#Patchwork Stitching Machine
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thedreadvampy · 2 months ago
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Now we're getting somewhere!
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nemo-draco · 10 months ago
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Picture I've had on stand-by for a bit. Was originally gonna be part of a two set but the second one wasn't coming together. Saturday morning cartoons with the kids.
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naamahdarling · 3 months ago
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I woke up with the urge to quilt something a week ago. I have never quilted anything and don't know the first thing about it, so I have tried to ignore it.
The urge hasn't left me, and has only gotten worse.
It would be hand quilting since I don't get along with machines and don't enjoy, at all, using them. I do enjoy hand stitching, and would like to experience that link to the past. I would like to make a blanket, just once.
I don't need another intermittent hobby to take up space in my studio. But this would be so cute in pastel brights.
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aspenmissing · 5 months ago
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Oooookay okay okay. I will never be over those accidental babies but I come in with a new request!
I'm thinking something along the lines of a super creative reader; a fiber artist and seamstress making clothes and quilts and anything that can be made with a sewing machine. I'm a sucker for pining (like, SUCH a sucker for pining), but instances of pre-relationships where she's made something for the one(s) she's secretly pining for (and is definitely a little shy about it).
I'd like to see with just about all the guys from Arcane and JayVik (your other writing is slowly turning me into a Silco fan, too.)
ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴠɪᴋ | ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ | ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ || ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ/ᴀɴɢꜱᴛ-ɪꜱʜ ||
10364 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ || ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ (ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ)
ʀᴇQᴜᴇꜱᴛ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀ: ᴀᴀᴀᴀᴀᴀʜʜ ʏᴀʀɴ! ᴍʏ ᴅᴇᴀʀ, ꜱᴏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ! ɪ'ᴍ ɢʟᴀᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ʙᴀʙɪᴇꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴏᴅ! (ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ ꜱɪᴅᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴍɪꜱꜱɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ;)
ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ | ᴠᴀɴᴅᴇʀ | ꜱɪʟᴄᴏ
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JAYCE
Y/N sat in the quiet of her room, the soft hum of the sewing machine her only company as the late evening light streamed through the window. Her fingers moved nimbly, guiding the fabric through the machine, her mind lost in the rhythm of creation. She loved this; the flow of creativity, the way each stitch brought something new to life. It was her escape, a refuge where she could shut out the world and pour her heart into the things she made.
Today, however, her thoughts were far from the quilt she was piecing together. They kept drifting back to Jayce.
She had always admired him from a distance, Jayce being the best friend of her late mother’s brother—her only family. A brilliant inventor, a man who could charm anyone with a smile, his aura of intelligence and quiet confidence often drew others to him, but Y/N had always found herself fascinated not just by his mind but by the way he carried himself, the kindness he showed to those he cared about. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew people in—Y/N included. And she had tried, for months, to ignore the fluttering in her chest whenever he was near, but that never worked. The feelings only grew stronger. He never seemed to notice her the way she wished he would, always lost in his inventions and work, but she found her own way to show her affection through little, quiet gestures. She didn’t need him to know. She just needed to feel close to him.
=
It had been weeks since she'd secretly altered his academy uniform. The buttons on the jacket had been loose and misaligned, a small detail that bothered her every time she saw him in it. He was always so engrossed in his work, often absent-minded, that she knew he’d never notice the small imperfections. Without him knowing, she’d carefully fixed them, stitching each button with precision and care, ensuring they were perfectly aligned. She even added a small decorative patch inside the sleeve, something no one would ever see, just because she knew that if he ever did, it would make him smile.
But he hadn’t noticed. He was too focused on his work, too consumed by his genius to care about such small things.
Y/N let out a deep, frustrated sigh, leaning back in her chair and running a hand through her hair. Maybe it was time. Maybe she should just tell him. The thought of confessing her feelings made her heart race, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready for that. What if it ruined everything? What if it ruined their easy camaraderie, their friendship?
She sighed again and glanced at the quilt she was working on, but her mind refused to settle. The patchwork of colours, the simple joy of creating, felt like a distant memory as her thoughts turned once again to him.
Meanwhile, across town, Jayce sat in his cluttered workshop, deep in thought. The plans for his latest invention were sprawled across the desk in front of him, an amalgamation of ideas and blueprints that he hoped would take his research to the next level. But his mind kept wandering. To Y/N.
It had become almost impossible to ignore her presence lately, and not just because she was constantly in his orbit, helping with errands or offering encouragement in quiet moments. No, it was the way she made him feel that had started to occupy his thoughts. How her creativity seemed to weave light into everything she touched. How she was always so thoughtful, so dedicated. Whether she was sewing a piece of clothing or making quilts, her focus and artistry were awe-inspiring. Even when she wasn’t directly around, he would think of her in the quiet moments—her laugh, the way her eyes would light up when she spoke of something she loved.
Then there was that one moment when he had caught a glimpse of the patch inside his academy jacket sleeve. It was small—almost hidden—but it had made him pause. Someone had taken the time to fix his uniform without his asking. A simple gesture, one that made him smile. But he hadn’t been able to figure out who had done it. Whoever it was hadn’t mentioned it, and Jayce hadn’t thought to ask, dismissing it as a small thing. But it lingered in his mind. The patch, the care, the mystery of it.
=
That night, after a particularly long day filled with setbacks in his work, Jayce found himself walking past her door, drawn by the familiar hum of the sewing machine. He knocked lightly, hesitant, before stepping inside without waiting for a reply.
“Hey,” he greeted, leaning against the doorframe, his tired smile softening the exhaustion on his face.
Y/N looked up from her work, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of him. She quickly tried to hide the quilt she was piecing together, knowing that if he saw it, he’d ask about it. She hadn’t finished it yet, and it was still too personal for her to share. But Jayce had already noticed the burst of colour.
“What are you making?” he asked, his voice warm, curiosity dancing in his eyes.
Y/N chuckled nervously and shrugged casually, hoping her emotions weren’t as visible as she felt they were. “Oh, just a quilt,” she replied, her voice a little too nonchalant. “I like to keep my hands busy, you know?”
Jayce smiled, his gaze softening as he took a step closer to her. “You always make the most beautiful things. I don’t know how you do it.”
Y/N’s cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. “It’s just a bit of practice,” she said, trying to downplay her skill. “You can make anything if you put your mind to it.”
He took another step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’ve always been so creative, Y/N. It’s not just the things you make, but how you bring everything to life. You inspire me more than you know.”
Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. His words were unexpected, leaving her momentarily speechless. There was something about the way he said it—soft, sincere—that made her feel as though he might just be seeing her for the first time in the way she’d hoped. “I… I’m just making things for fun,” she said, her voice shaking ever so slightly, hoping he couldn’t hear the longing that crept in.
Jayce, however, didn’t miss the way her fingers fidgeted with the fabric, nor did he miss the way her gaze dropped for a moment as if she were hiding something. His heart tightened in his chest. He had noticed the little things—her quiet glances, the way she would always be there with a thoughtful gesture or comment when he needed it most—but he hadn’t allowed himself to truly acknowledge the growing feelings inside him. He had convinced himself that it was just a fleeting thought, nothing more.
But standing in front of her now, feeling the electricity in the air, he couldn’t ignore it any longer.
He cleared his throat softly. “Well, I just wanted to thank you, by the way,” Jayce said, shifting the weight in his posture as though he’d been meaning to say this for a while.
Y/N raised an eyebrow, her gaze still downcast. “Thank me? For what?”
“The jacket,” he said, lifting his sleeve slightly to show her the small patch inside. “I noticed it, and… I really appreciate it. You didn’t have to, but it’s a nice touch. You’ve always been so thoughtful, Y/N.”
Y/N froze, her heart hammering in her chest. He had noticed. She hadn’t expected him to, but the way he was looking at her now made her feel exposed. She didn’t know what to say, so she spoke quickly, desperately. “I… I just thought it needed fixing,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “It was nothing.”
Jayce smiled, a tenderness in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. His voice dropped lower, filled with sincerity. “It wasn’t nothing. It meant a lot to me. You’ve always been the one who makes everything a little bit better, just by being you.”
Her breath caught in her throat, and her pulse quickened. She looked up at him, her heart beating faster as the air around them felt heavier. The unspoken words between them seemed to hang like a thick fog, waiting to be broken.
“I…” she began, her voice barely a whisper. “I think I need to tell you something.”
Jayce’s heart skipped a beat at the vulnerability in her voice, and he stepped even closer, closing the distance between them. “What is it?”
Y/N hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. Could she really say it? Could she expose her feelings after all this time? She inhaled deeply, steeling herself before speaking.
“I’ve been making these things for you,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “For a while now. Without you knowing. I’ve been trying to show you how much I care, in little ways, even if you don’t notice. But I didn’t know if you’d ever see it... or if you’d even care.”
Jayce reached out gently, his hand cupping her cheek in the most tender of gestures. “Y/N, I care. More than you could ever know. I think I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you that for a long time.”
The words hung between them, a confession unspoken until now. Before Y/N could respond, Jayce closed the gap between them, pressing his lips gently to hers. It was soft, tentative, but there was something undeniable in it—a recognition of the love they had both kept hidden for so long.
When they finally pulled away, their foreheads touched, and they shared a quiet laugh, realising that this had been what they had both wanted all along.
“I think I’ll need more of your little creations,” Jayce murmured against her lips, the playful glint returning to his eyes. “Maybe I’ll ask you to fix my clothes more often.”
