#i watched arcane and it made me feel like i need to learn how to draw all over again ugh

[oxymoroff]

Mine

[a99jazzybean]

I Need This to Hurt

synop: It's been a year without your lovers Jayce and Viktor. But then Jayce comes back. You realize that the only way to deal with the pain of their loss is to allow yourself to feel it. You need it to hurt.

word count: 3.2K

includes: jaycexfem!reader, slight viktorxfem!reader, vastaya reader, foxgirl reader, explicit sexual content, BDSM, dirty talk, dacryphilia

a/n: I wrote this when I was in a bit of a rough patch. It was pretty cathartic though. So I hope that people can find some solace in this fic.

Where did it all go wrong? You stared out over Piltover on the balcony of your apartment. A home now felt hollow without the presence of its original inhabitants…the ones you loved. 

Your tail swished and ears twitched with nervousness. A long, never-ending anxiety blooming in your chest, one that started when the council was attacked. When Viktor “should have died”, when Jayce did what he thought was right. To save the one he loved. A catalyst that you were only a witness to the aftermath of. The familiar sting of tears brewed in your eyes, yet none fell. Tear ducts too dried out to keep crying. Still, you wiped away the non existent tears. 

Suddenly, you felt it. A crackling energy in the air. The all too familiar feeling of the arcane. When your lovers demonstrated their work to you, to test your innate magical abilities. It was small, like a slight shift, but you remember feeling it before. 

The day that Jayce vanished. It had almost been insignificant, the burst that shivered up your spine. But when he never returned, you knew it had something to do with it. 

When your brain calmed down you sprang into action. Quickly grabbing a cloak off a hook and sprinting out the door. You knew where he was, you could feel it. Allowing yourself to feel the pull of the arcane energy. It was bringing you to the Hexgates, of course. So much energy was concentrated there. How could you have not realized sooner?

You used your shape shifting ability sparingly, but it aided you now. Slipping yourself into a form of an enforcer you managed to pass by the guards at the gates. The problem was the Noxian soldiers that stood guard. Though, it appeared that didn’t matter as a giant boom reverberated past the door into the room that housed the Hexgate’s energy stores. The Noxian soldiers stiffened, holding their spears toward the door. For beings supposedly trained in the art of bravery and war, they appeared concerned. 

As you watched behind a pillar you understood their concern. No one should be able to get through that door. They weren’t able to, they didn’t have Jayce or Viktor’s keys. But you did, or at least had the magical output able to do so. As subtle as you could you worked your hands, tracing runes in the air silently mouthing the spell you had learned ages ago. Blue energy crackled through the air, pinging the spot on the door to disengage the locks. Before the soldiers could act, the door opened. A figure stood in the doorway. Beneath him, the bloodied body of Councilor Salo. A scowl on his face as he looked at the body below. You shifted out of your disguise and moved away from your hiding place. The movement catching his eye. 

He looked up at you. The unmistakable honeyed hazel eyes burned into your own. This time you could feel the tears arrive. Trailing down your cheeks as you silently sobbed. He was back, Jayce was back. 

Before he could register that what he was seeing wasn’t an illusion, the Noxian guards began to strike. They had attempted to speak to Jayce, but their words never made it to his ears. Not when you had captured his entire attention. Jayce sprang into action, harnessing the arcane energy of his hammer like you had never seen before. Easily knocking down all of the soldiers in a swoop. 

When they were down, he turned to look at you again. The hardened look in his eyes softening when they landed on yours. 

“You’re back.” It was quiet, heartbreakingly so. 

He nodded, stepping towards you. A mechanical clanking as the gears of his makeshift brace moved. You looked down at it, the clear limp appearing painful. But he didn’t stop, not until he was face to face with you. He leaned in when your hand cupped his cheek, closing his eyes as he breathed your scent in. Home. Something he had lost. Your thumb caressed his now bearded face. He turned to kiss your hand, the movement causing you to tremble. It was something he always did when you touched him. An act that you forgot how much you missed. 

“I’m sorry.” He croaked, his throat dry.

“I know.” 

With that he leaned in abruptly, kissing you fiercely. His chapped lips clashing with your soft ones. He groaned as you returned the kiss, swiping your tongue over his bottom lip. Then you bit down, perhaps a bit harder than you should. But it didn’t sway him. In fact, it made the kiss rougher. Returning the favor and nipping at your own. You tugged at his longer hair, eliciting another groan. Using your grip you pulled his head back. A thread of saliva tying you together. Both of you were panting. You glared up at him.

“But I can’t forgive you.” You turned away from his gaze. “Not yet, at least.”

It stung, but he understood. His absence had deeply pained you. Both physically and mentally. He reached out and stroked the mark on the side of your neck. A small permanent bruise, created by his canines. A mating ritual sealing you to him. On the other side of your neck, a similar mark created by your other lover. With both of them gone, your body ached. Their touch was a necessity after they had officially mated with you. But it wasn’t that pain that truly hurt you, no, it was the pain of the unknown. 

All you had to go off of were feelings. You couldn’t find Jayce, and the same was for Viktor at first. Until you heard about “The Herald.” Then the pieces clicked into place. You traveled to his commune in Zaun, attempting to find him. And you did, but he claimed he could no longer offer the love you seeked. Saying that while he had once enjoyed your company, he had no use for trivial emotions. It left you numb. He offered to end the pain, but you didn’t take him up on it. Instead, returning to your empty home to curl up in your empty bed and cry. Viktor might still be alive, but your Viktor was gone. 

“Where did you go, Jayce?” You still couldn’t look at him. He didn’t appreciate that, grabbing your face and forcing you to look up.

“Look at me when you speak, zorita.” The nickname sending fire through you. A satisfied smirk crawled onto his face when you returned his gaze. 

“I forgot how beautiful your eyes are.” Just like old times, the compliment somehow caused a blush to bloom on your cheeks. He chuckled at the familiar flustered look.

“Still my little fox, huh?” 

His hand left your chin, instead moving to the back of your head to push you into him. The hug, a warmth you didn’t think you would feel again. A broken sob escaped your lips. Breathing in deep, Jayce nuzzled his face into your neck. An action that he performed when looking for comfort. Comfort you would gladly give him. 

“Let’s go home, Jayce. Please.” You mumbled into his shoulder.

His body wracked with a sob of his own. Fingers twitching at your waist as he tightened his hold. ��J-just a moment more. I need to know you’re real.”

The walk home was surprisingly fast. You had given Jayce your cloak to hide his face, and managed to obscure his hammer enough to avoid the gaze of strangers. A sigh of relief escaped your lips once you were inside the apartment. Jayce immediately dropped the hammer, causing the floor to rumble. Then he dropped to his knees. Holding your thighs to his body, grounding him in this confusing reality. You were real, you were here. A mantra he kept repeating in his head, until he was saying it out loud. 

“I’m here, Jayce.” You crouched down to hold him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

His arms pulled you into another embrace. Wet tears stained your dress as he sobbed into your shoulder. “I didn’t know if I would ever see you again. I was so scared.” 

You lightly pulled away from him. Brushing away at the tears on his cheeks, you gave him a small smile. 

“I’m here.” He nodded, gazing at you as if you were a goddess. 

“You’re here.”

This time the kiss was softer. As if he wanted to savor it. His tongue now moving more delicately, slowly tangling it with your own. The taste of you making him groan. 

When you pulled away you touched your forehead to his. 

“I missed the taste of you.” He said. 

You gave a small chuckle. 

“I missed you.” He began to pepper your face with kisses. Imprinting the image of his lips on you into his mind. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

There was a deep silence after your response. An emptiness as a third voice did not speak up. It was your pattern, Jayce, the bleeding heart, then you, the unconditional lover, then Viktor, the one who loved quietly. 

Jayce traced his fingers over Viktor’s mark on your neck. 

“He spoke to me.” You perked up, ears twitching in anticipation. “In the Hexgate. He was using Salo’s body.”

One ear dropped lopsided in confusion.

“Why would he be using Salo’s body?” 

“I don’t know, but it has something to do with the Hexcore.”

The name of the device sent a shiver down your spine. It was what saved Viktor’s life, but at what cost?

Jayce didn’t know if he should tell you his mission. It already pained him deeply, but for you…that would tear you apart. But he knew what he had to do, so keeping you in the dark was for the best. He hoped you would understand. 

As you processed the last hour of your life, you realized something the adrenaline had hidden from you. Your nose crinkled.

“What’s up?” Jayce gave you a concerned look.

“You stink.” 

He gave a laugh that made you jump. It was almost hysterical, unlike his normal deep chuckles.

“You.” He laughed. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”

A small growl filled your throat.

“It’s not the only thing! But you know my nose is sensitive.” You stood up, pulling the man with you. “C’mon, we’re getting you a shower.” 

He let you drag him to the bathroom. You pulled off his clothes and waited for him to remove the brace.

“Can you stand without that?” You asked, a tinge of anxiety in your voice. The last thing you needed was a slip to injure him further. 

“Yes, for a short while.”

“Well, we’ll make it quick then.”

You turned on the shower to boiling and stripped down yourself. Jayce looked over your body. It was clear of any marks, something that deeply bothered him. Making him realize how long you had been alone. Your lovers never left you without a bruise or two, making sure EVERYONE knew who you belonged to. 

Once the water was at your preferred temperature you stepped into the shower. Jayce held your hands as you guided him in. He leaned up against the wall, allowing his weight to shift to the good leg. Grabbing some soap, you lathered it on a cloth. Softly, you began to bathe the man. He relished your touch. The loving traces of your fingers on the lingering suds left by the cloth. You did make sure to give him a good scrub, attempting to remove a year’s worth of dirt and grime. Once you felt he was fully washed down, you went for his hair. Having him sit on the shower floor so you could reach his head more easily. He groaned as you scrubbed in shampoo, ridding his scalp and beard of debris. As you washed his beard you commented on it…

“I thought I liked your clean shaven look, but I believe that the beard has definitely…done things…”

He chuckled.

“Done things?”

You gave a hum of acknowledgement as you continued to bathe him. After his locks were conditioned you shut the shower off. He sighed as you helped him dry off. Never again would he take the feeling of being clean for granted. 

“Thank you, zorita.” 

You smiled. 

“Anything for you , my love.” Your tail was wagging. It had finally dawned on you just how happy you were to see him again. 

At first you thought you were going to be angry. But that brief moment of rage subsided as soon as you locked eyes with the man. You could never be mad for long. And now he was finally home, where he belonged. 

“I love you.” You said it first this time. 

He cradled your face in his large hands. His fingers rubbing the back of your ears eliciting a purr from you. He kissed you.

“I love you too.” 

Again, the pause afterwards opened up that emptiness in your chest. 

“He’s different now.” You said. 

“You’ve seen him?”

“Yes. He’s lost his humanity.” Tears well up in your eyes. 

Jayce holds back the knowledge he has.

“We’ll figure something out.” 

You nod, leaning into his touch. You realized you needed him. It had been a year since either of your lovers had taken you, and now your body finally had one here. A small whine left your mouth. Jayce immediately knew.

“You need me, don’t you.”

You nodded, but there was more to it. Sighing you allowed yourself to be honest.

“But I need this to hurt.”

His eyes widened at the statement. Worry furrowed his brows. Before he could speak, you interrupted.

“Please.” 

That damned word. Plus the look of pure lust in your eyes. He caved. He would do whatever you asked. As much as you needed him, he needed you too.

Another kiss met your lips. Hot and full of teeth. His tongue forcefully maneuvering with yours, lapping away at your bottom lip. You moaned as he kissed down your neck. Canines scraping over his mark causing you to jolt. His hardened length pressed against your thigh as wetness pooled between your legs. 

Thick fingers found their way to your folds, sliding through and brought up to his lips. He groaned.

“You taste delicious, zorita.” 

With that he picked you up, despite the pain in his leg. 

