fannybunnycunny

Latest Posts by fannybunnycunny

(Jayce’s soft piano responding to Viktor’s almost erratic violin, to a magnificent shared crescendo)

*completely dead silent room*

QUIET 🤬 ... forgiveme.... but we don't have much time 😔. A storm is coming. The likes of which Piltover, perhaps 🤓👆 even runterra itself 🤓 has never faced. *reveals dead robot serving cunt 🤖🫦* 🎶 🎶💔 *cue sad piano music.* 💔 🎶 🎶 this creature 😤 infiltrated the very room we're standing in..... 😕 and we barely survived😕 HUNDREDS more 🤖🫦🤖🫦🤖🫦 are on the way. The noxian general 😒👀 is leading them 😒 this isn't a fight for ideals or territory 🥺👉👈 🎤 Its a fight for humanity itself 😎 I'm asking..... 😳 no... begging you 🥺👉👈 every one of you! 🫵 topside 🔝 and bottom 🫣 to aid us in this coming war 👮👮👮🚓🔫💪 and it will be a war 😭 now, this isn't a fair request, but it is our only hope !!! 🫶🫶🫶. the forces against us are too great 😖 ... *sad piano music swells* 🦸🏻🦸🏻We need every hand we can get!!! 🦸🏻🦸🏻 *sad music gets epic and awesomesauce* We're abandoning 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♂️ the city's outskirts to stage our final defense 🤺 at 🤺 the hexgates™ 🤺 the final bastion of our salvation btw 🧑‍🔬👨‍🔬😎😇 If you choose to flee 🤨 DONT STOP RUNNING!!! 🚨😎 🦸🏻But I'm choosing to fight 🦸🏻 😎🙋‍♂️ *a lie* and I Pray.... 🧎‍♂️... that you will join me 🙏 🤝

*everyone awkwardly meanders away*

a FAQ/guide to timelines for my ongoing comic, failstates (plus some bonus AU doodles)

Inspired by the scene from staroverlordao3 incredible fic, the line is covered in jellyfish

( I finally finished it! By the way, this isn’t how Viktor looks in this fic and not how I picture him either, unfortunately, I just didn’t have time for more complicated rendering. Just imagine it’s an alternate universe version of the fanfic 🪼 )

Again, I had to illustrate part of the newest chapter of "The line is covered in jellyfish" by @yunuen : click for better quality as always!

Completed Jayvik fics that I recently read and recommend 🌱🦋

PART I

• write down the ends on our palms - 30k words, Post Canon, Trans Viktor, Slow Burn

• Run It Back - 11k words, Time Loop, Friends to Lovers,

• king of my heart (body and soul) - 7k words, Trans Viktor, Canon Divergence, Fluff

• How many??? - 3k words, Married Jayvik, Fluff

• Event Horizon - 34k words, Time Travel Fix It, Smut

• Handsome, charming, brilliant - 22k words, Modern Setting, Strangers to Lovers, Trans Viktor

• Help Me Screw This In - 5k words, Smut, Brat Viktor

• I Only See Myself Reflected in Your Eyes - 13k words, Different Universe, Healer Viktor, Magic, Amnesia

• Years of War - 4k words, De-Aged Viktor, Hurt, Comfort, Married Jayvik, Post-Canon

• they'll name a city after us - 39k words Canon Divergence, Friends to Lovers, Domestic Fluff

• Beside You, I'll Die as a King - 11k words, Omegaverse, Alpha Jayce, Omega Viktor, Smut, Mating

• Appetentia - Smut, Trans Viktor, Canon Divergence

• Whistled a Tune to the Window - 14k words, Modern Setting, Anxiety, Pinning, Getting Together

• the phantom of the opera is here... in the department of engineering - 74k words, Academy Era, Inspired by Phantom of the Opera, Smut

• Four Million Miles from Here - 40k words, Post Canon, Romance, Smut

• know me by the magic within you - 8k words, Soulmates, Viktor & Mel Friendship, Smut, Fluff

• In Hot Water - 13k words Canon Divergence, Smut, Trans Viktor, Arguing

• A Defender's Mercy - 21k words, Mage Viktor, Hunter Jayce, Soft, Hurt/Comfort

PART II HERE

Hi, I love your blog! Got any suggestions for fics that are nice to Kevin? Like Andrew being protective of him, or him bonding with his dad, or having a partner/partners that treats him well, or fics where he's just generally having a good day

Many fandom creators share your love for Kevin. -A

previous recs - family & friendship:

latest kevin & wymack ask here

latest kevin & andrew ask here

andrew loving toward kevin: friendship or kandrew here

latest kevin and neil ask here

foxes revise their opinion of kevin (and nicky) here

team bonding part 1 here, part 2 here

staff fave kevin-centric here

fics like ‘Odd Eye’ here

‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Seasons of memory’ here 

‘The Pit Within’ here (updated)

‘A Record of Life’ here

‘learn my soul’ (completed), ‘Hold each other’ ch 8, and ‘going with you’ here

‘“How can anyone not be afraid of love?”’ and ‘Hold the Line’ here

‘slow down (you crazy child),’ ‘Make a Home,’ ‘make me a promise…,’ and ‘GOODNIGHT COACH!’ here

‘countless’ here

‘date night’ and ‘history in the making’ here

‘Two Truths and a Lie,’ ‘count my fingers, not the thumbs,’ and ‘Foxes headcanons’ here

‘We Can Live Forever,’ ‘I want to find a home (and I want to share it with you),’ and ‘Family Affairs’ here 

‘House To Haunt’ here

‘fragile’ (completed), ‘Secondhand Lovers,’ and ‘what’s yours is mine’ here

‘Loving Your Future,’ ‘Carry On My Wayward Foxes,’ ‘broken alone (together we mend),’ ‘Don't You Ever Leave Me Alone, My War Is Over (Not Really), and ‘rising action’ here  

‘Flavors of Fall,’ ‘Where The Wild Things Are,’ ‘Of Smoke & Bone,’ ‘does the dog die at the end?,’ ‘the hunger at the heart of me,’ ‘Dear Advice Guy,’ and ‘quicksand’ here

previous recs - kevin with partners:

staff recs - christmas/winter quickies 2: all the Kevin pairings here

boyfriend kevin here

fluffiest kandreil here

great long kev/aaron here

‘Never Letting This Go’ here

‘Bang Slash Click’ here (completed)

‘Rainbow Connection’ here

‘nine kisses and three hearts’ and ‘soft and slow’ here

‘Life's a Beach’ and ‘the one with all the ships’ series here

‘if you're just tuning in walk into the light’ and ‘best thing’ here

‘things you said when i was crying’ here

‘once more, with feeling’ (updated) and ‘sunset, like survival’ here

‘A Sick Day’ here

‘daydream in pink’ here

‘In the Light of Day’ here

Exy Queen by Noomynoom [Rated T, 9685 Words, Complete, AFTG Reverse Big Bang 2024]

In the wake of Riko's death, Kevin tries to find his footing again in a world without The Nest - And without his brother. Thankfully, his Foxes are here to help him every step of the way, and show him that accepting the future isn't a betrayal of the past. Series of small, loosely related snippets of Kevin's days shortly after the ending of The King's Men

tw: canonical character death, tw: alcohol abuse/alcoholism, tw: vomit, tw: implied/referenced abuse

Kevin Day appreciation hour series by Ficswithcloud [Rated T, Collection, 4 complete works, Updated 2023]

Part 1: Comfort Crowd [3523 Words] What´s better than a Fox cuddle pile? Kevin Day in the middle.

tw: nightmares, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: anxiety

Part 2: A Troubled Mind [8512 Words] Kevin Day takes a "Am I gay?" quiz and finds comfort in unexpected places.

