Vi answered the door with a smile to see her sister the next morning.
"Hey, Vi." Her outfit was a little less formal this time. In fact, it really . . .
She was wearing funky leggings and stripes again, but no black. Blue and green. "Ready to go?"
"You bet." She closed the door. "So." She looked at two people a distance behind her. She knew about taggers well.
So did PJ, she didn't even turn around. "That's Moe and Joe. They are my personal bodyguards, they are always hanging out in the background. I know, I know. Overkill, huh?" She punched her on the arm playfully. "So? Where do we shop around here for your dress? Ooh. We should stop for something to eat too, I am hungry."
Guards. Vi watched them.
Yeah, Ekko should have been at his new factory, but he had the Firelights guarding and moving things around. So? He was just as curious as Vi.
He followed behind them at a distance. Those guards were annoying to watch for though, they were pretty good at their job.
"Red or pink?" PJ was looking at a window display. "Whatcha think, Vi?"
"Oh. It's pretty. It's really expensive."
"Don't worry about it, Anatoly will pick it up. He picks up everything. Everything, everything, everything." She didn't sound like she was bragging. "Everything. That's how the village works." She touched the glass thoughtfully. "Everyone shares the wealth. Have any idea how much a mercenary team for a village costs?"
"No," Vi answered. "How much?"
"I don't know," she whispered. She looked toward Moe and Joe who were creeping closer. "Hi, guys. I'm fine."
Yeah, those bodyguards aren't to protect her. They were there to make sure she didn't squeal about anything.
"I'm fine, really. We are looking at dresses, so you go play lookout, okay?" PJ urged them. "Seriously, it's just dresses. Nothing else." They finally turned away. "Overprotective buggers, aren't they?"
"PJ?" Vi looked at her thoughtfully. "Do you want me to really buy an expensive dress, a nice dress, or a . . . a real dress?"
Ooh, good way to ask the question, Vi. With that kind of tone, PJ was bound to see how to answer.
"If Ekko comes . . . maybe a nice dress or a real dress. Otherwise? I'd buy a real dress. I'd love it if it was just a nice dress. But." She was moving around strangely. She clapped her hands and grabbed a canteen out of a tote she brought.
"What are you drinking, Powder?" Vi asked her.
"Oh. It's ice water." She wiggled it a little. "The cold keeps me in the moment. Same as looking around and noticing things. Shields has got little techniques and tips that help keep me going."
"Okay, then, is that a piece of ice on your finger too?"
Once again, Moe and Joe got real close again. Good thing Ekko was going by rooftops.
She got closer to Vi. "Yeah, he wanted me to wear it today. It's the engagement ring. So like I said, any dress you want."
No way! That damn thing was soo huge. That would feed Zaun for . . . Who cares. Really. He could have done Piltover too, if he really wanted to. Piltover wasn't shit, Zaun was better! At least. It used to be. Before addicts were all strung out all over it.
"Hey, guys. Still just gossipping. Telling her about Shields is what I'm gonna naturally do," PJ said. "Okay, let's go get a dress for you."
They went in and didn't come out for awhile. Think they'll be staying in there for awhile. Fine. He'd rather go to the factory anyway. Oh damn. They came back out.
"Come on." PJ tried to pull on Vi. "Cheer up, Vi. Let's keep enjoying the present. You know? It's our day together, Sis."
"This outfit is great," Vi said to her. "It's a shame I have to wear it to the worst fucking day of your life."
Shit! No, no, no. No way. I can do it, PJ, you've got to have some confidence in that! Didn't she have confidence in him? Well, if Heimerdinger didn't show me mage magic, I guess it would be questionable. He was lucky Heimerdinger shared that look with him.
"Well? Nothing's for certain. You can wear it today then, and just enjoy today with me? We could go out and dance, you know?"
"You learned how to dance?" Vi asked her. "Have you danced with anyone?"
"With you." She bumped her shoulder. "I don't like the fancy dances. Let's just go. You can enjoy your outfit beforehand. Besides, I want to see it on you."
"Fine, but I am only wearing it for you because I feel really bad about this. I hope Ekko either figures this out or that Anatoly dies and rots in hell," Vi said going back into the store.
