The waiter tapped his chin. He looked at Silver, "...Silver, may I make a suggestion that may make your search simpler? As in, I know someone who may be able to help you, no matter how...you view them? And with the presence of Lord Citrine and Lord Azure here, you would have nothing to fear."

---------------------------------------------------------

Vince took the paper and saluted Balder. "Thank you sir, I'll be sure to bring your daughter a brick of gold or something as a plead for her not to melt my face."

He took a step towards the shadows and disappeared. Not before he reappeared next to Balder and kissed him on the cheek. "That's for the throwing the knife at my face, a sorta I can be a b'dass too. Tah!"

In a puff of smoke, Vince disappeared.

Ethelyn gave Youay a few more kisses before replying to him.

"Mmh... I am too..."

And then they would do whatever for the rest of the night because certain people are too lazy to RP it.


-----

Silver looked back over to the waiter, tilting her head to one side for a moment before answering him.

".... You may..."

Citrine seemed to gain a look of relief at her answer, anything to get her mind off the thought of receiving insight. Azure continued to lean against the invisible object in silence.

------

"Sounds like a good plan. Good luck in your search."

Balder was about to turn back into the room where his children were playing when Vince kissed his cheek. The flesh sculpture was nearly about to get a knife through his skull, but luckily for him the thief had exercised his self control. He rather flatly replied to him just before he disappeared again.

"... The next time you do that you won't have a face..."

Once Vince was gone, Balder quickly rubbed off whatever might have gotten on his cheek, a disgusted look appearing on his face, and then went back to see what destruction his children might have caused.

"In relation to the information you would get. The reason is you should explore the experiences from an unbiased point of reference. Your other experiences would affect the outcome if you did it yourself." She blinked when Tex repeated what she had said before, suddenly remembering.
"Oh, 'but sometimes it doesn't'. And the feeling isn't literally like that, its morely the... Its hard to explain. It can be a bit of a relaxation thing..." She shrugs her shoulders at the next question.
"There are some things you just want to forget, or not worry about for the time. Alchohol can make you do so. And sometimes we feel we deserve the pain." She chuckles at the next question.
"Well flirting is often safer and is more like asking questions about whether someone might want them or not. Seduction is a much more active 'I want you and am doing this to do it' type thing. However both aren't always used due to love or the possibility of love." She shook her head at her next question.
"Neither. If anything they love each other more because of it. Most people are different in their experiences with love and how they love each other." She seemed to shrug at the question of whether she was ok to talk about it.
"Its not the worst thing to happen in my life. And it will give you a perspective of just how love can be twisted against someone else." She looked up at the roof, before back at Tex, taking a breath before she began.
"My first relationship came when I was 17. This was back when we were living in Noxus. I was still in school somewhat, and was also undergoing my mandatory time in the military when I met him, Samaeil Hivictar. He was quite handsome and quite the commander, if not a bit cruel but that was normal in Noxus. Like most girls around my age there I had quite the crush on him. Its how we like to say when someone really likes another. Anyhow, even though I was from one of the more noble families and had a better chance, I never liked my chances of dating him. So I'd like him from afar, focusing more on myself rather than seeking a relationship. I almost fainted when he came over and asked me out. However fainting like that would of been a sign of weakness. Weakness is not looked favourably upon in Noxus, worse if you are a noble born. And so we started dating. Looking back now he didn't quite treat me in the best way. I was too in love at the time to notice and worried about looking weak. Like sometimes he'd kiss other girls, brush me off in favor of spending time doing something frivolous, but he would still spend just enough time and apologise for certain things and then show me a good enough time not to notice. And he was a good kisser. My brother tried to convince me to break it off, but I put it down to him being jealous of my boyfriends higher status. He was a higher rank and had earned it in Noxian standards. And it also didn't help we did... some more carnal things. I didn't want to have se.x until I was 18 which he went along with. Didn't stop us from doing everything but actual se.x. He could please me in many ways. Probably helped I could do the same to him. And so came the time a week after my birthday. I had the evening completely planned, bring him over to my house, order the servants and security staff to say out of our way, cook my favourite meal for us both. He said he loved the meal, but that might of been a lie. All I could think of was how wonderful I thought he was and the anticipation for my first time. And then the time came and... Yeah..." From this point she began to explain what happened to her, what he did and how her brother saved her. She shuddered at certain parts, especially explaining what he had said to her, the pain she felt from his betrayal and how she reacted to it. She had tears in her eyes but they refused to fall.
"And that is how that one ended." She looked to the side before back to Tex, waiting for questions.

Soraka smiled at Sam's eagerness and listened to her question. She nodded slightly before giving her answer.

"Ah, that is a good question. And the answer is simply: yes, our actions will be felt by those who have been touched by the stars. The residue will dissipate over time, but for now it lingers."

"I thought so," Sam remarked, noticing the energy residue she was leaving behind, "Alright...so what did you have in mind next?"

Tex nodded slowly as she considered what Lucina said.

"The major limiting factor where this experiment is concerned is the relatively few number of female gremlins, especially those who might be willing to perform such an experiment. I will pass on your recommendation to the Collected, however, and let them decide what they will do."

She tilted her head to one side and blinked in confusion.

"Deserve pain, Heartslight? I can somewhat understand wanting to forget something for a while, but why would one think that they deserve to suffer pain?"

Each answer seemed to confuse her further.

"What do you mean by them not always being used due to love or the possibility of love?"

She blinked.

"More? How do you mean? I am not sure I understand."

