#yone is my secret not so secret obsession

[milksuu]

haii✨ just popping in to say the way you write yone drives me CRAZY and i LOVE it 🫡 thank you for keeping the fandom well fed <33

AHJKLSFVDLAHJSDFV!

EVERYONE IS SO FCKIN NICE WHYYYY??? TYSM AND YWWWWW

[carcarcraziiv2]

hi!!!i wanted to do a request (im shaking as i write this bc this is my second time ever doing a request-) about Kayn having a crush on a reader that's part of Pentakill.Reader looks super mysterious and scary but in reality they're just shy and also have a crush on Kayn and both of them confess at the same time.Take your time and have a good day!!!

I am so glad you requested it! It's okay to be nervous! I AM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG I LOVE YOU AND I APOLOGIZE <//3

I LOVE THIS PROMPT- especially for someone who is in Pentakillllll like that is so exciting. I am so hyped for this! I hope you enjoy <3

Content / Warnings: Mature language (the 'b' word lol), Alcohol consumption. Not much else really....

Word Count: 1883

Kayn was never one to show his fanboy nature, even though everyone in Heartsteel already knew Kayn had a secret obsession- Pentakill. Specifically, the bands mysterious, cold and ominous bassist; you.

You on the other hand, although already being the bassist in a rock band, had somehow gained a reputation for being the "dark" or "moody" bandmember in comparison to Sona or Kayle. In reality though, you just liked keeping to yourself, rarely being the first one to speak, often sitting alone on the stage speakers or out back of the concert houses having a smoke before or after a show.

Regardless of the publics opinion of you, you loved your bandmates. You were just shy, so when Kayle approached you notifying you about a possible collab with your personal favorite band Heartsteel, you couldn't help but be incredibly anxious.

"What do you mean we are 'meeting' with them tomorrow," you inquired, glancing up from your book to see Kayle lean against the kitchen counter and take a drink from her cup.

"Oh, come on Y/N. Don't you like... oh which one was it?" She pauses and you take in a deep breath before letting out a sigh. "Kayn, right?"

You sit up from your spot and set your book down. Arching your brow and rolling your eyes at the winged woman, you chose to ignore her inquiry.

She scoffed before saying a little quieter, "Well Yone said Kayn likes our bassist. Guess it's not that big of a deal. I'll tell him we will pass on the meeting."

She began reaching towards her phone on the counter, causing you to pause mid-stretch and jump up to stop her.

"Wait!" you shrieked, cringing at yourself immediately thereafter.

"I knew it," Kayle smirked. "Our meeting is at noon by the way." As she walked away, you slumped back onto to the couch and let out another dramatic sigh.

~~

Kayn was going to kill Yone. Rhaast on the other hand was threatening to constantly break through at any moment with sheer excitement.

They were meeting Pentakill today. They- more specifically- were meeting you today. He was terrified. What if you hated him? What if you thought he was weird, or worse- what if Rhaast made an appearance and said something outrageous or out of pocket?

Kayn shook his head and rolled his eyes before splashing his face with water. He stared at himself in the mirror for a moment, silent dialogue only heard by him plaguing his mind.

Do not do anything brash, Rhaast.

Oh, I would never, Kayn.

~~

The meeting wasn't long. There was clearly some sort of friendship history between Yone and Kayle. Beyond that, everyone chatted like long lost friends aside from you - always silent and observant, and Kayn who sat at the large meeting table across from you.

You didn't fail to notice how he consistently stared at you. You were lowkey jealous because you wished you had started first. You weren't about to have a staring contest with him now.

You hadn't realized you were dissociating into the wall next to the large bay window until you were snapped out of it by Kayle's voice.

"Y/N, did you hear me? We are going to partner up for our song collab." Her lips rose in an evil knowing little smirk. "You and Kayn will be working together." Damn her for playing teacher right now.

A blush immediately erupted on your skin as you glanced at Kayn and gave him a shy smile. He let out a dramatic sigh and you were ashamed to think you were actually excited to have a real excuse to talk to him for an extended period of time.

