#and Jayce is kind of just along for the ride by this point

[goddessofroyalty]

hello imagine if you want work/life balance 'verse, Viktor heavily pregnant with Jayce's very lively, very heavy baby, on bed rest, and for all the doctors' warnings about the risk of premature labor, the estimated due date comes and goes with no sign of anything--would he ask for an induction or just grab the Hexclaw and perform the C section himself on the spot?

Viktor's probably been contemplating Hexclaw C-section for a while. To the point where, despite knowing he is joking (or at least being pretty sure he's joking), Jayce is kind of glad that Viktor is on bed rest at their home while the Hexclaw is at their lab.

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if generally there was a plan to just induce if Viktor managed to get to the like 38-39 week mark. Obviously not what this ask is about. And if they all just assumed Viktor will be lucky to make it to 38 weeks (generally considered the earliest to be counted to-term and earliest a planned induction without signs of complications necessity it might be booked) before going into labour then that could explain why nobody thought to book an induction in - they really thought it would be kind of pointless and the baby would likely be already born by that point.

Which leaves Viktor at 41 weeks pregnant and so over it. He's in pain because of where the baby's weight is resting on him, can barely get any sleep because of how active they are whenever he tries to, and honestly just wants to meet his and Jayce's baby. The whole pregnancy has been about getting his and Jayce's baby at the end and he would very much like to have that now. So as soon as induction is even floated as an idea he is completely on board with it - the doctor starts talking about when they want to do it and Viktor is just like "right now". The doctor starts with "generally parents want to have a little time to prepare-" and Viktor is like "we have had 9 months to prepare, we are prepared, we do not need anymore time, what we need is our baby. Now."

[brandytusk]

The following thoughts, or maybe confession, contain Arcane spoilers. Please keep that in mind should you continue. It's a long story, I apologize in advance.

Now I will say, I am no LoL player, thus unfamiliar with its lore with the exception of what I search for, or what education I get from others. I had a passing interest in Arcane due to my best friend's insistence, rambling on about its beautiful art style, symbolism, and compelling writing. It was one of those things I did in fact, try and make a habit of to sit and watch at dinner, see what all the rising hubbub was about. I'll admit, I don't know where I stopped in season one, but I didn't finish it. As I recall, the plot felt too grim. To me, it felt like it was a show getting praise for being artistically depressing. When season one's ending was spoiled for me, I was glad I hadn't got as invested as other people I knew. To have developed characters so sincerely in a season's time, just to end it the way it was done…I disapproved, and I shook my head. Forgot it all at the time.

I'm a millennial who has lived through recession, through pandemic, and I am not middle class. I'm anxious, and there are days that feel hopeless and painfully long. I want to escape into the media I consume, let characters take me on a journey with them, far away from the oppressive, hanging air of everyday life in late stage capitalism. I don't want a tragic story, no matter how much it is praised for its art direction. Moving forward every morning can be bleak enough. Maybe others like these kinds of harsh stories for its relatability, and that's fine! I am happy for those that can appreciate it in that way, but I cannot. I'm tired, and perhaps not just as a struggling individual, but as an LGBT+ person with a husband.

Mainstream, popular shows (that get shown to American audiences, at least) don't often get obvious queer representation, or when it does, the show is often cut short. I felt baited in what I did see of season one, and rolled my eyes that fanfiction writers were fed enough to work their magic and fill the holes, as per usual.

Then, the next season of Arcane releases, and my social media feeds became flooded with screenshots and spoilers. I didn't block said spoilers and told myself I was no longer invested in Arcane -- only to see the most alarming screen captures I'd ever seen.

I especially liked what I'd seen of Viktor and Jayce in the past. I enjoyed seeing two intelligent, determined male creatives share screentime and share their story of a growing, deepening friendship. As far as I was aware, Jayce and Viktor were well bonded colleagues, if not each other's 'ride or die', once mutually and deeply invested in a greater outcome to benefit the whole. Compared to the rest of what I'd seen of Arcane's first season, it still hadn't gripped me enough to stick around as I wanted to save myself from heartache. Long story short, season two's spoilers revealed to me Jayce making a frantic, truly desperate effort to revive his fallen, disabled partner Viktor after the explosion. While he's successful, this fuses Viktor with tech Jayce once swore to destroy. Jayce draws close and is just relieved Viktor, in his birthday suit at this moment mind you, is alive, while Viktor is disappointed Jayce didn't keep his promise. They go separate ways, and the scene felt like an intimate argument, a break up. Well, at this point with that much revealed to me, I was relieved to see the two of them alive after the first season's ending. I was curious again, so I continued to look at screen captures and gifsets.

