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1
14 Days before The Lumination Festival
Flux was hunched over his table in Luminara Headquarters, staring at the paperwork like it would somehow magically fill in themselves. Unfortunately they had remained inanimate, laying flat on the table.
By that point he had been awake for 36 hours, having to complete it urgently for the Lumination Festival that was taking place two weeks later.
There was so much to do, from handling the logistics to setting up vendors to run the booths, coordinating all the shows, to visiting the chosen site to ensure there's no issue with the venues. Sometimes he wished that Legacy was the vice president instead.
3Below had it worse, in the rare moments Flux went over to his study to hand in some of the completed work, he glanced at his table – there were about five times more stacks of paperwork compared to his own. He shot 3Below a sympathizing glance, silently encouraging him as he left to tackle his own piles.
Saps had come over a few times, offering emotional support that helped Flux get through the heaps of paperwork. But as the sun was setting he had left to go rest at the request of Flux, he as still injured after all he needed the energy to recover.
Flux let out a long groan, stretching as he heard something pop at his shoulders from how still he had been the past few hours. He glanced at the clock on the side of his room, 3.45am, it's going to be a long night.
Just as he was mentally preparing himself to tackle another stack, his door opened with a click.
‘Who could it be at this hour?’
“Flux? I think you should get some sleep, you’ve been awake for two days straight already.” It was Thomas, carrying a cup of chamomile tea with him as he looked at the half-dead Flux with concern.
“I know…there's just so much stuff that needs to be done, and this is only the first part. I just need to finish up the remaining stuff, I already completed 80%? I probably can finish this in 8 hours, there’s not that much left.” Flux sighed, lines slowly blurring and merging with each other.
Seeing his friend’s persistence to continue with the work, he sighed as he pulled over one of the spare chairs Flux had scattered around his office for when his friends came by, and started taking a look at another of the stacks on Flux’s table.
“Thomas? What are you doing?” Flux had asked a mix of surprise and confusion flickered across his face.
“Hey I’m a council member too, what good would I be if I left our vice president to just do all this work, which concerns the citizens, all by himself? C’mon with more people doing it we can cut down that 8 hours to a 4.” Thomas patted him on his back, as he leaned back.
“If you say so…” Flux let out a breathless laugh, Thomas’s actions bringing a smile onto his face.
For the next few hours, sounds of pen writing and the scents of chamomile filled the room. A comfortable silence settled between them — albeit the occasional sighs and yawns — mainly from Flux.
By the time the sun was rising, Thomas and Flux had finally completed all the paperwork. Flux let out a long groan, stretching his arms as he stood up.
“Okay, now I just need to give these–.” His words were cut off with a yawn as he blinked his eyes blearily.
“Flux, go to sleep. I’ll bring these to 3Below.” Thomas slowly directed the exhausted flux onto the nearby couch, pulling out a blanket out of thin air as he draped it over him.
By the time Flux could respond, he was fast asleep.
2
11 Days before The Lumination Festival
The next few days were much lighter compared to those gruesome days, he mostly had to handle receiving the different vendors’ responses, confirming prices and area which their booth was going to cover. Walking around the streets of Luminara with Snowbird — him wanting to try the new diner that had just opened along the streets— he was enjoying the fresh air before his inevitable isolation in his office again once more things started to take off.
The streets were lively and bustling, the smell of food wafted through the air. The buildings were decorated with streamers and banners, hyping up the Lumination festival that was coming soon. Sounds of chatter filled the crowded space as some street vendors were waving at him.
“I see it! The diner is over there!” Snowbird pointed at a building in the distance, jumping up and down excitedly as if he was a little kid, eyes glowing with excitement and anticipation.
Before Snowbird could rush over, a sharp voice rang through.
“Fluixon! How dare you rip off my grandmother!” Flux’s head flew over to that accusation, the surrounding people becoming more silent at the commotion. A young man, maybe in his early twenties, stormed over in a rage, smoke practically coming out of his head.
“I’m sorry? Ripped off?” Flux raised a brow in confusion, trying to recall when he had done such a thing.
