#That Includes: Speculation

[sunderwight]

It's actually kind of hilarious to contemplate the prospect that the genre shift in SV means that Luo Binghe's harem go the queer route as well and start largely pairing off into lesbian ships with one another.

Mostly because of the sheer scale of Bingge's harem, and the fact that a lot of it was comprised of the members of politically influential families.

Can you imagine the freak-outs that various lords and kings are probably having over the fact that their daughters keep eloping with one another? The practical ones are probably going to be like, well, a political alliance is an alliance, welcome to the family Random Demon Princess! But a lot of them are probably going to be pissed that their bloodline's liable to die out, and that the perfectly suitable match (read: asshole cannon fodder Bingge did away with in PIDW) they arranged for their daughter got interrupted by some lady cultivator kidnapping her from her wedding instead. Imagining several prominent nobles in various realms furrowing their brows together and just being like, is it something in the water? Did some plant do this? Is it like it a cultural ripple effect, the Demon King is gay so now all the youngsters are too?

[watchyourbuck]

my predictions for 911 s8 based on show predictability and what I think were easter eggs throughout s7

bucktommy sex scene (implied or other)

eddie vs gerard

mara adoption at the end of the season

new madney baby (also end of the season)

eddie big (queer) emotional break

short but important ravi arc

buck firefighting accident + mild injury

bathena temporary housing problems

chris mid season return home

[ddeck]

you know. just like with specific terms and nicknames like clanker or shinie, clones must've come up with unique meanings for their armor paint. like with different meanings assigned to colors of mandalorian armor except since the choice of color is out of their control, all the importance lies in shapes and placement

[mollysunder]

Lunari Heritage in Zaun

This is gonna be a reach, but from the little we've seen of Vi and Jinx's mom and younger Silco, I'd guess they were both from the same ethnic group.

In a place like Zaun, where the people are left with scraps, any piece of jewelry sticks out. Vi's mom and Silco are both wearing similar pieces of jewelry. Silco's bracelet could likely be fitted as a necklace since it twice wraps over his wrist. Neither are wearing anything of high quality, but the necklace and bracelet in their respective pictures seem decently maintained if not worn. That's when I thought, these are probably heirlooms.

In fact they looked pretty similar too, but in smaller scale of the princess's own pendants. I wouldn't bring this up if it weren't for the fact that Piltovans prioritize elaborate art-deco aesthetics, the more elaborately geometric the better (Councilor Shoola). So you would assume even the simplest jewelry would be a square pendant or a straight line. But no, big plain circles, and then I remembered we saw that before, on the princess Ambessa killed. Big bronze circles.

And when we look at young Vi , you notice that she's wearing jewelry too. A simple necklace with a green (it looks green) gem. And I realized that the princess's necklace was also adorned green gems.

I'm pulling from scraps, but it's interesting that small things these Zaunites have to adorn themselves (though not for long with the time skips) are similar versions if not simpler version's of the princess's.

At first I thought this meant that many of the cast were actually of Ionian descent. But then in the Princess's scene a thought kept coming back to me, "Why is Mel wearing purple?". Mel, a skilled diplomat from a young age, typically wears the main colors of the nations she hosts and is hosted by. White for Piltover, Black for Noxus (Ambessa), and always with her signature accents of gold. So if Mel followed her mother to Ionia ,where green is a culturally significant color, why purple? It's because Mel and Ambessa weren't in Ionia, they were in Targon fighting the Lunari.

The Lunari are Rakkor tribal people in the Targonian region who worship the moon, and are persecuted for it by the Solari, the religious order that worships the sun. While technically Mt. Targon is influenced by Mt. Olympus and Greek mythology aesthetic, that's more the case for the Solari. Overtime the Lunari aesthetic has been mixed it's originally nomadic culture with East Asian influences. The prominent colors of the Lunari happen to be turquoise, silver, black and purple. It was such a little thing to remember but it made me see connections I hadn't thought about.

