[ He'd known that would make him angry, he'd known that the man would lash out. For all that he liked to pretend, for all that he wanted to be different, he wasn't. He was the same beast he always was, a monster, just one that had one target β him. Of course. That little sin, that reminder of how everything had gone awry. He'd never take it out on anyone else, would he? Only Silco could get under his skin like that, wasn't that right? He'd play the affable man, no fool, but certainly likable, but Silco knew where the truths lay.
Knew Vander well enough that the punch landed, he caught him in the jaw, in the teeth, a mark left on his knuckles in return as he moved with the punch β he knew better than to hold steadfast β a lob of spittle flying from his mouth and him bent over himself before he caught himself.
Oh, wasn't that just typical?
He laughed. It's not a pleasant laugh β did he even have a pleasant laugh anymore? Did he even know what it was to feel, humor that didn't come with pain and anger? His shoulders shook, and he tipped his head to look up at him with a two-toned, hateful stare. ]
There it is. Just like ever. You can't handle it, if someone sees you for what you are, can you?
[ His jaw would bruise, around his mouth. He had half a mind to not do anything about it. Jinx and Sevika would know. There was no hope for them to not guess where he'd gotten it. ]
How much did you ignore beyond the Lanes, Vander? Do you think shimmer became prevalent over time, or could it be that the people beyond the lanes β even those within β still lacked for legitimacy? For respect? Oh, those that were easy, of course, you could take care of them. The moment they became difficult, or easy to look beyond?
[ His laugh rasps out, bitter. ] Suddenly, they were beneath your gaze.
I don't need to explain to you anything. You aren't due it.
[ He meant that, too. He would never sell out Jinx, of course, and that meant the stolen Hextech was never going to be shred with him. The Barons and the Shimmer? What does he care about that? Vander would have looked them askance, if he'd even seen them at all, were they alive. They were the leaders of gangs one and all, of course, but what were Zaunites if not thugs? They solved their problems with violence and insults. Silco knew how to take a punch, so he didn't even whine about it, how many more had there been over the years? He wouldn't even complain (overtly) to the rest because Sevika would tell him he deserved it, and Jinx... no.
No, he could play it better than that. Smarter than that. His lips peeled back into a smile, and it's ugly on his face, his lip already swelling. ]
Talking about second chances, Vander? When you keep falling into the exact same habits? Please, tell me about reflections when you haven't once refrained from violence.
At least I have the decency to turn a blind eye and ignore you. [ Another bitter laugh. ] Oh, but don't let me stop you.
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Knew Vander well enough that the punch landed, he caught him in the jaw, in the teeth, a mark left on his knuckles in return as he moved with the punch β he knew better than to hold steadfast β a lob of spittle flying from his mouth and him bent over himself before he caught himself.
Oh, wasn't that just typical?
He laughed. It's not a pleasant laugh β did he even have a pleasant laugh anymore? Did he even know what it was to feel, humor that didn't come with pain and anger? His shoulders shook, and he tipped his head to look up at him with a two-toned, hateful stare. ]
There it is. Just like ever. You can't handle it, if someone sees you for what you are, can you?
[ His jaw would bruise, around his mouth. He had half a mind to not do anything about it. Jinx and Sevika would know. There was no hope for them to not guess where he'd gotten it. ]
How much did you ignore beyond the Lanes, Vander? Do you think shimmer became prevalent over time, or could it be that the people beyond the lanes β even those within β still lacked for legitimacy? For respect? Oh, those that were easy, of course, you could take care of them. The moment they became difficult, or easy to look beyond?
[ His laugh rasps out, bitter. ] Suddenly, they were beneath your gaze.
I don't need to explain to you anything. You aren't due it.
[ He meant that, too. He would never sell out Jinx, of course, and that meant the stolen Hextech was never going to be shred with him. The Barons and the Shimmer? What does he care about that? Vander would have looked them askance, if he'd even seen them at all, were they alive. They were the leaders of gangs one and all, of course, but what were Zaunites if not thugs? They solved their problems with violence and insults. Silco knew how to take a punch, so he didn't even whine about it, how many more had there been over the years? He wouldn't even complain (overtly) to the rest because Sevika would tell him he deserved it, and Jinx... no.
No, he could play it better than that. Smarter than that. His lips peeled back into a smile, and it's ugly on his face, his lip already swelling. ]
Talking about second chances, Vander? When you keep falling into the exact same habits? Please, tell me about reflections when you haven't once refrained from violence.
At least I have the decency to turn a blind eye and ignore you. [ Another bitter laugh. ] Oh, but don't let me stop you.
Go ahead, keep it up.
[ play into his hands. ]