alwaysme: (waking me up)
Jinx ([personal profile] alwaysme) wrote in [community profile] diademlogs2025-06-08 11:01 pm

I was painting a picture [closed]

Who: Vi, Jack Kline, Jonathan Strange
Where: various
When: Throughout the month
What: TDM threads continued

Warnings: suicidal ideation, self-worth, and possible mental instability, marked on thread



And for a moment I thought you were here
But then again, it wasn't true, down
And all this time I have been lying
Oh, lying in secret to myself
I've been putting sorrow on the farthest place on my shelf
And I was running far away
Would I run off the world someday?
kingsroads: (just sort of huffy and taken aback)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-06-09 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm certain I can drive fast! [ hmmphs the man who absolutely will be driving slow. You have read him for filth, Jinx. ]

I assume that by 'street gangs,' you mean brigands or highwaymen? If they have things like that when I am from, it only makes sense that they would continue here.

[ If you're going to rob someone, robbing them on the road makes sense. ]
godjr: (AlexanderCa1501089)

[personal profile] godjr 2025-06-09 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not making anything up, but I understand why it would seem that way. People aren't supposed to know monsters exist back home, everyone keeps it that way on purpose." Jack personally thinks if more people knew, it could keep them protected from the predators, but he also gets that it's too much. Brains can only handle so much and it's better ultimately for everyone to live their normal lives. He doesn't blame her for being skeptical.

"In my world, monsters definitely hurt people. But people also hurt people." Human on human crime still very much exists, and Jack himself has dealt with humans who hurt one another. "Not all monsters are bad just like all people aren't bad." Sometimes his fathers are a little more black and white than he is about monsters, but that's because they're not one, like he is.

"I saw they have older phones here. I think you can get one on loan. Everything is on loan here." His room at the motel is too, but since he plans on getting jobs, he'll be able to cover that pretty soon.

"I'm Jack." He offers his hand.
kingsroads: (small cheeky little smile)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-06-12 01:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's something about the way that the young woman looks off with such a sullen expression that worries Strange. He doesn't know her from Adam, of course. But he still occasionally clings to the idea that even now, even after all this, he is a gentleman. So there's a light smile on his face as he muses, ]

There was a highwayman before my time, a man named Dick Turpin—which if he was before my time, I loathe to think how old he must seem to you. I'm certain he was your regular run-of-the-mill ruffian. But he had something that your average ruffian lacked: good press. If you believe the ballads and the broadsides, he was an avenging figure who rode his horse two hundred miles in a day—though I think the ballads were quite cagey about how the horse felt about that excursion.
godjr: (AlexanderCa1503044)

[personal profile] godjr 2025-06-12 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"I like that idea. Having something of your own here. I don't have a lot of possessions that are mine back home either." His clothes. His backpack. But everything was given to him by his family, he doesn't have a job that can get him money to buy himself items. He uses their money. That's probably part of why he's looking forward to having a real job. No killing or violence involved with it either.

"It's nice to meet you, Jinx, even if you made me an accomplice." Jack obviously willingly let her lead him there though and it feels kind of exciting to do something not squeaky clean. It's the sort of lower level bad that doesn't make him feel like he's failed the universe. It's mischief more than evil. "If we get phones, do you think it would be okay if I texted you?"
viceps: (81)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-06-13 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ It takes some time. She's going as fast as she can, but Vi has no idea where, or even what she's looking for, exactly.

After a few frantic minutes of searching empty hallways -- shouting in frustration at least twice, her voice echoing against all the walls that look exactly the same turn after turn -- she eventually finds a door that leads to the back of the building and some sort of box with some sort of panel and buttons just visible through the little glass square in the panel door.

Okay. This looks like something. The whole time she's been repeating her shorthand for the symbols in her head, so the moment she sees them reflected back at her on the buttons, Vi springs into action. She is undeterred by the panel being stuck, digging her fingernails into the tiny gap to wiggle and yank the latch free. Something black and sticky clings to her hands, and her chest squeezes with a sudden, nauseous wave of unease and disgust.

The symbols feel like they're screaming in her head. One after another, spinning through her thoughts between flashes of her sister's eyes gazing up at her beyond the glass, confused and lost.

Is it getting darker out here? In the corners of her vision, the shadows stretch. The back of her neck prickles, an animal instinct kicking in (run, run, run!) that she fights down her shaking fingers on the buttons.

Will something happen if the combination is right? Will she know that it worked? (What will happen if she does it wrong?)

A wave of dizziness makes her vision go black, and Vi lurches forward into the panel, breathing hard. It could be lingering effects of the concussion, or just the shock. The cause, to her in this moment, is irrelevant. She'll shake off the throbbing headache, the shadows (hallucinations?) that creep around the corners. All that matters is seeing her sister again, getting her out of that room.

There's a the faint, electronic beep. A light flashes.

Vi realizes her cheek is against the metal, most of her weight on the casing of the panel's outside. She lurches back, coughing, feeling as though she'd forgotten to breathe for far too long and suddenly unsure how much time has passed.

