Shaking Her Head, The Siphoner Couldn't Even Be Mad At The Outburst. Something Was Off In The City, Maybe

"you sure? cause i only need a few tomatoes so it's no big deal." gabriela was calmer now, always fighting that darkness that lurked inside her. it was something she grew better at with age and time, her loving family also dulling any of that need for something other than love. yet every day was a struggle, her soul was free but she still wasn't human. "if you are grocery shopping for someone else i think they normally keep those orders in a special place." grabbing some random produce and placing it in her tote, gabi turned around to point towards the booth labeled pick up. "they give you a discount for helping others so make sure to take a look around. there is a stall whose blueberries are perfectly in season right now."

The boy relaxed against the stall, taking in the bustling market around him. "It's fine, I don't really need it," he mentioned casually. He couldn't quite pinpoint why he had decided to visit the market, perhaps just to pass the time, but then recalled that he needed to collect an order for his mother. "I'm just here to pick up an order, I suppose," he added with a shrug, flashing a smile at the girl as he stowed the order in his backpack slung over his shoulders.

VANESSA MORALES outfits part one, IN THE HEIGHTS ( 2021 ).

her eyes watched as kaya quickly shut the notebook, taking note to mention it later once getting a better understanding of what was going on in her daughters head. gabriela also knew that when their daughter wasn't facing them, it was easier to minimize the problems that plagued her mind. placing a soft kiss on kaya's head, gabi then rested her cheek in the same spot. "yeah, i get that. sometimes it's too much at once, but you'll make sense of it at some point. just takes time." a crowded brain was something the demon knew all too well, giving up your soul meant there was always something else lurking. something evil, wanting to only cause harm and she'd do everything in her power to never let it shine through.

"you know what helps me when i have a crowded mind?" she smiled, before quirking an eyebrow.

She closed her sketchbook abruptly and tossed it to the side as soon as saw her mom. Kaya had shown her mother quite a few of her works over the years, but never anything from the rough sketch stage, and definitely never anything that looked like a crime scene. In past years, her art had always been peaceful and calm, rolling waves and women looking over the coast line. Now they were tainted and wrong. When her mom hopped up on the ledge next to her, Kaya reflexively rested her head on their shoulder. "It's nothing, really," she said. It was so easy to hide her feelings, so easy to tuck them away. "Just struggling to get the right compensation. My head is... it's crowded."

losing lizzie in the merge affected the whole family, caroline and klaus managed to react in a more loving way. most likely to show a good example for the rest of them. for josie and hope it seemed as if they'd lost a part of their soul. it was a feeling that really no one could relate too, even when they tried their hardest. maybe that was what pushed the two into such dangerous territory. what would you do to get your soul back? to get the piece of you that brought you happiness and joy? well you'd do anything and that's exactly what hope and josie did.

of course it ended badly, dark magic and grief don't mix well together, never have. it went on for months, almost a year, until josie called it quits. actually, she packed her things and didn't leave a note, knowing that there were no words to explain the way she felt. but that blurry moment in her life had passed and once it did she realized that it was just her. then nikolas lost his fiancee and the siphoner went to work doing what she does best, taking on others problems so that she wouldn't need to face her own.

hope's voice pulled josie out of her anxious thoughts, the way she sounded made the woman want to fall to the floor and beg for forgiveness. she wanted to say sorry while she sobbed, but it didn't happen, because that wasn't how the siphoner handled things. what she was able to do, was pull the other into a tight hug, while a sorrowful sigh left her shaky frame. "of course i wanted to see you, i wanted to see you the moment i ran away that night, but i couldn't do it..." trailing off, she pulled back, hands gripping hope's shoulders as if she'd blow away. "i'm so bad at this hope, but i'm sorry and i really wish i had handled us better."

"do you think you can forgive me?"

HOME THE VERY PLACE, hope both had run from and ran in simultaneous fashion, because home was family, it was security, childhood, NOTHING BAD ever happened there, the clear picture of a string of memories of three little girls ⸺ ever different, but the same too: like the sun, moon and stars, together they balanced each other out and the sound of endless afternoons filled with laughter, the one too many times that both she and josie had burst out laughing as lizzie made them join her for ' high tea ' being away had been solace, it had been calm, and avoidance all at the same time. grief, was a strange friend because that's what the emotion had become a constant companion that held on to the tribid like no other emotion she had KNOWN. that longing for the past and that shame of having done everything but keep the promise she'd made. failure loomed over hope mikaelson, ocean colored eyes avoided the door to ' her ' room, how would she have LOVED to hear her behind that door, she'd do anything to hear her lizzie mock her favorite pair of combat boots again, anything. perhaps that's what explained why she'd recruited josie on a ' dark magic ' around the world extravaganza, both girls had begun to tamper with elements neither of them could hope to wield much less control, and perhaps that's why they failed. because if the power of ' wishing ' worked, then lizzie would be BACK. they would have been able to mend that hole left in their family, change the sadness in caroline and her father's eyes. it had sounded so promising at first and now as the auburn headed girl laid on her childhood bed, tear filed blue eyes, she couldn't help but wonder who it was all for, and then came the knock ⸺ that instinct to pretend to be asleep, current events could wait, just ONE night... hope needed one moment where she could lament losing one of her sisters and then she heard it. " jo... " she whispered, dashing off her bed with impressive speed, she reached for the lock, and paused pulling her hand back from the doorknob for a second, before she turned it. " i'm here... " her voice was powerless, as eyes drifted downward. " i'm... " no she wasn't okay, but she didn't know how to talk about it, she hadn't for years. " i.. was going to... " another sharp pause. " i didn't think you'd WANT to see me. " respecting her space, that's what she'd tell herself it was, maybe if she said enough times she'd believe it and it would help her avoid facing the truth.

