#mel: *conflict and betrayal on her face*

[mollysunder]

I just realized Mel and Swain should technically already know eachother. Mel is from one of the (formerly) most powerful noble families and Swain comes from one of the oldest in Noxus' history. They definitely must have known of eachother at least, if not exchanged vague pleasantries at a gathering or two. I'm not saying they were best friends back in Noxus because there's definitely at least a 10 year age gap between the two, but noble families keep up on eachother's happenings.

When Mel inevitably runs into Swain in Noxus she'll probably expect to see him missing an arm and walking with a cane after his defeat in Ionia. Swain would choose to keep himself in this form in front Mel until he's confident she'll take his side and help him with his coup against Darkwill. So what I'm saying is Swain should do a magical girl transformation in front of Mel in the spin off.

[yell0wsalt]

Fic: Under the Stars

For @meljaymicrofics Day 5 Hand Over Hand by Roland Faunte

Rating: G

Relationships: Jayce Talis/Mel Medarda

cw: mentions of canonical character death (Jayce and Ambessa)

Summary: May the sun find rest under the cover of the stars

word count: 653

The servants of the Medarda house hadn’t thought much of it when Mel requested a skylight be built in her bedroom. After all, what she wanted, she got. Admittedly there were a few reservations for the light being a potential disruptor to her rest, but as excellent as she was with her words, Mel was able to assuage any vocalized concerns.

So they got to work. Pulling all the necessary resources together, they were able to fulfill Mel;’s request in a little over a week. 

Mell was quite franklly pleased with their efforts.

Those of the Medarda house, just as much, albeit for other reasons.

It was the weeks and months before, they were conscientious enough to detect a palpable shift in the air that flowed through the Medarda House. The reasoning and distinct feeling, however, couldn’t be properly summarized in simple words.. 

Ambessa was a woman who led Noxus with an iron fist, so following her death– and at Mel’s hands, no less– there was an odd sense of grief and internal conflict storming. Those who aligned with the Medarda House were conflicted on future alliances and their individually staggered emotional stages of despair and betrayal.

What did the awakening of Mel’s magic within her mean for them? What would be Mel’s responsibilities to Piltover and Noxus, if any? 

All these questions and more bubbled up to kiss the surface of her servants’s tongues. Though they never popped, forcibly choked down as words unsaid.

Mel didn’t provide any updates regarding these matters on her end or anything of the like. Quietly she spent her days moseying through the halls of the Medarda House and Piltover Tower, hardly a shell of her former being.

So when she incited the order to put in a skylight in her bedroom of all places, there was an odd sense of quiet relief, this being one of the first orders issued to her attendants in weeks.

And steadily over time, she began to come back to herself. Well, more of herself than anyone under the Medarda House has found in weeks.

A more regular level of color returned to her face, a brightness to her eyes, and she could almost smile when her people communicated with her.

Frankly they would take it, holding onto a certain level of hope that she would be okay. That they all would be okay. 

“Goodnight Miss Medarda.” One of her attendants, Julia called to Mel in the middle of her nightly rounds.

Mel nodded politely. “And goodnight to you, too. Try not to work too hard.”

Julia faintly smiled. “You can always let me know if you need anything.”

“Of course,” she confirmed before closing her bedroom door to retire for the night. It was a beautiful night out this evening that even with the new moon, the light from the stars shone remarkably through over her bed. Slipping underneath the covers, Mel pulled one of her large pillows to her center, essentially curling into a fetal position about it. 

With the stars light shining as so, Mel’s mind could wander to easy dreams.

Of the warmth radiating from a certain someone’s large and calloused hands as they delicately covered hers.

Of the lips that used to tenderly kiss her wrists and other special places.

Of the man that loved to sandwich his head between her lap and one of her hands that raked his thick hair mindlessly in day to day conversations.

Of the Golden Boy who once captured not only the hearts of many, but ultimately hers first and foremost.

The man who she would seek out in a sea of people. His beautifully golden gaze that kept her from drowning. 

Of Jayce.

Warmth built under the covers, Mel could eventually rest. 

Sooner or later the morning would come, it always did. For now, though, Mel would accept the warmth she found under the covers. Under the stars.

[mystic-orb88]

ARCANE SEASON 2, ACT 3 SPOILERS:

Stop. Now.

Can I just say Ekko is the most perfect and flawless character ever created and now I wish he and Viktor and Jinx could have all met somehow and done cool science stuff together. But this frame here genuinely makes me so sad. I’m crushed. But also, I like when conflicting circumstances tear characters apart, to me. I like the tragedy. So I’m glad in our Ekko’s universe, they didn’t stay together. It would be so out-of-character for my girl Jinx.

Also I like that it wasn’t just a boring fan-service episode. It proved a point, and we also had Jayce’s fun adventures in Nightmarefuelworld. ANDD THE Z-DRIVE, WOOOOOO!!!!

Jinx was already perfect, but so is Powder.

I’ve always hated romance, whether it was real life, or cinema. But this scene was incredible. I love them so goddamn much. Actually sickens me. They are everything to me.

Him smiling back at her the same way Jinx did after their fight on the Bridge. How dare you, Fortiche??

Jinx’s reflection in place of this world’s Powder’s.

Viktor and Jayce’s fight scene and…. Whatever that ending was, was gayer and more erotic than anything Violyn could fathom. Sorry guys. What the Hell was he doing cupping his face like that, wrapping his legs around him, faces mere centimetres away, all without actually being physically there but also exploding together in the astral plane?? The way he said ‘As partners’?? Likeeee, I ain’t never seen hand-to-hand combat like that. Look at these soulmates. Just as a platonic relationship I love it, and it’s wayyyy gayer than anything else. He chose dying with his space boyfriend over the insanely gorgeous Mel, who also got a fabulous glow up, is undoubtedly the hottest character in the show, ANDDDD has OP Arcane talents. Bravo Jayce, you simultaneously fumbled and won and disintegrated into nothing with your astronomical lab ‘partner’. Singed was right- One does unspeakable acts for love.

We got Viktor in Mel’s eyeshadow before G.T.A.6.. Slay my King. Thank you for your pretty little hallucinations, Jayce.

Alsoo, let us pay respects to this fine Yordle who waited over 100 years for Ekko, sure can sing, and sacrificed himself so that Ekko could get back to his right world.

I’m glad that at least ONE of my favourite characters had a happy ending. Singed wasn’t the most ethical scientist, but he sure is a Hell of a father for doing all that.

Sevika in the Council. She finally beat Silco’s corrupt underground empire and overcame the oppression Vander faced. She finally understood how he felt when she betrayed him, after the Zaunites wouldn’t listen to her, and now she can do something about it. So happy for her. She deserves it. The true leader of Zaun, everyone.

Alsoo, I’m a strong believer in the ‘Jinx is alive theory.

More critically however, I think there were too many needle drops (however good they were), the pacing was pretty rushed compared to Season One which was pure perfection, and I wish we got something more similar to League Viktor, because now Only-Arcane fans will not understand the true meaning of Glorious Evolution. I think Viktor’s character arc was over-simplified and I just feel empty about it. Kinda disappointed. He means so much to me. But damnnnn Jayce got validated as HELLLL. No complaints there. I hate him in League but always liked him in Arcane up till episode 6. Bro was just an idealist. Also their ending was ambiguous did they die together or just remain in the astral plane, forever integrated within the arcane. If Singed could save Orianna, can’t he find their corpses somewhere and save them?? I need cyborg Viktor. I wish we had the adventures of Blitzcrank and his cyborg father. I’m also bothered by that continuity error about Vander’s betrayal and when exactly it takes place. Also don’t like what they did with Silco’s character, in Ekko’s alternate world AND in the original world, because how could he just forgive Vander like that after all the hate he was always full of?? I’m sure there’s an explanation, but they didn’t have enough time to go into it.

