Archive of Our Own ^beta

Caitlyn frequents the Hexgates as much as any other teenager in 2013. It has become the online forum for people to hang out, chat about a variety of topics and meet people you might otherwise never meet. There are topics ranging from pets to intimate thoughts and wishes, help forums for souls who feel lost and the general banter community.

Caitlyn rarely participates in any of those heated discussions, sitting behind her loud PC-keyboard as she slowly slurps at her milkshake or tea. Or a combination of both if her day went from bad to worse and it was time to slowly spiral. She does, however, have a reigning reputation in the gun-sub-forum and her years of hard work gained her a high rank and some custom extras she absolutely despises on her profile. It makes her stand out.

As randomly generated or carefully chosen usernames pop-up on her screen, passionately discussing the latest release of a videogame she never heard of it, something catches her attention.

On the sidebar of the website there is a “Newest Threads” ticker that had just updated.

The latest thread? A discussion about Jayce Talis’s new ”attention seeking failure” in the g/Zaun forum. Caitlyn huffs. Said “failure” was an explosion that happened two days and six hours ago exact. How might Caitlyn know? She was part of said explosion and had some very nasty migraines right after.
Why does this shit-chat bother her? It’s not drastic news that people who have no idea about an event start to form opinions and gather awfully wrong conclusions but this- this “DealBreaker75” now implies that Jayce blew up the studio on purpose. For attention and money.

Not only does Jayce not give a rats ass about his already slightly burning reputation, but he always puts science and safety in one sentence. He would never, absolutely never be this reckless.
Especially with Caitlyn in tow that day. He promised.

So her luke warm tea finds a spot on fancy wood as she twists her wrists and hastily clicks on the “Reply” button. They think they know shit about the explosion? Well, they are about to experience a much bigger one once Caitlyn finishes her perfectly typed out rant.
Not that she would ever call it a “rant”.
More like a little correction.

Roughly fifteen minutes later she re-reads her perfectly crafted post and checks for any spelling mistakes or garbage formatting. She finds none.
The mouse is being guided over by now slightly shaking hands, more from frustration over their cluelessness than her frantic typing, and she sends her text off into the abyss of idiots.

About to shut her PC off and head off into the real world, a bunch of notifications appear on her screen.
“Huh, that’s quite unusual.” And it was.

//
Forum post from a user named “FireLightVS”
“@VioLenceXx might wanna take a look?

--

Forum reply from another user named “GetJinxxxed”
“omg frat boy got fucked by princess Cait lol”

--

Forum reply from “Clagged”
“Invades new territory and instantly starts shooting lol-thumbs up-“

--

More forum replies from a few more names, mostly saying the same things. Confusion lines Caitlyn’s face because while she doesn’t know any of these people, they seem to know of her.
//

Caitlyn opens an incognito tab and copies the link to each of their profiles. They don’t need to know just how curious this is making her. New territory? Princess Cait?
From what she finds those people seem like your normal every day user, mostly being active in gate/Zaun, gate/UndercityEngineering, gate/ShitTopsidersSay and gate/TLD among some others.

From all of these Gates only g/TLD is a locked Gate, clocking in at almost 10k users, which is a highly unusual number for a locked state. Suddenly, Caitlyn feels a little out of place with her “special” username among these users.
None of these people are even close to her rank yet they seem to be more involved in the forums than she is. Know their way around the gates and each other, while she simply watches and stays in her subgates.
Caitlyn decides it might be better to simply remove her reply and vanish from that gate for a while.

But then.

Caitlyn opens the new notification she received and gets thrown back to the shithole of a forum thread she apparently hijacked. This time around there’s a new name, bold like her own, with a red underline instead of blue with the description: “Moderator of g/TLD”
Username VioLenceXx.

Forum post from user VioLenceXx in reply to C.K.
“Hey cupcake your post is sweet and all but there is no need to tear a man down like that. 😉 The forums are a place for everyone to share their opinions no matter how wrong they might be.
Love your engagement tho but maybe stay on your side of the bridge? Unless youre up for a challenge.”
“A challenge?” Caitlyn repeats with a puff of air as she watches more users react to VioLenceXx’s message. Her intend was most certainly not to “tear a man down” yet she felt a real explanation was needed here. And she still feels that way once she tugs her chair a little closer to her table, sits upright and begins to reply to the Moderator’s infuriating message.

