Hey everyone! This is my first shot at a fanfic of this caliber, so reviews and feedback is appreciated. If you have any questions about the story/details/etc., they will be answered in future chapters. Happy Reading!

Just a note: Apostrophes ('...') indicate internal thoughts by the MC

Another Note: I don't own the characters/concepts/setting for this story. That credit goes to Riot Games (Thank you Rito). I also don't own any of the songs mentioned, all credit goes to the respective artists.

For Whom I Play

Chapter 1: Sweet Salty Christ Can't Hear You

Every day, Lance woke up with a smug look on his face. He got up, showered, dressed, and did everything else a normal person would do when getting ready for the day. Everyone greeted him when he arrived at college, and everyone smiled at him when he walked through the halls. His reputation as a good student and athlete preceded him, and you could find him handling everything he put his mind to with confidence. Doubtless, he nearly always succeeded in what he did. He was the king of his life, unhindered by any fear of risk or consequences. Needless to say, he was one hell of a friend, and a good roommate. I, on the other hand, was not such a person. Sure, I was an average student and I did some extracurricular things, but I was no Lance. If there was a polar opposite to him in most categories, it was me.

I opened my eyes after the sound of his alarm clock woke me up from the other room. It was one of the old fashioned analog clocks with the twin bell alarms, and it was the bane of my existence. It meant that it was Monday yet again, and I had to get up. I shifted onto my back so that I faced the ceiling, eyes wide open. 'C'mon...get up, you have things to do today...move body...you've had your weekend fun.'

The minutes rolled by as nearly half an hour passed, my body shot up from the bed, as if a spring was placed under my back. A sigh of relief escaped my lungs as I got up and got dressed. I cracked my knuckles and neck as I made my way to the miniature kitchen the apartment had. Evidently, it was loud enough that Lance heard it, as he expressed his disgust by groaning. "You know that's eventually gonna fuck you over, right?"

"The day I get arthritis in my hands is the day you lose face..."

"The day I lose face is when you stop playing." We both cracked up after that, and went about our day. Lance and I took the shuttle to the college, since the dorms were off-campus and neither of us had our own car. He went off to class, and so did I. At least, I was supposed to. I made a personal habit of replacing my Monday class schedule with other things. Chief among those reprobate activities was sneaking into the band storage closet and borrowing a guitar. I made my way out to the stage down the hall, and I would play my heart out. All manner of sound poured from the speakers as I went through a myriad of songs. Sometimes it was an electric guitar, sometimes it was acoustic, but the music sounded all the same to me. That dream lasted until classes got out for the day, and I disappeared, making sure everything was back to the way it was. Today was no different, and I stood up on stage in front of an imaginary crowd, electric guitar slung over my shoulder.

'The question is, what do I want to warm up with?...' I thought about it for a good while, and eventually settled on 'Do I Wanna Know?' by the Arctic Monkeys. I played that, and then continued on through 'Otherside', 'Say It Ain't So', and other songs until my fingers were too tired to carry on.

I cleaned up shop before walking to the shuttle station, passing by the band students on my way there. Lance wouldn't get out for another two hours, so I had time to kill once I got back to the apartment. Maybe I would hop on my computer and play some League, I was itching to get my fingers in motion again. From then on, time seemed to go slower as I thought up crazy builds for top laners, or out of the box support picks. If there was anything I enjoyed as much as picking a good riff on the guitar, it was playing League of Legends. Not that I was particularly good at playing, I never placed high in rank or made any flashy plays like the pros. Long story short, I'm a bronzie, scary right? From the bowels of Elo Hell comes me! However, I still loved playing the game, and I especially loved playing URF. Specifically, I liked playing Blitzcrank since his Overdrive can be used indefinitely. Chasing down enemies as a ridiculously fast steam golem never gets old.

