This is a wholesome scene with Powder and Violet, the family is still alive but there is some foreshadowing so it might be bittersweet.
❗️platonic & sfw, don’t be a weirdo!
Violet had almost forgotten how beautiful Zaun could be, how it wasn’t all terrible. For a moment, the soldiers from Piltover and how poorly they were treated by them lifted from her mind, leaving her free to indulge and enjoy the moment. There were no direct fights with the soldiers from Piltover, but their presence was growing, and they were nothing short of bullies. Their uniforms became a more common and unwelcome sight, a constant reminder that they were not as free as they thought they were.
“It’s wonderful you both could make it,” her mother said. Her father welcoming them as he handed Powder to Vander. The burly man cradled her gently, earning a smile from her mother. Her father gave Vander a firm pat on the shoulder, in that moment everything felt whole. Violet couldn’t resist. She dashed forward, throwing her arms around Vander’s leg, her small frame clutching to the man she looked up to as if he were the one to change their world.
"I want to see the market stalls with Vi! We're big now!" Powder said, her voice brimming with the pure excitement only a six-year-old could have. Vander laughed as he lifted her into the air, spinning her around before setting her gently back on the ground. Powder squealed with delight, her joy contagious. "Big, huh?" Violet teased, nudging her little sister playfully.
Their mother, watching with a gentle smile, crouched to Powder's level. "Alright, you can go. But you have to stay with Violet and promise not to wander off, okay?" Powder nodded enthusiastically, but their mother’s attention shifted to Violet. "And you'll keep an eye on her, won’t you?" Violet’s grin widened, a spark of pride lighting up her face. "Always. I’ll look after my family. No one ever gets past me." Their father chuckled, ruffling Violet's hair. "That’s my girl."
Powder ran off the moment she got the okay, leaving Violet groaning as she hurried after her. It wasn’t until Powder stopped in front of a street performer that Violet caught up. The man wore a patchy, worn top hat and juggled glowing orbs with such speed and precision that they blurred into a mesmerizing circle. He caught Violet's gaze with a glint in his eyes, an expression that made her uneasy. "Come on, Powder. Let’s keep moving," Violet urged, already turning to leave. But Powder grabbed her arm, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I want to watch a little longer," she pleaded. Violet hesitated, her determination to leave crumbling under Powder’s enthusiasm. “Fine. Just for a bit. You always like the weird ones,” she muttered.
They stood together, captivated as the man’s movements grew faster and more complicated. His hands seemed to blur as the glowing orbs danced in the air. Suddenly, he called out, “Catch!” and tossed one of the orbs toward Powder. She caught it, staring at it in awe. Up close, the orb seemed handmade, inside were sparkles floating in a shimmering green liquid swirling.
The man finished his performance with a flourish, taking off his hat and bowing deep. Straightening, he held the hat out toward Powder, who, after a moment of hesitation, gently placed the glowing orb inside. Her face lit up with pure joy, the kind of expression Violet rarely saw, and it left Violet smiling, less worried about the whole situation.
“Would you like to assist me with the next trick?” the performer asked, their eyes gleaming as they turned to Violet. She felt Powder’s gaze before she even looked over. Her younger sister was practically bouncing on her toes, clapping her hands in excitement. “Say yes, Violet! Please!” Violet hesitated, glancing between Powder and the performer. She wasn’t exactly keen on stepping into the spotlight, but the wide grin on Powder’s face made her decision for her. She sighed. “Sure, why not?” The performer’s expression lit up, clearly satisfied with her answer. Powder squealed, sticking close to Violet. “Don’t jinx it, Violet!” Powder teased. Violet shot her a look but couldn’t help the small tug of a grin at the corners of her mouth.
