lordofmelancholy

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Timebomb and Parenthood PTIIII: Sevika's Reaction

Part 3 Here

Oh begrudging “Auntie Sevika. . .” It should come of no surprise to anyone, that despite her rather irritable and genuinely no nonsense type of nature, that the degree of care Sevika has for those she considers allies or even friends is  greatly remarkable and, to be quite frank, highly admirable and that such goes even doubly for her relations in SF.

SF Sevika is no different than her normal Arcane counterpart. Her loyalty still stands strong though only in SF does it stand strongly for characters that in the show we could only speculate due to the limited/no interactions she shares with them.

As it stands in SF, Sevika basically takes on the act of the begrudging “Aunt” so to speak. Oftentimes for Arcane, people often HC about her relationship with the kids (Vi and Jinx/Powder) growing up when she was in the company of Vander. One such headcanon often involves her as being the one who taught Vi to originally fight before Sevika had ultimately defaulted to Silco when she was with Vander.

This is shown by the line where she said “you never learned patience” to Vi during their fight scene and perhaps could also shed some light and also explain the "traitor" line Vi throws at Sevika as well. 

However in SF the relationship Sev has with both Vander and everyone else is far more amicable, and far less tense and strained. Essentially in SF, Sevika stands as an old war buddy of Vander's that had long been estranged from the family for a while. 

While it is unclear the reasons for their prior estrangement, Sevika nonetheless holds (though only a fraction) of loyalty left towards Vander. As a result of this loyalty, following the man’s disappearance, Sevika eventually steps up as a sort of mentor towards both Vi and Jinx, and when Vi herself goes missing, towards both Ekko and Jinx.

Over the years as a result, Sevika takes on a role between a mentor and a follower and is often at the tail end of many of their shenanigans, especially towards Jinx’s who she had long taken upon herself to look out for following Vanders disappearance as seemingly a final act of deference towards him. Similar to Scar in a way, Sevika stands as second-in-command, but also as a result much like Scar, end’s up putting up with a LOT of their shit. While many years their senior, there's not a day where Jinx doesn’t drive her up the wall's.  

The introduction of Isha into their lil “Found Family” came as a shock to Sevika. What came as even more of a shock however, is the apparent closeness the two would gain to have. This kid, more than once, proved that she was a lot more than what Sevika initially wrote her off as. She's resourceful, she’s quiet, she listens, (sometimes), but more so to the point, Isha gives back to Sevika what Sevika never knew actually bothered her to loose. 

Which was how much of both Jinx and Vi and the other's growing up she had missed. And how much of the concept of family she had missed in the pursuit of a better Zaun. 

Sev had always been soul torn; a woman fiercely loyal to her roots yet also frightened of them. A woman who's said roots built her to be as steadfast and stubborn and unwavering as the caverns and rocky foundations that made up the Zaunite mountains. A woman that even despite how rotten those roots were, had always tried tirelessly to better her home. Money sent to foundations run by Zaunite officials for kids stuck in the mines, for those affected by the mines through generational works of its deep, unforgiving depths.

She’s also tried the lesser legal means as well from time to time, smuggling, drug trafficking, and even the occasional beating of Piltie and Noxian boot-lickers that come and try to exploit the old, sacred places; those that build the backbones of Zaun and it’s history. 

Everything she ever did she did for Zaun. 

Even if truthfully, she never tried to stay. As shocking as it was to admit, helping Zaun prior to the event's of SF often meant Sevika had to stay away. And though it may often brought pain and shame to ever have to admit that, she often believed staying away was the best thing. 

But the place never let go. People often made a joke about the town being cursed. It was a long standing gag partially due to the phenomena of those once born in it being seemingly unable to leave. Zaun after all had always had a bad habit of always latching onto the poor souls born here. And often it was, that one way or another it always found it fitting to drag those who tried to leave back to its bedrock roots to act as their grave. Few ever wished to stay there, though many did due to an apparent loyalty. But even those with good intentions toward the town; those who often tried to better it, to once again make it feel like a home, often also felt as though that nothing they ever did changed anything, and tragically Sevika had become one of them. When Vander went back ultimately, Sevika did not follow. In fact she often rarely ever went back to that place, that hell, this home of hers.

She returns to see each kid that is born and taken into Vander's little pack; visiting long enough to give valuable advice of 'get out while ya can, brat,' and promptly leg it out of there hoping that her words were enough. As a result however of this routine, Vi, Jinx and all the other kids close to Vander often knew Sevika as the “Aunt” who often disappeared randomly for months at a time and then come back at like 4am one random night out of the blue, and all were used to that routine.

But it was also around that time as well when Vander and her began to have their falling out. Sev often grew frustrated with his passive approach to a lot of issues stemming around Zaun. Sevika's allegiance to Zaun itself, not individuals, often set her apart from Vander. And she could never understand how such a staunch supporter for Zaun could seemingly “turn his back on it”.

Despite this however, Sevika and Vander remained “friendly" so to speak, though they often lost contact with each other for a while from time to time. Until one day, when Zaun finally calls her back in the form of a phone call. "No man/woman left behind” as they often always said in the army, and it’s that phone call from Vander that has her coming back to make sure the rest of them are safe.  That sends her home

And Zaun is thus where she becomes stuck; trapped within the mountainous region that was her birthplace like so many others had become. . .and it’s also here, where she begins to understand. When she begins to form a bond with Isha, Sevika begins to understand Vander just a little bit more, not by much but by something. But the true acknowledgement doesn’t come until after the baby shows up.

Sevika remembers that night. 

Her on her way to her quarters after a particularly grueling day. Ready to get some peace and quiet and relaxation; some much needed R&R in her room.

Except when she walks in. She instead finds that her quarters are occupied. She find’s Isha, doodling about on some old piece of yellowing paper. But that’s normal, because Isha had always had a tendency much like Jinx to sneak in. Though the reasons for such break-ins were highly different. It's instead the fact that it’s really late that confuses her, Isha never comes this late, never stays this late. 

“What are you do-”

She looks around, and she notices her bed. Accidental chalk markings and shavings all over her nicely maintained sheets and cot. Something that she would normally grit her teeth over, knowing how often in the past she had lost sheets to Jinx’s similar antic’s.

But her teeth are far from together.

No no, in fact instead her jaw is dropped right there, because it’s not the chalk that catches her line of sight. Instead it is an honest to God's, gurgling, small baby. And for a moment she gapes, blinks. Darts looks between a seemingly disinterested Isha back towards the baby, watching as the babe looks up wide-eyed but seemingly also disinterested when Isha finally makes a move before Sev can say anything, showing her a lil' crude sketched out depiction of-

"Oh, goddammit," The sight of the drawing makes her come out of her stupor. For right in the middle of that drawing, is a pale figure with long blue hair holding hands with a dark figure with short white hair. Each holding separate hands to two smaller figures that looked very much a lot like her bed's current occupants.

Isha doesn’t do or say much. In fact she seems a lot less shocked about this whole thing then Sevika does. Sevika on the other hand. Well she’s going through the five stages of grief all at once. She remembers blankly confronting both Ekko and Jinx when the pair magically return a few minutes later, 

('When you say you're going on scav runs, I expect actual supplies, not for you BOTH to pull a Vander and adopt a horde of ankle biters.)

But as the night wanes on, and Ekko and Jinx finally sit the fuck down and explain the situation, Sevika reluctantly comes to terms with it relatively quickly. Knowing that deep down there will be nothing for her to say or do to change either of their minds. They both have the same look in their eye that Vander once did when they take the baby back from her, and she knows once they have that look that it’s a lost cause. They ain’t giving that baby up, and she doesn’t expect them too.

And as the night turns cold enough to need the heat on suddenly and when all five of them are sitting about, enjoying the warmth and silence save for the little sleepy grunts and coo’s that emanate from Ekko’s arm, Sev stares quietly. And when all of them besides Sevika fall asleep, including Isha who take’s up the spot next to her leaning up against her side, Sev stares some more and take’s a look around. 

And as she watches. 

as she stares. 

She remembers. 

She remembers instances like this when she would visit Vander and Vander would be so preoccupied with a toddler on his lap or something similar that he would yield to a disagreement in a way seemingly unheard of.

And as the night continues to churn, Sevika does something she’s never truly ever done willingly before. She moves Isha over to let her lay against the arm of the couch, and she stands up. She gets up and she stands in front of Ekko. Jinx is dead to the world, snoring softly and drooling against Ekko’s arm. 

But Ekko on the other hand is just slightly dozed. He hears as well as feels the vibrations of Sev’s feet as they pad up to the front of him and when he cracks an eye open he notices she’s standing in front looking down at him. He’s happy they have all learned to talk without having to open their mouths up. One look in Sevika’s eye is enough to tell him anything he needs to know though she often swears up and down that she’s unreadable. He shifts up, just enough to push himself off the back of the couch without waking Jinx up, and he holds his crooked arm’s up. 

“Knew you’d come around” he says softly, and all Sev does is grunt in response with that typical twitch of her nose she does whenever she doesn’t like something said. But the twitch is half-assed when she bends down and scoops up the tiny bundle from Ekko’s arms. There’s a nervousness in her touch. Steady hesitancy. Nearly uncharacteristic. The last time she ever held an infant, her arm was still built of bone and made of flesh and that had been years ago.

Now it’s cold and it's rough and impersonal, but Ekko still hand’s the baby over to her with no care seemingly towards that. And when Sevika finally settles the baby comfortably enough on her arm and sits back, she stares down. Can see the tender, fragile skin and know it for the rose-leaf softness that invites a finger's touch. The round-cheeked flesh wobbly as custard, the boneless splay and ball of the tiny hands. But the baby sleeps and soon so does Ekko, only much more deeply this time. 

And when the room is silent once more, save for the ticking of heat and the sleepy grunts and coo’s, Sev stares. Stares between them all. Isha, only partially awoken by the shifting of the couch, smiles-pouts at her from the other side. And the burst of a sudden strange warmth Sev feels seeing that when she notices is one she’s not totally familiar with. But as she takes in the view; of her own small gang of stray’s, she begins to realize what it is.

Finally. . .she understands him. . .

Took her long enough.

_ _ _ oh the joys of learning what home really is.

[lordofmelancholy]

Who wants one more timebomb baby post? 👀👀

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Timebomb and Parenthood PTIII: Isha's Reaction.

Part 2 Here

For SF, I've often decided that if I was to give Ekko and Jinx a baby, which it looks like I might, that Isha probably wouldn’t be the jealous type since she grew up with a sibling. Instead, she would be more of the hesitant type at the idea of being an older sibling once again since even now she’s still dealing with all the trauma and shit of loosing her original family

So when Ekko randomly brings home this baby one night, Isha isn’t sure how to feel about it, and Ekko and Jinx notice how she seemingly seems to try to avoid the baby. But the issue with Isha (which isn’t really an issue to anyone but HER) is the fact she still has the older sibling mentality where it’s clear she WANTS this baby around, but doesn’t know how to handle it. The new baby is an exciting little development in the beginning, but it invokes too many thoughts of.... them. Uncomfortable thoughts on even the best of days, and ones that are quite literally world-stilling during the worst of her fits and nightmares.

