etraya | UN: JINX

[She hops down, wandering over to hold out her hands, claws extended. They're sharp, sharp enough that even the gentlest run of a finger over the bladed section draws a little blood. Jinx doesn't really concern her, with her questions and studying. She can tell the difference between a doctor and his clipboard and a person who simply has an interest in how she works.

She talks as Jinx inspects:]

They were only made of bone before the surgery. My mutation, it's the same as my father. He was hurt by doctors a long, long time ago, too. Before I was made. They covered his skeleton in adamantium, and it started to make him sick.

So I think... that is why they only put it on my claws.

[If she had to guess, anyway.]

... Okay, kid, come here. Let me take a look at you.

(if laura allows her, jinx'll use all the strength in her twig arms to pull laura to her lap. it's slow, so there's no crossed wired and so she doesn't lose a limb, or even worse, another middle finger.

with pale, gentle hands, she takes in the smaller pair. naturally, adamantium is something she has never heard of, nor has she seen someone born with such a specific thing.

concerning. what if someone tries to put their boney fingers on her again? isha really did make her now care for children, it seems.)

... Yeah, those? Those are super cool, though. No one is giving you trouble over this, right? Trying to study you or anything like that? If they do, you need to tell me, I'll have a list of words and bullets.

... In my case, though... I kicked my own butt. Exploded, you know? Boom. And then, an ugly scientist put drugs in me, and now it's like my own little mutation. Sucked, though.

[She does look a little startled by the gesture, if only because the nurses at Transigen were never particularly allowed to provide this kind of care. They were things, weapons, not children. But despite her confusion, she doesn't seem particularly worried or uneased. As she holds her hands out, then lifts them palm up, she shakes her head.]

No trouble.

[Everyone here has been good to her. No one has called her names, or acted terrified of her. Maybe it's why she's gotten comfortable calling Etraya a home, even if she hasn't outright said as much.

She glances to her.]

I think I knew someone here like that. His name was Deadpool.

[And he and Jinx would have been besties, pretty sure.]

What does yours do? Your mutation?

Can you see my veins? Super close like that, can't miss it. Little blue and purple, right? Well, my eyes were blue once. They're pink now, and look.

(it's natural for her now to make them glow, although when she's aggitating or about to use her newfound abilities they come without her willing it to. she taps her eyebag to bring attention to it.)

When it's like this? I can run so fast all you see it's the glow.

Mm. I see it shining.

[She leans in closely, watching the blue and purple with interest. As she does, she allows her claws to slide back into her arms — the cuts that are left between her fingers close up almost instantly, leaving just a smudge of blood to show for it.]

I think it's very pretty.

[... Even if it's caused by things that are painful.

Laura figures that it's okay to find pretty things in yourself, despite the bad.]

What they used to make your powers - will it make you sick?

(why are children? jinx's eyes goggle a little at the comment, so taken aback that her eyes cease to shine. 'pretty' is not a word she tends to hear about herself, and while she likes how she looks and the style she has curated, it so happens to be wholly different hearing someone else say it.

after the quick shock passes, an embarrassed laugh comes out the same time her hand sets on a quick carress on Laura's head.)

I mean, pretty baddass, right? Ha... haha, it's cool.

(what a loaded question, though.)

Dunno. It made me a little sick here, (she taps laura"s forehead to illustrate the concept of mind), but I don't think it will again. And you? Do I have to find non-piece of crap doctors for you?

[She shakes her head.]

... I think if I do get sick, it won't happen for a long time.

[So for now? In this moment? She's confident everything will be okay. There's probably not enough adamantium in her body for it to poison her the same way it did her father. At least, she's guessing as much. If she really lives to be that old... it'll be something to worry about then.

Her eyebrows go up.]

Do you mean it made you crazy? You do not seem very crazy to me.

[Ah, the bluntness of children.]

Then you're okay, huh, kid? Works for me. Don't go getting sick and breaking hearts.

(jinx gets attached so, so quickly. she's sure that her heart would shatter if it so happened, and with how likeable the kid is, most likely she wouldn't be alone.

what is strange, though is the fact that this one talks. she's used to talking to no answer, having to pay close attention to figure out what isha might want and what she might be saying in mimics and her little expressions.

she can't help but to give yet another embarrassed laugh.)

Yeah, well. We have our moments, right? Come on, let's wash the blood off your hand.

[She hops up to her feet.]

