to do anything you see fit~

There's no sexual dimorphism that I can recognize, and the slugcat seems neutral on attempts toward using he or she. I might simply use they for lack of... better idea.

I was searching for something more than the same old grind that most of Piltover continued with. It was a risk, but your arguments earlier that day were convincing enough to give you two a chance. You were right, Jayce.

She leads the academies, and the spirits run most of the businesses. Star Children are a small portion of the population, for all that this place is... built for us and our potential. Any rules we established or leaders we raised would only be further part of her trials and monitoring of our potential.

[ Both are good. ]

I didn't do enough for Zaun. I focused on what I thought were the bigger issues, blinded by the same bought off reports as the rest of the Council.

[ Not nearly the most fun point to focus on. ]

I wish I could do the same. I don't suppose dragging you off and having my way with you counts for that, mmm?

If the creature is not bothered, then that sounds good. The way that Slugcat looks, I'm not even sure if they have bones. Or organs. Just in case, keep them away from salt.

Thank you, Mel. You were what we needed, too. Someone who didn't just care about benefits or riches, someone who could see that the city could be so much more and tried to do something about it. [ Jayce's next reply takes a few more seconds to come. He knows he's never going to see home again, and sometimes the realization flares vividly and painfully. ] I'm going to miss it. Piltover.

And yes, basically all that. There's little point in complicating things further.

[ This is not the most fun point to focus on, but it's important to talk about it. Jayce is reminded of his conversation with Inanna back during Christmas time, and how the goddess has helped him. ]

We are just humans, Mel. And a single person can't take responsibility for all the problems in a society. True, we should have done more. We were also dealing with decades of inequality, inaction, and elitism. Here, we can try to do better.

You can do plenty of things I can not. [ That last question gets him smiling again. ] There's only one way to figure that out, give it a try.

They have a tongue, and they eat. That much I can tell you. I'm not sure how bright a light I want to shine through mine.

You're welcome. The irony of course is that it more than paid off financially, personally and for the city. [ Mel sighs. ] I miss it too, Jayce. I miss what Piltover was, what it could have been, what it still could be someday. I don't miss what it's about to become. Perhaps what it's become already.

Not that Thirteen is some neutral observer.

The rest of the Council wasn't going to handle them, that's for certain. Not until— That's why I wanted you on there with me, so there'd be someone else who gave a damn and would take action. What's done is done, but we cannot forget it. It's part of doing better here.

Beyond my skills with diplomacy, which have not nearly the same need here, I have magic I barely know how to use. Though dragging you off, I am highly confident in my skills at doing. I'll have to show you.

That's good enough. Let's leave the rest a mystery.

It did, I'm aware. That's a plus, I suppose, even if it wasn't Viktor and I main goal. Creating new technology is expensive, so it's good that we can afford it. It worries me as well but there's still Caitlyn. I regret how our last conversation ended but I know for a fact that she could do great things as well. We need to cling to that hope, that not everything might be lost.

They were not; they were far too comfortable with their positions. But a bad example is still an example of what we don't want to repeat. We will do better.

You never know, diplomatic skills could come in handy during a trial. Not every fight might be physical. When we met dragons, some months ago, they were not violent, but they also tried to keep us with them in their caves. We had to either reason with them or sneak out of their reach. I've got a nice gift out of that trial, though.

Let me know when and where, and I'll be ready for you to show me everything.

No, it wasn't a goal either of you had in mind, but it's important so that you can keep making new technology.

I am sorry for all the pessimism. I have been through so many upheavals, and with my mother in Piltover with a Noxian warship—

We're the City of Progress, and she is not so easy to convince of anything as the Council.

I would appreciate more trials like that and to meet dragons. Imagine that! You don't have to, but are they still reachable? To talk with?

The next time you work late.

That's geniuses for you, we often focus too much on how to make something a reality and forget the basics, like funding.

Don't apologize. I want you to know you can always talk to me honestly, especially when you feel like this, Mel. You had to deal with a lot in the past, and being here gives people time to think and process these sorts of things, so it's normal.

She is used to a different reality than Piltover, and it's hard for certain mindsets to be changed.

No, the caves the dragons used to reach us were sealed time ago, I figured that they moved elsewhere. I still have the golden scale I was gifted after the trial, it allows anyone who holds it to turn into a dragon for half an hour or so. Would you like to try it?

This week, then.

That was how we worked. When I did my job well, it was invisible to you both.

