A Brooklyn Yankee in the Undercity of Zaun

One Year Later

UNDERCITY: THE LAST DROP:  THIRD SHIFT:  EVENING 

Sevika rolled into the Last Drop after a completely shit day.  It took all her willpower to not throttle Dustin following his poor showing at this morning's job, allowing some random idiot to stumble through a meeting with her client and the leader of the Slickjaws which she was able to play off without looking like a complete incompetent.  Ran and Gill backtalking, getting a little too comfortable with their opinions.  Ran always had a mouth on her, but Gill was the quiet type that usually annoyed her.  Head slaps and a small garnishment to Dustin should deal with the insubordinate attitudes, and now all she wanted to do was get a drink, play some cards and whatever else comes up.  Bar fight might be fun, or maybe get laid.  She didn’t really relish the idea of popping into Babette's tonight.  Her usual go to were out of service and she didn’t want to have to fumble around with a new person.    

The Last Drops evening crowd was pretty lively, pretty much all the tables on the main floor were occupied, as were the Billiards and dart boards.  There wasn’t anyone getting a card game going yet or had the look of getting one started.  It was still early enough to get one going herself she supposed.  She stepped up to the bar and nodded at the man behind the bar.     

“Well, you look worse for wear.”  The bearded bartender said, leaning his elbow on the bar, the towel draped over his shoulder.   He stood up and grabbed a pint mug and started a proper pour. 

“Rogers” Sevika nodded and took a stool.  “I think I need one of your specials...” 

“Must have been some day.”  The former soldier said, as he reached under the bar and pulled out a bottle with brown alcohol.  He pulled out two small glasses and poured another pint for himself.  “You know I have to pay for these ‘Specials.”  He said, good natured.  He was always good natured, seldom had a bad word for anyone and kept the peace.  She also saw he beat the living crap out of two Trenchers, harassing some rando who was definitely not asking for it.  His only response was “I hate bullies.”  when Ran asked him why he got involved.  She really didn’t need that kind of influence around her crew, but he was a really good bartender.  That attitude would get him killed though.  “Do you know how hard it is finding rye?” 

“I’ll cover it, just pour.”  

He poured the two metal shot glasses full, and slid one over to her, keeping the other one for himself.  “C’mon, Sevika, I can’t let you do that.”  He pulled the pint near him and picked up the shot glass.  Sevika did the same, holding it over the pint tankard.   
 

“…And Drop!” They drop to shot glass into the tankard, which froths over the top, and grabbing the tankard chug the contents slamming the tankard on the counter after draining it.  Rogers takes her tankard and refills it, passing it back.   

 
“Better?” He said, smirking as he puts his own under the counter.  The brawler nods her head, leaning back on the stool and grabs up the tankard, taking a less aggressive drink this time.   

“Getting there.”  She said, “What do you call that one?”  She said, leaning forward and looking over to the table they usually play cards at.  It was still a group of third shifters and some of the domestics having a drink before they head for home.   Definitely not card players.   

“A Depth Charge.” Rogers said, wiping down the counter.  “Sometimes called a Boilermaker.  Usually its beer and whisky, but since we don’t really have a pilsner and avonside, Ale and Moonshine will do the job.”  He had a sudden thought.  “Maybe I should rename it?” 

“Does it need a name?” Sevika said, draining the rest of her tankard.  “Does anyone else ever ask for one?”  She pointed at the tankard, and he took it to refill.   

“Nope, so far you’re the only one who’s tried it.” He finished the Pour and placed it in front her.  “You’re a good Guinee pig for my concoctions.”  He said, as Claggor comes out from the back, clapping Rogers on the shoulder ash he walks by.  Vanders oldest boy goes over to the far end of the bar and starts to collect the empties left behind, giving a nod to Sevika.    

“Why does that sound like an insult.” She gives him a side eye, smirking.  Rogers laughed and moved to another part of the bar top next to Claggor who had grabbed the empties and was about to make a pass around the tables...  “You pulled the short straw, huh?” 

