opalinebones

[opalinebones]

Like when we talk about Mel being manipulative, let’s talk about how that shows up. First time we see it in action is when she gives Holsk the child’s toy and tells him it’s a sophisticated puzzle. She cashes that chip in later in that meeting, to push Holsk to vote not to exile Jayce.

And let’s look at when that move comes. It doesn’t happen because Jayce is offering HexTech. Mel tells them when they’re sneaking in that she knows what they have works. But back then, she’s going along with the Council’s momentum to exile him anyway. What stops her is Jayce’s mother. When Mel, who was exiled by her mother for being so different than what Noxus asks her to be, sees a mother stand up to the council begging for them to not to cast out her black sheep of a son, that’s when she manipulates Holsk.

Anyway yes, Mel manipulates people. So does Vi, so does Jayce, so do most of the characters in the show at some point or another. Mel never does so in the show for her own personal gain, always in—sometimes very misguided—attempts to protect others. And I wonder sometimes if the word we��d use for Mel’s skill with people and politics would be “manipulative” if she were white/male/not in the way of the big mslash ship.

[opalinebones]

Honestly don't know how a show as great as Arcane managed to get such a lame and demented fandom

[opalinebones]

Going into the tag and seeing people talk about how nice and compassionate Mel is this season, as opposed to last season when she was manipulative and hated Viktor like. You guys can just admit you were wrong about her. You guys can just recognize that she explicitly said she wanted to prevent war and help people and you all were already on another, more tired narrative so you ignored her. You guys can acknowledge how race and gender played into the fandom’s consensus about Mel and Viktor, even after Mel’s VA directly said Mel liked and respected him. You can do it. I believe in you.