#stefarine

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: The Vampire Diaries (TV), The Originals (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Caroline Forbes/Klaus Mikaelson, Katherine Pierce/Stefan Salvatore Characters: Klaus Mikaelson, Stefan Salvatore, Caroline Forbes, Katherine Pierce, Alaric Saltzman Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - World War II, Bromance, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Canon-Typical Violence Summary:

Thesmell hits him a fraction of a second before he feels the squishbeneath his boot. A pool of red staining an otherwise pristine whitefloor. The body’s legs jut just beyond the island perched in themiddle of the kitchen, still and lifeless, and he moves around thepuddle to get a better look.

The funny thing is that it took me a while to like Steferine. I was so worried in season 2 that Stefan & Katherine would hook up -especially during the SE break up- and that’d be the end of Stelena. lol 

Somewhere along the way I came to really love Katherine & her relationship with Stefan. Her humanity demonstrated that she wasn’t a one-dimensional villain. She had a family, a love, and a life that she was fighting for. Oh sure, her means were deplorable. However, her strength was admirable, and her motives were compelling. I also enjoyed seeing her challenge Stefan. Stefan didn’t move pass Katherine’s actions from 1864 until she came back and forced him to confront the past. Stefan gained insight into himself & Damon because of Katherine :

Damon: My point is I’m sorry, okay? I had a moment of weakness, Stefan. It’s my thing. It’s like you and I falling for the same girl. It’s our thing.

Stefan: Was out thing. Look, we’ve been making the same mistakes for 150 years. We can judge Katherine all we want, but we keep repeating our own history just like she is. Nothing ever changes. It has to stop, Damon. 

Damon: What are you talking about?

Stefan: I’m done. I can’t keep reliving my life like this. I owe Elena her shot at being normal again. Once we give her the cure, I’m getting her out of my life, and I’m getting a life of my own. (4x18)

I put this moment up there with The Klefan moments in 4x09 when Stefan realized that he and Klaus were two of a kind. That’s what I love about the villains/antagonists on TVD. That’s when I think that they work the best: they force the heroes to engage in some introspection & then make a decision to better themselves because of it. That’s what makes Katherine work. It’s one of the things that made her & her relationship with Stefan interesting.  

Stefan says hello …

Stefan says goodbye …

The journey that took Stefan from vamping out  to kissing Katherine’s forehead was beautiful. It was challenging, painful, touching, funny, and beautiful. Villains should be more than just shock & drama. They should be compelling. This is how you do heroism & villainy on TVD. 

WORD. They were fucking fascinating. Stefan & Katherine challenged each other and forced each other to grow as characters.  I really do miss Steferine. They were a dynamic pair. 

I especially love how Stefan was able to draw out Katherine’s humanity. Although Kat had a reputation for caring just for herself, scenes like this demonstrate otherwise.

Their story was character driven. That’s what I enjoyed about it, and it’s what I miss. Although Stefan & Katherine were problematic (oh boy were they), the consent issues, the power struggle, and the lingering affection pushed their narratives beyond the usual TVD ship drama. Steferine was interesting because it was a driving force for their character development. 

I still consider this the most touching moment on TVD.

Wonderful question! Thanks for asking it. :)

Katherine & Stefan

Why I enjoyed it: This relationship led to a lot ofcharacter development for both characters. Stefan drew out Katherine’s humanity,and Stefan discovered that Katherine still had a heart. Their relationship wasdifficult, problematic, funny, touching, and painful. They could bring out theworst in each other but also the best. In short, it was complicated.

How it ended: I loved the way that it ended. Stefan& Katherine came full circle. She stabbed him in 2x01, and he returned thefavor in 5x15. It was poetic.  

Favorite Moment: Stefan changing Katherine’s memoriesas she lay dying. The scene was perfect. I can’t listen to Illusory Light withoutthinking about these two.

This scene made my eyes water, and I don’t cry during TV shows/movies. Ever. 

Katherine & Elijah

Why I enjoyed it: We saw the softer side of thesecharacters when they were together. Moreover, they were a good fit. They haveimpeccable taste in fashion, they’re ruthless, they’re intelligent, they’vegot sass, and they don’t suffer fools gladly.

How it ended: I wish that they could have had beenendgame tbh. I knew that it wasn’t possible with DG moving to TO, but I thoughtthat Katherine & Elijah could finally make it work.

Favorite Moment: Katherine & Elijah’s conversationabout love in 1492.

Katherine & Klaus

Why I enjoyed it: They were so similar to each other.I’ve written about that here,so I won’t go into detail about it again.

“Klaus won’tbe able to walk away from this. He and I are the same. We manipulate, we thirstfor power, we control, we punish, but our actions are driven by one singularplace deep inside … We’re alone, and we hate it.”-  Katherine Pierce(4x20)

Also, Klaus – probably morethan anyone else- is responsible for making Katherine the way she is. He ruinedher life, and he forced her to run for +500 years. No one had a bigger affect onKatherine than Klaus.

How it ended: I wish that wegot an actual resolution or ending. Katherine kept running, but Klaus seemed tostop chasing her. She went from his obsession to his afterthought. Theirrelationship didn’t end with an epic confrontation. It ended in a whimper.

Favorite moment(s): Klausholds Katherine captive in Ric’s apartment. These scenes showed thattheir battle/power struggle wasn’t just about physical strength. It was also abattle to see which one was the more cunning of the two. 

Katherine & Caroline

Why I enjoyed it: Katherine was fond of Caroline. Sherespected her, liked her, and saw her as a potential sometime-ally. Carolinewas able to see that Katherine had some humanity in her. Pairing these two upwas brilliant.

How it ended: I was satisfied with it. They had ashort-lived relationship/alliance so I didn’t think an epic ending was needed.

Favorite Moment: Katherine telling Caroline that shewas one the least awful people that she knew. Katherine was kind when she didn’thave to be. It’s just one more moment that made Kat fascinating to me.