#and Heimerdinger (that has to be related to the hexcore

[multifandomloverthrowaway]

What Sky’s Character Should Have Been

(And why her and Viktor needed to be canon.)

This is LONG, and just my opinion. Please be nice!

In storytelling, each character, each scene, and each literary device is crucial for the advancement of the plot. If any is over or under utilized, the story remains cluttered or incomplete. That being said, it truly is a tragedy how horribly the characters, especially the Zaunite characters, came to be treated in season two. The characters and arcs set up in season one are butchered, and Viktor’s story is particularly disappointingly miswritten by the authors and misrepresented by the fandom, and we see this in the narrative and to a certain extent even fan treatment of Sky.

Sky is a ghost. Her presence, while tangible in the story, is not fully realized to the audience. We do not get to know much of her besides her interest in Viktor and a small flashback indicating that they knew of each other in their youth. Thus her existence and her death are ultimately unsatisfying; we do not know enough about her to be able to connect with her, and so she is ultimately only perceived to be an object to propel Viktor’s descent, even though we do not know much of his feelings towards her either. This is an unfortunate misuse of her as a supporting character, especially when it has a good potential reason to exist other than to solely be Viktor’s love interest.

Before understanding what Sky can represent, let us first define her in the context of the setting, particularly in relation to the characters that she supports. I have touched upon this in more detail in my Viktor character analysis posted, but for the TLDR:

It is clear that Jayce and Viktor are foils to one another. The difference in their opinions on Hextech sets them up to be a parallel to an important aspect of the class struggle set up in season one: Even when the oppressed are “good enough” to compete with their privileged peers, the resultant treatment by the oppressor between both is starkly different. Where the privileged will be lauded and commemorated, the oppressed will only be served minimal acceptance and approval. Thus, their characters and how they interact with one another, as well as the characters of their immediate mutual contacts and their own corresponding interactions, should serve explore this struggle further, especially when it comes to Sky, Mel, and Heimerdinger.

So Sky, like Viktor, should show how Piltover can misuse Zaunites against their hometown. However, to keep her character separate from him, unlike Viktor, who loses himself getting out of this trap and back to Zaun, Sky must be lost to trap itself. She must show just how inhumanely far Piltover will go in exploiting Zaun to maintain its subjugation over the latter. Like we see with other innocent Zaunite background characters that are killed by Piltover on the battleground, Sky must represent those that are killed in softer, more covert methods: through the extraction of Zaun’s finest intellect and the resulting false diplomacy. We must eventually see how Piltover indirectly kills her for being Zaunite, even though we know she is killed by Viktor and the Hexcore.

Sky then needs to have a fleshed out background that indicates of her optimism, grit, and innocence. It does not have to be as in depth as that of the main characters, but the audience must be shown the following:

Her academic prowess that indicates how she can capture sponsors and spin her botany research to help Zaun into something that Piltover thinks it can also benefit from. From which councilors or patrons does she benefit? How and why?

Her motivations for Zaun. What does she view an ideal Zaun to be? What would its relationship with Piltover be? We know she wants to make it better by creating natural greenery, but why does she choose to do so in Piltover? What pushed her to apply to the academy?

Her relation to Viktor, the only other known Zaunite at the academy. Did they interact more than that one time in the river? Were they friends or mutuals? How did Viktor help her get a position as his assistant and why? We know she is fond of him, but what about the other way around? What are their experiences at the academy like? How do they interact with casual prejudice? Do they stick up for each other? Do they find support in each other?

We must see her struggles to successfully obtain funding and traction for her own research due to Piltovan pushback and prejudice. (In this case, she must be in the same research group as Jayce and Viktor, but no longer their assistant as a decade is far too long to remain as such. She will be tied to Jayce’s name but not under him or Viktor.) This needs to be shown to contrast Jayce’s ease in becoming a councilor and gaining enough authority to push out Heimerdinger to further his and Viktor’s research. We need to see her project take the back seat because it is not the project that Jayce is directly tied to. We must see her have to to be careful and planned in who she talks to, how, and what she is able to get from them. This would provide a perfect parallel to Mel and about how being outsiders provides challenges when it comes to change; one being born into power with an imperialist upbringing and getting past Piltovans gracefully to a councilor position to invite it, and the other having no power and so relying on the street smarts and a resource seeking mindset from a more impoverished background to scavenge for it… yet both using the same methods (smooth talking, strategic connections, etc.) to do so.

We need to also know her relationship with Zaun and her perception of Piltover. She must be shown to nurture her feelings about the unfair treatment of her home into a more determined and optimistic view of potential equality and diplomacy, and their growth over time with her and Viktor’s research and their duty to represent Zaun. We should see her friendship with Jayce. We should see her interact with Mel and Heimerdinger. This not only lets the audience sympathize with her by empathizing with the struggles she faces above and her defiance in face of them, but also contrasts Viktor’s internal anger about Zaun and Piltover that he lets fester with his growing ailments and erasure of academic and technical contributions. This contrast sets her up nicely to symbolize the “good that could have been” in the relationship between Zaun and Piltover, and thus by extension, between Viktor and Jayce - hence her initial role as their assistant, and something that is cast aside as each character grows more towards their goals rather than the partnership.

This also sets her up to personify Viktor’s humanity. We’ve seen them meet. Let us see them study together, build things together, perhaps even fend for essentials together. Let us see how and why Sky fell in love with the Viktor from her youth. Let us know of Viktor’s endearment of her as we see him choose her to be his assistant. Let us see how they interact after facing prejudice from Piltovans and band together. Let us see her meet him when he’s on the hospital bed. Let us see her and Viktor be protective of and vulnerable with each other as they face the enemy. Let us see them bond just like we have seen him do so with Jayce. With Sky, we can see Viktor’s insecurities and his empathy like no other character can; in her we can see what makes him human.

This is integral to Viktor’s character and his arc. Whereas Jayce can actively work towards a future for his life with Mel and his career outside of Hextech, Viktor does not have the same luxury due to his illness. He cannot pursue anything but Hextech because his life and the lives of his people are on the line due to Piltover’s control. And that is precisely why when Sky loses her life due to the technology, it isn’t just Viktor that kills her. It’s Piltover’s waste, Piltover’s luxuries, Piltover’s unfulfilled promises that do. And Viktor realizes that after. Sky, in all her optimism, is fundamentally what Viktor could have strived for had he not let his anger and urgency spiral. As a mirror to Mel and Jayce, Sky is not just Viktor’s past but also his hopes for the future. And he realizes that he and Zaun has lost what could have been.

By giving Sky agency, we see just how much she could have done for the plot. But seeing how much the story fumbled Viktor, it’s not surprising to see her get “fridged” twice. I hope I did her justice!

If you’ve read this all, you deserve all the desserts. Thanks for reading!

[foggylizzard]

Viktor and his politics - an analysis

I would truly do anything for a more politically minded and motivated Viktor, but I truly believe that Arcane dropped the ball with his character. While his naivety and belief that he can work with Piltover to achieve peace makes sense in the realm of his character as a scientist, it’s just so overplayed. And he’s never disproven, the consequences he suffers are entirely personal.

First, his obsession with the hexcore is written as a personal selfishness. He wants to be live and experience an unburdened body. While his obsession with his disability is a result of an ableist society, and his desire to live is natural, this is framed as selfishness through a disregard of his other projects, to the point where it takes Skye's life. The show places a greater emphasis on Viktor’s self-worth than it does the system that doomed him. His obsession spirals from just his impending death to his disability as a whole as the hexcore infects his mind. And Arcane finds a way to paint his actions as a personal madness, rather than an indication of a larger issue.

They do so by drawing connection to his character arc in flashbacks. Not to Viktor’s poor living standards in the undercity, but to Singed. A singular mad individual who the show passes the blame onto. An easily digestible villain, who goes on to aid Ambessa, and shifts the role of enemy onto Noxus' shoulders.

Singed's motivations are all selfish. He acts under the jurisdiction of a greater authority, but never for the sake of a single cause. He jumps, without remorse, from Silco to Ambessa, for the sole sake of his daughter. He attempts to reach Viktor through a common feeling of isolation, only successfully doing so when Viktor's world view shifts, selfishly. Their initial disconnect is a result of Viktors empathy, particularly towards Rio, who exists as a representation of who Viktor later aims to help. He can relate to those who experience a similar helplessness within their own body, or who can't afford the luxury of scientific/medical aid and aims to solve this issue. Still, his motivations evade the topic of Piltover's oppression of the undercity, despite being personally affected by the actions of the enforcers. Despite many disabilities in the undercity and a general lack of accessible healthcare being the result of Piltover’s neglect.