She nodded calmly as Lucina began her story and once again remained quiet throughout. As the recounting continued and Lucina explained what had happened to her, Tex grimaced beneath her hood, the grimace deepening as Lucina shuddered and described the pain of betrayal and her reaction to it. When Lucina had finished, Tex sat for a few moments and fidgeted uncertainly, uncertain what to do to comfort her or what questions to ask. Eventually, however, she spoke.

"I...umm...Why?"

She shook her head, speaking again before Lucina could start to explain why he had done what he had done.

"Not that. I realize that some people are disturbed, enjoy inflicting pain on those weaker than they are, and are obsessed with their own power. While I cannot quite understand why or how he could take something of this nature and twist it so severely, his extreme cruelty is not overly surprising, I suppose. Why did you pick yourself up and try again? How did you get over it? Why are you telling me this? Any of this?"

She tilted her head to one side as she examined Lucina and noticed the tears in her eyes.

"Are...you alright, or would you rather discuss your current relationship? Your best one."

Lucina nodded when she said she was going to pass the recommendation down to the collected.
"Fair enough. It will provide a somewhat different experience, but for love focusing on the standard should work fine." Upon her question she nodded. Upon asking why someone thinks they deserve to suffer pain, she leaned back, her face somewhat more serious.
"Because sometimes we do things that aren't right, that don't feel right. Sometimes because of that we feel worse for what we have done, and don't feel we deserve what happiness we have. To that, sometimes we feel we deserve to be hurt for some of the things we have done." She smiled at the next question.
"Just that. Some people have fun flirting and seducing another not because they want them as a person. Some people just want the carnal pleasures, while some people like the control they can wield over someone with seduction." She smiled almost sadly, wishing that she could use more than words to explain it.
"Love is not simply 'I love you, you love me so all these paramaters must be completed otherwise we are not compatible.' Sigmund loves Emily, and trusts that what she does doesn't mean she loves him any less. Emily loves Sigmund. They would do anything for each other. Anything someone would do to one, you will have to mess with the both of them."
She smiled calmly, allowing the gremlin to get her thoughts before she answered her question.
"Because I wouldn't let what happen to me define how I would love someone. Because I wouldn't let him take away the happiness I could feel. How I got over that? That will take a few more stories." She smiled warmly to the creature at the next question. She blinked back her tears.
"Because love is one of the best feelings in the world. It is a major motivating factor to us as humans. And might actually help you understand actions of other humans." She had a couple of more, but those will do for now. Lucina shrugged.
"It might be better to save it for later. However if that is the one you want to listen to now I guess we can. And I'm ok. I got over it a long time ago, and experienced something that hurt me much worse."

As Lucina explained why they believed they might deserve pain and her expression became more serious, Tex frowned.

"That is stupid, Heartslight."

Deciding that would not be taken well, the gremlin attempted to clarify what she meant.

"Most of what I have experienced in recent memory has been filled with pain, Heartslight. Each instance has been a new experience, something else to add to the knowledge of the whole, and I would not get rid of them even if I could. However, if I have learned much of anything from all of that pain, it is that pleasure, happiness, should be enjoyed and valued, whether one feels they deserve it or not. Moments of pleasure are so scarce, and come around so rarely, that it is foolish and insulting to inject pain into them. Is there not enough pain without artificially adding more?"

She nodded in sudden understanding.

"Oh. You mean that some people use flirting and seduction for other reasons than love."

As Lucina continued, Tex nodded, a smile on her face.

"We noticed. Several times. And while they are dangerous separately, they are absolutely terrifying when they are together."

She nodded slowly.

"We have discussed entering a relationship, good relationships, bad relationships, and relationships' conclusions. I believe the next subject would be the recovery afterward, for which those stories might be helpful, if you have time or the willingness to tell them.."

She tilted her head to one side.

"I apologize if I sound insensitive, but why do you care? I appreciate it, and am grateful for the knowledge you are giving me.. But what does it matter to you what I know or understand?"

She nodded.

"Then we will save that for later."

The waiter stated, "Her. The Matriarch. She met an angel once. If you were able to contact her, then with the presence of Lord Citrine and Azure as bait, she would come for a chance to speak with them in exchange for information."

-----------------------------------

Mountain Somewhere

Vince whistled happily as he hiked up the mountain. Lily held a literal brick of gold in hand, hopefully as a way to bribe Aydin to speak with them and not melt their faces off. He would eventually reach the entrance and would call into the cavern, "Hoy hoy! Anyone home? I got shiny gold!"

Silver cringed at the mention of Vanessa. She went into silent contemplation before sighing and rubbing her eyes with one hand.

"Ehhhh... Fiiinee.... Call her over..."

Citrine gave the waiter an odd look for a moment, then an expression of realization appeared on his face.

"The Matriarch? Is that.... Oooooohhh! She's the funny flesh sculpty lady!"

Azure hummed curiously and casually crossed his arms in front of himself.

"Flesh sculpture, eh? Don't run into those too often..."

His golden brother clasped his hands together rather excitedly and looked towards him.

"Oh yes! This one is going to go on some kind if epic space adventure too!"

This revelation caused a rather annoyed look to generate from Azure.

"Citrine... We aren't supposed to speak of future events."

"But--!"

He was quick to cut Citrine off, a slight scolding tone in his voice.

"Doesn't matter if she isn't here. What we know and see is not for mortal ears to hear, even if its innocent and exciting."

Citrine muttered something under his breath and slumped his shoulders slightly. The words 'stupid rules' might have been heard from his grumblings.

--------

Vince would hear a lovely echo from the cave, yet nothing in reply. If he were to look at the map that Balder had given him, he would see a note at the bottom saying:

If there's no one there, just go in and wait around. She'll be by eventually. Trust me.