tw: internalized biphobia, tw: implied/referenced abuse

Part 3: Talk to Me [3958 Words] Kevin and Seth are happy and safe from a particularly insane Exy fanatic trying to make their lives harder. Still, Kevin struggles with his self-worth as Seth´s boyfriend. Seth being Seth, does everything he can to bring his boyfriend out of dark places and difficult memories.

tw: implied/referenced murder attempt, tw: implied/referenced drug addiction, tw: implied/referenced alcoholism, tw: anxiety 

Part 4: Busyhead [13937 Words] Kevin is alone for the weekend. He gets visited by Riko and Nicky and finds light in even the darkest places.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: vomit, tw: negative self talk, tw: panic attacks, tw: anxiety

are we there yet? by reneeswalkers [Rated G, 2074 Words, Complete, 2025]

After a long time of being safe, Neil has a nightmare again. Reminiscing helps.

despite everything, i'm still human by orionauriga [Rated T, 6867 Words, Complete, 2022]

Everyone’s always saying Kevin is heartless. Sometimes he wonders if they might be right.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced alcohol abuse, tw: panic attacks, tw: negative self talk, tw: internalized aphobia

It was nice while it lasted, right? (It was nice while it lasted) by all_for_a_pipedream [Not Rated, 4297 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin's perspective after Neil's identity reveal. He copes, in his own way, and somewhere along the line, he heals.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced alcohol abuse, tw: mild self harm, tw: violence

frying pans by aknosde [Rated G, 1078 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil cooks Kevin breakfast

tw: disordered eating

Sweet Impossible Blossom by transjorts [Rated M, 16138 Words, Complete, 2022]

“As much as Andrew enjoyed observing men partaking in vigorous activity with very little clothing on, he despised the comparisons he couldn’t help making to his own body. He couldn’t do half as much as Kevin since he refused to not wear his binder in public. The one time he’d tried to mimic Kevin’s usual routine with his binder on he’d nearly fainted, listing sideways until his body slammed into the wall. Kevin had cradled the back of his head as he dropped to the floor. That hadn’t been one of Andrew’s finer moments.”

tw: gender dysphoria, tw: misgendering, tw: transphobia, tw: vomit

learning to love by deadwriter16 [Rated G, 3673 Words, Complete, 2021]

Kevin Day is one of the most famous Exy players in possibly the world, so naturally people say things about him. One of the most common rumors is that he's cold, aloof, even unfeeling. And while that may be true to an extent, Kevin knows that he's become so much more. He's surrounded by family and friends who love him and who he loves back. And it's because of them that Kevin knows how to feel, how to love. Basically just Kevin reminiscing about his friendship with each of the Foxes and the people in his life, and about how he recovered and finally became part of a family.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced alcoholism

I Might Cry Infront of You by philomensch [Not Rated, 1290 Words, Complete, 2025]

Neil comforts Kevin when he finds out Andrew choked him.

tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced violence

Can you still play? by thisisnotourlasthunt [Not Rated, 966 Words, Complete, 2020, Locked]

Part 3 of Home is where (found) family is

Many people didn’t understand Kevin’s reasons, many of them would say he was an exy addict because his line of thought was mostly exy, but Neil knew better.

don't go (please, stay) by jjjosten (Catlady5001) [Rated G, 699 Words, Complete, 2025]

Part 13 of febuwhump 2025

“There’s no need to fear,” Andrew had said, with a wry glance towards Kevin. “Your rescue’s been rehomed.” OR: Kevin, Andrew, and the fear of loneliness.

Spirit Award by SnowPoet [Rated T, 1229 Words, Complete, 2024]

Febuwhump 2024 - Day 7 - suffering in silence Kevin allows himself to miss his mom only one week out the fifty-two the year has to offer.

tw: referenced canonical character death, tw: implied/referenced alcohol abuse

This Kid by likearecord [Rated M, 15804 Words, Complete, 2023]

Andrew absolutely should not be interested in Kevin's protege. For one thing, he's too young. For another thing... Nope, that's it.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: internalized homophobia, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced self harm, tw: implied/referenced csa

Hold me even if the world's not ending: Acetober 2023 by Acetober (allfortheBoyds) [Rated T/M/E, Collection, 25 complete works, Updated 2024]

Part 1: Introduction [M, 557 Words] The idea of Acetober is to explore common kinktober prompts without sex, sometimes that will feature a non sexual Dom/sub arrangement, sometimes it will be in the format of a 3 +1 fic, sometimes it‘ll be a silly little oneshot. I have been working on this for over six months and am really excited to finally share this with you.

Part 21: You'll always have a place in me [M, 7192 Words] The story of Kevin, Neil and Andrew breaking apart and finding back together told through four fox sleepovers Day 22 of Acetober - Floor Sex

tw: implied/referenced hate crime, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: canonical character death

cruise control fic by @triquetrine [Tumblr, 2020]

in which kevin learns to drive, and the foxes are his questionable teachers. 

Kevin and Allison playing sims 4 for a charity stream hc by @kevindayfanclub [Tumblr, 2024]

He could go home. fic by @little2nerdy [Tumblr, 2025]

Kevin's "queen" status (unironically) hc by @thespineoftherighteous [Tumblr, 2021]

Kevin can’t trust affection meta by @kevindayfanclub [Tumblr, 2024]

kevin day (was) 100% one of the loneliest people in the entire world hc by @exyrpf [Tumblr, 2019]

kevin can have love, can have friends, can have a family. 

kevin with partners:

right where you left me by mistressregulus [Rated M, 3631 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin Day leaves the Nest. Jean Moreau is right where Kevin left him.

tw: implied/referenced abuse

Broken on the Floor by buleemozar [Not Rated, 1600 Words, Complete, 2023]

Kevin knew that he shouldn’t have opened it. He knows that he should have shut his computer and never thought about it again. He knows that is exactly what Andrew or Neil would have done had they been there. He also knows that after reading it he should have called them. Called them, or his dad, or Betsy for fucks sake but instead he had broken into Nicky’s shit and tried to forget every sentence that he read.

tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: gaslighting, tw: victim blaming, tw: implied/referenced abuse

all about the light (of awakening) by saturnizzy [Rated M, 1667 Words, Complete, 2021]

Kevin finding comfort and healing over the awakenings in his life.

tw: implied/referenced abuse, tw: implied/referenced alcohol abuse

Queerplatonic Kandreil series by Greenfallleaves [Rated G/T, 3 complete works, Updated 2023, Locked]

Part 1: We can stick around and see this night through [G, 1374 Words] Kevin gets injured at one of his games so Andrew and Neil take care of him.

Part 2: I know it's warmer where you are (And it's safer by your side) [G, 1096 Words] There is no plot, just Kandreil hanging out in their dorm, vibes and platonic cuddling.

Part 3: the home we built [Rated T, 2306 Words] “Day! How would you define your relationship status with Minyard and Josten? Word is you moved in with them about a month ago?” Of course the press had gotten wind of that. It had been inevitable, really. Kevin, Andrew and Neil had just hoped it would take them a bit longer.

tw: involuntary outing

Temperature of Healing by ReeseMH [Rated M, 5482 Words, Complete, 2024]

Kevin Day, picked up by Andrew Minyard, hand broken and eyes glossed over because he is dead. There is nothing for him, and he doesn't even remember using his good hand to dial that number, coughing up blood before he could tell Andrew where he was. He didn't even know where he was going but the lights of the highway are pretty, and even though he is dead... he's not alone for it.

tw: violence, tw: abuse, tw: major character injury, tw: implied/referenced rape/noncon, tw: medication addiction, tw: vomit

Art

kevin days mother mothered hard art by @doesephs

“Kevin had Andrew to lean on, and Neil had no one” art by @grechgor

Kevin being a matchmaker for JereJean animation by @merkuits

kevin & jeremy aquarium trip art by @denjiipng for @aftg4palestine

pre-morning-coffee Matt & Kevin comic by @nothatsmi

favorite bitches: allison & kevin + matt art by @thematicallycoherent

what percent do you <3 exy and create the context for this pic art by @cowboymoonking

The Deadliest Piece On The Board. art by @rowanmahonia

how I picture Kevin art by @moncuries

eepy guys art by @deklo (nsfw - bonus artist hc in a comment reply)

Kevin Day fans, this one’s for you art by @v11chel (nsfw)

Math Nerd Masterpost

This is where you can find links to everything related to my Math Nerd AU.

