Tags: Lux, Riven.
A sole tanned figure can be seen standing near what could barely pass as a two-storey stone tower made out of canvases, wooden planks and numerous painted pieces of repurposed cardboard boxes stacked together in order to hide the brittle skeleton of the fake medieval building. The solitary figure stares at the sad excuse of a construct for a moment before it dramatically raises its arms towards the ceiling, the surprisingly hot, blinding yellow light of a few antique spotlights gently cascading over an unruly mop of snow-white hair.
Riven sighs exaggeratedly as she longingly stares at the black hole of the tower's shadowy, painted cardboard balcony.
"Another night and here I am, desperate to bask in the beauty of my kind Demacian sun, the fair maiden Lady Luxiet." The former Noxian commander states in a soft tone of voice.
"But the hours run by and I have yet to lay eyes on her. Oh dear fates, could it be possible that my fair Lady has shunned me for another?"
Riven's loud monologue ends as the exiled warrior abruptly turns on the stage with her arms still extended outwards, her crimson eyes wandering across the sea of occupied seats as if she is directly addressing the silent spectators below.
…
Somebody in the crowd coughs awkwardly, Kled is currently asleep on his seat and Sona smiles at her in approval. Meanwhile Cassiopeia, the Serpent's Embrace is already sniffling faintly against her handkerchief and wiping the first tears away from her puffy red eyes.
Tsk, tough crowd…
The Exile pauses for a second until her words fade completely and silence engulfs the spacious dimly lit room. Riven's face then morphs into an expression that is more natural for the battle-hardened war veteran, a deep and serious frown.
"So be it then," The saddened Exile suddenly exclaims and her broken blade is abruptly unsheathed from her belt and raised proudly in the tense air. "With this shattered sword I will pierce my aching heart! Here will the fair maiden, Lady Luxiet discover my cold lifeless corpse like an altar, a monument to her beauty and grace. And if I can be fortunate enough to witness Lady Luxiet's radiance one more time before I die, Oh stars in the night sky! Please.. whisper my love to my kind and noble lady."
Riven then turns towards the quiet stone tower and kneels on the faded green mat that loosely represents a field covered in grass and lush vegetation. The Noxian warrior ominously raises her sword about to sever her own life. The black stone of the runic blade glinting under the yellow flare of the spotlights.
"Banish such thoughts, Riveo! Cast them away at once like your love has so admirably dispelled my loneliness. Like your voice has chased away any notion of unease that has been plaguing my tortured soul for endless long years."
Lux hastily emerges on the balcony of the fake tower as she exaggeratedly tosses herself against the railing with apparent fright, looking at the tanned Noxian woman down below with an expression of urgency plastered on her gentle and concerned face.
Riven freezes, the initially descending broken sword suddenly stilling within her grasp. Its hilt clasped in her numb fingers.
"O fair Lady Luxiet, you truly are a sight for sore eyes. Your mirage like a dream for a thirsty soul, your beauty shames the stars and your mere presence is like a balm for this humble scarred soldier. I thank you. Oh, how I thank you for your immense kindness, Lady Luxiet, but now I can't help but wonder: Just how could I, this crippled woman stand beside you and dare to accept your hand in marriage and your sincere affections? I can't of course… I wouldn't! Much better to toss myself against the remnants of my obsidian sword than to take advantage of your heart and accept this sacred union that is doomed."
The runic blade is dexterously flipped inside the pale Noxian's grasp, the weapon's chipped edge dramatically pressed against the bandaged chest of the former soldier. Riven minutely closes her eyes as she takes a deep, long and shaky breath.
"So be it, my love! But know this Riveo. If the sharp runic steel mercilessly runs you through and stops your heart forever, a poisonous Zaunite concoction I will instantly down in response and let its vile nature also end my life! For if I allow one as brave and pure as you perish before my very eyes and let you shatter both of our hearts with this broken sword that you carry, then I would be undoubtedly undeserving of happiness due to this great, terrible sin. My heart cruelly emptied from love and hope even with blood still pulsing inside my veins.
Riven abruptly blinks in sudden fright, the warrior's maroon-colored orbs instantly widening in fear as the Noxian deserter spots Lux removing the cork of a disguised Corrupting Potion, a sticker decorated with a smiling skull over two crossed pearly white bones having hastily been slapped over the small glass container for the sake of the play.
The two champions stay still, silently staring at each other with seemingly determined and stubborn, narrowed eyes. Riven is pressing the edge of her broken weapon against her bandaged chest while Luxanna is holding the rim of the transparent flask against her frowning lips that are presently forming a taut, straight line.
The spotlights lazily dim as a new third voice unexpectedly emanates from amidst the stage's shadows.
"And so Lady Luxiet and Riveo accepted each other's affections and the two of them were happy for many, many years, "Prince Jarvan leisurely narrates as he proudly walks to the center of the grand stage "Until death finally claimed Riveo one terrible, truly wretched night." He solemnly adds.
"But even then," The hulking prince smoothly continues over the sound of Cassiopeia's loud sobbing. "Lady Luxiet drunk the Zaunite poison as she had promised to her beloved and followed her lover into the inky swirls of the void. The couple's quiet heartbeats joined in oblivion once more, the two of them being together in death the same way as they were during their long happy lives..."
Two shadowy figures approach Jarvan from behind. The spotlights flash once again revealing Riven and Lux standing on either side of the Demacian prince and the three actors smile warmly as they grasp each other's hands and bow politely at the crowd.
...
The sheer volume of the spectators' applauding almost deafens the three champions, cheers and loud clapping thunderously echoing inside the actors' eardrums. Their faces quickly colored beet red due to all of the high praises they are receiving.
"Bravo! Bravo! That was magnificent!" Jhin yells in delectation. The Virtuoso abruptly stands up from his seat and starts clapping with gusto. "Bravo!"
Meanwhile Riven is still trying to wrap her head around how prince Jarvan and the rest of the Demacian champions had managed to convince her to participate in their little summer play.
Notes: O Riveo, Riveo, wherefore art thou Riveo?