[Vi walks over to Powder, who is sitting on her bed and decorating a bomb]
ViWhat are you calling this one?
Vi
You wanna talk about today?
What's the point? I ruined everything. I always do.
Vi
Nobody said that.
No. Just that you were 'twice the person' at half my age. You heard them. I'm not a fighter.
Vi
You don't have to be. Look, I've got these. [shows her fists] And you've got those. [points to some of Powder's bombs]
Vi
They will. Come with me.
Vi
Come on!
[They walk out onto the roof and sit down]
Vi
See that gutter running along the canal? [she grabs a pipe for Powder to look through] That's where Claggor got his foot stuck running from enforcers. They thought it was funny, so they left him there. He was out all night before we found him. [Powder smiles] That sign? You see it?
[looking through the pipe to see a sign with a middle-finger graffitied on it] Uh-huh.
Vi
Mylo tripped over his own paint bucket and nearly fell off trying to draw a giant middle finger. His ass made that splotch. [Powder laughs] And that? [points to a stuffed rabbit stuck on a wire and sighs] When I was a kid, some guy took my favorite toy and threw it up there. I used to come out here at night and stare at it, hoping maybe the wind or a bird might knock it down. We've all had bad days. But we learn, and we stick together. [she squeezes Powder's shoulder]
Oh, I forgot. [pulls out three Hextech crystals] These were in my pocket. They're from the apartment.
Vi
What are they?
I don't know. Should we show Vander?
Vi
[quickly] No. [Powder's smile falters] Let's keep this our little secret. [Powder smiles again] Mylo's wrong, Powder. You're stronger than you think. [she stands] And one day, this city's gonna respect us.
[checking on the kids after the enforcers leave] You all okay?
Vi
[jumps down] No, we're not okay. They almost saw Powder. What if they took her?
No one is taking any of you. I'd never let that happen.
Vi
It's already happening! You heard him, they won't stop. We need to fight back! [she punches the wall] And if you won't, I will.
[sighs] I've heard this kind of talk before.
[He takes her out to the bridge]
Vi
Why are we here?
[sighs] You still don't understand.
Vi
What I don't understand is how you can work with them! We were here, we saw what they did. I grew up knowing I'm less than them, that my place is down there. I want Powder to have more than that and I'm willing to fight for it.
So was I. I was angry, just like you. I led us across this bridge, thinking things could change. If I hadn't, your parents would still be alive. I know you wanna hurt the topsiders for what they've done to us. But who are you willing to lose? Mylo? Claggor? Powder? [Vi is silent. Vander moves to stand beside her] Nobody wins in war, Vi.
Vi
[resting her head on his shoulder] What are we gonna do? The Enforcers will come back.
[sighs] I... I don't know. I'll uh, I'll figure it out.
Vi
Vander....
[weakly] Take care of Powder.
Vi
NO!
[Powder runs over to Vi, completely unaware that she accidentally caused the deaths of Mylo, Claggor, and Vander]
Vi
What?
Did you see me? My monkey bomb finally worked.
Vi
...You did this? [Powder sees Vander's body and looks horrified] Why? Why did you do this?
[tearfully] I- I didn't- I was saving you. [notices Claggor's bloodied goggles] I only wanted to help. [sobbing] I only wanted to help! I only wanted to HELP! I only wanted to-
Vi
I told you to stay away.
[still sobbing] Please. Please.
Vi
I told you to stay away! [punches her in the face]
[screams out] NO! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME?!
Vi
[aggressively grabbing her face] Because you're a JINX! Do you hear me? Mylo was right!
[sobbing, blood running from her nose] No. No. No. No. Violet, please.
[Vi releases her, horrified by her blood on her hand.]
Violet please! [continues sobbing. Vi, now also crying, stands and walks away] VI! VI, COME BACK! Please come back! Please Violet, I need you please!
[Vi makes it to an alley wall and slides down against it, sobbing.]
Violet! VIOLET!!! Please! [Silco limps into the alley and approaches her as she continues sobbing on the ground. He holds a knife.]
Vi
[noticing Silco standing over Powder, gets to her feet and tries to run to her] Powder. Pow-
MMarcus
[covering her mouth with chloroform] Shh, he'll kill you if he hears you. Come on, let's go.[she continues to scream muffledly until she passes out and he drags her away. Several of Silco's thugs join him, looming over Powder]
[to Powder] Hello, little girl. Where's your sister?
