[Silco stared at her from across the table, raising the only eyebrow that he had at her sudden temper. He made a noise in his nose like a sigh, and he sat enduring her demanding questions. So much for being a supportive father then. Now was this on the basis of her fear or something else?]
I have no problem. I don't see how giving you my blessing to spend time with the boy would cause such offense, Jinx. Would you prefer that a different reaction from me?
[Ah, so it was less about his blessing and more about the reference of their relationship being four days old. It was a rather short amount of time as far as he was concerned, but then again, trust came slow for him. He had no interest in getting that close to someone that quickly. Let Jinx have her fun; it was interesting to see her so free with people and making friends here.]
Rockets seem to be extreme at this point in time, and I have your assurances of your loyalty. That's enough.
[Let him remain calm and take another draw on his cigar to hide the unease that he had about Jinx making amends with the sister and now the boyfriend and then add in the friends. He needed to expand his reach in this place quicker to have something to focus on.]
( could there be a disconnect here? it's highly possible given jinx almost always jumps into conclusions, reading between the lines from all the wrong angles, and completely missing the mark of interpreting things. it happened with vi so many times and with him, and this certainly won't be the last time either. jinx begins to deflate as the gears in her head now spin on the opposite direction. was she blowing his attitude out of proportion? ... was her mind including things that aren't there again?
with her shoulders slumping as he speaks, his daughter leans down to set the chair back in place before taking her seat again. she frowns but not in a temper tantrum sort of way. )
It's just... you don't seem happy to me. There's no smile or... I dunno, bouncier tone? I feel you're upset somehow and I don't want you to feel that way. I wanna make you happy and... —
( she exhales out a sigh, admitting defeat. )
Forget it. Nevermind. I'm probably being zig-zaggy again.
[Silco made his usual 'hmm' as she spoke, shaking his head little. After all, there was a difference between giving his blessing for her to see this boy and being happy about it happening. However, he was keenly aware that putting his foot down against this little... tryst would drive her away faster than if he let it happen and then, if he didn't like the boy (which he didn't), he'd push them and turn over all the rot in such a relationship to prove his point. He was, if nothing else, a long-term strategist.
In the end, there were very few people that he could bring to mind that were good enough for his daughter. He didn't want her alone, but he didn't want her used and underappreciated for her gifts and personality.]
I give you my blessing, Jinx, but doing so doesn't have to make me happy. I have concerns, but until this relationship develops more and I see how he treats you personality can I make an decision if it makes me happy on your behalf.
[It won't. Silco was a man that rarely experienced happiness. Perhaps those times he brought the Chem-Barons in line or the times he swept through the Undercity to take control.]
( despite her plate is a little away from her (and growing hungry again, of course), she reaches over for the fork to play around with the leftover fish pieces again. well, it's good that she has his blessing but to hear that he isn't happy (yet) saddens her heart a bit. )
... Is there something I can do to make you happy?
( not necessarily about the whole relationship thing, but in general is what she is trying to go far. so many wild and twisty turns this conversation between them has been so far. )
[He was used to her being in motion in some way; there was hardly times that Jinx could achieve complete stillness. There was always something going on, and some of his concerns were related to when her sentencing had created a scenario where small doses of Shimmer weren't effective at weaning the withdrawal effects.]
You drive me crazy, child, but I have never not been happy with you.
[In a sense of the word anyway. Silco wasn't even certain what happiness was these days aside from a good victory over a rival or getting his way. Fleeting moments, but Jinx being Jinx was never something that displeased him... even when she was blowing up buildings and killing enforcers to prove herself.]
( although this conversation had been one big roller coaster (which is expected dealing with jinx overall), she's happy that it's finally coming to a nice restful stop. the smile she puts on is warm with relief sprinkle in between, and tension seems to be lifted off her shoulders as she readjusts herself at the table. )
You drive me crazy too. Takin' care of you can be a one big job!
( she teases before finally scooting the plate back over to herself. one mustn't waste food and all that!! so jinx scarfs down her meal quickly then raises up to her feet. )
I'm gettin' seconds. And you should start eating or no smoking for two days.