Suddenly everything starts to connect. The bronze coins represent the 3 moons that exist in Arcane's Runeterra. How do we know there are 3 moons, because the Valdiani piece Jinx stole was depicting their planet. In the Valdiani there are 3 orbits circling the Earth, meaning 3 moons (or satelites). Now the engraving on the gold of the princess's necklace makes sense, because it's supposed to resemble the gates at the peak of Mt. Targon. The pendant itself is shaped like the mountain with the gates fitted at the top.

Frankly, it works for the Princess to have been Lunari and waves of descendants of the Lunari to arrive in Piltover and end up in Zaun. In Arcane, Piltover was created as a safe haven to escape the Rune Wars 200 years from the start of the show. Even after the Rune Wars ended the shipping port has likely seen waves of migrant labor and refugees from the ongoing crisis that occur in Runeterra (*cough*Noxus*cough*). It's likely that many of the current generation of Zaunites are of mixed heritage of the various fleeing people's.

It creates a whole new dynamic of the ways in which Piltover's laws, their Ethos, strips the people of Zaun from their identity and reducing them to tools for the mines. Magic is inherently a part of religious ceremonies and religion in general in Runeterra, especially for the Lunari. How do you practice your religion in a place that has banned the means by which it's conducted? There must have been more people like the Lunari who didn't have a problem with their magic, their problem was that they were being persecuted.

The remnants of family keepsakes brought over as communities fled were clung to as best as possible especially as they had to let go of part their spiritual identity. But even that doesn't seem to have lasted either. Vi doesn't keep her necklace, her mother is dead, so lost is her necklace, and we never see Silco wear his bracelet. They could have been stolen, or at best, hidden for safe keeping, maybe Enforcers get suspicious at the hint of mysticism and suddenly they want to talk.

Finally, maybe a little less related, it is interesting how prominent Piltovans and Zaunites take on day and night aspects. The sun shines over Piltover at their best, begins to set at times of uncertainty. While in the cover of night with moon above, the strongest Zaunites strike hardest. One more thing, it is interesting how Arcane's Jinx has taken on darker tones of purple rather than stick with neon pink. I always have to go back and look at a reference to remember that her pants are purple-er than I recall.

Update: I wanted to include that the large doodle Jinx made on her cup actually looks similar to the Lunari's sigil. And the sigil remains on the cup into the timeskip, also the center moon is made smaller within the crescent like in the necklace. I also noticed Jinx's cup later has more violent bomb imagery around it.

Update 2: With the final season approaching I'm noticing this is getting some attention again. I would like to say that if I could write this from scratch again I'd say it's more likely the princess is from Ionia now, which doesn't up end the Lunari theory.

Previous League canon confirms the Lunari faith does have ties to Ionia. A good portion of the Lunari are Ionian in descent, and Diana, their aspect of the moon (essentially their demigod), currently lives in Ionia. League even created skinline for Ionians blood moon worshippers, an edgy offshoot of the Lunari faith. It's all very interesting and a bit complicated because Riot loves to drop plot points in the lore and never come back. I'll try to clean something up for a longer explanation later. What's crazy is the Medardas are still the aggressors because Noxians and Solarians, which the Medardas are both, terrorize Ionians and Lunaris respectively.

[felassan]

r/dragonage (Reddit) post titled "Jeff Grubb: Dragon Age: Dreadwolf scheduled to release in late 2024." Post text: "Dreadwolf to be shown this summer and planned release later this year, Bioware is internally confident on the release date. Anything could change of course." Source: [link] Clip: [link] "Credit to: u/IcePopsicleDragon for posting this in r/GamingLeaksAndRumours."

[source]

In episode 339 of Game Mess Decides, Jeff Grubb had the following to say on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf's possible/rumored release window [transcript]:

Question from chat: “Hi Jeff and Mike, when will Dragon Age 4 be shown and released?” Jeff: “Yeah, I mean, I expect it will probably pop up this summer. I don’t know when it’ll be shown is the real answer, that’s the, let’s get that out, I don’t know when it will be shown. I assume it will be shown sometime this summer. Could happen at any time though. It will be released this year [2024], last I heard. That is, and they’re pretty confident about that, doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee, could slip, but right now, internally, they expect to release it later this year, which is why I took it in Fantasy Critic”.

