#but thats not true. and jinx knows it too

[hyoukanee]

Probably the most annoying thing is that all the ships got good and dramatic moments, but not Meljay. I was sure that Jayce would die (both with Vik) and Mel would return to Noxus so I expected a breakup. But they could have done it… better? I so wanted a reunion after Act 2 and in the end what did we get? Jayce yelling at Mel and accusing her of things she didn't even know about??? Literally a couple of minutes later he quickly and dryly apologizes, but it really sucks. I feel bad about how it all ended. I can't believe that Jayce didn't genuinely fall in love with Mel in s1. All their scenes, his touches, kisses, gentle smiles. And Mel. I don't dispute the fact that she used him at first. But they became something more for her too. Did she care about him? Yes. Did she truly love him too? Yes. How did she protected HIM (not technology) from her mother? HOW did they smile at each other before Jinx fired the missile? And it all ended LIKE THIS? I honestly feel like the other couples were made for the fans and since no one likes Meljay (thats not true lol) they decided to just ruin them completely. Because even the breakup could have been done better. Without the screaming and accusations. Without those dry one-second scenes. Not after season one. overall I am ok with this season. there are some problems, rushing and some other complaints, but what they did with the Meljay is a disappointment. IMHO.

[alpaca-clouds]

Arcane Season 2 - How Bad Pacing Can Ruin Everything

So, Arcane season 2 ended. And I am sorry, I need to vent.

I am honestly not sure whether the rumors are true and this were originally meant to be more seasons. The Riot CEO apparently denies it, but then again, I have seen CEOs confidently go out on stages to talk about a project which they knew was cancelled at that point in time. So, sorry, but I will never ever trust a CEO. Lying is like 50% of their jobs. Being greedy is the other half. Sorry, not sorry.

I am gonna write something about disability in Arcane (overall) during the next few days, but let me just talk a bit about the pacing issues of season 2.

Spoilers for season 2 - all of it - obviously.

Believe me or not, but I know the exact issue of Arcane season 2. It is called: Too many characters. Too many plotlines. It is something that easily happens when writing an ensemble story (no matter what the format is you publish the story in - it happens in books, movies, shows, games). At times it works fine if you manage to weave the entire ensemble into the same main plot. But as soon as you wanna give everyone their own little storyarc with a bit of their own themes, it often goes haywire. Either you will end up dropping some characters to the side and not properly finish up their story, or you will end up rushing everything. Neither is gonna be good.

Here I am mainly thinking... Was the entire Black Rose/LaBlanc stuff planned to be there from the beginning? Was it put in later? I mean, given that the entire story felt like it might set up Mel as a Champion for LoL... How do I put it? Mel was too overdesigned in the show, to not be a future Champion. That was my feeling from the beginning. I don't know if they gonna make her a Champion, but man, it feels like it.

But no, the main issue really is the pacing. There is just too much stuff happening.

I will remain, that the thing that shows this better than anything was the second "arc" of season 2. Episode 4-6. And the general way the entire Caitlyn, Vi, Jinx thing plays out. We have the following things happen in the first six episodes of season 2:

Cait's mother dies

Cait swears revenge and asks Vi to assist her as an enforcer

Vi does not want to. Ends up getting drunk.

Vi decides to do it anyway.

They do a bit of chemical warfare for good measures.

They go down there. Fight Jinx. Vi cannot do it - partly because Isha.

Cait breaks up with Vi and becomes the evil fascist dictator

Vi becomes an alcohol addict.

Except, never mind, Caitlin is already feeling shitty about it next episode.

Jinx gets Vi and Magic Pixie Dreamgirls her out of her new-found addiction.

Jinx and Vi are good again. They go help Vander.

Cait meets Vi for the first time since the break up. They instantly are back on the same page.

Like, there is so many plothooks in this storyline alone that do go completely unexplored.

There are two characters here, that do play a role in the last three episodes too and that felt like they were some proper characters at some point. Those two are Maddie - the Scottish-dialect enforcer girl - and... Frankly, I do not feel like looking up the name. The big burly one, who after the break-up takes care of Vi.

Those two feel like they were at some point meant to be more real characters. But because of the pacing, they are barely ideas. Maddie starts making out with Caitlyn because...? I don't know. Because I literally do not know anything about this character but "she is an enforcer", "she is queer", "she is attracted to power(?)", and thats it.

And the other guy goes with Vi because... Uhm... I don't know. I know literally nothing about this chaaracter other than that he is big and an enforcer. *shrugs*

It most certainly feels like there was some planned version of this show, in which Cait and Vi both had a proper corruption arc. In which we really saw the two of them struggle. In which we actually saw Piltover and Zaun under the control of Commander Caitlyn and Noxus, and saw the horrible things they were doing and what it was doing with Caitlyn. In which we also saw Vi struggling with addiction and stuff.

But that was not the version we got in the end. Instead in this version... things go magically well.

Hooray?

Same with Jinx. Her mental health issues just magically get better when Isha is there, because that is what the story needs to happen now.

Here, too, it also feels like huge chunks of the story are missing. It feels like there was a story going more into the relationship of Sevika and Jinx for a bit. But if that story had been there once, it was most certainly no longer there. It was hinted at, yeah, but that's it.

And then there is the entire magic plot.

Look, I think among the fans of the LoL Lore I am not the first one to say: "Yeah, trying to marry the worldbuilding of Arcane to the established Runeterra worldbuilding does not work, because of the magic." Runeterra so far was always a fairly high magic world - at least that was implied by comics and short stories. Magic was a common thing in this world. Otherwise we could not have that many magic champions and a whole place whose entire thing it had been: "We are anti-magic Nazis building mage concentration camps!"

When Riot said, that Arcane was now the main canon, A LOT of fans of the lore were like: "You get that it is not gonna work." And yeah, Arcane Season 2 clearly shows how it doesn't work.

Because the way they put in the entire "Mel is magic, also the Black Rose is a thing" stuff just... It did not fit in the entire plot around it. Because Arcane had been designed as a world where magic was very rare and strange. But now Mel had to be magic and somehow had to be connected to the Black Rose.

Also... What the fuck even happened there in the end? Why put that in? Why make Mel go against LaBlanc? I am sorry, but that was simply too much for this plot. The entire Black Rose stuff stuck out of this plot like - pardon the pun - a thorn.

Generally there are several relationships that feel, like they had at one point been a whole more explored, but then got dropped to the wayside.

As I said, Sevika and Jinx are definitely an example. Ekko and Heimerdinger as well. I also feel like what was episode 7 of the show was probably originally more than one episodes and slower paced - though it still to me was the one episode in this, that kinda worked in of itself. And that the Ekko and Jinx relationship was better established.

I also feel that Viktor and that echo of Skye was probably at some point supposed to actually have talks. Like: "I will miss talking to you." - "No, you won't." Okay? THEN SHOW ME THEM TALKING PLEASE?!