"Alright everyone, let's start today and you can all figure out arrangements for your individual meetings. We will have our group meeting biweekly. Once we have a song, we will figure out our practice schedule and all the other details!" Yone smiled politely and everyone began standing and walking to their partners. As you observed, you saw both sett and K'Sante give looks to Kayn as they passed by him, almost teasing.

You couldn't help but be mortified by their social ques. Had Kayle spilled the beans about your silly little crush on Kayn? Oh Gods, what if Kayn knew and was staring at you because he was wondering how the hell he got stuck with the quiet freak from Pentakill as not only his partner, but his crush.

You sighed inwardly as you walked slowly towards him, looking anywhere but his direction. He was more confident than you thought, looking straight at you as you could see through your peripheral and starting the conversation.

"Hello, Y/N, right? I guess I should introduce myself- I'm Kayn," he reaches out a hesitant hand. You smile politely, shyly, in response.

"I'm Y/N- well you already know that anyway, heh..." you stutter, flustered due to the close proximity between the two of you. You give another awkward smile, and then let out an exasperated breath before continuing. "So, when and where would you like to meet up for these brainstorming sessions?"

Kayn seems to pause for a moment, putting his hand under his chiseled chin in a thinking pose. His gaze leaves you for a moment, before returning to your own.

"Dinner, you pick where you want to go. I will schedule if you send me the name of the restaurant. Here, put your phone number in my phone," he pulls his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and handing it to you. You raise your eyebrows in surprise, not even second guessing the dinner suggestion. There's no way he could be asking you on a date, right? No, you're not delusional.

You input your number and quickly bid your farewell as Kayle waves at you from the door. You hadn't realized everyone was gawking at the two of you as they waited to leave for the evening.

~~

"You know you don't have to do this at dinner Kayn? May as well have asked her out at that point," Sett smirks at him from his seat on the couch.

I told you, Rhaast hissed in Kayn's mind. It's too obvious now.

"Nah, don't worry. It is just a lunch between colleagues to brainstorm for a song. Nothing more, nothing less." Kayn glares at Sett, before walking into the bathroom to spray on some cologne for the first time in a very long time.

~~

You were so nervous. Even more nervous than you had been previously. And when you get nervous, you babble.

So before leaving for dinner with Kayn that evening, you gave yourself a pep talk in the mirror.

"Do not say anything stupid." Yeah, right.

"Do not be a clumsy mess as per usual." Will probably stumble trying to sit in the chair.

"Do not be ominous and awkward." Can't change your nature, baby.

Gods, your inner dialogue was a bitch.

You had chosen to wear casual yet flattering attire to your dinner, sticking to your usual all dark fabric and accessories. After getting ready and checking yourself out in the mirror once more, you went outside and got on your motorcycle with your backpack slung over your shoulders.

Letting out a shuddering breath, you began the not so long journey towards the restaurant. You had suggested one close by that you did enjoy, although the nerves in your stomach suggested you probably wouldn't be doing to much eating.

Upon arrival, you hung your helmet on the handle of your bike and stepped off. Before heading inside, you spared a glance at one of the windows only to see Kayn openly gawking at you stepping off of your ride.

Unbeknownst to you, he was thrilled to see you on a motorcycle. It was a thing with him, something about being rebellious or dangerous compared to the norm always caught his eye.

Quickly averting your gaze you let out a deep sigh to ready yourself and walked into the restaurant- ignoring the hostess and walking the corner to seat yourself in the booth across from Kayn.

Placing your backpack on the bench next to you, you let out a breath.

"Hi, Kayn," You smiled politely, your voice quieter than you had intended.

"Hi, Y/N," He smiled back. This evening his expression was eager, his eyes alight with dare you say- mischief. And you couldn't help but notice the slight blush that caressed his cheeks under the yellow lighting of the lamp above.

"So, do we want to order first or get right to business?" The question tumbled out of your mouth casually, and it took you a moment to realize that you actually felt quite comfortable sitting across from him in this moment.

"Well, I already ordered us both a drink. I hope you like Gin and soda," A gulp audibly escaped his throat and your lips twitched up in an almost smile.

