abraxaslogs | [OPEN] Kell's May shenanigans

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[OPEN] Kell's May shenanigans

Who: Kell and Open
When: May
Where: Thorne, Horizon
What: Quests, studies, getting a job, all sort of shenanigans
Warnings: Will add as needed

After the dubious pleasure of looking into other people's memories, not to mention having his own perceived, every single time preceded with a headache Kell would rather never have to experience again, and the authorities - quite wisely - advising that all the Summoned stay inside the castle walls until this malady ends. It shouldn't be surprising that Kell has grown restless. Even more restless than he was when the dreaded thing lasted.

So he's hardly ever found in the room he shares with his brother. More often scouring the library for interesting books. Trying to learn alchemy from whoever isn't immediately off put by his grim attitude, whenever he asks. If he even manages to approach them at all.

One such, almost failed, attempt grants him something he did not expect to have. A job. So the next place he's increasingly more often seen is a small, hidden teashop called Winking Cauldron. To his absolute surprise, Kell found out that making tea is a rather meditative and calming experience. And he likes it. The customers, much less, but the process is fine. The owner is the only person that did not run when he asked her for help. In fact, she asked him first.

The last place, where he might possibly be found, is his domain in the Horizon. It's a weird place, shifting and unstable, and he doesn't feel very comfortable there yet. Doesn't stop him from trying.

[OOC: custom starters in the comments, poke me on

bitweaver for plotting]

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[Viktor is something of a snoop, all things considered--he's outwardly polite, of course, but when it comes to engaging with the Horizon, his behavior might be described as downright inconsiderate. He wanders, peeks around domains, explores spaces that allow him both information about fellow summoned and the experience of other worlds. It does, of course, occur to him that not everyone might like someone poking around their mindscape, but, like most things, Viktor approaches it all with the curiosity of a scientist. This new space is no exception.

He's always found it interesting, how, given the opportunity, most people simply recreate what they know. This place has echoes of that, though it's a little heavier on the reality-warping, which is refreshing to see. Viktor wanders a little, finding himself crossing various locations at the whim of the domain itself--the psyche of whoever created this place. There's an alleyway, a market, a castle in the distance, but it's difficult to gain his bearings in all the fog. When he hears someone approach, he's quick to speak up.]

Apologies. [Not really.] I didn't think anyone was here.

[Said like that's supposed to make it better, and not invasive (it's invasive). The interloper is slight, and leans on a cane, but appears to be taking a keen interest in his surroundings, picking one of the mechanical devices off the cluttered tabletop to see whether or not things have settled, for the time being.]

[When Kell got used to the method of accessing Horizon, learned that he can shape his part in it however he wanted to. He sometimes wishes he was more creative than just copying whatever location held any significance in his memory.

Still, those are not exact copies. They're more his memories made form. The places not as they were, but as he remembers them. Those two can be completely different things. Like the messy room is a strange amalgamation of his rented room upstairs in Ruby Fields, and his own room in the palace. His magic books, the strange contraptions he hauled from Grey London, are all mixed on the table and shelves. Where, in reality, those two types of his possession have never shared the same space.

So it's neither of them, rather a room he feels comfortable in. A place that is simply his. It's twice as surprising then to suddenly have a visitor.]

I didn't expect to have a guest here.

[Kell emerges straight from the fog, last wisps of it curling around his ankles. While he's not exactly happy about the intrusion of what was supposed to be his private place, he's not against visitors. More miffed about them touching his stuff. It's still way better than the stupid memory thing from before. At least it doesn't come with one of those blasted headaches.]

Are you interested in my music box?

[Viktor likes a good study—at least, that’s what he assumes this is. It’s not unlike his own, given the volumes of books and mechanical objects, so it follows that he’d immediately been drawn to this, wandering his way through the fog of this domain. He understands, on some level, that this is pretty rude, but if he’s at all apologetic he doesn’t show it.]

Simply exploring. It’s interesting, to see what we come up with in such a space.

[That is, taking note of new domains that crop up and the people who might be responsible for them. Viktor does, at least, seem to realize that touching things while the ostensible owner is here is…probably less than polite, so he pulls his hand away.]