The shuttle came to a stop in front of the dormitory, and I made my way back up to Lance and I's section of the floor. My computer came to life with the sound of whirring fans and the flashing lights of a backlit keyboard. I typed in my password, then I opened the League client. The most recent news was a notification of maintenance since patch day was tomorrow. I had already mulled over the details of the most recent patch, and found nothing interesting aside from the fact that there were new items for supports, not that I ever built them anyways. After queuing up, I alt-tabbed to my browser, and put on some music. The default never settled well with me. It was always in the background and it never felt like it went with the action of the later parts of the game.

The table was set, I went through champion select, and I started playing. My preferred lane was top, since it was an island most of the time. The first few games went well, and I even got a lucky pentakill with Maokai. I was baffled at how that happened given the fact he doesn't do that much damage compared to someone like Yasuo. After finishing the fourth game, I checked the time. Maintenance on the server would begin in less than an hour, so I decided that one more game wouldn't hurt.

As the queue popped for my fifth game, I settled into first pick, and began to think about what champion to roll into mid lane with. Since this meta was heavily favored towards tanks, I picked Nautilus, along with the best skin for him: Astronautilus. Soon, the teams were set: Nautilus Top, Zed Mid, Pantheon Jungle, and a Pringles-Stache/Ashe Bot Lane. A pretty nice composition with no shortage of crowd control if I do say so myself. The enemy also had a good team comp with a Fiora Top, a wild Knifecat in the Jungle, a Viktor Mid, and a Kench/Caitlyn Bot. Every League player knows that feeling deep in their gut when they know the chance of victory is low, especially when you see your lane opponent is the mistress of dueling herself. I only had one real shot to put her down before she snowballed harder than a Colorado avalanche.

"Oh boy...Gonna be a fun early game...and mid game...aaaand late game...fuck..."

Fiora is one of those champions that you have to not only shut down, but keep down. Give her a little leeway and she'll carry a game harder than anyone. So naturally it was in my best interest not to feed this Fiora. Evidently Rito read my mind and said 'how about no?' That Fiora was in short one of the best I've played against, if not the best. Every vital was procced, every minion was farmed, and every gank was cleaner than Billy Mays' t-shirts. It wasn't even twenty minutes when our nexus was destroyed. I was livid, not only at the Fiora, but at myself for underestimating the skill of the enemy. Not that it wasn't common for me to do so, I was in low elo, and my confidence got the best of me more often than I would like.

After the Fiora fiasco, I didn't feel like playing another game, seeing how I would continue to get progressively more tilted. Instead of wallowing in my frustration, I looked over at the acoustic guitar that I hadn't touched in years. It was a graduation present from my parents, who wanted me to continue on with music, or so they said. They always said I could do whatever I wanted, but I knew they wanted to see me in college. So, instead of running off like the teen I was, I went the smart but boring route. I could be on the road right now, living.

I picked it up and looked over it more thoroughly this time. It was a carbon fiber travel guitar that I had wanted for years, and even now it captivates me. It felt like it belonged in my hands. By picking this guitar up, I was back in the forest behind my parents' house where I played every day during the summer. Of course, I had another electric guitar, but I only used that for band concerts. It never really felt the same. This guitar still fills me with thoughts of a cool summer breeze and the scent of pine trees. It was my little piece of heaven, and I'm sad to have left it after only spending a few months there. I shake my head and look at the ceiling, the feeling of nostalgia leaving and sadness creeping into my mind.

"I wonder if I could sneak off into that patch of trees behind the dorm for an hour or two….it's not too late...only about 8:00...Fuck it…"

I put on a jacket and grab the guitar, itching to play at least a song before I got caught by the dorm staff. The lady in charge, Ms. Aberstad, was a stickler for not going back there, saying 'a lot of good kids went missing back there, so don't you go poking around in there!' I had read the news reports and gotten creeped out, but since nobody went back there, it was the perfect opportunity. The old iron gate creaked so much when I opened it that I thought Aberstad would come out with a lantern and drag me back inside. I shuddered at the thought of that old woman manhandling me like that. Then, when I gathered enough courage to walk forward, I started along the path that ran right into the trees.

