Flies to Honey
“Eh… pink?”
“What? No. That’d be far too obvious. Not mention, it would look horrible.”
“Blue then?”
“No…”
“Grey?”
“N-”
“Purple, ooo or black?”
“Jinx-”
“Green? Hm, green doesn’t really suit her actually.”
“Jin-”
“I suppose white would go… kinda bland though. But, wouldn’t put it past you to pick a bland colour.”
“Jinx… When you ask ‘what colour’ and I reply ‘guess.’ in the tone that I did… it does not actually mean guess.”
“Huh?”
“It would obviously be gold.”
“Obvious. Huh? How? That’s not the most obvious colour, Caityln.”
There was a pause in the phoneline.
“For a watch? Yes. Yes it very much is.” Cait spoke slowly.
“Really? I thought ‘cause blue’s all Kiramman and obviously the best colour-”
“Jinx, how many people do you know have a blue watch. Or a pink watch, or any colour of watch that isn’t gold or silver.”
“Uhhh… I don’t know anyone who has a watch. ‘Sept you guys… and Vi now.”
The phone was silent for quite a while, and Jinx just picked at the food in her teeth, mindlessly.
“Anyways, father gave her a two year membership to this place in the Bluewind Courts. It’s like this boxing… gym place… not really sure. Just full of things Vi can hit. Apparently it’s massive and perfect and she’s basically in love with it. It has stolen my girlfriend.”
“Taste of your own medicine there, Cait.”
Caitlyn tsched.
“Then we went for this divine dinner at Savoureux, which is actually near-”
“Eugh… I don’t want to hear about that.” Jinx cringed. She could almost hear Caitlyn’s eye roll.
“Anyhow, it was a great celebration… I really wish you could’ve been there.”
“Oh I don’t. My sister turning blue belly? That’s not something to celebrate, that’s something to mourn. She deserves a right slap, not a watch.”
“You know you’re talking to a ‘blue belly’.”
“Sadly. And y’know, if 15 year old Vi saw herself now… she’d probably be sick.”
“Oh, also Jinx, if you let me finish my story,” Caitlyn ignored her. “I would’ve said: after my choice of dinner at Savoureux-”
“Ew… Cait! I said I didn’t want to hear about that.”
“Jinx! No. Stop… stop interrupting. What I was going to say was after the nice dinner, I let Vi take me to Jericho’s, for her choice of ‘fine dining’. Despite it being- well, we saw Ekko there! Nice to reconnect and all that. He says hi and-”
But the very word ‘Ekko’ broke Jinx from her ears, and instead pulled her back to their conversation the day prior. She forgot… she was supposed to ask Cait. Well, maybe he already did, he did see her in the flesh.
“So you went to the undercity...”
“Indeed.”
“And, what did you think of it.” Jinx bit her nails. “Anything, different?” Then bit her lip. This was not a conversation she wanted to have. She was a little nerd. Who liked tinkering and cogs and things that moved on their own… not politics. This was not a discussion that she of all people should be entrusted to. And if people’s lives depended on it… Maybe if Cait just realised on her own.
“Not that I noticed.”
Dammit.
“And Ekko. He didn’t say anything… particular?”
“Not really. Simple necessities. Never very warm… but then again that might just be because he doesn’t like me. He did look quite withered though. More than I remember. There was a certain sadness about him, and a certain frailty.”
Jinx’s insides twisted.
“Yeah… so about that Cait.” Jinx started sucking on her tooth, pulling her flip-phone away from her ear. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Caitlyn could sense her trepidation, the reluctance in her voice.
“Okay…?”
“Ehh… have you ever heard of something called the Gra-” but Jinx’s phone buzzed as though it exploded, as per usual with a mere notification on that phone, and Jinx, in her skittish state, practically sprang and hurled it across the room.
Running back to it, tumbled against the wall, something caught her eye.
Luxanna| Where are my books.
Oh. Forgot about that.
Paralysed with indecision, Jinx just stared at the name and listened to the blaring sound of Cait’s stifled voice.