It's clever. I like this sort of thing.

[Kell moves closer. More protective of his books, than his toys. All those contraptions are not that meaningful on their own. They were a symbol, a statement back home. Here, they're just decoration. It doesn't mean he's happy with just about anyone rifling through his stuff.]

Just a trinket I brought from my travels.

[Brought, ha! More like smuggled. He shouldn't even have things like that. Or shouldn't have had, back at home. Here he can do whatever he wants. Which brings another question.]

And you are, Mr Simply Exploring?

Ah. I haven't done much of that.

[Traveling, that is. Perhaps that's why he's so nosy in the Horizon--making up for lost time, now that he can, with the added bonus of discovering places and people from other universes entirely. It's almost too much for him to take in, and perhaps explains (but does not excuse), his indiscretion.

He will, however, introduce himself, extending a hand.]

It's Viktor.

I did. It's interesting to see other places.

[Victor might, technically, be intruding, and all those Horizon spaces might not exactly be places to accessed by accident as freely as the physical ones can. Kell doesn't see the reason not to shake hands with the man. They are having a civil conversation here. It's fine, and he'd be lying if he were to say he's not curious himself at all.]

Kell.

[Done with the introductions and the greetings, Kell picks up the music box. It's almost an exact replica of the one he brought from Grey London. Almost, because he surely forgot a few details. Maybe even essential ones. It might not even work.]

It's interesting to see what people come up with in place that don't have magic.

[Viktor finds it the most interesting that, given the limitless power of creation, most of the Summoned seem to recreate places from their home worlds. He’s no exception, and he suppose that it’s just a matter of starting with what’s most familiar. He does, however, hope to branch out, now that he’s more-or-less settled in his own domain.

After the handshake, he steps back and folds his arms, hooking his cane on his elbow. He’s making it known that the snooping, for now, is done—he’ll be polite, and hold a conversation, instead.]

Are you from such a place?

[It sounds like he’s implying the opposite, but given his line of work, he’s always interested in learning about other magic systems. He might be fishing a little.]

[Any creation needs a starting point. Some kind of structure it can later outgrow. Otherwise, it stays a possibility only. All the possibilities, but in reality no more than an amorphous soup.]

Where I come from, magic is abundant. As is the knowledge how to use it. Of course, different people have different degrees of strength and skill, but it is pretty common.

[Common to the point where not having any makes you a kind of pariah.]

Where I'm from, mages--those with inborn ability--are so rare as to be legends.

[So, perhaps it follows that he's taken an interest in the arcane--something mythical and almost unobtainable. He can't even imagine what it might be like, to be from a place where magic is so readily practiced. A natural-born ability for almost everyone. He's still wrapping his mind around the abilities he's gained, coming here.]

Dabbling in magic, until recently, was considered to be, well. A violation.

I...

[Kell starts, but then pauses, unsure if that's really a thing he wants to share. An old fear, old habit. His one black eye has always made him that one step away from people. He was a legend for some.]

I can actually imagine that. For as much as magic runs through my world, the type I have is so rare that I don't know anyone from it that has the one I do.

[That some types of magic might be forbidden is natural. There are reasons for that. That people might forget it exists, stop noticing it. That it can be so scarce, that only a few have it. But to have it and completely ban it? It must have been a catastrophe on par with the fall of Black London to cause such drastic action.]

Why was it forbidden then ? What happened that it stopped?

And what one is that?

[He's not expecting an answer--it's a very personal question, but he's curious, so he figures he might as well ask. If Kell would rather not elaborate, he can live with that. Viktor's the one invading his personal space, after all, so in a gesture of good faith he's more than willing to talk about his own experiences.]

Our city was founded to escape the, uh. Occasionally cataclysmic quarreling of mages. This was, of course, hundreds of years ago, but there are those who have not forgotten.

Blood magic. All our magic is elemental magic. Fire, earth, water, bone... but the blood is the source of it all. The source of magic in all living humans; only very few can use it straight from that source. It is not even something you can learn, you have to be born with it. I was.

