Lori

“The blankets are very much appreciated and I love it.” Nicola grinned at her from her slightly-sprawled out position in her seat, giving her a thumbs up to show her approval. “I am honoured to be one of your random guests, then!” Shuffling around, she managed to sit up properly, tucking her legs under her and wrapping a blanket around her shoulders for ultimate comfort. “He’ll be shouting at the characters and throwing things at the tv in no time, I bet. He’s a softie deep down somewhere, we just gotta drag it out of him kicking and screaming.” She just wanted him to lighten up a bit, what with his sister coming back from the dead and his weirdly down attituded the last few days… Though she felt a small tug in her chest as she thought about it. “Do I look intimidating enough for that? Because I’m flattered that you think I can be but no. No speeches here, just a simple warning-” Nicola gave Lori a pointed look , trying to be serious. “I have wolfsbane in my shop.” The smile she cracked gave away that she was only kidding.

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“You should see him when he plays video games, I swear he actually pouts when I beat him.” She laughed, grabbing some of the snacks, making a start on them just as the first episode started playing. Even though she was so focused on herself, Lori hadn’t missed the fact that Theo seemed to be down. She tried to show him that regardless of everything else, she was still there for him. Maybe it was easier for her, not having known Theo at his worse, but he was her friend. Practically her brother, with the two of them sharing the big house together. She snorted as she was asked if she looked intimidating. “I dunno, you could be a femme fatale. But hold off on the wolfsbane, I don’t even know if it’d affect me like it used to.” She shrugged, shaking her head. “So does Peyton do this with your dates? Suss them out?”

“Oh thank god, we’re in this together.” Nicola followed after her, gently setting the bag down so as not to knock the cans about and fizz them up. She grinned at the sight of the blankets, immediately feeling welcomed. “This is the cutest set up ever, oh my god.” She happily flopped down onto the seat, manners be damned - if Lori was gonna get to know her, she was going to get all of her, ridiculous habits included. She perked up at the idea of forcing Theo to sit through the show. “You are so right. He cannot escape this, he has no choice.”

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She blushed, climbing onto the couch as well beside her, curling up in her usual spot and tugging a blanket over her legs. “I don’t normally have visitors unless it’s Peyton, or Scott’s insisting on coming over with groceries, so I thought I’d make the most of it.” She admitted. She’d got herself into a funk that she needed to try and shake. Hearing the torture they were going to put Theo through, she laughed. “I bet he’ll end up liking it even more than us. There’s gotta be a soft spot in him somewhere.” She joked, pulling out her phone to text him, telling him Nicola was over, and to get home earlier if he could because of it. “So this isn’t gonna be some kind of intervention right? I’m not gonna get the ‘you hurt my friend and i’ll mangle you’ speech?”

[ Closed Starter for Lori @lorirohr ]

“Alright! I asked Peyton because I was clueless but I got Oreos and pink lemonade cans and I am ready.” Nicola lifted the bag in her hand while stood on the doorstep of Lori’s home, grinning ear to ear. She already knew she was gonna love her, Peyton wasn’t normally bad at picking like she was and Scott and Lydia spoke highly of her. She felt a little bad that they hadn’t spoken properly since the whole ritual thing on the full moon, considering Nicola was involved. “I am ready for a Gilmore Girls marathon. I’ve never seen it but I’ve been told that’s sacrilege so you get the honour of seeing my ridiculous reactions first hand.”

Lori had been supposed to work a double shift at the diner, but when someone came to relieve her after her first shift, she made the decision to finally call Nicola and arrange to hangout, selecting the first thing she could find on Netflix that was girly and light-hearted enough that maybe she could forget about her problems for a while. And really, she’d heard all about Scott bonding with Peyton, it was only fair she returned the favour with Peyton’s best friend. “Honestly? I’ve seen bits over the years, but I don’t know if I’ve ever sat down through an entire episode, so consider both of us going into this blind.” She smiled, motioning over to the couch, a few blankets thrown down for good measure. “Theo should be home in a few hours, and we are definitely making him join us for this.”