This is the actual best show I have ever seen personally. Thanks for the stunning writing, flawless art-style, loveable characters and impeccable queer/disabled/POC representation. No other show has ever moved me so much. I hope Fortiche continues to make more series like this in the future. I love Runeterra and its Lore so much.

[magical-girl-coral]

This was one of the dumbest ways I've ever seen a show end:

Maddie's betrayal was the dumbest thing I've ever seen. She doesn't have a personality, she has a plot purpose and whatever attitude she had changes from what the writers need her for. Actually she was gonna betray everyone since the beginning so it's not bad that Caitlyn cheated on her! Cause forbid she'd make an actual bad decision.

Every single new character felt like a plot device than an actual person. Why was Jinx breaking people out of jail? Cause Isha was there. How did Vi survive her bender? That buff guy took care of her. Want to make fans shut up and put someone from Zaun on the council to make it look like it's all love now? Boom, Sevika is important again. They're not people, they're tools.

The way they ended Jayce, Viktor, Jinx and Ambessa's stories were so bad. This is supposed to be an origin story show. A prologue to LoL and explaining why everyone were fighting everything. Why would anyone kill off a character in their own fucking origin story. This is Gotham all over again.

Mel fucking off to Noxus after building Piltover for years was such an insult to her storyline. She had all this build up and now she's gonna waste her years cleaning up her mother's mess. The same mother who slapped her a day ago and hid her to use as a weapon? She should have defeated her mother in combat, using all side of fox, wolf and crow to show off her worth. She smashed someone's face into a wall hard enough to break an illusion. She obviously had combat training. Why the fuck was Caitlyn there.

Honestly, Mel's entire story is a fucking insult to her. What was the point of the close up on her stomach while talking about illegitimate children if it didn't go anywhere. The conflict with the black rose was too short. Her thing with Jayce went nowhere despite how much they depended on each other before their disappearance. She didn't have a solid stand with her mother. Did the writers just fucking forget about her until the last minute.

IT SHOULDN'T HAVE RESOLVED THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES. THE TRAGEDY IS THAT THEY WILL ALWAYS BE AT ODDS. WHY DID THEY DO ZAUN SO DIRTY. WHERE IS THE RAGE THAT THEY COULD HAVE ALWAYS HELPED. WHY DID SEVIKA JUST AGREE. WHERE'S HER FUCKING ARC. WHERE'S HER FUCKING STORY.

Honestly, Mel should have just gave her mother to the Black Rose and watch as her army continue to fight in her name to see how much power loyalty has. That would have been badass.

Also, is it just me, or has Ekko's story been weirdly revolved around Jinx? Where was his reunion with the Fireflies? Why is he holding only one paper and not two for Heimerdinger? How come most of his fight scene was just being support to the sisters? Why is this bullshit.

Caitlyn's eye patch is stupid. One, there's no way no one can make her a cyber eye. Two, how is she supposed to be a sniper now. Who's idea was this.

I probably have more complains but I am angry, tired, and need a nap. God help us if there's a spin off of this mess.

[kacievvbbbb]

I finally got around to watching Arcane’s final part and like all parts it’s so beautiful. It really is. But Arcane kinda has the same problem with MHA for me as in the ending is actually pretty satisfying but how we get there could have been so much better.

Don’t get me wrong MHA’s problems were seasons in the making. Arcane actually suffers from the opposite problem there just wasn’t enough time. Like I don’t know why they felt Arcane should be a 2 season show I can only hope it wasn’t a studio pulling the strings (I want to say Netflix would never but yes they would no other company so against the idea of success like them)

But yeah not that Arcane couldn’t have been a 2 season show the 1st season wraps up its main conflicts pretty nicely honestly if not for the cliffhanger and some other lingering plot lines it could have been a good stand alone. But there was just soooooo much happening in season 2. With season one at the core of the story no matter what craziness happened at its core it was about the tragedy of 2 sisters and that was its grounding piece. Season 2 just had nothing like that. It could have been Jayce and Viktor with how that’s kind of the main conflict? This season and given the resolution but Jayce is barely in the thing 😭. They have one moment together and then don’t really interact again until the final part. I just needed more honestly form every relationship.

The only relationship I felt was kind of properly developed was Isha and Jinx (even tho they kind of dropped the ball a bit after she died) but like you actually kind of see that relationship grow. I wish we got more of heiminger and ekko’s new proffesor student relationship (u wish we got more of ekko period honestly) ekko has a way of barely being in the season and then pulling up at the most important moment for a huge blow out in the final part. I just think it would have made Heimidinger’s (I am butchering this name forgive me) sacrifice for ekko more meaniful (not that I don’t think he wouldn’t have literlaly done that for anyone but it would have been nice to see that relationship develop in particular them getting lost in time together and all)

And the getting lost in the multiverse/time thing was really good I really liked it. It needed to be more than 1 episode. I wish we could have really sat with it. The horrors Jayce was experiencing and this new reality that ekko is faced with (like don’t get me wrong for one episode they did a lot and it’s so beautiful it would have just hit harder if it was longer)

Don’t even get me started on Mel and the black rose I still do not understand what that was all about. That definetly needed a whole season dedicated to just that and not (I hate to use the word shoved) but shoved in as a C plot to Viktor’s cult.

For a season they (hopefully) knew going in that this would be their last they were trying to accomplish so much in just 9 episodes like yes they are about an hour each but they are still just 9 episodes. Honestly we don’t even spend enough time with maddy to care about her betrayal. I felt more about Ambessa’s right hand’s death because at least he’s kind of been a steady presence through out the season. I don’t know what was going on with Loris. I though he would have more to do they kept giving him little moments where it felt like he knew more than he was letting on but I guess not? He really was just some guy?…..well okay.

I love the Vander reunion I love it so much the fight was epic the resolution was epic god the fucking memory sequence with the water color kill me now. But again I wish we had more time we just got him back and now we are losing him again drag that shit out really make it hurt twist the knife deeper give us a couple episodes let us truly believe that everything might be okay and then throw that shit in our face that would have hit so much harder. (Well that’s just me though)

There’s was so much happening this season. It all felt like build up it felt like build up till literlaly the last 30 minutes of the show. It just felt like there was no proper middle the show just kept building and building and then tried to cram ever resolution in the last 2 hours. (I know they didn’t fully reveal the what the Black Rose drama was because of this Noxian show they are planning but I don’t know I just didn’t like how they left things 😭 Mel was barely in the season and then she’s back and there’s so much left unsaid and 😭😭😭)

I might be in the minority but I just really didn’t know what to make of Jinx’s arc. Like I can see the parallels and the beauty of it but at the same time it just didn’t click for me. I know she’s probably not dead like I’m not even going to pretend she is. But yeah. Same with Vi honestly. Vi felt so passive this season shes just kind of being led around.

I just think the pain problem this season was that there was no central story. There was no grounding piece that the story all revolves around. And I hate to be an advocate of taking stories centered around women and focusing on the men there but Giving how it ended (and honestly I’m not mad at it) and just the whole hectech being at the center of it all this season, it should have been Jayce and Viktor their relationship should have taken center stage they should have been this seasons Powder/Jinx and Vi the parallels are literally already there. One being consumed by everything they thought they wanted but not like this and the other still after everything trying desperately to reach them (mostly through a lot of violence) they even have the falling out like Vi and Powder did at the end of the first part. But their relationship just wasn’t explored enough for me to really say it was the center of the season. It would also flow well with the general established conflict Vander and Silco mirroring Jinx and Vi mirroring Jayce and Viktor (I personally don’t ship them nor do I think of them as overtly sibling coded I can just see the parallels it is not my fault the other characters are either siblings or heavily sibling coded 😭 but don’t come for me)

Honestly the most developed relationship this season was Cait and Jinx and that mirror they hold up to each other as blue haired girlies manipulated by desperation grief and power. And I enjoyed that. Caitlyn in general got a lot of good screen time this season that I love taht for her.