Y/N chuckled, feeling the weight of her secret finally lift. “Maybe you will, Jayce. Maybe you will.”
For the first time, it didn’t feel like a secret anymore.
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VIKTOR
Y/N’s fingers worked in a rhythm that had become second nature to her over the years—stitch, pull, knot, repeat. The sewing machine hummed steadily beneath her as the hours passed, unnoticed by her. The soft light in her workshop cast gentle shadows over the shelves of colourful threads, piles of fabric, and completed projects. Yet, among all the fabric she had touched in her life, this one felt different. Every strand, every stitch, felt like an expression of something more than just creativity—it was a piece of her heart woven into every seam.
Her mind had once again drifted back to Viktor. She found herself in a state of constant yearning for him, even if she tried to suppress it. After all, Viktor was brilliant and driven, a man consumed by his work. She had spent so many years working alongside him, but she’d never found the courage to tell him how she felt. Instead, she focused on her creations, using her hands to express what her words could not.
The thought of Viktor was never far from her mind. She remembered the time, months ago, when she’d first noticed how his leg brace seemed to rub uncomfortably against his skin. Viktor, always so absorbed in his work, never seemed to notice the discomfort, but Y/N couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. So, without a word, she had taken matters into her own hands. Quietly, late at night, she had added some extra padding to his brace, making it a little softer. She didn’t tell him. She couldn’t bring herself to. But when he had worn it for the first time, she had caught him glancing at her with a look of surprise—and something more, something unspoken, that made her heart race. It wasn’t the most dramatic gesture, but it was hers, and that small act of care had meant everything to her.
=
Now, as she sat at her sewing machine, Y/N was working on something far more personal, something that she wasn’t sure Viktor would even notice—but it was something she needed to do for him. It had started out as a simple act of wanting to do something nice for him, but it had quickly turned into something far more complicated, the emotions woven into the fabric of every stitch.
She was making him a jacket—tailored to perfection, fitted to his form, with a deep, rich burgundy fabric that would complement the shade of his eyes. The fabric was soft but sturdy, the kind of material that could withstand long hours in his workshop while still offering him comfort. She added small, intricate details—a delicate embroidered pattern at the cuff, a hidden pocket inside the lining, just for him. The embroidery wasn’t loud or obvious. In fact, it was so subtle that it could only be appreciated by someone who took the time to look closely. Viktor would never be one to wear anything flamboyant, but she knew he would appreciate the effort, the quiet care put into it.
The jacket was far more than just a gift. It was her way of showing Viktor that she saw him—that she saw not only his brilliance, but also his quiet struggles. She noticed the way he winced sometimes as he moved, the tension in his body from working so tirelessly, his reliance on the cane to support him when his leg ached. This jacket, she hoped, would offer him not just warmth, but a sense of care—a small token of comfort.
As she stitched, Y/N couldn’t help but think of how Viktor would react. He was so focused on his work, so consumed by his inventions, that she often wondered if he even had the capacity to notice things like this. Would he even recognise the effort she had put into making him something so personal? Or would it be just another object to him, like all the others she’d made for people over the years—something useful, but not anything more?
She shook her head, pushing the doubts away. She was doing this because she wanted to, because he mattered to her. That was enough.
She finished the last stitch, running her fingers over the fabric, feeling the weight of her emotions within it. She only hoped that Viktor would recognise the love she had woven into every thread, even if he never said it aloud.
=
The steady rhythm of the machine was interrupted by a soft knock on the doorframe. Y/N’s heart leapt into her throat. She looked up, and there stood Viktor, framed in the doorway. His figure, so familiar, yet always startling to her in moments like this, stood with his usual intensity. His dark eyes met hers, and for a moment, she thought she saw something shift in them, something softer, but it was gone in an instant.
“Y/N,” he said, his voice a low, melodic tone that always made her stomach twist. “I hope I’m not interrupting. I just wanted to—” He faltered, his gaze flicking to the fabric she was working on, then to her. “I’ve been thinking about something. Perhaps you could offer me your thoughts.”
Y/N quickly hid the jacket under a pile of fabric, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. “Of course, Viktor. What’s troubling you?”
He moved closer, his eyes scanning the room as he seemed to search for the right words. He always did this, Y/N noticed. His mind constantly shifted between ideas, a thousand thoughts racing at once. She loved how his mind worked, even if it sometimes meant he didn’t notice the little things. Or maybe, just maybe, he did notice—but was too focused on his work to say anything.
“I’ve been refining some of my calculations,” Viktor began, his tone slightly distracted as he shifted his weight, leaning on the cane that had become a constant companion. “But I feel like there’s something I’m overlooking. You’re the only one who always sees things others miss, Y/N. I could use your perspective.”
Her heart fluttered again, but she pushed aside the longing that threatened to overwhelm her. She nodded, focusing on the task at hand. “I’d be happy to help.”
=
As they moved to his desk, Viktor still seemed a little distracted, his brow furrowed in thought as he adjusted his grip on his cane, steadying himself. His eyes darted over his notes and calculations, his mind a whirlwind of equations and hypotheses. Y/N could see it in the way his shoulders tensed, the subtle way he leaned into his cane when he forgot to stand fully upright.
She loved these moments with him, even if they were fleeting, even if they didn’t change anything. Viktor was here, and that was enough.
Her thoughts, however, remained on the jacket she had made for him. Would he ever wear it? Would he ever realise that it was her way of saying all the things she couldn’t say out loud? Or would it simply be another creation in his ever-growing collection of inventions and projects?
But as she helped him with his calculations, something in the air shifted—a quiet tension between them, unspoken but palpable. Viktor’s hand brushed against hers, just for a second, and she could have sworn she felt the softest of sparks. Perhaps, just perhaps, he was starting to see her, to see all the things she had longed to show him.
And maybe, just maybe, one day, he would notice the jacket. And when he did, she would be waiting, her heart laid bare in every stitch, every thread, every moment of care she had woven into it.
=
Years had passed since that quiet, unspoken connection between Y/N and Viktor had begun. What had started as a secret longing, a quiet affection woven into the fabric of every stitch she made, had evolved into something deeper, something real. She still remembered the moments they shared, the hours spent together, working side by side, exchanging glances that held a thousand words. And now, as she stood at the altar, Viktor’s eyes locked on hers, everything that had once been unsaid, unspoken, was now there in the open, in the purest form of love.
The church was dimly lit, the gentle light of candles flickering along the pews, casting soft shadows over the gathered friends and family. But the world outside had all but faded into the background. There was only Viktor, standing at the front, dressed in the jacket she had made for him all those years ago.
The deep burgundy fabric, so soft yet durable, still held the same warmth, the same careful stitches she had woven into it. It seemed to almost glow under the light of the candles, every small detail—every tiny embroidered pattern at the cuff—still as beautiful as the day she had made it. It was almost as though the jacket had waited for this moment too, holding all the years of their journey together. Viktor had worn it countless times in the years that followed, but today, it felt different. It wasn’t just an article of clothing; it was a symbol—a symbol of how far they had come, how much they had endured together. And now, on their wedding day, it was more than ever, a reminder of the quiet care she had put into it, all those years ago.
As Y/N walked toward him, her heart seemed to beat in time with the soft rustling of her gown. Her thoughts were a whirlwind, but one constant remained: Viktor, the man who had quietly become the centre of her world. The jacket—his jacket—was there, a reminder of the early days when she had hidden her love for him in the softest of gestures.
Viktor’s gaze softened as she approached, and for the first time, there was no question in his eyes. He had seen it all, all that she had ever wanted to say. His eyes swept over her with the same quiet reverence that she had once felt when sewing that jacket. The jacket she had made for him, not knowing how the years would unfold, not knowing that it would one day be worn on this day—their wedding day.
When she reached him, Viktor took her hands gently, his gaze not leaving hers. "You still remember," he murmured, his voice a quiet reflection of the emotions swirling between them.
Y/N nodded, her breath catching as she saw the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. "Of course I remember. I remember everything."
He looked down at the jacket, then back at her, his eyes soft with affection. "It’s never left me, you know. I’ve worn it more times than I can count, but today... today it feels different." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I wanted to wear it today, to wear the love you put into every stitch, to wear you as we stand here."
There were so many things left unsaid between them, but in that moment, words didn’t seem necessary. The past, the present, the quiet yearning from years ago—it was all woven into the fabric of that jacket. It was in every thread, every stitch, every moment they had shared since then.
=
The officiant spoke, but Y/N's attention was entirely on Viktor, the man who had quietly stolen her heart all those years ago. As they exchanged their vows, as they promised to stand by one another through everything life had to offer, she saw it—the weight of all their shared moments reflected in Viktor’s eyes. He was wearing the jacket, yes, but more than that, he was wearing her heart, and she his.
When the ceremony came to its close and they were finally pronounced husband and wife, Viktor’s hand slipped into hers with the same tenderness she had always known, the same tenderness that had always been there, quietly waiting to be acknowledged.
And as they walked down the aisle together, Viktor’s jacket—her jacket—glowed with a quiet brilliance, just as it had all those years ago, when she had stitched it with the hope that one day, he might see her love for him, in all its subtlety, in all its care.
Now, here they were, standing side by side, not just as two people who had fallen in love, but as two hearts intertwined, with all the years of longing, of creation, of care, wrapped around them like the jacket that Viktor wore so proudly. The jacket was more than just fabric. It was the fabric of their love story, woven with patience, with hope, with trust, and now with the joy of a future they would share together.
