Welcome to the Most Beloved Character Bracket! Vote for your favorite and maybe they'll win. Voting for each round starts whenever I remember to post the matches.
(If I spelled names wrong, no I didn't it's been a while)
I know I gave the polls silly titles, but remember to vote for your favorite character (not who would win in a fight or who is prettier or whatever stupid thing I put)
Sometimes I wonder what will happen the next time Stix meets Serafin and the three vizers who took away Vivia's power, but then I remember that there's already something called Baile's Slaughter and it unfortunately does not refer to that
Thank you @lseultdetmidenzi for the idea of theriverstix!
Read Chapter One here: Chapter One
Also on Ao3
Chapter Summary:
Vivia Nihar doesn’t really talk to anyone, not really. But her friend, Vaness, forced her into downloading an app - the very same app she met theriverstix on.
Iseult is forced to join in Safi and Leopold’s plotting, as well as Aeduan. And for some reason, Safi keeps staring at them.
Vivia Nihar was exhausted.
Really, that was to be expected. School wasn't exactly fun - it was a necessity, and nothing more. And dealing with her brother, Merik, for the past hour made everything so much worse, because it was Merik. He wasn't the easiest person to get along with, and the constant complaining coming from him made conversations that much more mentally draining. Enough so that Vivia wished for it to be over, but it just seemed to drag on longer.
But that was okay, because she was alone in her room now, and it made everything better. Finally, she could breathe again, even if it was only for a bit. She had space from people, for at least an hour, maybe two, until her father came home, so she could do what she wanted until then.
Which consisted of her laying in bed, scrolling through some app on her phone that her friend had forced her into downloading. She found the whole thing stupid - she hated using social media, unless it was absolutely necessary. And usually it wasn't.
Vivia didn't really know why she gave in. She didn't even know how to use the damn app until Vaness had showed her. Even then it was hard to figure out.
It was an interesting app, though, which was why she spent time scrolling through it. Vaness had followed at least twenty accounts she deemed worthy (after making the account for her), and while most of the things they posted were complete bullshit, one or two accounts posted consistently decent things, enough to keep her interested. Vaness had even created her username for her, but Vivia hadn't liked it that much and changed it to littlefox.
Vivia figured she probably shouldn't spend so much time on the app - her schoolwork was glaring at her from where she left it on her desk - but she didn't really feel like doing anything. Besides, who said she had to be productive all the time? There certainly wasn't a rule for that.
She liked a few posts, though she didn't leave any comments. She wasn't sure how long that went on for, but her phone suddenly vibrated, making her jump slightly, though it was only a notification from the same app. She clicked on it quickly, frowning when she noticed somebody had sent her a message.
theriverstix: Hey, noticed you in my notifications! I'm a little bored, decided to message you. Hope that's alright!
Vivia smiled slightly, surprised someone bothered to talk to her, and quickly checked out the account. She was flattered, sure, but she wanted to make sure the story checked out. It did - Vivia recognised some posts she had liked sometime in the last few minutes, and quickly went back to the chat room.
She chewed on her lip for a second, wondering what to reply with. Hi, it's alright, seemed too formal, at least to her, and Hey, that's perfectly fine! seemed too eager, both things she didn't want to seem.
This is what happens when you only talk to Vaness and Merik, she thought, and quickly typed out something else.
Hi, it's great to meet you! It's alright, I was pretty bored too. It didn't seem too eager or formal, and she wasn't lying, so she sent it. She felt a momentary panic - what if theriverstix didn't actually want to talk to her, or sent the message to the wrong person? - but it was quickly gone when they replied.
theriverstix: Heh, great to meet you too! How are you doing?
Vivia smiled to herself again, pleased this person wanted to talk to her. Pleased this person was not Merik. She liked to think she'd recognise him even over anonymous messages - he had this certain annoying aura she could feel from a mile away.
I'm good, she typed. And you?
She only had to wait for a few seconds for the next message to come through.
theriverstix: I'm great, though my friends' best friend is annoying the shit out of me.
