BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 11, 2023 21:49:26 GMT
The encounter with his father hadn’t gone the way that Ben had hoped it would, they had ended up being unprepared and the fact that his father had used Josie’s body as his vessel had taken them all by surprise. So many of their friends had died and so had Ben and Josie. Ben knew that his father was gone and he wasn’t coming back, Hope had killed him along with Josie when she’d had the chance, and now all they could do was try and pick up the pieces. For once Ben wished that his curse hadn’t been broken as it might have been able to bring him back and spared Jed the heartbreak of losing him but it hadn’t worked out like that. Ben’s life had been taken from him again and this time there had been nothing – the angel blade had made sure of that just like his father had wanted. Eternal darkness would have been his had Henrik not brought him back and Ben was beyond glad that he had done. Josie and the rest of their friends had been brought back as well which meant that they had the chance to put their lives and those of their loved ones back together. They couldn’t change what had happened with his father but they could change what happened next and that was what Ben wanted to do more than anything. Josie had given him a quick explanation of why she had agreed to become his father’s vessel but the truth was that Ben hadn’t been able to bring himself to focus on that too much just yet. Henrik had told him that Jed had turned his humanity off before taking off and Ben knew that he had to find him. He had asked Henrik where Jed was and after learning where he was, Ben took off without sparing any of them a second glance. He knew that they would understand, they were all going after Hope since she had turned her humanity off too and Ben hoped that they would be able to get through to her but he wasn’t the one who would be able to bring her humanity back. Jed, on the other hand, was someone that he could help and the truth was that Ben wanted nothing more than to see his fiancé again. Ben knew how upset Jed had been each time he’d died and back then he was guaranteed to come back. This time he had stayed dead and Ben didn’t even want to think about how hard that must have been for Jed but he knew that soon enough he would see it for himself. Making his way through the woods, Ben’s eyes searched his surroundings for any sign of Jed. Henrik had said that the last time he had been seen was in his wolf form so Ben wasn’t sure whether that would still be true or whether Jed would have changed back but he knew that he had to find him. It sounded like Jed had opted for his wolf form over going on a murderous rampage like Hope had and Ben knew that Jed had gone for the much better option. Ben had already found four wolves out in the woods and none of them resembled the wolf form he knew belonged to Jed. Ben had stayed with him during the full moons so he knew that he would recognise Jed instantly, it was just a case of finding him. Had his curse not been broken then he knew that he could have just waited for Jed to come to him but that wasn’t an option now so all he could do was look. “Come on Jed, where are you?” he breathed. He had been out there for hours when his gaze came to rest on another wolf, one that looked familiar to him but he was still quite far away so he couldn’t be sure. “Jed?” he called out as he approached, hoping that the wolf would hear him and turn to look at him so he could catch a glimpse of its face and see whether this time he had found the man he loved. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Apr 11, 2023 23:55:47 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed had lost Ben before, but back then, he had been reassured by the fact that Ben's curse was going to bring him back but then Ben's dad killed him, and he did it for good because this time around, there was no curse in place to bring him back and it was that realization that crushed him as he felt his heart squeeze so tightly in his chest and before he knew it, his throat was hurting and it took him a moment or two to realize that the reason behind the pain that he was feeling was because of the fact that he'd been screaming in agony as he stared at Ben's body as it hit the ground, Ben's father standing victorious with an inhumane wicked grin on the lips of his sister. Jed didn't seem to care if the flames and the chaos around him swallowedh im whole because what he was concerned about was bringing Ben's body to safety because if they could bring him back, it would be easier if they had the body, right? It should be easy... It needs to be easy. But the more he struggled with getting Ben's body to safety, the more that he was starting to realize that he was heaving the body of his dead fiancé away. He was gone and Jed had experienced this immense amount of sadness before and it was when his sister had died and back then, he still hadn't known that Hope's blood was coursing through her veins and it was the realization that his sister was gone that nearly crushed him whole. He was experiencing the same thing all over again and it was crushing him. He hadn't stopped crying or calling out to Ben despite knowing all too well that his fiancé was gone.
That day, despite them being able to kill Raziel at last, did not feel like a victory because not only had he lost his fiancé, he had lost his friends, and his sister. If his humanity had stayed without changing, he probably never would've stepped outside of the school grounds or the Saltzman house, he would have stayed holed up surrounded by four walls from every direction, refusing to face the same world that had taken the people that he loved the most away from him. But all that intense emotional pain had gotten so overbearing that it all suddenly...
Faded away.
That day, he left with a single goal in mind: to get as far as possible and to stay as distant as possible from other people and that was when he had actually chosen to shift into his wolf form and from there on, he had chosen his animal form over wreaking havoc on unsuspecting souls. He stayed away from the other wolves too because he had wanted to be alone and always made it clear to them with a threatening growl whenever they even tried to get close and from there, it was — lonely.
It was the loneliest that Jed had been in a really, really long time. It reminded him of the time he had spent on his own after taking the life of his father. That sinking sadness that just nearly swallowed you whole until there was nothing left behind. He hated it but Jed hated getting close to people even more. He wasn't going to make the same mistake twice — he didn't want to make the same mistake twice because he will never love anyone else as much as he'd loved Ben. He had spent most of his nights roaming the woods until he got so tired that he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore and only then would he go to sleep because otherwise, he'd find himself surrounded by memories of Ben and sure, while he wouldn't cry over how much he missed him, he still couldn't stop thinking about him.
Today was just another one of those days where he was roaming the woods on his own, steering clear of the other wolves so he wouldn't step on their marked territories. They had made a pretty simple deal. They leave him alone and he does the same. But when he heard a sound, he paused and turned around slowly, his teeth bared in a warning as he approached the trespasser with his teeth still bared and as he got closer and closer, he was slowly but surely beginning to realize just who he was looking at and what he had heard earlier was the sound of Ben's voice calling out his name. The growling sound came to an abrupt halt and the wolf's ear perked up instead of staying leaned all the way back.
Ben?
Was that actually him?
Jed almost couldn't believe his eyes but he was aware that he wasn't hallucinating right now, there was no way that Ben was a fragment of his imagination because no matter how hard he tried to manifest him, it just would never work. He'd always stay a part of his memories, but he'd never be able to hear his voice or see him in front of his eyes. Jed approached but a little more cautiously now until he recognized the very familiar presence of his fiancé and that was when Jed chose to shift back into his human form. He slowly stood to his full height, not really minding his own nakedness as his eyes searching Ben's face without anything at first. "Ben...?" Jed croaked before he slowly took a step closer and nearly collapsed into his arms.
