[Arcane] Departure (Caitvi & Timebomb Post S2)

Godspeed, Caitlyn

The Kiramman mansion has opened its doors to a new resident. Caitlyn Kiramman felt that she needed to do some good to relieve her of the sin of lying to her lover. She felt that giving Orianna residency was a good start.

Shortly after Ekko's departure, Vi and Caitlyn thought it would be good to call it a night. With Orianna following, the group returned to Caitlyn's home. Orianna was immediately amazed by the behemoth of a structure.

"The Kiramman name carries a lot of power, but I didn't expect your home to be so... grand. Only 3 people live in... all of this?" Orianna questioned.

"Well, some of our housekeepers stay in the guestrooms, but me, my father, and Vi primarily stay here," Caitlyn answered.

Caitlyn opened the gate and approached the front door before unlocking it with her house key. She opened the door and gasped in realization.

"Vi, I just remembered that I have a council meeting to attend, so can you show Orianna around for me?" Caitlyn asked.

"Orianna, I will show you all the five rooms I know!" Vi replied.

...

Caitlyn quickly entered the council room. Sevika, Shoola, Bolbok, Stevan Ferros, Boswell Holloran, and Seye Aurora were already seated. Caitlyn quickly rushed to her seat and pulled out some notes.

"Alright council members, we have a few things on the agenda. Hextech and the Seraphine concert tomorrow," Caitlyn announced.

"I'd like to start with Hextech. Reconstruction is slowing down, we need to use these tools for what they were originally meant for," Sevika demanded

"Clan Ferros is ready to bear the responsibility of Hextech. We have conducted plenty of experiments to conclude that hextech is safe and ready to use, with none of those... whatever Caitlyn called them showing up," Stevan mumbled.

"They're called wild runes, and we don't know what makes them pop up, which is why I have repeatedly cautioned the council against the use of Hextech until our nation recovers from the first disaster it has caused," Caitlyn snapped.

"Hextech is far too dangerous. If we bend the knee again, it will finally tear this nation apart," Bolbok agreed.

"We cannot deny the importance of Hextech to this nation any longer. We haven't shut off the Hexgates, and we haven't discontinued any use of Hextech. What's the point of holding back if we still use it?" Boswell interjected.

"We haven't discontinued Hextech because none of you would let me," Caitlyn barked.

"And look where it's gotten us. Massive growth in our trade and materials for reconstruction. Hextech has only done us favors. I think the time has come for us to reconsider the conclusion we came to as a council last time" Shoola argued.

Caitlyn's eyes widened. Shoola, Seye, and Bolbok were the only people on her side. If Shoola has lost faith in Caitlyn, Shoola would be the tie-breaking vote.

"Shoola, I highly advise you to reconsider whatever you're thinking!" Caitlyn insisted.

"Shoola, you have stood by your morals very honorably. You must maintain yourself," Seye pleaded.

"It sounds like it's time to come to a vote. All in favor of beginning production on new Hextech, cast your vote," Stevan announced.

Stevan raised his hand and a light beamed down on him. Then, Sevika's hand went up, and a light was cast on her as well. Caitlyn looked around the room frantically as she heard the loud gears turning and the boom of the lights activating. The hand of Boswell went up soon after, another light illuminating him. Three of the four votes required have been cast. Caitlyn looked over at Shoola and felt her a pain in her soul.

"Please..." Caitlyn pleaded with a defeated tone.

"The benefits cannot be overlooked any longer," Shoola responded. Her hand lifted in the air, a light shining upon her.

Caitlyn leaned back in her seat, placing a hand on her forehead. Her eyes wandered over to Sevika, who had guilt written in her expression.

"Then it is decided, three to four. Clan Ferros will take over the responsibilities that clan Talis previously had," Caitlyn declared with bitterness in her voice.

"Then we should begin discussing the threats against the Seraphine concert, shouldn't we?" Seye suggested.

"She is refusing to cancel, even if her life is at risk. She told us it was an event happening right between the border of the undercity and Piltover. Thousands will be attending, increasing positive relations between the two parts of our nation. It could change our history if we are not only politically united but socially united as well," Sevika claimed.

"Then we increase security, whether she wants it or not. Sevika, I believe it would be best that you oversee that," Seye recommended.

"I already had someone in mind. Someone who has surely made history as one of the most honorable citizens of the undercity, even joining the enforcers after everything they did to her family. I think security chief Violet has a ring to it," Sevika reveals.

"She would gladly take the position," Caitlyn muttered, still lingering on the implications of the previous vote.

"Violet has proven herself to be dedicated to doing the best for both cities countless times. I see no problem with appointing her and a few enforcers to be at the concert. Does anyone object?" Bolbok asked.

The room remained still and silent. Caitlyn smiled as no arguments were made against Sevika's proposition.

