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Powder’s favorite holiday was always Halloween. Because of the haunted houses and candy. But Violet? Her favorite was Christmas. Even though they came from a working class family, Violet loved giving gifts. And she was always the best at it.
Vi was great at gift giving because she was always paying attention. When people talked, she REALLY listened. Nothing happened in the Undercity that Vi didn’t see or hear about herself unless it was in Benzo’s shop. And Little Man was her eyes and ears there. Vi swiped her gifts on jobs, or she made them. She and Ekko would gather up anything they thought was useful from the junkyard.
Felicia, Vi and Powder’s mom, always smelled like axel grease because she was a mechanic. Vi and Powder got their love for mechanics and tinkering from her. During their last Christmas together, with Ekko and Felicia’s help, Vi repaired a pocket watch she found for her dad, Connol. Ekko liked it so much, he told Vi that he would have one like it some day. She told him that she believed him.
After Felicia and Connol died, it took Vi awhile to get back into the Christmas spirit. But after seeing how hard Vander worked for them, Vi decided she had to do something special for him. She made an arrangement with Benzo for scrap metal. And with the money he paid her, she bought Vander a shirt that said “World’s Best Dad.” He griped that Vi could have spent the money on food. And there was no way he could wear it at the bar without being the laughing stock of Zaun. But Mylo swore he heard Vander crying that night. And he wore it to bed every night after that.
Of course in Stillwater, there was no Christmas. They were lucky if they got food, let alone a Christmas tree. If inmates received gifts from their families, the guards kept them. The first Christmas after the war, neither Vi or Caitlyn had the spirit to celebrate. So they didn’t. They sat together by the fire in Caitlyn’s study and drank hot cocoa ignoring any carolers that knocked on the door. Then they spent the rest of the night curled up together in Caitlyn’s bed.
The following year, Caitlyn told Tobias that Cassandra wouldn’t have wanted them to be miserable. But her heart wasn’t really in it. She hung a wreath on the front door and decorated a small Christmas tree in the living-room. Nothing like the extravagant decorations that Cassandra had Tobias up every year. Caitlyn gave Tobias socks. Vi protested when she told her that she’d gotten her something as well, insisting that she hadn’t gotten Cait anything. But Caitlyn was insistent. Vi changed her tune when Caitlyn threatened to withhold dessert. It was the Kiramman recipe for Strawberry Roulade Cake and it was Vi’s favorite.
Vi is confused when Caitlyn insists on giving her the gift in private. Fearing that Vi’s gift may in fact be his daughter, Tobias decides it’s best to stay away from that wing for the night. Vi is even more confused when the gift that Caitlyn hands her is a standard business envelop. But as she opens it and reads the contents, she understands why Caitlyn wanted them to be alone.
Caitlyn sees her lip trembling and reminds her that they’re alone. Caitlyn is the only person Vi allows herself to be vulnerable around. Tears fall down Vi’s face and she sobs loudly. “The Powder Vanderson Scholarship for Excellence in Engineering.” Funded by The Kiramman Foundation in the name of Violet Vanderson.
She cried seeing Powder’s name on the paper. But she also cried seeing her mother and Vander’s name on the paper: Vanderson. It had been awhile since the Vanderson name was attached to something positive. Once a well-respected family of engineers, the family lost favor topside three generations ago. They were stripped of their house standing and name and the family fell into ruin. Only houses in Piltover carried family names. And never families living the undercity.
Vander was the oldest. Named Vanderson to preserve the name in some way. When Felicia and Connol died in the Battle of Zaun, Vander immediately took the girls in. And they quickly viewed him as a father figure. Vander made sure Vi and Powder knew their last name. And what it truly meant to be a Vanderson. More importantly, what it meant to be a Vanderson heir. After all, family names in Piltover are always passed matrilineally. Making Vi the heir of House Vanderson.
Vi had never told anyone any of this before she met Caitlyn. Cassandra’s proud heir to House Kiramman. A family known for their inventions. After finding out about her involvement in the ventilation systems, Vi often wondered if Cassandra and Felicia would have gotten along. All these thoughts raced through Vi’s mind as she stared at the paper in her hand.
How could she ever repay Caitlyn for this? She hadn’t gotten her a gift. Caitlyn just sighed and said Vi didn’t owe her anything. She was just grateful to have her by her side. Vi pulled her into a strong hug and didn’t let go. But as they wet to bed that night, all Vi could do was watch Caitlyn sleep. Her mind racing.
How could she come up with something meaningful and quickly? If only she’d had more time. Wait. That was it: time. The Kiramman grandfather clock. Caitlyn had told her that it was Cassandra’s favorite heirloom. But that it no longer chimed or made any sounds. She told Vi that she loved listening to it as a child. Vi remembered the clock from Benzo’s. Quietly slipping out of bed, she quickly called Ekko. He told her that the clock was still there and they should be able to get whatever part she needs from it.
Vi couldn’t wait until morning. Before the sun even came up, she kissed Caitlyn on the forehead and left their room. She and Ekko worked quickly dismantling the clock and Benzo’s and carefully wrapping up the parts. Ekko made a joke about Vi’s first meeting with Cassandra as they snuck into the foyer. Cassandra. Her relationship with her daughter was complicated. But she always wanted what was best for her. This was Vi’s way to give her a piece of Cassandra back.
Ekko and Vi installed the parts. Then they adjusted the weights and waited for a fifteen minute interval. The clock softly chimed and Vi and Ekko had to contain themselves. It worked. They set the weights and adjusted the hammer arms so it would chime slightly louder each hour. Vi hugged him and he gathered his tools and left. That morning, Vi insisted they have lunch in the foyer. Caitlyn thought it was odd, but she and Tobias agreed.
As they ate, the time struck noon and the clock chimed loudly. Caitlyn’s face lit up with joy and surprise as Vi expected. What she didn’t expect was the string of curse words that left Tobias’s mouth. Caitlyn chided him. Tobias snarled and asked who turned the clock back on. He’d always hated it. He told Casandra they should have sold it at auction. Vi turned to Cait and told her Merry Christmas nervously with a chuckle.