ekkoeffect | [IC] Inbox for deercountry

Mmhm, yeah, sure sure. I get it! Gotta learn how to make it out here in this whacky world we're livin' in now.

( as the bug slowly runs out of its steam, she places her hand underneath it in case it dies and fall. )

'Cuz you never know when timer stops and you maybe gotta to kill someone.

Edited 2022-11-28 00:01 (UTC)

[And there it is. The warning, the blaring alarm in the back of his mind telling him that he can never trust Jinx the way he does Vi. Because all it takes is one flip of a switch.]

Great thing about timers is you can always restart them.

Sounds nice in theory. Tell that to the person whose stabbing ya.

( the mechanical bug drops heavy onto her palm and grants a small smile. there's a tiny hint of wicked in it with a twist of friendly. then she sings a little diddy: )

♪ We all pretend to be the heroes on the good side,
But what if we are the villains on the other? ♪

[There's a lot being said in that motion, in those words, but Ekko isn't sure he's ready for them. As if he's ever been ready for anything that's happened between them in the last seven years.]

Not my kind of song. I write my own tunes.

Oh, oh! Lemme guess the lyrics! Is it somethin' liiiiike... —

( to bring this disgusting song to life, she sings it cheerfully but obnoxiously, too. )

♪ You and me
Best friends forever
To a T, birds of a feather
We can do it if we just believe,
Friendship, love, and poro hearts galore! ♪

Edited 2022-11-30 02:17 (UTC)

[He knows she's trying to be annoying. She lives for it. Everything is about the reaction. The attention. He's seen it enough to know. So he doesn't react. Because it's what she wants and giving Jinx what she wants usually ends up with people he cares about dead. No matter how calm she is now. He can't forget who she is. He won't let himself forget (again).

~~It shouldn't be so hard to remember.~~]

Does it matter if you're a hero or a villain
When countin' the bodies you left chillin'?
All of us killers left standing
Pools of blood for us to stand in
Whose blood are you stained with?
Whose lives you playing games with?
Damned with praise for taking knives
Stabbing backs to feel alive.
Sewing up wounds with lies already said
'Cause lies kill truth the more they spread.
Who pays the price to keep you fed?
Who fronts that cost in your stead?
Call yourself a hero or villain
Dead is dead and you did the killin'.

( it's hard to read what she's thinking as he says his lyrics. she doesn't appear angry or disinterest as he speaks on. on the contrary, jinx seems rather attentive and who knows, maybe really listening to what he is telling her. with her legs bent and elbows prop on her knees, she is quiet with her palm resting on her left cheek. the gaze she has on him doesn't break nor there are signs of any glitter or shine in her eyes. and even after he is done, she doesn't move or say a word -- letting the verses linger and float up in the skies then to the unknown.

the silence may be awkward but not to jinx. long ago, the two of them would sometimes spend time together in silence and simply enjoying each other's company while they work on whatever inventions. it's almost similar here; so nostalgic. but... so very different. )

...

Edited 2022-11-30 05:45 (UTC)

( and then finally, there's movement. still mute, jinx reaches over for something off screen then comes back in view. in her hands, it seems to be a pack of cigarettes. with a casual swift, she takes out a stick to place between her lips then returns the packet back off screen somewhere.

one would think she might pull out a lighter next, but she simply lifts up an index close to the tip -- a very miniature electric spark for light. it appears she has some control of her blood magic since they've last spoken, but how much? answer? not very much. now lit, she inhales then steadily blows out the smoke -- hand returning underneath her cheek. a smile is on her face now; small but amused. )

Powerful words. I wouldn't expect any less from the Boy Savior.

( her tone soft and even sounding a bit impressed. jinx reaches for an empty glass from the table behind her so she could flick the ashes in. )

But how long 'till you get blood on your hands, hm? We won't be so different then.

Edited 2022-11-30 06:03 (UTC)

[That little light is still a step up from how her magic reacted that first time they saw each other in Trench. He shakes his head.]

We're not so different now. Only in the ways you think matter.

( a gentle hum rumbles in her throat as she sets her little figurines aside to give her space to now lie on the floor. one hand rests on her stomach as she takes another puff; eyes up to the ceiling. a brief silence between them and then:)

"Only in the ways you think matter..."

( jinx repeats his words slowly and to let it roll of her tongue for a moment.)

— Then what are your thoughts on the world? For me here or back there, it's all the same to me. Dark, selfish, and cruel.

[A serious conversation? When they aren't under the influence of spiked food? He's not sure he can trust it--no, don't ever ever trust--but can he reject the opportunity?

