There Was A Lingering Headache That Wouldn't Leave The Demons Head, No Matter How Much Coffee Or Temple

it was exciting to feel again, sure she'd felt emotions after the merge but they all seemed to have a blur over them. now it felt as if the world was clearer, josie could see the things so clearly missed before. such as the kaya looked as she blushed from the siphoners touch. the rush of excitement seemed to pulse through her whole being. as they began to sway to the music, josie tilted her head at the comment. a small smile creeping on her lips as she thought of the things hope might say about her. probably never mentioning the trip to europe and how that ended. "umm well i work at NOMA, so i get to see a lot of art daily. it was the one thing that kept me going after losing lizzie. i'd just get lost in paintings and decided if that was what made me happy, i might as well try it out." pausing, the siphoner smirked. "you draw right? maybe one day i can take a look?"

Kaya had been fortunate enough over the years to never lose anyone close to her. She assumed, rightfully so, that the process could really and truly change a person, down to their bones. With all the dead coming back to life, she was curious about how many changed family members and friends they were returning to, how fraught those relationships must be, but how good, too.

"That's really good," Kaya commented, having a hard time navigating a topic she didn't truly understand. "You deserve to be happy." As the song turned slower Kaya returned the girl's glance. At Josie's hands on her waist she felt a shock of excitement. Though the demon knew she liked girls, she didn't really have that much experience with them outside of friendship. Even the mere touch sent blush scattering over her cheeks. She felt warm, and not just from the alcohol. "Yes, definitely," she said, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders. The two swayed to the slow music. "So," Kaya started shyly, "I guess I don't really know that much about you, other than all the nice things Hope's said. Which, just to clarify, is a lot."

---

&. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

( dialogue prompts taken from the second season of hulu's the bear, created by christopher storer. feel free to edit and change as you seem fit. )

❛ you ever think about purpose? ❜

❛ i love you, but i do not have time for this, alright? ❜

❛ i have time for this. ❜

❛ you know what the fuck you're doing. you love this shit. it's fun for you. i don't have that. ❜

❛ i'm afraid one day, i'm gonna wake up and you guys are all just gonna just drop this ass. ❜

❛ if this shit is not fun for you, what the fuck is fun for you? ❜

❛ i'm not making the same mistakes i made last time. ❜

❛ what kind of insurance coverage do we have for people falling through the fucking wall? ❜

❛ sometimes, i look like february. ❜

❛ you want a sprite? you look kinda green. ❜

❛ can i ask you something and you can tell me to fuck off if you want? ❜

❛ chef, that's way too much acid. ❜

❛ you, uh, making a sundae? ❜

❛ that actually sounds delicious. ❜

❛ because you're the bear and i remember you. ❜

❛ i love taking care of you. and i always will. you know that? ❜

❛ i'm glad i came 'cause i get to eat this. ❜

❛ i gotta come up with three really great desserts. you got any ideas? ❜

❛ you ever made ice cream before, chef? want to? ❜

❛ it kind of tastes like a, um... minty snickers bar. ❜

❛ so how long you been a cook? ❜

❛ how’d you get good at this? ❜

❛ you can spend all the time in the world in here, but if you don't spend enough time out there... you know? ❜

❛ speaking of dead brothers, do you wanna go to a party? ❜

❛ it looks so pretty on you. you should keep it. ❜

❛ what's going on with you? i know there's something. just tell me. ❜

❛ what are you talking about, i don't give a fuck? why would you say that to me? i give like a huge fuck. ❜

❛ you're not by yourself, alright? i'm right here with you. ❜

❛ did you just throw a fork at me? ❜

❛ i think time spent doing this is time well spent. ❜

❛ never too late to start over. ❜

❛ i just want you to know... that this is really nice. ❜

❛ i'm thinking you're very, very beautiful. ❜

❛ we just don't say hello anymore? ❜

❛ you're wearing a suit? ❜

❛ uh, yeah, i wear suits now. ❜

❛ i'm sorry if i took anything out on you and if I treated you like shit. ❜

❛ i actually do think that we could fit good together. ❜

❛ i could be good at things that you don't really wanna do. and you're obviously really great at a whole bunch of stuff that I don't know how to do, you know? ❜

❛ i'm wearing a suit 'cause it makes me feel better about myself. ❜

❛ i know that you're trying. i see that you're trying. ❜

❛ you just came from a funeral? ❜

❛ yeah, a funeral of all my enemies. ❜

❛ you want me to make you some coffee? ❜

❛ i just need your focus like you need mine. ❜

❛ you good? ❜

❛ what's your relationship with your mom like? ❜

❛ alright, chef, i need you to salt that like a sidewalk. ❜

❛ looks gorgeous, chef. ❜

❛ i haven't eaten yet. ❜

❛ oh, let me make you something. ❜

❛ yeah, i can make you an omelet. ❜

❛ that wasn't like an ask out or anything, was it? ❜

❛  i'm looking really good. i 'm thinking you should start calling me chef. ❜

❛ well, i'mma keep calling you jagoff, 'cause that's what you like. ❜

❛ you deserve my full focus. ❜

❛ i guess i'm scared that i don't have what it takes to not fuck this up. ❜

❛ you're not gonna fuck it up. ❜

❛ i fuck things up all the time, like, every day. ❜

❛ you could do this without me. ❜

❛ i couldn't do it without you. i wouldn't even wanna to do it without you. ❜

❛ you make me better at this. ❜

❛ you still love to cook, right? ❜

❛ how's the wine? ❜

❛ yo. we're low on forks, chef. ❜

❛ okay, let's start firing some caviar, please. ❜

❛ i was just gonna say how special and cool and great this place is and how i'm the most proud of you ever. ❜

