#but i love writing revolution ekko

[letters-to-rosie]

taking some inspo from @youmaycallmeyourhighness and doing a WIP Wednesday for heir (ap)parent:

“You didn’t even notice the lock was busted,” Ekko says with a laugh. “You were never gonna last in this thing.” His kneecap is next, sheerly for the pain of it. Finn’s urge to scream is cut short by his own anatomy, his now-cracked ribs shoving any cry he’d make back down his throat. After a blow to the stomach, he’s ready to beg, wheezing out slurred words of apology. It is, in a way, satisfying after those moments when Ekko truly thought he was going to die, and after the many more spent sitting in the hospital, listening to the beeping of the monitors and the nurses chatting in the hall and contemplating how he’d found himself in that bed—wondering, genuinely, if Beaumont power would trump Silco’s and he wouldn’t ever wake up any time he drifted off to sleep. There’s a part of Ekko that wants to be that benevolent side of the coin, the angel to Silco’s demon, but he knows not only that he’s on direct orders to drag Finn back to Zaun and make him pay but also that any goodwill, any mercy that’s been cultivated by his time spent with Powder and the people she’s surrounded herself with had run dry long ago. At least when it comes to this.

this probably won't get posted for a while because I have more chapters to write but wheeeeee here it is

[hobbitkiller]

“What happened to rebel Vi? Season 2 destroyed her character!”

“What happened to rebel Vi” is that Vander took her to the bridge where her parents died in his revolution and asked her what she was willing to lose. Then she meets Cait who is gentle and kind while still being tough and it makes her rethink how she sees topside. When Jinx tells her she changed too, that’s what she’s talking about.

I’m sorry if you thought Vi was going to be a topside-hating revolutionary in Season 2, but that’s clearly not where her character arc was going. Remember how she forced her way between Ekko and Cait? It seemed very straightforward that was the role her character was taking on.

I feel similar about people who act like the show was betraying its premise because it ended with reconciliation/Zaun and Piltover working together. Again, the fact that two of the most important relationships were between characters from both sides and that they made a point of talking about Zaun and Piltover first coming together against a common enemy was a pretty clear indicator that was the plan.

Now, I get being annoyed that that was what they chose to do. You don’t have to love the creative decisions of media, just like media doesn’t have to compromise its creative direction to satisfy you. But not liking that they went that direction is not the same as the show having bad writing or engaging in character assassination.

Everything Vi did in season 2 was very much in character with how she changed and who she became throughout Season 1. Hell, she used enforcers and Hextech to raid Shimmer facilities before Commander Kiramman ever threw on a beret. So, yes, actually wearing the uniform was a huge and complicated decision that she was definitely not happy about, but it also fell in line with what she had been doing.

There’s meat for another post at some point about the three different Zaun/enforcer partnerships we see in the show: Vander/Greyson, Silco/Marcus, and Cait/Vi; but I’m not going to go into that now.

TLDR: “Rebel Vi” who wants to fight all of topside hasn’t existed since the end of the second episode of the show.

Editing to add that Vi doesn’t see attacking Chem Barons as attacking Zaun; she’s taking down the people who are destroying Zaun.

[dragonfly0808]

TimeBomb (Fix-It?) Fic with a side of Zaun Revolution

The inspiration really hit today, I feel like I blinked and all of a sudden I had 7k of a new fic.

what is it about? Well…

Whilst I really enjoyed s2 of Arcane and I loved almost everything about it, I will admit there was one specific plot point I was really disapointed didn’t go anywhere and one character decision that I just couldn’t get behind.

First off; watching Arc 1/2 and especially episode 4 I was fucking pumped at the idea of a Zaun revolution plotline, and, since i watched the seasons back to back, I’ll be honest, watching episode 4 combined with the fact that in the opening credits we see Jinx waving a flag, my immediate thoughts were OH MY FUCKING GOD JINX IS GONNA LEAD A REVOLUTION AND FULLFILL SILCO’S DREAM OF AN INDEPENDENT ZAUN…

Obviously I felt like a clown when that did not happen

and then for the character decision… I’m not really a fan of the ‘you’re too far gone the only thing you can do now is sacrifice yourself for the greater good/to save someone’ character arc. Especially because I really wanted to see Jinx get better since, at the end of s1 her identity crisis is over, she choses Jinx and then I thought that maybe we could get maybe not a redemption arc but at least see her get better whilst staying partially chaotic

A part of me really likes what they did (up until her sacrifice) but a greater part of me is just- disappointed. Especially after the whole ‘No matter what happened in the past it’s never too late to build something new’ bit. It just felt a little cruel.

And i know of the Jinx is alive theory and I believe it but still- I just don’t like that this was the end for Jinx in Arcane, I would’ve loved to see her and Cait having to come to terms with both their crimes and what they allowed their respective grief to turn them into.

also Ekko didn’t deserve to end the series alone, not after everything he did and everything he gave up.

and so, with these two specific things in mind, pondering on it I found myself writing a little smth.

A fic that takes place right after the Stillwater breakout BUT- Jinx, Sevika and Isha escape before the Beast gets there AND Ekko returns from the alternate timeline early, pushing Jinx along with Sevika to convince her to be a part of the rebellion.

So far, I’ve got 7k words on this and I’m thinking on how to involve Vi (another thing is that I felt we should’ve gotten a bit more time with her) since, in my mind, the revolution of Zaun should’ve been led by Vi, Ekko and Jinx.

Ekko to represent the fight for the future and as the face of the Firelights.

Jinx to represent the fight for the present (since her arc would involve starting to heal and finding smth worth fighting for) and of course to also represent Silco and his dream

And Vi to represent the past (since a big part of her character is being stuck in the past) and Vander

Jinx and Vi get to right the wrongs of the past and join forces like Silco and Vander never got to! (Because why include that letter if nothing really came from it?) also, as a sister who’s had a lot of ups and downs with her big sister, I would’ve KILLED to get to see more of their new dynamic ‘Here’s to the new us���.

Also Isha lives because she deserved better and also Ekko gets to be her dad.

still unsure on how/if I incorporate Cait cause I LOVE her arc and would love to write her and Jinx/Ekko interacting

but yeah basically, this is a Timebomb fic with a heavy focus on Jinx becoming the leader of a revolution (since at first it’s more, Jinx is the symbol, Ekko is the brains. And maybe at some point it’s more like; Ekko is the heart, Jinx is the symbol/leader and Vi is the strength OR Ekko is the leader/brains, Jinx is the symbol/leader/face and Vi is the heart, you know cause- YOU HAVE A GOOD HEART DON’T EVER LOSE IT)

Also a big part of chapter 2 somehow wound up being a look into Sevika’s mindset and why she’s lowkey the biggest supporter of Zaun? So if you like Sevika I got you!

so uhh… yeah.

i’m thinking on the name and just to know what yall think, knowing what the focus would be what title do you think would work best?

Will prob start posting once I’ve got 5 chapters, which, if I keep up the pace will prob be in 2 or 3 days

also, should i tag it as Fix-It? Not sure if I should tbh

Here’s a few little peaks! A tiny part of Ekko convincing Jinx to be a symbol (that was a LONG scene)/Part of the speech that starts it all/Isha being adorable in the Firelight’s base

Ekko adjusted his coat on her, she hadn’t really noticed him getting close enough to do so, “I fought so long to make the undercity a better place, or to at least create a safe place in it, but I got so wrapped up in all the ways that we’ve been screwed over, failed, in all the ways that it wasn’t even half of what I’d dreamed of no matter how hard I tried that I was starting to lose hope. But seeing that world… it helped me realize that… no matter what happened in the past, it’s never too late to build something new.” 

Jinx forced herself to met his eyes, unsure of what to do under the weight of his soft eyes and the careful way he’d somehow gotten his hands in hers, stopping her from digging her nails into her palms.

“…someone worth building it for.”

Jinx felt something in her starting to crack, “I don’t know if I know how to build anything.”

“That’s alright,” he quickly assured her, his own eyes glittering with tears, “we can learn. This right here Jinx… this is our chance. I saw the murals, the posters, what you said back in the airshaft- if Piltover is targeting us… then maybe- just maybe, this could be our chance to bring all of the undercity together. To stand against Piltover, make them finally see us. I’m not saying we burn them to the ground but- we can fight back, fight for respect, for a seat at the table.”

Jinx took a step back, shaking her head, “I can’t- I’m not like you- I’m not a leader or- or some inspirational figure. They’re just desperate for anything to believe in. I’m not- I don’t deserve their faith.”

“But you’re the first to take a real stand in a long time. Sure it was an… explosive stand but a stand regardless. Directly against the Council, the people who have passed all the laws to try and make us less than them in the past. Who have had no trouble ignoring our struggles and claiming blissful ignorance when they screw us over. You have the chance to help bring people together. If we can stop killing each other over Piltover’s scraps and for territory… we can stand our ground. This could be the start of a rebellion. A revolution.”

“…I’ll screw it up. I always do.”

“You won’t… and if it does go wrong… it won’t be on you. We can do this Jinx, together.”

Jinx looked back out to the city line.

It’d been Silco’s dream.

To be recognized by Piltover. 

He hadn’t been able to bring Zaun together, sure, but everything he’d done had forced Zaun into progress… even if it wasn’t always in the best of ways. His biggest dream had always been of Zaun being it’s own nation.

It was the dream that’d been within his grasp, close enough to touch but that he had meant to reject in the end.

For her.

She’d bombed the Council as a way to honor him.

To finally show them all.

Everything had gone to shit the moment he was gone.

But now… now all of Zaun had a common enemy. 

There had been no singular group in Stillwater. Instead a coglamoration of Jinxers and Firelights and members from every gang Jinx knew of.

That meant that there had been no division at Sevika’s rally.

That for once, every part of Zaun had been open to the possibility of fighting for the same cause and had been promptly punished for it.

Jinx slowly turned back to Ekko.

Building something knew… he’d said Powder used her abilities to create instead of destroying… could she do the same?

Someone worth building it for… she thought of the hopeful look in Ekko’s eyes. Of the way the people of Zaun had, for a moment, embraced her, wrapping her in gratitude and misplaced but real hope as they passed by her. And of course, she thought of Isha, who deserved so much more than… this.

“I’m not saying I’ll be good at it… but I suppose I could give it a shot.”

Ekko reached out quickly, Jinx barely having time to flinch before he was tugging at her and-

Pulling her into a hug, all but crushing her against him, arms wrapped tightly against him.

She exhaled, falling against him, hiding her face against his chest.

They stayed like that for what was possibly an embarrassingly long time.

When she eventually managed to pull back, she turned away to wipe away her tears.

“So… how exactly does one start a revolution?”

—————————

“This is the time to stand together!” Ekko’s voice came as he stepped out from the crowd, wearing his firelight mask, going to take it off as he went to stand next to Sevika, “To leave aside the labels and separation and to work together, it’s the only way we’ll survive what’s coming next. Piltover wants us divided. They have always benefited from us killing each other, being at each other’s throats, fighting for territory and for their scraps. Not anymore! We need to stand together! To show them that we will not backdown! That they can’t invade our streets, our homes and expect us to just lay down and take it! That-”

“Where is Jinx?!” Demanded a voice, thought she couldn’t tell exactly where it came from.

Ekko sighed, casting a glance her way, waiting.

Jinx took a deep breath.

“Right here!” She called out as she went to take off her cloak, the people around her quickly going to clear a path as she sauntered on forwards, stopping next to Ekko for a moment before going to stand on the metal box Sevika had left on the floor, “You wanted to see me? Well here I am!”