“You never met my mom?” he questioned as a response, smiling brightly. Although he did laugh when she defended hers and Theo’s honor. “Promises, promises,” he joked. Finishing the set up, Scott offered Lori a controller and he let himself fall on her couch. 

“Yea,” he agreed at her own review of her abilities, offering a teasing smile. “It’s going to be ok though, I’m not giving up,” he stated casually, as if it hadn’t even been needed to be put into words. “Neither is Peyton,” he said in a lighter tone, wiggling his eyebrows. “She’ll help out. I’m going to see the Sheriff too, get her cleared up,” Scott confirmed. 

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She smiled at the mention of Peyton, but shook her head. “It’s more important for us to help Peyton with things than worry about me. She’s got so much to learn, and I don’t have all the information on hellhounds. She wouldn’t have known at all if they didn’t give me the permission to tell her. They said it wasn’t the way things were normally done but... I couldn’t have Peyton freaking out that she’d killed someone. Not when I know she’d never be capable of something like that.” She focused on the screen, rather than looking at Scott. “If I’m never myself again, then... that’s just the way things go.”

There was a sorrow that seemed to spread across his chest as Lori spoke, as if their bond asked for some of his strength in return. It was his duty, after all, as her Alpha to help shoulder her burdens and lend him some of his strength. Scott smiled brightly. “I’m not a guest, silly, we’re pack. You’re family.” He moved in and left the bags in the living room. He moved to help Lori pick up and began washing the dishes. “Very different bonds.”

He chuckled. “Sure, if you both want your booties whooped on Jump Force, I’m happy to oblige,” Scott joked. “Glad you both are, I’m watching you,” he teased, turning to narrow his gaze at her. “How have you been feeling?” he dared asked, wondering if Lori would open up to him. “I know I’ve been taking longer than expected, but… bare with me?” he asked as he finished doing her dishes and leaving them to air dry and moved to hook up the Xbox.

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“That doesn’t mean you should be cleaning my messes up for me.” She frowned, stepping aside as he started to wash the dishes. She appreciated everything Scott was trying to do, but she couldn’t help but feel... hopeless. She had so little left, no pack, no brother, no Alpha... and her one connection to them all was gone. She appreciated being in the McCall pack, really she did... But at the same time, she wished Scott would stop trying for her. Though, she suspected, that was the very reason he didn’t stop trying for her.

“Oh please, we could whoop your butt any day.” She chuckled, heading back as he started setting things up. She shrugged, not really knowing how to answer how she was. “I’m pretty bad at hiding my chemosignals, so you can probably tell.” She laughed, sadly, looking down. “Scott, don’t worry. There’s demons and there’s people being murdered. You have bigger things to worry about.”

When Lori opened the door, Scott’s smile weakened ever so slightly, noting the scent coming off of her. “Let me help you out,” Scott answered. “Peyton came by the house, she’s freaking awesome,” he began rambling, trying to assess the situation and try to decipher his Beta’s feelings. “Are you finally getting annoyed by my visits?” he asked just as suddenly, without taking a breather after informing Lori about his hang out with Lori’s friend. Still he worried. They had been coming up short on finding out exactly what was happening to those involved in the ritual that had brought forth Lilith and her demons into Beacon Hills, opening a rift from Hell. When Derek and him thought they had been onto something, the murders happened and all attention pointed at those being accused. 

“How’s Theo?” he asked after a moment, looking away.

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“I told you she was awesome, I knew you’d like her.” She smiled a little, shaking her head. “No, you’re a guest, and I’m being a slob, you aren’t helping out.” She motioned to where the TV was so that Scott could set things up, while she grabbed the laundry and dishes that were spread out around the room - Satomi had always seen dishwashers as lazy, so for now she’d just throw the dishes in the sink with some water and deal with them later. She was barely at adulting stage, but she had a pretty good grasp of household chores at least.

