#i mean no one was dying their hair pink for Vi

[im-probably-playing-genshin]

on s2 ep5 of arcane and id like to point something out

at 11:37 Vi sees a mural made of Jinx and she looks visibly upset by it and how I interpreted this scene was that Vi had realized that Jinx was getting all the recognition; while almost no one was talking about her

That would be playing into the trope of the older sibling protecting everyone, yet being ignored to the youngest. Vi’s wishes were always in the best of people living whether that was topside or not.

Another similar addition could be her realizing that she could never be seen in the same way Jinx was because of her relationship with with the topsiders, that she wouldn’t always be second to the girl who had ruined her relationship and her (almost) girlfriend’s family. That she would be seen as the hero to the undercity, and Vi would be left out of the story completely.

[vivisviolets]

⛓ who is your tribe? 𓆩📓𓆪 𓆩🖤𓆪 how will you meet? ⛓

✮i love how i connected these 3 pics im sooo smart guys

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ -pick the image that gotchu good 👁👁 gotcha eyes~ you know how to do it I know you do- if you feel unclear, take a nice deep breath, connect with spirit/God/your higher self, and ask what messages would serve you in this very moment~ this has been your radio host vi-vi talkin🎙, and I'll catch at your pile~🖋️✮ ˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖✮pile 1✮˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖ ✮ ˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Five of Swords (reversed), Five of Wands (reversed), Ace of Wands, The Hierophant, Page of Cups (bottom of deck)

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ (slight 18+ cw) Libra/air placemnets, 7th house (Sun/Moon/Rising/Mercury/7h dominant etc), 1 house placements, Aries placements/degrees (Moon/Rising, etc), Nepo baby/“girl(boy/kid)-next-door” vibes, hair extentions, “going blonde”, Legally Blonde, angel numbers 1111, 222, 2424, 1234, channeled songs, Casual - Chappell Roan + How to be a Heartbreaker - MARINA

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Hello my pile 1s!!!!! omg i wanted to jump right in but I feel the need to greet you into this becaussse- omg you are gorgeous- like I am being so fr DO NOT play yourself down I can hear the mind chatter of some of you gearing up at me saying that,-shut that shish down. on the other side of this group,- you already know you were born beautiful, raised beautiful, and have always been your own created beauty, you’re so tapped into that and really you always have- so I want everyone in this pile, to align to that energy rn. ��R👏N👏. No matter your upbringing, whatever your family told you, your past friend groups, your classmates,- you don’t got to do or be someone else’s anything. you speak for yourselfff- and you always have!! no matter how deep your security periods were, you still radiated- radiance💎 and strength- damn you guys are strong, no matter how “submissive” some of yall feel to be (your vulnerability is divine btw and def a part of your strength)- you are strong af. strong in only a way the wind is (I mean think of how destructive that nature can be yet how soothing its flow is when it is calm) or a polished pillar… I JUST KEEP HEARING IT- YOU GUYS ARE BEAUTIFULLLL. ugh I gotta get into more dets for you- I’m hearing that some of you are blonde (natural/dyed/bleached it dont matter) and damn does it make you look like a star ☆- PLEASEEE YOU’RE A STARRR ♥️- sorry- it looks so good on you the more fair aura because that is definitely the color of your aura in social situations (I’m hearing pale lavender, blue, pink, yellow), I’m hearing you have very calming eyes.. something about the color of your eyes is very “even” in color, or you may know how to keep very even eye contact and that makes the color of your eyes stand out (anyyy eye color- I’m even seeing some of you may have a kind of heterochromia where you may have a dot of brown in your blue iris/other colors apply, etc), some of the people who you’ve kept such level eye contact with during conversation- they think they’d be able to see your eyes in a dark room they stand out so much…

oh my god pile 1 you are a star- moving forward I have to mention, some of you are very proud brunettes- as you fucking should be because oh my jesus that’s hot, your hot, you are a star ★, a superstar- I am not just saying that holy shit. I’m seeing you may stand out in your friend group or who you usually hang out with due to your coloring whatever that may mean (for example cus we’re on the topic of hair- you may be a blonde within a lot of brunettes, or vice versa- you may have brown eyes among a bunch of blue/green eyes, vice versa- you may be only one who tans, has lots of birth marks, wears their hair natural, etc etc),- now I’m hearing I should be giving random styling opinions/boosting- so if you have a y2k grunge aesthetic, or old hollywood glam style you look incredibleeee- don’t you fucking dare bring your body type into this- if you’re an apple body you look like literal heaven in a pair of low rise bedazzled jeans- long straight hair looks so good with your body shape, get wigs if you’ve been thinking about it- get braids if you’ve been wanting them- different color highlights is definitely a good idea (blonde, orange, blue, purple), tighter tops look so good on your body shape (lace up ones or ones with details/graphtics)- a clean sleek white dress would literally ☆shock☆ everyone in a room who knows you/your style (and ppl who don’t know you loll), nude makeup that matches the rest of your undertones, glossy press on nails, one piece of jewelry per type here and there,- some more gn/masc opinions I’m hearing are more shaped clothes, botton downs tucked in high rise straight down jeans/pants (showcase the shape of your shoulders and waist a bit moreee)- I’m hearing if you were to wear a brooch of somekind on your shirt pocket you’d drive someone “wild”-… I MEAN MAYBE THAT’LL JUST BE ME 💞💀- curls look so great on you also, like if you did a larger loose curl somewhere in the front of your hair- gel curls would also look hot on you- star accents of some kind (jewelry, belt charms, keychains, even tattoos),,, you are totally someone’s “pretty boy”/“pretty girl”/“pretty baby”… OH MY GOD THIS IS A RELATIONSHIPS/FRIENDSHIPS PAC WHERE WAS III-

so I was getting into it even in the energy check-in some of you may be coming from a place of past drama- yes I said past bc even if it's fresh it will be past, and in that it is already the past babe. so anyway- there is something.. romantic here- possibly, but really I’m hearing you are in admiration by a lot of eyes-… now I’m hearing “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid lol BAHHA oooohh~ you think your life is really mundane and so you’re hearing me say you have eyeballs on you like “… I leave my house once a week”- …bitch- your envioment means nothinggg and can change when you want it to fr. no matter your place this is your natural energy- I’m hearing your natural energy is being a socialite- and I mean you are meant to shine like a glittery star in various rooms- WITH YOUR GAL PALS!! this can even apply for going into a business/professional environment where you speak and interact with a lot of people and you are at the center of that- But anyway take it where it may apply. for some of you- you may do amazing in more queer centered places (clubs, awareness groups, or even drag shows in your area), places with a lot of creativity in relation to fashion (maybe even theater?) and makeup- for others here you should get out more in your school/college (gardening clubs or outdoor volunteer work would definitely benefit you), even if it’s just walking around your enviroment- wherever you walk you own, and you make yourself known…

I’m seriously feeling that so hard- AND SOME OF YOU DARE TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO YOUR OWN INNER SHINE. it's seriously beginning to bug me how you’re still staying in this insecure, bitter, fearful, energy, that is not yours but you continue to claim it!!! WTF. anyways, to those of you resonating with that- I’m being sooo fr, as soon as you kick those feelings to the curb (to be run over and killed 💅) and you fully allow yourself to bloom and allow the sun to shine on you- there will be buzzing. BUZZINGGGG🐝. put yourself out there and seriously just experiment with what it feels like to be with different social groups, don’t take it personally, expect nothing, just do it for your own self experimentation~ doesn’t that sound fun??? I'm getting the tingles just thinking about it~again with those spaces I talked about, no matter your feelings- wherever you walk you own. you belong because you know you belong in yourself. that’s your natural state and no matter how vicious some people were in seeing that in you, you still own that about you ☆ and it is your choice to use that divine gift given to you. please trust and believe when I say that once you step into that inner, pure, state of being- you will be divinely protected, any ◉ attacks are small potatoes and will be diced.

ANYWAYS WOOO- ummm all those spaces that I mentioned are fully open to you, and are definitely where you’ll meet your tribe- again, I’m seeing your “tribe” will more so be you being you and coming in and receiving a lot of admiration- people will just love to talk to you as soon as you come in (I’m seeing especially for the queer/fashion/creative group people coming up to you with armfuls of clothing joyfully wanting your opinion I loveee this for you)- I’m speaking about the future mainly to my more underdeveloped group of this pile, but let me jump into the future which is the place some of you are very much stepping into rn!!!- you’re having people crossing their legs in club booths to fit more people into your get to together- BAHHA- people want to be close to you, catch up, ask where you’ve been traveling to or what you’re wearing- and you’re finally soaking it all up and sitting so relaxed, your smile is dazzling and you’re taking a nice breath in and out as all of this healthily regulates your ego + your higher self.. this is honestly giving that if you weren’t the “queen bee” in your high school- you are now but in your 20s/30s/40s/etc!! and you’re handling it amazingly well, because you still choose to go home solo most nights still high and happy ♡ I love this for you. you also get asked to be the leader or placed as the head of a lot of different projects- it’s more so you oversee them and everyone works around you- the thing is, that you don’t let all this go to your head because you’ve already grounded your self-worth- and because of that attitude, people then want you around even more. when you come in, people want you in your group for the day/hour/20 minutes before another group wants you lol.

you’re fabulous ok? it’s more than fine to be that, it’s divine ♡! soo many people are going to feel like the moth to your flame, it’s already been destined to happen literally😵💫!!!! just keep a watch out for the ones taking too much from you or being up and down with their give-and-take from you, because you deserve someone/people around you who stay hot for you and fan your bright flame while enjoying its warmth (unless they need their own personal space- ppl are ppl, not npcs lol)… I guess I should just briefly state before I finish your reading- the chorus of Casual by Chappell Roan was replaying through your whole reading- I’m not saying this as a cop-out, you have people stopping and, in fact, falling to their knees when they’re in your energy. I see one or two people who are already a part of your larger group environment being very infatuated with you (and I’d definitely keep your eye on them and remain open to this possibility- for some of you this special someone is in your group setting is so pure in their affection towards you and could,, be the one. I'm dead serious about that- but also HEHHEHHEHE💞- oh how I love-love♡),- but I’m mainly seeing a lot of first dates for you guys as you continue to get out there, and that is far from a bad thing because- who wouldn’t want a change at even just one date with you??? (take rejection as non-personal ofc- ppl have free will- and stupidity) and also you get the chance to see how you adapt and interact with new people which is terrific for you!! mannn do I see you getting accepted and taken out by so many people, assholes included but also a lot of “gentlemen”/“babes” who will gladly treat you extremely well and or will be pulling all the charm and fun within them for you- even if they know it’s just one night with you… I’ll just say, you do attract people who want to serve you… on their knees definitely-

AND THAT IS WHERE I WILL LEAVE ITTTTT FOR NOWWW- I’m so so soooo happy to have had you all here todayyyy your life is seriously going to keep going up-up and away if you’ll just allow yourself to see that steady climb and trust it <3 I seriously love youuuu I almost don’t want you to leaveee just like how everyone else feels BAHHA- love you.~

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ “Knee deep in the passenger seat and you're eating me out is it casual now- two weeks and your mom invites me to her house in Long Beach is it casual now” - “it’s hard being casual when i’m on the phone talking down your sister”

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ "This is how to be a heartbreaker- boys they like a little danger" - "singing I lo-lo-love you"

⋆ ˖✮pile 2✮˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖ ✮ ˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Ten of Pentacles (reversed), Ace of Pentacles, Nine of Cups, Queen of Cups, Six of Swords (reversed) (bottom of deck)

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Aquarius/Gemini/Libra placements, Capricorn/earth placements, Mercury dominant, Saturn dominant, 2nd house placements black lace, black on black, cinnamon, The Spice Girls, The Cheeta Girls, H2O, 2000s nostalgia, high school reunions, ex-friendship rebirth, stand up, saturday night bars, life path number 11, angel numbers 1111, 1212, 1313, 1221, channeled songs, Party for One - Carly Rae Jepsen, Heat Waves - Glass Animals