Which kinda brings me down to the main thing that happened because of the pacing issue. Season 2 of Arcane knew only two extremes in terms of "Show, don't tell". Either it goes full "music video" in whcih indeed it just shows us shit without context or dialogue - or we get the information just via dialogue, in a complete tell.

This also shows in the last episode, with the entire thing of Piltover asking the Zaunites for help, after brutally surpressing them forever. Yeah, I see where they were going with this. About being the bigger people and planting seeds and what not. But frankly, there might have been a time and space for a story like that, if properly told (you know, with giving more of the Zaunites a voice in this story, showing more of the conflict and spacing this plot out over several episodes). But a) it was not properly told, and b) a world in which several genocides happen while Trump somehow won a second term is not that world. Yes, b) is not the fault of anyone working on Arcane. That was simply bad luck on their part. But a) is very much their fault - and even if we did not have a Palestinian Genocide and no second Trump term: Without a) being done properly, it would not have worked. It would have just not felt quite as miserable.

You know, the most frustrating thing about this was, that... While I think that one way or another I would still have hated how the show handles the topic of disability (again, I will write about this during the next few days), I generally might have liked the same plot, if it had been given the needed space to breathe.

Like... Sure, I would have never really been on board with "fascist Caitlyn", or rather with "fascist Caitlyn, who gets then forgiven by everyone". But I could have somewhat swallowed it, if that forgiveness had to be earned. But because of the breakneck speed of this show, it never got earned. I am not even talking about redemption arcs here - those are always a headache - but specifically about the fact that Caitlyn gets instantly forgiven by everyone.

Also, lol. The entire thing with Ekko convincing Jinx to come along off-screen. That was unelegant.

Heck, it feels in the first four episodes, as if there was an arc being set up for Sevika in general. And it feels like that arc needed to happen, given that Sevika ends up on the COUNCIL OF PILTOVER in the epilogue. However, that Arc just does not happen. Then, like... why set it up?

That is general the issue. There is a lot of set-up and very, very little payoff to any of it.

And here is the thing. I have heard people argue about whether or not this was meant to have more seasons. But frankly: I do not think that the writers who wrote season 1 would have written this story this way had they known it would be two seasons.

Mind you, compared to some people I would not rate the writing in season 1 higher than maybe 6 or 7 of 10. It was solid, but not overwhelmingly great. But season 2 in comparison is a 2 of 10, maybe a 3 of 10, if I am being gracious.

And frankly, I do not think any writer, who is in any way worth their salt, would write a story where a main character goes evil, and then do exactly nothing with it. I mean, sorry, us writers, we are a dramatic bunch. And we will not resist the drama being served on a silver platter unless we are forced too. I cannot imagine a single writer, who will go with the end of episode 3 and then not write a bunch of angst with Caitlyn and Vi - unless they were forbidden.

And mind you, CaitVi is by far the ship I am least invested in. But it is simply such a glaring example of where the plot is rushed in a way that it hinders the character arcs.

Oh, and also... Lest. Lest in the first six episodes clearly felt like a character, who was going to play a role. Only to then disappear to not be seen again during the finale. What happened to Lest? Is she dead? Is she alive? I guess we'll never know.

*sighs* I am sorry. I really am. I am just... very disappointed. This has been a mess. And I think it would not have needed to be.

Like, the animation is still the most pretty thing ever made in the world. But man... The plot? The plot sucks balls. And not in the sexy way.

[tuxedoferret]

Arcane finale was good....but

Spoilers for the finale of Arcane season 2, Arc 3 in general.

I'm probably screaming into the void but I wanted to get these thoughts out and see what other people think.

In general, I liked the endings for most of the characters. Their arcs make sense.

Vi, Caitlyn, Ekko, Jayce, Mel, Singed, and Viktor's story conclusions, I think were ended beautifully! (And Jinx too but I'll circle back to her in a second). Their endings made sense and were executed very well! I'm content with how their stories end!

And MOST of the deaths make sense... most of them.

Of course most of the minor characters are dead, no surprise since a majority of them we don't even know the NAMES of unless you scour the credits in the VA section.

Ambessa's death was well done, with Mel finally getting her mothers approval through breaking free of her control and finally being able to decide her own life and Caitlyn becoming a true leader.

The only thing that really bothers me, is the deaths of Heimerdinger and Warwick/Vander. Out of all of the champions in the game they're the only non-humanoid ones that made it into the show. They're also the only (game first) champions to actually die and they barely get to do anything. (I am one of the believers that Jinx is alive because there's no fucking way they would kill off one of their chief money makers, also based on evidence in the show).

With Heimerdinger in season 1 we see him serve as an oppositional force against Jayce, and then a mentor working with him. He gets kicked off of the council as a result of his conservative viewpoint. And he reflects on this, he leaves to go help the Zaunites however he can but gets shunned away. Then the goes and helps Ekko with repairing his board and getting home. In season 2 this continues with Heimerdinger helping Ekko get into Jayce's lab and them having the discussion about wild runes before getting sucked up into the anomaly. His last episode is him in the alternate universe with helping Ekko build the Z-Drive to return to his own universe. He puts it in the amplifier, is about to go with Ekko, then runs out and puts a few more things together and just... dies. Thats it for him. MAYBE he'll come back since he's a Yordle but this is new canon and the man had flesh and blood squished out of him. But in general his death feels cheap and unnecessary. What was the point of his death? How did it impact the narrative and what did the story gain from it as a result? Not fucking much really. He's never mentioned again afterwards. I feel like his death had no impact on the story whatsoever. I honestly think it would've been better if he had survived and returned with Ekko to fight in the battle against Noxus and Viktor. I would've liked to see him, either returning to the council or not, atoning for his mistakes by trying to make things better in Zaun with his inventions.

With Vander/Warwick there was so much hype around the theory that Vander would be returning as Warwick. And we were all super excited when that came true! We love it when the narrative rewards us for paying attention! But we get like... 3 episodes with him before he becomes a Viktor automaton. He was also still very much alive even after Singed drained his blood, so Viktor was wrong about how that would kill him. Warwick's role in the end felt very lackluster, and it felt redundant to just, kill him off AGAIN. Maybe I'm just a little mad because I have read up on Warwick and I feel like he had more potential for the narrative than just... make Vi watch her dad die all over again. The fight scene with Warwick could've been replaced with any big evil bruiser really (coughBlitzcrankcough). In general Warwick felt more like a Vi and Jinx accessory than his own potential character. Which kind of sucks. And maybe I'm a bit salty that we didn't get a full wolf Warwick. I think the whole his mind was reset/erased bit could've still been done if the explosion damaged his head and it healed back wrong/if singed replaced his head with one of the wolves' heads to make him fully Warwick in the end.

Isha's death kind of feels... not impactful at all to the story afterwards aside from Jinx's spiral. I would've liked it if her death did more than just that (Like I said, permanently damaging Warwick/Vander would've been nice)

This is about the league of LEGENDS and you'd think that Warwick and Heimerdinger would have bigger roles than just being killed off to further another characters story after barely impacting the narrative.