Vivia snorted, thinking about her last interaction with Merik. Hell, she could've thought of any interaction with Merik. Oh, I understand that, she typed back. My brother annoys me as soon as he opens his mouth. She grinned when theriverstix sent a few laugh-crying emojis in reply.
Vivia wasn't sure how long they talked for, but it was fun. It wasn't exhausting, not like face-to-face conversations. This was easy, light. She enjoyed it, and that surprised her.
They talked until Vivia heard her name called from downstairs. She groaned, realising her father was back. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing - it was just a bad thing more often than not. But that was just her father - she couldn't really complain about that.
She sighed and quickly sent another message to theriverstix. Sorry, I have to go. Speak later?
She turned her phone off quickly, not bothering to wait for a reply. Her father didn't like to wait any more than he had to, and while theriverstix replied rather fast, Vivia didn't want to take that chance.
He was waiting for her in his study, like usual. Serafin Nihar was a man of business, rarely anything else. He nodded at her when she walked inside - not even a damn smile. "Vivia." He stared at her intently. "Have you completed your schoolwork?"
Vivia refrained from rolling her eyes. That was all her father cared about - whether she was to be as successful as him or not. Whether she was to be as successful as Merik or not - there was no end to his constant comparisons between them, not these days. "Not yet," she answered, because while her father wasn't the best, she still hated lying to him.
Serafin raised an eyebrow at her. "You should do that. You don't want to fall behind." He waved a hand towards the door, an obvious dismissal, as he focused on whatever was in front of him.
Vivia stood in the doorway for a second. She knew she had to leave, but that quick dismissal stung. But it was all she could expect from him, so she left before he noticed she lingered, heading up to her room.
She turned her phone on quickly, waiting for it to load. Her fathers' voice remained in the back of her mind, but she ignored it. It was easier to do so when she noticed the message theriverstix had left, when a small but significant smile creeped onto her face.
theriverstix: Of course we'll speak later!
[x[
Iseult wasn't sure just how long she could keep this up.
Since Leopold announced the idea for revenge against Merik, Safi had somehow decided it would be a good idea. And being the responsible one, Iseult had unwillingly taken up the role of being the responsible one, and that was painful. Incredibly painful.
Safi and Leopold spent the next few hours planning their revenge. Iseult had made it very clear that she would not, under any circumstances, get involved. That did not stop Safi from plotting with her.
"What if we frame him for something?" Safi asked. She was lay on her bed, a book in front of her. She was meant to be studying for a test they were taking in a few days, like Iseult, but naturally, that was not happening. She frowned. "No, that wouldn't work."
"Safi, why are you so insistent on this whole revenge thing?" Iseult questioned, though it was a stupid question. Safi never did anything half-heartedly, and once she focused on something, she couldn't stop.
Her friend huffed. "He spoke over me!" she complained. "Nobody does that! It's rude and disrespectful."
Iseult sighed. "Yes, Safi, I'm sure that's exactly what he meant to be. Rude and disrespectful."
"He did." Safi chewed on her lip, then her eyes lit up. "Iseult."
"Yes?" Iseult closed her book, knowing she wasn't going to get a chance to actually study anything, not with Safi focusing on this so much.
"You'll help me, right?"
"No, I will not, Safi." She glared at her friend. She had already told her this, goddamn it. "You're on your own with this one."
Safi pouted. "So unfair."
"Not really. Unfair is you plotting revenge when you don't even know the guy," she pointed out.
"I fail to see how that matters." Safi grinned, sitting up and moving closer to Iseult. "So, did I see you talking to Aeduan earlier, when Leopold dragged him to our table?"
Iseult raised an eyebrow. She knew exactly why Safi changed the topic to this. Iseult didn't often talk to people - and when she did, it wasn't often that she would get along with that person. "Yes, you did. Your point?"
"My point is that you two got along!" she answered, grinning widely. "It's a rare thing. Is there something going on?"
"No, there is nothing going on, Safi," Iseult replied, rolling her eyes. She loved Safi, she really did. But sometimes her best friend came to the strangest conclusions. "We only talked once. That's not enough to let anything happen."
