A/N: Sorry for the long wait, pretty much life happened.
Having the section be from Jun's PoV won't happen much, as I'm not a fan of OC's being the focus in stories. It was just what worked best for this section.
Jun noticed Captain Lito rubbing her temples while shuffling through the various documents strewn about the Captain's desk.
"I thought we were almost done…" Jun commented.
"We were. A hospital with holes blown through it will do that." Captain Lito continued rubbing her temples as she spoke.
"Do you think we will have it fixed before snowfall?"
Captain Lito sighed, picking up her fountain pen, diligently and efficiently filling out her paperwork. "No. We barely made it out of the northern mountains before they were hit by a snowstorm. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be surprised if it was snowing right now."
Jun nodded stoically, but otherwise did not respond, instead deciding to focus on the paperwork at hand.
After a few moments of silence The Captain spoke up, "Don't worry Jun, they're the best at what they do. I'm sure they have nothing to worry about."
Several minutes passed, the only sound that could be heard was the shuffling of papers and scribbling of pens.
"Jun."
"Yes, Captain?"
"You're doing it again."
"My apologies Captain Lito, it just brings me great joy to see how far you have come in the last few years." Jun responded fondly. "I remember when you first started as Captain all those years ago, you did not know the difference between your 401's and 406's. It was almost adorable. Almost."
"I was only eighteen! Not all of us were born quill in hand."
Jun smirked, "That is right. You were born sword in hand, were you not? You know what they say about the pen and-"
"Jun, we are not getting into this again."
"Of course, Captain Lito."
"I'm serious, we aren't going at it. Again."
"I understand Captain."
"You're still smirking! You're thinking about it aren't you!"
"Am I? I do apologize. I was just thinking of 418 and 426's"
The Captain paused, before looking up at Jun. "Yes, Jasmine for the first one, and no I'm not updating my argument. Do you remember how many days we spent debating this last time!?"
"Very good Captain Lito."
As Jun was about to leave, there was a faint sound that caused both of them to pause.
"Was that you?" Jun asked.
"No, I think it was...knocking?" The captain got back to work, not letting the noise bother her for a moment longer.
The sound came again, causing the two to turn their attention towards the door. Puzzled, Jun walked slowly over towards the door. Today was intentionally blocked out exclusively for paperwork. They should not have been expecting any visitors. Jun slowly opened the door, revealing a young woman wearing a white coat, boots, and earmuffs. A light blue….hat? And a mini dress of the same color. Black gloves and stockings, and most confusing of all a light and dark pink striped scarf.
Odd. I did not think it was that cold out yet. If she is cold, why does she wear such a short dress? The world of fashion will always be a mystery to me.
The woman's expression started off happy as she said "Irel-" quickly changing to a cold glare when she noticed it was not the Captain standing in front of her, "Who are you?" Her voice as cold as the weather she was supposedly preparing for.
My, my. Someone is testy today, isn't she? Well, formalities are a must. With that Jun gave a quick bow before responding. "Jun. I am Captain Lito's secretary."
The young woman rudely barged into the Captain's office, forcing Jun to move to the side.
"There you are! Do you like my new outfit?"
"I can't believe that she convinced us to go shopping first." A voice outside grumbled.
Jun peered outside to find Ms. Riven along with the Eye of Twilight leaning against the wall opposite Captain Lito's door. Turning back towards Captain Lito, Jun caught the tail end of the woman's sentence.
"-had a secretary?"
"Yes. Without Jun I wouldn't have been able to leave the capital with you and Riven."
"Pardon me for interrupting Captain, but shall I grab a pot of tea instead for you and your…" Jun glanced at the woman standing next to Captain Lito and back towards Ms. Riven and the Eye of Twilight "guests?"
"That would be greatly appreciated."
After giving another quick bow, Jun vacated the room. Upon exiting into the hallway Jun turned to Ms. Riven. "Is Jasmine tea to your liking Ms. Riven?"
Ms. Riven stared suspiciously, "How do you know my name?"
"I was the one who processed your paperwork so you could stay in Ionia, and subsequently with Captain Lito."
