( She can see it from his perspective, but the timing and learning everyone was included in what was probably a family vote has her feel a bit outnumbered. And forced. If everyone trusts her, how can she no? Not that she wants to say no. )
Not many. Not any that would be as foolproof as coding my blood or however her power works. Freya, I can't not. I just want to make sure Kol also knows what he's doing. He's basically signing his girlfriend's death certificate but ensuring she'll become like Lizzie. Forever's a long time. And, I really didn't want to be thinking about forever this young.
Have you talked to Kieran about this? Without Kol hovering over her shoulder? I think her concerns about forever are a bit different and it may help for you to speak candidly with her about them.
I'd like to not undermine her or grill her for her take on forever. If she wants this, she's thought it through. I don't have to drag her through it all over again. It's just a lot.
( And on a holiday. And on a day she worries for her girlfriend's, and Danny's, safety. )
[Freya nods, because she understands that it's a lot.]
I'm not saying you have to grill her, or even questions her decisions. But if you have questions who's answers would make this easier, it's worth asking. And I don't think she'll mind answering them if it will make you more comfortable.
Maybe. I've already decided either way, I just - wanted to talk to you. I could probably take advantage of going to school so close to you more often.
( She crossed a few states to see her after everyone's memories were restored. She needs to be less independent. Or, maybe not. Maybe it's just all the family that's making her feel guilty. )
You should. A girl could get jealous with you calling other aunts for helps with magical objects.
[She's kidding, clearly, she's glad that Hope and Bela are bonding somewhat. Bela isn't going anywhere anytime soon as far as Elijah is concerned, and she knows how Hope put a lot of her feelings on Bela for a long time.]
Does it have to be? She's in Elijah's life and I'm happy for him. I have nothing against him, or Bela, and my mom is getting closer to werewolf royalty of her own, so if she or Elijah has the problem or wants more, maybe they can open their mouths.
( Which is harsh. Deep down she tries not to hold her mother's kidnapped against him. She let it go against Roman. She knows why Elijah did what he did. But, he's the first one to fully denounce their family. (Apparently not, she hates all things Finn.) )
[Hope doesn't trust easily, so if she reached for Bela over Freya, it implies there is some kind of trust there. That Bela has done enough to earn it. It's one of those things where progress takes all forms. Freya sighs briefly, draping an arm around Hope's shoulders.]
I'm not saying you have to feel one way or another about Elijah. I love my brother, but I know what he did hurt you. And that it hurt Hayley. Have you talked to your mother about what happened? Because it seems like you're still holding on to a lot of anger about it.
[And guilt. A lot of what Hayley went through, Hope had a role in setting into motion. But that was a long time ago.]
Not for a long time. It's dead and buried. Like the nazi vampires that did it. You... really think that might help?
( Four years later? Five now? It's times like these she hates that Ms. Tig was so in and out constantly. She was always her favorite therapist. (Your stepmom can't be a therapist.) )
And maybe finally make everything square between Elijah and me?
( She sees your meddling. She'll come in for a hug before thanking her and saying they better get inside.
But, at the end of the night, after coming from outside and Hayley and Derek have grabbed their coats. She shakes her phone between to fingers. )
That was Josie, she got all my messages and she's, of course, fine. Apparently, a lot went down at Chez Saltzman-Parker. ( She eyes Derek ) Derek, do you mind giving my mom and I a minute?
( Of course he doesn't, and he excuses himself to find his sister - fine, and Stiles. )
This is going to come out of nowhere, but, can you tell me what happened with Nora and Roman? I was unconscious and, I wake up and, I know how close a call it was. But, I don't know exactly what happened?
[It is something they hadn't talked about, given everything that came after. Hope activating her wolf, then going back to school - there wasn't time. She takes a breath, before sliding her hands in her coat pocket, tipping her head towards the quiet of the street.]
Let's take a walk.
[And have this conversation away from a building through of supernatural ears.]
( But, she still does it, keeping close to her mother. She always liked the quiet of the quarter. Most people like it loud and bustling and big. But she likes it like this. Away from tourist season. It's like home. )
Nah, it'll take him a minute to track down Cora and her boyfriend anyway - which he is totally in denial about, so it'll be good for him to have some more time to glare indiscriminately at Stiles.
[They move a bit down the block before she turns back to the actual conversation.]
( Weird vibes there. But, not her thing. Her mom has better intuition than she does, and it's not why she's on this walk. )
Freya just... said something about making inroads with Bela. And, it's not that serious, but if it wasn't, why did I act how I acted -- and then the Elijah of it all. We never came back from it. I almost lost you. Headmistress Forbes could've been killed. I think I need all the pieces. I thought I moved on. ...Now I'm not so sure.
Oh, that's a complicated question. Because on the one hand, he wasn't the Elijah I knew. He wasn't the one who cared about me, so why could I expect him to protect me? But the Elijah I did know decided to give up his memories of his family to make it easier to stay away, and that was a lot harder to forgive.
[So it's a much longer answer than she probably should give for this walk.]
