#not strong enough to combat *jayce*

[conivolos]

jayvik means so much to me. i have so many thoughts about them and none are coherent

theyre partners theyre best friends they reinvented magic together theyre madly in love with each other /p theyre madly in love with each other /r theyre divorced they saved the world together they died together (??) they fucked in that arcane

[ontoilogical]

arcane end of s2

My impressions. Spoilers of course.

For all the good storylines and setup, Arcane didn't land them well. This was my worry from the start, because a good setup is not enough and not a guarantee that the payoff for the narrative and emotional build up will be good. I would not have expected a Riot Games IP to make layered political commentary along with badass, genre-pushing narrative music sequences, allow their characters to be flawed in a way where, yes, you may not like the whole of the protagonist, even if you're emotionally following and cheering for their journey. And yet they did... until the last three episodes that brought the series back into its gaming origins.

A lot of what happened in those three episodes simply wasn't narratively earned. The Piltover-Zaun collab against the Borg. Mel's sudden sHe'S a mAge shift, when she was extremely and, pointedly, the one without any combat skills, instead an accomplished diplomat. I would have accepted defensive qualities, but her dependence on skilled fighters in a violent world is an interesting premise, for she is strong, but that strength also hinges on other people's abilities and assistance. Ambessa's death. I don't even know what to say about that, other than making a League of Legends game mechanic reference how she's shouldn't have gone 1v2. Hells, how they frame Vi and Caitlyn's reunion and sex scene felt strange to me.

I did not see Caitlyn coming back to her moral base entirely, which is fine and may be a good decision for the concept of the character, but I feel it was left muddied, without addressing her journey towards temporary tyranny beyond the line Vi says, in a scene that felt stronger in a Tumblr gif than the series.

Vi's characterisation, meanwhile, ends up as a season-long journey of being lost and not being able to have the lesson of "you can't save Powder... or Jinx, or anyone" stick. She's not politically relevant to either Piltover or Zaun and thus doesn't really participate with any significance beyond following Caitlyn's suggestion. Her convictions are tied within a family she has lost and ends the series with an, again, strange line about how she's there to be with Caitlyn. It almost reads as a co-dependent personality manifesting in life circumstances where she literally has nowhere else to be, which doesn't feel very rewarding to viewers who like the pairing. Again, could be interesting storyline material, but it wasn't done well. The storyline leaves us with an impression of her having no agency and not being afforded a celebration of her character within the storyline.

The way Maddie fucks off takes away from the setup of Caitlyn dating her, rendering it completely irrelevant. The implication is basically "she was actually evil, thus whatever her and Caitlyn had was not relevant or a source of conflict or complexity. For that evil she (conveniently) dies, although she wasn't an obstacle to begin with".

And don't get me started on Jayce and Viktor, who have somehow managed to, within the fandom, or more broadly I don't know, eclipse Caitlyn and Vi as Arcane's Important Couple. Their entwined souls locked in a lifelong loop explode together and save Piltover and Zaun from destruction, while Vi is the dirt under Caitlyn's nails lmfao. I never noticed fandom's preference for The Gays over The Lesbians, because I am so deeply uninterested in couples with men that I do not offer any attention to them, but this time it feels a bit... bad.

The series was still excellent, relevant, an animation marvel, with some really good content and some scenes that will live rent free in my head. And some old part of me that cared about Vi and Caitlyn's pairing is finally mostly sated and calmed, but Arcane's end is not raptuous – it's a Marvel-flavour of epic fight scenes against an other-wordly foe, where characters die or maybe-die at a breakneck pace that would make GoT blush and a storyline's end that that has more to do with the sequel than the two seasons it consisted of. Whatever difficult commentary on society or politics relevant for the world WE live in was trivialised into formulaic boom boom solve the bad problem, the end. That is what I meant when I said going back to its capital g gaming origins.

Gentle disclaimer... I watched this while I was sick, tired and sleepy, so it's not the most layered or seasoned option I've given so far, but I don't get the impression some detail would change my impression by much.

Edit: Just a final thought. I think ALL the narrative decisions they've made could stay and be considered Good Storytelling, if there was a sufficient amount of padding and contextualising added between the scenes (the scenes simply needed proper introduction to make them impact the way they were intended to). Maybe they counted on that - animation is a slow and arduous format and a story doesn't need to spoon feed explanations for every aspect of a storyline, but there is simply too much here to fill.

