An analysis from afar

by Whavey

We had it all, we thought... It was shortly after my promotion when my feelings popped up. It was her that made me feel reborn, warm, safe and most of all, alive. In a period where homophobia was a thing, I wanted her more than I wanted anything. But was the team going to suffer too? (repost from my Wattpad story An Analysis From Afar, account name also Whavey)

17. Chapter 15

Lizzy

To say that we felt like the only thing we deserved at Worlds was to be clapped, was an understatement. We managed to win 1 game against EDG but that was it. 2-1 in the first week and we already felt like we did not belong here. Of course all eyes were on us, I mean, the new guys making it to worlds in their first split was a unique thing, and we were disappointing. Tensions were high, especially when it was clear I was the one underperforming. And while everyone seemed convinced that we would be okay because this was just our first tournament, and I was constantly counterpicked, I feared it was the end of DMF.

Eefje was the only one who managed to talk some sense into me when I was about to lose it. We had just lost to AHQ and I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Eefje was just backstage as she didn't have to do any interviews when I walked in, like zombie. Arms had been around me while Ezra had been searching for Eefje. I was just crying and sobbing while Erik had send everyone away. Ezra managed to smuggle her into the room. She just held me, soothed me, and I was calming down quicker than I ever thought was possible. She just smiled as she held me. "You can do this. You have shown you can when you did the impossible in Berlin and became the Queen of the Jungle. Hell even Jankos is afraid of you. You are known for the off-meta picks. Do whatever feels right." She whispered as I managed to calm down and I just looked in her eyes as she pushed back one of my brown locks. "Relax sweetheart, you got this." She whispers and I smile as I give her a quick kiss. She responds happily and gives me one last hug. "I have to go, I will see you tonight?" She asks and I nod. She gives me a quick peck on the cheek, a small wink before she ran off.

And here we are, week 2. And to be honest, I am not the most confident in myself now. I have been practising some of my more comfort-y picks. And especially now that the team would be more focussed around what would be left for me to pick, I was feeling a bit better than last week. We were 1-2 and while we gave up any tactics, we did get higher and higher in the challenger ladder. We called a last minute team meeting, about two hours before we had the deadline for the startingroster. Sabine and Luis stood in front of us. "We have a plan, and it might be insane, but it could work if you would agree." Sabine starts and Freyja nods. "Liz, you and Aidan swap roles. You both have been playing each other's role a lot in soloqueue and they will never see it coming." Sabine says and the team jumps up in anger. I just look at Aidan and nod. "We'll do it." He says and I nod. "Sabine is right, I have been autofilled into adc a lot, Aidan into jungle, this could work. Just give me a Jinx or Tristana and we'll come a long way." I say and Erik looks at me. "You sure?" He asks and I nod. "We can do this. We have the space to make mistakes since we are probably going out anyways. And who knows? This might work!" I say and Ezra looks at me. "Let's do this then. And let's win them all." He says and I nod.

