🎶: My Love Mine All Mine - Mitski
Vi sat with Ekko, Mylo, and Claggor in one corner, sprawled out on a makeshift seating area of crates and mismatched chairs. Mylo, leaning forward with his usual overconfidence, waved his hands animatedly as he peppered Vi with questions.
"C'mon, Vi, you gotta help me out here," Mylo said, his voice dripping with mock desperation. "How do you pull off the whole 'bad girl' thing and still make it work? I've tried being mysterious, I've tried being charming—hell, I even tried that brooding look you do. Nothing sticks!"
Vi leaned back, smirking as she tipped her bottle of soda to her lips. "Maybe you're trying too hard, Mylo. Girls don't want a guy who's overthinking every little thing. Just... be yourself."
Mylo groaned, slumping dramatically in his chair. "That's easy for you to say. You've got, like, the effortless cool thing going on. Some of us have to work for it!"
Claggor chuckled, shaking his head. "Mylo, you working for it is probably half the problem."
Ekko chimed in, grinning as he leaned forward. "You're also barking up the wrong trees, man. You can't just flirt with every girl you meet and expect it to stick."
While the banter continued, Caitlyn sat on the opposite side of the rooftop, perched on a weathered bench with Powder. The bench creaked softly as Caitlyn shifted, her posture straight but relaxed, her fingers absently tracing the grain of the worn wood beneath her. Powder sat beside her, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, her vibrant blue hair catching the dim glow of the lights. The two of them were far enough from the others that their conversation felt private, almost insulated from the lively energy on the other side of the rooftop.
"So, you and Vi," Powder began, her tone casual but her eyes sharp with curiosity. She leaned back on her hands, her legs swinging idly. "What's going on? I mean, I always figured my sister would end up with someone who's, y'know... a little rougher around the edges. Not a Piltie. No offense."
"None taken," Caitlyn replied smoothly, though a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face. "And as for the deal... I suppose you could say we're figuring it out."
Powder tilted her head, studying Caitlyn intently. "Figuring it out, huh? That's vague. Are you serious about her? Or is this just, like, a thing?"
Caitlyn blinked, caught slightly off guard by the bluntness of the question. Powder didn't seem to notice—or care—as she waited for an answer, her expression a mix of curiosity and protectiveness.
"I am serious," Caitlyn said firmly, her voice softening as she added, "Vi's... unlike anyone I've ever met. She's strong, loyal, and she makes me feel—" She paused, searching for the right words. "She makes me feel like I can be myself, flaws and all."
Powder narrowed her eyes slightly, as though weighing Caitlyn's response. Then, after a moment, she grinned, her sharp edges softening. "You sound like you're trying to win over a jury, not date my sister. That's some speech." She leaned back, kicking her legs out in front of her.
Caitlyn laughed, the tension easing from her shoulders. "Well, I do give a lot of speeches. Comes with the territory of student government."
"Yeah, I figured you'd be all formal and fancy." Powder leaned forward again, resting her chin on her hand. "But I guess you're not so bad. For a piltie."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Caitlyn replied, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Don't let it go to your head," Powder said, though there was a teasing glint in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment before adding, "You know, Vi's been through a lot. She acts tough, but she's got this big soft spot for the people she cares about. That's why I'm asking—because if you're not serious, I'd rather know now."
Caitlyn's smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of quiet determination. "I know… And I wouldn't be here if I wasn't serious. She matters to me, Powder. More than I can ever put into words."
Powder studied her for another long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. You seem legit. But just so you know—if you ever hurt her, I've got ways of making life very uncomfortable for you. No offense."
Caitlyn chuckled softly, meeting Powder's sharp gaze with calm resolve. "I'd expect nothing less."
Powder grinned again, standing and brushing off her hands. "Cool. Guess I'll let you two be gross and romantic or whatever." She paused, glancing over her shoulder as she added, "And hey... welcome to the family, Piltie."
With that, she strolled off toward the others, leaving Caitlyn alone with her thoughts. Caitlyn watched her go, a small, genuine smile on her lips. Despite the bluntness and the teasing, she felt a sense of acceptance—and maybe even approval—from Powder. Vi caught Caitlyn's eye from across the rooftop, raising an eyebrow as if to ask, You good? Caitlyn nodded, her smile widening. Vi gave her a wink before turning back to Mylo, who was still gesturing wildly as he made some dramatic point.