Ekko watched and waited. A few minutes later, he saw Vi come out in an actual dress. Has she ever worn a dress?
She threw her top coat over it. "How's this?"
"Now that's how you rock it out, Sis," PJ said to her. "Come on. Let's just find some music."
Ekko followed on the rooftops. They mainly walked along the roads, just enjoying each other's presence. Those sisters deserved that, their time together was cut real short. Even now, something was happening that still kept them from each other for too long.
And he hated that. Once he figured this out though, there was no way they would be able to be together like that. All they could really do, was just enjoy that day.
"Oh, this song!" PJ turned to Vi and grabbed her hands. "I like this song."
"Yeah, I do too," Vi said. "I'm going to bust his lip next time I see him. Break his legs."
"Oh, Come on, Vi." PJ started to dance.
Vi started dancing with her. "You said once that you remember the smell of mom." She turned around with her. "Did you remember more? Because you know you dance like her too."
"I dance like momma? I don't know, I just danced like you, Vi."
"Yeah, I guess maybe I did." Vi was starting to smile while she danced with her sister. "We haven't done this since we were kids."
"Yeah, sorry. Hope I'm not making Caitlyn jealous, but I'm only stealing you for one day." She spun with her.
Those two. They danced like the other Powder. Vi taught her. This moment. The whole time he was there with the other Powder, he could tell her about what Vi would be like. But. That Powder would never have this.
She had a beautiful home. Vander. Mylo. Claggor. But these two?
They had each other.
They were both super happy, and Vi was actually starting to loosen up with PJ. She was enjoying herself. It was pretty clear he wasn't going to find out anything new there. That time? It was really just for those two. Enjoy each other.
Time to go back.
They stopped and ate food, and talked, and Vi palled around with her sister for hours. She showed her the great places in Piltover she knew.
When Vi took her to a fancy glass place, they had an interesting conversation. "See? Aren't these gorgeous? I love seeing them when I come in. Oh, and you'll love this one." Vi took her over and showed her a monkey glass sculpture. "Isn't it amazing?"
"It's Sockittoem's," Powder-Jinx told her. "They were inspired by Hijinx. He's Shield's pet monkey."
What? Vi looked at the name. "Soechitums."
"Yeah, but Sockittoem is what they go by at home," Powder-Jinx said again. "Kenny and Madeline. They are from the village. Look at that cost."
"Yeah. The cheapest piece is 5,000. The monkey is 25,000," she stated. "You've really got the Soechitums in your village?"
"Yeah." Powder-Jinx leaned over closer. "They don't see any of the money. Free food. Free clothes. Free shelter. There is no money exchange. You just earn trinkets. Trinkets are extra things to have that you don't need to have. I mean, on one side?" She leaned against a nearby wall. "You never have to worry about the basics. That's great. On the other-"
"They are owed so much more money," Vi finished her. "Their glass is famous here."
"I never said the village was the middle of nowhere with dead end people. Gotta be special to be there."
"I shouldn't be mad. I mean. They are taking care of their residents." But really. "They are owed that money. No one has money?"
"Nope."
Infuriating. "Let's go."
They went to a much chiller area this time. Vi's favorite place to eat. "This one, Powder. Jinx." Vi's mouth was full while she gave her another thing to try. "It's the best, I always order like two or three of them."
"It's fine." Powder -Jinx took the little fishes. "You can call me just Powder if you want, Vi. I can tell you keep trying to add Jinx to the end. Don't make it hard."
Could she? "I know I'm supposed to be combining names for you."
"Shields just wants me to combine them. So, I can make the hard decisions as the child I was, and the teen I became, as the adult that I am. But? You can call me Mister Squiggly Wiggly even if you want." She smiled back at her. "A lot of my team calls me Powder or Pow-Pow."
Pow-Pow? "Pow-Pow." She was getting so much better. But? "Thanks for letting me know, Powder-Jinx."
"You can combine too. It's whatever. I'm not defined by a name," she said.