He needed to taste you, to fuck you, he needed you.

Unceremoniously, he dropped you onto the bed. Crouching at the foot, he forced you towards him and your thighs apart. Strong, calloused hands keeping your trembling legs from moving together. Your pussy glistening with want. He licked his lips, looking you in the eyes before diving in. You let out a sharp gasp as his tongue slipped through your folds, breaths turning into moans as he began to eat you out with vigor. A starved man, desperate for your love. 

He began to add his thick fingers, pulling out a cry from you. He stretched you out with another. Your thighs were shaking with pleasure as he gave kitten licks to your clit. Your tail swished underneath you, ears twitching as you could feel your peak on the horizon. Jayce switched to sucking on your pearl, causing you to cry out again. His lips formed into a smirk at how sensitive you were. 

His ministrations grew faster as you came closer to the edge. His name, a prayer on your lips.

“Jayce, oh oh Jayce…” 

He groaned at the sound of your voice. Hand reaching to pump his cock as he continued to eat you out. His tongue flattening, then thinning precisely on your clit sent the final shock waves needed. With a scream you came harder than you ever had before. A stream of wetness coating Jayces face, which he gratefully lapped up. His tongue easing you out of your high with light strokes. 

When you were a shaking mess, he stopped and crawled above you. His eyes were filled with hunger. 

“Do you still want it to hurt?” 

“Please.” You cried.

With that he wrapped a hand around your throat and thrust himself inside you. Both of you groaning at the sensation. His thick length stretching you oh-so-well. Your walls so hot and wet, beckoning for him to fuck you with post-orgasm flutters. And so he obliged with deep, hard thrusts. You moaned as his hand grew tighter. His fingers sure to leave bruises in the morning. But you didn’t care, in fact, that’s what you needed. A reminder of the hurt. 

For so long that’s all you had been feeling. It was now a destructive need, to be ruined by your lovers. Even though Viktor may not feel for you now, you would allow him the same. At least you would be in control of the pain, at least this time you would want it. 

Jayce picked up the speed, pounding into you in a way that felt like heaven. Your eyes rolling back as you took what he gave you. Pleasure, bruising, utterly painful pleasure. Tears welled up in your eyes. When they fell down your cheeks, Jayce leaned over to lick them off. He realized then, how much he was enjoying this. 

You had always been a submissive one, but this was different. This time you were relinquishing all control, allowing him to use you as he pleased. It made his cock twitch. In the other world he was so powerless, but now you gave him all the power. So he obliged you, making it hurt. 

The slap was a surprise, but not an unwanted one. It caused your pussy to clench around him, making him do it again. Immediately, he leaned down to kiss your cheek,  soothing the sore spot. The mixture of sweetness and pain making you even more lightheaded. 

“Please.” You said softly.

He paused his thrusts, giving you a dark look.

“Please?”

“More.”

A sadistic grin was plastered on his face. He pulled out and flipped you onto your stomach, grabbing your tail to pull your ass up. You yelped at the action, then moaned as he pushed back into you. Keeping his grip on your tail, he began to slap your ass. Each hit causing you to clench around him. The warmth in your belly was growing once again, if he kept this up the crescendo would be nearing at any moment. 

“Is this what you wanted?” He growled. “To be treated like a whore?” 

“Yes! Yes!” You screamed.

“Does it hurt, love?” You whined in response, and he slapped your ass.“Answer me, does it hurt?”

“Yes!”

“And you love it, don’t you?”

“Yes! Yes! I love it, I love you!”

He groaned, he could feel himself close to finishing. 

He pulled your body up against him, forcing you up and down his cock. He was pushing against all the right places, hitting that one spot perfectly. You were practically drooling. Then his fingers began circling your clit. The knot in your stomach growing tighter. Jayce groaned as your walls tightened around him.

“Cum for me.”

And you did. Violently. Trembling in his arms. He continued fucking you through your orgasm before reaching his own climax. Warmth spilled into you as he bit into your neck on his mark. 

After a moment, Jayce lifted you off of him. Both of you moaning at the loss. His seed spilling out of you and onto the sheets of the bed. You nuzzled into his chest, nipping and kissing, coming down from your high. 

“I love you.” He said nuzzling into your hair. 

“I love you.” 

This time the emptiness didn’t hurt so much. 

[nipuni]

Hello time to yap about life and media again! 🥰

It's been a month and a half since we fully moved into this new old house and it's been a steep learning curve!! so far we had to learn how to care for a garden and grow fruit, how to deal with extremely humid weather, the mold!! also learning about various repairs, electricity and plumbing, we had a leak that turned one lamp into a waterfall, the rcd keeps tripping every time it rains, had to fix a door in the dark after Nicolas got himself trapped in a room when the handle broke during a power outage, the heating system is an air to water heat pump and it took us ages to figure out how to set it up correctly so we spent weeks wearing 3 layers inside the house, I even fell down the stairs!! I'm not used to having stairs inside the house lmao It's a big adjustment when you've always lived in small apartments in big cities all your adult life, but to be honest we love it!! everything feels like a new quest for us to tackle and it is so much fun figuring it all out as we go, reading technical manuals by candle light, the teamwork of installing and assembling furniture and networks, pruning the trees, celebrating every small mundane accomplishment and new skill learned every night over dinner, I may be corny as hell but it all feels like a privilege and an adventure 😭

Media wise we watched the second season of Arcane! This series never fails to make me fall in love with art again, not that I've ever fallen out but I can't say that the whole AI debacle hasn't been ass for the morale. Aesthetically it is a masterpiece. The character design, the cinematography, the mixed media montages aaaa Seeing the work, the skill and care that was put into every frame reminded me of how important and human the storytelling aspect of art really is. I wonder if we will see a shift to the more story driven or conceptual arts when we look back on this period, but I ramble, back to Arcane. I have mostly praise for it, wonderful characters and very touching relationships. I think our only issues were with the pacing being too slow at the start, every character climbing out of a very low point, and then too fast which made the second half feel a bit rushed. This season also felt a bit more tropey than the first one but still really solid. It remains one of the best animated series ever made and I am so happy to see it succeed in this current environment 😭 It feels like teenagehood condensed into a show, we really enjoyed it. I hope we get a season 3!!

Also there was an update in our David Tennant filmography quest! we watched The Politician's Husband and unsurprisingly we loved it!! It was gripping and the acting was brilliant. It is actually what I was expecting Rivals to be like, I realize 🤔 I think it could have used a 4th episode, felt like it ended too quickly and there was room for more, as if they ran out of time to tie things up so they picked the quickest route. But it was really good!! These miniseries are always so engaging and so short, I need mooreee.

We missed our DT nights!! Nicolas spent the last week hunting for more of David's work for us to watch. We've been hosting family for a few days again last week and on top of work and everything else we had to pause them for a bit. But now we are back to our nightly routine and he's over the moon!! Instant mood boost it's embarrassing lmao both of us falling this hard for this guy is too enabling, he even made his name our guest wifi password, we are besotted 😂

Oh! I also I saw a Veilguard Q&A was happening and read a few replies I saw posted here, and it proved to be a huge mistake! It was a disappointing and truly infuriating read. What even happened during the production of this game lmao How come the average fan seems to have a much better grasp on the lore, characters and plot than the people who made it 😭 There is this gaping disconnect between intent and execution. The way that fans are trying to make sense and give meaning to the complete mess that is the writing in an attempt to salvage and preserve the aspects they loved about it is saddening. I am mentally throwing tomatoes at John Epler as we speak. His answers felt so unserious and baffling at best and offensive and petty at worst. It's been eye opening, I could go on a two hour rant but the more I learn and dwell on it the more bitter I become about it all and I'm already seeing ten year old discourse resurface and people getting weird about it so I'll just ..🚶‍♀️ In my eyes this world and it's characters now belong only to those who love it and lives in my memory 🫡

Anyway, this ended up being at least twice as long as I was planning to make it again 😭 and I still have to catch up with asks aaaa it's been a busy month sorry I'll get to them soon!! Thank you for reading and for the support and for just being here!! I hope you all have a great week 🥺❤️

[slytherin-princess-x]

Catch me if I fall

Theodore nott x clumsy!reader

It’s just fluffy and cute today guys

The library was always a sanctuary for me, a place where the musty scent of old parchment and the quiet rustling of pages provided comfort in a world that sometimes felt overwhelming. I had long given in to the idea that I was not meant for the subtle elegance that came so naturally to the Slytherins around me. While they moved with an air of confidence and grace, I had earned my reputation for being a little… clumsy.

Today was no exception. The tall shelves towered above me, laden with books that promised knowledge and escape. I had spotted a particularly intriguing volume on advanced potions that was tucked high up on the shelf. My heart raced at the thought of finally uncovering secrets that could enhance my skills. With determination fueling my every move, I approached the ladder with purpose, a feeling of excitement bubbling within me.

Climbing the ladder was a feat in itself. My fingers brushed against the cool wood as I ascended, and I could hear the soft chatter of my fellow students around me, but I focused solely on the prize above. The book, leather-bound and glimmering with the promise of arcane knowledge, seemed to beckon me closer. I reached out, stretching my arm as far as it would go, my fingertips grazing the spine.

“Almost there…” I murmured to myself, summoning all the focus I could muster.

As I leaned forward, the ladder wobbled beneath me. Panic surged through me as I felt it slip just a bit. I had been so wrapped up in my quest for the book that I hadn’t even noticed Theodore Nott watching from a distance. His dark eyes were keen, constantly monitoring my every move with an intensity that sent a warm flush through me.

“Tesoro!” he called out, his voice laced with concern. (Darling)

But it was too late. The ladder had decided that it was done supporting me, and before I could react, I lost my balance. My heart dropped as I felt the world tilt. Just as I was about to meet the hard ground, strong arms caught me.

I landed with a soft thud against Theodore’s chest, and for a moment, the world around us faded into a blur. The warmth of his body enveloped me, and I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat through his robes. My breath caught in my throat, and I looked up into his eyes, which were now a mix of amusement and genuine concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Yeah, just peachy,” I replied, trying to play it cool despite the flush creeping up my cheeks. “You know, just a typical day in the life of a Slytherin klutz falling from a bookshelf ladder.”

He chuckled, the sound rich and comforting. “You really need to be more careful. I can’t keep catching you like this.” His tone was teasing referring to catching me once earlier this week, but there was an underlying seriousness to it that made my heart flutter.

I pushed myself away from him, suddenly acutely aware of how close we had been. The library had fallen silent, and I could feel the eyes of our peers on us, a mix of curiosity and intrigue. My cheeks burned hotter than the flames in the common room fireplace.

“I was just trying to get that book,” I explained, nodding toward the shelf above, suddenly very aware of my embarrassment. “I wanted to learn more about advanced potions for the next class.”

Theodore’s expression softened, and he stepped aside, allowing me to regain my footing. “How about I help you next time? You know I wouldn’t let you fall again,” he said, his voice low and reassuring.

My heart skipped a beat. It was moments like these that made me realize just how much I cherished our friendship. Relationship? Situationship? Theodore had a way of looking out for me, of always being there when I stumbled—literally and metaphorically. We had grown close extremely over the years, and he often defended me from the judgmental stares of other Slytherins when my klutziness made me the target of ridicule.

“Thanks, Theo,” I said, offering him a shy smile. “I’d appreciate that.”

He nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile. “Just promise me you won’t make a habit of this,” he teased lightly, but there was a serious undertone in his voice that made me feel protected, cherished.

“Promise,” I replied, trying to sound sincere while secretly plotting my next escapade with a little more caution.

With a newfound resolve, I looked back at the high shelf, and Theodore seemed to sense my determination. “Let me get it for you,” he offered, stepping forward and easily reaching for the book I had so desperately sought.

As he handed it to me, I felt a rush of gratitude mixed with a twinge of embarrassment at my earlier mishap. “Thanks, Theo. You really are my hero,” I said, unable to hide the warmth in my voice.

