She Watched The Emotions Flash Through His Face, His Eyes Changing In The Slightest Way Each Time, But

josie wasn't normally one to be out in society, often finding herself at home with a good book, or some new gripping television show, but it was a hot day and being near water felt like the perfect getaway. setting out her towel, she placed all her belongings neatly around, before going to grab a drink with a book in hand. by the time she came back, a piña colada in one hand, her sigh covered by the book. unaware of her surroundings, the siphoner sat on someone else's blanket, only to be sucked deeper in the story she read.

it wasn't until an annoyed voice rang in her ears, that she realized she wasn't with her things. looking around with wide eyes, she quickly got up, her cheeks flushing as she apologized. "oh, i'm so sorry, i uhh wasn't paying attention. i got sucked into this book and must've sat on your towel. i'm not wet so it shouldn't be soaked or anything."

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the water felt so refreshing, the cool sensation hitting against the new hybrids skin. she felt at peace, the first time in the last month where she had truly felt at peace. everything became an overwhelming feeling and something she had never wanted. she was happy as just a wolf, she could control that just about and now, now she felt as if she had taken five steps backwards. but the swim, it was helping her, everyone of her senses just focusing on the water. the sounds, the feeling, it felt good. finally getting out of the water, an hour after she started her swim, there was a small roll of her eyes for a brief moment. “do you mind, you’re sitting on my towel.” she almost snapped at the person. the sense of calming she had fading almost instantly. god, maybe she should just live in the water and as far away from society as she could.

No longer a danger to herself or others She made up her mind and laced up her shoes Yelled down the hall, but nobody answered So she walked outside without an excuse She can do anything she wants to She can do whatever she wants to do She could go home, but she's not going to

blossom wasn't wrong, there really weren't many safe places in new orleans. not with the murders taking place. there were however a few places where josie felt at ease, her home and the boarding school. both had protective spells surrounding the building, making it hard for anything with bad intentions to enter. "very true, but when i got my apartment i made sure to say every boundary spell i knew. so my place should be a little safer than most."

the two met in school long ago, not that josie would ever actually talk to anyone other than hope and lizzie. but she'd do her best to say hello, since she had always respected how loving josh and aiden were. "i won't keep you long, promise just wanna pick your brain on a few things."

she knew it wasn’t the best to push people away, but then again, she couldn’t really explain what was going on and why this alleyway was screaming that a death was going to happen. but then again, anything could happen to anyone with the body count going up by the day.

“yeah, I think you’re right.” the small wrinkle of her nose for a moment. “although you could debate as to where is really safe at the moment.”

I know you don’t believe in this, in us, yet. But you will. Oh, I’ve been looking for someone like you for a long, long time.

a genuine laugh left eleanor, causing her stance to soften before nodding her head in agreement. "completely agree! i'd much rather be in something comfortable and watching a movie than do this for fun. before i got in here and saw people wearing masks, i thought the idea was going to be fun, but it feels off." shrugging her shoulders, she tilted her head and smiled. "my name is eleanor by the way, glad to meet a fellow introvert."

it  felt  like  there  was  an  instant  ease  in  blossom's  stance  as  she  heard  the  other  speak.  a  small  relief  that  she  wasn't  the  only  one  feeling  out  of  place  or  awkward  in  this  situation.  balls  and  grand  places  were  never  her  favorite  place  to  be,  especially  without  her  sketch  pad.  the  only  grand  place  she  liked  to  go  was  the  art  gallery.  “oh  i  know  that  feeling.” blossom  commented  as  she  wondered  who  was  behind  the  mask.  it  would  make  blossom  feel  so  much  more  comfortable  if  there  was  no  masks  on.  “i  mean,  this  isn't  my  idea  of  a  fun  thing.  it  feels  as  if  i  touch  something  i  may  break  it  and  be  charged  the  bill.”

she was hyper aware of everything, the way her clothing itched against her skin, something it hadn't done earlier. goosebumps rose on her arms as a calming voice took blanketed the worry. that voice, josie knew it from somewhere. with wide eyes the siphoner looked to see who was speaking, her brows furrowing as their gazes met. confusion and excitement ran through her veins, her heart beating faster from the whole ordeal. getting out of the car, josie looked at the other and smiled. "you umm, your voice it's familiar."

