#bless you Arcane series

[dustyratt]

Sneak peek behind the stage! 💘

[alxtiny]

Ad Astra per Aspera

Episode 5

Pairing: Pirate!Ateez x Navigator!reader

Genre: pirate!au, fluff, angst, maybe smut

Word Count: 4.2 k

Warnings: harsh words, gaping wounds (yay), violence

Notes: short chapter this time, late would be an understatement atp i swear my internship+classes are trying to k-word me, i might disappear for around another month after this, please don’t mind the slow updates 😓 side note any guesses on their abilities ;) since we see a little more in this chapter

Playlist : emergency by ateez | sarushibai by natori | playground by bea miller (arcane)

Series Masterlist | Episode 6 | Episode 4 | Join my taglist!!

You were shivering, dirt, and murky water clung onto you like a dense second skin. It felt like a layer of tiny needles prickling against your bruised body. The lightless room was suffocating, and you could barely make out your own hands in front of you. You didn’t know where you were, why you were there and if the scent of blood floating in the air was yours or someone else’s.

Your head throbbed, memories clawing their way back to the surface. You remembered following the lovely seamstress to the dressing room, and sharp sting at the back of your neck before the world went black.

Now, you were here—wherever *here* was—trapped and helpless. You couldn’t breathe or even move. You had been kidnapped.

Again.

A bitter laugh escaped your cracked lips. Perhaps the pirates had finally had enough of you, finally decided you were more of a burden than a blessing. Maybe they’d sold you off to someone else. Why wouldn’t they? You were expendable—a stowaway swept into their smooth sailing lives, useful only until you weren’t.

The sound of metal scraping against wood snapped you out of your dark reverie. The door creaked open, flooding the room with harsh light that made your eyes sting. You squinted at the figure entering—a tall man, his face obscured by a black scarf that only left his wary, darting eyes visible.

His gaze swept over you, lingering on the blood staining your clothes. His expression gave away nothing, but the tension in his stance betrayed his unease.

“Get up,” he barked, sparing no sympathy.

Your legs trembled as you obeyed, pulling yourself upright with great effort. Pain flared in your side, and you pressed a trembling hand to the source, only to wince when it came away sticky and red.

“Move.” The man gestured impatiently toward the doorway.

You stumbled after him, the journey up a flight of stairs turning into a blur of agony and disorientation. By the time you were shoved into a chair in a sparsely furnished room, your strength had all but drained away.

The ropes digging into your wrists were unnecessary; you had barely any energy left to sit upright, let alone fight back. The man left with a disgusted glance thrown your way, the sound of his heavy boots soon boring way into silence.

Minutes, or maybe hours, passed before the door creaked open again. A different man entered this time—older, balding, with sharp, hawk-like features and a perpetual scowl etched into his face. A large intimidating scar ran down the side of his face. He dragged a second chair across the floor, the screeching sound setting your teeth on edge, and positioned it in front of you.

He sat down, his body language unwelcoming, as he leaned forward.

“I will ask simply,” he began, his voice gravelly, “tell me where the rest of the map is, and I will let you go.”

“Map?” Your voice cracked, hoarse from thirst. “I don’t—”

“Don’t play games with me, girl!” he roared, slamming his fist onto the decayed armrest of his chair.

“I swear,” you croaked, shaking your head weakly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His scowl deepened, and his lips twisted into a sneer. “You think I’m a fool? You were with *them*. The Cromer’s map doesn’t just disappear. Where is it?”

“I don’t know!” you cried out, tears welling up in your eyes.

The slap came out of nowhere, the force of it snapping your head to the side. Pain bloomed across your cheek, and a coppery taste filled your mouth.

“Where. Is. It?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

“I don’t know anything!” you sobbed, trembling as the words spilled out in a desperate plea.

He slapped you again, harder this time, the impact reverberating through your skull. His rings cut through your skin, leaving smudges of blood in their wake. Your vision swam as hot tears spilled down your cheeks.

“You’re testing my patience, girl.” He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. He grabbed a fistful of your hair, yanking your head back so you were forced to look up at him.

“You have one last chance,” he hissed, his face inches from yours. “Tell me where the damn Cromer is, or I’ll slit your throat and leave your body for the rats.”

“I don’t know!” you wailed, the words barely managing to come out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! Please, I don’t know!”

His eyes narrowed into slits, and for a terrifying moment, you thought he might actually sacrifice you to the rats. But then he released you with a snarl, letting your head fall forward as you gasped for air.

“You’re worthless,” he spat, pacing the room. “Either you’re a damn good liar, or you’re more of a useless whore than I thought.”

He turned to leave, pausing in the doorway to glance over his shoulder. “Enjoy your last hours. You won’t be leaving this place alive.”

The door slammed shut, leaving you alone with the heavy burden of your soon-to-come demise.

You slumped lifelessly in the chair, your body wreaked with silent sobs. The last candle of hope too was soon snuffed out.

…

Somewhere far away, though, Hongjoong was furious.

Not at you for getting kidnapped—no, he knew this wasn’t your fault. And not even at San or Yunho for letting you out of their sight. Mistakes happened. What ignited the simmering rage in his chest was the audacity of the idiot who thought they could disrupt his plans by taking you.

“What were they thinking?” he muttered under his breath, pacing the narrow alley outside the dressmaker’s shop. His hand brushed against his gun holster, fingers twitching as if longing to shoot someone.

“They weren’t,” Seonghwa replied coolly, leaning against the wall. He adjusted his gloves, eyes flitting from Hongjoong to the people passing by. “These useless lackeys don’t ever think—they just act. Clumsy, predictable. Sloppy, really.”

“Yeah well, they won’t be so sloppy when it comes to keeping her under lock and key,” San interjected, his jaw clenched as he glared at a rat skittering down the alleyway, as if everything was its fault. “They know she’s important to us.”

“Do they?” Yunho frowned, shifting uneasily, arms crossed over his chest. “How would they even know she’s with us? She hasn’t been around long enough to draw that kind of attention.”

Hongjoong’s eyes narrowed. “That’s the real question, isn’t it? Someone gave them information. Someone tipped them off.”

“You think there’s a leak?” San asked, his voice laced with tension.

“Possibly,” Hongjoong muttered. “But we’ll deal with that later. Right now, we are focusing on getting her back.” He stopped pacing and turned to Seonghwa. “Can you bring forth enough shadows to handle this?”

Seonghwa gave a small nod, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “I can summon a few, but if there really is a leak, I can’t call back any from the ship,”

A tense silence settled over the group until San broke it, his voice low but steady. “So what’s the plan, Captain?”

Hongjoong’s gaze narrowed onto the sign board behind them. “We need confirmation of her exact location. First, we get that ‘seamstress’—the one you said was with her.”

San frowned, his brows knitting together. “She didn’t seem like much. I don’t think she could’ve done this alone.”

“She wouldn’t have,” Seonghwa interjected. “But that doesn’t mean she’s innocent. If she was involved, she knows something.”

Yunho gestured toward the dressmaker’s shop behind them. “She’s still inside. I saw her duck back in right before we met up.”

Hongjoong nodded sharply. “Then we start there. Move.”

…

The shop was eerily quiet as they entered. Bolts of fabric and half-finished garments lay abandoned, and the faint smell of perfume mingled with dust in the air. Yunho subtly pointed toward a figure hunched over a table near the back—a woman with sharp, birdlike features and a frailty that seemed at odds with the situation. She didn’t look strong or imposing, not someone who could overpower you even on your worst day.

Hongjoong studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable, before signaling the others to keep away.

He strolled over to the woman, his frame casting a shadow over her workbench. She glanced up, startled, her thin hands trembling slightly.

Mustered sweetness laced his voice as he leaned down, removing his sunglasses and asked softly, “What did you do to the girl?” His dark eyes bore into hers threateningly.

The woman’s eyes widened, her pupils dilating unnaturally as if a veil had been drawn over her consciousness. Her lips parted, and she spoke in a distant, entranced voice. “A man… he gave me a cloth. Told me to press it over her face until she passed out.”

Hongjoong’s expression remained impassive. “Then what?”

“He… he carried her out the back door,” she continued, her voice monotonous.

“And after that?”

Her face scrunched, as if trying to grasp at fading memories. “I don’t know… I swear, I don’t know where they went. He didn’t tell me anything else.”

Hongjoong straightened, his sharp gaze fixed on her as she slumped forward, her breathing ragged. Her eyes fluttered, coming back into focus. Confusion clouded her face as she looked around, disoriented.

“Did I… say something?” she murmured, rubbing her temple.

“Just that you don’t know anything useful,” Hongjoong replied, frustration lacing his voice. He offered her a faint, insincere smile. “Thanks for your time.”

Without waiting for her response, he turned on his heel and walked back to the others.

Seonghwa tilted his head expectantly. “Well?”

“She confirmed what we suspected,” Hongjoong replied. “A man had her do the dirty work. He took her out the back door, but she doesn’t know where they went after that.”