Also I feel like Sevika being on the council is like... stupid. I think she wasn't handled well at all after episode 4. She just completely disappears after running away with Isha. Why do we never see her hanging with Jinx and Isha again? I would have LOVED to see how Sevika reacted to Vander not being as dead as previously thought, the man she betrayed and ultimately ended up mirroring in the end with her refusing to give up Jinx to Piltover. I think it would've been fun if Sevika was the one to tell Vi when she woke up that Jinx gave herself up, despite all of Sevika's protests, an inversion of what happened with Vi and Vander. Putting Sevika on the council in the end is just kind of weird for her character. I understand it's like, the idea of Zaun finally getting representation on the council, Sevika getting a say in what happens in the undercity. But I feel like that could've just as easily been accomplished with finally letting Zaun have its own independence with Sevika being the "Baron" of Zaun, being the new leader. Because we've seen she's a genuinely good leader! She has a good head on her shoulders. It would've been fun to see how she'd struggle with being the new leader of Zaun, struggling against the Chem Barons if future series ever decided to look into Zaun again.

In general I'm fine with the ending of Arcane. But I feel like the endings could've been written a different way for those 3 characters. I honestly feel like it would've been better if the show ended off where the game picks up, and I don't even play League, I just like the lore from what little I've been reading.

[variksel]

arcane s2 act 2 spoilers it was absolutely Dia Fucking Bolical when, a moment after viktor says vander "told him" his name in his head, viktor calls jinx powder.

(and she recoils because she knows that means he reached into her mind aswell and her mind, her soul, responded with "my name is powder")

[lazyveran]

final thoughts! from the outside it looks like caitlyn was 'forgiven' too easily, but i dont think thats whats happening.

her running into vi while ambessa is gearing up to raid a peaceful commune for a weapon led to them by, in caitlyn's own words, a monster, was probably a final straw of some kind for caitlyn. because it's starkly obvious that caitlyn is only in this for jinx. ep 4 she laments the fact this war is taking so long - she was only ever in it for selfish justice, one she hasn't even seen yet. now she's only got the flimsy excuse of war for peace, one she doesn't even believe in if she's questioning ambessa on it.

but jinx. jinx jinx jinx. its all about revenge. ambessa stoked the flames of her anger using jinx, implying forgiveness when caitlyn can see none. that's all it ever was. all of the control and war and oppression has only been about jinx.

so raiding a peaceful place for ambessa's weapon grates her. she knows its wrong. she doesnt really want to do it, there's still good in her. and then vi shows up, and she's trying to save her father, and she calls caitlyn cupcake and caitlyn just wants to do something good and uncomplicated for once. so she goes along with vi's plan. vi couldn't save her sister, caitlyn wouldn't allow that either, but maybe she can help save something else for vi. she wants to do good by her, it's her father. she can help, maybe she can work towards vi forgiving her. she knows what ambessa is doing is wrong.

but. caitlyn has no idea jinx was also there. that vi was with jinx. that their father had brought them together. she might have never agreed to help if she had known - and vi probably knew that. caitlyn's been played, but she's been played by her own weak spot and compassion for vi.

none of it has been forgiven. it's taken her a month to start to wake up, pick herself up from the angry, blind mess she is. she was tricked, she still despises jinx and wants her dead. but despite that she helped vi, she's seen what ambessa's true intentions are. it's a start.

[animeshotsh]

Let me show you Crazy - Various x Jinx!Reader

Warnings: Jinx is a complex character herself. Im only using a small part of her personality to write this small piece. There is not connection to the events of arcane.

HH Violence - Cursing - Various!xReader - Platonic - Mentions of mental breakdown - Hallucinations - Past Abuse - Vaggie seems bad but she wishes the best -

The normal red sky of hell was tainted in blues and purples as laugh filled up the streeets.

Sinner who knew better took a step aside as bullet flew past them.

The target?

No one in particular.

You were just bored, and the voices kept whispering to you, if you closed your eyes silouhets of now nameless faces would appear.

Thats why you needed this.

Cherri will for sure be pissed at you for have not inviting her to your little outbrust, but hell was alywas up for another bombing so you were not so worried over it.

Just as the last bombs exploted and your gun was hot from shooting you decided to stop and find a place for the night, your hideout was too far away now to go back.

--------

You entered Angel Dust aparment without a problem, all his pink colors made you want to puke but you hold back, soon his little pet came to welcome you, seeing you as a parent figure of sorts.

Even if you have joked that you could made some good meat with it.

"Hey, who is the bitch that-" Angel stopped his cursing and lowered his guns seeing you.

"Oh, hey Spidy" You joked seeing his pet go back to him.

"(Y/N), I thought these were your bombs"

"Hell yeah they were" you responded, passing by him and getting onto his bed. "Had a sweet time shooting these fuckers off"

"Yeah...thanks for the invitation" Angel joked back getting on the side of the bed. He knew how unestable you could be, but he could figure when you were out having fun and when you just needed to be out.

Maybe his way to cope with trauma was sex, yours was violence, this was hell, everyone did what they could.

"I thought you were being re made Spidy, the Princess got a nice place? I might just crash there next time"

Angel had to sight to himself imagining the chaos you would make, not only that, you would for sure make Alastor lose his cool the second you set foot into the hotel.

"Yeah well, you get a room, food, all free, i think you should try it" Angel said seeing you play with your hair. Now he did think you should try it, maybe it could help you, maybe you could get better.

"Uh, it seems too good to be true" You responded looking past Angel to nameless figures now behind him, one of them biting Angels neck and the other one just staring at the roof.

"N-no, i dont need help. Hey! shut up, who said that i was considering it? NO!! IM NOT WEAK" Angel stood aside as you passed by his aparment, your hands on your hair pulling pieces of it, talking to things that were not there. "SHUT UP, YOU KNOW NOTHING".

"(Y/N)...." Angel tried when he saw you fall to your knees, memories of a terrible past revealing itself to you.

"I SAID, SHUT UP" Angel found himself with a gun to his face. Your gun, with trembling hands, you were not looking at him but at someone else, someone who had hurt you at some point.

Angel had to thank whatever was above him by his agility, because not a second later you shoot to now an empy space. He quickly moved to take the gun from you and get you in a hold.

"Shh, its me, Angel Dust, remember? Its me, your friend, you little blue flare, you got nothing to be scared of" Angel told you half screaming, and having just enough emotion in his voice to break you from your episode.

"Angel?"

"Yes Y/N?"

"Are you real?" You asked not knowing what was going on anymore, Angel felt his eyes tear up as he let go of you to hug you properly.

"Of course Im you idiot, why do you want to be alone so much?"

You did not respond, these were the few times your mind was quiet. No voices, no images, just the present, you still did not know if he was real, if he was talking to you, or if he was other one of your friends.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Angel asked easily picking you up and taking you to his bed.

"I- I dont want to be alone" was all you said as he pulled the blankets up to you and took your hand in his.

