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( his voice flowing through the phone speakers shake her out of her lonesome thinking. that's right, silco is going to be with her tonight, and it's not going to be like the night before. last night, it was similar to this, but she hadn't called anyone to keep her company. she drowned and searched for happiness at the bottom of several bottles, but came out with nothing.

and she watched and listened to the locals mingle with each other with soaring hearts and smiles. it angered jinx and jealousy fueled inside her veins, because why was she alone last night? how come some fake nobodies can experience joy and not her? what did she do to deserve heartache, the feeling of betrayal, and loneliness? however, whenever she asks herself these questions, the voices never fail to chime in with the same reply that's been clutching to her shoulders for years. 'because you're a jinx.')

Uhm... ( her voice small, but she clears her throat to bring back its level. ) — There's another bar nearby... It's called "Dodo's". You can see the pool tables through the windows.

[Silco was moving briskly in her direction and he began to see more people moving around and the lighting increased and the sound of people enjoying themselves openly could be heard. He moved down alleys for short cuts, passing by some that had already had too much to drink and were in need of a quiet place to reflect on their location.]

Ah, I know where you are. I won't be much longer. Do you want to play pool tonight, or would you prefer to dance?

[As a rule, he didn't dance nor tried to make a fool of himself with body motions. He would be open to pool, which was a game of skill and could bring about the kind of onlookers that he could use. This was better than the old Aldrip, and he planned on thriving here as he once had in the Lanes. He would, however, never forget where they came from and what the end goal was.]

( just the thought of silco dancing brings a smirk on her face. like he would ever prance around with the type of music the nightclubs are currently blaring through their oversized speakers. unless it's some sort of fancy waltz she has heard politicians use as a tactic to get some one-on-one with their victims. but a game of pool sounds fun, and it'll be a lesser risk of embarrassment if she loses since it'll be her first time. )

Yeah, yeah, we can play pool. ... Will you teach me?

[He was paying attention as he walked to the kinds of entertainment that this place had already, devising how best to carve out a niche for himself and his daughter. This was a place they could potentially slip away in far better than the old Aldrip. He frankly didn't care the reason for the change yet so long as he could make the most of it. Death meant his priorities were far more forward thinking.]

The rules aren't difficult, so yes, I can teach you. It's been awhile, so I will be rusty.

So what I'm hearing is, I'm going to kick your butt.

( she giggles, her mood now beaming on the lighter side than gloom. jinx wonders if all parents have this sort of power -- to bring out a smile on their child's faces, no matter what the circumstances they're under. she would like to hope she did the same for him, but the man hardly smiles at anything unless it's over a devious victory.

although, her mind trickles back to several weeks ago when he planted a brief kiss on her cheek. the memory, still so vivid and glistening within her thoughts, quickly dominates all others, and the itch to rush towards the group of locals just to show them that she isn't alone and pathetic. because they don't have parents, not like hers. silco is one of a kind, and they should be the one who should feel envious over her life. not the other way around. )

You're going to try. We'll measure your success by how many objects you throw at a nearby wall or tables you overturn.

[With her mood lifting, he experienced less of a pressing need to find her immediately. However, he was getting closer to her location, so he had no reason to drop his pace. One never knew when her mood might change again, and it had always been easier to maintain her coming out of such moods if he was present. A constant source of calm, he liked to think of it. The voices didn't seem so loud when he was around anyway.

He was still holding up his phone of course, letting her see his progress if she wanted to keep track of him. He rounded a corner and spied her further down the street, partially blocked by a group of walking teenagers. It was only with her in sight that his pace eased to more casual.]

Tables are designed to be flipped.

( in her wild state of mind, of course. sure, they are meant for the boring task of setting items upon and to be a surface for beverages and meals, but tossing them over is a far better use for the furniture. if not, more entertaining. every so often, jinx peeps down at her phone that's still propped against the wall beside her. his surroundings are becoming more familiar, and that signals her to get up on her feet.

but his daughter underestimated just how wobbly her legs are, and she stumbles for a brief moment. when she thinks she has gotten the hang of her mobility, she pockets her phone and heads to the direction her father is coming from. ... while hugging buildings to keep her balance, naturally. )

Edited 2024-04-14 01:24 (UTC)

Many are a convenient size and shape for flipping, but their original design is to remain upright.

[There were certain activities where he was competitive for, and he knew he enjoyed being right. He had the drive and the instinct to get his way eventually, and he had the patience to see it through. In other activities, he was far more relaxed and when it came to games with his daughter, he cared little which of them won or lost.

