I'm not looking to settle a score. I attacked his brother in a moment of hubris. I sealed my fate. And, if you ask me, it ain't a bad fate. I have no illusions about how I was born. Either time. ( He was definitely the first oops of his family, before they came to like parenting and loved his younger siblings more. ) And I would never let my personal feelings get in the way of what me and Wes have. Or, him and his family. Or, you and yours. People are more than one thing. I'm a rough-around-the-edges bull in a chinashop. I'm also a gay man. I'm also an estranged brother. A Texan. And a lapsed Christian. That last part will probably never change. I never was for organized religion. But, I am for keeping real family together, not getting in the way of that. I wouldn't. And if I was, I'd let myself out.
[And now that that's been cleared up, they can talk about some more trivial things. She smiles, and leans in to take a spoonful of the meal in front of her, before leaning back with a please sound.]
Wesley, I do think you have outdone yourself this time. This is delicious.
["Thank you, Scarlett," Wes sighs as he sits down next to Jay Michael, reaching for his hand under the table and giving it a small squeeze of apology.]
( He says it affectionately, because there is something about Wes that sparkles, that he was drawn to. Lit nightclub. Loud music. And he found Wes. And a life. )
Oh, I did once, after the war. I found it very tedious, and a waste of my time, given that I was also trying to get my second husband's business going at the same time. Poor Frank didn't really have a good head for business, and trying to do so in the aftermath of such destruction is even more of a challenge.
[She tends to like them bloody, but no one is surprised there.]
I will admit that becoming a vampire did atrophy my need to learn the craft. If I do not need to do it for sustenance, it becomes an even bigger waste of time.
Oh, well. There's a period where you try and stay as close to humanity as possible. Where you still have living relatives or friends you like to talk to. You get a job, move through life as normally as possible, socialize, et cetera.
[She waves a hand.]
But once you realize you don't need as much of that or you have to move on because people realize you're not aging, you could do all kinds of things. Travel, experience art and theater. Make connections. Never discount your vampiric connections. They're the ones that are going to be around a hundred years from now. They can give you touchpoints when you need them.
( He tests the thought out in his mind, what that might look like. Who that might be. He's forever connected to Damon Salvatore. Is that a touchpoint?
As for his family, they aren't in touch. He disappointed them greatly, and then escaped. From golden boy to gas station attendant to army to -- vampire. )
[Pieces of your human life keep you grounded, for better or worse.]
Our type of vampire is very in-tune with our human emotions. We feel them so much more strongly. Losing the things that ground us in that humanity can ... make things very messy.
["I will take some more wine, thank you." Scarlett nods with a smile.
Wes gets up next to him, and gives his arm a gentle squeeze.]
Let me give you a hand.
[As they head back into the kitchen for the wine, taking some of the leftovers back with them, Jay Michael's phone buzzes in his pocket with a text from Mia:
Mind if a friend crashes on our couch for a bit until I get him set up somewhere else?
( He takes Scarlett's glass with one hand and pulls his phone out with his other as they return to the kitchen. He sets her glass down, squinting. Huh. No other information, huh? Okay.
She's not big on words. Or, descriptions. Took my to a "friend's," once, and it was the fanciest place I'd ever been.
( Real par for the course. Better to another point, not that sound doesn't travel in a room with vampires.
He moves to the sink, turning it on to wash the glass. An excuse of sorts. ) I like your family. ( He gives him a look, the look he's probably expecting the "Scarlett O'Hara" look. )
It's not your place. And, I know what I did. I went after the Ripper of Monterey single-handed. Without research and then got my ass handed to me by a slayer.
( And then was tracked to the hunter bar. He made all his choices. )
I know what the world's like. I know what they were facing. I know the side I was on.
( If he thinks about 'what he deserves,' it opens up an entire can of worms he's not ready to deal with. Cans of worms he left behind. A father and mother he disappointed. Maybe he wasn't kicked out by Wes' definition, but his parents' words were clear. And he left behind a sister he loved. And a girlfriend he didn't. And guys that didn't know him. And one guy that did. )
I'm not saying I got what's coming to me. And I'm not saying this is punishment. Maybe it just is what it is. And it's more. I loved Lucas and I loved Cooper, but I also didn't even know what love is. ( And deluded himself into thinking he could have Cooper. Transference. It's a bitch. ) And, I didn't ever have, you know. I never lived life. ( He played a role. Well-rounded golden boy jock. ) I got regrets like anyone. But, you. This. Mia. Your family.
( He turns around, hands coming to his waist, fingers slipping through his belt loops. )
I'm living, baby.
( It's more playful, smooth, Grease baby, then romantic baaaby. But, the smile. That's real. Smooth just happens. Notice how he just got more smooth? He never was? He was awkward in his skin and tried to make everyone happy. Tried proving himself. And now. Does he need to? )
( That's right, they were here to refill glasses. So, he focuses on that, so they can each take two glasses and bring them back, Jay Michael handing Scarlett hers again. )
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everyonelives2025-07-26 07:05 pm
no subject
I'm not looking to settle a score. I attacked his brother in a moment of hubris. I sealed my fate. And, if you ask me, it ain't a bad fate. I have no illusions about how I was born. Either time. ( He was definitely the first oops of his family, before they came to like parenting and loved his younger siblings more. ) And I would never let my personal feelings get in the way of what me and Wes have. Or, him and his family. Or, you and yours. People are more than one thing. I'm a rough-around-the-edges bull in a chinashop. I'm also a gay man. I'm also an estranged brother. A Texan. And a lapsed Christian. That last part will probably never change. I never was for organized religion. But, I am for keeping real family together, not getting in the way of that. I wouldn't. And if I was, I'd let myself out.
no subject
[And now that that's been cleared up, they can talk about some more trivial things. She smiles, and leans in to take a spoonful of the meal in front of her, before leaning back with a please sound.]
