touched by destiny

i also think it's odd that i haven't read a comment/meta about how she cried when we first see her in 3x08? one would assume she'd be happy to be allowed to go outside again after having been locked up. but she didn't, like she already knew then that this will be the last time (and i firmly believe that she has seen her death more than once already - which is why it's also on the embroidery). i have also seen very little comments about the fact that she has opened the cage for her bugs before she did ... stuff.

Good   lord,   what   is   wrong   with   you,   Uncle   Stefan?   Ali   thought,   suppressing   a   sigh   as   Sarah   ranted   about   Stefan's   relentless   check-ins.   It   was   her   father   who   murdered   Sarah's   biological   parents,   not   Stefan.   But   leave   it   to   Stefan   to   carry   the   guilt   of   her   father's   humanity-off   actions.   Even   if   he   does   have   his   humanity   on,   Stefan   still   feels   guilty.   It's   not   like   Stefan   can   talk   when   his   humanity   is   off,   he   becomes   a   ripper.

An   amused   smirk   tugged   at   Ali’s   lips,   her   eyebrows   arching   at   Sarah's   suspicions   over   her   presence.   “I'd   rather   just   be   upfront,   Sarah.   Yes,   we   do   share   the   same   blood.”   Ali   admitted   smoothly.   “I   have   my   own   ways   of   knowing   who   my   family   is,   but   Stefan   did   mention   your   name.”

She   offered   a   casual   shrug.   “I   was   curious   and   just   wanted   to   meet   you.   Is   there   something   wrong   with   that?”   Knowing   the   answer   before   @touchedbydestiny   could   even   speak,   Ali   abruptly   changed   the   subject.   “I   heard   you're   majoring   in   Art.   Are   you   enjoying   it?”

         sarah's expression changed almost immediately. for the briefest second, she simply stared at ali as though the answer had somehow failed to register. then she took an instinctive half-step backward, shoulders tightening as though the physical distance might somehow make the information less real. "you're a salvatore?"

        the disbelief cut through the irritation as she made her statement. she had assumed ali was simply someone who happened to know stefan. someone else caught in the orbit of people sarah had never asked to become acquainted with. she had not expected the connection to be blood. how many of them are there?

        she let out a strained breath through her nose, trying to regain some composure before continuing. "i think i've made it pretty damn clear that i don't want anything to do with my biological family." the words were sharper than she intended, but there was something beneath them that wasn't (entirely) anger at all. something much closer to exhaustion. her voice faltered for half a second before she forced it steady again. "so why can't you people just leave me alone?"

        the question was almost pleading despite her attempt to disguise it as frustration. sarah's gaze dropped briefly before returning to ali's face. "what is it about me that's so special? what makes everyone so damn determined to find me, talk to me, check on me, or apparently just... meet me?" she had no answer for that herself. as far as sarah was concerned, there was nothing remarkable about her and she was simply trying to live the life she had actually chosen.

"Of course I'll go with you, darling." Ordinarily, Aurora might have reached for Amara's hair to stroke it at this stage of the performance, but she worried that might push Amara too far. Instead, she offered a reassuring smile. "And I'll wait with you while," she paused, genuinely trying to remember his name again. "-Matt can go and call this other person. Is Stefan her father?" she knew that he wasn't, but she did not want to seem as if she knew more than she ought to, not in a town like this.

For good measure, Aurora stared at Matt until he stepped away to make his call, and only then did Aurora take the seat next to Amara. "You're playing your part perfectly. I'm sure that they can lead us to someone with the map that we need." And then Amara would have the cure, and Aurora would not need to worry about her sire being tempted by it. "We will have to make sure that Elena is done away with. Perhaps once we get you to Stefan, we can suggest that you lay down? I'll slip away and make sure that Elena doesn't disturb us whilst we get what we need, yes?" she explained. "Yes should have some of that water by the way. You do look a bit pale."

   when aurora asked whether stefan was elena's father, amara remained silent, her brow furrowing slightly.´matt, however, looked briefly toward aurora with visible confusion.

