Agreed. I am beginning to have the impression that our interactions revolve mostly about what I can convince Jinx to do on your behalf and if I can protect Cait now and again.
I thought we worked together well enough, but you're seeing sides where there aren't any. My problems with Jinx aren't about Zaun versus Piltover, and even then, I want to work with her.
If all three of you want to make it about sides with no concessions, then regardless of what I want, that's how I'll need to treat it too.
As I've had to explain to the Sheriff, Zaun doesn't have the luxury of not seeing sides for most of our lives. We're taught and learn the lesson early that Piltover will be the boot on our backs, invisible or not. I don't think you understand the gravity of what it is to work with Zaun because historically Piltover dictates when the sides come together, usually under some form of duress.
Your problem may not be Jinx being Zaun, but see it from our perspective: Piltover once again taking our talent under the guise of working together. Opportunities we can't provide our own, so they have to leave our city, cross over the bridge (literal or figurative) to carve out a better life for themselves. Even then, the stain of where we come from will always remain despite those opportunities.
I know you don't mean it, and I know you probably aren't aware of the sensitivities to it. So I'm telling you, Jayce. Your privilege makes you susceptible to the same perception of many people in Piltover. I don't want to be harsh, but having one friend and partner from Zaun doesn't make you an expert on Zaun's people or struggles.
I do want to work with you. I think you're a brilliant and well-intentioned man, if naïve and impulsive at times. You wouldn't even be the first Piltie that I've worked closely with, but this is also shaping up to feel the same: Do this or lose. Don't put me in that position, Jayce. I'm not sure I'll make the same decision as I did the first time, detained in Stillwater or not.
[The implication of Viktor being his “Zaunite friend” and his only insight sends a hot string of anger through Jayce. As if he wasn’t trying to open channels in any way he could with Zaun— as if nothing he worked on here with Sevika mattered.]
You do realize you’re the one putting me in a position, right? Everyone’s looking to me as the one who failed to secure the gemstones I discovered from Jinx’s hands. Everyone’s blaming me for losing it to begin with. It’s my responsibility to contain it; my responsibility for how it’s used.
I’m not taking anything from her. That’s the point. The repercussions of what she does with it is what I’m risking right now with my trust.
I don’t have power over you here. None of us “Pilties” do. If you misinterpret my actions as class entitlement, then I’m sorry, but that’s your problem to figure out. You want Piltover’s boot off your back? Take it off yourself. I'm not the one putting it there.
Am I? I don't recall saying that you failed at anything, Jayce. In fact, I seem to recall praising your efforts when it comes to nearly managing to bridge a peace between our two cities. Though, I'll admit you just did a good job turning all this around to be about you. I suggest you think on that.
You may not want it, but you don't realize you have it. It will take time to understand, I get that. And I doubt you're open to learning right now with being upset.
We can talk about it another time, if you feel up to it.
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I raised Jinx too. Her name was Powder back then.
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If that's how you feel about it, fine. Return the gauntlet, and we'll owe each other nothing.
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If all three of you want to make it about sides with no concessions, then regardless of what I want, that's how I'll need to treat it too.
cw: classism
Your problem may not be Jinx being Zaun, but see it from our perspective: Piltover once again taking our talent under the guise of working together. Opportunities we can't provide our own, so they have to leave our city, cross over the bridge (literal or figurative) to carve out a better life for themselves. Even then, the stain of where we come from will always remain despite those opportunities.
I know you don't mean it, and I know you probably aren't aware of the sensitivities to it. So I'm telling you, Jayce. Your privilege makes you susceptible to the same perception of many people in Piltover. I don't want to be harsh, but having one friend and partner from Zaun doesn't make you an expert on Zaun's people or struggles.
I do want to work with you. I think you're a brilliant and well-intentioned man, if naïve and impulsive at times. You wouldn't even be the first Piltie that I've worked closely with, but this is also shaping up to feel the same: Do this or lose. Don't put me in that position, Jayce. I'm not sure I'll make the same decision as I did the first time, detained in Stillwater or not.
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You do realize you’re the one putting me in a position, right? Everyone’s looking to me as the one who failed to secure the gemstones I discovered from Jinx’s hands. Everyone’s blaming me for losing it to begin with. It’s my responsibility to contain it; my responsibility for how it’s used.
I’m not taking anything from her. That’s the point. The repercussions of what she does with it is what I’m risking right now with my trust.
I don’t have power over you here. None of us “Pilties” do. If you misinterpret my actions as class entitlement, then I’m sorry, but that’s your problem to figure out. You want Piltover’s boot off your back? Take it off yourself. I'm not the one putting it there.
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You may not want it, but you don't realize you have it. It will take time to understand, I get that. And I doubt you're open to learning right now with being upset.
We can talk about it another time, if you feel up to it.
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