"You wont"

-------------

"Do you know who that is?" Vaggie asked pointing at you and Angel. You were looking at everything in the loby of the hotel with Angel trying to keep you in check.

"Yes, they are a sinner who needs help" Charlie responded her girlfriend also looking at your somehow childish behaviour.

"Thats Jinx, is one of the most unestable and unpredictable sinners from the circle, and thats is something to say with how many we got"

"Vaggie, I offer salvation to anyone, I dont care who they are as long as they want to be saved"

"And you think they want to be saved?" Vaggie asked somehow exasperated by now.

Before Charlie could respond you appear besides her, giving her a crushing hug.

"I must say Princess, Spidy said this place was neat but he did not mention it was this good, where is my room? oh! can i decor it? I love blue you see, and I paint, you wanna see some of them? SHH, WHO SAID SHE WONT LIKE IT?"

"Jinx!!" Charlie said not noticing you almost having another episode but pulling you right back into the hug. "Yes! of course you can decorate, and i would love to see your art"

This made you smile, taking her hand and pulling her towards a near table where your stuff was.

"Can my room be besides Spidy?"

Charlie just nodded already exploring your odd draws.

-------

"I need to talk with you" Vaggie said, not happy to have come to this but seeing it as necesary.

"Oh? and what will you need from me?" Alstor asked smirking at her.

"Jinx, if she does something to hurt Charlie or the hotel purpose..."

"What?" Alastor knew what Vaggie wanted, and knew who you were. True to be told, he did not like you being in the hotel, you could ruin everything, but he also liked a good show, and that needed good characters, and you were for sure one hell of one. So he could let you stay and watch you and your actions.

"...Stop them, however you need to do it" Was all Vaggie said. Now wanting to listen to Alastor moral speech she went back to her and Charlies room.

Now, Alastor would not let himself be ordered like that ny anyone, but he knew Vaggie wishes and his own reasons did aline this time. He will let it pass, and maybe use it for the future.

If Charlie knew Vaggie was going behind her back, telling Alastor to dispose of troublemaker sinners....well she would be heartbroken.

[jaaklops]

so. the s2 intro sure is something huh

i was rewatching it and i found a LOT of symbolism in just the shots alone and im not good at analyzing so be warned

spoilers for s2 act 1 ahead! now you’ve been warned for that too

so first we start off with vi and jinx. vi rubs off the tattoo on her cheek or smudges something on it; she’s losing herself/her real self is buried in the grief and anger she feels after losing jinx during the battle, and now losing caitlyn. vi remains sitting, lingering in her emotions, while jinx stands up, and i read this as her standing up to be the new symbol zaun needs like sevika told her. vi, with her head down, is left behind while it focuses on jinx

new shot to ekko. he’s still. not moving. he’s off in the distance, not really involved at the time. he is standing in the other side of where jinx was,, maybe this signifies how far apart they are now??

second picture, he’s more active, he’s up front. it doesn’t seem like hes a major part right now but when things start to pick up he’s going to be involved

i honestly don’t know about this one but if you have any clue than do assist

cut to viktor. he’s in a cloak, picking up and holding a plain white mask. he’s becoming this god like figure who can heal the suffering (those who don’t show their true faces..the mask?) and he believes this is his new destiny. there’s light from above

later in the intro he is about to put on the mask/looking more closely at it. by now the light is gone, and it’s only coming from the mask. maybe he puts all his motivation into taking the suffering away from these people and that’s all he can see..and then jayce steps in.

(jayce/viktor’s arcs are still gonna be close together even though viktor leaves)

cut to ambessa. her face is covered by darkness and its overall just a bit dim. she’s holding a black rose and black petals are behind her. she makes no move to pick them up, instead leaving the mess for someone else. she planned the attack at the memorial in secret, and she gives power to caitlyn when in reality she’s the one pulling the strings.

in this she’s relaxed, and it looks suspiciously similar to a painting i’ve seen before but i DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE omg

cut to caitlyn. she’s almost entirely shrouded in darkness, with the exception of a bit of light in front of her face. she looks down, away from it, and she looks almost annoyed by it—her spiral into madness(i think we can call it that?)

her back is facing what looks like a curtain, and then she looks up, as if facing an unseen crowd, much more pulled together than what she was just a second ago. signifies her pulling herself together to lead piltover.

assuming it’s a stage though, shouldn’t she be at the front?

it’s very…very. that the shot of ambessa and this shot of caitlyn were put right next to each other ykyk

gonna be so honest i have no idea what this one could mean…very vague

intimidating shot of ambessa holding a black rose—the rose is the focus, while ambessa’s face is blurred. perhaps symbolizes piltover and how they’re in ambessa’s hands, not whoever the piltovians think is leading them. of course they don’t really know that, and they probably won’t until later in the season

MELLL ok for a while i too wondered what some of that even meant but then i was like WAIT.

in the first picture mel is surrounded by hands we only see in shadows. this is maybe to communicate the pressure mel feels from her mother and how it’s closing in on her all at once/she’s struggling to come to terms with everything thats happened, and now she has to deal with ambessa scheming and she wants to dismantle it, since she knows first hand just how ambessa is and she doesn’t want piltover to face the same fate

in the second picture, she’s breaking free from the hands around her and standing up for herself/fighting back

in the third picture she finds herself where ambessa once was. there’s much more light here, and the black rose (maybe still symbolizing piltover?) lays beside her. the black petals ambessa left behind are going away with the wind..l ambessa is defeated

cut to jinx again. she’s becoming fully realized as the new symbol of zaun, one that neither vander nor silco could be. waving the flag even though it looks just a tad too big for her

pretty self explanatory. caitvi’s arc

unless?

in the first picture it almost looks like vi’s staring into a mirror but no, they’re standing right in don’t of each other. neither vi nor caitlyn can see each other eye to eye, with both of each other’s emotions flying

they come to embrace but they almost seem to be thrown apart by an invisible force or pulled away from each other. so close to understanding each other but so far at the same time

ok now this i LOVE this one. see on another post that the second picture is a reference to macbeth and i just MWAH.

also pretty self explanatory..caitlyn’s arc

first picture, she’s spiraling absolutely losing her shit. pretty close to what we saw in act 1 except we were never showed it to this degree. a mental picture. she’s trying to pull everything together so she can be the leader she’s been appointed to be but she just can’t

second picture is said macbeth reference. also symbolic to her being blinded by her tunnel vision of revenge. she’s grieving you guys :(

third picture, her eyes are open and she’s looking at us like she knows something she didn’t before. it’s a realization and it’s definitely gonna be something surprising

—

hoo boy that was a doozy

honestly guys i do not know how to analyze well so i will say now that this sucked☠️but its been bouncing around in my head for a little so maybe someone can see this and make something wayyyy better with it

and besides its early in the season so this is probably all wrong😭

[paraliveimaginesblog]

the accidentally overhearing a confession was super cute!! i was wondering if i could req the same prompt but w/ satsuki, iori, & shion? if not thats totally ok too!! ty!

