walking tragedy

The bad blood between the Saltzman twins and Hope was something that Josie was more than prepared to lay to rest. There was no real reason for them to be at each other’s throats and anything up until this point had been of juvenile intentions. With a slight nod of agreement, Josie considered the other’s words for a moment before replying, “we’ll just have to do whatever we can to avoid paying an unfair price. If anyone can do it, its us.” Her words were filled with certainty and a smile accompanied them. “We can win. We will win.” 

The mention of coffee quickly perked the young siphon up and she gave a clear nod of her head, “and pancakes. I know I shouldn’t be hungry after the day we’ve had, but … I’m starving and I can’t think of anything worse than research on an empty stomach.”

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Josie’s confidence was in stark contrast to Hope’s own concerns about whether they could win the fight at all, much less whether they could do it without the cost of lives.  All one had to do was look around them and see the state of the city to know that Malivore had the potential to wreak havoc even in its current state - god only knew what it had the power to do if it ever got free.  But it was impossible not to feel at least a little bit inspired by Josie’s confident smile and the belief she had in the two of them and the people they cared about.  “I’ll take your word for it,” Hope smiled, sincerity in her words.  If Josie was so sure, she could be sure as well.

“Oh my god, that’s a great idea.  Pancakes with chocolate chips.”  And all of the coffee left in town.  “I think you’ve got every right to be hungry - fighting takes it out of you, and I’m guessing you must be pretty low on magic after all of that.”  A thought struck her then, and she offered her hand.  “Need a little, just in case?”

A breath hitched in the back of Josie’s throat at Hope’s high compliment and the young siphon could feel the heat beginning to rise within her cheeks as she bashfully looked away, “thanks, Hope. We’re gonna beat this thing. We have to.” Seeing as Lizzie wasn’t there, what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her and Josie was willing to accept the compliment. The mention of Penelope coaxed her gaze back towards Hope and she attempted to stifle a giggle at the comment, “right, don’t play with the devil; she always cheats” she retorted tauntingly, before allowing for the giggle to project between them. “We’re going to need as much help as we can get, aren’t we?” Her question was soft, almost uncertain, disliking the idea that the entire school could be thrown into danger. “I guess the only time in a quiet room we’ll be getting tonight, is in the library looking for answers.”

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Even in the soft light of the alley it was hard to miss Josie’s blush, and Hope smiled a little to herself.  Part of her was always going to regret the harsh words and hurt feelings between herself and the Saltzman sisters, but that didn’t mean for a second that she wasn’t willing to give credit where it was due - and it was definitely due.  She was completely serious in her opinion of Josie as the premiere witch of the school, and didn’t mind admitting it.  “We do, and we will.  I’m just worried about what it’s going to cost us.”  After bringing everyone back in the first place, the last thing she wanted to do was lose them all over again.

“Exactly,” she grinned, joining in the laugh at Penelope’s expense.  Josie’s soft question was one she’d been turning over in her own head, and she nodded.  “Pretty much everyone.  The school, our families, anyone we can get into this fight.”  It had to be that way, whether they liked it or not.  “I think you’re right - which means we better stop for coffee on the way, because I doubt the school kitchen is working right now.”

Hope’s words certainly made sense, they would have to learn as much as they possibly could about what dangers they might be facing next, although the onslaught of creatures they had faced that evening might be a good indicator. “The hard part’s going to be convincing my dad to let us help, but that’s the only way we stand any chance of defeating malivore.” Josie knew the odds were against them and felt as though the only chance they had was the entire school fighting, no matter what the risks. Hope’s laughter coaxed the same reaction from Josie and she was grateful for the relief between them. “After tonight, that doesn’t even sound too bad.”

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“He’s a stubborn man,” Hope agreed.  “But I like to think he’s a smart one, too.  You and Lizzie are the most promising witches in the entire school, and no offense to your sister but you’re the smartest one there too.  If we could defeat Malivore with pure spite I’d say we could include your ex in the plan, but I’m pretty sure Penelope would just end up on its side or something.”  She was leaving herself out of the equation for now, but what she was saying was true - their personal issues aside the Saltzmans were absolutely the people best situated to help take down Malivore.  “You know, you’re not wrong.  Some time in a quiet room could be nice.”

