[Alice was not planning to spend her Thanksgiving break in New Orleans, but given that she’s never been, she wasn’t going to say no. What she didn’t anticipate, however, was traveling on a private plane with the entirety of the Mikaelson family, and … they’re a lot.
Like … incredibly intense.
She did spend most of the plane ride hiding by being designated Henry sitter. It also isn’t that she doesn’t like Rebekah—she makes her dad happy, and she’s always been very nice to Alice. It’s her brothers that are the complicated part, so she made herself as inconspicuous as possible, and thankfully they left her alone.
She doesn’t expect that to last.
However, when they make it back to the Abattoir and she does see a familiar face, she seizes the opportunity to take advantage.]
Hope. Hi!
[Then a beat.]
It’s Alice. Lizzie’s roommate, and your … step-cousin? I guess?
[Hope probably remembers who she is. But damn if the girl isn’t intimidating and makes her want to ramble. As much as she and Lizzie have gotten closer, she knows that Hope is Lizzie’s capital-B Bestie, and she doesn’t want to be awkward.
Which is why awkward is exactly what she is.
The undercurrent of it all though is please help.]
( The Mikaelsons are a nosy bunch and family comes first, so they all keep one eye on their sister's stepdaughter, but she's also doing famously with Henry who everyone adores, so they let her alone.
For now.
Staff has already started the festivities (Mikaelsons are extra, right, Alice?
Hope and her mom, unfortunately, (and Derek, he's... laconic) have had to coordinate efforts on the ground. Her mom and Derek arrived early to let the caterers and staff in so Hope could sleep in. But, it's a lot more of 'this or that,' that she didn't want to or need to pick out.
She does love that her whole family is coming together, including everyone extended. Rebekah, her husband and child, and his daughter. Kol's girlfriend (he has a girlfriend that's not her aunt Davina, she needs to be used to that, and somehow her brother is coming now, too.
Stiles and Cora arrive first and Stiles talks but Hope likes Cora. She's tough. Her and Derek are like, really really siblings.
And, of course, Bela is here, too, with her uncle. But she's buried that hatchet. Her mother is trying to find happiness. Everything could be so much worse.
She does wish her girlfriend was here to buffer but she has a shiny new family member who they thought was dead so she can't blame her. At least Alice is her age. Not that she doesn't love her family to death. It's just that everything is different in college. And it feels like she's in high school again. And somehow, the one in charge of everything.
Alice interrupts a conversation nobody asked for about candlesticks. She is all to happy to turn her attention to her.
Also, she's seen pictures. And didn't they do the whole roof thing? She can calm down. She knows who Alice is. Lizzie needs friends and allies, so she's happy she has Alice.
Danny went through it, sure, but Alice didn't do that. They all did that. Alice just kept guard. )
Alice, oh my god, girl. Great to see you. ( she says ) Alice is an expert in candlesticks actually. Please help us in this debate that won't ever end about silver vs gold vs pewter.
( aka help her out. Just swat them away so she can get to know you more. )
[Alice is an expert in candlesticks in the sense of she knows that they are a viable weapon should you need to grab them at a moment's notice. But apparently this is translating to interior decorating.]
Oh! Uh ...
[She does seem to take the question seriously. The Mikaelsons are likely intense about their decorating scheme. But given how the rest of everything looks ...]
( That seems to satisfy who's asking and Hope keeps her saccharine smile on until he disappears into a back hallway somewhere, no doubt where everything else is being stored. Maybe to the big white van in back.
Just as long as he's not still standing right there. Her expression finally falls as her eyes roll and she turns back to Alice. )
I owe you one. That's been me for the last hour. I think my mom and Derek are deliberately taking longer than they need to get ready.
( The narration leaves this open ended between getting-dressed-up-nice sex, running a last minute errand, or just being scarce - as a coincidence and not because Hayley wasn't raised on candlesticks and table runners. )
But, now that you're here, I have an excuse. I'm entertaining. I think a bunch of strangers can make tablescape decisions without us, don't you?
( Grabbing Alice's hand, she leads them out of the main room and into one of the parlors. She has an easel up, as she started some late night painting when she couldn't sleep. But, there's more than enough room on the couch and a small spread that was brought to her earlier if she was hungry. Bagels and the like. )
Make yourself at home. Do you want anything to drink?
( They're a mixed-vampire household and ages never mattered when it came to that kind of thing. She's heard rumors of Wynonna - well, exploits - and she kind of assumes it's been the same? But she won't pry.