The performer clapped his hands together, drawing the attention of the crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice smooth and confident, “for my next trick, I’ll make someone disappear. But don’t worry,” he added with a wink toward Violet, “we always bring them back… usually in one piece.” Laughter rippled through the audience, and Violet shot Powder a wary glance. Powder just giggled, nudging her forward. “Now, for this illusion, I’ll need complete focus from everyone,” the performer continued. “You see, the secret to a disappearance it isn’t just the skill of the magician but the belief of the audience. Magic thrives on attention, and when you look closely… well, that’s when things get interesting. But remember, nobody ever fully disappears.”
He gestured to a tall wooden cabinet on wheels, its surface painted with green swirls and circles. “This,” he said, resting a hand on the cabinet, “is the Chamber of Shadows. Step inside, Violet, and prepare to step into the unknown.” Violet hesitated but moved forwar, she wasn’t a coward, she could do this. Powder gave her a thumbs-up as Violet climbed into the cabinet. Inside, it was dark and close, the walls padded. “Now, watch closely, everyone,” the performer said, turning back to the crowd. He closed the cabinet doors with a theatrical flourish, then spun the box around slowly, proving there were no hidden compartments. “No trapdoors, no sneaky assistants hiding inside. Just Violet, who is my brave assistant for the trick.”
He stepped back and lifted his arms. “And now, with a little magic… she’s gone.” With a dramatic snap of his fingers, he tapped the side of the cabinet. When he flung the doors open again, Violet was nowhere to be seen. The crowd gasped, a mixture of awe and confusion rippling through the crowd watching. Powder’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide. “Where did she go?” the performer mused, turning to the audience with a playful grin. “Another dimension? A parallel universe? Or perhaps…” He walked to the crowd, gesturing to someone among them—and Violet stumbled to the front, blinking in surprise. Powder let out an excited cheer, the audience erupting into applause. “And that, ladies and gentlemen,” the performer said, bowing low, “is the magic of belief!”
The magician approached them, handing Powder a small trinket. “Thank you for being such an enthusiastic audience.” Powder’s eyes lit up as she accepted it, quickly tucking it into her pocket before Violet could get a good look. “Come on, Powder, let me see,” Violet said, trying to sound casual but clearly curious. Powder shook her head, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Only if you admit it was cool.” Violet rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Maybe if I were six.” With a laugh, Powder darted away, calling over her shoulder as she ran, “Then I’ll show Mom first!”
It took Violet a moment to catch up. She had no idea how her little sister could be so fast. Thankfully, Powder didn’t cause any more trouble, sprinting straight for The Last Drop. Violet figured their parents would be there—especially with the market happening. More people in the streets usually meant more visitors to the bar.
As Violet stepped inside, she could already hear Powder’s excited voice echoing over the usual din.“And then she disappeared! I was looking everywhere, but suddenly she was right there in the crowd!” Powder exclaimed. “The magician gave me this!” She pulled something from her pocket, holding it up triumphantly. As Violet moved closer, she realized it was a small monkey figurine, intricately carved.
Vander chuckled, taking the figurine from Powder’s hand to take a closer look. “A true treasure, huh?” he said, handing it back to her. Powder nodded eagerly, already spinning an elaborate tale about how the monkey might have magical powers of its own. Violet rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. Their mother knelt beside Powder, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’ve had quite the adventure today,” she said softly. “But I think it’s time to settle down for dinner.” Powder groaned, “But what if the monkey does have powers? What if it can do more tricks?” She glanced between Violet and Vander, her eyes wide and pleading. Violet had no idea what she should say. She loved her sister but often they were too different to fully understand each other.
Vander crouched to her level, his expression turning serious, though there was a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Maybe it does. But don’t you think the monkey doesn’t need rest?” Powder considered this, her expression thoughtful, before nodding and tucking the figurine safely back into her pocket. Violet smirked. “Guess the monkey gets a nap.”
As the family gathered, the noise of the bar faded into the background for Violet. Watching Vander ruffle Powder’s hair and her parents exchange quiet smiles, she felt peaceful. The world outside was chaotic and unfair, but here, in this moment, they were together. And that was enough. She knew that her family would always be there for her.
Violet squared her shoulders. No one would ever take her family from her—not Piltover, not anyone.
