Arcane Anew (Rewrite)

Entresol's streets buzzed with activity, the chaotic noise blending into a singular, dull roar. Gas masks, Chemtech gear, and puffs of tobacco served as constant reminders of the Undercity's gritty nature.

Beelining it for a meat stall, Orion unknowingly ended up at Jericho's stand which was a little closer than his usual gruel-and-grits vendor. Guttural laughter broke through the crowd's noise as Jericho, a fish-type humanoid creature twice the size of any man, with grey skin and jagged teeth, turned to face him.

Orion became star-struck for a moment after recognizing him from the show before pointing at two sets of frog legs. Again, Jericho laughed heartily before silently holding up five fat fingers in response.

"Really? That's expensive," Orion complained, but still pushed over the three looted full bronze coins.

The smell of sizzling meat was intoxicating, especially after what he had just been through. His stomach growled right when Jericho's fat hand scooped up the bronzes, sliding a holed bronze back, and instantly went to work.

'Thankfully, I don't have to understand half of these people,' Orion thought after sitting. Jericho began speaking in a tongue he couldn't recognize. 

'Vi must've been getting some nice pocket money to eat here regularly…'

"Quite the scar you have there. Amazing how it healed so fast…"

A soft, seductive voice cut through the air, causing him to jump slightly. Orion turned toward the source and his eyes locked onto what might have been the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in the Undercity.

'Wait... I know this lady!'

Smiling, 'C' stood there in her same alluring jet-black dress that clung to her figure. Eyes couldn't help but wander as they passed- curiosity and jealousy toward the 'lucky' individual who held her attention.

The soft clinking of metal startled him out of it when she gently placed two full silver coins on the countertop. Orion's wary and startled expression immediately shifted to a glare.

"Now, now, don't be upset," C purred with amusement, her emerald eyes glinting with a slight smile. "You survived. Money, as promised."

'If only I really did fucking survive, this money wouldn't feel so disgusting then. Wait…'

"How do you know about-"

"They were mine."

Immediately, Orion jumped up from the seat and looked with alarm at the crowd. One, two- five- more? He couldn't count the number of warning or hostile glares directed at him from those nearby, mixed into the bustling crowd.

Were they on C's side, or was it because he had her attention, or both?

The metal clinking of utensils stopped. Jericho looked over, his friendly smile vanishing into a deep frown as he glared at the woman bothering his customer.

"It was quite the pleasant surprise to find you alive. Not so pleasant when you killed my two loyal gardeners," C sighed unhappily, tapping her chin with slender fingers.

Orion scoffed. "Your goons attacked me. If you knew where I was, you could've paid me normally. Paying me isn't why you're here."

C chuckled, stepping inside his personal space with a dangerous glint in her eye. "No? Then why am I here?"

Orion stiffened.

Most of the bustling street didn't seem to notice, or didn't care, but the ones who did were on edge. Jericho was tense too, uncertain if he could beat up all the people nearby threatening his customer.

"I'm curious," C's voice snapped him out of his silence. She provocatively began smoothing out his shirt near his tender side, never breaking eye contact.

Orion guardedly placed a hand on his gun, which was tucked tightly against the front of his waist, opposite the wound. He had two bullets left and one was already in the chamber.

"Most flowers cannot thrive on their own unless the soil is rich enough, and the soil down here is toxic. Furthermore, you have secrets."

"I like it when my men are mysterious," she smiled, tracing her fingers up to his chin.

So close to him, he caught the strength of her alluring floral perfume. Even to Earth Orion, it was a seductive scent through the otherwise foul stench of the streets. Worse still, to the Runeterra teenage Orion she was trying to manipulate, it might've been irresistible.

Orion gently removed her hand before smiling faintly down at her.

"I like it when I'm not threatened. What do you want?"

"Threatened?" C teased. "Who's threatening you?"

"…"

"You said to meet near the Cultivar if I was interested. This is not the Cultivar."

A plate clattered noisily next to Orion, breaking the tension. Jericho stood there with a broad smile, oblivious to the conversation, his expression screaming: "dig in!"

"Tsk." She clicked her tongue softly, her emerald eyes flicking toward Jericho. "A special breed."

"You'll hurt his feelings," Orion shrugged, boldly turning away to bite into his toad leg.

The corner of the lady's mouth twitched, betraying disgust at the food and his behavior, but her voice remained cool.

"Not all flowers bloom during the day. I simply want you to pick some flowers for me and in return, I'll pay you in silver."

Orion paused mid-bite, the savory toad leg squirting savory liquid fat. "I don't need your money."

"Ah, yes… You've planted new roots and became Vander's new puppy, haven't you? Making friends with his other puppies too, I'm taking it?"

Freezing, he looked back at her plastered smile.

'She's been having me followed since the beginning? That means they're in danger too if…'

'Will this break the Arcane timeline if I start trouble here and it puts Vander's family in danger? Has my appearance already broken the timeline?'

C saw his silence and smirked.

"The budding flowers of Zaun are not ones I intend to harm, even if they are… weak. You don't have to worry."

'Zaun…'

Sighing tiredly, she gestured with an open hand. "As stated, I merely want you to pick flowers for my garden. In return, I'll pay in silver."

"Picking literal flowers? What expensive-ass flowers could be worth silver?"

Her eyes gleamed when he finally asked something related to the job.

"The kind that requires years to cultivate. Each one is crafted with care and carries rare and unique traits for alchemy. Unfortunately, they're locked up in Count Mei's Menagerie."

Orion's chewing renewed mid-conversation, his stomach releasing fresh complaints of insatiable hunger.

"Topside…?"

"Indeed," she purred. Her eyes danced with predatory intent, and her words slithered like a snake through grass.

"If you wish to be more than a mere street rat, if you're looking to rise, this is your opportunity. Plenty of pay- far more than what Vander could ever offer."

'The last 'opportunity' killed me…'

Her gaze sharpened and locked onto him, her tone suddenly all business.

"I'm not asking you to abandon him. I only request that you help me sometimes. You still have a choice."

'Yeah… but behind this friendly offer is a clear threat toward Vander and the kids. Otherwise you wouldn't have mentioned them. You didn't even talk about your fuckers who assaulted me.'

Orion didn't answer, his thoughts racing as he weighed her words. The silent tension was broken by a rustle of fabric. Her hand reached into her top and withdrew a small folded parchment. She slid it across the stall counter toward Orion.

"Written are the details and the required tool for scouting. If you are interested, deliver the flowers to the designated location. One of my associates will be waiting."

C spoke coolly, as if business had been concluded.

Stepping away, she straightened her dress with practiced elegance and turned to leave. She paused, glanced back with a playful smirk, and walked away.

A faint scent of flowers lingered in her wake as her figure disappeared into the crowd. Orion frowned, his gaze dropping to the parchment with conflicted emotions.

Fixers approaching innocent kids and teenagers wasn't rare in the Undercity. But it was unnatural and unnerving how boldly this lady had approached him after everything.

After she left, the hostile eyes also disappeared one by one. The feeling of being watched, whether someone still lurked or not, did not.

'It's not a bad gig on the surface,' Orion thought, his fingers brushing the note. 'But that's only on the surface. There's no way this is safe or normal.'

'She said she gave me a tool for the job too? She's subtly showing this isn't a request. That, or her money allows her to throw "tools" around without care. I doubt that though. This isn't Piltover.'

Not knowing if someone was watching, Orion sighed and pocketed the note for now, returning to devour the toad legs.

Meanwhile, in the bustling crowd, a flash of pink hair stood out, and a pair of curious eyes that had just witnessed the exchange.