the ground could open, he could still say please

[slavophile]

Comments

[vampasm]

Errol Broussard. Virginia's doing what she can, but he's not like her boys. And - I can only imagine what it's costing, the crowding. It might be good for him to see - he doesn't have to be like all the other wolves. I think he roughhouses and he's active because he is a wolf, but I think he prefers his music and his art. I'd rather raise a Hope Mikaelson than a resentful, orphaned -- well, Hope Mikaelson.

( He's lost so much. )

I think if he's interested, you and me would make a great lifeline. He'd see us and know he wouldn't have to be anything but who he is. He could do what he wants, love who he wants. Befriend a vampire. You spent some time at Virginia's. Do you think it'd be good for him?

[packguy]

[Aiden nods slowly because yeah, Josh isn't wrong. Errol's a good kid and it's not that Virginia doesn't care, but she's got too many on her own. And it doesn't have to be about Errol being different necessarily, but just as a parent you can only have so many eyes on things at once.]

I do. And I think we're not too far so he can still go hang out with the boys when he needs to.

[vampasm]

Maybe he's too old for playdates, but yeah. Why not? We have to talk to him. But -

( But they're doing this. With his blessing, they want to do this. )

[packguy]

I think he'll be into it, honestly. He's always been a kid who likes having his own space.

[But even if he's not into it, there's probably another kid out there who needs a place to stay. They can make it work.]

[vampasm]

I love you, you know that? I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here.

( Previous timelines prove that he would die not long after. Well, longish, not in vampire terms. )

[packguy]

I love you too. And we don't have to worry about that, because we're going to be keeping each other alive for a long, long time.

[Aiden's not ready to give up his humanity quite yet, but it's not like he hasn't considered it. At a certain point, he'll have to reach a decision on it and talk to Hope, but for now, he's happy with the life they're building for themselves. With the family they're going to have.

Forever can wait a little bit longer.]

[vampasm]

Speaking of, did I ever properly thank you for the big rescue mission?

( Between being rescued and swamply hiding, he doesn't think so. )

[packguy]

[He considers for a moment, before shaking his head.]

No, I don't believe you did. And if I remember correctly, it was very awesome of me.

[vampasm]

OK. Breakfast. A healthy dose of thanking you, and then maybe we can make a call to Virginia.

( Or the pack in general. )

[packguy]

Sounds perfect to me.

[And they will settle in for a lovely morning and enjoy Josh's delicious breakfast.]