it was a perfect day

“Damn, Aiden’s stepping into my personality territory? I have to step up my game I guess.” Ethan said jokingly. “You were right the first guess though.” He smiled. He let her take the drink and just listened as she spoke. His smile turned into a sympathetic frown and he gave a small nod. “That’s… rough. From the way you talk, it was a pretty recent loss?” He asked quietly. There wasn’t any harm in having actual conversations in this town, even if his Pack would probably disagree. Elena had been nothing but sweet to him. She was owed the same courtesy.

“I’m impressed you’ve managed to come to something like this at all then. I don’t know if I could have done it.” He admitted. “So, you’re a Gilbert? They’re the only family in town that not many people are openly talking about at this thing.” Made sense why now.

“Do I get a prize every time I pick the right twin? Maybe a punch on a punch card?” she joked, trying to keep the conversation light. But that proved to be impossible as the conversation turned to her parents. “Four months now. I’m trying to move forward, but it seems to be impossible when things like this keep popping up,” she explained, shaking her head. “My mom was on the historical society. She lived for this stuff. My dad too. They would participate in everything, drag me and my brother along ever since we were babies. I couldn’t image missing out on it.” It was true. Elena couldn’t imagine not going, even if she wished she had stayed home. “Yes. I’m a Gilbert. Lucky you. They seem to have endless things to say about my parents to me, but that is just the way people seem to think they need to act.”

It had been impossible to miss the flyers and announcements everywhere, but Dean had spent approximately two seconds reading one before dismissing it. A pageant? A Founder’s Ball? An auction and a parade? All of it added up to a resounding no thanks from Dean Winchester, because it all sounds like boring shit for snooty rich people.

Besides, even if he had wanted to go to the ball, or any of the parties, his fed suit wouldn’t have cut it. He would have needed to rent a proper tux, and the last time he’d done that was… well, never. He’d never gone to a school dance or a wedding or a proper funeral, let alone any kind of formal event, and he isn’t intending to start now.

But: a big fancy ball in the evening, in a town riddled with supernatural creatures? It sounds like a recipe for a monster’s buffet.

So Dean does go to the Founder’s Ball. In the loosest of senses. He parks the Impala nearby, parks his ass on the trunk with a bottle of whiskey, and gets a kick out of being glanced at sideways by the passing rich snobs and their confusion over why some scruffy flannel-wearing asshole is anywhere near the Ball. He’s close enough that he can hear the music, the murmur of conversation. Close enough to hear screaming, if that happens.

“Hey,” he calls, flagging down yet another passing person in fancy dress, “what’s the free food situation like in there?” Dean doesn’t know how to pronounce hors d'oeuvre and he’s not even going to try. “Anything good? ‘cause I got a twenty in my pocket that’s all yours if you smuggle some of it out.”

She knew she should have brought some sort of sweater or something with her. But like many things lately, it just ended up slipping her mind only to be remembered when she was slipping away from the ball to go home early. She also wasn’t expecting to hear someone talking to her, so she turned around quickly to find the source of the voice. Needless to say, she wasn’t exactly expecting to see some guy not dressed for the party by a car, asking about the food. “It’s okay. I think they spent more money on the booze though,” she explained, turning to fulling face the man in question, intrigued by him. “Everyone is invited. Why didn’t you go?”

open starter // mary // founders ball

she hadn’t attended anything like this… well, ever. but she had it on wise council that she should, to keep up her appearances and to ensure that nothing she can prevent goes down. the dress she’d found (strangely enough in a second hand store) was one that fit her well, and the occasion. Mary winchester looked the part by the time she walked through the doors of the lockwood mansion, chuckling to herself about the sign out the front that welcomed all to the mansion… classic move for letting strange vampires into your house. she grabbed a glass of champagne off a passing tray before welcoming the beverage onto her tongue. “ooh, bubbles. I like them bubbles.” she mused to herself, a slight, happy wiggle forming across her shoulders as she did.

