#and jayce realized TOO LATE

[aceoflanterns]

i think the thing that gets me most is that jayce is ultimately responsible for the creation of the machine herald. in the name of saving viktor, he unknowingly condemned him to the prison of his mind and body. in loving viktor, jayce saved him. in loving viktor, jayce doomed him. god they make me fucking crazy.

[edelgards]

How about we feel about Jayce and Viktor?

I LOVE IT RN bc of act i. "what situationship does to a mfer" kind of feel. i feel more neutral leaning towards positive with them than i am with caitvi currently. i still want to fight jayce though

[spoondrifts]

something about vi never wanting anyone in her life to change. something about jayce not caring at all how much viktor has changed so long as he's alive. something about the way vi associates radical change with death, perceiving jinx's continued existence as a kind of necromantic horror—the way jayce would shatter fundamental laws of nature without a second thought in order to give viktor the best chance at survival, in whatever form that may take. transformation as rebirth vs murder, hextech vs shimmer. nature has made us intolerant to change, but fortunately, we have the capacity to change our nature. and then jayce, realizing that he hasn't changed at all, not really—that he is a scientist at heart, and he shouldn't have tried to be anything else. and then vi, realizing she has become someone unrecognizable—never thought my sister would turn bluebelly. and for both of them, it's too little, too late.

[angelltheninth]

Arcane Characters Dealing With Problems Badly

Pairing: Jinx, Vi, Caitlyn Kiramman, Ekko, Silco, Sevika, Vander, Jayce, Viktor, Mel x Reader

Tags: angst, fluff, comfort, getting into fights, working late, protectiveness, massage, fake smiles, lack of sleep

Ko-Fi | Rules | Fandoms and Characters

A/N: Arcane S2 is approaching and with it my emotional breakdown.

JINX

Bites her nails a lot out of nervousness

Relentlessly tinkers away at her desk, hardly even eating or drinking anything to make sure her body doesn't shut down

Talks with the people she sees but you don't and then tells you that she's fine because she's not alone, clearly she isn't fine, she doesn't want you to worry

Gets angry when you ask too many questions about her problems

Feels bad right after but there are just some things she's not ready to talk about, family things that she needs to sort out, but are free to stay by her side if it will make you feel better

VI

Pretends that there's nothing wrong

She learned in prison that showing any weakness if a bad thing so she tends to avoid it if she can

Hopes to distract you with kissing and flirting

Says that one of the best ways to get over things is a good fight so she seeks those out until she feels better

Of course this means that she comes back with a lot of bruises and maybe even a broken rib or two, but hey at least she got everything out of her system

CAITLYN

Obsesses over her problem to the point of losing sleep

Knows this is a problem for her but doesn't know how to fix it, she only knows how to fix other problems, and always before her own

Fell asleep at her office desk quite a few times

Doesn't even come home some nights but greets you down at the Enforcer HQ and gives you a kiss when you hand her the morning cup of coffee

Takes very short breaks to spend some time with you

EKKO

Includes you in solving most problems he needs to solve but doesn't give up until it's done

Takes a few unnecessary risks in the process

Risks his own safety, never someone else's, least of all yours

Call him stubborn if you must, he will admit that he is but everything he does is for a better future of you and all of his friends, for that no risk is too great

There's not a job dangerous enough to keep him away from it, he will try to keep you away, for your safety

SILCO

Can get a bit worked up when things don't end up going his way

Maintains a calm exterior when dealing with other people

In his job he needs to seem like he's in control of things even when he's not

Always tells you when he's gonna stay late so you don't worry that something happened to him, not realizing that you worry because these long nights have been getting more frequent

Finally has people who he can call h

SEVIKA

Good luck with trying to get her to open up with anything that's emotionally taxing on her

Blunt when she needs to threaten or insult but extremely slow when revealing her emotions

Would much rather drink, fight or fuck them away than give them a time of day

She's always been like this, you shouldn't expect her to change any time soon

Gets very guarded with her emotions if you try to prod at them, yet she's careful not to let her anger out on you, she likes you more than most people, you're fun

VANDER

Tries to avoid dragging you into his problems if he has anything to say about it

He knows you notice that he's more on guard, more careful when the bar is open, his eyes scanning the crowd for danger

