Goodness, there is no shame in being busy, but is rather shameful to be free and not finish what you started, so…Hello! Im back to being active, and I know this story isn't probably well liked or whatever, I write mostly for myself, is always good that people like it, but in the end the one I have to convince is myself, I will probably rewrite some old chapters mostly for the grammar errors. Now, onwards with this!
Oh and hope all of you been well this couple of years :D
Chapter 10: The art of the duelist blade. A night of conversations
Needless to say, formal clothing sucked big in Rosark opinion. That's why he simply used the same costume he had "borrowed" with Jinx help last time, he maybe looked like a member of an old mafia group, but it was comfortable, plus it looked formal at the same time it wasn't formal, maybe he could check the costume store…once he paid for the costume he was wearing.
"Now where is my partner for this?" He kept walking through the halls of the institute looking for the Loose Cannon. As he kept looking around for Jinx he could see some other champions looked formal, Ezreal was looking like he would play on the Casino of Graves if you were to ask him. Before he could ask Ezreal why he was looking so elegant someone got into his personal space without any notice.
"Come on oldie! This thing will start soon right?" The voice of Jinx showed the same energy as always, when he looked at her he saw her Chinese dress, red in color and she had seemed to dye her hair black, probably she had tons of dyes around, after all she often said she was an artist, he noticed the green flick on her hair, in a fun way it suited her. Her braids were kept with a red fabric around them.
"Looking nice Jinx" She smiled, when she showed her smile the dementia in her eyes would often shine, but hey, even if he could enter mind he wasn't a doctor so no use trying to understand. "You look well yourself oldie, let's go then!" The Loose Cannon kept running having her arm linked with his. He had to admit, being with Jinx made him feel younger, as if he was a kid once again.
As they went outside of the institute to make their way to the gallery Jinx started asking questions "So…does the sword lady is actually good with art?" Rosark chuckled before answering "No, she sucks using brushes or any painting instrument, but in a fun way, she is good at making art, you will see it soon" Jinx laughed at the idea of Fiora trying to fight with a brush.
"So how come you know so many champs oldie?" He was left in thought for a moment, how indeed "Don't know, honestly, I just started to chat with Ryze one day, then with Udyr, he presented me Master Yi, and with time I suddenly was well known between them as the weird summoner" She laughed at this, she was expecting something different, but in a way that answer fitted him more.
"So were you always a goody two shoes? Because if you are friends with Graves you must have a story there" He laughed at her way to express, she really didn't thought much and just asked "I was known as a good pickpocket thief in the past, so I used to scam all sorts of people, Graves one day offered me the chance for a big deal, and I couldn't say no. We had all sorts of scams for a while"
She looked in curiosity "What's so good of using the robe?" He didn't need to think to answer "I can travel freely to whatever place I want, I got a lot of the institute resources as long as I kept a good rank…now a days my only benefit is the trips though" For a moment Jinx looked worried at his direction "Will they take you away of the institute?" Laugh sounded near "No if I can avoid it"
Both looked on the direction of the voice and saw Udyr. His clothes as a Spirit walker might not be so formal, but they did a job. "Good night Loose Cannon" She smiled "Hello Bear man" Bear man, Rosark couldn't avoid to chuckle the nickname Jinx had for Udyr. "Hello Bear man, is good to see you here tonight" If the nickname bothered Udyr he didn't show his discomfort, he only laughed "Is weird to see an old man with a young lady, you should be careful, people would often say rumors, and you know how the rumor mill in the institute works"
Goodness, the rumor mill of the institute, if you asked any summoner, anyone at all they would tell you the walls were made of glass that allowed you to see everything and hear everyone, sometimes it seemed there were no walls in the huge institute. "Pff let the rumors go, maybe that way I can bring him back to the world of crime" Udyr laughed "Oh sure, he is a bad guy, what crimes have you done? Kick a dog?" Before Rosark could answer Jinx spoke with pride in her voice.
"He has public indecency and failure at good traditions in his file" Udyr looked at Rosark direction as if asking "Tell me she is joking" Rosark shrugged his shoulders clearly saying "Is not what you think" Jinx just laughed while hugging Rosark arm harder. "I'm rubbing my evil ways on him, soon we will be the best crime duo ever!" As she laughed clearly enjoying the idea Udyr sighed before approaching Rosark and whispering to him. "You sure got your way with weird people"
As the three kept walking while keeping up the fun banter they reached the gallery, people were entering excitedly speaking up of the exhibition of master duelist. As people made their way through Jinx took the invitation, as damaged as it was they accepted it, Udyr entered with his own invitation. Curious, he didn't thought he and Fiora were on good terms.