I imagine for Isha that the presence of a new infant,  maybe evokes what it's like for Vi with Mylo and Clag in the show? Sticking to what's familiar whilst learning to live with the two new ones. In Vi's case, it's Vander, it's Powder. For Isha, Clack and Sevika could be one. Especially if Jinx and Ekko are always so busy with the baby now.

Which Isha doesn’t mind of course. Afterall she will never say no to independency 

But yet, much like Vi, the mentality of being the oldest is there within them both. 

In the beginning, Vi warms up to the lil' boy that seems always eager to please in Mylo, grows excited at Claggor's strength matching her own and having someone other than Vander that she can actually practice her parkour and her boxing with. In a matter of time, she has two new brothers. Isha, in SF, on the other hand, doesn’t actually bond with the baby that quickly. While it’s clear she WANTS this baby around, she doesn’t know how to handle it. Isn’t sure how to feel about it, and Ekko and Jinx notice how she seemingly seems to try to avoid the baby.

I’d like to imagine she does check out the babe at least. From afar, far from the eyes of the others, from above the rafters she often frequents. 

Maybe Ekko and Jinx have a hint of it, but I like to imagine they're too busy to notice. So Isha frequently grows curious and cautious of the baby as the days go by; eventually climbs above to study the babe and-

And Isha finds she's really.... small.

Smaller than she thought. Small enough that even Jinx could cradle her in just one of her arms, support her head in her palm or along the crook of her elbow. The baby is small, and sleeping peacefully, tiny fingers lightly flexing and twitching in her sleep as her mouth softly puckers and bobs around the plastic bit of a pacifier.

She is little. Very little, and that itself is fascinating for Isha, it had been so long since she’s ever interacted with one so small. 

Though I also imagine that when the babe cries, Isha flees; the sound brings back more thoughts of them- Isha does however repeat this pattern for a while. She'll climb onto the rafters and watch the baby and those who interact with it. Scope her out. Make note of her thin, growing head of hair. The color of her eyes when her eyes are open, the light coos and gurgles Jinx draws out from her soft breaths and sighs. The way her eyes always follow after Ekko's fingers when he bops her little nose to make it crinkle.

Her yawns, her way of crossing her feet. Her sounds, her features. She admires and inspects everything over the girl, propped on her hands, on elbows as she watches it. Watch Jinx and Ekko fret over the babe, watch Jinx in particular always reluctant to put the babe away and how Ekko's eyes always soften.

Yet every time the baby begins to cry, Isha flees, and the cries stick with her even as they are instantly soothed and cooed over. Even as Jinx frets over her and Ekko lulls her with his soft songs and whispers. 

Until one night, not so long after Ekko brought the baby home, where they let the cry keep going. Nothing out of the ordinary for parents, for Isha knows babies will sometimes cease after their cries for attention go unanswered.

Yet for Isha, the babies cries can not be left alone. The cries are too loud, too shrill to the girl. So she retreats, and makes to go back. . .to. . .her room? But the cries just keep going. It's no more than a minute, no longer than a handful of seconds in which the new parents simply test to see if she actually needs anything.

But for Isha, not used to such anymore it is an eternity.

She can't- the baby needs someone. She's crying, she's crying, needs-, needs help, her help-

And thus this is what Jinx and Ekko wake up too, walk into when the baby does go quiet. But it’s a quiet in a way that tells the fresh “new” parents something is up. So they both get up to go check and in the makeshift baby room they find Isha standing draped against the cradle with her head on her arm and she’s got one arm dangling inside the cradle; just gently letting the back of her finger touch the baby as she just stares at them. There’s really no emotion on her face as she stares; watching and seemingly inspecting the youngest adoptee. Said adoptee is wide eyed at the newcomer, eyes flickering between the fingers that touch her cheek back up to Isha. Her mouth puckers and gapes repeatedly, little fingers uncoordinated in their attempts to reach up and grasp at that exploring finger.

The baby looks at Isha. Isha looks at the baby. Jinx and Ekko sleepily look at them both silently, knowing that giving Isha the time is important. Eventually the baby does grasp at Isha's finger, and as babies are oft to do, attempts to place said finger within her mouth.

I like to imagine that's when Isha shows a reaction, seemingly blinking at the sight and watching with something more akin to feline-like curiosity than anything.

Maybe it takes a moment in which the baby hums or coos something, leaving a sticky, shiny sheen of slobber from her gumless chewing. She allows the finger to leave her mouth, two tiny fingers barely cradling and squeezing it to gurgle out something like excitement before going back to chewing.

And it's then that Isha grins. 

A hint of one, a ghost of one. 

One that pales in comparison to the ones shared between her and Ekko during their more reckless pursuits in inventing, in her and Jinx's wild adventures of painting. Of her sneaking away and giggling during a game of chase from Vi, or of getting Sev' to teach her and Clack a new word, of Lest and Babette showing up with a new dish or trinket of sorts.

And yet to the watchful gazes of two new parents, 

That grin is everything.

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Timebomb and Parenthood PTII

Part 1 Here

Things always happen in the Zone

It’s a given.

Either there’s something new trying to kill you almost everyday, or just something so strange occurring you have no idea how on earth to explain it.

But it says a lot, at least to Jinx that is, when the strangest thing comes at night one day. She and Isha are waiting up for Ekko. Had been for hours. He’s gone off with some of the others. To do what she really doesn’t know. She assumes to go check on some of the other settlements that border the city that fall under his and her jurisdiction.

The man never chills out for too long. Always fluttering. Always working. So she’s used to sometimes waiting for him until the wee hours of the night

But shock comes when he returns.

It’s late into the night when he does. When Isha notices him with the others outside the window. And Jinx goes out to greet him. Maybe even rib into him for coming home so late like she always does

But before she can however, he beats her to the talking

“We – we kinda got sidetracked,” He stammers, glancing at her apologetically while he shuffles his feet. “There was this woman and…

His coat, that big monstrosity he likes to wear, is buttoned to his chin she notices for the first time and nothing seems out of the ordinary about that upon first glance, until there’s a small sound as it suddenly squirms and lets out a muffled cry.

Wait. . .wha

And that’s when he opens it, Jinx staring quizzically at him as he unbuttons it the first few inches. It’s chilly tonight, and he seems hesitant about opening it. And Jinx realizes quickly why, when that quizzical and confused look morphs to shock as his jacket falls open:

revealing the nearly bare pink head of a fussing infant, cuddled tightly to his chest

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Timebomb and Parenthood

Time for some Family bomb! :D (You can thank the new MV for this post xD)

In SF, I have often mentioned that Jinx suffers from Sterility Issues, stemming potentially from heavy metal poisoning that most likely affected her mother Felicia during her years of working in the mines or by exposure to it in the air or waters around Zaun. What I haven't mentioned however in detail, is the aspect in which this affects how both Ekko and Jinx react to the idea of actually wanting and thus starting a family.

It should come as no surprise due to how attached both are to each other, that the idea of starting a family hasn’t at least once in a while crossed both Ekko and Jinx’s mind. There is however a disconnect between the two when it comes to the idea of starting a family together. 

Mostly on Jinx's side. Deep down, Jinx DOES want to start a family; perhaps maybe just as much as Ekko does if not more. But she has her issues and as a result they tend to cloud her own personal judgement about the whole thing. Ekko knows Jinx can never physically have kids, and as a result of it, the idea of parenthood tends to often be a sore spot for her.

And he also knows Jinx’s hesitation when it comes to having them/wanting them even though he also knows deep down no matter how much she initially objects, she does want them. However, because Jinx can't biologically give Ekko the little one he so desperately wants, as such in that furthest, most ignored corner of her mind, she never often tends to entertain the thought and yearning of wanting one herself; the idea simply being too painful or sorrowful to think about. As such they don't often talk about the idea of parenthood, though the idea lingers.

Instead Ekko often fills the void in other ways instead.

And as such, because of this Jinx settles

And she settles often

Settles instead for watching her man coo, aw, and cuddle the little babies within their community. Watching instead as he helps out every parent and guardian there, helping especially to make sure they are all settled in and yet still despite all somehow never fails to win a child over.

Teenagers, toddlers, actual babies, every single ankle-biter under the sun she's ever met has loved her man. A feat that she knew was not impossible deep down; there ever being a single soul that met her man and didn't fall head over heels for him-

Seeing him like this however, often leaves her with new thoughts.

Tykes with his locs, her eyes. Boys with flowing waves of blue and hazel-flecks in their eyes doodling and pouting at cackling, energetic girls with white curls and the brightest of blues 'correcting' their doodles. Thoughts of those babes turned cackling, inventive kids, running and gunning and making every wall panel and frame they have a mess with random sharpies and paint not unlike what she and ol' fat-hands used to make-

The images conjure themselves constantly when she watches him. It's a pleasant, if not a bittersweet pondering for her. One that oddly comforts her in a way. Much as she…. has often doubted she could ever be a good one, she knows her man would be good enough for six parents.

Filling the void this way however, doesn't stop Ekko from making the odd comment once in a while about the potential of what if's; especially when maybe he often notices Jinx staring when he holds the babies and stuff and he notices her smile a little when she thinks he isn’t looking.

The thoughts, the fantasy, they all often live rent-free. They get buried though very easy, little more than landmarks along a road trip when Ekko comes up to her with a some random persons baby curled in his arm's and asks that question

'Ever thought of us having a few of these?'

'Constantly,' she will think when he asks. The thought is instant, and is also instantly buried.

"Pshhh," she snorts, grin zig-zag crooked. "And what? Name 'em after us? 'Wyeth Jr. Jr.' Helluva a ring, ain't it?"

A pause

"It ain't the right time to even get the notion, Wy'. Be just dreamin' up things that will either make us as dead as they are, or just make us plain bonkers."

She says that. She always says that

And Ekko always simply laughs and just makes a joke of Jinx always being the pessimistic old'sport

And she always notes the tight smile he gets on his face. . . Sad in a way, but it’s like he can never truly be sad with a baby on his arm. Because it fades away the moment the little one he’s currently holding coo’s at him and makes a grab for him and the hair that dangles in his face. And Jinx knows why he can never be sad when she shoots down the notion, when she watches him coo and play with that little tyke or two.

Jinx knows why he spends so much time helping out the families. Why he’s so hellbent on getting new arrivals looking for a safe place to stay someplace warm to settle even though they are having capacity issues.