Most of the crowd gathered around her, after a moment of stunned silence, started applauding, whilst some other looked like they wanted nothing more than to shake her and ask her what exactly her plan was.

Jinx glanced to Ekko, who gave her a quiet encouraging nod.

Welp, she didn’t really have anything to lose.

“Now… I don’t know much about leading, or about being some- revolutionary… but I do know about fighting. And I know about Piltover’s crimes.”

She recalled all of Silco’s sermones and every story and complaint he ever told her about all Piltover had and constantly took for granted.

This had never been her dream. But it had been her dad’s. And maybe it had started becoming her own the moment Isha had dropped into her life.

“I know that Enforcers have killed hundreds of us, a lot of times, for no good reason other than to show us that we are lesser than them, for us daring to stand up for ourselves, for doing what we gotta do to survive. That they have thrown dozens of us in cells without a trial just because they can. But the second we lay our hands on a single one of their precious Council members they suddenly have the right to invade our streets? To cry for justice to be delivered? It’s bullshit!”

A lot of them started nodding along, she could see the anger rising up in them.

——————————

Jinx took a deep breath before gently placing Isha on the railing, keeping a hand on the back of her vest, “Look at that kid. You like it?”

Isha’s eyes widened in a way that would’ve been comical if it weren’t heartbreaking. This was probably the first proper tree she’d ever seen.

Jinx set her down on the floor and the girl started jumping from foot to foot, clearly thrilled.

Ekko chuckled as he went to crouch down, “You see that platform to the right?” He asked as he pointed, Isha following before nodding, “That’s where the kids we have here play. We even managed to get our hands on some Piltover toys if you wanna go check it out. Jinx and I will be by the base of the tree if you need us.”

Isha hesitated, going to grab Jinx’s leg.

The girl had gotten a lot more confident since Jinx had first met her but it was obvious she had some anxiety about being apart.

Jinx went to crouch as well, gently running her thumb over Isha’s eyebrow before playfully pinching her cheek, Isha trying to act annoyed and push her away but smiling, “You should go kiddo. See if they got any good stuff. I’ll be right down there, I’m not going anywhere without you.”

Isha inspected her for a long moment before nodding along, adjusting her metal helmet as though it were armor before starting to make her way towards the platform.

“She seems like a good kid.” Ekko said.

“She is. She’s the best.”

[albinokittens300]

!Spoilers Under The Cut!

A/N: SO...been a minute since I wrote fic but. Made sense since I have ideas floating around might as well write and share them. Please note not only am I rusty writing in general, this is my first attempt at these characters. Be gentle on me please XD. I do hope you all enjoy. Let me know what you think, and maybe I'll try and get another one out maybe before Act 2 drops this weekend. All this ended up being was a little drabble of a possible reunion between Ekko and Jinx because I need some Timebomb goodness. Isha making an appearance is a bonus! Fair warning I make some wild leaps about what goes on during Act 2, so beware this is based some of my speculation.

He lets it go on for a few turns into different allies before finally stopping.

Ekko knows his little shadow is nothing more than a child, judging by the sound of the sets on the stone and the occasional clang of metal being kicked or tripped on. He usually wouldn't be worried- but with no one chasing after and taking her back to where she belonged, he took it as the sign it was. To follow him so far means she is all alone. Having just gotten back across the bridge, helping an orphan wasn't something on the list of deep concerns. At least, not until it needed to be.

"As quiet as you are, I have to say it'd be easier to get around if you weren't hiding." He says softly. Light brown eyes peek around the corner, playing at being undercover without actually doing so. She is hard to make out in low and greeish light, but he manages. "You can come out. Not gonna hurt you. All safe, I promise."

His hair raises, though, when her gaze flicks back to where he can't see. By all appearances, she is getting permission. So the girl isn't alone. When she takes a few steps out, he tries to remain unsuspicious.

"Whose behind there?" He asks as he kneels while she approaches.

"Definitely not who you're expecting." A darker, familiar voice speaks.

Jinx hasn't even revealed herself before the instinct takes over, and Ekko grabs the little girl and puts her behind him.

Attempting to pull her away from the known danger sets off another problem, though- the little girl reacts as if she has been burned. Letting out a cry, she wiggles away from him quickly before running back and wrapping herself around Jinx. While she removes the hood of her cloak, revealing a far too proud smirk, another arm wraps around the kid's shoulder. His eyes quickly scan her other side. A few bombs are latched there, but no pistol or any of her bigger toys. It was not a situation he loved, but it was preferable to facing down a minigun.

When Ekko's eyes return to the child, he doesn't think someone so small has ever looked at him so frightened. Something screams this isn't right as he watches for a few seconds.

"Relax, this one, I'll admit, has a reason to be a bit jumpy." She says, directing the words at the girl. Then, leveling a look at him. "What was it Vi said you had to say when the two of ya caught up? About looking good for a dead person?"

"That makes three of us, then." He says back. "Wanna explain what is going on down here, seeing as you are my welcoming party."

"Ah, nothing much. War, revolution, infighting, and unifying! All of that. If you are looking for the Firelights, they aren't at the tree. Or what's left of it." She says with a wave of her hand and a shrug. The blood runs like ice at the words and he rounds on her.

"What did you-"

"Woah, woah, I didn't do anything. Those wackos from Noxus? They are the ones who tracked the tree. My only part was helping everyone out." She hisses back. When his face changes, so does hers—relaxing just the slightest bit. Helped them out? Months trapped away should mean nothing surprise him. But it does.

He sees her arms crossed, watching and almost waiting for him to decide how this will go. Deciding to match her lack of hostility, just this once, he looks around to the eerily empty and quiet lanes.

"Guess I got a lot to catch up on."

That brings a less taunting smirk to her face. "Just a bit."

[livelaughlesbian00]

Outlining Alternate CaitVi Endings (Revolution Version)

It's pretty obvious that I'm a lesbian who was deeply disappointed in CaitVi and writers' treatment of Zaun's oppression. In a combination of pettiness and creative & critical thought, I let myself explore some options for CaitVi endings that I would enjoy more. Scenario 1 is tragedy. Scenario 2 aims for happy-ish realistic endings.

What my goals were

My preference would have still been no bury your gays or doomed lesbians. We get enough of that. But given the way the writers set up their lived experiences, decisions, and trauma, it doesn't seem likely that CaitVi's extensive list of issues would be resolved in such a small amount of time for a super happy ending. So I outlined CaitVi endings I would have enjoyed dissecting or would make more sense than whatever tf the writers settled for.

I mostly felt the issues with CaitVi were the massive unaddressed power imbalance, lack of time and scenes showing their growth, use of trauma for plot rather than realistic trauma informed writing, lack of awareness of lesbian history/ issues, and downgrading Vi to be more of a side character.

This does not dive into the nitty gritty details of Black Rose, Viktor Glorious Evolution, Timebomb, Singed, AU Arcane adventures plotlines they jammed in to the end. These mostly focus on the CaitVi dynamic as it relates to the Ambessa power grab / Zaun v Piltover plotline. Trying to think about how every single plotline intersects probably would have quadrupled this post length. Then again if I were in the writers' shoes, I wouldn't have jammed so many plotlines into a single 9 episode season.

Proposed change for roughly mid act 2 / early act 3 area:

Instead of a weird Avengers Endgame type of final battle, I would have loved to see a Zaun vs Piltover revolution ending. I want to see the impending class war they seemed to set up in season 1 and part of season 2 actually play out.

These endings below pick up after Cait with Maddie scene & pitfighter Vi and before Cait and Vi meet again and team up like they did in the valley. Instead, plot proceeds in a way that the Cait with Piltover and Vi with Zaun arcs get their time to actually develop. My proposed endings also assume a revolution is the ending. Zaun works their way up to fight for their freedom. I assume the escalation goes something like Paint the Town Blue rebellion > jailed > jail break > make specific demands for their freedom as a people > they are ignored so they escalate to a coordinated attack or two > the response is Piltover violence > final battle.

To me, in a Zaun v Piltover revolution ending, Vi and Jinx meet each other again and some factor (ideally not Warwick) pushes them together to try to make their bickery, broken sisterly relationship work. In the process, Vi reconnects with fellow Zaunites, maybe using her skills as a fighter to help build their revolutionary cause's offense and defense, teaching people to fight like she taught Ekko. Maybe this could happen alongside Sevika and we get to see the Vander traitor and Zaun class traitor dynamic play out.

There could also be potential moments where Vi is shown trying to recover from her alcoholism, nearly relapsing or relapsing. I didn't like how they just used addiction to show Vi struggling and then abandoned a characteristic that never stops when people are addicts in real life. I would prefer a more realistic depiction.

My main proposals surround 2 paths for Cait (with subsections):

Cait could go full Macbeth. Misguided and manipulated by Ambessa, she continues further down the path of letting her privileged opinions of Zaunites become full blown hatred and violence. Ambitious and strategic person that she is, Ambessa pushes propaganda that would strengthen Piltover's and especially Cait's prejudiced view that Zaun is a bunch of ruthless animals. I also envision Cait receiving a lot of planned (from Ambessa's minions) and unplanned (maybe from her dad who is not in a healthy state) validation about the "leadership and strength" she's showing in Piltover's time of need. That keeps Cait where she is.

Cait would still be Ambessa's lap dog, but clearly there's something simmering underneath that Cait is not 100% in it. As time goes by, she grows increasingly disillusioned with and guilt ridden about what Piltover is doing, but hides that, not trusting anyone, not even Maddie, with that information given the brewing war with Zaun. She starts thinking more and more about Vi and how she wish she could talk and work with her again, but regrets that she fucked things up. Maybe she has flashbacks of how she hit and abandoned vi. Closeups of the hit, a flash of Vi's crying face, or sounds of Vi's crying as Cait left the sewer.

Cait and Vi Reunite

Scenario 1

I would want the time that Cait and Vi to reunite to be during a battle, attempted Piltover attack from Zaun, or even the prison breakout mission with Jinx and Sevika, but with Vi participating somehow.

Cait would be present there and this could go a couple of directions

A.

Cait continues the Macbeth road, attacking Vi and in the process Vi gets to punch back and express everything she felt during her alcoholic self punishment phase. Cait fights and argues back. The "conversation" isn't necessarily productive, but they're both finally honest with each other during the brief moments they can get a few words in. Towards the end of the fight, there's a moment where Cait could kill Vi. Vi's attitude in that moment is "I dare you, go for it." But something holds Cait back and she can't do it.

Either Cait pushes Vi away and threatens Vi not to let her see her again OR Vi pushes her off noticing her hesitance and deep down sentimental person that she is, incapacitates her long enough to run away and join the battle elsewhere.

B.

Cait sees Vi from afar through her scope. She has the chance to take the shot but can't do it- too much commotion in the way. She runs closer to get a better shot, knowing to keep her distance. A flash happens that reminds her of a CaitVi moment of the past. Vi spots her and approaches to attack. They begin fighting, but Vi senses Cait is pulling her punches. Vi demands she fight full out. Cait, to her own surprise/ confusion, blurts out that she can't. Vi pushes her away and they sit there for a very brief moment in confusion and anger. Cait warns Vi not to let her see her again and yells at her to leave, Cait on the floor now and Vi walking away.

Cait stands and walks away after Vi has left but in future scenes, keeps thinking about why she wouldn't kill Vi. Tries to stay focused for Piltover, but fails over time. All this thinking about Vi transitions into privately thinking about the Zaunites and starting to resist Ambessa's propaganda. Then this 1B arc transitions to become 2 (jump to number 2 below).

2.

