Institute Cafeteria
"I cannot believe this!"
The Wuju Bladesmen sat alone, situated in a secluded corner of the mess hall. The blade he had polished and sharpened for the match lay by
his side, unused.
He was looking forward to this day, this was his chance to make those Noxians pay for destroying his homeland. For killing his countrymen...
for everything.
And they took it away from him, just like his family, just like his friends.
Only the control and willpower gained from intense meditation and training prevented him from attempting to force his way unto the summoning
platform when he realized he would not be participating in the match.
The Ionians knew he was their most ardent warrior, and he was going to be absent.
Frustrated, a seething rage bubbled dangerously close to the surface of his emotion, barely suppressed as he took another sip from his tea cup.
The taste was bitter.
"How bout a drink? Something more...chemical."
The voice was familiar.
The bladesmen turned to a man clad in rough bandages, the bottom half of his face down to the jaw masked by the material.
"Singed?! What brings you here, and why are you not in the match?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing, Ionian." The bandaged chemist sat down across the stunned Master Yi, pouring an amber liquid into
a flask.
"So...how about a drink?"
"No, I do not trust your kind."
"Hmm, well trust me or not, we both know that neither of us should be down here, and instead should be up there."
He glanced up at the large broadcaster orb on the top of the cafeteria walls. A bandaged hand reached for the amber flask.
"I was disqualified, someone has taken my place." It was hard to maintain a neutral voice, Yi's emotions flared at the thought of another taking
his rightful place on the dais."
"I thought so, I'm here for the same reason."
Rather then answer, Yi simply stared at the cup, sick from the turn of events.
"Hey, that looks like Renekton."
"What?"
At this, Yi started and faced the broadcaster orb.
Sure enough, the reptilian deity savagely roared as he spawned on the summoning platform, right behind...
"Irelia?!"
The bladesman could not contain himself any longer.
"I will not stand for such a thing to fight for the Ionians!"
He couldn't see the expression on Singed's face, as the bandages blocked most of his features. However, his eyes crinkled in amusement.
The mess hall was becoming increasingly packed, large amounts of champions chattered and bustled through the large double doors, some excited,
some bored, some downright cynical (Chogath was simply here for the food).
The Ionia vs Noxus league match was going to begin in one minute. By then, the entire room was filled, even the table Yi and Singed had occupied
was now cramped as a yellow haired male hastily sat down with a tray of food, along with a masked, burly figure and a female with white hair,
a broken sword lay on her lap as there was no more space for any others.
"Yi! Why are you down here? Shouldn't you be up there fighting for the Ionians? And uh...hey Singed."
The chemist simply nodded, then turned toward the white haired female, who gave him a scowl.
"I have been disqualified from the match, as has Singed, we will spectate from here, however we are not allowed to fight."
"What? Why?"
"What do you mean why, Ez, you sound like an asshole when you pry into things too much, just let him have his drink."
"But-"
"Alright guys drinks on me, Yi, you especially, I wouldn't really take that shit off of Singed here, sorry bud."
"None taken." Was the nonchalant reply.
"Yeah, yeah, alright Ez, shut up and get the drinks."
"But you just said-"
"Hey, you still owe me that 25 gold, now get your ass over there and get us the damn drinks."
Grumbling, the yellow haired male got up and stomped over to the beverage serving Gragas, a large man with rosy cheeks and a busting waistline.
"Jax, it is okay, I do not drink-"
"Well you don't drink yet, you look like you could use a little pick me up, eh?"
He clapped the bladesman roughly on the shoulder, leaned over to whisper.
"Seriously, drinks on me, whatever you did, don't hit yourself too hard for it, alright?"
"I- thank you."
"Yeah, yeah, EZ! IT'S BEEN A MINUTE, IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT LONG!"
"I'm tryin', sheesh'! The line is so long, are you even looking?!"
"Shaddap and get the drinks, I'm dying of thirst over here!"
Yi made a wry smile as the explorer finally returned, passing a mug to both Jax and Yi, before returning to his seat besides the white haired female, who sat, deep
in thought.
"Not much of a drinker Riven, or what? Ez told me you could down a mug in half a second."
She started, broken from her state of thought.
"Oh! I appreciate the drink, thank you, I will finish it, do not worry."
"So who you rootin' for? Me and Ez were thinking Noxus, but with that Renekton guy around, I'm thinking about puttin maybe 100 gold that the Ionians take home
the win today, eh Ez?"
"Hell yeah! I mean, when was the last time that monster actually lost a match?"
They shuddered in unison. Renekton truly was a force to be reckoned with.
"I do not bet."
"Uh, yeah, I know, but who do you think is gonna win?"
No answer as Riven stared into her drink, complacent, withdrawn back into her train of thought.
At this, Singed chuckled, causing the the female to start once more, broken by his maniacal laughter.
"What is it?" Jax was slightly perturbed, it wasn't that funny to begin with, maybe Singed just had a bad sense of humor.
"She cannot choose, that's the answer. Being a Noxian, however, I would say that Riven is either too much of a coward to side with her own countrymen, or that
she has the hots for Irelia."
Riven looked up, eyes wide.
"What did you just say?"
"I said you're a coward who can't-"
"No, about Irelia, what did you just say...?"
He had her full attention at this point. Her red eyes bored into his masked visage, frozen in place.
"I said you had the hots for her, but that's not the point, the point is that you're a coward who-"
"I do not! I do not have the hots for her, who told you that?"
Her cheeks were red at this point, and she was breathing heavily, as if a raging battle had been fought right there in the cafeteria.
A stunned silence around the table, Singed appeared slightly thrown off, apprehension, then confusion settled into his masked features.
"No one...I was just...jesting, but you're a coward, you know that...right?"
She didn't hear him, rather, she downed her mug in one go, with a "Look at her go!" from Jax as she did so.
When she finished, her cheeks were even redder, and her eyes were bright with a fervor no one had ever seen before.
Needless to say, Yi had no idea what was going on in this scene.
She clumsily reached over and grabbed the collar of Singed's apparel, and shook him vigorously, almost desperately.
"Who told you?! Did she tell you?! If she did, don't believe her, she's a dirty, filthy liar, and so are you, because I definitely. Positively. Do not. Have the hots. For her.
Understand?"
"But...but don't you care about what I just called you...? Aren't you going to...do something?"
"I TOLD YOU I DON'T HAVE THE HOTS FOR HER! YOU DIRTY LIAR!"
She let go, and slumped down her chair, delerious, face burning, and took another heavy drink off of a stunned Ezreal's mug, downing the whole thing in one go,
before passing out on the table.
"Well...that was something." Yi mused.
"Good going Singed, you really are a ladies man."
"Yeah Singed, you asshole, you made her take my drink!"
But he did not respond, merely sat there, heavily disturbed by had just transpired.
"Well, the match is starting, guys, I wonder who's taking your place, eh Singed?"
"Yeah, no one's given any information, haven't even seen the person on the dais yes."
They were right, everyone had been anticipating this match, however, one thing was unsure, and that was who the Noxian substitute was.
"You're right, that is interesting." Singed resumed his cool demeanor, leaning back on his chair to get a better view of the orb.
"Alright, Ez, 100 gold, Ionia's got this in the bag."