remembering the conversation with damon, made josie quickly agree to kaya's request to dance. nodding her head, she held onto the others hands and began to follow the rythm of her body. the song wasn't exactly that fun, but having had a few drinks, it felt as if the music was something she'd choose. "i'd love that!" josie replied, focusing on the other as they danced. "i heard you and hope got ready together. you both look beautiful." it was so easy to throw out compliments, when your other half was back. when nothing felt as if it was missing, josie realized that she had longed for other types of relationships. friends instead of just family or the small hellos to co-workers.

Kaya, fresh off a few shots from the bar, danced by herself to the slow, kind of boring music that floated through the air. She barely even noticed when Josie bumped into her, and she probably wouldn't have even said anything at all, just kept going about her swaying and enjoying of the music.

Instead, she grasped both of Josie's hands in hers. The two weren't exactly close, but Kaya had spent enough time around Hope that they'd hung out a few times here and there. The alcohol, however, made everyone in the room Kaya's best friend. "Do you want to dance?" she asked, cheerfully, holding both the girls hands and looking at her with a wide smile. "I mean, I know we were both already dancing, but do you want to dance, like, together?"

guilt swelled in the demon's chest as she began walking towards mariana. gabriela hadn't made it to the rescue, instead she went on a search for any of raymis's weaknesses. there were a few decent leads but they would've rather been there to rescue their daughter. shaking her head, she took let out a deep sigh. all of this was her fault even if kaya felt differently, it was gabi who struck the relationship with someone filled with so much anger and violence, but it wasn't like she had been in the right mindset at the time. meeting raymis happened to be the spark that lit the powder keg of dark energy being released from the new demon. that energy was something she tried keep from her kids, not to keep them in ignorance but simply because she was scared of looking like a monster. because well she had done some monstrous things, killed people and sent their souls to eternal damnation. no matter how much therapy and time passed, it was something that would never leave her.

gabi had done her best to not startle mariana but of course she was jumpy, the two hadn't yet spoken about what raymis did to her. "sorry baby, i didn't mean to, i just..." stumbling over their words, the demon decided to just take a seat near the peaceful lake. closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, doing everything in her power to allow the gentle noises to provide relief. "i'm just checking on you, i'm sorry i wasn't there to get you. i was trying to figure out how to make sure that bastard can never touch any of us again."

Marina sat by the tranquil lake in the park, seeking solace and trying to calm her mind from the recent events that had left her feeling unsettled. With her back turned to the water, she focused on the gentle ripples and the peaceful surroundings, willing herself to relax.

Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder, causing her to spin around in horror, a gasp escaping her lips as she jumped out of her skin. Her eyes widened in surprise as she laid eyes on the figure before her, a mixture of fright and curiosity evident in her expression.

"I-I'm sorry, d-did you need something?" Marina stammered, her words faltering as she struggled to compose herself, her gaze meeting the person who had interrupted her moment of solitude by the lake.

@inaducursehqstarters

as charlie confessed his good intentions, hayley cupped his face, tears welled in her eyes. nodding her head, the hybrid offered an emotional smile. "oh baby, i know you didn't mean to hurt henrik. you are going through a transition and despite how the rest of them are acting, this family is aware of the temptations you can be met with." she let out a heavy sigh, hating that when in distress the people around her children, had a tendency to become volatile. often forgetting the people that needed protecting in the first place. she saw that with klaus and later with the rest of the mikaelson family. even though it didn't shock her, hayley still wished for a change in that mentality.

her brows furrowed at her husbands threat to their son, but with charlie's soft face in her palms she refused to tense up. as her son leaned into her shoulder, hayley patted his hair softly and took slow deep breaths. "you are not going back there. we will get you some help that doesn't involve being locked away. that has never been the way to go and i know...i know your dad didn't really mean the threat. he's just easily influenced by your uncle." there was no way in hell, hayley was allowing her son back into the garden. she'd fight a counselor, someone who helped with drinking and go from there. there was so much she couldn't control, but finding charlie help was a mission she could work on.