Kol was still reeling from the event’s that had been happening in the town, as much as he assumed the rest of the town was. Of course he had heard that Hope had been missing from the town while this all went on before seeing a newly triggered Hope appearing in front of the mikaelson clan when the attack ceased.

As he made his way down an alleyway with his arm slung around a younger male who appeared to be happy with Kol flirting with the male. Of course to Kol the male was only a meal. He soon stopped as he noticed his niece and heard her speak, with the male looking between the two. Kol’s grip on the male tightened to ensure his food didn’t escape him.

“Having fun with the compulsion and feeding, love?” he questioned the male with a smirk, “I’m gonna stay here and feed, so you wither share with your uncle or find somewhere else..” he teased the brunette.

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Hope blinked as she realized who was in the alley with her, and what he had planned for the man with him.  “Fun is...I don’t know if that’s the word.  I was just starving, and I couldn’t think of a better way to solve that problem.”  Given the injuries that had likely happened over the course of the night, she didn’t want to take blood bags or anything.  And the school had animal blood, but Hope wasn’t sure that would cut it.

She had no objection to Kol feeding nearby, though, and she offered a smile as she leaned back against the alley wall.  “Careful with that one - lot of vervain in this town.”  The place was lousy with it, despite the Salvatores trying to eradicate it years before.  “I’m happy to wait right here and walk with you after, if you want.”

Josie’s features had softened, and her signature frown returned as she gazed upon the other and continued to listen. Whilst she was doing her best to understand, it had been a painfully long evening and she knew that this was a topic that would need to be revisited. “There’s always been a reason for you to exist, Hope. One that doesn’t have to put you in danger.” The girl drew a soft breath and her features softened as she offered a reassuring smile. “How can I help?”

It was a relief for the pair of them to be talking with their defences lowered, especially now after everything that they had been through. Given the slight shift within pace, Josie fell into step with Hope as they made their way out of the alley. “Lizzie and my mom? Don’t get me wrong, the school would be spotless, but at a great cost to our sanity.”

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Hope was less certain, and maybe it was part of the reason why she’d been talked into becoming the tribrid - a search for meaning that went back years, a need to justify the sacrifices her parents and indeed all of her family had made for her.  But given how honest they seemed to be being with each other, she didn’t automatically assume the words were only for her comfort, either.  “As boring as it sounds, I think we need to start with research.  If Malivore wants that knife so badly I think we can guarantee it’ll come for it again.  So we need to be ready for whatever might show up.”

The night had gone on forever, and the exhaustion in them both was palpable, but Hope couldn’t help bursting out laughing at Josie’s description.  “We’d have the most spotless asylum ever by the time we were done, and they could just lock us all in our rooms afterwards.”

Josie was grateful for the truth, she knew that Hope had no reason to give it to her, but she was grateful for the honesty nevertheless. Even if the admission caused for her stomach to tighten, and she found herself enclosing her arms around her own frame, it was better to be in the know. “It’s not your job to save everybody” her own admission came quickly, and a breath hitched within the back of her throat, almost as if the words had taken even her by surprise. “I just – think you should know that. Not that it makes any difference anymore, but it’s important to know.” The brunette chewed on the inside of her lip for a moment, cautiously awaiting Hope’s reaction and she could only hope that the tribrid hadn’t taken it the wrong way. With a cautious glance towards the end of the alleyway, she nodded and followed on. “Are you kidding? Dad’s probably forming a clean-up committee with Lizzie as event’s organiser as we speak” her tone was light as she giggled at the idea before continuing, “I think I’d rather take my chances with classes.”