“Just looking out for my favorite Slytherin,” he replied, winking.

And as I opened the book, ready to delve into its mysteries, I couldn’t help but feel that maybe my clumsiness wasn’t such a curse after all—if it meant I had someone like Theodore watching over me.

Taglist: @yootvi @redeemingvillains @littlemadamred @smut-anarchy

[earthnashes]

SOOOOOOOO. Arcane season 2, huh? Now that a couple of days have passed for me to marinate I think I'm ready to share my thoughts on the season. This WILL contain spoilers though so if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching for yourself first!

So! Overall, as a standalone season I feel like there are things Arcane excelled at and things that have lost its way a bit. For starters and easily the best part of the show: it's visuals. I've heard some complaints about how much the show cost but like. Brother. When I think of super expensive shows, THIS is what I think it should look like. At no point did I question the budget because it's made abundantly clear every penny is used to best use it could possibly get. And it resulted in what I've been calling a modern greek statue: a marvel, an incredible tapestry of just about every art medium you can think of woven into something so beyond anything I've seen in animation I have a hard time finding the appropriate words to express exactly how much I'm taken by it. This is a clear example of what art IS man and jesus christ. It's mindblowing. I can't praise the show enough for that, like it's literally the best looking thing I've ever seen in media.

Same with the sound design and music, particularly in the battle scenes. Something about the energy behind the sounds, like the clacking of Vi's gloves as shes revving up for a punch, or the reverb of metal clashing, the sound of how blows connect. Even the little things, like the distinct difference between footsteps, or the glitch-like sound that spiders in the backround before shimmer or the arcane is utilized? Like CHEF'S KISS BRO. God almighty it tickles a part in my head.

Just the visuals and sound design is fuckin tasty bro. A solid 1000000000/10

So now Characters. Season 2 managed to take the existing characters and really built off of what was already there. In my opinion the characters, particularly the main players, received additional depth and evolution in a way that made sense in the long run, and the conclusions they reached in their arcs felt like a correct conclusion. However, it's how they got there and how fast they get there being one of my complaints.

For starters: the love triangle between Jinx, Vi, and Caitlyn. I didn't appreciate how, for the most part, it felt like it took a backseat in this season when it was one of the driving forces of season 1. It's not JUST them though: the relationships of every character kinda fell away to the wayside for the sake of getting through as much of the plot as possible, but we're on these three right now so:

-I feel like a PROPER recouncil between Vi and Jinx was sorely needed. There were hints to it, particularly in Act 2, but we were kinda left guessing and having to fill the majority of the gaps ourselves. One of Vi's driving factors as a character is her relationship with Jinx/Powder; her unable to accept that she's changed in her absence. Act 2 opened the door in allowing Vi to learn about Jinx as she is and come to terms that, even if she's changed, she's still her sister and there's a chance to bridge that gap. Vice versa to Jinx, particularly because of Isha's presence; I have to assume by becoming an older sister herself, she begins to get an understanding of Vi she previously lacked and that really could've been a stronger catalyst in her recounciling with her. Had the sisters actually got more on-screen time together and really let the hope between them breath, I feel like the ending would've had a much stronger impact.

-Cait/Vi, as much as I enjoy the pairing, felt a little too disjointed. Act 1 was the strongest showcase of their relationship; a sudden escalation driven by mutual grief and attraction and genuine care only to be torn apart immediately after because of Cait's blind rage. Cinema. Beautiful. But immediately after, we don't really see either character work off that much in my opinion. Vi does have a spiral that was very well shown, though I do wish we saw more of Pit Vi and her descent.

As far as Cait goes I would've preferred seeing her spiraling in her own way; with how the third episode of Act 1 ended, I felt like the show was gearing up to showcase how much she allows her hunt for vengeance cloud her mind and take over her life, to do things her mother would have not approved of. Like bro she was so SURE she wouldn't miss (immediately after missing every shot she took up to that point) that she was willing to potentially kill a child for it. Ain't no way she wasn't constantly frothing at the mouth for some time, wallowing in Vi's apparent "betrayal" and in the grief of her mother's death. I DO like how she is seen questioning her actions but it just feels like a tiny snapshot. Had they continued with showing her questioning what, exactly, the hell she's doing (while continuing to go on with her reign), then seeing not just Vi but also how her actions has widened the rift between Piltover and Zaun, her finally being able to break herself off would've felt more weighty.

"What are you shooting for, young Kiramman?" Grayson once asked. I can't help but feel like that line could have had some very strong carry-through into this season; not only giving a proper callback to Grayson as Cait's mentor(?) but also cement Cait's inner turmoil between blinded by revenge, but growing to dislike what she's turned into to get it.

And the sex scene. Particularly WHERE the sex scene occurred, immediately after Jinx heavily implied offing herself to "break the cycle". Vi isn't stupid. I felt like it was extremely clear what Jinx was alluding to, and it seemed like Vi understood that with how she asked "What are you gonna do?" She sounded terrified and desperate. She has SEEN Jinx be suicidal in this season first hand, was all but directly asked by Jinx to put her out of her misery herself. You're telling me she immediately bones the shit outta Cait right after Jinx scampers off and seems to forget it?? I dunno man. :/ I wouldn't remove the fuckfest, but in my opinion there were better places to put it.

And overall in terms of the characters as a whole, there was just too many gaps and too little time. Vander felt like he was underutilized, particularly his clear fight in trying to get a hold of his humanity; could've really used him to push the running theme of people can change, but they're still the same person at their very core.

Heimerdinger got shafted I feel like. He had such a strong impact in S1, only for his death to be... well. Forgotten.

Mel's storyline was way too fucking short. Love the powers she got but they ultimately felt unearned; I feel like we could've spent way more time on her learning to control it to some extent. Her whole shtick in being cunning and one step ahead of everyone (much like her mother) could've played a stronger part here too, particularly because I don't remember the Black Rose being explained much, so it would've been nice to see Mel put her strengths into play to find out for herself and give her a more active role in her ability to fight back.

Ambessa was anticlimactic and I didn't appreciate how she ultimately perished. I wanted her to die, don't get me wrong, but the war in general felt waaaaay too short and her death too easy. I appreciate they didn't go full evil with her, and made her an embodiment of Singe's quote of "doing horrendous things in the name of love", but it kinda felt like her initial plot of using hextech to fight the Black Rose (I could be wrong here but that is what it felt like she ultimately wanted) kinda got... forgotten?

Victor's progression is the only one that felt mostly natural in it's pacing. But again, with how unstoppable his robot pawns were, I felt like they really robbed the final battle of any significant weight to it; Zaun and Piltover, fighting as one against a common enemy. One of the biggest payoffs in the show... felt underwheming and, again, unearned.

And the new characters didn't really get much chance to do much of anything. Loris felt like an important parallel to Vander given how many times he was shown to look and sorta act like him. I felt like he had a bigger role to fill but just ended up bodied. Maddie, at least, had somethin interesting goin on but I feel like she could've been made more impactful in her betrayal.

Overall, a mid 5/10. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely needed more time to really flesh everything out.

And finally, the plot. I personally really enjoyed the overall plot and it's opposing themes to season 1. Whereas s1 felt like "love is undoing" and veered into tragedy, s2 felt like "love is healing" and veered into hope; the sisters learning to accept one another, Vi and Cait mending the rift between each other, Victor and Jayce finding their way back to one another. Isha giving Jinx purpose and a new perspective on life, Vander returning and, even if briefly, managing to regain his humanity for his daughters, the list goes on. It's such a beautiful contrast to season 1, but that is part of why I strongly feel like Arcane NEEDED one more season.

Season 2 was too focused on getting as much story out as possible that it didn't allow the characters themselves to push it forward, and it was weakened for it. Had there been three seasons, Act 1 and Act 2 could have been the entirety of season 2, and Act 3 could have been the whole of a season 3, where we get to see the total climax of everything that occurred. Given the rumors of there being a strong interest for an animated movie (and I have a theory that it might be to continue the story of Arcane in some way), that might help with some of the contingencies if it's true, but that's only if the movie actually comes to fruition.

As it currently stands, my biggest critique of Season 2 was switching focus on making the plot drive the story, when instead it really should've continued the trend from Season 1 in letting the characters drives the story forward.

_______

My meds is beginning to kick in and I'm getting drowsy from it so I'll leave it here for now! TLDR: Arcane Season 2 was mostly good. I have my fair bit of complaints and thoughts on how I'd personally structure everything, but a a whole, pretty good! It's one of those shows where I would personally recommend everyone watch from start to finish to at least experience it in its entirety yourself.

Season 2 Rating: 7.5/10

[strawberry-bubblef]

May I request platonic headcanons for Lilia with a Zaunite/Child? Reader (13-14 years old) who’s incredibly talented in terms of physical abilities, sort of like Vi, except they aren’t much of a brawler; their fighting style is more akin to agility and flexibility due to the amount of parkour they used to do around Zaun, plus escaping the enforcers.

(I can’t get over your TWST x Arcane crossover! I absolutely ADORE how you went about each dorm; it’s so hard to find good TWST crossovers, and yours was just chefs kiss!!❤️❤️)

Lilia and Silver with a Zaunite child

I'm so glad you enjoyed the TWST x Arcane crossover! Your kind words really mean a lot to me, and I’m happy you want more! I decided to add Silver..because why not !

Lilia Vanrouge

Lilia couldn’t help but feel a fatherly affection for you, despite your rebellious spirit and sharp agility. He saw so much of himself in you,a resourceful soul who had learned to survive in a harsh world. You reminded him of his own youthful energy, always finding a way to escape, to dodge, to outwit anyone who might come after you.

He adored watching you practice your parkour skills. The way you moved through the air with such ease, jumping between rooftops and nimbly dodging invisible attacks, was almost like watching a dancer in motion. There was no hesitation in your movements, just fluid precision that spoke volumes about the kind of life you’d lived in Zaun.

But what amazed him even more was the strength behind those movements. You weren’t just fast and nimble,you were powerful. Every landing shook with impact, every vault had an explosive quality to it, every kick or swing of your arms was backed with the kind of raw strength that made people pause. You had this brutal grace to your movements,trained not just for escape, but survival. The kind of strength that came from years of running, climbing, fighting against the odds. Your body moved like a weapon, all coiled power and control.

Lilia found himself genuinely impressed. While he was no stranger to agility and stealth, he never quite mastered the art of fluid movement as you had. He’d often watch you, leaning against a nearby wall or perched high up, as you perfected your flips and jumps. If you were ever to fall, he knew you’d land gracefully, and that filled him with an odd sense of pride.

His heart swelled with an odd mix of protectiveness and admiration as he saw how you handled yourself. Despite your youth, you had the instincts of someone much older. You’d survived the harsh streets of Zaun, and now, you were learning to survive in the unfamiliar environment of Night Raven College. He knew that wasn’t easy, but he admired your resilience.

Sometimes, when you were caught up in a rough patch, whether it was dealing with the pressure of fitting in or simply navigating the complexities of this new environment, Lilia would find a quiet moment to sit with you. With the world moving too fast around you both, he would offer some gentle advice, his deep, calm voice full of warmth and humor. “You know, little one, there’s no need to do everything on your own,” he’d say, offering a wink. “Even I didn’t become this sneaky all by myself.”

Though his words were playful, there was a sincerity behind them. He could see the toll your past had taken on you, but he was always there to remind you that you weren’t alone anymore. He’d never push you to open up, but there was an understanding between the two of you that allowed for moments of silence to be just as comforting as words.

Lilia also enjoyed teasing you a little. After all, you had a quick mind and an even quicker set of legs, so it was only fair he kept you on your toes. Whether it was setting up an obstacle course for you to navigate or simply sneaking up behind you just to see if you could react fast enough, he delighted in seeing you rise to the challenge. His laughter always followed, warm and genuine, as you managed to outmaneuver him every time.

