𝒅𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐲

cora  flips  her  hair  over  her  shoulder  .  head  turns  so  that  she’s  looking  over  her  shoulder  and  at  the  blonde  .  “  you  think  so  ?  the  tux  was  a  gamble  .  ”  the  corner  of  her  lips  turn  up  into  a  small  smirk  .  “  but  i  think  it  paid  off  .  between  my  brother  and  i  ,  i’m  the  better  looking  of  the  two  .  ”  they’ll  bring  the  glass  of  scotch  to  their  lips  to  polish  off  the  rest  of  their  drink  .  cora  sets  the  glass  down  before  fully  turning  to  face  rebekah  and  extends  a  hand  .  “  are  you  leading  or  am  i  ?  i’m  afraid  i’m  not  much  of  a  dancer  .  ”

I’m sorry to disappoint you

the corner of his mouth twitches up. " let this be a lesson, dearest niece, on opportunity: when someone offers you something, always pretend it was yours to begin with. " dismissive wave of his hand. " anyway, now you owe me a drink. "

“  see  i  had  to  contemplate  my  options  here  .  i  could’ve  said  no  and  made  you  buy  your  own  drink  .  so  you  should  be  glad  i  so  willingly  said  yes  .  ”  a  playful  smirk  surfaces  upon  her  visage  .  “  it’s  not  every  day  we  get  to  share  a  drink  .  y’know  with  death  ,  destruction  ,  you  dying  so  many  times  i’ve  lost  count  .  just  savoring  the  moment  .  ”

with a deep sigh , momentarily his gaze locks with cora's , softening slightly at the sight of his sister. to derek , family meant everything , even if part of it was fractured. "i never said it would hurt , i just don't feel particularly festive." being back in beacon hills was daunting. perhaps deep down , derek feared what was to come. " but don't let me stop you."

“  when  do  you  ever  ?  ”  cora  will  retort  ,  rolling  their  eyes  at  their  brother’s  attitude  .  listen  ,  they  get  it  .  who  would  be  in  a  festive  mood  being  in  a  town  where  one’s  entire  family  was  murdered  ?  “  just  put  on  the  damn  santa  hat  ,  derek  .  and  if  you  don’t  want  to  be  outside  ,  we’ll  go  back  to  your  place  and  get  drunk  on  some  spiked  eggnog  or  something  .  ”

cora  lets  out  a  humorless  laugh  .  “  i  wasn’t  trying  to  win  but  thank  you  .  ”  and  while  they  were  struck  with  tragedy  at  such  a  young  age  ,  they  refuse  to  let  it  define  them  .  however  ,  being  back  in  beacon  hills  after  all  these  years  ,  sympathies  seemed  to  have  amplified  with  those  who  know  of  the  hale  family  tragedy  .  part  of  her  hoped  that  maybe  just  maybe  if  the  dead  were  coming  back  to  life  that  she’d  get  a  glimpse  of  her  mother  .  or  her  sister  .  or  anyone  in  her  family  really  .  they  nod  in  understanding  .  “  i  see  .  protect  not  kill  is  the  new  mantra  ,  right  ?  regardless  ,  it’s  good  to  see  you  .  resurrection  looks  good  on  you  .  ”

“  maybe  you're  having  a  bout  of  seasonal  depression  ,  ”  cora  comments  offhandedly  ,  looking  up  from  her  phone  .  “  it’s  ironic  given  how  this  is  supposed  to  be  ‘  the  most  wonderful  time  of  the  year  ’  or  whatever  .  ”  eyes  will  roll  at  their  own  statement  .  the  holidays  had  never  been  ...  a  great  time  for  cora  .  at  least  it  hadn’t  been  for  a  good  six  or  so  years  .  “  but  sure  ,  i’d  be  down  for  some  mulled  wine  .  maybe  something  stronger  .  you  think  they’d  have  spiked  eggnog  ?  or  eggnog  that  i  can  spike  ?  ”

🌙✨

" i am not exactly the festive type." he hoped they were under no illusion, he was hardly one to embrace the festive season, even when forced. his family did not tend to bask in the festivities, in fact, what was left of his family hardly socialised at all.

