Chapter Text
The heat of the fire roars to greet Vi's face as sweat beads across her brow.
"Seafood special - table nine ready in thirty," she shouts and is met with a chorus of "Yes, chef!"
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Vi has always been a provider and a protector. Although as a young, orphaned teen with even younger siblings to care for, she didn't always have the means to do so in the most conventional of ways. From running Shimmer, to pit fighting, the ends justified the means when you're in the Trenches and you have loved ones counting on you to bring home dinner. However, in the Lanes your number is always bound to run up.
At only sixteen, Vi had been caught in one of the largest drug busts to hit the Lanes. While the true minds behind the drug ring escaped capture, those caught were made an example of by the court system. Vi was tried as an adult and sent to Stillwater with only circumstantial evidence of her involvement in the Shimmer trade.
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"Ready for plating!" Vi sets the dish down, already thinking of the twenty other tables waiting on their next courses during the Friday night rush.
"Got it, sis," a grinning blue-haired whirl is already reaching for the dish to plate and take out.
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For six years, Vi was subjected to the horrible conditions of Stillwater and regular beatings from the so called "correctional officers." For six years, Vi had to endure verbal, physical, and psychological abuse. For six years, Vi had to wallow in the guilt she felt for not being there for her family.
As fate would have it, a few determined souls challenged the correctional system in place and found massive layers of corruption running through its entirety. During the audits of inmate files, Vi's stint in hell came to an end. Older, rougher, and emotionally closed off, Vi made her return to the Lanes... and was welcomed back with open arms.
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Vi's momentarily freezes at the appearance of her sister. "What're you doing here? Shouldn't you be working on your project for the Innovator's Competition?"
Powder shrugs with a smirk, "I've got ages! Besides, Ekko and Clag can hold things down for a short time. Figured you could use a hand here today anyway." Finished plating the meal, she picks up the platter filled with entrees and heads to the dining area.
The chef's shoulders slump in relief... and chagrin. Her little sister shouldn't feel the need to come help out at the restaurant. She shouldn't feel the need to help Vi at all! If the young inventor is sacrificing her valuable time to wait tables, then Vi's not been doing a good job of appearing to have everything under control.
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While Vi was in Stillwater, the people of the Lanes came together to protect those left behind. Her siblings Powder, Mylo, and Claggor, were cared for by the community in her absence. The relief felt by Vi was immediate in seeing her younger siblings appearing alive, well, and cared for, but the guilt festering underneath that she wasn't there for them never abated. The reunion of the siblings was bittersweet for them all, and the first several months thereafter were fraught with tension of all the words and feelings left unsaid.
However, growing up in the Lanes has made them all fighters. Times weren't easy, but they were used to things being difficult. As a young woman with a criminal history Vi had trouble finding employment, until she got a job as a line cook at Jericho's. Over the years, she worked her way up and got enough funds to reopen The Last Drop as head chef and owner, and has been helping to provide for Powder and Claggor's tuition at Piltover Academy. Despite the stress of reopening the Last Drop, and Powder bringing young, orphaned Isha under their care, Vi works hard to be the protector and provider she used to be, regardless of her own perceived shortcomings.
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Sighing, the pink-haired chef grabs the next ticket and reads off the order to a responsive kitchen. No point fighting her sister now that she's already here. Powder's just as stubborn as she is anyway, and there's work to be done.
Despite Powder not being helpful in the kitchen - small 'controlled' explosions do not cook food faster - the night goes by much easier with the energetic girl running the food to tables and taking orders.
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Over the years of Vi's return, bonds were mended enough that when Powder brought up therapy the former felon was receptive, but not keen on seeing her baby sister's shrink. However, after meeting the professor recommended by their family friend Ekko, Vi was willing to give it a try. Months later of regular sessions and she's made some progress in addressing her traumatic time in prison and her latent feelings of inadequacy.
As for her more physical needs... well she gets by.
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"Another successful night at the hottest joint in town!" The blue-haired girl toasted, star speckled cup in hand.
"You're just saying that since you only worked half a night and still somehow made a killing on tips." Exhaustion settling over her shoulders, Vi leans back in her own seat, but raises her beer in agreement.
"I can't help it people find my rizz irresistible! People may come from all over Zaun and Piltover to enjoy your food, but they stay to enjoy my presence. I'm basically a hallmark of this institution!" Powder's gesticulating is big and chaotic, her drink sloshing dangerously in her cup.
The older sister can't help her chuckle. "Rizz? Well, you certainly left your mark... I still get grief any time the health inspector comes by about the scorch marks you left behind."
"It's a kitchen! Excuse me for thinking it would be fire resistant."
"Resistant! Not fireproof."
"You say potato, I say tuhmahto."
"That difference is another reason why you are never allowed to cook in my kitchen again." The sisters share a laugh as they finish their drinks and cleanup for the night.
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After a typically stressful weekend at the restaurant, Vi was actually looking forward to her few days off. That is until...
"You're breaking up with me?"
"Now, now, my dear girl, don't think of it as a breakup. Think of it as a new beginning! With new opportunities."
Vi was certainly thinking something after their session today, and it's that the small doctor seems entirely too happy announcing his retirement to her. "I don't know, I just feel like..."
"Yes, my dear? How are you feeling about this?" Professor Heimerdinger leans forward with an attentive gaze.
"I feel like you're kinda a little bastard."
The professor's bushy eyebrows shoot upward in surprise. Vi quickly rushes to backtrack, "Well... sorry, that's not what I meant."
"No, no, that's quite alright Miss Warwick. Believe me, I have definitely been called worse by other patients when I had to break them the news." After the initial surprise, the genial professor chuckles and seems to shrug off the slight. "It is definitely no easy thing to hear the doctor you are working with can no longer be of service to you. But we must all of us face when the time comes and spin the wheel, as they say!"
Eyebrows furrowed, Vi nods. "...right." Who says that?
"Rest assured! I have the utmost faith in my replacement. Doctor Kiramman was one of my mentees and is highly experienced! I believe her methods will be most compatible with you."
"Kiramman? Like the councilwoman?"
"Her daughter actually! Brilliant young mind! Incredibly discerning. I believe you two will get along swimmingly!" Hopping off his chair, the yordle starts leading the way out of the office with jaunty steps.
"Right..." Vi stands to follow, hands firmly in the pockets of her red leather jacket. She is sorry to see the Professor go, but thinking of all the work needed to be done at the restaurant, she's already dying for retirement too.
Entering the waiting room of the practice the professor continues, "In fact, I believe she may be in now, still getting settled. Ah! Doctor Kiramman! Allow me to introduce you to Miss Warwick here."
"Oh! Of course, Professor." The accented voice preludes a tall, dark-haired woman as she sets down a stack of boxes on the office floor before turning to greet the two. After a brief pause when meeting Vi's gaze, she continues, "Miss Warwick, a pleasure. I look forward to working with you." The young Kiramman reaches her hand out in greeting.
Vi is momentarily stunned silent as she looks at the lauded doctor. Her new shrink. The brilliant, beautiful doctor Vi will now sit across from each week baring her soul and her most traumatic moments. Shit... Vi's speechless as she meets the Doctor's single, piercing eye of the most brilliant blue.