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ You guys are funny- just gonna say it off the bat I’m feeling silly with you rn ngl BAHHAHHAhehe- ok um HI PILE 2S!! I shouldn’t yell- let me not yell- some of you are coming from pile 1,, heyyy pile 1s~ ouw~ ok ok, you smiling could light up a room, a house, a complex, a broken oven. AHAHAH- what beautiful teeth and lips you have there- pile 2s. I’m seeing, so many different teeth and lip shapes before you come for me- straight, crooked, vener-white, “needs-a-cleaning” off-white, upside down smiles, nonsymmetrical dimples, big lips, small lips, uneven lips, scarred lips- you get it, I don’t give a shit. when you smile and give that big cackle, chuckle, chortle- you do what you do with joy- and people believe in jesus. people believe that pigs really do have wings. people believe that the sun must shine from your ass. truly. I mean truly. I’m sitting here with my fingers together like- hm. yes. how do I write this all- with a straight face without being sardonic… sardonic? do you guys read? I think you read. now I’m hearing “you thought you ate that-“ that meme, I know that you know it- let me stop. for-… 5 minutes… so we would probably connect really well- which is why I am all over the place, because you are also all over the place (yes I am shading you. respectfully.) someone here does really good impressions, including animals… whatever that means…- BAHAH, you guys would do great in stand up of some kind, either that or you’re known as the funny co-worker. you guys have this range when it comes to your sense of humor, where it is either very dry, with the most composed pauses (when I manage to do that without bursting into your own laughter), and or you guys are so fast like- the editing of a youtube video fast with the jokes- and or a mixture of the two where you’re able to pull off very intricate jokes very quickly in the moment. and jeeze people find you so charming, even more so because of the way you look as well, it’s almost weirdly uncanny to some people how someone with the level of physical attractiveness that you carry (it’s so heavy and so much I know it’s so hard✨) and you then can pull off such- hilarity. and they're like- “…do they know they could be a model??? like- are they aware?? are they using this comedy because they don’t see that about themselves??”… it’s giving “i didn’t know women could be funny” (goes for nb/men too ofc)…

wow- kill them with a spoon 🥄- anyways WOW. so I think you may have, a lot of perceptions of you by people around you who haven’t known you for very long, mainly revolving around your looks- yes your looks. your modesty is attractive but it won’t fly in this courtroom👩‍⚖️- you are attractive in some way, or have an appearance that people definitely admire- but also scrutinize, or underestimate… you definitely get belittled. ok- that sucks- point them out to me?… yea I thought so they are so ew. I don’t care if that person is your mother, your father, or your co-workers who’ve been working at the place for 5 years longer than you- they are ew. anyone who puts you down due to their own pre-made perception of you is ew. ick even. yea, I’m seeing the issue here is not like most other piles I read for where it’s a growth journey with self and insecurity- no you’re good rn you’re like totally chilling. and I love that because I’m chill now, I’m dipping my tea bag up and down and sitting with you I’m so chill. but I had to look into anything going on because- drama, keeps you reading. so main issue I’m exposing is that there are people around you, in your space, a space you “have” to be in like work or even college classes I’m hearing- most people around you mind their own business, good on them, I love them- other people… they dress you up as something in their mind for their own- amusement?? or to feel a sense of having an eagle eye over “you”- and I say “you” in quotations because wtf- they do this… so as to spice up their own boring life? this is a weird form of admiration, because even if it’s a shitty thing to see you as, with them placing you so strongly in this box- they’ve placed you also on this pedestal… that’s probably why even with this obvious bullshit you’re still just chilling- because you know that if someone has built this all up to be who you are- it means you’re the best. and they’re the lowest. the end. anyway my back hurts- someone here likes podcasts, I’m seeing the The Broski Report podcast (broski nation✊) and also Murder, Mystery, & Makeup- again you guys really just chill, drink a bit of wine and entertain yourself.- so let me move onnn and see what transformations might be gearing up in your social life hun~

ok so it’s not “crickets” happening in your social life, not at all- but again you guys are just so, content and used to yourselves (this is my pile who talks to themselves in the mirror I see you)- when I asked yall if you felt lonely I literally drew a blank. and this is actually perfect because it’s seriously when you’re not looking/expecting and you're all good with what you have that you get given so much- so this is where I’m going to remind you all to actively meditate on keeping yourself open. don’t expect anything, just stay open and ponder what you’d like- and you’ll receive. that’s literally it. you’re in prime manifesting energy with how content and at peace you are in yourself- do you know how much you attract when you do that shit???? remain. open. and. aware. of anything that may happen, even if someone trips in front of you and you gain a brief interaction or someone asks you where to find extra office supplies and you show them the supply closet- see your abundance, allow it, remain without expectations. you are literally in the perfect energy for so much. You guys are definitely the type however to be really fine with only a few close friends you can have some fun with (and or have a nervous breakdown with) and some family… but I think this contentment you have with yourself, might have come from you feeling- misunderstood in your sense of humor or self-expression. I gotta say, you definitely handled that disappointment well, since instead of dulling yourself you just shine more inwardly for your own enjoyment and entertainment- and that’s wonderful! but I do gotta say- I know you can feel a bit, pent up. due to a lot of your big personality being fitted within you, and that’s fantastic truly- but also it has the same effect of being stuck in your house alone for one week too long. maybe that’s why you read when you can- you get to be in a very expansive and wide world that feels different from your own… oh god did I make you yearn???? oops I’m sorry. anyways!!

you’d really thrive in some environment that feels more- “widespread” I suppose, that doesn’t mean cracking yourself open to a room of strangers, I mean just sharing yourself- still from a place of your own entertainment- what I mean is that it’d be really healthy for you to find an outlet for the pent up jitters you get- find it online if you want to try that, try little baby steps, why not?- go on one-time dates just to release a bit of what you keep inside you- interact with random people sitting next to you at bars,- no attachments, just feel out what you feel when you let your inward personality, be more outward- on a lease 🐩. I’m hearing some of you may be a little fearful of attachment even, work that out- that doesn’t mean you’ll then sacrifice your peace, you’ll just gain a wider world for yourself by gaining new connections- and obviously, with the personality and personhood that you have- you can totally just pick and choose who gets to be a part of that world and your time! you owe nothing to anyone. do you have any actual clue how many people are out there, whose perception of you is not just what they observe, but what you actually are? and their perception of you actually helps you and is used to contribute to your happiness and peace??? yea. having actual friends is freaking great. and the more you simply open yourself up to that- while staying aware and choosing who you want- that is going to be the big door that’ll be opened to you- you’ll receive so many amazing experiences and will shift and broaden your world and the worlds of others, you’ll be like a big tree, growing it’s roots around other trees- isn’t that soooo cute??? ok I’m trying to see into the future details in regards to you finding your “tribe”- spirit is honestly wanting things to be vague, so as you can remain open without any expectations. kk? I mean what I mentioned with the earlier situations gives you the clues to follow if you so choose- just be youuuu. you have more opportunities than you realize and you got all the answers to what to do within you. trust me when I say you’ll be running down the street in weird clothes and pearls, scream laughing out of breath with two girls who love you… that’s for someone here and it also applies to everyone here~

okkk pile 2s, it was stimulating being with you I’m nearly sick❤️ BAHAH anyways, in regards to any avoidant/anxious-avoidant attachment issues, just remember that heartbreak sucks, but heartbreak always just makes you hotter, and funnier. you prove that- that outcome is very real every day you exist as yourself… OKKK love you byeee❤️♡

deadass as I channeled this song, I was questioning if it was correct- and I look up to see one of your angel numbers 1212 on the clock- and then again 1221 as I type this lolll

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ “Once upon a time I thought you wanted me was there no one else to kiss- was it all a dream I let myself believe, I’m not over this, but I’m trying” - “party for one, if you don’t care about me, I’ll just dance with myself, back on my beat- I’ll be the one, if you don’t care about me, making love to myself, back on my beat”

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ “Sometimes all I think about is you- late nights in the middle of June, heat waves been fakin’ me out, can’t make you happier now”

⋆ ˖✮pile 3✮˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖ ✮ ˖ ⋆

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Page of Swords (reversed), Seven of Cups, Six of Cups (reversed), The High Priestess (reversed), The Moon (bottom of deck)

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Cancer/Pisces/Scorpio placements, Libra/air placements, Leo/fire Placements, 5th house placements (Venus, Mars, Jupitar, Rising, etc), inner child, old friendships, childhood renewal, 1111, 333, 444, Only Yesterday (1991), horses, channeled songs, Wildflowers and Wild Horses - Lainey Wilson, Cheap Queen - King Princess

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ Ok- Hi my pile 3s! and also my pile 2s because some of yall did not leave yet and have stayed for the next reading- like seriously this whole pac is connected rn- also happy 1111 as I write this!!! um oh my gosh let me start- you are so beautiful, yes I said it for the 3rd time in this pac post why are you on my ass‼️- its so true, you all have this classic beauty, it is timeless- you are timeless- or from a different time in your aura, your beauty, how you carry yourself in this world- etc etc… and when I say “different time” I don’t just mean you embody this feminine/masculine balance straight out of the 1970s, 40s, 50s, 20s,- and all the other time periods before/after I just mentioned- I also mean you still carry with you the time you had as a young child, you carry with you the sunshine you felt on your skin when you were 3-6 yo, and the snow you felt on your hands when you were 8-11… you have kept this purity and innocence and grown with it- and holy cow do I need to congratulate you and the strength of your spirit- so often we are forced to “leave behind” our childhood years and perspective due to difficult events or what people expect of you while you reside in this worldly- world. -which really that just means internalizing and hiding away in the closet the purest state of yourself (*also this is my more queer-centric pile so hellooo my fellow queer community ✨☀️)- this is putting a hole in my own heart being in how free and high spirited you are, and how you fully embody that and always have ☀️. you have kept that warmed and soaked up the same sunshine as you did all those years ago- it might not even feel like years to you, it feels like only yesterday your childhood was your state of being and all around you- and now, you are a bit bigger but you may live in this state that no time has passed- does that make sense?? ugh dude I hope so, your energy is like the sunshine, in that, I can’t reach out and physically be in your presence- but more so I’m trying to sit in your light while my vision gets spotty and I get a little dizzy… as in- you guys are out of this worlddd💫!!! you might even be told by your family or your peers that you tend to make them “dizzy” with how you communicate- you may be the type to jump from one topic to another, while you fold your laundry- and tidy your desk drawers- and walk into another room *backward* because you are still talking and describing a detail that is “important” to the story you were recounting 10 minutes ago- you sweet thing!!!! this is adorable to be in,, if anyone’s ever made you feel bad about how you communicate, do not take it personally- its always good karma to be considerate of other’s sensitivities, but everything you do is so pure hearted- it would be so phony and ridiculous to believe any crap people say about you to be truthful. your energy is so pure and truly yours, this is your sign and confirmation to continue to not live for the external views of others and live life through your own view ☀️. Oh- i keep getting horse imagery- horses may be significant for some of you, it may be your spirit animal or a spirit guide that is close to you may take the energetic appearance of a horse (in particular for some of you it’s a very strong and matured brown colored horse of some breed), or some of you grew up around horses in some way!

Oh this is random but you may be the type to enjoy having your playlists on shuffle lol- because I just suddenly began mentally playing Cheap Queen by King Princess- so this is definitely where I will now channel the dets about your social environment my dear~!! ok sooo- I’m seeing various different types of family dymanics, big families, med sized families, even 2 person families (you + a guardian)- I sense that you have close family ties, and i know family can be complex, so let me state some variouions of what that means- you may have a close familiarity to your family’s home or yard (maybe even your neighborhood area), such as knowing every little creak that your house makes when you go to the kitchen to get a morning cup of water, I’m seeing for some of you- you are very tied to your sibling dymamic if you have siblings (I accidently wrote in all caps at first and I scared myself lol- so you may come from a family where loudness is common part of the jokes you share), or maybe even kids you knew in your neighborhood if you played with them often- things like that have stuck with you inrelation to what you look for in anykind of companionship, a sense of familiarity~ this is def the pile who believes in being drawn to your soulmate(s) or past life connections lol~ so while you have that grounded energy in wanting stablity, you also are an entertainer and you know how to have a good time!! as you should since you totally fly like a fabulous canary from room to room- you should feel more confident when you dance btw, put more energy into your shoulders with joy because the way you move literally energizes people-

now I’m getting messages on how you connect to your inner child, I’ve said before you already naturally embody your inner child (“just in a bigger body” I’m hearing- some of you may have had a big physical growth spirut as a child btw), but some messages in regards to connecting to your inner child for those of you who need some answers is to engage in more activities that return yourself to a past peaceful enviroment, this is also for those who had a more chaotic upbringing and had to turn inwardly for peace ❤️- taste is a really important sense for you returning to that younger state of peace, so certain candies (I’m hearing those fruit rollups I love those still) or fruits, snacks- simple dishes that made younger you excited and brought you joy- also I’m hearing something about sleepovers and evening activities/coziness~ so grab some blankets and make an event of staying up late if you already do that lol- anyways!! let me get back to how fun you truly are to be around my dear, I mean, seriously! If you have the opportunity go out when you can, if you already have a friend or someone familiar go to a house party nearby (keep yourselves safe!), try rollerskating if you haven’t, and get closer to someone you already know and show your colors- DRESS UP!!!! I know life can be bleak especially when you feel that life is very "closed off" and dead lol- but when I tell you the phrase “dress for the life you want”- I mean ittt~ it will align you with the environment that you desire and it will come to you so naturally (in the same way you making a coffee and taking your dog for a walk is a natural occurrence in your life!)- I’m hearing that the connections that you already have in your life are “all you need”, and by that I mean you can build off of those and shoot farther into the sky full of stars meant for you 💫. I’m hearing the quote about drawing back your arrow before you can shoot forward- if you’re feeling stuck right now, this is what I’m trying to tell you, blossom exactly where you are right now, and everything else will simply follow!!! and I know that takes courage but I KNOW you have it because it was child you’s courage that got you to this future you are currently in~ and when you start to embody their courage along with their light, I know it will be the turning point to creating the life you were always dreaming and painting in your mind~ I’m seeing bright neon lights, holding hands and toothy-laughing grins, your clothes looking exactly how you pictured months ago- this is what I see happening in the future!! please stay open to some of the connections you already have- renew them is what I’m hearing (but please follow your intuition, if you need to cut everyone except for one or two true connections then that is the right thing for you to do)- if these are people who you knew when you were a lot younger then bond on the older times and use that energy to renew into more new memories,- these older connections you have you could definitely collaborate with to mutually make new connections and go towards new experiences- I’m hearing maybe even to “get out of this town”... phew pile 3!!!! what a way to end this pac, so happy to have met you and I feel like I took a nap in the sun- I’m really on some hazy ish rn lolll but I really hope I was helpful in any questions or worries on your beautiful mind~ I LOVE YOUUU so much, you better keep on shining- even if that’s just in front of your mirror, that’s perfect and valid ☀️👏

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ “I'm five generations of blazin' a trail- through barb-wired valleys and overgrown dells- I'm barefoot and bareback and born tough as nails” - “I push like a daisy through old sidewalk cracks” - “yeah, my kinda crazy's still runnin' its courses with wildflowers and wild horses”

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️ “I've been alright, I’ve just been doing the same shit I've always liked- like smoking and movies and homies who bring me wine” - “-all of my girls get up early and stay out late- they drive all the way to the west side to see my face- that's good love- and I ain't no big baller when it's fake friends you're callin’”

⋆ ˖

✮

⋆ ˖ ✮🖋️am I actually going to (*schedule to*) post this omg it feels like forever since i did this.. where was i even? whatever- its whatever- holy shit I'm putting myself out there!!!! praise be!!!! omg I'm going to get one extra hour of sleep as a treat🍰

love, vi~♡

[space-blue]

Arcane 2 Trailer time!

