lately it felt his mind was playing tricks on him. just recently, they had moved to a different town, but ben didn’t remember why. no matter what, he couldn’t think of the reason they’d packed up all their stuff and left their perfectly good old home behind. a place where they’d made so many memories. a place where they’d been happy. his freaking childhood home. his friends. his baseball team. everything. there were pictures in his head, and every night, he found they replayed on a constant loop but they were so foggy, he could never quite make out what was happening. it felt like a piece of him was missing. he couldn’t figure it out. and he knew his mom was feeling the same way. every other day, their neighbors would mention something that would make them both frown and exchange a look, or his mom would get a call from ben’s aunt or an old friend who seemed to know stuff ben and his mom didn’t. something was off. ben had no idea what it was. he was without the missing puzzle piece. just as he was now, as he was entering their living room, holding up a box filled to the top with things he knew for sure weren’t his, but he had no idea who they belonged to if not to him or his mother. “hey mom, i found some stuff in my room that’s not mine. is it yours?” / @hallowqueenwrites​

emma,

the last few months had been an adjustment, but emma finally felt like she was getting herself settled and in a life that had nothing to do with her actual life. she was in a small town in texas, just outside of dallas and had a small shitty apartment – but it was enough, it was a path she was able to choose for herself and after making it out of purgatory she promised herself she wouldn’t ever do anything to land back in there. today was just like any other at the diner, she was in a good mood because tips were great tonight, she was already making enough this week to cover the month of rent which meant she would have more money than to just cover bills and food. she checked in on a few more tables before being notified she had a new customer to go get an order from so she went back, grabbed a glass of water to take to the table with her and as she approached the table the smile on her face fell and the glass of ice water in her hand did as well and shattered all over the ground. emma didn’t say anything, but there was terror written all over her face as her eyes locked with her fathers. “w-what are you doing here.” and there it went, the entire life she made was out the window and she was either going to be killed again or she had to run, pick a new place and start all over.

he was working a case ― alone, because sam had once again run off to do lord knows what, leaving dean to fend for himself ― and after spending a whole day questioning people in town to get some information on what he was dealing with ― which, honestly, had been kind of a disappointment. he couldn’t say he was any smarter now than he had been this morning ( oh, how he wished that sam was here ) ― he decided it was time for food. and pie, maybe. he wouldn’t say no to that. picking up the menu after settling down in the empty booth, he studied it while waiting for a waitress to come pick up his order. as he heard footsteps, dean lifted his head ― only for him to look into the face of the one person he had thought he’d never see again in his life. not a day went by he didn’t think of her and the potential of raising his daughter. dean never thought of himself as a good father, truth be told, he was scared shitless he’d turn out like his own deadbeat of a dad, but he couldn’t help nor ignore the nagging feeling in his chest whenever his mind dared wander off to emma and to what could’ve been, to the need to protect his flesh and blood, to the anger he still felt on some days when looking at sam. mouth agape, he stared and stared and stared, not quite knowing what to say until her words seemed to knock him out of his trance. quite literally, because he felt like he’d been hit across the head. clearing his throat, dean straightened up, still wearing the uncomfortably stiff suit from his little act earlier today. “working,” was the only thing he seemed to get across in the moment, eyes looking her up and down for a moment. he noticed she still looked the same as last time he’d seen her. sure, there were questions, but they all seemed to have been pushed to the back of his mind, because in that moment, all he wanted was to assure himself that she was okay. that she was doing better, better than before with her crazy cult of a family. that she wasn’t in trouble. “could ask you the same,” he mumbled, eyes fixated on the place on her body where ― last time they’d seen each other ― a bullet had entered her chest. “hell, kid, what are you doin’ here?”

