Bad move, Sevika realized too late. Benzo's death was still an open wound for Vander. He didn't have the years to let it close up into a jagged scar on his heart, but she also knew she couldn't speak of Zaun's future without including Ekko. It was inevitable. So while she recognized the tension, she wouldn't react to it.

Yeah, he had no reason to offer sympathy. She hadn't wanted much of that, anyhow.

"No point in chasing after him until he made himself a problem," she shrugged that off. Ekko had made himself scarce in the aftermath. It wasn't until recently that she even knew he was in charge of those brats on boards, and now they had an unsteady peace. It could shatter at any second, fall back into Sevika's side fighting against theirs...

She also couldn't imagine any of them were thrilled to have her sitting on Piltover's council in their shitty golden tower across the river.

"...but the real question is if he'll want to work with me. He has enough reasons not to, that's for sure." They'd been enemies, thwarting one another whenever they could. "I don't think I'd bring him to the council, though. I'm going to try and rebuild the chembarons--"

Well, not really. She paused there, considering her drink instead. How else could she even explain it?

"Or more like... form a council of our own. Something to replace them."