Arcane Au - Blog Posts

THE TUMBLR BOTS GOT OOMF GUYS. I NEED YOU ALL TO GO SUPPORT HER BEAUTIFUL MOST AMAZING AND STUNNING CLAGGOR PIECE I HAVE EVER SEEN. The soft, calm, comforting expression, the pose, the BEAUTIFUL LIGHTING!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE PABLO PICASSO OF THE CLAGGOR COMMUNITY COMES BACK AND THIS POST ONLY HAS 35 NOTES!!! THAT'S A CRIME!!! GO COMMENT AND LIKE NOW!!!! My beautiful amazing king.... too good for this world...

can i politely ask for more claggor content riot is slow

...If Riot is slow then I am slower 😭

Anyway... the long wait is over because I finally managed to finish one drawing! (I'm hopeless)

I think I've said this a million times across many platforms, but I apologize for my sudden inactiveness. I have an excuse for it this time! Please bear with me 😭

The reason why I suddenly stopped posting art is because I've ran out of alcohol markers while I'm rendering some of my sketches. I waited weeks for copic to restock their refill inks to no avail until I realized I'm going to need to force myself to learn how to draw digitally or else I'll never be able to produce fully rendered art again.

"Elle. You can just use any other traditional medium. I thought you knew how to watercolor-" I ran out of some of my watercolors too 🥹💔

I can just post my sketches and be done with it but I know the Claggor fan club are starved and I'm a slow artist by default so I want to start giving you guys quality content to make up for it.

By the way, I have seen the messages some of you have sent me on my inbox and I'll be responding to them with art soon. Some are sent like a month ago so I want to reiterate through this post that I'm not ignoring you guys. I just need... more time to respond to them.

But why do I keep getting anonymous asks though? Literally I only have one message on my inbox that isn't anonymous. I want to know who are sending me their silly thoughts, headcanons and short stories. I want to talk to you guys. Y'all better start revealing yourselves to me or else! /lh

just wanna say i rlly love ur artstyle and drawings!! It’s so nice to see ppl love Claggor bc he’s such a sweetheart 🫶

Just like my last post, this isn't an ask, but THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! There's a bit of paranoia in me that you all will eventually tire of my monochromatic artstyle (I suck at colors and color theory) thanks to its repetiveness. But it brightens my day whenever I have you guys just coming into my inbox, so say nice things. Here, for that, you all get a mini Claggor sticker! Might make some more in the future, but ehhh, I gotta think about it!

Claggor, as a character and a person, brings a huge comfort to me thanks to him falling into the archetype of big people who have gentle hearts. Gentle giants, basically. Not only that but he's so shrouded in mystery and tragedy due to the fact he's a side character in arcane and since Riot/Fortiche can barely care to give him and Mylo any damn attention I might as well do it myself. Sorry, Mylo fans, I'm GETTING there 😭😭😭

I love the little flowers in all your draws, I've always loved those little details🩷🩷🩷

This isn't even an ask, but I greatly appreciate the kind words!!! I'm glad my art can bring comfort to all my followers through the soft, monochromatic schemes and shapes!!! Every arcane character is assigned a shape, and Claggor is flowers (Survivor! Claggor is gears as an inverse!) Anyways, I don't really have anything eventful to say other than THANK YOUUUU!!! It's dangerous to go alone! Take these 2 Claggors!!! (By the by, my last post was labeled as mature content when it's arguably the most wholesome thing I've posted. The Claggor tit drawing is RIGHT there, yet it is untouched. Tumblr bots are so stupid, so I apologize for that! It's still under review, I fear 😮‍💨).

I made up an AU in my head now I can't help but think about it even more... PUPPY CLAGGOR!! RAHH

That sounds adorable!!! I tried my own hand at drawing puppy Claggor, but I wasn't quite sure if you wished for an actual dog, an anthro form, or just Claggor with dog ears and tail, so... here, I'm sorry if it isn't to your liking, but I'd LOVE to hear about the AU so I could get a better idea of what the vision is! Also, if I were to associate Claggor with ANY kind of dog breed, it would be St.Bernards thanks to their big, fluffy, imposing build allowing them to serve as good guard dogs but also function as great rescue dogs! Not only that, they're gentle giants who are relatively friendly, calm, and patient, though they can have a tendency to be stubborn and that just SCREAMS Claggor to me. I'd love to heat everyone else's headcanons, though!!!

