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Don't Lose My Number

Summary:

Lux mistakenly texts a wrong number, and ends up talking to Jinx.

Heavily inspired by Little Numbers by iknowitainteasy on LJ.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for other works inspired by this one.)

Chapter 1

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

???

June 7th 12:02 PM
Lux:So I was thinking maybe we try to get the park pavilion for studying this weekend?
Lux:....Hello?
Jinx:New phone who dis
Lux:Ha ha, very funny. Don't think you can get out of studying with me just because it's summer break, Sylas.
Jinx:But studying is the wooooooooorrrrssstttt
Jinx:And studying with you makes it even worse.
Lux:Don't be mean!!
Lux:It's not *my* fault you're behind in Demacian history, and you know I need your help in... you know.
Jinx:Oh yes, I know.
Jinx:Of course I know!
Jinx:How could I possibly NOT know?
Lux:. . .
Lux:(。•ˇ‸ˇ•。) =3
Lux:You're being needlessly obtuse today.
Jinx:Ew you're a weeb.
Jinx:A wordy weeb, even worse.
Lux:Sylas!!! What the heck is wrong with you!!!
Lux:You're not still mad that I didn't sit with you in detention for the last week of school, are you?? You *know* I had the home ec bake sale that week!
Jinx:You DESERTED me.
Jinx:Heheh. Get it? Deserted?
Jinx:God I'm funny
Jinx:I literally have no idea who Sylas is, you literally have the wrong number.
Lux:...Oh.
Lux:Well.
Lux:Please excuse me, I got a new phone and must have transferred a number wrong.
Jinx:I'll say lol
Jinx:Good luck with your Demacian History and "you know" studying.
Jinx:Which I'm sure isn't ANYTHING dubious. (Smirking Face )
Jinx:Man, that really didn't get a rise out of you?
Jinx:I figured smarty-smart study-pants would be easy to antagonize.
Jinx:Seriously???
Jinx:You're just gonna leave me on read???
Read 1:07 pm


Jinx:

Notes:

HUGE thanks to CodenameCarrot who provided the coding for the text format and the unicode emojis. This wouldn't read nearly as nicely if not for their code!

Chapter Text

Smarty Pants

June 10th 3:27 PM
Jinx:Hey
Jinx:Hey
Jinx:Hey
Jinx:Stop ignoring me
Lux:Sorry, who is this?
Jinx:You texted me first, who are YOU?
Lux:Um,
Lux:I think you're mistaken? You just texted me, just now?
Jinx:Well, duh, I texted you first TODAY, but you texted ME first before that!
Jinx:Omg, wait, you didn't delete our conversation, did you???
Lux:Oh wait.
Lux:Are you that random person I texted by accident while trying to talk to someone else?
Jinx:Awwww, you DO remember me!
Lux:I already told you, I had the wrong number. I'm sorry. Why are you still texting me?
Jinx:Bored.
Jinx:Why are YOU still texting ME?
Lux:What do you mean, why? You spammed me and then demanded I stopped ignoring you.
Lux:I had to text you back if I didn't want my phone going off all day.
Jinx:You could have blocked me, you know.
Jinx:WAIT don't do that yet
Jinx:Please
Jinx:Please wait please don't do it
Jinx:Omg you already did it, didn't you
Jinx:Smarty-pants noooooo please!!!!
Lux:Don't call me that!!!
Jinx:YAY YOU'RE STILL HERE
Lux:(ꐦ Ò ‸ Ó )
Lux:Why won't you leave me alone!!!
Jinx:I told you, cause I'm boooored!!!
Lux:Go bother someone else!!!
Lux:I'm going to block you for real!!!
Jinx:NO WAIT STOP
Lux:Why should I!!!
Jinx:I'm secretly in love with you
Lux:Σ(꒪◊꒪ ))))
Lux:What???
Jinx:It was fate that you texted me that day,
Jinx:because I've been your secret admirer for a long time.
Lux:(´・ ・`) ?
Jinx:You see, I'm Sylas's older brother.
Jinx:My name is
Jinx:Seth
Jinx:and all this time I've watched you spend your time with my younger brother
Jinx:and hoped some day you would see how much you meant to me
Lux:...
Lux:Okay. Hold on.
Jinx:It's why my number was so close to Sylas's number
Jinx:We cut a deal with our carrier that we'd be one number off from each other, so we'd never forget our brother's number in case of emergencies.
Jinx:I was mean to you so you wouldn't learn my true identity.
Lux:HOLD ON
Jinx:But I couldn't hide my feelings for you any longer.
Jinx:I've been pining after you all this time
Lux:I SAID HOLD ON
Lux:STOP TYPING.
Lux:STOP! TYPING!
Lux:If you're Sylas' brother, what's my name?
Lux:Well?
Jinx:Your
Jinx:name
Jinx:is
Jinx:........ also Seth.
Jinx:That's part of why we're soulmates.
Jinx:We share the same name.
Lux:You are the worst at pranks.
Jinx:Oh come on, I totally had you going there for like, a second.
Lux:I'm going to block you now. Goodbye.
Jinx:You know what, Seth Smarty Pants? I don't believe you.
Jinx:You didn't block me after our first convo, and you didn't block me earlier, so I think that is an empty threat.
Jinx:... aaaand if I wait long enough, you'll reply again.
Jinx:........
Jinx:probably.
Jinx:Because you totally
Jinx:did not
Jinx:block me
Jinx:and your phone
Jinx:is going off
Jinx:like
Lux:Ok stop!!
Jinx:crazy
Jinx:HAH!
Jinx:I knew it!
Jinx:You couldn't block me if you tried. I bet you don't even know how.
Lux:I do too know how!!
Jinx:Oh yeah? Well why not just do it then?
Lux:( Ò ‸ Ó )
Lux:Because I'm curious. There. Happy?
Jinx:Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
Lux:It is certainly going to kill one of us.
Jinx:Ooh, Scary Seth. Is that a threat, or a promise?
Lux:My name isn't Seth!!!
Jinx:Then what is it?
Lux:...
Jinx:Oh, did your mommy tell you not to give your name out to strangers?
Lux:You are so rude. Are you trying to win me over and keep me talking to you, or are you trying to annoy me so I never speak to you again?
Jinx:Which one is working better, Seth?
Lux:Lumen. You can call me Lumen.
Jinx:Is that actually your name? Cause it doesn't sound like a name.
Lux:Would you even believe me if I told you it was my real name?
Jinx:Well then, if we're going by super secret agent names, you can call me... Hex.
Lux:You certainly live up to it.
You've been nothing but a curse to me since I started speaking to you.
Jinx:We've all got to live up to something!
Jinx:Anyway, Lumen-not-Seth, it's been grand, but my time of boredom is over. I've got fish to fry.
Lux:You were just using me to pass time???
Jinx:Was that not obvious? I told you I was texting you because I was bored.
Jinx:TTFN, Not-Seth-Lumen!
Read 5:43 pm
Lux:I'm seriously going to block you.


Jinx:

Chapter Text

"Lumen"

June 12th 2:01 AM
Lux:Hey, are you awake?
Lux:Hex?
Jinx:And here I thought you were the kind of person to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Lux:I did go to bed at a reasonable hour
Lux:But I can't sleep.
Lux:And you don't actually know me, so you're the only person who I won't worry by texting this late at night.
Lux:Did I wake you up?
Jinx:You wound me, Lumey. You really think I wouldn't worry about you?
Lux:Are you worried?
Jinx:Nope. (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:(¬_¬)
Jinx:So what's wrong that you have to turn to little old Hexy in the dead of night?
Lux:Nothing.
Lux:I just can't sleep.
Jinx:Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Jinx:Lumen, you wouldn't LIE to me, would you?
Jinx:Me, your good good friend Hex, who has been nothing but sweet and wonderful to you?
Lux:You tried to make me believe you were my friend's non-existent brother who was secretly in love with me.
Jinx:Touche.
Jinx:But you gotta give me SOMETHING to work with here, Lumey.
Jinx:You can't just text me out of the blue in the middle of the night and expect me to carry the conversation.
Jinx:Even though I probably could.
Jinx:Because I'm just that amazing.
Lux:Why are you even still awake?
Jinx:My sleep schedule is what you might call... "chaotic"
Lux:Why does that not surprise me
Jinx:Rude.
Lux:Do you even sleep at all?
Jinx:Rude!
Jinx:I'll have you know I sleep plenty.
Lux:When?
Jinx:I live most of my life like a cat.
Jinx:When I want to eat, I eat.
Jinx:When I want to sleep, I sleep.
Jinx:When I want to tear around the place like a maniac, I tear around like a manic.
Jinx:When I want to knock someone else's glass off the table, I knock it off the table.
Lux:I get it.
Jinx:You really are in a sour mood!
Jinx:Bad dream? Boy problems? Indigestion?
Lux:It's nothing, I'm just tired.
Jinx:Then sleep!
Lux:I cant!
Jinx:WHY!
Lux:UGH
Lux:It's none of your business!!!
Jinx:Down, boy! May I remind you, YOU texted ME first this time.
Jinx:If you're going to behave this way, I'll go elsewhere.
Lux:Wait, please don't. Please. I'm sorry. I just don't want to talk about it.
Jinx:Now was that so hard?
Jinx:Use your words, Lumey.
Jinx:So what DO you wanna talk about?
Lux:I... don't know. Any time I try to think of something my mind comes up blank. I'm better at talking in person than over text.
Jinx:Well then you are in luck, because I much prefer text to in-person encounters.
Jinx:Ever play the question game?
Lux:Once, with a guy in my class. It... didn't go well, to say the least. It kind of devolved into him asking uncomfortable questions and me dodging them. It wasn't a great time.
Jinx:Ew yuck. That's why you don't play with boys.
Jinx:Ours will be much more interesting and less uncomfortable.
Lux:I reserve the right to pass any questions, though.
Jinx:Ok, but I reserve the right to ask another after you pass.
Lux:Fair. Go ahead, you start then.
Jinx:Are you a boy or a girl or otherwise?
Lux:A girl. Did you really think I could have been a boy? Not that I'm upset over it, but I guess that's kind of baffling to me.
Jinx:Is that really your question?
Lux:No! I wouldn't waste it on that.
Jinx:That's the last "is that your final answer" warning, toots. (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:(-‸ლ) Noted.
Lux:What about you, are you a boy, girl, or otherwise?
Jinx:A girl! Probably, anyway. I don't think about it too much.
Jinx:How old are you?
Lux:Pass.
Jinx:What!
Lux:I'm not giving you any identifiable information about me. You could be a weirdo stalker who is tracking my location through my phone right now.
Jinx:Or I could just be a random person you texted by accident who wants to know if she's talking to someone around her age or not!!!
Lux:You've already proven to be a liar, and you told me yourself you do whatever you feel like. I don't feel safe giving you my age.
Jinx:Uuuuugh.
Jinx:Fine.
Jinx:Are you in high school, at least?
Lux:...Yes. Don't ask me what year.
Jinx:I'll take it.
Lux:Are YOU in high school?
Jinx:As a matter of fact, I am!
Jinx:Who knows, maybe we go to the same school.
Lux:Or, maybe you're just copying my answers to make you seem more relatable.
Jinx:So cynical! So jaded! How did you get so cold!
Jinx:That's not my question.
Jinx:Wait, yes it is. What makes you so cautious?
Lux:I... my family is a very prestigious. There are a lot of people who would harm me, or would manipulate me for their own gain. I learned to be careful of strangers and people getting close to me at a young age, which is hard, because like... I want to help people? But a lot of people who need my help ARE strangers, so it's like, hard to balance. My brother is very protective of me, as well, and I'd hate for him to worry over me any more than he does.
Jinx:Wow that sure went.... somewhere.
Lux:Are you more of a city or nature person?
Jinx:Ignoring my sarcasm won't make it go away, you know.
Jinx:But I'm a city gal. Nature makes me itchy.
Jinx:Not in an allergy way, but more like a... metaphysical way.
Jinx:Who is Sylas?
Lux:A classmate.
Lux:What's your dream vacation?
Jinx:Oh come ooooon. You can't give me more than that??? He's a CLASSMATE??? Lux:You're awfully pushy for someone who said this was going to be more fun than the last game of 20 questions I played.
Jinx:My dream vacation would be to an airship cruise, with a glass bottom floor so I could look down on the world from way up high.
Jinx:If you had to eat only one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Jinx:And by "what kind," I mean like, all breads, eggs cooked any way, every pasta ever, things like that. Lux:Hmm... probably pie? Because you can put pretty much anything in a pie, right? Pot pie, desert pie, mountain pies... you could probably put eggs in a crust and call it a pie.
Jinx:First of all, I think if you put eggs in a crust it's called a... quiche? I think that's how you spell it? So that's pushing it.
Jinx:Second of all, WHAT is a mountain pie?
Lux:You've never had a mountain pie???
Jinx:I've never even HEARD of a mountain pie, and I'm like 80% sure it's something you're making up to get more food forever.
Lux:Aaaaaa mountain pies are so good!!!! So like, you have a special mountain pie press, which like... okay imagine you have two little cast iron pans, right? Like, maybe a little bit bigger than your hand. And they hook together to make a space between the pans you cook things inside, like a panini press. And then each pan has a long metal rod attached to it like... like a marshmallow roasting stick, and you hold it over a campfire or put it in the embers.
Lux:Oh right!!! Inside you put bread, with the outsides buttered like you would with a grilled cheese, and between the bread you put whatever you want. Apple pie filling, pasta sauce and cheese, marshmallow fluff and peanut butter... whatever!! They are SO SO SO good.
Jinx:My dear Lumen, what you are speaking of, is a sandwich.
Jinx:And doesn't count as a pie
Lux:It does too! You didn't even know what a mountain pie WAS until I just told you.
Jinx:But now I do know what it is! And it is a sandwich.
Lux:It literally has PIE in the NAME!
Jinx:Would you put shaving CREAM in your coffee?
Lux:That's totally different.
Jinx:Is it?
Lux:Shaving cream isn't even a food! At least mountain pies are still edible.
Jinx:Is a rice cake a cake?
Lux:Oh, alright, that's a fair point. But if you're going to take egg pies and call them quiches, you could at least give me mountain pies.
Jinx:I will give you quiches instead so you can have a rounded breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Because I'm so gracious like that.
Lux:Why thank you, o benevolent Hex.
Jinx:Ugh
Jinx:Don't call me Hex anymore please
Jinx:It just doesn't fit.
Jinx:Are we past the whole code names thing yet?
Lux:There's nothing stopping you from giving YOUR name.
Jinx:So you admit Lumen isn't your real name then?
Lux:...oh pox.
Jinx:Not like I didn't know that ANYWAY
Jinx:but now I know for SURE
Jinx:So can we like
Jinx:stop using fake names
Lux:Remember when I told you why I'm so cautious, and implied I don't really trust you? Yeah. You can keep calling me Lumen for now, thanks. If you'd like me to call you something other than Hex, I'll be glad to.
Jinx:Uuuuuugh.
Jinx:Fine. You can call meeeeeeee
Jinx: X, I guess.
Lux:Just X?
Jinx:Yeah, for now. We'll see how long that sticks.
Jinx:I thought long and hard about what I wanted my name to be, I'll have you know.
Lux:You mean like right now, or...?
Jinx: No, I mean for my actual name, duh!
Lux:You picked your name out?
Jinx:Yup!
Jinx:You still got the one your parents gave ya then?
Lux:Yeah? Is that unusual?
Lux:I go by a nickname, if that "counts" for anything.
Jinx:Nothing wrong with keeping your given name if you like it.
Jinx:I just didn't like mine
Jinx:so I stopped using it.
Jinx:That was yeeeeeeeaaaaars ago, though. Honestly I don't think I could tell you my given name if you gave me a whole day to try to remember it.
Lux:Huh. Well, okay then.
Jinx:And it is a REALLY COOL NAME!!!
Lux:....okay?
Jinx:But I don't wanna tell you until I know your name!!! Miss Mystery!!!
Lux:Well, I guess I just won't know your really cool name!
Jinx:UUUUUUUGH
Jinx:So STUBBORN.
Lux:You'll get used to it, I'm sure.
Jinx:Oh?
Jinx:Are you planning on talking with me again?
Lux:Something tells me if *I* don't talk to *you,* *you'll* talk to *me.*
Jinx:Again, YOU texted ME first this time, Lumey.
Lux:Shhhhhh. I'm going to try and go back to sleep. I'm feeling a lot better after talking to you. Thank you, X.
Jinx:G'night, Lum-Lum.
Read 3:32 AM

Chapter Text

Lum-Lum

June 12th 11:54 AM
Lux:I can't believe the outdoors make you "itchy."
June 12th 3:27 PM
Jinx:First of all, you can't expect me to be awake that early after we stayed up last night.
Lux:I didn't. I only texted you once, cause I knew you were probably asleep. ( ' ౪ ' )
Jinx:Second of all, twice in a row you're texting me first, Lummey! I'm touched!
Jinx:Careful, I'll start to get the idea we're becoming friends.
Lux:No comment.
Jinx:A dangerous yet non-committal response, I see.
Jinx:And third of all, the outdoors DOES make me """"itchy""""
Lux:It's such a beautiful day, X!!! The sun is out!!! The sky is clear!!! It's warm but not hot!!! It is the perfect summer day and I cannot believe you don't like being outdoors!!! What is your deal!!!! Jinx:I just don't like it what's not to get
Lux:On days like this, everything!!! The colors are bright, the sun feels good on your skin, the fresh air feels good in your lungs...!!!
Jinx:Itchy.
Jinx:I'm getting itchy from you just talking about it.
Lux:( ●︿● )
Lux:So are you some kind of shut-in or what?
Jinx:Didn't your parents ever teach you manners?
Lux:Sure they did, but I didn't think I was minding my manners with you. Considering our history.
Jinx:Ooooh, we have HISTORY now?
Lux:Yeah. Demacian History. Come study with me and Sylas. Are you dodging the question because you ARE a shut-in and don't want to admit it?
Jinx:No, snarky-pants.
Jinx:I'll have you know I'm outside PLENTY.
Jinx:I'm just not out in the GREAT OUTDOORS like YOU
Jinx:I'm a city girl, Lum-Lum.
Lux:I mean the city has it's charms too, sure, but to be like, OUTSIDE-outside is to be in a park or a forest or something!!!
Jinx:Pass.
Lux:Spoil-sport.
Jinx:Is it somehow MY fault that I don't like being out in the "OUTSIDE-outside"?
Lux:When was the last time you TRIED to enjoy the outdoors, really TRIED?
Jinx:Lumen, I feel like if you have to TRY to enjoy something, you're not really enjoying it.
Jinx:L You're just pretending to like it because it makes you "cooler" or "easier to deal with" or something.
Jinx:And I will have you know I am plenty cool, and pride myself on how un-easy to deal with I am.
Lux:Well, you are nothing if not un-easy to deal with. ( = ౪ = )
Jinx:Someone is in a very good mood today
Lux:Who wouldn't be with all this sunlight!!!
Jinx:What are you, a plant?
Lux:Yes! I am a beautiful sunflower! Reaching up towards the sky! Be a sunflower with me, X!!!!
Jinx:Are you like
Jinx:okay
Jinx:This is starting to sound forced
Lux:I am *enjoying* myself, X!!! This is the first day in practically forever that it's been this nice and I've had the whole day to myself. No family commitments, no schoolwork, no extracurriculars, no study buddies... just me, myself, and I, out here alone, free to be myself. I just want you to feel the same way, and you can't unless you are soaking up the sun rays!!! You need to get OUT!!! In the fresh air!!! Stop being "itchy"!!!
Jinx:See, I think that's where our major difference is, Lumey.
Jinx:You are a daughter of a well-to-do family and, what, the youngest? Am I right?
Lux:Yeah? What does that have to do with anything?
Jinx:So you're like, the family darling. You're probably a straight-A student, who tries to do everything you can, while your parents try to put pillows under you while you fall.
Jinx:You probably feel empowered to take on even MORE responsibility since you're treated like the baby of the family
Jinx:Like "Oh no, little Lumen, you're too little for that! Let us do it for you, poor dear!" or something
Jinx:So you try and do everything you can, or they'll let you do, and you end up overloading yourself with all this STUFF, so when you get a quiet moment to yourself it's like crack.
Jinx:Meanwhile, I do whatever I want!
Jinx:I am ALWAYS free to be myself, babey!
Jinx:I don't need the power of the sun's deadly rays to make me feel like myself.
June 12th 2:15 PM
Jinx:Are you ignoring me?
June 12th 3:29 PM
Jinx:Lumeeeeeennnnnn
June 12th 5:21 PM
Jinx:Please don't ignore meeeeeeee
June 12th 6:58 PM
Jinx:Lumen Lumen Lumen Lumen
Lux:Why couldn't you let me have my one thing?
Jinx:Huh?
Lux:Why couldn't you let my have my dumb sunshine-infused happiness? Why did you have to make me sound stupid? I've had a really rough last few weeks, and going out today was my bright spot, and you tried to take it from me because you're somehow "better" than me because you do whatever you want. Why? Why would you do that? I only texted you because I was thinking of you and figured we could have a conversation. Was I wrong to do that? Should I just not talk to you first, and wait til you get bored? Or should I just not talk to you at all if you plan on being negative or making me feel bad about myself every time we talk?
Jinx:Oh wow okay.
Jinx:So I'm the bad guy here
Jinx:That's fine, I'm used to that
Jinx:But you tried to make me feel bad about not liking to be in the Great Outdoors like you.
Jinx:So go ahead and pretend you're blameless in this if it makes you feel better
Jinx:But if I start firing shots in your direction without being provoked, trust me. You'll know.
Lux:And what is that supposed to mean?
Jinx:It means I don't just shoot to wound, I shoot to destroy.
Jinx:It means I wouldn't just take pot-shots at your upbringing and youngest-child syndrome
Lux:So you admit you were taking pot-shots? And how do you know you didn't "destroy" with your stupid comments? You have no idea the effect your words can have on people. And DID have on me.
Jinx:So you're just going to ignore the fact that you started it!
Lux:I did NOT instigate. Excuse me for trying to share my love of the outdoors with you.
Jinx:Also, if you were "destroyed" by my calling a spade a spade, you are WAY too sensitive
Jinx:and it's good that we're getting this out of the way now
Jinx:before either one of us decided to call this a friendship
Jinx:Was I taking pot-shots? Yes.
Jinx:Do I regret it? ...no! Not really.
Lux:Seriously???
Jinx:When you're content believing you didn't hurt me?
Jinx:Nope! No regrets.
Lux:I cannot believe you. I can't believe I cared about you. I can't believe I started to let you get close to me, that I started to consider you a friend. It just goes to show everyone will hurt you in the end, and letting people close to you really just is not worth the trouble. Everyone only cares about themselves.
Jinx:you cant guilt trip me so
Jinx:go cry about it lol
Lux:You disgust me.
Jinx:Oh, really?
Jinx:well, get in line then, sweetpea!
Jinx:you aren't SPECIAL for hating me, sorry if you thought you were.
Jinx:there's a whole laundry list of people who I disgust!
Lux:Oh, I wonder why! Maybe if you worked on being nicer, and holding your tongue, people might like you more, X. Maybe if you put a little thought in to what you said instead of just shooting your mouth off, you might have more friends.
Jinx:If I need to edit and filter myself so that stuck-up rich girls can walk all over me and call me their "friend"
Jinx:I'll pass!
Jinx:Thanks for the offer, though. Very thoughtful.
Lux:How dare you! You don't know ANYTHING about me. You have NO right to call me names like that.
Jinx:I know everything you told me about yourself, chickie!
Jinx:Or did you forget?
Jinx:You're pretty free about dumping random information on a stranger despite claiming to be "soooo careful about letting people in"
Jinx:And you know what!
Jinx:You know even less about me!
Jinx:So please,
Jinx:Save your poor, dainty little fingers and stop lecturing me.
Lux:Fine. Good riddance, too. I don't need your kind of negativity in my life, nor do I need anyone who treats me the way you do. You aren't worth my energy or my time.
Jinx:I'm so hurt.
Read 7:42 pm

Chapter Text

(Reversed Hand With Middle Finger Extended ≊ Middle Finger)(Reversed Hand With Middle Finger Extended ≊ Middle Finger)(Reversed Hand With Middle Finger Extended ≊ Middle Finger)

June 20th 7:06 pm
Lux:Can we talk?
June 20th 8:18 pm
Lux:Please don't ignore me.
June 20th 9:00 pm
Lux:Okay, you have every right to ignore me. But I really would like to talk about what happened, to try and clear the air.
June 20th 9:59 pm
Lux:I'm just going to talk then, and get this all out there, cause I know if I sit on these feelings it'll eat away at me.
Lux:You don't have to even read it, I guess, but it would be nice to have some closure on this whole thing.
Lux:Ok. So. I'm sorry for the way I behaved the other day. I offer no excuse for it. You were pretty on-the-nose with your analysis of me, and it made me feel uncomfortable. I am, paradoxically, both very aware of and blissfully ignorant to the fact I am the youngest of a prestigious family, and the trials and comforts that affords me. The way you phrased things made me feel like the bad guy, though going back and reading the conversation it was clear that I was making you uncomfortable, which is why you reacted the way you did.
Lux:When we were arguing, I deflected your points in order to try and turn the fight in my favor. I felt like I couldn't afford to be wrong, though I know really I had very little to lose by admitting my faults to you, a total stranger. It really was more of an ego problem than anything, I guess.
Lux:I... have a lot going on in my life right now. Not to suggest that you dont. I'm just under a lot of stress from a lot of sides, and that fed into my outburst. This does't excuse my actions, of course.
Lux:Anyway, I just wanted to apologize. If you did read this, thank you. And um... I really enjoy talking to you, despite all evidence to the contrary. You're someone I can be candid around, and that's not something I'm able to be around pretty much anyone. And you don't baby me, which is probably good for me. So I hope we can patch this up, but if we can't, I'll understand.
June 20th 11:27 pm
Jinx:I think you're the first person to ever apologize to me
Jinx:So I appreciate that
Jinx:and I should apologize too because I kind of super fueled the flames of that fight
Jinx:like I had this little voice in the back of my head just telling me to walk away
Jinx:but I didn't
Jinx:and made it worse
Jinx:and can I be honest with you?
Jinx:at the time i kind of got a kick out of it
Jinx:cause thats like
Jinx:my thing
Jinx:destroying things without a second thought
Jinx:but then I started to feel like? bad? about it? which is new
Jinx:I felt like, bad for making you even more upset, and felt bad that I may have ruined... whatever it is we have here
Jinx:I don't even have a fancy explanation like you as to why I did it
Jinx:I've been told I'm "chaotic by nature"
Jinx:I just like to make a mess of things
Jinx:But this was the first mess I'd ever felt like... bad about.
Jinx:So I'm sorry too
Jinx:and thank you for texting me about it cause honestly I was just gonna let it go
Jinx:cause I don't know how to start an... apology conversation, cause I've never had one
Lux:I accept your apology. ^^
Jinx:We're good?
Lux:We're good. Friends?
Jinx:Yeah
Jinx:Yeah!
Jinx:Friends!
Jinx:Lummy, I think this is the first time you've called us friends.
Lux:Well, we are friends now. We were friends before, probably, but I was too... cagey about it. Too worried, I guess.
Jinx:Too up your own ass?
Lux:Maybe a little, yes. Anyway, now that we're actually calling this a friendship, my name is Lux.
Jinx:(Face With Open Mouth )!!!!!!
Jinx:I am honored, milady Lux.
Lux:Ew, don't call me that. It's a nickname people close to me call me. So no one puts "milady" in front of it, and it's especially weird coming from you.
Jinx:You mean to tell me you gave me your not-actual-name again?
Jinx:jk I don't care
Jinx:I'm Jinx!(Smiling Face With Horns )
Lux:Is that short for anything?
Jinx:yeah
Jinx:it's short for "my name is Jinx"
Lux:Smart-ass
Jinx:takes one to know one!
Lux:You're right. You are right.
Jinx:I'm always right, Luxy.
Lux:Alright, alright, don't push it
Jinx:(Grinning Face With Smiling Eyes )
Lux:I should get to bed, it's pretty late for me.
Jinx:Boo! Stay up with me!
Lux:Would I could
Jinx:Why don't you then!
Lux:It's a secret!
Jinx:BOOOOO
Jinx:Well, alright then
Jinx:If you MUST leave me
Jinx:Have a good sleep, Lux.
Read 12:58 am
Lux:You too, Jinx. Sleep well. ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ

Chapter 6

Notes:

Big shout out to Riot Games TM for their newest Marvel comic and letting me know I've been characterizing Lux correctly. Y'all the real MVPs.

