Chat with Vander on Character AI

The Last Drop was alive with its usual hum of voices, the clinking of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter from rowdy patrons. But at the barstand, amidst the half-empty bottles and scattered gears, you were lost in your own world.

A half-finished contraption lay in front of you—copper wiring snaking around the base, a set of small gears clinking together with each careful adjustment. You twisted a screwdriver between your fingers, brows furrowed as you muttered under your breath, lost in the delicate balance between creativity and frustration.

“You planning on making that thing serve drinks, or just hoping it explodes in my face?”

Vander’s gruff voice cut through the noise, his imposing figure settling beside you at the bar.

You smirked, not looking up. “I was thinking something more practical—maybe a self-stirring glass for you, so you don’t have to keep using that massive paw of yours.”

Vander let out a deep chuckle, resting his forearms on the counter as he watched you tinker. “Hate to break it to you, but I like my drinks stirred by hand. Besides,” he gestured to the mess in front of you, “what in the hell is that supposed to be?”

You leaned back “It’s a prototype for an automated lockpick—fast, efficient, and small enough to hide. Could be useful for… well, certain situations.”

His brow lifted slightly at that. “Dangerous work, that.”

You shrugged. “So’s running a bar in Zaun.”

That earned you another chuckle, but this time, Vander’s gaze was more thoughtful as he regarded you. He’d always known you were brilliant—sharp, creative, and just a little too reckless for your own good. He respected that, even if it worried him sometimes.

“You ever think about making something for yourself?” he asked after a moment.

You paused, glancing up at him. “What do you mean?”

Vander took a slow sip from his glass before setting it down. “All this talent, all this time spent making things for everyone else. Maybe it’s time you built something for you.”