(no subject)

[rememberher]

WHO: Lux Crownguard, and you!
WHEN: 9/1 - 9/15
WHERE: Caissa, Gammon
WHAT: Letter writing parties, part-time jobs, terrorizing the kitchen for the sake of self-study and channeling her inner cat. If you want a personal prompt, please message me at pearlescent and we'll work something out!
WARNINGS: Lux cooking. No other warnings needed.

♕ o1. FIVE MORE MINUTES.

[ Between Shiki's dog carrier and Teddy's... "thoughtful" gift, K203 was a bit loud. Naturally something of a light sleeper, this means that Lux hasn't actually been sleeping much at night. Or during the day. Or really at all.

So, the blond has taken to (accidentally) falling asleep in some strange places. In the middle of eating lunch, in the middle of studying, sometimes even in the middle of walking (watch out!). She'll mumble an apology if she runs into someone, but for the most part, she looks and sounds more zombie than woman. Will she be all right? ]

♕ o2. HELL'S KITCHEN PART 2.

...Is this a pinch? Maybe?

[ Who let her back in the kitchen?

It's time for everyone's least favorite cooking show, with your star, the clumsy chef Lux Crownguard. On today's menu? Looks like pasta, something that she had been practicing along with the poor soul who had taken it upon himself to teach her how to cook. On the plus side, it looks like she's improved from the last time, so the kitchen probably won't burn down!

But... ]

Well, this sort of looks like an onion...

[ There's also that.

All right, so what did Subaki say? Cut everything in perfectly measured pieces? Oh, but Sion said that that wasn't as important, that she should worry about presentation later. Was it important to make sure it looked good as well as tasted good? She wasn't sure...

Watching over the pot like her very life depending on it, staring the thing down with a deep-creased frown, she checked her pocket watch religiously. She would get this right.

Just a little taste to see and— ]

—!!

[ Augh, that wasn't like an onion at all! It's probably not a good sign when someone starts sputtering and coughing after trying their own food, is it? ]

♕ o3. THE LIGHT MAGE IS A PART-TIMER.

[ Are you out running errands? Having a day on the town? Wasting time and/or money? Hey, doesn't that cashier look familiar? Or that person washing dishes (lord knows that's the only way anyone will let her get close to the kitchen)? She keeps popping up in strange places, always cheery and ready to smile when she's on the clock.

But off? She can be found either sitting outside of said shop or restaurant (see: probably sleeping), inquiring about part-time work or jobs, or shuttling between places. She looks a bit ragged, but somehow... still seemingly accomplished.

If approached between work (even if it's by someone she knows), she'll give a winced smile, waving her hands lightly. ]

I'm sorry, I'm not on the clock right now...

♕ o4. PEN PALS.

[ All around the Hall of Glory, posters have been placed. Somewhat simple in design, they show a picture of what looks to be a hero sitting at a table, writing something. They actually don't look half bad, like the person who drafted the fliers might actually have a bit of an artistic knack.

The message is simple:

LETTER WRITING PARTY
THIS EVENING AT 5PM IN THE COMMONS AREA

SNACKS, DRINKS AND STATIONARY ITEMS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
LET'S SPREAD A BIT OF HOPE TO THE PEOPLE OF GAMMON!

And sitting waiting is a young blond woman. True to her word, there are snacks, simple things she likely picked up from a store somewhere, cups for drinks, and a nice pile of cards, paper and envelopes. Seeing someone approach, her expression brightens, and she gives a small wave. ]

I was beginning to think I would be the only one here.

Comments

04

[fuhrinkaed]

Aww, come on now--you have to have known I'd show up.

[Ed hasn't just shown up--he's also brought snacks of his own to contribute to the snackpile.]

If it's about spreading hope, then I'm there. It's as simple as that. So! We're writing letters for that festival, right? Did you have anyone in mind in particular?

[rememberher]

[ Snacks for the snackthrone! ]

Honestly, I assumed that most people would think that a "letter party" was a bit too tacky.

[ Not... that she was calling you tacky, Ed. ]

Mm, I don't think it necessarily matters, so long as we're writing letters to someone. Did you have anyone in mind?

[fuhrinkaed]

Tacky?! Any party is a good party! [But, moving on!] Mmm... nobody in particular. Which I guess means 'everyone.'

[He pauses for a second before...]

Do you think they let post go to Noir, too? It'd be rude if I didn't send something to all of my friends.

03

[femmefailtale]

Yeah... I know. [Meliora has a knack for noticing patterns and recognizing faces--and she recognizes this face, from about two or three different places she's been to today.]

[She offers Lux a bottle of water, other hand on her hip.]

Actually, I just wanted to ask if you had like... two or three identical twins?

[rememberher]

Oh...

[ Haha, well this was awkward, wasn't it? Oh well, Lux seems to laugh it off well enough.