[zaceouiswriting]

The last straw

Character: Alec Lightwood x male reader

Universe: Shadowhunters

Warnings: None

„Can you two shut the fuck up, for once?“, your loud voice called out to the two people making everyone's life a living hell.

Jayce and Clary looked at you shocked. Until now, you never opened your mouth in destaining. Just running with the flow, except with Alec. You found amusement to stress him out. But this was going too far even for you.

You had heard from your family back home, that Alec is short to lose his position in the Institute, because of unauthorized missions. Since Clary came, everything had changed. Jayce and Alec’s relationship fell apart and you could not hear her voice anymore.

„Clary is a narcissistic little girl, who does not understand the world in the slightest. Even if her mother can be saved, the price is too great and her mother is not worth enough to lose everything.“ But your pleas as always fell on deaf ears. Jayce whined like the little bitch he is, which only let your eyes roll back into your head. „Would you be okay with Alex losing the Institute Jayce? To save a woman who betrayed her entire kind? A woman who stole from the angels?“

Before you even asked these questions, you knew the answers he would give or more likely Clary would give.

Just as he opened his mouth, Clary was already talking shit about her being new to this part of her, and she just wants her mother back. Just her manipulative self, to make everyone bend to her will.

„You disgust me, Clary. Nobody likes you. Everything done for you, was only because Jayce asked us to. We would've never done anything like this for a girl we just met. So get back down from your high horse and either go with our rules or fuck off. Because if Alec loses his position, I will make sure you will never find a friendly smile under any of us!“

As your threat was delivered you slammed your hands on the table your friend group was standing in front of, walking away in a rage.

All four of them watched you stomping off, completely stunned at your aggression and especially wanting the best for Alec. It took all of them especially Alec a moment to comprehend everything. „I think you should go after him, big bro,“ Isabelle told her brother, with an obvious wink. He did not understand this light gesture but still did what his sister told him to do. He was in no shape to decide for himself.

It wasn’t hard to find you. A long array of beaten-up men walked out of the training room. Alec had a perfect view of you, as you trashed the next one challenging you. Nothing you did could calm down the storm brewing up in you.

Just as you were about to give the finishing blow to your next victim, another stick stopped yours. Furious eyes looked in the calm collected one of your Instituts leader. Alec stood strong and proud in front of you. Eyebrows cocked up in a challenging way.

Not a single second was wasted by you, as you began to slam your stick onto his. Sweat drops flew around as you fought with everything you had. Alec who never was a master of close combat had massive complications to fight you or stand against you in any way. 

„Are you going to tell me, what was this all about at the table? You taking my side? To be honest that one came as a surprise.“ Even though you were sure, that he did not mean it that way, he looked and sounded smug as nothing in his life before.

It took you over the edge, getting even more aggressive with Alec, till the point, where he was on the ground, with the end of your stick at his throat. „Don’t think too much about it Alec or you might hurt your little pretty head.“

Not knowing what came over him, after hearing you telling him something like this, he slammed his feet, against your legs, for you to fall over. Just a moment after you had won the match, you lay on the floor, with Alec between your legs, his arms beside your head. „Seems as if I have one, what do I get?“

It was the closest you ever were to Alec, his lips so close to yours. Full, mesmerizing a sin you could not let go of. Before his smile could falter, his light laughter stop echoing through the wide hall, you grabbed his neck kissing him, as you wanted for years. He tasted like cherries and mint.

For a moment there was a hesitation on his side, but it quickly subsided, as his hands began to run down your torso. But the moment could not hold on forever. But you had to separate. Sadly breathing was still a thing.

„That was…“

„Sorry, this should’ve never happened, I know you are in love with Jayce and-“

You tried to get away from him, but Alec had you prisoned in his presence. „In love with Jayce? Did you talk to Isabella too much?“, he laughed out almost maniacally. „Yeah she has some fantasy, I had a crush on him for a while, back when we became parabatai. But since then I moved on to an even prettier face.“ His hand slowly cupped your right cheek.

„Why didn’t you tell me?“, you asked him out of breath and confused.

„I thought you hated me, always playing pranks, making me go insane.“

Now it was on you to chuckle, „I did this only to get to you, I never wanted anything more than be close to you and these pranks always brought you to me,“ you confessed to him sincerely.