I’ll do my best to update this masterpost with the snippets / headcanons / asks about the Math Nerd AU. Some of these may not be used for the final product.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Neil Josten is just about the most boring new recruit that the Foxes had ever gotten. He makes healthy breakfasts, goes on morning runs, coupons, and (worst of all) genuinely loves math.

So why can’t Andrew stop thinking about the damn math nerd?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 1: HERE (Recruiting Neil, Move-in Day , Stupid Sexy Josten, Ichirou at Court, Truth for Truth (Round 1), and Thanksgiving)

Part 2: HERE (Alex  & Endless Summer)

Part 3: HERE (Fall & Break)

Part 4: HERE (Glue & Crush)

Part 5: HERE (Banquet )

Part 6: HERE ( Plans, The Nest, Leaving Castle Evermore & )

Part 7: HERE (Moriyamas, Return to the Foxhole, Recruits, Reunion, Post-Reunion, Andrew has a Revelation & New Car)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-Snippet Information / Initial Thoughts: HERE

What... am I?

You're... you're alive.

ARCANE 2.02 — "Watch It All Burn"

1/15/25 WIP Wednesday Round-Up

Everything requested for 1/15/25

Pretty Boy

Chapter 5: ( 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 ) Chapter 6: ( 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 )

Total Requests: 40 Total

idk if you’re still doing this but Pretty Boy??? Plsplspls

1/15/25 WIP Wednesday (CLOSED) | Pretty Boy

“I should…have been more clear when we talked about this earlier and agreed to talking during this. I liked all of the talk about how I felt, what you were going to do, what you wanted to do, and what you were going to do. I…don’t want you to degrade me when we’re together like that.” He watches as Neil wraps his arms around his middle as if to try and comfort himself.

Andrew feels like Neil has just said something in a completely new foreign language.

“Neil, what did I say that you took as me degrading you?” Andrew asks because he can’t think of a single degrading comment he’s made when they got started. 

Beautiful Crime (alternate ending)

Original ending⬇⬇⬇

Ximena being great at all types of cooking.

And we thank her for that

Its the big day finally, but im not from usa so i just cry in silence, misunderstood by my friends and family.

Spoilers, my only information source, is the most hated thing in my life but at the same time the only thing that keeps me sane

😭😭

lazarus

March 2007

---

            In the predawn light, Edgar Allan wasn’t much to look at.

            On paper it wasn’t far behind Palmetto State in terms of enrollment and campus size, but whereas Palmetto State was built on sprawling land with low buildings and open lawns, Edgar Allan had taken a compact, vertical approach. That wasn’t to say the architecture wasn’t to be admired; even Renee, who had no eye for such things, could see the meticulous and ostentatious care put into the school’s appearance. A pretentious coffin, Jean had called it a month ago, when Renee asked after it. Fanciful and grim, she’d thought then, but now she understood.

            Her phone hummed in her hand, but Renee finished her slow sweep of the area before looking down at it. At this hour it would only be one person: she’d kept Stephanie up all night, needing another pair of eyes to guide her and lay the groundwork for this reckless stunt. Their call lasted most of the five-hour drive here from the cabin. Later Renee would apologize for the hours of lost sleep, and Stephanie would brush away her guilt and concern with the same easy care she always did. Now was too soon for any such kindness.

            “It’s sent,” Stephanie’s text said.

            Renee held down until a heart appeared and slid off the car to her feet. Gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she went for the front door. There was an actual knocker on the door, but it wasn’t likely to get her far. Renee put her thumb to the doorbell instead. The carved wood muffled most of the noise, but she heard the distant tones echoing down the hall. Renee let them fade, then pressed again. Two seconds later, again. And again. And again.

            It took a few minutes, but at long last there was a sharp clack of the locks snapping out of place. Louis Andritch yanked open the door in a half-undone bathrobe, looking more like a harried professor than a campus president.

            “Yes?” he demanded. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

            “Jean Moreau is dying,” Renee said.

            Andritch stared at her like she was speaking a foreign language, mouth still half-open on an abandoned tirade. She kept her stance neutral and her hands loosely folded in front of her as she waited for him to finally clue in on what she’d said.

            “Excuse me?” he finally managed. “What did you say to me?”

            “Jean Moreau is dying,” Renee said again, with an unhurried calm that ate away at her heart. Lashing out at Andritch prematurely would tilt this entire fiasco against her, she knew, but without Stephanie’s steady voice in her ear she had nothing to keep her fear at bay. Everything hinged on getting to Jean. If she could just do that, nothing and no one could stop her. This was the only part that Renee couldn’t control.

            Renee held Andritch’s gaze as she said, “Exy team, your perfect Court backliner. He is dead or dying as we speak, and I need you to take me to him.”

            “Listen,” Andritch said, putting a hand out like he could ward off anything else Renee had to say. “I thank you for your concern, Miss…?” She held out her student ID and driver’s license, but he only gave them a quick glance. “If there was a problem with one of my teams, my staff would have already informed me. I assure you I will look into it, but—”

            Renee saw the door start to close and moved into the doorway to catch it. “Mr. Andritch,” she said, in as pleasant a tone as she could manage, “I drove through the night for the slim chance of saving his life. I would prefer you escort me to Castle Evermore now, but if you would rather wait until your school makes the morning news that is your choice.” He frowned at her, not following, but Renee didn’t wait to be asked. “An article is queued to send to a half-dozen sites, and the author is prepared to give Kathy Ferdinand the scoop for her morning show.”

            “Where are you even getting this information?” Andritch demanded, and Renee tapped through her phone with her free hand to send a quick "X" out. “These are some serious accusations you are leveling at me, young lady, and I do not appreciate being strongarmed.”

            “I would rather not do this,” Renee said. “We both know how much money is riding on championships this year regardless of the outcome. Our schools have too much to gain by seeing this through to the end. But I will not sacrifice Jean. Help me save him, and we can both forget this conversation ever happened. Please.”

            Andritch’s phone started ringing before she was finished. He ignored her in favor of answering it with a harried, “Yes?” He tried again to close the door, but Renee braced it with a hand and foot. He fixed her a warning look she wasn’t cowed by. “Yes, hello? Can you give me just a—”

            Andritch went still and calm as he listened, and Renee stared him down as Stephanie went up one side of him and down the other. She counted seconds between his “This is highly irregular” and “What proof do I have that this is not some cockamamie prank” protests, and they added up to so many minutes of wasted time Renee was tempted to leave him here.

            The first plan had been to bypass Andritch entirely and go straight to Evermore. Stephanie had talked her down from that, careful not to ask how Renee would circumvent the security system there. They needed Andritch on their side. They needed a credible witness. Without him they had nothing. Even if she could get to Jean on her own—they cannot stop me, Mom—how would she keep him? Renee knew Stephanie was right, just as she knew the nearest hardware store wouldn’t open for another hour. She was not above breaking into it, but the consequences would hurt them all in the long run.

            At last Andritch hung up. There was a sour look on his face that didn’t match the fear in his eyes, and Renee saw the tension in his imperious gesture to enter his front hall. The what if had taken hold; whether Andritch was more worried about his student or his school’s reputation she did not know or care so long as she got the desired results. Renee stepped in with a polite “Thank you” and stood off to one side so he could close and lock the door again.

