#deathdxnces

✧ ━━ 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐓𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 : 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙴 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴 ━ @deathdxnces

Haruko knelt at the riverbank, the gentle sounds of the flowing water creating a serene trickling that helped distract him from the storm forming in his mind. His hands moved mechanically, the fabric of the pink cheongsam slipping through his fingers as he tried to wash away the stains of the day. Crimson darkened the stream while he scrubbed, and Tarhos' voice brought him to the surface. A sharp pain shot through his knuckles, a punishment from the healing blisters he had inadvertently torn open. Ivory tiers pressed together in frustration and his ears drooped low to lay across his head - but he knew better than to snap at Tarhos, he knew he was his mirror. To deny it would be to deny his own heart's words.

Drawing in a deep breath, he closed his eyes and focused on the sounds of nature surrounding him - using the call of birds, the soft whispers of the trees and the beating life of his lover to relax his bristling nerves. Slowly, the anger that had gripped him began to ebb away, replaced by a sense of calm; only for it to surge back when his fingers caught on a torn hole in the delicate dress. The Vastayan stood deceptively fast, the garment being thrown rather roughly into the damp laundry basket - not caring for the water splashing onto him from the motion, or bothering to hold back his annoyed snarl. His claws carved his agitation into the once flat sand, now torn apart by his relentless pacing. Finally, turning towards his companion with a troubled expression, Haruko sought solace in their connection, hoping to find peace once he allowed himself to try and step into Tarhos' headspace.

The crackling flames cast dancing shadows across the rugged features of the Vastayan, revealing the deep lines etched by life's harshness - of his attempt at mercy and the anguish it brought him. Beyond the gentle glow of the fire, nestled in a cocoon of warmth, lay a slumbering figure - a fragile human girl, the embodiment of resilience and vulnerability that he had sworn to guide. The Vastayan had helped shape her, but in truth ... It was clear that Haruko had poured his entire being into protecting her, a futile attempt to hide her from the world's callousness. The unwavering devotion in his gaze spoke volumes, a silent promise to safeguard her against the storm raging outside their small sanctuary. Yet, beneath the facade of strength, only his lover could see the raw ache of loss that gnawed at Haruko's soul, a poignant reminder of the irrevocable scars that marred their shared past.

And Haruko knew that his efforts, no matter how fervent or driven, could never shield her from every harsh lesson the world held for her, nor how they all awaited just beyond the riverbank. The Vastayan's sharp claws dug into the soft sand. He grappled with the knowledge that he could never restore what had been taken from her - both the bodies in the ground and the dimming of the once-bright light in her eyes. Ionia's beauty had been spoiled for her, the flowers would always smell like her mother's favorite perfume, and the grass would become the fingers that once combed through her hair. How could he ever hope for his hands to hold every memory? He would never be able to hold her in the way that her father had … but he would always hold her in his way; that child held his promise within her now, and he would not leave her to drown in darkness.

He found solace in Tarhos's silent understanding, allowing him the space to gather his thoughts and emotions, and final he lifted his gaze to the Darkin. Haruko opened the doors to his own soul so that Tarhos would share his feelings. A wave of fiery warmth swept through their shared consciousness, a silent promise of unwavering support and companionship in the face of adversity. She would never walk a lonely road. No, she would journey on to light every day - a rising sun over Ionia's devastated land. A red dawn that would clear away evil and bring rise to green pastures dappled with flowers. And he would sweep away any clouds that tried to hide her radiance.

"I know, but we can preserve what is left of that innocence for her, even if but for a moment - Even if it costs all I have left in this body."

With eyes of cornflower petals he regarded her once more, hidden just beyond the golden flames of their camp. They emitted a soft, ethereal glow in the dim moonlight - as if he could see into the very depths of the slumbering soul. Haruko's brows lowered and his voice fell t a murmur,

"She deserves at least that."

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── LEAGUE VERSE

"Mmmm ~?"

