[MINI-EVENT] Cadens and Libertas Art Walk

[cryptsleeper]

Who: All residents of the Free Cities
What: A multi-city art walk (with strong political opinions invited), organized by Jaskier and Alucard (aka, the “Architects” of Old Public Hall)
Where: The main event is in Cadens, with a special portal to Libertas (!!) for the entirety of the week
When: The final week of July
Warnings: None, please warn as needed!f

Flyers Posted/Lead Up To The Event

[Once again, the people of Cadens will begin spotting flyers posted around the city with a script that may be becoming familiar, appearing at first in the middle of the month. The figure of a large black gryphon weaves between bold blue print reading “A R T W A L K” on each flyer in a carefully inked script. The flyers promise live performances throughout the final week of the month – plays performed in front of Old Public Hall (more information about the Hall itself can be seen here), a nightly concert in the main market, installations of great, unique sculptures, and shops that will turn into art galleries for a full seven days.

This is a full celebration of the Free Cities’ art movements held by the "Architects" of Old Public Hall.]

Most prominently on each flyer is a bolded line with a promise to top even Jaskier’s previous concert: FREE PORTAL TRAVEL TO OUR SISTER CITY OF LIBERTAS WILL BE OPENED TO FURTHER EXPRESSION OF HER ARTS. The portal has been secured through cooperation with Quilleth Kaur of Libertas, and will allow a rare chance for free instant transportation between Cadens and Libertas in order to circumvent the usual weeks-long journey to the sister city.

[If you were lucky enough to have graced Jaskier’s concert a season ago, many familiar components appear again, albeit less apolitical than before:

+ Art is the focus here, especially artistic commentary on politics, war, and the Free Cities’ standing in the midst of it all. Local shops and the markets of Cadens will be hosting the works of contemporary artists. The museums and libraries of Cadens have agreed to sponsor and participate in the walk, providing performances of literature and poetry, as well as setting up exhibits surrounding local artifacts. (Please note Old Public Hall is currently under heavy reconstruction and is closed off to visitors. However, an outdoor cafe has been set up outside her front steps to provide shade/a place to sit during your time in the art walk!)

+ Characters may recognize this appears to be happening quite recently after an undercurrent of tension in Cadens’s military movements. If you know Jaskier or Alucard well enough, you may recognize this as a direct response to those movements.

+ Food and drink will be served in various areas of the art walk, though fancier goods can always be purchased from the market.

+ Miniature sculptures by famed sculptor Axn Kade of Libertas will be available for purchase. Other artists will be providing various sculptures, paintings, drawings, knitted goods, etc. for purchase through the Walk. Please support your local artists!

+ Not to be left out, there are posters in the Cadens barracks that cheerfully announce THE ART IS WALKING TO YOU! which, without additional information, could seem more threatening than it is. Jaskier will be personally organizing and overseeing a special event to ensure Cadens’s military is not forgotten, with Alucard having constructed a temporary stage inside the barracks. A traveling troupe from Libertas will put on a performance in the barracks "for the troops." It will be a fairly apolitical performance, and will be less heavy on the patriotism than what usually comes out of Cadens.

+ Recent new produce introduced to the Free Cities from the ambassadors Ikorr and Luna of Nocwich (see post here) will be highlighted in attempts to broaden the somewhat closed doors of Cadens's local culture.

+ Visitors are asked to be open to ideas and attitudes different to theirs throughout the event. Please don't cause overt trouble or strife that will actively disrupt the event during this period! (Unless you would enjoy being harassed by Cadens guards.)

+ Information regarding the art scenes/movements of both Cadens and Libertas and available performances/artists (barring the musical concerts), as well as the aftermath of the event, have been provided by the mods (thank you!), if any further clarification on it is needed!]

The Art Walk of Cadens



[The art walk encompasses several core hubs of the city of Cadens for a full week - main plazas and the exterior of Old Public Hall, several museums and libraries, and a row of shops along the main drag of the merchant street. Beginning at six in the evening and stretching on late into the night, allowing for the night air to cool things down, Cadens's artistic side asserts itself through written words, performances, and art.