Does tell you to keep your eyes open for anything suspicious but no more than that, he can deal with it when the time comes

Cracks a lot of jokes to make you feel better, safer

Promises that nothing will happen to you while he's still in charge, and he will keep it that way too

JAYCE

He's had to put on a fake smile more times than he can count, he can do it now too

Usually he's very honest with things that bother him, it's easy to open up to you

Yet this time he's closed off, working away on his blueprints, furiously writing things down in his notebook and even forgetting to eat the sandwiches he loves so much

A massage does help relax his pent up shoulders, he knows it's not good for him

Only when he's at the end of his rope does he admit what's been bothering him and let you help him

VIKTOR

Usually he closes himself up in his lab to work late nights so it takes a few nights for you to notice there's something wrong

He hasn't been sleeping at all, not for a few days

Barely keeps his eyes open yet insists that he's fine and that you don't need to worry about him getting sick from lack of rest

Takes short rests when you're in the lab with him

Needs to be dragged away to bed if he's gonna get any real sleep

MEL

Really good at pretending to be fine and being in control of things, even when she's pretending in front of you

Being in the Council for as long as she has she had to learn how to keep her guard up

Kisses your cheek when she tells you that her problems are her own, not for you to worry your pretty head about

Will spend the night with you but be gone first thing in the morning

Her nightmares get worse the longer this goes on

[hexhomos]

What do you think is the significance that we only hear Mel and Heimerdinger in Jayce’s thoughts when he’s stuck in the pit in the Apocalypse AU but not Viktor? (We also hear his own voice but the question still stands)

I genuinely think it's because Jayce's REGRETS are amplified in that scene. Those are, in every way, a collection of his fuck-ups. A collection of his hauntings. It's him making the wrong decisions and it's him throwing himself into certain doom and it's him being too naive to understand the broad consequences of his actions, the realization hitting too little too late. (that is why he is crying! he is prometheus, his liver pecked out every day as a punishment for his ambition, stealing fire from the gods)

And the fact that he doesn't hear Viktor makes this... so much more potent to me. Viktor is his rock. Viktor is the thing he never gives up on and will never stop fighting for and, tbh, I think he doesn't regret saving Viktor and he WOULD do it all again, over and over if he had to. Jayce only hears Viktor's voice again when he gets himself out of that hole and hauls ass to the top of the tower; and then its real Viktor, the alive and breathing one who's been watching over him every now and then, telling him that he would do it over and over again too. In the big doomed garden at the end of the universe, within the apocalypse they caused, there is still an implicit admission that 'I did this because I love you' and it is fucked up, and it fucked everyone over, but I will never regret you.

[visbacktatto]

viktor x assistant!reader

you were always too worried about viktor. you couldn't help it, not when he seemed so passionate about ruining himself for the sake of his research on hextech. someone had to take care of him, if not himself, you.

in the beginning it was difficult, when jayce brought you to the lab viktor gave you a studying look, sizing you up, deciding almost immediately they didn't need help, not yours, not from anyone.

but jayce had it known it was a non negotiable decision, he was getting more and more busy with the council work and viktor was surely exhausting himself with the research, he needed the help and you would be perfect for the part.

and you were, actually, slowly you proved your worth, being quite a genius on tech yourself, it wasn't hard to figure out the little instabilities with the hextech and help with the infinite calculations that came with the job.

and so, viktor started warming up to you, he started with asking for help in little things, like correcting an equation he couldn't seem to crack, checking some new invention that was malfunctioning every time he tried to start it, and every time he had to hide his surprised expression when you actually solved the problem.

so he started respecting you, and then, actually talking to you, letting you know a thing or two about him. how he liked his coffee, how organized he was with the notes on the notebook that he usually showed no one but now he's showing you, how passionate he actually was about giving people access to magic, about providing real change and comfort to the people in need and how far he was willing to go for it.

and you didn't even realize you were falling in love with him until one of those late, late nights in the laboratory, just the two of you working on some new tool together.

viktor was sleepy, clearly, you could see it in his tired eyes, but he was too stubborn to leave the work unfinished, leaned on a desk, being swallowed by the infinite papers with prototypes, he didn't even feel it when he fell asleep, his head resting on the cold surface above his notebook.

but you noticed.