            Andritch ignored her in favor of making another call. “Coach Moriyama, this is Louis. I need to have a meeting with one of your Ravens this morning, Jean Moreau.” He listened for a moment, and his eyebrows went up in surprise. “New York? Oh, I am sorry to hear that. Of course, family must come first. You have my condolences for your loss. Yes, of course. Yes, I can reschedule, it’s not that pressing. We can discuss it when you are back in town.”

            Force, then, Renee thought wearily, but then Andritch hung up and pointed at her. “Do not leave this spot. I am going to get dressed and call security.”

            And check his email, most likely, because Stephanie would have sent him a preview of her page-long exposé. Abby had reluctantly loaned them photographs from Kevin’s first night with the Foxes, leery of betraying Kevin’s trust by releasing them but trusting Renee and Stephanie to win Andritch over before they were forced to go public.

            Andritch’s phone rang again before he was halfway up the stairwell. “Hello? Coach Wymack, you said?”

            The rest of the conversation was muffled by distance. Renee hummed quietly to herself so she wouldn’t ask him to perhaps be a bit more urgent about the situation, and then her phone buzzed against her fingers. She opened it to a query from Stephanie and tapped out a quick update. She didn’t mean to click over to Jean’s message next, but a second later it was staring up at her.

            Kengo is dead, first. And then: Thank you.

            Two words that meant nothing, that meant everything, when just a few days prior Neil had offered Andrew a threadbare smile and Thank you, you were amazing. before getting ripped out of their lives with violent force. Thank you, goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye.

            Renee closed her phone and squeezed it until her knuckles ached. She looked toward the stairs again. She wasn’t sure if a “Hurry” or “I will meet you at the stadium” would make it out of her first, but then Andritch came down the stairs so fast it was a wonder he didn’t tilt forward and fall flat on his face. Renee made a note to gift Abby a spa day as soon as this was over.

            “You will follow my car,” Andritch said, snatching his keys off their hook with such force he nearly pulled the rack off the wall as well. He got the door and shooed her out, and Renee went for Andrew’s car with long strides. Andritch needed another moment to field another call, but he pulled his car door closed so hard Renee heard it over the Maserati’s engine. Finally, finally Andritch got on the road, and Renee pulled out behind him.

            Because Castle Evermore doubled as the home court for the national team, it was set a short drive from the rest of campus. Renee had never seen it before, but it was hard to miss the imposing building with its spired corners. There was no color on it; from the foundation to the towers it was painted a forbidding solid black.

            Pretentious coffin, she silently agreed, and then, But not yours.

            The entire thing was surrounded by a tall fence lined with barbed wire. Andritch passed a half-dozen gates before slowing to a stop at one, and he leaned out his window to tap away at a keypad. The gate remained closed, and Andritch tried again. After a few attempts he got out of his car, like somehow the angle of his arm was to blame for this. Renee assumed he had few reasons to come out this way, but that he hadn’t secured the codes on the drive over was frustrating.

            Movement in her rearview mirror had her glancing back as an unfamiliar car pulled up behind her. The driver’s door opened, and she saw enough lettering to guess it was campus security. Perhaps Andritch’s incompetence was just show, then, a means of stalling her until he could eject her from campus. She relaxed her grip on the steering wheel and waited for the guard to try her door, but he went past her without slowing. Andritch got out of his way to let him have a go at it, but he had no more luck than Andritch had. After two attempts, the guard had no choice but to phone his superiors.

            Renee glanced past them at the fence. She gauged the height and tugged idly at her jacket, wondering if it was thick enough to protect her from the barbed wire along the top. Likely not, but before she could commit to trying it out the gate finally rattled open. The guard went jogging past again so he could get back in his car, and the three drove into the Ravens’ guarded lot at last.

            The spots closest to the stadium were all taken by a line of identical black cars, so they double-parked behind them. The security guard sent a curious look at Renee as she joined him and Andritch at the door, but he was too busy trying to get them into the Nest to ask questions. Unsurprisingly he needed to call in for this access code as well, and he held the door open for both of them when he managed to get it unlocked.

            Renee expected to find a hallway; what she saw was a dark stairwell leading down. Red lighting on the ceiling did nothing to chase away the shadows. Renee was tempted to ask Andritch if he had honestly signed off on this thinking it was a good idea, but he looked just young enough she assumed he’d inherited this madness. Andritch led them down without comment or hesitation, so Renee trailed after him. One more door awaited them at the bottom, but the guard hadn’t bothered to hang up his call and he called out a code to Andritch from the rear.

            If Renee had expected the Nest to be an improvement, she was immediately and sorely disappointed. The rooms they passed through in search of a stray Raven were spacious, but the ceilings were too low and the entire thing was done in Raven black and red. It was a minor blessing that these ceiling lights were normal, but whoever installed the bulbs had chosen a weaker wattage that let shadows collect in all the corners.

            Renee keenly understood why the Ravens spent so much time on the court, if this was their only other option. She had been here for only twenty seconds, and she was ready to never come here again. Jean had told her the Ravens only left the Nest for away games and classes, and she wasn’t sure if that made this better or worse: she couldn’t imagine coming back to this pit willingly, but the thought of being trapped here almost every hour of the day turned her heart cold.

            Raucous laughter led them to a kitchen at last, and the conversation died when Andritch stepped inside. Renee looked past him to the four Ravens gathered around a square table. She had one moment to note their identical black clothes and another to take in their stunned expressions before one got up from the table with lethal intent.

            “Who the fuck—”

            “Your campus president,” Andritch cut him off. “I am here to see Moreau. Where is he?”

            The four exchanged baffled looks before volunteering, “He’s in Red Hall.”

            “Show me,” Andritch said.

            No one seemed in a hurry to obey, but after a pointed, “You’re already up,” from one of the Ravens at the table, the first man scowled and crossed the room. He put a finger in Renee’s face as soon as he reached them.

            “You’re a Fox,” he said. “You don’t belong here.”

            She was idly impressed he recognized her so easily, but considering how sour things were between the teams now perhaps it was to be expected. “Neither do any of you.”

            “Right now,” Andritch said before the Raven could respond.

            He settled for giving her an ugly look and pushing her roughly out of his way. Andritch snapped at him for his aggression as he followed, but Renee let it go in one ear and out the other. Signage on the wall pointed out the directions to Red and Black Halls, and they went down the one that would lead them to Jean. Despite the name, there was no more abundance of color here than there had been anywhere else. Most of the doors they passed were open, but Renee only spared a couple glances at the dark bedrooms.

            Finally their unwilling guide stopped in a doorway and hit the side of his fist against the frame. “Andritch is your problem now,” he said to whoever was inside, and he flicked a last annoyed look at the president in question. “Zane is Jean’s roommate. He’ll find him for you. I’ve only got ten minutes left of lunch before I’m due on the court, so I’m leaving.”

            “Your name first,” Andritch said.

            “Williams,” the man said. “Brayden. Striker, number nineteen. Done here?”

            “For the moment,” Andritch said, with a tone that said this attitude was going to dearly cost Brayden when Andritch could spare enough time for him. Renee was expecting his shove as he went back down the hall the way they’d come, and she kept her feet planted so he couldn’t knock her over. She didn’t spare him another thought but followed Andritch to the doorway.

            Identical beds were set against opposite walls, with two nightstands and tiny desks between them. Only one man was inside, and he wasn’t Jean. Renee glanced toward the empty half of the room and was surprised to see Jean had decorations up. Postcards were pinned to the walls, and the top of his nightstand was littered with either stickers or magnets. The urge to study his precious possessions was as fleeting as it was inappropriate, and Renee forcibly returned her attention to the greater problem: Jean wasn’t there.

            “—he is?” Andritch was asking.