Many of the pieces from Cadens artists are supportive of Marlo and the government. These views are expressed at all levels from books and articles that focus on the progress made during Marlo's tenure, popular poems and performances honoring decorated soldiers or military heroes, and music that emphasizes defending the freedoms afforded to those in the Free Cities. Criticisms of the government or military tend to focus less on its structure and more on the failures of individuals who have "let the people down" by allowing their self-interest to get in the way of serving their nation.]

Those exploring Cadens will be able to enjoy:

Nightly Concerts outside of Old Public Hall and Grand Plaza!
Samuel L. Matthias (aka, Smithy) of the band “Clarinet Smoke” is one of many local musicians who will be performing in the grand plaza this week. Known for a vocal range that many others might kill for, Clarinet Smoke has been innovating Caden’s music scene for the past two years. The recent performance at Old Public Hall inspired him to take the band in a new direction and embrace a cheerfully defiant edge in the face of neighboring nations.

Also performing will be “Ruins at Their Feet”, Berry Matt, and other familiar local bands. Each concert will be introduced and opened by Master Bard and Master of Ceremonies Jaskier (of aforementioned concert in Old Public Hall) among other noteworthy accomplishments in his diligent work in Cadens’s art scene. Performances begin at 8 or 9 PM depending on location.

University Libraries to give performances of Poems held in the Archives!
Safiye Rudruss, head of education at the Hall of Natural Relics, will be taking the lead on the special program Their Voices are Present as a part of the week’s festivities. Working in collaboration with museum curators and archivists at two sister institutions, readings of past poetic works and histories will be given at the Old Public Hall, the main public library, and on the university quad. Sure to please, each speaker will share not only a great work of the past and the context it was written, but invite discussion about what these works mean now. Performances are held in each location, beginning at 7 PM and concluding with light refreshments.

Stores to become Galleries in Miniature for the week!
A number of shops have agreed to host physical art for the duration of the art walk, concentrated in the primary merchant district of Cadens. Those participating have a garland of the recently arrived glowing blooms from the darkest areas of Nocwich. The pieces hung on the walls run the gamut from quiet, desolate desert landscapes to wild canvases that move thanks to enhancements out of the universities, and some more traditional portraiture of great heroes of yore. (And, in one subversive series housed in a macaron shop, Those Who Failed Us.)

Breathtaking Birds to Delight the Children!
Master of Ceremonies and Master Bard Jaskier will be giving an early-evening performance every night, prior to the concerts, of a magical bird show, in which he will create and perform legendary tricks and japes with his colorful array of magically-crafted birds. Have you ever felt the feather-light weight of a chickadee on your finger? Have you ever been curious about how strong the grip of a seahawk truly can be? Come and witness Jaskier’s menagerie of finely-feathered friends! (A few lucky volunteers may go home with specially crafted jewelry using real feathers from local birds and gryphons, courtesy of local hunters and artists.)

Libertas, City of Individualism, And Her Featured Performances



[Thanks to the interest of Quilleth Kaur, the representative of Libertas and patron of the arts, a travel portal between Cadens and Libertas has been opened for a full week. The free travel between the cities means that the arts of Libertas - subversive, countercultural, probing - can travel as well. Because freedom of expression is emphasized in Libertas, a counterculture movement has formed there which includes more critical voices of the government, politics, and war (though of course voices from all sides of the spectrum are present!)

Upon entering Libertas, a vast sea of artwork, operas, music, and avant-garde fashion can be found. Where Aquila has a thriving marketplace alongside its trendy fashion and artworks, Libertas’s hub is built upon its independent thinkers who express themselves through poetry, visual arts, philosophy, and more. There are artist alleyways throughout the city and even the architecture varies wildly. Poets, musicians, painters, and other artists often meet in taverns to discuss politics and exchange ideas. Printed pamphlets are popular. Street corners are usually occupied with some kind of performance or speech all hours of the day into the night. Libertas is less strictly overseen by city guards, meaning the occasional brawl can break out over a difference of opinion. Citizens tend to govern themselves and anyone who has something to say or create is welcome to do so as long as they're willing to make their stand.]