Iori Suiseki:

You should’ve known going drinking with Zen would be a decision you regretted, and not because the man tended to get weepy while under the influence. The conversation always led back to Iori, and while you’re normally adept at being ‘normal’ about him, your true feelings always came to light when you were feeling vulnerable. Zen listened more than you thought he would as you tossed your heart onto the table, laying yourself bare for him to judge you; there wasn’t a single part of you that ever planned on making a move on him, convinced that Iori could never feel the same and even if he did, the man hardly let many get truly close to him. Your wistful sigh brings tears back to Zen’s eyes, who struggled with finding the right words to say.

Iori was amused at overhearing the conversation, having come to collect the two of you for the sake of your safety. When he heard himself become the main topic he couldn’t be blamed for taking a step back, especially when you seemed so forlorn the second the conversation circled to him. He’s a little surprised, not at the confession, but that Zen hasn’t opened his mouth to spill everything Iori had ever confided in him about you. The conversations were never wrong as he knew Zen’s style of ‘being direct with your feelings’ wasn’t for him, but seeing you doubt him like this — well, it made him want to give you the surprise of a lifetime.

Satsuki Ito:

You were cornered by an overly curious Reo, who didn’t support you dating his brother but wanted to know your reasonings all the same. It had come out in a game of truths that you’d been playing together, and while you had danced around a direct confession that would alert Satsuki to your feelings, Reo knew how to read between the lines. He stated that you’re lucky Satsuki is as stupid as he is or else you would’ve been outed on the spot; when you tell him to keep his voice down he just laughed at you, saying he’d think about it as long as you confessed exactly what it was that made you fall for Satsuki. When you finally divulged your feelings there’s a minor look of disgust on Reo’s face, but the kind you wear when a sickeningly sweet couple is acting like the perfect match right in front of you rather than one finding actual distaste for something.

Satsuki was used to Reo shouting his name, but he didn’t know what he did this time, sighing as he shuffled over to the room where his name came from. When he heard your voice as well he stopped, face flushed as he thinks back to what he had just heard. He couldn’t make sense of it, but Reo had cut him off before he could ask for clarity; Satsuki knew even if he got you alone he wouldn’t be brave enough to ask now.

Shion Kaida:

You had answered your friends phone call as you waited for Shion to pop up, knowing he was a man of opportunity and it was difficult for him to slip away in a speedy manner. You waited patiently as you’d been looking forward to this all weekend, trying to distract yourself from considering it a date. Your nosy friend had immediately picked up on your nervousness, and you could practically feel them staring at you as they urged you to continue on. There weren’t many details you were willing to give, not wanting to jinx your relationship by making it seem like you and Shion were anything more than friends. Your want for something more is easily deciphered as your friend began to chant ‘ask him out!’, and you wondered how she might feel if she knew all the details about who Shion was.

Shion is a little flattered to hear you speaking fondly of him when he’s not around, knowing your words were likely true since it seemed you were talking on the phone to a friend. He can tell the questions are getting you flustered as they push for more details, and while he feels a tiny bit guilty for continuing to eavesdrop, it’d be a lie to say he didn’t want to hear your answer. He’s surprised when your response to your friend has nothing to do with his attractiveness, or his exotic looks, instead making mention of how relaxed you feel when you’re around him. Shion wondered how your friend would respond if they knew you were acting lax around a prisoner, but it had him giving a sigh of relief, knowing that his relationship with you was one of a kind.

[xo-lesserafim]

FALLING FOR YOUR SMILE AND EYES

EPISODE 1. XO

a/n I am so excited to have the first chapter come out! Please enjoy! I am also going to update this later, but I’m too lazy atm.

bold: korean

italics: over the phone

both: korean and over the phone

Back to masterlist

“Kitty, I can’t believe we’re going to K.I.S.S.!” I exclaimed.

“I know, same! Plus We get to learn about our heritage from our Mom’s side and I get to see Dae!”

Ever since we went to South Korea for spring break, Kitty met her boyfriend Dae, and sometimes never shuts up about it.

To convince our parents we made a presentation on why we should go to K.I.S.S and… they said yes!

We packed up and went to the airport.

As we wait in the airport, We were waiting for our flight as this person bumped into me. “Excuse me!” I said.

But I noticed that he had a badge or some sort that said “K.I.S.S.” “Do you go to K.I.S.S? Me and my sister are going to K.I.S.S.” I said proudly.

“ No english” he said. “I can speak Korean,but I didn’t want to deal with him, plus I don’t even know if he can even speak Korean” I thought.

But it was time to get on our plane.

It was a lot of hours later, but we finally made it to Seoul! We were very lost, but Thank God I knew Korean or we would have been lost.

“Where are we even going?” Kitty asked.

“Kitty, The exit is here. Let’s go” I said. I

f We didn’t see the bus, we probably would never make it to K.I.S.S.

We ran and got into the bus and waited for it to go to K.I.S.S.

As we got to KISS we went to get our papers.

“Hello, Welcome to KISS. You name?” The lady said.

“Andrea Song Covey.” I said.

“ Will you be living in the dorms?” “Yes .” I replied As she gave me forms to fill out.

“ Thank you!” I said. I went to the side and waited for Kitty as the same thing happened to her.

Kitty and I were sitting around filling forms.

Since I had my mother’s photo album, I heard someone say Jina!

As I talked with her and it seems like she never knew mom.

“I went to go talk with her but, she acted like she never knew mom” I told kitty.

“Anyways we should get to our dorm.”

As Kitty opened that door, “Hello? Anyone in here?” I said.

We heard no one so we looked around.

We saw that one room was full so we went to the other room.

We put our stuff down but there wasn’t enough beds.

“Kitty, can we share a bed? There isn’t enough beds.”

“Andrea, we are sisters, and of course we can share.”

As soon as we got down, we layed on bed, but Kitty’s phone started ringing.

“Hey dad!” We said.

“ Hey kitten and pup. Everything going okay? You all settles in your guys room?”

“ Yea, but we have no idea where our roommates are, but their stuff is here.” I said.

“ I’m sure they’ll love you guys.” Dad said.

“ Also dad, I think I met someone from Mom’s photo album today! But she acted like she didn’t remember who Mom was.” I said.

“Well, it was a long time ago pup.” Dad replied.

“ Yea, I guess.” I said back.

“ I just can’t believe that we are going to be meeting other people who knew Mom.” Kitty said.

“ Well, think about it. You’ll be walking on the same paths to class that she did, studying in the same library. Who knows, you might even be in the very same dorm room she was in right now.” Dad said.

“ I just got chills.” Kitty and I said at the same time.

“Oh jinxed.” I said and giggled.

“Ah, thats probably cause you’ll see Dae soon Kitty.”

“Ha-ha. True. I do have butterflies right now. I’m gonna see him in approximately 184 minutes at the welcoming party.”

“ Well have a great time and remember-“ Dad said.

“We are not having another talk about contraceptives with you Dad.” I said.

