#• Sudden Fight

[hinamie]

back on my free! brainrot

[mamawasatesttube]

you know the plotline in funeral for a friend where lois breaks into cadmus after finding out they stole clark's body, and she's pissed and grieving and so angry that they'd desecrate him in death?

i keep thinking idly about like. some au where in that process, she not only found clark's body strapped onto a lab table and hooked up to computers for all sorts of analysis, but also... she found the results of that research.

like. she's not thinking about secret identities or how to explain her sudden acquisition of a little guy. she just saw a little guy with clark's face in a tube, after being furious beyond measure about the theft and desecration of clark's body. she wasn't thinking about next steps. she just lost her shit and acted. only stopped to think about it later...

... i.e., lois phoning up ma and pa like haha. remember how we were just talking about how ill never get to marry clark and you'll never have grandkids and all that? um. well. there may have been. a development. WHAT? no!!! im not pregnant!! it's. uhhhhh it's. a lot more complicated than that?

ma on the phone: what do you mean? can you start at the beginning, dear?

lois, panicking: What Do You Do With A Child. Teenager. Person. Guy.

anyway here's how conner lane can still win,

[sanji-screenshots]

oh we suddenly got some budget.png

[starry-bi-sky]

The first time disciple Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu meets Liu Qingge, it is during a Bai Zhan peak raid. And what ends up happening is that Shen Qingqiu gets kicked in the jaw with such force he feels his teeth clack together unpleasantly. And frustrated with his situation, the system, and quite frankly a ton of other little things that have been building up over the course of the last few weeks, he feels something snap in the back of his mind like that of a rubber band after being stretched too far.

What ends up happening is that Shen Qingqiu turns and locks onto the very first figure he can see that is dressed in grey-and-white like a homing missile, and then with the force of a twin-tailed mountain tiger, lunges towards said figure with an equally menacing snarl.

He ends up taking the Bai Zhan peak disciple by utter surprise, and they both collide into the ground in a tangle of angry yelling and limbs. What ends up happening is that Liu Qingge gets the subsequent wind knocked out of him and pinned into the dirt by a Qing Jing peak disciple who is filled with the might and fury of a scholar having their peaceful afternoon interrupted and a once-grown-man re-experiencing puberty.

It is with that might and fury that Liu Qingge meets the wild, frenzied eyes of Shen Qingqiu, with his lips pulled back into a truly ferocious scowl. Shen Qingqiu hisses out, with such force it makes his voice rasp, as if he might as well sink his teeth into Liu Qingge's throat and rip it out; "Get the fuck off my mountain."

Liu Qingge is so shocked by -- well, quite a many things, but most importantly the fact that he has been pinned, and the way the sun is bouncing off this boy's face, -- that his brain needs five seconds to reboot. It's five seconds too long, because by the time he registers what just happened, Shen Yuan has clambered off him and disappeared. Gone and thrown himself into the closest dust cloud scuffling in order to unleash the rest of his fury on the other Bai Zhan Peak kids.

Qing Jing Peak experiences an unfortunate uptick in Bai Zhan disciple visits -- specifically of the Liu Qingge variety. Specifically Liu Qingge, actually. Who very much wants to find the boy that managed to get one over on him and demand a rematch. (Or maybe kiss him.)

[classic-blue]

Nature of the Arcane- Positive and Negative Energy

(For reference, Arcane = the series; arcane = the magic) Come help me figure out how the heck the magic system of Arcane works.

What is the anomaly? Why was it born? Why is it that other mages in the series don't seem to cause anomalies, but Hextech does?

I refuse to be content with a magic=good or magic=bad explanation, and Arcane loves to play with nuance. I was trying to sort out my thoughts on why some magic has bad side effects while others don't, and this is where I'm sitting now. My (spit-balled, half-baked, and probably leaking) thesis:

The arcane/using magic has 2 separate outputs: the order you placed (Hextech) and the resulting exhaust (wild runes; the anomaly). Hextech can use runes to control magic, but there's a second output of natural, wild magical energy, that Hextech doesn't account for. Both of these energies can build up, and when they're reunited, they have explosive reactions (see: Mage Viktor's world, the final blip that takes Jayce and Viktor, and possibly various smaller explosions throughout the series).

For example, when positive and negative charges meet, lightning strikes.

Justification below the cut.

Science break! Ever been shocked by static electricity? That's because of a buildup of one charge, say positive, on you, and a buildup of negative charge on another object. Nature loves balance, so when you two touch, the charges discharge in a shock that connects the positive and negative charges and allows them to balance out. Size this idea up big enough, and you get lightning- powerful, fast, and destructive.

