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lullabyes22-blog · 7 months

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Snippet - Forward, but Never Forget/XOXO - Circle of Life

Jinx is a perfect little (gremlin) hostess.

Forward but Never Forget/XOXO

Snippet:

"It's Fissure turmeric," Silco says. "We've a fondness."

"I can see that." Salo snatches up a glass of water. His eyes are streaming. "Most—singular." He blots his forehead with his sleeve. "My, er, compliments." His stare falls on the server behind him. "Where's my wine, boy?!"

"I'll get it!"

Jinx is already rising. Daddy's little helper—and a thief in plain sight. If Silco isn't careful, she'll abscond with the whole carafe, and leave their party dead-sober.

Nothing bores like a sober Piltie. At least the dead ones don't talk.

Much.

Silco stills Jinx with two fingertips on her wrist.

"Sit," he says. "Finish your soup."

Jinx stops short, and sits demurely. But Silco doesn't miss the quick-draw of her finger across her throat. Not a stay of execution, but a playful shorthand: My good manners are killing me. Silco hides a smile. He’s always enjoyed their private language of give-and-take. Father and daughter, united in a common cause: stirring the pot.

The pot, tonight, is the Councilors' heads.

Sweetly, Jinx says, "How's your pudding, Councilor Salo?"

"Mnf," Salo nods, mouth full. "Delicious. What is the flavor?"

"Blackflower."

"A flower?" He swallows. "What kind?"

"It grows in caves," Jinx chirps. "Blooms every Equinox, with spines that look like teeth." She makes a hypnotic hand gesture, unfurling her tiny fingers in imitation of a spiked maw. "Their sap's lethal. But the cave-wasps use it to feed their larvae. The larvae digest it, then poop out a sweet secretion the color of blood."

"S-Secretion?"

"Yep!" Jinx beams. "It's super versatile. Boil it down and it's a sticky glaze. Ice it and it's sherbet. Add flour and it's cake." She taps her nose with a wink. "Here in Zaun, nothing's a-wasted. We recycle!"

Salo puts down his spoon. "You are joking."

"Nah. There's a whole industry. Blackflower honey. Blackflower liqueur. Blackflower gelato. Although the last bit's more entomophagy than scatology, if you catch my drift?"

"No-o...."

"Larvae, Councilor. Sweet, sweet larvae! We whip 'em into a froth, then drizzle 'em with cave-honey, like so—" She mimics a spiral with her finger, before the gesture morphs into a gun. "—blam!" Salo jerks. "The smoothest scoop of sinfulness in Zaun. Your pudding's made from the same ingredients. So's the stew. Even the vole's stuffed with 'em. That's what we call a circle of life. Am I right?"

"I see," Salo says weakly. "Most, ah, educational." He pushes the dish away. "If you'll excuse me..."

His exodus is swift. A lord ready to pledge allegiance to the porcelain god. The rest of the table marinates in silence.

"Yikes." Jinx pouts her lower-lip and blows a puff of air. Blue strands flutter off her forehead. Her eyes, unveiled, are luminous with mock-contrition. "Guess bugs are a bugbear for this crowd. You were right, Silco. Grilled scorpion would've been a bust for the entrée."

Silco smiles. A smile only Jinx can read. "Some topics, child, are better confined to cookbooks."

"And here I thought I was sharing the knowledge. Whetting the appetite. All that jazz." Her lip protrudes cheerlessly. "Boo."

#arcane league of legends #arcane #arcane silco #silco #forward but never forget/xoxo #forward (never forget)/xoxo #arcane jinx #jinx #arcane salo #arcane council #arcane hoskel #arcane shoola #arcane bolbok #arcane mel medarda #arcane jayce talis #mel medarda #jayce talis #snippet

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mollysunder · 2 days

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i just thought of this but I think the robot councilman and viktor will get involved with each other given that viktor is the machine herald

Personally, I can't see Viktor cooperating with any of Piltover’s Councilmen once the war starts, especially Bolbok. From the few scenes Bolbok's been seen or mentioned he takes a punitive approach to Zaunites and magic, and appears to be an aggressive businessman. These are all traits Viktor detests so there's not much chance for even a desperate Viktor to partner with Bolbok.

I can see where you're coming from though. Bolbok's apparently from a race of sentient gas creatures and the robot shell just encases his gaseous body. In circumstances unrelated to the PnZ war, it would be interesting to see Viktor and Bolbok explore transhumanism through the way they build new bodies for themselves to survive Runeterra. But alas, the political gulf between them is too wide (and Viktor's probably getting banished).

I'd also add that Arcane is likely adding a magical (Void-related) twist to the Machine Herald's development. Bolbok's design post-hextech revolution does not incorporate any use of magic even after all this time, so I can't see Bolbok adopting Viktor's highly experimental/dangerous work for his own body.

