I Choose... Me

send a symbol and i’ll give you a corresponding song for the prompt!

🎼 A song that reminds me of my muse’s vibes

🎶 A song that reminds me of my muse’s backstory

🎧 A song used for writing my muse

🥁 A battle song for my muse

🎭 A sad song for my muse

🎉 A happy song for my muse

📣 A song for when my muse is upset or angry

⚡ A song that my muse would listen to

🎆 A song my muse would sing or dance to

🎺 An instrumental song for my muse

✨ A theme song for my muse

🔊 A leitmotif for my muse

🌠 A song for our muses

🖤 A song for our muses’ ship

⟢ "I'm not the person you knew. I need you to understand that before we go any further."

⟢ "I did what I had to do to survive. You can judge me for it. I already have."

⟢ "There are things I've done that I can't tell you. Not because I don't trust you. Because I don't want you to look at me differently."

⟢ "I left because staying would've destroyed you. I know you don't see it that way."

⟢ "Don't make me into something noble. What I did wasn't noble. It was survival."

⟢ "You want to know what happened? Okay. But you don't get to take it back once you know."

⟢ "I've been running from that version of myself for five years. And here you are, dragging it back into the light."

⟢ "I was a different person then. I have to believe that. I have to."

⟢ "You think you know what I came from. You have no idea."

⟢ "I'm not asking for forgiveness. I stopped deserving that a long time ago."

⟢ "The things that kept me alive back then would horrify you. They still horrify me."

⟢ "I built something new. Something good. I need you to let me keep it."

⟢ "Don't say my old name. I buried that person. Let them stay buried."

⟢ "I've done things I'll never say out loud. You're going to have to decide if you can live with not knowing."

⟢ "I came back because I owe you the truth. Not because it'll make either of us feel better."

⟢ "That chapter is closed. I can't open it again without losing everything I've rebuilt."

⟢ "You think I wanted to become this? You think this was the plan?"

⟢ "Some things you live with. You don't move past them. You just learn to carry them differently."

⟢ "I was so young and so scared and I made choices I'll spend the rest of my life answering for."

⟢ "You were there. You know what it was like. Don't pretend you would've done differently."

⟢ "I'm not who I was. I'm working every day to make sure of it."

⟢ "There are people I hurt that I think about every single day. That doesn't fix it. I think about them anyway."

⟢ "I disappeared because I had to. I'm back because I couldn't stay away. Both of those things are true."

⟢ "I survived things I don't have language for yet. Give me time."

There was still always the possibility this woman was a danger. And she could tell Venera's concern at meeting the family wasn't all for show. The Mikaelsons were a formidable force indeed.

Venera's smile remained, though it had lost just a fraction of its effortless confidence. If she were being honest with herself, she had little interest in meeting the Mikaelsons. She had come here for one reason and one reason alone: Tatia.

A doppelgänger was valuable enough. An Original vampire who also happened to be a doppelgänger? That was something altogether extraordinary.

Still, she had committed herself to this little performance, and Venera was nothing if not dedicated to seeing a plan through. If playing the gracious guest meant exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands with the most infamous vampire family in history, then so be it.

She slipped her hand into Tatia's, her touch gentle, lingering just a heartbeat longer than propriety perhaps allowed. Her fingers closed with quiet confidence, soft, yet firm enough to make her intentions unmistakably clear.

"Well then," she said with an amused smile, "I suppose it cannot do any harm." A quiet laugh escaped her. "Besides, I must admit I am rather curious about them."

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Tell me... what about the witch sister? The long-lost one." There was genuine intrigue in her voice now. "Is she here as well, or is she merely another Mikaelson myth?"

As they began walking together, Venera glanced briefly around the ballroom before letting out an exaggerated, almost theatrical sigh.

"And still no sign of my date." She clicked her tongue playfully. "I do wonder where he has wandered off to. Perhaps he simply vanished into thin air."

The lie came as naturally as breathing.

In truth, she barely knew the vampire whose identity she had borrowed for the evening. He had never been anything more than a convenient name, a small piece on the board, useful only for getting her through the front door. Once inside, he had served his purpose.

And certainly her sister-in-law would have a better sense of the potential dangers this witch could present. She did not have the overconfidence of immortal creatures.

"What a shame," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure we can keep you entertained...."

Her eyes passed back toward Elijah. He had begun summoning the family already, as if he read her mind. Sometimes, she suspected he could.