Luxanna| Jinx I’m going to knock down your door. Give me back my books.
“Jinx? Jinx! Jinx are you alright? There was a thud. Jinx. Jinx?!” The muffled, strained voice of Caityln kept sounding from the phone lying on the floor.
“Oh heyyyy, Cait. I gotta go.”
“Wait, no Jinx what did you mean? The Gray? Was that what you were about to say? You can’t le-”
Jinx hung up and shot straight to the message.
Jinx| ur books????
Luxanna| Don’t be a child.
Jinx| ok
Luxanna| Where are they?!
Jinx| ohhhhhh were the ones lying in a mess on the table urs too??? thought they were mine. mightve taken them all
Luxanna| Well give them back. Leave them by my door.
Jinx| uhhh no. im not ur slave
Luxanna| You were the one that took them!
Jinx| yea for safe keeping
Jinx| some weirdo couldve stolen them. ur lucky it was just little old me. u need to be more careful blondie
Luxanna| Jinx I swear to all that is good and pure, give me back my books.
Jinx| i think ur being a tad dramatic blondie
Jinx| never said u couldnt get them
Jinx| just dont be lazy
Luxanna| What?
Luxanna| No. I will not be doing that. I’ll get a disease if I walk into your room again
Jinx| k then
Jinx| next cold night I’ll use them for fire fuel
Luxanna| Oh you are just insufferable
Luxanna| Fine. I’ll get them.
The next ten minutes Jinx sat quite anxiously awaiting the angry blonde’s arrival, her legs curled up on her bed and fingers snapping against them. But ten minutes came and went and no blonde showed up.
Jinx| how long does it take you to walk 5 feet
Jinx| geez you are slow
Luxanna| What? I’m coming from the library
Jinx| nerd
Luxanna| Its where I thought my books would be…
Jinx| o
Luxanna| Its where my books should be!
Jinx| yea yea
Luxanna| Stop texting me
Jinx| stop existing
Lux just glanced at her phone and rolled her eyes, marching her way up the dormitory stairs, wrought with overpowering ire. This girl was relentless and never ceased to infuriate her.
Reaching Lux’s new least favourite number, 21, she hammered her fist on the door and kicked the bottom of it for good measure.
“Enter.” The stupid voice sounded with a hint of a giggle. Lux scoffed but barged her way in nonetheless.
“Good evening.” Jinx grinned. Her red lips stretched pompously across her heart-shaped face. She was sat crossed legged on her bed, her large Gameboy on her lap.
“No it isn’t. Don’t make me stay here any longer than I have to. Where are they?”
“Woah, someone didn’t take their happy pills this morning. Just a sec, Blondie. Thought we could discuss earlier.” Jinx was a little proud of herself, she had a little power over Lux, she could feel it and she liked it, and so spoke, trying to sound how Cassandra did among the Council.
“Why? You got what you want. Like always. You don’t have to do anything. You can just be your standard, recluse hermit of a person and stay away from me. That’s what we both want.”
“Ah, but you see.” Her lips pouted and tongue fought to not do the Kiramman accent. “I don’t think I have all the faith in your ability to do this project. Well, I’m sure you can muster something together… but one that passes us? Imma little less sure.”
Lux’s teeth gritted so hard they could’ve shattered, her low eyebrows swallowing her threatening gaze. After a long moment, Lux eventually spat out a slow sentence.
“Thought you didn’t care about grades. You were fine with us failing.”
“…I had a change of heart.” Jinx smiled innocently.
Lux snared at her.
“Well tough.”
“You’re not going to let me partake?” Jinx feigned a wounded expression. “What will Fysik think of that?” Jinx widened her large ocean eyes, as if a small, blameless child. Lux’s insides burned with anger. “Look, Luxie. I can clearly see you took my joke a little too much to heart. But I meant nothing by it.” She lied. “Your plan wasn’t entirely senseless so I don’t think it’s worth abandoning hope now.”