[sits up, crying, and suddenly tackles, hugging his chest] She left me. [Silco stares at Vander's body with understanding] She is not my sister anymore! [After a pause, Silco hugs her back]
...It's okay. We'll show them. We will show them all. [Powder's eye looks out from in his arms, angry and pink, foreshadowing Jinx].
How exactly do you propose we go about this?
Vi
Let em think you work here.
Vi
You know what your problem is?
[sarcastic] Please, tell me.
Vi
You expect everyone to give you what you want. If you really want people to talk to you, you have to let them think you have what they want.
Vi
[surveys her] You're hot, Cupcake. [she traps Caitlyn against a wall] So what'll it be, man or woman?
Um... [Vi grabs someone who's walking by and tugs him over]
PPim
[nervous] Hi. I-I'm Pim. What's your name?
Vi
Matilda. But you can call her whatever you want.
[gasps, realizing, before slipping into character] Ah, yes. Matilda. [with a weird accent] Mah parents named me Matilda. After my great-grandmother Matilda, the uh...
Vi
[after Caitlyn rescues her from Sevika] Why did you let her go?
Do you ever say thank you? [puts her gun away]
Vi
He's gonna know we're here now.
Vi
[after a moment] You're an alright shot.
Vi
You gonna help me out, Cupcake? [holds out her hand weakly]
[helping her up] Stop calling me that. My name is Caitlyn.
Vi
But you're so sweet. Like a cupcake.
Vi
Powder?
Vi
[runs forward, crying] Oh, Powder! [she hugs her. Jinx drops the Hextech gemstone, crying as well, and hugs Vi back] I'm so sorry, Powder. [brushes her tears away] I-I tried to come back. I promise, I did. But I... I got arrested.
Vi
I don't know. I-it doesn't matter. I just... I never thought I'd see you again. [she hugs her once more]
Vi
Yes, of course. It's me, Vi, your sister. I-I'm here. I'm right here.
[sobs] Things changed when you left. I changed.
Vi
I know, Pow-Pow, I know. You did what you had to do to survive. [sighs] Me too. It's okay. [pulls her back in] What matters is we're together.
[Caitlyn catches up, and Jinx spots her. She pulls out her machine gun]
Vi
It's okay. She's a friend.
Sevika wasn't lying? You're with an enforcer?!
[realizing] Your sister is Jinx?
Vi
Caitlyn, just listen, we can work this out.
This is a trick! You're playing me! [hallucinating Mylo and lifting her gun] Shut up! I'm in no mood!
Vi
Powder, it's okay.
Stop calling me that! It's Jinx now. Powder fell down a well.
Vi
You're not a jinx. God, I never should have-
Stop talking to me like I'm a child! [points her gun at Vi] Was that why you came? For this stupid stone? [chuckles]
Vi
[looking at the Hextech gemstone] No, I don't even know what that is, I...
[chuckling manically] You're a class act, sister. [to herself] Sister, thought I missed her. Bet you wouldn't miss her. [readies her trigger]
Vi
Powder! I'm here for you. Only you. [pushes the gun away] You can fire that thing if you want, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to abandon you again. [she touches her arm and Jinx begins hallucinating again]
Everyone shut up! I need to think.
Vi
[to the Firelight leader] You shy? Or just ugly?
[the leader stands and removes his mask, revealing himself to be Ekko]
You look good for a dead girl.
Vi
[shocked] Ekko?
[glaring at her] What do you know about this? [holds up the Hextech gemstone and machine Jinx had]
Vi
Nothing. What the hell is this all about?
What were you doing with Jinx?
Vi
[standing] Her name is Powder! And I just found her when you and your goons showed up. [huffs] It's me. Vi. Same person who used to take you down to the junk heap and hose you down when you got covered in grease.
...that was a long time ago. [cold] People change.
Vi
Yeah, I'm getting that.
Are you working for Silco?
Vi
Fuck. You.
I-I I thought you were dead! Now you show up with a Piltie and give her a tour of the Lanes?
Vi
You were following us? Why didn't you say something?
I didn't know if I could trust you.
Vi
So- so you just come out swinging?
Gee, I wonder who I learned that from.
Vi
Ah, well, you shoulda learned more. You still punch like a little boy.
And you still block with your face. [they glare at each other a moment]
Vi
I remember when you wouldn't stand up to me. [she walks forward, unhandcuffed, and hugs him] I missed you, little man.
How long have you had those off?
Vi
How long have you been whining? [Ekko tears up and hugs her back]
[viewing the Firelights' home] It's beautiful.
