HOPE MIKAELSON
Tribrid
Posts: 164
Status:
In a Relationship
Partner:
Josie Saltzman
Played by:
noelle
Every family has a legacy, and this is mine. I intend to fight for always and forever.
Last seen Apr 21, 2024 23:11:42 GMT
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Post by HOPE MIKAELSON on Nov 17, 2022 23:41:59 GMT
– the heart wants what it wants –
Hope could almost sense it in the air, the unspoken truth behind today's invitation over to Ben and Jed's home. Not that she didn't like spending time with them, don't get her wrong but there seemed to be something that they weren't saying. Not yet, at least. Hope embraced the warm cup of tea between her hands and glanced between Ben and Jed. With her enhanced hearing, she was able to pick up on the rapid beating of Jed's heart. She tilted her head slightly with a hint of a confused look but she didn't call him out on it yet. She wondered if she had done something to make him feel that way and even started replaying their interactions from the moment she had stepped into the house.
First, they greeted her and she hugged both of them, thanking them for the invite and then Jed had asked if she wanted to eat something but she had gently declined the offer, explaining that she had a date with Josie later and the chances of them hitting up a restaurant were very high likely. Then, she was given the choice between having something warm to drink, or something a little more adventurous – wine, she'd assumed – and from there, she'd settled on a warm cup of tea. Then, there was the option of choosing where to sit and she'd chosen the living room.
And that was it, really. Every conversation was easy and not heavy in the slightest. So, that left her with the reassurance that she hadn't said something that left him feeling that way. From there on, the conversation carried as usual and Hope, of course, participated but the sound of Jed's rapidly beating heart kept distracting her. She leaned forward to place the mug of warm tea down on the bamboo coaster before leaning back. "Okay, I'm just gonna say it." Hope turned a little bit to face them better, her arms crossed in front of her chest but it wasn't an apprehensive or angry gesture. "Is everything okay? Your heart has been beating really fast for a long time." Hope's eyes shifted between Ben and Jed and stopped on Jed to target the last bit of her sentence at him as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You guys didn't fight, right? Because let me tell you now, I make a terrible relationship counselor. If you had told me, I would have asked Jo to tag along." Hope attempted to tease.
"Whatever it is you wanna talk about, you can talk to me. I'll listen." Hope added, wondering if that was all they needed to hear to tell her the true purpose behind the invitation.
TAG: BEN LOWELL & 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 18, 2022 0:11:24 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed wasn't the anxious type – okay, that was half a lie, he had his moments every now and then, it all depended on the situation itself really and today, he was a bit anxious about Hope's reaction to the whole thing. So far, the people she'd turned were already dying and they didn't exactly have much of a choice. So far, it was only him in her pack who wanted to become a hybrid, so of course, he had no idea how she'd react to the whole thing. He wanted to have the chance to spend more time with Ben. With immortality in the picture, he'd be able to enjoy his time with Ben and his loved ones without worrying about the cruelty of time. Sure, becoming a hybrid won't make him invincible to other matters that could kill him, but it took away one of the things that could kill him, right? Becoming a hybrid would help him fulfill his wish to protect his loved ones. Being a werewolf meant that he was already strong enough to protect people, but he wanted to be stronger.
Now with Hope in the house with them, he felt a bit more anxious. He had no idea how to talk to her about it without just springing the matter on her and surprising her. He can't exactly say: Hey Hope, I've noticed you're low on hybrids, can I join you?
He was probably overthinking the whole thing, wasn't he? God, he hoped so. He was probably also really obvious, wasn't he? He got his answer not too long after the thought had entered his head and the answer was an obvious yes. Especially with his rapidly beating heart that Hope had easily picked up on. Jed moved his hand to rest it on his chest where his treacherous heart was. Jed breathed out a chuckle at her tease before he shook his head. "No, no, we're good." Jed placed his hand on top of Ben's with a gentle smile on his lips, earning a small smile from Hope, too.
Then her reassurance came and that was when he glanced over at Ben first before he cleared his throat, finally feeling brave enough to talk about it. "I know, Hope. Thank you." Jed's lips stretched into a small smile. "Okay, I hope you won't feel ambushed by my request or anything like that. First, I want you to know that you can say no if you don't feel like doing it. I don't want to force you to do it." Jed could see her expression morphing into one of worry. "I wanted to ask you to, uh, turn me into a hybrid." There. The cat was out of the bag now. He watched Hope's expression shift into millions of expressions from worry to surprise to worry again and many more emotions he couldn't catch up with.
