JANUARY MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: January 17th - January 23rd
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers and some new construction!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital. A coat rack is situated by the doors leading out of the hospital, covered in warm clothing that fits the new arrivals just right - whether it's to their preferred style or not is something else entirely. Some of them appear normal enough. Others? Well. Looks like someone was trying to improve on last month's designs. Outside the windows, the grass is covered in a couple of inches of loosely packed snow. We hope you enjoy your stay. ⏵ passion for fashion ⏴ As the newcomers find themselves leaving the hospital as per their usual arrival, they will find that not too far from it is a small boutique. Newly added, just as they have been, though they lack the context to know this. Companion bots will encourage them to go in and meet the particularly unique bot inside, dressed to the nines in line with the fashion the boutique itself is offering. While small, it's clearly been decorated to emphasize the loose era and taste of the particular fashion it's advertising. The building itself is also petite, and made to feel more personal rather than a commercial experience. It has a single dressing room, and outside of it has an area with mirrors where one might take in their lovely visage from nearly all angles. There is a little waiting area with seating in the front, for those who are not being molded through Theobold's vision, or simply waiting for whoever is. The tastes and aforementioned era of this little establishment is decidedly Victorian, with a bold splash of neon trimming, cog-like adornments, and other accessories that brighten up the otherwise neutral fabrics typically used in the style of dress. Theobold, as he has named himself and will not let anyone forget, has taken to a three-piece suit, a deep emerald in color, with a black vest, and matching black gloves. He will take it upon himself to judge each person's attire (which he will unabashedly hate), then restyle them into something more along his tastes (even if it takes him a while, he will find something you don't ruin). There are, of course, many different combinations to pick from, all hearkening to a very loud style of dress that seems as much neon as it is punk or steam. One might even name it steampunk with a splash of neon. Neon Steampunk? Something like that. An interesting combination to say the least, Theobold insists as much. This is, of course, not simply limited to newcomers, though they will likely be exposed to this boutique more quickly than the others. Any who come near the general area of the hospital (thus the boutique) will find themselves being encouraged by the other bots to come inside, and they will likewise be judged and restyled to Theobold's tastes—which are as bright as they are bold. He really doesn't take no for an answer, though he can't truly stop anyone from leaving any more than a pushy grandmother fussing over her grandchild's clothes might. He has obviously discovered his passion, why not indulge him? ⏵ trending or treading ⏴ After enjoying the privilege of being restyled by Theobold, he will also insist that you take the outfit for a spin around the city! See what people say, take note of how many looks you catch, how many eyes are on you. He wants to hear about it as well, clearly to validate his own artistry, and who can blame him? Does not every artist strive to hear a little bit of praise for their hard work? Do they not yearn for recognition from the public? Theobold may be a bot, but he is also an artist honing his craft! His boutique is not above critique, though he hopes the critique isn't too harsh... Should one indulge him, telling about what others thought, he will gladly gift the outfit to the wearer. A humble act of his endless generosity! Or if they fancy another outfit of their own taste from his boutique, then that will suffice as well. Even if it breaks his heart that you don't like the outfit. No, no. It's fine, really. It's perfectly okay. Everyone has their tastes, and yours just happens to stab him in his mechanical heart. He'll get over it. In time. Probably. ⏵ leaving tracks ⏴ Companion bots have taken to building train tracks, as well as what appears to be a train station, in the South Eastern island of Etraya. The area is, for the most part, blocked off from Etrayans. After all, it is a construction zone, and the companion bots are ever vigilant with safety. At least they try to be. However, if people wish to lend their aid in the construction, well, they won't necessarily stop them. However they will assure them that they are not in need of assistance, and might intermittently remind those especially helpful Etrayans of that fact. Those who wish to simply watch the construction may do so, but nothing especially interesting is going on beyond the mystery of what this these tracks and the station might be for. Besides a train, of course. After all, since when has there been any mention of a train? Asking the companion bots about it will yield little results. They won't be able to give any further details besides the obvious: when this is done, it will be for a train. It seems even they might not know the full extent of what this entails, or maybe they cannot say. Regardless the reason of their lack of explanation, it seems patience might be the key to the answer. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Some may notice that in the area Gorgug's friend had gone exploring outside of the environmental bubble, there is a message written on a massive piece of fabric, which is tied to two large rebar poles. The message is in an alien language, but the earpiece will automatically translate it: DID YOU THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONES? On the bottom of the fabric are four vertical lines. Every Friday, a vertical line becomes crossed through with a horizontal one. For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[ascarylady]

[ Likewise, Sevika eyes him up and down when he brings himself around the corner. Who is this scrawny little shit? ]

No. I also don't see why that should stop me.