„By the angels, you are cute.“ Another kiss followed the long one you had before. This time full of affection. „Thus this means you stop with the pranks?“

„Maybe don’t go ever again in your room?“, he suggested cheekily to the guy above him. But Alec just laughed. He had known before he asked that it wouldn’t stop. But now it did not matter anymore. From now on it would be an excuse to be with you, without anyone knowing. He did not want anyone else to see his more loving side. You knew this and had silently agreed to never tell a soul.

As you both stood up, brushing go the none existent dirt on your sweat-drenched clothes, you together used the back passage you find a room to talk or do better things with your mouths, who knows?

[Masterlist]

[jayvikbrainrot]

Not exactly a drabble prompt more like a headcanon and maybe you can do something with it lmao

ok so

Jayce, despite having a big complexion, has 0 alcohol tolerance. He can get absolutely wasted with half a glass of red wine.

Viktor, true to his russian motiff, drinks strawberry vodka shots like apple juice. It`s incredible hard for him to get drunk, and even when he *does*, he is one of those stoic drunkers who can pass for sober.

So in a party Jayce is like "Nooo stay away from the champagne, It`s you are gonna get drunk 😭😭" And Viktor is like "???"

Cut to 3 hours later and Viktor dragging an extremely clinging Jayce across his living room

Sorry this is so late! This was fun! (Even if I’m telling on myself because this is EXACTLY how I would act when I used to get piss drunk >>)

Tw: alcohol, tw: drinking

————-

When Jayce told him the drink was strong, Viktor thought he was joking. It was more juice than wine. Some bubbly thing a co-worker ordered to start. He had never been to an academy mixer but if this was the standard he felt he was in for a night of disappointment.

Luckily after that the group spread out. Sky introduced him to a mathematician who had some interesting things to say on chaos theory that were up and coming in his field. After two whiskeys, a bourbon, and a shot of something bitter and liquorice, he was finally feeling something. Enough to take the edge off at least.

Unfortunately, that is when Sky intervened.

“Hey Viktor, can you go check on Jayce?” She said, glancing over where he was holding counsel with professors.

He seemed fine. His face was flushed and he was guesticulating a little more than normal but... He gave Sky a nod, and excused himself from the conversation.

As he approached, he started to get more wary. Not only was Jayce moving a bit more, but he was loud, loud enough that several tables were unoccupied around him. Of course that didn’t stop others from hanging on his every word.

Getting closer, Jayce locked eyes with him, a wide smile forming on his face. “There he is!” he nearly yelled. “That's the genius I was talking about!”

All heads turned to look at him. Oh. Jayce was drunk.

Viktor awkwardly nodded at the collective. “Hello...everyone...” Jayce seemed to lack all awareness of his surroundings. “Jayce, might I have a word?”

“Yeah, what do you need!” He said a little too cheerfully. Not moving from his seat.

This was painful, how much had he had to drink? “Privately. Please?”

“Oh. Oh yes! Yes I can do that!” Jayce said enthusiastic to do a simple task. In his eagerness to get up, he nearly knocked his chair over and came to stand way too close to Viktor. He wasn’t swaying at least and he didn’t smell heavily of alcohol. Viktor looked around, the bar was awfully crowded at this hour. They might need to step outside.

“Come on then.” Viktor mumbled, leading his larger friend out of the building.

As soon as they were outside Jayce hissed at the temperature change. “Heeey it’s cold out here, let’s go back inside.” he whined.

“Jayce, no. Also what happened to your jacket?” Jayce was down to just his shirtsleeves. And he was hastily trying to roll them down to combat the slight chill.

“Um...I don’t remember...” He stuck out his lip in a pout. Viktor could not believe his eyes.

“Jayce, how much have you had to drink tonight?”

“Not like...a lot!” He was a terrible liar, and Viktor’s skepticism must have shown because he just kept talking, “No no no really, like it wasn’t anything. I’m fine! Maybe I’m loud,” He said, spreading his hands wobbling a bit, “but we’re talking, we’re having a conversation! Just talk to me Vik you’ll see I’m fine!”

Nevermind that the logic was baffling, clearly by having this conversation anyone could tell he was smashed. He needed to apply drunk logic to this situation.

“Jayce the sooner you tell me what you drank, the sooner we can go inside.” he said calmly.

Jayce stuck his hands in his armpits and wiggled a bit, rolling back his eyes like he was trying to remember.

“Wine and beer.”