   »stefan? no. he's elena's boyfriend.« he seemed to consider explaining further before apparently deciding that there was no point in doing so. his attention shifted back to his phone as he moved away to make the call.

   amara watched him go, her eyes following him until the distance between them felt sufficient. only then did she finally close her eyes. her fingertips rose slowly to her temples, pressing against them as though she could somehow quiet the noise inside her skull through sheer pressure. the ringing was still there. the fragments were still there, impressions without beginnings or endings.

   after several seconds, she lowered her hands and opened her eyes again before her brown gaze settled on aurora. "i saw the mark." her voice remained quiet, almost uncertain, but there was more conviction behind the words now. "the person we're looking for... they're close." she swallowed, trying to organize the fragments before they disappeared again. "matt knows them."

   a pause followed. amara's expression tightened as she tried to hold onto whatever she had seen. "or... he knows where they are. i think." she shook her head faintly. "it's not clear. it's just pieces." pieces she couldn't even explain where they came from.

   her gaze dropped toward the glass of water again. the smooth surface caught the light, almost unnaturally perfect. she stared at it for several seconds before giving the faintest nod, as though reminding herself of aurora's earlier suggestion.

   slowly, she reached for it. her hand trembled slightly as her fingertips touched the glass. the sensation made her pause. it was smoother than she had expected, almost unnervingly so, and colder beneath her skin. harder, too. solid in a way that seemed strangely unfamiliar.

   amara carefully lifted it and brought the rim to her lips. the first swallow was small. the water slid down her throat and into an empty stomach that seemed almost startled by the sudden presence of anything at all. a faint cramp twisted beneath her ribs, followed by a hollow, uncomfortable sensation as her stomach contracted around the liquid. her body seemed to register the water all at once; a slight flutter passed through her abdomen, and she drew a shallow breath through her nose before taking another cautious sip. it helped, if only marginally.

   when matt returned a short while later, his phone was already disappearing back into his pocket. »okay. i got stefan. he knows what's going on, and he said he'll come get you soon.«

Take the glory

Give everything

Promise to be dazzling

❝Living on your salary. That's smart.❞ Hope never thought about the nitty-gritty. She always just picked a random number & went with it. Sure, she kept it low, but she never went with "I'm working 30 hours a week at a $ 10-an-hour job, so I make this much," or gave herself an amount based on salary. Hope hums as she tries to do some math inside her head. She has a number in mind for snacks & things: 110. That number was a tad on the high side for just snacks. ❝What do you say $70 on snacks? & then $40 on our personal fun today?❞

At the end of the school's driveway, Hope looks both ways to make sure no car is coming, as if there really were a lot of activity near the school. She pulls out onto the street when the coast is clear. The fact that Diana saw Hope's approach as very human made Hope feel relaxed & a tad prideful in her idea of human life. She worked hard on trying to be human. It was her dream to have that human lifestyle, even if only in parts. She knows realistically, she might only ever get the partner & kids. Maybe a 9-to-5 job, even. But none of it matters, right? Not with the pressure of death from old age hanging around her neck is not there.

⠀⠀⠀⠀when hope mentioned the budget, diana considered the numbers for a thoughtful moment. "seventy dollars..." she repeated, her brows knitted ever so slightly in genuine contemplation. "when you say 'snacks'..." she began carefully, turning just enough to look toward hope without distracting her from the road. "...do you mean food in general? or do you mean... actual snacks?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀"because if it's the latter, i may simply have underestimated how expensive snack food has become. when someone says snacks, i immediately think of biscuits, crisps, chocolate..." she laughed softly. "...things you're probably not supposed to eat in alarming quantities."

to request a starter, please comment and tell me what muse(s) you want (amara, diana, gia, nadia, natalia, sarah, tatia → more information underneath the cut) and i’ll write you a short starter. you can also add if you are interested in a certain verse/au.

please specify for which of your muses you want to get the starter if you are a multi ♥

mutuals only

Oh listen to her ever practical daughter. Yes on some level, she understands that what Nadia is doing is trying to protect her. What she doesn't understand is that she is in a downward spiral that is going to be the end of her, so to Katherine? It just looks like a lot of worry rooted in jealousy.

The doppelganger in question had heard everything, perks of having a vampire body back, that hearing comes in major handy. Especially when people are having a conversation just a few rooms away about YOU.

katherine isn't nearly as clever as she thinks she is when stefan salvatore is involved

A wave of irritation washed over her at the sound of that. Despite the fact that history had proven this to be a true statement- 1864 all the hard evidence needed... Katherine still managed to convince herself this was also just petty jealousy and Nadia simply had a problem with Stefan. Thats all.

What she did expect, was Lestat to be on her side and so far in this conversation that's how it's been. At least until he also suggested switching again. She has zero plans of switching again. Sure, this isn't technically her body but it looked identical to hers. It felt mostly identical. It was a body she could navigate without so much change it caused her to spiral. And maybe just fucking maybe- the addition of a support system inherited with it was fucking nice. The game of impersonations was just an added bonus of entertainment. Honestly, they should have a little more faith in her.

