Blossom Wasn't Wrong, There Really Weren't Many Safe Places In New Orleans. Not With The Murders Taking

hearing the other voice caused her shoulders to jolt upwards, wiping her tears, she sniffed before letting out a sigh. "no, not really. pretty sure the only person who has seen me cry is my husband. which has been in our house and never in public." this all felt like a new low, of course she'd dealt with much worse. being a demon who brought souls wasn't exactly an easy or decent job. yet, she would rather be doing that than know that her family was in danger. "just got a lot going on and really not sure how to handle any of it, but i'll figure it out."

looking up at the other, she noticed the cigarette and decided to give into temptation. "do you have any more of those?" the only thing the demon smoked was for medical purposes but right now the smell seemed to provide calm.

Cigarette smoke swirled upward from the ash tray on his desk as he read over the current file he'd been working on. Typical work like always, some husband wanting to catch his wife in the act of cheating or vise versa. It seemed like no one in New Orleans had the desire to be faithful. At least not the seedy fools who came slinking into his office. It always ended the same way, even the ones seeking truth were often unfaithful as well, just looking for a reason to feel better about their own actions.

Tired, and with a headache that made reading the small printed text nearly impossible, he stood up, placed the still it cigarette in his mouth, and stepped out of the office. Down the internal steps and out the front door, he walked with the cigarette hanging from his lips, checking his phone and barely looking where he was going. That was the typical routine. He always had unread notifications from girls he'd hooked up with once or twice (never three times), or clients looking for updates on cases he hadn't broken yet. For the most part, all of them went ignored.

As he strode out of the office building and toward the water to enjoy fresh, clean air along with his cigarette smoke, he caught the sound of someone crying. His bread and butter, truly. Unlike some men who loved to pray on the emotionally unstable for romantic purposes, Heath had realized early in his career that these were the people who needed his help most. They had cases, they had issues, they had problems that only a sneak like Heath could solve.

He came to a stop next to the emotionally distraught person and flicked the cigarette ash onto the ground. Taking a long drag, he exhaled and said, "You alright?" Clearly they were not alright, but hey I noticed you sobbing from across the street was not a good entry into conversation with a stranger.

losing your soul wasn't as insane a thought for gabriela, she had done it in a heartbeat after he sister overdosed. so if anyone was not going to make elena feel bad about the trade, it was her demon best friend. yet, it was always shocking to see a person without their soul. especially for someone like elena gilbert, the woman had been a shining example of a mother and friend for gabi, as she got used to having a soul and a family. the demon had already gotten in contact with vincent griffith, hoping that he still held the spell that helped gabi and tyler get her soul back from arcadius. their eyes followed as elena let loose and appeared to be having genuine fun. a small smile grew on their lips as they walked to approach the other, hoping that whatever had lightened the mood would help with the encounter.

"elena, hey!" their smile turned to confusion as their friend simply starred, as if every word that came out of gabi's mouth was utter gibberish. scanning her friends face, it became very apparent what was happening, seeing her kids coming home with the same look in their teens. shaking her head, the demon placed a hand on the others shoulder. "i was just saying hi, sorry i haven't come by recently with the kids and tyler...it's just been a lot."

open to all ! location: paradigm gardens event 002: lighting of the solstice trigger warnings: drug use @inaducursehqstarters

After much encouragement from her niece, Elena Gilbert made her way across the street to the lighting of the solstice. The bonfire raged large and hot and friendly faces mingled about. Anyone who hadn't heard the news of her missing soul was likely expecting the typically bright and bubbly human. However, both those who had heard the news and those who hadn't would be sorely disappointed in the woman who arrived at the event.

Along with her encouragement, the Gilbert niece had also provided one very chocolately brownie with the good stuff, as she'd called it. She'd failed to mention, however, that the good stuff was also the powerful stuff.

Which was why legendary Elena Gilbert had come out to play. Her body felt loose, and she wanted to dance, despite being far away from where the music was actually happening. With a red solo cup in one hand and her phone in the other, she felt like a teen hanging out by the falls all over again.

When the person in front of her said something that she didn't catch, the soulless human blinked rapidly. "I'm so sorry," she said. "Were you talking to me?" How long had they been there? She'd just been enjoying the different colors of the raging bonfire, lost in the tornado of thoughts that was her brain. And if she blinked, which again, she'd just done rapidly, it felt like watching television and skipping a few frames. But she blinked again in attempt to compose herself, and put on a smile before taking a sip of the drink she definitely remembered pouring for herself.

gabriela knew the rosza family well, josh was a huge help in the transition of soul bringer to something calmer. with that, she was able to meet blossom and since her father helped so much, it felt like duty to do the same for his children. so gabi knew not to press the girl any further, shrugging their shoulders they leaned against the tree with a light sigh. "i won't lie something is going on, but i can't place my finger on it just yet."

taking a pause, the demon pushed through the nervousness and simply asked the question. "have you had any nightmares recently?"