Chapter Text

Lux

June 21th 12:02 PM
Jinx:Heeeeeyyyyy
Jinx:Luuuuxxxxxx
Jinx:Can you guess what I am???
Lux:Are you bored?
Jinx:I am!!!!
Jinx:You are so smart
Lux:You flatter me :P
Jinx:Now that we're past being cagey, can we play 20 questions again pls
Jinx:Cause I feel like I have a lot to ask you, now that we are officially friends
Jinx:Curiosity and all that
Lux:Sure but I might be slow to reply. Family stuff.
Jinx:Oh yuck.
Jinx:My condolences.
Lux:Oh, no, it's okay. Nothing bad. Just time consuming. Hit me with that first question whenever you're ready!
Jinx:Ok well then I'm just gonna ask question after question today and tomorrow can be ur day to ask me questions
Jinx:If you want to, anyway
Jinx:I'm pretty much an open book
Jinx:Oh you're still free to pass any questions you don't wanna answer
Jinx:ANYWAY.
Jinx:Are you a daytime or nighttime person?
Jinx:Wait, no, I think I know the answer to that one. Day time person right?
Jinx:Oh right you're busy. I'm just gonna say I'm right and think of a new question.
Jinx:Hmmmmmmmmmm
Jinx:Let's go with something easy. Favorite color?
Lux:Can I say rainbow?
Jinx:Only if it's a pride thing. (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Jinx:Otherwise, nope, gotta pick just one.
Lux:(ὀ⌓ὀ )
Lux:Um um um um um!
June 21th 1:49 PM
Lux:White then! Because it has the whole rainbow in it, just in a form we cant see. Plus, like black, it matches pretty much anything.
Jinx:Kind of lame, but also interesting, so I'll take it
Jinx:Cat or dog person?
Lux:I like both, but prefer cats, I think!
Jinx:You think? (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Jinx:Least favorite film troupe
Lux:This is like... oddly specific? Are you pulling this from a 20 questions list online or something?
Jinx:My dear, dear, dear friend Luxy.
Jinx:I am offended that the thought would even cross your mind!
Jinx:All of these questions are brought to you by none other than my own noggin.
Jinx:I just so happen to be particular about my film troupes personally
June 21th 3:07 PM
Lux:Um.... zombies. I just think they're overdone.
Jinx:Bwaaaaaaaa noooooooo!!!!
Jinx:Man, just break my heart why don't you!!!!!
Jinx:Do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach?
Lux:That is so specific!!!!! If you really did just come up with that, I'm slightly worried.
Jinx:Oh, come on.
Jinx:What's the worst thing I could do with knowing what position you sleep in?
June 21th 4:21 PM
Lux:Do you really want me to answer that?
Jinx:You can pass if it bothers you!!!
Lux:It only bothers me kind of that you'd think to ask it. :P I sleep on my side, usually.
Jinx:For what it's worth, if it makes you feel better to know, I start on my stomach and wake up in a different position every time.
Jinx:If you had to have a different hair color, what would you pick?
Lux:Um... red? I like red. I think it looks really good on others, and I think it would look good on me, too!
Jinx:Like, orange-red, or RED-red?
Lux:Probably orange-red. Red-red is okay, but orange-red reminds me of the sunset.
Jinx:What color hair do you have now?
June 21th 5:27 PM
Lux:Pink. So not too far off from red, truth be told. Maybe I should go for something more adventurous, but I just... I don't know, I really like sunset red!
Jinx:Man you are bummin me out today Luxy!!!
Jinx:First no zombies, then no red-redheads.
Jinx:Next you're gonna tell me you think poros are better than pingus.
Lux:Nothing is better than poros. Nothing.
Jinx:Honestly, how dare you.
Jinx:You come into MY house,
Jinx:on this,
Jinx:the day of my pingu's wedding,
June 21th 6:42 PM
Lux:Oh, the drama of it all.
Jinx:It is too late for apologies now!
Jinx:Lux, my longest and dearest friend, has betrayed me!
Lux:My good friend, you've known me for like, two weeks max.
Jinx:Who is max
Lux:Oh my god
Jinx:What the heck is your family doing that is taking all day!!!!
Lux:Pass!
Jinx:omg
Jinx:That wasn't an actual QUESTION, Lux.
Jinx:ya dingus
Jinx:I kind of even forgot we were playing that game
Lux:Well you better get all your questions out now, because tomorrow is my turn. :3
Jinx:Oooh, what's that supposed to mean?
Lux::3
Jinx:What if I tell you that's actually a question
Jinx:Will you answer me then
Lux::3
Jinx:is that your new way of saying pass
Lux::3
Jinx:GOD okay
Jinx:now I know what it's like dealing with me
Lux::3c
Jinx:If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted with no way to get in trouble, what would you do?
Jinx:Your own personal Purge, if you will.
June 21th 8:06 PM
Lux:Oh wow ok this one is really tough. I... would... change unjust laws and free those unjustly sentenced because of those laws. I would help make reparations for the lives those laws have touched.
Jinx:Woah
Jinx:that was a lot more serious than I was prepared for
Jinx:is this like, about weed, or...
Lux:Not specifically, but that would fall under the category, yes.
Jinx:You're just gonna pass if I push further huh
Lux::3
Jinx:Uuuugh. No fun.
Jinx:Ok, lightning round. You ready?
Jinx:Favorite music genre!
Lux:Pop!
Jinx:A book that made you cry!
Lux:Best Foot Forward!
Jinx:Least favorite food!
Lux:Hot dogs!
Jinx:Favorite season!
Lux:Spring!
Jinx:A word you think is really cool to say!
Lux:Flume!
Jinx:Oh shit that is a good one
Jinx:You were quicker on that than I thought you'd be
Jinx:I'm honestly drawing a blank on what to ask you
Lux:Curious Cat Jinx is out of questions? Color me surprised.
Jinx:No, not OUT
Jinx:But I'm like 400% sure you'll pass everything I'm curious about
Jinx:or get suspicious of me
Lux:Hmm. You might be right. Hit me with one anyway.
Jinx:Who is Sylas actually?
Lux:I'll answer that one. Sylas is a friend and classmate. He's a year ahead of me, but had some problems in his personal life that caused him to fall behind in his studies. I, being the honor student smarty-pants I am, starting studying with him after class, and he started helping me with some extracurriculars I was struggling with. He had some misgivings at first, but he's warmed up to me.
Jinx:...........
Jinx:See, you answered me, but now that's just opened up a world of new questions.
Jinx:A pandora's box of curiosity
Jinx:Where you are pandora
Jinx:and I am the box
Lux:That's not how that story goes
Jinx:AND I AM THE BOX
Lux:Wouldn't I be the box, if you've opened it and now have all of these questions?
Jinx:I
Jinx:am
Jinx:the
Jinx:box
Lux:You are the box.
Jinx:So what kind of extracurriculars are we talking?
June 21th 10:09 PM
Lux:Pass
Jinx:Spicy
Lux:It's not like that!!!!
Jinx:How would I know?
Jinx:(Smiling Face With Horns )
Lux:You can't blackmail me into telling you what Sylas is helping me with!
Jinx:Who said anything about blackmail?
Jinx:Blackmail is TOTALLY not my style anyway
Jinx:I'm just making it seem like y'all are doing something unspeakable
Jinx:Something SO unspeakable you can't even tell ME,
Jinx:your dearest, oldest, bestest friend
Lux:It IS unspeakable, but not in the way you're thinking!!!!
Jinx:(Smirking Face )
Lux:JINX!!!!!!!
Lux:You are impossible. I'm not telling you.
Jinx:WAIT I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING
Jinx:IS SYLAS HIGHER UP ON YOUR FRIEND LIST THAN ME
Lux:Um..... I... don't know? That's not like... something I think about...?
Jinx:noooooooooOOOOOOOOOOO
Jinx:If your answer isn't a definitive "no jinx no one could ever be my top friend but you" what is the point!!!!!!
Jinx:I have to step up my friendship game!!!!!
Jinx:I don't care if he is your boyfriend, I have to be a better friend than him
Lux:He isn't my boyfriend!
Jinx:That's even SPICIER Lux omg
Jinx:who knew you were such a rebel behind your good girl mask
Jinx:IN ANY CASE
Lux:Oh my god
Jinx:as first act in my "become Lux's best friend" campaign I will STOP texting you
Jinx:and insist that you go to sleep
Jinx:because knowing you, you probably got up just as the sun crested the horizon like some ethereal fairy or something
Jinx:plus you had a big family thing today!!!
Jinx:and then you had someone badgering you with questions all day
Jinx:which I'm sure was exhausting
Lux:Jinx oh my god, breathe.
Lux:I WAS planning on going to bed soon anyway, but I want to say, please don't ever feel like you have to stop texting me for my own good. I like talking to you! Even when you ramble on and like text ten times in a row or become increasingly ridiculous, I like talking to you. I look forward to reading your texts. Really, that's why I kept talking to you even in the beginning when I thought of you as little more than a nuisance. You're interesting, you're fun, I can't ever figure out what you're going to do next. I feel... different when I talk to you. I don't have to be stuffy and upright, I can be more myself.
Lux:Basically, what I'm trying to say is, despite "not being at the top of my list," I like you, I like talking to you, and I do consider you my friend. You don't have to work hard to get me to like you more! I'm certain that will happen naturally with time. You've already wormed your way into my life despite having fun at my expense for the first few conversations we had. :P I'm still on the fence about how much I believe in fate, but if there is such a thing, I think maybe we were fated to meet. And I'm really, really glad we did.
Jinx:...oh
Jinx:oh wow ok
Jinx:i um. i am gonna need time to process that
Jinx:not in like a bad way, but more like
Jinx:yeah
Jinx:you know what? I can't word right now so I'm just gonna... yeah
Lux:No worries! Sorry to just drop that on you, I know it was kind of like... heartfelt with no warning, haha. I meant all of it though! Anyway, I should get to sleep. Goodnight, Jinx!
Jinx:Night Lux!
Jinx:sleep well
Read 11:42 pm

Chapter 7

Notes:

Thank you for your patience with this chapter, I'm sorry it took so long! I had a back-to-back, out of state funeral and wedding, which made life a little hectic. I'm happy to be writing these two again!

Chapter Text

Luxy

June 22nd 9:32 am
Lux:I am so sorry if I weirded you out last night, I know that kind of came out of nowhere, and was like... probably really unexpected and sudden!! Sorry if it like, scared you or anything, I didn't mean to add any pressure to you or anything.
Lux:...Oh you're probably still asleep, huh?
Jinx:im up!
Jinx:sorta
Jinx:I'm probs gonna fall right back to sleep
Jinx:but i heard my phone go off and i didnt want u to worry
Jinx:im not weirded out by it or anything
Jinx:just didn't know how to react cause i don't get told stuff like that!
Jinx:so i didn'y know how to respind
Jinx:**didnt **respond
Jinx:too sleepy to spell
Jinx:goodnight
Lux:Augh, sorry to wake you, but thanks for texting me back! Sleep well!
June 22nd 11:07 am
Jinx:I have awoken
Lux:o.o
Lux:This is still pretty early for you, isn't it?
Jinx:Eh
Jinx:I kinda kept going in and out of sleep after talking to ya this morning
Lux:Gaaaah, I'm so sorry >.<
Jinx:Luxy
Jinx:you remember how I literally just do whatever?
Jinx:if I didn't wanna reply to you earlier I wouldn't have
Jinx:but I did want to! so I did it
Lux:I mean... yeah, that's fair, but I still feel bad about it.
Jinx:well stop it!!
Jinx:anyway, whatre you up to today?
Lux:Bleugh. I've been talked into going to a party sort of thing tonight
Jinx:...a what now?
Lux:Well it's like... it started out as a friendly get-together, but then certain people heard about it and asked the host if they could come, and the host said yes, and things kind of spiraled from there? Like the venue has completely changed, at least, so the original host doesn't have to suddenly accommodate for all these people, and I really don't want to go, but I already committed back when it was a friendly get-together, and I just... gah, I'm honestly just getting more stressed the more I think about it!
Jinx:sloooow your roll there Luxy-Loo
Jinx:If the plans got completely changed, why cant you just meet as a group of friends again
Jinx:and just do the original plan?
Lux:Because a couple of the girls from the original get-together would rather do the party ;-;
Jinx:dumb
Jinx:then why can't you just not go?
Lux:I can't just ditch!!
Jinx:why not!!!!
Lux:Because it's... not something I can do. It's something that's socially expected of me.
Jinx:Even though you don't wanna go
Lux:Even though I don't want to go, yes.
Jinx:God I am glad I'm not a socially obligated person!
Jinx:My advise for things is always going to be ditch,
Jinx:tell them how you actually feel,
Jinx:or break up with them
Jinx:but I have a feeling none of these are helpful to you right now
Jinx:but i can talk about it with you if you want
Lux:That might help? I don't know, I'm just really anxious about it >.<
Jinx:so is it that its gonna be too many people or what
Lux:That's... part of it, yeah. I'm really not a fan of large groups of people, but also there's... a few people there I really just... don't want to see! Especially in a social context!
Jinx:bad history?
Lux:I guess, yeah.
Jinx:Uuuugh stop beating around the bush with it and tell meeeeeee
Lux:Do you remember when I told you I played the question game once with a boy, and really didn't have a great time?
Jinx:Ooooohhhhhh
Lux:Yeah, so he'll be there, and unless I can convince Sylas to come so I can use him as boy-repellent, I'm gonna have to deal with THAT, probably all night.
Jinx:waitwaitwaitwait
Jinx:Sylas is boy repellent?????
Lux:He's kind of looks rough around the edges. Plus, if you stick close enough to a guy, people tend to think you two are together. That's what you thought too, right?
Jinx:Still not convinced you two aren't SOMETHING...
Jinx:(Smirking Face )
Lux:Hush, you.
Jinx:Does HE know you two aren't together?
Lux:Jinx please omg
Jinx:is that a no?
June 22nd 1:29 pm
Lux:It's IMPLIED. He's a friend who is a guy, that doesn't mean it has to become romantic. There's not even any real chemistry between us.
Jinx:ooh, any REAL chemistry?
Jinx:does that mean you're trying to MAKE chemistry between you two?
Lux:Jinx PLEASE
Jinx:Well?????
Lux:Maybe I was at one point, but I realized a while ago that what he wants out of life and what I want are vastly different things. So I'm over it.
Jinx:are you though?
Lux:Shhhhhhhhhhh
Jinx:OMG LUX!!!!!!!
Jinx:do you still have a crush on him!!!!!!!
Lux:Do you ever really stop having a crush on someone?
Jinx:one time I thought I had a crush on a boy and then I realized I didn't like boys
Jinx:does that count?
Lux:I... no? I have no idea if that counts actually.
Jinx:can we say it counts so I can one-up you
Lux:Oh, if we MUST. :P
Jinx:Pfft, you're already Princess Perfecto, let me have this one (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:Can I ask something kind of awkward?
Jinx:I'm gay
Jinx:which is directly related to why I'm a heathen, yes. (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Jinx:does that answer it?
Lux:Only like, partly. Also you're a heathen because you're an agent of chaos, not because you're gay. :P Anyway, how did you like... know, I guess?
Jinx:god I hate this question
Lux:Don't worry about it then!
Jinx:Lux
Jinx:how did you know your hair was pink?
Lux:Um... I... looked in the mirror?
Jinx:but ok like
Jinx:when did you become AWARE it was pink
Lux:I... don't know what you're asking.
Jinx:there wasn't really a time that you realized, like
Jinx:"oh, my hair is pink", right?
Jinx:it was more like just, something that you didn't think about until it was relevant, right?
Lux:...Yeah. Yeah, I think I get what you're saying.
Jinx:that's what it was for me.
Jinx:I have no idea when I "knew" I was gay
Jinx:cause like I don't remember a time I didn't like girls
Jinx:and it only became apparent that I didn't like boys when I thought I had a crush on one
Jinx:but then I realized I DIDN'T have a crush on him,
Jinx:HE just had a crush on ME,
Jinx:and I thought because I liked him as a friend that was the same as having a crush on him too
Jinx:and that uh, didn't go so hot
Jinx:just somethin else for me to destroy!
Jinx:so uh yeah
Lux:Oh wow, Jinx, I'm really sorry.
Jinx:eh
Jinx:I don't worry about what's behind me
June 22nd 3:42 pm
Lux:I guess the reason I ask is like... it's... something I've thought about but not a lot...? And I haven't had a chance to really talk to anyone who is gay to like... I don't know. Sorry, I don't wanna dump this random baggage on you
Jinx:Pffffffffffffffffft
Jinx:I just dumped random baggage on YOU ya goon
Jinx:and I really don't care
Lux:You're sure?
Jinx:if I don't feel like answering I just wont lol
Jinx:but it's not really a sensitive topic for me!
Lux:I just like... I know I like boys.
Jinx:Disgusting. Continue.
Lux:I... god this is so embarrassing, but I've always... thought... of girls... like that...? And I thought, you know, all girls think like this.
Jinx:Sure, Lux.
Jinx:All girls fantasize about being another girl pinning them to a wall and teasing them endlessly. (Smirking Face )
Lux:AAAAAAAAAAAAA GOD JINX DONT JUST SAY THAT!!!!
Jinx:OMG NAIL ON HEAD YOU ARE A BOTTOM!!!!
Lux:STOP OH MY GOD
Jinx:but yeah no straight girls don't think about that kind of thing LOL
Lux:So then what the heck! Does that make me bi? Or something? It's not something I've really thought that much about?
Jinx:hell if I know man
Jinx:that is not my call to make
Jinx:sleep on it for a while and when you know, you know
Jinx:and if you don't thats fine too
Jinx:I personally wouldn't care to even use the gay label if it wasn't so obvious and easy
Jinx:and I am going to take the high road and not make a joke with that statement
Lux:How mature of you :P
Lux:I just... I don't know. I feel kind of stupid, I guess.
Jinx:nah you're not stupid
Jinx:no more stupid than me anyway
Jinx:but to be fair I can be pretty stupid
Jinx:so I'm not sure what that says about you!
Lux:Oh hush you!!! You're not stupid. Just... impulsive.
Jinx:Isn't that just a nice way of saying "makes stupid choices really quickly"
Jinx:?
Lux:Okay, yeah, it is.
Jinx:Anyway, bright side!
Jinx:Maaaaybe there will be some cute girls at this party?
Lux:...Eep. I... don't think I'm ready to try and process this whole thing =_=;;
Jinx:first of all, lame
Jinx:but second of all, valid
Jinx:but THIRD of all, if you find a girl to cling to, maybe that random guy won't bug you?
Lux:Mm... doubtful. He's the kind of person whose confidence stems from obliviousness. I'm pretty sure I could be hanging all over a girl and he'd assume she was like, my sister or something.
Jinx:So he's an idiot.
Lux:More or less.
Jinx:(Grimacing Face )
Jinx:just tell him off!!
Jinx:oh wait hang on
Lux:I cant!!!!
Jinx:you can't
Jinx:yeah there it is
Lux:He's annoying, but he can't help that he has feelings for me. And I'm just... not good at being mean.
Jinx:Ooh! Me! Pick me!
Jinx:I'm REALLY GOOD at being mean
Jinx:let me do it please please please please please
Lux:Jinx no
Jinx:Jinx YES
Jinx:Just tell me where this party is and not only will I tell him off,
Jinx:I will ALSO hang all over you and act like a trashy, jealous girlfriend and glare at him from across the room any time he so much as glances at your shoes
Lux:Jinx NO
Jinx:You are absolutely no fun
Lux:Are you sure your trashy, jealous girlfriend act is just an act? Maybe deep down, that's just part of your chaotic nature. :P
Jinx:Wanna find out? (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:Ha ha.
Jinx:Anyway, NO, I'm not the trashy jealous girlfriend.
Jinx:I'm the crazy, trashy girlfriend
Jinx:I thought that much would be obvious
Lux:Oh, of course, my mistake. :P
Jinx:Honestly Lux, it's like you don't know me!
Lux:Won't happen again, I promise
Jinx:Anyway, you're a big girl
Jinx:I'm sure you'll be fine tonight
Lux:;-;
Lux:I'm just really not good in large groups!!! I can do a tight-knit group of friends, but anything larger and I start getting really awkward. And anxious. I'm just not cut out for it!!! And I just know I'm going to do something to make myself look like an idiot in front of all of these people.
Jinx:it doesnt matter though!
Jinx:everything is fake and we live on a rock hurtling through space!
Jinx:who cares if you mess up saying hello!
Jinx:or spill cheap beer on your shoes!
Jinx:or some bitchy girl side-eyes you!
Jinx:the only thing that matters is that you enjoy yourself!
Jinx:this has been life advise with Jinx.
Lux:I mean I get where you're coming from but it's hard to agree with it when my entire life has been focused around maintaining my own and my family's image!!!
Jinx:LAME
Jinx:well
Jinx:if it comes down to it
Jinx:I can call you and pretend to be your cousin or something and tell you you have to come home right now
Jinx:and I don't offer that to just anyone!!
Jinx:So don't make me regret it
Lux:Awwww, Jinx!!!! You're sweet. I'll only take you up on that if I really really need it. I'm... I'll try to have a good time anyway. My friends will be there, so it's not like I'll really be alone. I'm just overthinking it. Please don't worry about me, okay?
Jinx:Luxy, you worry enough for both of us
Lux:You're probably right. :P I should probably start getting ready, my ride is going to be here soon.
Jinx:Not that I know anything about parties, but isn't this kind of early?
Lux:She and I are going out for coffee before the party, it's been a while since we've been able to spend time together.
Jinx:How quaint
Jinx:welp, you have a good time, chickadee
Jinx:you know where to find me if you need me!
Read 5:49 pm
Lux:I appreciate it!!! Talk to you later!!!

Chapter Text

Luxy

June 22nd 7:37 pm
Lux:Jinx!!!!!!!
Lux:Im Doug it!!!!!!! I'm enjoying myself just like you said!!!!! I even had the cheap bets without spilling on my shoes!
Jinx:oh boy
Jinx:Luxy is this your first time drinking?
Lux:IS ti that noticeable? :c
Jinx:LOL yeah it is
Jinx:I'm glad you're having fun!!!
Jinx:How's the party itself?
Lux:SO FUN!!!! And exreal hasnt found me yet, so he want been bothering me. AND my friends are hanging out with me a lot!!!!!! I was afriad they'd ditch me for other people and sometimes they of off and do other things but we all kind of get back together and hangs it!
Jinx:exreal is the random dude?
Lux:yeah but his name is ezrewl
Lux:areal
Lux:EXTRA
Lux:EZREAL
Lux:HIS NAMES IS EZREAL
Jinx:LMAO
Jinx:don't hurt yourself there luxy
Lux:It is fine I am fine
Jinx:turn off auto correct for now?
Jinx:at least until you're less drunk lol
Lux:I dno't know how :c :c :c :c:c
Jinx:so ask one of your friends!!!!
Lux:aaaaaaaaaugh so neeeedyyyyy. one sec
Jinx:oh IM needy
Jinx:I see how it is
Lux:shhhh!!!! stop talknig!!! Im having roko turn off my autocorrect for you!!!
Lux:hello?????????
Jinx:you told me not to text you back you goon!!!!
Lux:OH RIFHT I DID DID
Jinx:omg
Lux:whoppois
Jinx:you need a chaperone when you're drunk lol
Lux:i so not!!!!!
Jinx:tell Roko I've appointed her as your guardian for the night lol
Lux:who?
Jinx:Roko
Jinx:whoever was turning off your auto correct omg
Lux:OHHHHHHHHHHH ROKU
Lux:riki
Lux:RIKI
Jinx:LMAO I see turning off autocorrect did not help at all
Lux:ROKI
Lux:THAT ONE
Lux:thats the right one
Jinx:she's your chaperone tonight
Lux:pfffffffff. wasnt it you whio told me to lert my hairdown!!!
Jinx:Luxy
Jinx:do you know how devastated I would be
Jinx:if you drank SO MUCH
Jinx:that you didn't remember this conversation?
Lux:ive been wondering. why do yoy texrt like that
Jinx:like what
Lux:likle with all the spaces
Jinx:instead of what
Jinx:lengthy paragraphs like sober lux?
Jinx::P
Lux:yeah!!!!!!!
Jinx:idk
Jinx:you probably put more thought into your texts than me
Jinx:I just say whatever as i think of it
Lux:thats very onbrandf or you
Jinx:I don't do anything off-brand for me babey!!!
Lux:youre so dummb omg
Jinx:um, rude
Lux:HEY
Jinx:just calling it as I see it
Lux:WHO IS THIS
Jinx:???????????
Jinx:um
Lux:i dont know who you are, but you listen to here
Lux:lux is mine, got it?
Jinx:omg
Jinx:omg are you the infamous ezreal
Lux:lux told you about me? WHAT DID SHE SAY?
Jinx:wouldnt you like to know
Jinx:why do you have her phone
Jinx:give it back
Lux:NO
Lux:Not until I know the name of my adversary
Jinx:can't believe you'd just take a phone from a drunk girl
Jinx:what kind of monster are you
Jinx:also what do you mean "adversary"
Jinx:god dont try and sound smart by using big words
Lux:LUX WAS SMILING AT HER PHONE WHILE TEXTING YOU
Jinx:...she was?
Lux:and when I asked who she was talking to she said NO ONE
Lux:and got all WEIRD and DEFENSIVE
Lux:SO YOU ARE MY ENEMY AND RIVAL
Lux:WHO ARE YOU
Jinx:does she not have my contact saved with a name or something
Jinx:dumbass
Lux:it's just listed as j and then a couple CONSPICUOUS EMOJIS
Jinx:thats cause thats my name
Jinx:are you stupid
Jinx:or just like the attention you get for acting stupid
Lux:OH aren't YOU the mouthy one!
Lux:i bet you're not so cocky when you're not behind a phone screen
Lux:COME MEET ME RIGHT NOW LETS SETTLE THIS
Lux:HEYAHAh wetqw ssssssssss
Lux:aqq211sdg ( !#$!
Jinx:hello
Lux: 1!111weteeeeeeeeeeeeee bge
Jinx:did your face implode or something
Lux:sorrysorrysorrysorrysorry
Jinx:is this luxy again
Lux:yeah im sorry about himn!!! I think i fot him to go awayf or a while
Jinx:GOD he's annoying!!!
Jinx:how do you stand him!!!!!!
Lux:thast a good question. i mostly doont! he steers clear pf sylwas so that helps
Lux:hes also osmehow MORE annyoung than usual becuase hes drunk too
Jinx:so what i'm hearing is that no one you know can hold their liquor.
Jinx:except me obviously
Lux:no!!!! my brother and hisgirlfirned can!!! and jm doing okay!!!
Jinx:...uhuh.
Lux:i am!!!!!!!!
Jinx:didn't I assign you a chaperone? (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:shhhhhh font bring her into this
Jinx:pfffffffft
Jinx:you're having fun at least?
Lux:yes!!!!!!!!
Lux:thie girls and i are go nna go dance now ok so ill talk to you latert!!!!!
Jinx:have fun luxy-loo!
Read 8:21 pm
June 22nd 10:01 pm
Lux:hey jix im sorry but can yoy call me plesae

.... .... .... ....

Hello?

Heyyyyy Lux!!! It's been SOOOO long since we've spoken, how is everything!!!! So listen, I'm in town tonight and--

Oh, um, you-- you don't have to do that act. Thank you. Um--

What happened?

What?

You asked me to call, what's up?

Oh. Um... [clears throat] I... I dunno why I asked you to call, I'm sorry, I just.... I needed to hear from.... someone... I guess.

Lux, what happened?

Sorry, sorry, sorry, I'm-- I'm sorry, I'll just--

Don't hang up on me. Do not hang up on me.

...god.

Please.

[sniffs]

Look, you... you don't have to tell me what's wrong. Just don't hang up, okay? Just talk with me. Are you still at the party?

Mm-hmm.

Are your girls still there?

Mm-hmm.

...You sound like you're probably still drunk?

I... [heavy sigh, clears throat] yeah, probably.

Are you alone?

Yeah.

Are you somewhere safe?

Yes, Jinx.

I'm just checking. I'm.... [sigh] I'm worried, okay? And I don't worry for just anyone, just so you know. So you're pretty special.

[small laugh]

I got you to laugh! I win, right? I win! What do I win?

[continues to laugh] You really are so dumb.

Well duh, compared to someone as insufferably smart as you.

Your voice sounds different than I'd imagined it'd be.

Oh yeah? What'd you think I'd sound like?

I... dunno, actually. But you know how you have like, certain voices in your head when you read things?

Poor, poor Lux, hearing voices in her head--

[laughing] Oh, will you shut up!

--poor, poor Lux, whatever will we do with her.

You know what I mean, though, right!?

Yeeeees, Luxy, I know what you're talking about.

I have no idea to describe what that voice was for you, but when you started talking--

In my horrible Posh Demacian accent.

--it just wasn't what I imagined. I don't know how to explain it.

Well for what it's worth, you sound exactly as proper and bouncy as I thought you'd be. Maybe a little higher in pitch, though.

In, like, a bad way?

Nah. Nah, it's fine.

...

[quietly] It's um... it's... nice. To hear your voice.

...huh?

You heard me.

....um! So um! What are you up to!

Just hanging out. Talking to you. People watching.

I never would have taken you to be a people watcher.

Eh, it has it's perks. Boring sometimes. But I've got a pretty good spot tonight, and I'll probably stick around a while longer.

Huh. Even I don't really like people watching, and I figured that was more up my alley than yours.

People are just so weird, sometimes I have to watch them. Sometimes they're so... ORDERLY, like... like they know all the rules and follow them to the letter. The LETTER, Lux.

For the most part, that's how society functions.

Something-something we live in a society.

Huh?

Never mind. So it's like they do this... weird dance around each other and around all these unspoken rules. And sometimes it's soooooo BORING. But sometimes it's like... kind of mesmerizing? If that makes sense. And then SOMETIMES humans try and bend their rules, and that's interesting to watch. And then SOMETIMES, they throw the baby out with the bathwater and do WHATEVER, and that's ALWAYS interesting because like... what are they gonna do next!?

I really don't think you understand how turn of phrases work...

I understand exactly as much as I need to know about everything, don't you worry about that.

Basically what I'm getting from your people-watching story is that you're an agent of chaos because you get excited when you see other agents of chaos?

Oh, pfft, no. Good guess, Lu-Lu, but I'm an agent of chaos because it's more fun to be one than an upright, orderly citizen. [laughs] GOD, could you imagine me as anything even close to being orderly?

[laughs] Not in the slightest.

GOD. I think I'd die, actually.

[laughs, sighs] Thank you.

Any time, chickadee. Anyone I need to pants for you?

Nope. No, we're all good on that front, thanks though.

Damn.

It was honestly just that I got too drunk and... couldn't handle myself.

What do you-- are you okay?

Yeah! Yeah... [laughs once] I just... gotta be careful with my secrets when I'm drunk.

Count-point, maybe you just don't keep so many secrets.

Counter-counter-point, that's not my decision to make.

Count-counter-counter-counter point--

[snorts]

--maybe, maaaaybe you'd feel better if you told someone about it. It doesn't have to be me! Even though I'd LOVE the juicy details. But, y'know. Someone.

Someone DOES know, and it's not helping. [pauses] Sylas knows. Sort of. He found out some of it. Because I messed up. And him knowing... doesn't help.

...Well shit. I'm sorry, Lux. I... well, to be straight with you, I was trying to get you to tell me about it.

Oh, I know that.

But now I kind of feel like a dick. [scoffs] You're good at that!

At making you feel like a dick...?

Yeah! I've never really cared about like... how bad I looked to people before. But now I do, and that's a really weird thing to have to worry about all of a sudden.

The Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day.

Are you saying you think I'm a big ugly green monster?!

[cheerfully] You could be! I would never know.

I bet you've seen me before and just don't know it.

I would never know.

Feeling better?

A bit, yeah. Thank you.

Don't mention it! Rambling aimlessly is one of my special talents.

I already knew that, goof. I should get back, I had to hide pretty good to keep anyone from finding me. I'm sure Roki is worried sick.

Have fun, be safe. And I NEVER ask this, but text me when you're home, okay?

I will. Thanks for worrying.

Feel special. I hardly even worry about myself.

Oh, don't you worry. I know how special I am.

Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah, smart mouth. Go enjoy the party.

[laughs whole-heatedly] Bye Jinx.

Yeah, yeah. Bye.

click

...Fuck, man.

