Yes. She does. [Her voice is downright wistful. She'd said those exact words to Vi, once, and the truth of them is why she cares so much for Vi. One of the reasons, anyway.
She accepts the tea with a soft,] Thank you, [and gives it a little stir with the spoon, letting the ball sit a few moments longer.]
I wanted to let you know how I felt. What my relationship with Vi is. I-- [Her hands grip the hot mug awkwardly, the spoon left to sit in there with the ball, her eyes watching as deeper colour seeps out of the leaves into the steaming hot water.] You aren't upset?
[Once he was settled back on the floor, he raised a knee again so he could settle an arm across it. He flexed his wrist in the black brace that covered it, something he had been provided with the rest of his clothing from that egg. There was more comfort with the scar beneath hidden, and he had been thankful it hadn't been obvious when he was high on Shimmer.
He inclined his head slightly to acknowledge the fact that she had come all this way to inform him about how her heart was aflutter for Violet. He raised his eyebrows at the question, momentarily confused.] Should I be upset? You have romantic feelings for my daughter, whom I technically haven't seen for years by the time you meet her.
[Watching the tea can only occupy her for so long. She glances up at Vander as he sits again, noting the way he flexes, the brace on his wrist that wasn't there when they first met – he wasn't wearing much at all when they first met, really – and offering the faintest, and briefest, of smiles in response to his nod.]
I thought-- [She's not sure how to say this diplomatically, so she simply blunders ahead as best she can.] People make assumptions. About my name. And I'm not just a Kiramman, I'm an enforcer as well, and I thought-- I was worried you wouldn't approve.
[Vander was keeping his own cards close to the chest about this situation. He would had preferred to confer with Vi on this topic, trusting her judgment even if he had twinges of reservations. He didn't believe Piltover would appreciate a mutt in their houses after all, and he didn't believe Vi would hold her temper back enough to not punch someone in the face. That was a quick downward spiral.
Unfortunately for him, he didn't know the details of their relationship. The Vi he knew was interested in girls, but she hadn't spent much time exploring that. She was trying to live up to what she thought his expectations were. There was a disconnect between what he knew and what was being presented. Still, Caitlyn was clearly earnest enough about her feelings.]
I couldn't say I care much about your name. I care about the contents of your character, Caitlyn. [He did actually tighten his hand a little at the enforcer bit. Old habits, nothing personal against her.] It's true enforcers are not my favourite people, but...
[If she only knew who his previous long-term relationship was to, she might be the one judging him and not the other way around.]
[A rueful smile steals across her face, just for a moment. If Vander's telling the truth, he may well be the first person she's ever met who doesn't care that she's a Kiramman. From the moment she was old enough to understand what that means, everyone she's spoken to, every person who's ever greeted her at a social function, every schoolmate who's tried to befriend her, every girl who's ever flirted with her, every fellow enforcer who's sneered at her, even her parents, even Jayce, everyone has made assumptions without ever bothering to consider whether those assumptions might be wrong. She's felt like a prized pet bird all her life, trapped in a beautiful, golden cage, the bars forged out of her name.
She can't help but think that Vander's made assumptions too, even if he won't share them.]
I know, whatever else may happen—
[And given what Sevika had said at the meeting, and Jinx telling her that she and Vi will part ways again, it does seem like her future will be... tumultuous...
Her hands tighten on the mug, her mind shying away from thinking about any of that just now. She came here to clear the air about her relationship with Vander's daughter, not to dwell on...]
–there are those who would frown on my having a relationship with a Zaunite. I want you to know that I don't care about them, or what they think. I care about Vi. It's true that she and I come from different worlds, and I can't promise those worlds will never clash, but I'm prepared to support her through whatever those clashes might entail. I'm not asking for your permission, but I... I am asking for your acceptance.
[She meets his gaze, serious and earnest and intent. Whatever her relationship with Vi might end up being, and whatever difficulties they may face together or apart, she hopes that Vander will approve. She rather likes Vander, and she doesn't want her feelings to cause strife between father and daughter, even if he has been dead for years.]
And if you have any– If you have questions. About me. Us. About Vi. I'll answer them, of course.
[Vander had been trained and coaxed along thanks to his association with Grayson. When he had been young and brash and hopped up on his own ego, he had definitely hated all enforcers and most of Piltover. He resented them and their pretty perfect lives while he punched and kicked his way to his next meal sometimes. He'd been stopped, frisked and even beaten by enforcers for no other reason than he was big and they could claim he looked to be trouble. Well, there was also Silco, who had a keen ability to instigate fights, especially with enforcers.