[ Chemtech automobiles were a new enough technology that she hadn't had any time to crack one open and pick it apart for fun. Too busy with everything else by that time, and then all hell broke loose. Here, though? Maybe here, there's time. ]

[hexcorized]

[ He's just that. A scrawny little shit who happens to know a bit about chemtech! He gives Sevika a look and opts to roll his eyes as he takes another step forward. ] Having desires and passions shouldn't stop anyone. However, a lack of knowledge and safety certainly will. There is also the matter of properly utilizing the correct resources.

[ A pause. ] And please tell me how you intend to synthesize the fuel needed to run a chemtech engine, without causing a disaster might I add, as the chemicals are highly unstable in the wrong enviroment. I am quite intrigued to know.

[ Sorry he is such a shit but these are all essential questions that need answering. ] If you are to do this, it should be with someone who is at least knowledgeable in the subject matter. Unless you are willing to get yourself blown up.

[ Says the man who was two seconds away from doing that to himself. ]

[ascarylady]

[ Too bad for Vik that Sevika happens to be a huge bitch who happens to know a bit about chemtech, too! She stares at him momentarily, unimpressed by something that has nothing to do with his stature or crutch, and then snaps the book on engines shut. ]

Oh, I don't know; maybe I'll know how to synthesize the fuel needed to run a fucking chemtech engine because it isn't that much different from doing the same thing for my chemtech arm.

[ She'll set the book aside for now because she's stepping back from the shelf to turn and stride over to Viktor, closing the gap between them in maybe two or three steps. She stands over him, looking down at him, giving him a nice and up-close experience of how big the person he's pissing off is. ]

And if it isn't? I'll figure it out.

[ On her own. ]

I'm sorry— [ She is not. ] —did you want to show off how smart and superior you are to me because I didn't go to a fancy school? Because that's what it is, right? You think I don't recognize that buttoned-up look just because it's on someone it doesn't belong on?

[ Someone wearing Piltover colors, but clearly looking like he's from Zaun, sounding like he's from Zaun. What a joke. ]

[hexcorized]

[ His expression remains impassive and stoic as he listens and watches Sevika. He'll lean into his crutch as he watches her try to scare him, maybe?? But the jokes on her because he doesn't really fear pain or even harm when he's actively dying and has gone through his fair share of pain in the past!! He does, however, roll his eyes at her comments on his attire. He was used to hearing it from other academics in Piltover but now he has to hear it from people in Zaun as well?? He sighs. Very tired sounding as he gives her a look. ] Yes, well, if you're done? [ Viktor, stop. ]

I was merely saying as much because you might require assistance, and you seem to be, eh, a bit in over your head as the saying goes. [ The potential to create such a piece of machinery is rather intriguing to him too. He is still an inventor and creating something outside his normal realm of expertise offers a challenge and intrigue that he can't resist. ]

I was going to extend a hand in your spontaneous little project, but, it seems my fancy and ill-suited clothes bother you. [ Which, fine, he can't force her and he wouldn't want to work with someone like this regardless! ]

In that case, forget I said anything at all. [ Sorry he is just...like this. ]

[ascarylady]

No, you were offering to tell me what to do.

[ To boss her around, like she's some fucking employee instead of the person interested in having a little project to work on, and frankly? She already has one boss; she doesn't need the headache of another. Out of all the ways to show interest and offer to help, that had not been the way to go with Sevika. Taking aim at his clothing was a low and easy blow, though it's truly unfortunate for Viktor, who stands between two cities that hate one another. ]

I haven't refurbished an engine before, but I've worked with chemtech for years. You don't even know how knowledgeable I am. You just assumed I must be some damn idiot.

[ And she's seething over it. Normally, she's much better at controlling her outrage, but the implication that she's somehow incompetent... Even if Viktor had not meant it, that was how it sounded. ]

I'm going to blow myself up? I need you to tell me how to manage my fucking resources? Skinny, I don't even know who you are.

[hexcorized]

[ Just have one of his characteristic frowns as he shakes his head. Not wrong but he will hold his tongue since this conversation seems to have gone places!! Viktor isn't going to press it. He might have the social skills of a rock but he knows when the situation has escalated a bit too far. And frankly, he is far too tired to argue the point. ] No, no, not really. I was merely going to offer my assistance considering the volatile nature of it. [ And while she did mention having a chemtech prosthesis that doesn't mean she would know anything about its production or synthesis. ]

Yes, well, you did forget to mention your years of working with it.