Viktor develops magic skills to heal others, and in his new body things, seem to fall into place for him. He is appreciated, and maybe it's suggested he gets a following. While its unclear how 'good' the arcane is, what he's doing with it seems right for the character. It looks like a victory…until Jayce comes along and puts a hole in Viktor's chest, keeping his promise. Viktor only meant to talk to him. Jayce, who had fought so hard to revive this man, kills him, as far as I'd seen it. It felt like petty shock value. Not knowing there was more episodes to come, I thought that was it. More tragedy, more pain.

My husband knows me well. I very rarely get affected by the shows I watch, and when I do, I am reserved about it. Instead, I sobbed, the kind where you can't see passed the tears and the snot. I felt so betrayed by my curiosity, by my hopeful feelings. I spent days ranting to my friends and my husband, offended and angry. How dare these writers throw around this disabled character and give him no relief, and what was more, develop two men in such a way as to suggest one simply cannot exist without the other only to shoot down one of them, by the hand of their partner? I had let myself be baited again, and I was feeling it. It burned, it hurt, I raged. I gave up.

A day or two ago, my best friend chimed in again: I should check in on Arcane. There had been more episodes, the season had finished. Trusting they knew how sensitive I was about all of it, I did. Again, I was moved to tears, but for different, much better reasons.

What was this?

Fortiche and its writing team had bothered to weave together and tell a story of two men ultimately destined for each other through every timeline, the kind of trope reserved for romantic movies and literature? They held hands, kept each other close, were honest with each other in the starry nothing. Hand to nape, forehead to forehead, and colorfully blinked out of that current existence, together? Such intimacy didn't need a kiss or a sex scene to feel real, there was love there. Their fated, interwoven existence, their deep and complex relationship, saved the world. In the end, there was hope.

You can tell yourself that it wasn't romantic if it makes you feel better, but in all its passionate details it very much was. To this stressed, exhausted LGBT+ person in these real uncertain times, I needed to see it. I felt deep relief, satisfaction, and most of all a need to pursue the Arcane fandom, a desire to enter. To at the very least, gush about my impression of it all, and what it means to me to see two men tenderly portrayed in ways they typically aren't. Fortiche, well done. You did give the Caitvi shippers something to blatantly feast upon, you also gave lesbian characters depth and variation, but this isn't about that.

You let two male characters show dedication, affection, and softness. Thank you. Jayvik folks, I am with you. Arcane, let's start over at the first episode, I can't wait to watch all of you now.

[echelonlab-blog]

Bound By Ink -- Chapter 52

Disclaimer: Fiction.

Warnings: None

Tagging: @hazeleyedleto @msroxyblog @letojokerownsme @miss-shannanigans @snewsome756   @maliciousalishious   @nikkitasevoli@meghan12151977@sanellv@ambolton@bradlea23@spillinginkwithlove@alexis7215@dezmarz@pezziecoyote@whoistheprettiest@avaj99@iridescxntsolitude@pheenixpeterson@guccilowell@blondiefrommars@rowen1976@phoebehalliwell1984@thathipstaninja@darthjokerisyourfather@letsbemybatman @prettymisc@lylabell2013@mandyglam@pandaliciouz@just-me-obsessing@echelon-1969@carolinapb-me@marilyndioncre​

      Shannon stood behind me, his big strong arms trapping me between his muscular body and the railing of the balcony a nightclub I had never been to before. We were out with Mark and Nadia tonight and I couldn’t help but watch them dance together in hopes of catching some kind of connection. So far it had been nothing, but I did note that familiar glint in Mark’s eyes. “You can’t force it Scarlett. If it’s meant to be, then it will happen, if not, no amount of throwing them together will make it happen.” Shannon leaned in, whispering against my ear. The mix of alcohol and his delicious cologne filled my nostrils while his warm breath brushed against the outer shell of my ear and sent a tingle down my spine.”

 “I know.. I know.” I could hear myself starting to slur a little as the rum raced through my bloodstream, warming my skin and already starting to relax me. He was right, lately after all of the pandemonium caused by Stephanie, things had finally started to resemble some state of normalcy. Mark was trying his best to regain some of Jayce’s trust, spending more time with him and even going as far as making Nadia boss for a day while he brought his son camping. Another reason I wanted Nadia to be with Mark was because I knew she truly cared for Jayce and I trusted her. That was reason enough for me.