"Oh, thanks!" Ms. Riven extended a closed fist out towards Jun.
Jun raised an eyebrow, not understanding the gesture, before finally giving a bow. "It was my pleasure, Ms. Riven."
Ms. Riven retracted her hand and started to rub her arm awkwardly before mumbling, "Or you could leave me hanging, that's fine. Sure, whatever."
Turning towards The Eye of Twilight "Is Jasmine to your liking Eye of Twilight?"
"Ku ding, please."
"A fan of bitter teas are we? Interesting."
A shout from inside Captain Lito's office caused Jun and Ms. Riven to flinch. "YOU DID WHAT?!"
"We are so dead..." Ms. Riven mumbled.
"I believe that is my cue to leave. I shall return with your tea's at once."
After methodically preparing the tea Jun returned, and was surprised to find the hallway empty. Upon entering Captain Lito's office, Jun found that the occupants had instead moved to the corner of her office next to her bookshelf. All of them with their heads down, silent as the Captain was quickly and furiously writing away at a document in front of her. Jun gave them their cups of tea first before finishing with Captain Lito's, setting the tray, and teapot on a shelf out of the way.
"Try not to be so forceful with the pen Captain, you would not want to rip through the paper again."
Jun took in the aroma of the tea before taking a sip. While Captain Lito did not respond, the pressure she was putting on her pen did decrease a little bit. Not enough for Jun's liking though.
"I will be paying Dutchess Karma a visit in a few minutes before heading home. Shen will be making me dinner as repayment for his hand in the extra paperwork he caused us."
"What about your dinner plans with the Lady Soraka tonight?" Jun commented between sips, enjoying strong aroma of the Jasmine tea.
"Shen is fetching her and dinner supplies as we speak."
Upon turning around, Jun noticed the tea cup on the tray and that The Eye of Twilight was indeed missing. "So he is, very well then."
"Also, I won't be in at the start of next week. Syndra over there is going to be help repair all the hospital walls," Captain Lito leaned over for a moment, looking past Jun, directing her statement at the woman in the corner. "RIGHT?"
After a moment the woman in the corner mumbled something that Jun could not understand.
"I'm going to see over the repairs personally, so can you ensure that we have all the necessary supplies? Also make sure someone is there to guide her. We don't want to make anything worse, now do we Syndra?"
Jun leaned over grabbing the teapot, refilling both teacups on the desk. "I am going to assume that each of these three are repaying you in some way, with Ms. Syndra repairing the hospital and The Eye of Twilight cooking you dinner? So what is it that Ms. Riven will be doing for you?"
"I haven't decided yet." The Captain responded before taking a long sip of tea
"May I make a suggestion?"
"Yes?" Captain Lito asked as she set the cup down.
"Why not a spa? I'm afraid that all the stress is going to start taking a toll on your appearance."
Captain Lito glared at Jun, "Are you trying to say something Jun?"
"Of course not Captain, I am merely suggesting that some relaxation will do you some good. Also, perhaps it shall remind you on proper tea etiquette. Sip and savor, tea is not made to gulped."
Captain Lito picked up the teapot, filling her cup to the brim, and downed the drink in a single gulp.
"Why do you hurt me so, Captain." Jun muttered.
"I'm ignoring that last remark. Unfortunately, a decent portion of Riven's living wages comes from my paycheck as is. I would practically be treating myself, which sort of defeats the purpose. I will drink my tea as I please, it is meant to hydrate me. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Where have I gone wrong with you…" Jun sighed despondently.
"I always thought Irelia savored her tea. It takes her ten minutes to finish a single cup." Ms. Syndra whispered quizzically to Ms. Riven.
Ms. Riven leaned towards Ms. Syndra, "I'm still trying to figure out whether they're arguing or having a casual conversation."
"I don't know, I gave up on that five minutes ago."
Jun turned towards Ms. Syndra, "Ten minutes you say?" Before turning back towards the Captain who was now getting ready to leave.
"Would you mind keeping my guests occupied while I pay Karma a visit?"