[ But, mm, he shrugs his shoulders as he looks back at her. ] Just a Zaunite parading around in a Piltover Academy uniform, as you mentioned.

[ascarylady]

[ Viktor can back peddle all he wants, but Sevika can't take back how annoyed she is with him. People see a big, burly woman and just assume so many things. Honestly... ]

I didn't realize I needed to present a resume to look at shit that has a "volatile nature."

[ Maybe in Piltover you do. In Zaun? Fuuuuck no. Do whatever you want. Case in point: she'll do what she wants now! Which is stepping closer to loom over the man. Worse, she'll move a boot to position it next to his crutch, prepared to kick it out from under him if she decides she wants to. ]

Oh, no, you don't get to slither away without giving me a name. I recognize everyone else here from Runeterra, except for you.

[hexcope]

Viktor, I found a book you should take a look at, it’s called software engineering—

[It’s a big enough library, and Jayce had been on another floor for most of their time here. They hadn’t really set a time to meet up and leave, but honestly, they could both probably get lost in here for days on end. He’s still flipping through the pages as he walks down the aisle, glancing up to see Sevika standing over Viktor in a fashion that could only be compared to “looming.”]

Sevika.

[It’s not the friendliest tone Jayce has had toward Sevika. He actually … likes? talking to her now that they’ve moved on from some of their hurdles. But there’s no other way to interpret her position over Viktor as anything other than intimidation, and it has Jayce’s shoulder’s tense, back straight, chest puffed out maybe a little more than necessary.]

I see you’ve my partner.

[hexcorized]

[ The tension in the air and Viktor's shoulders is so readily apparent. His eyes look down at his crutch but for a brief moment before returning his attention to Sevika. He was fully prepared to not give someone this violent his name but then Jayce comes in and gives it out for free. Damn it, Jayce. He closes his eyes and then comes the exhale from Viktor as he remembers to breathe again, his eyes opening and ticking towards Jayce for a brief moment. ]

Yes, that sounds rather...intriguing, Jayce. [ Viktor's voice is laced with fatigue just like his expression as he replies. But he looks between the two of them then, confusion flickering briefly across his features. However, he doesn't say anything else, merely there to observe. ]

s2 spoilers rip

[ascarylady]

[ Of all the reactions that either Viktor or Jayce may have expected to simply hearing that name-- a towering inhuman figure, drawing them all into an abyss, ripping their minds from their bodies --immediately jerking back a step away from the man she had a second before been looming over, violence in every ounce of her presence... probably isn't it. It was too hard of a reaction, and even she knows that. She recovers quickly but remains that step away and scowls deeply to cover up any of her shock.

A scowl she'll happily turn on Jayce. He didn't sound particularly friendly, which means she's free not to act particularly friendly, too. ]

...so I have. I didn't know you had a partner, Talis.

[ No, she did. In a way. It might be one of the first times she's told a lie to Jayce, at that, but there's no indication of it. She does not often lie. It doesn't mean she can't. ]

I thought there was only one golden boy of Piltover.

[hexcope]

[He definitely wasn’t expecting that reaction. Sevika’s fearless, and he knows that no amount of bird-like defensive maneuvers he could pull would cause that reaction. What the hell is she reacting to?

At least she’s got her attention on him, and not on Viktor, which is what he wanted.]

—It just didn’t come up…

[That, unfortunately, has him wavering a little, his eyes darting to Viktor, and then back to Sevika. He mentions you all the time, Viktor! Really! Just not to Sevika, apparently.]

Well. Now you know. There’s two. We’re co-founders to Hextech.

[Although he knows Viktor would hardly call himself a golden boy.]

[hexcorized]

[ That reaction is stranger, stranger still that it is directed at him. He is filing that away for now. Maybe it's just another piece to the puzzle that is his supposed future back home. Who is to say? But it is getting increasingly frustrating to be met with people who are obscuring the facts from him. It is becoming tiresome. With Sevika's attention elsewhere Viktor is slowly moving away, towards Jayce, and will pluck that book out of his hands in an attempt to look completely fine. Hm.

But him with that title? Ridiculous. He would never. But also would a pity case from Zaun ever even be allowed it? No. But that suits Viktor just fine. ]

I'm not one for titles. [ A shrug as Viktor mutters that. He doesn't care about the title so much as the work. He flips through the book and looks back at the two of them. ] But, yes, we are.

[ So they have already met and he's not surprised Jayce is on somewhat good terms with her. He was always the better at conversation. ]

[ascarylady]

[ One of the founders of Hextech is from Zaun. What. The fuck. At least that is enough to tear Sevika's mind away from what is, to her, the not-so-distant past. What will be their future, but it isn't for her to say so. She'd rather not think of it at all. It's easy to bury how unsettled she had been under a pile of scorn.