"I know it's a huge thing to ask, but um, I've been thinking about this for a while and I promise you this isn't some sort of reckless decision or somehow I feel like I'm above the challenges of becoming a hybrid. I know it's not easy." Hope's expression shifted into one that screamed: you've got that right. But she was still listening, staying true to her promise.
"But if there's a chance for me to be able to stay with the people that I love as well as a chance to be able to become stronger to protect the people that I care about, then you know I have to take it, Hope. I've been known as Jed the Alpha for such a long time now. Pretty much from the moment I've activated my curse and taken my father's status. These past couple of years have been challenging and it had so many ups and downs, but with the amount of time I've spent acting like an Alpha and taking care of my pack, I've almost forgotten who the real me is. Becoming a hybrid allows me the chance to let go of that weight and figure out who the real me actually is." Jed took a pause, his eyes relaxing on Ben once more. "Ben means so much to me and being with him is what makes me really happy. As greedy as it may sound, I want to spend many more lifetimes with him. That is, if you agree to help me with this, Hope." Jed's attention moved from Ben back to Hope. Hope's expression was unreadable as she leaned back slightly on her seat, not saying anything yet.
Oh boy.
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 19, 2022 23:28:52 GMT
Ben could tell just how nervous Jed was about this and he wished there was something that he could do to help. It had been the same when they had talked to Jed’s family, Ben had always tried to make sure that Jed knew he was there for him and he wanted to do the same thing now. Jed’s family had given their blessing to him becoming a hybrid and that was one of the biggest hurdles they’d had to face but now they were about to face another one and Ben hoped that it was going to go as well as the first. Ben wouldn’t be surprised if Jed’s family had seen that question coming considering they knew that he was immortal while Jed was mortal but with Hope it was different. It was her blood that would be needed in order to make Jed a hybrid and Jed had decided that he wanted Hope to take over as Alpha of the pack. It was all a lot to take in but the only way to find out how Hope felt about it was by talking to her and that was why they had ended up inviting her over that day. Ben wouldn’t be surprised if she knew that something was up considering that they had invited just her and not Josie as well and he felt a little bad that she’d had to keep it from Hope since she’d learned of Jed’s decision at the family dinner but that was why they had invited Hope over now so she wouldn’t have to keep it to herself for too long and so they wouldn’t have the agonising wait of whether or not she would agree to think about. He was doing his best to stay strong for Jed but the truth was that Ben was nervous as well. It had taken him by surprise when he had realised that Jed was serious about becoming a hybrid but the truth was that he had come to love the idea. Just the fact that he was one of the factors that had helped Jed decide to become a hybrid so they could have a life together that went beyond what a mortal lifetime could offer them really did mean the world to him and ever since then he’d found himself imaging what their life was going to be like. He wouldn’t get to see what Jed looked like as he got older but he would always be able to see Jed just the way he was now and Ben knew that there was no way that he was going to argue with that. He had fallen for Jed without meaning to and now he really did want everything that life had to offer with him so he hoped that Hope would agree and they would get that chance. Hope had always been perceptive so the truth was that Ben wasn’t surprised at all that Hope knew there was something going on and he shook his head as Hope asked if they’d had a fight. “No, we didn’t have a fight. We’re better than ever,” Ben assured her, a smile touching his lips as he turned his hand and laced their fingers together. As Hope said they could talk to her, Ben caught Jed’s eye when he looked his way and he gave him a reassuring nod. “You can do this,” he assured him gently, knowing that the request needed to come from Jed. As Jed said the words out loud, Ben tried to gauge Hope’s reaction. Her expression changed so quickly but it was clear that she was worried and he couldn’t blame her. Raf was the only hybrid she’d created and Josie was the only person to have died with Hope’s blood in her system and become a vampire. It was a lot to ask but it was out there now and that in itself felt like a relief. His heart really did ache for Jed as he explained his reasons for wanting to become a hybrid. Jed was a great Alpha and Ben hadn’t realised how much he had felt like that had defined him until they had really talked about it. Until then he had thought that Jed had simply taken everything in his stride the same way he always did but from that moment on Ben had seen the little signs when they’d talked in the past that he hadn’t been able to piece together before. Jed wanted the chance to be seen as something other than an Alpha, he wanted to be able to protect the people he cared about letter and he also wanted to make sure that they got the chance to have a real future together. All of those were great reasons as far as Ben was concerned, he just had to hope that Hope would feel the same. As Jed turned to look at him, a gentle smile formed on Ben’s lips and he gave Jed’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I want to spend as many lifetimes with you as I can as well,” he said gently before turning to look at Hope. “This is a lot to take in and I understand you’re probably apprehensive about it because I was at first as well. I thought we would only get to live a mortal lifetime together but we talked it over and Jed really has thought this through. It’s what he wants, it’s what we both want,” he said gently. “Like Jed said you’re free to say no or say that you need time to think it over and we won’t hold it against you if you do but we want the same chance at a life together that you and Josie have. I’d give up my immortality for Jed if I could but I can’t, this is the only way.”HOPE MIKAELSON & JED SALTZMAN
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HOPE MIKAELSON
Tribrid
Posts: 164
Status:
In a Relationship
Partner:
Josie Saltzman
Played by:
noelle
Every family has a legacy, and this is mine. I intend to fight for always and forever.
