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Jinx —

[ He warns, as if he's going to stop her (he isn't) from speaking up, but he's at least going to level his disappointment about it. His eyes swivel to the boy, and his head tipped in a way that said, very clearly: 'what the hell is mental health', before he rolled his eyes slightly. ]

Right. Well, I do hope you have fun making these bath bombs. [ A tip of his head, towards Jinx. ] Don't even think about it.

[ Because. He knows. Jinx will try. It'll be something explosive and filled with glitter and color and he isn't having that in his bath. He won't be able to leave for a week. ]

I asked for a place for us.

[ He says. Blithely.

Also true.

He also excludes the vial of shimmer he's keeping for just the right moment. Or reproduction. ]

... ? What?

(Mental health?)

He's kinda right, though, Silco, it is pretty fun to make stuff. I used to make stuff for you all the time.

(Well, actually, take the stuff he already had and make art on it and call it a day... But also, her face turns a little because. Yeah. She was definitely going to make a glitter bomb. How did he know.

... And she also doesn't want to know Peter to know where she stays, doesn't want him to stroll accidentally into plans that he should not know, or who the fuck knows, step into a shimmer-production-super-operation.

She knows his dad.)

Look at the time, I have to. Help. Sevika with a thing with a guy with a threat with a small-scale large arson, and he... He should be getting ready for the lame nerd science convention.

(SHE'S SORRY, PETER.)

Oh. Yeah, that's good. Totally good to have places for yourself.

[TO MAKE VILLAIN THINGS?!?! Peter's mind screams. But he decidedly does not scream it out loud. Instead, his eyebrow twitches, and his smile remains steadfast, if not absolutely looking intimidated by the company kept.]

... And a perfect place to experiment with bath bombs. As long as you're aware that they don't actually explode when they make contact with water...

[His gaze shifts toward Jinx, then towards their half-eaten french fries, then towards Silco, then back at Jinx. Every fiber of his hero being is trying not to take Jinx's words as 100% gospel. Isn't she a total nerd, too? Uncool, man.]

Yeah, that seems — bad? But I... yeah, I do have stuff to do. Actually, I was totally gonna hit up the junkyard, so I should probably do that before the sun sets.

[Which is kinda true? He's been due for a scrap collecting sesh.]

[ None of these things exist. What are they causing arson over? He hasn't tasked Sevika with anything, and his head tipped, and he eyed Jinx suspiciously, his single good eye narrowing and his lips pulling into a flat line. ]

You're the one who wanted me to sit down.

[ He points out. Hey, if Jinx is looking for an excuse, that makes him more suspicious, but more than that, it makes his eyes swivel to the boy across the table again. His lip curls up in an odd microexpression, as if the unmarred side of his face contorts only slightly, before it returns to neutrality. ]

But very well. I would hate to hold you back from helping Sevika with her work, after all.

[ he says. Pointedly. The words "bullshit" are in his voice, even if he doesn't say the word. ]

... Don't be a square. That'd actually be fun, it doesn't even have to be a big boom, just, you know. Glitter. Who doesn't love glitter?

(She's very sensitive about lying, and wanna know one thing she sucks at doing, if she's not on full-villain mode? Lying. But at least that first part is true, because she is going to order a full round of food for Silco. She was serious that he needed to eat.)

Yep, and now you have no choice but to eat—great of me, super genius. I'll know if you don't. I'll let you know how the job goes, easy-peezy.

(Because she's coming here tomorrow to ask the bots if he actually has. Listen, someone has to caretaker, and it usually is her. This is part of her job, after all, and probably the one part she doesn't mess up.

But she knows she's super cooked when she gets home. The usual one-hour monologue is going to be a whole three, which, well, all things considered is not a punishment in any way, because Silco is literally, emotionally, and physically unable to dole out those to her.

Still. It is super annoying.

Peter says junkyard and she points, because that's, wow, right on the way for her too. So, she comes close to Silco to press a kiss to his head, and she takes her leave. Don't be stupid, Peter. Follow her, get out, save thyself.)

Edited 2025-04-06 05:13 (UTC)

[Oh, but that totally gives him an out. For a second, anyway.]

Okay, okay. Exploding me. I got it.

Fire-what?

[Because that's interesting, and maybe it'll get her to not think about the very sad state of his life currently.]

(Because she catches it, she squints her eyes to let him know that they're revisiting this. Might not be today, might not be tomorrow. Might be right after she answers.)

This group of masked pains in my ass (because they're her version of superheroes—) who like to ruin my work (villainous activity—), and are now sucking up to me (—refusing to give her up and coming to the rallies because she is a hero???). Their leader was my only friend growing up, before Silco, but he— I guess he tried dealing with me, and one day, he stopped trying. Here.

(But that reminder of masks brings her attention back to his, and with a roll of her eyes, she gives it back along with a sigh.)

You didn't distract me of that one, by the way. You bottle everything up, don't you?

[Peter is already mourning the fact that he didn't get to finish his fries. But there are more important things to focus on! Like not getting stuck at a booth by himself with Jinx's dad.]

