#this post is admittedly partly incomplete because i ended up falling asleep at the mobile keyboard ): will revisit.

[lashhers]

K/DA RAMBLING .

evelynn is, arguably, the most " human " in her k/da skinline ( among all skinlines yet as of 01/2025 ) but i offer this . . . i imagine she's, in some ways, not too different of a person than who she is in runeterra canon. or, at the very least, she had done some shitty things in the past and still deals with those tendencies / traits . . . all the while we acknowledge how shitty the industry is, of course. colored text will have links to sources.

as referenced in information HERE and HERE: what evelynn is willing to share is how early on, whether in early career or generally throughout her life, she initially shapeshifted without a true connection to herself to fit other people's expectations and secure her place in the world. eventually, evelynn grew resentful of this and used the expectations of her image and beauty against them.

PURE SPECULATION as a writer and eve enjoyer . . . knowing evelynn, she likely harmed and trampled on the backs of people who didn't deserve it and not just the people who contributed to her problems actively. i think a lot of canon resources for the characterizations for k/da intentionally soften evelynn up ( like PR ! ) because k/da isn't here to explore actual compelling, realistic character drama behind the veneer of an empowering girl group.

they're here to sell skins.

so please allow me to analyze what we have so far and expand on what i think is less talked about and emphasize a bit more on what i think k/da sanitizes a bit.

evelynn recognizes her own personal power in being able to be whoever she wants to be, whenever she feels like it, and she has come to terms with her dark side that drives her artistry. she has come to redefine her relationship with herself, and that means accepting her demon, which is herself. but we know what kind of demon evelynn is in canon, so it's not hard to imagine and hypothesize. she's known in the industry to be demanding and not at all a people-pleaser which puts her under the spotlight of controversy often, but she benefits from that too since she has a fanbase of her own called " deeva ". unlike the original evelynn of runeterra, evelynn does value the friendships she ended up making ( even allowing herself to make balanced friendships is a surprise ) and weighs how those very people she is so protective of against her own reflection and motivations. it may very well be those bonds alone that keep her from being worse, or at least have caused her to reflect on who she wants to be now.

the ahri issue of the k/da: harmonies comic confirm that evelynn and ahri have been friends before 2016, at least good enough friends to have private meals together despite tight schedules; this is what led to their formation of k/da. i imagine the constrictions of the industry are what brought them to bond, and it explains evelynn's softness with ahri. as shown in a few other moments in the k/da comic, evelynn is not easy to reach for bonding and can sound more harsh due to her high standards, so it's clear she recognizes and believes in ahri's vision as much as ahri does. she also likely didn't have as much to lose as ahri did by straying from the path set for her despite still building a rising career, as evelynn had mentioned there, but evelynn clearly approved of betraying convention and doing what sounded right for the both of them. all of k/da ( plus seraphine, in their collaboration and tour for all out ) share the common goal of taking their art to the next level and earnestly pursuing their passions the way they want to, even if it means turning heel in different directions.

which, as made obvious in evelynn's message video and the text described above, is exactly up evelynn's alley and it’s the sole message of positivity that she encourages in others, like the moment she had with a fan who stalked her in the comic.

villain, i think, makes sure to remind the audience of who evelynn really is. not because it's what we expect evelynn to be like, as much as we think we do know her, but because it's what evelynn is choosing to focus on regarding her identity and uniqueness ( as akali had mentioned in the behind the scenes interview that the five songs were intended to reflect each respective member ) and as such, evelynn is intentionally presenting herself this way to the audience. the parallel and captivation of beauty and horror embodied in the visuals, harkening to imagery reminiscent of the gorgon / medusa; the shifting and paradoxical, almost claustrophobic scenery, the cold, dusty and desolate world of evelynn’s mindscape where she roams free in leisure and caresses her own claws, and the many lights that never seem to quite reach her in full illumination. only in eery flashes.

evelynn relishes in her confessions that she will always seek being in control, to take risks despite what great danger is ahead. she plays mind games for the fun of it and cares little for the consequences, only for what she will benefit from it. in fact, she even derives enjoyment and pleasure from other's agony and torment . . . just like her runeterra counterpart. this is the part of herself that evelynn tried to hide, which she learned to do with an alluring vision, but denies no longer. she knows who she is at every moment because it’s what she wills herself to be out of nobody’s desire of her own, even if that’s a villain. and she knows her fans love her for it.

evelynn’s music may be the truest form of her expression, in honesty and identity, and it’s why she’s so uncompromising about it.