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Something about those words - not the phrase itself, but the way it seemed to escape her unbidden - made her pulse quicken.  There was a moment, just then, to be honest and forthright, and it was up to her whether she reached out and grabbed it.  “If what I was told is true, that I need to be the Tribrid, then it’s...a reason for me to exist, you know?  But the thing is, I think you’re right.  I’ve tried too hard to do everything, take it all on my own shoulders.  And maybe I can’t keep everyone safe that way.”

She tried to shake off what had become a slightly depressing moment and focus on Josie’s words.  “Oh god, you’re right.  Classes actually sound like a dream compared to days of being bossed around by Lizzie.”

All Josie could do for now was give a slight nod of her head as she attempted to process everything that was going on with Hope. She didn’t know exactly what kind of repercussions this would have for tribrid, but she knew that repercussions would be coming. Enemies, would be coming. “Do you know that for sure?” Her inquisition wasn’t intended maliciously, it was a genuine question. Would the risk be worth it? Hope’s laughter brought with it some much desired relief and after Josie’s misuse of term, she was grateful that Hope wasn’t dwelling on it. “I’m glad you’re okay too, Hope. We should really get back. My mom’s gonna be worrying about us, which  probably means that’s she’s frantically cleaning something.”

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It was a question Hope had asked herself more than once since she’d shut her eyes and woken in limbo: whether the jinni could be trusted.  Whether or not it had all been just some kind of trick to get her to embrace her full nature for some dishonest reason.  “I’m not,” the admission wasn’t easy, but Josie didn’t need her to lie either.  “I want to believe I did the right thing.  Made the right choice.  But I think this is what it comes down to for me: even if it was all a lie and this doesn’t help, I’ll feel less terrible for trying to protect my family and everyone else and being wrong than I would if I hadn’t transitioned and it turned out I needed to.”

Smiling at the thought of Caroline frantically cleaning the school, Hope nodded.  “Alright, let’s head back, we don’t need to keep her worrying.”  She gestured to the end of the alley and started walking slowly toward it.  “I’m hoping we at least get classes cancelled for a day or two after this.”

Josie’s expression softened as Hope questioned whether she was okay and she was somewhat taken aback by the attentiveness of the tribrid’s tone. There was a brief hesitation, before instead of answering, she returned the question, “are you okay?” A fleeting sigh eased from her lips before she rolled them together and took another step towards Hope, her dark hues slowly lifting to meet Hope’s gaze. The truth had been that Josie was entirely aware of where her father was, but for some reason it seemed easier to conceal the truth instead of admitting that she had been concerned about Hope. “I’m okay. Alive, so that’s something at least.” Her eyes soon widened and an expression of apology crossed her features as she realised the implications of using the word ’alive’ in this situation. “I’m sorry, I didn’t – I don’t mean, I’m just going to stop talking.”

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The way Josie avoided the question was hardly subtle, but Hope didn’t press - if she didn’t want to talk about herself, then there was no point in forcing her.  Instead she turned her attention to the question she was asked instead.  “At this point, I’m really not sure,” she confessed.  They hadn’t talked so honestly in a while, but Hope was a little bit grateful for the chance to open up.  “It’s a lot to get used to.  But I’d do it again in a heartbeat, too, if it’s going to help in stopping Malivore.  Which I guess is a long-winded way of saying yes and no,” she finished with a small laugh.  Josie’s turn of phrase struck her to the core, but she did her best not to react visibly.  “It’s okay, really.  I know what you meant.  And I’m glad you’re okay; this could all have gone a lot worse.”

Hope stared into the little campfire in the manor’s backyard, curled up under a blanket and resting carefully against her mother’s side.  Normally she’d have been seated practically in her lap, but Hayley’s bump and an abundance of caution had her changing position for both their sakes.  “How long did it take you to get used to the enhanced senses?”  Everything was brighter, louder, more present since her transition, and it was distracting.

Leaving that thought aside, though, she changed the subject away from herself and to the sibling she’d have before she knew it.  “What’d the doctor say when you and Jackson saw him the other day?  Everything still okay?  No harm done in the middle of all the monster fighting?”  If anything had happened while she was in limbo she was never going to forgive herself for not getting back sooner.