Claggor shrugged, grabbing another tankard. “Nah, I took the shift all on my own.” He said and headed out onto the floor weaving around the tables and grabbing empties.  Rogers watched him before returning to the bar.  Sevika regarded him a few moments, before he noticed that she was looking at him.  He grabbed her tankard and refilled it and went along the bar top to the other patrons and did the same.   She turned back to her drink, and smirked.   “Babysitting? 

“They're not babies.” he stated.  “And they certainly don’t need sitting.”  

A year ago, Vander was bar tending the Last Drop from open to close, watching over the Lanes and not doing a particularly good job at it.  The Arcade incident brought a lot of things to light, namely that the Sheriff of Piltover was working with him and Benzo.  She’d approached him when she found out that the so-called Hound of the Underground had been conspiring with the Piltover Sheriff and that she wasn’t thrilled about it.  Vander explained his side of the story in detail, and she had to hand it to him it made sense to a point.  She didn’t like it, but it made sense. 

Vander admitted during a community meeting that he, Benzo and Greyson had been working together to keep the peace between the two cities and tried to avoid another Night of Ashes.  It was why people had jobs up in Piltover on the docks, or in the noble house staff, and kept Enforcers out of the Lanes for the most part.   The meeting had been met with mixed reactions from the assembled community but ended amicably with a ‘wait and see’ attitude.  Even she decided to keep the status quo with Vander, because honestly, she didn’t know anyone who would do what Vander does for the Lanes, and it might even be worse with someone else.  She hates Piltover, and would love nothing more to force them out completely.  Someday they would be. 

 
Sevika shook out of her musings, looked over and found some of the trenchers she plays cards with taking their places around the table.  She gave a nod to Rogers, who grabbed her Tankard one more time and filled it, passed it back.  With a salute, she headed over to the table.  It was time to play cards.     

Steve Rogers watched Sevika walk over and join the card table, and some day he’d have to try a game of it.  He’d never seen a game played with the Tarot cards, but like clockwork several times a week the same people play it till closing.  During the war, Bucky and he would get some games going with Dum Dum, Gabe and Jim among others that showed up, but He usually left considerably more broke.  He was never much of a card player, and just enjoyed the time spent with his friends.  For him, the war was over, and he had come to terms with it.  The hardest thing had been him missing Peggy Carter 

He had been coping with it by writing her letters, letting her know what was going on in his new life, telling her about the kids, Vander and the Bar. Then he’d burn the letter out back in the burn barrel, figuring it was like mailing it existentially into the ether.  Except for the one that he lost and couldn’t find.  Sometimes he wondered where that one disappeared to.  It would turn up eventually.   He pulled out his compass and opened the top.  He looked at Peggy’s image for a few moments before hearing clanking from the back room and put it away.  He’d had thought he’d lost the compass, only to have it returned to him by Vi when she went to inspect the Arcade after the attack.  She never said where she found it, just said it was just lying there under a floorboard. 

Claggor came back out from the back with a bunch of cleaned tankards and placed them under the counter.   The teenager had grown another inch at least in the past year, apparently it a tradition to mark a kids heights on their birthday in the Undercity...  Name day its referred, as a lot of people don’t really know when a child is born exactly as records are barely kept.  Even parents don’t always recall.  Ekko actually has a birthday, as does Powder because Vi wrote it down and kept it with her.  Ekko’s parents were very doting on him when they were alive and made certain he knew it and was lucky in a way that after they died, he was taken up by Benzo.   A lot of foster parents rename a child when they take him in, and that becomes their Name Day.   

Claggor leaned on the bar, his goggles on the top of his head as he looked out over the crowd.  Steve tossed him a towel and motioned for him to do a wipe down.  It was one of his rules, if you're going to stand behind the bar, you have to be useful.    Mylo had argued once that “Vander doesn't do that!”  and Steve just said “Vanders not bartending right now is he.” 

That shut him up and kept him from behind the bar top.   

