~ SPOILERS for the 4th episode of Arcane ~

(this is the setting for "The Trencher")

Jayce tried taking a deep breath, fidgeting with the buttons of the fanciest jacket he owned. He attempted to seem confident, staring at his reflection in the gold-framed hallway mirror, but the young man looking back at him appeared just as nervous as he felt. Of course he let Councillor Medarda talk him into coming here, of course Viktor insisted that it would be wiser for him to keep studying the Hextech... Mel swore that his presence at the soiree would make or break his pitch. The future of Hextech was riding on his image, according to the powerful councilwoman. And arriving more than an hour late would definitely not contribute positively to his reputation. After all, ninety-nine percent of the people in that room were already convinced he was simply a brash madman, blinded by youthful delusions. His standing couldn't logically degrade itself, right? He forced a smile upon his face, pulled at a few threads of his black hair and resolutely marched toward the double doors. Jayce waltzed in, thinking about how badly he would have to make Viktor pay for not coming along. While reasoning with himself because he knew that blaming his friend for his discomfort was unfair, he began weaving through the posh crowd in search for the true culprit.

~

Time seemed to pass by so unbearably slowly at this type of events, compared to the hours Jayce could spend tweaking even the most trivial invention of his. Every minute in his workshop felt like a mere second, every minute at this party - if it could even be qualified with that term - felt like an interminable hour. He was standing with his back against a wall, distractedly scanning the richest inhabitants of Piltover as they gossiped, drank, ate far too complex minuscule hors-d'oeuvres and discussed every boring topic under the sun. The clicking of heels against the marble floor drew his attention away from his inner dialogue. He glanced to his right and was stunned, with his eyes wider and his jaw seconds away from falling on the floor.

Most certainly like anyone else in the large room, Jayce had noticed her earlier and his focus had wavered to observe her inhuman beauty. Her clear skin nearly glimmered under the pale and bright chandelier lighting, and her abundant curls swirled past her slim shoulders, braided at the front and tied back above her head, at the exception of two strands that framed her face. It transpired mischievousness and lust, an attractive combination. Her lips, frozen in an eternal smirk, were painted dark red, and black eye makeup matched her unusual dress. At least, unusual for the social scene they were surrounded by. It was turtle-necked and made of a form-fitting material that enhanced her desirable build in ways that should have been illegal. The length was the most "shocking" part, though, since the dress covered around six inches of her upper thigh, at most. Tights, heels and a long-sleeved leather jacket - all the color of coal - covered her from head to toe. Despite it all, including the few bejeweled items that completed her look, it was something else that had captivated him. Soft, long, curved lashes bordered the creature's hypnotizing gaze. Her left eye was dark brown, tinged with crimson hues. The right one was utterly and purely blue, a tint more intense than a cloudless sky or a deep sea, not light and diluted, not greenish nor grayish, not dark and sensual... Strangely her iris was the exact shade of a Hex crystal.

~

Hiedra extended her right forearm to the side, keeping her champagne flute incredibly stable between her fingers. She had entertained herself with the idea that she would get to meet Jayce Talis before any of her sisters. The four of them basically worshiped him. She thought he was indeed interesting, but maybe not worthy of their reverence.

   "Jayce Talis, the man of the hour. I've been waiting a long time for this."

She held out her left hand, he gawked at the rings on her slender fingers and her sharp nails coated in dark gray. Rapidly enough, he turned to face her and shook it politely, uncertain of what he should say.

   "And you are..?"

The rubies, garnets and other various red gems adorning her jewelry glistened when she moved.

   "Jillian."

He furrowed his brow at her simple answer, wondering why she hadn't bothered telling him what House she belonged to. In a matter of milliseconds, he realized why, along with who she was... Or rather, what. Deeply unnerved, he spurted out:

   "You wanted to talk to me?" He used nearly all his self-control to stop himself from pointing at his torso in confirmation.

Hiedra waved her free hand, as if to get rid of his doubts.

   "Unquestionably. I've heard of your research, and what you achieved is outstanding!" She tipped her glass forward to emphasize the already obvious awe in her voice.