And when Viktor looked at her, his gaze as steady as it had always been, she knew one thing for certain—he had finally understood all along.
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JAYVIK
The sun had just begun to set, casting a soft orange glow over Piltover’s skyline. Inside her modest studio, tucked away from the noise of the city, Y/N worked with a needle and thread. The rhythmic hum of the sewing machine was like a familiar lullaby as she focused intently on the quilt she was creating. Each stitch was deliberate, each fabric chosen with care. Her craft was a reflection of her soul, a blend of artistry and precision, and though she had countless patients in the medical ward, this was her sanctuary. A place where she could pour her heart into every thread, even if it was a thread she couldn’t yet share.
Y/N hummed quietly to herself, her fingers deftly guiding the fabric through the machine. She had always loved the process of creation—the way a simple piece of cloth could transform into something beautiful with just a little time and patience. Yet, lately, her thoughts often drifted to Viktor and Jayce, both of whom had become so important to her in different ways. She wished she could say something, but the fear of ruining what she had with both of them kept her quiet.
Her mind wandered to the first time she had made something for Viktor. It had been a late evening when she’d been working on a jacket for him, stitching together fine, rich fabric with delicate precision. She’d hesitated before gifting it, worried it might come off as too personal, yet the soft hum of the machine had given her the courage. The quiet moment when Viktor opened the small bundle of fabric had stayed with her. His eyes softened in appreciation, and for a brief moment, she’d seen a flicker of something more—a connection that made her heart race, but one she didn’t dare name. He had simply thanked her, and in his gratitude, she had swallowed down the emotions that swirled within her.
She smiled at the memory but felt the familiar ache in her chest. The quiet pining for Viktor had always been there, simmering under the surface. He was brilliant, driven, and had a kindness about him that she admired deeply. But despite their moments of closeness, it always felt like there was an invisible wall between them. She never quite knew how to cross it. But she cherished the glances, the brief exchanges of words that made her heart flutter in a way she couldn’t quite control.
Then there was Jayce.
Oh, Jayce. The brilliant, exuberant force of nature who filled every room with energy. The man who had always looked out for her like a protective older brother, but she had come to realise that there was something more to his affection. He teased her relentlessly, always with that smile that never seemed to fade. Yet, she could see it—how deeply he cared. He had been there for her in countless ways, just as Viktor had, but in a different light. She remembered making him a vest once, tailored perfectly to fit his broad shoulders. The intricate patterns she stitched into the fabric had reflected the boldness of his personality. He had grinned like a child on his birthday when she handed it to him, his eyes bright with that warmth that made her heart skip a beat.
The pining had started there too, subtle and slow, like the weaving of threads in a tapestry. She had tried to dismiss it, thinking that perhaps, like Viktor, Jayce only saw her as a friend. The small acts of kindness they showed, the gentle teasing and shared moments, all remained unspoken. She kept her feelings buried deep, hoping they’d never notice. But how could they not, when every thread she wove into her creations was a secret declaration of affection?
=
But tonight, she was finished. She had just completed the last stitch of a new project—a quilt she had been working on for days. It wasn’t as intricate as some of her other creations, but it was personal. The colours were soft, the patterns intertwined—much like her thoughts of Viktor and Jayce. She had chosen the fabrics carefully, pouring into it a quiet wish that maybe one day, they would realise how much she cared. Would they ever see her as more than just their confidante? More than just the woman who made their clothes, their comfort?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door.
"Y/N?" came Viktor’s low, warm voice. "Are you still working?"
She smiled, standing up from her chair and walking over to the door. She opened it to find Viktor standing there, his cane resting beside him, his sharp eyes flicking to the quilt in her hands before meeting her gaze. She noted the concern that clouded his expression.
"You’ve been working late again," he said, his voice laced with both concern and tenderness. "You really should rest. You’ve done enough for one night."
Y/N laughed softly, a playful glint in her eye despite the weight of her emotions. "I know, Viktor. But I just needed to finish this. It’s been on my mind all week."
Viktor’s eyes softened, his features betraying the faintest sign of worry. He stepped inside, glancing around the studio with an appreciation she always found comforting. His attention quickly shifted back to her, the quilt she had just finished catching his eye.
"You always put so much into your work," he said quietly, reaching out and gently running his fingers over the fabric. His touch lingered, and she felt a flutter in her chest at the closeness. "It’s beautiful."
Her heart skipped, and she fought to hide the blush creeping up her neck. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
There was a brief silence, thick with the unsaid things neither of them spoke. Viktor’s gaze lingered on her, an unreadable expression on his face. And for a moment, Y/N thought she might drown in the weight of his attention.
=
Before she could respond, the door opened again, and Jayce strode in, his usual confident gait betraying a tenderness in his eyes when they landed on her. The corners of his lips tugged up into a mischievous grin, but it softened as soon as he caught sight of the quilt.
"Did you finish it?" he asked, his voice light, though there was something more behind it. "I hope you’re not going to try to keep it from us."
Y/N laughed again, more freely this time. "No, it’s for both of you."
Jayce’s grin softened further as he moved closer, his gaze playful, but with an edge of something deeper—something Y/N tried not to read into. "You really do spoil us, don’t you?"
Her heart fluttered, but she held her composure, a small smile curling at her lips. "It’s just a small thing. Nothing too special."
Viktor stepped forward, his expression serious yet gentle. "To us, Y/N, everything you make is special." His voice was quiet, almost reverent, and it made her breath hitch.
Her chest tightened, the sincerity in his voice wrapping around her like a soft blanket. Was this the moment? Would they finally see her for what she was—not just the woman who made their clothes, but the woman who had quietly loved them both for so long?
"I’m glad you like it," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. The air between them felt charged, thick with the unsaid things that hung like delicate threads in the space between them.
Jayce’s hand rested gently on her shoulder, and for the briefest moment, she could feel the tenderness he tried to hide behind his usual bravado. The way his fingers brushed against her skin sent a spark through her that almost made her dizzy. "We love it. We love you, Y/N," he said softly, his words wrapping around her heart like a comforting embrace.
Viktor’s gaze flicked to Jayce, and then back to her. There was a softness in his eyes that made her stomach flutter, his gaze holding hers with a quiet intensity. "Jayce is right," he agreed, his voice low and steady. "You’re important to us. More than you realise."
Y/N’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. They were so close now, standing in her small studio, the distance between them vanishing with every word they spoke. The connection she’d felt for so long was suddenly undeniable, woven through with every glance, every touch. She could feel it—a thread that pulled them all together.
And then, as if in unison, both Viktor and Jayce reached out, their hands brushing against hers in the same instant. The touch was soft, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through her veins. It was a spark—quiet, but undeniable.
"Maybe it’s time we talk," Viktor said, his voice steady, yet there was a softness there that made her chest ache with longing. He stepped closer, his hand lingering near hers.
Jayce’s thumb brushed over her hand, sending a thrill through her that left her breathless. "We’ve been wanting to, for a while now," he added, his voice sincere.
Y/N’s heart soared, the quiet ache of unspoken affection finally breaking free. The thread of their shared feelings, woven so carefully through time, finally began to unravel, drawing them closer. It was a beginning—a slow, tender start. And for the first time, Y/N let herself believe that maybe—just maybe—her pining might finally be returned.
=
The soft hum of a crackling fire filled the cosy living room as Y/N sat comfortably on the couch, her legs tucked beneath a thick, woven blanket. The evening light bathed the room in a golden hue, and the warmth of their shared home wrapped around her like a familiar embrace.
Her hands worked deftly, needle and thread gliding through the fabric of one of Jayce’s suits, mending a small tear along the seam. A small smile played on her lips as she traced the well-worn material, recalling how many times she had stitched up something for him—whether it was his suits or Viktor’s jackets, she had always taken care of the two men she loved. And now, as her gaze drifted down to the swell of her belly, she knew she’d soon be caring for someone new.
Her pregnancy had been a dream so far, and despite the weight she carried, she had never felt more at peace. Viktor and Jayce had been doting beyond words, tending to her every need, often to an almost comical degree. But she loved them for it—loved them for everything they were and all they would become.
Just as she finished the final stitch, the sound of the front door opening caught her attention. She glanced up, amusement flickering in her eyes as she heard the telltale murmurs of her lovers, their voices hushed yet brimming with excitement.
Then, they appeared.
Jayce and Viktor stepped into the living room, their smiles wide and unmistakably mischievous. The sight of them—one tall and broad-shouldered, the other lithe and sharp-eyed—filled her heart with warmth. They were up to something. She could see it plain as day.
Her brow arched in suspicion as she set the suit aside. “Alright,” she drawled, resting a hand on her belly, “what did you two do?”
Viktor smirked as he walked over to her, his cane tapping lightly against the wooden floor before he carefully lowered himself onto the couch beside her. Jayce, ever the dramatic one, sat on the coffee table directly in front of her, his eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement. In his hands, he held a small bundle of fabric.
“We made something for you,” Jayce said, his voice tinged with pride. He turned the fabric over, revealing a tiny onesie—albeit, one that was crudely stitched together, the seams uneven, and the buttons slightly misaligned. It was far from perfect, but the love and effort put into it made it the most beautiful thing Y/N had ever seen.
Her breath caught in her throat as she reached out, her fingers brushing over the soft material. “You two… made this?” she asked, her voice full of wonder.
“Hand-stitched and everything,” Jayce grinned. “Well, mostly hand-stitched. Viktor got impatient with me and took over halfway through.”