However, after much distrust and negotiating, Grayson had taught him some of Piltover, and he had taught her some of Zaun. They had made it work for the sake of the deal, which required them both to leave much of their prejudice at the door. He had kept much of the violence out of the Lanes, including that of enforcers, but that didn't mean he wasn't suspicious of Piltover either. The Council had been a distance uncaring entity for as long as he could recall. That she was the daughter of a Councilwoman did create a ripple of unease in him, but she had extended him a courtesy of safety and privacy when no one else would.]
Usually we don't entirely have a choice who we develop feelings for. Sometimes they bring out the best in us. Sometimes they bring out the worst. Or it's a combination of both.
[Case in point: Silco. Not that he would admit to anyone their former association, not so soon after arriving. He could call it a fall out of a friendship or a brotherhood and nothing more than that. His focus had to be on Vi, on what it was that she possibly wanted or needed. After all, she had lost everything including years, and that was a lot to make up for.]
Vi would face similar scrutiny in the undercity. Dalliances are common but actual relationships are rare given our... ah sordid history with one another. And none of this conversation actually matters because Vi isn't here to verify your story. I'd prefer to see you two together and understand how you two treat each other before I make any acceptances on what you've told me.
[He met her gaze in return, honest and without judgment. Caitlyn was nice enough, if reactive to Zaunites, which he expected he would have to work on her with. Both her and Jayce actually. Though, talking about Vi made his heart ache to see her, to want to make certain she was alright, to apologize that things had gotten so out of hand, for... abandoning her.]
[This being the first time she's had this sort of conversation, she doesn't really know what she expected. Or what she ought to have expected. It makes sense that he'd want to talk to Vi about this before leveling any judgment, one way or the other, so perhaps this is the best outcome she could have hoped for.
At least he hasn't chased her out of the flat.]
I— Yes, I understand.
[If only Vi were here.
To his question, she responds,] No, [quite earnestly.] She doesn't. She's quite the forceful personality. I can't imagine her backing down from anything once she's set her mind to it.
[He knew that Vi would complicate things, that adding another to their ranks here was going to increase the chances of conflict between the groups. He was suspecting that Vi was now caught between the two cities as he might just be, no real alliances aside from those cultivated with the people she cared about. No doubt causing trouble just with her very being; the girls had always been able to make waves just being who they were.
Just like their mother.
Vander's expression softened and became incredibly fond as he nodded his head. His lips tugged in a smile, and he felt a relief that Vi still had her fierceness.] That's my girl.
[He was heartened by the earnest nature of Caitlyn's reply.] What was she charged with to be locked in Stillwater?
I don't know. There weren't any records on her incarceration. I don't even know how long she was locked up. Given that the Sheriff was working for Silco, and Vi's... involvement with Silco... I— It's possible that the Sheriff was responsible.
[She can't be entirely certain, of course. Not without more information. But it's a reasonable assumption to make.]
When I met her, she'd been put in solitary confinement for breaking another inmate's jaw. One of Silco's henchmen. [Her voice drops lower. Her hands tighten even further on the mug, as though, if she grips it hard enough, its warmth could somehow be transferred to Vi.] Those cells are so deep, and so cold, and so dark... I shudder to think at how long she was there.
[His fingers twitched as he considered the timing. Vi in prison likely soon after he had died, and based on what Powder had told him, it seemed to him that she had to be placed in Stillwater by an enforcer. It was neat and tidy wasn't it? Why keep her alive unless it was to potentially use against...
Marcus...?
After Grayson's death, there had been an exchange of blood money. A tie to Piltover that was necessary to keep the dealings of the undercity from slipping too far up the chain. Janna, he could see it, and no wonder keeping someone who was also known to shift conflicts just by her stubbornness, her will, the strength of her character and heart. She'd become Marcus' ace in the hole, yet Caitlyn had been the one to free her. Maybe he was far off base, but why else keep Vi alive?
He didn't have enough information to verify it as anything truthful, but he could see the connections. There was so much he didn't know, so much he could never know, and yet... that Vi remained alive and then returned to the Lanes. No crime, just a trencher lost in the system.]
Of course... it was his only option. ["I met an old friend of yours... he sure had some stories."] Heh, she had nothing left to lose... [He'd been in one of those deep, dark, cold cells before after the Day of Ash; it was a taste of what he would live like if he didn't take the deal or at least barter in some manner of good faith.
