He wears the same vague smile, his eyes shifting from blue to indigo as she comments on his own scars. It's true that Lukai Hwei has not escaped life without injury, but he has been able to find beauty in even the worst moments of his life. Especially the worst moments of his life. He peers into his teacup, fascinated by how the leaves dance in the liquid, listening to Irelia's words even as he's lost in his own thoughts. The world is so much bigger than he ever knew. Full of so many different people, Hwei feels like he could lose himself in their smiles and their sorrows and never lift his head above the surface of their dreams again.
But he has a mission now. A purpose. A calling. A muse. As much as he may wish for the peaceful days of Koyehn, for the schedule and restrictions, for the rules he learned to avoid, those days are beyond him now, closed forever. He's accepted that, even if some days the yearning in his heart seems strong enough to drag him right through the past to his old home.
Hwei's eyes lift. Irelia has always been kind to him, and so he is kind to her. He holds her gaze, steady, and when she mentions Khada Jhin, his eyes go from an airy lavender to a deep, anguished purple.
"Ah, Jhin." Propping his elbow on the table, Hwei rests a soft cheek against his palm. "The source of so much pain, and beauty. He ended my life and began it anew in one dread stroke of his brush." He cannot keep the admiration from his voice. He knows that others see only the pain that Jhin causes, so he tries to hold his tongue, but ... "The memories of that day are still so fresh. I could paint them, but I would never do it justice." Quietly, Hwei's free hand traces shapes on the wooden table, painting with colours only he can see. "Without him, I would be stuck in the same cycles. He freed me and chained me to him. No matter what I do, I can't step out of his shadow." His eyes, lifting from the painting only he can see, flare with a dark red. "Not until I wrench the answers I seek from him."
mesmerised by hwei's eyes as they talk , she's finding it hard to look away ... usually , irelia is the first to break eye contact in such situations , yet there's a strange magnetism in how those hues shift from shade to shade . irelia looks away only to take a drink from the brew , savouring the delicate floral aroma arising from the cup in her hand . as much as the drink soothes her mind , her heart is perturbed by the subject at hand ... && the words that are leaving hwei's lips don't ease her worries . so i was right to be suspicious of him after all , the grim thought turning the gentle flavour in her mouth bitter .
the conviction in his tone , especially in that last sentence ; it brings irelia some pause , but not enough to completely soothe her concerns . hwei's emotions are volatile and so very vivid , much like her own when she was less practised in suppressing them ... but she cannot empathise with his multifaceted emotions regarding jhin . much like her view on noxus , it all becomes very black && white when it comes to figures such as him . he is a madman who possesses a macabre fascination with mass murder , and he must be stopped .
irelia closes her eyes , where in the darkness of her mind she sees the horrors that spirit - damned virtuoso has wrought ; the grieving lovers , parents && children of his victims . there is no justification for such barbarous crimes being committed in the name of art . with every step , twirl , whirl and lift she performs in a dance , every motion is one guided by the spirit's invisible yet reassuring and constant hand . that is what o - ma had taught her , and what she keeps in mind with every life cut short using the swing of blades .
( to use one's virtuosic talent on a pursuit of rampant destruction ... is to tarnish the spirit's gift . to see anything of value , or even beauty in such twisted deaths ; does the young man before her share more in common with the criminal she wishes to bring to justice than the values she fights for? )
" you spoke to me of my rage && grief , hwei . the pain that man has wrought to the innocent people you and i have both known is incalculable . you must acknowledge that the crimes jhin has committed —— and will commit in the future if he isn't apprehended —— are impermissible . i have been giving my all toward the effort of bringing that man to justice , for you and for every other soul he's devastated . " there's a tremble in her voice that she cannot be rid of as she speaks up , even with a fist clenched tight under the table . " but when you speak of being chained to him , surely you don't intend on sharing in his footsteps ? " surely you can choose a different path still , one littered with less corpses than mine .
name: xan irelia.
age: twenty six.
do you like to cuddle?: it is a requirement.
can we make-out?: as long as i'm not busy… and sometimes when i am. but yes. i'll make the time for you.
