/3/ - 3DCG

If I wanted to make a fancy rig that can optionally deform like the top, but adhere to normal arm movements, what would be the best solution?

I've tried A, but getting the IKs to work is some kind of puzzle or it just can't work.
B or C seems doable, but can the separate controls work like that?

Maybe make separate joints leading out from the elbow that just control the skin?
Or maybe something like a whole second arm skeleton that just controls the deformations while the primary one controls arm movement?