#old man jayce old man jayce old man jayce

[tiredcupofangry]

Yes hurt me more....

I think I need a month out of work for this to sink in...

[hexhomos]

Christian trying to get rid off Jayce and saying he(they) will continue with Viktor's story in the future is kinda hilarious.

Jayce was hated on by the fans but the moment he accepted and came to embrace gay love he got doomed in the narrative because he chose Viktor.

I think non-league people are HIGHLY missing the point of that comment. The Viktor that he believes can be explored in the future is the god-like hooded figure still at large, or the myth of him, in time-broken legends or temporal anomalies, meddling around. This isn't about getting rid of jayvik. My bet is that we're talking about this guy:

Not human and not a god but something else ambling around, like Ryze (which originally is who we thought the hooded man was).

But let me put you in on a secret: Riot doesn't do long term planning like that. Half of season 2 was unwritten when they began animating, we know rewrites happened, we know they decided mel and ambessa would be champions halfway through and that probably had a massive impact in how these last acts played out. This is probably why the piltover/zaun conflict was slowly pushed to the background, too. We had to do champion marketing pitches!

If they see the jayvik ending as something enduring and profitable long term they'll spin on their heels again. They already did it once. After s1 there was a whole community meme about riot hating fags and always bro-coding them and it was so widespread on twitter they hired Lil nas X to do the game anthem on the immediate following year, and canonized more champions that had suppressed gay undertones. And have you seen how general audiences reacted to those scenes? The average viewer thinks JV are gay as fuck.

They might even throw old viktor out altogether. Make it about the jayce and viktor that disappeared. I think it's pretty likely in a few years we'll get vague references to the herald & his soul companion in lore drops or associated environmental details, like they're in some sort of doctor who situation.

[iblameashley]

Okay... I need to get some thoughts out...

To anyone who hasn't watched the end of Arcane, you may want to skip this. To be kind to y'all, but put my thoughts under the cut.

I really want to start off by saying that I actually did like Arcane! But like with most things, now that I have had time to reflect... I have feelings. And where better to get them out than Tumblr / screaming into the void.

They amusing thing to me about Arcane is that, for all its progressive themes, it still manages to fumble (from my point of view), gay representation. Gay men, specifically...

But as an Old Gay™ who has lived through so many TV shows that bypass, imply, nod, wink and nudge at gay relationships, if not flat out kill the gays and deny them a happy ending; I'm tired of implied gay men.

Lets start with Old Man Yaoi™

So in the alternate universe we get a glimpse of what is heavily implied to be two old gay (or Bi) men happy together.

I know some people might look at it and be like 'you're looking too closely at this, they're just friends now.' but... There is only one thing written more homoerotically and we'll get to that later.

Once again, all we are given is gentle touches, smiles and glances. And that can be fine sometimes. But its all implied and subtle. We have a whole dance scene with Ekko and Jinx, but they could have had Vander and Silco in the background dancing as well? We could have gotten a tender kiss?

We were given lesbian sex in a jail cell, but two gay men having a loving an intimate moment was too much? Of course it was. Lesbians are the safe option. They're always the safe option in TV when you want to have gay relationships. (This is not to say that lesbians get a 100% free pass, or don't have backlash! I simply mean that TV producers feel more confident including lesbians over gay men in media).

And of course we have Jayvik

I read on the other (hell) site that the creators of Arcane never intended to make Jayce and Viktor an item. I don't follow the creators and have no intention of looking it up, but lets be honest... this shit was so homoerotic.

But once again, things are mostly just implied or alluded to.

Would I have loved for them to kiss? Yes. Did I need them to kiss? No.

The gentle touches and looks were nice, for sure. I enjoy the intimacy of the moment, but we couldn't even get an 'I love you' with the actual words.

It feels like, once again, we can't have two men confess they love each other (even if it was platonic) because that would just be too much. Instead we get another repeat of "I want my partner back."

And then of course they explode into... something. Of course they could have simply changed states of being, or something. But its frustrating to always see gay men (viewers) get the short end of the stick once again. I'm tired of having to settle for implied romances or confessions of love from two men.

Anyway. I still loved both seasons of the show overall, but I just needed to let some of my frustrations out. I will now return to being delusional and throwing myself into the fandom to get more gay content that TV still hesitates to provide me with.

As an Aside... Loris deserved better!

I want this man in ways I cannot accurately express on this site. (I'd give this babygirl all the peanuts he'd want)

Thank you for reading my little gay rant. I feel better having typed things out a bit, even if I didn't cover every one of my intrusive thoughts in this post.

[harpieisthecarpie]

Harp's way too long "interpreting Jayvik as a queer rework of Judas & Jesus" ramble (BASS BOOSTED)

Okay so I have a ramble about jayvik's jesus/judas parallels that was inspired by the acoustic vers of JUDAS by The Reverent Marigold (amazing trans nb artist pls listen) and a mutual I'll tag in a reblog bc this is LONG

But this particular song is one I hold close to my heart (and project onto my favorite stories) bc it's a fundamentally compassionate reading of a biblical figure who is viewed as anathema by believers for a fate he never even had the chance to change.

To skip my kinda long Judas preface ramble go to the next orange text

Jesus forsees Judas's betrayal, he lets it happen. Yet Judas has become a reviled figure for being the catalyst of Jesus's transcendence from prophet to Christian deity.

Jesus had to be betrayed, he had to "die for our sins", and he had to fall so he could ascend. He could not be the redeemer without his betrayer.

