Sup, I decided to upload the next chapter, BECAUSE I'M A GOOD PERSON. Got the implication? ^.-
Chapter Two: of the small joys in life.
The bar was moderately filled with champions of the League. From the ceiling hung four spectating orbs, broadcasting the live Noxus- Demacia match. Several pairs of eyes shot to him, some neutral, fewer welcoming, and yet fewer hostile, as Vladimir coiled his way between lush, fine dark leather sofas and mahogany wood lounge tables, treading silently on the wooden tiled floor, through the dimly lit auditorium. On stage, an assembly of musicians, all wearing purple, black- striped frocks, sat on high chairs, producing a harmonious flow of sounds with a piano, a trombone, a double bass, and a set of drums. Somewhat pleasant, Vladimir remarked, as the music was incessant, but not insistent, allowing the assembly of champions to converse at ease. He stopped at the seemingly empty bar stand, which had hollow glass pannels that glowed dimly. Upon closer inspection, one could see that they had torch bugs inside them. Gragas, wearing a tuxedo and a pair of shades, slowly turned to him. Bushy eyebrows furrowing in annoyance, Gragas slammed the glass pannel with his pudgy palm. Instantly, the torchbugs sprang to life, illuminating the whole length of the bar stand that stretched across the entire length of the room. "Tha's bettar." Casting his gaze to the side, Vladimir noticed Riven perched on a bar stool at the far end of the bar stand, staring down at its wooden surface, sipping ale from a mug. "Vlad boy, wha' can I get ya?"
"The usual, Gragas." Gragas laughed, turning his back on Vladimir and ducking down, searching through the cupboard. "Y'know, I onle keep restockin' on it for you, no other soul seems to like th'stuff," he said. Vladimir wasn't surprised. "What of them other souls that cannot handle anything of a volume higher than that of ale." Gragas chuckled to this, got up and started mixing the drink masterfully. "Y'don' say! Actually, missy Morgana likes ter play with strong drinks! So does th'sheriff, Ketlyn, although th'poor lass always ends up lookin' hammered!" Giving the decanter one final swirl, Gragas poured its deep crimson contents into a wine glass, a third of it already filled with a crystal clear, mischievously sparkling liquid. The moment the two liquids touched, the peculiar mixture instantly became a shade of dark amber. Gently enough for a man of his size, Gragas placed the glass in front of Vladimir, reaching down and topping off the drink with a single ice cube. "Dark Lady, monsieur". Vladimir nodded, reaching into the inner pocket of his robes and placing three heavy silver coins before Gragas. He swiftly grabbed them and walked off in Riven's direction.
Slowly, Vladimir brought the glass to his lips and took a solid gulp, emptying a third of the glass at once. He stood there for a second, savouring the burning, sweet after-taste. Satisfied, he turned around and walked back into the darker auditorium, taking a seat at a, once again, SEEMINGLY empty, comfortable couch in the corner of the room. Taking a small sip of his liquor, he placed the glass on the low table in front of him and allowed himself to lounge, placing his hands behind his head and laying back in the leather folds of the couch. His eyes, however, shrouded by the darkness of the room, were drawn to the unnaturally shifting shadow right next to him on the couch. Feeling the balance of the couch shift right under him as the shadow swiftly moved closer to him, Vladimir brought his hand up in the blink of an eye, powerfully gripping what felt like a neck. A surprised, feminine voice rang out, confirming Vladimir's theory of what exactly he was gripping, as the vocal cords vibrated under his grasp. He smiled as a woman, wearing a tight, somewhat revealing, leather body suit, materialised hovering over him, out of thin air. Still smiling, Vladimir chuckled, speaking in a seductive tone, "Get a grip on yourself, we are not alone here." The blue- skinned woman laughed an extremely disturbing, cackling laugh, drilling Vladimir with her luminescent, yellow eyes. She stopped laughing abruptly and Vladimir released her. "Ugh, I merely wanted to rip your heart out. You're no fun!" she puckered her lips, taking a seat dangerously close to him and placing her elbow on his shoulder, running her sharp nails through his hair. Vladimir visibly paid no mind to her flirtatious behaviour, lazily staring at the ceiling draped in purple curtains.
"How does pretty boy fare?" Evelynn asked, cupping his chin with her hand and forcefully bringing him to look at her. "Going about his pretty boy business," he replied dully. Hesitantly, she removed herself from him, already having crept half- way up onto his lap. "Hmm. Something troubles you." He eyed her, trying his best to keep a straight face. Perceptive little bitch. "Nothing at all." She silently pressed the issue, cocking her head and staring into his eyes. He sighed, looking away in defeat. "I need your help with a little something." Evelynn smiled, revealing a row of monstrous, sharp teeth. "Anything for my candyman. But..." she watched the frown on his face grow. Throwing her head back, she laughed heartily. "D'aww! No, you silly pervert, I won't ask you for THAT!" Vladimir sighed in relief. "Would a monetary compensation for your time suffice?" he asked. She licked her lips, casting her gaze down in thought. "Well, seeing as you ask so nicely..." She chuckled, watching his usual, bored expression creep back onto his face. She loved how the cheeky bastard always gets what he wants. "Fine. What's the matter? What nuisance bothers my Vladi boy so much he requires my assistance?"