Lux sucked her tooth, her eyes away from Jinx. She knew she couldn’t do it herself. Well maybe she could. But she didn’t have the confidence when it came to Physics to ensure it was good enough. And like everything in Lux’s life, it had to be good enough.
“Fine.” She hissed after several long moments. She then marched over to her, leaning over her bed so far she was practically on it and leaning right into Jinx’s face, her angry, gorgeous eyes brandishing into her. Jinx could smell Lux’s breath. It was… sweet. “But listen here, girl. You give me another reason to walk away and I will. It’s not worth the slightly better grade. Any of your little tricks or stupid jokes, or hell, if you just sit and don’t bother your deadbeat, incel of a brain to do anything… then it’s a real damn shame you’ve had a change of heart.”
And with that Lux stormed out of the room… completely forgetting about her books.
And Jinx was really, really trying to remember why she actually wanted to continue their partnership.
*
The air was exceedingly cold that morning. It was sharp and thin, with the wind acting like a knife to the students’ exposed and reddening cheeks. The winter was definitely setting in, and the further up the mountainside they went, the more ice and remnants of snow began to surface. Still, it was dry and so the hillwalkers took that as graciously as they could. The rising sun shone through the peaks and tainted the hillside orange, the sip of heat on their faces was all they could take from it though. The climb was already tiring enough and the sudden coldness took away the desire to stop for photos. That, and the glossy eyes from a 6 am wake.
“Next time you tell me to join a club Luxanna, think ahead and say to yourself ‘is this a friend I want to keep?’.”
“You liked every other walk, Akali.” Lux puffed, a cloud of white mist spewing with every word.
“No, I tolerated them.” She panted back, more bite in her words than in the cold air.
“And yet you came back…”
“Yeah, through manipulation?”
“Manipulati-”
“That’s right! ‘oh Akali, you’d looooove this. It’s so good for you too, and the views are unparalleled. Oh we’re likely to only be Scotland once in our lives… we should really see it!’ And what a daft fool I am for agreeing!”
“In what world is that manipulation?! I am merely giving good reasons as to why you should join.”
“Because you’re-”
“Manipulation would be if I stole your door key and said you couldn’t get it back unless you joined the hillwalking club.”
“No, that’d be blackmail.”
“Well it’s still manipulation. Or if I said you can only be-”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” Akali puffed, out of breath and out of arguments.
“And I only asked for you. I had already joined, missy. Why would I manipulate you to join a club I was already happy in?”
“Um… no one here is interesting?”
“On the contrary. Plenty are. Most are kind and friendly. And no one here whines for the entire walk.”
Akali didn’t answer, she was little busy heaving out of breath.
“Hey guys!” Approached a girl with fair hair tucked into French braids and eyes so dark they’d be described as black. She skipped her way to the pair, wearing no hat nor gloves and with a smile that exhibited no bother from the previous two facts.
“Hiya Gyna.” Lux grinned broadly. That was one of her more artificial smiles. She had really nothing against the girl, but she was quite the show off. Akali just grunted, bending over and resting her hands on her knees, thankful for the break, Lux patted her on the back, failing to hide her laugh.
“Awfully bitter this morning.” Gyna replied.
“It is indeed, and yet you seem to defy its power.” Lux smiled, gesturing at her material-less hands. Gyna grinned, her eyes sparkling, Lux knew that’s exactly what Gyna wanted to talk about, and she hated how she willingly gave the girl the satisfaction.
“Oh after my three month trek in the Alps, where the temperature never rose above minus 5 centigrade, my hands can never seem to react to weather. Gloves are almost more cold!”
“Ah, you’re making me jealous, Gyna.” Again, giving her what she wanted… “And clearly Akali.” Lux laughed, a little more sincerely. Akali raised her head only to glower at her, then returned to panting.
“It’s all about your cold capillaries and their immunity to the harsh weather. You just need to train them. I suppose where you came from, Runeterra right? weather must be far kinder.”
“Than here? Without a doubt.”