#arcane #viktor arcane #machine herald #piltover #councilor bolbok

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sacenmewey · 2 years

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Arcane ramble

I have a tendency to like characters that get very little screen time or story so I obviously am interested in counselor Bolbok. I just want to know more about him asfgkl

I really hope we get to see more of him next season, out of the council I think he has a likely chance to survive if we are to assume he a cyborg/robotic to a degree (it is pretty unclear if his face is robotic or if its a mask). I do wish they would have done more with him. He was against the arcane crystals at first due to what happened to his kind but we didn't see a follow up to that. How did he feel once it was incorporated in piltover. Did he put his mistrust aside because of the benefits it brought? Did he just accept it because everyone else voted in favour of it?

If he survives I want to see his reaction, sense once again the crystal that almost erased his kind has been used in a destructive way. Though I understand why he doesn't show up too much story wise and because he probably is a pain to animate thanks to his design

Anyways-

#arcane bolbok #rambles #arcane #arcane thoughts #arcane netflix

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altairet · 1 year

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My sister says Bolbok looks like a vape. I agree.

#arcane #league of legends #shitpost #Bolbok is a vape #go cry about it

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thedustybunny · 7 months

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Chamomile kisses - Chapter 10

Viktor (Arcane) x Fem!Reader

As days passed, (Y/n) delved deeper into her research on the peculiar yellow flower from the Zaun forest. The potential of this discovery was exhilarating, and her mind buzzed with the myriad of possibilities. She tirelessly analyzed the properties of the pollen, noting its vasodilative effects on the human body. This was groundbreaking, not just for herbal medicine but for modern medicine as well. The medicinal applications seemed endless, ranging from treating high blood pressure to addressing heart failure, and who knew what other conditions could benefit from this newfound knowledge.

Yet, amidst this scientific excitement, (Y/n) couldn't help but wonder about Viktor's absence. Had he been avoiding her? Or was he preoccupied with his own work? The uncertainty nagged at her, but she knew her research was crucial, so she pressed on.

As her findings continued to flourish, (Y/n) took a significant step by scheduling a meeting with the council. She hoped to persuade them to allocate resources for a greenhouse at the academy, a space where she could further develop her discoveries and adapt them for various medical applications. It was a bold move, but she believed in the potential of her work to transform the world of medicine.

The day of the meeting had arrived, and (Y/n) stood resolutely before the council members. The faces of Bolbok, Kiramman, Hoskel, Medarda, Salo, Shoola, and Heimerdinger stared back at her, a mix of anticipation and curiosity in their expressions. (Y/n) had garnered considerable support from them in the past, but today she was requesting a substantial increase in funding, a decision that would carry a significant cost.

Viktor, positioned among the onlookers, watched with a cold and unyielding gaze.

Undeterred, (Y/n) began her presentation, outlining the importance and potential impact of her research. She passionately described the vasodilative properties of the Zaun forest flower and how it could revolutionize both herbal and modern medicine. The council listened intently, and as the room gradually settled, Heimerdinger, the most senior council member, voiced his support for (Y/n)'s project.

"I don't see why not to grant this," Heimerdinger said, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Unless anyone has any objections, we will provide the necessary funding."

A spark of joy lit up (Y/n)'s face upon hearing these words. She was so close to achieving her dream, but that dream was suddenly cast into doubt by Viktor's sharp voice. He stood up, taking the opportunity to voice his numerous objections.

Viktor vehemently argued against (Y/n)'s herbal remedies, denouncing them as pseudoscience that had no place within the academy. He claimed that such funding could be better utilized in more worthwhile areas of research, dismissing her work as a stain on true scientific progress.

The atmosphere in the council chamber became tense as Viktor launched into his objections, his words a sharp contrast to Heimerdinger's earlier support.

"You can't seriously be considering funding this nonsense!" Viktor exclaimed, his voice dripping with disdain as he pointed at (Y/n) and her presentation. "Herbal remedies have no place in our pursuit of true scientific advancement. We should be allocating our resources to projects that actually matter."

(Y/n) bristled at Viktor's words, her frustration evident. "Viktor, I've presented evidence of the potential benefits of this research. It could save lives, revolutionize our approach to medicine—"

Viktor interrupted, his tone cutting. "What you're proposing is a waste of valuable resources. We need to focus on technological advancements, not rely on outdated practices."

Council members exchanged glances, some appearing torn by the debate unfolding before them. Hoskel, known for his pragmatism, spoke up, addressing Viktor. "While we appreciate your perspective, Viktor, we should consider all avenues of research. If (Y/n) believes this could yield promising results, it's worth exploring."

