JEREMY GILBERT.

"woohoo, you can tell me apart from your own sister. where's your gold medal?" in truth, it irritates her a little bit, considering all the extra practice she's had, the study time she's put in. but fine. she may be unwelcome, but she slides into the chair beside him anyway, resting her chin in her hand as she smiles at him. "would you believe i just wanted to talk? it gets pretty lonely being the world's most hated celebrity, jerbear."

He exhaled a sigh, shaking his head in disbelief at the doppelganger in front of him. He knew better than to assume she would take accountability, or perhaps even show some regard. "I have learned overtime to not trust what is in front of me, especially when it comes to you." He folded his arms across his chest, eyes following her closely. "would i believe you, katherine, want to just talk? no, absolutely not." he exclaimed, shaking his head. "for time has shown that there is always a catch with you, normally havoc following closely behind you -- and before you ask , no , i don't want to do whatever you are asking of me."

closed starter ft. @hunterled

He was taken back for a moment, perhaps he had assumed there would be pleasantries first, perhaps polite conversation. However, Malia knew what she wanted, which he admired, and they did not wish to hold back. His arms folded across his chest, brows quirked in curiosity. "That's intriguing, or should I be concerned?" He mocked, a smile remaining on his lips. "What exactly do you need help with?"

"i never knew you were such a gentleman little gilbert." she teased, her tone light despite the pain in her side. "as much as i'd like to say no...i could probably do with a hand." lexi admitted, grateful for his support.

steadying her frame, eyes focusing closely to observe her and the evidence of pain on her face. "at the very least, let me clean you up -- i know you'll heal but it doesn't mean it won't hurt for a hot second before then." he added, exhaling a sigh as he reached for the first aid kit.

[ hiding ] sender finds out that receiver has hidden an injury from them ft. @hunterled

he was taken back by such a remark, to choose to be the bait of a vampire's affections, he did not relate -- or did he? reverting such memories of anna from his mind, he chose to be hypocritical this once. "and why would you choose to do that, exactly?" he asked, brows perked up in amusement.

as jeremy spoke, a frown then settled on her brow. it hurt a little, that he didn't believe her. she knew that he struggled with self loathing when they had originally gotten to know one another, but she hadn't expected that to still be the case. anna had been hoping that he'd been able to see himself for what he really was. or at the very least, that someone would be able to make him see that. teeth caught her bottom lip, chewing on the flesh for a moment as her gaze then moved to the ground. "i don't wanna' argue with you, jer.. but i really did come looking for you. you may not believe it but.. i did." eyes softened as he continued to speak, a softened smile then stretching over plump lips. chocolate hues were glassy as she peered up at him. the boy, turned man, whom at first meeting had been part of her plan, but who eventually managed to steal her heart. he still held a piece of it, he likely always would. and, seeing him again, hearing him say that he still thought of her, it made her stomach flutter. jeremy then took her into his arms, and anna clung onto him, burying her face in his chest. she took in his familiar scent, squeezing her eyes shut tight as her grasp on his form tightened. she'd missed him, that much was obvious in the way she held him. "me too, jer.." she mumbled softly. but, beacon hills wasn't her home.. he was.

he wanted to believe her, to believe he was worth returning for. in truth, he was always doubting himself, consumed by own self hatred and this left him rather pessimistic and torn between allowing happiness, or letting his own doubt win. anna was part of that. since her passing, he has felt blinded, lost in a world of those who appear to find the one. jeremy never found anyone lese. he was always considering who could make him happy, comparing them to anna and being left blind sided and confused. this meant he often ended up alone, or as the second choice. this moment concluded such, he struggled to believe the person he most wholeheartedly trusted. "it's not that i don't believe you, it just seems -- too good to be true. you of all people should get that? our lives have never been smooth running, something always ruins our happiness." he exhaled, shaking his head to himself as he let his palm rub across his face. he held her closely, selfishly taking a moment longer before letting go. "enough doom and gloom , i am happy you are here , but with so many returning from the dead, the reason why seems troubling."