Those exploring Libertas will be able to enjoy:

Playing once daily for a full week: Erbano’s most noted work!
Once a day for a week, an emerging playwright named Engelberta Erbano will put on her most popular play. It depicts the tragedy that results from a conflict between two warring families, one from a land filled with ancient magic and one from a land powered by progress. At the end, the two main characters - whose families will not let them marry - jump into a deep crater so they can be together. Their bodies disintegrate and the families lose their children over what is ultimately a petty squabble. It is not a subtle story. Some may recognize aspects of the play's subject matter from their own world, particularly the two star-crossed lovers. The acting is of high quality and the special effects using New Magic are quite convincing. She has won a few awards for her plays.

Noted Sculptor to exhibit in both Libertas and Cadens!
Axn Kade (born Paxton Kade), a famous sculptor, will show off some of the permanent sculptures located around Libertas, as well as bring one of his larger sculptures over into Cadens for a temporary display. His sculptures are made of scrap metal derived from the abandoned mining equipment and other materials Cadens and its military leave behind, rusting in the ground. Repurposing waste into art is his goal. He's vocal about the dangerous conditions in the mines and the hazards of old heavy equipment left lying around. He also sells miniature sculptures for anyone to purchase, such as this and this. Given his popularity, these cost a pretty penny - the equivalent of a finely crafted sword - but they're available if anyone wishes to splurge on some art. Kade promises some of the profits will go towards improving conditions for miners.

Academic Magic used for rare and unique performances by Theany Newland!
Theany Newland is a performance artist. He utilizes elaborate puppets powered by New Magic, similar to clockwork animatronics on a smaller scale. These puppets perform unusual interpretive dances on a lush and beautiful stage of grass and flowers that bloom using - in direct contradiction to New Magic - a form of magic that is obviously the Academic Magic favored in Thorne. Unlike many in the Free Cities, Theany dresses in a manner that carries the familiar edges of nobles in Thorne. Where many prefer not to acknowledge that the Free Cities was once a part of Thorne, Theany is open about the fact that his family traces a few generations back to Thorne: academics from Hayle before they came to the Free Cities to build a new life. As a result, Theany himself is as much a subject of controversy as his work. Some insist he should be ejected from the Free Cities while others admire his boldness.

The Aftermath/Changing Attitudes In Cadens

[The portal to Libertas closes on the morning of the eighth day, permitting those who stayed for one last night in Libertas to travel back to Cadens. The extra tents and stands for selling arts will gradually disappear, with the remnants of the art walk being the occasional painting or small sculpture still appearing in local shops and taverns.

However, Cadens will not entirely return to her original state.

Following the success of the art walk, Libertas's influence will begin to grow in Cadens and the Summoned will notice a shift in attitude among some of the locals. While parts of Cadens continues to have a strong political push towards Marlo and her leadership style, the counter-culture ideals and beliefs of Libertas will begin setting down roots in Cadens.]

Questions on the Event

Can my character give a performance/show off their own art or metal working/etc.?
Yes! Please feel free to allude to working with a local business to make a display, or slot yourself into a performance space. There are no limits to participation or the content, although those who know Jaskier or Alucard well can assume that they’d rather things contradict the current military bend in Cadens.

Can I just walk through the portal to Libertas?
Yes, and doing so is highly encouraged, as this is the first chance for the Summoned to easily visit Libertas! You can go there and back for the entire week as much as you would like; the mods have explicitly approved this.

My character would like to give a speech (or similar), is that cool?
While this event is absolutely about the intersection of art and politics, we do ask that unless one of your characters is participating in a part of the art walk (story telling, poetry reading, displaying art etc.), please don't use this opportunity for speeches. Gathering in pubs, street corners, etc. to talk about current politics and potential for war is perfectly fine and encouraged. Rabble rousing is where we're asking you to draw the line for now.