"Then it's unanimous. Violet will be in charge of security, and she will be accompanied by a crew of enforcers if she accepts the position," Sevika affirmed.

The room fell quiet as the counselors looked around. They waited for Caitlyn to make any final comments, but she sat in silence, distracted by nervously tapping her shoe on the ground. Eventually, when noticing the disturbance in the room, she raised her head and snapped out of it.

"That's a-all I had on the agenda, unless anyone has any other urgent matters to discuss?" Caitlyn queried.

The counselors looked around for a moment and no one raised any concerns.

"Then enjoy your nights, counselors," Caitlyn murmured.

Everyone got up from their seats at the table and started conversations with each other. Caitlyn watched as Stevan whispered something in Shoola's ear. Seye and Bolbok talked with each other as well, but Caitlyn was more focused on Shoola before someone tapped her shoulder. She turned to face the individual and identified Boswell standing next to her.

He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Clan Holloran had their opinion bought, in exchange for a percentage of Hextech profits, but Ferros started getting ugly when payouts weren't accepted. They were going to threaten to reveal your relationship with your girlfriend. A whole big thing planned to make her a public target, while also embarrassing and discrediting you for being involved with a Zaunite. However, something changed their mind, and they got their eyes on Shoola. Sevika is the only one they don't have anything on, but her name doesn't carry any weight they are interested in regardless. Clan Kiramman is our last hope. Godspeed, Caitlyn."

He walked out of the building quickly.

Caitlyn immediately panicked in her head.

Oh fuck. Oh fuck! Ferros planning something with Vi... one of my only weak points they could have targeted. They could have threatened my life and it still wouldn't have meant anything... but her... They just got Hextech as well! What's Stevan's play here? Does he want to be the head of the council? What else would he need their votes and Hextech for? It's a dangerous combination for one clan to have, and we just gave it to him. I'll have to investigate him after the concert and get an idea of his motives here.

...

Vi and Orianna were pulling books off their shelves in the library.

"You still haven't told me what you want these for," Vi groaned

Violet had been sorting through books for the past two hours, as per Orianna's request. Any book that had a mention of the Arcane would be added to Orianna's three-foot-tall tower.

"I need to learn what I am, and maybe learn some engineering as well," Orianna responded.

"Right, right..." Vi paused awkwardly. "SO... uhm, how old are you?" Vi questioned

"I am seventeen. Well, I could be much older. I don't know how long my father kept me in that... thing," Orianna revealed.

"Do you like it here so far?" Vi continued with her line of questioning.

"It's very shiny, very beautiful," Orianna complimented.

"I called it shiny at first as well," Vi chuckled.

Vi got to the end of the last shelf Orianna had assigned her, and she sighed heavily before adding two more books to Orianna's pile. Orianna smiled, grabbed the pile of books, and quickly left the room.

"Not even a 'see you later' or something?" Vi whispered.

Orianna ran down the hall with her books into a room with various tech parts, shelves, and a large worktable in the center. This room was fairly big, having a few weapons on display as well, including Vi's gauntlets and Caitlyn's hex tech rifle. Orianna stared at the weapons for a few seconds before getting some ideas. She took them out of the cases, laying them in front of her carefully. These would be a great starting point for her to study.

...

Caitlyn made her way home quickly after the meeting. She couldn't stand to be there 1 more minute. She rushed inside the mansion, taking a deep breath as she closed the door. She made her way upstairs to her room. Vi was lying down while doing something in her notebook. Caitlyn smiled at her and immediately got out of her formal council clothing.

"Are you doodling or writing?" Caitlyn asked.

"It's kind of embarrassing, but I'm writing my feelings," Vi confessed.

"Not embarrassing. I'm glad to hear you have a medium for expressing yourself," Caitlyn assured.

"Wanna hear some stuff?" Vi offered.

"If you are comfortable with that," Caitlyn smiled.

"With you? I'm very comfortable with it," Vi responded. "Here goes. 'Things have changed lately. These past few months have felt like constant failures. I never helped Powder, I never stopped Silco, I couldn't save my dad, and I couldn't save Jinx. I struggle with feeling like my life has any significance after these failures, but I think about how we won the battle, and what remains. I have an awesome girlfriend who yells at me for doubting myself, and who loves me very much. She's been taking care of me lately. The jobless angry oil slick she took in. My nightmares have gotten worse, but she makes them go away. It's a nice feeling to wake up next to someone you love. I've never had that in my life besides with Powder, but that was different. We were kinda forced to share a bed. I get to share a bed with Cait by choice. I wake up to someone pretty and awesome!' That's all I got down so far. I'm kind of bad at putting my thoughts into writing."

Caitlyn immediately threw herself into the bed and held Vi tightly.

"I thought that was beautifully written. It's v-very sweet," Caitlyn choked.

"Cait... are you crying?" Vi teased.

"M-maybe," Caitlyn wept.

"Guess I have a way with words."