Powder was curled up on the sofa, fiddling with Vi's stuffed bunny, her eyes downcast in depression while Vi paced the room rapidly. She was stressed, thinking about how they should've stayed together as a group instead of splitting up, and dreading Vander's reaction if they didn't return. Just then the door burst open, Claggor standing there with Orion behind him.
"We're back!" Claggor announced in an upbeat tone and a smile on his face, as if trying to downplay the earlier chaos. Relief spread across Vi's face, and her tensed posture relaxed instantly.
"I knew you guys would make it." Vi said, glancing at Powder with a touch of bravado, "See, what did I tell yah?"
Powder's sulking demeanor didn't change. She glanced up at Claggor and said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I dropped fluffers and wasn't looking."
Claggor stepped over, ruffled her hair, reassuring her, "Don't worry about it. Things happen."
It wasn't enough to completely lift her mood, but Orion noticed the slight uncurling of her body as she loosened up. Claggor turns his gaze back over to Vi and Orion, "Orion came back for me after my foot got stuck running from the Enforcers."
"It was nothing, anyone would do it." Orion said, trying to brush it off. Vi giggled softly, glancing at him with a hint of admiration. "Tell that to Mylo."
"I tried telling him, he wouldn't take it." Claggor grinned as he began retelling the chase, and the walk back, to the sisters.
Powder's depression vanished as she became captivated by the story, her feet flip-flopping on the sofa as her eyes sparkled with awe. Vi, however, was a different story. By the end, her fists were clenched, and gaze cast down as she shook her head, "I'm sorry... we should've stayed together. You could've been taken..."
"But he wasn't. You did good, Vi." Orion reassured her gently.
Claggor nodded in agreement, "Yeah, who would've thought the Enforcers would be roaming there!"
A voice interrupted them from behind, "You guys too?" The group turned to see Mylo standing there, looking miserable. Red, crusted paint speckled his body and the bucket in his hand was coated same color on one side.
"What happened to you?" Claggor asked, clearly amused, with Vi and Powder giggling.
"Enforcers came around, that's what happened. The job's done though." Mylo replied flatly and stepped toward the sofa. His bright red ass caught Powder's eye, and she burst into laughter. The rest of the group struggled to restrain themselves.
"Pfft- monkey's ass." Orion quipped, unable to help himself.
"Is that the best you've got?" Mylo retorted, unimpressed, as he flopped on the sofa and arched an eyebrow.
"I've got more." Orion started to say, but Vi cut him off. "Enough. Vander's going to be here any min-"
Like clockwork, Vander's imposing presence loomed filled the doorway. His sharp gaze fixated on Vi, and the entire group stiffened, the previously light atmosphere vanishing. Vander didn't seem to be trying to stiffen the mood, it was simply the effect of his presence.
In a surprisingly upbeat tone, he asked, "So? How did it go?"
Vi, bravado returning again, answered, "We did it-" She briefly explained the vandalism, with Mylo chiming in about his middle-finger artwork. This is the weirdest good-job feeling for criminal work, Orion thought, bemused.
"I'm glad everything went well." Vander said. "You're getting better at this Vi! You all are."
Orion watched a visible smile appear on Vi's face, her happiness apparent. Unexpectedly, he found himself with a similar smile too, just from watching her.
"I'll let you lot rest up now. Huck will be here tomorrow with the money after he sees your handiwork." Vander concluded in a business-like tone before adding, "Ah- Orion, can I have a word?"
The gang was buzzing with excitement after hearing mention of pay. Vi, however, raised an eyebrow, with an expression reading, "Why him?" Her mood seemed to shift constantly; it wasn't displeasure, just annoyed curiosity perhaps? Orion couldn't figure her out as he nodded and followed up after Vander.
---------------------------------------------------
Orion wasn't exactly a fan of drinking straight juice as he stared down at the mug. Not wanting to show displeasure though he took it up for a sip. Vander wouldn't have noticed anyway, he had turned away briefly to pour himself an alcoholic beverage.
"How did it go?" Vander asked as he went to sit down.
"Huh? Vi just to-" Orion started but Vander interrupted abruptly. "To you."
Silence hit for a moment before he spoke, "She did fine. It was simple. I thought initially that splitting was a poor choice, but turned out for the better." He shrugged, adding to it, "She believes otherwise now."
Vander nodded, glancing down at his drink, and affirmed, "For them, it is."
"Them?" Orion stiffened, prepared to hear being cast aside. What came, however, caught him completely off-guard.
"I'm sorry about your parents..." Vander drank from his mug before saying this, and Orion's face was plastered with confusion. He expressed this openly, asking, "My parents? What about them?"
Slowly sucking in air he spoke, revealing hidden knowledge. "The reason you're in Entresol, hooked up in Emberflit, is because of a deal I made with your parents."
Orion was stunned. His eyes dropped to his drink as he tried to process what he'd just heard. "The Hound of the Undercity was involved in my parents disappearance? Wait, my-"
Anger crept in across Orion's face, fueled partly by the revelation, and partly because of his melding personalities. They aren't my real parents, he fought with himself, gritting his teeth. Vander saw only a young man getting angry and he sighed, taking another drink.
"What deal?" Orion asked, his voice strained.
Vander twirled his mug slowly before setting it down, his words carrying regret. "I asked them keep a look-out for an old friend who went missing. I suspected he might be found around the Chemtech Seams. In return, for just keeping an eye out, I hooked your family up. A pretty generous deal, aye?"
Shaking his head, he continued, "I don't know if your parents are dead, same as my friend, but your parents had a reason to make it back."
He stopped there, letting the words and their implications sink in. Orion's memories didn't recall him ever meeting Vander, so this was all new to him. Silence gripped the closed bar, broken only by the faint flicker of electric lights.
"It wasn't your fault..." Orion muttered.
Vander responded evenly, "I never said it was. Your parents' job as miners never changed."
Their conversation carried on for a while, Vander answering Orion's questions in ways that revealed very little. Whenever questions started to get personal, or too deep, his gaze would shift to his drink, his words becoming guarded . It left an impression that Vander's relationship with Orion's parents, whatever it was, wasn't personal, or at least so it seemed.
When discussing the job more, Vander's casual demeanor hinted at something more. A faint shrug here, a vague comment there. This is pity, Orion thought. Vander had other priorities and bigger fish to fry, and more important people to look after. Orion considered himself lucky to be noticed, let alone receive a job or have a chance to make connections with the gang.
"I'd like you to stick around," Vander said suddenly. "Not everyday, just enough to help keep the messes down."
"Why? That doesn't make sense?!" Orion blurted, his confusion clear. Vander responded with a shrug, his tone carrying mild amusement. "Sure it does. Not a bad deal to be arguing, aye? Occasional meals and fingers in the pot."
It wasn't a bad idea, Orion acknowledged, it just seemed too generous- or perhaps Orion was just becoming pessimistic and overly skeptical? Vander wasn't much for elaborating, simply taking another sip from his drink, as if the matter was already settled. Orion shook his head in disbelief.
"So- what? That's it? Where's the catch?"
"No catch. It's a simple offer, lad." Vander replied, his gaze steady, the hint of challenge in his eyes as he awaits Orion's response.
This is definitely an easy way into the gang, Orion pondered with growing interest. A nagging suspicion in the back of his mind told him there was more but he decided to leave it be, this was enough for now.
"Alright, I'll help out." Vander smiled and nodded in approval at Orion's firm response. Reaching for a jug, he gestures at Orion's mug with a smug look, "Another?"
Orion chuckles softly, "No thanks."