I don’t want to harp on about the negative because there was so much that I loved about arcane it is such a beautiful story and I know the story isn’t technically finished atleast I don’t think so and maybe mine and everybody’s expectations where impossible to live up to. But I do still genuinely think it is one of the best pieces of television out there and all in all it was a truly amazing season of television that we were so lucky to experience.

Also the music was just straight banger after banger. Like Whoever curated that playlist? You need a raise like asap.

[smolghostbot]

Patchwork Melody - Summer

Part two of the four-part story, the part where Patch and Melody are forced together into their "status quo". Link to part one here. Dashes denote a POV change.

Word Count: 7.2k! I think this is the longest part, but boy it's a little bit long I'm sorry... CWs: The main "conflict" of this chapter is confronting Patch's past abuse. So. Yeah. No explicit details are given for any actions, but kidnapping, physical contact, and scars are mentioned. There's also a brief onset of a panic attack, though it doesn't progress as much as the one in Spring.

Tag list: @gt-daboss @reborrowing

=====

Part 1

Patch stared up at the human, who seemed to have a slightly different eye color (maybe a trick of the light?), but was unmistakably Melody, the human who had allegedly “accidentally” kidnapped them not two weeks prior. The human was wearing a bright yellow sundress, contrasting the somewhat dark and dingy alley… and making it frankly embarrassing that the sprite is just now noticing them. Seriously? This human is big even by their standards, how do they keep sneaking up on me like this!?

While they could try to run, should try to run, they instead felt compelled to give a single small head nod, silently giving the human a chance to say whatever they want. With their arm feeling better, and knowing their enemy this time, they'd be able to escape a bit easier if push came to shove… hopefully.

Melody started off by asking a simple question, "How, uh… I guess you're still hanging around here, huh?", which garnered a simple cautious nod from Patch.

"Oh, cool. Um, have you… been by my door at all? Not like, in a weird way, but…" Melody trailed off, as Patch nodded their head, getting a surprised reaction from Mel.

"Oh! You have! Did you, um, get any of the apples? I was wondering if I was feeding you or just the local rats, y'know…" Patch gave another simple nod, this time accompanied by a soft bow.

"Nice! I'm… glad I could help you out. Is your arm feeling better?" Patch remained still at this question, afraid of giving away their secret defense.

"That's fine, you don't have to answer. So… you don't have to answer this either, but, if you're still around here, maybe we could… meet up again? On better terms. Maybe… tomorrow evening, at sunset. By my porch? We can both sit as far apart as you want and I could maybe just, ask some questions? You don't have to agree now or anything and I totally get it if you don't want to. But I just… I feel this need to make it up to you. I know, I know, I'm acknowledging a debt, but… there is one. I'll, uh, bring snacks, too."

Patch was silent, thinking about this. The human could easily catch up to them again, why would they set a trap like this? Why even lure them back in after freeing them? To savor the betrayal? Was this some kind of long con? No. She didn't know I was here. That face was clearly one of surprise. What's the plan here?

"Okay, well… this alleyway, uh, is kind of dark and sucks, and not super safe for me to just be standing around in… so I'm just… gonna go inside now”, Melody stated, with an air of awkwardness in her tone, as if coming up with an excuse on the spot, “But just… remember what I said. Sunset, front porch."

And with that, Patch watched in curiosity as she walked away from them, again.

The next evening, against their better judgment, the sprite made their way to the apartment door they recognized from the little flower bed outside of it, where they had been abducted previously. Why am I here? I shouldn’t be here… but she did promise food, they reasoned, and food was in short supply at the moment.

Sure enough, Melody was sitting there, on the ground, wearing an outfit similar to when they first met, though the shirt had a different figure on it. Unsure how to make their presence known, Patch walked closer to the human, fear in every step as they looked around, worried not only about Melody spotting them, but any other humans as well. As usual for this area, nobody tended to walk around, which was good. After all, that's why the sprite had set up shop around this building anyways.

Patch's thoughts were interrupted as Melody called out to them, her voice soft yet projecting, "Oh, it's you! You actually showed up!"

Patch awkwardly took a few steps back, keeping well more than a human arm's length between them, which caused the human to sigh softly.

"Okay, if that's where you're comfortable. I promised snacks, so here you go, I was out of apples so I figured a pear slice might be good? To be honest, I don't know what you actually eat… maybe you could tell me, and I could bring that next time?"

Mel gently placed the pear slice as far away from themself as possible, and watched as Patch walked over and tried to drag it just a little bit farther away.

-

Patch nodded and bowed as they began to take bites of the fresh fruit, once again eating around the skin of the fruit, which Mel watched with fascination.

"So… I noticed you never eat the skin of the fruits… should I peel them for you next time? If… If there is a next time." At that, Patch nodded.

"Oh, that reminds me, sorry, um, so I don't know if this helps, but, I figured since you can't talk, we could communicate like this!" Mel said, as she picked up a notepad next to her and reached out to place it near where the pear slice was placed. Once again, Patch tried to pull it even farther out of reach, but when they failed to move the heavy notepad, Mel took the initiative and scooted themself away from the small figure slightly.

"You can draw on there, I have a pencil if you need it, I could maybe break off a piece of the lead for you?"

Immediately, Patch's eyes lit up, and they swung their backpack over their (better) shoulder, reaching into the bag and pulling out their own little piece of pencil lead.

"Oh! You just, uh… had that, huh? Okay. Well then… What does your kind eat? So I can get you more types of food, if you want to keep doing, you know, this."

Patch started drawing at once, doodling little drawings that Mel couldn't quite make out from how far away she was sitting. After the little being stopped drawing, he stepped away from the notepad, and resumed eating the pear after putting the pencil lead away. Melody took the chance to scoot forward again and grab the notepad. Looking over the drawings, she was amazed at the quality, considering how fast Patch drew the figures on the page. Several different fruits, vegetables, and grains that Mel recognized were drawn, as well as some things that she wouldn't expect, grass, flower petals, and seeds that she couldn't identify. "I see… so you eat plants… are you some kind of herbivore?"

The confusion on Patch's face was obvious, even from the distance Melody was sitting. Once again, she chuckled as his little head tilted in confusion, his large ears flopping a bit as he did. "Sorry, a herbivore is a type of animal that eats plants. Like, they don't eat other animals or bugs or anything. Is that right?

Patch nodded affirmatively as they finished eating the slice of pear. Afterwards, they cautiously began to back away, having fulfilled the deal of answering a question in exchange for food.

"Ah… okay, I guess I get one question a day, then? Fair enough, if you want to answer one question for a snack then that works. Um… I'll be here tomorrow, too, if you want more. I'll try to bring something different, too, and make sure you get lots of different foods to eat."

Melody stood up, startling Patch, who began to back up faster, before they noticed that the human was moving towards her building's door. "See you tomorrow, then?"

The sprite cautiously nodded their head yes as they turned and left.

