#shoola imagines

[aberrationaldyke]

to rebuild—1

y’all want some slow burn sevika and shoola?

summary: now a prominent leader of zaun and a representative for the community, sevika sits at the council, aided by a seasoned member.

chapter 2

heavy steps thudding, sevika makes her way toward the chair designated for her, onlookers’ sights heated at her appearance and inclusion in the rebuilt council. all sights except for one. settling into her seat with a responding piercing stare to the judgement, sevika’s right arm rests on the table, posture leaning slightly forward as she quietly takes in the others. 

sevika’s dark gray eyes flit to a more familiar figure and narrow in a mere analytic manner. she had stood beside this individual at the funeral, solemn introductions made after the event had dwindled. the feel of the other’s golden claws are still felt on her palm, their handshake having been firm, a lingering motion made by both parties as a silent understanding spoke through the touch. 

facing her new counterparts, shoola returns their pointed looks, a look of distaste blanketing her expression. after all that was done–joint efforts made to bring down the forces that threatened both zaun and piltover–individuals can still find it in themselves to look down on zaunites. if she had the power, she would deny the addition of such people, prompting a seat on the council if a bias is dismissed and a leveled mindset could be put forth. 

because that is what is needed. yet here they all sit, ready to continue a vile cycle that has done nothing but further divide a once united society. 

amid the first meeting of the renewed council, as expected, sevika’s words are cut into, demands scoffed at while attitude-filled responses are shot back. fist clenched, sevika’s brown skin heats, frustration building as she sees the obvious barricade made for her requests. her jaw clenches, teeth grinding against each other as she prepares to speak again. 

“if i may?” comes shoola’s silvery voice, her two-toned eyes looking at sevika. 

sevika remains tense, meeting shoola’s gaze, the stare a stark difference from the others of the council. a slight nod of her head is given. 

shoola brings her attention to the rest of the councilors sitting at the table, the adornments on her fingers glinting in the soft rays of sun pouring through the windows. “i don’t think willful ignorance is the right path to take following an event birthed from such an aspect.”

undeterred by the collective reactions to the accusation, shoola maintains an even look on her face. her voice raises in volume as she continues, “removing the factories that border the fissures should not be an abstract idea that brings all of you to disrespect a fellow member of the council; you are not here to fight against sevika’s wishes or ignore them, you are here to listen, learn, and aid the individuals, the families, the lives of zaun.” 

“councilor shoola, with all due respect, the removal of the factories would pose a massive loss for those who depend on jobs for their families and their lives,” is a response. 

shoola is reminded of her own words that reflected the response just given, but ultimately, people cannot be sacrificed to support another–there is a way to support both, there has to be. 

“with such an obstacle, being named the “city of progress” should be an embarrassment if we cannot even move forward to ensure our counterparts are safe and healthy,” shoola places her words with a firm force, holding eye contact with each individual sitting at the table. she looks at sevika lastly, face softening as she does. “do you have anything else to bring forward, councilor sevika?”

sevika points her words to shoola only, purposely ignoring the others, “all good for now. how fast can we get the supplies to start repairs?”

“as soon as they are needed,” shoola responds. 

examining her fellow councilor for a moment, sevika holds a smidge of approval for the other, yet keeps a controlled expression. she relaxes slightly in her chair, right index finger tapping with an aura of impatience as she has to sit through the rest of the meeting, listening to the topics with half a mind. when there is input from shoola, sevika looks her way, taking in her mannerisms that flow with grace, the sound of her claw adornments tapping the table as she makes a point settling into her mind. when any other councilor speaks, sevika lets out a tired exhale.  

 a sharp breath is taken as she settles back into reality once realizing ending statements are made and the impending end to the meeting is to come. 

sevika is the first to stand, chair legs groaning against the floor as the back of her legs push it away. concern bubbles inside of her thinking about isha and jinx still in recovery even though she is sure vi hasn’t left either of their sides. fuck, she thinks, get me anywhere but here. she can’t stand the demeanor the council holds, can’t fucking stand it. but she would endure worse if it meant aiding zaun and rebuilding it. heels hurriedly click behind her but her mind is focused on the young ones back home. 

hints of that familiar amber aroma makes sevika side-eye her right side, a gold claw coming into view. 

“have you taken a look at your office?” shoola questions, falling in step with sevika. 

fully turning her head, sevika quirks her brow, eyes following the shape of shoola’s face plate before darting to her lips then settling on her gaze. “i haven’t.” 

the mechanism of the door lightly chitters as the grand structure begins to open, letting the two individuals pass through. shoola guides the direction to the right, the long corridor holding various rooms in a simple pattern. it is quiet between the two as they walk together, having yet to move past a formidable barrier established simply from places of origin. sevika holds a deep-seated hatred for piltover, their forces onto zaun too embedded in her memory; for shoola, no bold sentiments can be made for the sibling society.  

“what sits at the council,” shoola starts, “have only a quarter of the minds of who filled the seats before.” 

“must have been small minds,” sevika slyly retorts, casting a glance toward shoola. “that what usually happened if anyone tried to get to zaun? a bunch of irrelevant responses and excuses?”

shoola accepts the shots taken. “usually, yes. and motions could have been fought against harder.” she focuses the guilt on herself. 

sevika huffs, shaking her head, movement in her jaw evident. “so what? takes a war to change your mind?”

“not a war–weakened hands and figures. mel would’ve stood along my thoughts. it is the majority that would’ve opposed.” shoola slows, reaching out to halt sevika’s agitation-fueled march, finger jewelry skimming the exposed skin on her bicep. “though i do think actions would’ve served better than to simply accept battered down propositions.” she opens the door to a clearly unused space, a sleight of hand bringing the key from her person to the slot. 

her trek slow and cautious into the room, sevika surveys the area. calculated steps lead her to the desk, a chair with a different structure from those in the main council room tucked under it. sevika brushes her fingertips along the desk, the mineral cool under her touch while she studies the shaped stone. shoola stays near the entrance, still clutching the key to the room; she is kept in sevika’s peripheral at all times.

“any supplies that you need, make it known and i’ll put it in place for you–”

“this part of a plan?” sevika’s voice is gruff, coated with suspicion. 

shoola’s head tilts as she narrows her eyes. “i’m sorry?”

sevika rounds the table and grips the back of the chair. “get one of the councilors to close in. do a couple of favors. then what?” her lips downturn, watching shoola walk closer, the sound of her heels echoing throughout the room. the darkened gray sights follow the motion of shoola’s hand setting down the key on the table then keeping it under her index and middle fingers as she slides it to the other side of the mineral desk. 

“then what?” shoola repeats, voice remaining gentle. “i have no reason to hold contempt for you. i am only your equal, prepared to aid you and zaun. if you want to do this alone, i can step aside; but the road here had enough obstacles, there shouldn’t be anymore.” she lifts her fingers off the key.

sevika looks at the key then back to shoola, ruminating on her words. she’d be lying to herself if she thought she didn’t have to have at least one ally for this line of work–a primary caretaker of zaun. vander had grayson. silco had marcus. though the power scales have altered a bit, it is still a significant factor in the relationship between the societies. 

seeing that sevika needs time to think, shoola backs up from the table and starts heading toward the door. her direction changes at the last moment, bringing her to one of the pneumatic tubes, her left index finger tapping the mechanism. “anything you need.” 

then sevika is alone in her office. 

[viktorarcanedeservesbetter]

some jayvik headcanons to pass the time and ignore the pain

There is a Viktor fan club at the academy. He is unaware. They discuss his projects, his accent, his looks. Meetings are the last Thursday of every month.

Jayce accidentally stumbled into one of the meetings. They barely played off they were talking about his partner. (He still can't find any info on the "book" they were talking about, thinking Caitlyn would be interested.) (He forgets that Victorian-looking men with accents aren't on her radar.)

Jayce also has a fan club. He is aware of it. (They have invited him to meetings). They talk about his projects, his hair, his face, his line of mugs. Their banner is one of his shirts. (He is unaware of this part.)

Viktor is also aware of the club. (He gave them the shirt.)

Jayce and Viktor both hate the cold (Jayce for the snowstorm, Viktor for his leg) so whenever it was winter they were bundled up like the kid from A Christmas Story.

Viktor mixes up metaphors. He constantly uses malaphors (unintentionally) and Jayce doesn't have it in his heart to correct him. "All the ducks are aligning" is his favorite by far.

Jayce tried learning Viktor's native language to surprise him one day. (I imagine it as a mix of Czech and Polish). He ended up saying a mix of a whole bunch of nonsense, so confidently) which made Viktor laugh himself into a coughing fit.

more under cut cause this is getting long

(Viktor couldn't look at Jayce for two days after without laughing.)

Viktor has a sweet tooth, Jayce has a savory one.

Their third year as lab partners, a section of the library caught on fire. The culprit was never found. (It was them, and they both blame the other.) (It was Viktor)

Jayce enjoys suspenseful novels. Viktor, when he can be persuaded, enjoys historical fiction.

Their mortal enemy is the student who's lab is across from theirs. Viktor hates him because he's egotistical with no real skill. Jayce hates him because he always complains they're making too much noise. Their mortal enemy is unaware he is their mortal enemy.

They have a "days without incident" chart in their lab. Incidents no longer include cuts, scrapes, bruises, small explosions, broken prototypes, because if they did it would always be at 0.

Their fifth year, the auditorium stage caught on fire. A group of first years were blamed. (It was Jayce, though Viktor thought it wasn't a big deal.)

Jayce is organized, Viktor is not. Jayce puts things in organized shelves, Viktor puts things where he knows he'll need them next. This is a point of tension for the longest time, until Mel stepped in and told them to either compromise or get two of everything.

They got two of everything.

Jayce designed Viktor's cane (after the first one broke) and his leg brace.

Viktor can play the harp. Jayce can play the piano.

Everyone believes Viktor is the one keeping Jayce under control in experiments. (as referenced in this post) No one knows besides Heimerdinger that Viktor learned lab safety in a drug den. The counsel refers to Viktor as the "sane, calm one" but only Mel and Cassandra know the truth. Both think it's funnier to not deny it.

Viktor stays at Jayce's place most often. Jayce secretly moved most of Viktor's things to his place, until officially asking him to move in.