Wesley, I do think you have outdone yourself this time. This is delicious.
["Thank you, Scarlett," Wes sighs as he sits down next to Jay Michael, reaching for his hand under the table and giving it a small squeeze of apology.]
no subject
You really have, babe.
( "I echo their sentiments," Rhett says, lifting his fork, chewing. "I've always said he should get himself a restaurant of his own." )
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[Too much pressure, to have an entire business and people's jobs relying on his skill and ability to deliver.]
Besides, I like being a mixologist. It has flair.
["Maybe if we give him another decade or two," Melanie says with a wink. "Give him a chance to be ready for a new challenge."]
no subject
( He says it affectionately, because there is something about Wes that sparkles, that he was drawn to. Lit nightclub. Loud music. And he found Wes. And a life. )
Scarlet, do you or Rhett cook?
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[She glances up at her son with a smile.]
I much prefer dining to preparing.
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( he can man a grill. that's useful. right? )
no subject
[She tends to like them bloody, but no one is surprised there.]
I will admit that becoming a vampire did atrophy my need to learn the craft. If I do not need to do it for sustenance, it becomes an even bigger waste of time.
no subject
( He's only in his first year of forever, he can't even think about what time looks like, or how it might feel wasting it. )
Got any advice for a guy looking to not waste his own time?
( Or your son's, he doesn't say. )
no subject
[She waves a hand.]
But once you realize you don't need as much of that or you have to move on because people realize you're not aging, you could do all kinds of things. Travel, experience art and theater. Make connections. Never discount your vampiric connections. They're the ones that are going to be around a hundred years from now. They can give you touchpoints when you need them.
no subject
( He tests the thought out in his mind, what that might look like. Who that might be. He's forever connected to Damon Salvatore. Is that a touchpoint?
As for his family, they aren't in touch. He disappointed them greatly, and then escaped. From golden boy to gas station attendant to army to -- vampire. )
no subject
[Pieces of your human life keep you grounded, for better or worse.]
Our type of vampire is very in-tune with our human emotions. We feel them so much more strongly. Losing the things that ground us in that humanity can ... make things very messy.
no subject
( You just - go along with it. )
No longer an issue, for the record, but, not looking forward to Klaus Mikaelson being one of my touchstones a hundred years from now.
no subject
[For better or worse, till death do they part.
That being said, for an example on Jay Michael's behalf.]
In your case, in the event that you and Wesley do not continue for the long term, you still may find a friendship from it, for both of you over time.
[Wes glances up at her, teasing. "Don't jinx us already."
She rolls her eyes.]
Simply offering an example.
no subject
( He laughs. )
Maybe I'm the one jinxing us now. Anybody need another round of drinks. I think I should leave the table, come back with different juju.
no subject
Wes gets up next to him, and gives his arm a gentle squeeze.]
Let me give you a hand.
[As they head back into the kitchen for the wine, taking some of the leftovers back with them, Jay Michael's phone buzzes in his pocket with a text from Mia:
Mind if a friend crashes on our couch for a bit until I get him set up somewhere else?
Mia, that is rather vague of you.]
no subject
Nope.
She has interesting friends. )
I think Mia's bringing someone back with her.
no subject
A good someone or a bad someone?
no subject
( Real par for the course. Better to another point, not that sound doesn't travel in a room with vampires.
He moves to the sink, turning it on to wash the glass. An excuse of sorts. ) I like your family. ( He gives him a look, the look he's probably expecting the "Scarlett O'Hara" look. )
no subject
Even with Scarlett bringing up very uncomfortable dinner topics? I probably should have warned you more about that. I'm sorry.
no subject
( And then was tracked to the hunter bar. He made all his choices. )
I know what the world's like. I know what they were facing. I know the side I was on.
no subject
That doesn't mean you deserved all of it. You made mistakes but doesn't mean it was a just punishment. Lots of people fell for Monroe's rhetoric.
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I'm not saying I got what's coming to me. And I'm not saying this is punishment. Maybe it just is what it is. And it's more. I loved Lucas and I loved Cooper, but I also didn't even know what love is. ( And deluded himself into thinking he could have Cooper. Transference. It's a bitch. ) And, I didn't ever have, you know. I never lived life. ( He played a role. Well-rounded golden boy jock. ) I got regrets like anyone. But, you. This. Mia. Your family.
( He turns around, hands coming to his waist, fingers slipping through his belt loops. )
I'm living, baby.
( It's more playful, smooth, Grease baby, then romantic baaaby. But, the smile. That's real. Smooth just happens. Notice how he just got more smooth? He never was? He was awkward in his skin and tried to make everyone happy. Tried proving himself. And now. Does he need to? )
no subject
I am very glad to hear it.
[And as he leans in to kiss him, Scarlett's voice comes from the other room.
"Are you boys coming back with that wine, or are you just going to flirt in the kitchen all evening?"
Wes sighs, before rolling his eyes.]
Rain check for after my parents are gone?
no subject
( That's right, they were here to refill glasses. So, he focuses on that, so they can each take two glasses and bring them back, Jay Michael handing Scarlett hers again. )
Sorry about that. Pesky corkscrews.
🎀