a night in or dinner out?: both are acceptable, as long as i get to cook for you from time to time, i don't mind.
whip cream or chocolate syrup?: … i don't have too much of a sweet tooth.
chocolates and roses?: both are too temporary…
what makes you a good valentine?: i know you, kayn. we're good for each other in a way that i can't put into words.
would you cook for me?: i answered that, huh. yes, of course.
would you let me cook for you?: … please be careful in the kitchen.
where would you take me on a date?: a secret spot that's a few hours travel from the placidium. well… it's not that secret but i like to believe it is. there's a small waterfall where we can wash ourselves, and i'll pack a picnic too. we can spend the time there just resting, if you'd like - we can talk or we can simply rest against each other. and when night falls, there's a nearby cave where we can look at the night sky as we drift to sleep.
who’s paying?: me, most likely.
what did you get me for valentine’s day?: a homecooked meal, if you'll come over.
( canon verse, happy late valentines kayn )
Heartseeker's was a holiday that Kayn never quite got. Of course, there were people in the order who would get together during it, would eat together or sit in the garden or go on a journey just for them, but he never understood the need, never felt that way about anyone.
It seemed like a waste of time. He'd rather spend it training.
But the letter is written in Irelia's familiar scrawl, and it fills his chest with an odd feeling, like a thousand tiny wings inside of him trying to lift him up. Stranger still, he finds he wants to spend the day with someone, if that someone is her.
...
So, on the day itself, perhaps Irelia is surprised to find him at the door, Zed's most loyal disciple pulled away from his duty for something he once would have called frivolous, or perhaps she's not surprised at all, knowing that his loyalty cuts right to the bone.
"Irie," his voice is soft, almost unsure. "I brought you something." It's a silk robe, perfect for lounging in comfort. "Do you still want to spend the day together?"
—— the hierophant ; reversed .
rebellion , unconventionality , non - conformity , new methods .
you have a particularly strong will && desire to go ahead and regain control as well as to break free from the shackles of convention .
by turning a tradition artform founded in ionia into a weapon of war , by defying the noxian occupation while she was barely into her double digits , by refusing to choose to stand by && watch whilst her homeland was destroyed ; even if so many around her advised for peaceful resolutions ... irelia always believed that peace required two participants .
—— nine of wands .
last stand , grit , resilience , perseverance , close to success , fatigue .
this card symbolizes a life of someone who has undergone many trials , but through determination && will , they were able to overcome them .
this relates to the stand at the placidium of navori ; but more broadly it ties to her seemingly unshakable resilience in the face of great danger . her will is her own , and it was tempered in the crucible of noxian tyranny . irelia's strongest trait is her willpower && how she can overcome great hardship as long as she holds on to her convictions .
—— three of swords ; reversed .
healing , forgiveness , recovery , reconciliation , repressing emotions .
sometimes life gives us no choice ; we are knocked down . but what determines one's future is the choice of whether to remain down , or rise again .
her journey is one of soul - rending anguish && slow recovery . in spite of all she's seen ... and partly because of it , irelia walks on day by day , doing what she must for the people she loves . she had times in her life when it all seemed so hopeless , and it was as if the weight of the world pressed down on her && made it impossible to stand up . yet her inner strength persisted and got her to where she is today ... still a little broken , but on the path to recovery .
—— six of cups .
nostalgia , memories , healing , comfort , sentimentality , pleasure .
you may be seeking the comfort && warmth of people that unconditionally love you .
irelia's family means everything to her , yet she has now lived through more time without them than with them . a strict yet compassionate mother , a doting and supportive father , a teasing older brother , a twin sibling to play with , two younger brothers to teach and to take care of ; last but not least is her o - ma , her first teacher in dancing , the caring grandmother who took care of irelia when her parents were busy .... she says a prayer for each of them when wakes up every morning .
