#NOLAN.

[ofwrxth]

+ TEDDY / THE WARDS

Nolan walks through the market, nodding politely at vendors, some of whom nod back, others of whom sniff and look away. Even here, in The Wards, scorn for their own runs deep. At least, if your last name is Thorne. It's hard to blend in, hard to not be known as the Thorne boy. The one who's parents were floated for betraying the cause meant to help everyone. Some forgive, others never find it in their hearts to forget the losses they suffered. Nolan has learned to deal with both the scorn and the acceptance. It's like balancing on a knife's edge, wondering which way he'll fall. If he'll get cut or if he'll move on, unscathed by harsh words or looks. He's used to it by now, has been for some time, but there's always a small voice that says he'll never truly be welcome here. That his name stains his past, present and future. He supposes it doesn't really matter. It's his constant reality.

Some days, like today, there is kindness still shown his way. Genuine warmth. A lack of scorn when he pays a vendor with RATS. An elderly woman who pats his hand and gives him a toothless grin as she hands over the food. Nolan wonders if she's too old to remember or if she's simply learned to forget. But his thoughts are disrupted by an odd feeling at the back of his neck, followed low rumble and then – BANG. Loud enough to startle every vicinity. Nolan swears, head swiveling in the direction of the noise, eyes catching on smoke. On the people running. "Shit." It's the first thing he says before looking around, seeing how vendors begin to pack up their stalls before some abandon them altogether. "Here," he drops his purchase, already helping the elderly woman pack up her goods. There's another explosion and it feels closer. Nolan works faster. He's got a bag of food in hand and reaches for the vendor's hand with his other. But before he can grab her, before he can tug her along, there's a whizzing sound in the air. He knows what it is and he lunges for the woman. But he's a second too late.

White spots fill his eyes as his head rings with the impact of skull meeting ground and it's like all the sound has been sucked out of the market. The dull ringing growing louder as he blinks up at the artificial sky. He blinks and coughs, tasting copper in his mouth as he rolls to his side. His vision is a blur but he can still make out the small, demure figure of the vendor. Unmoving. His heart sinks as he tries to crawl to her, coughing through the dust and debris and upset dirt. "No, no – c'mon," he shakes her with a cut up hand, shakes her and coughs and his head rings as sound returns. It's not the sound of a busy market or the chatter of The Wards. Screams fill his ears, high pitched and desperate as people run.

Nolan swears loudly, or so he thinks – he still can't hear, and grips the edge of the stall, hauling himself upright as rubble falls from his person. He's looking around, disoriented as he tries to right himself. Each cough feels like someone's taken a razor to his throat, cutting as he heaves a breath. "Fuck." He swears, casting one last gaze at the unmoving vendor before ambling forward, feeling unsteady at first before he's moving. Get out. Get out. Get out. It's the only thought in his head as he thinks of escaping the market. Of getting out of danger. People run past him, distress palpable in the stale air. But Nolan continues on, regaining his balance and bearings as he begins to move faster. Get out. It's the only thought in his head until he sees her. A figure covered in dust and debris, trying to move debris. Someone is stuck. Help her. His thoughts change direction faster than a shuttle. Help her. Help her. Help her. Nolan pushes through the swarms of people screaming and crying and running for their lives until he gets to her side. "Teddy!" Can she hear him? He grips her shoulder, trying to haul her to her feet "Teddy!" Protect her. "We have to go!" @rviner

[devilscherubs]

[seabxtch]

closed starter @flyhighnol​ location: vanessa’s shop

Vanessa didn’t normally see young men in her shop. She didn’t really fit their demographic and that was fine because she found them to be especially annoying most of the time. When this guy first came in, she watched him expectantly, but all he did was browse the many jars and various objects her store had to offer. All she knew of him was that he was a part of the scandalous drama that was circling Animania, but she hadn’t dealt with too many people trying to reverse their gossip. Maybe he was one of those people, maybe he was just a fool who wandered into the wrong shop; regardless, Vanessa gave him her best smile. “What can I do for you, sweetie?” she asked curiously, her voice so sweet it was dripping with honey. “Are you lost?”

