I think there's just something in it. This blanket.
When Viktor rejects his past, his job, his social standing, his academic ambitions - all that and more. He goes to live his new life fully naked. Only with that blanket in tow. But when Viktor starts to build his new life, and his new self, closer to his actual goals (at least so he thinks at the moment), he doesn't get any new clothes.
People in the commune did. Sort of. They have redressed for the new life. And Viktor keeps wearing the only thing he brought over from the previous one. The cane doesn't count here, it also transformed into it's new self. But the blanket is still the same blanket. Just wrapped more securely around Viktor to give more coverage and protection like clothes would.
I'd say the commune followed Viktor's lead in ditching their old fashion styles and wrapping themselves in loose fabrics, like monks. For them it was abandoning their past. For Viktor it was not letting go of his. Not completely at least.
-----
There's something, s o m e t h i n g in this, you know?
He was wearing that blanket and only it. It became part of his divine (?) soul.
We don't see it on him in the arcane mindscape, where Viktor is happy and exploring with Sky (like he wanted to do with Jayce). We don't see it on him, when they talk honestly with Jayce. Viktor is actually naked there, soul bare, doing what he always wanted to do.
But each time Viktor tries to reject and diminish himself and his humanity, the blanket is there on his shoulders.
----
And I don't mean it in the soft "Jayce is always there caring about Viktor's wellbeing" way (even though it's totally true). Maybe Jayce did put that blanket on him the first time, but Viktor did it himself all the times after that. He kept the blanket and wore it in the commune. His mind created his celestial body on the arcane-plane, where the blanket wrapped around him like flesh. His divine evolved self picked the blanket up from the floor it fell on, after Viktor stepped out of the cocoon fully naked, not needing anything in life anymore but his goals.
----
This contradiction is so human.
It's like. No matter how strongly Viktor might want to destroy himself, his self who is weak and not needed. There was this one gesture of kindness towards him. At, probably, one of the most terrible moments of his life. When he was accepted and cared for as he is, even if Viktor couldn't bear it at the moment.
Idk, man. Now pull the blanket tight.
----
Even when Sky (symbolic representation of Viktor's guilt and desire for connection) was gone, he kept the blanket. On his soul now.
The braces on Viktor's god-self mean several things at once (not getting into it here, maybe in another post). But the blanket moving to that plane, too? Viktor's subconscious clutching at it, despite everything?
Like he actually never could let go of his humanity. Like it's impossible, when there's at least one little lifeline left. A glimmer of hope, of desire Viktor wouldn't even acknowledge to have.
Not even talking about the great gay love here.
----
Viktor wearing the blanket, pulling it tighter each time he essentially tried to kill himself. Means that he wants it. That connection. That kindness. Means that he wants to live. Despite everything.
If Viktor really fully lost himself in his ascension, his older self wouldn't have been able to recognise that desire.
Viktor's tragedy is not in him losing his humanity. It's in the fact that this goal, this Perfection is impossible to achieve to begin with.
(The dehumanised ableist perfection of capitalistic ideal life, and "fitting in" lies in this grave, too.)
He has to keep choosing to accept to not be human, each time at each turn. Accept it from the world, the system of power. From himself.
And yet, he never can. Not fully.
This is why the grand lie of it all is Viktor's salvation, too.
---
As soon as Viktor regained his (human) perception of himself, the blanket disappeared almost completely.
And when he faced his fears and desires and came back to himself fully - the blanket is gone.
Because Viktor doesn't need the externalised symbol of everything he's trying to let go off. All the yearning and desire to live is within him now (also Jayce is actually there with him, bet that helps).
---
I think this is the major point I disagree with in other, more pessimistic reads of the show's themes. That it's a story about oppressed people lashing out and breaking themselves in various ways to escape the pressure and threat of death from the world. That it doesn't go anywhere but conformity or death. Oh, I can write another separate essay about how Viktor and Jayce didn't die at the end and how important it is that it didn't happen (and i did!). This whole rant is part of it, too.
And I mean, bad things do happen to people in the story, they do lash out and break.
----
And yet, Viktor wears the blanket. Clings to it so strongly it becomes part of his godhood. Strong enough to eventually tell about it all (back in time) to Jayce.
And yet, even under unimaginable pressure, after breaking completely, Viktor is still holding on to that blanket. Is still human. Despite what the world told him all his life. Despite the world wanting him dead, gone, forgotten, not caring one bit, despite Viktor agreeing with all this eventually. He holds the blanket close.
Despite Viktor becoming a monster in everyone else's minds, a real threat to the proper Piltover society and his own people in Zaun. Despite all that, Jayce can still look at Viktor at his worst, most distant and cruel and say "I see you. I need you. As you are".
Despite Viktor going past any possible point of no return, destroying his body and mind, and being ready to destroy the world, too, despite giving in to everything he feared. Viktor can still hear it from Jayce and realise he was wrong.
Despite fucking it up infinite amount of times, there was still always the chance to get it right, and they found it.
----
Like. Isn't it wild. No amount of dehumanisation or cruelty you experienced can make you less human. Less worthy of care and love.
Love all the "Jayce taking care of Viktor" headcanons and art, they are delightful. But let's be real. This man leaves his (mom made, I bet) sandwiches on the messy worktable right over the blueprints.
Jayce and Viktor are both out there in the lab at 3 am eating instant noodles right off the table those spilled onto, because there is no time to waste and no fucks to give, really.
When there's a time crunch on a project, the lab gets filled with the Man of Progress mugs with the remains of Maggi chicken stock cubes in various stages of decay. And I think that's beautiful.
