#postarcane

Continued from Here with @astrxae

A part of Silco wanted to sigh, and remind Irisa to rest. At the same time however she’d have to recover fully sooner or later, and part of that was getting up to do normal things. It wasn’t as though she’d never cooked for him before anyways, and so he decided to leave it alone. Besides if he was honest it was nice seeing her up, and moving about and doing things. Partly because Silco assumed she enjoyed cooking for him, and helping to take care of things. Partly because it was an obvious sign of her improvement, and he wanted that almost as much as she did.

He cared for his falling angel, but he cared for her in all her glory with her wings wide spread to catch the air and the gentle glow from all her being. Perhaps he would be greedy, and keep her from others however he’d never wish her wings clipped.

Feeling her fingers delicately wrapping around his hand he could feel something deep within softening just a touch. Later perhaps he would remember the savagery of Zaun, and his rough hands stained with blood and how odd a match they were. Angel and devil circling each other in some dance he wasn’t sure either quite knew the rules to, but neither wished to leave. In that moment however he was simply content to let that rest for a moment. He was in his home with his falling angel, and they were as close to safe and comfortable as anyone in Zaun could be. It was enough. For now.

“I am quite sure you managed just fine, and besides even your worse which I am sure that is not would still be better than at least half of the food in Zaun. I do hope you made enough for both of us however?” If she had cooked only for him that would in fact be slightly irritating. “Why don’t you sit, and I’ll dish it up? You’ve already done quite a bit, and I do appreciate that.” Looking closely at her with his good eye he leaned in a bit. “As long as you don’t over do it.” There was a smile across his face to take any sting out of his words, and the tone wasn’t harsh either. Regardless he wasn’t going to fight, and if she insisted on getting the food he’d give in. When they both got settled down however there was one inevitable question he couldn't help but ask.

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.

Continued from Here with @gauntlets-shot

It’d been a rather bad evening for Jinx, or more precisely a bad couple of days. Without Silco around to help keep her grounded, and more alone than ever it was easy for her mind to start swirling and collapsing in on itself. Sometimes that resulted in her becoming violence be it in Zaun, or going up to Piltover. Sometimes she got manic and stayed up for days working on one project or another. However there were also moments like this. Quiet moments with Silco’s coat wrapped around her shoulders draped over her like...well like a young daughter trying on a parents clothes that were too big for them. Quiet moments except for the broken sobbing, and whimpered apologies and almost frantic snarled arguments with one voice or another.

Pow-Pow on one side and Fishbones on the other Jinx’s knees had been up against her chest as she sat on the bank of the river Silco had taken her to, and sobbed. She hadn’t been expecting anyone to join her, and with that soft voice along with Vi’s footsteps hitting her ears over her sobs and the movement of the water her head had snapped up as she tensed for a moment. “Vi…” The tension slid out of her as she looked up at her sister. Hands holding the coat around her Jinx didn’t move for a moment as she stared at those hands held out. Head tilting a bit her eyes went distant as she remembered times good, and bad. Hugs, and shoves. Being held, and being slapped. Reassurance, and being abandoned. Those hands had been both a source of kindness, and of harshness.

One hand clutched tightly at the coat, at Silco’s coat, but her other hand reached out slowly to rest in Vi’s hands before gripping at it and giving a little tug. Blue eyes looked up meeting Vi’s with tear streaked cheeks, and nothing in her expression at all other than grief and loneliness and a silent plea for Vi not to walk away. In that moment whatever savage hunting hound there was in Jinx natural or trained was just a lonely whimpering thing wanting someone it could trust to stay with it. It took a moment for Vi to speak, but finally a sobbing gasp came from her. “I’m alone, and everyone is gone except they aren’t gone and they keep yelling at me.”

That was the hardest part really. Before long ago even if Vander had been distant, and even if sometimes Vi or her brothers were annoyed at least someone had cared. After that Silco had always cared. Now though… now no one did. Even now she didn’t truly believe Vi cared. If Vi did care she wouldn’t be in Piltover, and with her Bitch. That didn’t stop Jinx from grasping at her sister’s hand though. A part of her still needing wanting that connection. Not that it’d ever be the same.

Not that Vi would ever be able to love her like she used to.

They had both changed too much.

Continued from here with @gauntlets-shot

The visits between Vi, and Jinx hadn’t ever quite been the same after that night by the river. Jinx always seeming a bit more stand offish, a bit less interested in hugs, a bit less open. She hadn’t asked again if Vi would choose her, or leave with her, or anything similar. Eyes always a bit sharp, and considering like a wild hound watching something to decide if it was prey or not. All the same she never actually told Vi not to come back. For as hurt as Jinx felt, and as much as she was firmly convinced Vi wouldn't choose her properly at least not while Vi had her life up in Piltover she still couldn’t bring herself to tell Vi to go away entirely. A part of her buried deep down inside perhaps hoped that Vi would change her mind, and regardless the visits from Vi were better than being completely and utterly alone always and forever.

Jinx also hadn’t given Vi the location of her workshop. With Vi being up in Piltover so often, and so closely associated with the enforcers Jinx simply didn’t trust Vi with it. However she had given Vi the address of one particular safe house, and was spending enough time there now for Vi to find her perhaps not consistently but more often than not. This evening she’d been there quietly coloring a new batch of chompers while listening to music, and hearing the knock had opened it ever so slightly while holding her pistol in one hand peaking out. Shimmer fueled eye gleaming as she studied Vi, and than blinked in surprise. Door closing she undid a couple of chains, and opened it more fully. “The zoo?" That was an offer she truly hadn’t expected, and for a second Jinx honestly wondered if this was some kind of trap. If maybe Vi had finally been convinced by Caitlyn, or some other enforcer to lead “the deadly terrorist Jinx” into a trap up in Piltover. Even now however she couldn’t truly imagine Vi doing that. The two of them fighting because Jinx went to Piltover to cause some destruction, and Vi got called to the scene? Sure she could imagine that. Vi leading her into a trap however not so much.

The pistol was put away, and she nodded. “Alright. Give me a second.” Stepping into her safe house Jinx took a quick moment to grab a few things. Cloak to toss over her head hiding her hair as well as wrap around herself. A couple of chompers latched onto her belt just in case. Extra ammo for Zapper because you never could tell when annoying Firelights might show up. Pausing for a second she considered bringing Pow-pow as well, but decided against it and headed out onto the street. Door shut, and locked behind her Jinx had also set a trap behind her as she didn’t actually enter the safe house through the front door anyways. “Let’s go.” A part of her wanted to be snarky and ask if this would be okay with Caitlyn. Another part didn’t want to think about the sister-stealing bitch at all, and so she simply moved along side Vi.