            Zane didn’t answer immediately, but the look that crossed his face told Renee everything she needed to know. The Ravens they’d met in the kitchen seemed more annoyed and bewildered by this intrusion than anything; Zane’s hesitation now was a deeper understanding. He knew exactly why they’d come. Renee assumed he had a better vantage point for Jean’s ongoing trauma as his roommate.

            “He’ll be with Riko,” Zane said at last. “They’re partners.”

            “I don’t care whose partner he is,” Andritch said. “Someone is going to find him for me.”

            Zane got up from his desk but sent a long look at Renee. “She shouldn’t be here.”

            Andritch snapped his fingers to get Zane’s attention. “That is not your call. Move it.”

            Zane led them to Black Hall. Another dormitory, Renee realized, with only one door closed at the far end. Zane knocked, listened, and knocked again. He checked his watch, tipped his head back to think, and said, “First shift, but what day is it? They might be finishing up on the court right now. Come on.”

            As soon as he stepped past her, Renee went to the door. The knob turned easily under her hand. For one moment she was surprised at Riko’s boldness, that he genuinely trusted people to stay out of his space out of some semblance of respect. Then she had the door open, and the sight waiting for her erased every thought from her mind.

            Zane caught her arm to haul her back. Renee didn’t even feel his skin under her knuckles when she put everything behind her fist. Zane wasn’t expecting it and wasn’t at all braced for it, and he nearly took Andritch down with him as he was thrown back.

            The guard moved to intervene, but Renee was in the room and out of reach before he could get his hands on her. She let their outraged demands wash over her and was only distantly aware of how abruptly the shouting stopped when they followed her into Riko’s room. The only thing that mattered was the body on Riko’s floor.

            Not a body, Renee thought fiercely, and willed it to be true, but how could it be true when Jean looked like this? That Riko had just left him here like this was almost as horrifying as the state he was in, and she was trembling as she knelt on the ground by his head. She took five seconds to calm herself to stillness before reaching for him, and she pressed her fingers to his bruised throat in search of a pulse. The relief it sent through her was almost sharp enough to bite away her grief, and Renee sent up a quick and desperate prayer of thanks.

            “Jean,” she said softly, then louder: “Jean. Can you hear me?”

            “Good god above,” the security guard finally said. “Is he—”

            “Alive,” Renee said, and was just mad enough to add, “For now.” She looked toward the men standing across from her: the horrified guard who hadn’t signed up for this before he had his morning coffee, the Raven who looked uncomfortable but not surprised or upset, and Andritch, whose blank-faced horror could have been for his mangled student but was just as likely for his crashing career.

            “What happened here?” Andritch demanded.

            Zane lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Rough scrimmage, maybe?” At the foul look Andritch sent him, he scowled and looked away. “I don’t know, man. He hasn’t been my partner in a year now.”

            “I am taking him home,” Renee said. “Help me get him to my car.”

            Andritch didn’t move. “We need to call a doctor.”

            “Josiah lives on campus,” Zane volunteered. “I’ve got his number saved.”

            “He is coming with me,” Renee said.

            “You can’t have him.” Zane flicked her a venomous look. “He belongs here.”

            That he was angrier over her intrusion than had what happened to his own teammate shook Renee to the core, and for one frightening moment she felt all the years of anger management and therapy start to coil undone. Maybe Zane saw something change on her face, because he took a half-step back from her and tensed for a fight.

            “You cannot stop me,” Renee said, in a tone far steadier than she felt. “If you try, I promise you will regret it. Mr. Andritch, you know the terms for my discretion.”

            “Now listen,” Andritch started, but there was more uncertainty than bluster in his voice. If he actually had a coherent thought to follow that, he couldn’t seem to get it out. When Renee flicked him a hard look he was staring down at Jean’s broken, bloody form. “I don’t know if we can even safely move him. It would be best to get someone here first to make sure he’s stable. Josiah, you said?” he asked Zane.

            “Head nurse,” Zane said, digging his phone out of his pocket.

            “I left my team nurse at the hotel before coming over here,” Renee lied as she pulled out her own phone. She hated making Jean a spectacle, but she knew she needed evidence. She took a few pictures of his bloodied, broken face. “I can send these to Kathy Ferdinand for her morning show, or I can delete these in the parking lot. Give me one Raven, or I will take them all.”

            “I don’t appreciate your tone, young lady,” Andritch said. She half-expected him to try intimidating her to silence, but perhaps he knew it was useless. He could try to confiscate her phone and throw her off-campus, but she’d set too many pieces in motion already. She didn’t technically need Jean or these photos to destroy his school and he knew it. The best he managed was, “Let’s not jump to any rash action.”

            Jean’s fingers twitched against the carpet as their voices finally started to rouse him. Renee carefully peeled his hair out of the caked blood on his face and smoothed careful knuckles over his temple.

            “Hey,” she said, softening her tone immediately. “Jean, can you hear me? We’re going to move you just in a moment. I’m sorry, but it’s going to hurt. It’s going to really hurt, and I can’t stop that. I need you to bear it a little longer, okay?”

            At long last Andritch chose his side with a tense, “Let’s get him out of here.”

            The guard dragged Zane with him as he approached, and Renee moved out of their way. It took them a moment to figure out how they were supposed to get Jean off the floor. He didn’t stir at the feel of their hands on him, but as soon as they hoisted him off the carpet, he made a wretched noise in the back of his throat that had Renee’s eyes stinging.

            “It’s okay,” she promised him, unsure if he could even hear her. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

            “—ry,” Jean mumbled, so faint Renee could barely hear him. “Sorry, I’m—” the rest got swallowed up by another pained noise as the guard shifted his grip, and Renee locked her fingers together before she could reach for him.

            Andritch sent Renee ahead of him so he could take the rear and focus on his phone. From the sound of it he was rounding up the Ravens’ other coaches and calling them back to Evermore for an emergency meeting. Renee kept moving, trying to ignore the agonized sounds Jean was choking on as he was carried after her. She wanted to ask them to be more careful; she knew just from looking at Jean that they couldn’t be careful enough.

            Getting him up the steep stairs was the worst part, and Renee’s cheeks were damp with silent tears when she finally pushed open the last door. As soon as the men were clear of the door she hurried over to Andrew’s car. It took only a bit of jostling to slide the passenger seat back on its rails, and she tugged the latch until she could lay it as flat as it would go.

            Jean was boneless when they finally got him settled. Renee saw the unnatural way his head lolled to one side and feared the worst, but when she squeezed past Zane to check on him, she could still find a pulse. Unconscious from the pain, then, which was only a half-step better. It was six hours and change from West Virginia to South Carolina. Abby had offered to meet her here, and Renee should have agreed, but she was desperate to get Jean out of the state before Riko and his uncle figured out how to respond.

            “You’ll keep us updated?” Andritch said. He sounded calm, but she saw the nervous way he turned his class ring on his little finger as he studied her.

            “Hourly reports,” Renee agreed as she pushed the passenger door shut. He was standing close to her, so she obediently tilted her phone screen his way and deleted her photographs in front of him. It wouldn’t stop her from taking more once she got somewhere safe, but it was a token of good faith and the best he could hope for. “We appreciate your cooperation. Please feel free to delete the email you received this morning and contact Coach Wymack if you have any additional concerns.”

            “You’re making a mistake,” Zane warned her. “You will regret this.”

            Renee met his cold stare with a cool look of her own. “Your captain is free to take his grievances up with me if he has something to say about it. I’m sure he knows where to find me.” She didn’t wait for a response but looked at Andritch. “If we’re finished here, I will take the code for the outer gate.”