But they had hurt her deeply, and she no longer had time for sentimentality, not if she wanted to protect her latest doppleganger.

"You are right to fear Klaus. He doesn't take it lightly when people cross him." She set the daggers down on a nearby table. "That is why I don't want you to deal with him directly, if we can avoid it. The less he knows about your involvement, the less he can hurt you. Me? I have no one left for him to hurt."

She hummed. "The daggers are complicated. I know people have attempted to make them in the past, but it requires an immense amount of powder. And, even if you do make it, without the white oak ash, they're little more than a blade." She did know Kol had attempted to make one to fell Klaus, but that was a pipe dream at this point.

“You have no one left for him to hurt but yourself…” Mercy said quietly. “What makes you think he won’t do exactly that?” Her gaze lingered on Tatia for a moment before drifting to the dagger resting on the table.

“You’re involved with them. Whether you like it or not, you’re part of that family’s history.” She paused. “But family clearly doesn’t mean all that much to Klaus. He has his own siblings daggered and stored away in boxes like they’re old furniture.” She let out a quiet breath. “I honestly don’t think he’ll be gentle with you. Anyone who stands in his way can get it.” Her expression grew more serious.

“And that’s exactly why the Watcher Council wants him gone. They just… don’t know how. Believe me when I say he did an unbelievable amount of damage in Beverly Hills.” Her eyes returned to Tatia. “Are you certain about this?” she asked. “Couldn’t we at least try talking to Elijah? Maybe convince him to rein Klaus in. Not permanently, obviously, but at least get him under control.”

Even as the words left her mouth, she gave a small, doubtful smile.

“...Yeah. I know. Wishful thinking.” She rubbed the back of her neck before continuing.

“Or we do what you suggested,” she said. “Though I’m still not entirely convinced I’m capable of daggering Elijah. I do believe you when you say he probably won’t rip me apart the second he sees me…” she admitted. “But surely he’s going to react if a Slayer, of all people, walks up to him carrying a dagger.” Her brows furrowed thoughtfully.

“I’m pretty sure some vampires can already sense what I am. At least, that’s always been my impression. And if ordinary vampires are capable of that…” She shrugged.

“...Then surely an Original would be.” She fell quiet for a moment before another thought occurred to her. “What about his other brothers?” she asked. “Is there one that’s… reasonable?” She tilted her head slightly. “Could we wake one of them instead and have him talk some sense into Klaus? Is that even a possibility?”

The idea hung in the air for a second before Mercy sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Okay…” she muttered. “I think I need something a little stronger for this conversation.”

A beat.

“As in… wine.”

Another beat.

“I definitely need wine.”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Mercy was a knowledgeable and skilled young lady, but there was much about this that she did not understand. "Elijah is not known for reigning Klaus in. Even when they were on better terms, Klaus either did not listen to him, or Elijah was his enabler. I do not trust him and you would do well not to let his noble mask fool you."

Tatia allowed a small smile. "I know you are more than capable of doing your part. You just need to let yourself do it."

😍 You're such a little freak (affectionate)

🕯️ You have a very comforting energy

🦴 You intimidate me

😳 Looking at you lustfully respectfully

🐇 I'll hunt you for sport (maybe I'm flirting)

💘 We match eachother's freak too well

💞 I'd let you do whatever you want to me

😘 Covering your face with kisses

💌 I'm too shy to message you first but you seem cool

🌸 I have a secret crush on you

🪱 Would you still love me, if i was a worm? :(

👠 Step on mee

🚬 I'm kidnapping you

🧸I volunteer to be your plushie

🐕 Petting you cause you're a good girl/boy

🎨 What color underwear are you wearing?

📷 Touching myself to your pictures

🫀 I want to fight you (sexual reasons)

🥊I want to fight you (you're annoying)

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 We should be roommates🏳️‍🌈

👁️ I'm outside your house

🦷 Biting you biting you biting you biting you-

🥃 Taking you to the gay bar

🤐 Touch grass

🌌 Let's go stargazing

🐟 Taking you on an aquarium date

She sighed. "It is not as easy as you would think. I am as strong as they are, but not stronger. And they work very well as a team. Going up against even one of them on my own would never have been a wise choice. And even in the early years, when confusion would've been on my side..... I was too afraid, too wrapped up in my own grief." She shook her head. "I try not to dwell on hypotheticals. You gain a lot of them over the course of a few centuries."