Last seen Apr 21, 2024 23:11:42 GMT
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Post by HOPE MIKAELSON on Nov 20, 2022 0:20:44 GMT
— the heart wants what it wants —
Hope was pretty surprised to hear that Jed wanted to become a hybrid. It seemed like a reckless idea and the rejection was hanging onto the tip of Hope's tongue but as promised, she waited and she heard them both out and as she listened, she realized two things. One, Jed's reasoning behind wanting to become a hybrid was a noble one. Second, he had thought it through and wasn't just asking her to turn him and then deal with the aftermath later on. It managed to push the rejection back a little bit as Hope released a soft sigh and crossed her arms in front of her chest, letting the silence hang in the air. The look of determination on Jed's face spoke volumes and she knew he had a point about him only being known as the Alpha nearly his entire life. When you carry that weight from such a young age, you just fail to figure out so many things about yourself and you're just forced to act like an Alpha. "Your reasons behind wanting to become a hybrid are all noble ones, Jed. Selfless, too. I understand that you've had to live nearly your entire life a certain way because of your status as an Alpha, but you said it yourself, being a hybrid isn't going to be a walk in the park. How do I know that I'm not going to be turning your life into hell by helping you with this? I sure as hell turned Raf's life into one and he never even asked me to turn him." Hope finally cut her prolonged silence short, allowing herself a moment where she spoke from her heart, allowing her worries to seep through.
"I know Raf's case is special, but that still doesn't mean that you aren't going to face your own issues with becoming a hybrid. I haven't had anyone ask me to turn them into a hybrid and I think it's for a good reason. It's scary. Don't let the good parts of becoming one hide away all the nasty things that come with it, too." Hope's eyes searched Jed's for a moment before shifting to Ben then back at Jed again.
"But, I can tell that no matter what I say, you won't change your mind, Jed. I can see it in your eyes. I just need you to promise me that you won't hate me for doing this, Jed. That you won't lose yourself because we can't lose you. Especially Josie. I don't want to see her devastated." Hope realized all too late that her rejection had been pushed far back and it was pretty much nonexistent now. She couldn't say no to them.
"Josie and I never got to make this choice willingly. It was made for us, but I know that down the road, we would've made the choice for ourselves. Because of that, I can't stand in the way of your happiness. I'm not that cruel. So, my answer's yes. I'll help you with this. But what are you gonna do about your pack?"
TAG: BEN LOWELL & 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 20, 2022 0:54:37 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
The silence that followed Ben's words was enough to make him feel like he was being burned alive all over again and boy was it not a fun sensation. He gulped past the lump in his throat as he waited for Hope to say something, even if it was a rejection because then he'd, at least, know her answer. When she broke the silence, he almost sighed in relief but her words actually made his heart shatter a bit because he could tell that she was still beating herself over turning Rafael into a hybrid despite the fact that there was no way she would've known about Rafael's condition and at the time, it didn't seem like she had much of a choice either. She had to feed him her blood to heal him or else he would've died that night. "Uh, I guess there's no way of knowing for sure that I won't develop some sort of issue after becoming a hybrid..." He could tell from Hope's expression that he wasn't exactly convincing her to say yes. "But, I have the best support system in the world. I have all of you. So even if I face some kind of issue, I know that you guys won't let me lose who I am. Ben had told me that many times and I believe him with my whole heart. I know that with you guys, it's the same thing. I don't feel any fear because I know that I have you guys in my life." Jed admitted with a gentle smile resting on his lips and he could tell his words resonated with Hope which was good because he was speaking from his heart. He wasn't just saying these things to make her say yes. He'd never do something like that.
"You're absolutely right, Hope. Trust me, I've thought about that, too. I know that being a hybrid isn't all sunshine and roses, but in a way, don't I have to put up with the bad parts already with being a werewolf? The full moon, the anger issues, and so much more. I'm ready for the challenges that come with being a hybrid. If the price I have to pay for becoming a hybrid is to put up with the bad parts, then so be it. It's worth it in my eyes, Hope." Jed admitted with a determined nod of his head following.