And thus we walk backstage, smiling at most people but staying focussed. A few are just being curious and a few others stare at us. Back in our game room we started to giggle. "Did you see Perkz' face when we walked by?" Ezra hiccups as Erik stares his way, in that smitten way. "I sadly did see it. He looked like an idiot." I say with a small smile "I think they were told that we had a small roster swap.". Ezra nods and turns to Aidan and Joe. "Y'all okay with how we doin'?" Ezra says in that fake British accent of his, making us all crack up. "Yeah man, we cool." Joe tells him with that playful smile he always has on his face whenever we make a joke. Sabine suddenly turns to me. "Make a "death or victory speech or shall I?" She softly asks and I smile. "I will." I whisper back and she nods. I clap in my hands, getting their attention. "Today is the day, second week at worlds and the last day of our group's play-offs for worlds. While I admit that it will be hard this week to proof that we are Europe's pride, we do have a chance to show the world that we never give up. Not in the face of defeat. Granted, a 1-2 score is not ideal to go into the second week, but remember, we did win a game. If we win at least 2 games today it will probably lead to a tiebreaker for second place, and we can get that second place! Nothing is impossible, not even winning against EDG. And we shall win, even if it is that one pesky little game. We will win a game to show that we don't go down without a fight. We won't go down like G2 at MSI, we will go down as Fnatic in 2014's worlds. Heads up high and knowing that it was hard enough to win against most of these teams. I believe in us and our ability to fight for what we believe." I speech and I see cameras filming from behind as I take a deep breath. "This week is our week, this is the week we show that DMF shall not go down without a fight. LET'S GO!" I scream as I put my hand out, everyone laying their hands on mine. "1, 2, 3, DMF!" We scream and then sit down, looking at the TV. First game, EDG against INTZ was a hyped game. Last week INTZ managed to upset EDG and take the win, but today was different, nothing was left of the confident team that stood last week as EDG managed to shatter their strategy and just crush them into the ground. It wasn't before long that everyone saw their nexus shatter and the shaking of hands. We got up, went through security and walked onto the stage. We were directed to our chairs and I almost sat down on the chair where the jungler sits. Erik quickly pulls me towards the ADC chair and I smile. "Thanks friend." I say and connect my keyboard and mouse. I get comfy, take one of the handwarmers we were handed before we got onto the stage and warm my hands. It takes a while, but we chat away. Mostly about the games, but more about the regular things like food or something. It takes a while, AHQ is having trouble with one of the keyboards malfunctioning, but after 10 minutes we are loading in into the tournament game of Worlds. We keep talking until Sabine's calm and collected voice comes through. "Let's focus, we have to try our best remember?" She says and we nod, as we see the queue turn into the champ select. We sigh as we wait. "Bans?" Erik asks Joe and he sighs. "We have to play comfort pick, but they will ban those because they don't know what we want to play, so we have to ban a few of their out." He says and Sabine hums in agreement. We ban Lee, Darius and Lucian. They ban Shyvana, Jinx and Ahri. Joe looks at us as he gets to pick and lock in. "Who?" He asks and we shrug. "Do yours, Joe." Sabine says and he locks his Gangplank. We immediately see Ezreal and Braum as their lock ins pop up and Erik looks at me. "Any champ you would feel comfortable on?" He asks and I smile. "That Braum means both Ali and Thresh are free, and my Kalista too. That would mess up their lane. Who picks Ezreal and Braum in the same team anyways?" I say and Erik and Ezra snort at the same time. "Second picks?" Sabine asks and Ezra looks my way. "Lock in mine?" He asks and I nod as he locks in my Kalista while Aidan locks in his Ekko. "Ooooh I missed playing this champ." He moans and we all giggle. "C'mon dude, keep it in your pants." Joe teases as Aidan laughs. They pick Olaf and Rumble, leaving their mid open till last second. "What do you prefer m'lord?" I tease Ezra and he looks at their comp. "They'll go Syndra or something mobile, so give me Lux." He says and I lock his in, while Erik locks in his Thresh. "Some hooks never hurt." He says and I smile at him. They lock in Syndra, as Ezra predicted and we load into the game. Early game goes against all odds and we go even, managing to secure me a first blood and a double kill but we had to let Aidan die, who just kept screaming "PUSH PUSH KILL KILL NICEEEE" which had me even more focussed on doing it okay. Warding, CS'ing and all was getting easier and easier as the game progressed since we didn't give them the time to recuperate bot. Sure, they had this whole camping thing down and were doing it okay, but it left us with an opening top and mid to get a lead. After a very even 17 minutes, we made the call to do drake, and actually catching their bot and jungle doing it. A 4v3 with half of their team at half health was no match for us, making sure we could kill them. I just speared the dragon as often as I could and then when I saw everyone was low, I just pulled them out and managed to take down their Olaf and drake. We then turned to mid and started pushing. The sudden overwhelming violence pushed them back, forcing them to play defensive. The Ekko proved invaluable, the sudden engage and then ulti managed to shatter their defence since they tunnelvisioned the Ekko, leaving me and Erik to stomp down the turrets. We had them in a little over 25 minutes. We jumped up in happiness, since we couldn't believe we actually won quite quickly. We shook hands and got back stage, cheering and dancing. We gave back our keyboard and mouse and went to our room, ready to discuss and win more.

EDG and AHQ had been the scariest coming into today's games. They were 2-1 both and had extremely strong teams. We had feared them a lot and with this dominant win over AHQ, we were slightly overestimating our own capabilities. We just rolled over INTZ but the game against EDG took a different turn. It started with a total of 5 ADCs banned, leaving me without a Kalista, Jinx or Kog'maw to play. They had taken my backup plan, Ashe and I was left in a rough spot. So I took Cait, Erik went Morgana and we were just hoping for the best. And it certainly was not that. EDG steamrolled over bot, leaving us without turrets at bot. Joe was camped and Ezra was the only one who was having a ball in mid, just oneshotting everyone who dared to step foot in his lane. It ended up being the sole reason we won. His Syndra turned out to be too powerful to be stopped and managed to stun the whole team in the midst of a teamfight, leaving them prone to our engage comp and I sniped down their top for the ace. Joe had a triple and we had their mid in a chokehold. There were multiple ways for them to turn this around, but every single time we were forced to give up a lane, we took our focus to another lane, playing around with them until either of us made the wrong call. And boy, did they make the worst call that was absolutely possible. They called for baron, exactly while we were warding it and rotating top. Aidan spotted them out and immediately called "BARON NOW" while Erik, Ezra and I rushed over, Joe TP'ing in from base. Three in front of the opening of the baronpit and two behind it turned out to be the single worst call of the game. Erik stunned their Jungler, I killed it with their mid, adc and support and I kept shouting "PENTA PLS PENTA PLS" when Joe managed to bait it into my way, giving me the penta. Everyone screamed "NICUH NICE PUSH MID PUSH MID" while I just sighed "GG ez did not even fear them." We pushed, knocked over their nexus turrets and backed. "Remind me, why are we backing?" Erik asks and I smile. "Because they won't see this coming." I say and Joe snorts. "Oh they will see it coming, just in another way than they expected. Dragon bait or mid team fight bait oh sweet Fed Me." He joked and I smile. "Take them mid, I can go through their jungle." I say and he nods. Within moments the waiting and baiting game begins. We push top and bot onto the base and then group mid, me being as far away as possible. And they take the bait! I just smile and run into the base, killing the inhib in a few shots (Long live the AD life) and make my way to the nexus alone, just me against the nexus. Oddly enough, they don't see it and keep fighting mid. I keep shooting the nexus and hear "They are retreating, kill them now!" from Aidan making me nervous. As the first few get back into the base, I finally finish off the nexus and we jump up, cheering loudly as we hug each other. Aidan and I break away first and make our way over to the EDG guys and shake their hand, giving a slight bow for each one of them. We make our way backstage and are immediately greeted by an overexcited Freyja, Sabine, Oliver and Luis. We hug them and Sabine started to smile. "That last teamfight was so well played! I felt like a proud team mommy!" She laughs and I laugh with her. "We learned from the best!" I say and she smiles.

