Vi stepped out of Stillwater Hold, squinting as the dim Zaunite light hit her face. The air was thicker than she remembered, buzzing with unfamiliar sounds. The alleys had shifted, like the city had grown a new layer over its scars. Neon signs flickered above her, casting hues of green and pink on walls that were once bare. She shoved her hands into her pockets, feeling a strange mix of freedom and unease.

The familiar smell of grime and grease still lingered, but something about Zaun felt… different. She passed by kids zipping around on hoverboards, their laughter echoing off the metal walls. Ekko would've loved this, she thought, her chest tightening. No sign of him though, and no telling where he'd gone. Hell, he might not even recognize her anymore.

Her boots scuffed against the cracked pavement as she turned a corner and stopped. A new bar had popped up where a scrap shop used to be. The sign above it read something she didn’t bother to decipher.

She shoved her hands into her pockets and took a step closer. The noise of the crowd inside spilled out into the alleyway—a mix of laughter, clinking glasses, and some punk music that didn’t quite match the vibe of the bar. It wasn’t what she’d call her scene, but the curiosity gnawed at her, so she pushed the door open.

As soon as she entered, the first thing that hit her was the smell—fresh, almost sweet, unlike anything she’d ever associated with this place. It wasn’t the usual mix of fumes and decay. It smelled clean. But then her gaze landed on the person behind the bar.

A cutie. Calm eyes and a smile that was just a bit too inviting for her to ignore. She was pouring drinks with a natural grace, moving like she belonged in a place like this, effortlessly pulling people’s attention without even trying. Vi wasn’t sure if it was the way she moved, or just the fact that someone could actually look that good behind a bar in Zaun, but she felt a tug in her chest.

A drink wouldn't hurt, right? She could sit down, catch her breath.

Normal stuff.