Inbox (Etraya)

[cantilevers]

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action; west corner of the hospital grounds, post-poro network post

[ascarylady]

[ It takes a bit for Sevika to show. After all, she did say she had other errands first. Vander rated at the bottom of what she needed to get to, so he had to wait. It won't take more than a bit over fifty or so minutes, however, to properly bully Silco, grab that dog crate, and move the unexpectedly vicious poro from the stove to a real, actual, safe enclosure... plus another stop right before here, but she left that one off her list.

Once that's all been settled, she arrives, strolling down the walk to the western corner of the grounds. She comes from the direction of the hospital, meandering with no particular hurry to meet up with Vander. Taking her time, smoking a cig as she goes, seeing if she can finish it off before she's within speaking range, but she won't quite make it. She's sure she'll have to discard the last of the cigarette when they. ]

Well?

[ She says that pausing a few paces away, then takes one last drag off the cigarette before flicking it away. ]

action;

[cantilevers]

[Vander had mostly amused himself with the fact that Sevika had taken Silco's ear piece, as stated. He could imagine the temper tantrum, and it buoyed his mood as he wandered his way to the appointed area where she was coming to put a foot in his ass. He wasn't concerned in the least by the threat; it would provide a momentary distraction to everything else or lack of currently filling up his days and nights. Perhaps punching her out would improve his overall mood.

He arrived early and found a spot in the sun and remained sitting cross-legged and hunched over so that he could read a book. Accelerator had mentioned a library, and it seemed a waste not to find something of interest in that place, so he was reading a book on natural gas extraction. After all, Jayce was probably going to need a forge sooner than later.

He had his head down smoking a cigarette of his own when she arrived, still hunched over his book and turning the page. He slowly lifted his head at her single word of greeting and tapped ash on the grass next to him, a real novelty that. He surveyed her for a long quiet moment and the used his right hand to close his book.

He rose to his feet smoothly then butted out the cigarette on his arm brace.]

Well yourself. How long have you set aside for this particular ass kicking?

action;

[ascarylady]

About fifteen minutes.

[ Sevika remained right where she was, watching him get to his feet with the same mild annoyance she so often offered nearly everything and everyone for daring to exist. There was a quick flit of her gaze to the book, an idle thought wondering what he was reading, but that wasn't all too important here. ]

Though I'd be surprised if I needed that long to put you in your place, old man.

[ Or not so old anymore. Good chance she's caught up to him in age by this point. ]

action;

[cantilevers]

Thanks for fitting me into your busy schedule.

[Unlike his encounter with Silco, Vander had no interest in disadvantaging himself. He knew Sevika's skills with hand-to-hand combat and brawling in particular. He tossed the book to the edge of the building to retrieve later and flexed his shoulders and then stretched his arms by crossing them, making it clear that he was taking this apparent ass kicking seriously. They were on a time limit after all, and he wouldn't waste her time.

The corner of his lip curled in a smirk before he purposefully showed a hint of teeth. Aside from the catwalk, when was the last time he had sparred with any kind of seriousness? Even with Vi, he held back given his size and strength, so it had probably been years since he had buried someone.]

Do you want any ground rules, or are we just going to maverick this?

[jinxs]

so. how's the divorce going?

[cantilevers]

[Ha ha, real funny, Jinx. This was not a subject he wanted to discuss but also wouldn't shut it down so completely to start.]

Divorce requires marriage first.

[jinxs]

spare me the specifics
so how about just staying together for the kids
can you guys discuss that and get back to me

[cantilevers]

[He did not roll out of bed thinking this was a conversation he would have. He stares at the message in mild disbelief.]

That's not happening. He murdered Mylo and Claggor and nearly killed Vi. He did kill me.

He's lucky to still be breathing.

[jinxs]

... vander
it wasn't him.

(that's all she's saying. she can't have vander just throw all that frustration on silco. it's not fair to him, but she can't tell-- she can't tell him either.

at least she's handling these convos from afar.)

