Inbox

[conflictresolution]

"Leave a missive, but be brief about it."

[Text | Voice | Video | In-Person]

Comments

text;

[conflictresolution]

I suppose. We both know it's dangerous to let others close.

Very well.

text;

[opheliac]

[ there's a small pause before her next message arrives, wanting to say something, but decides to refrain her own thoughts. as one wise telepathic once said to her, "handle your own damn problem for once". ]

yea, it can.

text;

[conflictresolution]

[He interprets the pause as her processing or her pulling away. He hadn't decided which to settle on yet. He has said his peace; it's up to her to determine how she reacts to it.]

I will see you tonight.

action;

[opheliac]

see u.

[ an hour or so passes until finally she arrives home with a few hidden ingredients inside two plastic bags. when jinx enters in, she toes off her shoes and calls out: ]

I'm home!

[ and before she allows her father to answer back or meet her at the door, she quickly adds: ]

I'll be in the kitchen getting dinner ready!!

[ then scurries off quickly to the other room with the bags, placing them on the table and rummages through cabinets for all she needs to prep for their dinner. ]

action;

[conflictresolution]

[He busied himself with work or at least shuffling papers into piles then reorganizing them into different piles as he rolled the conversation over in his mind. Text hid so many nuances that it was improbable of him to be able to determine his future course of action.

He couldn't yet stand up and pace around with his feet still healing, at least not as much as he would have liked. He reserved his walking for getting to specific locations. He was determined to return to routine activities by next week, but that might mean burying himself in work as he used to.

Would he give this new bright spot up if it meant not losing Jinx? In a heartbeat. Would he be happy about it? No but he'd live. He might just be quiet and withdrawn or angry and tyrannical. Having a go at Jerry and the Council would be a worthwhile distraction if it went that way...]

Alright, I'll come to the table in a minute.

[He lifted his head from resting on his forearms in his study. He slowly pushed himself to his feet and gingerly walked to the living room with an accounting book under one arm. It took him careful walking to make his way to his intended destination on the couch and eased himself into it. All of the muscle soreness was gone, so he only had to wait for his feet.]

What did you decide on for dinner? [He was opening the book and adding notations while he listened to her in the kitchen.]

action;

[opheliac]

Just my crabmeat salad sandwiches!

[ she announces as she gathers all the materials she needs to prepare it. next, she fires up the stove and sets it to a particular degree for the meat. ]

I'll try and make it extra special this time.

[ because who knows how long she has with him until her entire world changes drastically again. if things follow align like with her sister and the enforcer, it's only a matter of time until she gets nudged further and further out of the picture.

less communication, set visitations, and then finally, the big "they're coming to live with us" and he and whoever will play such an important role in each other's lives that she might have to sleep outdoors again. and who knows? maybe he will stumble upon another mizuki along the way too.

if that does happen, at least this time, she is prepared for it, and won't be entirely blindsided like how it was with vi. so, she should make the best of it, and be happy for him (even though it hurts). after all, mylo believes she deserves it with how she treated silco a few weeks ago, she had it coming as far as he is concerned. ]

What do you want to drink?

action;

[conflictresolution]

Always enjoyable.

[It was simple and wouldn't be too filling. He could easily pick at them if his appetite deserted him midway through the meal. He wasn't moving around as much as he had been when it came to moving between his businesses, but he was also still working on regaining the weight that he had lost the previous month. It was a work in progress.]

Special as in added spices?

[Silco had already made a personal promise that he wasn't engaging with Richard if it meant losing his daughter. He wouldn't leave her behind, and he would still always remain in her corner. It was a fact that his new lover would have to accept and adapt to, or else it wasn't going to work as anything more than it currently was: sex. Did he want something more? He was too conflicted to parse that out.

However, Jinx was his daughter. He had made a promise when he had taken her in, and he intended to fulfill the promise. He would not abandon or forsake her. Time would tell how well he could manage this extra person in his life, even if it remained sex only.]

Two fingers of whiskey will be enough for the night.

action;

[opheliac]

Just trying a different sauce. But whiskey coming up! It'll be ready soon...!

[ her tone may sound cheery, but that's the wonders of masking and being in an entirely different room than him. however in the next twenty minutes or so, there's silence from her besides the auditable sounds of meat sizzling and a knife chopping against a cutting board.

unfortunately with her mind being preoccupied with so many ridiculous and impossible scenarios of her unknown future, his daughter knicks herself with the knife at least four times. although with each accidental slice, she doesn't react or wince -- almost like she didn't notice them, and she won't until much later on, knowing her.

and jinx has shimmer to thank for that, really. little pains like these are as flat as a mosquito bite, and the only way she will feel any enscrutiating hurt is if someone puts a bullet in her multiple times or stab her until their arm gives out. ]

Want me to bring dinner to you or you wanna eat the table?! I'm almost done!

action;

[conflictresolution]

I see.

