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Hello! And welcome to the Zaunite Tribune, where we lead in the latest gossip about who’s hot and who’s not! With the kick-off of Coachella, we’ve got plenty of material, so be sure to subscribe and stay tuned!
But let’s jump into why you’re here now. Mainly the hot, hot, hot (by the spirits I wish I had a chance in hell. As our poll shows so do a whopping number of you,) topic of one miss Caitlyn Kiramman once teen star with the band Golden Light and now five years solo after that shall we say explosive split up at seven-teen and now positively thriving on her own.
This Coachella run has been teased as a taster for some of her sophomore album work and from the leaks, someone has certainly opted to fully shed the prim and proper, good girl persona for something a little more raw and a little more real.
From first glance, we certainly aren’t about to complain. I mean, a woman built like that? In jean short shorts, white front knotted bra (I’m sure everyone was super respectfully hoping it would malfunction under the strain of its task), and a too-large red button-down.
The look was simple, nothing a regular wouldn’t probably jaunt down to the beach in. But when one a)looks like Caitlyn Kiramman b)moves like Caitlyn Kiramman c)sings and shows off a multilingual repertoire like Caitlyn Kiramman…well, it’s anything but regular.
But we aren’t a fashion blog, so why do we care so much?
(Aside from the fact it’s been on social media EVERYWHERE. Making so much drool flow from people’s mouths, perhaps we could dedicate a humble river of spit to Caitlyn’s honor. We heard a rumor she might be into that but you read that here and not from me, okay?)
Well, we care because of the lack of clothes. No, not to police women’s bodies or shitty puritan judgment. No, we’re much more interested in what the bold choices for the previously reserved persona ultimately revealed.
To be specific, a tattoo.
We gave you a moment to gasp. (Did you? If not, keep reading.)
Sure, it’s whatever; these creative types grow up and opt for a bit of ink. Certainly not unusual and just a fleeting thing to look at in the news and go ‘huh? Okay!’ For either the good or the bad. But this isn’t a brash knuckle tattoo. This isn’t a tramp stamp flash. Or a doodle bob tat for laughs.
This feels more intimate. Purposeful. And on the trail of something we’ve been (very very veryyyyy) casually sniffing at for years now. What is this world altering tattoo gracing Caitlyn Kiramman, you may ask?
The Roman numeral six.
We gave you another moment to gasp. (Did you? If not, what’s wrong with you?)
Now, if you’re so far out of the loop you can’t catch the insinuation, let us catch you up to speed on another celebrity. One of Zaun’s homegrown who still comes back and treats the community with the love and care it deserves. Foundations, scholarships, parks built for youth, and mentorships to keep ‘em out of trouble. Arms built to make people swoon, a grin dazzling enough to melt hearts, grey eyes that sweep you away to a dewy night.
(Can you tell I’m in love? I’m certainly very nonchalant about it.)
The one and only movie star bounding across the screen in high optic stunts but breaking our hearts with genuine raw emotion in the next breath. A woman who just so happens to use a name that looks remarkably like the Roman numeral six.
Our favorite heartbreaker miss Violet Wilkins. Or Simply Vi. (Did you hear the dreamy sigh I let out?)
Now, of course, maybe Caitlyn’s favorite number is six. Or she really enjoyed her stint in Rome on her last tour. Yada yada yada. There’s always a naysayer, a contrarian, a spoilsport. But truly, truly, truly we beg of you to genuinely take a look at the side-by-side comparisons between Caitlyn’s revealed ink and Vi’s infamous face tag below.
[Image: spliced and zoomed in side-by-side photographs of Vi’s cheek and Caitlyn’s side]
An effective copy and paste job. Dead ringer replica, dare I say I’d easily call Caitlyn, Vi’s... Ahem, I mean call Caitlyn’s tattoo Vi’s.
(Have you gasped yet?)
Okay, okay, okay. Once again for the naysayers huffing and puffing disagreements at the ready. We’d like to bring to the forefront of past recollection that the pair have been getting caught circulating one another at a suspiciously high rate. From that very first solo concert, where Vi had been front row with her siblings and the singer had seemed particularly keen on that section of the audience.