1) League!jayvik dimension and time travelling through key points of Arcane.
2) Arcane!Jayce dimension travelling through all not-Arcane league universes (before coming back to s2 act 2) and learning important lessons in each. Teaching some important ones, too. Probably fucking up a lot. "My job here is done" moments.
3) Post canon Arcane!jayvik dimension and time hoping through all Arcane and not-Arcane timelines and universes until they find a way to stabilise the rune. They're having a blast, developing their relationship, and teaching everyone lessons by blasting everything with gayness and drama.
ON COGS, BUTTERFLIES, AND THE NATURE OF THE SHARED DREAM
#JayvikLived and why it makes the most sense
What if saving you will doom me and the entire world, but I will still do it anyway, in every universe in every timeline, always. What if I do it again and again until I find the one where you can save me back. Because I don't want to do it without you.
---
In all timelines including the one we saw in the show, Jayce keeps fucking up, making mistakes and wrong calls. Oftentimes because of his fixation on the miracle that happened to him in his childhood. And in all timelines, in all realities Viktor keeps saving him. With that miracle.
Their recursive dream is always collapsing on itself. Viktor saved Jayce because they had the hextech dream already, and in doing so gave Jayce this dream. They are infinite in their paradox. And they managed to walk away from it only when they did it together.
Because their actual dream, the real one, was not the hextech itself, not a cog (in the system that's bringing money for the people in power), but a butterfly. A living thing. The man, not the machine.
It was never about the tech, two ways of using it, never about two sides of the cog and choosing between one or the other. It was about two wings learning to work together.
See, Jayce got his (somewhat naive) dream of saving the world because he was saved as a child. But Viktor saved him then because their dream was always, from the very start - to help and save each other.
It was the butterfly all along.
It was there when Jayce opened his eyes in the field. Not an omen of death, but of the human soul, rebirth. Of infinite consequences unraveling into the future.
---
The way the butterfly was corrupted through focusing on the technology, and the way technology eroded, reshaped itself into what it actually strives to be.
The way Jayce put hexcore into Viktor, even though it would change him, and derail his life. Even though it would doom Viktor and them both. Because Jayce couldn't do anything else. Because Jayce would love him anyway.
The way Viktor kept coming back to save Jayce when he was a child, kept giving him the crystal. Even though it would change him irrevocably, derail his life forever. Even though it would doom Jayce and them both. Because Viktor couldn't do anything else. Because Viktor loves him anyway.
And in the end we saw that holding on to that love, like a lifeline, through all the mistakes they've made along the way, can save them both from the endless cycle of death and pain.
It was affection that held them together. Held them both from breaking into pieces and losing themselves.
---
I know people keep saying that it is left ambiguous if Jayce and Viktor died, or became celestial beings together, or teleported into some other time and space. But I think it is explicitly narratively clear that they didn't die in the end.
And maybe, if Jayce left, and Viktor tried to activate the rune on his own they both would've died, yes.
But their whole story is about how they help each other choose life. Literally and figuratively. By giving inspiration, by force, by just asking. It is about the butterfly coming together, and actually flying on its own, without the magic or technology.
(mookhead_mcspazatron_ @ tiktok)
Viktor saved Jayce on the mountain and gave him his dream. Viktor took Jayce off the ledge, and gave him his dream again.
Jayce took Viktor off the ledge, when he also wanted to go. Comforted him and showed him that he can stay, even if it hurts right now. Jayce literally tore Viktor's death away from him, thrusting the new life and new fate into his hands.
And this cycle kept repeating over and over, because they refused to let each other go, yes.
But in the end Jayce clawed and tore himself to pieces to get into Viktor's soul to once again say "Your life is precious to me, no matter how bad things can get. Please see how valuable it is".
---
And this time, in this timeline, of all the possible (sometimes, I bet, deadly) purposes their rune was the rune of acceleration. Of, you know. Moving somewhere. Through time and space.
And it wouldn't have work if they didn't activate it together.
And to do it they had to, symbolically, choose to walk away. Move on. Together.
Not from life, like Jinx tried after her inner-Silco's monologue. She was wrong in thinking her death will stop the disasters she brings, it would've just added to this cycle, keeping her within it instead.
And similarly, Jayce and Viktor choosing to die, and then actually dying to save everyone would've been antithetical to everything we were told beforehand.
(And oh, one day I'll compile all my notes on Jinx-Viktor/timebomb-jayvik parallels I've been clocking since season 1. This season just polished it all into crystal clear shining thread that ties the story's themes together.)
They chose to move on from the pain, the pride, the insecurities, from everything that didn't let them choose life. Everything, that pushed them away from it and towards the ledge.
Viktor was ready to let Jayce walk away, and then throw his own life on the barricades to make up for what he has done. And Jayce said "No. You don't have to do it alone".
Viktor accepting Jayce's care and love, accepting that Jayce is staying with him, was Viktor accepting that he's worth it. That his life is worth it.
(Choosing to move on from the pain and trauma, that's what got me so strongly in the finale of the season, ugh.)
What they did wasn't a sacrifice, it was proof of life. That's what saved the world. And that's why they could only do it together.
(And with Ekko and Jinx going through the similar journey parallel to them. I'll get to that post, because fr)
Perhaps, they thought they might die. But narratively, thematically, and within their universe's established laws they actually did the opposite.
