History repeats itself. Vander has tried to shelter the kids from his mistakes, he only caused more of them. Now, some beast let loose in the pits of the Underground. But maybe, even with Vi's pain. With Vander's twisted form and broken memories. Maybe its possible for redemption.—

[𝙀𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩 ] [𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮] FAILURE is a constant word within her head, something that's repeated again and again. The pain lingering in her throat from the constant screams of anguish, losing the last remaining family is a heavy

☽ ° ⊰ 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓼 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕟𝕒𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕒𝕚𝕣 & 𝕟𝕠𝕚𝕤𝕖. ⊱ ° ☾ ⊱ · Steb ⊱ · 21+ ⊱ · Info Below ☽ ° ⊰ 𝕃𝕖𝕥 𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕜 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕕. ⊱ ° ☾

Caitlyn, take my heart if you don't mind playing with the broken toy 💔 #arcane #Caitvi

“ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ, ᴄᴜᴘᴄᴀᴋᴇ?” ~ ᴠɪ ~ ᴀʀᴄᴀɴᴇ ᴠᴇʀsᴇ ~ ʟᴇsʙɪᴀɴ ~ sʜɪᴘs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪsᴛʀʏ ~ ᴄʀᴏssᴏᴠᴇʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅʟʏ ʀᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴀᴛᴇᴅ

Vander comes in quietly. He takes the blanket from his bed and drapes it over Vi to keep his son warm. He pets their head gently. Then he went to go finish closing up the bar.

He watches Vi go down. Vander keeps running the bar and serving drinks. When its closed, he comes to check on Vi. Just quietly peering in to see if Vi was awake or asleep.

Hes sniffing the air. The Hound of the Underground is following it. Who will it lead him to?

"No.. we didnt know bout each other until now. Take a rest, Vi. You can stay as long as you want." CoffeePossum- Hey no problem! It happens.

"Im your dad. Its my job, Vi. Just let me take care of it. Alright?"

"I don't do the whole 'friend' thing anymore. After this, I'm taking my winnings and heading to the bar." 🥃Independent Protrayal 🥃Supernatural Elements 🥃Au Arcane Verse 🥃18+ 🥃Non Lewd/Lewd in DMs 🥃MDNI 🥃DMs Open

Vander gives him time. Eventually he comes back. "Got you some space down there. Once the bar is closed I'll go talk to Silco."

Vander understood it well. He pats Vi's back. Letting him take time to choose a photograph. He had to get some stuff moved around to make space for Vi to stay if he wished. He goes downstairs and starts to organize.

"You were teaching her cards that day. Mylo kept trying to cheat but Powder kept winning with your help." He smiled at the memory. "Here, look through them. You can take one, remind yourself of who you are."

"Hm.. would these help." He gestured to the photos he kept of the kids when they were young. Pulling down one of Vi teaching Powder to play cards. "You were a little ankle biter here.."

"I wont. Ill.. talk to Silco. See what we can work out." He pets Vi on the head. Smiling. "Thank you for letting me try again. I missed my kids.. all o'you."

"Of course, Vi." He sets him down again. His hand coming to pet his head. "It might start a bit rough, but it'll get easier. And.. Ill see what I can do about Silco." Might have to trade places. But he would gladly do that to protect Vi.

"Son. Yes, my son." He smiled. Holding Vi tight. He lifts him up a little even. Never too old to get a hug from your dad. "Ill help you, son. Without question."

Vander doesn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms around Vi. Holding his daughter, he didn't think less of him at all. "I missed you, Vi." He holds him tight even. "My girl.." He didn't mean to misgender Vi. He would be easily correct himself once Vi tells him.

"You can try other things. Youre not a failure. I could help ya. You will always be my child, Vi. Even if Silco's gotten his claws in you."

"And you shouldn't have! .. you shouldn't have, Violet. I failed you kids.. failed to protect you. But you have choices now as am adult. You dont need to go down that path."

There is a deep rumbling around the mines of Zaun. A beast stalks the area. Familiar scents draw him in. Wolfish snout sniffs the ground and walls. A large metal claw leaves grooves on the cave walls. Silco, Felicia, Vi, Powder, Sevika. He hunts these scents tirelessly, but cant focus on one.

