but oh what a year

[patrols]

Comments

[cowman]

A merry Christmas, indeed.

( At the refreshments, Neal glances across the way at their significant others. He sips from his perfect selection in wine.

"How has everything been since hunter-gate?" )

[likeaweapon]

Well enough. My family has returned back to New Orleans so they are not haunting my every waking moment. And Alice has been spending a lot more time with us, with classes over and her mother out of town.

[She's been confiding in her. Asking her to go shopping to dates. It's starting to feel like Alice likes her, which also feels like a victory of a well-fought battle, even though she did little but be there.

She tips her head towards Neal.]

How are you doing with all of that?

[reducedradius]

Me? I've never had a narrow worldview. It's just another angle I take into account now.

( It didn't completely flip his world on his head. )

Honestly, I'm more thrown by the offer coming down the pike for Sara.

( Ears to the ground and all of that. )

Funny, you mention New Orleans.

[likeaweapon]

[Rebekah's eyebrows go up at that, drink pausing on it's way to her lips.]

Is Sara leaving Sterling Bosch?

[That's usually what happens when offers are involved, isn't it? Rebekah doesn't know, she's never held a job of her own. She's a thousand-year-old stay at home mom.]

[reducedradius]

More like, heading a new location. Or, if she declines, she'll run the operation here.

( He also knows the offer she's currently extending, but judging by Rebekah's reaction, she doesn't. And that's okay. These things take time. )

She's earned it ten times over. She's just mulling her options. ( He has freedom now, so he will go wherever she does. He manages to have a life everywhere. )

[likeaweapon]

Oh.

[Her eyes brighten as she prospect of Neal and Sara moving to one of her favorite towns.]

Well, it's a fantastic city. I'm sure you'll love it there if she decides to go.

[reducedradius]

I don't doubt it at all. Between the history, the local color, and a food scene I could get lost in, I think the only thing that might keep us here are Peter, El and little Neal.

( And, they are their own family. They could definitely survive. )

[likeaweapon]

Still, very strong reasons.

[A pause.]

I would recommend that maybe Peter would consider moving to the New Orleans office, but ... well, that would require an education and he may not be too keen on moving there after that.

[reducedradius]

Does the FBI do things differently in New Orleans than they do in New York?

( And what kind of expert is Rebekah? Please, tell him the ways and the secrets. )

[likeaweapon]

Well, the local government is very heavily mired in the supernatural, given he large population that lives there. I wouldn't be surprised if the local FBI agents are also aware of the reality of the world.

[And as far as she's aware, Peter still hasn't been told yet.]

[reducedradius]

That kind of education. Well, you met him at the barbecue. Think he can handle New Orleans' reality?

( His instincts say the by the book officer wouldn't, but he's adaptive. )

[likeaweapon]

Hard to say. I wasn't sure Sara would, but she's been handling it better than I expected.

[She pauses.]

Though she is a smidge more ruthless than Peter is.

[reducedradius]

She'd thank you for the smidge.

( It's polite, on Rebekah's part. Sara is much more ruthless than Peter, except when Peter is under pressure or his people are in trouble. )

But, for now, all of that is hypothetical. There's a lot of talking behind closed doors and countless meetings discussing upward mobility. I'm just along for the ride.

[likeaweapon]

My brother is one of the most ruthless people who's ever lived. Sara barely tips the scale.

[When your point of comparison is Klaus Mikaelson, it's hard to measure up.]

Well, if you need me to recommend anything, you know where to find me.

[reducedradius]

He really does have his withering stare behind a tea cup down. Great hospitality, five stars. But. Intense.

( He liked Elijah, though. Impeccable wardrobe. Kol reminds him of a certain adversary and the less said about that, the better. )

I do. Shall we rejoin our spouses?

[likeaweapon]

Yes, let's. I believe my husband owes me at least one dance.

[And with that they will make their way back to the rest of the group, and she flashes Doc a smile as she gets close with his drink.]

Everything going well over here?

[cowman]

Only the one?

( A dance does sound nice, though. A slow one. Neal brings Sara's refreshed drink over and sits, crossing a leg in her direction.

"Well indeed," he says behind his mustache. He kisses his favorite person's cheek, before leaning in close to her ear. "Sara has given me an offer I'm not sure I can refuse," he shares. )

[likeaweapon]

Oh really?

[Rebekah would say that most offers can be refused, violently if needed, but she doesn't think that this would be one of those situations.

"There's a chance that I may be placed in charge of Sterling Bosch's New Orleans office. And I asked John Henry if he would come with me," Sara explains.

Rebekah glances over to Doc.]

I see. We will have to discuss it.

[Not in front of Sara and Neal, no offense Sara and Neal.]

[cowman]

That was precisely my response.

( Wow, Sara, way to beat him to what he was trying to make a romantic punch. But, it's fine. He could see her wanting that. Her family is there, after all. And other than Henry's schooling which hasn't started in earnest, what do they have here? Their only friends will be moving.

"I for one think it's an inspired idea," Neal says, eyes on Sara. )

[likeaweapon]

[He can still make it romantic later! It's just not a decision that involves just them. They have to think about Alice too.]

I love New Orleans. Living there certainly wouldn't be a hardship.

[But she will see them out of this conversation as the song changes and she smiles.]

I love this song. Dance with me, darling?

[reducedradius]

( Doc sets his whiskey aside.

"A husband's job," he jokes, sliding his chair out, before helping his wife up.

Once they're out and dancing, Neal turns to Sara. )

Did I slip up?

[tornadoinheels]

[Sara shakes her head as she watches them go, sliding one hand against Neal's shoulder.]

Not at all. I just think it's a little more complicated for them than it is for us.

[Doc and Rebekah's life has a lot of moving pieces.]

[reducedradius]

We're doing this. However this shakes out. Here, New Orleans. It's time I prop you up.

( She's given up enough for him. )

[tornadoinheels]

I appreciate that. Though I would argue that you've always been supportive ... when you hadn't stolen something I was trying to recover.

[But that was prior to their relationship, so it doesn't count.]

If we go to New Orleans, is Mozzie going to follow us?

[reducedradius]

Mozzie doesn't follow me everywhere, Sara.

( But, he does kind of. )

I could negotiate one weekend a month.

( One in New York, one in New Orleans. )