Because it was never about single individuals breaking the cycle, the wheel, the cog spinning it all. Never about one person stopping it, and saving everyone who needs it, be it through progress, through evolution, through war, or dang capitalism and politics. It was about finding the courage to trust and rely on others, to keep caring about each other. To work together like one, like two wings. To create a community, however small, that will allow you to make choices outside of the pressure the cycle of death and oppression is grinding you under. And how that brings actual meaningful change to the world, the fact that we make it happen together, and care for each other throughout.
It was about the butterfly, in the end.
P.S.
Jokes about gay situationship destroying the world and then saving it after are fun and all.
But there is SOMETHING in how it would've been so much simpler for Viktor to let Jayce die on that mountain. To let himself die of his illness later. To let the world be safe from both of them. To spare them both the pain of what will happen in the rest of their lives.
And yet Viktor comes back, and tries again and again to find a timeline where they both survive, and stay human, and don't destroy the world.
Even if it will be almost too late, even if a lot of mistakes still happen.
How about that - from the terminally ill suicidal man the world tried to convince that he's better off dead? (Yes, we're judging Heimerbitch hard in this house)
Anyways. #JayvikLived, love wins, see you all later ✨
This is the little AU that haunts me, where Viktor and Jayce both live in Zaun, and Arcane is actually about class struggle and oppression.
Here you can read Jayce's backstory. And in this post we'll tackle Viktor's.
VIKTOR AND HIS (TERRIBLE?) LUCK
- In this timeline, Viktor's parents died way earlier, while he was still a kid.
- It happened very soon after, or even right around the time when he had a falling out with Singed. Double hitting little Viktor with tragedy here.
- Little Viktor pointedly didn't go after Singed, even if it meant he ended up in an orphanage. There was not enough food, education, and definitely no good perspectives in life there, but it beat trying to survive on the streets.
- It was the mining company's orphanage. As in, they sponsor it and put orphans of their employees there (the life expectancy on the job is not that great, after all). And the orphanage raises the kids in the same trade. The new generation of miners with almost a sure guarantee of the job after they’re old enough to start working. Great system all around. Ha. ha.
- Viktor's parents were not miners, but he lived in the same gray infested district where most of them and the orphanage were settled, so he got sent there by proxy.
- He spent at least a year there.
- But Viktor couldn't just sit around, just be content with getting pre-trained for swiftly dying on the first month of work right after leaving that damn place.
- Viktor didn't really try to make friends, and got in trouble several times for breaking into the school after hours.
- Partially because he kept working on his own little projects in secret. Like a breathing mask that filters out or converts gases.
- There weren't many resources around for him to test and build his projects around the orphanage. So Viktor quickly turned to scavenging and stealing stuff he might need around the city. This took a lot of his free time and involved way too much walking around to be comfortable, but what can one do. Science can't wait.
But not everything he needed was easy to come by.
- Trying to build an efficient mask was proving to be difficult, and demanding on resources. Viktor's knowledge and his school's chemistry lab couldn't fully keep up with his ambitions on this one.
THE INCIDENT x2: THE COLLISION
- So when Viktor heard the whiff of a rumor that a reclusive scientist guy got settled in some warehouse nearby, the guy that looks suspiciously like Singed, he decided to seize this chance.
- The scientist in the storage facility was indeed Singed, and he had a bigger, well stocked lab in there.
- After spying on it for a bit, and with prior knowledge of some of his former mentor’s habits, Viktor figured out when and how he can get in there, and for how long he can stay in the lab without being noticed.
He made sure to be very careful, and not leave any evidence of his presence, or the fact that he's using the equipment and stealing things here and there.
(He thought he was being so stealthy and smart about it all, ohboy).
- Viktor was still in his pre-teens, very early teens here, btw.
- This went on for a few months.
- Until one day Viktor got carried away and overstayed in the lab. And got almost busted, when Singed came back, and with a bunch of mafia guys in tow.
- They spread out to watch the exits, and little Viktor had to scramble, hide in the cupboards, and crawl under benches without losing his cane, leg pain be damned.
- Because Singed and Silko just -had- to walk around the lab talking about business and their future plans and schedules. Silco tried to push Singed into moving the lab or letting Silco put more security around this one. Like, stuff keeps getting stolen from him here and there. Not a lot, but this wouldn't do.
- And Viktor was very careful and stealthy. He -almost- made it out without being noticed. But, again, there were armed mafia goons on all sides of the place.
- So they got him, like a little rat boy who overheard a lot of plans for highly illegal stuff, and brought him and his broken cane to Silco (and absolutely unfazed Singed).
OF FATHER FIGURES AND REBELLION (part 1: Singed)
- And, well. Silco couldn't let the boy go. Viktor's life was very much expandable here in the face of the bright future Silco was about to build. But, like, it was still a bit awkward. Boy is scared and angry and even has a little bite to him.
- And one (maybe even Viktor for a second) would think Singed would cover for Viktor. Pretend he's still the wayward protege. But that's a lot to expect from the guy. So all Singed managed to muster up with 0.00005 of conscience he had left in him was a thoughtful "You might want to keep the child" to Silco. "He will be of use".
("these words will have consequences" moment)
-
Singed: This will be a smart investment.
Silco: I'm sure having a sickly but smart child around with bright ideas that are destined to waste away in the mines will not awaken anything in me.
Singed:
Singed: If you say so.
-
- With no cane (at first) and no safe place to go, Viktor couldn't really run away.
- And from the other side of this predicament – benevolently adopting a child, sorry, a future employee from the streets was cool and all, but Silco really didn't know what to do with a kid milling around his place and becoming meaner and meaner to the bodyguards with each passing day.