Would you like to see my other secret claws?

You must keep it a secret, though.

[Jinx seems cool.

She won't rat out her emergency murderknives.]

(she was also getting up, ready to take this child to the sink, and then more revelations are offered.

jinx's not gonna say no.)

Promise. Wanna shake on it?

Do you know how to pinky swear?

It's how I've been promising lately. And it works on Axel.

[It's super effective.

As she speaks, she holds out her pinky finger.]

Which pinky? Blue or pink?

(she holds out both of her pinkies, different colored nails.)

[On careful consideration... She does not want to insult either color.

So she holds up both of her pinkies. Two for one!]

Trying to win my heart? Great choice, kiddo.

(of course, they are the best colors, excuse her. she'll even get down to her level again, sitting on the floor so they can talk more comfortably.

it's not like jinx's height of 5'3 makes that very difficult, but you know. it's for the kid. she'll move their hands up and down once pinkies interlock, as to seal the promise.)

[She reaches out, locks her fingers around Jinx's. The deadly serious swear has been completed, and is punishable by — well, something. Probably not death. But Laura would be cross with her, if she ratted out her ace up her sleeve.

As Jinx begins to sit down on the floor, Laura pulls off her shoe and sock; these shoes don't have holes in them like her other ones, so she figures she should probably keep them in one piece longer.]

They're here —

[She lifts her foot up, flexes her ankle, and bam.

A long metal claw is suddenly jutting out between her big and second toe, like it's nothing at all to do.]

Secret claws.

(this kid is definitely something else. she doesn't need jinx to protect her, she has shown her as much, but these? these are awesome in their own right, and the oddity of having them on her foot of all places makes her clap in joy.

this is so fucking weird. she loves it, and she taps the dull surface as if she was inspecting it.)

Kid, you're incredible. You can stab three times! That's talent.

[Laura is always glad when someone isn't immediately discomforted by her claws. They've got a dark history behind them, it was true — but they were still a part of her, made her who she was. She would like to think it was for better than for worse, but... that's still something she's working on.

As the claw returns back into her foot:]

It makes keeping shoes very difficult, though. I always have to get more.

So I try not to use them as much.

[Try being the keyword.]

Got an idea. What if we make you some special shoes? Make it super cool, with tons of spikes, and a button to open and close when you want?

(She has made crazier things. A shoe that mechanic shouldn't take that much work.

... But also, now there's more blood to clean off this kid.)

... I like big boots. With straps and buckles.

[She is already apparently 100% sold into this idea.]

I want them to hurt if I have to kick people in the knee.

[CRUCIAL FEATURE.]

You and me both, kiddo.

(Her boots are pretty cool, she could say so herself. Sounds like no big deal, so she's just adding that to the list of things to do.

ASIDE FORM FINALLY TAKING THIS KID OUT OF HER TRAIN. One hand opens the door, her head gestures out.)

Why do you think I got that metal plate on mine? Definitely for that.

[Laura contentedly follows.]

Good. It's important to be prepared.

[For kicking people, that is. Her nose twitches, as she looks around in interest.]

You and your friends all live down here? It's a good place to hide out.

Do you think if I put you on my shoulders we become one unstoppable force? Super-speed, super strong claws, impeccable shooting aim! Ah, I don't think the world is ready for the two of us.

(The bathroom isn't too far from her train, so that's where she leads them. She's old enough to know what to do, so Jinx will just sit on the counter as she waits.)

Hah, friends? I don't got many of those around. Nope, just a mean lady and dear old Father.

I think so. I think we can win any fight.

[THE CONFIDENCE. She did not hesitate.

But another important piece of information is put out there, as she steps into the bathroom and starts to rinse the tacky blood from between her fingers.]

Your father is here?

Atta girl. Same thought, great minds? They think alike!

(THE EGO...

She's a little busy as she lets Laura do her thing, mostly by checking the braids, seeing if they are still in one piece.)

Two out of three dads, yep. One you can definitely meet, the other one, well. I think maybe we don't tell him about you. He'll get a bit jealous I have such a cool friend.

Edited 2025-03-24 11:05 (UTC)

[Whoa.]

... I did not know you could have three. I just had one.

[Trying to imagine the logistics of it and failing, over here. As she wipes her hands off on her shirt, she turns with a furrowed brow, looking mildly concerned.]

Dads shouldn't be jealous.

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cw: idk man footknives

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