If you have any specific questions about the culture/artwork/political attitudes in Cadens and Libertas, or the performance details in Libertas, please ask on the FAQ, as all of that information came from the mods. However, we are happy to answer questions regarding the general art walk or Jaskier or Alucard's contributions!

Comments

libertas

[assembles]

The sculptures are eye-catching, and even though Steve has seen similar creations back home, that doesn't make these any less interesting to study. Art had been an interest of his once upon a time, and while that chapter of his life has long been closed, he has never lost his appreciation for what people can create with their own hands. Some of the sculptures are of creatures he's never seen before — a preview of what can be found in the desert, he would guess. That's the practical reason to be curious.

While he's browsing the smaller pieces that are on display for sale, he spots Jayce, who seems to be deep in thought as he tries to pick between two of them. They do seem to cost a pretty penny, but given that Jayce has a whole business up and running, it makes sense that he would be able to afford one.

Steve slides up next to him, hands in his pockets as he nods to Jayce with a brief smile. Given what Jayce has already done for him, Steve owes him a lot more than just assisting in a decision like this, but it's a decent place to start.

"Did you want some input? Is it for you, or a gift?"

[hextechhead]

Art is not generally something they used to have a lot of time for. During Progress Day, sometimes people would bring creative or cultural options, music and artwork, but they've always been so focused on technology and inventions of science. He likes taking a moment to let his science brain back off and appreciate a different type of skill.

There is sometimes an element to his work that involves sculpting. Jayce has done special work in hilts and details on blades, and his work on Viktor's cane is precise and unique to what works for him. So he appreciates this sort of thing, even if his own skill with it is very straightforward. Still, this is something Viktor probably won't glare at him over, and it would be nice to have something special in the shop. If only he could show the man Rio.

He glances over when he senses someone coming up close and his smile is immediate and warm when he recognizes Steve. Jayce is fond of Sam, they clicked pretty quickly upon meeting, and he adores Wanda. Both who have made it clear how much Steve means to him, so he was happy to help out.

"I was thinking for our shop, not to sell but to show off. He says the funds he gets goes to improving the miners here, which is sort of near and dear to our hearts." When he says our, he means him and his partner Viktor; Jayce uses we/our a lot when discussing things, but it's because they really work on pretty much every project together. It is rarely just a him.

"We were thinking about talking to him toward the end of the week, see if there's anything we can do to help the miners too." He looks at the sculptures. "I was thinking maybe the bird, but we could do a cat. We have a pet stray here."

[assembles]

While Steve may not know Jayce well yet, he's already gathered that he is a genuinely kind and warm person, willing to offer his services at a discount to the other Summoned because he wants to help. He's the sort of person who's easy to get along with, and seems to be the face of his and Viktor's operation.

It might be nice to have something to spruce up a shop that mainly was just packed with practical items and materials, and Steve appreciates the concept of displaying art outside of a museum or gallery showing. That does seem to be what these sculptures are meant for, at least the smaller ones.

"Improving conditions for the miners would be a great way to make the most of your skills," Steve agrees as he looks between the cat and the bird sculptures. He's well aware that much like Tony, Jayce and Viktor have no interest in making weapons. This seems like a great option for how to continue their work and help others at the same time, which seems to have been the goal from the start.

"A bird sculpture might interest your stray, but I'm not sure you'd want it knocked around." His mouth twitches into a brief smile as he reaches out, fingers brushing lightly over the wings of the metal bird, each feather painstakingly shaped. It is a piece of art, after all.

[hextechhead]

Jayce has long been the visible one of their team, although he did make certain people knew he did have a partner. But Viktor hated the attention and wanted nothing to do with that sort of visibility. Jayce comes to it naturally, something he never really expected, but it's a product his sincerity. He might not be able to come up with incredible speeches off the cuff like Steve, but he feels the man is also that honest type, genuine.

"That's what we were working on back home. The Fissures are incredibly unsafe and our workforce is often overlooked. They're a little better here, but according to this artist, not as much as they should be." Unsafe is an understatement, considering the toxic gasses down there are why Viktor is dying far too young. And he's only one of many, more died quicker because they didn't have access to Piltover. If Jayce saw something like that here, he would be pretty upset, but so far it just seems typical cheap mass production. Not good, regardless.