[popomegranate]

Maddie being introduced as this literal ray of sunshine and then being the first to beat along to Piltovers turn to martial law.

Maddie mentions to Vi that Caitlyn told the enforcers that Vi went after Silco and his gang on her own when the council wouldn’t back her. I think from this line it’s clear that Maddie (and Caitlyn too) is othering Vi from her identity as a Zaunite. Because she chose to go after Silco that mist mean she’s willing to align herself with Piltover as opposed to Zaun.

She was always discriminatory toward Zaunites, they just didn’t make it overt at her introduction. The turn to fascism and discrimination can start with anyone. Including a literal ray of sunshine.

EDIT: my original take: “Her interactions with Vi mystifying her as ‘one of the good ones.’ One of the good Zaunites.” Was a misinterpretation on my part. I had only watched the episode once at that point so I am correcting myself and instead adding a new take I could infer from the scene that you can read above.

[magnetostits]

the barbenheimer experience i had was so funny i saw oppenheimer first and in a quiet scene we could literally hear ken singing in the theater next to us and then during barbie it when was quiet we could hear a fucking explosion coming from the oppenheimer screening

[santatuado]

(vía Sex And The Gay City  / X)

[gayda1ly]

[nof-ckinsaint]

[arcanefanpage]

[sugarcubetikki]

I’m genuinely surprised that people are getting this riled up over Cait x Maddie. I mean I think it’s pretty obvious that this is just Cait trying to cope aka making another bad decision to do so.

I mean…just look at how differently their scenes are depicted…and it’s done beautifully too.

Caitlyn and Maddie are never shot or positioned level to the camera indicating how they’re on different emotional pages in contrast to Cait and Vi who are almost nearly always shot level to each other.

Caitlyn doesn’t make eye-contact with Maddie. In most of their interactions, her back is turned to her. I mean compare that to the number of face-to face interactions that we have with Vi and Caitlyn where their noses are pretty much inches away from each other.

It’s actually pretty laughable how insane the contrast is. I mean there’s plenty more screenshots of Vi and Caitlyn’s intimacy versus how Caitlyn seems so disconnected from Maddie. I don’t think the show could’ve made it more obvious that Caitlyn isn’t interested in Maddie and she’s just simply using her to fill up the void that Vi left.

It does make you feel awful for Maddie as she is the one who initiates most of their interactions and physical touches whilst Caitlyn isn’t even looking at her. I am not sure why twitter is hating on her so much when she genuinely seems to care for Caitlyn as a person too. If we should be feeling bad for anyone here then it’s her. She’s in love with someone who doesn’t love her back.

Maddie has the death card written over her but I hope she and Caitlyn get to talk it out. And honestly I hope Caitlyn apologises for pretty much using her romantic advances as a rebound.

ACT 3 SPOILERS BELOW!

If you’re reading this after watching Act 3, I may have gotten a few points off (about haha sympathising with Maddie) but my main point still stands: there’s no need to worry about a rebound. (I mean Vi literally said “idfc” jdjdjjddk)

[girlfantasy777]

Riot posting Sevika poster acting like she has a whole character arc in Act3 only for her to appear for 10 seconds with no lines and put her in the council as diversity hire is funny of them I'd give them that

[ofwrxth]

CHARACTER BASICS

Name: Nolan Thorne

Age & Birthday: 29, June 24

Gender/Pronouns: Cis Man, He & Him

Birthplace: The Wards

Current Residence: The Wards

Role: Runner, glorified handyman around The Wards lol

Positive personality traits: adaptable, diligent, innovative, resilient,

Negative personality traits: bitter, incisive, restless, self-sabotaging

ABOUT

Nolan grew up in the wards with parents Lydia and Victor. They worked with the TPC for years and years, becoming trusted runners. However, when Nolan was just five when the truth about his parents TPC involvement was uncovered by (WC – older member?). For years his parents been skimming off profits and resources for themselves from runs. They'd even sold a few TPC secrets to Vanguard for a hefty payout, resulting in some runs gone sideways but them remaining unscathed at the cost of TPC lives. This included the Port Nexus Slaughter (where Vanguard took out fifteen members of TPC because of information leaked).