[He would eat whatever she put in front of him, and he wouldn't mind the change over. He was scribbling notations in his accounts book while he could hear Jinx cooking in the kitchen, unaware of her accidents with the knife at this time. He would discover those little accidents soon enough once he rose from the couch.

He lifted his head from where it was over his book at her question, slowly closing the pages and cover together so that he could put it aside on the coffee table.] I'll eat at the table with you.

[He pushed himself to his lightly bandaged feet and made the short journey to the kitchen after looking at the dining room table. It took him longer than usual still, but he leaned on the door leading into the kitchen first.] Do you want me to set the... where is that blood coming from?

[His mismatched gaze looked over her fingers, and he moved further into the room, reaching out to take his hands.] Let me see, Jinx.

action;

[opheliac]

[ she turns to him with a perplexed look on her face, and then follows his gaze down to her fingers. the shimmer blood coating her padded her fingertips, and jinx blinks a few times with slight bafflement. ]

Oh... huh. Guess I did that without knowing.

[ the next she knows, her father is now close to her with his hands extending out for examination. ]

Oh, pffft! It's not a big deal. I'll just wash it off in the sink or whatever.

[ in spite of her nonchalant response, though, jinx allows him to see for himself that her cuts aren't that severe. or maybe, in her opinion, it isn't. she's been through far worse incidents than this. ]

action;

[conflictresolution]

Distracted, it seems. Do you want me to finish cooking?

[He took her hands in his hand and brought them up closer to examine the damage to her fingers. It wasn't deep enough to require stitches, but they would need to be washed and tended. Of course neither of them could be healthy right now, could they?]

Wash them in the sink. I will get the medical kit and we will tend them. Scrub with soap then rinse well.

[He nudged her towards the sink to wash her blooded hands, and he moved to the living room where the medical kit was stationed thanks to the bandage changes still necessary for his feet. He picked it up and brought it back to the kitchen with him to set on the counter where she wasn't currently preparing food.

He opened the kit and pulled out some simple band-aids.]

Let's dry them off and get them bandaged up.

action;

[opheliac]

[ jinx sighs, feeling rather guilty of having her father suggesting to finish up dinner and retreating to the living room to fetch for the kit. she'd protest if it weren't for silco already disappearing, so instead, she does what she is told and cleans her fingers with water in lukewarm temperature. when he returns, she mutely wanders over while drying off her hands and pick out the band-aids (particularly the ones with funny designs). ]

I'm sorry.

[ she mutters finally, fastening the gauze on one finger and then the next. ]

I'm making you work more again. ... But really, I can finish cooking.

action;

[conflictresolution]

[He only set out band-aids with bright and colourful designs, knowing that those would be the ones that she would preference. He unwrapped them from the paper and allowed her to apply them unless she made indication that she wanted him to do it like when she was small.]

You don't have to apologize.

[He stepped in to kiss her lightly on the forehead then he went to cleaning up the kick, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.]

Were you distracted for any given reason? And I'll set the table.

action;

[opheliac]

[ the kiss to the forehead stills her heart for a millisecond, and her pink pupils gleam to match the light blush spreading across her cheeks. but quickly, she swallows down the bashfulness and resumes the cooking, and thankfully, all that needs to be done now is to pour the crab meat salad onto their loafs.

she wants to shake her head and tell him everything is fine, but again, that would be dishonest. but would lying to her father be okay if it means it's for the greater good? he deserves to be happy, and he is a way older adult and should be allowed to do whatever he wants.

even if it means things grow dire for her. but it'll be whatever, because silco knows best. he always does. no matter what. so there's no point in questioning or have doubt. but then why does she feel so uncomfortable about this new change? why is she so nervous about it? maybe she just... needs time to adjust? maybe that's it. or maybe she has a right to be cautious because of her curse and the way her life seems to enjoy toying with her. ]

I was just... [ a pause. ] — listening to my head. That's all.

[ because her thoughts and her voices are colliding to make one big ruckus in her noggin. and frankly, they haven't silenced since the treehouse. ]

action;

[conflictresolution]

[With the kit packed up, he moved it out of the kitchen to the living room again on the coffee table where it had been for days now. That task completed, he returned to the kitchen to open the necessary drawers and cupboards to retrieve cutlery and plates for the meal, though his mismatched eyes observed Jinx as she continued her own activities.