“She might be lying,” Yunho suggested, his expression skeptical.

“You know that’s not possible,” Hongjoong said firmly, his jaw tightening.

“Then we’re back to square one,” Wooyoung muttered, sighing dejectedly.

“Not quite,” Seonghwa said, eyebrows furrowed in thought. “If they took her out the back, my shadows should be able to track them from there. They leave traces—even the best of them.”

“But I can only do a max of five,” Seonghwa added, his tone slightly strained. “Like I said, the ones I left on the ship can’t be called back for this.”

Hongjoong nodded without hesitation. “Five will do. Send them ahead. I need one to scope out the auction house, one to the inn, and the other three to sweep downtown—places where someone might hide a person.”

Seonghwa shuddered slightly as he began his summoning. Black fog coiled around his feet, dark and cold as it spread outward. His eyes rolled back, and the energy around him shifted, feeling devoid of life itself. The fog thickened, swirling as it slowly formed into grotesque figures.

The first shadow had a face split in half, with jagged teeth visible along the edges of the gaping wound. The second bore a black sword impaled through its abdomen, the blade gleaming faintly as if alive. The remaining three were equally unsettling, with missing limbs, hollow eye sockets, and large, unhealed wounds that oozed dark mist. Their translucent, misty black skin revealed faintly glowing bones underneath, and a purple glow pulsed behind their rib cages.

Even San, who had seen Seonghwa’s ‘friends’ countless times, couldn’t stop himself from grimacing. “They’re as creepy as ever,” he muttered under his breath.

Wooyoung leaned closer to Yunho, whispering, “I don’t care how many times I see this process—I swear it’s nightmare fuel, makes me a little more afraid of Seonghwa each time.”

“Quiet,” Hongjoong ordered sharply, his focus on Seonghwa.

The dark fog surrounding the shadows began to dissipate as Seonghwa jerked back suddenly, blinking rapidly as his eyes returned to normal. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself before turning to the shadowy figures.

“You know your tasks,” Seonghwa said, his voice firm but reverent. “Find Aurora. Report back immediately. No delays.”

The shadows inclined their heads—if one could call the unnatural motions bowing—and began to move. Their forms shifted back into thick black mist, slithering away silently, merging with the darkness around them as if they’d never existed at all.

San exhaled deeply, watching the last trace of them vanish. “They better move fast,” he muttered.

“They will,” Seonghwa assured, brushing off some invisible dust from his hands.

Hongjoong turned back to the group, his eyes sharp as a blade. “Now, we move too. If those shadows find her trail, we need to be ready to act immediately. No mistakes, no hesitation. Killing should not be your last resort. Understood?”

The crew nodded, pushing back all apprehensions.

“What if…..they’ve moved her again?” Yunho asked cautiously.

“They can’t go very far without drawing suspicion…..not like we can, and is safe to assume their lack of creativity in choosing a hiding spot,” Hongjoong replied icily. He glanced at Seonghwa. “How long will it take for them to return?”

“A few minutes,” Seonghwa said. “They work quickly. But they’ll let us know if the trail is too cold to follow.”

…

Your head hung low, exhaustion weighing heavily on your body. The last remnants of your tears had dried against your cheeks, and your swollen eyes stung with each blink and your throat felt scratchy. You’d cried yourself into numbness, the despair swallowing you whole.

The darkness in the room felt suffocating now, the faint light that had once seeped in through the tiny window was gone. You’d lost track of time entirely—was it hours? Days? The heavy shackles on your wrists seemed to drag you further into hopelessness.

A faint movement in the corner of your eye made you jolt upright as far as possible, the chair teetering with the sudden movement. A humanoid figure appeared for the briefest moment before vanishing. Your heart raced, but you convinced yourself it was just your mind playing cruel tricks.

Once again dead silence hit the room, apart from the rats that scurried around again, their claws scratching against the damp floor. The man’s earlier threat echoed in your mind. How long before they tried you for food?

Minutes passed, you were slumped drowsily in the chair, exhaustion pushing you past consciousness, you could feel sleep tugging you towards itself.

Suddenly, a hand clamped over your mouth. Panic surged through you, and you tried to scream, but the pressure held firm.

“Shh, it’s me,” a familiar voice whispered urgently.

Wooyoung.

The hand slowly moved away, and his face came into view, skin looking as if it was glowing and casting faint light across the room. You didn’t think much of it as relief washed over you by the sight of a familiar face, so overwhelmingly that tears threatened to spill again. You nodded, your breathing uneven, as he put a finger to his lips, motioning for you to stay silent.

“You’re okay,” Wooyoung whispered softly, his voice laced with concern as he helped you to your feet. You winced, the stiffness in your muscles making every movement agonizing.

He gestured toward the door, where you noticed something odd. The lock was half-melted, the metal warped as if it had been exposed to intense heat. You had no time to dwell on it as Wooyoung led you closer.

Near the doorway, Yunho stood watch, his tall frame silhouetted against the barely brighter corridor. He glanced back at you, his expression instantly shifting from focus to alarm.

“You look awful,” Yunho said bluntly, though his tone was filled with concern.

“Gee, thanks,” you croaked weakly, your voice barely above a whisper.

Wooyoung shot Yunho a glare. “Now’s not the time for commentary, big guy. Help her with the shackles.”

Yunho moved quickly, stepping behind you. You felt his hand settle on the metal cuffs, and a moment later, an intense warmth spread through the metal. You flinched slightly at the heat, but before you could process it properly, the shackles fell away with a metallic clang.

Your hands were finally free.

You rubbed your sore wrists, your fingers trembling as you tried to soothe the raw skin. Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at Yunho. “Thank you,” you murmured, your voice breaking slightly.

Yunho gave you a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t thank me yet. Let’s get out of here first.”

“Can you walk?” Wooyoung asked, his glowing form leaning closer to examine your condition.

“I… I think so,” you replied hesitantly, though your legs felt like jelly.

“Good,” Wooyoung said, giving you an encouraging grin. “Because we’re not sticking around for an encore. Stay close to me.”

As Wooyoung led the way into the corridor, Yunho placed a steadying hand on your shoulder. “We’ll get you out safely. Just trust us.” You nodded.

As you walked down the dimly lit hallway, the air felt heavier with each step. You emerged into a small amphitheater, the rows of seating and the empty center stage staring back at you menacingly. It wasn’t particularly grand or impressive, but something about it made your stomach churn uneasily.

Descending the stairs cautiously, Yunho took the lead while Wooyoung stayed close behind you, his soft glow illuminating your way. You reached another corridor leading to what looked like an intimate dining hall.

Before you could step inside, muffled voices reached your ears.

“Perfect score with this one,” a gruff voice said.

“Worth more than I thought,” another sneered.

You were disgusted. It took no genius to guess that they were talking about you. One of the voices was familiar, of the man’s who had taken you from the lock up, hatred bubbled dangerously inside of you.

Suddenly, you heard a faint whooshing sound from behind. Turning instinctively, you realized Wooyoung was gone.

“Where is he?” you whispered urgently to Yunho, your voice trembling.

Yunho pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for you to stay silent. “He’s handling it,” he whispered.

Your eyes darted around nervously as something shadowy moved near the arch joining the rooms. The figure slithered out of sight before your eyes could focus on it. Yunho adjusted the welding goggles perched on his head, sliding them into place.

“Close your eyes,” he instructed firmly.

“What? Why—”

“Just do it.”

Before you could argue, Yunho raised his hand, shielding your eyes. A moment later, you felt an intense wave of heat radiating through the corridor, accompanied by muffled screams and flashes of bright, searing light that even penetrated your closed lids.

The air turned stiflingly hot for a few moments, then all fell silent again. Yunho lowered his hand cautiously, pushing his goggles back onto his head.

“Okay,” he said casually, “all clear.”

Your heart raced as you peeked into the room, still unsure what had just happened. Before you could ask, Wooyoung sauntered out of the room, his grin as smug as ever.

“I think I’ve barbecued them successfully,” he quipped, dusting off his hands theatrically.

“What do you mean ‘barbecued’?” you asked, your voice laced with confusion and unease. “And where did you even disappear to?”

Wooyoung’s grin widened. “You mean…vanish like this?”

In an instant, he was gone again.

“Wooyoung?!” you called out, spinning around.

You heard his cackling echo faintly around you, and from the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of a dull shadowy figure darting through the corridor. Suddenly, he reappeared right behind you, leaning in close.

“Boo,” he whispered into your ear, making you jump and yelp.

“Ugh, don’t do that!” you hissed, clutching your chest as your heart pounded.

“Relax,” Wooyoung said, laughing. “Captain will explain everything later. For now, just trust us.”

You weren’t entirely sure how much trust you had left to give, but you followed as the three of you stepped into the dining hall, hoping that all this was just your addled imagination and Wooyoung was just really quick on his legs.

