demacia's bright spark!

"Over here!" He indicated, lowering his hand only once he’d been sure the other had seen to instead rest atop the head of the cat prowling the table. And, as soon as she had drawn within earshot did Hiro speak, sliding across the expanse of wood a short menu for her to peruse.

She tiptoed her way around cat tails and chairs; eventually, she made her way to her seat opposite his. 

"It's nice to meet you, too!" She offered him a hand and a smile. "If it's easier for you, feel free to call me 'Lux'."

She was glad she hadn’t caused any offence. Luxanna’s query, however, made her pause. “I forgot that not everyone used the same honorific system that we do…” she murmurs to herself.

To: All Contacts From: Hiro H.

When Lux realized how rude her first message had been, she hurried to send him another.

TO: HIRO HAMADA FROM: LUXANNA CROWNGUARD By the way thank you this is very nice of you [2/2]

"Have you been here long? I’m sorry if I offend you accidentally." A lot of people could take offense easily, and she didn’t want to push the woman in an irritating way. She was simply, mildly curious. And it was better than just sitting here and doing nothing.

Her name sounded vaguely Ionian, Lux thought, but she didn't bother to question it. It'd be rude to assume everyone stuck in the Hive was originally from her own world.

Demacia and Noxus. Two extreme parallels, and two extraordinarily different countries in terms of governance and philosophy. In Demacia there was a place for everyone, and everyone had their place. In Noxus it was a battle of strength and will, for only those who were able to claw their way out of the darkness would be able to survive in their nation. To Runeterra at large Noxus seemed an obvious evil, while Demacia was an obvious good. Of course, this was because they chose to turn a blind eye to the machinations of Demacia, and the very lengths to which they strove to ensure justice was done and all maliciousness was eradicated from the world. Even sending children into battle, all for the “greater good”. At least within Noxus one could take pride in individual accomplishment.

Her heart pounded at her chest. Lux had been trained to still its beating, but it was understandably difficult to do so now. The sight of him visibly irked her.

“You're--”

Her words stopped at her throat. Composure, it seemed, was failing her. Something about this man was unsettling her, but she wouldn't allow herself to be intimidated by him.

"I’ve been to too many of these to truly enjoy it." She noted the tone of voice the other was using, slightly strained and probably accompanied by a fake smile, forced. She knew enough of other’s reactions to emotions.

Lux paused, her lips steady. Maybe she'd been to too many gatherings to enjoy them, too. She used to flourish in the company of others. What changed?

For a brief instance, there was perhaps a flash of something in her face. It was gone as soon as it came, though. Her posture straightened, her chin rose, and she smiled. She smiled genuinely; she smiled truly.

She pursed her lips. Lux still had yet to come to terms with their predicament.

Lux combed her fingers through the hair in her fringe, exasperated. Though no stranger to social obligations like these, things were different here. Her friends, her family, her colleagues-- they weren't here. It hurt too much to come to terms with that fact.

ice-born, bladesreflection, leuchtender

Ezreal stumbled a little as the ground suddenly reformed underneath him, but he quickly recovered, glancing around at the unknown area in which he—along with Lux, Riven, and Lissandra, he noted—had been deposited. The three of them looked to be alright, but what were they doing here? And where was here?

Ezreal straightened up, trying to get a good look around. ‘Trying to’ being the key words; it was dark, and the cool, damp air gave Ezreal the feeling that they were underground. How far, he couldn’t tell. There were lights, tiny strings of them embedded into the walls, but they only poked out of the stone on short occasions, providing nowhere near enough light to see properly.

Willing his amulet to glow, he raised his gauntlet above his head, getting a better look of where they were. It was a small room, maybe twenty feet across, with three hallways forming a T going in separate directions. The floor was loose dirt, and there were even some strange-looking mushrooms growing in places where the floor met the walls. The walls themselves were stone, fairly smooth but worn and chipped in places. Age alone wouldn’t do that; there had to be someone—or something—else in this place. As for the ceiling, well, there wasn’t one as far as Ezreal could see, only murky darkness above.

They weren’t in any of the districts; Ezreal crossed that off his list of possibilities right away. This didn’t look like any place he’d seen in the city before, a realization that was both worrying and exciting for the explorer. Sure, strange things going on meant the scientists were up to no good, but here was someplace new, and it looked like it was going to present a real challenge.

Ezreal turned his attention back to the group. Him, Lux, Riven, and Lissandra… Why them? He didn’t mean that in a bad sense, but why had the four of them been dumped in the same area?