( and why is she acting like the parent suddenly? the answer is simply because she can. )
[His tactic of remaining calm during the ups and downs of any conversation with Jinx normally worked, unless it was him having to take his daughter to task then their personalities switched more often than not. He knew how to defuse him, and she knew how to defuse him. It was an interesting dynamic, but in the end, they both seemed to get what they needed out of it.]
It's a full time job, I've been told. You handle it splendidly.
[Silco sarcasm, though he did appreciate the efforts that she went to in order to prove herself to him. And it helped that he was nudging her along to put her in position to take over his seat of power eventually. Time and experience and tutoring would get her there.]]
Are you actually giving me an ultimatum? [He took a drag from his cigar purposefully, not out of defiance but to remind her that he very much enjoyed smoking. His lungs had survived the mines.]
( with plate in hand, she moves around the table but stops at his side to plant a quick kiss on the temple. the one of the many things she regret doing was showing more affection towards him all those years. )
When I turn around, I better see you eating.
( jinx giggles and she makes her way to the stove to grab seconds like she mentioned. one more plate ought to be enough for her body to hold over until breakfast. a third one would be perfect, but that would mean going out for a night jog and she isn't in the mood to get all dressed for it. )
[He made a point of at least knocking ash off of his cigar and setting it into the groove so he could pick up his fork when Jinx walked by on her way to the kitchen again. He turned his head when she kissed his temple, noting her outright physical affection was growing.
It had to be guilt.]
There's no need for unstated threats between us.
[The 'or else' was implied in her statement, playful or otherwise. He did force himself to take a bite in order to satisfy her. Personally, he still found wasting food to ultimate crime.]
( she turns her gaze to silco, looking at the back of his head in light bewilderment -- almost child-like. it's too bad he can't see it, but it's probably for the better. that "powder" enjoys to slither in every so often lately without her realizing. the girl died at least twice but rekindling her relationship with her sister, friends, and now a boyfriend on top of it is making her raise from the well. )
But threats are fun to make. It's how I get what I want.
( and who taught her that, we all wonder? in the future, her doing this will bite her in the ass and will make her friendship with scott very shaky and awkward. )
[Silco made an soft amused sound at her statement, and it was all too true. He had taught her that, hadn't he? He was pleased even if he was the first to admit that nuance was necessary when employing threats. It also wasn't a way to make or keep friends, which for him was a perfectly acceptable way to live out his life. It would not when he was her age and still finding his way in the world, slipping from a larger man's shadow now and again.]
Indeed, but you need more experience learning how to employ them. Certain people require delicate subtlety and others require outright brute force. The key is giving them every opportunity to give you what you want before employing the threat to maximum effect.
[He finally turned his head to view her in the kitchen.]
You will make mistakes. We all do as we learn to navigate through our interpersonal associates. I will help you wherever I can.
( naturally she stumbles upon one of his lessons again. but unlike her old self, she doesn't mean attending them even if they get a little boring. and as she listens, her half of her attention trickles back to her plate as she stocks up for the second time then heading back to the table. )
So I gotta be extra friendly?
( this is what she is taking out of this and honestly, she had a few chosen who told her the way she would get what she wanted was to just simply ask or be a little nicer. jinx believed that's a whimpy route but... if silco thinks this isn't a coward way then... maybe she could give it a go? his daughter return back in front of him, plate and silverware placed where it was before with her elbows on the table -- ready to chow down again. )
[He was still waiting for the usual eyerolling and dramatic sighing that he often earned from her when he dived into important life experience. He had been noting that she was doing less of it since he had arrived here, or at least it was more subdued from her common dramatics.]
Extra? Hardly. If you're too obvious about your friendliness with it being out of character, they will know you are up to something. You must remain in your pre-established levels of friendly, veil the threat in that.
[When she had more independence, and he set her loose into Zaun to be part of missions, she had seen less of his own behaviour necessary to keep those in on your payroll or competition.]