The air was thick with the acrid smell of burned wood and... something else. The ground was singed, blackened in streaks and patches. The voices you’d heard earlier were gone.

In the center of the room, a small pile of ashes rested, faintly glowing as if it had only just cooled.

You stared at the scene, your chest tightening. Something strange was going on, and your instincts screamed at you that these pirates were anything but ordinary.

“You okay?” Yunho asked, glancing down at you as you stood frozen in place.

“Yeah,” you mumbled, though your voice betrayed you. “I think I’m just... going insane.”

Wooyoung chuckled. “Not insane. Just not used to seeing our unusual side.”

Your brows furrowed. “Unusual? What is that supposed to mean? Are you all on drugs of some sort or something?”

Wooyoung winked. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

You weren’t sure if you wanted to know.

Finally, the heavy exit doors of the building came into view. Large, bolted, and seemingly impenetrable, the doors taunted your growing desperation to get out. Yunho took long impatient strides forward, and closed his hands around the rusted lock barring your way.

Curious despite yourself, you stepped closer, rising on your tiptoes to peek over his shoulder. His hands glowed an ominous red, and to your utter disbelief, the metal began to soften and melt, dripping onto the floor in molten rivulets. The glowing liquid hissed and cooled instantly upon contact with the cold ground, solidifying into harmless puddles.

When Yunho stepped back, the lock was gone, leaving only a faint scorch mark on the door.

Your eyes widened in horror as the implications set in. You stumbled back, putting distance between yourself and the two men, your heartbeat racing. “What... what are you?” you whispered, your voice trembling with fear.

Wooyoung’s playful demeanor faltered as he watched you retreat. “What’s wrong?” he asked, genuine concern lacing his voice.

“You’re not human,” you whispered in disbelief, panic creeping into your tone. You held up a hand to keep them at bay as they tried to step closer. “Stay away from me.”

“Wait, Aurora,” Yunho said, raising his hands in surrender, his expression softening. “We’re not going to hurt you. We’re here to save you.”

“Save me?” you spat, your voice breaking. “From what? You’re just like them! Who knows what you’re hiding—or what you’ll do to me when you’re done using me!”

A flicker of pain crossed Yunho’s face, but he stayed rooted in place, his hands still raised in a non-threatening gesture.

“That’s not true, Aurora,” he said, his voice low but tinged with frustration. “And you know it.”

“You killed them didn’t you, that’s what you meant by barbecued, you- you burned them alive…” you stared in horror towards Wooyoung, putting two and two together.

Wooyoung shook in his place, beside Yunho, his eyes trembling. You were afraid..of him. “Please,” he said softly, “just come with us. You can’t stay here.”

You shook your head, stepping back again, your mind a swirl of fear and confusion. As you moved, you caught Wooyoung’s eyes darting behind you. You froze, slowly turning around to meet Hongjoong’s piercing gaze.

His eyes were calm but commanding, locking onto yours like they could see straight into your soul.

“Go to sleep, Aurora,” he said evenly. “You’re tired and not thinking straight.”

You tried to resist, but his words were like a heavy blanket settling over your mind. Your eyelids grew heavy, and the tension in your body melted away. You barely registered the world going dark as unconsciousness claimed you.

“Mingi, carry her,” Hongjoong ordered, his tone brisk. “We have who we came for. Let’s get back to the estate.”

Mingi stepped forward, his expression conflicted as he gently lifted your limp body into his arms. He adjusted you carefully, as if afraid of jostling you too much.

As they began walking toward the exit, Mingi glanced at Yunho and Wooyoung, their faces still clouded with guilt and unease. “Don’t overthink it,” Mingi said in a low, comforting voice. “She’ll come around once we explain everything. She’s just scared right now.”

The words brought little solace to Yunho, who nodded stiffly, and Wooyoung, whose usual confidence seemed shaken.

Once outside, Seonghwa was waiting with the others, his sharp eyes quickly assessing the situation. His gaze lingered on your unconscious form in Mingi’s arms before flicking to Hongjoong.

“What happened?” Seonghwa asked, his voice clipped.

“She saw them use their abilities,” Hongjoong said, rubbing his temple. “She’s just... a little freaked out.”

Seonghwa nodded in understanding, though his jaw tightened. “Let’s move. It’s late, and the streets are quiet, but we don’t want to push our luck.”

Behind them, two of Seonghwa’s shadowy figures carried an unconscious man, his form limp and lifeless in their grasp. The group moved swiftly, slipping through the darkened streets unnoticed.

By the time they reached the Kim estate, parts of the events that transpired inside the auction house were known to everyone, their heads feeling disturbed by the reaction they were met with. They stepped inside, the grand doors shutting behind them with a soft thud.

“Get her settled,” Hongjoong instructed Mingi. “We’ll deal with everything else tomorrow.”

The others dispersed quietly, the tension still lingering heavily in the air.

© alxtiny . Do not steal, plagiarise, translate, repost, or use my works on any platform in any way.

Comment under masterlist to be added to taglist

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS PURE FICTION AND NOT RELATED TO THE MEMBERS OF ATEEZ IN REAL LIFE PLEASE DO NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY

Taglist: @yandere-stories @passionandsuga @beabatiny @sadtoru @pixie0627 @nagynomi98 @bunnychui @nuggiesnuggetdog04 @life-is-a-game-of-thrones @daniela-f-uwu @klllerwaifu

[marauding-almond]

SONG TRANSLATION FOR ALL YOU NON-FRENCH SPEAKING ARCANE FANS!!!

Important note! “Ma meilleur ennemie” means “my best enemy.” However, en French, the prononciation to this sounds very similar to “ma meilleure amie,” or “my best friend.” So it’s a play on words that’s important to keep in mind

I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you

You’re the best thing that’s happened to me

But also the worse thing that’s happened to me

That day where I met you, I might have preferred

That that day would have never arrived

The best curse

The worse blessing

Of you, I distance myself

But like says the saying:

“Instead of being alone, it’s better to in bad company”

You know what they say

Be close to your dearest friends

But also, closer still to your adversaries

But my best enemy, it’s you

Avoid/run away from me, the worst is you and me

But if you still search for my voice, forget me, the worst is you and me

Why does your name still hurt me

When it hides just there, in the space?

It’s which emotion, hate or softness/love, when I hear your name?

I’d told you: “don’t look back”

The past that follows you is at war against you

But my best enemy, it’s you

Avoid/run away from me, the worst is you and me

But my best enemy, it’s you

Avoid/run away from me, the worst is you and me

I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you, I love you, I wait for you

@circe-butbetter

[pumpkinpatchmaniac]

ARCANE SEASON 2 ARC 3 SPOILERS‼️‼️

I noticed this while watching episode 7: “Pretend like its the first time”, not that small of a detail but:

(I’m sorry if it is incoherent i just really needed to get this out.)

During the innovative party scene where Ekko dances with Powder, the song that plays is ”ma meilleure ennemie” by Stromae & Pomme, which translates to ”my best (female) enemy” which clearly refers to Powder, or Jinx.

In the intro begins a small chant where they say

Je t’aime, je t’attends […]

Meaning “ i love you, i am waiting for you” which clearly explains Ekko before coming to terms that Jinx no longer is Powder, since he fell inlove with Powder he keeps waiting for Powder to come back. This mental dilemma of having to accept that even if its the same body, same face its not the same person anymore, which is later supported by the first chorus where Stromae sings

La pire des bénédiction, La plus belle des malédictions

“The worse of all blessings, the best of all curses”, Powder was the best thing that happened to him while Jinx was the worse thing which makes this relationship with her- this connection, both a blessing and a curse.

But what made the scene more interesting was when they danced and the part

Mais ma meilleure ennemie, c'est toi [but my best enemy, that is you.]

Fuis-moi, le pire, c'est toi et moi [flee from me, the worse is you and i]

Mais si tu cherches encore ma voix [but if you keep searching for my voice]

Oublie-moi, le pire, c'est toi et moi [forget me, the worse is you and i]

I know we all wanted Ekko to stay in that timeline and be happy with Powder but remember season 1 where- whilst every Jinx or Vi centric episodes always began with a flashback, the Ekko centric one started from the present. Indicating that Ekko forces himself to always look forward than trying to let the past get to him. For exempel in - please correct me if i’m wrong, season 1 episode 5 when Vi said that she should’ve been there to help Ekko, he only says ”that’s is a good way to drive yourself crazy”. He immidiantly shut down any thought of what could’ve been, indirectly forcing Vi to think about the present. Especially afterwards when Vi talks about getting Powder back when Ekko has already fully acknowledge that there is only Jinx. All of this makes him being in that timeline more difficult for him since it is exactly what he wanted to avoid, being stuck in what could’ve been.

Dancing with Powder just engraves this furthee into him, this is unhealthy for Ekko since it’s the relation ship between him and Jinx. As to reiterate ”if you keep searching for Powder’s, voice, stop, it will just drive you crazy”

Also to refer to the pre-chorus!