Elena chuckled softly at the way the woman spoke. She seemed to be enjoying herself already and not just because of the alcohol, so Elena appreciated seeing that. “There are plenty of bubbles here. They always make sure to have plenty of champagne on hand for these fancy parties,” she explained, grabbing her own glass from the passing tray. “Are you new to town? I don’t think I have seen you around before.”

founders day ball

“odio las fiestas.” the man spoke to himself as he looked out from the porch over at all the trees surrounding they house. it had been about a hundred years since he’d attended anything like this and the last time he did he did it as angelus, not angel. “it’s quite beautiful isn’t it.” the man said as he heard footsteps approaching. “this town, when you look at it from far away.”

“It can be, yeah,” Elena agreed, looking out in the direction the man was looking. “Of course, the Lockwood mansion has the best view. You don’t exactly get this anywhere else in town,” she added, gesturing out to the view of the town.

founders day ball

“i wouldn’t touch that if i were you.” mason said as he looked over at the other person holding one of his family heirlooms. “thats worth more than you’re worth, so put it back where you found it.” this was the one this mason hated about founders day, there were a bunch of strangers in his home, touching all of his families shit. “didn’t your mother ever teach you not to touch what doesn’t belong to you?”

“My mother used to help put this together every year, remember?” she pointed out, looking over her shoulder at Mason. “And she would probably flip if she was here because this is supposed to go there, not here,” she stated, pointing to the space next to it where some other artifact was sitting. “They go in chronological order and these two are in the wrong places,” she stated, shifting the two around. After years and years of seeing Miranda Gilbert work on the pieces for Founder’s Day, Elena could practically lay out the whole room herself. She had helped out a few times when they were setting things up. “I’m probably the least likely to do anything to these things. They’re too important.”

founders day ball

lydia took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror and smoothed out her dress. being miss beacon hills had been something she’d always wanted, she’d planned on running the last year but a lot was happening and a ball was the last thing on her mind. this year she’d heard someone had nominated her before she even got the chance and well –– now it was all setting in. “you got this, you’re lydia freaking martin.” she mumbled to herself, trying to boost her confidence as she walked out of the bathroom, accidentally bumping into someone.

Elena took a step back as she bumped into the person coming out of the bathroom. “Oh, hi Lydia. You look beautiful,” she stated, complimenting the other girl as she looked at her dress. “Congratulations on being nominated for Miss Beacon Hills. I’m sure you’ll win,” she admitted with a soft, friendly smile. She was pulling for her best friend Bonnie or Caroline of course, but she knew that Lydia was likely to win. She was incredibly popular and beautiful after all. Who wouldn’t vote for her?

open starter | Founders Day Ball

 Kol used to attend in a lot of balls, even hosted some. He liked the drinks, the outfits, the music, but he’s favorite thing was the dancing. Of course it was centuries ago, before the world change so fast that he could barely follow. Entering in the mansion looked around, Tyler Lockwood definitely deserved some points, it was the biggest house in Beacon Hills. The room was full of people and the mix of conersations hitting Kol’s head all at once was quite annoying. He took a drink and went upstairs, watching people from above for some minutes, turning around and bumping into someone, in seconds his drink was all over his own suit, “In my defense I don’t wear a suit in ages”

Elena gasped as she bumped into the person, feeling awful already since the drink got all over them, not caring about her own fancy dress. “I’m sorry. I just... I was too in my own thoughts. Is it staining? I could try and get it out?” she offered, looking up at the taller male, concerned he would be angry with her for ruining the suit. “I’m so sorry.”

katherine // open starter // founders day ball

being at an event like this seemed like something that had died a long time ago. while she knew that she’d be seen as a different person to elena, katherine didn’t much care at this point, she’d play it up for as long as she could before potentially killing whoever she needed to make her life easier. stepping into the lockwood mansion (after being informally invited in by the ball signage out the front which welcomed all into the family home) katherine looked around the extravagant home, taking in what she could of it, sheer black dress catching the light as she moved. 

“– who does a girl have to kill to get a drink around here?” she muttered.

Of course she couldn’t continue to pretend like she hadn’t learned there were other people with her face out there, like they didn’t exist. She should have figured at least one of them would show up at the Founder’s Day celebrations, but she didn’t want to face it. Not now. Her world was already turning over on it’s head. She couldn’t handle any more. “What are you doing here?” she asked as she spotted the other, a bit unsure as to who it was until they spoke. Katherine. That was the name, right? “I mean... Won’t people ask questions?”