Conflicted about the crimes she committed under Ambessa and conflicted about the way she treated Vi, Cait searches Vi out in Zaun in disguise. She finds Vi privately and what ensues is a dual confession/ apology scene.

Maybe she finds Vi in that apartment she used during her pitfighter phase. While it's a bit cleaner, Cait still clocks the many hidden empty bottles Vi still hasn't thrown out yet. It's a clear picture for how Cait affected Vi.

Vi argues at Cait, detailing all the ways Cait betrayed the "Zaunites". At some point it becomes clear this speech has a dual meaning for what Cait actually did to the Zaunites AND how she treated Vi. Vi's walls are up with Cait again because of how Cait abandoned her near immediately after asking her not to change. Having her fear of abandonment retriggered, Vi resists because she wonders "what's keeping her from leaving again?"

Vi looks at her with disapproval as Cait begs for forgiveness, says she fucked up following Ambessa the way she did, wants to be a team like she and Vi used to be, etc. Vi resists all of Cait's attempts to hold her hands, look in her eyes, or otherwise get through to her. After all, Cait mostly initiates physical touch when she wants something from Vi. At one point Cait begs on her knees! (Mirroring the Cait abuse & abandoning in sewer moment). That's when Vi says she can't forgive her, but they can work together for Zaun and it has to be on her terms. Maybe Vi could lay out the boundaries OR she could have Ekko, a lifetime pillar in the Zaun community who always thought Cait was sus but originally gave her a pass bc she was with Vi, decide what conditions the revolution accepts Cait. Jinx somehow hears about this situation and does not want Cait in their community or near Vi- Jinx doesn't trust Cait at all. Jinx maintains an air of distrust and dislike for Cait.

Whoever lays the conditions out, Cait is not in a leadership position in Zaun. She is a pawn for their revolution who must remain deprived of the level of power she had before in Piltover as she helps them in their pursuit of freedom. Cait respects that decision. Cait's arc is either A. general pawn/ soldier or B. a spy for Zaun.

Situation 2 CaitVi development:

2A

Cait as Zaun pawn/ soldier arc

As a convert to the Zaun community, Cait joins in their preparations and community gatherings. The people are extremely hesitant at first because many remember her from the gassing / Jinx hunt. Cait has to work hard to earn their trust. It's a rough learning curve for Cait at first because rich, privileged Piltie that she is, putting others' needs before your own and working to earn people's trust isn't something she has much experience with and it's not a quick process.

Now that she is actually living with Zaunites, she sees firsthand the complexities of life in Zaun and the ways they create hope even during preparations for a revolution.

Cait grows to care for Zaun, finding ways to give back by teaching skills she learned in her rich upbringing that Zaun might not have had the chance to learn due to Piltover oppression. She also gives back with the insider knowledge she has of enforcer and other fighting techniques and city, building, and jail layouts.

In this process, Vi sees how Cait is changing and how she's starting to understand a core part of Vi's identity- Zaun- and begins to feel for and trust Cait again.

Without going too in depth about envisioning a Jinx arc, she would still be rockily navigating her mental illness and PTSD, her identity/ place in the world, her relationship with her sister, and her trinkets. But let's not forget season 1 Jinx hated Cait, especially for stealing Vi from her. Jinx would still have lingering resentment for her. In a 2A scenario maybe she gets to a point of accepting the reality that Cait will be around and isn't actively harming Zaunites, but doesn't force herself to like, trust, or pretend to like her. I wouldn't want Cait to grow to like Jinx either given the events of season 1 and early season 2. "You stay over there, I'll stay over here" vibes. In a 2A situation, they would put up with each other because they care for Vi and the bigger concern is preparing to fight Piltover; an "enemies to forced allies" dynamic. I think maintaining at least one Zaun character that never comes around and is always suspicious of Cait would be necessary. It makes sense that it's Jinx.

I could see Jinx having a moment where she confronts Cait as the final battle approaches, telling her that she doesn't trust her and she better not mess anything up (with the battle or with Vi) or else Jinx will rain fire down on her.

In 2A, CaitVi likely share lingering glances every once in a while. Cait very clearly wants Vi but knows better than to initiate without knowing if Vi wants that. As Vi's trust has grown and Cait's understanding has, maybe they share a tender moment (a kiss, or an intentional, slow make out sesh at most) around a fire at some point. If they were to kiss, Vi should initiate it.

Realistically sex isn't something I see them having in a second season given how much trust from Vi and understanding from Cait they need to build. But if sex were to happen at all, 2A is the most likely scenario and it should happen on Vi's turf. In my opinion, Cait should be the one learning how to make Vi happy. Vi deserves rest and reciprocal care for once. If they were to have a sex scene, maybe it would be "let's live tonight like it's our last" before a big battle. Or maybe it would be "I don't know if I trust you fully but part of me wants to try" and Cait being patient as Vi talks/ guides her through what she's comfortable with.

Ultimately, in this 2A scenario I would want CaitVi to mutually understand that they are drawn to one another but aren't fully committing to exploring that because the revolution takes precedence and they need to learn to trust and understand one another. They inevitably fall for each other along the way, so they let themselves indulge just a bit.

2B

Cait Spy arc

Cait returns to continue her life in Piltover, but as a mole. During rare calculated times when Ambessa is busy or even on lookout, Cait meets Vi or someone from Piltover to keep them updated with any new information. She gives them city or building layouts, updates on Ambessa's plans, fighting strategy and weapon intel, etc. The Zaunites, with the help of Cait, craft a plan for betrayal against Ambessa for the long term, not wanting to mess up what they know will be one opportunity to get it right. Maybe in true lesbian fashion, Cait and Vi exchange (likely coded) letters with one another. I bet Vi's writing is near illegible lol. Potential ode to the LoL Valentine's letters?

In this 2B situation, because Cait is a spy, she is mostly still spending her time in Piltover. She doesn't get as much time to understand the Zaun community firsthand because she can't arise suspicion in Ambessa. Like 2A, she becomes more firm in her resolution to fight for Zaun, but in 2B its more like "I'm done pushing the propaganda and crimes of Piltover, they must be stopped" instead of "Zaun is a unique, complex people who deserve freedom, we must end their oppression." In this 2B scenario, Cait is defined by what she fights against versus what she fights for.

I would also assume if Cait were a spy long term, there's a possibility Ambessa's suspicions would arise at some point and she would try to have Cait prove her loyalty somehow.

Vi still visits Cait every once in a while when it is safe to do so, whether for revolution or personal interest reasons. Her sneaking and parkour skills come in handy here. She's snuck into Cait's room before so she knows how to do it again. Her trust does build slightly for Cait seeing how determined Cait is to resist Piltover. But with so little time spent together on Vi's turf seeing Cait interact with the Zaun community, Vi doesn't learn to trust Cait to the extent of the 2A situation.

I could see a CaitVi yearning scene play out where Vi is leaving Cait's room to head back to Zaun and just before she's out and Vi's back is to Cait, Cait says "Vi... I miss you". The camera angle shifts to show a look in Vi's eyes that she feels similarly. But Vi collects herself before turning her head back to say "Don't let Ambessa see that" with a kind of bittersweet smile and leaving. I envision her expression to be similar to the "don't sugarcoat it cupcake" scene.

In a similar situation to 2A, I see Jinx in 2B as trying to navigate her mental illness and PTSD, rocky relationship with Vi, how she exists in the world, and her trinkets. In 2B she would would get very few scenes interacting with Cait. She'd probably mostly hear about her through Vi and the whole time still hate and distrust Cait and dislike that Vi is talking with her. I truly do not envision Jinx ever "blessing" CaitVi like she did in season 2 yeesh...

In 2B, CaitVi have lingering glances or touches, but the most they'd do in this scenario is kiss before breaking away to focus on reality again. In this scenario CaitVi would mutually understand that they used to have a longing and a spark between them. The spark might still be there, but there's too much distance between them to fully explore it.

Final Battle

1A:

The final battle leads to a very tragic ending.

Ambessa is leading the army with tech, machinery, and other Piltover resources. Zaun previously attacked with guerilla tactics and some of that transferred to this final battle. But they have most of Zaun on their side as well as Jinx with her tech, Ekko and hopefully his rewind ability, sharpshooter Cait, Sevika with her arm, and fighter Vi. (I haven't thought about how Jayce/ Viktor fit into this).

Cait and Vi are on opposite sides of the battle. After all the war crimes Cait committed, she's going to war ultimately fighting for Piltover, but she's grown tired being so rageful all the time. She steps onto the battlefield in a sniper line alongside other shooters. As she watches the brutal casualties unfold in the field, Cait has a few devastated or even guilty looks as she watches Zaunites die at Piltover's hands. She's not reacting to this situation how she expected, but this is the side she chose. At Ambessa's command she hesitantly moves into the battlefield to use the close combat fighting skills Ambessa taught her.

At one point, Cait comes face to face with Vi, Ambessa encouraging her to end the fight for good. As the fight continues, it's clear that both Vi and Cait don't want to be fighting each other, at least not like this. Maybe Cait has flashes of guilt for the crimes she committed and how she treated Vi. After some shared glances or maybe whispers, the two of them pretend to keep fighting because Cait obviously has a plan. Cait then whips around and lands a shot or sneak attack to make Ambessa fold to the ground. I have mixed feelings about how rushed Black Rose felt, but Mel could somehow be the final blow for Ambessa dying or maybe it could be Cait. Regardless, Cait incapacitates Ambessa in some way.

In my opinion, if full Macbeth tragedy is the direction Cait goes, I would want her to tragically be shot just as she hit Ambessa. Her last redeeming move as a full blown fascist dictator puppet was to take out the mastermind before she dies on the battlefield. In this tragic arc, I see inspirations of Ambessa as Macbeth and Cait as Lady Macbeth, both dying in the end. But Ambessa's death is due to a combination of ego and ambition and Cait's is in a final guilt ridden self sacrificing redeeming act.

Vi is devastated as she can only watch Cait, the first woman who cared for her but the most recent person to abandon her, die. She has to be torn away from Cait in the battlefield's danger. Maybe Jinx is the one to tear her away.

2A and B battle

Similar thing as 1A, Ambessa is leading the army with tech, machinery, and other Piltover resources. Zaun previously attacked with guerilla tactics and some of that transferred to this final battle. But they have most of Zaun on their side as well as Jinx with her tech, Ekko and hopefully his rewind ability, sharpshooter Cait, Sevika with her arm, and fighter Vi. (I haven't thought about how Jayce/ Viktor fit into this).

For 2A, Cait and Vi are fighting for Zaun together in a style that compliment each other. Vi gets up close while Cait attacks from a distance, likely in disguise and hidden so Ambessa doesn't realize immediately that it's her.

For 2B, Cait is fighting "with" Piltover, but intentionally landing non-fatal minimal damage shots to Zaunites or "missing" and hitting Piltover soldiers, ensuring that Ambessa doesn't notice. She's waiting for the right moment to execute the Ambessa attack plan.

The battle ultimately suffers many losses. I'd love it to be a war where it's clear that neither side necessarily "won" but Zaun still gets some demands met OR Zaun wins just barely with a Piltover agreement for some level of freedom they haven't had in years. I'm not talking that "Sevika is on the council, it's hopeful that they have a voice now" type of ending. I mean Piltover agrees to at least most conditions for Zaun's quality of life and freedom to exist undisturbed.

For both the Zaun pawn (2A) and Zaun spy (2B) arcs, Cait could deal an unexpected near fatal or fatal blown to Ambessa. For the spy scenario, it could be a little more convoluted or more of a backstabbing/ twist feeling for Ambessa.