"We have pretty good connections at the academy, we're going to ask them to get us in there." Jayce did tell Steve he was volunteering as a research assistant, and they both are good at winning over academics. He also remarked on his concern about how the Free Cities will use technology in this war. Getting a new project is the simplest way to stay out of it. "Sorry if I'm rambling."

He laughs at the comment about the bird sculpture. "Yes, Purrfessor probably will try to eat it." Viktor did meet the cat while they were trying to save a pigeon from her! "We do have a pet in our Horizon, Rio, I could always draw her for him, but he'd be confused, she is a very unique animal."

[assembles]

Steve doesn't generally have much issue with people who talk a lot. For one thing, he's used to it, and for another, he's certainly capable of speeches but when it comes to casual conversation he doesn't mind letting someone else take the lead. Jayce is a passionate person when it comes to his research and his creations and it shines through with pretty much anything he discusses.

Steve smiles and winces just briefly at the name Purrfessor. The mention of a unique animal does catch his interest, his arms folding over his chest as he looks at some of the other sculptures. "A commission is bound to cost you extra, so there's that to consider too."

While he's happy to discuss art for as long as Jayce wants, the troubles facing the miners here and how that parallels incidents from Jayce's home are ultimately more important.

"The Fissures? What are those?" He's already bracing himself for something horrible to do with the work conditions, his expression flattening. He isn't likely to be surprised by Jayce's explanation — simply disappointed.

[hextechhead]

"It's true, but knowing Viktor, he's more likely to approve of spending extra money on that than money on one of these." Jayce smiles because he knows that Viktor has such a huge soft spot for Rio, and well, so does Jayce himself. "Rio's very special. If you visit our Horizon you'll meet her." Viktor and Jayce share a Horizon rather than have separate domains, everything they made is attached, and so they also share her.

Jayce winces at the question because Steve is right to be prepared, it is a really difficult topic. "They're where a lot of the workers in Zaun are, and it's heavily polluted. The air is poison. The mines can be lethal. The factories are a little better ... but not by much." The thing is, Jayce has never actually been down there. The only time he went to the Undercity was a violent act that he'll never outrun, but he should have seen the conditions for himself. One of his failures.

"Our city is split into two. Piltover, the most technologically advanced city in the world now thanks to us, and Zaun, the Undercity. Literally underneath Piltover." Metaphors aren't even necessary, it is beneath Piltover, giving a very vivid picture of the way things are without needing to say it.

"Viktor's from Zaun. Our plan after our first successful major project was to pitch as many ideas as we could to improve the Fissures. We weren't able to do it." Before they came here, or if they ever would be able to, he doesn't know. Viktor's dying and Jayce just handed it over to their gang leader. But it gives insight into why they latched onto the situation here immediately. Something they can do. "They make these ones look ... glamorous."

[assembles]

While Steve doesn't quite follow what this Rio is other than a well-beloved pet of some sort, it sounds like it's a situation where he'll just need to see for himself. Jayce offers the invitation into his Horizon (their Horizon, it seems) with little hesitation. Steve has yet to spend much time in there, not sure he wants to be detached from reality for too long, but he nods all the same. He'll probably find his way to their place at one point or another.

That wince from Jayce is enough for Steve to know that he should brace himself for what's to come next. The picture that's painted after that is unfortunately nothing he hasn't heard before. The lower class being exploited and forced into unsafe working conditions for the sake of the people who live above them is a tale as old as time.

And Viktor is from this undercity. Almost immediately, Steve considers if that has anything to do with his physical state, if growing up with literal poison in the air led to his health problems. It seems likely, and also explains why he's so dedicated to making a change. His attention and gaze seem to drift for a moment at that realization, with how relatable he finds it, but he eventually looks back to Jayce.

"It's always good to hear that there are people looking out for the little guy." He smiles briefly, the old memories of that phrase flooding back for a moment, but it's never stopped being true for Steve, regardless of how much bigger his problems have become over the years. "I really hope you're able to get home and make that difference for them."

