as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[likeaweapon]

It is, honestly. Her teenage years were quite moody.

[She still loves her niece though.]

Sounds like things are better between you two, though.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

( Elijah didn't help with that. )

Slowly. It's all I can ask for. Have you heard from Hayley?

[likeaweapon]

[She shakes her head.]

No, but I've left some messages. If I do, I'll let you know.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

( He nods. She will always be in his heart, even if they were never able to be, not after siding with Bela and their unfortunate misunderstanding that almost ended her life. )

Please do.

( He moves from one cushion to the other to put an arm around his sister and rest his chin on her head. )

[likeaweapon]

[Rebekah easily curls in with a sigh, closing her eyes.]

I'm sure she'll be fine, Elijah. She's always been made of tough stuff.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

I do worry, sometimes. It is so easy for us to harden our hearts as Mikaelsons. She has come so close to losing so much.

( But she didn't. He reminds himself she didn't. )

[likeaweapon]

But she hasn't. And she won't be forced into making the same decisions we were.

[Giving up her mortal life before she's ready, doing terrible thing to cope with the trauma.]

She'll have better choices.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

And whatever choices she'll have, they will be hers. It's not as if I don't see her making mistakes. I just want those mistakes to be hers and hers alone.

( But Hayley is not Esther. )

[likeaweapon]

Me too.

[She takes a deep breath.]

Same for Henry. Though his part in things will be much less complicated.

[He'll only be a witch, if that, not a Tribrid the way Hope is.]

Henry has more complications on his father's side, if I'm honest. But it's much more normal, human complications. He has an older sister.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Does he? Are they close?

( Or as close as a toddler and an older sister can be. )

How much older?

[likeaweapon]

Not as close as we'd like. Alice lives on the other side of the country. But we'd like to try and arrange for them to spend more time together.

[A pause.]

Alice is ... eighteen now, I think? Hope's age.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

And Henry has two parents and extended family that love him.

( As for Alice. )

Have you met Alice?

[likeaweapon]

Once, at the wedding.

[A pause.]

Her mother is ... a character, to say the least. But I can see why John Henry liked her.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

A character. Do go on.

( This is what he misses. Just this simplicity between them. )

[likeaweapon]

She's forthright and maybe a little antagonistic, but she's loyal and clever. And she has a crass sort of charm that is oddly endearing.

[Definitely would stick out like a sore thumb in the refined insults of the Mikaelsons, but sometimes you need someone who can get a little vulgar in your life.]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Well, then we must meet this endearingly crass charmer. Because, as long as I've known you I have never heard you call someone crass endearing.

( Perhaps it's the cowboy they have in common. )

[likeaweapon]

If you stay a while, you might. Alice is going to be going to college in the city, and I think Wynonna is coming to drop her off.

[This will be wildly entertaining if that's the case.]

[uniquelyvulnerable]

I believe that is our plan. We're high profile now. Sticking together is in our best interests.

( Together and local. It's not unlike their time in New Orleans, except there is no bayou or graveyard to escape to. )

What better city to get lost in a crowd.

[likeaweapon]

Indeed.

[She smiles.]

But good. It'll be good to have some family around.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

I am sorry it's been as long as it has. The years bleed together.

( And, he was still recovering psychologically, if he's being honest. Bela was a large part in that. )

[likeaweapon]

You got here in time. That's all that matters.

[She squeezes his arm.]

And Bela kept me appraised on things. The benefits of being her sire, I suppose.

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Yes, I did luck out that our paths crossed after Marcel erased my memory.

( A coincidence he doesn't carry lightly, for someone who doesn't believe in "meant to be." )

[likeaweapon]

Lucky indeed.

[She takes a breath, before finishing her drink.]

I should go see what Klaus is up to. Are you going to be alright out here for a little while?

[uniquelyvulnerable]

Attend to our brother, I'll join Bela in for the night.

( He gives a quick, fierce, side hug. Toasting to her, he lets her go before returning to his master bedroom. )

[interminably]

( Klaus is on the balcony, having not joined Camille for the evening just yet. Doc has brought Henry back upstairs to the guest bedroom to get him ready for bed.

He overlooks the city from so high up. )

You couldn't get such a view in New Orleans. But, is there a city more rich in history.