More importantly though, you can't just charge positive energy, without also charging negative energy at the same time-  creating one by necessity creates the other, so that there's an overall balance of electricity types (hey look, a metaphor, creating one inevitably leads to the other…).

Let's carry this idea over to the arcane. What if there's a 'positive' magic and a 'negative' magic output?

(Note, I use the electricity words here intentionally- positive/negative do not mean in a cosmic/moral/ethical way, but in a scientific, 'hey we need 2 connected words to separate these concepts' sort of way.)

Positive: Hextech; runes; the intended output. Teleportation, levitation, everything we see it accomplish.

Negative: the wild rune, the anomaly; the unintended output.

And, when the two come together, lightning strikes.

Lightning 1- Viktor vs Ekko's Z-drive. Viktor spends S2 becoming a centralized conduit of 'positive' magic, via the Hexcore and top ups from the crystals under the Hexgates. As the Machine Herald, the claw is continually using runes and doing magic behind him. In short, he's been building up a lot of positive magical energy. When Ekko chucks the Z-drive at him, it's powered by an anomaly, or 'negative' magical energy. Put the two forces together, and let the fireworks happen; a part of the Machine Herald's mask gets struck off in the blast. (But the Z-drive has less negative energy than Viktor's positive, so it doesn't totally wipe him out.)

Lightning 2- Viktor and Jayce's rainbow time. Jayce's acceleration rune might be the negative magical energy in this case (since it travels with him via Mage Viktor's anomaly), paired with the anomaly that Viktor grabbed beneath the Hexgate. That works in opposition to Viktor's compiled positive magical energy via the Hexcore and similar products. With these together, the balance between positive and negative is reached, achieving net neutral magic dispersion, and of course, an implosion that sucks in (or teleports, we can be happy) Jayce and Viktor, ending the conflict.

Perhaps in Mage Viktor's timeline, a similar explosion occurs, resulting in the destruction that we see Jayce traverse in the alternate timeline. But in the main timeline, Jayce and Viktor were able to contain that explosive potential to just themselves, via Jayce's acceleration rune.

"Pass me a tome" Jayce's (quoting Viktor) explanation of the anomaly/wild rune (S2:E3)

Jayce says that Viktor theorized that wild runes are "patterns that would occur naturally where the border between our world and the Arcane is thin." By the theory, wild runes are expressions of magic not quantifiable by traditional runes- natural outputs of magic that are uncontrollable and untamable.

This still works with my positive vs negative theory- it's just that Hextech, and by extension the boys, are only viewing it from the perspective of positive energy (they accessed magic, but really only half of it). From that view, negative charge, which they can't interpret why it's building up or that it even is, might look pretty wild and untamable- however, we see mages control this negative magical energy. Mage Viktor uses the anomaly to send Jayce back to his timeline. The Machine Herald is able to transport it and start to destroy/convert the world.

Because it's still a useable product, so long as you understand what it actually is, I'm not fully content to say that the anomaly is an entirely wild thing, or an unpredictable force. It's possible that Mage Viktor intentionally manipulated it to send Jayce, Ekko, and Heimerdinger to their temporary alternate universes to set in motion events to save the main timeline. I think the anomaly definitely has somewhat volatile characteristics, a bit more chaotic perhaps, but it's still controllable.

(Additionally, Ekko breaks time using both hex shards (assuming they're still in the Z-drive, I'm not sure off the top of my head), and a tiny anomaly. The fact that he's able to control it to a degree also shows that the anomaly is not fully wild and untamable.)

I suppose my overarching feeling is that the anomaly is not necessarily better or worse, or more dangerous, than the 'positive' magic of Hextech- it's just a different, inevitable byproduct of magic use.

Then why don't mages cause anomalies and 'lightning strikes'?

Simple- they know how to account for both positive and negative energy in their spellwork. They know how to equate a balance, so nothing blows up in their faces.

Granted, the only mages we really see in Arcane are Mel, the Black Rose, and Mage Viktor, and the only real discussions we get about magic is from either the Hextech nerds or Heimerdinger, who may not be working with the full picture of how the arcane works. Our sources with regards to actual mage work in Arcane are pretty thin (and I probably need to rewatch Mel's S2 scenes).

But the Black Rose mentions as Mel leaves that (paraphrased) 'it's a dangerous world out there for a solitary mage.' This seems to imply that mages work best in collaboration- perhaps that allows for a balance between positive and negative energies, preventing 'lightning strikes.'