            The guard had to call his office again to get it for her, and Renee committed it to memory as she got in the car and pulled away. She had six numbers tapped into the keypad when the stadium door crashed open, and Renee glanced at her rearview mirror to see Riko in the doorway. He was dressed in full court gear minus his helmet, and the distance between them couldn’t hide the absolute rage on his face when he followed Zane’s pointing finger to her car. He took a couple steps in her direction like he wanted to chase her down, and Renee quickly put in the last two numbers.

            The gate rattled open, and Renee flashed Riko a peace sign out the window as she put the pedal to the floor. Unnecessary, she knew, but she could worry about her attitude later. All that mattered now was getting Jean to South Carolina. She had the window closed before they reached the interstate and called Stephanie on speaker.

            “I’ve got him,” she said. “We’re on our way south.”

            “How is he?” Stephanie asked. “How are you?”

            “Oh, Mom,” Renee said, and risked a glance over at Jean’s battered form. With the windows closed the smell of blood was thick enough to choke on. “I don’t know how he’s still alive.”

            “God’s not done with that boy yet,” Stephanie said. “Drive safe, you hear me? I know you were up all night. If you start getting tired, you call me to keep you awake or you make sure you pull over and rest a bit. You can’t help him if you go off the road.”

            “I know,” Renee said. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

            “I’m proud of you, honeybug,” Stephanie said. “I love you. Be safe.”

            “Love you.” Renee clicked her phone closed and dropped it into the cup holder between the seats. She reached out blindly for Jean, needing to check his pulse one last time, and thought she felt a hum against her fingertips as Jean tried to stir. “Sleep, Jean,” she urged him, thinking of the lone packet of painkillers in the bottom of her purse. “Sleep, and I’ll get us home.”

            “—ome,” was the slurred agreement, and Renee turned her attention back to the endless drive ahead of them.

guys what the fuck...

I love that Jinx does actually view Caitlyn as part of the family, despite their differences and animosity.

No idea if nora did it on purpose or not, but the coach jackie's surname from the sunshine court, lisinski, has the word fox in it in polish.

Lis, the first part of the surname, means literally fox.

I've just read sunshine court and it stuck out to me immediately, because if this was a coincidance then it's crazy how nora nailed it right on the spot.

If it wasn't, which i belive was the case, then my heart warms in the research nora put into naming the characters.

Also i have no idea if this was pointed out already. Maybe some other polish/slavic person saw it before me

Skip Google for Research

As Google has worked to overtake the internet, its search algorithm has not just gotten worse.  It has been designed to prioritize advertisers and popular pages often times excluding pages and content that better matches your search terms 

As a writer in need of information for my stories, I find this unacceptable.  As a proponent of availability of information so the populace can actually educate itself, it is unforgivable.

Below is a concise list of useful research sites compiled by Edward Clark over on Facebook. I was familiar with some, but not all of these.

⁂

Google is so powerful that it “hides” other search systems from us. We just don’t know the existence of most of them. Meanwhile, there are still a huge number of excellent searchers in the world who specialize in books, science, other smart information. Keep a list of sites you never heard of.

www.refseek.com - Academic Resource Search. More than a billion sources: encyclopedia, monographies, magazines.

www.worldcat.org - a search for the contents of 20 thousand worldwide libraries. Find out where lies the nearest rare book you need.

https://link.springer.com - access to more than 10 million scientific documents: books, articles, research protocols.

www.bioline.org.br is a library of scientific bioscience journals published in developing countries.

http://repec.org - volunteers from 102 countries have collected almost 4 million publications on economics and related science.

www.science.gov is an American state search engine on 2200+ scientific sites. More than 200 million articles are indexed.

www.pdfdrive.com is the largest website for free download of books in PDF format. Claiming over 225 million names.

www.base-search.net is one of the most powerful researches on academic studies texts. More than 100 million scientific documents, 70% of them are free

Okay so i listened to suggestions about Jayce being unhappy with the inflicting pain bit but being unable to say no!

he's just helping Viktor with evening stretching, nothing special

What form would your daemon take?

In the world of His Dark Materials, what would your daemon appear as?

this was a long undertaking but i’m beyond excited to post what i believe is the most comprehensive daemon-finding quiz to date, featuring 34 categories of animals and over 320 total possible outcomes! from insects to owls to seals to wild cats, you’re sure to find a unique result that fits your personality.

tag or comment what your daemon would be! :) mine’s a cocker spaniel!

EDIT: the quiz has two parts, the category which this post links to (34 options), and then the specific animal within that category (5-15 options) which you’re linked to once you get your result!

The wolf is so done with the fox’s bs 😂

Added the promised second part y’all!

Queer Coding in Media: The Case of Jayce and Viktor.

Let's address what Christian Linke recently said about Jayce and Viktor's relationship because this is making some noise in the community:

According to the co-creator, Jayce and Viktor love each other like “brothers”.

Christian states that he doesn't understand why people see their relationship as a romantic one.

Linke also added, after the end of the series, that Viktor is canonically asexual and dismissed a possible romantic relationship with Jayce due to that reason.

We'll expand on these points next. But first, some context.

| About queer coding...

If Jayce and Viktor's relationship is seen as beyond brotherly, it's because it was portrayed that way. Their relationship is very queer coded.

Queer coding refers to the practice of subtly implying that a character in a piece of media is part of the LGBTQ+ community without explicitly stating or confirming it. This is often achieved through subtext, symbolism or specific character traits associated with queerness. This often arises due to societal restrictions, censorship or creators intentionally embedding queer elements into their work.

Queer coding for a couple in media involves using subtle visual, narrative or dialogue-based cues to suggest a romantic or deeply intimate connection between two characters without explicitly confirming their relationship as romantic or LGBTQ+. This type of queer coding focuses on the dynamic between the two characters rather than just one individual's traits.

When discussing queer coding in media, the examples can include both the content of the relationship itself (dialogues, interactions and dynamics) and visual and non-visual narrative (cinematographic techniques, narrative techniques and the use of music). Both aspects—content and narrative—are essential to queer coding because: a) Content provides the material that audiences can latch onto (dialogues, dynamics or gestures) and b) the narrative guides how the audience perceives this material (through visuals or music, for example).

Below are examples and methods used to queer code couples:

Content of the relationship (character dynamics and dialogues):

These are the in-universe moments or dialogues that give romantic or emotionally intense undertones to the relationship. For Jayce and Viktor, this includes:

1. Use of subtext in dialogue or relationships:

Ambiguous or "more-than-friendship" dynamics: Characters have intense emotional bonds or interactions that go beyond typical friendships but stop short of being explicitly romantic. Jayce and Viktor’s connection, for example, is filled with vulnerability, admiration and devotion beyond brotherhood. Their willingness to risk everything to save each other in each timeline adds a tragic, almost romantic layer to their bond. Jayce’s comment calling Viktor “beautiful despite his imperfections” and their mutual sacrifices suggest a deep connection that goes beyond friendship or platonic relationships. Their bond, tied to time loops and destiny, feels more like a soul bond with a cosmic significance that transcends a typical brotherly dynamic. In other cases, this would be a romance.

Loaded Dialogue: Lines of dialogue may carry double meanings or suggest emotional or physical intimacy without being overt (e.g., characters use ambiguous terms like partner, special or soulmate, which can suggest deeper feelings without explicitly labeling the relationship). For example, if one says, "I’d sacrifice everything for you," it resonates beyond platonic territory. Dialogue between Viktor and Jayce is filled with layered meanings that suggest a connection deeper than traditional friendship. Here are some examples:

When Viktor’s former mentor warns him about sacrificing love and legacy, Viktor instinctively replies "Jayce will understand," directly associating Jayce with love and signaling how central Jayce is to his emotional world. Similarly, Jayce’s decision to abandon politics to return to the lab is encapsulated in the line "my place was always here in the lab with you," which emphasizes that his devotion isn't just to their work but specifically to Viktor. The repeated use of "partner" by Jayce further blurs the lines between professional collaboration and emotional intimacy, as the word carries dual meanings, suggesting equality and closeness. The term is somewhere between friends, brothers and more than that. Hence, the term can be freely interpreted. Viktor later reflects on their bond by stating, "it was affection that held us together," acknowledging that their relationship transcended shared goals and was rooted in genuine emotional warmth. Finally, Jayce telling Viktor, "there is beauty in imperfections," as he admires Viktor’s struggles and physical challenges, conveys profound validation and care, elevating their bond to one of deep emotional resonance. These lines collectively demonstrate how their dialogue is charged with a sense of intimacy and mutual admiration, allowing the relationship to be interpreted as more than platonic, hinting at queer coding through its emotional depth and layered expressions.