“I like it like this.”  Claggor said, the large boy nodding as he wiped down the lacquered wood bumpers.  “It keeps it from getting dull, right?”  He whipped the towel over his shoulder and started straightening the bottles.  Steve nodded and leaned closer.  “No filling the flask, I didn’t hear the end of it last time you did.”  Claggor winced and looked back at him with a sheepish grin.  “Yeah, that didn’t go over well, did it.”  Steve just shook his head.   

“If you're going to do that, do it in the back where people won't see you do it.  That way it doesn’t get back to Vander.”  

“Well, how would they know it's not for a customer?”  Claggor countered, “It's not uncommon to fill someone’s...”  Steve just stared at him, his arm crossed.  Claggor held the look for a few moments before he chuckled.  “Ok, I'll be more careful.”  

“Thank you.”  Steve smirked.   

“Did you ever snitch booze?”  Claggor leaned on the counter, curious. 

 
“Well, when I was your age, Buck and I’d get it from his dad’s liquor cabinet, so it was way easier.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t drink much anyway.  One shot and I was flying so Buck got pretty much all of it.”  Claggor nodded, “You said you were really sick when you were a kid, right.”  Steve just nodded and noticed a new face at the bar.  A woman of indeterminate age, probably on the younger side and looked very thin.  She looked agitated, and ready to run out of the bar. 

“Welcome to the Last Drop.” Steve said, “How can we help you?” Claggor stood nearby, watching the woman.  He didn’t remember seeing around before, but then again, he didn’t know everyone in the Lanes.  She looked like she lived near the Sumps, from her sunken eyes and sallow complexion.  It was the farthest from the surface, practically no light touches the area and it’s the hardest hit by the grey.  Steve noticed the dark veins that traced her eyes and mouth.   

“I.. I need..” She begins and starts to back away.  “I’m sorry, I’ll..” 

“It’s ok, why don’t you have a seat..”  Steve replied, and motioned for Claggor to grab her some water.  The teenager moved off to fetch some as the Soldier suggested her the barstool.  She nodded and sat down.  “First of all, what can I call you..”  

The woman continued to look at her knees. “Avaly..”  She said, glancing at the tankard of water Claggor put in front of her.  “I’m here about my kid..”  she said, her eyes watering.  “Kavia, she’s really sick..” 

“How old is she” Steve asks, leaning on the countertop.   

“She’s six, she’s sick and needs… but I can’t get….” She said, shaking, “Dwarma said that she can’t get it any more.  She said I speak to Vander...” and hid her face.   

“Vander won’t be back till late.” Claggor told her, “You can wait for him in the back if you like, there’s a cot that pretty comfortable.” And looked at Steve.  “It’s a pretty long walk back to the Sumps, she shouldn’t go alone.” who nodded, understanding what he meant.  She wouldn’t go back alone.   

“Where’s your daughter now?”  Steve asked.  Hopefully she wasn’t just sitting outside by herself. Avaly shook her head. “She’s with my brother.” She said.  “Do you think Vander can help us?” and drank the water in large gulps.  She put the tankard down, and ran her fingers through her dark hair.  Claggor moved to help her in the back.        

“Why don’t you go in the back and get some rest, we’ll wake you up when Vander returns..” Rogers said, and nodding, she stood up and Claggor directed her to the back as Steve watched them go.  Sevika joined him at the bar, and motioned towards the back with her cigar.  “She’s a shimmer addict.”   

 
Steve nodded.  “I figured, but she still needs help.” He said, his brows furrowed.  “She not going to…” He thought about Powder downstairs studying.  He didn’t want to have to wrestle an overdosed Shimmer addict in their home. 

Sevika tapped his arm, “Not like this, It’s the overdose’s that cause the.., side effects.” She said in an attempt at diplomacy.  The attempt was not lost on him.  He nodded, understanding her meaning.  “You know, that’s none of your business.” 

“Then who’s business is it.” He said, looking at her.  She raised an eyebrow in response but didn’t say anything, really unsure how to respond.  “Somewhere in the Sumps there a little girl who’s sick, and needs help and there’s a young woman who need help right now.”  Shaking his head, he looks her strait in the face.  “I can’t look away.  I can’t ignore a situation that I can help with.” 