“I would not call it ‘impatience,’” Viktor said with a smirk, his fingers ghosting over Y/N’s hand as she held the onesie. “I simply could not watch him continue to butcher the stitches any longer.”
Y/N let out a laugh, shaking her head as she turned the tiny garment in her hands. It was a little rough around the edges, but it was made with so much care and devotion that she couldn’t help the tears that welled in her eyes.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered, holding it close to her chest. “Absolutely perfect.”
Jayce leaned forward, resting a warm hand on her knee. “We wanted to do something special,” he said softly. “You’ve always taken care of us—always stitching up our clothes, making sure we’re looked after. We figured it was time we tried to make something for you… for them.”
Viktor’s hand gently rested over Y/N’s belly, his touch featherlight yet full of love. “We wanted to give our child something from us,” he murmured. “Something made with our hands. A beginning.”
Y/N sniffled, brushing away a stray tear as she looked between the two men who had become her world. Her heart felt as if it might burst from the sheer love she held for them.
“You two are going to be the most incredible fathers,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Jayce beamed, his fingers tightening around hers. “And you,” he said, pressing a kiss to the back of her hand, “are going to be the most incredible mother.”
Viktor pressed a tender kiss to her temple, his voice barely above a whisper. “We are a family. That is all that matters.”
Y/N closed her eyes for a moment, letting the warmth of their love settle deep within her bones. In that quiet, precious moment, with their hands entwined and the tiny onesie cradled against her chest, she knew without a doubt—this was happiness. This was home.
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VANDER
The steady hum of the sewing machine filled the dimly lit backroom of The Last Drop, the rhythmic whirring blending with the faint murmur of voices from the bar beyond. The scent of old wood, ale, and candle smoke mingled with the faint traces of fabric dye and thread wax, a smell that had become comfortingly familiar to Y/N. Her small workstation was cluttered but organised, bolts of fabric stacked neatly to one side, a basket of unfinished mending beside it. Spools of thread, needles, and small scraps of cloth lay scattered across the table, evidence of the late nights she spent here.
Her fingers moved with practised ease, guiding the needle through worn fabric, repairing yet another tear in Vi’s jacket. The girl was rough with her clothes—climbing, fighting, running through Zaun’s underbelly without a care. But Y/N never complained, never hesitated to patch up every tear and stitch every rip. Because Vi, Powder, Mylo, and Claggor—they were family in every way that mattered.
“You spoil them, you know.”
The familiar voice pulled her from her focus, low and gruff but tinged with something warmer than mere amusement.
Y/N didn’t have to look up to know it was Vander. The scent of ale and leather, the way his deep voice carried with a certain weight—it was unmistakable.
“They’re kids,” she replied without pause, finishing off the stitch with a deft flick of her wrist. “They tear their clothes faster than I can fix them, but they don’t have many to begin with. Least I can do is keep ‘em from falling apart at the seams.”
Vander exhaled a quiet chuckle, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorway, watching her work. His broad frame nearly filled the entire space, his presence as steady and unwavering as the bar he protected.
“They adore you for it, you know,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “Powder won’t let that rabbit out of her sight.”
That made Y/N smile, a small, fond expression that softened her features. She had made that stuffed rabbit from scraps of fabric, carefully stitching it together after seeing Powder clutching a threadbare piece of cloth as if it were a proper toy. It was a simple thing, but the way Powder had beamed when she received it—holding it tight like it was the most precious thing in the world—had been worth every stitch.
“She needed something to hold onto,” Y/N murmured, setting Vi’s jacket aside and reaching for another garment in need of mending. “Something that’s just hers.”
Vander was quiet for a moment, watching her hands work, the glow of the candlelight casting a golden hue over her skin. She was always doing this—fixing things, putting care into every thread, every patch. Not just for the kids. For everyone.
“And what about you?” Y/N asked, breaking the silence as she glanced up at him. “Still wearin’ that scarf I made you?”
Vander scoffed, a teasing glint in his eyes, but his hand instinctively tightened around the fabric. The scarf had been a gift from her last winter, something she had pressed into his hands with a quiet “Zaun gets cold, you know,” as if she wasn’t completely aware of how stubborn he was about taking care of himself. It was a simple thing—nothing extravagant—but she had chosen the fabric carefully, making sure it was thick enough to keep out the Zaun chill.
He hadn’t taken it off since she gave it to him.
“Best scarf I’ve ever owned,” he admitted, voice quieter now, the words carrying more weight than he likely intended.
Their eyes met, a brief but lingering moment stretched between them. She could read him better than most, could see past the gruff exterior, past the strong front he put up for everyone else. There was something unspoken in his gaze, something in the way his fingers absentmindedly traced the worn edges of the scarf, something in the way he stood just a little closer than necessary.
He pushed off the wall with a small shake of his head, as if breaking whatever spell had settled between them. “You should charge more for your work.”
Y/N only laughed, shaking her head. “And have half of Zaun freezing or running around with holes in their trousers? Not likely.”
Vander huffed, muttering something under his breath about her being ‘too damn kind for her own good.’ But there was no real heat behind it. He wouldn’t change her for anything.
She watched as he walked back towards the bar, the blue of her scarf still wrapped around his neck, the candlelight catching in his silvering hair.
She didn’t miss the way his eyes softened as he looked at her before turning away, the unspoken words hanging between them like a thread waiting to be pulled.
Not yet. But maybe someday.
=
The following days passed in a steady rhythm, much like the quiet whir of her sewing machine. She continued her work, fixing torn garments, mending stuffed animals, and occasionally stitching together something entirely new. The bar bustled with its usual energy—clinking glasses, murmured conversations, the occasional burst of laughter or the distant hum of tension from the undercity’s unrest. And through it all, Vander was a constant presence.
He found excuses to stop by her small corner in the backroom. Bringing her a drink she hadn’t asked for, leaning against the doorway with a watchful gaze as she worked, making small talk about the latest scuffle at the bar or how Claggor had managed to tear a hole straight through the knee of his trousers again. He never lingered too long, never said too much—but his presence was always there, warm and steady, like the faint glow of candlelight on a cold night.
One evening, as she finished a particularly intricate embroidery piece on a worn-out coat, she heard heavy footsteps approach. The familiar weight of his presence settled in the doorway before he stepped inside.
She looked up just in time to see Vander set something on the table beside her—a small bundle wrapped in cloth.
“For you,” he said simply.
Y/N raised an eyebrow, setting down her needle. She wiped her hands on her apron before carefully unfolding the cloth, revealing a thick roll of high-quality fabric. It was unlike anything she could find in Zaun, sturdy and warm, likely bartered from Piltover’s markets. The kind of material that would hold against the bitter Zaun chill, something made to last.
“Vander, this is—”
“Figured you might need it,” he interrupted, rubbing the back of his neck. There was something almost sheepish about the way he said it, as if unsure how she’d take the gift. “For…whatever it is you’re always makin’. Consider it a thank you.”
She looked up at him then, her chest tightening slightly at the rare hint of hesitation in his voice. He wasn’t a man of grand gestures, wasn’t one to put emotions into words easily. But this—this was something.
Her fingers ran over the fabric, feeling the softness beneath her touch. The edges were neatly folded, carefully bundled together, as if he’d handled it with more care than he’d admit.
“I’ll make something good with it,” she murmured, voice softer now.
His lips quirked into a small smile, the kind that was gone too quickly but left warmth in its wake. “I know you will.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of something unspoken settling between them. The candlelight flickered against the walls, stretching shadows long and soft. She could feel the unspoken words lingering in the air, the quiet understanding neither of them wanted to disturb.
Then, as if realising he had lingered too long, Vander exhaled and took a step back, turning toward the door. “Don’t stay up too late workin’,” he said over his shoulder, voice gruff but tinged with something gentler.
And just like that, he was gone, leaving her sitting there with warmth blooming in her chest, the weight of his quiet kindness settling over her like a well-loved quilt.
She traced the fabric with her fingertips, thoughtful. Vander wasn’t a man of words, but he had his own way of showing things—small gestures, quiet care. It had always been there, between them, stitched into every moment they shared.
Maybe someday wasn’t so far away after all.
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SILCO
The first time Silco truly noticed her, it was not because of her appearance or her sharp wit. It wasn’t even the way she carried herself, though that too intrigued him. No, it was because of the rip in his coat.
It wasn’t the first time his clothes had seen damage; as a man in his position, a leader with enemies at every turn, he had grown used to the wear and tear. The fight in the Lanes had been a typical skirmish—fists, knives, and threats exchanged over petty rivalries. He’d never imagined it would result in a tear down the side of his long, dark coat. He had barely noticed it in the chaos, but when he returned to the Underbelly, the jagged tear caught his eye.
At first, he considered simply tossing the coat aside, but something gnawed at him. Perhaps it was the way the fabric seemed to reflect the disarray in his mind after the conflict. His thoughts, much like his coat, felt torn and frayed at the edges. But then she appeared.
She was standing there at the entrance to his office, as though she had known he’d be there. There was something about her, something predatory in the way she stepped forward, almost as if she had been watching him for some time. Her sharp eyes assessed him immediately, but not with the usual wariness he was accustomed to. No, she took in the coat, the tear, and then—without waiting for permission—she moved to inspect the damage.
