#;you have to give them what they need to survive | ekko ;

[jynxd]

In a box set on top of Ekko's workbench is a set of new tools. Spanners, screwdrivers, hammers, forceps, and a new pair of gloves, all packed into a neat, leather roll. They look like they were made in Zaun, with the telltale brass filigree and purple leather handles. Attached to them is a note:

"Happy Snowdown, Ekko. Create and improve. -Viktor" (@mxchineherald)

Perhaps more than most areas of Zaun, Snowdown was important to the Firelights. Every single one of them had lost someone, whether it be to enforcers, silco, shimmer...They needed something that provided hope for them. As such they had gathered around the tree, passing around home made gifts for each other.

The children were the most excited, eager to play with their toys. Ekko had made something special for Trinket, too. A little locket, that played a little tune when opened. Everyone got something, except Ekko, who never asked for anything. All he ever needed was his found family. Of course that didn't stop Scar from leaving something in his coat pocket, a note which made him chuckle a bit as he sat at his workbench.

It was then that he noticed the gift from Viktor, tools... He smiled, wondering where he had been, after all he hadn't seen him around the gathering. Ekko looked at each tool. "Thanks my man, I'm sure I'll make good use of these." He sat the wrench he'd been holding down, glancing back at the hoverboard he had set on the table VIktor occasionally sat at, one custom made for him. He would make a point to give it to him later.

[adventures-written]

;; Alright, two muses added:

Viktor and Ekko from Arcane.

Please review the Muse List, everyone that was there before still is. Now to reblog some prompts :3

[soft-beams]

piercer!vi x f!reader, modern day

you come in for a piercing and vi's instantly smitten.

You're so pretty when you walk in, bubbly and sparking with energy that's hard to find these days. You smile at everyone, pulling them into your orbit with only a few words. Even the receptionist, known hater of everything, melts at your presence, and that has Vi wondering:

What the fuck are you doing here?

You're flickering through a magazine when Ekko approaches her, a knowing look on his face as he feigns a cough. It barely works to drag her attention away from you, and Ekko laughs when Vi tries to look at him and you at once.

"You're such a disaster," he laments and evades the incoming headlock Vi aims his way. "It's like you've never seen a beautiful person before. Do you know how lame you look?"

"Fuck off," Vi says, but it's lacking heat. "I've seen many beautiful people. Do you know how many hotties I pierce in a day?"

"And yet I've never seen you drooling over them," Ekko replies and shit, he's got her there. "Well, because I'm such a good friend, I'm gonna let you pierce her."

Vi tries not to seem too excited at the prospect. She's already been too much of a loser in front of Ekko already.

"Okay?" She shrugs, feigning nonchalance. "And what piercing is she getting today?"

Ekko smiles innocently. "Nipple piercing."

Oh, shit.

"Vi, she's ready for you," the receptionist says, poking their head around Vi's room. "So get off your ass and attend to her already."

Vi raises a brow. "You usually don't give a shit if I'm late or not with my clients." She replies, a little stunned. She then grows even more stunned when she sees the receptionist's cheeks turn a slight pink. "Oh my god—"

"Fuck off." They hiss before they're storming away and that, in itself, shows just how powerful you are.

"I'm not gonna survive this appointment, am I?" Vi says weakly, already knowing her fate.

Ekko snorts. "Good luck, buddy."