I think you’d appreciate this meme I made.

The only reason vi changed into pajamas is cause she was told to.

CLAGGOR'S PAJAMAS!!!! (featuring bees 🐝, oh yeah!!!)

I love how some of my asks aren't even questions, just people wanting to show me stuff sigh.. I love the Claggor community. Though it's definitely dying because there's ZERO content no more (people lose interest very quickly nowadays) but here, as the Claggor artist (I only know how to draw him) you all get a Modern AU! Claggor in pajamas :333!!! This also counts as anatomy practice, I suppose! (Deadass, I think we should make a Claggor discord server or something because the Fandom is ACTUALLY dying 😭😭😭)

hi I come to you with a silly headcanon……… Claggor’s VA is a birdwatcher/photographer so what if Claggor was as well? fits in with his whole nature/flower vibe, plus I love the mental image of Claggor surrounded by birds like a Disney princess

I LOVE ROGER CRAIG SMITH SO MUCH DUDE HE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE VOICE ACTORS EVER :((( Claggor would ABSOLUTELY let himself relax by taking pictures of beautiful scenery or bird watching for hours! It's obvious his things are plants, but that definitely doesn't mean he isn't a huge animal lover, too! After all in one of his concept arts he was drawn with a literal squirrel just for shits and giggles, which I'm sure is another way for the concept artists to say "Yeah he's an animal lover and stuff". He wouldn't have access to the best cameras, of course, but he would try his damn best to take at least presentable pictures of birds and attempt to do some environmental research on them. Anyways, here you go, guys. I guess this counts as a Modern AU! College Claggor, I hope you all enjoy him! I'm slowly but steadily answering all my asks, so if I haven't gotten to you, don't worry! I'm getting there!!!

Sooo... when are you going to draw me holding AU Claggor's man boobs? 👉👈

I knew this insanity was inevitable with asks. Hey, HEY, DON'T look at me. Look at @fiongbonto !!! They're the one who asked me to do this 💀💀💀 All jokes aside, these kind of batshit insane asks are hilarious, and I genuinely don't mind them much. My reputation as the wholesome Claggor artist is gone, but at least I took care of this ask so I can focus on the more wholesome ones again.. sighh... here you go chat....

(The amazing rendering in this piece low-key pisses me off, like, this is a SHITPOST HELLLOOOOO??? Guys, idk if I should even post this, but I'm just gonna say this, don't be surprised when I post SOME suggestive stuff once in a blue moon. Hopefully, I don't get weird looks 😭)

I love the cupcake ask sm…. What are the Claggors favorite foods? :3

Claggor has never struck me as the kind of guy to have a big sweet tooth, as surprising as that is. I personally believe he leans more on the savory side of things, definitely not a picky eater in any world because he's just grateful he can even eat in the first place. He's also someone who prefers to stay safe and stick to the "classics" as a form of comfort for him by trying the same kinds of foods and never truly getting tired of them. Of course, as an adult, he has become more open to trying new things (Hexless AU! Claggor, at least), and he does like a different variety of foods such as spicy, sweet, or sour, but he can't find himself too crazy about any of them. Also, yeah, he's a huge guy, but he barely eats. He has a small appetite and a slow metabolism, so he usually prefers to share his food with others like his family :((( IF YOU GUYS HAVE DIFFERENT HEADCANONS PLEASEEE TELL ME I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING!!!

You guy's asks are either the cutiest patootiest asks or heartwrenching, and I'm trying really hard to work on every single one and provide my oomfs with good content! ANYWHO...HOPE YOU ENJOYYY!!!

Not a question but I just wanna say that I ADORE your art so much. May I request for more cuddly Claggor drawings pls pls pls pls pls lol

I'm slowly but surely working on everyone's requests!!! Thank you for more sleepy Claggor requests, we love this guy taking a break because we all know he would be the worst workaholic on the planet when stressed. He deserves relaxation :( <3

The Claggors reaction to a kiss on the cheek

Yup, I have officially lost my mind. You guys are getting daring, huh/pos

Regardless!!! It's a super cute request!!! and I had a blast drawing "The Claggors" both waking up because why not? They deserve their rest for sure. Hopefully, this is enough to fees you Claggor fans for this week while I take care of the last ask in my inbox!!! Remember, I will answer every ask with art, even if it isn't a question, so do not be afraid to ask!!!