Yet Judas, who is argued to either be destined or hellishly influenced for his betrayal, in my eyes didn't have to betray Jesus with a kiss. An emotional gesture, whether romantic or familial or platonic or whatever.

There was a gesture of devotion even in that act of persecution, and Judas died in despair of his own actions.

Okay this is the jayvik ur here for

Okay okay this is the part about jayvik, because when everyone was mad over Jayce killing Viktor during the 2nd batch of s2 eps, all I could think about how Viktor had been stuck in a limbo. Half ascendant and half trapped by his mortal form.

Like Christ was Jesus of Nazareth before being the Son of God, s2 Viktor is stuck in the middle of The Scientist and The Herald. Not quite mortal, not fully deity.

Something's gotta give, someone has to hammer the last nail in his coffin (or the crucifix in this instance), someone has to be the Betrayer for Viktor to be the Redeemer. And would we really want it to be anyone other than Jayce?

Would Viktor want it to be anyone other than Jayce? Someone other than his partner, the first man he saved on his path to ascendance. The man killing him with compassion because the Viktor of before had never wanted this.

And it's fascinating to me that within the parallel to Christianity, the differences in Arcane's story give Jayce and Viktor a far more lovely, compassionate ending than Judas and Jesus ever had. At least in the mainstream canon.

It's why I compared jayvik to Rev Mari's JUDAS instead of the basic story. JUDAS's queer themes and Rev Mari's lyricism reframe Judas in a kinder light and humanize Jesus in ways that make me so happy.

Lyric examples:

Because queerness, especially in gender, is so deeply about compassion, and living true to ourselves, and killing what is keeping us from growing into our own identities.

And the fact that Viktor and Jayce, with all their allegorical connections to the Savior and Betrayer, got such a beautiful, transcendent, and queer ending is. Meaningful

Wayyy more analysis under the cut! YAY

go to the next pink if you only want my main conclusion :]

Because Judas's story ended in him taking his own life, and Jayce was given a near rebirth when Viktor saved him from taking his own.

Judas's betrayal was predestined as a tool for Jesus's ascension to Christ the Son, while Jayce's betrayal was that he actively went against Viktor's decision and Viktor's autonomy. When Jayce killed the in-between Viktor he was repenting for that betrayal, and in doing so he was saving himself. In the Christian sense of the word, where Salvation is of the soul.

Only, in the Christian sense of the word, Jayce's salvation would have to come from the Savior. He would be praying for guidance, even if from that in-between Viktor.

But he doesn't put the onus on Viktor to forgive him, he doesn't compromise his devotion to his partner Viktor at the behest of this new Viktor that came from Jayce's betrayal.

When Judas sent Jesus off to die, that was his greatest sin. Jayce's was forcing Viktor to live in spite of Viktor's wishes.

The popular belief is that Judas was condemned to eternal damnation, punishment for a betrayal that Christ needed to ascend. And I think that is the saddest, most hopeless thing in the world.

If Christ couldn't– or wouldn't– save his friend and follower who fell so deep into guilt when his led to Jesus of Nazareth's death that he killed himself, how could anyone trust in their own salvation? If Judas was condemned to rot in Hell when his "loving" deity was done using him, why the fuck would anyone want that Salvation?

pink text indicating the conclusion

So Jayce and Viktor, in this fucking fundamentally queer story, saving each other and knowing each other and finding each other in every fucking reality like their souls could never exist apart is beautiful to me.

Neither of them were the passive objects of the other's Salvation. We know this because Jayce's original betrayal and the Herald's reality shifting "fixes" didn't save the other, nor did those actions condemn themselves.

Neither were helpless, or groveling for "forgiveness", or forced to fundamentally alter who they were at the core in order to be worthy of goodness.

They weren't exactly Jesus of Nazareth and Judas Iscariot, because Jayce and Viktor were written with a fundamentally queer compassion many refuse to apply to their faith.

Neither Jayce nor Viktor were purely Salvation or Forgiveness.

They were better. Jayce and Viktor saved each other, and themselves, when instead of forgiveness they offered acceptence and compassion.

I read it as:

There is nothing to forgive, because there is nothing wrong with you. I'm sorry I tried to change you, there is nothing wrong with you. I will prove in every reality that there is nothing wrong with you.

I found you again, and I'll find you again, because you held my soul so gently your hands left shining, iridescent marks that guide me to you in every reality.

There is no Jayce without Viktor, and no Viktor without Jayce, because they made it so. They chose to be soulmates, in whatever way you want to read it. And that means so much to me.

tl;dr arcane showed us the kinda religion we'd get if they let jesus be trans and have a boyfriend

[goshtoon]

Okay so they freaked it didn’t they?!

[ncstalqiaa]

"Not every relationship has to be romantic."

But what do you mean Jayce, after having just survived an attack he shouldn't of, glanced amongst destruction and landed upon his partner's lifeless body, and rushed him to the hexcore where he broke his only promise on a whim, in the hopes that it would save him?

What do you mean when Viktor emerged from the hexcore substance protecting him, completely altering his appearance to one that would concern any random onlooker, but Jayce was only focused on the fact that his partner is alive? Confessed that his priorities all along were wrong and he wanted to spend the rest of his time working in the lab with Viktor?

What do you mean after barely surviving in a barren universe unknown to him, Jayce made it his priority to eliminate the hexcore, possibly killing his partner in the process, because a being of Viktor from another universe admitted to him that only he can make Viktor see what path he is leading humanity to? That Jayce was so fueled by the idea that he could bring his old partner back that he struck the man with a beam of magic as soon as he came across him on his universe?