“I’m never annoyed at seeing you, honest. And Theo’s good, he’s out at the moment, otherwise I’d get him to play with us as well.” She shrugged, finally returning to the lounge, pushing her hair back away from her face. “You don’t have to come by so much though, if you’ve got other people. I have Theo here most of the time, I’m following the buddy system.” She shrugged. She just... still wasn’t used to being on the other side of it.

“Oh is it now? Guess I’ll just have to get rid of it.” He shrugged, “Too bad, it is a comfy couch, I’ll give you that.” 

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“Which is why sitting on it is way more fun than going to work and being around people.” She shrugged, nuzzling in closer. She used to curl up with Brett like this, and remembering that sent a pang of sadness through her. “You know it’s really difficult trying to sound optimistic when everything around you is a mess. I don’t know how Scott does it.”

“You have…2 hours and 32 minutes.” He chuckled, turning on some movie as he stared at the screen. “How have you been? Besides the whole suddenly human thing, you can’t hide away inside forever you know.” 

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“I’ll set my alarm just so I don’t make you late.” She murmured, relaxing against him. Hearing his question though, she groaned, not really wanting to talk about it. “I dunno about that, this couch is really really comfy.”

“Exactly, 3 minutes and 41 seconds. A new record.” He grinned as he grabbed the remote from her hand and changed the channel. He threw an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. 

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“Well, I’ve gotta aim for something, might as well be improving my personal best.” She groaned, curling up into his side, letting him take control of the TV. “I called in sick from work today, so I get to bug you until your shift starts.” She smiled weakly, trying to seem upbeat, and not like she was avoiding the world.

After Lori called in sick at the diner, she curled up on the couch, switching the TV on and mindlessly flicking through the channels. Her mind wasn’t focused on watching anything, but the noise was better than silence. With the remote clutched in her hand, she found herself drifting back off to sleep, waking with a jolt when the remote clattered to the floor, and she sat up suddenly. Seeing Theo sitting there, she blinked. “How long was I out?” She muttered, rubbing her eyes.

Family Matters [Scott||Lori]

@lorirohr​

Scott parked his motorcycle by the Ito home’s entrance, pulling his helmet from his head and putting it under his left arm. He ran his hand through his hair, almost skipping to the door. Knocking, he waited for Lori to open.

When she did, Scott greeted her with a bright smile. “Hey, hey,” he greeted, showing a shopping bag he had brought along with him. “You like Xbox, right?” he questioned. 

Admittedly, since the ball, Lori had been shutting herself away from everyone aside from Peyton and Theo, the latter only because he lived at her place and she saw him come and go. The reality of her situation, and the fact that it wasn’t getting any better was sinking in, and honestly, she felt hopeless about how to deal with it. The dullness of her senses threw her off every time she left the house, so she’d taken to just... not leaving it, and staying in her brother’s room, trying to find comfort in his things, if she couldn’t take comfort in his scent.

Hearing the door, she forced a smile as she opened it. “I do, but I wasn’t expecting you, so the lounge is a mess. Just give me a few minutes to clean up?”

“ okay, i’ll do that then. but maybe not tonight, i think i just want to relax with you.” peyton could understand why lori didn’t want to say one thing or another. but not even she knew what she wanted to do yet. 

the brunette leans into the touch, as a soft sigh falls from her lips. “ i believe you, and i hope that’s true. that it can be proved i’m innocent.” the smile on her face turns into more of a sheepish one. but no better time than the present, no ? “ i was wondering.. how you’d feel about being my girlfriend ? officially ? i know it’s the worst time.. but i’ve been wanting to ask.”

