JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 12, 2022 1:10:40 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
If you ask Jed what scares him the most, he'll attempt to take it lightly at first and tell you that he was scared of number seven or sharks, but if you propose the question one more time with a more serious tone, he'll tell you that he was scared of dying and leaving his loved ones behind. Life was unpredictable at best but if it let him off the hook and let him live without hitches, he'll age and wither, leaving the world only after becoming a huge liability to those around him. He was afraid of dying while carrying many regrets. The whole concept of death was terrifying despite him having already tasted it once but even back then, it had been cold and devoid of any signs of life – it was cold, too. If you ask Jed if death was the only thing that scared him, he'll take a moment to think before saying no. He was afraid of not being strong enough to protect loved ones. Being a werewolf already gave him a lot of strength but when he faced Ben's dad, he realized just how small he was in comparison. He was worried that when the time comes for him to step forward and protect his loved ones, he might wind up failing all of them. He wanted to be able to keep them safe because they truly mattered to him, each and every single one of them.
All of his fears aside, there was a sense of content within Jed. It was like a part of him had finally realized that he had done everything he wanted while he was still a mortal. He had played the part of an Alpha for the longest time now, he had turned two people successfully without losing either of them to the bite. He had graduated from school with flying colors and he had a future ahead of him, a bright one at that. He felt like he was ready. Being with Ben for the past couple of months had made realize just how much he loved having Ben by his side, of how much he loved Ben as a whole. Spending time with him made Jed realize that he wanted to spend an eternity by his side. He didn't want to have to worry about time and how unforgiving it was. He didn't want to worry about ageing and becoming feeble until all was left of him was just a memory.
Ben had already lost Ashur to mortality, hadn't he? From the way he spoke about him, he could tell that it had been a really painful loss and with him catching glimpses of how distraught and sad Ben had looked when he stood in the path of the flames coming toward him, he realized that he was going to inevitably put Ben through the same pain again, only for the next time to be irreversible.
Despite him being afraid of death, he wouldn't mind facing it once more if it meant coming back to life with an eternity guaranteed with Ben. The thought alone was enough to put a gentle smile on his lips. He was sure that he wanted to do this. He had so many reasons aside from those that he worried if he began, he won't be able to shut up. But there remained one thing that he was still worried about. His parents. They weren't immortal and he was just worried about their reaction when he proposes the idea to them. That is, after he talks to Ben about it since he wanted Ben to be the first one to know about his train of thoughts and what he wanted to do.
So with that in mind, he snapped out of his thoughts and finally got out of his own head and turned his attention to Ben, the noises coming from the TV all flooding back in. If you ask him, he can't even remember what the movie was about. He wasn't sure when he'd stepped into his own head and disconnected from the world around him. But now that he was back, he found himself shifting a little bit to face Ben better, his hand moving to settle on top of Ben's. "Um, hey." Jed spoke up, the side chatter from the TV still filling most of the silence. "I wanted to talk to you about something." His free hand wiped across his thigh, wiping imaginary sweat away. There was a pregnant pause that stretched between them momentarily as he struggled to find the words to piece together all his jumbled thoughts.
"I guess there's no right or wrong way to start this kind of conversation, so uh, you remember a while back, we briefly talked about the possibility of me becoming a hybrid? Well, I've been thinking about it a lot more recently and I – I think I'm ready for that. But I wanted to talk to you about it first. See how you feel about that." Jed's eyes scanned Ben's features, his head tilted slightly to the side as he kept his gaze on him.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 12, 2022 2:18:13 GMT
It had been seven months since Ben had arrived in Mystic Falls and he and Jed had been together almost as long. Ben hadn’t had any idea just how much his life would change when he decided to head to Mystic Falls but Jed had found him after he’d been attacked by the latest in a long line of monsters and when he woke up it had literally been love at first sight for both of them. Ben hadn’t thought that he would find that when he got to town, there hadn’t been anyone that he had been serious about since Ashur died, he’d had one night stands along the way but he had never even stayed with any of the guys until morning because he hadn’t thought that it would be safe for them to be around him that long. Jed was different, he had known about the supernatural for a long time and he hadn’t flinched when Ben had told him his story. That was something that had taken Ben by surprise but he had been grateful for it. So many people had only agreed to help him because he had done a favour for them and each time they had ended up failing to help him in return. Jed had made a promise to help him find a way to break his curse and so far he had kept it. Hope and Josie had found a way to stop the monsters coming after him and even though there had been a few hiccups along the way, for the first time ever Ben was looking forward to the future to an extent. He wasn’t sure what it was going to look like completely because the fact that Jed was still mortal continued to hang over their heads but Ben knew that even if Jed stayed that way then he wasn’t going anywhere. One lifetime with Jed was never going to be enough but if that was all he ended up getting then Ben knew that he would count himself lucky to have found a love like that at all. Jed really was it