Inbox

[conflictresolution]

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

[Text | Voice | Video | In-Person]

Comments

action;

[opheliac]

[the sobbing does calm after a few minutes, the raw of it out of her system, and now it's steady and less panic. she doesn't respond to his suggestion, nor really make a actual effort to stir in his hold of her. if anything, she coils more into herself and buries her face into his chest to help the cold from chilling her skin.

a bath does sound pretty lovely, but will she even have the strength for it? to scrub her hair specifically? just the thought of it is already feeling her with dread, but... she can't stay in this shape, either. not when she still needs to go back out on the search for isha. her daughter/sister could be worse off than her...]

cws shall persist and grow strong

[traumaticus]

[There is some irony to the fact that for someone who struggles with his mental health a quite lot,
and is prone to both moments of panic and dissociative episodes Richard is completely blind to the signs of them in others. But then again, is that a surprise when he associates his own condition with a curse brought to him by his body. And the only other instance where he had witnessed something similar was in the madness of Henry when the other man had rejected him in fear.

To him there was nothing out of ordinary in this moment. He and Silco had been here before, teasing the danger with the tip of blade and pushing each other to new heights. The elevated heart beat, the quickening of his breath and the merciless grip on his thighs only signaled him that he was doing something right here. That Silco was feeling the thrill like he was.

The sight of fresh red running down his lover's neck brought sense of satisfaction to him. It fit the scene just right, didn't it? Two monsters having a go at each other and all that. So, he pushed in further, capturing Silco's lips with his own as he placed both of his legs around the older man so that he could press his weight on his lap if he so wished to. This chair was much more accommodating for this kind of position than the pathetic excuse of chair back at his own office. He deepens the kiss with a roll of hips, looking to create some friction between their bodies.

His free hand slid down to grab the yellow necktie, loosening it with couple of practiced tugs and pulls. Then, he lets go off the knife's handle and quickly grabs his lover's wrists, fighting forcefully the hands off his thighs so that he could bring them together and bind with his lover's own tie.]

action;

[conflictresolution]

[Silco held her close as he turned and walked them back the distance to the house that they shared together. He paused after a bit of a distance to lean on a lamp post so that he could free up a hand to pull her loose hair up and into her hold so that it was no longer dragging on the ground. Then he pushed off and continued to walk until they were at the doorstep and he was shouldering open the door.]

When was the last time you ate and drank something, Jinx?

[While he wouldn't insist on her eating, he was concerned that some of the stress of travel could be abated with a meal. He kicked closed the door and took his daughter over to the couch where he could sit and then pull the blanket off of the back to wrap around her. She looked... cold, tired and upset. She also looked... worn, like she had seen more of the world than even he had exposed her to.]

We'll warm you up some and then I will draw you a bath, alright?

action;

[opheliac]

[from where they were to their home, the whole travel is a blur to her. one minute she was in her father's arms, and then the next she is on the couch with a blanket coating her shivering frame. his daughter blinks slowly up to her father, a delayed reaction and realization that they're suddenly home already, and now it's time to answer a few questions and work on becoming more alive again.]

Uh... I had snow?

[painfully not the kind of response her father possibly want to hear, but she isn't going to lie to the man, either.]

A-And a little bit of soup. ... I can try and wash up.

[and speaking of bathing, her curling her fingers on the sheet jogs a memory of her aching middle finger.]

Do we have any... wax in the house?

action;

[conflictresolution]

You need something to drink then.

[He hesitated from leaving her there looking small and filthy on the couch wrapped in a blanket, but he was the parent here and that required doing what was best for her. He touched the touch of her head before he walked away to the kitchen to pour her a glass of juice. They would start with that, see if she could hold it down and then move to solid food after her bath.

He returned and offered her the glass to take and drink.]

I'll assist you with washing up. Your hair alone will take hours to untangle.

[He considered the question and nodded, though uncertain what type of wax exactly she was looking for. They had several types in the house, and he moved around gathering two of those (candle wax and more a balm wax) and offered them to his daughter.