I know the writers said that they knew Vi and Jinx's final scene since the beginning. I personally believe they neglected Jinx's mental struggles and characteristics from season 1 in season 2. I don't see Vi and Jinx reuniting over the power of sisterhood to fight in the end like they did in act 3 finale. To me, their arc would still be a strained sisterly relationship, but one that by the end they have a clearer understanding of how they need to coexist. In my mind, Vi realizes Jinx doesn't need protecting or saving. She's a completely different person now, but she's still her sister. And Jinx recognizes that her sister is loyal to a fault and self punishes. She realizes sometimes Vi needs to be encouraged or forced to explore the world as her own person. In my eyes, if they're both alive after the battle, then they don't decide to continue down a shared path, but respect going separate-ish ways.

If the battle ends with Jinx "dying" somehow, I would want Cait to immediately be there to support Vi. Vi is always there to support the people around her, especially with Cait when she needed it or Jinx when she didn't want it, sometimes at Vi's own detriment. Cait needs to finally show up for her in a time of need.

Scenario 1A Ending

Zaun just barely makes it out as a victor in this revolutionary battle. With Ambessa defeated, Mel alive, Cait gone, and many Piltover soldiers dead, Piltover submits to Zaun's demands.

Zaun returns to their community hopeful but in despair at the massive losses of their people and the trauma they endured. People come together to help each other post-battle. It's a bloody but bittersweet scene.

While Jinx survived, she recognizes she needs to go elsewhere soon after Zaun has recovered from the battle. Vi and Jinx have a conversation about Jinx leaving and Vi doesn't want to let her go. Their final line is that "I'm always with you even when we're worlds apart" line. Jinx says it's ok because she knows they'll see each other again someday. While it's sad to see them go their separate ways, they're both still alive and still love each other, just from a necessary distance.

Vi is devastated at the loss of Cait, the first woman to care for her but the most recent person to abandon her (in the sewer & her Macbeth-like arc). She wonders what could have been if she survived. But ultimately, even with Jinx leaving soon she isn't alone anymore. 8 years after being thrown in prison, she now has a community of people that know and care for her. She understands who she is and who she needs to be for her community: a protector.

Scenario 2 Happy Endings

2A

After many casualties and after the trauma of the battle, Cait and Vi return to Zaun to start the process of rebuilding. Zaun's community lost a lot of people and ultimately, Piltover begrudgingly allowed Zaun at least most of their demands. Zaun's on their own for the rebuilding process. We end on a bittersweet note seeing Zaunites care for one another as they recover from a long battle.

Both Cait and Vi have taken up a role together for Zaun. They're not enforcers, but following the inevitable strong feelings after a won revolution, Zaun needs a new protective force to ensure Zaunites are safe from any potential rogue/ surprise Piltover attacks. I didn't dive into other characters' arcs, but I could see Sevika being in charge of this force. From Silco's servant to a guardian for the people. As someone incarcerated for the formative years of her life, Vi's main life skill is she knows how to fight. She mostly went without a certain cause but this ending would allow her to fight for a cause; her people.

Vi knows how she exists in her community now and they embrace her. Cait has abandoned her Piltover upbringing to make amends for her harmful past, working with Vi to protect the peace of Zaun and giving a life with Vi a chance.

Cait and Vi share a tender moment (embrace, hand hold, cheek caress, etc) as they look over the scene of Zaunites taking care of one another and reuniting with families. The last line between them involves their pet names for each other "cupcake" and "violet".

2B

Zaun lost a lot of people and ultimately, Piltover begrudgingly allowed Zaun at least a portion of their demands. Zaun's on their own for the rebuilding process.

After many casualties and after the trauma of the battle, Vi invites Cait to return to Zaun for a chance at living with Zaun. Cait is hesitant to accept, knowing that the Zaunites might not welcome her and doubting she deserves the courtesy. But she certainly wouldn't be welcome back in Piltover.

Vi suggests Cait let (either the people or imo a Zaun leader figure) decide. Cait follows Vi back to Zaun and the Zaunites, seeing Cait's Piltover outfit, cast dirty looks, whisper as she passes, ignore her presence, or spit at her. Most would know her from gassing Zaun.

Vi advocates on Cait's behalf, explaining that she helped the revolution in huge ways as a spy and now has nowhere else to turn. Cait then speaks briefly and states she understands if they don't accept her in, but that she will accept any conditions. The people/ Zaun leader figure very hesitantly allow her into the community with conditions.

Cait and Vi's final scene together is Vi helping Cait settle in somewhere. It's clear that things are still not fixed between them. Cait has a little more work to do to earn people's trust and to earn VI's trust. But the final exchange before Vi leaves involves a loving look, lingering touch, or maybe Vi kissing Cait's hand and Vi using the nickname "cupcake" for the first time in a while- implying that things are looking up for them.

We end on a bittersweet note seeing Zaunites, including Vi, care for one another as they recover from a long battle. Maybe Cait watches them with an intrigued look at her new community. Maybe she makes her way over to help with first aid.

The End

Probably still isn't perfect but it's likely an improvement for CaitVi arcs. It was a fun writing exercise, thanks to anyone who read my creative exploration lol.

This process really illuminated how much the writers backed themselves into a corner with CaitVi and how much they fell short with political commentary/ Zaun's oppression by crappily trying to "both sides" Zaun v Piltover. The way they set CaitVi up, if they wanted them to have an arc that at least made sense AND that people like me rooted for, they ultimately needed time that season two 1. Didn't have and 2. They made even smaller due to darting focuses on new plotlines, other characters, and the Vi main to side character downgrade.

To any fellow arcane critical members, what ending would you have liked (for plot or a specific character/ dynamic?)

[slavicbeastie]

Arcane season 2 trailer

Oh wow I'm so excited by this trailer. Spiking adrenaline...I'm scurrying up walls like spider on meth 🤪

Some thoughts:

- it seems to me that Mel is alive (Yay!). Maybe hurt. Ambessa doesn't sound angry enough for death. Also fuck you Ambessa with your "wrath must be met with wrath". What about Piltover's wrath to Undercity over decades and centuries, huh? But you're a war mongering tryant (and textbook narcissist), you wouldn't recognise concepts of justice and fairness it they slapped you in the face. She's on the bottom of my Arcane's characters' likeability list for sure. I don't care that she has got impressive physique. I hate that they gave her place in the game (yes she's even below Marcus and Finn. At least they have decency to be dead).

- Cait being all decisive and competent 😎 But if she's leading attack on Undercity, what are those Noxian soldiers about? Does she work together with Ambessa? *shudder* I like Cait but I kinda want her to fail in all three objectives. Sorry pretty officer, but I'm on side of Zaun's revolution and independence from Piltover's boot. And you sending in enforcers doesn't seem in support of that.

- Vi looks terrible in enforcer uniform. Terrible. And she continues her trend from the very beginning of the series of contradicting her own words to Jinx. How long that "Nothing ever going to change that." held up, huh? A few days? A month? Normally I would give benefit of the doubt due to deceptive trailer's editing, but as I said, it's hardly the first time. When it comes to Jinx, one must take her every statement with a pound of salt. Especially positive ones... I hope I am wrong, tho. Let me be wrong, trailer is lying, and after a breather and time to think, Vi is better than in S1 act three in relating to Jinx.

- Ooh chembarons fighting directly? Yay? Singed under enforcers' gunpoint! I know he's terrible mad scientist but someone save him. Jinx? Sevika? Victor??

- I'm surprised how happy I am to see Sevika again! I always strongly disliked her attitude to Jinx (she was kinda Silco's crew Mylo) so I didn't mind when Jinx hurt her, but I really love to see her back to full strength and fighting for Zaun. Also I am excited for Warwick?!

- Ekko is there. that's it

- and last but definitely not least - JINX! Most important in fact! Every bit of/about Jinx is absolutely BRILLIANT. *rolles around in utter joy* I'm so happy to see her again! 🥰 They already managed to exceed my expectations for her in season 2 in this very trailer. Can you imagine what it'll be to see all they did through nine eps 🤯

From the top - Is that great statue head of Jinx behind chembarons!!!! Is she now their symbol/role model or maybe even some kind of leader!? is that her in hooded cape? Like in that s2 poster? I would love her in cape! She deserves cool cape!

That mural?! THE JINX MURAL!!!! 😍 It's Arcane's rendition of Liberty Leading the People, painting about French revolution! *explodes into fireworks of happiness* Our girl is so legendary that not one but two great works of art are referenced through her🥰 She is revolutionary for Zaun! Or the very least literally symbol of revolution. People behind her have all blue coloured hair. Possibility of Inxs or just sign of people's alignment/allegiance to her?

Despite all the turmoil, planning and fighting my favourite girl still has time for her art installations. Of course she has! Standing there on the pillar with Silco's face saying sarcastic line. (edit: oops it's monkey actually)That's pure theatre. She should really try hand in writing a dramatic play. I think pitch black comedy would be best bet. I wonder if she'll found out that Vi already said her name right before, when she grassed on her to Council. She looks so fierce fighting. Go Jinx go!!!

That's all for now. If we don't get anything else until November I'll be fine. This is more than enough until then😌🤗💙💙

[tsscat]

Things I fully think could have *all* been addressed reasonably in nine episodes and woven together if they had planned the writing thoughtfully and efficiently:

Ekko time travel (his episode was great, I think it should have been earlier)

Caitlyn fascism arc AND redemption (should have fully started earlier)

Ambessa as the main villain (more time given to flesh her out)

Mel black rose arc (should have had more connections to Piltover plot via Ambessa so it felt less out of place. Also should have started earlier)

Viktor god arc (tbh could have basically happened as is, except for end)

Jayce anti magic arc (could happen as is, with rewrites to his character writing near the end)

Zaun revolution arc centering Sevika (easily be woven into the entire nine episodes)

Vi going from cop to rock bottom to working with Jinx (I don’t think Warwick should have been the reason though. Major rewrites would need to happen here)

Caitvi endgame that’s more convincing to both of them

Even Warwick tbh but I think Warwick actually getting to the point of full sentience is unachievable. But that’s actually more compelling because it’s part of the tragedy

I think fully the issues with a lot of these is

there was a lot of waffling/backtracking with arcs, which isn’t wrong inherently but in nine episodes is less feasible because you need to be efficient with time

Too much focus on shit that did not need much unpacking. I do not think finding the secret vander room was necessary nor do I think a lot of the Isha stuff. Was necessary. For what they were trying to achieve (also lowkey I do Not Think so much of the final episode should have been dedicated to Jayce trying to “get through” to Viktor I think it was stupid and doesn’t make sense but whatever I know people will get mad at me for saying that so)

Glossing over shit that should not have been glossed over! I actually really loved the amvs I think they were a really cool way to do story telling but I also do feel like they were used on the wrong stuff a lot of the time. I think they should have been used in the middle of episodes more when the momentum was already clearly defined. But even beyond that I do feel like there was a lot of stuff that was just kinda glossed over. I know Arcane is king of trusting their audience with subtle storytelling but there’s a difference between that and making your audience do the work you should be doing.

[skywritingrambles]

I'm so pissed about arcane that I might write a fanfic

Not even about the stuff I've been saying (on my main) actually

In the tags of a post I reblogged i was talking about how ekko should have been the face of the revolution

And also there's that audio (is it an interview? I haven't seen the original yet) of someone talking about how Ekko found Powder to "save" her from Silco and how she said she didn't want to be saved.