“Dae and I haven’t even kissed. Yet” Kitty said. “ I was gonna say, remember, the. only way to get over jet lag is to stay awake as long as possible.” Dad said.

“ Yes staying awake. Got it” I said. “ I love you guys.”Dad said.

“ Love you too.” We said.

But as soon the call ended. We drifted to sleep.

“KITTY AWAKE UP!” I scream. Dae texted you.

“OMG DAE” she yelled.

“ Go get ready!” I said.

“I have my hair and outfit done already, just gotta do makeup now.”

I was wearing a spaghetti strap dress in light blue and pearls. 

With light blue highs and a blue bow in my hair.

“Come on Drea! Let’s go to the welcoming party!” Kitty said.

“ Woah, this is definitely not the Adler High Spring Dance.” I told Kitty.

As we were walking around, I bumped into this person.

“Oh, my gosh! I am so sorry.” I said.

“ Gosh. Watch where you’re going!” The man exclaimed.

“So you do speak English” I said. “ Well guess what?” I said. “I can also speak Korean.”

“ Busted.” The other man near him said.

“Welcome to Kiss.” The first man said.

“You mean kiss my ass?” I replied.

“ Woah don’t be a feisty puppy.” The guy said.

“Don’t feel bad. He loves to pull this move on people. He did it to me first time we meet.” The other man said.

As the other man bumped into the guy I bumped “Gosh damn it Q, this is bespoke.”

“Shut up about clothes. Look at out boy.” Q said.

“ Where did Dae get that suit?” The other guy said.

“Yo, Dae” Q yelled.

As Dae was walking in, I could see that Kitty was happy.

As soon as they had eye contact, they ran to each-other and hugged.

“ Are you so surprised to see me?” Kitty asks.

“ Are kidding me? You’re blowing my mind right now. What are you doing here?” Dae said happily.

“ Me and Andrea transferred to KISS.” Kitty said, “We got a scholarship snd everything. We get to spend the entire year together.” And they hugged again.

“ And know, we kiss.” She said.

“Uh, wait, Kitty I need to tell you something.” Dae said.

“ Kitty? Is this who you were talking about?” My name is Yuri.” She says.

I could tell something bad was about to happen.

“ You look amazing. This is Dae.” Yuri says.

“Oh, okay.” Kitty asked.

“Yeah, my boyfriend.” Yuri said.

“Excuse me” Kitty said running off.

“Kitty!” I said running off to find Kitty.

“ Sorry, this can’t be happening” Kitty said.

TEASER MASTERLIST NEXT EPISODE

TAGLIST: @chaewon-slays

(bold can’t tag)

Copyrights © 2023 xo-lesserafim. All rights reserved. I do not own XO, Kitty , Netflix does<3 do not copy, translate, or repost anything without my permission.

[ravenkinnie]

i think jinx still has the inner ambition inside to destroy piltover. its already implanted in her by both vi and silco, just in their own words (1. "one day, this city will respect us" 2. "we'll show them. we'll show them all). even when vi joins the enforcers, i think jinx will see vi as blinded by caitlyn and it'll futher fuel her piltover bloodthirst, out of hatred but also thinking that she will win vi back again if she makes her childhood vow to make piltover 'respect' zaun come true.

there is this one post that explains how in jinx's mind, there are forces more powerful than love and that is ambitions/ideals/dreams/etc. people can abandon their loved ones for a dream or an ideal and jinx internalized this first from her parents who could've been alive if only they chose to stay with their daughters but left them for war.

i think jinx believes vi will abandon cait no matter how much she loves her if only jinx achieves what she believes vi still desires since childhood.

and if anyone told jinx that vi may no longer has the same ambition anymore, she'll turn a blind ear and spit. because the shared dream she has with vi they vowed together on the rooftop is the one last link she shares with her sister that she's got left.

(also yes jinx at the end symbolically severs her ties with vi but lets be real she is still very much emotionally attached to her sister bcs jinx is doomed to always want what she cant have)

I do think her main drive will be to cause chaos and wreckage, whether as an emotional response or some delusional form of commemoration. I do think that this feels like an incomplete motivation though like the centre of her character HAS shifted, she's not searching for acceptance anymore and there's no one she would be seeking it out from, this aspect of her relationship with vi has already been severed and if they went back on it it would just feel redundant from a storytelling perspective. I don't think she will want to 'win vi back' or sth like that has already been the story, her desire for reconciliation and now that desire has been replaced by belief that its not possible

it's clear that it makes sense that jinxs drive will shift in the second season but what exactly it will shift to is very up in the air, like I personally don't like what you laid out here because I think that's an extremely weak drive for her character that would just keep repeating over and over themes that were already laid out and engaged with and now after a turnover of the finale it should instead push it in a new direction instead of going over the same things. christian linke said about s2 even that now that they laid out who these characters are they can start dismantling it and THATS so interesting to me, to think about how jinxs character can be dismantled

my ideal for jinx is to become a more calculated terrorist HDHDHDH she is an extremely emotionally reactive person, she internalised ideals from vi or vander or silco (probs not her parents, I think she was too young to know them like that, as people more than caregivers and what she knows of them is probably what has been passed on from vi. but in a way this id secondhand grief and their experiences of parental loss are completely different but thats a whole other thing) but it's clear these are completely secondary to her inner emotional reality - using her weapon against piltover wasn't even the main point of the dinner spectacle, her confusion about the emotional bonds in her life was. she clearly did not have a larger goal in mind for the outcome of it and she would have ran off with vi and said fuck all yall zaunites if she believed it meant vi would be forever tied to her unconditionally - but she didn't. I think moving from purely emotional landscape of her actions and motivations to one motivated by more overarching goals or beliefs too is a realistic goal and also goes beyond a mid redemption arc or going in circles over the same relationship dynamics - and it means jinx could become an actually potentially dangerous and powerful player in the power vacuum of zaun beyond just her penchant for violence - and it doesn't mean those ties she started to sever at the end of s1 are completely done because they will be running in circles in some way but if you want it to be narratively satisfying she can't be going over the same things the whole season so there will have to be progress there somewhere and I think it will end up somewhere halfway between estrangement and dependency. they will never be free from each other but they will have their own stories running parallel. I think how little jinx actually cares about the ideals she's been surrounded by will be a part of that dismantling, the reality of what a volatile substance in zauns ecosystem she is but also maybe how what she internalised more than beliefs is the notion of power

(alternatively, vi can say fuck it and let being attached to jinx forever ruin her and that's sexy too but I just don't think arcane is a story that would choose this but remember!! tragedy is always a great narrative)

[authoroftwwm]

AAAAAAAAAAAAA BRO I NEED IT

tl;dr is that Professor layton helped w trauma, listed is the journey through the games and future hype for PLWoS

So, I recently got into professor layton (a year ago, to be specific) and I must say, It has helped me SO FUCKIN MUCH WITH SO MUCH TRAUMA--

I have schizoeffective disorder. I have severe PTSD from years of mental and physical abuse from my parents. I have ADHD and may also be autistic, getting tested at 25 years is difficult.