Vi's gonna need it.

~~~~~~~

It isn't long before you're seated in Vi's room, all comfy and relaxed like you owned the place. You smile when Vi appears back in the room, after having taken the time to compose herself.

"So I know what you want from your form," Vi says after sitting down in her stool. "But I like to hear from the cilent themselves. What's made you want to get a nipple piercing?"

You think about it for a second, pretty lips pursed in thought as your gaze wanders up to the ceiling. Goodness, it's such an innocent gesture, yet Vi's here kind of losing her mind over it.

"I wanted to do something I normally wouldn't do," you finally answer. "I've been kinda clean-cut my whole life. Not because I wanted to but because I had no choice." You give a small laugh, the sound a little rueful. "So when I moved out, I went a little off the deep end and fuck, it was nice. I got my ears pierced for the first time." You gesture to the three piecings you have on each ear. "And got a tattoo, but those weren't enough so my friend recommended another piercing."

Vi hums, sympathetic to your story before she's grinning. "And your friend recommended nipple piercings?"

There's a sudden shift in your demeanor; the confidence and ease you once had simmering down to something else. Something more delicate and awkward; a little embarrassed.

"Actually," you start softly, eyes lowered. "I made the decision..." You fiddle with your hands in your lap. "I heard that getting your nipples pierced made them more sensitive and...I wanted to see if that was true..."

Vi swallows heavily, her breathing suddenly deepening at your confession.

This isn't the first time a client has said they're getting a piercing for sensation. Vi's pierced more body parts than she can count, a lot of them beneath the belt. It's never affected her because, after all, the bodies she sees are simply bodies. They're nothing more than that, and there's no feelings attached to it.

Yeah, she's been appreciative of the bodies she sees, but it's like appreciating art.

This, on the other hand, is different because she knows she's attracted to you. Since the moment she saw you in the waiting room, laughing with the staff and sitting elegantly as you flipped through magazines. You're exactly what she's into, and the fact that she's about to touch you is driving her a bit crazy.

She takes a deep breath, deciding to speak now because she's been silent for too long. To the point she can see you fidgeting anxiously.

"Hey, that's absolutely valid," she assures you quickly, lips quirked up in a smile. "You're within your rights as a person to explore yourself and have these experiences. Especially when you weren't allowed to have them." Her smile turns cheeky. "And I can say that nipple piercings do make the nipples more sensitive, so you'll really enjoy them."

Your eyes widen at her implication, shooting down momentarily to her chest, before you're murmuring a soft, "oh."

Fuck, you're too cute.

"Okay," Vi starts, drawing away from this moment because she needs to focus. "So I'm gonna need you to take off your top so I can see what I'm working with."

You give a slight chuckle as you go to take off your top. "Charming," you tease, and Vi winks.

"It's a part of the pack—" she starts to say but stops short when your top's finally off and to the side. "���age..."

You blink, tilting your head to the side as you say, "Vi, are you okay?"

No, she's not.

No, because she's just come face to chest with the most perfect tits she's ever seen.

a.n: yes, there will be a part two

[neon-sunsets]

it’s actually insane to me in retrospect that viktor got the arc he did. I need to go back and count his screen time minutes, but it’s clear that he’s up there numerically, and his story has so much weight within the narrative outside of just numbers as well.

beyond that, though, is the fact that viktor's narrative is fundamentally one about internalized ableism and the systemic structures that encourage it.

(obligatory disclaimer #1 that I have a significant mobility disability and a progressive chronic illness, but I am only one disabled person.)

imagine this: you are a child. you are disabled. the world you live in is one where you cannot afford healthcare; no one is there to teach you how to even use your cane correctly. your world is inaccessible and, worse, even the people who would normally show class solidarity with you don't, because you are not even able to do what they expect from you. characters like vi, powder, claggor, ekko, and mylo are all shown care and solidarity that viktor isn't — because they are able-bodied and therefore able to "pull their own weight."

this, at least, is an environment that can probably be overcome or mitigated by age and meeting people in your community who do care about you. this is an environment comparable to that of many, many, many disabled people who manage to thrive in a deeply unfair and ableist world.

but then you encounter a man who sees that you have talent and tells you as much. he does not ask much of you and he does not care that you are disabled. all he asks is for some help, which you give, and in return he teaches you the things he knows. what comes of this, after all is said and done and your understanding of the world has been fundamentally changed, is that you do have something you can give to your community, to the world. you have a talent which you can use to make yourself useful. you're not strong or sturdy but you can make machines, and that is always in need.

but you can't skate by on being useful like a normal child. the onus is always on you to prove that you're worth the air you breathe and the space you take up, that it's worthwhile to keep you alive. and the place to go to make yourself the most useful, where the most change can be made, is not a place you have any traditional way of accessing. you, through tenacity and grit, manage to get there anyways. (the show doesn't depict this, but any way viktor would have managed to get to the academy would have involved significant difficulty and possibly deception).

and when you get there, to that towering city of bronze, you find that nothing you do actually matters all that much.

everyone looks at you and sees your disability. everyone looks at you and sees where you're from. no matter how smart or accomplished or helpful you are, your behavior will always be, in their eyes, representative of your people. you could handle the stares, the rejection. but their judgement is dangerous to you and your people.

so, in order to survive, you must be perfect. you must project confidence or at least indifference to their cruelty. you must do as you're told and accept meager promotions and toil away as an assistant. you might be the only disabled zaunite they'll ever meet, so you have to make it count. if you fail, if they decide everyone from the undercity is lazy and useless, it's your fault.

you tell yourself you won't let them get to you. you tell yourself that you believe in your abilities.

it's a convenient narrative, and it's wholly untrue.

you, after all, are only a human being. a lifetime of the chips stacked against you is nearly impossible to overcome.

and so the image you build of yourself is that of a man far more self-confident than you, one who is quiet and reserved but proud of his accomplishments. the man you actually are, though, is one desperate for acceptance. desperate to assimilate. you chase your dreams, yes, but you can't bear to take credit, can't bear to be the face of them. you don't let yourself get close to anyone except the man you've built all of this with, who you love more than anyone else. you don't let anyone touch you (except him) and you don't touch anyone. you convince yourself you don't deserve his love or anyone's, that you're not whole enough for that.

you take it so far that, when you finally have the technology you think can cure your terminal illness, the first thing you try to fix is your leg. not the thing eating at your lungs and cutting short the time you thought you had, but the leg which has marked you as Other your entire life. and even though it doesn't quite work, even though it still causes you pain with every step, you force yourself to run on it — faster and faster until you're outrunning the ships and screaming because you may have visibly "fixed" your leg but it still hurts the same.

and when the system is not only oppressive in the material sense but also set up to make you hate yourself, there is almost no escaping this cycle of self-hatred. throw in the fact that in season 2 viktor keeps getting tossed from resurrection to resurrection against his will and it's no wonder the man did the things he did. it doesn't excuse them by any means, but arcane is not interested in excuses — it's interested in what makes people do the things they do. everything that he did to the people in the commune was a reflection of his own self-hatred, both because he still possessed it after death but also because, since he was programming the hexcore to try and save his life but started with "fixing" his leg, it is designed to make people as physically "normal" as possible. the faceless, identical machine people are a metaphorical representation of the ideology viktor has bought into in his pursuit of self-hatred and internalized ableism. his whole arc across both seasons is a demonstration and condemnation of the ways that systems of oppression reinforce self-hatred in the people they are oppressing.

