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The Subcritical

@thesubcritical.bsky.social

52 followers 13 following 29 posts

She/her. 30. D&D, avid reader, amateur artist, somewhat obsessed with Arcane. AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/subcritical

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Jun 19

Thanks! ^^

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Jun 19

Thank you! 💖

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Jun 19

Bonus: A parallel to Vi's art from the opening chapter!

Here comes Mel Cait friendship + Mel Vi rivalry with your CaitVi mortal enemies-to-lovers drama-

The same digital art of Mel from the parent post, in a split view showing Vi in a similar pose. Vi holds a steel Noxian mask and wears red and black armor. She looks similarly fierce, and is more muscular.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Jun 19

Firelight Mel! Art by me for a recent chapter of my #Arcane canon divergence fic, The Hound of Noxus.
#MelMedarda

Digital art of Mel Medarda from Arcane looking fierce, standing in a wide stance, holding a white Firelight fox mask. She wears a dark high-collared duster open over a dark blue belted bodice, her original white dress cut to the length of a shirt, and khaki trousers. Bright golden patterns line her visible skin on her forehead, hands, and chest.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · May 12

Thank you! This was a fun design to figure out, blending Enforcer armor and Noxian armor 😄

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · May 10

Aww, this is precious 🥹 They look so happy!

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · May 8

Hound of Noxus / Daughter of Zaun / Piltover Enforcer

Art by me for my #Arcane canon-divergence fic, "The Hound of Noxus"! In which #Ambessa has convinced #Vi that she's the leader (tyrant) the city needs.

Digital drawing of Vi wearing Noxian armor and red and grey Hextech gauntlets. She is in a heroic pose, stepping up on stony ground and holding up one fist, but her expression is harsh. The armor includes a steel breastplate and pauldrons styled after Piltover Enforcer armor, a red cape with dark fur, an ornate belt and badge, striped dark pants, metal knee pads, and spiked boots. The armor, gauntlets, and robe all have silver accents. The symbol of a Noxian crest over a half-gear pierced by swords appears on her pauldron, and a similar motif decorates the plates on the back of a gauntlet. The Medarda crest is on her breastplate. Green runes glow on the raised gauntlet's palm. The text "The Hound of Noxus" frames her.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Apr 25

Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! ❤️

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Apr 20

Closeups!

A closeup view of Caitlyn and Cassandra from the parent post.

A closeup view of Ambessa and Vi from the parent post.

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Apr 20

Finally got back to this art for chapter 5 of my #Arcane fic, "The Hound of Noxus"! Caitlyn and Vi recall the fateful battle where they met, and we see a parallel in two goodbyes. #caitvi #arcanefanart #vi #caitlynkiramman #ambessamedarda #cassandrakiramman

Digital art of Caitlyn Kiramman and Cassandra Kiramman loosely embracing and staring eye to eye. Caitlyn, in dark blue and black Enforcer armor, has a grave and slightly uncertain expression. Cassandra wears her dark noblewoman's dress. Cassandra, looking up at her daughter with a hand on her cheek, is tearful but stern. Behind them, an orange sky with billowing smoke is visible through the Piltover Council window. Text above Cassandra reads "Caitlyn... survive."

Digital art of Ambessa Medarda and Vi gripping each other's right forearms and staring eye to eye, foreheads together. Ambessa, in her tan and black battle armor, speaks with a stern expression and cradles the back of Vi's head with one hand. Vi wears red and black Noxian armor and a cape, holds an axe in one hand, and looks up at Ambessa with gritted teeth and a determined expression. Vi has a silver mask similar in style to Ambessa's golden war mask, and has war paint on her face. Both are slightly crouched, and the top edge of a barrier of rubble behind them is riddled with bullet holes.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 23

Hi! I don't, unfortunately; the composition was set pretty early on, so I didn't detail where Vi's legs are overlapped. But I'm glad you like the art!

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 22

Chapter 9 art: Stupid sexy Vi in her sparring outfit
Chapter 10 art: Time to rip my heart to SHREDS

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 22

"Powder... I'm home. I'm stronger now. I'll make it right."

Art for my #Arcane canon-divergence fic, The Hound of Noxus! In chapter 10, #Vi recalls the day that changed her life.

The teenage Vi sobs over Powder's body in her arms. The armored, Noxian Vi looks on from behind them, standing tall, face shadowed and tears streaming from her eyes. Flames rage behind them. Overlaid text reads "The Hound of Noxus" and subtitle "Chapter Ten: Protector" appear.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 10

Was wary of them being cropped poorly if I posted both images side by side, so here's the full view (2/2)

A full view of the Vi illustration in the parent post. The words "The Hound of Noxus" appear on the image.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 10

#Vi, who is Caitlyn's very good and not at all distracting sparring partner. Art for Chapter 9 of my enemies-to-lovers #Arcane fic "The Hound of Noxus"!
(1/2)

Vi wearing black and red sparring attire consisting of trousers, a chest covering, and arm and leg wraps. She is smirking. She has Noxian tattoos on her shoulders, and has battle-scars and defined abs.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 7

That was unexpected! 😱 Awesome work!

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Mar 3

WIP art for my #Arcane fic "The Hound of Noxus." In Chapter 5, Caitlyn and Vi flashback to the fateful battle where they met. There's a parallel with Cassandra's goodbye to Caitlyn, but for now, here's the moment #Ambessa lets #Vi go to prove herself.

Ambessa, in her armor and golden mask, facing Vi, who wears Noxian armor, war paint, and a similar silver mask. They clasp each other's forearms, and Vi holds an axe. Their foreheads are pressed together, Ambessa ruffles Vi's hair, and both have determined expressions.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Jan 31

Oh, thank you so much! I'm glad to hear it ❤️ Hope you'll look forward to more!

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Jan 19

Art for chapter two of "The Hound of Noxus" — a CaitVi enemies-to-lovers story where Vi was raised by Ambessa, and we kick off in the aftermath of a Noxian takeover of Piltover. #Arcane #fanart #caitvi

On AO3: archiveofourown.org/works/615911...

Vi stands behind Caitlyn, handcuffing her. Caitlyn, head high, glowers down at Vi, who returns the look. Vi wears red and black Noxian armor, and a shoulder tattoo of the symbol of Noxus above a gear pierced by swords. Caitlyn wears a striped prison outfit.

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Dec 31

Thank you, glad you like it! Haha, I'm a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope as well 😄

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Dec 31

I realize I never posted a link here to Chapter 1, but in case any followers are looking out for it here -- Chapter 2 of my Arcane fic "The Hound of Noxus" is up! This time, getting into more Caitlyn and Vi interaction.

archiveofourown.org/works/615911...

The Hound of Noxus - Chapter 2 - subcritical - Arcane: League of Legends (Cartoon 2021) [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

archiveofourown.org

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The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Dec 31

Thank you so much! Hehe, there's definitely going to be some mention of Rictus, the big soldier, as a longtime instructor/training partner to Vi (and somewhat like Sevika to Jinx, having kept Vi out of trouble early on) 😄 I hope you like the fic!

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Dec 29

Thank you, friend! 😄 I'm so glad you like it!

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Dec 29

Thank you so much!! It was definitely a goal to incorporate Vi's character and some of her original aesthetic into the design! Being well-ranked enough to get to personalize her uniform, she's going to infuse it with style, lol 😄

The Subcritical @thesubcritical.bsky.social · Dec 29

Thank you! ❤️