The inside was full of paintings, they were good paintings of the champions with costumes, on the entrance there was one of Udyr in a bear costume, in the same picture you could see Nami in manatee costume, Nasus as a duke, and even Soraka was there…was that Amumu on the window? His thoughts were broken by a voice with a strong accent.
"You came! Is good to see you here" Fiora clothes were formal, but as formal as one would expect of the master duelist, she was wearing a uniform blue with white with feathered aspects on it. The Royal Guard uniform. She was proud of it, and if you asked anyone, Fiora looked rather well with the uniform.
Fiora gave Rosark a hug, Jinx didn't looked pleased at the hug but her expression changed as fast as it appeared. Only Udyr noticed her expression and felt curiosity spark. Fiora greeted both fellow champions. "Would you mind if I took your friend for a while Udyr?" Udyr just nodded in acceptance as Jinx was left standing with the spirit walker.
"What's so cool about the paintings, sure they are nice, but I can make this stuff with a few cans myself" Jinx said, her chest with pride while she spoke of her ability. Udyr laughed before speaking "The thing of the exhibition, is that all the paintings are made with a sword" Jinx opened her mouth in surprise at that. "What?" Udyr nodded.
"Fiora is unable to use a brush properly, her whole life she has been a duelist, swords are her thing, and that same tool is already a part of her body, so she uses swords to make the paintings, all of this paintings are the result of her slashes with paint on the canvas, she knows the proper way for the paint to fall on the place she wants, the result, are the paintings you see"
Jinx had to admit, for someone who couldn't hold a brush her sword was great then, all the paintings were nice and clear, still she thought she could do better. "I still don't like she took my date away" Udyr raised an eyebrow, did Jinx made a pout?
"I didn't knew you were dating" Jinx perked in surprise "No, no, I meant date as he was the one who invited me here" Udyr looked at her, his eyes flowing with the power of the spirits inside of him made Jinx understand she couldn't really lie "Well I invited myself with him…still" Udyr place a hand over her arm. "Cheer up, he will come back soon." Jinx didn't knew why that made her smile but it did. "Come on, let's see if there are other paintings, believe it not, I'm not fond of my bear costume in that one" Jinx laughed as they made their way through the people to look at the paintings.
In another section of the gallery Fiora took Rosark through a closed door. "I wanted you to look at this one before is placed on the exhibit tomorrow" He saw the painting and was surprised. It was of him, well half and half. One half was covered with the robe, the other was him without it. His glasses his messy hair, and yet it looked as if it was faded. Before he could ask Fiora started to explain about it.
"Rosark the Ghost. Your name before being a summoner. I thought it would be cool to make this one, I know we have a rocky friendship, but you are still my friend you know? And I decided that this exhibit was for my friends" Fiora smile was weird to see, but it was good to see it. He just smiled and nodded at the information.
"Well I better take you back to your date" This surprised Rosark "What? I came with my friends" Fiora giggled at his answer "Udyr is your friend sure, but I think Jinx didn't got the memo" He shrugged his shoulders "Sorry, I am not getting it, as I said she is my friend." Fiora just sighed "You are as dense as a rock" they made their way back to the exhibit, Fiora gave him a hug before she had to make her way to the people "Seriously you can be dense with people old man" she giggled and left him.
"Damn it, I'm not that old" he heard a giggle behind him and was surprised to see the source "You are not a kid if that's what you are trying to say" Karma looked as elegant as always. "Hey, didn't expected you to be here" She smiled to him "What? Cant the Enlightened one have fun?" He simply smiled back "I didn't said that, I just meant this place was already being enlightened, no need for more light in it"
A horrible joke, so horrible the people around that heard him faked that they didn't heard anything, except for three people who found it funny. Karma, Udyr and Jinx who had seen their friend back. "You really need to work on your jokes oldie" Jinx made her way to his arm again. "Funny, what is so good of you?" Jinx debated why she liked the summoner company.
