expiationlogs | August Catch-All

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August Catch-All - Glitching Event

Who: Silco + Open to All
Where: Around Aldrip
What: August Monthly Post – Includes glitching
Warnings: Violence, murder

i. Glitching Out
[The previous month and part of this month, Silco had been spared having alterations to his person. His businesses, his property and even the generalized environment had seemed to be on the fritz, and no one seemed to know if it was a result of the previous infection or if they had failed their ‘rehab’ enough that this place was destabilizing and required a reset.

Still, he had to continue business as usual while he investigated on his own. That was until he was stepping out from the Last Drop to head to another business for a daily check-in when he experienced a disturbing situation not unlike being struck by lightning. He dropped at the unexpectedness of it all, and it took him exactly one minute to realize the difference.

He could see normally from both eyes. The aches of his facial scarring and generalized age had disappeared. The air felt unbearably clean to his lungs. His hair fell forward into his face.

Silco pushed himself back to his feet slowly, and he looked down at this hands – youthful hands – and then reached up to feel his face. There was a puddle of water nearby which he stepped over to look into, sighting an appearance half of his previous age.

Yet, his mind remained intact. He was trapped in a 20 year old body, and he couldn’t deny how amazing it felt.]

ii. Around Town - Parkour
[He didn’t know how long he was going to be stuck like this, but it seemed prudent to take advantage of the spirit of youthfulness. While he didn’t have idle time per say in Aldrip, he certainly made time every time that he stepped out of one of his businesses to enjoy what age and reputation had slowly turned him from.

Fissurefolk were infamous for their abilities to scale buildings and get into places that few others would dare to. Silco had been the slimmest of their group, meaning he could slide into narrow alleys and scale buildings were Vander had trouble; getting down was Vander’s strength. So he was going to enjoy the freedom.

Silco could be seen around the residential and commercial spaces perform feats that were as easy as breathing for those of his people. Scaling buildings, run over rooftops and leap between buildings, flip over large open spaces, and even using random poles to perform. It was all about testing the limits of a body he had outgrown years ago, and he found he enjoyed himself.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He didn't move when she could have a good look at his face, expecting that she would eventually make the connection that he was insisting to be true. He was not concerned that she would pull the trigger on him, and his confidence paid off a few moments later.

The corner of his lips twitched in a smirk at her reaction, pleased with himself and her for eventually recognizing him. He remained still as she raised a hand to cover his left eye, but her words caused him to abort lifting a hand towards his own face and stopping before actually making contact.

He was not used to people calling him beautiful, not even his daughter.]

That isn't... a common reaction, not even when I was this age.

[ she tugs her hand away, and takes a small step back to give her younger father room to land in front of her if he wishes. ]

I don't get it. Why is this an issue again?

[ she asks with genuine honesty while crouching down to pick up her forgotten pistol, fastening it back on her hip in place. ]

Old people are always complaining about being old, and would always say — [ using a mocking old man voice: ] "When I was young, things were soooooo much better!"

[ she drops the accent and dialect with her head cocking to one side again. ]

Now you can move around and do whatever!! [ realizing how that sounded, she quickly corrects herself. ] — Uh, without the... creaky bones.

[that seems less offensive, right? ]

Edited 2024-08-11 15:32 (UTC)

[Silco indeed slipped from the last branch to settle on his feet. He was his usual six feet of height, but he hasn't filled out as much in the chest and shoulders at this age. His shoulder-length hair was currently tied back in a messy bun at the top of his head, though many strands had fallen out of it.]

We're basically the same age physically. I assumed that might make things strange between us.

[He was so used to her running her mouth about subjects that he barely even raised an eyebrow, even as he crossed his arms over his chest to watch her. She was taking this better than expected, so that was relief. She also hadn't shot him, so that was a bonus; the enforcers had enjoyed shooting at them as the scrambled back down to the Lanes or deeper into the Undercity.]

