[Blinking wide he cannot help the hushed bit of laughter which erupts under his breath as he rubs the back of his neck a bit awkwardly in return. Ekko was used to taking the good with the bad nowadays, a man in his position had to be optimistic for the sake of his people. For he would not stand idly by whilst both the Firelights and the citizens of Zaun were made to suffer under the iron grip of a tyrant. His decision was made easily when faced with either the option to succumb to Silco's rule or fight against him in rebellion. It was an arduous journey not without its trials and tribulations but Ekko was tired of running in fear.]
I'm kind of used to it...Back home a lot of people look to me for guidance so I have no choice but to try and look on the bright side of things even when they are bleak.
[A hand moves to pat the side of his feathered friends neck as it coo's out happily causing the boy savior to smile sincerely in turn before shifting his attention back towards his newfound counterpart.]
[ Honestly, it wasn't all that bad of an attempt. But Ange is so naturally pessimistic that she has a hard time believing in anything that seems too optimistic-- Though she at least seems to appreciate Ekko's attempt enough to not immediately dismiss it the way she might have done with a stranger she'd like less than him.
It's nice by Ange's standards. I promise. ]
It's kind of interesting that you're some sort of leader back home though. I don't think we have a lot of those here. Or if we do, then they're pretty ineffective. [ Because the chosen as a group? They're just chaos incarnate, and Ange knows it. There's not a little bit of leadership or common grounds in that.
She feels like she's been here for long enough now to tell. ]
[Ekko beaming a confidant grin as he optimistically broaches the subject playfully teasing the other a bit. If nothing else the boy savior tried his best to remain positive despite the situation they found themselves, not one to cast despair easily no matter how bleak. He was used to fighting with the odds stacked against him back home so why should it be any different here in Aldrip?
When Ange mentions the fact that he seemingly takes on a leadership role he nods in agreement, a hushed bit of laughter ushered forth at the latter sentiment with a shrug of his shoulders.]
Perhaps none of them are up to the task but maybe we can change the tides here and unite those who also wish to return back to our homes.
[A solemn sigh as he looks away for a moment.]
Then again...There will always be someone who opposes us.
[Knowing that all too well given the resistance he fought back home in Runeterra, Silco and his cronies the very reason he created the Firelights in the first place.]
.. Sounds like there were people against your cause before.
[ It's not difficult to notice with what he's saying. And in a way-- just like Ekko himself is pointing out, it's natural. Whenever there's going to be a side, there will inevitably always be people on the opposite side, no matter how natural you think it is to believe your own side is the default option.
Even though she doesn't think anyone here is truly on the Council's side.
She sure hopes not, anyway.
Still-- ]
Is that something I have to worry about? You haven't been lying straight to the face of a young, innocent girl like me yet, have you? [ At least her tone doesn't sound too serious as she says it.
[A simple nod of his head is given in rebuttal to Ange's response as a somber look strikes true over Ekko's features thinking about the situation at large back home once again. Things were looking quite bleak after the recent turn of events as the boy savior simply bided his time letting the newfound wounds heal whilst the walls crumbed around him. Unknowingly to him at the moment his confidants had been captured along with the attack Jinx enacted against the Council which was likely to cause civil unrest or even worse all out war between Zaun and Piltover now.]
You tend to collect enemies like trinkets when you're going against the grain trying to take down a corrupt tyrant.
[That's all Ekko would reveal about his current predicament in fear of the unknown, not one to be very trusting of newcomers who could very much be aligned with the likes of his enemies. Ange's latter sentiment causes a bit of an amused smirk to form over his lips, hushed bit of laughter erupting out with a shake of his head.]
I have no reason to lie to you. Besides that isn't really my style anyways, you want the one who I am opposed to for that he's the one with the silver tongue.
[ Sheesh. Fighting a tyrant? Some.. lying tyrant, judging by the last part of what Ekko is saying, or at least a tyrant that seems to have convinced people into accepting him?
It feels like a wild story compared to her own situation. Not that that one isn't wild, but.. well, it's wild on a different level. It doesn't really have to do with fighting a tyrant, after all. Ange doesn't even really doubt his story. Not that she knows for sure he's telling the truth, she mostly just thinks this would be a weird thing to lie about to a total stranger after arriving in a different world. ]
Alright, tyrant-fighter.