Oh.
Oh.
Here he was.
Finally.
He was finally home.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 12, 2023 21:35:05 GMT
Ben had lived for such a long time and even though he had died more times than he could even remember, it had always been with the guarantee that he would come back thanks to the curse that his father had placed on him thousands of years before. This time was different, this time his death had been permanent and had it not been for the angel blade his father had used there was a chance that there might have been something that would come after for him but his father had managed to take even that away from him. Ben had told Jed that he would have found a way to follow him to Heaven if he chose to remain mortal and he had meant it, he had been there once when he had begged his father for help before stealing magic and giving it to the people of his village when he returned to find that Ashur was already gone, but he and Jed hadn’t even had the chance of being reunited like that. All that was left was nothing and it had been a wake up call when Henrik brought him back to say the least. Each time he’d died Ben had urged Jed not to be too sad about it because he would come back but that time it wasn’t possible. Now Ben knew all too well what that crippling sadness was like because he had felt it himself when Jed became a hybrid, he had spent all that time feeling like his heart had been ripped right out of his chest even though he had known that Jed was going to come back to him but Jed hadn’t had that certainty this time around. Ben wasn’t sure how Henrik had managed to bring him back from that awful place but he hadn’t stuck around long enough to ask, he had been too focused on finding Jed. There was a part of Ben that knew that it perhaps shouldn’t have been possible for him to come back this time around but he had the chance to be reunited with Jed and he knew that he was never going to take that for granted. Finding him was much easier said than done, though. Henrik had given him the area that Jed was in but he couldn’t tell him exactly where he was and finding a wolf amongst the trees was much easier said than done. He had managed to find a few during the time that he had been looking but none of them was Jed. Ben had seen his wolf form so many times that he knew he would recognise him as soon as he saw him but first he had to track him down. He had lost track of how long he had been out there for when his gaze came to rest on another wolf but this time already felt a little different. He couldn’t see the wolf’s face but the colouring looked right at least and this time Ben couldn’t help but hope that he might have found Jed at last. He really couldn’t blame Jed for leaving like he had done, he had lost so much that day and Ben knew that Jed’s heart was one of the purest in the world. It wasn’t like Jed to want to hurt anyone so instead he had taken off and isolated himself from the people he had left who loved him, the same people who could hurt him if he lost them too. Ben could definitely understand the urge to keep everyone at a distance, after all he had done that for most of his life before Jed found him that day, but during his time in Mystic Falls he had realised that he didn’t want to keep living his life that way because the truth was that it wasn’t really living. Instead he wanted to enjoy every moment he had with the people he cared about while it lasted and he hoped that he could bring Jed back with him so that they could go back to living their life together like they had always wanted. Ben knew that things had changed, they couldn’t go back to exactly how things used to be before but the way that he felt about Jed hadn’t changed and Ben knew that he wasn’t going to give up hope that they could have a life together again. Calling out Jed’s name, Ben wasn’t sure what he had expected to happen but he let out a sigh as the wolf growled at him before his gaze came to rest on the wolf’s face. “It is you,” he breathed, recognising Jed’s animal form instantly now that he could see it properly. Just hearing the way Jed growled at him was enough to send a jolt of sadness through Ben, he had promised Jed that he wasn’t ever going to be alone and he had broken his promise. It wasn’t something that Ben had had any control over but that didn’t make it any easier to come to terms with. Ben could see the flash of recognition on Jed’s face and he stopped growling at him, his ears actually perking up. It really was Jed he had found and Ben felt relief flood through him, quickly stamping out the guilt that he felt about breaking his promise. That would be sure to return later but for now he was just so glad that he’d found Jed at last. Jed approached him slowly and Ben took a couple of steps closer as well, needing to close the distance between them a little more. He knew that he didn’t want to startle Jed and scare him off, the world was full of supernaturals so he knew that Jed could easily worry that it was a trick or something and the last thing Ben wanted to do was make him run off and have to try and find him again. Instead he let Jed approach him in his own time and he offered him a reassuring smile. Finally Jed shifted back and Ben let out the breath he hadn’t even realised he was holding. He longed to reach out and pull Jed into his arms but he knew that he couldn’t do that just yet, Henrik had told him that Jed had turned off his humanity and Ben had never seen how that worked so he knew that he needed to tread carefully. Ben found himself studying Jed carefully as Jed did the same, he didn’t look hurt physically but that didn’t mean that his father hadn’t done something to him. As Jed spoke his name, Ben felt his eyes sting with tears and he wrapped his arms around Jed tightly as he collapsed into them. “It’s me Jed, I’m here,” Ben assured him gently, not caring that the tears that had formed in his eyes were rolling down his cheeks as he held his fiancé to him. “I thought I was never going to see you again,” he admitted, not wanting to let go of Jed just yet only to find that this was a cruel trick being played on him. “Are you okay? My father didn’t hurt you, did he?”JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Apr 13, 2023 16:47:15 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed couldn't believe that he was finally holding Ben again. He'd lost count on how many days or weeks he'd spent away from his fiancé but feeling him in his arms like this made him feel as though no time had passed at all, that nothing had even changed but Jed knew better, he knew just what had happened and what had pulled them apart in the first place. Ben had died, permanently and at the time, he couldn't do much other than watch as it all unfolded before his eyes. Ben's father, who was in Josie's body at the time, didn't even hesitate or blink twice before killing his son and Jed's heart had shattered in half because that day, not only did he lose his fiancé, but he'd lost his friends and his sister, too after Hope had driven the angel blade through her heart, effectively killing both her and Ben's father. The worst thing was that even though the man was long gone, it still didn't feel like a win, it felt like they had lost everything despite the fact that they had finally achieved the one goal they'd been trying their hardest to achieve.
Rid the world of Ben's father before he could go through with his awful plan of eradicating the world of supernatural beings.
But Jed didn't feel joyful, didn't feel accomplished, or even any resemblance of any good emotion, instead he felt lost, and overwhelmed with an unimaginable amount of grief as he looked down at the unmoving body of his fiancé and all of his friends and loved ones. That day, he had lost everything, including his own humanity.