She shrugged. "I don't believe it was on purpose, but that doesn't change what happened. The man I loved killed me, and he spent the next millennia hunting down women that looked just like me for his own brother's gain. Katherine is the most famous case, and Elena is the most recent. But there were many more in between. Many that I have kept safe, others that I have failed." It was a fight she took on of her own accord, but it was hardly an easy one.

She nodded and went into another room. After a few moments she returned with a carved wooden box. Inside was a silver dagger and a small jar of a silvery powder. "The dagger, and the white oak ash that makes it work. Put it in the heart of any Original, including myself, and we'll be as good as dead so long as it remains there."

She nodded as Mercy laid out her idea. "That would be wise. You are right to think we'd only get one shot. If we fail, death would be a mercy.... No pun intended."

Mercy’s eyes lingered on the dagger the moment Tatia revealed it, the silver catching the firelight in a way that almost made it look sacred. Dangerous too. Ancient. Like something that had waited centuries for the right hands to pick it up again. For a moment, she simply stared at it in silence before finally exhaling softly.

“God…” she murmured. “So this is the thing everyone has been tearing each other apart over.” Her gaze shifted to the ash afterward, curiosity flickering there despite the heaviness of the conversation. “And that tiny little jar is somehow what makes immortals take a nap for eternity,” she added quietly, almost in disbelief. But then her attention returned to Tatia, and the softness in her expression deepened just slightly. “I understand your motives,” she said after a moment, more sincere now. “Honestly… I do.”

“You loved them once,” she continued carefully. “Or at least the versions of them that existed before all of this happened. And somehow, despite everything, you still ended up carrying the burden of cleaning up the mess they left behind. That can’t exactly be easy.” Mercy leaned back slightly, her fingers loosely intertwining as her thoughts drifted elsewhere now, toward consequences.

“My biggest concern honestly isn’t even Elijah,” she admitted. “It’s Klaus. Because I can absolutely picture him retaliating by going after the people we care about. And that…” she exhaled softly, shaking her head. “That’s the part I don’t love. My family has no idea what I actually do at night,” she confessed quietly. “To them, I’m just… Mercy. Moody daughter. Occasional disappointment. Nothing supernatural, nothing dangerous.” Her lips twitched faintly. “And I’d really like to keep it that way.”

“Honestly, when it comes to the dagger situation…” she began slowly, “part of me keeps wondering if there’s really no way to just… make more. I mean, if the witch working with the Five managed to create them once, then theoretically it should be possible again, right? I don’t know. Witchcraft isn’t exactly my field. Half the time magical explanations sound like someone throwing herbs into a bowl and threatening the moon. But the Council definitely had the same idea,” she added. “Making more daggers has been on their mind for a while now. They just… haven’t gotten very far.” Her expression darkened slightly after that. “Of course, even if we did have more daggers, that still doesn’t really fix the Klaus issue,” she admitted. “Because yes, keeping Elijah as leverage is smart. I agree with that. But I’m not entirely convinced it stops Klaus from either going on a complete killing spree anyway… or deciding to wake up the rest of his siblings and declare all-out war.” She leaned forward slightly again, more thoughtful now.

“Honestly?” she said quieter. “If we really wanted leverage… the ideal situation would probably be having all the daggered siblings. Keep them stored somewhere secure, somewhere Klaus can’t get to them. Because that would actually force him into a corner. Problem is… that would require us to go full tomb-raiding mode, and I’m not entirely sure I have the guts for that.” Her voice softened slightly after that as another thought crossed her mind. “And…” she hesitated briefly, glancing at Tatia. “I don’t even know if that’s something you’d want.”

Because Klaus and Elijah were one thing. But the others? Mercy didn’t know where Tatia stood when it came to them.

“But for now, I think studying Elijah’s habits is probably the smartest move,” she said. “Watching him. Learning patterns. Waiting for the right opening.” Her lips pressed together thoughtfully. “Although I’m not exactly sure how we’re supposed to shadow a thousand-year-old Original vampire without him noticing,” she admitted. “I highly doubt Elijah is oblivious enough to just… ignore being followed.” Her gaze lifted back to Tatia’s then, gentler now. “And I’m assuming the last thing you want is for him to catch even a glimpse of you.”

But they had hurt her deeply, and she no longer had time for sentimentality, not if she wanted to protect her latest doppleganger.