The vastayan's pale eyes flutter open and flick away from the bright azure of the sky to rest on the cornflower waves of the oceans of her iris. Haruko's brow quirks up and a playful chirp jumps from his throat - she has his full attention despite the whiny tug on the back of his mind; his greedy greedy lover trying to sap all of his time. Ah - she was inquiring about his feelings towards the object of her eye; that little Noxian shit - no no, he was blessed by the spirit and was as Ionian as he could be. … Fine then: That Ionian little shit. A haughty bastard with a swaggering prowl of a great beast with, in Haruko's opinion, none of the fangs he threatened with his atrocious yapping.

"Very curious of you to think he gets on my nerves at all - humans seldom interest me, especially ones like him who think that they are the most importan things to exist in this world." He smirks, unable to help the sadism that drips into his tone, "Although it is always fun to watch men like him fall - their name fading to nothing once their hubris eats them like maggots on hunted game. I imagine it won't be long until that happens to him so - at most he annoys me. You see, petal, I do not extend my pleasantries to those who won't live long enough to appreciate them; its a waste of time and energy on my end."

His eyes soften as he watches her.

"And because he does not deserve you."

✧ ━━ 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙴 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 📜 ]ㅤ.ㅤis there a story they love sharing with others ? ━━ Yes, however it is hardly about himself. Many of Haruko's memories before the Ionian Invasion have been corrupted since he took hold of the Darkin weapon, and he does find it harder to remember those events clearly. His memory becomes much clearer after the invasion, and thankfully one of his favorite stories was not too far behind. He love love loves talking about his dear adopted daughter, @deathdxnces — she is his pride and joy, and he will never hesitate to bring up her courageous deeds or how strong of a warrior she became. He is extremely happy to have been both her teacher and adopted father; plus it is never a bad time to talk about how Grand General Swain had his arm severed. The story, to Haru, will be finished once Irelia does the same to Swain's head.

Send two names and my muse will say which they’d rather kiss.

how often does your muse self-reflect?

I don't think Qiyana self reflects much, if I am to be honest. At least not at her current point in lore. If she did, she would be more aware of who she is, but as of right now she is only guided by one goal and that is to take the throne of Ixaocan, no matter what stands between her and the crown. if she does reflect on her actions, she does so at an incredibly shallow level, deciding that anything is worth it if it gets her closer to her goals.

an example of this is the massacre in Trikas. if she reflects on that now, she will shrug it off and declare an attack would occur sooner or later. all she did was quicken things up. but if she were to self reflect on the same situation later, say, while on a redemption journey, she would be disgusted with herself and feel guilty. to me, regretting the massacre of Trikas marks the point where Qiyana separates from her old self and really starts doing some self-studies in order to be better than she was.

self reflection also implies recognizing the tiny, crying child within her who's hiccuping for the love of her family, which is something she would rather lock away and never acknowledge again.

what does your muse think of the saying, "treat others as you want to be treated"?

needless to say, Qiyana thinks the saying is stupid. why should she, a prodigy and royalty, treats others like others should treat her? she will treat people according to how useful or interesting they might be to her. if the prove useless or boring, then she will cast them away like one throws a broken toy into the rubbish. and yet, she expects everyone else to adore the ground she walks on, recognize her superiority, and worship her as the great leader she can and will be.

again, it would take forcing Qiyana into a path of redemption for her to start seeing other people as things other than pawns.

is your muse loyal to those in their lives? does their loyalty tend to be genuine or can it be bought?

Qiyana is loyal to herself and herself only. she has spent too many years depending on her own person to even phantom feeling loyalty toward someone else. that said, if Qiyana were ever to grow to trust a person, and I mean truly believe that person will stay at her side no matter what, be it a parental figure, a friend, or a lover, nothing will buy her loyalty away.

League asks

7. Current main? okay I'll talk about talon too. seeing as i've not played a lot I've only gotten one non-arena game in w the rat but it was p fun. need to mess around with this seasons items more but profane hydra is 👌 very nice

21. Favorite champ? talon again ig? i like parkouring rat go whee and being a good distraction, and punishing bad positioning from the enemy team. but yeah jumping around the rift is my favourite pastime.

league asks!

