You act like I'm going to go home and drown in this.
( things weren't that bad yet. he hated feeling like he was on his back foot, unable to know what was coming but it's not the worst things that's ever happened to him either. )
It's one bottle. Who do you think I am, my brother?
( damon, who'd been pretty drunk when stefan had found him and who'd decided to stab him because he was damon. )
[ shrugging one shoulder, it's very obvious that katherine's not taking this particularly seriously. ] Sometimes you're interchangeable.
[ that's the most laughable thing anyone could say. damon and stefan are so unalike physically and spiritually that she'd be able to identify them if they happened to switch bodies. damon is playful and childish, hot-tempered to a petulant fault, and a hopeless romantic who would sell his soul just for a kiss. stefan's sensible and withdrawn, and seems to take on the responsibilities of ensuring those around him are safe, even at the detriment of his own romantic heart.
and one can style their hair really well with gel.
throwing her thumb over her shoulder, she turns slightly, ] Have you ever considered dying your hair black? We can go buy some right now…
( that's a no. and he's not even going to dignify the thought of himself and his brother being interchangeable. there are some similarities but overall, they're very different men who have led very different lives with said lives intersecting more often than not. )
[ even though she'd look awful as a blonde, she knows she'd be able to rock it. he's a cheeky shit. ]
Oh. [ she looks and sounds disappointed, even though it's clear she's far from it. ] They're out of blonde hair dye. But I saw them restocking the black...
[ she shifts on her foot as if she's about to lead him out to the beauty aisle, but katherine still doesn't move from the safety of this one. ]
narrowing her eyes, katherine tries to pinpoint a word for damon's thing. it's important it's established—bonding over damon's immaturity is an easy one, in all honestly. ] His petulant tantrums? His childish fits? Is black the new being-a-dick?
( okay, that's not true. his brother had, at one point, been a good, kind person but the world had changed him. people had changed him. and while stefan knew him as a better man than he'd been, he could still be a dick. )
He stabbed me when I got here. I think he's got the market cornered on being a dick.
[ katherine doesn't look surprised, even if she glances down to stefan's abdomen, expecting him to have some sort of bloodied wound seeping through his shirt.
it's typical. they relate to one another in physical violence. sometimes she wonders if they'd extended that to her.
looking up at him with an arch to her brow, ] What did you do to deserve it?
( he can't help but give her an offended look for that one. he hadn't done anything but show up. )
I showed up.
( that was pretty much all he'd had to do. damon had been in a mood and he'd rationalized stabbing him by demonstrating the slower healing here but still. )
[ she arches her brow at what he believes to have been his crime. stefan's capable of far more than that. was it a look he gave damon? his tone of voice? did he give damon a speech on how he can be a better man if he tried? did he buy him a diary?
the skepticism morphs into amused surprise with her eyebrows rising. ] Why can't you boys hug like normal brothers? [ the salvatore boys are so stupid and yet so entertaining. ]
[ it's out of her mouth, accompanied by a jut of her hip and an arch of her brow, before she can even mull it over.
really, at the end of the day, does her feelings and opinions even matter? in 1864, they undoubtedly did. now, though? over the years, she knows they've pushed and pulled her around in some bid for control over her.
( a question for a question. his feelings about her and for her are very complicated just as he knows they have to be the same for her. do they have a relationship? if so, what is it? these are all questions he doesn't know the answer to. )
What do you want from me, Katherine? ( he shrugs, looking around. ) What?
Of course, I like you, Stefan. [ she narrows her eyes in confusion at him, wondering just where this bout of insecurity comes from. doesn't he see how annoyed and immature she gets around him? stefan's presence in her life has always been something tumultuous, but he's been addictive-like blood to a ripper, and, sometimes, a very good influence.
he's much kinder to her than he should be, and, selfishly, she likes that. while it has not always been stefan, he's been someone she has liked being around. he'd been goofy and cute in 1864, and his meaner, more jaded self in the now is still as soft as when he was a human. she likes how he perseveres despite the hopelessness of the situation before him.
it hasn't always been about loving one brother more than the other to spark in-fighting and drawing attention away from herself, but that has been a nifty and handy shield to have. ]
I don't have time for people I don't like.
[ unless they serve a purpose for her, of course. ]
And yet, you come around Mystic Falls so much where I know a lot of people you don't like seem to live.
( he doesn't think she likes him that much that she'd ignore all the people that would gladly try and stake her if she hung around too much. not that that stopped katherine. she does what she wants and always has. )
Does that mean you're a masochist or does it mean something else?