His expression softened at her next words. "I promise, Hope." Jed promised, his eyes locked on Hope to show that he wasn't just throwing empty promises. "And I know that words can sometimes mean too little, so instead, I'll show you. I'll show you that I won't lose myself but in order for me to be able to do that, I'd need you to trust me with this, Hope." Jed's words were followed by a determined nod of his head once more.
Jed let out a quiet sigh of relief when Hope gave him her answer, his softened expression visible. "Thank you. Really." Jed nodded his head, his lips stretching into a grateful smile. "Oh, uh... About that..." The way he trailed off and sent her a smile made Hope's expression twist into one of confusion.
"What?" Hope questioned with the same look of confusion still visible. "They'll be in good hands. I have a pretty capable person in mind." Her expression shifted from confusion to curiosity. "Really? Who? Is it someone that I know already?" He could tell that Hope was starting to think about who that person could be.
"Uh, yeah. You know her. Pretty well, actually. Because that person's you, Hope. I wanted you to take my place as pack leader and Alpha." Jed watched her expression morph into one of shock.
"Me? No, no, Jed. I can't." Hope shook her head vehemently. "But you can, Hope. You would make a pretty damn good leader. You have everything that pack members look for in an Alpha. They'll be in safe hands with you. But in order to become an Alpha, you'd have to take the status from me. Which means that you gotta..." Jed trailed off, knowing she was aware of what he was trying to say.
"I was gonna ask how you were planning on becoming a hybrid, but I guess I know the answer now. What if I don't make a good leader? I... I can't, Jed. I'm not exactly the most sociable person, either. I don't know if I'll be able to form a bond with any of them. What if they don't even want me to be their leader?"
TAG: BEN LOWELL & HOPE MIKAELSON
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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 20, 2022 19:47:00 GMT
It was hard to believe that it was only a few days ago that Jed had asked him what he thought about becoming a hybrid. Ben knew it was a big deal for Jed, it would mean that his whole life would change and he would become immortal while most of his family stayed mortal and that wasn’t something to be taken lightly. It was more than that though, they had both seen the way that Raf had struggled after becoming a hybrid but Ben knew that he wasn’t going to let Jed go through the same thing. Jed had his family and friends around him and they were going to fight to help him stay just as he was. Jed’s parents and sister had given their blessing so now it came down to Hope. Ben knew that it wouldn’t have been easy for Josie to keep what Jed wanted from her girlfriend but she had promised to do so to make sure that Jed could have this change to talk to Hope himself and Ben knew that that was a good thing. Ben could see straight away that Hope was nervous about it but at the end of the day this was what Jed wanted and he really had thought it through so Ben honestly hoped that she would see that. Jed had been an Alpha for such a long time and it had defined him during his whole time as a werewolf so it was about time that he started living his life for himself rather than for other people for a change. As Hope said she’d turned Raf’s life into hell by turning him into a hybrid, Ben’s expression softened. “I know it isn’t easy but you shouldn’t keep beating yourself up over that Hope. You gave Raf your blood to heal him and even though he struggled for a while he’s doing better now thanks to the help you’ve been giving him. He’s alive now because of you,” he said gently. “Raf’s case is different. It won’t be easy but we won’t let Jed lose sight of who he is,” Ben assured her. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind about that, he had spent thousands of years on his own before Jed claimed his heart and he knew that he wasn’t going to let anything happen to the man he loved. “I spent such a long time alone before Jed found me and I’ve seen how much you all care about him. I wouldn’t have agreed to this if there was any chance that it would mean that we would all lose the person Jed has tried so hard to become,” Ben said, giving his boyfriend’s hand a gentle squeeze. Finally Hope agreed and Ben let out a breath he hadn’t realised that he was holding. Hope was right, it wasn’t going to be easy for Jed but he would have all of them around him to help him through it and that was enough to make Ben know that it would all work out in the end. Josie was coming to terms with being a vampire and so was Hope and Raf was doing much better than he had been a few months ago. Ben could understand Hope’s hesitation because he had felt it at first as well but this was what Jed wanted and Ben knew that there was no way that he could say no to his boyfriend. As Hope said it would devastate them to lose him, especially Josie, Ben’s heart ached. They had already lost Jed once when the dragon attacked and the look on Josie’s face that day was one that Ben never wanted to see again. He knew that he would do whatever he had to in order to stop that from happening again and he could see that Hope would as well. “Thank you Hope, that means the world to us,” Ben said sincerely as she said that she couldn’t stand in the way of their happiness. “I’m really sorry that decision was taken away from both of you. You should have had the chance to make the same decision that Jed has.” It was terrible that his father had taken that away from them both but in the end the outcome was still the same so that was something at least. Then came the question that Ben knew Jed had been dreading – the question of what was going to happen with the pack. That was something that, again, they had talked though and Ben was certain that Jed had come to the right conclusion. He could see the surprise written all over Hope’s face when Jed said that he wanted her to take his place and even though Jed hadn’t been able to finish the sentence about how that would happen, the thought alone was enough to make Ben’s heart ache. He knew that Jed dying would only be temporary and then he would be able to start his new life as a hybrid but even so the thought of him dying again at all didn’t sit right with Ben and he knew that it never would. “I know I’m not a part of the pack so this might not be my place to say it but Jed’s right, Hope. You’re the right person for the job. You’re a natural leader and they’d be lucky to have you,” Ben assured her gently. “We both believe in you, you just need to believe in yourself.”HOPE MIKAELSON & JED SALTZMAN
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HOPE MIKAELSON
Tribrid
Posts: 164
Status:
In a Relationship
Partner:
Josie Saltzman
Played by:
noelle
Every family has a legacy, and this is mine. I intend to fight for always and forever.
