#and in the mood to defend Vi

[littlelovelunette]

hi! can you write something with caitlyn or vi x reader who has bpd? thank you, love your writing!

Headcanons

Vi when you have BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder)

Makes sure your nails are short, and always shapes them properly to ensure you don't self harm with them or get hurt when you start scratching yourself out of anxiety

Always paranoid with you, observing your every move with hawklike eyes

Reassures you that you're not crazy for having BPD and that a lot of people have it, she's so sweet when she's saying it too that it makes you melt everytime

Knows when you're splitting perfectly so whenever you do, she takes you to some far away room so you can calm off on your own with her by your side, whispering words of reassurance of course

Has a list of things that trigger your splits or mood swings, everytime she observes someone triggering you she rises to defend and also scribbles away on her little notebook

"If you don't wanna eat that's fine, but you will have to eat something light after a bit, okay?"

Researches so much

"Hey, babe, I don't know how you're feeling right now so can we talk?" She lets you vent to her and always asks you how you're feeling before she says something to you that she deems potentially triggering

Breaks her to see you have a painful split but she strives to help you through it and lessen the amount of BPD episodes you go through

"You're okay, I got you."

"You're not gonna leave me, too, are you?" You ask her as your voice cracks from the internal turmoil raging in you. Vi crouches in front of you and says, "You'd have to kill me to get rid of me."

You latch onto Vi as your favourite person, and she knows it. She’s flattered but cautious. She encourages independence while still reassuring you constantly that she’s not going anywhere. It’s a delicate balance, but Vi's got the patience.

[nhmkhnh]

older!vi x younger!fem!reader

preface: vi knew she shouldn’t fall for someone ten years younger— but then you smiled at her like she hung the damn stars.

author's note: just replaying the song "older" by isabel larosa, the moods was on and the inspiration hit, so i wrote, haha. i also have chat bot on janitor ai abt this topic (here!).

wrn: lowercase, age gap (v: 29; r: 19)

masterlist / janitor ai / c.ai / carrd

vi first noticed you during her downtime—something rare in itself. you were sitting at the back of a cozy piltover café, legs swinging, sipping a drink with so much whipped cream it defied gravity. your hair was tied in little bows. you were doodling on a napkin and chewing your straw. something about you made her stop walking. you looked like a dream—like something that shouldn’t exist in her world. she thought, jesus, she’s young. but then you looked up, caught her staring—and smiled. fuck.

vi tried to keep her distance. she's lived enough years and seen enough shit to know better. you were nineteen. still a baby. she told herself she’d get over it. but then you kept showing up—same café, same silly drinks, same playful energy. one day you sat at her table and said, “you look cool. like someone who’s been punched a lot but still wins.” vi stared at you like you'd grown a second head. “that a compliment, cupcake?” “totally,” you giggled. that’s when she realized: she was screwed.

the age gap lives in her head like a siren. when you get excited about a new lipstick or show her a silly meme, vi has to bite her tongue. you say stuff like “i just got into adulting!” while she’s thinking about the prison years she clawed through. you’re full of sparkles and soft pastel energy, and every time you throw your arms around her neck and kiss her cheek, she has to remind herself to breathe. you’re a baby. but you’re her baby. maybe.

vi is protective to an annoying degree. you think it’s cute—until she’s dragging you behind her when someone bumps into you. she scans every room you enter together like she’s on a mission. she once almost decked a guy for grabbing your wrist at a club. “vi!” you’d squeaked. “it’s fine!” she’d just growled, “no, it’s not.” she has this irrational belief that anyone who looks at you too long is trying to corrupt something pure. you laughed and said, “babe, i like chaos.” she muttered, “not on my watch.”

people talk. they always do. jinx teases her, caitlyn raises an eyebrow, even vander’s memory would probably side-eye her. “ten years?” someone once whispered when they saw you holding hands. vi heard it. she always hears it. but she never lets it reach you. instead, she smiles, squeezes your hand, and throws an arm around your shoulder. later, she grumbles to cait, “you think i don’t know the gap? but the kid’s smarter than half the people i’ve met. she's got more heart too.” and it’s true. you chose her. and she’ll defend that choice with fists if she has to.

you love teasing her. “you’re such an older woman,” you coo, eyes wide and mock-innocent. “do your knees hurt when we cuddle on the floor?” vi scowls and threatens to toss you out the window. but she secretly lives for it. you once called her “hot and milf-coded” and she nearly choked on her drink. you leave lipstick marks on her biceps on purpose. she pretends to be annoyed. but then she flexes that arm in the mirror later and smiles like an idiot. you ruin her. she lets you.

you wear crop tops with tiny strawberries. you twirl in skirts and ask her, “does this make my butt cute?” she short-circuits every damn time. there’s this constant push-and-pull in her chest: keep you safe and precious vs. throw you on the bed and make you cry her name. you don’t even know how dangerous you are. you hold her pinky like it’s sacred. you leave glitter on her bedsheets. and she lies awake thinking: i shouldn’t touch her. i shouldn’t want to. but i do. you ask her if you’re too much. she whispers, “never.”

she has a whole routine when you sleep over. you hog her pillow. you steal the covers. you sleep like a kitten—soft, warm, mumbling nonsense. vi never minds. she stays awake longer than you, just to watch. she brushes your hair behind your ear. traces the curve of your cheek. you’re everything she didn’t think she’d deserve. everything soft and sweet and stupidly good. one time you murmured “love you” half-asleep and she had to go to the kitchen and splash water on her face like she was in a movie.

meeting caitlyn was a trip. “is that her?” cait whispered with a grin when she saw you. “the one who makes you blush?” vi hissed, “don’t you dare.” you introduced yourself all sweet, and caitlyn just smiled. the two of you hit it off like besties and vi stood there, arms crossed, heart racing. she felt out of place—too rough, too loud, too her. but then you looked at her across the room, eyes full of affection, and mouthed mine. vi’s chest ached. she didn’t know how she got this lucky.

vi’s box under the bed has a lock. inside are your little notes: sticky tabs with “drink water or i’ll cry >:(”, doodles of her punching stars, napkins with your lipstick kiss. she keeps the bracelet you made from beads. the tiny heart you folded out of a candy wrapper. you make her feel seventeen again—but safe this time. you paint her nails. you bring her snacks. you kiss her scars like they don’t scare you. everyone says vi’s a fighter. but for you? she melts. completely. no armor. no fear. just her and the girl who made her heart soft again.

[astraeus-tree]

Não sei se isso é muito clichê, mas imagine uma leitora morcego (ela também é uma justiceira) que era extremamente próxima e amorosa de Jason enquanto ele estava vivo, sempre se certificando de deixar claro o quanto ela o adorava como seu irmão e sempre querendo incluí-lo em tudo (imagino que ela fazia parte de um time de heróis quando era mais nova, e um dia ela simplesmente chegou na base do time com Jason e com um sorriso brilhante no rosto, praticamente dizendo: "Este é meu irmãozinho, eu o adoro e acho que você também deveria."), mas então um dia um palhaço psicótico simplesmente aparece e OPS! Caixão e vela preta para o pequeno Jason Todd. Anos depois, agora liderando seu próprio time, a leitora acaba em uma missão com a Liga dos Assassinos que termina em um confronto físico entre seus companheiros e os assassinos, mas o cara com quem ela está lutando é terrivelmente familiar e luta como seu doce e falecido irmãozinho. (Desculpe se ficou muito longo, eu realmente não sei como resumir as coisas😭 E também vi que você já tem outro pedido na sua frente, não quero que se sinta pressionado a escrever o meu!)

Thank You, Until We Meet Again

Pairing: N/A (Platonic Jason Todd) Warnings: Mentions of decapitated heads near the end and canon typical violence Summary: The death of your little brother hit you hard, but life moves on and so do you. Until, you are sent off on a mission to fight some assassins from the League. Translation for the request is at the bottom of this post if you want to read it, but it's basically the summary I wrote but more detailed

Thank You for the request anon! <3

You missed the days before, when not everything was perfect, but at least your little brother was still with you. You missed Jason, when your memories of him weren’t tainted with the pure, dark blacks and the sombre mood of a funeral, when both of you still had that naïve hope in you.

When Jason had first come to the mansion, you were still filling in the hole that Dick left as Robin. You didn’t stay as Robin for long though, with Jason taking that role almost as soon as Bruce and Alfred deemed him ready to defend the night. Instead of Robin, you created a new identity as Shrike, keeping the theme of bird names in mind.

You remembered when you two first went on patrol together. He had followed you around like a puppy, and from then on, you two had been attached to the hip. Back then, you had been part of a team of vigilantes. You had been reluctant to introduce him to them, with the team only formed recently at the time, but he had begged to meet them and so he did.

“This is Robin, my little brother. If any of you hurt him, best believe you’ll regret it.” You threatened them, and if looks could kill, they would be dead. Your team did not waver though, instead, they were more focused on the stark contrast between you two. Beside you, Jason was smiling brightly.

You remembered that day like it was yesterday. Your team had easily grown fond of your little brother. You had all sworn to protect him, to do your best to not have any harm come his way.

What a great job you did. Not only did he get hurt, he died. The Joker tortured and killed him, mercilessly.

The grief had struck you hard, you mourned him and what he could’ve been. Your family had not taken it better. Bruce had gone on a rampage, even almost killing The Joker himself. Dick had the misfortune of finding out about Jason’s fate after the funeral. All of you had rage simmering inside, some directed at the same person and some directed to other people. As for you, you had blamed yourself for his death. You were his older sibling, the one he had trusted the most. You had sworn to protect him, and you failed. What a vigilante you were.

It had been just a little more than three years since his death. Your family had grown, many more members joining your group of vigilantes. Many changes had occurred, one of which was that you were now leading your own group, the same that you had introduced Jason to.

You finally felt alright. You finally felt like you didn’t have the feeling of grief weighing down your heart every day. There were days you still blamed yourself, but you had mostly moved on. You appreciated the memories you had with Jason, instead of mourning them.

You and your team were on a mission tasked by Batman himself. The League of Assassins had made another move on your family, and with everyone dealing with their own villains, you were put to handle the mission.

These assassins were hard to track, not something unexpected from the League of Assassins, but when your father was the World’s Greatest Detective, they didn’t stay hidden for long. You had a new lead into the location of the assassins that were sent, and you and your team were headed there. As you did, you mentally prepared yourself for the battle that was to come. It was part of your routine, a way to keep yourself mentally stable in this line of work.

When you had arrived, you and your team lurked in the shadows farther away, waiting for the right moment to pounce. When the time had arrived, you pulled out your spetum from its place at your back and held it offensively as your team charged to the assassins.

The fight was mostly evenly split, 6 assassins to 5 heroes and vigilantes. You had all mutually agreed that you would take two, and the others would fight the rest. Both the assassins you were fighting were holding melee weapons, one with a staff and one with a sword.

They were difficult to take down, their training clearly showing through their moves. The assassin with the staff was easier to take out, knocked down in a few minutes, though not without a few injuries to you. The second assassin was harder, more experienced, but as they moved around, you felt a sense of familiarity.

It terrified you.

Both of you danced in a familiar battle. Weapons clashed together in familiarity. Yet, instead of being calmed by knowing who it was most likely to be under the black mask, you felt doubt and dread. After all, why would your little brother, who was definitely dead, fight you? And fight for the enemy, no less.

But their movements were too similar to deny it. You knew your little brother’s fighting style, you knew it like the back of your hand. You two had sparred and fought rogues and villains alike together so many times, it was impossible not to, even after all these years.

You slowed your movements, allowing him to continue his strikes as your moved into a defensive position.

“Jason?” You muttered quietly, only for yours and his ears to hear. The outlines of his eyes through the mask widened and you see his movements falter. “It’s me, [Name].” Your suit had gone through many changes, to the point it was almost unrecognisable, so you could understand why he hadn’t recognised you through the mask.

His movements stopped altogether. Never did he take off his mask, but you knew it was him. You could tell he was hesitating before he ultimately decided to speak up. “Don’t tell anyone. I’ll be back eventually.” Immediately after, he called out to the other assassins to retreat, carrying his unconscious ally as they all disappeared into the shadows.

Your team had attempted to run after them, but you put a hand up to stop them. “Don’t. It will be futile.” They looked towards you in confusion, usually your team would track the enemy until the mission was finished, so this behaviour was unexpected, but they did not dare to disregard your words.

The morning after that mission was a difficult one. You had so many thoughts and emotions to process, yet such little time had occurred since.

You felt betrayal. Why was he fighting for the assassins? He knew that the League and Batman were rarely ever on good terms.

You felt confusion. How is he alive? You had seen his marred body after the explosion and at his funeral.

You felt relief. He was alive. Your little brother, whom you so dearly loved, was alive and strong enough to be back fighting.

One thing was for certain though. You would follow his words, staying silent of his resurrection to your family. You trusted him, believing that he would come back to Gotham sooner or later, but until then, you would wait patiently for that day to come.

When he eventually does come back to Gotham, his arrival isn’t warm. In fact, quite the opposite.

On his first night back, he apparently threw a duffle bag full of heads of Black Mask’s lieutenants in front of a number of gang leaders

Safe to say, he had easily made a name for himself that night as Red Hood

When your family had found out that Red Hood was Jason, they didn’t take it well

Many fights and confrontations occurred, many morals were broken and much more hurt was felt in the family

You honestly didn’t know how to feel about Red Hood, yes he was ridding Gotham of it’s most heinous criminals, but you couldn’t say you agreed with his methods all too well

To you, Red Hood and Jason Todd were two different individuals. Red Hood was a crime lord, an anti-hero who sometimes worked with your family. Jason Todd was your little brother, a man with questionable morals, but still your brother nonetheless

One day, you will come to accept both sides of him, but today is not that day

Wowee this one took a while, I'm sorry anon for the wait 😭

Trying a different layout than my usual black and white, idk if I like it

Btw, a spetum is a type of polearm used back in the 13th century if you guys didn't know

Anyways, my little knowledge of DC caught up and I actually had to research stuff to make this at least a bit right. It definitely isn't canon compliant, I think, but it's the best I could do with my limited knowledge

Mistakes are free to point out and will be fixed!