We do whatever we must to achieve what we want. Start small, give them motivation and benefits to work with you, then apply pressure and increase the aggression as necessary. Some people will sometimes only respond to stick over treat. [He looked over at her.] And lean into your reputation where you can.
( while it may seem like she isn't listening with her eyes glue to the plate before her and her loud munching along with it, jinx is being extremely attentive. so she needs to behave like her ordinary self and then steadily like to the top like one would with a step ladder. start small, he says. maybe her vending machine could be useful than just burrowing up loose change. but how can a contraption like that be flipped to something else? maybe instead of her checking in multiple times a day to see if her robotic monkey is full, get someone else to do it. and then maybe from there, have everything escalate to something more serious?
her face scrunches for a moment before taking another bite, the gears in her mind turning as she brainstorms over his wise words. which again... jinx usually ignores. never again she'll take it for granted, and although it's still too long for her liking -- she wouldn't exchange hearing his voice for anything. )
Is that how you've got people for your businesses now?
[Jinx was a sociable person, although some might find her mood changes to be jarring. He had grown used to them over the years, so he considered to be one of the best people to handle them. History had not dissuaded him from that notion so far. He had much to teach her and to help her adapt how she was naturally to being able to be an excellent leader and to draw people in to follow her. That took practice.
He shrugged his shoulders.]
I offered them an opportunity, nothing more. I presented it in a way that it was choice and if they gave me some of their time, I would compensate them. It helps that very few know my reputation back home.
( she plops her head down on the table, more so her chin, to be exact. and even with her head low like this, jinx still spears her potatoes then shoving it in her mouth. a very weird way to eat but she is a strange one. )
— I think I've already spilled the milk about my rep here. People got it figured out.
[He made an effort to at least push the food around on his plate, considering her. She was still right side up, so he didn't blink an eye at her method of eating.]
That means you simply need to use the unpredictability of your antics as part of your reputation to keep people from guessing what your next move will be.
Liiiiiike booby trap the perimeter of our beloved home and listen to the screams of others as I drift off the sleep?
( that... would definitely be unpredictable and a little deranged. but will this be something jinx will actually do to their home? very possible. the girl does enjoy the misery of others. )
No, that is actually quite predictable given your reliance on explosives. Now if you created a perimeter around your sister's house as a 'protective' measure, that might throw a few people. What else could you do with explosives, hmm?
[Resource guarding was very typical in Zaun, so her reaction wasn't unexpected. He wanted her to be creative about providing her services to others in order to garner their loyalty. She would need them when he was dead and gone (again).]
It's predictable to you but not everyone here! There's a lotta folks in this town who don't know a damn thing about me or what I can do.
( although...)
— Setting some traps to my sister's place is a good twist though. Maybe I can hang the enforcer so high up no one will even think to search for her up there. She'll rot as the sun melts her skin away.
Jinx, you blew up a building in public because you were upset.
[He would just like to point out her public antics which would likely give most people an idea of what she was capable of and how she might react in certain situations.]
A better use of your time would be finding ways to use the enforcer to advance your own cause while guaranteeing her destruction at the same time.
( she gloats and giggles sugar-coatedly while scooping her final bite to her mouth. jinx figures enough is enough for now, and the rest could be her midnight snack for when she sinks her teeth deep into her projects later. )
Sounds like a lotta brain work, Pops. And it'll lose my improvise charm.
[He wasn't about to press the matter. They both knew it was her, and there were others out and about that would as well. It was enough as far as he was concerned.]
Then it's a good thing that you're so smart. I expect you can do both.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
action;
Date: 2023-11-06 01:11 am (UTC)I have no problem. I don't see how giving you my blessing to spend time with the boy would cause such offense, Jinx. Would you prefer that a different reaction from me?
[Ah, so it was less about his blessing and more about the reference of their relationship being four days old. It was a rather short amount of time as far as he was concerned, but then again, trust came slow for him. He had no interest in getting that close to someone that quickly. Let Jinx have her fun; it was interesting to see her so free with people and making friends here.]