- So Silco avoided dealing or talking with Viktor for a bit, and then, bless his morally gray soul, tried to sneaky offload him on Singed.
Because the science child needs proper science education, and he's the best science guy around. And even familiar to the kid, too! So. Babysitting duty it is.
- Like, Viktor needed something to do. Had to be socialized a bit. When Silco got him a new custom-made cane, Viktor broke a couple of toes of the first bodyguard that spooked him.
(It was mostly an accident).
(That cane was too heavy and awkward to handle).
-
Singed: Thanks, but no thanks. He doesn't really listen to me anymore.
Singed: Your problem now.
Silco: >C
-
- Viktor was still stuck hanging out with Singed for a bit there, while Silco was busy with, well, business and having his adoption crisis.
- It was a lot of fun (No. No it wasn't.).
- Viktor was still angry with Singed about Rio, and also for working with some criminal guy now, and not caring much about (Viktor or) anything, really.
- Singed was really truly indifferent to all this drama, as long as Viktor didn't fuck up (on accident or on purpose) whatever he was working on. And even then, he'd just sigh and comment on the spirit of youth getting to Viktor's head or something.
- Because only the lack of experience could allow Viktor to waste time sulking around and wasting the opportunities life throws at his feeble feet. Right now, to continue the research Singed is interested in at the reasonable pace, he needs more funding and resources than Singed can or cares to muster up himself. He had the opportunity to get it all, and so he's here, trading money for results with Silco. For now.
If you want to keep on your goals and get somewhere with them and with your life, you've got to take the chances you get, and squeeze out the most out of them. Even if they might seem dirty and unappealing. Most times it still beats being buried in an unmarked grave.
- Singed will not wink wink nudge around this, he's a pretty direct guy. Viktor is lucky to be alive and have some possible future ahead. Singed doesn't care one way or the other, but it's very impractical of Viktor to wallow in all this "sold to one direction" suffering.
- This hurt to swallow, but still left an impression on Viktor.
- His relationship with Singed evened out over the next years, but stayed strained. From Viktor's side. Singed really, truly didn't care. He's focused and unbothered by any parental drama happening around him. Apart, of course, from his own.
- Singed did care for Viktor and taught him well, and even appreciated him as an occasional assistant and later as a fellow man of science. But ultimately Singed always was more focused on his own goals. He let the vague leftover opportunity for the gentle connection wither away. And Viktor with an array of vague and contradictory feelings about his almost father figure, that Viktor would not admit to have without significant pressure.
GROWING PAINS
-
Viktor growing up: Me being so sickly and in constant need for medical attention must be stretching my usefulness thin. Must not become a liability, must work even harder.
Silco, with several surgeons on call, pulling debts, and ready to bite heads off for top quality accommodations: *pins schedule for Viktor’s weekly massages on Viktor’s bedpost, tucks it in his notebook, sets up alarms*
-
Silco, actually touched by the efforts the child made to help him: ah, g-d dang it...
Viktor, not sure what exactly from the things he did worked: o-o ???? ?? ?
Singed, who just wants to work on his drugs in peace:
He's so not invested in all this. Leave him to hunt wolves and dissect lizards. He needs his recreational animal hunting for samples.
-
- It took Silco a moment to stop waving his new reality away, get Viktor a proper cane and generally figure out what to do. And at first he did it all because it is, you know, just practical.
- But, yes, Silco, you will not get away with letting the child grow like moss somewhere on the shelf until he starts bringing results.
You gotta figure stuff out.
- It's a trap. He will fall in and hit the ground hard.
Silco will memorise every single prescription Viktor has, and will have to regularly hunt the child down to make sure he eats. Because some pills have to go with food.
- They'll have a talk one day (just like the talk Viktor had with Singed). About taking what's needed to keep going, staying on top of your goals.
There's no point in sitting there and suffering. For what even? To feel superior? Over people who do not struggle like you are? Who are not in pain? Pfft.
- Silco will ask Viktor if he thinks he is the only one who knows what it's like to be unable to function without meds or aid. Of course, it is not to the same degree, but they both were poisoned by this city.
Much to consider for little Viktor. Many things to sit side by side in silence about.
- What do you think It'll be like for them to develop an evening routine of medical care? Silco takes his meds, counts out Viktor's, while Viktor measures Silco's shots. Viktor does his stretches, while Silco prepares him sweet milk.
-
Viktor, emerging from the lab after a week-long binge of working:
Silco, appearing from the shadows behind his shoulder: ........Noticing you’ve missed your morning exercise 3 times already.... … .. .
Viktor:
This will have consequences. (C) Silco.
Like, who's gonna be groaning and whining for another week while trying to get out of bed? Who's gonna need compress and a call to the masseuse? Hmh.
OF FATHER FIGURES AND REBELLION (part 2: Silco)
- In his teen years, Viktor got dragged through many chem-barons meetings and parties in the guise of a cup bearer- I mean secretary. Because Silco could trust only him with some sensitive documents and info.
- Vague hopes of raising himself a diplomatically suave successor crushed hard over Viktor treating these ventures like a cat would a bath.
- Viktor can and would ruin a trading deal for Silco just because he was taken (dragged, cursing and flailing) from his lab while some tests were still running.
Why was Viktor in the lab, when he was set to be ready for the business meeting 30 min ago? Dedication to the craft. Next question.
- Oh, you think you have it hard, Silco? Wait till his sister shows up, try to get her to behave. Will remember the good old days.