How do you think the Claggors from either AU would react to being given a treat so they can have a break from their work.

This ask is so damn cute. I had to pop off and draw our favorite guy throughout all universes, getting nice things and sweet treats to make his life easier :((( <<33

Everyone feel free to ask more stuff or requests!!! I also draw other characters, so do not be afraid to request them!!! Helps with practice after all :'D!

Omg I love how you draw the adult Claggors they both exude brick house energy. One just looks like he'd scare me more than the other. Because one looks like a teddy bear while the other one looks like I'd need to call him sir despite the fact we both in our 20s 😭. Man has a rbf that would kill me

Don't worry too much about Survivor! Claggor, that man is as gentle as a teddy bear when not constantly stressed every day of his life from carrying the firelights behind his back/hj. As long as no one messes with his group and little man, he's as sweet as a butterscotch honey pie. Please don't mess with his loved ones because even though he's blind he can very much body slam someone twice his size 💀.

( Brickhouses is exactly how I envisioned him to grow into but unfortunately that didn't end up happening in the AU, but I digress.)

I can just EAT YOUR ART rn, how do you draw so well??😭😭😭🙏🏼 And claggor my god I love the way you draw his body, the effect your drawing gives in my head is surreal, I love your artstyle smmmmm

There was someone who reblogged one of my posts who said my artstyle would taste like lemons and pancakes so if you're in for it of course! ALSO TY, I yearn for Claggor to get some meat back. Yes, he is stocky and muscular in canon but like c'mon y'all be so serious I think we know by know they just didn't want to make a fat attractive man. I mean they did grear with Benzo but I digress. Here, as a gift, have a Modern! AU Highschool Claggor!!! I'll draw the other kids and then a college AU but it will take time!

• ALTERNATE CLAGGORS?! (AUs and HCs! •

Decides to draw Hexless! AU Claggor and @peapeapeapa 's interpretation of their own Claggor survives AU but with some tweaks here and there because in my Survivor! Claggor AU somethings go a little bit differently. Make sure to go support them though, their art is amazing and not just the arcane art!!!

--------------------------------------------------

• Hexless AU Claggor HCs! •

• Established botanist along with Mylo, however Claggor focuses on hosting occasional exhibitions and Mylo focuses on the more business/economic side of their research.

• Allows Powder and Ekko to engage in his and Mylo's projects, where they take care of the engineering and the other two focus on bioengineering of the hybrids.

• Business partners with Sky! Sky was interested in his and Mylo's work thanks to her similar ideals and is a close working partner with the two. Might even be possible that Viktor is also interested in their research due to Jayce's absence in the Hexless! AU.

• Obviously was the first one to really bring up the possibility of making Zaun a easier and better place to live in after it's merging with Piltover. Mylo was initially uninterested but gained interest thanks to his brother's passion and selflessness to help others (The brothers ever :( ).

--------------------------------------------------

• Survivor! AU Claggor! •

• Blind thanks to the hex crystal's impact collision injuring his occipital lobe. Still rather capable in combat thanks to his keen tactileness and sense of hearing.

• Left leg had to he amputated after being found by Ekko buried under rubble comatosed after the explosion. Was comatosed for 6 months and eventually found out thanks to Ekko that Vander, Vi, Powder and Mylo are dead (to his belief)

• Ekko's right hand man alongside Scar, stays behind on missions due to his blindness hindering him incapable of using the hoverboards. Was taught how to fix them by Ekko so he's now the firelight's engineer.

• Unaware of Powder's whereabouts and believes Jinx is a completely different person. He is... reluctantly accepting of Jinx's new identity, still choosing to support her thanks to always being his little sister at heart :(

--------------------------------------------------

AND YEAH I HAVE MORE BUT THIS POST IS A YAPFEST ALREADY, HOPE YOU ALL LIKE MY HEADCANONS BYE BYE <<33!!!

