ic contact.

[deushexmachina]

"Hi, probably just easier to find me in the lab. I'll get back to you."

Comments

[jinxs]

I sometimes wish I could make you all really small and put you for a walk in my brain. It's not easy, it never is.

[deushexmachina]

Wouldn't microbial-seized versions of us induce risk for aneurysm?

[jinxs]

... Win-win?

[deushexmachina]

One of those is most certainly not a win, Jinx!

[jinxs]

Is it not? You'd have caught the big bad Council exploder. I'm sure the Council would cheer for you over it.

[deushexmachina]

[He winces; Caitlyn's explained how Jinx's narrative here isn't a delusion.]

I'm sure there's been worse crimes committed than mass property damage.

[Granted, Jinx did... commit some of those worse crimes, too.]

[jinxs]

Jayce, I'm young, not stupid.

[deushexmachina]

What do you want me to say? That I'm not even a little tense around you? You're erratic, unpredictable, intelligent enough to do real damage... But I'm not averse to a little risk, either. Nerves can be quelled.

The Council can see things the way I do.

[jinxs]

... I don't know what I want you to say.

(now it's jinx's time to say something that perhaps, just maybe jayce doesn't expect. she does always have an answer on the tip of her tongue.)

I... I think we need to talk.

(she told viktor about this. he vouched for jayce. viktor is the closest friend she has. it can't hurt, and if it hurts, she can always take it out on something or someone later.)

[deushexmachina]

We can talk, [he says, his tone measured.] And it sounds like you have something specific in mind. To discuss.

[jinxs]

Can you meet me at the tabern?

[deushexmachina]

I can, certainly. Right now? Or a specific time?

[jinxs]

Give me two hours.

(so she can calm down and minimize jumping on him as an odd.)

[deushexmachina]

I'll pencil it down in my schedule.

[jinxs]

(a breath, two breaths, two hours go by until jinx reaches a point of logic, of unclouded judgement. the tavern is easy to find, and as per usual, her blue hair and general demeanour makes her stick out from the crowd, and the two bottles of alcohol waiting for jayce doesn't paint a good, stable picture.

alas, here she is.)

[deushexmachina]

[He arrives, relatively on time if staggering a few minutes late. Every step inside the tavern he takes with a deliberation unweighed against the practiced smile on his face. Jayce scans the room, finding her with singular intent.

He sits before he speaks,] You've got this all planned out.

[jinxs]

(with her feet on the corner of the table, jinx waves the alcohol with a hand before gulping. she's going to need it, and knowing how this conversation could go from completely friendly to a screaming contest, probably so will jayce.

so she just shrugs.)

God, you think I'm so smart, good that you know. What have I planned out again?

[deushexmachina]

[A nod to the bottle collection. He rolls back his shoulders, his spine straight. Elbows planted on the table and hands folded beneath the chin he rests.]

I'm not much of a drinker, so that's all primarily for you. If you think I'd so easily drop my guard.

[jinxs]

How neurotic, Cheeks. Wouldn't that work against me too? I'm literally 5'3 and 98 pounds. I'm gonna crawl my ass back home with these two babies.

(actually, she won't, but he doesn't need to know that.)

So, we should address the sea of elephants in the room. Should I go first?

[deushexmachina]

[He arches an eyebrow, his posture otherwise tense, still, entombed.]

Be my guest, [spoken lightly, the syllables flicked tongue against teeth.]

[jinxs]

So, Vik and I had a little chat about you.

(it's that tone. the one that tests waters, attempts to get a rise that she can pick upon, see reactions as they rise. "i paid your girlfriend a visit"-like.)

I don't trust either of you, but I don't distrust Viktor, I've told him as much, too. I don't like lying, first of all. He told me that if I wanted to talk, you'd at least listen, so here we are.

(and she taps the surface of the table with her nails, only to fill the air as she thinks.)

I think if you had any sort of authority, you'd put me behind bars. I think you not knowing that the Council wants my head in exchange for literally all of Zaun is suspicious, and I have no faith in the Council. Nothing good for me ever came from that direction, I'll tell you as much.

(a beat, and the seriousness of her expression dissipates to form a smile, her eyes closing to go with it - it's genuine, at least.)

But! You're fun to talk to sometimes. I get a little conflicted.

[deushexmachina]

[She invokes that tone, that whimsical and menacing cadence, and his eyes narrow. Instinct itches beneath his skin.]

The Council wouldn't trade anything to annex the undercity, [he speaks with unclouded confidence. Jayce enjoyed time to think about their conversation last, about what he knew for fact, and about Council protocol. His perspective had precise parameters — his own sympathy for Zaun, his fear of an impending genocide topdown, none of that yet manifested. He doesn't know he's destined to kill a child. He doesn't know his Hextech would be weaponized to destroy Zaunites.]

While your name has come up very recently, [runs his tongue over his teeth, obscuring the fact of Caitlyn's involvement,] the Council has yet to formalize a warrant for arrest. I'm sure it will happen. But on those terms? One person for an entire cession of half the city? There's no chance.

So you don't need to worry.

[That was all completely true, as far a Jayce and Viktor knew.]

[jinxs]

So, what you're telling me is, Silco lied to me for no good reason. He knows I hate being lied to, and he knows from experience the consequences for that-- or did you think I'd let him off the hook because he's my dad? Not happening, dude. What's funny is that, I heard him. He spoke to the Vander statue midtown. He has no reason to lie to him, either.

(now it's her turn to mimic him, elbows firm on the table as she fixates her glowing, pink gaze on the pair of golden irises, not budging for a second before she decides to test waters one more time.)

Here's my theory. I think we are from different points in time. So, let's test it, shall we? Let's see... Progress Day, we both know that it's a check. Do you remember the massacre at the bridge? I've killed Marcus, it just basically stayed there for all to see - I died, so it wasn't like I was going go clean it up. Any of this ring any bells?

[deushexmachina]

[A little shrug,] You know my feelings about Silco. Seems like he's lied about a lot. [And despite Jayce's bold efforts to hammer out corruption, Silco still got to Marcus. The Enforcers suffered a rot, and he didn't know the extent of that decay.

Still. Jayce recognizes this would cut sharper to Jinx, who believes in Silco.] I'm sorry, [he says, his voice softer.

She mirrors him, and curses himself for that moment of weakness. Jayce didn't know who Vander was, or why there'd be a statute of him—history was never his strength, and he hadn't known about Grayson's arrangement—but he ticked the name away for later.

His minor curiosity is eclipsed; Jinx speaks her theory. His mouth goes dry, his throat tightens. Phantom gore and blood curl against his nose.]

I saw the—[Jayce winces, eyes downcast]—the bodies. All that gore and carnage. When your name came up as culpable, I had thought—I assumed—someone... very different. I had seen your handiwork before, [he looks at her again.] But that was a massacre.

[jinxs]

And he won't do that again. Not to me, anyway.

(he's promised. silco might be a lot of things, but he is a man of his word. he's already suffered under the hand of an enraged jinx, and now that she fully takes over the name, she wouldn't back down from fighting for the truth if needed.)

Yep. Sure was. You do know that I've known Marcus since I was a little girl, right? He'd been playing you for sure.