[ It's said a little dryly, but Ange doesn't mean it badly. If that's really what he's doing, it's pretty admirable in its own way. ]
I guess it'll be natural then for you to fight our tyrants here, since the Council is pretty much like that as well. Corrupt. Lying about their intentions. Subjecting us to all sorts of dumb stuff for no reason at all. It sounds like it's perfectly up your alley with that experience.
[Life was pretty wild back home in Zaun without a moment of reprieve either, constantly having to remain vigilant with each day that passed. Things were especially volatile right now after Jinx’s attack on the Enforcers, countless people dead in the onslaught, Ekko barely coming out alive himself. He had no idea what the future would hold in store for him upon returning to Runeterra but was not very hopeful in a peaceful outcome, the Council having already grown weary of the Undercities recent activities. It was only a matter of time before the uneasy tension between Piltover and Zaun boiled over leading to civil unrest.
The appointed title causes the boy to chuckle modestly under his breath, shrugging shoulders with a curt nod. It wasn't untrue he supposed but nevertheless it was still odd to hear it, not one to put himself on a pedestal being quite modest in his accomplishments. He never did it for praise but rather the genuine good it achieved for his people.]
Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me here.
[Ekko curious to know more about this Council now if they were to be his primary concern here in Aldrip.]
So about this Council…You say they subject us to their brand of bullshit but what exactly does that entail?
They hand out sentencing, pretending that we need to somehow make up for the crimes we committed.
[ Ange is definitely saying the word crimes like it has some massive air quotes around it. """Crimes.""" You get the gist. ]
So they make some representative of theirs show up and drag you to come see them, and then they hand you some sort of weird task that doesn't even make sense. Sometimes they force people into compulsory honesty. Sometimes they force people to make friends or whatever. It's really annoying and weird. [ Especially since Ange, of all people, would find being forced to make friends annoying and weird.. That sounds like the worst kind of punishment possible to her, actually. ] And if you fail to do what they're making you do, then you get punished for it in some way, like losing your powers for a while.
[ The the bridge of the girl's nose is a little wrinkled as she speaks of all of this - like she's kind of annoyed, or halfway to a pout. She clearly isn't a fan of any of this. ]
[It seems like this Council is somehow worse than the one he's accustomed to back home in Piltover. Although they viewed themselves as the rightful authority in the city-state they would not stoop so low as to force its citizens to punishments they did not commit unless they were somehow being bribed by Silco which honestly wouldn't surprise him one bit. The Enforcers were in his back pocket so why couldn't they be as well?
Ekko rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest unenthusiastically letting out a scoff as he tilts his head to one side.]
So what you're telling me is they expect us to play by the rules but don't themselves. Sounds about right.
[Shaking his head as the attention shifts back to the chocobo at his side for a moment, scratching under its chin as it mewls out whimsically. A solemn sigh escapes him, patting the giant bird on the side of its torso.]
It's time for me to get going buddy but I'll come visit again soon, alright?
[It seems reluctant to leave his side at first as Ekko gives his newfound companion one last petting before he crosses the threshold of the fence, hopping over with ease to stand at Ange's side now shoving both hands deep into his jacket.]
Guess I'll just have to work extra hard to keep my nose clean and if I do end up getting my hands dirty just not get caught, huh?
[ Dang. Ekko is taking it seriously enough that he's even willing to abandon his newfound buddy for a bit here, huh? Color Ange impressed, especially when she's so used to people not taking her warnings about this place seriously.
Finally someone with a decent brain has arrived, apparently. ]
That sounds about right.
[ The girl doesn't seem fazed at all by the idea of him getting his hands dirty. Ange knows that change often doesn't come easy - and it's not like she wouldn't kick the asses of the beings in charge here if she got the chance. ]
You have to be careful to keep yourself out of trouble. [ And at risk of that sounding like she may not want him to get caught on a personal level, like she cares, Ange quickly adds, flipping her hair a little-- ] I mean, you sound like you could be valuable to the cause of getting us out of here. That's why I don't want anything to happen to you.
[Ekko often heeds the warnings of others even if he didn't always adhere to their wisdom and follow through with it. However; Here and now the boy had little choice but to accept Ange's console with his considerable lack of knowledge unto this place. In due time he would learn about this foreign world's customs along with its dangers but for now would differ to his counterpart's better judgement.
