'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"

Getting up early wasn't Camille's strong suit, in fact she often did her best to avoid it, but today was different. It wasn't a therapy appointment that caused her to be awake at this ungodly hour, not it was her attempt at going to see what the police actually had on any the gala. "No, despite dying at 25 I'm old, and even if I am a vampire I am not waking up at this time to hear anyone speak, even if they are paying me." Her eyes quickly noticed the ring on Briggs finger, an eyebrow quirking before taking another sip of her coffee.

"Alright, so when were you going to tell me?" She smirked before tilting her head towards his finger. "Congratulations!" It was nice to have some happiness in the compound. Young love was exciting to be around, it made her happy to see that despite everything, Briggs and Billie loved each other so deeply.

( @oconnellthebrave )

Leaving his wife to get a little more sleep, Briggs wandered down to grab some breakfast to bring back for her. As he sipped some coffee, he heard a noise and went to check for Billie but found someone else. One who still brought a smile to his face, though this held a hint of smugness. "Good morning," he greeted.

He was used to wearing rings, but not on this finger, so it was still a consistent reminder this was real. Billie was upstairs, and she was his wife. He tapped the metal against the mug he held in his hands as he commented cheekily, "these therapy appointments just get earlier and earlier, huh?"

#can you two be any cuter

closed starter; @fragmcntedsouls for klaus location; an old jazz bar in the french quarter

There was a heaviness in the air around her, one that only seemed to fade thanks to the music that poured out on to the streets ahead. Following the sound, she found her way to a seat at the bar with a candid smile on her face. It wasn't until the song was over that she noticed Klaus sitting across from her, shaking her head softly she made her way over to the seat next to him.

"I should've known that you would be here." Sitting close, her shoulder touching his as that usual heat ran through her body. This always happened when he was near and she welcomed it. There had been a time where the two of them weren't this touchy in public, but thanks to some weird circumstances the two found their way to one another. So she relished these moments with him, where her skin touched his and a calm ran through her anxious brain.

Taking a deep breath, she allowed her shoulders to relax some. The atmosphere was perfect, yet stress still loomed over her body. "I have no appointments today, decided I needed a day off, but I can't seem to stop my brain." She used to hide these feelings, but it felt so easy to say it now, as if was silly to even think it was hard before. "The music is helping."

closed starter; @thcprettiest location; cami's office

Closing her notebook, Camille sat back comfortably in her office chair. The past few weeks had gotten easier, she managed to finally make a schedule with patients and take time off. She knew there was no use in her advice if she was burnt out. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and smiled to herself. Footsteps caught her ear, causing her to open her eyes and see a familiar face. Smirking the vampire got up and gave Rebekah a quick hug. Pulling away she titling her head with a soft smile.

"It used to take so much effort to get a Mikaelson to walk into my office without looking upset" Cami laughed. "I like this whole, you come to me thing, it's a lot easier." Her fingers moved between the two of them as she spoke. "So how have you been Rebekah? I ask that as a friend not a therapist, despite the setting."

KLAUS MIKAELSON AND CAMILLE O’CONNELL “ If it wasn’t that night, this bar, that $100 dollar bill, it would have been Jackson Square, staring at a painting. Or Frenchmen Street, listening to jazz. I would have found you. “ KLAMILLE AND THEIR MANY FIRST MEETINGS

Hearing Nova speak her fathers words, hit Camille like a punch to the gut, because her father would mutter those same words. None of it was true, tears aren't a sign of any type of weakness. All emotions are meant to be felt because when stuffed in, they become bigger and harder to contain. Swallowing, Cami shook her head. "No, that isn't true. If anything crying is part of being strong. Nova you can cry and still be brave and capable, it's when you keep it, that's when you grow weak." "You're right, they are a fiery bunch and most of the time they don't actually mean it. But getting them to tell you something that is bothering them, well that's a task." Sighing at the word desperate being used, she pursed her lips. Doing her best to listen and remain impartial to the whole situation. That was what her job was meant to be, but it was much easier said than done.

She'd met Billie after the gala and it was obvious that the girl had grown a tough outer shell as a coping mechanism. So of course horrible words would be said and they would hurt the person on the receiving end. Despite the lights flickering and Nova's appearance changing, the vampire didn't react, knowing that it would make things worse. The whole point of helping the supernatural was for them to be themselves during these sessions.

