NINA DOBREV photographed by Samantha Dutton

a barbie pride party with @ofthclight's nan + tyler !

there's no legitimate reason for elena to feel nervous right now. not really. it's her first ever pride party. she's got no reason to be nervous. except that she does --- it's technically her coming out party. after missing the boat in college, she's finally living her best life in an lgbtq+ environment. her stunning girlfriend, of course, is by her side, dressed all in pink. elena had a little too much fun doing nancy's hair, as well as her make-up, dressing her up like a barbie doll. everyone knew that if margot robbie didn't get the role, it would have gone to blake lively and nan is a dead ringer for the actress. something that she still has to pinch herself daily over, how she landed the beauty that is nancy adams. raising a shot glass full of tequila to her lips, elena downs it quickly and glances at her phone. ❝ are tyler and sab definitely coming? sab i can believe, but ty? you managed to convince him how exactly? ❞ elena knew both friends in question were bisexual, but tyler lockwood was the last person she would expect to see dressed up as a ken doll, unless of course, nancy had worked some magic of her own.

what does your heart look like ? 

an open door, a burning hearth; your chest is wide open, and your heart is a home. others are welcomed in readily and asked to stay. you are comfort and love, everything you were never given but so desperately want to provide for others. you have built this welcoming hearth with your own two hands and won’t see anyone else left out in the cold. be careful to not burn yourself out trying to keep everyone else warm.

tagged by: @waywardera tagging: @stanfordprepped @hercesofourtime (nathan) @ofthclight (nan) + you !

her. elena knows caroline forbes well enough to decipher who she's talking about without any prior context. audrey morgan. former wife of harrison morgan who, for reasons unknown, chose to keep his last name after their divorce. ❝ believe me when i say that situation is really not what you think it is. ❞ there's a moment's pause, a consideration of tyler, who in truth, did not deserve anyone's sympathy and yet, elena still feels somewhat protective of him despite it all. ❝ audrey wasn't with harrison. ❞ she hands caroline a pair of heels through the crack in the door, sabrina's beloved knock-off louboutin's and chews on her lower lip. ❝ .... she was with ty. all night. har was on night patrol. ❞ it's enough of a distraction for them to stop talking about her and nancy, at least for now, so elena continues. ❝ promise me you won't say anything to him, care? no matter how shitty this entire thing is --- tyler made a mistake. he acknowledges that. ❞ waiting for her best friend to walk out of the bathroom, she's already looking for outfit option two. ❝ besides, look on the bright side, now that you know the truth... do you still need to get all dressed up for this kale loving, brand consultant? or can we ditch the tinder date and crack open a bottle of rosé? ❞

❝ he’s a… ❞  oh god, elena’s really gonna make her say it. caroline clears her throat, scrapes up what little is left of her pride, and lifts her chin as if that’ll make it easier to force out the words.  ❝ an independent brand consultant. ❞  he writes hate tweets towards corporations and devoted half his tinder profile to discussing how his ideal woman was the kind that liked kale salad. ( she hates kale salad. ) and — because she knows that is exactly what elena is about to point out, caroline turns to give her a look.  ❝ he’s dumb, and he’s hot, and i saw her leaving the boys’ apartment, okay? so don’t give me the concerned look, i just need him to look hot enough to make it clear that i’m a freaking catch, okay? ❞  her nose crinkles at the dress. it’s lime green. not even an earthy moss. lime. caroline debates voicing the protest but at the last minute, she glances sideways to where salem is staring at her. waiting.  ❝ don’t think you’re getting out of the nancy question. ❞  she snips gently, grabbing the dress before ducking into the bathroom but leaving the door half cracked so they can still talk while she changes.  ❝ the last time you were this cagey about a topic, you stole stefan from me when i clearly had dibs first. ❞

@ofthclight + nanlena supremacy.

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”

— Lemony Snicket

TOP ONE HUNDRED TV COMFORT CHARACTERS ↳ honourable mentions » elena gilbert dear diary, this morning is different. i can sense it. feel it.

her comment is subtle, teasing and it does the job because now, elena is smiling, hiding her flushed cheeks against nan's shoulder. whenever her friends ask her about them, the answer remains the same: it's complicated. that, combined with the fact that she's never felt more inexperienced in her entire life usually makes for a pretty quick excuse as to how they're both really just colleagues. but it's a lie and it's eating away at her because on the rare occasions when nancy adams is not consuming her every thought, she's everywhere else --- in her bed, on the other end of the phone, waiting in an on-call room. elena can't quite pin down the moment all of that changed, when sex with nancy became this, a mosaic of safety and comfort and... love. she's not sure she's ready to take the plunge yet, which is ironic considering she's always been the relationship girl. and yet, nancy makes her feel brave. she makes her feel seen and heard and she champions her in a way that's so beyond liberating, both in and out of the bedroom. ❝ i want to tell them that you're mine. ❞ it's said in a moment of clarity, one that's met with honesty and trust, a vulnerability that up until now, she's kept close to her chest. brown eyes gaze longingly into blue, waiting for an answer, but before nancy can give her one, elena kisses her. she kisses her in case it's the last time she gets the opportunity to. if this isn't meant to be, for whatever cruel reason, elena wants to remember the taste of her on her tongue, the sensation of her soft lips and how she's certain they're the ones she wants to kiss for the rest of her life. pulling back, she opens her eyes slowly, trailing her fingertips gently across nan's cheeks. ❝ i want you and this and us. ❞