Words fly across her screen and more often then not Caitlyn finds herself rewriting her sentences. A few more angry presses of buttons later, another new reply stops her from posting.

Forums user DealBreaker75 replied to the thread. Not her directly.
“of course miss princess knows all about that lol. Isn’t he too old for you”

The insults hits her square in the face as she deletes her previews message and it quickly gets replaced by a bunch of swear words. “Fucking wanker, you think you know sh-“

Ping.

A notification, a different one this time, blinks on her screen. A private message. Caitlyn reluctantly opens it, expecting it to be private harassment but instead finds it to be VioLenceXx.

A sigh.

Ping.

What might seem like a threat at first feels more like a warning and Caitlyn decides that this VioLence person was being nice enough letting her know where she stands. For once, she decides to ghost a post and move on.

Caitlyn leans back in chair, head up to the ceiling as her neck pops. The intense stress-sitting isn’t doing her any favors. Maybe a walk might do her some good?
She swiftly but carefully swings her feet sidewise, locks her computer and gets ready for a long run through the gardens.

The air burns in her lungs, her cheeks cold and red as she returns to the manor. She’s cold yet hot and runs to her bedroom with a short “Hi!” past her parents. Her clothes are being shed as she changes into her sweatpants and lays on the gigantic bed for a few seconds.
The loud air noises remind her that her PC is still in fact running, unlike her, and might probably need to be shut down if she wishes to sleep peacefully.

A few internal battles later she moves to her table, inputs her login and is about to shut the PC off for good when suddenly-

“32 new notifications: VioLenceXx, DealBreaker75 and 8 other have replied to the thread: […]”

“What in the…?” Caitlyn stops. Opens her notifications and reads through them as her body slowly sits down. Her movement may be in slow motion but her brain is moving at lightspeed.

While on her breakdown run Caitlyn apparently missed drama.. A lot of it.
From DealBreaker75 taunting Caitlyn and calling her out for “ghosting a shitshow she started” to FireLightVS and others discussing the explosion and theories in more detail, to a brutal insult battle between VioLenceXx and DealBreakter75.

One, that is apparently now happening IRL. They are settling this in person. Caitlyn’s stomach drops, her knees tugged together under the table and her feet tapping a nervous rhythm.

She continues to scroll through even more aggressive posts, with the last one reading:

“Forum posts from VioLenceXx, 29 Minutes ago:
@DealBreaker75 TLD irl tomorrow 8pm. Be late and ill find you”

“Forum post from DealBreaker75, 30 Minutes ago in reply to @VioLenceXx:
deal”

The Undercity is vastly different from Piltover. While most stories are completely exaggerated and false, the vast brutality and hostility has been known for centuries. And confirmed true multiple times by either newspapers or simply the police reports. Which switch daily from theft to murder.

Caitlyn may not know VioLenceXx in real life, but she knows that absolutely no one should get hurt because of something she started.
And never finished.

Ping.

Caitlyn re-reads the entire thread a second time as she wagers what she replies. She doesn’t know this person, neither of them, they might be fictional or simply trolling. But the chances are too great to ignore. Insults fly past her eyes, Dealbreaker75 really likes to add salt to wounds it seems. Harmless if you skip over it, downright vicious if given the context. Personal.

“Forum post by DealBreaker75, 45 Minutes ago:
no wonder your parents died youre a fucking disgrace to this city lol. Nex time I step in shit ill think of you”

“Forum post by BibbyGirl, 47 Minutes ago:
Rider couldnt talk for a few days after he talked shit to @VioLenceXx a week ago
hope writing a shitpost was worth losing your teeth over @Dealbreaker75”

DealBreaker reacted to the post with a +1

“Forum post by LoyaltyX77X, 49 Minutes ago:
Fuuuck fucking CK up in this house damn”

They’re fucking serious. And this has clearly happened before. Fuck?
Caitlyn rushes to open her chat with VioLenceXx.

Almost instantly she hears the familiar sound she might need to turn off now.
Ping.

VioLenceXx has gone offline.