He had intended to wave her off, to brush aside the need for anything resembling care. But her presence was immediate, commanding, even without a word. The way she touched the fabric, her fingers sliding along the tear, tracing its path like a careful examination of a wound. She seemed to read the damage, as though she knew exactly how to fix it, where to pull, where to stitch.
“Leave it with me,” she said, her voice calm, almost amused, though he saw no mockery in her eyes. She said it with an assurance that left no room for argument. She already knew he would relent. And, to his own surprise, he did.
=
Silco wasn’t a man given to sentiment. His empire was built on dominance, control, and cruelty. He had no time for kindness, for softness. Yet here she was, standing before him, offering to repair a coat that, in his mind, held little value beyond its utility. But somehow, her words, her confidence, made him trust her in a way he couldn't fully explain.
She wasn’t from the grime and muck of the underbelly like most people in Zaun. She didn’t have the hardened edge that the typical denizens of the Lanes wore like a badge of honour. Instead, she had settled into the city like a delicate thread woven into an old tapestry—soft yet resilient, unfurling and unraveling at the same time. She had a sort of quiet grace about her, a sense of purpose that was both subtle and undeniable.
A seamstress. A maker of things. A woman whose hands were stained with ink and dyes, a patchwork of colours permanently imprinted into her skin from years of working with fabrics of every kind. She was a stranger to the underworld, and yet she had an undeniable place in it. The children of Zaun adored her. Her humble shop was always filled with the noise of their laughter, their cries for attention, their hands pulling at her skirts, eager to see what she was making next. They were drawn to her in a way they never were to anyone else—especially Powder, the youngest, whose fascination with Y/N’s work bordered on obsession.
And in a way, Silco found it curious. The children, so often abandoned and ignored by the world, had found solace in her presence, a warmth that he could not even begin to comprehend. And yet, he never doubted that she was something special.
After she mended his coat, a task that seemed so simple, so mundane, he found himself inspecting it more than he’d like to admit. He ran his fingers over the stitches, feeling the tightness of them, the precision in every movement. She had taken a coat that was merely a tool and turned it into something more—a symbol, perhaps, of her ability to see what others might overlook.
When she returned it to him, there were no formalities. She didn’t ask for thanks, didn’t expect anything. She simply said, “Good as new,” and watched him closely, waiting to see his reaction. It was not the typical response she’d receive from others, and she seemed to know it. He nodded. That was all. But he could feel it, a certain unspoken understanding between them. The coat, now mended, was a marker of something unspoken—something subtle and deliberate.
=
And then there was the waistcoat.
It appeared one evening, folded neatly in brown paper and left at The Last Drop without a word, no explanation, no card. He found it tucked away in the corner of the bar, a surprise that didn’t fit with the usual chaos of his life. He unwrapped it carefully, the fine fabric smooth under his fingers. It was a deep charcoal, dark but with an intricate emerald design embroidered along the edges—a delicate touch, but one that spoke volumes. The kind of thing he never would have chosen himself, yet it felt... right. It was understated, quiet in its elegance, but unmistakably hers.
That night, after a particularly grueling day spent managing Piltover’s politicians and the constant friction with the people of Zaun, he wore it. He didn’t think about it much at first, just slipped it on as if it were any other garment. But when he looked in the mirror, something tugged at him. It wasn’t just a waistcoat. It was something more—a symbol of her care, of her quiet, unnoticed influence on his life.
They did not have the kind of relationship marked by loud declarations or gestures. No, their bond was built in quiet moments. In the soft rhythm of her sewing shears cutting through fabric. In the weight of the threads, carefully pulled through delicate fabric. In the way her eyes always seemed to search him, studying him like the seamstress she was, looking for the places where the seams might have frayed, where the edges might have come apart.
=
One night, he found himself standing at the threshold of her shop, unannounced, a place he rarely visited without a purpose. But that evening, there was no agenda, no business to be conducted. He simply wanted to see her, to observe her in her element. She was sitting at her workbench, the dim glow of a single oil lamp illuminating her face as she stitched together a new garment—one of her many projects, one of her endless creations.
He didn’t speak at first. He simply watched, leaning against the doorframe, his gaze fixed on her hands as they worked with unshaken precision. The needle passed through the fabric again and again, a rhythmic dance that felt hypnotic.
“What is it tonight?” he asked, his voice low but breaking the silence.
She glanced up, meeting his gaze. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but it was fleeting. “A coat. For a friend.”
“A lucky friend,” he replied, his voice laced with quiet humour.
She didn’t answer, only hummed as she threaded her needle again. “Luck has nothing to do with it. Just care.”
And for a fleeting moment, a flicker of something passed between them—something unspoken, something deeper. She cared. He could see it in her hands, in the steady way she worked. She didn’t do it for accolades, didn’t do it for recognition. She did it because she cared.
The thought unsettled him. She wasn’t like others, who cowered beneath his power or avoided his gaze. No, she studied him, watched him, as if she could see beneath the carefully constructed walls he’d built around himself. And for reasons he couldn’t quite understand, he didn’t mind. In fact, he welcomed it.
Silco had made his name as a man of power, a man who controlled the shadows, a man whose empire was built on fear and ambition. He had forged himself from the broken pieces of the world around him. But when she looked at him, when she saw him as she did, he wasn’t Silco the tyrant or Silco the visionary. For a brief moment, he was simply Silco, a man who had a tattered coat and a waistcoat stitched with care.
=
Weeks passed in a haze of strained negotiations, political manoeuvring, and the steady grind of maintaining his hold over Zaun. Silco didn’t have the luxury of time to dwell on much outside of his empire, but there were moments—fleeting, dangerous moments—when his thoughts wandered back to her. The way she had touched his coat, the subtle care in every stitch, the way she never flinched under his gaze. There was something there, something fragile yet strong, like an ember flickering in the dark.
One evening, after a particularly grueling day, Silco found himself walking toward her shop again. He had no particular reason to be there. His coat was still intact, and he hadn’t needed any new clothes repaired. But something in the back of his mind told him he should check on her, to see if she was still as steady, as unwavering as she had been the last time he’d seen her.
As he approached her shop, the dim light spilling from beneath the door caught his attention. The flicker of the lanterns inside, the soft hum of activity—it was a rhythm he had come to recognise, one that spoke to the quiet dedication she had for her craft. It was late, later than usual. Silco hesitated for a moment, his hand resting lightly on the doorframe, considering whether to enter or not.
But then he heard it—the harsh rasp of voices, the unmistakable sound of a scuffle inside. His instincts kicked in, and he pushed the door open without a second thought.
=
Inside, the scene before him unfolded in a quick, brutal flash. Two men—rough, unkempt, with the stench of desperation hanging over them—had cornered her. One of them was holding a knife, its blade glinting ominously under the light of the lamp. The other was gesturing wildly at the shelves, clearly trying to intimidate her into handing over whatever they could steal.
Her back was to the door, and for a moment, Silco saw her—saw her not as the gentle seamstress who had repaired his coat, but as someone who had lived in the same world as him, someone who had faced her own battles. Her posture was calm, but there was a fire in her eyes, something that told him she wasn’t about to bend to their will.
"Just give us the damn money, lady," the one with the knife spat, his voice low and rough. "We’re not here to play games."
Silco’s mind moved quickly, calculating the best way to deal with this. He didn’t care about the petty theft. What bothered him was the way they were treating her—as if she were just another victim to be taken advantage of. As if she were weak.
But she wasn’t weak.
Without a word, he stepped forward, the door creaking softly as it closed behind him. The sound was enough to catch the attention of the men, who turned just as he moved closer. The one with the knife sneered at him, recognising the man who had brought Zaun to its knees.
"Who the hell are you?" the first man growled, his voice a mixture of surprise and aggression.
Silco didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he let the silence hang heavy in the air for a moment, allowing the tension to build. He wasn’t worried about them. The men were nothing more than irritants to him, mere distractions in a world full of dangers.
"You’re in the wrong place," Silco finally said, his voice low and measured, his gaze cold and unyielding.
The men exchanged wary glances. The one with the knife hesitated, but the second man, more desperate, growled. "You don’t scare us. We’ve got a knife. What’s it to you?"
Silco’s lips twitched, amused by their audacity. The tension in the room thickened, but Silco’s presence alone was enough to shift the balance.
The man with the knife stepped forward, brandishing the blade in an unsteady hand. "You want to make something of it, then? I’ll carve you up, just like I’m gonna carve her up if she doesn’t listen."
Silco’s gaze never wavered. He was calm, cold, the eye of the storm. There was no fear in him, only a sense of inevitability. Without a word, he reached for the concealed knife tucked in his belt. The men barely had time to register the movement before he had it in his hand, its cold steel glinting in the lantern light.
"Put the knife down," Silco said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife itself.
The second man, realising the situation had shifted, took a step back, his face contorted in confusion. But the first man—still gripped by his own desperation and pride—didn’t relent. He raised the blade, aiming to strike.
Silco stepped forward, his movements swift and fluid. His knife flicked in the air, and the man with the blade froze, his hand trembling.
"Now," Silco’s voice rang out like thunder.
The man’s resolve broke, and with a muttered curse, he dropped the knife to the floor. His hands raised in surrender, and the second man, seeing the fight drain out of his ally, backed away as well.
Silco didn’t need to say more. He watched as they stumbled towards the door, muttering under their breath, eager to escape the presence of the one man in Zaun they feared.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Silco turned back to her. He noticed the damage immediately—the rip along the seam of his coat where one of the men had caught it in the scuffle. A small tear, but enough to catch his eye.