Heels silent and undetectable she made her way back down the stairs and leaned against the door way with that same smirk she has when she's being a petty little shit.

"Hey girls, you two done gossiping or should I come back later?"

@sanguisprince @touchedbydestiny

Lestat might have mentioned that there wasn't a lot to be jealous about - Katherine had stolen a body without first ejecting the host and so now it would be a constant battle and if she thought Stefan might not be able to tell the difference (eventually) or even notice that Elena wasn't Elena, well that seems like wishful thinking to Lestat. Katherine's life had generally thus far kind of been shit, and no one was stepping up to take it over because it looked like such a great time. But that was between Nadia and Katherine, a relationship Lestat did not pretend to understand beyond the most basic parts of it.

Mother and daughter but the mother was far less emotionally mature and often acted out like the child she'd been when she was turned and Nadia, well. Nadia was bossy and stoic and kept to herself for the most part. She was overtly emotional and she rarely seemed to rely on her feelings when making choices, unlike Katherine. Lestat had a strange relationship with his other mother, but Gabrielle had always been the older and wiser of the two and like Nadia, she didn't reveal her hand or expose herself to being vulnerable.

Sometimes it would have been nice if she'd been more on his level, but the closeness remained. Nadia and Katherine were close too, but more like squabbling siblings than to fully functioning adults. Lestat wasn't there to judge Katherine, though he certainly was. He thought she'd made a mistake but at the same time, the other option had been Nadia's body and with Katherine near death, it seemed she would rather die. At least this had bought them time. Maybe they could find some powerful witch to tempt Katherine out of her doppelganger.

Someone with powers she could use to protect herself. He knew Katherine wanted a chance at the life she'd never had but being human hadn't been an option. Too fragile, too breakable. It was infuriating that he hadn't been able to turn her back. Any real attempt would have meant draining her and crossing their fingers and so he hadn't. As Katherine sashayed into the room, smirking, he set his drink down and looked up at her. She looked more like herself, even if she wasn't. "No rest for the wicked, Katherine. I assume you're all caught up? Nadia and I were just... brainstorming."

⠀⠀⠀⠀nadia did not even have to turn around. the voice alone told her exactly how long katherine had been standing there; or rather, how long she had probably been listening before deciding to make an entrance. a slow, thoroughly unimpressed exhale escaped her as she pinched the bridge of her nose for a brief moment.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"you've been eavesdropping." it was not phrased as a question. only a statement delivered with irritation before she finally lifted her gaze toward her mother.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"which, ironically, means you already know everything i was going to say."

⠀⠀⠀⠀"and just to be clear, none of what i told lestat is something i wouldn't say directly to your face."

⠀⠀⠀⠀"i'm not trying to insult you. i'm trying to keep you alive. because i would really like you to stop pretending this situation is sustainable." her eyes remained fixed on katherine. "it isn't. and eventually you're going to have to make a decision."

⠀⠀⠀⠀"either you commit completely to this." a small gesture followed toward elena's body. "you remain elena gilbert, act and live like her. permanently. which also means you stop being katherine pierce in every practical sense. you don't visit me and you don't casually meet with lestat. you don't keep dropping in whenever you feel like it because every person who sees elena spending time with people she has absolutely no reason to know increases the chance that someone starts asking questions."

⠀⠀⠀⠀"or you find another solution. because trying to keep one foot in each life is exactly how both of them fall apart." her mother cannot have the best of both worlds, she cannot be two identities. she cannot still have contact with nadia and lestat but at the same time, also pretend to be 'elena'. and unfortunately, nadia is aware what katherine is going to pick. it's tragic that she cannot expect her own mother to pick her over that damn illusion of wanting to get stefan salvatore back. but would she also risk having contact with her only friend (as it seems?). after all, lestat is an impressive person, he's no one that people would simply overlook. it is impossible that she could meet with him without anyone noticing suspicious behavior.  || @malka-lisitsa + @sanguisprince

“You can stop pretending you’re fine. Nobody believes it after their third drink.” (for elena or caroline from sarah nelson salvatore)

Elena's jaw tenses slightly as she looks away from the other woman. God, she hates that. She hates how easily she sees through her right now. How does she do that? Whatever, it doesn't matter. Elena's problems are not Sarah's problems. So what if she's three drinks in? It doesn't mean she's all of a sudden going to dump everything on Sarah. 