First one:

Tu sais c'qu'on dit [you know what they say]

Sois près d'tes amis les plus chers [stay close to your dearest friends]

Mais aussi [but even]

Encore plus près d'tes adversaires [even closer to your adversaries (i.e antagonists, villains)

And the second one

Je t'avais dit : "Ne regarde pas en arrière" [i have told you : “dont look back]

Le passé qui te suit te fait la guerre [the past will follow you and take you to war]

(This is pretty self explanatory)

Additionally, before the kiss scene where Ekko says “can we pretend like it’s the first the first time”, further insinuates the whole, “this is my present even thought it’s a part of your past”.

TL:DR

This scene hurts

(Authors note:

I know it is not a small detail and not that significant but i really wanna acknowledge how every part of the Arcane series have a significance into the story. And honestly i needed to vent. It was so fun last night watching the scene and hearing ”le pire, c’est toi et moi” and just go ”oh, word?”. I am not French but i studied it so it just felt good from that POV too.

Edit: i was not aware that Arcane gets critizied over how litteral the songs are to the scene but i still stand by my point about why i really liked the song and this scene specifically)

[s1i9d]

[ARCANE SERIES FINALE SPOILERS LOOK AWAY.]

Knowing how animation works is a blessing and a curse cause when two forces are interacting with one another, you need proper reference footage for it.

That being said, did the animators who did the CaitVi prison scene make out sloppy style with someone or…?

[bwat5-blog]

**Spoilers for all of Arcane**

A detailed refuting of the concept that "Vi is the Jinx"

So what are people saying when they make these accusations regarding Vi’s character? Well the only way I can think to take it is people are saying she is the cause of their misfortune and suffering. The cause of her loved ones demise, and the driving factor in the darkness and pain of their universe. No facet of the show supports this as I will explain below.

I have written about this extensively in a variety of posts. I am not unaware of this. I am also not unaware of the fact that ultimately, people are free to consume/enjoy/interpret this wonderful and heartbreaking story in any manner they see fit. What I aim to do here is an in-depth, detailed examination of the primary negative occurrences in the story, and given the information we are given demonstrate that Vi is not the issue. Why? Because I am continuing to champion understanding and literacy of one of the best stories/tv shows we have been blessed with in my lifetime. For any of you who are patient and kind enough to read this. It will be quite long, and it will likely repeat some content from other posts, but I believe that for those of us who love incredible storytelling, standing up for those stories that are worth it matters. To those who take the time, thank you. Continue to stand up for the importance of stories that live in you long after they are over.

Season 1: Act 1-

The absolutely vital thing to remember is that although this is the beginning of the story for us, we are in joining these characters just before the dynamite goes off that will shatter their world. Below is a list of factors that should be noted regarding this idea:

Vander and Silco's long running conflict, with Silco waiting for his opportunity to strike

Years and years of oppression and hostility between Zaun and Piltover

Jayce already being well into his hex-tech research (which as we will come to learn was being helped along by space jesus Victor even then)

The long developing of shimmer and machinations of Singed

The situation is a powder keg. Years of hostility and oppression, a brilliant and calculating criminal mind waiting in the shadows for his moment to seize control, an idealistic young scientist with no idea of the danger he is dabbling in, and a brilliant scientist utterly devoid of morals in the service of his goals. By the time we join our characters the ship is already sinking, we just don't know it yet. Now taking that into consideration, lets dive in.

The Explosion at the Lab: This is undoubtedly the driving force of Act 1 in terms of the incident and its effects. Keeping things simple, below you will find a bare bones list of all the negative effects in act 1 that can be attributed to this incident not considering blame or fault:

Death of Milo, Clagger and we are lead to assume Vander

Separation of Vi and Power and by extension, the birth of Jinx

Trial of Jayce Talis and by extension, his partnering with Victor, leading to the true birth of hex tech

Deaths of Grayson and Benzo, allowing Marcus to take Grayson's place as Silco's corrupt sheriff

Silco seizes control of the lanes and all of the negatives that come with it (shimmer, violence etc)

Now at a glance, its easy to say "See! These things only happen because of the explosion, and the explosion happens because Vi takes the kids there. So Vi is the issue!". This is extraordinarily simplistic thinking to the point of willfully ignoring the context. Lets delve deeper:

Order of events as we understand them:

Jayce Talis enters the undercity, purchasing equipment for his research. He interacts with Echo.

Echo tells Vi and friends about the lab after following Jayce

The kids go on their heist, causing the explosion

Jayce is locked up and put on trial, being banished and having his research taken

Enforcers enter the under-city causing conflict over series of days

Vi tries to turn herself in but Vander takes her place

Silco uses Shimmer mutant to murder Grayson and Benzo and take Vander

Jayce and Victor become partners taking Hex-Tech into the next phase

Vi, Milo and Clagger make rescue attempt ending in death of the two boys, vander, and the separation from Powder leaving her vulnerable to become Jinx.

Accusations people make from this information:

Vi got Vander, Clagger, Milo, Benzon and Greyson killed

Vi is responsible for hex-tech because the explosion she caused pushed Victor and Jayce together

Vi makes Jinx because she hits powder, yells at her, and calls her a Jinx

Since Vi got Vander killed she is the reason Silco is able to take the Lanes and flood them with Shimmer and so on

Responses:

Vi is the reason for hex-tech: This is quite simply untrue. Jayce is well into his research when this incident occurs. In fact when he is found out he insists he has almost cracked it. Victor is Heimerdinger's (the leader of the city and a preeminent scientist who already knows Jayce personally) assistant and a scientist with self-admitted ambition to become more. Not to mention their wealthy benefactor in Mel who is looking to make a name for herself and finances them. Now sure you could make the argument that the explosion is what draws attention to hex-tech bringing Mel into the equation. But Mel by her own admission is searching for that way to earn her place in the world and Jayce was absolutely going to keep going. This was a matter of when, not if. And every single person involved bears more responsibility than the girl in her early-mid teens who had no idea it was there when she lead her family on an adventure trying to feed them.

Vi makes Jinx: I have covered this extensively and if you are reading this that means my writing doesn't bore you to death so you have probably read my thoughts already. So i'll try to keep this brief. Silco made Jinx. The grieving teenage girl who had just watched her whole family die violently and barely survived herself lashing out at her sister in a moment she clearly immediately regrets is not to blame here. The broken man/crime lord taking that shattered little girl and weaponizing her grief and guilt is to blame. and if you want to say it's Vi's fault for leaving Powder in the first place. She defends Powder to everyone. She tells Powder she believes in her and that her gadgets will work. She tells Powder her differences make her strong. She only leaves Powder behind after being lectured by Vander on her responsibility to keep her safe, and after seeing the horror of the shimmer mutant unleashed.

Vi is the reason Milo, Clagger, Benzo, Grayson and Vander are dead: Each of these characters is dead because of one person. Silco. Milo, Clagger and Vander all die during the rescue mission of Vander from Silco's hideout. Sure the explosion Powder sets off is what kills the boys, but they are only in this mess because Silco took advantage of the chaos to kidnap Vander drawing them there. Vi's part in this is fighting for her life against multiple armed adult thugs even though she isn't even grown yet. Silco stabs Vander and Vander sacrifices himself taking Shimmer to try and get Vi out. Benzo is dead after verbally confronting Silco, and Grayson is murdered as an opportunity for Silco to install Marcus as his puppet.

Vi is the reason Silco can take control: This is really just an extension of everything we just discussed. This is quite frankly silly. Silco has been waiting for years. He has an army, weapons, and most importantly Shimmer. Which brings us to Singed. A brilliant scientist utterly devoid of Morals who manufactures this substance turning the downtrodden people of Zaun into Silco's monsters.

Conclusion- Yes, Vi leads them on the heist which causes the explosion and the related ripples. But she is not to blame. The tragedy that unfolds is the result of years of suffering in the under city, the machinations of a crime lord so secure in his convictions he will harm anyone he deems necessary, and the innocent overreach of a young scientist who brought forth the end of the world in his dream of improving lives. Vi may be the deer that walks out in front of the car. But the driver is drunk and angry, the mechanic he just left cut his breaks, and years of neglect by the city have left the roads broken and jagged making everything worse. Vi is not the perpetrator, she is just another victim

Season 1: Act 2-

Act 2 of season 1 sees a very different world for our characters. Vi has been imprisoned for seven years. And in those seven years Vi's sweet, clever little sister Powder has become the feared notorious criminal Jinx. Silco has risen to power, smuggling shimmer with the assistance of the corrupt sheriff of Piltover and conducting his operations under the sheriff's protection. Hex-Tech has become globalized. And the firelights have risen in opposition to Silco.

The Hunt For Jinx Begins: The driving conflict in this act is Jinx's attack on the city, theft of the hex gemstone, and the hunt for her that leads to Caitlyn and Vi's mission.