The brawler nods, gives him a smile and pushed her tankard towards him.  He smirked and poured her a full tankard.  “On the house.” Sliding the ale back towards her.   

“Why’s that?”  She smirked, taking a good pull from the tankard.   

“You’ll owe me, and I may need to call in that marker.” Steve said, “now go play cards..”   

Powder placed the base of Hopper in the center of the alleyway, looking around at her surroundings.  Trash cans, boxes and salvage parts lay strewn about near the Last Drops back entrance as she carefully nudged the base a little bit to the left.  Ekko watched from a distance, near one particular stack of boxes that had the word TARGET all over it, waiting for his friend to give him orders.  They weren’t allowed to do these tests inside any longer as Vander wasn’t amused by the paint or glitter that she used as a testing payload.  Over the last year, she had several breakthroughs in her gadgetry, especially around the use of grenades and explosives.  Now, they made a real mess, rather than just a mess! 

“Push it back a bit?”  She said, to which Ekko pulled the Target boxes a foot back, watching her hand to signal him to stop.  “There!” Powder stood up, and looked around.  “I think this is good.  We have targets and five, ten- and twenty-meters radius, so this should be a good test!”  Ekko nodded, and moved over to the thick wood panel that he’s set up as a cover for them during the munition test.  She kneeled down next to the Hoppers base, which had been painted in a wild white Poro motif and pulled the wires that they had strewn from their bunker for remote detonation.  “Present the Payload!”  She shouted, to which Ekko picked up the carriage with the payload which in this case was homemade glitter balls.  He added the fanfare to give it a sense of occasion with the munition carriage over his head, with the utmost reverence, “DAAA DAADummm DEE DuuUuuumm...” with the sudden creak and break in his voice, suddenly dropping an octave and then ended in a squeak. He stopped dead in his tracks, with a sigh he dropped the glitterballs from over his head.  Powder looked up, and frowned.  “What's wrong?” 

“This sucks..”  he said, clearing his throat in an attempt to stop the cracking sounds.  “I can’t even get the fanfare out without my throatbetrayingme.” He said, brining over the munition’s carriage.  “I’m not going to talk untilI’m fourteen...” He said, with more cracks, and handed her the cage. 

“Aw, c’mon Ekko, it’s not that bad.” Powder said, taking the glitterballs.  “and your voice will be all silky and smooth before you know it.” She said, grinning while inserting the munition carriage onto the base.  She knows that he can talk a pilty out of their cogs, but he’s feeling self-conscious about the voice changing.  Powder didn’t know if Benzo had a talk with him about hitting puberty, and if not, he should RUN not walk and talk to Vander.   

 
“You're lucky your voicedoesn’tchange...”  he said, squatting on the other side of Hopper.  He looked at her, Powders expression of disdain and realized he’d put his foot in his mouth.  “Right.. I’m going to jumpoff thebridge, I’ll see ya.” Crack crack squeak.. 

She burst into laughter, and punched his arm.  “I’m lucky I have Vi, I’d have freaked out when it hit me.”  The cramps, the mood swings, all of it.  Vi was there for her the entire time.  Even her pen pal helped her out.  “Did Benzo…” 

“He gave me a book and toldme to read it.”  Ekko said, chuckling.  “If I was a girl, he’d probably throwa different book at me and some napkins.”  As she closed the cover and locked it.  Powder had already tested the activation charge, and knew that it would open as needed.  She gave him a thumbs up. 

“Great job on machining the parts, its working great!” The Chaotic Duo took their place behind the wood paneled bunker.  They gave each other a nod and pulled their hoods over their head and ducked down. 

Three… 

Two…   

The back door opened suddenly, and Mylo walked into the alley.  “Hey!, You guys back here?” 

“ABORT ABORT!!”  Powder shouted, and Ekko stood up.  Mylo startled, and looked around the alley.  “Oh no, you're not.”  His brows furrowed.  “You’re going to blow up the ALLEY! We use this alley.” 

