( she responds to his question with a wink. he might not be genius smart like her or quentin (although nowadays, she questions his intelligence), but she knows he's no true idiot. an idiot wouldn't survive this far or long in this continent, by now, they would have died by simply staring up at the sky with their mouth hanging open during a storm or mauled by a furious beast for being exposed.
her eyes cut down to his hands, watching him shovel around for change for each of them. despite the stupidity of paying to the council, at least the price is fair -- two players, two coins. she takes the offered money and slips it in the slot, the clanks of copper and metal slamming together as it goes deep down to the machine's empty belly. the sound of it gives her goosebumps, and she resists the urge to seek out for another coin somewhere just so she could hear its lovely short song again.
whenever scott glides in his currency, the game starts -- the retro music jingles as the screen switches away from its previews. the storyline is pretty short and simple to understand. the two main characters are in a downtrodden area and they need to make it to civilization alive. there are zombies between them and this new world, and they have four lives each to spare. if out of lives, they'll need to insert an extra coin to come back. to reload, they need to physically tilt the plastic gun to the side or upward -- either works. character number one looks at their partner and asks, "are you ready?" (meaning if the players are ready, hit the trigger button to move on). jinx mimics her counterpart and smiles to scott, looking over. )
[After he slots in his own coin and wraps his hand around the grip of the toy gun, Scott sets his focus on the arcade cabinet in front of him, only half listening to the story that's he heard a few times by now (it's all rudimentary anyway). It's not that he's really nervous or anything, but he's just getting into The Zone when it comes to playing video games. Everyone has that, right? Just getting lost in a game and putting all your effort into it?? A small escape from reality, and it's something that can be more easily done with how advanced and involved the game is. Luckily, the fact that he can only really see things in red doesn't affect his playing all that much, since it's just shooting the obvious zombie creatures.
He sends a small smirk at Jinx, nodding before curling his finger around the trigger.]
Ready.
[And he pulls the trigger on his end, and 'Player 1' appears on the screen with the necessary HUD information.]
( she follows along scott, pulling the trigger so "player 2" joins in the game. there's still a tiny bit of dialogue, and jinx uses this opportunity to shift to her usual shooting stance. her cheerful expression changes to something hard and serious -- fully focused as the screen jerks around to indicate their characters running.
there's her side and scott's, and as the zombies growl and appear on each side screen -- jinx tugs on the trigger immediately, missing the first headshot. she doesn't dwell on it though, after all, there's a glaring difference between using an actual gun and a toy. but after three shots in, the teen gets use to its gears, and she ranks up in points -- headshot after headshot. there's an urge to just weasel over her friend's section to take those zombies down too, but... gaming etiquette. never break them. it's poor sportsmanship. )
[While Scott isn't doing terribly, he's definitely not doing as well as Jinx. He manages to shoot the zombies on his end, but he doesn't nail those headshots as often as her. It's pretty noticeable, enough that Scott grunts slightly seeing the difference in their scores, because man, she is really good at this, huh? He's not enough of a sore loser at least to blow up the machine or stomp off elsewhere, continuing the game until the stage ends and promptly declares 'Player 2, the Winner' in bold letters across the screen.
With a huff, he slides his toy gun back into the arcade cabinet.]
Okay okay, you beat me. [At first, it almost looks like the irritation is going to latch onto Scott, but he soon snorts and nudges her lightly with his elbow.] I'll admit, you are pretty fucking awesome with that.
( victory! and in all honesty, it feels pretty good to win, not that she never had her share of winnings before. going up against mylo is a casual walk in the lanes, but going up against ekko had always been a challenge. a lot of wins and loses between the two of them.
although the very "last" game she played was vi's boxing machine, and she scored second -- hardly even close to her big sister's numbers. it left a sour mark underneath her skin and to this day, it still festers every so often. but winning here feels like a confident boost, and brings a smile to her face. guess she isn't all washed up, so suck it, mylo! giggling, she slips the gun back in its hostler cubby and props her hands on her waist, chest out. )
Hehe, well! I had a lotta training. I was starting to think I was losin' it there since... ya know, hadn't shot anything for a while.
[Maybe for the sake of his sanity, he doesn't ask how or why she's had so much training. He's probably doing it again, pushing back known faults of someone that he knows, because he just wants to hang out with a friend-- someone that he genuinely likes most of the time. It's just those hints of danger that he probably should keep in mind, but it's hard, especially when he's having so much fun now.