"Actually, one of my favorite cocktails. Thanks, Kayn."

Gods, he liked the sound of his name on your lips.

The evening went on without a hitch, the two of you talking casually. By the time a few hours had passed, your food long since finished on the table in front of you, you realized you hadn't actually gotten to any brainstorming.

The drinks had started getting to you, loosening up your nerves. Before you knew it you were blabbering on and grabbing your backpack to pull out your notebook.

As you were looking down, Kayn was staring at you.

Just tell her, you coward. Rhaast was yapping again, but the booze had Kayn tuning him out. He was planning on it anyway.

"Sorry, I knew if I spent this much time with you I'd end up talking too much. Must be because of how much I like yo-," you paused. Were you saying this out loud?

You heard Kayn pull in a sharp breath, before softly saying,

"That's interesting. I was just trying to hype myself up to say that I have had a crush on the cute bassist from Pentakill for awhile now. Please tell me I didn't hear you wrong..." Kayn's eyes were wide, one eyebrow raised as he bit his lip.

Your jaw fell open, before you promptly closed it and blinked a few times.

"Wait, really?" You smiled. You couldn't help it. And as Kayn looked at you, he knew all of the assumptions the public made about you being dark or ominous or mysterious were bullshit. You were like starlight shining in a dark sky with that smile.

"Really. I swear it. Yone and Kayle I think did this specifically to set us up, actually. Everyone else on my side has known I've liked you for awhile. Lucky for us Kayle and Yone have... a friendship." He grinned sheepishly, running a ringed hand through his pink hair.

You laughed out loud then, having had made the same assumption yourself. "I thought the same thing!"

And as the night waned on, the restaurant eventually closed and the waitress was forced to kick the two of you out. The drinks had worn off over the time you had been there, opting for water instead.

As the two of you walked down the steps back to your motorcycle, Kayn looked at you and pulled you in for a hug. You melted into him momentarily before he released you.

"So, I have a request," he stated. You nodded for him to continue, your brows scrunched in question.

"Can I have a ride on your motorcycle?"

~~

The End! I hope you LOVED IT AND AGAIN IM SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT! I have basically been AFK irl lately lol. Thank you for the lovely request!

[lordmomohismomoness]

As of late, I have been obsessed with Webtoons. So I figured it was time to make a rec list of my favorites! Though, I couldn't narrow it down to 10, so here are my top 29! In no particular order:

Kind of Confidential by Vivian Darlin

Romance/Superhero updates weekly

-a superhero loses his powers and is saved by a supervillain on the run. Zen and Rena are my OTP and Batcat is adorable

The Witch and the Bull by Moonsia

Romance/Fantasy/Adventure updates weekly

-an a-hole who hates witches gets cursed as a bull, whose only hope is the witch whose career he just ruined

Ghost Wife by Sejung

Romance/Horror completed

-she is constantly followed by ghosts. But she does have a powerful but unsocialized demon to protect her. Bonus! This one has a sequel that just premiered!

I Love Yoo by Quimchee

Drama updates weekly

-she is a loner and down on her luck. When she meets two brothers who are complete opposites, her luck gets even worse. But at least she's not alone

The Kiss Bet by Ingrid Ochoa

Romance/Drama on hiatus

-all she wants is a special first kiss, but a little bet and some new transfer students make it really complicated

The Red Archer by IsabelleRanson

Romance/Adventure/Historical updates weekly

-a mashup of history and adventure, it's Maid Marian's turn to be a badass

The Makeup Remover by Lee Yone

Drama/Romance updates twice weekly

-after becoming a model in a make up competition, she shakes things up with some social commentary

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

Romance/Fantasy updates weekly

-Hades and Persephone just want to be happy. But their family is less "The Tanners" and more "Jerry Springer'

Like Wind on a Dry Branch by Dalsaeowl/Hwaeum

Drama/Romance updates weekly

-after losing everything to a plague, she starts her life over as a mage in the prince's harem. Heartwarming friendships and ugly crying included

Let's Play Mongie

Romance/Drama updates weekly

-the person that ruined her career is her new neighbor, and her love life just went from 0 to complicated

Future You by Kumokayaa

Romance/Fantasy updates once a month

-she's a time traveling assassin with no way back home, and he is a cop investigating her company. What could go wrong?