In those rare moments when you’d struggle or falter, Lilia would never express pity. He’d simply offer a hand or a quiet, reassuring word, letting you know that it was okay to stumble once in a while. “Even the quickest of feet have to rest,” he’d say, a knowing smile curling his lips. “Take it easy, you’ve done more than enough today.”

And though he never explicitly said it, Lilia believed in your potential with every fiber of his being. You were strong, far stronger than you knew, and he would support you every step of the way, just as he had for so many others before you.

At the end of the day, Lilia wasn’t just some old fae with a few tricks up his sleeve. He was someone who had lived through centuries of turmoil, someone who understood what it meant to grow up too fast, to carry burdens others couldn’t see. And in that, he recognized something in you,a resilience, a fire that wouldn’t be extinguished, no matter how much the world tried to wear you down.

He didn’t just see a talented, agile kid with a knack for escaping trouble. He saw a fighter,one with raw strength, honed instincts, and a style all your own. Someone who could rise above anything life threw their way. And maybe, just maybe, you’d come to realize that you were never alone, that there would always be someone who believed in you, just as Lilia believed in you.

Silver

Silver always believed in the power of hard work. Raised with the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, he had learned from a young age that strength came not from raw power alone, but from perseverance, patience, and quiet determination. So, when he first saw you move,your body practically flying through the air, nimble and quick,he couldn’t help but feel a deep respect.

There was something about the way you moved that captivated him. It wasn’t just speed or agility. It was precision. Every leap, every jump, every twist of your body was calculated, yet effortless. You seemed to defy gravity itself as you scaled the buildings and dodged obstacles with a grace that seemed too natural to be learned.

It reminded him of his own training,hours spent honing his sword skills and his reflexes but there was something different about you. Something raw and untamed. Your abilities had been honed in the rough streets of Zaun, constantly escaping danger, surviving against the odds, and he couldn’t help but admire that resilience in you.

Despite his reserved nature, Silver often found himself watching you from a distance. He didn’t want to interrupt or distract you, but there was something mesmerizing about your movements, something that drew him in every time. He saw a reflection of his own desire to keep going, no matter how exhausting it became, to always push past his limits.

And, as quiet as he was, he found it hard not to voice his appreciation for your skills. One evening, as you practiced a particularly difficult maneuver, Silver couldn’t help but speak up.

“You’re really something, you know,” he said softly, standing just out of your line of sight. “I’ve never seen someone move like that. You’ve got a gift.”

You paused for a moment, a little surprised by the compliment, and glanced over at him. Silver wasn’t the type to offer praise unless he truly meant it. You could tell there was no pretense in his words.

“Thanks,” you said, wiping the sweat from your forehead with a small grin. “I’ve had to learn to be quick on my feet back home.”

Silver nodded, his usual calm demeanor never wavering. “I can tell. It’s not just speed; it’s like you’re always one step ahead. Like you’ve already thought of everything before it happens.”

His words weren’t overly emotional, but there was a depth to them that you recognized immediately. Silver, despite his quiet nature, was someone who understood effort and determination. He didn’t need to say much to let you know that he saw your hard work. And that meant something, especially coming from someone like him.

There were times when you stumbled, when your body didn’t quite land the way you wanted, and Silver would quietly approach to offer his help. He wasn’t flashy about it, never offering grand speeches or pushing you too hard. Instead, he’d just offer a quiet suggestion or a supportive hand when needed.

“You’ve got the right form,” he’d say gently, “Just need to adjust your timing. It’ll come with practice.”

It wasn’t just his words that comforted you; it was his presence. Silver was steady, a calm force that balanced your more energetic and restless nature. You found it easy to trust him, not because he asked for it, but because you could sense the genuine care he had for those around him.

At times, when you were too tired to continue or frustrated with yourself, Silver would sit with you in silence. He didn’t expect you to talk about everything, but sometimes, just sitting next to him was enough. He understood that sometimes words weren’t necessary when you had already given so much.

When you needed a break from your practice, Silver was the one who would suggest a quiet walk. His voice was soothing, and the simple act of walking beside him made you feel like you could catch your breath, like the weight of the world didn’t have to press down so hard.

“You push yourself too much,” Silver would say, his voice low and understanding. “It’s okay to rest sometimes. Your body needs it.”

And though you knew he was right, it was hard to stop. But with Silver beside you, you found yourself slowing down, trusting that you didn’t always have to keep up the constant pace. He didn’t judge you when you needed a moment to breathe.

Though Silver wasn’t one for grand gestures, there was a quiet warmth in the way he supported you. His belief in you was unwavering, even if he didn’t say much. He knew that strength wasn’t just about being physically powerful; it was about resilience, about picking yourself up after every fall.

And in you, Silver saw that strength,a quiet, unspoken strength that mirrored his own.

English is not my first language !

[monophobix]

INITIAL THOUGHTS ON ARCANE SEASON 2 ACT 1 (EPISODES 1-3)

(i’m not good at putting my thoughts into words so feel free to give your own opinions, i rlly wanna hear them)

SPOILERS AHEAD///

ok so my biggest critique is the pacing. everything is very quick very fast and a lot is going on. i understand that this is immediately after a large event which of course caused a reaction however it was just very intense and a lot to keep up with especially considering the amount of new and confusing things introduced throughout the three episodes with minimal slow down. it was alittle difficult to keep up. the timeline of the show is confusing and i have no idea how long it has been between scenes. viktor was barely in that weird healing chamber for a few scenes before he was emerging as someone new. caitlyn and vi were going from loving to fighting to understanding to fighting again very quickly with little time to develop independently, their kiss and divorce weren’t even 30 minutes apart from each other. also, who the fuck is this kid hanging around with jinx?? why is she following her, why doesn’t she talk, what’s her name, how long has she been with her?? this lack of time to let things develop has caused these episodes to feel rushed.

with this introduction of many new things some have left me with a lot of questions. my biggest issue revolves around the arcane. i literally do not recall it being mentioned or being an important topic in s1 but all of a sudden jayce knows a fuck ton about it as well as heimerdinger? when did he learn this? i assume it’s from viktors notes and research but that still fails to cover the amount of knowledge jayce now possesses.

HOWEVER THE ARCANE IS VERY COOL AND IM VERY VERY INVESTED. i absolutely love the changes to viktor, his weird apathy and changes are definitely rushed but so interesting to see, his design and behaviour are so very compelling and im very excited to see the development. additionally, this group dynamic between jayce, ekko and heimerdinger is soooooo fun. it offers a break from the intensity with some silliness i think is desperately needed, plus it’s super satisfying to see the trio bounce off each other. that final scene of them in ep3 was visually incredible and i loved seeing the effects upon the hextech weapons during the jinx, sevika vs vi, caitlyn fight. the scene of viktor amongst the shimmer infected was very interesting and it was so cool to truly see the severe effects of shimmer and the inhumanity of viktor is making a clear route towards his glorious evolution which is am keen to watch.

that ambessa reveal at the end was INCREDIBLE. i genuinely didn’t see it coming and it made my jaw DROP. the quiet, smart suspicion from mel is always incredible to see, her political mind and morals conflicting is so very engaging and she’s really developing into herself in these episodes which was a joy to witness. the mystery of her brother is compelling and links well through s1 and s2 to make the storyline fun to follow. i also simply must compliment the designs revolving around the noxians and animal-esque (sorry idk what they’re called) people. the absolute variety and inspiration from real life cultures is beautiful to see. i am incredibly confused about the magic and that one lady (amara?) but i assume that’ll be answered in later episodes.

jinx is not looking good lmao. i love her design being so corpse-like and deathly, it really fits well and really embraces the differences between powder and jinx. but i do wish we saw more of her. i see her actions but i lack understanding for some of them, primarily revolving around the child (isha?) and why the kids even there but the newfound bond between sevika and jinx is refreshing to see. the scene of them in silcos old office brought a smile to my face and the design of that fucking arm is soooo cool i love the clownish purely jinx vibe to it.

caitlyn is probably the stand out character so far (plus maybe viktor). her absolute grief and seeing her facade break down throughout the episodes was heartbreaking, the tentative yet conflicting moments of softness with vi were beautiful yet had that perfect undercurrent of tragedy that arcane masters so well. her rage and break up with vi was easy to see coming yet so incredibly jarring to watch, that harsh and merciless behaviour is so different from s1, the development is well done and a morbid pleasure to see. and that final episode. oh my. the shock to acceptance of darkness was fantastic, ambessa truly is a master at manipulating weakness in even the strongest of people and seeing this duo is going to be so soul crushing that i’m itching for more.

vi felt very rushed to me and alittle dry? idk why tho i can’t really explain it. i understand her choices but it felt like something was missing until that final scene with cait. that was an absolute masterpiece. seeing her realising that the horrors of war is corrupting everyone around her and pleading for it to please not happen is so so SO fucking sad and my heart was breaking. i loved seeing her moral strength and solidity to her values which has always been a key part of her character so i appreciate the consistency. idk why something about her was just… different.

the opening scene was incredible. the absolute horror of it was so clear and i was literally shaking the entire time. 10/10 opening.

overall, i hope things slow down alittle but i greatly enjoyed season 2 and im very excited to see the characters develop and to see even more of this beautiful world.

[wyvernspirit]

So after watching all of Jentry Chau Vs The Underworld in the past 2 days I've quite a bit to say

This show needed to be two seasons long, I feel half my critiques would probably not exist if it got the runtime it deserved

Kit had the most interesting character arc and was done the most dirty of everyone by the lack of runtime later in the season and also the characters around him??? Can everyone stop treating Kit like shit for two seconds please??

I at multiple points went "God this feels like arcane levels of Greek tragedy" so it has that going for it

If it has ended as a season 1 on episode 9 (I think? The episode where she's out on the field and Cheng revived his daughter then the portals are opened) it could have been a really solid set up for a season 2, but unfortunately the next final episodes feel incredibly jam-packed and rushed with no room to breathe

The music and fight scenes were arguably the best part of the show, there was some really interesting "camera" work too

I didn't like how Michael basically played with 3 girls feelings for the whole show, particularly sorry to girl from the last episode who doesn't even get a name as far as I can tell

(also the way he went "and Kit did you love him too??" as some kind of snap back to Jentry like HE DIDNT LITERALLY JUST DIE MICHAEL CAN YOU STFU FOR TWO SECONDS NOT THE TIME)

Michael kinda just sucked? Like I wanted to like him but he's very meh to me and I'm sorry but the reveal of him actually being really bad at the flute just, threw me off completely especially because instruments are expensive!! He didn't buy it on a whim, the whole thing is he's supposed to have this deep passion for music but like it's not really reflected at all?? There's not even any conversations between him and Jentry about music outside band tryouts

And him having powers I guess could have been set up for a season 2 but we end this season really conclusively? All the plot threads and character arcs wrapped up. Like if anything I could see a spin off with him maybe but- like I don't want one, I just could see that happening

Actually to go back a paragraph for a second, that's something the show does a few times where it drops these very sudden interests of the characters and pretends they had them all along?? Like Jentry and baton twirling, like come on wouldn't it have made more sense if she got sought out by the school dance team or something?? Or just have her main spirit fighting weapon be a baton!! Show her having genuine interest in that aspect of spirit fighting and then have it reflect later in school? Like why did these girls see a video of Jentry dancing and go "Hey she could probably baton twirl!" that makes no sense!

The animation was really great! More than that even, I love the art style and art direction this show has, it really gave me some major inspiration! I want to draw some fanart really badly!!