Then he seated himself on the couch near her feet and reached out to take them with some blanket, rubbing them through the material. If she had frostbite, he would be furious with this place.]

action;

[opheliac]

[she doesn't say much after that, leaving them both with the lingering silence as he departs to the kitchen, then back in the room again. jinx takes the cup in one hand, and then the waxes with the other — now finally revealing the reason for the polish, her finger.

his daughter doesn't tend to her digit just yet, deciding to gulp down the juice like a dehydrated fish, and doesn't make a fess either when silco stretches over to care for her feet.]

Are you... — have things been fine?

[she mutters her ask, drying away any leftover tears with her forearm.]

action;

[conflictresolution]

[It didn't upset him that she didn't answer, aware that after all of this was over that she likely required sleep more than anything. They had had an argument over Richard - of course they had - and he wasn't looking to rehash any of that now that she was here safe and at home. He'd always strived to protect her, sacrificing what he needed to in his position to do so. He wouldn't hesitate to do so again.

He rubbed her feet as she polished off the juice, and while instinct urged him to give her more, experience told him to wait to see if she would hold it down. She had probably starved for days and who knew before her return as well.]

Yes, everything is fine. You're back, and that's what matters most to me.

[There was no sign at all that Richard had even been here in the house. As soon as Jinx had posted to the network, Richard had immediately vacated and Silco hadn't fought him on it. Instead, he had made certain that everything was as it had been when Jinx left and he was simply back to hiding.

His hands rubbed her feet still.]

Well, we should prepare a warm bath for you. It will set you right for sleeping, which you obviously need. The brute missed you; he was morose and whiny while you were gone.

[He rose to his feet again, moving to scoop Jinx back up into his arms so that he could take her to the bathroom.]

action;

[opheliac]

[once done, she settles the mug on the coffee table then swiftly nurse her digit before it develops some real damage. jinx could always make another implant if it's too far gone, the desire to build anything, let alone a prosthetic, is entirely out the window.

the bluenette finishes her caring for her finger in time for silco to collect her back into his arms, which is appreciative. the thought of having to walk a single step further is pure torture, and her claves are particularly on fire even with her staying complete stationary. but a small smile manages to manifest across her face over hearing about ragna's whining. he helped her along the way (ekko too), and it's still stunning to see how much their relationship bloomed; from her being an annoyance to him to now family. life is funny that way.]

I don't know if I can sleep tonight...

action;

[conflictresolution]

[Silco walked them both to the bathroom with the biggest tub in the house. He kept her tucked in the blanket as he seated her briefly on the edge of the tub so that he could lean over and plug it and begin the process of filling it with hot water. It would take several minutes for that after he had tested for the appropriate temperature.

He stepped away to grab a hair brush from and a comb and made a point to pull out her long matted mess of blue hair from the blanket's nest to let it pool on the floor. No doubt there was a creature or two living in it, and that wouldn't be the first time either. Still, it was clear that she had walked the whole way dragging this mass behind her, and it would take hours to put to rights again.]

Then don't. I will be here with your regardless.

[He reached out to comb out her bangs first, reminded every day how they had come about from his own hair styling years ago before he had abandoned the look to what it was now. That brief stint as a young man again reminded him how he never wanted to go back to that weak little man, but it pleased him that Jinx carried the old look in the bangs anyway.]

Unless you'd prefer some other company, that is? [While his tone was pleasant enough, there was a threatening undercurrent of Don't you dare. This was his time with his daughter.]

[conflictresolution]

[Normally he was all for Richard taking a bit of control, pushing him to have to wrestle it back. He was not interested in docile damsels, and technically Richard wasn't even the body type that stole his attention but the combination of scars and ambition and secrets overrode his usual tastes. It seemed fitting that he would bed with someone like Richard then, after swearing off of any type of relationship for decades.

He was experiencing something, but it had nothing to do with a thrill. The pain to his neck only layered on the sense of rising panic, warm blood spilling down to mark the collar of his shirt and even stain his white cravat as he shifted in the chair as if he might make the first attempt to stand, even as his blunt nails dug in harder to ground him in the moment. He stared as Richard's face, lips barely moving in the kiss despite keenly aware of it occurring and that his participation was likely warranted. All he could think was that he had to have control again, that this wasn't the Pilt, wasn't back then when weakness had overtaken him.