What do you mean Viktor fought and fought to have Jayce by his side, harmed many people and put people in the way of Jayce's wraith, hoping that Jayce will recognize his plan to glorious evolution free of any imperfections, and Jayce remained hell bent on either having his old partner back or having nothing at all?

What do you mean when Jayce was cornered, kneeling before a crowd of Viktor's glorious revolution, recreating the exact world-ending scenario in the barren land he was sent to before, instead of fighting, he relaxed and let himself be transported by Viktor to whatever realm Viktor resides in, allowing complete trust in a being that for all he could know, has completely taken over his best friend? his partner?

What do you mean Jayce admitted to Viktor, or whatever was left of him, that he found beauty in his imperfections? That his weaknesses were not weaknesses, but a piece of the shattered image that was his partner? And that he admired each and every one of those pieces of Viktor, to which Viktor only saw as imperfections that needed to be cleansed?

What do you mean when Ekko's device ruptured and tore away part of Viktor's mask, his first instinct was to curl away from Jayce and hide his face? Hide whatever remained of his being, his humanity, from the one person he knew had enough sway to tear down this armour he grew around himself? This armour that upheld the image of the villain? And yet Jayce's first reaction was admit to Viktor that all he wanted, was his partner back?

What do you mean Viktor's first instinct to such an acclamation, was ask how could someone be so persistent with him? After everything he has done to the world, to his partner?

What do you mean even after all the hardship Viktor put Jayce through, endangering him and almost killing him on multiple occasions, Jayce's first reaction was to embrace his partner?

What do you mean after realizing in every single universe, Viktor would end up alone. In complete solitude. And he still fought to uphold the image of the villain and shove Jayce away? Telling him that he must leave. That to Viktor, he was deserving of whatever punishment this would be. That Jayce deserved to return to Piltover and live out his dream of creating magic and to pursue love with Mel? That he must bear this burden of eternal solitude for however long, because Jayce was not deserving of being forced to live along side him for eternity?

