#detail dive

[gloriesunsung]

Arcane Detail Dive: Story of Opposites

Spoilers for all of Arcane season 1.

Arcane is a masterpiece and I want to shout about all the things I've noticed on rewatching. So I am. Here is a breakdown of some cool bits from 1x03: The Base Violence Necessary For Change. Yes I am starting with episode 3, come sue me

When Powder is thrown from the blast, the blue colouring and slow motion of the shot makes it looks like she’s floating underwater. It’s such a good parallel for the shot of Silco in the beginning. Silco talks of that moment of peace where the water can almost convince you to let it in, let you drown. But for Powder, that moment is a rare one of triumph: she finally did something that worked! The sheer joy in her eyes is heartbreaking, because the viewer already knows the devastating results of her success. We know that the raging thing inside her that she will need to survive - to become Jinx - is still to come.

After Vi sees Benzo killed and Vander dragged off, she’s framed below a tiny cellar window in a way that foreshadows the Stillwater cell she'll be stuck in for years to come. She’s far from the camera and it’s the first time in the show that Vi truly looks small, diminished.

That window shape recurs at the very end of the episode, where Powder and Silco et al are framed by the gate and the camera pulls away from the scene, slowly turning upside down until it becomes blurred and unrecognisable. What a visual metaphor for the distance growing between the sisters.

The boys barring Heimerdinger’s door with Viktor’s cane. I just love this. The hextech explosion then shatters Viktor’s cane and there’s this wonderful image of it floating broken, electricity crackling between the pieces. Breaking the bounds of what limits him. This is the moment Viktor’s life changes forever.

On a rewatch, you can see how little Viktor relies on his cane compared to later. He stands up straighter and unaided more often than not in ep3 after befriending Jayce and taking on their project - and I don’t think it’s just because he’s in better physical health at this point. He’s been given something that makes him feel sure of himself and the mark he can leave on the world with the time he has.

I see Vander and Silco as two sides of the same coin, and boy oh boy is the coin-flip delicious in this episode. Even Vander’s fucked-up eye ends up on the same side as Silco’s.

(Not at all limited to ep3, but I love how Silco's left eye never fully blinks. He misses nothing.)

Oh, and Silco’s knife? The very same one he took from Vander in the drowning flashback. Silco has literally and figuratively been carrying that betrayal around with him ever since.

Vi truly breaks at the moment when Powder’s nose starts to bleed, when it’s her own sister’s blood staining her hands. A callback to Vander chewing her out in the first episode. And of course Vi can’t take it; she’s supposed to protect her sister. Vander’s body is not even cold and already in her mind she’s failing him. This little detail of the bandages gives so much weight to the crushing pressure Vi is feeling in that moment.

The swimming/drowning metaphors continue with the hextech explosion. The way Viktor and Jayce float makes them look like they’re in water, and the sound even muffles around them. (And the childlike delight in Viktor’s face when he gets to move so freely - UGH.😭)

You can see how quickly Viktor takes to it, how much more he moves around compared to Jayce. Here is another life-defining moment in which a person might either drown or thrive.

Back to the coin-flip of Vander and Silco. When he finds Powder, this time Silco is the one standing above the drowning person, the one holding the knife. But he wasn’t prepared for this girl. Powder launches herself into his arms, and the knife flies out of his hand. This broken little girl literally disarms him.

And when Silco embraces her, he is framed in almost exactly the same way Vander was when Silco questioned him why he couldn’t fight for the cause. He told Silco he was “not that man anymore”. Acting as a surrogate father has changed Vander — and these parallel frames gives us the hint that ultimately, that same thing will be what undoes Silco too.

In summary: GG, Fortiche. I'm sad now.

[frostbitebakery]

“My first duty is to my men, not to the King’s ledgers,” Cody replied evenly.

for @elwenyere’s Pirate AU

[dearestdo3]

had it not been for the book I would have NEVER realized that sirius used snape's wand to change peter back to his human form AND (carelessly) levitate snape's body outside???

i'm going to assume that sirius has no problem at all using snape's wand to cast spells (even against its own owner), which is just wild considering wand allegiance is such a big theme in hp; harry is able to use draco's wand because he won its allegiance, and mione has problems using bella's the first time

after sirius dropped the wand while transforming, and the whole mess happened, snape could use his wand again... nothing hinted that he won its allegiance back from sirius, like he can just get it back and cast spells on it immediately after he woke up??

so either both has twin core wands, or snape actually trusts (?) sirius enough that his wand complied sirius' magic?? (like mione using harry's wand in ps) 🥴???

[muninnhuginn]

You know what's gonna kill me when we get the inevitable Lu Guang flashbacks?