Viktor scowled but didn't back down. "You're all blinded by sentimentality. This is about science, not feelings."

(Y/n) shot back, her voice determined. "And science is about progress, innovation, and the pursuit of knowledge. Closing off potential avenues of research is a disservice to our commitment to advancement."

The debate continued, the room filled with passionate arguments from both sides. It was clear that this decision would have a lasting impact on the academy's direction and (Y/n)'s future.

The room seemed to hang on a precipice as (Y/n) and Viktor locked eyes, their argument escalating. Heimerdinger's voice, when it came, was a bellow that echoed through the chamber. "Enough!"

The council members fell into immediate silence, their attention drawn to the diminutive yordle at the center of the room. He gave Viktor a brief, sympathetic glance, knowing the inner turmoil his protege must be experiencing. "Viktor, my dear boy," Heimerdinger began in a voice that was both gentle and firm, "we value your concerns. Science, after all, thrives on skepticism and debate. However, we must also consider the potential benefits to the academy. The revenue generated from (Y/n)'s research could fund countless projects for generations to come."

Heimerdinger turned his gaze towards (Y/n), a twinkle of approval in his eyes. "And that's why, (Y/n)," he addressed her, "you will be granted the permission and funding to continue your work."

Viktor tried to interject, his frustration palpable, but Heimerdinger cut him off with a raised hand. "Enough," he reiterated, his voice commanding. "This session is over."

With those words, the council members began to disperse, leaving behind a defeated Viktor and a triumphant (Y/n). It was a moment of victory for her, yet the growing divide between her and Viktor couldn't be ignored, casting a shadow over her elation.

As the council meeting concluded, (Y/n) couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Triumph coursed through her veins, the sweet taste of victory lingering on her lips. She had won this battle for now, securing the funding and permission to further her research. It was a significant step forward in her quest to revolutionize medicine.

However, she couldn't ignore the heavy atmosphere that had settled in the room, much of it emanating from Viktor. His defeat was palpable, and his resentful glare bore into her back as she made her way out of the council chamber. The divide between them had deepened, a vast chasm of opposing beliefs and priorities.

Outside the meeting room, (Y/n) couldn't help but ponder the cost of her victory. Her once-friendly interactions with Viktor had devolved into bitter arguments and icy silence. The camaraderie they had once shared seemed irreparably shattered.

Jayce, who had been observing the proceedings from the sidelines, approached (Y/n) with a congratulatory smile. "That was quite the battle in there," he remarked, clearly impressed.

(Y/n) returned his smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "Yes, i suppose…" she sighed, casting a glance back at the council chamber where Viktor remained, a solitary figure surrounded by fading echoes of dissent.

With the victory she had long sought now in her grasp, (Y/n) couldn't help but wonder if it was worth the growing chasm between them. The path of progress had a price, and she had just taken a significant step down that road, leaving a deep divide in her wake.

#arcane viktor x reader #viktor arcane x reader #viktor arcane x you #viktor x reader #viktor x you #chamomilekisses #arcane x female reader #arcane x reader #enemies to friends to lovers #arcane x you #I’m not dead don’t worry #lots left to the series #thank you all for being here

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matchamilkislover · 5 months

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In The Darkest Corners, 10.

pairing: vi x fem!oc (reader with a name)

warnings: mature themes, just an overall minors beware, violence, just general arcane-ness.

word count: 2,009

synopsis: the infamous council meeting - and the aftermath.

author’s note: it’s going down, i’m yelling timbeeeerrrrr

don’t forget to read the other parts first!!

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ﾟ☾ ﾟ

Olive and Vi were just leaving Olive’s old house when they heard running footsteps on the sidewalk, coming closer. Soon, Caitlyn came into view, and gestured for them to hurry up.

“The next council meeting. They moved it up. To tonight,” she said, opening the gate for them. “We need to be ready.”

Olive’s heart felt ready to beat out of her chest. She and Vi were waiting just beyond the doors to the Council’s meeting room, waiting for the signal for them to enter. Vi stood beside her, her face unreadable. The only hint Olive had to how she felt was the subtle sign of Vi’s clenched jaw that she could see out of her peripheral vision. Before she knew it, Cailtyn was leading them into the room where each council members’ eyes instantly latched onto the three of them. Olive could feel their eyes burning through her skin, reopening searing wounds that had barely healed. Vi’s hand suddenly clenched around hers for a moment, a reassurance Olive didn’t know she needed. Caitlyn introduced Vi but then trailed off as she turned to Vi.

“Olive Whitlock…” Salo murmured. His piercing eyes were slowly looking her and Vi up and down.