[ this is not a conversation she wishes to have in the aisle of a strange supermarket, but perhaps it's the very venue for such a chat. no one knows who she is or who he is, nor their relationship to one another. it's hardly likely anyone overhearing would run back to whoever it is they run back to in mystic falls and tell on her.
that doesn't mean she's going to answer him honestly, either. she goes back because she goes back—unfinished business... or a home where she has none.
appearing unphased by his question, she tilts her head slightly. ] What do you want it to mean?
[ oh, honey, she likes at least five other people who haven't been murdered yet. two have blue eyes.
focusing on the shelf she stands beside, she lifts her hand up and brushes her fingertip against the price labels. she doesn't like the fact that stefan's feeling curious, and she doesn't like the fact that he feels curious enough to pry. ]
You answered it yourself. You. [ it's said easily. it's not entirely the answer—he's never been the reason why she's come back to mystic falls. the first had been for the doppelgänger and klaus, the second had been for… well, business. ]
[ as flippant and as nonchalant as she can muster, her voice is light and airy, ] What makes you say that?
[ other than the fact that it's true. as much as she likes stefan, he's dropped down in her pillar of importance. he hadn't even been in the top five when she'd originally resurfaced in mystic falls. she'd simply liked playing with him, and she'd missed him. can anyone blame her for wanting to be near that jawline?
granted, she was never in his top five important things or people to begin with. all's fair. ]
[ katherine's trying to figure out exactly he wants out of this conversation. he's already asked her too many questions—to her fortune, he hadn't thought to space them out—and she doesn't feel inclined on giving him any answers ever. ]
Maybe it's the only place where I've felt like I'm at home. [ she gives that answer a serious tone, although it's followed by her inhaling and frowning, tone and expression turning into something mocking. ] Or perhaps it's because I have unfinished business. Or maybe, I'm making sure that all my loose ends are tied up. I did have a house in Mystic Falls I'm renting, too. I sometimes want to make sure that those people are still alive and haven't been eaten by the latest crazy vampire.
[ if he truly wants to look deep into her plethora of answers, the first is the true reason why. but mystic falls doesn't feel like home to her; it's simply a place where she existed, and maybe fooled herself into believing she could live. ]
[ katherine's expression hardens. given she's still on the coattails of pennsylvania and elijah's easily elicited distrust of her intentions, she's feeling a bit sore over it. the first time she's tried to settle down, and it's ruined by his friends. it's ruined by someone's lack of trust in her.
with a deep inhale in, her entire demeanour changes to being perky. ] Don't you think we've taken up space in this aisle for long enough?
( he's hit a nerve and he knows he's hit a nerve. he might have pushed on a different day but he doesn't today. so, be thankful, katherine.
instead, he nods and glances down at his bottle. )
I should leave you alone anyway. I just came for this. ( and he'd gotten what he needed so he was going to gracefully exit before they could start arguing. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
manipulative) wrote2019-12-08 11:16 am
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( things weren't that bad yet. he hated feeling like he was on his back foot, unable to know what was coming but it's not the worst things that's ever happened to him either. )
It's one bottle. Who do you think I am, my brother?
( damon, who'd been pretty drunk when stefan had found him and who'd decided to stab him because he was damon. )
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[ that's the most laughable thing anyone could say. damon and stefan are so unalike physically and spiritually that she'd be able to identify them if they happened to switch bodies. damon is playful and childish, hot-tempered to a petulant fault, and a hopeless romantic who would sell his soul just for a kiss. stefan's sensible and withdrawn, and seems to take on the responsibilities of ensuring those around him are safe, even at the detriment of his own romantic heart.
and one can style their hair really well with gel.
throwing her thumb over her shoulder, she turns slightly, ] Have you ever considered dying your hair black? We can go buy some right now…
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( that's a no. and he's not even going to dignify the thought of himself and his brother being interchangeable. there are some similarities but overall, they're very different men who have led very different lives with said lives intersecting more often than not. )
I'll die my hair black if you go blonde.
( you gonna take that challenge, katherine? )
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Oh. [ she looks and sounds disappointed, even though it's clear she's far from it. ] They're out of blonde hair dye. But I saw them restocking the black...
[ she shifts on her foot as if she's about to lead him out to the beauty aisle, but katherine still doesn't move from the safety of this one. ]
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( so, you can fake leaving all you want, katherine. he's not going anywhere. he's just going to stand there with an amused expression on his face. )
I'll leave the black to Damon. It suits his whole...thing.
( whatever thing he was choosing to be on that day. )
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narrowing her eyes, katherine tries to pinpoint a word for damon's thing. it's important it's established—bonding over damon's immaturity is an easy one, in all honestly. ] His petulant tantrums? His childish fits? Is black the new being-a-dick?