When Viktor accepts the shimmer offered, and with it, Singed's immoral methods of experimentation, Singed warns him that "they" won't understand, drawing on his own experiences with Heimerdinger. Singed speaks on a greater scale, of Piltover versus Zaun. Piltover does not accept or understand the lengths those in the undercity go to in order to survive, given the poor conditions they were born into. But Viktor is insistent that Jayce will understand. Viktor views his and Jayce's relationship as beyond Piltover and Zaun. He sees their future discussion on a personal scale, where their bond preservers through any preconceived notions about shimmer. Which is exactly why Jayce's prejudiced statement on the bridge shocks him.

Viktor views himself as a Zaunite, but his identity operates passively in Piltover. A defense mechanism developed as a means to survive. That is, unless his credibility or accomplishments are challenged. The first instance of that is on the bridge. Jayce has drawn a line mentally, between his world and that of the undercity, which he associates only with danger due to the recent attacks. He is unable to remember Viktor as a Zaunite due his personal attachment to his partner. Jayce is selfishly motivated. His creations were a result of obsession, and a desire for recognition of his lifelong dream. He craved validation, that he wasn't crazy for fixating on the mage that saved him and his mother.

It is Viktor that provides him with that validation, by indulging his dreams when no one else would. Jayce has such a deep connection to Viktor, that when combined with his lack of experience in politics, he mentally categorizes him as part of his world. Jayce's statements, despite being prejudiced, are not politically rooted. The line he draws is divided not by Piltover and Zaun, but the known and the unknown. Viktor chastises him with a firm reminder that he himself is from the undercity but forgives Jayce almost immediately. Because he is able to see Jayce's intent beyond his inexperienced world view.

The second instance in which Viktor argues on the side of Zaun is when Mel proposes weaponizing the hextech. He immediately disapproves, stating that it wasn't the original intent of their creation. Once again, his disagreement relates to his work. When Mel assumes that the stolen hexgem has been used to create weapons, he has no reaction. Until she implies that she wants the two of them to be involved in the next course of action.

It is Jayce, who first brings up the topic of politics and how it would only cause further unrest. Once again, there is a divide created. Now, with Mel in the conversation, Jayce's focus is drawn to his duty to Piltover, and he forgets his own selfish desires in the pressure placed upon him. But he is a character whose moral code is actively impacted by those around him, especially those he cares for. Just as he had easily agreed with Viktor on the bridge after being challenged, he argues on Mel's behalf after she leaves the room, despite initially disagreeing with her.

Viktor, however, exists somewhat removed from the world of politics. His first priority is science and their shared creations. It is only when he verbally recognizes the political implications of creating weapons that he begins to break through to Jayce. Once again, he places an emphasis on his work, saying first, that they are "scientists, not soldiers". He reminds Jayce why hextech exists, to improve lives, only in order to remind Jayce of the consequences of weaponizing it. His first instinct is not as a Zaunite, fearing for the harm of his people, but as a scientist with an objection and ethical obligation.

Viktor is constantly impacted by his identity as a Zaunite, and speaks openly about it, though there is a line drawn that divides him from any real relation to the undercity. Drawing back to the bridge scene, he exists in a weird juxtaposition where he is able to forgive the personal slight of Jayce's offense, yet he hides the shimmer from him, recognizing their differences in privilege and how it may impact their relationship more than he initially realized. Then in his speech to Jayce after Mel's proposal, he avoids specifics in language when discussing the impact of violence on Zaun. He uses broader terms, taking an anti-violent but ultimately neutral stance by claiming that the purpose of their invention is to aid everyone involved.

Arcane consistently acknowledges Viktor's existence as a disabled Zaunite, and how it affects his personal life and accomplishments, yet they consistently fail to relate this to his world views, especially after his descent into the Machine Herald. It's this implied selfishness that exists as a result of poor writing that sours his character arc, nearly to the point of tired ableist tropes.

Arcane fails to punish Piltover properly. But it, ironically, does an exceptionally adequate job of punishing Viktor as a result of his actions. Narratively, he becomes the villain in season two, despite the audiences understanding and insight into the circumstances that led him down this path. It is his own insecurities that are the danger here. Even his actions after his revival are personally motivated. He goes to the undercity to escape Jayce and finds people to heal as a result. It is never just about Zaun, as he goes on to heal and welcome all into his "place of peace". It is a projected insecurity, that makes his motivations appear sinister despite his earnest attempts to help. Giving Viktor a stronger moral code would make his actions appear less unfounded and place a greater emphasis on the origins of his internalized ableism. On the actions of Piltover, in particular.

The previous disconnects in the writing that absolve Piltover of personal responsibility for his death and condition ultimately make his ending the result of a personal fault. The narrative finds every way to avoid drawing connections between Viktor and Zaun, ultimately contributing to its centrist themes. As we get further into the show, the disconnect grows. It is Piltover's fault that he is dying, yet it is Jinx, a Zaunite, who kills him. It is Jayce, a character so deeply disconnected from politics despite being a councilor, that brings him back against his will. The narrative constantly shifts the responsibility away from Piltover, and thus, flattens the significance of Viktor's character and his suffering in season two.

Does this have a point? Perhaps not. But I find it interesting how Viktor, despite having an inherently radical existence as a disabled Zaunite in Piltover, constantly evades the political topics the show explores. Anyways I'm just disappointed in Arcane's descent into centrism (yes I know it always influenced the writing but I am mourning what could have been)

[thatoneerin]

skyvik au thoughts because I was listening to papa roach and got ideas

okay so, this au, Sky notices Viktor's health is getting worse and worse, and that he's getting more and more obsessive over the hexcore. now, it doesn't exactly take a genius to tell that, while whatever Viktor's doing with the hexcore helps in the moment, it's just rushing him to an even earlier grave.

so, Sky starts leaving small notes around for Viktor, because to be entirely honest, he's almost always irritated and doesn't ever seem to be in the mood to talk, so this is the best she can come up with.

the notes are mostly the same, encouraging Viktor that if he ever needs someone to talk to or somewhere to stay, that she and her home are open. some are encouragements that she knows he's doing his best, and that she believes in him, even leaving little doodles on most of her notes related to what they say.

Viktor sees most of them. he acts like he doesn't, because stubborn habits die hard and dammit, he's doesn't need anything distracting him. but they always give him a moment of pause. he reads all of them, and even keeps some. He does still care for Sky and appreciates seeing her concern, but they don't do much to deter him. he has to figure out this magic, to be able to live longer and do more good for Piltover and Zaun, Sky of all people should be able to understand that.

and so, when Sky finds Viktor trying to gain the hexcore's power, she ends up being able to tear Viktor away from the hexcore before it consumes either of them. because, the power of love and friendship I guess? idk, it doesn't really matter.

after everything calms down, they're on the floor from the sudden blast of magic from the core after Viktor took his hand off of it. Viktor is, of course, pissed the hell off. why did she stop him?? he was so close!

but before he's able to say anything, Sky sees him and immediately wraps her arms around his waist. she starts to cry, saying how she was so scared, how she's been so scared for him, and what the hell was he thinking??? she's practically got her head in his lap at this point, gripping him tightly and latching her nails into his skin like she's scared someone's going to come and take him from her.

Viktor's inner turmoil is crazy. He hasn't had a genuine hug in years, and the last time Sky hugged him was when they were back in the academy together.

he's then suddenly pulled back to that memory.

it was their graduation day. the second Professor Heimerdinger congratulated the students for their hard work and declared them the newest graduating class, applause and cheering erupted, and Sky practically jumped on Viktor wrapping her arms around his neck. Viktor wrapped his arms around her, just being happy that he had someone to celebrate this with, especially a close friend like her.

Viktor is quiet for a long time as Sky cries into his lap. he then, finally, lightly touches her shoulder. she lifts her head up to him and...

oh god.