He walked down the street, passing the group of teens chatting with each other about what to do tonight, but his main focus was on Jinx as she wobbled on her feet. Well, he expected he would be winning at pool tonight if this was the case. He ended the call and slipped his phone into his jacket pocket as he approached.]

Need an arm to hold on to, hmm? [He offered his elbow when he was in range of her.]

( jinx beams at the sight of her father, and she would protest if the ground didn't feel as if it's going to fall from beneath her. so she pushes herself off the wall, quickly linking her arms around his elbow like she's leaping from one ledge to another. regardless, she giggles dully while pressing her cheek against his forearm. )

Dodo's we go...!

( she attempts to guide them both for that establishment, but her feet staggers yet again, and leading them to the wrong direction. )

Edited 2024-04-15 13:58 (UTC)

[As soon as he felt her arm looping with his own, he tightened his arm against his body to keep her arm locked with his. This way he could stabilize her as he followed her lead for the first staggering steps that she took, and then he simply picked up his pace to take control over their movements.]

You haven't been drinking on an empty stomach, have you?

No one would give me anything.

[ oddly, her complaint holds a loving tune as she nuzzles her cheek more to his upper arm. and jinx forgets almost instantly that she was the one who was supposed to lead them both to the pool bar. but luckily for the two of them, the business isn't too far from where they stood. ]

'M not hungry anyway...

[ the only thing she hungers for is to seep more into that dull feeling of intoxication that alcohol can provide for her mind and emotions. the hurt of quentin fades along with it, her loneliness dries, and her voices become nothing more but soft murmurs that she can't understand. if she just keeps this up day in and day out, she'll never have to experience that pain again. or think about it. ]

No? Well, we shall see what they do if I request something.

[Silco was not a man that was easily denied when he wanted something, especially on behalf of his daughter. This was their night out now, so he would take care of her as he knew she would take care of him. That's the way that things were, and that's the way he wanted it to be.]

Very well, we will have some fun with the games tables and see where that gets us.

[He took them across the street towards the establishment in question with its gaudy little sign and the loud music being heard even before they had arrived on that side of the street. Once they were at the door, he pushed it open with a hand and allowed her to retake the lead if she wanted to be seen as the one dragging her old man inside for some fun.]

[ the music is indeed loud, but surprisingly the song of choice isn't chaotic like the nightclubs. it's more on the mellow side -- classical jazz, to be exact. and the locals (the demographic seemed to be for the older crowd, maybe mid-twenties and up) paid no mind of the duo as they focus on their games, their conversations, or their drinkings.

his daughter instantly lets go of her father's arm once they are fully inside, then skips her way to the bar to sit on the stool. the unexpected appearance of jinx startles the poor bartender, and she eyes him exceedingly close while teething over her lower lip. ]

Hi.

[ she greets him with a slight messy grin with a provocative tone to match. her arms fold steadily on the table-top, leaning in like she's some sort of predator and pondering over whether to play with her food now or just... go straight for the kill. ]

"Uh, hi. What can I get for you tonight?"

[ the teen hums smoothly over the question, pretending to really think this over. ]

I dunno. Something... good. Something that'll make me feel... really good.

[ her eyes dances around him, from the tip of his head to as low as the bar table is allowing her to see. then her grin widens more, and it's coated with so much mischief that anyone could cut it with a knife. ]

You got something like that behind there?

[ needless to say, the bartender is looking pretty perplex by this exchange, and given people come here to drink... he makes the assumption jinx means a beverage. ]

Well, uhm, we have a wide selection that you can choose from to help you unwind.

— Mmhm, uh-huh. And tell me, what gets you unwind?

[ it's like she completely forgot she is here with her father.... ]

[He made absolutely no effort to keep her arm, expecting that she could and would keep to her feet with the press of people and music all around her. This was the environment she lived in, and while he kept his office relatively quiet, the boom of a base was never too far away from the floor boards. He was in no hurry to cross the floor, allowing her ample opportunity to cause some trouble.

However, he did follow all the same, picking out an open games table for them to eventually make their way to. His hands were tucked into his jacket pockets as he approached leisurely, and the confused discomfort of the bartender was plainly obvious. She was rather drunk already, so of course she'd be going for terrorizing someone. That was so normal he didn't even blink at it.

Still, he came up behind her as she rested against the bar, his expression that of a patient parent with their drunken naughty child.]

