#and to not get trapped so much by the mask

[space-blue]

Ekko's device vs. Jayce rune?

Ok I'm not going to pretend to make sense of it, but let's talk!

It turns out the rune given to Jayce by Viktor in this timeline/AU is an acceleration rune.

We know this because Ekko says as much as he creates his rewind time tool.

And it leaves me to wonder if that isn't important?

Ekko just blew up an Arcane bubble-thingy within a hextech devide meant to "rewind" time.

Meanwhile, Jayce takes the Arcane rune seemingly from inside his wrist and places it inside Viktor's palm. And we now know it's an "acceleration rune".

So Viktor has this really cool 2D frame, and then every soul he has "corrupted" is summoned up and out of those runes :

But in the meantime, outside, they are frozen in place/time under the rune that expanded from Ekko's device, the one Viktor deemed impossible :

So basically I'm wondering WTF is going on, and how much of it could be a sort of matter vs. anti-matter situation?

Do they disappear because they are channeling an acceleration rune inside a deceleration rune zone? More importantly, is this scene ONLY possible in THIS life?

I think the RUNE matters. I think that Viktor has gone again and again to gift a rune to Jayce because in all universes he ends up alone and miserable as Jayce failed to stop him/kill him.

But in this one Jayce has an acceleration rune on himself, and Ekko shows up with a device INVENTED BASED ON THAT RUNE. A device Machine Herald Viktor thinks isn't possible.

So it may be that this is the only timeline in which 1/Hextech comes to exist and 2/ Viktor gets to end things in the battle in his REAL favour (by dying there).

Another point:

I think it's fascinating that he's not depicted with a Machine Herald look. It's likely he had it at the time, but has been in there all alone for god knows how long, and has just... chosen to de-evolve. He's gotten rid of the arm, the mask, the trappings. He has no reason to sport them, and they brought him no good.

I think it matters he appears like this to Viktor in particular, besides the fact it's probably just to not confuse the viewers too much.

[sweemmy]

⋆｡ﾟIn their love, they bloom like a dark rose, its thorns only striking those who try to escape. ﾟ｡⋆

— Vi, Caitlyn, Sevika, and Jinx.

VI.

Vi would do anything to protect you, but her obsession consumes her, driving her to see threats in every corner, even where none exist. In her mind, danger lurks in the shadows, always watching, and you are the only one who can escape this threat... even if it isn’t real.

Her irritable nature compels her to act impulsively, before her mind has the chance to halt the torrent of emotions. She doesn’t hesitate to confront anyone, even if they are just a stranger who has approached you out of curiosity, convincing herself that anyone who crosses your path is a danger, no matter how harmless they seem.

Vi clings to her justification, arguing that her control is merely an expression of love, that everything she does is for your own good. But beneath those words lies a dark echo, as if she cannot fathom a world where you don’t need her, where her influence is not vital to your survival.

Her gestures of affection, far from being tender, are invasive and violent. Her hugs, excessive and tight, feel as if she could crush you. The words she whispers in your ear, filled with intensity, steal the air between you, with a fervor bordering on obsession, as if she’s marking you, immortalizing you in her world, only for herself.

Though her exterior is one of hardness, beneath that mask beats a deep fear: the fear of losing you. She knows that without you, her world would crumble, empty, incomplete. “If you don’t want me near, just tell me… but don’t expect me to stand idly by while someone tries to take away the only thing that gives my life meaning.”

CAITLYN.

Caitlyn becomes ensnared in her own whirlwind of thoughts, convinced that her obsessive love is the only thing capable of offering you the care you deserve. She sees herself as the only one who can truly understand and protect you, regardless of the boundaries she must cross to keep you by her side.

With a sharp, calculating mind, Caitlyn weaves invisible threads around your life, orchestrating every detail so subtly that you're barely aware of her control. From the people you allow into your circle to the places you step foot in, everything is meticulously designed to keep you under her sway.

Using her charm, Caitlyn spins a web of carefully chosen words, manipulating your perception with a smile that conceals the darkness lurking inside her. She has no qualms about distorting the truth, lying, and creating parallel realities, all to ensure you remain bound to her, oblivious to the trap you've fallen into.