Sitting back in her chair, she wrote a few more notes before speaking again. "Nova the only person who can figure out who you are is you. No one else is going to be able to do that for you, no matter how are you want them to. Briggs was never capable of helping you be yourself and I know that is hard to hear, but once you understand that it might be easier to properly move on." Her tone remained calm, not wanting to upset Nova anymore than she already was. "You came here today and that is a much bigger and braver step than most people can ever achieve. Do you by chance journal at all?"

"His family seem very firey and expressive." Nova said sniffling and blowing her nose. Nova sighed forcing herself to stop crying. A technique she learned from her father. "Tears are for the weak." Nova said repeating her father's word, not realizing she was saying that aloud. "Never show excessive weakness."

"I hadn't seen Briggs in seven years things could have changed so much since then." Nova admitted. "I don't think he would forgive me for double that time. That's all I was useful until i wasn't anymore." Nova said. "He has every right to be angry. I can't blame him considering I only now know the gravity of the situation I just-" Nova sighed. "Sometimes I wish in those seven years he could have said something. I would have done everything in my power to help him." She sighed. "I still hear him calling me desperate even now as we speak. Guess he was right."

There was a silence as she said those words.

"It was the night of the gala." Nova stated. "I wanted to help people. I wanted to give hope to Briggs and show him humans are good. And maybe that girl too. I let her insult me because I thought it would help as long as she didn't damn my granmother but when she said" Nova paused clenching her fists. "Better to be a dammed spirit than to see what's become of her own granddaughter, right?" Nova repeated with anger, the lights flickering as she talked and eyes glowing. "I wanted to show her the pain she inflicted back." Nova said.

Another period of silence. As her eyes faded.

"I just want to be able to decide for myself who I am." Nova said. "I feel like its either my dad, my briggs, or someone else making assumptions about me. The filal daughter, the childhood friend who will never change-" She pinched the inside of her hand to stop crying. "The naive everygirl.No one every sees me as me." Nova said.

"The only person who does is my boyfriend Tae-jin." A brief thought of happiness in her mind thinking of him. "But he can't be the only one." Nova said. "Where I do even start?" Nova pleaded her eyes tearing up again.

Cami shook her head, knowing that with everything going on, there was no reason for Freya to be in a peaceful mood. The mother had to witness her son, first hand experience imaginable grief, one that she knew well. "Don't worry about it." Camille smiled sweetly, always happy to be in the presence of any Mikaelson, but even so the sisters. Despite the way they all first met, they managed to grow incredibly close. It helped that both Freya and Rebekah loved Klaus so deeply. Something she admired in their family, the way they all held onto such loyalty despite all that happened in the past.

“I think I am, I mean I studied really hard to open a practice, but this is a lot to handle.” A small laugh escaped her lips, before speaking again. "I've already gotten several patients lined up and I haven't advertised yet. However, if my predictions are correct Briggs could be doing something similar. He's really good at the whole therapy thing, much better than his Uncles." It was a clear conflict of interest, the way her professional and personal life bended when it came to this particular family. Yet, it seemed like she wasn't the first. After meeting many of their enemies, it became obvious that all of them, started out with the same admiration she held. "How have you been? I know it hasn't exactly been easy recently...please let me know if you need me. I will gladly clear my schedule."

"Camille," Freya grinned as the other turned around, an apologetic smile quickly tugging at her lips. "My apologies, I didn't realize it was you." Gaze watches silently as the transaction is finished, moving forward to hand over her list of items to the clerk before turning her frame back in Cami's direction. "You sure you're up for that," the witch questions playfully. "I'm afraid this whole town is probably traumatized and in need of therapy at this point."

To Camille's delight, she managed to picture Juri during his time in monasticism perfectly. With a bright smile she nodded, knowing all too well how religion, despite it's best intentions, or worst, doesn't solve everything. Just because you believe in divine intervention, doesn't mean it will actually happen. She watched this happen with the two people she loved the most, her uncle and twin brother. Both of them did their best to be close to a God who never answered. Cami was sure, that was where her dislike for systems began. "I can't wait to hear all those stories." She replied trying to get out of the darker parts of her mind, knowing it would get her nowhere.

Tilting her head, she shrugged. "Kol normally doesn't help, that's kinda his thing, but I do know someone who may convince him. His wife, Davina, she might be able to get him on the right side...you can try to talk to him. Maybe if it's not me he won't be so grumpy about it." Getting up from her seat, Cami began pacing around the room. Formulating a plan that would make sure the ones she cared for could remain safe, in all this. "I can talk to Klaus see if he knows of any plans already going on. I am sure that Briggs and others are planning some type of vengeance as we speak."

