chasing the sun ( semi-open )

[interlucere]

Who: Lux Crownguard and others!
When: Throughout June
Where: Around town.
What: Quests and catch-all.
Warnings: N/A (will update if/when necessary)

o1. HAVE BIKE, WILL TRAVEL (talk travels).

[ Lux believes she's prepared for everything, and being a postwoman doesn't sound too hard. It could even be fun! What better way to get to know the city and the people living in it than by delivering mail. She's even dressed for the occasion, her hair tied back in a braid to keep it out of her way. A Demacian is always, always prepared—and for the most part, she is.

But Lux has never ridden a bicycle before. This is the first time she's seen one more than in passing, so that might put a damper on things. But she will not be deterred! It can't be any harder than riding a horse, right? That takes an immense amount of balance and upper body strength, so she should be fine.

Over the course of the first few days of the month, Lux can be find in various stages of either learning how to ride, wobbling slowly down the sidewalk (the mail bag is heavy and it's throwing off her balance), or simply pushing bicycle and bag like a cart while huffing. This poor girl could probably use training wheels, but they don't exist... or she's too stubborn to use them. Probably both. Help her or stay out of her way. ]

o2. HEARTS DANCE IN 3/4 TIME (arrangements for you).

[ Normally, Lux wouldn't be caught dead in a place like this. A respectable young lady like herself has a reputation to uphold, but there's no one here from Demacia to report back on what young Lady Crownguard chooses to do with her time. Which, as it turns out, is learning one of the local dances. So much could be said about a culture just by observing how they celebrate, and if asked, that's her reason for being here.

But honestly, it's been a long time since she's been able to enjoy something like this. The parties and galas around Snowdown were always so reserved, and as she got older, it became less about having fun, and more about who she would talk to. Who she would dance with. For once, she gets to decide, and that makes coming to this area of the city worth it.

Approaching the closest person she finds without a partner, she beams at them, looking like she's genuinely enjoying herself. ]

Did you want to give it a try? I think I've got the steps down.

[ She probably won't step on your toes, at least. ]

o3. FITTING IN LIKE A GLOVE.

[ Keeping herself busy, Lux chalks up the odd feeling to fatigue. She goes to great pains in order to keep her emotions in check, and after years of mantras and meditation, it has become second nature to her. But for some reason, she finds it more difficult to keep things even keel. Lux may not be blowing up at others, but she can feel her mood fluctuate, and with it a very familiar sensation that she had assumed would have gone away with the change in her powers.

Feeling like she could lose control, like the magic flowing within might force its way to the surface if she isn't careful. She can't let that happen; even if she knows she isn't in danger here, Lux isn't going to shake that fear overnight.

Which is what brings her to the shopping district, and as she stands in front of the window display of a somewhat high-end boutique, she vaguely fidgets with her hands, as if trying to make a decision. That was always where it started in the past, her light bubbling to the surface and shimmering unnaturally underneath her skin. She could deal with the physical discomfort, but she can't let people see her like that. But... ]

...I didn't think finding something would be this difficult.

[ There she goes, mumbling to herself. It's fine, no one is pay attention to her. Probably. ]

( OOC| Character specific top-levels can be found in the comments. If you would like to plan a thread, feel free to contact me at impearls or via PM. Otherwise, feel free to hit this post up with a top level. )

Comments

[interlucere]

[ He can look down at her hand all he wants, because Lux isn't moving it. Even if Akira insists that he feels fine, as far as she is concerned, that's only temporary. The splotches on his ears are concerning, and likely only the beginning of what's to come.

The logical leap he makes doesn't add up, and staring up at him, the confusion is apparent on her face. ]

Why would your job cause your ears to change colors?

[ Why does she feel like she should be even more concerned for his health and well-being? ]

[scaling]

[ He could just turn around and continue working, but Akira has a feeling that Lux wouldn't hesitate to drag him down from the ladder. Should he say that he just spilled something magical on himself or something like that? He's spent so much time coming up with quick, smooth lies to hide his Phantom Thief activities that it doesn't take much effort to come up with a few possibilities.

After a moment, he takes her hand, averted eyes shifting to meet the concern in Lux's. It reminds him of the look she wore when she saw him after the full moon.

Yeah, no. Akira can't lie to her on this one. ]

It's testing out stuff at an apothecary. They said there might be side effects.

[interlucere]

[ He's not wrong, she would continue to persist even if he chose to go back to work. May not drag him down the ladder, that's a dangerous escalation that would likely end in him falling on her.

The relief is almost immediate when he takes her hand, and she slowly attempts to guide him down to the ground. That's it, let's get him checked out— ]

...

[ That reassuring smile frozen solid on her face, she stares up at him quietly.

Akira. Akira, she was joking that day. She didn't think he would actually subject himself to something like that again. A heavy silence falls over them. Wow, she's speechless, good job. ]

...Really, Akira?

[ Said in the most judgmentally deadpan tone she can muster. Veiled Lady, give her strength so she can deal with this dumbass. ]

[scaling]

[ Coming down the ladder from above, he has the perfect view of Lux's reaction as his words register. Akira is inwardly grateful that his ears aren't fully formed yet, because while he manages to keep his expression somewhat neutral, he can feel his colorfully splotched ears twitch as if wanting to swivel back. ]

I didn't have any side effects when I did it before.

[ That's a weak excuse. Magical medicine and regular medicine are extremely different. ]

... And it didn't seem any more shady than the clinic back home.

[ He's really not helping his case. Doctor Takemi may have knowingly sold unlicensed medicine to a minor, but this place doesn't exactly have the same sort of laws in place that would make it a comparable metric. That much is obvious from how he and Akechi were able to buy alcohol without any questions. ]

[interlucere]

[ Why is he like this! It really is none of her business, by at the same time, it's concerning how little he seems to care about his own well-being. Sure, it could be so much worse (and it's too soon to tell if this is the only side effect he'll experience), but please think more of yourself, Akira? This man is going to be the death of her, he's going to kill her with worry. ]

That's reassuring.

[ It's not, but the damage has already been done, and with a hard sigh, Lux lets go of his hand. Unwinding the garland hastily thrown over her shoulders, she wraps one length around his instead. ]

Hold the ladder, I'll take care of the rest.

[ She can't exactly catch him if he falls off. ]

[scaling]

[ Suddenly it feels like he's seven years old again and being scolded by his mother for hurting himself while trying to do a backflip off his bed.

... He's not about to mention to Lux that she's reminding him of him mom. ]

Here, let me move the ladder.

[ If he was having to hang off to reach the side, Lux will surely need that much. Akira shifts it a few feet to the right and then holds on as requested so that she can climb up. ]

... At least if this is permanent, I'll be colorful for the festival. [ Because he's watching the same spots begin to blossom on his arm as he steadies the ladder. At this rate, he's going to look like a bag of Skittles. ]

[interlucere]

[ Please don't tell her that she reminds him of his mom. He's technically the older one of the pair, anyway.

Lux stands back as he repositions the ladder, a quiet from settling on her face. Maybe she should have just left this alone. Akira doesn't necessarily need anyone fussing over him, but at the same time, he seems the type to just do things without thinking of how it will affect him. It's reckless—and she is the biggest hypocrite to brow beat him for it. ]

Thank you.

[ Beginning to climb up, she waits until she's at the top to look down at him with a wry half-smile. ]

We could paint the rest of you to match, if you really want to stand out. I think you would look good in bright pink. It's very festive.

[ If he's going to be a smart ass... But hopefully this isn't permanent, not that he would learn his lesson if it was. ]