#misfitsofzaun

@misfits-of-zaun Cooper & Janey

Now, Janey hated many things. Some of them she could share out loud: Vault Tec, the Enclave, cowards, her many enemies, radiation sickness, roach meat, and more. She also hated things she could not say out loud, not because her raiders would ditch her for it, they were ready to die for her regardless, but because she didn't want to admit it to herself: unfair fights, the way people treated ghouls and synths before even talking to them, punishments that in her opinion went too far. Putting someone in a fucking grave for decades was a punishment that went too far. It was also something Dom Pedro had done, and he was someone she'd share her hate for.

One of the many reasons, besides wanting to get a hold of the scientist to make sure he'd get to Moldaver, why she had Roy and Pat dig the ghoul out that night; she was stronger than the both of them, but she had to keep some distance in case he jumped out of there as a feral one and needed someone to end his misery. Her minigun was hanging from a strap around her shoulder as always, but her hand was close to the gun to do a cleaner job.

Continued from here with @misfits-of-zaun

Rolling her eyes as he spoke of her being late Jinx shrugged. It wasn’t as though she was on a schedule after all, and it was a minor miracle she was there at all. Rumors, gunfire, and the sight of people running from an area of Zaun had pulled her over like the scent of a squirrel might get a hunting dogs attention. However her eyes did go to his shoulder for a second, and although Jinx didn’t look exactly worried or sympathetic she looked almost irritated. As though something about that sight, that someone other than her had hurt Ekko was “off” in a way she disliked. As he spoke of Enforcers however Jinx at once was both disappointed, and surprised.

“Enforcers? Enforcers!? Really!? You let some stupid enforcers shoot you? After all the times you’ve dodged my shots, and survived our fights and some… some… enforcers get the shot in!?” Head going back in disbelief Jinx shook her head. “Ekko come on, you have to be better than that how are you going to let some pilties do that to you?” Whatever bit of casualness she’d held almost like talking to an old friend who’d preformed far below what he was capable of as far as Jinx was concerned vanished when Ekko taunted her.

For one short split microsecond Jinx’s face held nothing except for cold rage although deep within her eyes there was something unknowable. Maybe grief, or maybe fear even or a kind of sad resignation. She was alone and it was her fault after murdering all of them which was the one thing she’d always been most afraid of. Be it knowingly, or accidentally Ekko had hit just the right nerve to ensure that for a second that monster wearing his former friends face emerged. This time there was no hesitation as she lunged forward with that pistol swinging out than in to hit him across the face with it. A moment of grappling ensured as Ekko managed to catch the pistol be it before, or after it hit him but with that shimmer running through Jinx she managed to keep hold of it albeit after bringing her free fist down to hit him in the face once or twice. Springing backwards for a moment her lips pulled back, and that pistol was pointed right at Ekko’s head with her finger on the trigger.

She was alone though now wasn’t she? This wouldn’t even be her kill either. Not with how the stupid enforcers had hurt Ekko and wounded him she’d have to kill each and every last one of them later just for the fun of it plus… if she pulled that trigger… even he’d be gone. Jinx wasn’t sure she’d ever see Vi again since her traitor sister had picked Caitlyn, and Piltover. She didn’t want to be alone, but he was an enemy and one of them was going to kill the other some day.

Quick seconds flickered past as once against Jinx hesitated, and slowly her face relaxed making her look younger as the rage left almost as sudden as it came. Letting her stance relax so the pistol pointed down at the ground instead of at Ekko she shrugged. “I have my own Cause to keep alive.” For a brief moment it was almost like Powder peaking though as Jinx sadly chuckled. “Have to keep fighting. Just like we always said. Keep those enforcers away from…” Voice trailing off she shrugged. It had varied. Away from us, away from our people, away from Zaun, just away. Like Mylo had said “even Powder wants to fight”, and that’d never changed.

“Guess I’m not killing you. Not today.” That pistol moved tapping absent mindedly against her thigh that had gotten cut not all that long ago when she’d gotten ambushed while talking to Vi, or trying to at least. Pistol suddenly shoved back into her holster Jinx stared at Ekko before taking a step back, and turning as though to leave.