it wasn't rare for him to sleep in the lab, he'd told you that before, you'd seen him early in the morning when you came to start working and he was already there. but it was the first time you saw it happening.

and he looked so beautiful, exhausted, the bags under his eyes profound, but undeniably beautiful. almost ethereal in that brief moment his body relaxed.

and you don't know why, but you reached his hair, your fingers featherlight when they brushed the brown strands, a surprisingly smooth sensation, his hair was soft.

and, yet unconsciously, he leaned into your hand, making you give into your sudden impulse and actually caress his scalp, gentle, caring.

later, when he woke up, he thought it was just a dream.

and from that day on you felt your heart beating fast almost whenever you were together. sitting side by side discussing something, his breath close to your face, his hand brushing yours when reaching for a pen, his knee touching yours under the desk when he was too focused on a new invention to move away, to keep his distant and cool demeanor, he was warmer now.

you continued doing little things for him, bringing him food when he forgot to eat and brushing it off as “i just bought too much for myself, do you want some?”, of course he knows you did it on purpose but he wouldn't point it. besides, he almost found it... endearing.

and on a particularly quiet night in the lab, the only sounds being of viktor's pen on paper and the soft hum of the machines surrounding you, you fell asleep there, for the first time.

the thing is, you were sat beside him, studying some pieces of a tool you've broken down to fix, and the moment you fell asleep your head was drooping to the side.

viktor thought it would give you a sore neck lately. of course it was the only reason he brought you closer to rest on his shoulder... it's not like he felt like he needed you close and couldn't resist seeing you so unapologetically adorable by his side... of course not.

he continued writing, but he was unfocused, the gentle weight of you resting on him occupying his thoughts. he didn't realize he was even moving before he brought you a little closer, his hand securing your waist, all in the name of making sure you were comfortable, he justified to himself.

you stirred, slowly waking up, your senses registering his scent before your eyes opened, he smelled good, like coffee, faint perfume and something indistinctly him. then you felt his hand resting on your waist, his warmth seeping through your clothes. and you could swear your face was warming up.

you opened your eyes, confirming your suspicion, you were resting on him, god you felt so embarrassed. “viktor? i'm sorry, i-” you mumbled sleepily, but he quickly brushed it off with a “no need to apologize, it's okay, you are tired”, his hand dropping from your waist out of surprise to see you awake, “maybe you should wrap it up for the day” he suggests.

you nod, slowly distancing your body from his, and he almost misses it. “maybe i should” you murmur, rubbing your eyes with your hand, trying to shake half of that sleepy haze away.

and you don't even notice that viktor is watching you. his eyes focused on your face, your cheeks looking a bit puffy, cute, even if he'd never mention it. his hand moved without his intent, holding your wrist, “you're feeling well?” he asked, sounding gentle, his accent thick, making your sleepiness almost dissipate by how fast he put your heart to race.

and he was feeling it, by holding your wrist he could feel your pulse picking up. not that he would mention.

“i'm fine i just... couldn't sleep tonight and i got a bit exhausted, i guess” you answered honestly, trying to not focus on his hold on your wrist.

he finally noticed he was holding your wrist so he dropped it. a little embarrassed himself by his actions. why was he acting like that? and before he could think it through he offered, “you can... continue, to sleep here... if it helps” what meant sleeping on him. but he didn't bring himself to say it out loud.

you looked at him a bit confused, and you were confused. what did he mean by that? sleeping in the lab? that was always uncomfortable, even if you couldn't seem to get some real sleep in your bedroom.

but before you could question further he gently pulled you closer, giving you the chance to put some distance between you again if you wanted to. he rested your head on his shoulder again, not saying anything about it, though.

you didn't know what to say either, your heart beating on your ears, loud, so loud that you could bet viktor was hearing it too.

and just when you thought you couldn't get more flustered, he searched for your wrist again, looking right at your eyes, searching for consent. that you understood the meaning. and you just nodded.

he entwined your fingers, a small, faint smile resting on his lips.

and you smiled too, and everything seemed right in the world in that stolen moment of peace.

[vampiresbloodx]

Arcane imagine.

Arcane characters with a socially anxious/shy! s/o.

characters included: Mel medarda, Caitlyn, vi, jinx, sevika.

Trigger warnings: no spoilers for season 2, fluff, just gays being in love with each other, fluff, shy!reader, anxiety issues, just fluff.