“This is ludicrous!” Hoskel suddenly thundered, pounding a fist on the table. “You have some nerve-”

“Excuse me!” Mrs. Kiramman cut him off with a sharp tone. “Calm your temper, Hoskel,” she hissed.

“Please, we just need your ears, only for a moment,” Caitlyn continued for her mother, stepping forward. She nodded towards Olive to signal that she should speak.

“I’m sure you’re all aware of the…events that took place a year ago. Or where I’ve been since then,” Olive began. “I would never believe it if I hadn’t experienced it for myself. But, the undercity…it's being ravaged. Its inhabitants, eaten alive by shimmer and fighting for their lives every day. They’re being run into the ground by violent crime lords, led by the puppeteer who rules over them all. Silco.” A quiet round of gasps left the councilors’ mouths.

“Silco? The industrialist? We’ve conducted investigations of him, there has been no sign of such organization.” Bolbok questioned.

“And who led these investigations?” Olive snapped, now glowering. She knew. They all knew. Marcus, the dirty police chief that raided her home and ended her life. Marcus, the one who had held her at gunpoint on the bridge before being blown to bits by firelights. Bolbok sighed.

“What does he even want from us?”

“Power. He believes the undercity should be independent. He calls it the Nation of Zaun.” Olive continued, knowing that she had the councilors wrapped in her words now. Jayce Talis suddenly cuts in, lifting a familiar object onto the table. One of Jinx’s bombs.

“And who is responsible for this?” He asks, returning Olive’s glower. Olive opened her mouth and glanced at Vi, but Vi nodded and stepped forward.

“Her name is Jinx,” Vi said, finally speaking.

“And this Jinx has the gemstone?” Jayce asked. Vi nodded. “Then we need to go in by force.”

“That could trigger war!” Another councilor protested.

“There are good people down there,” Olive joined in, not having expected this sudden turn. A different councilor grunted.

“Yeah, about as good as your mother,” The official muttered under his breath. Olive felt her swallowed anger flare inside of her.

“What the fuck did you just say?” She demanded, hurtling forward to where the offender was sitting. Caitlyn hurried forward to hold her back.

“Perhaps there is a diplomatic solution,” Mrs. Kiramman interjected, looking desperate to calm the fire that had been started.

“You don’t know war, Jayce. I do. It must be our last resort,” Councilor Merdarda continued for her. Jayce scoffed.

“What? You want to negotiate with the undercity? With this- Silco?” He demanded angrily. Vi cut in again.

“This is fucking insane- have you learned nothing? He won’t listen to you, you can’t just talk to him! He hates all of you, and everything you stand for!” Her aggressive stance and movements towards the councilors put the enforcers standing by the door on edge. Mrs. Kiramman’s face finally hardened.

“Enforcers, please escort them-” She was cut off by Vi.

“No need. I remember where your stupid fucking door is,” She spat before turning and leaving, Olive close behind.

When they finally exited the grand building, night had fallen, and rain was pounding down on them. Vi was moving so fast that Olive was struggling to keep up.

“Vi, wait!” She cried out, grasping onto her arm. Vi turned towards her but pulled her arm away.

“I never should’ve gotten you involved with this. I never should’ve…” Her voice trailed off.

“What are you talking about? We can fix this, we can still-” Olive didn’t even finish her sentence.

“No, we can’t. We tried, okay? But if I keep letting you get wrapped up in…all this, you’ll get hurt. Everyone always does,” she said, continuing to walk away. Olive’s frustration flashed.

“You can’t just walk away from me, after- after everything! We’re in this together.” Her voice was firm, but her eyes were red and she had to focus to keep her lip from trembling.

“It’s over, cupcake. I need to go back to where I came from, and you need to stay here, where you belong. You’ve got Caitlyn and a big, fancy house that you can fix up. You don’t need me.” Olive’s heart squeezed at the hurt in her voice.

“You’re wrong. I don’t belong here anymore. I- I don’t belong anywhere. But together, I know we could fix everything, I know we could find out what happened to my family and take down Silco and-”

“No, we can’t!” Vi’s voice came out harsher than Olive expected. “You’ll be better off if you stay here, with Caitlyn. If you forget me.” Her eyes were trained on the ground as the rain that soaked them dripped down her hair and face.

“But…what about us?” Olive asked, her voice finally shaking, the tears that had been threatening to spill pouring out of her eyes and down her cheeks like the rain that already streaked them.

“Like oil and water. It wasn’t meant to be.” Vi turned around and left, disappearing into the dark, rainy night.