"You had such a good heart Vi. I cant believe you enjoy this. Any of this. Those kids looked up to you." And now, kids fear him. Vander could let the monster inside out if he needed. But only his girls could bring that out of him.

"He robbed you of being a kid, Vi. A life where ya dont need to fight." He sighed, looking to the photos on the back board of his kids. Of Vi when he was a young kid.

"S'awful what he done to you. He turned you into his attack dog. You were just kids when it all happened." He looked down. Reaching his hand out for Vi to hold if he wanted. "Im so sorry, Vi. I didnt want this for you."

"..I'm alive. Regretfully. Spent a lot of time in Stillwater because of Silco." He let Vi touch him. Hes real. Vander brings a hand up to touch his wrist, covered by a brace. "Its good to see you, Vi. I miss you, greatly. Im.. sorry, I couldnt protect you. Or Powder."

".. That was my daughter's name. Violet. And Powder, Mylo, Claggor.." He looked down a moment. If this was Vi.. did Silco really take that away from him too? "Im called Vander." The Hound of the Underground was his other name. But hes not really that man anymore.

Vander turned at the challenge. Ready to throw the other out. But he stops. Its not the tattoo that he notices, is the eyes. His own dull grey hues widen. "Violet..?" He softened a little. He hated Silco for all he did. He broke Vander's spirit, his heart. He sees it in Vi. And here in them.

It was a wary alliance between the two now. Vander didnt like the changes in this new Zaun.. but what could he do now? With his kids gone, he really lost the will to fight. "It shouldn't be this way. Kids should have a chance and not need to get in the adults problems.. I lost four. Two girls and—

He glanced back at Silco's name. Choosing to keep quiet about it. Silco already makes it difficult enough for Vander to keep this bar running. "Not new. No, I owned this bar for a long time now. Likely before you were even born. Just had some.. hiccups in the road. Since I lost my kids.. had to—

Vander didnt recognize his child at first. Not with the dyed hair and sourpuss mood. He rose a brow and moved to pour the whiskey. Handing it over. "A greeting would be nice. No one greets their barman anymore?"

"I spent so many nights in that hellhole. These fights can't faze me." 🐾Independent Protrayal 🐾AU/Genderbent Vi 🐾21+ 🐾Non Lewd/Lewd In DMs 🐾Supernatural Elements 🐾Not new to character nor verse 🐾DMs Open 🐾Open to shipping

Casually wiping down the bar with a hum. He misses his kids..

"You should take steps to avoid that, then. When did you turn into such a troublemaker, aye?" He teased a little. Giving that signature dad smile to Jinx.

"Mines? Very dangerous place for you lot. What were you doing down there?" He asked. Taking a cloth to wipe down the bar counter.

He laughed at that. "You have a deal." Lot less painful than the staple gun, thats for sure.

Vander had pictures of his kids hung up. Jinx, Vi and two boys. Sometimes Benzo and Ekko made appearances. He serves Isha the juice in a cup. One similar to Jinx's but plain. Ripe for creative liberty.

He walked with Isha back to the bar. The Last Drop. No one is inside right now. Vander unlocks the door and comes in. "Go sit yourself down. I'll at least get you some juice before I put ya to work." He laughed heartily. Putting the groceries away and making good on that promise for juice.

"Atta girl. Come on then." He stands and offers his hand to Isha.

"Ill keep you safe until Jinx finds you. Sound good? You could help me around the bar if you like, but no going behind the counter. Got it?" He waited for their response before he would get up.

"Big wolf beast! That must have been very scary." He is assuming it to be a child's active imagination. "If youre Isha, you best stay close to me, alright? Jinx has been looking for you."

"I do. She is my daughter. Sometimes I forget she changed her name.. but she is patient with me. I am Vander." Isha may have heard that name before from Jinx and Vi. This is what the Wolf beast used to look like. Just a man.

He gets her with those friendly greenish grey hues. "Like Jinx, aye? .. you must be little Isha?" He tilts his head just a little.

He smiled to her. "Just like Powder you are. What's with all the blue, huh?" He asked. Looking over little Isha.

He laughed a bit. "Well, thats a familiar sight.. c'mere little one." He kneels down and takes out a cloth. Using it to carefully wipe the child's face clean.