"This place is your friendly neighborhood brand of creepy….and I reeeeaaally don't like it….but music…" I struck a pose pointing towards the moon with a hand on my hip. "TO VICTORY...OR DEATH!" After yelling that out, I laughed for a minute. "Oh jeez that kills me…"

From behind me, I heard an older man's voice laugh as well.

'Wait a sec….I should be alone….uh oh...dorm staff….'

I turned toward the voice with my hands up. "I-I'm sorry sir….I won't sneak off again...just don't tell Aberst-..." I stopped myself when I realized that I wasn't talking to a dorm staffer. In front of me wasn't a man in uniform, but rather a man in armor. He must have been a good six five, maybe taller. His face was that of a middle aged man, but he must have been in pretty good shape in order to be in a full suit of armor, minus the helmet. His face had its fair share of wrinkles, and his moustache-and-beard combo was neat and tidy.

The man continued to laugh for another few minutes at my expense and confusion before looking down at me with a smile. "Well, it seems I'm not alone in my walks, am I? Tell me young man, what are you doing in these parts so late at night? Surely you're not travelling? And what strange clothes you have!..." He laughed some more. "Forgive me….here I am rambling and I haven't had the time to introduce myself…My name is Mauren of the house Laurent….and you...you are?..."

"House Laurent….odd way of introducing your surname…uhm...my name's Arthur….Mathisson….I'm sorry...I'm confused...where did you come from?...There isn't supposed to be a Renaissance festival for months…let alone one around here…."

He looked at me, confused. "Renaissance?...My poor boy, you must be delirious...I don't know what you speak of….You do know you're on your way to Demacia City….right?...and by the instrument on your back it must be for the music festival, yes?..."

"..." I stood there in silence. 'This has got to be some sort of hallucination….Demacia City, House Laurent, man in armor….yeah...I've gone crazy….I'm dreaming….I'm gonna wake up….' I closed my eyes and opened them a few seconds later. The next thing I saw was Mauren, right in my face.

"Are you okay boy?..." And like that, it was lights out. Gone. Destroyed.

The rumbling of rocks under carriage wheels knocked me awake, and after I sat up and saw Mauren across from me, the realization finally set in that I wasn't in Kansas anymore.

"Shit…"

"Language, boy..." Oh boy, Captain America's in the house. "You took quite the fall last night...are you okay?...Are you feeling better?..."

"Yeah….just….adjusting...wait….where am I?...You didn't…"

He only smiled. "Demacians are not the type of people to idly sit by when a person is in need of help. You are in my personal carriage. It wasn't difficult, and your instrument is safely in storage, along with your performing mask…"

"Thanks mister Laurent….that leaves me in your debt….I guess….This is really awkward to ask at this point in time….but Fiora is the head of your house, yes?..."

"Please...call me Mauren...and yes, my niece happens to be the head…." My head flipped upside down when he said that.

"N-niece?!...Oh sweet salty Christ what have I gotten myself into…."

"Is that a problem Arthur?...You don't have some quarrel with her do you?..."

"No….no….I've never met her….it's just that her reputation precedes her...she's not known for her...gregarious aspects…."

"You mean you're worried that she wouldn't approve of me lending you aid?...I suppose...she'd likely say that picking up strange travellers is not fitting of the family...Now that you mention it….that girl might poke you full of holes if I'm not careful….say, would you mind travelling as my personal minstrel?...That would keep you safe enough, my boy…"

I gave him a stern look. "Mauren...what's your real plan in this?...People just don't pick random strangers and offer them a position in a noble household….Even if you're Demacian...this is playing it a bit fast and loose…"

He sighed. "No...I have to ulterior motives...I have a keen eye for character, you seem trustworthy...even with those strange clothes….We're going to the same place, you and I. This would be beneficial for both of us...don't accuse me of scheming when your circumstances are no less strange…"

"Right….sorry….it's just where I come from this doesn't happen...ever…"

"Quite all right my boy, just know that there are kind people in the world, and right now you seem like you need someone to open a few doors for you….Also, we're stopping at a local inn at midday...I will introduce you to Madame Laurent there…."