  “Then stop pushing so hard,” he talked even louder this time. “Maybe he’s just not ready yet.”

  Whirling around, I leaned in closer, kissing his lips before sliding my arms around his neck and giving him a tight squeeze. “He’s ready. Baby, I know what I’m doing.” Shannon just grinned as he pulled me down to the dance floor. I guess he was just trying to use his body to distract me, but I knew what I was saying was right.

  It was nearly two in the morning when we eventually made a pit stop on the way home to an all-night diner. I’ve always heard that the strongest link to sparking a memory is through one of your senses, and that couldn’t be more true as we walked through the front door. The heavenly smell of breakfast and coffee churned up some fun memories for me as we sat down. I was laughing my ass off, telling Shannon about how I and my friends would do something similar to this, get totally wasted and show up to some diner or whatever for coffee and breakfast after a night of hard partying. Oh, the fun we used to have. “To be young and have no responsibilities.”

  “The good old days,” Nadia agreed with a giggle. Everyone was in such a great mood and I was so lost in nostalgia that I hadn’t realized Mark’s arm possessively wrapped around Nadia’s shoulder until Shannon nudged me under the table. “What?” I glanced from him and then across the table, biting my bottom lip and trying to cover the huge grin that was beginning to spread when I realized what he was trying to tell me.

  “You gonna eat or what?” He asked, trying to disguise our silent conversation.

 Neither of them seemed to notice and were snuggled up in their small booth. “I suppose I want pancakes, what about you?” It was hard to look away because I wanted something to happen. It was sort of ironic because after not liking her much at first, I was now actually dying for her and Mark to be together.

  “That sounds good, but I need some coffee.” Shannon rubbed his hand over his tired face. “I’m too old for this shit. My ass should be home in bed.”

Mark sat up a little. “Coffee sounds amazing and I feel ya, on the age thing. I swear to God, it came from out of nowhere, right? Like just yesterday I was able to stay awake for fucking days at a time and drink to the point of alcohol poisoning.” He was motioning with his hands and they were both laughing at what Mark was saying. “Now..” he shook his head, “fuck me, I’m lucky if I can stay awake all night. It’s horrible.”

  “I can do it, but then I crash for hours, missing calls and appointments and shit. It’s not pretty.” The waitress arrived to our table, interrupting the conversation and taking everyone’s order. It made me smile to watch two of the three men I loved so much, chatting like best buddies. The only one missing was Jayce, who was spending the night at Barbara’s. Nadia had her head propped up on her hand, leaning along the table, watching Mark and Shannon talking.

  Mark grinned, tilting all the way back against the cushion. “I gotta admit, at first I really thought you were this arrogant, diseased prick, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.”

 “Mark!” My eyes went big and I was so embarrassed by what he was saying, but he shushed me.

 “Chill out Scarlett, I said I was wrong. I really like Shannon and he’s great with Jayce. Frankly, you couldn’t have chosen a better guy to be with. I mean, I don’t ever have to worry about you or Jayce being treated poorly because he’s not that type of person.”

“Thanks, man.” Shannon was grinning and attempting to throw me another failed wink.

I rolled my eyes and Nadia giggled out loud. “What was that? Is your eye twitching Shannon.” She and I were having a blast teasing winkie, and eventually the food made it to our table. The conversation flowed easily while we ate and almost an hour later we walked out to the car. Nadia and Mark slid into the back seat and Shannon drove us home. They opted to ride with us tonight, leaning Mark’s car parked at Shannon’s House so they could both drink. The next time Mark would drive, if there was ever a next time.

   Time ticked on by and the effects of a full stomach, alcohol consumption and old age took its toll on all of us. Yawning, I reached over, slipping my fingers around Shannon’s and slouched in my seat, wearily watching the bright lights pass by as we drove home. I was exhausted and was so looking forward to sliding into bed, fucking my man before the sun came up and drifting off in his arms to catch a few hours before Jayce was to be picked up. For the first time in weeks, I felt good about the future and had nothing weighing me down. The squeeze Shan gave my hand had me looking in his direction, narrowing my eyes. Tipping his head toward the back seat, I could see him looking in the rear view mirror grinning like the devil.

  I twisted back and glanced, my eyes nearly bulging out to see Mark and Nadia making out. It was a unique feeling to actually view it. I wanted to happen, but there was the slightest pang of jealousy that shot through me like a bullet, not because I wanted Mark, but because he used to be mine. I took a deep breath and looked back at Shannon feeling the sensation lift and fade out. My lips curled into a smile and he gripped my hand even tighter. God, I love this man.