At least you can discipline Viktor by giving him, idk, a gazillion stacks of paperwork for a week.
- Silco didn't stop Viktor from pursuing academics and science, of course. Even encouraged it.
- He essentially encouraged Viktor researching and developing things that would help them in the plan of building up Zaun's strength and independence. Yes, sometimes it meant building weapons.
- Viktor wasn't really happy with doing this, but growing up with Silco he saw the value in what he was trying to do, and wanted to see their city free and independent one day, too.
- And when they'll get closer to that goal, when people will stop being trampled down and dying from neglect and malice of the privileged assholes, Viktor will have a chance to put his whole attention into working on his other projects. To invent things that will improve the everyday lives of people.
But for now it's revolution first, necessities later.
- Viktor still can tinker with his other projects, still slave over improving his mask design, and other biomechanical aids, research plants and all. He has all the funds he might need, Silco believes in everything Viktor does, 100%.
But, you know. Those things are designated to his free time. They are not the priority. Yet.
- An -yet- Viktor still felt the tension. The dissatisfaction. The pressure and constraints these expectations put on him. He believed in Silco's cause, of course, full stop with him. But it always felt like he could do more with his other ventures, if he was free to put his efforts into directly helping people right now.
- Silco understood that this tension existed, but somewhat underestimated it. He believed in Viktor's loyalty no matter how many arguments they had, and even with Viktor's various outbursts and "making a point" sabotages.
- Oh, the roundabout way of making weapons for one group so it will win (so your people will), and there will be no need to use weapons so much. *looks at Jayce in s 1 act 2*
- Oh, the later contrast of Jinxes weapons being very violent and destructive and painful, and Viktor's being more simple and efficient.
-
Viktor: *invents stunning bullets that can knock people out for various periods of time*
Viktor: I am being so ethical c:
Silco: *uses them to torture people*
Viktor: >0
THE DEVIL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TEST TUBE
- In addition to everything else, in this timeline Viktor was studying and invested in bioengineering.
- And he was (on and off) helping Singed with the development of Shimmer.
- Viktor wouldn't want Rio's suffering and legacy to be in vain. For it to be a berserk drug with terrible addiction.
- Viktor: I Will Fix This. For normal and noble and just reasons, that don't involve any projection or guilt. At all.
- Shimmer was developed as a healing and strength booster drug, and Viktor and Singed spent a lot of time ironing it out.
- Well, Singed worked on perfecting the desired results, that he (and Silco) needed. If one cares for the difference. (Viktor did.)
- Silco pushed for the earliest possible release of the product, Singed didn't care much, Viktor's opinion was sidelined a lot.
- The future consequences of all this were building up and up.
THE OVERVIEW
- This kind of upbringing left its mark, and Viktor grew up even more bite-y and stand-offish, and more ready to make difficult compromises with his morals if it meant getting closer to his own goals.
- That stayed the same – to help people of the undercity.
- I think it will be fun to have Viktor on the hot spot, spearheading the research to free his city from oppression. Have him choose compromises after compromises just for a chance to do it one day.
- To have Viktor's need to prove his worth and his right to be there grip him more strongly. His desire to show that he's just as capable, just as strong as everyone else. That he's capable of handling everything he was dealt and more.
- All of this will be stretching his control of himself and his life thin.
His insecurities and fear forced him into a role with few choices and many regrets.
- Since Viktor started to get better medical attention when he was still a kid, the condition of his leg is not as bad when he's in his 20s, and it doesn't deteriorate as fast. He still needs a cane and later a brace (maybe not the same one?).
- Because his leg is in better condition (and thanks to Silco getting him into regularly doing physical therapy and gymnastics) Viktor's back is doing better, too. He does need regular massages and to wear a corset (sometimes or regularly) to keep in this way.
- Currently, I am not sure if we'll need to keep Viktor's terminal illness in this AU. We know so little about it from canon, and there's enough going on narratively in the AU to keep it going.
It can stay as slowly coming to surface chronic condition caused by the gray. Viktor would have a weaker respiratory system, low oxygen levels in the blood (maybe need that supplemented sometimes). Have chronic fatigue. He'll be more prone to get colds and infections.
- I'll think about it more (and do share your thoughts if you have them), but so far I don't think the actual ticking timebomb (heheh) of it is necessary.
--
BEFORE: Jayce's bio
UP NEXT: the explosion, the plot, the gayness, and other fun things
Both were destroyed on the same explosion. Just saying.
First we see the table. It is plated with gold to be perfectly the same as it was before. A cog in a machine. Then we see Viktor. Wielded together with gold with pretty and grotesque asymmetry. An approximation of a human being.
The broken man became the machine, became the will of oppression. And yet he still moves with the grace of a living thing. Yet he looks the most asymmetrical and acts even more contradictory than he did in his conventionaly "human" life.
And yet the actual wheel of oppression is still the same. Perfectly symmetrical, an object. A place of power. A cog. Not even turning, stuck in place. Built in almost the exact way it was before.
The cog and the butterfly.
Me, pointing at porcelain Viktor near the council table: only one of those represent the actual loss of humanity.
It's amost like the more nonhuman Viktor tries to make himself, the more human, fleshy, and organic he looks.
But world is not ready for this conversation.
I mean. What looks more like a living breathing creature: Viktor in perfectly symmetrical sterile clean straight line fashion of Piltover. Or Viktor dressed only in one slip of randomly folded fabric, loose and free for movement. Or Viktor fully naked, his body made of only metal, but all shaped like living tissue, muscle and skin exposed. Supposed mechanical claw — an actual limb with fingers.