obligatory disclaimer #2 that I don't think arcane did everything right. I'm frustrated with the direction of season 2 away from the piltover/zaun class conflict and towards the broader league of legends universe. but I do think, as a disabled person with a very similar experience of my disability to viktor, that this arc is well-done and very compelling. in the end, what saves the world is viktor accepting that he is deserving of being loved. I'm going to be thinking about this one for a good long while.

[jynxd]

Despite having empathy in regards to the emotions around him, Ekko was surprisingly blind when it came to his own at times. Or rather he neglected them, suppressed personal feelings for the most part so that others took priority. This wasn’t dis-similar from when he relied on shimmer, always chasing the next dose so he wouldn’t have to feel the pain of everything. A nasty habit he was sure would never drop, regardless of sobriety. Perhaps that’s exactly what led to this. Unprocessed trauma affecting his entire way of living.

"This isn't just feelings, Viktor. It's trauma, and trust me, people like me? Trauma has followed us most of our lives. And unlike topside, we don't have ways of dealing with it." Viktor was right, though, this was something his mind was trying to force to the forefront, to get him to understand. However, Ekko calmed down on the exterior, hiding the pain he felt at not knowing why. Until Viktor answered his question.

"Interesting, I think I remember Benzo talking about you once or twice. Talked about how there was a brown hair boy that I reminded him of." A smile final broke through as he let out a chuckle. "He was always looking forward to seeing you again."

Ekko went quiet and just as soon as the smile had arrived, it disappeared, replaced by a pained look. "That night of the revolution, 16 years ago, I lost my parents on the bridge. Benzo, took me in and raised me like I was his own." The firelight felt a tear run down his cheek, quickly trying to wipe it away as if to hide it from Viktor as his body shrunk in a bit. "He was the only father I had left before Silco took him away from me."

Maybe if he hadn't sent his siblings on that job, things would have turned out differently. His whole family would still be alive and thriving... "I chased shimmer for years after that, trying to tuck that pain away like it was never there. Got hooked on the stuff because it did its job too well, and now it coming back to bite me in the butt."

 The hesitation was natural, he supposed. When looking right into the face of a dead loved one, it was hard to trust something so simple to work. Viktor was a patient man, and didn’t flinch at the doubt. “It’s alright, Ekko. Just try, and you will know that your eyes are playing tricks on you,” he assured calmly, his hand still staying steady against Ekko’s shoulder.

 The other placed his hand against Viktor’s cheek, feeling warm in comparison to his skin, chilled from poor circulation and low oxygen. He waited, using his other hand to reach up and gently rest over Ekko’s while pinning his crutch under his arm. “There. See? You can trust yourself, again.”

 Once Ekko was looking at him – not Benzo – he took his hands back gently, letting his free hand fall back to his side while the other returned to holding the handle of his crutch. “It is alright. I do not think any differently of you for it. Our minds… They have unique ways of processing feelings we don’t understand.” He adjusted his stance to be more comfortable on his right hip.

 The question made Viktor pause before shrugging a his right shoulder. “I knew him through my parents, mostly. We would go to his shop to sell our inventions and buy scrap to restore and repair.” He smiled fondly at the memories playing in his head – how Benzo would always ruffle his already messy hair to make it a nest of tussled fluff. “When we had to move to the Pools, we stopped going as often. I was probably at the Academy by the time you knew him.” He was guessing ages, at this point, but he had no other reason for why he’d never met Ekko before.

 “… You were close to him, yes?” he dared to ask, hoping the recollection wouldn’t be too painful. “Who was he to you?”

[jayktoralldaylong]

One of my favourite things about Arcane is that all the couples can be read as toxic, which is GREAT.

I'm tired of people bringing morality debates into dark media. Let dark media be fucking dark. You guys wouldn't survive a day in the TMA fandom, needing everyone to be as good as gold. How are they going to make for enjoyable complex characters if they're not morally grey. In fact, I wish there'd been more expansion on just how morally black they can become!

"CaitVi is so toxic" According to lesbian statistics, that sounds just about accurate. 💀 Heck, I wish Caitlyn had done more (Not really, but it would have been nice to further explore the darkness in her heart). Isn't it adorable how she immediately folded as soon as Vi called her cupcake? Caitlyn's like one of those villains that will consistently do the most....until it comes to someone else hurting her girlfriend. The only one allowed to hurt her girlfriend is her. 💀

Then let's talk about Vi. Someone pointed out how Vi never cared about Zaun's independence in the first place and many people yelled that they were wrong. But actually, they were right. Vi never wanted Zaun. Zaun was Silco's dream, and Jinx inherited that dream cause Silco would never shut up about it. Vi wanted Piltover to take responsibility for all the shit they allowed to happen in the Undercity. That's a part of the reason she joined up with Caitlyn in the first place. Let's not forget she wasn't dissuaded when she dragged Jayce down to fight with her and he killed a child. Children been dying, it's been her whole life. Someone needed to do something about it, and Zaun would have just isolated the people from all the privileges that Piltover SHOULD have been providing for them. Some people just can't accept that Independence cannot in fact solve every problem, and sometimes independence is colonisers running away from the responsibility of fixing the mess that they started in the first place.

Besides, we all know Vi joined up with the Enforcers because "I feel like I am worthless if I can't be of service." She'd already run out of family members to serve, Caitlyn was the next best thing. She's just like Jayce.

And speaking of Jayce, let's talk about his violent levels of codependency with anyone who'll give him attention. People LOOOOVE to talk about Mel, but it's there with Viktor too. When bro wasn't basing his worth on his inventions, he was centering it around Viktor.

Viktor who decided at some point in his life that he would not LIVE without Jayce. He was fine dying without him, but living without him was unacceptable. Oh how healthy. 🙄😂 Viktor be the kind of toxic ex to threaten divorce 500 times over, then burn the world when you actually leave him. Jayce is no better cause he's the kind of guy to keep going back to his toxic Ex.

Yes, Mel is manipulative. That's what I love about her. How are you guys failing to give this woman the praise of being an outsider in Piltover, but running their entire council. 💀 Girl raises her hand once and the whole government starts spinning. She was the best sugar mummy Jayce and Viktor could ever ask for. She kept the whole city running. Literally the entire of Piltover dancing on her palm. And yes she manipulated Jayce but let's not forget she thought that was a love language. 💀 You wanna be mad at someone, be mad at Ambessa for raising her that way.

I also don't think it's fair to blame her for the Undercity situation, she's not native. Monkey see, monkey do, and not a single one of those Council members actually cared about the situation down there, it was deplorable. 💀 Jayce did way more in his two weeks as Councillor than any of those drug pushing, money laundering, Piltovian heads of government.

And that just covers MelJayVik, we don't even need to get fully into TimeBomb, cause we know what's wrong there. 💀 Surely we have not forgotten the many teammates Jinx has killed, but making sure to never kill Ekko cause that's her man. Ekko has a lot to unpack, like how his consistent and unwavering love for Jinx is an indication of a lot of doors he might not be ready to open. I know they dynamics go crazy and I love to see it.

Ambessa and Sevika are a crack ship but I'm sure we all know bedroom dynamics go crazy with Mrs. Warlord and Miss Liberation. I love it when characters clash in a toxic heap. It's insane and should be explored.

Quit saintifying my toxic ships with your woke morality debates. If you want everyone to be sunshine and rainbows then you should be watching literally anything else. 💀 "It's not healthy." GOOD, I like it that way. 💀 Angst, spice and trauma are the recipe for a plethora of explorative fanfiction. Any of their dynamics can be taken in any toxic direction and I want that EXPLORED.

[birdaquarius]

It's not enough to give people what they need to survive, you have to give them what they need to live.

EKKO in ARCANE: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS (2021—2024)

[kirislovelygf]

make us proud (sevika x reader)

warning!! season ii act iii spoilers ahead!! read at ur own risk :)

contents: you and sevika are dating. takes place post piltover-noxian war (act 3) jinx is gone :( but isha is alive!! you, sevika, and isha are a little family. nicknames, fluff, arguments, sevika's stubborn but she loves you a lot so

