Home Was With You.

Jeremy’s return to Mystic Falls was at least pretty permanent. For now, it seemed. He’d left for a multitude of reasons which all kind of got muddled together but he was doing well for himself. The Hunter’s Mark he had was only a curse if he let it be one and it was a gift. He used all his skills taught to him by the Winchester’s and became the best possible hunter he could be far away from the people who meant the most to him. He couldn’t cost putting them in danger and he needed to save people who actually needed him. That and enrolling in some online classes had Jeremy pretty occupied. Seeing Leven like this had him silently judgemental. It’s kind of funny. Kind of adorable. But also abundantly ridiculous. He’d never seen her so carefree and he’d be happy for her if it was ‘real’ and not a drug-induced facade. He could spot a drug user. Being a previous one. Being one who was practically surrounded by people who used. He probably knows he’s going to get a handful of words thrown his way or maybe even those tiny fists of hers if he approached her but for now, he doesn’t really care. He wants to talk to her. He tapped her shoulder and pretended to cough. “Sup. I didn’t know you had those moves in you.” He joked. 

Leven had been allowed to spiral by the pure fact of everyone being too busy to notice. And she didn’t blame them. It wasn’t anyone’s job to check up on her or take care of her. No, that had always been her role. For whatever reason, though, she thought that once she was caught with supernatural drug enhancement that she’d be safer with the recreational crap. It had made her a lot of friends that night, most of which had left by now but that didn’t seem to put a damper on her mood. And normally, Jeremy would be exactly the thing she needed to sober up but even the sight of him couldn’t do it. When she turned she gasped, but in an excited way that caused her to throw her arms around him. “Jeremy, hey! When did you get back here? I’m so glad to see you!”

“Oh really? You told him where you live?” she sighed, so this was Leven, the same person who had completely made herself and where she lived invisible for years, telling random strangers where she lived? Of course Maddie guessed why, but she didn’t know if that was wise. Or safe. She was quickly starting to find that small built up of worry just expanding. She couldn’t help herself. She was a worrier, especially when it came to friends and the people she cared about. “Yeah and a best friend that will take you home.” she states, so Leven knew— whether she remembered or not, that that was going to happen. She felt protective over her, having a secret intention to tell whoever Jacob was, to leave when it got to that moment. Once they reached the bar and there was a gap, Madeline managed to order the water she thought Leven needed.

“Yeah I-” Leven pulls a face as she thinks back. “I actually think I might have forgot that part. He can text me and ask for it though.” She decides with a shrug as she refocuses on the new scene surrounding her. Each person she brushed past or bumped into made her excitement rise and pulled her heart toward them. Leven wanted to know them. It made her wonder why she didn’t do things like this more often although that would become immediately apparent in a while. “N’aw. You’re gonna walk me home? That’s so nice.” She pouts and opts to wrap an arm around the others shoulders and squeeze her tightly. “Love you. Seriously.” And after her admission she stares up blankly at the flashing lights, enjoying the way it created images in her head. 

She wanted to say where at her apparent new friends, no one else was around or in proximity anyway, but she practically answered her thoughts for her. Madeline figured he wouldn’t be back. It didn’t take that long to get water. But even the mention of water had her brows furrowing, a small wash of concern filling her features. Was he supposedly getting her water because she was too drunk? Or had she only strictly been drinking water? “We can find him, or we can just get you a bottle of water ourselves.” she wasn’t bothered either way, all she was figuring was that water sounded like a good idea. Her eyes also widened, her smile weakening at what else Leven was talking about. Not really expecting her to be loudly speaking of something that was not for public knowledge. “Yeah, sure.” she nods, hoping to put an end with how final she spoke, of that conversation. “Come on.” she looped her arm with Leven’s, having all intentions of walking towards the bar and away from the dance floor.

As quickly as she was meeting people, she tended to forget them but when they were with her she felt an esteemed connection. A closeness she had yet to feel with anyone before even her brother who she only thought happy things of now. For whatever reason she remembered Jacob at length and had registered that he was important. “Oh, no. That’s okay. He’s supposed to meet me at my place later anyway.” And odds were that he’d show up despite the fact he was no where to be seen at least by them. “Ourselves, yes. Let’s.” The idea of a contraction as it’s own sentence always amused her, enough for her to laugh to herself about it for a moment or two. Once Maddie looped her arm with hers, she leans into her not because she needs the balance per say, but because she prefers the closeness. “You’re a good friend. My best friend, you know?” 

She felt her body become stiff as she found herself now in Leven’s hold, with her actually hugging her. The brief moment of awkwardness? Was purely because she was taken aback. Her mind instantly latched onto the thought of her being drunk– she had to be, right? Considering the place they were in and how happy compared to normal she was. Which then made her question how much she had drunk, but to her knowledge (and a quick look that wasn’t observant enough) she didn’t have a drink on her. Once she was able to, she keenly took in her features, trying to see if anything did look different. “I’m fine.” she chuckles, smiling. “See you’re having fun.” which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, boy Maddie knew she needed to, but what had changed to make her?

The only thing she’d really been drinking all night was water, no matter how much of it she drank she still had such a dry mouth. And her jaw felt almost unhinged from how often she had to bite down to adjust it which probably made her look crazy but she took it as an opportunity to smile as much as she could. People always did say she should smile more so this was taking their advice. No complaints warranted, she had decided. “So much! I made some new friends who said there’s some private parties later in the week. I just..lost him. My new friend. Jacob. He went to get me some water but that was like..hoo 15 minutes ago. I hope he’s okay. I should be checking if he’s lost, shouldn’t I?” Leven furrows a brow and squints at the bar as he vision blurs until it focuses again. “Geez making hunting knives is hard work, you know? There’s some old people around here that were probably around when the stupid language was spoken. Although I’m excited by the idea of hand etching those symbols into a blade. Sounds like fun.” 