Viktor may believe himself safe from her attention, but that only makes her focus on him even harder. It's easier now that he's moved away on his own accord. There's distance. She can breathe. ]

And you're, what? Just fine and dandy with Talis hogging all the glory?

[hexcope]

I’m not doing that.

[He frowns a particularly anguished frown, Sevika touching on a nerve. It’s easy to see it that way. The banners, the zeppelins, the speeches, the … everything. But someone needed to represent it all. They couldn’t have two faceless creators to world-changing technology. At some point, someone was going to have to step up, and Viktor didn’t want to.]

[hexcorized]

[ Jayce was never good with hiding his emotions. Far too easy to see it and the anguish on his face touches a nerve for Viktor. His expression is particularly glowering as he looks back at Sevika. ] You seem to be misunderstanding something.

[ He will close the book with a snap. ] Titles, glory, none of that is particularly important to me. I do not care about that. The work and the good that it will bring to Zaun is what I choose to focus on.

[ He was perfectly content to hole himself away in the lab. Given his race against time, where else was he supposed to be, what else was he supposed to do? A sigh as he looks at Jayce and then back at Sevika. ] Given the current state of our conversation, you can see why I, ah, choose to not have that particular position in our partnership.

[ Dealing with the council day in and day must be exhausting. Even if their worlds were slowly drifting apart back home, Jayce straying ever so slowly away from their original dream, their purpose, buried under the burden of the council and the increasingly unstable climate; Viktor looks back at Jayce with something akin to gratitude in his eyes, perhaps? The parties, the banners, the speeches. All taxing and yet Jayce worked through them and put himself through it for their dream. He couldn't imagine himself and his bluntness being particularly welcomed or helping the situation. But also he has never been welcomed in Piltover, an outcast since the very beginning. ]

We have our parts to play. I simply chose the one I excel at.

[ascarylady]

Ha, so that's how it is.

[ Not Jayce's fault, then, even if the anguish that ripped across his face told her he thought the same. He really is too easy to read. What happened, she idly wonders to herself, to change him to how he was the one and only time they'd actually met? It's almost depressing to think about, but only almost, because there's something else she's found to be mad over instead. She does, of course, rein in the antics. There's no yelling, no storming up to menace them face-to-face, just... ]

You know what? I was wrong. You don't think you're better than me after all because you've bought into how they see us, too. Hiding because you agree with them, that you're just some more trencher trash no one will take seriously.

[ No interest in titles, no interest in glory? Please. More like no interest in attention, no interest in stepping out of the shadows. Now, she does take a step towards the two, though only to give further dramatic motion to her pointing an accusing finger at Viktor. ]

What good has any of your work brought Zaun? How many years have passed? Years where our people could have looked at all those posters and banners and seen themselves on there, with you, Talis' equal? How many topsiders would have had to concede that we can make something of ourselves besides miners and criminals and bums? How many kids could you have inspired, even sponsored to go through the academy just like you? But no?! You didn't want the titles! Or the glory! Or any of the damn influence that would have come with it?!

[ She drops the arm again, a sneer crossing her face. ]

Keep your damn work. We don't want it.

[ On that note, Sevika turns to step back over to where she'd left the book on motorcycles and their construction. She's going to take that with her no matter what; like hell she'll let how sour this encounter has left her feeling to keep her from that. However, she does turn towards the two one more time to hold it up. ]

And I'll be sure you eat my dust when I do convert one of these to chemtech. You know, without fucking it up like the idiot you think I am.

[ But that's the end of it. She's leaving. She has no desire to stand here and debate with them further since it would only upset Jayce more and more, and if Viktor continued to seem so uncaring about the situation? Well. This could have still ended in violence. Thus, Sevika chooses to stomp off instead, disappearing around the end of the stacks and heading for the library doors. ]

[hexcope]

[He always wanted Viktor to have some of the spotlight. To share a position with him, at least in some regard. But for one reason or another, Viktor always refused. Jayce knows the cause as twofold; one, his illness, and two, how Viktor would be perceived. Piltover’s elite were the least accepting of any deviations from the conventional or obscenely wealthy. Viktor was neither, and as much as Jayce had been elevated as a lesser house by being in the spotlight, he was still for the most part, a Kiramman asset.