Unsteadily, she makes for the door again, shoving her weight into the push bar and only realizing when she's left a bloody handprint that her palm's been sliced open. This registers dimly. Another irrelevant inconvenience to be considered later.

Vi sprints back down the hall toward the flooding room. ]
viceps: (107)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-06-15 08:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Everything freezes. The building, the world, slides away. With it go the panic, and even that uncomfortable sensation of being watched, the instinct that prickles at the back of her neck in warning. For a moment, it all quiets.

She's real.

Vi throws herself forward, wordlessly wrapping both arms around her sister in a too-tight embrace. ]
viceps: (73)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-06-22 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It takes a long moment -- shoulders shaking with her ragged, half-sobbed breaths -- for Vi finally to pull back just enough. One hand on Jinx's shoulder, the other cups her cheek.

If she registers the questions, she doesn't seem to care to answer them right now. Her voice is ragged, tears brimming bright. ]


I thought I'd lost you...

[ Vi is so focused on her sister's face, she doesn't notice the way the water swirls upward, the way the shadows encroach. Lights begin to turn off far down the hallway, ominously flickering to bring the darkness closer and closer with each. ]
kingsroads: (dude are you sure?)

man I do not blame you, it's stay inside and don't do things time

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-06-25 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I'm certain that if he saw what become of his legacy, he'd either be overjoyed or absolutely distraught.

[ Strange shrugs a little, bright smile on his face, as he muses, ]

I suppose that's why it's best we don't learn about what happens in our futures. I was more than ready to step in and correct people about rumors involving me in my lifetime, I would be even more irritating stepping in and bothering them decades in the future.
kingsroads: (maybe we can talk about other things?)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-06-27 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose I am, [ Strange shrugs. This is very much a man trying to be modest despite the fact that his natural state of being is anything but modesty. But even he knows it's bad form to say 'I'm close to a celebrity.' ]

There are only a few magicians in my time. As one of them, it's only natural that people would gossip. But I'm certainly not a celebrity in the sense of actors or actresses. I suppose...good God, I suppose I'm closest to a politician.

[ which.....ew ]
godjr: (AlexanderCa1501800)

we can wrap here!

[personal profile] godjr 2025-06-28 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I would really like that, Jinx." She seems nice and interesting and not like anyone he's ever met before. He's curious to learn more about her and figures this is the way to start. He also likes the idea of texting more people and getting used to that, he mostly had his family before, so having more contacts would be great.

"I should go back inside, but come find me any time you want. I'm also at the bowling alley, it has things like pool and a bar there, if that interests you." He went there to see if Dean was there, and has camped out with a job in case he shows up. He gives her another wave and then goes back inside.
viceps: (20)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-06-28 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Wh--?

[ It takes her a second to understand what Jinx means, to parse the words when all she can think is here, alive, not dead, here, with me. How long has it been for her? Since she...

Fell.

Before Vi can answer or ask any questions of her own, the lights shut off in the hallway just behind Jinx, plunging everything beyond into darkness. The light above them flickers.

A sudden, urgent sense of dread grips Vi, finally shoving through her relief and interrupting their moment. They can't do this here. ]


W-we have to go.

Come on. [ Grabbing Jinx's wrist, Vi tugs her toward the exit, just as the lights above them die. ]
kingsroads: (well why don't we do this?)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-06-30 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Magicians of my ilk tried to purposefully distinguish ourselves from the various charlatans and con men who did card tricks and fleeced men and women out of their pocket change.

[ There's a bit of a wry tone in Strange's voice as he talks. It's obvious the comparison to (what he views as) a charlatan amuses him more than anything else. He gives Jinx a little nod before lightly pointing out, ]

Though the only fancy card trick I know is being a dab hand at whist.
kingsroads: (look at this magic i did)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-07-02 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Most of what I do is a little too...intense for this space. Reshaping roads, controlling the weather, things like that. But I'm certain I can craft a spell that's a bit more manageable...

[ He looks at Jinx for a moment, looking her over, before deciding. Strange closes his eyes and murmurs something under his breath. A moment later, a gust of wind kicks up. The gust isn't overwhelming, but feels small and targeted. The wind pushes Jinx's bangs back and blows her braid to the side a bit, but that's all. None of the surroundings near her are disturbed—in fact, Strange's hair isn't tousled at all.

The breeze also smells odd. The scent of dried leaves, an autumn breeze, the morning dew on the grass comes with it. It's remarkably natural compared to the scrapyard surrounding them.
]
kingsroads: (fuck yeah dad's dead)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2025-07-03 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Strange lights up a little at Jinx's suggestion. Reshaping roads to make ends meet...that does sound like a good idea. He had been mulling over what sort of job to take to pay off this unasked for debt, and now new ideas are starting to form in his mind. ]

I'm sure the nearest city must have a council or municipal government of sorts. I'm perfectly fine being the magical equivalent of a day laborer if the pay suits.