Olive waited until she was completely out of view before she let herself fall against a light pole while her body was wracked with sobs, head in her hands. She forced herself to hold back the screams that threatened to burst from her throat. She couldn’t explain why it was suddenly hard to breathe, and why her heart felt like it was ripping apart inside her chest. It was a long time before she picked herself up and trudged towards Caitlyn’s house, soaked to her bones by the rain and her face wrecked by crying.

—

Before Vi had reached the edge of Piltover, a thought crossed her mind. That council member - Jayce, was it? - had been the first to suggest they fight by force. For the sake of her own heart, she knew she had to make sure Olive stayed away; especially if she was going to do what she thought she was going to do. She waited a bit longer until she was sure Olive would have left the council building by now, and then headed back, ducking in and out of dark corners to stay inconspicuous. She was sure the enforcers wouldn’t be too keen on letting her back in, and she liked doing things better this way anyways.

Vi slinked through the hallways of the dark building, searching for a sign of the council member. She eventually heard sounds of deep clanging and saw a faint light emanating from the bottom of a door. Bingo.

It took less convincing than Vi expected for Jayce to give in to her plan. This dude really is bloodthirsty. For what they were about to do, the more so, the better. The gauntlets felt so natural in her hands that she had to push away thoughts of the last time she had held something similar. Her focus stayed trained on Jayce as she leaned on one leg and reached out a gauntlet covered hand to him.

“We got a deal, pretty boy?”

—

Olive had nearly shocked Caitlyn to death when she showed back up at her door, soaked and still teary. The blue haired girl shushed her and led her inside, keeping an eye out to make sure no one saw the two of them.

“My mother really isn’t pleased with the stunt you and Vi pulled at the council meeting today,” she warned, making stern eye contact with Olive as she handed her a towel to dry off.

“I know, I- I’m sorry,” Olive replied with a sigh. It was hard enough to face Caitlyn now as is, and this had only made it worse. “I’d just like to stay one more night. Please.” Her eyes cautiously lifted to Caitlyn’s, trying to read her old friend’s expression.

“Oh Olive, of course you can stay,” Caitlyn replied breathlessly as she scooped her into a hug, ignoring that Olive’s clothes were wet enough to get her soaked as well. “But…where’s Vi?”

Olive felt her tears build up again. She pulled away from Caitlyn. “She left me. I couldn’t stop her. She said it was for the better.” Olive choked out the last few words, her face falling into her hands again as tears streamed down her face once more. Caitlyn seemed to be at a loss for words.

“Olive, I-...stay as long as you need. I’m so sorry,” Olive shook her head and cleared her throat.

“I can’t stay long. It doesn’t feel right for me to be here anymore. And I can’t keep piling this on you,” she replied softly. “Piltover is no longer my home.”

The next morning, Olive woke early and got ready quickly. It broke her heart, but she knew she had to leave before Caitlyn could stop her and try to convince her to stay again. Olive knew that she wouldn’t be able to say no this time. With one last longing look at her childhood home, Olive leapt off of Caitlyn’s balcony and made her way towards the total nightmare that was now her life. Even if Vi wouldn’t help her, Olive knew she couldn’t give up on finding her mother. On finding the truth. So back she went to her grubby shack of an apartment, to working odd questionable jobs here and there to support herself, to saving bits of food for days on end when money was tight. At least there, she knew she could do something.

—

Vi could hardly hold herself back from racing into the facility they were headed for and getting the siege over with herself. She and Jayce were loaded with a whole command of enforcers, everyone itching to take down what they now knew as the source of Piltover’s greatest headaches. If only she had known the dark turn this fight was about to take.

The attack on the shimmer facility was a blur of gunshots and bloodshed. Vi used the anger coursing through her to mercilessly take down any and all who crossed her path, ignoring the trail of those around her who had fallen. Finally, there was only one person left. A young boy that seemed oddly forceful in his determination to protect the facility. Vi recognized him as the one who had pushed the alarm in the building that alerted everyone of their presence and released the defense creatures. Vi knew that she had no choice in killing him. Apparently Jayce didn’t have the same opinion. She had hardly caught her breath when enforcers descended upon her, holding her down to clamp handcuffs on her. She growled and shouted shocked protests, shoving whatever body parts she could into them to try and overtake them.

“What the fuck!” she growled, still fighting. Jayce’s face was dark and overcast.

“Perhaps some time in Stillwater will teach you a well deserved lesson.”

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calchexxis · 2 years

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Breaking: Council Suspends Trade With Zaun With A Grim Ultimatum!

Argus Lapalli -- The Piltovan Star

Judica 62 ; 999 AN

This morning a shocking development was announced via official Council channels. Despite the tensions between Piltover and Zaun, trade had largely remained unobstructed. Both cities were founded on the principles of free trade, progress, and intellectual advancement, free of the tyranny of a political throne. For over two hundred years the dictates of trade and commerce have remained largely unobstructed by politics, due in no small part to Piltover’s steadfastly neutral status.