Charlie turned to see his mother sitting beside him, her face filled with a mix of worry and exhaustion. Despite everything they were going through, she was there with him, offering silent support. His father had also come to visit, but the encounter had not gone well, leaving a heavy weight in the air. "I'm sorry, momma," Charlie murmured, his voice filled with guilt and regret. "I-I didn't mean to hurt Henrik. He was in pain, and I needed to save him." It was a confession he had only shared with his mother and brother, knowing the rest of the family wouldn't understand or care.

Charlie nodded, feeling the weight of his father's ultimatum pressing down on him. "Dad said if I don't shape up or stop drinking, he'll put me back in there," he admitted, the admission heavy on his heart. I can't go back in there mom, but I also can't stop the drinking not on my own." He leaned his head against her shoulder, seeking comfort in her presence.

josie walked over to the scene just in time, to see the man speed away after handing mia a card. tilting her head, she made her way over to the other and giggled softly. "i guess there are worse things to be left with than a nice card and some balloons." she hadn't seen mia in so long, so she quickly gave the other a tight hug before pulling back and examining the display. "does the card have a name?"

location: rousseau's bar

Mia walked out from the back of the restaurant into the bar area when she spotted the collection of balloons being placed on the ground near the door. A delivery man was quick to hand her a card and then headed for the door before she could stop him. "Wait, these aren't for here," she called out, looking over the card, but the man was already gone. She looked up at the balloons with a smile. "What am I doing to do with you?"

@inaducursehqstarters

after the newest faction meeting, hayley decided to scout the streets in her own way. taking people watching to the next step by using her hybrid abilities, she walked through crowds. it was clear who was human and who was supernatural, humans had no worry lines on their forehead. no one was really giving her any new details, a lot of them just anxious about the gruesome murders. still she kept going, getting lost in other conversations and not realizing the noise her body made, as it bumped into a loud chain-link fence. shaking her head, the hybrid realized that andrew was staring. "guess i got a little too caught up in other peoples business." a slight smirk covered her lips. "you doing okay andrew?"

↷ open ╳ m/f/nb ↷ muse playing ╳ andrew salvatore ↷ location ╳ french quater ↷ plotdrop ╳ when souls are lost.

rumor had it that there was a supernatural killer on the loose and those who were aware of the attack were on edge . it didn't help that the newbie vampire was attacked the moment he stepped in new orleans . but now there were actual murders happening in the city . heads severed and bodies bound and set on fire . this was enough to keep the redhead on guard , understanding that anything could happened at any given moment . andrew looked back when he heard a noise .

hayley didn't regret the fight, even as she lay in bed bruised and battered she held no doubts in what transpired. klaus had managed to find her after inadu had their way. possessing elijah to attack and leave her for dead, deep down she knew it wasn't him. that he wasn't in control of the blows, the hybrid could see it in elijah's face, how his eyes would change from rage to sorrow. he fought so hard to not allow this outcome and she knew that in her heart. she would heal in time, much faster than most. but that brought no comfort, she felt defeated, until hope walked into the room.

the tribrid had grown into her name the moment she was born and proved every day that the name fit, even when hope couldn't see it she was exactly that. the light in the darkness. that tiny spark that kept the fight going. that was who hope was to hayley, so to hear her voice it provided a wave of calm. the hybrids body began the process of relaxing, placing her other palm on hope's face, she smiled weakly. "there was nothing you could babygirl. i'm okay i will heal and elijah isn't possessed anymore."

it was obvious, the guilt and terror that ran through her daughter and she wanted so badly to dim the rage that also bubbled, but she knew hope needed time with these things. the two were protective over each other and hayley knew that she would be picked every time in the tribrids eyes. "don't be mad at him for too long, it wasn't him that did this to me...."

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃. ⸺ ( @iknowthvnd ) location: hayley and elijah's home.

HER ENCOUNTER WITH ELIJAH, had left one single thought in the tribrid’s mind ( not she wouldn’t run to her mother first, whenever something happened ) but this was different, it involved hayley directly and it was that little detail that made rage inside of her swell, hope’s list of people to ‘ protect ‘ was extensive on a regular day but it was the list that contained the people nobody should MESS with that often made her react, a bit more violently than usual ( and that was saying something )

rushing inside of her family home, her like of sight was frantic as she zoomed from room to room, only allowing her gaze to soften as soon as she spotted her. rushing forward, the girl threw her arms around her, finally allowing the breath she’d been holding to release before she pulled back to meet the hybrid’s gaze ⸺ a silent acknowledgment, to let her know that she was with her, no matter what.

if there was one thing hope was confident of, it was exactly this. she’d fight a long side her mother for the rest of time, regardless of who it was that they were staring down. “ you’re okay.. “ she breathed with a shake of her head, eyes stinging a little as she reached for the woman’s hands, lacing them with hers, she squeezed tightly. “ mom, i’m so… “ what sorry? would that help? would the guilt she felt knowing that it should have been her and not her uncle, help anyone if she shared it? no. so instead she pulled the brunette in for another hug, that feeling of protection that came whenever she was near her mother enveloping her to the point that it felt overwhelming, but. in the best way possible.