[cantilevers]

You mean the shimmer kid? Who was he acting at the direction of?

Who killed Benzo and two enforcers? Who dragged me to the cannery to lure the kids? Was it Silco's body double?

[jinxs]

he didn't kill mylo and claggor, vander. i was there. i can tell you it wasn't.

you can hate him. he can hate you.

just hate him for what he did
not what
you think he did.

[cantilevers]

Fine, if not him or someone on his order, who murdered my kids? Tell me since you were there.

We aren't getting back together. Ever

action;

[ascarylady]

No rules. We aren't doing this for fun.

[ No. This was 100% all about establishing dominance. She won't let Silco be a total shit in her presence, and she can't allow Vander to do it, either. It's still a stupid fucking idea considering her literal handicap here, but what else was she supposed to do? Ignore the challenge? ]

action; apartment complex

[clavesregni]

[Caitlyn considered approaching Vander via the network, but this feels like a conversation to have in person. She wants to tell him about Vi. Or, more specifically, the way she feels about Vi. It's not a conversation she's ever had before, the few girls she's...

Well, those girls are all in the past now. She's never quite felt about anybody the way she feels about Vi, and Vi's father is here, and it's possible he won't approve, given that he was none too complimentary about enforcers when they first met, and the fact that she's a Kiramman may only complicate things futher, and the family dynamic between Vander, Silco, Vi, and Jinx, which she doesn't entirely understand, already seems terribly complicated, and-- And she needs to stop thinking herself in circles.

Unfortunately, the time it's taking to knock on the wrong doors has only allowed her more time to overthink this. Taking a deep breath, posture so stiff her shoulders are practically at ear-height, she nervously knocks on another door.]

[jinxs]

i dont wanna tell you vander
cant you just
believe me on this

please

(which in itself is an answer, isn't it?)

[cantilevers]

[There was several minutes of silence as he forced himself to calm down. He closed his eyes then punched the floor. Better. Clearer.

He thought back, knowing he never saw Powder there. But the explosion, the dust, two partially buried bodies, the monkey toy head, Vi laying looking dead. Then she was alive and crying, frightened.

The monkey toy head.

Monkey... oh Powder. It cooled what was remaining of his temper instantly.]

Fine. I believe you, Powder. I believe in you too.

[jinxs]

it's jinx, vander. remember? powder fell down a well.

(maybe now he can understand it. see that the nickname, although harmful, was not too far from the reality she lives in. everyone around her dies. everything she touches, ruin.

maybe now he gets why this is her new self. it's too hurtful not to embrace it.)

[cantilevers]

Right. Which well?

[jinxs]

the one she died in.

so. please don't be too mad at him. if you want to be mad at anyone, just be mad at me, because i couldn't stop it.

[cantilevers]

I don't believe she is dead. However, I respect what you wish to be called.

I can't do that. I'm sorry, but I will be angry with him as long as I need to after what he has done. I expect the reverse to be true as well. We've been shitty people to each other

[jinxs]

i said 'too'. 'too mad'

be mad just
just as much as he deserves
some of it should go to me

... i'm sorry, vander.

[cantilevers]

I will be as mad as I need to be. What he did to us is

[At the level of what Vander did to him. He needed time. He was still grieving.]

You tried to protect us. Sometimes our attempts don't end up the way we want. I know what that's like.

I don't blame you.

[It was just another aspect of that day he had to process.]

action;

[cantilevers]

I won't kill you. Not intentionally.

[He didn't care if she would return the same regard to him either. He supposed it would make everything cleaner for them if he was out of the picture again. This was the way of the undercity. Strength ruled.

Vander didn't hesitate as he lifted his fists and moved to close the distance between them. He came on fast and hard, yet he dropped his hands and suddenly turned his body to slam into her to knock her over with brute force if he could land it.]

[jinxs]

im
im just going to go now

[cantilevers]

Did I upset you?