In this act, there is much less for people to try and link to Vi in terms of trouble but for a barebones look at the various conflicts:

Jinx attacking the firelights, enforcers, and stealing the gem

Hex Tech development into the Hex core, and the ousting of Heimerdinger when he protests

Jinx mental turmoil ratchets up in the discovery of Vi being alive and their reunion

Accusations:

Vi made Jinx, so Vi is responsible for Jinx's crimes

Vi caused Hex tech, so every progression toward the bad thing we know is her fault

Vi's reentry into Jinx's life and trying to help her be Powder again makes everything worse

Responses:

Vi made Jinx so she is responsible for her crimes: No she didn't. No she isn't. see above

Vi caused Hex Tech so every progression is on her: No she didn't. See above.

Vi's reentry into jinx's life and trying to help her be Powder makes it worse: Vi spent every day for seven years hoping and dreaming of finding her sister again. When she does and jinx tells her she is different and "did things" Vi does not judge her or shame her and welcomes her back as family. When Vi is taken driving Jinx further into that mental darkness its's against Vi's will after being knocked out by firelights

Conclusion: This act is the result of the changes all brought into the world at the end of the first act. So not much to discuss. Primarily as Vi did not make Jinx, her sister's crimes are not on here. Not that that will stop her from feeling guilty since Vi has a good heart and loves her sister.

Season 1: Act 3-

Act 3 primarily deals with forcing Vi to see that her sister is not who she was, through the "Dinner Party" and the attempted and failed making peace with Zaun. In terms of Vi, there isn't much new here to discuss in terms of what people are trying to blame her for. Anything Jinx does is blamed on Vi for the erroneous statement that Vi made Jinx, including by Jinx herself. Its important to remember at this point Jinx is giving her own sister the choice between killing Caitlyn or "Getting Powder Back". There is no getting Powder back. This is Jinx at a peak of manic and aggressive behavior. Her blaming Vi is a way to cope and hurt someone besides herself. There are however important developments that will be extremely relevant to this entire conversation moving forward into Season 2:

With Singed's help they progress hex-tech into the hex core and we also see the hex core kill for the first time.

Ambessa's arrival

Jinx's killing of Silco and murder of three Piltover council members moments from Zaun being given independence.

**Vi's guilt over stopping Caitlyn from hurting Jinx only to then witness Jinx kill Caitlyn's mother is a very important moving forward, but we must remember Vi is a young woman in her early twenties in a terrifying situation trying to keep her sister and the woman she loves from killing each other**

Conclusion for season 1: So quick recap. Vi did not make Jinx. She is in no way responsible for Hex Tech. She is not responsible for any of Silco's actions and she is has been victimized and hurt by most of it.

Season 2: Act 1-

Season 2 picks up in the immediate aftermath of Jinx's attack. Vi is in the terrible position of grieving the loss of who her sister was, guilt over not being able to stop her sister in general, and IMMENSE guilt as her sister killed the woman she love's mother. I'm not going to repeat myself in terms of Hex-tech or Jinx related guilt unless its needed for new context.

Ending the First Hunt for Jinx: This act is primarily the conclusion of Vi and Caitlyn hunting Jinx together in terms of Vi' story and in terms of what fans are trying to lay at Vi's feet there isn't much here. Primarily there is a lot of talk over her decision to put on the uniform of the enforcer and what the strike team does while she is on it.

The Accusation: Vi putting on the uniform is a betrayal of her people and her family

Response: I have addressed this in depth in another document so will try to spare you all the rant. Put simply, The use of the grey was morally questionable. That is not debatable. But it's not fatal like people make it out to be, as we see characters exposed who walk away unharmed other than some discomfort. Vi explains to Jinx it was to keep innocents off of the street during the fighting. And in terms of putting on the uniform itself, some things to remember:

She refused the first time

Piltover retaliation was already guranteed. Then after the attack on the memorial it was exacerbated.

Caitlyn shares she is afraid if she goes after Jinx alone one of them is coming back in a box (AKA Vi's worst nightmare)

Only agrees after the memorial attack and sends everyone but her and Cait away as soon as they find Jinx

Conclusion: Vi was between a rock and a hard place and did the best she could in an impossible situation

Season 2: Act 2-

Act 2 of season 2 finds Vi at her lowest point. She has lost everyone. Jinx seems totally beyond redemption and her beloved Caitlyn, the first person to show her kindness in seven years left her after hitting her and telling her she was no better than the woman who had killed Caitlyn's mother and so many others.

The Primary sources of conflict in this act are: The finding and losing of Vander (included within this is Vi and Jinx starting to become family again), Caitlyn's redemption, Victor's losing himself to the hex tech/arcane completely.

Of these sources of conflict none of them can be laid at Vi's feet. But to tally the losses since the "Vi is the Jinx" people are still holding on to this:

The loss of Vander again-

The death of Isha-

The "death" of Victor and his cult

Accusations:

*disclaimer I have not seen anyone saying these specifically. Just tracking the logic for the people trying to blame her for everything*

Vi got Vander killed again-

Vi got Isha Killed-

Vi got Victor and his cult killed-

Response:

Vi got vander killed- Vander was "killed" again due to the attack by Ambessa and interference of Singed who was willing to sacrifice him for his own goals. The only part Vi played was having to watch her father die. AGAIN.

Vi got Isha killed- see above but swap father for little girl.

Vi got Victor and his cult killed- Jayce killed Victor on Victor's orders (weird time is relative cosmic stuff) but nothing to do with Vi

Conclusion: Vi's story sees her at her lowest point in this act. absolutely devastating to see her smile during that brief moment of happiness before its all ripped away. But none of what she loses is her fault

Season 3: Act 3-

This is the big finale and this act has been the primary driving factor in this idea that Vi was the problem all along. For those of you have stuck with me this far I appreciate you more than you know and hope this has been worth your time to read. Lets dig in.

The Big conflict driving the conclusion of this story is: The war with Ambessa/Victor, The destruction of Hex-Tech before it ends the world, and the fate of Jinx. I have addressed each of these topics throughout this post and will not be laying out the accusations/response/conclusion format. To begin with, we have to talk about the AU Episode-

The AU Episode:

Echo finds himself in a seemingly idyllic Piltover/Zaun. Hextech never was fully realized. Benzo, Milo, Clagger and Vander all live. Jinx is Powder, grown up and happy. Silco and Vander are reconciled. But Vi is dead, the explosion during the heist having taken her life. Powder keeps a shrine to her sister. Vander has a tattoo bearing her name. People have taken this to mean that it was in fact Vi all along that was the issue. This is, in a word, nonsense. The point of this universe in the words of the showrunner himself (see Arcane Afterglow for Season 2 Act 3), is for Echo to see that there is a version of their world still worth fighting for. He sees a world without hex-tech and how things could be. The world is not better without Vi in it. The world is better because Vi's death drew attention to something terrible and dangerous before it went even further. Imagine in our world there some new toy that is shaping up to be very popular with children, until a flaw in its safety is revealed when an innocent child days from an accident involving the toy so the the toy is taken off of the shelves. and children everywhere are safer, the world is better. But it's not because it was that Childs fault or they did something wrong. They were the victim whose blood paid the price.

*Additionally, something I don't see brought up enough is that Heimerdinger had years in this universe before Echo even arrived. He has clearly has been putting the time into the Undercity he didn't in the main universe*

Vi and Jinx: Vi and Jinx both learn a similar lesson in this act. While Jinx learns that she has to walk away, to break the cycle, to stop running in circles, Vi learns she can't keep chasing Jinx trying to save her. She has to live for herself and allow herself to be happy. That's why despite the accusation that she is a bad sister, Vi's romantic encounter with Caitlyn is Vi finally letting herself have what she wants, rather than chasing after Jinx and panicking and spending what could be her last night alive continuing to ride the roller coaster. Instead, she steps off the ride, and allows herself to know love, and pleasure, and warmth with the woman she loves. People really focus on the location of it but in that moment the location was irrelevant. Vi has finally seen the light in this regard and the woman she loves has redeemed herself in Vi's eyes.

*Vi speaks on how she always chooses wrong and it has cost her everyone. People have also taken this as a sort of mission statement for their undeserving campaign against this character. The thing is, the show proves her wrong, and does it quickly:

Caitlyn immediately and passionately shows Vi that Vi has not lost everyone. She is there, she loves here, and knowing she was going to make the choice to free the woman who killed Caitlyn's mother, she does it anyway

Even though Echo seals the deal, Vi didn't choose wrong by believing and trusting in Jinx. Jinx comes back to her, leading the under-city forces and turns the tide of the battle. She was the hero her sister believed she was

Vi got Jinx Killed: And at last we come it. The final of the great injustices people are laying Vi's character. I covered this in a recent post as well but the short version is as follows:

Sees her birth parents killed

Sees her adoptive father die

Gets him back (in a heavily mutated form) for a punishingly short time only to lose him again horribly

Watches him die again.

