The Strength Card // Upright: Inner Strength, Bravery, Compassion, Focus // Reversed: Self Doubt, Weakness,

Thanks, but I’m more of a make-everything-worse kind of gal.

open starter ⊹₊ ⋆ event 001 @inaducursehqstarters muses ⊹₊ ⋆ gabriela chavez location ⊹₊ ⋆ vaso bar and venue ( bywater district) plots ⊹₊ ⋆ utp

even though tyler hadn't liked the idea of his wife joining the faction, she had. it was helpful that she told him while making him breakfast after a wonderful night, but she could sense his fear each time he looked her way. they knew it wasn't the best idea, but also wanted to make sure they could keep the kids safe. no other demon was going to volunteer and so, while her husband was taking care of a young wolf, she attended a meeting with elena and hayley.

the murders made everyone panic and as of right now, gabbi didn't have many suspects, still trying to scope out who would have the motive to do such things. walking into the bar, the mask gave her a confidence boost, but it also made her job harder. taking a glass of champagne that was being offered on a tray, she took a deep breath and began people watching.

her nose scrunched up at his teasing, while her shoulders became a little less tense, all from pretending to hold her head high. the only time josie was able to be a person was when she was around family, or at least certain family. "i want to fight that one but so far, you have been right... " she twirled on her feet back to the microwave, placing the popcorn in and setting the timer before shrugging. "plus, we know fate is a fickle thing." josie smirked, making her way over to the fridge and looking at the drink selection. "i love that klaus enjoys hard liquor, it means mom always has mixers around." pulling out all the things needed for a dirty shirley, the witch took out two fancy glasses.

he managed to finish her sentence, something she found both helpful and painful, because it brought up the very emotions she desperately tried to push down. "yeah since the merge." after placing some ice in the glasses, she placed her palms on the cool tile. "it could be an evil spell, i mean those do give me the chills." but there was still something else, a feeling that she couldn't put into words, it was there on the tip of her tongue. she felt lizzie, in a much different way since that fateful night. shaking the thought away, she went back to pouring and mixing drinks, the sound of popping filling the kitchen. "i guess we should wait for aunt freya, she normally is the first to know what evil lurks."

there wasn't a day that passed by that nikolas didn't think about his fiance . about their connection and the bond they shared . it was a bond that he had never had with anyone before and to have that ripped away from him by his own careless action had darkened his path . it wasn't by any means what josie had gone through with lizzie , but there were some similarities between the two . they both lost someone that they had cared for dearly and it was at their own hands . now they were forced to live without the person they loved the best way they knew how .

" well get use to hating because i'm always right . " nikolas teased josie , before breathing a laugh . nikolas looked back to see the brunet open the cabinet door with glee to get to the popcorn . large hands grabbed at the wet cloth to wipe down the marble countertop before a laughed followed underneath his breath of how she would try to keep her snacks and hands in the right place . the sandy blonde having his doubts . " well my fate is in your hands , literally and figuratively . " he joked as he felt his energy change . she was the fresh breath of air that he had needed .

nikolas finished up with his task before turning around to his sister's curious question . " evil spell ? " he questioned , she continued but then her voice drifted off . nikolas could see it in her eyes that it was the thought of their sister lizzie that created the withdrawal . " since the merge with lizzie . " he thought to finish her sentence to show that he understood . " i think i heard aunt freya say something but i haven't felt anything . " perhaps it was the vervain that he had been taken to gain immunity to the potent herb after he was attacked with it by a hunter a few weeks ago . he had of course killed the hunter , but he never wanted to feel that vulnerable again .

hayley would've normally heard her daughter getting ready to approach, but the hybrids mind was filled with too many conversations to notice. a small scream left her lips after being tackled, followed by a giggle when realizing that it was hope. shaking her head softly, hayley looked at her daughter with so much love. she was sure that her kids all saw the way she looked at them, as if they could do no wrong and were able to conquer the world. hugging her daughter tightly, she allowed herself to linger in the embrace. "hi baby, how is your day going?"

knowing hope, she was probably doing the exact same thing as the hybrid. they shared the past time of watching others as they went on their daily lives, ones that weren't filled with the danger of vampires and wolves. placing a soft kiss on the others cheek, she finally pulled back, linking her arm with hope. wanting to bring up the meeting with laurie, she decided against it. so instead she pushed the thought back down in the depths of her mind. there was so much going on and a boy was the last of their problems. "i heard that lizzie is back, how are you handling that?"