elena sinks back down onto the bed and nancy feels a part of her relax. the brunette is still tense, and she can all but see elena’s thoughts running a mile a minute, but she waits, letting her get it out in her own time. in some ways, she supposes she’s lucky. there wasn’t ever any need to come out to her own family — her dad caught her kissing morgan watts freshman year of high school and, after a painfully awkward conversation that involved discussing the need for protection beyond pregnancy prevention and her mom mentioning that time in the 80′s that she dated her roommate, it was never a thing. she just liked girls. and guys. she dated both, fucked both, and had — up until now — built up a strong enough wall that prevented her from allowing herself to love either. but elena…elena is different. nancy lifts a hand, fingers gently brushing a lock of hair away from the brunette’s face.  ❝ are you saying i’m not hunky? ❞  the tease is gentle, more to bring a bit of brevity to the weighted conversation than anything. but her expression lapses into one of genuine seriousness as she watches elena.  ❝ well, we could tell them together. ❞  she dips her head to kiss elena’s shoulder.  ❝ or you could tell care, or we could just be less sneaky about it. ❞  she knows what she’s asking, or maybe she doesn’t. not entirely. she doesn’t do dating. relationships are too complicated, people are too easy to lose. you get attached and then they get cancer, or they go for a swim and get attacked by a shark, or a million other freak things. but the alternative is letting elena go, and that? that’s just… not something she has it in herself to do.  ❝ the question is, do you want to tell them that we’re just hooking up? or do you want to tell them that we’re more? ❞

@waywardera / matelena.

“It was the way he said my name that sent shockwaves through my body. Sacred. A hymn on his lips that could almost convince God himself to absolve us of all of our sins.”

— Nicole Lyons - “Take Me To Church”

Dear Sammy, ( @ofwaywardsunshine )

It's officially one whole year since you started writing Sam Winchester on this little blue site called Tumblr. I'm not entirely sure where the time has gone, but I had the privilege of writing with you for the first time ten months ago, back in May, when I decided to kickstart my creative passion for writing. Our first interaction/thread took place when you were writing under ofsupernaturalbonds and I was writing under starsaroundscarsx. If only we knew then that we were creating a ship that we would be able to grow and develop and pour so much love into. Samlena are responsible for so many happy moments of my life last year. From writing them from the very beginning, to developing them throughout the early stages of their relationship, to the angst and the spice and everything in-between, to these babes being the first I've written to get engaged ( !!!!! ) I honestly cannot even begin to express how much you and this beautiful ship mean to me.

Then there's your talent. Oh My God. You are often so very hard on yourself. You don't give yourself nearly as much credit as you should for bringing the sunshine soul that is Sam Winchester to life through your absolutely stunning portrayal. I've told you this many times and I'll tell you again, but the way that you capture his heart and his kind spirit leaves me in awe every single time that I read one of your threads or headcanons. I need you to know how much of an impact you've had on this community in the absolute best way possible. I for one, am so grateful to know you and to write with you and to have you not only as a writing partner, but as a friend. You are one of my very best. I adore you and I will not stop screaming about how much your portrayal of Sam Winchester has me ( !!!!! ) in my feelings because of the magic you bring to life.

I know that life can be difficult to navigate, that sometimes we can get caught up in anxiety and fear and doubt, but please know you will always have me in your corner. You have so many of us in your corner, so please enjoy today. Celebrate you, for all that you are, for everything you've gotten through so far, for the joy that you bring, and celebrate Sam, too. You both deserve it so much. I love you + I hope you enjoy the Samlena inspired moodboard that I made, even though I'm so shit at edits. ( lol! ) HAPPY ONE YEAR SAM + SAMMY ! < 3

Love always,

Dee xo

five minutes ago, elena was dead set on leaving, on running away from the one thing that made her happiest but now, with just one utterance, with just one look from the woman in front of her, she's crawling back into bed beside her. ❝ you're right, no --- you're right. ❞ she is exhausted, more so than she can even begin to explain. but she's also stressed out and afraid and nervous about what all of this means and where it's leading and what's going to come next. ❝ it's just... caroline --- she's my best friend. ❞ way to state the obvious, 'lena. she sighs and clutches hold of nan's arm that's curling around her, wanting desperately to say the right thing, but not knowing how. ❝ she doesn't know that i'm... gay. ❞ it's a truth which terrifies her for multiple reasons. elena can feel the tension build behind her eyes, and god, she doesn't want to cry, not in front of nancy who is strong and sexy and a goddamn warrior. the woman who has literally captivated her from the moment they met. ❝ she thinks i've been fooling around with some hunky neurosurgeon and i just... i don't know if i can lie to her anymore. ❞ elena admits, raising nan's fist to her lips, where she places a kiss against her knuckles. ❝ i mean, how do i tell her that the person i'm really fooling around with also happens to be this breathtakingly beautiful woman? the most beautiful woman. ❞