But now, though, he could feel it slowly but surely making itself known again, refusing to stay extinguished for a second longer. After all, how could it not make itself known when he was finally holding Ben again? The realization that he could hold onto Ben was enough to make him tighten his arms around Ben. He'd seen Ben in his dreams before, but he could never hold onto him like this, he'd fade away under his fingertips until what was left behind was nothing other than a harsh reminder of what he'd lost.
Ben's assurance was enough to make Jed tighten his arms around him, his eyes fluttering shut as he allowed a small sigh to fall from his lips. He felt the exact same way too, he wasn't sure whether he was ever going to see Ben again but he had hoped that he would and for once, what he'd hoped for had actually come true. He shook his head slowly at Ben's question. "Not physically, at least." Emotionally, though? That was a whole different story. Jed tightened his hold on Ben's shirt, refusing to let go because there was a possibility he'd just fade away and Jed didn't want that, he couldn't let that happen again. "I thought you were gone for good." Jed whispered, his voice laced with an emotion he hadn't detected in the tone of his voice for a long time. That realization made him pause for a moment before he slowly let go of Ben. "You should —" Jed took a small step back, looking like he was pained by the fact that he was no longer in Ben's arms. "You should keep your distance, I'm not —" Jed ran his tongue over his bottom lip, his fist clenched with restraint because all he wanted was to move closer to Ben again. "I'm not me. I don't want to hurt you." Despite the warning that he wasn't the old version of himself, there was a tear that was sliding down his cheek that contradicted his words.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 13, 2023 17:07:37 GMT
It felt surreal to be in Jed’s presence again after being surrounded by nothing but darkness for so long. Ben knew that this shouldn’t be possible, this time his death had been permanent and his curse had been broken so that wasn’t going to bring him back but here he was and he knew better than to take that for granted. They had fought so hard and for such a long time to find a way to stop his father and Ben had honestly hoped that they would have been able to avoid any casualties but deep down he knew that there were always going to be some. He hadn’t wanted to bring any of this on the people he cared about but his father had made it clear that his plan was to eradicate all supernaturals across the world so no one was safe. Ben hadn’t known what he would find when he came back but the truth was that the world looked the same. Most people were probably completely oblivious to the battle that had been fought by their group and he knew that that was as it should be. The supernatural world needed to be kept a secret from the human world and it was best that they keep what had happened to themselves and those who knew the truth about what was really out there. It didn’t feel like a victory that his father was gone, not when the price paid had been so steep. Had it just been Ben who had died then he knew that that would have been one thing but it wasn’t, Josie and some of their friends had died as well. He had never wanted that to happen but if he was honest it was still somewhat of a relief to know that Jed had been spared that same fate even if he had turned his humanity off as a result. Ben couldn’t blame him for that, he had been through so much already only to end up losing so many people that he loved and Ben knew that he would have done the same thing if he had been in Jed’s position. Now he was back, though, and he wanted nothing more than to get things back on track with Jed. Just seeing him again was enough to make Ben feel like his heart was whole again, it still ached because of what Jed had been through but now he had found him they could make things right. He wasn’t sure how humanity switches worked and what it would take to get Jed to turn his back on but the way Jed wrapped his arms tighter around him was enough to make Ben hope that they were on the right track. As he said that his father hadn’t hurt him physically, Ben nodded. “I’m glad, I hated the thought of anything happening to you,” he admitted. He already knew that a world without Jed was one that he didn’t want to live in and even though hybrids were able to heal from most things there was no telling what an angel could do so he really was glad that he was alright, physically at least. As Jed’s hold on his shirt tightened, Ben’s expression softened. “So did I but it’s okay, this is real and I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving you again,” he said gently. There were still things that could kill him again, that much was true, but short of someone else coming along with an angel blade then he knew that he should be pretty safe. Not only had breaking his curse stopped him from being hunted and killed by monsters but it had made him much more invulnerable as well. Something in Jed’s voice had changed and Ben had picked up on it in the back of his mind but the change in Jed as he let go of him and took a small step back was unexpected. “Jed, it’s okay. I trust you, I know you won’t hurt me,” Ben assured him gently. He longed to reach out to Jed and pull him into his arms again but he knew that he didn’t want to make things worse for Jed. “I love you.”JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Apr 13, 2023 18:08:39 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed whispered a soft "yeah" at Ben's words because at the end of the day, it wasn't him who had gotten hurt. Losing Ben had hurt in ways that he couldn't even begin to explain. It was a whole new type of pain that had left him feeling like he was being stabbed repeatedly and mercilessly without giving him even the slightest chance to process what was really going on. But the fact that Ben was back in his arms like this made so many things feel better. The world that had looked monochrome was starting to look a little more colorful now. Jed held onto Ben just a little bit tighter when he told him that he wasn't going to go anywhere because that was exactly what he'd been longing to hear. Though as much as he wanted to stay right here in his arms and forget about the world around them, he couldn't especially since his humanity was still gone.
He didn't want to hurt Ben. Not when he'd finally found him again. "You shouldn't..." Jed whispered with a small shake of his head following. "You shouldn't trust me, Ben, I — I just got you back, I don't want to lose you again." Jed almost looked pained by the distance between the two of them because he wanted nothing more than to find himself in Ben's arms again because nothing else in the world mattered except for being in Ben's arms. Jed paused when Ben told him that he loved him and it was then that another tear slipped down his cheeks. During his emotionless state, he'd tried so hard to make himself feel something and despite the fact that he was expecting himself to cry at every thought of Ben, he didn't. He couldn't, but now all those tears were slipping down his cheeks and he paused when he realized what was happening. Jed lifted his hand up to his face to wipe away the tears before lowering his hand, almost looking like he was in disbelief by the fact that he was feeling something to the point where he'd cried. "I — I don't know what's happening... I don't know if this means that my humanity is back, but you should still keep your distance... Just in case."