Before he could brush it off, she was already moving toward him. Her gaze was focused, and without a word, she was inspecting the tear. The flickering lanterns cast a soft glow on her features, her expression filled with concentration as she ran her fingers over the fabric.
"You’re going to want to get that fixed," she said, her tone both calm and concerned. "Let me—"
"I’m fine," Silco interrupted, his voice terse, though he wasn’t entirely unaffected by the care in her words. "It’s just a small tear."
She barely looked up, already beginning to gather her tools. "It’s a shame," she muttered, her hands moving quickly to pull a needle and thread from her kit. "The fabric’s too nice to let it go to waste."
Silco raised an eyebrow at her, bemused by her reaction. Most people would have been intimidated, maybe even scared, at the thought of trying to repair the coat of someone like him. But here she was, entirely unfazed, focused on restoring something that was clearly important to him.
"I’m not sure you understand, this coat isn’t just a coat," he said, his voice softening slightly. "It’s… important."
She glanced up at him, meeting his eyes with that same steady intensity. "I understand," she said simply, before returning to the task at hand. "I’ll make sure it’s good as new. It’ll be even better once I’ve finished."
Her certainty was palpable, and it settled over him like a weight. Silco felt something stir within him—something unfamiliar and quiet. He hadn’t expected to be here, hadn’t planned on staying this long. Yet, in this quiet moment, with her focused on repairing his coat, he realised he didn’t mind at all.
Maybe this was where he belonged, at least for now. And maybe, just maybe, it was enough to stay a little longer.
197 notes · View notes
divagrace · 3 months ago
Text
Sewing Date
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SoftRafe x SweetPoguePrincess
Summary: SweetPoguePrincess loves to sew. It’s something that she can actually afford to do, and it saves her money at stores. So she drags Rafe along and orders them to make matching patchwork sweatshirts.
Warnings: None! Just fluff
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚ *ੈ✩‧₊˚
Y/N was constantly sewing. It’s something her mother had taught her before she passed away, both by hand and machine. Now it’s something that she has carried on ever since.
Y/N would sew dresses, shirts, pants, tank tops, and even socks sometimes if she found a cute fabric. Even if she’s not making something from scratch, knowing how to hem things is a really handy skill. Her friends were always coming to her so she could help them fix a rip or hole in their clothes.
Rafe noticed very quickly that Y/N loved to sew. Every time they were at a store she would intently look at the stitching’s of clothes, or longingly stare at a pretty fabric.
It fascinates Rafe that anybody would even have the need to sew unless it was there job, but that’s just another thing that Rafe will have to come to understand about not just you, but Pogues in general. Not everybody has had clothes thrown into their arms since they were just little children.
Another thing Rafe will have to get used to, is all the little crafts and projects you drag him into. A few days ago, you made him paint you, while you painted him. Of course your painting came out spectacular, and his just looked like a warped human.
And a few weeks ago, you guys made tie blankets. A trend was floating around social media about them and you just had to join. Minutes after you told Rafe, the two of you were on your way to Hobby Lobby to pick out your fabric.
But now you are dragging him down to his dock so you guys can sit with your toes in the water while you make patchwork hoodies.
You were just going to buy a hoodies from Michael’s, but Rafe insisted on buying nicer ones from online. And with some negotiating, you agreed as long as he let you pick out the design and everything.
He was going to let you do that anyways but he won’t tell you that.
So now you guys are sitting on the dock, and Rafe is patiently listening to the instructions that you are giving him. But sometimes he ends up watching your mouth more than what you’re showing him with your hands.
“Rafe did you catch that last bit?” You ask him. You really know that he didn’t, but it’s fun to tease.
“Oh yeah for sure.” He lies smoothly through his teeth.
“Okay then it’s fine that I push you in the ocean right now?” You ask with a cocky smile plastered on your face. His eyes widen to the size of saucers. He scrambles up from his sitting position.
“What no! I lied I didn’t hear what you said.” He says quickly. All that you’re doing is laughing, hunched over from your once relaxed frame.
“I was just kidding.” You giggle before quickly stopping after seeing the death glare Rafe is shooting at you. But not even he can stop the smile from spreading to his face.
Once Rafe actually starts to concentrate, you guys have a wonderful time making your sweatshirts together.
Race sits quietly, while you talk and talk. About anything. He will sometimes add some words or give you some advice, but Rafe loves hearing you talk. So he lets you.
You guys finally finish your hoodies just as the sun is setting over the water. Well, you had finished a long time before Rafe. So while you were waiting for him, you started making him a shirt that says ‘I love my girlfriend’ on it.
Rafe couldn’t figure out what it would end up saying but you know that he’ll love it.
The last thing that you wanted to add before being done with the hoodies is a little patch right on the sleeve where your hand goes.
You take Rafe’s hoodie, and he takes yours, and you guys both stitch, “ps. I love you” on the hoodie.
It’s so adorable and even when he thought you wouldn’t notice, you caught Rafe running his finger over the patch with a small smile ghosting the corners of his mouth.
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twosides--samecoin · 5 months ago
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Back in my sewing era because Fallout Fic Research (and also need clothes but it's ya boi No Dolla) thought I'd share a selection of videos from my research files about making & mending clothing without a sewing machine.
Humans clothed ourselves long before the advent of machine assistance. Your average Wastelander might need to take advantage of patchwork & hand- making and mending techniques - sewing machines need maintenance and would probably be a luxury. Textile making is a different problem to tackle that I'll post about later, but for now: Some videos that cover how Wastelanders might make & mend clothing without a sewing machine!
What You ACTUALLY Need to Make Clothes in an Apocalypse - Bernadette Banner please check her out if you love learning through a historical lens! You might know her from bangers such as
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Some mending techniques:
Boro is a textile repair technique that uses patches. Sachiko is often associated with elaborate geometric stitching. Both make use of existing materials and are examples of visible mending that have a low barrier to entry and a high skill ceiling. A Wastelander who takes up mending as a trade would be a much-valued member of a community- not only could you repair clothing this way, but you could make new pieces as well.
"Reflow" No.18 Boro Kimono - Mutsu by Prospective Flow
Basics of Sashiko 1 | Tools, Materials and Alternatives for Beginners - Xiaoxiao Yarn
Sashiko Boro-inspired Quilt Mug Rug Made with Fabric Scraps - Xiaoxiao Yarn
Visible Mending - Scotch Darning - boukhou
A Stitch in Time: 300 Years of Visible Mending - Helen Wyld, National Museums Scotland
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catnipster69 · 1 year ago
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Quilt Portrait Process
This may be of no interest to most of you, but with all the comments I got on my Impala portraits, I thought this would be of interest to some of you.
Original Photo
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This is the original photo I used--it's of a fan car ("Night Moves") that was at Denver con 2022. What a great photo!
Posterize
In Photoshop, I posterize the photo to get chunkier blocks of color. I just play with the number of levels until I get a good representation.
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Draw Lines
I place the posterized image in Illustrator (reversed) and then go to town drawing lines. The rule for pieced quilting is that every line you draw must go all the way until it hits another line. So for the first couple of lines, they go all the way from one end of the photo to the other.
I just keep drawing until I get something like this.
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Paint the Pieces with Color
I bring the outlines into Photoshop so I can paint each individual piece with a solid color that will match the (future) fabric. Sometimes posterizing can result in dark colors, so you have some creative liberty to make changes. Note that these are still just screen colors; the actual fabric will differ again.
Outlines:
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Colored:
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Number the Sewing Order
Paper piecing means that you sew through the paper and fabric. That way, you can be sure to place your seam perfectly.
Generally, in quilting, you want to sew a seam from one end to the other without running into any already sewn seams. For a traditional patchwork, this means you would sew 10 blocks, then sew a row of 5 blocks, and then sew another row of 5 blocks onto the first row.
Paper piecing is the same, but because no "block" is repeated, it's an exercise to determine the sewing order of each block, and then the sewing order of the blocks to each other.
A quilt like the Impala has a few hundred blocks of 1-15 pieces of fabric each. Within each block, the sewn size is near perfect. But sewing the blocks to each other introduces a lot of variability: the seams can be wider or narrower, or the alignment can be off. That's why the actual quilt looks "wonky" compared to the pattern. It's just not possible--for me--to get it perfect. If I didn't work so small, it would be easier.
Back in Illustrator:
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You can see that the black lines are pieces within a block. The red lines are blocks. And the green lines are sections of blocks. It all needs to be sewn in order. I will make small changes to the sewing lines at this stage to "make it sewable."
Printing
Because printers aren't the best at replicating onscreen colors exactly (good luck telling the difference between black and dark purple), I have to recolor it to "printable" colors and then do a swatch concordance.
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The bright green on the left actually represents lavender.
I print the pattern out on vellum, which is more durable than paper. Since this is 17" x 17", I will print out overlapping 8 1/2" x 11" sheets. Illustrator has a good printing function, so you can print the exact area you want.
Pick Fabric
I have collected a ridiculous amount of fabric. These want solids for the most part. Sometimes it's a challenge getting 5 shades of blue, or 6 beiges for their faces, so sometimes, I make color errors that I don't discover until later. Painful mistake. The above pattern uses 25 colors, but some of the faces use around 40.
Sew
This is a really challenging project. It would be easier if it were bigger! The pieces are so small, and when you start sewing blocks together, the layers get to be ridiculously thick with all the seam allowances. It's a true challenge to feed through the machine. Use a small stitch length; use a good machine with dual feed (Bernina!!! or maybe Pfaff).
