#lev unwind

“always an angel, never a god.”

(alternate versions under the cut)

Lev’s hand is on her shoulder. The other, on her hip. He’s shorter than her, still, leaning his head down on her shoulder. Were she a weaker girl, she might find it cute. Instead, she just gives an amused scoff.

It’s Miracolina’s sweet sixteen, and she’s not sure why Lev showed up. She didn’t invite him, didn’t make the invitation a public matter— but he came, anyway. As if fulfilling some unspoken promise between them.

She hasn’t seen him in a while. Not in real life, at least; flashes of him across the habitually-checked TV in her room. She can’t deny she would flip the channels not for entertainment, but in order to see him safe.

Miracolina supposes this is the best she’ll get. Lev, holding onto her. Warm and alive, dressed in bright weaves, a far cry from the white tithing silks or the black dress she wears.

Her hand roams to his buzz-cut, running her fingers along the velvety stubble that’s grown in over his tattoos. Lev is awkward, fumbling with his grip, and it’s clear he’s only grasping at faint memories of catholic school dances. But then again, so is she.

The two twirl, stepping on each other’s feet, and it’s every bit as embarrassing as Miracolina thinks it should be. These are the years for awkward crushes and inexperienced dances, and she plans to make use of them.

The lights of the room are dim, parts of the room lit with sparsely-placed colourful lights. She’s glad for it, glad for the ability to look away from everything that’s changed since she last saw Lev. Glad for the ability to hide her flushed face in the recesses of shadow.

Lev flashes her a grin, and the weary creases in his face almost dissipate. For the first time since they’ve met, he looks like the child that he is; red-faced and smiling. If this is the last time Miracolina gets to see him like this, she sure as hell is going to make it count.

F - it depends on what you consider being in a fandom? I first got tumblr 2 years ago for Tangled but I never posted anything, but I first discovered what fanart was (on DeviantArt) like 5 years ago after I first read the unwind series and I've been obsessed with the series ever since

K- Lev's character arc throughout just the first book is BEAUTIFUL. How he slowly gained his own opinion towards unwinding after 13 years or brainwashing, how he chose to not clap, and especially how he learned he can love a God who does not condone unwinding. I'm not religious but that hit hard. The fact that he could keep his faith and his life.

L - Despite his not caring facade, Argent actually cares about his sister deeply. His arc was fun to read because not only was a he lil bootyhole to Nelson but also because he is a fundamentally caring person in the end.

R - I love Grace and Connor's friendship! Grace got someone who listened and respected her opinions, and Connor got someone to keep him from doing something stupid. They joke with each other, they confide in each other, and they are a catalyst for each other's strongest traits. For example, when they first met Connor was still snappy and angry from the loss at the Graveyard, and Grace felt she couldn't voice her opinions around her brother and that no one would listen to her anyways. But throughout the next two books Grace brings out the kindness and initiative in Connor, and Connor brings out the self-confidence and intelligence in Grace. They both had those traits all along but they helped each other embrace them!

"He holds his hands up before him." (310)

"and as little red as possible, since red is psychologically associated with anger, aggression, and, not coincidentally, blood." (265)