-

For the next several weeks, this pattern continued, with Patch showing up to Melody's patio every day to answer another question in exchange for a piece of fresh food. Throughout those weeks, Melody learned much more about the little being and his people. He was an adult, yet only ten years old, apparently about the equivalent of being in his early 20s. He enjoyed drawing, and had a real talent for it. His people live around humans normally, and scavenge things that the humans don’t need in order to survive, but Patch wouldn't elaborate on why they did that. For every answered question, the curious human had three more. Even despite that, Melody had grown to appreciate these little talks, though each one was only a few minutes long at best. And, the best part to her was that Patch seemed to be slowly growing more comfortable around her, no longer quite as skittish as he had been earlier in the summer.

As Melody sat at work, looking through the notepad and reminiscing about the previous weeks, remembering each conversation based on the drawing, she was already thinking about more questions to ask her new friend. There were still a few unanswered questions that she wanted answered, but wasn’t sure how to ask. After all, she was still terrified of losing the trust she was slowly building with this tiny creature, that she still couldn’t name. Her new little friend could draw most things, but she still couldn’t decipher the writing system he used. Research at work had given no results, which was maybe to be expected when dealing with a mysterious secretive being, but still. Melody would have killed to know what her new friend was, and what their real name was.

Part 2

“Hey Patch! I wasn’t sure if you were going to show up today, with how cloudy it is. Guess I’m just that irresistible, huh?” Melody said with a wink, as Patch rolled his eyes. In truth, the sprite was counting on Melody bringing food today, they had no luck scavenging recently… not that they would tell the human that.

“I’m just kidding, don’t worry. Anyways, I wasn’t sure what to bring today, but I got some berries at the store, and figured you could bring the leftovers home with you!” At that, Melody placed a few berries near the sprite, a couple of raspberries, blueberries, and most tantalizing of all to Patch, a strawberry, almost half the size of the sprite. He wasted no time taking the berries, wrapping each one in fabric, and shoving them into his backpack, before grabbing a tiny knife out of his bag and beginning to cut into the strawberry.

“Woah, okay, berries was a good idea then. But hold on, you know the deal, now I get to ask a question. And, I was thinking today I would maybe ask a tough question, so if you don’t want to answer it just let me know and I’ll ask a backup question.”

Ah, there’s the catch, thought the sprite, who had been thinking that this was too good to be true. Still, in the spirit of not offending the human, they waited to hear out her question.

“So… you’ve told me a lot about your kind, but I want to know more about you. So… what’s your story? When we, uh… first met, you mentioned another human who was, um… not nice. What happened there?”

Patch was as still as a statue as they heard the question. The sprite had done a good job of almost forgetting about them, and now they were being asked to describe them… how to even begin to sum up that time… and in drawings, no less. They would struggle to even speak about it, if that was an option for the mute sprite.

-

An awkward moment passed between the two, with Patch frozen in deep thought, before Mel started to worry that they had offended their little friend. “Okay, okay, no worries, uhh I had the backup question, remember? New question, forget about that person. No need to bring up bad memories. Um… so… do you have a favorite animal?”

The unamused expression on Patch’s face made it clear that he caught her bluff about the question being planned in advance, but regardless, he relented and motioned for the notepad. After he finished drawing, Mel noticed Patch continuing to mark something, this time on the back of the page. She paid it no mind, figuring he would show her when he finished, but she was surprised when Patch folded the page back over as if nothing happened. Getting the idea, Melody decided to ignore it, figuring she would check it later.

“Okay, so what do we have here… Oh my gosh, is this what I think it is?” Melody cried with delight as she took in the drawing of one of Patch’s kind, distinguished by the giant ears, riding on either a rat or mouse (Melody couldn’t tell), wearing some kind of saddle and harness, as if it were a mount. “Do… do your people ride on rodents like this for real?”, she said, awe in her eyes. As Patch nodded yes, Melody began to squeal with excitement. “Oh my gosh, that’s adorable! Do you have a little mouse friend?” Patch shook his head no, but Mel continued to coo at the idea. “Oh, that would be the most precious thing ever!”

Finally, after the human calmed down, a silence overcame the both of them as Melody watched the little being eat the strawberry with fascination. Patch ate individual seeds, dipping them in the juice of the strawberry. It was fascinating to Melody, but the look they got from Patch told her that their staring was making him uncomfortable. “Oops, sorry, sorry. I just can’t help it, you’re so cute when you eat! But I’ll mind my own business, sorry.”

After eating almost half of the strawberry, and removing most of the seeds, Patch finally seemed full, putting his little knife back in his bag. As he went to leave, his ears twitched moments before the sound of thunder was heard. Melody could hardly get a farewell out before the little being ran off in a panic as a few sparse raindrops fell to the ground. As Melody went inside, she hoped that Patch got home safe.

It wasn’t until the next morning that Mel remembered the back of the notepad. Taking a glance at it, she saw what was clearly a detailed drawing of a hamster cage… with a small figure inside, distinguished by their large, pointed ears.

Mel’s stomach dropped a bit at this, as she was unsure what to make of the situation. Was this… literal? A metaphor? She made a mental note to ask Patch for a follow-up… but the next time she saw him, she couldn’t bring herself to ask, remembering how distressed he was last time. He would tell them when he was ready, they reasoned.

Part 3

A few days later, it was all over the news: A tropical storm was coming. Everybody was preparing for it, people panicking and going to the stores for supplies, taking off of work, planning safety routes. But Melody could only think of one person, that being Patch. The last she had seen him was in that alleyway. Where was he living? Would he be safe? He probably doesn’t even know about the storm, thought Melody. That afternoon, umbrella in hand to combat the rain, Mel returned to the spot where she had seen Patch earlier in the summer, and gently called out in a whisper, “Hey, Patch, are you around?”

-

Patch rolled over in their makeshift shelter, nestled between the bricks in the dark alley they had called home for several months. It was more like a nest than a proper home, made out of an assortment of discarded fabrics and materials, used to keep body heat in and the elements out. It was the middle of the day, which would normally be when Patch would go out to try and borrow, however, traveling through the rain at their size was an exercise in futility. Patch chose instead to remain at home, conserving energy and heat by taking a lazy day. It wasn’t until they heard that familiar voice calling for them that they decided to wake up and investigate.

“Listen, I don’t know where you’re hanging out, or if you can ever hear me… I might just be talking to myself… but please come by later today, okay? I really need to talk to you…” Patch was a bit concerned with the urgency in the human’s voice, as she normally spoke in a relaxed manner, except for… that one time. Putting on their backpack, and grabbing a piece of plastic to use as a makeshift umbrella, Patch left their little nest, being sure to approach the human in such a way that she wouldn’t know where they came from.

-

Mel was relieved as they saw the tiny form of Patch walking near, using a discarded yogurt lid as a little umbrella. “Oh, thank the gods, you were still here! I was worried I was talking to myself… listen, we need to talk, this is important.”

She kneeled down, cringing slightly as her knee rested on the rainy concrete, but she disregarded it quickly as she focused on delivering her message. “Listen, there’s a big storm coming, and the worst of it will be here in the next few days. I don’t… know where you’re living right now,” Mel said, as they looked around the alleyway, wondering where Patch had actually emerged from, “But… I just wanted to let you know that it’s going to be pretty bad. And… if you don’t have anywhere to stay, um… I figured you could… stay with me?”

Melody immediately saw the apprehension in Patch’s body language as he took a hesitant step back.

“Whoa, whoa, don’t run, don’t run, listen. I… uh… saw that drawing… and I want to assure you, this is nothing like that. I just… I want you to be safe. You wouldn’t be… whatever the situation was last time. You’d just be a guest, staying for a few days until the storm passes, and then you can leave, I swear it. Hell, if you want to leave during the storm, you can too, though I don’t know why. Consider it a promise, a pact, whatever you want. I just want you to be safe.” At that, the human put her free hand over her heart, before extending it towards Patch, held as if she was going in for a handshake. Melody still didn’t know if Patch was technically a fae, but they felt like treating this with that much severity was still the right thing to do.

