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“whatever. maybe if you had more fire you could have actually won grand finals instead of pussying out and being second fiddle to sunok and her gang of snowflakes,” he answered with a scoff.

“i don’t want to talk to you anymore,” mingi finally said with a sigh, shaking his head. “i know you’re upset. but it’s been months. get some help. i’m tired.”

“well, it’s not going to be reversed. we play well together, and i’m better than him. and the team dynamic is way less toxic. it’s time he gets with the program,” she said firmly. “i was thinking about that too. i think we we shift our roster, all of us would get less burnt out. lord knows i get tired of blood…”

“yeah. he’s my friend, don’t get me wrong. i like ranking with him. but having you on the team feels right. i don’t get as stressed about messing up,” mingi admitted, probably for the first time. he’d been nervous for the roster change, but ruiqi was a good fit. “to be fair, you never wanted blood to begin with,” he laughed. “i know you want to play lifeline, but you’d be a good gibby. we could get woo on wraith, and i think i could play blood. aggressive scans would be so useful. that’s if we want to run a really NA comp though...”

“i think shifting an entire comp is risky and not necessarily worth the little gain,” keean explained. “one of you changing characters means that you have one third of your team having to learn the intricacies of a new legend, and that on its own has enough growing pains. with the entire team switching, it just opens up more room for silly mistakes.”

“i guess i didn’t think of it like that,” he admitted. “i mean, we’re going to have to change characters as the metas shift though aren’t we? algs doesn’t start up for a couple months-- we have time to practice....”

“people get tilted because they care– it just makes you look like you aren’t taking anything seriously. you’re going to lose your contract,” taek scoffed.

he rolled his eyes, admittedly getting a little frustrated. “no, it’s professional. and a respect thing. and if there’s something big enough that i need to talk about, i will. but taek..... i think if we need to be worried about either of our contracts, we both know who’s more in jeopardy.”

“please, no need to get flustered. i know what you mean,” she assured him, trying to sound soothing. it wasn’t often she got fans like this. it meant a lot to her.

“i.... well you’re a really good wrestler,” he blurted out again, still not sure what to say. “i’m a fan. a little scared. but a fan.”

“i know. but as much as i empathize with why he’s being so rude, it doesn’t make any of it okay, you know? i get it, but it’s still gross,” she answered. she wasn’t going to let take walk all over her just because he was feeling bad or overlooked or whatever. “oh, god– me as wraith? i don’t think i’ve played her more than a handful of times. that’s a terrible trade.”

“yeah, you’re right. he’s always been like that, and it’s never really... been okay. but i think this is the first time anyone’s put their foot down, with you and keean, and also the first time that like....something he hates happened and hasn’t been reversed,” mingi said thoughtfully. “you know, i was thinking about that. maybe woo should try wraith someday. everyone always says that the IGLs should usually play wraith...”

“sunok’s…..intense. she kind of scares me too. but i get it– with people like taek in our industry, if i’d been around as long as her, i’d be intense too,” suri said with a little giggle. “hyeja’s really sweet, though. and a great content creator…..wait, i’ve literally never seen you play bloodhound– now i kind of want to see how it goes,” she laughed

“yeah no... it makes sense. she really has a don’t mess with me attitude, and it’s kinda sad to think of what must have happened to get her there,” mingi sighed. “i....taek’s not that bad. usually. he just took you being added personally, i think. how he’s treating you isn’t fair at all....” he grinned. “i should show off, then! maybe if i’m a good enough bloodhound, you and i will have to trade for algs!”

“i’m sorry i scared you, but i promise it was just for the show,” himari laughed. “that’s nice to hear, though. not that i scared you but that i’m good at character work.”

“you’re great! you could be a real actor!” mingi insisted. “or...wait, that came out wrong. you are a real actor. you’re just really good. sorry, things keep coming out wrong...”

“i might have a third,” she answered, letting out a tiny sigh of relief. “i don’t know how comfortable you are with playing with a valkyrie, but hyeja is really nice. we’ve been playing together a lot. and she said that if you want to be wraith, she’s down to play as horizon.”

“sunok scares me a little bit, but i have no problems with hyeja! i’m a fan, actually-- i’ve been subscribed to her since before she joined her team,” mingi admitted with a grin. “if she wants horizon, that could be super fun! but i’m also not a bad bloodhound when i need to be.”