She is literally standing over him at the end of all the horrible things they have been through, sobbing and going to cradle his head. We see her flashing back to the first time she watched him die. It was just too much. I and many others have said it really seems like she can't even hear Jinx in that moment. When "Vander" pops up to his feet Vi doesn't even fight. She scrambles back afraid saying Vander's name and sounds like a scared little girl who just wants her dad. Its HORRIBLE. And even though she is not dead, Jinx takes the opportunity to make sure the older sister she loves, who never gave up on her gets away.

Vi's ending is bittersweet. She is sitting alone, drinking, humming the song we hear in the beginning of the show. People with no understanding of human behavior have claimed she looks too happy, she doesn't care about her sister. Yes she does. She is finally on a path that can lead to happiness with Caitlyn' because of her sisters sacrifice for her.

[iamcautiouslyoptimistic]

Task Force 141 Supernatural AU

{Author's Note} I sent this to @alypink first and she really liked it so now everyone gets to see it lol! Took some inspo from other CoD monster AUs, specifically the ones by @bluegiragi and @tactax-art. Even though some ideas are similar, I made sure I put my own spin on everything so nothing was copied. Also included my girl Vana because I thought it'd be fun. I also have ideas for additional characters like Farah and Alejandro but would like to revamp them a bit. Let me know what you guys think! (and I haven't forgotten about the Mason x Helina series, don't worry👀) {Tag List} @alypink @efingcod @welldonekhushi @walder-138 @imagoddamnonionmason @littlemissclandestine @mango-parfait @thedevillovesflowers @http-paprika @mctvsh @adlerboi @deadbranch @moosch @theqreatorsworld

~ ~ ~

The members of Task Force 141 are non-humans who are specially trained to engage with supernatural threats. General Shepherd, Kate Laswell, and Alex Keller are humans who work closely with the team.

💲John Price -> Werewolf: Though cursed to take on a monstrous wolf form, Price benefits from a supernaturally enhanced physiology and superior senses. His sense of smell is especially keen so he always keeps a cigar on hand to prevent himself from being completely overwhelmed.

💀Simon "Ghost" Riley -> Reaper: Existing somewhere between the physical and immaterial worlds, Ghost is a harbinger of death who can travel through shadows, interact with departed spirits, and foretell a person's demise. He doesn't need to eat or sleep but still feels emotions and pain, especially when he interacts with the living.

🧼John "Soap" MacTavish -> Fire Elemental: Soap was blessed by a tribe of síth upon his birth, who granted him the ability to summon and control fire. He can wreathe his body in flames, cast explosive fireballs from his palms, and even choose what his fire will and will not burn. His Mohawk is usually the first to catch fire when he uses his abilities, which his fellow soldiers find especially entertaining.

🧢Kyle "Gaz" Garrick -> Arcane Knight: Having been chosen as its wielder, Gaz carries a bewitched sword that grants him an enchanted set of plate armor and supernatural strength. He can even call it to his hand, no matter how far it might be from his grasp. It's believed this blade could be the legendary Excalibur but its true origins are unknown.

🪶Evangeline "Vana" Vogel -> Valkyrie: Vana is a valkyrie, one of an ancient race of winged warrior women. She can interact with the spirits of the dead and unfurl a pair of resplendent wings from her back that allow her to fly. Upon her command, the feathers of her wings will harden into metal that can then be launched at foes or used as shields.

[lvrstrsh]

the way this song is so fitting for the three arcane ships (caitvi, jayvik, timebomb) omg?? maybe not so much caitvi but during their breakup era yes a little bit.

"you're the best thing to ever happen to me but also the worst thing to ever happen to me. on that day when i met you, maybe i would rather that it never happened to me" is SOOOOOO JAYVIK CODED I'M ACTUALLY GONNA JUMP OUT A FUCKING WINDOW JAHHSWQO. viktor saved jayce from killing himself, helped him achieve his life's goal to channel magic. alternatively, jayce helped viktor to be more than just an assistant, gave him purpose and did with hextech what viktor always wanted to do: help people. HOWEVER, them meeting ultimately led to their deaths (actually erm i refuse to believe they're dead and prefer to believe they're in some higher form of existence giving each other cosmic backshots 💜). them meeting helped bring hextech to the world which, as it happens, was the beginning of the end. the formation of the hexcore, viktor turning into robotic jesus, starting the cult, the formation of the anomaly that sent jayce to the ruined dimension (poor guy also lost his mind) so although jayce was able to fulfill his life's dream, it also was the thing that ruined him. if they never met, this all could've been avoided, which is easily seen in the dimension ekko & heimerdinger were sent to. they were best friends, equals in the sense of intellect and generally just two halves of one whole (saw someone on insta relate them to the sin²x + cos ²x = 1 formula and gen crashed the fuck out) hence, the best and worst thing to ever happen to each other.

"why does hearing your name hurt me when it hides right there in the vicinity? what kind of emotion, is it hatred or pure sweetness when i hear your name?" we all know ekko and powder were childhood friends. due to a series of unfortunate events, powder was taken under silco's care — the same person who was the cause of vander's and benzo's death (who were like father figures to ekko). powder became jinx and was working for silco, who was using shimmer to exploit his own people. as ekko grew up, all he did was work to defeat the purpose jinx was working for. imagine how much it must hurt for him to know someone who meant sm to him is doing all this to his people. her name brings bitterness, but also the sweet press of memories of simpler times. then, obviously, ekko was sent to the other dimension. saw that other dimension have everything he ever wanted (except vi ☹️). powder was still HIS powder. his life was playing out just the way he wanted. however it wasn't REAL. he got a glimpse of what could've been. in that dimension ekko and powder grew up to fall in love. imagine coming from your reality where you're enemies, and the being sent to this one where you're lovers. but you can't stay, no matter how happy it makes you. he got a taste of the sweetness that could've been. then he had to go BACK to his reality, where he saw the same girl he could've fallen in love with try to kill herself. and, afterwards, when you've basically saved the world, you're left all alone and are led to believe she's dead (uhm which she's not trust 🙏)

i don't think i have to explain the 'worst of all blessings, the best of all curses' verse in relation to both the ships because AHHHHHWJWJWJWIWIWIWJSIQIQJWIIWIWSIJQIDBCIAOJW

alright guys anyways thank u for coming to my ted talk 😁

[rose24207]

Ma Meilleure Ennemie

Summary: Two enemies, bound by hatred and an undeniable connection, navigate a love-hate relationship where each becomes the other's greatest blessing—and worst curse.

Genre: 42!Miles, angst, fluff

TW: mention of weapons, betrayal, non chronological use of lyrics

A/N: This is kind of based of the edits I saw about arcane with this song (I start watching it tmr) Let’s see how it goes!! Love the song by stromae! It’s stuck in my head and it’s not getting out of it anytime soon!

English is not my first language. I hope you enjoy it though! Requests are open and welcome!

Masterlist

Je t'aime, je te hais, je t'aime, je te hais

I love you, I hate you, I love you, I hate you

The day he met you, Miles Morales knew he should’ve walked away. The cold of Brooklyn didn’t bother him anymore; it was the emptiness of it that got under his skin. People here didn’t smile. They didn’t dream. They survived—or they didn’t.

But you? You made survival look easy. Like a game.

The worst day of his life, that day he crossed paths with you, yet one he could never regret.

Ce jour où je t'ai rencontrée, j'aurais peut-être préféré Que ce jour soit jamais arrivé

On that day when I met you, maybe I would rather that it never happened to me

The heist was supposed to be simple—grab the vibranium shipment, deliver it to Aaron, and disappear into the night. But when Miles dropped into the shadows of the warehouse, his target was already gone.

“Looking for this?”

Your voice was smooth, teasing, the faintest echo off the cold metal walls. He turned, his eyes narrowing as his mask illuminated you: standing atop a stack of crates, one hand resting on the case he’d come to collect.

“Give it back.” His voice was low, commanding.

“Didn’t know it belonged to you,” you replied, tilting your head. “You’re the famous Prowler, huh? Gotta say, I expected more.”

Miles stepped forward, his gauntlets humming to life. “This is your last chance.”

You smirked, tossing the case from one hand to the other. “Or what? You gonna fight me over it? Go ahead, Morales.”

The sound of his name snapped through the air like a whip. Miles froze.

“How do you—”

“Please,” you interrupted. “You’re not as subtle as you think.”

He lunged forward, a neon blur, but you were faster. You jumped down, using the crate as leverage to kick him back. His gauntlet grazed your suit, leaving a faint scorch mark, but you didn’t flinch.

“This city doesn’t need another vigilante,” you said, darting past him. “Especially not one hiding behind his daddy’s name.”

That hit harder than any punch could.

By the time he recovered, you were gone, and so was the case.

“Next time,” he muttered, clenching his fists, “you’re not getting away.”