An hour later we find ourselves on the stage again, this time for the tiebreaker against EDG. The bans are now not all against me but more overall. Last game's Morgana, Ekko and Syndra were banned. I turn to Ezra and I look at him. "Just like old times?" I ask and he nod. "Can we have Akali and Draven?" I ask Sabine and she looks at me. "What would you play with it?" She wonders and I smile. "Erik, if he wants to, Bard or Sona, Aidan something tanky like Gragas and Joe Darius. We have balanced AP/AD and tank stats and they won't see it coming, Ezra picking Akali." I say and she looks at her notes and to the bans. "That might work." She says and I smile. "We are picking Darius first, Ezra and Aidan pick bot, and then Liz and Erik pick Gragas and Akali." She commands and we nod. We hover Teemo for a while before locking in Darius, then see an Irelia lock-in and an Ashe. Ezra looks at me and I look at Erik. "Lock in Bard for me, that with Draven is just stupid and fun." He says and Ezra locks in my Draven and Aiden the Bard. They pick Braum and Lulu. "That's a Lulu mid, please lock in the Akali." Ezra smiles as I lock in his Akali and Erik the Gragas. Their last pick is a not-so-surprising Zac. We load in and wait for the game to start.

Apparently our comp worked, but I say it was their demotivation after we shattered them last time. Within 28 minutes we had their nexus. We rose, congratulated them, and moved backstage. One of the Rioters took me and Aidan out of the group and pushed us back towards the stage where QuickShot stood and as we came closer, he pulled me in a hug and then high-fived Aidan. "Twitter has you guys trending with #Euphoria" he says and I shake my head and laugh. "Oh god, I feel pressured." I say and Aidan rolls his eyes. We hear the analysts going on and on behind their desk on our game and then we hear, finally might I add: "And now we throw it over to QuickShot who stands with Feed Me and I Only Jungle after their brilliant game. QuickShot, take it away." Dash' voice says. "Helloooooooo San Francisco! I stand here with two of the victorious team "Darkness my Friend" who just turned their 1-2 into a 4-2 and won the tiebreaker. Feed Me, first reaction?" He asks and I lift my mic. "Well, to be honest, I thought it would be over after tonight after we underperformed last week, but it seems we have made up what we had in mistakes last week and learned from them, so I am really glad to be the first seed into the quarter finals." I say and Aidan nods. "And I think we had all made peace with the fact that EU was not the strongest region this year, especially since both us and Splyce are new this season and both managed to make it to worlds. But where G2 had a strong pool and Splyce are also struggling with their pool, we managed to stay strong and learn from our, but also our pool's mistakes and turn them into our victory. And that can be hard." He says and QuickShot smiles. "That I cannot argue with. Then to the last game, the tiebreaker. What in the world made you choose Akali against a Lulu?" Trevor asks and I smile. "Well my dear, dear QuickShot, Ezzieboy and I used to do this all the time in soloqueue whenever I would get filled into ADC. His shroud and my ult is the way to bait people and kill them, and we really wanted to do that again, so we did!" I say and Quickshot smiles. "One last question, from everyone in Worlds, even the ones that are already out, who would you want to play against this worlds?" Trevor asks and I smile and answer: "Either SKT or ROX, they seem really strong and I want to see how far we can get against them." I say and Aidan looks at me. "I would like them, but also ANX or FW, they seem strong too and I would like to spar with Likkrit, the strong support he is." Aidan says and Trevor nods. "Thanks a lot! I wish you the best of luck for the rest of worlds, and now back to the analyst desk." He closes off and quickly bids us farewell before running off elsewhere. We walk backstage and quickly grab our stuff to go back to the hotel.