Sky has a large purple, almost birth mark looking skin tissue covering half of her face. it wraps around her left eye, which he now also notices it's iris and pupil are stark white.

oh god.

he did that.

he shakily reaches a hand to her face, which is also now covered in the same purple scar like tissue that's on Sky's face. Sky's eye goes to his hand momentarily, wide in shock at it's apperance, before he lightly grazes the scar on her face. they lock eyes, one golden pool spilling into the other two. Viktor finally breaks, tearing up and starting to apologize to Sky profusely.

Sky quickly wraps her arms around his neck, cradling the back of his head in one of her hands. he wraps his arms around her back, burying his head in the crook of her shoulder as his quiet sobs rattle through him.

they stay like that on the cold floor of the lab for a long, long time.

[starlostlix]

BSD 121.5 SPOILERS BELOW!!

So I want to talk about the new chapter because what the actual fuck.

So first of all.... THIS

Atsushi doing this callback with that gaze is insane, and akutagawa's reaction shows he's losing the idgaf war. They're finally realising how much they mean to one another and it's so important, but MORE IMPORTANTLY...

AKUTAGAWA'S EYES ARE FULL OF LIGHT

HIS. EYES. ARE. ALIGHT.

It's not just a bit of light. ITS FULLY LIGHT!!!

This is so important for Akutagawa ong. I don't want to take up too much time with this though because there's a LOT to talk about.

First, the design of ameno-gozen's realm, the fourth dimension. I LOVE IT! It's so mysterious and looks kind of glitchy which is perfect for this vibe. Dazai explains that most people can't see anything here so Atsushi's limited visibility with this art style works well.

So basically this dimension is where the past present and future intersect 'orthogonally' (I had to search this up, it means 'at right angles') and all of time is 'folded upon itself'. Atsushi now, as the only one who can see anything in this dimension, is now able to technically access parts of the past and future at once (my theory is that Byakko has some relation to the fourth dimension, perhaps being created within or being something similar to Gozen). Also note that in the 3rd image 'Dazai' is able to hear Atsushi's thoughts (strengthening the idea id seen of this being Byakko speaking through a visual hallucination of Dazai, especially when this dazai insinuates that it is not him that knows these things but Atsushi himself). Interesting what 'dazai' says about the speed of sound in this dimension basically means it's a lot slower here. Also apparently the mission is to find the 'core' of the divine being here and (i assume) destroy it? No clue how that SSKK fight from the end of the anime is supposed to play out like that but I will see how this goes.

So interestingly everyone else who has been struck by the Amenogozen sword has become stuck in this dimension unaware of what/where they are, and don't have the awareness that Atsushi has (main character moment). Essentially the infinite past and future versions of themselves are 'folding' onto one another (I don't quite know what this specifically means, but I imagine it like Jayce, Ekko and Heimerdinger in the hexcore room in Arcane s2 ep3). But now, since Atsushi is conscious, Atsushi has access to the past and future in this space (leading to the possibility of a lore dump to end all lore dumps next chapter, hopefully about Fyodor's backstory/plan) and he has to choose which way to go to find the information he needs. 'Dazai' tells him to 'feel strongly' as 'that's what you do when you want to experience the past' - and I feel that is such an interesting way of thinking about it in this series. Atsushi himself has suffered from PTSD (as have many characters) and often strong feelings can link to the traumas they possess, but it's not just negative feelings. A lot of characters also have positive memories from strong feelings, including their strong feelings about protecting others as Yokohama's defenders of sorts, and forming bonds with others in that process created the ADA as we know it. I don't really know how else to talk about it but I think it's a really interesting thematic line. Asagiri has some really cool writing.

Honestly this chapter is so cool and I can't wait to see where the series goes with this! My personal theory for next chapter is Atsushi finding the way to the past and we get essentially a lore dump. I think it will be Fyodor's backstory wherein Atsushi's view is spliced with comatose Sigma going through the information he got from his ability and stumbling upon the same information/memories as Atsushi is (also perhaps to cement the parallels between the two like Dazai talked about!).

[aurelion-solar]

Arcane Act 3 Spoilers

Season 2 Episodes 7-9 rambling/reaction (i'm a mess)

welp. AAAAAAAAAAAAA holy shit

episode 7:

mind fuckery with the ALTERNATE TIMELINE WHERE VI DIED AND HEXTECH NEVER GOT INVENTED HOLY FUCK - it's crazy to see how different things are with zaun seemingly having good relations with piltover?? the alternate jinx - still known as powder - with her pigtail buns 🥹

benzo and vander and silco and mylo and claggor??

powder and ekko together 😭😭

showing gert doing well being in a band in this timeline but then they're a jinxer who dies in the original timeline im sobbing

heimerdinger's song aww :)

jinx's shrine to vi then ekko's mural im yelling

the time limit being 4 seconds bc of ekko's ult i loveeee it

meanwhile jayce in the cosmic/body horror jumpscare timeline. that was horrifying

jayce climbing up all that way to find his own husk of a body jfc

HEIMERDINGER BETTER STILL BE ALIVE WHERE DID HE GO

someone riding a monocycle past ekko reminded me of LoR's gilded ekko skin, also bc he's dressed all fancy :)

episode 8:

hi I AM A MEL STAN I LOVE HER AND SHE'S SO COOL

LEBLANC? VERY INTERESTING

not the "i, robot" viktor husks im screaming they're so creepy

the zaunites who volunteered to fight against noxus made me so emotional ffs

CAIT AND VI AGAIN WE WON

poor vander he didn't deserve this 😭

VIKTOR'S FACE LITERALLY SPLITTING IN HALF IM SCREAMING WTF IS THAT

the way they repaired the council table with gold reminds me of kintsugi!

episode 9:

jinx burning the last drop and then ekko stopping her from ending it all mid-song was such a gag. they're so sweet omg, ekko's clothes having her paint on it aaa

maddie got what she deserved and nothing can convince me otherwise lol

rip loris though :(

the reveal of viktor not actually being in the hexcore orb thing DAMN the sense of dread that ran through me omfg

viktor's weird fuckass laser arm coming from his back is so gross

MEL AND CAITLYN TEAMING UP ON AMBESSA LET'S GO GIRLIES, i love seeing mel discovering her power omg she's awesome

the zero gravity fight in the hexgate was so cool, i loved it when viktor and jayce just flew through the middle of them lol??

ekko getting his clock hand weapon from in game YIPPEE king us amazing and u saved the day

VIKTOR AND JAYCE VIKTOR AND JAYCE their lives being so connected im actually yelling

"in all timelines and all possibilities" THAT'S RIGHT U DESERVE EACH OTHER i hope they're happy being gay wherever they went lol

jinx and warwick fml..... i mean WE DIDN'T SEE A BODY SO!!!! but the flashbacks to vi seeing vander die again i literally can't take thissss why can't vi and jinx have a happy ending sdjlskdjk

SEVIKA on the council AS SHE DESERVES!

scar has a daughter they're so cute 🥹

ORIANNA IS REAL AND ALIVE IM LITERALLY GONNA SCREAM

ERM SWAIN'S RAVEN FINDING SOMETHING IN THE RUBBLE OF JAYCE'S WEAPON?? the next show has gotta be about noxus right?

"the end" in jinx's handwriting please tell me she's alive

[l0vagrend]

What is "arcane" and what happened to Jayce and Viktor ? [+Ekko]

[ aka an arcane theory ramble based on League of Legends lore and what we know from the show ]

I. Runes

We know runes are powerful symbols and magical energy that is / was used by mages a long time ago, but was banished and forgotten by Piltover, because of the influence of Heimerdinger. Who saw what magic can do and how it can lead to ruin.

Jayce was saved by a mage and arcane/magical energy [hence the crystal in his wrist].

In the game's lore, there exist the most powerful runes, the World Runes. These runes are speculated to be the creator of everything in Runeterra. Everything came from these runes. However since they hold this enormous power, they are very dangerous and in wrong hands can cause ruin and destruction. Posessing just one rune, a fracture of a rune even, is enough to corrupt its wielder's mind. [khm Lord of the Rings].

I believe "arcane" aka magic, comes from these runes, and is present all over the land.

II. Ryze, the rune mage

In the game, a character named Ryze wields the task of collecting the World Runes to keep away from civilizations. He witnessed the runes destructive powers first hand during the Rune Wars. Where nations posessing just even one rune made them hungry for power.

Ryze binds each rune in a secret location far away from the eyes of others.