“Oh I’m certain you’d love where I’m from. Never a cold day and hardly a cloud in sight. Anyways, happy walking, my chums.”
With that she skipped on, dancing around the ice.
“You were saying?” Akali grunting, standing up as they continued on.
“Ack she’s bearable.” Lux dismissed. “Most are nicer though. Hikers tend to be good people. Clearly that’s why you’re so bad at it.”
“Alrighty, chum.” Akali mimicked. “No more hiking from me then. After today. You can go back to your chums.”
“Finally.” Lux grinned and Akali playfully shoved her.
After a great deal of one-sided groaning, the pair eventually made it up to the first peak of the morning’s route which was to mount each of the Torridon peaks. It was a 5 summit hike, but the great deal of climbing was already completed, seeing as they reached the ridge of the mountains, at least that’s what Lux told Akali. Still, the wind had died down and so their only opponent became the cold, much to the pleasure of Lux’s ears.
They were the last to reach the top, despite Lux not enjoying the grumbling and going at a speed her 9-year-old self would scoff at, she would never leave her friend. The rest of the group had reached the top and were squirmed around in groups and sat on wet rocks.
“Morning girls.” One of the leaders sounded. He was warm boy, doing a postgrad at Rhayn studying Geography. Lux liked him, he was funny and would rarely say a word against someone.
“Or really, at this time, good afternoon.” Remarked another leader with a snarky tone. Lux like her less. She was far funnier, but had many words to say against someone, actually she rarely had a word not to say. She was outstandingly talented at hillwalking though, Lux politely envied her. She sprung up the mountainside no matter the weather and never allowed a bead of sweat to drip. Gyna frequently had words to say against her, or really, groundless words.
“It’s a bitter morning and a hard climb.” Lux responded, somewhat trying to back themselves.
“And yet your limbs haven’t frozen off. I’m surprised, that’s what I thought had prompted your tardiness.”
Lux shook her head of the insult and waddled over to a small group whilst Akali hawked and chugged her water before bellowing out about how cold it was. Lux snickered and pulled her to the cluster who were sat chatting, their cheeks bright red and faces dazzling with the white of the snow and the clearness of the sky. Everything looked crisp and beautiful.
“How did you find the chemistry test Akali?” Probed one of the only two other people who were in their year.
“Kaleb.” Akali puffed. “After that monstrosity of a walk, the last thing I wish to discuss is that monstrosity of a test.”
Kaleb chuckled.
“Truly terrible, I agree.”
“What possessed you two to choose Chemistry of all subjects?” Laughed Milva, a girl in the year above, she was always outspoken and got herself told off about it quite a bit, nevertheless, it made her fun and Lux liked her.
“My own stupidity.”
“Which clearly has a death wish.”
“Like you can talk, Milva.” Finlay chuckled, the other of the two in their year. “Doing Biological Science but talking about Chemistry.”
“Well it’s not Chemistry.”
“Don’t listen to her. She’s failing too.” Grinned a curly haired, broad shouldered boy called Hugo, her boyfriend, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
“Your mother failed to contracept you.” Milva scoffed, throwing his arm off and earning a laugh among the circle.
“Alright slowcoaches, up ye get.” Called Akali and Lux’s insulter. “Good news is that the slogs over and we’ve hit the ridge, bad news is that it’ll only get colder.”
“Always cheery these trips, aren’t they.” Finaly smiled at Lux as the group moved off. Akali slid away, talking to Kaleb.
“Never a dull one, though.”
“Hm, how are your clothes? Warm enough?”
“Well I have learnt my lesson.” Lux shot him a cold look.
“Of course, well I hope so. You know, I think about that trip very often.” Finlay laughed.
“Yes so do I and for the complete opposite reason to you.”
“It still makes me laugh.” He chuckled, his tone reminiscent. “This bright, beaming girl running out in leggings and a jumper, excited for a day of hiking and then nearly freezing to death.”
“Oh hilarious.” Lux said flatly. “Side-splitting. My suffering is quite the knee slapper.”
