Ramsey Farm open mingle

[levelshift]

WHO: Etrayans!
WHEN: Post-mission.
WHERE: Ramsey Farm.
WHAT: An open mingle log for people to hang out and do stuff at Ramsey Farm. See Accelerator's network post for details.
NOTES\WARNINGS: None, please put any CWs in subjects.




An idyllic, well loved little farm house that looks like it has been transported right from the fields of Kansas. The garden in the front has flowers and the back garden is chock full of vegetables. There is a chicken coop and a bale of hay is strung up from a tree like a tire swing for a little goat's enrichment. There is also a shed in the back, designed to look like a small version of the farm house, with a summer outdoor couch set up shoved against the back wall, piled with all weather cushions, and various lawn and small gardening equipment hung on the front wall. Towards the edge of the grounds, in a patch of large wildflowers, sits a large stone acting as a grave marker. Instead of names, it has been engraved with "#1 - #10 031."

The farm is being used as a safe space for children by Accelerator. Kids under 15 are allowed to use it as they wish. Kids over 15 are allowed to use the space if they help with upkeep. Adults who have been vetted by a kid are allowed on the ground to do work. A security system has been added to the farm house that sends messages to Accelerator's ear piece depending on the threat level.

The goat's name is Mena.

Comments

[levelshift]

[He blinks a little at being compared to Jayce's mother. It's weird and unexpected, and despite that he understands what Jayce is getting at. He'd be a very different person if he only did what came easily to him.

He'd be a far worse person if he did.]

... Right. Is that struggle part of the appeal for you?

[He has to wonder about that, because for him it's intensely difficult and something he has to suffer through every day.]

[hexcope]

Not the appeal really, but there's a sense of accomplishment. It's wow, I did it! instead of well, it's done. Even then, I didn't get into doing math and science for the sake of it. I wanted to create magic. Those areas of study made sense as the closest I'd get to it. It started as a means to an end, but then I realized I liked how it felt when I succeeded.

[levelshift]

Can't say I've felt that kind of accomplishment much in my life.

[He's muttering that under his breath, reaching to grab his sandwich and unwrap it.]

A shithead I know back home has said stuff about magic and science being different ends of the same spectrum, so I suppose that makes sense.

[hexcope]

Both science and magic require a belief that what you've been told might not be the full truth. That there's a scope beyond your current understanding, and that you might never see everything for what it truly is. I'm sure your powers take away some of that mystery and the pursuit for you, but you know you don't know everything, too. Our curiosity is what makes us human.

[Chew chew chew.]

What do you want to do with your life? Forget your actual responsibilities. Hypothetical scenario.

[levelshift]

[Jayce has a point. Science is all about seeking out the truth of the universe in order to better understand it. And that piece of shit Aleister had said something similar, that despite his ability being that of a particle accelerator, there are still (magical) things he may not necessarily understand. Then again, that had been before that whole mess on that battleship, so who the hell knows anymore....

Accelerator takes another bite of his sandwich, considering those thoughts, and nearly spits it out at the question. He gives Jayce a bewildered stare in silence for several moments.]

........

[Of course, he has thought about this before. Despite being forced into roles that don't allow for a lot of wiggle room, Accelerator has still thought about what he wants most out of his miserable life. That had been the driver behind him willingly going along with the Level 6 Shift project. But saying it out loud....

That feels too difficult.]

I don't see why that matters.

[hexcope]

So you’ve thought about it.

[Avoiding the question like that says more than it doesn’t. Jayce finishes his food and wipes his hands off on his pants. They’re already dirty enough, it’s fine.]

Having aspirations matters. It’s not like I can help you achieve them back home, so why not try here? Wouldn’t it be nice to know?

[levelshift]

[There's no argument from Accelerator. To confirm Jayce's suspicion he just scowls and reaches for his can of coffee. Caffeine will help his mood (no it won't).]

I already know it isn't possible, so it's not worth talking about.

[hexcope]

I won't believe you until you tell me. You've said some pretty inaccurate things before.

[levelshift]

Fuck you.

[He's giving Jayce a sharp glare as he pops open his coffee and takes a long sip. God, he's sure if he actually says it out loud he'll never hear the end of it, but Jayce is asking and people don't usually ask him this kind of thing. He knows it's coming from a good place, even if it makes him uncomfortable.

He shifts in his seat, thinking about how to word it.]

When I was younger sometimes I thought it'd be nice to have a normal life with a family.

[He is distinctly not making eye contact when he says that, inwardly cringing at how ridiculous it sounds.]

[hexcope]

[Jayce listens, waiting for the rest of it. After a few extended seconds of silence, he blinks.]

... Oh, that's it.

[There's no part two, is there? Certainly nothing he can really see how he could help with. Which is a bit of a disappointment; he did want to help, if he could.]

Like with a mom and dad, and normal high school?

[levelshift]

Yeah.

[Shifting uncomfortably, Accelerator takes another sip of coffee. Even if Etraya was set up the same way as Moorecroft with assigned family structures and schools, it wouldn't be the same thing. He isn't someone who has ever grown up with that kind of normalcy, so when he's exposed to it it only makes him anxious.]

Like I said, it isn't something that's possible. Why'd you ask?

[hexcope]

I've been thinking about it myself. What I should- or could be doing. What if I never go back to Piltover? Would that really be such a bad thing if I didn't?

[Accelerator was upfront about himself. Jayce will treat it in kind, with his own honesty.]

I was going to help with yours, if it was something I could help with.

[levelshift]

[It sounds like Jayce is having an existential crisis, that isn't good. He certainly doesn't have any answers for those questions, and he just looks down at his can of coffee. What he wants isn't something anyone can help with, not even Jayce, and he feels a little bad for that. It's clear to Accelerator that Jayce wants to feel useful, why else would he have come over here and willingly fixed a bunch of stuff?

He sighs.]

Helping around on the farm is enough.

[It doesn't have anything to do with what he wants most in life, but it's still something.]

[hexcope]

If you say so.

[Said in a way where it's obvious he doubts that's the case, but it's not like he has a better solution either. He can't conjure up a set of parents for Accelerator, nor a normal life here, no more than he can conjure up a version of Piltover and Zaun where everyone gets along. With a clap of his hands to dust them off, he pushes himself back to his feet.]

I should finish up here.

[levelshift]

The doubt in Jayce's tone is obvious, and it causes someone that feels like a weight to settle on Accelerator's shoulders. It is what it is, he can't offer more than what he already has. Still, even if it isn't enough, he's glad Jayce is here.]

Okay. [He looks down at his last bit of sandwich.] ... Thanks.

[hexcope]

Better finish the rest of that, or I will.

[Empty threat, but he's trying to lighten the mood with a grin as he begins to pick up his tools again.]