cantilevers | Inbox (Etraya)

[ "she's all I have left" is exactly the response he expected.

Does he want to be here? No, absolutely not. Does he understand that this might be the only option if things go awry? Yes. Silco hates him, of course he does. How could he not? But he's also incredibly practical. ]

I'm only preparing your for the inevitable, old friend.

[ Jesus Silco. Laying that on thick. ]

How far. Are you willing to break that peacemaking if necessary? When they don't listen? Are you willing to let that monster out that we both know you have?

[Vander saw the ploy immediately. It was the same game just a different situation. Except perhaps this time, the whispering stir of a faint craving did provide him pause from telling Silco off. Last time 'old friend' came up, Vi had to fight for her life and his boys died.]

Don't old friend me. We both know you're here for resources and nothing more. Are you offering your drug to me so I become that monster again?

[ old friend (homosexually) ]

I'm here for my daughter. I will tap any resource, do anything necessary to make sure that she is safe. I will put a stop to some over-puffed up vigilante with half a mind to leave her vulnerable and start something when he doesn't get his way.

[ He has no idea that damien is a kid. ]

So yes, if that means I offer the resource that I have, I will. If necessary, would you? It would hardly be the size of your first dose.

He's a kid, Silco. He's half-cocked and and scrappy, and he thinks it's his job to shove his nose where it doesn't belong. Someone of his side could leash him, but I am making plans to stand in the way if that doesn't happen.

[He couldn't and wouldn't yet tell Silco he was going for the second gemstone that Cait had. Everyone but Silco would know he was a Zaunite through and through and he may appear mild0mannered, but he was as much of a criminal as everyone else. He'd steal what he needed to in order to protect Jinx.]

She's my daughter too.

[It's not typed as an after thought. He put it on its own as its own defiance against Silco's possessiveness.]

Always playing your games. [Yes.]

A kid that clearly you consider a threat, if you're trying to play peacemaker about it.

[ He points out. Zaunite kids weren't really kids after a certain point, and he had no doubt that this kid was probably dangerous enough to warrant it. ]

You call it games. I call it planning. You had to know that it was coming, the moment it happened. That's why you jumped, isn't it? On trying to tamp it down, and make them stop him?

[ They knew each other, after all. He knew Vander would try to circumvent him, because it's all the man can do. He doesn't want Silco to succeed after all, does he? ]

If they don't, you know what you will have to do. You know what the answer is, to ensuring she's safe.

I understand that items like hextech needs to stay in Runeterran hands. Jayce provided me with a gauntlet powered by those stones, so I understand the damage it can do. We have kept our affairs to ourselves for six months. That shouldn't change because some kid suddenly become aware of it being dangerous.

[So yeah, Vander was playing peacemaker and his strengths were reaching out and talking people up and down the ladder of aggression. He could fight and he would, but the pre-fight, he always had had a role to play. Now he was exercising it with limited success.]

Yeah. I knew immediately this would escalate out of hand if the kid moved. Sevika may have talked the kid down, but she's gone and Jayce wagged his tongue to the wrong person. Now we're in this mess.

[He disliked that they were in agreement, but he also understood that Silco and his Shimmer might be a valuable resource if he couldn't steal the other gemstone from Cait's gun. He knew people here had fantastical powers neither he nor Silco could survive, yet they were survivors because they used other means.]

And am I your own avenue to keep her safe? What other irons do you have in the fire? I need to know because if this goes the way we both suspect, I'm standing on the front line.

Edited 2025-06-14 20:41 (UTC)

[ Now see. Vander says something interesting here. ]

And those stones are where? There's more than the one Jinx has, then?

[ And he's mad at Talis all over again. He made it out like that was the only one he had. That he needed Jinx's. He hadn't believed it, but the effort was there. It's a good thing this is text, because it gives him the moment to light a cigar, puff on it angrily.

But Vander asks. He has to be careful with his wording. He knows if this is over with, Vander will go back to standing in opposition. ]

I have nothing immediate. [ Technically true. ]

However, if you think that I am not working to manufacture more tools to be used later, you're a fool. The irons are still heating up, as they say.