Mel medarda;

You two were definitely the duo that people would never expect to work so well, nor did they ever imagine Mel would date someone like you

If anyone had made any comments, especially negative ones or insults on your status, appearance, personality, she would end them and make sure they regret speaking another word to her again

You were always shy around people, you've always kept to yourself and hoped people did the same to you, you don't know how you managed to get in contact with Mel, especially with how powerful and rich her family was in piltover, everyone knew her and loved her, some might hate her, you have always liked her, as she's always been rather kind to you, you didn't realize at first that that kindness was her actually trying to make a move on you

Of course you found that insane when she told you about it

Why the hell would anyone especially someone as important like her would ever be interested in dating you? Even being friends with you?

You were smart, you had your wits and knowledge, she admired that, she admired how you despite your shyness "Innocence" people seem to think you have from how nice you are to them even strangers that you are weak for letting your guard down easily, she knows just how strong you really are, how it's not easy to break you

Mel will always be there for you, speaking for your name in respect even when you're not around, she always feels your presence is always there anyways, your scent lingering on her a little longer, she likes that, she likes you a lot, she doesn't care what anyone thinks about how she feels for you

Caitlyn;

Caitlyn knows what it's like to be socially awkward herself, but she feels she's always had the opportunity to make her voice be loud and heard when she wanted it to be, due to her family's name and legacy, she's a kiramman after all. No one really sees the power she actually can have in her possession so easy

When she met you, she found you adorable, you were a good friend of jayce and Viktor, spending countless nights up and studying with them, you two would end up having late night conversations that she would cherish, she enjoyed those times with you a lot

Even though you didn't speak a lot, most people would find that "unusual" she wouldn't take shit from anyone, she knows what that's like, to have people underestimate her, she's not stupid, she can hear what they say about you and her around her, she knows what they're thinking, and still she'll always take your hand and proudly stand by you

Vi:

Now with Vi, she's never been a quiet one

Sure she has her moments, but she's always been loud, the loud friend, the loud sister

And she's not afraid of that, to speak her mind, Vander always had to remind her of her tone and when it's the right time to use it and when it's needed, Vi still always had a hard time listening to be told to be sit still especially for too long

When she meets you, you happen to be one of the quietest people she's met, she's always been surrounded by various types of big personalities, so it was nice having you in her corner, she liked the time she spent with you even if the two of you didn't speak at all most of the time, and it was just her rambling, you'd happily sit there and listen to her, she liked that, a lot

Vi needed someone in her life that helped balance her out, but still matched her energy, you were fun to be around and amazing at many things, she loved watching you work and get dirty, you weren't scared of getting messy, she admired that

People around her have commented on your shyness, how weird it was that you never went out with friends or parties etc, she didn't like how any of them talked about you when she was literally right there, vi won't take any shit especially about the person she dates and cares about, she'll speak for you, always, never giving a single fuck if she offends them

Jinx:

Jinx has always been described as chaotic, explosive even, loud, reckless, so when people see you with her, they can't help but wonder how that even happened and how strange it is

You were just so unexpected when you popped into jinx's life, it was all so sudden, just like how she likes it, a surprise, that's what you are, she did not complain about it

Most people don't see the sides of her when she has her "down times", those are special, with you she can actually think, focus on her projects, not be triggered by flashes of memories of the past, even if she is you're always there for her no matter what, your voice is calming, she loves it, yearns for it, she's personally recorded your voice on purpose just so she can listen to it on repeat whenever she needed it and just missed you too much

You were what calmed her storm down, the fire that ignited her flame brighter, the pairing that didn't seem like it would work but the two of you are inseparable

You two are attached to the hip, it's hard to keep jinx away from you, in the end, you don't mind that, because you like her voice

Sevika;

Sevika herself is a pretty reserved woman, she understands the need for alone time and to be quiet

You're a surprise to her

It's not often she gets surprised easily

Having seen too much in her life time already, she was used to everyone and everything, she's worked with all kinds of people, none quiet like you

She likes it, spending time with you is nice, not everything is always loud all the time, even her thoughts die down when she's with you, she yearns for the moments where she cuddles you in her arms, pulling you closer as despite not being talkative outside, you happily run your mouth to her about everything you've been up to and working on, sevika loves it, she likes how comfortable you are around her, she likes that she can offer that kind of security, it was rare to have that these days