Okay this a major IN MY OPINION, low-key I think the show might have been more interesting if it was just set in Seoul for the whole time, I preferred Jentrys friends there, I much preferred the environments and the colours the art direction had in the setting of Seoul

I didn't really care for Texas in the show and It made the feelings of her later questioning if she should return or not be hollow to me the viewer, because I was like OF COURSE SHE SHOULD

Stella is a character I have complicated feelings on! I really did not care for the minuet of Michael's introduction at school her getting weighed down as just "the girlfriend" character and how Jentry wasn't allowed form a meaningful connection to her until after Michael and her broke up, hell Stella basically gets forgotten by the plot until the last 4ish episodes, and IN THOSE she's a REALLY fun and strong character! I love how she started learning seals and was such a a big part of them winning that final fight at the school, which frankly I don't think she gets enough credit for

And while I find her blushing at Jentrys other friend cute it just makes me sigh because now I realize the show totally could have just done a "Fuck the boys" Jentry x Stella ship and I would have been totally down

Actually low-key I think my ideal is Kit and their Girlfriend Jentry and Jentrys Girlfriend Stella ((and I guess maybe Stella's boyfriend Michael if he got written better, but meh don't expect me to include him in the polycule if I ever write Fics/draw art for this show))

Also speaking of Kit god I would love them to be genderfluid or I guess it to be acknowledged? As queer and not just, because their a skin walker. Like you can read them that way because of them being a skin walker demon but like if it was acknowledged in the show after making Jentry's skin he experimented a little with how he looked as Kit and his sense of fashion and style!!

Idk I would have loved it, I have some strong feelings on how this show had hints of queerness but never actually acknowledged that queerness besides I guess Jentrys fake parents being like "So do you have a boyfriend?? ..or a girlfriend??" Which I mean, I guess, diversity win the cat spirits pretending to be your dead parents don't care if your gay!

I was very invested in the mysteries of the Chau family for the whole run I just wish that they had time to breathe, we went from one revelation to the next and each one hit just that little bit less because there was no down time given between them.

Okay overall though, it's going to be rotating in my mind like a microwave for the next two weeks I can tell

I don't know if it's strong enough to stick around as a major fixation but maybe a minor one where I occasionally get drawn back over the characters who had so much potential to me

I'd say a solid like 8/10

Yeah I know I just did all that whining and complaining

But I did genuinely enjoy most of the viewing experience and the ideas behind it

It was good, I think other people should give it a try, it deserves a lot more love and attention for sure

[cupcakeslushie]

Hi there, I love your stuff, I hope you don't mind but I wanted to do an ask the artist

Where are you from?

What's your favorite color?

How long have you been creating art for?

What drives you to make art?

What is your favorite piece of artwork of yours?

What is your favorite fan artwork that was done for you?

What character of yours is your favorite?

If you could go to any fictional world which one would it be?

Do you consider what will please your audience or do you just do your own thing?

What made you want to start your AU?

1. American! Southern girl, specifically.

2. You’d think it would be green with how it’s been my hair color for three years, and I’ve made it my signature on here, but it’s actually yellow! Like the really saturated, sunny kind! 💛

3. Oh lord. Um, since like 1st or 2nd grade.

4. I never really thought about it. I think I’m just a visual person. So if I have an idea, I need to get it on paper to really see it. I’m the same with movies, especially adaptations. I could never picture characters by reading them in books very well, but seeing them in movies I’m like, “oh okay, now I see what they were going for!” It’s also just fun. It’s my own story-telling method.

5. Fav piece of anything I’ve ever made would be one of my stained glass pieces, like my lemon one, that took me three weeks, and was one of my first bigger pieces. Digitally it would probably be my most recent dtiys cause I just don’t like looking at my older stuff.

6. Noooo!! I have so many, especially recently, that I’ve been gifted! I can’t choose just one!!! Seriously! I love everything I’ve ever been sent! I will say, I’ve been gifted a few fan fictions by now, that have had me like, mind blown—just because writing is such a thing that I’ve always admired and never really been able to fully grasp. If you’ve sent me art, it’s more than likely been my phone or iPad wallpaper, and if you’ve sent me fanfiction, I’ve probably read it no less than five times, and will continue to go back to it.

7. I mean, it’s Donnie. It’s pretty clearly Donnie. I try and be fair and love all the boys equally, but I’m not gonna lie, you all know it. It’s obvious. Just know, I’ll never ignore the others story wise 😜. But Donnie gets the most of my attention and my evil creative plots 😈.

8. Any world ever? Probably Fullmetal Alchemist—if I could actually be an alchemist. I mean, like come on—how cool is that? And like, yeah, you’ve got Father and the homucuous running around, but for the most part, the world is pretty chill and has the coolest rules.

9. The main chunks of my stories are really just what I want to see, but sometimes I can hear a suggestion and think about changing the trajectory of things. I’m always open to ideas, especially if I’m stumped on how it should go. I even change my opinions on the things I’ve established myself, I’m very open to changing a story if a better idea comes to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been like, scared to tell something because I think someone wouldn’t like it. If they don’t, that’s fine, not everything is for everyone, and some things only click with a few people. If I really want to tell a story, then I’m going to tell it.

10. It’s really so funny, because at the time, I was working on this short, post-movie aftermath comic about Leo learning to find a healthy middle ground between being the silly guy and a serious leader. But I was having trouble with the next part, so I decided to watch Arcane and doodle. I posted that little concept sheet, and it feels like…within days my inbox was full with people wanting to know more, and the more I answered, the more I was like, wait I wanna actually explore this. Tbh pretty much all my AUs have started this way. With just an idea jotted down, and then turning into something I couldn’t stop developing.

[introvertedfox]

nonsims interests

Thank you for the tag @nitrozem! 🧡

I have way too many, so I'll put it under the cut. 😅

Stardew Valley: The only other game in which I have hundreds of hours. I love it so much that I have it for pc, Nintendo, and mobile (even though I never played much on mobile). Just like the Sims, I go months without playing it, and then I obsess over it for months just to ignore it again. xD Still, it is one of my top 3 favourites, and it even made me come up with a challenge for the Sims based on the characters.

Horizon Zero Dawn: Another game that I obsessed over, and it actually helped me get my mind off things during a tough time in my life. It was the first game that I finally realized I could just play on the lowest difficulty setting and just enjoy the storytelling without feeling ashamed of it. I love the story, the world-building is amazing, and Aloy is just awesome. I've yet to finish Forbidden West, and someday I would love to replay Zero Dawn again, and the recent LEGO Nintendo game is on my wishlist too. xD

Drawing/Sculpting: I've been drawing since I can remember, but I don't do it as much as I would like. I recently got an iPad and got to try Procreate, which has made my drawing process a lot better. I love sketching on the iPad and then copying it to a sheet of paper and coloring it with my copics and watercolors. It has been my favourite way to do it lately. And I've been sculpting with cosclay, and I love it! I've done a few little things here and there over the years, but lately I've been doing a few sculptures for my scout friends, which got me super excited to do something bigger. Like the huge dragon I'm currently working on. I'll leave some of my social media here for anyone curious, cause I have art scattered everywhere xD [art blog] [instagram] [bluesky]

LEGO: The first thing I bought with my very first salary was Hagrid's Cabin LEGO set, and I'm proud of it. xD I just didn't know that soon enough LEGO was going to take over my house. I have a set on every shelf and an Ikea glass display full at this point. I guess you can say I'm a child with adult money now. 😅 Even though I don't buy half of the ones I'd like to have. My wishlist is way too big.

Fantasy Books: Two years ago, I decided to buy Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, cause I wanted to read the books before watching the series (and I'm glad I did that, the series is...something else), and I got my love for reading back! I used to read so much when I was in high school and college, and now I can say that I read twice as much. xD The only catch is that I only, well, almost only read fantasy books. Real life is already boring enough. Currently starting Sarah J. Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses, to see what the hype is about.

OC's and stories: I love creating OCs and coming up with stories. Right now, I have a few stories that I'd love to turn into comics someday, and maybe even post them somewhere. I just need to get to write them properly. This kind of goes with the drawing interest, cause all I've been drawing lately are my own characters.

Music: Not playing, but listening. (I tried learning guitar but never got the hang of it) I have music playing all day, whether I'm at work or just doing house chores, it keeps me focused. And recently I've started to go to concerts, cause before I never had anyone to go with and was a bit scared to do it alone, and my favourites don't come here too often either. I'm also one of the few people who still buy CDs, even though my player is busted and I have nowhere to play them atm.

Honorable mentions: Pokemon, Digimon, Planet Zoo, Avatar The Last Airbender, Legend of Zelda, Game of Thrones, Assassin's Creed, Arcane, Disney, Dragon Prince, How to Train Your Dragon, Loki, Helluva Boss, Good Omens, Howl's Moving Castle...

Sorry for the long post! 🦊

I have no idea who did this, so feel free to ignore! I'll tag @foxena, @minty-plumbob, @kissalopa, @tipsy-clouds, and anyone who wants to do this!

[anachronisticcrab]

Disclaimer: Don't like? don't read, don't engage. More in an edited section at the bottom of the post.

Tell me why my roommate is kinda aphobic and started crying when I call them out on it ONCE

So we had a stupid argument (so dumb. But also not cause it's based in him being aphobic) over him shipping Jayvik in arcane.

My issues with this (I have not seen arcane nor will I watched it cause one of the characters has my dead name and it makes me uncomfy to hear it seen and spelled the same way, this is just what I have learned through ppl who have seen it)

Viktor is asexual canonically. Like from the creators mouth, he has been ace and possibly aro since the beginning. Everyone that I see that ships them draws Jayce and Viktor fucking. Leave him alone, he's an ace guy, I have like 3 and u gays have 5 million twinks to draw getting railed

Jayvik shippers often draw art in ways that comes across as ableist, pedophilic and infantalizing of Viktor. It's always big huge Jayce carrying around a teeny tiny Viktor and it bothers me. (Lots of ships do this, it's always weird and gross. I'm not pretending I've never enjoyed that art, cause it's sometimes really well drawn, but it's still a little creepy and ableist) ((Edit: not calling Jayvik pedophilic in canon, I'm saying the way that I've seen shippers treat them as 'Big strong man and tiny fragile uwu boy' comes across as pedophilic to me))

This is the big one: Jayce is Viktors allegorical rapist. The scene where Viktor does, Jayce throws him into a void and forever changes Viktors body and life without his consent because Jayce thought it would fix him. Very powerful as a disabled plot line of able bodied people doing things to a disabled body in order to 'fix' them, but gets even more powerful with Viktor being ace. An allo character does something to an ace characters body without their consent, forever changing their life, because they thought it would 'fix' them is an allegory for corrective rape. It's corrective rape. Don't ship Viktor with his allegorical rapist.

So those are my issues. I've talked to a few ppl about it, my roommate included. They know my opinion on it, just not the details cause he has a habit of crying his eyes out whenever he's criticized and I don't have the energy to deal with a grown man bawling his eyes out all the time.

The only thing I've ever said to him was an argument we got in where he said that making Viktor ace was infantalizing disabled bodies and I got pissed at him and he cried

Today, my roommate decided to show me and 2 friends of ours fanart of Jayvik, with the weird size dynamic and Jayce carrying Viktor around and I said 'how is that not infantalizing but him being ace is?'

My roommate agreed, and then I started talking about how that, and the allegorical rape, made it awful to ship Jayce and Viktor and I said 'leave the aces alone, we don't ask a lot'.

Tell me why he shut down and then began crying, so I left the room cause I'm not apologizing for telling him to keep his aphobia in check, and when I came back he left and hasn't said a word since.

Tell me why I have to shut up when he says it's funny to see attractive characters as sexless cause its an inherently humiliating quality, that making someone disabled asexual is infantalizing and gross, that the few ace characters there are are definitely fucking each other cause they're human, when he says aphobic things 10 times a day, but he gets to cry when I call him out on that?

Plus now I feel guilty cause my friends keep shooting me looks since I'm not apologizing, and when they started trying to placate him I was quiet other than to say 'not just about you, but like. Yeah' l

Why are allo people the way they are?

