#eclipsemages

This is how this scene went, right?

Inspired by (under the cut)

"Viktor, for your crimes as the Herald, we would have tried to make an example by either sentencing you to Stillwater or death..."

"Either is preferable if I'm honest..." He mutters under his breath, ignoring Jayce shaking his head in response.

"...However, thanks to former Councilor Talis' plea, we have... Reluctantly considered this instead: Exile."

Viktor freezes, swallowing hard as they continue, "Where though we have trouble with due to current circumstances. Especially yours. So as a result we-"

"How about Noxus?"

Hushed whispers are heard as Mel walks in, calm and graceful as ever in her movements.

"Mel?" "Councilor Medarda?" Both men say in unison as she stops.

"Lady Medarda? We thought you were leaving this city."

"I was until I heard word of this trial. And before you ask: I'm not joking. I'm willing to have the Herald stay with me in Noxus for his exile."

The whispers increase in volume as Viktor looks at her like she lost her mind, "What are you doing?" He says quietly.

She looks back at him, expression softening, "I won't let you throw the possibly of a new life away out of a twisted sense of atonement..."

You know, I guess this is the best I could do with this so let's unveil this AU yeah?

Concept: Viktor gets exiled to Noxus post-canon and Mel takes him with her upon volunteering to watch him

Viktor and Jayce got spat out of the rune at the top of the Hexgates and are found by Enforcers searching the area. Jayce is given medical attention while Viktor is arrested for his crimes as the Herald and put on trial.

The Council argued over his sentencing, especially when Jayce tries to intervene with a plea to spare him (Viktor does protest due to his guilt).

It isn't until Mel steps in and offers to take him back with her to Noxus that they accept the "exile" sentence, claiming that it will be a "fair enough" punishment. Especially after what happened to her mother during the battle (reality is that she felt sympathetic after some thought and a talk with Jayce while he was recovering).

Viktor, naturally, isn't big on the idea as he felt that death or rotting in prison is a more suitable punishment for him but it was already done.

He reluctantly accepts and joins her on the ship to Noxus, her already having a cover story for him and why he came with her: I haven't fully decided yet but for now she claims in a letter that he's either someone her mother was going to take home as a trophy for conquering Piltover that she personally decided to rescue and take home with her. Either that or she saw potential in him and decided to have him come home with her as consort of sorts (either way, she's not super fond of it herself but it was the best she could come up with should word spread about his crimes somehow). Something along the lines of that.

Viktor does have the ability to shift between his (sort of) human and Herald forms. He also does have his disability still and Mel commissions Jayce (whom they both keep in touch with and he kinda does try to matchmake a bit upon noticing a pattern within the letters) and new brace and cane for him (he still has his staff but there will be times when he would need to appear more formal).

Vik does get more outfits than the one here.

Just to be clear this IS a MelVik AU so some angst, feelings, and maybe drama ensue depending on things as they both bond despite the circumstances.

Vi's guilt complex hurts my soul so bad you don't understand 😭😭😭 she takes so much responsibility for things that were never in her control or she couldn't have fixed in the first place and it's so real and yet so sad

Jayce's fatal flaw being how much he loves people. Everything he's ever done is for somebody he loved, especially the bad decisions. His love for them outweighs all the consequences for better or worse (mostly for worse)

Not a day goes by where I don't think of LoL Ekko saying "I had a crush... until you started talking to the gun" LIKE HELLO??? CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW DEVASTATING THAT IS? Just the concept of watching the love of your life get worse and worse, to the point where they need more help than you can even begin to give, AHSHDOCKWLFJGOALQLFQQHFKA

Caitlyn losing her shooting eye at the end of season two. Now she doesn't really have the choice to handle things violently, even if she wanted to, which by that point she didn't. Something something cycle of violence

Mel. Just Mel in general. I love that woman. Our glorious queen Mel. You know how people glaze LeBron? That's me about Mel. Also her relationship with her mother is so fucking sad, like I lose my marbles when I think about it

Speaking of which, AMBESSA'S HAIR IN THE SECOND SEASON??? FUCK YESSSSS!!! So many awesome character design choices are missed because creators only wanna draw killmonger cuts and circular afros (or just not draw black people) and the Arcane crew showed us exactly what happens when you acknowledge the full spectrum of black hair. It was so cool. Like that meant so much to me personally (side note, I know they gave Ekko the killmonger cut BUT compared to the monstrosity they had on his head in-game I think that was an improvement. I forgave them for that the second I saw that fuckass mohawk)(it's also funny that he doesn't have it in the good universe)

In game, Vi claims Vi is for Violence, which is even funnier considering her name is Violet. Like y'all ever seen that trend where they ask a bunch of people "hey what's your street name" and they give you something like "Mrs. Putaholeinyogrannyforsomebagelbites" and then they ask what their real name is and they say "Ashley 😔" or something? It has that same energy to me.

Jayvik with 4 kids in the woods or whatever they've been saying. YES.

The fact that Vi and Caitlyn are canonically soulmates and if one is dead in one universe the other is dead in that one too. AGGHHHHHHHHGHH

Meljayvik as a concept. They couldn't be together because the writers knew they'd be too powerful in that council room. Like let's be so fr, shit would've went so much smoother if they just kissed fr

On that same note, the ship names this fandom has???? Delicious. Top tier work. Eclipsemages??? Goldenforge??? TIMEBOMB??? (honorable mention that is not a ship name: Bookstreet), YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING

Mel and Viktor cuddling on the couch and reading, but always different books because they like completely different things.

Mel hugging Viktor from behind when he's cooking(because he knows how to cook trust)

Viktor teaching Mel how to cook. She's...alright at it.

Viktor and Mel playfully biting each other throughout like the day. They see it as a challenge of who can bite the other more. It's never hard enough to hurt, of course.

Viktor and Mel stargazing.

Mel and Viktor trying to be home every Saturday for date nights. It's something they've sworn to do unless something very important shows up.

Mel being a morning person but Viktor being half dead when he's forced to wake up at any time that ends with 'A.M'.

Mel letting Viktor sleep in until she's mostly ready because she knows he needs it.

Mel waking up Viktor with kisses. Viktor trying to push her away so he can sleep longer but he can't imagine a better way to wake up.

Mel and Viktor both sleeping in late on days they don't have to work.

Mel usually still waking up earlier but not getting out of bed and just watching and cuddling Viktor until she either falls asleep again or he wakes up.

Mel helping Viktor with his brace every morning. He could do it himself but he doesn't reallyyyy want to.

Mel and Viktor sassing each other. They pretend to be offended about it too but they both know they're faking.

Mel and Viktor looking at each other and just randomly bursting out laughing at some inside joke. It confuses everyone around them and they never bother to explain.

Mel and Viktor just-kissing each other. Pure love poured into every kiss they share throughout the day.