What do you mean that Jayce would rather be reduced to atoms, spread across the universe and no longer holding any physical form, than returning to his life from before, because he would be with his partner. He would be his partner's anchor, when the rune became too erratic and out of control. He would endure such an act cradling the face of his partner, knowing they would live on within each other. That they would be together for eternity. Atoms intertwined together, blanketing the universe they watch over together.

~~~

So of course, not all relationships have to be romantic. But Jayce was able to break past every façade Viktor threw his way. He saw past Viktor's need to cure weaknesses and to be 'perfect', because he was already perfect. Jayce didn't fall in love with this Messiah version of Viktor, who gathered a cult following by stripping individuals of their identity in the name of curing them of any weaknesses. Jayce fell in love with the man who saw him at his lowest point, at his rock bottom, and yet saved him from an untimely demise because he saw strength within a field of 'weakness'. That although Jayce was ridiculed at his trial, Viktor found ambition, intrigue, curiosity.

Viktor loves his partner because he knew Jayce would always have his back, no matter the circumstances. And sure, they might argue, but Jayce never saw someone as beautiful as Viktor, no matter how weak his illness made him. Viktor's humanity was beautiful and Jayce loved him for it the night he met him.

[the-glorious-evolution-fanart]

It's crazy how cringe Arcane S2 Viktor is. He's a Machine Herald without the "machine". It's just like calling Mordekaiser as the "Iron Revenant", and taking away the "revenant". It makes no sense at all, and destroys the whole character. It's like making Jhin with his face visible, when everything that makes Jhin himself is the anonymity of his face.

Suffice to say, I'm disappointed, and if they choose to make Arcane Viktor as the in-game one with the VGU & Rework, I'll quit playing Viktor. I don't want to play as another corrupt mage like Brand or Xerath. I want to play as a cyborg man from Zaun. Closest we have is Urgot, but even then, he's not a ranged character. Camille? Again, close range character, and from Piltover. And they're not quite the same as Viktor, who is fully set on prosthetics, and helping people, and being a scientist who builds golems.

It's like Viktor will become a completely different character, and I'll continue to prefer his current LoR version as the in-game canon since I love that version of him right now. Welp, guess the only place where we can play as his original version will be LoR. Such a shame.

The whole plotline of "Piltover-Zaun becoming one against Viktor's and Noxus' armies" makes me cringe so hard, you have no idea. Weren't we supposed to have an animation series about Piltover and Zaun? When did it become about "Noxus vs Piltover and Zaun"? But I liked Jayce. He's become Giga Chad, basically. Sure, doesn't fit his S1 character, but which character stayed loyal to their S1 versions? I didn't like S1 too because it didn't set up the base for Viktor becoming the Machine Herald at all (not into robotics, no comment on human emotions, etc.), or for Jayce to be an arrogant guy who's very hard to work with. No, instead we had their "better" versions. It makes me so angry. 😭 I'm not even starting with what kind of abomination they've turned WW into. He's supposed to talk. Not act like an animal %90 of the time and just speak one word the whole season.

Swain crows and Mel allying with LeBlanc was cool, ngl. Doesn't make a lot of sense as to why Swain doesn't move a finger to stop Ambessa and her army whatsoever, but whatever. Also what was the "subtle foreshadowing" they did on the last episode? Geez.

Ambessa fighting scene is literally what happens in every movie: the guys who are shooting all the time suddenly stop and let the main character(s) kill them. What a classic.

Betrayal wasn't expected but didn't surprise me.

Viktor model is just outright cringe. Mask looks ridiculous. Hair looks ridiculous. Cane? A whole another level of ridiculous. Voice not at all Machine Herald's. Human face still visible under Reddit Upvote button, disgusting. Halo of runes(?) behind his head, forced Biblical stuff. Has magical husk slaves like Evelynn in LoR who has the ability to fly and infect, apparently. SUS. He also has gone to the full "people shouldn't have control" mind-set, which I don't appreciate since even the Convergence Comic Viktor at the start was hating the cult, blaming them for twisting his ideology for their own sick beliefs. His third arm just looks like a horrid monster from S.O.M.A. game, but in a really bad way. Also wow, Viktor now apparently has the power to telekinesis.

Wow, apparently Caitlyn is such a powerful and lucky(!) character that she can fight while being stabbed by a dagger. Wow. Not plot-armor at all.

I appreciated how Ambessa's men literally do nothing to help their commander, which should have happened since Noxians use any and all means necessary to win. They used Singed's chemical weapons during the invasion of Ionia. Guess they forgot about their own principle: "Guile" 💀

WW can teleport now?! Wtf. Also impenetrable skin. They're really going for that "Shuriman Ascended WW", huh? Everyone can fly now, apparently.

Wow, galactic god Viktor. So cringe. Old Viktor. Viktor paradox. How worse could it have been?

Aaand, "happy" ending because why not. 💀

Jinx using herself as a bullet? Now that's a first. Was Jinx's death supposed to be sad? Sorry, I was cringing over every other thing wrong with the act that I couldn't find it in myself to feel bad.

What I didn't understand is how did Orinna came to be??? Hello??? Can we get an explanation please??? Because she's not the Orianna we know at all.

NOOO THEY'LL DESTROY NOXUS NEXT!!! NOOOOO 😭😭😭

^^^ it's over.

Orianna got injected with Viktor's and Warwick's blood I guess, so now she has 3 dads!

[pissgoblin973]

also;

these are my thoughts on the specific plot threads you feel were neglected — again, i’m not hating or anything. for the most part i agree with your stance on the pacing feeling off, i’m just putting in my two cents.

1. a lot came out of jinx being the face of the revolution actually..? i get the feeling of wanting more but it wasn’t a throwaway plot point for nothing. in times of crisis and oppression under the rule of the kirraman/noxus alliance jinxers looked to jinx as a symbol of hope. she was the image of their rebellion, the undercity was forming factions yes, but for a reason greater than themselves - no more petty squabbles, the enemy is topside. jinx whether intentional or not, made them realise that.

2. ekko needed to save his tree was the catalyst and a necessary step to him encountering the wild rune in order to save the world. if not for his tree dying, ekko would have no reason to step foot in piltover seeking help from jayce of all people. this decision is deliberate. ekko is as responsible for everything happening as jayce is, he is little man — he sent them on that job, he knew jayce as “the boy who didn’t haggle”. i don’t believe that decision was by mistake. this is further confirmed in the alternate reality where jayce and vi are dead, hextech ceases to exist, zaun appears to be independent or at the very least civil with piltover. to save his community he needed to take that leap, and leave a few people behind.