So I'm just thinking about like Ekko going from that to deciding he'll do all he can to make sure that what happened to Powder and her family and his family never happens to anyone else and he creates the sanctuary and becomes the face of the revolution

So like a large focus could be on how he started the sanctuary and then keep the events of season 1 largely unchanged (season 1 was pretty much perfect) and then change some events of season 2, if I get all the way to the end it will still be a tragic story but Jinx lives bc omfg her death was literally the worst thing that could have happened. (I talked about it on my main skys-archive but I mean I'll talk about it again if yall want)

I'm just very unhappy with the last two episodes of Arcane and yeah Ekko should have been the face of the revolution. He started the firelights he built a sanctuary as a young teenager. He was probably like 11 when he tried to save Powder. Jinx wasn't interested in being a symbol and really she didn't need to be.

Anyway idk lmk if you want to talk about this/make this a reality. I'd love someone to talk to about it even if I never write it

[epitaph-of-rebirth]

Guys I have some unpopular opinion regarding Vi arc that I feel like most people missunderstood her intentions and get angry because of something that they expected her arc to be but was never meant: Vi was never meant to be a revolutionary/firelight.

I see lots of people saying how they diminish Vi by making her not be her "true heroic revolutionary self", but guys... Vi was never a character who wanted to make a revolution, Vi wanted to give A BETTER LIFE TO HER FAMILY AND SURVIVE. Yes she say on act 1 of season 1 that the city would respect her and Powder, because that is what she believes will bring her and Powder a better life, be seeing and respected by the city they live .

Yes the best way for that was making Zaun better, but Vi never had the time to see that vision and goal before, hell she even got surprised of the possibility of making something good when she saw what Ekko was able to achieve.

Vi never express wanting to cause a revolution like Vander in the past tried, she wanted to be strong like Vander: to PROTECT HER FAMILY. The only moment we see Vi goals branching to something bigger, something she want to do in community is when she and Jinx are in the commune. Her focus all the time before, was surviving and make sure her family also survives.

So no, they didn't diminish her "hero revolutionary arc", Vi arc was always about her family and finding what SHE WANTS and WHO SHE IS when she doesn't have to protect anyone anymore.

Yes she has the good heart and characteristics of a great hero, but Vi being like that and after the war choosing to have a peaceful life with her remaning loved one. Caitlyn, and building a new family with her, is not bad writing, is what Vi wanted since the begining: not just survive but live in peace and safe with those she loved.

She choosing to fight only to protect her family and not aiming for greater things is not bad writing when her whole reason to fight is exactly that: her love for her family and those close to her.

And since Arcane is a prequel to the lore of League of Legends, makes sense for in the future they build her to work as a warden (reformed enforcers under Caitlyn as sheriff) because again she will be in the same state she was at the commune: In peace, able to see new ways to help her community. I agree with them making her a cop for that? No. But in a character perspective, makes sense.

She wont be focused on surviving anymore, she will be able to find a new reason to fight and form her own community.

And again, this is not new,we saw her doing that on episode 6, after she gets some time of peace and has made sure that her family is alright (the days she and Jinx, Isha and Vander were in the commune), Vi then starts to think that yes, maybe she can do some change and help to create something good in this place of peace she found herself being.

So yeah, the season 2 is not perfect, but Vi wasn't bad writen, she was never meant to be a hero of Zaun, she was always meant to be a protector who fights for those she love.

[inari-zaheer]

Could I get a continuation of the Arcane x Eddie Munson Reader? But with Silco, Vi, Jayce, & Viktor?

For the Silco one, to be a DM, you gotta have some serious strategy skills & a great deal of understanding for how certain things work. You have to plan everything out ahead of time while also being quick at improvising in case your players do something you didn't account for because players are chaos gremlins.

So, I could see Silco using Reader to inspire Zaun to rise up & helping him to strategize on how to actually achieve his goal of freedom for Zaun.

Also, considering how well Reader & Jinx would get along, I bet he'd be endeared to them too.

Silco, Vi and Viktor With Eddie Munson!S/O

Pairings:Silco x Reader; Vi x Reader; Viktor x Reader

A/N: Hey bestie, so sorry for the time this took me lol, but as I said on a previous post i finally did my college finals and finally had time to write, sadly i don’t write for Jayce as said here, but i hope you liked it😊

Silco

Silco met you when you offered to take the job as a shimmer dealer for him

He didn't wanted you to take part in it thinking you could not take your job seriously, but let's just say that after some Firelight attacks and some bored Jinx days he was kinda understaffed

As soon as you started on the job he saw that you were kind of good on you deals, being the dealer with the most costumers

One of the few reasons as why he thought you were not as serious was when he heard the rumours about your "silly game" as he himself called

But one time Jinx asked if you could teach her how to play after you explained that yes, you could tecnically do a Piltover roleplay where she could blow everything up

So when you were teaching her how to play Silco overheard you planning all the attacks and lore for the universe you were creating

But he got even more interested when you simply wrote a perfect strategy on shipment reception where nor guards nor Firelights could see, and would also led to a path were he could get all his deals to the upside and also keep an eye on the council

Oh bestie the LOOK on his face when Sevika arrived saying not only mission was complete but they also had a clear path and vision on the council bussiness without being discovered

That’s when he oficially invited you to be his strategist on every mission to both Piltover and the undercity

That’s when nights after nights of planning finally made the both of you into a couple, two of the most intelligent minds rulling the undercity

Vi

I can see you and Vi being friends even before the factory explosion, as you were really close to Powder and Ekko and since childhood loved to play rpg's

But when you met again after Caitlyn released her from prision and she saw you were a dealer she was furious

Until she finally understood that you weren't exactly on the bussines on a matter of wanting but as a matter of needing, she let you off a little

After some talk and her explaining why they needed the help you immediately offered all the knowledge you had on Silco’s bussines and also helped them on planning the whole thing

Not only that, but after you gave a whole theatrical speech on how everyone should fight the addiction that silco was creating on the zaunites

(Yes, they had a revolution against Silco, my fic my au lol)

But it was only after they regained control over the city and The Last Drop was finally run by her and Jinx again that she realized the old feelings for you were coming back

Not only you helped her get her sister back, but you also comoted a literal mob to help her

You were the one that did all the strategy on reformulating the city on their new rules (yes, that's how you called the new set of laws), and also lended your boards so they could decide on how they would renovate the city

After all you were just the perfect couple of punks helping the people who needed the most

Viktor

You only met Viktor cause being from the undercity himself he wasn’t afraid when you came to be the new intern of the academy

You got caught on the run while dealing with some people from the topside, but the people on the council knew about how you were Silco’s right hand on strategy

So instead of letting you rot in jail they offered you to be an internt on city engineering

(Was that something that the council often did? No, was that only possible cause Heimerdinger and Mel wanted to beneficiate from you? Oh absolutely!)

And after every oficial teacher had declined to keep you as their apprentice, Viktor volunteered to do so

He didn’t thought much of it at first, thinking you were just a troublemaker that wanted to get out of the undercity conditions, and that was one of the resons he volunteered to take care of you

But after some rumors that the undercity was planning an attack he saw you carefully writing down a whole campaing on possibilities of both sides on winning and tried to advise the council, but was only dismissed and told that he should not give you attention on stupid games

But that only lasted till the day of the attack, as for their surprise, all your predictions were right and they lost many enforcers to Silco’s goons, and then they finally took you seriously

He couldn’t be more proud of you as you were not just an intern anymore, but was officially one of the most important strategists of the council, proving that in the end you just wanted to help the people of the city to scape Silco’s command and have a better life

And i can really say you two make an amazing duo (yes, im a sucker for the completely different aesthetics couple)

[letters-to-rosie]

talk revolution to me: arcane fanfiction playlist

there are few moments more exciting as a fanfic author than when someone makes something inspired by your work. in this case, we have a playlist made by @arrowdite, and in this post, because there were rationales for every song picked, I wanted to respond! the playlist is a work in progress, and this post is, too! thanks again, friend! 💖💖💖

check out the fic here!

1. Black Sheep - this is pulled from my regular Timebomb playlist. I think it fits the state we find Ekko and Powder in, regardless of the universe. Now that the truth is just a rule that you can bend / You crack the whip, shape-shift, and trick the past again

I really like the lines you pulled out on the past for this one. The vibe of the song, like sonically, is very Powder I feel, and the lines about the past really fit with how I just kind of drop the reader into the story, into Powder and Ekko's relationship in the main timeline, before I bothered to explain how they got like that in the first place lol. Their own lack of understanding about what really happened between them and the other's motivations when they were kids is such a big part of their arc, so these lyrics really fit, not just the ship in general but this... articulation, I guess lol, of them.

2. Run Wild - I imagine Powder listening to this song to hype herself up as she heads to The Last Drop in chapter 2. I think some of the lyrics in the chorus fit her when we first meet her, too: determined, but aimless. I’m on a mission and I won’t stop / No destination but it’s worth a shot

For two, she wasn’t going to go. She wasn’t. But then she got back to her apartment, dumped her bag out on the floor, and saw that stupid green eye staring back up at her. She has nightmares about green eyes, sometimes waking, sometimes sleeping. Her worst ones are the what-ifs—if she had just done something different that day, or any of the days preceding it, what kind of life would she be living? Some of the what-ifs hurt for their immateriality, while others make her happy for what she’s got. And with Viktor, the human manifestation of her meager impulse control, gone for the weekend, Powder put on some music, dolled herself up, and got on the move.

She'd be playing this while getting ready haha, dancing in her apartment and feeling angry in a way she can't express right. She really is wild in that chapter. And that aimless state is so important, because Ekko is kinda right when he says she's not offering any alternative, but that's not even what she's trying to do at that point. Plus, this song is just fun, and I feel like Powder would like it lol. I also really enjoy the Thutmose reference, bringing it back to Ekko!

3. Pathetic - Powder’s opinion of Ekko at this point in the story, revealed when he makes his first appearance in chapter 2. …It's been / 1460 days since we were alright / You're having trouble sleeping and I think I know why / 1460 days since we were alright / But now you're just pathetic, I said it

Okay, I just really like this one hahahahaha like?? I can't even describe what exactly it is about it, but after a couple listens, it just stuck in my head. But considering "pathetic" is a word Powder uses in their fight at the end of chapter 2, it gets that other layer of meaning. The irony here is that Powder doesn't know why Ekko has trouble sleeping—and in Ekko's POV, we see how different that night plays out to him. In her head, he's just this posturing villain, and he is like that a little bit, but she has no idea the cognitive dissonance she's about to inflict on this man. Until later, hehehe. It's also fun to imagine Powder dancing to this one with a hairbrush as a mic. I'm sure y'all get the vision.

4. Pieces Of The People We Love - A character song for Powder. She has lost a lot of people and carries their memories with her, across distance (Vi), change (Ekko), and even death (Vander, Tovan, Mylo, Claggor, her parents…). As much as it can pain her, she keeps those people close to her heart. I think this is one of her strengths. She may not know how to express it, but she has a lot of love to give. Like when her empathy is on display at the hospital; though she doesn’t know the people there, they get to her. She takes them with her. Decides to stop looking away. Start her club. In short, the pieces of the people she loves are what drive her to build a better future. And all our time together is tearing me apart / I can't hold you tomorrow but I hold you in my heart

I remember I was actually really nervous about writing Jinx as a main character, just because I tend to relate more to Vi in canon, but working on this fic led me to appreciating things that hadn't stood out to me before. Jinx literally keeps versions of the people she lost near her because of how heavily the trauma weighs on her. I wanted revolution!Powder to have some of that same energy. The song has this kind of anxious energy, and I feel like that connects well with how Powder feels throughout the chapter. She's really knocked off-kilter in chapter 3, and she has to decide how she's going to deal with not only what Ekko said but what she's going to do with these "pieces of people she loves," and that really is what motivates her. She takes off the blinders and decides to empathize with others. I'm like a proud mom lol I love her!