“Don't act all innocent! Here I thought the vice-president was a good man, but you had to lowball my grandmother for the payment of running a booth!” He jabbed a finger at Flux, a look of scorn on his face.
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the crowd, their faces slowly turning from confused to disgust.
Even though Flux knew he had plotted to kill 3Below and take over Luminara in his past life, he wouldn't stoop so low to harm a citizen, elderly no less!
Just as Flux was about to retaliate, a light hand rested upon his shoulder. “Don’t worry your sleep-deprived head, ur best friend’s got this.” Snowbird whispered to him so that only he could hear before stepping up face to face with that man.
“As far as I’m concerned, every vendor is paid a stack of diamonds each for the event which is 14 hours. Minimum wage according to labour laws would be a diamond an hour and 2 being standard across all of Island 2. Vendors are getting paid more than double the standard rate and that was just the minimum they were offered, vendors are free to negotiate and I’m quite sure Flux was very open to offering more as he had with the vendors who had requested for it.” The man started sputtering and making up half-baked excuses while Snowbird remained unfazed, continuing on with his argument.
Your grandmother would have signed a contract back if she had agreed on the rates discussed or sent over a request for higher pay so how exactly is she being ripped off?”
Soon the surrounding people start shooting that young man hateful looks, muttering among themselves.
“And I thought he was some kind man trying to seek justice for his poor grandma…”
“Here I’m wondering why would the vice president commit such petty crimes…”
With the public’s view shifting against him the man’s face flushed with embarrassment and he scrambled to think of a retort.
Before Snowbird could give him another one, Flux cut in with a polite smile. “Snowbird, I think he gets it. Young man I get that you might be unsatisfied with the amount, however I’m currently on my break. If you wish to ask for a higher pay on behalf of your grandmother, feel free to write a letter to me and I’ll be sure to look at it.”
Seeing Flux’s response to his complaints, the young man finally gave in, walking away briskly before someone from the crowd could get a word in.
Snowbird let out a sigh of exasperation, “That's over, can we go eat now? My stomach was protesting the whole time during…whatever that is.” Flux let out a snort of laughter as they walked over to the diner.
“Remind me to not get into arguments with you.”
“You wish.”
3
7 Days before The Lumination Festival
Flux was with Gotoga at the town square where the Lumination festival was going to be held, providing emotional encouragement as Gotoga was helping him mark the places where some technical logistics were needed.
“I should visit Saps sometime soon, its been awhile…” Flux sighed, wishing he could teleport over to his house.
“Dude…it's only been TWO days, lock IN. Geez, out of every couple I know, you two have the most annoying honeymoon phase and y’all aren't even married!” Gotoga groaned.
Wandering idly around the square watching the vendors setting up their booths, brings a wave of melancholy to him. No chaotic meetings, insults hurled at each other, the occasional sound of someone throwing their stapler. Flux was glad that he was spared from Island 2 meetings to focus on the festival.
However, he was snapped out of his trance when Gotoga immediately tackled him down. Startled, he was about to ask what had happened before a loud explosion came from where he was standing just now.
“Flux! Are you alright?” Gotoga gasped for air, “The place is rigged with TNT, evacuate the citizens, I’ll try to find the others.”
Flux quickly agreed, running up to the center where everyone could see him, yelling at the top of his lungs, “Everyone please evacuate! We are trying to get to the bottom of this!”
As the citizens rushed away, Gotoga had found a redstone contraption, lined with TNT minecarts that were all set to detonate on the day of the festival.
“Thanks Gotoga, if not for you I would've probably been blown up to pieces.” Flux shuddered, Gotoga focused on removing the carts.
“Can't let Mr Vice President die on us now, we all have a lot of bets on you, it would be a waste for it to end so quickly.” Gotoga joked, eyes locked on the minecart that he was removing.
“Hahah yeah– wait…bets..?” Flux stopped his own words, eyeing Gotoga up and down as if that would magically reveal the answer.
“Don't worry about it!” Gotoga smiled
“This is an outrage…”
4
7 Days before The Lumination Festival
With the explosion incident resolved, the booth owners were cleared to set up the booth, the once tense atmosphere was filled with lively chatters.
One thing worried Flux, who would want to rig the place? And why would they want to? He can't seem to think of anyone who would want to do such a thing.