Sevika will not take any shit from anyone that talks bad about you, especially if they felt brave enough to say it to her face, she'll have their asses on the ground before they can say another word about you

Sevika doesn't tolerate disrespect to those she cares about, even those who annoy her, she'll always be there for them, you're her person, who she goes home to, who she's able to let her guard down and relax, smile and laugh with, without feeling judged, she's able to share her thoughts with you, her feelings, you're important to her, she'll always protect you, you don't need to be loud nor quiet, sevika will always listen to you

[mourn-and-watch]

no no i'm actually not done with timebomb/jayvik parallels. bear with me for a minute

the contrast between the everybody lives timeline ekko and heimerdinger ended up in and jayce's post-apocalyptic wasteland timeline is pretty funny indeed, but i love that juxtaposition because these practically opposite realities serve the same purpose for ekko and jayce. they solidify their goals and, by extension, their willingness to save the person they love.

ekko gets to see the world where his community is thriving; where his childhood friend/crush is loved and happy and enjoys her life in ways the version he knew couldn't. but he learns that this powder is not a complete stranger. this powder is just as talented as jinx, just as brilliant and quirky and so familiar despite all the differences. it has to mean that in his timeline, the girl he knew is still here. she was always there. nothing that has happened to her during these years managed to kill her. ekko would never left his people behind, but he also won't leave jinx: he's the only one who gets through to her and convinces her to do the right thing, even though she might think there's no way for her to be a good person whose life is worth something. ekko doesn't simply believes it's not true. he knows it for a fact.

jayce gets to see the world where viktor won; there's nothing besides corruption, abominations and death, and that's the fate that awaits jayce's timeline if he doesn't succeed. viktor caused all of this, but he's also the one that leads him to the top of piltover. he's the one who gives him a key to salvation, and it is as simple as it is intricate: it's jayce himself. this viktor is a lonely god trapped in a perfect hell he created and it took him ages to realize his mistake — and he believes jayce is the only person who can stop him before it's too late. in all outcomes, it's him. it is as much as a statement of a cosmic powerful being as a belief of a dear friend. jayce is not even certain there's something left of viktor in his timeline, but he has to be. he won't fail. it's a promise he keeps.

it is about saving the world, but also about saving someone very dear to you. someone who is so lost in their own faults and mistakes they forgot they're not beyond salvation, but they don't know you won't save the world without saving them

[married-to-google-translater]

How about a Yandere Viktor and Jayce with a reader already having a boyfriend?

This is now just for Victor... my brains didn't work for Jayce

Yandere Viktor

You and Victor were childhood friends.

You grew up in the same place and knew each other for a long time.

Victor would have had a crush on you for a long time.

Unfortunately, he wouldn't dare to take the initiative and ask you out.

At this time, you already have time to fall in love with another person and start dating.

Victor would be too late.

And at first he would be okay with that.

When he still doesn't understand the meaning of his own feelings.

Or that he had so little time left to live.

But things would soon change.

Everything would change…

Viktor would realize that he couldn't live without you.

At least the little time he had left.

Viktor would definitely try to break up your relationship.

You would also support Viktor by the way.

Of course, he would try to cover up whose fault it was for your relationship to break up.

Vikot is there to support and comfort you.

[mollysunder]

The real sign of the inevitable dissolution of Jayce and Viktor's partnership/friendship really was the Progress Day Speech. I've seen people say this scene highlighted the growing shift in priorities between Jayce and Viktor. That Jayce was getting swept up in the limelight while Viktor wanted to keep it humble and stick to the work, and that's wrong.

First thing's first, Viktor does in fact want to go on stage (he was excited to just demonstrate the hexclaw), and Jayce is sincere in that he wants to share the spotlight and credit for hextech with Viktor. The problem in that scene is that for practically 7 years, Jayce has failed to see what's actually going on.

Jayce can't see that his face and only his face is on the mugs, the blimps, and the very banners that decorate the hall he's supposed to give a speech in. Jayce can't see that the Councilors direct all their questions on hextech to him while Viktor sits right next to him. Jayce doesn't notice that Mel, the most perceptive Councilor, still thought of Viktor as Heimerdinger's assistant (she didn't know they were close??!?!). He doesn't realize that the discussion on weaponizing hextech is centered on him rather than between him and his partner. Viktor isn't the one being invited to Piltover's parties for a reason.