Cape of Spirits by Kris Nguyen

Fantasy/Adventure completed

-an ex prince joins his kidnappers in order to stop the spirits from destroying the world

Subzero by Junepurr

Romance/Fantasy updates weekly

-the princess and last of the azure dragons agrees to marry the prince of the crimson dragons as part of a peace treaty to end the war. But there is a lot more going on in the kingdom than meets the eye, and she has secrets of her own

Tower of God by SIU

Fantasy/Adventure updates weekly

-he climbs the tower to find a girl, but his very existence threatens the hierarchy within. This one is really long, but also AMAZING and addictive

Lumine by Emma Krogell

Fantasy updates weekly

-an orphaned werewolf is hired as a bodyguard to a standoffish witch. What they both really need is friendship

Nice to Meet You by Wishroomness

Romance/Drama updates weekly

-what starts off as an innocent prank turns into a wild romance

Little Mizzi Muffett and the Spider King by Catfish

Horror updates once a month

-something dark and evil is stirring, and she is the only one that can stop it. With the help of the spider king who has decided to make her his bride

Freaking Romance by Snailords

Romance/Sci Fi completed

-an interdimensional bisexual love triangle. Need I say more?

The Rose Prince by Samuraiflame

Romance updates twice a month

-after her twin brother's death, she takes his name and persona so that the kingdom can still pass on to her. However, the neighboring king sees right through her disguise

Siren's Lament by instantmiso

Romance/Fantasy completed

-she is stuck, half siren and half human. Now she must find a way to break the curse before she loses everything and everyone she loves

My Magical Maid by J_hp

Fantasy/Romance updates twice a month

-a witch lives in secret as the physician of the king...who hates witches

Shadow Bride by Sae In Lee/Soo Bean Lim

Romance/Fantasy updates weekly

-this one just started, but it is off to a great start: a beautiful thief who is barely getting by catches the attention of an awkward prince who is the true heir to the throne

Villain to Kill by Fupin/Enuji

Action updates weekly

-another new one. A hero gets reborn... as a villain. Now he is is trying to take down those that killed him, without losing his mind or bringing the apocalypse first

A Good Day to be a Dog by Lee Hey

Romance complete

-the only way to break her curse of turning into a dog is to get a kiss while transformed. Which would be a lot easier if the person she needs to kiss wasn't terrified of dogs

The Spectrum of Us by Sen-Chan

Drama/Romance updates weekly

-a cat in love with a wolf is complicated enough without throwing the cops, the mafia, and a tiger in the mix. Also keep an eye out for her other work Cat vs Dog which will premiere on originals soon!

My Roommate is a Gumiho by NA

Romance updates twice weekly

-after accidentally swallowing his bead, a college student moves in with a strict 900 year old fox so they can find a way to safely remove it. Hijinks ensue

That Awkward Magic by SomeBunny

Romance updates three times a month

-the jock and the loner agree to fake a relationship, and it takes the school by storm. But also, yer a wizard harry

Or: two dorks in love, but one is having a gay crisis and one is having a witch crisis

Eleceed by Jeho Son/ZHENA

Action updates weekly

-a secret agent gets stuck in the body of a fat cat and decides to mentor an optimistic kid with super speed. Wholesome, action packed, and hilarious

Act Like You Love Me! by XUANN

Romance updates weekly

-three people know each other but don't know that they know each other. It's gonna be fun when they figure it out

Great, my OCD says I'm not allowed to have 29 recs and must make it 30. But there are five I am torn between adding. We'll go with:

My Grim Romance by Gears of Rain

Romance updates every two weeks

-instead of dying, she gets a new roommate - in the form of a dramatic grim reaper who lost his powers

[dear-yandere]

[ spirit blossoms ]

yandere! thresh, yone, yasuo x reader. scenarios, spirit blossom au.