3. ehh, an exploration of vi’s trauma would be nice? but vi isn’t that kind of character. she’s closed off, a fighter, always on guard. not as weathered down as jinx who constantly expresses her internal battle with herself or caitlyn who masks her pain in the facade of control. there’s sprinkles of her trauma throughout the show in both seasons but an entire segment dedicated to it seems like a bold/risky decision from a writers perspective. her relationships with others is what makes her who she is, without them she is nothing/stagnant. she needs people to protect/keep alive or else she’s not living up to her promise — vander’s last wish.

^ also like, eldest daughter syndrome go brrr

4. caitlyn does realise the error of her ways, again it’s in small tidbits and hidden in the details. she doesn’t just “get with vi” because she wants to, there are moments where you see the gears in her brain turning and she looks uncomfortable or conflicted about what’s happening. sure it’s not explicit and doesn’t take up space in the grand scheme of things, which is what i think you wanted more of. but i promise you it’s there.

5. sevika got done dirty and also not at the same time? she was the character i wish we squeezed more out of. thematically speaking, her journey from henchman to a leader and the face of zaun makes sense and is absolutely perfect in every conceivable way. she evidence of the “old” zaun, one that relied on loyalty, she was there during the revolution, during silco’s takedown and his inevitable fall (sorta). i just wish she found out that jinx killed him so we could see how she would process that. but she deserves to be at that table. i wish we got to see more but i don’t think it’s by mistake either, there’s so much to explore with her, who knows?

Arcane Season 2 ‘s pacing is atrocious and nothing is ever properly followed up. Jinx being the face of Zaun’s revolution? Nothing comes out of it. Ekko trying to find a way to save his community from the Hextech infection and learn more about his efforts of saving Zaun? Dropped and he is absent from Act 2 until reappearing in Act 3. An exploration of Vi’s trauma? Unexplored to focus on her relationship with Caitlyn and Jinx. Caitlyn realizing the error of her ways? Skipped over so she can get with Vi. Viktor’s journey to becoming the Machine Herald out of his own choice? Sped over with Singed doing it for him. Sevika leading Zaun? Skipped over until the end where she is now a council member representing Zaun. Mel got a proper solo arc but her screentime was limited.

[silverynight]

The selfish choice

Based on the first episode of act 3 s2. Contains spoilers

Jayce wakes up not precisely screaming, but scared. Maybe the explosion was a dream, but it felt terrifyingly real. Still, he needs to make sure the hexcore is alright, and figure out a way to destroy it.

But when he sits on the bed, he realizes the ceiling is not familiar to him. There's something weird about his body too, even though it looks the same, it's like he's wearing something that's not his even though he's naked under the sheets.

Why is he naked? Suddenly, a sharp pain in his temple makes him groan; flashes of the explosion fill up his mind as his own fingers run through his own hair, and he realizes it's longer... He also has a beard. He hasn't grow one in a long time, he's sure of it.

What's going on?

"Are you alright, Jayce? Did you have a nightmare?"

That voice. He'd recognize that voice anywhere... And the hand on his shoulder, a hand that hasn't been corrupted by hextech yet.

"Viktor?"

"Yes, it's me. It's okay, you're here with me. At home."

It's Viktor. The old one, his partner. But, at the same time, Jayce realizes, as he cups the man's face in his hands, that this Viktor looks different, healthier and happier.

He smiles more, and the expression reaches his beautiful eyes every single time.

"What is it? You look confused," Viktor says gently, caressing his shoulder.

Then Jayce notices that Viktor is also naked under the sheets; he's wearing a wedding band, and when he looks at his own hand over his partner's cheek he realizes he's wearing another one. One that matches Viktor's.

They're married. But he doesn't find the fact weird; it's not even remotely surprising. It makes sense somehow. Like something he should've done from the very beginning, but he was too obsessed with hextech to see the right path in front of him.

However, he's aware he didn't do that; he's not married to Viktor no matter how much he wants it now that the option appeared in his mind.

What's going on? Is this a dream? And if it is, can he stay a bit longer?

He doesn't want to wake up.

"I'll make breakfast. You should stay in bed," Viktor says, getting up before Jayce can grab his arm and beg him to stay with him. He stops only because he finally gets to admire Viktor's beautiful body for the first time. There's not trace of hextech on him.

Then he notices the prosthesis. His right leg. Even thought it's the first time Jayce has seen it, it looks familiar to him somehow.

"Where did you get that?"

Viktor chuckles; it's so good to see him laughing and happy, Jayce wants to make him do that sound again.

"Very funny. You perfectly know you did this for me. It was the first one. We do these for the people who need it. The Kiramman family pays for them."

Jayce can tell Viktor is passionate about the project; he likes to help, he likes to build things to improve people's lives in any way he can. In his heart, this also makes sense. He should've done this in the first place.

"What about hextech?"

"What are you talking about?" He's completely dressed now and Jayce laments it. But he gets closer and touches his forehead. "You're a bit warm, but I don't think you're sick. Maybe you should go back to sleep."

"No!" He snaps, startling Viktor for a moment. No, he doesn't want to go back to sleep because he'll lose this, he's sure of it.

"Maybe we should take the day off. You clearly need some rest."

Jayce has breakfast with him, he looks at their house with wonder; there are a lot of pictures of them, moments he doesn't remember, but that somehow make sense. In some of them, or perhaps a lot, Jayce finds himself staring at Viktor with a besotted grin on his face.

He helps Viktor with the dishes and kisses him for the first time in their kitchen; he can taste Viktor's smile against his lips and although it's familiar, it's completely new at the same time. He should've done that a long time ago.

When Jayce pushes him towards the bedroom, Viktor stops him.

"Wait," he chuckles again. "We should go buy groceries first."

"Viktor, please," this version of him must beg a lot, because his husband just rolls his eyes before following him inside.

"I love you, Viktor," Jayce says with tears in his eyes as flashes of the other Viktor appear in his head; he loves that Viktor too, even though he's been consumed by the hexcore now. "I think I've always loved you."

"I know," he smiles softly, running his fingers through Jayce's hair as they roll their hips together. "I love you too."