Powder stood up next to Ekko and motioned him towards them.  “Were using Glitterballs, not real munitions. It’s a function test.”  Mylo looked down at Hopper and watched where he was stepping to avoid the lines as he walked over to the pair.  “Function test, huh.”  Her older brother leaned on the wall behind the wood panel.  “At least you're not doing it is the basement.” 

“That would be too much glitter, even for me.”  She rolled her eyes, and ducked down “What did you need, anyway.”   

Mylo squatted down.  “Steve and Clagg has some lady waiting for Vander to get back but wants us to keep our distance.  Says she’s needing some rest before he returns so she’s on the cot in the side room.” Both the kids looked at him, as if waiting for more information.  “So stay out of the bar when you go back inside.”  He pointed at their experiment.  “So what is all this?” 

“It a mine that pops out of the ground and explodes and chest level.”  Powder grins devilishly, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.  “It will surprise anyone who attacks us, taking them out depending on the payload of course.” Ekko added, smirking.  “It’s a joint Ekko-Jinx creation!” 

“Wait, isn’t it Jinx-Ekko?” Powder looked at him quizzically.  Ekko just shrugged.  “We haven’t made the sign yet, so it’s debatable.”  She pondered that for a few moments, and accepted his answer.  “Ok, shelve that for later.”  Mylo laughed, and shook his head, nudging his sister with his elbow.  Powder rubbed the spot, “Want to stay and watch?”  He shrugged, and sat down on his butt behind the Wood panel as the Chaos Gremlins prepped the test.  “Where did you get the glitter from anyway?” 

“We got it from Babette’s, apparently she has buckets full of it.”  Powder admitted. “We made them into balls that should act like a projectile.” 

“How did you do that?” Mylo asked, now wondering how they pulled it off.  Ever since last year, He has been a lot less hard on Powder since she started working more of her gadgets and bombs rather than going out with them on jobs.  He would never admit it to her, but he was worried about her when the Arcade got totaled.  It scared him to death when she was laying out in the middle of the street with Vi, when the magic asshole attacked them, along with the skeletons that went crawling out.  Powder was still a Wierdo, but she was their Wierdo.    

“Like we made the paint balls for the arcade.” She said. “Except with Glitter.” And turned to Ekko.  “I think we're good.”  Ekko gave her a thumbs up and they pulled their hoods over their heads and put on their goggles.  Mylo looked around a moment, “I don’t have goggles.” 

Ekko’s voice cracked  “Close your eyes when we count down to zero.”  

“Let her rip.”  Mylo said, pulling his own hood over his head, and covered his eyes.  They kept down, and did the countdown.   

 
Three... 

Two  

One 

CONTACT!   

Powder pushed the plunger on the charger, which sent a discharge through the wires and released the munition carriage, spinning it into the air which activated the chemical reaction that exploded the payload, in this case a number of glitterballs spread out across the alley, all in Powders mind, just as she had imagined it.  She could hear the glitter balls hitting the targets, and probably all the other parts of the alley.   

“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!?!”  The three heard Benzo’s booming voice shout, followed by Vanders.  “Powder, get out her..”    

Powder’s head popped up, followed by Ekko’s and Mylo’s.  Hopper worked perfectly, the glitterballs struck their targets as they had planned.  The carboard was covered by multicolored glitter, as was Vander and Benzo, the balls had struck them mid chest.  They were coated head to toe with the glitter. 

Mylo busted out laughing, leaning on the wall behind the wood panel.  He pinched the bridge of his nose after taking another look at his dad and Benzo, eliciting another guffaw from Vanders youngest son.  “This is on you, Pow.” He said, between laughs watching the show.  He thought it was going to be dull just corralling the kids, but it turned out to be pretty great night.  Powder and Ekko walk over to their fathers, both wincing at the shear amount of glitter that hit them.   

“What's all this then?” Vander said, trying to brush off the glitter from his jacket and shirt, shaking his head and a snow storm of glitter falling to the alley floor.  Benzo glared at Ekko, who was looking every other direction than at the pawn broker.  Powder winced up at Vander, feeling less and less confident. 

“We were testing Hopper, which worked great if you look at it with a non-critical eye.”  she smiled her nervous, perhaps to big grin “You look really pretty!” she said, gaining another guffaw from Mylo.  Ekko was now brushing Benzo off as best he could, covering himself with the offending substance. 

