#the commune

[arcane-aesthetics]

[the-commune-comic-fan-things]

So. My early nomination.

Off the bat, for those who don't know him, you should probably know he's a genuinely awful person who regularly does horrific and undefendable actions.

But secondly, he's a 6'8, ex surgeon, mask wearing, manipulative cult leader that sees his members as his children and tortures abusers in his basement.

[cynical-canidae]

Okay, sorry (I'm not at all), but someone was appreciating the outfits of Viktor's commune on Twitter, and it reminded me I just have a whole lot of thoughts.

But I just love love love love them because essentially?? Looks aside (though they are stunningly gorgeous), these outfits—specifically being wrapped in blankets—sort of represent these individuals at their base/"pure" humanity.

But if you think about it, for most people, even in fictional settings/media, a blanket is your very first "outfit." It is your very first armor to brave this big, big world. Then and there at your birth, you are at your absolute most vulnerable. It's you BEFORE all of the wrong of the world (prejudice, disease, harm, death, etc.) has any chance to affect/shape you. From then on, they—this life, this world, this society—all will take every chance they can get to leave its fingerprints all over you. But in that moment, coddled by a blanket, you are a bare canvas of whatever your genes have ordered. Which is why I say "pure/base humanity."

And RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA if this does not perfectly encapsulate the commune's (Viktor's) mindset at this point??

I want to first preface this by saying. No. OBVIOUSLY the commune was not 10000% all good. Loss of self and autonomy and free will are Not good things. 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️ (As these things makes us ourselves. Yes, though their bodies move, this is essentially murdering these people.) This is the core principle of which original game Viktor and Jayce disagreed and ultimately separated upon/got Viktor expelled. However, one of the MAIN themes of Arcane is how we can do very horrible things with good intentions. We know that this happens to be Viktor's. Clearly not probably one of the best methods of trying to bring this about, but what I'm saying is that not a single soul can argue that everything/the aftermath was done out of malice/an "evil" plan. TL;DR: No, the commune was not perfect like some people for some reason?? were convinced (looking at all of you with the 🚫 Jayce pfps after Act 2 lol). However, no way can someone genuinely say that it meant Viktor was evil because of all of it. Ok, preface over.

(Also, don't even get me started on the tragedy of how the world made Viktor, a disabled man, believe that the solution was to change himself and not ?? making the world more accommodating/educating people. That's for another time and I'm supposed to be talking about BLANKETS djksfnosfjskm.)

ANYWAYS, like Viktor himself says in Act 2:

"The reason for our failures in the commune. The doctor was right. It's inescapable. Humanity. Our very essence. Our emotions... Rage. Compassion. Hate. Two sides of the same coin. Inextricably bound."

Humanity has a ton of good to offer the world and each other. The commune was born out of Viktor's genuine empathy and desire for people to live free from all of the downsides of the human condition and the things that come with it. The commune was an attempt to separate the good side of the coin from the bad side. Which is why I say that their outfits, simply blankets wrapped around them like their "pure" selves (birth), perfectly encapsulates the commune's/Viktor's mindset at this point in time. He was convinced that he could find a way to have only the good. It also meant everyone was put to the same "level"/showed a sense of equality, which was another thing Viktor was trying to do. (I.E. Uniforms are VERY big in Piltover. Certain clothes mean STATUS. Even Salo, a former councilman, being in the same robes as everyone else is a good example of bringing everyone to the same playing field.)

Also, since I cannot help but note on it. My fellow religious trauma girlies were also very tuned into just how biblical Act 2 was in general (Jesus Viktor jokes, you will always be famous). I could make an entire essay on all of THOSE parallels, but on the topic of clothing: Adam and Eve only adorned "clothes" out of shame/self-consciousness once the biblical version of Pandora's box had been opened, releasing all of the bad (sin) into the world. This point in time of humanity before the apple is exactly akin to what Viktor was trying to achieve. (He even had a damn greenhouse omg like that's literally the Garden of Eden?? 😭😭) So while Fortiche/Riot definitely wouldn't have been able to have the members of the commune all naked without getting bumped up a couple ratings, it definitely makes sense that they would wear/appear as the next thing closest to that. Huzzah!! Blankets!! 🤌🤌

I also very much appreciate it because it makes the transition of Viktor's mindset changing very stark as well, going from "most" human (blanket) to least human (machine). I have been rationalizing these two differing points in my head kinda as:

[Commune/Act 2]

"I must save humanity from the world"

(Mentally, you have to equate bad things to the world if you believe you can have humanity without it)

VS.