Jayce also helped design a new back brace for Viktor. It was more comfortable, made of thick cloth, and relieved so much back pain he started crying when he tried it on. This is what got them together, because Viktor kissed him in thanks, and Jayce was like "finally!!" and started kissing him back.

Money was exchanged after the Academy/Counsel found out they became official. Shoola, Mel and Cassandra got a big payout. Heimerdinger had no idea about the bet, mostly because he thought they were already together.

This led to the fanclub war. Jayce fans vs Viktor fans, until a hero came around (Sky) and was like, why not both? (And thus, the Jayvik fan-club was born)

[archangeldyke-all]

Oh man I have ideas..

Sevika has a home back in Zaun but she has to have an apartment in Piltover because of councilor duties until she fully adjusts to topside and accepts the insistent offers of a manor. Imagine being her wife and just helping her relax after her first day, cuddling and all that whilst adjusting to the fancy apartment bigger than your old house.

Or..

Sevika taking her wife out for a walk in Piltover, admiring more of the garden as the plants grow upon new soil. A talk about the future whilst holding hands.

Or..

Them renewing their vows, having that damn fancy wedding of the dreams.

Toodles!!!

EEEEEEEEK okay lets do some councilor sevika (also isha and jinx are still alive in this story because i said so. she doesn't need to suffer so much to still be an incredible leader. give her her girls!!!)

men and minors dni

you were the first person approached about sevika representing zaun in piltover's new council post-war.

you were a little concerned to find councilwoman shoola and three members of her personal guard on your front stoop-- and for just a moment you had a flash of anxiety that she was here looking for jinx or isha.

"councilwoman. hello." you say, still surprised. you've met the woman a few times before, both of you attending various re-building efforts around the undercity. she holds up a hand.

"please, dear, we've built a bookshelf together, you've seen me at my lowest. you can call me shoola."

"h-how can i help you counc-- shoola?" you ask. she smiles.

"i'm here regarding your wife."

you frown. "...is she in some kind of trouble?" you ask, already mentally planning how to worm sevika out of her trouble. the councilwoman chuckles.

"quite the opposite, actually. i'd like her to join the council... as an ambassador to the free nation of zaun." she says.

you nearly shit yourself at her words-- sevika's life work casually mentioned like it's just a sidenote. "the-- free?" you ask.

she smiles. "while the deaths of the other councilmembers in the war was a horrible loss, there are some issues i could never get my late colleagues to agree on. now, though... i've been given full authority to reorient the power structure of the council to avoid anymore kirraman's taking over-- and i've always been of the belief that zaun should be free."

"and w-what... you want to arrest jinx in exchange for it?" you ask.

shoola chuckles. "no."

"y-you want isha?" you ask. shoola laughs again.

"what could i want with a child? no!"

"so... what do you want?" you ask, your voice shaking as the reality of the situation sinks in.

"i just want your help talking sevika into the job. i know she can be... stubbo--?"

"bullheaded?" you guess as shoola searches for a kind word to describe sevika's stubbornness. she chuckles at your description of your wife and nods.

"here." she hands you a stack of papers. "i've outlined the full responsibilities of the job. as well as the benefits she will receive for serving. please. look it over and talk to her, would you?"

you do.

it's an excellent proposal.

as the undercity figures out how it wants to self govern, piltover will fund zaun's public infrastructure as if it's their own-- meaning that the undercity will, practically overnight, have access to things like clean water. and schools. and welfare. they will provide these services for up to fifteen years as zaun finds it's footing.

the position outlined for sevika in piltover's council is a way to assure piltover doesn't back out of their promises-- that somebody is there to call them out when they try to cut corners in helping the young nation of zaun find it's footing.

and, while your wife might miss the more physical aspects of her old work, you can see her chewing out some stingy old councilors for their greed in your minds eye, and you can't help but smile.

"what're you smilin' about?" sevika asks.

you jump and slam the folder in front of you closed, blinking up at your wife.

she's back from her meeting with ran, scar and jericho. the four of them have grown close in these past few months as they coordinate rebuilding efforts for various neighborhoods across zaun. you have to gulp, trying not to get dizzy with the possibilities of what sevika's job offer means for them as a team. as team zaun.

"h-how was your meeting?" you ask. sevika raises an unimpressed eyebrow at you and you huff. she sinks across the table from you, easily pulling the folder out of your grasp.

"meeting was fine. the elementary school bein' built in firelight's territory is almost ready to open. first school in zaun." she says with a smile. "now, what were you smiling at?"

"i was approached by councilwoman shoola this afternoon."

sevika raises an eyebrow at you. "did you two try to build a chair this time?" she teases. you groan and kick her shin, before tapping the folder in her hands.

"no. i was asked to convince my stubborn-ass, incredibly loyal, strong, beautiful, hard-fucking-headed wife to join the fucking council."

sevika blinks. "what?"

"they want you in the new council. serving as an ambassador. to the free nation of zaun, sevika."

sevika blinks again, and then she rips the file open, her silver eyes flying across the confidential text. "the fr-- the free nation of zaun?" she asks, her eyes flying up to yours to confirm. you grin and nod.

sevika flies out of her seat and crawls across the dining room table to reach you, tears flowing down her cheeks as she kisses you like her life depends on it.

you're there when shoola and sevika finally sit down to discuss the opportunity. shoola's the first piltoverian to not turn her nose up at the messy state of your small home-- she even grins at the sound of jinx and isha bickering from their bedroom. "you two have made a lovely home for yourselves, here." she says, sitting down at the table and jumping a bit when a toy squeaks under her bum. "i can almost see the love leaking out of the wallpaper."

"could be black mold." you whisper. sevika and shoola both sputter surprised laughs.

"sevika. have you considered my proposal?" shoola asks.

sevika sighs and nods. "i have a few conditions before i agree." she says.

this surprises you. as if the prospect of representing a free zaun isn't tempting enough, you saw the salary sevika's being offered. it's the kind of money that could buy you a house big enough that all four of you could have your own bathrooms.

(secretly, though, you hope you live in a tiny house forever. you like tripping over your family-- being within reaching distance at all times.)

"first. i'd like you to assign me the budget to employ three of my trusted confidants as advisors. i can give you their identities if you'd like, but i give you my word that they're good peo--"

"done." shoola cuts sevika off, scribbling a quick note in her journal before looking back up at the pair of you with a smile. "what else?" she asks.

you smile a bit. sevika blinks, then gulps. "jinx and her little friend ekko get a full ride to the university up top. they're incredibly gifted, and with a little proper education they could advance zaun--"

"you don't have to convince me, i remember how the war went. without them, we'd all be dead. i can arrange that."

"i don't want to leave zaun. i can't represent these people if i'm not living here. i'll need a car to get--"

"would you like a personal vehicle or a driver each morning and evening?" shoola asks.

sevika blinks. "a-a driver." she says, a little shocked.

"anything else?" shoola asks.

sevika nods. "o-one last thing." she reaches over to grab your hand. you have no idea what she could possibly want beyond what she's asked for-- she's taken care of her friends, her family, and her transport.

"anything." shoola says. you think the woman might mean it.

sevika looks down at her lap and sighs. "we... we never really got married." she says. you blink, not at all understanding why she's telling the councilwoman this. "i mean... we had a party and we exchanged vows," she says, a smile tugging at her lips. you squeeze her hand and her eyes flick up to yours, before shyly darting away like you guys haven't been married for a decade now. like you guys don't have two kids together. "but we never... nobody gets married in zaun. 's expensive. the trip up to the justice is too far. and..." sevika gulps, her voice getting shaky as she looks back up at you. "and you're the reason i've fought so hard for our home in the first place." she whispers.

tears start to well up in your eyes and you let out a shaky laugh. "what, 're you proposing to me again?" you ask. sevika snorts and shakes her head before turning to shoola. the woman's drying her own tears.

"will you arrange to have us married? officially?"

"i'd be honored." shoola agrees.

the wedding is small and intimate, you and sevika, jinx and isha, vi, ran, scar, jericho, and shoola.

the councilwoman took you to a beautiful little garden a few blocks away from the council, and she married you, officially, as the sun set and your girls threw handfuls of confetti into the sky.

your whole party marches through the streets of piltover and back to zaun for the afterparty, councilwoman shoola laughing happily as you introduce her to the zaunite tradition of barcrawling.

each bar you enter, jericho happily announces that you and sevika have been freshly married. sevika, being the new spokeswoman of zaun, is quite the celebrity now. all of this is to say, you spend the night drinking many free drinks, hugging many drunk strangers, and kissing your wife on request about a thousand times.

it's the best night of your life.

taglist!

@fyeahnix @lavendersgirl @half-of-a-gay @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner

@kissyslut @chuucanchuucan @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther

@sevikaspillowprincess @emiliabby @sevikasbeloved @hellorai @my-taintedheart

@glass-apothecary @macaroni676 @artinvain @k3n-dyll @sevsdollette

@ellieslob @xayn-xd @keikuahh @maneskinwh0re @raphaellearp

@iamastar @sevikitty @mascdom @nhaaauyen @annesunshiner

@mirconreadzztuff22 @veoomvroom @lushh-s3vik4s @katyawooga @lesbodietcoke

@lavandasz @strawberrykidneystone @sevikasfan @fict1onallyobsessed

[mercutio-the-velaryon]

One must imagine Mel and Elora having a summer fling during their coming-of-age in Noxus that was crushed under the weight of Mel's responsibilities as a Medarda, then you must imagine she comes to Piltover at 18-20 and curiousity gets the best of her and she visits Zaun in disguise and meets Lest in a bar and they have a off and on casual relationship that is extinguished by Mel's new responsibilities as a councillor then you must imagine in her first year as a councillor, her coming across head councillor Heimerdinger's assistant Viktor and them getting involved in a toxic workplace situationship that crashes and burns and then years later Mel and Jayce falling in love and Jayce and Viktor too and also Mel and Sky and they form a polycule then in the aftermath of the finale, where by this point all her partners are dead or have disappeared Mel is introduced to Sevika through Shoola and they seek comfort in each other over loss and have a one night stand AND THEN Mel goes to Noxus and gets another girlfriend. This is essential for the ultimate viewing experience.

[jayceofprogress]

Journal entry: 13.0.12.7.8/995AN

Env. Cond. T = 19° RH = 53%

#64 = Fail

Observations: Array base had corroded further this morning, and by this afternoon it had spread onto the surface of the work bench itself. Behavior still defies easy classification. The closest approximation seems to be…metastasis, which presents its own questions: if the core is producing motile discharge like the kind observed bacterially then we’d need to seriously consider whether we’re dealing with something organic here.