Seeing Leven from afar, she did a double take. No wait, a triple take. Not only was what she was witnessing so.. unusual? She stood out like a sore thumb. As the crowds on the dance floor died down, Madeline took it upon herself to go up to her. A small, yet confused smile appeared on her features. “Are you okay?” she shouted loud enough for the other to hear, what with the music blasting from the speakers. Of course Leven looked more than okay, but she couldn’t help herself when it came to asking. 

If she were in her right mind she would have appreciaited the distance she had from everyone else and it maybe even would have made sense for her to go out when there were few people in the heart of it all but she was someone in the far left of her mind anyway. Despite her usual impulses that kept her from intimacy, she movements stopped at the familiar voice and moved to excitedly wrap her arms around her in a snug hug. Her skin tingles at the feeling of someone near her and her eyes are noticeably more dilated than they usually are. Not to mention the usual icy blue shade had somehow darkened. For the pure enjoyment of the feeling, she remains very close even when answering her. “Maddie!” She squeals despite the volume being hardly necessary given how close they were. “I’m so glad to see you I could kiss you. Are you okay?”

“You’re crushing on me?” he asked innocently, a bashful smile appearing on his lips. Despite the attention that he did get from others, he was always surprised when people liked hm. Mainly because he’s never sure if it’s due to his face, or his last name. He felt like it usually had nothing to do with his personality because he was kind of boring. “You know the more you talk, the more I want to hear you talk.”

“What?” She asks as if the question came out of left field and wasn’t directly implied by her last statement. It was only proof that she really was as naive they come when speaking romantically with anyone. “Ah. Aha. You know? I’m going to stop. It’s probably best.” In general as well as talking so much. She was certain this was the first time in her life that someone asked her to speak more. 

Sighing when his hand was smacked away, his eyes remaining on her even when she turned away from him. All he could think in that moment was the pain he was going to cause her one day and how sorry he was for it but he also knew he couldn’t tell her. She’d hold on any way she could to anyone she had left, just as he does, and he wasn’t going to give her the chance to make risky moves on his behalf. She also had no idea how true her last comment was. He had wasted so much time, even before the people in his life began dropping, before he became the drunk he was now. He wasted it the second he thought being a hunter was what it was all about. “Well I’m sorry to break it to ya, but you already are.” At least, when it came to him feeling responsible for her. “Nothin’ you say is gonna change the fact that ima look out for you. Nothin’ you do either.” That was more clear after her little stunt that she pulled with Maddie. The times she healed him against his wishes. Or even the accidental hallucinogen he had just sipped on that still had him all twisted up. “And you’re right, it’s my choice how I waste my life and who I waste it with.” All less than eight years he had left. “So shut up and deal with the fact that I’m here. I’m not gonna disappear when I walk out the door.” At least until he really had no choice. “Get it through that stubborn ass head.” 

Sometimes yelling at him seemed almost as therapeutic as fucking him had. But as much as she wanted to fight him in what he was saying she couldn’t find it in herself. Both because everything he was saying was matter-a-fact in the way it was his own view and opinion and also because she was too tired at this point. The rare times she gets genuine rest were incidentally when she slept with someone but since she was so abruptly awoken that morning, she wasn’t exactly riding on a high. “Then I guess I can’t really stop you from leaving.” She shrugs and plops on the bottoms step of the stairs, leaning defeatedly on the rail. If he needed to be alone after all of what he witnessed then it wasn’t her place to keep him with her. And she wouldn’t make him feel guilty with her wanting him there despite how truly she did.

“Oh, well, I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think it’s actually sort of a really good thing,” he gave her a gentle smile. Being back in Mystic Falls was a little stressful. Mostly because everyone was so good-looking and nice and Theo as a hopeless romantic wanted to go on dates with all of them. He had a lot of love to give, but it felt like a lot of people didn’t accept it because he always came on a little strong with his feelings. “Or the losers just don’t have a pride complex.”

“’Course you do. The crushee always has the upper hand over the crusher.” Not that she was implying she had a full-on crush on him, hell she probably wouldn’t even recognize if she did let alone announce it. Still, she felt pretty at ease with the guy enough to have a playful conversation about it. “Your self deprecating stunt isn’t working. In fact, it’s somehow making you even more likeable.” She admits pulling a face, 

For Leo

What ringtone my muse has set for yours:  Cheetah Sisters by the Cheetah Girls

How quickly my muse responds to your texts: Instantly because she constantly checks her phone and also worries about Leo 24/7

How often our muses text: I’d say casually? They don’t chat just when he needs help anymore but we all know she aint got the best social skills aka doesn’t understand texting etiquette

How often our muses call: if she gets annoyed w/ his shortness in his texts probably

Does my muse purposefully miss calls from yours: Never

Last text sent from my muse to yours:

[text sent]: they have giant jenga at 5 below 👀👀

What contact photo my muse has set for yours: (clearly a masterful target haul??)

For Shawn

What ringtone my muse has set for yours:  Painkiller by Ruel 

How quickly my muse responds to your texts: Depends on how annoyed she is with him at the time of text.

How often our muses text: Fairly regularly but rarely long conversations

How often our muses call: Never. If she has something to say she won’t, if he does then he’ll show up. 

Does my muse purposefully miss calls from yours: 100% yes 

Last text sent from my muse to yours:

[text sent]: but what if i don’t want to see you anymore[text sent]: what then?

What contact photo my muse has set for yours: (hehe sleepy bby)