• Claggor!!! (Alt! Timeline) •

Claggor comes back from the dead in the alternative universe and STILL gets scraps in the Fandom. Artist Claggor fans, we must draw him more often because he still gets little to no art for some reason? Anyway, I have a slightly changed Claggor because I'm kind of put off by the fact they made him muscular and couldn't keep him fat like before. Not that I hate the fact he's muscular. They should've still kept him rather bulky because slimming down plus sized characters never sits right with me. Please just let a fat guy be pretty arcane devs, it's okay.

(My blog is a safespace for Claggor enthusiasts BTW, talk to me ALLLL about him I want to hear EVERYONE'S hesdcanons!!)

jayvik au following the “the crow” (kind of)

content warning: violence!

where jayce and viktor are killed/assassinated in their apartment. it was a hit made by one of the chem barons in zaun to take down “the man of progress.” meant to throw piltover off balance (and eventually there will be a higher reveal that connects it to a certain higher power)

viktor was home when they first broke in, and he fought as much as he could, but it was ultimately four against one. so, jayce enters and nearly goes haywire at the scene he finds. but, this is season one jayce, and season one jayce has brute strength and not much experience with actually using it. so it’s a very messy crime scene. it’s awful.

but…HEAR ME OUT…viktor is resurrected (which makes the most sense because in the movie eric wasn’t the one the hit was on, and this way it would be the same). i feel like most people would make jayce the ‘chosen one’ (so to speak) but no. viktor digs himself out of the ground and goes on a vengeful killing spree in zaun. where he piques the interest of jinx and silco (who eventually befriend and help him). and then he eventually climbs his way higher and higher as the plot thickens.

one day guys…one day i’ll get to it </3

The handful of times that Viktor was allowed over the Piltover-Zaun boarder was limited to the amount of meetings Silco was allowed to infringe on. And, because Viktor flashed the sad eyes that made Vander’s resolve fall faster than the rain did every morning, they stayed for two days every trip. Enough time for Viktor to recuperate, and for Silco to overanalyze the words of Piltover’s leaders.

Viktor had a little desire to sit and watch grown ups debate. He had experienced enough of that for a lifetime. So, when Silco left him alone in their Piltie funded hotel apartment, he would slip out and walk around the nearby streets. With his journal under one arm, his crutch under the other, and a pencil clenched between his teeth.

Unfortunately, he was quickly interrupted each time.

“Vik!” The loud, obnoxious voice of the boy with the big eyes.

Viktor paused, fingers just barely touching the wood and lead between his crooked teeth. He turned his head just enough to catch the short bundle of dark blues and browns barreling down the paved sidewalk. Right towards him.

Jayce had knocked them both into the street on Viktor’s third trip into Piltover, and had nearly killed them both in a carriage accident. And, after a plethora of apologies Viktor hadn’t taken seriously, the boy had taken one nosey glance at Viktor’s neat scrawl open in a puddle, and had decidedly begun stalking Viktor from then on.

It was almost impressive; how quickly Jayce seemed to sense his presence in the city.

“Vik!” his name was called out once more, even closer than before. And, refocusing, Viktor realized that Jayce was already linking their arms.

The top of his head barely reached Viktor’s shoulder. Short dark hair had grown into a plouf that fell into light hazel eyes. He was fuller than Viktor was, healthy and fed heartily. But, even with the hunch and the cane, he towered over his unwanted companion. Jayce seemed to have no problem with it, happily dragging Viktor in a different direction.

He dug his heals in, digging his cane even further down on the frayed boot around Jayce’s foot. He chose to ignore the yelp received.

“What did we talk about last time?”

Jayce perked up like a flower under light, “We talked about science and magic, and you agreed to be my partner.”

Viktor squinted, “And….”

Jayce didn’t take the hint, talking gibberish in a language he couldn’t quite comprehend. It was pretty. Even if he found Jayce’s undeterred excitement as mildly irritating as he did interesting. So, rather than put in more useless effort into making his garden gnome of a friend put some value into personal space, he relented with a heavy sigh. He wondered if Jayce knew what he was doing, because he only seemed to grin wider.

Viktor stopped them again, thin arm wrapping around one of the steel bars on a nearby fence. He hugged it tighter when Jayce pouted and attempted to pull him along like a mule would a plow. Viktor sneered mischievously.

