everyonelives | the ground could open, he could still say please

( "I don't think that pertains to curse words, Kier," Julian says, generally happy to be around his sister, and to be alive again. It feels as normal as it should being in a car with two virtual strangers. )

I'm okay.

( He's not. )

Did Freya get back about where we're stopping?

[He is not and he and Davina will take a nap in the backseat when they get back on the road. She's not taking no for an answer. Glancing down at her phone, she nods.]

Joyce Kilmer Service Area.

[A few signs whip past and she points.]

About another couple of miles, should be on the right.

Couple of miles

( "Sounds like it was named after a dead white lady," Julian says, popping an eyebrow up. "What services was she providing?" )

[Kieran shrugs as she googles it, mostly because she likes knowing things.]

He, actually. Alfred Joyce Kilmer was a super prolific poet before he got shot by a sniper in World War I.

[The more you know.]

I died in World War I and all I got was a rest stop named after me on the New Jersey Turnpike.

( There's a reason they are siblings. )

I think he might be the least famous of all the rest stops, honestly. Though he's not the only one that died from a gun shot, Alexander Hamilton got one in Secaucus.

[A beat.]

Maybe it's because he haunts the place. He had his duel in New Jersey, didn't he?

She dragged me three times. Great musical, but three times? Yeah, Kier. It's etched into my soul.

( Maybe she can 'Take a break.' Badumch. Anyhow, Scott gets them to the rest stop in one piece, pulls into a parking space and finally lets himself feel the fatigue from the past few days as he puts the car in park.

"You don't mind driving the rest of the way?" he asks Davina, still trying to mask the reasoning (13). It's just very nice of her. )

["Not at all," she promises, and after a quick bite to eat, she resettles behind the wheel and drives them the rest of the way to New York.

And when they arrive at the Mikaelson stronghold in New York ... Klaus and Rebekah are fighting. About what? Something dumb they've likely forgotten about already. Klaus made some sort of off-hand comment to his sister and she fired back with her usual aplomb.

Elijah likely has a headache. Cami, Doc, and Bela have likely done something sensible, like gone to dinner with Henry. They figure they'll come back when they're done. After Freya knocks on the door, footsteps come their way.]

You do this every time, you nitwit.

[Then she turns to see who's there, and smiles at her remaining siblings.]

You made it!

[Immediately pulls Kol into a hug since he's the one she hasn't seen yet.]

Everything go alright with your friend?

( "Only with the men who couldn't hold a candle to you!" her brother yells from further within the apartment. He'd complimented her husband, but in a way that insulted her past indiscretions backhandedly. Marcel not withstanding. Except for those years when he was not on their side and had him imprisoned. They've all come a long way. Even though it was Rebekah's decision to turn down his proposal, Klaus still blames Marcel.

Somehow, his sister can do know wrong but also make the most idiotic decisions.

Kol, familiar with the sturm and drang of his siblings' wars, embraces his sister he hasn't seen in too long.

Did it go alright? They saved her brother, but stumbled into a witch conspiracy. Yes, nobody died. )

We're all alive. ( Shitty benchmark a thousand years in. Julian stays back, still wary of every Mikaelson under one roof, but if they're keeping his sister safe, he supposes he can - be chill for now. He is more caustic (9), a smile plastered on his face, worry just behind his eyes. ) Everything alright with our brother?

Just being his usual cantankerous self.

[She may have been spending too much time with her husband from the 1880s. She pulls back with a smile before turning to hug her sister as well.]

Please. come in, all of you. There's plenty of room and we can do introductions somewhere not the doorway.

[Freya moves past her sister to where her brothers are waiting smirking at them as she does. "I leave you alone for less than a week and you're already picking a fight?"]

I said Henry resembled Henrik.

( "And nothing at all after that?" Kol asks, knowing there is more to the story. )

I like John Henry.

( Kol isn't buying it (15) and neither is Julian (14), but he is new to this dynamic.

"And?" )

For a cowboy, but the cowboy stacks up better than the hunter.

( Maybe not better than Stefan, but who doesn't have a soft spot for Stefan?

Enough about their insufferable idiocy, Klaus sees a familiar face and one not so familiar face. )

Well, well, if it isn't Kol's interloper. Kieran, right?

Lovely to see you again, Klaus. Elijah.

[Because she did notice that the other brother was there too. She makes her way in and gives Kol and Rebekah their space.]

This is my brother, Julian.