When I started Professor Layton, I decided to play in release order--"I want to experience what long time fans experienced." I felt it would be more genuine. So, I downloaded an emulator (yeah i know, bad Vero) and started to play. I wrote down my reactions to each game after i beat them:

PLCB: THIS MAN GOT CHASED BY A FERRIS WHEEL!!!! THATS COOL AF! It was a really fun game, cool story with neat puzzles tHaT wErE hArD aF (i was kind of nonchalant about the games, just getting into them)

PLPB: ayo he got a box OH WAIT HE DED--i enjoyed the gameplay and watching the bad guy be the bad guy. interesting sequel, hopefully luke stays with the professor a long time lol (I jinxed it lol, also felt a bit more connected to Luke as a character and his admiration for Hershel)

(I took a long break after this one due to college lol but now i just play after my homework is done)

PLLF: I didnt write anything after this one. i just sat in silence for about a week, and I didnt eat for a few days. This was when my foster dad died, and i felt strangely as if i had healed a lot. After that week. I guess I just kinda took the time to process the loss of someone who i consider my true father. It was at this point I realized that playing the games had helped. I also didnt mentally process that luke left the professor lol until i watched someones playthrough of the last part of the game again

PLSC: BRO ITS LUKE AGAIN BUT HES YOUNGER AND HAS TRUST ISSUES WTF ITS MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE except luke didnt go through massive trauma (unless you count the ghost stuff and the witch stuff and the house stuff as trauma) yeah i like it very good

PLMM: RANDALL IS WAY TOO FUCKIN HOT FOR MY LIKING I JUST NNNNNGGGUHHUHUHUH also SIBLING BINDING WOOOOOOOOOOO

I am currently playing through Azran Legacy, and I must say it lives up to the hype. Havent reached the ending tho so im trying to not run into spoilers. also I know descole is sycamore im not dumb THEY LITERALLY LOOK ALIKE AND THE BUTLER IS THE SAME WTF if theyre not the same person im gonna spazzzzzzzz

All in all, I plan on figuring out how to a b s o r b all the content from the spin offs (in order to do this i also want to play all the phoenix wright games, wish me luck lol) and will eventually get the Katrielle game.

I have a lot to do in preparation for New World of Steam! I hope im able to do it in time, and also that its just as good as the previous games. I know Quizknock will do a good job, its just whether i will enjoy it or not.

Thank you for reading, sorry for the long post; i have no potatoes to offer but nevertheless have a good day~!

-Vero

[fallen-soul-starz]

i feel like i need to scream but i cant without changing how my mom sees me. she wouldnt actually care, she'd only tel you to stfu, you know that, you know that i guess i want that but idk, id make her feel like shit, she already has a lot going on. i hate being like i am, because these people i love and care about their voices are in my head repeating things theyd relistically say if i fucked up badly knowing how theyd react you know those voices are right, get a grip astrid im so enraged for no reason at all theres a reason theres a reason theres a reason, stop lying to yourself i want these people to care so much but why would they? bout tired of lying to themselves i guess. theyll talk to each other endlessly but when it comes to me, no, no no nononon ono no no non noo. im too messed up for that. im not worth it. they know getting close to me is a mistake. im a mistake. i want them to admit that those voices arent true but i doubt theyd even bat an eye towards it. if i get too close to someone, ill mess up, ill fuck smth up for them, theyll feel worse. im sick. and so fucking tired. i want to talk to lilac, just, something mentally is barricading me from talking to him and i hate it so much, because he means so much to me, hes the only one that seems to care. it hurts watching his messages go by and mentally it wont let me talk to him, like i enter into the text box and my brain becomes foggy and overwhelmed. theres something wrong with me. and with lavender, i want her to care too, even though theres no hope in it now, they treat me like im their past, oh well you deserve it and you know that, thats the deal with everyone. sunflower and black bat flower talk to me i guess, rather talk to each other though, i trust them so much and promise they care but im starting to think theyre lying, sunflower hasnt talked to me much anymore, guess i did smth to be less again. always tend to fuck it up. oh well. thats all you know how to do. stfu. they are liars. liars

my brain is looking for this person that'll care that isnt there, and even if they're there, my brain wont let me talk to them. i hate myself so much. i need to change. or die. thatll fix things. whats wrong with me? instead you sit here crying because youre delusional and your "friends" dont actually care enough about you, youre too much and youre going to jinx it soon enough, just kill yourself already, now wont you???

[simon-loof]

True. Thats one long holiday 😁//

Some delulu thoughts in my head rn which I'm hoping hive Simar minds will easily grasp but I'm not going to write it down so as to not jinx it 😄

Simar at Omar's concert appeared way too many times here and we all know what happened 😅 so maybe let's try a different method and all manifest internally 🙂‍↕️ that would really be nice. Let's not forget it's Omar's birthday soon too 👀

[pilotheather]

OK god ep 2 since WHY would you DROP 2 EPISODES AT MIDNIGHT FUCK YOURSELF OTO HELL that little shit looks like eric remember eric from ep 1 ok i

henners get it together

guys we get it youre being fantastical this time roiund theres whimsy and theres horrors and theres sa CHRIST ON THE CHROSS

HENRY ARBINGER. HARBINGER?

RIGHT YEAH SURE FULL FUCKIJNG CAMP LETS GO FINE SURE

these effects can somenehep me

OKAY THE PIANO INTRO SLAY OR WHATEVER

boys do you want anything

WHYS THE BEATLES UJSUT THERE

RTHETES BEATLES YAOI IN MY FUCKING TV SHOW

whats the faces for that shit slaps my dog ive got a dog

musics shit innit

why is john lennon kinda beefy. was he like that for real. gets scared

SORRY IM LIKE KIND OF SO LIKE SO DETACHED FROM THE CORNBALL SHIT FOR REAL SORRY CAN WE CUT THE MUSIC AND JUST TALK TO THEM NORMALLY AGAIN LIKE I FEEL LIKE THIS SUDDEN SHIFT WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IF IT JUST FELT MORE-

right ok but maestro is not... you know. it snot the master is it true

I WAS GOING TO SAY ARE THEY GOING TO EVEN MENTION THE YEAR IT IS

SUSAN MENTION IS INSANE?

MAYBE IT KILLED HER TOO? XD HEH HEH HEH

SORRY SUSAN

can i also say the Power Of Music is something im nevergoing to get as a person im just not musically inclined whatsoever i think i could hear nothing and not much would happen

THAT WAS THE GIGGLEEEEEE

WE'RE STICKING WITH THE GIGGGLEEEE SURE

TEEHEE

somewhere nearby ian and barbs are just vibing

wow. holy shit. the sonic screw driver doing some sonic shit. thats epic af

these pantomime fucking antics theyre behind you bitchhhhhhh

The Pantheon YEAHHH SUREE LETS GIVE EVERYTHING SOME DUMBASS NAME I LOVE IT WHEN HE DOES THAT YESSSSS THERES THE TOYMAKER THERES EVERYTHING WHO GIVE A FUCKKKKKKK

it ripped me in half i cant survive that again - HILARIOUS. SET THE PRECEDENT. SURE.