He turned his head to stare off across the sparse room to the wall.] I've heard stories... the darkest places are where they have their talks. But... you set her free. I'm grateful that you gave her a chance at a life again.
[Of course. Vi had always been protective of Powder, and with his last words being to take care of her sister, he had no doubt Vi had taken that seriously. The sisters had an inseparable bond even when apart, and he wondered what they were like together now that they were adults. He somehow had his doubts Powder had accepted a Piltie as a pick of the fair for Vi's affections.]
Sounds about right. Vi always had the best management skills when it came to Pow... er, Jinx.
[He corner of his lip twitched in a small smile. He drew in a deep breath and held it, allowing his ruse of 'being just fine' to remain and even solidify.]
Always did. From the moment she was born, I knew she was special. Both of them were.
[For a given value of 'special,' Caitlyn thinks bitterly. Jinx is clever, she'll give the girl that. But she's also...
No, she reminds herself firmly. She didn't come here to talk about Jinx. This is about Vi, and being honest with Vi's father, and assuring him that her feelings for Vi are genuine.
What else to say? She thinks back to the suitors her parents had tried to present to her. The things they'd said about the suitors' families' finances, their families' connections and histories. All the sorts of things a Kiramman should consider when choosing a potential match. Would Vander care about those things? Her family is one of the most wealthy and influential in the city, the Kiramman name carries weight with everyone in Piltover and even beyond. If he does care, he must already know that Vi would want for nothing, were she and Caitlyn to be together.
Of course, she'd feel the same way for Vi regardless of finances. Money isn't even a consideration when it comes to her feelings for Vi. But would it be a consideration for Vander? Is she the suitor in this instance? Should she be making the case for her families' finances and connections?
She can feel the seconds stretching between them, each one more awkward to her than the last, until she interrupts the silence by even more awkwardly blurting out:]
[Caitlyn did not have the best poker face, and it was clear that she had thoughts about both of his daughters for better or for worse. He had been provided a bird's eye view of how Caitlyn and Jinx treated each other, and both of them had not voiced their faint displeasure with one another. Or in Jinx's case, it had been outright disdain for the relationship Vi had developed.
He was more of a wait and see type of person. He was usually not overprotective, but once his protectiveness was prickled, he would do anything for that person. He liked to think Vi was a good judge of character, and he was no slouch at it either.
He might not know everything there was about Piltover, but he did know that Councilors had considerable wealth. The mansion that he had briefly stayed at was certainly indication enough that wealth would never be a problem; would the opposite be true? The richest people in Zaun would hold no candle to the high houses.
He blinked at Caitlyn's sudden outburst. He huffed a sound of amusement and ran his fingers through his hair.]
Oh that much I'm aware of, and it's probably the least important aspect of your relationship with her. To me anyway. Did you... think it was important to me?
I don't— I've never done this before, and I wasn't— [She pauses, tries to gather herself. Is she making a poor impression?] Usually I'm being swarmed by eligible bachelorettes and— Not that—
[That probably isn't coming across the way she means it.]
That is to say, people usually... Since I came of age, my parents... [She doesn't really want to talk about her parents, either, since then she'll have to think about her mother, and then...] They made an effort to impress upon me the importance of making a suitable match. And they've tried themselves. To do so. To find 'appropriate suitors.'
[The quotation marks are audible; those had been her parents' words, not hers. And every suitor had been more unappealing than the last, a parade of heiresses who would never care for Caitlyn more than they cared for the wealth and prestige that Caitlyn's name could bring them.]
I was always told to consider their finances, and with whom their family was connected, as though there were no more important qualities I might look for. I thought, if those were things that might concern you... I... [She finally finishes, rather lamely:] I'm not sure how these things are normally done.
[Vander found himself bemused by her explanation, and it wasn't so difficult to consider. There were those with wealth in the undercity, and they tended to be picky when it came to who they made matches with so that wealth was not particularly disseminated down or squandered. When one had scratched, negotiated, found good luck or simply took what they wanted to cultivate wealth, they were usually hard-pressed to give it up again.
Of course, he'd never taught his kids that lesson; he would prefer that they found connection where they would. They knew their own hearts better than he did, so how could he tell them who to settle down with? Love was often found in the most unexpected places. His job was to have them learn the skills necessary to navigate the pitfalls and complications of that... and well, maybe he was the worst role model for that.