La pire des bénédictions

La plus belle des malédictions

The worst of all blessings

The best of all curses

The next few months were a game of cat and mouse. You’d show up where you weren’t supposed to be—hijacking his missions, stealing his leads, leaving behind nothing but frustration and the faint scent of your perfume.

“You’re the worst thing that ever happened to me,” Miles growled one night, his voice cutting through the cold as he cornered you on a rooftop.

“Aw, I’m touched,” you replied, leaning against the railing. “But admit it—you’d miss me if I were gone.”

“You’re delusional.”

“Am I?” You stepped closer, your mask reflecting the faint purple glow of his suit. “Face it, Morales. You need me. Without me, you’d have nothing to chase.”

“I don’t chase. I catch.”

“Not tonight,” you said, slipping past him before he could react.

Miles spun around, his gauntlet sparking, but you were already gone.

“Damn it,” he muttered, slamming his fist against the railing.

One night, Miles found you bleeding in an alley. You were slumped against the wall, your suit torn, your mask cracked. For a moment, he considered walking away. But something stopped him.

“Didn’t think I’d see you like this,” he said, his voice tight as he crouched beside you.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” you muttered, wincing as you tried to move. “I’m not dying. Not yet.”

Miles sighed, pulling a medkit from his belt. “Hold still.”

“Why are you helping me?” you asked, your voice softer now.

He didn’t answer right away, focusing instead on patching up your wounds. Finally, he said, “Because no one else will.”

You laughed, the sound brittle. “You’re full of surprises, Morales.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

But you did.

After that night, things changed. The fights became less about winning and more about testing each other. You weren’t just his enemy anymore—you were something else.

Tu sais c'qu'on dit

"Soit près d'tes amis les plus chers"

Mais aussi

"Encore plus près d'tes adversaires"

You know what they say

Stay close to your dearest friends

But also

Even closer to your adversaries

“Do you ever think about walking away?” you asked one night, your voice cutting through the quiet.

The two of you were sitting on a rooftop, the city stretching out below. It was an uneasy truce, a temporary pause in your endless battle.

“Walking away from what?” Miles asked, not looking at you.

“All of this. The fighting. The masks. Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

He didn’t answer right away. Finally, he said, “It doesn’t matter if I’m tired. I don’t have a choice.”

You turned to him, your expression unreadable. “There’s always a choice, Morales.”

“Yeah? What’s yours, then?” he shot back. “Why do you do this?”

You hesitated, the mask slipping for just a moment. “Because it’s all I know.”

Miles stared at you, something in his chest tightening. For the first time, he saw the cracks in your armor, the same ones he tried so hard to hide in himself.

“Maybe we’re not so different,” he said quietly.

“Don’t push your luck,” you replied, but your voice lacked its usual bite.

C'est quelle émotion, ta haine

Ou de la douceur

Quand j'entends ton prénom

What kind of emotion, is it hatred

Or pure sweetness when I hear your name?

Miles should’ve seen it coming. The hesitation in your voice, the way you avoided his gaze during the mission. But he didn’t.

“You set me up,” he said, his voice deadly calm as he stared at you across the empty warehouse.

“I didn’t have a choice,” you said, your mask in your hands, revealing the guilt etched across your face.

“There’s always a choice,” he snapped, his gauntlets sparking. “You said that yourself.”

“They had my family, Miles,” you said, your voice breaking. “If I didn’t give them what they wanted—”

“You should’ve told me,” he interrupted, stepping closer. “I could’ve helped you.”

“And risk you getting hurt? Or worse?” You shook your head. “I couldn’t do that.”

Miles stared at you, his anger warring with something deeper. Finally, he turned away.

“Get out,” he said. “Before I change my mind.”

Fuis-moi, le pire, c'est toi et moi

Flee from me, the worst is you and I

Weeks passed, but Miles couldn’t stop thinking about you. He hated you for what you’d done, but he hated himself more for still caring.

“You’re distracted,” Aaron said one night, watching as Miles fumbled with his gauntlets.

“I’m fine,” Miles muttered.

Aaron smirked. “Still thinking about her, huh?”

“Shut up.”

“Look, kid, I get it. She messed you up. But if she’s all you think about, maybe she’s not your enemy.”

Miles didn’t respond. He didn’t know how to explain the war raging inside him—the hatred, the anger, the longing.

When Miles saw you again, you were cornered in an alley, three gang members closing in.

“Couldn’t stay out of trouble, could you?” he said, dropping into the fray.

You looked up, surprise flickering across your face. “What are you doing here?”

“Saving your ass,” he replied, taking down one of the attackers with a single punch.

Once the fight was over, he turned to you, his mask retracting. “We need to talk.”

You nodded, wincing as you leaned against the wall. “Yeah. We do.”

Mais ma meilleure ennemie, c'est toi

But my best enemy is you

Brooklyn was still broken, still dangerous. But for the first time, Miles felt like he wasn’t fighting alone.

“You trust me now?” you asked one night, your mask tucked under your arm.

Miles hesitated, his gaze meeting yours. “Not completely.”

You smiled, your eyes softening. “Fair enough.”

As the two of you disappeared into the night, he couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, his best enemy had become his best ally.

Je t'aime, je te hais, je t'aime, je te hais

I love you, I hate you, I love you, I hate you

Thank you for reading!

[imogenkol]

— WIP MUSIC MONDAY + LAST LINE

tagged by @simplegenius042 @neonshrike @lilywatt @simonxriley @inafieldofdaisies (mostly last week, thank you beloveds 💕)

tag list (ask to be added or removed!): @socially-awkward-skeleton @voidika @florbelles @adelaidedrubman @tommyarashikage @buggknife @aceghosts @carlosoliveiraa @risingsh0t @unholymilf @thedeadthree @cassietrn @jackiesarch @d-esmond @loriane-elmuerto @shellibisshe @katsigian @captastra @theelderhazelnut @g0dspeeed @strangefable @cptcassian @auricfog @raresvtm @confidentandgood

You're the best thing that's happened to me, // But also the worst thing that's happened to me. // The day I met you, I might've wished // That day had never come. // The worst of blessings, // The most beautiful curse. // I should walk away from you, // But as the saying goes: // Better to be poorly accompanied than to be alone.

“If you wish to pretend that you are so morally superior, I suggest you look into a mirror,” Imogen continued with a cold tone and a bitter sneer. “Since it seems you are having difficulty seeing yourself reflected clearly in my eyes.”

[suchawrathfullamb]

How To Get:

The Monster's Beloved Aura

Energetic configurations series where we explore the astrological and numerological components of various "vibes".

For this analysis I looked into the birth date of Winona Ryder (and two bonus actresses) who has played several roles as the "monster's beloved", revealing an archetypal pattern.

Winona has 21/3 as her Expression number, and 30/3 as Life Path, and 15/6 as Soul Urge. This of course shows us a prominence of the number 3 on her configurations (6 being its multiple).

Number 3, being 2+1 stands for the duality of god, or the division of unity, relationship/mirror, and number 3 is the expression of that relationship: when one divides into two and from that union, a third element is born. Number 3, then, symbolizes creativity as well, being the expression.

Arcane number 3 is The Empress, the card of penetration into matter, she is the verb, the ternary, nature, fecundity, and generation in the three worlds.

Three also carries a special role as mother, father, holy spirit, or yin, yang and wholeness.

Having 21 as her Expression, gives her the aura (how she is perceived on the unconscious level) of the combined energies of The World, High Priestess, Magician, generating The Empress. Meaning, Mother of ecstasy. The one who elevates the spirit. For The 21th Arcane is The World: Joy, recognition, wealth. Represents the feminine element. It is the crowning of the work. The absolute integrity. Therefore, when it reduces to 3, Empress, who is The Verb, it manifests as someone who embodies on a physical, carnal level, what The World symbolizes.

The Monster seeks to have its spirit elevated by her, to find the ecstasy he has lost in the process of becoming a monster. The connection to his soul, the bliss of the senses, and love in its purest form (love of the goddess/mother archetype).

And by having 30/3 as Life Path, it emphasizes her spiritual role as The Mother, the one who blesses. Zero here symbolizes the Universe (⭕️), the void, the vacuity that holds all potential, and it speaks to the path of Creation, of fecundating the void and creating something out of nothing. Soul Urge as 15/6 manifests in her romantic roles as the lover of the monster, as 6 is The Lovers and 15 is The Devil, creating, literally, "union with the monster".

The Monsters, in this case, are always powerful individuals who were casted into the shadows, and who crave the love that has been neglected for them, and in a less direct way in Beetlejuice, as a means into the physical realm, but still fitting the pattern of the desire for life (given by the mother).

And, in many of these, she does love or accept the monster, expressing the unconditionality of Love, but also manifesting Arcane 15, The Devil, which craves that which is carnal and seen as devious. Which makes sense as The Urge number, where we magnetize that which our soul urges/craves for.

By embodying this energy, as a spiritual practice, one is able to transform death into life (that which is lifeless gains vitality), and elevate/sublimate decay into abundance (that which is deteriorating is restored).

