#vipers

A European asp (Vipera aspis) in France

Reptiles don't have hair, but that hasn't stopped the hairy bush viper from rocking a killer 'do! This species gets its name from the raised scales that run along its back, giving it a shaggy appearance. While it does look very cool, the main function of this unique style is likely to help it blend in with its leafy surroundings.

Robert Hainard (1906 - 1999). Vipères. April 19th, 1927.

order it's done: cannon BV events -> cannon SV events -> Rina's socials (music, Q and A etc...)

Title: Tempting Venom

About: Preston Armstrong and Marcus Osborn

Preston is number 13 for the Viper

Preston publicly is “often labeled as the team’s prince”

Preston’s face is “gorgeously attractive”

Preston has sandy blonde hair (always styled) and Caribbean green eyes

Preston has refined mannerisms and has a sleek appearance

Preston is the most vicious snake on and off the ice

Preston’s appearances are a tool for his goals

Preston is calmer than Jude and more calculated

Preston has a sombr undertone

Dahlia thinks Preston is the most dangerous on the team (she could not tell whether he would release Jude or “choke him while smiling”)

Preston has mastered non-verbal taunting

Preston is “effortlessly annoying” according to Kane

Preston is beginning to find messing with people boring (=marcus is the person he’s obsessed with because he’s the only interesting one)

The Armstrong family symbol is a sun and crescent moon

Preston has strong conviction/manipulation skills

Preston asked the last initiate to drink his blood and Preston nearly killed her (so blood play possibly (flashbacks to akira and ren))

The Stanton Wolves are the Vipers biggest rivals

Preston says every saying wrong (he’s an icon and also if he’s saying it’s not wrong)

Preston likes watching people die

Other than Violet Preston matters the most to Jude

Preston and Jude team up against Kane since boarding school

Preston went to boarding school with the other 2

Preston is a master of pressing buttons (what else is new?)

Preston exploits his opponents weaknesses

Preston is an “expert in studying human nature and singling out the exact words that will ruffle the other person’s feathers”

Preston generally smiles after getting attacked for provoking someone on the ice

Since boarding school when people picked on Preston Jude dealt with them occasionally bringing Kane with him (this continues now)

Preston is described by Kane as “scrawny and weak looking” while in school, saying he was picked on for it

When Preston grew up his physical weakness left but he maintained his provocative nature

Preston’s moods shift fast

Preston is diagnosed with sociopathy, bipolar disorder and “basketful of other mental health issues”

Kane says he’s the textbook definition of ASPD

Note he is diagnosed with sociopathy not psychopathy meaning he was made to be like this but his born nature made him much more dangerous and made it more likely for him to develop this

The only person who knows if Preston killed his mom is Preston himself (on one hand I totally see it as he did not do that at all and maybe even grieves her but we had that storyline for Jude so she probably deserved death.)

Preston has a Prince Charming reputation

(Genuinely lol’d when I read this line again) “He loves girls and fucks anything in a skirt who’s willing to choke on his c***” (then again pre relationship Marcus is no better but it’s not his time just yet)

Preston is an expert in maintaining an image, and is described as the best at it of the trio

Kane describes Preston as a “monster who loves to watch others suffer”

Preston rarely indulges in violence

Preston loves the sight of blood and the view of eyes going empty

Preston’s weapon of choice is a knife

When Preston kills he stretches it out as long as possible (kills with knife)

Preston loathes ppl who ruin his plans, aspirations

Preston becomes “a fucking lunatic when things don’t go his way” (no wonder he’s the boss of the relationship)

Preston is not impulsive but is deadly

Preston always thinks of games against the wolves as “my game”

Jude and Preston protect each other once second and also want to kill each other immediately after

The trio will never turn on each other due to their pact from Highschool to be a team etc…

Kane describes Preston as a “ticking time bomb”

Preston always says Dahlia’s name wrong even before finding out about her romantic history

Preston is shows to preposition people near immediately an example being Dahlia though that is motivated by wanting to mess with Kane

Preston’s family, the Armstrongs control energy production and resource management from oil to various alternative sources