for him and Ben had no intention of trying to move on from him, he had found the guy he wanted to be with and that wasn’t going to change no matter what ended up happening in the future. There were a lot of things that they still needed to figure out but the truth was that right now curled up on the sofa with Jed, Ben was perfectly complete. They had put a movie on and Ben’s arm was wrapped around his boyfriend with his free hand resting on Jed’s thigh. The quiet moments like this were ones that Ben always enjoyed, there had been a few of them before they had moved in together but now they had so many more of them and he tried to make the most of each one. Ben knew that they easily could have never had moments like this, Jed had given his life in order to save him from the dragon even though he had known that Ben would resurrect and had Ben not been able to trigger his abilities then he wasn’t sure whether it would have been possible for Jed to be brought back. A world without him in it really wasn’t one that Ben wanted to think about if he could help it and whenever the thought came to mind he always made sure to push it away again. He could look so far ahead and think about what it would be like when they started a family of their own because that was something he knew they both wanted but other than that he knew not to think about it too much. The movie had been on for a while and Ben had been doing his best to pay attention to what was going on but his focus quickly snapped to Jed as he placed his hand on top of his and said there was something he wanted to talk to him about. “Hmm?” he murmured, turning the movie off as Jed wiped his hand across his thigh which was a sure sign that it was going to be a somewhat heavy conversation. Jed clearly had something on his mind and Ben knew that he wanted to help if he could. “What is it?” he asked gently, his eyes searching Jed’s as he tried to gauge whether it was something bad or not. The two of them were happy and even though there were a few things that were still hanging over them Ben knew that right now things were pretty good considering and he hoped that it was going to stay that way. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting from Jed but as he said he thought he was ready to become a hybrid, Ben searched his boyfriend’s face for any sign that he had any doubts and found none. “I meant what I told you before when you first mentioned this, I would love to spend forever with you but if you do this it needs to be because it’s what you want,” he said at last. “I don’t want you to make this decision because you think you need to in order to be with me. I want you to live your life on your terms, I don’t want you to have any regrets or end up hating me.” Josie was immortal now but that hadn’t been her decision. Most of the rest of Jed’s family was mortal and becoming immortal would mean that Jed would have to leave them behind one day when people started to realise that he wasn’t getting any older. Jed had already said he was okay with that because Ben wouldn’t age but it would be different for Jed being stuck at the age he was forever. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 12, 2022 16:30:00 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed had been wanting to talk to Ben about the whole hybrid thing for a while now. In the past, there were still a few things in the way, stopping him from going through it. But now, he felt like the timing was right. Sure, there were a few things still amiss, but, he had a feeling something was always going to be amiss, that's the way of life, right? You kind of start to worry when its quiet for too long because that's just a sign there's a storm brewing somewhere. So, he decided to bring up the matter now with Ben. With the side chatter from the TV now gone, he felt like he could think a lot clearer. He turned to face Ben a little better, his lips stretching into a gentle smile when he told him that he'd love to spend forever with him. Forever in the eyes of a mortal was probably until they're in their late eighties or early nineties. Or even late nineties if you're really lucky. But forever in the eyes of an immortal was a whole different story. It meant never aging, it meant forever was, in one way or the other, infinite. "I would never hate you, Ben." Jed felt like that was a good place to start. "And I get what you mean, but trust me, I want this." Jed assured him shortly after.
It was a big commitment, one that was going to stay with him for the rest of his – incredibly long – life, but it was something that he was willing to do if it meant staying by Ben's side. "When I think about staying with you for the rest of my life, I also begin to realize that it's not enough." Jed didn't just want thirty or more years with Ben. He wanted way longer than that. You can call him greedy all you want but now that he has Ben in his life, he can't imagine himself ever letting go.
"I want more. Which is incredibly greedy of me to say, but it's the truth." Jed added a moment later, knowing how greedy he sounded when he admitted his feelings out loud. "I don't just want one lifetime with you. I want many more. Just the thought of it makes me happy." Jed's thumb gently traced over his knuckles while he spoke, his gaze moving down to his hand for a moment before he looked back up. "Not only that, but I also want to be stronger. I guess you could say one of my biggest fears is not being strong enough to protect the ones that I love." Jed's eyes remained fixed on Ben's, his lips stretching into a gentle smile. That's not to say being a werewolf didn't give him a lot of strength already, but he wanted to be able to do more. "Maybe there is still a part of me that wants to shield you from the pain of losing someone you love again. I saw it, when you brought me back to life. How sad you were. I don't want you to go through that again." Jed's voice was soft as he spoke. He'd seen the sheer amount of sadness in Ben's eyes when he first opened his eyes and from there on, he knew that he'd do anything in his power to avoid making Ben look that sad again. He knew that in order for him to become a hybrid, he'd have to die, but only briefly. So he hoped at least it won't hurt Ben for long. "You mean a lot to me, and I don't want to ever let go of what we have, Ben."