Been busy with Council work, and haven’t seen V for a few days because we keep missing each other. Dreamed of him again—that we were together, floating, weightless. It was peaceful. It feels like all I do these days, maybe all I’ve ever done, is crawl; dragging myself up by my fingernails trying to reach the next ledge but never quite getting out of the hole.

Cassandra hosted a fundraiser for some new vanity project of Shoola’s involving a school for textile artisans last night. I didn’t want to go, but I knew I had to if I didn’t want her delicately implying I’ve forgotten all she’s done for me. And it’s not that I’m ungrateful, but it’s difficult not to be reminded of how just quickly she’d been prepared to abandon me when it seemed like the investment wasn’t going to pay off after all.

So I had my hair cut and I shaved and I got dressed to go waste time we don’t have to stand around drinking champagne. My face still hurts today from holding up the weight of that billboard-stiff smile all night and biting my tongue while Hoskel failed, embarrassingly loudly, to calculate how much the tariff changes would impact his new airships like it wasn’t the most basic math imaginable. I imagined what V’s face would’ve looked like if he could have heard and it made it all slightly more bearable.

Amara was there, for some reason, with a group of friends who all looked exactly like her—ancient and cruel—smelling of smoke and roses. She introduced me as the Talis boy, told me they were visiting from abroad, like it was some kind of inside joke. One of them wouldn’t stop pinching my cheeks with her nails and telling me how handsome I was. Eventually her hand was on my chest and she was leaning in to ask if I’d accompany her back to her rooms so we could have a private conversation about just how much she’d be willing to invest in Hextech, and named what was frankly an insane amount of money.

I considered it. Just for a minute. I thought of how we could roll out the water purifiers for the fissures without needing to wait for the Council to fund production, and actually pay Sky what she deserves, and replace the cot in the corner with something less punishing on V’s spine.

Thinking of V is what snapped me out of it. I excused myself and made it out to the balcony just in time. The champagne burned my throat the entire way back up.

Note: Remember to check chalk line drawn around corrosion for further spread tomorrow.

-J.T.

[somedaylazysomeday]

Good Intentions Part Twenty-Three

Ongoing Silco x fem!reader fic (no use of 'y/n')

Rating: Mature

Word Count: 3,900

Warnings: Arguments, threats, attempted blackmail, mentions of sex as terms of an agreement

Previous | Next | Masterlist

---

When Jazper said that he had set up a meeting for you, you hadn’t known what to expect. 

It was too soon for the next meeting of the Undercity Innovation Committee, which was the logical choice for a requested meeting. The committee was scheduled to meet every three months, and it had barely been a month since the last one. 

But you thought perhaps someone had been interested in setting up a partnership with the Haven similar to the one you shared with Stocked. Perhaps Cipanni wanted to have one of her apprentices stationed as a full-time mechanic for the Haven or Ronid was looking for more recommendations to fill his soon-opening apartment complex. 

However, the elegant Ionian woman waiting in the meeting room was unfamiliar to you. Jazper had simply directed you to the room with a smile, so you couldn’t ask for any clarification. Instead, you pasted on your best professional smile and stepped inside. 

“Hello,” you offered, adding an introduction when she looked up at you.

“Hello,” she returned, voice pleasantly husky. “My name is Ahri. I work for Councilmember Shoola.”

Your brows arched. “Nice to meet you, Ahri. I can’t imagine what I could have done to rate a visit from a Council staff member.” 

Ahri laughed. It was a genuinely happy sound and you relaxed slightly. “Please, sit. Shoola has become aware of the friction between the Upper Piltover and the Undercity. She sent me to explore options for improving relations between the two halves of the city.” 

“Is there a reason she asked you in particular?” you asked, terrified that the question would come off offensive. 

Thankfully, Ahri didn’t seem offended in the least. “I’m friends with Jazper, of course. His experiment with the Lanes has drawn quite a bit of attention in the upper city, and he has been helping me come up with ideas on fixing this rift.”

You straightened in your chair, hoping she wasn’t close enough to watch your fingers tremble as the enormity of that statement hit you. Piltover was interested in repairing relations with the Undercity? You weren’t fully convinced that it wasn’t a trick of some kind, but if it were true… well, the impacts would be enormous. 

“What- Uh…” You paused, allowing yourself a moment to gather your thoughts before you spoke. “I’m curious about what Jazper has suggested. Have you come up with any options yet?”

“Oh, yes,” Ahri confirmed with a nod. “I believe we’ve found our solution. I already got it approved by Councilmember Shoola, so we’re in the final stages now.” 

“Ah.” It was wonderful to hear that a plan to improve things was already in place, but you had to wonder why you were there. “In that case, what can I do for you? Jazper didn’t tell me much about this meeting before it started.” 

Ahri chuckled. “Jazper has a flair for drama. Let me lay everything out for you: there are many causes of strife between Upper Piltover and the Undercity. I’m sure you are aware of that. There is no one solution that can address the variety of issues between the two halves of the city, and my decision was that no single person can possibly decide how to fix everything.” 

You bit back the irritated expression that was almost certainly trying to bloom on your face. Everyone who looked into the Undercity walked away with an understanding of the enormity of its problems… but they still walked away. If everyone who could help walked away because they were overwhelmed, it wouldn’t help anyone. 

“The Piltover Council has agreed to create a task force,” Ahri continued, cutting your internal ire short. 

“A task force,” you repeated slowly, rolling the words around as if you could test them by the way they fell from your tongue. “To do what?” 

It was a loaded question. Politicians and the people interested in appeasing them often gave vague answers full of buzzwords that were sure to resonate with their intended audiences. People who intended to follow through on what they said they would do, by comparison, would give answers that were far more complex and nuanced. 

“Simply put,” said Ahri, in an already bad start, “the task force will investigate the causes of the problems between Piltover and the Undercity.” 

You nodded, working to keep your smile. “And what will they do with their findings?” 

“Create solutions for individual problems, test how well they work, and adjust as necessary,” she told you. “If a certain solution seems like it would be beneficial on a long-term basis, the Council has pledged to dedicate a sub-committee to continue working on it. They will report their progress to the task force and to the Council, until everyone agrees that there is no benefit in continuing the work further.” 

You took a moment to let that simmer in your mind. Ahri lifted a brow in friendly challenge. “Any other questions?” 

“One.” It was an important one, and you leaned closer intently. “Who will be on the task force?”

“A representative of each Councilmember, each one qualified in some way and vetted by Councilmember Heimerdinger.” Ahri grinned. “I know that's vague. I believe Councilmember Shoola is speaking with an economics professor from the University. Some of the others are searching for urban development specialists and environmental scientists. There should be a good variety.” 

You tried to keep the disappointment from your voice as you summarized, “No one from the Undercity, then.” 

“Strictly speaking, no.” You nodded slowly, but Ahri wasn't finished. “But the whole task force hinges on one person who lives in the Undercity.” 

If she said Silco, you were going to scream. 

“You.” 

The sight of your gaping face couldn't have been an elegant one, and Ahri probably lost any hope of your professionalism, but you couldn't help it. “Me?” 

Ahri laughed. “Yes, you. The Council wanted someone trustworthy, someone who knows the problems of the Undercity without being drawn into the attitude of spiteful independence that has made Upper Piltover reluctant to help in the past. Jazper recommended you quite highly.” 

Tears rose to your eyes and climbed your throat. “That was very kind of him,” you managed. 

“If half of what he says is true, Jazper’s recommendation is well-deserved.” Ahri gave you a sympathetic smile. “I understand that it's an overwhelming request. Like I said earlier, let me give you all of the facts and you can make your decision from there.” 

When you finally left Stonesea, your mind was filled to bursting with all the details of the offer. You would have to move to Piltover proper, since the task force was intended to start working full-time as soon as you arrived. You were going to be part of the task force - not its leader, but the one who would approve the ideas suggested by other members. 

As the only person who had worked in the Undercity, especially extensively, you had a vital vantage point on what would work and what would be a waste of city funds. The whole thing hinged on you: the work you had done with the Haven put you in a unique position. You were an expert on the workings of the Undercity while also considered trustworthy by the Piltover Council. Ahri had danced around it carefully, but if you declined the job, the task force would not happen. 

It had a strong potential to be an empty and placating gesture. There were good odds that Piltover was doing this to give the impression that they cared so they didn't have to spend time working on more realistic solutions.

At the same time, you were hopeful. This was the first time the Undercity had ever had a dedicated representative of any kind in Upper Piltover. It wouldn't fix everything and you were keenly aware of your own shortcomings, but it was an important step. The Undercity would have a voice working closely with the governing officials. 

You had no choice but to accept. 

By the time you arrived at your office, you were dazed. You sat behind your desk, pulled a cheap notepad closer to you and began to scribble. It helped ease the massive tide of thoughts colliding inside of your mind, and a rough to-do list started to take shape under the scrawl of your pen. 

You would need to do the next few months of grant requests. The others were more than capable, but you needed to make sure it was done. You needed to pack, obviously. You would have chances to come visit the Haven every so often, but not regularly enough to store belongings there. 

And, most importantly, you had to name someone to run the Haven while you were gone. You had already decided that it should be Arunn. For all the work he had done on himself and with other people, there was no one you trusted more to keep things going without you. Besides, with all the time Arunn spent by your side, he had a fair idea of how to run the Haven. 

Even so, you started a new list. This one outlined the guides you would need to build to help Arunn through the first few weeks without you. There was a lot that needed to be done and all of it seemed to be in rotation at any given time, but you had also spent your time building a solid team. Every member of the Haven’s staff was good at what they did, and they would help support Arunn until he felt comfortable on his own. 

You smiled a bit as you thought of how Arunn’s journey at the Haven had started and just how far he had come. He was wonderful, a natural caregiver with enough common sense to know when to back away from a situation instead of pursuing it. Yes, Arunn would be a marvelous person to lead the haven, but you had to contain yourself - you hadn’t actually asked him yet. There was a chance he would say no, though you doubted it. 

Every muscle in your body tensed as the door flew open with explosive force. 

You had half-stood from your chair when you saw the cause of it: Silco was standing in your doorway. 