There's a reason we didn't get back together again. Something was damaged there that we couldn't get back. But we figured out how to be family again - platonically speaking.
Let's not get into the nitty gritty, platonic, otherwise. I know you're not related, it's just - ( she makes a face, and moves the conversation along. ) Is that what Elijah said, that he gave up his memories because he knew it would make it easier to stay away? He stayed away because of me, because he had a piece of the Hollow in him. ( she stops. ) He did it because of me.
[Hayley stops with her, taking her daughter by the shoulders.]
He did not do it because of you. He may have taken on the Hollow to protect you, but nothing after that has anything to do with you. There were a lot of reasons why Elijah did what he did. He was going through a lot at the time. I don't say that to excuse it, but I do think he took the easy way out of having to be alone with his thoughts and his ... failings, honestly.
[This is said by someone who used to love Elijah, who thought that maybe he would be her final love, for forever, before she realized how complicated a man he truly was.]
Your dad wears a lot of his complications on his sleeve, but Elijah was good at hiding his. It made him look steadier by default, but he wasn't. Not really. But the point is, don't blame yourself for Elijah's stupid choices. They are not your burden to bear.
[There's a deep breath, and she resumes walking again. Almost as though she needs to keep moving to outrun the moment that almost was her end.]
You bound me, and then you were knocked unconscious. Nora was trying to convince Roman to kill you. I was trying to talk him out of it. It wasn't really going my way, but I could tell that he was unsure, so I kept pushing. Elijah was fighting with your dad outside.
[Her eyes are distant for a moment, almost as though trying to put some distance between the memory and herself. It was a bad day.]
That fight transferred to inside the house, and Nora seized the distraction, shoving me against the wall. One hand in my chest, one on my throat as I tried to push her back. I wasn't winning though. She was way older and more powerful than me, and I was basically a baby vampire. And then suddenly there was Elijah. And he looked at me like he had never seen me before.
[That was the moment she knew that she probably wasn't going to make it out of this one. This was different than Klaus and Elijah's usual fights, because Klaus was fighting with one hand tied behind his back for the brother he loved, but Elijah had nothing holding him back.]
Elijah staked your father. Not enough to kill him, but enough to disable him. I felt Nora get her hand on my heart, and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do to make sure you got out of there alive. That was the only thing that mattered. But before I could do anything, Nora's neck snapped and ... there was Bela. And she was not happy with Elijah.
Turns out Klaus had hired her to help find me. She didn't succeed in the way that they had hoped, but she was there when it counted. Roman ran, Bela took Elijah outside to have a very loud conversation and after I unstaked your father he threw Nora out into the sun where Elijah could see it.
[Which probably did not go over any better with his brother, let's be real.]
Elijah left, Klaus sent Bela to get Freya so that she could either unbind me or get me a daylight ring and I stayed there with you. You know what happened from there.
( She woke up in her own bed. Her mother was being unbound in the belltower as her father sat at her bedside. Teary apologies followed. Things weren't better, but they were safer. )
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bravebartender) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
everyonelives2025-03-12 08:39 pm
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Not many. Not any that would be as foolproof as coding my blood or however her power works. Freya, I can't not. I just want to make sure Kol also knows what he's doing. He's basically signing his girlfriend's death certificate but ensuring she'll become like Lizzie. Forever's a long time. And, I really didn't want to be thinking about forever this young.
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[Freya tips her head to the side curiously.]
Have you talked to Kieran about this? Without Kol hovering over her shoulder? I think her concerns about forever are a bit different and it may help for you to speak candidly with her about them.
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( And on a holiday. And on a day she worries for her girlfriend's, and Danny's, safety. )
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I'm not saying you have to grill her, or even questions her decisions. But if you have questions who's answers would make this easier, it's worth asking. And I don't think she'll mind answering them if it will make you more comfortable.
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( She crossed a few states to see her after everyone's memories were restored. She needs to be less independent. Or, maybe not. Maybe it's just all the family that's making her feel guilty. )
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[She's kidding, clearly, she's glad that Hope and Bela are bonding somewhat. Bela isn't going anywhere anytime soon as far as Elijah is concerned, and she knows how Hope put a lot of her feelings on Bela for a long time.]
It'd be nice to know I'm still wanted.
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( On hand. But, still, Hope makes it clear it's not about Bela, but what Bela knew. )
But, I promise the next one lands in mine or Josie's lap, you're getting the close personal face time.
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[And she gives Hope's hand a small squeeze.]
I do think Bela still appreciated that she's the one you called, though. It's a step.
[A small one, but a good one.]
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( Which is harsh. Deep down she tries not to hold her mother's kidnapped against him. She let it go against Roman. She knows why Elijah did what he did. But, he's the first one to fully denounce their family. (Apparently not, she hates all things Finn.) )
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[Hope doesn't trust easily, so if she reached for Bela over Freya, it implies there is some kind of trust there. That Bela has done enough to earn it. It's one of those things where progress takes all forms. Freya sighs briefly, draping an arm around Hope's shoulders.]