When it came to giving a performance, wolves and vampires for the most part were on the same act. They both consumed things that they didn’t have to in order to look normal. Vampires ate though it did nothing for their reanimated bodies and werewolves drank even though they couldn’t get drunk. It was all a well played act, one they would do to the end of time. Eirik had no problem playing in the show. Specially if it meant some rich assholes were paying out the ass for some wasted champagne or whatever else he decided to take with him on the way out. Speaking of which, “I’ll take that.” Eirik plucked the last glass from one of the waiter’s tray, though clearly it had been marked by someone else who just couldn’t beat him to the punch. “Sorry, got to be quick enough.”

Elena had been about to reach for the glass when someone else grabbed it. She let out a soft sigh and shook her head, putting her hand back down to her side. “It’s fine. I probably don’t need any more anyways,” she admitted, crossing her arms over her stomach, hugging herself. “I definitely don’t want to be known for being the first one to get incredibly drunk. I don’t need those stories following me for the rest of the year.”

“what?”Braeden said as she adjusted the blade at her ankle. “A girl has to stay ready so she doesn’t have to get ready,” She said as she stood back up and fixed her top.

“I just... I didn’t expect any weapons aside from the police officers or something,” she explained, shaking her head in amazement. “But even they don’t exactly use knives...”

Bonnie fidgeted, hating being the center of attention at times. But her Grams insisted that she wear the dress and she found herself leaning against one of the walls, keeping to herself. She saw someone heading her way and she figured she was blocking their way. “Oh sorry,” She said as she shuffled out of the other’s way.

“Bonnie, stop acting like you aren’t supposed to be here or something. You look amazing,” she declared to her friend, guessing as to what the other girl was thinking. “I know you hate attention, but you deserve it. You’re beautiful. And you deserve to be Miss Beacon Hills just as much as I do,” she added with a smile, offering her a glass of champagne.

  So this town was playing ignorant and hell the man could understand that; some people needed the ignorance to COPE because it left them with a way to avoid the truth (for as long as possible). He certainly wasn’t about to sit and pretend. He wasn’t in town just to sit back and relax but he’d take the day to scope the place. 

“I support history as much as the next guy but what’s a guy gotta do to get a beer around here?”

“I think they are sticking to the more fancy stuff tonight,” Elena explained, gesturing to the waiters walking around handing out wine and champagne. “Maybe they have some at the bar though,” she suggested, pointing towards the other room where the bar was set up. “Either way, I don’t think the Lockwoods keep regular old beer around much.”

He WONDERED how they managed it; how they could celebrate and honor the history of the Beacon Hills when people were dying (did they not want to stop it?). Humans and their devices of ignorance, though the funny part was he was beginning to envy them. 

“People keep offering me things and i’m uncertain i’ve done anything to earn them.”

“Castiel right? It’s nice to see you again,” Elena stated, greeting the strange man, despite how he had weirded her out before. She couldn’t help being kind to everyone, especially someone who looked slightly uncomfortable. “It’s not really about earning them. It’s just a part of the ball. You can’t quite ask people to dress up and not give them things to eat and drink,” she explained. He was definitely a strange one.

Ethan let a soft sigh escape him before his frown turned into a light smile. He let the woman adjust his tie and collar, chuckling quietly. “Elena, right? Thanks. That feels much better. I am definitely not meant to wear suits.” He remarked before grinning at her comment about not being able to figure out which twin he was. “You know, we could, but then we wouldn’t be able to keep up our mysterious facade we have going on with everyone.” He said jokingly. “Which one do you think I am?” He asked with a tilted eyebrow.

The wolf paused a passing server, taking two drinks from the tray and offering one to Elena. “You… seem like you need it. No offense.” He said. Elena may have been keeping conversation light and casual, but the emotions Ethan could smell coming off of her screamed otherwise.

