expiationlogs | ( OPEN 💀 case of the glitching city )

[ jinx, too, is in the clothing store, but she isn't going shopping for herself, per se. with the town going haywire and weather conditions being extremely abnormal, she figures some chosen out there might be in their homes without the proper attire. and it's been difficult to find sweaters, coats, and the like when, technically, it's out of the season.

the teenager is going undercover for this particular errand. when she made the network post about how they should take back this city and make them theirs, she received a lot of negative feedback. it's... to be expected, she supposes, but what is a leader without followers? many voiced their concerns of her possibly being a "mad queen" in disguise, while jinx appreciates wreaking havoc and destruction, that is not her goal here. not this time, anyway.

if they are all destined to be stuck here forever, then she should care more for her future people's well-being. her father is building this empire just for her, after all, and she should start behaving like the king she is meant to be. so when charles approaches her, jinx cocks her head to one side (like a crow), then follows his gaze to the mirror he's referring to. wordlessly, the masked individual complies and fetches for the said looking glass that rests peacefully on the floor. in seconds, she retrieves it and offers it to him, but not without speaking through a voice changer that alternates her pitch. ]

We need to find you a blanket.

[ in his defense, charles is — well, he's pretty used to weird people, what with being in the ghost business and all that, so the mask doesn't alarm him at all. he just gives her a thankful smile, before taking the mirror and pressing his hand against it; its surface ripples slightly, and then... nothing. (it is notable, perhaps, that none of his reflection shows up on it, at all.)

grimacing through his shivers, charles tries again, with similar results.

and then declares, with chattering teeth, ] Bollocks.

[ he sighs, and nods. ] Yeah, looks like that. I mean — I'm not freezing to death here, [ a pause, ] I mean, I am, but — bloody hell, I'm not making much sense, am I?

[ since his mirror travel seems to be busted for the moment, just... huddling somewhere in the store corner until he reverts back to normal sounds like the thing to do, then. ]

[ the girl cocks her head to the other side now, watching the other closely in amusement with her eyes squint behind the peek holes of her mask. hm, interesting. but then she shakes her head as the edges of her lips curl upward. ]

I like it when things don't make perfect sense. It makes things fun.

[ to an extent, of course. if things get too out of control for her, that's when she needs to have her guns solve the issue for her. the masked figure cranes her neck around him to seek for something on the racks they can use as a cover, or at least a substitute of one. ]

I think there's one over there.

Right, it does, doesn't it?

[ despite the fact he can't stop shivering for even two heartbeats, he flashes her with a bright smile — he's already gone through this freezing-to-death thing once, it's all fine and not upsetting in the slightest!

he follows her gaze to where she's pointing, to what looks like some kind of fluffy coat thing, and, yeah, it might work. ]

Looks good enough, [ he says and starts to stumble his way towards it, except he takes maybe two steps and then quite promptly doubles over in pain as his insides are on fire, and, right, so he died of not just hypothermia but internal bleeding, too, lovely. from the floor, he makes some kind of a weak groan. ]

Sorry, seems like I'm right useless, today.

[ so it seems that this stranger is in a far worse shape than she had originally thought. normally, she wouldn't help the weak, because where she's from, runts are supposed to be picked off and have their pathetic lives ended. except for her, of course. jinx was a special case, and she was able to survive that circle of life fate. not only she did that, but she became so strong, that men twice her size piss themselves at the mere sight of her.

but jinx is playing a whole different ball game here, and the only way for her to rally up people and to see her as a leader is to show kindness. she has that ability, absolutely, but that emotion is very selective. advancing forward, the ~~raven~~ girl scurries to charles and places a tender hand on his back. ]

Rest here. I'll get the blanket.

[ and off she goes to the blanket selection, picking out the one she spotted off the shelves, then to his side again. ]

You might need medical attention.

[ she voices, trying to think quick on her feet on what needs to be done next. ]

I know a machine that holds honey fruit. It's for healing.

[ a worse shape? yeah, absolutely. weak? well, yeah, in that he can't really do much in this state, shivers wracking his body and teeth chattering, but — even as he takes the blanket from her, he doesn't... really look all that worried. if anything, he looks for all the world like someone who's trying to hold back his anger at this situation, for making him relive this fucking trauma all over again. ]

Thanks, [ he says, genuine, before shaking his head. ] Nah, don't bother. I'm not gonna die twice. [ a pause. ] I mean, I don't doubt this place, but... I'm definitely still a ghost. This is just, some weird flashback thing. You know, back to my base ghost form, that kind of shit?

[ ghosts can control how they look, after all, but those who have gone vengeful, and poltergeists, well. they usually revert to how they looked when they were dying, to whatever killed them. it seems that's him, now, except he's not vengeful, is he? ]

[ he can't see it, but her eyebrow quirks in interest at his explanation. she has only met one other ghost, and that is ange. but ange feels so real to the touch that jinx sometimes believes her claiming to be one was just some morbid jape. after all, the two girls did had a chipper conversation about death and how they would like to die if they had the option to choose. the crow had the same talk with her father, too. ]

Does that mean if I sock you one, you won't feel it?