Or when Caitlyn had been speculated to be in piltover for a certain actor's premiere weekend despite being meant to have an event all the way in Noxus that Monday night.
Or their schedules mysteriously cleared of any sightings and (admittedly) grainy pictures of a midnight blue and pink-haired duo photographed out in the isles on a yacht looking quite snug together.
Once is interesting. Twice is a fun coincidence. But these two have a pattern of skirting the lines of perhaps gal pals (…yeah f****ing right, gagged a little typing that dearest reader, see what I must do for journalistic integrity?) or something decidedly more juicy.
So this little tattoo of such an innocuous Roman numeral, etched so carefully upon our favorite breakout popstars' ribs (someone please call Sappho, this is absurd), may at first glance seem like nothing. But for all those keen eyed, bushy tailed, queer love thrumming through our hearts and souls, and absolutely foaming at the mouth for this pair lovingly denoted as CaitVi. (I’ll never forgive you lot for missing out on using ‘Violyn’. We well and truly could’ve had it all.) Then the truth is there for anyone with eyes to see the cathedral before the masses.
Caitlyn and Vi are a power couple and it’s much more serious than we thought if the Piltovan princess is getting inked over it. Makes us think about the fact that we have not seen Vi shirtless in quite some time. Which, considering her many (many,many,manyyy) instances she couldn’t seem to stand keeping a shirt on (a time of peace, harmony, and late night moments drooling) after her top surgery a while ago, seems a bit suspicious she’s all but stopped now, I think.
But that’s all for us. Think we’re overcooking? (you’d be wrong, the queer gods said we earned this.) Need more proof? (Find our past speculations here.) want to scream about queer icons being in love?
Well, tell us all of that and more in the comment section below! Until next time! (And be sure to keep an eye out, because we always will.)
Vi snorted as she reached the end of the article. Splayed out in the RV-style spacing. Body spread across the couch, mindlessly scrolling away as she ignored the bustling outside of the private space.
She technically wasn’t supposed to look at articles about herself. A healthy precaution for anyone in the limelight to allow their teams to directly send them anything positive and carefully discuss any massive blows. It’s the reason PR and management teams exist. A good distance to maintain so people didn’t get overwhelmed.
But she and her management had a particular love-hate relationship for a reason. Vi never quite took to listening to what she ought to do, but more often than not her own intentions lead her to good. A nuisance to keep track of likely, but always a good picture or quote to come out of it in the end.
Plus it was the fucking tribune, if there was one place she trusted to not drag her merely for clicks it was there. Even so, she had always been…impressed, maybe? By how well they kept tabs.
The bathroom door opened and instantly she sat upright, a smile quick to her face as she watched midnight blue hair get tugged up into an effortless long ponytail.
“Looking hot, cupcake.”
Caitlyn smiled, paired with that dismissive eye roll, quick to her features but long legs carried her to the couch all the same. Hands finally ending the swift gathering of her hair to rest on Vi’s shoulders and her own hands found the taller woman’s hips as she straddled the pinkette smoothly.
“You’re one to talk, handsome.”
The soft husk in her voice made Vi grin all the wider as their arms wrapped around one another comfortably, lips easily finding one another in a smooth kiss. Settling into it as if they’d been separated for ages instead of Caitlyn merely showering and changing before they headed out to catch a few performances.
Caitlyn already had her own stint on stage yesterday, something Vi had of course been in attendance for and after reading the article, wondered how long it would take for some stray camera angle to indeed spot her out as another member of the drooling audience.
For now, that simply didn’t matter as today was a break so that the bluenette could enjoy some performances herself before getting back at it tomorrow. Vi had every intention to make the most of it.
“Mmm, where's your super secret disguise, Miss Matilda?”
Vi muttered the words as she drew back, inciting a scoff and playful slap from Caitlyn on her flat chest.
“That was a moment of panic, you’ve got to stop holding on to that.”