[And it was his curse all his life. The black eye. Kell has no qualms about sharing the details. He has never had been given a chance to withhold it, so it doesn't even cross his mind that here he doesn't have to explain it. Nobody here knows the significance of his eye, unless he explicitly tells them. Which is pleasant, but also something he hasn't got used to yet.]

I can understand where such a reaction could come from.

[Extreme situations can cause extreme responses to them. He's not surprised that fear can hold over generations. It has been hundreds of years since the fall of Black London, and that fear still keeps all the doors between worlds sealed.]

Instead of blaming those mages, the founders of your city decided to blame the magic itself. I bet that ended so well for them...

[That almost gets a laugh out of him, though he manages to stop himself, realizing it might be rude. He looks all at once surprised and deeply interested either way.]

Highly illegal, where I’m from. A blatant violation of the Ethos.

[And, you know, something he was about to do before his arrival here, not that he’s going to confess as much to a stranger, though he's sure this makes it clear he has no such compunctions, when it comes to dabbling in dangerous things. As for Piltover's general aversion to magic, well.]

They've been more accepting of it, in recent years. [Mostly because the immediate implications of Hextech were too great to ignore.] It helps when there's a...financial benefit.

[Kell does laugh, even if it's a darker kind of laughter. Not very happy. Closer to a resignation that other worlds don't really surprise him in some matters.]

People fear it even where I come from.

[As much as he hates to admit, this very superstition served Arnes as quite the deterrent against other countries territorial ambitions. Besides, he did some highly illegal things back home. Not that he is going to admit that to a complete stranger. Though, his foray into rule breaking didn't end anywhere close to profitable. It was a disaster, even if accidental disaster. It turned out that the restrictions were there for a reason.]

Financial benefit? Of course. I bet doubly so when someone already took the risk for them, and all they have to do to take part in rewards is to generously don't mind that some rules are getting a little bent.

[Or a lot. Or trampled completely. The twins broke theirs with abandon. Even if not for material gain, but power. Are those two really that different?]

In my experience, people fear what they don’t understand, to their own detriment.

[Not that he really understood what he was doing with the Hexcore, but it had seemed imperative regardless. Separated from his work and from all of the complications of his home world, it’s hard not to be a little angry about the attempts to destroy his research. Short-sightedness, singularly focused on profits, immediate gain instead of long-term improvement. Endlessly frustrating.

He lets out a laugh, trying not to sound bitter, but it seems that Kell has some familiarity in these matters. Perhaps this meeting was fortuitous after all.]

I’m disappointed to hear that this seems to be commonplace across worlds.

You'd think that people will learn, and then they don't.

[Sometimes people have very legitimate reasons to fear. Sometimes the power is too much to handle. But no. There's fear, and there's respect. Fear makes people blind.]

But I can understand where such fear can come from, at least where I come from. Back home, magic is in a constant state of trying to take over. It's not malicious. It just wants to expand. This is in its nature. Contained, is incredibly helpful. Let loose, can drain a whole city of life.

[It's what people fear. Getting consumed.]

It's like fire. You need to be cautious handling it, but nobody in their right mind would like to completely get rid of it.

[It's odd for him to share so much, so freely. But it's also an opportunity to sort some things out in his own mind. With someone uninvolved and uninformed of his troubles.]

Well, humans will be humans.

[And Viktor believes in them, despite the fact that they so often disappoint him. It sounds like Kell has similar sentiments, in that regard. Hearing about other magic systems is always interesting to him, and this is no exception. A magic that's constantly trying to take over? What does that look like?]

How is it controlled? A conduit?

[Kell shakes his head. He's treading theoretical territory here that he's not that sure how to explain.]

It's a force, one of the two, that's part of every living human. Everyone has different degrees of it, so you control the one you have and learn how not to let it control you.

[That's why he finds talking to Thornean mages about it so difficult. They treat their magic as something external and are all too happy to discuss their various pet theories about it.]

I didn't study theory much. Much of what learned was practical.

[It doesn't sound so different than the legends of mages where he's from. Individuals, attuned to specific magical energies, able to channel and wield and control them, for better or worse. The good news is that, lacking any magical ability of his own, much of Viktor's work is theory, so he nods along and seems to understand.]