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 13, 2023 19:04:52 GMT
Ben was so relieved that Jed wasn't physically hurt that he couldn't even put it into words. He had hated knowing that Jed was out there somewhere on his own heartbroken enough from what had happened that he had turned his humanity off. The fact that he had changed into his wolf form before running off spoke volumes, even in his emotionless state he just wanted to get away from everyone and Ben knew that it just went to show what a good person Jed was. Everyone dealt with grief in their own way, Hope had gone on a killing spree after losing Josie while Jed had cut himself off from the world instead and Ben knew which one he would rather be dealing with. It felt so good having Jed back in his arms again where he belonged, Ben finally felt like he was whole again so now he just had to find a way to bring back the old Jed although the longer Jed held on to him, the easier Ben was starting to think that might be after all. As Jed said that he shouldn't trust him, Ben couldn't deny that he was confused. The moment Jed had seen him it had looked like the old Jed was coming back and even now that Jed had put some distance between them it didn't look like it was what he wanted. "You're not going to lose me. My father is gone and you're stuck with me," Ben assured him, knowing that he meant every word. He really wasn't going anywhere this time but he could understand that it might take Jed a while to come to terms with that. "Even when I was cursed and you were in your wolf form you never hurt me, I know you're not going to start now." He had never understood why Jed was the exception to that rule but it was the truth, even in his wolf form Jed had never even tried to hurt him so Ben knew that he wasn't going to let his faith in Jed waiver now. Seeing the tears start rolling down Jed's face was enough to make Ben's expression soften. It was clear that Jed wasn't sure what to make of it but Ben's instincts were telling him that the real Jed was back. "You're keeping your distance which shows that you care and you're crying which means that you're feeling something," he said, staying where he was but reaching out and taking Jed's hand in his the way they had both done so many times before. Jed always joked that Ben's hand belonged to him rather than Ben and Ben believed him. He wanted to pull Jed back into his arms and never let him go but he knew that the next move had to be Jed's. "What do you feel?" he prompted gently. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Apr 13, 2023 20:43:53 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed's eyes relaxed on Ben again when he assured him that he wasn't going to lose him again. It was that reminder that Ben's father was gone that made him believe that they really could be together again without losing each other. It gave him a new sense of hope that there was no need to look over their shoulder or feel anxious about tomorrow and what it might bring because the sole reason behind their anxiety and uncertainty was long gone but that doesn't mean that they were going to be safe forever since they still could get hurt but still, Ben's father was gone and that reminder was enough to ease a whole lot of weight off his shoulders as his anxiety slowly seemed to dissipate. Ben was right, though. Because despite everything and despite the fact that his humanity was gone right now, he still didn't feel any urge to hurt Ben. If anything, in his current state, he'd let the world burn just to keep Ben safe but he'd never be the one to hurt him first. "I..." Jed trailed off because he knew that he couldn't say much back, especially right now, especially when he couldn't say anything that could contradict Ben's words. He was right and Jed knew that. Even with Ben's curse that could tempt every monster to hurt the Nephilim, Jed seemed to be immune to it.
Jed looked at the distance between the two of them then looked down at his hand where he'd seen the tears before and he knew that Ben was right. He was feeling something and in that moment, he tried to decipher just exactly what it was that he was feeling but after spending so long without any emotions, he felt like he'd forgotten what everything was supposed to feel like. Jed's expression shifted into one that showed he was struggling to understand just what he was feeling only for his expression to shift into something a lot more peaceful when Ben held his hand. Instant memories of the countless times they had held hands in the past came rushing back mixed with so many other memories that were both pleasant and painful and everything he'd been pushing back for so long came rushing in like a dam that finally cracked under the growing pressure.
"I feel..." Jed trailed off, his eyes finally moving to meet Ben's once again as his lips parted to let out a soft exhale. "Happy. I think. It's been a while since I've felt anything, it's all so jumbled and confusing, but I... I am happy that you're back. So happy." He finally concluded after a long pause, his eyes still fixed on Ben. "I think... I think those were happy tears. I just..." Jed licked his bottom lip as he sank into yet another pause as he struggled to form a proper sentence that would fully explain what he was feeling right now. "My heart just feels so — heavy, it's so overwhelming. Losing you, our friends, and my sister it... hurt. So bad, Ben. It still hurts and I don't know — I don't know, I just..." There was a sob that escaped his lips near the end and just like that, he was back in Ben's arms but this time there was no fear that he'd hurt Ben because the real version of him would never do that and now it definitely felt like he was back to his old self again.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 13, 2023 21:24:14 GMT
There was a time when they had worried about what would happen if Jed stayed mortal and died one day. None of Ben's deaths had ever been permanent so he hadn't thought too much about what would happen when his time came but now he could see the hurt that it had caused Jed and he knew that he would do anything to take that pain away. Jed had already lost his mom as a kid and his dad had been abusive, he had been through so much more than he ever should have had to and Ben knew that he wanted to save him from anymore heartache. It might not be possible to do that forever but as far as Ben was concerned he was never going to stop trying to make Jed happy and erase those awful memories once and for all. Right now he could see that Jed was struggling with all of this, he didn't want to hurt him and Ben knew that Jed would never do that but Jed seemed to have his doubts. Even while his curse was active it had seemed like Jed was immune to it somehow, he was the only person Ben had met in five thousand years who wasn't affected by it and that meant something, Ben knew it did. Jed hadn't hurt him then and Ben knew that he wouldn't hurt him now, he just needed Jed to believe it. He got the impression Jed was about to try and deny it but he seemed to think better of it and Ben knew that he had to keep going, he had to find a way to get Jed to start believing in himself again. This was their chance to be together without his father coming between them again and Ben knew that he wanted to take it. Ben knew it had to be strange for Jed right now, he didn't know how long Jed had been out there in his wolf form for but now he was back in his human form and he was being confronted by all of this so Ben knew better than to push him too much. He could see that his words were having an affect on Jed, though, and it really did look like he was trying to make sense of it all. Ben knew that he would protect Jed from all of this if he could but he couldn't do it, instead all he could do was try and help Jed through it as best he could. He knew that Jed wasn't going to hurt him, in fact if anything he knew that Jed would try to protect him the same way he always had done but Ben respected his need for a little distance for now. That didn’t stop him from reaching for Jed's hand, though, and he could almost see something shift in Jed. They had done this so many times before, in fact it was rare for them to be together and not be holding hands even if they were just sitting at home watching television, and it felt right to have Jed's hand in his again. Asking Jed how he was feeling might be risky since it could make him close himself off but Ben knew that he just had to trust that Jed wouldn't do that. As Jed finally spoke, Ben felt a smile touch his lips. "I'm happy to be back too now I've found you again," he said gently. "I know it's confusing right now but you can take your time to figure it all out and I'll help you as much as I can," Ben added as he gave Jed's hand a gentle squeeze. Ben's heart ached at Jed's next words but Jed wasn't even able to finish what he had been about to say before he sobbed and then Jed was back in his arms once more and Ben hugged him tightly. "It's all going to be okay, I promise," Ben assured him as he kissed the top of Jed's head gently. "I know it's a lot but it's much better to feel something than nothing," he assured him. "I promise it will get easier. You lost so much but I'm back now and so are Josie and our friends. I know it can't undo the pain you're feeling but hopefully it will help ease it a little." It would take time for them all to fully heal, Ben knew that, but at least now they had the chance to do that together. "Are you ready to go home? You don't have to see anyone else before you're ready, I promise. It can just be us for as long as you want," he added, knowing that the last thing he wanted was for Jed to feel like he had to see everyone or be a certain way before he was ready. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Apr 13, 2023 22:36:41 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed had felt nothing for so long now that finally feeling something again made him feel confused, he wasn't sure what to make of those feelings because right now, everything was so jumbled and confusing but having Ben around helped it feel a lot less overwhelming despite the tightness of his chest and heart that made him feel like his heart was seconds away from exploding from the tight pressure. When Ben told him that he was happy to be back too, he nodded his head as if to say that he felt the same exact same way too. While the emotion felt a big foreign to him right now, he was almost positive that what he was feeling was happiness because what other emotion would he feel after learning that his fiancé was actually alive if not happiness? Maybe relief, but that relief didn't feel quite as strong as happiness, so at least he was aware of what this emotion was, but it still didn't wash away the pressure that was still surrounding his heart. Jed nodded his head slowly at Ben's next words because of course Ben would volunteer to help him figure everything out again. ”Okay...” Jed's voice soon made itself known again as he nodded his head again, bottom lip momentarily caught between his teeth in feeble attempt to hold back the sob that ended up escaping his lips regardless and just like that, he was back in Ben's arms, back to being surrounded by that comforting presence that made him feel okay. He tightened his arms around Ben as the tears came rushing down his cheeks, reminding him again and again that his humanity was back on and he didn't even have to make the conscious decision to turn it back on. All it took was for him to see that Ben was alive and to feel him in his arms for his humanity to switch on by itself, leaving him feeling a whole lot of intense emotions at once while he struggled to decipher what each one meant.
He knew that Ben had a good point there and he really was relieved about this because usually he would feel nothing and now he was starting to feel something again and, at last, the world didn't feel so black and white anymore but instead it was beginning to look colorful and he didn't feel as emotionless as he once had. ”It's... It's already starting to feel a little better. Just having you with me like this...” Jed said, his words followed by a sniff as he tried his best to get his tears back under control but it was so difficult for him and he guessed it had something to do with his humanity coming back, everything he'd tried so hard to bottle up was just spilling over. ”Josie and our friends are back?” Jed questioned, sounding surprised, pleasantly so. ”That's... That's so good to hear. I was worried I had lost you guys forever.” Jed added a moment later, his heart feeling just a little bit lighter. ”Who...? Who brought you all back?” Came Jed's next question, doubting that it was Hope who had done it because from what he could remember about that day, Hope had looked just like him. Emotionless. ”It will. Having you and our friends and Josie back will help ease the pain, trust me.”
Home.
Oh, how he had missed that. ”Please.” Came Jed's answer. It was a plea because he would love nothing more than to go back home. ”Just the two of us. I... I'm not ready yet to see anyone else.” Even though he really did miss his family and friends, he still wasn't ready to meet any of them because of the fact that his emotions were everywhere all at once. ”Did you...” Jed trailed off as he slowly pulled away. ”Did you happen to pack any extra clothes? If not, there's a cave close by with my clothes in it. It's where I've been staying while I was in my wolf form.”
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 14, 2023 22:16:14 GMT
Ben knew that he couldn't expect things to go straight back to the way they used to be, there were some wounds that might never completely heal but they could find a way to move on from what had happened and the only way they were going to be able to do that was together. It was going to take Jed time to feel like his old self again, Ben knew that, and he was more than happy to give him all the time he needed. They had all been through something truly awful at the hands of his father and Ben still felt bad about that. Truth be told he had a feeling that he would feel bad about it for a long time but he knew that he wasn't the only one who would be feeling bad about the way things had happened. He didn't know exactly what had happened with Josie but he knew that it would take time for any of them to feel completely comfortable again. Ben was worried about their friends, that much was true, but Jed was always his main priority and that was never going to change. He hadn't known what would happen when he found Jed and there was a part of him that had known that perhaps he should have asked some questions about how humanity switches worked and what to expect but he had been so focused on finding Jed that he hadn't stopped to think about anything like that. As it was he could see that something was changing inside of Jed, he might doubt that his emotions were back on but Ben didn't for a moment and it wasn't long before Jed was agreeing to his offer to help. "You know I'd never let you do this alone," he said, a half smile touching his lips as he looked over at Jed. It was what they did, they helped each other no matter what they were facing and it had been that way ever since Ben had arrived in Mystic Falls. He had tried to go it alone with his curse to protect Jed from it and Jed had ended up saving him anyway. Since then Ben had promised that no matter what happened they would face it together and it was a promise that he intended on keeping. The sob that left Jed was enough to make a lump form in Ben's throat and he wrapped his arms tightly around his fiancé. "It's okay, I've got you," he said gently as he held Jed to him. "You can do this."The fact that Jed's humanity had turned back on was a good sign even if there was a chance that it had happened of its own accord. Something had changed in Jed the moment he had seen him and Ben knew that he was never going to doubt the power of love again after this. The Jed he was holding was his Jed and he was so glad about that. "I'm glad," Ben admitted as Jed said it was already starting to feel better having him there. "It's okay, you can let it all out," he added, his expression softening as he realised that Jed was trying to hold back his tears. Ben didn't want him bottling anything up, not when his humanity was back on and he was starting to get to grips with everything again. He knew that the last thing he wanted was for Jed to end up feeling too overwhelmed but at the same time at least he was feeling things again and that was never going to be a bad thing. Ben couldn't stop a smile from touching his lips as Jed repeated what he'd said about Josie and their friends being back. "Yeah, they are. Henrik brought us all back," he nodded. "It sounded like it took longer for him to bring back me and Josie because we were killed with the angel blade but he managed it," he explained. "Josie and the others have gone after Hope to try and get through to her but I had to find you." Ben knew that he was never going to regret his decision because the truth was that he would choose Jed every time. He wasn't sure how things were going with the others but he couldn't bring himself to worry about that just yet. "You'll have all the support you need, I promise. You'll be feeling better in no time."Ben had known there was a chance that Jed might not feel ready to go home just yet and if that was the case then he knew that they would figure something else out but he hoped that Jed would be open to it. It wasn't long before he was saying please and Ben's smile returned. "Come on then, let's get you home." Truth be told that sounded so good right now that Ben really couldn't wait until they were back in their house shut away from the rest of the world. "That's fine with me, you know I'll never argue with having you all to myself," he said, hoping to lighten the mood a little. "They don't even need to know you're back until you're ready," he added, knowing that it would probably be better for them to avoid offering up the temptation for them all to stop by and check in on Jed for the time being. As Jed asked if he'd packed any extra clothes, Ben's expression turned a little sheepish. "To be honest I was so focused on finding you after Henrik told me where you were I just got in the car and drove. I didn't bring anything else with me," he admitted. No food, no water, no clothes, nothing. Pulling his jacket off, he wrapped it around Jed's shoulders. "Personally I like seeing you like this but it might be a shock for the neighbours," he said as he brushed Jed's hair away from his face gently. "Where's the cave?"JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Apr 18, 2023 21:37:50 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed nodded his head with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips because he never had a doubt in his mind about that. They had always been there for each other and whenever they faced hardships, they didn't let the other go through it alone and it was obvious that they weren't going to start now. ”I know.” Jed replied in the same soft voice. Jed felt safe in Ben's embrace and when he finally collapsed in his arms again, he finally allowed himself to feel and it was like the dam had cracked wide open, making him realize just how much he had been aching to feel something for so long and now that Ben was in his arms again, it was like all he could do was feel. He felt the warmth of his embrace, he heard the sound of his voice and felt his reassuring touch. How could he not succumb to those emotions that were rushing through him?