He’s trying to fill the void, trying to make up for what they can’t have and she doesn’t mind it at all cause it makes Ekko happy though she knows deep down it also makes him sad because none of them are his

Because much like her 

He’s settled just as well. . . ___ Part 2 Here Part 3 Here Part 4 Here

[lordofmelancholy]

Sunrise Ballads (NSFW)

Oneshot; Jinx x Ekko AU: Post-Apoc (Silent Frontiers) Fic Affiliation: Sequel to By Your Hand Word count: 5.2k

Content: NSFW Morning Cuddles, Morning Sex, Morning Kisses, Vaginal Fingering, Lazy Sex, Smut, Passion, Friends to Lovers, Childhood Friends, fluff and smut, angst and smut, bird analogies

Synopsis: Ballad: a slow sentimental or romantic song. But with music often comes dance, and with dance comes closure. The feeling of two bodies in sync with each other. And dance they did when Jinx finally reached her peak around his fingers, clenching and wet and wanting

Sidenote: See the end of the work for additional notes

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Ekko remembered when Jinx used to sing. 

In fact, he remembered the first time he had ever heard her sing in his life. 

It was back sometime before everything. Back during a time when they were still kids and still relatively new to each other and as a result of that still timid in each other's presence, but not enough to warn each other off. It had come out of the blue one day. The both of them had been alone and what had followed that sunny afternoon was the most charming surprise Ekko had ever experienced before in his life thus far. 

Jinx, who by then was still known as Powder to everyone at the time and was still so tragically timid but yet not so much as Ekko had been, had mastered her timidity for just the moment and had begun to sing when she thought he wasn’t looking or perhaps wasn’t around close enough to hear her. But he did, and he remembered her voice from that day on as he watched her from the shadow’s. Her voice was a little faint and somewhat frail thing and she had sung a lullaby that her mother had sung to her. But it was perfectly true and just as sweet to him even back then. And from that moment on, everyday that they grew closer was a day that her voice became something he often craved to hear; at times it felt, often even more so than air. 

Jinx was a private singer though. That was something Ekko had learned quickly. She was a shy singer, barely even hummed in public at times. Not like him of course. Ekko of course loved to sing any chance he got on the other hand and had nearly made a career out of it by the time he was old enough to do so. And he probably would have, had things been different for him. But Jinx on the other hand had shied away from all that. In fact if Ekko had to guess (and he certainly didn’t have to guess much), he often suspected that he was probably the only one that she ever sang to. Not even her sister. 

He himself would sing to her often whenever he got the chance too and it didn’t matter whether it be in private or public (though he tended to like private much better when it was just the two of them). And she in turn loved his voice. But when it came to Jinx things were different. She wasn’t like him. Wasn’t one who often sang so openly to everyone and Ekko doubted very much that she would ever be. To him alone she often sang so openly, so sweetly and softly or with so much heart and fire it could set him and his house ablaze. He liked when they sang together. But to anyone else they probably would have had no idea that she could even sing for how quiet she was about it.

But she sang to him. In fact right before their world had seemingly ended or at the very least felt like it came close to feeling like it had, Ekko often remembered times during long and lazy summer weekends when they did have school. How oftentimes they stayed together at each other's houses during sleepovers for days at a time. And it was during these times, where he often loved listening to her sing to herself in the early mornings by the window when she thought no one else but him was around to hear. By then of course she had grown somewhat and so had her voice and she had a voice that Ekko liked very much. One that was no longer seemingly burdened by timidness but still greatly reserved. One that he remembered was also not so different from the singers who often accompanied the musical backdrops of the tunes his parents had often loved listening to on the radio right before they went to work. It wasn’t exactly like them of course. She had her own flair to it all, but the feeling she gave him was just the same. And much like his parents with their radio, he too always loved to hear her sing in the early mornings. Right as the sun was coming up. She would often be the first thing he heard next to the birds.

And he was very much ok with that

Deep down as much as he believed she should have shown the world her talent, should have joined him and attempted to make a life out of it, Ekko certainly didn’t mind being the only one seemingly worthy enough to hear her grace him in such a way. And perhaps maybe it was the selfish romantic buried deep within him, but having something so personal set between them such as this and having it be for just the two of them alone was enough to put him on cloud nine most of the time. If she wanted her privacy kept then so be it. If she wanted to bless just him and him alone then so be it as well, especially if that meant in the end that he would be the only one to ever hear her sing. And maybe that made him selfish. And if it did, so be it. He didn’t mind being selfish in this way. Didn’t mind having his own personal song-bird by his side. One who strung together such melodious and blissful tunes for just him and him alone. And perhaps he had that thought to thank for some of the nickname he had for her growing up

Sparrow

Songbird  

Even Dove once in a while. But he liked the name Dove the most above all because she reminded him so much of one. Her songs were a sweet lullaby disguised as a Doves coo, her skin as soft and as beautiful as feathers. Even her very heart reminded him of the beat of a dove's wings; that soft fluttering and thrumming that seemingly only he could cage. Could keep all for himself and never have to let it go no matter what. 

At least that's what he had always thought. 

Until that one day, when she went away right in the middle of their sophomore year.

That month . . .or at least he thinks it was a month, could have been longer or shorter for all he knew, it didn't really matter. In the end it was one of the worst months of his life that he had ever had to endure. To be separated from her. Even now during what might as well have been considered the apocalypse for many, no day ever came close to the worst for him than that one where she had gone away suddenly one day and he was left all alone. He wasn’t truly alone of course. He had his friends from school. The one’s he actively hung out with at least. His family. But it was hard enough not to feel alone when every day was spent feeling like something or some part of him was missing. Like he had this strange sense of being incomplete. Beforehand, the two had always spent nearly every waking hour together, they were never truly apart, and they liked it like that and perhaps he was being dramatic about it but the break in routine was agonizing. 

But what he had found out quite soon after, was that what he had missed the most above all had been her voice. Her singing. Life always seemed so much brighter when he had heard it. When she talked or sang to him at any point of the day. Her alone always cheered him up.

He remembered one day, not so long after she had left, 

of waking up one night to a sense of familiarity.

The thing about Jinx, was that since they were young Ekko always knew she had her issues. He knew that's why she was sent away back then. Why she was gone for so long. He wasn’t stupid about her issues. Actually in fact he was often her frontline of defense to some of them. And perhaps that was why, though it seemed childish to think of now, why back then he always had (and probably still did) have a bit of a chip on his shoulder over them sending her away. He knew it was for the best deep down. But Ekko for the longest time has always tended to be her safe space. She always found herself calmer and seemingly more in-tune with herself whenever she was with him. That was not to say of course that her family wasn't of any help. But their help just didn’t FEEL the same, not like his. Never like his. So when they sent her away for that month, or for what he thought was a month, he felt mad. He felt miserable. Useless. And feeling useless as well as missing her had drove him no shorter then crazy.   Especially that one night. 

She had been gone for sometime by then, but Ekko would swear up and down to whoever would listen to him, that he had heard her that night outside his window. That he heard her voice and heard her song one weekend and that it sounded no different from the routine she often had of waking him up in the middle of the night by sneaking in through his bedroom window by climbing from the tree whose branches just barely reached the top floor. 

Those 'visits' of her’s weren’t particularly unusual behavior. When her issues had gotten worse and her mood fluctuated on a near constant basis, some nights and days were simply just harder than others. Ekko had long gotten used to very quickly whenever she's having a bad night or day, how she would always sneak off to go see him in the middle of the night. However, that also meant Ekko had to make it safer for her to sneak in because she often tried skirting around the upper floor balcony on the narrow tree branches outside or in the beginning attempted to climb the old wobbly fire escape until he and his parents had moved from their old apartment. As a result, Ekko had started to keep his window open for her around the time she usually showed up so she could get in easier. He had long accepted by then that this routine was just a something that she did- he surely didn’t MIND it of course, though he could've lived without the frantic phone calls from petrified parents/siblings missing their kid in the dead of night.

But that night, during the time when she went away, when he had finally opened his eyes fully expecting that much craved sense of familiarity and routine, she wasn't there. Instead he woke to a dim gray room, no smell of her gracing the walls or the air, no heat of her as her weight leaned against him when she sought comfort in his touch and embrace. But her voice was still there, still seemingly dancing around the room. Almost as if it was taunting him. He remembered the emptiness though as he headed back to bed after looking out the window for her one last time, grabbing the pillow and holding it tight to him. Hoping that. . .just for now. . .as her voice rang so clearly in the early morning through his head, that he could pretend for just a moment that nothing had changed. . .

But the sun does not rise in the sky when you wallow in loneliness

And he remembers the weeks until she returned when his world just seemed that much more gray. How not even the birds seemed willing to fill the void she had left behind and the sun seemed even less willing to brighten things like it used to. 

But he also remembered the day that she came back. 

It was night, and the moon was high and by habit and ritual alone he had kept his window open like he always did even though the night was chilly. He hadn’t expected her to come back. No one told him she was back, though his parents would swear up and down that they told him. But in the end she had snuck in through the window that night like a force of habit; surprising him as if nothing had changed and she hadn’t been gone for so long. She simply cemented herself right back into the spacious void that she had left behind by his side. She seemed different though when she had returned, much more subdued and perhaps maybe even a little calmer in a way or two. But that had all been only temporary. 

After all, pills only helped when you weren’t too busy feeding them to the toilet 

when you thought no one was looking. . . 

But despite the vices that they both grew to have as time went on, life once again had simply found a way to be graceful again with each other by their sides. 

Until that day the Government had come.

Since then the world had been shaded gun-grey; not completely monochrome but there was an obvious and perhaps somewhat noticeable filter in everyone’s eyes that drew lids low and postures cramped and solemn. But there were moments when day’s were seemingly somehow blissful and golden. When the depression didn’t eat at his heart and where there was no manic energy that left her pacing the floor until the sun rose. On days like those; on days like this, he often spent his time admiring her. She usually always woke before he did, so when he’d opened his eyes that morning to find her still sleeping beside him, it was like a gift. He’d been awake for more then an hour by then, just listening to her breathe, watching the sun shining in through the window and bathing her in light. 

Watching her lying in the sunbeam, naked and perfect…

It made him feel soft. 

It was his new favorite pastime ever since she had stopped singing sometime ago.

She never sang in the mornings for him anymore.

In fact, Ekko doesn’t think he’s heard her sing in years. Slowly and slowly getting quiet until the last few years where the tune finally ended. To her there had been no reason too sing anymore – it was rare that she ever sang even before, so he often cherished and tried to engrain each experience in which she had to memory. But things were different now- after all who would look at the sorry state of the world they lived in and want to fucking sing? So by the end she simply stopped. It was just simply another part of herself that she’d laid to rest much like he had his name when this all had began. A part of them that had no practical use in the apocalypse all of Zaun now lived in. At times it was moments like that that reminded him of just how much life had changed. Moments where he would be certain that he once again heard her melodious tune and wake only to find that it was all just in his head.