What happens when it controls you?

[Viktor doesn't often think about the more dangerous aspects of magic, preferring to focus on potential benefits to society, but this is an intriguing enough line of questioning that he can't help but take.]

[Kell visibly shivers. This is the story from three hundred years ago. Of people who had thought they could have all the magic while still retaining their humanity. They were wrong. The consequences of their mistake, the fire they woke up and then let loose, the chill of that shadow can be felt to this day.]

It devours you. All life, all will, all strength, everything becomes its fuel. Until there's nothing left, but an empty husk. It can promise near unlimited power, great works, wonderful achievements, only to suck you dry and bring only destruction in the end.

[He had almost brought such destruction on his own city.]

It happened in a world parallel to mine centuries ago. It was a tragedy.

[Viktor looks thoughtful for a moment--perhaps troubled by something, but then he seems to accept the account, nodding along. It makes sense, though he's made a habit of dismissing the more dangerous, volatile aspects of magic in favor of envisioning how it might be beneficial, instead.]

As a user yourself, how do you prevent that?

[It’s not like he’s ever going to speak to a mage, back home. He might as well try to learn everything he can from the ones here, even if the questions might be a little personal.]

You train, learn to control the force inside you.

A wise man once told me that magic and magician must always be in balance. Magic is chaos, it is hunger, so the magician must be order and calm.

[It's ironic that it's him saying those words now. Kell remembers how he rebelled when he first heard them. Being calm has never been his greatest talent. He's strong, persistent, even stubborn sometimes, but calm and collected? That requires conscious effort. A lot of conscious effort.]

Makes sense.

[Viktor has never spoken to a real mage--never received this perspective, so although he's not sure whether or not he agrees with balance, or caution, he knows enough to understand that, in reality, he knows very little. If magic where Kell is from is an all-consuming force, then it follows that any practice of it would need to be approached in such a way.

Not necessarily the ideal course of action for someone who, perhaps, trends towards impatience.]

How long have you trained?

I started when I was five, but I wasn't able to do anything substantial until I was ten or twelve.

[He's over twenty now. Barely remember he's actually been doing this for this long. Hardly remembers how it was before magic became second nature to him. Like an additional sense, or a limb. It's always there, as if it's always been.]

It's a life-long process, but I'm at a point where I am, rather would be if I were home, refining what I already know now.

[ Rhy enters in a manner so far from unobtrusive, it's practically guaranteed all eyes would immediately turn to him. Fortunately for Kell, no one appears to be frequenting the tea shop at this very moment (what a disappointment).

Striding up to the counter, Rhy lets out a gasp of surprise and delight upon seeing his brother, attired as he is in his work uniform. ]

So the rumors are true!

[ The source of said rumors being Kell himself. Telling Rhy he'd found work of some sort. So Rhy won't come looking for him and do exactly this. ]

My brother the Antari, serving tea. And in a cute little apron, no less.

[ He leans over the divide and reaches out one ring-studded hand to pluck at one of the straps. Because he is an ass like that. ]

Edited 2022-05-12 07:43 (UTC)

[Of course, he does. That's Rhy's not so secret talent to appear in places drawing all the attention to himself. That there's no attention to draw here now other than Kell's is truly a pity. And a waste of a good spectacle. A true tragedy.]

Is it really a rumour when you have heard it from me?

[Kell groans, rolling his eyes for full indignation experience. Maybe it's better no one is here to see this.]

Sanct, Rhy! Stop behaving like a five year old.

[He might grumble, and swat Rhy's hand away, but he's not even mildly annoyed. While he's not really sure why Millie insists it is absolutely necessary for him to wear the apron when she doesn't have one herself, he doesn't really mind. It's been a while since he and Rhy had a chance for such silly banter. And he missed it horribly. So in all honesty, Kell is grateful for his work uniform giving him the excuse. Even if it's an idiotic one.]

What? Jealous you don't have one yourself?

[He's explicitly not commenting on the cute part. He has some dignity left.]