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

the war between piltover and the noxians was brutal. zaunites bled in a fight that wasn’t theirs. but piltover and zaun become united as they once were and defeat the enemies now there’s a bright future for zaunites. 

when caitlyn invited sevika to the kiramann house, she was scared. her first thought was she was about to be arrested.

she held the letter in her hand and i asked to read it. it sounded much better on paper than how she reacted. 

“maybe she wants to settle some treaty.” i said to her. she walked behind the bar and pulled out a bottle of whiskey only god knows how old. 

“don’t make me laugh.” she grumbled. she pulled out a glass and then struggled to pull the cork off the bottle. 

i sighed and took the bottle from her, pulling the cork off with ease. “let’s just go and hear her out. she thanked you after the battle, remember?” i said, pouring the heavy whiskey into the glass. 

“i could've done that..” she muttered. “please, let’s go. i’ll come with-” 

“no.” she said. 

i scoffed. “just like that?” 

“what if she gets you arrested too? i’m not gonna break you out, i’m telling you now.” she said, raising the glass to her lips. 

i sighed out. “what if she wants to help us? she wouldn't be asking us to go to her house if she wanted to arrest us, she would have sent enforcers down here by now.” i said. 

she scrunched her face slightly from the drink before putting it down. she stared at the ground, ideas and thoughts and possibilities conflicting. 

“it says she wants to talk to you about something new and.. innovative. says you have the sense of leadersh- did you even read this whole thing?” i snapped before looking at the paper again. 

she rolled her eyes. “i might have skimmed it..” she mumbled. i looked at her again.

“vika, this could be life-changing. we have to go.” i said. she let out a heavy sigh. 

“this is the opportunity you’ve been fighting your whole life for.” i said to her. she looks up at me slightly. 

she sighs out heavily before downing the rest of the whiskey and nodding. “okay, i'll go.” 

i smield. “yes!” i clapped my hands together, to which she rolled her eyes to. 

“i don’t know how you survived that battle.” 

“and killed more noxians than you. alright, let’s go!” i jumped off the bar stool and ran out the bar. 

we went to the kiramann house together and caitlyn and vi greeted us at the front steps. 

i wnet and hugged vi quickly before going back to stand by sevika again. sevika glared them both down while caitlyn rubbed her hands together nervously. 

“thank you so much for coming.” she smiled. i smiled back and looked up at sevika. she just simply nodded. 

“come inside, please.” caitlyn sputtered. vi took her hand and they walk in together. i look at sevika and n judge her to follow. she looked up at the castle-like mansion with awe. 

i don't remember that last time she willingly came up here. 

we followed caitlyn to some lounge area with a fireplace. there was a desk in front of a giant bookshelf. in fact, most of the walls were just tall bookshelves. sunlight poured in from the fancy gold-lined windows. 

“the reason i sent you the letter was first, to thank you for your help. piltover would have fallen if you hadn’t led the zaunites into battle to help us.” she started. 

sevika nods. “it’s our city too” she muttered. “and of course, we have jinx and ekko to thank…” i added. 

vi’s face softens when i mention jinx. but caitlyn quickly diverts the conversation. “yes, of course, well.. the other reason i invited you is because i have a proposition for you.” she said.

she looks at vi. “vi helped me realize i need to use my position to give zaunites a voice. to give you a voice, sevika and y/n.” she said, lookign at us.

sevika and i glance at each other. 

“there’s space on the council for one more councilperson. vi suggested you take the spot, sevika." she said.

“what.” sevika and i gasped. "are you serious?" i asked, lookign at vi. she gives a slight nod.

“you are a symbol of hope and loyalty. you know exactly what zaunites need and how to get rid of shimmer so your people can thrive again.” she said. 

“the council needs someone who has seen the pain firsthand.” she continued. “but it’s.. it’s up to you if you would like to take up the responsibility.. and of course, every councilperson needs an assistant...” she gestures to me. 

“so i don't get a seat on the council?” 

her eyes go wide and she glances at vi. “oh.. um-" vi chuckled softly.

“nah, i’m just fuckin wit ya.” i smiled. she laughed nervously while vi rolled her eyes. 

“well? sevika?” i smiled, looking up at her. she was still in shock from the offer.  

“i think.. i um..” she stuttered. caitlyn nodded. “why don't you take a moment to disuss this? and let me know what you decide." she starts to step out of the room.

"the choice is yours, but i truly do hope you join the council, sevika. you’d help a lot of lives.” she said softly. 

she nods at her and caitlyn left the room, vi walking slowly behind her. i look up at sevika and stand in front of her. i waited for the door to close to talkto sevika.

“vika, you have to say yes!” i whisper-yelled. 

“i can-t.. i don’t- ugh, it's just-” i noticed vi didn’t leave the room and she went and stood by me. 

“did she ask you?” she looks at vi. “i’m not old enough. you gotta be like a hundred.” she joked. 

sevika rolled her eyes and started walking out the door to leave. “vika, she was just kidding!” i said. 

“i'm serious. you think i’m about to become a pawn in piltover’s game? what would our people think if they saw me sitting at that table?” 

i laughed in disbelief. “vika, this is.. so amazingly huge. how can you not see this as a good thing? let me remind you that there has never ever once been a zaunite councilperson. you have the rare chance to make real change.” i continued. 

she keeps her back to me, staring a the door. i look at vi. “say something.”

she sputtered. “uh-sevika, you..” she takes a second to think. “i seriously can’t think of anyone better fit for the job than you. that’s why i suggested to caitlyn it be you.” she said. i nodded and looked to sevika. 

she looks back angrily. “you told her to do this. i bet even a topsider like her would rather die than have someone like me sitting next to her.”

vi sighs. “vika, come on.” i begged. 

“i’ll see you at home.” she muttered. she slams the door behind her and the stomping of her boots fades to silence. vi and i look at each other. 

“i’m sorry.. i thought she’d jump at a chance like this.” i told her. 

“me too.” vi nodded. caitlyn comes back into the room and her face scrunches when she sees that sevika left. 

vi and i look at her carrying a tray of a teapot and four cute teacups “oh!” aw, she’s so cute. 

“uh.. what did she say?” she asked, putting the tray down on the coffee table in front of the fireplace. we walked over to her. 

“she needs a little time to think it over, caitlyn.” i said to her. “oh.. of course. please let her know to take her time.” she nodded 

"i will.." i smiled and couldn't help myself. i jumped into a hug, wrapping my arm tightly around ber. “but thank you, thank you so much!” i said. “you have no idea how much this means for us.” 

she laughs awkwardly but returns the hug. i pull away from her and she holds my hands. “piltover has done enough damage in the lanes. it’s time we pick up the mess one step at a time. and that step is you and sevika.” she said. 

i smiled at her and thanked her again before going to take my leave. i assumed vi was gonna come with but when i looked to see if she was following, her and caitlyn had their foreheads pressed together and then they kissed. 

“aw..” i mumbled before quickly taking my exit. i strode through the messed up streets of piltover and then zaun where the sunlight gradually grew less and less. 

i found sevika at this tent some enforcers set up in the square. people came to get fixed up, get some medicine, to get some rest. 

while i maneuvered my way through e crowds of people in bandages and walking on crushed, i found sevika. 

weirdly enough, physically helping people. she was crouched down in front of a gurney where a little girl was with blue hair was sat. sevika had just finished wrapped a bandage around isha's ankle.

“isha!” i called out. her gorgeous light brown eyes lit up and she jumped off the make-shift gurney to run to me. “aw, my baby!” i laughed out as she jumped into my arms. i held her head gently before pulling back to look atv her. 

i picked her up and saw sevika walking over. “i thought i told you not to run.” she said to isha. she looks down at her ankle. 

“what happened here?” i asked. 

“twisted it running away. thankfully, some of these crazies were sane enough to take her here, where she's been resting the past couple days.” she said. 

i look up at isha’s scratched face. “you’re a brave little one, damn.” i said, shaking her, making her bounce. she laughs and i put her down. she walks back to her gurney and sist where sevika nd i follow her. 

i hung around until sundown and a medic said isha was good to go home. 

sevika and i walked home to my palace while she carried a sleepy isha in her arm. 

“vika, about today..” i started. 

she sighed out. “i know you have no reason to trust caitlyn. or anyone in piltover. none of us do.” i said. 

she stares ahead. “but you can make so much more change while sitting at that table than you have in the last twenty years.” 