Between Jayce and Viktor, they're partners on equal grounds, but to EVERYONE else in Piltover Viktor is practically a non-entity. The only person who doesn't get this is Jayce. It's a testament to Jayce's earnest naivette to think Viktor, as a Zaunite and visibly disabled, would be easily welcomed on stage by Piltover's elite to represent what Piltover has to offer. You'll notice this is the same crowd of people that attend Mel's Gala, the same Gala Viktor wasn't invited to.

This dynamic is insane!?!?! It's unsustainable!!!!! Obviously, Viktor is a grown man and could have mentioned something to Jayce, but also it's at least 7 years, how does someone miss this?!?!

By their last scene of the finale, Jayce was able to give Viktor a voice on the Council by literally standing by his side and giving him a seat at the table, but like peace treaty, the gesture has come far too late, and things cannot return to as they were.

[mmm-eta]

after act 2 I thought Sky is the hexcore manipulating Viktor.

after act 3 I thought Sky is the real Sky, both she and Viktor are being manipulated by hexcore as they see their magic as something good when it actually isn't.

but 1: if that's real Sky why did they change her model

but 2: how can she possibly see their magic as good when it literally killed her? did she thought "it killed me but revived Viktor so it's ok"? alright

then, I believe, when she realized all this evolution is NOT good, it was too late to persuade Viktor. she be "he won't listen to me anyway lol bye" so her death does nothing to his hexdamaged brain.

and then we see Jayce persuading him in like 3 minutes. I'd believe Jayce meant more to Viktor than Sky but it was Sky who was with Viktor all this time when he rejected Jayce right after his resurrection. It was Sky who inspired and guided him in his herald path.

and they made her to be just a metaphor for his humanity to discard when she was a REAL person with her OWN mind and POWER to affect Viktor. well guess she wasn't.

thank you arcane for senseless second fridging of a female character with big ass actual potential. mwah.

[scionsthings]

Ok this may be a little strange but I noticed something in Arcane Season 2 and as both fan of Arcane and Disco Elysium I want to show you these similarities between the two because oh my god First in the opening the shadow behind Caitlyn reminds me of the Volition

The description of this skill states:

But then, it adds

This is what is literally happening to Caitlyn's psyche, she's losing her Morale, she's falling apart becoming somethings she was trying so hard to fight obtaining nothing if not loss and a void in her chest that cannot be filled anymore. And there she is, choosing violence, choosing war because she learned this is the only way, she totally lost what she believed in and an important pillar in her life, her mother. The other thing is..this scene, that reminds me of the Island Empire

This entire sequence reminded me of the description of this skill

The reality twisted different version of Jayce, Heimerdinger and Ekko appeared, every object made by hextech twitched as if that wasn't their reality anymore, cannot exist anymore in space and time. But what is this thing that caused it?

Viktor and Jayce played with something so bigger than them, and it was great, was amazing they saw potential..not actually knowing what they were getting into and only when it was too late they realized what they had started, the irreversible corruption of the world, of the one they cared about, of themself.

I love I LOVE this series.

[thewistlingbadger]

I really like Mel and Jayce's relationship because I think they're a great source of comfort for each other, but they're not endgame for me. They can't be due to the foundation of the relationship. I don't think Mel Merdarda loves Jayce Talis fully and unconditionally and that's completely acceptable. She doesn't have to. Jayce Talis is not there to be her husband. He's there to be her pawn. It just so happens that he was a pawn that she got too close to emotionally, a pawn she just so happened to have some level of care for. So yes, I like them, they're cute, but they're not everything. JayVik is everything. JayVik is coming home to your bed after a long trip that was pleasant but filled with hotel mattresses. JayVik is realizing that you had what you wanted the entire time. JayVik is being too late to save the day but still charging in like a hero.

[aurum-stultus]

If Silco lived I feel like Piltover would have even more to be afraid of. Jayce just told Silco that his entire life has led up to giving up the only singular person he cares about after a lifetime of abuse and betrayal.. Arcane writers themselves even said that Silco realized too late in life what it means to have something to live for, in reference to him not giving Jinx up..

