Top, Impression:

Lucas doesn’t hate Lake per say, just tolerated him to a certain extent in the first few years he and Haiden lived and worked at the Funland. It was mainly Harlan he had beef with and even then it was a rather mild case because Lucas pitied the poor kid as his life was complete hell. That being said, Lucas doesn’t tolerate Harlan’s betrayal of his and Ashley’s friendship and when he tries to kill her, no matter what reasoning he might have, Lucas acts to keep his surrogate sister safe.

Haiden begins developing feelings for Lake in the years that follow, unable to help himself. While Lucas supports the relationship 100%, he can and will make Lake’s life hell if he hurts the closest thing to a father he’s had since coming to the world of Together Again.

Despite this, both Haiden and Lucas are aware that they have a job to do, ensure Ashley survives and the Funland burns. It’s something that causes them a lot of grief and guilt over the years.

Lake is suspicious that somethings up but he doesn’t figure it out in time before the flames consume him.

Middle, Survival:

Despite Ashley’s best efforts, Lake survives the fire. Harlan Magwood may have moved on but Lake is left behind in the ash and ruin of the Funland. Picking his way through the rubble he finds a familiar item, Haiden’s hat, removed by Haiden as a symbol of him severing his ties with the Funland.

Lake is struck by immense grief but most of all confusion, in the last year he has become aware that Haiden has been keeping a massive secret hidden. Their fight on Friday only confirmed it, Haiden is also haunted, by a ghost that seems to know more than he lets on.

Lake doesn’t know how long it’ll be until he finds his beloved Haiden again but he’s willing to wait until then.

In the meantime, he has work to do and a certain demon to get revenge upon.

Bottom, Return:

While visiting their now extended family, Haiden/Lucas comes across a familiar sight. But it should be impossible, they burned the Funland to ash and ruin and him along with it!

But there’s no denying that Lake survived the fire, now seemingly rebranded for the Magic Hour location. This is very unexpected, for Lucas and Haiden will be in uncharted territory now and they fear that they will be unable to help Reagan.

Lake on the other hand has grown more powerful and dangerous than the two know, while his intentions are ultimately good his methods leave much to be desired.

Lake is the Chessmaster now, others merely pawns in his grand game, even the demon who tormented him is a mere pawn. Not that it’s aware of it, too arrogant and content in its role to notice it is being played by a much more superior opponent.

One with one hell of an axe to grind.

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Yes, Haunted Haiden has Haiden x Lake but I needed to do it in a way that made sense to the story. Lake coming back for the Magic Hour in the Haunted Haiden Au was what I came up with, he’s a bit different to @1ts_y0ur_b0y_L4k3_ ’s MH!Lake design.

I call him Chessmaster Lake, the best summery of his nature I can come up with is that he’d be the final boss you’d expect to fight in a long gruelling campaign only for him to politely invite you for tea and a chat. Not that you’d have any choice as he’s a very skilled manipulator and very patient when observing his prey. He’d explain how he manipulated events into where they are now, before offhandedly mentioning that he poisoned your tea.

I’ll go into more detail about Chessmaster Lake once I get a concrete design for him but for now have this vague explanation without the nuances and details.

Haunted Haiden Au, Chessmaster Lake and Lucas (OC) by Me

Together Again by @SirMemphisto_Heisenmorg