Luxy

June 23nd 2:06 am
Lux:Home safe. Very tired. Going to sleep, but I didn't want to worry you. Thank you for everything today. I really can't thank you enopugh.
Lux:**enough. Still a liittle drunk.
Jinx:drink some water before you go to sleep
Jinx:you'll probably have a hangover tomorrow anyway but it cant hurt
Jinx:sleep well, luxy.
Read 2:10 am

Chapter 9

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Luxy

June 23nd 3:07 pm
Jinx:You're still not awake?
Lux:I'm awake... I've been hiding under my covers for the past three hours or so, but I'm definitely awake. Everything hurts.
Jinx:first binge drinking turns into first hang over sooooo easily
Lux:Bleugh.
Jinx:but!
Jinx:now you know to take it easy next time
Lux:I can barely look at my phone screen, even with the brightness all the way down it's just... too bright...
Jinx:i'm not calling you again
Jinx:besides the sound of my voice will probably just make your headache worse (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:You're probably right
Jinx:WOW
Jinx:RUDE
Lux:Don't yell at me. Head hurts. (;x.x;)
Jinx:take an advil and go back to sleep baby
Lux:I'm not your baby!!!
Jinx:you are *A* BABY so go to sleep you BABY
Lux:I wish I could. But I have things to do today. Got any hangover cures?
Jinx:not that I personally use cause I don't get hangovers
Jinx:and when I do I just sleep through em
Lux:It's not nice to brag
Jinx:aint my fault you a BABY
Lux:I'm going back to sleep for like... twenty minutes tops
Jinx:don't oversleep
Lux:I wont
June 23nd 5:01 pm
Lux:I overslept >_<
Jinx:oMG LUX
Jinx:YOU JUST NOW WOKE UP AGAIN?????
Lux:....Maybe......
Jinx:did you sleep through your Thing
Lux:Yeah... I rescheduled it just now, but they weren't exactly pleased.
Jinx:who?
Lux:They.
Jinx:Ah.
Jinx:the almighty They.
Jinx:praised be They.
Lux::P
Jinx:The oh-so-secret, never to be named They.
Lux:Oh, like you don't have any secrets.
Jinx:I think I've told you, but I'm pretty much an open book!
Jinx:you can ask me pretty much anything really
Lux:Which reminds me, I still have to give you my twenty questions day. Since you had yours.
Jinx:oh hell yeah
Jinx:WAIT DONT CHANGE THE SUBJECT
Lux:Almost had you. You have the attention span of a gnat.
Jinx:not the worst weakness I have
Lux:Ohh, so what is, then?
Jinx:STOP TRYING TO DIVERT MEEEEEE
Lux:I thought you were an open book?
Jinx:IT'S NOT A SECRET I'M KEEPING
Jinx:I'M JUST NOT LETTING YOU DISTRACT ME FROM MY GOAL
Lux:And that goal is...
Jinx:to learn all your tricky secrets!!! You've no doubt got a million of them!!!!
Jinx:not for my own gain or blackmail of course
Jinx:I just love secrets
Lux:Why do I get the feeling you're not very good at keeping them?
Jinx:Um hello!!! I don't recall telling you any secrets told to me by others!
Lux:I figured everyone within a five-mile radius of you automatically assumed your secrets were not safe with you, and kept them to themselves. :P
Jinx:The disrespect!!!
Jinx:The utter lack of trust!!!
Jinx:From you, Lux, my oldest and dearest friend!!!
Jinx:I've been wounded!!!! What they say is true!!!! Betrayal never comes from your enemies!!!!!
Lux:Pick yourself up off the ground, drama queen.
Jinx:Never! I'll lay here until the dramatic flower petals falling on my scene drown me!
Lux:You can't... you can't drown in flower petals.
Jinx:I can try!
Lux:I.... guess so, yes. But why? I feel like that's a boring way to go.
Jinx:to make you feel bad.
Lux:You're going to try and make me feel bad by imaginary-drowning in petals, which you can't drown in anyway.
Jinx:Correctomundo.
Lux:You're impossible.
Jinx:I've been told that before
Lux:As long as we're friends, you'll probably hear it a whole lot more :P
Jinx:Oh, cruel fate
Jinx:FRIENDSHIP
Lux:You started this, remember. You ASKED for this.
Jinx:OH CRUEL FATE
Lux:Always so dramatic.
Jinx:You wouldn't have me any other way! (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:Oh yes, of course not. :P
Jinx:So when'd you reschedule for?
Lux:Reschedule?
Jinx:oh my GOD and you said I had a short attention span
Jinx:the super secret meeting with They!
Lux:OH. Tonight. I usually try and do it early in the morning if I can, but of course that wasn't going to work today. I kind of knew that last night before the party, so I pushed it back to the afternoon. Thinking I'd be responsible enough to make it to it on time. But I guess we're doing tonight instead.
Jinx:Are you gonna be okay to go tonight?
Lux:I should be. I took a couple advil and slept some more, and my brother made me some coffee, so it's slowly getting better.
Jinx:Ooooooh, your big brudder knows you got wasted????
Lux:....unfortunately.
Jinx:HOW MUCH SHIT DID YOU GET IN LOL
Lux:Not as much as you'd think. But I think it was mostly because I had dirt on him, too. We kind of had a meeting in the hallway late last night; I was getting up to go to the bathroom, and he was coming home with his girlfriend as sneaky as can be. He gave me this like, stern look that both said "I'm disappointing in you" and also "please don't tell mom and dad about this."
Jinx:OMG OMG OMG
Lux:So the reason I woke up the first time wasn't because of your text actually, it was because he was knocking on my door. He had advil and water and a cup of black coffee, and he was like "now I hope you realize how much danger or trouble you could have gotten yourself into last night," and everything. And then his voice got real low, and he said "but I can keep a secret if you can." And that was that.
Jinx:WERE YOUR PARENTS HOME LAST NIGHT????
Lux:They were both asleep when I got home, so I assume they were asleep when he got home, too.
Jinx:who knew the goodie-two-shoes family had TWO delinquent children???
Jinx:are you gonna let him off the hook?
Lux:Oh, of course. As much of a pain as he can be, he's a good brother. And it wouldn't be such an issue in the first place if my parents liked his girlfriend.
Jinx:oh shit
Jinx:do you like her?
Jinx:or is she like a total bitch
Lux:No, I like her. She's very pretty. Elegant. Strong-willed, but not bossy, which is good for Garen. And they seem happy.
Jinx:so whats your parents problem?
Lux:She's Ionian.
Jinx:????? so????
Lux:My parents would rather he settle down with a nice Demacian girl. Preferably someone closer to his status. They are... very protective of our "good family name."
Jinx:so if it was a demacian girl he brought home last night, he could have banged her and not gotten in trouble???
Jinx:that doesnt make ANY sense
Lux:Well no!!! But they'd give him a lot less trouble about it. Probably.
Jinx:y'all are so weird
Jinx:so what about you? do they expect you to hook up with a nice demacian?
Lux:Eugh. Don't even get me started. They've tried to set me up before and it's... not gone well.
Jinx:Ooooh, care to share with the class?
Lux:He was nice enough, I guess!! Just too stuffy!! And kind of all about himself!! And his dad, oh my god, he would not shut up about his dad. He was gentlemanly, I guess. Very nice. Just... not... my type. Not at all.
Jinx:so what is your type?
Lux:I don't know!!! I don't think I really have one, but he was like... not it. He just was not it, Jinx. When I see my type, I'll know it.
Jinx:Will you, though?
Lux:I... I think so??? I don't know???
Jinx:I don't think people really have types most of the time
Jinx:I think maybe they might have preferences
Jinx:but I think people are too unpredictable to really have solid "types"
Lux:THEN WHY DID YOU ASK
Jinx:cause I was curious!
Jinx:also to see if I could be more philosophical than the smart girl(Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:So you really think people just like... their idea of an ideal partner... I can't phrase this. People will end up with people other than their idea of an ideal partner?
Jinx:I mean yeah!
Jinx:nobody's perfect
Jinx:and especially if their type is like, physical?
Jinx:like ooh, I'm into men with long dark hair and green eyes and freckles and muscular but not TOO muscular, and he'll be strong and rough but gentle with me and cooks dinners every other week yadda yadda yadda BLEUGH
Jinx:most people's ideal partner doesn't exist
Jinx:but I don't think that means people have to settle exactly
Jinx:I think people don't always know what they want or need until they've experienced it
Lux:Woah. Jinx that... was actually pretty profound. What the heck?
Jinx:Aww, you flatter me
Jinx:people are just so interesting!!!
Jinx:this is what I think about when I can't sleep at night, is just like... how people work
Jinx:also plans for pranks and destruction, but you know.
Lux:You're not like. Secretly a robot who studies humans so that one day you'll bring us all to our knees, right?
Jinx:not HUMANS Lux, PEOPLE
Jinx:ok to answer your question: no, but I wish I was
Jinx:ANYWAY, HUMANS are just like. meat sacks. blood. guts. whatever.
Jinx:PEOPLE are like... the... brainy bits that make the humans tick.
Jinx:people is the BEHAVIOR of humans. being a person is the act that a human does
Lux:... You're losing me.
Jinx:UGH whatever it doesn't matter
Jinx:THE POINT IS I HAVE A LOT OF INTEREST IN PEOPLE SO IT MAKES ME THINK THINKY THINGS
Lux:Very interesting thinky things. And I mean that, I don't mean interesting in like, the patronizing "wow.... that's.... interesting" kind of way but it's actually like, it interests me. I don't always follow, obviously, but it's interesting to hear you talk about your ideas on people.
Jinx:you better not say that if you don't mean it
Jinx:you'll never get me to shut up if thats the truth
Lux:It is the truth. It makes me think in ways I never would have thought, and it's fun to listen to you talk about something you're passionate about.
Jinx:...you're weird.
Lux:What!!!
Jinx:you're the first person who's ever been like... like...
Jinx:interested
Jinx:with me
Jinx:about things
Lux:That just makes the other people you've known really dumb to not see that you're really fun when you're interested in things!
Jinx:heh
Jinx:Yeah I guess
Jinx:If only there were more girls in the world like you, Lux
Lux:What, more spoiled-brat smarty-pants know-it-alls with too many secrets? :P
Jinx:Yeah, sure
Jinx:take my compliment and turn it into a joke u butt
Lux:I appreciate the compliment, I do. <3 I guess I just wasn't expecting it, and it's difficult for me to accept compliments sometimes, so I often divert them with humor. It's something I've been working on lately, but it's a work in progress.
Jinx:Ohh, I unlocked a little more Lux Lore
Lux:You're a dweeb.
Jinx:I gotta unlock your tragic backstory!!!!
Jinx:but I gotta collect all the Lux Lore to do that
Lux:You're a DWEEB. I'm gonna go for a bit, Garen needs me to distract our parents so he can sneak his girlfriend out.
Jinx:if you get caught just say you know you're adopted
Lux:God if that were true my life would make SO much more sense
Jinx:AHA! MORE LUX LORE
Read 8:17 pm

Notes:

Thank you so much for your patience for this chapter; I know it's been a bit of a wait. Like pretty much everyone, I've got Some Stuff going on in my life, so I can't thank you all enough for your support through comments and kudos. This was a fic I started really self-indulgently; its my favorite ship, in my favorite au, in my favorite writing style. The fact it's been so well-received by so many people means a lot to me, and has really helped me look forward to writing, which is something I've lacked for several years. I really cannot thank you enough for even just clicking on my fic and reading through the first (very short) chapter. I can't tell you how much it means to me.

This sounds like a "thanks for reading, that's the end!" note, but it's not, I promise! This is just a quick little thank-you for reading my fic, and for letting me know you enjoy it. It really means the world to me. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations!

Chapter 10

Notes:

Quick life update! November is National Novel Writing Month, and I will be participating! I know I don't really have a schedule for updates (and kudos to those who follow posting schedules) but it's much more unlikely for me to post updates in late October and through November. I will be coming back to this fic afterwards. Thanks for understanding!!!

Chapter Text

Luxy

June 23nd 8:12 am
Lux:Jinx!!!!! Guess what today is!!!!!!!!
Lux:Oh, you're probably still asleep. Anyway today is my day to ask you questions!!!! >:3 So you better be prepared to spill!!!
Jinx:shhhhhhhh its way too eearly for yuo to be texting me
Lux:Now whose the baby? Go back to sleep then while I make my list of questions bigger
Jinx:you have a list???
Lux:Um, yes?? I've been thinking of questions since your question round. You're a very interesting person.
Jinx:too early for flattrey. goonight
Lux:You better be ready!!!
Jinx:GOOD NIFGHT
June 23nd 1:01 pm
Jinx:I rise
Lux:Good morning sleepyhead
Jinx:yeah yeah yeah
Lux:How on earth do you sleep so long?
Jinx:hmm, not the first question I expected for this session
Lux:Oh hush!!! Butthead.
Jinx:(Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:I take it you're prepared for my list then? :3c
Jinx:not with that face I'm not
Jinx:don't think I'll ever be ready for anything with that face
Lux:Where are you from!!!
Jinx:WOW ignoring my snark
Jinx:how rude
Jinx:I'm from zaun, but right now i'm in piltover
Lux:Really?? You're from Zaun?? (・о・)
Jinx:Yeah well I mean
Jinx:we can't all be born in prestigious demacia
Lux:I didn't mean it like that. I just don't think I've known anyone from Zaun. Piltover, yes, but not Zaun.
Jinx:well, cause piltover is for the richies
Jinx:zaun is for the poor and morally dubious
Lux:That's not true!
Jinx:LOL
Jinx:it is true, and thats ok. I'm not like, mad about it
Lux:What brought you to Piltover?
Jinx:idk actually!
Jinx:I think maybe at first it was that I was drawn to how similar but different it was to zaun
Jinx:its still like, tinkery, but its a lot more orderly in most ways
Jinx:and I HATED THAT!!!!!
Jinx:I hated it so much that I was drawn to it
Jinx:so I've kind of been staying in piltover ever since
Jinx:sometimes I go other places but piltover has become like, my home i guess
Lux:You hated it... so you stayed?
Jinx:YEAH it's like...
Jinx:you know when you watch a really bad movie
Jinx:but you cant stop watching?
Jinx:that's piltover for me
Lux:Huh. Okay then. Um... oh crap, where did I put my list...
Jinx:you wrote it down?
Jinx:like on paper? not in your phone?
Lux:Yes? I have a lot of cute notebooks that I dont use for a lot so I started writing down questions in one of them.
Jinx:that's adorable
Lux:Oh, hush. Anyway, I found it. Next up is, why did you choose the name Jinx?
Jinx:oh god this is a weird story buckle up
Jinx:so like, I don't remember my given name. there's a whole sob story behind that but ehhhhhhhhhh.
Jinx:chalk it up to, theres a lot of punk-ass kids who get adopted by the streets in zaun.
Jinx:so like, no name? no problem! kids called me x, like my name was scratched out
Lux:Like the code name you told me to use
Jinx:OH YEAH! I forgot about that
Jinx:but yeah so my name was x, but that was back in zaun
Jinx:when I came up to piltover, I... caused... a bit of a stir.
Lux:Care to elaborate? :P
Jinx:promise your well-to-do self wont think less of me
Lux:Oh come on, Jinx!
Jinx:you gotta promise
Lux:Fine, I promise.
Jinx:I did some crimes.
Jinx:Just like mayhem chaos crimes though!!!
Jinx:just to kind of tip the scales on this perfect town and its perfect people and their perfect clockwork
Jinx:and i didn't get anyone else involved, i made my own gadgets and everything
Lux:....Did anyone get hurt?
Lux:....Jinx?
Jinx:ok yes people got hurt!!! thats probably something i should feel worse about than I do!!!
Lux:You don't feel bad?!
Jinx:i mean i do NOW, but i didn't at the time and didn't for a long time, and i'm definitely not losing sleep over it
Jinx:no one DIED or anything
Jinx:but i'm not gonna play it off like it was harmless pranks, yeah, people got hurt
Jinx:ANYWAY the people in piltover started calling me a curse or a jinx, and i liked that name so I kept it
Jinx:you promised
Lux:I know. I'm just... let me process this.
Jinx:look, it's not something I'm PROUD of
Jinx:i WAS at the time
Jinx:but i like. recently grew a conscience.
Lux:Recently.
Jinx:yeah I'm pretty sure I told you you're the first person who makes me question how my actions effect others!!!
Lux:So like, you've only thought about this in the past few days?
Jinx:Maybe??? I don't know??? It was probably something that bugged me before but I like bottled up???
Jinx:Look okay when I try to think about it my brain like... ties itself in knots
Jinx:my mind just goes in circles and I can't figure out how i actually feel about and how i SHOULD feel
Jinx:part of me would be proud of it like it was an achievement, but part of me is like... no you cant feel that way thats bad
Jinx:i don't know where one ends and one begins and when all this started
Jinx:it's all fucked up
Jinx:I'M all fucked up
Lux:Okay, stop.
Jinx:sorry
Jinx:i didnt mean to unload all of that and like. guilt you about it
Lux:No no no, stop. Stop. Stop typing.
Lux:Good. Now listen to me. I am not equipped to help you unpack all of this. And honestly, I'm kind of freaked out about it. But I did promise, and I know the version of yourself that you've presented to me is someone I care about. I don't know if that's the true version of yourself, and that's something I'm going to have to grapple with a bit. I don't... I don't want to freak out on you or anything, but this is also a lot to take in, so I'm trying to stay calm about it. I'm not willing to throw our friendship away over this but it's... it's a lot, you know?
Jinx:yeah
Jinx:I'm kind of like
Jinx:torn about this whole thing i guess
Jinx:i'm sad that like... you know, i guess, and that its a Thing
Jinx:but also it's not something i felt like i had to keep from you
Lux:No, I'm glad I know, and that you told me. I'm glad you didn't keep it a secret or anything.
Jinx:i don't need to keep secrets from you
Lux:And I... appreciate that. Greatly.
Jinx:don't mention it
Lux:I have to go take care of some things. I'll keep adding to my list, but is it okay if we postpone for now?
Jinx:oh yeah of course
Lux:Thanks. I'll talk to you later, okay? I promise
Jinx:you don't have to
Jinx:promise, I mean
Jinx:you don't have to talk to me again either
Jinx:but that would suck
Jinx:and I'd miss you
Lux:Honestly, I'd miss you too much too. And you've helped me too much for you to be a bad person.
Jinx:oh no no no I AM a bad person
Jinx:don't get it twisted, I am a bad person
Lux:I think maybe you're just a person who is capable of doing bad things, like most everyone. Now I really really need to scoot, I'm sorry, I'd keep talking with you now if I could. I WILL talk to you later. Because I want to.
Jinx:okay
Jinx:thank you
Read 5:54 pm
Lux:<3

Chapter 11

Notes:

You see this map of Runetera? You see it? I'm throwing it in the garbage. Runetera is like, one country now. And all the territories are cities. Or states. Or something. I'm throwing the map away, it's in the trash can now.
(Riot really only uses it when it's convenient for them anyway I'm just taking a page out of their book and also how does it fit into the SG world?? Scientists are still figuring it it out.)

Chapter Text

Lux

June 23nd 11:01 pm
Lux:Hey
Jinx:hey
Lux:Where in Piltover are you?
Jinx:?
Lux:Like what part of town?
Jinx:y
Lux:I thought you were an open book? :P
Jinx:i mean I am it's just a weird question I guess
Jinx:i'm east of downtown, like five minutes or so
Lux:Okie dokie. I'm guessing the locals know you? Do they know where you live?
Jinx:I mean...
Jinx:they probably do but I've also had some run-ins with the law
Jinx:as you can imagine
Jinx:so it's kind of a hide-out?
Jinx:but I don't make it a point to not be seen or anything
Jinx:so they probably know
Lux:Kay, cool.
Jinx:Are you planning a mob?
Jinx:lol
Lux:Yes.
Jinx:...wait
Jinx:shit
Lux:KIDDING! I'm kidding. It's not a mob.
Jinx:GOD don't do that lol
Jinx:good one but also you scared me
Lux:Do you really think A. I am capable of starting a mob and 2. there are enough people who would WANT to mob you? Were things really that bad?
Jinx:i mean i dunno
Jinx:ok well first of all, no, I think you wouldn't even know how to start a mob
Jinx:you'd like...
Jinx:stand in the street and yell "lets start a mob!!!!" in your cute little voice
Jinx:and people would wonder who lost their very tall child in the middle of piltover
Lux:Okay, WOW, rude. Disrespectful. How dare you.
Jinx:but i dont actually know how many people would like to see me like...
Jinx:idk
Jinx:i dont wanna get super dark but like
Jinx:...hang on brb...
Lux:Okie dokie.
Jinx:what did you do
Lux:What do you mean?
Jinx:Don't play dumb with me luxy!!!!!
Jinx:what did you DO!!!!!
Jinx:are you typing an essay???
Lux:Do you not like pizza? I didn't know if you would like that or chicken better, or if maybe I should have found like a local takeout place? But I knew the pizza place was open this late, and they're usually pretty speedy service. Pizza's usually a pretty safe bet too, sorry if it wasn't great for you, I can figure something else out if you'd like?
Jinx:LUX
Jinx:SLOW YOUR ROLL
Jinx:I love pizza just like
Jinx:ok first of all HOW
Jinx:second of all WHY
Jinx:GOD this is so good, it's been so long since I've had pizza
Lux:...Truthfully I asked if they knew a Jinx in east Piltover when I ordered, since I didn't know the exact address, and the girl was like "oh, her, yeah. I can get that to her." And because it seemed like you could use a pick-me-up probably after today's bombshell conversation. And because I didn't really know how else to convince you that we're still friends after all that. I don't want to say I solve ALL of my friend troubles with pizza, but it's become a fall-back when I don't know how else to cheer them up.
Jinx:you're too good for this world (Loudly Crying Face )
Jinx:GODDDD I literally don't think I've ever tasted pizza this good
Lux:The pizza girl made it seem like you ordered all the time o.o
Jinx:I USED to, but it's been a while
Jinx:Also, food always tastes better when you don't pay for it (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Jinx:thank you. really.
Lux:Feeling better? :3
Jinx:MUCH.
Lux:Good. Now buckle up cause I'm gonna dump some stuff on you.
Jinx:Oh boy.
Lux:So. It obviously does bother me that you hurt so many people. I don't really want to know the means, it just sucks that you did it. But, it's clear you're trying to change, and I do appreciate that. So... I'm not going to say I'll forget about it, and I'm not really the person who needs to forgive you for it, either. But it's something I'm willing to work past, because you're my friend. And because it's not like I don't have my fair share of things I'm not proud of, or secrets. Honestly, it's... really kind of messed me up how easily you told me about all that without even a second thought. And how much I... don't do that. Here I thought I was the more morally upright person, heh. And I mean, my secrets aren't that I've terrorized a town, but like... still, on a personal human level, I guess, it... I don't know. I can't find the right words, I guess.
Jinx:You ARE the more morally upright one, don't worry about that
Jinx:but you don't have to feel bad about not wanting to talk about things
Jinx:it's more normal for humans to keep things to themselves than spout em all out like i do
Jinx:and its not a contest of like
Jinx:who can bare their soul the most
Jinx:so don't feel like u have to tell me anything u dont wanna
Lux:I... part of me really wants to, is the thing. But part of me knows I can't. Or shouldn't. It's not that you'll think less of me, I think, but it's more like... it'd be potentially dangerous. On a lot of levels. Not because of you, I mean. I trust you. But dangerous in a bunch of other ways
Jinx:I get it
Jinx:I mean, I don't
Jinx:but I respect it
Lux:Thank you. I'm sorry >.<
Jinx:nothin to be sorry for doll face
Jinx:anyway
Jinx:you still got some of those questions for me or did u lose ur list again
Lux:No, I have it! Where in Piltover are you was actually one of my questions. :P Next up! Favorite breakfast food and why.
Jinx:WAFFLES. Because they're just like pancakes but with more crunch
Jinx:and they have built-in diy flavor pockets for whatever you want
Jinx:butter
Jinx:jalapeno jelly
Jinx:syrup
Jinx:peanut butter
Lux:Jalapeno jelly?????
Jinx:ice cream
Jinx:oh hell yeah
Jinx:have you ever had it?
Lux:No??? I think you're making it up
Jinx:WHAT OMG
Jinx:no ok jalapeno jelly is so so so so good
Jinx:its sweet but instead of fruits its veggies so its like
Jinx:kind of a crisper flavor i guess?
Jinx:and then u get like a lil hot kick from the jalepenos and its SOOOOO GOOOOOD
Jinx:ESPECIALLY IN WAFFLES
Jinx:LIL PILLOW POCKETS OF JALEPENO JELLY
Jinx:if we ever meet the first thing I'm doing is have you try jalepeno jelly
Lux:Okay but it sounds gross
Jinx:I KNOW IT DOES YOU HAVE TO TRUST ME THOUGH
Lux:Listen I do trust you, BUT that sounds entirely too gross for me to ever try
Jinx:NOOOOOOOOOOO
Jinx:nooooo luxy you gotta try it
Jinx:or I'll cry
Lux:Oh my god, you won't. You big baby.
Jinx:YOU'RE the baby!!!!
Jinx:won't even try jalapeno jelly
Jinx:even with me vouching for it's deliciousness
Lux:If you had to pick an animal to be for the rest of your life, what would you be?
Jinx:oh shit this one's hard
Jinx:I suddenly don't know any animals
Lux:Oh come on :P
Jinx:what animal do you think I am?
Lux:Nope, that's cheating!
Jinx:UUUUUGGGHHHH
Jinx:a cactus
Lux:Jinx please oh my god
Jinx:A bird!
Jinx:A big tropical bird who yells a lot
Jinx:And says bad words at inappropriate times
Lux:Yeah okay that sounds like you.
Jinx:Hell yeah it does!
Lux:Coffee or tea?
Jinx:Oh coffee.
Jinx:easily
Lux:Do you drink it hot or cold?
Jinx:at the risk of sounding like a disgraceful gay
Jinx:hot
Lux:Okay, WHAT does that mean
Jinx:OH right you're a baby gay
Jinx:it's usually assumed that gays like their coffee iced
Jinx:at least that's what I've been told whenever I tell people I like hot coffee
Lux:That... is the most bizarre stereotype I've ever heard.
Jinx:RIGHT
Jinx:it's not to the point that like
Jinx:if you get your coffee iced you're automatically assumed gay
Jinx:but it's like. idk its a thing
Jinx:at least in my experience anyway
Lux:It just doesn't make any sense though!!! What about being gay makes you automatically like iced coffee better than hot coffee??
Jinx:literally do not ask me lol
Jinx:besides I JUST told you I like mine hot!!!!
Lux:You did, I know you did, it's just... baffling to me. I mean, granted I don't know basically anything about gay culture or anything, but coffee just seems to arbitrary?
Jinx:you'd be surprised
Jinx:you'll learn the ways, little gay.
Lux:I suppose so. Just learn as I go along, I guess. How do you take it?
Jinx:Um.
Lux:YOUR COFFEE. HOW DO YOU TAKE YOUR COFFEE.
Jinx:LMFAOOOOOO LUXY
Jinx:A LITTLE SLIP OF THE TONGUE I SEE
Lux:COFFEE. DRINKING COFFEE. WHEN YOU DRINK COFFEE WHAT DO YOU PUT IN IT
Lux:noOOO GOD. WHAT... HOW... DO YOU FIX YOUR COFFEE
Jinx:YEAH I BET THATS WHAT YOU WANNA KNOW
Jinx:DIRTY BIRD
Lux:PLEASE JINX I AM DYING OF EMBARRASSMENT. IF YOU KEEP THIS UP MY SOUL WILL LEAVE THIS MORTAL COIL AND YOU'LL HAVE TO COME TO MY FUNERAL AND EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE IN MY EULOGY HOW IT HAPPENED. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT
Jinx:I CANT stop laughing omfg
Lux:Shut up oh my god please just shut up
Jinx:to answer your question, one cream and one sugar
Jinx:enough to cut the bitterness but not enough to completely HIDE the bitterness
Jinx:if my coffee tastes like a dessert, something has gone wrong
Lux:Don't like sweet things?
Jinx:oh hell no I like sweets
Jinx:i just like the taste of coffee
Jinx:...with a little cream and sugar
Lux:But only a little.
Jinx:only a little
Lux:You're an odd duck
Jinx:quack
Lux:Pff
Jinx:What was that ??
Lux:A small laugh!
Jinx:Is that the actual sound you made
Lux:...it might be...
Jinx:LOL
Lux:OKAY, moving on. You want another random one or a more personal one?
Jinx:Oooh, I get a choice?
Jinx:It is getting late enough in the night for us to be super personal?
Lux:Man, you kinda saw through that real quick, huh...
Jinx:You're so easy to read omg
Jinx:did you seriously start with softball questions because it wasn't late enough yet
Lux:Maybe. ≧ 3 ≦
Jinx:you could have just ASKED ME
Lux:Maybe I needed to warm myself up to some of these questions!!!!!
Jinx:OOOOH NOW I'M CURIOUS
Jinx:HOW SPICY ARE THESE QUESTIONS LUXY!!!!
Lux:GOD stop oh my god. They're nowhere near as scandalous as you're thinking, they're just ones I like... wouldn't... normally ask, I guess.
Jinx:so are they like, sleep-over ask-in-the-dark-before-you-fall-asleep questions or
Lux:I... guess so, actually. Though when you say it like that it makes me feel silly
Jinx:you ARE silly
Jinx:but like in a cute way
Read 1:09 am
Lux:Yeah, yeah, try and soften the blow :P

.... .... .... ....

Why are you calling meeeeeee

So it'll feel more like a sleep over ask-in-the-dark-before-you-fall-asleep question session!

You're making me feel even more silly though, Jinx! I'm just... I feel dumb. I feel like I'm being dumb.

Are you embarrassed?

Yes!

Why though! I told you I'm an open book, I'll answer, like, anything. Even earlier when it totally made me the bad guy.

I don't know!!! I just feel embarrassed!!! It's like... it's.... like... like I'm asking things I shouldn't be asking, probably. Things that aren't polite to ask.

[laughs] Luxy, do I seem like a polite person to you?

I mean--

No. The correct answer is no. I'm not a polite person, Luxy, so don't you worry your pretty pink head about that.

Okay, but like... I just... it feels weird.

Okay. Maybe we make things a little more moody, yeah? Let me just... [shuffling sounds]

What are you doing?

Putting away my leftovers, hang... on... kay. Are you in your room?

Yyyyyes? Why?

Okay I'm headed to my room too, hang on, hang on, hang on...

What are you even doing! What are you getting at!

...hang on, HANG ON, hang on, hang on, hand on... oh shit. I'm gonna put you on speaker.

WHAT is going on???

I'm just getting changed into my pajamas. You should too! If you're not already- no, you probably already are, this is late for you. Oh! You should put me on speaker, too! Like, put your phone on your pillow and--

Oh. Ohhhh! Oh, I get it. Like a sleep-over. Okay. God, YOU'RE the silly one.

--that way it'll be like-- Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah!!! No, shh, I'm brilliant, okay--

You sound like a child who is having their first-ever sleep over Jinx, oh my god.

ShhHHHHH this is a great idea, this is the greatest idea in the world. Are your lights out?

Oh, hold on...... yes.

Okay okay okay okay cool cool cool. Cool. Okay.

...

...

Wow, just like a real sleep-over!

YOU'RE the one with the questions!

[laughs] No, I mean the awkward silence is authentic. Like, how you pretend you're asleep but really wanna talk, but don't know how to bring up you wanna talk about.

OH. Oh. [whispers] Psst. Are you still awake?

[laughs]

Psst. Psst. PSST.

[still laughing] Yeah! Yeah, I'm awake. You awake?

Yeah, can't sleep.

Me neither. [pause] What're you thinking about?

Hm. I don't know if I wanna tell you.

Oh come ooooon!

You sure you wanna know?

Yes!

You.

...Huh?

Thinkin' about you.

Wh... okay, that wasn't--

[laughs] You're so easy to rile up.

Oh, I hate you.

You don't.

I'm gonna hang up on you.

Nooo, don't mention the phone! Don't break the sleepover illusion!

I'm gonna go sleep on the couch then!

Don't do that! I'll miss you. It's dawk and scawwy, and I fowgot my teddie beaw.

You're so different than you are over text.

Am not! I'm just excited is all. I wanna hear your questions, and it's been, like, FOREVER since I've had any kind of sleep over anything. Even like this. It's nice.

...Okay, it is kind of nice.

HA!

And it's good to hear your voice again.

Oh, stop. You'll make me blush.

It is, though. The last time I heard it, I wasn't in a great place mentally. It's... nice to hear it when I'm like... I dunno. When I'm in a better place.

For what it's worth, it's nice to hear your voice too, when you're not having-- not that I minded the last time I called you, you--

No no no no no, I get it, I totally get it, it's okay.

...

...

So what are YOU thinking about?

Um... gosh, where do I even start.

Anywhere!

I guess... I'm thinking I'm glad we're friends. I'm glad you had the idea for this, and I'm kind of wondering why... you... go to such lengths for me? I guess, I don't know, I didn't mean for that to sound self-depr--

Oh please, Lux, you bought me pizza because you knew I was feeling bad. Don't talk about the lengths I go to.

I mean! I guess I'm just... I have friends who are kind to me and everything. But you like, you super go out of your way for me, it feels like.

And I can count my friends on one hand, and you are the nicest person like, ever. So I think it's safe to say we both think we're getting the short end here.

I guess so, yeah. I guess so. [pauses] Okay um... [paper shuffling]

Oh my god, how many pages do you have?

Just one, I have it in a notebook where I put random other thoughts. Not like, not a diary. Cause I have one of those. This is different.

You're not just gonna read to me out of your diary??

NO. No no no no no. Not happening.

Aww, I wanna know all your dirty little secreeeeets!

Keep dreaming. Okay, um... do... you have a girlfriend?

Nah. I mean, come on, do you think anyone would put up with my crazy ass on a daily basis? Like, willingly?

Okay, first of all, I put up with you on a daily basis willingly, and second of all, don't you talk about my friend that way. You really don't give yourself enough credit, you know that?

Okay, sure, but knowing what you know about me now, can you like... blame me? I am a highly fucked up person, and until recently, I've been super okay with that. But it's also like... it's not always great for your self-esteem. You know?

I guess, I nev--

It's just like, hard sometimes. I'm alone a lot. Because no one wants to be around me, for obvious reasons. And like, a lot of times it doesn't bother me. A lot of times I don't even think about it. But sometimes it sucks! Sometimes it does things to my head! And like... I'm... I don't know. I don't want to be such a downer, sorry.

No, no no no, Jinx, it's okay! I don't mind at all. This... it... you haven't told anyone else about this, I'm guessing?

Who is there to tell?

[deep breath] Me. Tell me. Tell me everything, to get it all out.

Lux, I--

No, listen. It's important that your feelings are heard. And it's important to me that you know, after I hear them, that you know that like... I'm still here. I'm still behind you. And I'll prove your insecurities wrong.

.......

Okay?

I... guess. It's just not... something I've ever done, I guess.

If you really don't want to, you don't have to.

I kind of do. I just... don't know where to start, I guess.

From where you left off, if you want. You were saying how being alone messes with you.

Yeah. Yeah, it... it does mess with me. Like, I KNOW why people don't want to be around me. I know. But it's still like... I'm not worth being around. Which, like, obviously. But knowing that, sometimes, is... I mean, how can I not feel like shit about it sometimes? I'm... I'm worthless, Lux. I'm a worthless good-for-nothing, chaos-causing maniac. That's all I am. And that's all I'll ever be. And sometimes I'm okay with that, and sometimes I'm not.

Okay. You're not worthless. I'm sorry you feel that way, but you're not worthless. You mean a lot to me.

Thanks. I... [sigh] I appreciate that.

And there's so much more to you than you're giving yourself credit for!!! You're much more multi-faceted than just being an agent of chaos. You like people-watching, and pizza, and city life... you're good at giving advice and you're a great listener. A great friend. You're someone I don't know how I lived without, really.

[snorts]

Actually, I do know how I lived without you; I was someone who was... very up my own butt, and didn't have a great grasp on reality. But you helped me change, Jinx. You made my life better.

...

You helped me see and grow. And I'm still growing. I have... [laughs once] a LOT of growing to do. But it wouldn't have started without you. And I'm happy for it! And I'm happy you're still here, helping me grow, and learn, and understand things beyond my little bubble. You are... so important to me, Jinx. I can't tell you how important you are to me.

... [sniffs]

Jinx... you're not...

[voice cracking] No.

Jiiiiinx!!! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to m--

I'm not crying, don't say it! [sniffs]

...

[voice wobbling] Okay, so I am, so what? Y...you can't just...

I'm sorry...

No! Stop it. It's... you're... don't... be sorry. Don't be sorry. You just said the nicest things to me I've ever heard in my life. The fuck do you have to be sorry for...

[muffled shifting, mic rubbing up against something]

What are you doing?

[muffled but loud] Hugging you.

...what???

[muffled but loud] I'm hugging you. This is a hug. If this were a real sleep over, I'd come over to your sleeping bag and hug you and tell you how happy I am that we're friends, and that you're a worthwhile person.

[wobbly laugh] You better stop or I'm gonna start crying all over again.

[normally] You've had it really rough, while I've... lived a very charmed life in comparison. I wish I could like, split the difference with you. So we could both have live semi-normal lives. But I can't do that, so all I can do is tell you that I'm here, and I love you, and that you mean so much to me. Thank you for being my friend, Jinx.

You... better s... stop...!!

Don't plan on it, cause I don't plan on stopping being your friend. You're stuck with all my mushy-gushy friend love.