Check out the back side of the previous Impala quilt.
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I pull out the paper as I go, otherwise it will get accidentally sewn in.
Finishing
I don't do complicated quilting here. The piecing is what's on show! I embroidered the Chevrolet and the license plate lettering. Some things are really too small to piece.
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Original Photo Again:
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Conclusion
I think anyone could do this, in theory. It takes a lot of patience. And your sewing machine needs to be quality. And it helps to know how to use Photoshop and Illustrator. And you need to "get it" when numbering the pattern, in a mathematical way. And it's helpful owning all the fabric.
If you do try it, make a larger quilt; this size with this level of detail is crazy making.
Check out all my supernatural quilts on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/catnipster69/
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leahstuff · 6 months ago
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Another Christmas quilt - this one completed! It’s been awhile since I’ve done straightforward patchwork - or whatever it's called when you sew just squares together. I found it relaxing.
I also haven't machine quilted anything myself in awhile (preferring to hand quilt, not quilt, or pay someone to longarm). For this one, I cut some white flannel smaller than the top, then "stitched in the ditch" (on the existing seams) to attach it, then I did a bagged out finish (I've read that it's called that when you sew the top and backing together around the edges, leaving an opening, then turn it right sides out, instead of doing a binding).
So it's quilted with flannel as a batting, and it's backed with the red flannel you see here. I like it, as it's sort of heavy, but also more flexible than lofty batting feels to me.
Also, I want to note that I now have some cute satin tags that I bought from EverEmblem on Etsy and they work really well for tagging my quilts (seen at the bottom of the finished pic).
Pattern: Just 6" squares Fabric: Holiday/Christmas/winter fabrics I pulled from my stash, including Jolly Darlings (by Ruby Star Society), Twas (from Riley Blake designs), candy cane stripe fabric from JoAnn, and others
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makereadgrow · 4 months ago
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On my new machine I wanted to see how it did on patchwork ASAP. Its technically not the first thing I finished on the machine (sweatpants hems were first, it did great on the stable knit even without a walking foot), but I did start this first.
I made 8 at a time HSTs with 5" charm squares so this finishes about the size of a composition notebook. Its quite wonky, not due to the machine but due to my shaky hands and the HST method I used (trim before pressing, I found they warped with pressing somewhat and because they were already trimmed I couldn't really fix them).
The charm squares were all leftover from other projects as the colors I did not like, this little mat will go to a friend who DOES like the colors. I told her to put a vase over the middle.
I also experimented with the wavy stitch on my new machine for the quilting, initially not loving it, but then realizing the sine wave relaxes when the stitch length is longer.
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inthemains · 5 months ago
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A quilting question because I have just seen your mini hexagon quilt and think that's an achievable way into quilting for me,
What is the paper *for*?
It's something I haven't yet understood and don't know anyone irl I can ask (or that I'm aware does quilts)
And, kind of what's the difference between quilt and patchwork? Can I do the cool hexagons without the top stitching and batting? (Mostly because I am currently broke and I have fabric and not batting)
Thanks for any info, and all the quilts in your quilt tag look really cool 🪡🧵
Hi! Great questions!
So, there's lots of versatility in the discipline of patchwork sewing! With English paper piecing (which is the majority of the projects that i've posted so far) paper inserts are used to assist in the assembling of the pattern. You start out with a pattern to work from (hand drafted, or found online or in a pattern book) and cut out the shapes in paper, and then attach the fabric to the paper (with stitching or glue), and then attach the pieces together by holding them face-to-face and hand sewing the edges with a tight whip stich. After attaching all the pieces together you remove all the paper inserts, and voilà!
It might be hard to visualize, so I recommend looking for some videos on youtube or wherever to learn more. Here're some stuff I have leftover from my star project showing the paper and the stitching.
The benefit of EPP is that you can sew angles and shapes that would otherwise be very difficult/undoable via machine piecing, and you can achieve very flat and neat corners. The downside is… well its hand sewing, which is straining and can take FOREVER! I enjoy it quite a lot, but it isn't for everyone.
As for quilting versus patchwork, I understand patchwork to be the general term for sewing different pieces of fabric together to make a pattern, while "quilting" really refers to the binding of the patchwork top to the interior batting and bottom face, creating a quilt. Here's my favorite secret about sewing: there is no right or wrong way to do these things, there are no rules! You can absolutely make a quilt without batting, or make a project with patchwork sewing but no quilting. When you start out with sewing sometimes you are really limited by the tools and supplies you have, trust me I get it. I made my first fullsized blanket by cutting up and hand sewing old shirts together cuz I had nothing else to work with. Go forth and experiment!
Anyway, I'll quit yapping now. Thanks for looking at my stuff, and I hope you give quilting or english paper piecing a try! The best way to learn is by doing :]
Peace!
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shiningstarr15 · 3 months ago
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The World’s Smallest “Doctor”
Behold! My official GGY/Dr Rabbit design! Based on multiple different sources of inspiration. The primary sources being Dr Hare from Poptropica and Max from Max and Ruby (aka my childhood) (don’t judge me)
Just wanted to polish this baby up to prepare for ggy week 😃
A little info
His schtick is basically “mad scientist/mad doctor” (think Dr Frankenstein, Dr Jekyl, etc)
He is the second follower of Glitchtrap (Vanny being the first)
He is tasked with two main jobs; keeping Vanessa in check, and is Vanny’s partner
Rab is not a switch, he’s in complete control at all times. Vanessa is aware that “someone” is working behind the scenes pulling strings, but is completely unaware of Rab’s existence (they are kept in separate living quarters so Rab is out of Vanessa’s eye when she takes control)
Gregory is in the “dark place” where he has no idea what’s going on in the outside world. He’s essentially in the equivalent of a comatose state.
Rab is created using the “fragmented mind theory,” in which Gregory’s own mindset is used to create what is essentially the “dark” version of himself. (With heavy influence and supernatural tweaking from glitchtrap)
Two Sides of the same coin
Vanny and Rab are both similar in many ways while also simultaneously being each others polar opposites
Vanny is wreckless and chaotic, Rab is more calculated and orderly
Both like to play games with their victims, with Rab being more about the “psychological” torment, and Vanny prefers the physical stuff
Rab’s charismatic energy allows him to entice potential victims into a false sense of security, using masterful manipulation tactics to make one start questioning their own thought processing and being able to listen to instincts (they trust him, despite their gut screaming at them not too)
Rab is a mastered hacker, able to completely rewrite coding in both simplified and complex machines as well as implement different programs into them (ie programming the virus into the pizzaplex systems)
Rab prefers to leave the actual dirty work to Vanny, whereas they have perfected a routine in which Rab will lure the victims to the pizzaplex, incapacitate them with a syringe, and deliver them unconscious to Vanny (he sometimes assists in her “work” but usually prefers to stay on the sidelines)
Dressed for success
Unlike Vanny, rab does not have a full on fursuit
He does, however, have off black overalls to perfectly contrast Vanny’s off white fursuit
His oversized jacket is spruced up and accessorized with rabbit ears and patchwork that was added on by Vanny herself (excess fabric from her own suit)
The overalls also have patchwork as well as cyan colored star buttons and lightning bolt stitched onto the chest
Freddy’s merch underneath it all since he lives at the pizzaplex
He also wears massive goggles as protective eyewear (he also thinks they look cool)
Note: patchwork and patterning of outfit contain subliminal 3 star/binarystar foreshadowing :3
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jackalgirl · 2 months ago
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Costuming
I cannot get over how much artistry and skill are on display in both Silo and Andor in the costuming of the characters. I mean, my goodness. I'm looking at Brasso's sashiko jacket in Andor and I'm thinking, "okay, maybe they have one of those sashiko embroidery machines like Prospective Flow uses to make patchwork kimono" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1l44Wl-4LA - here I'm using "kimono" in the broader sense of "clothing").
But then I look again, and I think the stitch lengths are irregular, meaning that there is an artist working in the costume department doing this by hand.
It just blows my mind. These two series have really taken it up a notch. The clothing is gorgeous. Mon Mothma's clothing has some seam lines that are totally non-standard and to me, seem to echo the high armscye lines that were meant to encourage upright posture (but that's not what they're doing here; it just captures that kind of line). And she's clearly wearing dresses in several scenes that I'm pretty sure were draped directly onto Genevieve O'Reilly's body and I'm sure they had to be secured so that she could take them off and put them on again for reshoots but this is the very example of bespoke couture.
Adam Savage did a whole video on the costume artists of Silo Season 2, as well, which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WdNywpDxIo
I am not a costume/clothing artist, though my grandmother certainly was and my mother inherited her gift, and perhaps I got a little of it too -- that is, there is some part of my brain that lights up like a supernova when I see really nicely-done clothing that pulls its inspiration from all kinds of cultures.
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creations-by-chaosfay · 2 months ago
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iveseenthatlovebefore · 2 months ago
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Yet another unhinged showerthought—Desmond in RAPTURE
I think i've lowkey gone a little too insane in my post busy season desire to play all the old games I never got to to finish over the years.
One of which is Bioshock. I never finished it. I think I was on the....maybe second to last mission before the final boss? (The one where you have to become a big daddy and collect the boots, the helmet, and etc.) And I was bumbling my way through rapture, I saw that cargo container that contained the Little Sister dresses—
—and immediately thought of Desmond in Rapture.