I have more questions because it's no longer 4am lmao.
Does Skeppy fear any animals? I just wanna know if there's any sweet moments of Skeppy clinging to Bad whilst he tries to calm him down.
I'm guessing Bad still hates things like littering and woodcutters but would he ever act particularly strongly about it or would he have more control?
I like how Rat seems to tolerate Skeppy because Bad likes him but would she ever get jealous if Skeppy started pettting another dog?
I have a horrifying image of Bad just spider climbing up a tree to fetch Skeppy. I don't know why but I feel like dude wouldn't even need branches lmao.
What other supernatural creatures/people do they come across? Were there any that were especially dangerous and did they befriend any?
Is Bad much physically stronger than Skeppy? I keep thinking of Skeppy being a little shaz and Bad just one-arm picking him up and slinging him over his shoulder XD.
Does Bad ever get nightmares of the day he became the forest spirit?
How far would Skeppy take stealing? Would he steal something he knows the owner has genuine attachment to? Would he do everything in his power to steal something for Bad even if it means getting hurt?
Who's more likely to protect the other?
Skeppy just minding his business looking at one of Bad's textbooks, turns his head and Bad's just having a tea party with a freaking bear. Surprised the man hasn't had a heart attack yet XD.
What's your favourite thing to imagine them doing?
Is Bsd an adrenaline junky? Or is he scared of more dangerous things like bungee jumping and mountain climbing.
What would their reactions be to rollercoasters?
Do they have a favourite date-night activity?
Everytime I think of this au it brightens my mood!! Thank you for making something so heartwarming!! <3
Glad to see you again :D And yaay, questions!
My pen pressure broke again, I can't finish any sketches for this ask rn, but here's a couple of old messy designs.
1) Comforting and nightmares
Skeppy has a normal, I’d even say adequate level of fear towards wild animals, whilst Bad has it in negative numbers. And, yes, this fun juxtaposition leads to a lot of unfortunate moments of Skeppy nearly dying from heart attack when some of Bad’s animal friends show up unexpectedly, or Bad goes all out for his tea-parties with wild bears or smth.
So, yes, sometimes the comforting hugs are necessary! And no, none of them ever play up the dramaticness of the situation just to drag out the nice comforting moment They do n o t. That’d be very silly and unnecessary, and will deserve a lot of teasing. So, it’s all serious. Not only for the first couple minutes. Yes.
But If you’re looking for comfort-after-actual-hurt – Bad does have to hold and comfort Skeppy, when the stress of trying to not fuck up the good stuff around him gets too strong. And after the nightmares where they are hated and chased by people. Those dreams do not come often, but when they do, Bad is there to hold Skeppy, whisper in his hair that he is alright, that they’re both alright, and that they can handle everything that’s going on right now.
And Bad himself, well. After leaving the town, his nightmares about the night of the ritual stopped almost completely. They come rarely, only when the anxiety gets really bad. Before, in the forest, Bad had them pretty often. It’s one of the reasons he mostly slept not as himself, but in the minds of the animals.
2) Littering
Bad will not maim someone for not getting a candy wrapper in a trashcan, especially if there are people around. But if someone leaves a big mess in the nature, or even (*gasp*) does it regularly, Bad can and will try and teach them a lesson. As in: pull a cautionary (and probably slightly terrifying) prank on the misbehaving person.
It doesn’t always work out as Bad intended, and may even scare some people off anything relating to nature for good, but, according to Bad, it’s still “a fun and useful little hobby to have :3”.
3) Rat
Rat takes a looong time to warm up to any other animals that infringe on her territory. And Skeppy might be a little shit (and his own rights for Bad are debatable) but he is Rat’s territory still (by approximation from Bad). So, she can gatekeep Skeppy a little bit. Not as much as she does Bad, but the man gotta know his place – Rat comes before other dogs for him too.
4) Tree climbing and strength
Oh, Bad can an will climb down a tree like a full-on creepy creature he is: head down, using only his claws, with Skeppy tucked under one arm. Maybe not even upside down, if Skeppy is lucky, and wasn’t too annoying about wanting to stay up on the tree for the night :D
5) Meeting other spn creatures
Oh, that’s a big question (: Yes, they do meet other cryptids, befriend some, and get in trouble with some, and deal with a handful of new and old spn troubles :D
I always thought that Bad and Skeppy’s life after the main story can make a series of short stories (or one big episodic one) dealing with exactly that: the guys traveling around, meeting other cryptids, learning more about themselves and the world, trying to build a life between human and supernatural crisis going on. Just like In The Dark it can based on the mix between the real life and the minecraft-verse events.
I wanted to focus more on finishing the main story first, though, so these stories are not as sought through, I didn’t even write down any of them yet :D
But if you have more concrete questions, ideas, or suggestions (about a specific person, or a specific thing happening) – write me, I’ll think about it, and how it can work with the theme and worldbuilding I have in mind.
6) Stealing + Protectiveness
Skeppy can sometimes forget about, ahem, moral principles, or human decency… emphasis oh “human”. He’s nature and different worldview it gives, it seeps through in his life and actions even more with age. Especially after he’s been away from actual people for a long while. So, I guess, he might at times steal something that is very important to someone, or do something that could be considered weird or rude in general.
And if Bad really needs something, or is in danger – all rules are down. If there is no one to reality check Skeppy, he might proceed to walk on heads, and commit risky and reckless crimes just to help or save Bad.
They both are quite bad with that, the protecting each other thing. Bad, tho, can be more fiscally violent in his protectiveness.
