Etraya Inbox

[hexcope]

𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 | 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 | 𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎 | 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

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[hexcope]

[That's something he considered. Better than the alternative, but still-]

You mean kidnapped.

[The only one he can think of who would do that, Mel's mom, likely isn't the culprit. Not based on what he's heard, at least.]

[godsandbats]

It might explain why the sudden change of course. You were a politician. You might have made some enemies.

[hexcope]

...

[It does make more sense when laid out like that. The entirety of Zaun hated him at this point, posters with his face on them with the eyes crossed out, with nooses drawn around his neck...

A paradox of his own ego— he's confident enough in his own strength he doesn't think he could be kidnapped, but at the same time, considers himself spineless enough he could easily see himself running away from it all, even when it would be unlike him to leave Viktor, Caitlyn, and Mel behind to deal with whatever was the fall out of Jinx's bomb.]

Maybe I was. Only one way to find out for sure.

[He'd have to experience it himself to know. Something he can't exactly do on command.]

[godsandbats]

[Kirk won't argue that. He doesn't know intricacies to Jayce's world. Whatever this event is might be unavoidable]

Do you have any idea who would do it?

[hexcope]

No. Not really. If anyone, I would think Ambessa Medarda. She's the mother of a fellow councilor.

[Maybe not the time to talk about how he's semi-dating her daughter.]

But given what I've been told, if she kidnapped me, someone would know about it. She wants Hextech weapons, and I'm the only one who can make them.

So I'm back to zero leads.

[godsandbats]

Whatever it is, it might be more complicated than you think. Just cowardice seems out of character for you.

[Then again, Kirk has misread someone before]

[hexcope]

[It's audio, so Kirk doesn't see the quiet little smile Jayce wears as he sighs.]

It's nice to be thought of as brave.

[godsandbats]

[In a matter-of-fact tone]

You asked a complete stranger on the first meeting to help you help a close friend. It's a sign of how committed you are to this.

[hexcope]

Not really a sign of bravery, is it? Being afraid of losing someone close?

[godsandbats]

It's only natural to feel that way. You care about him.

[hexcope]

And what, you'd do the same?

[He knows Kirk wouldn't. Not on the first meeting.]

[godsandbats]

It depends. I've been on the receiving end of someone helping me when we first met. We've become close friends since then.

[Kirk's downplaying it for now as this conversation isn't supposed to be about him]

[hexcope]

[Well now it's gonna be about him!]

Oh yeah? Who is it?

[godsandbats]

[Damnit]

Hernan. He came to Etraya a little before I did.

[hexcope]

Right, you've mentioned him.

["Close friends..."]

I'm glad he's here for you. And you're here for him. Those days you mentioned, where you're further in the timeline than him- did anything significant happen on those days?

[godsandbats]

Yes. We had a battle.

[With the military and his formerly best human friend]

He was in the middle of it. I’m from after it.

[hexcope]

And he's... okay?

["In the middle of a battle" is so ominous.]

[godsandbats]

He is. We’ve all recovered.

[Though it came close to being otherwise. And then there’s still Kirk’s grief]

[hexcope]

Good.

[A slightly longer pause.]

We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but I hope you know by now I'm here if you need someone to talk to. Or at. I can keep my mouth shut sometimes.

[godsandbats]

[It's probably good that Jayce can't see Kirk arching his eyebrow. They haven't known each other for very long but it's strange how quickly their relationship is tightening. Kirk... doesn't hate it]

Thank you.

[Kirk isn't sure if he'll ever take up Jayce's offer but it's nice to know at least]

For what it's worth, Metropolis was in the middle of recovering when I came to Etraya.

[hexcope]

Metropolis. What's the population density on a city like that? Is that where you're from?

[godsandbats]

Metropolis's population is approximately eleven million. Gotham is about the same size. I tend to travel between the two cities. Metropolis was where the battle was.

[hexcope]

Eleven million?

[What in the goddamn...]

That's massive!

[godsandbats]

[Huh... interesting reaction]

There are other cities in my world that are about the same or more.

[hexcope]

Doesn't it feel pretty... crowded? That many people in one place?