—— two of pentacles ; reversed .
imbalance , overwhelmed , messiness , chaos , overextending .
in case you are feeling that you can’t handle everything , you need to consider your own well - being && provide yourself with a time to breathe .
overworking herself is a habit irelia finds rather hard to break . whenever she finds herself with unpleasant thoughts sticking around in her mind , she finds a stack of paperwork or travels for an errand nobody wants to complete . of course , this does lead to burnout when she overextends herself ; but she's so deep in her unhealthy work habits that she simply powers through her low motivation days && deals with the consequences . somebody help her .
—— knight of wands ; reversed .
reckless , impatient , lack of self control , volatile , domineering .
you may be trying to compensate for something that you don’t have total control over ; this might lead to pessimism && loss of self - esteem .
despite her facade of a level - headed leader , irelia in the earlier years of the war was a very impulsive && risk taking fighter on the battlefield . she fought like she had nothing to lose ... which was partially true to how she thought back then . she desperately tried to act like how she believed she should behave like as a figurehead of a revolution she helped kindle ; yet she never meant to lead . she fought , && everyone else followed .
soft blush creeps across pale cheeks , head almost imperceptibly leaning into the gentle touch from a scarred && battle - worn hand along with a sigh . the long road of preservation , the path of guarding these sacred relics ; it's a lonely one . but in these quiet moments , when irelia is visited by the dragonblade's holder , she feels just a little bit alive .
and really , that's all she needs to sustain herself —— a simple touch to remind her of the vulnrability deep inside her that immortality cannot be the cure of ; but rather exacerbates . she was a simple girl , once upon a time . but that tale is a far away from the irelia of today , who is burdened as much as she is empowered by her duty .
" i'm not so fragile , you know . " murmuring quietly , pressing her own palm against the back of talon's , maneuvering his hand from her cheek , down her neck && to her nape . " i'm not actually made of porcelain . " a tinge of amusement crosses her eyes as she closes the distance between them just a little bit more .
Harsh words come as vile and sharpened weapons. All pointed towards him. He could sense that familiar tone ever since he was born. Talon’s gaze remains calm, watchful. Ever so diligently making sure not a sudden movement would take his life. He couldn’t quite explain it, but seeing her blades move and follow her command as opposed to wielding them with her own hand irked him.
“ I’m not here to fight. Or to kill anyone– At least, no one Ionian. “
Despite his claim of peace he couldn’t hide the truth of his malicious intent towards other parties. People that used these lands as a shield to hide themselves from punishment. The assassin keeps his posture straight, maintaining his distance as amber eyes watch Irelia from afar, unblinking.
incredulous laughter falls like hail , just as cold and unforgiving too . her eyes remain as sharp as the blades that circle around her , narrowing at the hooded figure's words . with each rise && fall of her chest , every minute motion of her fingers trigger small movements in the hovering blades . while in ionia , her magic isn't fettered by anything ; which is to say that irelia is at her most confident and self - assured right now as she stares him down .
" these lands reject your every footfall , tyrant —— as do i . throwing a witless jab towards my character isn't typically how you convince me to believe anything out of your muzzle . but that's right , you musn't be accustomed to parlaying with anybody when your knives are so close at your side . "
irelia responds to his words with the same level of ire as if he hadn't given any justification ; her brows do furrow in a mixture of vexation and consideration , though . the only thing she believes about the stranger is his boundless capacity to lie && to spill the blood of innocents . but there's a certain ring of truth in his gravelly tone that grates against her instinctive hatred . the captain drops the sneer on her lips and folds her arms , her signature blades retracting a little from their outright hostile position . " who are you here for , then ? "
captain of the guard ; i'll elaborate on the position on a different day but it is a ceremonial position within the nation that only really has influence because it is currently held by irelia , a key figurehead of the revolution . in times of peace , it's a role that often simply goes to a capable man or woman .
irelia doesn't mind being referred to as captain , but it still is a bit formal for her tastes when it comes to what friends should call her ... unless it's being used in a teasing way but that's a different story .