Imagine this chick comes into your office and tells you what to do? What are you gonna do?? Tell her no?????

Overall Ambessa and Sevika are really making this season MILF o'clock.

It would seem that early season will focus on Jinx terrorist time...

This is sadly the only LoL skin she could afford...

If you like Cait AND you like your women in pain/getting squeeze like they're a pineapple in the werewolf fucking press, then it seems this season is going to be for you. But Cait isn't the only one having a bad time, seems like Heimerdinger losing his day job led to some relaxation of his principles:

Now focusing on Ekko, who we know is helping Heimer:

This has a chain to pull a mechanism, and we see some similar thing being pulled by an unknown character, just a much thicker chain.

These shots of the Firelights attacking AMBESSA's people lead me to believe that the story may look like > Councillors listen to Ambessa > The tensions with Zaun escalate > Jinx terrorism instead of resolution > Vi sees this as failure and returns to Zaun to try another way > Ambessa doesn't take no for an answer > everyone teams up against Noxus, bringing Zaun and Piltover together again.

By hair alone we can see a timeskip here. Love Ekko's outfit. Vi's simpler style with just a bit of Piltie chest armour gives me hope that she transitions away from being a Piltie Enforcer and more of a Vander style character, trying to mediate.

Notice how dark her roots are???? I am wondering because LOOK:

She has black hair!! With reddish tips?

SO THIS MEANS THIS IS VI'S NEW LOOK:

And this last shot confirms it! RHEA RIPPLEY makeover!!!!

PLEASEPLEASEPLEASEPLESAEPLEASE BE REAL please don't be an inforcer don't be a cop please be cool please have an arc learn progress return to your people don't be a class traitor I beg I begwaah

My only criticism of this is that we now have 2 options: Either Vi is entering her goth era and is actively dyeing everything sloppily so that bits of Pink remain, or she has always been black haired, and has been dyeing her hair AND eyebrows pink her whole life, even as a child.

I get that it could be a cultural thing parents do, as my friend En suggested. I'd like this, if it weren't for the fact she was in stillwater for YEARS and I don't see them providing pink dye and a nice setup to bleach and dye safely...

Curious to see how it goes.

At this I screamed "Silco????" But not sure now. Seems too far off to be a Jinx vision.

There's also fucky things going on with the Arcane. We're told it's "waking up", which is curious because I was assuming mages across Runeterra were using the Arcane lots for their own magic, so very happy to learn more about it.

Also very cool to see a return of the wizard guy from Jayce's backstory:

Very excited for these depictions of magic :

Free feet included.

I'm pretty amazed that we have seen Zero Mel and Zero Jayce, and just 2-3 frames of hinted Viktor. Nice to see he'll go through with the transformation, but I'm curious as to why they're keeping the jeyvik divorce era so out of promo. Some of my friends feeling very edged right now.

Wondering if this is baby Powder flashbacks, or if we're going to get little kids getting dyed blue in celebration as we see adults do when they team up with her. I suspect if this is a kiddo who wanted to be blue like Jinx, this will be used as a parrallel, with them being caught in an attack that harkens back to the bridge.

The visual effects look insanely gorgeous, and also Jinx's very bad time tm is always on the menu. Very exciting!

[youshouldjustliveinmychurch]

Symbolism of Jinx's Hair

*Arcane spoilers*

CW: Violence, self-harm, suicide

OH. MY. GOD. So so so many thoughts, but for now a few quick thoughts on the symbolism of Jinx's hair.

-The bangs are there the whole time and represent her relationship with Silco since we see young Silco with similar bangs. (credit to Tik Tok for that).

-After Isha's death, Jinx's very long hair is completely undone from its braid. This calls to mind Rapunzel, perhaps symbolizing that in her depression Jinx is isolated in the tower of her mind and - maybe - needs someone to rescue her but it's difficult to reach her unless she tosses her hair down and lets someone in. Problem is, Jinx doesn't feel worthy of letting anyone in. Silco, while well-meaning, is reminiscent of Mother Gothel, who keeps Rapunzel trapped by teaching her to act a certain way. The hair is unbraided, which symbolizes the loss of her identity as Jinx. Her inability to form and be comfortable in a distinct identity not explicitly attached to another person leads to a lack of self-worth that causes her death.

-THEN she cuts her hair to the length it happens to be when she's powder in the other timeline. This symbolizes a reversion to - not necessarily her old self (too much has happened) - but to someone closer to who she would have been without so much trauma. This is the point when she's about to *you know* and Ekko manages to stop her. The sad thing about Jinx in the current timeline is that her identity has become irreparably tied to other people because of her trauma so she doesn't think she has any value on her own. First she (and her identity as a younger sister / daughter) was linked to Vi and Vander, then attached to Silco (as a daughter). When she loses Silco, she loses her identity, until she once more finds an identity in being a sister / attaching to Isha. She thinks she has value by playing that role. When she loses that, she once more loses her sense of identity and worth because she's never been allowed to grow up / form one on her own because of her trauma. That's why her "sacrifice" in the end is such a tragedy and not actually something to be admired.  It all stems from her lack of valuing herself, which is a tragedy. The Powder in the other timeline is different because she's had time to form an independent identity and sense of self-worth which we can see demonstrated by her clothes and the fact that she's not very susceptible to the slight pressure from Vander and others to be more ambitious and live up to her potential. The ONLY thing that makes her help Ekko is the fact that Vi is alive in the other timeline. She expresses her love in her own way by creating something contrasted to how Jinx expresses her love for Vi by destroying herself. Also, Ekko is the only one who can reach her in that moment and stop her self-destruction because he sees her soul - the real Powder. It's like the difference between friends and family. We love our families. They are (good or bad) important. But they have preconceived notions about us and our identities related to them. Our friends, on the other hand, CHOOSE us. They choose to be around us (ideally) because they like us for who we are in our natural state.

-When she zooms up with Ekko, her hair has been changed yet again. She keeps the bangs (representing Silco) and has dyed a streak purple (to represent her and Vi together - pink + blue and also VIOLET). The rest, however, is jaggedly cut off close to her head. Instead of this representing an entirely new identity, I see it as representing the hope and POSSIBILITY of a new, more authentic identity growing (see hair growing) while still keeping the foundation of her care for the people she loves. The hair is cut jaggedly and isn't necessarily beautiful or put together by typical standards, but it doesn't have to be. One of the main themes of this season is that "brokenness" is essential to who we are and isn't always a bad thing. As Ekko says, it's a chance to build something new. Unfortunately that never happens because of the consequences of trauma.

I'm not sure I agree with Jinx's death because on the surface it feels like the tired trope of villain / morally grey character is redeemed by sacrificing themselves for someone else. Personally, I think it's much more powerful to have a character take responsibility for themselves while also forgiving themselves. I concede that this was done in a really nuanced way. The thing is, I don't think we're actually supposed to read Jinx's death as a heroic act that redeems her. Instead, it is more in line with the themes to read it as a horrific suicide caused by trauma, oppression, and a lack of self-worth/identity. In that split-second decision, Jinx reverts to all that she knows and has been taught, even though for a moment she did have a shot at a new identity. She chooses to die because she doesn't value herself / doesn't know who she is and has been taught all her life that you show love through violence (even if it's violence in protection of those you love). With as clever and innovative as Jinx is, don't tell me she and Vi couldn't have figured out another way to best Vander. It makes sense to read this moment as an avoidable, tragic suicide because Jinx is clearly suicidal and even makes an attempt. The song that plays during her attempt also plays during her death. We're supposed to see this event more in the light of what happened to Isha, which HEAVILY foreshadowed and paralleled Jinx's death by showing a child's misguided attempt at expressing love. An innocent child shouldn't feel obligated to sacrifice their life to save someone else's life. That moment is horrific. Not even an adult should be asked to do that. That's an unmistakable tragedy. Just like Isha was doing what she was taught (the simplicity and complexity of "pew-pew"), Jinx was doing what she was taught. It's a cycle of innocence, violence, and trauma that also mirrors Jinx's accidental role in Vander's death when she was trying to mold herself to what everyone expected her to be. It's haunting that Jinx says, "Killing isn't mercy." She doesn't give herself mercy in the end. We see that even though Vi tries her hardest to show Jinx she's loved and can have mercy/ a second chance, Jinx doesn't know how to accept that. It's not a coincidence that in that same conversation with ghost Silco they talk about identity. That's just my personal interpretation.

Anyway.

[angelinthefire]

Vi's journey in "Blisters and Bedrock"

Let's talk about Vi in episode 5 "Blisters and Bedrock". This is some of my favourite character development stuff for her, I really love it.

One question that the creators posed in s1 was "can you love a monster?" That was explored with Jinx and Silco. Silco embraced the monstrous. And the question of whether Vi would keep loving Jinx.

But then there's a role reversal in s2. With Vander being the monstrous one. And there's a role reversal between Jinx and Vi too.

We start with Vi at her absolute lowest. Literally in the bottom of a pit. She has no one left that she's close to. She's got Loris, but she pushes him away too.

She's directionless, and doing the one thing she knows how to do best: punch.

She's tormented by how things ended with Caitlyn, and constantly reminded of her.

She's having a crisis of identity. Dying her hair, breaking her mirror, blacking out her face tattoo, with this wide black streaks that cut across her face.

And she looks absolutely brutal.The anger in her eyes when she's fighting. The screaming. The two-headed wolf on her jacket, that recalls the creature Warwick was made out of.

This is the worst shape we've ever seen Vi in.

And then when Jinx shows up, Vi immediately jumps to the worst conclusion. And immediately starts choking Jinx. The look on her face is murderous. It’s very reminicent of Vander choking Silco.

Of course the difference with Silco is that Jinx doesn’t fight back. Even though she's absolutely capable of it. Her eyes don't get that shimmer-pink haze, she doesn't lift a finger against Vi.

Vi does relant and agree to go after Vander, but the the last shot of her emphasizes what a mess she is, covered in black, in the mirror, fractured.

Although Vi starts at a low point, her journey with Jinx continues to take her downward. They end up going to the literal rock-bottom together. And there's something almost cleansing about that - like once they get to the bottom, then they can start rebuilding.

But they have to get there first.

The next sign to Vi that she needs to reevaluated who Jinx is, is when she sees the mural of Jinx depicted heroically, with the profile of Vander overhead.

I've seen a lot of different interpretations of what Vi's reaction to the mural means, and I think she's affronted, and even hurt. She's been telling herself her sister is dead. Jinx has killed people, she killed the mother of Vi's girlfriend! And now she's being depicted as a hero? Alongside Vander no less?

And Vi responds by immediately trying to tear down this more flattering image of Jinx. She tells Jinx that their quest for Vander is just a fantasy, she takes shot at Jinx's relationship with Isha.

And Jinx doesn't take the bait! At one point, being insulted by her sister would have absolutely destroyed her. But now she turns the tables back on Vi, when Vi says, "at least they didn't have to see the psycho their daughter turned into," asking "which one?"

Not only is Vi needing to reevaluate how she sees Jinx, Jinx sees Vi in a more level-headed way as well, Vi isn't the be-all-end-all that she used to be for Jinx. Jinx knows now that she can build relationships and find acceptance elsewhere.

But Vi keeps escalating - again, she's falling back on her default, she's fighting. She drops her gauntlets, which is a challenge, but she's also dropping her armour momentarily.

And, unlike the sister's last fight, this one is scrappy and messy. It looks a lot more like siblings fighting together - even though fighting like this isn't something Vi and Powder did as kids, because Vi was always in a position of looking after Powder. But now, they can fight as equals.

And then, of course, Isha jumps in. And Vi hits her, recalling the time she struck Powder.

And we get to see Jinx being sweet with Isha, and sisterly. We also see that Isha is fine and shrugs it off, she's not like Powder, Jinx isn't protective of her in the same way that Vi was. Jinx is the big sister now, and not only that, she's doing it her own way, and it seems to be working.

What happens next is a very interesting character moment for Vi, I think. She asks Jinx why she came for her, saying "you don't actually need my help. You haven't for a long time."

Vi isn't playing the role of protector, she isn't needed. Jinx is a fully formed person, who doesn't even look up to Vi anymore. So what could Jinx possibly want with her? She feels useless.

The sisters are re-evaluating each other, but Vi has yet to be able to conceptualize how she can relate to Jinx, on this new basis.