You fuckin... [sniff] sap... god. How did I get...

A sunshine-y leech stuck to you?

...so lucky, is what I was gonna say. How did I get so lucky?

We'll call it fate and persistence.

[laughs loudly] Yeah, I guess so!

[laughs] ...Hey.

Hey yourself.

I do love you, you know.

...Come again?

I love you. A lot. I'm really glad we're friends.

OH. Oh. Yeah. Yeah! [clears throat] Yeah. You too. Er, me too. You, you know what I mean.

[laughs, then yawns]

Nooo, don't... [yawns] do that... fuck, Luxy, don't you know yawns are contagious?

[laughs again] My bad.

Bed time for baby?

You tell me, you're the baby.

YOU are the baby.

No--

Yes, I am going to sleep. My big emotional cry took a lot out of me.

One last question.

Ugh, fiiiiine.

Do you have any stuffed animals?

What? No!

What!!!!

Do you have any?

Yes, duh!!!

This proves my point that you are a BABY!!!

You know what? I'm going to give the pizza girl one of my stuffed animals to give you. And you better treat her well.

Why???

Cause at some point I'm gonna want her back!!!

No, WHY are you giving it to me???

Because it's the closest thing I can do to hugging you when you feel down! Just give her a squeeze and know that I care about you.

...Lux.

What?

You're... super gay.

OKAY, BUT--

G'night, Luxy-loo. Thank you. [click]

Lux

June 23nd 2:04 am
Lux:This is a hug. I'm hugging you.
Jinx:I'm hugging you back.
Read 2:04 am

Chapter 12

Notes:

Yes, it's finally here, I'm so sorry it's been so long!!! Thank you for your patience!!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Lux

June 24nd 11:04 am
Lux:Good~ Morning~!
Jinx:woman do you kjonw what time it si
Lux:I got a full 8 hours of sleep, and I gave you an extra hour before I texted you!
Jinx:very sweey of uou
Jinx:im going back to sleeo
Lux:Boo! But I have a surprise for you!!!
Jinx:is it more pizza?
Lux:No
Jinx:gniyte
Lux:Ò 3 Ó ) =3
June 24nd 2:21 pm
Jinx:Lux
Lux:Jinx
Jinx:Why was I just woken up by the pizza girl at my door
Lux:I'm sure I don't know what you mean!
Jinx:Lux
Lux:Yes?
Jinx:Why did the pizza girl not have PIZZA,
Jinx:but instead,
Jinx:a GIGANTIC stuffed bunny
Lux:I tip well~
Jinx:THATS NOT WHAT I'M ASKING
Lux:Because I didn't want to give you a poro plushie?
Jinx:TRY AGAIN
Lux:???
Jinx:Why did you SEND ME A STUFFED ANIMAL!!!!
Lux:I already told you. Last night.
Jinx:Last night I remember talking to you and crying.
Jinx:like, happy crying, but crying.
Jinx:it broke my brain. jog my memory.
Lux:I told you I was going to send you one of my plushies so that you could hug when you feel sad! And you can pretend I'm hugging you.
Jinx:OMG
Jinx:i remember now
Jinx:i didn't think you were actually gonna do it
Lux:Why not???
Jinx:becAUSE
Jinx:ITS BIG GAY, LUX. ITS BIG MAD GAY.
Lux:WHAT does that even mean
Jinx:SFHASFHDHSDFSDDFSDGDFH
Lux:What, are you too cool to have a plushie? You're embarrassed because it'll ruin your cool girl image? :P
Jinx:AAAAAAAAAA YOU DONT GET IASF
Jinx:YEAH. sure. we'll call it that.
Jinx:you got me.
Jinx:i'm embarrassed because it'll ruin my image
Lux:Okay, whatever the REAL reason is, cry me a river. I can't hug you myself and sometimes you might not tell me when you're sad, so Millie will have to suffice.
Jinx:Millie
Lux:That's her name!
Jinx:okay
Jinx:I'm renaming her while she's with me
Jinx:to
Jinx:crusher
Lux:Crusher???? She's a giant blue bunny, and your first thought is "Hmm, yes, she looks like a Crusher to me."
Jinx:Crusher is a perfectly good name for a bunny of her size!
Lux:If you're using her as a weapon, she wont CRUSH anything, but she'll SMOTHER.
Jinx:Smotherer doesnt roll off the tongue.
Jinx:It sounds like a brand of condiments
Jinx:...maybe I should name her mustard...
Lux:Please do not
Jinx:Okay, you have to give me that mustard is kind of a cute name
Lux:Maybe for, like, a little plushie. But Millie is huge. And blue. Mustard is not blue.
Jinx:Crusher
Lux:Crusher, excuse me.
Jinx:thank you for Crusher
Jinx:I will cherish her
Lux:You better!!! :P
Jinx:So what's on the Lux Calender today?
Lux:I still have some summer reading I need to get out of the way, and then I think later I have a meeting, but that isn't set in stone.
Jinx:Oh gross, are you like, student council? You have to meet even during summer?
Lux:Oh! No, this is an extracurricular sort of thing. Kind... of... like... a fight club...?
Jinx:a FIGHT CLUB.
Lux:Okay so not EXACTLY a fight club.
Jinx:Little Pixie with a Giant Stuffed Blue Bunny in a fight club.
Lux:I JUST said it's not exactly like a fight club!!!
Jinx:I can't stop laughing at just the thought though!
Jinx:Little pink-haired nerd either in the ring, or outside of it cheering on the fighters
Jinx:I can't decide which one is funnier lmAO
Lux:Laugh it up :P What about you, anything fun on the Jinx Agenda?
Jinx:apparently look after a giant stuffed bunny
Jinx:besides that... I don't think anything in particular.
Jinx:maybe I'll go shopping incognito today.
Lux:I never would have pegged you as an in-person shopper. I figure you're more of an online girl. Jinx:you're not completely wrong

Jinx:I like going out but sometimes going out doesnt like ME
Jinx:but i think i've laid low long enough that I can get away with it today
Lux:Incognito? :P Jinx:you'd be amazed what a complete 180 in fashion and a hat can do to mask your identity!
Lux:Duly noted! Jinx:someday you'll have to come and visit me and we'll play dress-up with you
Jinx:so that punk from the party cant find you
Jinx:what tf was his name again?
Lux:Ezreal. -.- Jinx:THATS right
Jinx:No offense but fuck that guy
Lux:I'd rather not.
Jinx:ASDFHGSDGAJSDGJAHDF
Jinx:LUXY
Lux::P
Jinx:okay but fr that offer stands
Lux:...to fuck Ezreal?
Jinx:NO
Jinx:DUMBASS
Jinx:COME LET ME DRESS YOU UP
Lux:OH. That. I don't even know where you actually live though!
Jinx:Just have the pizza girl deliver you
Lux:Oh man, I don't think that would work. I had to beg pretty hard just to have her deliver Millie.
Lux:Crusher. Sorry. :P
Jinx:Thank you
Lux:You're full of surprises today. I didn't think you'd be big on like, fashion either.
Jinx:Fashion-fashion? No.
Jinx:DISGUISE-fashion? YES.
Jinx:Yuo can become like someone totally new!!! With just a little work!!!
Jinx:Its so much more useful than most people give it credit for
Lux:I mean, I guess it would be super useful for public enemy number one. :P
Jinx:Yeah yeah yeah hush
Lux:What would you do if I showed up at your place randomly?
Jinx:Uhhhh
Jinx:die probably
Lux:What!!!!!????
Jinx:cute girl shows up at my place, unannounced, before I have time to like... even pretend to clean? Jinx:I'll die
Lux:Don't call me cute >///<
Jinx:Oh don't start
Lux:Don't start what?!!?
Jinx:don't start "i'm not *~*~*cute*~*~*"-ing me
Lux:You've never seen me in your life!!! How the heck do you think you're able to call me cute.
Jinx:cause you ACT cute and you've got a CUTE LITTLE VOICE you little baby
Lux:Okay, shut up, but also you wouldn't NOTICE that if I just SHOWED UP and kept my mouth shut Jinx:HAH

Jinx:Not to roast you
Jinx:but there's no way you'd be able to keep quiet you goon
Lux:Uuuggghhhh, you're impossible. Jinx:YOU'RE the one being impossible you goof!
Lux:You would not die. Jinx:I would.
Jinx:I'd have a heart attack and probably combust
Jinx:in that order
Lux:You are being dramatic. Jinx:Oh I'M being dramatic
Jinx:lays a head over my forehead and lays on my fainting couch
Lux:Yes. You are. :P Lux:OH ugh. Ezreal is calling me. Jinx:DONT PICK UP
Lux:I have to. It could be important. Jinx:Oh come on, you know it's not important.
Read 5:37 pm
Jinx:He couldn't have anything important to say if the world was ending.
Jinx:Wait you didn't seriously pick up for him did you???
Jinx:UGH
Delivered

Notes:

Sometimes I'm sad I wrote this in textfic form because some of the inner thoughts that these two have that I can't feasibly put into the story (because they would never SAY them to each other, they're trying to pretend they aren't catching feelings) are golden. It creates a really interesting challenge for me to like, clue y'all in how these two are feeling, without breaking the illusion that they both are tiptoeing around the situation.

Chapter 13

Notes:

Systems were down at work today, and these two have been bouncing around in my head since the last update. Pluuus, the last update was incredibly short and filler-esque, so here's a surprisingly speedy update for yall. Enjoy!

Chapter Text

Lux

June 24nd 10:14 pm
Lux:Okay, sorry about that. You were right, it wasn't anything important, but of course he wouldn't get off the phone, and then he made me late for my meeting, and the meeting itself was EXTREMELY stressful, and I am just. Worn out.
Jinx:first of all, you're good, we're cool, nothin to worry about
Jinx:second of all next time he wont get off the phone just hang up on him!!!! you dont owe him your time!!!!
Lux:I know... I just don't wanna be rude.
Jinx:PSH
Jinx:HE was rude for making you late to your meeting!!!
Lux:I mean... yeah, that's fair, I jsut dont wanna stoop to his level.
Jinx:you couldn't stoop to his level if you were on your knees and he was on a step stool
Jinx:anyway THIRD of all I'm sorry your not-fight-club meeting was shit
Jinx:is it usually like, a fun thing?
Lux:I... that is a loaded question, actually.
Jinx:so no
Lux:Well, I mean... some parts of it are fun. Most of it isn't, though. It's really stressful at times.
Jinx:maybe take a page out of my book and just
Jinx:stop then
Jinx:if it's not fun don't do it
Lux:It's not that easy. I wish it was. It's my responsibility. And it's not something I can just... quit. I've thought about trying, a couple times. But I just... can't.
Jinx:ok but why not
Lux:It's... god, okay, how do I explain this... It's something bigger than me.
Jinx:is it... a fight club benefiting environment bullshit..??????
Lux:OH my god. I needed that laugh, thank you.
Jinx:OKAY BUT I'M SERIOUS
Jinx:WHAT TF IS IT I'm wracknig my brain but can't think of anything????
Lux:Pass.
Jinx:OH ugh its one of your secret things
Jinx:okay well
Jinx:who died and made whoever it is forcing you to stay in this thing king
Jinx:you're a human you have free will
Lux:I know. It's never really felt like I DIDN'T have free will in this situation. Just more like... I have to make sacrifices for a higher cause. For the good of more than just me. And sometimes that weight gets a little heavy to carry.
Jinx:so set it down
Jinx:don't throw it away just like. idk put it down.
Jinx:come back to it. pick it back up when you're ready idk
Lux:I wish I could. There's no one to hold it while I take a break from it.
Jinx:HOW DO YOU FIGHT CLUB BY YOURSELF
Lux:OH MY GOD IT'S NOT A FIGHT CLUB! Lux:Forget I called it a fight club. It's... um... it's... something else. That is not a fight club. But yeah, it's... a solo thing. Sort of. I have like... a... boss...? But it's not a job. I mean, it IS, but not like, a monetary job.
Jinx:you are losing me, toots.
Lux:Yeah I don't know how to explain this and I'm doing a really bad job. Just know that if I walk away from it, even temporarily, there's no one to pick up my slack.
Jinx:that sounds lonely
Jinx:and thats coming from someone who has been alone most of her life
Jinx:cause at least when I was doing shit alone I was doing things I LIKED
Jinx:if I wasn't having fun I just stopped
Lux:I mean, I guess it can be lonely. I've never really thought about it? You're my first like, close-close friend, so.
Jinx:oh okay thats actually kind of sad
Jinx:what about um... sylas? or your friends at the party? or even like your brother?
Lux:Sylas... isn't REALLY a friend. He WAS a friend at one point, maybe. But, like most people I let too close, he was just using me to grab for power. Surprise, surprise. I guess that's why I let you closer than anyone else; you didn't know me. You and I kind of became friends before you knew who I was, so you didn't have like, a motive to further your own goals through me.
Jinx:...is this a bad time to admit to social media stalking
Lux:...What?
Jinx:I was gonna mention it but it never like, was a good time
Jinx:i know you're a crownguard or whatever
Jinx:that means like, nothing to me, but i didn't wanna hide it from you
Jinx:Lux?
Jinx:are you mad at me
Lux:I'm trying not to be. Give me a minute.
Jinx:okay
Lux:I appreciate you telling me. I'm just... trying to process. How long have you known?
Jinx:a few days
Lux:I wish you would have told me sooner.
Jinx:I know. I'm sorry
Jinx:I didn't think it was that important
Jinx:i mean like first of all I don't even really know what or who the crownguards are, and even if i did, you're not... a crownguard first to me, you know
Jinx:you're my luxy first
Jinx:my best friend second
Jinx:a noble learning about the little people third
Jinx:and a crownguard disatant fourth
Lux:I don't have a right to ask you to be completely transparent with me after I just spent like fifteen minutes talking around what I actually do for my extracurricular, but I'm going to ask anyway. You really don't care that I'm a Crownguard? Like, I know it's easy to just say "no," but even the idea of power can corrupt people. And if that's how this is going to develop, I don't want to... keep this going.
Jinx:no pressure or anything though right? lol
Jinx:i'm corrupted enough lol and you've been helping me like
Jinx:un-corrupt
Jinx:power grabs aren't really my thing
Jinx:they're too much boring planning instead of like, fun planning
Jinx:if I wanted to cause damage i'd just DO it, i wouldnt need your help or the help of your family name, you feel me?
Jinx:plus, people who grab for power wanna like, rule or some shit, right?
Jinx:WAY too much work
Jinx:so like. you don't have to believe me
Jinx:but know that I like YOU, as LUX, not as Luxana Crownguard.
Lux:Oh ew hearing you say my full name just made my stomach drop don't do that
Jinx:LOL right, I felt the same way when I found it out
Jinx:but you're just my little luxy baby
Lux:Okay. Thank you. I... really needed to hear that.
Jinx:who, for the record, is WAY cooler than some weirdo high-ranking noble, even if she's a total dork and nerd
Lux:Rude!
Jinx:I'm a rude bitch!!!!
Lux:Thank you. For being my real friend.
Jinx:thank YOU for being MY real friend
Jinx:i think we've established we both think we're beyond true friends for one reason or another
Jinx:which is why we're perfect for each other
Lux:You're probably not wrong about that
Jinx:hey.
Lux:?
Jinx:I'm hugging you
Lux:Jiiiiinx I'm gonna start crying
Jinx:payback (Smiling Face With Horns )
Jinx:but fr. you mean a lot to me and you've been through some shit today and im sorry i added to it
Jinx:but you're an important person to me
Lux:You're important to me too. More than I can say.
Jinx:its funny
Jinx:i havent known you for long
Jinx:but you're probably the most important person in my life
Jinx:which okay maybe doesnt mean a lot coming from me since i dont have a lot of people in my life to start with
Lux:No, it means a lot. You're... probably one of my most important people in my life, too.
Jinx:you're just saying that
Jinx:you dont have to say it back goofball
Lux:I'm serious. Honestly, I have the least walls up when I'm talking to you. Even if that's hard to believe. My brother knows less about me than you do. And you asked about my friends from the party earlier... they're nice and all, but I kind of try to keep them at arms length. Even if they aren't all the type to use me, I have a feeling I'm more trouble than I'm worth for some of them, and they're too polite to say so. That's not self-deprecation, that's objective. I'm headstrong and don't always consider all my options before acting. It can get me into hot water, and sometimes it drags them into the pot with me. So, like... I wouldn't call us fair weather friends, but... and I like, I never really noticed it wasn't "normal" until I realized what you and I have is different. It's... more.
Lux:Oh god I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from.
Lux:Please stop typing, the idea of you sending me a huge paragraph is giving me anxiety, just ignore everything I just said!!
Jinx:no it's not a paragraph
Jinx:i just cant figure out what to say to that like
Jinx:i keep typing and erasing and typing and erasing
Jinx:not in a bad way!! you didn't scare me off. I just do not know what to say to that
Jinx:I'm havibg a lot of Feelings over it
Lux:I'm sorry >.<
Jinx:no theyre GOOD feelings dummy
Jinx:just ones i dont know. what. to do with.
Lux:Do you want to like... talk? About them?
Jinx:UM
Jinx:NO,
Jinx:NOT RIght now,
Jinx:mainly because I don't even fully know what I'm feeling!! I want to try and figure them out first!!!
Lux:Oh! Yeah, that's fair.
Jinx:sorry
Lux:Oh my god, no, don't be! I'm not entitled to know everything you're thinking or feeling. I just didn't know if it would help or not.
Jinx:i mean it's things i do want to tell you
Jinx:just not! right now
Jinx:its a big ball of mess and I wanna try to untangle it
Lux:Of course, I get you. You just let me know when it's untangled and I'll listen. Or if there's anything I can do to help.
Jinx:i appreciate that
Jinx:but i have a feeling if i let you help, i'll just end up knotting things up even tighter
Lux:I'm sorry. :/
Jinx:shhhhh no its not your fault
Lux:I mean I feel like it kind of is?
Jinx:its no more your fault than like, your existence is your fault dummy
Jinx:okay that came out wrong
Jinx:FUCK I really cant talk about this right LOL!
Jinx:its not your fault. full stop. i am eternally grateful that you're in my life and you dont have anything to be sorry for
Jinx:except sending me crusher because she is HUGE and i STILL dont know where to put her
Lux:She lived next to my closet when she was with me!
Jinx:Currently occupied here
Lux:By?
Jinx:pile of dirty clothes
Lux:Do your laundry!!!
Jinx:I will!
Jinx:just not right now
Lux:So where do you have Crusher now then?
Jinx:propped up against a wall in my work room to keep me company
Lux:Ooh, work room? What are you working on?
Jinx:UUUHHHhhhhh
Jinx:... gun mods, grenades, traps...
Jinx:they're all old things!! that I'm just tinkering with!!
Jinx:i'm not making anything new!!!!
Lux:I'm not judging. I mean, I'm not thrilled about it, but if that's your hobby, that's your hobby. Just... don't hurt anyone with them, and I'll try to be okay with it, yeah?
Jinx:I still feel like I let you down tho
Lux:Jinx, you don't have to completely remake yourself for me. I like YOU, as YOU. If you try to be someone you think I'll like, instead of yourself, it'll just make us both sad. Don't give up your hobbies or passions over what you think I expect of you. Just don't hurt anyone, okay?
Lux:Oh. Except if one of your hobbies or passions is still hurting people, that... might be...
Jinx:LOL its fine
Jinx:I know thats a Bad One
Jinx:I'm trying to find better outlets for my destructive and chaotic nature
Jinx:cause i keep thinking like. what if my antics had gotten you hurt or killed in the past
Jinx:i might not have ever known you
Jinx:and i dont like thinking about that
Jinx:idt i can give up weapon mods though. thats just too fun.
Lux:Tell me about it. What do you like about it?
Jinx:oh MAN when everything comes together and WORKS
Jinx:when youre up to your elbows in grease and dirt and frustration and then it all just CLICKS
Jinx:the feeling of doing something you probably shouldnt have been able to do out of spare parts and shit you had laying around after a shit ton of hard work is SO satisfying
Lux:You're precious.
Jinx:I AM NOT
Jinx:I'M A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
Lux:Nope! You're precious. A precious little bean.
Jinx:NO!!!!!!!!
Lux:It's just cute that for all the talk of destruction you do, you seem to really like to build.
Jinx:NOT CUTE. DO NOT CALL ME CUTE.
Lux:Oh hush, your tough girl image will survive being called cute in private.
Jinx:ASDGZSDGDFHDSAAAAAAAAA
Jinx:you know what! I'm going to bed early.
Jinx:because i am going to explode if i keep talking to you!!!!!
Lux:NOW who's the baby?
Jinx:YOU are still the BABY don't START
Jinx:now if you'll excuse me I'm going to fall asleep on crusher because he's BIG ENOUGH FOR THAT
Jinx:and he seems like he'll be great at MUFFLING SCREAMS OF FRUSTRATION
Lux:OH my GOD so much DRAMA Jinx!
Jinx:HUSH.
Lux:It's so weird you going to bed earlier than me. Who am I supposed to talk to until I get sleepy now?
Jinx:STOP TORTURING ME
Read 12:37 am
Lux::P
Lux:Goodnight, Jinx. <3

Chapter 14

Notes:

So so so sorry if you got the notif for this chapter early, guess who hit post instead of preview? This kid!

Chapter Text

Lux

June 25nd 1:21 pm
Jinx:am I seriously up before you?
Lux:Bleugh. Yeah. Late night last night. More... extracurricular nonsense.
Jinx:so after a stressful day they made you come back and stay up late???
Jinx:im gonna beat the shit out of your boss
Lux:No, it's fine, its not my boss's fault. Some... stuff just happened that I had to take care of.
Jinx:I think you're probably being too nice!
Jinx:again!!!!
Lux:Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone, right?
Jinx:NO!!!!!!!!!
Lux:Anyway I realized something re-reading our convo from last night. Social media stalking. Does that mean you know what I look like...?
Jinx:Oh.
Jinx:shit
Jinx:yeah i do
Jinx:i was kind of hoping you wouldn't... notice that little detail...
Lux:What??? Why??? Should I be worried???
Jinx:omg no
Jinx:no youre adorable if thats what youre worried about
Jinx:cute lil pink-haired sun-bubble
Lux:WHAT is a sun-bubble
Jinx:like a bubble full of sunshine!!!
Jinx:cute lil pink-haired sun-bubble
Lux:I... okay. Anyway, what's the deal then?
Jinx:I dont really take pictures of myself
Jinx:not uh. ones you would like anyway
Lux:...um.
Jinx:NOT LIKE THAT
Jinx:psh you wish
Jinx:they're... I used to call them "glory shots"
Jinx:which! sounds a lot worse! now that I'm thinking about it!
Jinx:they're pictures of me in front of... chaos and destruction I caused. Yeah.
Lux:Oh. Ohhhhhh. Okay, yeah, you're right, not my speed at all. I am kind of sad I don't get to see what you look like, though :c
Jinx:Sorry, chika.
Lux:One selfie? For me?
Jinx:Not for a million bucks!
Lux:Boo. :c
Jinx:You'll just have to imagine me as I describe:
Jinx:Tall, spicy, and hotter'n hell!
Lux:Uh huh.
Jinx:You sound like you have your doubts, Luxy-loo!
Lux:What's the phrase? Seeing is believing? :P
Jinx:Maybe you've seen me before and just don't know it!
Lux:Hmm, let me think, have I ever seen someone "tall, spicy and hotter'n hell"? I'll have to really wrack my brain... what about that DJ from that one band my friends like...
Jinx:Omg do not say it. If you say what I think you're about to say
Lux:You don't like him???
Lux:YASUO. That's it. I knew it would come to me.
Jinx:oh thank god
Jinx:no he's fine
Jinx:and at least I know your taste in men is like. pretty okay.
Jinx:the uh. the guy I thought I liked before I knew I was gay
Jinx:is the other dude in TD
Lux:oh my GOD.
Jinx:yyyyyeahhhhh
Lux:WHAT?!!?!?
Jinx:YYYEEEAAAAHHHHHH......
Lux:JINX.
Jinx:I KNOW, OKAY
Lux:I'm... I need a minute.
Jinx:OKAY, LIKE,
Jinx:I know he's like, not bad to look at and everything!
Jinx:he is very handsome
Lux:HANDSOME DOESNT EVEN SCRATCH THE SURFACE,
Jinx:OKAY WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT
Jinx:It's not like I'm BLIND to men being attractive or whatever!!!
Jinx:SO LIKE, I KNOW. I KNOW!
Jinx:But I just!!!! Boy. Him boy.
Lux:oh my god THATS NOT WHAT IM FREAKING OUT ABOUT!!!!
Jinx:OH. then what is????
Lux:WHERE do I start. You're one degree removed from THE EKKO OF TD??? Which makes me TWO degrees removed. Which makes me two??? Two and a half??? from TD????? I NEED A MINUTE
Jinx:YOU LISTEN TO TD??????
Jinx:I thought you said your friends were into it!!!
Lux:I said that so you wouldn't make fun of me!!! They're like a super secret fave of mine. oh my god
Jinx:Okay, you know what, that's fair
Jinx:it's super Not what I would have pegged as Lux Music
Jinx:But it's not like, a huge thing!
Jinx:It's not like I can get you to meet them or anything
Jinx:I have a feeling I am the LAST person Ekko would ever want to hear from
Jinx:Esp since i knew him before TD, sooooo
Lux:God no that's not even like. God okay how to explain this?
Jinx:You're just freaking out.
Lux:I AM JUST FREAKING OUT
Jinx:Y'know what, thats fine. It's better than what I was expecting, lol
Lux:HOW did you know him before he was in TD???
Jinx:Piltover and Zaun are pretty small worlds if you know enough people to begin with!
Jinx:Both of us being genius kids who like to tinker
Jinx:we kind of ran in the same ruts.
Lux:This is so weird. This is SO weird. I'm having a hard time processing this.
Jinx:how do you think I felt when I started seeing his face on posters? lol
Lux:...oh that had to be SO weird for you. And awkward?
Jinx:eh, maybe a little.
Jinx:i only count him as like, a half-ex, since I didn't know what I was doing and wasn't even like ATTRACTED-attracted to him
Lux:Man, Jinx. Your life sure is interesting!
Jinx:I know right
Jinx:that's not always a good thing, though
Jinx:sometimes I wish things could just like. chill lol!
Jinx:but then when it does I get bored so
Jinx:win some lose some i guess!
Lux:You? Bored? I can't imagine. :P
Jinx:yeah yeah yeah laugh it up
Lux:Just pass the time by people watching!
Jinx:I do sometimes!
Jinx:but even that gets boring sometimes you feel me Lux:I mean I guess everything can be boring if you do it too long
Jinx:not talking to you (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:We've got a comedian in the house everybody.
Jinx:so cynical! so sarcastic! you should get that looked at. I hear it can be a life-threatening condition. Lux:You haven't keeled over yet, and you've been afflicted longer than me. I think I'm safe. :P
Jinx:Growing up around zaun gave me a strong constitution than your gentile demacian upbringing. probably. Jinx:no but fr theres some nasty stuff down there. would not recommend a vacation there. Lux:I'll keep it in mind the next time I'm planning a trip. You're not down in Zaun anymore, are you?
Jinx:nah I'm in piltover remember? Lux:Oh right! Good, then.
Jinx:AWWWW LUXY WAS WORRIED ABOUT MEEEEE Lux:Oh, shut up!
Jinx:I MADE WIDDLE WUXY WOWWIED!!!! Lux:Next time I'll keep it to myself if you keep it up you butt!
Jinx:AWWW SHES BASHFUL
Lux:Alright rude-head, I'm gonna get some of my summer reading done til you decide to stop being a rude-head. :P
Jinx:you're just mad I called you out for being bashful now!
Read 2:33 pm

Chapter 15

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Luxyyyyyy

June 26nd 1:34 pm
Jinx:hey
Jinx:tell me about demacia
Lux:? What do you mean?
Jinx:I mean like
Jinx:ugh ok this is gonna sound... weird
Jinx:i don't like. LOVE. demacia.
Lux:You hate it.
Jinx:I DO HATE IT
Jinx:GOD its so heavy-handed and up its own ass and just uuugggHHH
Jinx:but like
Jinx:YOURE from there
Jinx:so i guess it cant all be bad
Lux:Ahaha. I mean, you're probably not wrong to hate it. Not entirely, anyway.
Jinx:... you sound broody.
Jinx:what happen.
Lux:Mm. Just a bad day, I guess. There's some nonsense going on with my parents.
Jinx:oof.
Lux:No, not like... not like they're splitting or anything. It's more like... ugh. It definitely has to do with me, and I don't really know how to deal with it?
Jinx:Talk to meeeeeeee
Lux:I... don't... know how...?? About this? It's so much more complicated in my head than it needs to be
Jinx:don't make me call u
Lux:Oh like THAT'S a threat. :P
Jinx:it IS a threat, missy!!!!
Lux:My parents are trying to set me up.
Jinx:... like frame you...??
Lux:Like get me a boyfriend.
Jinx:oh
Jinx:...
Jinx:wait what the fuck????
Jinx:WHY?????
Lux::)
Lux:Because something-something proper Demacian something. They see me as flighty, unpredictable, and ungrounded. And they think a boyfriend - specifically this one, I guess - will help me not be like that. I don't know. I... I've never super understood my parents, but this just seems so out of left field.
Jinx:Do you at least KNOW the guy???
Lux:Not personally. It's a close friend of my brother's. And I mean, my brother says he's nice, so...
Jinx:this is such bullshit
Jinx:do you like
Jinx:did you tell them no??? that this isnt a thing?? you're gonna do???
Lux:No...
Jinx:WHY NOT
Lux:Because I don't even know what I'm so apprehensive for! This is good for me! Probably. And it's not like I have any other guys waltzing up to me and proclaiming their love for me. Except Ezreal, but he doesn't count. The least I can do is like, go on one date with this guy, right?
Jinx:No!!!!!
Jinx:You literally!!!! do not!!! have to do that!!!!
Lux:But why wouldn't I?? That's what I'm so frustrated over, I'm... almost kind of excited! For this! To meet some mysterious stranger who might sweep me off my feet! But then WHY do I also desperately NOT want this to happen!!!
Jinx:i'm going to explode
Lux:Join the club.
Jinx:you!!!! I'm!!!! AUGH
Jinx:this is stupid. this whole thing is stupid and hopeless and stupid stupid STUPID
Lux:I know!!!!! Trust me!!!! I know!!!!
Jinx:YOU DONT THO AUFG
Jinx:give me a minute. i need to go scream.
Lux:Look I KNOW it seems like I'm just being a pushover about this but what if he's really nice? What if he is actually really good for me? I know I'm not like... obligated to give him a chance but part of me really wants to! Part of me wants to believe in fate and destiny and everything because I've been a... a "victim", for lack of a better word, of fate multiple times! What if this is another one of those times? And I cant *know* if it is or it isn't if I don't like... try, right?
Jinx:sure.
Lux:Are you mad at me??
Jinx:no
Jinx:yes
Jinx:gAH i dont know
Jinx:YES i'm mad but its not like. its not YOUR fault
Jinx:i'm mad at myself
Jinx:i'm mad at the situation
Jinx:i'm mad im asdf IM JUST MAD
Lux:I'm sorry.
Jinx:Do not
Jinx:Do that.
Jinx:Do Not Do That.
Lux:Do not be sorry...?
Jinx:yes That
Jinx:don't be sorry
Jinx:this isn't your fault, okay? this isn't your fault that this is happening.
Jinx:I'm not mad because of you
Lux:Okay, well. I'm sorry that you're mad. Even if it's not my fault, I'm sorry you're feeling mad.
Jinx:that's fine I guess.
Jinx:hey.
Lux:?
Jinx:I'm hugging you
Lux:Noooo don't say that I'm gonna start crying
Jinx:Well then you probably need it!!!!! Dimwit!!!!
Lux:Don't call me a dimwit while I'm emotionally vulnerable it's rude!!!!
Jinx:well then don't be a fuckin dimwit!!!!
Jinx:things are weird!!! right now!!! so let me at least try and take care of you!!!! somehow!!! in the limited way I can!!!!
Lux:Calling me a dimwit is not taking care of me you dummy!!!
Jinx:OKAY BUT YOU'RE LAUGHING
Jinx:YOU'RE LAUGHING RIGHT NOW.
Lux:SSsshhhh no I'm not!!! Shut up!!!
Jinx:YOU'RE CRYING BUT ALSO LAUGHING.
Lux:I'm gonna kill you aaaaaaugh!!!!
Jinx:I'M RIGHT.
Jinx:TELL ME I'M RIGHT.
Lux:Aaaaahhh you're RIGHT but I hate that you're right!!!
Jinx:HA!!!!!
Lux:Gah. You suck. Thank you.
Jinx:You are WELCOME.
Jinx:Feel a little better?
Lux:Yeah. I do. Thank you.
Jinx:Good.
Lux:I... I think I am gonna give this guy a shot. Because why not. I don't even know why I'm so against it in the first place.
Jinx:Okay
Jinx:lemme know how it goes
Jinx:and how much of a douche he is so i can rub it in your face
Lux:Yeah, yeah. Shut up. :P
Jinx:you better tell me about Demacia another time.
Lux:I will. Right now I'm gonna wash my face and go talk to my mom, though. So we can solidify plans for this blind date, I guess? Talk to you later.
Jinx:Bye lux!
Read 3:33 pm
Jinx:<3 Not Delivered

Notes:

Hey! First of all, sorry for the deleted update - I was wrestling with the code for the undelivered message (for the drama!) and I could NOT get the ! to go in there, but while messing around I hit post too early.