[ possibly a dumb question, but her ghosts follow jinx like a shadow and whenever she would swat them away if they become too close for comfort, they only phase away in a different spot; endlessly taunting her over the fact she can never get rid of them as long as she's breathing. ]

Well... yeah?

[ not the weirdest question he's ever had asked, really, but he shrugs a little and offers her a slight grin. ] I mean, maybe don't punch me on top of the internal bleeding, but... if I stay corporeal, then you could connect, but it wouldn't hurt. If I don't, it'd just go through.

[ so, yes, he could in fact let her fist phase through him if he wanted to. the only reason he is tangible, now, is because he chooses to be. and maybe this would be easier, actually, if he wasn't... but somehow, he doubts he'd stop going through all the hypothermia symptoms even then. if this place is shitty enough to make them all go murder-crazy, it's definitely shitty enough to force him to endure his death a second time. ]

[ it's a shame that her mask is shielding the bewilderment expression on her face, but maybe that's a good thing. sometimes caring equals weakness, but then in some cases, caring can also mean strength.

but in this case, if she wants this stranger to be on her side of her cause of helping others and be a part of her people, maybe doing the latter is better. so jinx cocks her head again and asks: ]

Did you say "internal bleeding"? ... Are you sure we don't need to take you somewhere? I don't want you to die here.

I mean, technically. [ it's all technical, okay! sort of. but yeah, from the way he is in quite a lot of pain, not just the shivers of hypothermia — he'd wager that the wounds from his death are back, too, instead of just the cold.

the next smile he aims at her is a lot softer, quietly grateful. and yet — ]

I appreciate that... honestly, I do. But I'm already dead. I think I just, well, need to ride out the symptoms until I'd normally die. I mean, can't freeze to death when you're a ghost, can you? [ ...... can he? shit. maybe his confidence in this is misplaced. ]

But, um, I should probably get the hell out of this store. Can't be good for the clientele, a bloke just dying in the middle of the store. Think I could trouble you to help with that?

[ she takes a few seconds to consider this, turning her focus to the entrance of the clothing store they're in. taking him to her treehouse is too far, and taking him to her home is too, if not, completely out of the question. the closest place they can go is her café — still only halfway completed, but fixed enough where they could rest or sit in privacy.

jinx glimpses back to the stranger, nodding wordlessly to accept, but not without paying for this blanket he is covering himself with. so to make everything move quicker, she uses her shimmer ability to abruptly speed to the cashier — a vibrant purple/pink glow trace her movements of her fishing out the coins, then back at his side again. it's like if one blinks too quickly, they might not have noticed she shifted at all. ]

I know where we can go. Where you can "die" in peace. It's not too far from here, just a few blocks. Think you can make it?

[ meanwhile, charles blinks — he wouldn't be surprised if his eyes were playing tricks of him (hallucinations are, after all, one of the final symptoms of hypothermia), and so when she's again standing next to him, he just shakes his head a little, as if the movement might clear the fog. ]

Wait, really? [ that's. that's actually really nice. ] Well, better try, yeah? [ and if he doesn't make it, well, then it'll be on the way there and in any case, it means he's not reliving his death alone. that's the thing that matters to him the most. ]

... Thanks. Seriously, thank you. [ as he starts to make his way out of the store, still shivering, footsteps unsteady with the pain but at least he's walking, ] Um, I'm Charles. Charles Rowland.

[ she nods again, keeping close by his side with her hand gently press onto his back in case he stumbles backwards. together, she guides them out of the store and then to the left — strolling down the sidewalk despite some parts of the concrete malfunctioning. ]

Nice to meetcha, Charles. I'm... — [ she pauses, shortly looking around their surroundings before continuing. ] — Saying who I am probably isn't safe out in the open. If we make it to my café without croaking, I'll let you know my name as a reward.

[ her hand on his back is something extra to steady him, something he's grateful for, even though luckily the glitches happening to the concrete under his feet can't actually trip him up; the upsides of being, you know, not actually a living being. ]

Well, [ he breathes a laugh, ] Giving me motivation to get there, yeah? Can't argue with that.

[ though privately, charles has already decided that whoever this girl is — well, he owes her, big time, and he'll need to know who she is, too, then. ]

[ she smiles a little underneath her mask as she continues to steer them down the pavement. in time, the duo reaches the café in question, and jinx digs through her pockets with her free hand for the keys. she unlocks the front with a few clicks and carefully brings him inside the half-lighted establishment.

given that this coffee shop also the type that maintain adoptions, a few cats lying in various spots ( the counter, on a stool, or a beanbag chair) lift their heads curiously at the two, but do nothing beyond that. the bluenette continues to lead charles further in the shop, more so to a sofa where future patron can sit and relax if tables or the "bar" are occupied. ]

Here you go.

[ and whenever charles finally takes that seat (or lies down), jinx, at last, removes her cloak and mask — revealing herself fully and her very long two twined braids. ]

Phew! — That's enough of that.