-ਠŕ§-
🎶: The Horizon - Clergy, Cece And The Dark Hearts
The dim light of the desk lamp cast long shadows over the stacks of paperwork strewn across Riven's desk. The room was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of papers as she shuffled through contracts and financial reports. House Konte's affairs demanded her attention—endless revisions, signatures, and updates to ensure the family's business remained strong. But no matter how much she tried to focus, her thoughts kept drifting. Her pen hovered idly over the page as her gaze lingered on a familiar name that seemed to pop up across multiple documents: Silco Holdings.
Riven leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes narrowing as she stared at the ceiling. Silco Holdings had been intertwined with her family's dealings for decades, a shadowy presence that always seemed just out of reach. It wasn't just her family either—Vander, the Du Couteaus, even now the Crownguards—it all came back to Silco Holdings. On paper, the conglomerate was nothing more than a legitimate enterprise with vast investments, but Riven knew better. Silco Holdings never moved without a purpose, and its influence was almost impossible to escape.
Vander Kane.
Her thoughts turned to Vander. His name was scrawled across more than one of the contracts on her desk, his ventures tied to the company in ways that made her stomach twist. Vander was a good man, but his greatest strength—his belief in people—was also his greatest weakness. He trusted too easily, relied on partnerships that were too fragile, too exploitable. Silco Holdings didn't deal in trust; they dealt in control. Riven could already see the cracks forming, the potential for disaster if Vander wasn't careful.
And Vi? Vi definitely had no idea. No idea of the tangled web her family's name was caught in or the precarious tightrope Vander walked every day. Riven's lip curled as she drummed her fingers against the desk. Vi, for all her fire, had no idea what moved in the shadows beneath her feet. This wasn't a fight in the streets, something she could tackle head-on with fists and guts. Riven sighed, leaning back in her chair and letting her gaze drift to the ceiling. The weight of it all—these connections, these cracks threatening to give way—wasn't her problem to solve. Yet here she was, staring at Vander's name and feeling the creeping unease that came with knowing too much.
Luxanna Crownsguard.
Riven rubbed her temples, her mind circling back to the same questions that had been haunting her for days. Lux's recent behavior wasn't just ambitious—it was aggressive. Her movements were calculated, her alliances deliberate, and her fixation on Caitlyn and Vi's relationship felt... personal.
What are you doing, Lux? Riven thought, her fingers tapping absently against the desk again.
Caitlyn and Lux had always been rivals in their social and political circles, two heirs constantly compared to one another whether they knew it or not. But this wasn't about rivalry. Lux's focus on Caitlyn and Vi had a ferocity that went beyond competition. It was targeted, almost punishing. And for what?
"Is this about control?" Riven muttered to herself. "Or is it something deeper?"
Lux had always been the sharper one than her twin brother Garen, but this level of aggression was new. It felt almost as though Lux was trying to break Caitlyn down, to drive a wedge between her and Vi. But why? Was it just out of jealousy?
Katarina Du Couteau.
Riven's jaw tightened as she thought of her. Katarina wasn't just another name in the game Lux was playing. She was dangerous. Katarina's father had perfected the art of legitimizing destruction: businesses acquired under duress, rivals eliminated through shadowy means, and every move cloaked in legality. Katarina had inherited all of it, refining it into an even deadlier arsenal. If Lux had reached out to Katarina, there was only one explanation: Lux believed she had leverage. But what could she possibly have that would compel someone like Katarina to listen? Katarina didn't align herself with others lightly—her loyalty came at a price few could afford.
Even now, the Crownguards seemed to be pushing deeper into these circles. They played the part of nobles with moral high ground, but beneath the surface, they were just as tangled in the same murky alliances and power plays as anyone else. Their true power didn't lie in their wealth or social standing—it lay in their mastery of the law. Contracts were their battlefield, and every clause, loophole, and stipulation was a weapon in their arsenal.
Lux's aggression wasn't an accident—it was part of a larger strategy, one that Riven hadn't quite pieced together yet. It just didn't make sense to be that aggressive over a crush so deep that it bordered on obsession, not unless there was something more driving her. Again, her gaze fell back to the papers in front of her, the logo of Silco Holdings glaring up at her like a taunt. She sighed, leaning back in her chair as she stared out the window. The city lights flickered faintly in the distance, but the view brought little comfort. She had to be ready.