***

As the days pass and Jayce gets used to his new life; he realizes that this is not a dream. It feels too real to be one. He's starts wondering if the explosion sent him to another reality, a kinder one.

If that's the case he should try to find a way to get back, but without the hexcore there's no anomaly here.

And frankly, he's not sure he even wants to try; this Viktor is completely his, Jayce doesn't have to share his body and soul with the hexcore. The other one loves their project more than he loves Jayce. He's not sure the other one loves him the way Jayce does.

One day, Heimerdinger knocks at his door, and when he opens it he's tempted to close it right on his face. But then Viktor peeks over his shoulder and smiles.

"Professor, come in!"

This could be the Heimerdinger that lives in their reality, a different one; one who doesn't know about hextech. But Jayce has a bad feeling about him.

"I would like a cup of tea."

Viktor immediately leaves, heading towards the kitchen, acting like this is something that happens quite often at their house.

"How long have you been here?"

"How do you know, professor?"

"There's a different look in your eyes, boy. Besides, the other Jayce doesn't look at me like I'm a threat," Heimerdinger replies simply, staring right back at his former pupil.

"Do you want us to go back?"

"I don't know how we could do that, to be quite honest," he replies, prompting Jayce to finally relax. "I just had a feeling you were going to be sent here too, and I wanted to make sure you were alright. But I can see you have adapted quite well already."

"I don't want to leave, professor."

"I can tell."

"Is that wrong? Am I making a mistake?"

"I don't know."

***

When he sees Ekko again, it's months later; the headaches and flashes of his past life are not that frequent anymore, but it's because Jayce has trained himself to ignore them.

This time, it's Viktor the one who opens the door. Jayce it's in the living room so he manages to hear part of what his husband is saying.

"Is this your new pupil, professor? I'm Viktor. It's a pleasure, Ekko."

This is not a coincidence. The boy has finally arrived and it means nothing good for Jayce.

He rushes towards the entrance and stands between Viktor and the other two, like he's trying to shield him from them.

"You're acting a bit weird today, Jayce," he blurts out, confused before glancing back at their guests. "Don't mind him, he gets overprotective sometimes."

"It's fine," Ekko says. "I understand."

No, he fucking doesn't.

"Viktor, can you give us a minute?" Jayce asks, taking one his husbands hands before kissing it softly.

"Sure. I'll be in the lab."

He leads them to the study before closing the door behind himself; he's getting angry, and the fact that they're both looking at him with pity it's making him feel even worse.

"I won't help you find a way to get back," he says, trying not to growl.

"We already created the anomaly," Ekko shrugs. "We didn't need your help."

Jayce immediately flinches, thinking about all the things that could go wrong.

"You never asked," he blurts out before looking at the boy: "How long have you been here, Ekko?"

"I told him we shouldn't bother you," Heimerdinger cuts in then, when it's obvious Ekko is not going to answer any of Jayce's questions. "I apologize, but I genuinely thought you could... uhh... make everything a bit more difficult, if you agreed to help us."

On purpose. Heimerdinger thought Jayce could sabotage their project. But he doesn't get mad because he's right.

He would've.

"Then what are you doing here?"

"You need to come back with us," Ekko says, using the exact words he fears the most.

"No."

"Listen, I understand why you-"

"No, you fucking don't!" He growls without actually meaning to.

He hates that Ekko doesn't lose his composure, he hates that he's the mature one even though he's younger than Jayce.

"I do," he insists calmly. Jayce can see it in his eyes, the sorrow, the love... "I have someone here too. I don't want to leave her, but there are other people who need me where I come from. She's there too, another version of her, but I don't want to give up on her just because she's different."

The right words to undo him; the words that bring the image of his Viktor into his mind. He loves his Viktor too, but selfishness has been blinding him this whole time.

He can't give up on him, even if that Viktor doesn't love him as much as Jayce does.

He can find a way to destroy the hexcore and save Viktor at the same time; maybe they can have what they already have in this reality. It'll take some time and effort, but Jayce is going to be patient. He can fight for it.

"Let's go, right now."

"Aren't you going to say goodbye, boy?" Heimerdinger asks, taking pity on him. It's even worse than Ekko's judgment.

"If I see him I won't leave."

***

Something goes wrong. The core is reacting different in that reality, Jayce can feel it as his and Ekko's other selves get thrown out of the sphere and back into their reality.

Heimerdinger gets out before it's time to leave, he disappears outside the core and both Jayce and Ekko know they won't see him again.

When he opens his eyes he knows this is the reality he was supposed to land in the first place because his hammer is there, like it's been waiting for him this whole time. But Ekko is not with him.

And this place, this new reality looks like hell.

[shokuto]

I gotta confess.

I…don’t think I liked the Arcane finale.

(Spoilers for whoever hasn’t seen it yet, obviously.)

It’s obvious that with three episodes left, the creative team prioritized the Arcane more than the political intrigue of Piltover and Zaun. The narrative surrounding the former comes full circle quite well, and the theme of progress being a never ending journey propelled by human imperfection was, in my opinion, very well written. When Jayce finally gets through to Viktor, he drops some gems about the fallacy of perfection as a destination that I’ll probably be quoting when I’m an old man.

But as someone who was more invested for the themes of inequality and oppression, it’s hard not to feel like things are majorly unfinished between Zaun and Piltover. It doesn’t feel like there was any closure for the generational cycle of violence perpetuated onto the region. The urgency of a common enemy, (introduced by one side mind you), only goes so far. Yes, Sevika’s a councilor now, and no one deserves more than her (except maybe Ekko), but like…that’s it? There are a lot of things, like Cait going all Mussolini on everyone, that more or less go unanswered I feel.

And lastly, elaborating more on that cycle…Jinx’s demise. Now, I think she in fact left to end the cycle of misfortune she believes she perpetuates by walking away as her ghosts advice her. But does her sacrifice, ambiguous or not, really solve anything? Does it address the factors in her (and Isha’s!) upbringing that set her on that path? No, not really. It’s…an escape. A pretense to retreat the responsibility of actually dealing with anything. And I mean that for like, the show itself.

Now, bear with me because there are things I liked about the finale (Ekko’s generational performance comes to mind), but for all the twists and turns of the final battle, I think the show would’ve benefited from having more time to cook, so that all the cohesion would extend beyond just the Arcane.