“Oh, but it’s such a good fake name, super convincing with the accent too.” Vi made her eyes widen. Blinking as if entirely serious and decidedly not making fun of the time they’d almost been revealed because Caitlyn hadn’t ever anticipated actually talking to anyone while in her blonde-haired disguise. Meaning a moment in which she had floundered horrifically while they were at a street shop with way too friendly vendors.
‘Matilda-gate’ had Vi snickering for weeks afterwards. Still did as she felt laughter bubble up and Caitlyn’s smile return before the bluenette looked away thoughtfully. The hand that had just smacked at Vi was now rubbing at her as she contemplated. The pinkette had no problem just sitting in the moment, feeling her girlfriend settled in her lap as she worked out the words she wanted to say.
Caitlyn didn’t keep her waiting long.
“As you know, I wanted the sophomore album to be about returning to my truth, my authenticity. Not only as an artist but as a person.”
Vi hummed encouragingly, thumb stroking her hips softly as she listened.
“I don’t want to do what is supposed to work, I don’t want to be whatever checks off list and fits tidy boxes. I mean my stage name is my name so I want to unapologetically represent all of me. My sexuality, my culture, but I don’t want it to stop there.”
Now Caitlyn met her eyes intensely as if communicating the next part before the words even left.
“I want to show off everything that I care for, everyone. That namely means I don’t want us to quite be speculation any longer, Violet.”
Her words waned into a whisper, as if sharing a daunting secret that if spoken too loud might break something it wasn’t meant to. Might fracture and split reality.
Vi felt the words sink and seize her heart for a moment as her mouth parted in a soft o.
“You mean…”
“That I’d like to go out, with you, with no disguises.” Her hand drifted up, snagging away the baseball cap that once methodically tucked pinkish-red locks out of view before tossing the garment to the side. “No further misinterpretation.” Her thumb swiped purposely over the soft application of concealer that hid her cheek tattoo. “Just you and I. The rest of the world can make do, but I’d like to be out there enjoying a marvelous time with my partner. Maybe even kiss in front of Renee and Towa for the fun of it all.”
Even with Caitlyn’s cheeks a rosy color at her own proclamation, the smile was undeniable and genuine. And Vi felt her own bubbling excitement take on a whole new life.
“Cait are you, fuck, are you sure? Don’t feel like I’m forcing you, I get it trust-“
The twinkle of laughter stopped her as careful nails scraped soothingly at the base of her scalp.
“I know, darling. You’ve been so good to me, so patient when I needed even when I thought I didn’t deserve it-“
“Baby, you deserve everything.”
The words slipped off Vi’s tongue with authority as she drew Caitlyn in impossibly closer. Only garnering an amused shake of her head and a swift peck.
“And I’m very thankful for you, for everything that you do and have given me. Supporting me and letting me take my time with this while I was still figuring out where I truly wanted to take my career. But I think I have enough figured out, more than actually. Because I don’t want to enjoy another thing without being able to say in an interview who exactly I was thinking of when I wrote a lyric, who I imagine when I sing. The answer is you and if I’m going to be genuine with my audience, I believe they should know who’s had my heart for years now.”
Vi felt a certain heat prickle at her eyes as her heart did leaps and bounds. There truthfully had never been any inclination to force the bluenette on the matter. She’d been happy to take what she could get. Laughing, holding, loving the other woman in a way that didn’t demand the whole action star unbothered thing all day, every day. Just her, just Vi.
Because for all of Caitlyn’s struggle with feeling authenticity in the rush of fame and snapping cameras, the singer had never been alone in that sentiment. Something they’d bonded over in the outset when they’d merely been texting one another.
A mishap of connections where Vi, fresh off the tv circuit of side cast and reaching her first breakout role on film, and Caitlyn, on the cusp of a musical implosion with her past teen group, had been connected by a phone number mixup.
Incidental and just messages, just text. They’d known the other was in the business but they’d never shared names, merely spiraled into an excuse they let their hearts bleed out their fears, their excitement. Shared through the messages on the screen and when feeling particularly bold? The occasional phone call.
It had been Caitlyn spiraling about her first solo album that had them broaching that peace, that had Vi video calling in a panicking attempt to call and soothe, where Caitlyn had answered regardless of the slip in routine.