“you make me sound way older than i actually am, i just turned 34 like a month ago.” 

i glared at her and sped up so i could stand in front of her. “i’m serious. you’re worried about how people would look at you if you were on the council but why is that a bad thing? i bet zaunites would be ecstatic to see someone just like them get to represent them up there.” 

she blinks and looks down. then her gaze shifts to a sleeping isha. i smiled softly before inching closer to her. 

“you’ll help little girls like her. people like us. don’t you think she deserves more than this?” she looks at our surroundings. 

the dirty alleys, the lanes she grew up in, where we looked death in the eye multiple times. 

hints of shimmer laced on the walls, on the ground, in the air, in the food and water. anyone who was born in the lanes inhaled shimmer at least once, whether on purpose or not. 

sevika looks down at me and nods. “fine. i’ll do it.” 

i smiled. “really?” 

“for her.” she looks at isha as she stirs in her sleep. i cupped her face in my hands, my arms extended since she was so much taller than me. "and for you.. i guess."

she leaned her forehead against mine before i hugged her. she didn't have her mechanical arm anymore, so she just let her head rest on mine. 

the next day, the two of us were standing behind the doors that led to the council room. i’ve never seen sevika so nervous before. 

i step in front of her and move strands of her hair out of the way of her eyes. “you could’ve cleaned up a bit before your first day, vika.” i pat off the lint from her maroon cape, covering her missing arm.

"gotta look your best for these topsiders." i fix her hair a bit again.

she chuckled softly. my hands fell down and held her face. “thank you for convicing me this is a good idea.” 

she hums, leaning into the touch of my palm. i pulled her face down slightly to kiss her, even then having to get on my toes. her hand slips around my waist to pull me closer. 

i pulled away to rest my forehead against hers. i pull away from her and step beside her. 

“i’m not worthy enough to open the doors, a councilwoman has to do it..” i smirked. 

“tch.. come one.” she shakes her head and follows her. she slams open the giant doors. i winced at the sudden sunlight from the giant windows but kept walking behind her. 

i pulled her seat out for her and she nodded as a thank you before taking her seat at the end of a half-circle table. i stood beside her as she took her seat. 

i look around at the other council people, giving us dirty looks. a moment later, caitlyn comes in. 

“everyone, i’d like you to meet our newest member of the council. councilwoman sevika, representing the lanes.” she said, her heeled boots clicking on the polished granite floors. 

“i expect everyone to give her and her assistant a warm welcome.” she said. she comes up to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. 

the council people didn’t look at sevika any differently than before caitlyn walked in. 

“she’ll be taking my place from now on.” she continued.

sevika and i look at each other, neither of us knowing she would do that.

change for the lanes, change for isha, was not about to come easily or quickly.

i wondered what jinx would think of sevika sitting here if she were alive now. and how isha was going to grow up as i watched an airship fly past the council building into the blue sky. 

a/n: OMGGGG i am so proud sevika got a seat at teh council as her ending, i was so proud of her!!!! <33

[misswynters]

Mistletoe

featuring. ekko x reader

apart of the 2024 Christmas Special

‘Tis was the holiday season, and everything around you seemed to shimmer with festive spirit. The streets of Piltover were lit up with twinkling lights that decorated the storefronts, the air crisp with the scent of pine and spices, and the sound of carolers singing filled the background. For you, it was the most magical time of the year. It was a season of warmth, togetherness, and a touch of whimsy that you couldn’t help but love.

And this year, you weren’t alone in celebrating it.

You looked over at Ekko, who was walking beside you, a bit out of place in this festive setting. His usual cocky, confident smile was nowhere to be found, replaced with a mix of curiosity and discomfort as he took in the Christmas decorations. He didn’t quite understand the whole holiday thing, not the way you did. Christmas in Zaun was far from this bright, clean, and cheerful celebration—it was more about surviving, making do, and finding your own joy in the chaos. Piltover was a different world, one that seemed so foreign to Ekko.

Still, despite his usual skepticism, Ekko had promised you that he’d spend the season with you. He’d agreed to take part in all the little traditions you held dear, even if he didn’t fully understand them.

“I don’t get it,” Ekko muttered, looking up at a giant tree in the center of the square, its branches heavy with sparkling ornaments and ribbons. “I mean, this tree is cool, but... what’s the point? Just some big, shiny thing in the middle of town.”

You giggled, nudging him with your shoulder as you both stood on the sidewalk, watching the people bustle around. “It’s not just about the tree. It’s about the tradition, the feeling. You know, the whole spirit of Christmas? People come together, share moments, decorate, give gifts... and it’s all about love and kindness.”

Ekko raised an eyebrow. “And the presents? That’s what I don’t get. People buying stuff for each other just to say they care?”

“Kind of,” you said, grinning at him. “But more than that. It’s about thinking of the other person, showing them you care in ways that don’t have to be big or expensive. It’s the thought behind it.”

He was quiet for a moment, his hand rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the people laughing and chatting in the square. “Guess I can see that. But, uh... I still don’t get the whole Christmas thing.”

You smiled warmly, reaching out to take his hand. “I know. But that’s okay. We’ll make our own Christmas, right? Just you and me.”

His lips twitched into a small, fond smile, his fingers gently curling around yours. “Yeah, alright. As long as it makes you happy.”

You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, feeling your heart flutter a little. Ekko wasn’t the type to go all out with grand gestures or public displays of affection. But his quiet support and willingness to make you happy meant more to you than anything.

Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the two of you were curled up on the couch in your apartment. You had just finished decorating the place with twinkling lights, a few candles, and of course, a small, modest tree you’d picked out together. Ekko had been skeptical about the tree at first but had relented after you explained the tradition behind it. He’d even helped with hanging a few of the ornaments—mostly in a half-hearted, ‘I’m here because you want me to be’ kind of way. But it didn’t matter. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, and for once, it felt like home.

“Okay, now we need to figure out what to do for dinner,” you said, leaning against him, your voice soft. The flickering lights from the tree reflected in your eyes, adding to the cozy feel of the evening.

“Pizza?” Ekko offered, glancing over at you with a small, mischievous grin.

You rolled your eyes, laughing. “Pizza? Really? We can do better than that on Christmas Eve.”

“Alright, alright, I’m just saying... pizza’s easy. And we’ve done it before,” he teased, his tone playful.

You snorted, pushing his shoulder lightly. “We’re doing something festive. Something that feels... special. You’re supposed to be making this the best Christmas ever, remember?”

Ekko pretended to think for a moment, tapping his chin. “Okay, okay... How about a nice dinner, maybe some baked chicken and mashed potatoes?”

You smiled, impressed with his effort. “I like it. But we still need dessert.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical about the whole thing. “Dessert? What kind of dessert are you thinking? Not a cake, right? I’ve never been great with baking.”

“No cake,” you said, grinning. “Maybe cookies, though. The kind with frosting on top.”

“Cookies, huh?” Ekko’s voice softened, and there was something endearing in his eyes as he considered the idea. “Alright. Cookies. I can handle that.”

The two of you spent the next hour preparing your Christmas Eve dinner together, Ekko grumbling good-naturedly while you handled the baking. You took your time, enjoying the process, the hum of quiet laughter, and the warmth of having him beside you. It wasn’t anything grand, but to you, it felt perfect.

After dinner, you both settled back on the couch with mugs of hot cocoa, the room glowing softly from the lights and candles. The snow outside began to fall gently, and you leaned your head on Ekko’s shoulder, content in the silence between you. Even though this holiday was different from what you’d grown up with, there was something so special about sharing it with him. The thought of making new traditions together filled you with warmth.

You sat up after a while, your gaze drifting toward the doorway of the living room. There, hanging innocently above the doorframe, was a sprig of mistletoe—something you’d put up earlier just for fun. It was a tradition you’d kept up in the hopes that, one day, Ekko would kiss you under it. You’d almost forgotten about it until now.

