Etraya Inbox

[hexcope]

𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 | 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 | 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎 | 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Comments

[hexcope]

So no.

[levelshift]

Not back home, no. But we aren't talking about me.

[hexcope]

Here's the thing: I'm great at multitasking.

Your birthday already passed, didn't it? Was it in March...?

[levelshift]

[Oh Godddddddddd.]

When we were in Aphaia.

[That is all he's getting!!]

I don't celebrate it. I don't want to celebrate it, so don't do anything.

[hexcope]

Okay, that's not fair. I was chronologically misaligned for half that mission.

Why don't you want to celebrate it?

[levelshift]

You were what?

Because I just don't. There's no reason for me to. Plus, only little kids celebrate their birthdays. Once you've grown out of it you stop doing it.

[hexcope]

When I wasn't spending time as some far-flung future version of myself via one of those "fun" games, I was quickly sent back to Piltover for apparently several weeks of time here, although it had only been a few days for me. So I don't actually remember what month it was.

If you don't actually want to celebrate your birthday, that's fine. But you're factually wrong about no one doing it once they're not a kid anymore. Everyone I know celebrates their birthday in some way.

[levelshift]

Seriously? That's fucked up. Anything interesting happen in your future?

[He might as well ask. A similar thing happened to Harold and it was horrible.]

Then either everyone you know is childish or your home is different from mine.

[hexcope]

It's interesting all right.

[And the lack of elaboration speaks to how much he wants to talk about it.]

We already know my home is very different from yours. My point still stands. Ask anyone else here if they still celebrate their birthday after childhood and most are going to say yes.

[levelshift]

[He's picking up on that quickly. As much as he'd like to ask Jayce for more details he also doesn't want to push him, especially if what went on back in Piltover was really horrible.]

Did that happen to anyone else? Or was it just you?

So I'm the odd one out. Good to know.

[hexcope]

Happened to a few others, but apparently I'm the only one who doesn't remember any of it. All I know is what I saw as playback on Aphaia's big screens.

As for returning home, it was only me.

I'm not saying it to single you out. I'm saying that maybe, for once, go along with another person's traditions. It can't hurt to try it.

[levelshift]

You don't remember? Okay, that really is fucked up. Finch and Reese went home too when we were in Aphaia and they remembered everything.

[Jayce has a point, he knows that, but he can't. Even just remembering Laura making him that bracelet (that he wears) and getting him a slice of cake makes him nauseous.]

I've still got no interest. There's nothing worth celebrating. It'd just be a fucking waste of everyone's time.

[hexcope]

I remember what happened in Piltover. That's what matters.

[Even if he wishes he didn't.]

Let me ask you something. If you get a cake on your birthday, a whole cake, what do you do with it?

[levelshift]

Do you want to talk about what happened?

[He figures the answer will be 'no,' but he thinks it had helped Harold.]

Give it to Laura. She likes cake, she could share it with people she knows.

[hexcope]

No.

[The answer is actually yes, but... he knows he'll be judged. If Accelerator didn't take kindly to his biggest confession so far about Renni's kid, he doubts there'd be any sympathy for non-consensual necromancy.]

Great answer. You'd share it. That's what people do for birthdays. It's not just about you, it's a celebration for everyone else as well. We all come together to be reminded we like you, and like hanging out with you.

[levelshift]

Okay.

[Yeah, that's fine. Hopefully he'll find someone he can talk to about it, or something.]

That's a load of bullshit. You like me? You like hanging out with me? Come on, don't give me that crap.

[hexcope]

Have I... not made that obvious?

[levelshift]

It isn't just you. People don't like me.

[hexcope]

[Oh. He sees it now for what it is. The self-loathing. Fortunately, something he's well versed in navigating.

Abrupt subject change:]

You're going on the Solmara mission, aren't you?

[levelshift]

[Accelerator squints at the abrupt subject change, but Solmara is a better topic of discussion than his birthday, so he decides not to question it.]

Yeah. I thought it'd be a good idea.

[hexcope]

Why?

[levelshift]

I'm well-versed in AI, and my ability is really fucking useful. I know it sounds egotistical, but I bring a lot to the table. My going would increase the chance of the group succeeding.

[hexcope]

It's not egotistical if it's right. You should be there. I just wanted to see if you're going for the right reasons.

How's your defense looking? If you need someone to look out for you while you're doing something that needs your full concentration, Caitlyn, Vander, and Sevika are also going. I'd recommend asking them, in that order.

[levelshift]

What are the wrong reasons, in your opinion?

I'll be fine. I'm good at splitting my attention, and most shit can't get through my defensive measures.

[That said, it's kind of interesting he's recommending Vander.]

Not sure I'd ask Vander even if I wanted to, anyways.

[hexcope]

To prove something or for revenge.

Why not Vander?