Uncle OgCale has such a special place in my heart. I don't mean just about Heniroksoo becoming his reincarnated mom's guardian/family, I also mean about the potential bonding between Rok Soo's kids and him in AUs where both of them live in the same world.
I mean, it doesn't even have to be a regressor or a full grown adult OgCale. 18yo OgCale would work too, you know?
I mean, these kids are constantly seeing their guardian, the first person they felt safe with, bleed and get hurt. At the beginning of their trip, even Hong was stronger than Kim Rok Soo. So, all of them stronger than their guardian, seeing him bleed and get hurt— And yeah, they're happy with him, but you can't tell me they don't worry about him all the time this happens. (Vhoi Han and the others must be such a relief, lol)
OgCale, Mr. comforted his father when his own mother died, Mr. Reading people so good he can guess what's going on in Rok Soo's head before he says anything, Mr. Decided to act like trash to solve a problem instead of telling any adult around, that guy would look at these kids and his friend/brother/whatever and understand completely what's going on.
I imagine he would ask the kids help with whatever preparation he has for getting stronger himself (I'm thinking on him figuring out the magic version of fuinjutsu in Naruto fics) and talk with them about it, just so the kids know he plans on becoming strong enough to back up Rok Soo. Just another layer of protection for their guardian, you know?
And anyways, since OgCale is soft for kids and family, and Rok Soo's secret children are not someone he needs to keep the act with, he would answer anything they ask too.
OgCale, explaining the ink drawing in the sheet he topk from who knows where: —and this part would let me regulate it at will. Think of it as if I were a walking gravity spell collection. I got the idea from some arcane magic descriptions I saw in a book. Thoughts?
Raon: It looks right. This definitely should work. But, why gravity?
OgCale: Well, I'm not a mage. I just don't have the affinity to ever be one, even if I tried. And my plate is not strong or big enough to go around searching an Ancient Power myself. Even if I'm training to fight, honestly, my strengths are probably my fast learning and my cleverness. I'm just using those strengths to compliment my weakness.
Ohn: I see. So, you want to add this to your fighting style.
Hong: Like when Noona and I use our myst to blend in and attack?
OgCale: Exactly. With this I should be able to hit stronger, move lighter or just make it really hard for the enemy to move.
Raon: But what did you ask our help for?
OgCale: I wanted a second opinion. And more eyes and hands. Oh, and your magic, Raon. I need you to activate it once while the paper with the drawing is still on my skin for it to transfer well.
OgCale: I need you to put the drawing face down on me and hold the paper there while Raon works. Carefully. The drawing shouldn't smudge at all. Your paws, kids, should be more than steady enough for that, right?
Ohn: That's right. We can!
Raon: Mm? Wouldn't painting it straight into your skin have worked as well? Why all the extra steps?
OgCale: I would need to draw it perfectly in the first try. It's a bit difficult when it's my own body, you know? The back, for example, would be impossible to draw on perfectly. Besides, this is not a material I'm used to work with. I had to ask Countess Violan a lot of advice to figure out how to paint what I had in mind.
Raon: I see. That makes sense. I wouldn't want a badly done spell on my body either.
After finishing the transfer,
Hong: By the way, why do you call her that? Isn't she your mom? Countess Violan, nya.
Raon: That's right, smart Rosalyn and everyone else call their moms "mom" or "mother" and their dads "dad" or "father". But you never call her that. Could it be... Are you fighting with your mom?
OgCale, barely resisting the urge to point out they don't call Rok Soo dad either: Pff. No, it's nothing like that. I don't call her mom because she's not my mother. My father married twice. She's my step-mother. But calling her that would be strange, wouldn't it?
OgCale: Before you misunderstand, they didn't divorce or anything. My mom just... She passed away when I was young.
Ohn: Your mom, she was the lady in that portrait, right? The one in that room we hid last time.
OgCale: That's right. We look a lot alike, don't we?