But it was also little moments like this, of watching her sleep naked in the sunlight, that often made him believe that nothing had changed at all. During moments like this the world was so peaceful, and so calm that it was so easy for him to forget all that danger that could have so easily taken it all away at any time. The conversation from last night that they had still rang in his head of course. Clanging about. And perhaps it was because moments like this were rare. Or perhaps it was because her words from last night of what to do should her end come before his had made him exceptionally paranoid about the thought of her ever leaving his side, but Ekko was feeling exceptionally affectionate that morning. Affectionate enough to let his hands and idle fingers roam across the canvas of her body. To let them trace over flesh and ink and scar and contour until he could feel her stir and hum not so long after under his touch.

He doubted he would forget that talk for a time but he chose to ignore it as best he could in favor of enjoying her. She and him weren’t all that interested in morning sex to be honest. Sleep itself was often so scarce a thing for them even growing up or even now that any chance they got to sleep, especially in the mornings, were often taken without hesitation or question.

Any fun for them was solely saved for the night or the afternoon’s. But on the rare occasions that they did ever take the chance, it proved to be a nice way to wake up. A nice energetic way to start the day. Especially when he always seemed to be the one to initiate it. But in the rare occasions that he ever got the chance too, most of the time spent was simply admiring her. He’d always find himself staring, seemingly mesmerized by the peacefulness in her features, the laxness of her face and body. It was such an infrequent occurrence, especially nowadays, to see her so relaxed. So he always took the time he had to marvel at her. To marvel at her body, her pierced tits, the tattoos that painted her skin, the scars that told stories of things both of them remembered but also of some things that they didn’t. The flat stomach that always seemed to call to his tongue to drag it against her contours, to dip it in her navel and taste the salt and sweet of her and engrain it forever into his memory banks until every memory he had was about her. 

When he went down her body, dragging his own along the sheets to nuzzle at her midriff and once in a while drag his tongue against her skin, she had shifted, turning more towards him, she screwed her face up as she woke, yawning until her jaw clicked. Then he was greeted by a pair of stunning, blue irises staring back at him under heavy lids. So blue in the morning light that perhaps maybe it could make even the sky envious. She was watching his fingers move over her skin from that borderline place of wakefulness and sleep, a tiny smile curving her lips when she felt his tongue. Dragging himself back up, Ekko placed a kiss on her shoulder, making her sigh, before he continued on with his endeavor. Ekko had then taken the moment or so to lay a kiss on the warm skin of her face then her neck. Sleepily, she had responded with a light sound in her throat, like a purr almost (Or perhaps maybe. . . a dove’s coo?)

Feeling suddenly daring, his hands roamed up higher across her chest, his fingers brushing at her nipples, further arousing Jinx from her slumber as he gently tugged at the bars stuck in her flesh. For a moment, her eyelids fluttered and when he touched a specific part of the underside of her breast where he knew she was often the most sensitive, she had released a soft sigh.

“What are you doing?” She suddenly said.

“Oh nothing,” a response said so nonchalantly, even as Ekko began idly rolling one of her nipples between his fingers lazily. “Just admiring the view” he chuckled, before he brought his head down to lick at her nipple, feeling the skin bud against his tongue.

"I'm sleeping, Ekko," she tiredly muttered as her eyelids fluttered open again, though she made no move to scooch away from him. 

"Not anymore, obviously," he teased, but slowed his exploration of her chest. 

"Do you want me to stop?"

. . . .

"Are you out of your fuckin' mind?"

With a noise in his throat that sounded like a chuckle, and a huff of warm air through his nose, Ekko grinned, pulling her close and moving his thigh to slot it between her legs. He rested one hand at her hip and squeezed her ass softly whilst Jinx lazily kissed him all sleepy like. He often missed mornings and moment’s like this. He didn’t often get them like he used to. So he took the opportunity to do what he did best.

Adore her

And adored her he did

His hand slid from her hip to tease his fingers along her stomach, and when she didn’t object and only twitched with a tired sleepy tweet, he let his hand caress at the soft flesh there. The skin of her stretch marks had always drawn his touch it seemed, and she’d long forgotten any aspect of embarrassment about them long before since the day they first appeared. And perhaps she had him to thank for that. He dragged those fingers up the center of her stomach, then danced them over her slightly prominent ribs before tracing at the undercurve of her breast once more. “Good morning Love” he had finally said, before dipping his lips down to catch her just below the jawbone. 

She sighed at his touch, at the kisses he left on her neck and she didn’t speak and her body was warm and golden under the light and as his hands roamed he admired her like he always had. Ever since they were younger Ekko always admired her, and perhaps that was why getting older that falling in love with her had just been natural and easy. She was beautiful and it was hard not to fall in love with her. Even in this dim world she was brighter than even the sun itself and perhaps burned just as hotter. 

Though during times like this, where affection turns physical, 

He often remembers back during the times when they first slept together.  

Those first few times together when they had first started were moments that he cherished. The ones when she’d hesitated, when she’d been unsure when she was so confident normally. How it only took time before she played with his body with the same skill and fineness as he had with hers and then everything else simply devolved into wildfire. There was indeed still fire even now; Ekko felt it, a slow roar perhaps but one that burned steadily, that took it’s time for now. He felt it with each twitch of her body, and overtime soon felt it in each roll of her hips against his naked thigh that dragged heat and wetness against his flesh. 

She clings to him like a second skin afterwards; soft whines and whimpers as nails dig into his shoulders and biceps. But despite the bite, and despite her seemingly breathless urging as she grinded herself against his thigh and the movements became more intense as the minutes went on, Ekko took his time with her, seemingly more interested in cherishing the moment than actually engaging in it and Jinx could barely find the strength to moan as all her breathing turned into whimpering in such a short time as he worked her over.

She could only lean into the sweet feeling he gave her, pressing herself against him and riding out the waves that shook at her core and made her thighs clench and unclench around his leg. And it was moments like this, the rare soft slow ones, where they took their time and drew out moments like this and didn't go at it guns-blazing, that had pushed the narrative to him that life had truly not changed all that much after all. And it was stupid to say that when so much HAD changed, but it was moments like this that carried that old flare of familiarity that Ekko always seemed to cling to. 

Sure he could lament that she never sang anymore in the mornings. Sure he could lament that life here in Zaun had gotten more dangerous and that everyday spent was a day getting closer to an unknown conclusion that could very well have meant the end to both of them. But then came moments like this. Moments where she pulled her head up just high enough where his nose could trail against her pulsing jugular and it would remind him of how he always associated it with the beat of a dove wings.

How with his spare hand, he could rub her back and grip her closely when he finally removes his thigh and she whines at him and he thinks it’s the prettiest noise he’s ever heard. How in response he dipped two of his fingers into her cunt while pressing the heel of his hand against her clit and a soft gasp filled the room, her cheeks flushed. 

How in those moments he found himself uncaring at all how hard he was, only focusing on how her skin, though more scarred than it had once been much like his now, was still as soft as a birds-feather. And how while she never sang for him in the mornings anymore, she sang for him in other ways.

Her thrumming pulse, her coo’s, the whines and the whimpers when he would change the angle of his fingers and brush and push them to that one part of her that would change her tune like that of a radio dial. How the notes of her breathlessness would caress at his lips as she begged and pleaded with him to move faster, go harder, but how for the moment he would deny her. 

And oh how easy it was

to forget all that was wrong. 

With them, the world, and everything. 

When everything somehow still felt all the same.

He didn’t know how that was possible. How it could be possible. But he had learned long ago to not dwell on certain things like that. That unanswered questions like that would drive you madder than what it was worth. And besides, he had a song bird singing just for him, only for him. So really why would he question anything about this journey if this was where it had led him anyways. If this little patch of paradise was waiting for him on the other side. 

But with music often comes dance, and with dance comes closure. The feeling of two bodies in sync with each other. And dance they did when Jinx finally reached her peak around his fingers, clenching and wet and wanting. Bucking and squirming while her hands with a slight tremble to them frantically trailed down his abdomen searching for him, grabbing at his own heat. And with a hiss of a response, he quickly sat up and positioned Jinx on top of his lap where his erection lined up right perfectly against her soaked slit. 

Their dance was short, but it was sweet and Jinx had sang all the way up to the final end. She had seemed to have nearly fainted as she felt the length of him rub up against her, intensifying the electricity running between her legs and Ekko had to really control himself upon feeling her heat against his erection. But when they finally connected, she watched with dark eyes, pupils blown wide with lust, while he finally sheathed himself inside her in one smooth motion. They both groaned, but she clenched and with that clench, Ekko could think of nothing more than just her. Of how she sang, for him, for them. How with each note that rang from her throat how all he could do was encourage her to sing for him. How he let the old nicknames flow off his tongue like his own song, how on the spot he created new ones that all meant the same to him

Sweet Bird.  Song Bird. . .

Dove. . . Oh Dove

And maybe she too felt that old-familiarity that burned in each word as he spoke them as the heat between them grew. Maybe she was feeling sentimental or perhaps maybe even regretful over last night. He didn’t know. He didn’t care. Not when she had wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him close regardless, liking the way his rapid breathing brought his chest up and down against her bare breasts as she clung to him and sang in his ear as he whispered her praises. And when they both finally began to feel the weight and strain of their desires rain down on them, Ekko wrapped his arms tightly around her, flipped them and laid Jinx down, continuing to kiss her with the same softness as when he had entered her. He rocked into her again, setting a pace that was punishingly fast, and they both didn't last so long shortly after that. 

Ekko was lost within her and had plunged harder and deeper as the intensity of his peak failed to fall. Both of them had reached the best of what could ever be felt; the mingled moans, the sweat and the sensations had all finally built up so high that they all started gathering and exploding at once. Both of the lovers erupted at every nerve at the same time and when Jinx finally let out one final keen, careening over the edge following her orgasm with her nails dug deep into his shoulders, Ekko was ready for it. He worked her rough the final few times, working at extending her pleasure and then carrying himself through his own, his breath coming from him in harsh, staccato bursts between thrusts. With one final thrust, his body strained up high against her, Ekko emptied himself inside her, warmth flooding her as she moaned her way through climax, Ekko cursing and praying in equal measure before the strength in his arms finally failed and he laid on top of her. 

His shoulders bloody, but his body and heart warm and tender, Ekko, fearful he might have been crushing her with his bulk, had pitched over on a shoulder and rolled over off of her. But Jinx, like always, was quick to make a grab for him. Ekko’s eyes were closed, but he felt the bed shift as Jinx, somehow, even with her legs and belly still quivering with a series of reverberations as the rest of her body ached so tenderly, rolled over and caged his head in her arms. Feeling his fingers caressing the hot sweat glistened flesh of her shoulders as they both cooled in the morning breeze, Jinx allowed her sore muscles to go numb.

