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[Well. That wasn't a reaction that he had been expecting, least of all in the middle of the streets. He drew his knees up as he had when they had first met and tightened his arms around his daughter to hold her close as she wailed and made a scene. He bowed his head to rest his chin on the top of Jinx's head, giving her time to cry herself out before he risked wanting to move them both.

After a few minutes, he began to rearrange her in his arms, pulling her close and curling an arm under her knees while the other remained fastened around her shoulders. Through sheer force of will, he rolled himself to his feet and added a second kiss to the top of her head as he turned and began to walk them both home. This was the type of meltdown best completed at home, and he wanted to make certain that his daughter wasn't injured.

The temperature was too cold for her to be out in such a state of dress as well. No, he would take care of her, and already he knew that rats nest of her hair would be hours of work.]

Let's get you home, Jinx. I'll prepare a bath for you too.

[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...]

[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?

[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?

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.]

[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.]

[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.]

[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...

[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.]

[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...

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

Edited 2024-12-30 06:00 (UTC)

[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.]

[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. ]

Edited 2024-12-30 06:18 (UTC)

[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.]

[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...

[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.

[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?

[Unaware of her inner thoughts, Silco continued to tend to her hair but watched her. He burned with questions about what happened to her, to Zaun, to everything that he had built. He wanted to know what happened to his body, the Chem-Barons, how Piltover had responded to the bombing. However, he knew that peppering her with questions in such a state would only drive her away from him, and that was not a risk that he was willing to take after recently having her arrive back.

His fingers continued their work, making some progress at the worst portions for her hair. He turned his head to regard her at the question.]

If you wish me to, yes I will. I'll watch over you as long as you need.

[The water was already turning gray as the roughness of her journey was soaked off of her skin. He would decide to change the water to fresh in time.]

Once you're warmed up and bathed, we should get a small meal into you and then an attempt at sleep? When was the last time you had a few hours?

[when was the last time she slept? jinx rolls her head so she could tilt it back to gaze up at their ceiling, maybe this is her way of contemplating, or this is her mind is floating away from her again. it's hard to distinguish what is what, but she does answer him with a slight drawl in her voice:]

After my shift with Vander. ... I can't remember what day that was. We were at the Heaven for almost a week.

[Silco returned his mismatched gaze to her matt of hair and continued as it seemed she needed time to think about her last restful period. He entire body froze as that name fell from her lips, and he stiffened up as he mentally verified that she had not made a mistake. His jaw worked and his head turned to regard her, expression a mix of shock, anger and hurt.]

Vander?

[No, surely not. Vander was dead. He'd seen the man's body himself, though after he had taken Jinx back to the Last Drop to claim it as his own again, he had returned to the spot where Vander's body had been. It hadn't been there, but it was common that corpses disappeared and the water was rather close by. It had been an easy logical leap to make, disappointing as it had been at the time.

He teetered on the verge of his world falling out from under him.]

Mm-hmm...

[she supposes she should elaborate further than that, seeing he wasn't there with her to follow along the journey she went through. his daughter screws her eyes shut and sinks further into the tub — not entirely letting the water consume herself, of course, but now it glides at shoulder level.]

He came back, but. But not like himself. I dunno what happened to him, but he looked... so different. Like a wolf. He didn't recognize me first, and I didn't recognize him. — But... when he spoke and called me, "Powder", I... I knew it was him. I didn't question it.

Edited 2025-01-01 02:58 (UTC)

[His hands almost clenches in her hair when she moved to sink further into the tub, but he halted himself before he could. He stared at the back of her head, hair still in his lap as he listened to her.

Vander alive? No, it wasn't possible. And if it was? Who had the capability and for what purpose? Someone who had the capability of significant body modifications. Vander being alive both changed everything and changed nothing at all.]

That's... no possible. He's dead.

[A twisted fury suffused him, boiling from a previously empty pit in his stomach and choking him on the hot acid of it. He needed to focus on his daughter, not be distracted by realities that didn't exist and certainly not one that he would ever see either. That moment at the statue was...

No, he put it behind him.]

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