“Oh, I can see it worked, kiddo.”  Vander smirked, vigorously rubbing his hair and beard.  “This is never coming out..” He knew for a fact that glitter never completely goes away.  Years from now, he will find a small shiny dot behind his ear, or in some unseemly area that he’d rather not think of, and was already starting to feel itchy doing so.  “So, it did what it was supposed to do.” 

Powder brightened “Heck yeah, Look the target.  Twenty-meter casualty area! We can TOTALLY protect the Last Drop!”  She bounced.  Vander has to admit, the glitter balls has hit their targets, as she was showing him her notes.  “That’ll get rid of some Skeletons...” she said, and like she realized what she said, stuttered out a retraction. “Or...an.. anyone else of course.”  Vander patted her shoulder and gave her grin.  “Never doubted you for a minute, darlin.” he said.  “You two finish up and get some rest.  Mylo will watch your back while you do it.” and looked at his son when he made the ‘why me’ face.  “I want to have a word later, Ok?”  Power nodded.  She’d been having nightmares about the Arcade since that night, in fact so had Vi, but she’d never admit it.   

“Oh, right!”  Mylo slapped his head, “There’s someone to see you in the bar.”     

“This late? Who is it?”  Vander said, as Benzo was taking up his annoyance at his glitter covered appearance with Ekko, who was trying to explain in his puberty laden voice.   It has deescalated, but apparently Ekko would be cleaning his shoulder pauldron and leather work.  For day...  Maybe years...  

Mylo shrugged.  “Dunno, Steve and Clagg are looking after her.  Clagg said something about Shimmer and check on the Gremlins.” and motioned to Hopper and the kids who were picking up their experiment.  Vander’s brows furrowed.  “Shimmer, huh.”  He said, looking over at Benzo who heard the reference to the drug that was sweeping through the lanes.   

“You want me to stick around then?” The rotund man asked, crossing his arms.  Vander shook his head.  “Nah, it's been a long night, and I have Rogers and the Kids for backup.  Get home so Ekko can start cleaning your plastron.”  Benzo nodded and clapped his young apprentice on the shoulder.  “C’mon Squeaky” and headed off out of the alley with a deflated Ekko as Powder was carrying Hopper in the box she’s been using to store it, followed Vander and Mylo up the stairs into the Last Drop.     

“Oh, your Pen Pal send you a letter, Kiddo…” Vander said, holding a Kiramman Pnumo Tube… 

UNDERCITY: GLASC INDUSTRIES BUILDING: THIRD SHIFT EVENING  

 
“This way.”  The Glasc Industries guard led Vi through the colored glass and iron building's exterior walkways.  She could see the whole of the Lanes from here, as well as Piltover all the way to the Sungates.  Renata Glasc has built a marvel that riveled the finest structures in the post topside, and actually had a swell of pride that Glasc was a Zaunite, like her.  Was it childish?  Probably, but if you're going to look up to someone, look up to the bitch that made a skyscraper that put Piltys to shame. 

“Mind your step.”  The armored man motioned her away from the broken railing as they took a route guaranteed to not attract attention, which was fine with the young robber.  She had no idea what happened there to break out the steel frame of the walkway, but it wasn’t any of her concern.  Though, curiosity was rearing its head, as she looked over the edge and realized she couldn’t see the ground because of the Grey in this area.  Vi could see supports for the building, but it would be an epic drop and a quick shift to use the metal structures to vault down. If missed, it was a one way drop.  

Shuddering at the fall, she thought at the task at hand.   Silco had sent for her to collect information from a Brothel belonging to Margot, the Trencher that had offices in the Vyx, and deliver the goods to Glasc.  The woman who owned and ran most of the Pleasure house on the Promenade and Entresol.  Getting in wasn’t as easy as she had imagined, and took several hours casing the place from across the street, having to move often and change hoodies multiple times to ensure she wasn’t discovered.   