Marcus’s family though he is illegitimate, the Osborns, run realestate, construction and urban development

Preston has a girl on his lap at Drayton’s party

Homophobia runs deep in the town and Vencor

No gay members are allowed in and Vencor will kill you if your frolicking with the same sex

Marcus has an older half sister Serena Osborn

Serena is described as the only reason the Osborns still have power

The Osborns at the beginning of BV were attempting to bring Marcus into the family since he’s the only healthy male heir despite being illegitimate

Marcus according to Kane “grew up like a thug in Stantonville”

The Osborns threw Marcus and his mom out on the street

Marcus holds a grudge against them (presumably for point 63)

The Armstrongs “crushed and diminished” the Osborns power a bit before BV adding to the family animosity

Preston is with Marcus before BV since Kane says Preston is hiding something incredibly early in the book

Preston is “slipping” presumably due to his relationship with Marcus, enough so that Kane and Jude who is very unstable right now are being more careful about him

Preston takes psychology

Preston instantly gets suspicious when SRC, Marcus’s college is mentioned

Marcus went out with Dahlia briefly

Preston instantly loses interest with anyone who was involved with Marcus, he claims it because Marcus stole his sort of gf but let’s be real…

Preston has despised Marcus since the first game with the Wolves

Marcus checks Preston every chance he gets

Marcus does not care about being penalised

Preston does care about being penalised

Preston isn’t as aggressive in his plays

Marcus is the only hockey player in the entire league other than Kane who doesn’t react to Preston’s antagonism

Point 77 enrages Preston

Preston tries to exploit as many of Marcus’s weaknesses as possible to take him down

The score of the game is irrelevant to them, they always have their own game within the game

Their game will only end when Preston gets the upper hand (your only kidding Kane buddy)

Preston refuses to remove himself from a situation that doesn’t go his way

Preston is insufferable when pursuing a goal

Preston is disgusted by Marcus’s friends

Preston calls the Wolves the “charity team”

When Preston finds out Dahlia was Marcus’ ex, his eyes are “muted”

Preston is effortlessly attracts everyone and is the most popular

Marcus has many rumours going around about him and his past

Marcus is a major psycho even to Dahlia

Marcus attends the Blackhawks v Vipers game

Marcus by Dahlia is described as an "unsettling prescence, a force of chaotic energy barely contained within his tall lean frame."

Marcus has an angualr face with high cheekbones and a sharp jaw. His eyes are nearly black and he has a thin scar across his right eyebrow.

Marcus' eyes are descrived as "cold", "hollow" with some

"wildness"

Marcus is oftwn wearing a cruel smirk

Marcus and Preston both like pushing people to their limits

Marcus has bruises on his knuckles at the blackhawks game

Marcus claims he came to scout the competition (keep on kidding yourself man)

Marcus has a wiry, muscular build

Marcus enjoys violence

Marcus knows the Vipers hockey MOs

Marcus waves and mouths something at Preston to which Preston glares at him for

Preston is precise on the ice but not violent

Preston at least on the ice thinks 5 steps ahead of everyone else

Dahlia tells Marcus about Preston's jealous moment. Sorry dislike of her since she dated Marcus

Marcus enjoys seeing "THE LITTLE PRINCE out of his depth"

Something about the way he talks makes it seem like for at least a period of his childhood he was with the Osborns

Marcus describes Preston as technical when it comes to hockey due to expensive coaches and camps

Marcus knows Preston avoids violence because it's beneath him, (as coorberated by Kane saying he thinks people who use their muscles are peasents.)

Preston def loses it after the girls follow him out of the arena, not to mention Dahlia herself

Preston hates messy thinks he didn't trigger

The armstrongs hosted a members only party

Serena is the current CEO of Osborn Enterprises

Serena is rumoured to have put a target on Marcus' back (Marcus probably avoided the attempts)

Marcus looks down on everything Vencor represents

Preston has a little sister

Preston at the party is angrier than usual at Marcus as indicated by calling him disposable and this is probably due to the jealousy

The Vipers lost their winning streak to the Stanton Wolves

Osborn during their first match this season targetted Preston (even though that's what they alwaus do) this the first time he made Preston completely lose it

During the match Preston was different. Not his usual coldblooded self. He completely lost that aspect after the first period of the game.