[ Rhy beams at him, drawing back only enough to cross his arms over the counter and lean on it. ]

I'm sure I would look just as dashing. Perhaps even more so. Especially if I didn't wear anything else beneath.

I think that would be a rather fetching look.

[ Operation: embarrass Kell at work. Success measures: optimal. ]

[Kell lets out an undignified growl. Seriously, that's what he gets for tempting this monster.]

This is a teashop, not a brothel. You're actually required to wear clothes in an establishment like this, you know.

[But also fuck. Can't argue with the dashing part. Might be a smashing hit, and equally good grounds for an indecency accusation. If there are laws for this here. He doesn't really know, and what he doesn't know can get them in trouble real fast.]

As always, you've no imagination, brother.

[ Rhy rolls his eyes, but he is still grinning, basking in Kell's familiar annoyance over something that is very stupid and doesn't matter even a little bit. The best kind of dumb argument to have.

But he will be merciful. Rhy hooks a nearby stool with one foot and drags it over to perch atop it across the counter from Kell. ]

How about making me a tea, since I came all the way out here to visit you?

I assure you, I have plenty.

[Sometimes waaaaaay ... ahhahhaaa ... too much. His brother is a monster, but he's the loveliest monster in existence, and Kell can't be more happy to see that part emerge again.

He takes one menu - bound in floral fabric because that's just on brand for this place, flowers on everything - from the stack and pushes it on the counter in Rhy's direction with a smug smile. Actually, he'd like to see his brother's reaction to what's inside.
Millie's approach to naming the brews they serve here is ... unorthodox at best.]

I just might. Pick something.

So generous.

[ Rhy takes the menu, flipping it open to examine the offerings. There are a lot more teas than he expected... or even knew existed, considering some of these must be made from native plants he's never heard of. Some are familiar though, and they appear to be arranged by type of tea from soothing herbal blends to robust black teas

The names try to be memorable or cute, some of them with more success than others. It is amusing, and Rhy at least finds the attempt charming. Besides, he likes imagining Kell offering customers things like Juicy Jasmine, Titillating Turmeric or Sweet Spice Surprise... with a straight face. Hilarious. ]

Mm. I'd like to try the Royal Rose black tea, with milk.

[ He crosses his arms on the counter, leaning on them casually to watch Kell work. ]

...do you enjoy it here?

[ He probably means the job, but if Kell wants to answer beyond that, it's up to him. ]

[That's what the menu is for. So he doesn't have to. If someone asks, he can find creative ways of not saying the actual name of the drink. Because rolling his eyes at customers every time he has to, would be rude. And he promised not to be rude.

But then he does. Out of everything on the menu, Rhy simply had to pick that single thing that was solely Kell's idea. The only one that doesn't have a stupid name. At least, it gives him a way to focus on something else, so he doesn't have to look at his brother when he replies.]

It's annoying.

[Of course, it is. Given the choice, Kell always defaults to grumpy. The careful manner in which he takes out a ceramic teapot, measures the tea into it from the appropriately labelled jar, making sure he sealed it tight before returning it to its place on the shelf behind him. All this directly contradicts what he has just said.]

... but it's fine.

[There. He admitted it. He likes it here. Maybe not the people, but the process.]

[ Rhy doesn't realize that Kell had added that particular tea to the menu, but he did choose it because it reminded him of something he might have enjoyed back in Arnes, in the palace courtyard on some sunny afternoon. The homesickness wrenches at his heart, striking every once in a while with an intensity that leaves him feeling momentarily gutted.

But it passes. It usually does. What else can he do but let it run its course and push it aside once again?

He watches Kell, the careful movements, the gentle precision with which he handles each part of the process. Rhy thought at first it didn't really suit him-- but maybe it does, maybe this is a good way for Kell to find calm and routine in a hectic new world. ]

If it's something you want to do--

[ Which isn't what Kell said, but it's what he meant. ]

It is worthwhile.

[Does he really? He accepted the terms the owner of this place gave him because he wanted to learn alchemy from her. They weren't bad terms. It seemed easy.]

I didn't want to. I was just trying to bargain the alchemy lessons.