Silco would stop at nothing to make sure everything Jayce loved and worked hard for would be nothing and mean nothing, just for threatening to imprison Jinx alone. You do not take a severely insecure, traumatized and vengeful man's daughter away from him. She was literally all he had.

[arowyn-m]

Why Viktor Could Die in S2

“They won’t kill a champion because—“ okay just pause for a second and humor me. I’ve made a lot of arguments in the past about why every Arcane character is fair game but that’s not what I’m arguing here—I’m arguing from a narrative standpoint.

Viktor’s my favorite character in Arcane, but I believe him dying in the series finale is the most likely conclusion to his arc. Here’s why:

Viktor’s whole arc is about life and death as a concept—what really constitutes “living”? (Posed by the scenes with Rio) Why is a human life inherently valuable? (Posed by capitalizing on his aggressive need to leave a legacy) Which is more important—a person’s effect on the world around them or their effect on their loved ones? (Viktor realizing too late that Sky valued him not just for his output but for who he is)

There’s also a ton of foreshadowing to Viktor’s demise coming about by a fault in his technology or by the careless way he relates technology to human life (usually himself but not always), and it’s often disguised as humor (the “of course not” scene) or hidden behind false foreshadowing for death by illness (basically everything to do with the Hexcore in eps 5 and 6)

I’ve theorized about it on here before, but I believe at the end of the series the Hexcore will be destroyed (probably by Jayce, specifically to call back to the promise he made to Viktor), effectively ending the threat of the Void overtaking Piltover. Viktor will be so connected to the Hexcore by the finale that destroying it will kill him. He reaches his Glorious Evolution, yes, but it destroys him in the end.

And yeah there is merit to the “how can you live with yourself” kind of approach to ending a character’s story, but that conclusion has the strongest impact if the character’s arc is about learning to live with your mistakes. Most of the character arcs in this show pose that question, but Viktor’s arc really doesn’t?

As far as we can tell with Viktor so far, there’s very little grappling with that concept up until his last 5 or so minutes of screentime, and even then it’s more of a blip that resolves itself (“In pursuit of great, we failed to do good. We have to make it right.”) If Viktor’s story is about defining the respective values of “life” and “humanity” then the most bittersweet ending to his story would be by letting him die after briefly coming back to his humanity.

At the same time, in Ep 5 of BtR Alex Yee says this when talking through writing the script for S2:

“It’s, like, die or accept some things being imperfect. That would be the way that they could go back to humanity.”

So if we assume he’s talking about Viktor covertly here (he very well could be talking about some other character, but yk “going back to humanity” is a very Viktor-coded issue) we could also speculate that they may try to end Viktor’s arc with him accepting the Glorious Evolution just…doesn’t work. I hope that’s not the case because that kind of kills his whole shtick but anything’s possible lol.

To round off this thought by comparison—there’s no chance Jinx dies by the series finale because her whole character arc will inevitably move from “Am I Powder or am I Jinx?” to “Okay, I’m Jinx. How do I live in that identity with the knowledge of my past mistakes?” Her dying at the end of the series would be an unsatisfying conclusion to that question. Same thing with Vi. Vi’s arc was about trying to “fix” things. She just wanted things to go back to the way they were, and they just can’t. Her arc is probably going to be centered around her grappling with grief over losing Powder AGAIN and learning to accept things will never go back to how they were before. Caitlyn’s arc is going to be her exacting revenge and maybe living with regret and bitterness. None of those character arcs logically conclude with “and though they found the answer to their life’s question, they died.”

Viktor’s probably will.

Also here’s a link to a longer more in-depth theory I had a while ago—kind of a adjacent to this thought (for some reason it won’t work as an embedded link) https://www.tumblr.com/arowyn-m/755893249865039872/jayceviktorhexcore-situation-in-s2?source=share

[ratindividual]

It is bittersweet, that Jayce understands now, a little too late. They were never on the same wavelength at all these past few months, years, even, which is the downfall of everything Jayce ever wanted; realizing when the damages are done that his place is by Viktor, whom, by Jayce's own creation and their own misshapes, will never be the same again.

The hexcore was created while Viktor was desperate to save himself, while the last of their creation was fused with Viktor in Jayce's desperation to save Viktor, and while Jayce feels everything, Viktor feels nothing anymore.