At first, your focus was behind him. It was a terrible risk for Silco to come to the Haven, and you hadn’t planned for a meeting that day. You hadn’t done anything to divert staff members from being on the ground floor or in the area around your office. 

Fortunately, the hallway behind Silco was empty. You stared at him in shock and dismay. “Well?” you hissed. “Close the door!” 

“Is it true?” 

The demand was nonsensical, so you couldn’t blame yourself for staring blankly at Silco. “What are you-” 

“Say it isn’t true!” he barked out, crossing the room in a few rapid strides. “Tell me you are not stupid enough to accept a job on some task force the Piltover Council put together.” 

You fought a wince at the venom in Silco’s voice when he spat out ‘task force’. Carefully avoiding eye contact, you moved around him to close the door. When you turned, he had wheeled in place in front of your desk, watching you with an intense expression. 

No - not simply intense. His face burned with scarcely-controlled rage. You noticed for the first time that his clothes were in disarray. Nothing the average person on the Undercity streets would notice, but you did.

“Silco…” 

“Do not.” The warning sliced through the stillness of your office, cracking like a whip against your ears. “I will not believe you are so foolish as to fall for such a blatant attempt to placate the people of Zaun.” 

“I’m sorry to fall short of your expectations,” you said stiffly. You didn’t particularly enjoy being called stupid, especially twice in such a short span of time. 

Silco’s eyes burned at you, but he glanced away after a moment. You watched him take a deep breath, combing his fingers through his hair until it was swept back and away from his face. He tucked his hands behind his back as he studied a picture on your wall in a faux-casual manner. “You will turn down the offer.” 

You managed to keep from laughing outright. In Silco’s current mood, there were good odds that doing so would lead to violence. Instead, you kept your voice as calm as possible as you replied, “I will not.” 

The thin veneer of calm on Silco’s face disappeared in an instant as he wheeled on you, baring his chipped teeth. He managed to keep from shouting, but you could tell from the tension in the muscles of his neck that it was a close thing. “Do not test me. Not on this.” 

“I thought this over,” you argued. “Examined it from every angle. There are more reasons for me to take the job than to refuse it.” 

“Perhaps you did not think long enough on the other side,” Silco suggested. “Allow me to enumerate several of the many reasons you should not accept the position you have been offered.”

He wasn’t going to change your mind. You knew that and you suspected that he did, as well. Still, letting him explain might help him accept it more easily when you told him that you were going to leave. 

Plus, it might help soothe the twinge of guilt you felt when you realized that your relationship with Silco hadn’t even been a consideration as you were making your choice. You gestured for him to make his case. 

“First,” Silco started, and you already started to regret your choice. He had the air of a professor giving a lecture on something he loved - and he knew his audience was a captive one. “It is an empty gesture. Piltover has no true interest in reconciling the differences between us. There is too much to be gained with things remaining exactly as they are now.” 

You didn’t bother telling him that you had already thought of that. 

“Second, Piltover wants to recognize Zaun as part of itself. As the ‘Undercity’. Even the way they refer to us is as a lesser entity. They repeat time and again that we are lower and meaner, closer to the very dirt Piltover cleans from its streets. By accepting a place on this task force, you are undermining the possibility of a nation of Zaun.”

“That isn’t fair,” you objected. “Just because you hold out hope for a hypothetical future doesn’t mean I can’t work on making things better now.” 

“Hypothetical?” Silco repeated, an odd gleam in his eyes. “Only weeks ago, you were referring to Zaun and speaking of ways to make life better for her inhabitants. This is how we accomplish that.” 

“No, this is how we accomplish that,” you countered, patting your to-do list so he could be certain what you were referring to. “Thank you for sharing your opinions and arguments, but I haven’t heard anything that-” 

“I have not finished,” Silco said, a grim curve to his mouth. “Third, and perhaps the most important, I will not allow you to reside so far away.” 

You scoffed, the noise loud and rough in the quiet of your office. “We never negotiated an end to our agreement, but you don’t have the authority to tell me where I can or cannot live.” 

“Can I not?” he asked, tilting his head. 

“No.” You sighed, glancing down at your list as you thought over everything you had built. All you could do was hope that the community that had formed around the Haven would stand firm, even when things began to change. “Stupid as you think I am, I am not foolish enough to think that you’ll keep Shimmer out of the neighborhood-” 

Silco laughed. It was a sharp, mirthless sound. “Shimmer? Pet, I will do far more than release Shimmer on the streets. If you attempt to leave Zaun, I will ruin your life.” 

It was difficult to smile when your heart was choking you, but you did your best. “Ruin my life? How would you do that? By telling Piltover about the single donation I accepted from you?” 

“No,” he said, withdrawing a thin folder from an inner pocket of his coat. He tossed it carelessly onto your desk. “With this.”

You stared at the folder, framed by the edges of your to-do list.

Despite the haphazard way Silco had tossed it there, it had managed to keep its contents. And, judging from the way the folder’s cover was propped up, there were plenty of contents for it to hold. 

A sense of dread filled you as you continued to eye the folder like it was going to catch fire. Whatever it held, it couldn’t be good. And that wasn’t even taking into account the low threat in Silco’s voice when he said that he would ruin your life with it. 

“What is it?” you asked at last, looking up to meet Silco’s eyes. 

He nodded at the folder. “Insurance.” 

You glared silently. Clearly, Silco had no interest in handling this maturely. It figured - you finally had the chance to help repair things in the Undercity on a large scale and he decided to throw a tantrum. 

With a sense that you were somehow sealing your fate, you lifted the cover of the folder and peered inside. 

Notes. Pages of them, all filled with Silco’s small yet elegant handwriting. The first held an account of the first time he had watched you. Judging from the date, it was nearly a week before he had spoken to you. His account of that first meeting and a notation about you directing Arunn to the Haven filled the rest of the page. 

You leafed through the stack and started to find other evidence of your relationship with Silco. A handwritten receipt for the first check he had given you. Messages you had sent back and forth to communicate meeting times. Photographs of you walking up the staircase that led to his office.

Your hands were shaking. It could have been fear. It could have been rage. You weren’t overly concerned about the cause, because you were busy funneling all of your strength toward keeping a blank expression when you looked back at Silco. 

“Notes and records,” you remarked casually, flipping the cover of the folder closed once more. “None of it is very important.” 

Silco’s scarred upper lip was lifted in a snarl. “Despite how unimportant you deem our history, I believe you will find it matters a great deal to the Piltover Council.” 

You gave him a skeptical look, hoping that he couldn’t see the way your pulse was pounding in your throat. “Does it look great? No, definitely not. They might have reason to doubt my morals. But none of your ‘insurance’ is incriminating.”

“Is it not?” he asked in that lofty way that made you want to hit him. “Of all the evidence there, you believe there is nothing that would make the Council reconsider this plan? Their task force, which hinges entirely upon your moral character for justification? Because I disagree.”

“You said you would never use our relationship as blackmail material,” you protested. It sounded weak and childish even to your own ears, but it was the only argument you could think of that had a chance of swaying his opinion. “You promised me that before we started any of this.” 

“And I have not broken that promise,” Silco insisted. “I will not use our physical relationship - I do not need to. I have plenty from our business interactions. The money, the deals, the meetings. Innocent enough on their face, but given the skepticism Piltover holds for the nation of Zaun…”

Interrupting him was unwise, but not nearly as unwise as what you said when you did. 

“There is no nation of Zaun,” you snapped, relishing the way his eyes widened in astonishment. “That is nothing more than the pipe dream of a failed revolution. The people live in the Undercity of Piltover. Their lives are miserable because of people like you, who would rather burn down both halves of the city than allow it to join back together.”

Silco’s expression had gone flat, unreadable. You continued ranting, your words providing the only release to the stress of the situation. “If you are not the one helping people, you won’t let them be helped at all. You think of yourself as a benevolent ruler, but you’re nothing more than a power-hungry gangster obsessed with his own perceived power.”

Your office went deathly quiet. The only sound was your own quickened breaths as you glowered at Silco. He stared stonily back. 

“You are correct about one thing,” Silco admitted lowly. “I would rather burn this city down than allow it to be subjugated by Piltover again. And if I would burn my beloved Zaun, do you truly believe I would not use every weapon in my arsenal to keep you from speeding that subjugation? You will refuse the position on this task force, or I will release this information to the Piltover Council.”

He wasn’t smug. You had half-expected that he would be, but Silco seemed deadly serious. Two paths yawned in front of you with no room to continue as things had been. 

On one side, you could accept Silco’s terms. At the surface level, nothing would have changed. You would continue with your deal, continue working to help the Haven’s patients, and live with your knowledge of what could have been. But something would have shifted between you and Silco. He would know that he held power over you that was far greater than the power you held over him. Things would change, and they would stay changed forever. 

On the other path, you would simply… not. Not allow Silco to dictate your future. Not allow him to control the future of the entire Undercity. That would change everything from the surface all the way down to the bedrock. Your entire working relationship with him would be destroyed in one day, with one single decision. 

“No.” 

The very shadows around Silco seemed to deepen. “Do you doubt my intentions?” 

You wanted to laugh, but you were worried you would start to cry. Instead, you shook your head. “Your intentions have never been in question, Silco. You can give your information to the Council. They will probably cancel the task force and you will have gotten exactly what you wanted. But I have to try to help these people.” 

“You are helping no one but yourself by leaving,” Silco accused. “You care only for your own prestige. No outsider has ever truly cared for the people of Zaun. I dared to hope that you were different.” 

The accusation was a slap in the face. Unfortunately for Silco, you were entirely numb by that point in the conversation. You continued as if he had not spoken at all. “And in the likely event that I stay in the Undercity, our deal is over. You broke the terms of our agreement.”

“I did not such thing,” Silco spat. “These are business dealings-” 

“And you expect me to believe you don’t have a personal file on me?” you demanded, giving a harsh laugh when he didn’t immediately answer. “Exactly. By keeping these records, you confirmed that you planned something like this from the beginning. Our deal is done.” 

Silco loomed over you, mismatched eyes blazing.

You met them without fear as you held the office door open for him. “Get the hell out of The Haven.”

---

Author's Note - So, friends, how are we feeling? Sorry for the angst and I'm even sorrier that there's more to come. We're moving toward the end of this fic. Not super quickly, but we'll probably have things wrapped up in about ten more chapters. (I'm wordy, my bad.)