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 12, 2022 20:34:41 GMT
Ben had always known what he was letting himself in for with Jed, he had always known that Jed was mortal and that their time together would only last for so long but he had tried to make his peace with that because he knew that it would be worth it to have whatever time with him he could. The idea of Jed becoming a hybrid wasn’t just a big deal, though, it was life-changing. It would mean that he couldn’t get old or sick, he would stay frozen at eighteen if Jed decided that he wanted it to happen now or at whatever age he went through with it at if he decided to wait. Ben knew that he was always going to look like he was in his twenties and he was okay with that but for Jed becoming immortal would mean giving up so much. As Jed said that he could never hate him, Ben felt a smile touch his lips. “I know it’s easy to say you would never hate me now but what about in a hundred years? You’d still have Josie and Elena but the rest of your family, some of your friends and your pack would all be gone and you’d still look just like you do now,” he said gently, needing to make sure that Jed really had thought it through. “Don’t get me wrong, you have no idea how much I want this to happen but I need you to be sure that you’ve considered everything. Being immortal isn’t a walk in the park, it means having to move around to make sure that no one realises you’re not getting any older and in doing that you’d have to leave your family behind. I know you’ve already made that decision because I’m not getting any older but you’d face a lot of questions whenever you came back to see them, not to mention you’d have to drink blood to survive,” he continued as he shifted slightly so he could cover Jed’s hand with his own, needing to put it all out there. “I know what you mean, it isn’t enough for me either,” Ben said gently as Jed said that staying with him for the rest of his mortal life wasn’t enough. It would give them several decades together but Ben knew how quickly they were capable of passing by. In time Jed would look old enough to be his dad and it would only continue from there. Ben knew that nothing was ever going to change the way that he felt about Jed but the truth was that whenever he thought about Jed it would always be this version of him that he pictured – so happy and full of life. Ben really hadn’t known that it was possible to find a love like this and he knew that he was never going to want to lose that but whatever their future looked like he knew that it had to be Jed’s decision at the end of the day. “It isn’t greedy, I get it,” Ben assured him. “I want an eternity with you.” He really didn’t know what he would do if he ever lost Jed and just the thought of it was enough to make his heart ache. He had already experienced that once when the dragon attacked and he knew that he didn’t want to go through that again. “None of the people you love are defenceless but I can understand where you’re coming from,” he nodded. He had seen the pain written all over Jed’s face when Josie had died and he knew that he would do anything to save Jed from going through that again. It was Jed’s next words that were enough to have Ben’s expression softening and he leaned forward and kissed Jed gently. “I can’t lie and say I’d be okay with losing you to old age or whatever else comes for you one day but somehow I’d find a way to follow you into the afterlife,” he said, certainty in his voice as he spoke. Ben knew that Heaven existed, he had been there once without realising it and there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Jed would find peace when the time came. Ben wasn’t sure what would kill him permanently but he knew that he would make sure that they got to see each other again one way or another. “I love you and I refuse to lose you,” he added, letting his forehead rest against Jed’s for a moment as he brought his hand up and let it rest against the back of Jed’s neck. “You know how I feel about you, I’d give up my immortality right now if it meant that we could live a normal human life together,” he said gently. That wasn’t something that he could do though, unfortunately, but Jed becoming a hybrid was something that could give them a chance to have a normal life together if it was what Jed decided to do. “You know I’ll support you whatever decision you make.”JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 12, 2022 22:20:14 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
"I've thought about that and trust me, I wouldn't be considering become a hybrid if down the line I'm just going to wallow in regret, self-hatred as well as hatred toward you, Ben. The idea of me outliving some of the people who matter to me sucks, but I–" There was a pause that stretched between them, filled by nothing but the ticking of the clock hanging on the wall. "I still want to go through with this." It made him sound beyond selfish, didn't it? Jed had thought about the whole moving process too, leaving every couple of years whenever it becomes apparent that he wasn't aging all that much. He'd already known that down the line, he was going to leave with Ben because of the fact that his boyfriend was immortal. It was unavoidable. "I know being a hybrid's not going to be easy. Trust me, I've seen what the change could do to someone." It came as a surprise to him that Rafael's bloodlust had actually pushed Rafael to kill Landon. They were brothers. But it showed how terrible the bloodlust could actually get. Sure, Raf had his own issue, but still, it was the whole concept of blood that could potentially drive him down a dark path.
"It's scary to think about, but I also know that I won't face this alone. To be honest with you, there always has to be a catch. I've had to deal with shifts ever since I became a werewolf and it's terrible. With becoming a hybrid, I know I'd have to deal with the whole blood thing but it's a price I'm willing to pay." Jed said with a nod of his head following, his eyes resting on Ben once again.
Jed felt a gentle smile pull at the corners of his lips when Ben told him that spending one lifetime with Ben was just not enough either. It made his heartbeat flutter as his smile only widened from there. He was worried that his choice to become a hybrid was selfish or greedy, but it was what he wanted. Being with Ben was exactly what he wanted. It made him feel happy to know that Ben wanted the same thing as Jed. An eternity with him. "Trust me, I know. But somehow, they still get hurt." Josie had died that day and Jed had felt pretty helpless. Then Hope was gone too and that feeling just got worse.
