"And there…they…are..?"
Kai could understand the announcer's confusion; the 'Returning Heroes' made a motley crew here at the Commonwealth's celebration ball. In more ways than one.
Cinder in her grease-stained cargo pants and tank top, no gloves. Scarlet's red hoodie was fraying at the sleeves. Cress' hair was practically a pompom round her head. Thorne had somehow gotten his hands on a cape. Iko was a battalion of colour. And Wolf was munching a bunch of raw tomatoes.
Not exactly the entourage you'd expect in the royal viewing box.
Even Kai himself was surprised.
As one the group stared at the camera, reached behind themselves and presented placards to the audience;
Don't Judge By Society's Standards
Each word carried by a different person, with Iko at the end like a neon exclamation mark holding a different placard high above the rest;
Be Individual
Kai burst out laughing – delighted.
The anchor darted forwards, apprehensive but curious. Thorne tipped some insane first era feathered captains hat and winked rakishly, spurring her on.
"So, um, Your Highness…?" Suddenly inarticulate and timid in the face of the new Lunar Queen – one of two apparently, they're a coalition now – the anchor makes a gesture that encompasses the signs in a questioning motion and looks Cinder dead in the eye.
Kai likes this one; so far she's been the only one brave enough to even approach the new Lunar team with a camera.
Cinder replies;
"We're a cyborg, a common criminal—"
"Criminal mastermind, thank you!"
Cinder rolled her eyes
"—an android—"
"Who's advanced and smoking hot!"
"—and a bunch of Lunars who threw a revolution that changed two worlds and how they interact with each other. 'The dregs of Earthen society'." She quoted.
"Technically the dregs of Lunar society too." Cress piped up. "I'm a shell," she shrugged. Thorne patted her on the pompom.
"Biologically engineered wolf-Lunar hybrid puppet." Wolf intoned.
"At least two thirds human." Scarlet laughed and wrapped an arm round him.
The newscaster was starting to look overwhelmed.
"My point is," Cinder interrupted, "That we used to be outcasts."