 
Vi timed her entrance with the shift change, and was lucky enough that she slipped in with the slop crew, the ones that cleaned up after a particularly nasty client went a bit too far with one of the workers.  She didn’t know why the slop crew was called, and she didn’t want to know, and used it to slip into the opulent office of Margot.  The woman’s decorations was a cross between Piltovan Excess, Bilgewater Aesthetic and Undercity Chic.  A few moments inside, and Vi had found the files and information that was part of the Job, swapped the files and then hid in the wall division until the shift change had ended.  She looked at them to make sure she had the right shit,  

Using the space between the walls to move through, she found herself finally in the Grey, outside of the house of ill repute and made her escape... 

Overall, a good heist.  

Now, she was moving through the upper levels of the Glasc Building, which started from the base Lanes and was built high enough that the penthouse office was outside of the grey and stood in the sun, the colored glass and iron structure was on level with some of the skyscrapers that dotted though Piltover.  It was enormous, spacious, and still under construction.   

The guard stopped at one of the hatches, and turned the locking wheel to open the pressure door and motioned her to enter.  Vi did so, keeping her hood up the entire time and entered what appeared to be a very nice waiting room with a few comfortable looking chairs and a single sofa.  A pitcher of clean water sat on the central table, along with some digestive biscuits. Probably to calm peoples stomachs from the height, not a problem that she had. There was a single door, made from stained glass and Iron fittings that Vi imagined led to Glasc’s office.  There was a woman sitting behind a desk, somewhat older than her, wearing a business suit.  She was Ionian, heavily tattoo’s, up her neck and across her jaw and remarkably beautiful. The woman looked up from her scroll work, and regarded Vi coldly at first, but opened up with a smile.   

 
“Silco sent you?”  The woman said. 

Vi nodded, and raised a finger for her to wait a moment as she disappeared through the door, leaving the brawler alone in the waiting room.  She wandered around the room, glancing at the scroll she was looking at, and stopped when she realized she had no idea what it said.  She didn’t speak Ionian.  She looked at the water, but decided against it.  It might have been tampered with, or some kind of test.  She could wait until she got home to eat OR drink.  At least she can trust home. 

The woman returned, and held the door open.  “This way.” 

Vi again followed the directions of a Glasc employee and looked down a corridor that had another door at the end.  “Just go through, or knock.” 

“She is expecting you, you may go through.”  The woman said, “Thank you for asking.  I look forward to seeing you on the way out.” 

Vi shrugged, and walked down the hallway looking at the iron ribs that created the arched shape of the corridor, with a mixture of glass and polished stone elements that made the walls.  There were statues along the way of various creatures that were amazingly detailed, enough to make the hair on her neck rise.  Is she stayed and looked long enough would she see runes?  Would they come to life? 

 
She had made it to the end of the corridor, and was at the door, the twin of the door she had just walked through. She clutched the shoulder bag and passed into the office. 

It was enormous...  

It was similar in construction to the rest of the building, Iron and Glass.  It had been built domed, which was open to the sky since she could see the stars above.  Along the circular room were doorways similar to the one she just walked through, with one along one of the walls that was longer than the others which was probably a lift.  There were a number of sculptures adorning the space between the doors, everything from people in heroic poses to creatures that she had seen in picture books.  Powder would love to see this.  In the center of the room was a single desk, with a number of cabinets and bookcases behind it.  Sitting in the chair was Renata Glasc, exactly how Silco had described her.  She was what would be considered middle ages, with dark skin and lean.  She had a white streak in her mid-length hair which was immaculately cut.  She wore a white suit vest hand pants befitting someone of higher station from Piltover which automatically put Vi on edge, similarly as it had when she met Silco for the first time.   

What really set her apart was her augments.  From where Vi stood, she could see her Eyes were glowing purple and pink, as was the vents of her white ceramic chem-tech left arm. Shimmer was becoming the drug of choice for people in the Lanes, and supposedly some of the lower-class areas of Piltover, if you really wanted to call them that. She also wasn’t alone.  The man sitting across from her was tall and well-muscled, and heavily tattooed, similar to the woman that she had just met and also Ionian.  He kept flipping a lighter open and closed, flicking it and closing it again.  He was draped in the chair, with one leg flopped over the arm rest.  Vi could tell a predator when she saw one, and this man put her on edge instantly.   
 