Awaiting his reply, she elegantly brought it back to her mouth and patiently sipped on the sparkling, translucent, almost colorless wine.

   "I see, thank you," he said, courteously and still wary of the insanely seductive female that complimented his life's work.

   "Forgive me for being blunt, but have you considered liquefying the crystals?"

Her inquiry startled the inventor.

   "Uh, I don't think I have. Why?" His innate curiosity was beginning to churn and wash over his first impression of her.

   "Well, wouldn't it be exciting? Who knows, it could create a new medium to innovate or... I feel like it would broaden the realm of possibilities, y'know."

She proceeded to drink the quantity of alcohol that was left in her flute. Jayce kept his eyes on her as she gracefully swapped her empty glass for two full ones, not neglecting the crucial step of thanking the waiter from whose tray she picked the drinks up. Jillian appeared to be classier than he expected...

   "Exciting, yes, but..." The female handed him one of the champagne flutes, interrupting him, and he chuckled nervously before telling her:

   "Uh, no, thank you."

   "With the right equipment, I'm certain someone of your caliber could, y'know..."

She let her voice trail off and anchored her heterochromous eyes into his plain homochromous ones. She laughed silently and added:

   "... Achieve anything, really."

The young male could only stare, as she tipped the whole amount of wine, inside the glass he refused, down her throat.

   "Do you even know anything about the crystals I work on?" His tone didn't mask an ounce of his exasperation and barely let his honest inquisitiveness through.

Still, Hiedra could perceive the emotions of the birds flying above the roof, so she obviously had no problem feeling Jayce's minor indecisiveness.

   "Believe it or not, my knowledge of the Arcane is quite extensive. Most likely, I know more than you do, Mister Talis."

   "If that's the case, you would be highly helpful to my partner and I."

   "Really?! You better not be teasing me."

She slipped the edge of her full flute between her two rows of front teeth, upper and lower, as if biting the glass.

   "I'm not, I usually accomplish my goals." He couldn't bring himself to use the word "tease" with her.

   "As much as I desire to work for you, Mister Talis, I..."

She stopped mid-sentence to take a swig of champagne.

   "... Don't exactly follow a strict schedule. You see..."

The breath-takingly gorgeous creature took two steps forward, confidently gazing into Jayce's stupefied eyes.

   "... I do whatever I want, whenever I'd like to do it."

The double meaning of nearly everything she said didn't trouble Jayce furthermore. In fact, his mind was entirely focused on the possibility that the female standing in front of him possessed valuable information.

   "Would you feel comfortable sharing your supposed wisdom?"

   "I can do even better than that, how about a private demonstration?"

Hiedra sipped on her portion of alcohol, her provocative smile and stance only increasing in effect. The young man scratched the nape of his neck distractedly.

   "You're here to keep someone company, aren't you? Won't they..?"

   "Even more the reason for us to disappear right away. We'll be back by the end of this 'wondrous' event, don't worry." She pointed at the reception room, using her empty glass, while sarcastically establishing that the mixer was wondrous.

Her dark lipstick had slightly stained the rim of both the champagne flutes she nimbly held, without smearing around her mouth or fading drastically.

   "If you say so. I know somewhere no one will disturb us."

Jillian nodded appreciatively at him, drinking the last inch of alcohol from the second glass.

   "Lead the way?"

Before they could reach the double door, he felt a hand, sliding deftly between his torso and his right-side upper arm. She wrapped her fingers firmly around his bicep, though she instantly released him to whisper in his ear:

   "One second..." Her breath was softer than a spring breeze, but smelled pungently of fermented fruits. 

He watched her dispose of her empty flutes, then acquire a new one. The clear bubbly substance barely swirled in its container, the female apparently mastered the art of keeping a glass stable.

Once they had discreetly exited and he walked down corridors alongside her, he hoped this decision would have an ideal outcome.

All he heard was the regular clicking and knocking of Jillian's pair of high heels against the solid marble floors, sometimes broken up by the chiming of jewelry colliding together or with the flute's surface.