Second, sorry for the silence - there is. A lot. going on right now. Just, in The World, there's A Lot. I've been diving into work and projects to try and distract myself (I'm writing and coding a dating sim???) and my fics were on the low end of the "importance" scale. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this may be a time when y'all really kind of need this escape. So, I can't promise on how swiftly this'll be updated, but I can promise I haven't forgotten about y'all.

Third, since I don't want there to be any doubts: Black lives matter, don't trust cops, the first pride was a riot started by BIPOC, there is no justice for one until there is justice for all. Happy pride!

Chapter 16

Notes:

Thanks to Azdaema Codes (Azdaema) for the base code!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Gunner (X)


June 26

Jinx:i need a favor.
Yasuo:No.
Jinx:u didn't even hear what the favor is!!!
Yasuo:I don't have to.
Jinx:ugh
Jinx:so rude
Jinx:what happened to u
Jinx:fame changed u
Yasuo:I don't think that's true.
Yasuo:I think you're discounting your own past behaviour being part of why I don't want to do anything for you.
Jinx:UGH
Jinx:how many times do i have 2 tell u sorry before ur satisfied
Yasuo:You literally haven't apologized even once.
Jinx:o
Jinx:well
Jinx:i am sorry
Yasuo:For?
Jinx:o now i remember.
Jinx:i dont like u
Yasuo:This was a good talk.
Jinx:UGH OKAY
Jinx:im sorry for completely ghostin the raid group
Jinx:after the weird situation w time
Jinx:i was actually thinkin of him the other day
Yasuo:I'm sure he'd be less than thrilled to hear that.
Yasuo:I certainly am.
Yasuo:It took far too long for him to get over you.
Yasuo:You vanishing and not being able to contact you didn't make life any easier, you know.
Yasuo:There was no sense of normalcy or "back to the way it was."
Jinx:LOOK im SORRY
Jinx:i know im not perfect!!!
Jinx:i didnt know how else to handle it!!!!!
Jinx:every time i logged on hed shut up in chat
Jinx:what tf would u have done
Yasuo:Taken it on the chin and been the bigger person about it.
Jinx:yea rite
Jinx:whatever we cant all be the ever-perfect kaze
Jinx:hows the new gunner
Yasuo:Fine.
Jinx:just "fine"???
Yasuo:What is it you want me to do, X? Are you hoping to hear that she's the best gunner the guild has ever seen? Or perhaps you'd rather I beg you to come back and take her place?
Jinx:JESUS kaze
Jinx:idk i was just making conversation!
Jinx:i genuinely feel bad abt how i ditched u rite after the expansion dropped
Jinx:i miss playin w u all
Jinx:even time
Jinx:and b4 u get smart, no, i wont tell him
Jinx:i havent talked to him since back then
Jinx:were u ever able to get qi or akali to play?
Jinx:qi seems like shed be too fancy for mmos but i could see akali maybe
Yasuo:Don't call Qiana "Qi".
Yasuo:Akali is extremely busy between our band and KDA. Her limited free time is her own.
Jinx:have u even asked her.
Yasuo:It feels selfish to.
Jinx:god for how smart u are ur really stupid
Jinx:is that like a trend w u brainiacs
Yasuo:"You brainiacs"?
Yasuo:Plural?
Jinx:hey, great transition
Jinx:remember that favor i mentioned
Yasuo:Ah.
Yasuo:If Z doesn't want to talk to you anymore, I can't help you.
Yasuo:Though I hardly think he counts as a "brainiac."
Jinx:UGH no
Jinx:i have a life outside of the guild and the zaun squad u kno
Yasuo:Oh? And how recent is this development?
Jinx:very
Yasuo:I can hardly believe anyone without a history with you, that you would describe as a "brainiac", would tolerate your texting patterns.
Yasuo:By the same token, I doubt you, of all people, met this person in-person.
Yasuo:So how did you manage to make the acquaintance of someone of that mental capacity without immediately pissing them off?
Jinx:oooooh so u are still a drama whore
Yasuo:Excuse you.
Jinx:oh dont act stupid
Jinx:u were quiet abt it but u loved gossip
Jinx:good to see some things dont change
Jinx:also i can type like a normal human thank u
Jinx:its just weird to do it here bc i always typed shorthand here
Yasuo:Wait.
Yasuo:I just processed that you used "genuinely" in a sentence a little while ago.
Yasuo:Sorry, but who the fuck are you?
Jinx:LMFAO
Jinx:ppl can change
Yasuo:X.
Yasuo:With all due respect, you've never quite been "people" in my eyes.
Jinx:yeah yeah
Jinx:get in line
Jinx:if i tell u abt my wonderful redemption arc will u PLEASE do me this favor
Jinx:PLEASE kaz
Yasuo:Why do you still call me that?
Jinx:STOP CHANGING THE SUBJECT
Yasuo:Answer my question.
Jinx:i knew u as kaze b4 i knew u as yasuo ok are u happy!!!!
Jinx:yasuo is this... dj guy w groupies and fame and a public face
Jinx:kaze is my guild friend and my raid buddy and the most commanding healer ive ever played w
Jinx:completely dif people
Jinx:y do U still call ME x?
Yasuo:...Some of the same, I suppose.
Yasuo:It's a bit like calling someone "CJ" the entire time you've known them, then learning their name is "Charles James."
Jinx:all the names in the world and u pulled "charles james"
Jinx:mess
Jinx:ANYWAY!!!!
Jinx:FAVOR. YOU. FOR ME.
Jinx:in exchange for juicy details abt my life while ive been gone
Jinx:i kno ur dyin for em
Jinx:what did i do? did i miss u guys? what did i get up to? who is this mysterious new braniac in my life?
Yasuo:You're horrible.
Jinx:i am also right.
Yasuo:...
Jinx:cmooooon u kno u wanna kno
Jinx:nd u wanna spill to time
Jinx:nd bitch abt me together
Yasuo:Dammit.
Yasuo:I regret ever being close enough to you that you got to know me this well.
Yasuo:What is it you want?
Jinx:LOV U
Jinx:i need eyes in demacia
Yasuo:X.
Yasuo:I think you and I both know my status is beyond just walking into Demacia like it's nothing.
Jinx:wow brag abt how FAMOUS u are
Jinx:it doesnt have 2 b u
Jinx:what abt that cute lil apprentice u got
Jinx:dammit what was her ign
Yasuo:It was Sparrow and I'm not having her do your dirty work.
Jinx:its not DIRTY WORK
Jinx:its just a tail
Jinx:and maybe a... date... ruin.
Yasuo:I'm at a loss for words.
Yasuo:You want me to send my apprentice to ruin a date for you? After you broke my best friends heart?
Jinx:kaze do u want me to dig open some old wounds
Jinx:bc i will
Jinx:and u kno i will.
Yasuo:I don't particularly want that, no.
Yasuo:But what happened between Timewinder and me has nothing to do with you.
Jinx:UM??? IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO W ME
Jinx:DID WE READ THE SAME CHAT LOGS???
Yasuo:It's in the past. We handled it like adults.
Yasuo:Unlike a gunner I could name.
Jinx:im going to kill u and then myself
Jinx:passive-aggressively opposing everything he said?
Jinx:not EVER using ur quick res on him so he was out for a whole fight if he ko'd?
Jinx:thank GOD he wasnt our tank at the time bc we would have wiped EVERY time
Jinx:since u all but refused to heal him
Jinx:that's "handling it like an adult"???????
Yasuo:You're misremembering.
Jinx:do not even
Jinx:i used to back up our chat logs ill fuckin pull receipts on u
Yasuo:... You backed up the logs?
Jinx:every night
Jinx:i even wrote a program to log on and pull them off the server if i hadnt been online
Yasuo:...Why??
Jinx:i dont want 2 tell u
Yasuo:I would *very* much like you to tell me.
Yasuo:And I have something you want.
Jinx:*I* have something *U* want!!!
Yasuo:You've become even more impossible in the time you were away, I see.
Yasuo:Why did you backup the logs, Jinx.
Jinx:oh i just felt a shiver down my spine u callin me that
Jinx:if i tell u, u have to promise to have sparrow b my tail
Jinx:AND ur getting this info instead of the info abt what ive been doing w myself
Yasuo:I can live with that for now.
Yasuo:You can't have changed so much that you won't be back for something else later.
Yasuo:You come and go in bursts, and this is only the start of a new burst for you.
Jinx:will u can it
Jinx:stop acting like u know me
Yasuo:I do know you.
Jinx:whatever
Jinx:i backed up the logs so that i could re-read them
Jinx:u guys were the closest thing i had to real friends nd sometimes when i got lonely id reread them
Jinx:...plus when time first introduced me to u i didnt know u were a boy
Yasuo:Elaborate.
Jinx:No.
Jinx:put 2 and 2 together smart guy im not gonna come out and say it
Yasuo:You were "straight" at the time.
Jinx:and u were "straight" at some point in ur life but probably looked at a boy and ur little heart did a flip flop and u pretended it didnt so shut the fuck up!!!!!
Yasuo:This is... awkward.
Jinx:YOU FUCKIN ASKED
Yasuo:I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.
Jinx:sdfhsdfh dont fuckin reject me now, years later, and now that i know ur a boy it makes me feel PATHETIC
Jinx:ive MOVED ON its FINE lets STOP TALKING ABOUT IT
Jinx:sparrow. tail. demacia.
Yasuo:Yes.
Yasuo:Wait.
Jinx:NO IM NOT WAITING
Yasuo:That means the love triangle went all the way around.
Jinx:YES.
Jinx:IT DID.
Jinx:CAN WE PLEASE CHANGE THE SUBJECT.
Yasuo:Yes. Sorry.
Yasuo:This is just a lot to process.
Jinx:back to the matter at hand PLEASE
Jinx:i dont have a date and time set in stone yet
Jinx:but i should in probably a day or less
Jinx:nd ur sparrow just needs to follow them around and report in
Jinx:2 u or 2 me it doesnt matter
Jinx:but if she reports 2 u u'll have to report to me so thats dumb
Yasuo:Agreed. I'll give her your screen name.
Jinx:cool, this makes the next part easier
Jinx:if i give the word imma need her to just like
Jinx:create a fuss
Jinx:not like a huge scene thatll get her in trouble
Jinx:just smthn thatll make the date kinda suck
Yasuo:You are extremely petty.
Jinx:i do not want to hear that from u of all ppl
Yasuo:Touche, but also, come on.
Yasuo:Wreaking havoc in one love life isn't enough for you?
Jinx:this is completely different
Jinx:she doesnt even kno the guy, her parents are putting her up 2 it
Jinx:besides its none of ur business
Yasuo:Whatever you say.
Yasuo:I'll shoot her your information. Let me know when you have a date and location.
Jinx:THANKS I LOVE UUUUU
Yasuo:So you say.

Notes:

And now for something a little different!

Chapter 17

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Unknown Contact


June 27

TaliyahHi!
Jinx?
Jinxhello
Jinxwho dis
TaliyahOh! Sorry, I'm Taliyah, Master Yasuo said you and he were talking back and forth?
JinxOH COOL
JinxHI
Jinxsorry 4 the short notice abt today
Jinxi didnt think things would be happening so fast
TaliyahIt's okay! It worked out well, actually.
TaliyahI had plans that fell through so today was perfect!
TaliyahSo who is it I'm spying on for you?
Jinxok i wouldnt call it SPYING
Jinxits more like
Jinxkeeping track of
Jinxin case things go bad
TaliyahI would call it spying!
TaliyahSo would Master Yasuo.
Jinxmaster yasuo and me dont see eye 2 eye on a lot of things
TaliyahYep, he confirmed that from his side, too.
TaliyahBut that's okay, it means you probably learn a lot from each other.
Jinxu could say that
Jinxanywho ur lookin for a pink-haired girl named lux
Jinxfrom what she told me shes goin to lunch w this guy
Jinxat some stupid cafe near the center of town
TaliyahDo you have a picture of her?
Jinxo yea hang on
JinxImg desc: a screenshot of Lux's social media profile
TaliyahHuh.
TaliyahNot what I expected!
Jinxwhat were u expecting??
TaliyahHmm. Something closer to an e-girl I guess!
JinxWHAT
TaliyahI didn't know you too well in the guild, but it seemed to me that e-girls were more your type!
JinxWHAT ARE U ON?????????
TaliyahHahaha! Well, at least I know who to look for now.
TaliyahI'll let you know once I'm closer to the center of town!
Jinxty bud
TaliyahOkay! I'm in position!
TaliyahThey're sitting at a patio table.
TaliyahShe's much cuter in person, but does look exactly like the picture you sent.
Jinxno duh
Jinxwhat about him, what does he look like
TaliyahI can't see too well from where I am - I'm at a table diagonal to theirs facing her, so I can't see his face.
TaliyahHe's tall, though. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. Strong nose.
Jinxugh
Jinxvery "demacian handsome"
TaliyahProbably. I guess I wouldn't really know?
Jinxtell me whats going on
Jinxknowing kaze this probably isnt ur first rodeo
Jinxso tell me like ud tell him
TaliyahKaze?
TaliyahOH, Master Yasuo. I forget you guys use in-game names.
TaliyahIf you want info the way he asks for it, you two aren't as different as he made it sound.
Jinxoh we're v much alike which is why we hate each other
Jinxbut also we're friends and theres nothin either one of us can do abt it
TaliyahI'd love to pick your brain about him, honestly.
TaliyahHe's kind of guarded.
Jinxhes gay
TaliyahI know. I don't mean it like that.
TaliyahI mean I don't know much about him beyond his outward persona.
TaliyahWhich is different than his stage persona, actually. So I guess I know more than your average bird.
Jinxsnitches get stitches
Jinxback to the matter at hand pls
TaliyahRight! Sorry.
TaliyahRight now she's doing most of the talking. He's paying attention though, it's not like she's just filling the space while he's on his phone.
TaliyahActually, I think he's asking questions to stay engaged with whatever she's talking about.
Jinxur not close enough to hear?
TaliyahI had to pick a seat with visual on her or a seat where I could hear them.
Jinxwhat kind of shitty cafe is this!!!!
TaliyahA busy one!
TaliyahThat says a good amount about his personality, too, actually.
TaliyahIt's a well-known place, they picked a patio seat with plenty of people. She has an easy exit should she feel she needs it, and there are plenty of people around as witnesses if she doesn't feel safe.
Jinxor he wanted 2 show her off to the world
Jinxnd make him look better for goin out w someone as pretty as her
JinxAND the witnesses work both ways if he makes her uncomfortable she cant cause a scene bc theyre in public nd she has her families image 2 worry abt
TaliyahYou're right, but I think you're also wrong.
TaliyahHis posture is relaxed, but attentive. His hands are on the table, but well outside her personal bubble.
Jinxhow many times has kaze had u spy on ppl for him
TaliyahNone recently, but more frequently in the past.
TaliyahI'm good, right? :D
Jinxyes. its annoying.
Taliyah"Don't look for information you're not prepared to know."
JinxUCK he used 2 say the SAME thing 2 me
Jinxhave they ordered
TaliyahUm... it looks like yes, but they only have drinks right now.
TaliyahHis drink isn't in my line of sight, but she has what looks like an iced coffee?
JinxLOL
Taliyah?
Jinxnothin. inside joke w myself sorry
TaliyahHe just made her laugh!
TaliyahAw, her laugh is cute.
JinxI KNOW ITS CUTE
TaliyahJust the messenger!
Jinxsorry
Jinxi thought u werent close enuff 2 hear them
TaliyahIt was a... "medium" laugh.
TaliyahNot loud-loud, but loud enough for me to hear.
TaliyahNot a polite giggle or anything.
Jinxfuck.
TaliyahOh, he's getting up from the table and going inside.
TaliyahAnd... she has her phone out.
Jinxthats me
Jinxshe's textin me
Jinx... oh FUCK.
Jinxshes actually enjoying herself
Jinxdammit dammit dammit
TaliyahWe may have a bigger problem...
Jinx???????
TaliyahI'm pretty sure her date is prince Jarvan.
JinxWHAT??????
Jinxhow does her brother just KNOW a LITERAL PRINCE????
TaliyahWhat did you say her last name was?
Jinxcrownguard
TaliyahThat's how.
JinxDAMMIT!!!!
Jinxhow do i compete w that!!!!!
Jinxhow do i compete w a LITERAL prince.
Jinxwhat the fuck.
TaliyahOne date doesn't mean they're going to go steady.
Jinxew how old are you
Jinxno one says "go steady" anymore grandma
Jinxanyway this would be her first relationship i think so uhhhh she may just jump into it head first!!!
TaliyahYou don't sound like you have a lot of faith in her!
TaliyahIf she's really everything you think of her, is she really the kind of person to jump straight into a relationship after one date?
Jinxuve got it backward
Jinxi have no faith in MYSELF to win her from this guy
Jinxlol like i kno shes on this date and did i tell her i have a crush on her? no
Jinxit could take them three months 2 start actually dating nd i couldnt do it
Jinxim sure kaze told u about what a disaster i am
Taliyah...Well....
Jinxmy point xactly
Jinxanyway u have plan b ready?
TaliyahYeah... I just feel bad having to use it.
Jinxfeelin bad is for babies
Jinxwill u feel bad 4 me when she starts datin him and im sad and lonely
TaliyahI mean, yes...
Jinxcant have ur cake nd eat it too
Jinxready the cannons!!!!
TaliyahReady on your signal... :/
Jinxdont give me that face!!!
Jinxtell me whats goin on so i can decide when 2 do it
TaliyahHe just brought back their food. It looks like they both got soup and sandwich combos?
TaliyahShe's asking questions now, I think.
TaliyahShe's nodding along as he's talking.
TaliyahAnd... she's smiling.
TaliyahIt's this radiant smile that lights up her whole face.
TaliyahShe's looked kind of... mildly stressed this whole time.
TaliyahBackground stressed, if that makes sense. Like something outside of the moment she's in is bothering her.
TaliyahI didn't notice til now, because it's completely gone now.
TaliyahShe's here, just here. And she's happy.
Jinxgo home
TaliyahHuh?
Jinxgo home
Jinxno plan b. just go home.
TaliyahYou're sure?
Jinxno
Jinxso go b4 i change my mind

Notes:

Lux art and social media profile done by @dillard.abbey on instagram!! Thank you so much Abbey for the beautiful art, please check her out on her instagram here!

P.S. if you’re here on update day, there’s another short chapter after this one! Don’t miss it! :D

Chapter 18: 17.5

Notes:

This is chapter 17.5! It updated at the same time as chapter 17! If you haven't read the last chapter, go read that first :D

Chapter Text

Luxyyyyyy

June 27th 1:08 pm
Lux:It's going really well! He's really nice, and not bad to look at. I mean, he's no boy-band hottie. :P But he's normal-boy hot.
Jinx:you mean i WONT get to rub it in ur face that he's a douche?
Jinx:dammit.
Lux:Oh come on :P I'm just happy I'm not suffering through with a smile. I was half expecting to have to. Some of my brother's friends are so...
Jinx:Dumb?
Lux:I... wouldn't put it THAT way. They can be goal-oriented, but boring because of it. It's all they're ever really focused on, overall. So I'm kind of relieved this guy has a personality, haha!
Jinx:haha
Jinx:well thats good then!
Jinx:you're enjoying yourself?
Lux:Yes! He's been nothing but a gentleman so far, asking me about things I'm interested and what I'm hoping to do after high school... He'll be a senior this year, so he's two years ahead of me, and he's planning to go off to college. I told him I'm not really sure yet, and I'm exploring my options. i kind of expected him to push it beyond that - my brother has been trying to get me to commit to a college, so maybe this was all a ploy to get me to at least consider a few schools, but he totally dropped it after that. It was... kind of refreshing, actually.
Lux:Ah, he's coming back from getting our food, I'll talk to you later!
Jinx:have fun
June 27th 5:03 pm
Lux:Aaaah, I had such a good time!! He was a total gentleman, and really nice to talk to. Lunch was delicious, the weather was beautiful, I couldn't have asked for a better first date!
Lux:...Jinx?
Jinx:not feeling good
Jinx:sorry
Jinx:ill talk to you later
Read 5:17 pm

Chapter 19

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Lux

June 29th 3:10 pm
Lux:Man why are summers so HOT!!!
June 29th 5:43 pm
Lux:Jinx?
June 29th 7:01 pm
Lux:Is everything okay? Are you mad at me?
Lux:Your voicemail is full? Why do I get the feeling you never empty it? :P
Lux:Jinx?
June 30th 2:09 am
Lux:Okay so I know I'm probably being annoying but I can't sleep and I'm worried about you and you either arent reading my messages or turned read receipts off? So I'm kind of worried you're doing something reckless or something you think I'll be upset with you for? You said you weren't feeling well though the time time I talked to you so I'm kind of worried something bad has happened!
Lux:I'm rambling, I know I'm rambling, but like, you're my friend, and I wanna know that you're okay, and that we're okay, and just... I don't know.
June 30th 7:52 am
Lux:Okay um, I don't know if this is a "take a hint" kind of situation, but I'm REALLY BAD at taking hints, as I'm sure you've noticed!! But I can't tell! If this is a "wow Lux take a hint you're so dense!" situation or if you're in trouble or hurt or something!
Jinx:im not in trouble.
Read 7:53 pm
Lux:...Oh. Um. Well okay then. I guess that answers that. I kind of wish you'd talk to me about whatever's going on, but I guess that's probably too much to hope for, huh?
June 30th 1:37 pm
Lux:Is this really it? Just like that, we're not talking? We're not friends? I don't even get to know what happened?
June 30th 11:11 pm
Lux:Fuck you, Jinx.
July 2nd 4:03 pm
Lux:What the fuck is your problem!! What did I ever do to you to deserve this!! Were you just pretending to be my friend this whole time? Until you got bored of me? Was everything you said to me a lie, or just some way to keep me hanging on to you?
Lux:I was just some toy to you. Another way to people-watch. A way to explore how "interesting humans are" through my eyes. I was right to be guarded, to keep you out, and you still wormed your way in and broke down my walls and made me like you. You made me care about you. You made me think you were my friend. And this whole time, it wast just until something better came along. I hope whoever is your new plaything sees through your whole "I'm a BAD GIRL but I'm REFORMING because of YOU" act and you're left out in the cold. Like you did to me. How dare you. How dare you! How dare you make me feel so stupid, how dare you use me like this! Fuck you. Now that I know the truth, I'm better off.
July 3rd 12:13 am
Lux:Please reply. Even if it's just one word. Or an angry paragraph. Please. I never knew what a "real" friendship felt like until I met you. I don't know what to do without you. It's like a piece of my life is missing. It's like a piece of ME is missing.
July 3rd 3:43 am
Lux:Please, Jinx.
July 3rd 9:21 am
Lux:You know what, forget it. You're clearly not going to reply. Why bother hoping for rain in a desert? There are other people around me who love me, who care about me, and who won't ice me out. Maybe you were special to me, but I wasn't special to you. And I deserve to be around people who I AM special to.
July 6th 10:59 pm
Lux:What did I do wrong?
July 7th 11:11 am
Lux:My wish is you, I guess. Haha, if we were still talking, you'd call me a nerd, or a dweeb, or something. But my 11:11 wish is you.
July 9th 4:21 pm
Lux:You asked about Demacia, a while back. God, it feels like forever since you asked. Demacia is beautiful. Its spires reaching into the sky, its cobblestone roads and the sound of horses hooves against them. It's the bustle in the morning down at the shops - I didn't use to go, since my parents were very "that's what we have maids for, Luxana," but toward the end of the school year I started going out to see Sylas - oh God, I never told you about THAT mess, did I? I digress. I try to go once a week now, though my brother accompanies me most of the time, so it's not like I get to be alone with my thoughts. Maybe that's for the best. It's kind of nice, getting lost in a crowd, but still seeing familiar faces at the stores. There's a cute little bakery one of my school friends works at that we usually stop and get pumpkin bread from, and it's always warm, and has just the right amount of spiciness to it. Um, what else about Demacia... there's the magic ban, obviously. There are some breakthroughs in hextech being done here, but obviously not to the scale of Zaun or Piltover - they're things I'm sure you'd probably scoff at, haha. I actually didn't used to spend a lot of time in Demacia - during the school year, my family actually rents an apartment for me to stay in Valoran City, so I can go to school there. I know, super rich-girl of me, right? But that's sort of almost better, cause Demacia can be kind of stifling. It's very traditional. Valoran City is kind of a melting pot, so it's been nice to get more of an outside perspective. Though, thinking about it, even in school I tend to stay in Demacian circles, which I guess is why I butted heads so much with you at the start.
July 9th 9:06 pm
Lux:You better be taking good care of Crusher.
July 9th 11:11 pm
Lux:You haven't even blocked my number. My messages are going through as delivered and still being blue bubbles instead of turning green so I KNOW you haven't blocked me. So what's the deal???? Why aren't you talking to me but for some reason not committing to cutting me off??? Lux:Actually, I get it. I'M cut off from YOU, but YOU'RE not cut off from ME. Because *I* keep TEXTING YOU like an IDIOT. Well, now that I know, I guess that's that. Bye.
July 11th 1:02 am
Lux:Do you even miss me?
July 15th 3:31 am
Lux:I miss you.

Notes:

Short chapter as a sorry for the early post, next one will A) be longer and B) have some Content™ I've been wanting to put in for a while.

Chapter 20

Notes:

Remember when I said there was content I'd been waiting to put in last chapter, and that it'd be in this chapter? I'm sorry I lied its not this chapter I'm sorry I prOMISE its coming but I had to shelf the original iteration of it because it didn't fit narratively and also it's replacement ALSO doesnt fit naratively yet AND I'm wrestling with the code but I swear to you it is coming

pantser/plantser writers put your hands up and scream with me

Chapter Text

Gunner (X)


July 10th

Jinx:raids 2nite?
Yasuo:The usual runs, yes. I think Sentinal is coming tonight, though.
Jinx:fuk
Jinx:well thats fine
Jinx:ill hang out online in case smthn come up
Jinx:mayb merc a little
Yasuo:Why have you been so interested again lately?
Jinx:summer event is commin up
Jinx:my gear is soooo far behind
Jinx:nd i wanna do the summer raids
Yasuo:X.
Jinx:kaze
Yasuo:I've been avoiding talking about this, because it's been none of my business.
Jinx:then dont talk abt it
Yasuo:And frankly, because caring about your personal life is usually more trouble than it's worth.
Jinx:ur right! so dont talk abt it!
Yasuo:But Sparrow told me what happened.
Jinx:are you even LISTENING to me!!!!
Yasuo:As usual, no.
Jinx:GGGHHHHH
Jinx:why cant this just be a "dont ask dont tell" thing!!!
Jinx:like it always has been!!!
Jinx:wheres ur sense of honor!!!
Jinx:y are u breakin ur cool-guy dj image for this shit!!!
Jinx:knock it the fuck off!!!!
Yasuo:No.
Yasuo:I'm not coming to you as Yasuo, member of TD.
Yasuo:Or even as a fellow SilkS Hunter.
Yasuo:I'm coming to you as Kaze.
Yasuo:As a friend.
Jinx:u are NOT my friend
Yasuo:Tsundere isn't cute these days.
Jinx:shut the FUCK up!!!!
Yasuo:You and I both like to pretend we're not friends, and that we hate each other.
Yasuo:Which, to be fair, I do hate you.
Jinx:THE FEELING IS MUTUAL
Jinx:BELIEVE ME
Yasuo:Thank you.
Yasuo:But we're also way too similar in strange, convoluted ways.
Yasuo:Ways that matter.
Jinx:WHO TF EVEN ARE U
Jinx:what fuckn SWITCH flipped that u suddenly give a shit!!!!
Jinx:i dont pay u to care abt me!!!!
Yasuo:You don't pay me at all.
Jinx:MY POINT
Yasuo:If you think you can out-stubborn me, you're wrong.
Yasuo:When Timewinder rejected me, I was gutted.
Yasuo:And I really needed a friend.
Yasuo:And you were that friend.
Jinx:SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP
Jinx:I WAS NOT
Jinx:I DONT NEED YOU
Jinx:I DONT NEED ANYONE
Jinx:LEAST OF ALL YOU
Jinx:I WASNT REJECTED
Jinx:I GAVE UP OK
Jinx:i gave up.
Yasuo:I know.
Yasuo:And honestly, when Sparrow told me, I was shocked.
Yasuo:Maybe you really can change.
Jinx:thx 4 the vote of confidence
Jinx:i dont want to talk abt this
Yasuo:We're going to talk about it.
Yasuo:You need to talk about it.
Jinx:i dont
Yasuo:Right now you're probably moping in your room with something she gave you, right?
Jinx:...workshop
Jinx:but yea
Jinx:stop it rite now
Jinx:or ill tell every1 uve gone soft
Yasuo:And admit your own weakness in the process?
Yasuo:Bet.
Jinx:fuk u
Yasuo:Why did you give up?
Jinx:uuuUUUgHGHH
Jinx:i dont wanna dO THIS
Yasuo:Well, that's too bad.
Yasuo:Either we're going to talk it out, or you're going to merc for the entire summer event.
Jinx:like i couldnt find more silks 2 raid w me
Yasuo:SilkS is even more exclusive than before you ghosted us.
Yasuo:You're lucky to still have the tag, actually.
Yasuo:I'm amazed you weren't cleaned out on activity sweeps.
Jinx:blade coudnt kick me
Jinx:ive been there too long
Jinx:she h8s goodbyes
Yasuo:What I'm saying is, there aren't going to be a whole lot of people who will want to queue with you.
Yasuo:Especially if I actively, and loudly, refuse to do so.
Jinx:U WOULDNT DO THAT TO ME?!?!?!?
Yasuo:Why did you give up?
Jinx:shes datin literal actual royalty
Jinx:r u happy now?
Yasuo:...Wow.
Yasuo:Fuck.
Jinx:sparrow didnt mention that teeny tiny detail?
Yasuo:No.
Jinx:yea
Jinx:so like
Jinx:*throws hands up*
Yasuo:That doesn't automatically count you out.
Yasuo:One date is not the end of the world.
Jinx:do not
Jinx:bs me like that
Jinx:or is2g ill never speak 2 u ever again
Jinx:its like
Jinx:hmm lemme look at whats on the menu 2day
Jinx:do i want the manic crazy bitch with no future or a beefcake prince with dumb perfect hair?
Jinx:very tough choice! waiter what do u recommend
Yasuo:Have you talked to her about it?
Jinx:HA
Jinx:im crazy not stupid
Jinx:imagine u confessin 2 time after u KNEW he was str8
Jinx:shes a baby gay
Jinx:girls hardly register on her radar bc shes still figurin herself out
Jinx:after the date i do what i do best
Yasuo:You ghosted her?????
Jinx:yep!!!
Yasuo:You're infuriating.
Jinx:yep!!!
Jinx:are u happy now
Jinx:have we talked enuf abt this yet
Yasuo:No.
Yasuo:We haven't.
Yasuo:You liked this girl enough to call in a favor with me.
Yasuo:And now you're giving up on even being her friend because you have an inferiority complex??
Jinx:ur skull is so thick how tf is there any brain in there at all
Jinx:im giving up because shes BETTER OFF W/O ME
Yasuo:That's not something YOU get to decide!
Yasuo:Look.
Jinx:no
Yasuo:I need a fucking drink.
Yasuo:I know you hurt right now. I know you hurt like your entire chest is full of molten lead.
Yasuo:I KNOW, okay?
Yasuo:And I tried to do the EXACT SAME THING.
Yasuo:All the passive-aggressiveness I had towards Timewinder? That was me trying to get him to hate me.
Yasuo:It would be so much easier for him to hate me.
Yasuo:We could part ways and pretend none of this ever happened.
Yasuo:But you know why that didn't happen? Because Timewinder was - and is - my friend, first and foremost.
Yasuo:And yeah, during that time he and I said some really shitty things to each other.
Yasuo:But he refused to give up on me and I couldn't stop caring about him.
Yasuo:All I did was waste everyone's time.
Jinx:ha
Jinx:does time drink w u on tour?
Jinx:get it
Jinx:wasted time
Yasuo:Do not change the subject because I accidentally made a pun, so help me.
Jinx:look
Jinx:im sorry i got u so mad abt this
Jinx:but its not rly the same as ur situation at all
Yasuo:Yes.
Yasuo:It is.
Yasuo:Your pride is hurt and you're using that as an excuse for your shitty actions.
Yasuo:And you KNOW they're shitty actions.
Yasuo:Stop fucking making the same mistakes as me.
Jinx:stop pretending u know me
Yasuo:I DO know you!
Yasuo:I know you're a horribly passionate person for the things and people she cares about.
Yasuo:I know you've got your own detached, aloofness that you try to play off to distance yourself from people because you've hurt people and gotten hurt in the past.
Yasuo:You're stubborn. You're the most stubborn person I know.
Yasuo:You don't stay around for long because you don't want to get over-attached, and you don't want people to get attached to you.
Yasuo:But you do. You do care about people. You try so hard not to, but you do.
Yasuo:You pretend you're this horrible, bad person, and yes, you've done some heinous things in the past. But the more people you let close to you, the less of a bad person you become.
Yasuo:And I'm pretty sure that scares you, because that's the identity you've clung to this whole time, this "bad guy, do what I want, love destruction" narrative you've written for yourself.
Yasuo:I do know you.
Yasuo:Shut the fuck up.
Jinx:U shut the fuck up!!!
Jinx:u dont get to just SAY things
Jinx:u dont get to just SAY THINGS!!!!!!
Jinx:u dont get to make me feel like this
Jinx:i killed the me who cared abt what u said.
Yasuo:You didn't.
Yasuo:You can't kill versions of yourself.
Yasuo:You grow out of them, but the roots still persist.
Jinx:what, is that how ur gonna solve this problem
Jinx:get me, a lesbian, have a crush on u, a gay man, again?
Jinx:so i can have a DIFFERENT hopeless crush than this 1?
Yasuo:No. I think there's probably a nice middle ground for both of us.
Yasuo:Where we both stop pretending we don't mean anything to each other.
Yasuo:Where we admit to ourselves that love isn't always romantic.
Jinx:STOP
Yasuo:But that's probably a conversation for another day.
Jinx:OR NEVER MAYB
Jinx:I LIKE THAT ONE BEST
Yasuo:Anyway.
Jinx:ANYWAY.
Yasuo:Has she tried to talk to you?
Jinx:...yes
Yasuo:X.
Jinx:yes
Yasuo:You have to talk to her.
Yasuo:We both know you can't keep this up forever.
Jinx:.....yeeessss.....
Yasuo:It's been weeks.
Yasuo:The longer you wait, the worse it's going to be.
Yasuo:Trust me.
Jinx:okaaaayyyy daaaddd
Jinx:i just
Jinx:dont
Jinx:know how to talk abt it
Jinx:w/o giving the reasoning being that ive got it bad for her
Yasuo:You'll figure it out.
Jinx:a fountain of wisdom, u r.
Yasuo:You're welcome.
Jinx:... thank u.
Yasuo:I'll see if Sentinal has plans with her boyfriend tonight. If she doesn't, you're our gunner.
Jinx:thanks kaze
Jinx:ur actually pretty ok
Yasuo:High praise.