I'm not saying you have to feel one way or another about Elijah. I love my brother, but I know what he did hurt you. And that it hurt Hayley. Have you talked to your mother about what happened? Because it seems like you're still holding on to a lot of anger about it.
[And guilt. A lot of what Hayley went through, Hope had a role in setting into motion. But that was a long time ago.]
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( Four years later? Five now? It's times like these she hates that Ms. Tig was so in and out constantly. She was always her favorite therapist. (Your stepmom can't be a therapist.) )
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[Unanswered questions can eat away at you, no matter how far away you move from the hurt.]
More to the point, I think Hayley would want to answer them if it would set you at ease.
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( She sees your meddling. She'll come in for a hug before thanking her and saying they better get inside.
But, at the end of the night, after coming from outside and Hayley and Derek have grabbed their coats. She shakes her phone between to fingers. )
That was Josie, she got all my messages and she's, of course, fine. Apparently, a lot went down at Chez Saltzman-Parker. ( She eyes Derek ) Derek, do you mind giving my mom and I a minute?
( Of course he doesn't, and he excuses himself to find his sister - fine, and Stiles. )
This is going to come out of nowhere, but, can you tell me what happened with Nora and Roman? I was unconscious and, I wake up and, I know how close a call it was. But, I don't know exactly what happened?
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[It is something they hadn't talked about, given everything that came after. Hope activating her wolf, then going back to school - there wasn't time. She takes a breath, before sliding her hands in her coat pocket, tipping her head towards the quiet of the street.]
Let's take a walk.
[And have this conversation away from a building through of supernatural ears.]
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( But, she still does it, keeping close to her mother. She always liked the quiet of the quarter. Most people like it loud and bustling and big. But she likes it like this. Away from tourist season. It's like home. )
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[They move a bit down the block before she turns back to the actual conversation.]
Can I ask what has you thinking about this?
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( Weird vibes there. But, not her thing. Her mom has better intuition than she does, and it's not why she's on this walk. )
Freya just... said something about making inroads with Bela. And, it's not that serious, but if it wasn't, why did I act how I acted -- and then the Elijah of it all. We never came back from it. I almost lost you. Headmistress Forbes could've been killed. I think I need all the pieces. I thought I moved on. ...Now I'm not so sure.
( A beat. )
Have you forgiven Elijah?
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[So it's a much longer answer than she probably should give for this walk.]
There's a reason we didn't get back together again. Something was damaged there that we couldn't get back. But we figured out how to be family again - platonically speaking.
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[Hayley stops with her, taking her daughter by the shoulders.]
He did not do it because of you. He may have taken on the Hollow to protect you, but nothing after that has anything to do with you. There were a lot of reasons why Elijah did what he did. He was going through a lot at the time. I don't say that to excuse it, but I do think he took the easy way out of having to be alone with his thoughts and his ... failings, honestly.
[This is said by someone who used to love Elijah, who thought that maybe he would be her final love, for forever, before she realized how complicated a man he truly was.]
Your dad wears a lot of his complications on his sleeve, but Elijah was good at hiding his. It made him look steadier by default, but he wasn't. Not really. But the point is, don't blame yourself for Elijah's stupid choices. They are not your burden to bear.
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So, then what happened that day. How did it happen?
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You bound me, and then you were knocked unconscious. Nora was trying to convince Roman to kill you. I was trying to talk him out of it. It wasn't really going my way, but I could tell that he was unsure, so I kept pushing. Elijah was fighting with your dad outside.
[Her eyes are distant for a moment, almost as though trying to put some distance between the memory and herself. It was a bad day.]
That fight transferred to inside the house, and Nora seized the distraction, shoving me against the wall. One hand in my chest, one on my throat as I tried to push her back. I wasn't winning though. She was way older and more powerful than me, and I was basically a baby vampire. And then suddenly there was Elijah. And he looked at me like he had never seen me before.
[That was the moment she knew that she probably wasn't going to make it out of this one. This was different than Klaus and Elijah's usual fights, because Klaus was fighting with one hand tied behind his back for the brother he loved, but Elijah had nothing holding him back.]
Elijah staked your father. Not enough to kill him, but enough to disable him. I felt Nora get her hand on my heart, and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do to make sure you got out of there alive. That was the only thing that mattered. But before I could do anything, Nora's neck snapped and ... there was Bela. And she was not happy with Elijah.
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Well, she gets one thing out of that story, that probably changes a lot of the trajectory of what she knew. )
So, Bela saved your life.
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Turns out Klaus had hired her to help find me. She didn't succeed in the way that they had hoped, but she was there when it counted. Roman ran, Bela took Elijah outside to have a very loud conversation and after I unstaked your father he threw Nora out into the sun where Elijah could see it.
[Which probably did not go over any better with his brother, let's be real.]
Elijah left, Klaus sent Bela to get Freya so that she could either unbind me or get me a daylight ring and I stayed there with you. You know what happened from there.
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( She woke up in her own bed. Her mother was being unbound in the belltower as her father sat at her bedside. Teary apologies followed. Things weren't better, but they were safer. )
I never knew Bela's part in it.
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