epidemiology | ❝CLOSED❞ a serial killer and a thief walk into a library

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❝CLOSED❞ a serial killer and a thief walk into a library

CHARACTERS: Jhin (

fateality)
DATE: Jan 5
WARNINGS: None?
SUMMARY: The two dudes from Runeterra meet.

The entire ordeal of not being on Runeterra anymore was unfortunate. There was so much to do and now no ability to do them. Other realms, other worlds hadn't come as a shock, what had was the idea that he somehow managed to fall through some form of rift. Something to look into if the library of this place held any kind of information on it. Learning anything of this place or the other places that connected to this would be beneficial for at the very least shaping the mask he'd need to wear.

Acting blindly on a new stage was poor performance, and something he could not allow himself to do.

Jhin finds his way to the library, spending a brief moment to look over the light source he'd been given. Seemed like it would give him plenty of time to read as much as he wanted or needed. Perfect.

For the next few hours he can be found sitting halfway up a ladder, reading books varying from magics to cultures.

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As Jhin spends the next few hours reading and researching, he's mostly alone.

Mostly.

Eventually, he'll hear humming echoing through the library, and seated at one of the tables is Twisted Fate, sitting back and relaxing as he seems to be focused on hemming and adjusting his ALASTAIR uniform. They've been all given a set, but he's definitely taking some liberties with his -- considering the high quality of the material. He's not shying away from using silks, no sir.

All that bartering in Perdition's Rest is paying off.

What he's uncovered so far about the magics of various other worlds is fascinating, but not nearly as helpful as the information he's been reading about the other worlds. He can't help but wonder if the library holds any books on Runeterra, but before he can even consider looking his thoughts are interrupted by the sound of humming.

Not the best humming he's ever heard, but at least the sound isn't painful... For the moment.

He looks over his surroundings from upon his perch, spotting a man altering one of the lackluster uniforms this place offered. Interest piqued he descends from his ladder and wanders over. Speaking with another would also help in his shaping a proper mask.

"Are these uniforms even worth wasting silk on."

The new voice doesn't startle Twisted Fate. Instead, he just smiles sharply as he continues to focus on making his adjustments.

"You tell me, stranger: do I wanna look good while we're off runnin' around on new worlds playin' hero? Or do I want to look scruffy and cheap?"

He peers up from under the brim of his hat, the glow of an eye peeking out. "To each their own, I suppose. In any case, I got plenty where we were from last."

"That's assuming silk can even salvage the look of the thing." Really a completely different uniform design would be needed, he thinks. He certainly does not look forward to having to wear his own.

"Though I suppose if your only concern is not looking cheap, silk does work. Doesn't much save it from the disastrous colour."

Far too much purple. Whoever designed the uniforms had no understanding for proper art. Had no understanding on how to make something look good and be functional for what was needed.

"Not a whole lot a person can really do 'bout the color. I'm more of the red, black, and gold kind of guy, and not a lot of that really gets into the mix of the thing. Shame, too."

He grins in the middle of his work. "They can't make me keep the hat off, though. So I guess I got that goin' for me. Least it's nice knowin' someone else has a bit of a fuss about it, but I don't reckon ALASTAIR's too concerned about feedback right now."

"I take it they don't take well to people dyeing the uniforms?"

Or ignoring the uniform completely and wearing something else, or making your own. Shame feedback wouldn't really get anywhere, considering they were stuck here. Mostly that he was stuck here.

Jhin shakes his head, "Can't say your hat really goes with that attire." What the man was currently wearing, yes, it fit quite well. But with the uniform? He ought to consider getting another hat, if he truly wished to wear one.

"I don't reckon they're gonna punish someone for taking some artistic license. But it does kind of piss over the idea of this bein' a team an' whatnot."

Which is still a concept he's still trying to work out in his own way. He'd been fine a few months ago just playing nice on the outskirts of it all, but it's getting considerably more difficult with Koltira as honorable as he is.

He shrugs, grinning at the stranger. "I only got a few, but none of 'em really match. Not happy about it, but I'd rather have it with me than not. So I guess we'll both suffer a bit of fashion disruption."

"Ah yes, everyone is supposed to be a team." Right. That one fact that he had pushed into the back of his thoughts since he arrived. Teamwork was not his thing, yes he'd worked plenty with others throughout his life, setting up the stage and ensuring everything went as intended. But that hardly meant that he enjoyed working with others, or agreed with it. More people to work with meant more people to ruin the scene. More ways for things to be imperfect.

This was an act he was not looking forward to having to do again.

"Teams hardly need to wear the same thing, though they clearly think otherwise."

He stares at the man's hat, thinking for a moment before shaking his head.

"Shame."