BEYONCE AND SAM FENDER IS FUCKING HILARIOUS SORRY BIG UP THE NORTH OR WHATEVER

> the world if the beatles did not have sex with each other

THE TOY MAKEER FUCKSSSSS??????

i dont know how i feel with the more abstract stuff i really dont i feel like it works once in a while but if the whole series is like this i dont know how i feel. i tjink it loses something. i cant say SHIT i know rtd loves that shit and its not at all the first time but look- JUST A SECOND OK- JUST.... A MOMENT PLEASE. i settled with rtd's like goofy teehee its the power of this but LOOK.

GRNATED I MEAN THERES ALWAYS SOME DORKY SHIT GOING ON I SHANT EVEN LIE

i do actually love jinx monsoons performance though

again with the pacing of this and it being so fast all the time and everything forcing itself to be a big bombastic moment im sat here thinking of the most impactful moments in doctor who like slow or BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE. I DONT KNOW. do you remember rose eating chips after nine sent her back. im just sort of imagining that scene with some insane score underpinning it and some big loud speech that everyone focusses on and listens to . it would not have fucking worked.

or like the slow, chill conversations between people. CAN WE JSUT HAVE THEM ABCK. PLEASE. JUST.

THE GMMMM. MUSIC BATTLE. SORRY I DI DLAUGH AT THEM LITERALLY JUST SAYING. MUSIC. BATTLE.

like again sorry im kind of tuning out at this point because again with it bbeing so abstract its sort of that vibe fo theres nothing im holding on to here like the toymaker worked in a sense its like youre kind of following that deterioration . i really do not rhink it works to sit in it constantly like this like can we

BEATLESS YAOIIIII CONQUERSSSS ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

hell yeah mystery box shit .

WAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING

IS THIS A FUCKING OPPORTUNE MOMENT TO SAY IM DEATHLY ALLKERGIC TO MUSICALS SHUT UP ITS TOO MUCH NOW PLEASE HLEP ME SORRY IM

[gaiaxygang]

i have many complaints about double savage's writing (its just not a well written show. you cannot debate this) but one of the main ones i (watched it for perth) have is just... the writing of win's character. 3am ramble incoming

i found win very interesting as i watched the show ☝️ hes the youngest in the family, the favoured son and the family's "only hope", according to the dad. according to win in his villain monologue this placed a lot of pressure on him and he is deeply unhappy and ends up pushing the blame onto korn despite loving him in the past

the problem being.... the series does not do a good job at showing this! instead they present win as a loving sibling who wants to follow his beloved older brother. he is the favoured son and his siblings are unwanted (one being a woman and the other being a jinx) but this doesn't stop him from loving them. up until, of course, the whole rung plot happens

i... do not like the emphasis on the romance aspect. for a series that seems to want to focus on family conflicts and generational trauma the romance plays too big of a role here. lets be real win isnt (Shouldnt Be) angry about rung choosing korn or anything like that, not when korn has told him that he wouldve done the same thing to him as he did to rung if he were in that truck instead. korn doesnt mean it but win takes it to heart and its. its really Something.

☝️ i do NOT feel like going into the 38743873 writing problems double savage has (i do not know how much input screenwriter new siwaj has here but i like to blame him whenever something goes wrong and he's on the creative team) so ill just talk about why i feel like his character was wasted

ultimately double savage is about two brothers who grew up in the same household but were treated differently and thus lead different lives. we see win become more like their father throughout the series despite starting out as a very normal and loving person. he does eventually reveal how much pressure he was under but this comes way too late (in many ways)

and i think this was a missed opportunity to explore this side of growing up in a dysfunctional household. how it impacts every member of the family in unique ways. and thats really why win is such a fascinating character to me!!!

his love for korn that turns sour over time. how he feels like korn has stolen everything, everyone from him (whether this is true is debatable. he sure believes it though). and how he was shaped by the way he was raised. its a shame double savage has some really, really weak writing 💥 an incredibly strong cast and good premise all for nothing

[jynxd]

There was something relieving to actually have a label to the blood that ran through his veins. Blood he inherited from his parents, though, he never remembered seeing scales or any kind of visible sign like he had. "Most Zaunites are that way, the family I had after I lost my parents, they were all mostly cats." Maybe that's why he had felt so out of place most of the time but right now with her, picking up something comforting in her scent...He didn't feel so out of place now. "You're the first one who is like me, or rather I'm like you, I suppose."

Ekko shifting in front of Neeko was an exercise of trust. While this wasn't the first time he'd used his shifting abilities in front of someone, this was the first time he allowed his scales to be seen in full. This was because it was something he was insecure about, always worried about what others would say or do. Not even Scar knew, yet. But she was family, true family, she understood. He understood that even more as she, too, shifted.

"Neeko, sounds sort of like my name." He leaned in so he could whisper his name, like it was top secret. "My name is Ekko, but don't say that too loud. Can't have people knowing." There were a few of Silco's men who knew his name, more importantly Jinx. If Jinx knew he was here he'd be screwed. It was bad enough she made him hunt every time she saw him... The way she made him do things he didn't want to do. So one whisper of his name and she'd know. As such he was depending on Neeko for secrecy. "You do shifting so much easier, does that mean thats part of what we can do?"

"Trust me, the people here are not friends. In fact they are very dangerous and you need to stay away from them, especially if one of them has a weird eye or long blue hair." Ekko ran a hand along her shoulder, feeling the texture of where scales would be. "This is not a good place, and they hurt people like us. Those people...they are heartless, I would know I've lost family to them. But you're safe with me."

Now, with the new I formation about what Ekko was, his smell was way more familiar as Neeko could pinpoint even which Oovi Kat family he probably descended from. She was still pierced against his back when he spoke. "You're Oovi Kat! Like Neeko! Well, not exactly like Neeko because you smell human too, but you have Oovi Kat smell too, here!" She points to his ears and shoulders. "Neeko is smart, Neeko recognizes family!" She nods and watches as he shifts right before her eyes, another smile spreading through her childlike features. "Neeko can do that too! Look!" Neekos scales slowly shifted into human skin, hair slowly turning into the same shade of white than his and her eyes turning into a more green-ish shade of the same yellow they once were, tail gone as she looked pretty much human now.

"What's your name? Neeko is Neeko!" She nods, hopping from his back to stand in front of him. "Oovi Kat only starts showing certain scales after they become adults! You become adult, so now you have scales..." Neeko explains. She knows everything that can be known about Oovi Kats, and she'd gladly teach Ekko. As he asks how she got there, Neeko shrugs. "Neeko travels a lot, to make friends!" She nods excitedly. "People here don't smell like friend though, but you do!" She nods with a smile.