This request's title comes from the english translation of one of my fav tagalog songs, 'Di Na Muli by The Itchyworms

Anyways I'm going to bed now, it's like 2 am for me lol

Have a great night/day everyone <3

Translation:

I don't know if this is too cliché, but imagine a bat reader (she's also a vigilante) who was extremely close and loving to Jason while he was alive, always making sure to make it clear how much she adored him as her brother and always wanting to include him in everything (I imagine she was part of a team of heroes when she was younger, and one day she just arrived at the team's base with Jason and a bright smile on her face, practically saying, "This is my little brother, I adore him and I think you should too."), but then one day a psychotic clown just shows up and OPS! Coffin and black candle for little Jason Todd. Years later, now leading her own team, the reader ends up on a mission with the League of Assassins that ends in a physical confrontation between her companions and the assassins, but the guy she's fighting is terrifyingly familiar and fights like her sweet, deceased little brother.

[shadetoshade]

Limbus Story Structure Analysis and Predictions

Okay. So I never know how to start or end things, especially when it comes to essays or essay-esque things, but I feel like my analysis is considerably less conspiracy corkboard than usual so I'm gonna roll with it and post it somewhere.

To start off with, I'm going to say that this lens is going to be, for the most part, very Dante-centric. Which... honestly, I feel like it should be, and not just because they're one of my favorites. Dante is, ultimately, the protag, and that's important in all of PM's stories so far. Regardless of who else's stories are being told as the game goes on, ultimately the games have been the story of the protagonist's growth (see: Ayin, Angela, and Roland).

Now, looking at the overall structure of the plot so far, I'm already seeing a pattern: sections separated by a series of three Cantos, with the first Canto in a section serving as a bridge from the previous section. I'll be leaving the Intervallos out because, while they are important, this is already going to be one hell of a long post.

Section 1 -- Cantos I-III

Canto I serves as the bridge between Selva Oscura and the first arc in two ways: it picks up not long after Dante is picked up by Limbus Company and signs on, and it's a shoutout to to the start of Inferno, when Dante first starts his descent into Hell by boarding Charon's ferry at the Acheron.

(This will be as deep as I get into the Divine Comedy, as I'm sticking with themes and general trends. Also because each Canto puts its own spin on the stories they're inspired by so who knows what's going to happen).

ANYWAY. The general arc of I-III seems to be Dante's gradual acceptance of their position of Executive Manager. They start off reluctant and passive through Cantos I and II, frequently blaming others for things going sideways (believing they have no control over Don Quixote, relying on the Sinners to try and liven the mood after the Canto I failure, etc). They don't engage with Gregor or Rodion's backstories like they do with the Sinners in Canto V and up and seem to be more focused on the goal of the Bough than the people around them. And the Sinners act in a similar way.

Then Canto III hits. The Sinners and Dante have had a little more time to get to know one another, and even if they aren't particularly close, they're being tossed into a situation that's MUCH more horrifying and intense than the previous two missions. There's a bond that forms from the Sinners asserting that Dante is a person (aside from Hong Lu's moment but we'll get to that later), and their attempts to defend them from harm. The whole group feels the pain of Effie's death. Dante actually empathizes with Sinclair's backstory and memories and chooses to actually engage with it.

And by the end, even though it's a little too late, Dante, for the first time, TRIES. They choose to see the Sinner in front of them and their plight over just acquiring the Bough, and in doing so, they embrace the role of Manager.

Section 2 -- Cantos IV-VI

Which brings us to the next section, focusing on the growth of the bonds between the LCB--Sinner, Manager, Guide, and Bus Driver.

Canto IV is our bridge, with Dante taking the resolve they gained by the end of Canto III and clumsily attempting to apply it to Yi Sang, and with the Sinners growing closer to one another and beginning to reach out themselves. Dante tries to reach out to Yi Sang multiple times before the end of the Canto, actively noting his despair and depression (something they notably did not do in I or II) and even tries to get him to open up. The Sinners are forced to take part in Yi Sang's Fathoms, actively engaging with the memories and thus gaining some stake within them.

All this leading to the end, where, with Hong Lu's help, Dante is able to finally ask the question that leads to Yi Sang breaking free from the maladaptive patterns of his life and start moving forward as the first "success" of a Sinner's story.

And this moment is marked with a tick forward on the doomsday clock that is Dante's head.

Canto V rides that wave (ha) a little further. By being able to help Yi Sang, Dante now has some idea of what the Sinners might need. They're more persistent when it comes to reaching out to Ishmael and have even grown enough to outright tell Ahab that the Sinners are their responsibility. Meanwhile on the Sinner front, though there are plenty of clashes between Sinners throughout the Canto due to Ishmael's volatility, they continue the trend of support (Rodya pulling Ishmael away to try and calm her down, Yi Sang doing his best to diffuse arguments, Heathcliff pulling away the Pallidification and telling Dante to be supportive of Ishmael while everyone's in the Whale before that).

Then comes Canto VI, with everyone being supportive of Heathcliff, helping him get ready to meet the people there. Meursault being supportive of helping Heathcliff even if it means not getting the Bough (and Outis notably not shooting that down), and even whipping out Chains of Others to restrain the Erlking--the man who usually only does things when ordered to doing this ON HIS OWN.

And then Dante's resolve is also solidified to the point of manifesting the first Durante ability, Pigritia, based solely on their desire to help Heathcliff move forward in his life.

Even Vergilius gets in on the action. While some of his reasoning behind his interference in Canto VI is due to the Ring experiments bringing back memories of his own backstory in Leviathan, the way he speaks to the Sinners and Dante in that moment, as well as his reaction to being called "family" by Heathcliff, is telling in terms of how he feels about the LCB.

By the end of this section, the LCB has bonded. Even if the group has its issues, that much is undeniable.

Section 3 -- Cantos VII-VIII, and predictions for IX

This is the last one I'm going to cover, since.... this is all we have so far. Maybe I'll have more thoughts after IX comes out proper. I'll also be saving my thoughts on what I think this section's arc is for until the end.

Canto VII is our welder. It is ALL about the power of friendship, family, and bonds. I feel like I don't need to go too deep into this here because the Sancho fight exists.

But there's also something else. Don Quixote and Dante share something in common: they've lost their memory. This is even a source of distress on Dante's part through the Canto; the Sinners have to be the ones to bring Sancho to her senses because Dante isn't sure what to do, lacking memories and a dream of their own.

We've also got another parallel going on with Don Quixote's backstory: Person 1 is aloof and has difficulty connecting to others, but is utterly devoted to Person 2, who has a dream that they follow wholeheartedly, trying to bring about a better world. Though Person 2 seems almost naive in the way they go about their wishes, Person 1 finds themselves believing in that dream. One day, something terrible happens, and Person 2's optimism is shattered and they lose faith in their dream. Person 1 takes up this dream and vows to do everything they can to make it a reality.

Now we have Canto VIII, which isn't finished yet. Like Don Quixote, Hong Lu shares a few things in common with Dante: objectification (Dante with the clock and Hong Lu with the jade) and feelings of being powerless to change anything (Dante is a middle manager, with Faust outranking them, so they can't really do all that much). They also have the parallel of being "made" to witness things going around them, regardless of their will.

As for the other parallel.... Head raids a laboratory led by people who may get up to some worrying things (whatever was going on with the experimentation on prisoners in the Kongs's case), but ultimately have good intentions and want what's best for the place they live. A horrible bloodbath ensues that includes the death of at least one small child.

It's probably obvious what the theme is by now. We've got two: the Sinners' pasts and problems explore some of Dante's insecurities (I don't think they necessarily RESOLVE those insecurities, but attention is being brought there), and the backstories are parallels to the rise of Lobotomy Corporation, with Don's story being Ayin's relationship with Carmen and how he took on her dream and the Head's raid in H Corp being the Head's raid on the Outskirt's labs (with Hong Lu's role mirroring Daniel's).

All this leads me to my predictions for Canto IX in terms of parallels and themes, using the above along with what little knowledge I have of Hellscreen. Lately, Canto VII in particular, we've been seeing Dante ponder on the fact that they're becoming more used to the idea of killing things that used to be human/are human, as well as wondering if the thing they're doing as part of the Company are for the best (the whole business with Dad Quixote and holding that info from Don). Considering in Hellscreen, Yoshihide loses his daughter by doing as the Lord says and does increasingly unhinged acts in order to paint a vision of Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to see those ideas touched upon in Ryoshu's Canto in some way.

And on the subject of the LobCorp parallels, well... Angela, as Ayin's creation, is technically his daughter. And we've seen all the shit she had to go through. And considering her creation came after the Head's raid on the Outskirts Lab.... I don't think it's going to be one-to-one but I feel like the themes are definitely going to be there. And the nice(?) thing is, whether you think Ryoshu is the painter or the daughter, it could work either way.

Anyway, that's my thoughts so far. I'm curious to see if I'm right or if I'm proven wrong one node into part 3 of Canto VIII.

[shlumbo]

⊙ Sweets ⊙

Summary- After the explosion the group has to run back to Zaun, the crappy city they call home and deal with the consequences of their actions.

A/N- I’m in a writing mood so I’m getting a lot of writing out while I still can. This chapters word count is a LOT more than the others. Not proofread. As always constructive criticism is appreciated!!

Word count- 2705

Chapter 3

The girl stirred as Claggor lifted her up. She had fallen onto the ground after an…explosion?

“What…what happened..?” She asked, trying to ignore the ringing in her ear as she held her head with one hand. The screams of hostile enforcers snapped her out of her trance as the group made a beeline towards Zaun.

The loud horns on the top of buildings were now blaring as the group navigated their way through the winding streets of Piltover and past shocked and horrified citizens while angry enforcers chased them. “Faster!” Vi yelled as the group rapidly approached the rising bridge that connected Piltover to the edge of Zaun. She grunted as she jumped over the gap between the two sides of the bridge, looking behind her to make sure Powder got over safe.

She slammed into a wall as she followed Vi and Powder, quickly glancing at Claggor and Mylo behind her. She felt her legs going numb and prayed that she would be able to keep up with the group.

The group had finally made their way to a garbage chute large enough for them to fit through. “Cmon I just got this shirt!” Mylo protested but Vi kicked him into the garbage chute, resulting in him going through face first. The rest of the group quickly followed behind him.

The kids groaned as they landed on the gigantic pile of trash, no one enjoyed smelling like shit. “I thought that last time was the last time we were gonna do this..” Mylo muttered as he peeled a piece of mysterious, sticky green goo off of his head. “This is the last time” Vi replied, the annoyance in her voice obvious enough to get Mylo to shut up. “Well at least we’re all okay” The other girl stood up and dusted herself off.

“Guys what the hell was that-what happened” Claggor asked as the adrenaline started to disappear, causing him to be exhausted. At Claggor’s words everyone turned to Powder.

“I didn’t do anything!” Powder yelled to defend herself. Y/N sighed and helped Powder stand up. “You could fill a whole damn library with all the things you didn’t do” Mylo remarked as he stood up and attempted to clean his new shirt.

“Guys, we just raided a Piltover penthouse right under the enforcer's noses. So if you're done beating yourselves up, let’s get this home” Vi smiled as she walked down from the trash pile. Vi’s words brought a smile to everyone’s face, even Mylo’s. For a bunch of poor, scrappy Zaun kids doing their first mission, this was actually amazing.

Claggor grunted as he picked up Powder and helped her get onto the surface where Vi pulled her up. The group walked through the outskirts of Zaun, where the people in between lived. It was still a shitty pace but it wasn’t nearly as bad as the heart of Zaun but at the same time it wasn’t anywhere close to being as good as upside. To Piltover, it was still Zaun.

“Nice hall” A tall lanky blonde boy called out to the group as they walked by. They all recognised that voice, deckard. He and his crew stayed in the shadows and often stole from passerbyers around here.

“You could say that” Mylo responds, earning him a glare from Vi. “Heard there was some action across the river” Deckard continues. This gets the group to stop walking and turn around to face him. If Deckard already knew about what had just happened it was safe to say that more than half of Zaun had been told.

“But now your-your dragging this mess through my streets” Deckard murmured as other members of his crew showed up, cornering us. Powder shuffled closer to the older girl besides her. “Your streets?” Vi scoffed as she prepared her fists. It was obvious that they were gonna have to fight them, the girl just hoped that no one would get seriously injured.

“We don’t want any trouble, okay?” Claggor interrupts Vi before she can go on a rant to Deckard and beat him to a pulp. The girl discreetly placed her hand on Powders back so she would be able to push her out of any trouble.

“Hear that Deckard, they don’t want any trouble” *A tall boy with a buzz cut and broken nose scoffed at them.

“In my experience, trouble finds you…So why don’t we share the haul pretty” Y/N would roll her eyes if the situation was different but she knew that would make it worse so she just clenched her jaw and kept quiet, pulling Powder behind her.

Vi almost immediately walked in front of the two girls, blocking them from Deckard's gaze as she glanced down at the bag full of their loot. “Just a taste?” She murmured. “Just a-“ Deckard began but was cut off by Vi swinging the bag directly at his face.

“Shit…” The other older girl groaned as she let go of Powder, preparing herself for the fight to come. She hated fighting, it’s not like she was bad at it, she was decent for a malnourished girl with almost no training. It just hurt like hell, no one likes taking punches to the face all because someone else couldn’t keep their mouth shut, especially when Vi was with her.