Not that anyone knew. Okay, two people knew, but both of them would probably rather have their tongues removed than admit it.]
I know you're looking for my approval and trying to explain your position to me, but I honestly don't care, Caitlyn. If Vi likes you, then it's her decision. [So many years missed; he couldn't even tease her now about it as she wasn't here.] As long as you treat her as your equal, respect and care for her as I feel she deserves, you two can do whatever you like. You're both adults making adult decisions.
[He huffed a sound of amusement, turning his arm over where it rested on his knee and stared at the brace. He flexed his hand, feeling the tightness.] Well, I don't think there's supposed to be a recipe on how it's done. To each their own, hmm? You two did seem to meet in odd circumstances as it is.
Yes. Of course. [Of course she'll treat Vi as her equal. Respect her, care for her, everything she can to make Vi happy. All she wants is the opportunity to do so, and someone who'll do the same for her.]
I suppose there isn't much more to say, without Vi. Should she make an appearance here, we'll... I'm sure we'll be speaking again on the matter. [She's grateful, at least, that he's open to the idea, that he hasn't dismissed her out of hand or become angry or judged her harshly. She's glad he doesn't care about money or social status. She'd glad Vi has someone, even if long dead, who cares for her well-being and happiness before anything else.] And I'm glad I've had the chance to get to know you. Even if the circumstances are far from ideal.
[She realises she hasn't tried the tea yet, so she fishes out the steep ball and takes a sip.]
She is the master of her own affections and destiny, yes. [He did miss her, more than he could express in words. Since the day Vi had been born, Vander had been attached to her. He had helped raise her from day one, babysat while Felicia and Connol were working the mine shifts.] As long as she's happy wherever she is, that's all that matters to me. She deserves that... life hasn't been easy for her.
[It had obviously been worse in part after he had died. Jail then facing off against the undercity and then whatever other threats had come up. Powder was different, not Jinx, the Lanes was taken over by Chem-barons and Silco. He'd seen what that man had transformed into after all.
He forced the corner of his lip to a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. That's why he closed them as he offered a little shrug.] Well, glad I could help. I expect the road is going to be rather bumpy given who else is here and the complicated agendas. You and Jayce sticking together is the best course for you both in the game of sides.
[There's a weight behind all of this that Caitlyn doesn't entirely understand, restrained as Vi had been in sharing her past. She'd told Caitlyn of Powder, the girl Jinx once had been, and something of their life together, but little enough beyond that. From the way Vander speaks, from the sorrow in that smile to the words he says — life hasn't been easy for her — she knows there's more.
And she doesn't want to pry. Vi will, or won't, tell Caitlyn more when she's ready. But there is one thing that's bothering her, something that her too-inquisitive mind keeps catching on, ever since she realised Vander's identity.]
May I ask... Vi told me her parents were killed by enforcers. Was she talking about you?
[She'd understand if he won't tell her. But she feels the need to ask nonetheless.]
[Vander's expression remained cordial but became overly formal. Yet, he made certain to soften his body language otherwise, as if this topic of the conversation didn't particularly bother him. The truth was complicated and full of old regrets, and if he allowed himself to think on the subject - the memory of them dead on the bridge - he knew he would let something slip. He had once built a peace on the foundation of their corpses along with everyone else who had paid the ultimate price.
He flexed his right hand casually, and he made a point of meeting Caitlyn's gaze. He doubted there was time to delve into the complexity of undercity family dynamics on their little adventures.]
No. I adopted her and Powder after they were killed. Two boys whose parents died that day too.
[Knowing she's asked something personal, and painful, Caitlyn simply watches, listens, meets his eyes while he speaks. Both parents killed, adopted by someone who loved her only for him to die too, and then years spent in prison... Caitlyn feels an almost physical pain in her chest at everything Vi has been through.
A thought of her own mother steals into her head, but she shuts it away, deep in some storage vault in her mind where she won't need to contend with it.]
[He had always wondered if the Day of Ash had sent any kind of ripple through Piltover, but he supposed that aside from congratulating their fine officers, burying their dead, it had likely passed without much legendary status as it had in the undercity. He supposed putting down a group of unstart trenchers was common enough in Piltover. He'd pulled some fairly ballsy stunts in Piltover before then, all leading to nothing more than a crack down in the Lanes and beyond.