At least they can transfer some of that knowledge and experience to a good cause here. It's not the same, Steve knows, but the civilians in Abraxas are still worth looking after where they can. They're not the ones who decided to summon them all here.

[hextechhead]

Jayce holds a lot of guilt and responsibility for the entire situation back home that he only made worse, so there's always an element of regret when he thinks or talks about it. He always knew that Viktor's health was tied to his life down there, but he didn't realize it was fatal. It was stupid to willfully be so blind, but the thought of life without his partner was completely impossible. But that is the reality. Viktor asked him to destroy the one thing that could save his life. Jayce doesn't want to go back, or at least not take the chance until he knew for certain they could cure him.

"It's what Viktor cares the most about; helping people, improving lives, changing the world for the better." Jayce can't help talking about Viktor with so much love and pride in his voice, but that has always been true, well before they became anything other than research partners. He doesn't expect himself to be more important than Viktor's ambitions for them both.

"You know when people say the right things but even if the words sound perfect, you know it doesn't ring true? He's one of those rare people where everything he says is true." Jayce can't see himself the same way. He is honest and he is deeply passionate, but he also has become a politician, and it's led him down corrupt pathways he didn't expect. Struggling back up the goodness hill is all he knows now.

He glances over at Steve, smiling. "Sam reminds me of that. We met at the Horizon Town Hall after he gave this compelling speech." Jayce had seen him around, they were both busy people, but he came up to him afterward to meet for real. He's not often inspired by other people, but it came from the heart, and that always works for him. "I guess that's why they both so naturally started helping people here. Improve the world you're in while you're here, I'd say."

That is the plan with the miners and anything else Jayce can do. He rubs the back of his neck. He has a tendency to overthink when he feels like he was too much about something. "Sorry, that was ... a ramble."

[assembles]

There is so much admiration and care in Jayce's voice as he speaks of Viktor, and while he doesn't know either of them particularly well, the strength of their partnership and the good they want to do shines through nonetheless. They're people who are worth getting to know here, and Steve's relieved that Tony has fallen in with them, already gathering how the three can help each other do good work.

It's also a reminder that while it isn't fair that they've all been brought here, that doesn't mean they can't consider ways in which to do good while they're stuck in this world. Steve still thinks it's important to continue investigating ways to get everyone back to their homes (for those who can, and want to), but that isn't going to be a fast process, and making some kind of difference in the meantime is a worthwhile endeavor.

He's quick to nod along as soon as Jayce brings up Sam, because it's true — Steve doesn't know a more genuine, well-meaning person.

"You don't need to apologize. And you're right, Sam is a great guy. He was willing to risk everything to help me, even when we'd only just met, because he felt it was the right thing." There's a pause in which Steve's mouth twitches with a hint of amusement. "And I'm glad to hear he's doing good on the speech front. Guess he's been practicing."

No, it's more that Sam's had that in him all along. But Steve won't resist the urge to throw out a little tease at his friend's expense.

[hextechhead]

Tony has been an interesting personality to throw in their space, someone unlike anyone else Jayce has ever met, but he does bring a lot of life and energy to the mix. Jayce and Viktor are so used to working together that they can often communicate without words or simply do their own things quietly. Jayce has been out-extroverted times ten for the first time in his life and it's a good thing. They never really had much of a chance to collaborate with other people as interested in their work as them, outside of their mentor who often was around just to tell them no.

If only the nicknames would stop. Jayce's one and only wish. That will never come true.

Jayce has really turned his attention to figuring out a life for them here instead of worrying about how to get back or if they should. Although he and Viktor have a far more pressing current problem to focus on. But it would be a relief to do some good here, in a way they might even be capable of doing that they couldn't back home. Jayce had power and authority back home and still no easy solution to the conflict.

"That's another thing they have in common. Viktor put his job, freedom, and life on the line for my vision of Hextech. We'd only exchanged a few words at that point." It was one of the best nights of his life, when they proved Hextech and went down the road of success. He still can't believe the sort of bravery it took, especially for Viktor who had so much more to lose. Viktor's ambitions may have been his motivation, but also, his belief.