Ben's reassurance to let it all out definitely worked as more tears slipped down his cheeks and he slowly nodded his head. As much as he didn't want to cry for that long, he knew that bottling everything back up again probably won't end well for him, so he allowed himself to feel and to let those tears slip and fall. Jed wiped his tears away but didn't try to stop them, the tightness of his chest lessening with every passing moment and it just showed that it was working. Jed let out a sigh of relief when Ben told him that Henrik had brought all of them back. “Thank god.” Jed whispered, feeling relieved. He listened as Ben explained that it had taken longer for him to bring him and Josie back and he nodded his head in an understanding manner. “Yeah, it must've been pretty difficult, but I'm really glad that he managed to in the end.” Jed was pretty thankful to Henrik for never giving him and for bringing his loved ones back. Thanks to him, his humanity was back on and he had the love of his life back by his side. “Thank you, for coming to find me. I'm really glad it was you. Seeing you made a difference. A huge one.”
Jed felt a thankful smile form on his lips at Ben's words before he nodded his head to show that he believed every word that escaped Ben's lips because he had no doubt in his mind that by staying with Ben. he would find all the support that he needs in order to start feelings better and learn how to accept his emotions again after not feeling them for such a long time. “Thank you. I really appreciate that.” Just the thought that he was going home was enough to fill his heart with relief because he wanted nothing more than to be home with Ben. They had spent long enough apart and he just wanted to be in his fiancé's embrace again. “Okay.” Jed breathed out with a small smile beginning to tug at the corner of his lips, the gesture still feeling a little bit alien to him but that was probably only because he hadn't smiled in such a long time but he was happy to re-learn again now that Ben was by his side again.
Jed let out a brief chuckle at Ben's words when he told him that he will never argue with having him all to himself. “I know.” Jed replied in a soft voice. “I want nothing more than to have you all to myself, too.” Jed added a moment later because it really did make a huge difference to know that Ben was by his side and he could hold him and love him just like how he used to before Ben's father took him away from him. “Yeah, that would really help.” As much as he wanted to see his friends and loved ones again, he knew it would be safer to keep his distance for now until he was ready to see them.
Jed's expression softened at Ben's next words when he told him that he had just been too focused on finding him that he didn't bring anything with him. “It's okay. I understand.” Jed assured him in a soft voice. “I appreciate it, you dropping everything like that. You probably didn't even give yourself time to process the fact that you're back, huh?” Jed whispered a soft 'thank you' when Ben placed his jacket over his shoulders.
Another laugh escaped his lips at Ben's next words. “Of course you do. But it's gonna be too much for our neighbors to process, for sure.” Jed said with the same smile still locked on his lips. His eyes remained fixed on Ben's, smiling a little at the gesture of Ben brushing the hair away from his face. “It's close by.” Jed revealed with a quick nod of his head following. With Ben's hand in his own, he started to guide the other in the direction of the small cave he had found during one of the rainy nights. It took around two minutes before Jed was pointing at the cave and heading inside. “Sorry, it's not much. Didn't really have the time to re-decorate.” Jed joked with a half-smile resting on his lips. Once they were inside, Jed reached for his discarded clothes, putting them on one after the other before he momentarily took of Ben's jacket so he could put on his shirt. Once he was fully dressed, he turned his attention to his fiancé. “Would you like the jacket back?” Jed asked, holding onto Ben's jacket as his eyes relaxed on his fiancé once again. “I'm ready to go now, if you are.”