“And yet no one warned you.”
“Like you did!”
“Well I thought you would’ve known! October isn’t exactly warm.”
“I’m not from the Mainland Finlay-”
“Oh so Demacia doesn’t have weather then?” He smirked. “Or seasons?”
Lux paused and looked at the ground.
“Your mother doesn’t have seasons.” She said quietly. Finlay laughed.
“Either way, I thought maybe this girl from Runeterra, from a place I didn’t know then, would’ve been immune to the cold or something.”
“Obviously makes sense.”
“Well it could have! For all I knew Runeterra is under mounds of snow. Really we don’t learn a whole lot about it.”
“Clearly.”
“Oh and your so up to date with us too.”
“I’m a Politics student, I have to be.”
“Oh yeah? Sooooo where is Milva from and describe it on our map.”
“Greece.” Lux flashed her eyebrows. “And I believe it is southern European. But I’m not a Geographer. Now, since you’re such a know-it-all, tell me where Demacia is.”
Finlay was silent and just squinted.
“Or Piltover? Or Iona? Or you know what Finlay?” Lux grinned. “Give me another name on our map, aside from what I just said.”
Again the boy was silent.
“Pathetic.” Lux tutted, proudly.
“Agghh!” Akali interrupted, skidding right past them in a flash and then falling face-first into the snow, right beside Finlay.
“You okay?” Lux couldn’t suppress her laugh, seeing Akali face down in the snow as she went to her.
“Damn ice!” Akali rose on her knees and brushed off the snow, cursing rather colourfully. “Watch me break my leg because of you Lux. And before tonight! Of all days!”
“Still raving about this?” Lux sighed, giving her a hand up as they started walking again. “You know, it’s really not that special. I mean how many parties do we have. Too many. This one is exactly the same.”
“No... This one we are going to.”
“Right… and that’s a world apart from the usual happenings.”
“Yes! Indeed it is! Ever since everyone became massive sweats and decided to spend their youth with their noses in books instead of-”
“Yes Akali we get it. We haven’t gone to a party in what a week? She’s getting severe withdrawal.”
“Three!” Akali snapped. “Three weeks. 6 Friday and Saturday nights I spent reading books and doing work…”
“Oh yes, and not excluding the 3 nights we spent in the Cairn instead and 2 in Evelynn’s room…”
“They aren’t parties.”
“And for good reason. Still doesn’t mean you’re in a desolate room with a dull book, ‘wasting your youth away’.”
Akali scowled and moved to focusing on not twisting her ankle. The path hadn’t been snowed on in a while, so the engravements of footprints froze over and made it particularly slippery, with many a foothold to stumble into to.
“What about you two then?” Akali started again once they had reached flatter ground. “Kaleb, Finlay? Chancing yourselves in the Conil for Ryan’s birthday.”
“Pater’s dragging me.” Kaleb said, trying to hold away a smile.
“Pater?”
“…Lyia.” He said at last. The three others were still silent. “Lyia Patterson. See’s… eh… in the year below.”
“Quite the nickname for your girlfriend.” Lux said.
“Finlay?” Akali asked, sounding away Kaleb’s response.
“Oh tonight. No, I have so much work I’m behind on.”
“You’d fit right in with our friends.” Akali scowled.
“And yourself, Luxanna?” Finlay asked, strangely quiet.
“I’m-”
“…Going. She’s going.” Akali answered for her, smiling smugly. Lux furled her lips.
“I’m going.” She nodded, exhaling deeply. Finlay smiled faintly.
“She’s eighteen.” Kaleb persisted. “Had her birthday over the summer… she’s… she’s old for her year.”
No one continued with him, yet his monologue did.
*
“15.” Senna smiled.
“15! Are you having me on?” Ren replied, pulling the page from her.
“That’s what trapping myself in my room for five days pays for.”
“Steep price.”
“No grade comes cheap around here.”