-

Patch was torn. Melody had seen the drawing, and they clearly already had guesses based on the last time… Patch knew they meant well, but couldn’t avoid thinking of the situation. Once again, they’re being approached by a human in an alleyway, being promised safety and protection… memories flooded back of the last time this happened, of how that human acted so sickly sweet to them for all of a single evening before… could they trust that Melody wouldn’t do the same? Sprites were particularly sensitive to the weather, Patch knew that the human wasn’t lying about the approaching storm. The decision caused them to start breathing heavily, weighing two options that both seemed risky. They could chance staying outside during a natural disaster, in a shelter barely protected from wind, or risk the human showing their true colors like the last one did. Was this truly good intent, or was it the long con, spending weeks gaining the sprite’s trust just so they could be thrown into a box like some kind of prize? Patch tried to think rationally, but their thoughts began to spiral as their chest tightened, worried about making the wrong choice.

“Patch? You okay?”, the human said, pulling her hand back.

Hearing the nickname snapped them back to the present slightly, enough to assess the situation a bit more rationally. If they stay out here with that storm coming… they die. If they go with the human, Melody… even in the worst case, they’ll live. Probably.

Still panicking, chest pounding heavy, they held out a hand, mirroring Melody’s earlier gesture. As the human reached back out towards Patch, the sprite winced, only to have Mel gently poke their outstretched hand with her index finger, in a sort of facsimile of a handshake. They remained there for a moment, staring at each other, before Melody spoke.

“It’ll be different this time, I promise,” Mel said, determination in her voice. “Do you… want me to carry you to my apartment, or do you want to walk there?”

Patch took a step back, and bent down, placing their hand on the ground palm-up. Melody got the cue and mimicked the motion, waiting to see what would happen, before Patch climbed onto her hand. A small shiver ran up her arm as the sprite climbed aboard, his tiny wet footsteps moving around on her palm before he sat down, and looked up at the human, nodding his head. Very slowly, and a bit clumsily, Melody stood up, before very slowly walking towards her apartment, her guest in tow.

Part 4

“Okay, well, um, let me formally welcome you this time to my apartment. It’s not much, and it may be a bit unsafe for you to go wandering, but make yourself at home regardless,” Melody said, as she opened the door, “I could, um, put you down on the floor, if you want, but I’d feel a bit better if I could put you down on a table. So we could be more eye-to-eye, you know.”

It took a moment and a glance from the sprite before Melody realized the odd sentence structure, quickly rephrasing in a way that her mute friend could answer easily. “Sorry… Just point where you want to go, I guess.”

After a moment of deliberation, Patch pointed to Melody’s coffee table, a shorter table that they could easily climb down if need be. The human nodded and gently placed her hand palm-up on the table, letting Patch walk off, though it was more of a stumble. The human sat down on the floor in front of the couch, such that Patch was at her shoulder height. Afterwards, the two of them looked at each other with uncertainty, both anxious about what the next few days would look like.

“So…”, the human mused idly, unsure what to do now, “Um… are you, uh… hungry? Thirsty? Need anything?” Patch shook their head in a no, although truthfully, they were a little hungry, as always. However, the sight of Melody standing up from a sitting position always made Patch anxious, being such a reminder of the vast height difference between the two. Instead, the two of them sat around for a moment, before Melody broke the silence again. “Do you like games? We could play like… a board game or something. I don’t know. Honestly, I’ve never really, uh… had a guest over before. That’s pretty sad, huh?”

Patch took a moment to think, before having an idea of what to do, they just hoped Melody would understand. After doing an exaggerated confused tilt of their head, they pointed to a nearby book, hoping to start a conversation about it. “Oh, that? That’s just a book I’ve been reading through.”

After another awkward silence, Patch smacked their palm against their face and began another approach. They made mouth shapes with each hand, and began pantomiming the two hands talking to each other. It took a moment before the human seemed to realize what they were doing. “Oh! Sorry, you’re trying to start a conversation, aren’t you. Oops… Ok, um, let me try again,” With that, Melody began to speak a bit more on the book Patch had pointed to. “It’s, um, about this vampire, well, she doesn’t start the story as a vampire, but it’s not really a spoiler because it’s part of the premise, but it doesn’t happen until partway through the first book, but anyways she has to find this guy-”

Patch was desperately trying to keep up as Melody began to ramble about some kind of creature called a “vampire”, nodding their head and tilting their head when they needed clarification. This side of Melody was a far cry from the stuttery mess that Patch was speaking to just a moment ago. It wasn’t exactly the conversation Patch had in mind, but it was oddly endearing watching Melody speak so passionately about something.

“- So then by the third act of this book she has to choose whether to embrace her vampire side or side with the humans and it’s this really great story and that’s where I’m at right now… sorry, I’ve been talking for ages, ”

Patch nodded, still trying to process the conversation. The concept was interesting for sure, and in some ways, they could relate… not that they could express that to the human.

“Sorry, I get pretty excited when I talk about books sometimes, heh. But hey, look at the time, it’s about dinner time and I’m ready for some food… What about you?”

Patch’s eyes went wide as they stared at the giant red eyes of the human in front of them, and the toothy grin on her face. She’s… just teasing, right? She doesn’t mean…

-

Melody was beyond confused as her little friend suddenly seemed terrified as soon as she mentioned food, backing away from her slowly. “Are you… not hungry? What’s with the face? Where are you going? What happened? What did I say?”

After a moment, Patch seemed to turn red with embarrassment, as he bashfully scratched his head behind one of his ears. He waved his hand dismissively, before motioning to his stomach to confirm that he was indeed hungry.

Melody couldn’t even grasp what Patch had been set off by. “No, seriously, what was that? What happened, so I don’t say it again? Was there like, a specific word?”

After noticing Patch go completely still and silent, seeming lost in though, Melody decided to simply sigh and continue on. “Well, I’m just gonna… go get the food now, then. I actually made a salad yesterday, so you can have some vegetables from that if you want." The human left, and a moment later returned with two plates of greens, one containing only one or two pieces of each item in the salad. “Here you go, bon appetit!”, The human said with a flourish as she placed both plates on the table, with the smaller portion placed near Patch. The little being seemed afraid of climbing onto the plate, but after an encouraging nod from Mel, he stepped up and began to eat, using his own small utensils from his bag. Melody watched with confusion as Patch went out of his way to position himself such that he was facing away from her.

Part 5

After the meal, which was slightly awkward without any conversation, Melody tried to think of what to do next. “I guess… the next step is to figure out where you’re gonna be sleeping tonight. Not that we’re going to bed now, but just to plan, you know,” the human said, closing her eyes in thought. “I mean, the obvious choice is the couch, but what to give you for a blanket… it’s way too hot out for somebody so small to use one of my throw blankets. I don’t really have anything small and light, aside from, I don’t know, a sock or something.”

Patch shook his little head aggressively no at that, with a fervor that Mel hadn’t seen in a while from him. “Okay, yeah… I mean, I was thinking of this one soft pair I have, but I guess maybe that would be weird. I guess the only other thing I have would be a washcloth? It would be a bit of a rough texture, but it would do for a few nights, if you want.”

Melody made a square with her fingers, roughly indicating the size of the cloth. Seeing that, Patch accepted, and Melody nodded her head to match his own motion. “Got it, I’ll get one for you later. For now, um, want to sit on the couch and watch TV?”