And so has Caitlyn’s brain. Minutes pass and she is still trying to wrap her brain around this. How could this escalate so quickly? Maybe they were right and she should have never crossed the bridge. But it’s a forum for fucks sake.

She will have to fix it.
Tomorrow.

She will fix it tomorrow.

--

Waking up earlier to the sun burning through her huge windows was never a problem for Caitlyn. Yet now it was. The sun beaming high meant tomorrow has begun, the day VioLenceXx and DealBreaker75 would meet up and fight each other. Because of a topic she had started.

The reminder of yesterday’s events makes her feel even worse than sleep did. With what could be considered a helpless sigh Caitlyn gets up and moves about her day.
Signs of the dramatic discussion keep coming up and her virtual torture only ends once she heavily pushes the entry door to Jayce’s building open and the door lady shoots her a “Get yourself together, young lady”-look.

Caitlyn sprints up the carpeted stairs and knocks on the heavy door. She can hear Jayce before he is even somewhat close to the door.

“-be a good idea but shouldn’t we slow down with the risks?” Jayce’s voice filters through the wood.
The door unlocks and opens swiftly. Caitlyn stands up straighter on reflex.

“Cait! Good to see you, come in! Just know Viktor’s here as well but you guys know each other, right.” It’s not a question yet Caitlyn notices the deeper meaning behind it. Of course, she knows.

As soon as her body enters the flat, she feels as if a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders. The fight almost forgot- Fuck.
The reason she came here in the first place. To see Jayce. And hopefully see Viktor and ask for their advice, maybe gather some insight to this whole g/TLD.

“Caitlyn. Unexpected but good to see you. How have you been?” Is the first thing that leaves Viktor’s mouth and Caitlyn is appreciative of the concern. His brow creases down as she takes a while to reply and doesn’t make use of her standard clipped “Perfectly fine, and you?” line.
Jayce steps around Caitlyn and offers a drink. She declines.

“I’m good, considering. How about you?” Viktor simply nods as he tends to do.

“Do you guys’ mind if I keep you some company? I’m still on sick leave from the accident and all caught up on school work.” She hopes maybe like this her actual intentions seem more casual. A casual conversation, right? Right.

Jayce and Viktor both invite her to stay as they sit down where Viktor was already seated, tinkering with what looks like some sort of toy-bomb with a bunch of drawings on them. Caitlyn would consider it a children’s toy but Viktor wouldn’t tinker with it if it was. She won’t press.

“How have things been with the accident?” She treads carefully. She was involved with the explosion after all, got hit and hurt. Her inquiring isn’t as suspicious as anyone else. She’s simply concerned.

Viktor’s brow takes another dip as he is seemingly lost in thought. Jayce on the other hand simply sighs in the room and gestures to Caitlyn.

“From what the Sheriff told us your…mom mentioned, there was no sign of third party involvement.” He swallows as if thirsty for more information. “But it just doesn’t feel right.”

This is new information to Caitlyn and she makes a mental note to eavesdrop if she gets the chance. Her mother has a tendency to forget she might not be alone in the house.
She nods.

“It simply couldn’t have been an automatic reaction. The gems have never been and won’t ever be this unstable. I am quite surprised by the damage it caused.” Viktor raises another brow as he continues to inspect the apparent children’s toy with great admiration. Jayce looks at him as she shakes his head once more.

“Just glad everything and everyone is alright. Anyway. Was there something specific on your mind, Cait? Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to see you but you usually don’t just…”swing by”. No offence.” He raises his hands as if Caitlyn was pointing a rifle right at his face. And she should by how easily he can see through her. She decided to faint innocence.

“None taken. The event just crossed my mind a lot more recently, is all. There are fuming conversations being held in the Hexgates. Do you two look at those?” Now it’s her brows that raise, blue eyes swiftly switching between her best friend and his best friend. Looks are exchanged, before they meet Caitlyn’s attentive gaze.

“We’re busier with keeping those gates up than checking their content. But I have seen a few discussions here and there.” Jayce admits as he watches Viktor tinker carefully. His broad shoulders shake, Caitlyn’s gaze still switching between the two men. “Nothing worth mentioning tho.”