Sighing solemnly at the others word of caution he slicks a hand through his tethered white curls nodding reluctantly in understanding. He was lucky enough to meet someone who was so willing to help him better acknowledge the in's and outs of this newfound place and would not take her suggestions for granted.]
I'll take your word for it I suppose...Thanks Ange.
[It wasn't often he thanked people so willingly so that's a compliment in itself, blinking wide with a tilt of his head as she covers up her tracks of the sentimental remark. Crossing arms over his chest an amused smirk washes over his features, if he didn't know any better the boy savior might have thought she was actually worried about him.]
You think I can truly make a difference here, huh? I'm flattered.
Maybe a little bit too quickly, but Ange will gladly take any excuse at all to move on from the specific words she just said, before he gets the idea that she cares or anything. She doesn't want to have to answer questions about that. Nope. Nuh-uh. Moving on to answering his question as quickly as possible to keep the conversation moving it is. ]
The bar is pretty low at this point. Just being interested in changing anything here at all already gives me higher expectations of you than most people here. Sometimes it doesn't feel like there are a lot of people who think like me. [ And while she can't say for sure yet whether or not Ekko fully thinks like her, there does at least seem to be some overlap.
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expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am
no subject
I'm kind of used to it...Back home a lot of people look to me for guidance so I have no choice but to try and look on the bright side of things even when they are bleak.
[A hand moves to pat the side of his feathered friends neck as it coo's out happily causing the boy savior to smile sincerely in turn before shifting his attention back towards his newfound counterpart.]
Did it work?
no subject
The jury's still out on that one.
[ Honestly, it wasn't all that bad of an attempt. But Ange is so naturally pessimistic that she has a hard time believing in anything that seems too optimistic-- Though she at least seems to appreciate Ekko's attempt enough to not immediately dismiss it the way she might have done with a stranger she'd like less than him.
It's nice by Ange's standards. I promise. ]
It's kind of interesting that you're some sort of leader back home though. I don't think we have a lot of those here. Or if we do, then they're pretty ineffective. [ Because the chosen as a group? They're just chaos incarnate, and Ange knows it. There's not a little bit of leadership or common grounds in that.
She feels like she's been here for long enough now to tell. ]
no subject
[Ekko beaming a confidant grin as he optimistically broaches the subject playfully teasing the other a bit. If nothing else the boy savior tried his best to remain positive despite the situation they found themselves, not one to cast despair easily no matter how bleak. He was used to fighting with the odds stacked against him back home so why should it be any different here in Aldrip?
When Ange mentions the fact that he seemingly takes on a leadership role he nods in agreement, a hushed bit of laughter ushered forth at the latter sentiment with a shrug of his shoulders.]
Perhaps none of them are up to the task but maybe we can change the tides here and unite those who also wish to return back to our homes.
[A solemn sigh as he looks away for a moment.]
Then again...There will always be someone who opposes us.
[Knowing that all too well given the resistance he fought back home in Runeterra, Silco and his cronies the very reason he created the Firelights in the first place.]
no subject
[ It's not difficult to notice with what he's saying. And in a way-- just like Ekko himself is pointing out, it's natural. Whenever there's going to be a side, there will inevitably always be people on the opposite side, no matter how natural you think it is to believe your own side is the default option.
Even though she doesn't think anyone here is truly on the Council's side.
She sure hopes not, anyway.
Still-- ]
Is that something I have to worry about? You haven't been lying straight to the face of a young, innocent girl like me yet, have you? [ At least her tone doesn't sound too serious as she says it.
Like Ange isn't genuinely worried about it. ]
no subject
You tend to collect enemies like trinkets when you're going against the grain trying to take down a corrupt tyrant.
[That's all Ekko would reveal about his current predicament in fear of the unknown, not one to be very trusting of newcomers who could very much be aligned with the likes of his enemies. Ange's latter sentiment causes a bit of an amused smirk to form over his lips, hushed bit of laughter erupting out with a shake of his head.]
I have no reason to lie to you. Besides that isn't really my style anyways, you want the one who I am opposed to for that he's the one with the silver tongue.
no subject
It feels like a wild story compared to her own situation. Not that that one isn't wild, but.. well, it's wild on a different level. It doesn't really have to do with fighting a tyrant, after all. Ange doesn't even really doubt his story. Not that she knows for sure he's telling the truth, she mostly just thinks this would be a weird thing to lie about to a total stranger after arriving in a different world. ]
Alright, tyrant-fighter.
