perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart

[maxxx]

Comments

[deathlessness]

I think that Hope loves you and while she may have questions, she cares about you. She may still want to help. You were always her favorite uncle.

[Kol was also the one who put in the most effort to keep in touch with her during the time with the Hollow. That good will is still there.]

Ask her. Answer her questions. And if she does say no, then we'll find another way.

[witchaffinity]

Another way around exacerbating and intensifying her already excruciating slow death.

( He sighs, knowing they have no other choice and only needed this last piece of advice. )

We'll put it to a vote. Let Klaus in, because he will feel a type of way about being left out of his daughter's choice. We're all in town for one more night at least. Tomorrow morning. We put it to a family vote.

[deathlessness]

I think we all like to forget that Hope is an adult now and can make her own decisions, but fine. We'll put it to a vote.

[She knows her family well enough to know that Hope being eighteen isn't going to matter. In the face of a thousand years, she's still a baby.]

[witchaffinity]

We both know this is more about bringing it to Hope, than Hope's final decision.

( He's not quite to 'burn heaven and hell' for Kieran, but he doesn't want to create an international incident by going behind his brother's back. )

[deathlessness]

We do.

[But she still thinks that Hope doesn't need her parents' permission to have a seat at the table. But then again, she's always been the aunt that's advocating for Hope's own agency.]

I'm just saying.

[But as she says that, the door is opening to reveal a tired Doc and Rebekah.]

Back already?

[cowman]

After a few rounds on the dance floor, we overestimated our perseverance. It was quite a band.

( And he had the best date in the house! )

[deathlessness]

["It was. They had a full swing dance happening and everything. It almost seemed like it was choreographed."

Freya's eyebrows go up.]

That does sound quite impressive.

[cowman]

It was a marvelous night for a jaunty tune and a two-step.

( Or several, as it were. He approaches his son, disentangling him from his aunt and uncle. )

Thank you both for taking the time. The revelers are still celebrating should either of you want to put on your dancing shoes. How is Kieran?

( "She's getting her rest," Kol says. "Which is where I should be headed. But, you should, sister. The night is young." )

[deathlessness]

[She considers for a moment before shrugging.]

Why not? The night is still young.

[And if the rest of her siblings are going to be responsible, then one of them needs to go have fun.]

I'll try not to get into too much trouble.

[She's kidding. Mostly.]

[cowman]

Maybe seek out just enough.

( She deserves it. She is the sister that keeps everything in perspective. Having her in his domicile has been more rewarding for many reasons. )

[deathlessness]

[She smirks.]

I'll see you all for breakfast then.

[Which she will, even if it turns out to be stumbling back in time just for breakfast. But she promised Kol that she would be there for his big talk with the family, and she's a sister of her word.

She makes her way in to the smell of pancakes and smiles.]

Something smells delicious.

[affronting]

John Henry is making short stacks.

( Upstairs, Kol kisses his girlfriend's forehead, leaves her in bed with a promise of bringing her breakfast and joins his siblings in the kitchen. )

Good morning, sister. I trust you enjoyed the USO?

[deathlessness]

It was certainly brassy.

[She smiles as she goes to slide into an empty seat.]

How was everyone else's evening?

[affronting]

I believe most of us are partied out, though our brother's paramour hasn't made an appearance in a few days time. I trust Kieran isn't under the weather?

( Kol fights the urge to taunt and throw sarcasm back, because they are all here for a purpose.

"I'll pass along your concern," he starts. "Not entirely unrelated, I have a vote to put forth to the family." )

[deathlessness]

[Rebekah flicks not-so-gently at Klaus' shoulder before moving to sit down next to Henry.

"What exactly are we voting on?"]

A way that one of us may potentially be able to help Kieran.

[witchaffinity]

As you all know, Kieran has been under the weather the past few, and, it isn't an isolated incident.

( "And one of us can help her with that?" Klaus asks, curious."Rebekah, you doted on Henry through his cold a few months back, are you up for caretaking again?" )

She has Huntington's. She only has a few good months left. She has more bad days than good. She's also an expert study in bloodborn magic. She believes she can chemically isolate what makes a vampire able to perform their magic.

[deathlessness]

[Rebekah had a retort regarding Klaus and the kind of care that Kieran needs, but since Kol is wuick to explain, she keeps it to herself. Instead, Freya reaches for her tea as she settles back in her chair.]

Rebekah's help wouldn't be unwelcome, but the person that Kieran would really like to speak with is Hope.

[witchaffinity]

And we believe that we should put her involvement to a vote. She has made great strides at starting her own life away from her family.

( "So, let us get this straight. You believe this should be put to a vote, but that you also believe it should be her choice? Yes?" )

[deathlessness]

I thought we should have just let Hope make her own choices. But I believe our brother is offering a vote as a sign of respect. Rather than catching you by surprise at Hope's involvement, he's keeping you in the loop.

[Which seems to indicate that whatever this vote may entail, Freya still intends to let her niece make her own choices, but that's nothing new in terms of Freya. She still is the sister who went to help her niece transition (possibly behind her brother's back).]

[affronting]

( Klaus still carries that grudge, being left out of his daughter's 'inevitable decision' and what transpired after. )

As tragic as her circumstances are, I vote no. She is not a Mikaelson.

[likeaweapon]

["I vote we should let Hope decide."

Rebekah pauses as she looks over at Kol, wanting a bit more information - or at least having the information set in front of Klaus.]

What exactly would we be asking of Hope? Just a conversation?

[affronting]

( "And, if she's willing, her blood. Perhaps a magical biological scan. I am not the scientist, only the person that loves her and will try anything within reason." )

Within reason of what my daughter, your niece would be willing to do. Say she takes the conversation. Say she even donates to her little experiments. Has she found the vampiric loophole to such a disease? I wouldn't be so heartless as to point out her odds, and what aren't diseases, but, a game of odds and inevitabilities.

( "Klaus," Elijah says, speaking up finally. "There is no need to needle our brother. You don't respect Kol for coming to us directly?" )

There is always another way when it involves my daughter.

[likeaweapon]

I assume that at this point, vampirism is the goal. It's simply a matter of whether or not she'll still be able to do magic once all is said and done?

[That's at least her understanding of things, but she wants to make sure that Kol is on the same page - that it isn't a case of Kieran waffling on the vampirism itself.]

[witchaffinity]

She wants to retain her magic, and live, even if living means dying.

( But, one thing at a time.

"I also vote we shouldn't be putting this to a vote, and that Hope should know nothing of this... cloak and dagger backroom bargaining," Elijah says. )

[likeaweapon]

["Also, the information she seeks requires her magical skillset. Ideally, it would be better were she to find the solution before she's turned."

Freya glances over to her sister, knowing that she's the last to weigh in with her opinion. Rebekah considers carefully, before nodding.]

I agree with Elijah. Hope should hear nothing about how we were trying to put guardrails on what she should and shouldn't know. But I think that she should be allowed to make her own choice on the matter. And if there's anything that Kieran could possibly learn from my blood, I'm happy to provide it.