Juri noticed the head tilt at the monk comment. There was a serene grin as he took out the picture of him in the orange gown and shaved head. "I think I lasted a few years before realizing it wasn't going to fix my problems." He signed. "I was running away from them." He sighed. "I got some great stories out of about my sordid love life at least."

There was a reassurance in her words. "If we have soldiers then we will be okay. I think our biggest adversaries are those who are neutral or work with the oea." He signed. "Why wouldn't Kol help?" Juri signed. "Maybe I can talk with him?"

Camille O'Connell's Camera Roll @fragmcntedsouls @xblindfoldcdx @dvclairex @traegics @thcprettiest @strawberryxmagic @ofmoonlitmagic

Her shoulders slowly began to ease in stiffness, as the other met her question with a genuine answer. He could've easily shrugged her question off and kept going with his day. Cami felt relief, before nodding her head to his remark. "I used to find the way this place never changed comforting, but it's different now. Everyone being able to celebrate during such dark times just doesn't seem as inciting as before." It used to feel like a beacon of hope, a light in the darkness, but now it felt as if problems were being ignored. That's why the world had changed so drastically since she died. New Orleans refused to embrace the differences they all held, something she used to swear could never happen.

Nodding her head, she smirked. "I used to be a bartender so I know a thing or two about how unruly the public gets." She let out a small laugh, while memories of her time serving drinks ran through her mind. The women in need of a rescue from a date and the friends who insisted she be the one to call the cab. "It wasn't all bad though, sometimes I think I saw the best of humanity while working that job."

The smirk faded, when he made it official, that he was just like her. A supernatural being who witnessed constant violence. Sighing she folded her arms, hoping the pressure on her chest would give her some clarity from her anxious thoughts. There were moments, when she wasn't filled with worry, but they'd pass. "I used to think that I had seen it all. This whole battle between good and evil, supernatural and natural, but that night proved me wrong." She had been grateful, that no one she loved died that night. Yet, she also knew that the people she loved were responsible for some of the carnage, even her. That was something she hadn't found peace with. "I thought they were just going to get information out of us....did you make it out okay?"

As the voice reached him, Wyatt's step faltered momentarily, the cadence of his midnight patrol interrupted. Although the detective in Wyatt was trained to distrust unsolicited engagements, something in the timbre of her voice—a shared weariness perhaps—caused him to pause.

He turned, his eyes searching her face for a moment. "Just another night in the Quarter," he replied, his tone even, betraying nothing of the undercurrent of anticipation that ran beneath his skin as the full moon loomed.

Wyatt considered the vampire before him, her presence a stark reminder of the fragile facade their kind maintained before the unsuspecting masses. They were alike, different species of course but both supernatural in nature, both wearing masks that allowed them to move amongst the revelers unseen, untouched. "Just on patrol. If there isn't some party going on, someone is getting hurt by something, sometimes both at once," he added, the corner of his mouth twitching in a semblance of a smile. It wasn't humor that sparkled briefly in his eyes, but a shared understanding of the irony they lived in—gaiety on the surface, turmoil churning just beneath.

"You seem far from okay yourself," Wyatt observed, shifting his weight subtly, a silent acknowledgment of the kinship their natures begrudgingly afforded. "The gala’s aftermath weighs heavily on us all." His words, a gentle probe, were also an olive branch. In a city that danced to the tune of life and death, it was the unspoken that often resonated the loudest.

She wasn't sure why it felt like a good idea to visit old places, but here she was walking up to a shop she remembered belonged to a friend, Vincent Griffith. Camille had been in a rush to see him, that is if he was alive. So the sign that said closed was something she simply bypassed. Walking right into the store, she was met with a stranger, a very rude stranger at that. "Oh, umm I thought this shop belonged to someone else..." Furrowing her brows, she gazed around the apothecary, it had changed a lot, but what hadn't in the last nineteen years.

"I'll be out of your hair in a moment...do you know someone named Vincent Griffith? I'm looking for him and well this used to be a place I could find him."

He's leaned against the counter, his hand is propped lazily on his chin as gaze skims through the pages of the book in front of him. The door opens, and then shuts. Truth be told, his business was quaint. Above the bustling streets of the French Quarter, on the second floor above an apothecary store. The fake shit-- of course. And the irony wasn't lost on him, as tourist ate up the merchandise from the owners down below, unbeknownst to the real magic that loomed over their heads. There's a subtle glance up, and then disinterest. "Are you dyslexic?" A genuine question as irises shift from them, to the closed sign hanging on the door, then back to them.