lisa braeden,

lisa wouldn’t go as far as to say she forgave him, no. but for the night she could put what happened between them aside and be there for him. it may have been some years since they had seen each other, but aside from sam she liked to think she knew him better than anyone else and especially when he was in a state like this. “it’s too late, i’m already in my car and driving there, dean.” whatever the future held or didn’t hold for them, that was another nights issue and likely one that would require a lot of beer for the both of them. but now she felt like she couldn’t get there fast enough, with each word she could hear the bass in his voice vanishing and she hadn’t heard him so vulnerable in so long. others may have thought she was out of her mind and maybe she was, but all she could do was keep thinking back to the first weekend she ever met him and the nice, sweet, funny guy - the man she had a years worth of life and memories with, with her son.. if nothing else she would stay long enough for him to fall asleep. “you should know me well enough to know i never say anything that i don’t mean, i don’t sugar coat things for anyones benefit.” besides ben. with that, she was turning down the block he lived on and she pulled up into the driveway and parked her car.  “is your door unlocked?” the brunette asked, climbing out of the car and held her hoodie a little closer to her frame because she was cold, even though she was approaching the door she didn’t hang up and she wasn’t going to until dean either told her it was open or answered the door himself. “i’m right outside.” she said softly, her hand reaching for the door to jiggle and see if it was by chance open.

dean was holding on to a paper thin thread, trying desperately to keep his head above water. but if anything, talking to her and hearing the softness in her voice was making things worse. it was making him feel guilty, and he wondered what had gotten into him to think, even in a drunken state, that calling lisa might be a good idea. it was a terrible idea. her being here was just so utterly wrong. he didn’t deserve her kindness. it was too much to ask. a deep sigh escaped his throat as he leaned over, his fingers tightly wrapped around the counter as he felt the crushing weight of the world was ( once again ) too much to bare on his broad shoulders. he didn’t have the strength to fight her when she said she was already on her way, not that night, he didn’t have it in himself. thoughts were racing through his mind, so fast, he could hardly finish thinking about one thing before the next entered his inner viewfield. a deep breath taken, lower lip trembling as he reminded himself to hold it together. dean didn’t know much to say in response to her words, because yes, he did know her. he did know her so well, it almost hurt to know her at all. maybe he should have asked to have his memory wiped too, but he knew he’d rather feel the pain of being able to remember her and their time together and the pain he had caused her as his own punishment, his own personal hell. it was what he deserved for his crimes. “no,” he was taken aback by the sound of his own voice for a moment, his eyebrows furrowed. “i never keep the door unlocked,” he explained, though he didn’t doubt she remembered that about him and the year they had spent together. dean took a few seconds to collect himself before he straightened up and walked up to the front door where he hesitated for a moment, still on the phone with her, before he unlocked the door and pulled it open.

VAMPIRE APPRECIATION WEEK 2021 ↳ day 2: favorite vampire — katherine pierce from the vampire diaries (x)

I survived childbirth, the death of my entire family, and 500 years of running from an immortal hybrid. You can understand why I’m a little upset that I’m on the verge of being defeated by a sinus infection! 

𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖔𝖓 𝖐𝖎𝖗𝖇𝖞.

right now? landon was feeling the way he did when anakin became one with the force on star wars, when she agreed to wanting to have another date he felt like he could burst with excitement. instead he smiled, a pretty big smile and sipped some of the drink he had, eyes shifting from josie for just a moment. their date wasn’t even near over and he had already managed to ask her on a second one? he hadn’t even meant to jump the gun so quickly but his brain stopped working when he was around josie and he was operating on autopilot. “next time you decide. anything you want to do, say the word and we’ll go do it.” while he enjoyed surprising her, landon still wanted to do things that she liked to do, with her.

the smile on his face was the exact mirror of her own. josie didn’t know what she’d expected, but she surely didn’t expect it to go this good. one date down, another one to go. she was already so excited, it was impossible to hide her joy. his words made her lift her eyebrows some, the same big smile still lingering on her face. “ yeah? “ she asked and chuckled some. her face lit up as a thought crossed her mind and she met his eyes. “ can i... plan our next date? and surprise you for a change? “ she wanted to know, excitement ringing in her voice. josie was hoping he’d be okay with it, because she wanted to do something as nice as the date he had arranged for her for him, too. he deserved it. and she was curious to see the look on his face when she revealed to him what she already had in mind...

𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖆 𝖇𝖗𝖆𝖊𝖉𝖊𝖓.

at first the silence confused her, maybe it had been a pocket dial? she furrowed her brows as she lay there, wondering if she should hang up and then when she heard dean at the other end of the phone, lisa was surprised that it was actually him. quickly she sat up, her legs crossing over each other as she could hear it in his voice, the same torn up state he had been in when he came to her and ben that night. she wasn’t sure what to say at first because this wasn’t something easily fixed with just a few words, last time it took.. time. all she could do was be there for him and the thought came to her mind, it was muscle memory and in that moment she didn’t care what had happened between them because all she wanted was to be there for dean. “i’m coming over.” lisa finally spoke again after her initial answering of the phone, she got out of bed but continued to listen to him while changing from pajamas and into a pair of jeans and a hoodie. “dean you’re not in my hair, it’s alright.” she assured him, she could feel herself grow saddened for him just hearing it, she didn’t want him to feel like this but she knew what it meant, it had to have meant sam was gone.. again.  quickly she put on a pair of socks and shoes, tossed her hair in a loose ponytail and grabbed her car keys and wallet, nothing more before she headed out to her car. lisa was just getting in the car, the ignition turned on and phone placed on the gps mount in her car with him on speaker as he poured out his apology, it stopped her in her tracks and she sat a moment unsure of what to say. a part of her was still hurt, yes and she still wished he had done things differently but she cared about him and deep down she knew she loved him, so hearing the pain in his voice broke her heart. “dean..” she said softly, wetting her lips before she spoke. “you are more than the mistakes you make, please know that.” that was something lisa truly believed, everyone makes mistakes and if they tried to atone or show true empathy for them? that was where the persons character showed. finally she buckled in and began the route to his house, 

how was it that his good intentions always led to terrible outcomes? maybe he was cursed. cursed to live a lonely life, cursed to live like this forever. the thought made his gut wrench. history kept repeating itself, and he just did not know why. what did they say? what is meant to be will be. but in what world was it okay to put the person you were meant for through hell? it didn’t make sense to him. he didn’t deserve her, or her time, or her attention. it wasn’t fair, dean knew that, even in the drunken state he was in. he wasn’t a fool. a man with a heart, struck down by his own destiny countless times, until it felt like he was on the ground with nowhere left to go. her words caught his attention, making his eyebrows lift slightly. dean shook his head violently, even though she couldn’t see him through the phone. “ no... no, you don’t have to. i can’t ask you too. “ he said as he closed his eyes for a moment. this was hurting him more than he could put into words... he wanted her here, hell, of course, he did. but it would be selfish to ask that of her and he could not allow himself to be selfish with her. not after everything he had done, he had been selfish enough. “ i’ll be fine... just- just say home, lisa. please. i don’t want to trouble you. “ he continued to say, even as she tried to assure him that he wasn’t in her hair. it didn’t feel right to him... he didn’t want her to feel responsible for him just because he had been stupid enough to call her out of all people. not a single cell in his body could seem to comprehend how she could be willing to come over to comfort him... she should’ve hung up, she should’ve run for the hills the second she saw him. none of this was right. the guilt that was eating him up inside grew stronger as he heard the soft tone in her voice, making his heart ache. every time she spoke, every time he looked at her, all those memories from years ago resurfaced and flooded his mind. “ don’t say that... “ he mumbled and shook his head. dean didn’t want her to forgive him, or even try to forgive him, not before he hadn‘t earned her forgiveness. “ you don’t have to say that. please, don’t. “ he said, voice progressively becoming quieter. “ don’t say it for my sake. “ shaking his head, he inhaled deeply, resting his elbow on the counter as he rubbed his forehead, the other hand still holding the phone up to his ear. she could not possibly believe the words coming out of her mouth... right? every fiber in her body must hate him for what he’d done... yet, here she was, reaching out a helping hand to him.

𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖆 𝖇𝖗𝖆𝖊𝖉𝖊𝖓.

listened to ben while he spoke, jotting down a few things on her list for the store when he did. his ideas made her smile, she liked the sound of that. “that’s sweet, honey. i think you’re right he would really enjoy that. the balloons will be a nice touch, maybe a new cassette for his car too.” nothing huge, she didn’t want to go over the top for him and overwhelm him but lisa definitely wanted to make dean feel special and she could tell ben did too. “we’ll head out then once you’re done with your breakfast, get it all sorted before he gets home from work and it’s time to leave.” the brunette mused, stuffing her phone into her pocket. “i’m just going to go load up some bags in the car while you do, be right back.” walking from the kitchen lisa put two bags over each shoulder and carried them out to her suv, thankfully that and a cooler full of food for the weekend was all they would be needing. after a few minutes lisa came back into the kitchen, pouring herself some coffee into a thermos and adding the sugars and ceam she desired. 

ben looked up at his mother as he ate another spoon full of his favorite cereal, seemingly in a rush, mostly because he was so excited and just couldn’t wait to get going. he nodded eagerly at her suggestion, liking the idea of getting dean another cassette for his car. the retired hunter had long buried baby, the old impala sitting in the garage most days, but ben still loved driving around town or helping dean fix his car while listening to his cassettes. “yeah, if we can find one he doesn’t already own.” the young boy joked, a smirk on his face. he hoped that dean would like the gift, hoped it would make him happy, along with the other little surprises they had planned. that was all that he wanted, was to see his mom and dean happy. he just wanted to have a good time with them. “alright.” the brunet boy nodded as he continued to eat his breakfast, almost inhaling it. when his mother came back to join him again in the kitchen, ben glanced up at her. “i’m ready to go.” he stated as he picked up his bowl to chug the rest of the milk inside.

𝖈𝖑𝖆𝖞 𝖋𝖊𝖑𝖑​.

clay lead the way down the streets, making sure elodie was still beside him he chuckled then at her words. “don’t worry, i’m good. it’s been a while since i’ve been to one of these so i think we both have some time to make up for.” he said honestly, looking down at her, every so lightly nudging her. “i think you’ll like her.” he said, well he hoped anyway because they were the only two people he really had in his life right now. “nah she is from chicago, i guess her mom moved away after she was eighteen and then had a life and then cami and her twin brother.” but he didn’t go further on that, when he found out sean had suffered the same fate that clays father did? he hoped it was only a coincidence and not a mcconnell curse. “she came back for school apparently, she got accepted to a graduate program here.” he explained, looking around at all of the people having fun, all the food that set off different aromas and the jazz music filling the air. “what will it be then? traditional crawfish, some gumbo or are you feeling something specific?” 

“we sure do.” elodie agreed with a small nod of the head as she followed him down the streets. every time he mentioned the months they’d spend apart, she couldn’t help but wonder what he had been up to during the year she was gone, but any time those lingering questions crossed her mind, she tried to drown them out. she wasn’t sure if there’d ever be the time and place to talk about what happened, to her and to him. but still, call it curiosity or worry, she wanted to know what happened to him after the loss of his mother. after her disappearance. “yeah?” glancing up at him at his words, elodie lifted an eyebrow slightly. “she sounds fun. maybe she’ll analyze my psyche for me, what do you think? sounds like an evening to me.” she was joking, maybe not her best joke, her humor didn’t always hit the spot. raising her eyebrows some, the brunette nodded as he continued to tell her more about that mystery cousin of his. she was curious, for sure, and she wanted to make sure that this cami girl was good for him, that she wasn’t going to bring any craziness into his life. “didn’t know your mom had any siblings.” she frowned before taking a look around as he asked her what she was in the mood for. “uh, how about a little bit of everything? i’m starving.”