7) Adrenaline and rollercoasters
Well, it’s not that Bad likes adrenaline specifically, he’s just very curious, likes to try new things, and is almost unkillable. So he can just- just go for everything that’s interesting for him with reckless abandon, and if it goes wrong – welp. Bones can heal limbs can regrow, and the cool abandoned caves will not explore themselves. He’ll have to learn to ease up with lack of selfcare though. Because Bad can’t always leave Skeppy to fend for himself, while he heals, and Skeppy does NOT like seeing Bad getting hurt so much, and not caring about himself at all.
This probably comes back to Bad dealing with his spn nature and learning to make peace between it and himself. And to his anxiety, and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
And hey, it’s the same for Skeppy and his lack of adequate moral compass at times :D
There will be a lot of tension and growing they’d have to do in regards to all this.
Also Skeppy is the one who’s really into chasing the thrills :D Man spent nearly half a year annoying probably-murderous-forest-spirit just for little not-boring fun, jeez :DD
Rollercoasters are a no go, tho. They go up in the air, real high, and, once again, Skeppy and highs do not mix, they do not mingle, they will not have tea parties (with or without bears). Unless, of course, Skeppy really needs to prove something. Then he’ll go on a ride, and die an honorable death, and will never admit he screamed all the way through it.
8) Dates
(*insert an innuendo from Skeppy here*) But, ahm, actually I’d say they love going on picnics: getting food, and hanging around in the nature for a while.
And I honestly donno what I like to think about the most… I just really enjoy the vibe and the atmosphere of the whole story, and how Bad and Skeppy interact in general.
"Skeppy will probably cry" "Bad will probably cry". Bish, screw, that I am crying!!!
This whole thing was bloody gorgeous and I wasn't expecting that ending. I had no clue what ending to expect but that was definitely better than any I could have hoped for. Forest spirit to soulmate your honour!
I was terrified that you were gonna leave it at the point where he loses the spirit and becomes mortal again. If you had I would be actively sobbing!!!! And oh my god, the art!!! I still can't get over how wonderful your style is.
Imma ask fun things because if I don't I'll sit in a puddle of emotion all night:
What's the first tech thing Bad will buy and how annoying will he be about it? Poor Skeppy trying to answer 101 questions about something he doesn't really use XD.
Is no one concerned that the odd couple from a town they never name has a pet wolf??
Do they immediately go over to a different town or do they wander for a while. Find hidden creeks and befriend bears?
Does Bad still have a connection to nature and animals, like are creatures naturally more trusting of him?
Do they ever visit the og town again?
Does Skeppy still cause absolute chaos in other towns or has he learnt his lesson and only causes minor trouble now?
Does Bad ever try and study again? If he did what would he study and would Skeppy try to study as well?
Does Skeppy steal? I dunno, he just give off the vibe of a naughty lil trickster who'll pocket something if the owner refuses to sell it him.
Immediately after leaving the forest what the first 'argument' they have (not including the car one)?
Would they ever ride horse? If yes, how terrified would Skeppy be?
Skeppy falls outta tree. I don't know why but my mind keeps telling me that this man has great balance until he climbs trees. They are his mortal enemy and Bad finds this both hilarious and terrifying because he is going to hurt himself.
I had waaaaay more questions than I intended to have. My bad '^_^ but this story was way too much fun to read and you are entirely to blame for making it so engaging!
Make sure to take care of yourself and do stretches after and during drawing. You don't wanna hurt yourself <3
AaaaI’m so glad you liked it! :D And, dang, man, I cried while writing that part too :D
And I promised a nice ending for the main story, I did, and this one also makes the most sense narratively! For the story I wanted to tell, at least. Bad can’t really become human again, he’s changed to much. He can only move on, and do something with what he is, and has. And he did! :D That’s really nice and inspiring, this story will always have a place in my heart, heheh <3
Being a guardian spirit connected to a person and all, Bad may be not as strong as before, but he can’t die unless Skeppy dies first. And Skeppy can do that, but he’s pretty sturdy, and his lifespan operates on a whole other scale than human ones. And Bad knowing Skeppy’s real name balances it all out, makes them equal in the power and influence they have over each other.
So hellyeah, soulmates for the win :DDD
I’ll answer all questions under the cut, and this close up from one of the pages!
1) What's the first tech thing Bad will buy and how annoying will he be about it?
Probably a pager! Because it’s a more feasible thing to get than a wholeass computer Bad actually wanted :D An it means Skeppy will have to get one too, and that Bad will be having the time of his life texting him and everyone he can get a number from, even if they’re still in the room with him.
Poor Skeppy indeed, he can learn to appreciate the pagers, and later phones, too, and computers, but he really has 0 idea on how it all works and why Bad is so fascinated by it all.
2) Rat and regular people
Oh, she can shapeshift, just like Bad! If they’re out with people around, she takes form of a puppy, and Bad can pass her off as a weird mix breed rescue doggo.
3) Do they immediately go over to a different town or do they wander for a while?
Oh, since they have no end destination in mind, they can ride around for a bit, go visit some cool places and roadside attractions. Sadly, Skeppy is probably not spiritually or morally ready to full on befriend wild bears yet, and they do need money for gas and snacks. So, at some point they will have to stop somewhere and find work – at least for a bit, to save up. Life’s gonna be a bit complicated with all that, until Skeppy figures out his treasure-finding abilities :DD
4) Bad and nature and animals
He is definitely still in tune with all wildlife! Even more – Bad could become a proper guardian spirit for Skeppy in part because, in a way, Skeppy himself is part of the nature.