( the ) defiant blade , blade witch ; both are titles / epithets that arose out of her stand against swain at the placidium of navori , the first one given by fellow countrymen who witnessed her unlikely triumph && the latter by noxians as well as spreading to her future foes within ionia . those of other regions that are further away from navori wouldn't be familiar with these names until later in the war . she frowns at the latter , the former doesn't bother her as much but it is still reducing her to her weapon(s) and she wouldn't be a big fan .
those who call her a sorceress would usually be doing so in a demeaning manner , usually indignant that she's using the magic of the first lands for war . irelia has never considered herself a mage , having trained in a martial discipline since she was young && having priortizied physical training over magical . but it seemed to her that as long as she kept a focused mind , the blades always seemed linked to her ... twitching and humming in response to her emotions .
other titles / petnames ; ok now that those are out of the way ... i think in formal contexts she wouldn't mind being called lady irelia / lady xan , or ser if we're feeling spicy . madam is functional , she prefers the first two options though . those closer to her on the council of elders such as karma just call her irelia .
the shortening of her name in childhood was ' irie ' and this is only a name she would permit from close loved ones since she really only associates it with her family . as for petnames that her partner might use for her , that fully depends on what kind of dynamic it is ofc . but i will propose that they call her princess , either in a teasing or romantic manner . depending on her relationship with them , her response is usually a bashful or a positive one .
Despite her weary disposition within Demacia’s walls , Irelia enjoys every moment she spends with Jarvan . Mostly due to the paramount time they spend far away from each other , the distance indeed tiring && wearing on the Captain but never eroding away at the sturdy castle of her affections for the Demacian Prince . A contented smile is upon her face , the moderate morning sunlight slowly warming her skin as she sits on a cushioned stool in front of a mirror that’s tall enough for her to see Jarvan behind her .
She had woken up early in the morning today , pleasantly rested and slowly getting used to the distinct lack of magic , the sensation fading from a suffocating weight to a dull ache at the back of her mind within a week . Soon after Irelia had dressed herself for the day but not quite before she took care of her hair and makeup , Jarvan had entered the room after she had given him license to do so . She couldn’t have stood from her chair fast enough , flying into her lover’s arms && burying her face into the fabric , breathing in the familiar scent which she can never grow tired of .
And she hadn’t explicitly asked him to do this for her . In fact , the thought of Jarvan brushing her hair had not even come to her mind until he suggested it after she had sheepishly admitted to not having the time to do so as of yet . So here she sits , being serenaded by the crown Prince of Demacia as he gently runs a comb through her hair . What a blessed life she lives . The song washes over her , Jarvan’s deep voice weaving a gorgeous melody like a blanket which wraps itself around her .
The sea of Irelia’s memories can be turbulent and dangerous as she reminisces of her childhood , thoughts of her family all too often marred by pain . This time , with Jarvan’s voice acting as a lighthouse , Irelia isn’t afraid . But the recollection of her grandmother brushing her hair && singing Ionian folk songs is usually a joyful and serene experience , the elder’s kindly voice having faded years ago but the experience will always stay with the dancer . If she didn’t oppose the thought of interrupting his song , she’d ask Jarvan about the lyrics , or perhaps about when he had learned to sing so beautifully . But Irelia resists her curiosity && just enjoys the sensation of her hair being taken care of .
The Prince’s face is relaxed , still focusing on the task at hand but noticeably calmer . He looks younger when his brows aren’t creased and when his lips aren’t so down - turned , a handsome man of great virtue and a burdensome road ahead . And she’s willing to walk alongside him in that journey , Irelia thinks . Yet the moment ends all too soon , the comb easily passing through her dark strands without pause . The song comes to an end also , leaving the pair in only each other’s presence within the tall walls of the room . ❛ That … was beautiful , Jarvan , ❜ Irelia murmurs , as if the mere sound of her voice would break whatever moment they’re in . ❛ Thank you for doing that . ❜
with a bent knee and a bow at the hips, he raised her hand to his lips. the lightest kiss was dusted upon her knuckles, an act practiced for the marble ballrooms of his home but now brought to fields afar. he was more soldier than dancer, his sense of rhythm extending just to keeping a steady march, but for her, he had been practicing. ' might i have this next dance? '
unprompted ask / accepting .