He used the element of surprise to drag Jayce back the way they’d come, “Come, Jayce. If you behave, perhaps I will order your tea for you.” He didn’t miss the way babyish cheeks tinted red. “Then you will not spill it all over the ground.”

Petulantly, Jayce stomped along at Viktor’s side, “It’s not by fault the food stands are so tall!”

Viktor hid his laugh behind the pencil between his teeth.

*

“Viktor!” Powder nearly knocked him over on her way through the door. She was out of breath, and he almost panicked that something bad hand happens, if it weren’t for the terribly malevolent smirk she possessed. She composed herself just barely, clearing her throat. “You have a visitor on the way.”

He fought the urge to hit her shin with his cane as his beating heart began to quicken up again.

“Who?”

She shrugged, feigning a comic amount of disinterest in her meander over to the stools around Vander’s bar. Nevertheless, he immediately caught sight of who, at the same moment the door opened again and nearly knocked him in the side of the head.

“Vik!” Muscular arms had locked themselves around his middle. Very muscular arms. Very, very large hands that took up most of the slender expanse of Viktor’s torso.

Jayce was broad. His eyes were a little darker than he remember, but his smile was still big and charming with the little gap between his teeth. But, most of all, he was so goddamn tall. Viktor had to look up at him, and he began to count in his mind just how long it had been since they’d last seen each other. Unsurprisingly, Jayce seemed to still be capable of reading his mind.

He stepped back enough to look Viktor in the eye, but not enough to fully drag his hands off of Viktor’s body.

“I know you said to never follow you past the boarder,” he laughed nervously under Viktor’s scrutiny. “But, it’s been three years, Vik! I missed you too much, and I thought you might be less mad if I had help.” At Viktor’s quirked eyebrow, Jayce overly energized gaze flickered briefly towards his blue-haired sister. He forcefully ignored the feeling of eyes on the back of his head.

“I sent letters,” he lamely replied. Guilt filled in the gaps between the frightening amount of relief that flooded his senses at the presence of his favorite person. Between working for Silco and Vander and tutoring four teenagers, time had been swept out from under him. Jayce laughed, not buying the words anymore than Viktor himself did.

“As if that would satiate me,” Jayce laughed, pressing their cheeks together. Viktor sighed, relenting to the touch that also seemed to have not decreased with age.

He made a defiant guffaw in response, “You always were very demanding.”

Jayce laughed, and it was both a sound that caused Viktor’s heart to flutter, and made his cheeks burn. It startled him intensely. Especially when warms hands tightened around him.

“I might surprise you yet.”

The gasp he let out was a telltale sign that he understood. He gawked up at Jayce’s face, star struck at the way Jayce bent over him just slightly to speak privately. Although, it was still beyond improper of them to be so inexplicably close in broad daylight.

He ran his thumb under the gentle shadows underneath Jayce’s eye, admiring the softness of his skin.

“Would you like a drink?”

Jayce’s cheeks turned violet, “My treat.”

thank you @stellophile <3

asks are open!

zaun’s hand

viktor disappears. his apartment is untouched, his desk is the same mess of papers as it usually was, and sky had seemed to have gone with him.

jayce is in disarray. he’s blowing off counsel meetings. he’s either ignoring mel, or giving her fake assurances he had little intention of following through with. he spends every waking minute trying to piece together what happened.

there weren’t any notes, letters, or clues. they had just gone. and people didn’t just disappear in piltover. that was the whole point of his mother almost dying when he was a child. people don’t vanish in a city of gold and government order.

he eventually hears whispers. he sees posters here and there pasted to the walls of zaun’s alleys. an inhuman hand shading a horrific looking eye.

and he laughs at how viktor would have hated to hear about another idiot trying to “fix” his home. so, he keeps looking for the only think that hasn’t been left behind.

the crutch.