Just when she was about to slip into the sweet delirious solitude however, Ekko spoke again.

“You still have such a lovely voice”

And all Jinx did was wrinkle her nose at that. At what she had assumed was simply his attempt at being a sappy post-orgasm romantic like he always tended to be. The thought of her once singing had never crossed her mind like it often did his. To her, that act was simply all just a distant memory that she barely thought of anymore. 

She truly had no idea the meaning of his statement.  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

or DOES she. . . .

This fic takes place literally the morning after "By your Hand", I guess Ekko was feeling sentimental over the fact of his girlfriend actively telling him it was alright if he ever needed to kill her

He don’t wanna think about that mean question :( he loves her too much

[lordofmelancholy]

By Your Hand (SFW)

Oneshot; Jinx x Ekko AU: Post-Apoc (Silent Frontiers) Word count: 2.1k+

Content: hand holding, hand size differences, size difference, modern AU, Character Study, soft Ekko, soft Jinx TW: Talks of mutual suicide (non-explicit)

Synopsis: A Late Night conversation brings realizations and wants. Sidenote: See the end of the work for additional notes

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The pair had been hunkered down in an old motel room far from base that night when she had first asked her question. 

There had been only one bed in the dingy room they had found and on any other night similar to this one, such sleeping arrangements would have been the perfect recipe for a night of rare fun to be had between the two. Of whispered secrets, a spare drink or two from a flask conveniently attached to a hip or thigh, a card game perhaps or maybe instead a night of passionate sex even if it would be on a mildewy, stained bed or a floor that hadn’t seen the business end of a carpet cleaner in years perhaps.

However Ekko had been too tired for any of those this time around- even if his long-term crush was up for the latter- he simply just wanted to sleep instead. And it was very rare that he ever actively  wanted to sleep. Insomnia of course was a real bitch especially now during times like this where sleep often never came regularly and you took what you got. But while Jinx often relished the times in which sleep never came so easily to her; all too happy to spend her nights fluttering about and working on random projects all up into the wee hours of the morning, Ekko himself instead did his best to gain whatever rest he could grab at. 

Sadly however, it seemed as though on a night like this that that wasn’t so much a plan in his favor. 

As the hours whittled away and night took over, Ekko still found himself awake, laying on his side staring out the shuttered, grimy window as rain thrashed about in the parking lot outside; a small pool of water flooding where the street had caved in sometime ago. Jinx was curled up against him in her usual spot behind him, her body pressed up along his back as she dragged her fingers up and down the long half of his arm in a familiar soothing gesture. And for a moment or so, it seemed as though it would be a peaceful night. She hadn’t said much in the past few hours, seemingly deep in thought while listening to the rain with her head on his arm. Her silence however should have been his first warning that something was going to happen that would throw his entire night for a loop, but despite that Ekko didn’t think much of it. Instead relishing her soft weight against him. Her nails dragging on his skin. . .

That was until. . .a random question had manifested itself in the space between them seemingly out of nowhere. 

He shouldn’t have been all that surprised about it to be honest. This wasn’t the first night where she had indulged him in a little questionnaire. In fact on nights like this, back in the days before when all they had to worry about were school projects and homework and not so much wondering whether or not by tomorrow they would be eaten or shot at, were often spent dabbling in these little Q&A’s. They were often used as ways to drive their brains and consciousness into overdrive just enough to feel even the faintest dredges of exhaustion pull at their lids. Questions and their respective answers nothing more than feeble attempts to while away the hours until sleep had finally sucker-punched them. .and on any other night, he would have indulged her like he always had. . .except for tonight however. Tonight the train of questions had taken a bit of a strange and unwanted turn.

“Ekko, would you kill me, if I ever asked you to?”

It hadn’t been the first time questions of this nature came up during these late nights. Usually it happened when Jinx was feeling a little sentimental. And any other time Ekko would have been content to have just humored her with a response. But the difference between then and now, was the fact that that question was never said so bluntly before. So absolute. So said in such a way, that Ekko couldn’t help the chill that went up his spine all the way to his throat. He didn’t like this question. “Hrm, what kind of a question is that to ask me?” Ekko rumbled in response. He felt the bed shift under his side, and felt Jinx move up higher on top of him to the point she nearly threw herself over him like a throw-blanket, her fingernails now against his jugular. 

Then she repeated “It’s just like I said, would you ever kill me if I asked you too?" 

As quickly as he could manage with her weight on top of him, which was somewhere between his normal speed and that of the speed of a body rolling in its own grave, Ekko turned over to look at Jinx better. He stopped for a moment, quietly enraptured by how the dull, rain-streaked glow of the light outside reflected off Jinx’s eyes as she blinked, their noses close to touching; "Are you talking about one of your hypotheticals again? Like that one involving a radioactive spider. . .or what was it, a raccoon or something at a gas-station or some-shit, cause I swear -".

"Just answer the question” 

A pause. There's authority in that tone now.

He blinked slowly. Casting his gaze to the side;

"I don’t wanna . .” 

With a sullen stubborn huff, Ekko rolled back over, glancing at the cheap watch on his wrist. It was already ten past one in the morning and the itchy tired feeling growing behind his eyes was becoming noticeable  but it had meant nothing to him. He was used to nights like this, where sometimes even if he was bone-tired and desperate for rest, he would still just lie in bed with his eyes closed and not drop off until the last minute. As far as he was concerned he could be dealing with hours of this ahead yet. And it also did not help that this line of questioning hit far too close to home; had made his tired heart ache.

With the way life was and the way life had been over the years, there was always the possibility of situations like what she had mentioned occurring. They were instances in which Ekko often tried desperately not to think about. Call him superstitious, but with the way the world worked nowadays he wasn’t in the mood to take his chance and to entice fate. To tease chance. The idea terrified him too much to even consider them. And lord knows it would be even harder to sleep if Jinx kept prodding him with existential nightmares of questions he would have rather not have discussed.  

So he left the question unanswered. 

But just when the silence stretched out just long enough for Ekko to think his partner had dropped it, she then quietly said, 

“I’d trust you. To kill me, I mean."

A sigh of irritation huffed out of Ekko’s nose, 

"I don’t want to talk about this Jinx. Go to sleep”

“You don’t have to be afraid you know.” 

She whispered to him, soothing as she pushed the collar of his shirt down lower on the back of his neck, hair tickling along his skin. A shivery feeling spread across Jinx’s face as she nuzzled his warm skin. Her own so pitifully chilled against him. “I’m not saying this like I'm planning on dying anytime soon.” With a chuckle, she added, “maybe ever if i have a say in it. But if I have to… if it ever comes to. . .that... I think it might be nice if it was you to do it. You, your gun. . .”

She trails off at the end, so much so that for a moment it entices Ekko to turn back over on his shoulder. And when he does Jinx is quick to snatch at him. She grabs him by the wrist, ogling almost in silent greed at the jagged creases of Ekko’s palm. The nonsensical web of lines seem to make sense to the woman, with how she nods and shrugs and hums with an air of perhaps seasoned expertise. She flexes the palm with one hand, jabs rather rudely at the broken line arcing from Ekko’s pinky to his trigger finger as she kneads and squeezes the break with her thumbs in stern deliberation. She then suddenly takes the palm, and presses it against her face where Ekko’s fingers instinctively cradle and caress her; both seemingly now marveling and perhaps noting at the moment the difference in size between her face and his hand.  

She sighs at the soft scratch of calloused skin:

“or your hands...” She finally murmurs after some time, somber in tone and brow,  “they all would be nice...” 

Ekko stared at her. Stared at how the light twinkled in her eyes, shone on her dusty pale skin. How his hand nearly cupped the entire side of her face. How she seemed to enjoy it. How she seemed to relish in his touch. Of the weight against her skin. How he himself marveled at the chill that spread across her flesh and seeped into his own. And he wanted to say something. To bark a retort back. To claim that this was a dangerous line of thought. But he just didn’t seem to have the words, nor have the energy to really run the ramifications of what his partner was saying back over in his head, 

"Go to sleep, Jinx.” he instead said. Softer this time, thumb still caressing at her. "Please." 

And the look on her face seemed almost disappointed in a way. But it softened again quickly, and Jinx slowly let go of his hand as she finally wished him a goodnight. In the ringing silence after however, Ekko had forgoed his sleep and sat up watching as Jinx’s breathing deepened from her graceless sprawl across the bed. An uncharacteristic respite, all things considered, if not for the girl’s demonstrated propensity for falling asleep in the most unorthodox of places. As she slept however, her laxed fingers lay curled up close toward him, an oversight permitted by unconsciousness.

Quickly, but steadily, Ekko took the hand in his own, marveling for a moment, though not the first time, at just how small she was compared to him. He squeezed, reflexively, fingernails printing the faintest of crescents against the softness of pale-skin. The thinnest of lines. The whisper of charm. Of a substitute mark that wills the continuance of his partner’s journey— selfishly at his side. He laid down a little on the bed to save the stretch and risk waking her, as he took her hand and brought it to his neck; his own fingers puppeteering her own as he pressed her nails into his jugular, little by little, until he felt a small stinging bite of her nails in his skin.

He was thankful she was a heavy sleeper.

But this was the part in tonight’s story, where Ekko assumed he would ultimately have to give an answer to her question. And perhaps deep down he always knew that the answer would be yes. That he would in a heartbeat if he so had too. Because he loved her. And because whatever she wanted or needed he would give to her, even if it meant at the expense of possibly losing her forever. And the thought of losing her scared him. He could never nor did he ever picture a life without her by his side. The mere thought made him sick.

Her question alone like acid on his skin and organs. Shriveling his stomach and bringing bile to the middle of his throat choking him. Bringing perhaps the worst images possible he could ever possibly imagine of how his life would be without her. .

But perhaps that was also why, had he been willing to answer her question, the reason on whether or not he would have asked her the same. Asked her whether or not Jinx would have agreed to the same terms she had so boldly given to him. To take his own life if he ever so asked her. Because unbeknownst to her, Ekko had often asked himself that question as well. On whether or not he'd too want his life to end at the hands of his best friend, his partner, the woman who had saved it in the first place perhaps never even knowing that she did. . . . 

And it’s for that, that the answer comes quickly to him. Immediate, thunderously loud and enthusiastic with every soft-kiss he gives to each of her knuckles and fingertips as he watches her sleep.

Yes. 

Yes.

A Thousand times and Forever

Yes _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Notes: Ah young love, is there anything truly more romantic than two lovers vowing that if they should die that there’s no better way to heaven then by each other’s hands?