[Rebekah shakes her head at Klaus, before glancing to the last two members of the group. "Davina! It's been so long."

"Good to see you too, Rebekah," Davina smiles as she moves to embrace her. "This is Scott McCall. Scott, Rebekah Mikaelson."

Rebekah smirks. "Do I complete the Mikaelson collection?"]

( "I guess, yeah," Scott says. He'd met the others under siege but this counts as everyone.

Julian is more curious than friendly, and he doesn't trust a Mikaelson, but he has no choice. He is here in his sister's stead. (It is his fault he's here. It's his fault she found him) )

How long has it been since your whole family has been in one place?

Oh ... quite a while. My wedding, I think?

[That seems right.]

Not the longest amount of time we've been apart, but long enough.

Must be good, then, having everyone under one roof.

( Makes it easier for any of them to turn on his sister, but he's tabling that protective quality for when they get a private moment. What the fuck is she thinking isn't the best small talk.

"This is a nice place. Thanks for lodging us." Scott says, moving further into the condo. )

I can't take credit for it, Elijah did all the decorating.

[As they're still in his safehouse for now.]

But please, make yourselves at home. Now that everyone's here we can have a proper family dinner.

[Davina makes a face before taking Scott's hand and pulling him towards the bedroom. "Hopefully a nice one that doesn't end with someone getting stabbed?"

Freya laughs. "One can only hope."]

( That makes sense, modern edges meet old world interior design. It's striking if somehow simultaneously out of place.

Scott takes his leave with Davina so they can finally decompress with their own alone time - and discuss their next moves. Julian eyes one of the paintings. Klaus offers Julian a drink and before turning to his sister. "Tea?"

Their fight is over for not but not forever, Rebekah! ~~Misunderstanding, not fight.~~

In the bedroom, Scott drops his backpack with what he was able to take with him and sighs, facing Davina.

"You're okay staying here, right?" )

["Please," Kieran nods with a smile. See, Kol, she's getting along with your brother just fine.

Davina nods as she sits on the edge of the bed.]

Yeah, we'll be fine here. Things between me and the Mikaelsons are nowhere near as complicated as they used to be.

[Still complicated, because nothing with the Mikaelsons isn't complicated, but less so.]

But if you're not comfortable here, we can try and find somewhere else tomorrow.

If you're comfortable, I'm comfortable. Just making sure.

( Scott begins to strip because he has been in the same clothes for far too long, but not because of anything other than that. )

I'm gonna shower.

( He brings a kiss to her forehead quickly, pauses after, realizing that's not the most romantic, makes a face and places a separate kiss on her lips before disappearing but leaving the bathroom door ajar.

It means something that he feels this comfortable with her. Stripping off the last of his clothes, he starts the shower.

After the group has dispersed, the Connor's being regaled of Kol's younger exploits, Kol makes himself scarce, finding his sister in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner.

"I would say this is like old times, but there has been very little blood spilt."

Here. We don't talk about H. )

Well, the night is still young.

[Rebekah turns to him with a smile.]

Apparently my ability to throw a dinner party and have it be crashed by violence has not changed since I took the cure.

[Tips her head to the side as she studies him.]

But what's going on with you?

Always lead with your strengths, sister.

( He lifts a pot lid and peers inside. )

My girlfriend's brother was trapped inside his own mind, because he thought his sacrifice might save her from a fate worse than death. The usual for our family.

That sounds like a walk in the park, honestly. But I'm glad things seemed to have worked out for the best. Though he does seem a smidge uncomfortable with the idea of staying in a den of Mikaelsons.

[Proves he's smarter than your average, honestly, certain circumstances aside.]

I'd rather he have a problem with her dating a Mikaelson. I might worry about his sensibilities, otherwise.

( Her thoughts and his align. )

Also, I don't care. ( He pauses. ) I'm far more concerned with her being in mortal peril.

[She turns on him, concerned.]

What kind of mortal peril? Is someone coming for her?

[Because that they can do something about.]

More like something. It's hereditary and it's inevitable. Like Abigail in Vienna.

( In the early 1900's. A fast friend of the family, but someone who quickly faltered under the onset of some devastating symptoms. Except Abigail wasn't a witch and accepted their help.

Kol worked up to offering, but Kieran doesn't want to lose that connection to her magic. Kol can relate. It's why he gravitated to witches, why he reveled in Kaleb's body. )

Exactly like Abigail.

the ground could open, he could still say please

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