Her control over you goes beyond the physical; Caitlyn becomes an emotional necessity, feeding your dependency with gestures that seem loving but are, in reality, invisible chains. She makes you feel as though you cannot breathe without her presence, turning herself into an irreplaceable part of your life, a constant shadow you cannot escape.

Anyone who dares to get close is seen as an immediate threat, and Caitlyn doesn’t need to resort to open violence. Her deadliest weapon is her influence, capable of destroying slowly, without anyone suspecting a thing. "Why waste time with them, darling? I’ll handle everything. It’s much better if you follow my suggestions; I promise everything will be fine."

SEVIKA.

Sevika sees you as hers—like a treasure no one else deserves to touch. Her obsession is a dangerous blend of control and overbearing protection. Should anyone dare to put you in harm's way, she will become the shadow that eliminates any threat, without remorse and with brutal precision.

Any intruder who gets too close will be stopped by her mere presence. The intensity of her gaze and the unyielding strength of her stance instill terror in even the bravest hearts. She needs no words: her silence is a warning, and her actions, the verdict.

Believing the world is a deadly trap for you, she begins to build a cage of isolation. Every argument she makes is wrapped in false sweetness: "It’s for your own good, trust me," while the chains of her obsession tighten a little more with each passing day.

Flowers and sweet words are not her style, but her actions speak louder than anything. The moment she senses you’re in danger, she will unleash an inhuman fury, showing just how far she’s willing to go to protect you.

Her emotions are a storm hidden beneath a mask of cold serenity. Every action is calculated, every decision made with precision. "I don’t need to shout to show you how much I love you. You see it in what I do, don't you?" she murmurs, her voice calm yet carrying a weight that leaves no doubt about the intensity of her devotion.

JINX.

Jinx would always watch you with eyes filled with obsession, as if you were her precious toy, meant only for her. Her love is no simple feeling: it’s a wild, unpredictable whirlwind, packed with emotional explosions and flashes of madness. She cannot stand anyone else getting your attention, and her “jokes” toward those who dare to come close often end in a macabre, lethal spectacle of destruction.

Within her chaos lies a desperate search for stability, and you are her anchor, but always on her terms. Trying to pull away or challenge her twisted world only triggers a collapse in her mind and a violent need to reaffirm her control over you.

Her love manifests in disturbingly creative forms: bombs adorned with hearts, explosive devices bearing your name, or "trophies" taken from those she deems rivals. Each one is a sickening declaration of how deep and dangerous her affection runs.

Her greatest fear is abandonment, trapped in the loneliness that haunts her. If she senses even the slightest hint that you might leave, she’ll do the unthinkable to make sure you stay by her side. It doesn’t matter if she has to chain you—literally or figuratively; in her mind, the end always justifies the means.

Jinx won’t hesitate to destroy—even herself—to keep you close. Her desperation drives her to dark extremes, hurting others or putting her own body at risk. “Do you see this? I did it for you. Now you can’t deny how much I care. You’re not going anywhere, are you?”

[goingmerryfics]

Reader with a scar - F Reader x Sanji

Content: fem reader, mutual feelings, reader wears a mask over the mouth and the nose this time, face scarring due to a past accident not specified, fluff and reassurance,

Notes* part two of this post, a revised version for @mocchamck who wanted Sanji with their request and we had some technical issues. I may do a more detailed add-on to this because it's shorter than the original post once I get through all the requests and get my energy back :D

Sanji

Ever since you joined the Strawhats, Sanji always wondered why you’d hide your ‘pretty face’ as he would call it, and was constantly asking to show him what you were hiding

Thing is, you and Sanji had gotten close very fast

Sure, he was a bit pervy at times, but you really liked him. Like, a lot. Maybe too much

It wasn’t a one-sided affection, too. He made it clear with how he treated and talked to you that there was something extra special about you that kept drawing him back in