He paused from leaving the kitchen at her admittance, and he was able to easily surmise the kinds of comments would be coming from that dead snide little brat, Mylo. He signed from his nose, stepping out long enough to deposit the kitchen ware on the table so his hands were free as he returned and approached her to stand close without touching.]

And what are they saying?

[He found it best to let her tell him what she wanted to rather than pull it out of her. She could tell him as much or as little as she liked.]

action;

[opheliac]

[ with dinner finally done, she carefully sets the sandwiches on a plate to be carried to the dining table. she hadn't expected when she turned on her heel to have her father standing close, and she averts her gaze to hide her fluster while rolling a shoulder in an unconcerned shrug. ]

Oh, you knoooooow, this and that. Here and there. "You stink", "You're dumb", just every day stuff.

[ while that is what some are saying (the weaker ones, so to speak), jinx is purposely leaving out the stronger voices who are standing in the front of the line. his daughter side-steps around silco to set the sandwiches perfectly in the middle, but not without granting him a smile. ]

You'd think they'll come up with something else by now, huh?

action;

[conflictresolution]

[He hummed at the comments, watching her even as she moved around him with their meal for the night. He stayed where he was for the moment, and he remained stoic to idea that she was hiding actual relevant information from him. Still, she would tell him in her own time unless he found that she was greatly affected and then he would step in to assist.]

Their creativity remains childish at best, but considering they are still children, it does makes sense.

[He finally followed her to the kitchen table and pulled out a seat for her before he moved to take one for himself. He propped his feet up under the table on his heels, causing him to lean back in the chair more.]

As long as they aren't trying to twist you on what I disclosed earlier. Let them keep their paltry insults.

action; cw: narrative talking about torturing locals in a severe manner

[opheliac]

[ she takes the seat when he pulls it out for her and scoots her in, although when he mentions their discussion over via text, jinx sags in her chair faintly and her lips thin in order to keep her silence. she won't say they're not filling her with ideas and scenarios, and she also won't say they are.

but maybe she doesn't need to when her dejected expression and body language is more blinding than their kitchen light. her pinks dip away from her father's face, and more so onto his attire and his hands. to imagine he possibly touched someone's cheek with them besides her own makes her stomach twist within itself. but quickly, jinx mentally shoves that image in the back corners of her mind, because silco said so himself that there's no attachment.

... although, jinx was expecting the same thing with quentin at the start, and look how that turned out for her. she just wanted to have fun with him at scott's housewarming party and during her birthday, but came out having a boyfriend somehow.

and she can't help but to worry silco will trip over the same wire as her. what if he gets obsessive and behave like a lost puppy over this mystery person, like vi is with caitlyn? people act in so many different ways when that kind of intimacy comes into play. and she's never witnessed silco being in love or googly-eyed with another person, so it makes the unknown even more frightening.

jealousy is beating along with her heart too, seeing the chosen coupling with each other (emotionally attached or not) makes her feel so undesirable. with that feeling swelling, she, too, shoos it away with the image of silco being intimate. jinx doesn't need to spiral down that rabbit hole.... again. at least not now, anyway.

but tonight, she'll do what she always do when she's feeling down. and that is to prowl through the quiet streets and enter homes of lovely local couples and hurt them so severely that they will look and feel undesirable, too. that way, she won't feel so alone in this. with her muscles relaxing just a touch about her after dinner plans, she straightens up in her chair, grabs a hold of her sandwich finally. ]

Let me know how you like it, okay?

action;

[conflictresolution]

[He could have both of his eyes removed, and he would still be able to sense how her mood was troubled and twisted up. As much as people in their world liked to think it, Silco was no fool to how many of his actions affected those around him for better or worse. There were times when sacrifices needed to be made, but those that remained a loyal part of his faction he did what he could to keep them safe and provided for. That was the cost of loyalty to him.

But Jinx had been special. It hadn't meant to be that way honestly, as much as he had experienced a connection through similar life experiences when they had met. She had slipped passed his defenses without him intending for it to occur, and she stayed there, rooted in the closest sphere of his life as he encouraged her and provided her education and opportunities. She had always been special to him.

And he had seen how the sister had destroyed all that fragile confidence with the enforcer. It hadn't taken much - never did - but he knew. His actions would cause ripples, and her attitude despite her best efforts to hide it made it clear that her abandonment issues had risen to the surface. The timing likely didn't help after a month of her ignoring him and within weeks of them coming to a resolution, he had to admit that he had found comfort with another person.

And he would continue to do so as long as he and Richard found benefit in the trust they had developed with one another. He didn't expect it to last after all. Why would anyone associate with a monster like him for any length of time? This was his first non-monetary sexual relationship he had had since... no, he wasn't thinking about that.