Edit: I've updated the tags to remove arcane and anti Jayvik, ppl were right that I shouldn't have added them to begin with. In my defense for anti Jayvik, I didn't know u needed hyphens in tags now for it to work properly, I'm not really active on tumblr these days. Secondly, Just so y'all know. I don't feel like arguing with allo people anymore cause I spend so much of my time catering to allo people. If you're upset, don't read. If u comment upset about me being pissed at allo people for an opinion that I'm objectively correct on, I will be blocking you immediately cause that's how the internet works. Don't like, don't engage. Leave me alone, this is a vent post cause I'm sick of allo people being stupid Third, not claiming that this is my roommate being aphobic. Of all the things he's done, this is one of the least aphobic, it's just still frustrating. This post is mostly because he can't take any criticism on anything without crying and it's irritating, especially when I call him out on questionable behaviour. Fourth, do NOT try to educate me, a fucking aroace person, on aroace terminology and realities. I am aware that not all ace ppl are aro and that not all aro ppl are ace and that ace ppl and aro ppl both can date and fuck. I know that shit. That's not what this is about. Fuck off. Fifthly, no I have not watched arcane, I say that so early on in the original part of this post. I will not watch arcane, this post isn't really about arcane. It's a vent post about my roommate not being able to handle me pointing out that their mindset and the way they view things is aphobic. This is not an attack of arcane, it's an attack of people refusing to listen to aroace ppl when we raise concerns. Such as a number of ppl in the comments did within an hour of me posting this. Lastly, I'm not saying you can't ship JayVik, do whatever you fucking want. I'm saying that I have issues with it as a ship, and I am irritated at my roommate for immediately crying and running off when I tried to raise my concerns and opinions on the relationship, the concerns I have coming from the place of an aroace person who is fed up with them being blatantly aphobic in other contexts and things that they say. Update TL;DR: Don't like? Don't read, don't engage. Not for you. If you try to argue with me, you will be blocked cause I don't have time for that shit. This is a vent post, not an attack on fucking anyone and the opinion of one random tumblr user has no affect on you or your favourite show. There are more important things to yell at ppl for.

[unknown-cold]

I’m convinced that people don’t even know what fascism means, after how many people are calling Caitlyn that. Gives me the same vibes as conservatives calling all liberals communists. Anyway, they just seem to have such a hate for all of Piltover (idk how much more clear the writers have to be that Piltover isn’t all bad…points to Cassandra, etc). So much of the messages they are trying to convey are just going straight over peoples heads. Cait tried to do everything she can to protect Zaun but she keeps getting kicked down.

I can’t wait to see her glowing and determined again (like those photos , that seem to be from act 3). Breaks my heart that she’s getting so much hate, girl can never win. I empathize with both her and Jinx, something that many seem to struggle with. Jinx is always the hero/forgiven and Cait is a villain

Exactly I hope these people understand that,

They know the essence of Caitlyn's character, starting with giving her titles they don't even know what they mean. I literally feel from the way they talk like they're talking about a real character who kills real people. They're so angry and overreacting. They have to trust the writers and understand why the show's writers are doing this.

And speaking of Piltover really, their hatred is so overrated, and as you said the people of Piltover isn't all bad, the writers showed us that Cassandra wasn't that bad and did they forget Jayce that they make me feel like all the people of Piltover are evil and they should die and have no right to defend themselves.

And about Caitlyn literally she tried her best to do the right thing all the time and in the end things end in a tragic way, it is natural and expected that her personality would change even temporarily, until she realizes the situation and Caitlyn will return to her original personality. These people really need to calm down a little and watch the show until the end, then evaluate the characters and story and so on.

As for Jinx, I don't hate her, I sympathize with her, but I don't forget her bad actions towards the rest of the characters, but did Jinx's actions come without a reason? Of course not, and the same goes for Caitlyn, I sympathize with her, but do I agree with her actions? No, but does she have convincing reasons to do that? Yes.

And as I always say, there is no character who does not make mistakes. Every character makes mistakes and will recognize their mistakes and correct them. That is why the Arcane series is interesting to watch and learn about the characters’ challenges, etc...

And about the villains in the show, if we talk about them, they are two clear from the beginning, Ambessa and Silco, they both do not care about society or people if they die or anything else, all they care about is themselves and getting what they want even if it causes people to die, Silco flooded all of Zaun with shimmer and killed Vander and was planning to kill the rest of the children with him, then he made the children work in factories, as for Ambessa, it is clear that she has no mercy at all and we saw her from episode 1 how she caused a massacre at the memorial ceremony just to incite the people of Piltover to wage war on Zaun. So that she can benefit from the weapons that they will manufacture.

[velvet-vox]

My Top 10 Favourite Male Villains of all time.

"How arrogant of you to think that any of us are anything but irrelevant". -John Greer, Person of Interest (2011-2016).

There comes a moment in a blog's life where some things are just long overdue, and while the argument could be made that this happened way too early, I'd say that as long as this helps me to find my groove, I am free to experiment as much as I want.

So..... Villains.

Gotta love them. As long as I do not meet them in real life. This post is in particular about male villains since I have one dedicated to their female counterparts in the pipeline so expect that to come soon enough and for this part to be rewritten. By the way, "villain" is a generalisation, I can totally put antivillains, antagonists or more general antiheroes in this list; your definition of "Bad Guy" can vary greatly and so can mine, someone like Walter White from Breaking Bad could have made it in here. My taste is very unusual, so prepare yourself for some unexpected picks.

Also, since these are meant to be some big celebratory posts, for the occasion I'll reveal my Italian heritage and translate every line of dialogue in Italian and publish it separately with a link, so that English readers who are learning Italian can exercise.

Here's also a follow up to this post, the first part of my top 30 favourite female antagonists of all time. Check it out, if you are curious to see more.

The bad girls

But first, some honourable mentions:

Oropo (Wakfu): Once you see the number 2 spot for both this list and the female villains list you might notice that I tend to gravitate towards characters with wasted potential more often than not, but while we're just talking about this guy, I cannot stress enough the amount of unceremonious mishandling that lies within his concepts and execution. Really needed two seasons of 25 episodes each to explore it to their maximum.

Tai Lung (Kung Fu Panda): I love him, but not as much as others, it's a matter of personal preference. He's an amazing antagonist, so even if he is just an honourable mention, I wouldn't call him a lesser villain by any stretch of the imagination; I once felt like he was too sympathetic for his movie's sake, but looking back at it again, he's actually moderately evil for a lot of reasons, even if Shifu is the main one.

Bill Chyper (Gravity Falls): It's been way too long since I watched Gravity Falls, I really can't give you an accurate opinion on this guy anymore.

Flintheart Glomgold (DuckTales 2017): That season 2 episode. If you know what I'm talking about, you KNOW. Also the music for that whole sequence was a banger, really driving home the deranged nature of that twist reveal.

Big Jack Horner (Puss in Boots The Last Wish): I feel like when people praise Jack for being a breath of fresh air in a stale environment, they often forget just how good of a villain he was in his own right without the larger industry wide void of truly devious antagonists that act out of pure malice.

The Wolf (Puss in Boots The Last Wish): Two villain entries from one movie? Of course it was gonna be The Last Wish, what else could it be? Honestly I don't even wanna talk about this guy, you need to experience the movie for yourself.

Rob (The Amazing World of Gumball): Everything I have to say about this guy gets talked about much better by the number 6 Spot on this list, but as it stands Rob was my first villain OTP and the guy who opened the box of Pandora for me on what an antagonist could and should be, since then my perception of villainy only widened and now I enjoy their role in a story in much different way.

And now, with that out of the way, let's finally start with the ranking of my personal favourite male villains of all time.

Major spoilers down below:

Number 10: Silco (Arcane)

This guy is the reason that brought me to specify who or what counted for this list as trying to simplify Silco into one specific group of characters is a challenge that can only end in a misunderstanding of what makes Silco such a complex and fascinating character with an amazing character arc, that ends with him not being redeemed, mind you, but allows the audience to grieve in such a way that would make a side character death jealous.

When writing an antagonistic character, Silco is my goal and high standard, and just for that he deserves all of my respect and endless praise.

Now, admittedly, Silco's arc takes a while to kick in, but it works out to his advantage by the end of it since you don't realise just how much you've grown to care for him until he's dead and you're left with the surprise.

10 out 10, the nation of Zaun would have been much better (worse) with him than with Vander.

Number 9: The Riddler (DC)

The Riddler is literally my ride or die villain, when I'm in the mood for him, he's literally my favourite antagonist ever; when I am not in the mood for him, I completely forget about his existence.

When compared to many other entries on this list, Riddler is definitely more on the pop culture side of antagonism, and when you've been around for almost a century, you tend to have many different versions of the same character written by different writers, so I wanted to highlight here my favourite versions of him:

Arkham Games: He's hilarious. He's not my ideal Riddler, but whenever he comes on screen, his whiny rat's ass voice stimulates my pheromones.

Batman The Animated Series: I've heard somewhere that this version of him is disappointing, and to that I'll say... yeah, but only when he wasn't on screen, because otherwise, he kind of slayed.

Matt Reeves The Batman: This is the version that rekindled my love for him after so long. Out of every interpretation of The Riddler throughout the years, this is the one version that treated Edward more as a character rather than an obstacle for Batman to overcome, and for that I'll be eternally grateful.

LEGO Batman The Videogame: My very first introduction to The Riddler and the Batman universe as a whole, this version has a permanent place in my heart , I love how much information and emotion you can get out of him by just looking at his mannerisms and quirks alone; unironically, being silent helps him reach that quote on quote idealised version of Riddler that I was talking about earlier.

Number 8: The Snatcher (A Hat In Time)

There are many things that can carry on a villain in a story, their evolution, stage presence, complexity, thematic contrast to their counterpart, and so on and so forth. While an antagonist can check off many of these boxes simultaneously (like the one pictured), there's one box that is almost impossible to truly nail perfectly: comedy.

You see, comedy is subjective, and when your main antagonist is also the funniest part of a given story, it becomes hard to also match a sense of gravity and menace that allows them to also be an imposing threat, even harder is to give said antagonist depth and a tragic backstory.

But somehow, out of nowhere, The Snatcher from A Hat In Time manages to simultaneously be the funniest character in his section of the game, carrie said energy throughout the whole experience even down to the DLC, simultaneously strikes the balance between being scary, wholesome, sympathetic and tragic, exude an insane amount of charisma, all while having a deeply disturbing backstory that touches on some heavy themes and re contextualises his actions into something more complicated and out of a broken man, everything I just said + he's the biggest bastard in his videogame and never repents nor does he have his actions called out.

Snatcher really has all the right cards that make a stationary character work and uses them to his maximum potential, and it works because his character arc throughout the game is more about becoming affectionate to Hat Kid than it is about redeeming himself.

Lastly, his voice actor, Luke Sizemore, aka Yungtown, really sells the performance of this devious soul eating worm and burns his catchphrases into your brain for the rest of eternity, much like his boss theme,

Your Contract Has Expired

A song that switches around being scary, epic, energetic and desperate in a short, yet perfectly paced amount of time. You need to listen to it regardless of if you've played the game or not.

Fool.

Number 7: Judge Claude Frollo (Hunchback of Notre Dame)

You can never say no to a classic.

There's nothing that I could say that hasn't already been said by thousands of videos on YouTube, but I'll try anyway: you see, Frollo is the reason why we need a new term to identify certain villains that aren't "sympathetic" but still make you feel some sort of human emotion and a form of "I wish someone could give you the care you need to fix your life", I guess the term empathetic exists, but when do you really see it used?

Now, don't get me wrong, Frollo is absolutely not sympathetic in the slightest, he wants to r##e a Romani woman that's way younger than him, but you can still feel that he's very troubled about it in the Hellfire scene and has definitely a lot of unidentified issues and internalised bigotry that could be worked through, even if it's too late to work through them right now.