Marcus consistently checked and fell on top of Preston and the note of this makes me think he was pushing Preston's isssues with their relationship. Maybe reminding him of it.

Marcus whispered stuff to him everytime he knocked Preston down I'm sure we can all gues what

third period was the first time he willingly did violence by smashing Marcus into the boards to which Marcus laughed and Preston got penalized.

Marcus waved at Preston everytime he scored

Preston hates monogamy (wow....yeah thats why you hate Dahlia)

Preston before wolves games forces the team to be at their best

Preston ditched open skate (we all know it's for Marcus)

the trio's gc is named The Vipers' Den by Preston

Preston allegedly got with his step-mom's friend aka Preston started a rumour to piss off Marcus

Marcus said Preston is a "dainty prince who can't even defend himself"

Preston started a riot with Armstrongs over their match

Preston when provoked by Dahla about Marcus seems to continue his argument with Marcus with Dahlia saying he can kill them both whenever. I see this as a mirror to Gareth since he convinced himself he could kill Kayden even they both knew he was to obssessed to do it

Preston's bloodlust increases when other people mention Marcus

Preston is only violent in private

Preston's footsteps barely leave a trace

Preston is clincally unstable enough to have lost his mind

Preston's family own a forest and this forest only the trio has access too

Preston calls killing people after a hunt a 'death ceremony' and it's his favourite part

Preston missed the death ceremony to hunt down Marcus when he snuck on the property

Marcus sneaks into the forest wearing a white mask and is punching Preston repetivly when Kane and Jude show up though Preston has various other injuries such as a knife slash on his arm and his shirt is ripped as well just being soaked in blood

Preston laughs kinda insanely as he's being punched but gets even more derranged at the idea of Jude and Kane going after Marcus saying he's "my prey

" (I love possesive Preston)

Kane makes it clear that when Preston's in this state nobody can help him so they knock him out though I suspect the punching thing was after a lot of goading and possibly done in some way for Preston's benfefit

Preston doesn't care how Marcus got in

as a child Preston was slim, bony, had baby features and faced bullying for looking feminine

Preston even then manipulated the scenario for revenge but was never able to physically defend himself which is what Jude did for him later

Preston's first murder was a teacher who attempted to SA him at 10 years old (GOD I HOPE MARCUS AND PRESTON TORTURE HIM IN HELL)

That teacher probably wasn't the first (I'm dying)

Preston had a "dead" look in his eye but killing him brought the light back in his eyes

Preston had long hair at some point

Preston has been under control for a long time which is why this episode is so concerning

Marcus triggered Preston in some way which is why he doesn't fight back even though he would never let himself get hit defense less in any situation (I wonder if Marcus was trying to make Preston fight back because he wasn't and it freaked him out)

Jude and Kane refrence an unknown third party that woudn't attack Preston as he is now but obviously caused serous damage in the past and possibly inflicted some of the heaviest mental scars. These people were targetting Preston.

Jude and Kane would kill all of them and let Preston bathe in their blood (this is here cause their ultimate besties)

Dahlia takes Marcus to a Vipers' after party

Marcus admits to Dahlia the best person to date on the team is 'the prince' aka Preston and then gets possesive and says anyone but him (u r not subtle)

Preston sips a drink and looks bored when Marcus walks in with Dahlia

Marcus moves the jealousy plan up when Preston doesn't get angry

Preston shows visible signs of rage as they dance and Marcus accuratly counts to when Preston's possesivness will no longer be leashed

Preston head locks him after he almost kisses Dahlia

Marcus says Dahlia said she 'couldn't wait to ride him' to provoke Preston and it works since he gets strangled harder

Marcus is laughing by the end of this interaction

Preston has Marcus in choke hold as laughs dragging him away

Preston got into a fight after this, possibly with Marcus but you never know

Preston while rarely shows it is equally protective of Jude and Kane

Marcus threw Preston's car off a cliff somehow and blew it up (Kane and Jude were there as well)