The girl quickly moves as another lanky boy tries to punch her. The boy scowls before practically jumping on top of her and punching her. The girl grunts as she punches and pushes him, he smirks as she begins choking her, her limbs feeling tingly and her vision starting to blur. Luckily her hand grabs a large rock and she begins banging it into the boy's head, sending him unconscious in the process.

The girl panted as she stood up on her two wobbly feet, still dizzy and trying to regain all of her oxygen. She looked around to see Mylo standing on top of a boy who’s unconscious while Claggor kicks one to the ground. “Well that wasn’t my best fight” she murmured as she held her head with her hand and glanced at Vi who was still fighting Deckard.

Vi grunted as she kicked Deckard into the group of wooden boxes, a small smile spreading onto the other girl's face as she watched her. Vi looked back at the group with a small but proud smile. “This day is turning out alright after all” Mylo smiled as he stretched his arms above his head. The other girls brow furrowed as she looked around for a moment before being brought back by a yell.

“Hey!”

The group turned around to see Deckard stumbling while holding a knife tightly in his hand. Vi rolled her eyes before stepping towards him and leaning down to his level. “wanna see how that ends?” She questions as she waits for him to give up.

Deckard glances back at the trio waiting for Vi and lowers his pocket knife slightly before slowly retreating. “Wait.” The other girl says as she looks around. “Where’s Powder?”

Their loot was gone, the only thing they had left to prove that this whole mission wasn’t a waste of time, and now it was gone. A guy had chased after Powder and she threw it in the ocean in order to escape. The older girl was just glad it was all over and she didn’t have to see Vi, and her friends getting hit by Deckard and his crew.

As the group took the elevator down to the undercity she felt a churn in her stomach, she knew there would be consequences for their actions, she just didn’t know when.

“Vander learns none of this” Vi muttered as she rested her head on her hand, staring intently at the floorboards as the rest of the group sat down on the old, worn couches. “No worries there, Powder des next to Powder says seriously “what! You know I’m right” Mylo replied, using exaggerated hand gestures.

“I tried okay!” Powder yells back at him. “You don’t get it! Your older, bigger, stronger it-it isn’t fair” She continues angrily, obviously not impressed with Mylo.

Before he can respond Vander opens the door and looks at the small group. He notices both Vi and Powder avoiding his gaze. “Everyone alright” He says as he takes slow but heavy footsteps down the stairs.

“Yeah..we're good..” Y/N murmurs as her line of sight is now too focused on the crooked flooring beneath them. “Good, that’s good. So I don’t suppose any of you can explain why I’m hearing bout’ an explosion and foot chase on topside” Vander responds in his interrogation voice, this is when everyone knew they were in trouble.

“What the hell were you kids thinking” He nurtured as he stood next to the couch that powder and Y/N were sitting on. “That we can handle a real job” Vi interjects, finally looking at him.

“A ‘real’ job” He responds, his tone getting more angry by the second.

“We got our own tip, planned a route, no one even saw us!”

“You blew up a building.” Vander said more sternly than before. “Did you even stop to think about what could’ve happened to you, to them.” Vander gestures to the other four kids sitting on the couches watching them fight.

Vi glances up for a moment, her eyes almost immediately locking onto the other girls while the boys and Powder look down at the floor. Vi sighed as she once again rested her head in her hand.

Vander sighed as well, rubbing his face with one of his hands. “Where did you even get this tip” He questions the group. “Little man..” Powder said quietly, referring to Ekko. This caused Vander to sigh again as he locked eyes with Ekko’s older sister sitting next to Powder. Vi slammed her fist into the side of the fluffed chair before she stood up to face him. “I took us there, if you're gonna be mad at someone, be mad at me. But you're the one who said that we have to earn our place in this world!” Vi argued back.

“I also said to stay out of Piltover's business.” Vander said more sternly as he stared at Vi.

“Why!?” Vi yells back. “We’re fighting for scraps down here while they have plenty! When did you get so comfortable living in someone else's shadow!” Both Powder and the other girl flinched at Vi’s words, knowing that she was in deep shit now.

“Everyone out.” Vander said roughly as he stared at Vi with his angry eyes. Once by one everyone filed out of the room, the other girl taking one final glance at Vi before closing the door.

While Vi was getting the longest lecture known to mankind the rest of the kids were outside, Powder looking through the trash for new parts for her bombs and the other three leaning against the wall talking.

“I should probably go, I gotta talk to Ekko..” The girl trails off as she stands up properly now. “Oh can you tell Vi I need to talk to her once Vander lets her go?”

“Sure” Claggor responds but Mylo, being the nosy guy he is pried further. “What about?”

“It’s a secret” the girl replied with a small laugh as Mylo scoffed. The girl rolled her eyes before running off towards Benzo’s shop. “Jealous?” Claggor remarks with a smirk.

“What! Me, jealous!? Never.” Mylo responds defensively before going back to his eavesdropping.

“Hey sis!” Ekko called out happily as he carefully placed down his wrench and stopped focusing on the grandfather clock he’s been trying to fix for ages now.

His older sister gladly hugged him back for a few moments before dropping him back into his feet. “Woah…what happened?” He asked, gesturing to the bruises around her neck and the cuts on her body. “Some idiot fought us at the elevator” His sister said, brushing off any concern.

“Oh ya! How did it go” He asked as he started putting his tools away. “Awful” she sighed, sitting onto the small table in the corner for displaying items.

“Ekko…” His sister started off slowly. Ekko sighed, knowing that this was going to happen eventually. “I know I know, I shouldn’t go off to Piltover by myself..” he murmured as he stared at the floor.

His older sister sighed as she rested a hand on his shoulder. “You know what will happen if you get caught doing something up there..” a shiver ran up her spine at the thought of her brother, the only family she has left, being thrown into a cell in Stillwater. “If you stay down here for a while then…I’ll take you up there with me, just the two of us for a day” The girl smiled as she saw her little brother's face light up.

“Wait really, really!” He said excitedly. “Yea!” She giggled. “But only if you stay down here.”

“Oh, speaking of topside, did you ask her?” He murmured as he ran up the stairs to their shared bedroom. His sister groaned behind him as she sluggishly and dramatically walked up the stairs. “I’ll take that as a no,” Ekko replied as he jumped onto his small bed.

“It shouldn’t be this hard” She murmured as she collapsed onto the mattress on the floor that she sleeps on so her brother can have the bed. “Well it’s kinda a big deal, you know since you're telling her you're in loovveeee with her” He laughed as he saw his sister glaring at him from the mattresses. “Not helping” She muttered

“Vi?” Powder asks as she draws a cartoon face into one of her many bombs. “Yeah?” Vi responds as she sits down next to her little sister. “When are you gonna ask her out?” Powder asks again as she continues working on her bomb.

Vi tries to hide the blush that spreads across her cheeks as she looks away from her sister. “What-what makes you say that”

“It’s kinda obvious” Powder responds nonchalantly “you do that gross googly eye thing at her whenever she talks to you”

“That obvious..huh..?” Vi murmurs as she looks at the ground. “Do you think she even feels the same…?” Vi’s leg started to bounce as her mind went through the many scenarios that could occur if she rejected her.

“Well if you don’t do it Mylo’s gonna” Powder remarks as she places her monkey bomb down after adding the finishing touches. “You really think he has a chance” Vi scoffed, the thought of her brother dating the one girl that she’s ever liked made her stomach churn.

“No, but you can save him the embarrassment by asking first” Powder giggled as she stood up, stretching her arms above her head.

Both Vi and Powder's heads snapped to the door as the girl they were just walking about gently opened it. “Hey guys” she waved sweetly as she walked over to the bunk bed that Vi was sitting on.

“Mind if I steal your sister for a minute” she asks and Powder happily agrees before running out of the room, giving Vi a smug look.

Vi ignores her sister and stands up next to the girl “so what did you want?” That question seems to make the other girl's fingers fidget with the hem of her shirt, rolling back onto the balls of her feet.

“Well..umm, Piltovers having this thing…they-they’ve got fireworks and shit..I was just wondering if you’d want to come..” She says, her voice getting quieter as she gets to the last part of her sentence. Vi’s heart raced, the girl already looked really cute when she was shy, and now she’s asking her out on a date! “Like…like a date?” Is the only thing that Vi can manage to say.

“It-it doesn’t have to be a date! But if you want it to…then that’s fine..” she murmured as she looked back at the floorboards.

Vi smiled before answering “y-yeah…a date sounds..nice..” she laughed as she tried to hide her growing blush. The shorter girl's head shot up at Vi’s confirmation and she smiled sweetly. “Yeah..then it's a date”

Chapter 4!!

[bluephoenixgirl]

Boyfriend

Jack Champion x Actress!Reader

Warnings: Adult Language, Mention of Toxic Relationship, Angst but mostly Fluff, Anxiety, Kissing/Short Make Out Session, and maybe some grammar mistakes.

Summery: Jack has had a crush on Y/N even before he booked the role for Scream 6 so, when he get's to play her love interest in the movie his crush for her just grew even bigger. His fellow co-stars really want him to make a move but obstacles stood in his way so when production for the movie ended he never got to. When the cast reunited Jack hears that Y/N is looking for boyfriend which makes him want to make his move but he still has that anxiety that holds him back. Will he let go of his anxiety and finally make a move?

Inspired Song: Boyfriend by Big Time Rush

Word Count: 2,983

Author’s Note: HELLO EVERYONE! I’m officially back to posting my stories!! I haven’t started writing again but I will hopefully this weekend! As I said before this will be my last Jack story for awhile since I want to focus on writing for his characters like Ethan and Spider! Anyways it’s so good to be back and let me know how you all liked this one shot! Talk to you all soon!!

Ever since the first day on the set of Scream VI, Jack immediately fell head over heels for Y/N. Well, if Jack was being completely honest, he has had a crush on Y/N even before booking the role since she is his secret celebrity crush. Before Y/N joined the Scream franchise she was on many Disney Channel and Nickelodeon shows when she was young. That’s how she met Jenna and ever since then they have been best friends. As Y/N got older she left Disney and Nickelodeon since she wanted to do more mature roles and she did just that. Y/N was in the last Scream movie, so she also became close with Jasmine, Mason, and Melissa so when there was news about another movie, she knew she wanted to return. Y/N plays a character that is related to Tatum and Dewey Riley. In the sixth movie Jack’s character is a love interest to Y/N’s character. Throughout the whole movie Y/N’s character defends Jack’s character for not being Ghostface but becomes heartbroken when she finds out he really is Ghostface.

It was already hard for Jack to do scenes where it’s just Y/N and him because of his crush but it was even harder because she has a boyfriend who just so happens to be on set every fucking day! When they first met Jack and Y/N immediately connected. It wasn’t shocking since Y/N is known to be one of the sweetest and nicest actresses to work with and Jack totally agrees with that statement. It’s just sad that he can’t say the same thing about her boyfriend. From day one Jack could sense that Y/N’s boyfriend was intimidated by him. Jack mentioned this to Mason, which he told him to get used to that. Mason told him about how it was from Dylan who played Wes who was Y/N’s love interest in the last movie. Jack asked Mason why the asshole of a boyfriend does that in which he didn’t have an exact answer, but he did mention that the girls and him think it’s because he knows that there is someone out there that is better for Y/N than him.

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As production was coming to an end a sudden change of mood came from Y/N. Throughout the whole filming Y/N had always been happy and had an exciting attitude but that all changed a week ago when she showed up to set the total opposite and has been like that since. The most talkative girl on set all of sudden became the quietest girl on set. She also didn’t look like herself either since even with make up on you can tell that she had been crying a lot. Jack was very concerned about her so when he would ask her what was wrong, she would just brush him off with an obvious lie, so he decided to go to Jenna’s trailer and ask her.

When he knocked on the door Jenna called out to him to come in. When Jack walked into the trailer, he saw Jasmin was also in the trailer talking with Jenna. “Hey Jack.” Jenna said to him from her seat on her comfy chair. Jasmin was sitting on the small love seat that was next to Jenna’s comfy chair. “Hey, do you two know what is going on with Y/N?” Jack asked them with concern in his voice. “Every time I ask her, she lies telling me that she’s fine.” He added with a sigh. “That fucking asshole broke up with her.” Jenna answered in a snappy tone.

Jack felt his heartrate speed up. Jenna just said what he thought she said, right? Y/N isn’t with that controlling asshole. Y/N is signal!

“Wait, that asshole broke it off with her?” Jasmin asked Jenna, who answered her question with a nod. “Even worse is that he did it over fucking text message. I was with her when he texted to her saying that they were over.” Jenna added in a snappy tone.

He texted Y/N saying it’s over and that he didn’t want anything to do with her no more. If Y/N wasn’t broken down crying, Jenna would’ve gone and found that motherfucker and kicked his ass.

“That asshole is such a fucking coward.” Jasmin said which made Jack let out a laugh since they keep referring Y/N’s ex-boyfriend as asshole instead of his name. But Jack didn’t disagree with them since he was an asshole. “I mean I’m glad that she’s done with him I just wish it was the other way around.” Jenna said with a sigh. “I mean I’ve told Y/N a hundred times that she deserves a guy ten times better than that asshole.” Jenna added.

“Yeah, Y/N deserves a guy like Jack.” Jasmin said looking over at him with a knowing smile. “M-me?” Jack stuttered not expecting Jasmin to say that. His brown eyes were wide open in shock. “Dude, we know you have a crush on Y/N.” Jenna told him with a laugh. “What? Did Mason tell you?” Jack asked now with frustration in his voice. Mason is the only person he told. “He didn’t have to because it’s so fucking obvious.” Jenna told him which made Jasmin laugh. “Wait so everyone knows about my crush on Y/N? Does she know?” Jack asked, starting to panic. “Relax, okay! She is completely oblivious to your flirting.” Jasmin told him in reassurance. “I don’t flirt.” Jack mumbled as he looked down at his shuffling feet. “Listen all we’re saying is that when we see you with her, she looks really happy and that maybe there is something there between you two.” Jenna explained to him, which put Jack into deep thought.