(The Saltzman's, however, were not raised like wolves.) )
[Hayley definitely is avoiding making decisions that Klaus will only complain about later, and if it happens to involve dragging her boyfriend(?) around to do some manual labor than so be it.
Alice, on the other hand, simply nods and follows Hope's lead as they head into one of the parlors. There's something about this place that just has vibes, and she can dig it. She hasn't exactly figured out what her vibe is yet, and she's not sure it's New Orleans Gothic, but she is a girl who can appreciate a theme.]
Yeah, I think they've got it handled. Also I can't really blame your mom - I too would dip out of home decor decisions as soon as I had the chance.
[She glances up at the mention of drinks, and while she does try not to indulge as much as her mother does, she's not a total teetotaler.]
We're usually whiskey people? But is it bourbon in New Orleans, or is bourbon something different entirely?
( Imagine the vibes when one of her dad's exes was kept in a sleeping spell in the other parlor, Alice. )
Yeah, it's not my thing, either. But, sometimes it comes with the pedigree and my father being fashionably late.
( So, she deals. She's also kind of lucky. Definitely don't make a thing about it. )
Bourbon and whiskey are -- you'll like either. ( And she's pouring top of the top shelf, neat, girl before bringing her the glass. ) Now. Catch me up to everything I missed after visiting Danny's sideways world. The less we talk about me being his sister, the better.
[She takes a deep breath before leaning back with her glass.]
Let's see. We did Velma and Daphne for Halloween. Survived midterms.
[She hesitates because she doesn't know if this is something she should share. She feels bad enough about how things went down with Archer's reemergence into her life. She also doesn't know what Lizzie may have told her.]
And then a friend of mine from Purgatory was in town.
( Lizzie can be a gossip but has grown to appreciate that some stories aren't hers. So while she had a story to tell, she did not divulge to Hope. Beyond, Alice has good taste, who knew. Sorry, Alice. She's still Lizzie. (Lizzie still tells Josie everything, but that's twins for you. )
Why does it sound like there's more to that story?
( It's both so vague it isn't interesting, but it also draws her in, like she should ask a follow-up question.
But also like Alice doesn't want her to. Either way. She doesn't. )
[Alice winces because yes, there very much is more to that story.]
Before you and Josie became the cutest couple in the world, did you ever have someone that got under your skin in a way that maybe was a little ill advised?
[She maybe exaggerating slightly on Hope and Josie, but they are a very cute couple.]
Ill-advised? Do you mean did he come with a Parental Advisory label?
( So her mom's time. But, she easily thinks bath, bringing the side of the glass to her lip. It's not fond memories, alright. And almost ended in a different outcome had her father not KO'd Elijah...
We'll circle back to her and Josie's trials and how they are much more formidable and problematic than cute. But that's witch legacies for you. )
Not that I knew it at the time, but I did like this one guy Roman. I thought he was interested, and, maybe he was, but his mother was also involved in this vampire terrorist plot. Which led to my mom being taken... ( It's a lot to rehash. ) Long story short, he didn't get under my skin, but he felt like a first in a lot of ways. And, it ended in disaster.
( Landon was its' own saga and really was only ill-advised at first because she didn't know his deal and then with everything Malivore. )
Kind of similar to that, though less maternal kidnapping and vampire terrorism.
[But the gist. A guy who makes you feel things you didn't realize were actual feelings.]
His name was Archer. There's this organization called Black Badge that my family's been involved with on and off since before I was born, and he's one of the agents there. He came to town to work a job "undercover" and things got complicated.
[That's the short version.]
Anyway, we hadn't talked since everything went down and then he showed up in New York and caught me by surprise and in true Earp fashion, I reacted poorly. But we're figuring it out. And we're actually talking now.
Talking is good. Do you want talking to go somewhere?
(Complicated. It was complicated with everybody she liked. Ever. Landon? Check. Roman. Check. Josie before she knew. And then after turning her humanity off. Check and check. But, complicated can untangle over time. As long as there's communication.
And it sounds like Alice wants the communication. )
[A couple days later, after Stefan has obtained another phone and probably while he's sitting in the airport, waiting for their flight to meet Rusty, Stefan responds to Klaus' text:]
Sorry, my phone was destroyed.
[Aka, he wasn't intentionally ignoring him.]
We'll actually be in your neck of the woods soon. Might swing into New Orleans for a couple of days if you're interested in sharing a drink and providing an alibi.
( Always a pleasure to message his favorite (Salvatore) brother (and let's be honest, probably the person he considers to most be a brother, you're a real one for trying to help with the unlinking), so he doesn't hide his smile in the presence of his wife when he replies.