Marcus watched his work with popcorn

Marcus' dad never recognised him but his grandfather forced him to take the Osborn last name as an insurance policy

Marcus doesn't hate the Osborn's because they're not worth that

Marcus promised "I'll still ruin each and every one of them until all their precious heirs are squashed beneath my feet. Just because I can." he was probably referring to Vencor as a whole

Dahlia takes the explosion as him putting this in action

Kayden and Gareth will probably make an appearance as they're the only other gay relationship in all of Vencor

I just need Gareth and Preston being diva's together

Preston is left wing

Preston does not have the patience for stalking (who's betting that changes for Marcus? Me.)

Preston likes gaming and TV

Preston plays until he wins (unsuprising that it applies to more than just video games)

Preston watches Ben & Jerry cartoons

Preston sleeps on the coach upside down

It's implied Preston can't get a good night's sleep in his own home

Preston has his essentials at Jude's and often crashes there

Preston likes doing nothing on weekends but enjoys maiming people more than that

Preston has daddy issues (bug suprise said no one ever)

Preston talking to himself is a sign he's triggered or in his manic head space

The trio protects Preston from both his mental and physical demons as much as they can

Preston is the person Jude will protect with his whole being equivilant to Violet platonically

Preston looks out for his friends in his own way

The Wolves are worshipped in Stantonville meaning Marcus is like their god

Preston carved up one of Jude's list targets the same way he did to a teacher who SA'd him at 12 because this person was a elementary school teacher facing accusations of SA (corroborates easily triggered aspect)

Preston would stab someone for just getting in his way on the street

Preston got whipped 75 times for chopping the mayor's aide to pieces and sending it to the mayor even though the mayor was loyal (his friends tried to take 2/3 of the punishment for him because it would make him care about it)

Preston has depressive episodes, his last depressive episode which was in the last year of highschool led to him throwing himself off the roof of the Armstrong mansions (he could have died but only fractured bones)

Preston loathes his friends getting punshed in a way that matters because of him

Preston took a ton of meds from the Callaghans before getting under control

Preston's meds have begun to stop working and the double dose is barely helping

Jude makes sure Preston takes his meds

Jude's dad nearly killed Preston by being his test subject

Preston's dad doesn't payy much attention to him anymore but Pres tries to get his attention even though he hates him more than his step mom

Preston is self destructive "by testing gravity and physics"shy

Preston burned Marcus's bike because Marcus fucked him up offering no futher explantion when asked and this is after the game they lost.......(i'll let you guys think abou that)

The bike is Marcus' only mode of transport

Despite Preston's claims of hate Jude seems to think there is some love there to some degree considering he trusts him to talk about Pres' spiraling but withdraws since it could hurt pres

Preston's grandfather is a frail honourary chairman

Preston's dad is an autocrat

Preston's grandmother calls his names from his mental illnesses

Preston's step-mom is a socialite

Preston's uncle Atlas is Julian's BFF

Preston's mother was crazy and did questionable things to stay relevant

Other than Kane and Jude Violet seems to be his closest friend

Preston's arrogance about his appearance is an act to some degree

Marcus meets Preston and Violet after a match and basically has a whole jealousy crisis (seeing this after knowing their related is hilarious)

Marcus's eyes light up from their dead state when Preston speaks to him (melting in a corner don't mind me)

Marcus striaght up tells Violet that calling Preston calling her smile beautiful is a death wish

Marcus' knuckles are bruised when he meets Pres and Violet

Marcus rips Preston's hand off Violet

Preston baically says the Marcus doesn't know when to quit so this still during the run away phase.