If Vander hadn't taken them across the bridge that day, if it hadn't gotten out of hand, Vi's parents would still be alive. A lot of people would still be alive. He would never consider himself any kind of hero due to the costs, and it was the least he could do to take in some of his children left orphaned because of some of his own actions.
That was the price of leadership. People died. Good people, bad people, just people.]
Well, I've known her and Powder since they were born. They deserved a family, and I did what I could.
[When she'd first met Vander, he had spoken of his children being killed. Knowing that Vi and Jinx are alive, she assumes he must have been referring to the two boys, unless there were others. Vi's never mentioned adopted brothers killed years ago, and all of this only raises more questions that Caitlyn is burning to know the answers to, but she still won't pry.
Instead of asking anything further, she sets the tea down so that she can move towards Vander, drop to her knees next to him on the floor, and wrap him in a tight, brief hug.]
[The death of his boys was still extremely fresh, but he pushed down the grief until he was alone. That kind of vulnerability was not meant for the public eye, and he did have plenty of time on his hands it seemed. He would eventually fill the time, but for now, it was a welcomed distraction to talk about Violet and the trials and tribulations of a cross-city relationship.
He knew that Caitlyn had questions, and he appreciated that she was restrained enough to not pepper him with particular sore subjects. The Day of Ash remained a point that upended everything.
He watched her set the tea aside and move, expecting that she had completed the reason she was here and would be off. He stilled when she came to the floor next to him, watching her and offering a soft 'oof' at her hug, though there was no way she could wrap even those long arms around his shoulders.]
[She pulls out of the hug a little awkwardly, her eyes glancing away and then back at him as she tries to think of how to answer that question.]
I...
[She hadn't known what to say, really. I'm sorry your sons were killed and you were also killed seems insufficient, the sort of formula one is meant to follow that lends a veneer of insincerity no matter how sincerely one might mean it.
I'm sorry your family lost so much, and I'm sorry you didn't get to watch your daughter grow up into the brilliant woman she's become, and I'm sorry she's lost so much too seems like too much, or not enough, an over-expression of emotions that still somehow fails to capture how deeply sorrowful Caitlyn is about all of this.
Apparently I've lost a family member too, and if I allow myself to think about it for even a moment, I fear the tenuous grip I have on my emotions may shatter, and I don't know if you feel the same but I can't imagine you feel much differently is too vulnerable, though no less honest.
A hug can say all of those things more easily, and more honestly, and more sincerely, than the words.]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2025-01-12 11:28 pm (UTC)She accepts the tea with a soft,] Thank you, [and gives it a little stir with the spoon, letting the ball sit a few moments longer.]
I wanted to let you know how I felt. What my relationship with Vi is. I-- [Her hands grip the hot mug awkwardly, the spoon left to sit in there with the ball, her eyes watching as deeper colour seeps out of the leaves into the steaming hot water.] You aren't upset?
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Date: 2025-01-12 11:40 pm (UTC)He inclined his head slightly to acknowledge the fact that she had come all this way to inform him about how her heart was aflutter for Violet. He raised his eyebrows at the question, momentarily confused.] Should I be upset? You have romantic feelings for my daughter, whom I technically haven't seen for years by the time you meet her.
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Date: 2025-01-13 12:36 am (UTC)I thought-- [She's not sure how to say this diplomatically, so she simply blunders ahead as best she can.] People make assumptions. About my name. And I'm not just a Kiramman, I'm an enforcer as well, and I thought-- I was worried you wouldn't approve.
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Date: 2025-01-13 01:01 am (UTC)Unfortunately for him, he didn't know the details of their relationship. The Vi he knew was interested in girls, but she hadn't spent much time exploring that. She was trying to live up to what she thought his expectations were. There was a disconnect between what he knew and what was being presented. Still, Caitlyn was clearly earnest enough about her feelings.]
I couldn't say I care much about your name. I care about the contents of your character, Caitlyn. [He did actually tighten his hand a little at the enforcer bit. Old habits, nothing personal against her.] It's true enforcers are not my favourite people, but...
[If she only knew who his previous long-term relationship was to, she might be the one judging him and not the other way around.]
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Date: 2025-01-13 02:08 am (UTC)She can't help but think that Vander's made assumptions too, even if he won't share them.]
I know, whatever else may happen—
[And given what Sevika had said at the meeting, and Jinx telling her that she and Vi will part ways again, it does seem like her future will be... tumultuous...