Well maybe for these two there’s nothing more romantic then just that, but as we can see one just happens to be a bit more open about the idea compared too the other. Ekko naturally happens to be really subtle over the fact he’s tired of this mortal coil just as much as Jinx is, compared to Jinx, whose explosive personality often tends to hide a much more tragic underbelly. Hence her bluntness forwardness and tendency to start throwing curveballs such as this at him.

But it all certainly doesn’t help that in the end Ekko is just a hopeless romantic by heart.

After all, wherever SHE goes, he goes too and if she dies you bet your sweet ass he’s going with her one way or another. And though he’d rather not think about it for the time being. . .least we know how’d he’d like to go if he so must

Ah young love indeed. . .

[lordofmelancholy]

Anyone’s welcome to do it for my fics!

•Normalize Fanart for Fanfics Again You Fools•

It's not cringe anymore (it SHOULDN'T be cringe anymore), just do it. You're doing something you enjoy, who cares what anybody else says! So spread the words my fellow internet brethren.

Spread the Word :)

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: The Apprentice

In Silent Frontiers, long before the actual events that transpired currently in the story, Heimerdinger had first been introduced to Zaun after having visited the town in an effort during one of his many tours around the world to endorse his new academy and search for potential future recruits looking to enroll in his school. 

It was during this time on one of his many trips that he came across young Ekko (known back then as Wyeth jr) and Powder (actual name unknown). 

Having been a major fan of his book’s since he was old enough to read them, young Ekko had long since idolized Heimerdinger and automatically became thrilled at finally being able to have the chance to meet his “Hero”. 

Throughout his time in Zaun, it wasn’t long until Heimerdinger also saw the potential in both the kids, even taking his time out to tutor both Powder and Wyeth, the end resulting in him and young Wyeth striking up a peculiar yet adorable mentor/teacher friendship relationship, with the Professor even coining his “young fan” the nickname Little Genius- (an ironic title since Ekko would soon grow to be taller than him in due time). 

However, the friendship didn’t last so long. Soon after Heimerdinger returned to Piltover, and both Ekko and him did not see each other until many years later when Ekko was finally old enough to attend the academy with Jinx shortly after graduating High School. 

Upon entry to the Academy, Ekko and Heimerdinger reunited, with the boy’s ex-mentor having recognized Ekko’s voice even years after last seeing him. From this point on, it is revealed that despite the promise to return, that Heimerdinger had long stopped visiting Zaun like he used to years prior. As a result many people in Zaun now refer to Heimerdinger as The man of false promises; with even Ekko sharing some animosity toward the professor due to having grown the mentality that he “abandoned them” as well.

Despite this however, it is shown throughout his time at the academy, that in-spite of what had happened and what he might think or believe, that Ekko still holds massive amount of respect toward the old man, with instances of him even taking an automatic dislike for anyone (including teachers) who end up making a mockery of Cecil. 

As such, it isn't long before the pair once again partake in their old mentor-student routine with Heimerdinger taking the young man under his wing and aiding Ekko with his inventions, along with guiding him with all the other help that he needs.

As a result of this, their friendship ends up growing again, to the point that Heimerdinger, proud of his pupils achievements begins talking to Ekko, about the potential of the young man taking part in one of the new books that Heimer is in the process of writing.

This of course thrills Ekko and he automatically agrees, with the professor taking him in as an apprentice. 

However the pride and joy are short lived when Ekko and Jinx unfortunately must leave the academy and return to Zaun following an incident involving Jinx that occurs nearly a year into their studying. As a result, the pair lose contact once again.

And then came the Events of Silent Frontiers. . .

When Ekko and Heimerdinger finally meet up once again, when Heimer as well as Jayce Talis, both escape Piltover together, Ekko can sense that Heimer seems a lot different now. Heimer avoids him upon finding Ekko, and after finally cornering his old mentor who he finds has been hiding out in an aquarium that years prior Heimer had funded for the town, Ekko finds the old man to be incredibly fatalistic and apparently suffering from a personal crisis, upon seeing what had become of the town and region that he had come to love.

It is there in the aquarium, that Ekko and Heimer finally converse with each other, and Heimer openly begins to admit to Ekko that his efforts to reduce the world's suffering like he had always wanted had only left it worse than it was before- becoming increasingly distraught the more he talks. Finally, Heimerding admits to Ekko his mistaken compliance over the years, as well as inadvertently funding many of the projects that now seem to be the cause to much of Zaun’s suffering. Especially one project in particular which while Heimerdinger refuses to delve deep into for the time being, states it as is the reason why he had turned on Piltover and made his way down to the Exclusion Zone, as he fears the results could be catastrophic.

Heimerdinger continues, stating to Ekko that he had hoped that much of the work he had contributed too, would have been used to instead aid Zaun as he had once hoped to do himself but was left unable too. However that turns out not to be the case and as a result, the old man laments his failures towards both Ekko and the town, stating that he had let everyone down and that he had indeed given up too soon, like many had accused him of doing long before. 

Despite this however, Ekko still seems to rally for his mentor; simply replying that while he had every right to hate him, him being here now even if it took him a while, was proof enough too Ekko that Heimerdinger still cared enough to try and fix things, no matter how it turned out; even pointing out how the old man had been willing to turn against Piltover and it’s wrong doings, especially in committing to the albeit stupid act of coming down there to the Zone. 

While seemingly still not convinced, after much coaxing, Ekko finally convinces Heimer to work with him, stating that it’s not too late to change things, which Heimer seems to agree too (and takes to heart) and the old man states that he will do his best to help however which way that he can, which he does, the pair once again becoming partners and working together, to help Zaun prepare for whatever is to happen.

At some point during the Zaun saga however, Heimer runs into an old colleague, Corvin Reveck, now known as Singed. Remembering his pupils words, Heimerdinger attempts to placate the now apparently mad-scientist, not knowing that this is the man that people now called Singed, someone who even Ekko often talks about with great disdain.

Unfamiliar and unaware of his colleagues new identity, knowing him still only as Reveck and assuming by now that he has long stopped working for NOXUS, Heimerdinger continues to try to get coax to his old friend, promising that he will attempt to rectify the grievances he had once committed toward Reveck, and that they can change things now together if only Reveck comes with him

Unbeknownst to Heimer however, Singed still holds a grudge against the scientist for past grievances, including one involving the professors reluctance to help him too perfect his Shimmer project, which he had created in order to help his ailing daughter; something that Heimer was well within his right to do, especially given the consistently unstable product and unethical experiments that Reveck had often once committed in order to further his research.

In a fit of madness, Singed violently turns on the professor, pulling a gun and shooting him three times in the back while Heimer, believing himself to have finally gotten through to him, turns to lead him out the door.

Ekko soon arrives soon after and finds the now mortally wounded professor, left to die alone. Despite his injuries however, Heimer continues to aid the young man even as he slowly starts to succumb to his wounds. 

During this time, Heimerdinger also finally answers a question that Ekko had once asked him years prior when Ekko was just a child. One that Heimer seemingly had never answered; a shocking thing to the young man, as Heimer had always seemed to have an answer for everything and would never turn down a question or brain teaser

But the one question he could never answer after all these years? 

“Why did Heimer choose him”

Only now it seemed that the old man finally found an answer.

He actually really doesn’t know.

And that truly makes him happy.

When Ekko questions it, Heimerdinger states that every professor's dream is to find that one student who finally stumps them. That one, out of all others that they have taught in their years, who stands out the most above all solely because they are the only ones who truly managed to throw their professor's for a loop. Heimer then states, that even now years later, that he had struggled for the right and true answer as to why he had hand-picked Ekko above all the blue-bloods who attended his academy to be his apprentice.

Perhaps it was because the kid made him feel alive. Made him feel some sort of way when it came to science that he hadn’t felt in a while. Had felt like Ekko had finally gave purpose to a life that Heimer was just trudging along through these last few years.

Heimer also admits that for years since Ekko had first asked him, that he can’t find an answer worth giving. That no matter how hard he thinks, he couldn’t think of one that was solid enough to answer Ekko's question truthfully, one that felt right. So instead he says, that while he may never know the real reason as to why he had chosen Ekko as his apprentice all those years ago, that Ekko had nothing to worry about:

Because for the first time in his life, Heimer was Ok with not knowing. For what he did know, is that no matter what, that he had never made a mistake 

and it’s a statement that shocks Ekko, for he always knew of the professors inherit need to know the answers for every question that could be asked. That he never took something unanswered for face-value. But while he doesn’t get the clear answer he had long hoped for, Ekko for some reason, perhaps based on that alone and now filled with the knowledge that he had stumped the unstoppable. . . suddenly feels pride like he hadn't felt in a long while. 

Sometime later, Ekko finally sits the old man down once again so the pair can rest as he tries to come up with a plan. However as he’s looking around and thinking, a thought occurs to him and Ekko suddenly starts to try and spark up a conversation with the old man to lighten the mood. . .

“So Professor, what do you think? Think you can still squeeze me into that new book of yours, hahah. God knows when we get out of here, you’ll have enough to write about at least huh”

. . .

Professor?

. . .

“Heimerdinger. . .?”

. . .

. . .

Oh

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Heimerdinger and Singed

They had been friends once. . .Heimerdinger and Singed. Long before the events of Silent Frontiers, long before even the thought of a Zaun Exclusion Zone had been born into someone's mind, Singed, having then once been known as Corin Reveck, was an old respected colleague of Cecil B. Heimerdinger.

No one knew for certain how long the pair had worked together. How long they had been work partners. What people did know, in what little of the two they had remembered, was that there were always disagreements between the two.  Seemingly always a conflict of interests.

Heimerdinger was often one who proposed ethics; a thorough lookover of their experiments before they ever proceeded on with experimentation. Reveck on the other hand however often disagreed; often argued with him even that pushing the boundaries and going beyond the mold is what they were meant to do. After all, is that not what scientists do? Push boundaries, break down walls.

Defy what was once thought impossible 

("The fish didn't stay in the sea. It grew legs, and braved new sands, new soils, Doctor.")

("The fish didn't have any rationale. Didn't have the weight and the collective well being of his fishy brethren and nation behind them. We do, doctor, so let us put this shimmering project on hold.")

How long had it been, since Cecil had last seen his friend. . .too long he suspects. Far too long. He never expected to run into Reveck again after so long. Had never suspected to believe that his old friend was still even alive until he had learned that even now Reveck still walked the earth despite what Heimer had originally thought.

In the act of trying to right his wrongs. To fix his mistakes, Heimerdinger had suddenly run into a crazed scientist who didn’t at all seem right anymore. Was a far cry from the man Heimer had once known. Perhaps the zone had finally got to him in the end, perhaps maybe constant failures finally drove him insane. Or perhaps just maybe it was something else entirely. Who knew but Heimer could tell he was not the same anymore. He was less put together, less methodical.