I'll have a whiskey to unwind, and my daughter will have a bellini in the biggest fishbowl of a glass that you have. It will, at least, keep her hands occupied for ten minutes.

[Two could troll after all.]

[ the anxious barkeep exchange glances between the duo, unsure what to make of them until silco clarified their relationship. for family, they look nothing alike, but the man dare not to question their likeness. and what did he mean by keeping her hands occupied? what... would happen if they were free? well, it's not in his job description to ask, and hopefully not to worry over. so the man clears her throat with a nod and scurries off more to the left to mix their drinks.

jinx resumes her corny smile and then peers over her shoulder to her father. it's a good thing he is here to order for the both of them, because if she was handed a menu, she wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of the printing. the teenager lifts an arm high above her hand, then stupidly slams her palm to the empty stool cushion next to her. ]

Sit [ slap! ] With [ slap! ] Me...!

Edited 2024-04-28 00:16 (UTC)

[He cast a side-eyed look at Jinx for her smile as the barkeep went off to arrange for their drinks. He was going to need to get some food into her soon enough, knowing that he had the capacity to carry her home if he needed to but wouldn't have the adrenaline like last time. Besides, he doubted she even knew he had done that, unwilling to leave such an important task to anyone else. He surrounded himself with massive bodyguards so he didn't have to carry things, but his daughter... that would always be a responsibility that he would take seriously.

He regarded her with the same parental patience of someone who had endured these kinds of antics for many years and had come to accept them as part and parcel of his child. He eased himself onto the stool once she had finished slapping it and reached over the counter to grab one of the menus that he saw peeking up a corner.]

What would you like to eat? They have squid. [

[ she gets overly giddy when silco takes the seat next to her, enough that she's doing a little dance over him accepting her invitation. when he has the menu in hand, jinx cranks her neck to take peep despite the words are jumbling into one big cluster of a mess. the squid does sound appetizing, and instead giving her father a full answer, she plants her head against his shoulder. ]

I wanna eat rich.

[ jinx says finally in a soft and relaxing tone. ]

... Like this world is entirely ours with no one telling us what to do or how to do it, and no one can ever hurt us again. So... squid's good, if it's fancy.

Edited 2024-04-28 23:23 (UTC)

[His expression did not change when Jinx danced around near him, pretending to only be focusing on the menu. He did not like having his back to so many strangers, and he was still getting used to being out in the open regularly. The normal faire of people that had him on their bucket list to murder were down to a small handful, so he could be out more freely. Besides, new city and his daughter would definitely murder someone for touching him, so he was fine to be here.

He snorted softly at her claim to eat rich. There were far more high-end establishments than this that would serve far better quality food. Still, this would have to do as he wasn't going to carry her to fine dining. She would definitely throw food at someone, and he would be hard pressed not to laugh. He had his reputation to consider.]

That will be true soon enough, Jinx. For now, we will eat like that is already our lives. They have no reason to stop us.

[Besides, this was a good opportunity to size up the competition for when he brought in the Last Drop and barred the sister from it. Not that she'd listen. Anyway.]

HA! — A birdie told me Jerry might be... [ she uses her index finger to demonstrate the illusion of someone slicing a throat with a skkrt sound effect to go along with it. ] — Jinxie hasn't seen him around lately. And when I chatted with Raggie sometime ago, he hadn't heard from him either, and he's the one who blew 'em all up!

[ it's a little strange, to say the least, but she has her own little theory about his disappearance. does she believe he will show up eventually? oh, most certainly. but until he does, she should wreak havoc while the getting is good. ]

Definitely not fair in my eyes. I'm starting to think the council just doesn't like girls who have a brain between their ears.

A temporary reprieve from his usual interferences, or they will employ someone new. After all, Jerry is about as real as the rest of this place. [He recalled what Levi told him privately about Jerry's shift in appearance, which only built the narrative that they were all being held here as some kind of silly hostage experiment. He didn't mind much, as he had enough freedoms to do most of what he wanted to.] We should consider his lack of enforcer presence as a boon.

[It also made him want to see what would happen if someone blatantly began to break things again. How would the Council summon those that resisted? Perhaps it was time to test the boundaries of this place to see if Jerry's disappearance was truth or an illusion.]

I have the impression the Council doesn't like anyone who can't adhere to their rules. Perhaps they will loosen up now that the brute had done his job.

[ right as she opens her mouth to speak, the barkeep returns to them with their requested drinks. and as promised, a glass of whiskey for him and a big fishbowl-like glass of some fruity drink for her. at the sight, jinx slams both of her palms onto the bar counter, then gasps with exaggeration. the poor man startles at her sudden excitement and even stumbles back a bit before regaining his footing again. ]

This... looks... amazing!!