Anyway, for any of you who were just here for the spicy stuff, there's not going to be very much of that from here on out. A few scenes here or there, sure. And after I'm done wrapping things up, maybe I'll give in to the requests and write a chapter or two from Silco's POV. But if you want to dip out, now is probably a good time for it. (Thank you for reading this far!)

For those of you who intend to see this fic out, I'll see you next month! Feel free to send any questions in asks, DMs, or through the ever-beloved comments section. Thanks for reading!

[toaverse]

I just realized a huge missed missed opportunity S2 could’ve done if it stayed grounded.

Post act 1 ep 1, there are three councilors and three chem-barons left.

They could’ve done so much with this, you have no goddamn idea! Imagine if they managed to calm the waters enough for the surviving councilors to meet the surviving chem-barons to discuss a deal or a peace offering!

They kinda have similarities too;

Mel and Margot, the ones who deal and use pleasure to their advantage.

Salo and Smeech, the evolved assholes who are way over their heads.

Shoola and Chross, who, well, just exist :/

Either way, this could’ve been so good…

[never-rxne]

by all means reply when u can, i’m rooting for u in ur finals !!!

but i was thinking abt sevika as a councilor and i wanted to ask your thoughts on it

we’ve seen jayce form alliances and giving into the other councilors’ interests for the sake of keeping their support to him regarding the hexgates

sevika would obviously advocate for zaun’s interests and betterment. but because of this i imagine she’d have it much harder to gain the other’s support.

*catches my breath* SO. do you think that sevika as well would resort to giving into the other’s councilors demands of privilege? (maybe by exchanging investments or other trade or economic benefits) or would she try sticking to her values instead??

i personally think this last approach wouldn’t be entirely fruitless, at least in the long run. maybe it would be novel for how councilors usually move (save for heimerdinger (?) maybe) and that would build trust among her newfound peers

anyway jsjsjs ALL THE BEST LUCK YOU KNOW I ALWAYS ROOT FOR U 🫶🩷

hello hi bee!!!! ooooouughhh thank you for the food for thought 🙏

sevika is definitely no stranger to bargaining. she would have already been used to acceding to the chem-barons when making deals for silco and i think all zaunites are accustomed to some degree of that "you win some, you lose some" mindset when trying to push for what they need.

and yeah, as the SOLE councilor representing zaun? nearly every odd would be against her. her proposals for reforms would be met with near-unanimous resistance. she would have to work twice as hard as any other councilor to bring about a change of any kind. so i definitely think she'd recognize the necessity of making compromises with the other councilors, but i also think she'd fight relentlessly to make the bargain as equal as she possibly could.

i also think she'd keep a sharp eye out for any potential allies on the council and agree early on to have a kind of mutual political alliance with them. shoola seems like the councilor she'd most likely have an agreement with. i also wonder if caitlyn (wherever she ended up) would put a word in now and then to help zaun's cause. despite her past conflict with sevika. considering her wife is in fact. a zaunite.

also thank you for the kind words bee 🥹🙏 rooting for you as well in your finals <3

[caitlynkirammansrifle]

Three thoughts: Firstly - really liked your fic, was the first one I got invested enough in to put more than a single comment on Ao3 (and this ask too yay). Secondly: as to alternate perspective ideas, chapter 27 between Vi blacking out and waking up in the Piltover hospital. How did that meeting between Vander and Cassandra go? Thirdly: as to the council/founding lore - why can't both Heimerdinger and House Kiramman be the founders of Piltover? My headcanon is that there were multiple founding families of Piltover, and that's the origins of the council. Heimerdinger gets to be "the founder" because he's the only individual still around, but the Kirammans (and maybe also the Ferroses and the Hoskels, but not the Medardas) were definitely part of founding Piltover too. I'm also now wondering if the hypothetical divide of "founding councillor / elevated later" fits onto the fic's status quo / revolutionary council divide neatly. Did Cassandra first try to persuade the councillors whose houses were elevated to the council after Piltover's founding?

Glad you liked it!! <3 <3 I appreciate all the comments you've left! All of you make my day when I see them :D

As for the story parts:

I could definitely add that perspective, but I believe I can post that little one shot today, so we'll see how it goes. That's a good request!

Here's my headcanon (of my own lore lol):

The main reason is that I wanted Cassandra to have a sense of responsibility to to the city. In the chapter from her point of view, she tells the old sheriff before Grayson: “Sheriff, my ancestors shaped the very cobblestones that laid the foundations of this city,” she stated in a tone that brooked no argument. “If I wish to traverse a single one of them, then I shall, no matter how unsensible it may seem to you. Am I understood?” TL;DR: I like the gravity of the Kiramman's being the original founders.

Now, how the elevating of councilors works:

The whole city was once Zaun, the last bastion of the Valoran Empire, which I imagine that the Valoran empire set up the council there to run the city while they expanded their empire. So when the empire fell, Zaun was just left with the council and went on business as usual. Their main areas of government, law enforcement, etc., were located where the present day Zaun is now. It just kind of existed like any other city in the world until one day, the trade merchant family, the Hoskels, proposed the creation of the Sun Gates, which is a massive canal. They created the River Pilt and built up the artificing, trade, and science centers for the Sun Gates on the northside of the river that would become Piltover.

Once Hoskel's family set off the bombs that led the the creation of the fissures and sunk half of the south side of Zaun into them, those on that council were destroyed along with it. So a new one had to be formed and, due to the destruction of the south side, the new one was built on the north side. Because the surviving governing families (think of them like distant relations of the original council in Zaun who worked on the Sun Gates) were related to the original councilors, nothing actually changed in terms of what family ruled, but now you have a bunch of people who never would have been in powerful positions or receiving a lot of wealth suddenly getting it, fueling the greed that led to them not providing aid to the destroyed part of the city. Not a great foundation for government immediately following a devastating disaster. Now, families come and go, some die out, some leave, some are exiled, etc. So some families have changed, such as Shoola's being 600 years on the council as opposed to Cassandra's being on it for 800 years.

I will say, part of my clean up throughout this fic will be fixing up the lore a bit. Making it up as you go along, especially for a fic as long as this one, will lead to discrepancies. I'll do what I can, but for the most part, the important parts are what I want them to be and will be unchanged: the Kirammans are the ones who built Zaun/Piltover and are the oldest family on the council, the Hoskels accidentally sent half of the city into the fissures--which would turn into the Undercity--and ever since The Sinking, no one from what was the south side of Zaun has served on the council.

Lastly, because its been so long that these family's have been on the council, there isn't much weight between who was elevated and who wasn't, except perhaps Cassandra's and that was mainly due to the fact that she had the most money because of how old her family is (that's changed, however, because Mel is now the richest person in Piltover). The reason Heimerdinger is the leader of the council now is because he is the longest serving councilor and his wisdom, despite its inconsistency at times, still does serve them well in other matters.

[aberrationaldyke]

to rebuild—8

sevika and shoola are my pups btw

ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3, ch. 4, ch. 5, ch.6, ch.7

a few drinks in and a more mellowed demeanor held, shoola eyes the booth in the corner as her subconscious desire for proximity builds; and fuck if the stool she’s sitting on isn’t digging into her ass at this point. while sevika is in a quiet and serious discussion with jamie, shoola waits for them to finish, a leveled tipsiness gracing her at the moment. then she feels it, her bladder’s threshold at its limit and making her shiver as she starts to get down from the stool. 

her movement caught by sevika’s peripheral, she politely backs out of the conversation, gaze focusing on her companion climbing down from the stool in a calculated manner. she moves with her, a questioning expression alongside her silence reflecting the same aura. she takes a guess, “restroom?” 

realizing that she is under surveillance, shoola smooths her hands over her shirt, and adjusts the asymmetrical neckline. “um…i am, yes. you don’t have to follow me though. i’m alright.” 

sevika only hums, motioning to the direction where the restrooms are with a slight raise of her left brow and simultaneous tilt of her head the same way. “you’re gonna head down that way and then either door on the left or right.” 

shoola looks over the heads of people with a craned neck, brows furrowing as she spots where she will be going. “okay, i’ll be back.” she passes sevika, her fragrance a factor that makes shoola swallow thickly, thoughts becoming more loose with the intake of the alcohol. maybe we’ll stop there with the drinks, she thinks to herself, we’re good where we are. looking back to where sevika was last standing, shoola stops once seeing that she’s no longer there, her body turning fully and spotting her just right behind her, gaze even and only on her. 

shoola’s heart skips a beat, words stuck in her throat. she looks sevika up and down, a spark of excitement lighting up her system at the closeness maintained despite her half-hearted request. turning back around, she continues to the bathroom, stares of the surrounding guests on her before landing on sevika, those who are in the way moving themselves before shoola can say ‘excuse me’. 

reaching the restroom, shoola tries the door on the left, the locked handle barely budging. by the time she turns around to attempt the other, sevika is already checking inside, holding it open once she straightens up and faces forward. the subtle nod to the empty space makes shoola start moving to the open door, a quiet ‘thank you’ leaving her while she slips past sevika, subconsciously searching for contact as she does. 

“no problem,” sevika murmurs, the haze of the alcohol urging her to make advances she’s unsure of. instead she keeps a lingering gaze on shoola’s backside before stepping back to let the door close. when she hears the lock click she sighs to herself, running her right hand through her hair, eyes shutting tight for a moment before she relaxes, clearing her throat as she stands guard at the restroom door. just made a cheers to being friends a damn near hour ago, so i don't know what you’re entertaining, she chastises her own mind. a quick rebuttal formed, sevika’s imagination stuffs her thoughts full of shoola and her nestled into one of the booths, her mouth a delicate touch to her collarbone while her hand traces shoola’s inner thigh. 

before her mind can wander any further, sevika forces a cough and looks at the restroom door and then at the crowd, shifting her feet slightly, trying to ignore the flutter in her lower abdomen. she perks up once she hears the door unlock and open, forcing her gaze away for a moment before having it return to shoola. she swallows, eyeing the other closely while she puts on the last claw, her body heating as the sentiments from that particular scenario stay put. 