"have we met before?" there was no time for playing it cool, because all her thoughts and feelings swirled together. later josie would for sure kick herself for not acting mysterious. it felt like she knew this person before her and she couldn't shake that off.

clearly benni's self-preservation skills were severely lacking. being attacked twice since the masquerade should have sent the human packing back to florida tail between her legs. instead, they'd texted their aunt, hoping her arrival would be soon. benni couldn't leave. plus, one of her attackers had been very human, that could have happened to her anywhere. new orleans was too full of things begging to be uncovered, whether it was for work or the personal pleasure of solving every mystery that crossed her path.

then there was the woman who'd fully captured their attention at the masquerade. the woman who, through everything benni had been through in the past few days, had never left her brain. a mystery that brought a spike of excitement rather than fear. benni promised herself that she wouldn't leave the house past dark, if being cinderella saved her life, so be it. that meant she needed to spend as much time outside in the light as she could. finding themself at the stables wasn't expected, but was interesting none the less.

after getting out of her car, benni's gaze shifted to the car across from her. from what features she could make out, there was a sense of familiarity that flashed through her. ever the curious, benni was going to find out why and how. " excuse me, " they called out for the other to hopefully hear and either roll down the window, or step out so she could get a better look.

"oh, okay, yeah so sorry to bother you." eleanor turned to see the empty table, realizing that the only person she saw in this giant place was charlie. once her gaze went back to the other, he was already sitting, looking just as confused as she was. flexing her hands, she placed the manuscript on the counter before giving the other a smile. "so umm, i've decided to just kinda be up front with people since my brain is moving so much faster than any other body part. anyways, it's not you making this whole thing awkward its very much me." giggling softly, she shook her head and took a seat. "my name is eleanor, have we met before?"

he looked familiar but it was impossible to put any names to faces. elle's memory was still fuzzy, each day she was alive brought something new. the name of a childhood friend or just something she once loved. the whole process made her feel as if she was insane and honestly who could blame her if she was?

Charlie sighed in frustration as he carefully dished up his plate of food, realizing that the girl in front of him seemed to have misunderstood. He could see the confusion on her face as she held the oversized plate that was clearly meant for more than just one person. "It's not for me," he explained, trying to sound patient despite his irritation. "It's probably for one of my cousins or my uncle. You can just leave it on the table over there." He gestured towards the empty table in the corner of the room, hoping she would understand and not cause any further confusion.

Charlie took a seat and silently cursed himself for not clarifying things sooner. He felt a pang of embarrassment at the awkward situation unfolding before him. Glancing at the abundant amount of food on his plate, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed by the thought of having to explain himself further.

josie had been looking for hope for a few hours, lizzie wasn't sure where she was and so the siphoner grew worried. in her mind now that lizzie was back, it was very possible she'd then lose hope. the search seemed impossible, until a bunch of women with blank stares left the bathroom in a rush. walking with purpose, she made her way into the room to see hope applying lipstick, that wasn't hers, while her cheeks appeared the same color. so that's what hope was doing, making out and possibly more with someone she didn't know. several emotions managed to attack the others nervous system. jealousy, excitement, and everything in between. making it evident that josie needed some type of therapy to get out of this codependent relationship.

taking a deep breath, she calmed all of her emotions doing her very best to smile. hope's words came spilling out, causing josie to walk up to her and clean the smudge of mascara under the others eyes. "well your kryptonite sure as hell wasn't a revolving door..." a soft giggle escaped her lips before looking in the stolen makeup bag. "not sure how we are going to fix the dress, if this was a man he should've known how to get where he needed to go without ripping this beautiful gown." rolling her eyes, men made her angry. the way they would just take things in their hands and not handle it with care. she'd always think of how she would treat them better, something she knew wasn't healthy. stuffing her anger down, she looked at hope with kind eyes. "listen, as long as you are having a good time that's all that matters, but don't let lizzie see those rips."

𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃. ⸺ ( @iknowthvnd ) event: enchanted evening masquerade ball. setting: women's bathroom.

' SHIT, SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!! ' had been the word that ran through hope mikaelson's mind the second she'd come down from that blissful high enough to have remember her ' common sense ' not that it mattered much now, but as she stood in front of the mirror in the woman's bathroom, after compelling anyone inside so they'd leave ⸺ her attention settled on her appearance, from her ruined her, smudged make up and the most ' offending ' sight, at least it would be to her sister ( lizzie to be exact ) the ripped dressed, biting her bottom lip she looked through the make up bag she'd ' borrowed ' and pulled out a muted red lipstick, lifting to her lips her attention only shifted as the sound of a swishing door reached her ears. a prominent blush rose to her cheeks ( a common occurrence for the night ) as she turned and found herself with josie's doe eyed gaze. " hey jo... " her voice had gone up an octave, the sound causing her to clear her throat, there would be no way around the CONVERSATION she did not want to have. " would you believe me if i said.... i got into a fight with a revolving door and lost? " she paused once more... biting her bottom lip. " think i may have finally found tribid kryptonite. "

Alycia Debnam-Carey as Frances Campbell in A Violent Separation (2019)

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?”