Her hands tighten on the mug, her mind shying away from thinking about any of that just now. She came here to clear the air about her relationship with Vander's daughter, not to dwell on...]
–there are those who would frown on my having a relationship with a Zaunite. I want you to know that I don't care about them, or what they think. I care about Vi. It's true that she and I come from different worlds, and I can't promise those worlds will never clash, but I'm prepared to support her through whatever those clashes might entail. I'm not asking for your permission, but I... I am asking for your acceptance.
[She meets his gaze, serious and earnest and intent. Whatever her relationship with Vi might end up being, and whatever difficulties they may face together or apart, she hopes that Vander will approve. She rather likes Vander, and she doesn't want her feelings to cause strife between father and daughter, even if he has been dead for years.]
And if you have any– If you have questions. About me. Us. About Vi. I'll answer them, of course.
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Date: 2025-01-13 03:13 am (UTC)However, after much distrust and negotiating, Grayson had taught him some of Piltover, and he had taught her some of Zaun. They had made it work for the sake of the deal, which required them both to leave much of their prejudice at the door. He had kept much of the violence out of the Lanes, including that of enforcers, but that didn't mean he wasn't suspicious of Piltover either. The Council had been a distance uncaring entity for as long as he could recall. That she was the daughter of a Councilwoman did create a ripple of unease in him, but she had extended him a courtesy of safety and privacy when no one else would.]
Usually we don't entirely have a choice who we develop feelings for. Sometimes they bring out the best in us. Sometimes they bring out the worst. Or it's a combination of both.
[Case in point: Silco. Not that he would admit to anyone their former association, not so soon after arriving. He could call it a fall out of a friendship or a brotherhood and nothing more than that. His focus had to be on Vi, on what it was that she possibly wanted or needed. After all, she had lost everything including years, and that was a lot to make up for.]
Vi would face similar scrutiny in the undercity. Dalliances are common but actual relationships are rare given our... ah sordid history with one another. And none of this conversation actually matters because Vi isn't here to verify your story. I'd prefer to see you two together and understand how you two treat each other before I make any acceptances on what you've told me.
[He met her gaze in return, honest and without judgment. Caitlyn was nice enough, if reactive to Zaunites, which he expected he would have to work on her with. Both her and Jayce actually. Though, talking about Vi made his heart ache to see her, to want to make certain she was alright, to apologize that things had gotten so out of hand, for... abandoning her.]
Does... Vi still take no shit from anyone?
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Date: 2025-01-13 04:14 am (UTC)At least he hasn't chased her out of the flat.]
I— Yes, I understand.
[If only Vi were here.
To his question, she responds,] No, [quite earnestly.] She doesn't. She's quite the forceful personality. I can't imagine her backing down from anything once she's set her mind to it.
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Date: 2025-01-13 04:57 am (UTC)Just like their mother.
Vander's expression softened and became incredibly fond as he nodded his head. His lips tugged in a smile, and he felt a relief that Vi still had her fierceness.] That's my girl.
[He was heartened by the earnest nature of Caitlyn's reply.] What was she charged with to be locked in Stillwater?
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Date: 2025-01-13 05:24 am (UTC)I don't know. There weren't any records on her incarceration. I don't even know how long she was locked up. Given that the Sheriff was working for Silco, and Vi's... involvement with Silco... I— It's possible that the Sheriff was responsible.
[She can't be entirely certain, of course. Not without more information. But it's a reasonable assumption to make.]
When I met her, she'd been put in solitary confinement for breaking another inmate's jaw. One of Silco's henchmen. [Her voice drops lower. Her hands tighten even further on the mug, as though, if she grips it hard enough, its warmth could somehow be transferred to Vi.] Those cells are so deep, and so cold, and so dark... I shudder to think at how long she was there.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-14 05:09 am (UTC)Marcus...?
After Grayson's death, there had been an exchange of blood money. A tie to Piltover that was necessary to keep the dealings of the undercity from slipping too far up the chain. Janna, he could see it, and no wonder keeping someone who was also known to shift conflicts just by her stubbornness, her will, the strength of her character and heart. She'd become Marcus' ace in the hole, yet Caitlyn had been the one to free her. Maybe he was far off base, but why else keep Vi alive?
He didn't have enough information to verify it as anything truthful, but he could see the connections. There was so much he didn't know, so much he could never know, and yet... that Vi remained alive and then returned to the Lanes. No crime, just a trencher lost in the system.]