Future problem, probably. Hopefully never.
Besides, she just admitted that she hasn't shot anything in a while, so that's good! Yeah.]
Clearly you haven't lost your touch, Jinx. [He compliments, smiling just lightly.] And that's good, since you don't have to really train and uh, waste bullets.
Yeah, that's the REAL bummer about this place not being Zaun.
( as if scott knows what "zaun" is in the first place. although come to think of it, they've been friends for this long, and they know pretty little about each other beyond the basics. well, he knows the shimmer thing, and he's the only one so far who knows about it in great details. and somehow, letting him know about it didn't blow up in her face. so maybe letting him in more about herself won't be such a bad thing. after all, he... did see vi's younger self in the maze and witnessed how she was being treated. hrm.)
— Back home if I wanted bullets, I'd just ask. No matter when or what time of the day.
[Scott will hold back his opinion that it's not too much of a bummer. Maybe easy for him to say since he can shoot beams out of his eyes, but he's never been too much of a gun guy anyway. Honestly, defending himself from others never really crossed his mind until he got here, even though he got into a few scuffles back home. It was just assholes throwing punches, nothing really big.
He's aware that it was very different for her though. She grew up in a rough place.]
Honestly, that really doesn't feel too much different from America. I mean, I'm pretty sure you have to be at least 21 or something to buy a gun and ammo, but it's still not that hard.
( she stares at her friend, completely dumbfounded. and she tries to imagine herself how things would be if her weapons weren't a part of her life. it would be dull, that's for sure -- and what would she build if not her friends? )
An age can't determine anything. If it's about maturity, you can be BEYOND twenty-one and still be a clumsy oaf and shoot your own eye out if you're dumb enough.
( jinx hadn't seen anyone be ungraceful with a weapon personally, but she's aware there are idiots out there who don't have the slightest idea how to use anything properly. )
— You just gotta train the person real good from the start. Then you got nothin' to worry about!
[She sort of has a point, like Scott can see how maturity and training and all that should be way more important than age. It's how he's felt a lot about certain things too, like he should totally be allowed to drive a motorcycle and get his license if he studied real hard on it. ...Okay, maybe he doesn't fully get it. Granted, he's still not sure if Jinx should really have a gun, but he knows to keep those thoughts to himself.
Man, the place she grew up really must be something though. Scott barely stops himself from lifting one shoulder in a half shrug, just placing his hands in his pockets.]
Most of the people I know back home don't train for stuff like that. We just... go to school. Do homework and shit.
Yyyessh, no wonder you're a dud buzzkill sometimes. If that's the life you were livin', I don't wanna be a part of it.
( a rude thing to say, she knows, but hopefully the smile she flashes him will make up for it. jinx links her arm around his, then tugs him in a direction away from the zombie arcade game. )
Alright! — Jinx one, Scott zero. It's your turn to pick the next game. Best to three, okay?
[Scott can't stop the sarcastic reply this time, because wow!! Jinx could be a little less rude about the way life was for him back home. But he's not actually upset, because he's still having fun, the corner of his mouth tugging into a smile as she pulls him from the arcade machine. Okay, next game next game...
He takes a look around, because honestly, he doesn't want to play the knowledge game, so maybe...]
How about the crane machine? [He points to said machine, a cabinet that has multiple plushies and everything. Maybe he can kill two birds with one stone here, beat Jinx and win a plush for Kotone. Wow, genius idea! Scott smiles a little, trying to lead her towards it.]
( and this is where scott discovers something about jinx that not many people do. so many of the chosen sees jinx as a girl who is dangerous, ruthless, heartless, and cynical. and while all of this is very true, there's a side of her that only a selective handful of people get to witness. at the sight of the machine that carried various plushies inside, jinx's eyes wide and shine in pure excitement. her smile beams vibrantly, and tugs poor scott along as she squeals. )
Oh my gosh, look at them!!
( letting go of her friend, the girl presses her palms (and almost her face) against the glass as she gasps over the display of dolls. )
They all look so adorable! I don't know which I should to go for first, they all need a good home...!
( it's a strange sight, isn't it? someone who is a terrorist, who has a body count, and invents deadly weapons and machinery is this ecstatic over playthings. it's why some people like her sister, ragna, quentin, and possibly a few others are usually beside themselves regarding jinx. on one hand, she is a menace, but on the other? she's... just a girl with human emotions and needs. like everyone else. )
[He definitely was not expecting that scream of pure excitement from Jinx, a startled noise leaving Scott as he's suddenly tugged along with her to the machine. Is she really this excited? He didn't know she would be this ecstatic about a crane machine, but the reason why quickly becomes apparent and Scott barely stops his jaw from sliding open in shock.