They’d both been more than a little enamored before having faces attached to voices, but well… it is much easier not to feel like as much of a loser with an actual face to be in love with.
So, no, Vi never wanted to force Caitlyn into any sort of light she didn’t want. That’s never been how their relationship worked. But that didn’t change how unbelievably good it felt to finally hear the singer come to such a decision on her own, to want to essentially show Vi off in an irrefutable claim. The matching tattoos were already more than enough for Vi, but now Caitlyn was all but ready to flaunt them to the world.
It admittedly had a certain fire building in Vi’s veins even as she couldn’t help but tease.
“Please tell me this isn’t because of Sarah then, either.”
The groan she received was swift as Caitlyn’s eyes rolled harsher.
“I don’t care what gorgeous starlet they pose you beside and have you whisk off into the bloody sunset with gaudy explosions behind you, though I’d prefer she’d stop feeding the public’s delusions of it being real.”
The last part was huffed in a muttered woeful tone as she all but pouted, making Vi beam as she peppered kisses to her girlfriend's cheek teasingly.
“I know, babe, and so does she. I’m all yours. She just likes riling them up to keep the hype for the trilogy alive.”
“As you do me?”
“Well, I don’t think she’s kissing all the fans she teases, but sure if it makes you feel better.”
Caitlyn snorted but unfurled from where she’d tensed slightly.
“I’m quite serious, you know?”
Vi let her demeanor soften, bringing her forehead to rest against Caitlyn’s.
“I know, Cait. And if you’re sure, you know I’m right there beside you, always.”
There was a moment of them merely breathing together. Hands finding each other as they sat like that for a little while before Caitlyn pushed in for one more sweet peck.
“I’m sure, love. Now let me take this concealer off you properly so I can look at all of you for the rest of the day, hmm?”
They moved, easily finding the cleansing water so that Vi’s tattoo could be back on gleaming display as well as the cog on her throat.
Once freshened up Caitlyn snagged her for a quick photo session in the full-length mirror. Capturing Vi in her plain football-esque mesh jersey, cargo pants slung low at her hips, and some Air Maxes on her feet. While Caitlyn was wrapped up in a crochet-style shirt with wide lacing up her side, that indeed showed off the rib tattoo. A cute flouncing little short skirt and some simple chunky boots that gave her an even firmer rise over Vi that had her smirking and teasing the pinkette as she blushed softly.
Sleek, clean, and on them undeniably hot if Vi were to humbly say so, as she favored a few images swiftly before pocketing her phone.
“Ready to rock and roll, cupcake?”
Caitlyn finished applying another coat of lipstick before placing the tube down on the RV's counter.
“Not quite.”
In the next moment, Vi’s chin was adjusted up and out of the way as Caitlyn bowed forward, pressing a firm kiss to the exposed gear on her neck. Holding there before parting with a satisfied smack. Eyes practically gleaming as she looked at her handiwork. Breezily, she unhooked the dangling passes from the hook beside the door, securing her vip pass around her wrist while tucking Vi’s into the pinkette’s pocket as she blearily recovered.
“Now I believe we’re ready.”
Admittedly, the smile upon her face was more than a little dopey, especially as Caitlyn grabbed her hand, interlacing their fingers before they fully stepped out of the temporary lodging and into the open.
~
The day was a hundred times better for it, experiencing the comfort of the bluenette draped snugly around her back as they swayed, the freedom in which they playfully sang to one another, the sweet kisses shared, and the decidedly filthy one that had been exchanged during Renee’s set.
It was exhilarating and fun and made Vi burn in all the best ways. The sorta thing that had her shirt coming off and it easily being tucked away in the back of her pants so she could just feel. And it certainly didn’t seem to be a problem for Caitlyn as she grew unabashedly more handsy. Tracing every line of ink reverently as she had over a hundred times before.
But none more frequently than she did that matching tattoo now adorning Vi’s ribs, the careful ‘CK’ to go along with the ‘Vi’ that marked Caitlyn.