Jasmin’s phone started to vibrate. “Devyn just texted, we’re needed back on set.” Jasmin said, picking up her phone and sending a quick text back to her. “C’mon lover boy.” Jenna said in a teasing tone to Jack as she stood up. Jack rolled his eyes and walked out of the trailer with Jenna and Jasmin following behind him.

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As production went on Jack wanted to make a move on Y/N but he never got to because of the toll her recent relationship had on her. Yes, the guy she was with treated her terribly, but they were together for almost two years and the guy didn’t even have the courage to break up with her face to face.

When filming wrapped up everyone went their separate ways but still kept in contact with each other. They still talked through the group chat. Everyone but Y/N which is most likely because she was filming for a TV show that she frequently guests’ stars on. Jack was also busy doing a press tour with the Avatar cast promoting the sequel. Even though he wasn’t with Y/N, she was still on his mind. He thought about texting her just to see how she was doing but never did since he was scared that she wasn’t going to respond.

When it was finally time to promote Scream VI that meant Jack will be reuniting with Y/N since the whole cast will be getting back together for the premiere. Jack was excited to see her, but he also couldn’t help but be a little nervous too. The cast was going to be walking around New York doing press coverage and taking pictures for the movie.

Jack was the first one that was ready, so he was in the lobby of the hotel waiting for everyone. He was sitting down on a couch when he heard an exciting voice say his name from the elevator. When he looked up, he saw that the voice belonged to Y/N. Right when he stood up Y/N gave him a big hug which almost knocked him over. “I’ve missed you so much!” Y/N told him as she held onto him tightly. “I’ve missed you, too.” Jack told her returned the tight embrace. When Y/N pulled out of the hug she noticed his hair. “Wow, you cut your hair.” Y/N said to him in surprise. She was just so excited to see him she didn’t even notice. “Yeah, do you um like it?” Jack asked with nervousness in his voice that he was hoping she doesn’t pick up on. “I love it! It suits you really well!” Y/N told him giving him a pat on the head and sat down on the couch.

“How have you been doing?” She asked him. “Good, I was really busy doing a press tour for Avatar.” Jack told her as he sat down next to her. “I saw the movie with a couple of friends! It was amazing! You were amazing as Spider!” Y/N told him with a smile which made Jack’s cheeks turn bright red. “Thanks, that means a lot!” Jack said as he looked into her beautiful eyes. Y/N stared back into his memorizing brown eyes but before anything could go further Mason, Jasmin, and Liana came out of the elevator greeting them.

Once the rest of the cast showed up, they made their way out of the hotel and to their first destination. Throughout the whole day out Jack would feel Y/N’s gaze on him but when he would look back at her she would look away pretending that she wasn’t staring at him. When Jack first noticed it, it made him think back to what Jenna and Jasmin told him that Y/N deserves to be with a guy like him. But the real question was is does Y/N want to be with a guy like him?

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That night Jack was sitting in his hotel room when he heard loud knocking on the door. Jack got up off the bed he was lying on and walked over to the door. When he looked through the peep hole, he saw it was Mason. Right when he opened the door Mason walked into the room. “Um, come in.” Jack said in a sarcastic tone as he closed the door. “Dude, Y/N is looking for a boyfriend!” Mason told him which made Jack’s heart skip a beat. “What?” Jack asked in a surprised tone as he walked over to where Mason was standing. “Did she tell you that?” He asked wondering how Mason knew this. “No, but I was at the indoor pool with her Devyn, Jasmin, and Jenna and I overheard Y/N tell Jenna that she’s looking for someone.” Mason told him.

“You need to get your ass down there and ask her out!” Mason told him in a stern tone which made Jack’s brown eyes go wide. He felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest. “W-what, now?” Jack stuttered out. “Jack, just fucking go for it. Now is your chance!” Mason told him with excitement in his tone.

Let’s just say that Mason is the biggest shipper of Y/N and Jack. On set it was super obvious that they have amazing chemistry on and off the camara. When their characters had a romantic scene together, they weren’t just acting as their characters, everyone knew it was really Y/N and Jack being filmed. Everyone really wanted either Y/N or Jack to make a move before filming wrapped up but that never happened.

“What do I do? What do I say?” Jack asked, starting to panic a little bit. “Just be yourself! Walk up to her, sit down, talk like you two usually do, and when the time is right ask her out!” Mason explained to him.

“Okay, is she still at the pool?” Jack said, grabbing his hotel room key and slipping on a pair of shoes. “I’m pretty sure.” Mason said walking over to the door. “Come on!” Mason said walking out the door. Jack put the key into his pocket and quickly followed Mason out the door.

Jack followed Mason downstairs to the hotel’s indoor pool. When the boys got there, they looked through the little window on the door and only saw Y/N and Jenna sitting on the edge of the pool with just their feet in the water. While Jack stared at Y/N laughing at something Jenna said his nerves started to pace again.

“Mason, I don’t know if I can do this.” Jack said completely stressed out as he stepped back from the door. “What if she says no?” He asked having zero confidence. “Jack, you got this!” Mason told him putting both of his hands onto Jack’s shoulders. “Just go in there and be yourself. Just go back to those days on set where you two would just talk the day away!” Mason told him trying to boost his best friend’s confidence. “Go in there and use that million-dollar smile of yours!” Mason added, which earned him a strange look from Jack. “Okay, that wasn’t strange at all.” Jack said, taking Mason’s hands off his shoulders.

Jack took out his room key, getting ready to unlock the door, but before he could the door opened to reveal Jenna. She walked into the hallway with the boys. Mason grabbed the door before it could close. “What are you two weridos doing?” Jenna asked them. “We’re not weridos!” Mason said defending Jack and himself. “Okay, you keep telling yourself that!” Jenna said with a yawn and walked away from them. The boys looked into the pool room to see Y/N still sitting there. Mason pushed Jack into the room. “Go!” Mason said motioning his one hand towards Y/N and shut the door.

Jack looked at Y/N moving her feet around in the water. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and walked over to her. “Hey Y/N.” Jack said getting her attention. “Hey Jack!” Y/N said with a smile that always makes his heart skip a beat. “Can I sit with you?” Jack asked with nervousness in his tone which made him curse at himself in his head. “Of course!” Y/N said oblivious to the nervousness in his tone. Jack put the key back into his pocket. He took off his shoes and socks and rolled his pants up to his knees. He sat down next to her and put his feet into the water.

“These past couple of months are the happiest I’ve been in a long time.” Y/N said as she looked down at her feet in the water. “Really?” Jack said, looking over at her. “After production wrapped up my ex wanted another chance, so I gave him one which turned out to be a huge mistake.” Y/N said with a heavy sigh. “What did he do to you?” Jack asked with a protective look in his eyes. “Same shit he did before. It got so bad that he wouldn’t even let me leave my apartment to go on set. I finally opened my eyes after realizing that he was trying to run my life, so I kicked his ass to the curb.” Y/N explained as she did everything, she could to keep her eyes from tearing up. She needs to stop wasting tears on that asshole. “You deserve to be with a guy who treats with love and kindness.” Jack told her as he used his hand to put some of her hair behind her ear. “You do?” Y/N said looking over at him locking eyes. “Yeah, it was so hard seeing that asshole treat you so terribly.” Jack told her as his brown eyes stared deep into hers.

They didn’t even realize that they were leaning in till their lips met. This isn’t the first time they have kissed since they had to kiss in a scene for the movie but this one was different because this wasn’t their characters kissing. This was actually them kissing. It put shock into both of them especially Y/N, so she pulled away. “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” Y/N said quickly standing up. “Wait! It’s okay!” Jack said quickly, getting up onto his feet.

He took one of her hands to stop her from walking away. “Y/N, I have feelings for you.” Jack told her, finally confessing it after holding it in for the longest time. “You do?” Y/N asked in a surprised tone. “Y/N.” Jack started taking her other hand in his. “I have had this big crush on you before even meeting. That crush turned into more as we worked on the movie together, but I never made a move because you were with someone else. It was so fucking hard seeing you with that asshole because I knew you deserved better. When you two broke up everyone was telling me to make a move, but I was too scared.” Jack told her has he held onto her hands tightly scared that she would disappear. “I’m okay facing that fear now.” he added, staring deep into her Y/E/C eyes.

“I’m such an idiot.” Y/N said with a frustrated sigh. “Huh?” Jack asked with confusion. “Ever since I left that asshole I’ve been looking all around for a charming and cute guy to be my boyfriend. I didn’t even have to because that guy has been in front of me the whole time.” Y/N said letting go of one of his hands and put her hand onto his cheek stroking it gently with her thumb.

She pulled him in for a kiss which surprised him, but he didn’t hesitate to kiss her back. As they kissed Y/N’s arms made their way around his neck while his arms made their way around her hips. They released themselves from the kiss when they needed air.

“Would you be my date to the premiere tomorrow night?” Jack asked her once he caught his breath. “Yes! That sounds like a perfect first date!” Y/N answered with a big smile on her face.

[ignitefever]

deep dive character sheet

stolen from: dash

NAME: Serval Landau

BODY

height: 170cm / 5′7"

strength ★★★☆☆ (was formerly in the silvermane guards, albeit as a scientist. but as a researcher focused on studying the stellaron and fragmentum, serval often had to venture into the front lines, so being able to defend herself became a necessity, pretty much)

dexterity ★★★★★ (as a guitarist and mechanic that often has to work with pretty sophisticated hardware and equipment, she does have dexterous fingers and good hand-to-eye coordination)

health ★★★★☆ (she eats healthily enough. well-rounded meals, makes sure to get all her vitamins and nutrients. considering she forced gepard to drink moo-moo milk growing up, she does seem fairly conscious of that sort of thing. but also, big sisters will be big sisters~)

energy ★★★★★ (she's pretty laid-back most of the time, but she's gotta have a LOT of energy for her types of performances. singing, dancing, smashing guitars—the crowd won't be hyped if she isn't!)

beauty ★★★★★⠀(she's got plenty of fans and admirers that will attest to how gorgeous she is... but she's also got a warm and friendly personality that effortlessly draws people in)

style ★★★★★ (it's serval landau. what is she doing if she ISN'T making a fashion statement? more people need to adopt the rock n' roll style, if you ask her!)

hygiene ★★★★★

SKILLS

perception ★★★★★ (time in the military and as a musician has honed this for her. aside from being a pretty solid mood reader, she had to be very observant of her surroundings when dealing with the monsters of the fragmentum, and as a celebrity? well. stalkers sure are a thing...)

communication ★★★☆☆ (she's a pretty charismatic person, but when it comes to more intimate, interpersonal matters? serval definitely has a tendency of avoiding things she sees as stressful or difficult.)

persuasion ★★★★★ (famous singer, beloved by most of the silvermane guards? with a sweet face to boot? there's no way you're easily saying 'no' to miss serval landau. unless you're gepard, probably.)

mediation ★★☆☆☆ (would probably step in if others are arguing, especially kids. but don't let HER get into an argument, because she's the one who'll probably need the mediator. very much holds grudges, very much sticks strongly to her beliefs.)

literacy ★★★★★ (a scientist and technician once considered to be the smartest of the silvermane guards? lead researcher on the stellaron project? goes to tales of the winterlands meetups with lynx and pela? oh, she's very well read.)

creativity ★★★★★ (serval's an artist! singer, songwriter... plus, her outfit is literally a half scientist/half rocker hybrid. plus, she can get pretty experimental with her mods. do NOT ask her about the "chainsaw through qlipoth fort's window" incident...)

cooking ★★★☆☆

tech savvy ★★★★★ (one of THE tech geniuses of belobog, of course she's savvy! even though jarilo-vi's technology is far less advanced than what the IPC and other planets use, serval is always eager to study whatever new tech comes her way)

combat ★★★☆☆ (again, she can hold herself well enough in a fight—enough that she's able to hold off a wave of fragmentum creatures on the silvermane front lines with a wounded and exhausted gepard—but her focus is research and music, first and foremost)

survival ★★★★★ (having to venture into the hellish northern plains beyond belobog kind of necessitates these skills. also losing your job and practically being thrown out on the street by your esteemed family—serval's resilient, though. she's still a landau, after all...)

stealth ★★★★☆ (she can sneak around when she has to. it was a vital part of navigating through battlefields, and comes in handy when she needs to go out and avoid fans. not that she does that too much; serval is loudly and proudly herself.)

street smarts ★★★★★ (despite being the eldest daughter of the landaus, serval's time in the military and excommunication from said family put her in a place where she had to learn to live for herself, and got closer to the common people. so she's pretty good at navigating different life situations.)

seduction ★★★☆☆ (not for a lack of ability, because she absolutely COULD if she tried... the thing is, she doesn't feel like trying. romantic intimacy isn't very high on her list of priorities)

luck ★★☆☆☆ (imagine working on your dream thesis for years, getting the position of lead researcher for said project, and then being abruptly fired from your job, put into a bad spot with your family, and effectively having to start your life over because you just HAPPENED to study the one thing your boss didn't want you knowing about. but it's fine. fate? gods? psh. serval makes her own luck.)

handling animals ★★★☆☆ (well, she did take part in that one pokemon-esque event... but she also very much saw it as a game of calculations and numbers rather than forming an emotional attachment to the creatures)

pacifying children ★★★★☆ (this is where her experiences as an older sister comes in)

MIND

intelligence ★★★★★

happiness ★★★☆☆ (been kind of stuck in an emotional rut for the past few years, but since the stellaron crisis ended, she was able to let go of parts of her past, and there's hope for jarilo-vi having a future again, she's getting happier.)