Jed was more than happy to lean forward and return the kiss, his hand resting on Ben's cheek before they drew back from the kiss, his eyes fluttering open to meet Ben's once again. His expression softened as he listened to Ben, his heart fluttering as he processed his words. "That's really, really sweet." He knew that while the offer itself was beyond sweet it wasn't something that was possible, but it was the way Ben had phrased his words with so much certainty that made him feel really happy. "Being with you is what makes me happy, Ben. I don't want to leave behind what we have." Jed said with a gentle smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Thank you." It seemed like he had finally heard Ben's answer, so at least it was one thing down. "Now for the hard part. Telling my parents. Do you think they'll say no?" Jed knew that if they expressed their displeasure, he won't be able to go through with it, but he hoped that they'd see he'd be a lot happier if they allowed him to go through with it.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 12, 2022 22:52:29 GMT
Ben could see that Jed really had thought about this a lot and that realisation was enough to make his heart leap. He had always thought that he would lose Jed to old age one day even after he’d first brought up becoming a hybrid. It felt like that conversation had taken place a lifetime ago now and there was a part of Ben that had wondered whether it had been brought on out of fear over what had happened with the dragon since it was back in Jed’s dorm room after Ben had brought him back that he’d first mentioned it. Now Ben could see that it wasn’t a decision that Jed had taken lightly and Ben was glad about that. “You really mean that, don’t you?” Ben asked gently as Jed said that he still wanted to go through with this. He could see it in Jed’s eyes, he had already made up his mind but he wanted to know that he had Ben’s support and that was something that would never be in question as far as Ben was concerned. Jed had been there for him through so much and Ben knew that it was his turn to be there for Jed in return. “At least with Raf we know that it’s the Lunar Psychosis that has made his bloodlust more difficult to manage, you won’t have that to worry about.” It had taken them a while to figure out why Raf struggled so much but in the end they had done and after Josie figured it out it had made helping their friend that much easier. There was always going to be a chance that Jed would struggle as well but he wouldn’t be alone. “I guess I never thought about it like that,” Ben admitted as Jed said about his shifts and how having to deal with blood was a price he was willing to pay. It was easy to think about Jed becoming a hybrid and how it would make him immortal but other than needing to drink blood it was easy to forget about the other changes that would come from it as well. He made sure that he was there for Jed during his shifts as much as he could be but Ben had never experienced one himself so he had no idea how painful it really was. Ben knew that he was perhaps being selfish when he said that one lifetime with Jed wasn’t enough but he couldn’t help it because the truth was that no amount of time with him would ever be enough. As it was he had been making sure to commit every little thing to memory in case something happened to Jed and there would still be ways in which he could die if he became a hybrid but it was clear that Jed thought that the reward outweighed the risk and if Ben was honest he did too no matter how selfish it might sound. If it came to a choice between losing Jed at the end of his mortal life or being with him for a immortal life together then there was no question which one Ben would choose. “I know. We can’t save everyone but we can make sure we’re at our best when they need us again.” Ben hadn’t really known much about his powers during the fight with his father but he was working on changing that now so he could do more when the time came. “It’s true. I’d follow you anywhere,” Ben assured him. He wasn’t sure what would cause him to die permanently so that he could join Jed but he knew that if it came down to it then it would figure something out. “Being with you makes me happy too. I never want to lose you so if you’re sure this is what you want then I’m with you,” Ben said, lifting their joined hands and pressing a kiss to Jed’s knuckles. As Jed mentioned telling his parents and asked if he thought they would say no, Ben shook his head. “I don’t think so. They want you to be happy and to be honest I think they’ll probably be quite glad that you’ll be around to look out for Josie when they can’t,” he admitted. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 13, 2022 0:03:15 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed nodded his head almost right away when Ben asked if he really meant that. "Absolutely." Jed wasn't the type of person to just say anything to get his way. He meant each and every word. He knew that the possibility of him having complications shortly after turning into a hybrid was there, but it was a risk he was more than willing to take if it meant staying by Ben's side. "Some people are just not meant to have it easy in life, huh?" Rafael had a rough life before he got to the school and it only seemed to get worse from there, but he hoped that Rafael knew that he wasn't alone and they were all there for him through thick and thin. "See? It won't be so bad." Maybe he was looking at the situation from a glass half-full kind of view but he knew that if he faced any complications, they'll find a way to push through it.
Jed felt a gentle smile form on his lips when Ben revealed that he'd never thought about it that way. One way or the other, there was something standing in the way. Whether it be shifts during the full moon or dealing with the whole blood thing. Maybe it was just the universe's way of finding balance. He wasn't too sure, honestly. "Exactly." Jed agreed with Ben. "There's nothing wrong with being a werewolf, obviously, but if the choice is there for me to be stronger, then I'm more than willing to take it." Jed said with a determined nod of his head following.
"I'd follow you anywhere too, even if its to the ends of the earth." Jed admitted, his voice still gentle as he spoke. "I'm one hundred percent sure. I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm ready." Jed had been weighing the pros and cons of his decision to become a hybrid for way too long now and he felt ready to do this. Back then, the thought had been there but he'd felt like he had a lot of unfinished business to attend to first. Jed took in a deep breath and released it shortly after, nodding his head a few times. Ben was right. With him becoming a hybrid, he'd be an immortal like Josie which meant that he had a way better chance to look out for Josie without worrying about getting old and leaving her behind. "Okay, I can bring this up next time we see them." It was decided then. While he was a bit nervous of their reaction, he knew that Ben was right. Plus, he knew that they weren't the type to stand in his way and deprive of him something that he wanted.
