[Audio / Pre-Event because I'm great at timing guys]

[purplexing]

Soooo.... Has anyone else bothered to try tapping into the creepy networks around here outside of the Convoy one? Then again I guess there's very little around here that isn't creepy.

Actually I wouldn't recommend it given it starts messing with things pretty bad. Not nearly enough to damage a computer system, thankfully, but I had to do a hard reset to clear out the screen. Kind of glad I didn't try it with my own computer- I mean, my firewalls and security are top-notch but I don't think what's coming through is...normal.

[One can practically picture the look of distaste as he says it. Ugh he hates this place.]

And those tiny screen talisman things are cute but I don't know if their dying message is something to be concerned about.

Comments

[purplexing]

...cool.

[It's only one word, but he understands it to be no small feat, making a forge of any operational order.]

I can use my mystic-tech for one, but it probably wouldn't work out very well between my having to concentrate on holding everything to function and simultaneously banging anything out. ...but maybe if you're doing the physical part, we can get more parts together to make your forge fully functional.

I'm in the market for a new staff- collapsible. I can melt down metal into more manageable pieces if you can help with that.

[hexrot]

[ "mystic-tech". that makes jayce's eyes lift in a way that could only be described as surprise, then distant nostalgia. the plan thereafter seems plausible enough that it finally gets the whiskers of jayce's upper lip to twinge and follow his small smile. ]

I've made plenty of collapsibles in my time. [ coupled with his creations to help viktor's mobility, a staff wouldn't be too far off his knowledge. he could make something satisfying. ] If you get the parts [ for the forge, ], and the materials [ for his staff, ], leave the rest to me.

[ melting, moulding— it'll give him something to do. and he'll make a damn good collapsible staff. ]

[purplexing]

[That makes Donnie smile in turn.]

The weapon I used to have was collapsible- my tech-bō. Military-grade titanium, had just about everything I could think to cram into it- a buzz saw, a laser rifle, flame thrower....

[He sighs wistfully.]

Not looking to make another, it'd never be the same- but I must need one that I can stow and carry easier than a full-length staff. Bonus points if I can get a blade in it, but I'll settle for without.

Let me see what you've got for your forge so I know what all else you need, and I'll get started on melting down what scrap I've collected.

[hexrot]

[ jayce's expression shifts subtly, has a complicated relationship with building weapons. counting that it was weaponizing hextech that was the problem, and given their situation and the dangers surrounding them— being against it would not only be counterproductive to their survival, but also a bit hypocritical. he walked around with a giant fucking hammer with lasers, for the gods' sake.

but he too, was a kid once. and the very reason why his hammer had lasers to begin with, so while his brows raise briefly, it's only a bemused lift. ]

I won't ask how you had access to that military grade titanium.

[ it was difficult even for jayce to get proper metals without the funding, and to do that, he hand to bend himself into uncomfortable shapes and show pony around, favor the corrupt . . . reality sucks. either way, jayce gestures for donnie to follow, should he want to see the forge. ]

I could do a blade with our resources. [ there's something that itches the back of his mind giving a young adult a weapon yet he knows the circumstance is completely different. so out of a heavy conscience wanting to be lifted: ] You look responsible as is, and more than capable, [ he gestures to everything around them. it's impressive. ] so I'm givving you a vote of confidence.

[purplexing]

[Raised by a martial artist who slacked a lot on his fatherly duties, Donnie had a lot of free rein to do what he pleased, and while he spent a lot of his time and efforts making sure his family was comfortable and safe, his personal projects let him indulge and further test his technical skill. When the rest of his brothers discovered magical weapons, he leaned ever harder into his precious tech. But magic's a part of him too, now...

Donnie only smiles when Jayce mentions the titanium. Who knows what illicit online activities he's gotten into.

Shutting computer things down, he gets up to follow, letting Jayce lead the way down the ramp so he can close up after them.]

Hey, Leo was running around with swords for how long and I would hardly have called him responsible then. ...he's changed a lot though.

....don't tell him I said that.

[hexrot]

[ jayce was an only child growing up, and the closest he's had to a sibling was cait. friendships never came easy to him despite his charisma, but the true jayce was a little too obbsessive when it came to magic and rocks that it's not that interesting for others . . . until he found someone to share it with.

jayce gives a huh as he pulls his hooves along, a tremoring strain in his left when it bears his weight more than his right, using the limp. ]

Now I've heard that somewhere before . . .

[ the answer ]

[purplexing]

[Donnie finds himself studying the way Jayce moves, brow arching at how much of a task it seems to be for him. Injury, or something else..? The man hadn't moved all that great when they'd first met either, but then Donnie had suspected that was largely due to the ice. Maybe a lingering problem from the fall then?

He blinks.]

Heard what.

wow dw ate like half of my tag LMAO

[hexrot]

[ he's had the leg brace since then, so— longtime injury. and with everything so stiff when you're essentially dead, it does put a toll on his mobility all the more. ]

Your brother says good things about you, too.

wow DW rude! lol I was thinking that last line was kinda weird but then I forgot to ask about itjafj

[purplexing]

[Oh don't tell him the latter, not when his brother's falling apart before his eyes...

Although speaking of.

Donnie blinks, taking a moment because those words don't seem to go together, but then it isn't something he's heard very often. So having someone from outside of the family saying as much gives it more weight.]

Yeah..?

[It stokes a warmth in his chest, a smile faintly touching his face at that.]

BEGONE HUNGRY DREAMWIDTH!

[hexrot]

Yeah.