"Oh of course not Captain."
After a moment Captain Lito started to make her way out of the room as Jun turned towards Ms. Syndra and Ms. Riven.
"So, how much does the Captain practice her calligraphy at home? No wait, how often does she read reports and do paperwork?" Jun asked with a smirk.
The captain stiffened like a chill went up her spine as she walked out the door. Without turning around she responded, "please don't pry into my personal life too much Jun."
"Of course not Captain." Jun repeated again, catching Ms. Syndra in some sort of odd half glare.
"Syndra. What is that look?" Ms. Riven asked, "Are you glaring or not?"
"I'm sorry did I do something wrong?" Jun asked. I'm not going to get an answer to my question am I?
"I still don't know how to feel about you." Ms. Syndra raised up her left hand like she was holding something in it. "On one hand you want to talk about Irelia," Raising up her hand she continued, "but on the other your topic bores me."
Jun recoiled a bit in surprise, "Boring!? Paperwork is not boring. It is the foundation this society is built upon. Without it you two would of been kicked out of here long ago."
"I thought Ionia was all about magic, balance, and a bunch spiritual mumbo jumbo?" Ms. Riven questioned with exaggerated hand motions
"Yes, all, BORING! Except magic, magic is fun!" Ms. Syndra chimed in with a grin
Jun sighed, "Of course, all that is -"
"Especially when you blow stuff up! There are so many different ways too! You can -"
Jun tuned Ms. Syndra out as she was prattling on about the more uncivilized aspects of magic. Is this how the Youth of today behave? I was concerned with Captain Lito being obsessed with going out on patrol, but this is preposterous. I may need to visit Duchess Karma, some proper afternoon tea with her may put my nerves at ease.
Jun's attention was brought back to reality by the rising sound of conflicting voices.
"Syndra! You're doing it again."
The interruption caused Ms. Syndra to stop and take a moment to catch her breath, "Oh, right. I'll stop now." She responded with a giggle that was way to innocent for the violence she was prattling on about.
Ms. Riven sighed, "If you will please excuse us Jun, I'm going to take Syndra outside for some fresh air. She's getting all explody again." Ms. Riven appeared to stare off into the distance in thought for a moment, "and I'd rather not figure out how pissed Irelia would be if she blew up her office."
Once the two women had left the office Jun was finally able to concentrate on work again. The whole ordeal with all of Captain Lito's guests today was exhausting. Tonights dinner would be very relaxing to compensate for the chaos that today's interruptions brought. Jun made a mental note to ask the Captain how she managed to put up with all these shenanigans on a daily basis.
"Hey Syndra, was Jun a guy or girl?"
"Honestly I couldn't tell. Their aura was weird!" Syndra responded.
"Aura?" Riven questioned.
"Yeah that thing that everyone has that makes me great at hide-n-seek."
"Okay, Syndra sure. By the way I think you're starting to scare people. At the very least they're starting to stare." Riven commented
"Why's that?" Syndra asked
"Where do I start? Well you are juggling a bunch of spheres, that I have seen blow up people and objects by the way, while floating upside down. In a skirt. What about that is normal?! Which reminds me, why do you always wear mini-skirts if you enjoy flying and floating upside down so much?"
Syndra continued 'juggling' seven of her dark spheres around her in a circle. To any onlookers it would appear as if gravity was reversed as the spheres flew upwards as she 'threw' them towards the ground. Syndra paused for a moment before deciding to answer Riven's questions, "They only blow up when I want them to, floating upside down is fun and helps me think. I enjoy the freedom of skirts, and with magic I can make sure it always stays down. Unless I want to tease Irelia, and what about me is normal? Wait, did I say that Irelia part out loud?"
"Yes." Irelia responded curtly, appearing out of nowhere, surprising Syndra causing her heart to jump for a moment. Irelia walked past Syndra and Riven, "Let's go, Soraka's waiting." Not waiting or checking to see if Riven and Syndra were following.
Syndra righted herself next to Riven, who was still standing next to her. "She might be a bit mad."