As for memories, Rayna still looms. He got over Stefan's recklessness, at least. )
As long as that alibi doesn't bring with her a homing pigeon for old time's sake, I'll be happy to do what I can.
[And Buffy is a maybe. She might want to head towards Kansas to see her sister, rather than heading to New Orleans to hang out with Klaus and the other Originals. He's also not sure how much of an alibi he'll need, but can never be too careful.]
Just have some business to handle in Mississippi. I'll let you know when we head to New Orleans.
Does this business have to do with the attack on the castle you were living in? I heard there were slayers lost. Our new leader of the human faction was there with you. He has quite the story to tell. A nice cautionary tale for the quarter.
( Her eyebrows rise, not having considered it. She hasn't thought about what comes after. She's very focused on hurting people who hurt them. Or, at least, bringing the pain.
But, to her, the only New Orleans affiliation for now is Lindsay. (And Rhett). And Stefan's "nieces." Is it them?
[He can see why she would make that assumption, but he's quick to course correct. He holds up his phone.]
That was Klaus checking in. He said he'd provide an alibi if we needed one, but it would help if we made an appearance. And I'm not saying we do, but the Tower can be ... punitive.
Well, we wouldn't want to be punished by the ancient vampire society. If that will help with an alibi, then I don't see why not.
( And then it's her turn to voice her thoughts on what comes next. )
What about Kansas, after? Just, Dawnie's there now and hurt and it would make me feel better if I could see her in person. Maybe meet Jeremy. I know there are parents in the mix now...
[When it comes to dealing with the Gilberts however:]
I may excuse myself from family dinner, though? According to Caroline, they're having a rough time with the amount of vampires in close proximity to their daughter and since I'm the vampire that started it all, they may not be pleased to see me.
[He doesn't want to get in the middle of Buffy's time to bond with Jeremy's family, even if he isn't planning on going anywhere for the long term. In fact, there are conversations he wants to have around that, but he was saving them for after they dealt with the Riverboat.]
We can see how things are going closer to the visit, but I don't want to make dinner all about me when you're meeting Jeremy for the first time.
Believe it or not, I know a thing or two about moms not loving my taste in vampire men. Or, for that matter, my taste in men.
( While Joyce Summers wasn't thrilled even knowing Angel used to exist, when he suddenly existed again she was faced with the very real fact that Buffy lied. Again. And then, Spike. She never met Parker. And she liked having Riley around the house, but even her mom knew she wasn't carved with Riley's cloth, even though for months it felt like she had been.
She doesn't want to start in about Spike because she let everyone down with him, including herself.
She thinks her mom might actually like Stefan. If she were alive.
Elena is Stefan's ex-girlfriend and one-time fated love? She's been assured it was a spell but the two of them did confront the possibility at one time. She's only a jealous girl when she has reason to be and shockingly, Stefan has given all green flags. )
I also don't want to overwhelm the Gilberts with a vampire-palooza. Is it still only Ryan and Caroline there or are they full up? I'm not going to ask you to come with me just so they can throw death glares across the table.
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everyonelives2025-03-12 08:39 pm
new orleans
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Like … incredibly intense.
She did spend most of the plane ride hiding by being designated Henry sitter. It also isn’t that she doesn’t like Rebekah—she makes her dad happy, and she’s always been very nice to Alice. It’s her brothers that are the complicated part, so she made herself as inconspicuous as possible, and thankfully they left her alone.
She doesn’t expect that to last.
However, when they make it back to the Abattoir and she does see a familiar face, she seizes the opportunity to take advantage.]
Hope. Hi!
[Then a beat.]
It’s Alice. Lizzie’s roommate, and your … step-cousin? I guess?
[Hope probably remembers who she is. But damn if the girl isn’t intimidating and makes her want to ramble. As much as she and Lizzie have gotten closer, she knows that Hope is Lizzie’s capital-B Bestie, and she doesn’t want to be awkward.
Which is why awkward is exactly what she is.
The undercurrent of it all though is please help.]
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For now.
Staff has already started the festivities (Mikaelsons are extra, right, Alice?
Hope and her mom, unfortunately, (and Derek, he's... laconic) have had to coordinate efforts on the ground. Her mom and Derek arrived early to let the caterers and staff in so Hope could sleep in. But, it's a lot more of 'this or that,' that she didn't want to or need to pick out.
She does love that her whole family is coming together, including everyone extended. Rebekah, her husband and child, and his daughter. Kol's girlfriend (he has a girlfriend that's not her aunt Davina, she needs to be used to that, and somehow her brother is coming now, too.