It wasn’t like she wanted to help him or just talk, or anything.

Not like he wanted help, or to talk.

@misfits-of-zaun for Lachlan

Janey had let her men convince her to join them for a drink at the pub of the place with the promise that they often had clear water, something she was longing for. There were about fifteen of them, and since the people working at the counter were all female, it took one look from her to make sure they'd be on their best behavior. Just one night of drinking and being non-violently stupid, maybe some of them could find somebody who would take them upstairs for a cheap amount of caps too, and there was even a singer to cheer up the place. She went to sit at one of the empty seats, her regular sour expression leaving space for a temporary softer one at the sight of a dog resting, and the dog must have smelled hers because it looked right at her; satisfied, she took off the strap of her submachine gun so she could relax more, had Roy order her the glass of water and something with sugar, and took a moment to flash her blank expression at one of her newest raiders, who had just yelled: "Sing another one, woman!" to the singer. He saw Janey's face and quickly added: "Please. Ma'am." Janey stared at him for a couple of more seconds and then let it go. It was a thin line, allowing her raiders to be menacing but not letting them believe they could take too many liberties with women - for her own good but also because she would not stand for it.

Still, soon enough she was thinking of the dog again, and of the treats in her dufflebag, and finally she addressed what seemed to be the owner. "Hey you," she called out, which made the dog look as well, "That your dog? Can he eat these?" She showed the BlamCo Dog-Treats box, "Or she, whatever."

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The truth was Jinx hadn’t expected him to truly listen much less really care about what she said. Silco had cared when she’d spoken up of course, but for years he’d been her father figure and with that came him teaching her and instructing her and an assumption he was by and large correct. So although there had been quite a few questions as she’d always been a curious thing there hadn’t been quite as many full discussions with her opening up, and offering her thoughts. Although by the fifth time he’d brought up Vander she’d started getting impatient.

Vander, like a brother, river, blah blah blah.

She also hadn’t really spoken much to many others, and at some point her and Sevika had started butting heads while in the past Mylo had always been kind of a bully. Even Vander had been so busy working that he hadn’t had much time to really discuss things, and Vi had left had done her best but powder Jinx had been too young to really consider discussing things with her idolized big sister so Jinx had largely stopped trying eventually. Hearing him her shoulders tensed up for a second half expecting him to mock her as her eyes flickered towards him before she relaxed despite a look coming to her half way between puzzled, and surprised. “Ekko?” Be it his reaction, or what emotions she could catch the edges of through their odd bond, or even just a faint shift in his scent Jinx found herself believing that he actually had listened… and did care.

It was that belief that made her turn just a touch to better offer him attention, and hearing his quiet voice she swallowed shaking her head. Lips parting for a second they closed before she hesitantly reached out ever so slowly to try to touch his wrist with her finger tips as she leaned a bit to try to see his face.

“I don’t want to either Ekko. I… I get I’m different, and that we’re different and… I get that. Even if sometimes it seems like I don’t, or I get frustrated because of it or whatever I do get that. Heh, I’m not that crazy.” There was a soft shaky breath from her, and a nervous little laugh as she shifted on her feet. Jinx was in no way shape or form used to conversations like this, and she could almost feel the static in her mind trying to swell and taunt her. Lips tightened she muttered to herself.

“Not. Now.”

Of course her stupid mind, and the shades in it would want to mess with her. Of course they’d want to ruin what seemed like the first, and maybe only chance to truly talk to Ekko about this. Of course… of course she’d try to jinx even herself again. Without thinking her hand closed around his wrist almost instinctual seeking comfort from her soulmate, and she spoke once more.

“Listen to me, Ekko, please. I’m not good at stuff like this, but I’m being honest at least. I do not want this to stay painful. For you, or for me. I don’t know how to fix it, or help it, or make it better. I don’t have anyone to ask, and I don’t know what books to read, and I don’t know how this is supposed to work.” For a moment there was a slither of fear going through her, and biting at her bottom lip she forced herself to admit the truth.

“But you’re my soulmate, and never getting to see you again would hurt more than anything else we could ever do to each other.”