[Arcane Herald/Act 3]

"I must save humanity from itself"

(Inarguable, as this is the canonical current state of new game Viktor. Also can be seen like "the world from humanity.")

Anyways, I'm crazy. 🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️ Thanks for reading.

[legion-transcendent]

Drabble || The Commune

   An arctic wind ruffles David's hair, and he takes a deep breath, releasing it with a sigh. His muscles relax, his whole being enjoying the cold, fresh Himalayan air. Ever since he was sent to a retreat for aged psychics in this very mountain range, he has grown to love the high altitudes and the thin, cold air. There is beauty here. There is peace and quiet. A sense of connection and disconnection all in one. Something he very much identifies with.

   David floats above the snow dusted ground, legs crossed, and eyes closed. He is serene, silent. A floating, unnatural fixture of the landscape. Then his eyes ease open.

   They burn with a pure white light. His hair streams above his head, in defiance of gravity and the wind that once played with those dark strands. His skin begins to glow with rainbow light, his energy and power bleeding out of his pores like smoke. For a moment, he just lets himself glow, lets himself be at his peak, and he relishes it. Then comes a breath, and the peace of the quiet mountains becomes chaos.

   Pure power, pure reality shifting energy in motion. A storm of destruction and creation. He is the centre of mayhem with purpose. Of unreality and interdimensional causality swirling together to become something real and true. Contradiction and probability. Life and death and existence. All of it turning to his will, to his ultimate control. A moment of creation that is both connection and disconnection.

   It takes days of concentration, nights of sleepless work. He forgets what time is because he is one with it and outside it. He forgets his own flesh but becomes so very aware of its limitations, and still, he pushes beyond. Still, he destroys and builds and grows until the job is done. Until he has created sanctuary and safety and peace that is both of this reality and separate from it.

   David doesn't hide his work. The kaleidoscopic maelstrom of creation and reality is visible from space. His spikes and troughs in power are readable. His mind, a single burning consciousness singing with a thousand voices, a blinding beacon to any who would look through Cerebro. For once, he doesn't hide or obfuscate. He wants the world to see his work and know that Legion is done being nomadic and homeless. That they are here and beware any who might try to push them from this home he’s made for themselves.

   When the maelstrom dies, when the order in chaos finally takes shape, David is tired. He is exhausted and spent, but here he floats above his new home. Above The Commune with its large windows and high roof buildings. With its natural but surreal architecture and expanse of green grass. With its garden of impossible plants and meditative layout. He floats above it all and smiles.

   “Good,” David breathes.

[penttiagraham]

Siblings siblings siblings! Found this in my drafts and I needed the laugh, maybe y'all do too?

[smokesalty]

Hello, I'm Smoke!

I'm a queer horror comic artist and illustrator. I'm also studying to be a game artist- making concept art, character sculpts and rigs and animation!

My big passion project is my webcomic, The Commune💉🩸

About my comic!

"407's cultish new family seems like the perfect escape from his old life. With gracious leader Anopheles to look after him, why would he ever want to leave?"

The Commune is a psychological horror about a cult, with minor urban fantasy elements here and there.

If you love: Horror, Found Family Gone Wrong, Complex Villains and Indie Comics, it might be up your ally. The comic's main characters are also queer!

Read it on Webtoon, Tapas and Insta (@thecommunecomic)

I also love worldbuilding :3 My 3D modelling skills come in handy for making fun detailed backgrounds for the comic.

Here's some of my art!

(Most of it is from my comic!)

I'm hoping to maybe try posting here more? We'll see how it goes.

My asks are open!

[tree-of-growth]

They’ll pay for this. They’ll all pay.