2. Body language and interactions:

Lingering gazes or physical proximity: Close, lingering touches, extended eye contact or standing too close for “just friends” —common romantic cues—are often used. For example, long hugs, holding hands or standing closely during emotional moments are subtle ways of suggesting attraction or intimacy. In Jayce and Viktor's case, Jayce is almost always the one who initiates the physical contact. Jayce's non-verbal language with Viktor is marked by gestures of reassurence with a hand on his shoulder, hugs without centimeters of distance and fast moves to help Viktor in the face of his weakening due to his illness. An important detail to take into account is Jayce's reaction to Viktor and Mel's return. When Viktor returns from the dead, Jayce surprises his friend with a hug that knocks him off balance by his strength. When Mel returns after no one knew of her whereabouts, Jayce doesn't even hug her, but instead complains about why she didn't save Viktor.

Protective gestures: Scenes of one character sacrificing for, protecting or expressing deep vulnerability to another can suggest more intimate feelings. Jayce and Viktor's relationship also has the presence of hundreds of moments in which they both profess for the safety and well-being of the other. In season one, after having sex with Mel, she wakes up in an empty bed. It turns out that Jayce was with Viktor, waiting on the side of the bed for him to wake up. This detail alone shows where Jayce's loyalty lies. But, overall, Jayce is very delicate and helpful towards Viktor. In turn, the only moment in which Viktor initiates physical contact is to reassure Jayce so that he doesn't feel pain on the astral plane. Both join their foreheads in a significant gesture of appreciation and affection and console each other at the end of their existences.

3. Avoidance of heteronormativity:

Lack of romantic interest in the opposite sex: A queer-coded character may show no explicit attraction to the opposite sex while forming deep emotional bonds with same-sex characters. This is especially true for Victor, who has had no interest in any character of the opposite gender during the two seasons. The guilt Viktor felt over Sky's death shouldn't be confused with sexual, romantic or aesthetic attraction. Viktor practically didn't even know Sky's name during the first season and, despite knowing each other since childhood, Viktor continues to call her "Miss Young" during the second season. As you may already know, Sky's presence in the second part of Arcane represents what Viktor has left of humanity. Jayce is a separate case, since he did have a sexual-affective relationship with Mel, despite not being officially a couple. However, he always put Viktor's well-being above his relationship with Mel.

Unconventional partnerships: Instead of marrying, having children, or living “normal” lives, queer-coded characters often follow nontraditional paths. The unconventional partnership between Jayce and Viktor lies in their shared path of devoting their lives to science and progress instead of following more traditional societal expectations. Their bond, rooted in their shared ambition and mutual understanding, creates a life partnership that revolves around innovation, discovery and reshaping the world. Together, they prioritize their intellectual and creative pursuits over conventional relationships, with their lab becoming the core of their connection and purpose. This can be seen, for example, in the moment when Jayce decides to resign from politics because he realizes that his place is next to Viktor in the lab. This partnership not only defines their lives but also strengthens their relationship, making it deeply meaningful and unique in its intimacy and shared vision.

Visual and non-visual narrative (cinematographic techniques, narrative techniques and music):

These are the deliberate storytelling choices that imply deeper subtext or allow the audience to interpret a couple's bond as queer. Examples include:

1. Visual narrative:

Symbolism (in scenes): are visual and narrative moments intentionally designed to evoke ambiguity, emotional depth or hidden meanings in a relationship. These scenes often rely on subtext, metaphor or visual framing to suggest intimacy or connection between two characters, leaving their nature open to interpretation. For example, Jayce's campfire scene. Fire might symbolize Jayce's internal turmoil. Mel appearing first may reflect her role as a significant figure in Jayce's life, while Viktor appearing next could symbolize a deeper, enduring connection. The fire "burning away" Mel and transitioning to Viktor might suggest that, in this moment, Jayce's thoughts are consumed by Viktor, representing a priority or emotional focus shifting toward Viktor. So, Viktor isn't simply a colleague or friend but someone whose presence looms large in Jayce's thoughts, surpassing Mel's. While the scene might not explicitly state anything romantic, the visual choices align with tropes often used to convey profound emotional connections, making it easy to interpret the subtext as romantic or deeply personal.

The decision to interweave Viktor’s scene with Jayce and Mel's scene while having sex is highly unusual too. If Jayce and Viktor are purely platonic friends, such a juxtaposition does feel strange. I understand, both Jayce and Viktor are "merging" with something beyond themselves, but can you imagine a similar scene with Jinx and Vi? If Jayce and Viktor's relationship were purely professional, friendly or brotherly, such imagery wouldn't normally feel warranted in storytelling.

Parallelism: In storytelling, parallelism refers to the use of comparable or mirrored elements—such as characters, themes or visuals—to draw connections or contrasts. It often involves showing two or more situations, characters or relationships side-by-side to highlight their similarities, differences or shared significance within the narrative. In Arcane, the creators align Viktor with Mel through parallels. Through this technique, creators seem to suggest that Viktor holds a similar or even equivalent place in Jayce’s life. Since Mel’s relationship with Jayce is explicitly romantic, this framing subtly implies that Viktor could also occupy a romantic or emotionally intimate role.

2. Non-visual narrative:

Music and Lyrics: are powerful tools to subtly hint at romantic or emotional dynamics between characters without explicitly stating them. By selecting specific songs or using lyrics that carry layered meanings, creators can invoke emotions or associations that resonate with queer themes, intimacy or romantic undertones. Songs that have lyrics with open-ended or ambiguous lines, when placed over scenes with queer-coded characters, allow for multiple interpretations. This creates a sense of queerness without labeling it outright, allowing the audience to interpret the relationship as they see fit. As is the case of the song The Line by Twenty One Pilots. Through the line "pull the blanket tight now" you can interpret the song from Viktor's point of view and dedicated to Jayce (since Jayce was the one who gave the blanket to Viktor).

Comparisons and mirroring: narrative parallels with romantic couples, either in character arcs, sacrifices or framing. For example, Jayce and Viktor share a significant bond across multiple timelines. Jinx and Ekko, meanwhile, also share a significant bond in another timeline. This could be interpreted as both couples choosing each other, even, in alternate universes. This is an idea that is commonly related to romantic relationships. Love across different universes is seen as something beyond fraternal and worthy of epic romantic love. In the same episode that Ekko meets Jinx in another timeline, Jayce meets Viktor in another timeline too. The same thing happens in episode three of season two. In the same episode where Vi and Caitlyn fight and part ways, Jayce and Viktor also fight and part ways. In this way, Jayce and Viktor follow a similar pattern and theme (albeit on a larger scale) to that of the other canonically romantic couples in the series.

Subtext in dialogue: refers to lines with double meanings that subtly suggest emotional or romantic undertones. The choice by the creators of lines that are commonly associated with romantic relationships such as "beautiful despite the imperfections", "in all timelines, in all possibilities, only you can show me this", "my place is in the laboratory, with you" or "it was affection that held us" convey an ambiguous message that leaves the possibility of multiple interpretations open. The use of the term "partner" was not accidental either. This word is commonly used by queer individuals to signify a romantic relationship while avoiding gendered language. Jayce and Viktor not calling each other “brothers” is significant because it leaves room for ambiguity, suggesting that the creators might not have wanted to firmly define the relationship. Jayce only called Viktor "brother" once and then insisted on the term "partners" until the end of the series.