The brunette gave a quick shake of her head, lowering her gaze from Hope as she murmured quietly, “that isn’t funny.” As she thought about Hope’s words, Josie’s own were paired with a cautionary pout and not to sound too much like her sister, but she was surprised that her father wasn’t already tailing the tribrid. “I was looking for my dad, actually. I thought he might … be with you.” With a subtle expulsion of breath, she slowly began to look back towards the other. “I figured it was a safer bet doing a locator spell on you and not him.” But, that was a little white lie, she hadn’t been looking for Ric at all, her intentions had simply been to find Hope. 

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Hope’s expression turned down a little, and she shook her head.  “You’re right, I’m sorry.  It sounded funnier in my head.”  Still buzzing off her transition and the feed had left her feeling a little off-kilter.  “I’m actually surprised he’s not - the last time I saw him was at town hall, and after that I think he headed back to the school to check on everyone.”  She could understand Josie’s line of thinking, but unfortunately for her Alaric had gone in the complete opposite direction.  “It was a good thought.  Are you doing alright, after everything?  I know it’s been a hell of a night.”

“Hope?” Josie’s tone was tainted with confusion as her gaze fell upon the newly turned tribrid. There was hesitation as her lips parted with intention to ask what Hope was doing, but concern soon manifested into judgment as she forced herself closer. “What are you doing? What if it hadn’t been me who caught you?” Her hands had extended out towards her sides, a gesture accompanying each word as she spoke them. “What if my dad saw you out here…” she lowered her voice to an exaggerated whisper, “feeding?”

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As she realized who had walked into the alley, Hope unconsciously reached up to wipe at her lips again, as if it was going to erase the evidence of what Josie had seen her doing.  “I’m guessing a stern lecture,” she joked weakly.  “So I’m definitely glad it was you.”  Her light tone fell away, though, as she studied the worry in Josie’s expression.  “I’m still getting used to the hunger.  I don’t plan on making a habit of it.  But tell me, what’s got you out prowling dark alleys?”

"To answer this in reverse order - I'm hoping the best thing I've ever done for anyone is bring them back from the dead. I'm not sure how I could really top that one, you know? Do I consider myself a good person...that one's a question for the jury I think. I've done good things. I've also been responsible for the death of an innocent man and my parents. So does that balance out? I have no idea. I like to think I'm a good person, deep down."

Hope pushed her fingers through her hair, trying to sum up thoughts that had been increasingly chaotic since transition. The boost in her senses came with new control to be mastered, and hearing so much took getting used to. "I wish I knew how to answer that. I feel like I'm going a hundred miles an hour and stopped dead at the same time, and this Malivore thing is just on my mind constantly."

She looked across the Grill's table at Landon, though, Hope smiled. "I'm glad you're here, though."

"I kind of figured that after the third time we ended up at the Falls," Hope laughed, gently nudging his shoulder. "I told you, I could have just vamped you up into the hills and this would have been faster. But if you're going to insist on driving, maybe just let me navigate instead of trusting google maps? I don't think they've sent their satellite car through Mystic Falls yet."

"Well that's putting the cart so far before the horse that it's in another time zone. I've had one boyfriend who turned out to be an evil vampire, and never even got an official date out of that. So no, I've never exactly thought about marrying someone. But what do I think about marriage? I think for the right people it's pretty cool. I look at people like Mom and Jackson or Tara and Nic and it seems like marriage is pretty amazing.

"Um - you know, I have no idea. I don't think so, but I've never really been in a position to be romantic with anyone."

"You just look a little pale, Mom, that's all. And before you tell me that you're a vampire, I know. But you look pale even for a vampire. So I think maybe you should come and sit down, and I'll make you some tea. And some food. And get you a pillow. And see if there's any magic I can do that might make you more comfortable." Hope was spiralling a little and she knew it, but she didn't know how to stop herself. "I'll get two pillows. I bet you could use two pillows. And a blanket. I'll be right back, I think I should go to the store and get you brand new pillows, they're safer for the baby and everything I'll be right back, I swear..."