Nogaph

It all started with a cupcake.

Years later, Caitlyn would say that visiting the cafe that fateful day to treat herself was the best decision she would make in her life.

Vi would tease that only Caitlyn would consider getting robbed to be the best thing to ever happen to her.

OR

Alternative meet-cute of teenage Vi and Caitlyn with sprinkles of pining, a dash or two of angst, and extra adorably awkward seventeen-year-olds falling in love.

The cupcake in question was stunning. A rich, dark fudge sponge filled with the promise of white chocolate hidden inside, topped with perfectly piped red icing in the shape of a flower, and a shake of edible glitter that made it glint beautifully in the sunlight. Caitlyn stared at the treat inside its see-through plastic container, her mouth watering as she forced herself not to tear into the packaging and stuff it in her mouth. She had spent three weeks preparing for the grueling, infamous chemistry final that Mr. Ratke gave out to all of his eleventh years at Piltover Academy, and she’d be damned if she allowed impatience to ruin her reward. Her wonderment at the flavors that awaited her was interrupted by a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see who it was, only to feel her delicious prize yanked from her grasp. Caitlyn was about to shout in alarm when a powerful shoulder slammed against her so hard she went sprawling on the ground, wincing at the sharp pain of pebbles from the sidewalk that tore into the skin of her forearm through the maroon sleeve of her Academy uniform. Glancing up in shock, she only got a glimpse of pink hair sprinting away from her, the sun flashing off the glitter on her treat as her assailant disappeared with it down the street.

Cupcakes and Misfits - Chapter 1 - caitlynkirammansrifle - Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021) [Archive of Our Own]

I say this in the endnotes of my fic, but for all those who are reading my unfinished fics:

I know that I usually finish fics before starting a new one, but I am from Minnesota and live very close to where much of the awfulness is happening in the Twin Cities. The contents of my other CaitVi fic and my KPDH fic are both pretty heavy at the moment, so it's been hard to get into a headspace to write heavy themes when my reality is even heavier. Fanfic writing is an escape for me, so when I felt inspired to write a more whimsical, cutesy story, I didn't question it and followed where my mind clearly needed to go. Now, this wouldn't be a caitlynkirammansrifle fic without some angst, so I haven't completely jumped ship on my brand, but it's much, much lighter than what I usually write. I promise I'll get back to the other fics when they will be a form of escape for me once again, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.

(this list is mainly ways non-locals can donate but by extension offers a lot of resources and places to volunteer in the Twin Cities + there are specific ways to donate time under the cut which can be adjusted to your local neighborhood)

full credit to cataloo from r/minnesota [x]

🩵Immigrant support

Immigrant Defense Network – coalition of 90+ groups organizing rapid response and collecting evidence.

Immigrant Law Center of MN – free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees.

COPAL – advocacy, organizing, phone hotline. Focus on Latine community.

Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC) – education and protest organizing.

Interfaith Coalition on Immigration – advocacy, aid, events.

Monarca MN – training and phone hotline.

Unidos MN – education, protests, advocacy.

Center for Victims of Torture – advocacy and mental health services for immigrants and refugees.

International Institute of Minnesota – refugee resettlement group that provides support and legal help to vulnerable new-to-country families.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota – offers services to refugees, including legal aid to non-citizens.

🩵Food support

If local, food donations are welcome, otherwise monetary donations help these types of orgs source what is most needed

VEAP

Second Harvest Heartland

Every Meal

The Food Group

Meals on Wheels MN

Find a local food shelf

🩵Mutual aid funds & community support

Community Aid Network

Twin Cities Trans Mutual Aid

Leo's Tow (Venmo @leostowingmn) is towing cars back to families if a car is stranded when someone is detained.

🩵More links

MN50501 Mutual Aid Linktree – well-organized list of various Twin Cities groups.

Mplsmutualaid Linktree – many neighborhood and individual GoFundMes listed here.

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine – see Food Drives and Fundraisers.

Stand with Minnesota – extensive list of organizations, mutual aid, and crowdfunding campaigns.

🩵Donate blood

Memorial Blood Center declared a blood emergency on Tuesday, Jan 13. MBC is the blood supplier for both tier 1 trauma hospitals in the metro area (Hennepin County Medical Center and North Memorial Health).

American Red Cross

🩵Donate food or other goods

Mpls.St.Paul Magazine – see Food Drives and Fundraisers.

Volunteer your time (under the cut)