"How are you feeling?"
"Bricks."
"Bricks?"
"Bricks, Doc. I feel like I'm full of bricks."
Ren let out a long groan as he tried to right himself. Viktor offered him his arm and helped pull him upright. Ren rubbed his temples as a wave a nausea rose within him.
"Do you need to lie back down?" Viktor asked.
"No, I'm fine, I think," Ren insisted, "whatever you used to knock me out is sure taking its sweet time in wearing off. I just need moment to adjust. So, how did everything go?"
"Exactly as expected. No complications. You should be back on your feet by then end of the day, but I would advise against any of your hero work for a week. Give your body appropriate time to recover and grow accustom to the new augmentations."
"A week is a long time. It's not like I got a new limb or anything. Can I go back after maybe three or four days?"
"It all depends on the speed of your recovery and I alone will be the judge of that. But yes, if I believe you are well enough, I will allow you to return to work sooner."
"Crystal."
Ren swung his legs over the side of the operating table. Testing his strength, he slowly flexed his legs, pumped his ankles, and curled his toes. A dull ache radiated through his organic limb, but everything moved as it was supposed it. He wanted to run his fingers over the stiches on his knee, but thought better of it.
"So, it's really full of metal?" he asked.
"That is what you requested. Your joints have been strengthened and the shock dispersal mesh was placed along your feet. I still advise you to consider the mesh for your hands as well."
"Nope, hands are still off limits. But, tell me about that chem-augmentation. Is that one all set? I'm still not crazy about having little chemical sacks in my body but I let you talk me into it."
"Your natural glands are little more than chemical sacks."
"Thanks, but that's not helping to ease my worries."
"As I said before, there were no complications with any of the augmentations. That includes your chem-implant. I know you required some convincing to accept it, but I think after one fight you will appreciate it."
"I remember what you said. Something about my adrenal glands and increasing the effectiveness of the adrenaline to further reduce pain while fighting, right?"
"That is putting it in its simplest terms."
"I'm a simple man."
"Do not sell your intelligence short."
"I know I'm not stupid, but compared to you."
"It is an unfair comparison for someone of your age with no formal scientific training."
Ren shrugged.
"Regardless," he said, "was my description close enough?"
"Yes," Viktor answered, "while experiencing the stress of combat, the chem-implant will activate and combine with your body's natural adrenaline response. This chemical should allow you to ignore almost all pain you feel, short of a torn muscle or broken bone, until the adrenaline wears off. But remember, the implant will only activate under stress, so if you cut yourself while cooking, you will still feel pain."
"Crystal. Thanks, Doc," Ren said before taking a deep breath, "alright. Pass me my clothes, please, I'm ready to move."
Viktor handed Ren his clothes and turned to get his crutches as his patient dressed himself.
"The bottom of your foot will be tender," Viktor warned as he held out the crutches, "be cautious."
Ren sighed as he took them under his arms and shifted the bulk of his weight to his augmentation.
"I was hoping I would be done with these things," he grumbled.
He made his way to the door and turned towards the kitchen.
"So dinner," he began, "part of the deal for adding those chem-implants was that we could have a real dinner tonight. No smoothies, no soups."
"A hearty soup is a real meal," Viktor commented.
"No, a hearty stew is a real meal. Soup is an appetizer unless you have it with a good sized piece of bread or something. I will not change my mind on this."
"This debate isn't worth my time. It is also irrelevant for tonight's dinner."
"Oh?"
"I was recently gifted some parsnips and I planned on recreating a meal I had in Piltover years ago."
"I can't say I've ever had parsnips before."
"They are an underappreciated vegetable. I want you to peel and chop them along with the other vegetables we are having tonight. I will prepare the pork roast."
"A roast," Ren exclaimed, his mouth already salivating at the though.
"A frivolous expense, I know," Viktor said, "but I want to try and recreate the meal with as much accuracy as possible, even if that means buying a more expensive cut of meat. Any leftover pieces can also be used in a cabbage stew, which is a much more cost efficient meal, if you are willing to cook it again."
"Is everything about efficiency with you?"
"You should know the answer to that by now."
Once in the kitchen, Ren worked his way over to the table and eased himself into the seat. As per Viktor's instructions, the automatons had already begun the simplest tasks to preparing the night's dinner. A cutting board and knife had been left out on the table for Ren to use, the countertop had been cleared, and the vegetables had been washed.