"Okay, I don't have any more heavy stuff to say. We can continue watching the movie now. If it's even still running." Jed said with a chuckle falling from his lips. It was a heavy conversation that he was pretty glad was over now. He was also glad about the fact that Ben had chosen to support him. It made him feel a lot more at ease. Now, the only part left was talking to his parents about it. Should be somewhat easy to do. Jed, at least, hoped so.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 13, 2022 0:31:29 GMT
Ben couldn’t ignore the way his heart leapt when Jed said that he meant it. He knew that Jed wasn’t the kind of person who ever said something without really meaning it but he had needed to find out for sure. This was a big step and it would mean that Jed would be giving up so much for him and he could only hope that what Jed would end up getting at the end of it would be worthwhile. Now and then the words his father had said to him echoed in his ears, the angel thought that he was worthless and didn’t even deserve to live but Jed didn’t feel that way. Jed loved him and Ben loved him in return so even though he’d had to make sure that Jed really had thought it all the way through this time, Ben couldn’t deny that he wanted that future more than anything. “They’re really not. It won’t be like that for you though. You’ll have all of us and your family too,” Ben assured him. It really hadn’t been easy for Raf but he seemed to be doing a bit better now and Ben honestly hoped that he would continue to improve with time. “No, it won’t. We’ll make it work, we always do,” he nodded. Jed had always seemed to take being a werewolf in his stride but Ben had seen how much pain he had to go through with every shift. Becoming a hybrid would change things for him but he would still be Jed and he would also be a lot stronger and that was never going to be a bad thing. “Of course you are, you’ll always do what you can to protect the people you care about,” Ben said, a fond smile forming on his lips as he looked over at Jed. It was one of the things that Ben loved most about him if he was honest. As Jed said that he would follow him anywhere too, even if it was to the ends of the Earth, Ben’s heart fluttered in his chest. “Now who has a way with words?” he asked, his smile gentle as his eyes met Jed’s. “Seriously though, you have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that,” he added. It really did mean the world to him and he was never going to forget that. “It looks like it’s decided then, we’ll talk to your parents and if they’re okay with it then you’ll become a hybrid,” Ben said, hardly able to believe that he was actually saying those words out loud. He knew that there was a chance that they might say no but the chances were pretty slim he hoped so he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about what their future could be like and now he really was excited. Ben couldn’t help but laugh as Jed said they could go back to watching the movie now since he didn’t have anything else that was heavy to say. “I’m not sure I could focus on the movie again now even if I tried,” he chuckled. “All I keep thinking about is what our future together is going to look like.” They were already living together and they had talked about having kids but there were things that they hadn’t talked about and now that Jed was willing to commit himself to their relationship in such a big way, Ben couldn’t deny that his mind was working overtime thinking about how he could show his commitment to Jed in return. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 13, 2022 1:48:49 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
"I'm really not worried. I know that even if things get tough, I'll have you guys there with me." They gave him a lot of courage and strength to push through difficult obstacles. Just like how Ben had been there for him when he'd turned Eddie and many more instances where his loved ones were there to help him out in any way possible. "That's why the thought of becoming a hybrid doesn't really scare me. Because I know if we face any obstacles, we'll push through." Like Ben said. They will make it work. Jed's expression softened as he listened to Ben who seemed to already know that if the choice was there for him to become stronger, he'll take it to protect his loved ones.
Jed felt a grin tug at the corners of his lips as he shrugged his shoulders, his eyes still on Ben. "I'm just speaking the truth." Jed admitted. "Nothing feels impossible when I'm with you." He added a moment later, so the concept of going to the ends of the Earth didn't seem impossible either just as long as he had Ben with him. His expression softened at Ben's next words, feeling really glad that Ben had felt his honesty. "It's decided, then." Hearing Ben say that out loud definitely felt a bit weird but it was also the good kind of weird. He was just gonna have to get used to hearing that.
Jed let out a chuckle at Ben's next words before he found himself nodding too in agreement. "If I'm being honest with you, I feel the exact same way too." Ben's next words were more than enough to make Jed think about that, too. He could easily imagine them with a family of their own in the future, living that white picket fence life. Just the thought alone was enough to put a smile on his lips. "Now I can't stop thinking about it, too." Jed said with a soft chuckle following. "I seriously can't wait for our future. Just the thought of our future together makes me really happy." Time had a funny way of moving really fast when you least expect it, so maybe that future will be within reach soon enough.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 13, 2022 16:04:52 GMT
“You definitely will, you’re stuck with us,” Ben grinned as Jed said that he knew they would be there with him. There was n way that they were going to let Jed go through this alone, Ben would do what he could in order to help but he didn’t know what it was like to be a vampire or werewolf so he was glad that Jed would have Hope and Raf around who knew what that was like. Josie and MG would be able to help with the vampire side as well so Ben knew that Jed would be absolutely fine. Becoming a hybrid was a big step but Ben knew that it just went to show how committed Jed was to their relationship and the truth was that Ben felt absolutely the same way. “We will. I won’t let you lose sight of who you really are, I promise,” Ben assured him. He would always be there to look out for Jed and he knew that he would do everything he could in order to make sure that Jed’s life turned out exactly how he wanted it to. “I know that feeling,” Ben admitted as Jed said that nothing felt impossible when he was with him. Even breaking his curse didn’t seem impossible now that he had Jed in his life and Ben knew that he never wanted to ever have to live without Jed again. Ben had been searching for something his whole life and he felt like he had finally found it now with Jed, the guy was his soulmate. “It is,” Ben said, a smile forming on his face as he looked over at Jed. “I love you so much, Jed Saltzman,” he breathed. As Jed said he felt the same way about not being able to go back to focusing on the movie, Ben couldn’t help but laugh. “Let’s forget the movie then,” he said as he wrapped his arm around Jed’s shoulders. There was no way that he could go back to focusing on what they were watching now after the conversation they’d just had and he wasn’t surprised that Jed couldn’t do it either. “It makes me happy too. We’re already living together but I want it all with you one day. Marriage, kids, the whole thing,” he said, his eyes studying Jed’s face for his reaction to see whether that was going to be too much for him. They had already talked about having kids but that was it. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 13, 2022 23:03:00 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed's lips stretched into a small smile at Ben's words. "Soon, I'll be stuck with you guys forever." Nothing sounded better than that, really. Forever was finally within his grasp and he wasn't going to let go of it any time soon. Jed wasn't entirely worried about what was going to happen after becoming a hybrid because he knew that come what may, they'll be able to push through it together. He won't go through any of it alone and that definitely helped him feel at ease. "I know you won't. I trust you with my life." The trust that Jed held for Ben was strong and he knew that once he becomes a hybrid, Ben will be there to help him in any way that he needed.