Unhelpful. “How much wine and beer?”

“A wine. A beer.” He said in a sing-song sort of way.

Viktor blinked. That shouldn’t be possible. Jayce was a good head taller than him and built like an ox. How could a single wine and beer do this to him?

Jayce started bouncing a bit. His cheeks were flushed and that ridiculous pout returned. “Can we go back in now?”

Viktor couldn’t let Jayce go back inside to keep drinking. He had to take him home before he made more of an ass out of himself. He sighed, but not before finding his jacket.

“Yes, we need to find your jacket. Then we can go home.” Viktor said plainly.

“What? Home? Nooo.” Jayce whined, “But this is your first time at the mixer, I want you to have fun.”

“I had fun and now I would like to go home.” He needed Jayce to come with him, “Please Jayce? Let’s go back to your apartment.”

Jayce petulantly turned away, “But I wanted to hang out and drink with you...” he mumbled.

Viktor did his best not to sigh again, “Well...I am done drinking for tonight. So how about we go back to your apartment and...” to borrow a phrase, “hang out there.”

Jayce’s face lit up. “You mean it?”

“Em yes...” Nevermind that he was going to try and get Jayce in bed as soon as possible. “Now, let's try and find your jacket and head home.” He said one last time, because he had no confidence that Jayce retained any of it.

“Okay.” And Jayce smiled so sweetly. Genuinely happy to make Viktor happy.

Viktor turned to go inside, but Jayce laid a hand on his arm, “Ooh oh shit, Viktor wait! I just remembered, I had another half a beer.” He said terribly chagrined,“...can we still go back inside? I’m sorry I forgot.”

Viktor blinked, “I…yes Jayce we can still go inside.”

—-

Thankfully they were able to gather Jayce’s things. A few of the professors had taken to watching over them in his progressing inebriated state. From there it was easy enough to call a taxi to take them back to Jayce’s. It was not easy however to ignore how their cab driver was watching them from the driver's seat. Jayce’s growing fame seemed to draw more eyes by the day.

It didn’t help that Jayce was in quite a state. He didn’t want to sit on opposite sides of the cab, he wanted to sit next to Viktor. So he crawled into the middle. He leaned most of his weight onto him and asked, “Which place are we going? Mine?” In a terrible attempt at a stage whisper.

Viktor made eye contact with the cabbie, instantly blushing. “Yes. I’m trying to get you home to bed.”

“Aw bed? Noooo you said we could do other stuff!” Jayce said, getting right into Viktor’s personal space.

He didn’t have time for this. “Jayce, we are in someone’s cab right now, let’s talk about this at your apartment.” He whispered. “We’ll hang out there, alright?”

“Fine...” Jayce mumbled, leaning harder into him, “You’re so bony Viktor. What’s with that.” he whined.

Viktor could not wait to be done with this.

---

After a brief fight over Jayce’s keys, they were finally inside. Jayce unceremoniously flopped onto his couch, without taking his shoes off, and started prattling about...well as best as Viktor could make out, a wizard.

Thankfully he had been in Jayce’s apartments before, so he knew his way around the kitchen enough to get them both water.

“...Did you know that Felix’s last illusion involved a real tiger? Like a real one, he brought it on stage and everything, he was amazing. He had the coolest tattoo’s, Viktor do you have any tattoos?”

“No. Drink this.” He handed him the water, then gently prodded him to get up. As he didn’t trust him to have the sense to avoid trying to drink it lying down.

Jayce moved from his stomach to a sitting position, took the water and began to gulp its contents. Viktor tried not to stare as it dribbled down his chin.

“Your shoes are still on, you know?” He took a seat beside him.

“Ah shit…” he mumbled.

That earned a smirk, Jayce was pleasantly amenable in this state. A little like an eager to please toddler, if that toddler was 6 foot something, made of solid muscle, and took to swearing liberally.

With his shoes kicked off, he leaned back, glass pressed against his chest. With an absolutely lopsided smile plastered on his face. “Hi Viktor.”

“Hi Jayce.”

“You look very cross with me.” He said playfully.

“I am just having trouble understanding how you became so drunk on so very little.”

“That’s hardly my fault.” He pouted.

“I wasn’t blaming you, I’m not even that mad. You… can just be a handful like this. That’s all.” Jayce was staring intently at him.

“It’s a very good thing you have two hands then.” He said seriously.

A beat passed.