…do you get it? (can you imagine it??? 😭 the idea has been eating me away)

CHAPTER FOUR - link here

@ali-kaaaay @riotroast @littlemeangreen

zaundad’s au where vander is taken by the enforcers after turning himself in for the explosion.

something about miscommunication and saving violet from turning herself in.

after the fact, vander’s territory is crumbling and benzo is holding water in his hands trying to pick up the pieces. silco hears and quickly catches on that maybe vander had a point in what he was doing. because at least his betrayal of cahooting with grayson was buying them time. and now zaun is dividing itself into shards of shattered pottery. and every thing is going to shit because there’s no one keeping all the ducks in a row.

and silco doesn’t really forgive vander, but after getting a tip about how he’s fighting for his life in stillwater, it makes him get a little crazy and protective. so much so that he actually finds himself considering forgiving the bastard. which ensues a ton of loathing and journal worthy emotions as he plans to save his stupid fucking soulmate that he literally hates with every bone in his body.

but he has violet knocking at his door just when he’s about to make the decision to either leave the hound to the wolves, or take vander’s place himself. and she’s so much wiser than her years, and she’s so blunt and courageous, that it reminds him of the way vander would protect them in the mines and during protests. using his brute strength and tuff demeanor to steer away danger. how he would shield them and barter their way through problems.

here was this young girl trying to act ten times her size and fill the same hole the silco himself had been trying so hard to fill. she was so angry that vander had chosen her over everything, and THAT made silco stop for a while. it made him almost jealous.

because vander has chosen everything over him. vander had chosen to act on his violence and guilt and he’d chosen felicia and piltover and the kids over silco.

so, anyway, just silco being pulled in two opposite directions as he tries to save vander from deteriorating in prison for protecting his daughter.

link to chapter one

jayvik au where jayce keeps getting sent back in time to fix what happens to viktor instead of killing him. (mage viktor met kid jayce, why couldn’t jayce just go back?? (and maybe i CAN think of a couple reasons why not, but i’m ignoring them))

so over and over again (similarly to ekko preventing jinx from pulling that pin) jayce is brought back to the day of the explosion in the councilors room.

it gets worse before it gets better. either jayce dies in the explosion because mel couldn’t get to him, or viktor gets upset with him because he abruptly cancels the meeting to bring peace to zaun and viktor just ends up growing more distant from him, or viktor dies anyway because he was getting sicker by the day before the explosion killed him, or viktor gets addicted to shimmer and bad things happen between that and the hexcore all over again (this specific outcome nearly makes jayce go insane, because he had been SO close before it all went to shit), or (most common) NOTHING he says will make viktor stop from leaving after using the hexcore to save him.

he. just. keeps. walking. out.

jayce can’t figure out why, but keeps trying. it’s incredibly debilitating watching your soulmate die dozens of times. but he keeps going, getting more and more desperate each time he wakes up to a new dying viktor.

it might be easier to have been brought back farther. before viktor’s collapse, before sky dies, before viktor was already fused with arcane and shimmer. before he’d made the mistake of choosing fame over his purpose. basically, before viktor started to realize that he was all alone. but who said changing fate was supposed to be easy?

what it comes down to is an au where jayce has to trial and error his way into getting the life back to viktor’s very destroyed soul in…like…three days. and he has to learn that he c— sorry i can’t say what the lesson would be! because that would be spoiling it!! you silly goose!!!

it’s basically a love story :D

bonus: (meljayvik bonus: because we know i love mel too much not to include her) she senses something going on through her empath powers. and at some point she’s unintentionally being dragged into it. power of teamwork to save their doomed dying partner!

based on this post of mine

link here

is it smart to work on three projects at the same time? maybe not!! but that won’t stop me.

link’s here

@ali-kaaaay @riotroast @littlemeangreen

zaundad’s au where vander is taken by the enforcers after turning himself in for the explosion.

something about miscommunication and saving violet from turning herself in.

after the fact, vander’s territory is crumbling and benzo is holding water in his hands trying to pick up the pieces. silco hears and quickly catches on that maybe vander had a point in what he was doing. because at least his betrayal of cahooting with grayson was buying them time. and now zaun is dividing itself into shards of shattered pottery. and every thing is going to shit because there’s no one keeping all the ducks in a row.

and silco doesn’t really forgive vander, but after getting a tip about how he’s fighting for his life in stillwater, it makes him get a little crazy and protective. so much so that he actually finds himself considering forgiving the bastard. which ensues a ton of loathing and journal worthy emotions as he plans to save his stupid fucking soulmate that he literally hates with every bone in his body.