[source (timestamp 35 mins 20 secs), clipped version]

(there were no more mentions of Dragon Age or BioWare during the episode)

[bixels]

If it's not too much trouble would you mind sharing more on your thoughts about AJ? Esp the line she shouted at Rarity and her "struggle with sexual identity" I'm kind of new so I would like to hear more! Does Rarity also struggle with sexual identity and fearing AJ would leave? I love the family oriented person A and the business inclined and impressed by shiny new things person B trope

Ok, this is gonna get into head canons and personal opinions.

The writing in Rollercoaster of Friendship (and EQG as a whole) is much simpler and more stripped down in comparison to FiM (most likely to appeal to a younger audience; don't want to seem like I'm dissing the writers), but that one confrontation made me sit up in my seat because it carries the entire special.

More under the cut cuz I don't want MLP analyses clogging up my blog.

For one, we've seen AJ get frustrated and angry about the same exact conflict over a girl in FiM (Rara), establishing a pattern. And even though she's right (her friend really is being manipulated), I read both cases as her acting out in jealousy too. Here's this girl who she's felt a unique attachment to being "taken away" and changed by someone new. This is most apparent in RoF; the moment Vignette introduces herself, kisses Rarity on both cheeks, and establishes herself as Rarity's "new best friend," AJ immediately reacts with shock, betrayal, and boldfaced jealousy (made even worse when Rarity forgets her during introductions). Although AJ acts independent, she's actually very emotionally dependent on certain people in her life.

If we come into this with the assumption that AJ has romantic feelings for Rarity –– which is a normal assumption given the director/writer confirmed the special was written as a romantic drama between the two –– AJ's line is all the more heartbreaking. If I may slip into fictional speculation: your crush is no longer listening or paying attention to you, even though you know something is wrong and that she's getting hurt. Your frustration at her lack of awareness is really your anger at her lack of care –– she doesn't care about you anymore. So in a fit of rage, in your big, dramatic confrontation, just to make her look at you, react at you, feel how she's been making you feel all day –– unwanted and unspecial –– you hurt her back. AJ yells, "You're not special!" and Rarity cries.

And what really gets me is that AJ lies. In this moment, she lies that Rarity's not special when (again, assumption of romance) she's the most special person in the world to her. So special that she's placed all her feelings of self-assurance and security on their relationship. So special that the moment their relationship is shaken and she doesn't know to recover it –– recover herself –– she lashes out, acts against her character, and says something dishonest just to hurt the girl she loves.

(Honestly, rewatching this special, AJ is so insecure and attention-needy. The way she pouts and slouches and lags behind the group and says, "Never mind. It's nothing," when asked what's wrong is textbook "please pay attention to me and ask me what's wrong because i need a reason to be honest about feelings i know i should be ashamed of" behavior.)

I think AJ's insecurities (which could be tied to her lack of experience with romantic relationships) reveal how she has a tendency to misattribute and redirect anger onto the person she cares most about (see Simple Ways as well, where she's caught on the opposite end of a jealousy spat). This could easily become a very toxic trait, but AJ grows past it. Near the end of RoF, the two come together and apologize. AJ recognizes her entitlement and confesses her insecurities about their relationship. She felt hurt and attacked when her status as Rarity's best friend/girlfriend was threatened because it's a role she uses to self-identify –– if Rarity isn't hers, she loses part of her identity. And she admits that she thought her motivation was to protect Rarity, but really she was just being selfish and protecting herself. Rarity was busy and stressed and needed someone to lean on just as much AJ needed her. She isn't AJ's emotional support girlfriend, and it wasn't right to expect her to be one.

(Which is why Rarijack is peak because throughout both series, they repeatedly show just how important honesty, open communication, and trust is in maintaining, supporting, and growing a romantic relationship.)

