Etraya Inbox

[hexcope]

𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 | 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 | 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎 | 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

Comments

[cantilevers]

No. They either were sent home during the mission or on the way back as far as I can tell.

[hexcope]

[He thinks, specifically, of the most diplomatic and least hypocritical thing he can say about this:]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[cantilevers]

We both know there is no pain in the loss of one of them, and the other is a missed opportunity. I'll carry on to do what I can to preserve Runeterra for my girls.

I couldn't find any of your technology in her workshop. It must have gone with her.

[hexcope]

Noble of you.

[He's not buying that as the full excuse from Vander, but he's also not expecting Vander to bear his soul to him, either.]

So no gemstone left behind? You're certain?

[And that's something he's not sure he 100% believes. Not assuming Vander's lying on purpose, but people leave their belongings behind all the time. He'll probably ask someone to investigate a second time, to be sure.]

[cantilevers]

Fairly. She had a messy workshop. I'm still going through it, and no, I don't require assistance in that.

[hexcope]

Already reading my mind?

For the best, if it's actually returned back to Runeterra.

[cantilevers]

It wouldn't be the first time I've been accused of hiding something, verbal or non-verbal. She is my family; I'll take my time cleaning up what she left behind.

If I find the stone, I'll return it.

[This was his version of grieving because he had lost his family. Again.]

[hexcope]

I'm not accusing you of hiding anything. You don't have a reason to hold onto it, and I'm developing a vault to keep the one that still exists here safe. Making sure there's no loose ends.

If it helps... they sometimes come back. It's happened before.

[cantilevers]

Aren't there still two gemstones here? Or did another disappear?

I don't believe that either of them will.

[hexcope]

There's one, and it's the one I asked for.

If believing that helps you mourn, I'm not going to tell you otherwise.

[cantilevers]

Alright. Hopefully the second isn't rolling around the workshop then.

I appreciate that. We all mourn our losses in our own way.

[hexcope]

Let me know if there's a way I can help. Can't offer much, but. You know.

[cantilevers]

Maybe a stiff drink sometime. It'd be nice to just be around someone from Runeterra.

[hexcope]

Even a Piltie?

[cantilevers]

Why not? You made me cry the first time we met, and that's a bond we can't break easily.

[hexcope]

You were in an altered state. I was desperate to impress you. I'll be a friend to you, Vander, but we don't trust each other, and I can't be more to someone when that's hanging over our heads.

[cantilevers]

I was mentally present enough to know you had somehow done what I had once thought impossible.

What have I done to create this distrust in you, Jayce?

[hexcope]

I can tell, you know. I know you're expecting the worst of me now at every turn. You don't fail to imply how I'll never "get it," how I'll never be on your side fully, and everything I say is going to be tinged with where I come from.

You can't trust me, and I can't trust someone who doesn't trust me. It's not impossible for us to still work together or be friends, knowing that.

[cantilevers]

Are you on my side fully, Jayce?

You know, I recall using those exact words on Grayson more than once because where we come from does tinge how we perceive each other. We both had biases we needed to check at the door, but that took time, effort and nudges to each other. She was one of the first Enforcers to call me by my name back then.

I also couldn't tell you what it's like to be born, grow up, live, and work in Piltover. I expect everything I say and do will be tinged what where I came from, but that doesn't mean we can't come to a mutual respectful understanding of one another.

[hexcope]

Not right now.

I wouldn't still be talking to you if I didn't respect you, but reminding me I'm from Piltover- a place I barely feel connected to anymore- isn't going to help our conversations.

[cantilevers]

So what place are you connected to now if not Piltover? Or is it a person and not a place?

[hexcope]

[Hit the nail on the head.]

You know who it is.

[cantilevers]

Yeah, I do. I'm happy for you two if you finally dropped the pretenses. He laments sorrow and sadness so well over a few drinks.

[hexcope]

Thank you, but... what I was saying still stands.

[cantilevers]

That you'll never be able to trust me if I refer to our societal discrepancies and disparities in conversations.