Camille watched her parents stay in a loveless marriage, all at a young age and because of that, it altered the way she thought love would appear to her, one day. This lead to several relationships were there was a constant push and pull. Each time, she'd follow her heart into the darkest room possible, only to come out the one with the most injuries. In this moment, she didn't feel anything like that. In fact, she had never been so sure of loving someone the way she loved Klaus. His darkness hand't swallowed her whole, instead he allowed the light she found in him to grow. After her death, he held onto the last words she said to him, for him to notice that spark, that only he could fan into a fire with her gone. He managed to do exactly that.

No one had ever taken the time to prove themselves to her, instead they took all they could get. So to finally have that in her hands, well she refused to ever let that go, let alone again. Every word the hybrid spoke sent a calming wave through her body. Klaus was right, it all did make sense. Despite everything that was going on around them, with him beside her, all the chaos seemed to dull. Cami couldn't promise much, but she would promise to fight for this bond to never break.

All she could do was look at him with wide eyes and adoration, until he kissed her back and they managed to not say another word. Instead they made it a lot like the first time, but when she woke up it wouldn't be like before. This time she wasn't a toy in Aurora's' game.

---

Cami finally fell asleep, the reunion was dreamlike and quite the opposite of their first Christmas together. So she couldn't help but feel giddy in her chest, as her eyes fluttered open from his touch. A soft smile covered her sleepy features before allowing her legs to stretch. "I don't mind waking up to this." His kiss caused her body to instantly wake up. She wasn't sure how the two of them would manage to leave this bed, but of course, there were always some other matters to attend to, but right now they didn't have that. So she'd allow herself to dwell in it for as long as time allowed.

Turning to face him, she placed one hand under her pillow and the other on the side of his face. "That was really nice...." Cami smirked, the whole moment replaying in her mind. "It was also the best sleep I've gotten since the whole storm."

Klaus understood just how vulnerable loving Camille made him and how much of a target, loving him made her in return. Despite his fears, he had experienced living without her once and his heart could not, no, would not survive living without her again. She was every little bit of light within him and she had been the first to recognise it. The atmosphere felt encased by a true sense of calm, Klaus’ hand resting against Camille's jaw as his other resting against her hip, fingers toying with the material of her clothing.

He could sense each response of her body to his own, the way that her frame trembled beneath his touch, yearning for more. His eyes catching the subtle colour that flooded her cheeks as heat rose beneath them. “You are so beautiful, Camille” he hummed, each word entwined with sincerity. 

The sensation of her sigh was detected against his lips, his nose pushing delicately again hers as close didn’t feel quite close enough. His heart ached as she spoke of their supposed peace – but apart, there was no such thing. Nodding his head against hers, he whispered “we were destined to find out way back to one another, Camille and now, all makes sense. This was supposed to happen. We, are supposed to happen.” Words he believed wholeheartedly to be true. 

A breath hitched in the back of his throat as Camille deepened their kiss now, his fingers tensing into the material of her clothing as he urged her closer. Their passion and love was just as vibrant as it had always been, but there was also something tender about the way that their lips moved against one another. There was no battle for dominance, but instead a tender rhythm and a hum of contentment urged from his lungs as her fingers teased through his hair. As Camille pulled herself backwards, Klaus rose a hand towards her features, his thumb now caressing her cheek as his eyes studied hers with an adoring intensity. “I know for certain that I have not” he mused, placing a chaste kiss against her lips once again – unable to prevent himself from going back for more. 

---

Their true reunion had been every little bit of peace that Klaus had craved and somehow expected. He loved her and she loved him within return, despite the part of his soul that made him seem monstrous, she saw straight through the imperfections to the truth that lay beneath. His eyes reopened as his head lay comfortably upon the pillows, unable to look away from her now as her tousled locks fell around her frame, making her look even more beautiful if such a thing was even possible. His hand eased beneath the sheets to find her own, entwining their fingers and lifting them to his lips to place a kiss against her knuckles as he hummed, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

After setting up her office, Camille decided it was best to spruce it up with the right vibe. The local apothecary was first on her list, making sure to pick up everything needed to make the office feel welcoming and safe. Normally, she wouldn't be so picky, but she felt a lot of responsibility after the gala. The vampire wanted to make sure that everyone had the proper outlet for all the rage. A familiar voice arose from behind Cami, causing her quickly apologize. "Sorry.." Whirling around she noticed it was Freya. "Oh, Freya, umm i'm almost done."

Handing the cashier the rest of her items, she checked out and grabbed her things tightly. "I'm offering up my therapy services for anyone who needs them...just trying to make sure people feel safe when they step in."

