I probably love Arcane so much because, to me and my personal life experiences, Viktor reads as asexual with some touch aversion.
In so many scenes, Jayce is the one to initiate touch. Viktor doesn’t shy away, but he doesn’t always reciprocate in a deliberate way. He sort of leans in to the touch without touching back, welcoming the touch and showing it subtly.
In their final scene, it’s obviously incredibly emotionally charged. Jayce is holding the back of Viktor’s neck and pulling him in, and VIKTOR closes the gap to lean their foreheads together BUT he puts his hand on Jayce’s forearm NOT the back of Jayce’s neck.
For me personally, this was the moment that Viktor became likely my favorite male character in Arcane. He was still showing affection in the way that made him most comfortable, and Jayce, a character we are told time and again is incredibly touch starved, still wants him without forcing him to be as physically affectionate.
That pure and unasking acceptance from Jayce, who is shown to be highly physical, hit me so hard. I’m asexual, my physical affection boundaries are very high. I rarely initiate contact, but I will lean into it or welcome it on occasion. Being physically affectionate past a quick hug, leaning against someone, or a passing touch is just beyond my threshold of comfort. I’ve tried to change this about me so many times, but it’s always ruined my romantic relationships. So seeing Jayce know that about Viktor and still choose him over everything else in the world? I got a bit emotional.
It probably sounds really dumb, but there are tons of ways this can be read and everyone’s experience with media is entirely subjective.