With a mischievous grin, you stood up, walking toward the doorway. “Hey, Ekko,” you called, glancing over your shoulder with a teasing smile.

He lifted his head from his mug, raising an eyebrow. “What’s up?”

“Remember that mistletoe?” you asked, pointing toward the doorway with a playful glint in your eye.

Ekko blinked in confusion for a moment before it seemed to click. He froze, his eyes locking with yours as a blush spread across his cheeks. “Wait... You didn’t mean...”

You stepped closer to him, your grin widening. “I did. Come on, Ekko. It’s tradition.”

He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, his usual confident demeanor faltering. “I... I don’t know, I mean, what if—”

“Ekko,” you said, your voice soft, “It’s just a kiss. It’s Christmas. And... I really want it. I promise it’s not a big deal.”

He looked at you for a long moment, his gaze shifting between your eyes and the mistletoe. There was still a touch of hesitation in his posture, but then, his expression softened. He stood up slowly, closing the distance between you both. His eyes were locked on yours, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

The moment felt suspended in time, and as he leaned in, his lips brushed yours gently, as though testing the waters. But then, with a softness that only he could manage, he kissed you fully, his lips warm against yours. The world seemed to melt away for a moment, leaving just the two of you beneath the mistletoe.

When he pulled back, his eyes were full of something you hadn’t seen before—a quiet tenderness, a warmth that mirrored the Christmas lights around you.

“Happy Christmas, my firefly,” he whispered, his voice soft but sincere.

You smiled, your heart swelling with happiness. “Merry Christmas, Ekko.”

And just like that, it felt like everything had fallen into place. You didn’t need to understand every tradition. You didn’t need a perfect holiday. Because, in that moment, you had everything that mattered: love, warmth, and each other. And that was more than enough.

[dearggntlereader]

Nr.10 Songs that just won't leave your mind ༻¨ : ·.. ｡⋆⍋*｡

Ekko x reader CW: cursing, probs OOC, picture does not represent the readers looks

Ekko doesn’t like Christmas. At least, not anymore.

Christmas isn’t really a thing in the lanes because the adults are too busy surviving with their various forms of trouble, mostly addiction, and the Children don’t remember it from the pre-Silco times.

At his little hide-out Christmas exists.

If you can even call it that.

Scar always does his best but there are no presents because they can’t afford any which means there’s no Santa clause, since Santa’s whole being is based around gifts.

They don’t have a Christmastree, instead decorating their big Tree, not with red and gold baubles or pine cones but with berries tied together on a string and some paper ornaments that scream self-made.

And while there is no snow it’s still so fucking cold, which means Ekko has to work overtime trying to get materials for blankets and to tinker together some form of heating system.

You, however, love Christmas.

Obviously, you prefer the old Christmas. The one where your parents sang Songs with you and held you close while you drank hot cocoa. Where you got a new sweater or fixed Socks, instead of a little kid tugging at your pants.

But how could you hate Christmas when said kid is giving you his small “Christmas Note” that’s really a leaf from the tree with his wiggly handwriting on it telling you that you’ve got a nice smile.

You and scar started a little Tradition everyone gave everyone a note with something nice or told them directly, so each year you spend the days around Christmas reading through your Notes and trying to tell by the handwriting who it’s from.Wic

Apart from that, Christmas means no work. (Except for that one time you had to destroy some Shimmer, last minute)

Ekko completely ignores that rule.

It’s gone so far that you should know not to bother him on Christmas, but you’re dating now which means you actively chose to bother him.

This leads to him working while you’re sitting on his bed, singing some songs you still remember. You stand up as you belt out the song particularly vivid in your memory, “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart! But the very next day, you nah nah nah naah!!”

Maybe not that vivid after all.

As you twirl around mid-song, now dancing next to Ekko, he stops his tinkering. His eyes meet yours and you can just feel the happiness he’s trying to hide behind his annoyance.

“Your voice could scare away Silco himself,” he grumbles, the fondness in his Voice betraying him.

You let out a loud, carefree laugh. The kind that makes you throw your head back and contort your face without thinking of the way you look, “Maybe I need to start bringing a microphone to battles, instead of guns.”

“Maybe you should.”

His soft smile only vanishes when you leave his room hours later to ask Scar a question.

Thank you all for supporting my blog!! As always, I appreciate all comments and reblogs. It's what keeps me going.

Comment to be added to the taglist: @dustie-faerie

[jynxd]

Communication and languages:

Ekko grew up in Zaun, as such he knows and speaks both zaun common and Piltover common. He has also learned even learned to understand all dialects, including vastaya ones as a good part of the population are vastaya. He is not fluent in those but he tries. Needless to say his accent is heavily influenced by this.

He is extremely well versed in none verbal language, too. Studying body language for one, and facial reactions. But he also knows sign language!

The language he is most fluent in, however, is Shuriman. His mother came from Shurima and even though she adapted to Zaun, most of her communication was Shuriman. As such his primary form of verbal communication was that, except when talking to Benzo, and even then he had a thick none zaunite accent then. In fact Benzo always told him “Boy, not everyone here is from Shurima, you’ll have to adapt if you’re ever on your own.”

When his parents passed away, it’s all he spoke, too. But this time it was out of grief. Until eventually Benzo helped him through the trauma, and having a new family. Eventually his accent droped for the most part, from lack of exposure, and a time came where he started speaking it less and less, but never lost the knowledge of it. (This does tie to his vastayan heritage. )

[thenationofzaun]

Character writing in Arcane Season 2: Act 1

I have big issues with the quality of dialogue and characterization so far in Act 1. Characters and conversations have almost zero depth. Examples:

Heimerdinger - Does he know about the Council attack? How does he feel about it? Is he relieved he was voted out beforehand? Does he feel responsible for the attack, in that if he had taken action sooner, Zaun would not have been driven to this level of violence? Does he feel guilty for the deaths of his colleagues? Viktor was almost killed by the attack but got saved by the very Hexcore Heimerdinger hated. What's his reaction to that??

Lol who cares? Let's do goofy Disney channel hijinks by sneaking into a lab with Ekko. He meets Jayce there. Does he express his concern or relief that his former student just survived a Hextech explosion unscathed? Nope!!! Wacky humour time!!!

Ekko - Does Ekko know Jinx killed Silco? If yes, how does he feel about that? Is he shocked? Confused? If he doesn't know, what does he think happened to Silco? What do Zaunites like him make of Silco's death if Jinx got rid of his body? How does he feel about the Council attack? Does he support it or does he think Jinx went too far? Is he on the fence?

Lol who cares? We don't need to know any of this. Let Ekko have goofy scenes with Heimerdinger. Speaking of Heimer, what the fuck is Ekko's opinion on Heimerdinger's criminal negligence of the Undercity for the past two fucking centuries? Because he sure warmed up to that hairball quick. This is an issue that started in Season 1 Episode 8, but I had hopes they would address it in Season 2. I guess not.

Jayce - How does Jayce feel about seeing Heimerdinger again, when their last meeting was Jayce betraying him? We know he felt guilty about it in Season 1 so why was there no inkling of it during their meeting in the lab? Why doesn't Jayce tell Heimer that the Hexcore saved Viktor? The Hexcore having the potential to save Viktor's life was a huge point of contention for them in Season 1 and was partially the reason for Jayce's betrayal, but neither of them mention it. Lol. Viktor wakes up and tells him that Sky was killed by the Hexcore in their lab. Jayce: "Oh no! Anyway..." ?????? No questions as to how and when this happened? No questions as to where Sky's body is? You just learned your employee was fucking killed in your lab a few days ago and this is your reaction?

Vi - How does Vi feel about the fact that the tyrants who killed her parents are dead by Jinx's hand? She herself wanted to take revenge on the Council in the past, so how does she feel now that her little sister's the one who did it? When Caitlyn yaps about avenging her mother's death by killing Jinx, does Vi realize that Jinx's attack was in itself vengeance for their parents' deaths on the bridge? Which were sanctioned by the Council? Will she ever bring this up to Caitlyn? Probably not. What exactly is Vi's opinion on a Zaunite uprising against topside? Does she no longer think it's the right way to go about things?