Jinx explains that she sees this as a do-over. Which I think you could spend a lot of time unpacking, which I'm not going to do in this post. Except to say that Vi and Jinx had to go through all kinds of character growth and changes to even be able to work together as equals.

Their next scene is finding the hangout space in the mine that Vander and Silco used. We get the image of Silco's jacket hung up within Vander's jacket, evoking the kind of protective relationship that Vi and Jinx used to have, and presumably Vander and Silco.

And of course the apology letter. Jinx reads it, speaking in Vander's voice, curled up small in the chair, facing the candle light; while Vi sulks in the shadows behind her, in her two-headed hound jacket.

Jinx says that "everything might've been different" if Silco had found the letter, and while I'm not sure that's true, I think the bigger point is that Vander was willing to take the first step to patch things up with Silco, and shoulder some responsibility for what went wrong. And I think that's the thing that resonates with Vi as well, as we see her almost reach out to Jinx. But Vi isn't quite able to do that yet, she instead puts her gauntlet, her armour, back on.

But then Warwick shows up. Jinx tells her it's Vander, and Vi doesn't believe her. But she does step into the protector role again. Vi is back on familiar ground, fighting to defend the people she cares about. And it's the first sign that Vi does really still care about Jinx, that she jumps into action to defend her.

And the fight follows. These two characters that were heros in the first season, who have now been brought to their lowest point, their most violent and monstrous. As I said in my other post about this episode, Vi even looks a bit like a two-headed monster from Warwick's POV, with her gauntlets as the heads of some kind of beast, and the hexgems as their eyes.

So they fight, and then Warwick starts freaking out, torn between the scent of blood, and the recognition of his family. And Jinx begs Vi to believe her that it's Vander. And with the weight of the rest of the episode behind them, with Vi already on the threshold of being able to forgive Jinx, Vi takes that leap of faith, and listens to Jinx.

Vi stops fighting. In a way, it's the first time in the episode that she stops fighting.

And then that's when she gets her family back.

I just think that it's lovely journey for Vi. And something that was really necessary for her character, that I hadn't even thought about before - getting to a place where she could relate to Jinx as a sister, rather than as a protector (or an enemy), and being able to see herself as something other than just a fighter.

[emo-protagonist]

GUYS IK I COULDNT GET A GOOD SCREENSHOT OF IT BUT:

IN THIS SCENE WHERE EKKO IS RIDING VI’S JETPACK OR WHATEVER, HES WEARING JINX MARKINGS!!! THAT MEANS JINX AND VI ARE GOING YO MAKE UP IN SEASON TWO AND FIGHT PILTOVER TOGETHER HOLY SHIT!!!!!

HERES MY THEORY IF U WANNA HEAR IT IG:

we see vi with 3 types of hair in the trailers, lowkey like 3 different outfits for her (ik my screenshots suck pls bear with me)

the one she wears in her enforcer outfit, which is where her hair is fully pink, when she dyes her hair after getting depressed and emo, then the third type which seems to be like a mix, seemingly being after she dyed it black but it’s like faded or whatever.

now whenever we see vi fight jinx, ITS WITH THE ALL PINK HAIR, meaning its before she dyed it black, before she got depressed and left caitlyn, (ok rq its 5am rn).

my theory is there is three stages to the series that follow vi’s hair, corresponding with the three acts of the show. theres the first which is her with her all pink hair, then her emo hair, then her faded emo hair.

what i think is going to happen is the series starts with caitlyn and vi confronting jinx, something goes on with caitlyn and vi (i think its going to be vi not liking piltover cus duh, and caitlyn being all “you cant wage war on my city, we didnt do anything” and vi is all “bro seriously” and leaves.) causing vi to go on her emo phase in the trailer “nothing to lose” where jinx shows up and is like “hey wanna just like help me overthrow piltover” and vi is like “fuck yea”. idk whats gonna happen to caitlyn tho, probably gonna be on the other side or something and like die honestly, or vi actually just chooses jinx over her. tough shit ig?

SO YEA JINX AND VI ARE DEF GONNA MAKE UP AND MAYBE JINX WILL BE A LITTLE LESS INSANE

[storyshark2005]

VI. A Week in Mustique i loove this one <3

Thank you for the ask!! I love this one too -- have some Sonny and Uncle Liam bonding!! This next chapter will be Liam POV (I've not finished the chapter, it's going slow, and I've been a bit diverted with Carraville, but hoping to finish this chapter and keep it going) ***

Liam spots the lad he’s looking for, holding tight to a palm tree, stretching his skinny little leg behind his back like he’s Usain Bolt warming up for the Olympics. He doesn’t have the Gallagher look about him at all; not the eyebrows, or his father’s nose, or the sour little mouth that Donovan had inherited. Liam supposes he must look like his mother. But then the kid reaches up to rub at his eye, and his whole face sort of scrunches up disagreeably, and it’s a kick in the chest how like a little Noely G. he is, just for a flash of a second. Liam cups his hands around his mouth and shouts at the top of his lungs: “BUMBACLART!” 

Sonny fairly jumps out of his skin, eyes going all cartoon-y and round. 

“What the fuck, Uncle Liam?!” 

Liam laughs and gives him a thorough scruffle round about the ears. “Alright little potato?! Where’s your brother, ain’t he coming with?” 

Sunny pats his hair back into place. “Nah, he’s still sleeping. Lazy cunt. Anais said she wanted to come, but I think her sunburn’s still really sore, so I didn’t try to wake her up.”

“Ah, poor girl. She taking care of herself?” 

“Yeah. Molly’s been helping put the aloe on and everything. And Gene won’t stop bringing her bottles of coconut water. He’s being really weird about it, it’s like-- she’s not fucking dying!”  

“Ah, always been a softie, our Gene. Good he’s lookin’ after her.”

“Yeah, but it’s her own fucking fault, innit? Like, how stupid can you be?! We were on a boat, in the sun, for like-- five hours! How do you just forget to put sunscreen on?!” 

Sonny gives a disapproving shake of the head, hands propped up on his hips. 

Liam laughs, and gives his nephew a slap on the back. “Someday you’ll see, Little G. After a drink or two you stop being so smart.” 

“I think even after about a hundred beers, I’d remember-- you’re in the middle of the fucking Carribbean! I mean we’re basically right on the fucking equator!” 

They take off on a slow jog, and Sonny promises not to leave Liam in the dust. There’s a nice firmer bit of sand nearer the water where their feet don’t sink in so much, so they stick to running along the beach, watching the sun slowly peek up over the ocean. Sonny’s got a little Nike digital watch, so Liam tells him to say summat when they’ve gone a half-hour; and there they stop for a rest and kick sand and throw rocks into the surf, watching the morning sun turn the dark water orange and pink and blue. Sonny keeps up his bright little chatter pretty much the whole hour, like a little wind-up toy that Liam prompts with a question every so often; about school, his guitar playing, football, girls-- Sonny’s got a couple of prospects but ‘nothing serious’, according to him. (Geezer, Liam thinks. He’ll be a right little lady killer, will Sonny G.)

When they finally get back to the villa, Liam can hear a bit of clatter from the kitchen, but the house is still dark and quiet. Sonny gives him a high-five and begs off for a shower and a couple more hours of sleep. 

“Oh, I almost forgot,” he turns back around and says in a sheepish voice: “Happy Birthday, Uncle Liam.” 

They hug, and Liam has to work hard not to cry. It makes him think about all the birthday parties he’s missed out on, and all the ones he’s going to get to go to from now on. And it’s all very happy and achy inside his chest. 

Sonny tromps back to his bunk. Liam watches him go, the sweaty parts of his hair sticking up from where Liam had hugged him too tight and ruffled his hair. He looks like a baby deer still, right at the age before they start to turn into men, when they still laugh at stupid jokes, and they’re not too cool for kid stuff and cartoons. So maybe Liam’s still got a bit of time left to be Sonny’s funny cool uncle. 

Anyway. It feels like the start to the best birthday ever.

***

[rnoonsetter]

i have a lot of complex feelings on arcane, but since i don't like it very much, i can put it in the background while i'm drawing

thought 1: i saw most of this show when it came out since someone forced me to watch it and i did not like it. but even though i've heard the dumb imagine dragons song like six times before, the only version that exists in my brain is the "uhoh the fuckery" meme

thought 2: part of the reason i don't really like cgi animation that much is that you can pose the characters and do camera movements and stuff you can only do in live action. this sounds like a good thing, but it's actually not. (i want to put it into words but i'm only 5 minutes into episode one. i'll give them time to cook)

thought 3: if vi and jinx are supposed to have natural pink/blue hair, why tf are their eyebrows brown?

thought 4: put it into words a little, it's like because they have to adhere to realism too much, they feel they can't do things in a "cartoony" sort of way. it's hard to express without showing specific shots, but i think the best example in reverse is that one shot from the beginning of kill la kill where ryuko and satsuki fight for the first time and they just scale satsuki's png up and vice versa, leading to this really efficient demonstration of ryuko's emotions at the time. (it's episode 2 at 21:50 for those curious). but this can be applied in a lot more subtle ways too, like the shot of the kids on the balcony. the buildings, in my mind, should have crowded around them, hemming them in, making the space feel more constraining, but it's a 3d map, and that's way harder to do.

thought 5: i thought it was just the imagine dragons song but this other insert song is very very bad

thought 6: that pipe is very poorly designed.

thought 7: i've been reading too much grrm and sanderson when i think that this show's depiction of the sociology of seedy bars is inaccurate

thought 8: ekko has dyed hair so i guess vi and jynx do too

thought 9: i'm not opposed to edge, i mean look at the art i enjoy. but still i feel, like most things, edge has to be subtle to be good. and this show isn't subtle, it's just edge for the sake of it.

thought 10: i thought this before when i saw the city, and idk how true this show is to lol's actual designs and architecture and stuff but someone somewhere really fucking loves mtg, specifically ravnica.

11: i like how expressive the faces are

12: why are you british

13: vander's a class traitor now that he's petite bourgeoisie

session 2/second batch of episodes:

14: maybe i'm a little drunk but i hate that this show made me like a modern imagine dragons song (i was an og fan and i like some of their old stuff)

[sushigirlali]

No Body, No Crime - Part IV (Reylo Fanfic)

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI (Coming Soon!)

Summary: Assassin!Rey Palpatine is on her first mission for the evil Darth Sidious. The goal is simple: kill Prince!Ben Solo by any means necessary.

Pairing: Rey + Ben Solo

Rating: E

Continuity: Canonverse AU

A/N: This chapter ended up being longer than I intended whoops! You’re welcome haha 😆

Master list –> AO3 | ff.net | Tumblr

——————

No Body, No Crime - Part IV

By: sushigirlali

——————

Hanna City, Chandrila

Morning

——————

Ben knocked on the bathroom door when Rey failed to emerge twenty minutes later. “Rey?” he called. “Are you alright? May I come in?”

“Yes,” was her muffled reply.

Curious, he slid open the door. “Rey?” he said again when he didn’t immediately see her.

“In here!”

Realizing she must be in his walk-in closet, Ben crossed the room. “What are you–oh, Force–what happened?” Sitting on the floor of his closet, a hurricane of clothing surrounding her, Ben could clearly see the young woman behind the assassin. 

Rey had the grace to look guilty as he took in the absolute disaster before him. Numerous shirts, robes, pants, and other accessories lay strewn around the closet on top of stools, shelves, and on the floor. And was that a slipper hanging off an antique wall sconce?

“Hey, so… I just thought–um–maybe, I could dress you too?” she said sheepishly. “And then I couldn’t figure out how to match the pieces together or what colors you like or if it would clash with whatever you picked out for me and… yeah.”

Her earnest explanation instantly melted his shock into bemusement. “Need a hand? You look like you’re about to drown in silk.”

“No,” she glared, “I can do it.”

“You sure? People consider me to be pretty fashionable around here,” he teased.

“Don’t believe everything your mother tells you,” she shot back.

“Ouch, sweetheart, that stings,” he laughed. 

It felt good to be able to joke with her, to talk of less serious things than war. Further, they seemed to share an interest in beautiful things. Although it was unlikely Rey had ever been able to express herself freely on Exegol, he hoped in time she would develop a fashion sense all her own. But until then, Ben was happy to play dress up.

“So, what outfit am I wearing today?” she said casually. 

Pretending he didn’t know what she was doing, that she wasn’t asking for his help, he confidently strolled to the opposite side of the closet to select a flowy dress dyed with an ombre of yellow, pink, and purple. It was another one of his grandmother’s and a personal favorite. 

Dramatically brandishing the ostentatious dress, he smiled when she eyed the length and quantity of fabric. “I think this will do nicely for a casual jaunt around town. Don’t you?”

——————

“Yeah, I can really tell you’re going for casual,” Rey said several minutes later as Ben intricately twisted and styled her hair. Not that she would ever admit it, but his work looked beautiful from her vantage point in front of his vanity mirror. And what’s more, it made her feel beautiful.

“My mother tells me I’m a natural at recreating the hairstyles of her homeworld,” he informed her. “And yes, I believe her.”

Rey rolled her eyes, half in amusement and half in self defense. The way Ben’s fingers were moving in her hair, and occasionally diverted to massage her neck and shoulders, was slowly driving her crazy. Plus, there were the sounds he was making…

“Oh, yeah,” he basically moaned, pleased with whatever braid he was tying off. “This might just be my best work yet.”

At his statement, something unpleasant occurred to her. “Have you done this a lot?”

“Braided hair?” he said absently. “Sure.”