The Runes and arcane surrounding Ryze transformed his body, extended his life span. He went from a human looking mage to a purple rune mage. [Viktor is purple as well where his body made contact with the Hexcore]

III. In Legends of Runeterra

Legends of Runeterra is another Riot Games game revolving around the world of LoL. In it 5 shards of the World Runes are mentioned : shard of madness, shard of betrayal, shard of violence, shard of hope, shard of reverence. However there are at least 9 runes we know of from both Ryze's lore and Runeterra's.

So there is a possibility that a 6th Rune is present in the Arcane storyline.

IV. Hextech, artificial magic

Jayce created artificial arcane energy based on his experience with a mage. Hextech merges ancient magical powers with technology and machines.

HEX LITERALLY MEANS CURSE.

RUNETERRA HAS THE WORD RUNE IN IT.

But back to being normal !

V. Wild runes

Wild runes could mean that the original form of runes and arcane is present beyond the artifical machinery. It evolves and corrupts the environment around itself [see Victor's followers, the Hexgate, Ekko's tree].

VI. But where did Jayce go ?

I have 2 ideas for the whole Hexgate mind-fuckery. 1) its just arcane and runes related, 2) its arcane AND time related.

Its possible that the Wild Runes showed Jayce through visions the foreseeable future of the arcane corruption getting really out of hand [Victor and his followers changing in huge ways mentally not just physically].

But also Jayce himself got corrupted by the Wild Rune. His mind is all over the place.

His new LoL skin has a voice line that goes like :

"Unmade, made again. I never know how much of me is left."

Which could imply that he was changed in a much deeper level. I mean hell he looks fucked up and fused with arcane energy.

VII. What will happen with Viktor ?

He will lose his humanity fully and turn to machinery, become against humans and what makes them humans overall. I mean that is just canon LoL lore so its most likely to happen.

He will most likely be reconstructed, because his conciousness is still active and well in some kind of aether.

But also, in the intro we can see Jayce's hand is the one putting the mask on Viktor, he is the reason, like a butterfly effect that caused Viktor to become who he is, the Machine Herald.

[there is a highly likely possibility that LoL Viktor will receive a rework after Arcane to fit the canon]

VIII. What will happen to Ekko ?

In the game he has time related abilities, so it would fit that when he comes back he gains these abilities. Rewinding time will be useful thats for sure ! [Idk about Heimerdinger tho]

BUT this is all i could come up with so far and these are just thoughts and theories ! :]]

posts/videos that inspired me to make this : 1, 2, where did jayce go ?, the cataclysm, ryze cinematic explained

[mollysunder]

Jinx, Viktor, and Ekko: Zaun's Messiest Trio

I really can't wait for season 2 of Arcane, mostly to finally see Jinx, Ekko, and Viktor interact. All three have this dynamic where every person has a reason to be suspicious of the other, but each would absolutely benefit if they managed to work together.

Despite the fact that Viktor hasn't met either Jinx or Ekko, all three still manage to (or at least will) know something about the other characters, which colors the bias of the others when they meet next season. I decided to list out a few of the ongoing threads on what has happened and what could happen between Ekko, Jinx, and Viktor based on that.

Ekko and Jinx:

Ekko doesn't know that Jinx stole back the hexgem during their fight.

Will Ekko feel partially responsible for the coming war between Zaun and Piltover because he let his past with Jinx stop him from killing her on the bridge?

Ekko doesn't know Jinx set him and the Firelights up to take the fall for the hexgem heist and the explosion on the bridge. Has this happened under Jinx's direction before?

Jinx may or may not have more firelight bombs stationed near his base

When it's revealed that Jinx robbed Jayce's apartment with Ekko's help in the 1st act, will that only further tie Jinx's past crimes to the Firelights by Piltover's establishment?

There's a theory that Ekko saved himself and Jinx by knocking away her grenade. Would Jinx know that if it were true?

Does Jinx know that Ekko has a giant mural that includes a younger version of herself?

How many times did Ekko try to reach out to Jinx? What was the final straw?

How many Firelights has Jinx personally killed? How many were on the wall?

Is "Boy Savior" a nickname Jinx sarcastically came up with, or is it something from before Silco's coup?

How does Ekko feel about the fact Scar is the Firelight that tries to take a killing shot of Jinx the most often?

Jinx and Viktor:

Jinx fired a rocket in Viktor's direction during the finale, potentially putting him in a position where his work with the hexcore is exposed.

Will Viktor resent Jinx for the actions she's committed and the lives she's cost since she sparked the war?

Jinx is technically the reason Viktor and Jayce were able to partner with each other in the first place

Viktor likely learned from Jayce and from attending the last council meeting that Jinx was responsible for the attacks since her capture was a part of the negotiation terms. He may have also learned that Vi was the one to inform the council.

Will Viktor be the one to tell Jinx it was Vi who gave her name to the Council?

Both unknowingly share Singed as an advisory source. Viktor goes to Singed for help with the Hexcore, and Jinx wanted to send the hexgem to Singed when she was having trouble unlocking hextech.

Singed is the source of both characters' transmutations through Shimmer.

Viktor knows how to defuse Jinx's bombs. Can he do it again?

If Viktor knew he could get Shimmer from Singed, the source of it, then how much does Viktor know about the Shimmer trade in Zaun? Does Viktor know about its other key actors like Jinx and Silco?

Jinx understands that hextech really just connects humans to the "realm of heebie jeebies" , like she grasps the danger. Does Viktor understand that, or was he too desperate to care?

Since Viktor spent a part of his youth assisting Singed and saw Singed's Shimmer transfusion surgery of Rio. Does that mean when Jinx and Viktor meet, he'll understand exactly what Singed did to Jinx that saved her life because Singed did the same to Rio?

Viktor and Ekko:

Ekko most likely only knows about Viktor through Heimerdinger, which will color expectations of Viktor's motivations

Ekko doesn't know that Viktor gave Singed (Silco's ally) access to hextech related blueprints.

Will Viktor learn that Ekko is also partially responsible for his and Jayce's meeting? If Ekko hadn't cased Jayce's apartment, Jinx and family wouldn't have blown up the building, which is how Viktor learns about Jayce's research.

Viktor might know that Jinx is responsible for the hexgem heist and the lives it cost, but the only physical evidence he saw was a grenade covered in Firelight symbols. Viktor might first assume that Jinx is associated with the Firelights.

Will Heimerdinger reveal to Ekko some new terrible details of Singed's history and fall from grace as it becomes apparent that Singed and Viktor are working together, further biasing Ekko against Viktor?

There's a theory that Sky is related to the Firelight with the bird mask. If the theory's true, then when it gets out that Viktor accidentally killed Sky, he's immediately alienated himself from Ekko's faction. If the theory's wrong, he'd still be an irresponsible man who got a fellow Zaunite killed in the eyes of many.

How would Ekko feel learning that Viktor was asked to represent Zaun in the peace deal despite the fact Viktor hasn't lived in Zaun for years and he's affiliated with Silco's associate Singed?

This is what I could think of on the fly, there's definitely more I'd add later. I just really hope we get more into these different Zaunite perspectives. I always felt like Arcane and League in general are too interested in pairing stories for Zaunites with a Piltovan foil, especially in a way that focuses on "reconciling" class issues. I want to see Zaunites that lived under the same conditions and reacted differently because of very minute differences in resources and chance in opportunity that became foundational in forming their perspective actually interact. Let them be strong together or tear each other apart!

The former plz tho!

Or just let them talk to each other! You know Ekko never actually spoke a word to Jinx in the first season?!?!? Not when they were kids, not in the timeskip.

Update: Turns out Ekko was created to have Viktor as one of his primary enemies. It seems pretty one-sided on Ekko's part, but we'll see.

[threeoffucks]

I CQME AS SOON AS I FINISHED READING BC I AM SO CONFUSED HELP

ok so the beginning is obvi Svetla but is Jayce seeing Svetla’s memories???? or her nightmares????? and she’s interacting with the hexcore right

AND THE END OK SO WAIT ??????? THEYVE GOT LIKE A LOKI TVA THING GOING ON SAVING ALL THESE VIKTORS AND JAYCES?????