Of course... it was his only option. ["I met an old friend of yours... he sure had some stories."] Heh, she had nothing left to lose... [He'd been in one of those deep, dark, cold cells before after the Day of Ash; it was a taste of what he would live like if he didn't take the deal or at least barter in some manner of good faith.
He turned his head to stare off across the sparse room to the wall.] I've heard stories... the darkest places are where they have their talks. But... you set her free. I'm grateful that you gave her a chance at a life again.
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Date: 2025-01-14 07:19 am (UTC)She had one thing left to lose, [she says softly.] Her sister. From the moment I freed her, all she cared about was finding and saving Jinx.
[And for Vi's trouble, Jinx had set off more bombs, shot at both Vi and Caitlyn with a minigun, been nothing but violent and aggressive.
But she came here to talk about Vi, not Jinx.]
She still has a good heart.
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Date: 2025-01-14 02:22 pm (UTC)Sounds about right. Vi always had the best management skills when it came to Pow... er, Jinx.
[He corner of his lip twitched in a small smile. He drew in a deep breath and held it, allowing his ruse of 'being just fine' to remain and even solidify.]
Always did. From the moment she was born, I knew she was special. Both of them were.
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Date: 2025-01-16 01:11 am (UTC)No, she reminds herself firmly. She didn't come here to talk about Jinx. This is about Vi, and being honest with Vi's father, and assuring him that her feelings for Vi are genuine.
What else to say? She thinks back to the suitors her parents had tried to present to her. The things they'd said about the suitors' families' finances, their families' connections and histories. All the sorts of things a Kiramman should consider when choosing a potential match. Would Vander care about those things? Her family is one of the most wealthy and influential in the city, the Kiramman name carries weight with everyone in Piltover and even beyond. If he does care, he must already know that Vi would want for nothing, were she and Caitlyn to be together.
Of course, she'd feel the same way for Vi regardless of finances. Money isn't even a consideration when it comes to her feelings for Vi. But would it be a consideration for Vander? Is she the suitor in this instance? Should she be making the case for her families' finances and connections?
She can feel the seconds stretching between them, each one more awkward to her than the last, until she interrupts the silence by even more awkwardly blurting out:]
I can provide for her. Financially.
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Date: 2025-01-16 04:36 am (UTC)He was more of a wait and see type of person. He was usually not overprotective, but once his protectiveness was prickled, he would do anything for that person. He liked to think Vi was a good judge of character, and he was no slouch at it either.
He might not know everything there was about Piltover, but he did know that Councilors had considerable wealth. The mansion that he had briefly stayed at was certainly indication enough that wealth would never be a problem; would the opposite be true? The richest people in Zaun would hold no candle to the high houses.
He blinked at Caitlyn's sudden outburst. He huffed a sound of amusement and ran his fingers through his hair.]
Oh that much I'm aware of, and it's probably the least important aspect of your relationship with her. To me anyway. Did you... think it was important to me?
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Date: 2025-01-16 05:11 am (UTC)[That probably isn't coming across the way she means it.]
That is to say, people usually... Since I came of age, my parents... [She doesn't really want to talk about her parents, either, since then she'll have to think about her mother, and then...] They made an effort to impress upon me the importance of making a suitable match. And they've tried themselves. To do so. To find 'appropriate suitors.'
[The quotation marks are audible; those had been her parents' words, not hers. And every suitor had been more unappealing than the last, a parade of heiresses who would never care for Caitlyn more than they cared for the wealth and prestige that Caitlyn's name could bring them.]
I was always told to consider their finances, and with whom their family was connected, as though there were no more important qualities I might look for. I thought, if those were things that might concern you... I... [She finally finishes, rather lamely:] I'm not sure how these things are normally done.
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Date: 2025-01-16 01:59 pm (UTC)Of course, he'd never taught his kids that lesson; he would prefer that they found connection where they would. They knew their own hearts better than he did, so how could he tell them who to settle down with? Love was often found in the most unexpected places. His job was to have them learn the skills necessary to navigate the pitfalls and complications of that... and well, maybe he was the worst role model for that.
Not that anyone knew. Okay, two people knew, but both of them would probably rather have their tongues removed than admit it.]
I know you're looking for my approval and trying to explain your position to me, but I honestly don't care, Caitlyn. If Vi likes you, then it's her decision. [So many years missed; he couldn't even tease her now about it as she wasn't here.] As long as you treat her as your equal, respect and care for her as I feel she deserves, you two can do whatever you like. You're both adults making adult decisions.