Last seen Apr 21, 2024 23:11:42 GMT
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Post by HOPE MIKAELSON on Nov 22, 2022 19:34:18 GMT
— the heart wants what it wants —
Hope wanted to push Jed away from the direction of becoming a hybrid. It was risky and it could very well ruin his entire life. But she knew that standing in their way was out of the equation for her. She couldn't do that to her friends and she knew that Jed meant a lot to Josie, too. It doesn't take a genius to guess just how Josie and her happiness meant to Hope. Her attention moved to rest on Ben, her lips parting to let out a soft sigh. "I know. The only reason I gave him my blood was to save him and it worked. For ten seconds before it ruined his life instead. I guess things tend to go terribly wrong when I have the best intentions in mind." Hope gnawed on her inner cheeks for a moment before she snapped out of it and shook her head. Rafael's case was different from Jed's and she knew that much but the change itself could be unpredictable. It could either be a blessing or a curse. She just hoped that for Jed's sake it would be the former. She was quiet as she listened to Ben, her eyes momentarily shifting back to rest on Jed as Ben talked about him. "Alright. I'll trust you guys on this." Hope said with a nod following. "Please don't make me regret it."
Hope's lips stretched into a gentle smile when Ben thanked her as well. "No problem." She assured him, her voice still soft. Though her smile faltered when Ben apologized. "As a tribrid, I knew this was coming from the moment that I learned I had vampire blood in me, too. It was just a matter of when and how. Am I upset that it was your father who took the choice away from me? Hell yes, I am. But am I more upset about the fact that Josie never got to make that decision for herself? Oh, I'm beyond furious. But don't worry, he'll pay for his actions. I'll make sure of it."
Hope's attention moved to Ben, still feeling a little overwhelmed by the offer to take Jed's place as Alpha of the pack. She pressed her lips into a thin line, unsure what to say. If she didn't accept the offer to lead the pack, then who'd take the position? A pack needs an Alpha to survive otherwise it'd just be chaos. "I don't know what to say, I—" Hope trailed off, allowing silence to stretch between them for a moment. "As much as I dislike the idea of me putting myself out there, they'd be lost without an Alpha and I can't let that happen. I guess I'll just have to put my own comfort aside and pick the pack instead. They'd be lost without an Alpha and I can't just stand on the sidelines and do nothing." Hope felt uneasy about the whole thing, but it had a lot more to do with the fact that Hope wasn't used to such a big position. "You really backed me in a corner here." Hope said with a breathless chuckle following. "But just to be sure that I can do this, give me some time to think about it. Just 'til you're ready to become a hybrid. Speaking of which, when are you thinking of going through with it?"
TAG: BEN LOWELL & 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 22, 2022 20:11:59 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed listened to Ben with a gentle smile resting on his lips. He definitely had a point there. Jed could tell that Hope was still beating herself over what had happened to Rafael even though it wasn't her fault at all. "Listen, Hope, there's no way you could've predicted that Rafael was going to die that night. You couldn't have predicted that he'd face any sort of troubles later on. If there's anyone to blame, it'd be the person responsible for killing him. That person should be the one to bear all of the blame." Now with the assurance that he wasn't going to lose himself and his friends as well as family weren't going to let him either, she seemed to calm down a lot more. Jed squeezed Ben's hand in his own, his smile present on his lips as he turned his attention to his boyfriend, his expression soft as always. "We won't." Jed promised with a gentle smile resting on his lips. "Thank you, for trusting us."