The friction in his lap brought him briefly back to the room, and he made a point of biting Richard's lower lip hard enough to experience a momentary sensation that control was possible. Unfortunately, the tendrils of panic didn't allow his body to respond to the friction of Richard's grinding, but it did force him to relent in some of the grip of the younger man's thighs.

He could do this. His hands shifted so that he could pull and tug the material up around Richard's waist, trying to inject himself back into the moment now that the threat of choking had abated. He was sliding his hands around Richard took hold of them, lashing them together with this silk tie. His response was to make a grab for the knife still embedded in his chair.]

[traumaticus]

[Silco was being way too silent. There was no snarky remark or comment of the situation, no bite or sneer. No fight. Just this strange passivity that did not belong to him. It did not belong to them. It made him feel uneasy, a distant memory of another body going still against him and the following cold ice that froze the blood in his veins. His stomach twists and throat tightens -- as if he was the one who was being choked here.

However, just as he was about to withdraw away so that he could take a look at his lover's face Richard feels a strong and sharp sting on his lower lip and the press on his tights bruising the soft skin. Ah yes. There he is.

He pants to their kiss, drawing back just a hair that he can give his lip a quick lick to see whether he could taste blood. And that is when he catches the glimpse of Silco reaching up with his bound hands for the knife. Well, unfortunately for him Richard is faster. So he shoots his hand up to grab the blade's handle while the other one takes a hold of the older man's wrists, forcing them up above his head. And again, to keep him disarmed and at his mercy, Richard stabs the weapon right below the knot on the cravat to pin his hands.]

[conflictresolution]

[His eyes flicked down to Richard's lips as well when the younger man withdrew, and he felt a brief sliver of control returning to his side of the swinging pendulum. His fingers move to close on the hilt of the blade which had cut into him previously and the injury still wept blood even now, but he was discovered.

Instead, he inhaled sharply as his wrists were seized and forced above his head. The blade sunk into his chair a second time, but this time even as he twisted his wrists with increasing force, he couldn't pull them free of his cravat nor off the blade. He didn't have the leverage to pull the blade out of where it was embedded, and he shifted his body and rolled his shoulders to attempt to find that necessary leverage. Of course, Richard being a far better combatant than himself found the exact spot that kept his the material tight around his wrists so he couldn't squirm one hand or the other out of the binding.

He bucked his hips, digging his heels into the floor as his mismatched eyes focused on Richard. For now, he felt in control enough to be able to focus on his lover, recognizing him compared to before when there were fingers around his throat.]

Now you've gone and damaged my favourite chair....

action;

[opheliac]

[being seated at the border of the bathtub and listening to the rustling of the water brings a little life into her as jinx shifts very carefully to stick her feet in. she still needs to get undressed, but at least she can warm up her tootsies more. she even wiggles them around in a light child-like manner to help her sink into her safe space mentality. it's not her fort back in her lair, but being in a somewhat closed space with someone she trusts with gentle noises are enough to start it off.

not once jinx meets her father's gazes, not to purposely avoid him by any means, just more so, she feels better only focusing on her water and her feet kicking around underneath to make silly waves.]

I... I don't want to be with anyone else right now. [she confesses quietly, feeling somewhat guilty, too. jinx knows there's probably a line of people who wishes to speak with her, see how she's faring, and wish to know where she's been.] — They'll ask me too many questions...

action;

[conflictresolution]

[He didn't prevent her moving her feet into the tub as it filled. The water would warm her feet faster than any other method, and he did wish for her to be warm and comfortable first and foremost. He finished with her bangs and moved on to the nest that was her long hair, and he busied himself picking out large environmental debris then tossing each one in the bin.

He looked up from his work at her confession, and it warmed his chest that she had chosen to come home first. They could contend with the others when she was feeling up to it, though he silently hoped that such a time would be a far ways off.] Well, I will refrain of questions and allow you to choose when you wish to speak to me about your time away.

[He knew there were significant differences, and while he was curious, he would not press her either. In her own time, he was confident that she would tell him.]

We need to get your clothing off so you can settle into the tub. I'll hold your hair so you can remove your top.