Today, that stance has changed.

With the passage of the Edict of Restriction, the trade of food and drink to Zaun has been deemed a violation of Piltovan law. The Edict extends not just to the Houses but to the smaller businesses and even individual. Anyone who is caught selling restricted items to Zaunite nationals or is found to have knowingly abetted the sale thereof faces steep fines, imprisonment, or even exile, depending on the value and amount of goods sold.

When questioned about their reasoning for this unprecedented shift in Council politics, Councilor Mel Medarda had this to say:

“The truth is that Zaun has become too hostile for Piltover to sell to anymore. We acknowledge that there is no Chembaron on the Zaunite Council that has anything less than a chequered past but never before have they brought someone who is so flagrantly hostile to us into their ranks. Jinx is a criminal even by Zaun’s lax standards, and granting her the authority of a Barony puts Piltover in an untenable position. We can no longer afford to sell wares to a city whose control is partially held by a psychopathic terrorist actively bent on our destruction. This is the first of many Edicts to come that will wean our economy away from Zaun. If they wish to declare themselves our enemy, then so be it, but one cannot poison the cup of peace and still expect to sip from it.”

Many have found it difficult to argue with Councilor Medarda’s logic. The announcement of the criminal Jinx’s ascent to the rank of Chembaron struck the people of Piltover dumb with shock. It seemed like an act of madness. Over the past year, Jinx has been responsible for at least two major acts of brutal terrorism against Piltover, first with the destruction of Dam Sextus, whose loss is still felt to this day by those districts which relied on it, and then later with the bombing of Spire Fourteen, in which the number of lives lost is still not fully tallied due to the chaos of the act.

That, of course, doesn’t count her first heinous act of violence against our fair city; the assassination of the Council. Councilor Medarda herself barely survived only thanks to hextech prosthetics and medical advancements, losing two limbs and suffering severe burns over most of her body. Our own honorable Sheriff Kiramman lost her mother in the attack, and the Great Houses of Hoskel, Shoola, Bolbok, and Salo lost their own matriarch and patriarchs.

It must be wondered; what kind of person could commit such acts?

After the first attack on the Council, there were apologists who claimed the act of violence shouldn’t have been shocking. Rather, it was an inevitability. Even Sheriff Kiramman lamented that the explosion of rage was probably unavoidable by that point, and that, in her own words, if it had not been Jinx it would have been someone else a year later. Indeed, the conditions as revealed by the Sheriff and her then partner, now wife, Violet, were found to be deplorable in the extreme. That, combined with the death of the Council, brought forth a vote of no confidence from the remaining Chembarons of the Undercity who, together, drafted a Declaration of Secession from Piltover, forming the Nation of Zaun as we know it today.

Now, though, it’s difficult to see how so much violence could still be warranted if, in fact, it ever was. Jinx’s rabid attacks on Noxus, Demacia, and our own city, seem to be proof positive that she is unfit to live in civilized society, and yet the Barons of Zaun have seen fit to allow her to rule part of it!

A question has been raised along with the announcement, however: Can there still be peace? Can we, as a people, come together and find a path that does require our two cities to go to war?

The prevailing opinion, tragically, seems to be: No.

At least, not so long as Jinx remains at large. It does not take a master of the political sciences to see the truth beneath this seemingly overly draconian Edict. It’s a message to the Barons of Zaun, and that message is this:

‘Cast Jinx out, turn her over, and perhaps there can still be peace.”

It is the hope of this reporter that the people and Barons of Zaun take this to heart. War brings naught but blood and death, and we Piltovans are a peace-loving people. Our city and our Ethos were founded upon the bedrock of avoiding the senseless violence that has gripped the other nations of our world.

Peace, though, is a two-way street; one that both nations must walk down from either end so they might meet in the middle, and so long as Jinx lives—so long as she continues to slake her mad hatred on the blood of Piltover’s people—there can be no peace.

So long as Jinx lives, there can only be war.

#Flashbangs & Frag Grenades #Headlines from Piltover #Approach to War

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lesbian-in-leather · 2 years

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My fears for Mel in Arcane season two

So I realised that, after warning everyone I was going to be posting a bunch of Arcane thoughts, I immediately got distracted by a video game and forgot to write any of them down. So here’s the most pressing one! (It’s been a hot minute since I watched the show now, so forgive me if I confuse a few of the details)

I am obviously very concerned for Mel’s safety. When we left her, she was about ten feet away from a missile aimed directly at her head, so I feel this concern is in fact warranted. Now, here’s the thing. Despite appearances, I don’t think the entire council is going to die. In fact, I am at least 98% certain that there’ll be an absolute minimum of one survivor, more likely two. And, hopefully, three. But I also think three is probably the maximum - so strap yourself in folks, because I have a tendency to ramble and I am absolutely going to explain why.