Yeah, you gotta try the fries; those are a delicacy where I'm from. [He moves to wander after her, trying and failing not to look totally guilty and awkward as she shuffles out of there and gives her adoptive dad a kind of lame salute.] It was really nice meeting you, Mr. Silco!

[MISTER SILCO...]

(Oh my God, this was the worst. thing. to. ever. thing. She's outside by the time Peter comes out, breathing in, breathing out, pacing where the window doesn't catch her.

Why did a few seconds turn into 30 hours!!! This was horrible.)

If you're wondering, he hates you now with the power of thirty hateful suns. Not because of you or anything, but just in general.

[Oh... The Firelights sound pretty interesting.

He takes his mask, studying the face as he holds it in both hands.]

... I feel like you're trying to distract me from distracting you.

[And he supposes it could work. Wetting his lip, he looks hesitant.]

And I don't... I mean — I don't...

I prefer to call it compartmentalizing.

(Honestly? Peter would love Ekko. They'd probably be best buds, with their aerodynamic method of transportation, masks, and stupid altruism. Ugh. The eyeroll she gives has nothing to do with the conversation but with the thought given.)

Yeah, well. You stop me from impulsive homicide, I tell you that separating things into several bottles isn't different from bottling it up. We all got our roles to play, see?

[ Silco?

He narrows his eye. He gives Jinx the look that says, in no uncertain terms, that yes he knows what she is doing. No, he isn't eating, and absolutely she is going to have some sort of screed when the time comes.

There is no getting around that one. In no uncertain terms.

She's going to hear it.

What did he just fucking say!!! Literally just in the last world???

Lamely, he says: ]

It's just Silco.

[ Because he doesn't actually want to talk to Peter. No offense, kid, but you're so...

Wholesome??

Then again, hadn't his tough crimelord... everything just melted immediately as soon as his daughter gave him a kiss on the head? He just let that happen???? ]

Wh — why? I was totally on my best behavior!

[He gestures back at the diner, whisper-yelling like someone who is trying not to get caught sneaking around school by a teacher.]

He just came out of nowhere!

Hello? Terroristic, master criminal daughter? The dad that works for is like, 25-Silcos-heavy!

(BEST BEHAVIOR IS A PROBLEM, PETER. THAT'S A PROBLEM. You're too... Wholesome. She's sure Silco thinks you're weak.

Also, she's also whispering-yelling, like they're having a huge fight in a room with the guests in the hallway.)

Ugh, now he's gonna monologue for four hours, if I'm lucky.

(Look at her great Silco impression, her fist in front of one of her eyes for dramatic effect.)

'Fries and milkshakes are twisted up lies to make one feel attachment, which serves as a trap... Something, something, something."

(With a dropped hand, she sighs.)

Got room on your floor I can sleep on?

(JINX BE NORMAL)

Uh, yeah. All of those aren't great things to have as adjectives for yourself. But I'm

[But he doesn't linger much on that point. Frankly, he doubts it would be taken with much seriousness if he went too holier than thou in tone. Or he'd be just the same as Silco and his monologues, only the inverse. Or something.

... However...

He's about to state the obvious, of which he's not sure is stated very often in her world:]

... Jinx, you know that's kind of crazy, right? You're allowed to enjoy fries and milkshakes with a friend.

Not everything that's good or enjoyable in life is some kind of trap.

Of course I'm allowed. I haven't been grounded ever since adoption number two, Peter.

(That might explain a LOT, actually.

Can they still get walking, though!!! Wanna know how weird it would be if Silco just walked out too!!

She's taking the lead, who knows where to.)

Peter, he's the one you have to say that to, and if you convince him, I'll throw Stickyboy a party and everything. I'm already friends with you, so if I thought this was a trap, do you really think you'd be in one piece?

Edited (better phrase ) 2025-04-12 00:55 (UTC)

[… That does explain a lot, actually. Being grounded is just one of those things a kid needs to thrive in life. But he will just leave that be and instead quickly wander after her, because he too would prefer to not be rediscovered as a liar immediately after leaving the diner.]

Hey, you don’t know that I’d be in more than one piece.

[He could kick you butt, you know.]

… We could do that, though. Maybe we should have some kind of… I don’t know. A game night, or movie night. Something he could do that isn’t just… catastrophizing or distrusting everything in life.

Edited 2025-04-15 03:17 (UTC)

Fine. We should test it, one day. Shimmer versus Spider DNA... But, can we have this talk up in the air?

(Her index points up, because listen. You spend a life freefalling down home, you definitely love web-swinging. Also, it's faster, and as soon as they reach somewhere, she can change subjects. Haha.)

Fair warning. Distrusting everything in life and death and the afterlife and in the before the next life is his superpower. And he's stabby.

I can usually tell someone's about to stab me, so it's fine.

[IT IS NOT FINE???

But at her request, huffs an amused breath.]

... Allowed — only if you let the onesie come out.

[Him and his stupid secret identity rules.]

(THE GROWL SHE GIVES. IT'S BAD.)

... Fine! Fine. Deal.

(... Can he, though? Can he really? She's not a knife person, but what she can do is her shitty punches that... May or may not land on him. She's curious, can't judge a girl.)

Edited 2025-04-22 22:56 (UTC)

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actually why later if now