Chapter 21

Notes:

Surprise, I’m alive!

Chapter Text

Lux

July 27th 6:40 pm
Jinx:hey.
July 27th 9:17 pm
Lux:Don't you fucking "hey" me.
Jinx:wow language!!!
Jinx:not that i didnt deserve that
Jinx:I kind of expected you to not reply, i think
Jinx:especially since it took you so long to reply
Jinx:not that you like
Jinx:owed me a reply or anything
Jinx:oh you are ignoring me now arent you
Jinx:i mean thats
Jinx:to be expected
Jinx:its been like
Jinx:over a month since we talked i think?
Lux:More or less.
Lux:Where the fuck have you been?
Jinx:...moping.
Lux:MOPING?
Jinx:YES I'm sorry okay
Jinx:I feel so stupid over it and then like
Jinx:so much time passed that like
Jinx:figuring out how to start this conversation was hard
Lux:So you went with "hey"? Not "sorry" or "can we talk" or literally anything else?
Jinx:I mean it worked rite
Jinx:you replied, and we're talking
Lux:I almost didn't.
Jinx:...why did you?
Lux:Because I wanted to finally be able to get any kind of closure between us. Because I want this chapter of my life to be over, and god knows that if I don't get this over with now, it'll always haunt me.
Jinx:ah
Jinx:so its so you can yell at me and then dip
Jinx:i deserve that
Jinx:fire away
Lux:No, that's not it, you idiot. It's so that I can finally get answers to my questions, so we can finally call this the end and both move on with our lives. Except, I thought I had moved on. I thought I'd healed. Until you texted me out of the blue and I completely lost it. So really, why? Why bother coming back? Why bother even trying to pretend you didn't make an absolute mess?
Jinx:I
Jinx:ugh do you want the truth?
Lux:I DESERVE the truth.
Jinx:because i knew what i did was wrong, and because you deserved better
Jinx:and because i missed you
Lux:I need a minute.
Jinx:ok
Lux:You MISSED me? I tore myself apart wondering what I did wrong, how I could get you back into my life, if I ever actually meant anything to you, and you have the audacity to say you MISSED me? You don't get to miss me, Jinx. After everything you put me through? You don't get to miss any part of me. How dare you.
Jinx:i know
Lux:No, you DON'T!
Lux:You don't know ANYTHING, because you weren't THERE. I got so used to you being there, so used to you being the person who actually knew me, who actually listened to me, and you weren't there. So you don't know anything. You don't know what I went through, you have no idea how much hurt I trudged through. You don't know a single thing.
Jinx:i know
Jinx:i mean
Jinx:i dont know
Jinx:and i dont understand and i never will
Jinx:but i hear you
Jinx:and im sorry
Lux:Why? Why did you do it?
Jinx:i...
Jinx:dont want to answer that
Lux:Of course you don't. You don't want to have to try and explain your chaos. You don't want to have to own up to your destruction again.
Jinx:that's not it, Lux.
Lux:Isn't it?
Jinx:It's not!
Jinx:look
Jinx:you have every right to be mad at me
Jinx:and to make me out to be the villain i am
Jinx:but i didn't leave because you were expendable, or because i was just causing chaos, or because i didnt care about you.
Lux:Do you actually believe the things you're saying?
Jinx:YES.
Lux:Unbelievable.
Jinx:Why would I lie to you??
Lux:I don't know, Jinx! Why do you do anything you do? Why do you purposely hurt people? Why did you completely abandon me without so much as word for a month? Why would you bother telling me the truth now?
Jinx:what do I have to gain by lying to you????
Lux:What did you have to gain by completely ghosting me?!
Jinx:Peace of mind knowing we couldn't hurt each other!!!!
Lux:Oh, and a great job you did of that, Jinx!
Jinx:LOOK IM SORRY OKAY
Lux:I'm sure you are, now! Now that you want me back in your sorry, empty life!
Jinx:I've been sorry this WHOLE TIME, Lux!!!!
Jinx:I've been fucking miserable!!!
Jinx:I didnt WANT to stop talking to you!!! I didnt WANT to leave you!!!! Okay!!!
Jinx:can you PLEASE breathe for ONE SECOND and ask yourself WHY I would lie to you about that!!!!
Lux:Then why bother to come back? Why do it in the first place??!
Jinx:BECAUSE YOU STARTED DATING JARVAN.
Jinx:OKAY??? THERE. NOW YOU KNOW.
Lux:WHAT?????
Jinx:IT WASNT SOMETHING I COULD DEAL WITH SO I JUST DIDNT
Lux:JINX
Jinx:AND THEN I TRIED TO COME TO TERMS W IT AND TALK TO U BUT WAITED TOO LONG AND THINGS KEPT GETTING WORSE
Lux:JINX STOP
Lux:STOP TYPING
Lux:JARVAN AND I ARENT DATING??????
Lux:Jinx???
Lux:I swear to god if you're ghosting again
Jinx:NO IM NOT IM HERE SORRY
Jinx:IM JUST
Jinx:PROCESSING
Jinx:........REALLY????
Lux:Yes, really!!!! Jarvan and I had a couple of dates but we didn't really click. I mean, they were fun, and he's fun to be around, but we're on completely different wavelengths, so we kind of mutually decided to stop seeing each other.
Jinx:. . .
Lux:Why am I even telling you this!!! Why is it so stupidly easy to go back to talking to you like normal!! Like nothing happened!! Like you didn't cut open my chest, crush my heart in your hands, and break a few ribs while you were at it!!!
Jinx:im sorry
Jinx:im so, so sorry
Jinx:WOW i'm stupid
Lux:You can say that again!!!
Jinx:i am SO stupid oh my god
Jinx:lux
Jinx:I am truly so, so sorry for doing this to u
Jinx:esp over something that didnt actually even really happen
Lux:Yeah. Well. Thank you for that, at least.
Jinx:i, uh
Jinx:i guess thats closure, right? thats what you wanted?
Lux:Yep.
Jinx:then i guess ill. leave u alone again. for real this time
Jinx:sorry again.
Lux:Thank you.
July 28th 1:23 am
Lux:Jinx.
Lux:Jinx come back. Please don't go away forever. Please. I miss you.
Lux:You... you owe me. For all the time you left me by myself. Please come back.
Jinx:im here
Jinx:sorry, phone was on silent
Jinx:what happened? whats wrong?
Jinx:not that its my place to ask
Jinx:you just sound... really sad. and distressed.
Lux:I... I missed you so much. In all that time you were gone, I missed you so much that I felt stupid. It felt like a part of me had been yanked out. God, I felt so stupid. I hardly know you, we hardly know each other... but you were my best friend. ARE my best friend. I can't just let you leave again. Please don't go. Please stay, Jinx.
Jinx:i... i don't wanna go, Lux
Jinx:i DIDNT wanna go
Jinx:but i dont wanna hurt you again
Jinx:and i dont... wanna... BE hurt
Lux:I don't want either to happen either.
Jinx:so like... maybe its for the best that we. dont.
Lux:I... am willing to trust you. That you'll talk to me before doing something like this again. Because I think you learned that you're not as great at reading people as you'd like to think. And... if something I do does hurt you, I hope you'll tell me before cutting me off.
Jinx:we're both in agreement that this is like
Jinx:a bad idea
Jinx:right
Lux:What do you mean?
Jinx:im majorly unstable and u have abandonment issues 2 say the least, for one thing
Jinx:er
Jinx:two things
Lux:I hate that you're actually thinking this through for once.
Jinx:rude
Jinx:i think through plenty
Jinx:i usually just get bored of that and stop halfway through
Lux:I guess we don't have to keep this up if you won't want. If you think it's a bad idea.
Jinx:oh no i am absolutely not voting to not keep this up
Jinx: I just wanna make sure we're both clear that this is probably a mistake happening in real-time
Jinx:but cmon how many mistakes have u let yourself make in ur sheltered honor student life
Lux:I really don't think you need to play devils advocate here, Jinx. ^_^;; You're okay with it?
Jinx:i've made my fair share of bad decisions in my life, what's one more between friends? :P
Lux:Are we still friends?
Jinx:i mean
Jinx:as long as u wanna be
Lux:I do.
Jinx:COOL
Jinx:CAUSE I WANT TO TO
Jinx:and also i still have crusher and was wondering what tf to do w him if u rly wanted to stop talking
Lux:Of all the things you'd worry about, that would be the one at the top of your list :P
Jinx:it was NOT at the top thank u very much

Jinx:top of the list was where i was gonna get my pizza from now
Lux:Oh my god.
Jinx:KIDDING, IM KIDDING
Lux:Remind me why I'm staying friends with you
Jinx:because everyone else is boring in comparison!!!
Lux:Yeah, yeah. Dummy.
Jinx:uh this is. weird. to say.
Jinx:but thanks for wanting me back
Lux:Thanks for finally texting me.
Jinx:is it weird if i say u can thank true damage for it?
Lux:WHAT?????
Jinx:LOL
Jinx:yasuo kicked my ass about it
Jinx:repeatedly
Lux:Wait. Wait wait wait. Yasuo knows about me. THE Yasuo.
Jinx:i mean i guess? sort of?
Lux:That's... I need. A moment to process that.
Lux:Actually, I need a moment to process all of this. It's late, I'm gonna go to bed, I think. But it's... really, really nice talking to you again, Jinx.
Jinx:It's good to be back, Luxy.

Read 3:27 am

Chapter 22

Notes:

Hi. I'm alive. So here's a quick rundown of why this fic has been abandoned for so long. (Feel free to skip, no hard feelings!)

November 2020, I went through a really bad breakup. Without getting too into it, I lost my entire support net, my home, and the future I'd spent almost 10 years building. It became really hard to write anything ship-centric, and it became really hard to make, consume, or do anything with any Riot properties, as my now-ex was the one who introduced me to League.

Since then, I've grown a lot and healed significantly, but coming back to this fic is still really hard. I'm going to try to see it through to the end - it's what you all deserve, and more than that, it's what I want for myself - but I cannot make any promises.

I have not watched, and do not plan to watch, Arcane. I don't expect I'll be incorporating any Arcane-flavored canon into this fic. I've already established a loose in-fic canon, and I'm going to keep building on that. I'm really sorry for those who came in the "post-Arcane-need-content" wave and were expecting otherwise.

Thank you all for the support and patience you've shown during my hiatus. When I tell you I get emails on the daily for kudos for *just* this fic, and comments every week or so... I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you all so much. It means the world. <3

Chapter Text

Lux

July 28th 2:20 pm
Lux:So do I want to ask how you knew I was seeing Jarvan for any amount of time?
Jinx:you told me yourself?
Lux:Mm, I don't think so. I told you I was going on a date, but I don't think I told you who it was. Which, I wanted to after a couple dates, but you weren't exactly around for me to talk to about it. :P
Jinx:ah.
Jinx:fuck.
Jinx:DO you want to ask how I knew, Luxy?
Lux:I've decided it's too soon for "Luxy."
Jinx:sorry
Lux:*Do* I want to ask how you knew?
Jinx:Do you?
Lux:Do I?
Jinx:we are going to get absolutely nowhere with this huh
Jinx:you're not going to like the answer i give you
Jinx:and you'll prolly get mad at me
Jinx:and i am not sure I want you mad at me so soon after we patched things up.
Lux:I won't get mad.
Jinx:Promise?
Lux:...no.
Lux:But you should tell me anyway.
Jinx:UGH
Jinx:I had a friend follow you on your first date
Lux:Oh, that's not so bad. Thank you, actually.
Jinx:?????
Lux:I was meeting a stranger!! He could have been anyone!! I'm glad I had someone watching out for me in case he turned out to be a creep.
Jinx:OH
Jinx:YEAH
Jinx:SURE THING
Lux:You could have at least come said hi though :P
Jinx:first of all, it was a friend of mine, it wasnt me
Jinx:second of all i would have ruined his chances with you the instant you laid eyes on me
Jinx:u woulda seen my smokin hot visage and immediately forgotten who you were supposed to be on a date with
Lux:Uh-huh.
Jinx:we woulda ridden off into the sunset without a thought of that demacian dude between those eyes of yours
Lux:You either think very highly of yourself or not very much of him!
Jinx:both (Smiling Face With Sunglasses )
Jinx:i mean you're the easiest person in the world to get along with, how tf did he not vibe with you???
Lux:Okay first of all, I am not the easiest person to get along with and you know it. Second of all, it was... mutual. It was a mutual feeling. He was fun, he was nice, he was very charming, but there just... wasn't any spark, y'know?
Jinx:no spark.
Jinx:Lux
Jinx:he is a PRINCE
Jinx:like, most girls D R E AM of prince charming and u HAD HIM, he was RIGHT THERE, and there was no SPARK???
Lux:I mean! Not really! It wasn't for lack of trying or anything, I really tried to like him! But there was just... something missing. The whole time, something was missing. I couldn't put my finger on it. I still can't! He had all the assets I thought I wanted in a guy but there was just... something. There was just something that wasn't there. You know?
Jinx:no,
Jinx:i am a lesbian,
Lux:In THEORY, then!
Jinx:in theory maybe?
Jinx:my dating history has been...
Jinx:what's a know-it-all word you'd use?
Jinx:fraught
Jinx:thats a good one
Jinx:so on one hand i cant say i ever experienced attraction to someone where there wasn't any spark
Jinx:but on the OTHER
Jinx:maaaaaybe don't use me as a baseline
Lux:Point taken. ...Ugh. I don't know. I just... it wasn't what either of us were looking for. It wasn't what I wanted for myself.
Jinx:fair
Jinx:what DO you want for yourself?
Lux:I don't know!! But I think I'll know when I find it. Probably. Anyway, to top it all off, we both got really busy with our own stuff and just couldn't make the time to see each other. Wrap it all together and it just didn't make sense for us to keep seeing each other. Much to my brother's chagrin.
Jinx:oh right this was your brother's friend or smthn right?
Lux:Yeah.
Jinx:how'd he react to the whole thing?
Lux:It's... the whole thing was weird. Like, he's the one who set us up in the first place, but then he was like, weirdly protective of me? More than usual, anyway, he's always been a "momma bear" sort of big brother, so to speak. Like, he'd try to warn me about Jarvan, but he'd start walking it back halfway through his warning, like "but he's a really good guy, he's always been a good friend to me" sort of thing. And then when we broke up... I think he wanted it to be messy. You know? He wanted someone to be mad at. Either me for breaking his friends heart, or Jarvan for breaking his baby sister's heart. But no, no such luck, so he sulked about it for a little bit.
Jinx:LOL
Jinx:thats
Jinx:a little bit weird
Jinx:is that a normal sibling thing?
Lux:I don't know...? I don't think so. I've never felt that kind of protective over him.
Jinx:maybe its just a brother thing
Lux:Maybe. It's weird. The whole thing was weird, and I'm glad it's over, and now that you're up to speed I don't think I want to talk about it anymore.
Jinx:heard loud and clear
Jinx:hows that uh
Jinx:job... thing.
Jinx:the not-job obligation thiing
Jinx:the super secret one
Lux:It's.... fine. Difficult. I think something big is on the horizon, but my... boss... isn't saying much about it. They're really cryptic most of the time, and it's only gotten harder to decipher what they're saying the more I feel like something is coming. Something... not bad, but different.
Jinx:does their super-cryptic-ness rub off on you?
Lux:I can't! Tell you! Much! About it!! We've gone over this!!
Jinx:I knowwwww but it makes me super super curious
Jinx:like how can you tell something is coming!! what do you mean!!
Lux:It's just a feeling I have. Like a gut feeling.
Jinx:Lux, most people call that anxiety
Lux:No no no, I know what that feels like, believe me, I am very familiar with it, and this is not that
Jinx:hmm
Jinx:well
Jinx:does it feel like it's a bad thing?
Lux:I... don't know. I don't think so. Normally when there's something bad about to happen there are like... signs that something bad is going to happen. You know? Like clues.
Jinx:zero clue what that's like chika
Jinx:to me, bad things just Happen without warning, and then I have to figure out what to do about it
Jinx:beside the point
Jinx:my POINT is, if it doesnt feel bad, maybe its good?
Lux:Maybe. Maybe! I didn't think about it like that. ...But now that I say it like that, you're probably right, there's probably some anxiety mixed in with the feeling of something coming. I kind of just assumed it was another disaster.
Jinx:another???
Lux:I count you uprooting yourself from my life as a disaster, yes :P
Jinx:oh
Jinx:thats a little flattering ngl
Lux:Please tell me you're joking. *That's* flattering???
Jinx:my ENTERING people's lives is usually seen as the disaster, Lux. not the other way around
Jinx:NOT THE POINT
Jinx:WE'RE UNPACKING YOUR SHIT RN NOT MINE
Lux:I can't stop laughing
Lux:I missed you.
Jinx:stop, i'll get a big head
Jinx:i missed you too.
Lux:Promise?
Jinx:promise
Jinx:i wouldn't have left if i didnt think i had to
Lux:I still think you're stupid for thinking you had to. For not... talking it out with me first. Or something.
Jinx:i know
Jinx:communication... isn't something i had to be good at before
Lux:Mm, I actually have a hard time buying that.
Jinx:??????????
Lux:Aren't you friends with THE True Damage members?
Jinx:i mean yeah, sort of, but they mostly just put up w my shit
Jinx:we met in a freakin video game
Jinx:and, point of order, the ppl i hang w in that video game? half of them barely tolerate me. td members included
Lux:But they *do* tolerate you. Which means, to some degree, you do communicate with them.
Jinx:not WELL!
Jinx:and not like, on the level WE do!
Lux:Oh?
Jinx:oh
Jinx:well, how we used to
Jinx:sorry
Jinx:was that too far?
Jinx:idk where the line is anymore, im still trying to figure it out
Lux:No no, you're fine, you didn't overstep. I guess I'm just kind of surprised. I just assumed anyone who got close to you, you spoke to them they way you do with me.
Lux:Did with me.
Lux:...Do with me.
Lux:Will do with me again?
Lux:GAH
Jinx:LOL, don't hurt yourself, kid
Lux:I'm googling how to unsend text messages
Jinx:LMFAO
Jinx:I ACTUALLY CANT STOP LAUFGHING
Jinx:WHY DID THAT FRAZZLE YOU SO MUCH
Lux:There is no way to unsend text messages that have already been seen (⌒‿⌒)
Jinx:NO SHIT
Jinx:ARENT YOU SUPPOSED TO BE THE SMART ONE
Lux:Technology is stupid. We should write letters instead.
Jinx:omfg don't even joke
Jinx:you think you're not gonna say something embarrassing on paper and then i'll have a PHYSICAL COPY of that embarrassment hangin around?
Lux:I *hate* when you have a point!!
Jinx:omg don't act like I never have a point!!!!
Lux:It's so infrequent I forget about it
Jinx:YOU ARE SO RUDE
Lux:ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡
Jinx:what is that one. i cant tell what it is
Lux:I'm winking and throwing a heart at you
Jinx:WOW
Jinx:Lux?
Jinx:that is extremely gay of you
Lux:I am extremely gay, as it turns out!
Jinx:OH??
Lux:YOU KNEW THIS!!
Jinx:I WOULDN'T HAVE SAID YOU WERE *EXTREMELY* GAY
Lux:SEMANTICS
Jinx:JUST A NORMAL HEALTHY AMOUNT OF GAY
Lux:I hate you
Jinx:DID SOMETHING MAKE YOU EVEN GAYER IN MY ABSENSE???
Lux:I'm normal gay!! I'm a normal amount of-- I'm not even gay!!!! I'm bi!!!
Jinx:falls under the gay umbrella, ur gay if u wanna say ur gay
Lux:I'm! Still figuring it out!
Jinx:ur allowed!
Jinx:it took me way longer than it should have to realize just how gay i was
Jinx:u take all the time u need 2 figure urself out
Jinx:dont let anyone tell u otherwise, or let u think otherwise
Jinx:last of all me
Lux:Least*
Jinx:fuq u

Read 6:54 pm
Lux:ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡

Chapter 23

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Lux

July 29th 5:30 pm
Jinx:i guess i should ask, do you actually want Crusher back?
Jinx:i mean, I can't ask a super-hot pizza girl to deliver him, buuut
Jinx:I do have my methods, if you do decide you want him back
Lux:It hadn't even crossed my mind. As far as I'm concerned, he's yours now! I'm not in the habit of asking for gifts back, yknow?
Jinx:wh--
Jinx:okay
Jinx:i really thought he was on like, indefinite loan, and I'd have to give him back at some point??
Lux:Do *you* want to give him back?
Jinx:Well... no,
Lux:Then he's yours ^-^
Jinx:THAT DOESNT FEEL RIGHT
Lux:Why not??
Lux:If you like him that much, let yourself keep him. Even if we ever stop talking again, for real this time, he's yours. He... he can be something to remember me by.
Jinx:oh i do NOT like how that was phrased
Jinx:what's wrong luxy
Jinx:lux
Jinx:dammit
Jinx:sorry
Jinx:anyway you sound sad, out with it
Lux:What do you mean? We just went through like, a month of not talking to each other, and I don't want that to happen again, but if for some reason we do, you'll at least have a way to remember me.
Jinx:see, THAT, it's EXACTLY how you PHRASED it
Jinx:"something to remember me by" is like. you only use that when you're dying. please don't be dying, okay?
Lux:Pfft. I'm not dying, Jinx.
Jinx:Promise?
Lux:I mean, no faster than the rest of us, anyway.
Jinx:PROMISE?
Lux:Yeees Jinx, I promise. :P
Jinx:Good.
Jinx:It would be just my luck to get a crush on a girl who has like, another week to live or something
Lux:Maybe I am a little melanch
Lux:what
Jinx:SIKE
Jinx:GOT YOU GOOD, DIDN'T I?
Lux:DON'T DO THAT
Jinx:YOU FORGOT ABOUT MY MICHEVIOUS STREAK
Jinx:I had you believing I was your friend's brother for like a few hours when we first starting talking, remember?
Lux:I do NOW, YEAH. Stars above, don't DO that!!!
Jinx:Buuuut I bet you're not sad anymore. Riiiight?
Lux:NO, INSTEAD MY FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT HAS KICKED IN
Jinx:WHAT?!?!
Lux:YOU FUCKING SCARED ME WITH THAT
Lux:It was like the whole world turned to jelly for a minute, oh my god.
Jinx:oh
Jinx:I'm sorry
Lux:No, don't... don't be like, sad about it, you did knock me right the hell out of my funk, I just had a minor heart attack in the process, that's all. (⁀ ⁀;;) You didn't mean anything by it, it's fine, I'm not mad
Lux:One of my friends just texted me and we're gonna go for a walk, but I'm not ignoring you and I'm not mad, okay?
Jinx:I get you! have a good walk
July 29th 10:29 pm
Lux:Good god, sorry, things got... heated.
Jinx:On the walk?
Lux:Yeah. It...
Lux:She's not happy that we're talking again.
Jinx:could you say that differently please
Jinx:i cant wrap my head around that sentence
Lux:My friend isn't happy that I'm talking to you again.
Jinx:oh
Jinx:well I mean that's understandable honestly
Jinx:but also, not to be a bitch, but its not her decision
Lux:That's what I told her, too. And I told her I was happier talking to you than not.
Jinx:really?
Jinx:you said that?
Jinx:I cant believe you'd lie to your friend like that smh
Lux:Oh, can it. It's the truth. I was okay after a while, but talking to you makes me happy. Even when you first texted me "hey", my first reaction was for my heart to leap into my throat. I had to remind myself that I was mad at you.
Jinx:okay, like, im flattered, but that doesn't sound. great.
Jinx:like, probably not healthy
Lux:I know, I know. It's something I've... been keeping an eye on since. Anyway, she and I got into kind of a pretty heated argument on our walk, and because of that I got home late, and my parents laid into me about THAT, like I'm not old enough to be out on my own, and that gave Garen the outlet he needed to be mad at me or Jarvan, so HE started laying into me about being irresponsible and flighty and childish and all these other things that are only half-true, and just... I'm tired. It sucks and I'm tired
Jinx:okay hey wait I'm gonna punch garen???
Jinx:even if i break my fist on his stupid demacian jaw
Jinx:none of those things you just said he told you are true
Lux:They're sort of true though
Jinx:no, they're not.
Jinx:listen to me for a sec, kay
Jinx:you're not irresponsible. you're a know-it-all smarty pants who probably worries about her 4.0 GPA even in the middle of summer. You have this side-gig not-job that wears you the fuck out but you still DO IT.
Jinx:you're not flighty!!! what the fuck!!! i cant even like address this one properly because "flighty" isn't a word id ever use to describe you. me? yes. you? no. not the you that i know.
Jinx:you're not childish, for gods sake. you're more mature than you really ought to be sometimes and it drives me nuts. sometimes you're naive, i wont argue that, but fuck, you've been a sheltered little golden child for so long how can you not be?? you're learning. if he faults you for that he's even more of a meathead than most demacian dudes
Jinx:sorry. im like, mad on your behalf
Lux:No no, you're okay. It's... I'm just kind of shocked. I don't think I've heard someone actually come to my defense like that.
Jinx:I'm calling bullshit on that one, you absolutely have friends who would do the same. esp whoever you got into a fight with today abt me
Lux:I mean that's true, but... I don't know, I guess it's just the intensity that you have when you talk about me.
Jinx:i'm told I'm a very intense person (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:I don't think anyone who actually knew you would claim otherwise, no (・౪・)
Jinx:not in their right mind anyway
Jinx:anyway dont let it get to you. people just say shit all the time, esp when they're itching for a fight.
Lux:I know. I just wish they wouldn't.
Jinx:the world would be a much kinder place if it was the way you imagined it to be, pinky
Lux:"Pinky"?
Jinx:SORRY, sorry, its just. just calling you "lux" feels too serious
Jinx:but luxy is off limits, and i get that, im not arguing that, and 'lulu' just feels. wrong.
Lux:Yeah no don't call me Lulu please
Jinx:i wont
Jinx:i'll stick with just lux for now but if i need to get serious im gonna have to use your full name, fair warning
Lux:I'll consider myself warned (・౪・)
Jinx:feeling better?
Lux:A little, yeah. Thank you <3
Jinx:happy to help chika
Jinx:it's pretty late for you, yeah? you should probably get to sleep
Lux:I don't want to yet. I know my brain is going to run away with my thoughts as soon as I lay down.
Jinx:what if you listen to something that keeps your brain active but doesn't uh. keep you from sleeping? if that makes sense
Lux:It does, but I'm not sure what I'd use. I've tried podcasts and guided meditations and everything, but my brain still wanders despite it.
Jinx:yeah no, i get you.
Lux:You're not going to bed soon, right?
Jinx:nah, I just had an energy drink and I've been tinkering in my lab, i'm up for at least a few more hours
Lux:Want to watch something together? I can set up a stream for us.
Jinx:oh shit, yea, sure! what've you got in mind?
Lux:Honestly, I'll watch anything that's not horror or gorey.
Jinx:and something that's easy to fall asleep to probably
Lux:I am *not* going to fall asleep watching something with you, mark my words.
Jinx:That's what they all say (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Jinx:what about like, bake-off or something? that's probably tame enough, right?
Read 1:07 am
Lux:Bake-off sounds perfect. Hang on, let me set up the sharing link. Just... copy this onto your computer.
Lux:[Link]

Notes:

Thank you all for the absolutely astounding outpouring of love for both me and this fic after the last update. I was absolutely blown away; I really considered this fic extremely niche since the style is very hit or miss amongst most readers. To have such a loud and supportive reaction to both my writing and my healing... I can't tell you how much it means, truly. Y'all aren't "strangers on the internet" to me - you're my readers, and I'm unspeakably thankful for every last one of you.