Oh. But. This is why. On her sheet, it said something about mirroring others. She must have did that with Silco. She wasn't doing that anymore. The way she spoke? It was probably Shields. The person who was always there for her.
Even this damn marriage. It was important to save, but there were other ways, and it's like, she had blinders on. Either because Shields wanted it that way, or Shields believed that. "You are you, PJ, No matter who or what you think you are, you are the person who is my sister."
"Oh? Uh. Thanks, Vi." She didn't quite know how to take it.
How would she take those blinders off her? There must be more to do. "I know you are really smart, PJ. So. Why don't you hold off of this marriage for a little bit? We can find other ways."
"Vi? Can't we just enjoy our day?" she asked. "It's a great day. Notice all the things around us. It's great."
"There are other ways to help people, that don't involve ruining your entire life."
"I've killed more than you'll ever know," PJ said, suddenly dark. "I blew up the council and you were ready to kill me just for that. I even fought you. Why are you harping on something so small? I told you, I'm saving people, and that's what's important. Let's just enjoy the day, can't we? Obviously it won't be a weighty eighty, but it could still be a nifty fifty."
"Who even are you?" No, that wasn't it. "That's not what I meant. I mean, do you . . ."
"I'm getting married, Vi," PJ repeated. "With or . . . without you. I know you don't get it. It really puts a huge wrinkle into this whole 'I am better' thing. I'm not doing it to hurt you or ruin your life." She wiped at her tears. "It's for the greater good. If I follow the greater good, good things will happen."
Never. That's not what she would say. "Did you ever look at that list?"
"I have to work at things on that list, of course I've seen it." Now PJ was getting testy.
"Powder wouldn't say these things. Jinx would definitely not say those things."
"Powder was a kid and Jinx was a teenager, and they were both me! I was them. I am trying to accept both, and it's hard. It's hard! But, Shields promises it's all just me. All just one person, going through phases. This is still me, just another phase. After this, there will be another phase. Nobody stays the same, Sis. Not even you."
"It's like that Shields took over your head."
"That's not true. I'm?" She looked frustrated. "I'm really trying here. I'm using everything that I know to try with you, Vi. I really wanted you there for my wedding, but I can't even have a whole day with you."
Oh. "PJ."
"Think of me however you want. I can't change your thoughts about me. I just? I wanted to spend the present with you."
Vi didn't know how to take that kind of answer. What choice do I have in this? "I could take care of you, PJ."
"I don't want you to do that. I don't need that," she insisted. "I haven't needed that."
"If it's marriage or someone taking care of you, then I choose the second."
"It's not your decision," PJ answered her.
Gah! "You're even harder than Jinx!" Because PJ was . . . she was . . . good. Like. Powder. But. Different. A combination of the two, that she couldn't break. "Okay. I'm sorry. You're right. I'm. I want to spend the day with you."
"Just us having fun?"
"Just us having fun. I promise."
Piltover
"Powder?" They had spent most of the day together, afternoon together, and they were enjoying their evening together when Anatoly came to spoil the fun. He wanted to go to a private dinner with his 'future wife' while Vi, Sword, Shields, Cake, Margaret and Caitlyn spend the rest of the evening together.
Powder was the first to veto that idea. "What? No way, the sun isn't even fully down yet, Anatoly. I want to spend the full day with her. Full day means full day, and you said I would get a full day."
"It's close enough to a full day, PJ. No one's going to see your engagement ring on your hand at night," he said. "Don't you want people to notice it?"
"This huge hazard? Not really," she said.
"Do. You. Have any idea how much that was?" he called her out.
"I know there's a lot better things to spend that kind of money on," Powder said.
"She's definitely right about that, Jack," Vi also told him. "You know if she's not careful, she could cut herself?"
"She certainly cut the boudoir with the thing," he complained. "I still can't believe you did that."
"She was having a break, it was a tough time," Shields said appearing beside her.
"Yeah, I imagine that day wasn't the best for her." Vi got closer to him. "Finding out that she, ooh? Got selected to be in the running of wife that she never wanted to be in!"
"She's lucky, there were a ton of others I could have picked!" He yelled right back at her.