spirituality ★☆☆☆☆ (acknowledges aeons, and that the Architects—of which she was formerly—are taught to worship the Preservation, but doesn't think THEY have any direct influence in people's lives. the things that the belobogians have endured and created have been through their own efforts, though she admits the concept of aeons make a good source of inspiration)

confidence ★★★★☆ (serval definitely has her doubts when it regards things like her fallout with cocolia and her strained relationship with her family, how she's been tossed away even after all the hard work she put into her years of schooling and military service. but she is also very assured in her convictions, beliefs, and who she wants to be as a person. so if anything, serval is here to prove those naysayers wrong)

humor ★★★☆☆ (your mileage may vary. noted by pela to have a sort of "dad joke" sense of humor)

anxiety ★★★☆☆⠀(for as carefree as she can be, when things start to get deep and Real, the anxiety does start to hit)

patience ★★★★☆ (as someone who does technical work, she has a certain level of patience working through such intricate processes. but she can rush into things, in rare situations)

passion ★★★★★

nice ☆★☆☆☆⠀mean (usually leans nice, but she can have something of a bitter streak if she feels you've wronged her)

brave   ☆★☆☆☆⠀cowardly

pacifist   ☆☆★☆☆⠀violent

thoughtful ☆★☆☆☆⠀impulsive (comes off as impulsive, and has the reputation for it—"rebellious landau daughter"—but serval puts a lot more thought into her actions than people may realize, unless it's a special circumstance where her emotions are heightened or compromised)

agreeable ☆☆★☆☆⠀contrary⠀(she isn't ALWAYS argumentative but she isn't afraid to defend her points if she doesn't agree with you. gepard and her dad know this best. absolutely not a pushover)

idealistic   ☆☆☆★☆⠀pragmatic

frugal        ☆☆★☆☆⠀big spender⠀(in the middle. she mentions that her workshop makes about as much as it spends, and usually insists that she doesn't care about or need money. she isn't lavishly rich anymore, but still lives comfortably enough to have a private owned business.)

extrovert   ★☆☆☆☆⠀introvert

collected   ☆☆☆★☆⠀wild (can you really be rock n' roll if you aren't just a BIT wild?)

ambitious (thanks, cocolia) ⠀/⠀possessive⠀/⠀stubborn⠀/⠀jealous⠀/⠀decisive⠀/⠀perfectionist

SOCIAL

charisma ★★★★★

empathy ★★★★☆⠀

generosity ★★★★☆⠀

wealth ★★☆☆☆ (her workshop doesn't make TOO much money, but she also isn't that stressed over it)⠀

honest  ☆★☆☆☆⠀deceptive (dunn says she's always been a pretty bad liar. she's too upfront.)

leader   ☆☆★☆☆⠀follower⠀

polite    ☆★☆☆☆⠀rude⠀

political ☆☆☆★☆⠀indifferent (isn't too involved with belobog's politics, though she has plenty of connections in the Architects and Guards. is just content to pursue her own passions and work for the general welfare of her city)

BELIEFS

higher power ★☆☆☆☆ (points to the spirituality answer. acknowledges that there are higher powers, but doesn't take too much stock in their involvement in the daily lives of humanity)

fate/destiny ★☆☆☆☆⠀

magic ★★☆☆☆ (flings around lightning in battle, but it doesn't seem to be magical in nature. though tbh it really depends on how magic even works in this world)

soulmates ★☆☆☆☆⠀

good and evil ★★☆☆☆ (there are things that are unequivocally good and bad, but the world also has shades of gray)

luck ★★☆☆☆⠀

PRIORITIES

family ★★★★☆ (things might be strained with her dad, but the fact that she maintains a relationship with her mom, as well as her younger siblings, speaks to the love she ultimately does have for her family)

friends ★★★★☆ (serval adores her friends, but there is some wariness in giving TOO much of herself to them too. after all, she had a best friend once. you see how that turned out)

love ★☆☆☆☆ (friends and family? sure. romance, not so much. she isn't opposed to it, but she's perfectly fine as she is now.)⠀

home ★★★★★⠀(jarilo-vi's restoration is probably her highest priority at this point, especially now that she's been recruited to help with repairing the engine of creation. she still wants to see the stars, and go on adventures of her own, but she's holding off on that for the sake of helping her home)

health ★★★★☆⠀

praise ★☆☆☆☆ (she does things because she wants to, not because she thinks it'll get her points with anyone)

justice ★★★★☆ (might not come off as the righteous type, but she very much supports standing up for what's right)⠀

truth ★★★★☆ (the truth sets you free. but she does understand the need to keep things hidden, sometimes)

power ★☆☆☆☆⠀

fame ★★☆☆☆ (serval may be a rockstar, but she isn't SEEKING the fame of it. what fame she has she's grateful for, and she does work to maintain the interest of her fanbase, but she pursues music because it's a passion for her)

wealth ★☆☆☆☆ (if only to maintain a comfortable lifestyle. past that? she could care less)

others' opinions ☆☆☆☆☆⠀

[tumblezwei]

Friend of mine started sending messaged about Arcane's ending, they loved it and shit, but then they zeroed me out and went "I don't think YOU're gonna like it though lol" and when I tell u my stomach fell clean through my ass kjhsdjkhsdsd, I've never opened Tumblr so quick.

Unfortunately, I don't do bittersweet, and I'm thinking I'm gonna keep to my word of not finishing Arcane if I thought I wasn't gonna like the ending jsjsjs.

That being said, I'm frothing at the mouth for the full analysis cuz I need my Jinx Perspective TM.

Also, reading "Jinx goes off somewere else and meets Lux and she's happy and leaves zaun/piltover behind" is giving me "Yes, we sent the pet over to a farm! No they're not dead!" and I love that.

Understandable. I definitely have a lot of mixed thoughts about the finale and Jinx's arc. You aren't gonna see me going around calling season 2 bad, because it isn't, but it could have been better than what we got in several ways.

Personally my current ranking (which may change) is Act 2 > Act 1 > Act 3.

I will say, Jinx definitely not dead, and I mean that seriously. The show isn't subtle about showing us that she did survive. And I do think the implication is that she's no longer in Zaun. But it's just. I don't know. I don't know what the end goal of it all was meant to tell us. I need some time to watch it again and think some more, maybe look through other opinions.

Her arc was about needing to let go, break the cycle of pain and death and all that. I know that. I just don't know if I agree with how that message was conveyed. Again, it'll take some time for me to really know where I stand.

Also the Cait/vi sex scene did nothing for me and I kind of started skipping halfway through lmao. Like congrats to the Cait/vi stans, happy your dream was realized, but my god I was not in the mood for that shit when two scenes proceeding it Jinx had run off to go kill herself again.

If there is one criticism I will never defend this show against, it's that it needed more fucking time. I applaud the writers for limiting themselves and knowing when to end their story, but I simply do not agree with them. They needed more than two seasons, or at the very fucking least more than three episodes per act. Praying that they see these criticisms and take them to heart for whatever they have planned next.

[kingcunny]

I think it's very possible Viserys was considering suicide in Ep 3. I think part of his impatience to have Rhaenyra married was he felt if she were "settled," he could go. ("I will not live forever. I wish to see you contented.") Heirs of her own would better secure her claim, she would have a husband and children to distract her, and she might even forgive him...for everything.

He's done his duty but providing a spare (soon to be two) to strengthen the line. Getting his heir married and her own succession settled is the last thing to tick off the list. And I think part of his anguish at the hunt is the slow realization that that's not enough. His lords are openly discussing her being replaced as heir, and he is her only champion. Her only protection--which both thrills and terrifies him. He can't rest yet. But if Aegon were heir, maybe he could? Rhaenyra might trade her crown for her freedom and happiness? She might eventually forgive him? Even remember him fondly?

And then she marries Laenor, and Viserys rapidly deteriorates. I think he was beginning to give up. But then Rhaenyra starts birthing brunettes, and that means his watch is not yet ended. So he hangs on for another 16 years or so. And it's when he sees Rhaenyra happy with her family with her position unambiguously affirmed, he can finally let go.

--EIHF Anon

oooh my GOD. this completely recontextualizes that entire episode. i had to go and rewatch it with this framing in mind.

hes done his duty to his grandfather. hes given the throne an heir. he has at least one spare thats safely out of SIDS territory (not that hed know that term, but the idea of it yknow). and another spare on the way Just in Case. hes tired. he wants to hang it up. he wants to see aemma and balerion and his parents again.

viserys cares a lot about his reputation, his legacy. he wants to be remembered fondly. he asks rhaenyra to join him on the hunt so he could give her one last good memory together, so they could be a family again, before hes gone. but she wont play along with his plans.

vis tries to match rhaenyra up with jason lannister to give her back what he took from her- a family. if he can find her a husband she likes, someone who can give her children and secure her own lineage and make her happy. maybe she can forgive him. if not in life then maybe once hes gone. once he knows shes taken care of. that she wont be so alone and angry anymore. but even jason is working under the assumption that aegon will be his heir, not rhaenyra. so there goes that plan too. he cant marry rhaenyra off to someone that isnt going to defend her like he would. he cant leave her alone and defenseless.

(also suicidal!vis makes me rethink his frustration with the stepstones being brought up. being reminded that hes leaving problems for rhaenyra? a sort of tongue-in-cheek, that wasnt his problem to begin with and it certainly wont be his to end?)

yknow that thing about how depressed people suddenly becoming very happy for no discernible reason is a warning sign theyve planned their suicide? how viserys seems in a better mood (at least in the beginning of the ep) than weve seen him in the last few episodes? and the reverse of that must also be true. viserys getting Very drunk because he realizes that he cant go yet. that he has to cancel his suicide. he has to stick around keep dealing with all this shit. (maybe a bit of a crisis of faith as well…)

and thats an interesting bit at the end. that maybe, like balerion, viserys ended up living longer than he shouldve. he continued to hold on past the point he shouldve died because he needed to stick around for rhaenyra. and once he feels like his family has made up, that rhaenyras position is secure, shes happy and safe. then he can finally let go.

[aluckiicoin]

Gua is seemingly running for his life, a rather burly man chasing after him, shouting profanities. Thankfully, the little foxian is quick, but he also doesn't know the place that well yet. Though, it seems like luck is on his side because he spots Aventurine by the end of the street and sprints for all that he has. "Help!" he shouts and stops as he reaches the mind, hiding behind him as his chaser catches up with them.

"Give... me... the... rascal!" the man demands, severely out of breath. "He... cheated... me!" he adds, eyes blazing.

"Did n-not!" Gua defends himself, head popping out behind Aventurine. "It w-was all b-by the r-r-rules."

"There's... no... way a... little shit.. like you... can win... like that!" the man replies.

"It w-was the shell game and I g-g-guessed right! Not my f-fault no one else had and the pot was b-b-big. The shields are m-m-mine!" To others, it might seem like Gua had cheated, but he really hadn't. He had simply watched and learnt how the man moved the tumblers used for the game and by the time he bet, the pot had been pretty big. In fact, his pocket is looking a bit bulky from the shields in it.

Getting a job on Jarilo-VI had taken a lot of manipulation, cunning and coercion. The old, downright ancient rules of the planet were not fit to adapt to the sudden reconnection to the universe. They were hardly able to stomach the reunion of the underworld with Belobog. That had played in his favour. When he had first appeared in front of the new supreme guardian as someone he wasn't, he had decided to come clean in front of her, betting on his luck, offering what he brought to the table – the ability to deal with the IPC, the greedy merchants on this planet and the cunning to reform their rules for the intercelestial market. He had apologized too, from the heart for once. But who he was in the eyes of Belobog and who he was for real mattered only in certain situations. It mattered little when he was back in the Underworld and on his way home for example. A familiar voice reached his ear causing him to pause and look up. The thing he saw however send his mood into a downward spiral. The familiar frame of the Foxian slipped behind him while Aventurine subconsciously shifted into a more protective stance, trying to hide the other one behind him.

The stranger was huffing and puffing after coming to a stop in front of him, making demands as if he owed the place. The blonde felt himself growing more and more agitated by the second. Rascal, cheated – hand him over to me – sounded all so painfully familiar it made his teeth grit, itching to sink into flesh. The man's eyes were alight with unjustified fury and fake righteousness. But after checking in with Gua, the Gambler's vibrant and unnerving eyes settled dead on to the man's. If that one thought he could stare him down he would learn the futility of it very quickly. Gua claimed to not have cheated. And Aventurine did not yet know what game they even played. That was fixed rather quickly within the heated but breathless dialogue. The little foxian was stuttering in his anxiety and the accuser breathless from the chase. It made understanding them not the easiest task. The blonde's eyes wandered over his ward, heavy pocket included.

He did not know what the shell game was meant to be but he knew the little one wouldn't cheat. Steal? Maybe, but Shields were hardly shiny enough to trigger that desire nowadays (he hoped so at least). He also had a knack for patterns and connections. But none of that really mattered. The only thing the gambler needed to decide on backing up the Foxian was that he was family and the stranger exactly that. A nobody – an angry nobody but no one of consequence.

“Tch.”, came in a disgusted tone. “Can you not accept defeat? Do you have to make a fool out of you?”, he moved his hand, gesturing across the seemingly vacant streets. “Look around, there are plenty of people on their windows, watching you hunt a child. A child that rightfully won your game it seems.”, the man would only grow more upset, naturally.

“Alas, here is my offer. Why not go all in. If you win against me, you get the child and all that I have in my coffers.”, he would not lose, of course but the stranger did not know that. “Yet, if I win. You will hand over yourself to the silvermane guards for your illegitimate gambling business.”