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( okay, that's not true. his brother had, at one point, been a good, kind person but the world had changed him. people had changed him. and while stefan knew him as a better man than he'd been, he could still be a dick. )
He stabbed me when I got here. I think he's got the market cornered on being a dick.
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it's typical. they relate to one another in physical violence. sometimes she wonders if they'd extended that to her.
looking up at him with an arch to her brow, ] What did you do to deserve it?
[ damon's reactive, hardly proactive. ]
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I showed up.
( that was pretty much all he'd had to do. damon had been in a mood and he'd rationalized stabbing him by demonstrating the slower healing here but still. )
I stabbed him in the leg.
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the skepticism morphs into amused surprise with her eyebrows rising. ] Why can't you boys hug like normal brothers? [ the salvatore boys are so stupid and yet so entertaining. ]
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( maybe once upon a time they'd been normal brothers who lived normal lives but that hadn't been the case for awhile. )
You wouldn't like us if we were normal.
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[ it's out of her mouth, accompanied by a jut of her hip and an arch of her brow, before she can even mull it over.
really, at the end of the day, does her feelings and opinions even matter? in 1864, they undoubtedly did. now, though? over the years, she knows they've pushed and pulled her around in some bid for control over her.
and also because they're assholes. ]
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( a question for a question. his feelings about her and for her are very complicated just as he knows they have to be the same for her. do they have a relationship? if so, what is it? these are all questions he doesn't know the answer to. )
What do you want from me, Katherine? ( he shrugs, looking around. ) What?
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he's much kinder to her than he should be, and, selfishly, she likes that. while it has not always been stefan, he's been someone she has liked being around. he'd been goofy and cute in 1864, and his meaner, more jaded self in the now is still as soft as when he was a human. she likes how he perseveres despite the hopelessness of the situation before him.
it hasn't always been about loving one brother more than the other to spark in-fighting and drawing attention away from herself, but that has been a nifty and handy shield to have. ]
I don't have time for people I don't like.
[ unless they serve a purpose for her, of course. ]
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( he doesn't think she likes him that much that she'd ignore all the people that would gladly try and stake her if she hung around too much. not that that stopped katherine. she does what she wants and always has. )
Does that mean you're a masochist or does it mean something else?
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that doesn't mean she's going to answer him honestly, either. she goes back because she goes back—unfinished business... or a home where she has none.
appearing unphased by his question, she tilts her head slightly. ] What do you want it to mean?
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( he knows what he wants it to mean but...he asked her first, okay. )
Why do you come back if you only tolerate one person that lives there? ( that being him. ) It can't be the ambiance and I know it's not for solitude.
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focusing on the shelf she stands beside, she lifts her hand up and brushes her fingertip against the price labels. she doesn't like the fact that stefan's feeling curious, and she doesn't like the fact that he feels curious enough to pry. ]
You answered it yourself. You. [ it's said easily. it's not entirely the answer—he's never been the reason why she's come back to mystic falls. the first had been for the doppelgänger and klaus, the second had been for… well, business. ]
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( he fixes her with a look for that one, one eyebrow inching up towards his hair. )
Maybe I was a reason for coming back but I don't think I could possibly be the only reason. I'm not that important to you.
( not anymore. )
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[ other than the fact that it's true. as much as she likes stefan, he's dropped down in her pillar of importance. he hadn't even been in the top five when she'd originally resurfaced in mystic falls. she'd simply liked playing with him, and she'd missed him. can anyone blame her for wanting to be near that jawline?
granted, she was never in his top five important things or people to begin with. all's fair. ]
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( he has his moments but, overall, he thinks he's fairly intelligent and observant. he glances over at her, fixing her with an inquisitive look. )
And you know that. If you don't want to share, that's fine. I just know you have other reasons for coming back that aren't me.
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Maybe it's the only place where I've felt like I'm at home. [ she gives that answer a serious tone, although it's followed by her inhaling and frowning, tone and expression turning into something mocking. ] Or perhaps it's because I have unfinished business. Or maybe, I'm making sure that all my loose ends are tied up. I did have a house in Mystic Falls I'm renting, too. I sometimes want to make sure that those people are still alive and haven't been eaten by the latest crazy vampire.
[ if he truly wants to look deep into her plethora of answers, the first is the true reason why. but mystic falls doesn't feel like home to her; it's simply a place where she existed, and maybe fooled herself into believing she could live. ]
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( he says it idly, making a show of reading the label on his bottle before glancing at her. )
I thought you felt pretty strongly about that place.
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with a deep inhale in, her entire demeanour changes to being perky. ] Don't you think we've taken up space in this aisle for long enough?
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instead, he nods and glances down at his bottle. )
I should leave you alone anyway. I just came for this. ( and he'd gotten what he needed so he was going to gracefully exit before they could start arguing. )
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