[traumaticus]

We will get you a new one. [Richard voice is low, words slipping past his tongue as he raised to his knees so that he could loom over the other man, eyes watching his expression keenly.

He knew how fond of Silco was this office of his and all the decor that came with it. He assumed that the sentimentality was born from the sense of home that the Last Drop brought to him. But despite that, he had to admit that he had never ever seen a man so attached to a chair. One would think it was the throne itself.

Done with incapacitating his lover Richard brings his hands down. One leather covered finger trailed down the fresh crimson line on Silco's neck, making sure to wet the tip with the blood before bringing it back to his mouth - smearing it over his already red and swollen lips.]

Speak Silco. What do you want?

[conflictresolution]

[Despite the futility of it, Silco continued to twist and jerk his wrists where they were bound, trying to find some way to pull one or both free. It held fast, and never let it be said that he didn't invest in quality fabrics regardless of it being to his detriment currently.]

I don't want a new one. I have this one.

[This was the chair that he had once spent most of his nights sleeping in. He's managed political maneuverings, assassinations, thwarted enemies and rivals from this vantage point. This was where he was most comfortable, and it was less a dislike for the damage to his furniture and more that it was focusing him on the act of offering complaint over stamping down the anxiety of his current position. He had been tied up before, and he knew that Richard was prying control away from him using physicality.

He twitched his head and neck away from the gloved finger stroking the recent injury to his neck. He breathed harder than plainly necessary for this situation, and the pain from the wound was a reminder of how he had nearly lost complete control. He stared at his lover, slowly calming again as the familiar act which reminded him of the most recent time in Richard's office. A superior chair was making things worthwhile at the very least.

He tipped his chin up and slightly away, showing defiance.]

My hands free and you naked.

action; cw:nudity

[opheliac]

[she blinks slowly as it just occurred to her that, yes, in order to bathe, she needs to remove her clothing in order to do so. which feels... like busy work to her right now, but having to procrastinate when her father is already doing the hardest part of her grooming isn't necessarily fair. so gradually, she stretches for behind her crop top to unhook a little strap to keep everything together, and peels the attire off her frame — now bare.

besides the already scarring she received from when she attempted to evaporate herself and ekko on the bridge, there are no new blemishes to her skin. maybe some light bruising in some places, but nothing but time can't fix. his daughter grants the clothing drop to the tiles, then peeks down her trousers next. she'll have to stand back up to remove those, and she doesn't feel quite ready for that big move. maybe in the next minute or so.]

action; cw:nudity

[conflictresolution]

[Silco held up her mass of hair so that she would have access to the clip that held on her top easier before he was dropping the mass of tangled blue back down. He tugged the blanket away next to throw towards the door of the bathroom. He was unoffended by her nudity, having both experienced it before on numerous occasions as she had done him in return. It was perfectly natural.

He lightly touched her shoulder when she didn't move to remove her trousers, which also looked as if they required a good wash.] Jinx, let me assist? The sooner we get you undressed, the sooner you can relax in the bath water and warm yourself.

[He shifted so he could sit behind her, propping her up as he reached around to work open her belts and remove them and then her trouser front. That done, he slipped his arms around her slim waist and moved to help her stand.]

Shove them off and into the water is fine. Then we'll get you in.

action; cw:nudity + dissociating

[opheliac]

[again, he'll get a stall reaction from her, and she stands cautiously over in the tub as he undresses for her. she isn't trying to be difficult, and she wants to get this washing over with so she can maybe hide in her room, or shield herself underneath the covers. but now that she is in a place where no real danger will come to her, her head is floating up and onward from her reach.

all the events had left her too tired to chase after her mind, and decided somewhere between the living room and here that it would just be easier to let her brain do whatever it wants to do. which in this case, levitate around in an atmosphere so it can't make any decisions or critical thinking. doing what she is told, she shimmies down her slacks, and they plop and sail into the bathwater. gingerly, jinx places her hands on each of her father's shoulders for balance as she steps out of them, one leg out of time.]

action; cw:nudity

[conflictresolution]

[For all of his faults, Silco liked to believe he was at his most patient when his daughter was so afflicted. She seemed calm but not entirely present in the moment. Normally he wouldn't take such a direction with her, but he expected she would feel better in the warm bath water just soaking. She could allow her consciousness to flit about where it would, and he could keep an eye on her.