"Well he sounded good to me, but he was humble about it." Jayce can tell that Steve is joking about Sam's speeches though. Sam had even said he didn't feel like it was natural to him, at the time. "I don't know where the Summoned would be without him. Stuck in the barracks, maybe, unable to see an easy way out. His deal with Mag made life here easier." Who knows, maybe more people would have felt pressured to work for the army, as that was the free place for everything.

People were capable of coming to Cadens without any help, but the point is they didn't need to thanks to Sam. There was a place to go.

[assembles]

While Steve only has a vague idea of what Hextech is, at this point he's heard enough indirectly from Tony and Viktor to understand the basic concept. A blend of technology and magic seems to be the simplest explanation, and it fits in shockingly well with the type of magic practiced here in Cadens, from what he understands. Which probably explains why Marlo decided to bring the two of them here.

"I guess that he saw something worth risking all of that for," Steve shoots back with a smile. Much like Sam had decided that he was willing to rearrange his entire life because Captain America asked. Sometimes Steve still wonders if that was the right call, given where that path led, but Sam has never shown an inch of regret for it. "And it sounds like it all worked out for the best, too."

Given the strength of their partnership. Steve doesn't doubt that there are difficult times, especially with Viktor's health, but he also knows he isn't close enough to pry into any of that.

It doesn't surprise him to hear Jayce speak of Sam's humble nature. That's his way, all the joking around aside. The rest of what Jayce says rings true, too. Sam's been a guiding light for the Summoned, making sure there's a place for them when they're lost and confused. He even goes out to the barracks to pick up the newbies when he can.

"He's good with people," Steve confirms, breaking away in order to examine more of the sculptures. He pauses in front of one shaped like a beetle to admire the craftsmanship. "Back home he ran a support group for veterans. He took to it like a duck to water."

Lost this tag, found it!!!

[hextechhead]

Jayce laughs. "Yes, he risked it for a revolutionary technological theory ... that almost got us both exiled. It is very similar to New Magic here, except magic is normal here, it was unheard of back home." So in a way, they are working around Hextech, but they don't have access to it the same way. That can be very frustrating. Jayce sees the crystals, he knows exactly what they are, and how important they would be. And yet, he can't get his hand on one yet.

In the trade-off, Jayce can do magic now. All day every day, it is so very real. Sometimes he forgets, it seems too much like a dream, and then he does a spell and it's still an emotional experience for him. He hopes it never becomes something he's too used to.

"We do work remarkably well together, against all odds. I don't look a gift horse in the mouth, that type of harmony among work partners is very rare." It is not his place to comment on the fact there seems to be some disharmony in Steve's group, because that is their business and he hopes it will all even out here. They have plenty of time to work through whatever it was and become a team once more. He's an optimist.

Jayce pauses in front of a wolf. It makes him think of Alucard, who sometimes lives entirely as a wolf, even sleeping in the desert as one. He doubts he would want one of these though. "I can see that, he handled all questions and arguments very calmly. In the face of someone like Goro, that can sometimes be difficult." Jayce himself can keep very calm and even patient with Goro, but in that case, he had to. For Viktor.

"We're all a bit lost, here. It would be easy to break apart instead of stay a community."

[assembles]

Exiled? Well, if magic isn't something that was commonplace or accepted in Jayce and Viktor's home, that might explain why they'd almost faced consequences for their work. People tended to be resistant to change, scared of the unknown, and magic isn't something that can be seamlessly integrated into a society. There are bound to be consequences. Steve assumes that's why Kamar-Taj is accessible to only a select few.

The remark about harmony among work partners does feel pretty on the nose. Steve glances over, maybe a little too sharply, but it's not like he can argue the point. No doubt Jayce has seen the bickering back and forth, their dirty laundry on display for pretty much any Summoned to read if they decided they were interested.