[It didn't occur to him before he agreed to it, that it's basically a servant's job. He didn't realize until after, and then there was a choice of either leaving everything to go back to the situation he started with, or pushing through in hope the alchemy will be worth the price in humiliation. So he did what he's always done, he pushed through. And it to his surprise it worked.]

You think so?

[The process is not that different from handling the elements. It requires absolute focus. It's so easy to do it wrong. So incidentally, it's a perfect thing to still his restless mind. The only time he doesn't feel like it's going to tear him to pieces, pulling him in a thousand of contradictory directions, worries, guilt, memories of the past, all at once. The only time that it must be quiet.]

I think you're free to choose. If you hate it, no one can make you stay.

[ Rhy points out quietly. ]

There are plenty of alchemists around. I think there's a reason you're here.

[Ah! There are! But it requires asking! And being nice, or at least civil to people! That's the hard part. Not the shortage of alchemists he could potentially bug about it.]

I don't hate it.

[There. You made him admit it. Or as close to admitting he likes it, as he possibly can.

Kell pushes the steaming cup in Rhy's direction.]

I wouldn't have come up with this, if I really hated it.

[It's not that surprising that he misses home too. That he tries to recreate little pieces of it here, so the longing for it won't make him go completely crazy.]

[ Rhy's eyes widen a touch as he takes the cup, pulls it closer to inhale the lovely fragrance. It smells like the garden, tea in the courtyard under the sun. He sighs, leaning in to breath it, and closes his eyes. ]

Your very own recipe, Kell? I'm impressed.

[ Rhy smiles. The tone is light, but he isn't teasing or joking. It's genuine, and a little sad. ]

It smells... like home.

Thanks.

[Kell half expected is brother to make fun of him. But this is Rhy so of course he doesn't.]

I didn't plan to, but then Millie brought new ingredients to try... [The little lady had no idea what she did, and was rather surprised to see her usually cool and composed helper / apprentice visible shaken by the sight, or rather the smell, of some flowers.] and I just couldn't not to.

[It felt like an imperative. The draw of it unable to fight. Even if what surfaced in his memories because of it was painful.]

It does, doesn't it?

[He has to look away. Take a moment to unclench his jaw, stop gritting his teeth before he can speak again.]

I know that I run away ... but now that I can't, I want to go home. I ... [There's an iron resolve to his words. He might not know how to do it, but he will figure it out. Eventually. He did things that were thought impossible before.] I will find away to get us back home safely. Somehow.

[ When Kell is able to look back, he'll find Rhy staring at him. His fingers curl around the dainty teacup, too tight. His golden eyes are wide, searching Kell's face. ]

Kell...

[ His voice catches. Rhy swallows, pushing down the questions that suddenly seem so unfair.

You really mean it, Kell? You'd really want to go home, after all? After how they treated you? You'd want to stay, with me?

Instead, he reaches out, fingers overwarm from the hot cup, and places a hand on Kell's atop the bar. ]

I want to go home too. Together. We'll find a way.

We always do, right? You and me.

[Kell means it. Now, that he has learned how it feels to be so far away with no means of coming back in sight. He truly does mean what he says. Completely, fully, sincerely. As he could never truly mean it before. He doesn't want to be chained to a place, no matter how much he loves it or the people in it. He doesn't want to hear no to his every request even for a meagre degree of freedom, for any agency, any possibility to make things his way, to every wish that does not align perfectly with the interests of the crown.

Here he can make his own decisions. Some end up being stupid, and he'd rather not talk about them. But he can. He finally knows what it's like. It's different from what he thought it would be. Now that he knows, he knows also that he can yield some part of it just to be close to people he cares about. To be close to his brother. When he doesn't have to fight, he doesn't feel the urge to run away. And he doesn't want to run away from Rhy. Rhy would never chain him to the palace the way their father did.]

Of course, we will. And when we do, we'll come back stronger than ever.

[His own magic travelled across with him, so Kell counts on the same thing happening the other way round. Everything they learn here can help them back home. ... he's just trying very hard not to think about their missing bond... that's a problem for later. After they figure out how to come back.]

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[OPEN] Kell's May shenanigans

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