Udyr greeted Karma and she looked at Jinx clinging to Rosark arm "Who is the lady at your side Rosark?" She sounded…jealous? Nah no way, Karma was always serious and kind, not jealous. "Oh, is Jinx, can't you tell?" Truth be told Karma hadn't noticed, she was used to the Loose Cannon blue hair and weird clothing, but putting attention to details she could see the resemblance to her usual self.
"Ah I see, greetings Jinx" Jinx just took her tongue out, as if mocking Karma, Udyr knew she was that way with everyone. Karma simply sighed at the childish attitude. Before she could spoke the lights dimmed as the attention was brought to the middle of the exhibition. Fiora was going to speak.
"Hello to all the guests that have come today to my exhibition. I must say is an honor to see so many people interested in art, and I would like to give a special thank you to my friends who gave me the honor of seeing them here tonight. I hope you keep enjoying the exhibition and know that anyone can make art as long as they keep trying with dedication and wish to keep going forwards"
People clapped at her small speech as she made her way around. Rosark enjoyed the exhibition and after seeing the majority of it felt tired. He did needed a bit of rest after his recent adventures. He said his goodbye to Fiora. Udyr offered to make him company back to the institute but told him it was okay, he should enjoy the exhibit.
"You don't get out much, enjoy the exhibit and take care of Karma would you? She doesn't hold her drinks well and I'm afraid she might be convinced by the waitress around to accept a drink" Udyr chuckled at this and made his way back. As he was taking his hat back from the hanger he noticed Jinx was with him.
"Hey, how you feeling?" She smiled with her usual grin "The exhibit is good but I think I need some rest myself, fat hands kept me running quite long this days'" As he got on his hat Jinx started to walk by his side making their way to the institute.
Jinx was thinking in the illuminated night, Rosark was a fun guy to hang around. Sure he wasn't a member of her usual group but was fun, he hadn't took it hard the fact she aimed a gun at him. Still the gun wouldn't have done much to him, it was mainly to get Vi to play a bit.
"So what's going with you and the Ionian lady?" She decided to ask, fishbones would often say that was rude, but when did she listened to him? At this Rosark got surprised, he was simply enjoying the silence of the night, enjoying the illuminated paths. "Well there is nothing really going on with us." Honestly, they were just being friends.
"I shall rephrase then, what was going with you guys in the past?" Rosark was curious as to why she wanted to ask about that, but he felt tired, and went with the easiest option, speaking up his mind. "Well for a while we used to consider dating and we tried to make it work…but well she was the whole Enlightened elder and all of that, and I was a summoner, so she took the decision that we couldn't keep going…why I'm telling you this again?"
She smiled at him "Because we are partners in crime?" He ended up laughing a bit at that "I guess we are aren't we?" Her grin got bigger for a moment "Yup, the Loose Cannon and the Ghost against all the odds!" Rosark couldn't avoid laughing at her way of being loud "Sounds like a bad book" she laughed too at it.
"So you and Karma will be going back?" He was left in thought for a moment "Honestly? I'm not sure, Karma is not the same as she was back then, and I'm not the same either…" At this comment she patted him on the back "Hey don't feel down oldie, if anything time got you better, like pizza" He laughed "Don't you mean wine?" she answered fast "No, pizza tastes better the more time you leave it cold on a fridge, have you ever try it?" He laughed "Not really, is it a piltover thing?" she laughed "A thing people just do all the time if they have a pizza"
The Loose Cannon as crazy as she might be, was good company, easy to chat with and things just seemed to flow at her pace. In a way you just couldn't say no to her, she had a fun charm in her that just made you like her even if you were an enemy or a random civilian, she had her charisma.
Jinx seemed to understand the reason she enjoyed the company of the summoner, he was good at just flowing with the pace, no matter if it was slow or fast as a lighting, he could keep the pace and make it through, even if luck didn't seem to be on his way, it was as if the whole world just made it so that he was never alone, always stuck in an adventure.
She laughed at the idea of a younger Rosark always getting in messes and using his wits to escape. "So when did you found out you could do magic?" he laughed "I tried to run in the crowd because I had stolen the wrong wallet, so I suddenly thought things would be easier if I was like a ghost, and boom, suddenly I was running passing by the people, with time I found out I had the potential to be a summoner, and they gave me the robe you have seen before"
Indeed, the world never left Rosark alone it seemed, getting caught in the river he wasn't afraid of. She decided it would be nice to ask in a way fishbones would try, "Hey Rosark" he just hummed at the mention of his name "Want to be friends?" he smiled "We are already friends" she smiled back and they reached the institute. As Jinx made her way through the institute she was caught with the appearance of Vi in the hallway.