Instead, he pulled his chair in further from the table and picked up the sandwich in his hands. He took a small bite and chewed thoughtfully as he determined the differences between this one and previous iterations.]

It is good. I enjoy the changes you made. [He wiped the corner of his mouth with the pad of his thumb.] You are aware you can talk to me about anything, yes?

action;

[opheliac]

[ relief washes over her from his approval, and a faint smile dances on her lips while she chews. finally her cooking seems to be showing some promise and maybe her bakery know-it-all won't be in shambles after all. though still, she holds her gaze down to her meal and her bandaged fingertips — using it as an excuse for her short replies. ]

I know.

[ she says, gulping down then wiping her mouth by using her forearm instead of a handkerchief. but the teenager knows that an answer like that won't be sufficient, so she adds a little more to make it lengthy. ]

Just don't have much to say tonight, I guess.

[ and that's because everything is based on her feelings than words, and what can she say that doesn't make her sound like she is starving for his attention, or she wants him to only see her and only her? it'll just prove mylo's point on what a freak she is. ]

action;

[conflictresolution]

[He nodded his head, accepting that she could talk to him knowing that his priority remained with her. If he could juggle this many businesses and have time for his daughter, he was confident that he could manage finding his way to Richard's bed now and again. If anything, perhaps he would be a touch less of a workaholic to balance his time better.

He took another bite of the sandwich, taking his time to chew the mouthful. He decided to let the topic drop, seeing that little nudges were urging her to open up. Perhaps she needed time to process more, and that was perfectly acceptable. Never before had Jinx been put in a situation where he ventured to anyone's bed. Time would make it clear he would not forsake her.

Swallowing, he set his sandwich back down so he could rise from his chair so that he could make his way back into the kitchen for a whiskey.] Do you have plans after dinner then? Also, do you want something to drink perhaps?

action;

[opheliac]

Meeting up with a few play dates.

[ now that, she answers fairly quickly and is probably the first thing she has said so far that holds some strong confidence. ]

And no thanks, I wanna remember what I'm doing.

[ ominous? of course, and her eyes shift over to the drawer where all their knives are kept, then a swift glance to her father to just observe how well he's be faring with his recovery. ]

action;

[conflictresolution]

Your gang or someone else you're planning on playing with?

[He could suspect that she was going to act out any emotions that she was hiding behind those purple eyes where her voices egged her on. He never condoned her violence unless it was in a place where he had set boundaries; otherwise, he let her do mostly as she pleased.

He poured himself a whiskey and returned back to the table with his tumbler. He eased himself down into his seat and stretched his legs out to again so he could put his heels on the floor rather than the flats.]

Keep it tight and quiet, as always. Let me know if clean-up services are necessary.

action;

[opheliac]

I still can't communicate with my friends.

[ which adds on more to her frustration and sorrows, it's like the council is trying to limit all of her escapism, or at least that's how it feels like to her.

she can tinker, sure, but what good is that if she can't aim her firearms on people? at her father's instructions, she frowns for the first time and snaps the loaf of bread into miniature pieces with her hands. ]

What's the point? The big wigs will know what I did anyway. And I don't want to be quiet.

[traumaticus]

[Richard is also way too caught up in the moment with his thoughts being swarmed by the seemingly endless assault of sensations at the hands of the other man to even think of anything else than the present. He does not think of the promise and covenant he had made with his kingmaker, or the jealous fury that his other half would be in if he were to find out about this. Even the treacherous woods with all the taunting lies of Joan. He does not think of the betrayal in the dark chapel and frozen darkness. The past and future. Neither of them really had any place in his mind, only the wave of pleasure that was building up in his body.]

-- Hah! [A wanton sound erupts from Richard, forcing itself out of his chest unguarded.

Ah. There it is. The so familiar stretch of a burn when the digits pushes past the opening, plunging inside of him. Of course, it is far more faint and subtle than what he is normally used to -- but it is still there. And it has been so long since anyone's touched him like this, so it is a bit of a tight fit around the fingers. He can feel the bones in knuckles rub against the softness of his walls, spreading him apart.

Richard gives his lips a quick lick when Silco cranes his neck up. He moves his hand grasping on the man's shoulder to hold the back of his head, pulling his face closer. With their lips barely touching, Richard keeps breathing in his scent, series of whiny gasps slipping out of his mouth in staccato.

It doesn't take long until the pressure becomes too overwhelming and he's finally pushed past the edge. Every muscle on his body tightens. The orgasm hits him like a hot, intense storm, making his entire frame shake under its power as he spills on Silco's hands. Something is burning within him, the flames licking his insides as he rides the wave of pleasure.]