but he has violet knocking at his door just when he’s about to make the decision to either leave the hound to the wolves, or take vander’s place himself. and she’s so much wiser than her years, and she’s so blunt and courageous, that it reminds him of the way vander would protect them in the mines and during protests. using his brute strength and tuff demeanor to steer away danger. how he would shield them and barter their way through problems.

here was this young girl trying to act ten times her size and fill the same hole the silco himself had been trying so hard to fill. she was so angry that vander had chosen her over everything, and THAT made silco stop for a while. it made him almost jealous.

because vander has chosen everything over him. vander had chosen to act on his violence and guilt and he’d chosen felicia and piltover and the kids over silco.

so, anyway, just silco being pulled in two opposite directions as he tries to save vander from deteriorating in prison for protecting his daughter.

part three of this - moses!viktor au - part 1 - part 2

prepare for a BIG time jump from the other two (lol). i’m still contemplating a title. leaning towards “Bitter Water Made Sweet” though. feel free to leave a suggestion! :)

The streets of The Lanes smelled of tar and sulfur dioxide. Viktor’s staff made fragmented sparks erupt each time it hit the cobble of the empty street.

It was very early morning. But, not early enough to stop the three or so families and four or so dwellers from peeking out their windows and doors to watch him as he slowly waded through the slightly flooded road. The saturated bottom hem of his viridian cloak stuck to his ankles with each new step.

He caught the eye of a little girl, her hair the color of the small gophers that he’d occasionally catch building by the river. Her eyes were bright like wheat in the sunlight. She stood all alone. He paused.

She smiled, and she sprung to life under his pointed attention, sprinting as fast as her short legs could carry her. Her hands clenched around fistfuls of the cotton fabric draped over his shoulders. She did not speak.

“What is your name?” he asked her, holding out a hand.

She stared at his palm and wrist, taking in the lapis lazuli, mauve, and gold that spun through his veins and tendons. Her mouth opened in awe, delicately taking his hand in order to inspect it further. She was mystified, and just for a moment, all his panicked worries melted away. She giggled, looking back up to meet his fond gaze.

“Isha.” The name had appeared his head with such a sudden intensity, that he was not surprised in the least when she nodded in amazement. He bent down, using his staff to balance his weight. “Do you believe in the land of milk and honey?”Isha’s chopped hair flipped up and down like flimsy spikes as she nodded. She nearly buzzed with energy. Like a battery in an engine. Or a wind up toy. He hummed, nodding as well. “Very well, follow me.”

She hid inside of his cloak, hiding herself from the sprinkling raindrops. She shivered, her bare arms full of goosebumps.

His smile faltered, and they continued on with her glued to his hip. Her hand stuck to his own, occasionally tugging the limb up to her eyes to further admire the shimmering details of magic through his skin.

It was easy to tell that she was an orphan. Especially under his own scrutiny. She was thinner than the other children, and unkempt in a way no Zaunite mother would have allowed. Her hair was slightly grown out and braided. But, the plaits were frizzy and loose from passing time. She wore patchy pants and a fraying shirt barely holding onto its seems.

When they arrived to the boarded up bar, Isha made a short noise of protest, tugging on his tunic. It draped to his calves, an ivory white like bare bone. Her fingerprints left dark spots from the soot. He ruffled her hair, the texture like straw from the dust of Zaun’s alleyways.

“Don’t you trust me?” he asked her. She looked apprehensive, but she did not leave his side. Her loyalty was strong. Her curiosity even stronger.

The dark clouds hiding what lay beyond the doors only grew darker when they drew nearer. They resembled storm clouds, and one would almost believe that they’d send out bolts of lightening if you drew too close. Mel was distressed.

He bowed for Isha to go ahead of him, his fingertips innocently brushing the dense mist. It was pleasantly toasty, a comfort away from the freezing temperature outside.

Isha steeled herself, sending her shoulders back in stern determination that brought amusement to his own chest. She stomped her way right through the splintering arch of the doorway.

He took one final glance at the sign still hung on its lonely chain, and found himself mildly surprised at the symbol painted in glinting silver over where a business title would be.

A silvery serpent twisted in a vertical, curvy zig-zag pattern, hissing at the onlooker. He also took note, upon further inspection, that there were wings on either side, meager but strong in the way they curled. Its eyes shun green when he looked away, humming in pleasure at the familiar embrace of Mel’s magic gracing his skin.