While he was still lost in thought, someone had approached him from behind.
“Flux!” Seraphim exclaimed.
“Oh hi Seraphim.”
Surprisingly he and Seraphim had become good friends even in this life. With the repeated visits from Tricolor to prepare for when the border drops, with their meetings being often due to both being the second-in-commands of their respective nations.
“Tricolor decided to send some help, Jophiel thinks that this Lumination festival would be highly significant as it serves to boost morale of the whole island before the border drops.”
“So how are the meetings regarding the border?”
“Absolute hell, it haunts me in my nightmares.” Flux laughed at her deadpan. As they continued chatting about random things, Seraphim had spotted a masked man trying to go unoticed, however with her sharp eyes she spotted him right away.
“Hey Flux, man at 3 o’clock. Trying to sneak past us, don’t turn yet.” Seraphim had whispered to him.
Flux’s eyes widened but relaxed his posture. “Do you think you can catch him from here?” “Yeah, let me find an opening.”
Just as the man had let his guard down, thinking that they hadn't noticed him. Seraphim hurled her sword at him, missing his body by mere centimetres as his shirt got pinned to the wall behind him.
As Flux and Seraphim approached the man, Flux spotted TNT in his hands, remembering the explosion mere hours ago.
“I would assume you're the one who rigged the place just now.” Flux furrowed his brows. “Are you aware that attempting to intentionally harm the citizens of Luminara carries heavy consequences? Moreover we had Tricolor delegates present today, are you going to be the one who bears the responsibility should anything happen to them. What even is your purpose for doing such things?”
The man simply scowled, spitting on Flux’s shoes before ignoring whatever Flux had to say. After a few minutes of trying to get him to respond, he eventually gavd up, turning to Seraphim for help.
“Could you help me transport him to the Luminara prison? I would have asked someone else but theres no one here.”
“Yeah of course.” Seraphim said as she hauled the now cuffed man towards the prison.
“Thanks Seraphim, I’ll have to get Gotoga to check for any new TNT. Ugh now theres more paperwork to do.” Flux groaned as Seraphim laughed at his misery.
“Glad I could help.”
5
4 Days before The Lumination Festival
The sounds of clatter sounded out from the square as everyone was setting up their booths for the Lumination Festival. Flux was with Rotation — more like Rotation was going around helping the booths with Flux staring at him from the side.
“Flux! C’mon don't be a bum and come help out! I need another hand to lift this crate!”
“Okay, okay fine.” Flux groaned, stretching his arms as he and Rotation lifted up each side of the crate, shuffling their way over to one of the booths.
“Thanks guys! Come by the booth during the festival!” The woman who Flux assumed was the one running the booth thanked them with a grin.
“No problem! If there's anything else let us know!” Hyvrotation yelled as he walked away with Flux.
“So Flux, how do you feel with the Lumination Festival coming up.”
“Absolute joy. Do you know the amount of paperwork that I had to do? The moment that the festival is over I’m going straight to Saps for hugs.”
“Heh…I guess you could say you're a sap for Saps.” Rotation laughed at his own joke while Flux rolled his eyes, shoving him playfully.
While they were joking around, a loud thud followed by a crash could be heard. Turning their heads to the noise, they saw a man crashed into a crate of supplies, a man staring him down furiously.
“Bitch why did you shove me!”
“It was my supplies first! Get your grimy hands off it!”
“Well I don't see your name on it? What if we ordered the same thing?”
“You!–”
Just as one of them was about to throw a punch, Flux had stepped in.
“Calm down guys! Let's solve this like adults okay? I’m sure you guys are at least capable of that.” Flux replied firmly, leaving no room for arguments.
“This young man over here took my supplies and tried to steal it!” The guy jabbed a finger at the man still laying in the pile of crates.
“I ordered the same thing as well! I didn't see any name on it so how could he be so sure it was his!?” The man shot back, wincing as he slowly stood up.
“Okay let’s not get heated again, is there a possibility that one of your crates is somewhere here? Did your shipment confirmation inform you where they placed it?” Hvyrotation tried to mediate the conversation between the two vendors.