Jed could feel a sigh of relief leave his lips when Hope accepted his request. It felt like he could finally breathe after holding his breath for too long now. "Revenge is a dark path, Hope. Don't go down that road." Jed frowned slightly. From the tone of her voice, he could almost taste the anger. It left a certain bitterness in the air. "What he did was messed up, but we shouldn't be like him." Jed shook his head, his eyes still on Hope. "His only weakness might just be his humanity. He doesn't see things the way that we do. Doesn't feel any emotion aside from anger. Our humanity might just be our greatest advantage. Trust me, I'm angry too. I'm sure everyone is. But we'll find a way to make him pay without losing who we are in the process." Jed wasn't sure whether his words would be enough to make Hope change her mind, but he wanted to try, at the very least. He owed her that much.
"Don't worry, it's your place. Your opinion matters." Jed assured his boyfriend before he nodded his head in agreement with him. "Ben's right. You already have all the qualifications necessary to be a great leader, Hope. You care a lot about people, you put yourself in front of the danger so that others don't get hurt, you are a great listener, and so many more. You just gotta believe in yourself." Jed could see her conflict and it made him feel bad for putting her on the spot like that, but he had faith in her and he knew that it was only a matter of encouraging her to believe in herself too. His expression softened at her next words. Just like that, she was putting the comfort of others ahead of her own comfort once more. Once again, it just showcased that she was a natural leader. "My advice to you, if you choose to become their Alpha, is to not use the status to control, but instead to guide. You need the pack as much as they need you. Trust me, when you and the pack are one, it's the best feeling in the world. Being their Alpha doesn't necessary mean that you're there to intimidate them into submission or any of that. Only the weak Alphas do that. But instead, it means that you're there to listen, to make them feel like they belong. It took me such a long time to figure this out for myself, so it's okay if it takes you time, too, Hope."
"I'm sorry." Jed offered with a sheepish smile when Hope admitted that he'd backed her in a corner with his request. "Just know that if I wasn't one hundred percent sure that you'd be a perfect fit for the job, I wouldn't have offered it."
Jed's lips formed a small 'o' when she asked for time until its time for him to become a hybrid. "Ah, about that..." Jed trailed off, his lips stretching into the same sheepish smile again. "I was thinking that we could go through with it this weekend? Y'know what they say, the sooner the better, right?" Jed offered. He watched Hope nod her head slowly at first as she processed his words before she frowned slightly. "But, you can still take as much as you need, Hope. Don't worry about it, okay? Because once again, I don't want you to feel cornered or forced to do anything. Let's just take it one step at a time, okay?"
TAG: BEN LOWELL & HOPE MIKAELSON
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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 24, 2022 20:51:34 GMT
Ben knew how big a deal this was, without Hope’s blood Jed wasn’t going to be able to become a hybrid so the last thing he wanted was for this to go badly. Ben hadn’t known what to think at first when Jed had said that he wanted to become a hybrid, he hadn’t realised just how much he had wanted it until Jed had brought it up again and now he knew that he wanted it to work out for them. Ben had always thought that time would separate the two of them one day but now that Jed’s family had given their support a future without that being an issue was within touching distance and it was something that Ben wanted to make happen. There was a part of him that still felt a little selfish considering that Jed would literally be changing his whole life for him but it would give them the chance to have a future together which wouldn’t end in Jed leaving him behind one day and that was something that Ben knew that he was always going to want. It was clear that Hope was still blaming herself for what had happened with Raf but as far as Ben was concerned it wasn’t her fault at all. She had given Raf her blood to save him, she couldn’t have known that he would end up being killed and would become a hybrid. “Jed’s right, Hope. You couldn’t have known what was going to happen that night. Without you Raf would have died and stayed dead, you gave him the chance to live and he’s doing much better now than he was before. He’ll be okay, you have to believe that,” Ben said gently. It hadn’t been easy for Raf at first but he really was doing better now and Ben honestly hoped that that was going to continue. “The only person to blame for what Raf has been going through is the person who killed him.” That was something that Ben really did believe and with any luck Hope would start to as well. As Hope said that she was trusting them with this, Ben let out a sigh of relief and a smile touched his lips as Jed squeezed his hand. As Jed turned to look at him, Ben brought his free hand up to rest against his cheek before leaning forward and kissing Jed gently. “We won’t let you down Hope, you have our word,” Ben assured her, knowing that they weren’t going to take this for granted. Even though Ben knew that he wasn’t to blame for what his father had done that day, the truth was he still felt bad that the decision of what their future was going to