To make this easier to read, I’m going to give a list of all the possibilities as I see them, and then under the cut I’ll explain how I think each one could happen and why I think it will or won’t actually occur. Another disclaimer though, I know almost nothing about the League of Legends games, so I am basing this entirely on the show. Without further adieu, I present to you the possibilities:

Everyone in the room survives (highly unlikely)

Everyone in the room dies (highly unlikely)

Viktor survives (highly likely)

Jayce survives (highly likely)

Mel survives (fairly likely)

A select group of the other council members survive, either with Viktor/Jayce/Mel or independently of them (least likely)

Some combination of 3, 4 and 5 (most likely)

Everyone in the Room Survives

So uh. Yeah. I don’t think anyone thinks this one is super likely. The only way I see it working is if Viktor and Jayce’s defence plans actually did get off the ground behind the scenes and there’s a shield around the council chamber. I just checked and the episode cut as the window cracked, so theoretically that could trigger a shield, but it would also make far more sense for a shield to be outside of the building so the window shouldn’t have been reached in the first place. Plus, it would make for a really anticlimactic first episode if nothing came of the Big Finale Moment. I suppose another way for it to work would be if Jinx failed to actually create a working missile but she’s been shown to have grown so proficient with technology that I see that as so unlikely it’s barely even worth mentioning. So, yeah, I don’t really see any version of this happening, but it does have to be considered

Everyone in the Room Dies

Now, on the surface, I see why this would seem like a more likely option than I’ve given it credit for. However, I put it to you that if they actually intended for everyone in that room to die, then that would have been the end of the season. We would have seen this huge, fuck off explosion, we would have seen the rubble, we would have seen evidence of death! The fact that it ended where it did (coupled with several other factors that I shall discuss in a moment) leads me to believe that at least someone is going to survive, despite the fact that they’re all very close together with a very potent missile aimed right at them.

So, if I’m right, ‘who?’, ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ are the burning questions that we’re left with. To answer them, I’m going to go through everyone in the room and discuss how likely I think it is that they’ll survive, why I think that, and how I think they could survive the attack (if applicable).

Hoskel, Bolbok, Shoola and Salo

As the members of the council with practically no development and little individual significance thus far, I think it’s highly likely that they’ll all be killed off. Especially since they just voted to free the Undercity - if they survive, it really limits what can happen next. Yes, they were attacked, but if no one was hurt then... does it really matter? Why change the vote? Especially Shoola, who has always been an advocate for the Undercity - for the major conflict to continue, we need to raise the stakes, and that means minimal or even no support for the Undercity in Piltover (at least, to begin with). Though I think it’s likely all four won’t make it, if any of them were to survive, I’d say it would have to be Bolbok. This is purely because, since they appear to be largely (if not exclusively) mechanical, even if they do get blown up, that doesn’t necessarily mean death. We don’t really know anything about them or their race so... who’s to say they can even die? I think there’s a definite argument to be made for the possibility of someone rebuilding them in season two - be that Viktor, Jayce, Heimerdinger, Ekko, or even Doctor Singed.

Mrs. Kiramman

Now, unfortunately, I do think she’s one of the most likely candidates for death (which only makes it more likely that the previous four won’t make it either, since it would make no sense to have only one person die from the explosion - and if they did, it would be rather illogical to make the singular casualty Mrs. Kiramman). Unfortunately for her, I think she’s a necessary sacrifice for the plot - Caitlyn’s storyline would suddenly have somewhere new to go (taking over her mother’s seat on the Council), and seeing Caitlyn grieve would add the necessary emotional weight to the explosion that the previous four council members just can’t provide. Having the five of them die gives us both significant loss for the characters, significant change for the governing body and an excellent catalyst for season two. The question then remains, however: will any of our principal three die with them?

Viktor

I think it’s almost certain that Viktor will survive this attack, even if he’s the only one (which I don’t think he will be, but more on that later). We’ve only just begun his storyline of semi-merging with the core - he’s literally killed someone and, thus far, no one else knows about it! Technically, yes, his altered corpse could be discovered in the wreckage, but narratively it would not be satisfying at all for him to die now. He needs to face the consequences of his actions or continue work on the Hexcore - neither of which he can do if he’s dead. So how could he survive? I think there’s a significant possibility that he has some untapped ability from his solo experiments with the core, that could easily manifest in this moment to protect him (and perhaps other people in the room - a third potential way that everyone could survive, although I still don’t think that will happen). However, I do also think there’s a possibility that he could ‘die’... only to return as a part of the Hexcore. There is definitely a possibility that a copy of his consciousness is now stored in the core (maybe even along with Sky, though that’s less likely) and that that version of him could continue his character arc after the original Viktor’s death. There’s even the possibility that he could use this as an opportunity to fake his death in order to continue his... more questionable research, away from Jayce’s prying eyes. In short, I certainly don’t think we’ve seen the last of Viktor, but I do think the most probable plotline is that he will be instrumental in who does or doesn’t survive Jinx’s attack. Especially since the manifestation of any powers he may or may not have would kickstart Jayce’s realisation that he’s been experimenting with the Hexcore on his own.