Viktor burst out laughing. It was so stupid. What an absolutely dumb solution. Dumb. He dissolved into groaning unbridled laughter as Jayce was soon giggling alongside him. Unable to keep himself upright. His water sloshing out of his glass, as he slid down the couch.

“Ah fuck.” He giggled from the floor, which only made Viktor laugh harder.

When the laughter subsided, Viktor had a stitch in his side, and he was wiping away tears. Jayce was no better, head in his hands, still slightly wheezing.

“Are you even close to sobering up?”

“Ahhh,” he removed his hands from his face, wincing, “Mayyybe? I don’t want to be though…”

“And why is that?”

“Mmm, I like not having to think so much. It’s nice just to be with you and we don’t have to talk about work…” the corners of his mouth crinkled with a shy half smile.

“We can talk about magicians.” Viktor supplied.

“Yes! Magicians!” Jayce said enthusiastically. “I love magic!” Throwing his hands up in support.

Viktor smiled, “Heh, alright. Tell me about your favorite magician.”

Jayce lit up like a streetlight and launched into a rambling spiel about someone named Gideon. Viktor made himself more comfortable on the couch knowing this was something Jayce could talk about at length. He turned this new information around in his mind, Jayce wanted to talk more with him outside of work…he enjoyed his company. More than just as a work partner…It was nice. Jayce had always been very friendly, but it was nice to confirm it wasn’t just surface level.

“He was the best at up close magic, you know?” Jayce said enthusiastically.

“Right.” Viktor replied. And Jayce’s smile made the whole night very worthwhile.

[grabthelantern]

Who Would Win: Jayce vs. Viktor

By Helmight

You’d think that the greatest minds of Piltover and Zaun would get along well, but instead they hate each other’s guts. While Jayce and Viktor used to be colleagues, they've since grown into hated rivals due to a series of misunderstandings and philosophical differences. Eventually, one is going to try to destroy the other - and hopefully the Twin City survives the clash.

The Daring Inventor

Jayce is more scientist than warrior, but nonetheless has proven to be a potent adversary. He’s got one of the sharpest minds in Piltover and was able to smash through Viktor’s golems with ease, despite his lack of training. The latter part, however, can largely be attributed to his transforming Mercury Hammer. The hammer is a flexible and versatile weapon that places plenty of tools at Jayce’s disposal, though he still needs to think of how best to employ them.

However, Jayce still is more inventor than fighter. He’s not trained in combat, nor is he particularly well-armored for it. He has to lean heavily on the Mercury Hammer’s strength in combat, and Jayce is prone to spend more time talking than actually fighting - and getting hit for it. Still, one should take caution when coming up against the Defender of Tomorrow.

The Focused Visionary

As with Jayce, combat isn’t exactly Viktor’s forte - however, the Machine Herald has prepared his body for battle regardless. His metal limbs likely give him increased strength and durability, and his third arm means that Viktor will always have a free hand while fighting. All of that’s without mentioning Viktor’s other tools - his Hex Core, death rays, and deployed devices can easily allow Viktor to best foes.

But steel isn’t without its flaws. Viktor’s limbs, however strong they may be, are likely to conduct electricity and are significantly heavier than flesh, making him slower. He’s also even less of a warrior than Jayce is - at least Jayce has had to learn how to swing a hammer around. Despite it all though, Viktor is a powerful opponent and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Steel Against Flesh

This particular matchup is the hardest I’ve had to analyze, but at the end of the day I have to give the win to Viktor. Jayce’s overconfidence and bravado put him at a severe disadvantage to Viktor’s cold, calculating approach, and the Defender of Tomorrow is likely to play right into Viktor’s hands. It also doesn’t help that Jayce is only a threat because of his hammer - so long as Viktor can deprive him of that, there’s no way the Machine Herald can lose.

Meanwhile, Vik is a multi-angled threat. His various inventions and devices mean that he has plenty of options and tools to employ in a fight, and he’s calculated enough to figure out the best way to use them all. Sure, Jayce “beat” Viktor in their first fight, but from the way it’s written it sounds like Viktor didn’t even take part in the melee. Were the Machine Herald to actually stand against Jayce, the Defender of Tomorrow wouldn’t be living to see the sunrise.

The Verdict: Viktor Wins

Disagree with my assessment? Or did you just want to suggest next week’s bout? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to like and reblog this post if you enjoyed it!