If your people had your way, it'd be rubble and ash.
It's a misunderstanding. They think you work for Silco.
Your people hunt us like animals. Silco pays them to do it.
That's not possible. You're wrong.
[threateningly] Say that one more time.
Vi
[shoving them apart] Ekko, she believes what she's saying, okay? She's not your enemy.
[scoffs] Oh yeah? Then what's this? [pulls out the Hextech gem]
You got it. You have to let me take that back.[Ekko pockets it again, staring at her suspiciously]
Vi
What is it?
It's a Gemstone. It was stolen during the attack. By your sister.
Vi
You just forgot to mention that?
With this, someone with the right knowledge could build... any Hextech device. If enforcers are becoming more... aggressive, that's why.
We can beat Silco with this.
Easy for you to say. Your people aren't dying all around you.
Ekko, it's wrong what's been done to you. You'd be well within your rights to keep it. I couldn't blame you. But if you do, this cycle of violence will never stop. This is our best shot at setting the record straight. This city needs healing. More than I ever realized. Please, let me help you.
I have a friend on the council. Let me take the Gemstone to him. [Ekko looks hesitant] He'll listen to me. Your people wouldn't have to hide anymore.
One condition. I'm the one who gives it to them.
[enters her room, surprised] We'll... present our case to the council, tonight.
Vi
[examining Caitlyn's detective notes] You did all this yourself? Without even going down there? And I thought Powder could get obsessed. [lays back as Caitlyn approaches the bed and sits next to her]
What happened to her... it's not your fault. [lays down]
Vi
When my parents were... still alive, me and Powder used to share a bed like this. Except, maybe half this size. We played a game where we'd pretend to be bigger and bigger monsters. So she would say, "I'm a slug monster with venom for ooze!" and I would say "Well, I'm a slug-eating crab with razor spikes!" [She and Caitlyn gradually turn to face one another] Sometimes, I... I'd get carried away, and she'd get scared. I didn't want her to start crying and wake my parents up, so... I pretended to chase my own monsters away. I'd say, "No monster's gonna get you when I'm here"... Then a real monster showed up. [closes her eyes, curls into a fetal position] And I just ran away. I left her. [Caitlyn gently touches her cheek, and Vi takes her hand]
[following Vi into the rain] Vi, wait! Wait! Where are you going?
Vi
I don't know. Back where I came from? Seems like that's what everyone up here wants.
Vi
You can't! This is how things are. How they've always been. I was so stupid to think it could change.
There must be something we can do. Some other way. We'll make a new plan. We have to try.
Vi
We tried, okay? It wasn't enough. Topside and bottom. Oil and water. That's all there is.
Vi
...Oil and water. Wasn't meant to be.
[sighs, heartbroken] You're just saying that.
Vi
Do yourself a favor, Cupcake. Go back to that big, shiny house of yours and just... forget me, okay? [pulls her hood up and walks away]
[Vi walks into the forge where Jayce is]
Vi
You want to make Silco pay for what he's done?
I could have you arrested.
Vi
You guys really like to bandy that threat around. You ever been to Stillwater?
Vi
[scoffs] So you just wave an arm, have someone dragged off, don't bother to find out what it does to someone being stuffed in a stone box for weeks, or months, or even years?
[sighs] Yeah. I want to make Silco pay.
Vi
I want in.
There is no in. You heard the Council.
Vi
Fuck the Council. You said you were tired of doing nothing. That's the only sensible thing that came out of anyone's mouth tonight.
Vi
[sarcastic] No, you're a victim. [she observes and puts on one of the atlas gauntlets. It powers up and she looks at it happily] This so people notice you when you raise your hand in the boardroom?
We built them for mining the fissures.
Vi
[gauntlet clanking] Hmm. Someone close to me had a pair of these. You're the first-person Caitlyn looked for when we made it to topside. Of everyone up here, you're the one she trusted to do something.
[sighs, putting his hammer down] What do you want me to do? Arrest him?
Vi
Silco controls the undercity with Shimmer. Shut down his supply, and it's only a matter of time before his own people turn on him.
Vi
Take out his manufacturing facilities. Hit them hard and fast, before he can react. [Jayce looks into the fire for a moment. Vi holds out her gauntlet hand in a handshake gesture] So, we got a deal pretty boy?
[Obscured by the dark] Really thought I buried this place. But, I shoulda known better. [approaches]
Vi
Powder?
Vi
Are we alone?