Jed's expression softened when Ben told him that he loved him. "I love you too, Ben. So much. I'm crazy about you." Just by spending time with Ben, he came to the realization that just one lifetime with Ben wasn't enough, he wanted so much more. He wanted to stay by Ben's side for as long as possible. He didn't want time to be a problem for them. So, of course he'd choose to become a hybrid if that meant spending more time with his boyfriend.
Jed was more than happy to forget about the movie as he moved closer to Ben's embrace as his arm wrapped around him. When Ben brought up marriage and the kids, he felt a soft smile tug at the corners of his lips as he found himself daydreaming about that, too. He can't help but find the idea to be pretty appealing. "You wanna put a ring on me, hm?" Jed teased shortly after interrupting his line of thoughts so that he could focus on Ben once again. "I like the sound of that. A lot." Jed said with a gentle smile on his lips as his teasing tone evaporated. "It'd be an honor to have the chance to have such a life with you, Ben. And to be your future husband." Jed added, the same smile still locked on his lips as he leaned forward to connect their lips in a kiss, his hand moving up to gently rest on Ben's cheek to bring him a little closer.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 14, 2022 19:27:21 GMT
As Jed said that soon he would be stuck with them all forever, Ben couldn’t stop a smile from touching his lips. “I can’t wait,” he said sincerely. It really was what he had wanted from the moment that he had first laid eyes on Jed but he hadn’t wanted to try and force Jed into it or anything like that. Ben had known that it would need to be his decision and in time he had made it. Ben had needed to make sure that Jed had thought it through properly before agreeing to it but as soon as he’d realised just how much thought Jed had put into it his answer had been certain. “That’s good because I love you just the way you are, I’m not going to let that version of you fade away,” Ben assured him gently. He knew that Jed had changed a lot from what Jed had told him and this version of Jed was one that Ben and all of their friends loved, as did Jed’s family. He always put others before himself and Ben knew that wasn’t going to change when he became a hybrid. “Have you decided who you want to have replace you as Alpha?” he asked, not sure whether Jed had made a decision about that as well yet or not. Ben’s eyes were full of so much love for Jed as they met his and as Jed said he loved him too, Ben’s smile returned. “You drive me crazy too. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you but I’m not going to argue,” he said, bringing his hand up and brushing away a few stray strands of Jed’s hair gently. “I’m so glad you were open to all of this.” He knew that this was Jed’s first relationship with a man and that in itself was a big deal. Jed could have easily hidden that part of him away and refused to accept it but he hadn’t done, he had welcomed it with open arms once he’d managed to get his head around it and not a day went by when Ben didn’t feel lucky. Ben’s heart leapt as Jed moved closer to him and he kissed Jed’s shoulder gently. As Jed asked if he wanted to put a ring on him, Ben’s cheeks flushed red. That was the part that they hadn’t talked about before, they already knew that they were on the same page when it came to having kids but they hadn’t talked about getting married and Ben was suddenly nervous. He knew that he would understand if it wasn’t what Jed wanted but the truth was that Ben was old fashioned in that respect so he knew that it was what he wanted. “I might do,” he said at last, hoping to sound coy but knowing that he probably sounded anything but. As Jed said that he liked the sound of that a lot, Ben let out the breath he hadn’t realised that he was holding. “Really?” he asked, needing to hear it again even though he knew that Jed wouldn’t have said it if he didn’t mean it, he never did. “It would be an honour for me too,” he said gently. “You’re an incredible guy Jed, I’m lucky to have found you,” he added, meeting Jed half way and kissing him back before shifting a little closer still as Jed’s hand found his cheek and drew him in. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 15, 2022 0:30:52 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Luck was a fleeting thing, wasn't it? One moment, everything's going according to plan and the next, you're hitting rock bottom. But so far, luck had been a persistent presence in his life. First, it pushed him the direction of the Saltzman family, second, it gave him a home in the form of the Saltzman residence as well as the school for people like him and others, then it led Alaric to adopt him as one of his kids and lastly, it led him straight to Ben. He had friends and people who actually cared about him and his well-being. It made him feel happy and so, of course, he'd hang onto that with his claws, refusing to let go of it because he had briefly tasted loneliness and it was awful. It left such a bitter taste on his tongue. It made him feel scared and uncertain of the future. So, if being a hybrid guaranteed that he'd be able to hold his loved ones close for as long as possible, then so be it. Jed's expression softened at Ben's words. "I know you won't." Jed replied with the same soft smile still visible on his lips. "I'll let you take a guess. She's in our squad and already exhibits great leader qualifications." Jed had been thinking about it for a while. She was the most qualified for the role. The one who would most likely not crumble under the pressure of the role. "I think they'll be safe in her hands." Jed said with a quick nod following.