Stiles and Cora arrive first and Stiles talks but Hope likes Cora. She's tough. Her and Derek are like, really really siblings.
And, of course, Bela is here, too, with her uncle. But she's buried that hatchet. Her mother is trying to find happiness. Everything could be so much worse.
She does wish her girlfriend was here to buffer but she has a shiny new family member who they thought was dead so she can't blame her. At least Alice is her age. Not that she doesn't love her family to death. It's just that everything is different in college. And it feels like she's in high school again. And somehow, the one in charge of everything.
Alice interrupts a conversation nobody asked for about candlesticks. She is all to happy to turn her attention to her.
Also, she's seen pictures. And didn't they do the whole roof thing? She can calm down. She knows who Alice is. Lizzie needs friends and allies, so she's happy she has Alice.
Danny went through it, sure, but Alice didn't do that. They all did that. Alice just kept guard. )
Alice, oh my god, girl. Great to see you. ( she says ) Alice is an expert in candlesticks actually. Please help us in this debate that won't ever end about silver vs gold vs pewter.
( aka help her out. Just swat them away so she can get to know you more. )
She's just so cosmopolitan. She's from New York.
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Oh! Uh ...
[She does seem to take the question seriously. The Mikaelsons are likely intense about their decorating scheme. But given how the rest of everything looks ...]
Silver? The silver looks nice.
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( That seems to satisfy who's asking and Hope keeps her saccharine smile on until he disappears into a back hallway somewhere, no doubt where everything else is being stored. Maybe to the big white van in back.
Just as long as he's not still standing right there. Her expression finally falls as her eyes roll and she turns back to Alice. )
I owe you one. That's been me for the last hour. I think my mom and Derek are deliberately taking longer than they need to get ready.
( The narration leaves this open ended between getting-dressed-up-nice sex, running a last minute errand, or just being scarce - as a coincidence and not because Hayley wasn't raised on candlesticks and table runners. )
But, now that you're here, I have an excuse. I'm entertaining. I think a bunch of strangers can make tablescape decisions without us, don't you?
( Grabbing Alice's hand, she leads them out of the main room and into one of the parlors. She has an easel up, as she started some late night painting when she couldn't sleep. But, there's more than enough room on the couch and a small spread that was brought to her earlier if she was hungry. Bagels and the like. )
Make yourself at home. Do you want anything to drink?
( They're a mixed-vampire household and ages never mattered when it came to that kind of thing. She's heard rumors of Wynonna - well, exploits - and she kind of assumes it's been the same? But she won't pry.
(The Saltzman's, however, were not raised like wolves.) )
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Alice, on the other hand, simply nods and follows Hope's lead as they head into one of the parlors. There's something about this place that just has vibes, and she can dig it. She hasn't exactly figured out what her vibe is yet, and she's not sure it's New Orleans Gothic, but she is a girl who can appreciate a theme.]
Yeah, I think they've got it handled. Also I can't really blame your mom - I too would dip out of home decor decisions as soon as I had the chance.
[She glances up at the mention of drinks, and while she does try not to indulge as much as her mother does, she's not a total teetotaler.]
We're usually whiskey people? But is it bourbon in New Orleans, or is bourbon something different entirely?
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Yeah, it's not my thing, either. But, sometimes it comes with the pedigree and my father being fashionably late.
( So, she deals. She's also kind of lucky. Definitely don't make a thing about it. )
Bourbon and whiskey are -- you'll like either. ( And she's pouring top of the top shelf, neat, girl before bringing her the glass. ) Now. Catch me up to everything I missed after visiting Danny's sideways world. The less we talk about me being his sister, the better.
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Let's see. We did Velma and Daphne for Halloween. Survived midterms.
[She hesitates because she doesn't know if this is something she should share. She feels bad enough about how things went down with Archer's reemergence into her life. She also doesn't know what Lizzie may have told her.]
And then a friend of mine from Purgatory was in town.
[Yeah. That keeps it simple enough.]
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Why does it sound like there's more to that story?
( It's both so vague it isn't interesting, but it also draws her in, like she should ask a follow-up question.
But also like Alice doesn't want her to. Either way. She doesn't. )
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Before you and Josie became the cutest couple in the world, did you ever have someone that got under your skin in a way that maybe was a little ill advised?
[She maybe exaggerating slightly on Hope and Josie, but they are a very cute couple.]