[ He's plotting something. But then again. When isn't he? ]

Jayce has one. I know where it's currently located. [And Vander takes a deep breath and decides if Silco and him have to work together and he wants honesty, he needs to provide some too. It's a risk. Everything is a risk with Silco.] I'm currently on my way to take control of it from the current location. If I can, we will have the element of surprise in our favour.

[Vander hadn't been angry that Jayce had taken it back for the Solmara mission, and Cait had put it to good use. That was the problem: she put it to good use. He knew it was dangerous, and Vander fought close up. Firearms were always dangerous for him because he had to close distance. If this went south and it became Zaun versus Piltover again after the mess with the vigilantes, he just... couldn't risk his only family.]

How much Shimmer do you have? Sevika talked about different strengths of the stuff. What do you have and how much of a shit kicking will I endure if I take it?

[He knew Silco was always planning. If anything, the man would be more engaged now than ever before.]

I know you have something. I expect honesty from you if we make this work, however brief it is. We're doing this for Jinx.

Interesting. He made it sound as if this was the only one. Yet he's had one this entire time. How typical of him to conceal that to break the truce. He was never going to be a trustworthy negotiating partner.

[ That's pointed. He'd known they wouldn't. The topsiders would always drop them the moment they were inconvenient. They would always do so, because they were disposable. This is an opportunity, as he sees it, of course. Silco's insidious, but he's also right (no) in this. ]

We're nothing but mere inconveniences to them. They dislike that we are Zaunites, they dislike that we have learned to adapt in a way they don't enjoy, isn't that right? They found that they didn't like that Jinx had the gemstone, despite the fact that she hasn't used it against them.

[ Since... well. Blowing up the council. Don't worry about that. They deserved it. He's so proud. ]

I have a vial. Half will be spoken for. It's refined shimmer, hardly the concoction you consumed the first time. A high, but a half dose, while still potent, will not leave you in the state you were before. A full dose will not either.

[ Wow. That's pretty honest?? Where the other half was going... He doesn't say, but he doesn't think he has to say. ]

I have reason to believe it was a fairly recent acquisition. I have a few theories as to why he brought it in, but that's not cause for discussion here. However, he seemed unhappy that Jinx had his technology and refused to return it; I can see why from his point of view.

[Vander wasn't willing to delve too deep into the Zaun versus Piltover argument, even if for the first time, he actually wanted to. He knew better, knew it wouldn't help their situation, but Janna it would feel good just for a few minutes to riff off of Silco like that. Like old times. Which was why he didn't.]

It doesn't matter what they like and dislike about us. We have to defend our own, and keep Runeterran business in Runeterran hands. There are all manner of dangerous people here, so the fact everyone is in a flap over a weapon when one very similar was used in Solmara is massive hypocrisy. We need to determine how to take a stand.

[That was the angle that he was probably going to have to go with. Etraya didn't care when it was Cait, but suddenly had their panties in a knot over Jinx who had not used it? Yeah, he wouldn't stand for that nor his daughter being threatened. If anything, this could push her to use it.]

So I won't grow all big and out of control is what you mean, right? What are the benefits and draw backs then?

[He assumed the other half was for Silco's face.]

Oh, of course you can see it from his point of view. Is it not better to have one on each side? To ensure neither one has greater power than the other? You know what it can do, Vander. It will turn the tide if they control both. They will not have to respect us, and they will not.

Jinx has been nothing but restrained. Respectful. Now they have one. I can assure you that topsiders will think nothing of us if they have them. They will have no reason to bargain with us.

[ And yet. And yet, Silco still tries to do it. He hates Vander. He'll never forgive Vander. There is still a small and old part of him that he pretends doesn't exist, that did want to pull him into that. Would he favor the topsiders? Or did he still truly hold to Zaunites? ]

There are powers like none of us have ever seen. Shimmer cannot even compare.

[ Humbling. ]

Yet they will take issue with that along with everything else. You know they will.

[ Business — ]

You'll likely grow slightly. Stronger, faster. Just like last time. More of a pleasant high, or so I am told. Less retching afterward. Abuse of it of course would end with you looking...quite a bit like you did last time. I doubt you can abuse it on half a vial.