The fact he's always described as "mature" as his post-dive self implies he must be different now than before. It's hard to imagine exactly what his personality was like before, and if it's written well, he shouldn't be completely unrecognisable. But we know he's been changed.

Imagine a first timeline where Lu Guang just follows along with Cheng Xiaoshi, no attempts to reign him in whatsover. Cheng Xiaoshi having the opportunity to come up with more of his complicated tricks but channelling it into lower stakes stuff like pranks and Lu Guang actually enabling him in that and having fun with it. Imagine tragedy striking when Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi are both allowing themselves to be genuinely happy, no facades.

We know that Cheng Xiaoshi used to put on a brave face in light of his parents' disappearances and what that meant for how he was treated and what he was missing out on. But we also know that Qiao Ling and Lu Guang together have been able to lift that into something more genuine. Imagine a world where Cheng Xiaoshi was able to do the same for Lu Guang. Where they both mutually brought that light into the other's life.

It's still true to some extent in the current worldline, but it's complicated by Lu Guang's own actions. Lu Guang can never be fully honest with Cheng Xiaoshi without (in his mind) losing him forever. But he has to stick by his side in order to have any chance in his hopeless quest. And so, he must distance himself in other ways, protect Cheng Xiaoshi, enforce the rules. Swallow the guilt. It leads to a more lopsided relationship, one where one side is always hiding something from the other and refuses to open up themselves. A relationship that in the original timeline must have been more equal, as partners.

There's something that's been lost here, and it's not just the original Cheng Xiaoshi.

[toastysol]

God I love that Johnny cononically has a fear of deep water and practically begs V not to go diving with Judy during pyramid song. Gives me hc ideas for the sewers in PL. I imagine that so far along in the relic's process, V would pick up a lot more of Johnny's feelings and might feel a foreign panic about it

[tvlandofficiall]

the devs mentioning that a lot of the objects in the nightmare monologue were deliberately abstract because the characters are acting in the construct's limited frame of reference has made replays really fun; firstly because it makes for really interesting characterization on both sides when the voices or the princess are familiar with something unexpected, but secondly because it makes replay liveblogs look like this;

[daffi-990]

Seven(ish) Sentence Sunday ✍️

Tagged by @wikiangela 😘

Haven’t had the brain capacity to get much writing done since Friday, but I did manage to tippity type a little something something for LA Lonely 🏙️ . So have some of Buck’s inner self deprecating thoughts.

Prev snippet here

As the weekend rolls into Monday, Buck tries not to think about Eddie but somehow the guy has burrowed under his skin, an itch that Buck can’t scratch. He finds himself doing a double take at every fit, 6 foot brunette man that he encounters while on a call, both disappointed and relieved that they aren’t who he’s hoping for.

Not that he’s hoping to run into Eddie again. The guy didn’t leave his number or take Buck’s, and Buck’s been playing this game for so long he knows what that means. Because Buck is only good for one night, maybe a weekend if he’s lucky. No one wants to take a chance on him.

He’s used to it, so he doesn’t understand why he can’t get Eddie out of his head. The sex was good - incredible actually - and Eddie was hot. And kind. And his smile could light up an entire room. And Buck really needed to get a grip.

Eddie had his fun and then he left. Just like everyone else.

No pressure tagging: @diazsdimples @spotsandsocks @hippolotamus @lover-of-mine @wikiangela @wildlife4life @athenagranted @watchyourbuck @devirnis @dangerpronebuddie @goforkinard @bigfootsmom @bidisasterbuckdiaz @exhuastedpigeon @elvensorceress @evankinard @eddiebabygirldiaz @rainbow-nerdss @thewolvesof1998 @try-set-me-on-fire @theotherbuckley @tizniz @alliaskisthepossibilityoflove @shortsighted-owl @sibylsleaves @donationwayne @fortheloveofbuddie @giddyupbuck @honestlydarkprincess @homerforsure @hoodie-buck @jesuisici33 @king-buckley @ladydorian05 @loserdiaz @captain-hen @bekkachaos @neverevan @nmcggg @missmagooglie @mellaithwen @monsterrae1 @spagheddiediaz @sunshinediaz and as always, anyone who wants to join in and share something -> consider this your official tag.