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Apr 18, 2023 22:34:15 GMT
Ben had never known what it was like to have someone who was always on his side until Jed came into his life, even after learning his story Jed had offered him a place to stay at the Salvatore School and he had promised to find a way to help him break his curse. Ben had hoped that they would manage to do that but after being disappointed so many times in the past he hadn’t wanted to get his hopes up. As it turned out Jed and their friends had succeeded where so many others had failed and Ben was truly grateful to him for that. They hadn’t once given up on him and Ben knew that he wasn’t going to give up on any of them either, least of all Jed. Jed had given up his life in order to protect him from the dragon and Ben hated the pain that Jed had experienced after it was Ben’s turn to die. He had never wanted that for Jed and he knew that the least he could do was be there for him now. Just having Jed in his arms once more was enough to make Ben feel like they were on their way to things being right in the world once more and he knew he would do everything in his power to protect Jed from experiencing anymore heartache again. It was going to take a while for Jed to come back from this but Jed was the strongest person he had ever met so there wasn’t a doubt in Ben’s mind that he would be able to do it. For too long now Jed had been living disconnected from his emotions but now they were back and Ben knew that all Jed could do was let them out. Bottling things up again wouldn’t go well so it was easy for Ben to encourage his fiancé to let it all out and all he could do was hold Jed while he did just that. At least Jed was feeling something again and that was something that Ben wasn’t going to take for granted. Jed could have resisted and he could have kept his humanity turned off but he hadn’t done and Ben was so glad to have the Jed he loved back. He had lived for thousands of years and he had never known a love like this before so he knew that Jed was the one he had been waiting for all along. “So am I. I didn’t want to leave you and I’m not doing that again,” Ben assured him gently. He hadn’t had any say in the matter before but his father was gone now and Ben knew that he was going to make sure that no one else got the drop on him like that again. As Jed thanked him, Ben shook his head. “You don’t need to thank me, of course I was going to come and find you,” he said, knowing that there wasn’t any doubt about that as far as he was concerned. “We might not be married yet but for better or worse started the day we got together in my eyes,” he added, bringing his hand up and letting it rest gently against Jed’s cheek. “When I realised I was back yours was the only face I wanted to see and after I learned what happened I couldn’t waste any time. You’re the love of my life Jed, I had to get you back.” He had hoped that he would be able to bring Jed back but he hadn’t known how he would be able to do that. As it happened Jed had done it all on his own and Ben really was proud of him for that. “You never need to thank me, you know that,” Ben assured him gently. He knew that it would take time for Jed to feel like himself again but time was something that they had plenty of now and Ben knew that he was going to do everything he could to help Jed through it. Kissing the top of Jed’s head, Ben couldn’t deny that he liked the idea of it being just the two of them for a while. He knew that Jed’s family and friends would want to see him but after what they had been through Ben couldn’t deny that the idea of them having their own little bubble for a while was appealing. Of course that meant needing to get Jed home but he didn’t seem to mind that one bit. As Jed said he wanted nothing more than to have him all to himself as well, Ben felt a smile touch his lips. “I was hoping you would say that,” he admitted, his eyes full of love as they met Jed’s. “You can take as much time as you need, there’s no rush.” He didn’t doubt that Jed’s friends and family would understand and he knew that it would be best for Jed to make sure he was comfortable again before seeing anyone else. “Then they won’t hear a word from me. We’ll do this at your speed.” Ben knew that the others would know that he was back but as far as they were concerned he’d left to go and find Jed so that didn’t have to change until Jed was ready. Now all that was left for them was to get Jed back home Ben felt a little foolish that he hadn’t stopped by to get some clothes for Jed. He had known that when he changed back he wouldn’t have any but the thought honestly hadn’t even crossed his mind. He had headed out there without clothes for Jed, food, water or even a flashlight and Ben knew that that wasn’t the best plan he’d ever had but he had been so desperate to find Jed that he hadn’t even thought about it. “I’m still sorry,” Ben said gently when Jed said that he understood. “I’d do anything for you, you know that,” he added as his eyes met Jed’s. Jed was it for him, Ben had known that for a long time and after learning what had happened his only thought had been finding Jed, everything else could wait. “I’ll have time for that later, you’re much more important,” Ben assured him as he wrapped his jacket around Jed’s shoulders. “Can you blame me?” Ben chuckled as Jed said that of course he liked seeing him like that. “They don’t deserve to see you like this,” he grinned, meeting Jed’s gaze with ease. It felt so natural to be around Jed again and Ben knew that he didn’t want to be parted from him again. They had fought hard to get to where they were now and he knew that they deserved a future together and it was one that he was looking forward to starting. “Alright,” he nodded as Jed said that the cave was close by. Keeping Jed’s hand in his, Ben followed him in the direction of the cave and he couldn’t help but laugh as Jed spoke. “I don’t know, I like what you’ve done with the place,” he chuckled. It didn’t take long for Jed to find his clothes and slip them on and he shook his head as Jed asked if he wanted the jacket back. “You can hold onto it, it looks better on you anyway,” he shrugged. Truth be told most things did as far as he was concerned and he knew that that wasn’t going to change. “I’m definitely ready, let’s go home,” he said, holding his hand out to Jed once more. “Are you hungry?” he asked, not sure whether they would need to grab something to eat on the way. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 272
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Ben Lowell
Played by:
Noe
I've become a bit of a mythology buff. Since I'm into a mythological guy that's, you know, buff.
Last seen May 3, 2024 23:29:07 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Jun 12, 2023 18:12:48 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed felt a soft smile form on his lips before he nodded his head. He knew that if the choice were up to Ben, he'd never choose to leave. Especially when they had so much to live for and since they also had each other. Jed was grateful that Ben had been the one to come and find him. It brought his emotions to the surface after spending so long trying to push them down. Jed's expression softened at Ben's next words. He knew that he was right. They were always going to be there for each other, for better or worse. They didn't have to wait to exchange vows for that to be true. It had been that way since they got together. "You're right. It did start the day we got together." Jed agreed with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Jed leaned into the palm of Ben's hand. "And you succeeded, Ben. You got me back. Pretty quickly too, if I'm being honest. Seeing our family and friends would've eventually gotten to me too, but... Seeing you made a huge difference." He had switched his humanity off after losing Ben and now that he was certain that Ben was okay and alive, his humanity switched back on. It all showcased just how important Ben was to him. That's not to say that his family and friends weren't important to him. Of course they were.
"I know." Jed said with visible softness in the tone of his voice. "I wanted to." He added a moment later. He wanted to showcase just how grateful he was. Now that he had Ben back in his life, he couldn't help but want him all to himself and when Ben seemed satisfied with his answer, he couldn't help the chuckle that left his lips. The sound almost felt a bit alien to him but he knew that it was only because he hadn't laughed in what felt like a long time now. "I will be ready." Jed promised him with a quick nod of his head. "Eventually." He added a moment later. Eventually, he will reach out to his friends to let them know that his humanity was back on and potentially he could help them find a way to help Hope find her own humanity, too. He just hoped that his sister and the squad were safe. "I'm sure they've got their plates full, too. I just don't want to add on top of it all. I want them to not worry about me for a change." Jed's voice was soft as he spoke.