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( So her mom's time. But, she easily thinks bath, bringing the side of the glass to her lip. It's not fond memories, alright. And almost ended in a different outcome had her father not KO'd Elijah...
We'll circle back to her and Josie's trials and how they are much more formidable and problematic than cute. But that's witch legacies for you. )
Not that I knew it at the time, but I did like this one guy Roman. I thought he was interested, and, maybe he was, but his mother was also involved in this vampire terrorist plot. Which led to my mom being taken... ( It's a lot to rehash. ) Long story short, he didn't get under my skin, but he felt like a first in a lot of ways. And, it ended in disaster.
( Landon was its' own saga and really was only ill-advised at first because she didn't know his deal and then with everything Malivore. )
Who was your blast from the past?
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[But the gist. A guy who makes you feel things you didn't realize were actual feelings.]
His name was Archer. There's this organization called Black Badge that my family's been involved with on and off since before I was born, and he's one of the agents there. He came to town to work a job "undercover" and things got complicated.
[That's the short version.]
Anyway, we hadn't talked since everything went down and then he showed up in New York and caught me by surprise and in true Earp fashion, I reacted poorly. But we're figuring it out. And we're actually talking now.
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( Complicated. It was complicated with everybody she liked. Ever. Landon? Check. Roman. Check. Josie before she knew. And then after turning her humanity off. Check and check. But, complicated can untangle over time. As long as there's communication.
And it sounds like Alice wants the communication. )
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Sorry, my phone was destroyed.
[Aka, he wasn't intentionally ignoring him.]
We'll actually be in your neck of the woods soon. Might swing into New Orleans for a couple of days if you're interested in sharing a drink and providing an alibi.
[Just in case.]
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As for memories, Rayna still looms. He got over Stefan's recklessness, at least. )
As long as that alibi doesn't bring with her a homing pigeon for old time's sake, I'll be happy to do what I can.
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[And Buffy is a maybe. She might want to head towards Kansas to see her sister, rather than heading to New Orleans to hang out with Klaus and the other Originals. He's also not sure how much of an alibi he'll need, but can never be too careful.]
Just have some business to handle in Mississippi. I'll let you know when we head to New Orleans.
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Does this business have to do with the attack on the castle you were living in? I heard there were slayers lost. Our new leader of the human faction was there with you. He has quite the story to tell. A nice cautionary tale for the quarter.
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[And likely remind them that this was a poor course of action on their parts.]
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[And with that he will glance over to Buffy:]
How do you feel about visiting New Orleans when we're done?
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But, to her, the only New Orleans affiliation for now is Lindsay. (And Rhett). And Stefan's "nieces." Is it them?
Still. )
And I thought Caroline was the wedding planner.
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[He can see why she would make that assumption, but he's quick to course correct. He holds up his phone.]
That was Klaus checking in. He said he'd provide an alibi if we needed one, but it would help if we made an appearance. And I'm not saying we do, but the Tower can be ... punitive.
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( And then it's her turn to voice her thoughts on what comes next. )
What about Kansas, after? Just, Dawnie's there now and hurt and it would make me feel better if I could see her in person. Maybe meet Jeremy. I know there are parents in the mix now...
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[When it comes to dealing with the Gilberts however:]
I may excuse myself from family dinner, though? According to Caroline, they're having a rough time with the amount of vampires in close proximity to their daughter and since I'm the vampire that started it all, they may not be pleased to see me.
[He doesn't want to get in the middle of Buffy's time to bond with Jeremy's family, even if he isn't planning on going anywhere for the long term. In fact, there are conversations he wants to have around that, but he was saving them for after they dealt with the Riverboat.]
We can see how things are going closer to the visit, but I don't want to make dinner all about me when you're meeting Jeremy for the first time.
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( While Joyce Summers wasn't thrilled even knowing Angel used to exist, when he suddenly existed again she was faced with the very real fact that Buffy lied. Again. And then, Spike. She never met Parker. And she liked having Riley around the house, but even her mom knew she wasn't carved with Riley's cloth, even though for months it felt like she had been.
She doesn't want to start in about Spike because she let everyone down with him, including herself.
She thinks her mom might actually like Stefan. If she were alive.
Elena is Stefan's ex-girlfriend and one-time fated love? She's been assured it was a spell but the two of them did confront the possibility at one time. She's only a jealous girl when she has reason to be and shockingly, Stefan has given all green flags. )
I also don't want to overwhelm the Gilberts with a vampire-palooza. Is it still only Ryan and Caroline there or are they full up? I'm not going to ask you to come with me just so they can throw death glares across the table.
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