"WHAT?!...That's surely a death sentence right?!..."

"Not if you play well….Madame Fiora is very fond of good musicians….but if you underwhelm her….it's likely that you'll be singing with blood coming out of your throat…I'm warning you ahead of time..."

"It's like I'm being forced to dance like a monkey…."

"Mind your tongue, boy….again...I took you in out of kindness….it's both of our heads…."

"Fine...fine….I'll do it…not like there's any pressure…"

"Actually there is…"

"Thanks Mauren….I needed to know that…."

"Of course…"

After an eternity of internal screaming and a week's worth of coming to terms with my possible death, the carriage stopped. Mauren and I climbed out of the cab and walked passed the other one in front was bigger than the others, with gold designs resembling flowers and rose petals all over. 'That must be our Lady….and maybe my personal executioner….fuck…' Mauren let me get my guitar out of the back compartment, and we went inside.

The inn was obviously meant for nobility. The entrance itself was lined with busts and imagery of kings and queens in their prime, and the main common area was filled with fancy furniture. "Are we in an inn or are we in a palace?..."

"This is nothing….a small slice of what nobility looks like in Demacia….and a small slice of where you'll be working…"

"This job comes with perks...can't deny that…"

A third voice joined our conversation. "Perks rats like you don't normally enjoy until the afterlife…" I whirled around towards the voice, loading up my next few sentences with jabs of my own. Unfortunately, a rapier caressing my throat made those word bullets into blanks. Standing in front of me was a woman of average height, black of hair with piercing blue eyes. Her raven hair was interrupted by a strip of red bangs that hung lightly in front of her face. With a slender frame along with the ornate rapier at my throat, there was no doubt who this was.

'What do we say to the God of Death?...Not today….'

"Uncle….who is this man with you?...He looks like a peasant…."

"He is my minstrel...a music maker….I brought him with me to entertain…"

She turned to me again. "Well...if you are so entertaining that my uncle brought you here...entertain me…." She took a few steps back and sat down in a leather chair. "Show me that you are entertaining….show me your insides so I don't have to take the trouble to do it myself…"

I took a deep breath, trying to recover from the fact that I was a hair from death. "Song….song…."

"Be quick….our stay is short….and so is my patience…"

"Patience….patience…." My hands made their move, getting the guitar into a comfortable position. "Waiting….waiting…." Slowly, but surely, I pulled a song out of my repertoire, and the guitar came alive.

My voice came out steadily, but rough. "Me and all my friends, we're all misunderstood…..they say we stand for nothing and there's no way we ever could…." As the verses carried on, I forgot where I was, I forgot who I was singing to, and I forgot that this could mean my life. What I didn't see was the fact that everyone was slowly turning toward the spectacle. Not that I was paying attention, but Fiora wasn't moving, only looking at me with mild discontent. As the song came to a close and I came back to face reality, I found myself in the middle of a light applause from everyone except the one deciding my fate.

"Unusual...and a little rough around the edges...Uncle...just what type of minstrel have you brought before me?..."

" A minstrel with potential...he's not dead is he?..."

"No...surprisingly...his song wasn't unpleasant….but its content was questionable given it was about corruption among ruling figures….one strike minstrel...pray you don't get another…" She got up. "Be ready by nightfall….something before bed will be satisfactory…"

I picked up on that part. "What...am I singing you a lullaby?...Scared of the monsters under your bed?..." Damn my auto-snark reaction. She was behind me within seconds, and a cut opened up on my cheek.

"You should be more scared of the monster you're singing to...Is asking for a song before rest too much for your vacuous customs?..."

"N-not at all Madame….I'll kn-knock…."

"That's a good dog…." She sheathed her rapier and left me to tend to my face.

'Great….new job, new world, same type of people….'

If you got this far, thanks for reading! Chapter 2 is coming soon!