Jayce Talis

I’d say it’s almost a certainty that he’ll survive. He’s been shown to be one of the most important characters in the series, arguably on par with Jinx and Vi, and I think it’s unlikely that his arc will be cut short so quickly. Like Viktor, I think he still has a ways to go - especially in terms of his research. Without him, Hextech could come to a standstill, and its development would certainly be stunted, which would slow down the plot’s development without an easy fix. I also think that he and Viktor have a lot left in terms of their plots with each other - it feels like Jayce should be the one to confront Viktor about his Hextech experiments, which requires them both to survive in one form or another. So, how can Jayce survive? Conveniently, Viktor is positioned right behind him. So, if I’m right about him having some newfound, core-given power, it’ll be all too easy for his instinctive protection to extend to Jayce. And hey, who doesn’t love the ‘someone Character A loves is in danger and the instinct to protect them activates a previously unknown power’ trope, right? There’s only one way I think Jayce will die, and that’s if he somehow manages to put himself in the missile’s path in order to protect Mel. Not at all off-brand of him, and would certainly create some interesting season two plotlines, but with the proximity of the missile as we last saw it, the only way I can imagine him protecting her is tackling her out of the way and using himself as a human shield to cover her, which... yikes. There’s also the option that the bracelet crystal Jayce was given as a child could activate in order to teleport them both to safety, which would be very interesting by giving us the rest of Piltover trying to continue without any of its leaders while Mel and Jayce try and find their way back from the middle of nowhere, but I do think that’s a rather unlikely eventuality.

Mel Medarda

Finally, we reach the crux of the issue. My favourite character, the title of this post, the reason Jayce instigated the crucial vote, the woman who’s jewellery glinted ominously in the light as she turned just in time to see a missile aimed directly at her head... you see why I’m concerned. It’s also not entirely off-brand of a lot of shows to kill off a woman like Mel in order to further a man’s storyline (in this case, Jayce’s), though the incredible writing of series one does give me some hope that they won’t just reduce her to a plot device. If Mel does die, I think that Jayce would have to survive, because killing both of them off at the same time would make writing the next season... difficult, to say the least. As already stated, it’s definitely possible that Jayce could save her life, either through magic or by sacrificing himself (which would give her an excellent setup for season two, in which guilt over his death drives her to consider her mother’s tactics). I also think it’s possible that Viktor’s potential powers could come into play if he sees Jayce run for Mel, and he could shield both of them. Having mentioned Mel’s mother though, I do think her presence will be important in the next season. If Mel dies, it opens up the possibility of Jayce being driven to new depths in terms of both the future of Hextech and the war in general, and Mel’s mother would absolutely utilise any opportunity to manipulate him for her own gain. But, if Mel’s dead, who would point out this manipulation? How far would Jayce go, without anyone to pull him back? And, again, making Mel a martyr would absolutely be a waste of an incredibly compelling character. So, what’s the answer?

I think the best option in terms of the various plotlines and my own personal satisfaction would be if Mel were to be seriously injured, but not actually dead. If she’s in a coma, for example, it still takes her out of the story for a while and still opens up Jayce’s storyline of guilt and revenge against the Undercity, and even provides a convenient place (Mel’s bedside) where he can be manipulated by her mother. Plus, if Jayce is saved by Viktor, the fact that Mel wasn’t so lucky opens the door to resentment, which will only further the already growing rift between them and push Viktor to experiment further (either to spite Jayce or in an attempt save Mel and prove that his work has merit). The other Council members will likely die though, in order to give Caitlyn a new angle to play from and introduce new characters to our core cast (for example, perhaps a new member of Bolbok’s species, allowing us to learn more about them?)

Anyway, this got a lot longer than I anticipated, so thank you very much if you read this far! If anyone has any further thoughts, please do share them with me!! Or, if you (for some reason) want to listen to me ramble about anything else, feel free to drop me an ask ^.^

#arcane #mel medarda #the lesbian herself #the video game was pokémon sword in case anyone's interested #and yes this is the long post i mentioned yesterday

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