“...look like security posted outside the door like this,” shoola is chuckling to herself, making space for the person passing by her to get to the restroom. without a second thought, her hand touches sevika’s hip as she nods to the individual getting by, a friendly smile on her dark lips. turning her head back to sevika, her eye bulges as she comes face to face with her companion, both their necks craning naturally as their breaths meet one another’s lips. “um…” shoola’s hand twitches on sevika’s hip, tightening accidentally before she leans back, retreating her touch. 

sevika exhales, blinking a few times to get herself together. “old habits die hard, i guess.” her left arm motions to the path back to the bar. “i’m followin’ you.” 

shoola keeps the topic in mind, wanting to hear her voice more. she starts walking away from the restrooms and back into the crowd. “were you good? at that…security position, i mean.” she looks to the bar where they were once sitting then at the booth she was eyeing earlier, a quick decision made once comparing the privacy either offers. “if you want to talk about that—i hope i’m not poking around too much.” 

a low hum coming from her, sevika watches shoola make her way to a booth tucked away in the corner, excitement pushing its way through, before her calculating and right mind escorts the emotion back behind the barriers. “yeah, good. dedicated, i think…a bit too much,” she mutters, “...unnecessary, maybe.” she passes by a server and puts in an order before joining shoola’s seated figure, the different arrangement letting her come closer unlike the stools at the bar. “are you humoring me? acting like you don’t know about me back then?”

“oh, i knew about you.” shoola sees the server approaching and notices sevika’s attention stray for a moment, scooting closer until the warmth from both their bodies entangle. “but i think you know better than i do that seeing things for yourself is much better than listening to some…topsider rant and basing everything off of that.” 

sevika lets out a breath, the sound of the drinks getting set on the table dismissed as she focuses on shoola. though her companion’s ‘thank you’ to the server brings on her own gratitude, a glance to the worker is given as she nods. then she holds sevika in her sights, a small smile on her face as she raises a brow. “now i just think you’re tryin’ to flatter me. let me see if you're attempting to butter me up for something ridiculous,” is the lighthearted response from her before she takes a swig from the honey-hued liquor. 

taking her own cup and bringing it up to sevika’s, shoola’s mind is foggy, thinking they were doing another cheers, a bit of force put behind the motion. she is surprised by sevika’s small gag, a good amount of the liquor rushing down her throat and the sides of her mouth. realizing her actions, shoola starts apologizing profusely, her laughter held back while she genuinely feels bad for making her choke on her drink. her own cup set down before sevika’s, the napkins on the table are a second choice. her clawed fingers fly to her face. 

flinching is the last thing sevika thinks to do, eyelids fluttering for a moment as the cold metal lightly scrapes her chin and bottom lip, the motion slow but urgent. refocusing, shoola has leaned in, concentrated on getting her cleaned up, a light furrow in her brows as she apologizes over and over. “...it’s all good,” sevika murmurs, a bit light-headed, reveling in that sweet and smoky scent. her eyes low, she keeps her gaze on shoola. “careful. you’re on track to give me a couple more scars the way you’re movin’.” 

“i’m sorry,” shoola says again, laughing as she shakes her head. she finds the last bit of moisture and wipes it away, yet her hands remain, almost cupping sevika’s jaw. “at least i didn’t smudge your lipstick.” 

sevika’s left hand settles in the bit of space left between their bodies, each mechanical digit twitching. “at least…” 

a saxophone solo seeps into the atmosphere, shoola’s hands slipping away from sevika’s face and resting on her lap, abashed by her forward and boundary-crossing actions. friends can take care of each other like that, she tells herself, i mean, i would appreciate it if they helped me after making a mess. she ignores the innate response her thoughts conjure, her thighs squeezing together while she shifts her lower body. she swallows down her warm saliva, reaching out for her cup. 

sevika mirrors her position and touches her cup as well, sliding it across with her hand wrapped around it, a gentle clink emitting as the glass touches shoola’s. she earns an unreadable expression from her newfound companion, a smile coming onto her face when she sees the faint one upturning shoola’s plump plum-hued lips. 

-

hours past their arrival to the bar, shoola and sevika are now leaving the establishment, a plate of food having been shared before their exit from the still lively space to make sure their inebriation is tamed a bit. down the ramp from the door the two descend, their laughter following jamie’s words of farewell to them. despite the time, the streets of zaun are still full of people, nocturnal beings wading through the city. 

shoola is grateful her heels are still cooperating with her, her choice for this pair garnering more respect with its sustained plushness and comfort. small taps emit as she does a short speed-walk for no reason, turning to face sevika who hurries to her, the moment their eyes meet making them both burst out in more laughter. through her giggles, shoola asks, “why did you look at me like that?” 

“where did you get that little spurt of energy from?” comes sevika’s rebuttal as she pushes her hair from curtaining her face, needing a clearer view of shoola.

“...i don’t know.” 

sevika quirks a brow, the mildly lost look on shoola’s face her reason for her reaction. “it’s good we left when we did. had you took that drink des offered instead of eating somethin’ i think i would have had to carry you out over my shoulder.” 

shoola can feel a firm thump of her heart when she imagines the scenario, almost able to form the sensation of sevika’s hands gripping her legs before she brushes her claws against her own forearm, dragging herself from the thoughts. she can’t help but say, “and then what?”

the tip of her tongue runs over the center of her bottom lip, prosthetic whirring as she motions to shoola. “and then escort my coworker in distress to her home.” 

her jewelry still rubbing up and down the length of her bicep, shoola then pauses her motion, shrugging more to herself than anything. “do you want to?” she gestures vaguely. “come over, i mean.” 

sevika’s eyes widen, mouth parting as she nods, holding shoola’s gaze. she reminds herself that she can say ‘no’, keep that necessary boundary between the two of them that keep either of them from passing a point they might regret. with that thought, she proceeds to say, “i can.” to make things a bit lighter, she continues, “this mean you are in distress and need the gentlest, most kind person you know to be by your side?” 

shoola lets out a single ‘ha’, before actually chuckling for a moment. “absolutely. i prayed on it before i even left my house.” 

sevika looks down at her boots, the soles hitting the ground in unison with the soft click of the heels alongside her. she quiets for the time being, following the path back to the elevator, with an anticipating heat building in her brown skin. bringing her hand to her face, she brushes her thumb along her chin, the side of her finger grazing the piercing just under her lip. she starts toying with the small sphere, thinking of the kids back at home. a split comes to the path and sevika calls out to shoola before she can take the one straight to the elevator. 

“yes?” shoola nears her, tilting her head slightly. 

“before i go anywhere, i need to check on the kids. make sure they’re good for the night.” sevika is unsure of shoola’s presence near that particular part of her life, her earlier thoughts on boundaries beaming back into her mind. “or if you don’t want to come along, i can head to the elevator with you and we end our night there.”

“kids? you have…?” shoola trails off then remembers the younger individuals that were by sevika’s side during the funeral—a very small child and two older, one of them being the one that nearly killed her with her rocket. she raises a hand, the side of her index finger rubbing the skin just under her faceplate, the edges of her scar peeking out from it. her golden eyes find sevika’s, the gentle grays studying her as she lets the weight of memories build atop her. “no i…i can. i mean, unless you have more private matters to discuss with them, i wouldn’t want to intrude.”

sevika leans toward the direction of her place before taking a slow step, beckoning shoola to come along. “let’s go.” 

“inviting a councilor willingly to your home. what would past sevika say about this?” shoola forces her sentiments to simmer, her thoughts bouncing around in an overactive fashion. 

looking over at her, sevika replies, “why? you like ‘em better than present me? i could always go back to getting on your ass about complacency and ignorance.” she drops her gaze suddenly, demeanor curling into itself slightly. “i think…past sevika was a hypocritical asshole who needed to take a look at her own bullshit before pointing out someone else's.” 

shoola hums softly. she remembers her conversation with may, her words on growth and effort  seeping back in. her chest tightens, admiration swelling as she keeps her gaze on her friend. “i think past shoola needed a firmer stance regardless of majority council opinion. well, i guess that’s what i’m for—realization then evolution. doing better because i am better.”   

sevika’s eyes return to her, now somewhat hiding behind her hair. “...yeah. i hear that.” 

a few minutes walking the expanse of zaun’s streets, sevika points out where her place is, all the talk about the past making her think of new places to move herself and the kids. it’s not the present moment that this idea first comes to her; after silco’s death, the war, and the funeral, settling into this space with isha, jinx, and vi felt like it carried everything the past was while a renewal was heavily needed. but with everything assigned to her and her eagerness to take the reins to compose something worthwhile of the privilege, stagnance was placed onto this piece of her life seeing as no complaints came from either vi or isha. yet she was always irked by keeping the kids in the reworked office of someone who changed their lives for the worse. 

the commotion from inside the space alerts sevika and in turn, shoola, when she hears the squeals from isha and vi’s voice, ekko’s laughter mixed in with the sounds as well. her steps a bit quicker, sevika is digging in her pocket for the key before sliding it into the lock and hurrying inside.

violet sights set on her in an instant. 

[melmedarda]

Mel and her knack for ending up in dynamics with older women needs to be studied. She and Ambessa having a Kendrick and Drake level beef with each other. Her unity in holy best friendship with Elora. Her........whatever the hell is going on between her and Lest(I don't know how old Lest is, but Vastaya are supposed to be human-animal/nature spirit hybrids, so she could be quite a bit older than expected). We don't see her interact with Sevika, but I like to think they would get along once Sevika mellows out a bit. She and Shoola could have been interesting too(I maintain that Shoola has similar origins to Mel, but she chose a quieter life in Piltover).

I'm telling you anon, mommy issues will do that to a woman. I really do wish that Mel had a connection on Piltover like Caitlyn did with Grayson. Can you imagine how that would have changed her life and her interactions with her mother?

[magical-girl-coral]

I have the brain worms. Snippet from a scene rewrite where Mel is allowed to be a politician.