look like had been taken away from Hope and Josie. They hadn’t deserved that and he wished that things had worked out differently for them but all he and the others could do now was try and support them as best they could. “It sounds like Josie would have made that decision herself sooner or later but I get it,” he assured her. The outcome might have been the same but it still wasn’t good that the decision had been taken away from them and that was something that couldn’t be changed no matter how much they might want to. “Jed’s right, we’ll find a way to make him pay but stay true to who we are in the process. If we give in to those dark thoughts we’ll really become the monsters he believes we are,” Ben said gently. That was the last thing he wanted and it was clear that Jed now felt the same even though before he was determined to kill his father as well. They were all angry about what had happened to Hope and Josie and Ben knew that they would figure something out but at the end of the day they weren’t killers. Ben sent a gentle smile in Jed’s direction when he said that his place mattered. He knew that he would never understand the workings of a pack the way Jed and Hope did but he had seen how much the pack meant to Jed and out of all of them Hope was the one who was best suited to taking over but it had to be something that she wanted. “You’re the best person to take over but you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to Hope, it really is your decision.” Hope was the one that Jed wanted to take over but he had said that if she didn’t want to become the Alpha then he would stay on and Ben knew that it was important that she knew that. He knew that Jed had felt defined by the title for such a long time and that really wasn’t the way it should be. He deserved the chance to figure out who he was without being the Alpha and Ben really hoped that he would get that chance. He could tell just how much Jed meant it when he talked about what it meant to be an Alpha and as Hope said that they’d backed her into a corner, Ben’s expression softened. “Sorry Hope,” he said gently. It was understandable that she wanted to take some time to think it through and Ben would have been surprised if she hadn’t. She would get to have some time to think about it but Jed wanted to become a hybrid at the weekend so she wouldn’t have as long as she perhaps would have thought and he wasn’t too sure how she was going to feel about that. HOPE MIKAELSON & JED SALTZMAN
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HOPE MIKAELSON
Tribrid
Posts: 164
Status:
In a Relationship
Partner:
Josie Saltzman
Played by:
noelle
Every family has a legacy, and this is mine. I intend to fight for always and forever.
Last seen Apr 21, 2024 23:11:42 GMT
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Post by HOPE MIKAELSON on Nov 25, 2022 10:08:38 GMT
— the heart wants what it wants —
Hope's lips stretched into a thin line, shaking her head gently. "Doesn't make it hurt any less." She was aware that her choice to give Rafael her blood had saved his life and she really was glad that she was alive, but the struggles that came after left her feeling hurt because in a way, it made her feel like she'd failed Rafael. Her choice to save his life had made his life ten times harder. If she had protected him better, if she had seen the attack coming, chances of him dying that night would've shrunk a considerable amount, but no. Hope leaned back in her seat and blinked out of her thoughts. "I hope so." She wanted nothing more than for Rafael to be okay. "I know that, but I doubt whoever killed him even feels the slightest bit of remorse. Blaming that person just won't do any difference. They feel nothing. They're just a money and power hungry monster." A murderer.
Hope had no choice but to trust Jed and Ben to know what the hell they're doing and hoped that they won't make her regret helping them out. Hope nodded her head briefly, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Nearly all of her family aren't immortal. I wanted her to choose to make that decision for herself." She'd be outliving nearly all of them. Her own twin sister included. She wanted Josie to know what her options were before committing to that decision. "But I guess that doesn't matter anymore." Hope added a moment later. It was too late to change that now. "What if staying true to who we are isn't going to help us win the fight? What if he kills one of us for good? What if he wins this fight too and there's not much left of us to put back together? We have to be prepared to do the worst." Hope wasn't going to lose any of her friends again. The last time he beat them, it didn't even look like he'd broken a sweat. It was like they were easy for him to defeat, to step on. Like they were all below him and it left an angry taste in Hope's mouth.
Hope shook her head with a soft sigh falling from her lips. The whole thing was so sudden that Hope barely even had the chance to wrap her head around it all. Hope pressed her lips into a thin line, figuring that the best way to go about this was to give herself the chance to process it all. Even if it was only for a couple of days before the weekend. Hope nodded her head when Ben apologized. "I'll think about it. I'll tell you my answer this weekend." Hope replied as she pushed herself up from her seat, her lips stretching into a gentle smile. "I should get going now. Thank you guys, for your hospitality. I'll see you this weekend." After a quick exchange of hugs, Hope turned to start making her way over to the door, leaving Ben and Jed's home shortly after.
