Arcane Anew (Rewrite)

Powder was curled up on the sofa, hugging Vi's stuffed bunny. The one that had finally fallen from the power lines. Vi paced the room anxiously, hands on her hips and muttering to herself. She was dreading Vander's reaction if they didn't return.

Boom!

"We're back!" Claggor exclaimed happily, flinging the door open.

"I knew you guys would make it," Vi breathed confidently, glancing back at Powder. "See? What did I tell yah?"

Despite her bravado, Vi rushed over to check their condition.

"Neither of you are hurt though, right?"

"We're fine," Orion answered.

Still sulking on the couch, Powder peered up from the stuffed bunny and squeaked apologetically, "I'm sorry. I dropped 'evil monkey' and wasn't looking."

"Don't worry," Claggor replied reassuringly, walking over and ruffling her hair. "Things happen. We all made it back safe and sound!"

It wasn't enough to cure her depression, but she did uncurl a bit. Her posture remained slouched like a guilty dog with an "I'm sorry" look still plastered on her face.

"How'd you guys escape?" Vi asked, curiosity drawing their attention back.

"We were lucky," Claggor replied, gesturing toward Orion with a proud smile. He recounted the events, ending with, "Orion came back for me and helped me loose. I don't know how long I would've been stuck or what would've happened."

During the story, Powder's gloom vanished. Her legs kicked off the sofa and her eyes sparkled with awe.

Vi's gaze slowly shifted toward Orion with wonder, but he only shrugged nonchalantly. "It was nothing. That's something anyone would've done."

"Tell that to Mylo," Vi giggled, her tone affectionate. "Not everyone would go back when Enforcers are nearby."

"I tried telling him! He doesn't like being complimented," Claggor grinned.

"I'm sorry," Vi said suddenly, her tone turning regretful. Her fists clenched. "We should've stayed together. You could've been taken..."

"But he wasn't. You did good, Vi," Orion reassured, patting her shoulder. Her body jerked involuntarily.

'Ah! No touchy-touchy!' Orion immediately pulled his hand back.

Claggor nodded, "Who would've thought Enforcers would be roaming around there?"

A voice cut in from behind them. "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 as well.

"What happened to you?" Claggor laughed as Vi and Powder giggled in the background.

"Enforcers came around, that's what happened. The job's done though," Mylo replied unamused, then flopped down onto the sofa.

His bright red butt caught Powder's eye and she burst into laughter. The rest of the group tried to stifle theirs as he looked back, confused.

"Your ass is red," Orion chuckled. "Ass Monkey!"

"Is that the best you've got?"

"I've got more." Orion began, but Vi cut in.

"Enough. Vander's going to be here any minute-"

Halfway through her scolding, she fell silent. Frowning, Orion turned to see Vander's imposing figure looming in the doorway. The entire group stiffened and the light-hearted atmosphere vanished instantly.

It was clear Vander didn't want to ruin the mood, but his presence did so anyway.

"So? How'd it go?" Vander asked with an upbeat tone.

"It went really well!" Vi's voice jumped up in pitch.

She briefly explained the vandalism, the damage they caused, Mylo's middle-finger artwork, and conveniently left out the Enforcers.

'This is the weirdest "job well done" feeling for criminal work,' Orion bemusedly thought.

"I'm glad everything went well," Vander said approvingly. "You're getting better at this, Vi. You all are."

Vi's face lit up, a wide smile spreading from his compliment. Unexpectedly, Orion found himself smiling with her.

'I'm glad she's happy.'

"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. "Ah- Orion. Can I have a word?"

The gang buzzed with excitement at the mention of pay. Vi, however, raised an eyebrow as her gaze followed them. Her expression carried a clear 'Why him?' look.

'Is she annoyed? Or just curious...?'

Orion couldn't figure her out and followed after Vander.

---------------------------------------------------

"Juice. Straight juice." Orion frowned down at the drink, trying not to be rude as he took a sip.

Vander probably didn't notice his displeasure, having turned to pour himself an alcoholic beverage. Stranger still, he closed the door to the downstairs so the others couldn't listen in on their conversation.

"How did it go?" Vander asked as he sat down.

"Huh? Vi just told you."

"Aye. She told me her side. I'm asking your opinion. How did it go?"

Silence for a moment.

"She did fine. It was simple. A few hiccups- some Enforcers- but no one was caught."

Vander nodded as he listened. He didn't seem to be judging.