[blessyouhawkeye]

i fucking hate that jonghyun sulli and hara get dragged into every conversation like this. mourn moonbin and celebrate his memory but leave them at peace

[lord-squiggletits]

It's hilarious to me that someone actually asked/JRO actually confirmed via word of god that Tarn tortured Pharma while he was at Delphi bc like. Fucking yeah??? How else do you think Pharma went from "for most of his life, he was a good doctor" to stark raving mad? What else did people think Tarn, fanatical Decepticon who leads a group of professional murderers, would do to Pharma, Autobot stationed on DJD territory, to make him comply with the deal?

I get that sometimes people just want confirmation from the author for them to go "no yeah your theories are right" but on the other hand I don't understand asking for word of god confirmation on things that are obviously canon if you just think about it for a little bit

[ef-1]

A 10 day timeline of statements by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko in the lead up to keeping Perez

- July 19, Hungarian GP FP | Horner: "I think he's been in a bit of a headspin the last the last few races, but hopefully today were the signs that he's coming out of that - and the team are working very hard with him to support him and make sure that he does re-find his form, because we desperately need it." [source: Sky Sport F1]

- July 19, Hungarian GP FP2 | Helmut is asked to confirm if Perez has performances clauses in his contract that can be triggered by summer break: "There are various forms of performance clauses and, ultimately, it doesn't matter what a contract looks like, you just have to perform.” + “We'll have a look at the two races and then we'll sit down together to decide what and how things will continue after the summer break."

Helmut is asked who the favourite is among Ricciardo, Tsunoda and Lawson to replace Perez, he replies: "That was a nice question. I'll give a nice answer: everything is open." [source: ORF]

- July 20, Hungarian GP post-quali | Horner: "I think I have shown that I am very patient, but this was really the last thing he and the team needed. We now have to get everything back together, repair the car and see what we can get out of it during the race.”

Asked about Perez’s future, Horner replies: "Any discussions we have with him will of course take place internally and not in front of the media. But of course we can't run on one leg." [Racingnews365]

- July 24, commenting about Hungarian GP | Helmut: “It was a typical grand prix weekend for Perez: unpredictable. He continues to have this up and down, nobody knows when he will shine or when he will make a mistake, he simply lacks consistently good performance.” [source: Speedweek]

- July 26, Belgian GP Free Practice | Horner: "Checo’s future is in his hands. He has to have a good weekend, because we need his points for the constructors’ championship and McLaren has recovered a lot in the last races." [source: FormulaPassion Italia]

- July 27, Belgian GP pre-quali | Helmut: “Sergio knows that for the constructors' championship we have to have both cars ahead of McLaren if possible, and that hasn't been the case in the last few races”

When asked to set a specific goal for Perez, Marko refuses: “No, the goal is to win both the drivers' and constructors' championships, and we'll discuss the best way to achieve that on Monday [the 29th].” [source: Motorsport.com]

- July 27, Belgian GP post-quali | Helmut: “But it’s great to see Sergio, who has really improved. He will start on the front row due to the relegation and now things are looking much better again.” [source: Motorsport.com]

- July 28, Belgian GP post-race | Helmut: "Sergio had the opportunity to achieve a good result from second place. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Especially in the last stint, he completely collapsed, driving 1:48 times. What looked so positive in qualifying unfortunately didn't come true in the race." [source: Sky Germany]

- July 29, Red Bull Racing factory, Milton Keynes | Horner: "Checo remains a Red Bull Racing driver, despite all the speculation of late. We look forward to seeing him perform on circuits where he has done well before”

[pinkeoni]

ppl know that other characters can be at this church, and byler can still happening, right? like this one scene doesn't have to go exactly the way you think it will and it won't effect the overall outcome of their relationship