What a dank place. Lovely. It reminded altogether too much of the ordeal she’d had to go through down in District Alpha, yet this seemed even worse. Less of an industrial sewer, more natural. Why didn’t it surprise her they had something even deeper. The cavern seemed fairly large, and as she adjusted to the temperature, she could make out three different exits.

As well as her companions. The boy wonder, Demacia’s sweetheart and the light of her eyes. Well, almost there. Already it reminded her too much of the Institute.

Ezreal spoke, but before she answered, writing was becoming apparent to her. Ah, they’d even rendered it in a manner she could percieve, how thoughtful.

cout « “experiments:” « “aΓiadne’s thread will lead you from the labyrinth, though not ” « “you alone” « endl;

cout « “experiments: ” « “your lives are “linked”” « endl;

cout « “experiments: ” « “fight your way to the “core” and the answers you seek will be revealed” « endl;

Hm. Not exactly cryptic, though she supposed they wanted a show from at least some of their subjects. Well, a team game then, was it? How lucky for this group in particular.

"I’m quite fine, dear. Though I get the feeling we’d all be aware if one of us was less than perfect.” She glanced around those assembled. “I think we’ve all played one of their games before. Well, almost all of us.” She nodded towards Lux “So I think it’s safe to assume making our way to the core won’t be just a simple matter of walking there. And I have a hunch we all need to make it there, but I don’t quite want to die testing that theory out.

That being said, I think it’s best we disclose exactly what we have gained back from the scientists. Personally I’ve been lucky to receive a fair deal, and only my most taxing or time consuming abilities are unavailable.”

Eurgh, that was entirely too much talking, but best get it out of the way now. She didn’t want to spend a minute longer down here than necessary. After a pause, she placed a hand on Riven’s shoulder as she turned to the exile.

"And are you okay? I was in fact on my way to you as this occurred” 

Responding with a nod, she placed her hand over Lissandra’s to reassure. Obviously she wouldn’t be the most popular member of this little group, her affiliation with Noxus made certain of that, but well, at least she was with the woman she fell in love with, that was one thing she had going right for her.

"I’m all right." Entwining their fingers as she let their arms drop to her side, Riven finally turned her attention to Ezreal. "And I hardly think it would hurt to let you know."

"I’ve received my sword back from them, but other than that I suppose they’ve let me regain a fraction of my former abilities." Quite a roundabout way of saying they’re allowing her to hop around for a bit. About thrice daily. Not that she’d share such a weakness with them.

Still, what worried Riven was their final member. The Lady of Luminosity, or so she was called, looked hardly as bright in this darkened cave. Yet, if Lux looked worried at all, she certainly did not let it show on her face. An admirable feat which Riven would have felt proud of, if she didn’t feel so sorry for her.

"And you, Miss Crownguard, how are you faring?"

For the most part. While no stranger to trouble, Lux was the only of the four who had yet to accustom herself to the scientists and the way they employed their control over the city. It left an awful taste in her mouth.

“I've only got this.” She grimaced and held out her stick, her shame. “They've taken my wand and my magic, and I don't think they're planning on giving either back to me anytime soon.”

“The most I can do is-- well, I'd probably be better off showing you all.”

Finally, something she had a little more confidence in. When she talked about magic, her voice regained its usual lilt and enthusiasm. Perhaps it served as a distraction from her troubles.

With a flick of her wrist, she stole from the dim corridors what little light it had to give. She gathered it in her palm to form a ball and, after a moment, let it go. It ebbed a soft glow around them.

“I'm sure you've seen my Lucent Singularity before, but.. this is different. It's a lot weaker than it should be and it probably doesn't do much beyond maybe lighting the way for us. I'm sorry, but I'm--” Her eyes fell. I'm useless, she realized. She almost wanted to cry. I'm useless and me being here only serves as a liability.

"Besides, like anything else in this place, you simply have to work hard to get it back." Finally, something she could speak about from experience. Her sword was brandished without a second thought as she placed the blade before her.

Lux pinched the edge of Riven's blade and lowered it.

"My men wouldn’t dare question your Brother’s… ahem… ‘coolness’. What’s so ‘uncool’ about embracing my sister? Hmph. I must be old fashioned then…"

Garen blinked. So did the Institute tell her to aid him in his mission then? Did she even know why he was here? 

Lux only stared, bewildered. Why was he ordered to participate in the scientists' experiment? What did the higher-ups need from a city like this?

When she extended her hand, Isuzu was hesitant to take it. Honey eyes lingered over the offered hand and back to the girl’s effeminate face, as if she was thinking it over. After a moment, she finally sighed in weary tones, “Alright,” and replied with one firm handshake.

“Hmm.. 'something sweet'?”