4. What got you into league in the first place? my long term friends! they had been trying to get me to play for a while and i had just kept refusing it knowing that i wouldn't be able to put the game down for a long period of time and ... well.. here we are.

23. If you could perma delete a champ, who would it be? answered here!

"Again," Her voice does not waiver, even as her body aches after the hit. It will take getting used to, but that's part of the point. No noxian would go easy on her; there is no time for gentleness amidst war. "Don't listen to them. I can do it — I can keep going."

She had to. The young dancer never expected there would be an after the stand at the Placidium, certain one of the soldiers would claim her life before either side could claim victory. Now that she's here, now that the hopes of so many are hers to carry... she has to do better. The next victory has to be more than luck. Pushing herself to keep trying is the least she can do for all those who look up to her now. "Don't go easy on me."

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── LEAGUE VERSE

He can feel it - the sluggish pull of her muscles as she struggles to cope with the last blow to her body, her heart is pounding, the blood is rushing to each lesion in a desperate attempt to form a clot. Haruko's ears point down to her as he approaches with a slow and steady gait - his feathers relax from their fluffed appearance and settle back down. The Vastayan's gaze locks onto hers while his body moves the opposite of his spear - and soon enough she is on the ground below him. The tip tilts her chin up gently, the weapon connecting them into a silent conversation explaining that this lesson was over.

Haruko leans down to gather her into his arms, his hair like warm seafoam as it brushed against her damp skin. A brief embrace. He's quick to help her up - his grip strong enough to steady her beaten form, and for a moment he is calm; until he hears the same voice shuffling closer to berate him for being too harsh on her. Haruko's pale stare flicks back towards the source of the sound and not a moment is wasted - the blunt of his spear connects with their cheek to crack teeth into the puddling blood of the elder. Sunlight dapples across his bronzed skin and he steps lightly upon the man's throat to hold him down into the filth and muck. A fitting place for this type of person. His talons threaten to close around the man's neck - to puncture into his throat and rip out the precious mortal life that humans held so tightly. The impulse beats through his blood and tightens around his skull - a desire he's loathed to reject.

"Do not speak to me of mercy when you have deemed her your sacrificial lamb - What I am teaching her is not even close to the brutality the Noxian army has brought to our lands. You sit here safe beyond the reaches of death, rape, and torture behind a wall built by the corpses of your own people - of the children you've sent off. You're foolish and ignorant - and cowardly enough to depend on a child when she should be the one depending on the village to protect her. What a worthless life you lead, a leech incapable of defending itself or feeding itself without latching onto a more accomplished creature, Noxus would make quick work of you."

His eyes widened and his hand began to twitch with an insatiable urge to sink his blade deep into the man's chest - to show him what thousands of others had experienced in an effort to keep his miserable life safe. Haruko listened to the rapidly beating heart below him, now convinced evermore that humans were just lowly prey to be snared and butchered. The Lhotlan's neck tilted left as he observed the creature writhing in the dirt, pale canines visible with the mocking grin and wrinkled lip he gifted this pathetic excuse for a life:

"Without her you're nothing but fodder and meat for their hungry blades - and it scares you. It felt good, didn't it? Hiding under the cloak of your own righteousness. Stop acting as if you did not cause the bruises on her skin just as much as I did, or perhaps you're ever more to blame, after all, without your incessant screeching she would not be here. She would be safe in the countryside with me, but you couldn't risk that, could you? If you want her to not be hurt well - " Haruko stepped off of the man to drop his spear over his chest, "Fight your own battles, you fucking cunt."

Haruko turned his attention back to Irelia, his face softening and voice warm, "Come - I'll prepare a salt bath for your wounds. We're done for the next few days - they can train each other. You need to rest and I don't want to hear any whining or complaining about it. You're thick headed and stubborn, but within it all you are mortal - either you rest your body, or your body will give up on you. Now come, I want to wash myself of that lowly creature's blood - I feel infected just having touched it."