#I’ve seen this happen with Cait a lot and I’m not super into the mel part of the fandom

[idkwhatimdoingbutslay]

Sorry my tags got long and don’t even cover everything in the post 🏃🏾‍♀️

OP articulated everything here so well, sorry my tags got long and don’t even cover everything in the post 🏃🏾‍♀️

@mdccanon I'm not sure what you are getting at. I never claimed that Mel was without flaws.

In fact, in my most recent post on her I specifically wrote:

Also, Mel doesn't have a conquered nation? Just because she is an exiled citizen of Noxus. Nor does Noxus own Piltover and Zaun at this point. And reading kid!Mel trying to come up with a justification to save the live of the captured girl as "Mel is promoting manipulation against her conquered nations", I'm sorry, that is a pretty messed up take on 1.) a young child 2.) who clearly didn't have any say or else her mother wouldn't have done the opposite of what her kid just asked her for 3.) IMO clearly motivated by compassion and not "aha, I'm the Moriaty level master mind at at age 13 already and I have deduced that sparing the life of the other girl will indeed be more effective in subjugating!".

I'm also not saying that Mel is not using sneaky tactics. I actually said that I don't think that in season 1 Mel had an arc about NOT being manipulative. I say this because Mel in season 1, to me, never had a "oh shit, that blew up in my face" moment, the way let's say Jayce has when his violence gets a kid killed.

If Mel is a major character in season 2, I wouldn't except her to be anti politics/anti manipulation at this point. Mel to me sees manipulation/politics as a tool.

IMO she could still have an arc in season 2 where she realizes those tools are bad, but that to me is the case because she did not have this arc in season 1.

To me Mel in season 1 gets puts into situations where she doesn't particularly need manipulation and she adapts to it. But at this point, if faced with a situation where manipulation is useful, from her point of view, why shouldn't she use it when she has found it useful for some circumstances in the past? Again, there was no big "aha" moment in the show where using politics blew up in her face.

I guess the closest could be that Jayce goes rogue and takes over the council in ways she didn't intend to, but she doesn't react on that by swearing off Jayce or swearing off politics. Instead she sticks with him and actually teams up with him/subsigns his cause.

In the future, she could turn away from it if she has a "blow up in your face moment" that makes her think that manipulation is immoral. Or she could have a moment where she becomes disillusioned by politics and wants blood instead. Point being, that didn't happen in season 1, so Mel's season 1 arc was not about learning that manipulation is bad.

To me the climax of Mel's storyline in season 1 was her confrontation with her mother, where she stands against her mother and defends Piltover to her, which leads over into her supporting that Piltover should give Zaun freedom. (I actually think that that is an actually poignant and real feeling story, that sometimes immigrants can have a more rosy and idealistic view on a place and be more starry eyed about how a place should live up to its potential and "what it says on the tin") Within this arc to me Mel has a moment of weakness in that she slides into fear/Noxian thinking about the weapons, but through exchanges with Jayce and Viktor and through coming face to face with her mom and being reminded of what she dislikes about her mom and Noxus, she jumped out of Noxian/pro violence thinking again and (back?) into idealism. I don't think that that says anything about her stance on manipulation/flattery.

Other arcs I can see for her is that she learns to warm up more to Jayce and that she shares Heimer's arc of "they all realize that they've been ignoring the undercity".

I guess it's feasible that she could have her "oh, right, manipulation is bad" arc in seaason 2, but considering that she isn't the most major character and considering the themes of the season, I would put my money that if she has an arc like this at all, it might be more about "she gets scared off idealism and back into violence" again, after her support of Zaunite freedom literally blew up in her face. So the lesson she could draw from that could be "idealism and peace is wrong". I'm not sure how that would circle back to politics/manipulation for now.

Again, I'm sure it will depend heavily on how large a role both Mel or her mother have next season. Maybe Mel will spend most of next season in a coma while her mom tears apart the city. Maybe Mel's mom will get murdered within the first episode by Jinx or Warwick. Maybe both of them will have only small roles. Maybe they will continue the dynamic of Ambessa being the challenge Mel's idealism or the reminder of what she doesn't want to be, or maybe Arcane will try some more sneaky fliparounds. The sky's the limit. But to me, in season 1, Mel the character, the "person" did not have an arc about how manipulation is bad.

As a character we see Mel use manipulation mostly in relation to the other council members. I actually don't think that she uses particularly with Jayce. She sees him, she likes him, she sponsors him, she sexually approaches him imo because she wants to combine the useful with the fun and because they live in a setting where they have no concept of sexual harassment laws. I think she invites him into "her world" by showing him how the council ticks because to her that is a really cool thing she is teaching him, something that will help him live up to his potential, something she genuinely doesn't see as bad, something that she finds useful and is sharing with him.

