Matt let out a deep, happy sigh. “You’re so right! The bestest.” He stepped over a tree root that was growing into the concrete of the sidewalk. “It’s right here! My house!” Matt exclaimed as he bounded drunkenly up the steps to the porch. “Sick? What’re you talking about? I feel great. Pizza rolls are so easy! I can teach you.”
Ella just rolled her eyes at his response, as she eyed him carefully, but he seemed to be doing well enough. Ella looked over his house, and followed him up the stairs. “You feel great now, tell me that later, alright?” She said, as she moved to wait for him to open the door and follow him in seriously considering letting him help her make the pizza rolls, because honestly drunk Matt was probably a better cook than she was sober. “Yeah, alright you can show me, as long as you promise to drink some water while you’re at it.”
“Oh I will,” he drawled, unlocking the door and holding it open for his friend. “After you, m’dear,” He said, following her inside and to the kitchen. Pulling a box of pizza rolls from the freezer, he dumped them haphazardly onto a plate. “See, these are better in the oven, but in a pinch? Microwave’ll do,” he grinned, sliding the plate into the microwave. “Are you hungry, El? I bought some fruit for you!”
“Yeah, I know that all too well,” he’d had his own run-ins with the supernatural, yet even he still struggled to believe in it. Tom pulled a small purple sprig from his pocket. “Vervain is a herb, of sorts. I keep it on my person constantly. A bracelet and usually a sprig or two, in case someone needs some. It’s the most potent herb that can be used against vampires. It can burn them if they come into contact with it, and incapacitate them if they ingest or are injected with it. If a human ingests or holds vervain somewhere on their person, they are protected from a vampire’s compulsion,” Tom explained, his words getting rushed and ramble-y. “Here,” he smiled, handing the purple sprig to Cara. “I’ve got my bracelet. You take this.”
His smile was genuine, as he was enjoying his time with the woman. He still didn’t want to leave her in this weakened state, and he would stand his ground if she tried to make him leave. “Well, I’m grateful that you’ve trusted me with your real first name, Cara. While I don’t agree with breaking the law, I can understand it.”
Cara tried to take in everything that Tom was saying, attempting to memorize it with the full intention of her doing her own research later. When he finished speaking, she explained, “I’ve never run into a vampire with the power of compulsion before. The vampires I’ve faced… Sun won’t kill them, and neither will a stake to the heart. You have to decapitate them, weaken them with dead man’s blood first to give yourself the edge if you can…” She trailed off as he offered her the herb, smiling in return as she said, “Thank you – really. Any and all new information is always welcome, the supernatural world is constantly growing and changing. This might end up saving a lot of lives, my own included, so yes… Thank you.”
“You trusted me,” Cara quietly pointed out. “You’ve had multiple chances to take the upper hand, to run, to call the police… You didn’t. You stayed. The very least I owed you was a real name. And I didn’t always agree with breaking the law, either. Growing up, I… I was a strait-laced as they came, but… The ordinary world isn’t equipped to deal with the supernatural one. So what’s worse? Breaking a few laws, or… Or people like Lilah dying.”
His heart swelled, knowing he was saving lives, even if it was just with a little sprig. “I have more at home, I can get you enough to plant some of your own. It can be pretty hard to come by.” Readjusting his legs, he untangled them from under him and stuck them out in front of him, leaning back on his arms. “I’d choose anything over allowing innocents to suffer and die,” Tom agreed, nodding his head.
“I’m not one to share about myself, but I feel it’s needed in this instance,” he started, his eyes darting away from Cara’s as he nervously bit the inside of his cheek. “The reason I didn’t run or call the police is ‘cause, well. I was afraid of what might happen to me. I didn’t know what you were capable of, and, well, the last time I tried getting the upper hand, it put me in the hospital,” he explained, leaving out details like who, why, and when. “Let’s just say I’ve learned my lesson.” He was still traumatized by the events of his childhood, and he didn’t often speak of it. There was a metallic taste in his mouth as he had drawn blood. He clenched his jaw as he looked back at Cara. “I learned to not fight back.”
Another day, another dollar. Matt was working at the Mystic Grill again. This was the third weekend in a row that he had to work because other people had called off. Mixing drinks at the bar, he found himself getting better and better with the fancy tricks. That’s when Ella caught his eye, causing him to drop the shaker full of booze on the ground. “Oops,” Matt laughed, moving to clean up the mess he made. “You know, I promise I’m usually much better than this.”
Ella had walked into the Grill, deciding to grab some dinner there since she needed to eat after a day at work without stopping for food, and she was pretty sure she saw Matt heading that way with his work clothes on. She could go make his shift less boring- translation she could annoy and ‘flirt’ with him until he shooed her away. She quietly sat at the bar, when she spotted Matt there, and watched him mix drinks before he caught her eye and he dropped the shaker. A hand placed over her mouth, muffling her laugh, as her eyes sparkled with amusement when he looked at her.