“Well the ones Akali get ought to be quite frugally valued.” Evelynn chimed in with a smirk. Akali who was busy pouring a drink into two glasses, trying to be as exact as possible, stuck her head up at the sound of her name.
“Huh?”
“See.”
“Well what did Klark get then?” Senna asked as Ren’s dumbfounded eyes still stared at her.
“Seven.”
“Seven?”
“Yes, and I thought it was good too.”
“No it is.”
“Just not as good as 15.” Evelynn taunted.
“Oh this damned thing!” Akali yelled as a the bottle of severely tampered with liquor fell from the table and spewed onto the cream carpet. Evelynn calmly lolled her head back and exhaled, exasperated.
“Tell me why I let you all use my room…” She sighed.
“Because of its exceptional size?” Ahri asked tentatively, helping Kai’sa clean.
“No… that’s why you come. Why do I let you?”
“Wasn’t my fault! Damn thing is slipperier than a water ballon.”
“Hm. Or maybe, it’s the fact you were pouring your fourth drink.” Kai’sa said, groaning from the cleaning.
“…and my arms ache after that absurd walk.”
“Hey guys.” Lux called, right on cue, opening and closing the door behind her.
Lux was greeted with the standard she always received, overjoyed welcomes and warm smiles. Luxanna had that effect, always lit up a room, no one ever being sad to see her… well, except one. Nevertheless, the girl could never walk into a room without the room’s contents being enthusiastic about her arrival.
“Hey Lux, whatcha get on that economics test?” Ren asked nonchalantly, despite her finding it a very serious and desperate question.
“Er… 16 I think.” Lux said, despite the fact she had been revelling in her full marks the whole day.
“16.” Ren just stated slowly and limply, flopping her head down. “Actually, I don’t know why I bothered asking. I shoulda guessed.”
“Hey! What does that mean for me?!” Senna pulled a face.
“Uhhh.”
“So! How was your Saturday?” Lux smiled.
*
They went in groups over to the main room of the Conil wing. Some preferred the warmth and relaxed space of Evelynn’s room and so stayed for longer, others were itching to mingle with other peers and so went at first opportunity. Nevertheless Lux and her friends were all mixing at the party by 10:30, a reasonable time, Lux thought, the awkwardness was much over by that time, everyone was several drinks deep, the room was warmer and the length of the party diminished. Still, she hated being out past curfew, the walk back always filled her with trepidation. So she’d have to swallow her fear by swallowing some alcohol.
However, that night, she wasn’t really able to sip upon her drink, despite her desires, as she kept being bombarded with conversations from those she didn’t want. Her friends predicted so, being the first party in three weeks, her pursers were having withdrawal. And so they were all the more pleased when the blonde beacon shone her way into the room, and like moths to a flame, they gravitated towards her.
“YEAH! I hardly even noticed.” Ezreal nodded. Lux on a sofa by the fire she had made in her boredom of being stuck talking to such particular person. Her friends had all disappeared once Ezreal’s questions engulfed her, and there was hardly any chance of escape.
“Is that so.” Lux reached to sip her drink but was rudely interrupted, as she was the entire night.
“Could you not tell!? I was practically strung on a wire, but my eyes were so closed!” Ezreal tended to get louder the more he drank.
“It was hard to see your eyes from so far away.”
“HUH? I saw you Lux! You were at the bottom, directly below.”
“I thought your eyes were closed and you had no idea where you were?”
Ezreal stopped, the blush from the alcohol reddened more.
“Uh, I could still see a bit! Jus’ didn’t know what was goin’ on!”
“My mistake.” Lux sighed, then she was allowed to sip her drink. Wasn’t nearly strong enough though, she kept going, knowing it would be any second before she had to keep her polite persona.
“ACK! Don’t you be worrying about a thing, Luxie-Lou. You know, you could never disaaapointered me. Actually, I’ve been meeeaning to ask-”
“Ezreal!” Bellowed a hearty voice approaching the fire. “Alright, buddy?”
Ezreal’s face grew more crimson, his jaw tightened and eyes narrowed.