"It's quaint, but that's how it rolls around here. At least the last mission, we got to be pretty flexible with it. In any case, you're stuck with it now, whether y'like it or not." Really, he didn't have to even change his wardrobe all that much.

"Can't answer that one. Maybe it's gotta do with their reputation. Seems they have one."

Twisted Fate doesn't even take any offense; he chuckles and gives a little shrug. "Tell you what, stranger: you find me somethin' that properly matches, then I'll gladly wear it."

"I am well aware," he sighs, folding his arms. This was far from ideal for him, but there was little choice in the matter. Joining up held more advantages than not, and he'd be foolish to ignore that.

The offer of sorts gets a very brief sound of amusement from Jhin. Him find this man a hat? For the sole reason of not having to look at the one he was currently wearing being matched up with his uniform. He would absolutely not go out of his way for such a thing. He would likely forget about it soon enough, provided the man wasn't directly in his sights.

"I would not get your hopes up, unless these missions have an abundance of hats. In which case, I would have to question why you have not found one yet."

A pause. Four seconds.

"You could always alter the one you have."

"Couldn't rightly say. I've only been on one mission, and that lasted a few months. I've heard stories 'bout the others, and not all of them include civilization."

The suggestion at altering his current hat earns a sharp laugh, and Fate peers from under the brim. "Funny joke. Careful, someone might think that was an idea."

So that's a no.

"What's your name, new guy?"

A mission that lasted a few months? He wonders if that's the norm, or if missions tended to last longer, or preferably, shorter. Having to do whatever heroics for such extended periods of time sounded exhausting.

"Sounds like quite the experience."

One he would hopefully not have just yet.

"You sound rather attached." He offers a slight smile, "That can't be good for you." Not as though he's one to talk, considering he can be the same way, at least when it comes to his mask. Of course, were anything to ever happen to it, he could always make another. Didn't mean he didn't take extreme care of it.

The question is met with a half bow, as polite as Jhin's feeling for the moment. "Khada Jhin. It's a pleasure."

"I like the things that I buy with my hard earned money." The remark doesn't bother him, particularly; it's a little materialistic, but Twisted Fate does pride himself in what he's able to afford now.

The bow is quaint, but it's the name that's interesting.

He smiles broadly under his hat, an interested hum coming out.

"Khada Jhin. That sounds awfully... Ionian."

His hands continue to work at the uniform he's been focusing on.

"You got a thing for, ah, pseudonyms? Khada Jhin. Now, my Ionian's a little... rusty, so excuse me for a moment."

He shrugs, not much to be done. If the man did not wish to consider altering his hat, so be it, it wasn't up to him anyway.

The mention of Ionia has his pausing, eyes narrowing as he stares at the man before him. Another from his world? He hadn't expected that. He'd need to be cautious, though the man clearly wasn't a fellow Ionian. How well had word traveled about the Golden Demon? Not well enough for him to be instantly called out it seemed.

Thank the monks for that.

"I suppose I do. Though I can't say I've use any other name for years."

"Oh, don't you worry. The changing of names is somethin' that isn't just from Ionia."

Though one would normally dispose of their birth name for only a few reasons. Tragedy, or maybe to hide. Truly, he wonders which it is. He feels like he should be able to translate that name. Something excellence? Well, he'll have to see if he can brush up on his Ionian at some point.

But now this man is more than just a critical person. There it something there. Secrets. And he's very now interested.

"Anyhow, where are my manners? The name's Twisted Fate. Been around Runeterra quite a bit for my line of work."

"Now why would I worry?"

The man didn't immediately recognize him, so he hadn't been around the few areas of Ionia where his name held significance to the Golden Demon. He was simply Khada Jhin, a simple man of Ionia, nothing else.

He has his reasons for his name, long before the Golden Demon ever existed, and he'll keep them to himself long after he stops using it.

"Twisted Fate," he arches a brow. "Seems I'm not the only one to change their name."

He lets out a small chuckle, shaking his head. Been around Runeterra for his line of work indeed.

"Your wanted posters do not do you justice."

"That all depends, I suppose."

Confident, then? Either way, there's a mystery to it. It won't be unraveled immediately, but given time, Twisted Fate is certain that he can manage to figure it out. It doesn't have to be all at once.

For all he knows, admittedly, Jhin had only interest in escaping an old life, perhaps. Something he can understand.

"They really don't, do they? They never get the nose right. Or the smile. Honestly, they need better artists."

"Perhaps I just like the sound of it."

Escaping an old life, not entirely wrong, but not quite right. It was overly complicated.

That gets a proper laugh from the man, "I don't think they care all that much as to how they draw you." He absolutely agrees that they could do with better artists. He's seen better work at Tuula prison. He's seen better around most of Ionia.

"I'm quite certain children could do a better job than their artist."

Of course children would probably put in more time than the artist that had been given the job of drawing up Twisted Fate.