"Vi thought splitting up was a good idea at first. She believes otherwise now."

"For them... that's good," Vander trailed off, taking a swig of his drink.

"Them?" Orion stiffened.

Vander paused, looking into his drink with deep regret before speaking in a low tone.

"I'm sorry about your parents..."

Orion frowned, and annoyance crept up inside him.

'Dude, we're in the middle of a conversation. What the fuck?'

"How do you know about my parents? Also, why are you bringing that up in the middle of our conversation...?!"

"The reason you're in Entresol, holed up in Emberflit Alley even now, is because of a deal I made with your parents."

'Vander is my secret benefactor? My only guess is that they were watching out for Silco then...'

"You don't seem overly surprised," Vander commented, interrupting his train of thought.

Orion blinked, shaking his head with a baffled, "No... Yes, yes I am. It just took a moment for me to- Wait, you're the reason my parents are gone?"

His inner personalities warred with each other. One side wanted to lunge across the table or run out of the Last Drop. The other side tried to force reason into it.

'They aren't my real parents!'

But that didn't stop the anger visibly spreading across Orion's face. Whether it was from the revelation or the internal battle, it didn't matter—Vander saw it and sighed solemnly.

"What deal?" Orion asked, voice strained.

"I asked them to keep a lookout for an old friend who went missing."

'I knew it.'

"I suspected he might be found around the Chemtech Seams. In return for keeping an eye out, I hooked your family up. A pretty generous deal, aye?"

A slight pause.

"I don't know if your parents are dead. Same goes for my friend. But your parents had a reason to make it back."

He stopped there, letting the implication of his words settle. Silence gripped the bar, broken only by the faint flicker of electric lights.

"It wasn't your fault..." Orion finally muttered.

Vander responded evenly, "It never was. Your parents' job as miners never changed. They were posted to a dangerous part of the fissures that day."

"Are you sure you can say that? If my parents did find your friend, would they have been safe?"

"..."

"Was that all you were asking of them? Just 'keep an eye out'? Keeping the lights on up here is an expensive 'keep an eye out' deal."

"Aye. Keep an eye out, and report anything back to me."

From there, the conversation dragged on with an unpleasant undertone. Vander answered his questions in a way that revealed very little. Whenever Orion's questions became too personal, Vander grew guarded.

'Their relationship... I don't think it was personal. More business-related, it seems. Still, this is shitty.'

What's more, Vander's faint shrugs and vague comments hinted at something else.

'This... this is pity. He's pitying me as he talks to me!'

Vander had other priorities- bigger fish to fry, more important people to look after. Orion was lucky to be noticed at all, let alone offered a job or a chance to connect with the gang. The thought made his jaw clench silently.

"I'd like you to stick around," Vander said suddenly. "Not every day. Just enough to help keep those kids out of trouble."

"Why? That doesn't make sense?!"

Vander shrugged. "It's not a deal to be arguing against, aye? Occasional meals and fingers in the pot- only a fool would turn that down."

'Only fools? My parents should've— his parents should've— been fools then! FUCK! It isn't a bad idea!'

The offer was a little too generous. Just like the one with his parents. Maybe he was being pessimistic, too skeptical, but Vander wasn't elaborating much, just sipping on his alcohol again. He looked like he already knew the answer and was just waiting to hear it.

"What's the catch?"

"No catch. It's a simple offer, lad." Vander met Orion's gaze with a calm, steady challenge. "Just a simple yes or no."

Orion fell silent, frowning again as he delved into his thoughts.

'This is the easiest way into the gang... Free food, money... Not as dangerous as taking a random vial that was probably Shimmer. Plus, this is Vander. In Arcane, he never did anything evil, as far as I remember. He was the opposite—a force for good in the Undercity.'

'But there's something more to this. There's no way he'd be doing this without a reason. Hell, my dead- his dead parents are the perfect example! Is this his way of paying me back?'

'Fuck. Even if they were his parents, I guess they're mine now too... I need to leave this be for now and figure out what's going on. Unless I want to stay in the lower fissure mines, this might be my best bet out- without turning Topside.'

"This is an opportunity for you, Orion," Vander said, interrupting his thoughts. "And my way of apologizing. I didn't want you to lose your parents."

Slowly, Orion nodded. "Alright. I'll help you out. I'll watch them."

Vander finally smiled and nodded. Reaching for a jug, he gestured at Orion's juice mug.

"Another?"

"No thanks," Orion chuckled bitterly.