What does she think happened to Ekko? The last time she saw him, he was fighting Jinx to the death. He could be dead for all she knows. And she doesn't even think about or mention him once. Seems like she doesn't give a shit about Little Man lol. Did the writers forget they are childhood friends?

What eventually drives her to join the enforcers? Could it be concern for her sister, that she somehow thinks the badge would allow her more say in advocating for lesser sentencing? Could it be ideology, that she genuinely believes stricter policing of the Undercity is the way to prevent more Silcos? Lol nope! She's convinced by some rando giving her an ego boost about how Kewl and Badazz she was attacking the factory of child labourers. (A+ manipulation by Caitlyn by the way. What a wholesome and healthy romance Caitvi is turning out to be!)

What causes the rift between Vi and Caitlyn? Could it be Vi's love for Jinx, because as much she tries to convince herself her sister is dead and that Jinx is a different person, deep down she knows that Jinx is still her sister and for all Vi's bluster and rage, she can't bear to see Jinx actually die when push comes to shove? Lol nope!!! She's actually totally okay with a fucking enforcer killing her fucking sister, the exact thing that orphaned them both. Vi only draws the line when a random kid intervenes, after which Caitlyn proceeds to domestically abuse Vi and leave her crying on the floor without looking back.

There is so much detail and nuance missing. This is why almost every scene and conversation feels so empty. Every conversation is comically rushed and not allowed to breathe. The characters' superficial personality traits are there for the most part, but their underlying motivations, feelings, opinions, and desires are completely neglected to fulfill whatever the plot demands them to do.

[arcaneconfessions]

I’ll tell you why I dislike Caitlyn more than Ambessa or Silco, it’s because of the character’s subjective morality. By her own morals, Ambessa is doing what she thinks is right, her Noxian upbringing is a reason about why she feels so strongly about mages (they betray that war makes everyone equal hence they are a threat that must be taken out) and why she thinks softness is nothing but a weakness. Her worldview is shaped by the brutalities of war that she’s constantly exposed to (and engages in) which makes her this incredibly ruthless and cut throat character.

Silco is all about the “base violence necessary for change”, his convictions are shown when he invited Vander to join him DESPITE the brutal attempted drowning because he’s motivated by the “greater good”- for Zaun, he emerged a stronger resilient man after the violence done to him. He’s willing to give up shimmer and himself for the sake of Zaun’s freedom (but not Jinx). What I’m getting at is this: you can’t look at people’s actions in isolation because their environment shapes their morality and decisions, Ambessa because she was born in Noxus, Silco is like this because he was born in Zaun, I’m not justifying them but explaining how distorted their worldview is because of their environment, they don’t exist in a vacuum where they do evil things despite knowing better because it’s shown that they are trying to do good.

Cait is different because she was given everything from breathable air, to a safe place to sleep at night, food and even the ability to choose her own path regardless of her parents disapproval- the kids in Zaun are forced to work and steal to survive. HER PRIVILEGES ARENT HER FAULT AT ALL. In s1 we see that despite having it all, she wants things on her own merit and tries to help despite not needing to. She has an incredibly strong moral centre with deep conviction. Like Vi says “she believes what she’s saying” when she disagrees with Ekko saying that enforcers hunt them like animals and she even backs it up- ex reassessing her opinion of Zaun, willing to give up her rifle within that “dangerous place” to save Vi, embracing a shimmer addict (those branded monsters) simply because he was hurting, using her connections to help Vi etc.  She tells Ekko to give up the gemstone instead of using it to kill Silco because of the cycle of violence, and I believe her since she showed that she isn’t ignoring his pain but giving him better hopes than bloody revenge. 

S2 shows me i was wrong to like the sheltered, sorta prejudiced but kindhearted girl who always strives to be better because her morals are paper thin and just for show. She has direct knowledge of how bad the grey is because Cassandra documents it- shown in the hellfire music video and the fact that Viktor (her brother’s friend) is dying from it even years later. Yet she still uses it on the streets. Gas spreads obviously and chembarons use child labour in their factories (thanks Jayce)- there’s no way to stop third party effects of the grey. Imagine how bad it must be for Zaunites, who breathe in the air that even trees cannot survive in, immediately suffocate and tear up with their eyes turning red?  She controls their right to breathe and she immediately uses it against them, all the while calling them animals knowing the truth. 

She insists that she wouldn’t have missed her shot (ignoring the fact that she DID just miss her shot when she had a clear go at Jinx’s head and went for her middle finger AND that the hextech weapons were glitching out) and used that as justification for being prejudiced against Vi (“I keep telling myself you are different but you are not, it’s her blood in your veins”) and hitting her where she was stabbed- after taking a calming breath, leaving her and not even looking for her afterward. 

And again she ignores the fact that Isha would have been harmed either by being that close to an exploding head (which she knows because she tells Vi to get out the way) or being killed alongside Jinx because their heads were aligned- Vi was not wrong to call her out in the slightest. 

She knows the things she’s been told about Zaun are wrong, that they need healing and understanding rather than condemnation but so quickly switches back- using othering language and prejudice, literally calling them animals and Vi one of the good ones until Vi doesn’t do as she wants then saying that she’s no different. 

btw she has full right to hate jinx, not saying that she needs to be the bigger person (even if she says that to ekko) but there is NO justification for taking that out on Zaun knowing what she knows or Vi for telling the truth.

So yeah both Ambessa and Silco don’t have the luxury of a kind life, they were both shaped by the brutal realities of their environment and that turns them into brutal people. These guys are villains who do awful things, I hold them at different standards because 1) their role in the story and 2) at the very least they are doing what they think is best rather than knowing better and being evil despite it all. Caitlyn knows better, she has seen Zaun firsthand and has the luxury of having a good life and the ability to recognise that privilege and that allows for a stable moral compass and world view. Jinx is not justification for the grey on Zaun’s streets, or hitting Vi for telling the truth- she knows better and doesn’t care. Even then she gives up because she didn’t have the energy to hate herself for doing these things, not because she got her head out of her ass and saw the impact of what she’s doing. It’s to do with her emotions.

.

[sex-tech]

This is gonna probably be a really long post about my thoughts for Act 3 with what has been set up already because I need to shout into the void about this shit LMAO get ready for a WALL of text

Also a fair warning, I'm gonna be talking about so much jayvik/vikjayce in this you don't understand THE HELL I AM GOING THROUGH THERE IS GONNA BE SO MUCH COPIUM IN THIS

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SEASON 2 !!!

Quick mini-review: I feel like a contrarian when I say that I actually preferred Act 2 to Act 1. There were a lot of things set up and a lot of payoffs. I do have issues with the pacing overall; season 1 had much better structure and with the introduction of so much LOL lore in season 2, there are bound to be issues. There were 6 years of production for season 1 vs. 3 years of production for season 2, and it has clearly had an effect on the writing. Some scenes are too quick, some scenes are too slow, some cuts are too abrupt - I feel this is painfully obvious sometimes and talking with my friends about it we all agree that the pacing has suffered immensely.

But other than that, Act 2 has been really playing with my emotions and there are so many moments where I just kept breaking down over the scenes with Jinx, Vi, Vander and Isha. The watercolour-style flashbacks were so incredibly well done and those scenes had a lot of love put into them - props to Studio Fortiche!

I believe there is definitely a time paradox happening of some kind, one where Jayce, Ekko and Heimerdinger are lost in some kind of timeline.

This reflection in this artwork feels like it's hinting at what we will see in Act 3, maybe a different timeline, or the future, and Jayce will end up seeing the outcome of the Arcane. I feel that with how the lore is being changed, they need to give him some purpose or reason to pursue Viktor, to officially make them enemies. Whatever Jayce will see or experience will lead to that - a difference in perspectives and ideals.