"A certain Talon. I believe today is the second time he attempted to survey my activity. From tomorrow and onwards, I want you to trail me whenever I am roaming outdoors, that is, if you are not preoccupied with a match. Once we are able to corner him in a location relatively free of public, consider your task done. I shall pay you then." Evelynn tsked. "Oh Vlad, what is it with the punctuality regarding monetary transfers... I'll get the sly man, don't you worry." Vladimir visibly relaxed, his tensed shoulders slunk back onto the couch. He reached out for his drink, emptying the remaining contents of the glass down his throat. "Very well. I'll see you..."
"Leaving already? A spectacular show of weakness," grumbled a distinctly familiar voice from behind the couch. Slowly turning, Vladimir faced the hulking form of Udyr, sharing the couch with Nidalee, Ashe and Tryndamere. "But of course, it is also because I cower before the glory of your strength, oh mighty Udyr!" Vladimir replied smugly, smirking. Nidalee giggled, earning a shove from Ashe. Udyr growled. Tryndamere spoke up, "So I heard you trashed my wife's team earlier today, hmm? Wait 'till you go one on one against me any time soon, I'll show you..." "Wait, don't you say that every single time and end up breaking the summoner link half- way through the game because of a bad score?" said Sarah Fortune, who happened to be strutting by. Not waiting for an answer, she laughed and walked on, winking to Vladimir. Tryndamere's face went red, distinguishable in the dark room. "Well, I shall spare you no further embarassment and be on my way," said Vladimir, laughing inwardly. Getting up, he noticed that Evelynn had already vanished out of sight. Turning around one last time, he adressed Ashe in a respectful tone. "Ashe," he motioned to her, cocking his head slightly. She looked up to him with a questioning look on her face, as well as the other three. He waited for about five seconds to add to the dramatic effect, noticing a few other champions sitting nearby turn their attention to the conversation. All of a sudden, his face became contorted with laughter he couldn't hold back. "To hit moving targets, you aim slightly before them."
Turning on his heels, Vladimir victoriously walked out of the bar as half the room exploded in hysterical laughter. He would have sworn he felt the back of his robes heat up from all the hate in Ashe's glare. Out through the heavy wooden doors, Vladimir was back in the marble hallways. The dying sun's rays flooded the grand, authoritative passageways of the Institute with a juicy, crimson shade of peachy orange. Having just stepped out of the dark room, Vladimir squinted. "Down you go, ugly." Deciding against wasting any time, Vladimir hastily walked out onto the rustling, grassy Institute grounds. Reaching inside his robe's inner pocket, he took out a rune stone that pulsed with a red glow. Bringing it up to his mouth, Vladimir chanted quietly. The rune lit up brighter. Nodding to himself, Vladimir awaited teleportation. Clanking his 'claws' on the little stone, Vladimir's ears registered the sounds of battle. Turning, he located the source. Far off in the distance, Master Yi was sparring with his apprentice, Wukong. He seemed to be effortlessly deflecting the ape man's increasingly furious blows, mostly with the flat of his sword, wielding it with one hand. "Damn, he is bad."
Just as the thought went through his mind, Vladimir felt the familiar, brutal pull at his innards. The next moment, he was standing in a despersing cloud of crystal dust, settling on the grass around him. He brought his gaze up to the starry sky. The sun had already settled in his dominion, a moonlit valley, housing an abandoned, timeless temple situated in the highlands between Noxus and the Tempest Flats. Treading softly through the grass, Vladimir pridefully looked over the solitary structure towering over him, as he drew closer. A structure where his life as a hemomancer had truly first begun, upon his encounter with Dmitri, his 'dead' master, who now conveniently resided in the back of Vladimir's conscience, quite literally. Distorted memories flooded him as he neared the heavy, tall door of the entrance. "You actually remember me, child. Just as I was about to get worried." The old man's voice rebounded ethereally inside Vladimir's skullbox. "Don't you ever think for a second I have forgotten you, master. I owe you my existence." The ethereal voice hummed in approval. "I sense something special that awaits you. Shortly. I shall not further disturb your mind's pace, child. And oh, it does not threaten us." Vladimir relaxed, letting the floating ball of his essence, that he had already drawn from his bloodstream, splash on the grass. Opening the door, that cringed loudly, Vladimir stepped inside and shut it behind him, leaving him standing in complete darkness.