When they were done explaining the plan, Sevika, Mel recalls, looked as though she was told to swim through Piltover's sewers. "You left us to live on the streets, declared martial law, threw our people into Stilwater for every petty crime you accused us of, made our lives a bigger hell than it was under Vander or Silco, and now you expect us to fight this war for you?" She asked, her voice both still yet terrifying. Thank god this woman never Ambessa. "This has got to be the saddest joke I've ever heard, and I've listened to some of the lines Jinx practiced before confronting her sister. You've got to be as insane as your mother. Maybe it runs in the family." Jayce got up from his seat. Mel put her hand up to make him stand down. "I understand your anger and frustration, and these are not empty words. But I need you to understand that my mother will not just stop with us." Mel took a deep breath, and revealed the skinniness of her side. Sevika's face went still. "When I was a child, my mother would force me to train until I vomited my stomach acid and collapsed from exhaustion. To this day, my body never truly recovered. I could barely sleep or eat under her watchful gaze, always feeling like I had to push myself beyond my limits so maybe one day I'll gain her approval. She never did anything to prove me wrong. In fact, it only proved me right when she banished me for refusing to kill my confidant, Elora, because only bloodshed fits her idea of power." Mel stared straight into Sevika's eyes. "This is the treatment of someone she claims as family, as someone she wishes to protect. Imagine what will happen to Zaun once she reaches the people she sees as nothing more than the dirt on her boots." Sevika seemed to back down, if only a little, but didn't relent. "We don't do this without getting something back. And don't you dare give up scraps again. We deserve more than your leftovers." "How about Zaun independence?" Jayce suggested. For the first time since the meeting started, Sevika's mask fell. "Is this another joke?" "Far from it," Mel said, backing up Jayce. "We can't blindly give you freedom thanks to everything that happened in the past year, but if you prove yourselves during the battle against Noxus, I'm sure some of the nobles will have no choice but to relent, especially since so many of them fled like cowards and will have no room to talk. Besides, now the council is only Jayce, Shoola and I. What do you think of this Shoola." Shoola turned her head to regard Sevika. She cocked her head to the side in mock consideration. "I think I can be persuaded. But I would like to see the negotiations before we settle for good." "What about the Zaunites in uniforms?" One of the men next to Sevika asked. "We refuse to die in our enemy's clothes. It'll be an insult to what we stand for." "The Zaunites in uniforms will be with the ranger shooters along with Caitlyn Kiramman, as far away from my mother's men as possible," Mel answered. "We simply want to make it look as though that's the size of our army so my mother will get overconfident and let her guard down. Once I give the signal, you will come in with your own armors with the materials we will give you. You will not fall wearing enemy colors." That seemed to fully put Sevika at ease. Or the closest she can get to it, at the very least. "When will we get the materials for the armor?" "The second you agree to our plan." Sevika sighed. "I guess that's fair. How do we know what the signal will look like?" Mel's armor glowed for a split second. Sevika's eyes widened. Mel smirked. "Trust me, you'll know."

[jpg-bitch]

as a fandom, i propose we up our crackship game, here are my submissions:

Ximena Talis x Ambessa - aka torture for Jayce, but i digress, and i actually think ambessa doting on ximena could be sweet

Salo x Silco - oily topsider who thinks he’s got oily trencher wrapped around his finger. it is painfully the opposite situation, and everyone knows it.

Heimerdinger x Singed - if you’re dubious just imagine what the fandom would do if Heimer was a human character. please. the old man toxic yaoi art deluge would be insufferable.

Cassandra Kiramman x Sevika - imagine the family dinners where you have to sit next to the daughter in law who fucking bit you once.

Shoola x Margot - diva x diva ship

[soliusss]

yeah there's this one scene in arcane where this guy has this big hammer and I screamed like "ROBERT?? ROBERT BUMARO???" kinda inspired what I imagine his hammer looking like now

I DONT THINK IVE SEEN THAT YET BUT I CANT WAIT. WHEN I first saw shoola I was like "trunnion??? Trunnion is that you???" She's got the claws and color scheme and temperament and everything

Totally not stealing the cool mekhanical collar thing for future ideas

[caitlynkirammansrifle]

Hi Caitlyn Kirammans,

I've read chapter 10 of Low Lays the Devil in Me and it's been one of the most interesting because of the information that has my attention and how Mohan's role will be, will it be a great help or a disaster because of his sense of justice.

Like:

1: This plan was devised by Cassandra, Vi, Caitlyn, Vander's family, Grayson and half of the council (Shoola and Mel) in collaboration with Noxian spies, a clandestine operation (the stories remind me a lot of the Black Ops games if you know the Call of Duty saga).

2: Will the next chapter be about Vi and her time in Stillwater and Section 41 or Room 41? (correct me if I'm not wrong).

3: Will there be a romance between Jayce and Mel like it happened in S1 of Arcane?

4: Will Renata Glasc (if you know the character) appear in the future?

Greetings ♥️♥️♥️

PS: Thanks for reconsidering if Gloria will be a vastaya, I imagine her as a Kitsuné like Lest and Ahri (sorry for my lack of knowledge of the Ionian species, I'm new to LOL lore and there are species that are very unknown and some have hardly any information).

Hi again!!

1. I haven’t played COD in literally 20 years so I’ll have to take your word for it 🤣

2. Next chapter will not be from Vi’s POV at all.

3. Not sure if there will be an actual romance or just have it be a running gag.

4. I don’t think I’ll have Renata Glasc in this fic, but not ruling it out. We already have some enemies established so not sure if I want to add another one at this point. We’ll have to see.

Thanks for the ask ❤️💙 hope you like the next chapter 😁

[aberrationaldyke]

to rebuild—6

ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3, ch. 4, ch. 5, ch. 7

missed my pups <3

pen waving back and forth with quickness between her middle and index fingers, sevika looks over the paperwork on her desk, blueprints scattered over the cool, dark surface. the work is overwhelming; but considering what it’s for, her complaints stay to herself, statements of dismay usually expressed to khane who is missing for the time being, handling a matter sevika sent him to handle almost an hour ago. her gaze kept on what is in front of her, she reaches with her left hand to grab her cup of water, eyes dragging from the document to stare blankly at the glass of water as she drinks a couple of swigs before setting it down at a considerable distance from the papers.

when the door to her office creaks open and the familiar soft click of shoola’s heels sound, sevika stops shaking the pen, setting the object down as she looks up, retreating from her slightly hunched over position. she looks at the folder in shoola’s arm and sighs, holding her hand out, expecting a new addition of documents. 

“a sigh and a look of disappointment is all i get?” shoola’s hand slips into the awaiting one, the immediate gentle grasp making the small smile on her lips grow. she sits on the edge of the desk, just beside sevika’s chair. “also, i don’t think you’d want to touch anything dealing with piltover affairs.” 

sevika’s left thumb brushes over shoola’s knuckles, setting her hand down while her own settles on the other’s left thigh, squeezing lightly before a subconscious massage of the plush, thick limb ensues. “depends.” 

shoola lifts her shaved brow, claw adornments finding a place under sevika’s chin. “on what?” she suddenly grips her jaw. “shouldn’t you be up by now?”

blinking, sevika’s entire body resets, a bit of a struggle to open her eyes again, before they shoot open, vi’s concerned face the only thing in view. isha reaches out and rubs sevika’s cheek. she grunts as she sits up, palming isha’s head and ruffling her hair as she steps out of her groggy state. “i’m up.” 

“haven’t seen you look so relaxed when sleeping in a while.” vi straightens up and moves a bit, letting sevika have more space as she rises from her bed. “almost didn’t want to wake you but you were on my ass about making sure you got up for that meeting so.” 

“mornin’ sevika.” 

looking past vi, sevika looks at ekko sitting at jinx’s bedside, his hand holding hers. she gives him a small smile and nod, getting up from her bed and angling her body slightly from side to side, stretching out her tired muscles. “how’s everyone? you guys already eat breakfast?” 

“ate before i came here,” is ekko’s answer. 

“isha did,” vi starts, crossing her arms, “i’m not feelin’ like it yet.” 

sevika grabs some fresh clothing from the closet to the left of her bed, her steps careful as isha stays by her, holding up something for her to look at. she yawns, taking the item and squinting as she studies the metal piece, eyeing it from different angles before lowering it and holding it over isha’s stump. “yeah, i made this for you. i’m almost done.” 

isha hums as she grins, plucking the mechanism from sevika’s hand before running over to ekko, showing him the piece as well. 

meeting vi’s gaze, sevika asks, “any plans for today?” she walks around the partition sectioning off her portion of the room from the rest. 

vi nods. “like yesterday. heading out to help rebuild.” she motions to her right arm. “almost took my shoulder out doing some heavy liftin’.”

“showin’ off for gert?” sevika walks over to ekko and pats his shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly while she looks over jinx. 

head bowing to hide the blood rushing to her cheeks, vi retorts while looking back up, “i don’t have to show off.” 

sevika waves her off as she walks off toward the door, bare feet settling into some sandals before she grabs the key off the wall then exits the room, walking a few steps across the hall to enter the bathroom. she sets her clothing down on the countertop near the sink, right hand quick to tug off her tank top, the garment set into a bin to the side. after she does the same to her boxers, the shower is turned on with a few squeaky turns of the knobs, her hand waving through the emission of cool water, following the temperature until it warms perfectly. 

she stands under the water rigid for a moment, eyes closed while her head is lolled back a bit. typically, sevika would wake up from haphazard nightmares or eerie, empty dreams, images of the past and ill-fated scenarios of what could be clouding her mind even past awakening. but today, she sits with something far from the norm.

however she has no time to entertain a simple dream, fixated on what good she can do for her community and for her people. in fact, a well-composed partial facade of a thought is that the relationship between herself, the kids, and zaun are the only ones she needs. take care of the family and take care of zaun–this is the framing of her life and happily so. rebuttals from her own mind never fails to push the reasoning that you can never have too much happiness and that is when sevika finds an outlying topic to bring to mind, mumbling to herself to bring a physical diversion. 

nearly twenty minutes under the warm water and sevika is rinsing off the soap that lingers on her body, hand combing through her short hair as one of the final acts of her cleanse, a deep sigh leaving her as she thinks about leaving the shower’s warm embrace. then aspects of piltover pepper into her mind and she locks back into reality, turning off the water before climbing out of the shower and grabbing her towel hung nearby, patting herself dry while the steam settles. 

the rest of her morning routine slightly rushed through, sevika exits the bathroom and locks it behind her, walking back into her place across the hall and doing a once-over of the room as she enters. her socks now fitted onto her feet, sevika slides them into the boots awaiting her just at the threshold of the space, grunting lightly as she kneels and buckles them tight. looking up, sevika catches ekko’s and vi’s sight on her, a furrow in her brow forming in an instant. 

“what?” sevika stands, boots thudding across the floor as she grabs her prosthetic and attaches it to her stump, soft chirring emitting from the mechanism as it calibrates. she doesn’t get a response from ekko or vi and decides to let the silence remain rather than push either to do so. once her arm fully sets in, she uses her left hand to push up the sleeve on her right forearm, the soft midnight fabric folding into the crevice of her elbow. 

sevika’s next route sends her around her portion of the space and then some, a plan to settle into her office after the meeting and get some work done pre-planned in her head. 