Preston admits to not wanting to kill Marcus (awwww. The way he even tries to make it an insult)

Preston chokes Marcus to make him shut up when he hints too much at their relationship

Preston is spiralling a bit now, being more risky with his own life etc.. (dyring the warriors game which is a bit after the last encounter with Marcus)

During the picnic Preston's eyes are dimmed (is this the good luck babe phase? OMG this happens right before his fake out death. HOLYYY. I'm gonna cry so fucking much)

Preston get's shot at by the hitman after Violet right after realising he and Violet are related

Marcus was there during the picnic hiding (as shown in the art below and from Violet's observations)

Marcus showed up when Preston was shot and tried to save him so when he goes to the hospital he's covered in blood

Marcus becomes completely blank while Preston is in surgery, (in my opinon it's like his body is a soulless husk) The thing giving him life (Preston) is just gone, but when arguing for Preston angry sparks come back (genuinly bawled my eyes out when I reread this, like I am not emotionally built for this shit)

Marcus is enraged by Preston's dad

Marcus blames Jude for Preston getting shot (he's projecting, most likely is actually blaming himself) and also very much blames Violet

Preston and Marcus are very much broken up when his death is faked (will do a theory post on that)

Marcus screams about how their all lying about Preston's death and fights the guards escorting him out

It takes four men to get him out of hospital

when Marcus hears about the death he's like an "injured animal"

Preston's funeral is four days after his death

Preston's sister hugged the casket and cried at Preston's funeral so they have a good relationship

Kane, Jude, Violet and Marcus are the only real mourners

Marcus looks unaffected at Preston's funeral but looks like he hasn't slept in days

Marcus only got to go to the funeral cause his dad got involved meaning he probably has joined the Osborn family offcially

Preston and Jude considered eachother brothers

Preston the most selfless person on the inside (most likely for only the people he loves but it still counts)

Preston's dad does love him in some twisted way

Marguerite Armstrong was the one targetting Violet and hence 'killed' Preston

Marcus found the gun man who 'killed' Preston and crucified him, carved his face and etched letters on him + scattered candy

The gunman's death was mourning as much as vengenance

Marcus continously slashed Marguerite and disfigured her face

Marcus was in a trance as he killed her, "completely controlled and unbothered" and only got out of it when Jude snapped at him

There was pure bloodlust in his eyes at first after this

He smiled at them too slowly and he was completely crazed

Marcus was whispering to himself as he killed her

Marcus flinches at Preston's name

Marcus doesn't take anything personal except his family but he took Preston's death personally "too personally" as Kane says (NO SUCH THING MARCUS)

Marcus killed Preston's killers because they took Preston from him

Kane knew about their relationship to some degree

Kane doesn't let Jude hurt Marcus because Preston wouldn't like that

Kane says Preston would have reacted the same to Marcus dying

Preston announces his lack of being in a grave at an after practice party

Preston was in a medically induced coma the whole time and it was his dad's idea

Preston loses his humour, laughs in a manic way (not happy or mocking) when he finds out Marcus killed his 'killers' (I have a theory coming on this)

Jude is also aware of Preston and Marcus' relationship and is going to do everything to protect Preston from Vencor since it's a killable offense (biggest bull I've ever heard, you show em Preston)

Lawrence and Preston are the only members of the Armstrong's Dahlia likes so as hinted at earlier Preston's dad may not be all bad, though Jude does say maybe on thisC=

TV soundtrack opener is "Girl With One Eye" - Florence + The Machine

Preston fights the attraction tooth and nail

Marcus has a "Good Luck, Babe!" era

PresMarc relationship song is "Fuck Me Like You Hate Me" by Jutes

Preston's song is :Popular Monster" by Falling In Reverse

TV is dark emotionally

TV spans most of SV and all of BV

PresMarc description emojis are 🥹😒😏🙃🙂🥵😵😭

Preston is dominant in the relationship

Marcus is dominant in bed

The candy has meaning for Marcus and Preston

There is more protective Jude in TV

Obssesed by Kami Kehoe describes them

"THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND" by Bad Omens was used on a story about them so possibly on the playlist

Preston tells himself he'll be calm around Marcus all the time and then well Marcus is Marcus (GOD I LOVE THEM)

TEMPTING VENOM TROPES: HOLYYYYYYY I HAVE BEEN WAITING PRAYING LOSING MY MIND AN DOMGH YIGGYDLYILIYLBDEYHIBDHIBBH: Crashout over:

Unhinged Chaos x Unhinged Calm (If you ask my Marcus is calm, Preston is chaos)

Rivals to lovers

Hockey Romance

Power Dynamic (I'm curious about this, we know the basic domination but I'm curious about what stands out so much that it's a trope since I don't think this is just bed)

Secret Relationship (the angst is angsting)

Bi-awakening (So 2 options here. this is either Preston's bi awakening which he fights or Preston always knew and just always fought and it's Marcus' bi-awakening.