And there goes Caitlyn’s fatal piece of information. Nothing worth mentioning.
Jayce just gracefully ended her solo interview without even knowing it. She could press the issue, simply ask more questions and slide it across as her being “interested”. Jayce would see right through her intentions. And Viktor simply wouldn’t care.

“Alright, thank you.” One last chance, Caitlyn. Now or never.
“Do you know about the TLD gate?” It slips right past her lips and flies out of her mouth.

Now both men look at her, Viktors movement still, toy gracefully held in his hand.
He answers her.

“The hidden TLD gate? Of course. Why do you ask?” His gaze lingers. Jayce looks too innocent for his huge personality; it fills the room with emptiness.

Caitlyn caves, this could be her turn to gather the information she needs.

“What does it stand for…TLD?” Starting off slow, easy.

“The Last Drop.”

“How come it’s hidden with how many members it has?” An exception?

“It hadn’t originally and once the limit was reached, the owner put in a request. It was accepted.” Viktor’s gaze is deadpanned on Caitlyn, Jayce’s eyes now switch between both of his best friends as if following a tennis match.

“Is it a place in Zaun, then?” Why the exception? Crime?

“Yes, quite famous as well, actually.”

“Does it involve…” Don’t say it. “…you know.” Don’t say it. “Crime?”

Bitter silence.

“No.” An eyebrow raise ends the conversation as Viktor turns back to his tinkering.

“Jesus Cait, what makes you think that?” Jayce spits a little. “Wait, do you think we’re involved? The explosion? You think they are hiding something? Or that we are?” Jayce almost stood up. Almost.

Backpaddle, Caitlyn.

“No! Gods, no. I recently came in contact with the moderator of the TLD gate and they seemed….interesting. In a good way.” She feels to clarify.

Jayce sighs, his butt once more making contact with the fancy leather couch they share.

“They are not the friendliest of folks, but they’re good at heart.” Viktor adds.
“Jayce, look at this, the wiring is incomplete below the rigging mechanism.” Jayce scoots closer to Viktor, inspecting the toy-like gadget. They both look fascinated.
Jayce’s nod speaks agreement.

He seems to register Caitlyn is still with them, stuck in her own thoughts as he clears his throat violently as meets her blue eyes.

“Was there anything else? You okay to get back home yourself?” He smiles weakly.

“I am all good, thank you. And have a good night you two. Don’t experiment too long.” She stands, waves and smiles all at once as she heads for the door, closing it behind her, taking only her thoughts with her.

A silent request? To keep it private? Hm.

Newly gathered information races through Caitlyn’s mind on her way home. She knows the small alley ways by heart, the big open streets and cobblestone under her shoes.
The main door flies open, a greeting passing her lips into big halls, up a flight of stairs and into her room. Quickly changed into her favorite pajamas, Caitlyn opens her books, closes them on instinct and presses the big “ON” button on her PC.

The screen comes to life as Caitlyn types in her password with eased precision. It’s as routine as cleaning her rifle. Marked in memory. The browser loads and loads as her internet connection is established.

She logs in. The Hexgates refresh. She taps her foot in an unrhythmic beat on the carpeted floor.
Time stops as Caitlyn takes in her notifications. What the hell happened while she was gone?

Her mouse swings over to the +39 marked in red over her message icon. She begins to read.
Information, insults, pictures, “proof”, more insults, taunts and words she never imagined to read fly across her irises.

Ping.

“Oh?” Escapes Caitlyn. She clicks on her dm messages, a now familiar name with a more familiar chatlog opens up and Caitlyn begins to read.

It's completely unexpected, empty of any punctuation and yet it fills Caitlyn’s heart with warmth. She re-reads those three unexplained direct messages multiple times before another snaps her back into reality.

What in the-

She doesn’t know this person, this VioLenceXx, doesn’t know their story except from the shattered pieces DealBreaker75 shared so publicly.
A smile breaks her lips apart as the dots indicate that VioLenceXx is currently typing. The click of her middle mouse button indicates she very selfishly opens VioLencexx's profile.

Caitlyn straightens her back, nudges the chair into a more comfortable position and leans back. Gets ready for an anecdote of a story, violent but true, jokes and insults.
So she smiles on.