Chapter Text

(Musical Note )Sona(Musical Note )

July 30th 8:01 am
Sona:I did notice you were online until around 4 am last night. Please tell me you were just having a very long breakup call.
Lux:How many times am I going to tell you, we are just friends. There's nothing there between us.
Sona:I do not believe that for a second. You cannot see yourself when you talk about her. I can, and do. But either way, you can have friend breakups too. So again, I'm going to ask - did you finally cut ties last night?
Sona:Lux.
Sona:Lux, I know you're ignoring me.
Lux:[Automated reply] I'm driving right now, I'll text you later!
Sona:You're not helping your case whatsoever, you realize.
July 30th 11:27 am
Lux:I didn't cut her off last night. I had no plans to, even after we talked about it. I know that's not what you wanted to hear, but it's the truth, and I'm not about to lie to you about it.
Sona:If I may speak plainly, you're the dumbest bitch I've ever known.
Lux:...Okay, ouch.
Sona:I want you to remind yourself just how much she hurt you. How long it took for you to be okay again after she left. And you're just letting yourself fall back into step with her like it's nothing.
Lux:I am not just "falling back into step" with her! We're not the same as we were back before she hurt me. And yes, I know she hurt me, I remember it very clearly. We will never really be able to go back to how it was before then. I know that.
Sona:Do you?
Lux:Yes, I do. And I'm setting down boundaries to keep things from getting to where they were before.
Sona:I suppose that's not nothing. I'm just worried about you. Even after she did what she did you to, you still talk about her like personally hangs the stars each night.
Lux:I do NOT!
Sona:Are you aware of that trend where you record yourself talking about a person, put it on 3x speed, and watch it back, to see how you really feel about a person?
Lux:Yes...
Sona:You might try it sometime.
Lux:I do not have a crush on Jinx, Sona.
Sona:You keep saying that, and I think you're trying to convince yourself more than you are me. May I tell you something else I'm concerned about?
Lux:Yes
Sona:I'm happy that you are discovering who you are as a person, and that you are becoming more comfortable with your sexuality. To put it frankly, the closet was made of glass. But Jinx was the first girl to show you positive attention while you were realizing you weren't straight. I fear that the reason you're so attached to her is because of the timing of it all - you realized you like girls, and there she was, a girl who you knew liked girls; someone new, someone "safe", relatively speaking, as you didn't have a long history with her. If things went wrong, it would be easier for you to cut her out of your life than someone who has known you longer, like me or Soraka. I know you are not the kind of person to throw others away without your morals or kindness or nature being pushed to it's absolute limit. Sylas was a prime indicator of this. I'm not claiming it would be easy to cut things off with Jinx should you decide it's no longer "safe". But it gives me pause, and I think it's something you should think about.
Lux:I... I'm sorry, I want to make sure I'm reading this right. You think I'm attached to Jinx because we're both gay??
Sona:That's a vast over-simplification of what I just said, and you know it.
Sona:You're being obtuse on purpose, and I don't appreciate it.
Lux:I just don't understand what you want me to take away from this conversation.
Sona:What is it about this girl that keeps you close to her? Tell me. Tell me, so I can understand.
Lux:So you can keep picking me and her apart?
Sona:I'm not angry at you, Lux. I really want to understand. If you need, take some time away from this conversation to cool down and come back when you're less upset, that's okay.
Lux:Talking to you is what's making me upset!!!
Sona:I'm sorry.
Lux:Thank you.
July 30th 3:21 pm
Lux:I'm sorry, too. I know you have my best interest at heart, and I did grossly oversimplify your concerns. While you make good points, I don't think they apply. I was friends with Jinx before I started really realizing I was bi.
Sona:I accept your apology. Are you able to tell me why you're so attached to her?
Lux:I can't really put it into words, but I'll try. Give me a few moments?
Sona:Of course <3
Lux:Jinx... didn't know who I was to start, and so she sees me, not my name. She always has. I'm not saying you or Roki or anyone do, but you probably knew my family's name before you knew me. She makes me feel different. Like I don't have to be someone specific with her. There are more walls now than before - there have to be, to keep both of us safe - but even the walls have like, windows. I don't know. When I'm talking with her, it's like... the world is a little bit clearer. And don't get me wrong, she's crazy and destructive and SELF-destructive and nosy as fuck, she's all hard edges and spikes until she's suddenly soft and warm, she's so BRIGHT and knows so much and there's just... there's so much to her, I know there is, she pretends she's this one-note disaster, and every time she shows me a new facet of her I'm more endeared to her. There's so much we've learned from each other, and can keep learning from each other. Even when I'm angry or frustrated with her, getting a text from her makes me...
Lux:oh. oh fuck.
Sona:Yes?
Lux:Nonononono no no no no no Sona no no no NO no no
Sona:Have you figured it out?
Lux:I can't. Have a crush on Jinx. I can't. I cant! I can't have a crush!! on Jinx!!!
Sona:But you do. I've been telling you this.
Lux:I'm having a breakdown. This cannot be happening. She's the very very very last person I can fall for.
Sona:Take a deep breath. Talk through it with me.
Lux:I can't have a crush on her. I can't! Because you're right, on some level, she's bad for me. And I'm so scared I'll get hurt again, even if I put on a brave face about it. And like, she doesn't have feelings for me anyway. She play-flirts but like, that's just how she is! That's just her personality. And my parents... god, I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. I can't do this. This can't be happening.
Sona:It's going to be okay. What's the phrase? "This too shall pass"?
Lux:I don't even know how I'm going to talk to her now. Oh my god. How do I act normal around her now? Now that I like... know?
Sona:Is this a good enough reason to stop talking to her altogether?
Lux:No. Oh god, the thought of that alone opened up a pit in my stomach. I feel like I'm going to be sick.
Lux:I hate everything about this. Every last thing. So much makes more sense now looking back, but it complicates so much. Why did this have to happen? Why couldn't things just stay the same?
Sona:Entropy is the natural state of the universe. It's going to be okay. Do you remember when you first applied for Hoshi High? You worked yourself into a tizzy over the application, and then when you were accepted, you told me "this is almost worse" because you were stressed about what Hoshi High would be like. But you got through it, and now it comes naturally to you. This will be more of the same. I know it's scary now, but feelings ebb and flow and fade with time. If you want to ignore this, you can.
Lux:I don't know what I want.
Sona:You don't have to know now. This is a lot to process, I know.
Lux:I do need to know. If I'm going to keep talking to her, I do need to know.
Sona:Why? If you don't think she likes you, how does that change things?
Sona:May I say something that may be hard to hear?
Lux:Yes
Sona:You said she doesn't have feelings for you. Even if you wanted a relationship with her, if she doesn't reciprocate, it's a moot point.
Lux:You're right, that was hard to hear. But you're not wrong. I wish you were.
Lux:Effectively, nothing has changed. What she doesn't know won't hurt her. I just have to figure out how to act like I don't like her like that. Even if it kills me, which, I really think it might.
Sona:You have gone through far worse than this, my dear. This will not kill you. It will just hurt for a little while if you do decide you want to keep talking to her. Which, I must again stress, I think is a bad idea regardless of how you feel about her.
Lux:Yes, thank you, you've continually made that clear. But this isn't your decision to make, and while I value your input, you'll forgive me if I don't agree with or follow your advice.
Sona:I just don't want to see you hurt like that again, Lux. I will always be here to help pick up the pieces, but I do not want to have to.
Lux:I know.
Lux:Thank you for being my friend, Sona. I know it's a bit of a thankless task sometimes.
Sona:It is not even a task, Lux. We may not always see eye to eye, but I wouldn't be having these conversations with you if I didn't care for you. Friendship with you is not as difficult as you like to make yourself believe. *Loving* you is not as difficult as you like to make yourself believe. I hope someday you can see that.
Sona:Everything is going to be okay, even if it doesn't seem like it now. Things change. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, but nothing stays the same for long.
Lux:I know. Thank you.
Sona:Of course <3 Sona:Do you want some time alone, or would you like to get out and do something? Some of the girls from the Music Appreciation Club are going to Cafe Nocti tonight, and I'm sure they would love to have you along. It's been a while since they've seen you.
Lux:That sounds like a good idea. If I stay by myself in my room, my brain is going to eat itself. What time are we meeting?
Sona:I'll pick you up in 45 minutes.

Chapter 25

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Lux

August 1st 11:48 am
Jinx:okay so i dont wanna like. push.
Jinx:but its been a few days since i've heard from you and i wanted to make sure everything was okay
Lux:Yes! Sorry, I've been getting ready for school to start up again, and it's just been this whole thing... Junior year, y'know, my parents are expecting me to do really well on entrance exams on top of everything else I usually juggle during the school year.
Jinx:for real? you know you're gonna like, knock it out of the park, right? wherever you wanna go, i'm sure you're a shoe-in
Lux:I can't rest on my laurels, unfortunately. This is something I have to keep working for if I want to make sure I get into my first, or even second or third, choice.
Jinx:where do you wanna go?
Lux:... I don't even know (×_×;) There's so much I want to learn and do, and my parents have very specific expectations for me, and most of the schools on my list don't exactly line up with their list, and theirs don't line up with my list, and I'm not even super sure I want to go to university at all, but also, it's all I've ever known is to study to better myself... it's a lot. I've been trying not to think about it ^^;
Jinx:Oh damn Lux, that's. That's a lot, I'm sorry.
Jinx:i know you, and i know u'll get through this just fine
Jinx:but im sorry you have to, y'know?
Lux:Yeah, thank you, I appreciate it. I get the "if anyone can do it, it's you!" a lot, but it really does start feeling like... I'm tired. You know? I'm tired of *having* to. I kind of wish I could just take a break and not lead the pack once in a while, or even need to keep up with everyone. Just... once in a while
Jinx:it gets heavy
Jinx:being expected to be the shiniest person on the room gets heavy
Lux:You have no idea orz
Jinx:heh
Jinx:maybe
Jinx:but i'm here if you need anything. You know that, right?
Jinx:Even if it's just to rant and rave about how unfair and stupid life is right now
Lux:I do. Thank you. I forget sometimes that I don't have to be Luxanna around you the way I do with others. I mean, my friends are great, and I guess I don't have to be "Luxanna" to them, but I'm somewhere between "Luxanna" and "Lux" with them. Or at least the version of Lux you get to see.
Jinx:aww, i'm special??
Jinx:I'm flattered, girlie
Jinx:i'd like to thank the academy, one specific pizza delivery girl, Crusher...
Lux:Oh hush, you :P
Jinx:What're you up to right now anyway?
Jinx:Besides Stressing over Everything
Lux:Cleaning my room. I've been letting it go, and it's finally getting to me. I've found that if my room gets too cluttered, it makes me more anxious, as silly as that sounds.
Jinx:nah i dont think thats silly
Jinx:i'm the same way about my workshop tbh
Lux:Really?
Jinx:really!!
Lux:Don't take this the wrong way, but I always assumed you were more of a messy, cluttered person
Jinx:oh i am by most peoples standards
Jinx:but i have a system
Jinx:i know where everything is even if its a huge fucking mess to normal eyes
Jinx:at one point i had a shared workspace and the guy i was sharing with tried to "organize" all my shit, and i couldn't find ANYTHING for THREE DAYS
Jinx:i about tore my hair out, i thought i was going crazy
Jinx:well
Jinx:craziER
Lux:I really don't think you're as crazy as you let people believe you are, to be honest!
Jinx:i've been able to tone it back recently tbh
Jinx:it ebbs and flows
Lux:Even so, when you were at your most... abrasive, with me, I think you just had a lot of walls up. Which, like, I don't blame you, I was a complete stranger and then also a huge bitch
Jinx:ugh, yas says the same thing
Jinx:about the walls i mean
Jinx:not abt you being a bitch
Jinx:which you aren't, for the record
Lux:I was. I can be. I'm very good at being cold and closed off and hideously fake. But that's also a "walls" thing for me, too. We all have our defenses, right?
Jinx:i mean you're right but
Jinx:idk
Jinx:i feel like i still have the ability to just. be absolutely batshit at any point. like it'll creep up on me maybe
Lux:Maybe. I can only tell you what I've seen, and what conclusions I can draw from my own life experiences, so take it with a grain of salt ^^
Jinx:nah like
Jinx:you might be onto something maybe
Jinx:but i dont like thinking about it! so i'm not gonna
Lux:You don't have to! It was just something I noticed.
Jinx:you're good at that!
Jinx:noticing things, i mean
Lux:Only sometimes. A lot of times I don't notice things going on right past the end of my nose. It's usually easier for me to notice things going on with other people than myself, though, so that may be part of it
Jinx:oh?
Lux:?
Jinx:that seems odd to me, idk
Jinx:i think i'm better at noticing things going on w myself than others
Jinx:like, acutely, keenly aware of myself at all times. its a curse honestly!
Lux:Let's split the difference - I'll give you some of my awareness of others, and you give me some of your awareness of self, how about?
Jinx:I don't think that would work. You'd just be twice as aware of me since I'm giving you awareness of Me, and also, I'd be twice as aware of me since you're giving me awareness of people who are Not You (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:Hmm, is that how that would work?
Jinx:prolly
Jinx:nothing ever happens or works the way u think it will
Lux:Hmm, true.
Jinx:which is why! i have ever confidence in u and the situation you're in right now
Jinx:because YOU are expecting everything to go wrong somehow
Jinx:right?
Lux:...Yeah...
Jinx:BUT
Jinx:if nothing EVER goes EXACTLY the way you expect
Jinx:then it wont be as horrible firebomb ugly disaster as you think!
Jinx:and i mean some things do go to plan right, but like
Jinx:never exactly. theres always something different than how u imagined. sometimes its little, sometimes its big
Jinx:sometimes its something you do, and you surprise yourself!
Jinx:not that i'd know, of course. i never act out of character
Lux:Uh-huh. Something tells me that is a bold-faced lie, just based on our history together :3
Jinx:I'm sure I have no idea what you mean!
Lux:Changing the subject completely, can I ask you a question?
Jinx:Fire away, chika!
Lux:This might be awkward, but how do you like... tell someone you like them? I've never had to do it before, it's always been people approaching me.
Jinx:brag away, little miss popular
Jinx:tbh idek honestly!!
Jinx:i don't think i'd be where i am if i knew how to tell people shit like that
Lux:What do you mean?
Jinx:dw about it
Jinx:my point is that i am the exact WRONG person to ask that in every sense of the word
Lux:Have you just never had a crush on someone???
Jinx:no lmao omg, of course i have!!
Jinx:i've just never like, acted on it
Jinx:ur probably better off asking one of your school friends, yknow?
Lux:I can't
Jinx:????
Lux:It's... complicated
Jinx:oh. oohhhh
Jinx:u have a crush on one of ur friends but also don't want the rumor to spread?
Jinx:or dont wanna out yrself
Lux:Something like that, yeah ><
Jinx:oof.
Lux:Yeah. Sorry, forget I said anything about it.
Jinx:nah ur good!! i just like. dont actually have any advice to give
Jinx:i'm more of a "pine from a distance" kinda bitch
Lux:Really? That kind of surprises me
Jinx:i'm full of surprises today!
Lux:You just seem like the "go get what you want" kind of person. Once you know what you want, anyway :P
Jinx:ehh. It depends. like on one hand yeah i very much am when it comes to like. things, events, shit like that, i try and get what i want and make what i wanna happen happen
Jinx:but like, i'm still fairly new at the whole... maintaining personal relations thing. not even just with you
Jinx:tbh i only started calling my friends "my friends" kinda recently, before they were just people i knew and tolerated
Jinx:tbh i only started calling my friends "my friends" kinda recently, before they were just people i knew and tolerated
Jinx:actually i mighta called them "my friends" but like, i didnt mean it. i used the term real loosely
Lux:Do I make the cut for that list of friends of yours?
Jinx:DUH
Jinx:Luxy you were one of the first people i categorized as my actual friend
Jinx:Lux
Jinx:Dammit
Jinx:sorry
Lux:No worries ^^
Lux:You really are full of surprises today. Considering how we started out, I'm amazed I was one of the first people you thought of as a real friend, you know? Looking back, I'm not sure I deserve that.
Jinx:Don't start that
Lux:Huh?
Jinx:That self-hating spiral. don't u start.
Jinx:I get to decide who is my friend, and why, and when. theres no "deserve" or "worthy"
Jinx:god the idea of someone needing to be "worthy" of MY friendship? gag
Lux:C'mon, I know you aren't friendly to just anyone
Jinx:exactly, and so you're not just anyone!!
Jinx:So dont let yourself think you;re "just anyone"
Jinx:especially not to me
Jinx:okay?
Lux:...Okay. Yeah, okay. That makes sense. It's just hard to wrap my head around, I guess.
Jinx:why?
Lux:I don't know. Just a feeling.
Jinx:what's the feeling?
Jinx:talk 2 me, girlie
Lux:I guess... I feel both special and replaceable. In general, not just to you. And that's why I have to work so hard to excel, so that I'm not replaced. Like, sure, I'm this gifted kid in more ways than one, but I always worry that if I step a toe out of line, I'll be tossed out. It's kind of been the background radiation of my life. I... I can't explain too much, because it starts getting into the stuff I'm not allowed to talk about. The secret stuff.
Jinx:god thats frustrating
Lux:I'm sorry
Jinx:no, i'm not mad at you, im just. i wish i knew everything that was going on so i could really help with it. its not ur fault u cant tell me
Jinx:i know better than to pretend i know what the rest of your life is like but
Jinx:you're not replaceable to me. i mean it.
Lux:That... actually means more than you could possibly know, Jinx. Thank you. <3
Lux:And in case it needs to be said, the feeling is mutual, of course. There's no one else like you, and I don't think I could ever find someone who fits the space you occupy in my life. Trust me, I tried when you left :P
Jinx:heh
Jinx:thanks Lux
Jinx:I'm actually touched
Lux:Of course!! Of course of course of course. You're an important person, Jinx, and for all the hyping up you do for me, reminding me that I'm a worthwhile person, you deserve nothing less in return. So don't you get all self-deprecating either? Especially not quietly, I know you don't tell me everything that goes on in that mind of yours
Jinx:I am an open book!!!
Lux:You're an open book when ASKED. I have a feeling there's a lot of things you keep to yourself, right?
Jinx:. . .
Jinx:you know too much about me, I've decided
Lux:I can't stop laughing
Jinx:you're trouble, you
Lux:You're one to talk
Jinx:ah, fuck
Jinx:i was a bad influence on you wasnt i
Jinx:smh my head
Read 3:12 pm
Lux:Something like that :P

Notes:

We now have a Russian translation in progress of this fic! Thank you to 6chromosomes9 for their hard work at translating.

Translations of this fic are allowed, and I'll provide the raw code to anyone who would like to translate! ♥

Chapter 26

Notes:

Four chapters today! :D

Chapter Text

Lux

August 2nd 1:07 am
Lux:Are you awake?
Jinx:yeah i am, whats up?
Lux:I think I'm in trouble.
Jinx:what's going on? what do you need?
Jinx:Lux, talk to me
Jinx:Lux???
Read 1:13 am
⮝ Lux started sharing their location with you.
Lux:Help

Chapter Text

Gunner (X)


Augst 2nd (Telephone Receiver )Missed voice call at 1:18 am (Telephone Receiver )Missed voice call at 1:19 am (Telephone Receiver )Missed voice call at 1:20 am Jinx:wake up
Jinx:wake up i need you


(Telephone Receiver )Missed voice call at 1:22 am Jinx:yasuo i am begging you to wake the fuck up


(Telephone Receiver )Missed voice call at 1:24 am

Chapter Text

Lux

August 2nd 1:31 am
Jinx:i'm almost there
Jinx:what's going on?
Jinx:what am i walking into?
Jinx:oh my god tell me those lights arent for you
Read 1:37 am
Lux:Get me out of here

Chapter 29

Notes:

For those here on update day: there are four total chapters that just came out! Make sure you start at 26.

Chapter Text

Gunner (X)


Augst 2nd (Telephone Receiver )Missed voice call at 1:53 am Jinx:WAKE UP
Jinx:WAKE THE FUCK UP I NEED YOU

.... .... .... ....

Mm... what.

Oh thank GOD. Listen, I have, I have, I have, a... a situation.

Breathe. [pause] Am I on speakerphone? You never use speakerphone.

I'm driving.

You're what?

I have a situation!

Okay, fine, I'm awake, I'm paying attention, what's going on?

I have Lux passed out in the back of my car. I--

[cross-talk]WHAT?

--let me explain! Let me explain! Whatever you're thinking--

--X, I swear to god--

--it's wrong, okay, I don't care what you think is happening, just shut up and-- just shut up! Listen to me! Okay! Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, okay, no cops saw that, we're fine, it's fine.

Talk.

I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on! I don't know what's going on. Lux randomly texted me that she needed help and sent me her location, which was in this shady part of town, and that's when I started calling you the first time because I was trying anything I could to keep my nerves under control while just flying out the door, I had no idea what I was walking into, I... I took one of my guns, just for safety--

Stop. You didn't shoot, right?

No, I didn't, I didn't need to, I didn't need it at all, but I didn't know what was going on, Lux basically said "help" and then went completely dark, it could have been-- I didn't know what it could have been, I thought I should-- it doesn't matter, no, I didn't shoot!

Okay. Take a deep breath for me, okay? Ten in, ten out. [pause] Again. [pause] Go ahead.

I pull up to her location marker, and as I'm getting closer, there's lights. Cop lights. She says "get me out of here." I see her, she's... bad, Kaze, she's bad. Banged up to hell. Nothing broken that I could immediately tell, but like, bruised to all fuck, leaning heavy on a wall, looking like, just, bad. Looking like bad. I jump out, help her to the car, get her situated in the back seat and as soon as we're on the road she just passes out. Exhaustion, I think. I hope. God, I hope. I don't know what's going on. I don't know where I'm going. The cops aren't following, they weren't like, close-close to where she was, but there's no way they weren't involved somehow, right? Why did she even think to call me when it came to running from the cops? I--

Breathe.

[beat] I don't know what to do. I don't know why I called you. I needed to not be alone with this.

No, you absolutely cannot be alone with this, you're right. I'm glad you called.

Shut up, you're pissed.

You're right, I'm pissed, but I'm also glad you called. Find a safe place to pull over.

I can't, Kaz, I have to keep driving, I don't know if--

Where are you going?

I don't know!

What's your plan from here?

I don't know!!!

So you're going to drive in circles, fending off a panic attack with sheer will, until you, what, run out of gas?

I'm--

X, you listen to me. Find. A. Place. To. Pull. Over. I'll stay on the phone with you. We will figure out your next steps once you've chilled out a little.

...Okay. Okay. Okay. Hold on. Okay. Um... Yeah, okay. [sound of engine being cut] Okay. ...Okay.

Breathe.

[voice cracking] I'm breathing.

If you need to cry, cry it out.

I don't want to, I don't want to, I can't, I have to-- I have to figure out--

Cry. Take the endorphin rush that comes with it and just cry X. It'll help with the come-down.

I don't want to! Not while you're on the phone, not while Lux is in the back seat, not-- not-- [silence]

[long pause] Feel any better?

[thickly] Shut up. [beat] Yes.

Five things you can see.

I hate you.

I know. Five things.

Steering wheel, diner sign, um... my phone, streetlight... gear shift.

Good. How's she doing?

She's... still asleep. Breathing. Thank fuck.

I don't think she's hurt bad enough that she'd stop breathing, X.

I don't know!

I know you don't, I'm sorry.

God... This is so stupid, but this isn't how I wanted to meet her. Not like this.

We don't always get to live out the life we scripted in our heads. You can mope about it later.

I'm not moping! ... Maybe I am, a little bit. Fuck. Okay. Okay! What am I doing. What am I doing.

Do you know where she lives? Any contact info for anyone else she's close with?

No, I don't. Which is one of the reasons I'm a little bit freaked out that she asked for me of all people. She has an older brother, for the love of-- I feel like it's in your job description as an older brother to bail you out of trouble, isn't it? Or she has friends who actually, like, know where she lives. Know her family, probably. So like, the only reason I can think of that she asked for me is that this has to be a secret. And if this has to be a secret, I have no idea what to do next.

Hmm...

Cause like, even if I do figure out where she lives, if I drop her off looking like this, she'll be in deep shit probably. But if I like... If... If I just...

"If you take her home to your place." There. I said it for you.

Shut up, that's not what I was going to say.

Wasn't it?

No, it wasn't. But now that you've said it, fine, if I take her back to my place and let her crash for the night, she's probably still in deep shit because she's stayed out all night and her parents sound like a nightmare.

Mm...

Oh, oh shit. [gently] Hey. [sounds of shuffling] Hey, hey, hey, easy. You don't gotta sit up if you don't wanna, you're good. You're safe.

Ff... ow.

She awake?

Who...!?

It's okay! It's okay. It's a friend of mine, I have him on speaker so I could talk and drive at the same time. Kaz, I'll call you back later, okay?

Nn... it's okay. It's fine.

No, it's okay, I'd be more than happy to get back to sleep.

She woke you up? It's like... Jinx, what time is it?

Such are the perks of being friends with her. Don't worry about it. [gently] You're the priority right now. I leave you in Jinx's capable hands.

[scoff] Go back to bed. And, um. Thanks, Kaz.

Don't mention it. Text me later. G'night.

Chapter 30

Notes:

As a reminder (since this is coming hot off the heels of yesterday's update,) the last update was 4 chapters! Make sure you've read 26-29 before you read this one :)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Gunner (X)


August 2nd

Jinx:thx again 4 earlier
Yasuo:How is she?
Jinx:exhausted
Jinx:she agreed she coundnt go home so
Jinx:shes. here
Jinx:at my place
Jinx:which is weird
Yasuo:It won't be weird if you don't make it weird.
Jinx:kaz itd be weird if she stepped in my door nd immediately turned around nd left
Jinx:its WEIRD
Yasuo:Did she say what happened?
Jinx:no
Jinx:i barely got her in the door b4 she crashed
Jinx:hauled her ass 2 my bed
Jinx:shes been in n out of sleep ever since
Jinx:i'm on the couch in my workshop
Jinx:every so often shell wake up w a start or a yell or smthn nd ill go check on her
Jinx:but usually she just goes rite back 2 sleep
Yasuo:How are you holding up?
Jinx:dude idefk
Jinx:nothin makes any sense
Jinx:nd i cant rly ask anythin rn
Jinx:shes asleep rn and thats a good thing
Jinx:im worried abt her. i cant sleep
Jinx:i feel like if i go 2 sleep nd she wakes up nd needs help ill be letting her down
Yasuo:You're a famously light sleeper, X. Maybe crack the bedroom door so you can hear better if she wakes up, but you need to sleep.
Yasuo:Remind me, where'd you pick her up from again?
Jinx:outskirts of valoran city
Jinx:y
Yasuo:I couldn't sleep either, so I did some digging.
Jinx:y am i not surprised
Jinx:dont tell me what u found
Jinx:i wanna talk 2 her 1st
Jinx:i feel like i owe her that much
Yasuo:Not that I disagree, but why?
Jinx:??????
Jinx:bc shes my friend???
Jinx:bc she should have a chance 2 tell me whats goin on w/o me diggin around
Yasuo:Fair enough. Let me know what she says.
Yasuo:Or don't. It's not my business.
Jinx:good answer
Jinx:go back 2 sleep. ill check in later.

Notes:

Since a few people have asked: I don't have any plans to tie in the new SG characters into this fic. This fic's timeline starts when Lux is the only Star Guardian (that we know of - the cannon timeline says Ahri's first team already exists when Lux gets her powers, we just don't know about them.) The newest skin line(s) imply a post-team-Lux timeline.

Cannon timeline aside, True Damage is already established with Ekko and Senna (though it'd be neat to see a fic that explores a double-life aspect for them) and Taliyah and Sona have already been established as their own characters. Reconciling all the timelines would get pretty messy, pretty fast! I'm happy with the in-fic cannon I've established and would rather continue working within it; I feel like retroactively trying to fit all of the new cannon into this fic would honestly be a less enjoyable read, since it would pull the focus off of the main storyline to make all the puzzle pieces fit just so. ♥

Chapter 31

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Gunner (X)


August 2nd

Jinx:ok so NOW tell me what u found out from ur snoopin
Yasuo:You get her side of the story?
Jinx:yeah
Jinx:except its like
Jinx:absolutely batshit crazy
Jinx:im not gonna say it doesnt make sense but like
Jinx:its BATSHIT CRAZY even if it DOES make sense
Jinx:so i wanna compare notes
Yasuo:But you're not going to tell me what you learned from her, I'm guessing.
Jinx:no
Jinx:i cant
Jinx:like i CANT cant even tho i wanna
Yasuo:Fine. That's annoying, but fine. Around midnight, there was a disturbance in downtown Valoran City. Void-flavored disturbance. Valoran's no stranger to weird shit going on like this, but lately there's been a flashy vigilante who's shown up when shit really starts to hit the fan.
Jinx:ive heard a lil abt that before now yea
Yasuo:They're like a cryptid. No one can get a good picture of them, and there's all these wild stories online about them. My guess is most of them aren't true, and they're just clout-chasing forum nonsense, but either way, the general public has seen and knows of this person. They've mostly dubbed them "The Star Guardian," aside from a few outliers who don't like the name
Jinx:????
Jinx:i mean yea its stupid name
Jinx:it doesnt make any sense
Jinx:shes not defending a star shes defending a city
Yasuo:She?
Jinx:they
Jinx:sorry
Jinx:hearin a name like "the star guardian" i just assumed
Yasuo:Hm.
Yasuo:Anyway.
Yasuo:I can find posts about this from up to a year ago. It's been on and off my radar for a while. What made me look again was, Time and I pulled up a police scanner feed last night.
Jinx:YOU TOLD HIM?????
Yasuo:Not everything, but yes.
Jinx:ASDGASDGASBASHASDASDG
Jinx:WHY DO U HAVE SUCH A BIG FUCKING MOUTH
Yasuo:He only knows you were worried about the cops catching you, I didn't mention anything about Lux.
Jinx:WHY DID U MENTION ANYTHING??????
Yasuo:Because I wasn't about to listen to police scanner recordings by myself
Jinx:i hate u sfm
Yasuo:Do you want to hear about what I found or not?
Jinx:yes
Yasuo:Then suck it up.
Jinx:fine
Yasuo:The scanners were also reporting a vigilante in downtown Valoran.
Yasuo:Reports about what they looked like varied wildly, but the general sentiment was the same; whoever it was, was fending off a massive void invasion on their own.
Yasuo:And losing.
Yasuo:Badly.
Yasuo:Police forces started doing what they could, and it sounded like it became an "all hands on deck" situation. Between the police and the vigilante, things cooled down considerably. Once the situation was under control, they looked for the vigilante for at least a statement, if not to take them into custody
Jinx:????????
Jinx:WHAT???
Yasuo:Vigilantism is technically still a crime, X.
Jinx:BUT THE POLICE WERE USEELSS
Jinx:THE VIGILANTE WAS THERE BEFORE THEY WERE AND WAS HOLDING THEIR OWN AS BEST THEY COULD TIL THE COPS GOT OFF THEIR ASSES 2 HELP
Yasuo:I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm just stating the facts.
Jinx:THIS IS SUCH BS
Yasuo:They didn't find The Star Guardian, by the way. Nowhere to be found.
Yasuo:It explains the cop lights. It also leads one to draw some interesting conclusions between Lux and why she texted you.
Jinx:idk dude! mayb not!
Jinx:she could b one of the casualties of the void monster things and just. texted me as an escape driver
Yasuo:You said you already spoke to her, yes?
Jinx:yea
Yasuo:So you already know her side of the story
Jinx:yea
Yasuo:...And you're not going to tell me.
Jinx:what u said mostly lines up w what she told me, im telling u she just got caught up in the situation and texted me bc she was scared
Yasuo:So you say.
Jinx:she just hopped out of the shower, im gonna see if she wont let me drive her home
Yasuo:You're dodging.
Jinx:i am NOT im being RESPONSIBLE
Jinx:for ONCE
Jinx:ill ttyl. do NOT tell any1 else abt this. dont let TIME tell any1 else abt this
Jinx:last thing i need is the group saying ive gone soft or sme shit
Yasuo:Fine. But in return, you finally tell me about how you actually met this girl, and everything you've been getting up to while you were gone.
Jinx:deal

Notes:

A very important lore distinction here: you know how in classic Magical Girl genre staples, most people don't know the identities of the magical girls even if they look exactly the same? Common fannon is that there's a glamor around the girls while transformed that obscures their identity just enough that people can't put two and two together. The only way around this glamor is to see the magical girl in question actually transform or detransform. This fic operates off of the same mechanic; without someone seeing Lux transform, they wouldn't be able to go "hey, you look EXACTLY like that Star Guardian that's been flitting around."