I LOVED THE CHAPTER I PROMISE IM JUST CONFUSED

also viktor be like: https://youtu.be/qMO7ena5wY8?si=G_8pAMIt2c9lY-22 (safe)

(Context for post: Fortune is the name used for Bad Timelime Viktor in Jupiter’s Storm!)

BRO YOU GOT THRU THAT SO FAST, THANK YOU??? This is me rn—

And dude, no worries at all!! I’m so happy you reached out for clarification, I’d love to explain more! :D

[ MAJOR ramble incoming… ]

Touching on Svetla’s Nightmares!

While it’s what she’s ruminating on while she sleeps (nightmares), at this point her brain is rlly only replaying direct memories and experiences from her time in Viktor. So, yeahhhhhh, Svetla unfortunately has spent a lot of time with the Hexcore (to a point where it’s valid to say the Hexcore has done most of the legwork “raising” her up until her birth). 😬

(Related to this, Svetla is not a very creative person! A lot of her character pertains to mirroring and mimicry (baby development), so anything she shows Viktor or Jayce is either a memory or something she’s actively viewing…)

Later on in the recent chapter, this aspect about Svetla—being able to impart her mind onto others—is touched on between Fortune and Jayce during the mid-mission call scene. The case files conversation between them is supposed to set up that this is a reoccurring ability for her, also displayed in her bad timeline self.

Y E S!!!! YES ABSOLUTELY. (I legit cannot handle the idea that acceleration rune jayvik just disintegrated)

For clarity — This AU takes place in a “Variability” Rune universe—AKA R-42 (marvel naming conventions, shoot me).

The Variability Rune Concept was first (and mainly) touched on through an observation made by Viktor back in “Neutron Star”. During the dream sequence, he catches a glimpse of the specific rune she’s using to make the dream happen:

Timeline Names (so far):

R-42-a - Bad Timeline (Owl Svetla, Fortune aligned with the Duumvirate)

R-42-b - Good Timeline (This is the perspective we’ve followed for most of the Fic, and the timeline we’re currently trying to save)

R-42-c - Neutral Timeline (Similar to the show, this is a timeline in R-42 that doesn’t have Hextech. This is where the Anomaly took 42-b Ekko and Heimerdinger)

In this AU they became personified laws of nature. They have as much control over reality tho as greek gods—it’s not that overreaching. We’ll get into the nitty gritty of that later, but for now, just know Chaos and Order are fathers who are SICK and TIRED of their alternate selves.

The Duumvirate of Chaos and Order is an authority created by Acceleration Jayce and Viktor. They run their own spot in reality. So far, we know the Duumvirate’s position is to advise other Jayces and Viktors, and that there are specific Jayces and Viktors assigned to make “interventions”.

And yessssss there might be a (not so) tiny threat to space time happening on the Duumvirate’s side… we’ll find out more in the cosmic crisis intervention they’re cooking up for poor Viktor! 😂

That’s about all we know tho (so far in the story)!

They’ve only been hinted at a couple of times so far, just to help remind (because them chapters are chunky bro I’m so sorry 😂):

- In “Dream about Me”, they’re mentioned indirectly through Bad!Svetla’s “He left me to make friends.” comment.

-In “Revelations”, we have the title page of Case File #041, referencing both the Duumvirate and briefly hints why her case was given to Chaos to begin with.

- In “The Singularity” - referenced to be the shooting stars that are reaching out to intervene Fortune’s suicide attempt (not directly Chaos or Order, but a unit within the Duumvirate that will be touched on next chap!)

A lot of the major nitty gritty of the Duumvirate, where they’re at, what’s been going on will be expanded upon once Viktor’s arc is wrapped up!

(Then I’ll be cooking up the continuation “Zagreus and the Titans”, *cackles in Greek lore and doesn’t explain that ANYTHING furrher*)

ALSO THE AUDIO??? IM SCREAMING??!??? No that’s legit what’s happening XD I just love the idea of cosmic suicidal ideation with the capacity to decimate timelines. Viktor “no faith in himself” Talis.

All in all, dude, thank you so so much for taking the time to read this and keep up with Jupiter’s Storm!! GAHHH this made my day, omg, I hope you’re having an awesome sauce one on your side! 🥹🫶🏼💕💕💕✨💫

For anyone who’s seeing this post and wondering what’s going on—welcome to my Postpartum Psychosis Machine Herald AU! It’s predominately an examination of not handling your mental health before having kids, and getting out of the mental hole you dug for your kids sake.

If any of this catches ur eye, consider checking out Jupiter’s Storm on Ao3! :D

[iztarshi]

You know what? It’s interesting that Viktor’s new empathic abilities don’t kick in here and definitely comes across as the hexcore using him. If he’d immediately understood Jayce’s pain and Jayce’s reasons he would have fallen into them the way he does almost everyone else’s, but the hexcore wants him separate from Jayce. It wants to isolate him. (

Indeed. The arcane is a parasyte and Victor is its meal. Staying with Jayce would mean stability. Human connections, like his friendship/love for Jayce could definitely lead to the arcane using its influence over it.

After all, Jayce´s influence was also one deciding factor that let Victor break free from it.

So one might wonder, how much the arcane influenced Victor in his realisation that human emotions and therefore also bonds might be a hindrance.

It feels like the Arcane actively going after someone who is both socially isolated and bad at being alone.

This! But isn´t it weird, that Heimerdinger has never come to that conclusion? He had previously seen the arcane...but he has never bothered to look deeper into the matter...what lead to the catastrophe? Instead of just congratulating Victor that he has to die young?

I never thought Sky was the real thing, she’s too calm, even from the beginning, but I did think she was a hallucination rather than… well she is a hallucination, but according to World of God a hexcore induced one rather than just Viktor imagining her. The hexcore using her form makes it another form of manipulation, rather than Viktor’s guilt.

It toyed with Victor´s guilt and he provided him with intimacy, human connection that Victor so greatly desired.

“Our paths diverged long ago. It was… affection that held us together.” My first impulse here was to laugh at Viktor a bit for being dramatic, because it’s been barely more than a week since we could see them getting along fine and pursuing the same goals, putting together their showcase for Heimerdinger on Progress Day. I can believe it felt longer for him since it’s been a really dreadful week, but even so.

But they were partners for years? Even though there was a disonance in their relationship from the beginning and Jayce getting distracted with all the attention he suddenly got...Right at the beginning, after the 6 years, they did seem to be on the same page.

For Viktor they’re not something he can be proud of at all, they’re a compromise he made to build capital for things he then found he’d die before completing. It’s not just that his contribution to them may well be forgotten, they’re not the legacy he wants at all. In a lot of ways, what Viktor got out of hextech was Jayce’s companionship. Affection has held him to this project, because in his mind his ability to help with hextech is the only reason Jayce would have for being friends with him. Which is likely the emotional reason for him leaving now. He’s no longer willing to work with hextech, which means he cannot continue to work with Jayce.

Oh, that is a great and sensitive conclusion. Indeed, Victor wanted to better the lives of all people, also his people from the undercity.

But both loved the companionship, and Jayce was his only relation that went deeper than surface lever. I am still shocked how little Heimerdinger actually cared about Victor.

It’s hard to tell whether Viktor is angry or just sad… I think the main impression I get, during the hug, during the argument, everything, is that Viktor is already mentally gone as soon as he emerges. He doesn’t have any desire to talk things out with Jayce or do anything but extract himself with the minimum of pain for both of them. He’s a bit angry with Jayce, a bit sorry for him, he pities him enough to hug him back, but he’s not going to open up.

From his perspective, Jayce made Victor into a monster. A literal freak. Everybody does see, that he is different now. His point of view merely changed after he encountered the victims of shimmer...It is awfully fitting, that he considered their company?

It reminds me of the shock of Frankenstein´s wife, who could not accept her appearance and killed herself. Jayce did not want for Victor to die and he had broken his promise and made Victor´s life harder.

I’m not sure whether Viktor’s lack of fear in the face of Huck pointing a knife at him is because the hexcore is messing with his emotions, or because he doesn’t care whether he dies right now. Throwing empathic powers at him when he’s already this messed up feels cruel, he’s susceptible to other people’s suffering already, beaming it directly into his head is too much.

The arcane loved it. More food.

It's almost strange how malevolent the Arcane seems - a parasite as you say - considering that LoL lore as a whole has natural magic elsewhere. If we ever get more of Arcane set elsewhere I'd be curious to see how they handle that - we sort of started down that track with Mel, but the Black Rose are also extremely shady.