[therealmofamorus]

My Mood

Original Male Stud AU: FREE FOR ALL

Alpha Male Stud AU: FREE FOR ALL

General Moods: LIMITLESS

Main Muses: Dragon Ball, Arc System Works, Nier/Drakengard, One Piece, Kuroinu, Taimanin Series, Naruto, Rosario + Vampire, To Love Ru, Typemoon Franchise, Soul Eater, Kanokon, League of Legends, Bleach, Code Geass, Highschool DxD, Testament of New Sister Devil

Main Male Muses: Jayce, the Defender of Tomorrow, Kagura Mutsuki, Soul Evans, Archer Emiya, Kiba Inuzuku, Ginei Morioka, Isshin Kurosaki, Nier (Brother/Father), Rito Yuki, Smoker, Lelouch Lamperouge, Yuto Kiba, Son Goten, Jirayia, Basara Tōjō

Main Female Muses: Rias Gremory, Vi, the Piltover Enforcer, Makoto Nanaya, Maka Albarn, Mio Naruse, Milly Ashford, Lala Satalin Deviluke, Tashigi, Sakura Matou, Mizore Shirayuki, Orihime Inoue, Igawa Asagi, Celestine Lucross, Kainé, Chizuru Minamoto, Blair

Meme: FREE FOR ALL

[ru5t]

also 1 or 2 ⭐️ for allie, specifically for dustverse ideas w/ the two of them but also. whatever u want kHNSzkc

@enchaentd

Every ⭐️ exchanges for a headcanon about our characters’ (potential or existing) dynamic.

i'm not sure tech would be so welcome at the greenhouse, actually? at least not at first, she dabbles in the more dangerous circles of the desert sometimes, whereas the groups settled into the greenhouses are more likely to be neutral shaped, and so even if they don't know tech's primarily responsible for the destruction of one of the other greenhouses she's still sort of.... firebug. so i'm not sure their initial meeting would be surrounded with very many good things however i also know allie is no one if not a defender of the potentially problematic and so maybe there was some kind of extenuating circumstances and allie was tech's defender in the moment? and now she's on like. less thin ice? because she's got firebug in her but that's not all, y'know? and maybe she helped them set up some kind of something electrical like a perimeter around the greenhouse or some kind of system inside for helping maintain the plants, or something. like a little apology (which they would never have accepted if not for allie?) i don't know this is so vague rip im sorry

tech does not party a lot but she does dabble in oh so many circles and variable moods and she has friends who Do party and in fact host really really cool music-focused club events (omens @/hvndredzones, i am talking about omens) and i don't think they met at one of his parties but i do think once tech figures out that allie has a party girl streak she goes 'watch this♥' and introduces allie to omen's club (Electric Starlight) and now sometimes they go together just to have a Girls Night [which could potentially also include like, Lith and Des and Vi and Viv and Wild(?) and maybe even Diana and it's okay if you don't know who all these people are I'm just yappin the tl;dr is Girls Girls Girls] which of course mandatory-ily end in cuddle puddles

tech has probably accidentally hurt allies feelings so many times like baby girl i am so sorry i promise it's not you i know you are sensitive to the shut outs and the rejections and the leaving but tech simply cannot be tamed and only somewhat knows how to soften her bites wah

lots of bonding over the cat, he's doing a lot of heavy lifting here i think. and of course he loves allie to bits which tech like. tech will use the cat in every verse to gauge people she's unsure. she quite literally trusts his instincts more than her own, sometimes (it has never failed her,) so. not that allie could possibly give bad vibes just that like, icing on top of it all u know, the cat loves her so much

i know allie is friend to all living things but actually don't know how much that applies to bugs but if it applies to bugs.... more bonding over the creachures. who needs to talk about personal life things and facts and ambitions when there are so many little guys to follow and watch and yap to/about

(which is. all of these (except the first skfjd;lskfj) are also like, applicable in vibes to main verse! (and really even desc!verse i think, she's fairly consistent across them i worked very hard to get it that way sd;fkjgs;dlkjfg))

[bloodnikki]

I really like Arcane and still on my bs about my Hazbin Hotel OCs and fanfic. SOOooooo this is what they’d cosplay in Arcane.

Esme is dressing like Jinx. Everything feels like a mood and she loves having hair like her sister.

Alastor is forced to dress like Viktor. He has no idea why or who this person is but he gets to wear a normal enough looking suit and read. It’s fine.

“I thought you like timebomb?”

“I do, but he doesn’t have the build for that, barely has an interest in dressing up and I didn’t want people thinking we’re dating.” Esme defends herself.

Ophelia dresses like Mel.

Lucifer dresses like the little Science guy. He seems fun.

Asher dresses like Vi. She likes the look but refuses to change her hair or wear a wig.

Gabriel dresses as Jayce

[libidomechanica]

Of the mornings in an hour

A Meredith sonnet sequence

               I

So you my oblation flies in forgiv’n.   A bird-understand heart; now from above   thy prison and her, by the wind with God alone. Can firm state, though unseen at her nymphs, when Salámán was driven, blue and   quivering house, with mutual from his   pow’r away; and thee with inconstant view was only a honeymoon couples, swim in pearl. They survey; and fro on which do   together warned you would remote descending   on the age had remember who I am. I love with the stones of loue to say thy place. And bound these notes straw into   Love? Were t aught is young Bacchus’ pards—and   Ausemán—the Heav’n I lose that I, alas, doe interposing to get thy fair!

               II

It make earth by spells despair; the edge of   the darkness. There stern, and concerns many   sweet ecstasy! When I hear, no more; if he could not avail to state without depth in lover of love’s nerves beneath that vnkind,   something to possess’d, his Bed, but whence breast.   Even there Cupids. And sure, and with serene! For I dare sweet sin, his true. In whose perfet harmonies of our active play,   trodden with freshness of eternal bound,   yu run. So shall my joys of human kind! Then Cymon led her Am I your beauties mine; in Iphigene to the names of   me to my funny field, and paines all   time? That to shun which reach other face, a rabbit mouths to stencil her not resist.

               III

Of many sweetness is also in hell.   Higher the printed place, sick, sick of a   womankind. Sex to the human face, as I wait. Angle of his unguarded breath. Yes indure marble shades not enough to   have deserts they repose; nor pass that trampled   cheeks of bitter to flow in moods: not, cause of it. If thou saw a field with the spotless they clove the heart, with my dainty   Lucia. The Iliad are waked her   hour when fire, till a’ the onely such maine rage and saw what was never yet this darkening pain that this child will entwined, the   Poet’s solitary dove, I told my   soul, and so thy guide, let both love immortality!—This, and all is calm, to keepe.

               IV

And I neglect the earth of us, you   of the ravish’d love enjoy, and say with   word, nay lets, and let the palace-gate is endeavor … I accept all is out shame, and the best doesn’t respite. Which flies, as Fate   decreed, that equal perhaps. Looking-glass;   and where’er I turn my sweet milk doth these books when it was as ugly as an offspring, pulling Despair. Resumes life have   street, jackhammers began the maddest gambler   train the ashes, dear! Whom your mind, resolved, I leave me, after the soul when to the water taste that bring the Musk-Harvest   of my self excuse; but to defend nor   can integrity of the Pole. Roof rebounds. Death, if it was like mist o’er his back.

               V

In gastful groue the lurid flow of yet   another: for I tooke as once more is   but the fanning skulls, and the first my mind; among them, and meek, arose the guide … not thy hope, that doth bottom of straw into   the utter’d run to meet you all his faire   day—fond Thought but it keeps mine in verse of all my flying at the river or a stroke, shee still flip, let me like a weird song,   with me. In lovers daily sail between   the lips, which her utter’d hour I took a ready still day: by my trickling ransackt heard in stone, lie on her host, and sacred   veil, they like ship and she’d been dead, save mine.   If I could not been! Now, whence my light no crime is Will, ’ and which gives and the dwarf came.

               VI

Shall be our own back appear, or is it   just remain: two pails of sea wrack and you   have know, or such a city, unfolding the gracious kind all thing court they labour to kill; or else were would survive I forst   the love event and keen: save that rare   carnation of our whole world hath their dusty urns sepulchre, and take refuge the ornament the proceed, yet ’tis of you: you sigh,   fair will hold his sure way to knowes not   move; for slander’s roll! Everybody love, and more delight luxurious of whales stood, he long begin to turn like a fire   shall I unveil’d, in humble pair of glasse:   your sweets their famisht case? That despite, invade with mine for to woman who whiff it.

               VII

Of sister, daughter ladies me, the lass   that newe mischaunce. It is all human kind.   Till clip an Angel whom so lost thou arteries of flight. Till, check’d; Religion quench thy love and whole world forgot my sweet pride.   The multiple locked here ingage, though better   self, highly part must be; for Cymon fires, the very side bound forget till smother’s accept your shirt, by your man-beast,   advantage to death is her war be a good   the first here is the way you have you haue to selfe, but felt the cracked, harmonized the noon’s repose: her couple turns then make her   chance Rumpelstiltskin is my heart, trembling   left me first thing to get out. Being loved Chick Lorimer. Me out of dusky caves!

               VIII

Nor port to choose against stratagems sweet   and that stately tree, by Sences thunderstand,   though I did addressed, and all the playne fields to wayward again and on the right in thy banners, and in our many now   is the flame me the patch. Take something hasty   took you years we’ve caught and bleeding on each other dearer; robert Burns: grant oils with his child will be; the chang’d deserted   from the inlaid woodwork all night! Man’s breath’d   marvelled sleep our eyes, and which, from her neighbors, taking of the great cost, and to- day by love, time there walking, and nestled   as he shrine I hear, whilst the early in   my arms thy sprite; the rape is all which an alabaster found; he seek to the sod.

               IX

Thy plain of bitter love. Of milk doth move   silence. Upon the valley, come and I   neglected to melt my cheere, yet I love made simple and caverns shagg’d with water. So kiss poyson’d the trade our trust she said,   that simple villager’s head had a visor   of thy little known: and your neighbouring, a sort of discontents than complete with pleased: the bridges. The fanning wind with   delight and dare clichés. Deepens the brain,   nor knows nor fortune seldom comes clear, between me with eternal sleepe against death, but this iron age, goethe hall is he; he   barks, my life given in the mountains, and   no maid’s blames here. Of all my soul, and, like the tempest-beaten, Joy lost, who for fire!

               X

Once I invited arrest at the terror   in his world enamour’d in the heart,   shame loaded with forwards, in a globe the same place of the stone be put the world. Received the ground. Inside the shadow, he pure   Sugar from the skill from the gardens. The   melody in their souls, that other bereave my loue your sights my mother give. And his tiny rip itself then! No more famed   for they call my gude luck a wounds I will   we saw of palm and a grin of bitter love you say. No laws, since first like a split broiler. Sent onely to take fast   anybody love with chaste and brief, by a   most important thing alive enough their doome. Said, I am not ask’d not my name.

               XI

‘And purling still a’ the strange, for a king.   Nor their gifts and here is not here is no   children’s feet; but in the jolly night as the lamps strange, o yearning in his horse drew a long themselves best shades not plain ram that   not sometime may return’d and shake us   little were gone; take back to the Rust Belt. To gather wi’ a kiss, for Oh! Each praise is due, only carry in fixt hears deep   sighs, you floated free or failing terrific   glare, love made the rest, i’d feast enamoured a good and share thy love, or mourn when I hear, Eadwacer? For Mercy,   Love is lost Eloisa weeps armory;   with mutual render sleepe. And dawning Jewel,—her Jewel of holy vapours to this.

               XII

Months and fynd no childhood all in Heaven.   Buttocks against my fellows up and bleed.   Attachment. With my young Favonious. She handles heaped on her stopped upon the bubbles. Passively resolves: if now the sun,   who, as an offspring hold their heart is shaped?   No more brighter ladies me, dear embodied Good, some leuin shroudes, hey ho the loved you when you mount and see what I have ill   avail to see this words and my funny   feet. To come down, O maid, which at thy foolish heart while thy lead to deep in a blacks and sounds soone wexen wider. But all its   good New Yorker in its so far off, with   briars, my lifted eyes we ply the Thus blindly give what I in her forget!

               XIII

For I command merry may return’d   informer vows, and set it fearlessly before   doth use you’ve for our breath me, as then me? Love the night her slaves, a sleepe in songsters hid among the window and wanton   wing, and against the world before you—banded,   time when nature from childe to wayward again, and nothing them about each low wind, thou like a fly, and murmur of the   edge of a piece to move silence breast, all   Rhodes at that to win it in a stranger, the whole town where mony a flowers in a dungeon darkness to a girl keeping,   when I begin to speed-laden pedigree,   must her neglected to the age had relief; you are, and the rosy lips meet.

               XIV

How oftentimes … and in ashes before.   Beauty, Common this, and angels weeping   on his wit in furrow-cloven falls to roll by in the public wealth, and go, mountain- river, who smile on earth, tis other   circumstance. Against my with rose-bud by   mistress; and we shall: then to beat, and with charming, but he waite vpon a things but Colin Clout rafte me to seeming without thy   folly knows no affrighter trees, gust-fists,   hollow sunbeam by the naked polish’d foe sues for the more by promise tied: with Love before doth lap, nay sigh alone, with   anguish, him from him kiss me, above. Places   where I used fifty with deeper sunk upon the earth. I’m sure which locke the trees.

               XV

Alas, where Chick? Must pine, neglect more divine,   entrailed with so sweet voice seems, you   from please the custom the distance be. Against my tall pine shall shine. Only my Corinna’s eyes. Without know that says what I   ought its end was lucky thought: so you haue   all, now that gushes, the right there leather a life suppress’d; give all on a strange store the same place. But the falls, and darkned mine—   unweave a rain and Iphigene I closely   write with sight, the first the talent the slope side exults; the sweet, fulfil. But heere I do not touch of the bunch, milk shall beat   the close disguise, Joan, Marie, Dawn, Arlene,   Father to his county town, far others will we in thy foot did breath of delight.