"It's good when you have it, though. Hold onto it if you can." Not just with Viktor, but with Tony. Despite everything, Steve is relieved that Tony has people he can work alongside, who won't let him fall back into some of his more destructive habits. (Hopefully. It's also possible they all enable each other.)

As for Sam, it sounds like he's got a lot of experience dealing with that Goro guy by now. He'd had to navigate all sorts of personalities back home too, so none of this really surprises Steve.

"We've also got various governments trying to pitch us against each other. I don't expect their methods to really work as intended, but some people are more easily influenced than others. Especially if they're being promised something, or having something held over their heads."

He doubts this is anything Jayce doesn't already know, of course. It's been good to see such strong bonds among the Free Cities' Summoned nonetheless.

mea culpa i suck

[hextechhead]

If they hadn't proven the theory, they would both be exiled, no question about it. That was the risk they took because they truly believed they were right, and they were the two brightest minds at the academy. Not only because they were genuinely geniuses, but because they were willing to take risks and push hard to make progress happen. People were very afraid of change. Even Heimerdinger, or especially Heimerdinger, was terrified of the downside of everything they did.

"We've been going seven years now. Neither of us had much luck with other people beforehand. It's why I never told anyone else about my work." So he's not being pointed in that he's saying the Avengers are the only example of disharmony. Jayce worked with countless other students and professors at his time in the academy. Most people looked right over Viktor. Jayce never had anyone to share his ambition or his idea. It was very isolating and frustrating, so he values their harmony a great deal.

As for Tony, so far it's been pretty harmonious. It helps that Jayce and Viktor more or less are a unit, so it's impossible to destabilize them, it's very grounded in that workshop. The only thing Jayce doesn't like are the nicknames, but that's a pretty unimportant detail.

"Thorne's more obvious about it, basically keeping people captive in the castle and not allowing them to leave, but Free Cities is watching us too. If they think they need to apply pressure on us to get what they want, I have no doubt they will." It's a grim mindset but also the type of one people should have if they want to be ready for what comes ahead. Jayce is an optimist but he can be very pragmatic. It is why he might've been a good leader, given less of a contentious time period in charge.

"But I think they'll find that people can be very strong when united against a common foe. Putting us into that position would be unwise."

you do not suck <3 but we should probably wrap soon

[assembles]

With the way that Jayce describes it, Steve can't help but think of Tony and Bruce. This seems to be a common occurrence, with people who are too smart for their own good being isolated from others as a result. When Tony and Bruce had found each other it had been like something finally clicked into place for the both of them. Sometimes that hadn't always led to good things (Ultron, anyone?), but they had accomplished a great deal together.

Hopefully Viktor and Jayce don't end up straying off the path into the wrong kind of science. So far, so good, from the sound of it.

As for the rest of the Summoned, Steve isn't sure how much he can do about those who are in Thorne from here. That seems better left to the likes of Stephen Strange, while he and Sam focus on the larger contingent of Summoned in Cadens. "So far all they've done is ask nicely for our cooperation, but you're right. That could change at any time, especially if they get desperate." It's something they should be prepared for, at least, and Steve plans to do his best to be a grounding force if it ever gets to that point.

Either way, it seems they've strayed pretty far from discussion of what sculptures to purchase. Steve places a hand on his hip, glancing off for a moment before refocusing on Jayce.

"You've got a good head on your shoulders, Jayce. If anything comes up with the miners that you need help with, you just let me know."

Agreed! THANK YOU

[hextechhead]

"There's a reason they brought us here. I usually like to think the best of people, but it's good to be prepared." Jayce is the optimist, Viktor is the pragmatist. They balance each other that way, although sometimes it is flipped around, depending on the subject. They definitely have qualities in common with Bruce and Tony though, it's a good comparison. Maybe that is why Tony has settled in well with them, it feels familiar.

It's ridiculous that Jayce still is someone who feels a rush of warmth in his chest whenever he's complimented. But in his defense, Steve has a sort of energy of someone you'd want to be complimented by. "Thank you, Steve, I would say the same for you, obviously." He smiles genuinely. "I will, and thank you, for the statue thoughts."