[ It's said a little dryly, but Ange doesn't mean it badly. If that's really what he's doing, it's pretty admirable in its own way. ]
I guess it'll be natural then for you to fight our tyrants here, since the Council is pretty much like that as well. Corrupt. Lying about their intentions. Subjecting us to all sorts of dumb stuff for no reason at all. It sounds like it's perfectly up your alley with that experience.
no subject
The appointed title causes the boy to chuckle modestly under his breath, shrugging shoulders with a curt nod. It wasn't untrue he supposed but nevertheless it was still odd to hear it, not one to put himself on a pedestal being quite modest in his accomplishments. He never did it for praise but rather the genuine good it achieved for his people.]
Sounds like I've got my work cut out for me here.
[Ekko curious to know more about this Council now if they were to be his primary concern here in Aldrip.]
So about this Council…You say they subject us to their brand of bullshit but what exactly does that entail?
no subject
[ Ange is definitely saying the word crimes like it has some massive air quotes around it. """Crimes.""" You get the gist. ]
So they make some representative of theirs show up and drag you to come see them, and then they hand you some sort of weird task that doesn't even make sense. Sometimes they force people into compulsory honesty. Sometimes they force people to make friends or whatever. It's really annoying and weird. [ Especially since Ange, of all people, would find being forced to make friends annoying and weird.. That sounds like the worst kind of punishment possible to her, actually. ] And if you fail to do what they're making you do, then you get punished for it in some way, like losing your powers for a while.
[ The the bridge of the girl's nose is a little wrinkled as she speaks of all of this - like she's kind of annoyed, or halfway to a pout. She clearly isn't a fan of any of this. ]
no subject
Ekko rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest unenthusiastically letting out a scoff as he tilts his head to one side.]
So what you're telling me is they expect us to play by the rules but don't themselves. Sounds about right.
[Shaking his head as the attention shifts back to the chocobo at his side for a moment, scratching under its chin as it mewls out whimsically. A solemn sigh escapes him, patting the giant bird on the side of its torso.]
It's time for me to get going buddy but I'll come visit again soon, alright?
[It seems reluctant to leave his side at first as Ekko gives his newfound companion one last petting before he crosses the threshold of the fence, hopping over with ease to stand at Ange's side now shoving both hands deep into his jacket.]
Guess I'll just have to work extra hard to keep my nose clean and if I do end up getting my hands dirty just not get caught, huh?
no subject
Finally someone with a decent brain has arrived, apparently. ]
That sounds about right.
[ The girl doesn't seem fazed at all by the idea of him getting his hands dirty. Ange knows that change often doesn't come easy - and it's not like she wouldn't kick the asses of the beings in charge here if she got the chance. ]
You have to be careful to keep yourself out of trouble. [ And at risk of that sounding like she may not want him to get caught on a personal level, like she cares, Ange quickly adds, flipping her hair a little-- ] I mean, you sound like you could be valuable to the cause of getting us out of here. That's why I don't want anything to happen to you.
[ D-Don't misunderstand!! ]
no subject
Sighing solemnly at the others word of caution he slicks a hand through his tethered white curls nodding reluctantly in understanding. He was lucky enough to meet someone who was so willing to help him better acknowledge the in's and outs of this newfound place and would not take her suggestions for granted.]
I'll take your word for it I suppose...Thanks Ange.
[It wasn't often he thanked people so willingly so that's a compliment in itself, blinking wide with a tilt of his head as she covers up her tracks of the sentimental remark. Crossing arms over his chest an amused smirk washes over his features, if he didn't know any better the boy savior might have thought she was actually worried about him.]
You think I can truly make a difference here, huh? I'm flattered.
no subject
Maybe a little bit too quickly, but Ange will gladly take any excuse at all to move on from the specific words she just said, before he gets the idea that she cares or anything. She doesn't want to have to answer questions about that. Nope. Nuh-uh. Moving on to answering his question as quickly as possible to keep the conversation moving it is. ]
The bar is pretty low at this point. Just being interested in changing anything here at all already gives me higher expectations of you than most people here. Sometimes it doesn't feel like there are a lot of people who think like me. [ And while she can't say for sure yet whether or not Ekko fully thinks like her, there does at least seem to be some overlap.
That's worth something to Ange. ]