Jayce then has his own "student supercedes the master" moment when he does things at the council which Mel didn't count on. Mel then overall spends more time with people like Jayce and Viktor where she doesn't need manipulation (compared to the council) and hence she stays away from it mostly.

I think she show was intentionally playing with the idea that Mel COULD be trying to manipulate Jayce, but I also think that after dangling the idea the show also comes hard down on the answer being "actually no, she doesn't". Or at least not in the truly devious "Actually Mel is spying for Noxus and waiting to sell Piltover out kind of way" kind of way.

Arcane is very, very in tune with the League of Legends fanbase, this was very clear based on all the promo and interviews they were doing with streamers and lore fans when the show started. IMO they were very aware that when they dumped the first hints of Mel being Noxian (though Mel's painting and later though the promos that showed Ambessa's guards) this would raise certain expectations within the League fanbase. Because League fanbase is conditioned to see Noxus as a place of bad news, of violence and conquering and evil spy cults.

IF Mel for example was spying for Noxus or working for the Black Rose that would give her a motivation to want to seduce Jayce and install him in the council for more insidious reasons as opposed to "she thinks he's kind hot and he shows a lot of promise and she wants to make a name for herself within Piltover". But this does not happen. Mel lacks the truly mastermind motive for manipulating him.

Mel's scene with Ambessa is her equivalent of Silco's scene where he offers to take responsibility of Jinx's crime with Jayce and the scene where he rants to the Vander statue.

The show intentionally plays with the idea "does Silco actually care about Jinx or is he coldly using her as a tool". The scene with Jayce shows that to Silco Jinx isn't just a tool to be discareded, he at the very least feels loyalty to her. While the scene with the Vander statue shows that he's deeply emotionally affected. (with Silco you can still debate whether on the whole he stil made Jinx's life worse despite his genuine attachment to her, but imo you can no longer claim that he was just coldly, indifferently using her)

In Mel's scene with Ambessa, there are not witnesses that she could be trying to impress with her defense of Piltover. It the scene that shows that she's loyal to Piltover, not Noxus. Again, meaningful if like the other loreheads you were expecting her to have been a spy all along or a Black Rose member.

Arcane loves subverting certain expectations. Many youtubers have made long videos about it. IMO Mel is part of that tradition. "We'll make the League fans think she's a Black Rose spy or working for Swain, but nope, actually her big secret is that she's the peaceful Noxian".

(and generally: yes, even if manipulating and politicing isn't great, it is indeed better than slitting people's throat (this is indeed non negotiable, people who are being politiked at least have a chance to wise up to that and resist, people who are dead don't have that option) and yes, even if Piltover is a place of assholes, being loyal to it is indeed superior to being loyal to Noxus which is an even worse place of assholes)

[talesfantastic]

Multimuse: 6, 10, 11, 18, 19 (eek, that's a big one for you! do a selection if you'd prefer!)

-eyes list- Well then... let’s see what I can do.

6. which one of your muses have you been playing the longest?

The longest consistently is Angeal, who has about 10 years behind him. Who I’ve played the longest off-and-on is Vegeta, however, who... probably has another 5-10 years on him.

10. which muse is the most fun to write for?

Not gonna lie, at this point in my life I think I have the most fun as Genesis, for just plain writing. He’s just so bold and confident and over the top. In some ways, he’s a lot like I was way back before things happened and I can relate. In other ways (the temper, the overinflated ego, the violent streak...) he’s very different, but still fascinating.

Honorable mention to Lazard, too, though. I’ve had such a good time as Laz on Tumblr and that can’t be overstated. He’s just not quite as versatile as Gen can be.

11. is there another muse you’ve been thinking of adding or writing for? who?

Curse of the multimuse, we’re always thinking of adding people. My current list is long but I’ll break it down a little:

Who do I think I really will add, sometime in the near(ish) future:

Ann/Ran (Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town)

Canderous Ordo (Star Wars: KOTOR)

Carth Onasi (Star Wars: KOTOR)

Mistel (Story of Seasons)

Shad (Twilight Princess)

Who would I like to add but am unsure I will because of my grasp on their canons, or lack thereof:

Bardock (DBZ)

Ignis Scientia (FF15)

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)

Zarbon (DBZ)

18. would you ship any of your muses together? who?

Oh yeah. There’s only a few, but yeah.

Angeal x Genesis, Genesis x Reeve and Kunzite x Minako

19. for each muse, is there a character you wish had a blog so you could interact with them? (this is long so... under a cut it is!)