“See! Right over here! Dropped off at the town square!” The young man shoved his communicator in Rotation's face.
Hvyrotation scanned through the image, “It says over here that it's dropped off at the town square’s docks… have you checked there.”
The man's face paled, realising his mistake as he thanked Hvyrotation profusely before scurrying off away from the even more pissed man.
“Hey! Come back here you little!-” As he was about to pounce on the man, he was held back by Hvyrotation.
“Let's calm down shall we? The man has already left, no point in going after him now. You should get back to your stall, if not your supplies might get taken again.” Hvyrotation tried appeasing the man in a placating tone.
“tch next time I see him he's never gonna hear the end of it.” The man clicked his tongue as Flux and Hvyrotation laughed as they tried to get away from him.
“I swear if they actually start fighting and cause me more paperwork the last thing they should be worried about is each other.” Flux groaned, exhaustion seeping through every single bone on his body.
“Holy edgelord.”
6
1 Day before The Lumination Festival
Flux was so tired.
With the festival coming up in a day, and the piles of paperwork towering over his table, he's growing more miserable each day.
When he had finally signed his name on the last piece of paper, all he wanted to do was crash and sleep. However, it was difficult with all the screaming and chattering from outside his house.
While he was about to give up and take a walk to at least get some energy, his door opened with a bang.
“Yooo Flux! How are you?” Newkids exclaimed with so much energy that Flux couldn't possibly have right now
Flux turned to him, eye bags so dark it looked like he had a black eye. “Tired. Could we just…do this another day? I really want to not be on the brink of passing out when talking to you.”
“That's exactly what I’m here for! If you would just follow me.” As Newkids gestured to his entrance, eyes brimmed with excitement.
Flux was led down a labyrinth of twists and turns, only to arrive at some sort of underground bunker, though it seemed like it belonged in a mansion more than somewhere Flux doesn't even know.
“Welcome to… The Goon Squad bunker!” Newkids waved around excitedly, his fingers waggling.
“...You need to come up with a better name.” Flux squinted around, it's certainly cozy. He had to admit, Newkids did a great job.
“Hey! I poured my blood sweat and tears into this! It has really cool rooms like a kitchen, bed, basically everything you need to sustain yourself. The best part… it's soundproof! So not a single soul can hear you, nor can you hear them.” Newkids softened at rhe last part.
“I saw how you struggled to focus and sleep on your house, so I made this! This way you can actually get a good’s night sleep. I’ll leave you to it, get some rest before the festival.”
Flux was silent for a moment, stunned at how far his friends would go just to help him. As Newkids was turning the knob on the door, Flux’s voice rang out
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.”
+1
Day of the Lumination Festival
The festival was in swing, the town square was densely packed with decorations — streamers, balloons, posters — accompanied by the lively cheers of the citizens.
Overlooking the whole square, Flux was filled with a sense of pride, the grueling hours of being subjected to paperwork, the less than savoury actions caused by some, the many plans to stop the festival from happening, all had been stopped by not just him, but everyone around him.
“Flux!” Thomas’s voice rang out, he was followed by 5 familiar faces and another surprising one. “Saps!” Flux's eyes widened, almost tackling him to the ground while enveloping him in a tight hug. They melted into each others embrace as Flux felt Saps clench his shirt, crinkling them in the process.
“I missed you…” Saps' voice came out muffled from still being held by Flux. “I’m sorry dove, I’ll make it up to you soon.” Flux let out a breath of amusement. He missed this, the smell of sunshine on Saps’ shirt, a hint of sunflowers thrown into the mix.
“Look at these saps…”
“Well it's Saps after all…”
“I owe Thomas so much money..”
Ignoring the jabs directed at them, he cupped Saps cheeks “Why are you here at the festival?”
“Jophiel invited me to walk around the place together.” Saps held Flux’s wrists as he brought it down between them, interlacing his fingers with him.
“The festival will be great! Flux had put a lot of effort in it after all!” Snowbird chimed in from the side. “C’mon Jo is waiting for you already.”
“I guess I have to go now…bye Flux I’ll miss you.” Saps turning away to go find Jophiel.