No, things were far worse when I was this age. Of course, we contributed to that...

[He did not, as a rule, talk very much about the Undercity of his day. His life seemed to start and stop when Vander tried to kill him in the Pilt, but being this whole did allow him moments to reminisce of the united Undercity he had once lived in, oppressed with their back against the wall and loyalty to each other when resources ran thin.]

Are you saying that because I climbed your tree without your assistance?

It's a little weird, but weird is fun!

[ and just for play, jinx activates her shimmer speed to skate around him in a circle, before halting back in front of him again with a wide grin on her face. ]

This means you can quit working all the time...! We can do all the stuff we couldn't do together. — Like climb my tree, which next time you'll ask before you do, or I'll hit you.

[ in despite of her "threat", it's in a cheery tone, and she clasps her fingers behind her back as she sways from side to side. ]

Sooooo! What should we do first? Play a game? Have lunch? Drink 'till we're stupid? Not me, I don't get stupid. Or race? I'll play nice and won't use Shimmer.

Edited 2024-08-11 15:56 (UTC)

[Silco watched her, and this was yet another reason that he never regretted his decision to save her life. Despite the initial suffering, Shimmer had saved her, had given her opportunities that the boy had nearly taken away. And yes, he felt responsible as well, sending her on that mission to recover the crystal. All the more reason to enjoy watching her play with the abilities that Shimmer granted.

He tilted his head in curiosity to her assumption that he would stop working all the time. What had he done to give that impression?] Why would I quit working all the time? If anything, I can work more. [He turned his head to look up the way to the treehouse.] Is that so? What are you hiding up there that I should know about?

[He sighed from his nose as she took his youth as a sign to get shit-faced or just plain run around like a couple of careless teenagers. So that's what it was like, hmm?]

Don't you think I carry you home from being drunk too often already? All of that sounds like 'fun', and you've told me I'm allergic to fun on more than one occasion.

[ her expression falls, looking a little floored at his responses, but it tightens up into a disapproval scowl. his daughter stomps ahead and forcefully links her arm around his, then, guides the two of them to the direction towards the city. if he stumbles in his feet, that will be his fault for not being prepared to be towed. ]

You're not going to work more, you're not going near my treehouse, and we're going to unallergic you once and for all...!

Edited 2024-08-11 16:26 (UTC)

[He narrowed his eyes when she seized him by the arm and all but started to drag him out of the woods towards Aldrip again. He expected in any other situation, she wouldn't physically take a handle of the situation like this, so perhaps this would be common behaviour for as long as he was stuck like this.

He followed, keeping to his feet and tugging on his arm an attempt to have it returned to him.]

That's not how allergies work, Jinx. And just what's in that treehouse?

[He, of course, would not enter it without her permission; he respected her space. The only time he would go there would be in the case of an emergency, which this clearly was not.]

Ugh, just stuff!! Girl stuff, y'know, when I'm on the "blood river". Junk like that...!

[ and since he is attempting to retrieve his arm, she allows him, but only to spin around to face silco with her hands on her hips. ]

It's not important, why do you care so much anyway? I don't ask about your room, and I don't wanna know 'cause I know what happens in there is gross.

Edited 2024-08-11 17:00 (UTC)

[Silco did not believe her for an instance on that, but he wasn't about to pry either. He already suspected what went on in there, and it wasn't worth embarrassing her or himself with an interrogation.]

My room? You mean sleeping? And housing my clothing?

[He did not have people over to the house. Ever. His offices on the other hand, well, they may have seen a little more company lately than usual.]

[ unfortunately, a wicked grin spreads on her face at a certain word he uses, and she, in fact, repeats the word using great emphasis: ]

Yeah, sleeping.

[ jinx is definitely expressing the word in an entirely different meaning, and that is the point. but she is also trying to be clever by playing with the term to mean his way too. ]

Something I don't really do.