“How many times?” she scowled.

“Dozens.”

“With how many partners?”

“Huh?” He looked up then.

“How many partners have you—you hoodwinked with this whole hair styling seduction routine?” she demanded.

“I’m sorry, but—what?”

Rey batted away his hands and turned around on the plush vanity stool to face him. “Tell me the truth.”

“Rey, there has never been anyone else for me.” His dark eyes implored her to believe him.

“Then who—your mother,” she said in sudden understanding. “Right. Okay.” Rey turned back around to stave off further embarrassment. “Finish up, then, or your servants are going to think I’m holding you hostage in here. They’ve knocked an absurd number of times about breakfast.”

He hesitated for a moment, then slid one last hair pin in place and pronounced her done. “Let’s go get you something to eat, sweetheart, you sound a bit peckish.”

“Don’t coddle me,” she sniffed, rising to inspect the finished product in the mirror. “Nice.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He adjusted the all black attire she had picked out for him to wear, smoothing out the long, pleated tunic tucked underneath a thick belt. 

The solid block of dark clothing really made the most of his pale features if she did say so herself. “It’s like we’ve switched clothing,” she mused, an unbidden sense of ownership lancing through her. 

“And I’m not apologizing for… misunderstanding earlier,” she insisted out loud.

“Wasn't asking you to,” he said, throwing a matching black cloak over his broad shoulders.

“And even if there had been 100 others before me getting their hair played with after a night in your bed I wouldn’t care.”

Ben bit his plush lower lip and suddenly she didn’t want to leave his room after all. “Good to know.”

Deep down, she knew he wasn’t fooled by her false bravado, but it felt better to pretend indifference rather than admit how much she cared. “Let’s go, prince, I’m starving.”

When he offered his arm, like he often did, she took it, compromising that allowing him to guide her to the correct room was the most direct line to breakfast.

“I’m a terrible liar,” she thought, keeping the concession internal. “To him, and to myself.” 

Because she certainly was starving for something and it wasn’t food.

——————

After breakfast, Ben steered Rey toward the hospital. He knew everything was likely in hand, but he wanted to ensure Finn’s incoming stormtroopers—however many there were—had adequate care. Plus, there were a few existing patients to check on. 

For her part, Rey was looking everywhere, eyeing people closely as they passed, suspicion dripping off her. The change in her demeanor was probably due to another conversation with his mother at breakfast.

Not known for her subtlety, Leia once again warned them about treading lightly in case of spies. “You never know who to trust,” she looked pointedly at Rey, “until the chips are on the table.”

“Now you sound like dad,” he’d replied, trying to head off a lecture.

“I’m only trying to protect you, son.”

“I know, mom.”

But he really wished she wouldn’t. He knew what he was doing, the Force was with him. Probably. And his dyad, well, she was coming around. Hopefully.

“Rey?” he called, catching up to the present. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she denied, stopping in front of the hospital doors and peering around to check if anyone was following them.

“It’s not nothing, you look like you’re about to pounce on the next person who comes within ten feet of us.”

“I’m not a loth-cat,” she dismissed, staring down a man in blue robes that had been walking toward them until he changed direction.

“Rey.”

She turned finally and looked him in the eye. “What?”

“Don’t take my mother too seriously. I doubt anyone could conceal themselves long enough to do any real harm here. There are soldiers and politicians and reformed stormtroopers everywhere.”

“You’re too trusting,” she frowned.

“You’re too cynical,” he sighed.

“Maybe, but my way will keep you safe.”

Ben touched her arm. “Rey, I do feel safe when I’m with you, but you needn’t worry about me. I’m Force-sensitive too, I can handle myself in a fight.”

“Too sensitive,” she muttered.

“Excuse me?”

“I was sent here to murder you,” she reminded him.

“Yeah, but—”

“And all you’ve done is leave yourself open. I could have killed you countless ways by now,” she informed him.

“But you haven’t. Rey, we—”

“And you returned my lightsaber!”

“I thought you’d… I wanted to show you that I trust you!”

“Ben, you can’t just assume the best of people all the time,” she reprimanded. “Me, Finn, tons of other stormtroopers you’ve never even met… come on.”

“Come on what?” He crossed his arms across his broad chest. “You’re not even wearing your lightsaber. You left it in the room.”

“A decision I’m definitely regretting right now.”

“Rey—”

“Good morning!”

Turning to Kaydel, who’s sunny head was peeking out of the front door to the hospital, Ben mentally took a deep breath. Though he was happy to see his friend, the interruption was ill-timed. 

“Good morning, Kaydel,” he said with forced enthusiasm.

Rey remained silent, scrutinizing the blonde with narrow eyes.

“I was just coming to find you! Thanks for making my job easier,” she grinned. 

“No problem. What’s up?”

“I’ve been told that you and your lady should take the day off,” she recited.

Ben frowned. “Told by who?”

“Your uncle.”

“Hmm.” Ben wondered what the old man was up to. “But what about the preparations for the new patients? The ones already here? I should at least check on them.”

Kaydel shook her head. “We’ve got you covered. Several of the stormtroopers who arrived with Finn are medics. Combined with the other Force healers and doctors we already have on staff, we have all the help we need and more.” She paused, taking in their outfits. “By the way, did you two switch clothing or something?”

“Kind of,” Ben smiled. “What do you think?”

“You make a perfect pairing, you’ll have perfectly cute babies,” his friend teased. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

Ben didn’t look at Rey, but he could feel her tense like a drawn bow. “Something like that,” he said noncommittally, wanting to defuse the situation before it became one.

“Well, I’ll take my leave,” she replied, perceptive as ever. “We’ve got it covered here, so go enjoy your day, Senator Overachiever.”

“If you’re sure?”

“I am.”

“Okay. Thanks, Kaydel.”

“Oh, and speaking of, the senate isn’t meeting today either.”

“Wait, what? Since when?”

“Since now!”

“Kaydel—”

“See you later! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She winked before closing the door with a decisive snap.

“Uh—bye,” he said lamely before turning back to Rey. “Hey, I’m sorry about what she said. Do you want to talk—”

——————

“She knows about us,” Rey murmured as soon as they were alone again.

“Not exactly,” he replied. “Kaydel knows you’re important to me, but not any… specifics.”

“Did you tell her we met at a bar or a casino or fruit stand or something?” she said sardonically.

“No, I just—a fruit stand? Really?” He chuckled sweetly like she intended. His laugh was quickly becoming synonymous with needing air to breath. “What’s your favorite kind of fruit, anyway?”

“I don’t know, I’m not sure I’ve ever had real fruit.”

“What? What!” Ben looked outraged. Taking her hand, he quickly steered her toward a small market near the hospital.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

But he didn’t answer, weaving in and out of the crowd and towing her behind until they were standing in front of a Twi’lek couple and several heaping mounds of… fruit.

“You can take whatever you want, I’m buying,” he told her.

“Oh! Oh, I don’t know…” But a ripe looking green shape stuck out to her. “What’s that?” she pointed.

One of the shop owners smiled and answered before Ben could. “A pear, dear. They’re not really in season right now, but my husband was able to nurture a few in our personal garden.”

“Did it take a lot of effort?”

“Tons, but it was worth it.”

“You’re giving them away, though?” Rey questioned. “Don’t you want any for yourself if they’re special?”

“We shared one, it was delicious, but sharing with the town is our privilege and duty—and much more lucrative than eating all the inventory,” she winked.

Rey was about to speak again when a ball tumbled into her foot. Looking around, she saw it was the same youngling she had played with the night before.

“Hi, lady!” the Twi’lek child beamed. “Do you want to play ball with us again?”

“Oh, um, well…”

“Do you know this young woman, son?”

The kid nodded enthusiastically. “She’s the one who scored three times in a row yesterday! And showed me how to kick like her! She’s fun!”

Something tight uncurled inside her, lightening her heart. “Fun? Her?”

“Very fun,” Ben agreed in her mind.

“Well then,” the woman smiled, “please take a pear on the house. Thank you for being so kind to my son.”

“Kind? Her?”

“You have a kind heart.” The warmth in his tone made her flush.

“I don’t know what to say,” Rey admitted. She was floundering, confused. How did one respond to overt kindness?

“Say thank you,” Ben instructed.

“Ah—thank you.”

“You’re welcome! I'm Twila, by the way.”

“Rey.” 

Twila nodded and turned to Ben. “You’ve got a keeper here, Senator. Pretty and polite!”

“I know,” Ben said. Then, looking at Rey, “She’s beautiful, one of a kind.”

Rey felt like she might throw up. “Please, please stop complimenting me.”

“No,” he grinned. Stupidly. Like a lovesick—nope. No, no, no!

Rey accepted the fruit, made a hasty excuse to the child that she’d play later, and zoomed away into the crowd, spies be damned.

——————

Ben lengthened his stride to keep up with Rey’s billowing skirts. “Rey, wait up, let’s talk about this.”

“Which ‘this’ is that?” she tossed over her shoulder. “Darth Sidious? Our weird connection? My inability to take a compliment?”

“Rey!” He didn’t want to make a scene, but maybe that was exactly what she needed. “Look, I know this—us—has been a lot, but—”

She whirled around, grabbed the front of his robes, and shoved him backward into an alley. Her mouth covered his before he was able to mutter another word. Putting their practice from the previous night to good use, Rey kissed him so thoroughly Ben felt his knees begin to shake.

“Rey,” he groaned, wrapping her up tight. “Rey, I’m sorry.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “What for?”

“For leaving you alone with him all these years. I should have come after you, I should have saved you,” he agonized.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “Don’t take that from me. I survived. I’m still surviving.”

“But—”

She placed a finger over his lips. “No, that’s not for you to take onto your shoulders. I may not have had an easy upbringing, but I’m who I am because of it.”

“I love who you are,” he said vehemently. “My dreams have nothing on the reality of you.” Rey’s eyes were bright, but he could tell she was struggling to accept his words. “We will have to work on your acceptance of compliments, though, sweetheart.”

She laughed, and the sound was like music. “After this whole war thing is over, maybe we will.”

——————

Afternoon

——————

They walked arm in arm toward his uncle’s house in compatible silence. Rey’s emotions were still settling, he could feel the conflict in her, but she seemed to be on better footing after their kiss. In fact, Ben felt more grounded himself. 

Luckily, they had the afternoon off and Rey agreed that speaking with the infamous Luke Skywalker was the next logical step in figuring out their connection. And getting a sense of her grandfather’s greatest nemesis would be educational for her in its own right, he mused.

“Hey, your majesty?” Rey slowed her pace as they passed a couple of elderly senators.

“Yeah?”

“Why are those guys looking at me like that?”

Immediately on alert, he traced her gaze. “Oh, those two? My mother knows them. They happened to be off-world when Alderaan was destroyed.”

“Okay, but why are they staring? Is something wrong? Did I mess up your grandmother’s dress?” 

“No, nothing like that. I think it’s because, um…” Ben felt his cheeks heat. “I may have used some very traditional, very formal braiding techniques when I did your hair this morning.”

“They’re staring because of my hair? Why?” She looked skeptical. “I saw it, it’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he grinned. 

She huffed out a breath. “Don’t get used to it. And don’t change the subject!”

“Well…”

“Ben Solo!”

He held his hands out in a placating manner. “These particular braids might also maybe be kind of used exclusively during… wedding ceremonies.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Rey pinched the bridge of her nose like a headache was oncoming. “Is that why your mom was so bent out of shape this morning and going on about spies and trust and shit?”

“Probably,” he said sheepishly, “but she’ll get over it.”

“But will I?” Rey shot him a look of mock outrage. “I might actually have to kill you now. And I was just beginning to change my mind. Such a shame.”

“Don’t worry,” he grinned, “I’ll make it up to you later.”

——————

“Well, I have to say I’m disappointed,” Rey muttered.

“Maybe we should knock harder?” Ben frowned. “Or just blast the door open.”

“He’s not here.”

“Yeah,” he said, “but it would make me feel better.”

Rey laughed. “I bet your mother would love that.”

“She’s been known to destroy door jams from time to time,” he chuckled. “But seriously, I wonder what the old man is plotting.” 

“What do you mean?” Rey looked up at him.

“He didn’t want me working today, but isn’t here to answer questions now. It doesn’t make sense. Unless…”

“Unless?” she pressed.

“Unless he saw something,” Ben contemplated.

“A premonition?” 

“Perhaps,” he said slowly. “Luke has been known to jet off to parts unknown to avoid interfering with the Force’s plans in the past.”

“You talk about the Force like it has consciousness,” she said, interest clear on her pretty face.

“I’m not an expert, I quit Jedi training when I was a teenager to pick up my many other hyphenated titles, but I do know that the Force is not a power you have. It’s the energy between all things, a tension, a balance… what?” He paused at Rey’s wide smile; he felt humbled that she was letting him see it. “What is it, Rey?”

“I don’t know, you seem different,” she said thoughtfully.

“You do too,” he returned. “Ever since…”

“The night we met,” she finished.

They stared at each other for long moments, their breathing slowly syncing up. Then their heart beats, their thoughts, and a simultaneous blooming deep in—

“Hey, if it isn’t my two favorite Jedi!” Finn bounded up to them and slapped them both on the back. “But don’t tell the General, okay?”

Ben sighed as if in severe pain, reaching for Rey’s arm. He was gratified when she looped hers through his once again. “Literally none of us are Jedi, Finn.”

