I just love *clenches fist* talking about character analysis and why characters act the way they do. It’s supremely satisfying to figure out motivations of characters and see how that ties into their core nature and how they perceive the world around them.
His daughter ran off as soon as her peanut butter and banana sandwich was finished, leaving most of her carrots for him to munch on as he tidied the kitchen. Tom was cleaning up from lunch when he heard the crash. He immediately dropped the dish he was washing, even leaving the water running as he sprinted to the sound of his wailing daughter. He found her on the floor outside of their hall closet, an upturned chair beside her. There was a small cut on her forehead, and he could see she was holding her arm close to her body. “C’mere, Sweetheart. What happened?”
Tom was surprised but delighted at the kiss from Jo. He kissed her back, moving his hand to cup her face. As he pulled out of the kiss, he gave her a little peck before fully pulling away. A soft smile returned to his face as he looked at Jo. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. Best surprise ever,” he added, pulling her into another hug. “Are you cooking for me? I smell bacon.”
Jo grinned up at him. “Yeah. I figured you could use some of my famous french toast,” she told him honestly, motioning to everything set up and ready to be cooked. “I had planned to meet you outside when you got home, but… well, I guess you had a long day at work, hm?” she smoothed a hand over his chest for a moment before stepping away.
“If you want to grab a shower, I’ll have everything ready for you by the time you get out.” It wasn’t often she played the doting domestic woman, but Tom was a sweetheart, and she wanted to do something nice for him.
“Oh finally! I’ve been dying to try it,” He beamed, looking at the spread of ingredients. The smile left his face & a deep sigh escaped his lips as he was brought back to reality and all that had happened during his shift. “Yeah, it was bad. 12-car pileup, several injured, a few fatalities. They made me leave my uniform at the hospital. Gave me scrubs to wear home.” The guilt of losing patients in the field always ate away at him, but this was especially hard.
“A shower is definitely warranted. I feel like I’m covered in layers of grit and grime. I’ll be back in a jiffy,” he added with a peck on her cheek, turning and walking to the bathroom, shedding his coat and hanging it on a chair on his way.
As Tom sat back on his heels, he took the leftover water and cleaned his hands of the blood that coated his hands. Paying special attention to the tattoo on the inside of his right wrist. His fingers ran over the raised ink, the tattoo on it’s final days of healing. His head snapped towards the woman as she came to. “Eh, 15 minutes, give or take like, 5 minutes.” Tom placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, hoping to help calm the woman. “I didn’t leave. I stayed right here, by your side the entire time. I never leave a patient in the field alone. You’re safe.”
Cara jumped at his touch, not expecting it. She recognized the gesture for what it was – he was trying to comfort her – she just wasn’t used to it anymore. Contact only came from whoever or whatever was trying to kill her that day. Which was why a small, wry smile tugged at her lips when he told her that she was safe, “No, I’m not. But I appreciate you saying so.” A beat passed before she carefully dug into her pocket for his keys, pressing them into his hand. “Go. You did more than I could have asked for, more than you had to. And you stayed, you didn’t call the police. …So thank you. But you should leave. I can take over from here.”
While Tom was thankful to have his keys back, he wasn’t ready to leave her just yet. “I can’t do that. I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone, especially not after you just lost consciousness. I’m staying at least until you eat something and increase your intake of fluids.” He sat back on his heels once more, his hands folded around the keys in his lap. “You can’t convince me otherwise. Now let’s get some water in you,” he smiled, despite the grimness of the overall situation. Tom reached into the duffel and pulled out a few bottles of water, cracking the first open and handing it to her.
“ So what if I am? ” He asked with a smile, though his tone suggested defensiveness. Stefan straightened his tie, fully abandoning his hunt and letting the hunger ache in his belly keep him on his toes. “ You know, I think I might take you up on that offered drink, after all. ”
Klaus smiled, always happy when things go his way. ❝ Excellent, ❞ he replied with a grin. ❝ I have a private booth just this way. What’s your poison ? I must admit mine is B- with a good bourbon, ❞ he said as he led them back to his booth in the corner. Truth told, Klaus was happy to have the change of pace in the form of a friend for the evening. He wanted to know everything he could about the other man.
This man – his demeanor, his accent, his forwardness. Everything about him intrigued Stefan. “ If we’re being choosy, I’m more of a AB+ guy. Though, I much prefer my food and spirits separate, ” he replied, sliding fluidly into the booth, interested as to what the rest of the night might bring.
[ sms –> Klaus ] just beware that the authorities are still quite aware of the presence of vampires
[ SMS : Ripper ] 1st: she’s no use to me as vampire, so that entirely depends on what mood I’m in [ SMS : Ripper ] 2nd: what would ever give you the idea that I’m afraid of **the authorities**???
[ sms –> Klaus ] not saying you’re afraid.
[ sms –> Klaus ] but if you out all of us? big problem.
[ sms –> Klaus ] i’ll do anything. just please, leave her out of it.
Stefan pulled the bag from his mouth and scoffed. “And you’re supposed to be that person to pull me back? Yeaah, good luck with that,” he laughed bitterly, continuing to drain the bag. The more he drank, the more power he felt. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it!” His voice grew to a yell as he finished the bag, pulling every last drop from the plastic. “If taking you out means I can continue to live and feed, then so be it.” Stefan stood, moving closer to the woman, and closer to the door. “I don’t want to hurt you, Evie. But if you stand in my way, I’ll have no other choice.”
“I am,” Evie evenly replied. “Because you may be out of control right now but, if I don’t stop you, if you hurt or kill anyone,… It will destroy you when you regain that control. So I’m not going to let it happen.” A beat passed before she added, meeting his gaze, “And I don’t want to hurt you, either. But I’m not going anywhere, so it seems we’re at a bit of an impasse.” She just hoped he stopped, that he gave himself a chance to realize what he was saying, to see what he was doing, and that he made the right choice. Because she really didn’t want to fight him.
Stefan closed the distance between them, his face just mere inches from hers. “Now really isn’t the time to test the waters, Evelyn,” his words were bitter as they left his mouth. “And who said I want to gain control? Things are easier without humanity getting in the way. The switch has been teetering, but maybe it’d just be easier to turn it completely off,” he threatened, his head cocking to the side. He didn’t want to fight his friend, but he needed more blood. He needed to feed the monster that lived inside.
Cisco backup 