[He huffed a sound of amusement, turning his arm over where it rested on his knee and stared at the brace. He flexed his hand, feeling the tightness.] Well, I don't think there's supposed to be a recipe on how it's done. To each their own, hmm? You two did seem to meet in odd circumstances as it is.
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Date: 2025-01-17 01:27 am (UTC)I suppose there isn't much more to say, without Vi. Should she make an appearance here, we'll... I'm sure we'll be speaking again on the matter. [She's grateful, at least, that he's open to the idea, that he hasn't dismissed her out of hand or become angry or judged her harshly. She's glad he doesn't care about money or social status. She'd glad Vi has someone, even if long dead, who cares for her well-being and happiness before anything else.] And I'm glad I've had the chance to get to know you. Even if the circumstances are far from ideal.
[She realises she hasn't tried the tea yet, so she fishes out the steep ball and takes a sip.]
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Date: 2025-01-17 03:25 am (UTC)[It had obviously been worse in part after he had died. Jail then facing off against the undercity and then whatever other threats had come up. Powder was different, not Jinx, the Lanes was taken over by Chem-barons and Silco. He'd seen what that man had transformed into after all.
He forced the corner of his lip to a small smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. That's why he closed them as he offered a little shrug.] Well, glad I could help. I expect the road is going to be rather bumpy given who else is here and the complicated agendas. You and Jayce sticking together is the best course for you both in the game of sides.
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Date: 2025-01-17 05:38 am (UTC)And she doesn't want to pry. Vi will, or won't, tell Caitlyn more when she's ready. But there is one thing that's bothering her, something that her too-inquisitive mind keeps catching on, ever since she realised Vander's identity.]
May I ask... Vi told me her parents were killed by enforcers. Was she talking about you?
[She'd understand if he won't tell her. But she feels the need to ask nonetheless.]
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Date: 2025-01-17 06:01 am (UTC)He flexed his right hand casually, and he made a point of meeting Caitlyn's gaze. He doubted there was time to delve into the complexity of undercity family dynamics on their little adventures.]
No. I adopted her and Powder after they were killed. Two boys whose parents died that day too.
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Date: 2025-01-17 06:31 am (UTC)A thought of her own mother steals into her head, but she shuts it away, deep in some storage vault in her mind where she won't need to contend with it.]
She's lucky to have had you.
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Date: 2025-01-17 02:23 pm (UTC)If Vander hadn't taken them across the bridge that day, if it hadn't gotten out of hand, Vi's parents would still be alive. A lot of people would still be alive. He would never consider himself any kind of hero due to the costs, and it was the least he could do to take in some of his children left orphaned because of some of his own actions.
That was the price of leadership. People died. Good people, bad people, just people.]
Well, I've known her and Powder since they were born. They deserved a family, and I did what I could.
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Date: 2025-01-22 04:45 am (UTC)Instead of asking anything further, she sets the tea down so that she can move towards Vander, drop to her knees next to him on the floor, and wrap him in a tight, brief hug.]
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Date: 2025-01-23 04:49 pm (UTC)He knew that Caitlyn had questions, and he appreciated that she was restrained enough to not pepper him with particular sore subjects. The Day of Ash remained a point that upended everything.
He watched her set the tea aside and move, expecting that she had completed the reason she was here and would be off. He stilled when she came to the floor next to him, watching her and offering a soft 'oof' at her hug, though there was no way she could wrap even those long arms around his shoulders.]
...thank you? To what do I owe the affection?
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Date: 2025-01-23 07:32 pm (UTC)I...
[She hadn't known what to say, really. I'm sorry your sons were killed and you were also killed seems insufficient, the sort of formula one is meant to follow that lends a veneer of insincerity no matter how sincerely one might mean it.
I'm sorry your family lost so much, and I'm sorry you didn't get to watch your daughter grow up into the brilliant woman she's become, and I'm sorry she's lost so much too seems like too much, or not enough, an over-expression of emotions that still somehow fails to capture how deeply sorrowful Caitlyn is about all of this.
Apparently I've lost a family member too, and if I allow myself to think about it for even a moment, I fear the tenuous grip I have on my emotions may shatter, and I don't know if you feel the same but I can't imagine you feel much differently is too vulnerable, though no less honest.
A hug can say all of those things more easily, and more honestly, and more sincerely, than the words.]
I thought... You might like one. A hug.
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