[ as they finally make it to the cafe, charles stumbles in, feeling more unsteady on his feet by the minute; he spares the cats a glance and maybe he'd, you know, feel worse about the way they'll inevitably make fun of a hypothermic ghost later if he wasn't so cold.

with a muttered but infinitely grateful, ] Thanks, [ he all but collapses on the sofa, lying down as he can no longer actually keep himself upright.

as she removes the mask, he blinks at her, before breaking into a smile. ]

Hey. Good to see your face. You look familiar, but — [ his smile turns a tad apologetic. ] Sorry, can't put a name to the face. Would like to, though.

The name's Jinx and it stands for Jinx.

[ she introduces herself with a curl twisting at the ends of her lips. the girl tosses her attire to the side before approaching closer, hunching over to lift his head carefully. with his head up, the bluenette takes a seat on the couch cushion, then sets his head onto her lap. this... might seem a tad bit strange or awkward to do with someone she just met, but she meant it when she said she wanted to be sure he died in peace. ]

I wouldn't doubt if I look familiar. I'm pretttty big around here. — You know, if you need to die more painlessly, I can help you out with that.

Jinx, [ he repeats, attempting a nod but managing something like the slightest tip of his head. ] Nice name, that.

[ his tone is soft and sincere, and though his expression turns mildly surprised when she lifts his head in order to set it onto her lap, he doesn't protest. ]

Pretty big, huh? Didn't know I was... being saved by a celebrity. [ he grins up at her, the hypothermia making his words somewhat halting, before her next words make him shake his head minutely. ]

Nah, you're doing a great job already. It's... not that painful. Not anymore. I just... don't wanna be alone, you know?

[ and besides — if it was just the matter of plunging a dagger into his heart or something to kill him and end this whole thing, then he'd be all for it. but to kill a ghost is not an easy feat, and really, this? it's not that bad. ]

No, I get it.

[ she says while plucking a strand of his hair away from his face before looking off to an unfinished part of the café. ]

It's probably really spooky to go through that. Everyone you know or love are going on about their happy lives while you're lying in a gutter somewhere. Not having the slightest idea...

[ jinx trails off, her words gliding in the air as her fingers idly return to his hair. she combs through it as she works her lips — possibly picking at her teeth at any leftover lunch with her tongue. ]

I've always been prepared to die alone, though. So that fear never bothered me.

... in an attic, [ he says, when she speaks of a gutter — not that, for him. an attic, in his boarding school, where he wasn't discovered until a few days after his death.

he closes his eyes for a moment, exhausted, letting the phantom feeling of her fingers in his hair lull him closer to the inevitable sleep — but her words make him open them again, tilt his head slightly so he can look at her, brows furrowed. ]

Hey. Even if you're prepared, that's... [ he trails off, his tongue feeling too heavy in his mouth. ] Best if you don't die at all, innit? But if you do, here... I won't — [ slowly, with considerable difficulty, he reaches out with his hand to her free one, squeezes his fingers around her wrist for a moment, his grip weak but attempting to reassure, or perhaps promise, ] I won't leave you to die alone, yeah? Promise.

[ she continues to look out to nowhere in particular, until the fragile clasp of him onto her wrist brings her attention. the bluenette blinks down at the stranger and at first, there's a cynical expression she wears on her face. although steadily, her lips twitch into an amusing light smile as she huffs out a snort through her nostrils. ]

That's a pretty sticky promise. You can't always be where I am.

True, [ he quips back, in a tone that aims for amused but with the tired chill in all his spectral veins now it falls short, lands somewhere softer, quieter, earnest and sincere as he continues, ]

But... can mirror hop, can't I? If you send for me, if I'm too late to help... I'll at least make it to be there with you.

[ just like she's here, now, with him. and maybe it should feel strange, making such a promise to someone he barely even knows — but as far as he's concerned... she deserves it, after this. he'd be ashamed of himself if he promised anything less. ]

I think you dying is making your head stupid.

[ in despite of her words, the tone she uses is composed and calm, with her hand now maneuvering over to the blanket to secure the other to stay covered. ]

... They say around here when you die, that is, if you're dying the way I think you are, it takes a few days for you to come back. I dunno where you end up when you do, but I'll keep the doors unlock if you wind up back on this couch. So you can get out.

Don't... got to be dying for that.

[ his head's plenty stupid without him being hypothermic, thanks! anyway, his bad self-esteem aside — there is something less to him, now, like he is growing progressively less corporeal by the second. ]

... I know. The gnos, [ he says as an explanation — he's died once already, he knows how it goes. but he manages a shaky smile at her, then. ] Thanks. For... all this.

Cut the mush, kid. You're going to make me gag.

[ she says this at first, but she catches the trembling smile and jinx softens almost instantly. again, she tries to imagine charles as one of her people back home in zaun, all the broken and downhearted.

some of the zaunites were rotten in their own way, sure, but many in The Lanes just wanted to survive and to just have someone who cared for their existence... even if it's for a little while. charles isn't a zaunite, nor her people, and he may not believe in her cause at all. but for this split moment, she is going to pretend he is all of these things, because maybe he will some day. ]

Want me to sing to you? — To help you go?

( OPEN 💀 case of the glitching city )

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cw: slight spoilers

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🎀