"You think? What was your first clue? Just don't say anything stupid. She's already pretty pissed at us, I'd rather you didn't make it worse." Riven sarcastically replied.
Syndra floated catching up with Irelia, Riven trailing behind her slightly. As she floated up next to Irelia, Syndra noticed she was carrying a decent size folder in her right hand. She couldn't put her finger on it, but it looked different from the usual paperwork Irelia would sometimes bring home.
"What's with the folder? More paperwork?"
"No." Irelia's tone hadn't lightened up in the slightest.
"Are you still mad about the hospital? I agreed to fix it."
"Do you have any concept of reprecussion!?" Irelia snapped at Syndra
Syndra flinched a bit, caught off-guard. Yep, she's mad.
"You can't just blow things up and think everything will be okay! Just because you agree to fix it doesn't mean that everyone can act like nothing happened!"
"Irelia, what happened while you were talking to Karma?" Riven asked hesitantly.
"The council wants to banish Syndra from the Placidium. "
"Pfft. They can try." Syndra's voice was confident, but also annoyed. "It wouldn't be the first time."
"You don't get it do you!? That casual attitude is the main reason this is an issue! Where would you go if you couldn't return to my home?" Irelia paused for a moment. "Originally they wanted to arrest you and place magic dampeners in the cell to weaken, or even nullify your magic. I told them it wouldn't-"
Syndra didn't hear the rest of what Irelia said, her mind instead focusing on the part about nullifying magic.
Can my magic be nullified completely? Could I live without magic? Syndra shuddered at the thought.
They've done something similar before, and they would do it again.
Syndra extended her hand out in front of her, forming a dark sphere in her palm. "How about I help you repair the hospital, the 'council' of 'elders' will leave me alone, and I won't turn their precious Placidium into a crater." Syndra said with a sinister smile as she closed her hand, dissipating the dark sphere. She tried to hide her malice as best she could.
But could you?
Who in the council would stand against me?
What about Irelia? Do you think she would choose you over her country?
Your prattling bores me, if Irelia is my downfall then so be it. I knew what I was getting myself into.
"That's why you will still need to report to Shen, but I will also be present for these meetings. To ensure they stay on track."
"You mean I get to see you at work too!" Syndra moved in to hug Irelia.
Irelia held out her hand blocking Syndra, "Nope. Still mad."
Riven looked at Syndra "How is it that even when you lose, you somehow still win?" A few moments went by before she commented again, "Wait, what was that mood swing?"
Syndra shrugged, "First we were talking about the dumb council, and then Irelia told me I get to spend more time with her. What's not to love about that!?"
Riven stared at her bewildered, "But that's not how...okay, whatever." She finished, giving up on the topic as they made their way up the Lito manor path. "I wonder if we beat Shen and Soraka here."
"There are two people inside." Syndra could feel and see the aura of two people inside the house. One was familiar, but felt off for a reason she couldn't put her finger on. The other she had felt twice before, once at the temple and the other was a long time ago.
"Did you lock my house before you two left this morning?" Irelia asked as she was getting her keys out of her pocket.
"Yes, but I wouldn't be surprised if Shen could break into your house. He is a flippin ninja after all." Riven responded nonchalantly. "Do you know who it is Syndra?"
"Nope." Syndra responded as Irelia opened the door.
Irelia walked in first with Riven close behind her. Upon getting into the entryway they stopped. Irelia immediately raised her blades and pointed them somewhere towards the kitchen, Riven brought her Zweihander up in front of her ready to strike.
Syndra tried to peer past the two women in front of her, but couldn't see a thing. Why are they so tall?! Then she glanced up at the ceiling for a moment, Ugh. Why does she have such low ceilings? Syndra lifted her hands up in front of her, and parted the two women in front of her. Sitting at the table facing the doorway was a large...man? Wearing thick gray robes with red cuffs. On his face was a golden mask with two eye holes and a tiny mouth hole.
What is with guys and their masks? This is why I'm not attracted to men.
There are many reasons why you aren't attracted to men.
Shut up, no one asked you.