[ pressure ] sender puts pressure on receiver's wound @hunterled

[INJURY]: after having been badly wounded themselves, the sender tries to reassure the frantic receiver by cupping their face and comforting them. // @hunterled

anna's gaze was firmly focused on his and she could damn near see the cogs turning behind his eyes, the way he was beginning to piece together the timeline as he spoke. teeth capture her bottom lip, nose wrinkling as she gnawed on the flesh. inhaling deeply, anna then slowly shook her head. "there's no use asking questions you already know the answer to, jer.." the vampire spoke, brows drawing together. "as soon as i realised i was back, i headed straight for mystic falls, to find you. but.. when i got there.. there was no mystic falls left." she sighed, gaze falling to the ground. "i managed to find out that people had been relocated here and.. i've been here for about a week. i- i wasn't sure how to approach you. wasn't sure if i should. didn't want to.. complicate anything for you." anna elicited a soft chuckle, realising how ridiculous she must sound.

for a moment, jeremy remained silent, contemplating his words before he let them fall through. he was concerned, perhaps he had missed her more than was reciprocated. he had been delirious, to assume that she had waited all this time. she perhaps, had moved on, and yet jeremy remained somewhat the same, lost without a sense of identity or purpose. "i , for some reason , struggle to believe that." he wanted to believe she wanted to see him first, but it was a large ask. "yeah , it seems like everything else, mystic falls fell to tatters." he shrugged, weakly smiling in her direction. he understood her concerns. after such a time, it was difficult to reconvene, in fear or rejection or missed time, and the divide it may have caused. "i understand, after all this time, it makes things complicated, i know that even after all this time, i still thought of you every day." he stopped, exhaling slightly. "i am just glad you are home." his gaze met with hers, before stepping forward and taking her into his arms.

the feeling of jeremy forcing his hand away only angered kol more. then, as he questioned what his problem was, then confirmed that he was talking about HIS lexi, he took another threatening step back toward the boy. "stay away from her." he spoke through his teeth. "she's.. mine." possession was evident in his every word, his anger growing more intense by the moment.

" the only person you are convincing is yourself." he immediately was taken back, hearing the males possessive nature was both alarming and off putting. he knew lexi was an independent woman, immensely fierce but compassionate nonetheless. kol was the opposite, not something to be admired or influenced by. "word of advice, possessive isn't sweet, and if lexi is who i think she is , she won't admire it."

anna can barely tear her gaze from his. it felt so good to see him. it had been so long since the both of them had been in the land of the living together. she wanted to reach out, to feel the warmth of his touch, but she was hesitant, not knowing what had become of the man she once loved. when he spoke her name, she felt her stomach flutter, a slight, watery eyed, smile toying at the corners of her lips. she nodded her head quickly, silently. confirming that he wasn't seeing things, that she really was there. "don't ask me how, or why, or what the hell is going on.. 'cause i have no idea."

he was lost for words, the presence of his eternal love had taken him back. though, with such a reunion presented difficult memories. for the longest time, jeremy had blamed himself for her death. he had longed to see her again. for the time he had been able to see those on the other side, and their time together, it had felt like a blessing, yet their second goodbye made it almost too hard to bare. he felt that now she was here, it would be short lived, like every other interaction they had. he did not wish to hold on, but yet, his instincts were to hold her close and not let go. he was fighting with every fibre of his being to not do so. "i , many people have come back from the dead, you're assumingly one of them, though -- that was months ago." he stopped, eyes following her. " how long have you been back?" he assumed he would not like the answer to such a question.

"you think i care what my family thinks? for centuries, they barely cared that i EXISTED." kol scoffs, arching a brow as he takes another slow step toward the male, a hand then raising to wrap around the side of his neck, fingertips pressing into the back of his neck. "i can be seen with whomever i please." he spoke lowly. and then, just like that, the sexual tension disappeared. "lexi?" he asked, the word spoken through gritted teeth. "lexi.. branson..?" kol's grasp on jeremy's neck tightened, nails now digging into the back of his neck as his emerald hues blazed with rage.

the atmosphere changed, almost as quickly as the flick of a switch. he no longer felt the same sexual tension int he air, instead, the air was laced with an evident distaste from the other. eyes narrow, a wince and a hiss leaving his lips, eyes following the original closely. "get your hand off me." he reached his hand behind, clasping the others hand and throwing it away from him. "what's your problem?" he asked, noting the mention of the other caused the other great misappreciation. "yes , lexi branson , and what?"