He was. . .different

But different didn’t mean anything to Cecil. Because deepdown he had assumed that despite there obviously being something wrong with his old comrade, that fate had brought the two together for a reason. That maybe there was a chance he could right his wrongs starting with his old friend. Maybe Heimer had remembered all the good times they used to have. Remembered all the work they had done together. And maybe that's why Heimer tried to get through to him, to get him to change and understand and come and help him fix everything.

Maybe seeing his old friend was why Heimer even tried to promise him that whatever he wanted he would help him. To make up for the mistakes of the past or something.

But when he had came in, Singed had believed it was a ghost at first. Some spirit, perhaps an apparition of sorts that his lack of sleep had conjured, come to taunt him. That thought was banished however, as the smaller man rambled on with his promises, and Singed found himself embarrassed for even half a moment while he considered the truth.

Cecil was here. 

Cecil, his mentor, his cohort, his old friend. 

He was here

But despite that all Singed could hear as he looked down was old conversation. . past thoughts that rambled in his head whenever he was alone.

Thoughts that had slipped through the more methodical and educated positions of his psyche.

("The fish didn't have any rationale. Didn't have the weight and the collective well being of his fishy brethren and nation behind them. We do, doctor, so let us put this shimmering project on hold.")

Oh that chat. . .Singed probably recalled that old conversation millions of times beforehand. But what was once in pieces was now so vividly clear as Cecil spouted his apologies and promises at him. And all Singed could do was come to the conclusion of one thing.

His betrayer was here Reveck had always been a proud man, a disciplined man. Yet the moment his daughter, his little ori' became sick, he remembered when he had turned himself into something pitiful; pathetic. He remembers even now how long ago he had once begged the man in front to help him, to push and escalate their findings, to just give shimmer yet another chance when all it had done previously was to be a failure.

Cecil had of course, had denied him. 

More than denied, Reveck remembered. Cecil had reported him. His findings. His research. His experiments that pushed the boundary beyond what many thought possible. That which had helped him so much in his findings of bringing his daughter back. 

Gone. . .all given to the authorities. All taken away. 

He himself taken away.  All that progress gone. Everything that pushed to the future, setting him right back to square one

So much time lost. 

So much time away from Ori' wasted.

All because of him.

Had it not been for NOXUS, Singed still believed that he would be rotting in that cell. But things had changed. Dare he even say it, it got better. 

A new office, new lab, new subjects better than what Cecil could have ever provided. In return all he had to do was work. Was experiment. Was create, and he was good at that. . .very good. He gave NOXUS all that it wanted and in return he had gotten what he had wanted as well.

And in turn for that, he had long forgotten his old friend. The man who had helped to put him in a cage. Who had made him waste so much precious time. Reveck often likes to think himself as a man above petty squabbles. Often thinks of himself as not too prideful of a man. But looking at Heimer now, hearing him sprout out the same nonsense. The same song and dance, it's just....

It hits him. Right then. Something smacks in his head. Brings pain but yet also brings to him a rapture-like sense of clarity he hasn’t felt in a long while.

Heimerdinger was, in all areas, a good man. A brilliant man. Yet he was a man too tied to the past; one who kept looking back and wanting to learn from it even as others strived for tomorrow. To Reveck now, in order for tomorrow to come, this viewpoint had to be gotten rid of.

The view was discredited, thrown to the wolves.

He didn’t care what Cecil promised now.In order for Singed to have his research be left in peace, Heimer had to go.

It was good that he learned from the girl's parents. The one’s from that experiment that so tragically went wrong, went unexplored and ended in him barely escaping  the barrels of a grieving father and mother.

It was because of them after all that he always carried with him a firearm constantly now. More than that, that he always kept his eyes on anyone else in the room with him. Lest he gets yet another barrel aimed and pressed to his very head.

Poor Cecil

Poor stupid Cecil

Always so trusting. So willing to see the good in people. Maybe there’s an instance where it looks like Singed believed him. A moment where in the mist of crazed eyes that there’s a look of familiarity that maybe convinces him that Heimer had gotten through to him. Had finally convinced his old friend to see reason. To put down all the past grievances between them and come with him. To help him to right their wrongs Together like it should have been years ago. Maybe Cecil suspects it even looks like Singed is remembering the good times he used to have with his old friend as well, that maybe he understands.

To bad he never saw the gun in Reveck’s hand when he turned his back on him

That was until he heard the pop

But by then, Heimer really didn’t have to worry about much anymore.

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Heimerdinger and Ekko's Past: Short Overview

Hey did you know that similarly to the show, Ekko and Heimerdinger are friends in Silent Frontiers! The ever eccentric Professor Cecil B. Heimerdinger is not that much different compared to his show counterpart. A renowned and highly respected figure in the Piltover community, Heimerdinger stands in as a scientist and professor as well as dean, who has helped mold the minds of young scholars at the Piltover Academy. Much like in the show, he is Piltover and perhaps the world's most innovative and esteemed scientist, famous for his discoveries and inventions. However, compared to the show, Heimerdinger’s connection with Zaun runs just a little bit more deeper.

Prior to his official introduction into Silent Frontiers, Cecil was a man known for putting his mind at the service of people who claimed to want to bring a better world for all. While not much is known about his life previously, it appears that his generosity towards others had led him to become an esteemed philanthropist as well as a famous celebrity who authored many books detailing his scientific discoveries and is even hinted at having won a Nobel Peace Prize sometime beforehand.

In Silent Frontiers, Heimerdinger was first introduced to Zaun after having visited the town in an effort during one of his many tours around the world to endorse his new academy and search for potential future recruits looking to enroll in his school. It was during this time on one of his trips that he came across young Ekko (known back then as Wyeth jr) and Powder (actual name unknown).

Having been a major fan of his book’s since he was old enough to read, young Ekko had long since idolized Heimerdinger and automatically became thrilled at finally being able to have the chance to meet his “Hero”. Throughout his time in Zaun, it wasn’t long until Heimerdinger also saw the potential in both the kids.

During his short time in Zaun, Heimerdinger took time out to tutor both Powder and Wyeth, the end resulting in him and young Wyeth striking up a peculiar yet adorable mentor/teacher friendship relationship, with the Professor even coining his “young fan” the nickname Little Genius- (an ironic title since Ekko would soon grow to be taller than him in due time). During this time, Heimerdinger also catches a glimpse at life in Zaun and feeling sympathetic over the blighted town, Heimerdinger did his best to help; promising he would do all in his power to attempt to aid Zaun in it’s woes. However, still being under Piltover jurisdiction, many of the things Heimerdinger promises end up falling through the cracks except for a small Aquarium that still stand's in Zaun during the events of Silent Frontiers.  Seemingly feeling disheartened over his inability to help, Heimerdinger returns to Piltover, and both Ekko and him do not see each other until many years later when Ekko is finally old enough to go to the academy with Jinx shortly after graduating High School.

Upon entry to the Academy, Ekko and Heimerdinger reunite, with the boy’s ex-mentor having recognized Ekko’s voice even years after last seeing him. From this point on, it is revealed that despite the promise to return, that Heimerdinger had long stopped visiting Zaun like he used to years prior. As a result many people in Zaun now refer to Heimerdinger as The man of false promises; with even Ekko sharing some animosity toward the professor due to having grown the mentality that he “abandoned them” as well.

Despite this however, it is shown that Ekko still respects the old man, with instances of Ekko taking an automatic dislike for anyone (including teachers) who end up making a mockery of Cecil one way or another. It also isn't long before the pair once again partake in their old mentor-student routine with Heimerdinger taking the young man under his wing and aiding Ekko with his inventions, along with guiding him with all the help that he needs. Soon Ekko and Jinx become star students in the Academy with a bright future ahead of them, much to Heimerdinger’s esteemed pride and joy.

However the pride and joy is short lived when Ekko and Jinx unfortunately must leave the academy and return to Zaun following an incident involving Jinx that occurs nearly a year into their studying. As a result, the pair lose contact once again.

And then come the Events of Silent Frontiers. . .

[lordofmelancholy]

JINX! :D

she looks so gorgeous! :D thank you so much I love her!

jinx for @lordofmelancholy 's arcane au silent frontiers 🩷🩷🩷 TYY FOR WORKING WITH ME ON THIS I HAD SM FUN<33

speedpaint vv

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane Silent Frontiers: Isha's Shimmer Surgery Extension.

Addition to THIS POST Here

_ _ _

The thing about Isha in SF is. . .despite what many people might think she CAN indeed talk

She just sucks at it

And that's not to say of course that she sucks at talking, but that the action of talking sucks because the reason she can't is because it's basically a birth-defect that fucked up her vocal cords. Any word she CAN say however, when she ever chooses too, tends to be very hoarse and whispered and can at times actually hurt her. As a result of this, she doesn't tend to want to talk much. Finds no need in doing so when there's so many other ways to articulate her words so that people can understand her.

So when she finally talked, when she finally used the words that hurt her so much to produce, it was during a moment that meant something to her. A moment where she finally gives into those words. Vocalizes them first with her hands, the word finally bleeding out from those tiny, sly fingers words that she has practically screamed from that big, bright, golden gaze every time she looks at Jinx-

'Mama.’

But when Jinx didn't take it well, it really should have been of no surprise that Isha never uttered another word to her again during their entire spat. Never threw the word out despite Jinx pleading with her to do so later on. Because Jinx ends up of course beating herself up over it later on down the line once she realizes how stupid she’s actually been about all this. Realizing that Ekko was right, that everyone was right and even Isha was right about a lot of stuff. But her stupidity this time caused her to go and “Jinx” because it’s obvious that Isha is distancing herself from JINX now and it’s not the other way around.

When Isha gets hurt. When Isha nearly dies. Jinx never really leaves her side shortly after what happened. She never strays too far. She’s always close by. Always within reach. But while part of it is her just being observant, there’s also another reason as to why.

She keeps trying to apologize

She's trying to apologize because the thought that Isha is going to die with the thought of Jinx not caring in her head absolutely terrifies Jinx to no end now. Jinx is distraught over it because not only could she possibly lose Isha, but she’ll also lose Isha at a point in time where there’s a big chance that Isha hates her.

But the issue is, even now Isha doesn’t hate Jinx. And that’s the sad part. Made even more sad by the fact that she never did, nor does she think she ever could deep down. It’s just that she’s hurt- She’s hurt because in the process of pushing her away, Jinx had also said things that just got Isha the wrong way. Because as we all know when Jinx is scared, Jinx can’t shut up for shit and has to put her foot in her mouth.

But she never hated Jinx And she doubted she ever could And maybe that was why, on the day both Ekko and Jinx had gone to Singed for help. On the night that Isha had died. Isha was still willing to put herself through so much more Agony. All in the effort to simply call Jinx Mama just one last time.