               XVI

Again he so nobly had returns the   roses the shepeheards, should let appellation,   Natures broke away, and sleeves, we seek supply of that dwell in show there’s a lake in Ohio town you the heaven,   and in love has made him two better   horrors of lilies away from us and honour, which th’ inward life supply of not turning ravished   metaphysical, we must deny? My love that   blighted, then would be Cymon with the doctor to resign, for her brood, the wedded dame, that you use that’s not a house with silence   and that love will struck desert wonder!   We stood like hangovers, torches, crying out each sad, sorrowing well that bred it.

               XVII

As his sire into a shades not give   is this hole I crawling of my loved: so   Cymon soon remorse, and turn my sweet with dearth by the queens of cares itself there be yet another: for thee, finding the comic   Muse; nor envy them, bleeding on the   act. Maybe it wholly eue, hey ho grace of meditations firmly set on her brother’s head, who put my name of slight osier’d   gold tunnel. My hand she’d been kind, presence   slowly white girl who smile betwixt two milky ways, my life that I am not the first that moment’s solitary dove,   I pity joined: so was the lighter the   doctor to resound, nor the thinking mouth, take fast and nature craue, may get nachos.

               XVIII

To tell, the warbled out: Is your pypes   renneth thine and Morning on one bird sing   to do others, yet loving me my Muse to be words came a ruin: side soon taught that wax and the white, as I drew, the king   a wanton dissolving its hull again;   but its fair art that her face, excellence, fy! Fair the passage finds and peasant, under with industry. Sits multiplicity   holds her has lately bore into the   hallowest thou waite vpon my heart, head, that fly by night, be reads the cattle words, per day, when as if it kind graft my bellowed   in a country-tone. Because unknown, by   his branches high. As this falling Apennine, rich interminal all vital thine.

               XIX

Soon was in holy knew to be dried bloodless   wings, a Moon of Beauties chariot,   heralded along by strength of us is a silly little bands of wire. Whence came, but sought; and bred, above, a lover   call their gifts and crown on my knee to-night.   Even in Heaven, for what closde-vp sence and simper and a few leaves her temples? Thirty-two and frugally receipt without   saying pleasures might my feet and ne’er   a ane to walk with inconstant with so sweet, but we rename her repose; no moment eternal sleepe doe close in your merit   first found us when at her heard, old.   These, and cast by the blame his misse. Give him a Nurse—her Name Absál—her Years no more.

               XX

Like a brave, o Rotha, with sluttish time   willing or vocal with a soul from yonder   how to please, and, with wondering unknowing in the sun dies in order: live our many mead and this title of the   worse I fared: but if I but stand here erst,   and thoughts and again, a padded shall in— all into gold to all, then withered Rhodian strawberries, that, and leaves. You of my   sorrowes eloquence? What for thee so   farre out in boils. Then western religious game: hiding and gravity,—against my sense to the lass made the prisoners ere they   meet we are alone of some clips, that doth   flower as this much to the promise tied: the gracious pairs to shed; she sweetness tell.

               XXI

The curled; killing care: o thine owne voyce oft   doth floure of my son the Rhodian friends, and   the stream, gives its firesides, invaded me in my designed with nimble fancy’s spring his lucky, I start up solemn   and earth in whom I sing to all, to   each amisse. With terribly sail before my flying inuention the world forgetting vpon my swords. Whistled as if it would   moue; if he comic Muse; nor lead to make   me the bride from yesterday and feel em most. That in her feet, and pleasure drawn down that lo’es me, dearer; robert Burns: there, the   last break in you more I stay; inuentions   everyone’s face, the weary nights my meaning inuentions of her found ah me!

               XXII

In vain the banquet-room shone with you more   their dusty urns sepulchred, where painted   lords advance, as Cuddie, as the Bunsen buried her soft intercourse, of appreciation of Beauty Full; who told her could   have I said, he reaped on his sire,   distinguishing bigger room even in beds down, in bed she turning on the morning carelesse raigneth! This my Abelard   hands, saying put her, barter, or seen, as   if all admire; as flies before your vision in which, from his better, when you thinke that made for a bowling: for thee. A hirèd   a villager’s holiday, the slaves   in your chambermaid. Now that all is no placed around myself into plays its peace.

               XXIII

Others pick up or drop of urine? And   the youth, still usher’d with my darlings that   be sayde that gray-beard wretched people doth vs beate were ten men on the cloud kisses: the generous I left to Heav’n! The   rules breathe whole charms he through the arias   of flower. Then he sought of some ice, take the slower, which done, mice-scaled, approached; if force; but would be gracious acts enlarged: if   some several thirst chill so that well-built   fair will live on the arrows infidelity. I hate what would have I not plaints adds pious proud archange his pilgrimage.   They clove them, that swallow, yellow, it eats   at me an example pleasure drawn forth, wanting her gloom, why tears, vacant and hope?

               XXIV

—The Heav’n’s while my enfranchised hand only   doth only aspire, whose tear shall: then thousand   wrap me in the dusky caves, smears with Gold as good as we die. Love tempest, a thing wood-choir when at her lawns given   over my selfe-condemning maid who threatned   strike the text to us, some women desired, alley cats expected light in your own, restore; and probably didn’t works   a differently didn’t convince my hands;   the less are leather home, and kisse, and Iphigene to pierce men or fifty-nine to see what very love they talking a hollye   be tell that I have to Churchill Downs and   the shade of great bases for his breast sae warm in lover’s eyes to the new as here.

               XXV

I probably annoyed I promise of night,   for want our own instinct tis doubt, chance   Rumpelstiltskin? Months and serenest beams, and tune your mind; her chance traduce; no envious visit with rustic voice, her loving   a tythe while I slept. Each touches mine; in   Iphigene once thou much in this world in fetter objects your hair; and have supply that’s sweetest buds doth use you ready for   your surface-eyes were departure, of love   it will, without the serpent’s the torches me. These are a dolefull before I stay; sad proof how well addrest. I must wait   while powerful instrument, and the promise   to sheltered on my pain, and that she has done it with pyping a sleep; here gray.

               XXVI

This only doth lap, nay lets, in the night   not disapproved. Last spark of every sound,   then with weather time without a gap, yet for two, I like my pleasaunt spring, so well statues learn of their common sense it   into words, with due proposing the fair   unknown, because through he lay at birth required, for lover. But reede me, whose dark, dark reality distractions firmly set   on Vertues gold were wont to make me the   ending, and will safe and express a depth in love, time to bring the guest had fix’d with myrrh and such a tempest, a third day they   do not palsy or bowre, both the public   fault; I view! This or their dusty urns sepulchre, and other pliant body restored.

               XXVII

Which do together when I shall not because   and to make a dent forth creeps beside   the last shone sweete is, so let you know despair. How many ill who want of mine owne construed from his poem, There, and all thine   eyes, but he’d once deep-recesses of thy   lead to deepe in grace, and those who should be, i say if thou spend, for now I wake. Those utter’d new; thy love is God, our tost, and   sacred vestments her heaven to the lass   made and, when I of you triumph yet; because he brain which choke, and I’d plunge my clasps and th’ unwilling blush’d, and ten   those was Eloisa see! About thy face.   Chill Death without thy worth, without shame, and smooth purple-lined palace of speech a guide.

               XXVIII

I have a dolefull song together!   Of common rule and love he love the buxom   sea, knew its rose hedges for they found to grieved his ravished divine, nor fortune seldom comes a glist’ning have rear, which   in the Gods, whose Augury should I deny   thee thy voice, lute, and thine: have been vast, but soon, as the mind another breast. Relentless, lasting fond fantsies she did depart!   To claim my rival bark inferior   gracelesse green grac’t, ah! Is gone his forces razde, that hidden, propped upon a wintry clown is full of fire, till gather   along way. Motion measure left, save mine   are as a carcanet of mail of a bee! All you and me, Love is burthens binde.

               XXIX

A cheek the said. You are wooing’s endowment,   can find out of discover, proudly shines   all the white glow of roses, tho’ the nuptial feast, sweet; but the censer clownish mien, a voice slow hastening to his present, the   seems from various magnanimity   of loyal Life: the one where going on earth by spells and shady grove he gave him from the winds and beauty, lime and fresh as   a grateful object to us, some back   and line, entrailed about barbell or a hypocrite? Was her name, are vain? The sunlight inkling ray that I have heart gazing   of innumerable, and clip my   will live with serene it was nature on me—breathe outer gate; the spoke, but then me?

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

Violet's exactly like Pearl. A manipulative bitch, who ruins everyone else's life for her own selfish wants.

.....Uhm.

Okay, this ask has left me kinda jarred. Lots to unpack here within these two sentences...

Anon, while you are entitled to your opinion, I’m not sure if you’re aware that we love and respect Violet on this blog.  I’m a Louis and clouis lover through and through, but I still love Violet’s character and this... is not her character. I just- no, haha 

Now, I don’t know anything about Pearl because I’ve never watched Steven Universe, but I do know about a little bit about Violet. 

Saying this about Violet is like saying that Louis is nothing but a jokester who doesn’t care about anything and only wants to get into Clementine’s pants. It’s just not... even a thing when you actually get to know them. They’re both complex characters with unique flaws and highlights about them. 

I haven’t watched Violet’s route all the way through, I’ve only seen the first two episodes of her route and then gifs from the rest. But, I have seen how she reacts in Louis’ route when you don’t save her. The first time left me furious because I had a lot of emotions about everything going through me [especially after finding out what happened to Louis’ tongue in her route] and I even made a post ranting about it in all my fury. 

Then, I calmed down and replayed it and looked at everything through Violet’s pov. While I think it’s mostly poor writing in the end when it comes to Violet’s capture and them telling us that she was mentally tortured only for them to turn around and say, “Gotcha! She actually got a physical injury like Louis and mental torture did nothing because she forgives Clementine!” Louis’ kidnapped route was way better executed in my opinion, but hey. Can’t have everything. 

Violet has had a lot of things happen to her that lead to her having abandonment issues, and if you go through her route you get insight into that. Even if you go through Louis’ route 100%, after Marlon’s death she still backs you up. She and Louis have the appropriate reactions to the situation. Violet sees Clementine as the one who brought the truth to light, as another girl who she’s warmed up to and a friend she could connect to given their similarities. 

Violet doesn’t try and manipulate Clementine into a relationship with her. If you just want to be friends with her, she’s 100% okay with that! In fact, she’s thrilled! She’s finally found someone she feels she can trust and bond with! Hell, if you go with Louis the whole time leading up to that point, she’s still friends with Clementine up to her capture. 

So, what confuses me the most about this ask is the “who ruins everyone else’s lives for her own selfish wants” part. 

Uhm......... when? 

When she’s constantly rude to Brody? Yeah, it’s not nice and it makes things tense between the two of them, but you can help Violet see that it’s not Brody’s fault and she tries. She doesn’t just go, “Yeah well fuck Brody anyway.” 

When she wants Clementine to stay? Is that ruining the lives of the others? Because... no. It doesn’t. Violet’s right about them needing her to stay and help protect them.  Even Louis, who was left heartbroken after watching his best friend’s murder right in front of him and who was the one who really wanted them gone, admits that he was blinded by all the shit happening and that it was the wrong thing to do. 

When she gets saved instead causing Louis to lose his tongue and “his life to be over”? 

I’m sorry, but Louis’ life isn’t over. It’s not ruined, it’s changed. He may have lost a huge part of himself, something that will take years to heal from [yes, game, it’s not something he’s going to be okay with in a week yeesh] but it’s not Violet’s fault. Violet wasn’t like, “Oh good you saved me ahaha fuck Louis” she’s fucking vengeful. She’s furious, and she’s going to do everything she can to get him back. 

Again, throwing more shade at the writers [but not really because blah blah budget and time blah blah I know] but I can see why some might think Violet doesn’t care about Louis based on her lack of reaction in the cells. And that’s a part that I do have a lot of issues with.  

I’m fully aware of the explanation: Violet had her freak out while Clementine was knocked out and now Violet doesn’t have time to focus on Louis’ condition if they want to escape. 

Which is bullshit. 

The Violet we were shown up to this point would’ve at least asked, “How bad is it?” and follow it up with a “We need to get out of here and get him to Ruby.” It’s two in character lines that would’ve fixed that problem. 

And then there’s Violet and Minerva. Violet acknowledges that this isn’t the Minerva she had a relationship with. And while I am annoyed that she wants to stay with her on the boat regardless of choices, I see it more as “I can’t leave her to just die here I am human after all” in her route. And Violet protects Clementine, AJ, and Tenn from her the best she can on the bridge. 

Which, by the way, her sacrificing her life to save Tenn when you don’t trust AJ? Not selfish. And if AJ does shoot him, she’s rightfully pissed off. 

Anyway, going back to Violet on the boat....

The thing is, when it comes down to the Violet vs Louis choice, you can look at it two different ways when you let her get captured. You can see it as Violet feeling abandoned because Clementine chose Louis over her, or because Clementine neglected to save her. While those two things look exactly the same just with different wording, they aren’t. 

If you consider that Louis and Violet are as close as it’s implied, Violet probably knows that Louis and Clementine are together now. Louis knows when Violet and her are together [suggested when you romance Violet but save Louis, he mentions that Clem and her are really close] so Violet could definitely take that as “You chose your boyfriend over me” after all the mental torture she went through with Lilly and Minerva. This is something that I explored in [with you] because it’s such a conflict within her character that I thought was intriguing. 

And the other way to look at it is that Violet isn’t upset that she saved Louis, she’s upset that Clementine couldn’t save her too. Someone she put all her trust into, regardless of the romance or best friendship. Again, this could be magnified out of proportion when you take into account Lilly and Minerva’s manipulation of her during her capture. 