His hair was so messy and confusing that it gave people with white hair a bad name. It was everywhere, you couldn't even see his face.
Where does his hair begin and end? Is that a weird combover or did his beard just take over his entire face? Does he have a braid for his beard and hair? Whatever, who's this other person brooding in the corner?
Syndra couldn't get a good look at the figure in the corner, but the aura felt familiar. As did the way they were standing broodily in the corner shrouded by...shadows.
"Zed?! Is that you?" Syndra floated her way over towards the shadow in the corner, carefully avoiding the lights and chandelier.
Meanwhile, Irelia and Riven asked in unison. "That's Zed?"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Irelia questioned, her voice more relaxed and maybe a bit disappointed.
"Aw, I was ready for a fight." Riven pouted.
"Not in my house!" Irelia quickly responded.
"Well he feels different. His shadow feels one way, and he feels another way. It's how I tell them apart, but right now he feels like a mixture between the two." Syndra paused for a moment, a smirk appearing on her face. "Hey Zed." Syndra drawled, "Why don't you step into the light? Hmm? That way Irelia and Riven can get a good look at you. It's been so long since they've seen you."
"No. I am perfectly comfortable in the corner." The figure replied curtly.
"Come on, that's a pretty nice outfit you have on. You should show it to them!" Syndra teased.
"How about no." Zed denied.
"How about yes!" Syndra exclaimed as she surrounded the figure with her magic and pulled him into the light.
"I thought you said that was Zed!? That's his shadow!" Riven yelped.
"It is Zed, that's why I couldn't recognized him at first." Syndra wrapped her arm around Zed, "Now Zed, I think it's story time!" Syndra used her magic to flip chairs around facing towards Zed.
"I agree." A deep voice stated.
Syndra, Irelia, and Riven all jumped. Syndra clutched at her chest as she gasped for air, startled. "Damn. Fucking. Ninja's." Syndra gasped out..
"Sorry. The door was open so we wanted to make sure everything was okay." Soraka apologized. "Though I must say, I am impressed Shen managed to walk so quietly with all those groceries."
Shen walked over to the kitchen island, set the groceries down, and started unpacking them. "I would like to know why it is you are a shadow now."
"I'm not telling you."
Riven walked up to Zed, and started poking at him with her finger. Shuddering as it went straight through Zed. "That's cold and feels weird."
"Then stop doing it!" Zed snarled.
"I can't help you if you don't tell us anything Zed." Shen remarked in a passionless tone, as he got out the cookware for dinner.
"I don't need-"
"Cut the crap." Irelia interjected, "Zed you are a shadow, Shen...why are you cooking while having a serious conversation, what the hell is going on!?"
"I love it when Irelia gets mad, and not at me. Brings out her feistiness!"
Irelia continued, ignoring Syndra's comment, "Syndra pin Zed down, Riven turn off the stove, and Soraka! Please close the door, thank you. We are not leaving here until I get answers! Also, who the hell are you!" Irelia frustratedly pointed towards the figure still sitting at the table.
"I thought he was your friend!" Zed exclaimed as Syndra forced him into a chair.
"What? Why would I know this guy!? How long have you been in here with him?!"
Zed tried to shrug, but failed due to Syndra's magic. "Couple hours?"
"And you didn't think it was weird that he was here!?"
"Look, you kind of have a thing for taking strangers into your house. You took Riven and Syndra in barely knowing them! How was I supposed to know he wasn't just another person you decided to adapt?"
"He has a point." Soraka added in.
Irelia looked like she was about to respond, but instead she turned her attention towards the figure sitting at the table, "Who are you, and why are you in my house?"
"That's Bard." Soraka answered.
The figure raised its hand in a friendly wave, and replied with a loud, cheery, chiming noise.
A/N: End note, if anyone could let me know of a way to get music notes to post on FF it would be greatly appreciated. We had originally written Bard with music notes for dialogue using Unicode, but it didn't translate onto FF.
Also for a rough estimate of how Irelia's meeting with Karma went, go check out the Omake's 'Being Sent to the Duchess' Office' chapter.