Rockets seem to be extreme at this point in time, and I have your assurances of your loyalty. That's enough.
[Let him remain calm and take another draw on his cigar to hide the unease that he had about Jinx making amends with the sister and now the boyfriend and then add in the friends. He needed to expand his reach in this place quicker to have something to focus on.]
action;
Date: 2023-11-06 06:20 am (UTC)with her shoulders slumping as he speaks, his daughter leans down to set the chair back in place before taking her seat again. she frowns but not in a temper tantrum sort of way. )
It's just... you don't seem happy to me. There's no smile or... I dunno, bouncier tone? I feel you're upset somehow and I don't want you to feel that way. I wanna make you happy and... —
( she exhales out a sigh, admitting defeat. )
Forget it. Nevermind. I'm probably being zig-zaggy again.
action;
Date: 2023-11-06 02:24 pm (UTC)In the end, there were very few people that he could bring to mind that were good enough for his daughter. He didn't want her alone, but he didn't want her used and underappreciated for her gifts and personality.]
I give you my blessing, Jinx, but doing so doesn't have to make me happy. I have concerns, but until this relationship develops more and I see how he treats you personality can I make an decision if it makes me happy on your behalf.
[It won't. Silco was a man that rarely experienced happiness. Perhaps those times he brought the Chem-Barons in line or the times he swept through the Undercity to take control.]
action;
Date: 2023-11-07 05:00 am (UTC)... Is there something I can do to make you happy?
( not necessarily about the whole relationship thing, but in general is what she is trying to go far. so many wild and twisty turns this conversation between them has been so far. )
action;
Date: 2023-11-07 02:26 pm (UTC)You drive me crazy, child, but I have never not been happy with you.
[In a sense of the word anyway. Silco wasn't even certain what happiness was these days aside from a good victory over a rival or getting his way. Fleeting moments, but Jinx being Jinx was never something that displeased him... even when she was blowing up buildings and killing enforcers to prove herself.]
action;
Date: 2023-11-09 05:17 am (UTC)You drive me crazy too. Takin' care of you can be a one big job!
( she teases before finally scooting the plate back over to herself. one mustn't waste food and all that!! so jinx scarfs down her meal quickly then raises up to her feet. )
I'm gettin' seconds. And you should start eating or no smoking for two days.
( and why is she acting like the parent suddenly? the answer is simply because she can. )
action;
Date: 2023-11-12 12:19 am (UTC)It's a full time job, I've been told. You handle it splendidly.
[Silco sarcasm, though he did appreciate the efforts that she went to in order to prove herself to him. And it helped that he was nudging her along to put her in position to take over his seat of power eventually. Time and experience and tutoring would get her there.]]
Are you actually giving me an ultimatum? [He took a drag from his cigar purposefully, not out of defiance but to remind her that he very much enjoyed smoking. His lungs had survived the mines.]
action;
Date: 2023-11-12 02:56 am (UTC)( with plate in hand, she moves around the table but stops at his side to plant a quick kiss on the temple. the one of the many things she regret doing was showing more affection towards him all those years. )
When I turn around, I better see you eating.
( jinx giggles and she makes her way to the stove to grab seconds like she mentioned. one more plate ought to be enough for her body to hold over until breakfast. a third one would be perfect, but that would mean going out for a night jog and she isn't in the mood to get all dressed for it. )
action;
Date: 2023-11-12 04:57 pm (UTC)It had to be guilt.]
There's no need for unstated threats between us.
[The 'or else' was implied in her statement, playful or otherwise. He did force himself to take a bite in order to satisfy her. Personally, he still found wasting food to ultimate crime.]
action;
Date: 2023-11-12 05:08 pm (UTC)But threats are fun to make. It's how I get what I want.
( and who taught her that, we all wonder? in the future, her doing this will bite her in the ass and will make her friendship with scott very shaky and awkward. )
action;
Date: 2023-11-12 05:14 pm (UTC)Indeed, but you need more experience learning how to employ them. Certain people require delicate subtlety and others require outright brute force. The key is giving them every opportunity to give you what you want before employing the threat to maximum effect.