› art credits: nicolenazooie, 16395606 ,7675856.

what a pretty little catch you are, a wildflower amidst souls equally as tempting. he loves all his children equally, but even thresh isn’t immune to... obsession. your unusual presence in the spirit realm is enough to peak his interest and stoke his obsession — though he much prefers to call it a ‘parental love’ rather than such an unsightly word. but, it isn’t until he has you in his grip that possessiveness and manipulativeness take over. coming off as the ever-protective and benevolent Father of lost souls he masquerades as, it’s hard to think otherwise of his actions for his words are sugary and his presence welcoming.

he is death itself, and death does not discriminate.

surrounded by countless spirits — his own children, blossoming with unseen potential — and yet, he’s only ever tasted the bitter ache of loneliness. it is a constant in his life, a truth he’s come to hold close to his heart. home is where the heart is, and his is but a facade crafted from lost souls and a sense of family that isn’t quite... fulfilling.

until he met you.

you managed to win his heart. an ancient demon in all his right, enamored by the doe-eyed gaze of a lost human on soil they do not belong. his heart beckons to you, yearns for you — he wants to cherish you, to watch you bloom in his hands like a flower that would put spirit blossoms to shame; he wants to taste the power and warmth, that will bring. to know that you are sorely and wholly his, to know that you met him of all kanmei and akana, to know that you chose him.

"do not fear me. i am but a servant of the natural order that guides us all."

as an akana, he takes great pride in his work, delighting in the torment of flawed spirits. to him, they are blossoming with potential, flower buds crying out for attention. his attention. it wouldn’t be fair to favor you over the rest of his sweet little children — he wouldn’t be a good Father, now would he? but he is ancient, and you... you are human. a species so flawed, so selfish, and yet you helped him retrieve his lantern. he misjudged you, truthfully; he thought of you as someone who needed to be molded against his claws, remade into something more beautiful. 

all you made him realize is that even he is flawed.

"those privy to my secrets? they are safe with me now."

as benevolent and well-meaning as he seems, he is a harbinger of chaos and torture wrapped in the pretty facade that seems to tempt human souls so. humans believe whatever is most convenient for their own prejudices, after all; to have him appear before them, a demon in appearance but a light of hope in pretense, any human would fall prey to what he has to offer. eternal salvation, so long as your soul is in his possession. tempting are his words, for humans are so easily swayed from their path to salvation in the afterlife, until all that accompanies them are their own memories. to be haunted by memories of your past life — all your good deeds, all your bad actions... is that not true suffering?

perhaps not. not for him. not with you by his side, not with you in his possession. you’re his favorite pet, darling, just be a good girl /boy and don’t tell his other children. jealousy has no place in this family, not when every soul belongs to him. you are an exception in only one regard: you belong with him.

"a human, neither dead nor alive, surrounded by endless hoards of spirits alike. that, is a tragedy i do adore. but do not fret, my dear, for in death, you are safest with me."

he is undeserving of love. 

of all the truths yone has been forced to witness as a warlord, he has never once questioned this. the war he wrought, the battles he led, have only resulted in one thing in the end: death. death, carnage, blood, and... loss. he has watched countless weep over the bodies of the men he’s slain without thought, and he knows then that love has abandoned monsters like him.

love is out of reach.

renowned for his adherence to honor and duty, he is strict in his ways. the moment he saw you caused a stir in his spirit, a dull ache against his soul. your existence is implausible, impossible; you do not belong here. you... you are human, and all he has ever done is kill humans. he is no different than the obsessive and oft cruel akana, and yet he is a kanmei, beloved by all spirits. he does not deserve such reverence, he does not deserve to guide you. you are better off away from him. his sword, he once thought, was a guardian, a protector of humans.

he will only hurt you.