“The one and only,” she stated, though that wasn’t quite true, was it? But she wasn’t sure what to do with that information just yet, so she hadn’t said anything to anyone. “You look very nice in it though. It just takes some getting used to. My brother still isn’t used to them either,” she added with a slight shrug. “I think... Ethan. No, Aiden... It’s hard to tell. You both can be a bit playful when I talked to you... I’m not sure,” she admitted, feeling embarrassed at not being able to figure it out. She took the offered drink, thankful for it. “Is it that obvious? I never was very good at hiding my feelings,” she admitted, shaking her head before taking a sip of the champagne. “It’s just... It’s a lot of memories. My parents were a big part of Founder’s Day and now that they are gone, it feels strange being here without them.”

The Founder’s Ball had never been much of an interest to the omega if he had to be honest. It all seemed like a pretentious cock measuring contest rather than something of celebration. Course what were they really celebrating anyways? A few people deciding that they founded a town that wasn’t even their land to found. Good old America for you. I plant my flag here there for it’s mine, take these blankets ridden of smallpox and go fuck yourself. 

Scott had arrived in the last years fashion or was it ten years? He wasn’t entirely sure, honestly he had just grabbed a pair of slacks from his dad’s old closet as well as one of his white button up shirts that now fit him pretty well. He had come a long way from running down the hall way, tripping over his father’s sleeves while screaming about how he wanted to be just like his dad one day. Yeah, right. Those dreams were dead and gone. Popping the top button, the inside of his ear twitched when he caught a familiar voice. Elena. At least he wasn’t alone. “Sure you can.” Scott said, coming up from the back yard. “You are Elena Gilbert, there isn’t anything you can’t do, and if that doesn’t assure you,” He reached in his pocket for a flask. “maybe this can?”

Without opening her eyes, Elena smiled a little at the sound of Scott’s voice. Of course he would be the voice of assurance, telling her she could get through this. He was very good at building her up, or trying to. She opened her eyes, looking over at him with the smile still on her lips. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. It may have a better effect if I didn’t have to fake it through the ball and the pageant. I think it will take more than a Scott McCall pep talk to make it through that one,” she admitted, shaking her head a little. She stared at the flask for a minute before reaching over and taking it. She took a quick swig, making a face at the taste before handing it back. “Thanks. You do know they offer booze inside though, right? Maybe not the hard stuff, but at least champagne.”

this definitely wasn’t the kind of thing that jordan was used to. he’d never been a big party person let alone the kind to attend a ball yet here he was. out of uniform and actually in a tux for once jordan has seen the woman break away from the crowd, deciding to follow her to make sure she was okay. “you aren’t the only one, these parties are –– a lot.” the man said, offering her a smile as he moved to lean against the railing and look at her. “are you okay?”

Elena’s big brown eyes flew open at the sound of someone’s voice. She straightened her posture, adjusting her dress as she tried to not look so depressed. “I’ll be fine,” she stated with her usual fake smile. “It’s just... It’s a lot. My first Founders Ball since my parents died. They were usually really involved with this stuff,” she explained vaguely, knowing he probably didn’t want to hear about her family woes.

“not a fan either?” he wasn’t one for large parties– or parties in general, but given that he viewed this town as part of his ancestry and heritage, derek needed to attend for his family. he assumed that it was the same for elena, only her pain from being there would be more raw, a fresh kind of pain that derek remembers from the first founders day without his parents, without laura– at least now laura is back. that was some small reward, he didn’t have to do this alone.

“Not this year,” she admitted, standing up a bit straighter as she noticed Derek. At least he could understand what she was going through. She knew he wasn’t exactly the type to talk about how he felt, let alone the past, but she knew he could empathize with her and Jeremy over everything that had happened. And she appreciated that, since he didn’t ask the usual questions everyone seemed to ask every time they saw Elena. How are you holding up? Is there anything I can do for you? Your parents would be so proud... All of that stuff that made even Elena begin to doubt if they actually meant it. “Who’s smart idea was it to nominate you for Mr. Beacon Hills?” she said instead, figuring something a bit more light-hearted would be a better conversation than anything else she could come up with. “I don’t see you strutting for the judges and giving a big smile.”