"So these are parsnips, huh," Ren commented as he picked up one of the white vegetables, "they're kinda ugly."
"They will look more appetizing after you peel them," Viktor assured.
Ren shrugged and got to work on his task. He peeled the parsnips and carrots and shaved away any of the eyes the potatoes were growing, though he left the rest of the skins on the tubers. Next, he chopped them all up into spears, trying his best to keep them a uniform length. All the while, he hummed to himself.
"That tune," Viktor asked, "does it have any significance to you? You hum it frequently."
"Oh, no deep meaning," Ren answered as he placed the chopped vegetables into a bowl, "my dad had picked it up from some Bilgewater sailors who were drunkenly singing it one night. He used to sing it around the house until I started as well. Mom was horrified to hear the fowl words of that song come out of my mouth so she banned the whole thing all together. He never stopped whistling it though."
Ren sighed. He was silent for a moment before he continued humming his tune. Viktor brought over a bowl, large spoon, oil decanter, and small jar of mixed herbs and placed them before Ren. Curious, Ren opened the jar and sniffed the contents. The earthy, savory aroma of oregano, basil, and rosemary filled his nostrils and left his mouth watering. He sighed again, though this time it was out of contentment.
"Herbs and olive oil," Ren commented, "I'm surprised you've put so much effort into this dinner. It's a happy surprised. I hope I don't mess up your precious parsnips."
"I gave you the easier half of the meal to prepare," Viktor said, "now put the vegetables in the bowl, pour the oil over them, and add a generous amount of the herbs. Then mix them so the vegetables are covered."
"Wait, did you just say 'generous amount?' An imprecise amount? Are you feeling alright?" Ren jested.
"I've never seen this recipe," Viktor confessed, "I am recreating it from memory."
"Well, I've never had this meal," Ren replied with a shrug, "for all I know, 'generous' could have been what was written in the cookbook. But just so I don't mess this up, could you maybe give me a more accurate measurement for the herbs?"
"Enough that all the vegetables have some of the blend on them but not so much that they are completely covered."
"Crystal."
Ren added the prescribed 'generous' amount of the herb blend to the vegetables and mixed them all together until the olive oil coated them all. He then brought the bowl over to the stove where Viktor was preparing the pork roast. Without looking up from his task, Viktor pointed to a baking sheet on top of the stove.
"Spread them out on the sheet. They will go in at the same time as the roast."
Ren nodded and did as he was asked. After, he peered over Viktor's shoulder to sneak a peek at the main at the main course. Viktor had crushed several cloves of garlic into a paste and mixed it with salt, pepper, olive oil, and rosemary. He cut several openings into the pork and rubbed the whole length of meat with the garlic mixture, taking care to push some of crushed garlic into the openings.
"If you are finished with the vegetables," Viktor said, "please go slice the bread. I do not enjoy being crowded while I am trying to cook."
Ren went over to the loaf of fresh bakery bread and began to slice it. He chuckled to himself.
"What are you laughing at?" Viktor asked.
"You kinda," Ren responded, "it's just a little funny, you know. When you're augmenting someone, you call me over at every opportunity to explain what you are doing and why. You have no problem with me hovering around you when your cutting up a human, but when you are slicing pork, looking over your shoulder is too much."
"The difference is that I am comfortable when operating on others. I have replaced more limbs than I have cooked roasts."
"I guess you'll just need to practice making roasts more," Ren said hopefully.
Viktor chose not to respond.
The roast and vegetables were put in the oven. As dinner cooked, the pair cleaned up after themselves and placed the bread and oil decanter on the table. Soon, the hour had passed and Viktor removed the food from the oven. The small kitchen was filled with the savory aroma. Ren scooped the vegetable medley onto the plates as Viktor portioned out the pork. With the table at last set, they at last sat down for dinner. Ren cut into the juicy pork and took a bite. He let out a long contented hum.
"This is delicious, Doc," he said, "thanks for making it."
"You are welcome," Viktor responded as he removed his mask and took a bite himself.
His response was more subdued, just a simple nod of approval.
"I'm just so happy," Ren said, "this meal would have been such a luxury for my family. Not that I would ever dare to complain about my parent's cooking. They did the best they could for the money we had."
Ren's expression shifted abruptly to a somber one as he silently pushed a carrot around his plate.