“Really? I have yet to see that. Tell me, Baby Blues, do I get a drink as an apology for that show or was that show just for me?” She teased, leaning her elbows on the bar, resting her chin on her hands.
“I just got, uh, distracted,” Matt laughed as he dragged the mop across the floor. His heart fluttered at the flirty nickname. After things were cleaned up and the blush faded from his face, he grabbed clean equipment and stood in front of Ella. “What’ll it be? I’ll give you a show,” he said with a wink, twirling a mixing spoon around his fingers.
You definitely belong in Ravenclaw, but you have a kindness that sets you apart from most. While some Ravenclaws can be seen as slightly haughty or intimidating, your Hufflepuff side means you are more approachable, and therefore have an easier time making friends. Despite your softness, you find it easy to detach yourself from emotional situations and give objective viewpoints, making you the perfect person to go to for advice.
Your slight compatibility with Gryffindor house hints at an underlying desire for adventure that may manifest itself in a love of travel or trying new things.
borrowed from: pretty much all of my dash tagging: anyone who wants to!
You believe above all in the importance of wisdom, which is why you undoubtedly belong in Ravenclaw, but your sense of adventure means you may also have an affinity for Gryffindor house. You are a thrill-seeker – you love to travel and there’s nothing more exciting to you than new experiences – and believe that adventure is essential in the pursuit of knowledge. You are brave, but would never intentionally put yourself in danger, placing you firmly in Ravenclaw.
Your slight compatibility with Slytherin house suggests a determination to succeed, though not at the expense of traits from your more dominant houses.
Stefan rolled his eyes as Klaus revived the woman, but followed him out of the booth and out of the club. Sticking his hands in his pockets, he leaned against the rough brick and close his eyes, listening for nearing footsteps. The back door of the club burst open, a young man stumbled out, mumbling about being cut off. Stefan grabbed him by the shoulder and swung him around, his arms pinning the man where he stood seconds ago. “ What’s your name? ” Stefan asked the man, their gaze locking.“ Johnathan. Johnathan Gray. ”
Cocking his head to the side, Stefan brought a hand up to caress the young man’s face. “ You know, Johnathan, ” he licked his bottom lip as his gums began to ache. “ I don’t really care who you are. I just want to relive this later. ” With that, Stefan dove in, his teeth sinking in as the warm liquid filled his mouth, overwhelming his senses.
It was a glorious thing to behold : a vampire stalking and capturing its prey. Klaus always enjoyed watching the way other vampires hunted. Each one seemed to have a unique style, as though there was a RITUAL to it. Some were gentle, others savage. Some were quick, others took their time. And then of course, there were RIPPERS. Klaus shifted in the shadows, tilting his head to get a better look, but he stayed far enough away to give Stefan and Jonathan their moment. The frenzied feeding was downright FASCINATING to the original as he savored every detail of the show.
When all was over, Klaus stepped forward, a satisfied look in his eyes as he surveyed the carnage. ❝ Why do you bother with his name ? ❞ he asked, handing Stefan a handkerchief.
Stefan stepped back as Johnathan slouched to the ground, taking the handkerchief and wiping his mouth. “ Not who I was hoping for, but delicious nonetheless, ” he commented, his eyes darting to the body, now looking like a drunkard passed out in the shadows. “ You see, there’s this list that I keep. Each name is written down to relive, nay, relish the kill again and again. ”
“Ohmygosh, that’s so sweet! Thanks for not letting me die, El. Yer the best,” he slurred, another goofy grin spreading across his face. “Food? Yeah. Pizza rolls, some fruits, and some chips I think,” Matt responded, marking each item by pointing at his fingers.
“Oh so totally the best, the bestest friend you could ever have.” The sarcasm was thick in her tone, but chuckled at his tone. Ella thought it over, “Yeah, alright well I will try and make you some pizza rolls when you get home, maybe some other stuff.” If Ella didn’t burn down the kitchen trying to use the oven or microwave. “Come on Mr. Drunk, let’s pick up the pace a bit so we can get you home before you get sick.”
Matt let out a deep, happy sigh. “You’re so right! The bestest.” He stepped over a tree root that was growing into the concrete of the sidewalk. “It’s right here! My house!” Matt exclaimed as he bounded drunkenly up the steps to the porch. “Sick? What’re you talking about? I feel great. Pizza rolls are so easy! I can teach you.”
Another day, another dollar. Matt was working at the Mystic Grill again. This was the third weekend in a row that he had to work because other people had called off. Mixing drinks at the bar, he found himself getting better and better with the fancy tricks. That’s when Ella caught his eye, causing him to drop the shaker full of booze on the ground. “Oops,” Matt laughed, moving to clean up the mess he made. “You know, I promise I’m usually much better than this.”
Cisco backup 