𝓞𝓒 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓭𝓾𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷:
ִֶָ࣪☾. Írilómë ~ the illusive and impenitent incubus ~
So I've featured Írilómë in a few ficlets before, but neglected to introduce him so far. Until I throw together a full doc, here's a summary of his character and story. Enjoy!
☾ In the beginning, Írilómë was a Maia of Irmo, concerned with the domain of desire rather than dreams or visions. From his lord, he learned much about the hearts and minds of those around him and the desires hidden within and found great joy and pleasure in exploration of and shameless indulgence in such matters.
☾ Closest to him was always his twin sister Írima who served Estë and was also concerned with matters of the heart... though in a more physical sense.
☾ What many don't know is that the twins have another brother, Airilin, youngest among them and a Maia of Ulmo, but they have never grown close to him and became estranged, leading him down his own dark paths.
☾ Around that time, Írilómë appeared as a beautiful young man of great, lithe statue, with purple hair, pink eyes and a silvery sheen to his skin, as he has always preferred the gentler, softer lights of Illuin and later Telperion and the moon and would often sleep during the day. However, he was ever swift to adjust his shape to appear beautiful to whoever he desired at the moment.
☾ It was rare for Írilómë to feel greater or more permanent attraction to anyone, particularly on the romantic or emotional side. When he found himself not understanding the courtship preferences of his peers, Irmo explained to him that there is no shame in not feeling romantic attraction to anyone, but that he must always be mindful, respect the partners he chooses and not close his heart to any feelings that may come in the future, but never have to.
☾ In time, it came to pass that Írilómë found Tilion as he rested and slept in Irmo's gardens and desired him, more than he had ever wanted anyone before. He approached him and set out to charm him, yet for the first time in his life was rejected; for Tilion already loved Arien and told him that his love can only ever belong to one at a time. Out of love for him, Írilómë was thereafter often seen growing a pair of silver horns on his brow.
☾ However, he didn't understand what Tilion meant, never having felt that way himself, and he thought him a fool for pursuing someone who didn't love him back and rejecting another who would have him. When he brought this matter up with Irmo, however, his lord warned him that he had to respect Tilion's choices, no matter what he thought of them.
☾ Dissatisfied with the advice he had been given and unable to comprehend how anyone could resist his charms in favor of another, Írilómë shared his frustration with his twin and found that she had encountered Melkor as he sought out servants of other Valar for his cause. Írima, too, had gotten into trouble with her lady, as Estë forbade her from conducting any experiments on the Children that would awaken soon.
☾ Thus the twins turned to Melkor instead and he gave them the answers they wanted to hear, promising Írima that, in his service, she would not be restricted by silly morals and concerns and Írilómë to teach him how to seduce anyone he wanted.
☾ What Melkor taught him was deception and coercion, but Írilómë had always been a fickle and impulsive creature, viewing the wills of others more as a challenge than a boundary, and was happy to mess with their minds as he pleased.
☾ However, his treachery was soon discovered by Irmo when he caught Írilómë invading Tilion's dreams whenever he came to his gardens and he was shocked and upset that one of his beloved Maiar had preyed on another while they were vulnerable. Even though he wished to correct Írilómë's mistakes and help him, he felt as though it was too severe a transgression to allow him to roam his domain any longer and he was angered by what had happened, so he banished him instead.
☾ Írima joined Írilómë when he left and together they joined Melkor who welcomed them among his Maiar and used their talents to assist the others as well as prey on the Children once they awoke. Írilómë was responsible for many that went missing without a trace, luring them away from their peers and bringing them to his new master.
☾ He was, however, still not over his failure to seduce Tilion and developed an obsession, seeking to study the mysteries of love, the bonds it formed and how they could be twisted and broken. His particular area of interest was what the people of Middle-earth referred to as soulmates, wondering if desire could overcome destiny, and he was ever in search of such pairs to study and mess with them.
☾ It was at this time that Írilómë's eyes turned from soft pink to a bloody red and his silver horns darkened, but he kept his original fána and, as he had always done, shifted mostly to please and seduce his targets.
☾ He stayed loyal to Melkor throughout all the wars, fearing Irmo's wrath if he returned to Valinor, and remained in Middle-earth together with Írima after his lord's final fall. Legends of dangerous incubi and succubi who visit people in their sleep and drain them of their energy can be traced back to the deeds of Írilómë over the ages and he still wanders this world, sometimes hunting, sometimes standing still to watch the moon.
˚ ੈ✧̣̇·˖ ˚ . ✶ ˚ ✦ . ˚ . . ★⋆. ࿐࿔ . ˚
☽ Etymology: Írilómë means "beautiful twilight"
☽ Post-canon: It may be that, as ages pass, Irmo feels that he bears responsibility for Írilómë's crimes and seeks him out himself, wishing to mend the rift between them and bring him back to the right path. If so, he may be asked by Estë and Ulmo to search for Írima and Airilin as well.
☽ Ships: Aside from unrequited Írilómë/Tilion, his current main ship for post-canon verse is Amarëa (@urwendii's OC, daughter of Mairon and Arien, who by that time has grown into a beautiful and sassy Maia lady who takes no nonsense from an Úmaia like him).
I'm open to shipping him with other OCs as well :) (he's great for one night stands lol)
☽ About Írima: She is not mine, she belongs to my dear friend @edensrose who kindly allowed me to feature her in Írilómë-related writings💕