[ spinning on her heels (and her braids flying around behind), she returns to march them both down the path with her arms extending out like she's balancing herself on a tight rope. ]

[Silco was not easily embarrassed and yet, this young body apparently didn't have all the same restraint at his older one. The tips of his ears had distinct pinkness to them at her emphasis.]

Yes, sleeping in my room. I don't have sex in the house, unlike someone in this conversation.

[He rolled his eyes behind her back, shaking his head. They weren't going to discuss their sexual relationships here in the forest, were they?]

Where have you decided to force me to go tonight to work on this allergy you claim I have?

[ there's a record scratch ringing in her ears, and she immediately whirls back to her father to trample in his personal space, pointing her index at him. ]

Whoa, hold on there! I've never had sex in the house. Quentin snuck over once, we made out, and we fell asleep. Nothing happened. Just because he gave me hickies all the time, doesn't mean it was because we did it, okay?

[ huffing, she folds her arms over her chest with her cheeks reddening over her freckles. ]

You're on thin ice, Mister. If you keep this up, I'm going to ask for a piggyback ride.

[Ugh, he hated even hearing that name fall from her lips, but there it was and they had to deal with that asshole being in the conversation. He smirked at her defensiveness, feeling like it was at least somewhat of a win.]

Haven't you? Oral sex is still sex. [He had no proof of course. He resented the fact that the boy had been over, invading the safe space he had with Jinx back then.] Hickies might have been the second smartest thing he ever did with that fat mouth of his.

[He made a noise as he slipped by her on the path, reaching up and tug his messy bun tighter at the top of his head.]

Oh really? I thought this evening was about having fun? I'm enjoying myself.

[ she opens her mouth to speak, but only to shut it quickly — fearing if she were to rebuttal it would come out in a babbling mess of run-on sentences and fragments. so his daughter stays put as he walks pass, leaving her to fluster silently before trotting behind, arms folding again in a sulk like a child getting denied candy from a shop.

it wasn't that he was right, more like... half-right. she and quentin might have behaved themselves the one time he snuck her in her room, but her brief one-sided escapades with the locals was a different story. jinx resists the urge to stick her tongue at her father's back at his "I'm enjoying myself" remark, but she does grumble something underneath her breath whether he can pick up on it or not. because no matter what, she gets the last word any discussion with anyone.]

[He didn't have to look to know that she was pouting behind him. He also knew that she had to have something more to say on the subject but was clearly holding back to not say something that she might later regret. He had taught her patience on that matter at least.

He heard her grumbling and pretended not to as he walked down the path towards the city. He felt no need to edge her in the conversation, knowing he had won the verbal spar regardless of her having the last word. If anything, his silence was his triumph. Instead, he decided to change the subject.]

We're almost at the city edge. Where are you going to drag me, hmm?

We need to make a pit stop first.

[ she reports, now darting to get ahead of him again once their surroundings become less timberland, and more metropolis. not too far from where they stood, is a local (astoundingly not malfunctioning and frozen in place) sitting idly with a wagon and horse.

jinx instantly advances to the stranger while fishing in her pockets for some coins to pay the citizen for his service. she tells him to take her and silco to the entertainment district, and he inspects the coins by teething it for its quality insurance. wordlessly, he nods to her and straightens his spine to prep for the drive as she scurries off to hop on the wagon, extending her hand out to her father to climb on board with her. ]

Do we?

[He sounded a touch dubious to her idea of a pit stop, but he followed anyway. He generally traveled by vehicle or by foot within the city, preferring to slip away into alleys more often than not. However, he eyed the horse with a remembrance of Emet-Sulch saving him in the fields.

He would not deny Jinx at this point, and he followed her around to the back of the wagon. He took her hand and allowed her to help him in, where he could sit on the edge of the wagon as it lurched into motion.]

You've eaten today, have you?