It’d been the easiest thing in the world to find Ekko as he was running some errand or another as she’d gotten better at using their bond to do such things. Jinx hadn’t actually intended to do anything too extreme despite the fact that she hadn’t seen him in over a week, and she felt like it’d in fact been weeks plural. Perhaps yell, or complain or make a scene but she wasn’t going to hurt him. Than she smelled a particular scene. Some omega. Some bitch had their scent on her Alpha, on her soulmate, and that changed everything. Eyes gleaming with a possessive fury she’d waited for him to get to a quiet spot, and than tossed a gas chomper at him. Pulling her own mask on she hopped down, and moments later collected Ekko taking him off to a private place. A particular warehouse she’d held a tea party at before.

When he woke she was sitting on the table in front of him just watching. Ekko, of course, was gagged. As his eyes opened Jinx’s hand rose and she finger waved to him. “Hey there. You know it’s very. Fucking. Rude. To walk around with some bitches scent on you that’s not mine. Just had to get your dick wet, and you couldn't even stand to do it with your own soulmate huh?” Voice sharp, and entirely too casual she was quite obviously displeased. All the same a moment later she slid down off of the table to straddle his lap. One arm going around his shoulders she flicked the gag in his mouth with a finger before running her knuckles along his cheek.

“I don’t like to share. With anyone, and this? This upsets me Ekko… I’d love to pay her a visit, but I’m guessing you wont tell me who she was. So tell me something.” Pressing herself against him her head moved over his shoulder so she could purr in his ear. “How exactly are we going to make this right?”

He saw her gun hand was shaking. That little smirk he gave her before he approached was peak, "cute speech sweetheart, but you definitely ain't got the spine to shoot me 😏" - I imagine he was so confident about walking up because he fully assumed she was too fresh outta the vault to be a threat, and that he could just call her bluff to intimidate her into backing off so he didn't need to waste a bullet. Then she immediately proved him wrong with a solid chest shot 😂

Continued from here with @misfits-of-zaun

Despite her pessimistic note, and quiet voice Jinx hadn’t actually intended to be rude or to start an argument. She had simply taken his comment very literally. Should he thank her? Yes. However as far as she was concerned saying that without actually thanking someone generally meant you were not actually going to. Besides with how things had been between them Jinx hadn’t really expected his thanks anyways. She’d just wanted to do something nice for him. If he’d said nothing at all she would have simply mentally shrugged, and than smiled the next time she saw him with his mask on knowing she’d helped fix it up. As he started to get upset Jinx frowned, and couldn’t help a faint irritated whine from her subvocals she tried to make stop. She didn’t want an argument, and didn’t want him upset. Somehow though it’d just kind of happened, and Jinx wasn’t really sure how or why.

“Nothing.” She didn’t want to try to explain herself, or her thought process, or anything else. No one had ever cared except for Silco, and maybe during good times Vi. She didn’t expect him to, and mostly just wanted to keep working on her little projects. Not having her full set up, and just having a couple metal scraps there wasn’t anything major she could do with them. She could still occupy herself with a bit of art at least however. Her monkey symbol, firelight beetles, a simple version of her mask, and Silco’s eye off in one corner. All scratched into the metal so it would be easily painted in. Jinx had actually considered asking Scar if he wanted the wooden toy he was working on painted, but she doubted he’d want a reminder of her in his home which was understandable even to her.

Glancing up at Ekko when he said “thank you” she blinked looking a touch surprised before she actually smiled at him. It was a small smile, and just barely reached her eyes. However it was a sincere smile all the same as she nodded. “You’re welcome.” There was a sudden faint blush that would have been near impossible to notice if it wasn’t for how pale Jinx was as a subvocal slipped out. Like helping. Looking away she shook her head. It wasn’t like she could deny it after all. Reaching towards a paint brush, and some paints Jinx considered what spot to paint first before pausing. Eyes turning back to Ekko she tilted her head a bit, and held up the metal plate just a touch.

“Want to put your own thing on, or a bit of paint?” She seldom if ever invited others to touch her projects. Maybe it was time to start however. At least with Ekko. If he said no well she’d offered, and that just mean she didn’t have to share. If he said yes however that’d be kind of nice in a way. Either way she’d accept it.