-ਠŕ§-
Caitlyn's phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. She sighed, expecting another message from Sam about some last-minute reminder for tomorrow or another veiled critique about her absence. But when she glanced at the screen, her irritation melted away. The name lighting up the notification made her lips curl into a smile: Vi.
She unlocked her phone, her fingers brushing lightly over the screen as she opened the message.
Vi:
Hey. You good? Mylo's been going on about "how to impress girls" for the past hour, and it's unbearable. Save me.
Caitlyn laughed softly, shaking her head. She could practically picture Vi sprawled out somewhere on campus, probably on the steps of the library or her dorm building, legs stretched out in her ripped jeans and that ever-present cocky smirk. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she typed back.
Caitlyn:
Maybe you should take notes. You could learn something. ;)
The reply came quickly, as always.
Vi:
Oh, please. I've already impressed the only girl I care about.
Caitlyn felt her cheeks heat as she stared at the words, a small flutter in her chest. Vi had a way of saying things so casually, so effortlessly, yet they always lingered, leaving Caitlyn smiling like an idiot.
Caitlyn:
Confident, are we? How's that working out for you?
Vi:
Pretty great, actually. You're smiling right now, aren't you?
She laughed, a quiet, almost embarrassed sound, but didn't bother denying it. Vi knew her too well.
Caitlyn:
Maybe I am. But don't let it go to your head.
Vi:
Too late. My ego's already through the roof. What are you up to? Still buried in textbooks?
Caitlyn glanced at the stack of neatly organized notebooks on her desk and smiled to herself.
Caitlyn:
I'm always organized. Some of us actually keep up with our coursework.
Vi:
Nerd. But you're my favorite nerd.
Rolling her eyes, Caitlyn shook her head, though her smile lingered. Vi's playful texts had a way of making her forget about everything else—her endless to-do list, the pressure from her mother, even Sam's persistent messages. They'd agreed to keep their relationship private, at least for now. It wasn't just about avoiding the inevitable questions from Sam or the raised eyebrows from their mutual friends—it was about her mother, too. Caitlyn knew exactly how Lady Kiramman would react if she found out about Vi: the lectures about Caitlyn's "responsibility" to uphold the family's image, the thinly veiled disappointment. Her mother wouldn't see Vi for who she was—fiercely loyal, endlessly kind, and so much more than the rough-around-the-edges rebel people assumed her to be.
But there was another reason, one Caitlyn hadn't even admitted to Vi. She liked keeping this private. It felt intimate, like their own little world where they could be themselves without anyone else's opinions or expectations getting in the way. The stolen moments between classes, the quiet walks back to their dorms, the way Vi would smirk at her from across the quad—it all felt more special this way, more theirs.
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her thoughts.
Vi:
Okay, I'll leave you to your nerd stuff. Night, Cupcake. See you tomorrow?
Caitlyn:
Goodnight, Vi. And don't act like you don't like my nerd stuff. See you tomorrow. :)
As the screen dimmed, Caitlyn set her phone on the nightstand and leaned back into her pillows, a small, contented smile playing on her lips. The world outside her dorm room—Sam's constant texts, her mother's unrelenting expectations, the pressures of being Caitlyn Kiramman—faded into the background. Right now, it was just her and Vi. Quiet, simple, and entirely theirs.
-ਠŕ§-
🎶: This Is Only the Beginning - Steelfeather
The campus was eerily quiet at this hour, the muffled hum of distant streetlights casting faint glows on the cobblestone paths. Maddie Nolan pulled her hood tighter against the chill, her steps careful and deliberate as she approached the administration building. Most students would've been curled up in their dorms by now, sipping energy drinks and pretending to study.
Maddie, however, had far bigger plans.
Her heart thrummed with adrenaline as she reached the door. A sly grin tugged at her lips as she glanced at the lock. It was old, almost laughably so. She pulled a slim tool from her pocket—part of a kit she always carried, "just in case"—and began working on the mechanism. It gave way with a faint click, the sound barely audible in the still night. Maddie slipped inside, shutting the door softly behind her.
The faint glow of emergency lights illuminated the hall, casting long, distorted shadows. She moved quickly, her sneakers silent against the tiled floor as she navigated the labyrinthine corridors toward the student records office. The door here was locked too, of course, but it was no more challenging than the first. In seconds, she was inside.