Being the only part of your face he could see, Sanji loved your eyes. He would often trap your face by holding your cheeks, his thumbs gently caressing your cheekbones over the mask, fawning over the colour and offering compliment after compliment

You were always worried that Sanji wouldn’t feel this way about you anymore if you showed him what was hidden underneath. You wouldn’t even eat around the rest of the crew, and often took your dinner in the crow’s nest by yourself

That bothered the shit out of him, too. He didn’t like that you took dinner on your own at all

When he finally does see your face for the first time, it’s because he catches you off guard

You’re just waiting for a scream, for an insult, for anything to confirm you fears

And honestly, he is taken back for a moment because it looks painful, and it’s not exactly what he had expected to see on your face

But instead, you feel the familiar warmth of his hands on your face, tilting your head up so he can look you in the eyes.

“A pretty girl like you should never hang her head like that.”

He admits that he is curious, but he could never reject your affections for something you can’t help

If your comfortable telling him what happened, he would sit and listen to every word

He really likes you, and he’s glad that you like him, too

He joins you to eat from then on

Without the mask in the way while you’re alone, he’s free to kiss you as much as he wants

Always showering you with compliments, and he picks you up on the days when you’re feeling particularly down

He sees strength and resilience in you, able to continue on from whatever you had gone through despite the scar. He admires you even more so now

He’s so protective that if anyone at all even tried to utter a comment about you, they wouldn’t even be able to speak a syllable before getting a swift kick to the face

[stwrrybwrry]

Thinkin’ of Megumi and you...💭

⊹　 ︶︶　 𖹭᪲　 ︶︶　 ⊹

Megumi! Who used to hold your hand when you stumbled, but now, like a fleeting memory, he’s standing far away, his eyes glazed with confusion and anger. His life feels like a constant rebellion, filled with reckless self-destruction. You thought he’d be your anchor, but the deeper you fall, the more you see that he’s spiraling too—pulling away because he knows if he holds on, both of you will get burned by the flames of your own madness.

Megumi! Who clings to you in the dead of night, his hands shaking as if trying to keep his sanity intact. It’s as if he’s teetering on the edge of everything he fears—love, vulnerability, and responsibility. But when the morning light breaks, he’s a ghost again, pulling away as though he was never really there, his inner chaos tearing him apart and dragging you down with him. You can feel the weight of his unresolved pain—the kind you can’t heal.

Megumi! Who promised to be there, but now you see him disappearing, lost in his own storm. The anger inside him, the rage that feels reckless and unpredictable, is a constant wall between you both. You’ve tried to hold onto the man you thought he was, but all that’s left is someone afraid to look at the damage they've caused. The more you try to reach him, the more he sinks deeper into his own darkness, like a prisoner in his mind.

Megumi! Who kisses you with the desperation of someone clinging to life, but when he pulls away, you realize it’s not love—it’s the chaos of a mind fractured and twisted by guilt. He’s lost in the same spiral, where he’s trying to survive his own inner battle. And no matter how much you wish for things to be different, you both know that this kind of pain can’t be fixed by each other. It’s too late. He’s already gone.

Megumi! Who watches you laugh, as if trying to convince himself you’re okay, but the laugh feels like a scream trapped inside. It’s like the chaotic energy of pretending to be fine, when everything is really falling apart. You laugh to mask the hurt, and he watches helplessly, unsure whether to stay and fight or to run from the mess you’re both becoming.

Megumi! Who reaches for you, not to help you but to hold onto something solid, to stop himself from falling. It’s as if both of you are so lost, yet you cling to the idea that maybe, just maybe, you could heal each other. But deep down, you both know it’s impossible. He’s not the person you need him to be, and you’re not the one he needs to save him. Your chaos is just too much for either of you to survive.

Megumi! Who tells you things might get better, that he’ll make it right, but there’s a look in his eyes—a deep, painful resignation that says this is all a lie. Trapped in cycles of self-destruction, neither of you can escape. And when you’re left alone again, the silence between you speaks louder than his broken promises ever could. There’s no saving either of you.