His “hogging of glory” still wasn’t enough to buy him the privilege he would need to ensure Viktor would go without judgement in social settings. They both knew it’s just the way things worked in Piltover. Viktor was sparing himself from the gossip articles and disparaging glances, and Jayce would use some of his natural charisma to handle getting the acceptance and funds they needed to pursue their dreams. It worked well enough. Until it didn’t. Until the constant attention started to chafe, and Viktor started to disappear more often, not just lurking in the shadows, but vanishing entirely.

There’s an unspoken conversation that happens when he catches Viktor’s look. He recognizes it, the silent thanks, and Jayce gives back a look of his own, a soft smile. He’d deal with a thousand irritating aristocrats if it meant Viktor could have his own peace of mind.

But Sevika didn’t get it. When she takes a step closer to point at Viktor, Jayce instinctively steps in front of him, as always the defender. ]

Do you actually want answers? Or do you just like the sound of your own voice when you’re tearing someone down?

[She doesn’t seem like she’s actually going to give them the time of day for this, as she gets through her accusations, and immediately starts to leave. Much like Silco, she’s not interested in hearing the other side of it. She just wants to get her frustration out, and fuck what they had to say in return, because it wouldn’t be good enough, would it?

So Jayce doesn’t argue back further, just lets her get it out and leave. She’s clearly more interested in losing her other arm in some sort of motorcycle-themed accident.

He waits until she’s gone, turning to Viktor to see how he's holding up.]

She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

[hexcorized]

[ It's so easy to state these things without living them. Viktor is no fool and he is no idealist either. There was never going to be a way that a Zaunite would ever be the face of Hextech and have Hextech flourish as they needed it to, to do what they set out to accomplish, to do what they must. Hextech was always their dream and if Viktor had been seen in the public setting it was a dream that was doomed to fail. A Zaunite, much less one that was disabled, ever being a figurehead was laughable and ridiculously out of touch with Piltovian society and social norms. But he doesn't expect Sevika to know this or care, as she storms off. Perhaps an explanation would be wasted on her, but regardless, there is a certain look in Viktor's eyes even as his composure maintains. It is a mixture of pain and exasperation.

He was tired of fighting for seven grueling years for what he believed in, fighting his disease and its ultimate end, fighting to try and bring hextech to his people but stopped at every turn. She did not ask about that, or care to hear it, but Viktor had always been adamant about using it for others but each time it was denied or pushed aside for other frivolous endeavors.

Hextech was theirs, true, but it was not. Underneath it belonged to the council and through their whims they decided what was best for their pockets more than anything else, it certainly was not to help people. Stray from that and Hextech was no more. Viktor knew this but what was he to do with it? His hands were tied behind his back as he watched his dream and his life wither away.

What exactly did she expect a lone Zaunite to do, whose very presence in the face of the council got sneered at and disregarded at every attempt to speak, who had no name, patron, or presence? Before Jayce he was stuck as an assistant and would have been forever if not for the other. That is how little his life has meant to these people. It's all so easy to take at face value the things he could have done, to pin the blame on him, and expect him to be some glorious savior to his people. As if his proposals to sponsor children of Zaun, to have him plastered on banners, or blimps, or mugs, would be met with anything but disdain and outright refusal. But she does not think about that either. The fact is that he had no say in many of the things in his life and what he does not show is that anger for it. Her words are true enough though. He will concede to that. Perhaps he should have fought more for it, put up some resistance, or made a spectacle of it. But it was merely what-ifs now. Nothing back home mattered at this moment in time, if there was still a Runeterra to return to.

His grip on his crutch is tight enough that it creaks with the pressure but ultimately he just sighs, coughs into his hand, and gives Jayce a look of exhaustion. ] It's as you say.

[hexcope]

[He knows what Viktor’s thinking. It’s not hard to— they’ve practically lived in each other’s presence for almost a decade. Nearly every hardship the other has been through, they both know of. If Viktor were healthier, Jayce knows he’d be chasing her down to continue the argument, to knock some sense into her in some way. But as it is, Viktor’s …

He won’t think the words.

They don’t need this right now. Neither of them.]

Let’s go sit down. I think there’s a kettle around here, I can make us some tea.

[We don’t need to talk about it.]

[hexcorized]

I was going to retire to my apartment, actually. [ Viktor's expression is sullen, annoyed, and closed off as he is wont to do when he's ruminating on something. Though there is a smile huff from him as he looks away. ]

I'm in a poor mood, I wouldn't want to subject you to it.

[ Jayce has seen him at his worst, true, but he always offers an out should the other choose to take it. He wouldn't be very good company right now as is, but Viktor knows that would never put Jayce off even still he gives him the choice. ]

[hexcope]

I'll go with you.

[There's not even a moment's hesitation with his offer, the thought of parting ways here not even occurring to him.]