"a festival of flowers to remember those lost... i think i'd rather be forgotten."

humans are such fickle creatures, selfish and stubborn in their ways. he knows this truth best; it is a testament to his selfish desire to defend a country which forced him to strike his own brother down. so when you stayed, clung to his side like a petal to its stem, he was unsurprised. you were enamored by his poems, or so you claimed. humans deceive so often, he’s learned to accept their words at face value; he’s no stranger to donning a mask of deceit, himself, after all.

but your eyes. they would light up like festival lanterns, welcoming and bright in their hues. a more peaceful time, he recalls — one unmarred by the tragedy of war. when he looks at you, he is reminded of such peace; when he looks at you, he is at peace. when he looks at you, he is no longer a lone spirit wishing for a peace only death can bring. when he looks at you, he feels... forgiven.

"forgiveness is... complicated."

he does not deserve it, just as he does not deserve love; and you, you are the embodiment of both. like the scent of fresh blossoms against tree branches and a season anew, your eyes carry a light far more tempting than that of death’s, a light that only living can bring. you make him want to live — you are everything he does not want.

and yet he wants you.

if his life were to be written as a story, it would surely be a tragedy. a tale of redemption far out of reach, a tale of betrayal and blind faith. he has seen the end of worlds — both of war, and of his brother’s — and he has lived. to die is to no longer feel pain, and the greatest repentence is to live with the truths of what he has done. struck his own family member, his own brother, down with a sword sworn to herald justice; yone is undeserving of anything short of suffering.

and yet, such an innocent spirit you hold, he’d almost forgotten those existed. you are unmarred by the tragedy of war and suffering; he is envious, but equally joyous. to see that there is still carefree love in the physical realm, perhaps living is not so bad after all. being with you is natural; being with you is like home. words flow freely when he is in your presence, and you are at peace when he speaks in prose and haiku. dreams he was forced to abandon to take up the sword, he can freely pursue in your presence and be met with applause rather than disdain. the blissful fluttering of eyelashes, the slight twitch of lips pulled into a smile — it will never be enough to make him feel loved, to make him feel forgiven. but it’s a start.

he wants to start over with you.

“with you, there is no need to hide. many have gazed upon this mask and seen their end. somehow, you saw a future.”

renowned for his roguish demeanor, yasuo is familiar with bloodshed and death. he has grown to accept it, unlike his prideful brother; and yet, he desires a life enlightened by music and travel all the same. fate has smiled upon him bitterly, doomed him to spill blood in life and hunt spirits in death.

if this life is cursed, he wishes to be reborn. a songbird, a human — either will do. his soul yearns for music.

"just looking for a road home."

when he saw you, unaccustomed to the ways of this spirit world, he was intrigued. something new, someone to talk to that could actually, well... talk back. spirits aren’t known for their talkative nature, and he can’t really fault them; confusion is all they know, having woken up in another world after death. the azakana are no better — they remind him of himself, bloodthirsty and reckless as he once was. their only fate is to be cut down by his sword... life has not changed in the slightest. fate is truly unkind to him.

but unlike spirits, you are someone. your gaze speaks not of scorn or awe, because when you look at him, he feels seen. the real him, the one he’s pushed down in order to be a swordsman that could live up to his brother. you listen to his flute with keen ears and a sway of your body — the sight alone makes his heart jump. he’s always wanted to see the effect his music has on people, and you’re the first. having greater interest in music rather than swordsmanship is frowned upon in his clan; expectations were thrust upon him the moment he left the womb — to live up to his brother, to live up to his clan name.

"follow the wind, but watch your back."

but you don’t expect anything from him. to you, he is another spirit, another being, an entity that was once a person with hopes and dreams and feelings worth something. under your gaze, he is free from expectation, free from duty. until he was accused of crimes against his country, and forced to take up arms against his own brother, yasuo lived a life unsaddled by the same burden of expectation his brother endured. it was never enough, for even in death, he still envies the freedom birds enjoy. but you offer a taste of such liberty simply by existing; by listening — truly listening. a drunkard as he is, how is he expected to let go of such pleasure?

he can’t, he won’t.

when you convince him to find his brother and begin anew, he was certain. that after all is said and done — that after he has forgiven his brother, and has been forgiven himself — he wants to travel the world with you. he’s seen everything there is to see in the spirit realm, but the world is different with you at his side. you are his freedom, you are his muse. because even if he promises the illusion of choosing your path, it will always cross with his.

it’s hard to part with freedom after you’ve tasted it.