≿————-　ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🌷་༘࿐　————-≾

[multi-fandomdisaster]

Oh boy! It's time for me to project myself onto a fictional character!!!

Hear me out: Ted with undiagnosed ADHD

He's gotten...okay-ish at masking it over the years, but he cannot sit still and just focus for the life of him and he has no idea why. It's a damn good thing that his job doesn't really matter all that much in the long run company-wise, because he HARDLY gets anything done because he can't focus on it because it doesn't interest him all that much. His daily rounds of the office where he goes around and bothers everyone else is primarily because he gets bored as shit just sitting in an office chair trying to slave over whatever the heck he's supposed to do that day and he feels like he's gonna go insane if he doesn't move around and talk to people. Having his own office is simultaneously a godsend and a curse, because on one hand he'd occasionally get overstimulated by the sounds of the rest of the office while he's just trapped there at his desk unable to do anything to destress and instead has to pretend like he's working because he's definitely not and he's 100% wasted about an hour and a half instead thinking about the fact that he should be working and isn't, but on the other hand with his own office he doesn't have anyone body-doubling for him anymore so there's literally nothing pressuring him from getting distracted and doing something else. Any time anyone talks to him he has to put all of his mental effort into trying to focus on them that he sometimes misses the entire conversation because he was focusing so hard on focusing on them. He's been banned from clicky pens in the office because he likes the sound and it drives everyone else (especially Paul) crazy. He thoughtlessly drums and taps his fingers on everything from tables to doorframes to his leg to whatever solid object is in front of him and/or in his hand. He's missed a good amount of company events on accident because he forgot the date (the only dates he has actively memorized are his birthday and the day that he lost Jenny), and so every time there's some kind of special event, he tries to make it a habit to write it down over and over again on post-it notes and stick them everywhere around his home and his office. There was more than a couple of times that he entirely forgot to pick Pete up from places because he was either too zoned in on his routine to remember that he was supposed to be doing something different or was like- watching a movie or something and forgot he had a brother entirely.

Do you see my vision? Or am I just going insane?

[extremely-judgemental]

This is the last time I talk about Elain (hopefully!). I honestly don’t understand where you’re getting the idea that she is sweet. Elain is polite, like ‘my neighbour is nice to me’ sort of way. That doesn’t warrant how everyone puts her on a pedestal.

Her actions are mostly glossed over as self-preservation, but that doesn’t seem right to describe her behaviour either. At least, not in a sympathetic way. I'm sure there’s going to be an overload of trauma to justify this, because how can SJM’s heroines have mere mediocre problems when they can be abused or have lost a loved one?

I digress. Ever since Nesta’s grooming came to light, the same is assumed about Elain—that she’s groomed to be ‘nice’. That’s not entirely true. Their mother and grandmother focus on Nesta because getting the eldest married well will bring more prospects for the other two. In their mother’s words, Elain needn’t worry because she is a born beauty, and so she is not trained in courtliness or politics. And, Feyre has enough liberty to lock herself in their father’s office. As a middle child, Elain chooses the ‘nice’ mask because it’s what gets her attention in a family full of stubborn heads—her mother, her grandmother, her sisters.

During their poverty years, even if she could do chores, it’s hard to believe Nesta let her given how much she coddles Elain. And, Feyre treats her like a fragile doll. Elain essentially enjoys the best of both worlds like her father without contributing much to the family. She benefits heavily from her sisters’ animosity against each other—she’s the kind one while the other is the bitch. She’s also quick to secure a marriage alliance right after they regain their wealth. This isn’t to say it wasn’t out of love, but the plot is set in somewhat medieval times, where the order in which the sisters marry is crucial—Elain already wed before the eldest leaves a mark on Nesta’s reputation, making it difficult for her to find suitors.

Elain goes her entire life without being blamed or hated by her family, or even the IC. To have gone through all those struggles, having done literally nothing, and still cherished by everyone? Kindness doesn’t buy you that kind of a pass. It’s not her fault that everyone puts her first, but it’s the result of the image she actively cultivates to achieve her means.