In general, I feel like people forget that the main reason why past Disney villains worked had to do more with their human traits juxtaposed to their malice rather than just their plain wickedness, otherwise the Horned King from the Black Cauldron would be top of the Disney villains league and that couldn't be further from the truth.

We should really strive towards writing more villains like Frollo, less omnipotent beings that end up falling flat because they don't have much thematic relevance aside from being a threat (Bill Chyper works because he represents Ego and he's used sparingly) and more average vicious individuals who use their power and influence to get what they want.

All in all, if you've seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame, then you know why this guy is here, but just to cite a couple of repeated points, the Hellfire scene is perfect. It's immaculate. It's unreproducible; there will never be another scene like this coming out of the House of Mouse or animation ever again, the excessive amount of stars and elements that came together to create this gothic classic is so vast that it's literally a miracle.

Frollo is truly the personification of the dark, twisted side of humanity peaking through the door and into your mind, from which he shall never escape as his performance still remains perfect to this very day.

Number 6: The Spot (Spider-man across the Spiderverse)

"You've hit me with a bagel!" It's still the greatest villain origin story of all time. There's truly something maniacal about this reveal, like the entire universe was shattered and reality was shocked at the mere realization that while Miles was having his coming of age moment back in the first film, this guy was having his normal life completely and utterly shattered by a combination of both our heroes stepping up to do the right thing and our doofus lack of foresight and self reflection; all of this stuff is hilarious and completely made up for the film but good god they did such an amazing job tying all the elements together in an unexpected way that makes sense and parallels the journey that our protagonist faced in the first movie.

Like with Rob from The Amazing World of Gumball, and a little bit like number 2 on this list, I just really enjoy the concept of turning background characters who had no relevance whatsoever into the big bad of the story who's been there all along and the heroes (and the audience) just couldn't notice.

With The Spot in particular, there's that sense of satisfaction of turning the wasted potential of a villain who has been underestimated for literal decades and treated as a "villain of the week" (God do I love the meta narrative of this movie) into an actual competent, well written antagonist that is aware of his reputation and strives towards bettering himself and his powers.

He's also the funniest character of his movie too and the voice acting of Jason Schwartzman only accentuates his mannerisms and pettyness.

He also has the coolest usage of portals I have ever seen and his whole "There's a hole inside all of us" metaphor is simultaneously hilarious and very deep personal information that can only be understood if you put yourself into his shoes.

I can't wait for Beyond the Spiderverse to come out and see how his arc resolves, more importantly, I wonder if he's going to rank higher in the future.

Number 5: Lord Shen (Kung Fu Panda)

"Happiness must be taken. And I'll take mine"

.....

What a character.

What a movie.

You cause so much pain and suffering, because you don't understand the people around you, and then those people banish you, and you can't understand why, so you start to believe that they hated you.

They never loved you, so you keep causing pain and suffering but it's not that easy anymore; the guilt starts to resurface, all those bodies keep piling up, but you can't stop because then it would have all been for nothing; so you keep chasing those dreams of grandeur because that's all you have left; the emptiness in your heart can no longer be filled by love, so you try to fill it with something else.

You try to fill it with power. You try to fill it with glory. You try to take everything else for yourself so that you can fill that cup, but it doesn't work, because that cup has no bottom.

And so you're left... with yourself.

And the damage you've done. But now it's different; you've failed. You are left with nothing. Nothing.

And so you outrage, for the last time... And then it all ends. Forever. And you've finally come to accept this, after all....... Who could ever love you?

Number 4: Spamton G Spamton (Deltarune)

You know, in retrospect, it's kind of insane what Toby Fox managed to achieve when creating Spamton.

Not only because Spamton feels like the most insane combination of ideas ever conceived, but also because Toby Fox created such a complex character with such a complicated language and personality and then not only shafted it all aside for the players to go out of their way to interact, but also made all of this in what are officially 2 or 3 cutscenes at most (4 if you consider his shop encounter as one) and only one of them being truly mandatory.

You spend so little time with Spamton, and most of that time is spent fighting him, and yet by the end of it you've become enlightened by the knowledge of him, that after a while... you forget how scary it all was.

All the memes comparing Spamton with Turbo are 100% correct and justified, Spamton truly is Turbo but better; you go through an insane rollercoaster of emotions with this character that you are left absolutely dumbfounded when it all comes to a stop and you go back to play the rest of chapter 2 normally.

His insane mannerisms and mood swings are pretty funny at first, but once you peel back the layers a bit they reveal a pretty realistic and sad portrayal of mental illness, mania and hysteria coupled with an unhealthy amount of social distancing, loneliness, and abandonment issues, that reinforce into your brain the idea of someone lacking proper healthcare and needing to be locked away from society for their (society) own good, simulating the vicious cycle that Spamton lives by: nobody wants to help him but he's still expected to act like a regular individual despite the amount of hardships he's facing and the lack of a support system keeping him from falling back into his bad habits.

I'll admit, I've considered putting Spamton in place of the Number 3 spot on this list; but then I've realised that on an objective level, the next entry totally deserves to be ranked above Spamton; plus, with at least 5 more chapters of Deltarune on our way, whose to say that one of the next gremlins won't be able to dethrone even the number 1 spot?

Drumroll for our top 3:

Nox, the Watchmaker (Wakfu)

There will never be another experience in my life as cathartic as watching the first season of Wakfu for the first time ever again.

On a later rewatch, the initial problems that you've noticed throughout the first half of the season and a little bit in the second half become too apparent to ignore, but the first time everything that goes from the ball tournament to the finale is one of the best paced arcs of television, and everything that happens when the team reaches the Sadida kingdom is just peak Wakfu.

And the king, the culprit, the crown jewel of properly paced stories and arcs is no other than the sad clockwork dilf himself: Noximilliem Coxen the Watchmaker.

Arguably, the greatest sympathetic villain of all time. There has never been another case of a character who has committed such vile, unspeakable crimes, and yet still managed to make me root for them while simultaneously not putting down the heroes.

And let's not be mistaken here, Nox is pretty evil:

Aside from the generic murder, Nox also defiled and stitched together the corpses of multiple victims and turned them into his obedient puppets in order to commit even more murder and genocide in order to achieve his goals.

Also, this is one of the funniest crimes Nox has committed: he abused his dog. It's really not that hilarious nor is it that important in the context of the show, but if you look back at it from an outside perspective then it's really like: Oh yeah. That happened too. Lol.

One of the best parts of his entire arc is his defeat. The "20 minutes" scene deserves a "One Villainous Scene" coverage video to forever immortalise it amongst the greatest. Everything from the music, the subversiveness, the cinematography, the voice acting and just the general art direction of it is worthy of an Eminem award at the Oscars, there's genuinely nothing wrong with this scene, it's truly immaculate.

Words alone cannot do justice to the treacherous, gut wrenching emotional rollercoaster that is experiencing his story for the first time. An hour long video essay would only serve to cover the basics and fundamentals, while for the real deal you need to watch the first season of Wakfu for yourself.

Number 2:

Bradford Buzzard (DuckTales 2017)

And now it's the perfect time to pull out my final wild card, the hole of the sink of my autism, the masterpiece of wasted potential that is Bradford Buzzard from the DuckTales remake of 2017.

When you'll also see the number 2 spot on my villainesses list, you'll come to realise that this spot is more of the "I really wish I could put this at number one but I can't because objectively he doesn't deserve it and the majority of things I love about him in canon were probably an afterthought and in fanon were never plausible to begin with."

And that's how I feel about Bradford Buzzard, an antagonist I spent more time thinking about than probably anybody else on the Earth.

The show runners were so genius for this: we are going to create an original character that will probably struggle to maintain a foot print on the franchise due to the way the Duck verse works, we'll give him an insanely cool backstory and motivation, all coupled with interesting character traits and ideology, we'll make him the ultimate foil to Scrooge McDuck that has been working with him for literal decades, we'll make him the one who has got the closest to isolating Scrooge and destroying his family, and THEN we'll turn him into a generic anime villain that shoots lasers and fumbles his own plan and loses because of insane plot armour and contrivance. Good job writers.

Anyway, I should probably make the case for why this guy ranks so highly in my mind to the point of almost taking the podium for my most liked villain of all time, especially when compared to the stiff competition that we just went through.

Now, part of it is just because this is a personal top 10 and so I can put whoever I want in whatever order I want. But also, with Bradford in particular, there's a personal aspect of relatability, various interests, and passions all coming together to make him stand out in my brain.

The thing is, I've had a pretty strong connection to Disney's Duck's comic books my entire life, even if my love for them came dwindling over time, so when I finally started watching the Reboot and it was amazing, all of that buried passion and love finally re emerged back to the surface, turning me into an annoying super fan. But while season 1 and 2 were great, season 3 actually gave me something to latch on for the rest of time even after the show had ended: the character of Bradford Buzzard.

You see, DuckTales, both in the shows and comics, always had a plethora of villains; from the crazy, megalomaniacal millionaires, to witches, demons, and other mythological creatures, to power hungry aliens, to straight up super-villains. But while all of that is true, there has never been another villain, aside from Magica, Glomgold and Rockerduck at traits, that was built specifically as the anti Scrooge McDuck, and even further, there has never been another antagonist who challenged the very core ideas and concepts of the entire franchise.

Bradford is like the Frank Grimes of DuckTales: just a regular, average, real world guy who's fed up with the nonsensical constant state at which their fictional universe operates and seeks to correct it in the most logical way possible. And while Frank was ultimately a victim of a world in which he couldn't conform, Bradford's outrageous and extreme plans and methods put him on everybody's hit list until he was left all alone, but not before indirectly causing every major disaster throughout the reboot's runtime.

A cold, calculating, machiavellian mastermind whose impact and presence secretly permeates the show, right till the very end.

Shame he wasn't written better.

And now, for the one and only,

Number 1:

Qilby (Wakfu)

Qilby is the biggest example of an anomaly that you could ever observe in a work of fiction. The first time experiencing a story is the most important and impactful moment of that story, as every future rewatch won't be as good as the first. In particular, this is an important aspect of twist villains, as they can only surprise you the first time, since at future rewatches the twist becomes predictable.

Furthermore, if the twist ends up ruining the character that was established up to this point, or it doesn't make any sense, then the story is kind of ruined and it only gets worse on future rewatches, since now you know that everything that you are seeing right now is ultimately worthless and doesn't provide any value.

So why do we love twist villains and keep churning them out? Well, you see, it's a matter of execution. A bad guy introduced in an unconventional manner is much more memorable than one introduced in a straightforward way; the twist can also serve to showcase different aspects of the character before becoming an obvious obstacle, be it quirks, interests, personality in casual settings, or cunning.

Let's not beat around the bush.

If Nox is the single greatest sympathetic villain of all time, then Qilby is by far the greatest twist villain of all time, and the crazy thing is, that he surprises you two times in a row, at first by revealing himself as more evil than you could ever imagine, and then, by outing himself as more complex than you could have ever anticipated.

Let me paint you the picture: you just finished the first season of Wakfu, and you are still pretty fresh of the hype surrounding Nox, so you think to yourself "Oh, now every future antagonist is ruined because nothing could ever top the emotional gut punch that I just went through. Whatever, I'm going to stick around just to see if the story gets worse" and you start the second season.

So far, everything is normal, even better of the first season in terms of engagement value, but you can't help but feel the lack of a Nox like figure inside of the story, but at this point, you just accept it.

Then the final six episodes roll around and OH MY GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING, HAS THE WHOLE SHOW JUST GONE INSANE?

Somehow, in some mystical, french, magical way, the season 2 finale is arguably even better than the ending of season 1 despite the fight having less buildup and introducing a lot of brand new characters and an entirely irrelevant faction into his conflict.

The entirety of the scene in Emrumb is some of the best writing I have ever experienced in any work of fiction, and the music accompanying it only accentuates the repressed dopamine being released after various episodes of filler, all of them important for this moment to be as impactful as it is.