He supposed he should have been offended at the lack of confusion she confronted him with. Instead, he joined her in the center of the room, sliding down to the blood red carpet she sat on.

Her dress was modest, no patterns or showy cuts. But, it was a deep amber. If he were vain, he’d say it was the color of his eyes. But, he didn’t have to admit vanity to believe that she looked radiant. Her knuckles showcased pink scars that matched his own, etched symbols of an ancient language.

Isha had dramatically fallen into the mountain of pillows that Mel and Viktor used as a resting spot when exhaustion finally grew too intense to bare. Or, the despair.

Her hand linked with his own, “Any news?”

“He is in Piltover.” He did not address Mel’s crestfallen expression at such a statement. And he stated the rest even though he knew he didn’t have to. “He seems to think that you are behind the Black Rose’s schemes. He doesn’t act like himself.”

He stood back up, dragging himself away from her waves of emotion. She was angry, something that tended to soak into his own skin and burn.

He unclasped the iron wings over his jugular notch. His fingers shook slightly as he bent down and draped the dry side of the cloth over the child. She was almost asleep, her eyes already closed and face smoothed out by the time he was standing straight again.

“We need to intervene.” Mel beckoned him back, holding a hand out for him to take. He obeyed, being careful of his askew leg as he joined her once again.

As they sat in considering silence, he wished to make a spot for himself in the cushions as well. His body did not feel the urge to rest, but his heart pulled him in too many directions at once, and he felt it most prominent in this turmoil.

“It will be necessary,” he admitted, “His influence is beginning to strain the faith of the Trenches as well.”

Mel’s lips twisted in a grimace, “Perhaps he was always too weak.” Viktor surveyed her in quiet, his own lips pursed in slow comprehension. “We should continue on without him. I will sever the connection entirely.” She sat straighter, not once glancing up to acknowledge any of Viktor’s shock or disbelief. He took her other hands back as she closed her eyes in order to focus. They flew open.

The pads of his thumbs flattened out the strain of her clenched fists. He sighed at the same time she did.

“Have mercy on him. He does not know better.”

“We trusted better from him,” she argued.

He battled with himself. The faith that had been mentioned previously, the belief they had gained from most of Zaun, was torturing him. Because he was selfish. He was not simply loyal to the cause anymore. It all boiled down to his Mel and his Jayce. The world be damned. The Black Rose be damned. He would rather burn at the stake, or rot in the basement of Stillwater, or drown in the Goddamned Pilt, than give up on either of them.

“He is just a man. A man who acts on instinct, no matter how flawed it might be. He deserves another chance. He has never let us down before.”

He’d grovel at Mel’s feet to give Jayce a second chance. He’d plea and debate until he ran out of breath. He’d comfort them both through the betrayal of it. Mourn the unfairness in his own solitude.

She crossed her arms, looking him all over. Her eyes traveled from the curls of gold and copper wire around strands of his overgrown hair to the rusty iron anklets that jingled around his ankles when he moved.

“And why is that?” Her chin was tilted up, her brows furrowed. She looked a little wild. Her hair stuck up around the crown of her head, like static caused during a storm. Her tunic draped off of one shoulder, showing the soft skin of her clavicle. Her stockings had holes from where she had poked holes while stewing in her stress. He realized with a slight start, that he had been away for three days on his trek to Topside.

Her eyes burned like gas that which met flame. She was filled with an abundance of wrath and disappointment towards the third link to their souls. He felt a strange sense of pity.

“You are not strong enough to rush the plan, Anděl.” He caresses her cheek, tucking one of the braids behind her ear when it slipped into her eyes. He noted that he’d have to retouch them.

“The Rose is the least of my worries,” she waved his concern off.

“I would not be so sure of that,” he warned.

“They are cowards using Jayce as a pawn. And he is just as bad while allowing them to.”

“I do not think—“

“—And how does he believe for a second that they could be me? I would not carry on without you Viktor, what makes him think—.”

“—He is under the assumption that we are dead. As far as I could tell, he’s just happy to have someone.” He brought her face closer, nose to nose as the realization dawned on her.

After a long time, she spoke to him in a broken whisper.

“Go to him, Viktor, my presence will be with you.”