~~opportunity for what?~~]

The world is shit, always has been shit, and we lucked out being in the shittiest part of it. [Another pause.] Doesn't mean you have to go out of your way to make it shittier.

Getting rid of people who done us wrong isn't making anythin' shittier. It's a step forward to a better living.

( jinx shifts to flick the cigarette ash into the glass. )

That is what we all want, right?

[Should he point out that means him wanting Silco dead for killing Benzo. Because for whatever beef Silco maybe had with Vander, he killed Benzo first. While Ekko watched.]

Better living or living better?

( she tilts her head over to face the camera — to him. her expression is horribly flat. )

... It's the same damn thing. Better living, living better. You're still living happily. You're just swappin' the word around.

Nah, it's not the same thing. It's all about which part you think is more important.

Doing what I want, when I want, and how I want is more important. — Lil' the same for everyone else.

I figured you'd say that.

[It's hard to explain to her the difference. Should he even try? What's the point? Explaining to her the desire to do better and be better as a person versus the want for accessories and luxuries of living "freely." Would it make sense to her now?]

You ain't there yet. Believe me, when you know the difference...you'll know.

Whatever you say, oh wise one.

( there's an eye roll there then back to ceiling because it's more interesting. )

You got any friends yet?

( why is this needed information? the same reason she wanted to know who all knew vi. )

[One of these days he's gonna get whiplash from her and how she changes topics.]

I haven't been around that long.

[He's not answering the question in a yes or no. Her asking about other people is never a good idea.]

Awww, my poor lil' Firelight. You against the world, huh? — Bet that's hitting ya kinda hard.

( is that a mean jab how he is here without his bug group? possibly. and as far as she's concerned, that's a very good thing. it's annoying having to fight against a group when she's all by her lonesome. sure, she can squish a few, but when they're flying all around her at once? it's tricky. )

So what will you do? Recruit new ones?

( because what is a leader without followers? and if he does decide to go that route, she'll need to keep an eye on who joins him. she won't do anything about it, but it'll be nice information to have in her pocket. safe keeping. )

Edited 2022-12-08 00:13 (UTC)

[It's a jab that connects more than he wants it to. Because he is alone. Crazy to be trapped in some other world built on giving you a whole new life with the two people who are the only family he has left and he's alone. He's been stuck in this arrested position, trying to slowly figure this world and his place in it out.

Maybe the problem is he's looking for a place instead of making one.]

I don't recruit. I put out what I'm doing. If other people are down, they join in. And if it's only just me, then that's what it'll be.

( there's a slow yet easing sigh that she lets out from her torso. her eyes are shut with a pleasing smile along her face. it's probably strange for her to grin over his words. well, for anyone who doesn't know her very well or how she works. sometimes jinx ponders if the two of them are just on the opposite side of the same coin. they were best friends once upon a time so maybe it's more obvious than one would think.

the blue haired girl rolls to her side to face him; lying somewhat in a fetal position and the smile inches wider. )

Great minds think alike.

( — and to why she can't seem to quit him, either. even with a new world and a new life, this back and forth game she invented in her head is far too fun to end. his mind is something she wishes to pick at, and his cunning ways from time to time when he gets the upper hand (as infuriating it is) is...intriguing. like a moth flying to a flame. how funny that is. )

["Great minds think alike." Something they would have said to each other in teasing agreement back then. Because they had been two peas in a pod. They'd gotten each other in a way no one else did. She'd been his sister in ever way but blood. So all the ways that mattered to him.

Not that it should matter in the now. They'd both chosen their sides--or rejected all sides. This world didn't change that ~~or did it?~~

He huffs, but it's not annoyed or angry or amused. Just...thoughtful.]

Heh. Maybe. You talk about me recruiting, but you're the social butterfly.

Ooo, am I? Have you been watching me? If you have, why not come out and play?

( "play" has many meanings and she isn't the one to tell him which kind of play she is referring to. he may be her enemy but that doesn't mean he isn't an attractive enemy. still grinning, jinx teasingly wiggles her eyebrows to him -- surprisingly getting comfortable just lying on her carpet. )

I mean if ya wanna play a game of hide and seek, you shoulda told me I was the seeker.

Edited 2022-12-10 05:14 (UTC)

I do my thing, you do yours, remember?

[Because he's not sure exactly what she wants from him. Hasn't been sure of that for a long time. Does she want him dead? Does she just want him out of the way? They aren't who they used to be, but somehow they keep circling back toward each other.]

And it's not hiding if no one's been looking.

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