"I miss them Doc. I don't talk about it much, I know. I can't change the past, so why dwell on it? But damn, I really do miss them and I don't think I ever won't."
Viktor was also silent as he searched for the right thing to say. Sentimentality was something he always had struggled with.
"Nobody your age should have to suffer that kind of loss," Viktor said, "and for that you have my condolences."
Ren nodded in acknowledgement but continued to eat in silence for a few minutes.
"What about you," he asked, "I don't think I've ever heard you mention your parents."
"We do not speak to each other much," Viktor answered.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Do not be," Viktor said, "we have had our disagreements, but it is not as though we are completely estranged. I still visit to ensure that inventions I had installed in their home are all still operating as intended and that my father's augmentation is maintained to my standards."
"So, what are they like?"
"They are artisans. My mother would be hired to modify augmentations and make the limbs look aesthetically pleasing. For most of her clients, this simply meant cleaning the augmentation and applying a fresh patina, but for the wealthier clients, the designs became excessively extravagant. I remember one client she had. He was the nephew of a Chem-Baron and had just returned from a trip to Ionia. He had become obsessed with the fauna of the land. He insisted that his arm be decorated to resemble a jeweled protector."
"And my mother did it. The augmentation was a work of art. The shoulder resembled the beast's head, stripes were painted down the length, and the mane of jewels protruded along the length of his arm. It was beautiful, but I hated it. The man had lost most of the mobility in his limb for this vanity and the jewels constantly caught on objects he was passing by, but he was satisfied."
"Well," Ren cut in, "what's that saying? The customer is always right in terms of taste, or something along those lines."
"It is a terrible saying," Viktor commented.
"So your mom was an artist," Ren continued, "what about your father?"
"When he had the time, he made small clockwork sculptures," Viktor continued, "their movements were elegant and lifelike. Some could even play music as you turned the crank. He only ever made a few. Most of his time was spent as a mechanic. In his workshop, there was almost nothing he could not repair. Augmentations, automatons, appliances, toys, tools, all of it he worked on. When he noticed I had a curiosity for it, he took me on as an apprentice. He encouraged my progress. He was proud when I was accepted into that academy."
"And then the thing you don't want to talk about happened."
"Many things happened."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pried."
"I do not allow emotions to trouble me. You were curious and I answered willingly. There is no harm done to apologize for."
"May I ask two more questions and then we can go back to complimenting the food?"
"You may."
"Do you think my parents would be proud of me?"
"I do."
"You answered that quickly."
"Is that not the answer you were hoping for?"
"It is what I wanted to hear, but I want the truth more than a comforting answer. Do you really believe that they would be proud of me?"
"You are augmenting yourself to better aid others. It is admirable."
Ren smiled.
"I think you are right," he agreed, "they would think that is admirable. Alright, last question. Am I your apprentice?"
For this question, Viktor needed a moment to think. He had never considered taking an apprentice. A solitary lifestyle suited him. But he couldn't deny that the prospect of being able to share his knowledge appealed to him. Ren would have never been his first pick as an apprentice, he still considered the boy too excitable and his hesitation to relinquish his human weakness was a concern. However, he knew that Ren would be loyal and the boy's eagerness to learn and the effort he put into everything he did were far more valuable qualities in the scientist's eyes.
"Yes," Viktor replied, "I believe that you will be a fine apprentice."
Greetings Summoners,
I've got a couple fun facts about this chapter.
1. I had major surgery this past fall on my hip and "bricks" was the first thing I said coming out of anesthetic. On a side note, oh boy in the early chapters did I have Ren bounce back quickly from losing his leg. It took me months to walk unaided. This surgery is also why I have been able to post more chapters recently. Not being able to walk suddenly gave me way more time to write.
2. The vegetables that Ren and Viktor cook in this chapter is an actual my wonderful spouse and I cook all the time. Peel and clean the vegetables. Chop them into uniform spears. Put them in a bowl and cover them with olive oil to help the herbs stick. Add rosemary, oregano, and basil to the bowl and stir to covered the vegetables. The amount of herbs you use is up to how strongly you want them to be flavored. Spread them out one layer thick on a baking tray. Place them in the oven at 375 F (about 190 C) for 4 minutes. Poke them with a fork to check that they are tender. Top with sea salt if you desire.
Happy reading and happy cooking. Best of luck on the Rift,
-Gwoo