“  times  change  and  traditions  change  ?  ”  they’ll  offer  up  in  jest  .  and  maybe  cora  is  secretly  pleased  that  her  family  is  kind  of  around  for  once  .  at  least  what’s  left  of  them  .  she’s  never  been  a  good  communicator  .  blame  it  on  the  trauma  .  “  it  won’t  hurt  to  be  festive  for  just  one  night  ,  derek  .  ”  /  @withale

"you know ... i really don't think that's the same at all, actually." and yes, diana knew they weren't right there - didn't have a café by the harbor to watch the sun set, there was no smell of salt in the air. but she'd thought it'd at least be in a bikeable distance! "in that case, that won't do at all," the witch says with a shake of her head. "hey, what do you say, girl's trip!? i'll pay for everything. but an escape from all the chaos here could be nice, i think." and there she goes again, attempting to bribe people into being her friend, because as popular as she's always been - she hasn't been in beacon hills since the day she was born. / @b3stias.

“  if  you  want  an  actual  ocean  then  i’m  assuming  this  road  trip  is  going  to  be  heading  west  ?  ”  definitely  better  than  running  south  so  they’ll  take  it  .  “  you  really  don’t  have  to  pay  for  everything  .  ”  as  well-intentioned  as  diana  seems  ,  cora  doesn’t  like  the  feeling  of  owing  people  .  “  an  escape  from  the  chaos  would  be  nice  ,  ”  they  admit  .  cora’s  never  been  the  best  at  making  friends  so  she  needs  to  make  that  step  !  “  i  love  beacon  hills  and  all  but  we  could  do  with  some  temporary  time  away  .  ”  and  unfortunately  ,  she’ll  always  hold  some  less  than  fond  memories  of  her  hometown  .  /  @shesd4ylight

they  can’t  say  they’ve  ever  been  a  huge  fan  of  the  argents  .  it’s  hard  to  be  a  fan  when  kate  argent  (  and  a  couple  other  accomplices  )  committed  murder  and  arson  to  try  and  kill  their  whole  family  .  however  ,  allison  had  proven  herself  to  be  different  .  something  that  cora  can  respect  .  “  well  i  had  a  presumed  dead  thing  going  on  topped  off  with  an  identity  crisis  .  that’s  close  enough  ,  right  ?  ”  arms  fold  across  her  chest  as  she  lightly  smirks  ,  shaking  her  head  fondly  at  the  hunter  .  “  but  alright  fair  point  .  don’t  tell  me  they’re  silver  bullets  in  the  chamber  ...  are  they  ?  ”  /  @prctectrice

🖤🖤

" you dropped this. " and with the return of the missing item, peter's one good deed of the year is complete. " — you can thank me by buying me a drink. "

“  hmm  .  ”  eyes  will  squint  at  the  object  their  uncle  hands  them  .  “  doesn’t  look  like  mine  but  i  guess  i’ll  take  it  .  i  know  it  must  be  difficult  to  will  yourself  to  do  a  good  deed  ,  uncle  dearest  .  ”  /  @vnecks

grabs the other's hand, playful grin on her lips - and the energy of the stars and meteors falling from the sky. "you have to check this spot i found out." the sun is just about to set, purples and oranges filling the sky, and she tugs them towards the forest, light filtering out in an ethereal sort of way.

they  don’t  protest  and  lets  the  witch  drag  them  towards  the  forest  .  “  did  you  already  find  a  secret  spot  in  the  woods  ?  ”  for  cora  hale  knows  this  forrest  .  became  rather  familiar  with  it  in  her  youth  .  it’s  probably  the  best  place  to  watch  the  meteor  shower  in  their  opinion  .  the  town  square  would  be  too  populated  .  and  a  little  too  loud  with  hushed  conversations  .  “  thought  you  were  more  of  an  ocean  person  .  ”  /  @shesd4ylight

"i'm not dead." which is a lie in itself, and rosalie really isn't selling it with herself on the floor, gentle curls splayed against the hardwood floor. "the sun is too bright."

“  you  look  like  you're  minutes  away  from  dying  ,  ”  cora  quips  ,  sitting  up  on  the  couch  to  make  space  for  rosalie  .  “  can  you  at  least  not  rot  away  on  the  floor  and  do  it  somewhere  slightly  more  comfortable  like  the  couch  ?  ”  /  @reputalie