"Then pick another one, and leave my sister alone, Windbag!" Vi didn't regret it at all as she hit the motherfucker square in the jaw.
And then?
"Anatoly, you jerk, I warned you!" All of Jinx was on full display as she grabbed the pathetic excuse of her future husband, picked him off the ground and yelled at him. "You touched Vi!" She tossed him away toward the side like the piece of garbage he had been.
"Oh you two," Margaret groaned. "Your sister smacked him, Powder-Jinx."
"He made contact, I am kicking his butt!"
Vi watched her start to punch the hell out of the guy. "Good going, Powder, whoop his ass!" she cheered for her. Yes! Knock his lights out! Oh, she watched her sister using that fast speed she got from that shimmer experiment, running him all over the place.
Powder was beating him up down the streets. Vi wanted to keep up, but Caitlyn was trying to keep her out of the way. "Tell his ass where to stick it, Powder!"
"Vi, stay here, let her handle him," Cait insisted.
"Oh, come on, Cupcake, he deserves every bit of it." She looked toward Margaret. "Think the wedding's been canceled."
Margaret just shook her head.
"I don't think so," Shields said. "She got overwhelmed in her feelings and emotions, so she's using her favorite coping activity, to relax and feel better."
Coping activity? "Fightings a coping activity." Vi nodded. "Yeah, that makes sense." Anyhow, this wedding was busted, whether they wanted to face it or not.
They could find a different way in the village without an invitation.
"You did that on purpose," Powder insisted as she kept trying to hit him. "You also did all of that letting me punch you on purpose too. I can't believe you!"
He just smiled as he dodged. He had his pain tolerance at 100% probably, he loved cheating that way. His heal was also on maximum. His speed and dodging skills he raised too now. "See, this is why I just can't settle for Raven. Look at you, Powder-Jinx. You are so splendid. I hope you try and fight me like this on our honeymoon. Trust me, I didn't use power on your sister when she smacked me. Why would I ever trap her?"
Rrr! She tried to hit him again . . . but he used his power on her. "Jerk! I didn't say I wanted to fight this way yet. I get one more try, this doesn't count."
Powder fell to the ground as her child self, curled up and calling Vi's name again. As she started to remember who she was again and move around, she discovered something new. "No. No, no, no!" She reached out but it was too late.
Anatoly didn't allow others to help in their battle.
Marlene tried to back away quickly as she saw one of her partners get toasted. Ekko had been wanting the Firelights to comb the skies and watch for any unusual activity in Piltover near the airship area. Her, Spritz and Kan had spotted a little girl crying on the ground against someone who was exuding power and he looked like he was about to fight her. She was screaming for help.
They interfered, and Kan was just touched. A simple touch, and he fell dead, with black ooze dripping from his eyes and ears and mouth. She had moved away as fast as possible, same as Spritz, but she was touched too. She seemed okay though?
"No, no, no!" The little girl spotted her.
Marlene was still ready to fight, she started to spin some rocks that she could throw and then get them out of there, but-
"Don't you dare!"
What? That voice. Marlene couldn't think straight, she shrieked as she felt her leg break beneath her. How?!
Jinx came toward her. "I lost one." She was breathing really hard. "I won't. Lose. Another." She placed her hands on her knee. The pain was disappearing. "You'll be okay right now. Meet us back at the airships in an hour, or you're going to die later."
Marlene looked at her leg. It was healed.
"Oh, PJ," the man said toward her. "Look at that, you used your shimmer to adapt my magic and trap someone?"
"Shutup and heal my power," Jinx complained to him. He touched her.
What? Jinx was heading toward Spritz.
"He's not a threat to either of you. We're sparring on purpose," Jinx told Spritz. "I'm sorry that you thought a little girl was in trouble. It's just an illusion at first." She looked like she was starting to cry. "Go. Hurry. Make your goodbyes and come to the airships, or die."
Marlene grabbed her hoverboard and headed out with Spritz. They both were fully healed. We have to find Ekko. He'd probably still be at the shimmer factory he just inherited. A lot of people that weren't on surveillance were guarding it since they didn't know what to do with all the glowy shimmer yet.