Hey, at least the music was great.

[itshermocrates]

Some thoughts on Vander and Silco's relationship

I already talked about this when Arcane S1 first came out, but now that the show is over and we got to see a different reality where everyone has a good ending (except for Vi I guess) I want to bring back my Silco x Vander thoughts

So yeah, vanco ?? silder ??? post

Even if in Arcane S1 there’s some sort of parallel between Jinx/Powder and Silco + Vi and Vander, in my eyes those two were made for an old man yaoi story

Now that we have seen Jayvik’s evolution and that glimpse of them together in a “better future”, I realized that Vander and Silco (+ Felicia) could have something similar to what was happening initially with Jayce and Viktor (+ Mel)

Two best friends working together for a common cause, one hopelessly in love with the other while his partner can’t see ―or doesn’t want to recognize― his own feelings. Since I already have a Jayvik analysis in my drafts, I’m going to focus on Silco and Vander

This will be half a theory - half a fic + I also posted this on BlueSky so yeah, if you see it there it was also me lol

[Pinning, Unrequited love and love confessions that go wrong ahead]

I think Silco and Vander were the perfect duo back in their youth, together they had the brains and the strength, using both charm and cold logic to make people eager to follow them. What Silco lacked, Vander was able to provide and vice versa. Together they were the greatest leaders Zaun could ever ask for.

They not only completed each other like two puzzle pieces, but also shared a bond that had been nurtured since childhood. They had been facing hardships and Piltover’s aggressions since they were little kids, so it was natural that the years of friendship brought them impossibly close.

Some even said that they could have entire conversations without exchanging a single word.

At some point Silco developed a crush on Vander, how could he not? Despite his strength and sometimes scary appearance, Vander had always been the big sunshine boy who was looking after him. That urge to protect and take care of others seemed to be part of his very essence, and if someone benefited from this, it was his best friend.

Of course, they needed to fight and get dirty in the deepest hellholes of Zaun, but even when Vander got his knuckles drenched in blood, Silco could only see the kind man with bright eyes and a dream for a better life that Vander truly was.

Silco really thought that this new beginning for them was only possible because Vander was there with him, since when hope seemed completely lost, when the circumstances took another member of their little family, Vander always remained firm in his stance. They would find a way, they would fight back, they would keep pushing forward and they wouldn’t stop until they finally had the future they deserved.

Oh, wasn’t he convincing? Always the beacon in their times of need, who else could lead them out of their misery?

Vander’s kindness was disarming, and his light was so bright that Silco couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He loved him so deeply it made him feel sick, but he could do nothing about it. Vander had been in love with Felicia for almost as long as Silco had loved him, and even if she wasn’t really interested in him, there was no way that man could get over his emotions.

Just like Silco himself couldn’t make his own feelings go away. He pinned for years, forcing himself to hide how he felt so nothing changed between them and he didn’t lose his best friend. He had to protect their friendship, but, above everything else, he had to protect their dream of a free nation for Zaun.

Silco pinned and suffered in silence until he couldn’t take it anymore, until his unrequited love felt like an open wound badly infected, moments away from killing him. Then, and only then, he confessed.

Vander didn’t make a huge deal out of it, he was understanding and visibly confused. It was an awkward situation, but he could be nothing but kind, even as he broke Silco’s heart. Of course, he didn’t feel the same.

Or maybe he did, but he was too blind to see it, too infatuated by the idea of a future with Felicia to give a shot to a real future with him.

Vander had used a very familiar word to excuse his lack of introspection, one that served him as a shield while unknowingly harming Silco as if it had used the sharpest of blades.

“Silco, you’re my brother…”

They used brotherhood a lot to describe their relationship. Their found family, their friends, their allies in the Zaun revolution and even the fucking pilts, they all could see how deeply they cared for each other. And every time that was the reason they assumed to be behind their bond.

No one could ever deny the love in their eyes, the protective gestures, the smiles... It was obvious, but everyone assumed that what they shared was a blood bond. For Silco it was much more than some stupid liquid running through their veins, what they shared had been built over years of companionship, years of pain and struggle, blood was fucking nothing in comparison. Their souls were connected in a way no one could ever imagine or understand.

And Vander knew this. He knew how strong their bond was, but he hadn't really asked himself if what he felt for Silco was something more than brotherhood. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do if it wasn’t the case either, but he didn’t go as far as to truly consider it.

Vander didn't know how to react to Silco's confession, he didn’t want to hurt him or change their world forever. He was happy as they currently were, it was easy to live with Silco as a brother, but he didn’t know what was waiting for them if he ever allowed himself to analyze his own feelings.

Because of this, and completely unaware of the pain he was causing, Vander uttered that seemingly harmless word that Silco couldn’t stand anymore.

Brother.

The softness in his tone didn’t make it any less devastating. The pain in his eyes, as he knew how badly he was breaking Silco's heart, didn’t make it easier to hear.

The countless "I love you"s he pronounced after that, reassuring that even if it was not the same feeling, Silco was still one of the most important people in his life didn’t soothe the agony of his reopened wound.

None of that mattered.

Because he didn't feel the same as Silco.

The same word that once had been forced on them was now stronger than anything he had built together.

Silco didn't want to feel that pain, he couldn't allow it to stay inside his chest, not when it was so profound.

So he decided to leave The Last Drop. It would be only for a couple of days, to distance himself a little from the source of his pain and try to stitch close that damned cut.

During that time, alone and completely heartbroken, he focused on thinking of ways to achieve the goal they had been fighting for since they were teenagers. The Zaunite revolution and Zaun’s independence. He ignored his pain and used all his anger to plan their next move in their fight against Piltover, thinking of new ways to finally defeat their enemy.