Heimerdinger does say, in relation to Ekko's tree, that he had assumed the tendency for the Arcane to lead to disaster was a fault of human nature. It's only when he sees it seemingly acting alone (on the tree without an intermediary) that he considers whether it is capable of wanting to be destructive. Which maybe suggests a dim view of human nature! (I also wonder how magical yordles are in Arcane? Since if Heimerdinger had magic as part of his own nature but all disasters were caused by human mages it would give him a reason to suppose it's humans that are the problem.)

I don't remember that about Frankenstein's wife, but it's been a long time since I read the novel. Or is that from one of the movies? But, yes, Viktor has good reason to be angry with Jayce. I was more trying to analyse the way he's angry, I guess. He's not looking to argue or even to make Jayce understand what he's done so much as he's looking to get away from the person who's done this to him. Or, at least, that's what it feels like to me.

[infinitelystrangemachinex]

I mean I get it, but you have to remember that Heimerdinger is a scientist, and he goes about learning and changing the way a scientist does: through research and experimentation. I hope he’s not like, fixed or anything, but Heimerdinger especially would be receptive to change if it’s supported by the “research” he’s conducting through his experiences with Ekko in the Undercity.

Caitlyn being the other Piltie who gets “fixed” also doesn’t come out of nowhere, as she’s very explicitly characterized as someone who values the Undercity and its culture more than the culture of Piltover, if not through respect than at least through a lack of personal disdain.

By that I mean, she largely dislikes Piltover’s cultural/political values because of what it means to her as the daughter of a councilor, and either through naive ignorance or genuine curiosity values Zaun’s cultural/political identity above her homeland’s. It’s even demonstrated in her first line in the show.

This is why you have characters like Singed or Marcus to foil characters like Cecil or Caitlyn: Singed is opposite to Cecil in that he was largely uninterested in exploring a different way towards progress (his “I thought you’d understand line” to Viktor), and Marcus is opposite to Caitlyn in that he so truly believes in Piltover’s superiority so as to refuse even engaging with Zaun and its people on any sympathetic level. They’re meant to demonstrate how and why these characters are growing as they are, and what it looks like when/if they might fail to do so.

I get where you're coming from and I understand the roles these characters play in Arcane's story. I also understand that the writers intended to show Heimerdinger's receptiveness to change and grow because he is a scientist, and that Caitlyn is in a period of flux in her understanding the social imbalances between Piltover and the undercity. I actually do not believe that Caitlyn is "fixed," though the writing still leaves me with the impression that Heimerdinger has changed his views. I guess we'll see what he's like in the turmoil of season 2! And if Heimerdinger still represents the status quo or not.

As much as I stress that I understand what the writers were doing, I also still stand by how I feel that the execution simply did not land for me. I felt that way on my first watch of the show, and I still feel that way upon many subsequent rewatches! For example, today, I like Caitlyn, but she doesn't intrigue me as a character. Her appeal to Ekko in ep 7 still grates on me. What I do like, however, is how the writing in eps 7 and 8 in particular unwound some of Caitlyn's ignorance and naivete.

I think Heimerdinger is fun and charming, but I also feel underwhelmed by his epiphany arriving - in my opinion - hundreds of years too late. We also all know that Heimerdinger is 100% right about the Hexcore and about Viktor, but I still find his inability to relate to Viktor or help him after working with him for years casts a pall on Heimerdinger's character. There's a lot that can happen in season 2 that could comment on all this, particularly on the immortality aspect, which would reorient my opinions on Heimerdinger, but for now I still have my underwhelmed feelings in how he was written in spite of the writers' clear intentions toward him, and in spite of what they accomplished in placing him opposite someone like Singed.

Arcane is my favorite show, which makes it all the more interesting to pick apart for me!

[taliswho]

@poisonedpowder said: HC + Heimerdinger

( despite his canon actions, jayce actually looks up to heimerdinger. a lot. he has a lot of trust in the guy, and absolutely enjoyed being his student. from my perspective, jayce began to feel frustrated with heimerdinger because he believes that his perspective as a member of a species with several century-long lifespans warped his perspective on the safety of his work. while he eventually grew to agree with this perspective - mostly exclusively on the safety of the hexcore - he keeps very close the idea that progress can be rushed if it means improving lives that need to be improved now. at this point, he understands if heimerdinger doesn't have as much trust in him now as his former pupil - and as the person who introduced legislative action that would result in him being voted out of the council - but he still looks up to him. jayce has a relationship with heimerdinger's advice in the sense that he can healthily take it with a grain of salt, especially since he is of the belief that young, new minds will be the most beneficial for the progress that is going to be made. either way, his viewpoints can become convoluted with each other at times, but he still appreciates and respects the knowledge that his time with his professor has given him. and even though he figured it was the right decision at the time, it was still a little painful, forcing his former mentor into retirement. )

send me hc + a word of your choosing and i'll write a headcanon relating to that word !

[arcgayne]

my reasoning:

(these rankings are based on multiple criteria, such as relatability, hotness, relevance, how interesting they are as a character, and so on and so forth).

1) Jinx: she’s literally me. so silly and mentally unstable. needs therapy so bad and it shows. i fucking love her. please get help queen

2) Ekko: literally has never done anything wrong ever. moral compass strong as fuck. bonus points for looking cool. he’s also literally me but jinx wins over him bc she’s more unhinged.

3) Viktor: my fucking beloved. Do I want to be him? Do I want to be with him? Realistically I want neither of these things but unrealistically I need this man in ways even the hexcore couldn’t comprehend.

4) Mel: God I fucking love a powerful smart beautiful woman. AND she has mommy issues? she’s literally perfect. i’m rotating her in my head as we speak

5) Vi: hot tragic lesbian. almost lost points for becoming a cop but then she quit so it’s all good. for now. I have knowledge about what she ends up doing bc of the video game and I am currently choosing to ignore it in favor of the show timeline. Let me dream.

6) Sevika: hot. muscles. vodka aunt. hot. emotionally unavailable. hot. did i mention hot

7) grayson: i think it’s hilarious that she ranks higher than everyone else below her on this list. she literally only gets points for being attractive. especially her voice like ugghhh. what else can i say.

8) sky: perfect angel. so fucking smart and cool. deserves better. i need to know more about her or i will actually explode. hearing her voice made me so happy y’all have no idea

9) powder: baby. deserves the world. only ranks lower bc she doesn’t exactly “exist” anymore or whatever. justice for powder AND jinx 2025

10) caitlyn: hot. but ew cop moment. the fact that her sympathy for zaunites was crushed so easily really annoys me. like girl do you even have principles. ur revenge era would be cool if it wasn’t police brutality like noooo caitlyn pls don’t let a dictator use you to further destabilize your country for her own gain you’re so sexyyy ahaha… idk man it’s complicated. she should quit her job and get a new one. and then get therapy.

11) Jayce: he’s interesting in that he is a good example of a privileged person attempting to make things better by utilizing the system, only to get sucked into said system, becoming part of it and therefore part of the problem. the road to hell is paved with good intentions. his intentions are so good and yet. he is idiot. I hope Ekko and heimydingy are able to lessen his idiocy.

12) ambessa: hooottttttttttt. so fucking hot. goddamn. have y’all SEEN the music video for blood sweat and tears. i’m fucking FERAL. unfortunately for her, looks aren’t everything and she’s the fucking worst so here we are.

13) elora: beautiful powerful wonderful woman. need more of her. what is her life like. have she and mel ever kissed. much to think about here.

14) heimerdinger: he’s annoying and he doesn’t take the much needed time to explain why he makes the decisions he’s making... but he’s also right. which i hate because he’s annoying. but i also like that he’s annoying because it shows the very true fact that ppl who are annoying can in fact be right about things. also his heist with ekko was funny and endearing so he has that going for him. ekko carried tho ngl

15) vander: he’s cool cuz he’s a swag dad. a kind man and a protective guy. all around a great dude tbh. ranks lower because he doesn’t have any particularly interesting character traits to me.

16) finn: he looks cool as fuck but isn’t relevant and is also kind of an annoying brat. which is funny but like also bro. stop.

17) ximena: literally lost some of her fingers to frostbite to protect her baby child kid son. based. i love her.