"But, on the downside, I'd have to ask her to do it." By it, he meant taking his life. Which was a lot to ask of her and he knew that much. "That way, my status as an Alpha will be transferred to her. I just hope it will work on her the same way it does with were-creatures. I don't know a lot about Tribrids, if I'm being honest." Jed released a breathless chuckle after, his shoulders lifting and dropping in a quick shrug. He wasn't entirely sure if he'd actually be able to convince Hope to do it, but it was worth a try, no?
Jed felt a gentle smile tug on his lips before he gently shook his head. "Wanna know what I think?" He turned slightly to be able to face Ben better. "I think you've deserved something like this way from the beginning. But instead, life dealt you a pretty tough hand, but you managed to push through and survive. You shouldn't have had to go through any of this pain in the first place, but I think that now, the universe is just trying to apologize for putting you through all of that pain by letting me stay in your life. as corny as that sounds." Jed's lips stretched into a gentle smile. "That's what I believe, at least." He added a moment later, his smile still present on his lips. "Honestly, I am, too." Ben had been his first relationship with a guy before, but being with Ben had felt natural in a way that surprised him and shook him to his core. He appreciated it, though. A lot.
Jed felt a gentle smile tug at his lips. "Well, in that case, I'll keep my finger ring-less until then." He added as he glanced over at Ben, unable to deny the fact that the idea made his heartbeat stutter in the most pleasant way possible. "One hundred percent." Jed replied with the same smile still on his lips. He felt his cheeks flush when Ben called him an incredible guy. He wanted to play the whole 'no, you're the incredible guy here' but he decided to forgo that for now. "And I'm lucky to have found you too, Ben." Jed was more than happy to kiss Ben for as long as he could before the desire to breathe overcame his desire to keep his lips against Ben's. "I love you." He whispered against his lips with his forehead still pressed against Ben's, not wanting to stray too far.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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BEN LOWELL
Nephilim
Posts: 279
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 7, 2024 0:19:17 GMT
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Post by BEN LOWELL on Nov 15, 2022 22:58:37 GMT
For such a long time luck hadn’t been on Ben’s side but that seemed to have finally changed since Jed had found him. Ben had thought that that monster attack would end just like any other and he would wake up alone on the forest floor only to have to pick himself up and carry on with his life the same way that he had done so many times before. That was the way his life had been for thousands of years and even though he had decided to head to Mystic Falls in the hope that he would finally be able to find a way to break his curse the truth was that he hadn’t thought that it would actually happen. Meeting Jed had changed everything, though, and he knew that he wouldn’t have it any other way. He had opened his heart again for the first time since Ashur had died and that was a choice that he was never going to regret. Ben honestly knew that he had found the person that he wanted to spend the rest of not just Jed’s mortal life with but the rest of his immortal one with as well. Jed was special to him and Ben knew that he would do everything he could in order to keep the two of them together. The moment Jed had mentioned becoming a hybrid Ben had known what answer he had wanted to give but he’d needed to make sure that Jed had thought it all through first and now he knew he had there was no hesitation in Ben whatsoever. “You’ve worked so hard to become this person,” Ben said, a smile touching his lips as he looked over at Jed. As he said that the person he’d picked to take over as Alpha was in their squad, Ben’s smile widened. “I thought you might end up going for Hope. She’s definitely a great leader and she already has her own Beta in Raf. She’s the perfect choice,” he nodded. “Are you going to stay in the pack?” he asked, not sure whether that was something that Jed would feel comfortable with or whether he might find it a little too weird. “There is that little detail,” Ben nodded as Jed said that in order to make Hope the Alpha it would mean having to ask her to be the one to kill him and trigger his transition in the first place. “I don’t think anyone really knows a lot about Tribrids but it should work. I heard one of the students a while ago saying that Hope’s dad is an Alpha so if it worked on him then I guess it should work on her,” he shrugged. “It won’t be an easy conversation to have but she agreed to help us test my bracelet and she really is the obvious choice to take over so hopefully she’ll agree,” he added gently. Hope had already stepped up with the squad and Jed had been thinking about having someone else take over with the pack for a while now so he honestly hoped that Hope would be willing to do that. “Of course,” Ben nodded as Jed asked if he wanted to know what he thought. He always did and it was clear that Ben didn’t agree with him so he couldn’t deny that he was curious about what it was that Jed had to say. “It doesn’t sound corny. You’re right, I was dealt a tough hand but everything I’ve been through brought me here to you. If I hadn’t been cursed then you wouldn’t have found me in the woods that day and we might not be here now. I’m not sure I believe that everything happens for a reason but I think that might have,” he shrugged. He wouldn’t be the same person now if he hadn’t been through what he had been and he and even though he was certain that he and Jed would have found each other eventually things wouldn’t have unfolded the way they had done between them and that was something that he wouldn’t take back for anything in the world. “I am glad there’s a way you can stay in my life though, I can’t imagine my life without you,” he added gently. Jed was such a big part of his life now and Ben knew that he didn’t want to go back to the way things used to be. “You never cease to amaze me,” Ben said, a smile touching his lips as he looked over at Jed. Jed could have easily hidden his feelings for him but he hadn’t done, instead he had embraced them and Ben knew that he was always going to be grateful for that. “You’d better,” Ben grinned as Jed said that he would keep his finger ring-less until then. Ben really did want that future with Jed and as he confirmed that he wanted that one hundred percent, Ben couldn’t ignore the way that his heart skipped a beat. He had never even thought about marriage before but with Jed he really did want all of that. He was the only guy that Ben could see himself settling down with and it felt right with Jed so he knew that it would happen for them sooner or later. As Jed said he was lucky to have found him too, Ben felt a smile touch his lips and he kissed Jed back happily. It was only when they both needed to breath that they pulled back but even then Jed’s forehead pressed against his and that alone was enough to make Ben’s smile return. “I love you too,” he said before capturing Jed’s lips in another kiss. JED SALTZMAN
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JED SALTZMAN
Hybrid
Posts: 273
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 6, 2024 21:29:42 GMT
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Post by JED SALTZMAN on Nov 16, 2022 4:22:27 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed murmured a soft "yeah," at Ben's comment. He had done everything in his might to not become like his biological father and for a good while there, he'd failed miserably. Asserting dominance over his pack, punching new kids... His father would have been proud of Jed for the very first time and it would have been all for the wrong reasons. His father believed that asserting dominance over the weak was the way to go, letting your pack live in fear of the Alpha because he believed that fear was a better tool to use instead of respect. He had messed up ways of leading and thought that the weak didn't have a place with them in the pack. He pushed them out into the world instead of embracing them and helping them become stronger.