-

Watch TV? Patch thought, confused. They thought about it, not sure if they remembered what a TV was, but decided to just accept, hoping that whatever it was would be uneventful. Truthfully, after such a comparatively big meal, the little sprite was tuckered out, and the comfort of being in a human home again rather than their shelter on the streets was a bit… intoxicating, almost. All they really wanted to do was curl up and fall asleep, but their human host seemed insistent on waiting a bit before calling it a day.

The human held out her hand again, letting Patch climb on as she sat on the couch, placing Patch on the far side of the couch. Melody pressed a button on a plastic box, causing the device across the room to spark to life with a fanfare. Ah, that’s what that was called, Patch thought, remembering the device from the first house they lived in, as a young child. At the time, it mostly showed old images in a somewhat brown tone, but this was a much more vivid display with many colors. Patch wondered if the difference was technology improving over the decade, or if it was some kind of choice. After all, they grew up in the house of a much older human than Melody, a human who was older than their parents and grandparents… the reminder of their family made the sprite sigh.

As usual, Melody broke their train of thought by asking about what they wanted to watch. “I’m not sure what types of movies you like, but I like fantasy, mostly… they really let you imagine what it would be like to live in those worlds. Here, I’ll show you one of my favorites, check this out!”

It was a fairly boring story, at least according to Patch, some quest to destroy a ring for some reason they couldn’t keep up with, but what entranced the sprite was when the image would soar over the world, showing scenes that the sprite couldn’t even imagine previously, of geographic features that must be absolutely astronomical in scale to the little sprite, as the people in the TV were already so small compared to their surroundings. It felt like only moments before the video ended, although the darkness of the room and the rain picking up outside indicated that the sun had sunk below the skyline ages ago.

“Well, I’d show you the rest of the trilogy, but it is getting really late, how about we call it a night?” Mel asked, getting a nod of approval from the sprite. The human stood up and went to the bathroom, returning with a folded-up washcloth. She set it gently near Patch on the couch as she spoke. “Here’s the washcloth, as promised. Hopefully this is comfortable enough for you.”

In truth, it would be difficult for this couch to be less comfortable than the alley nest they had been sleeping in. Even despite the sprite’s reluctance to fall asleep around a human, Melody hardly managed to turn out the lights and utter a “Good night, Patch!” before the little sprite began to drift in and out of consciousness.

Part 6

The sprite woke up in a sweat, looking around. Ah, of course I’m back here, they thought, as they stared out the bars of the cage. A dream, again, or perhaps the couch they were on was the real dream. They were never certain, but the deep blue eyes staring at them felt very real. They spoke, their tone a sickly sweet one hiding a poison underneath. “Aww, did somebody have a little nightmare? You were twisting and turning in your sleep. Well, no need to worry, you’re safe now, here with your favorite person. Why don’t you come out here and let me hold you for a minute, to calm you down?”

The sprite began to panic. As much as they hated this cage, it was a brief respite from the human. As the door to the cage opened, the human spoke again, their tone beginning to drip with frustration.

“That wasn’t a question… come here, —”

…

The sound of the human using that name, their actual name, was finally enough to shake Patch awake, convinced it was a dream. After making sure that they were, in fact, awake, they tried unsuccessfully to go back to sleep. They would repeatedly nod off, have a dream about being approached by a human, either human, and jerk awake, only to repeat the process. Eventually, they simply decided to stay awake after only a few hours of sleep, spending the rest of the night looking around the room, taking in potential places to hide or escape… just in case.

-

The next day, the storm was raging outside in full force, causing the apartment to be dark aside from the artificial lighting.

Melody came out of her room to see Patch wide awake on the couch. “Hey Patch, good morning! How did you sleep?”

Patch nodded, though the bags under their eyes would have told a different story if Mel had looked closer.

Melody and Patch resumed watching more movies, with Mel explaining details as she noticed her friend’s confusion with the medium. Patch spent the morning drawing on the notepad, making little sketches of some of the wide landscape shots and even some of the fantastic creatures, though Mel was quick to inform him that they were fictional… probably. “After all, I would have said the same thing about a little fae with big adorable ears too, if you asked me a month ago.”

However, one thing that was bothering Melody was just how timid their friend was. It felt like every movement of hers spurred an intense fear reaction from her little guest, who still seemed skeptical of her intentions. Finally, Mel paused the movie that was on, and decided to confront him about it.

“Listen, if you don’t want to, I won’t force you, but… I want to understand what’s got you so jumpy. I feel like everything I do is upsetting you, and I don’t understand why. I want to help. Because, well, I don’t know if you feel the same, but I think of you as a friend,” the human pleaded. “Is this about… that other human?”

After receiving a small, but hesitant nod from Patch, Mel continued. “Can you… try to explain what happened? What they did? What you did? Anything would help me know how to be a better friend, please.”

Patch sighed. They knew from when Melody had originally asked that she would inevitably ask again, this human was curious if nothing else. But, maybe, just maybe, explaining to somebody what that human did would help. Patch made a motion for the notepad they had been writing in, and Mel took the initiative and flipped the page. “Would it help if I do something else for a bit and come back? Less pressure?”

After thinking on it, Patch accepted that offer, and Melody stood up, walking into her bedroom and closing the door. Patch could hear the distant sound of running water coming from inside the room as they solemnly began to draw. About a half-hour later, the human returned, and after asking permission, took a look at the thoughts that had plagued Patch for years.

-

… Horror was the reaction Melody had, seeing the drawings in front of her. She had suspected something bad when Patch drew the hamster cage, but this… this stranger has treated Patch like… she struggled to believe this was real. After the first drawing, an innocent one of Patch taking the human’s hand, the other drawings depicted a story of Patch being captured, threatened… tormented. Patch kept in a cage, the human’s fingers around the tiny thing’s neck, Patch being held above a grinning mouth, and other drawings that Melody couldn’t even bring herself to describe. Mel shuddered at the idea that somebody like this lived so close to her, somewhere in the same city block, even. What kind of sick person would treat any living being like this?

“Patch...” Was all Melody could say, her blood simultaneously running cold and burning with hatred towards his abuser as the images swirled in her mind. Patch wasn’t just captured, he was treated like a plaything, some kind of toy for a complete monster of a human. “Fuck.”

Melody noticed her little friend staring at her, anxiety in his eyes and his ears pulled apprehensively against the side of his head as his hands fidgeted with the scarf around his neck. “No, no… I’m not mad at you, how could I be? I just… what they did to you… how long did this go on for? How long were you their…”, She couldn’t bring herself to say the word she was thinking. “How long were you there?”

Patch shyly held up two fingers. “Two? Two what? Days? Weeks? … Months?” Melody questioned, getting more worried as Patch stayed silent. Finally, she quietly said “... Years?” garnering a small tearful nod. Melody had to stop herself, remembering Patch’s age. The poor thing had spent the start of his young adult life like that. Melody noticed Patch fidgeting awkwardly with his scarf again… the scarf he was wearing during the middle of the summer. As he fidgeted, loosening the scarf, Melody could just barely make out a deep mark across his neck now that she was looking out for anything unusual. Patch could only look everywhere except Melody’s eyes, tears welling up in his face.

“Patch… take off your scarf”, Melody said, somewhere between a question and a demand. Patch nervously complied, keeping the scarf in his hand as he anxiously fidgeted with it, while Melody took a close look at the scar on his neck. It wasn’t directly where his vocal chords would be… but it was close.