Also, this shot, where Jayce returns and we see him glitching in and out, I feel that's a really clear depiction of a paradox, of different timelines converging or something similar. I can just imagine him living through all these different events, surviving something so awful, and now it's destroying him from the inside. He's so traumatized and I will defend him with my whole being.

I'm also a bit worried now about Ekko and Heimerdinger. I'm convinced that the latter won't survive however I'm not so sure about Ekko. I feel that everything being a time paradox would lead really well into him finally receiving his time powers, but as of now I think he is really under-utilized in the series as a whole, more so in season 2, and I'm really hopeful that we will get more screen time with him in Act 3.

Singed's role in this season is huge and it will definitely become even more important in Act 3. The introduction of Orianna, which I thought was so great, as well as the name-drop of "Dr. Reveck" has really set up his motivations. Warwick being his experiment for bringing back his daughter I believe will lead to him experimenting with Viktor.

Warwick's design was confusing to me at first. He felt too human but I think that was intentional - Singed wanted to create him with some humanity, a test, hence he is still more like Vander, still able to feel his love for Jinx and Vi. I believe he will survive, and Singed will get rid of his humanity completely, potentially leading to a more LOL accurate look.

This also brings me to Viktor and his OG lore. I really liked his concept in the game and I will admit, seeing them change it in Arcane worried me. While I really love the design, I was hopeful that we would see Viktor entering his glorious evolution era. But now with his interactions with Singed, with Singed's personal motivation for revival, I believe that there is still hope. Seeing how Orianna is preserved, still human-like, I believe that Singed's discoveries will lead him to recreating Viktor with metal, something closer to what we see in the game, maybe a cursed combination of both Arcane and machine, and I believe he will see it as a breakthrough in bringing Orianna back.

The way he describes it, the way he says, "You must survive, Viktor," a parallel to him saying "the specimen must survive" feels so intentional. He sees the potential in reanimation with how Viktor returned, healed, and this won't be the end of him, not yet, he must survive.

This scene where Viktor asks Singed, "Do you believe in fate?" I believe also points to another thing. Viktor knew very early on what his fate would be. He was accepting of it, he was confused as to why he was alive, and I believe in the scene where Jayce kills him, that look in his eyes was of acceptance. He did not look afraid, he looked at peace - with the idea of different timelines, with Viktor becoming closer to the celestial, he might've already known what would happen, which is why he invites Jayce to meet him. That with him saying, "I've been expecting you, doctor," is another reason I think that Viktor is aware of everything.

With Singed's final words to Viktor, the disdain in Viktor's eyes, the way Sky is looking at Viktor directly, frantic, worried, an expression of dread at the thought of the Arcane dying out completely, of all the progress coming to an end. I still believe the core is manipulating Viktor, that Sky is the personification of it, and that the core is aware of its own evolution reaching its final state, death - like a virus without a host.

And then there was this, the heavy breathing, the gritted teeth, squint in his eyes, the way he drops down - it felt like heartbreak, like guilt. He just murdererd a man, a man that spoke to him as Viktor.

Just this look. He's tired. He's returned from hell and he can see the beginning of the end, he can see Viktor's descent into madness, recognizes it immediately, and he's disappointed. Maybe he'd hoped to see something else.

Also, with Jayce saying, "I thought you were done with Hextech, and me," could imply that this new version of Viktor, remade by Singed, would no longer have a connection the Arcane - he is reforged, he has realized the weakness of flesh and compassion, "it's inescapable," and he will be remade with steel and rage, once again against his will, just like Warwick was. And perhaps, in this dark future, when Jayce finally sees what Viktor becomes, sees Viktor reject him entirely, that he is done with him, is also what makes Jayce spiral.

And now that he has returned, seeing Viktor welcome him with open arms, inviting him to spend time together, to show him what he has uncovered - what must he have seen? What must Viktor have said to him to make him feel so denied and unwanted?

Someone he once loved, someone that broke him, showing him the same gentleness and care he had once before.

"I won't fail. I swear it."

This entire sequence was insane. The different emotions in Jayce's face, the way he's cycling through pain and fear and conviction. The initial shock in his eyes, seeing what his Viktor has become, seeing him in this state, before the corruption - he looks vulnerable, he doesn't fight back, doesn't resist. He has made his promise to Viktor before, and I believe this is another promise to him, a promise to rend his mistake and do right by him. And Jayce looks frightened by his actions, frightened by the sight before him - Viktor looks so exhausted, so sick - I can imagine it reminds Jayce of him before he combined with the Hexcore.

Jayce's entire arc this season is about him gaining more agency, more control of himself despite the way he has been spiraling, whilst for Viktor it's the opposite, he has lost himself to a greater purpose, a perfect mirror to how they were in season 1.

The way their designs mirror them both too, Jayce getting the leg brace, his eyes changing, him being afflicted with the Arcane, Viktor keeping the blanket, keeping a cog that reminds him of the discoveries they made together, one side of it being perfectly clear, the other corrupted, a representation of them - two sides of the same coin.

I believe Viktor's monologue at the end, the scenes with him and Sky in a magical world where he is emoting, showing compassion for those that suffer, his realization that emotion is inescapable, shows that he still feels, even if it is all subdued. His reaction to Jayce killing Salo hurt, he looked pained and yet, as though he expected it - "that isn't Jayce" - it's not his Jayce, not the Jayce that he remembers, the one that he stayed with over shared affections, this is a Jayce ruined by him, and he is yet to see just how much they have and will hurt each other.

Maybe the exquisite chaos he is talking about is his corruption from the future, constantly self-replicating and self-annihilating, something that he has never observed before because it is yet to happen to him. He knows his fate, but not anything beyond that.

A couple final notes:

All the butterfly imagery - Jayce's hammer, the explosion in the mesh(?), the "Talis" butterfly - a symbol of death, rebirth, transformation

The parallels between Jayce and Singed, wanting to keep Viktor alive, creating a monster, and now Jayce having to destroy that which he created, a consequence of him breaking his promise

Viktor appearing as though he is connected to both the void and something celestial, godly, a balance

TLDR; jayvik divorce era will be the death of me, they were made for each other and will be the death of each other

[orestesdreams-pyladesloves]

thinking about the value of community in zaun vs piltover and the way this difference expresses itself through the characters of ekko vs viktor.

viktor who left the undercity who took a chance on himself and his brilliance but is a type of anomaly in piltover, lonely, never quite allowed to find a suitable role for himself due to piltover's views on his origin and disabilities

ekko who despite all the loss and brutality stays and builds a community that is also an anomaly within the the current state of zaun and becoming a leader

both ekko and viktor want to use their talents to help the people of the undercity but it's important to understand that leaving the undercity to do this leaves viktor and his ideals vulnerable due to the lack of community. yes there's heimerdinger, yes there's jayce, but in his pursuit for good, he loses sight of the people as people with hopes and dreams and imperfections while ekko who is entrenched in the daily lives of those around him can't do that

when viktor wields the power of the hexcore, he lifts people up to the ideal (unsustainable) standard he has been pursuing all his life vs ekko's "It's not enough to give people what they need to survive, you have to give them what they need to live."

[mollysunder]

When Ekko tells Heimerdinger, "It's not enough to give people what they need to survive, you have to give them what they need to live", it falls flat to me because Heimerdinger didn't even give Zaun the first part. Heimerdinger and the Council very clearly didn't even give Zaun the bare minimum in terms of support based on the air and water quality alone (nevermind most of Zaun lives in the ground too).

Frankly, the quote applies more to how Heimerdinger treated Topside, overly cautious to prevent the mistakes of the past in a way that can stifle innovation. And it's weird that when Heimerdinger puts it into practice in Zaun it's more him building elaborate toys for children vs utilities that could help out a fledgling community like the Firelights. It's giving neglectful parent that feeds kids sweets to cheer them up instead of cooking a meal.