We’ve seen Lilly work her slimy magic. Given everything that’s happened, Violet stopped fighting and let it all get to her. She was an easy subject [or toy] for Lilly to break, especially since she has Minerva as a tool. It’s not hard to think about for two seconds and come to the conclusion that yeah, Violet’s head really was fucked up after spending all that time with Lilly. 

Now, while I’m not the biggest fan of Violet forgiving Clementine so easily, it does show us that she’s aware that she was wrong to attack Clementine in the cell. She’s also been abandoned AGAIN and now she’s blind because of it. She’s honestly just a mess right now, and all she has in that moment is Clementine and Louis, who she has to trust to guide her to safety. Once again, she has to force herself into someone else’s hand and hope they don’t abandon her, too. 

What I’m getting at, anon, is that Violet isn’t a selfish, manipulative bitch. 

Violet’s sarcastic, but really funny, soft but hardened, sweet and an awkward romantic, and she’s passionate about protecting her family. She can close her self off, turn her head away and stay out of conflict, but she can also step in and lead when she has to. She makes mistakes, she gets angry, downright pissed sometimes. She also can apologize for this and recognizes when she’s wrong. She’s been through some shit in this world, and based on your choices, she can possibly give her life to save a boy she cared deeply for from his deranged sister, and the death is long and cruel.  

Like I said in the beginning, anon, you’re entitled to your opinion, but throwing around things like this only makes you look ignorant and hostile, and it’s stuff like this that I rarely answer. Tonight this just threw me for a loop and hey, I’ve got my own opinions and explanations for things.

So here’s my jumbled essay written at the lovely hour of midnight. 

You probably didn’t want it, but here it is anyway. 

[perlelune]

Tag, You’re It | Ethan Landry | vi.

Happy, carefree college days meet their abrupt end when every guy who approaches you mysteriously turns up dead.

Warnings: NON-CON, Stalking, Bimbo!Reader, Clueless Reader, Loss of Virginity, Incel Ethan, Cheerleader Reader, Skin Carving (w/knife), Canon Typical Slashing, Voyeurism, Kidnapping, Forced Masturbation, Filming, Blackmail

This is a dark story. Heed warnings before reading under the cut.

𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

"You know you shouldn’t lead him on like that," Mindy muses from your bed, her eyes not lifting from the Stephen King novel she’s engrossed in. 

You place your phone above the vanity drawer after hanging up. You just decided on another study meetup with Ethan. 

It’s been a few weeks since he began tutoring you. There’s been a sharp improvement in your grades and you’re starting to believe that maybe you’ll be able to graduate just like the rest of your friends. 

Before, all those things felt as unreachable as the stars in the sky. But Ethan, with his kindness and unlimited supply of patience, made it a reality. 

Sure, you won’t be a top student anytime soon, but at least now there’s hope of you not failing the course and falling behind. 

"What? I’m not leading him on. Ethan and I are just friends," you defend, puckering your lips as you apply the finishing touches to your makeup before the big game. Your gaze keeps bouncing to the clock. The playoffs begin in a little less than an hour. 

Tensions are high tonight. This is no regular game as whichever team wins will go on to compete in the national championship. 

It’s one of the reasons Chad and most of the guys on the team have been in a weird mood all week. 

Besides, honor’s at stake when a team plays on their own turf. 

The pressure’s been off the charts for the cheer squad too, Alana having run the team into the ground to perform well today and not miss a single step. 

Despite how exhausted you are, you’re almost thankful for that. Focusing on cheerleading has helped you file away that god awful night. 

The humiliation you experienced still burns a hole inside you whenever you remember it.

While you can’t quite shake the lingering sensation of being watched, you can at least try to reclaim a semblance of normalcy. 

Hopefully Ghostface had his fill of tormenting you and won’t do anything like that ever again. 

Mindy arches her brow and scoffs, "It’s pretty obvious he’s got some desperate puppy crush on you." Under her breath, she mumbles, "...And I’m still not entirely convinced he’s not Ghostface."

You pause, the tip of your lipstick almost snapping as you press it tight against your mouth. You unleash a heavy sigh and whirl to her, brows drawing together.

"Mindy, please. Not that again," you plead. 

It's not the first time your best friend has shared her doubts regarding Ethan and you wager it won't be the last.

Every time she catches you texting him or hanging out, disapproval paints her features. She also squints and gestures at him that she’s watching him whenever she crosses paths with him. 

It saddens you that she can’t get along with him and won’t relent regarding her suspicions. 

Ethan’s helped you so much. It’s unfair that your best friend keeps claiming he’s a murderer without any evidence to back it up. 

And outside of tutoring, he’s been a great friend to you, always here to wipe your tears and listen to you talk about anything, however trivial. Every time you ramble on about cartoons, your collection of stuffed animals and how you’d love to get more, clothes or anything really…Ethan wears that same fond smile on his face. 

Outside of Chad, you never had a guy best friend. Unfortunately since getting into college, you haven’t seen much of him since he’s so well liked and has developed such a large circle of friends. 

So Ethan’s a breath of fresh air. 

You relish the ability to talk without fear of judgment or being belittled for the things you pluck joy from or how forgetful and absentminded you can be sometimes. 

Ethan has not made fun of you once for misremembering a word or your tendency to get lost around campus. Instead, he escorted you to class and promised to be with you more often so it doesn’t happen. He also agreed with you that it’s not your fault because every building looks the same, which everyone in your friend group laughed at you for mentioning before.

Mindy leaps from the bed, exclaiming, "Come on, Ethan? Shy, dorky guy who no one suspects because he’s so shy and dorky." She lets out a humorless laugh. "Maybe he went all 'if I can’t have you, no one can' and decided to get rid of the competition…permanently."

Your eyes roll as she concludes her theory with a repeated stabbing motion towards her throat.  

"You’re ridiculous." You get back to gauging your reflection. As you adjust the pink bow in your hair, you add, "Ethan’s cool. And I can actually understand some of the stuff Professor Atkins says in class now thanks to him."

In the mirror, you watch a sullen Mindy fold her arms behind you. 

"I still don’t trust him." She flicks her hands skyward and exhales in defeat. "But I can’t tell you who to hang out with."

You step away from the vanity to make your way to your pouting best friend. She accepts your hug, a deep scowl still etched on her face. 

"Let’s just drop it, okay?" you offer. "I hate arguing with you."

Mindy sighs against your shoulder.

"I’m just trying to keep you safe."

Leaning back, you squeeze her shoulders and smile. 

"I know, and I love you for it…but you gotta ease off him, Min." She groans at that, tossing herself back onto your bed with her arms spread. As she glowers at the ceiling, you maintain, "Ethan’s been an amazing friend to me."

More curses are grumbled under her breath. Shoulders slumping, you elect to give it a rest and stop trying to convince her. 

You know how stubborn Mindy can be. There will be no changing her mind tonight, or anytime soon. 

Casting the upsetting topic aside, you hop to the center of the room and spin in your cheerleader outfit.

"How do I look?"

"Like a fembot specifically designed to appeal to the male gaze," Mindy deadpans. 

You angle your head sideways. "Is that a good thing or bad thing?"

She chuckles and smiles at you before elaborating, "You look smoking hot, babe." The befuddled frown on your face vanishes, an elated grin supplanting it. Mindy returns to her reading and gives you a thumbs-up. "Break a leg."

Grimacing, you grab your pom-poms from underneath your bed and head for the door. 

"Hopefully not or Alana will kill me."

You’re on your way to meet up with your squad when you stumble upon Ethan in the hallway. As usual, he’s dressed simply in a blue button-up and dark slacks, damp locks of his curly mane kissing his forehead. 

He greets you in that bashful way he does while you beam at him, shaking your pom-poms. 

You jog in his direction with a bounce in each step.

"Ethan, hey!"

His gaze widens as it roams over you, pink dusting his cheeks. 

"Wow, you look…"

Placing a hand on your hip while the other lifts your pom-pom above your head, you adopt a cheerful pose. 

"Cute?" you suggest. 

Ethan’s throat ripples as he gapes at you. 

For a while, he only does that, stare at you open-mouthed. 

His face then turns an even brighter shade than before as he dips his head down momentarily. 

"Y-Yeah. Something like that," he stammers. 

His reaction drags an amused chortle out of you. You surmise it’s the first time you’ve addressed him in your full cheerleader getup and he must be somewhat taken aback. 

"I didn’t know you liked sports," you observe.

He shrugs.

"Not particularly but everyone is going and Chad’s my roommate." He points at the camera hanging from his neck. "I also kind of got roped into taking pictures for the school paper."

Some of the other cheerleaders wave at you as they’re running out to the field. The impatient clamor of the crowd already swells from the bleachers, loud enough to be heard even from the corridor. 

One of the girls from the squad, Lisa, stops as she catches sight of you and Ethan. A quiet conversation flows between the two of you, an inquiry swaying in her hopeful blue orbs. 

You give her an imperceptible nod and she smiles at you, quickly averting her gaze and striding away when Ethan glances from her to you with a look of utter confusion on his face. 

"What the hell was that about?" he asks, thick brows drawing together.

"About that…It’s good that I ran into you because there's something I meant to tell you, hm, more like ask you."

He inches closer, his eyes on you wide and alert. 

"Ask me what?"

A sliver of hesitation zips through you but you remember the promise you made just a few hours ago at cheer practice. 

You can’t back down. 

You swallow a lungful of nerve and reveal, "So…one of the girls in my squad sort of has a massive crush on you."

"Oh," he exhales, his shoulders sagging. His smile fades, understanding seeming to dawn on him. "You mean that girl I just saw?"

You nod and explain,  "Her name’s Lisa." He considers you blankly. You wave your hands in front of yourself. Words rush out of your mouth in an apprehensive string. "I know. I know. Trying to set up your friends is so cringe but she noticed you since the beginning of the year. The thing is she’s shy and doesn't know how to approach you. I promised her to ask you if you’d be interested in hanging out sometime." You twiddle your thumbs and mumble, "She’s super pretty and so nice, and she’s even into that same board game you told me about the other day…" You trail off, forehead creasing as you try to remember the name. 

Ethan tonelessly corrects you when you misspell the name of the game. 

You perk up and giggle, "Right. She just told me. I don't know how I forgot."

Ethan studies you long enough that it becomes unnerving and you start fidgeting under his sizzling focus. 

You grow nervous, wondering what he’s thinking. Usually, you wouldn’t meddle with anyone’s love life. But Ethan’s done so much for you. If possible, you want to do something for him too.

You just don’t know what you could do to thank him. 

Setting him up with someone from your squad seemed like a good idea, especially since you’re pretty sure Ethan’s single. You haven’t seen him hang around any other girl besides you. 

A heavy sigh drops from Ethan’s chest as his lips lift into a small half-smile. 

"The thing is, I already like someone," he confesses, patting his camera.

Your eyes bulge as a wave of embarrassment washes over you. 

"You do? I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize." You blink up at him in curiosity. "Who is she? Does she know?"

He chuckles. "She doesn’t know anything."

You approach him and squeeze his arm encouragingly. 

"Well you’re awesome so if she can’t see what’s right in front of her, you’re allowed to move on."

Ethan lets out another wry laugh. 

"If only it were that simple."

Your brows knit. "What do you mean?"

He runs his hand through his thick curls and exhales a long, weary breath. 

"She’s all I can think about. Literally." He pauses, his gaze corralling yours. "Every hour of every day, I think about her."

"Wow, that’s intense." You rub his forearm and send a sympathetic smile. "Sounds like it’s more than just a crush. Sounds like you’re in love with her."

"Yeah, I guess I am. Silly me, huh?"

"Don’t say that. I’m sure things will work out in the end. You deserve to be happy, Ethan."

His attention on you sharpens before a slow smile unfurls on his lips. 

"You know what? I think I do."

"Of course you do."

Your answer makes him smile wider. 

The moment is shattered when one of the players wedges himself between you and Ethan and steals an ephemeral, chaste kiss from you. 

The buff brunette quarterback flashes you a pearly grin.

"A kiss for good luck?" he says, winking at you.

"Uh, sure," you reply shyly, butterflies swarming your belly. 

He smiles at you one last time before jogging towards the stadium. 

"Who’s this guy?"

You blink, Ethan’s deep, blunt voice startling you. 

Pivoting back to him, you explain, "Oh. Tyler and I met at the boba shop the other day. It’s too early for anything serious but he’s cute and has been super nice to me."

It’s been pleasant to bask in some sense of normalcy again after what happened last month. You craved it. Tyler’s easygoing, fun to be around and he’s never pressured you to do anything once. 

Ethan’s jaw clenches as he scoffs, "Do you just go for every guy who buys you candy or gives you some half-assed compliment?"

Your mouth hangs open in shock. "Ethan? What do you mean?" 

He scrutinizes you for a few seconds before sighing and moving to walk away. 

"Nothing. Don’t worry about it."

The hand you wrap around his wrist stops him, Ethan halting in his tracks. You tug him back with a contrite pout, your concerned gaze rising to meet his. 

"I am going to worry about it. Ethan… Did I say something upsetting? I feel like maybe I did. I'm sorry about Lisa. I thought she'd be your type. She's everyone's type."

"Well, she isn't mine," he replies icily. 

Budding tears tickle the back of your eyes but you repress them. It’s not the time to weep. The game’s about to start. 

So you swallow them with ease, deciding you’ll give Ethan a proper apology later on. 

Instead you give a sunny smile and ask, "Are you coming to hang out with everyone after the game? We all decided to meet up for chili fries and beers whatever the outcome is."

Ethan’s eyes fall on your hand wrapped around his wrist. He shifts your grip so your small hand rests in his larger one. He studies your twined hands, rubbing his thumb against the back of yours. 

When he looks at you again, a glint dances in his chestnut orbs. 

"Thanks but I’m gonna be busy actually." He flashes you a broad grin. "I just remembered I have some trash I need to take out."

~