The real point- The Need for Collaboration

While the obvious theme to be drawn from this is the need for balance, another interesting one is the need for collaboration. If mages in Arcane indeed do work together to prevent destructive magical fallout, this again points back to a core element of Arcane's relationships:

Things (magic in particular) work best in collaboration.

That's how the boys crack Hextech

That's how Jinx and Vi start to bring Vander back and reconcile

That's how Viktor and Sky work in the commune

That's how Ekko, Powder, and Heimerdinger crack Hextech again

That's how Caitlyn and Ambessa start to work, and how the lack of honest collaboration exposes Ambessa's selfish gains and weakens Caitlyn emotionally and politically

That's how Mel literally does everything politically (and why her arc narratively suffers when she's on her own against the Black Rose for so long [I still love her tho])

That's how Piltover and Zaun fend off Ambessa's assault

That's how Viktor and Jayce end it- together.

More assorted thoughts on this topic:

This theory somewhat requires that the arcane is not conscious, not retaliating for Hextech using magic improperly, which is debatable. The Black Rose says "the arcane is waking up," which could imply a sentient force, or simply a natural force like how the world 'wakes up' to spring after winter. Ekko also claims that Jayce 'pissed off' the arcane, which Jayce is cutely embarrassed about, which is a possibility, but not one that I'm getting into here- it's entirely possible that Ekko is also wrong! Jayce and Viktor frequently are! (also, the hexcore being sentient does not necessarily mean that the arcane is sentient- Viktor describes it as a learning matrix, so it could very much be a Flubber situation. He done taught the rubix cube science before ethics.)

As Viktor brings Jayce up to the top of the Hexgate, Viktor winds the anomaly in his staff and talks about the balance between order and chaos- maybe positive magic is one and negative the other?

@avelera and @linddzz were throwing around some awesome thoughts similar to this strain, including how it looks like Mage Viktor 'cleans up' the smoke output of the spell in the snowstorm. Their theory is that what I call positive and negative energy is actually constructive vs destructive force in equal output from the Arcane, and that balance between those two types is needed (i.e. if you want magic to do what you want, you also need to let it blow up some stuff) which would also explain what I've called lightning here. Definitely worth a read!

There are so many holes in this theory, but I still wanted to organize my thoughts about the anomaly, Hextech, and how Arcane tells the audience to view magic. In S1, Hextech is all good and great, possibly dangerous, but in S2, Hextech and its byproducts are all infectious, destructive, and never productive. I found the switch a little jarring, and went searching for a deeper meaning.

Also… does this mean that Arcane is actually a big metaphor for the dangers and impacts of technological advancement on natural society and how Mother Nature will come back to bite us all in the butt? Has Arcane been a secret Ghibli film all along???

[ganondoodle]

should surprise absolutely no one that i much much much prefer radahn when hes older (and not mindless! or mindcontrolled!)

(doesnt look amused about what malenia just did in that ol trailer- and possibly even moreso about what she said)

that (and base game) version of him is the only one to meeeeeeeee

[fancyhats-and-fennelsbuds]

This has been sitting taking dust in the WIPs' pile for a while: be free now my cherished one ||Presence of suggestive undertones and Calhoun's majestic muscular back underneath|| Enjoy the meal

__________________________________________

"It was barely an aftershock...! Nothing to worry about":

OOooooooh Don't get me started with the deep dive explanation of how this excruciatingly funky relationship would work (I'll make it work)

[marioluigimarioluigi]

I am so desperate and frustrated😞💔

🙏😞Please help me I want to provide for my

family's needs in Gaza🇵🇸🍉

Maybe 10€ makes a difference to us.🙏

⭕️Donation link:

https://gofund.me/e8bde1ea

‏EXTREMELY LOW FUNDS! Only 175€ raised of €25,000 goal!!😞

⭕️Pinned post:

https://www.tumblr.com/aboodalqedra/760369398918840320/please-dont-skip

‏I hope they see this so they can see and learn about my campaign. 🙏💔

‏@el-shab-hussein @appsa @nabulsi @irhabiya @90-ghost @sar-soor @mohameddd

2024 Israeli Revolution against Benjamin Netanyahu!

[dizzybizz]

sleepy gill and gill with the bubbled evil cat

[imfineipromiseitstrue]

You know that one writing prompt where it’s like you’re a hero and your brother is a villain but nobody know that it’s all just a prank on your other brother the mayor? I feel like that’s perfect for Tim and Jason with Dick or Bruce as mayor