"You are right to fear Klaus. He doesn't take it lightly when people cross him." She set the daggers down on a nearby table. "That is why I don't want you to deal with him directly, if we can avoid it. The less he knows about your involvement, the less he can hurt you. Me? I have no one left for him to hurt."

She hummed. "The daggers are complicated. I know people have attempted to make them in the past, but it requires an immense amount of powder. And, even if you do make it, without the white oak ash, they're little more than a blade." She did know Kol had attempted to make one to fell Klaus, but that was a pipe dream at this point.

The very fact that her line had continued meant he had survived, even if she hadn't gotten to witness as much of it as she would like.

She relaxed a bit at the invitation to simply go and rest. She was feeling tired, physically and emotionally. She felt as if she could sleep for a week.

"Rest would be nice," she murmured, gaze also going to the staircase. She hadn't even considered the need for a wardrobe, and there was probably much else to learn about this world, about her new life.

Perhaps things would make more sense once she'd gotten some sleep.

“I am so sorry to hear that. I know you may doubt me, but believe me when I say that this family of vampires has ruined the lives of many, and with that, created many vampires like myself who are beyond tired of them. However, as you know firsthand, they are ruthless. Dangerous.” Medina paused briefly before continuing.

“Many have tried to take them down over the years, and none have succeeded. Therefore, I feel like going up against them directly may be too ambitious a task. However, keeping you safe is now my main priority.” Her expression softened slightly.

“I know it is far from ideal, but I assure you, no harm will come to you as long as I remain one step ahead of them. No more doppelgängers being hunted down just to create Klaus’ hybrids.” And she meant every word of it.

“But for now… please, rest.” Medina stood from her seat, glancing toward the staircase.

“The bedroom you were in before is, for the time being, yours. And you may stay here for as long as you desire.” A small pause followed before she added more gently, “If there is anything you need or want, please let me know. Consider my home your home as well… at least for now.”

But it was the world she lived in now. She was going to have to get used to it.

At least this time, she had someone to protect her. Or at least, try to.

She nodded and thanked her softly. There was probably more she could say, more she should say, but she was so tired and overwhelmed that nothing came to mind. She simply returned to her room and collapsed on the bed without even getting undressed.

"Klaus will do as Klaus does, though I would hope he has enough affection for me - if not for his brother - that he would remain somewhat reasonable." And if he didn't.... she would handle that herself.

She hummed in agreement. Fictitious dates aside, she wanted to keep chatting with this woman. So, she would.

Venera’s smile lingered against the rim of her champagne flute, though at the mention of meeting the Mikaelsons properly, there was the faintest flicker of hesitation in her expression. Truthfully, she was not entirely certain this was wise.

There was something almost absurdly scandalous about openly flirting with Tatia only to then be introduced to the woman’s husband as though she were some charming new acquaintance. Elijah Mikaelson, no less. A noble vampire with enough power and restraint to make him infinitely more dangerous than the loud, impulsive brutality of Klaus.

And yet... Venera refused to be intimidated.

Not by vampires.

Not by legends.

Not even by the Mikaelsons themselves.

“Well,” she mused smoothly, “as long as my heart does not get torn out, or anything equally tragic that might stain this gown, I suppose a meeting could do.” Her gaze lingered on Tatia deliberately after the remark, teasing wrapped carefully around genuine intrigue.

“Besides,” she added more quietly, stepping just a touch closer, “it would be terribly rude of me to deny the lovely hostess a request.” A faint smile tugged at her lips. “Especially when she has been so wonderfully distracting all evening.” Venera swirled the champagne lightly in her glass before continuing.

“And if your husband is even half as captivating as you are, then perhaps I should consider it an honor... Though I suspect you remain the true danger in this family.” The last words came soft as silk, her eyes holding Tatia’s for perhaps a second too long.

There was still always the possibility this woman was a danger. And she could tell Venera's concern at meeting the family wasn't all for show. The Mikaelsons were a formidable force indeed.

Send one or more questions for my muse to answer!

What does it feel like to get shot?

Have you ever killed someone? What was it like?

Have you ever witnessed a crime?

Have you ever committed a crime?

What’s your favourite boardgame?

What is your usual first thought in the morning?

Do you like spinach?

What is the most boring part about your job?

Do you have any guilty pleasures?

Ice lolly or ice cream?

What is your earliest memory?

Do you have any nightly rituals?

What did the last text message you received say?