5. Memories - Chapter 5, Ekko and Powder’s reunion at the community center. How Powder remembers Ekko and how he appears to her now juxtapose each other in her mind’s eye. And it’s reciprocated: Ekko is baffled to see her. I imagine they’re both confused about how to rectify the discrepancy in their minds. My memories came back in the form of someone else / …Why won’t you love me now? Why won't you love me now? / …You shouldn’t be on your high horse, we’re not so stable anymore

Yeah, they were both very confused lmao. They both have very preconceived notions of who the other is, and they don't really take well to the disruption to that. I alluded to it in the notes, and he says it outright in chapter 20, but Ekko really thought Powder was following him lol. And Powder accuses him of stalking her, even though she's able to put together that he went to school in that neighborhood way back in the day and would probably have some connections in that part of the city. She's also very much on a project to knock Ekko off his high horse after he retaliates with that threat. But as the creator of this playlist pointed out in a comment on this chapter, Ekko's not the only one being self-righteous! Plus more Thutmose! Yayyyyyy (for those who might not know, he's one of the people who provides Ekko's voice for True Damage!)

6. Hard Times - Chapter 6, but applies to Powder’s whole situation. “Vi huffs. ‘You gotta stop being so hard on yourself, Pow.’ ‘Tell life to be softer on me.’”

Is this the time to admit that I fully fit into that stereotype that black people love Paramore? I have a friend who's black and Brazilian and apparently the stereotype travels lmao. But I actually hadn't heard this particular song before, and I really enjoy it! Another one for Powder to dance and have a crisis to. But the funny thing about the particular quote from chapter 6 that was pulled here is it was actually inspired by another song with kind of similar enegry? "Softer to Me" by Relient K, because I grew up during a time when "Sadie Hawkins Dance" and "Be My Escape" were big hits, and that band was pretty formative for my teen years. I used to listen to them and Paramore on playlists I made in the late 2000s, so the connection was really fun for me!

7. Same Soul - Another song pulled from my Timebomb playlist. This one is kinda meta. They’re in a different universe, literally, since this is an AU, so it’s like they’re meeting again in different bodies. But it also works in-universe, since they’re meeting again after so much has happened and they don’t recognize who they were to each other. Figuratively—but also, Ekko’s eyes are green now. Would your heart know if I met you in a brand-new set of bones? / …I’m just somebody that you used to know

Also just really love this one, particularly the chorus, and especially the one after the bridge. I also thought of it in connection to Powder's feelings about Vi and meeting her after her years in prison. There are places where I make it explicit that Powder's feelings about Ekko and Vi are interlinked in some ways (particularly the poem at the end of chapter 17). This also fits well with Powder's gradual realization of how different Ekko's life is and how he has different people in it, which comes out strongly in chapter 12.

8. Starboy - This song makes me think of Revolution-verse Ekko. He’s under so much pressure and has to present a particular image to be effective in a lonely, high-stakes role he doesn’t like to play. And from Powder’s perspective, he does certain things just to hurt [her]. Look what you’ve done / I’m a motherfuckin’ starboy

Ekko definitely plays mind games. It's one of the traits I pulled out of his Arcane portrayal and turned up to eleven to make an "antihero" version of him. The first verse of this song I feel like connects to that part of him, and the second connects to the part that is tired of the games that are part and parcel of the shimmer business and take up so much of his time to push back against, even if he dismisses them as uncreative (and even if that comes back to haunt him). Everything he does is pretty much calculated to keep that inner universe steady and keep his head on amongst all Silco's allies as he comes into that more... administrative role. And Powder does see him as having particular tools to hurt her because of their history, as well.

The mac and cheese is baked as it should be. It is Powder’s sole consolation in this stupid, awful world. She ought to be able to enjoy the scene in front of her, but she can’t. Every time she interacts with Ekko, she comes away feeling like trash. Their history gives him a unique ability to make her miserable, and she knows, somewhere deep in her bones, that Ekko isn’t going to let this lie. Their little peace is over, and as long as she keeps coming to the community center, she’ll likely have to prepare for battle on a regular basis.

9. Undo - Chapter 8, the argument on the bridge from Powder’s perspective. You've been pouring gasoline in your living room / Light a cigarette while you complain about the fumes / Who are you to talk? / …Oh, come on, just say something / No, go ahead, tell me, what do I need?

Some of these lyrics kind of parallel a song I am trying to advance as a timebomb song, "Percogesic" by Gallant. But I think the lyrics here— You're so shook when I look right past you So surprised you don't get an answer Guess no one told you, now I told you We're not living in the forties Ain't it weird to feel small 'n stuff? —connect very nicely to Powder not answering Ekko's question at the end of chapter 8, even though it doesn't surprise him. He will get an answer, just not directly, and that's the surprise! But the lyrics in general remind me of them, how Powder is unwilling to give him that power over her; even though Ekko's presence does make her upset, he's far from the only problem she has. As she says at the end of chapter 9, "...she will handle Ekko. But first, she has to handle herself."

10. < Coping Mechanism > - Powder lost a lot the night of the explosion, including Ekko—from her perspective, willingly—to Silco. She sees Ekko as an adversary, but it’s because she feels betrayed. Now that he’s back in her life, she’s forced to look at some ill-timed big feelings in chapter 9. I've wasted so much time / Hating myself for trying / ...Had your eyes locked on someone else / No, you couldn't help it / Or could you?

Somehow this playlist beat me to announcing my headcanon that revolution!Powder would be a Willow fan, haha. Their energies match in my head. Plus, bi solidarity! But anyway lol, the song mentions voices in her head, which is very relevant for chapter 9, and there's this sense that the lyrics are questioning whether the situation in the song is predestined or not. I also like these lyrics for them: Fun fact, I really wanna fuckin' make you cry It just isn't right, so enticing just like you Mastermindin' every fight Rivers flowin' from my eyes No emotion from your side Fun fact, I'm the worst, it's true Fun fact, I learned it all from you I need a coping mechanism now, every night

11. An Honest Mistake - Chapter 9. Powder’s Anniversary feelings catch up to her. My old friend / I swear I never meant for this / I never meant— / Don’t look at me that way / It was an honest mistake

Powder really does see the accident as an honest mistake (because it was!!!), and I haven't written it yet, but there's a reason Powder doesn't see Ekko's expression in the scene where he finds her mid-breakdown. She's assuming he's looking at her a certain way, and she doesn't even know. I love drama lmao

12. Our Own House - Chapter 12, the porch scene. Powder’s group becomes official. It’s the culmination of and launching pad for so many things in Powder’s life, and for Powder as a character. We built our own house, own house / With our hands over our hearts / And we swore on that day / That it’ll never fall apart

The porch scene!! It really solidifies Powder's friendships with her club, and it so much of the politics I've been trying to explore is about that "own house" building. There are a lot of things we can't change, but building solidarity with people around us and working to build something that will take better care of us than the current system does is certainly a place to start. This gets a nice theoretical resonance in a book I recently read for class, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò's Elite Capture: How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (And Everything Else). The theory is doing a lot lol, but he advances it in the hopes of putting forward this idea he calls "constructive politics," which is about building new rooms and houses, as he puts it, where we can create more equal ways of relating to each other and the world. A tall order, but I like to dream big. He also talks about how Pedagogy of the Oppressed was used in the liberation struggles of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau, and that is just super fucking cool haha.

13. Zanies and Fools - Chapter 12. The porch scene is such a pivotal moment for Powder, it deserves two songs. It may sound corny, but together, anything really is possible. (This song is a real-life reminder of that truth for me and I get emotional nearly every time I listen to it.) This song also recounts how Chance the Rapper met his future wife and I’m not saying that’s Ekko and Powder but I’m not not saying it 👀 I'm so powerful every time I look at you / No  memory of anything I couldn't do / …Everything will go right as it can / It's possible

It's true! If it weren't, there wouldn't be so much effort put into preventing solidarity on the part of the powers that be. If y'all will allow me a theoretical moment, there's this part in the Bible that says the wisdom of God runs contrary to people's wisdom, and I think that's interesting if we think of that in terms of how often we're told that humans are rationally selfish and human nature is greedy and violent and everything else. Acknowledging this is considered common sense, but we also know from practical experience that people are also often kind and generous, and we can choose to lean into that and cultivate it. Believing anything is possible is considered foolish, but how else do we change things, you know? Outside of the connection this could have to the porch scene itself, there's also a link to the way that Ekko sees Powder as constantly pushing what he thinks is possible, which is why she inspires him so much. They're so cute. Help lol

14. Montage - Chapter 13. Powder reminisces about the childhood she shared with Ekko. Tears soaked, we still make each other laugh / Fabricating a montage of our love / All the things we were gonna do fade away / We grew up and apart and we’re not the same

This one is a little funny to me just because it's so different from the song I chose to quote at the start. But it's a nice little flip side, because where I had a more... I almost wanna say cynical approach to that chapter, not necessarily in the content, but because I was the only person who knew where that moment would lead, it was almost like I was poking fun at it, but that's not how it is for Powder and Ekko. And she does make him laugh! That's how she gets through to him. The idea of the montage pairs really nicely with the play and the curtains that frame Powder's reminiscing in the chapter.

15. Let Me Down Easy - A song from Ekko’s perspective of chapter 13. Ekko expects Powder to tell him to fuck off forever when he offers, but it’s not what he wants. Despite how awful they’ve been to each other, despite expecting rejection, his care for her comes through. He holds her in higher esteem than she believes. I also like that the song mentions lemonade, a callback to the porch scene. It’s not a, a bad time, time spent with you / There’s cool lights and songs with good lyrics / We never have to talk again, whatever, up to you

Lol the lemonade needs to come back to tie things together in the plot. But this is a pretty good summary of where they are at this point. Ekko certainly doesn't think they'll be friends again, and he's willing to give Powder peace even if it means closing the door on the possibility that they could become close later. His care comes through, and he really doesn't expect the slightest bit of reciprocation, but Powder surprises him again (and gets ice cream for her troubles, lol).

16. Get Free - Another character song for Powder. I feel like this one could be Powder’s/this fic’s thesis statement: Not trying to get by / I’m trying to get free

I need Mereba to drop a new album because she keeps clowning us on instagram, and I have complained about this with a friend before lol. That said, I really think the title of the project this song (and "Black Truck," which gets quoted in chapter 25) comes from is really apt as well: The Jungle Is the Only Way Out. That phrase really sums up Powder's journey very well, and she really is trying to free herself from the structures that come more and more sharply into view as she applies herself to helping others and working towards change. And while this can be discouraging, she keeps pushing because she wants to be free. Very relatable feeling. Side note, I feel like "Sandstorm," another one of her songs featuring JID is a good timebomb song.