"Can't say I thought there would be anyone else from Runeterra here."

Now that he doubts very much. A name is usually selected with a purpose, either with meaningful intent or to be ironic. But he just smiles at Jhin, and makes no further comment about it; pushing or commenting right now doesn't seem wise.

"Hell, I'd almost pay a kid to draw them instead. It's kind of almost insulting."

There's a pause, then he shrugs a little before he sets down the needle in his fingers.

"Didn't think so, either," Twisted Fate confesses. "Been the only one for nearly half a year now, and I was expectin' it to stay that way. No complaints here, don't get me wrong; just a little surprised."

Jhin smiles back, leaning against the table.

"From what I've heard about you, I'm surprised you'd pay for anything."

Though he imagines some of the things are wildly exaggerated. Twisted Fate was just a man on a wanted poster, of course little would be said of him that was positive. He was certainly doing something right, or wrong, when even Ionia knew his name.

"That's quite a while." A good few months. They'll both likely be suck for many to come.

"Any tips?"

"There are different forms of payment besides money, Jhin."

And there are some things worth paying for, but that's an entirely different route of a conversation that he isn't about to get into. Not with a stranger, not with someone who has the equal potential of being ally or enemy, despite their circumstances.

Twisted Fate rubs the pad of his thumb against the brim of his hat. "The best tip I've got is make yourself useful. Most folk want these missions to go as well as possible, no point in makin' it a pain in the ass for others. On the bright side to all this, ALASTAIR is pretty good at rewardin' us. I've reaped a few benefits myself."

"I suppose there are, still it is quite the shock that you would offer up any kind of payment."

It's clear in his voice that he doesn't believe that. Perhaps he would, if he actually cared. What Twisted Fate does or doesn't do is of no concern to him, at least back home. In this place it may be another matter altogether.

"I'm Ionian. Bringing discord to the group would go against many things." He hums. It could make for interesting contrast, providing the ideal setting to make everything perfect. But that isn't something he's about to do, he's not stupid. He doesn't know nearly enough about the people here and the missions they're sent on. It wouldn't be wise.

"I doubt they could offer any reward of interest to me, but it is nice that they even bother with such things."

"I'm a man of many surprises."

Words are one thing, but interpreting his tone and body language is another entirely -- all points that he's carefully observing. From all appearances on Twisted Fate's behalf, he's just keeping his smug smile, as always.

"Right. Be sure to convince everyone else of that. You seem like a nice enough fellah, but I've seen some less savory folk."

Now that's a curious statement. Twisted Fate tilts his head. "Nothin' at all, huh? Well, more for the rest of us, then. Anythin' else you wanna ask?"

Many surprises that have little to no impact on himself, Jhin hopes. He has no desire to alter any part of his act so soon, and he doesn't know enough about the man to consider killing him. That would be much too messy, and on a fresh new stage, utterly unacceptable.

"Actions speak louder. I've no need to convince anyone of anything about me." Save for that he wasn't what he was. "I've no intention of hindering the team, provided it's something I have control over."

Jhin shrugs, "What could they possibly offer me." What could be offered that he'd want? His skills didn't seem to be known, so there was nothing they could offer him on that front. What else did he want aside from the need to chase his compulsions. He had his tools, he had access to continue to create what he needed. Yes the uniform was dreadful, but he had his own clothes for when he wasn't required to wear it.

There's nothing he can really think of that he'd want.

"Mmmm, not unless you know much about the magics represented here."

"Who knows what they could offer? I couldn't rightly say what sort of thing you'd be interested in. But I ain't ever met a man that was 100% satisfied with his life. You must be real special."

That is, Twisted Fate isn't buying it for one second that Jhin wouldn't want something. But it doesn't really matter if Jhin desires anything, either; the only mild interest is that they're both from Runeterra, but far as he can see, they have little in common.

"Nope. Couldn't help you with that."

It's an outright lie. He's obtained magic spells from ALASTAIR to heal himself if he needs to, but he hasn't openly shared his knowledge either with many people. The items he's received are incredibly helpful to ensure his continuing survival, and time will tell if ALASTAIR will lead him to finding his next desire.

"I see no reason to not be satisfied with what I have here. Unless they somehow manage to return me to Ionia, I don't know what they could possibly offer."

Special is certainly one way of describing him. Practical would be more accurate, though he doesn't voice it. No point.

Jhin lets out a sigh at Fate being unable to offer any magical insights. It wasn't a problem, but it would have helped things along. Should he encounter anyone else during his time in the library, perhaps he could get more of an answer.

"More time to spend in here then. Plenty to occupy my time... Ah, there's a question. What do people do around here for fun? Should I ever need a break from my studies."

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❝CLOSED❞ a serial killer and a thief walk into a library

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