Taking the bottle graciously, she begins unscrewing the top before looking at the other woman quizzically. ]

Identical twins? Me? No, why do you ask?

[femmefailtale]

Because I've seen you around today in like, four or five different jobs. Why ya' workin' so hard if it's just you? We're supposed to relax, enjoy the hero biz, have some fun between running off to our slow and inevitable demise.

What's got you all in a tizzy, eh?

2

[chronosynthesis]

[The smell of fresh cooking is what gets Syrlya to stop and wander into the kitchen as he passes by. He peers inside from the doorway before coming around to her side.] What--[Oh, she's coughing.]

... What are you trying to make?

[rememberher]

[ Water, Syrlya. Please.

Her hand still held at her mouth, her eyes closed and teary, she manages to choke out a response. ]

It's pasta, but—

[ She coughs a few times again, clearing her throat. She may have just shaved a few years off of her life with that one... ]

[chronosynthesis]

No good? Too spicy? [He moves to put a hand lightly on her back to steady her as she coughs away.] Er--a moment.

[He digs through a few cabinets before he finds a bowl and scoops water into it, hurriedly offering it to her.]

04

[nh2h]

[Letter writing? Party? Spreading hope?

...Stationary?! Wander was so excited he could hardly wait for 5pm! At that precise moment, he opened the door and returned the small wave with an over eager one of his own.]

What? Who'd want to miss out on a letter writing party? Especially when it's for something good like spreading hope!

[rememberher]

[ The stationary was the best part, the young hero making sure to cover a wide range of requests. The type of paper should match the writer, this was very important! ]

Well, you're the first— [ Ah... what are you exactly, friend? ] Hero to come, so perhaps you can tell me.

[nh2h]

I wouldn't know. This party is amazing!

[Disregard the fact that he just got here. He sat beside Lux. Think quickly, because he reached out to give her a vigorous handshake.]

It's nice to meet you. What's your name? Folks call me Wander!

[He sat back in his seat and kicked his feet out before him while he removed his hat. He shook it and out tumbled pictures upon pictures that he had collected through the mail. Seemed he had a lot of writing to do.]

wildcards 1 and 4!! rebel!!

[likethelight]

[ Lux...

Lux, really?

He'd seen the flyers and they had been disturbingly recognizable as who had probably made them. But to come and find her alone and dozing lightly as she'd been waiting for what was certainly supposed to be droves of Heroes eager to pour out their feelings... Ah, well. Maybe it was better this way? Else he would have smiled and kept going.

(So ironic for the Exorcist who cares so freely for everyone but could never be caught dead writing letters to all those people with others.)

(It's just personal. And he's the sort to express sentiments like that face-to-face.)

But it's also why he's a little relieved to find her briefly alone and asleep. Even if he'd been expecting some noisy and cheerful gathering he'd smile at but probably skirt away from. And it's why he'll shake her gently by the shoulder because he figures she doesn't want to be asleep here. ]

Ne, Lux—

[ If you're that tired shouldn't you call this off for later perhaps? ]

tsk tsk tsk.

[rememberher]

[ She only meant to rest her eyes. A hand rested at her cheek, it was only supposed to be for a moment, a bit of a recharge before she had to be on again. But a moment turned into five, then into ten, and then gods knew how long, before Allen found her gently dozing, blissfully unaware that there was someone nearby.

And she had always been such a light sleeper, too... Strange.

Lux didn't feel him approach, but quickly startled when he shook her shoulder, letting out a soft gasp (Ah!) as she tipped back in her chair. It took a moment and a few very quick blinks for her sleep-addled brain to catch up, and as she stared up at him, the process was likely very apparent. ]

...Eh? Allen?

[ Even her voice was dusty from sleep? How long had she been dozing here, really?

Bringing a hand up to gently rub the sleep from her eye, she drowsily, if not a bit sheepishly, smiled up at him. Whoops, he saw that didn't he? Sorry... ]

How long was I asleep?

[likethelight]

[ Smiling at that, he waves a hand lightly and pulls up a chair just slightly across from her, letting his hands fold in his lap with a posture as easily straight as ever. ]

Not long. [ Actually he has no idea but a little white lie won't hurt anyone. The truth would only make her feel guilty. ]

It's alright, you haven't missed anyone.

[ Actually, he's here almost an hour early, figuring she would be setting things up still. ]

2!

[interchained]

[Gilbert had been busy preparing a meal himself when Lux appeared in the kitchen. Well, it wasn't anything unusual, the kitchen was open to all heroes, after all. So he didn't pay much attention at first, pretty sure that the girl knew what she was doing.

The thing was...she didn't. Standing quite far from her and the kitchen stove she was using, he could tell that the thing she was holding wasn't an onion. What it was though, he had no idea. Maybe that was the reason why he kept an eye on her while chopping vegetables.