17. RICKY - An Ekko song. Particularly obvious in Chapter 16, at the hospital. “‘Catch more flies with honey than vinegar.’ Ekko scratches at his scalp. ‘But jealousy makes people do crazy things.’” His success doesn’t secure his safety. He has to deal with people he’d rather avoid or, at worst, would see him killed. But he’s successful because he takes wisdom from multiple—even contradicting—places, uses it the best he can, learns quickly, and doesn’t forget who he is. First they mockin', now they hoppin' / All on the wave 'cause they see me poppin' / Big-big-big large pockets, they start flockin' / Here's what I say when they ass keep knockin'

This is so funny to me lol. For reference, I quoted the title song from the ZUU album in chapter 6, and this is the track that follows it. There are a lot of themes (and I have a lot of feelings about Denzel's music, but this is not the time because otherwise we'll be here all day) about family and parenthood in Ekko's side of the story, so I think this is a good fit, even though it never occurred to me! He keeps things that belonged to his parents close and thinks about them often. Advice they've given him features in his inner monologue as well. But it's also true that people are trying to get things from him, and it's all catching up. (Chapter 16 also has a Denzel Curry song quoted in it, "Chrome Hearts" ft. Zacari and the Cold Blooded Soul Band; extra fun fact, I can rap this whole song lmao).

18. Dancing in a Daydream - Chapter 18. Ekko and Powder see each other at the club, on the balcony and dance floor respectively. This is, admittedly, the more angsty of the song options I had for this moment. I chose it because the lyrics describe a moment as temporary as the one they share. We've reached the palace but I'm betting that it won't last / Bright lights and mirror ball / We might be hurting but I'm ready for the free fall

It's fine if this is an angsty choice, because Powder's pretty angsty by the end of the chapter as she develops her plan to set things straight with Ekko, lol. The dream imagery of the chapter pairs nicely here. The song I picked for it is a pretty different vibe, and so is the song I could have picked but didn't think of in time, Kehlani's "Hate the Club," which is also a nice match. Between the three songs, you can choose your fighter lol. I like the name of this band, though. Fits the vibe, and me lol

19. Ego - Chapter 20. Ekko and Powder have a difficult conversation in Ekko’s hotel room. They’ve both been working on their egos, going by their ability to have one at all. (Thank you for recommending me this song forever ago, btw, it’s lovely.) Easy for me to care and you want me there / …I’m working on my ego

Y'ALL. This is my current favorite song. It has been since I first heard it. You gotta get like almost 4 minutes in before that switch comes in, but the strings and the bass... like it's truly magical. If you have headphones, I recommend using them. Done advertising lol. But that part at the end has nice lyrics for them too, as well as the beginning: Is that you, baby? Check when you're makin' no sense In this hotel bed Feels like, "What are we doin'?" Which is pretty on the nose lol, but I like it, and then toward the end: Don't wanna run Every time I get that feelin', I just rather be stuck Putting my favorite song at the most pivotal chapter, I'm emotional haha. The instrumental catharsis it provides matches the way the chapter is designed to build, too.

20. My Friend - By the end of chapter 20, Ekko and Powder clear the air. They reach a new understanding of each other. You’ve seen me from every side / Still down for the ride

These lyrics also capture part of why they work well as a couple; they work on most of their major issues before they even date, haha. On a more serious note, Powder really does get a real picture of what Ekko's dealing with, and to his surprise, she decides to stick by him and extend kindness. Just like in other situations throughout the story, Powder changes things by choosing to be understanding and kind. Perhaps it is cliche, but Powder/Jinx is a character who feels very deeply. I think it works.

21. Same Heart - You know I had to pick a song by Reed Shannon. This one has themes of reconnection while there’s action out in the streets. The moment Ekko and Powder part in chapter 21 feels like the start of something new, so I thought it fit. Baby, maybe we can do it again / Let’s restart, I’m your friend

In case you didn't know, Reed Shannon is Ekko's voice actor in the game AND in Arcane. As far as I know, he's the only voice actor from the game who reprised his role in Arcane. I love the 2000s r&b vibes on this one, very me. The fun thing is that Ekko realizes his feelings for Powder when he wakes up after the whole... hotel thing, and so there are a couple layers of meaning here. And it was just the night before that Scar was doing the stuff, so there was very much action in the streets! Really fun easter egg-type song to include.

22. Dirty - Caitlyn’s reveal in chapter 22 absolutely gets a song on this playlist. Full disclosure, I’m not convinced this is the one. But I like that it asks the question, “Do you love your neighbor?” because it has multiple meanings here: Piltover and Zaun are neighbor cities, and the rent strike is about helping your literal neighbors. And I like that some lyrics sound like they’re written by a schemer, like Caitlyn. I got a skeleton under the floorboard / I got a secret I need you to keep / …Aren't you fed up yet? / Do you have enough love in your heart / To go and get your hands dirty?

Caitlyn still has stuff up her sleeve in the plot! But she is very much a schemer, both in canon and the fic. Caitlyn's arc is very much about learning how the systems of exploitation that keep Piltover and Zaun in their places operate and using her influence to mess with that. Even if she doesn't get everything from the outset, she's determined to learn from Powder, and she's motivated by love, primarily for Vi, but also for the fellow people who are suffering under the name of the City of Progress.

23. Choose Me - Chapter 27, Powder and Vi’s fight. Powder is working hard to build a life she and Vi can be proud of, but they need different things. Vi doesn’t see what Powder does for Zaun and why, so Powder wonders how Vi can see her for who she is. How can Vi want her? I know there are places that I can't go with you / …I'd rather you choose me every day

OH BOY, there's a reason chapter 27's title has "tragedy" in it. Powder does want to be chosen by Vi, all of her, and not just the parts Vi understands. Vi's own trauma really does prevent her from seeing things from Powder's perspective. There are places she can't go because of how much pain they cause her, and while Powder's working on reaching out more, she wants the same from Vi. At the same time, Vi feels like Powder is choosing Zaun over her in a sense, so it works on both levels.

24. Call You Mine - Chapter 30. “Yeah, she decides later, lying in bed and looking up at the ceiling. She’s going to tell him.” Baby, can I call you mine, mine? / ‘Cause you're always in my mind, mind

This one is so hopeful! It's a big shift after the content of chapter 30, but Powder really is at that point where Ekko represents a bright spot in her life. They've been working to know each other better, and Powder's friends are cheering her on to go after something that would make her happy. It speaks to how sweet these two turned out to be in the fic, which was probably a surprise to everyone (including me lol, since it grew out of things I came up with as I was writing).

25. Hummingbird - Ekko and Powder steal moments when they can, resulting in long text convos and late-night phone calls. Pen pal on the night shift / She’s who I get away with / …And hummingbird, I know that’s our time / But stay on / Stay on, stay on with me / And hummingbird, I can never unsee / What you've shown me

The OG interlude! Even if it makes them both tired, they prioritize each other in those long convos and calls. You could almost imagine this playing in the background while the two of them are shown split-screen talking on the phone, lying in their beds.

26. Like 90s R&B - Ekko spends the night at Powder’s place and already she can’t wait to see him again. Feel like I was only seeking you, already got me feening for more / I spend all my time daydreaming, got me living for the weekend, oh no

I am an r&b girlie, what can I say. This one was a lot of fun! Powder really is in too deep, like the lyrics say. But so is Ekko, haha. I think the song will only fit more as they keep getting closer, getting frustrated with the things that make it so they can't be as open with their relationship as they'd want.

27. Offense - End of chapter 33. Powder announces herself to the wealthy of Piltover with her excellent award acceptance speech. Figured I should say some', but you don't wanna hear me vent / You can talk bad all day long, I will never be impressed / Dunno what I did to make you feel that you be earnin' my respect / …I said it with my chest and I don’t care who I offend, uh huh

Simz always has so much confidence in her music, haha. This song goes really nicely with the title of chapter 33, "polemics in free verse," which implies that Powder is attacking someone else's ideas through poetry. It really fits perfectly; Powder refuses to be taken in by the glitz and glamor, choosing instead to point out the people who make it all possible. All Power to the People indeed.

gif was sourced from here

[ultfreakme]

Hi, Riki! How are you? Now that you've finished Arcane, what are your top 5 fav moments from the series (you can pick top 5 each for s1 & s2 or top 5 from s1 + s2)? Also, who are your top 3 fav characters? Which do you like best s1 or s2? Why?

So, I'm kinda confused, can I ask why are there so many hate for CaitVi & JayVic ships? Sorry if I ask too much....

Hi!!! I'm doing good~~ Thanks for asking anon!

Hmm, this is hard, I think I overall liked S1 better, so top favorites scenes:

Vi parkouring through the Undercity: I am a sucker for Vi, I just like seeing her happy and that was the happiest we ever see her.

Vi + Jayce taking down the Shimmer manufacturers. The fight was too cool.

Sevika + Jinx vs. Smeech: I love the song and the fight is just fun

Ekko in the final fight rewinding time: I have a huge soft spot for him and I am so happy he got his moment. That sequence where he's fighting the robots and keeps turning back time to redo things was amazing.

Jinx & Isha montage when Isha took the shot against Vander: Super painful, but also beautiful

Favorite characters!

Vi, easily my favorite from the entire show. She always was and she always will be. She has so much love inside her, and she keeps loving people and protecting people. It's to her detriment, but it's a part of her to be a protector. I wish the narrative would've let her love without hurting for once.

Ekko: I don't post about him often, most of my arcane posts are like, jayvik, but that's primarily because i have a hard line between personal stuff and fandom stuff. Ekko is who's going to stick with me for a lifetime. His leadership, the things he stood for, and his heart are simply beautiful. A person who saw all the darkness the undercity had to offer and decided to make something beautiful anyways. Someone who'll never, ever give up on hope. I wish I could be like him. I love characters who can hope despite the bleakness of the world because I can't, and I hope I can learn from them.

Viktor: Idk his arc is just very compelling to me and made me see things from a new perspective. It's kind of an overdone story but the way it was written explored him really well.

Season 1 is easily my favorite. I liked Arcane because of the classism and ableism discussion but that died down in S2. I still had hope for the liberation of Zaun, Vi was the MC, there seemed to be hope for a revolution.

Okay so the hate for CaitVi and Jayvik...

CaitVi:

To keep it short, a lot of people have issues with Caitlyn's barely addressed fascism and the large class and power difference between Cait and Vi. Caitlyn gassed the undercity, she was about to shoot a child when Vi was telling her to stop, then hit Vi, and she never apologizes for any of it directly. No one even really confronts her about ti and the one person who does is framed by the narrative as being just as awful as her(Jinx, also I think Jinx is a lot more forgiveable). She also calls Zaunites animals & got Vi to be an enforcer when they're the ones who killed her parents and locked her up in prison.

The tone-deaf writing of the class issues and police brutality, when many people are still watching people who look like Caitlyn do things that caitlyn did as an enforcer during real-life protests. The story equates Jinx's grief & Zaunite's violence born primarily as a form of protest and a way to fight back as equal to Caitlyn going into dictatorship after one tragedy. Specifically, POC have major issues with CaitVi because of this.

JayVik:

They're now trending and getting far more attention than CaitVi. People are saying it's fandom misogyny in play again, which definitely plays a role. A lot of JayVik fans post a lot of racist takes on Mel or completely mischaracterize her. Same for Sky. The POC women getting sidelined for the men.

There's also, like homophobes pissed off that people are saying jayvik can be read as romantic. One of the head writers, christian Linke, said stuff that just made the "Is jayvik canon?" question worse and there's lots of infighting. Or there was, it seems to have died down a little bit afaik.

That's all from me!!! DW about the questions I love answering asks!!!! Hope the last bits gave an idea of what's happening rn?

[letters-to-rosie]

I've had to think about this way too hard in order to write them, so...