“traveling alone has left me wanting for companionship, and honestly, a sword's poor company for a long road. say... what would you do if i asked you to accompany me? your call, sweetheart.”

dear-yandere 2019-2020, all rights reserved.

[infinite-xerath]

Runeterra Retcons 9: Shaco

The time has come to discuss League’s resident killer clown… Or killer jester, I suppose. There is a difference, not that it really matters because even the lore doesn’t ACTUALLY know what Shaco is. To be frank, Shaco is a weird character because he’s NEVER had a proper place in the story, even from his conception.

Shaco’s original lore paints him as a complete and utter mystery. Nobody knows who or what he is, where he came from, or what he really wants. All anyone has ever known is that Shaco loves killing people because he thinks it’s funny. He could be a demon, a rogue weapon, or just a homicidal madman who’s really good at what he loves. That’s where his character begins and ends, so there’s really not much to actually analyze here. Shaco’s second lore attempts to give us a little more detail but all it really does is say the exact same thing with more words added in.

Of course, Shaco’s first two lores were written at a time with the Institute of War and Summoners were still canon, so after the retcon back in 2015 Riot opted to give him a new backstory to make him fit in with the new world of Runeterra. That backstory, as we can see, is ultimately little more than a placeholder. I mean, his extended bio doesn’t even match the blurb on his Champion page!

In summation: Shaco is a haunted doll who belonged to an unknown prince of an unknown kingdom and was transformed by unknown magics for unknown reasons. This backstory now feels especially redundant with the introduction of Gwen into the game, a living doll with a similar backstory albeit far less evil. To be frank: there’d be room to have some interest thematic parallels between Gwen and Shaco if Riot had written these two in such a way that they were creations of the same person or belonged to the same kid but wound up becoming wholly opposite of one-another.

For example: perhaps in an alternate version of the lore, Gwen comes to embody the childlike innocence and hope of her maker/owner and seeks to spread joy and cheer while Shaco is a corrupt and perverted manifestation of those desires who seeks only to amuse himself in the suffering of others. This, I think, would have been a fantastic way to go about it, but given that Gwen is already so heavily tied to the Shadow Isles plotline and Viego is set up to be her primary enemy, I feel like it would be kind of difficult to work Shaco into that dynamic at this point.

Besides, it’s clear that Riot DOES have plans for Shaco: namely, that they aim to retcon him into being a demon. This is somewhat evident by his champion title, the Demon Jester, as well as his relationships are listed as being Nocturne and Fiddlesticks, the demons of nightmares and fear, respectively. There’s also that branch on the demon family tree labeled “Delirium” which would fit a murderous jokester pretty well.

To be honest, I was initially hesitant to even bother doing an episode for Shaco given that Riot clearly has at least some vague idea of what to do with him, but since reworks are coming out a lot slower now and Shaco’s not even on Riot’s priority list as far as we’re aware, it’ll probably be a WHILE before we actually see them do anything with this particular concept.

So, given what we know about Riot’s current plans, the general direction of this rewrite is simple: make Shaco a demon. Admittedly, though, that’s a little easier said than done. Demons in League are creatures who feed on mortal pain and suffering, but each of them has a different way of going about it. Fiddlesticks mainly uses paranoia and trauma to drive his victims mad while Nocturne takes a more Freddy Krueger approach of just invading dreams and turning them into nightmares. Tahm Kench likes to make Faustian Bargains by giving you everything you want and then tearing it all away from you, while Evelynn lures you in with seduction and then proceeds to tear you apart piece by piece.

Every demon takes a different form and has different ways of going about things, but all of them share a core concept: they feed on suffering and misery, be it physical or emotional. That said, there’s a bit more to demons in Runeterra than just that. See, back when Fiddlesticks was released, Riot went and released what the community has dubbed the “Demon Family Tree,” which appears to be a chart displaying the hierarchy of demons and different emotions that different kinds of demons can prey on.

