[Pom's visits to the Piltover House roof have been spotty for the past month, ever since he attacked Mel in the shadows that covered the city - that drove them to madness, that turned him against someone he considers a friend. When he does visit, he keeps it brief, lingers just long enough to make sure everyone is safe before leaving again. Mel wouldn't approve, but he can't bring himself to talk to her, can barely find his voice through the disgust. She's fine, he's reminded himself; Jayce and Viktor are there. She's perfectly capable of handling herself. She's fine. This is fine.
But the longer he stays away, the more he feels a hole forming in his chest, an emptiness that threatens to hollow him out if he ignores it for too long. At least he has a reason to contact Mel, a purpose in mind; it helps him find his voice.]
I'll be going on Momo's expedition to southern Eparsis, southeast of Kelesis. Probably be gone a week, maybe two. Thought I should let you know.
[ She's surprised he's reaching out over text, frankly, but considering how often he's taken to dodging her when he stops over... It hurts, frankly. The Imprint strains with it. But perhaps she's also to blame, as she hasn't tried to chase him down or tried to get a proper answer out of him, even if Mel thinks she knows why he's doing it.
Regardless. ]
I appreciate you telling me. Hubert's going as well.
[ Two weeks. The length of time is a concern, of course, but it also means all of them will be too far for immediate help if something happens. ]
Are you going with a specific group?
[ Because she did, in true Mel Medarda fashion, stalk the network. ]
[He had a feeling she'd seen the post, same as him. She's always on top of things.]
Yeah. Going with Gale. We'll be together, maybe with someone flying ahead of us to mark landmarks, places to set camps, that kind of thing. I'll be carrying equipment. About all I should do, given my size.
That wasn't you, though. So many others were affected. Whatever that darkness was, it was practically poisoning us. At the last of it, it wasn't something you wanted.
[ There has to be a solution. For Pom to starve and to keep starving because of his souls... At times, Mel tries to consider what previous Augmented must have had to do, and she comes up empty. Did any of them have more than one soul? Did Patho-Gen even care enough to find a solution if such a thing occurred? (Or are those carnivora locked away like Peacock is, or used like the Golems and Terra?)
Kelesis won't be enough. ]
It's possible on the expedition you'll be able to find more wildlife out there.
[ Whether it should be eaten or not is a completely different story. ]
There must be some way. I don't speak out of some vain hope; I simply refuse to believe this sort of problem hasn't been considered before now.
[ But then...there are a lot of carnivora types... Herself included, too, though her diet hasn't changed much. ]
[But if that noncommittal answer says anything, it's that he, too, doesn't know if they should be eaten - if they could sustain him, or if it'd be a losing battle, one he's not willing to fight because it goes against his principles, against what he considers good.]
You think Patho-Gen has dealt with a problem like this before?
[ Though that makes her aware of something else, though it's been months since she considered it... ]
I heard a voice down in the underground, likely when I got the wolf soul. Two people speaking about cattle and culling. Likely Patho-Gen is aware of the danger of having too many of us around.
[He heard voices about faulty implants and there being 'so many,' Mel got something about 'cattle and culling.' Neither of those makes Pom optimistic regarding his dilemma.]
You think they would ever use some of us to cull others? They clearly aren't above using Augmented for food.
If they believe it will be of use to them, yes. If we are too rowdy or uncontrolled. But so far, as near as I can tell, the Augmenters going haywire is the more likely cause.
We are under one hundred in number. We aren't putting a dent into their food population. But it wouldn't shock me if we weren't here — all of us, not only Carnivora souls — to keep the Karterian population in check.
[His phone doesn't pick up the hn he lets out on his end. At least Mel is always honest with him, even when the topic is grim. Maybe he should do the same, spot beating around the proverbial bush.]
You think there's anything they could do about me? If I asked?