“Not by any metric,” Rey glared, but she was half smiling too. It was hard to be annoyed with Finn, he knew.

“So, uh… I was wondering if you’d heard anything about Poe?” Finn asked quietly.

“Ah, the point emerges,” Ben replied. “All I know is he's running point on the bombers. They’re coordinating with Rose’s team for that other thing too.”

“Who’s Poe?” Rey queried.

“My boyfriend,” Finn said at the same time as Ben said, “A pain in my ass.”

“And what other thing?” she continued.

“This one doesn’t miss anything, does she?” Finn winked.

“She doesn't,” Rey confirmed.

At Ben’s nod of approval, Finn filled her in. “Our friend Rose is working another angle, she’s got a contact inside the First Order.”

“A spy?” Rey stood up straighter.

“Oh, don’t get her started,” Ben sighed.

“Shut up,” she said sweetly, then to Finn, “Please continue.”

“That’s about it, we’re just waiting for the final go ahead. However,” he lowered his voice, “I think Rose may come back with more than a hunky red-headed spy.”

“Huh?”

“I swear on the last holo it looked like they had just been fu—”

“Okay!” Ben intervened. “So, did my mother say when all the excitement is going to occur?”

“Sometime within the next few days,” Finn said somberly. “Could push to next week if there are any major issues.”

“Still, that’s so soon!” Rey exclaimed. “Why didn’t the senate meet today then?”

Ben and Finn exchanged a long look, then said in unison, “Spies.”

——————

Evening

——————

They spent the rest of the day bouncing around town, alternating between speaking in hushed tones to Finn and Leia as updates came in and introducing Rey to the locals. She wasn’t sure which conversations were the most productive, but all of them were exhausting.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” she yawned when they retreated to Ben’s room after dinner.

“The same thing that’s wrong with all of us,” Ben responded as he locked the door and walked to the bed. He sat down and removed his boots and socks.

“Yeah, what’s that?”

“The near constant feeling of flight or fight, except you can’t escape what’s coming and the fight never seems to arrive,” he said sagely.

She mulled over his words for a minute. “That actually makes sense.” Then, smirking, “Surprised you thought of it, your highness.”

“Brat,” he said affectionately. 

The look on his face, sort of soft and dreamy, made her tingle all over. What’s more, she wanted him too. It was a tough pill to swallow, even after last night, but she did. If truth be told, she’d never wanted anything so badly, not even the acceptance she once sought from Darth Sidious. 

Ben made wanting him easy, made wanting a future outside of the grim reality of her childhood seem possible, and she was tired of resisting his gravitational pull. It had only been two days, but it already felt like she’d lived a lifetime with him.

“Remember what you promised earlier?” she said in what she hoped was a seductive tone.

“That I’d make it up to you?” His dimpled smile told her that she had succeeded.

“It’s later,” she said softly. Then, not so softly, “Take off your shirt.”

Dark eyes twinkling, Ben stood and unclasped first his cloak and then his belt. The black shirt took a moment longer as he worked the invisible side zipper down and pulled it over his head. His hair was mused after, but she barely noticed, staring at the wide swath of skin now exposed from the waist up.

“Okay?”

“Yeah,” she breathed. 

Smiling, he moved behind her. She started to turn, but he grasped her shoulders and stopped her. His palms were warm and teasing, kneading her tight muscles for a moment before tracing the back of her neck. She shivered before she could control her reaction.

“May I?” he asked huskily, touching the back of the metallic collar holding her dress up.

Excitement raced through her, anticipation trumping the weariness of the day. She tilted her head forward, allowing him to undo the clasp. He smoothed the fabric down her body, which pooled in a mass of multicolored silk at her feet. Ben’s hands crept back up her sides, circled around her stomach, then captured her small breasts.

“Do you like the lingerie I picked out for you?” he rumbled, pressing his massive chest to her back. 

His deep voice rolled through her, and all she could do was nod. The matching butter yellow lace set was comfortable despite its delicacy and she could at least admit to herself that wearing such beautiful garments boosted her confidence. “Who knew?” Ben Solo apparently.

He teased her nipples through the thin fabric, lightly pinching her stiff peaks until she was arching against him. “Can I take it off?” He tried to sound in control, but the fine tremor in his voice betrayed his eagerness.

“Yes,” she managed, his desire reinforcing her own. 

She made a disappointed sound when he stepped back and he chuckled. But just as she was about to complain, he released the catch of her bra and let it drop to the floor. Within seconds he was pressed against her again, touching her bare breasts, kissing the side of her neck, letting his appreciation of her body be known…

“I’ve touched your penis, but somehow this is more intimate,” she said with unconscious humor.

Ben’s chest shook against her back and he broke out in a cross between a laugh and a groan.

“What?”

“I’m trying to pamper you, so let’s try to ignore my penis for now.” Ben’s breath tickled her ear in a strangely delightful way.

“I’ve never been pampered before,” she said coyly, pushing her hips backward into his.

He hissed as his cock made contact with her ass. “Rey,” he said warningly.

“I can’t help that I feel restless,” she whined, “I should be doing something too.” 

“You are doing something,” he stated.

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” he murmured, slipping one large hand down her stomach and under the waistband of her panties, “you’re making it difficult to think of anything but putting my tongue inside you.”

“Oh!” she squeaked as two long fingers circled her damp opening.

“Is that something you want?” he whispered against her ear. 

“I—I don’t know,” she said shakily, leaning back into his big body again, wanting to feel his hardness, his heat.

“Rey,” he admonished softer this time.

“Please, let me feel you,” she whispered back. “I–oh, Force! Ben!” Rey clutched him as his fingers slid into her body, one hand on his forearm and the other on his hip.

“I can curl my fingers in just the right way with you standing like this,” he nearly growled, demonstrating his point to mind-numbing perfection. “Do you like it this way? Tell me if you like what I’m doing to your body.” 

“Yes! Yes!” 

For all his pedigree, Ben’s bedside manner was intense bordering on domineering. He was all around her, inside her, body and mind. “What do you need?” His thumb circled her clitoris, first lightly and then urgently. “This? Do you need this? Need me?”

“Yes! Ben! Please!”

She was out of her mind, in his, floating on a wave of euphoria as his fingers strummed her body like a finely tuned instrument. “You’re nearly there, sweetheart. You’re so responsive, so sexy, everything I’ve ever wanted.”

The next caress had her screaming as his words and ministrations merged into a feedback loop that built and built until an infinite stream of pleasure coursed through her. “Ben!”

——————

She was laying on the bed when she regained consciousness, Ben kneeling between her damp thighs. “Are you alright?” He looked worried, like he had done something wrong.

“Yes, but I–I’ve never felt this way before,” she admitted, needing to reassure him. “Ben, you’re…”

He smiled, bending to kiss her. Compared to how he’d just dominated her body, the kiss was sweet and comforting. “I’m glad. I lost you for a few minutes there and was afraid…”

“You never have to be afraid of making love to me,” she said, surprising them both. “I mean, um, I–”

“So, you wouldn’t be opposed to… a little more pampering?” His smile was wolflike.

“N–no.”

His hands went to her hips, caressing the sides of her underwear. “I want to taste you.”

“Okay,” she gulped. “If you really want to.”

“I want to.”

Eyeing the front of his black trousers, she could believe it. “Oh!” she gasped when he bent to pull her underwear off with his teeth. “Force, Ben! That’s–I like that.”

He looked up from under his unfairly long lashes. “I like you.” Stuffing her panties into his back pocket, Ben grasped her knees and spread her legs wide. “Damn. Look how wet you are, sweetheart.”

Her breathing quickly grew labored as he stared at her pussy like a man starving. “Is it normal?”

“How we feel about each other?” Ben said absently, easily grasping her meaning. He leaned down to kiss the inside of her thighs, seeming to breathe in her scent before delicately touching his tongue to the hood of her clitoris. “No, it’s not normal. It’s extraordinary.” 

Laying back, letting him do what he wanted to her, Rey realized that Palpatine had given her a gift. He couldn’t comprehend human emotions, it was clear to her now. And although she still didn’t quite understand what a dyad was, she knew how it felt. And it was, in fact, extraordinary.

——————

Later, she traced her fingers down his chest to rest on the prominent bulge tenting his high waisted pants. “What about you?”

He captured her wrist and brought her hand to his lips. “Just lay with me,” he murmured, pulling her closer. “I just want to be close to you.”

Rey closed her eyes, trying to contain the riotous emotions surging through her. He loved her. She knew it in an instant. He loved her.

“Ben,” she whimpered, curling toward him. Nobody had ever loved her before. 

“Shh, it’s alright. I'm here.”

She clutched him tighter, throwing an arm and leg over his body like the night before. But this time she fell into a dreamless sleep, safely resting with her cheek over his heart.

——————

A/N: The story is wrapping up, and I promise a nice big bow 😁 Hope y’all are enjoying it! Feels good to write again after tros.

[unmyeoung]

well, since he's already awake.. her hands reach towards his face, tugging lightly on his cheeks. something calms her down about being able to feel his warmth next to her. it's enough to chase away some of the feelings that well up so negatively inside of her. because if he's here, tangibly, genuinely here.. then maybe things will be okay.

her eyes blink in the darkness and try to find a way to lock into his. he's not a dream, he's real. he's here.

she wonders why he's the one who's able to do it. to so effortlessly bring her back to herself was no easy feat, but it seemed like something he was capable of even when others couldn't. even when sometimes, she struggled to do it for herself.

she scoffs, rolling her eyes but there's no bite behind any of it. "too much paint is an opinion... and a wrong one at that~" she didn't think she'd done too much.. besides, it was more fun with lots of decor and pops of color.

her hand goes up towards her hair, pulling through it slightly. "..oh yeah, i wondered if i should try dying it.. put some extra colors in.. pink, maybe..? like, uh.." a slight homage to vi, she supposes.

"i mean.. sounds kinda dumb, right?"

"It's fine," is all his mildly hoarse voice provides, trying to process the situation in the middle of the night. He isn't sure he's awake enough to handle a heavy conversation about the implications of her dreams right now, so he refrains from asking while the rest of him catches up. Instead, he moves just a little bit closer, shorter than an arm's length away, with sleepy eye contact he hadn't a clue what to do with in the dark. "We can just talk for a little while … " He offers instead, trying to think of how to go about easing a mind as troubled as hers.

Pink eyes still invoke a sense of fear in him that comes in droves, but conflicting flavors. Every time he's convinced himself that he's grown strong enough to keep his distance from her, he pulls her in again without a second thought, where he sat like porcelain in her hands. She knew just how to break him, a real hammer to the heart. In this moment, for once, he didn't feel like the porcelain. Ekko's actions are driven by a sense of need, a selfish desire to keep her when he knows she's grown so used to pulling away. Many reasons stand to suggest he ought to let her, because of everything that she's done, everything that she could do in the future. The blood on her hands, the unpredictable nature that lies in her veins, yet he knows he isn't strong enough to listen.

She was his undoing every single time.

"What was I saying before we fell asleep?" He tried to remember their conversation before, likely winding down after their rambling and carrying on. "Something about … how carried away you got with the paint?" That doesn't seem quite right, his nose wrinkles trying to rattle his tired mind enough to remember. "Oh yeah, we were trying to decide what you wanted to do with your hair." She mentioned changing it despite it already being cut short. "What did you wanna change about it? I feel like you've changed it so many times."

[undeadlilies]

Day 4 - Red

Sansa Stark Playlist

Just like most of her siblings, Sansa was born with tully red hair and blue eyes, a feature so recognizable that her time as Alayne Stone has her dying her hair brown. She was given a red rose from Loras, who only gifted other girls a white one. Blood seems to fall from everywhere even from Sansa’s body.  Red hair, red roses and red blood are seen throughout her story but what could it mean? 

“She played the high harp and the bells. Worse, she was beautiful. Sansa had gotten their mother's fine high cheekbones and the thick auburn hair of the Tullys.” - Arya I, AGOT 

“To the other maidens he had given white roses, but the one he plucked for her was red. "Sweet lady," he said, "no victory is half so beautiful as you." Sansa took the flower timidly, struck dumb by his gallantry.” - Sansa II, AGOT 

“The point of Ser Gregor's lance had snapped off in his neck, and his life's blood flowed out in slow pulses, each weaker than the one before. His armor was shiny new; a bright streak of fire ran down his outstretched arm, as the steel caught the light. Then the sun went behind a cloud, and it was gone. His cloak was blue, the color of the sky on a clear summer's day, trimmed with a border of crescent moons, but as his blood seeped into it, the cloth darkened and the moons turned red, one by one.

Jeyne Poole wept so hysterically that Septa Mordane finally took her off to regain her composure, but Sansa sat with her hands folded in her lap, watching with a strange fascination. She had never seen a man die before. She ought to be crying too, she thought, but the tears would not come.” - Sansa II, AGOT

“Madness took hold of her. Pulling herself up by the bedpost, she went to the basin and washed between her legs, scrubbing away all the stickiness. By the time she was done, the water was pink with blood. When her maidservants saw it they would know. Then she remembered the bedclothes. She rushed back to the bed and stared in horror at the dark red stain and the tale it told. All she could think was that she had to get rid of it, or else they'd see. She couldn't let them see, or they'd marry her to Joffrey and make her lay with him. “- Sansa IV, ACOK 

“Sansa lowered her head. "The blood frightened me."

"The blood is the seal of your womanhood. Lady Catelyn might have prepared you. You've had your first flowering, no more."