Qilby is also just a great, tragic character, that is simultaneously an unforgivable bastard that tried to kill his family and doomed his entire race for a family trip, and a sad, nihilistic man still trying to reconcile his love for his family and his need for knowledge and discovery; his curse never truly allows him to move on or relate to others but his ego and need for his forgetful brothers attention just pushes him even further into resentment, ending up damaging himself and those around him, until he's finally isolated again by the vary people he harmed and showed his love towards.

He's as good as the evil secret sibling trope can get and I never get tired of watching him on screen. His reveal scene to Adamai still gives me the chills to this very day and demonstrated me just how good the surprise villain concept can get when it's executed correctly.

Just an all around great show.

[theandroidsentbycyberl1fe]

Arcane is a show that has so many amazing facets, it’s hard to pinpoint small details like I would in other shows I watch. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. One of my favorite small details of Arcane is how often Viktor is shown naked. I know, I know, it sounds dirty and perverted, but it’s really not. In the show, Viktor is never in a sexual situation when he is undressed, and I would even argue that in sex scenes within the show, the characters aren’t sexualized, but that’s neither here nor there. No, I love the fact that Viktor is shown naked because it highlights his disability.

Throughout the show, there is a big focus on Viktor’s disability. It isn’t something that falls into a lot of stereotypes, and it isn’t brushed aside. It is handled with care, and that means a lot to me and other disabled fans of the show. His disability is very visible, with him using braces and mobility aids and even an oxygen tank at one point, but it’s not something that is made a big deal to other characters like Jayce. Seeing Viktor naked reflects both his own thoughts on himself and his body as well as other’s opinions on him (mainly Jayce).

When Viktor is alone and naked, such as the scene where Sky dies in the lab with him, he is covered in braces and the camera is zoomed out, making him look small. He is crumpled on the floor without his mobility aid next to him, and he looks helpless, frail, and weak. But the most important thing about this scene is that he is alone. He views himself this way. When he has nothing and no one to distract from himself, he thinks he is pathetic and that his disability is ugly. Let’s be honest, conventional attractiveness doesn’t include spine and leg braces paired with greasy hair, no matter what some of us might think about that.

This really hits home for me. Granted, I don’t need as much support for Viktor and I don’t struggle with the same things he does, but when I am left alone with myself and my body, I feel ugly too. I feel grotesque and like I’m pathetic and worthless. My body feels like a cage. Watching this play out on screen made the bars feel a little looser, though. I finally saw myself on screen, something I didn’t even know I needed. I saw my slow decline and how exposing it feels to be visualized and handled with care, but not with pity.

And that’s another thing. Being disabled feels very exposing and very vulnerable. Walking outside really feels like being naked. Everyone can see your flaws and the parts of you that are wrong, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t hide it. By being naked more than any other character on screen, Viktor shows that visually, even though it’s not expressly the meaning of the scenes. He is exposed and often resigned about this exposure. The nakedness isn’t something that bothers him, it’s who and what he is that bothers him.

But this isn’t something that should bother people. So much of media focuses on fixing disability or making it into a superpower, so I really adore how Arcane took a step in the other direction. The overall meaning of Arcane’s story on Viktor is that you can’t run away from your disability. It is who you are, but it doesn’t define you. The less disabled he becomes, the less human he becomes and the more he messes with drugs and other things that ruin him. And to me, this was beautiful. Even now, writing this and thinking back, I’m tearing up. As my hands scream in pain as I touch each key, I am reminded that I need to learn to live with the sound. A popular, beautiful show, telling disabled people that it is okay to want to be better, but hating who you are and your disability isn’t the solution, is one of the most touching things I’ve seen in a very long time.

Now, whether they are canon is up for interpretation, but no matter your thoughts, it is clear Jayce is very close to Viktor. The part about their relationship I love the most is Jayce’s feelings towards Viktor’s disability. He doesn’t care. There’s a scene where Jayce is alone and thinks of Viktor, and his crutch appears beside the Viktor he imagines. There’s no emphasis or attention on it, it’s just there. Like it’s part of him. And it is. When Jayce gets injured and needs a brace, he doesn’t look at is like it’s a bad thing, and I would say the brace is framed to be a good thing, something that helps him survive and escape what is essentially hell. Jayce also sees Viktor naked multiple times, and never once is bothered by it. The most obvious instance of this, I would say, is when Viktor is brought back to life. His body is purple and emancipated, and Viktor asks Jayce what he is now that he looks like that. All Jayce says in reply is “You’re alive”. He doesn’t care what Viktor looks like or what he does to his body, as long as Viktor is alive and with Jayce. He loves him and his disability, and I cry every time I think about how amazing that is.

So, yeah, one of the parts I love the most about Arcane is how often Viktor is shown naked. It’s not bad, it’s just part of life. Disability is as connected to people and part of who they are as their naked body is. There is beauty in disability, and even when there isn’t, there is still life. You can’t be disabled if you’re not a person, and that is exemplified perfectly in Viktor’s character arc. There was never anything wrong with Viktor. There is nothing wrong with me or the other fans of this show who relate to him. Just like having a broken leg doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you, it just means you need to be helped, you aren’t wrong or bad for being disabled.

[oddie-odette]

SPOILERS(me just yapping about arcane)

I don’t know how to feel about the 2nd season to Arcane. Like I was crying for one second and then the horny mfs did it in what was JINXES JAIL CELL. I was like “WOAHHHHH OKAY-“ I had to pause to cry and then like lock in to something else.

Also I’m glad that Viktor didn’t just die without not knowing what would’ve happened, I’m glad he saw what Jayce saw so he knew what he needed before he went. I am very glad that they died together. It think the idea that they started with them and ended with them was so perfect so good.

Also- Maddie being a little two time bitch- omg. To be fair. She is a victim to manipulation as well but we can’t excuse that. But for Maddie I feel neutral- like yeah I don’t like her but I get it why she is who she is.

Seeing Jinx in the jail cell picking at her fingers till they bled made me realize I was doing it myself. Like I had never seen anyone in my real life and in tv shows go to that extent like I do. And I don’t do it for anxiety or anything, I do because it’s like something I need to pick at with my nails and when I say Jinx do it I was like… “I feel seen?” I mean not really, the situations are drastically different and way worse for Jinx.

Also MY WIFE SEVIKA???? Barely in the show and I know that she becomes counselor and shit but that doesn’t excuse the fact that she was barely there?? I mean yeah she comes for the big fight and it’s really powerful but I can’t help but feel way too neutral about it.

Ekko learning about timelines and loops was probably the only thing I had enjoyed while watching the whole thing go down. Like idk why but the fact that it was just so different was refreshing. I found it interesting and I wanted more of that without like any rushing.

I also felt rushed? Like everything was going all over the place- it was really fast and I can’t tell if I’m just a loser or I’m missing obvious lore that I can’t really get into right now. (That’s how I am with FNAF like I know the lore but idk about any of the books or the extensive lore stuff like my friends- I just don’t think I could get into like that.) I loved arcane. It made me cry, fear, laugh a bit- and we got the scene of sex we wanted. But like after watching it I felt strangely empty about it. Idk but the sex scene felt very inappropriate where it was set and I can’t help but feel that it’s kinda perfect for them. Like it seems like something exactly that Caitlyn and Vi would have but yet I felt really… uncomfortable? And that weird because like that shit don’t happen- I was very happy it was going to happen but maybe not the way that it did.

It’s not a downgrade. It’s a slight upgrade in my book on the terms of content. Don’t come at me but maybe I should give it a second watch when it’s not 3 AM.

[spiegelgestalt]

Timebomb feelings because of the Arcane trailer for season 2

So I just saw the arcane trailer for season 2. It's great. I'm so excited. (so sad that Victor and Jayce died in the explosion quite an apprupt ending for them i guess... /s)

but what i really want to talk about is these two pictures:

Because it got me thinking. One of the interesting aspects of the Jinx/Ekko relationship is that they are able to communicate through other means than direct words. And that they are able to create a different image for each other.

Long and rambly explanation under the cut, which got away from me and can be summarized with: Jinx makes Ekko more violent and Ekko makes Jinx more heroic and they love each other your honor and i want to see a team up in season 2:

Song:

Jinx has a few songs (Guns for hire, goodbye, What could have been) but they are usually solos. They are usually melodic rock. And they usually concentrate on how much Jinx was wronged.

And than there is Dynasties and Dystopia. On first watch i thought it was an Ekko song. It's after all in his style (both in animation as in genre) but some words don't quite fit:

"I might just might kick your butt Go run amok then paint my nails Never learned to raise my hand Was too busy raising hell Everything I know I am You should go and save yourself Thought you had my number, huh Congratulations, you played yourself"

this just screams jinx to me. Ekko has yet to run amok. Jinx does it all the time. I don't even know what Ekko's nails look like, but we have several distinct shots of Jinxs' blue and pink nails; Ekko doesn't raise hell, if he's raising something it's paradise. And the line "you should go and save yourself" is a good continuation/rejection of the one thing Jinx says in this fight: Look who it is - the boy savior -> go save yourself! And it forshadows the way jinx will be able to get just a loss instead of a total defeat (look she was defeated- in the aftermath Ekko had a hurt leg, while Jinx needed to be revived with terrible magic drugs there is a clear winner here). Ekko thinks he has jinx figured out but he hasn't and thats why he will hesitate in the end.

But i would also argue that not all of the song is jinx:

Ooh, yeah, he mad I'm racking up white diamonds Throw me in the sky You would swear the sun shining Ooh, yeah, he mad I'm racking up white diamonds Throw me in the sky You would swear the sun shining

this verse is both of them: Basically they are saying: Look how great i'm doing (lie) Aren't you mad about it? (They will never beat the allegation that they are bitter exes.)

And I'd argue that this is Ekkos verse:

In this gothic underground city We all sin If I bring a couple rounds with me Then we all win I came back and brought the crown with me The king's den Break your nexus and your neck 'cause Everybody's on your head

and interestingly enough it's an offer. This makes sense with the visual. Encouraged through Vi who insists that Powder is still in there somewhere Ekko conjures a situation wich is similar to their old games. And it works: It's the only time Powder appears as her young self on screen. And so Ekko makes an offer he probably made before: Trust me, back down, i can help:

He starts with: We all make mistakes - one of the things that bind Powder to the Jinx personality is her guilt over having killed her entire family. But Ekko doesn't blame Jinx he blames their circumstances (something he also does in his Zaun-duet misfit toys)

If i bring a couple rounds with me, then we all win -> this foreshadows his timetravel ability. And even if he doesn't has it at this point this whole scene breaks down time itself so it still works in my head. Ekko brings the crown with him (the hextech-crystal) and he warns Jinx that everyone is going after her.

And the second refrain which I'd argue both sing once again:

Hold still while I bag that, uh Talk bad 'til I snap back, uh This ain't brown, this that dark black This that pitch black, jet black Snap yo' ex watch me give him flashbacks

Meaning: keep still, i've got this, just trust me dude!

This song shows that Ekkos and Jinx's disagreement is far more similar to the disagreement between Vander and Silco than to the disagreement between Vi and Jinx. Vi and Jinx' disagreement is personal. Vi rejects everything jinx has become and just wants her "sweet" little sister back - Ekkos and Jinx's disagreement is political. They disagree about the question what is best for Zaun. AND I'd also argue the Ekko is far less surprised by the jinx personality. He knew Powder was a bit of a shithead. He's just pissed that she's working for Silco.

Well let's finally get to these two pictures:

We see Ekko and we see Jinx drawn as hero of the resistance in Ekkos style* (compare the mural to the video of misfit toys) We know that Jinx gave Ekko a definition that didn't suit him by creating the firefly bombs and recasting him as a terrorist. And know we see Ekko who maybe drew this picture of jinx recreating her from a terrorist into a hero of Zaun.

(see me get proven wrong in the first episode of arcane season 2...)