a childhood dream of many young girls is perhaps unfolding before irelia in this moment . a prince of a foreign land , bending a knee && kissing her hand . ah , she's not immune to such brazen acts of devotion , and her heart does indeed flutter as a dusting of pink settles upon her cheeks as light gasps and whispers travel to her ears like the sweet breeze of springtime . jarvan has come a long way to be here for this event , the anniversary of the great restoration ; she's only a little familiar with the journey herself , having crossed the seas precious few times in the past ... ionia is a part of her soul , her love . but her second greatest love is here before her .
as they orbit around each other like celestial bodies in the long years they spend apart , far across the waters , jarvan spoke of his embarassment at his clumsy footsteps when they had last shared a dance together , to which she couldn't help but dissolve into soft laughter as she read that section of his lengthy prose —— whenever the two leaders did exchange letters , they'd always be a few pages long . but there's a glimmer of confidence in the prince's eyes as he gazes at her , and irelia returns his eye contact with a fond smile .
" for you , my heartlight ? always . " irelia led their dance last time , but she trusts him to guide their footfalls this time around ; she always had faith in him , though admittedly it was much easier for her to grasp the fundamentals of courtly dancing given her background . with a gentle wave of her free hand , music begins to play as the room of onlookers fades out of her mind , && she solely focuses on her darling prince .
𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃 & 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 (a series of nonverbal prompts . mature themes present , ‘ my ’ muse belongs to the one who posted the meme - send “ + REVERSE ” to reverse the prompts .)
→ 𝐈 . GENERAL
❛ hush . raise a finger in a gesture to silence my muse .
❛ sit . gesture for my muse to sit down .
❛ door . hold a door open for my muse .
❛ tap . tap my muse on the shoulder to garner their attention .
❛ hunger . give my muse something to eat / drink .
❛ cook . present my muse with home - cooked food .
❛ brush . work a brush / comb through my muse’s hair .
❛ read . silently read a book alongside my muse .
❛ hand . hold out a hand for my muse to take .
❛ dressed . help my muse put on an article of clothing .
❛ note . give my muse a note saying : [ content ] .
❛ amplify . turn up the music in the car .
→ 𝐈𝐈 . ANGST
❛ patch . help my muse patch up a wound .
❛ night terrors . hold my muse after they wake up from a nightmare .
❛ company . silently sit with my muse to comfort them.
❛ hospital . my muse is told that yours is in the hospital .
❛ revelation . show my muse evidence of a lie they told .
❛ indulge . find my muse drinking to cope .
❛ downfall . find my muse collapsed on the ground .
❛ console . comfort my muse as they cry .
❛ nurse . give my muse company in the hospital .
→ 𝐈𝐈𝐈 . AFFECTIONATE
❛ wink . wink at my muse .
❛ wrap . wrap an arm around my muse’s [ shoulders / waist ] .
❛ caress . gently caress my muse’s face .
❛ tousle . mess playfully with my muse’s hair .
❛ chest . place your head on my muse’s chest .
❛ comb . comb fingers through my muse’s hair .
❛ grasp . run to my muse & jump into their arms .
❛ lean . lean on my muse’s shoulder .
❛ tender . kiss my muse on the [ forehead / cheek / nose ] .
❛ abrupt . kiss my muse out of the blue .
❛ chaste . chastely kiss my muse .
❛ good morning . kiss my muse the morning after .
❛ volumes . gaze at my muse in a way that silently says ‘i love you’ .
→ 𝐈𝐕 . VIOLENT
❛ strike . [ slap / punch ] my muse in the face .
❛ gun . wield a gun at my muse .
❛ twist . twist my muse’s arm behind their back .
❛ throttle . aggressively wrap your hands around my muse’s throat .
❛ parch . burn my muse with a hot object .
❛ take down . forcefully bring my muse to the ground .
❛ gouge . wield a sharp object at my muse .
❛ shunt . shove my muse backwards .
❛ stickup . yell at my muse to put their hands in the air.
❛ shoot . [ fatally / non-fatally ] shoot my muse .
❛ stab . stab my muse with a [ knife / other object ].