[He finally turned his head to view her in the kitchen.]
You will make mistakes. We all do as we learn to navigate through our interpersonal associates. I will help you wherever I can.
action;
Date: 2023-11-12 11:41 pm (UTC)So I gotta be extra friendly?
( this is what she is taking out of this and honestly, she had a few chosen who told her the way she would get what she wanted was to just simply ask or be a little nicer. jinx believed that's a whimpy route but... if silco thinks this isn't a coward way then... maybe she could give it a go? his daughter return back in front of him, plate and silverware placed where it was before with her elbows on the table -- ready to chow down again. )
action;
Date: 2023-11-13 05:23 pm (UTC)Extra? Hardly. If you're too obvious about your friendliness with it being out of character, they will know you are up to something. You must remain in your pre-established levels of friendly, veil the threat in that.
[When she had more independence, and he set her loose into Zaun to be part of missions, she had seen less of his own behaviour necessary to keep those in on your payroll or competition.]
We do whatever we must to achieve what we want. Start small, give them motivation and benefits to work with you, then apply pressure and increase the aggression as necessary. Some people will sometimes only respond to stick over treat. [He looked over at her.] And lean into your reputation where you can.
action;
Date: 2023-11-14 05:04 am (UTC)her face scrunches for a moment before taking another bite, the gears in her mind turning as she brainstorms over his wise words. which again... jinx usually ignores. never again she'll take it for granted, and although it's still too long for her liking -- she wouldn't exchange hearing his voice for anything. )
Is that how you've got people for your businesses now?
action;
Date: 2023-11-16 02:32 pm (UTC)He shrugged his shoulders.]
I offered them an opportunity, nothing more. I presented it in a way that it was choice and if they gave me some of their time, I would compensate them. It helps that very few know my reputation back home.
action;
Date: 2023-11-17 05:03 am (UTC)( she plops her head down on the table, more so her chin, to be exact. and even with her head low like this, jinx still spears her potatoes then shoving it in her mouth. a very weird way to eat but she is a strange one. )
— I think I've already spilled the milk about my rep here. People got it figured out.
action;
Date: 2023-11-18 04:11 am (UTC)That means you simply need to use the unpredictability of your antics as part of your reputation to keep people from guessing what your next move will be.
action;
Date: 2023-11-24 11:38 pm (UTC)( that... would definitely be unpredictable and a little deranged. but will this be something jinx will actually do to their home? very possible. the girl does enjoy the misery of others. )
action;
Date: 2023-11-26 05:38 pm (UTC)[Resource guarding was very typical in Zaun, so her reaction wasn't unexpected. He wanted her to be creative about providing her services to others in order to garner their loyalty. She would need them when he was dead and gone (again).]
action; omg sorry, i thought i could write with a finger splint and its not working out.
Date: 2023-11-26 05:58 pm (UTC)( although...)
— Setting some traps to my sister's place is a good twist though. Maybe I can hang the enforcer so high up no one will even think to search for her up there. She'll rot as the sun melts her skin away.
action;
Date: 2023-11-26 06:03 pm (UTC)[He would just like to point out her public antics which would likely give most people an idea of what she was capable of and how she might react in certain situations.]
A better use of your time would be finding ways to use the enforcer to advance your own cause while guaranteeing her destruction at the same time.
action;
Date: 2023-11-27 05:09 am (UTC)( she gloats and giggles sugar-coatedly while scooping her final bite to her mouth. jinx figures enough is enough for now, and the rest could be her midnight snack for when she sinks her teeth deep into her projects later. )
Sounds like a lotta brain work, Pops. And it'll lose my improvise charm.
action;
Date: 2023-11-27 05:43 am (UTC)[He wasn't about to press the matter. They both knew it was her, and there were others out and about that would as well. It was enough as far as he was concerned.]
Then it's a good thing that you're so smart. I expect you can do both.