Ekko likes leaving marks

his hands are big and she has a lot of fun with that

Jinx likes it rougher than Ekko does (she has that poor relationship with death that Amanda Overton talked about so I figured it would extend to pain?)

but they oblige each other for love lmao

they're both very generous, though Ekko more so

um begging lol

they're switches your honor

and praise kink (mostly for Jinx)

and then, entirely personal headcanon, but as someone on the asexuality spectrum, I feel like Jinx (at least the Arcane version) could really easily be read as also being on that spectrum. I love when ace characters are allowed to have space and a safe way to explore sex with a loving partner, and I feel like Ekko would be understanding in that way. which is why I wrote revolution!Powder as gray-ace, which has been a really special experience, and her version of Ekko is always up to make her comfortable, even though she doesn't always understand her feelings and can have a hand time articulating them

We always talk about Wholesome and angst stuff on here so hbw we switch it up, what are you guys NSFW headcannons because I know y'all got em!!!

[arcane-ish]

My boy Ekko, leader of tomorrow plot bunnies

Story concepts that I wish people would use in fic that I don't think will ever happen because it's too plotty but I'm going to do it anyway, because dammit my boy Ekko is a true leader!

Ekko is the middle ground between Vander and Silco

AU where both Vander and Silco are around either as competing leaders in Zaun or still working together, but still disagreeing over the best methods.

In the end, it is Ekko who convinces them that it isn't just between violence and inaction, but that they have to find a healthy middle ground where they still proactively push for change but with "medium-level" tactics. And he makes it clear to them that the piece they've been missing is more aggressively and proactively building up the community and creating infrastructure (from schools to water purification plants) and defending said infrastructure if Piltover or the chem barons come for it.

He's also their future son in law

A Noxian Invasion

I would LOVE for someone to write a really in-depth fanfic where Noxus tries to invade Piltover. They would definitely contact people in Zaun and offer them independence within the Noxian empire and revenge on Piltover if they help Noxus take over Piltover.

And Ekko (or whatever other leaders are left in Piltover) would have to decide, do they fight for Noxus? For Piltover? Do they try to stay out of it? What if some people within Zaun (ie some chem barons) to ally with Noxus, do they fight their own then?

If they try to decide their home against Noxus, how is their relationship with Piltover, does it bond them together fighting side by side, is Piltover still snooty about their abilities? Is Piltover trying to use Zaunites as cheap cannon fodder? Do Zaunites employ more brutal or more guerilla tactics?

Silco and Ekko have a serious political debate

I would love a fanfic where Ekko, masked, as Firelight leader comes to meet with Silco. He for example demands that Silco stop the Shimmer trade and Silco is very "don't try to talk about things you don't understand, we need the Shimmer trade to be economically independent" versus Ekko's "it's hurting people right now". And Silco might beat back with Ekko is wasting his time by trying to fight Silco when he should be fighting Piltover. And Ekko could hit back by accusing Silco of having spent the last years sitting on his ass and getting rich and not advancing the revolution.

Silco tries to rope in Ekko... for a while

Now I personally think that in canon Silco didn't consider worth his time or a useful idiot at the most. (or you know, a traitor because he fights Silco rather than fighting against Piltover)

But I would love a hypothetical fanfic where Silco decides he is going to indulge Ekko a little bit and see where Ekko's loyalties lie. I think from a character point of view Silco isn't really interested anymore in allies that aren't just straight up taking orders from him/neatly slot themselves in underneath him. But let's say for whatever reason he thinks it might be convenient to toy with Ekko for a bit.

He asks Ekko what he can offer Ekko in exchange for Ekko working for him or at least ramp down the attacks a bit or do a specific job for him (maybe they have a chem baron rival or somebody like Urgot or Camille who both of them dislike and want to get rid of, or they both have people in Stillwater they want to be broken out and yes it would be awesome if Silco sent Jinx, partially as a provocation with how many Firelights she has killed, but they have to work together to get whatever thing they want to get done done). Let's say Ekko dares Silco to build a school or a community center and in turn Silco does that but tries to get Ekko tied up in the day to day details of running that thing. (in my mind at this point Ekko is all doing his while still being masked, but whatever works for the story)

Ekko founds the Zaunite Justice League

In recent League lore Ekko recruits a Zaunite girl from I think one of the higher/mid levels from Zaun with electric powers named Zeri. I would love for him to recruit more League characters, I guess the young ones like Ezreal or even Seraphine would make the most sense. Or Viktor could be their tech guy. And yes of course he would also try to recruit Jinx or at least have her as a loose ally which would cause problems with other team members.

Maybe Caitlyn and Vi would somewhat skeptically watch this development.

Maybe a Noxian plot or a Void plot (ie there are some cultists try to let in the Void and they are spread out all over the city)? Or just general anti Chembaron stuff?

(alternatively, this could also lend itself to a comedy story where they do nothing but hang around in their clubhouse and squabble over what they should do next)

[alisha-on-arcane]

OTP?

I honestly have no idea what ships I TRULY enjoy yet.

(I'm not anti Jilco, but I've decided I'm not as into it as I thought I was because... yeah, age gap. I CAN see it as a one-sided attraction on Jinx's part, though. Electra Complex where she's "competing" with Sevika, maybe?)

A N Y W A Y

What are your favorite ships? 😁

I have now written over 80,000 words of Vander x Silco (aka Zaundads, Vanco) fic. I'm kind of a single focus OTP girl. And it's also a relationship with a lot of hate and mutual murder so not judging anyone else for shipping unhealthy Arcane ships.

I am in love with smart well-intentioned extremists in general and I rather like "capitalism in the service of revolution" plots (my last OTP was Lieutenant x Amon so... I have a type). And whatever way you slice it, Vander x Silco is so, so sad and has a delicious amount of mystery/ambiguity.

It also works fine as a platonic ship. It's just as angsty if they were friends & brothers in arms and not banging. Platonic and comrade relationships are also valid, important and deserving of good mutual behaviour! And Silco reads to me as more aroace than anything else, though that could easily have been different pre-Drowning. But it's a lot funnier if they're bitter exes...

Timebomb (Jinx / Ekko) is also a great ship but they're both too young and Ekko is much too nice for me to write it in depth or read a lot of it. It's there in Jinx is Missing though.

I also genuinely like Meljayce as a mature and sensible relationship between people with their own full storylines. No slight on JayVik enjoyers though, I can see there's A Lot there to work with. Again, angst and misunderstanding and working together and the possibility of betrayal.

I obviously haven't mentioned CaitVi. I think their relationship is well written in canon, and I am fascinated to see how it leads to certain League situations, but I am not especially interested in fan content of it.

My crack ships are Silco/Singed or Sevika/Grayson.

Thank you for the ask!

[afangirlwashere]

Songs that inspired me to write! (NANOWRIMO pick-me-up)

Since there are not even two weeks left of NANOWRIMO I thought ya’ll could use some songs that could inspire your writing/story/scene WHATEVER! 

These songs are my absolute favorites that have at some point given me idea(s) for my works or gave me the vibe for certain scenes and I will probably write like a few sentences to some of them if I feel like I need to explain something.

If you are wondering there are all sorts of songs. Sad, happy, romantic, sad romantic, badass, epic, thoughtful, aesthetic, only instrumental (I will sort them by these types you might have different opinions about putting a certain song somewhere else but it’s just how I personally feel about them). There are songs that come from the same artist and if you don’t like the artist and you judge just by the first song you’ve heard please give them another chance. If you have any trouble with finding a certain song or a certain version of it please feel free to message me (you will never bother me) and I will help the best I can. 

So let’s just get into it! These are the songs that I’ve collected throughout few months!

SAD

Sleeping At Last - Saturn 

(u gonna see a lot of this band bc i love them. i will tell u to listen to a lot of songs on here but to be honest? u only rlly need to listen to this one bc it’s a masterpiece. get your earbuds, loudest volume u can get and some tissues)

Sleeping At Last - Neptune

Sleeping At Last - Mars

Sleeping At Last - Uneven Odds

Coldplay - Gravity

Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

Hollow Wood - Forget Me Forgotten 

(fuck this one. that’s all I gotta say. fuck you song)

Sia - Angel by the Wings

The Collection - Sing of the Moon

The Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home 

(this one is special, I think almost everyone has heard it at some point but they might not know the song by name)

Daughter - Medicine

(this one just hurts you on A LEVEL?? so get ready??)

Mary Lambert - This Heart

(and this bitch just guts u out. that’s pretty much it)

HAPPY 

Sleeping At Last - Daughter

Two Door Cinema Club - Undercover Martyn

(all time favorite bop n.2)

Cage The Elephant - Trouble

Florence and the Machine - Shake It Out

(all time favorite bop n.1)

ROMANTIC

Seafret - Can’t Look Away

(this one is a treat. inspired me very heavily)

Seafret - Wildfire

Celeste Buckingham - Love In Your Soul

(please.. for god's sake i am begging you LISTEN TO THIS ONE. idk what u doin’ just listen to it. you won’t regret. the boppiest bop of them all. it’s so fkn good)

The Darling Buds - Hold On to What You Believe

SAD ROMANTIC

Flatsound - Hands

Katy Perry - Thinking of You

(you wouldn’t think but yeah.. this inspired me so much.. i got a full fantastic plot from from this old hidden treasure, so many ideas)

Of Monsters and Men - Love Love Love

SYML - Body

Sarah Jaffe - Summer Begs

i wrote a song//slowed down (original: one day - tate mcrae)

(fuck this song too. it attacked me on a personal level)

SOKO - No More Home, No More Love

SOKO - First Love Never Die

Elmor - One Man Town

The Oh Hellos - Hello My Old Heart

Marius De La Mer - Feel Something

Regina Spektor - Two Birds

Winter Aid - The Wisp Sings

Keaton Henson - You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are

(listen.. LISTEN. this boy is the king of sad romantic songs and I love him please listen to him ok bye)

Keaton Henson - Lying To You

Keaton Henson - Small Hands

Keaton Henson - Sweetheart, What Have You Done To Us

EPIC

Ivan Torrent - Icarus (feat. Julie Elven)

(you have to listen to this at least once in your life.... you have to)

Of Monsters And Men - Little Talks 

Mikky Ekko - Time

(BOP)

Bastille - Daniel In The Den

(good 👌 shit 👌)

Diplo - Revolution (Unlike Pluto Remix)

Florence and the Machine - Breath of a Life

Florence and the Machine - You’ve Got the Love (Live Royal Albert Hall)

(this one... you have to. she’s incredible.. find the live version and listen to it... i promise u u will love it. she’s like a fckn lioness while singing i am not kidding when u get to the end of the song your mouth will fall off) 

BADASS

Clairity - Exorcism

(this is one of those u will have on repeat forever and never be sick but actually u will)

Florence and the Machine - Witch Witch 

(please copy and paste here the same note I gave to Exorcism. a BOP)

Florence and the Machine - Cosmic Love

Florence and the Machine - Drumming Song

grandson - Despicable 

Seafret - Be There

MISSIO - Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea

(fuck yeah. that’s it. just fuck yeah)

AViVA - GRRRLS

THOUGHTFUL

Sanders Bohlke - The Weight of Us

(get ready. you’ll never be ready but just try y’know?)

Sleeping At Last - Mercury 

Everything Stays - Adventure Time

Flatsound - you said okay

AESTHETIC

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

(pls play the one with the coal art bc it’s the best watch the video it’ll give u the full vibe. the text is kinda.. a little more... not cute i guess but the vibe i get while listening to this and seeing the video.. when the wheel turns back? sobbing. it destroys me. so good 👌)

Sleeping At Last - Jupiter

Bonjr - It’s OK, You’re OK

LAYLA - Smokestacks

ONLY INSTRUMENTAL 

The Cinematic Orchestra - Arrival of The Birds & Transformation 

Sleeping At Last - Hearing

(please do it. it’s absolutely beautiful. if i could choose to hear something for the first time it would be this)