A Straight Shot and Ten Days! (update)

"What's wrong?" Link Star asked casually, his tone calm and composed. "Not interested?"

"Ha—" Jinx blew a strand of hair out of her face, her eyes darting around aimlessly, never quite focusing on anything. She fidgeted, touching the back of her neck and tugging at her bangs, clearly uneasy.

Seeing her like this, Link couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

If he could just get through to one of the two main protagonists—Jinx or Vi—the rest of the story would be much easier to change. But these two sisters were trapped in their own struggles. One was tangled in internal conflict, while the other was haunted by the shadows of her past. Neither could move forward, nor could they let go of what held them back.

Vi was consumed by the hatred she felt for her parents' deaths and the loss of Vander. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to sever her bond with Caitlyn, leaving her stuck in a quagmire of indecision.

Jinx, on the other hand, had never felt accepted. After suffering blow after blow, she had even killed Silco, the man who had treated her like his own daughter. The trauma of her childhood had turned into a relentless storm that she couldn't escape.

Most importantly, after all these setbacks, Jinx had begun to spiral toward self-destruction.

In fact, throughout the events of Arcane, Jinx's self-destructive tendencies were a constant theme.

After killing Silco, she exiled herself, and when Sevika tried to reason with her, Jinx declared that she wanted to burn everything to ashes. That was one instance.

Another was when Vi pinned her down on a table in Janna's temple, and Jinx didn't resist. It was only later, thanks to the companionship of Little Hat (Isara), the recognition she gained from the people of Zaun after the chaos at Stillwater Prison, and the return of Vander, that Jinx managed to suppress her self-destructive impulses.

But when Jayce fired his weapon at his best friend, causing Vander to go berserk and leading to Isara's sacrifice, Jinx's fragile stability shattered once again.

If it hadn't been for Ekko using his Z-Drive to repeatedly rewind time and save Jinx, she would have ended her own life in her hideout.

And in the final act, due to Vi's questionable decisions, Jinx jumped off the Hexgate with Warwick and detonated the bomb. This act was both her way of saving her sister and her final act of self-destruction.

It was as if Jinx saw herself as a curse—a harbinger of disaster who only brought pain to those around her.

At this point in time, Jinx hadn't yet started living with Isara. Confusion dominated her mind, and her self-destructive tendencies were only just beginning to surface.

She had come to The Last Drop to see Sevika, and after helping her, Jinx would likely continue to wander aimlessly until the day she could no longer bear it and chose to end her life.

So, to change Jinx's fate, Link needed to address her mental state and emotions.

The companionship of Little Hat (Isara) and the recognition from the people of Zaun had provided her with emotional support, giving her a reason to keep going.

Later, Jinx even bragged to Vi about being a hero who had saved many Zaunites. This bravado was her way of seeking validation from Vi, hoping to fill the void in her heart.

In short, to change Jinx, Link needed to address her emotions and fill the emptiness within her.

Speaking of which—

Link glanced around and spotted a small figure darting past the edge of a pipe above them. He raised an eyebrow.

It seemed Little Hat was already following Jinx. That meant Jinx would soon take Isara under her wing.

With Isara's companionship, Jinx's emotions would stabilize and improve.

Any interaction with Jinx needed to focus on helping her stabilize her emotions.

Moreover, Link couldn't afford to be too indirect with her. He needed to be straightforward.

Otherwise, she would overthink everything!

"Who cares about that pink-haired gorilla who only knows how to throw punches!" Jinx said, trying to sound tough. "Besides, how do I know you're not just trying to trick me?"

"I'm a wanted criminal in Piltover, with a bounty of... uh... let's just say I'm worth a lot of gold!"

Jinx placed a hand on her hip and tilted her chin up defiantly. "So, how do I know you're not after my bounty?"

"And besides, I don't think there's anything about me that's worth your attention!"

The sly glint in Jinx's eyes momentarily overshadowed her earlier unease and pain. Link spoke calmly, "Your mother must have told you stories about Janna when you were little."

"I want the location of Janna's temple."

Link's eyes widened slightly behind his mask. "If you tell me that, not only will I give you information about Vi, but I can also arrange for you to see Vander again!"

Jinx's eyes widened to their limit, and her breath hitched.

"What did you say?"

Link continued, unfazed, "And Silco—I can even let you see him again."

"What do you say, Jinx?" Link extended his hand toward her. "Let's make a deal."

"You're lying!" Jinx pulled out her gun and pointed it at Link. Her finger tightened on the trigger as she muttered to herself, "Vander's dead. How could I see him again?"

"You're lying to me! You must be!"

"And Silco—I killed him with my own hands. How could I see him again?"

"When I talk to him, he doesn't answer. No matter how much I call out to him, he avoids me."

"How could I see him again?"

"You're lying! You're just after my bounty, so—" Jinx's expression turned cold and numb.

"Ten days," Link said, ignoring the gun pointed at him. "If you can wait ten days, I'll let you see Vander again."

"Ha... haha—" Jinx let out a hollow laugh. "You think I'd believe that?"

"A deal is about fairness, honesty, and trust."

Link continued, "If you trust me, if you give me ten days, I'll arrange for you to see Vander again."

"Ha! That's ridiculous!" Jinx didn't lower her gun. "I'm a wanted criminal, a villain in Piltover. Why would you—"

"I believe in you."

Link's straightforward words cut Jinx off mid-sentence. Her grip on the gun loosened slightly.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I believe in you. So, please believe in me."

Link took a step forward, letting the barrel of Jinx's gun press against his chest.

Jinx instinctively took a step back, her eyes losing focus again as she glanced around.

Everything around her seemed to spin, the world tilting on its axis.

"Believe in yourself."

Link reached out and gently pressed down on Jinx's gun, lowering it.

His voice softened. "Just ten days, and you'll see Vander again. If you give me the time, I'll even let you see Silco again."

"What do you say?"

"You... you... you're just some guy hiding behind a mask—" Jinx stammered. Link reached up and removed his helmet, revealing his face.

"This is my sincerity," Link said, looking Jinx directly in the eyes. "The entire city of Piltover is after me. So are the Noxians. Anyone who knows my identity could make a fortune."

"Now that you've seen my face, you've got leverage over me."

"I think we have a foundation for mutual trust."

Jinx stared at him, speechless for a moment. Then she looked away and muttered, "Like I care what you look like!"

"But—" Her eyes flicked back toward him. "Since you're willing to trust me, I guess I can trust you... for now."

"But if you—"

"I'll keep my promise."

Link held his helmet and spoke with conviction. "I'll let you see Vander again."

"So, give me ten days, Jinx."