[ She hates that the answer is likely 'yes'. Patho-Gen will help the Augmented if it means getting something in return, like trust. That's how things were with Viktor... But that was so many months ago and Patho-Gen has been none-too-pleased with them lately. ]
They could, but likely for a price. And they may not be able to help you right this moment with that wall of meat around.
[And he hates that idea, but does he hate it more than the thought of him hurting his friends? Of becoming a monster?]
I don't trust them, but I can't live like this. I can't put people at risk. Can't put all people have been working toward at risk, either. All the goodwill in the world ain't going to matter if even one of us ruins it. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
text; @🐾 Mister 🐶 Pom 🐾; early April
[Pom's visits to the Piltover House roof have been spotty for the past month, ever since he attacked Mel in the shadows that covered the city - that drove them to madness, that turned him against someone he considers a friend. When he does visit, he keeps it brief, lingers just long enough to make sure everyone is safe before leaving again. Mel wouldn't approve, but he can't bring himself to talk to her, can barely find his voice through the disgust. She's fine, he's reminded himself; Jayce and Viktor are there. She's perfectly capable of handling herself. She's fine. This is fine.
But the longer he stays away, the more he feels a hole forming in his chest, an emptiness that threatens to hollow him out if he ignores it for too long. At least he has a reason to contact Mel, a purpose in mind; it helps him find his voice.]
I'll be going on Momo's expedition to southern Eparsis, southeast of Kelesis. Probably be gone a week, maybe two. Thought I should let you know.
no subject
Regardless. ]
I appreciate you telling me. Hubert's going as well.
[ Two weeks. The length of time is a concern, of course, but it also means all of them will be too far for immediate help if something happens. ]
Are you going with a specific group?
[ Because she did, in true Mel Medarda fashion, stalk the network. ]
no subject
Yeah. Going with Gale. We'll be together, maybe with someone flying ahead of us to mark landmarks, places to set camps, that kind of thing. I'll be carrying equipment. About all I should do, given my size.
no subject
[ Still... ]
You make it sound as if your only use is being a pack mule when you know that isn't true.
no subject
It's all it should be until I've got a handle on it again. I'm not going to risk anyone else.
no subject
And I'm all right.
no subject
[A pause, then a second message, a confession:]
Still is.
no subject
You still feel the way you did that night?
no subject
I've been thinking what to do about it. What I might have to do, you know?
no subject
Kelesis won't be enough. ]
It's possible on the expedition you'll be able to find more wildlife out there.
[ Whether it should be eaten or not is a completely different story. ]
There must be some way. I don't speak out of some vain hope; I simply refuse to believe this sort of problem hasn't been considered before now.
[ But then...there are a lot of carnivora types... Herself included, too, though her diet hasn't changed much. ]
no subject
[But if that noncommittal answer says anything, it's that he, too, doesn't know if they should be eaten - if they could sustain him, or if it'd be a losing battle, one he's not willing to fight because it goes against his principles, against what he considers good.]
You think Patho-Gen has dealt with a problem like this before?
no subject
[ Though that makes her aware of something else, though it's been months since she considered it... ]
I heard a voice down in the underground, likely when I got the wolf soul. Two people speaking about cattle and culling. Likely Patho-Gen is aware of the danger of having too many of us around.
no subject
You think they would ever use some of us to cull others? They clearly aren't above using Augmented for food.
no subject
We are under one hundred in number. We aren't putting a dent into their food population. But it wouldn't shock me if we weren't here — all of us, not only Carnivora souls — to keep the Karterian population in check.
[ The Spectrals, too. ]
no subject
You think there's anything they could do about me? If I asked?
no subject
They could, but likely for a price. And they may not be able to help you right this moment with that wall of meat around.
They might also see it as a way of leashing you.
no subject
[And he hates that idea, but does he hate it more than the thought of him hurting his friends? Of becoming a monster?]
I don't trust them, but I can't live like this. I can't put people at risk. Can't put all people have been working toward at risk, either. All the goodwill in the world ain't going to matter if even one of us ruins it. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.