THE STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS were covered with tourists, a sight that made the tribid wonder what going through life like that was like. everyone had their what if moments and hope would be lying if she didn't admit to at least a day dream or two about what life would be like if she were a run of the mill ordinary girl. and perhaps that's why PEOPLE watching had become one of her favorite activities when back home ⸺ the atmosphere of such a historic town, filled with the buzzing chat of a modern people, it was endlessly fascinating. even when her people watching had ulterior motives, but it was because of said self appointed task that the petite auburn girl caught sight of a dearly familiar face through the corner of her eye. approaching her as quietly as she could, hope only made a sound as she practically tackled the hybrid by way of a hug. " gotcha ! " she finished with a giggle, a pleased grin forming on rose colored lips. " hi, momma. "

Smiles hide what secrets keep Can't tell a lie if you never speak Look in the mirror, she looks like me But half alive and twice as weak

Feel the tip of my nose It's burning but it's ice cold

gabi smirked at the other, taking a sip of her drink before answering the question. "i'm not sure, a masquerade while there is a serial killer on the loose, it doesn't seem like the best idea." it felt silly to say that, knowing full well that she got dressed up to come here, just like anyone else, sure her motives were different but she was still partaking in the system that set this all up. letting out a deep sigh, she looked to cameron with a soft smile. "i'm more here for intel. free food and drinks just happen to be a plus."

events  like  this  were  something  cameron  wasn't  a  fan  of  but  it  was  apart  of  living  in  new  orleans.  it  gave  her  the  chance  to  watch  those  around  them  ,  work  out  who  would  be  the  best  person  for  cameron  to  interact  with.  power  hungry  ,  that  was  them  and  it  always  had  been.  gabrielle  caught  their  attention.  “what  do  you  think  of  the  evening  so  far?”  the  hybrid  asked  ,  grabbing  another  champagne  flute. 

it's possible that everyone who was brought back was now bonded. lizzie was related to her fiancé, his family was the polar opposite of her blood one, so it always fascinated her how the mikaelson group dynamic worked. running dirty fingers through her hair, eleanor nodded to the other. feeling instantly soothed once in her presence. "you're back too, so that means..." she trailed off, as her brain worked at a much faster pace than she could currently handle. "well now i have a horrible headache, do you think you remember your way to the boarding school?" all her senses were fuzzy, along with her vision and nerves. it felt as if she had been numb for several years, waking up from a coma like state, but it was different than that. she hadn't been hooked up to helpful nutrients, so her bones ached and she felt dry, it caused her to shudder.

it felt different, almost unnerving being back. she knew she had died, there was no way to stop the merge and here she was. god, she wondered how long she had passed but no, she needed to pluck up the courage to head back home or to the boarding school. her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she saw the other, almost as if she could sense that they were both alike, both back from the dead. this set the uneasiness that lizzie felt already to now, a ten.

“could i?” she commented, as she heard the other speak, hoping to settle the feeling she had. talking to the girl would put things into perspective for her.

masquarade - enchanted evening outfits; event001

"first of all, gross didn't need to know that..." josie quipped at her brother before tilting her head, a smirk covering her lips before letting out a giggle. "second of all, i am your sister and you should be nicer to me." there were only a few people who understood the loss that she went through, something she hated to see him experience. the two of them often found comfort in each others grief, spending late nights watching movies and cooking dinners when the giant house was empty. "i don't need anything by the way, just wanted to see what you what your plans were for the night. maybe we could watch some horror movies?"

since the merge, the siphoner spent time either at work or with family. not being able to put energy into any thing else. nikolas never harped on that when with her and so she began to spend a lot of time with him.

↷ open ╳ f/m/nb ↷ muse playing ╳ nikolas mikaelson ↷ location ╳ french quarter ( klaus & caroline's home ) ↷ plots ╳ utp

" mom and dad are probably off having a rendezvous ; what do you need ? " nikolas asked as he placed a few dishes into the dishwasher . nikolas didn't live with his parents but going to his home wasn't an option for him . not after what happened to his fiance . nevertheless , he placed the glass pieces in the dishwasher one by one . nikolas was much like his father , in some ways he could be careless, short-tempered , manipulative and unreasonable, but he had his father's good traits too . he could be loving and kind . and like his mother he could be extremely loyal . but on other days like his mother he would stress clean when he was trying to avoid something.

of course, lizzie thought that josie and hope brought her back, the three of them made a promise the night before the merge. to find a way to bring back whomever lost the merge and never stop trying. hope and josie did their best, dove into some terrifying magic in the process, but never managed to find any light at the end of the tunnel. holding her twin tightly, she took in the others smell and touch. something she yearned for since the last time the two held hands and prepared for the worst 3 years ago. shaking her head softly, the siphoner bit her lip as tears welled once again. "no, no we didn't. we tried lizzie, but no spell could bring you back and it broke the two of us."

that was summing it up nicely, she thought as she pulled away and looked into her sisters eyes. "lizzie i am so sorry, i failed you and i'll never forgive myself for it." this should've been a happier reunion, but the last 3 years had been hell for josie. she stopped enjoying things, only talking to people when it was required to then go home, alone. she was a shell of a person and even though their parents tried hard to get her back on track, josie would always find a way to fall off again. "i've honestly been a spinster since that night." she admitted.

hearing her sisters voice, her eyes shot open and the grin spread across her lips. “i mean, you do have a point, it is why you were always the smart one.” she grinned as she watched Josie. a sense of calmness washed over Lizzie. it felt amazing to hold Josie again. pulling back ever so slightly, fingers brushed away her sister tears. “well there is only one lizzie saltzman, so of course it’s really me.” she spoke, eyes examining Josie.

“why are you so shocked I’m here?” a knot forming in her stomach, the realisation that maybe josie and hope didn’t have any part in this. “surely you knew I would be back..”