You can embody it by chanting the mantra Shrim.

Shrim is the seed mantra of Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and abundance, and the consort of Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu trinity of great Gods, and brings Lakshmi’s many blessings.

Shrim is the mantra of faith, devotion, refuge and surrender. It can be used to take refuge in or express devotion to any deity, helping us to gain its favor and grace.

Shrim is mainly a Kapha (watery and earthy) mantra for improving health, happiness, fertility, love and calmness of mind. It is particularly important for women’s health and brings proper function and circulation to the female reproductive system. Shrim has a soothing effect on the mind and emotions, allowing us to surrender to Divine grace and take refuge in the higher powers.

If you want to embody through a more theatrical approach, you can role play this type of energy by emulating its style.

As I've mentioned before, the bonus actresses are Isabelle Adjani and Emmy Rossum, who played the same archetype in Nosferatu and Phantom of the Opera, respectively.

Here are some of the repeating patterns in terms of aesthetics:

- The color white, in gowns specially, as it is associated with a state of purity (not virginity, purity as in unaltered). Which then, progressively changes into black and red, mirroring the alchemical processes represented by the three colors.

- Flowy fabrics that denote the sensuality and daintiness.

- Natural looking hair that call to a kind of organic vibe.

- Minimal but enhancing makeup. It particularly enhances the eyes (magnetism) and the lips (consumption, temptation), and also goes for a more pale (not as in white but as in "bloodless") complexion with only the cheeks as the colored areas (as opposed to tons of contour and bronzer, for example), marking the heated energy of sexual arousal but still remaining dainty.

[vintra-lavellan]

Peripherally into Arcane but just realized the viral Ma Meilleure Ennemie song with Jinx and Ekko is so Solavellan coded. See the chorus:

But my best enemy is you

Flee from me, the worst is you and I

But if you keep searching for my voice

Forget me, the worst is you and I

The pining, the warnings, the love that is both a blessing and a curse...

Extra points if your inky is Orlesian. Brb dying

[skyphy]

Oh, y'all got teary-eyed about Ekko and Powder? Well here's a thing those perfect French assholes at Fortiche Studios added that makes it hit so much worse : they got Stromae to make the themesong, called it "my best enemy", put it into the show without subtitles, then put it on youtube and blocked captions so that you don't auto translate it.

I translated it for you. You're welcome and I'm sorry...

FYI : Stromae is a lyricist whose mastery of the French language is as exquisite as Fortiche's mastery of visual arts.

*distorted, repeated* I love you, I'm leaving you

you're the best thing that happened to me

but also the worst thing that happened to me,

the day I met you, I might have preferred,

that this day never happened,

the worst of blessings,

the most beautiful of curses,

from you I should move away,

but as the saying goes,

rather than being alone it's better to be in bad company, (the saying says the opposite - skyphy)

you know what they say,

be close to your dearest friends,

but also,

even closer to your adversaries

but my best enemy is you,

run away from me, the worst is you and me,

but if you're still looking for my voice,

forget me, the worst is you and me,

why does your name hurt me,

when it hides,

right here in this space

what emotion is this, hate

or the sweetness, when I hear your name,

I told you, don't look back

the past that follows you, wages war on you

but my best enemy is you,

run away from me, the worst is you and me,

but my best enemy is you,

run away from me, the worst is you and me,

*distorted, repeated* i love you, i'm leaving you

[we-staybhaalin]

Shehdri Junia Djedan Ziani | Human | Draconic Bloodline Sorceress | She/Her/Hers | 28

What is your Tav’s…

favorite weapon: Markoheshkir

most prized possession: her jeweled headdress, it was a gift from her late great-great grandmother, the previous matriarch of her family

deepest desire: to unravel as many arcane secrets that she can get her hands on

guilty pleasure: curling up with her favorite series of raunchy stories with a plate of decadent treats by her side

best-kept secret: nearly ruined a marriage due to a friendship

greatest strength: her intellect

fatal flaw: the arrogance that sometimes comes from having intellect as a strength

favorite smell: lavender and jasmine

favorite spell or cantrip: spell - Circle of Death cantrip - Bone Chill

pet peeve: assumption of her time; wasting it, refusing to respect it, assuming she has any to give without being asked first

bad habit: getting lost in her research for days on end

hidden talent: knows swordplay but specific to an ability to perform a type of dance that is familiar to her mother's people

leisure activity: prior to the rise of the Cult of the Absolute, she spent a lot of time traveling from one magical hub to another, conducting research and procuring rare magical artifacts to either keep for her personal collection or to sell through her mother's shop; she's is fascinated by museums and can be found bouncing from opera house to opera house to watch an exciting new play

favorite drink: Starburst Shandy

comfort food: Sun-Dappled Seafood Paella

favorite person(s): her parents, her eldest sister Horatia, Wyll, Karlach, Jaheira, Minsc

favored display of affection (platonic and/or romantic): both - she's someone who stands strongly in her loyalties to others and regardless of what type of relationship she has with you, will be the first to show if ever you need her aid, her reputation matters a great deal and she is not a fan of her support being taken lightly; purely platonic - she's prone to grand gifts, things you'd never think to want but she has them waiting for you to receive; purely romantic - she tends to be coquettish and a little harder to please but in a playful way, she likes the pursuit and wants to be wooed

fondest childhood memory: when she was preparing to make her case before the Arc of Zefrir, the highest collective of elite mages that comprise of the Ziani clan-- any who seek higher tutelage of the ancient magic that course through their family must first plead their case before the Arc and they must do so successfully; they are cutting and highly critical through the process, seeking not only to weed out the weaker mages from the strong but also those that are worthy of holding the family lineage to their names and casting with the blessing of their ancestors; Shehdri was twelve when she went before them and graciously presented her case for why she should be allowed to be further taught by the more powerful mages of her clan; going home with her mother that day after succeeding filled her with a high she still cannot describe to this day

[ravenkinnie]

hii im literally in love with your arcane fics, esp belly to the brutal!! sorry if you’ve already answered this but do you have any fave fics focusing on jinx? i don’t mind if they have ships or whatever. hope u have/had a nice day!!❤️❤️

thank you sm!! i love that one too so its nice to hear kskskzj

yesss I'm behind on fics I wanna read but here are some recs, I tagged people who I know are on tumble in case anybody wants to follow anyone

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48311221 by @revelisms

reve has a v poetic prose that I think fits jinx really well ESPECIALLY in this immediately post canon scenario

https://archiveofourown.org/works/45223507 by @typewriteringalaxy

this is dark fucked up porn written in this feverish manner but if you read my fics too then you probably either like it or don't mind it nsmjksk

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36002740

much lighter than others but jinx is still a freak which is a hard balance

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37234678

this is my fave caitjinx fic because it's exactly what I want from this ship, the messy jinx narrative and the enemies/weird fascination vibe its kiss kiss so good

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36291487

v good character study focused on jinx and silco

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37117366 by @mira-blue

short study type vignette on vi and jinx, it has this more tender tone but still messy and complicated dynamics underlying everything

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39124053 by @kaikamahine

I recommend grenadier too because it's vi pov but mostly focused on jinx but little left behind is just one of the most unique fics in this fandom. I think this author in general is one of those people who have a natural gift for character creation where they feel like unique layered people both when it's a pov character and outside characters and that fills with me with endless envy

https://archiveofourown.org/works/38247436/chapters/95562865 by @sour-teeth

this is a dead dove so check tags and notes but if you're not used to dead doves this is a good primer for dark unreliable narrator characters. cess is a master at complex dynamics tho

https://archiveofourown.org/series/3038667 by @heroinejinx

modern caitjinx au, fun drama and messy characters and I recommend it as someone who doesn't usually read modern aus

https://archiveofourown.org/works/42185556 by @typeoapologist

porn where jinx is as weird as she deserves god bless

[macaronissi-mo]

CURRENTLY CLEANING OUT MY DRAFTS if you see me reblog a really old post from your blog i'm not a stalker i just forgot to reblog it before

Heya, you can call me macaroni!

about me ▼

gamer + musician

mlm trans man

@feeble13 is my lovely boyfriend <3

99% reblogs

interests ▼

main fandoms: baldur's gate 3 (my tavs), jujutsu kaisen, arcane, death note, yakuza (game series), heaven official's blessing, lotr/hobbit, wheel of time, vocaloid/vocal synths

fandoms I'm less active in: borderlands (game series), diablo (game series), sailor moon

⚠️ all fandoms in red I am mostly avoiding spoilers for, as I have not finished the series/game/etc.

DNI ▼

just. don't be an idiot (especially TERFs, transphobes, homophobes. leave please & thank you)

tags ▼

my posts: #mac's random thoughts, #mac's fandom rambles

#asks and #ask games, #tag game (moots feel free to tag me!!!)

encouraging/helpful posts i've reblogged are tagged with #<3