[ with a high pitch squeal, she does a small jig in her seat in celebration while reaching something in her back pocket. is she going to give him a tip? at least, that's what he is hoping for. the night's been pretty rough on his end, and he could use some good fortune. but luck won't be on his side tonight as she fishes out some lint and drops it onto the table. the bartender blinks once, twice, then peers up at the girl in extreme confusion. and jinx holds the gaze back, meeting the same expression. ]

What? You can do a lot with cotton lint. Like making fire when you're out of matches. Trust me, you'll thank me when you're stranded.

[ and with that, the teenager dives in her drink -- sipping the juice so fast through the straw. as for the man, he looks extremely depressed as he stretches over to take the offer... ]

[Silco's reaction was the usual sedate one, though he watched his daughter put on overly enthusiatic show for the barkeep. He would have to keep an eye on her for the night on how she interacted with them man and perhaps make a job offer in the future if Jinx taken a keen liking to tormenting him in her usual way. She needed a barkeep to make her drinks and be absolutely obtuse about how to handle her antics.

He picked up his drink and swirled the amber liquid unnecessarily as he watched Jinx hand over some pocket lint. The corner of his lip twitched in amusement, and he left it for the barkeep to take the lint as if it was some kind of offering.

In true dichotomy fashion, he set down enough currency to pay for both of their drinks and a healthy tip for the man.]

An order of calamari as well. [He turned to Jinx sucking away at her massive drink.] Come, Jinx, pick a game tables and we shall enjoy ourselves.

[ the man's spirit lifts at the currency on the table, looking over at silco with gratitude twinkling in his eye. maybe when it's just the two of them, he will express how much this amount actually means to him during his tiring times. but for now, he nods to him obediently and hurries off to put in the order.

meanwhile with jinx, the hastily sips immediately sting to her temples -- a new spark wave of alcoholic buzz to recloud her already hazy mind. her good influence friends would advise her to slow down, and to take it easy. but this is a "i want to forget" kind of night, to dull all of her heartaches and insecurities until she can't recall why she was so upset in the first place. when silco regains her attention again, jinx nods in agreement and scoops the enormous drinking glass with both hands. there's no way she is leaving this baby behind. the girl skids off the stool in a light fumble before cocking her head to one side at the empty pool table nearby. ]

Mmm, that one!

[ and without any delay, jinx scurries on over -- nearly bumping into a stranger in which she rudely blares out,"hey, move it!!" then continues on. the man eyes the teenager, but says nothing -- returning to converse with his other drinking buddies. so far, so good with the "no causing trouble" department. ]

[Silco knew that look, and he was not above capitalizing on it either. It wasn't stealing the competition if he could just plain offer better and seal that loyalty to remain with him in the future as well. This was just the start, and he would see what this one was really made of if nothing better came his way once he 'prayed' to the 'gods' about getting his own little taste of home back. He'd been thinking about it for a month or so, and now that he was established, he could consider expansion.

For now though, he pushed off of leaning on the bar to follow his daughter away to one of the games tables of her choice. He had promised to school her in the ways of games, even though she too had been raised in a bar and probably had many exposures to such things. Her drunkenness would either make it easier or harder for him, and that remained to be seen once she had decided on a table.

He moved pass the one that Jinx had ordered to move it and said nothing as he followed his daughter over to a pool table. He examined it like it might be rigged before setting down his drink on the side of it and shrugging out of his coat. That's when one knew he was going to take things seriously.]

This is your choice? Set the table then, and pick your pole, Jinx.

[He and Vander had played a lot of pool in their youth during the off hours. It was fitting he reframed such memories with those of his daughter. After all, he didn't spend a lot of time on games when there was an Undercity to force together, so this was even a novelty for him after working so many hours in Aldrip.]

[ she sing-songs a hum as a reply, and places the beverage on a nearby table. her gaze drifts off to the pole selection, with her head cock curiously to one side. are they all the same, or does a stick make a difference in a game? maybe so, but with her mind being as sloshed as it is, there's no telling so she'll stick to choosing one at random. the girl tucks the pole underneath her arm and makes her way back to the table, grabbing what she needs to set all the balls in its trangler rack. however when she glances down at the set, her expression warps into confusion. ]

Wait, does the order matter? Like... the colors and numbers and stuff?

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cw: being a nsfw drunk troll

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