TPC leadership at the time reacted strongly, making an example of his parents for the sake of the greater good. They said that the only way The Phoenix Collective survives is if their secrets are safe and their ranks fall in line. Unity was the only way forward and they couldn't allow those who'd profited off of their own to continue. So yeah his parents were floated in a controversial decision that some TPC were for and others were against.

Nolan, for his part, was just a kid. Five years old and given to the care of the community. He was shuffled from place to place, never lasting long with anyone family within TPC. Some people resented his name for the losses they'd suffered because of his parents turn-coat nature, others felt sorry for the boy.

As he grew up, Nolan tried to prove himself – that he was different from the legacy his parents left. He was anger at his parents for what they'd done. For leaving him. He was angry at TPC for not giving a second chance. For not accepting him fully as he got older. He wrestled with the why of his parents actions for years and still does at times. He was bitter and full of self-doubt that he was different from them. He struggled with anger whenever anyone spoke poorly of his parents, but he also struggled with the need to show that he wasn't like them at all.

Over the years, however, Nolan has done his best to contribute to TPC, finding that it's the only place he knows how to belong to. It doesn't even feel like a choice anymore. Just a fact of life. He's a bit more clever than people give him credit for, always assuming that his stature means he prefers to fight (he doesn't mind), but he's actually quite adept at rigging power grids and ventilation systems to to help their community, or siphoning water from the upper levels down to them. Station maintenance usually fixes his hacks but he still does them around The Wards, trying to contribute.

A name is a powerful thing, and while not everyone held it against Nolan, some people did and it slowed his progress to a trusted runner. Which he's now become. Some people still doubt him. Some people still make snide comments. But he does his best to keep his anger in check, to prove he's different and contribute to the cause.

CONNECTIONS

WHISTLEBLOWER – However, when Nolan was just five when the truth about his parents TPC involvement was uncovered by. Maybe it's a member who was in their teens or early 20s at the time (so they're older now) and they figured out what his parents were do/revealed the truth to higher ups. Maybe they didn't know that the reaction would be so extreme. Maybe they did.

SINS OF THE FATHER – This person (people) lost a loved one(s) because of Nolan's parents. Logically, they know he didn't have anything to do with it (being a child at the time), but they can't help their snide remarks.

SECOND CHANCES – Friend(s) of Nolan who bite back on his behalf when people are derisive.

SIBLING – Nolan doesn't need a younger sibling but if someone wants to bring in a sister or a brother, I would be open to discussing dynamics!

RANDOM SIDE NOTE – I was thinking that leadership 24ish years ago was different from the Alvarez family and maybe the decision to float Nolan's parents caused a ripple affect (that it was too harsh?) and ended up costing those in power their leadership positions down the line and it eventually went to Alvarez in some capacity before Santi (or maybe to Santi directly but he'd've been 24 so maybe NPC dad? – Just a thought)

[eldritchdilf]

[doctorkinney]

you probably would like to do more than one so pick what you’re doing first <3

[everseens]

"for fucks sake," ivy rose her voice a little, arms thrown up in frustration. "i told you my phone died, plus i wouldn't have heard it ring anyway-- i was at the club with the girls, remember?" she rolled her eyes instantly. she needed to get out of the house and enjoy a night out with her friends, distanced away from her boyfriend for a little bit, but it seemed he wasn't getting the picture. / @mccntower

[ohmovie]

You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

ARTHUR & EAMES INCEPTION│2010