“so shoola’s like…your friend now, right?” is vi’s inquiry just as sevika finishes gathering her things to take to the meeting. 

cloak fitted around her left shoulder, sevika raises a brow at her sudden inquiry, keeping her expression leveled. “i’d say we’re getting to know each other. why?” 

ekko pipes up, “hearing about the two of you from every end of zaun. people love their speculations.” he places jinx’s hand near her still body and stands up from the stool. 

“yeah?” sevika brightens with feigned interest, heading toward the door. “and i would love to hear every single one, but i have better things to give my attention.” she waves at them all before opening the door. “you need me, i’ll come. stay safe.” 

-

sevika lets out a heavy sigh, listening to councilor dievan delve into another tangent, his grating voice prattling on about nothing important despite his own belief. along with the fact sevika ate nothing for breakfast, it seems like the council woke up and left sense in the bed, using the audience before them to speak of themselves and presumably show off their fine lives. 

mumbling to herself, sevika rolls her eyes, tapping impatiently on the table. dievan quiets, gaze dragging to her, earning her pointed glare in return. he frowns, mouth opening again with words prepared. 

“are the concerns of piltover a bore for you, sevika?” councilor dievan asks. 

“councilor.” sevika sits up straighter.

“yes?”

“no. this is the council room and i am a counterpart of yours. councilor comes before my name before it comes out of your mouth.” her glare moves from him to the rest of the councilors apart from shoola, making sure the point reaches them all. “and as for the matters you speak of, yes—they are a bore. this isn’t a party, fundraiser, or anything close to a social event; it’s work. so work.” 

shoola bites the sides of her tongue lightly to keep from showing her humor, looking down at her steaming cup of tea then raising it to take a small sip. though her reaction is hidden, she still finds sevika facing her last, former agitated expression dismissed as the two hold a silent conversation with their gaze, a subtle glance to the other then back to shoola with a small shake of her head, making the clawed councilor let out a verbal chuckle, the action rippling through the dark and warm liquid in her cup. 

if it was not clear in the first meeting, the chair of zaun isn’t a blank slate to simply take what is given to them, sitting quietly while the regard of their state is fed the leftovers of whatever matters discussed. sevika is the voice of her people—so she will speak and act as such. these little comments can’t work on her, because nothing can possibly discourage her from the position and what she is able to do with it.

despite the murmurs of rebuttals at sevika’s comment, the following discussion in the council meeting centers on the true meaning for the gathering. as much as she wants to listen without a care, sevika is settled deep in the conversation, keeping an ear out for any particular way an idea connects to zaun, ready to interject with the fact that the state can’t be forgotten in these ideas and proclamations. 

-

by the time the meeting ends, sevika’s hunger has changed her demeanor entirely, her choice to stay for the rest of the day and work in her office quickly disposed of. she is walking out of the door of the council room, thinking of which vendor she is going to get some food from, mind miles away before a light touch to her bicep brings her back. and for the moment, the hunger is muted while the jewelry scrapes the fabric of her long sleeve as it departs. 

“i have something for you,” shoola says to her.

sevika easily switches the trajectory of her steps to follow shoola, eyes roaming her backside before catching up to her. “sleep better?” 

shoola looks at her and thinks: better? did i look that off the last time we saw one another? maybe i really should have stayed in. clearing her throat lightly, she says out loud, “did you?”

expecting the redirection, sevika smiles faintly, peering over at her as well just as the images from her dream recompose, the heat of a bashful nature rising on her brown skin. she returns her gaze to the path ahead with quickness, feigned nonchalance clouding her light shrug. “better than i have.” 

the truthfulness in the reply makes shoola feel a bit of guilt for harboring her own sentiments, so she discloses, “me too—a bit more grace was given this time around.” she focuses her eyes down the corridor. “i hope i’m not taking you from anything too important.” 

“unless you’re plannin’ to put an entire buffet in front of me, you kinda are. skipped out on breakfast and that meeting took the last bit of energy out of me,” sevika confesses. yet the question in the air is if she is feeling that way, why choose to follow shoola down to who-knows-where? sevika shoves the thought aside. 

shoola nods her head toward the direction they are both already heading. “well then i’m happy i read you well enough during the meeting.” 

sevika side-eyes her but doesn't say anything. read me, she thinks. not sure how she feels about the unknown analysis, sevika continues her trek with a bit of caution. yet she can’t help herself as they approach a door to the left of them. “mhm. and how often do you do this ‘read’ of yours?’

touching the door’s handle, shoola pauses. “i…misspoke,” comes the lie in a voice shying away from the topic. she opens the door and motions for sevika to enter as she holds it open, following after she passes through, sight doing a quick study of her broad backside. 

a server comes up to the both of them with a small smile. “hello councilors. will it just be the two of you?”

shoola nods. “we’ll be sitting on the patio, wiloh. thank you.” 

sevika is still looking around the interior of the dining quarters, shoola’s movements toward the balcony inviting her own. the low thud of her boots follow the heels clicking, observation abandoned to track the slight sway of shoola’s hips as she leads the way through the room. sevika then looks at wiloh, who is walking beside the two, their stare on her light and knowing. 

sitting down at a shaded table, shoola adjusts herself a bit while watching sevika, their seating arrangement face-to-face across the small square table. under the surface, her ankles are crossed comfortably while sevika’s feet rest on either side, her thick thighs spread as she leans back in her chair. the first part of wiloh’s words are muffled, shoola’s gaze taking interest in her counterpart’s fingers resting on the table, middle digit smoothing over the mineral in a slow circular motion. it’s when sevika speaks that shoola sinks back into the real world for a moment. 

“i’ll have a coffee. and water,” sevika orders, eyes flitting to shoola when she hears her inhale sharply all of the sudden. she nods her head in thanks as wiloh places a small menu in front of her before she tilts her head at shoola, a brow lifting in question. 

shoola takes her view from sevika and sets it on wiloh. “the usual for me please. thank you.” she takes the menu from them before they leave to prepare the order. reading over the menu for a moment, she only reads the first option for the course, waning concentration leading her to dart her sights back to sevika then to the view the patio offers part from her. 

“figured it out?” 

blinking, shoola glances at her. “hm?” the wind blows against the menu in her hands and she brings her attention back to it rather than sevika. “i…um—yes. and you?”

“is this the usual layout of these things? just a few options?” sevika sets down her menu, gaze tracing the golden accents framing her acquaintance’s body.  

shoola gives an affirmed hum. “the chef likes to experiment with new items everyday.”

wiloh is on their way back as sevika’s response starts, “experimenting is for science and tech. i don’t want that anywhere near what i’m eatin’.” she thanks them as they take off the beverages from the cart and set them on the table in front of the respective individual.  

shoola chuckles softly as she thanks wiloh as well. “i assure you it's a delight. don’t worry.”

“all set to order your main course?” wiloh asks, rosy eyes looking between the two. “or…do you both need a little more time.” 

“how big are the servings?” sevika questions, grabbing the saucer full of the thick, heavy cream, holding it over her cup of hot and steaming cup of coffee and pouring in an amount that suffices before setting down the metal object. 

wiloh states easily with practiced smoothness, “our more savory platters have a decent serving. i recommend those if you have a larger appetite.” 

sevika nods, having figured as much. while she scoops a couple spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee she puts in her main order. she listens as shoola places her own, watching the swirling contents of the coffee as she circles the spoon slowly, light clinking noises emitting. she nods at wiloh when they announce their impending return with the food, following her entrance back into the main dining quarters. 

“so i’m guessin’ the new chairs of the council were a couple of people just plucked off the street?” sevika raises her left index finger, a soft whirring projecting from the motion. “apart from yours truly.”  

adding the necessary provisions to her tea, shoola smiles softly before giving her answer. “don’t you know how powerful money is? piltover’s houses are put into place to ensure their own upstanding with wealth, power, whatever comes to mind.” the dark tea now a light brown, shoola gently taps the silver spoon on the edge of the ceramic cup, the excess liquid falling from it. the sip she takes is simultaneous with sevika’s, their eyes locking.

sevika’s stomach welcomes the deposit, still grumbling when it realizes the lack of true sustenance. but she herself still revels in the taste, another slow sip taken as she mulls over shoola’s words. “that’s not why you're here, right?”  

“do i have that look? do i speak the way they do?” shoola sets her cup down, a shaven brow quirked. 

“...no, you don’t,” a softened voice is offered in sevika’s reply, an apologetic essence in the words. “so where did they find you exactly?” 

shoola uncrosses her ankles and relaxes her legs, letting them space out under the table. her shoes graze sevika’s, nestling comfortably on the inside of the other’s wider stance. “fashion and architecture are a speciality of my house. nearly centuries of prominence have kept the name afloat within the community.” she leans onto the table, her forearms resting on the surface. “my mother was offered the seat at the council some years ago, but she had no desire in such a thing. she prompted me instead, my spouts of interest in the particular line of work her evidence for doing so.”

“interest, huh.” sevika’s lips downturn as she nods and takes another sip of her coffee. “but it almost sounds like it’s…fallen from the pedestal.” 

shoola’s right hand absentmindedly touches her faceplate, gaze diverting. for a moment, her mind blurs while her claws gingerly stroke the golden surface, feet fidgeting against the ground and the soles of sevika’s boots as she tries to settle back into reality. a touch she is unfamiliar with is gently placed atop her left hand laid on the table, sevika’s thumb almost ghostlike over the surface of smooth skin. 

“we don’t have a meeting tomorrow, yeah?” sevika watches shoola closely, reeling her back in, trying to reach out to her senses the best she can. 

“i…no. i-i don’t think so,” she murmurs, her fingers slowly dragging down the side of her face to focus on her counterpart. “why do you ask?”

sevika feels shoola’s rapid pulse from her light grasp on her hand. “you probably want to stay in your house, i know. maybe a loud ass bar and some company would do you some good. your choice—i’m only suggesting.” 

shoola holds back a response, imagining being in her house alone for a day and is slightly repelled at the thought of sitting with her own thoughts for so many hours. she nods once before the tenseness in her body dissipates. “i think it would.” 

now hold hands and kith