It was during those days, blinded by the pain of his aching heart, that he understood they could only win against Piltover if they showed their true nature to the world. He knew by then that they needed to be more aggressive in their methods and destabilize, not only their government, but also their peace.

Let their own people know what monsters they had for leaders.

Let the people of Piltover suffer the same pain they had suffered since the very moment the City of Progress came to be.

The fight had turned into a way for him to forget his own suffering, and in his anguish, provoking pain to others stopped feeling wrong at all if that meant they could get closer to their goal of freedom.

It was at this point where the conflict with Vander started. Suddenly, the word "brothers" didn't quite fit them anymore, it seemed too caring for them. Now it was a word pronounced in a low voice, and when it was Silco the one saying it, his tone could only express disgust. He rolls his eyes as if the word was some sort of sick joke he hated to voice out loud, a reminder of what could never be.

Silco’s pain is a heavy weight preventing them both from going back to what they once had, and seeing this wounded Vander every single time his friend reminded him of his rejection. This, and how differently they started to approach their fight, made them step further and further away from the other.

And when they saw each other during important meetings, Silco threw the word “brother” extremely carelessly, always with the intention to wound Vander instead of calming him and expressing how much he still loved him.

It had turned into a word that neither of them could ever forget, and that would hunt Silco until the end of his days.

It had turned into a word that neither of them could ever forget, and that would hunt Silco until the end of his days.

[There's still a lot of resentment in Silco's expression, and in this scene before saying brother, Silco rolls his eyes. The man was PISSED]

In conclusion, I think "brother" was Silco and Vander's equivalent of Jayvik's "partner" and I bet Viktor was pissed as hell everytime he heard someone reffering to him as Jayce's partner AND JUST THAT, for both scientific pride and his hopeless crush on Jayce Talis.

[lioniheart]

Arcane spoilers under the cut, BEWARE!

My opinion on each character post-final episode + my delulu theory using old league lore:

Ekko: my socialist king, I love you, you're my dude forever and ever

Jinx: crazy girly, deserved a break, give Isha back to her rn

Vi: can't forgive her for putting on the enforcer's coat, sorry

Cait: can't forgive ger for becoming a dictator, sorry

Jayce: you crazy closeted bissexual man, fuck you

Viktor: you crazy closeted homossexual man, fuck you

Heimendidididi: never liked you, fuck off with your 300yo lifespan never doing anything for zaun

Vander: is alive and you couldn't take that fact away from my cold dead body

Silco: jacket inside Vander's? You crazy closeted homossexual man I have a toxic relationship with you (don't cry, you're perfect has been engraved in my head since 2021)

Sevika: I can take her (not in a fight)

Isha: no body? No funeral? No explicit death with gore? SHE IS ALIVE I'M TELLING YOU. I was right about Vander and I am right about this.

Mel: wtf actually? Hot powerful but I have a very bad feeling (also I love you)

Crazy doctor dude: fuck you so hard but also do the Vander thing to Isha rn

Ambessa: never have I ever imagined I could hate a muscle mommy, but she proved me wrong. Cheered loudly for her death

DELULU THEORY

Ok I'm not great at explaining this shit but hear me out

In the original League of Legends lore, the players were actual beings in the universe. We were called the Summoners (maybe something else in english actually, I've only known lol lore in portuguese) which were these demigod-adjacent beings, with the power to (you guessed it) Summon legends from different places and times in the universe in order to play a game, kind of like chess, against other Summoners. We would place these legends in the Summoner's Rift arena and just have fun with their misery, basically.

This is how I got to know lol back in 2019, but I was never really into the game and my friend who is a die-hard fan says this lore has been forgotten about.

My theory is basically that most of the characters we don't understand the ending for have been summoned to Summoner's Rift (heimendididi? Arena. Víktor and Jayce? Arena. Jinx and Vander? Arena. Isha tho I think is going to be experimented on by crazy doctor dude) and that Riot's plan for arcane is to make this a big Marvel like universe, where they'll flush out every legends backstory and then have an Endgame moment, where we see all of the characters in the arena. Maybe it'll end there, maybe we'll see them trying to escape, but I do think it'll be interesting to watch anyway.

[c0zmocl0wn]

Hey, I’m sorry if I offended you?? I don’t think he groomed him, though. I don’t think there was any sort of romantic intention towards a twelve year old, even if there was manipulative intentions behind it. Viktor is flawed. Viktor is a flawed character, and Jayce is a flawed character as well. Does that make that okay? No. However, do I think that they weren’t destined to be together (as adults)?? No.

The mage Viktor, when he finally meets Jayce in the alternate dimension, does admit that he was wrong. He admits it was always Jayce that made him see the good and error in his ways. He wants to change, and not be this monster of a man he’s made himself. There’s character growth in that.

They’re incredibly messy. More than that, actually. Mel deserved better, Ekko deserved better, hell, SKY deserved better as a character more than something to further Viktor’s character arc, but in that last scene where they choose each other despite it all? I think that’s touching.

In any case, you’re entitled to your opinions, and I fully respect that.

“ You would’ve shipped Mel and Jayce if Mel was a man !! “ I don’t think you get it. I don’t think you get that, in every single universe, every possible timeline, Viktor and Jayce found one another. Not Mel. Yes, they loved each other, I’m not denying that, but there’s a level to Jayvik I don’t get with JayMel. Mel only went after Jayce because of his hextech seeming like a grand investment. Mel needs someone who loves her back as much as Jayce loved Viktor. like Lest or sum ..

maybe the writers saw them as ‘brotherly.’ the very creators of the show themselves ship might prefer jaymel, but me? im sticking with the soulbound lovers.

[olisephaa]

The leaks abt the new Viktor VGU confirming they're replacing all of his old skins and designs with the Arcane version is.... So so disappointing. I want to cry in frustration. Old Lore Viktor is self made, he and Jayce clashed over a difference in morals that were still understandable and grounded in reality. Viktor left, created his new body HIMSELF and used his ingenuity to help the people of Zaun. To replace all that with a sleek iPad version where he just gets possessed by an infected magic orb and ascends to godhood or whatever is SUCH a let down.

[dontyoulistentome]

That fight scene between Viktor and Jayce where they've become colour inversions of eachother and stereotypes of their own bodies...better not have awoken anything in them

[the-goblinprince]

and if i said heimerdinger is just a little sweetie and yall are all haters then what