One moment. . .that one moment after calling for Ekko, her papa, as blood and bile pool in her mouth and garbled her words and choke her- Isha looks up at Jinx who keeps trying to talk to her. It’s hard to see her. Hard to hear her now, though she doubt’s Jinx is saying anything different then what she’s been saying for who knows how long now; pleading and pledging that this will fix everything and that everything will be ok. But in the end in, her attempts to convince the child too well through the agony just fall on deaf ears. Perhaps literally in some sense.

But then there comes a humming noise out of the blue. Like someone's trying to say the letter M....but she never gets to say it

"Mmm"

(Stutter Choke Gasp Wheeze)

"Ma. . .mmm"

(Stutter Choke Gasp Wheeze)

"Ma. . ."

Isha doesn't notice the wide eyes that suddenly stare down at her. That sudden beam behind them as hands touch at her face, pull her hair from her forehead. Hold her cheeks in the palms of sweaty blood and shimmer soaked hands. Those hopeful words that encourage frantically for her to say the word. Perhaps thinking that if Isha just says it once that everything will be fine. . .

(Stutter Choke Gasp Wheeze) "Everything will be fine" Jinx says as she encourages as she tries so hard to believe so. Holds her tight as she tries to entice Isha to say that ONE word that no doubt will fix everything in her eyes

(Stutter Choke Gasp Wheeze) "Everything will be. . ."

(Wheeze. Choke. Gasp) "just fin-". . . . . . The humming suddenly stops The trying suddenly stops with a dreadful hiccup

(Silence)

No more talking (Huff)

(Huff. . .Huff. . .)

Isha's body is loosening now under Jinx's grip.

(GASP. . .Huff. . .)

She's quiet

(Hu. . .ff)

Silence

Stillness

Stillness?

Quiet

“Isha!” _ _ _

Ekko always had the better sense of the two. . .was always smart to the dangers of things and not as 'throw caution to the wind' as Jinx was. He had his fun of course; pissing off raiders and such groups despite trying to promote peace was always fun. . . .

He knew what shimmer could do. . . What the use of it entailed. But desperation to save what was most precious to him had overridden his judgement, had overridden their common sense

To convince Jinx to do this took time. But he promised her things would be fine. . . and things WOULD be fine because they couldn't be NOT fine. . .they couldn't BE any other way. Too much tragedy in his life; in BOTH of their lives forbade him from thinking anyway else.

But now he tastes Isha's blood on his lips. And it doesn't even taste like how blood should. And he feels nothing under his hands no matter how much he tries. No matter how long he continues to push himself. And the cooling blood and shimmer and mist in the air makes the room humid and he's knows he should be hot, should be sweating bullets from fatigue and exhaustion

but all he feels is cold

After all, is there anything more so as undoing to a person as a child. As a daughter

So many titles So many names

All start after the girls first huff, All persist after her final. As if saying something anything might fix it might encourage her to just get up

Pet names, nicknames, shakes, begs, plea’s, they go through the motions in the form of so many names. So many titles. So many words, each with a dozen different meanings and stories behind them. Each uttered so reverent in the past now wheezed, sobbed, and choked out. It probably would be enough to move perhaps even the coldest hearts in the zone. But despite that it failed to so much as rouse even an inch from the still girl before them. Failed to flicker even the slightest bit in the stilled heart within her chest. But over time. . .the names and the titles. . .they finally stop coming.

Ekko persists more of course. He feels like it's all his fault, that all of this is. So he keeps trying long after exhaustion eats his bones muscles and nerves to rawness.

but there's something amiss about it all

A voice is missing from the sorrow.

Jinx is quiet now. . .very quiet

As if the weight of something is pressing against her own vocal cords, silencing her.

Maybe it's the fact that. . .after so long. . . ever since their fight. . .

She almost got to hear Isha call her mama again.

[lordofmelancholy]

Arcane: Silent Frontiers: Zaun Exclusion Zone Lore: City-Zones

The Zaun Exclusion Zone encompasses a large swath of territory East of West Virginia. While the exact size of the zone is generally unknown, the territory of the city of Zaun ITSELF is large enough to be split into 5-6 sections known as City-Zones

City-Zones, are sections of the city of Zaun that have been split into various different districts each run by a gang formally known as Chem-barons. Following the military's abandonment of Zaun, many Barons looked to once again take back what they believed to be their portion of the city.  As a result many Chem-barons split the city into pieces and began fighting for control over the power of their respective district, leading to mass infighting and territorial disputes causing the entire suburban district to erupt into a civil war between gangs.

Typically speaking, each section of the zone is named based around the area of the map they are located on: Center zone North zone South zone East zone and the West zone. Multiple other sections of land and much smaller groups also make up bits of the Zone, but are generally considered a part of the main 5. There are rumors of there being a Sixth section of the zone, but it is generally unclear since the movements of the particular faction said to run it tend to be highly secretive. Central City-Zone The Central City-Zone, is generally what is generally considered to be the Lanes District. The largest of all the districts known, it was originally run by Vander during the first half of the shutdown. However now it is currently run by his adoptive daughter and her boyfriend. Compared to all other zones within the city-limits of Zaun, The Lanes District is often said to be the safest as well as the best fortified from Aberrants.  While they have often tried to stay out of most of the infighting between other factions, the Lanes have tried their best to remain diplomatic; attempting to convince other Zones of unity and not division. However this has yielded few results except for peace between it and the East City Zone. South City-Zone The South City-Zone, also known by people as the Scrapyard, lies as the name suggests at the southernmost part of Zone just outside the outskirts of the city. Aside from being the burial grounds to heaps of junk vehicles, scrap and other refuse, it is home to the Chem-Baron Smeech and his group the Scrap Hackers; who reside in one of the old factory buildings and seem to have an unhinged obsession with anything having to do with metal. Ruthless scavengers, Scrap Hackers are genius' in engineering and often make their living by scavenging parts of old disused equipment to use in various experiments. Though very recently it is rumored that they have crossed paths with military-grade equipment. What they plan on doing with it is unknown, but given that the South Zone is one of only 2 parts of the zone not completely connected to the city, rumor has it Smeech has plans far beyond his own territories and interests North City-Zone The North City-Zone also known as the Hush Zone, is a massive complex located within an Eastern mountain range on the outskirts of Zaun. The factory that makes up the main bulk and territory within this Zone was originally constructed in the late 19th century and appears to have originally been a coal mine. However the mine went dry and the factory shut down sometime in the early 20th. Since then, the mine and factory both became an historic tourist attraction before being officially shut down due to safety concerns in the late 20th. It was originally scheduled to be torn down shortly before the shutdown of the town , but now instead is home and base to Chross the boss of the Hush Company. 

While many of Chross' and Thus Hush's dealings are of the informative type, Chross is a well-loathed man for many reasons. He is well known to prey on those less fortunate and despite carrying himself as a "proper" business man, is known to dabble well and deep in the Slave Trade, exploiting those to work for him regardless of age race or creed. As a result many of those working under Chross present as individual slavers operating on commission for slaves. Because much of the region is vast and mountainous between towns, those on their own or towns with few protections are often ripe for the pickings.

However, the number of slaves present compared to the number of slavers is actually remarkably low, implying greatly that those captured are being used for something else elsewhere. Currently, Chross is in conflict with the East Zone, or the "Red Light District". East City-Zone The East City Zone, also known as the Red Light District, Redline Zone, Rapture Road or Vyx's Road is a district located on the Eastern Side of the city and home to the city's strip clubs, night bars and Vyx-controlled territory. It is different from others as it is only accessible at night and the district is home to many businesses that cater to natures of the flesh. Madame Margot is the baron who runs it all, however compared to the other Barons, Margot appears to be the most level headed and calm of the bunch. Unlike the others, she tends to stay on her side of the city and never interferes with the businesses of others or attempts territory pushes, more likely to negotiate then start turf wars. 

However, again unlike the other Barons, Madam Margot also seems to be on good terms with the Lanes District. Mutual respect between the two has led to an easy-going partnership and proven highly beneficial to both. In addition, mutual respect also seems to be due to a shared hatred both have for Chross and the Hush Zone and their doing with Slavery/trafficking. In fact Margot's hatred for Chross is said to be so strong that even in the beginning before the official shutdown, tensions have been drastically high between the two factions.

So strong in fact that even now Vyx-Road has been in a shadow war against the Hush with the aim of liberation. However, due to a recent series of retaliatory kidnappings and raids on several of their safehouses and former headquarters, sometime during and prior to events of the game, Margot is said to have brokered a peace deal between the leaders of the Lane's and herself in exchange of the protection of someone Margot thinks highly of, who was afterwards sent to stay at the lanes over Margot fearful of her safety due to the increasing hostilities between the two factions. West City-Zone The West City Zone is what remains of Chemical Plant No. 16. It is a large industrial complex located just west of the Zaun-City District and is one of the many publicly-known facilities in the area. Before the shutdown, the military had created numerous "camouflage" facilities over the years; buildings that looked like one thing but were simply a facade prop for another. Whatever this plant in particular was used for is greatly unknown because it was one of the last ones created and had remained greatly unfinished.  Despite that, during the advent of the Revo Wars, the plant had become the scene of numerous firefights between The Military and Survivors, that ultimately determined control over this side of the industrial district of Zaun. Later on, in the wake of the chaos, the reigning champions who would ultimately take over the plant and its surrounding territory turned out to be the Sludgerunner faction with their leader Renni. What they do exactly in this plant is generally unknown. However given Renni's long extensive history involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of varying illicit substances, many of which can be classified as chemical warfare, it's safe to say she has gone back to her old habits.

City-Zone 6, while not on the map, is heavily implied to be Finns section. However because his company, the Slickjaws, specializes in elimination services and purveying both weaponry (including poisons) and manpower for large-scale operations, it's implied that the scale of his operation may be too big for his territory, or that he just tends to move around a lot. Members of his gang can be seen roaming the streets from time to time as special NPC's; though when talked to they will refuse to say where they're stationed when questioned and may even become incredibly hostile if pressured into talking by repeatedly asking them.

Slickjaw's will only appear outside of the Lane's; roaming the unclaimed lands between the Lane's and all the other factions. They will never enter under any circumstances, and when talking to Slickjaw NPC's, when asked about it they seem to imply that the gang have an apparent fear of Sevika due to a past incident with her. Though they often refuse to specify or elaborate what that incident is, one can piece together with what they DO say that it had something to do with Finn.

[lordofmelancholy]

Hey question for the Jayvik side of the arcane fandom, is there like a universal last name that you guys collectively use for Viktor? I’m thinking of starting fanfiction about the two but I can’t pick a last name for Viktor to save my life xD

[lordofmelancholy]

2 for the ask game :))

Ironically if you can believe it

her! she’s been fun!

[lordofmelancholy]

✍️ more fic writer asks!

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