Cue like, 5 minutes of mindlessly walking Jack through Rapture while I'm spiraling through the logistics of a Little Sister!/Big Brother!Desmond. It's so cursed oh my god.
(Like I know from Tenenbaum's recordings that she only mentioned it has to be children and the timeline would ABSOLUTELY NOT MAKE ANY SENSE but author magic my dude lmao. Maybe after the solar flare he just tumbles into a new universe--as he often does haha)
Maybe Fontaine (or a Templar scientist) found him--a man with absolutely no paperwork, no past, and essentially free real estate to experiment on and he was their Subject zero to see if they could make an adult Little Sister. Little Sister/Big Brother?!Desmond was the resulting prototype of a conditions and brainwashed Little Sister who is quietly unhinged and just rolling with it.
Featuring:
Desmond having his hidden blade repurposed into a syringe for extracting Adam
Desmond in a dress! Well, I guess repurposed into a purple robe from several dresses I guess. (Or a really worn out suit if Tenenbaum was able to repurpose them for her "only son".)
When he's guarded by a Big Daddy, he might call it Shaun or Clay, or even an an ancestor instead of "Mr. Bubbles" like the Little Sisters do. He will say things like, "Shaun, watch my back." While he's harvesting. Or argue with them like their roommates: "You walked too far ahead again, Clay. I said three paces. This is a two-pace corridor."
Desmond sees the world through perma Eagle Vision--which becomes Angel Sight in the same way the Little Sisters view the world through rose colored glasses
The Little Sisters love him! Best sibling EVAR because he makes them FLY. He scoops them up under one arm and parkours up walls and pipes and squeals in joy like its some rollercoaster. The Big Daddies are HELLA CONFUSED when this happens.
Apparently consuming ADAM also allows for memory transfer which is like, ASSASSINS CREED BAIT RIGHT THERE BABY
I will NEVER write this but its fun to think about hahaha. I've also never played any Bioshock game other than the OG, so my understanding of the lore is prolly hella inaccurate.
But here's a teeny tiny blurb I wrote anyways heehee:
———
Rapture was always glowing.
Even when the lights were out. Even when the halls were flooded. Even when the corpses had cooled and the voices had long since gone quiet.
Desmond saw it all.
His Eagle Vision never turned off. It couldn’t. The world was a patchwork of halos and colors—every wall scratched with meaning, every corpse flickering with hidden warmth. The tiles pulsed like they were breathing. The water shimmered in veins of soft red and violet.
It was beautiful.
It was exhausting.
Thump... hiss... thump... hiss...
Behind him, Shaun plodded through the corridor like an irritated schoolteacher. 
“I told you to step softer.” He said aloud, brushing a wall with his fingertips as he passed. “That echo’s going to wake up the vending machines again.”
Grooooooooan.
Desmond smiled. “Yes, yes, I know. You were born clumsy. It’s not your fault.”
He stepped over a collapsed produce shelf, the smell of rot and wet cardboard wafting up around him. His bare feet made no sound. His patchwork robe swayed gently around his legs, a faded blend of purples and browns, stitched from discarded dresses and whatever Tenenbaum could spare.
Then, he stilled, head tilting.
A body was slumped against a vending machine, face sunken and wrong.
But it glowed. Oh, it glowed.
A halo shimmered around it like frayed golden threads. Red light bloomed from under the skin. Thick and heavy. The color of blood mixed with oil.
“Shaun.” Desmond whispered. “We’ve got another angel.”
He crouched beside the corpse. The world around him warped slightly as he focused—the shimmer of ADAM lighting up the entire torso like a beacon. Even the veins in the arms glowed red, as if still pulsing.
His voice softened. “Look at it. Still full. Still singing.”
The Big Daddy gave a groan that sounded suspiciously like a sigh.
Desmond chuckled. “Oh come on, it’s not like I’m harvesting for fun. I’m not Susie, you know. I don’t hum nursery rhymes while I do this.”
Then, without turning his head, Desmond murmured, “Shaun, watch my back.”
It wasn’t a question. It wasn’t a command. It was a ritual. One of the few things Desmond still said like he meant it.
Another low thrum came from behind him—warmer this time.
He smiled faintly. “That’s more like it.”
He flicked his wrist, activating the mechanism on his forearm. His hidden blade slid out—no, not a blade anymore, but a long, slender syringe. Beneath it, a clear capsule clicked into place, already stained from earlier harvests, glowing faintly red. The exact shade of all the other Little Sisters’ vials.
The sludge was thick, ugly, and alive. It would be inside him soon enough.
Desmond drove the needle in, the sound muffled under his breath.
He wasn’t just harvesting—he was feeding. Like the girls did.
The scientists had made sure of that.
Just like the Little Sisters, Desmond had a sea slug implanted deep inside him, coiled in the lining of his stomach. It was the only way he could survive the ADAM—consume it, process it, survive it. The slug did the work. The hunger wasn’t his, not entirely, but it burned all the same.
So he fed it.
The ADAM sludge oozed through the tubing, swirling like spoiled wine inside the capsule. It glowed angrily.
Desmond stared at it for a moment, transfixed.
This wasn’t just ADAM.
This was someone.
Dozens of someones.
Memories. Regrets. Cell structures, thoughts, feelings—echoes of lives that no longer had mouths to speak them.
They weren’t loud yet. Not until he drank. Not until the slug inside him tasted them and began its slow, monstrous work.
But Desmond could feel the pressure of them.
The slug processed the ADAM, kept him alive, but it didn’t keep the memories out.
Not forever.
“There.” Desmond murmured, softly. “Dinner’s served.”
He flicked his wrist again, retracting the syringe, and rose to his feet. The filled capsule gently clicked back into its locked housing.
“Don’t look at me like that.” He said as Shaun groaned behind him. “I’m not going to drink it here. I have manners, Shaun.”
They continued forward, water rippling around them.
“Besides—” Desmond added as they turned the corner. "—this corridor smells like old fruit and shame. Not exactly fine dining.”
The Big Daddy gave a long, low whine. Almost amused.
Desmond grinned. “See? That’s why I keep you around.”
And together, they moved on, echoes swallowed by the drowned silence. Another corpse. Another angel. Another capsule. Another quiet ritual.
Desmond didn’t think. He just followed the golden threads.
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valtsv · 2 years ago
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This sounds like an amazing scene. Please tell me more.
so Valentine and Reaver (tentative names, i'm still not sure i like them) are both extremely damaged people living utterly miserable lives in a pre-apocalyptic world. Valentine is a celebrity, a star soldier, a former no-name nobody orphan of the apocalypse who gained fame and fortune and success through apparent sheer good fortune, hard work, and innate charisma. but she has no identity outside of piloting. they lost their entire world as a kid when her town was destroyed, and as a result of that traumatic experience developed the belief that the only way she can ever hope to matter or be worth anything is by making a name for themself, making herself impossible to ignore, for fear of dying alone and forgotten. so they've dedicated their whole life to piloting, and sustain themself on the praise and adoration of the masses and her superiors, and have virtually no life outside of that, let alone plans or dreams for the future. she doesn't often let herself entertain her own personal desires, believing it's pointless; doesn't form connections with other people outside of the professional and transactional because they feel they have nothing else to offer. they're a shell of a person, a pretty face for the propaganda posters and a brilliant smile and shiny medal-laden uniform for the press and a machine of war to inspire the troops. and because of her single-minded total dedication to piloting, she's always first to volunteer for combat and last to accept any assistance or admit to any perceived weakness; their body is literally falling apart from pushing it too hard and hidden beneath their clothes is a patchwork of skin grafts and wounds that refuse to heal held together by glue and stitches and infection that's slowly spreading and killing them. but Valentine is determined to keep going until she drops or dies in combat, to be a martyr for the cause and for public opinion. she has nothing else.
Reaver is more or less the opposite. he's washed-up, a failure, out of time; a good soldier and a good man but a bitter, lonely, cynical wreck of a person. he was never recognized for his efforts like his peers, possessed too much candor and not enough charisma to ingratiate himself with his superiors, was well-liked but always secondary at best to those who burned brighter and were willing to compromise their principles and ethics in exchange for opportunities for advancement and promotion. he drinks too much, cares for himself too little, treats every opportunity to save lives like an obligation and every failure like an inevitability, pushes everyone away before they even get close out of fear of being hurt or abandoned again, and has generally made himself hard to love. at the same time, he's resentful, aloof and unapproachable, sneering with contempt at everyone around him and taking a certain grim satisfaction in self-sabotage and lashing out because it allows him to justify his misery. he and Valentine hate each other because he pities Valentine more than he resents them; he sees Valentine as naive, overconfident and shallow, a bright young thing that will be used til it burns, so he's cruel to her. and Valentine, in turn, is furious at Reaver for his selfish attitude, for allowing himself to descend into despair and self-loathing at the expense of potentially the entire rest of the world, for giving up the opportunity to do good and childishly railing against everyone who comes near him because he didn't get patted on the head enough for his efforts.
they absolutely loathe each other at first, because they see their worst fears in each other, their worst selves, who they could have been if things had just been a little different, and the brutal truth that they would be no better off or happier in the other's place. however, they're forced to work together and regularly be in close proximity to one another by the inexorably advancing apocalypse and budget cuts in military spending, and their bitter conflict helps to peel back the layers and walls they've built up around themselves and get them to confront how badly they've been failed and hurt by the rest of the world and begin to find solace in each other, in their shared experiences and pain and the love and comfort and hope and meaning they can offer each other.
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