This is why the paintbrushes don’t hold much value either. She doesn’t make Feyre’s life easier or take away some of the burdens, but gives her presents and everything is okay between them? This comes off like love-bombing to me—making Feyre feel special so that Elain isn’t the villain. Which worked, as Nesta is the one called ungrateful. When you’re struggling and someone offers you a bit of joy and relief, it is impactful, and Elain’s gesture could have been that if she had contributed to the family. But now, it comes off as manipulation.

And here’s my issue with her betrayal in Silver Flames. No one gives two fucks about what she thinks is best for Nesta. The IC won’t sit around and wait till she’s convinced. If she decides to lock herself in her room and cry again, only Feyre might care a little. Until then, she’s never included in any major decisions and she’s too perceptive to not notice this. She doesn’t even have to side with Nesta, but to pack her things to send her away?

She even goes on to throw in a ‘you don’t have to be miserable’ when Nesta is being imprisoned with a man. Imagine Elain trapped with Lucien to get her out of her funk. Feyre violated Lucien’s mind when he asked for a few minutes alone with her. They were chaperoned by the entire family for one simple tea. Clearly, Elain is not so stupid as to not know what she’s implying. She lets Nesta suffer not out of self-preservation but because she, like Feyre, believes Nesta is hopeless.

Later, she manipulates Nesta into scrying and insults her in front of everyone who hates her. She blames her ‘invisibility’—she crafted for herself—on others. It isn’t about her owning her life, because she could have done the scrying right away without that conversation with Nesta. And it’s not about protecting herself from the IC. Her outburst felt more like her resentment, that she couldn’t handle losing her shield.

There are many who want Elain to stand up to the IC, but the thing is, she has no reason to. When none of her actions are held against her, what would she fight for? The IC’s behaviour is borderline psychotic with Nesta to prove she wouldn’t be welcomed into the family unless she becomes reputable enough to be Feyre’s sister and Cassian’s mate. In Elain’s case, she is already forgiven and accepted.

Though it still falls under the broad term, her self-preservation carries heavy undertones of selfishness and manipulation. It is not even a survival response triggered under pressure. Most of her life, Elain never has to make big choices. She always gets what she wants without lifting a finger. No responsibility at home, more attention from family, the only one to receive her father’s love, her engagement to Graysen, going to Graysen for help, being left alone during the battles, having her own gardens in Velaris, learning to cook, leading a simple life, to be away from Lucien, pursuing Azriel. When exactly is she ever denied in the first place to preserve her happiness?

Also, Elain is definitely not a helpless doe. She is an opportunist. Her ‘kindness’ is a mask to escape scrutiny from others when she neglects her responsibilities. It serves her too since ‘Elain is Elain’.

And that’s fine because these flaws add layers to her character and there’s room for growth. But when the narrative ignores them and paints her as an angel because it supports the glorified hero, that is wrong. We see it happen with Feyre, Rhysand, and the Inner Circle. Elain is underdeveloped, yet she shows prominent traits at major plot points and still is considered ‘sweet’. At this rate, she’s just going to be another bland cutout who can never do anything wrong and is universally loved (like Feyre).

On the other hand, all this masking, the cunning, and the pettiness are great agents for her obvious future bonding with Rhysand who is quite similar. But her true nature has to be acknowledged first, which is clearly not happening in the narrative or the fandom.

There are obvious issues to be resolved in Elain’s character—shedding these traits and loving others without exploitation—but the focus will be on what SJM deems worthy for her plot. Elain went from being content to staying in the background, tending to her gardens, and creating beauty to wanting to step out of her sisters’ shadows. Though she never gave that vibe, it will be shoved down our throats because these leads need to be badasses. At this point, she has more chances of turning into another Feyre with her ‘coming out of the shell’ journey because that’s the only way women can grow in this series. I don’t like Elain the way I don’t like Feyre, Rhysand, or Cassian. She is, and will likely never be, held accountable for anything she does. Nesta has self-awareness, her flaws are portrayed as such, and she makes amends for her mistakes because that allows Feyre to be right again. But what reason does Elain have to be better when she hasn’t done anything wrong until now?