“it’s fine.” blossom commented with a small shrug of her shoulders. eyes moving from the other to her sketch pad, hand continuously drawing at a rapid pace. drawing, it was one way she found could help clear her mind, especially with the uneasiness she had been feeling. it sometimes helped either clear her mind fully or put everything into perspective.

“I’ve been..” a pause for a moment, another shrug of her shoulders. “y’know the usual.” it was the best she could come up with. “what about you? how’s everything going?”

Would you rather always be two hours early or 20 minutes late? (eleanor)

"i'd always rather be early, because then if the event sucks i can leave early and it's no big deal."

"no, he didn't leave me out here..." she trailed off trying to think of a better way to explain the ordeal, but she's exhausted and just wanted to rest. "i was dead and now i'm not. he doesn't know i'm alive, well no one does and i would just really appreciate it, if you could give me the tiniest break." eleanor didn't mean to be so blunt with her words and yet they spewed out of her with annoyance laced on each syllable. taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and pushed her shoulders back, before opening them again. "listen, i'm sorry, but i'm pretty sure i just spent a solid hour crawling my way out of a grave. i don't know what day or year it is...i don't know how much time has passed..."

"Did he leave you out here?" Damon asks, wondering what kind of mess he was walking into. "The good news is I can help with at least two of those things. Why don't you sit in the shade," he gestures towards his porch, "I'll get the house phone." He pauses, looking her up and down. "And maybe the hose."

open starter ⊹₊ ⋆ plotdrop#003 : spirit of fear; @inaducursehqstarters muses ⊹₊ ⋆ gabriela chavez-lockwood location ⊹₊ ⋆paradigm garden

before the blue light could be seen, gabriela felt a shiver run down her spine, causing her mouth to grow dry and her body to tense. the bonfire was dying down, everyone mingling with tired smiles on their faces, it seemed as if the event had actually gone well. until that feeling rose causing, the demon to look for any signs of what might be on the attack. before they could even figure it out, a faint but mesmerizing light caught their eye, filling them with dread.

all that came to mind now, was that her family was danger and they needed gabi to save them. looking around with wide eyes, the demon scanned the gardens for familiar faces. "where the hell are they?" the demon muttered, frantic as horrible scenarios of the people she loved played on a loop in their mind.

the star card // upright: hope, faith, rejuvenation // reversed: faithlessness, discouragement, insecurity

'cause i was never told that i wasn't gonna get, the things i want the most, but people always say, "if it hasn't happened yet then maybe you should go" -- chappell roan california

josie had lost a lot of her faith after the merge, but now that lizzie is back from the dead and hope is talking to her again, it appears there is a rejuvenation on the rise. the siphoner is filled with a type of hope that she thought was long lost. for the first time in a long time, it appears that she is putting her wants first, as she know begins the search for masked woman she met at the masquerade ball.

however, josie is filled with insecurity, something that she desperately is trying to work on, but it does get in the way. for three years, she was faithless, loosing all want to really be a person in the world. something that was met with discouragement after dabbling in black magic in europe.

can josie find herself again?

open starter ⊹₊ ⋆ event 001 @inaducursehqstarters muses ⊹₊ ⋆ josie saltzman location ⊹₊ ⋆ vaso bar and venue ( bywater district) plots ⊹₊ ⋆ utp tw ⊹₊ ⋆ alcohol

getting ready with her twin put the siphoner in a cheery mood, thanks to the mask she wouldn't need to explain, how the once sad josie was now all smiles. for three years, people would often describe her as a girl with a frown. her mouth always turned the wrong way. tonight, would be different, she'd allow herself to take in the excitement of elegance and music. after savoring a cosmopolitan, she made her way onto the dance floor. doing her best to take in the way it felt to actually let happiness in.

getting a little too lost in the sounds, she managed to bump into someone else. taking a step back, she tilted her head with a soft smile. "sorry, i forgot where i was for a moment."

"oh my gosh jay, i'm so sorry, it's just been a few years since i've seen you near the house." hayley felt a little embarrassed, she'd know the kid for a very long time given who his parents were. when he and lizzie got engaged, they spent even more time together, but that had felt like so long ago. time was manipulated by the grief they all felt after the merge. "how are you doing sweetie?" she lifted her eyebrow at the other, knowing it was a loaded question, but it had to be asked. hope had become a totally different person after everything. how could she not? lizzie, hope, and josie were inseparable and intended to beat every odd that told them otherwise. jay was in the middle of it all and honestly the hybrid wasn't sure where his loyalties lied.

Jay nodded. "Lizzie," he said slowly as he looked at her. "Lizzie's fiancee." He hasn't really seem her family since it happened. Since she has died. But he had been with her 2 years, so they were all familiar in a way. Then he paused. "Also... you know Aiden's kid," he said given she was his dad's alpha.

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?"