[silverview]

reece characters getting called little ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[quinn-pop]

mtdd week day 5 - au

idol au moment yayyy. they have history

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

For vaggie that spear is her support animal/therapist

For charlie, it's a rival she'd like to throw in lava but can't cause, it's vaggies support 'animal'

silly headcanon plot twist- Charlie's jealously at the spear ISN'T silly or irrational at all, it's a subconscious manifestation of Charlie's desperation for her girlfriend to actually open up emotionally to HER instead of to a WEAPON, confide fears and problems in CHARLIE, and a very frustrated, very also-emotionally-constipated-in-her-own-way Charlie doesn't wanna pin that frustration on Vaggie directly so she deflects all her anger to the spear, which as an inanimate objects, can't get any hurt feelings over this or decide Charlie is too much and dump her

we've done it. we've cracked the silly headcanon and found the angst waiting underneath XD XD XD

or maybe the above is all just what the hazbin crew speculates together, in their weekly "there's no way those two idiots don't have shit going on in their relationship" chaggie hotel gossip meet-ups

[mollysunder]

I know people have tried using Caitlyn's map to understand Piltover and Zaun's geography, but I think Silco's map in Zaun offers a better view. When you piece together the brief shots of Silco's own map, including after Jinx vandalized it, you can make out more details in Piltover.

For example, in the area designated as Upper Piltover, there's a yellow highlighted path called Gold Way in parenthesis that leads to the Council's building. Upper Piltover likely most likely contains the Blue Wind Court, the district home to the wealthiest families in Piltover.

If you tie all the shots of Silco's map together, you get something like this. I find it interesting that Silco's map shows that there's two smaller bridges that connect Zaun and Piltover across the river. They don't appear as prominent the main bridge, they might even be in disrepair, but they are present on a Silco's map chose to keep. Are these bridges no go zones for Zaunite trade? Are they smaller commuter corridors perpetually out of service? Who knows, at least we know they exist now, and so does Jinx.

Someone made a cleaner version of the map for an rpg site. The map mixes Arcane's new geography of the two cities, but still applies old and unconfirmed names for sections of both cities, so it'snot completely accurate. I thought it would be good to include because it gets the shape of the fissures right.

[tender-emotional-music]

Netflix needs to stop promoting ST as a teen show for season 5

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

What do you think Theon and Asha's respective plotlines in TWOW are going to be? It's always been something I have a hard time puzzling out. I could see one staying with Stannis so we see the campaign for Winterfell play out, but not both? What do you think? Is it possible they head back to the Islands after the Battle in the crofter's village? Is it possible Dagmer Cleftjaw will come into play since he's still at Torrhen's Square?

I'm really not sure. I do think Theon will survive whatever happens when Stannis tries to execute him by the weirwood -- those ravens are not yelling "Theon" and "the tree" for nothing, Bran is getting involved there and something deeply weird is gonna go down -- but what happens to Theon and Asha after that? 🤷‍♀️

But yes, it's possible one or both could head back to the Iron Islands. (Along with Dagmer, sure.) I'm certain Asha would want to bring Theon there, to pull a Torgon the Latecomer with him and declare the kingsmoot invalid. Whether she will, or whether that's something that has to wait for ADOS, I don't know. But it's possible that if Euron and/or Victarion's actions come to Stannis's attention, he’ll decide Asha's not worth keeping as a hostage and instead recruit her to find out what's going on with the other Greyjoys. Theon also has some kind of backstory yet to be revealed re Euron -- and considering Aeron and the Forsaken, and the way Theon nearly had a panic attack seeing Mors Umber's eyepatch, it's unfortunately not hard to make certain assumptions -- so he may have potential re Euron's downfall? Or perhaps Theon won't be involved, and just share backstory details with us while Euron does whatever the hell he's doing over by Oldtown and the Hightower and with Dany and the dragons and the glass candles and the Valyrian steel armor and the Horn of Joramun and everything.

Note also that Theon and Jon have highly interesting potential for their future meeting, so while Theon could be the POV for Stannis's campaign, it's also possible he could end up at the Wall somehow? Could this be somehow related to Theon's potential as a prophet of the old gods/Bran re the deeply weird thing happening up by the tree? And then there's the fact that Jeyne is already on her way to the Wall with Alysane Mormont and Justin Massey, and from there probably to Braavos... might Theon follow them? And that's not even getting into the mystery of who wrote the Pink Letter.

It's no wonder you're having a hard time puzzling things out, there's just too much to consider, honestly.