→ 𝐕 . NSFW
❛ surprise . send an unexpected nsfw image to my muse .
❛ pin . push my muse against a [ wall, table, other ] .
❛ go down . go down on my muse .
❛ choke . intimately wrap your hands around my muse’s throat .
❛ belt loops . pull my muse closer by their belt loops .
❛ skinny dipping . go skinny dipping with my muse .
❛ rip . tear a piece of clothing from my muse’s body .
❛ mark . leave a mark on my muse’s body [ specify where ] .
" as the tree burns , so do we . end the enemy . calm is the ocean before the storm . "
— a secret greeting of navori brotherhood members .
sometimes shortened to simply ' the brotherhood , ' they were formed at the forefront of ionia's resistance against noxian occupation . back then , they were a group of scrappy freedom fighters who has had quite enough of the brutal invasion , and were primarily formed out of every day men && women . there were some amongst their ranks who had practiced martial arts , but they were very few and far between . they used weapons that the noxians they killed , and weren't afraid of offending the spirit of ionia by mounting a violent resistance against noxus .
when irelia joined forces with them , she never became an official member ; her inner voice warned her of becoming too familiar with violence , but the brotherhood were efficient and provided her with her earliest weapon training . this was before they grew increasingly nationalistic , irelia would have never condoned attacking fellow countrymen .
none of them raised any eyebrows at a young teenage girl participating in the rebellion so actively , even though nobody there knew of the tragic end to her family and the full reason for her vengeful heart ; everybody was there because they were hurt and angry . they ultimately served as a sort of family to the young dancer , and she did grow particularly close with a certain member . but their story is not a happy one , though ... you'd be hard pressed to find one of those during that time .
the boy was named jingyi , and he was a couple of years older than irelia . she latched onto him because he reminded her of zelos . with stormy grey - blue eyes and hair that was cropped short , a prominant nose and a square jaw , the resemblance to her dear older brother was indeed strong . their personalities were also similar , except zelos was more gentle && playful . irelia wondered if her brother would have turned out like jingyi , had he been away from home like she was when their family was killed .
she had borrowed a piece of whetstone for her blades but she had cut her hand . jingyi was the one who found her quietly crying and alone , and he helped her clean up the wound && bandage up her hand while scolding her for doing this alone when she didn't know how to use it , telling her to just ask him next time . from then , she'd still be fairly solitary but at least she did have one person to talk to from time to time .
irelia was much too young ... and traumatized , really ; to realize that the feelings she held for him were more than platonic . whenever irelia enters the camp and doesn't see him immediately , she'd become anxious until she heard news of his whereabouts ; and when he showed up , she'd breathe a sigh of relief . as the years dragged on and both of them grew older , they grew closer too . they complimented each other well on the battlefield as he was a fire mage who'd cover her back with supporting fire .
but all that's in the past , now . as the navori brotherhood began to turn their violence against ionians ... irelia could not stay any longer . jingyi did not make the same choice , he had been through much more with his fellow fighters and his anger drove him more than his sense . however , their story does not end here . after many years , they eventually had their reunion . irelia had picked up the mantle of leading the ionian guard , while jingyi ... he had turned into somebody different .
the war had driven a coldness inside his bones , and the warmth had all but dimmed when she looked in his eyes . he proclaimed that he was here to make her a final offer ; abandon her position as a leader && join the navori brotherhood so that they could rid ionia of noxian corruption for good ... or that he would end her life . irelia refused , citing the unrest that the brotherhood causes and the innocent ionians they rob ... and pleaded him to not force her to do this .
he answered by sending a blast of fire her way , and the two danced for the last time . irelia won , with singed hair and scorch marks upon her clothes , but most of all a mourning heart as she held his body . this wouldn't be the first or last time she'd spill ionian blood for the sake of self defence . as the seasons passed by , the brotherhood sent many more assassins her way , and with every death irelia doubts her choice to walk the path she finds herself treading upon ; one that leaves a trail of corpses behind her .
blakekathryn
annaxmalina
turnnoffyourmind
izzy806
2087
germansingergirl