Jed had been awful to the students and his own pack in the past, but he began to change as time passed and soon realized that making his pack fear him wasn't the right way to lead. However, earning their respect and trust was the way to go. If his biological father had been around today, he would have told that to the man's face. He would have told him that he was a terrible Alpha and a shitty father. Jed put an end to that train of thought and instead focused on the current moment. While some of his pack members exhibited great potential to be Alphas, he had to remind himself that it was a huge weight to lead and it was no easy feat. Hope had been initial choice, believe it or not. When he thought of a way to go, she came to mind. With her magic, she could figure a way for him to go without traumatizing those around him. Just the concept of him dying (again) was already traumatizing enough, no? He knew that his sister had the same access to magic, but once again, asking her to essentially kill him was very traumatizing.
He won't ask Lizzie to do it either. Her mental state was fragile as it is. So, that brought him back to Hope. She was already the leader of her own pack of Hybrids. Sure, it only had Rafael there right now, but who knows, maybe in the future, she'll lead a pack of many more. He was also going to be a part of that pack, wasn't he? She exhibited great Alpha potential, she cared about her pack. He'd seen it for himself with the way she'd snapped at Landon when Rafael left. He could tell that even though she was angry, all that anger came from a good place. She spent most of her time helping Rafael with his bloodlust issues and always made herself available to anyone who needed her. You could also kinda say that she kind of leads the Super Squad, but she's also democratic and when someone manages to come up with a better idea than the one she initially had, she goes with their plan. You could say that Jed had been watching her for a while before coming to the conclusion that Hope was his best shot.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. Feels a little weird. Also don't wanna weird any of the pack members out." Jed answered with a quick shrug of his shoulders. "I'll help out whenever Hope needs me to, but I think I should step out of the pack." Jed had been the Alpha of the Salvatore Pack since the day that he'd arrived at the school. His life would feel empty without them, but also leaving the pack would start a whole new chapter of his life and so far, he'd been embracing changes with open arms, so he might as well embrace this one and see where it takes him. But if Hope needs him back in the pack, he'd be more than happy to oblige. Especially since she didn't exactly give off the sociable vibe, so she might struggle at first to open up to her new pack members before warming up to them.
"Yup." Jed replied, popping the p. He can't exactly ask her in the same mannerism he'd use to ask her about the weather. Jed released a small hum, glad that at least his plan wasn't a total dud. "I hope so." With the whole uncertainty regarding Tribrids, he knew there was really only one way to find out. "We'll see." So now it was up to them to not only talk to two people about his choice, but three, huh?
Jed was more than happy to let Ben know what he thought about the whole situation and listened intently when Ben started talking. He nodded his head in agreement because it definitely made a lot of sense. Ben's tough situation had helped them cross paths and while what Ben's dad had put him through was awful, it also helped them meet one another. "You make a great point." Jed nodded his head with a gentle smile resting on his lips. "Fate. Destiny. Whatever we wanna call it. That just be our proof that it exists." Jed added with the same smile still locked on his lips.
"Me too, Ben." Jed replied with a gentleness still visible in the tone of his voice. Luckily, there was a way for him to defy the odds and stay by Ben's side without having to worry about growing old and withering. Jed honestly had no idea how he'd gotten this lucky with Ben but now that he had him in his life, he didn't want to ever let go of him. Come what may, they'll face it together. Jed wasn't even worried about the future because he felt a sense of security knowing that he had Ben in his life. So much so that he wanted to open his arms and challenge the world to throw at him their toughest challenges and see how quickly he overcomes each one.
Jed felt a gentle smile form on his lips at Ben's words, his heart doing a little cartwheel thing before he allowed himself to lean in and get lost in Ben's kiss, all too happy to just bring him close to kiss him without worrying about anything else in the world.
TAG: BEN LOWELL
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