The room smelled faintly of dust and old paper, the kind of institutional scent that seemed to cling to every corner of the university. Maddie didn't bother with the lights—she couldn't risk being seen from outside. Instead, she turned on her phone's flashlight, the beam cutting through the darkness as she scanned the room. Rows of filing cabinets lined the walls, their drawers labeled with neat, typewritten tabs.
Maddie walked along them slowly, her fingers brushing the cold metal as she read the names. K, she found it. Sliding open the drawer, she began thumbing through the files, her pulse quickening as she reached her targets. Kiramman, Caitlyn.
Maddie smirked as she pulled the file, carrying it to a nearby desk. She flipped it open, her flashlight casting a bright circle over the pristine contents. Perfect grades. Glowing leadership evaluations. Recommendations from professors who practically worshiped her. Maddie's stomach churned with irritation. Of course, she thought bitterly. Saint Caitlyn.
But this wasn't what Maddie was looking for. Caitlyn's file was annoyingly flawless—at least on the surface. Maddie closed it with a snap, setting it aside as she reached for the next one. Kane, Violet.
Maddie's smirk widened as she pulled the file free. Vi was a name whispered across campus, her reputation equal parts thrilling and troublesome. Unlike Caitlyn, Vi's file was messy—disciplinary warnings, lateness reports, and at least one flagged incident. Maddie's breath caught as she read the header: Incident: Alton Holloran.
Her eyes darted across the page, greedily soaking in every word. The report detailed Vi's violent altercation with the Piltovan noble. Alton's injuries were severe—broken nose, cracked ribs, a bloodied face. Witness accounts were conflicting; some suggested Alton had been harassing Vi or someone nearby, while others claimed Vi struck without provocation. Maddie didn't care about the context. What mattered was the fallout.
Her flashlight highlighted the next section, and Maddie's grin turned feral. Intervention by Caitlyn Kiramman.
The details were sparse, but it was clear: Caitlyn had stepped in to advocate for Vi, persuading the administration to keep her enrolled despite the severity of the incident. Caitlyn's influence had been the difference between expulsion and a second chance. Maddie leaned back in her chair, her mind whirring. Caitlyn didn't just protect Vi. She risked everything—her reputation, her future—for someone like her. It was reckless, emotional, and entirely exploitable.
Well, well, Maddie thought, flipping the file shut. The perfect president isn't so perfect after all. Caitlyn's spotless image had always annoyed her, but now it felt fragile, vulnerable. This wasn't just a chink in her armor—it was a full-on fracture. And Maddie couldn't wait to watch her crumble. But this wasn't about helping Lux Crownguard. Maddie's lip curled at the thought. Lux had come to her with grandiose plans of tearing Caitlyn and Vi apart, assuming Maddie would fall in line like everyone else. Lux thinks she's untouchable, doesn't she? Like everyone's just a pawn in her game. Maddie tapped her fingers on the desk, her grin widening. But Lux doesn't understand me. I'm not her tool. I'm doing this because it's going to be delicious.
She leaned forward, her flashlight illuminating Vi's name once more. Caitlyn's going to fall—hard. And Vi? She's going to do half the work for me. She's a storm waiting to happen, and Caitlyn tied herself to it willingly. Lux wants to control the chaos? Good luck with that. Me? I want to watch it burn.
Maddie's mind raced with possibilities. Start small—rumors, whispers. Frame Caitlyn as someone blinded by emotions, compromised by a dangerous attachment. Paint Vi as unstable, reckless, the exact opposite of what the university needed. Let the rumors grow on their own. Then, when the timing was right, Maddie would drop the real bomb: the Holloran report, Caitlyn's intervention, and just enough spin to make it all look like favoritism. And Lux? Maddie almost laughed. Lux would be collateral damage. She'd see that Maddie wasn't someone she could manipulate.
Sliding the files back into their drawers, Maddie took a moment to admire her work. Everything was exactly as she'd found it—no one would suspect a thing. She locked the cabinet, pocketed her tools, and slipped out of the room, her steps light and quick. The night air was cool as Maddie stepped outside, pulling her hood back up. She stuffed her hands into her pockets, her mind still buzzing with anticipation. This wasn't about winning or losing. It was about the chaos. Watching Caitlyn fight to hold herself together, seeing Vi spiral, and Lux scrambling to control a mess she thought she could avoid—it was almost too perfect.
Maddie smirked as she disappeared into the shadows. "Let the games begin," she whispered to herself, the words tinged with malicious delight.