"You really don't have to be." Jed assured him softly. To him, it wasn't that big of a deal, especially since he had everything back in the cave. "I know. I just want you to take care of yourself, too." Jed's eyes relaxed on fiancé not long after. "We'll take care of each other when we're back home." Jed promised with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Jed's lips stretched into a fond smile at Ben's words before he shook his head with the same fondness visible on his expression. "No, I guess I can't. I am pretty hot." He played along with the same smile still visible on his lips. He chuckled again at his next words. "I'm pretty sure I'd scar them for life." Jed joked light-heartedly. He took Ben back to his cave and that was when he looked over his shoulder at Ben, processing his teasing words before he grinned. "Thank you. I wanted to keep it all natural. It worked out really well." Jed joked again before he busied himself with getting dressed and grabbing his things, all too happy to leave this place behind and go back home with Ben, where he belonged. Jed nodded his head with a thankful tugging at his lips when Ben told him to keep the jacket. He put it back on and definitely felt a lot warmer with it on. It offered him a new kind of warmth that he had missed so dearly during his time away from Ben. He reached out to take Ben's hand into his own. "Starving, actually." But it wasn't just food that he was hungry for. "I've only been feeding on animal blood ever since... you know." Jed admitted in a soft voice. "So I could go for a bite, too." He added, his eyes moving to rest on Ben for a moment.
He was quiet for a moment or two as he guided Ben away from the cave, keeping his guard up just in case there were any threats around. He wasn't going to lose Ben again after finally getting him back. "So, about your father..." Jed spoke up after a moment when he seemed sure that they were safe for the time being. "Is he gone completely?" Jed wanted to know, just to be sure. "He hasn't been back since Hope killed him?" She had killed him in sister's body and it was enough to push him over the edge that he was teetering over the edge of. Losing Ben was difficult enough, but that day... It had been a massacre and he wanted to get better so he could see them all again. "You haven't felt his presence or anything like that, right?" Jed wasn't surprised that amongst the emotions that rushed to the surface was anxiety. He tried to push it down by reminding himself that he had seen Hope take his life. He should be gone. But Mystic Falls was pretty good at making sure that the dead just don't stay dead.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 278
Age:
5000+
Occupation:
Salvatore College Sophomore
Status:
Engaged
Partner:
Jed Saltzman
Played by:
Emma
If we're not careful you might wind up making me a better person
Last seen May 4, 2024 0:58:42 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Jun 12, 2023 22:05:18 GMT
Ben had always felt like his father had let him down given that the angel had refused to be there for him when he needed him the most but he hadn’t known how much of a monster he could be until the day that he had killed Josie and Hope. He had hoped that was the worst they could expect but it turned out that he couldn’t have been more wrong. His father had proved that the day he had taken over Josie’s body and killed so many of their friends and Ben had lost his life in the process as well. He knew that he was never going to be able to thank Henrik enough for bringing him back and giving him another chance to have a future with Jed but he knew that he was going to make every moment count. Jed had turned his humanity off that day and Ben honestly hadn’t known how he was going to get Jed to turn it back on but he had done it anyway and now the Jed before him was the one he had fallen in love with the moment he saw him. “We’re back together where we belong and there’s nowhere I’d rather be,” Ben assured him, a smile touching his lips as he looked over at Jed. As Jed said he had him back, Ben felt more relieved than he had done since the day he had brought Jed back to life. “I’ll take that, it’s good to have you back,” he said gently, his lips lingering on Jed’s for a moment. He knew that Jed’s family meant a lot to him and Ben didn’t doubt that they would have brought him back sooner or later but Ben knew how completely he loved Jed and he knew that Jed loved him just as much so he was glad he had been able to help Jed find his way back so quickly. “Can I kiss you?” he asked, knowing that he didn’t want to push Jed if he wasn’t ready. “Well, I appreciate it,” Ben assured him as Jed said that he wanted to thank him. Ben knew that he was never going to feel like Jed needed to think him but it was clear that Jed wanted to and Ben knew that he wasn’t going to argue with his fiancé, not now that he finally had him back. Truth be told it was good to hear Jed laugh again and that sound alone was enough to bring a smile to Ben’s lips. It was one that he had thought that he would never get to hear again and he knew better than to take it for granted. As Jed said he would be ready eventually, Ben nodded. “I know you will, you’ve got this,” Ben nodded. There really wasn’t a doubt in his mind about that, he knew that sooner or later Jed would be ready to let his friends and family know that he was home and that his humanity was back on but until then it would just be the two of them. “I’m pretty sure they’re always going to worry about you but I get what you mean,” he said gently. Jed had so many family and friends around him that it was only natural that they would worry about him but he also knew that it was mutual. Ben’s expression softened as Jed said that he didn’t have to be sorry. Luckily Jed had some clothes he could wear so it wouldn’t be awkward getting him home but even if he hadn’t then Ben knew that they would have made it work. As Jed said he wanted him to take care of himself as well, Ben felt a smile touch his lips. “I will, right now I just want to get you home,” he admitted. Ben knew that Jed was right, he needed to take some time out to look after himself but Jed was his sole focus right now and he couldn’t help that. As Jed said that they would take care of each other when they were back home, Ben’s smile widened. “I like the sound of that, we’ve always been good at looking out for each other.” It had been that way even before they got together and he was certain it was never going to change. As Jed said he was pretty hot, Ben couldn’t help but laugh. “The hottest,” he chuckled even though he knew that his words were completely true. To him there wasn’t anyone who would ever hold a candle to Jed. “Even hotter than Batman,” he added, not caring how cheesy it might sound to remind Jed of that joke. “In that case maybe you should forget the clothes for now,” he teased as Jed said he would scar their neighbours for life. Jed’s next words were enough to make Ben’s smile return. “It did. I’m glad you found somewhere safe.” He really hadn’t known what to expect when Henrik had told him that Jed had turned into his wolf form and taken off but this was better than he had hoped for. Watching as Jed put the jacket back on, Ben’s expression softened. “It definitely looks better on you,” he admitted. Everything did as far as he was concerned but there was something about seeing Jed in that jacket that made his heart flutter. As Jed said he was starving and he’d been surviving off just animal blood, Ben nodded. “We’ll get you both, I promise,” Ben assured him as he gave Jed’s hand a gentle squeeze, knowing that they could pick up some beers on the way as well. “Are you going to be okay to get back to town or do you need some now?” he asked, knowing that Jed could have some of his without question if he wanted it. Heading away from the cave, Ben was focused on the way ahead but Jed’s words soon brought him out of his own head and he thought for a moment as Jed asked if his father was gone completely. “Henrik said he hasn’t been back since so I think he’s gone for good,” Ben said at last. “My whole life I’ve been able to feel him there somehow but I can’t feel that anymore,” he added as they walked. “The other angels were still talking about it on angel radio on my way over here, they’re all saying he’s gone.” It still hurt to listen to angel radio so Ben tried to block it out as much as possible but he had been worried about his father as well so he had wanted to make sure. JED SALTZMAN
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