❛ i really appreciate you being so patient with me. ❜

❛ do i have time to go outside and scream "fuck"? ❜

❛ just don't tell them you saw me, 'cause this is embarrassing. ❜

❛ i love them so much. i don't know how to show it. ❜

❛ i don't know how to say i'm sorry. ❜

❛ i need you to say it's okay. ❜

❛ you are being so fucking weird, man. ❜

❛ i'm stuck in a goddamn refrigerator on the opening night of my fucking restaurant. ❜

❛ i failed you guys and it's not gonna happen again. ❜

❛ maybe i'm just not built for this. ❜

❛ because no amount of good is worth how terrible this feels. ❜

❛ i'm really sorry you feel that way. ❜

❛ would you shut the fuck up and get me the fuck outta here, please? ❜

❛ i don't understand why you can't just let something good happen for once in your fucking life? ❜

❛ you wanna talk to me about my fucking kid? at least i got a kid. ❜

❛ where were you when i fucking put your brother in the ground, you selfish piece of shit? ❜

❛ i fucking love you! ❜

❛ you fucking need me. ❜

❛ i just had this sudden urge to tell you that i've always had this, like, massive crush on you. ❜

❛ i love you, chef. ❜

---

@xfatalexit @cxrsedmuse

No gavones at Friends and Family!

Natalie Berzatto and Neil Fak. ↳ THE BEAR - 2.08.

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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."

---

wovles were shifting on the street, as darkness covered the cobblestone paths, causing hayley to feel a tightness in her chest, glancing around, eyes narrow she attempted to find any familiar faces. the hybrid knew that the moon wasn't meant to be full, so what the hell was going on? making her way down the alleyway, she remained cautious and alert until the sound of elijah's voice sent a calming wave through her brain. "oh believe me, this walk isn't for anyone's safety but our children's." walking to his side she inched closer, always comfortable when the two of them were touching in some way. "have you seen any of them?"

It's never a good sign when the wolves just start shifting like daisies popping up from the ground. He could hear the howls and realized, with no shortness of terror, that his children were out among the rabble. As he walked the streets, eyes scanning for any sign of trouble, he paused as he approached an opening into a field where he saw some of the wolves taking off to the forest. As footsteps approached from behind, Elijah held up his hand. "If I were you, I would strongly caution any midnight strolls through the trees tonight. You may find more trouble than you bargained for."

@inaducursehqstarters

---

seeing hope caused eleanor to allow herself to breathe, something she was still getting used to doing. every once a in awhile she would gulp air as if it was water, causing her to choke, but this time it felt natural. "hope, please, thank you, i'm so confused...." only moments ago the woman had crawled her way out of her own grave, fingernails broken and dirty as proof. she'd hide them from the other's eyesight, already aware of how dirty and awful she must've looked in the moment. all of the sudden she became hyper aware of her body, walking closer to the tribrid as some way to shield herself from the world. "do you know why any of this would be happening?"

she wanted to hide, but every muscle ached and she lacked proper nutrients to force herself to walk any further, let alone run away from view. so instead she kept close to hope, knowing that if anyone was going to accept the clinginess it was her. "i woke up in my coffin, in the dress you all buried me in, and..." she trailed off. "where is nikolas?"

A STRING OF SUPERNATURAL DEATHS, had not been what the tribid meant when she said she felt ‘ darkness ‘ looming in the environment of her family’s beloved city. the last thing hope would have EVER wanted was to see anyone hurt. ever the compassionate soul, hope mikaelson had a tendency of internalizing responsibilities that weren’t hers.

recent events? were no DIFFERENT. feeling stir crazy, the fiery headed girl, dumped her mountain of spell books in her room and cited the need to take a stroll ( after all whatever was murdering others, would have to have it’s own death wish to mess with a tribid ) regardless she was on guard, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight of her little brother’s dead fiancee. “what the f…. “ her voice trailed, approaching the lost looking woman in haste. zooming to her side, she made sure to maintain some distance as to not startle her. “ elle? “ name almost came out a whisper. “hey… it’s hope. “ because that was clever or useful. “ let’s get you out of here. “

---

josie had been in a mood since her and hope's european dark magic adventure. despite loving her job, deep down it always felt like something was missing because that was reality. a very part of her soul had left her body the day of the merge, never to return. it haunted her to this day, every dream being turned into a nightmare of the same ending over and over again. with a coffee in hand and headphones blaring music to help wake her bones, josie managed to catch a glimpse of someone she hadn't seen in awhile.

"mia?" she questioned to herself, before walking over to the other and smiling once certain. "i know where you parents are, welcome back or are you just visiting?" the siphoner always wondered where mia up and went to, it seemed as if it happened in the middle of the night.

Mia climbed out of her cab and paid them and then stepped into the street, looking up at the city streets. It was hard to ignore how big the unknown city was when all she had was an address for her parents new place. "I should have got a better map," she muttered to herself before looking up and spotting someone. "Do you think you can help me?" She asked. "I'm looking for this-" she said, holding out the music page she had written the address on. "House... can you point me in the right direction?"

@inaducursehqstarters

---

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.

---

"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.

---

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.

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