[rozugold]

I thought about Michael_B for just a tad too long…

[blamemma]

i think the trickiest thing now, is the wait. every little thing makes me wanna bawl my eyes out right now, but the precipice that i feel i'm standing on, flip-flopping from it's over, to god there may be the slightest bit of hope, every hour or so is cruel. i'm riddled with anxiety. i chuck my phone on my bed and swear not to look at it for an hour, but the itch of what if lingers. i don't expect an announcement today to be fair, because i want daniel to rest, process, and be able to go into this "meeting" and ask for whatever he wants to ask for. if he wants to fight, have the energy to fight. if he wants to step away, be able to do it with some dignity. but if red bull make us all wait until the end of this break. that's cruel. it's so undoubtedly cruel. the kindest thing, in this fucking shitstorm, that they could do, is just pull the knife out.

[anli-rambles]

Assassin's Creed 3 alternative ending where Haytham doesn't "realize the error of his ways" but gets so fed up with the Templar order and their incompetence that he decides to team up with Connor to kill Lee (and justifies it by claiming Charles got out of control and corrupted the Order too much). Haytham doesn't leave the Templars (he insists that he's still one of them bc admitting that the Templar way is wrong is admitting that he failed to uphold Edward's teachings of "choose your own path" and Haytham can't have that) but he never tries to recruit more people to the cause and cuts off all contact with the Order back in Europe.

He tags along with Connor on his missions while still insisting it's for the Order, that since Achilles is now dead, the Assassins can go back to pursuing reasonable goals (and not tamper with Isu tech), and Connor's just like "yeah, whatever helps you sleep at night old man".

Haytham and Connor's relationship remains kind of awkward but they make an effort to at least get along and Haytham is still involved in his granddaughters' lives. When Connor introduces his daughters to the Brotherhood, they ask if 'grandfather Haytham' is also one of them, and grandpa Haytham can't find it in him to disappoint them so he lies and says he is and adds that his own father was also an Assassin.

He then goes on to deny he ever said such a ridiculous thing every time Connor brings it up to him.

[wasyago]

uhh umm uhm random stuff

[batsyheere]

It is infinitely more funny if both Sasuke and Sakura realized they don't function as well without Naruto and meanwhile Naruto function more efficiently with others.

As in, Naruto without proper support and understanding still succeeded- almost flourished. Naruto with proper support and understanding?

The minute someone figures out that all Naruto needs is a basic grasp of reading its over for Konoha. He has been enlightened and now he is free. Because Naruto, despite being a rather good example of work ethic and actively working to achieve skills, is also a genius. He manages to learn skills or make leaps in jugement canonically that others don't, and honestly the only things holding him back are the sabotage of his education and how stupid shinobi can be.

So the minute in a fanfic Naruto gets even a drop of support and he blossoms, and he starts making leaps and leaving behind his teammates? It is hilarious to witness a duo previously hyperfixated on their own two things, suddenly switching it up when they see that people are suddenly interested in Naruto. That he is suddenly appealing to others, that people think they have a right to his time.

Suddenly Naruto isn't there when training ends, or leaves after missions to "help a friend", he doesn't offer to get ramen with them or even to find more ways to mess with their sensei. And even when they hang out, he's distant- no longer dumb, no longer reliant, sometimes he does things he says he learned from other teachers or even by observing. No longer loud, or distracting Sakura from the way Sasuke isn't perfect, or rivaling Sasuke and giving him chances to grow stronger. He doesn't get upset when Sasuke still beats him at taijutsu, or how Sakura is still better at chakra control, and doesn't brag when he is good at something.

"I guess I just realized we each have our own strengths," Naruto says when they both corner him about it. "And I want to make sure I can keep you both safe because you're my team- you're all I have. Like family. So yeah, I want to learn everything I can do."

And Kakashi learns two things after Sasuke and Sakura have their realizations and new resolutions.

First, that neither Sakura nor Sasuke were in anyway sane and whatever had made them snap was only positive in that it hadn't turned them against Konoha and thus, he did not have to handle them.

And second; He suddenly doesn't have to worry about weird love triangles but does have to worry about suitors and Sasuke and Sakura's reactions to them.

[stardvstbby]

i ship Wade and Logan not so much in the steady-relationship-way but more in the long-time-fuckbuddies-who-sometimes-won’t-talk-for-years-but-are-there-for-one-another-when-Shit-Really-Hits-The-Fan-way