“Ryan.” Ezreal merely stated. “Happy birthday.” The words fell from his mouth faster than light.
“Oh you’re too kind.” Ryan smiled, completely artificially, Lux noted. She could always tell. “You look a tad warm sitting by the fire, mate. Might want to cool off a little. Another benefit of the Conil wing, never shy of chill when needed, or of course, a dark and quiet corner.” He grinned, much more naturally. Lux looked away only to roll her eyes.
“Maybe you need to go to a chilly coroner!” Ez slurred, pushing his arm out, trying to shove him away, but it never reached his body. Lux chugged the rest of her drink whilst she had an opportunity. Still not strong enough.
“HA! I think that was a death threat, Ez. Despite what you wanted it to be. You know, from across the room, you two look like siblings.” Ryan smirked. Ezreal somehow reddened more.
“Don’t insult me.” Lux smiled. Maybe her drink was strong after all. Still, she doubted Ez could hear past the thudding in his ears. Ryan laughed at her joke, locking eyes with her.
“How about you take a bit of a breather, mate.” Ryan went back to Ez. “Just for your own good. Don’t want to be worrying about you on my birthday.”
Ezreal spat and then stood, despite it taking about 20 seconds to do so.
“Fine! C’mon Lux.” He hawked.
“Lux doesn’t need to cool down. Do you Luxanna?” Ryan said. She looked back at the boy who had just climbed over the back of the sofa and had taken Ezreal’s seat.
“Uhm. Not yet anyways.”
Ezreal puffed but then staggered away.
“Evening Luxanna.” Ryan smiled. “Thank you again, for coming. I appreciate your presence.”
Lux wished she didn’t finish her drink and had more to sip.
“Well, thanks for saving me.” She smiled, the alcohol in her system waned the realism of the smile, it was artificial after all, and such persona was harder to keep a hold of the more she drank. She knew she shouldn’t thank boys for ‘saving her’, it was just fuel for their flirtatious fire, but as always, she had to be polite.
“Oh it’s no bother. Him being out of my party was what I really wanted. But a conversation with Luxanna Crownguard would never be unsolicited.”
Lux smiled faintly and stared out into the glowing embers of the fire.
“You know, if I was ever to time travel back into first year, and told to… well, change my investments, if you know what I mean.” He winked and Lux looked away. “I would spend less of my time chasing the tail of Fran Shaldow and maybe exploring the other opportunes of the academy.” He smiled broadly, a smile Lux didn’t like, accompanying a conversation she didn’t like either. Ryan set his drink on the table, comfortably stretched his arm over the sofa and brought himself closer to her. “But, even though first year is over, and that time wasted, we have another three years to enjoy here. So, Miss Crownguard, whose tail do you reckon I should chase after this time.”
Involuntarily, another action brought solely from the assurance of alcohol, Lux shuffled backward. Still, she had to keep her persona, and so begrudgingly played along.
“If you wish to trail girls worth your time I’d advise a certain Cecilia Baine. I like her. But wouldn’t really think you’re worth her patience.” She shouldn’t have said the last line, but she did. Ryan pursed his lips and looked elsewhere, squinting.
“Hm. Try again, Lux.”
Lux bit her lip, fighting away what she really thought of that. After a moment of deliberation she sighed, sinking her shoulders.
“Well, what do you like in a girl?” She thought that would be ended enough for a reply without physical remarks but she was painfully wrong.
“Quite tall. Not taller than me, of course. But I like a bit of height.” He pursed his lips again, in thought. “Athletic, simply because… well it’s obvious. Doesn’t have to be smart, not bad though if she is, I’m comfortable in my masculinity… oh and I quite like blondes.”
He looked at her deep in the eye. Lux internally cringed couldn’t look away, like a fight or flight emotion was kicking in but the alcohol in her diminished any activity at all.
“Oh, and sharing my interests would also be a bonus… like Ping-Pong.” Subtlety was clearly falling out a window, especially with the stare he gave her then.