“Remember to be careful of your injuries!” Flux called out, worried that the dense crowd might cause more injuries.
The rest of the morning went by eventfully, the sunny weather was balanced out with the breezy winds, making the weather feel neither too hot nor cold. The festival was in full swing as street buskers were showcasing a plethora of different skills, from magic tricks to instrumental pieces, the airy music bringing a light-hearted feel to the festival.
Rows upon rows of booths selling an array of products – ranging from small trinkets to mouth-watering snacks, the different smells mixing together to create a blend of different unique flavours.
Flux was scanning the rows of trinkets that was for sale across the different booths, eyes eventually landing on a sunflower brooch made up of topaz petals with a smokey quartz set in the middle, emeralds on the side to resemble its leaves.
“How much for this brooch?” Flux turned to the man in charge of the booth.
“Good eye you have, it will cost you five dollars but I’ll throw in an extra one for you. How bout’ that?”
Being offered to pick another one, he spotted a speck vibrant purple from the corner of his eye, a hyacinth brooch.
“I’ll take this one as well then.” Fluixon pointed to the amethyst brooch as he handed over the cost of the brooches.
Looking around for his friends, he spotted a few of them in the distance picking out things that caught their eye.
By the time he managed to gather all of them back together, lunch time rolled around. They all had crowded into a picnic bench laid out by one of the restaurant owners, a comically large umbrella shading them from the sunlight.
The feast they had ordered spanned over an array of colours, textures and flavours – each depending on their own preferences.
“No!– Snowbird you can't threaten your pet dog by saying you would kill other dogs… that's animal cruelty.” Fluixon groaned
“I won't actually kill other dogs… just pretend I would! How would she know the difference!”
“Snowbird, listen. Imagine your mom threatens you by saying she would kill other humans, she would get arrested on the spot!” Hvyrotation tried explaining from a logical standpoint.
“Tch fine…”
By the time they had finished their meals, it was already leaning towards the later hours of the afternoon. They had collectively agreed to make their way over to the carnival booths to let Flux win a round of prizes.
“He's going to clear up the prizes! What are we going to do with all of them!?” Thomas gaped.
“We need some decoration for the bunker anyways… just go one round of the stalls and give the extra prizes to some kids standing by.” Gotoga shrugged as Flux was loading up one of the toy guns at the booth.
When it was evening and they had a stockpile of plushies and figurines stacked next to them, they finally decided to call for a day and head to the centre for the fireworks show that was going to happen.
“Oh my ish it was such a headache to find all the fireworks, I’m just hoping it turns out nice…”
Flux laughed, but the conspiracy could see the tension in his brows, obviously worried that what he had planned would come out to be lackluster— not only to the people of Luminara, but to his friends who probably had high expectations of what he had planned.
“…Flux, are you scared that we would think the festival was bad?” NewKids questioned hesitantly, still skeptical of whether his hunch was correct.
Flux hadn’t commented on it, the only thing confirming their suspicions when his shoulders stiffened for a second.
Silence filled the air around them, only broken when Seraphim let out a scoff of amusement.
“How can you be so smart but stupid at the same time.” She giggled as Flux let out a noise of indignation
”Hello!? What do you mean stupid?” Flux sputtered, broken out of his depressing trance.
”Flux, just because there may have been some hiccups here and there, it doesn’t mean we would think of it any less. Nothing ever goes according to plan and that's perfectly fine, the fact that you still managed to pull together such a good festival with that amount of setbacks is something to be respected by and I’m sure everyone else would agree with me. C’mon, quit wallowing. Let’s go to the centre.” Seraphim patted him on the shoulder before strolling towards the centre
Hearing Seraphim’s words, a soft smile touched his lips. “Yeah… Let’s go.”
As the fireworks sounded loudly in the sky, bright and vibrant colours flashed across his eyes. His head doesn’t turn up to where the hours of painstaking effort went into, but to his sides where the people that were there with him through those trials and tribulations are.
Because when he thinks about the Lumination Festival, he wouldn't think about the flashy fireworks that shone through the night sky, but the sounds of his friends, because to him the Lumination Festival shone a light on something he had taken for granted his first life, his ragtag group of friends that he wouldn't have any other way.