Yet, I doubt you'll deny the the advantage of both of them being on the Zaunite side. There's leverage in that power being in our hands. Yet, let's not forget that Piltover can simply request another from Aurora at any time they like; she granted the request once so who was to say she wouldn't as many times as there is a request? Same with your Shimmer, I expect.

[All of this theatrics over a power source that may or may not be used as a weapon. He knew and had seen what other people could do naturally, yet it was the hexgem that seemed to create a stir? Sounded like normal people being afraid and rather than talking, they were reacting.

Just like home he supposed.]

And just what are we bargaining for here of all places? We have whatever we want as long as we're quiet and playing along.

[And yet, here he was reacting. Here he was on his way to the Kiramman mansion under false pretenses of seeing her post mission for an opportunity to have a single moment with her weapon. He had seen how it worked after all. He should have learned to not go off half-cocked like this, but fear was irrational. If he lost her...]

We're in lock-step on that. We've seen what people are capable of naturally; it's worse than the power of the mages we were taught as kids. Hence why I said he's a kid. He's sticking his nose where it doesn't belong; he needs something to control, I guess.

[Of course. It doesn't sound that bad, and yet he knew it would be. It wasn't the effects that he was worried about; it was the cravings afterwards. He'd watched addicts sell out their friends, their families, ruin their lives for drink or drugs. They systematically destroyed everything good and they couldn't even help it.

And now Silco was offering him that path. First hit was always free.]

Or so you're told. Dealer never tries their product, of course. They know what the poison does long-term after all.

Hence why I didn't bother suggesting you keep it. They wouldn't be able to stand us having more than them.

[ Silco. Being. Silco...

And he doesn't address the shimmer. He's not going to. ]

Apparently we're bargaining for "Runeterra's Survival". According to what Aurora wants us to do.

[ Text doesn't convey tone, but well. Silco clearly hates it and hates that. He has nothing to bargain for other than continued survival, and that seems too easy. ]

Well, this child can control business that isn't ours. I'll ensure they think otherwise next time, if they go through with it.

[ silco......

He doesn't say how, of course. ]

If you control it, there are no such effects. Sevika has been using it for years with her arm. [ He's been using it for longer. ] Do you remember those old miners, the ones that couldn't do the work anymore, and how they were given those old medications. How some of them seemed to be just fine on them, and others took too many, spiraled, and then seemed to fall apart after a few years?

Addiction comes for anyone who is susceptible to it. It's all about control. You know that. Shimmer is novel, but it is not that novel.

I could talk them into it.

[The only reason he didn't still have one in the first place was Jayce prioritized Cait over himself, which was a fact that he accepted without complaint. However, people underestimated that if he put his mind to it, he tended to actually get what he wanted.]

If we go to war with another group, we'll be doing penance for Runeterra's sake for a long time. I know you won't quit if it goes that far, and if Jinx is threatened, I may not either. All this because a kid can't think consequences.

[Vander knew that Silco was on the move, and that was very dangerous. At this point, he didn't have the bandwidth to interrogate the man, and honestly, if this went south, they may need what Silco had. Topside might stand to the sidelines and let them walk their own path after causing the battle in the first place. Typical.]

She mentioned, yeah. You've also been using for years. [It wasn't a question. He knew it. Silco knew it.] I remember them. I remember them in squalor living in the dark eking out an existence for some time before they died alone and forgotten. They medicated their pain to start but soon they medicated to either feel something or feel nothing at all. Control sounds about right. You've always been about control, and this is just another avenue to do that. And I bet like everything else you'll peddle, the sacrifice of a handful is worth the overall goal. The human cost of your mechanizations was just the price of business, a sacrifice to rally others. If I take it, I hope I do become that monster again. I want to see that look of terror on your face. Though maybe me being in control under the influence would be frightening too.

I do not doubt that you could. [ A compliment??????? From SILCO????????????? Look. This time it is warranted. ] Then the moment that they realize we have one, or it becomes inconvenient, they would start yammering for it. Or, alternatively, you would find reason to give it to them.