Sansa had never felt less flowery. "My lady mother told me, but I . . . I thought it would be different." - Sansa IV, ACOK 

“That night Sansa scarcely slept at all, but tossed and turned just as she had aboard the Merling King. She dreamt of Joffrey dying, but as he clawed at his throat and the blood ran down across his fingers she saw with horror that it was her brother Robb.” - Sansa VI, ASOS 

“I am not your daughter, she thought. I am Sansa Stark, Lord Eddard's daughter and Lady Catelyn's, the blood of Winterfell.” - Sansa I, AFFC

[muqingists]

!! :]

HI you get the other half of my normal boys duo that ash got too zkmskn <3

cove (he/him)

appearance: 173cm, shoulder-length hair dyed pink with a few cm of brown roots showing, dark green eyes, large round silver glasses on the rare occasions he's not wearing contacts. he broke his nose a couple years back and it healed just a tiny bit crooked. has the worst fashion sense you've ever seen (affectionate). he wears two earrings in both ears, usually one stud and one small hoop but also any variation on that (he's a leo which is the joke lol because he's paired with leo who's an aquarius. im hilarious clearly)

by all means the most normal guy ever. he's a bi trans guy, in university for possibly english or psychology i haven't entirely decided yet. in the theatre club because of course he's a theatre club.

ok i lied a little bit when i said he was normal. he's normal by the standards of all my other ocs who have so much going on when he's kind of just vibing but he's a strange little man. will say the weirdest stuff unprompted just because it popped into his head. he's childhood friends with vi (short for viviane) and she's absolutely an enabling influence when it comes to him trying everything he'll think of (that tumblr post that's like wonder what happens if you eat a habanero peppers and a bunch of breath mints > this is what hellfire tastes like. he's absolutely done that at least once and vi was cheering him on)

so he tends to be very impulsive when it comes to. most things really. but part of that and his overall super outgoing persona is a little overplayed from being used to having to learn how to seemingly effortlessly fit in to any group because if you're friendly enough and people like you there's less chance of things going bad. but if he's alone with someone he trusts like vi or leo he'll tend to be quieter and more on the listening side.

(also his mother sees ghosts but he doesn't so when he learns that leo sees them too and is clearly. not handling it too well he takes him to her so she can help him figure it out <3)

^ art still always by paxeattacks on twitter!! cove is the one on the right <3

[swiftie-4-lifes-stuff]

Obi- Wan spoilers and my review of every episode

⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️

I will write a review of every episode and just write out my general thoughts on them.

I’m not a huge Star Wars fan, I have watched all the movies and a few episodes of Mandelorian (?) but that’s it.

Episode I: First if I love the intro/ recap in the beginning. I also love that they introduce a new Jedi in the show. I love that we also get to see Luke and Leia as kids. Leia as a nice, sassy troublemaker is one of my favorite things about this episode. Don’t like her mean cousin. Owen is making me kinda sad but I do understand him. Then Leia got kidnapped and Obi- Wan won’t help her, but then he will so redemption. They killed of the young Jedi. Why didn’t you help him Obi. Love Lola. (Think that was the name of Leias droid)

😭 It’s Ani and his light sabers 😭

Episode II: I feel bad for the pink haired girl. The way I screamed when Kumail Nanjiani came on screen. I thought it was him in the trailer and I am so happy it was him. The length Obi- Wan goes to save Leia do make me emotional. Then she runs away from him, girl stop running. Haja saving them. I knew he would come around, Kumail could not play a bad person and if he did… nope. I felt like so much happens at the same time as nothing happened.

😭 Leia reminding him of Padmée and Hayden Christensen being showed for the first time 😭

Episode III: First of, HAYDEN. My favorite movies has always been the Padmée- Anakin trilogy so to see Hayden a lot more in this episode definitely made me happy. I loved when Obi- Wan fixed Lola for Leia it shows that even tho he is a bit mean towards Leia he still cares. Him sending Ani and seeing him when he’s not there just shows the bond the two of them sheer. Freck is so nice. My heart dropped in my stomach when the stormtroopers came on, but they were so clueless (Clueless, love throb movie)

Leia saying “Are you my real father” and “You know my real mom, right” has my heart. Also Leia always reminding Obi of Padmée.

Noooo, Freck you traitor. Tala is a bad bitch. Obi sensing Ani through the force before he was even that close. I’m telling you betrayal or no betrayal their bond is so strong. The reunion, their fight, LOVE IT.

😭 “You should have killed me when you had the chance” 😭

Episode IV: First of, I’ve said it once and I will say it again sassy Leia has my heart. Tala still being a bad bitch and “breaking in” Important question, how are storm troopers so clueless? I feel so bad for Leia. The third sister threatening her and taking Lola. Leia almost out smarting her.

Then some bad as escape scene that I don’t remember. Them escaping but Wade died. I may not have known him at all, but I loved him. Anakin doing the Padmée choke. Bitch is tracking them, I’m guessing she is tracking Lola?

😭Leia reading out for Obis hand and him grabbing her hand😭

Episode V: Starts of with a flashback and I already love it. I like that the flashback is built on during the episode. Leia saying “I need a ladder” and then Obi saying “You trust me you try at her”. New ship unlocked Obi x Tala. They are so cute, slow burn. Love it. Then the plot twist of the century (not really it was one of my theories) REVA WAS A YOUNGLING AND IS SEEKING REVENGE ON ANI.

Talas dead. Then a lot happens and I forgot to take notes. The Reva vs Vader fight was amazing, the fact that he knew she was a youngling. Then when Reva is dying she finds the message, DRAMA. I feel like they have so much to fit into one episode now. Season two???

Episode VI: This is the last episode. It has gone past so fast. Leia saying that Lola is comforting everyone and Obi saying “Maybe is should borrow her too”. Reva going after Luke. He looks a lot like young Ani, great casting. BERU, she has always been one of my two favorite characters. Leia getting Talas holster and Obi promising to return.

All the fights ⬇️

Ani vs Obi: The drama, I love it. Ani burring Obi and Obi being motivated by Leia and Luke. THE MASK BREAKING. “You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker, I did”

Reva: Owen and Beru are so ready to fight. Reva being about to kill Luke when she sees herself. Then bringing him back.

Over all

I also love how they wrote out everything, it gives the og trilogy so much back story.

How does Leia and Luke know Obi?

What did Obi do during hiding?

Are there other jedis alive?

Everything just falls into place

1000/10

[killamman]

the mirrors are fogged. it's the first thing she notices, aside from the darkening water when vi slips into the tub and peels wraps off each of her knuckles like shedding another skin. it reminds her, briefly, with that twisted stab in the pit of her stomach, of jinx, of the mocking grin stroked across the scape of the mirror before the pillars of her life get stormed to cinder. when her head turns away from the mirror, her eyes close for a moment, a breath is drawn — heavy and shaking — from between her lips, and she stops.

(it's... a difficult branch of intimacy that feels like there's stuck in the back of her throat. it's been months now, with poison in one ear and rage in the other. months of sleepless nights, misplaced attachment that leaves her feeling slightly nauseous at herself when she catches a glimpse of her own cloudy eyes in the mirror. it's been months of staring down war tables and signing off on violence like it makes any kind of change to the world except affecting the most vulnerable themselves — it's been months of knowing, truly, that she doesn't deserve moments like these. perhaps that's why her eyes glisten, and she blinks away any inkling of a tear before they start to shed.)

"i mean it. vi." does it help when she doesn't look at her? when her shoulders are angled away and cait can sit with her fingers threading through dyed hair like she won't be scrubbing black off them for the next two days? she's not sure. but silence creeps between them and time has turned the rage boiling under her skin into nothing more than a numb ache. she's missed her. she's missed her in a way she's never missed anyone else — in a way that claws its way through her throat.

"i never should've left you. i'm — sorry." the mirrors are fogged, and perhaps that's for the best. she chokes down a breath and turns her attention back to dipping her fingers into the suds and back into vi's hair. (what has she done to herself? — smudged black and sinking deep into the ends of her roots, all cait can do is scrub, hope this makes it better, easier, more her beneath it all before they find their footing again. she trusts her with this. the bath water turns grey, slowly at first, but definitely.)

"there she is." it's quiet, almost entirely under her breath as the pink begins to creep out from the roots of her scalp. there you are. i need you to come back to me.

@killamman asked: i shouldn't have left you.

the gleam of bathroom tiles and low hanging steam were a veritable world away from the fissures, from the fighting — from the throng of soldiers and the ruins of a short lived utopia.

it'd never been easy to shake the feeling of wrongness here, under the kiramman house's roof; the feeling that she didn't belong; that her existence among the highest echelon of piltover's most renowned was something improper. strange. with the bathwater up to her collarbones and her forearms bare, almost every white sliver of scar beneath the bends of her elbows hidden in the soap suds and cait sitting beside the tub, on the tile, that hadn't changed. neither had the sensation of feeling exposed.

but while she picked at the blood crusted under her fingernails, cait's offering yielded a quiet sincerity she hadn't expected.

and the closer she came, the more vi recognised the scents of sweet hair oil and rosewater.

" you know what they say about hindsight, cupcake, " she breathed, like she didn't feel her insides sink at caitlyn's unblushing insinuation of an apology. the nickname slipped out before she could really begin to consider it: a moniker that might've solely come off as affectionate, if it wasn't still as much a shield — a barrier — as the offending oil slick still greasing her hair. ( a shield she so badly didn't want to hold up anymore. )

sinking against the porcelain, vi slung an arm across the side, and leaned into the gentle motion of cait's hand as she smoothed through her hair, taking the thinning tint of fading black dye with it. she could've fallen asleep there, half submerged, if her side didn't still sting. if there weren't still a dozen half - crumbling walls between them, and a multitude of amends still thoroughly unmade. " that... feels nice. "

[chokemeoutiguess]

"Would you kill me, my love?"

It was rhetorical, really. You liked being alive but what about being a captive is living? Unfortunately for you, your words had an audience, and the wrong one at that. 

Code Geass Edition (pt 1/2): Lelouch, Suzaku

CW: suicidal ideation but doesn’t go past the title. kidnapping, manipulation, references to violence, threats of violence, very unhealthy relationships. This is not what a relationship should look like.

Lelouch Vi Britannia

"Kill you?" He looked so amused. Amused but irked. With delicate brows raised and stood tall in his white regalia, he looked like a tyrant who was so humoured by the court jester, that me may just spare their life. 

But, you could tell that he was surprised by your question. He clawed through his dark hair, his gaze not leaving you once. He looks down at you, purple eyes holding an uncomfortably off gleam to them.

"Never." You expected as much.

He reaches towards you, running his knuckles down your trembling cheek, and his gentle gaze holding yours. "Never you."

You stiffen, your ankles feeling tighter in their jewelled holds, your legs feeling much more jittery against the fine silk of your bedsheets.

"...then who?" Your voice is weak, after not having used it for so long.

He laughs this time, so light, so full. You wouldn't think he was laughing at someone else's death.

"Anyone. If that's what it would take to remind you-" a smooth hand curls around your neck, "that you are mine."

You don't fight him and he relishes in his hold over you, your submission. You've long since learned that he will never apply too much pressure if you stay still, instead becoming accustomed to the warmth his palm spreads around your neck.

"Now, my love. Who put those ideas in your head?" His face holds a perfect smile, but you know better than that. "That dying is better than being here, with me?"

He gestures to your opulent room, gold gilded the frames of every piece of furniture, you had a stocked kitchenette, an en suite, even a TV and laptop with access to the outside world. You had everything you needed to survive. But you didn't have freedom.

The doors only opened for Lelouch, your activity monitored and limited by Lelouch, every piece of clothing lovingly selected by Lelouch. Even now you could walk the perimeter of your small home, but the jingle of the chain around your ankle never let you forget that your life was lost long ago, even if you still breathe.

But you didn't say a word, simply looking at him. When he had first 'relocated' you, for your safety of course, you believed every lie. Followed every rule. And yet, he only got worse.

It was a shame really. You had loved him once, when you were children. You had hoped that the glowing boy of his youth was in there, somewhere, when he returned to the capital to usurp the throne. The frail genius became an emperor.

You were one of the few nobles who didn't fight his rule. You revelled in it even, tired of watching the world suffer at the hands of your brethren, angry at how they treated their own. He worked to tear down the work of his forefathers, which hurt your inner Britannian but your heart sang, knowing that those tyrants would lose their life’s work to flames set by their own blood.

He was on a roll, so it was surprising when he had proposed that you help him secure his rule by becoming the imperial consort. You were sure that that role would fall to his beautiful green haired companion. But he claimed that he needed you for this, that you were the key to peace. You hesitated, naturally, none of it made sense. But when you spent more time with him, joined him for strolls, dinners, meetings, you understood. 

“You are perfect. Let no one question that.” He said. You felt warm, and you almost listened.

When he slipped the ring on your hand late one banquet, leaving a longing kiss on its place in your finger he whispered “Let no one question the future queen.” 

And this time you believed him.

Now here you are, suffering the consequences of your naivete.

You looked up at the frustratingly handsome face of the current emperor, the man who trapped you so sweetly, the one you cannot help but to care for.

He seemed to have expected your silence. He continued to speak with a curl on his lips as you felt the heat from his hands slide from your neck to both your cheeks to hold your stare to his. All you could see was him.

"No matter. I know a way to ensure I am your only choice. Though I'd preferred for you to love me on your own."