TAG: BEN LOWELL & 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 25, 2022 10:28:48 GMT
– I freed myself from words never said –
Jed could tell that Hope carried a huge amount of guilt for everything that has happened to Rafael and he understood where all the anger was coming from. He'd never hold it against her for feeling that way. He just hoped that he could help her carry some of it. It seemed like guilt wasn't the only emotion that she carried with so much intensity. It seemed like she also carried anger. It was all because of the person who had killed Rafael and honestly, Jed felt the same way. "They'll get what they deserve. If there's one thing I learned, its that what goes around comes back around." Jed assured Hope. Who knows, maybe that person was facing the consequences of their actions right now. They'd never know for sure.
Jed's expression softened as he nodded his head, his expression turning sympathetic. He understood her emotions and he felt the same way, too. Josie should've had the choice to either become a vampire or not. Or, a heretic in her case. But the choice was stripped away from them in battle and there wasn't much they could do about it. You'd think that in a school full of supernatural that one of them would have the ability to turn back time but no. Jed knew that Hope had a point. They had no guarantee they'd be able to lock up Ben's dad for good. What if Castiel showed up too late? What if Ben's dad already knew of their plan? Things were too quiet. You'd think that for an angel who had pretty much declared war on all things supernatural that things would be bloody, but so far things have been quiet. Too quiet, even. He was worried about what the man could be planning. Jed released a soft sigh and leaned back, unsure what to say because once again, he knew that Hope was right. He was worried they'd be under-prepared when Ben's dad strikes next, especially since there wasn't a set time, so they'd never know whether the angel was going to attack now or in a few hours, days, or even weeks. They were completely in the dark.
Jed nodded his head with a gentle smile tugging at his lips. "Take all the time you need." Jed said once again, wondering if he was starting to sound like a broken record for continuously telling her the same thing. But he wanted her to know that he meant every word. He was going to give her all the time she needed to think it all through. "Of course, Hope. Thank you for coming and for agreeing to help." Jed said with a gentle smile on his lips as he returned the hug. He closed the door gently after Hope was gone and from there, it was only just a matter of waiting.
TAG: BEN LOWELL & HOPE MIKAELSON
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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 25, 2022 22:45:42 GMT
“It doesn’t but he’ll be okay. We have to believe that,” Ben said gently. Raf had been struggling ever since he became a hybrid but he honestly did seem to be doing better now and Ben was glad about that. Raf was a good guy and he didn’t deserve to go through anything that he had gone through but then again none of them did. They had all been through so much but no matter what happened they would always stick together and Ben was glad about that. In a way it reminded him of the way he, Toni and Ethan had stuck together during the war and he was glad that he’d found that again in Mystic Falls. None of them had given up on Raf and he really did seem to be becoming more comfortable in his own skin now and that was definitely a good thing. “They might not feel anything but what they’ve done will catch up with them sooner or later, it’s only a matter of time.” That was something that Ben really did believe and he hoped that in time Hope would too. Getting caught up in ideas of revenge wasn’t going to do any of them any good, he had seen firsthand the way that people got what was coming to them in the end and he didn’t doubt that the same thing would happen to the person who had killed Raf as well. “I can understand that, I wanted the same for Jed,” Ben admitted. It was difficult knowing that you were going to have to watch the person you loved grow old and die one day. Ben had thought that Jed would want to remain mortal so that he would continue to age like his family but he hadn’t done, instead he had decided that he wanted to become a hybrid and that was a game changer as far as Ben was concerned. Now their whole future together looked different but in their case it was a good thing. Josie had said that day that she had already been thinking about becoming a heretic when Hope triggered her vampire side but thinking about it and deciding to go through with it were two very different things. Josie also had the added complication of being a twin to think about so there was no telling what she would have decided in the end. “We’ll know what to do when the time comes. You’re stronger now and so is Josie. Jed will be too and I’m getting to grips with my abilities. We’ll also make sure we have the rest of the squad around us so it will be different next time.” It had to be but Ben knew that he couldn’t say that part out loud. They had already lost Hope and Josie the first time and even though they had both come back, Ben knew that they couldn’t afford to take any chances. As Hope said she would have a think about it, Ben nodded. “Thank you Hope,” he said gently, glad that she wasn’t dismissing the idea straight away and was actually willing to think it over before deciding one way or the other. Nodding as Jed told her to take all the time she needed, Ben felt a smile touch his lips as Hope thanked them and said she should get going. “Thanks for everything Hope, we really won’t let you down,” he assured her as he hugged her back before watching her leave to get on with the rest of her day. HOPE MIKAELSON & JED SALTZMAN
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