[ she won't answer if they truly need to make this detour or not, it'll be up to the imagination, and it'll be a surprise adventure for him. but once their ride starts moving (with subtle little bumps that feels somewhat nostalgic to her), she lets her legs dangle and the motion wobble them, which causes her feet to sometimes nudge delicately against his.

her attention lands to silco than their unbalance atmosphere, then mutely shakes her head. fully aware it's an answer he wouldn't favor for, jinx casts her gaze somewhere else as her thumb slithers underneath the rubber band as stealthy as she can. ]

Haven't been in the mood to eat.

Edited 2024-08-11 21:55 (UTC)

[He was content to sit and let the wagon go where it needed to go at Jinx's instructions. That she took an active interest in the fact that he was around her age physically was a small relief, though he did have to wonder what that meant for the party she would inevitability drag him into. Partying hadn't been much of his life then and wouldn't now.

He noted her shake of the head and nodded in return. Their eating habits were not anyone's choice. Of course, he was actually hungry; he expected that was a twenty-year old metabolism at work.]

Do you think you'd be willing to try tonight? I'm going to eat.

[Which was something that shouldn't be an odd admittance but probably was. He reached out to take her wrist lightly to examine the rubber band.] The corruption is affecting you?

[ it's nice to hear that her father is going to eat, since it had always been a concern of hers when he was a lot older. but that only makes her feel a bit gloomy when her appetite is being nonexistent right now. if she passes out from starvation, personally, it doesn't matter to her. because maybe the next time she wakes up, all of this glitching will be over with, and her real reality will come back. but for silco, she nods to the response of at least giving it a try.

but when he takes a hold of her wrist, her pinks gleam with embarrassment. so much for pretending her sanity's been leveled. still though, she chuckles sheepishly and tries to evade the question with a tease. ]

Eh heh heh, not as bad as you, Silly! You're the corrupted one here, not me.

[Unlike the glitching of the world and the natives, his own seemed generally stable. He felt twinges of it down his spine as if this world was threatening to alter him further. Perhaps this would last a few more hours or a day or a week. It couldn't be forever surely?

He brought her wrist closer to his face for inspection. Her words verified his expectation that she had suffered similarly though with no visible effects. Nothing yet at least, but clearly she was using methods to ground herself.]

Perhaps this will not last long. How long have yours lasted?

I-I dunno... I haven't been keeping track.

[ she staggers over her words, watching him examine at her wrist, then looks off to a building they pass that's being mashed into two entirely different designs. ]

I don't know if you or... all of this is even real. Or happening. I'm just going along with it.

[He turned his eyes away from her wrist to look at the buildings. How long had they been combined in such a fashion? His hand released her wrist and then slid his arm across the back of her shoulders to pull her closer to his side.]

I am real. I've always been real, even... like this. Do I feel real?

[ once his arm wraps around her shoulder, she leans in almost instantly and breathes in his scent which is mixed with familiarity, but with a hint of something else that she can't quite put together. zaun, maybe? it's been forever since the city of iron and glass, would she even recall the toxins if she had to identity it? ]

Mm, you do.

[ and as long as she's with him throughout the whole day (hopefully), things should be all right and he can be her stand point. ... unless he phases away from her, in which, that is something she doesn't want to think is a possibility.

the ride to the entertainment district goes as expected so far, it's smooth in despite of some establishment glitching in and out of existence or becoming something else. the driver, the horse, and wagon seem to stay intact too, but it appears they haven't made to their destination yet when neither the driver or jinx make any movements of stopping each other from this little journey. ]

Edited 2024-08-12 00:48 (UTC)

Then I'm real, and you can focus on that.

[He remained with his arm draped across the back of her shoulders, shifting and rocking with the roll of the wagon. At this point, he wasn't of the belief that anyone would recognize him by sight, which provided a little excitement that he could do whatever he wanted without having the regular Chosen put two and two together.

His head turned to watch the city pass them by, noting the usual elements of the entertainment district as they came and passed through view. When there was no sign of stopping, he turned his head to regard the top of hers.]

Where are you whisking me away to?

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cw: sex talk

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