"Black suits you kid, but still blue is your color in the end" Vi wasn't wearing her gauntlets, she was just standing there, relaxed in her clothes. No scowl in her face, she seemed awfully relaxed. "Thanks, went to see some paintings" Vi hummed in acknowledgement before speaking up. "Is fun isn't he? He is like a sort of grandpa you can chat of anything with" This time it was her who hummed in acknowledgement of the phrase, it fitted. "He is not that old you know?" Vi just looked at her "He is not old, but he is older than us kid"
"Im not going to try anything if that what you are thinking fathands, he is nice, but I already had my sights on someone else" This took Vi by surprise, she never thought the demented bluenette had it in her. "So who is the lucky guy?" Jinx laughed "She is lucky, but she is too stubborn still" Vi hummed in approval before Jinx made the motion of a gun with her fingers "Bam, you are on my sights" Jinx smiled, and left a wide open Vi on the hallway.
In the opposite direction of the hallway Rosark was making his way to his room until he clashed with someone. "My apologies, I didn't saw you" Irelia, the will of the blades. "No worries Irelia, I wasn't looking either" Before he could keep on walking her hand stopped him in place. "Hey…Im sorry of they saying you are a thing of the past" Surprising, they had never spoke too much.
"No worries, I know I'm not a thing of the past, so I might as well keep my way to sleep" Irelia nodded and said something surprising "If is okay with you, could I help you in a match tomorrow?" Irelia offering help? What was the world coming too? "Sure, just meet me in the lobby in the morning" Irelia smiled and left him.
"What's with the sudden support?" as he walked in the hallway he saw the moon making its light through the windows and smiled. "Is a beautiful night for the hunt isn't?" said a soft voice "The best night for the best game!" said a louder voice. Rosark looked at the couple. Kindred, the lamb and the wolf. "Hello to you too…how things been going?" Wolf decided to ignore him and Lamb answered "Hunting for political reasons is weird…but we make the best we can, having a place to stay is comfortable" He nodded at them.
Kindred. He had been in the institute and seeing all kind of things, watching the Kindred was something different though, if he was honest, he would rather deal with the Wolf and avoid the Lamb who for a weird reason always seemed to follow him in the hallways since they came. "Im glad…mind if I ask why you are here though." Wolf laughed as the Lamb spoke "We enjoy seeing you"
"Is fun seeing you survive!" said the Wolf "Is entertaining to see how you think you can fool death" said the Lamb in her calm voice.
Honestly his life had been always full of moments in which he thought it would be the last one, as a thief, as a summoner, or just in the recent events. Luck had always seem to come and go, but he always made it out. Knowing the existence of this two he wasn't really surprised of that. "Well I'm glad to know I can be a good entertainment for you two"
The Wolf smiled as the Lamb simply nodded "Someday you will have to choose, my arrow or his fangs" I smile at them "That day is not close though" The Wolf smile only grew larger "Not afraid of the end summoner?" He simply chuckled at that "Oh no, I'm really afraid of the end, but there is no use in living with fear" The Lamb made small jumps faster than what he could caught on, and suddenly thanks to the window they were face to face.
If he wasn't so tired he would have screamed in surprise at the proximity "You are funny summoner, we have seen many like you in the past…and they all shivered in fear in the end…will you be the same I wonder?" He poked the mask of the Lamb on the place he suspected its nose would be, for a moment the lights that came out from the mask seemed to glow brighter "Time will tell, until then, good night Lamb, same to you Wolf"
As Rosark left them to keep on his road Wolf started to laugh around Lamb "He poked your nose! I didn't thought he would do it!" Lamb seemed to scratch under her mask "Is not funny…how can he be so relaxed in our presence?" Wolf laughed and stated the words he said "He said it himself, no use in living with fear" As Wolf was laughing Lamb could only think one thing.
Summoner Rosark was weird.
Cut! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! We got to see other champions, what will happen next?! Will the next match make Rosark shine in the eyes of the council of summoners? What is going on with Jinx and Vi? Stay tuned!