So yeah, Bad can understand animals (and plants) and communicate with them; they’re just more free to not take his shit, and Bad’s emotions do not “possess” them unless he makes an effort to do so.
He doesn’t like doing it, tho.
5) Do they ever visit the og town again?
Hm, I think they will completely forget about it for a while, until, like, 30+ years later they will be going somewhere, and find themselves around those parts. And they try to not appear too often in the areas they’ve spent a lot of time in already (they can be pretty recognizable, and also barely show signs of aging). But it’s been a long time, and the town’s really different now… So they make a stop, and spend a day there. They walk the unfamiliar streets between the new buildings, check out the popular hiking trail, the advertisements for hot springs and winter activities. The old cinema is still there, and is hosting an all-night marathon of classic horror movies of the last century.
Bad and Skeppy leave the town after sunset – the day was nice, but they have nothing more to do there. They ride through the forest on a well paved road, with radio playing something barely above the whisper. And in the dark of hot summer night, Bad can see the white stag running between the trees alongside their car. Shadows dance over the shimmering light of it’s fur.
Somewhere after the towns border, the stag disappears back in the forest. But the air in the car stays light and fresh, saving the smell of old pines and dry leaves all though the night.
6) Skeppy and chaos
Well, after the whole mess in the main story, Skeppy definitely learned some lessons, especially about not being a dick :D
But the thing is – he can’t really help the fact that things tend to stir up around him a lot. He naturally brings in chaos into everything, because he is, in part, a personification, or an outlet for it in the world. And so, to feel, well and good, and himself Skeppy gotta do stuff that disrupts balance, and creates some mayhem. And in gave him a lot of trouble in early life, but in the course of the main story he learned that he can chose were he lets that chaos to take hold, learned what can come of that chaos, apart from utter misery.
Like, where it can help dismantle something destructive, and where – bring in the more positive change, that was already brewing, possible, but is stagnant for some reason.
Soooo, I can’t say Skeppy causes only minor chaos in his life, but he sure learns even more about not being a dick :DDDD
7) The studying
I think Bad will want to get a higher education at some point, because he wanted to, and because it’s already new millennia and all that. Bet he’ll go for something very technical and/or literature. Maybe he’ll start by piking up some classes in small time colleges, when they stop in one place for a while, and later get into an online program, because why not.
Skeppy is not a college guy at all. He’ll listen to Bad talk about it, read textbooks if he wants to, can research stuff, buuut going to classes and doing homework is definitely not his thing.
8) Stealing
Well, you’re right, Skeppy can and will steal stuff out of spite! And will be scolded by Bad for it, and will not feel (that) sorry about it. But real stealer between them will be Bad himself :D
It’s just… he has the corvid tendencies, and a hoard (a box) of sentimental mementos from different people and events, and the thrill of stealing something small and harmless is very exciting. Bad is very proud of his little collection. Skeppy finds it very adorable, a bit hypocritical, and kinda creepy. Like, that pretty box he gifted Bad at some point is now full of stuff like:
- pressed flower from the clearing they had a picnic at on their anniversary
- the button the waitress lost that one day the storm caused a black out in the whole town
- some small animal bones
- couple pretty rocks Bad stole from Skeppy’s pockets
- penny that was once glued to the ground
- a handful of teeth people (and not people) lost in fights with Bad
- pen from some fancy hotel
- rainbow dash keychain that belonged to a child
- the list goes on
9) Argument
Oh, that same day they’ll fight over whether they should stay at the really crappy and suspicious looking motel, or go sleep in a perfectly fine forest near the road. Ironically, Bad wanted to try out the motel (because, yay, first time spending the night back in civilization), and Skeppy was the one insisting on sleeping in nature (because the motel looks like it could give you 10 diseases if you even stand near it, and sleeping in the forest is kind of nice, and means they can cuddle).
10) Horses
The guys will probably ride them at some point. Well, Bad will ride, and Skeppy will sit on his horse and hope it knows what to do and where to go, because trying to make this giant thing do something seems dangerous. If they’ll have to actually go somewhere fast, Skeppy will not survive that day, his butt (and legs) will be dead for days to come.
And riding with Bad on one horse may sound romantic and nice, but all romance dies when the gallop starts.
F.
11) Skeppy and climbing
Skeppy is more down to earth kind of guy, more of a “rocks and caves” kind of creature, real-life lizard person or something. Up on the trees and in the air – not really his element, yeah. But it doesn’t mean that Skeppy will accept this fact easy. The embarrassment of never managing to safely make it down a tree is too strong, he just has to do it all over again, and again. And again. Because, clearly, he was distracted this time. And the time before that Bad was teasing him, and it “disrupted his flow”. And, really, maybe these trees here just do not like Skeppy much, and make him slip a lot. Yeah.
So, more often than not, if Skeppy climbs a tree, he will not stop climbing it until he falls, or the tree ends. Bad had to take him off high branches couple times, forcefully, because, of course, Skeppy was sitting there for 2 hours just to properly enjoy the sunset. He can climb down at any point, he just Choses not to. The view is amazing. The bark is literally part of his skin now, not because he holds on tight, no, he’s just Than Much one with the nature )<
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Don’t apologize for the questions! It’s always so fun to answer them, and it makes me think more about stuff I may have skipped, or didn’t think about before. It’s really nice :3c
Again, thank you for the ask, and for being here for this story! <3
(And I’ll try setting timers for rest breaks while I draw, mb that will help)