For now. Maybe forever. [stalks around as Vi looks for her] Wanna know a secret? Silco, thinks he made Jinx, with all his rants and his hard-won lessons. "Excise your doubts, Jinx. Be what they fear, Jinx!" Like everything was the same, as when Vander left him! But he, didn't make Jinx. You did.
Vi
I'm sorry, Powder. I never meant to leave you.
You never left. I always heard you [softly] Shadows in the streets. Prickles on the back of my neck... Your voice, pushing me. Picking me up, when all the colors were black. You're the reason, I'm still alive.
Vi
...I spent so many nights, in that shitty prison, on that freezing floor! Hungry, bloody, counting the hours! The only thing... [her voice breaks] the only thing, that kept me going, was the thought of getting back to you.
[also broken] ...Are we... still, sisters?
Vi
Nothing, is ever going to change that.
I always knew you'd come back. [turns Vi toward a table]
Vi
What's going on?!
He took everything from us. Right here, he stabbed Vander in the back. Just like he planned to with me. All the time, saying you abandoned me, when he knew the truth. [Silco mumbles behind the gag] Liar. Hmm. We're missing someone.
I paid your girlfriend a visit this morning.
Vi
[horrified]...What'd you do?
[shrugs] I made her a snack!
Vi
No! [she looks at the tray, only to see a cupcake with the Hextech Gemstone on top]
Sheesh! I'm not that crazy.
Vi
Powder! Leave her out of this.
Now... where should I sit? [indicates two empty chairs- one labeled "Powder", the other "Jinx."] That's your choice, really. [She puts her pistol in Vi's bound hands] Make her go away. Please. Send her on her way, and-[Caitlyn gives a muffled yell] And you can have Powder back.
Vi
I- I can't. [Jinx scoffs, grabs the pistol and aims at Caitlyn] NO! Powder, listen. We- we can, just go. We'll leave and never come back.
...Wh-where would we go? [aims at the effigies] No, no, no! She's not saying that!
Vi
It's true! We'll put this behind us. You'll never have to see him again, Powder.
What do you have to say about that? [she removes his gag]
[to Vi] Her name, is Jinx! [To Jinx] She's lying. You'll be with her a day, before she realizes you aren't that girl anymore.
[To Vi, uncertain] You aren't... lying? You wouldn't lie to me? Not again.
Vi
I'm not lying. I'm on your side, I promise!
The Topsiders... offered me everything! Independence, a seat at the table... all in return for you. [Unnoticed, Caitlyn reaches for the broken glass] They can all burn. Everyone betrays us, Jinx. Vander, her. They will never understand... it's only us. You're my daughter. I'll never forsake you.
Vi
No... Please.
Vi
No! Stop!
Vi
Wait! She's my sister.
Vi
No, no, no-
Vi
Look out!
You see... now, finish it.
Vi Dammit, Powder! Wake up! Remember who you are, I know you remember!
Vi
Picture Mylo!
Vi
Claggor! [Jinx hallucinates Claggor the same way]
Vi
Vander! [Jinx hallucinates Vander the same way]
[enraged] DAUGHTER! DON'T LISTEN TO HER! [begins fighting free of his bonds]
Vi
Dad! Mom! Me!
No... No, nonono no! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I'm sorry-
...I never would have given you to them. Not for anything. [Jinx holds his face, tearfully] Don't cry. You're perfect.
Vi
Powder? It's okay. We'll be okay-
[softly] I thought... maybe, you could love me like you used to. Even though I'm...different. But you've changed, too. [coldly] So... here's to the new us.
We'll show them. We will show them all.
[Caitlyn finally breaks down into sobs and hugs Vi]
Vi
You were right, Cait. Powder's gone. I can make this right. If you get Jayce to fix the gauntlets, I can do this myself. No one else needs to get hurt.
No. No more rogue mission. No more reckless plans. My mother was right. My arrogance led me to take on more than I could handle, and she paid the price. [she and Vi hold hands. They're silent for a moment] They're sending all the Enforcers after Jinx. I'm going with them.
Vi
Please, I have to help.
You can. [she hands Vi an enforcer badge] As one of us.
Vi
Cait, I can't wear this.
People are calling for blood. [Vi drops the badge] The Council won't stop them. You can show that not all of Zaun supports Jinx. We can show them. Together.
Vi
[upset] I watched them kill my parents. Do you have any idea how that feels?
Yes! I do. [Vi turns away] I thought you were on our side.
Vi
[scoffs] You didn't think at all. [walks away]
Arcane · 65 quotes