Melody wasn’t known for being a particularly quick to anger person, but she had to do some impromptu deep breathing to calm down, lest her anger scare her timid friend. “Fuck. Is that why you can’t…?” She asked, terrified of what the response would be, but Patch shook his head in a no, to the human’s relief.

“Either way, I need you to know… I’m sorry. For what that… that monster did to you. I swear to you, I would never… I’d like to think nobody would act like that, but I especially would never… ugh, no wonder you were so terrified!”

There was a long, painful silence that followed as the both of them looked at each other, pain in Patch’s eyes and fury in Mel’s. After another deep breath, and choosing her next words carefully, Melody decided to break the silence. “I know I’m not perfect… but mark my words, as long as I’m here, you’ll never have to fear them again. I promise.”

Patch made a beckoning motion, breaking Melody out of her rage. She saw him holding out his hand, and gently moved her hand closer to match, expecting a simple touch, but was caught off-guard when her little friend wrapped her finger in an embrace. Melody held her hand deathly still, as Patch began to cry enough tears to match the storm raging on outside.

The rest of the day was uneventful. The two of them watched TV, with Melody eventually noticing her little guest’s fascination for the wide shots and switching to nature documentaries after the movie ended. Before long, Patch fell soundly asleep on the couch, right next to Melody, who dared not move, not wanting to wake him up.

Part 7

“So… now that the storm is over, I guess you want to leave, huh?”

It had been about a day since the rain stopped, and the flooding outside had receded to a point where Patch could safely leave, if he wanted. Back to… living in an alley, raiding trash cans and plant pots for food…

Patch sighed, knowing that what they were about to do was stupid. If Patch wasn’t way past “Don’t interact with humans”, they would be judged so heavily for what they were about to ask. But despite that, and despite their own fear, they had to try.

-

Patch motioned for the notepad, and Mel diligently grabbed it for them, even though she was confused. Was he just saying goodbye or something?

It took a moment for her to recognize what Patch was drawing. It was a simplified version of Melody’s apartment, with a figure representing Melody standing inside it. In the space between “outside” and “inside”, there was a small figure, clearly representing Patch. Finally, there was a strange spiked figure on the outside which Mel deduced was the little fae’s way of drawing the sun. Melody tried to decipher what he was saying using their limited knowledge of Patch’s culture.

“The storm is over, and you’re… inside the wall? What… oh! Your people, you mentioned they live in human houses without being noticed… stop me if I’m assuming too much, but… you want to, um… move into my walls instead of leaving?”

Patch nodded, and Melody seemed conflicted. “Well… I can’t just pretend you don’t exist, Patch. We hung out, we watched movies, we bonded! How am I supposed to just… ignore you sneaking around and taking things?”

Patch’s expression dropped, as he went to put on his backpack, only to be interrupted. “Hey, hey… I didn’t say I was kicking you out, I said you couldn’t sneak around here. If you want to stay, it wouldn’t be like this”, she said, motioning to the notepad. “If you want to stay… I’d love to have you. But as a roommate, or a friend, not a stranger who steals my things. That’s fair, right?”

Patch wanted to argue that it was borrowing, not stealing, but considering the language barrier between them, arguing semantics seemed stupid. They considered the deal Melody had made. For the last few days, she had treated them nicely, and her disgust at their past had made Patch trust her much more… Hesitantly, he nodded, and the deal was made.

“Really? Oh my gosh, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting you to agree, but I’m honored! From now on, I’ll be the absolute best human roommate possible! You won’t regret this, I promise! Okay, let me think, we’ll need to get some strings for you to get around… I’ll need to make you your own room somewhere… obviously not with a box or anything…”

Melody’s expression darkened a bit as she thought to clarify something for Patch. “Oh, and Patch? Just to be clear… you can still leave, whenever you want, just say the word. Or, uh, draw it. You’re a friend, not… you’re not trapped here. Anyways…”

As the human began to ramble again, making a list of things her new roommate would need to feel at home, Patch felt an emotion that they hadn’t felt in years… a small, skeptical glimmer of hope.

[t1nfoilorigam1]

THANK YOU! what hurt the most was the complete disregard of the main overarching conflict of arcane: Piltover/Zaun. what happened to the inequality we were shown? it didn't go away because they had to team up and fight the big bad. also, even though I appreciated the Jayce and Viktor conflict (except for the "you don't need to cure your illness!" part), they completely centered the show around them and pushed Vi and Jinx to the side. also, Mel's magic arc made no sense for her character, and they left the Black Rose arc kinda unresolved? quick bullet points of the other shit that didn't make sense:

• Vi being ok with gassing the Lanes

• Caitlyn never facing repercussions for her actions

• Jinx's hallucinations almost completely going away

• we never find out what happens to Ekko's tree

• the entire Vander/Warwick thing

• Zaunites wearing enforcer uniforms during the last episode??? (seriously what the fuck)

• Maddie's betrayal (just bc ppl didn't like that she slept w Caitlyn doesn't mean it was foreshadowing)

• Jinx leaving Piltover by faking her death (especially since she tried to kill herself like earlier that day) + Caitlyn not telling Vi she's alive?? also how this leaves Ekko w a bad ending even though he literally saved the world

arcane season 2 review: nobody’s motivation made any sense. the animation was incredible. I don’t care what anyone says, the imagine dragons soundtrack rules. I wish these people would stop saying stuff like “desperation is the gateway to oblivion”, that literally doesn’t mean anything. was really funny when that one guy said “your disease made you beautiful, you didn’t need a cure” to the guy with fantasy tuberculosis. loved when the lesbians kissed. loved when the gay men did a madoka magica. the flashbacks of young silco with long hair made the entire shit script worth it.

[nomixl83]

Never Again..

  Macy was frozen in silence and disbelief. Did she really witness her biggest fear? Moments before she was ready to bare her soul to the man she loved, and now had taken to the arms and passions of her treacherous rival. As she crept back secretly from the entrance of the command center she knew she had to get away from that room, away from Safe Space and away from them !

A sphere of thoughts spiralled around her mind all rotating with jagged edges that sliced her like glass. Every cut deepened by the betrayal. Her doubts mocked her harshly. He wanted her, he desired her, and she was everything that Macy was not. She was bold, seductive, unrestrained, unconfined, and most of all unkind. Macy was neither of those things and yet here she was left to walk the lonely path home to her hidden sanctuary.

The fear rose in her of running into Maggie and Mel. Always putting others above herself she couldn’t dare face them and risk their relationship and vision of Harry being tarnished. The lights were on and Mel and Maggie were both drinking tea in the living room. Mel -“Macy is that you?” Maggie “ Did you find Harry?” Macy felt a chill creep up her spine to utter his very name felt wrong. “Um, yes “ “ I mean No” “ I mean he was talking to Abigael and I thought I’d wait to see him back” Maggie and Mel both looked confused. They could sense that sisterly connection that something about Macy had changed. Mel asked “ Is everything ok , did something happen with Abigael?” Macy did all she could to contain the anger and rage from hearing that vile name and she restrained herself all she could by uttering simply “ No”. Able to push the rotten feelings down she told them she was going to bed. Maggie and Mel again stared at one another confusingly “Ok, have a good night”.

 Tormented by the mixture of betrayal, hurt, confusion, and lingering self doubt she decided this would be the best time to retreat back to her own safe space. A warm bath, some Puccini (Tosca being the most fitting) and a cucumber mask. She ran the bath water and poured in her favorite combination of salts, powders and bubble spirits to foam the water. She went into her room opened the dresser pulled out her favorite silk nightgown and undergarments and was ready for her release.