Raon: You do! You're pretty and red like her! Do you think I look like my mom too?
OgCale: I heard dragons generally vary in color, but I'm sure you must have taken after her in other places. Like your eyes and kindness.
Ohn: Mm. Our youngest's mom must had been at least as kind as him.
Ohn, sitting next to him: Young master-nya?
OgCale, putting a book down: Ohn, did you need anything?
Ohn: I was wondering, why did you ask our help? You could have gone to Countess Violan for the drawing, and you could have asked Miss Rosalyn to activate it. I asked our youngest, and he said the method wasn't difficult at all. You didn't need a dragon for that. And you definitely didn't need Hong or me.
OgCale: Haah. You're really smart, aren't you? But don't worry. If I asked you was because I wanted your help, not anyone else's.
OgCale: Well, to begin with, Countess Violan and I are not close. I'm a bit of a private person, so I don't feel comfortable showing my cards to people I'm not close with, even if it's family. Specially if it's the family.
OgCale: There might had been questions, too. "How did you think about this?" "Since when can Cale do this?" "If he's this capable, why isn't him applying himself?" It's the kind of questions I can't answer to her. She's no fool, she would have guessed what has been going on.
Ohn: Would had that been bad?
OgCale: Yes? Probably. She has strong values, you know? There's no way she would leave things as they are if she knew I've been doing it on purpose. I don't think she's the kind of person who could use her step-son as a stepping stone knowingly. Even if I'm willing. Do you follow?
Ohn: I'm a little confused, to be honest.
OgCale: *blinks* Right, context. Maybe it's because I spend so much time with you guys, I keep forgetting you don't have the context for a lot of things. Anyways— you know how nobles and people from high society can be prejudicious about a lot of things, right?
Ohn: Of course. They're assholes, nya.
OgCale: *snorts* That they are. And they also like to pick sides, even if there's just one side. If they perceive there's more than one side, they're going to try to get themselves in the winning side.
Ohn, turning up her nose: That's so childish.
OgCale: I know! It's so immature. Half of the time it doesn't even concern them!
Ohn: But what does it have to do— ...don't tell me. Young Master, were you trying to sabotage your "side" so others would pick your step-mom's side instead?
OgCale: Huh. You're fast. Yes, you got it right. That's how it is. After father remarried, the vassals and the relatives weren't happy with his choice— something about status and blood, no matter that my mom wasn't exactly much different either.
OgCale: And, well, when there are two children in the same household with different mothers, they assume both of them will try to become the successor. In reality, Bassen still does not dare to accept the position despite everyone thinks he's the best option, and I myself couldn't care less about it.
Ohn: ...there was no competition. Then, why try to sabotage yourself? Do you not want to be the count?
OgCale: it's a little more complicate than that. They like to pick sides and win, remember?
Ohn: yes, but— What you're saying is "they would try to sabotage the other side"?
OgCale: That's right. Back when they had just married it was still only bad-mouthing and petty bullying— which I did not like, by the way— but Bassen was so small and Countess Violan was putting a lot of effort so they wouldn't be able to look down on her. I realized that if things kept as they were, it would only escalate. So, I decided I would make myself an undesirable option. So undesirable no one would think I was even a possible option in the first place.
Ohn: Eliminating your side. That's what you meant by "sabotaging yourself". I get it now! And you don't want your step-mom to know because you think she would stop everything and things would reverse, which could be bad for your brother. You're protecting your brother, I understand that!
OgCale: *chuckles* Correct. You deserve full marks.
OgCale: ...About the second reason, I wanted to keep it a secret for a while. Only until I have enough practice with it. I'm going to give everyone a little surprise, alright?
Ohn: *shakes her head* dramatic.
OgCale: Naturally. Lastly, I thought you children would feel better knowing there's yet another layer of protection for that guy. I know that it must be stressful for his children whenever he gets hurt.
OgCale: There's no way children won't worry if their parent looks like he's struggling.
Ohn: That's where your reputation comes from?!