Chapter Text

Lux

August 2nd 7:23 pm
Jinx:how're you feeling?
Lux:Still sore. More sore than usual. I've been soaking in the tub for what feels like three hours, and the hot water feels nice, but it's not really helping the pain as much as I'd like.
Jinx:did u take any like, advil or anythin?
Lux:I did.
Jinx:good
Jinx:ok im sorry
Jinx:i know u said you didnt wanna talk abt it in the car
Jinx:but can we talk abt it now
Lux:Do we have to?
Jinx:i mean no
Jinx:but we're gonna have to talk abt it at some point
Lux:I've told you probably more than I should have, can we just drop it?
Jinx:for now, yea
Jinx:but like i'm... having a hard time wrapping my head around it. i'm gonna need to talk it out at some point. not now, but. some point
August 2nd 9:01 pm
Jinx:it was nice to finally meet you, tho
Lux:It was ^^ I just wish it had been under better circumstances.
Jinx:i mean, same, but
Jinx:i'll take what i can get
Jinx:it made u feel... real
Lux:I've always been real...?
Jinx:yea but it didnt feel like it
Jinx:u were one of the little ppl that lived in my phone
Lux:I can kind of understand that a bit. But yes, I'm real :P And so are you. It was nice to confirm that for myself too. You look so much different than I though you would.
Jinx:oh yeah?
Jinx:good different or bad different?
Lux:Neither, I don't think. Just different. Taller than I expected, I think. Skinnier. Just as sharp as I'd expected, but softer somehow.
Jinx:That thing musta hit your head pretty hard if you think I'M any kind of soft
Lux:You can't fool me. You came running as soon as I said I needed help.
Jinx:that doesn't make me soft!!!! it means i care about my friends!!!!
Lux:If you say so
Jinx:i am NOT soft
Lux:You are really pretty though.
Jinx:...Huh?
Jinx:um
Jinx:look you had a long couple of days
Jinx:you got the shit beat out of you pretty bad and youre exhausted
Jinx:we can pick this back up when you've recovered a little more
Lux:You think I'm saying this because my brain's not all here? Jinx. I almost died. There's no other way to look at it; I know you don't fully believe my account of the events, but that... thing... knocked me clean out of my transformation. That has never happened to me before. I've never been beaten this badly before. I've never... I've never had to heal slowly like this. I thought I was going to die. I thought I was dying. Why do you think you're the person I wanted to come get me?
Jinx:okay I'll answer your question but i HAVE to circle back on some of that later
Jinx:i figured you called me bc i can keep a secret, and bc if your family found out you were in so much danger you'd be grounded for life
Lux:...Okay, well, you're not completely wrong, that was part of it. But the bigger part of it was that, I'm not... as invincible as I thought I was. And if that's true, then I don't want to burn out with any regrets left.
Jinx:don't talk like that!!! do not talk like that
Jinx:you're not going to burn out
Jinx:you're going to be fine, you're healing just fine now
Lux:This time, yes. What about next time I bite off more than I can chew? Or next time I don't have a choice but to fight impossible odds? What happens when backup doesn't come?
Jinx:just quit!!! now!! quit now while you're safe and alive!!!
Jinx:no one else has to know, i'm great at keeping my mouth shut
Jinx:this secret can just... die between us
Lux:I can't, Jinx.
Jinx:Why not?!?!!?!?
Lux:Because there isn't anyone else. Either I keep defending Runeterra, or Runeterra goes up in flames to the next threat. I'm the last bastion.
Jinx:why is that your problem!?!?!? the world somehow managed before you were born!!!! a city being attacked is the CITY's issue, not yours!!!!!
Lux:I don't have the energy to argue with you about this right now. I can't just quit being a Star Guardian.
Jinx:oh my god is that what you're actually called
Lux:? Yes, why?
Jinx:they call you that online too, i figured it was just a weird, lame name
Lux:? That's a funny coincidence. But yes, my official title is "Star Guardian."
Jinx:this is too much
Jinx:this is all too much
Jinx:i feel like im going out of my mind
Jinx:how are we talking about this like its just. normal
Lux:That's one of the reasons I didn't want to tell you. Why I couldn't tell you. I'm sorry.
Jinx:dont fuckin start apologizing like
Jinx:like this is something u can control
Jinx:except u CAN bc u could just QUIT
Lux:No, Jinx, I CANT. Maybe you're used to running away from things when they get tough or stop working out for you, but I can't, and more importantly, I won't.
Jinx:UUUGGHHH YOURE IMPOSSIBLE
Jinx:also, no, fuck you! i didnt run from you. maybe i did at one point but i came back and i fucking apologized and tried to make it right
Jinx:and if u think that was EASY, go fuck urself
Lux:You're right, and I'm sorry. I'm frustrated, I'm in a lot of pain, and I feel like you're not hearing me.
Jinx:i HEAR YOU i just dont AGREE WITH you
Jinx:sorry. u said u didnt wanna argue and i keep harping
Jinx:i'll put a sock in it
Lux:Thank you. I'm sorry.
Jinx:don't be
Lux:Hey
Jinx:?
Lux:I love you.
Jinx:yeah yeah yeah, so you keep saying
Lux:No, I mean it! I mean like... I... god I was so hoping just... saying it like that would make my point for me, how do I even start to say this...
Jinx:???????
Lux:I'm like... I'm... I LOVE you, Jinx. Like, capital L.
Jinx:oh
Jinx:OH
Jinx:WHAT?????
Lux:I realized last night I really don't have the luxury of leaving things unsaid and hoping they'll just... resolve or be found out in time. Like I said, I don't want to go out with regrets
Jinx:STOP SAYING THAT
Jinx:BUT ALSO WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT
Lux:And I don't expect you to return my feelings, especially right now, but I can't not say them. If this ruins our friendship... then... I guess it ruins our friendship. I hope it doesn't. If you don't feel the same we can just keep things as we are, and really I'd prefer that to us not talking after all this. But I've known for a little while now, I love you. It put a lot of things into perspective when I realized, haha. Like why Jarvan wasn't anything I was looking for; I already knew what I wanted, even if I didn't know that I knew.
Jinx:SLOW DOWN. STOP. STOP TYPING.
Jinx:WHAT???
Jinx:DONT ANSWER THAT
Jinx:oh my god. oh my god. im freaking out
Jinx:like, a good freaking out but also a panicked and BAD freaking out
Jinx:you're out of your mind
Jinx:i have the biggest fucking crush on you. i have for like, ever
Jinx:but why are you telling me NOW???
Jinx:normally IM the batshit insane one in these situations but HERE YOU ARE, DEFENDER OF THE UNIVERSE, ALMOST DYING, TELLING ME YOU LOVE ME????
Jinx:WHAT IS GOING ON????
Jinx:my brain is going to FUCKING EXPLODE theres WAY TOO MUCH going on right now?????
Lux:I'm sorry.
Jinx:DONT
Jinx:DO THAT
Jinx:god
Jinx:like im absolutely over the moon happy that u like me back
Jinx:dont get it twisted
Jinx:bc i really though that was impossible
Jinx:but there is just. its so much rightn ow. its so much lux
Lux:Wait. You *do* like me back?
Jinx:FUCKING DUH DUDE
Jinx:WHY DO YOU THINK I WAS BESIDE MYSELF THAT U WERE DATING JARVAN
Lux:OH. OH MY GOD.
Lux:I feel so stupid
Jinx:JOIN THE FUCKIN CLUB DUDE
Lux:I... you mean it? You actually like me back? This isn't you just being nice or playing a prank on me or anything?
Jinx:DEAD FUCKING SERIOUS DUDE
Lux:!!!! Wow! Okay, wow! Gosh! Okay! Literally the only word coming to mind is "wow" just, over and over! Wow! Gosh! Sorry, oh my gosh! You're sure?!
Jinx:THAT IS QUITE LITERALLY MY LINE
Lux:I mean, yeah, I'm sure! It honestly knocked me flat on my ass when I realized it, and after that everything made so much sense, like I said. And after last night, I don't think I've ever been more sure of anything in my life.
Jinx:I
Jinx:my head hurtrs
Jinx:there is jsut so much foing on here
Jinx:bc like the girl i like likes me back but also HAS A FUCKING DEATH WISH
Jinx:no, thats not fair, its not a deathwish but thats whayt it FEELS LIKE right now
Lux:Thank you. I know it's a lot. I know I'M a lot. I know I have a lot going on, and if any of that is a deal-breaker, I get it.
Jinx:STOP
Jinx:TALKING
Jinx:LIKE THAT
Jinx:like liking you is some kind of huge burden or smthn
Jinx:i wouldnt still be here if that was the case
Jinx:this is a choice im making. a choice i KEEP making.
Jinx:and if it was this massive fucking burden to like u i wouldnt do it. ok? the little "pros and cons" lsit i got in my head rn is very "pro" heavy and very "con" light
Jinx:so just stop. acting. like falling for u is a death sentence
Read 10:42 pm
Jinx:Lux?
Jinx:im gonna hope u went to sleep or smthn but if i dont hear from u by tomorrow im callin u

Chapter 33

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Lux

August 3rd 10:03 am
Lux:Sorry sorry sorry I did just fall asleep! I was exhausted, and with the kind of emotional bombshell we both dropped on each other I just... completely conked out.
Jinx:oh thank god
Jinx:u had me worried
Lux:I'm sorry ><
Jinx:you're good dw abt it
Jinx:also good morning
Jinx:how are u feeling
Lux:Like, physically, or emotionally?
Jinx:either
Lux:I don't hurt as bad. My magic usually heals me while I'm transformed, but I think even un-transformed it does... something. Just much slower. So I'm still sore, but it's closer to a "spent a whole day at the gym" sore than anything. My cuts and scrapes are all gone as far as I can tell, and my bruises are fading.
Jinx:thank god
Jinx:you absolutely looked like hell yesterday
Lux:I know :/
Lux:Um. But I did wake up to your texts from last night, and I'm like... wow, how do I explain it? It's like there's this lightness in my chest, and I'm almost afraid to let it stay there because it might go away when I least expect it, but also it's such a nice feeling that I kind of want to let it stay? You're just... so nice, and sweet, and kind and caring even when I'm being like "noo you probably can't love me back."
Jinx:kay. pump the breaks a bit
Jinx:I am not ready to use that word. not that way.
Jinx:i like you a lot. i mean a LOT. and ive absolutely fallen for u. but love is a very strong word and im not ready to say it yet
Lux:Okay. Yeah, that's fair. Okay. How are you feeling about... everything?
Jinx:I Dont Know.
Jinx:its all a tangled mess in my head and any time i undo one knot, three more appear
Jinx:so heres what i know:
Jinx:1. i like you. a lot. i said that already but im saying it again bc fuck it
Jinx:2. i care abt you so FUCKING much. the idea that ur throwing urself into the mouth of danger and cant stop doing that freaks me the fuck out, but
Jinx:3. i kind of used to do the same thing except very different, so do i really have any room 2 judge u for it? idk. probably not.
Jinx:4. i am not ready to let go of u. im not going to stop talking w you or liking u just bc ur some magical girl type thing
Jinx:5. i am severely overwhelmed
Lux:That all makes sense. I... really don't know how to reply to it, though.
Jinx:idk how ur supposed to respond to all that, i was just answering the question
Lux:I guess, for me, my big thing is that you like me back. Like, that seemed so impossible to me. But for you, the big thing is that I'm a Star Guardian. I'm so used to that at this point, but not only are you not used to it, you're very concerned about it. So that's kind of where we're split.
Jinx:that sounds abt right
Jinx:how close were u to goin "so... do u wanna b my gf (Pleading Face )(White Right Pointing Backhand Index ≊ Backhand Index Pointing Right)(White Left Pointing Backhand Index ≊ Backhand Index Pointing Left)"
Lux:...You really do know me too well orz
Jinx:LMFAO
Lux:...I mean... do you?
Lux:Do you want to actually date, I mean, not do you actually know me too well.
Jinx:yes, BUT
Jinx:i am not ready to call us like. girlfriends.
Jinx:like i WANT to, lux, dont get it twisted
Jinx:i WANT to be your partner, i WANT to call you my girlfriend
Lux:Then why can't we?
Jinx:i'm not ready for it yet. which is weird, coming from me, the girl who sprints headlong into every idea shes ever had
Jinx:im not saying no, im saying i need us to give it time first
Jinx:we spent so much time being friends. i need us to spend some time figuring out what "more than friends" feels like for us
Jinx:so like. dating? yes. absolutely. "girlfriend" label? no.
Lux:Okay. I get that. I don't like it, but I get it.
Jinx:u dated jarvan without bein his girlfriend why is this different
Lux:Because I didn't LOVE Jarvan! I already know I love you!
Jinx:listen just for right now i need you to stop sayin that word
Jinx:please
Jinx:just for now
Lux:Why?!?! It's true!!!
Jinx:i know it is, i know it is and i dont like. hate it
Jinx:i LIKE hearin it, it makes me like. warm.
Jinx:but ALSO its trying to send me into fight or flee or w/e thats called
Jinx:it scares me a little
Lux:You're scared of me loving you?
Jinx:no!!!
Jinx:maybe!!!
Jinx:idk!!! its a rly strong feeling that feels like its way too soon for!!! its complicated, its all complicated and twisted up in my brain and im tryin to iron it out. okay, i am tryin to iron it out. but every time u say it, it wrinkles everythin again, so please, just for now, pls stop sayin that word. im sorry
Lux:It's fine. I get it. Again, I don't like it, but I do understand. Just because it feels like we've known each other forever, it doesn't mean we actually have. I'm being hasty and impulsive.
Jinx:im sorry. im not saying stop saying it forever. just for now. ok? bc i do like hearing it. but its making it hard to think
Lux:There's the other elephant in the room. Dating a Star Guardian is going to be... hard.
Jinx:ah.
Jinx:yes.
Jinx:that.
Lux:You're the one who isn't used to... any of this yet, and the one who is more hesitant about the whole thing. What are your thoughts?
Jinx:i mean i think u have a death wish
Jinx:but i also know this is important to you
Jinx:and im not gonna be like 'if were gonna date you have to give that up' even tho i kinda wish i could
Jinx:so like, can't beat em, join em, right? i'll play getaway driver, ill play field medic, whatever u need
Jinx:just. please keep your location on please?
Lux:...Really? That's it? I really felt like there was going to be a lot bigger of an issue there. You're really just... going to be on my side, and help me? That's really dangerous for a civilian. You know that, right?
Jinx:luxie
Jinx:I realize you dont know much abt my past
Jinx:but 'danger' is kind of my middle name
Lux:Oh, I didn't even think about that. Hahaha, it's kind of funny, you going from destroying things to helping save the world.
Jinx:ok, no, do not get it twisted
Jinx:i am not doing this to help the world
Jinx:idgaf abt the world
Jinx:im doing it to help YOU.
Lux:Okay, yeah, that does make more sense. I'll keep my location on for you, and if you want, I'll even tell you when I'm going out. Um, this is weird to ask, but could you erase these messages after we're done talking about it? I just... I'm a little anxious about all this being in text form. I don't know who could see it eventually and maybe blow my cover...?
Jinx:Yea, sure
Jinx:we could make a codeword for when ur goin out, too
Jinx:what abt like... "i have a date?"
Lux:Would that really be okay?
Jinx:i mean I know better now (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:I guess that's true :P Yeah, okay. That's probably a good way to tell you.
Jinx:ok
Jinx:ok
Jinx:this all feels weird but not completely bad weird. theres some good weird in there. and also probably some 'just need to get used to it' weird
Lux:We have one more thing to do
Jinx:?
Lux:If we're going to be dating... we need to plan our first date :3
Jinx:OH
Jinx:SHIT YEAH
Lux:Unless you don't want to
Jinx:DONT BE SILLY OFC I WANT TO LUXY
Jinx:*LUX
Jinx:LUXY?
Lux:Luxy/Luxie is fine :3
Jinx:FUCK YEAH
Jinx:Do u have anythin you really really really wanna do for a first date?
Lux:Hmm... is nature still ichy?
Jinx:Yeeeesss but i think for u i can muddle through (Face With Stuck-Out Tongue )
Lux:Is a picnic in the park too cliche?
Jinx:its not TOO cliche but it is very cheesy. its very u
Jinx:<3
Jinx:we could b super duper cliche and do a movie after. like dinner and a movie but lunch instead
Lux:That sounds so cliche and also so fun and cute. Yes. Let's do it. I'll handle the picnic if you handle the movie?
Jinx:yeah!!! fuck i should see whats playing rn huh
Lux:Probably :P How's this weekend work for you?
Jinx:tell me where to be and when and i'll be there!!
Read 3:09 pm

Notes:

DELAYED AUTHORS NOTE because nothing escapes y'alls keen eyes: The "Extended Universe" thing is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek name for the series and will probably change because it gives the wrong idea. There are a few scenes I want to write that the girls would never text or call anyone about, but I still want to write. The series is just a way for me to keep everything together. Sorry if it gave anyone the wrong idea!

Chapter 34

Notes:

Thank you to unpredictableArtist/wovenstarlight for the code!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

# secret-channel

Blade (Today at 6:52 PM)
So what's this I hear about our little @X having a date this weekend?

X (Today at 6:52 PM)
KAZE I AM ABSOLUTELY GOING TO KILL U (edited)
KAZE
@Kaze
GET IN HERE. ANSWER 4 UR CRIMES.

Kaze (Today at 6:55 PM)
I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about.

X (Today at 6:56 PM)
BULLSHIT U DON'T
UR THE ONLY ONE IN THIS SERVER I TOLD

Sparrow (Today at 6:56 PM)
Don't be too mad, X!
We were all very excited for you when he told us!

Kaze (Today at 6:56 PM)
Sparrow

X (Today at 6:56 PM)
HA

Kaze (Today at 6:56 PM)
Why would you rat me out like that

Blade (Today at 6:57 PM)
She's right though, we all were just very excited to hear you had a real, proper date with a real, proper, cute little girlfriend.

X (Today at 6:58 PM)
she is NOT my girlfriend.
do not call her that.
im not joking.

Timewinder (Today at 6:59 PM)
oh, not this again.

X (Today at 6:59 PM)
som1 put him in gay baby jail

Timewinder (Today at 7:01 PM)
all i'm saying is,
you seem to be very good

Kaze (Today at 7:01 PM)
Timewinder, stop. Don't start this now.

Timewinder (Today at 7:02 PM)
at letting people think things are more than they are

Blade (Today at 7:03 PM)
Time, be civil or I'm going to time you out.
We're here to celebrate the new leaf X has seemed to turn over.
Not bemoan old wounds.
Does she have a name?
@X

X (Today at 7:05 PM)
kaze told u i had a date but didnt tell u her name????
what did he tell u?????

Blade (Today at 7:06 PM)
Just that you had a date this weekend, so you wouldn't be around.

X (Today at 7:05 PM)
her names lumen
shes rly cute
weve been friends for a lil while now

Sentinel (Today at 7:07 PM)
I'm a little surprised we hadn't heard of her sooner if you've been friends with her for a while now.

Sparrow (Today at 7:08 PM)
Some of us knew! :3

Sentinel (Today at 7:10 PM)
Okay, well, I guess I'm surprised more of us didn't know.
I haven't known her long, but X has never struck me as a private person.
I feel like I know too much about her as it is...

X (Today at 7:10 PM)
it just nvr came up
also i dont tell u guys EVERYTHIN

Timewinder (Today at 7:10 PM)
no, but you tell kaze everything

X (Today at 7:11 PM)
i do NOT

Blade (Today at 7:11 PM)
If you tell any of us, you tell Kaze.

X (Today at 7:12PM)
ok THAT
is tru
but it wont b for LONG
cause im not gonna tell him ANYTHIN now
fuckin traitor

Kaze (Today at 7:13 PM)
All I did was tell Blade that you wouldn't be free to participate in guild activities this weekend because you have a date!
I didn't tell her anything else!
Don't be rude.

X (Today at 7:13PM)
U just dont like the idea of losin access 2 all my juicy secrets

Sentinel (Today at 7:13 PM)
Get a room.

X (Today at 7:14PM)
EW

Timewinder (Today at 7:14 PM)

Kaze (Today at 7:14 PM)
Please don't be crass, Sentinel.

Sparrow (Today at 7:14 PM)

X (Today at 7:14PM)
EW EW EW EW EW

Kaze (Today at 7:15 PM)
I'd sooner die.

Blade (Today at 7:15 PM)
Everyone shut up I want to hear about X's date!!!
You've kept us out of the loop long enough
I want to know everything!!!
How'd you meet?

X (Today at 7:16PM)
Eugh i dont wanna have this convo
this is y i didnt tell u all
ur all so nosey

Sentinel (Today at 7:17 PM)
And yet you told the nosiest bitch in the guild.

X (Today at 7:19PM)
we all make mistakes
ill throw u a bone @Blade
were doin a picnic nd a movie

Blade (Today at 7:21 PM)
That's ADORABLE.
Do you know what you're seeing yet?

X (Today at 7:23PM)
no...
the movie is my job
but idk what we should go c
idk what shed like
nd i dont wanna pick wrong

Blade (Today at 7:24 PM)
Why don't you just ask her?

X (Today at 7:25PM)
cause the movie is MY JOB
shes handling the food
and she hasnt asked me abt it
so idw ask her abt the movie
i wanna get it right w/o askin

Blade (Today at 7:27 PM)
Horror or romcom are usually first-date staples.

Sentinel (Today at 7:27 PM)
Was just about to say that. (edited)
Be careful about your horror choice though, if you decide that's how you wanna go.
You've got a little bit of time to figure it out, at least.

X (Today at 7:28PM)
yea
i just
UGH
i dont wanna screw this up
i rly like her

Blade (Today at 7:29 PM)
I'm sure it'll go just fine ♥
Oh! I just put something together.
Is the reason you're more tolerable now?

Sparrow (Today at 7:29 PM)
SDGSAHASFHASDHGASGDAS BLADE

Timewinder (Today at 7:30 PM)
no no, she has a point

X (Today at 7:32PM)
i h8 u all sfm is2g

Sentinel (Today at 7:35 PM)
Well?

X (Today at 7:32PM)
jfc
yea she is
r u happy

Timewinder (Today at 7:33 PM)
wait for real?

X (Today at 7:33PM)
?
yea

Timewinder (Today at 7:34 PM)
huh.

X (Today at 7:35PM)
omg shut up

Timewinder (Today at 7:37 PM)
i just didnt see you
ever changing for someone else

X (Today at 7:38PM)
i didnt change 4 her dipshit

Timewinder (Today at 7:38 PM)
?????

Lightslinger (Today at 7:40 PM)
Because of her?

X (Today at 7:40PM)
^

Timewinder (Today at 7:42 PM)
gross

X (Today at 7:43PM)
shut up straight man

Blade (Today at 7:43 PM)
X.

Kaze (Today at 7:43 PM)
X.

Sparrow (Today at 7:44 PM)

Blade (Today at 7:45 PM)
Be civil.

X (Today at 7:50PM)
i just dont c where he gets off actin like a jealous bf after hes been fine 4 years
like sure we all kno the drama there
but hes been like. fine
so whats the deal now

Kaze (Today at 7:50 PM)
X...

Blade (Today at 7:51 PM)
Last warning before you get timed out.

X (Today at 7:55PM)
w/e

Blade (Today at 7:57 PM)
I'm not saying don't talk about it, I'm saying be civil.

X (Today at 7:58PM)
w/e

Timewinder (Today at 7:59 PM)
it's not something
i really want to talk about anyway

X (Today at 8:00 PM)
same

Blade (Today at 8:05 PM)
Fine, but if this effects party cohesion next weekend, we will be talking about it.
Good ole group therapy session.

X (Today at 8:07 PM)
wont b a problem

Timewinder (Today at 8:07 PM)
^

Blade (Today at 8:08 PM)
Good ♥
X, you'll tell us how your date goes?

X (Today at 8:09 PM)
mayb

Sparrow (Today at 8:10 PM)
Pleeeeeease?
You owe me at least :3

X (Today at 8:11 PM)
ah fuck
yea ok but then were square kid

Sparrow (Today at 8:12 PM)
Ok!

Message #secret-channel

Notes:

Clarity note!
Sparrow - Taliyah
Blade - Irelia
Sentinel - Senna
Lightslinger - Lucian

Chapter 35

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Luxy

August 5th 1:23 am
Lux:I have a date.
Jinx:now?
Lux:Yep!
Jinx:keep your location on?
Lux:Yep!
Jinx:be safe, lmk when you're home safe
Lux:Yep! ♡
August 5th 4:37 am
Lux:Home safe!
Jinx:good date?
Lux:Better than the last one :3 I'm gonna get some sleep. I'll talk to you a little later, ok?
Jinx:sleep well, sunshine.
August 5th 7:41 am
Lux:So what are we seeing for OUR date? :3
Jinx:aww, you dont want it to be a surprise?
Lux:Hmmmmmmm. I kind of do. But you DO have a movie picked out, right?
Jinx:WOW
Jinx:OW
Jinx:U WOUND ME, SPARKLES
Jinx:I ALREADY HAVE TICKETS BOUGHT AND EVERYTHING
Lux:"Sparkles"?
Jinx:yea!
Jinx:cause ur sparkly when you're
Jinx:yknow
Jinx:also anyway u have a sparkly personality
Lux:It's cute, I like it. :3 I guess I should think up some cute names for you, huh?
Jinx:ehhhhhhh
Jinx:i dont think anythin about me rly lends itself 2 cute nicknames
Lux:Not even "Jinxy"?
Jinx:EW
Jinx:NO
Lux:LOL
Jinx:PASS
Jinx:i hate that oh my god i hate that
Jinx:"luxy" or "luxie" are like actually cute
Jinx:(much like the girl they refer 2)
Lux:AAAA STOP(˶>˶<˶)
Jinx:but jinxy feels. cursed.
Lux:Hmmm. I'll have to think about it then. I'm sure there's one out there that's perfect for you, I just need to think of it.
Jinx:know what, if theres anyone out there that can make a cutesy name for me
Jinx:its probably u
Lux:I'll take that as a compliment :3
Jinx:it was meant as one!
Lux:Flatterer. Flirt.
Jinx:lux
Jinx:u realize ive been flirting w you this whole time, rite?
Lux:oh. OH.
Jinx:U ARE SO DUMB
Lux:I THOUGHT YOU WERE LIKE, JOKING THE WHOLE TIME. I THOUGHT YOU WERE JUST BEING PLAYFUL
Jinx:IT WAS PLAYFUL BUT I WAS ALSO FLIRTING W YOU
Jinx:I FIGURED U JUST DIDNT LIKE
Jinx:ACTUALLY REGISTER IT BC NEW TO BEING GAY
Lux:Oh no no no no no, it REGISTERED. I just didn't think you were being SERIOUS. You backed off of it so FAST if I started playing into it.
Jinx:did i???
Lux:SCROLL UP YOU DIMWIT, ITS ALL UP THERE
Jinx:. . .
Jinx:ah!
Jinx:so i did!
Lux:Oh my god.
Jinx:IT WAS REFLEX, U MADE ME NERVOUS
Lux:I *WHAT???*
Jinx:YOU
Jinx:MADE
Jinx:ME
Jinx:NERVOUS
Lux:HOW??????
Jinx:i mean like what if you didn't like me back!!! or thought i was taking advantage of you realizing you were gay or something i dont KNOW
Lux:That's actually really funny, one of my friends said the same thing but in reverse at one point. She suggested that I only had a crush on you because you were the first girl who liked girls that I came into contact with while I was realizing that *I* liked girls.
Jinx:ok but thats not true right
Lux:Of course it isn't!!
Jinx:ok cool
Jinx:i did worry about that a bit at one point
Jinx:just like. in the back of my head
Jinx:one thing abt me is that when it comes to u i am Worrying
Lux:Of all the things to worry about :P
Jinx:thats what happens when i get attached to someone, i Worry
Lux:You don't need to worry about me, I promise
Jinx:1. yes, i literally do
Jinx:2. even if i didn't, i probably would anyway
Jinx:3. you also worry abt me so hush
Lux:...I was going to say that I don't worry about you, but actually yes, I do.
Jinx:I have a giant-ass stuffed bunny as proof that you worry abt me luxy
Lux:Yeah, yeah, yeah, fiiiine, you're allowed to worry about me then. Just not too much, okay?
Jinx:I promise to do my very best to not worry about you Too Much
Lux:Thank you :P
Jinx:anyway if you will excuse me i have to go Shopping
Lux:Oh? You never struck me as the Shopping type
Jinx:i;m Not.
Jinx:but i have a very cute date tomorro and i have fuckin NOTHING good to wear so i have to fix that issue so i am Going Shopping and i will talk to you later
Lux:AAAA JINX YOU DONT HAVE TO DO THAT!!! You can wear anything and it'll be fine, I'll think you look great!
Jinx:nope
Lux:BLEH. Then at least send me dressing room fit pics?
Jinx:also nope!
Jinx:it is a SURPRISE
Lux:YOU ARE IMPOSSIBLE
Jinx:<3
Read12:17 pm

Notes:

[drops this on your doorstep like a stray cat with a dead bird]
[leaves]

Chapter 36

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

✨ Glitter Pen Squad ✨

August 7th 10:52 pm
Sera
Seraphine:it's been like 6 hours since your date was supposed to start. SPILL
Rokki
Sorakka:Sera, you do know that people say that lesbian dates can last for days?
Sera
Seraphine:OBVIOUSLY but this was just dinner and a movie!!!! and if its going to last for days the LEAST she can do is run to the bathroom and give us a quick update!!!
Sona
Sona:Especially since she knows we're worried about her.
Sera
Seraphine:speak for yourself!!!! i'm EXCITED for her, i want to hear everything, in detail
Lux:Everything is fine, you don't need to worry about anything!! I just got home, give me a minute to shower and change
Sona
Sona:Couldn't have been too great if she's not staying the night...
Rokki
Sorakka:Sona...
Sera
Seraphine:SONA
Sona
Sona:I'm just saying.
Sera
Seraphine:if she HAD stayed the night you'd be tearing your hair out
Seraphine:be happy for our girl or go away
Lux:Okay sorry yes hi!!! Gosh where do I even start
Rokki
Sorakka:Did you have fun? Start there
Lux:Yes!! Yes it was SO much fun omg
Lux:We had a cute little picnic in the park, I was really really nervous because I was in charge of the picnic part and I wasn't sure she'd like what I made??? I mean it was basically just lunch meat sandwiches, but I tried to make them a little fancy... I got like, really soft bread for them and everything. But she loved them, which was amazing, and we just sat in the park and people watched and watched the sun set a little before we went to the movie. She picked out a really cute romcom called Bonfire Light, which kinda surprised me? she didn't seem like the romcom type, but the movie was really really good, I cried a couple times and she held my hand ^//^; Then after it was over we window-shopped around the shopping district for a little before she drove me home.
Sera
Seraphine:SHE DROVE YOU HOME OMG
Seraphine:did she walk you to the door??? did she kiss you goodnight??? DID YOU KISS HER
Lux:SADGHSADHSADH NO,
Sera
Seraphine:WHY NOT
Lux:BECAUSE!!!!
Sera
Seraphine:BECAUSE WHY
Rokki
Sorakka:Sera...
Sona
Sona:Take off your shipping goggles for two second and think about who you're talking about, please.
Sera
Seraphine:Oh. Right.
Lux:What's that supposed to mean!!
Sona
Sona:Just that, based on your family, your upbringing, and how conscious you are of your image, it's not very likely that you'd kiss anyone on a first date. Let alone a girl, in front of your parent's house.
Lux:... Well. Now I wish I HAD kissed her.
Lux:But you're right, I didn't. I was afraid my parents might see and freak out, and I didn't want her to think I was like... I dunno. Like I wanted to go too fast or anything.
Sera
Seraphine:but DID you want to kiss her?
Lux:Very badly ><
Sera
Seraphine:oh my GODDDDDDD
Lux:And did hold my hand all the way up to the door, which was really cute
Lux:And oh my god. Guys. She's... incredibly hot. Like I feel VERY WEIRD saying it in those words but those are the RIGHT WORDS she is SO hot im gonna die
Sera
Seraphine:SDGASDgasdhasdasdgASDHASDHG AAAAAAAAAA
Seraphine:SPILL SPILL SPILL SPILL SPILL
Lux:I forgot to take pictures because I'm an IDIOT
Rokki
Sorakka:You aren't an idiot, you just were enjoying the moment while you were in it! There's nothing wrong with that.
Lux:Okay.... yeah.... you're right.... I just feel a little silly because I can't show you. But she's like. So she's got like, really long fire-red hair, right? And usually she has it in like, two long braids. But this time she had it down, and it was so incredibly gorgeous. And she had this like, leather jacket that was just... wow. It looked like it was made to be worn by her and I am not even close to joking. She looked so incredible it was hard to make myself look at anything else
Sera
Seraphine:this is so cute. i'm going to die.
Seraphine:I am SO happy for you Luxanna. Oh my god.
Rokki
Sorakka:We all are ♥ It's so nice to see you so happy. You always have so much going on, it seems like you don't have time to enjoy the things you do.
Lux:I definitely did enjoy myself. It was so much fun
Sera
Seraphine:do you have another date planned!??!
Lux:It hasn't even been two hours since this one ended!! I don't want to seem like. idk. over-eager
Sera
Seraphine:have you at least texted her??
Lux:Oh, I mean, yeah! She texted me that she got home safe and we've been talking about how nice the date was and that we should do it again sometime :3
Sera
Seraphine:THATS BASICALLY THE SAME THING
Rokki
Sorakka:Not quite...
Sona
Sona:It isn't.
Lux:BUT if we have another date, which. I'm sure we will honestly. You guys will be the first to know about it, I promise
Sera
Seraphine:good!!!
Seraphine:sdlkhasldjkghaskjdg. god I'm just. I'm so happy for you luxannaaaAAAAAA
Seraphine:you seem so so so much happier than you have been in weeks
Sona
Sona:Which is about half as long as you've known her to begin with, Seraphine
Sera
Seraphine:would you PLEASE take the stick out of your ass
Seraphine:I dunno what your problem with me is but i can't fix it if you don't tell me!!!!
Sona
Sona:And here I thought you were an empath.
Rokki
Sorakka:Sona, can you please be civil?
Lux:She's grumpy that she's not the only Special Music Student in school. She'll get over it, the same thing happened when a girl the year below us started taking voice lessons and it turned out she was REALLY good. Sona'll get over it
Sona
Sona:... I forgot about that.
Rokki
Sorakka:You were... difficult during that time.
Lux:You were insufferable ♥
Sera
Seraphine:she's that competitive??
Rokki
Sorakka:Competitive isn't the right word... hmm...
Lux:She hasn't had a lot of experience with needing to share the spotlight
Rokki
Sorakka:That's a better way of putting it.
Lux:But! She's a really good friend and we love her, even in times like this :3
Lux:Give her time, she'll get used to you
Sona
Sona:What was that girl's name again?
Lux:Dont.
Rokki
Sorakka:Don't.

Notes:

[clarity edit: rokki is soraka !]

thank you, as always, to everyone reading this fic and leaving nice comments while I'm gone ♥ it really does inspire me to keep this fic going, even if the progress of said fic is slow. writing has become really hard for me for a lot of reasons, so I'm sorry for the slow updates, especially when they're updates like this one that aren't our two girls talking, but I really do appreciate each and every one of you and hope to keep writing this for you all ^^