[ It's obvious the more they talk, the more Strange is coming around to this idea. ]
viceps: (48)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ The silence grows somehow more ominous, heavy, so loud it hurts. It's only their breathing, their footsteps swallowed up as they run. The feeling of something crawling up the back of her neck starts to coalesce into a sensation almost like fingers, something grabbing, tugging.

An animal panic yanks Vi forward, and her grip on her sister's wrist tightens to the point of being painful, but she can't -- she will not -- risk letting go (again).

She only grunts in response to the comment about the car, knowing her bike is somewhere around here too. But fuck it, she can find it once they're out of this horrid building (or not, and it won't matter as long as Jinx is here).

Time seems to stretch too far, but in truth, it's probably less than a minute to make it out. Vi shoves open the door, leaving another bloody handprint in her wake, and they burst through into the open air.

She runs a little farther, stumbling as the weight of whatever dread filled that building lifts suddenly. When she looks back, the lights have all mysteriously popped back on, brighter than ever. As if beckoning.

Vi lets out a long, loud breath. She still hasn't let go of Jinx's wrist. ]
viceps: (24)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ It takes a moment too long. Her fingers tighten at first, instinctively-- but then her sister's voice breaks through. Vi catches herself, catches her breath also, and finally loosens her grip.

But if Jinx tries to step away, she will move closer again. She will reach out, trying to touch her face, her hair. ]


Are you okay?
viceps: (109)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ Vi's thumb strokes her cheek, pushes the wet hair back. She leans in close, and Jinx will be able to see the tears filling her eyes, shining and watery without quite falling. ]

I'm sorry. [ Vi whispers.

And hugs her again, tight but at the same time gentle, cradling her sister's head against her shoulder while Jinx's already soaked hair absorbs her tears. ]
viceps: (21)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Everything. Losing her sister, letting go (even though it wasn't her choice, Vi wondered every day what she could have done differently). And before that, all the times she hadn't listened, all those days spent apart. The night everything went wrong and she said those words she's regretted ever since.

She'd thought she'd lost her sister for good this time. She'd grieved. And at the same time, some small, awful part of her had been--

No, not relieved. But perhaps ready to face a new life. Ready to entertain the idea of moving on. At least, wanting to be ready to do that. She'd greeted those new days slowly, with a growing, tentative hope and with Caitlyn by her side. The thought of rebuilding.

And now, instead, they're here. What else is Vi supposed to say? What can she possibly do?

When she'd woken up here, Vi realized she had truly, finally lost everything.

That isn't the case anymore. ]


Y-yeah. I'm okay, Powder. We're both going to be okay.

[ Even if she still slips up sometimes. ]
viceps: (108)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ She moves her arm just enough to quickly wipe the heel of her palm across her face while Jinx still can't quite see it. Then, finally, Vi pulls back enough to look at her. ]

H-how... how long have you been here?

[ Jinx is right, of course. Vi forces herself to remember where they actually are. The building had been unstable enough on its own, and it's true the danger might not be over. She glances around, clocks the other vehicle. It doesn't suit her sister at all, but there's nothing else around. ]

After you fell--

What happened?
viceps: (9)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ Weeks. By Vi's estimation, she's only been here a little over a week herself, but based on how much time passed back home too... it does make sense.

There's something else. In her heart, Vi knows the answer, but she has to ask. ]


And... Vander?
viceps: (5)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Vi looks down too.

No, she doesn't believe her. She wishes she did, but she doesn't.

Vi closes her eyes for just a moment, takes a deep breath. ]


...yeah. Maybe. [ She looks back up, and tries to smile. It comes up thin and wavering, her face all smudged with tears and dried blood. ]

In the meantime, at least we're together, right?
viceps: (4)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-11 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
[ For the first time since she arrived in this forsaken place, alone and scared and angry, something finally feels... good. Like it really might be okay, after all.

Something in the pit of her stomach loosens up. The tension in her shoulders eases, just a little.

Vi laughs. It's soft and breathy, but it's there, and it's real, and the look that crosses her eyes is equal parts relief and surprise.

She can't believe Jinx is actually asking her this. Vi won't waste this chance. ]


Absolutely. To be honest, I haven't really found a place... just been staying in a literal hole that's got a mattress shoved inside. Worst hotel I've ever seen.

We'll find somewhere a little bigger.

[ Are they really going to be... together? ]
viceps: (110)

[personal profile] viceps 2025-07-13 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
That sounds nice. We can look for something when we get back to the city.

[ Together.

Her heart is still pounding. She's scared to look away from Jinx for too long, just in case she disappears and it was all a dream.

When Jinx looks away from her, Vi reaches out -- gently, this time -- to take her hand again. ]


Hey. Let's get out of here. I don't like this place.

[ Though she doesn't ask again, Vi is carefully looking her over to make sure there are no injuries, that she really is okay besides being a bit soggy. ]

My bike's around the other side. We'll drive back together.