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“I’m okay with us just relaxing tonight.” She smiled, kissing her, leaning in, listening to what she had to say. And hearing the words she asked, her face lit up, and she wrapped her arms around her tightly. “It probably is the worst time, but the answer is definitely a yes.” She chuckled, kissing her again. “I’ve been wanting to ask you the same thing. There just... never seemed to be the right time to bring it up.”

after so long without answers you’d think that peyton would be happier.. but this was never the way she had expected to find out. but above all else she’s happy to be finding it all out with lori. “ do you think i should ? merge with them i mean ? “ something that the brunette wasn’t sure about, the thought alone sounded rather terrifying. “ i know, i should have believed you when you told me i didn’t.. because you were right, thank you for believing in me. but i want to ask you something i wanted to before everything happened.. even more so now when i don’t know how long i’ll be a free woman for. or how much time i have now.. not when people believe i did it.”

“I think you need to talk to them, and figure out what’s best for you.” Lori frowned, stroking her hair. It was a big decision, she didn’t want to influence her either way. She shook her head, cupping her cheek. “The Sheriff’s son knows the local pack well, he knows about the supernatural, hell the hellhound they know? Is a sheriff’s deputy. He knows it all, he’s seen it all. You’re not going to run out of time, and you’ll always be a free woman.” She smiled at her. “But whatever you wanted to ask me, I’m willing to listen.”

peyton nods her head gently, giving a weak smile up at lori. “ oh.. that doesn’t sound too scary.” letting out a shaky breath at the new information, but it’s what she wanted. to find out what she is. “ how do i do that ? merge with them ? “ is what she questions. “ no it’s okay, i’ve wanted to know.. but it is a lot, can we just sit together ? “

Lori nodded, pulling Peyton towards the couch, curling up with her. She didn’t know where Theo was, but she figured he wouldn’t mind her hanging out there. “I don’t know... Maybe they can tell you? They said that me explaining things to you wasn’t the usual way of doing things, so... they’ll know better than me. They’ve probably done it plenty of times.” She smiled, reassuringly. “They told me you didn’t hurt anyone either. But I could have told you that, I wouldn’t think you’d be capable of doing something like that.”

peyton feels herself starting to calm down more through the initial panic of not knowing where she was, it almost like waking up from a bad dream. but lori being there brings a large sense of comfort despite the confusion.“ i’m so glad you’re here.” she has to admit, head shaking from side to side, like it would further help trying to wrap her head around this new information. what she had been wondering since the weirdness begin and now she had some.. answers. “ it felt a lot longer than that. instead of just a minute or so. i don’t.. even know what a hellhound is.. is that what i am then ? ”

Lori nodded, stroking the side of Peyton’s hand with her thumb, trying to soothe her. “A hellhound helps to guide souls into the afterlife... I don’t... know everything about them, but I know my pack knows one... there may be more in town, I don’t know.” She frowned. She didn’t want to overwhelm her. “You can merge with them, now that you’re aware that they’re there. So you can coexist, and you won’t blank out anymore.” She let go of her hands to cup her cheeks, kissing her softly. “We don’t have to talk about this tonight if it’s too much?”

“ friends ? “ callisto repeats like it’s a foreign concept, she has old friends. but not any newer friends, there’s a nod of her head to further confirm. “ i think that’d be just fine. and don’t mention it. is that what is said nowadays ? ” the wince at her hands being touched further shows that it’s not peyton and that’s she surprised by it. but there’s a smile.

a moment passes and some of the scratches from the hellhound’s encounter earlier heal, flames around her small frame doming like a light that had been shut off, then go out entirely. glowing orange eyes fade back to their natural hazel color. peyton blinks, glancing around confused and clearly unsure of what had happened. “ lo ? “

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As Peyton came back to her, Lori held her hands firmly, shushing her gently, holding her. “You’re okay... You’re at my place, you’re with me, it’s okay...” She murmured, kissing her head. “You blanked out for a minute there, so I could talk to the hellhound in you. That’s what it is.” She tried to speak reassuringly, never letting go of her. “Their name is Callisto, they’re not here to hurt you, Pey. They’re a part of you.”