Now, admittedly, there’s a LOT about this chart that we don’t currently understand, and frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if Riot doesn’t either. There’s a key that resembles the one around Zoe’s neck in the top-left, a bunch of circles in the top right we don’t know the meaning of, and a whole bunch of text written in what I think is supposed to be Old Noxian that we can’t currently decipher. There have been theories and discussions about this already, so I’m not going to get too deep into it, but the main takeaway, I think, would be the words on the chart that we CAN read: Fear, Delirium, Nightmares, Secrets, Bliss, Frenzy, and Obsession. There’s also the term “Azakana” at the bottom, though we know thanks to Yone that this basically just refers to a demon that hasn’t fully matured yet.

Tying the chart back to the demonic Champions in the game, it’s easy to piece together the connections that they each have: Fiddlesticks is fear, Nocturne is Nightmares, Raum (the demon bound to Swain) is Secrets, Evelynn is commonly believed to be Bliss, and Tahm Kench is most likely Obsession. That leaves Delirium and Frenzy untouched, which leaves us with two spots to fit Shaco into.

Now comes the hard part: the decision. Delirium refers to a state of mind in which one’s awareness of their actions or environment is significantly reduced, whereas frenzy is a sudden burst of frantic, uncontrolled emotion, typically rage or aggression. Either one of these could work well for a killer jester, but I personally think that delirium would suit Shaco better in terms of how his personality is portrayed in game. So, with that said, let’s dive deep into the realm of demonic and see what can be done to turn this cursed puppet into a proper Demon of Delirium.

It is often said that misery and comedy are but two sides of the same coin. Laughter often comes at the expense of others, and one person’s despair may be another’s delight. Most entertainers would tell you that walking the line between humor and malice is key, but to Shaco, such distinctions are a joke for which he himself is the final punchline.

The demon known as Shaco has stalked Runeterra for ages, spreading his twisted influence far and wide. There’s nothing Shaco loves more than to bring joy to those who need it most, often appearing to mortals who have experienced great loss or tragedy. Those coping with grief or misfortune may find themselves unexpectedly visited by a grinning jester, who assures that his only desire is to take away their pain with the power of laughter.

At first, Shaco’s antics are innocent enough. Some cheesy jokes to lighten the mood, some harmless pranks to lift the spirits of the downtrodden, all with an unyielding smile that one cannot help but start to imitate. Soon, those enthralled with Shaco’s antics are invited to play games with the jester to help distract from their worldly worries. Those who accept are whisked away to partake in a day of fun and merriment, playing all manner of pranks on friends, family, and even innocent bystanders.

When the games end, Shaco leaves his playmates cackling insanely in the aftermath, often surrounded by bodies and covered in blood. None laugh louder than Shaco, however, who delights in watching his playmates slowly regain their sanity and come to realize all the atrocities committed at his side. Some cry out in despair, while others break down laughing or crying harder than before. Some go mad, others are executed for their crimes, and some even opt to take their own lives. All outcomes are equally hilarious to Shaco, who soon sets out in pursuit of his next playmate.

Stories of the Mad Trickster exist all across Runeterra, often told as children’s tales to teach valuable lessons: don’t trust strangers, never give in to sadness or despair, and always be mindful to never take a joke too far. Few truly believe in Shaco’s existence, but those who fail to heed such warnings may find themselves to be his next playmate, as well as the butt of his joke…

So, this one was a bit shorter than normal, but I think it serves to get the point across. As the embodiment of delirium, I wanted to give Shaco a set-up sort of similar to Tahm Kench: he appears to offer help to those in need, only to end up ruining their lives in the long run. The difference, of course, is that Shaco lures people in to help them forget their troubles with fun and games, only to escalate to full-blown murder and mayhem.

In essence, Shaco drives others to delirium, making them believe the carnage is all just fun and games until his spell is broken and reality sets in. I’d like to think he particularly likes preying on the downtrodden because those who are suffering mental anguish already are easier for him to cast his spell on.

This is just my take on Shaco, though. Who can really say what Riot will do with him in the future? Who knows, his rework might end up even better than what I have here, but of course, anything is bound to be better than his current, non-existent lore.