#I’m letting everything out that I previously couldn’t due to bomb collar and not wanting to like lose karma

[dykedvonte]

I wouldn’t fuck with the Courier on like a normal play through but especially not after they go through the Sierra Madre.

I know for a fact that after that, anytime someone tries to fuck with them they just give them “I will kill you with a hammer” stare. Cause in all fairness an experience like that would make me want to kill someone with a hammer too.

[immortalfailures-archived]

Young and Sweet

Oh how the year passes so fast when you have friends to distract you.

June third arrived and left, just as it had every year. Reme was out of town so she couldn’t be there, but she hand wrote a fifty four and a half page apology letter to Jinx writing in excruciating detail how bad she felt. And then there were at least four pages that just repeated the words ‘I’m sorry, don’t hate me.’

Jinx hadn’t minded though. All she cared about was that it wasn’t as big of an event as they made it out to be last year. Yes she appreciated it and thought it flattering that her friends would do that for her, but she was never one for huge parties in her honor. Instead she kicked Lex out of the house and let herself relax. She ran a bath and soaked in the scented bubbles, surrounded by candles and herbs. After that she indulged in a “small” shopping trip.

She bought yards upon yards of fabric so she could make summer clothes for the three of them, along with some fabric just to have in storage. She purchased tea, candles, bath bombs, scrubs, bubble bars, soaps, etc. She went all out to make the day a self care day.

When she returned home and dropped her bags, the first thing she noticed was a poorly wrapped blue box on the counter tied up in a silver ribbon. Lex was so predictable. Without hesitation she opened the box, it was no bigger than the palm of her hand.

Removed the paper and top revealed a pink ribbon with a little silver moon charm. She recognized it immediately as the item she used as a collar for Estrella so many years ago. Where did he find this? It had been lost for years!

But she then noticed a trunk under the table. There was a note on top that read:

“Wait until I get home for this one. I want to see your reaction. -Lex”

But Jinx was never one for listening. She pulled out the box, with much difficulty, and pried it open. It was badly singed and damaged by weather. The bottom looked like it had molded due to excess water damage, and the (possibly previously gold?) rims had been worn out and dulled.

She finally managed to unhook the latch. In it were… Toys? The inside of the trunk looked completely untouched compared to the outside. It had painted walls that looked like a six years old’s attempt to paint space. There was a dark blue plush bottom that looked like it was been repaired considering there used to be a rip in it from when Jinx shoved a toy a little too forcefully into it… The memory came back to her in a rush.

This was her old toy box! She shuffled through everything quickly. With every toy she removed was another tear that ran down her face. Out came a pair of battered wings made from an old leather jacket, a toy sword with plastic gems glued onto it and gibberish painted on the side, and a toy ship that had been broken and glued together multiple times. Next was a broken broom stick that had been glued and taped together many a time with only an indigo ribbon to cover the ugly taping method. She continued further to find a ghost doll that was made from a white piece of cloth and a string. She hugged the doll close and placed it carefully on her lap.

After that there was old baby books that she hid there because they were her favorite, a box of colored pencils that went along with a sketchbook filled with “clothing” designs, a few articulated dolls like barbies, and of course her favorite stuffed animals. Soon, once it was empty, Jinx was quick to pull up the plush bottom. There, sitting neatly in the middle, was a folder. It was decorated in bright glitter and gell pens. She reached in and carefully removed it, running her hand across the surface and watching the little specks of loose, faded glitter fall on her skirt.

Without another moment of hesitance she opened it up. And there they were. Pictures, both drawn and photographed, of her and her family. There was a picture of her and Estrella playing in the water at the lake their family vacationed to often. Another was a group photo of them in bathing suits in front of the lake. Laurence (her father) held a newly nine year old Jinx on his shoulders while her mother and sister (Helena and Amelia) laughed at them. Another showed a tiny baby in homemade dragon wings running around and chasing little Amelia while Jinx stood in a battle ready pose holding a toy sword. Laurence was on the ground pretending to be dead with his tongue sticking out.

There were at least twenty more. All these memories she thought perished in a fire seven years earlier. She couldn’t believe she was seeing this, that this chest had managed to make it through all that. It was impossible.

“I knew you wouldn’t wait.” Lex was leaning in the doorway of the kitchen watching her with a half smile on his face.

Jinx whipped around, startled. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and stood. “Where- Where did you find this? In such amazing condition? I don’t… it’s not possible!”

“Mom liked to put protection charms on the important stuff. Luckily this was one of them.” He moved towards her and knelt by the box. Longingly he looked at the photos and felt a pain in his chest from seeing his parent’s faces. “What I wouldn’t give to see them again…”

There was a pause, long, but not uncomfortable. It was like time had stopped completely. Finally, after what seemed like years Jinx spoke, “You saved these… From the house… Didn’t you?”

Lex nodded, his eyes not moving from the pictures. Jinx slowly sank down next to him. She let her head fall on his shoulder whilst tears began to fall again. “You never fail to amaze me, Lex.”

He let out a breathy laugh and put an arm around her. “Anything for you, little sis.”

fin