Safi rolled her eyes in return. "No, but it's enough to let something begin." She grabbed her phone. "Maybe I can convince Leopold to drag him along again tomorrow?"
"Probably." Iseult watched as her friend typed something into her phone. "Wow, you're actually doing it." She didn't really know why she assumed her friend was joking - Safi always followed through no matter what she was thinking of doing. It was so Safi-like that she had no idea how she actually assumed she didn't mean it.
"Of course," Safi grinned again, looking at her. Her phone vibrated and she looked back down at it. "Leopold said yes. Maybe you and Aeduan can bond over the revenge plan."
Iseult didn't want to make Safi feel bad, so she just sighed and said, "Maybe." She didn't think that would work - and she wasn't exactly bothered about whether her and Aeduan got along. She was friends with Safi, and frankly, that was enough.
Safi nodded eagerly. "Of course. Now, about the revenge plan."
"Safi!" Iseult groaned. "You are not doing a revenge plan!"
"Why not?"
"Because speaking over you does not warrant a revenge plan."
Safi huffed. "Fine, if you won't help me, I'll just go somewhere with Leopold and he'll help me." She stuck her tongue out at Iseult, then her eyes brightened. "Do you want to come?"
The sliver of mischief in her voice made Iseult consider refusing, but, well, she had nothing else to do. "Sure."
"Great!"
*
As soon as her and Safi arrived at the mostly-empty ice cream place Leopold suggested, Iseult realised why Safi had invited her on their little trip. Aeduan was sat at a table with Leopold, looking like he didn't particularly want to be there. Iseult assumed Leopold had dragged the guy there. He certainly didn't look like he came willingly.
"Safi!" Leopold shouted, gaining a few glares from the few people around them and sounding far too excited considering he had seen her not long ago. He grinned widely at them, gesturing to the table.
"Polly." Safi grinned back, and waved at Aeduan. "I see you brought Aeduan." She slid into the seat next to Leopold, so the only other available seat was next to Aeduan. Iseult rolled her eyes, sitting down.
"Of course. Can't have Iseult having no one to talk to while we plot revenge, can we?"
"Not at all." Safi grinned wickedly at her, but then turned to Leopold. "So, this revenge plan."
Aeduan groaned next to her. "Are they at this again?"
"Yep," Iseult nodded. That and setting us up, despite us only ever having one conversation.
Leopold considered for a second, then he said, "What if you just made his life hell at school?"
"How so?" Safi asked him.
"Speak over him whenever you can. And insult him every chance you get."
"That won't be hard," Safi nodded. "Great idea."
"You're both horrible people." Aeduan shook his head at them, and Iseult nodded her head in agreement.
Safi gaped at her. "You're not meant to agree!"
"Why not?" Iseult asked.
"Because you're my best friend."
"That's exactly why I should agree with him," Iseult said.
"Is not."
"Is so."
"Is not." Safi glared at her, and Iseult just rolled her eyes.
"Are you going to keep saying that?" she asked.
"Yep."
Aeduan looked at her. "How on earth do you cope with both of them?"
"I'm practising Sainthood," Iseult said. She had no doubt she could be considered a Saint after willingly talking to both Leopold and Safi on a day-to-day basis.
Aeduan snorted. "I will gladly give you the title of Saint if we survive through this."
She smiled slightly, glad he had a sense of humour. This would've been more painful if he hadn't. "They aren't that bad." Safi was her best friend. While she still was a little impulsive and pushy, Iseult loved her anyway and had to defend her honour.
"I suppose so," Aeduan relented. Safi and Leopold continued to talk in front of them, and Iseult was glad for Aeduan's presence simply so she could be distracted from the revenge plan.
"How on earth did you and Leopold become friends?" she asked. "You two don't seem very similar." In fact, Leopold was the polar opposite of Aeduan in every way.
"We talked like, once, and Leopold somehow got my number, leading him to believe we were friends." Aeduan sighed. "I don't even know how he got my number!"
Iseult laughed, startling herself. She rarely found anyone other than Safi funny. "Yeah, that sounds like Leopold."