-ਠŕ§-
Lux sat perched on the cushioned window seat of her childhood bedroom, the cool evening air seeping through the cracks in the window frame. The sprawling Crownguard estate stretched out before her, pristine gardens lined with marble statues and trimmed hedges glowing softly under the garden lights. It was a view she'd grown up with, one that was meant to symbolize control, power, and order. But tonight, it felt like a gilded cage.
Her thumbnail hovered at her lips, a nervous habit she'd never managed to shake. She bit down, tasting the faint metallic tang of her chipped nail polish, and exhaled sharply. The anxiety coiled in her chest was suffocating, its roots tangled with frustration and longing.
Violet.
Lux closed her eyes, trying to block out the name that seemed to echo in her thoughts. Vi was an enigma, a storm Lux couldn't help but chase. She wasn't like anyone Lux had ever met—reckless and wild, but so painfully real. With Vi, there were no masks, no carefully curated words, just raw, unfiltered emotion. And Lux wanted that. She wanted her. But Caitlyn stood in the way.
It's always Caitlyn. The thought came with a stab of resentment that Lux immediately felt guilty for. Caitlyn was everything she was supposed to admire: disciplined, brilliant, a natural leader. She was everything Lux's family expected her to be. But she was also a barrier, always perfectly placed between Lux and what she wanted most.
Lux leaned her head against the cool glass, her breath fogging the window as her mind churned. She'd tried everything—small gestures, moments of connection, but Vi's attention never strayed far from Caitlyn. Patience wasn't working. Subtlety wasn't working.
That's where Plan B came in. It wasn't a plan she liked to think about, much less execute. But if Caitlyn's presence was the problem, then Lux would have to make Caitlyn step aside. Not by force, she told herself. Lux wasn't cruel. But sometimes people needed a little push to see things clearly.
Plan B wasn't just about Vi and Caitlyn—it was about their families, two influential names with deep ties to Piltover's intricate web of power. The foundation of Plan B was simple: leverage. Lux didn't need to tear Caitlyn down completely; she only needed to create just enough tension to make Caitlyn falter. Through Lady Kiramman, Caitlyn's ever-watchful and image-conscious mother, Lux saw an opportunity to exploit the cracks already visible—the way Caitlyn's responsibilities weighed heavily on her, the rare but telling moments when her perfection wavered.
Vi's reputation as a chaotic wildcard from Zaun was ammunition Lux could subtly weaponize, not through lies, but through carefully placed truths. A few well-timed whispers, a passing remark at a social event, and Lady Kirraman's pressure would do the rest, forcing Caitlyn to question her choices. Lux only had to nudge the right people in the right direction, but even as the plan formed, doubt began to creep in. Was this really worth it?
Lux stared at her reflection in the window, the faint outline of her face blurred by the growing twilight outside. The foundation of Plan B swirled in her mind, intricate and heavy, like the gears of a machine she wasn't sure she wanted to operate.
Leverage. Doubt. Friction. It all seemed so cold—so unlike her. She bit her lip, her chest tightening as she thought about the whispers she'd overheard in passing, the things she'd tucked away in her mind for moments like this. Things she wasn't supposed to know. Riven was right, she thought, the words creeping in uninvited. Her stomach churned. She thought about the cracks she planned to exploit, the whispers she'd considered nudging toward the wrong ears. Caitlyn wasn't perfect, but was that reason enough to pull her down?
Lux's fingers curled into fists on her lap. It wasn't just about Caitlyn. It was about Vi. About wanting her, needing her, in a way that felt so consuming it left no room for reason. But at what cost? All I wanted was just to be seen, the same way she did when she saved me… Her gaze dropped to her lap, the weight of her plan pressing down on her like a physical thing. This isn't me, she thought bitterly. I'm not like this. I'm supposed to be better than this.
The exhaustion hit her all at once, a wave of fatigue that made her shoulders slump. She was tired of scheming, tired of pretending, tired of wanting something that felt just out of reach. The constant push and pull between her desire for Vi and her guilt for what she was willing to do to get her was eating away at her.
Is all of this… worth losing myself for? The question lingered, sharp and painful. Lux closed her eyes, trying to picture what it would feel like to finally have Vi's attention, to finally hear her say she felt the same way. Would it feel good? Would it even matter if it came at this price?
For the first time, she wasn't sure.
END OF CHAPTER TEN