As you noted, these aren’t accidental choices—they are purposeful creative decisions made by team members who do support the romantic interpretation of Jayce and Viktor's relationship. Animators, voice actors and designers contributed to shaping this relationship through subtle creative choices. For example, animators might have chosen specific expressions or gestures to convey deeper intimacy, even if this wasn’t explicitly stated in the script. Leaving their relationship ambiguous might have been seen as a “safe” route in the face of disagreements.

In collaborative works like Arcane, no single individual (not even Christian Linke) dictates the entirety of what's canon or not. Creative contributions from diverse team members with their own agenda and interpretations also shape meaning.

If the intention was to show a “brotherly” relationship but the execution led to widespread interpretation of a romantic one, it's failure in storytelling. If the intention was to show a "queer coded" relationship and the execution led to widespread interpretation of a romantic one, then it's success in storytelling.

Death of the author: Viewers also have their own interpretations and that's valid. Varied interpretations shouldn't be dismissed. Here the death of the author applies. This term refers to the fact that, after an author publishes a piece of work, that piece ceases to belong exclusively to the author. Once a work is released, it belongs to the audience as much as the creators. If significant parts of the fanbase interpret Viktor and Jayce as more than friends, that interpretation becomes part of the narrative’s cultural impact, regardless of authorial intent.

The interpretation in media of queer codes is deeply influenced by cultural cues. Although this changes from society to society, social cues are the same for everyone. If Viktor and Jayce’s interactions evoke a sense of romance, it’s because the storytelling taps into those cues, whether intentionally or not. The relationship between them two integrates cultural and social codes typical of queer relationships.

Cultural codes: are tied to traditions, beliefs and shared understandings within a specific culture or subculture. They include symbols (objects, gestures, or imagery that carry specific meanings within a culture —e.g., a wedding ring symbolizing commitment—), narrative patterns (storytelling conventions that audiences recognize, such as the "star-crossed lovers" trope or visual parallels that suggest a connection between characters), expressions and language (words, phrases, or metaphors that carry connotations shaped by cultural usage —e.g., the word "partner" often implying romance in contemporary Western culture—.

Social codes: are the behaviors and norms that define interactions and relationships between individuals or groups. These codes are often context-dependent and include: body language (physical gestures or proximity that suggest intimacy, power, or affection —e.g., lingering touches or intense eye contact indicating closeness—), relationship norms (expectations about how certain types of relationships—platonic, familial, romantic—are expressed in actions and language) and contextual cues (the way relationships are framed by their environment, such as a candlelit dinner indicating romance or playful banter suggesting friendship).

The way Viktor and Jayce interact is coded in a way that aligns more with romantic love than familial or platonic love. So, asking to associate Jayce and Viktor's relationship with a “brothers” type of relationship would mean having to disregard cultural and social codes.

| Romantic Undertones as "Canon Adjacent”.

As I previously said, the romantic undertone of Jayce and Viktor's relationship would result in a canonically established couple in any other series. So, what I see here is a double standard in romantic representation in the series. For example, many think that Ekko and Jinx are canon after (a conversation that wasn't added to the series and after...) Ekko gave his jacket to Jinx. Jayce and Viktor’s dynamic features more romantic subtext than that but they still are dismissed as "brothers". Is this homophobia? No, of course not. How could it be homophobia if Arcane shows an established lesbian couple? Well, let me tell you, lesbian representation is more socially accepted in male-dominated spaces due to fetishization, whereas romantic relationships between men are less embraced. The idea of two men in love can lead many people to question the masculinity of these men and the masculinity associated with characters like Jayce or Viktor is vital to League of Legends. Making a canonically gay male character is riskier for the franchise because, in lol, masculinity is an element that, many times, determines the election of one character over the other.

Unlike Vi and Cait, among whom (I understand) there was the belief of a romantic relationship, Jayce and Viktor were never associated in that way. So, I can see the risk.

If Linke intended to focus on male friendship, that’s fine, but dismissing other interpretations, especially in a story as emotionally charged as Jayce and Viktor’s, can come across as limiting or dismissive of queer readings, whether intentional or not. It would have been better for Christian Linke to shut up and let everyone have their own interpretation about Jayce and Viktor's bond. Instead of insisting on interpreting Jayce and Viktor’s bond as “brotherly”, it would be more inclusive and respectful to let viewers interpret their relationship freely. By insisting on framing Viktor and Jayce as just “brothers” or “friends,” the show risks falling into the “no-homo” trope, where creators deliberately steer clear of portraying characters as gay despite clear romantic subtext.

| Linke's arguments.

Arguments like "media lacks non-romantic platonic relationships" feel insincere because these type of relationships aren't underrepresented in media. That crisis never existed. Many popular shows and movies focus on deep, platonic male bonds (e.g., Sherlock Holmes, The Lord of the Rings, Supernatural). While it’s admirable to showcase strong male friendships, it’s not a groundbreaking theme. In such a case, there is a lack of representation of non-romantic platonic relationships between men and women. These type of relationships are equally rare and more deserving of advocacy, but we still have timebomb (Jinx and Ekko). In conclusion, media has no shortage of non-romantic male-male bonds, but LGBTQ+ male romantic relationships remain underrepresented. So, Christian Linke's dismissal about JayVik was even more noticeable after that argument.

Also, I would like to add that referring to a relationship as a "romantic" one doesn't diminish the importance or depth of a bond. Friendship isn’t erased by romance. In fact, many memorable romantic relationships in media are related to friendship (e.g., Anne and Gilbert from Anne with an E). But, to call it a brothers-like relationship would diminish the profound, cosmic depth of their connection because their bond is about recognition, unconditional support and shared purpose, even at the cost of the world. It’s poetic and tragic, resonating with themes of love, identity, and the human condition. The time loops, their repeated choice to find each other and their interconnected destinies make their relationship feel larger-than-life. For many viewers, this mythic quality resembles soulmate narratives rather than simple friendship or brotherhood.

Another argument that reveals Christian Linke's rejection of Jayce and Viktor as a possible romantic relationship, is the statement about Viktor being asexual. I would like to ask what is the point of revealing this information after the show ended? Representation works best when it's woven into the narrative, not dropped as an afterthought. Beyond that, I think Mr. Linke should educate himself. Experiencing little or no sexual attraction doesn't mean that romantic attraction cannot be experienced. Being asexual doesn't mean that a person can't be gay.

Asexuality: is a sexual orientation characterized by the lack of sexual attraction to others. This means that an asexual person typically doesn't experience the desire to engage in sexual activities with anyone, regardless of gender. However, asexuality exists on a spectrum. Asexuality as a spectrum refers to the understanding that asexuality encompasses a wide range of experiences and expressions of little to no sexual attraction. Rather than being a single, fixed identity, the asexual spectrum includes various orientations and preferences regarding sexual and romantic attraction.

Many asexual people form deep, meaningful romantic bonds and there's no inherent contradiction between being asexual and experiencing romantic feelings. To use Viktor’s supposed asexuality as a reason to dismiss any potential romantic undertones between him and Jayce feels reductive and dismissive—not just of their dynamic, but also of the diverse experiences of asexual individuals.

Let's end this post on a more positive note with Arcane team members who do support Jayvik.

Posts from animators + Jayce's voice actor with a JayVik fanart.

Viktor's character designer + posts from animator.

Moose is the creative director + AgentR is an animator + Mel's voice actress.

🦋"Playground"🦋

that one gif haunts me to this day

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Made a dark mode skin to go with the light mode version of this one.

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