“Ah, our young Robber.”  The woman said, noticing her after several moments, closing the ledger she had opened.  The man swiveled his head towards her, and stared through her.  Renata motioned her forward, and pointed towards one of the chairs.  “Please, have a seat.”  

 
“I’d prefer to stand.”  Vi said, “thanks though” 

“That wasn’t a request...” The woman said flatly, picking up another ledger, and opening it no longer looking at her.  “It’s not proper etiquette to stand above your client.” 

“You could stand up.”  Vi countered, her face flat.  

A slight smirk crossed her face.  “Who is paying you, Child.” Renata looked her straight in the face, and Vi was the only person in the room.  

“Silco.” She said, putting her hands on her hips.  It was her power pose, the one that made her feel most confident. At this moment, she needed that confidence as she was now under scrutiny.  The tattooed man broke into a laugh, which gained a withering gaze from Glasc.  Vi knew in the back of her mind this had been a horrible idea, and she just should have sat down but it was too late now, she was in it and frankly, this wannabe Pilty pissed her off. 

 
“Stubborn girl.” Glasc smirked, and held her hand out.  “I believe you have something for me.” 

Vi opened her bag and pulled out the materials, passed them across the desk to her, then showed the inside of the bag as instructed by Silco .  Make sure she knows you are holding nothing back, Violet he said.  Do not show weakness in front of her if you want to be taken seriously .  Glasc took them, and looked the files over for a few moments before setting them down.  

“This all looks good, and I believe our business is concluded.” She stated.  “I hope we will have the opportunity to work together again.”  The teenager nodded, pleased that it was over, and turned to go back the way she had come.  There was a feeling of relief as she approached the stained-glass door. 

“You’re going to let Silco’s Pet to just leave?  After she shamed you?” He mocked.  “I thought she was disposable.”  

Disposable...   

Keep walking, don’t turn around, don’t run... 

She passed through the door and into the glass and iron corridor. Keeping her pace all the way through to the outside reception area, Vi entered the where the woman she first passed was waiting.  The Ionian woman stood there, hands behind her back with a wide, white smile.  “Your business is concluded then.” 

Vi kept her distance, but paused so not to look like she was trying to get out as fast as possible.   

“Yeah, All done.”  

The woman brought her hands from behind her, and held a card.  She held it straight in front with the card in both hands, and she waited for Vi to take it.  She did, and looked at the card a moment. 

Finn 

SlickJaws 

PNW-Zau-Entr-039492AA23 

“We hope to work with you, and your family again in the near future, Miss Violet.” The woman said, “Our best wishes to Miss Powder.” The words froze her in place as it sunk in. They knew her well enough to know her sister, and that was too much.  

“What's that supposed to mean.” Vi squared herself, her grey eyes narrowing. The woman kept her composure, folding her hands behind her again and just stared. The woman said nothing more. Vi realized she had blinked, in a place where showing your weaknesses could end your life. Perhaps not today, and not from this woman but she knew this could be a problem. Vi exited the reception area and was back out on the external walkway. She wasn’t happy that the woman had mentioned her sister, though she couldn’t say she was surprised upon reflection. It wasn’t hidden knowledge that Powder was her sister, or that Vander was their father figure. It was over a year ago that the Arcade happened, and it had become common knowledge that Powder and herself had fought and won against a Magic born fuckhead and his skeleton buddies, because everyone saw it. 

And didn’t help. 

Yeah, that was still a sore spot, she thought to herself as she moved along the walkway and saw the Glasc security person approaching. She looked over the broken part of the walkway, finding a better route. 

The bored guard motioned for her to meet him. “Follow me, I'll take you...” 

“Too Slow...” and tossed herself off the side of the walkway, surprising the guard who rushed to the edge, in time to see Vi sliding down the buildings supports and into the grey below...  

“Fucking Trenchers...” The guard scoffed and turned to go back inside.