If it wasn't for that, he wouldn't probably notice her expression after tasting her own whatever it was. The coughing that follows is bit concerning, so he puts the knife away and approaches the girl.]

Are you alright? Is it your first time cooking?

[He wouldn't be too surprised if it was...]

What are you trying to make anyway?

[rememberher]

[ She knew what she was doing! Somewhat!

Okay look, this was a vast improvement over last time where she very nearly burned the place down. A bit of extra spice is honestly a miracle compared to the tragedy that almost befell the Hall of Glory the last time Lux Crownguard set foot into the kitchen.

Shaking her head while still waving a hand near her mouth, the blond looked to be tearing up. Oof, what did she even put in there? ]

No, I—

[ Another cough, a bit less violent this time, and a few stabilizing breaths. ]

I've made this dish before, but never by myself...

3

[topkong]

No. You're on a bench.

[ Finger pistols, deployed! They're soon holstered as he takes a seat next to Lux, cocking his head off to the side as he gives her a once-over... ]

So when did heroes answer to The Clock? You should be resting up and taking care of yourself? Heck, even your hair is frizzing up...

[ Not that he'd be ever-so-rude to pick at physical appearances because Lux is a cute grill and good friend who would never punch him in the face, but it's very obvious she's been doing a ton of things--- even if he didn't see her literally working 100 jobs in less than 24 hours. ]

[rememberher]

[ Oh, it's Wukong. Sorry friend, she's a little tired, she didn't recognize you there for a moment. Moving over slightly so that he could sit if he wanted to, her eyes opened wide at his comment, hands immediately going to her head to ty to smooth her hair. ]

Really? But I spent so much time making it sit straight!

[ Nooooo, this was terrible! The worst! What if someone she knew saw that her hair wasn't totally straight and pristine 100% of the time?! ]

3

[brightsmile]

That's okay.

[Soleil didn't approach for help. More like she approached just because she saw Lux. Lux didn't need to be on "the clock"...whatever that was, to talk.... right?!]

How are you today? I noticed you were over here and you look a little tired?

[Definitely checking on her because she might be a little concerned. Yes.]

inbox ate this, rude inbox

[rememberher]

[ Oh! She knew that voice, actually, and looking up, Lux offered the other girl a cheery, albeit somewhat tired, smile. ]

Soleil, hello.

[ Haha, oh... She put a hand to her cheek, face leaning into it slightly. ]

Is it really that obvious?

4!!

[footfalls]

[granted, Lenalee has seen the job post about the letters, but she hasn't taken up the offer... as of yet. Maybe later, if she changes her mind. For now, she can't really foster any sort of encouragement for people she doesn't know, even if she did get some pretty cute letters already. And she's never been in the habit of writing letters back home, where letters to the bereaved and remaining family members served only as conduits to despair, where her own brother had placed a ban on them.]

[It's still difficult to reconcile this new world with her own.]

[but Lenalee takes note of the posters, the pretty hand they're written in, and finds herself heading down to the commons area anyway, a little bit before 5 pm.]

Oh... Lux!

[and the look of curiosity on Lenalee's face brightens, changing to one of surprise as she approaches Lux.]

The posters looked too nice for me not to attend. Were you the one who drew them?

[rememberher]

[ Oh, a familiar face, even better! Let's see, the girl she met back in Gammon, what was her name again... ]

Lenalee, good evening!

[ Truthfully, she had not expected to see anyone here, what with it being such short notice at all. But to have someone completely new show up, that was heartening in a way. Lux had suggested the other girl look into taking odd jobs anyhow, and while this one wasn't as exotic as they came, it certainly could be described as odd.

Smiling brightly, she tilted her head gently. ]

I'm glad that you liked them. I was, although they came out a bit rushed. Still, they seemed to do the job, so I can't complain.

[ She gestured toward one of the (many) empty chairs. ]

I'm almost done setting up, so please feel free to make yourself comfortable.

01

[whipoflust]

[ He was passing by behind her on his way of finding a seat when he saw her head lean forward, her body following, and he gently puts a hand on her shoulder to pull her back up so she won't slump down into her food or something of the sorts. ]

Sleeping in your plate may not be too advisable, Miss. It can get terribly messy, I'm afraid.

[rememberher]

[ Startling as she felt someone put a hand on her shoulder, he hardly had to do much to actually wake Lux up. Flustering a bit, she looked over that shoulder, up at him, an embarrassed sort of flush spreading across her cheeks. ]

Oh, ah, yes, right!

[ Shoot, she fell asleep again, didn't she? Smiling sheepishly, she put a hand to her cheek. ]

Although, I was just resting my eyes.

[ Lux you were two seconds away from snoring don't lie. ]