she’s starting to crack — all the signs are there. the slight sway when elena stands, the fact that she’s avoiding eye contact, the underlying tone in her voice as she sits up in bed. the stress fractures are there, and nancy mentally chastises herself for not doing something about it earlier.  ❝ whoa, whoa, hey, ❞  her voice is soft as she sits up from the bed, reaching out to wrap a hand around elena’s arm. she knew from the second they started this, that it would probably be a bad idea. elena isn’t the type to do just friends, she isn’t the casual hook up type. she’s romantic dates and jane austen novels and flowers every friday kind’ve girl. the kind that nancy usually can’t keep around for long. but elena gilbert is proving to be the exception to all her rules.  ❝ you’re spiraling, ❞  the blonde states, her palm lifting to rest on elena’s cheek as she turns her head back towards her.  ❝ and you’re exhausted. ❞  and she probably feels guilty, in part, for the secrecy.  ❝ c’mere, ❞  nancy gives a gentle tug, pulling elena back into the bed as her arms wind around her.  ❝ no sex, just rest. ❞

𝖣𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗋𝗇 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝖯𝖮𝖶𝖤𝖱𝖲 𝗌𝗈 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖿𝗅𝗈𝖺𝗍 𝖿𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗅𝖾𝗌? 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝖺 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗌𝗈𝗇 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝖽𝗈 𝖳𝖧𝖨𝖲 ©

❝ okay, wait a second. you've been talking to this guy for, how long exactly? ❞ elena asks while she's being ushered into sabrina's apartment. just last week, she's pretty sure she overheard harrison asking caroline out to a rib-joint, the opening of some new bbq grill place in lower manhattan --- and now, she's meeting with a hot vegan. make it make sense care. her brows immediately raise in suspicion the second her best friend suggests that salem is a spy. ❝ oh come on. you're seriously trying to tell me that sabrina communicates with her cat, as well as the spirits of the dead? the girl smokes a little too much pot, but she's not that unhinged. ❞ elena laughs, as she's dragged toward sab's bedroom. the second nancy is mentioned, there's a pause, one that isn't intentional, but that definitely makes her overthink the question. ❝ she's good, uh --- we're both just busy, you know? ❞ she clears her throat then, picking out a cute playsuit that catches her eye, one that's lime green in colour and a little rustic. ❝ here, try this on! ❞ elena takes it off the hanger and hands it to caroline in an attempt to distract from the question. ❝ so, what is it you said this guy does for a living? ❞

one of the perks of their friend group is the small hoard of spare keys in the event of lockouts ,  vacations ,  or emergencies .  and this qualifies as an emergency .  caroline drags elena into sabrina’s apartment ,  locking the door behind her .  she needs an outfit — something chic and cute but that also seems earthy and vaguely boho ,  because the guy she met on tinder last week is taking her to some vegan experience that she’s already dreading .  but he’s ripped and has a full sleeve tattoo and beard and the other day she saw harrison’s ex wife slipping out of his apartment .  so this is an emergency .   ❝ whatever you do ,  keep confidential information to a minimum ,  okay ?  sab’s apartment has spies .  and by spies ,  i mean that . ❞  she nods towards the black cat curled on the couch ,  salem’s head only barely lifting to give her a look that makes it obvious that he knows .  and he’s listening .   ❝ unless the confidential information you want to share is to tell me what’s going on with you and nanzopam . ❞          /          @gilbertsaviour​   +   i chose the best of both worlds ,  which is carolena besties and caroline being irrationally paranoid .

it can't be a coincidence that harrison is running around the apartment with his shirt half-buttoned and his hair still wet, considering caroline was only fresh out of the shower when elena left their own apartment ten minutes ago. ❝ hot date tonight? ❞ she asks, placing the crate of beer she was carrying onto the kitchen worktop. it's almost like the two of them aren't even trying to be discreet anymore and when harrison waggles his eyebrows at her in response, she takes it as a silent confirmation. it's been a while since she's spent any one-on-one time with tyler, who makes an appearance from the bathroom the second she's about to interrogate har. of course, that's his escape route and when he leaves in a hurry fifteen minutes later, she turns to her friend who's been quiet ever since her arrival. ❝ why is everyone acting so weird today? ❞ call it a gut instinct or her mom-friend-spidey-sense tingling, but something's up with him too. she's known him long enough and when he's anxious, it shows. ❝ ty. ❞ elena presses, handing him a beer. ❝ start talking. ❞ @ofthclight + TYLENAAAA !