Let me preface this with most of these blogs exist, I just am shy and haven’t approached yet. Or have approached and it hasn’t worked out, which doesn’t help with the shy.

Vegeta (DBZ) - there are Goku’s out there, I just haven’t had the guts to approach one. Same for Bulma’s, and his kids. Nothing into Super, because I don’t know Super and therefore don’t count it in my canon but man... I’d love those. OH! And Piccolo would be really neat, too.

Angeal (FF7) - ZACK. Please please please let Angeal find a puppy of his own. I desperately need some catharsis from what a mess canon made of what could have been a great friendship. And Sephiroth, for that matter! (I have been blessed with a Genesis, but I mean, I do welcome more Genesis’ if they want)

Chaos (FF7) - there’s plenty of Vincent’s just not a whole lot who want to deal with Chaos. Which is a shame, because I think I write a... somewhat different Chaos. It could be a good experience.

Genesis (FF7) - an Angeal who fits my Genesis would just... be amazing. Seriously. I would also greatly appreciate a Sephiroth, and would kill for a thread where they work through that ridiculous rivalry and become friends.

Lazard (FF7) - would love, love, love a Rufus, particularly one who would like an “eventual allies” thread because you know that canon divergence is my jam. Also a Heidegger who plays in the pre-CC/BC era.

Reeve/Cait (FF7) - lumping these two together; basically, I’d really like to throw them against each other, a Cait for Reeve and a Reeve for Cait. I think it could really be cool to reach out to a Rufus, or AVALANCHE 2.0 too? idk, it would be neat

Iris (Story of Seasons) - my kingdom for a Mistel! Seriously, even in the dedicated Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons/Stardew Valley rp group I’m in we can’t keep a Mistel. Just let Iris have her baby brother. ;-;

Trent (SOS:FOMT/FOMT/DS/CUTE) - honestly just all the Mineral Town and Forget-Me-Not-Valley peeps. I have so much muse for this man I’m down for crossovers and everything.

Midna (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess) - absolutely Link, but I’m also intrigued by Zelda, Ganondorf, and Zant

Sheik (Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) - I’d actually really like to toss Sheik up or down the timeline at another incarnation of Zelda. And Link. And any of the Sages. Oh, and Ganondorf.

Ami Mizuno (Sailor Moon) - Zoicite! (Be still my shipper heart) But also, I’d really just like the other Senshi too?

Kunzite (Sailor Moon) - I’ve been blessed with a Minako (though I’m open for more!) but I would also really love Mamoru and the rest of the Shitennou.

Mamoru Chiba (Sailor Moon) - I have been blessed with some lovely Usagi’s but I’d love to see him with his Shitennou, his darling daughter, Helios and the Senshi.

Minako Aino (Sailor Moon) - Kunzite, not just because I happen to ship it but because they’re both the leaders of their Prince(ss)’ inner guard and have a lot in common that would make things Interesting. Also, Usagi and the Senshi of course, and Artemis, who I haven’t seen around at all actually.

HK-47 (Star Wars: KOTOR) - any of the Ebon Hawk crew, either set. I just want to see HK being his ~charming~ self, bonus if it’s with a Jedi or other pacifist calling the shots. Actually, even though I hate what they did with Revan in SWTOR I’d be game for tossing him up the timestream too. Or even further into the movie eras, or crossovers. C’mon, someone needs an assassin droid!

Liana Raine (Star Wars:TOR) - if we’re making a dream list, I’d love a Yuon Par, tbh. And a Hero of Tython. And any of her crew, really.

Revan (Star Wars: KOTOR) - again any of the Ebon Hawk crew (esp Carth or a Bastila that’s better rounded than canon >_>) but really any of them would be amazing. And definitely fast forwarding her to the movie eras. What a difference might have been made if they had known ahead of time how to deal with Sith. Or, for that matter, just if Anakin had had a different sort of mentor. I die for the thought of Revan as a mentor to Anakin or Obi-Wan, Force Ghost, holocron or whatever.

Tharan Cedrax (Star Wars: TOR) - a Jedi Consular (player character) would be amazing, but I’d also love Holiday or the what-if he’d gotten hooked up with a smuggler or bounty hunter crew instead. Seriously.

Duke (Threads of Fate) - I’d really love to see a Belle, because there’s a lot to explore there. Really I’d be grateful for any of the Threads of Fate cast though.

Fancy Mel (Threads of Fate) - other Threads of Fate people aside (and I’d especially love the dolls, fellow Aeons/mages, or Klaus) I’d be really interested on her talking with like, spirits or other magical beings?

---the few muses I left out I have no specific blog interactions in mind for. And again, I’m very well aware that most of these blogs exist I just... am shy. So here’s the wishlist I’ve been sitting on, lol.