𝖋𝖔𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖗𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖞.

foster watched her, she was cold as ice, a lot like elsa. his head cocked to the side as she went on, a cocky smirk was etched on his features as he nodded and went along with what she was saying. “can’t steal a case i already knew about, princess. plus don’t you know by now nothing in this world is ever really yours? come on now.” he said, shaking his head as he looked her over. “like i said, my little brothers got it covered. i’m free to roam wherever help is needed.” once she straightened from her own car, foster leaned over and opened her door for her. “admit it, you don’t want me there so. don’t distract you.” he teased, taking a step back. “don’t worry, i’m not gonna go to the same town as you. but i wouldn’t be surprised if our paths crossed again in the future.” 

cocking her head to the side, krissy couldn’t resist the urge to roll her eyes at his words. “shut up.” she told him quite bluntly, a scoff escaping her lips. when she noticed him looking her over, his much taller figure hovering above her, she simple raised an eyebrow in response. “well, your help isn’t needed here anymore.” the dark haired hunter shot back as if out of reflexes. like a wild animal watching its prey she watched him lean over and open her car door for her, her eyes following his every move as if she wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to try to do anything stupid. chocolate colored orbs drifted upwards to look at him with disbelief painted all over her face before she erupted in laughter. “you wish.” lifting both eyebrows, she eyed him for a moment as he stepped back. “like god heard my prayer. and i’d rather not.” she stated, her tone as dry as sandpaper. shaking her head some, krissy turned to get into her car without giving him another look.

𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖎𝖓𝖘𝖐𝖎.

stiles was good at reading between the lines, it was who he was. he had to specialize in it when he was doing stuff for scott and the pack so he could tell that there was something going on between the headmistress and her daughter. he pursed his lips, waving a hand. “i can find my own way around, it’s cool - i like exploring places. maybe a little too much my dad would say, but that’s besdies the point.” he went on, cutting himself off then, he didn’t want to burden josie if she was busy or had other things on her plate. once the two were done talking stiles thanked josie’s mom and followed then behind the other and he glanced around. “sorry you got stuck showing the intern around, i know that can bite. you can bail at anytime and i’ll just tell your mom i was the one who wondered off.” he offered, eyes focused on the witch who he now walked beside. 

josie watched as the dark haired intern went on about how he was fine finding his way around for a moment before he just cut himself off abruptly - and with that, everything was settled. hitting the hallway with the taller boy on her heels, josie began making her way around the school to give him the tour she usually gave newcomers. “it’s okay, i don’t mind missing class.” the brunette siphon witch responded immediately to stop his worrying, if he was worried about her possibly not wanting to show him around at all, her gaze falling on the other. truth be told, she wasn’t entirely sure if she really didn’t mind. part of her didn’t, while the other part of her... cared. for a second, the image of her dark self flashed before her eyes and so did her words, but then she shook her head, pushing the memories aside to focus on what was important. at least she still had lizzie and their mom on her side to get through today and the weeks ahead. adjusting her straps on her backpack, josie smiled half heartedly before she continued to make her way around. “alright, so... where should we start... oh, i guess you would like to see the library, right? come on, it’s this way.” she said as she turned around the corner, nodding her head into the direction of the library.

𝖆𝖉𝖑𝖊𝖞 𝖗𝖔𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖘.

“don’t mention it.” she mused, her fingers linked together as she was fully entered in his dorm. her eyes moved from the walls and the decor on it before falling back to ben. adley was glad they planned this, she had been looking forward to it since they made the plans. hearing his words she nodded her head, the brunette moved to take a seat and made herself comfortable, one leg crossing over the other. “i was at the game the other day with my friends by the way, your team did good, you did good.” she rambled a little, her cheeks go a slightly light shade of pink for a moment before placing her hands in her lap. “so, which show are we watching?” she asked curiously.

she was so pretty. ben couldn’t help but look at her every now and again, just taking in her presence, the energy she was sending out. this girl could light up an entire room and she didn’t even seem to realize it. he let her have a look around while he awkwardly stood around at the door, scratching neck. when their eyes met, he offered a soft smile to her, then watched her go take a seat before he finally moved away from the door and sat down on his roommates bed. “you were?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as a light shade of pink appeared on the apples of his cheeks. damnit. if he had known that she was there, he would’ve tried a lot harder. “thanks.” he stated nonetheless, smiling at her. “uhm... i made a list of the ones we were talking about the other night...” he said as he got up to go grab it from this desk, handing it to her a moment later. “you choose. whatever you’re in the mood for. i know prison break can be a little... serious, i guess. so if you’d rather watch something funny, with less action... i don’t know.” he shrugged, just letting her have a look in case she didn’t remember all of them.

𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖋𝖆𝖓 𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖛𝖆𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖊.

his mind was all over the place, part of him wondered if he was a masochist maybe that was why he originally went after elena because she looked like katherine and he then fell for elena, only for katherine to be the one trying to help him feel less shitty? it hurt his head too much to think about so instead stefan decided he was gong to do things task by task. now to get the blood, then he would worry about whatever came next when it happened. “ladies and gentlemen she likes bunnies, the horror. imagine if anyone ever knew.” stefan teased, he showed it with the tone in which he spoke. as much as he would usually hate to admit it, there were parts of katherine that had been soft, parts that made him fall in love with her when he was a human. her offer surprised him a little, he hadn’t counted on her wanting to help him keep control rather than spinning out and indulging his darker nature, the younger vampire nodded his head but the appreciation was clear. finally they got to the storage room that probably would have been cold had they been human, he opened the duffle bag and filled it with about ten bags - just so he didn’t have to come back so soon. “come on, caroline is nice, she’s a good friend.” 

katherine liked to think that she knew stefan, even better than he knew himself sometimes. and she liked to think that a part of him still cared about her. but the fact that she couldn’t look inside his mind to figure out the answers to all of the open questions she had was killing her sometimes. she was trying. all she could do was hope that he could see that, that he believed her and appreciated the efforts. his teasing words made her raise her eyebrows some, giving him a look, one of surprise and amusement. this, to her, was already a step into the right direction. one in which they were together again, like she had promised the night he had died in front of her eyes. “i like a lot of things. if you weren’t so hellbent on hating me, you would know that.” she stated, looking at him for a moment with intent. she was trying to prove to him that she cared. about him. his reaction to her words brought a small smile to her face and she nodded slightly, it giving her a glimmer of hope. hope that he could let her in again. hope that he could love her again. she entered the room after him and stood by as she watched him fill the bag - gentleman’s honor. “meh.” was all she had to say before she grabbed the bag from him and turned to head out. “let’s get out of here... i’m hungry.”

KATHERINE PIERCE + flashbacks

caroline forbes + purple requested by anonymous

KATIE DOUGLAS PRETTY HARD CASES SEASON ONE, 2021

𝖈𝖑𝖆𝖞 𝖋𝖊𝖑𝖑.

clay got out of the car, he locked up after elodie was out too and a chuckle passed by his lips when she spoke. honestly he was glad to get out and to be doing something with el how they used to before she went off to school. “you better be ready, no other option for a native from new orleans. we’re gonna party until the sunlight comes up. ” he teased, gently nudging her as the were now walking down the street to head toward the party. “well, i just met her about seven or eight months ago.. couldn’t exactly tell ya.” he mused, no malice behind his words but it was the truth. “her names cami, i think you’ll like her. shes in grad school for psychology.” he explained, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he looked down at his best friend while he spoke. truth be told he was glad she was living with him because this way he knew that he could keep her safe from all the shit that happened in the town they call home.. the stuff part of him wished he was still blind to. “you wanna start with some street food?” he asked when he spotted food carts on the road.

elodie knew she had to be careful still. the fact that she had left had not exactly been the kind of decision the coven would approve of. but she could hardly say no to clay when he proposed a night of fun and laughter to her. it had been too long, and she had never been one to miss the nola festivities. she had missed this, missed living, and missed spending time with her closest friend. “oh, i’m ready, fell. i was born ready. you better be ready.” she teased back, a smile on her face when he nudged her, making her chuckle some. glancing up at him, the brunette lifted her eyebrows slightly, her mouth twitching as she gave a small nod. “psychology? cool. i can’t wait to meet her.” elodie was curious to see who this cousin was, what she was like. while part of her was glad he had found someone to talk to while she was gone, the other part worried, wondering how much this cousin knew about the town they were living in. “did she grow up here?” the witch asked then, looking up at her much taller friend. her eyes moved to the food carts on the road when clay spoke up, brushing some of her hair behind her ear. “oh, hell yeah. you know, i’ll never say no to food. besides, i can’t party on an empty stomach. you know that.”