"Maybe I just like to get drunk." Elena counters with a shrug of her shoulders, though she knows it's a lame excuse that isn't going to believe. Sounds pathetic, too. Who likes getting drunk all on their lonesome? Ugh. 

⠀⠀⠀⠀sarah studied her for another moment before a faint, knowing smile appeared. "maybe." she gave a small shrug. "but you also don't strike me as someone who gets three drinks deep by herself just because it's tuesday."

⠀⠀⠀⠀frankly, sarah doesn't really know elena so there's a good chance that she's wrong with her observation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"where i come from, girls look after girls. that's all this is." her expression remained warm, deliberately leaving the conversation free of pressure.

to request a starter, please comment and tell me what muse(s) you want (amara, diana, gia, nadia, natalia, sarah, tatia → more information underneath the cut) and i’ll write you a short starter. you can also add if you are interested in a certain verse/au.

please specify for which of your muses you want to get the starter if you are a multi ♥

mutuals only

Lestat took her polite decline in stride, not at all offended. He understood being protective of things, especially if it was your livelihood. "Have you considered a more.... regular job? I mean, barista or bar tender. Uber driver? Do people even drive here? In Paris, you walk everywhere. I've been here for years and I think I've driven a handful of times. Not everything is within walking distance but the important things. The cafe, the church, the park." As they continued their conversation, they closed the space between where they had been and where they were going, now approaching the cafe. He kept to the outside of the sidewalk as if to stay between her and traffic, more habit than anything.

"I moved to Paris when I was grown. I had always wanted to live there. I thought she would change my life and she did, but not in the way I expected. Coming here, well. New Orleans captured my heart." He opened the door for her and allowed her to enter before him, stepping in after her. "Do you travel? Have you ever visited where your family is from?" He glanced around and spotted an empty table, near the window. It wasn't too crowded, but neither was it deserted. The witnesses he'd promised. An employee was cleaning tables, taking plates and mugs.

"How about over there?" Lestat suggested, eyebrow raised, allowing her to make the final decision. They made their way over and he shrugged out of his jacket, putting it on the back of the chair as she settled. The menu behind the counter could be clearly seen. "If you tell me what you'd like, I can order for us. Or you could let me order for you, and be surprised." His suggestion was playful. He could feel her loosening up, becoming more comfortable. He admires that she hadn't fallen over herself for his attention, if he was being honest, and she was as intelligent as he'd hoped. She had a good head on her shoulders and luckily he wasn't interested in removing it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"i have," she admitted after a brief pause. "but jobs like being a barista or working in restaurants aren't necessarily as stable as people imagine." one shoulder lifted lightly. "the shifts are long, someone else decides when you work, and a lot of your income still depends on people deciding whether to leave a tip."

⠀⠀⠀⠀"at least this way i'm the one deciding where i play, when i play, and how long i stay." a small smile followed. "and as far as i know, driving for uber requires owning a car." she laughed softly through her nose. "which unfortunately isn't something i can cross off my list just yet." she shook her head gently because she doubted she will own a car some day simply because she's used to walking or using public transport.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"besides... i'm not really complaining." there was a quiet warmth to her voice now. "i like making music. if i have to work for a living anyway, i'm glad it's something i actually enjoy."

⠀⠀⠀⠀as he spoke about paris again, something else caught her attention entirely. she glanced toward him with open curiosity. "you called paris 'she'." the observation escaped before she had quite decided whether to keep it to herself.  "that's... interesting. most people would call a city 'it'." she wondered briefly whether that was a french habit or simply something uniquely his.

⠀⠀⠀⠀when he asked whether she had ever travelled, she shook her head. "no." the answer came without embarrassment. "honestly, i don't think i've ever been farther than a couple of hours away from new orleans. that's probably the reality for more people than you'd think. traveling sounds wonderful, but it also costs money. and when you're mostly focused on paying rent and buying groceries..." she smiled apologetically. "vacations tend to become a luxury rather than a plan." there was no self-pity in the admission because it was simply fact and she knew that she also wasn't the only one who did not have enough sparse money so that she could spend it on travelling. a lot of people didn't have much. she's not sure if lestat can comprehend that, though, because he appeared and looked like someone who has money.

⠀⠀⠀⠀when he stepped aside to hold the café door open for her, genuine appreciation touched her expression. "thank you." the words were sincere as she stepped inside. after following him toward the window, she nodded approvingly at the table he had chosen.

⠀⠀⠀⠀"this one's perfect." before sitting down, she carefully rested the violin case upright on the floor between her feet, one hand lingering on it for a brief moment out of habit before finally letting go.