Some of this isn't best explained over text. At it's most basic, my mother has her own problems, and Piltover in chaos from the bombing presents an opportunity—she can take advantage of it faster than anyone else. Her warship is already there, and if she doesn't, someone else will, possibly to use against her. She'll have her due one way or another.

Piltover's position was precarious before, Jayce. I'll get to the figuring things out stage in time. There's just so much bad to process.

Talking to dragons would have been fascinating. Turning into a dragon? That's incredible! Of course I want to try it!

Yes. This week.

That also means that no one thanked you for your hard work. That happens all too often. Back home, people also failed to recognize Viktor's contributions to Hextech.

[ And frankly, it pissed off Jayce. ]

We can switch to video, or talk in person if you'd like. Yes, all that is true. There's one thing she can't get now, and that's Hextech. With Viktor and I gone, no one will be able to create the weapons she wanted, so that's a small comfort.

However, if Jinx reverse-engineered our tech, and that's really how she managed to bomb us, she won't share that with her. Zaun will look after itself, but they will give your mother trouble. And Piltover will suffer in the crossfire, which is what worries me the most.

[ Heimerdinger is supposedly also still alive, but Jayce isn't sure if that is a big comfort. He's a smart man and could rise to the occasion, but Ambessa, in the short time Jayce has known her, has proven to be challenging.

And now they are both depressed and negative. ]

Then you can use my scale any time you want.

I knew he was your partner, but I didn't give Viktor his due either.

[ Mel switches to video. ]

Neither of you are confirmed dead. That's what I was doing before I came here—trying to protect everyone. Outing myself. If they live to exile me again, at least you'll have all lived. I'm not letting some HexTech rocket destroy everything that easily. I'm not letting it kill anyone, if I can. You and Viktor are relatively close. You might live. Please don't talk about yourself like you're dead.

[ She crosses her arms and leans back. ]

Though that about undoes everything you said about my mother not being able to get HexTech. Jinx was the one who did it? I suppose she wouldn't like the peace deal.

[ Mel looks thoughtful. ]

I failed him too, but here we were able to talk about it and fix things. There's no reason why you can't do that too.

[ Hello there, beautiful. ]
We can't know anything for sure, Mel. Nor the extent of the damage, the deaths, or how many times the academy was hit. There's no telling if the whole tower went down, and not even your armor coudl stop a building from collapsing. I'm assuming the worst-case scenario, so I am able to figure out countermeasures, but that's all we can do. To speculate.

But if we keep it up, we will drive ourselves mad. I've done that many times in the past. [ It wasn't good for his mental health before, and it won't help Mel either now. ]

I'm speculating. I can't confirm if Jinx was the one who did it, but it would make sense. We've seen both her talent for building weapons and his affinity for destruction. Maybe Silco talked to her about the peace conditions, or he told her to attack the council to end it all. Who else could have been?

[ Mel's face goes through a journey, a terrible journey, as she thinks about how many people are in the building and near the building. She— she could possibly protect it from one hit, but Mel in that moment hadn't thought of that approach. Her death, no other destruction. At least, not in the moments before the fox arrived.

Then she focuses on the word countermeasures. ]

You think we might go back with tech you built here? Or powers we've learned? That we could change what happens...

[ Mel considers Zaun and what they know of it... and of skills with Hextech weaponry. ]

You and I can probably name everyone we know of in Zaun on one or two hands. I agree Jinx makes the most sense to build the weapon, possibly to use it given the treaty. Anyone who feared Silco would rule Zaun with an iron fist might opt to ruin the peace treaty he forged if the news slipped out to anyone. Again, speculation.

I wish we knew more. I want to be ready in case we go back, but—

[ It's hard for her to say it. ]

I don't know what that means.

[Jayce is quiet as she processes everything, feeling a little bad about making her realize that things might be even more screwed up than she originally thought. Sorry Mel, you're dating an overthinker. ]

Perhaps. I'm not sure if keeping our memories is a possibility, but statistically, there's always a chance for that to happen. Even if the odds aren't the best, I do believe in numbers. [ Magic spirits like Thirteen and her power might be unpredictable, but math is a universal constant. ] And who knows, perhaps if we go back, we will also retain some of our muscle memory. And you'll always have your magic.

Ey, we will figure things out. We have time, Mel. One way or the other, we will find a solution. We always do.

Edited 2023-05-20 17:31 (UTC)

TFLN aka Tales From Folkmore

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