“Ryan…” Was all Lux could utter, fighting the most exasperated tone her tongue was begging to emit. Ryan opened his mouth to begin something but Lux was saved.
“Oh Lux! I was meaning to look for you.” Called a voice approaching the fire. The voice confused her, despite her relief. She thought the voice wasn’t coming that evening.
“Hiya Finlay!” Ryan twisted his head round in a snap, his tone dripping with temper. “Thought you weren’t coming.” The cold tone matched his cold gaze, his eyebrows swallowing his eyes.
“Oh, I just finished earlier than I thought.”
“Shame.” Ryan said outright. Finlay rose his eyebrows and gave Lux a look. But Lux felt sick, hardly even registering what was going on. The brink of alcohols powers and her current situation was an odd place. She didn’t have much, but one quite strong drink, especially in the situation she was tossed to, was bound to churn her stomach. She’d feel better if she took more, but she was trapped, like she was the whole night.
“Anyways, I’d quite like to ask Luxanna a question. I’ll only need her for a second.”
“Ask away.” Ryan gestured. Finlay rose his eyebrows, again a little aback.
“Alright.” He stated, undeterred, much to Ryan’s dismay. “Lux, see with the econ-”
“I need to get away from the fire.” She said at once, the heat was really getting to her weakening stomach.
“No problem. Here, come to the table, I’ll get you some water and we can talk there.”
Ryan opened his mouth to protest but Lux had already leapt up, escaping.
Finlay lingered for a moment, and couldn’t help himself, he flashed his eyebrows as Ryan glowered at the thief, practically baring his teeth.
“Lux, I have nothing to ask you.” He smiled, approaching the table and sipping on his drink as Lux downed water. “You looked terrible. I couldn’t sit back.”
Lux was quiet, enjoying the coolness in her chest. The strength of the alcohol lingered, and her politeness dwindled as she took another drink.
“Why are you here, Finlay?” She said at last. Finlay took a breath, looking elsewhere, then after a moment seized her hand and dragged her up the interior stairs to the floor above.
He sat at the top stair, letting Lux choose to sit beside him. She should have protested, she wasn’t a doll to be dragged, but the floor above was cooling, and the rest from the brightness of the bursting room satisfied her enough to stay.
“Why do you think I’m here?” Finlay asked slowly, in a tone Lux didn’t recognise.
“Sadder to drink in your room?”
He smiled faintly.
“Or your undeniable love for Ryan?” She grinned, quite pathetically.
“Not Ryan, no.” He said almost immediately. Lux could sense something was wrong. Very, very wrong. She was gathering what was happening… and it was the worst of all of them.
“Lux I came because I wanted to see you.” He sounded defeated, as if going against what he believed. “I find I always want to see you.” Lux’s heart sank. She would’ve rather been stuck with Ez or Ryan or hell even Jarvan in that moment. “And I know I’m not the… well, Lux fuck the other ones. Why would you bother with them. They’re assholes.”
“Finlay.” Her voice almost got lost in her throat. She didn’t want this. She actually liked Finlay.
“I know, Lux. I’m sorry but I can’t just sit and pretend.”
“Finlay stop. Don’t do this. Please. Not now.”
“Then when? I don’t want to waste… Lux you-”
“Just not now. Please. I… I don’t feel… I feel sick. I need some air. Sorry.” And with that Lux ran down the stairs, falling into the room raging with overly drunk students and fleeing out the back entrance of the Conil Hub.
It was a small door hidden beneath one of the balconies, and it bled out into a stone corridor. Lux ran past a couple heavily enthralled with each other and darted along until she came to the main corridor of the Conil. It was freezing, as always, and lit only by the gaps in the walls that let the moon shine through, but that was exactly what Lux needed, cold, sobering air and to fall by the wall unseen.
But she wasn’t unseen.
As she herself saw something and it saw her. A blue haired girl with long braids, a box of odd looking gadgets in her hands, and eyes that stared back as if Lux had just shot someone.
“Of course.”