 After her bath her mind felt a little more at ease compared to the torturous walk home. The pain was still present, her thoughts although slightly subsided still ripped into her like dull daggers. If only she could go back to the hours before that kiss. If only she could have been more honest with Harry about how she felt. That it wasn’t Jimmy she desired, but him. Her fear drove her to seek comfort with a part of him she was certain wanted her. On the other hand why should she feel guilty? Why should she feel anything but annoyance that Harry should have been more direct about his feelings? If he cared about her so much, if he wanted her then why not pursue her?

Jimmy wasn’t a gentleman, not entirely, but he knew what he wanted and he went after it the best way he knew how. It wasn’t proper, it wasn’t polite it was passion and it was desire. He desired her the same way Harry’s new paramour desired him yet he responded to the one most forthcoming. None of it made any sense. Were they both at fault? Could either of them be blamed? It didn’t make sense and to a dedicated scientist who spent her whole life looking for logic and reason this was the worst headspace to be.

   All of the past judgements and looks of contempt for expressing interest in a man that represented a part of him that he despised, yet seemed to have no issue with  if that same embodiment took the form of a young , and beautiful seductress. Anger, pain, envy and bitterness on top of yearning .These conflicting thoughts swirling in her head did little to comfort her only bring about more pain and more anguish. She wanted to stop hurting. The tears began soon after and they were of little relief. Each drop burned when it was released from her swollen eyes. They stained her face as they eventually sprinkled her pillow.

  It was late into the night and Macy finally fell into a deep somber sleep. She soon awoke to hear a soft voice calling her name “Macy” she didn’t think much of it and closed her eyes again. “Macy” the voice was familiar and one she could go months without hearing. “Harry I’m tired and I’m really not up for one of our -chats-. I just want to sleep”. The voice croon a bit louder and the base dropped deeper “ Harry’s not present at the moment”. Macy leapt upright her eyes drawn directly to where the voice was coming from .“ There sitting at the edge of her bed was Jimmy, James, the one she thought she’d never see again. Was this a dream? Was Mel and Maggie ok? Should she call to them? It’s what she should do. It what she probably would have done. This was different, this time she wont.

   He had the same look of hunger and seduction that gave her the feeling of electricity flowing through her body. The feeling of relief and need seemed to be a beacon to the man, not a man but a presence, that was devoid of all of the parts that hurt her so cruelly. He was a piece of Harry, the piece that was unspoiled and untainted. Her piece and he was hers. He crept closer towards her and any binding or restrain that had resided in her previously had left and Jimmy picked it up. He slid closer to her his face merely an inch from hers. He looked down at her gorgeous lips and simply whispered “ do you want me to stay?” Macy closed her eyes, her body felt chilled but she was silent. Jimmy whispered to her ear “ tell me what you want”. Macy was still frozen in silence but her eyes remained closed. Jimmy caressed her shoulder while leaning his body to her. Macy finally said “ I want this feeling to never end”. Jimmy devilishly smiled and leaned forward on top of Macy pinning her down as she laid flat on her bed. He stared intensely into her eyes and whispered “ Never again”.  

[lost-in-yujikiri]

A bit more LN context of Eugeo vs Kirito aftermath

Why did Eugeo do it? He just got his memory back; why would he need to lock me and Alice in ice?

About fifty feet away, Eugeo got back to his feet easily and favored me with a sad little smile. “I’m sorry, Kirito…and Alice. Please don’t come after me…”

As the disc ascended, I saw that smile stay on Eugeo’s face, an expression attempting to withstand a whole host of conflicting emotions, until he eventually vanished through the hole above.

“…Eu…ge…oooooo!!” I screamed, but it was drowned out by the hard, heavy sound of the disc fitting seamlessly back into the ceiling.

Eugeo at this point had already gained back his consciousness, he remembered being manipulated and brainwashed by the Pontifex.

It was there that Eugeo had met a girl with silver hair and mirror eyes, the otherworldly beauty that was Administrator, pontifex of the Church. Through a mental haze that refused to lift, he’d listened to her speak. You are a flower in its flower bed, deprived of the water that is love. But I am different. I will love you, and only you. However, only if you love me just the same. It was like they were sacred arts commands in and of themselves, binding his will to them. He’d felt himself repeating the three command words as she’d bidden him. It must’ve been some kind of forbidden art. Something that hurled open the door meant to protect truly precious things—memories, thoughts…the soul. With that perfect smile, Administrator had peered into Eugeo’s mind, looked around, and inserted something deep inside it, something colder than ice. Then he’d lost consciousness again.

Then he was sent to battle Kirito & Alice. After realizing that he had turned his blade against his friends, he felt extremely guilty for what he’d done and he was going to assassinate the Pontifex alone, willing to sacrifice his life over it.

I gave in to Administrator’s honeyed words. I cast open the door to my heart. It was a betrayal of Kirito and Alice. Of Tiese, and Ronie, and Frenica, and Golgorosso and Sortiliena, and Miss Azurica the dorm manager, and Sadore the craftsman, and everyone on Walde Farm, and Selka and Old Man Garitta back in Rulid, and Elder Gasfut, and the little sage Cardinal in her hidden library. He clenched the pommel of his sword, withstanding the chilling throb as it steadily grew worse. There wouldn’t be much time left for him to maintain his wits like this. He had to atone for his sins before he vanished for good. There was only one way to do that.

The assassination was unsuccessful as we knew it, but he managed to land a few blows on Administrator and got the knowledge that metal weapons couldn’t work on her at all. Then Kirito caught up with him him on the 100th floor. A heartfelt reunion between two boys alone, and they went back to their usual banter.

Eugeo glanced back at the levitating platform. The hand that had grasped Chudelkin’s shoe was still fully extended. The black sleeve slid downward, revealing an arm that was thin but finely muscled.

How many times had those arms saved Eugeo?

In fact, for as long as he could remember, he’d been led around by that hand. Even now, after Eugeo had gone the wrong way and turned his sword on the owner of that arm, the advance continued.

The disc continued rising.

Next to appear was black hair, still tousled from battle. Then two eyes darker than the night sky beyond the windows and yet brighter than the stars. Lastly, a mouth curved into a cocky grin…

Eugeo’s voice was trembling. It wasn’t loud enough to be audible over ten mels away, but his friend glanced toward him along the wall anyway and nodded, smile never wavering.

It was a gesture that was warm and heartening, just like all the ones he’d made since the moment they’d met. The disc finally came to a heavy, grinding stop.

Kirito…there you are…

Something deep inside him throbbed with an emotion he couldn’t even name.

But that pain wasn’t an unpleasant one. It was certainly much gentler than the suffering he’d felt when the Piety Module was jammed into his head—and more wistful and sweet.

As he watched, frozen in place, his partner and teacher dressed in black smirked and said:

“……I told you not to come,” he murmured.

His partner hurled Chudelkin’s silly shoe and beamed even harder.

“When have I ever followed the instructions you gave to me?”

Yes, I’m still alive. And I still have the dagger hanging from my wrist. Which means now is the time to fight. That’s the one thing I can do.

“Are you hurt?” Kirito whispered. “It’s not…my fault, is it?” “…” The fact that his partner was willing to let that simple statement cover everything that had happened on the floor below them brought an unexpected smile to Eugeo’s lips. “You never hit me with your sword, not once. I had a run-in with a pillar.” “You could’ve waited until we got up here.” “…I was the one who trapped you to keep you down there, Kirito.” “As if I was weak enough that something like that would stop me.” Kirito snorted. Bantering with him like this reminded Eugeo of before they’d split apart at the eightieth floor…like the times back at the dorm of the academy. The throbbing in his chest lessened just a bit.

LN source: Chapter 12, Volume 14 Alicization Uniting