18) cassandra: milf. the scene with the her and the gun? cool as fuck. ranks lower bc, again, not very relevant. and also dead lol

19) tobias: imma be honest idrc abt tobias at all i just didn’t want to separate him from his wife. he has enough of that in the show LOL

20) claggor: sweet boy. deserved better. i wonder what he would be like now if he’d been able to grow up.

21) silco: morally i hate this guy but he’s also a fascinating character. he’s cool as fuck and a bitch. plus he does eyeball drugs. there are so many fucked up things about this dude i can’t list them all. overall he’s a very well done character and an absolutely fantastic villain. what a piece of work.

22) benzo: just an all around good dude. ranks low bc he’s extremely irrelevant. sorry dude. if this was a morals contest he’d obv be ranked higher, but it’s not, so here we are.

23) jericho: had to look him up LOLLLL thanks for making food for vi i guess. people who make food for other people are the best. that being said he ranks low because, again, irrelevant.

24) mylo: cringe fail asshole. not ranked last bc he was a kid, so i can give him the benefit of the doubt, cuz maybe he would’ve been a better person as an adult… but also he never got to be one so oops lol get ranked low loser

25) singed: brother euughhh. i like drugs too but not THAT much. maybe give this man some backstory and i’ll care about him. as it stands rn idgaf about this guy. i rebuke thee, get AWAY

26) marcus: fucking piece of shit rat. fuck this guy. selfish coward and i hate him forever. die

Here's a fun little sorter I put together for Arcane characters! Reblog with your list!

Let the sorting commence!

[aspiringwarriorlibrarian]

Ever since I learned that Viktor got into the Academy by pretending to be a student until he impressed Heimerdinger enough to stay, his character arc becomes a lot more clear.

He starts out with sneaking into a university, something that could that could get him arrested but it pays off. He meets a disgraced academic with a theory he likes and is immediately on board with breaking and entering and tampering with evidence on the off chance that this’ll work out, and it does, beyond his wildest dreams. He decides to go visit Zaun in the middle of a blockade and manages to get the Shimmer he needs and not get shot. He does a highly dangerous experiment with the Hexcore, and his leg gets better. He does an even bigger experiment....and his lab assistant gets disintegrated right in front of him, and it becomes clear that the Hexcore has become dangerous and he can’t control it or destroy it.

Viktor’s entire arc through the show (or at least the first season) is him taking larger and larger risks in the name of science and having them pay off against all odds, right up until the moment it doesn’t. It’s a much more interesting story about arrogance than “dumbass says he’s God and gets ironically smote by lightning”, because it happens so naturally and so slowly that you can’t even see it coming until it punches you in the face. It’s not an overblown ego or obvious pride, it’s simple confirmation bias, and it’s vastly more relatable and terrifying in that way.

[fire-of-the-sun]

Viktor: Mage Foreshadowing

Though there was a lot of clever foreshadowing for Viktor’s future in season 1, I want to address the imagery of the mage specifically. Our first reveal of the mage is during Jayce’s trial where Heimerdinger warns of the potential destruction that magic can create. 

Heimerdinger: "I've seen this power in the wrong hands. It corrupts. It consumes. Lays waste to civilizations." 

There is no particular indication that this is linked to Viktor yet beyond him being present and clearly intrigued by Jayce’s speech in favor of pursuing magic.

During the presentation of the hexcore, Heimerdinger sees the imagery of the mage again, this time shown within a Void-like structure inside the hexcore. If you listen carefully, you can actually hear Viktor’s theme playing here as well, giving more evidence to prove that the figure he’s speaking of will be him. Heimerdinger reiterates his claims of its destructive power: 

Heimerdinger: “I’ve seen nations destroyed by a single seed and it looked exactly like this.” 

He then studies Viktor, confirming that it’s already starting to have an effect on him despite him not yet beginning the experiments on himself. 

Heimerdinger: “Viktor, something’s different, what did you do? It’s that thing. It must be destroyed!”

After the hexcore has already absorbed some of his blood, we get a scene where Viktor is sitting and watching it, transfixed, while laced within the same Void-like structures as shown before - a brilliant way of showing that his mind has already been entangled in its webs and referencing the previous image. 

As a side note, I think his crutch here and in other scenes of the show is meant to look reminiscent of a mage’s staff.

As Viktor begins to prepare himself for his first transmutation, we intercut to Jayce looking through a book that features a familiar image: a painting of the same powerful, glowing mage above the destruction of a city as shown in episode 2. It’s no coincidence that this was shown right as Viktor is about to take his first step to becoming that very being. 

Though it might just a coincidence, the rune Viktor is etching onto his leg brace is diamond shaped and very similar to the shape of the glow around the mage as well. The rune itself may have some special meaning that I’m not aware of so feel free to share if you do!

Though not the same image that we’ve seen thus far, we get another visual interpretation of a mage (with three arms) on a tarot card shown after Viktor receives his terminal diagnosis, cleverly foreshadowing his future transformation. Though I won’t go into detail about the meaning of the cards (I’m not very familiar with the subject and others have already discussed them at length) the death card could not only support the news of his diagnosis, but also potentially foreshadow the death he will bring, starting with Sky. 

Beyond physically seeing the mage in relation to him, we also get a few lines that foreshadow a darker fate for Viktor regarding magic. In episode 2, there’s a scene where Viktor and Heimerdinger discuss Jayce’s experiments and Heimerdinger says: 

Heimerdinger: “Magic is far too dangerous in the wrong hands.” 

(Which ties directly into Heimerdinger’s previous line: “I’ve seen this power in the wrong hands,” regarding mages). We then see Viktor promptly stealing Jayce’s notebook, more than likely foreshadowing that his are the wrong hands that Heimerdinger warns will bring danger and destruction.

Based on the lore from League of Legends and the foreshadowing in the show, Viktor is undoubtedly going to transform into the Machine Herald, but whether that’s the destructive, civilization ending threat Heimerdinger warns of or if the show will perhaps continue its trend of taking characters to unexpected places remains to be seen. Will Viktor surprise us, fight back against the corrupting influence of the hexcore and find a way to use it for good? Or will he be unable to escape his dark fate and repeat the history Heimerdinger so fears? 

To read more of my thoughts on Viktor and Arcane, search the tag #arcanemeta on my blog. 

[arcane-temp-fandomblog]

Arcane character parallels / Heimerdinger vs Singed / Ugliness of saving lives

So I'm really thinking if Singed and Heimerdinger are intentionally a parallel to each other, with one siding with Zaun and the other with Piltover on what is acceptable price for Progress. Both meeting aspiring young people in Zaun - Viktor & Ekko.

But more how are these two character's constructed as mentors or guides. Because while Ekko and Heimerdinger aren't shown as different in power relation, Ekko doesn't reach out in same way to anyone topside. We have one example - Viktor that can serve as comparison.

So when Viktor & Jayce are working on Hexcore and can't figure out how to make it do healing magic, there are very similarly phrased conversations between Heimerdinger and Singed. And both give prophecy of what will be the fallout for engaging in trying to find the cure through hexcore.

First Heimerdinger:

Heimerdinger is very sorry that Viktor is dying, but the stakes are either one life or whole nations destroyed. That is his warning.

How will be these nations destroyed by the hexcore - we don't know? Will it be through healing magic? Will it be through evil hexcore magic? Will it be through magic?

And the ending is - Viktor & Jayce either destroy the hexcore by themselves or Heimerdinger will do it for them. This research is against the ethos. Those are their choices. Same difference.

btw. if you agree with Heimedinger, you should even more agree with Ambessa in Mel's fllashback when she cuts of the head of 'the symbol of old regime'. She at least tells you her reasoning of stakes of both options and chooses to take the action in her own hands.

Anyway, then we have Singed, but for now he's only referred to by Silco & Jinx as 'the doctor', and whose name most probably will be Corin Reveck (if Orianna is his daughter).

But we have very similar exchange - just in different order, but I'll rearrange them:

Singed finds hexcore's results fascinating. He also offers a possible reason why it doesn't work - I can assume it's probably by chance correct since Hexcore and Viktor are bonded by blood. So it may not work on random organisms like plants. Plus he offers even material solution - shimmer. Is it perfect solution? eh no - but undercity was never a place for perfect solutions.