274. Marcus asks "can I see you tonight?" and Preston in his own way seems to want to save Marcus from their doomed relationship at least that's my interpretation of Rina's tiktok

275. Marcus chased Preston according to Rina’s TikTok which was proven by a previous insta q and a as well

276. At the very beginning of TV Marcus grabs Preston’s hair in the middle of rink while he holds some kind of alcohol and just MY BRAIN FUCKING SHORT CORCUITED OMGGGGHHSHAHEHWKWK

277. They have an I can fix him type relationship presumably Marcus towards Preston

278. TV’s top 5 horror stories,

Stay away from me Marcus - WHATTTT I CAN’t I CAN’T WHHYYYYY THIS IS POST DEATH I’M BETTING RIGHT NOW

Mommy….?Daddy….? - this is going to kill me I genuinly don’t know who this is

i need to end it before it ends me - so this why Preston gets self destructive GODDDDD RINA R U GOING TO MURDER UR FANDOM

It’s better like this believe me - I just….second act break up?😭

we tried our best….- no. No the fight is not over don’t u fucking say that

279. Marcus knows Preston’s head inside out (Marcus also thinks Preston’s adorable when sprouting murder/torture thoughts we all already knew this but glad to see it acknowledged)

280. The audiobook teaser scene is pivotal to the nature of their relationship (from Marcus’s commentary this is the switch from hate fuck to acknowledging the feelings idk whether it’s from both ends though)

281. audiobook teaser is the first time Preston calls Marcus Marcus

282. Preston’s arm is tattooed and the centre of his chest.

283. Blow Hoodtrap/mylan core was used in the art TikTok so it is possibly on their playlist

284. Preston stole Marcus’s skates

285. Preston and maybe Marcus broke their hockey sticks

286. art 2 depicts a scene with the words, Marcus: what are you doing here, Preston?

Preston: Isn’t this where you wanted me?

287. art 2 is confirmed angst (art 2 of TV not including SV’s)

288. Marcus says “this is one way to show you miss me my prince” and the hair pull is very important + Preston think in he can actually pull one over Marcus when his hair is being pullled - Rina TikTok commentary for art work 1

289. Art work 1 happens during the denial phase from Preston’s part

290. Preston doesn’t believe Marcus can love him and that he’s fucked up (I had to throw my fucking phone across my bed cause I was about to cry it didn’t help btw, I still cried💀)

291. Preston pins Marcus (and chokes him) in the back of the club presumably after the club scene

292. Marcus has always been mesmerised by Preston

293. Preston has two other tattoos that are not the snake and since Rina only mentioned one on his chest I’m betting the second one is the one Preston gets for Marcus

294. Marcus is a lone wolf (no friends)

295. Marcus says to Preston "there you are my prince" and this scene is compared to the scene in BV where Kane says the whole winter spiel and SV where Jude says he's Violet's monster

a timeline courtesy of @littlemuse13

Official art of the picnic where Preston got shot from the SV art collection. Marcus is legit hiding in the trees lol.

so I kinda was avoiding Rina's socials cause I was super anxious about this list and then I saw the tropes etc... on tiktok proceeded to get an anxiety attack then spent 3+ hours finishing the list. That's what I call ✨motivation✨

THIS ART IS JUST SOOOOO FUCKING PERFECT.

THE CLUB SCENE ART (DYING OVER HERE)

MARCUS BEING EMBODYING THE HEART EYE EMOJI ON HIS FACE

Malabarian Pit Viper (Craspedocephalus malabaricus)