Again, no response. Just a despaired look passing from your eyes to his.

"I, Lelouch vi Britannia, command you, to love only me." His voice is strangely soft as his eyes begin to glow a light pink and suddenly you feel something you've long tried to supress.

"...Lelouch." You sighed out his name, liking how it sounded.

"Yes, dearest?" He smiled, genuinely this time.

Your hands cup around his face, moving closer to him. "Lelouch, I-"

You stopped, flinching. Even he looked suprised. No, this isn't-

"Dearest?" His voice was so warm and gentle on your ears. A part of you giddy that it was towards you. You feel what little grasp you have slip-

-That's right, this is perfect. What was I thinking? He's my love.

Warmth flooded you. Of course, how could you forget?

With no hesitation this time, you pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

"I love you."

Lelouch beamed.

.

Suzaku Kururugi

It was a line you’d heard somewhere, corny but it stuck with you. You wanted to taste how it sounded, nothing serious. Though, it would’ve been better if Suzaku hadn’t just stumbled through the doorway.

He returns to his home in the 11's district, ready to start dinner, only to hear you ask him to kill you? You’d be stupid to think he wouldn’t overreact.

The door slammed shut behind him with a thud, his face draining of colour so quickly.

"What? What makes you think I'd ever do that? That's the last thing I-"

He panics, dropping the bags of food on the floor. He rushes to you, sat up against the bed, a bandage wrapped around your head. He looks you over, thinking you'd tried to hurt yourself. But his fear is replaced with something much more sombre when he sees you're free of injury.

"Is that what you think of me? That I'd kill you because we have a- a hiccup?"

He calls kidnap a hiccup?

He clenches his fists, he seems to struggle to look at you.

"Is this about what happened with Euphie? You think that dying is the only way to get my attention?"

God, not this inane bullshit again. He was convinced that you were jealous of a dead girl. Once upon a time you were worried that he'd never let her go, that you would always be second to a ghost. And now, you wished that that was the case.

"Because you dont need to, damn it. You just need to ask, I'd give you everything if you asked!"

"So you'd kill-"

He slaps his hand over your mouth, infuriated that you'd ask again. It almost stung as much as the wound on your head that you got trying to fight him off when he took you.

"No. I couldn't, that's the only thing I could never give you. I'm sorry." He wasn't sorry, and it was starting to piss you off.

"Just stop." You almost growl beneath his palm, so tired of putting up with him. "Suzaku, I can’t live like this, not here, not with you-"

"YOU DON'T MEAN THAT!"

His shout surprises you, banging your head against the headboard that you're pressed against. 

His fist punches into the wall behind your head and for the first time, you're sacred that he might deliberately hurt you.

"...you don't mean that."

His voice his weaker this time and you seem to have completely lost yours.

"You don't. I know it." He said to himself under his breath, seemingly trying to convince himself.

"We're all we have left, from the beginning its always been us. I was an idiot but I'm fixing it. And then I'll bring our home back."

"Suzaku-"

"I know I'm not good enough for you, I know that. But I will be. Once I become viceroy, I'll fix it all."

"Suzaku, I know you're trying but you didn't need to do this. " You say, gesturing to the now highly secure apartment. "I dont want to be trapped-"

"You're not! We'll leave eventually but not right now. It's not safe, you know that.” He has a stern look in his green eyes, one that reminds you of his father. “ It’s not safe, let me protect you.”

The dull ache in your head reminded you not to trust him, no matter how much he pleaded. You had loved him, yes. But you couldn’t forgive this. 

He looks up at you with a tired, longing look before he sighs. Resting his head on your shoulder he wraps an arm around your waist to hold you close.

“Please.” He begged, and your heart ached. “I can’t do it without you.”

Oh Suzaku. You reach up to stroke his back. You couldn’t forgive him, but that didn’t stop you from feeling hurt, seeing him like this.

“I know you love me.” 

He pulls back, his eyes a little more dull than before and this raises alarms.

“I know you love me, so don’t lie like that ever again.” He spat. He leans his forehead against yours, staring deep into your eyes.

“Don’t make me do something I’ll really regret, okay?” The grip he had on your waist tightened and the increased pressure of his head against your injured one reminded you- 

Suzaku hurt you to take you home. What else would he do to keep you there?

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

Amethyst and Emerald Eyes

Arthur's used to his friends dragging him to creepy places. Doesn't mean he likes it, but he's learned how to handle it. 

  The cave Vivi's found this time is... something else, though. There's no evidence of previous human occupation – it's untouched, and yet something with it is wrong. Everything is stained purple, even the mist drifting from the entrance, and the rock face towers above them like a yawning mouth. It feels dangerous, like something is warning them to leave. 

  None of the others notice it. Vivi bounces out excitedly, Mystery close at her heels. Kay strolls up to the entrance unfazed, his flashlight clicking idly on and off. 

  “What are you waiting for?” he calls after a moment, not even turning around. 

  “I- I don’t… there’s s-s-something… wrong with this place.” 

  “Oh, don’t start that again. Do you want to be here, or not?” He starts walking again. 

  Arthur can’t just leave them alone, what if someone gets hurt? But… his skin itches as he drags himself closer to the cave, scars aching and growing tense. He doesn’t want to be here, he wants to leave– 

  –but everyone else is going inside, and he can’t leave without them. 

  He forces himself to keep moving. 

---

Lewis is pulled from his slumber by the feeling of an unfamiliar presence in the cave. The gemstones around him flare to life as he wakes, their glow turning the rock above him to pink-tinted stars. 

He sighs, and rises through the cavern, drifting towards the intruders. He just has to get them to leave, and then he can go back to sleep. 

  On the lower path are two – people? A twenty-something girl and her dog, it seems at first glance, but… the dog burns with raw power when he gets close, and the girl is blue and cold, driving him back seemingly without noticing. He shivers and floats away, turning his attention to the other points of life he senses. 

  There’s two on the upper path as well  – young men, a little older than he was when… he shakes his head to dispel the sudden, uncomfortable familiarity. They’re both carrying flashlights. One’s tinged in shades of green, strolling ahead, perfectly calm, and the other, done in gold… Lewis can already feel the fear radiating off him, if it wasn’t obvious from the way he’s hunched in on himself with a white-knuckle grip on the flashlight. He’s almost stopped in the crossroads, the other walking off without him. 

  “If you want to leave, hurry up so we can get this over with,” says the first one. His voice is as relaxed as the rest of him, but there’s a dangerous undercurrent to it. 

  As soon as Lewis brushes near him, he can feel his thoughts. It takes a moment to process, and then he's sickened to his core. 

  Sucker has no idea what's coming, the mind whispers, he's gonna walk right into it. Goddamn I can't wait, I'm finally gonna be rid of this leech. If only he'd just hurry up, you'd think he'd want to get this over with, just a little closer you scrawny bastard so I can grab you by that stupid hair and kick you into those rocks- 

  He tears himself away from the thoughts in a panic. This visitor to his cave – he's planning a murder. He has to stop this. 

  First, he thinks to possess the would-be killer. To do what, he isn’t exactly sure – just stop them, whatever comes after, he’ll figure out as he goes. So he gathers all his power, a swirling, glowing purple smoke, and reaches out. 

  …only to find the murderer’s mind impenetrable. Like smooth glass against his nonexistent hand, any attempt he makes to get through into this person’s head falls against an unmoving barrier. He's too strong - dammit, why did this have to be the person he finally fails against? Why now?

  The gold one approaches closer behind them, finally finding his footing, and prompting a renewed urgency in Lewis. 

  “’s fucking fr-freezing in here,” he comments, oblivious to the looming danger. 

  “Really? I’m not cold at all,” Green responds with hardly a glance over his shoulder. 

  “Of course you’re not cold,” Lewis hisses, “you’re surrounded by a fire spirit.” 

  Gold jumps, attention snapping to the vague area Lewis is currently occupying. “Th- d-did you hear that?” 

  Did he... hear him? How?

  He’s a medium, Lewis realizes suddenly, the fact clicking into place. No wonder he’s afraid – he knows they’re not alone here. Green, clearly, has no such ability and no such concerns, and has defaulted to flat-out ignoring his companion as he presses on. 

  He ought to pay more attention. Frustration slips in alongside worry as he thinks about it further. He wanders into dangerous, likely-haunted places, disregards the person who might actually warn him about the danger, and then has the- the audacity to call him a leech? 

  Gold is approaching panic now, with the wide-eyed stare of a trapped animal, but he keeps following Green anyway. He wants nothing more than to help him, to at least stop what’s coming, most of all he doesn’t want to watch this- 

  -an idea forms as he drifts, aimless and despondent, after the two visitors. He may not have been able to reach Green, but maybe there’s something else he can do. But- what if something goes wrong- 

  But then he realizes they’ve reached the end of the road. The cliff opens out before them. It’s now or never. 

  As he was expecting, it’s almost unnervingly easy to slip into Gold’s mind. All he has to do is visualize himself reaching down and taking his hand, and any defenses he has cave instantly and allow him inside. For a moment, Gold locks up, registering something wrong in his head – and then Lewis takes over and the body relaxes again.

  I'm sorry about the intrusion, but I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to help, he whispers to Gold, feeling his panic build with his sudden loss of control. 

  All he gets in return is a frantic no no no please don’t please don’t hurt me, and he realizes he won’t be able to reassure him, not like this. He's already too afraid of him. 

  “Hey, c’mere,” says Green, lifting his head from where he’s looking over the cavern. “You can see Vi from here.” 

  They draw closer to Green, eventually settling behind him with not a foot between them. Lewis debates, for a moment, what to do; he’s still not quite sure, when he speaks. 

  “I know what you’re going to do.” 

  A slight, almost imperceptible jerky tilt of the head, Green just barely resisting snapping it around to stare at him. He hears his mouth open with a soft click, but it’s another beat before he speaks. “…what?” 

  He hadn’t realized how strange talking through a mouth would be, and the unfamiliarity adds to his nerves. “I… I can’t allow it.” 

  Green scoffs at that, standing up again and turning around to face them, speaking as he does. “And what are you going to do about it? Go run and cry to Vivi, so you can make yourself look even worse for her? You're certainly not going to do anything by yourself. I mean-" A light, sarcastic laugh. "You probably don't even want to. So why not just save us both the trouble?"

  And then he shifts his weight, and it’s barely the beginning of a movement but it’s still all too easy for Lewis to predict what comes next. 

  Gold is stronger than he was expecting, and Green isn’t ready for the blow. And overconfidence had him standing too close to the edge, and the single step he takes back in response is one step too many. All of a sudden, he’s falling. 

  Lewis is all too familiar with this drop, but he still nearly forgets what’s coming next. The crunch of bone and muscle tearing apart echoes through the cave, followed by a scream – coming not from the dead man, he realizes, but someone else. The other person he’d seen on the lower path. 

  He takes a couple steps back from the ledge – away from that gruesome sight. He’s starting to regret this decision, to second-guess himself – but the only alternative he can see is Gold dying, and he… he can still feel Gold, innocent and frightened, alongside him in this mind. There’s no way Green deserves to live over him. Not someone who’d murder – from the looks of things, someone who considered him a friend. 

  I can go now. He tries to reach out to the soul. I'm sorry again about the intrusion, I just couldn't watch him kill you.

  The response he gets makes him flinch - a wave of terror that would have been a wail if they were physical, wordless and honest panic. Does he still not understand? 

  A sound from behind makes him spin around. It’s coupled with a flash of power that makes him take a step back. He recognizes the dog, but… it’s not a dog anymore. It’s massive, and the way it’s standing is obviously hostile. 

  He holds up his hands. “Hold on, I’m not- I’m trying to help-“ 

  “Silence, monster!” it snarls, stepping forward. “Not one more word! I already know what you are.” 

  “Wait-“ 

  The distance between them is closed in an instant. A weight slams down on his – Gold’s – chest, and he feels something snap under the force, closely followed by sharp stabs when claws bite into flesh. The sensation is familiar, and he’s not sure if it’s that or the sheer force that keeps him from breathing. 

  Teeth bite into the arm he’d first reached through, and he isn’t sure if it’s him or Gold that’s screaming. 

  All at once he’s yanked out of the body, and his spectral form flickers, mingling with the blood in the air. He reins in his fire before it can do any damage, staring in horror at the scene before him. This – he didn’t want this – why – who are these people? 

  A shout echoes from behind the monster, echoing and unintelligible, and it starts and looks back. Suddenly it’s gone, replaced with the small dog from before. 

  Lewis is torn between running and staying – his instincts are screaming at him to get away from that thing – but Gold’s rapidly losing blood, and if he dies here too, it’ll be his fault, and… and then he’s just caused two deaths. 

  Then the blue girl from before appears. The dog doesn’t say anything, just stays close and watches silently. It takes her a moment to process – and then she’s moving, pulling off a scarf and working to bandage the wound. 

  He isn’t sure even that will be enough. He can feel Gold’s life fading, and his bright colors are dimming to near-grey. 

  He didn’t want this. He spares another glance to the not-dog, who seems too preoccupied with reassuring Blue to notice him now – reassuring her and not the person he’s very nearly killed. Blue, at least, doesn’t seem to know what happened. She’s reacting as if some outside force has caused all of this. 

  Then they’re leaving the cave, and he’s expecting to be left drifting there. But something pulls him along after them, staying just a few feet from Gold. 

  He stays tethered to that dimming golden light as they speed away from his decades-long home in the cave.