But there's a warning too:

And imo. it's about how Piltover society with it's strict Ethos of science will react to taking this path by Viktor. But as it stands it's a very grounded explanation of pros and cons of choice Viktor has in front of him. For me these sound more tangible than nations destroyed.

I really want to know what was the situation Singed and Heimerdinger parted ways about, because I don't know what progress means for Singed. It for sure involves saving lives and helping Silco in his nation of Zaun project against Piltover.

I mean Singed for sure isn't perfect in his methods, but these are situations people run to him for help as a doctor. At deaths door and as a doctor he'll have to get his own hands dirty to try to fix it. Like look at this mob-dad being all panicked his baby girl will die.

And then he explains to Silco what may be the price or worst case scenario of saving her life.

Also love that Silco can't even answer if he's prepared to lose Jinx. He's not. What a true villain.

There's only one choice he doesn't leave up to Silco, and that is to witness the pain Jinx will be going through or her death. It may all be related to the fate of his own daughter as he alludes. And maybe also to do some extra experiments on her. But honestly, who knows since at that point Jinx so out of it, she's oozing shimmer - and I'm pretty sure all her other visions of Vi and Caitlyn are very coloured too. Like them being there. But let's take wild guesses fo yes/no/maybe?

Hmm, maybe, maybe this is his time of revenge after she burned half of his body and face off in explosion. Long time coming that one.

In the end he saves her life. Not perfectly and in nice way, actually the process was traumatic and ugly, but life is a life. What's the other option? Letting her die?

And that leads me to this two contrasting scenes - between Singed & Viktor and Heimerdinger & Ekko.

They even both have an issue with the leg, well for Viktor it's just normal, but Ekko has it temporarily. But the fascination with inventiveness of someone else. The spinning of the rotor. Thou for Singed it must be more like seeing a lonely but gifted child, since it's not like Singed couldn't make such things himself with how much he relies on different equipment.

And then there's the final point where the respective two people reach a connection - they are having the same kind of day in both instances. Viktor is less trusting in stranger's intentions as a child than Ekko as an adult, but oh well:

Singed is always such a scary wildcard in comparison to Heimerdinger. So I guess it's good Ekko skipped that step entirely and met Heimerdinger first. He even offers medical advice, kind of wrong student of his but... Ekko is not dying. Or researching hexcore. Anyway, we've seen he tried to offer assistance just couldn't, so he's going back to Piltover's side. The undercity can stay as it is I guess. Nothing to be done. Complete opposite of Singed which dragged Jinx from death's door. But at what cost...

I really wonder if Ekko and Heimerdinger are having exact same day? One was nearly killed and one strolled around a district of a city. Kind of weird to have to sneak into there but whatever works for him.

Anyway, I wonder if and how this parallel will unfold, as another poster mentioned Heimerdinger's students track record is... eh? 0 of 3. What we've seen. Joking, it probably is way more since he's been the Dean of the Academy for 200 years.

Cautiously I'll sign my name under Singed being the better mentor material. Prove me wrong Arcane Season 2, I dare you.

Other posts by me - Arcane meta analysis posts - mostly politics, tech and character parallels. Oh, and since I love to torment myself with my phobia of insects, I actually probably found what is Heimerdinger's symbol animal. For Singed as in Corin Reveck - it's a moth since Reveck is a genus of moths. While it was hard to fit Heimerdinger's last name into a genus, I found some insect genus contenders like Australomimetus Heimer and Plesiophantes Heimer. One is a spider family that feeds on other spiders and other is a family of spiders commonly known as money spinders. Dinger is just a slang term for something 'excellent'. Take it as one will, if there's is a reasoning to giving everyone insect associated symbolism in this story. For all symbols and surnames so far: Firelights, Crow, Butterfly and the “Bastion of Enlightenment” that is a beacon to all the Moths

[a-heart-of-kyber]

I was gonna put this in your notes, but the tiny box is not a vibe 😅. (And also...it got long 😬)

But ok, I recommend this video for mostly the like history parts;

https://youtu.be/_nc5vodJ2T4?si=Uf2Xus-JVip7zTXq

(If you continue past that, you may or may not believe the narrator goes kind of hard on Mel. But I genuinely don't think they dislike her particularly because they have some really cool ideas for her future story.)

Now I don't play LoL, but essentially, they touch on several Runeterran magical disasters, at least 2 of which are of the mindless drone army sort. The Arcane has done this exact thing before, basically, so it doesn't read as just a Hexcore thing but as an Arcane thing.

(The nature of the cross canonical viability of these specific past or future events is a fair question. However, I do think they're still relevant as examples given the text of Arcane and reflect a pattern in how The Arcane is viewed by LoL lore/writers.)

Recently, I've been thinking what's a bit confusing for the fandom is viewing Viktor as a Mage. He's not a Mage, per CL.

My brother, who does play League and has been an og Viktor main for years, equated it to a god in dnd coming down from Elysium. You wouldn't call that god a cleric. They'd still be a god.

In my opinion, and my brother's 🤣, Viktor’s much closer to someone like Sailor Saturn or the Silver Surfer; Awakened to destory.

(I believe the Silver Surfer is also referred to as a Herald of Galactus.)

I point this out because it's a fair point that other mages exist and don't default to Apocalypses, but Viktor is stated to be on an entirely other level and was specifically chosen by the Arcane. We see the Arcane do this by giving him the vision of the Hexcore.

(This...chosing is possibly due to timey whimey shenanigans wherein time is a nonlinear bowl of spaghetti to someone like Alt Viktor who is able to observe and interact with it untethered. He was chosen because he was already/always was chosen because the Arcane doesn't care about silly things like the mortal concepts of time and space. Like recognizes Like. I would also posit that he's chosen because he succeeds.)

The various past Arcane related disasters are talked about by Heimer, repeatedly, and that one councilor whose people were nearly wiped out. Piltover was built "To escape the warmongering of Mages."

"Magic Bad" is pretty much the conceit of the city's existence.

To quote Heimer at the trial in 1x2: "I've seen this power in the wrong hands. It corrupts, consumes. Lays waste to civilizations." vs. episode 2x3, where it kind of goes pretty hard on Heimerdinger essentially altering his perspective from believing "Mages used the Arcane to perform horrors" to "The Arcane uses Mages to perform Its horrors." So, it's not even necessarily a case of the "wrong hands" it's a case of the Arcane forcing its will onto others.

Heimer also refers to the Hexcore as a 'seed' that he's seen destroy nations in...1x6, I think. We're shown a flashback image of a Mage suspended in the air surrounded by the Arcane corruption. A similar image is shown in 1x2 and 2x8. So, again, the implication is one of history repeating itself.

(Apologies for the shitty youtube screencap. The Netflix app not allowing screencaps is dumb😅)

I do personally find talk surrounding the Inspiration Rune and its...missing...ness interesting.

Because I know that the like...slogan of the Inspiration Rune in game isn't really how we would view Inspiration as a concept. (I don't super remember what it means in the game atm tho.)

What is fun is this tho;

The Inspiration Rune Splash art;

The inside of the Hexcore;

It's the same; interconnected oscillating rings.

Considering the Arcane showed this to Viktor, compelling him to build it, I don't believe it was built incorrectly.

In my opinion, the Inspiration Rune isn't missing. The Inspiration Rune surrounds the heart of the Hexcore.

Additionally, I know people often discuss the theory in relation to Sky representing the...spirit of the rune, but Sky was the Inspired.

Viktor himself was the Inspiration.

Viktor actually acts as the Inspiration a fair amount. He inspires Sky, Jayce and he has an entire monologue regarding how he was his own Inspiration.

This also could be why he's chosen (beyond time shenaniganery) and why he is the one who succeeds beyond those chosen by the Arcane in the past.

Anyways, I just think there's a hoard of in show evidence that is corroberated by the game lore that points to the Hexcore's will being the Arcane's will 😅.

Once again considering the morality of the hexcore in comparison to the arcane. I truly believe in the sinister intentions of the hexcore as an anomaly (since it lacks the final rune needed for stability). With the way it influenced Viktor, its intent went beyond just survival. The hexcore craved chaos, and consumption. It had a longing to grow. The Arcane I believe is inherently neutral, with the goal of existence. And it’s perfectly capable of influencing its users. But the hexcore acts maliciously, in my opinion. There are things it brings Viktor to do that arguably go beyond its basic needs.