Also sorry if I forgot anyone .. there’s been a few url changes and it’s gotten a bit confusing 🫤

[limeartichoke]

purgatory fanart of that one scene where phil loses his wings for the second time

[leafyduckwebs]

POV: you're the Traveler in 4.0 and Lyney is introducing you to his siblings

[m3ntal-hiatus]

JJK AND THEIR COFFEE ORDERS

sk8 the infinity ver. here !

nobara is definitely a frappuccino girly. love, love, loves sugar cookie flavouring, too, in a large cup with a straw because “it feels like i’m a girlboss that way.” she said it, not me.

yuuji is pretty picky with his coffee? isn’t a huge fan of it, but when he does have it, it’s a double-double accompanied by a pastry. he doesn’t adventure too far from his usual order, other than trying out a new or seasonal drink.

megumi drinks it black. straight from the beans. foul creature.

geto gives hazelnut syrup vibes… don’t worry, i will elaborate. he likes an espresso shot with latte foam art and steamed oat milk, all mixed together with two pumps of hazelnut syrup. otherwise, he’s mostly a tea person.

gojo doesn’t even want to taste the coffee’s bitter flavour… he wants it completely masked by sugar and by sugar alone. four-milk-six-sugar-in-a-medium sort of man. drinking straight candy, is what it is.

nanami was a religious coffee drinker back when he worked that 9-5, so he was not particularly partial to any coffee order if the caffeine was doing its job. as long as it didn’t taste like burnt shit water, he doesn’t care all too much. enjoys a nice café trip where he can sit and relax every now and then.

maki is a cold brew enthusiast, but also drinks it black (as in, no milk), though takes a few vanilla shots with it and another sweetener. likes the essence of the coffee taste, but mostly prefers sweetness over the bitterness.

inumaki is an avid iced coffee fan to the point where sub-arctic conditions do not daunt him. he usually rotates his order from an iced psl or mocha with maki or yuuta to order for him (for obvious reasons). he’ll down whatever size they give him. insanity.

yuuta reacts so poorly to caffeine, it’s hilarious in hindsight but i can’t help but pity him… poor boy is already anxious enough as it is, he can’t tell the difference between the coffee jitters and his usual shakiness. plus, he gets the shits. doesn’t like it, but will have one the rare occasion.

panda doesn’t drink coffee. he’s a panda.

mahito would spit it out immediately along with a vile string of profanities if he ever got the chance to even try coffee.

kenjaku (using geto) hated the idea that he was getting used to drinking something so gently-flavored and sweet. had it anyways, but would always order tea if given the choice.

[coverednstars]

I like human geography so here’s what I think the major religions of each Nation coming from someone who is semi knowledgeable ab the major religion

Obsidian is basically a weird west euro combo but mainly it’s germany me thinks so their main religion is Catholicism most likely orthodox catholic. Very nice churches i bet their stained glass goes hard since most of the colors are monochromatic. I don’t think gilbert is too religious probably agnostic

Benitoite is italy and therefore catholic do i even need to explain why? it’s probably stronger faith the closer you get to the coast. Silvio carries a rosary I think, again i don’t think either of the benitoite bros are really into religion but I think it’s more of they pray to protect what they have.

HEAR ME OUT! so ik benitoite and obsidian and like…. kinda direct with what places they parallel and ik Jade also has a Switzerland it parallels (and if so itd be roman catholic) but… in my heart it’s india + Hinduism.

Again rhodolite is kinda hard for me to grasp but I lowkey think it’s france so Roman catholicism. HAVE YOU SEEN THE CHURCH??? I don’t think the country or at least the royal family as a whole is super religious anymore since they said in game no one really uses the church but for special events TT.

Ruby n shintoism But i also know nothing ab it or Red hair guy so far but just off vibes hes not worried ab religion or what comes after death he’s to busy whipping out cold sword moves

Matt and his country which i can’t care to remember orthodox christian

and Azel is his religion so he can have fun with that so that’s that

[sirwow]

Im not gonna be able to stop laughing about this so

in 2-1 background where samurai is, there is a low res squished samurai graffiti on the wall above the club sign. iv been laughing about this for an hour. did he seriously just spray paint himself there and get away with it???

[ryllen]

sometimes i imagine him jumping of the metal dock to the blue water

[savvylittlecoxswain]

It’s a sensation felt on his back that he would compare to the soft ripples that come from the first few drops of rain upon the water's surface. The raindrops begin to fall more rapidly and eventually reach a point where it feels as though the sky opened up, releasing every bit of rain it contained at the same moment that the feathers are pushing through the surface of his skin with grace and ease and urgency. There's desperation in how eagerly they escape the confines of their hidden space, emerging much akin to how their avian counterpart emerges from the water after a dive.

[imperfectcourt]

I have had one (1) drink and am drowning in thoughts of Kevin learning that the Moriyama’s killed his mother and showing up on Neil and Andrew's door ready to do whatever it takes to shut them down and take them out

[skunkes]

unsure how to word this but there is something about having ocs with unsavory events happening in their past where it's like. talking about it, even when asked, seems almost gratuitous and inappropriate. and i'd much rather describe it through the oc themself and/or draw Them saying it. which is like. fitting for the subject matter? like of course its weird to talk about somebody else's business...!

and falls back into humanizing em/exploratory writing and development where u consider the impact of words said/words unsaid/HOW those words are said etc etc