[ Likely... if Silco was involved. The moment he did something. He is aware. No, it's better to be where he expects. The ones who supposedly want "peace" even when they don't. The'll just start amassing more, otherwise. Keep the amount low, keep it from increasing. Let them have it.

Jinx can do so much more with it than they ever could with scrap and whatever Silco could procure. His brilliant, perfect daughter could do more than they could eve dream of. ]

There is a difference between medicating for pain and what I do. I'm sure you're thinking I can't go without it, but you would be very, very incorrect.

[ Microdoses only. Controlled Application in the most unpleasant way possible. It's the most effective. It does what it needs to do. But Silco could not say he's addicted. ]

You want to frighten me, do you? [ There's... both fear, and a thrill in that. A part of Vander still wants to be that monster, he knows it. The beast coiling and raging against the cage. He could stick his fingers in and find them snapped off. He still could, despite what the man says. How he pretends with everyone else. Silco fears it. He wants to see it. He wants to see Vander become the monster, because it vindicates everything that he knows to be true. It vindicates him. ]

You want me to say that I hope you don't? You won't hear that from me.

[ he wants other people to see it to. To understand.

That monster is in everyone. Even the ones they wish it wasn't in. ]

I'm screen capping this agreement from you. [He would need to read it a few more times to believe that actually happened.] And what about it? Only Cait has skills to be able to take it back, and she has no skill at close range.

[It is unfortunate how much Vander had thought about it on his walk over, the contingency planning that came with being aware that he was potentially starting a fight and knowing how to come out the victor. When it came to a heist, he was better than most would consider him capable. All but probably Silco himself who has been on many heists in the past with him. Combat tactics were also Vander's strength.

And if Janna above, he and Silco worked together? He had no doubt that Piltover wouldn't stand much of a chance. It was probably best for that side that he and Silco had such a rift between them and this was as close to a civil conversation as they had managed to achieve in six months.]

I'm aware. You need it daily to keep what vision you have in that eye going. I saw the effect it had when you went without when we arrived.

[It did not surprise him that turning a drug that provided people the sense of freedom and power sold so well as a recreational use. For a people of downtrodden city, it was exactly the kind of medication that would fuel disputes as much as it would solve them. People could feel powerful, and there was often a lack of that for the little guy. The people Vander had wanted to protect most of all.]

If I have to, I will. Sometimes it's the only way to force you to retreat when you're taking a physical risk. [He knew Silco never would say such a thing, ask him not to. Too much pride, too much history there to warrant any kind of response.

After all, he had no doubt that Silco wanted to see him lose control. Not at him but in general to expose his temper to this place and vindicate the other man's feelings of hurt.]

I actually believe you hope I will. Publicly. Isn't that what our little tiffs are about? You pushing my buttons to see which will finally cause me to snap so you can point and tell the world how brutal and mean and awful I am. A wolf in sheep's clothing. We both know how vicious we can be.

Don't let it go to your head. [ Too late. ]

The enforcer may be the only one with the skills, but don't discount the Wonder Boys, Vander. Talis has a perfectly soft exterior, but he's very much willing to take what he must, and if he gets that hammer of his, or powers it up, you'll see precisely how willing he is. I know you think you can handle it, but it would come at great cost.

[ Reminding him that Silco knows a lot more than he lets on.

Sure, he wasn't the combat expert, but he was able to collect, categorize, and point out the things that Vander didn't. This was the most civil conversation they had, but he knew as well as Vander did that if push came to shove, and it was topside versus the Zaunites... if Vander was on their side, and willing to actually do what was necessary? They were dangerous.

Wasn't that half the reason why Silco needed to be eliminated? Beyond the anger, beyond the strife... if Silco lived, Vander would fight back. ]

Clearly, Jinx needs a reminder of what not to say.

[ Heaven help him, his daughter could not keep her mouth shut. ]

Me? Try to provoke that? Why, Vander, you've got it all wrong. I simply detest you.

[ No, he's 100% right. Which is why he bald-faced lied. ]

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text; cw: drug usage

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text; cw: drug usage (just leaves this horrible warning up)