She... she's squealing about plushies. Like a regular girl.
Scott just stands there for a moment, a couple of feet behind, still in shock about all this, because... who would've thought? Dangerous Jinx that talks about blowing buildings and shooting people can still get cutesy about stuff like this. Since he values his life, he doesn't point it out, only stepping closer so that he's next to her again.]
Hard to choose just one, huh? [He asks, almost helpless, a large grin to him because this is kind of cute.] How about you go first?
( even if he didn't offer for her to go first, her hand was already on the joystick and twitching it around, despite it needing a coin to operate. the teenager beams a smile towards his direction, then focuses stiffly to her selections. )
Lessee... I got a bunny and a pup at home. So I'm thinkin' a cat will be the next choice to go for.
( letting go of the stick, jinx takes a step back and begins to maneuver around the machine in search of the animal. with them so jammed in there like a can of sardines, it's definitely hard to pinpoint if there's a feline plush for the taking. )
[As she fiddles with the joystick, a passing thought crosses Scott of 'maybe he'll just give her his plushie if he wins.' He loves Kotone and he'll definitely get her something later, but it's a little hard resisting the urge to give Jinx something if the game doesn't slide up to her favor this time. She's just so fucking excited...]
Cat's a good choice.
[He looks over the various plushies squished together in the machine and it's definitely hard at first to find what she's looking for, but...] How about that one?
[While Scott can't exactly see the colors, he points to an adorable orange cat that's buried underneath a... weird Jack Frost doll and a mushroom? He doesn't quite get it, but they're not trying for those prizes anyway.]
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her eyes cut down to his hands, watching him shovel around for change for each of them. despite the stupidity of paying to the council, at least the price is fair -- two players, two coins. she takes the offered money and slips it in the slot, the clanks of copper and metal slamming together as it goes deep down to the machine's empty belly. the sound of it gives her goosebumps, and she resists the urge to seek out for another coin somewhere just so she could hear its lovely short song again.
whenever scott glides in his currency, the game starts -- the retro music jingles as the screen switches away from its previews. the storyline is pretty short and simple to understand. the two main characters are in a downtrodden area and they need to make it to civilization alive. there are zombies between them and this new world, and they have four lives each to spare. if out of lives, they'll need to insert an extra coin to come back. to reload, they need to physically tilt the plastic gun to the side or upward -- either works. character number one looks at their partner and asks, "are you ready?" (meaning if the players are ready, hit the trigger button to move on). jinx mimics her counterpart and smiles to scott, looking over. )
Are you?
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He sends a small smirk at Jinx, nodding before curling his finger around the trigger.]
Ready.
[And he pulls the trigger on his end, and 'Player 1' appears on the screen with the necessary HUD information.]
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there's her side and scott's, and as the zombies growl and appear on each side screen -- jinx tugs on the trigger immediately, missing the first headshot. she doesn't dwell on it though, after all, there's a glaring difference between using an actual gun and a toy. but after three shots in, the teen gets use to its gears, and she ranks up in points -- headshot after headshot. there's an urge to just weasel over her friend's section to take those zombies down too, but... gaming etiquette. never break them. it's poor sportsmanship. )
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With a huff, he slides his toy gun back into the arcade cabinet.]
Okay okay, you beat me. [At first, it almost looks like the irritation is going to latch onto Scott, but he soon snorts and nudges her lightly with his elbow.] I'll admit, you are pretty fucking awesome with that.
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although the very "last" game she played was vi's boxing machine, and she scored second -- hardly even close to her big sister's numbers. it left a sour mark underneath her skin and to this day, it still festers every so often. but winning here feels like a confident boost, and brings a smile to her face. guess she isn't all washed up, so suck it, mylo! giggling, she slips the gun back in its hostler cubby and props her hands on her waist, chest out. )
Hehe, well! I had a lotta training. I was starting to think I was losin' it there since... ya know, hadn't shot anything for a while.
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Future problem, probably. Hopefully never.
Besides, she just admitted that she hasn't shot anything in a while, so that's good! Yeah.]
Clearly you haven't lost your touch, Jinx. [He compliments, smiling just lightly.] And that's good, since you don't have to really train and uh, waste bullets.