"You mind hurrying it up," Freya all but demands as she shifts impatiently, arms crossed at the register of the local apothecary. "I have very little time and very little patience."

@exitiumstarters

Juri's joke managed to make her smile, despite the heavy feeling that radiated in her chest. It was such a heavy subject, how the world worked and why it decided to remain oppressive. Tilting her head at his monk comment, her eyes furrowed as she pictured the man before her up in the mountains practicing religion. Oddly enough it didn't seem far off, from what she gathered it seemed as if he was the type to be searching for something greater. Hell, she once went searching for the same thing.

Nodding her head, Cami looked at the paper and then back at Juri. "Well lucky for us, we have two of the most powerful witches I've ever seen living in this exact compound. Not sure if Klaus will agree to Hope being involved, but knowing her, she will make sure to join the fight." Looking at the ceiling, other witches she met swirled into her brain. "Finn, Kol, and even Vincent are all witches who have been practicing for years....Kol probably won't help, well if something of his is in harms way then it's possible."

"I hope the human and supernatural brains are alike because I am worn out from both." It was his very sad attempt of a joke. To try to make sure his reality wasn't a hell. "In Buddhist belief if someone is a monster in this lifetime, they become one in the next one. And likewise the person is a hero in this one, they'll be better in the n ext one." He said. "I was a monk for a while, for more selfish resaons." he admitted. "I feel like we're forced to fight for a reason." He paused. "I have no idea why or how to break the cycle but we got this." He reassured.

Juri nodded in agreement. "I think we should start with the obvious factions." He said. Juri took out a piece of paper and wrote witches. "We need to get them all on our side, the problem is we have some who believe siding with the oea will give them protection." He said. "So my question is what do do we do about them?"

Being apart of the supernatural world, made being alive even more difficult than it already was. All of them had abilities and urges, that couldn't always be controlled, causing the whole situation to become dangerous. Camille had learned a decent amount about the beings that lived in the city. Yet, she still had so much to learn. Watching as Nova's emotions began to spill out of her at such a quick pace, made the vampire tilt her head with sorrowful eyes. Closing the notebook, she set it in the crook of the couch before leaning forward. Reaching for the tissues, she handed them to Nova with a knowing look.

"I've seen Briggs angry and ready to fight the world, he reminds me of his Uncle in that way." There were so many other aspects of Klaus that Briggs seemed to have. The way he loved so deeply. His loyalty. "You didn't mean to hurt them Nova and that really does count for something. Sure he had every right to be upset but there is never any need for violence when tensions are already high...but apologies take time. It's very possible that right now he isn't ready to hear it."

Furrowing her brows, Cami thought of who could possibly know so much about Nova before ever meeting her. It took a few seconds, but it clicked, Billie. She's the only person who would know all of that information. Shaking her head, the vampire let out a soft sigh. "Did this all happen the night of the gala? When you met with this girl who seemed to know a lot about you? Because if it was, that night is not something that people can hold against you. Several of us did things we regret but we were under attack. Our brains don't exactly think properly when we are under that much stress."

"You don't need to avoid anyone, but I think you do need to take time for yourself. To figure out what you want in life."

Nova took a deep breath before she began to talk. She felt herself becoming more loose around the vampire. "It started in the park." She admitted. "My friend Briggs, found out I was dating someone I pinky promised not to. It was based on the belief about him being involved with the OEA. But I don't think he is involved. At least not in the way Briggs thinks." Nova admitted.

"I used something called chi-blocking. It was taught from me by my grandmother. I didn't want to use it but they were attacking each other." The tears streamed down his face. "So I attacked both and hurt them several times to stop fighting." She said. "I want to apologize but I feel like he'll never listen. And I feel like if I try he'll be furious, I'll make it worse, and maybe I have to accept we'll never be friends again." There was a silence with a held back sob. "So it's for the best if I never apologize to him."

There was a silence.

"Then there was a girl- I don't know her name. But it was like she knew me." She said. "Frankly I have never seen her in my life before then. I wanted to help her wounds but she insulted me. I tried to be a good sport and take it in. I was human, she probably wasn't. I deserved it.I was bowing as much as I could, " There was a silence. "But she damned my grandmother and I lost it." She said. "Maybe a demon possessed me, maybe I am a witch but I unearthed a floor." Nova said. "And I hurt her." There was a sigh. "I don't think I can apologize to her either. Because she'll be furious, I'll make it worse, and we're beyond making amends." She said.

"I don't think there's anything I can do anymore except avoid everyone." The tears streaming down her face.