So, once the remainder of her clothing settled into the tub, he moved his hands to assist her, even leaning closer so that he could pull the dirty material away once her feet rose out of it. One hand remained on her elbow lightly as he scooped her waterlogged clothing up and out, tossing them in the sink to be tended to later. He noted each mark, bruise and scar on her frame that he could see, but he said nothing to inquire after it. For now.]

In you go. [He reached out to turn off the water which had risen well enough that she could completely submerge her body.] Rest your head on this side so I can untangle your hair. [He wanted to at least attempt to work out as many knots and snarls as possible before washing it up.]

action; cw:nudity + that gross nail picking that she does

[opheliac]

[while he briefly transfers her filthy attire to the sink, jinx purely watches him move around and taking in with how the way he shifts. no real reason as to why she is so fixated by his movements out of the blue, just to take note of it just because. when he reports her to sink in her bath, her attention drifts off to the water... almost contemplating, but complies after a second or two.

feeling the warmth of the water becomes overwhelming, but in a pleasant way. it's like being coated in heated sweet honey if it was made loose, not heavy. she pulls her legs a little closer to her chest, her toes idly curling and rubbing against one another as her head slant in a direction, so her father can continue to tend to her locks. all the while, though, her index fingernail presses down against her thumb — instinctively picking and allowing harsh pressure to the point of slight self-injury. ]

action; cw:nudity

[conflictresolution]

[He noted the way she watched him, and he expected it was partially due to the fact that she had aged somewhat which meant that whatever had happened to him, he was long gone from her life. It annoyed him that he had died on her when she potentially needed him the most, when Zaun had needed him, but there was nothing that he could do about it but occasionally fume.

Once she was in the water and soaking, he settled himself on the edge of the tub and pulled her hair into his lap to return to working on it. He started at the tips and began to untangle the knots. He worked meticulously while also keeping an eye on Jinx herself in case she fell asleep and potentially sank into the water.

As he worked and watched her, he allowed the silence to persist for a time.] Your café remains in good order. The cats have found homes, especially that one which had her kittens in my closet. [He purposefully sounded put upon by having to deal with kittens in his closet some time ago.]

action; cw:nudity

[opheliac]

[she halt digging into her thumbnail, and she shifts her head slightly to get a better angle to peer up at silco. that's right, she had cats in her café, didn't she? a small smile glitters over her pale complexion, and jinx stirs in her bathwater, so her legs can rest flat and relax.]

That's great. [if it weren't for her smile, the tone might have been mistaken as fake or ironic. however, she truly means it, even with her voice being off.] — I'll have to search around town for any more strays later. They're probably cold...

action; cw:nudity

[conflictresolution]

[He cast her a patient look when she peered at him, still picking his way through her long locks. They were a massive mess, but he expected they would both be here awhile so it would be worth the effort if she could simply settle down and exist with him. As much as his ambition weaved its way through his entire life, he didn't mind having an evening and even early morning hours just existing with his daughter.]

Perhaps give it some times, Jinx. You will need a few days to recover from your journey. [And whatever events had befallen on her between her leaving her and coming back. He switched between brush and comb as he worked through her hair, tossing the occasional leaf or stick in the garbage nearby once he encountered them.] Your room is exactly as you left it.

action; cw:nudity

[opheliac]

[somewhere in her mind, she knows her father is right, and she does want to stay with him from a while, and be sheltered away from everyone in her world. jinx missed him so much, however, she still needs to seek out for isha and for vander. to make sure if their presence is either here or not. and if they are here, they're not in danger.

she can't necessarily tell if it would be better if it's good for the two to be here in aldrip with her, or... would it make matters worse. the simulation can be a lovely place when it wants it to be, but it carries many horrors and the thought of them going through something like having their entire body controlled makes her skin crawl. the bluenette idly waves her feet from side to side, watching the light ripples she creates while doing so.]

Can you stay in the room with me...? If I fall asleep?