( again, she stops before taking another step when he moves on past her to reach the lamppost. oh, right. jinx forgot about the race -- which just proves his point of her forgetting which games are being played when she jumbles them up so much. her arms fold over her chest for a moment to look over to him; unimpressed.

but then the girl huffs out a hum and her arms now drop back at her sides. )

You won 'cuz I let ya win. You lost your shot with me and I felt sorry for you. Your "win" is a pity one.

( she walks on again but this time, she avoids any sort of eye contact from him. and by the looks of it, jinx might be moving on beyond the lamppost but she doesn't. she only wanted him to be out of her viewing as her fingertips ghostly touch along the steel. there's a deep inhale as she shuts her eyes and silence -- as if she is building herself up for something. and she is... and that's courage. )

— It doesn't matter. ( she's only said three words so far and there's already so much to take from it. her tone is uneven and there's hurt and sorrow twined together. ) ... I'll be okay. I know I will.

( while ekko had been oblivious this whole time and who knows if he is considering telling her that his feelings aren't/were mutual, it seems jinx is giving him an out. an indication she is aware this had been one-sided and acknowledging this feeling wasn't a two-way street. he doesn't need to explain himself because she knows it already. the blue haired girl breathes out a bittersweet chuckle with a low shake of her head. )

Heh... I'll get over it. ( a beat. ) 'Cuz there's a girl who says she feels safe with me. Who thinks I can be a great person and not someone who is... messed up. She needs me to protect her and I'm gonna do that. Nothin' is gonna stand in my way.

( she's not necessarily saying all of this to ekko anymore but more so, to herself. to remind herself that although her little crush for him has crashed and burned before it got off the ground, there is someone else who is extending her hand out to her to lift her up. with chizuru by her, her heart will heal. )

Yeah... ( she lets the word trail off her tongue and float off into the cold air somewhere. and for a brief moment, she's still with a fingertip brushing idly along the chill steel of the pole. ) — I kinda hate it.

( and once more, jinx falls quiet, but not long this time around.)

It's easier to have people think I'm a lost cause. Less pressure.

( there's a defeated sigh that leaves her lungs. her eyelids half lid as she gazes down to her feet and the snow. )

... Thanks for... seein' me as family. Dunno if the feeling's ever gonna be really mutual, but — ( a beat then a tiny chuckle. ) Vi and I are somehow makin' it work. So... who knows with us, huh? Eh heh heh...

Looks like it. ( and then the awkwardness slowly settles in again as she chews on her lower lip. ) — I, uh, I better get... going. Weapons can't make themselves and all that.

( the truth is, she wasn't planning on tinkering today. but after confessing her feelings, trying to convince herself she'll be okay, and lingering emotions, maybe tossing her brain into screws and wrenches won't be such a bad idea. )