[ just let that sink in. jayce can feel the warmth from here despite being rather chilled to the bone, so he allows for the walk to continue in mild silence until they find his truck— a great big pick up that shimmers iridescence like a pretty gasoline spill. on the back of the truck is a work in progress in jayce's eyes, but it actually looks good. scrap metal, iron, some wires and wood have been strung together to create an ingenious, portable forge, complete with a tuyres, hood, hearth and quenching tank. the air pump is getting a tweak, but should work as a lever to blow air into the kindling coals that can be raised to shoulder level and pulled in and out, away from the fire.

jayce runs his hand along the side; smithing was his time alone, his time to stew and work his ideas, replenish his energies. there was only one time he thinks it didn't bring him any pride or calm, but he wishes to extinguish the thought and the regret. make new things that can help; that he could actually be proud of. ]

This is it.

[purplexing]

[It stirs up complicated feelings, but on the whole, Donnie feels good to hear it. But he can't help but wonder if Leo'd said such things because he believed he would never see them again, and it's a sobering thought.

Well, he's here now, and he's not leaving Leo alone.

The silence is all too easily grounds for thoughts to start up again, and as they continue, he can only refocus on Jayce, watching how he moves, the limp, trying to make his assessments. It seems terribly impractical to keep on like that, and he's not sure if it's just been a matter of resources or time.

He slips his phone out to surreptitiously take a couple of pictures because that's not weird or anything.

His first actual glimpse of the truck makes Donnie grimace as he tries to work out the aesthetic. It takes some effort to tear his eyes away from the truck itself to focus on what they'd actually come to see, but once he does see the forge, he's scurrying over for a closer look.

Given their circumstances, what Jayce has managed to put together is impressive. Donnie wanders around it for full inspection, less subtle of his picture taking as he gathers his reference material.]

All things considered, this is incredible!

[Proof that post-apocalyptic chic doesn't have to look like complete trash!]

[hexrot]

[ at least jayce doesn't care about washing it, so its collected plenty of dust, mudstains and especially some . . . weird splatter on the cargo bed, but we don't ever need to talk about that. ]

Thanks, [ but he's . . . noticing, there are shots being taken. cameras were a little bulky in runeterra, but it follows the same mechanism, the same click and perhaps not so apparent flash; jayce's ears twitch, and the slick black of the bottom of his nose causes the bud to twinge. ] I guess— If you want blueprints, I've no qualms sharing.

[ the ford forge is what he's snapping picks of . . . right ]

[purplexing]

[Yes of course, totally taking pictures of the forge. But if Jayce's leg happens to be in the shot, well, he's not going to edit it out or anything.]

Oh! Yes, blueprints would be nice.

I don't know how easy it'd be to get it warmed up for doing anything to have a better idea of how everything works together and what might need some bolstering, so I won't trouble you to do it now. But let me know when you've got something to work on so I can come see it in action. [Maybe he can help? Hands-on learning, he loves that.]

In the meantime, if you can give me a rundown of what you think would help make it better, we can start planning.

Also I've been meaning to ask but what's up with the leg?

[Donnie plz.]

[hexrot]

[ it was taking long enough. jayce isn't exactly privy to being open about what actually happened— he's only ever told viktor. he gives donnie an extended look before busying himself with the back of the truck.

he also tells himself that he should have a little patience, he's just a kid, despite a part of him feeling close to irked. close. he has no actual reason to feel that way, yet. body language does show that he's closing off. ]

Fracture didn't sit right.

[ now the bone is just— wrong. and there's no really fixing it when he's a lost cause for medical supplies. it's likely that if he breaks the bone again, it'll stay broken. he just has to live with it, now. ]

[purplexing]

[Unfortunately Donnie is not versed in the art of reading people. But the answer is enough of an explanation that he winces.]

Oh.

[Like most everything else, Donnie's knowledge of medical anything is self-taught and researched, but he knows how important it is to get a bone to heal right. Fixing something like that isn't painless and given the current circumstances, risky. Even without fully understanding the depth of Jayce's transformation, having any sort of broken limb will just make things more difficult with how unpredictable things can be around here.]

...sorry [He adds in afterthought, looking away awkwardly. Okay, so he's not that great with the whole people thing in general, it seems.]

[hexrot]

[ don't make him feel— oh, gods damn it. happening already. jayce's gaze keeps fixed for only a moment before he sighs out, relieving the tension off of his shoulders. ]

. . . It's fine, kid.

[ he's got his blueprints somewhere around here, made from paper scraps and dusty notepads he'd pull off of gas station counters. after some rummaging, he hands the framework on about three separate pieces of paper the signature JT that looks awfully like a pi sign. nerd. ]

Here— that way you don't need any half assed pictures.

[ he's not about to gatekeep something like this; and if it can help anyone here, by all means. ]

[purplexing]

[Donnie breathes out a quiet sigh once Jayce turns away to look for his blueprints. He watches him for a moment more, particularly how his balance is managed when he's not walking around.

He's back to studying the forge again when Jayce has the slips of paper in hand. The turtle teen takes them, making a face before he snorts.]

Hey, my pictures are quality reference photos. But these will be most helpful.

[hexrot]

[ hah, he huffs quietly, ]

Whenever you have the parts, then. You can bring them over.

[ the way jayce balances his weight is all wrong, actually. even now, when he faces donnie. he severely compensates his left with his right, and in turn that puts strain on the good leg, to the point that it might as well be in the same pain. he only doesn't get terrible laminitis because he's already dead. ]

[purplexing]

[At this rate he may as well make two braces if he can get together parts for them. He looks at the blueprints, deciding paper of some kind would also be good to get his hands on for himself. He doesn't have anything to backup his files, after all.]

Sure thing.