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( as if scott knows what "zaun" is in the first place. although come to think of it, they've been friends for this long, and they know pretty little about each other beyond the basics. well, he knows the shimmer thing, and he's the only one so far who knows about it in great details. and somehow, letting him know about it didn't blow up in her face. so maybe letting him in more about herself won't be such a bad thing. after all, he... did see vi's younger self in the maze and witnessed how she was being treated. hrm.)
— Back home if I wanted bullets, I'd just ask. No matter when or what time of the day.
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He's aware that it was very different for her though. She grew up in a rough place.]
Honestly, that really doesn't feel too much different from America. I mean, I'm pretty sure you have to be at least 21 or something to buy a gun and ammo, but it's still not that hard.
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( she stares at her friend, completely dumbfounded. and she tries to imagine herself how things would be if her weapons weren't a part of her life. it would be dull, that's for sure -- and what would she build if not her friends? )
An age can't determine anything. If it's about maturity, you can be BEYOND twenty-one and still be a clumsy oaf and shoot your own eye out if you're dumb enough.
( jinx hadn't seen anyone be ungraceful with a weapon personally, but she's aware there are idiots out there who don't have the slightest idea how to use anything properly. )
— You just gotta train the person real good from the start. Then you got nothin' to worry about!
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[She sort of has a point, like Scott can see how maturity and training and all that should be way more important than age. It's how he's felt a lot about certain things too, like he should totally be allowed to drive a motorcycle and get his license if he studied real hard on it. ...Okay, maybe he doesn't fully get it. Granted, he's still not sure if Jinx should really have a gun, but he knows to keep those thoughts to himself.
Man, the place she grew up really must be something though. Scott barely stops himself from lifting one shoulder in a half shrug, just placing his hands in his pockets.]
Most of the people I know back home don't train for stuff like that. We just... go to school. Do homework and shit.
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( a rude thing to say, she knows, but hopefully the smile she flashes him will make up for it. jinx links her arm around his, then tugs him in a direction away from the zombie arcade game. )
Alright! — Jinx one, Scott zero. It's your turn to pick the next game. Best to three, okay?
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[Scott can't stop the sarcastic reply this time, because wow!! Jinx could be a little less rude about the way life was for him back home. But he's not actually upset, because he's still having fun, the corner of his mouth tugging into a smile as she pulls him from the arcade machine. Okay, next game next game...
He takes a look around, because honestly, he doesn't want to play the knowledge game, so maybe...]
How about the crane machine? [He points to said machine, a cabinet that has multiple plushies and everything. Maybe he can kill two birds with one stone here, beat Jinx and win a plush for Kotone. Wow, genius idea! Scott smiles a little, trying to lead her towards it.]
First person to get a prize wins?
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Oh my gosh, look at them!!
( letting go of her friend, the girl presses her palms (and almost her face) against the glass as she gasps over the display of dolls. )
They all look so adorable! I don't know which I should to go for first, they all need a good home...!
( it's a strange sight, isn't it? someone who is a terrorist, who has a body count, and invents deadly weapons and machinery is this ecstatic over playthings. it's why some people like her sister, ragna, quentin, and possibly a few others are usually beside themselves regarding jinx. on one hand, she is a menace, but on the other? she's... just a girl with human emotions and needs. like everyone else. )
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She... she's squealing about plushies. Like a regular girl.
Scott just stands there for a moment, a couple of feet behind, still in shock about all this, because... who would've thought? Dangerous Jinx that talks about blowing buildings and shooting people can still get cutesy about stuff like this. Since he values his life, he doesn't point it out, only stepping closer so that he's next to her again.]
Hard to choose just one, huh? [He asks, almost helpless, a large grin to him because this is kind of cute.] How about you go first?
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Lessee... I got a bunny and a pup at home. So I'm thinkin' a cat will be the next choice to go for.
( letting go of the stick, jinx takes a step back and begins to maneuver around the machine in search of the animal. with them so jammed in there like a can of sardines, it's definitely hard to pinpoint if there's a feline plush for the taking. )
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Cat's a good choice.
[He looks over the various plushies squished together in the machine and it's definitely hard at first to find what she's looking for, but...] How about that one?
[While Scott can't exactly see the colors, he points to an adorable orange cat that's buried underneath a... weird Jack Frost doll and a mushroom? He doesn't quite get it, but they're not trying for those prizes anyway.]